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China opposes Japanese legislators' visit to Taiwan: foreign ministry

Xinhua) 09:20, December 23, 2025

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposed the visit of some Japanese legislators to China's Taiwan region, and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here Monday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a query about a group of Japanese legislators visiting Taiwan and their plans to meet with Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te.

Lin said the Japanese moves violated the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and Japan's own commitments, as well as the one-China principle, adding that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

He urged Japan to deeply reflect and correct its mistakes, retract the erroneous remarks made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs.

"We also warn the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that currying favor with Japan for the seek of independence is despicable and doomed to fail," Lin said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Tristan Tyler Jackson will combine academic study with professional internship experience abroad.

Tristan Tyler Jackson ORANGEBURG, S.C.  Tristan Tyler Jackson will spend the spring balancing coursework with professional responsibilities an ocean away from South Carolina State University, applying his studies in nuclear engineering to sustainability-focused work through a global internship experience in London.

Jackson, an SC State nuclear engineering major from Los Angeles, California, and a Presidential Scholar in the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, has been selected for a competitive global study-abroad and internship experience through the Council on International Educational Exchange Global Internship Program in London, United Kingdom.



He will participate from Jan. 5 through March 28, combining part-time academic coursework with a professional internship.

A global classroom experience

Jacksons tentative internship placement is with PlanetSmart, an innovative startup focused on developing 100% biodegradable, super-absorptive polymers used in baby diapers, feminine hygiene products and other essential goods. The company is also expanding its research into environmentally sustainable agricultural applications.

In his role, Jackson will support market research, data analytics and C-suite communications, contributing to strategic planning as the company explores new industries and global markets.

This experience will allow me to broaden my worldviews while also gaining real-world, industry-level experience in the engineering sector, Jackson said. Being able to contribute to a company working toward a cleaner and more sustainable future is a remarkable opportunity.

Honors College leaders praise achievement

Dr. William H. Whitaker Jr., dean of the Clyburn Honors College, said Jacksons selection reflects the academic rigor and global focus of the program.

Tristans selection reflects the level of excellence we cultivate in the Honors College, Whitaker said. His commitment to global leadership, academic distinction and service aligns perfectly with the mission of our program. We are immensely proud of him and excited to see the impact he will make abroad.

Dr. Windy Stephenson, executive director of Academic and Scholarship Services, also praised Jacksons achievement, noting the broader value of immersive international learning.

Tristan embodies the promise and potential of our Presidential Scholars, Stephenson said. Opportunities like this expand our students horizons and prepare them to compete and lead on a global stage. His success is a testament to his dedication and to the transformative power of immersive learning.

Preparing scholars for a global future

The Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College continues its mission to develop globally competitive scholars equipped with the knowledge, integrity and leadership skills needed to address 21st-century challenges.

For more information about SC States Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, contact Dr. William Whitaker, the Honors Colleges dean, at wwhitak3@scsu.edu or 803-533-3710 or Dr. Windy A. Mack Stephenson, the Honors Colleges executive director, at wmack3@scsu.edu or 803-516-4610.
December 22, 2025: South Korea is the tenth largest weapons exporter worldwide. South Korea is also the fifth largest defense manufacturer with $10 billion a year in defense exports. South Korea is increasing its own defense budget by 8.6 percent to $47 billion in 2026. South Korea also helps the US Navy, which lacks sufficient shipyards for maintenance. South Korea is now doing a lot of work on U.S. warships in South Korean shipyards. South Korea is also developing a 4.5 generation version of its KF-21 fighter for delivery in 2026. South Korea is a major exporter of defense systems, ammunition and weapons for warships. South Korea is providing European NATO nations with munitions and weapons to prepare for a potential Russian attack on those nations by 2030.

As a result of the Ukraine War, Poland, which borders Ukraine and Russia, decided to expand its armed forces, including purchasing a thousand new South Korean K2 tanks. Most of these tanks will be produced in Poland under license, in cooperation with the South Korean manufacturer, which continues to supply some components. This will begin in 2026 and make Poland the largest user of K2s, as South Korea only has a few hundred. Poland will also become the European country with the largest force of modern tanks. This is mainly to deter any Russian attacks on Poland or the neighboring Baltic States.

Currently, Poland has nearly 200 K2 tanks, and similar quantities of K9 self-propelled 155mm howitzers, and Homar-K rocket launchers. Homar is similar to the American HIMARS vehicles. The Homar fire control system can handle rockets used in HIMARS, along with several other rocket types. Poland can use HIMARS rockets as well as a wide variety of South Korean rockets.

South Korea is not only much wealthier than North Korea but also a major manufacturer and exporter of industrial goods, including modern South Korean-designed weapons. One of the best examples is the K2 Black Panther tank, which compares favorably with the latest version of the American M1. Unlike earlier South Korean-designed tanks, the K2 contains no American technology and is a completely South Korean creation. This allows the K2 to be freely exported, leading to over a thousand K2s in production or on order, most for export customers.

The high quality of the K2 comes with a high price of over $8 million each, making it the most expensive tank in the world. In 2023, South Korea approved the production of the fourth batch of K2s, giving South Korea a total of 410 K2s. Thats fewer than the 980 K2s Poland is acquiring. Poland faces a more formidable threat from Russia than South Korea faces from North Korea. While the K2 was a significant investment in South Koreas defense capabilities against the persistent threat posed by North Korea, it has also proven to be a highly profitable export item.

Poland received its first 180 K2s in 2025 and has begun producing the remaining 820 in Poland under a manufacturing license. The K2 was developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. Introduced in 2014 after over two decades of development, the first model was a 56-ton tank armed with a 120mm NATO-compatible main gun, carrying 40 shells. The main gun has an autoloader, reducing the crew size from four to three. The autoloader enables the K2 to fire ten or more aimed shells per minute.

Tank-to-tank combat is usually short and intense. The tank that can fire first and deliver the most well-aimed shells will win, even against multiple opponents. K2 armor includes metal and ERA explosive reactive armor in addition to an APS Active Protection System to intercept anti-tank guided missiles ATGMs and rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade RPGs. The 12.7mm machine guns on top of the turret can be operated from inside the tank using RWS/Remote Weapons System technology. The K2 also includes NBC/Nuclear-Biological-Chemical protection.

The K2s armament is equally impressive. Its main armament is a domestically produced Rheinmetall 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun equipped with an autoloader. This gun, compatible with all standard NATO tank rounds, can also launch the advanced KSTAM Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition, an intelligent, fire-and-forget projectile that targets the thinner top armor of most tanks. Secondary armament includes a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm machine gun.

The tank is further enhanced by a domestically developed auto-target detection and tracking system, incorporating hunter-killer functionality. The K2s electric gun and turret driving system, along with the stabilization of its gunners primary sight and commanders panoramic sight, enable effective day and night operations. The K2 also features an advanced suspension system that offers multiple positioning options to maximize combat effectiveness across various terrains.

With a top speed of 68 kilometers per hour on roads and 40 kilometers per hour cross-country, an auxiliary power unit allows the tank to remain stationary while keeping all its electronics powered waiting for action, without operating the main engine. The success of the K2 design has attracted numerous export customers.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, an unexpected supplier for Ukraine was South Korea. These weapons did not go directly from South Korea to Ukraine. South Korean laws prohibit supplying weapons to nations at war. South Korea honors and evades this prohibition by selling weapons to Ukrainian allies. These allies then provide Ukraine with the weapons the South Korea items replaced. This matters because by 2019 South Korea was the 10th largest defense manufacturer in the world. Thats up from 13th a few years earlier. In 2024 South Korea was number 8 with a 2.8 percent share of defense exports. The top three are the United States with 39 percent, Russia with 19 percent and France with 11 percent.
The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply as strong as possible in the final days of the year and into 2026. Types O, A negative and B negative blood donors are especially needed now.Officials said, "Record-setting travel is happening across the country. With more people headed away from home, blood and platelet donations can dip at a crucial time when patients count on care. Bad weather or shifting travel schedules could force donors to cancel or reschedule donation appointments and tighten the blood supply.Make time to give before you go - its a simple way to make a lifesaving impact."Give hope during the holidays and schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who come to give Dec. 19 through Jan. 4, 2026 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. See RedCrossBlood.org/Gifts for details.As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area. See RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for details.If youre unable to give blood or platelets, consider making a financial donation to support the lifesaving mission at redcross.org.Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 22 through Jan. 4, 2026:Tennessee:BledsoePikevilleDec. 23, 2-6 p.m., Omni Rehab, 366 Cumberland Ave.How to donate blood:Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.Amplify your impact - volunteer:Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
IGNITE Fitness Holdings recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest location at 9408 Apison Pike in Ooltewah.A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last Tuesday, featuring a speaking program that included remarks from Mike DAndrea, regional director of Tennessee and Georgia at IGNITE Fitness Holdings, Bob White, Hamilton County's federal projects coordinator, and Directors Kristina McClure and Tahme'Sha Washington from the Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga.Were deeply grateful for the support weve received from the Ooltewah community since opening our newest club, said Mr.DAndrea. Expanding our footprint in the region is something were truly proud of, and were excited to offer a welcoming, inclusive environment where members can support their overall well-being.Planet Fitness invested nearly $2 million to build the 20,000+ square-foot facility."The new location will enhance access to fitness and foster a stronger sense of community throughout Hamilton County, officials said. "During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and as part of its ongoing commitment to the greater Ooltewah community, Planet Fitness also donated $1,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga for its programs that support the health and wellness of local children and families."The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga are proud to partner with Planet Fitness to promote active, healthy lifestyles for our Club members and the greater Chattanooga community, said Ms. McClure. We deeply appreciate their continued support.Community members enjoyed interactive games, tours of the new facility and opportunities to connect with local vendors, including Celsius, ATI Physical Therapy and Papa Johns. The event was energized by a DJ set from Assistant Manager Eric Shropshire, and featured raffles and giveaways, including prizes from Yeti, Skullcandy, Planet Fitness and Devoted Creations.In addition to state-of-the-art cardio equipment, the Ooltewah club offers plate-loaded strength and smith machines, numerous flat-screen televisions, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, HydroMassage beds, massage chairs and more.The facility will be open and staffed from 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Whats the strangest or most unusual Christmas gift you ever received? Most presents we get are welcomed, sometimes surprises we hadnt even thought to request. But once in a while we open a gift thats either inappropriate, embarrassing, or something wed never buy for ourselves.

I cant remember receiving a lot of these over the years, but did have an aunt who seemed to think, I know hell never expect this! And she was right. One year when I was a teenager, she sent three pairs of thin, stretchy socks  white, yellow and red. At that stage in my life, I wore socks of one color only  black. So, the Christmas socks she sent were as useful as a screen door in a submarine.

Reading the Christmas story in the Bible, we find Mary and Joseph welcoming a very unexpected cadre of guests  wise men, or Magi, from the East. (That didnt mean Boston or New York City or Pittsburgh.) They were mystics likely from either the Persian or Babylonian empires who had pondered the ancient prophecies of a coming Messiah. Their calculations had told them when and where this promised king would be born, so they set out to find him and worship him.

Tradition says there were three of them. But there might have been more, along with a sizable entourage to accompany them on their long, arduous journey. Whether it was We Three Kings, as the familiar carol claims, or not is inconsequential. What does matter is the gifts  three in all  they brought for the youngster who fulfilled the revered prophecies. Matthew 2:11 informs us, On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

The first two gifts made sense: Gold, signified royalty, which the new king was without a doubt. And frankincense, since the Messiah would be serving in a high priestly role. Frankincense was an aromatic resin used in incense and perfume, along with having medicinal uses. During ritual sacrifices, fragrant incense was often part of the ceremony.

So, both the gold and frankincense would surely have been welcomed by the young parents of Jesus. The third gift, however, must have caught them off-guard to say the least.

Imagine youre expecting a baby and someone hosts a shower for you. Friends come with a variety of gifts  blankets, clothes, disposable diapers, infant toys, a mobile, sippy cups, stuffed animals. Everyones smiling at the cute gifts. Then you open a gift that turns those smiles upside-down. Inside the shiny, colorfully wrapped package isembalming fluid. How would you react? Confused? Angry? Horrified?

This is exactly what myrrh was  a product used in the embalming process. Specifically, it was a gummy resin from a small, thorny tree in the Middle East. Since myrrh had a strong smell, it was used in perfume. But most commonly, some societies also used it as an embalming substance.

What kind of present is that for a young child, two years old or younger? To our way of thinking, such a gift would be strange, a real head-scratcher. Were celebrating a new life, not a death. But remember, the Magi were acting according to prophecies of old, some of which spoke of a suffering Messiah. To them, myrrh would be very fitting.

We dont know how well the wise men grasped the significance of the myrrh. But 2,000 years later, the reason is clear. Because Jesus Christ came not only to teach and provide an example of how to live a righteous life but also to die  serving as the once-and-for-all-time payment to cover the penalty of our sins.

Hebrews 9:12 tells us Christs death on the cross ended the need for animal sacrifices the Israelites had practiced for many centuries to atone for peoples sins: He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

One day we all will die. But unlike the rest of us, Jesus primary mission as God in the flesh was to die. To be our Savior. He paid a price we could not pay to satisfy the debt He did not owe  making it possible for us to gain a right relationship with the Lord and offer us life eternal.

This time of year, Nativity sets and Christmas stories present peaceful, sentimental images of the baby Jesus with His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, surrounded by docile farm animals, curious shepherds, glowing angels, and the Magi. Happy, heart-warming scenes. However, from the moment of His birth, a grim shadow was cast, that of a wooden cross upon which the Lord Jesus one day would be crucified.

That day the gold and frankincense were of no value. What was needed was myrrh, for anointing His broken, bleeding body. Were told after Jesus death was confirmed, Pontius Pilate allowed Joseph of Arimathea to take the body for burial. Accompanying him was Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee and secret Christ follower who brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs (John 19:39-40).

At that moment, Jesus death might have seemed like the greatest tragedy in the history of the world. But we know the Good News: Three days later He was resurrected, conquering death and the power of sin. In The New Living Translation, Romans 6:10 declares, When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. Because of that, we too can live for Gods glory.

Its good to reflect on the three gifts of the Magi: gold for the King eternal; frankincense for our great High Priest; and the strangest Christmas gift of all, myrrh for the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins, rose from the dead, and now offers life everlasting for all who place their faith in Him.

* * *



Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor, and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 20 books. These include Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. He writes and edits a weekly business meditation, Monday Manna, which is translated into nearly 20 languages and distributed via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for Bob's blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net.
Reverend James Jimmy Hodge, 63, of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 22, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Jimmy lived most of his life in the North Georgia area, where he attended Ringgold High School and was a faithful member of Christ First Church. A devoted servant of the Lord, he felt a strong calling to ministry and founded a mission known as Trucking for the Word of God. Through this mission, Jimmy dedicated his life to reaching the homeless and encouraging people everywhere to read and live by Gods Word.

Jimmys faith guided every part of his life. He loved riding motorcycles, playing his guitar, and listening to old gospel hymns, especially Ill Fly Away, which held a special place in his heart.

Jimmy will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his servants heart, and his passion for sharing the love of Christ with all he encountered.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Hodge Mullins; and his brothers-in-law, Rickey Hill and Mark Moorman.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Cynthia Hinkle Hodge; his daughter, Brianna Hodge; and his beloved grandchildren, Malaki, Evelyn, and Adalyn. He is also survived by his father, Harold Hodge; siblings, Betty Hill, Nancy Moorman, Dennis Hodge, Raymond (Melissa) Hodge, and Robert Lynn (April) Hodge; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Condolences may be shared with the Hodge family and live webcasting of the funeral service will be available at www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Pastor Wayne Chasteen and Pastor Joe Gill officiating.

Interment will follow in the Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 4-8 p.m. and Monday from noon until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
December 23, 2025: As of a month ago, seven of the 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had their elected governments replaced by military rulers this year.

Mali had two coups in less than a year, in addition to massive activity by Islamic terrorist groups.

Burkina Faso underwent two coups in 2022; the leader of those takeovers was replaced by the current military government this year. The current leader vowed to deal with the growing Islamic terrorism.

Niger had a junta that promised a return to an elected government in five years.

Guinea-Bissau had a coup where the coup leader announced that he would be one of the candidates for president when democratic rule was restored. There were concerns that this would result in the coup leaders continuing to rule while pretending to be an elected government.

Madagascar ended up with a military government after the elected one was subject to massive protest demonstrations and the impeachment of the elected president.

All this is nothing new, two years ago the central African nation of Niger experienced a military takeover of the government. This was condemned by just about every government in Africa and beyond. The only American military presence in Niger were two drone bases, one in central Niger called Base 201, and a smaller Base 101 in the southwest outside the Niger capital of Niamey. The two bases were operated by about a thousand American military, mainly air force, personnel. Base 201 has been operational since 2019 and is mainly used for long-range surveillance drones or similar drones armed with guided missiles. Those drones have been essential to monitoring the growing Islamic terrorism in Africa.

There are a lot of corrupt elected governments in Africa and the local military leaders often tried to deal with the corruption by taking over the government, purportedly trying to reduce the corruption and then allow democracy to return. That rarely works as the corruption is extensive, persistent, resistant to reform and that includes the occasional military coup. Experience has shown that a military coup is rarely effective at fixing anything and usually makes matters worse because most African nations oppose military governments and refuse to support or cooperate with them when they occur in a nearby country. There is a similar response by foreign aid donors, who halt aid until democracy is restored.

Foreign aid is crucial in Africa because corruption limits the amount of money governments can spend on essential infrastructure, health or food aid programs. That means, when a coup takes place, the new military government finds itself isolated, criticized and denied most forms of foreign aid or cooperation. In Niger that meant the air space over Niger was closed and surrounding nations closed their borders with Niger. The coup leaders were isolated, criticized and left with few options other than abandoning their effort to make their version of local government work. Some military governments last for years by creating a plausible, to most of the locals, external threat. Their neighbors and foreign aid donors usually quickly denounce this fiction.

During the Cold War unelected governments could keep the aid coming by playing off the Western and communist donors against each other. After the Cold War ended in 1991, the only donors left were Western democracies. Dictatorships tend to be much less affluent and unable to provide much aid to anyone. Such an environment is common throughout Africa, especially where there were valuable raw materials that generate even more corruption. Niger does not have any valuable natural resources and must import more than it exports. This imbalance is made possible by lots of foreign aid. When there is a coup, the food, medical and similar aid generally continues unless the new government tries to steal the aid.

The Niger coup has shut down American military operations because air space has been closed by neighboring countries that do not permit legal aircraft operations into or out of Niger. This put the two American air bases at risk of being shut down permanently. Before the coup, Niger was considered one of the more stable African countries foreign air forces could operate out of. There were about 2,000 American and French military personnel in Niger and the longer the coup continued the more likely those troops would be withdrawn.

American drone bases in Niger have been operational since 2019. The Niger government gave American and French drones operating in or over Niger permission to carry Hellfire missiles and other guided weapons inside Niger. For the most part this means U.S. and French MQ-9 Reaper drones operating from existing bases in Niger, Mali and Djibouti. France also operates manned combat aircraft from bases in Mali. EU peacekeepers also operate armed drones and helicopters in northern Mali. Initially there were only about 800 U.S. troops in Niger, most of them maintaining the aerial surveillance drones and other aircraft and helping train Niger troops. Then there was an incident where four American Special Forces soldiers were killed when the training exercise a large patrol, they were supervising clashed with Islamic terrorists operating near the Mali border. Four of the Niger troops were killed as well and even more American and Niger troops were wounded. This led Niger to allow armed drones to operate in Niger. In the past there had not been many situations calling for rapid response by armed aircraft. The Special Forces incident made it clear the situation had changed. Before that it was possible to get foreign aircraft to come and carry out an air strike, but the process took time. The Niger and American troops were not expecting to encounter such a large force of Islamic terrorists and having armed drones on call would have made a big difference.

This problem was largely the result of the success of French counter-terror operations in Mali and the defeat of Boko Haram in Nigeria. In both cases many of the surviving Islamic terrorists fled to Niger. This has been going on for some time and Niger has responded by allowing in more and more foreign assistance.

In 2016 construction began on a new U.S. AFRICOM Africa Command base in Agadez, Niger, 730 kilometers northeast of the capital Niamey. The U.S. had received permission for such a base in 2014, a year after American drones began operating from a Niger base next to the Niamey airport. The new Agadez base was built largely from scratch because, unlike Niamey, Agadez does not have a large airport or much in the way of support for lots of aircraft operations. Agadez is closer to Chad, southern Libya and Nigeria, where American aerial surveillance is more in demand by the local governments. The U.S. intelligence obtained by the Niger-based drones id shared with Niger and other nations in the area that have intelligence sharing agreements as well as with France, which leads the counter-terrorism effort in the region.

Since 2013 France has operated a counter-terrorism operation throughout the Sahel, the semi-desert area south of the desert that stretches across northern Africa, using about 4,000 French troops based mainly in Mali. About the same time work began on the Agadez base, France and other European nations helped form the G5 Sahel Joint Force consisting of 5,000 troops from Sahel nations Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. The G5 force is mainly concerned with Islamic terror groups in the Sahel.

Agadez is the second American airbase in Africa and, like the first one, is shared with France and other allies. The first U.S. base was established in 2002 when the United States began sharing an old French base in Djibouti, the northwestern neighbor of Somalia. Since then, Djibouti has hosted the one official U.S. military base, Camp Lemonnier, in Africa. France and the United States SOCOM Special Operations Command have had special operations forces commandos and special aircraft outside the Djibouti capital since 2002. In 2014 the U.S. signed another ten year lease for that base. At that point U.S. forces in Djibouti were monitoring what was going on in the region mainly Somalia and Yemen but also Eritrea, Nigeria, Mali, Libya, Kenya, and Ethiopia, but do not interfere with the local terrorists. Not much, anyway. The Djibouti base also supports operations throughout the Sahel and does this with a dozen or so MQ-9s plus manned aircraft like the U-28, F-15Es and various maritime surveillance aircraft in addition to a growing number of other foreign aircraft.

Since 2007 the United States has created and expanded AFRICOM to manage all the increasingly numerous American military operations in Africa. Since most of these operations involved special operations forces rather than conventional military forces. AFRICOM released little detail on what was where, but in the last few years more of these details have emerged. As suspected, most of the fifty or so AFRICOM bases were temporary agreements to use existing civilian or military air bases or other facilities in African nations, usually ones where AFRICOM is providing assistance in dealing with Islamic terrorist activity or other security threats. Most of these facilities were considered temporary or contingent arrangements to use an airbase or port facility, if needed and on short notice. The permanent operations were bases or FOS Forward Operating Sites while the temporary sites were CSLs/Cooperative Security Locations where American and local forces operate together or CSLs contingency locations where arrangements have been made for use if needed. About half the AFRICOM sites were CSLs and not used by Americans on a regular basis.

AFRICOM is similar in organization to other commands such as CENTCOM, for the Middle East, and SOUTHCOM, for Latin America, etc. Before AFRICOM was created those operations were coordinated between two other commands, the one covering Europe and the one covering Latin America. The establishment of AFRICOM means more money for counter-terror operations in Africa and more long range projects. No country in Africa had sufficient infrastructure for AFRICOM headquarters and few wanted to risk the political blowback from hosting a major American military headquarters.
Photo credit: Unsplash/ Alexander Grey

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would prohibit gender transition procedures for minors, though the bill is expected to face significant resistance in the narrowly divided U.S. Senate.

Lawmakers in the Republican-led House voted 216211 on Wednesday to pass the Protect Childrens Innocence Act, advancing one of the most sweeping federal efforts to restrict medical interventions related to gender identity for children.

Under the legislation, any individual who knowingly performs, or attempts to perform genital or body mutilation on another person, who is a minor could face financial penalties and up to 10 years in prison. The same criminal liability would extend to anyone who assists in carrying out such procedures.

The bill not only bans surgical interventions that remove healthy body parts or create artificial ones to match a persons declared gender identity, but also prohibits chemical castration, including the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on minors.

For the measure to become law, it must clear the Senate and be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Although Republicans control 53 of the Senates 100 seats, most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. With at least seven Senate Democrats unlikely to support the bill, its prospects in the upper chamber remain uncertain.

The House vote comes as a growing number of states move independently to restrict such medical practices. To date, 27 states have enacted laws banning some or all gender transition procedures for minors, citing concerns about long-term physical and psychological consequences.

Medical risks associated with these interventions were underscored by the American College of Pediatricians, which has warned that puberty blockers may lead to osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment, and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility. The group also notes that cross-sex hormones can raise the lifetime risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers.

Those concerns were echoed during a press conference hosted Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where detransitioner Chloe Cole described the lasting emotional and physical toll of undergoing gender transition procedures as a minor.

Because she had her breasts removed as a teenager, Cole said she will never be able to breastfeed a child and condemned such surgeries as unscientific medical abuse that violates every tenet of medical ethics.

This ideology is festering at an unimaginable scale within our hospital systems, our culture, our communities and too many within our own families, she said. There are tears that I dont show the world.

Theres grief, every single day, I carry with me silently, Cole added. The only thing in the world that makes me angry is knowing that this is continuing to happen to children all across the United States and throughout the globe.

At Thursdays press conference, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services, announced that his department has submitted a proposed rule that would cut off federal funding to hospitals that perform gender transition procedures on minors.
On September 14, 2025, thousands, including White House cabinet officials, gathered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to pay their respects to Charlie Kirk, who was killed earlier last week at Utah Valley University. | Screenshot: YouTube/ LiveNOW from FOX

A newly released open letter endorsed by prominent Christian conservative leaders is calling on pastors to address abortion clearly and unapologetically from the pulpit.

The appeal was issued last week by Human Coalition, a national pro-life organization that connects women facing unplanned pregnancies with alternatives to abortion. The letter challenges faith leaders to fulfill what it describes as a biblical duty to proclaim Scripture without fear or compromise.

Among the great moral crises of our time, none is more urgent or devastating than abortion  the destruction of countless innocent lives created in the image of God, the letter stated, referencing Jeremiah 1:5 and Proverbs 24:11 to underscore the Bibles opposition to abortion.

Signatories to the statement represent a cross-section of evangelical and conservative Christian institutions. They include Human Coalition President Jeff Bradford, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Christians Engaged CEO Bunni Pounds, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin.

According to the letter, Kirks death on Sept. 10 sparked what it described as a renewed hunger for truth, particularly among younger Americans. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University.

In the weeks following the killing, multiple pastors across the country reported noticeable increases in church attendance, especially among young adults seeking answers to moral and spiritual questions.

The authors argued that Kirks outspoken advocacy for unborn children did not end with his death, asserting that the responsibility to carry forward that message now rests with church leaders.

It belongs to the shepherds of Gods flock," they wrote.

The letter went on to emphasize the theological foundation for addressing abortion, stating, Every child is a gift from the Creator, and every mother and father deserve the compassion and hope found in the Gospel. It warned, however, that many congregations rarely hear this message. Yet in too many pulpits, this truth is absent. Silence on abortion has become one of the Churchs greatest failings.

Human Coalition suggested that fear of controversy or declining membership has led some pastors to avoid the topic altogether, even if they personally affirm the sanctity of life. Others, the letter said, may treat abortion as merely one issue among many.

But our silence has deadly consequences. Abortion is not an abstract political debate; it is the leading cause of death in America, the letter stated. And every week, men and women in our churches are directly touched by it. When we fail to speak, they are left vulnerable to the lies of a culture that denies the humanity of the unborn and the hope of forgiveness in Christ.

The coalition urged pastors to preach the Gospel of Life with clarity and compassion, and proclaim the truth about the sacredness of human life in the womb. In addition, the letter calls on faith leaders to offer the hope of Christ to post-abortive men and women in the congregation, and to equip their members to be defenders of the vulnerable.

Abortion is not merely one issue among many. It is a Gospel issue. It is the defining moral crisis of our day. And it is a moment in history when the Church must rise and speak with one voice, the letter declared. We call on you, fellow leaders, to join us in this sacred task. Let it not be said of our generation that the Church was silent while children perished and parents suffered.
Believers at a church in China are kneeling and praying together. | Screenshot: YouTube/ The 700 Club

A sweeping security operation involving more than 1,000 police officers, SWAT teams and paramilitary forces reportedly targeted Christian congregations in eastern China, resulting in hundreds of detentions, according to a new report from a religious freedom watchdog.

Local residents told ChinaAid that law enforcement personnel drawn from multiple districts across Zhejiang province, including Hangzhou and Pingyang, were deployed to Yayang Town. The first arrests reportedly began before dawn on Monday.

Within the initial 48 hours of the operation, several hundred people were taken into custody, residents said, with at least four additional detentions recorded by Dec. 17.

According to eyewitness accounts, heavily armed units blocked access roads surrounding church properties and prevented worshippers from entering. Authorities confiscated personal belongings, and a sustained police presence remained visible throughout the town during the five-day crackdown.

Officials did not issue any public explanation for the raids. Residents said online references to the arrests were quickly scrubbed, while digital communications were closely monitored and restricted.

On the evening of Dec. 15, townspeople reported an unexpected fireworks show in the central square costing more than 1 million yuan (approximately $142,000). With no official holiday scheduled, locals believed the display was intended to divert attention from the ongoing arrests.

Among those reportedly singled out were two church leaders, 58-year-old Lin Enzhao and 54-year-old Lin Enci. Authorities labeled them leaders of a criminal organization and issued wanted notices offering rewards for information about their whereabouts.

Church members disputed the allegations, saying the two men had long served their congregations and were previously targeted after resisting efforts to remove crosses from church buildings. While officials reportedly classified them as gang-related, believers described them as protectors of church property.

Residents also pointed to an earlier confrontation in June, when the towns mayor allegedly led a team that tore down church walls and gates in order to erect the Chinese national flag on church grounds.

Following the raids, officials staged a public event on Dec. 18 titled Elimination of Six Evils, featuring displays of police vehicles, SWAT units and riot officers. According to locals, officers stationed near Christian homes pressured residents to accuse detained church leaders of criminal activity.

ChinaAid reported that posters and official messaging portrayed the Christian community as either a cult or a criminal network.

The total number of people formally charged remains unclear, though preliminary estimates suggest more than 20 individuals may face prosecution.

The Yayang crackdown follows a broader pattern. In September, Open Doors reported that at least 70 Christians were detained in other regions during raids on unregistered churches, with accusations including fraud and illegal assembly.

In several cases, believers were accused of financial misconduct despite the absence of internal complaints. One local source told the organization that more than 80 church groups have since ceased meeting, leaving only a handful of congregations still operating openly.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Sameer Akhtari

A Pakistani court acquitted a Christian man of blasphemy charges in September, but the decision was kept private for weeks out of fear for his safety, according to his legal counsel.

Sargodha Magistrate Syed Faizan-e-Rasool cleared 47-year-old Haroon Shahzad on Sept. 27 after the original complainant, Muhammad Imran Ladhar, withdrew the accusation he filed on June 30, 2023, attorney Aneeqa Maria confirmed.

The case stemmed from Shahzad sharing Bible verses on Facebook. Ladhar had accused Shahzad of blasphemy following the post, but Shahzadwho was released on bail on Nov. 6, 2023remained in hiding and chose not to publicize the acquittal immediately due to ongoing security threats, Maria said.

Though the complainant, who was also the prime prosecution witness, exonerated Shahzad of the allegation, the public prosecutor insisted that remaining prosecution evidence was sufficient to convict the accused, Maria told Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News.

However, the magistrate noted that cross-examination of the prime witness by the public prosecutor had also failed to favor the prosecution and the case had been dented beyond repair.

According to the verdict, the court acknowledged that the Bible is respected within Islam and noted that the Quran urges Muslims not to judge those who believe in the gospel. On that basis, the magistrate dismissed all charges brought under Sections 295-A and 298 of Pakistans blasphemy laws, Maria explained.

Section 295-A addresses deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs, carrying a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine. Section 298 allows for up to one year in prison and a fine for hurting religious sentiments.

The verdict lays bare the profound fragility of justice itself, Maria said. It reveals a system in which an individuals liberty, dignity and entire future can be held hostage by a flawed process, where an accusation alone can unleash turmoil, turn lives upside down and leave families shattered.

Shahzad, who works as a paint contractor, posted 1 Corinthians 10:1821 on Facebook on June 29, 2023, as Muslims were preparing for Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic festival that involves animal sacrifice and communal meals.

A local Muslim resident captured screenshots of the post, circulated them in village social media groups, and accused Shahzad of equating Muslims with pagans and insulting the Abrahamic tradition of sacrifice.

Although Shahzad did not add any commentary to the biblical passage, tensions escalated after Friday prayers when mosque loudspeakers called residents to gather for protests. As fears of mob violence spread, many Christian families fled their homes, abandoning their possessions.

Shahzad previously told Morning Star News that the complaint was motivated by personal animosity. He said Ladharallegedly linked to the now-banned Islamist extremist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and reportedly connected to the proscribed militant organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvifiled the case out of a longstanding grudge rather than genuine religious offense.
York St Johns University campus in York, England. | Photo credit: Facebook/ York St Johns University

York St John University is facing criticism from Christian students and observers after permitting a controversial Nativity-themed stage production that some allege discriminates against Christianity under the banner of artistic expression.

The production, titled A Gay in a Manger, was developed by the universitys LGBTQ network and reimagines the Nativity story with overtly sexualized and politicized elements. In the play, Jesus is portrayed as the coming King of the Gays, while his parents are recast as a lesbian couple named Mary and Jo.

A promotional preview for the performance describes the storyline as follows:

Mary and Jo packed their pride flags and set off on the long journey to the best gay club this side of the Red Sea  Heaven. But when Queen Herod heard of the new King of the Gays, she began to plot for his downfall for only she could be the Queerest Icon in the Land.

Christian students on campus have objected strongly, characterizing the play as blasphemous, offensive, and discriminatory, particularly arguing that similar mockery of Islamic beliefs would not be tolerated by university authorities.

Josiah Diamond, a 21-year-old student and former Muslim, told The Telegraph that the production crossed a serious line. This portrayal is not only blasphemous in a direct sense, but of a particular offensive and violating nature to adherents of the faith and openly opposing doctrine, he said.

Diamond also accused the university of applying unequal standards to different religions. There cannot be a distinction between religious groups and between the rights and privileges of differing religious groups. We are amazed that York St John supports such an approach. I am certain that you would not allow Muslims at the university to be so treated. I believe that you are discriminating against Christians.

Despite the objections, university officials and the student union have declined to intervene, maintaining that the performance falls within protected artistic and expressive freedoms.

In a joint response, representatives said: We understand that it can be frustrating for students to face views and perspectives that do not reflect their own values or beliefs. However, freedom of speech within the law is a core principle of university activity. Following a thorough review, we have found no evidence that this event is unlawful or contravenes our legal duties."

Donna Smith, CEO of the student union, rejected claims of unequal treatment and declined to engage with comparisons involving other religions. She dismissed questions about whether a similar production mocking Islamic beliefs would be permitted, calling it a hypothetical scenario, and insisted that There is no differential treatment of religious groups.
Home News 'An early Christmas gift': 130 abducted Catholic school students, staff freed in Nigeria

Quick Summary AI Summary Officials announced the release of 130 students and staff abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger state.

The victims were freed after a month-long captivity.

Authorities confirmed that all 230 individuals initially taken have now been rescued. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

Nigerian officials announced Monday that the remaining 130 students and staff abducted from a Catholic school in the country's north have been freed, ending a harrowing month-long captivity and allowing families to reunite just in time for Christmas.

The children, kidnapped in a predawn raid on Nov. 21 from St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community of Niger state, were released Sunday, according to police and church officials.

More than 200 people were initially taken by gunmen, a tactic increasingly common in Nigeria's volatile northern regions, where criminal gangs and militant groups exploit security gaps for ransom or ideological gains.

Fifty students escaped shortly after the abduction, while another 100 were freed on Dec. 7. The latest release means all victims are now safe, authorities said. Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, stated on social media that the release followed "a military-intelligence-driven operation," but did not provide any additional details.

Nigerian law prohibits paying ransoms, but families and officials have often done so in past cases to expedite releases.

Diocese of Kontagora Secretary Rev. Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph confirmed the release of the "second batch" on Sunday.

We are profoundly grateful to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Niger State Government, the security agencies, and all other partners whose efforts and interventions contributed to the safe release of the victims, Joseph said in a statement shared by the U.S.-based watchdog International Christian Concern, which called the release "an early Christmas gift."

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the parents, guardians, clergy, religious communities, humanitarian organizations, and the wider public for their prayers, support, and solidarity throughout this challenging period.

Authorities confirm that a total of 230 students were abducted and all were rescued.

The St. Mary's victims underwent health screenings upon release. Counseling services are being provided, and schools in the region remain on high alert.

The incident at St. Mary's highlights the persistent threat of mass kidnappings in Nigeria, particularly targeting schools. Since the infamous 2014 Chibok abduction by Boko Haram militants, which drew global attention with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, over 1,500 students have been kidnapped in similar attacks, according to Amnesty International.

Many perpetrators are linked to Islamist extremists or bandit groups demanding ransoms amid economic hardship and weak governance. Advocates have criticized the Nigerian government for failing to protect its citizens.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and a country deeply divided along religious and ethnic lines. Christians, who make up about half of Nigeria's 220 million people, face escalating violence, especially in the Muslim-majority north and the ethnically diverse Middle Belt.

The Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors ranks Nigeria among the world's most dangerous places for Christians, with thousands killed annually in attacks attributed to radical Islamist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as radicalized Fulani herdsmen militias. These assaults often target churches, schools and villages, displacing hundreds of thousands and destroying communities.

A 2025 report by Open Doors cites "extreme" levels of violence and discrimination against Christians. The group documented over 3,100 Christian deaths in Nigeria in its 2024 reporting period.

Fulani militants, nomadic herders clashing with farmers over resources, have been accused of targeting Christian settlements under the guise of land disputes, though some analysts argue the conflicts are more complex, involving economic and climate-related pressures. But Christian rights advocates have argued for years that violence against Christians has reached near genocidal levels.

Human rights groups have criticized the Nigerian government under Tinubu for failing to curb the violence, despite promises of enhanced security. Military operations have yielded some successes, such as the recent rescues, but critics say corruption and underfunding hamper efforts.
Home News America's most sinful cities: What you need to know

Which American cities are the most "sinful"? The Christian Post's Ian Giatti joins Billy Hallowell to break down the top three most sinful cities listed in a recent WalletHub study.

He explains what that means and why it matters.

Listen to the episode:

The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play  and why it all matters.

Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app  and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms:

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Home News Anet Jackson, co-founder of Faith Comes By Hearing, dies at 90

Quick Summary AI Summary Anet Jackson, co-founder of Faith Comes By Hearing, has died at age 90.

Founded in 1972, the ministry distributes audio copies of the Bible in over 2,500 languages.

A memorial service is scheduled for Jan. 16 at Hoffman Town Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

Anet Jackson, co-founder of the prominent audio Bible ministry group Faith Comes By Hearing, has died at the age of 90.

The ministry announced her death Saturday on Facebook, saying that Jackson has gone to be with the Lord" and that her life was marked by courage, faith, and a deep love for Gods Word.

Alongside her husband, Jerry, she laid a spiritual foundation for Faith Comes By Hearing, believing every person on Earth needs to hear Gods Word and know that He speaks their language, stated the group.

We do not measure Anets legacy by widely recognized achievements, but by the ever-increasing number of lives changed as faith continues to grow in hearts worldwide from meaningful Bible listening.

Jacksons service is scheduled to take place at Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Jan. 16.

Morgan Jackson, senior vice president of FCBH and son of Anet Jackson, said that his mother is enjoying everything God has in store for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I thank the Lord for Moms dedication to ensuring everyone has Gods Word in their heart language, he stated. She leaves an incorruptible legacy: lives changed for eternity. Mine included. We weep for now, but as Scripture declares, sorrow only lasts for the night, and joy comes in the morning.

Before his mother's death, Morgan Jackson said that she shared a vision with him.

"She told me the Lord showed her the place He had prepared for her. She was surprised that it wasnt a mansion. I reminded her that Jesus never said He was going to prepare a mansion, but that He was going to prepare a room," Morgan Jackson wrote. "We laughed and then she continued, 'It was a room, and I could share it with others, or I could keep it for myself.' All I know is that her room must be amazing so it can hold the thousands and thousands of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who will visit her to thank her."

Anet Jackson was born in 1935. She and her husband, Jerry Jackson, originally arrived in Albuquerque in 1971 to serve as intern missionaries to the Hopi and Navajo people. They founded FCBH, originally known as Hosanna, in 1972 as a library for lending cassette tapes.

Over time, the ministry shifted toward recording books of the Bible and distributing them globally. Anet Jackson often traveled across the world to advance their efforts.

At present, FCBH distributes audio copies of the Bible in over 2,500 languages, with the stated goal to ensure that every translated language has Scripture by the year 2033.

I had to trust God, Jackson recounted in a recent interview. And God was right there teaching me, directing me by His Holy Spirit, and Ive had a wonderful life.

I think when you get into the Scriptures and understand them, thats what Jesus came [to do] was to bring hope. That this life is not it. Theres a wonderful life beyond here and theres hope in a better life.  And our hope is in Jesus Christ.
Home News FBI arrests 'Darkwitch' planning New Year's Eve attack in New Orleans

A fifth suspect in a far-left terrorist groups New Years Eve bombing plot, a former member of the U.S. Marines trained in combat who uses the aliases Darkwitch She/Her" and "Kateri The Witch," was arrested on his way to New Orleans with guns, a gas canister and body armor in the car, according to court documents.

Micah James Legnon, 28, from New Iberia, Louisiana, has been charged with threats in interstate commerce after he allegedly planned to carry out an attack in New Orleans. Authorities suspect that Legnon is associated with members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, an extremist group that planned to set off bombs in Southern California on New Years Eve.

On December 12, 2025, LEGNON, who was under surveillance by the FBI due to his affiliation with individuals plotting the Los Angeles bombing plot, was seen leaving his residence [...] in New Iberia, Louisiana, the criminal complaint states.

Agents viewed LEGNON load what appeared to be an assault rifle and body armor into the Subject Vehicle at approximately 12:30 p.m. on that same date, the document continues.

Legnon is believed to have been part of the Signal group chat "Order of The Black Lotus, which TILF reportedly used to discuss its bombing plot. Legnon allegedly operated under the username Darkwitch in the group chat, according to the complaint.

The complaint states that the Legnon now goes by she/her pronouns.

Federal authorities stopped the suspect on Highway 90 as he drove toward New Orleans and executed a search warrant on his vehicle. The authorities discovered an assault rifle, a pistol, a gas canister and body armor, items that appeared to resemble the ones that appeared in a photo that Darkwitch had shared in the group chat.

The FBI also executed a search warrant at Legnons residence, where they discovered sniper training manuals, SWAT training manuals, assault rifles and multiple rounds of ammunition, according to the complaint.

Under the alias Kateri TheWitch, Legnon is believed to have shared a Facebook post on Dec. 4 that showed U.S. Border Patrol agents arresting an individual on a rooftop. In the post, the user declared: S time to recreate Waco tx with these f. F ice.

The post was shared on Facebook one day after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began Operation Catahoula Crunch in New Orleans as part of an effort to remove criminal illegal aliens from American communities. On Thursday, the DHS announced that the operation had led to the arrest of about 370 illegal aliens, including individuals previously arrested for domestic abuse battery and driving while intoxicated.

Investigators believe that Legnon mentioned the possibility of recreating Waco was a reference to the Waco Massacre, an incident that involved a highly controversial ATF raid during the Clinton administration targeting the leader of a cult known as the Branch Davidians, which led to the deaths of innocent women and young children.

Given the nature of LEGNON's post and the historical context related to the events that transpired in Waco, Texas, it is a reasonable inference to draw that LEGNON, when making the post ... intended to convey a threat through interstate communications, the criminal complaint states.

Earlier this month, authorities announced that they had arrested four TILF members, foiling a bomb plot they had set for Dec. 31.

The four individuals who allegedly planned to carry out the New Years Eve attacks were identified as Audrey Carroll, 30; Zachary Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41.

According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California, the group self-identifies as an anti-capitalist, anti-government movement that calls for their associates to rise up and fight back against capitalism.

Essayli also said that Carroll created an explicit plan to bomb at least five locations across southern California, with the intention of enacting follow-up attacks on agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Authorities later arrested the group after they traveled to the desert to test their explosives.
Home News Judge files lawsuit seeking to overturn Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling

A Texas judge who refused to marry same-sex couples because of her faith has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Judge Dianne Hensley, who has served as a justice of the peace in Waco, Texas, since 2015, filed a lawsuit Friday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas against the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, an agency with which Hensley has been involved in a years-long legal battle. Represented by former Texas Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell, Hensley contends that the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision is unconstitutional.

"Officiating a wedding ceremony is speech, and the commissioners are preventing Judge Hensley from engaging in this speech unless she agrees to perform homosexual marriages in violation of her Christian faith and in violation of Texas law," the filing reads.

Hensley and other Waco judges and justices of the peace stopped officiating weddings altogether after the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a national right. Instead, any same-sex couple that asked Hensley to perform a marriage ceremony received a statement apologizing for what Hensley described as a sincerely held religious belief as a Christian that prohibits her from officiating such ceremonies, ABC affiliate KXXV-TV reported.

I have no desire to offend anybody, but the last person I want to offend is God, she previously told the station. So Im entitled to accommodations just as much as anyone else.

In November of that year, Hensley was publicly sanctioned for refusing to perform same-sex weddings after the State Commission on Judicial Conduct alleged she violated a canon of judicial conduct prohibiting judges from engaging in conduct outside their judicial role.

The commission rescinded that ruling in September 2024, in light of a decision issued by the Texas Supreme Court.

In October, the Texas Supreme Court issued a clarification to the states Judicial Code of Conduct, which found it is not a violation of these canons [of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct] for a judge to publicly refrain from performing a wedding ceremony based upon a sincerely held religious belief.

As part of a Dec. 1 court filing in Travis County District Court, lawyers for the commission argued that the panels clarification did not give Hensley permission to opt out of certain officiating duties while opting to perform others.

The comment only gives a judge the authority to opt out of officiating due to a sincere religious belief, but does not say that a judge can, at the same time, welcome to her chambers heterosexual couples for whom she willingly offers to conduct marriage ceremonies, the filing stated.

According to the lawsuit, Hensley officiated roughly 80 weddings before the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling. Since then, she has officiated only four additional weddings that were previously scheduled before the ruling.

Last month, the nations highest court declined to hear a similar case from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who gained national attention when she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples while serving as a clerk in Rowan County.

In 2022, the Obergefell ruling was federally codified when a Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress passed legislation that then-President Joe Biden signed into law.
The first victim of the mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, has been identified as Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore whose death has sent shockwaves through the Ivy League campus and beyond.

Cook was among at least two students killed when gunfire erupted near the university's engineering buildings on Saturday, 13 December 2025.

As the suspect remains at large and the investigation continues, tributes and photos shared across social media have painted a portrait of a young woman widely described as compassionate, driven, and full of promise.

Who Was Ella Cook?

Ella Cook was a second-year student at Brown University and originally from Birmingham, Alabama. Friends and classmates described her as deeply engaged in campus life and committed to service, qualities echoed by members of her home church community.

Her death was publicly confirmed during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. The Reverend Craig Smalley told congregants that Cook was 'incredibly grounded and generous and faithful', adding that she was actively involved in worship and community outreach. 'She was such a light and such a witness,' he said, as mourners gathered to honour her life.

'She was engaged and involved in our worship and in our community... such a light and such a witness,' Smalley said during the service.

What Happened at Brown University

The shooting unfolded on Saturday afternoon during a final exam review session inside the Barus and Holley engineering buildings on Brown's campus. University officials issued an immediate active-shooter alert, triggering lockdowns as local and federal law enforcement agencies responded.

Authorities later confirmed that two students were killed and nine others were injured. While early reports suggested an individual of interest had been detained, police have since said no suspect has been formally charged, and the shooter remains at large. The motive has not been disclosed, and investigators continue to follow multiple leads.

Brown University President Christina Paxson described the incident as a day of 'deep tragedy' and urged the campus community to come together in support of those affected.

Remembering a Life Beyond the Headlines

As investigators continue their work, attention has shifted toward remembering those who died rather than speculating about what led to the attack. Identifying Ella Cook has given a human face to a tragedy that has devastated families, friends and an entire academic community.

Those who knew her say the photos circulating online capture only part of who she was: a young woman with ambition, empathy and a future full of possibility. Her loss, they say, will be felt far beyond Brown University.

Social Media and Response

On social networks, praise for Cook has been shared widely, with most users referring to her as a promising young leader whose life was cut short by her studies. Images and remembrances of her effervescent personality and dedication to her community have been shared in some posts.

Following confirmation of Cook's identity, tributes poured in across X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms. Friends shared photos of her smiling at campus events, church gatherings and moments with classmates, describing her as a 'promising young leader' whose life was cut short.

Many posts focused on her kindness and energy, while others called for solidarity with Brown students and families grappling with the aftermath of the violence.

The online response reflected a broader sense of shared grief and renewed calls for action on campus safety and gun violence.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Home News Maine church sues UMC, claims denomination is wrongfully trying to take over property

Quick Summary AI Summary Broad Cove Church in Maine sues UMC New England Annual Conference, claiming wrongful property takeover.

The church alleges the conference is attempting to enforce exclusive affiliation and rewrite bylaws.

Broad Cove seeks a preliminary injunction to prevent UMC from acquiring its property. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A small Maine congregation is suing a regional body of The United Methodist Church, claiming that the mainline denomination is trying to take over its property.

Broad Cove Church of Cushing, a small congregation that identifies as independent, filed a complaint earlier this month against the UMC New England Annual Conference.

According to the complaint, Broad Cove is a non-denominational church that has a working relationship with the UMC in which the denomination sends a pastor, and the church compensates the denomination for the clergy.

But according to Broad Cove, the most recent pastor sent to the church has been trying to rewrite the bylaws to make it an exclusively UMC congregation, reports the Camden, Maine-based Midcoast Villager. The church maintains that its members have never voted to affiliate with the UMC.

"UMC seeks to expand its shrinking holdings by fiat, declaring that Broad Cove is a Methodist-only community and forcing its non-Methodist members either to submit or find other churches," the lawsuit alleges, as quoted by the Villager.

"The UMC demands that Broad Cove knuckle under to the UMC's 'Book of Discipline', with the ultimate goal of seizing Broad Cove's real and personal property."

The congregation is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the UMC acquisition of their property, with a court decision still pending, reports the Villager.

As of Monday, the UMC New England Conference lists Broad Cove as one of its member churches online, with Michael Leonard listed as its current pastor.

The lawsuit claims that Leonard, who became pastor of the church in 2023, began insisting on changes to the Church's building and its congregation's practices, with the ultimate purpose of dragging the unwilling Church into the UMC.

The conflict came to a boil in June 2025 during revision of the Church's bylaws. Leonard insisted that the word 'non-denominational' not be used to describe the church, stated the complaint.

The church members ultimately voted to terminate Leonard's employment, which prompted a letter from the UMC claiming that the property is not owned by the congregation but is held in a UMC trust, according to The Villager. The congregation contends that deeds and other legal records refute the denomination's property claims.

The UMC denomination was founded in 1968 in Dallas, Texas, with the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church.

In recent years, the UMC has seen thousands of member congregations disaffiliate from the denomination due to its internal debate over LGBT issues.

According to numbers compiled by UM News, from 2019 to 2023, over 7,500 mostly theologically conservative churches left the UMC over the ongoing debate.

At the UMC General Conference in 2024, delegates voted to remove the denominational ban on same-sex marriage and non-celibate homosexual ordination from their official rule book, the Book of Discipline.

However, many regional bodies and member congregations within the UMC maintained the biblical standards on sexual ethics, while still more decided to leave the denomination.

In November, a majority of UMC annual conferences had approved a measure known as regionalization, which allows different regional bodies of the denomination to edit parts of the Book of Discipline to fit their cultural context.
Home News Muslims block Christians from celebrating Christmas in Indonesia as police look on

As police looked on, Muslims in West Java Province, Indonesia, on Dec. 14 formed a human wall to block Christians from attending a Christmas service, according to local media.

Muslims from outside Jayasampurna village, Serang Baru Sub-District, Bekasi Regency near Jakarta, blocked the congregation of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestant, HKBP) from celebrating Christmas at a prayer post near the Green Cikarang housing complex.

Videos on social media show police officers and onlookers watching dozens of Muslim men and women holding hands to form the human chain, making anti-Christian comments and shouting the jihadist slogan Allahu Akbar [God is Greatest]. The Muslims held back and pushed members of the church as they struggled to make their way to the prayer post for Christmas services.

We only want to worship peacefully  we have no intention of disturbing anyone, a Christian says in one video.





One of the protestors banners reads, We, the Muslim residents of Jayasempurna village, firmly reject the construction of illegal houses in our neighborhood forever, another video shows.

Muslims from outside the area also blocked the Christians from worship on the two prior Sundays, Dec. 7 and Nov. 30, according to harianterbit.com, which reported the church had used the site for worship for seven years.

Local authorities held a mediation meeting between the conflicting parties on Dec. 15, overseen by the Regent of Bekasi. The parties agreed that the HKBP congregation would hold services temporarily at the Interfaith Harmony Forum office in the city of Jababeka, harianterbit.com reported.

On Dec. 18, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs held a mediation meeting between the two parties, resulting in eight agreements, the official Indonesian news agency Antara reported. The conflicting parties agreed to forgive each other and resolve all permit processes for the construction of prayer posts, and the Ministry of Religion agreed to help the church celebrate Christmas.

Indonesians on social media lamented repeated violations of religious freedom.

Kang [meaning brother, referring to West Java Gov. Dedi Mulyadi) Dedi, dont just stay silent, Bro, wrote rights activist Permadiarya2. This kind of intolerance happens too often in your province, Bro. Year 2025 was the worst year in the history of interfaith tolerance in Indonesia.  Please, policymakers, dont turn a blind eye to this persecution of Christians.  They are not second-class citizens, Sir. They have the same right to worship, and the state is obliged to protect and defend them.

Indonesian society in recent years has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to Open Doors.

This article was originally published by Morning Star News.
Home News Russell Brand charged with additional rape, sexual assault offenses

Quick Summary AI Summary Russell Brand faces additional charges of rape and sexual assault involving 2 women.

The new charges add to earlier allegations involving four women, to which Brand pleaded not guilty.

Brand is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court on Jan. 20 to address the new allegations. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with additional counts of rape and sexual assault after two more women came forward with allegations, Londons Metropolitan Police announced Tuesday.

The new charges, authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service, are in addition to five earlier counts involving four women that Brand pleaded not guilty to in May. The alleged offenses date back more than two decades, from 1999 to 2005.

Brand, 50, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Jan. 20, 2026, to answer the new charges, the BBC reports. His trial on the original charges is set to begin at Southwark Crown Court on June 16, 2026.

The allegations first emerged publicly in September 2023 following a joint investigation by Channel 4's "Dispatches," The Sunday Times and The Times, which featured accounts from multiple women describing incidents of sexual assault, rape and emotional abuse.

Following the initial charges in April 2025, Brand denied the accusations in a video posted on social media, describing himself as a former "fool," "drug addict" and "sex addict" who had since embraced Christianity. He stated, "What I never was, was a rapist," and said he had never engaged in non-consensual activity.

Brand, known for his work as a stand-up comedian, television personality and commentator, has also documented his conversion to Christianity, first reported by The Christian Post, which culminated in a 2024 baptism and continued with the comedian baptizing others.

The Metropolitan Police said the women involved in the reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Home News Sen. Ben Sasse to Christians: Prioritize Jesus and His Coming Kingdom Over America

Sen. Ben Sasse called upon Christians to prioritize their citizenship in the Kingdom of God over their American citizenship, in a June 13 broadcast with Westminster Theological Seminary of California.

"Christians should realize that we have always been living in exile" and this earthly kingdom is not our true home, said Sasse. "We live at a moment where it is very dangerous, and let's just admit that Christians have always been tempted to be forgetful of the work that God has done and the things to which he has called us. But it is very dangerous for us to yearn for a city that has foundations in political entities when we should be yearning for the Church eternal and our coming Redeemer King."

In the interview available online, the Republican senator from Nebraska, a devout evangelical Christian who spoke to the graduating class of seminarians a few days ago, told Westminister Seminary and church history professor Scott Clark that he prioritizes his faith in Jesus Christ above any other calling.

The interview also explored religious freedom issues and American political history.

Noting that many public sectors are in tumult today, Sass emphasized the need for integrity and leadership, such as understanding people's relationship to God and fellow man, and how vocations enable us to serve Him and our neighbors.

He further explained that Christians have many different callings with regard to how to live out their gratitude to God, and stressed the importance of ordering those callings.

"I am a Republican, I am a conservative, currently a U.S. Senator, we all have lots of different callings on Earth. But I think it it very important for us not to forget that we have plural callings nor to get them, misordered in the ranking." said Sasse.

Sasse, a fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, mused that it would be deeply problematic for his loyalties to his favorite team to trump his duties as a husband and father, and half-jokingly welcomed a "slap upside the head" were that to happen.

Also in the interview, Sasse contended that Americans should recover an understanding of both the necessity of government and the limits that should be placed on government power.

"Politics and governance exists to provide a framework for ordered liberty, to preserve a system where people are free from lots of bad things that can happen in a world where people with broken souls  like all of us after the Fall, where folks want to take your life and your liberty and your stuff  people should be protected from that to then go out and pursue the good the true and good and beautiful and actually build community."

Sasse is a fifth generation Nebraskan who was elected in 2014 and has a Ph.D. in American history from Yale.

He's been a strong opponent of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Leaders in the so-called "#NeverTrump" movement asked him to run against Trump as an independent candidate, but Sasse declined.

The senator is married to Melissa Sasse and has three children.
Home News Tucker Carlson crowned 2025 'Antisemite of the Year' by watchdog group

A watchdog group declared that media personality Tucker Carlson is the 2025 "Antisemite of the Year," highlighting the political commentators false statements about Israel and platforming of individuals who are infamous for normalizing prejudice against Jews.

StopAntisemitism, an organization founded in 2018 that says its mission is to expose groups or individuals that incite hatred towards Jews, declared Carlson as the winner in its annual poll. On its website, the group states that the distinct dishonor is reserved for the most bigoted and hateful individual who is crowned the Antisemite of the Year.

The media personality won the dishonor over several other contenders, including the finalists, mixed martial arts fighter Bryce Mitchell and conspiracy theorist Stew Peters.

During an interview earlier this year, Mitchell referred to Adolf Hitler as a good guy in addition to other remarks that downplayed the Holocaust, which he later apologized for after his comments received backlash.

As for Peters, the internet personality shared a poll last December on X that gave users the option of choosing between the Holocaust, Santa and the North Pole, asking them: Which fairytale is more [believable]?

According to a breakdown video explaining the reason Carlson was awarded such a distinction, the group says the former Fox News host turned independent podcaster uses his platform of millions to normalize [antisemitism].

The watchdog group highlighted Carlsons interview with Nick Fuentes, a far-right political commentator and provocateur known for spreading antisemitic rhetoric and lauding Hitler and Stalin.

[Carlson] has built a reputation for giving a platform to dangerous ideas, allowing guests to spread falsehoods and [antisemitic] narratives, StopAntisemitism stated in the breakdown video.

At one point during the interview with Fuentes, the media personality declared that he disliked Christian Zionists  Christians who support Israels right to exist as a Jewish State  more than anyone, declaring that their beliefs are Christian heresy.

[Carlson] has repeatedly amplified [antisemitic] narratives, normalizing prejudice and feeding extremists with familiar, damaging tropes, StopAntisemitism declared in the video, highlighting a clip of Carlsons speech during the September memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona.

StopAntisemitism and several conservative commentators, including Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro, noted that Carlson described the murder of Jesus Christ in a way that sounded as if he meant to imply the Jews or Israel played a role in Kirks assassination.

Speaking on Thursday at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest Conference, Shapiro denounced Carlson for platforming figures like Fuentes, saying that hosts are responsible for the guests they invite on their shows.

During the speech, Shapiro, an Orthodox Jew, warned attendees about several strategies influencers who claim to hold conservative values use to manipulate their audiences and spread conspiracy theories.

There is a reason that Charlie Kirk despised Nick Fuentes and indeed, even chided Dinesh D'Souza for debating him, the Daily Wire host stated. He knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil troll and that building him up is an act of moral imbecility. And that is precisely what Tucker Carlson did.

Shapiro also called out former Daily Wire employee Candace Owens during his speech at the AmericaFest Conference. StopAntisemitism previously crowned Owens as the 2024 "Antisemite of the Year," highlighting the political pundits remarks about the Holocaust, Israel and the Jewish community.

In a social media post at the time, StopAntisemitism reported that Owens won the award via a poll with over 30,000 votes. Other contenders for the award included environmental activist Greta Thunberg and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.

"Once celebrated for her unapologetic takes that catapulted her into the conservative spotlight, Owens was given platforms by prominent Jewish conservatives like Dennis Prager and Ben Shapiro," the group stated.

"But after Hamas' October 7th massacre, she revealed her shocking antisemitism, leading to her departure from Shapiro's Daily Wire and condemnation from PragerU."
Home News UMC regional body can keep breakaway congregation's property, judge rules

A regional body of the United Methodist Church is the rightful owner of an Arkansas church property that belonged to a congregation whose dissafiliation vote was rejected by the conference, a judge has ruled.

The UMC Arkansas Annual Conference announced Tuesday that Special Circuit Judge Gary Arnold ruled in its favor in litigation involving the disputed property of First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro.

"Permanent possession of the historic church campus located at 801 S. Main St. in Jonesboro, Arkansas has been granted to the Arkansas Conference. Special Circuit Judge Gary Arnold will release written in the coming weeks," stated the conference.

Pastor John Miles, the leader of the First Methodist Church of Jonesboro, the breakaway congregation seeking to control the property, said in a video message Monday that he plans to appeal the ruling.

"Unfortunately, the judge ruled against us," said Miles. "This means that we will not be able to resume occupation of 801 South Main for the foreseeable future."

"Our judge has been quite clear that he did not think we had a case from the beginning. Now, I just want to be absolutely clear with you we believe he's in error. We believe we have a strong case. We have our appeal all set up, and we will proceed with that appeal."

FUMC Jonesboro, part of the congregation that remained with the denomination, released a brief statement on its Facebook page approving of the latest decision in the property dispute.

"First United Methodist Church is most grateful for yesterday's Court ruling in favor of the Arkansas Conference and FUMCJ. As we journey forward together, we remain unwavering in our commitment to reconciliation and unity," they stated.

In July 2022, following an 18-month-long discernment process, First UMC voted to disaffiliate from the UMC, with 69% of 1,300 voting members in favor and 31% opposed.

The vote came as the UMC created a pathway for congregations to disaffiliate amid a longstanding debate over the mainline Protestant denomination's stance on homosexuality. In the last few years, over 7,500 churches nationwide have disaffiliated from the UMC, with the approval of their regional conferences.

In November 2022, the Arkansas Conference rejected the results of the First UMC dissafiliation vote while approving the disaffiliation votes of 35 other congregations in the regional body.

The conference also rejected the disaffiliation requests of the First United Methodist Church of Cabot and First United Methodist Church of Searcy. In 2023, the Arkansas Conference would approve the disaffiliation votes of 129 other churches, according to UM News.

In December 2022, the Jonesboro church filed suit against the conference after a second dissafiliation vote was rejected. The UMC conference also suspended Pastor Miles, arguing a second disafiliation vote violated the UMC Book of Discipline.

The breakaway congregation contends that the UMC doesn't have "any legal, beneficial, or equitable interest in any of the real or personal property held by the Jonesboro Church."

Shortly after the church filed the suit, 12 judges recused themselves from the case, citing conflicts of interest or the need to avoid an appearance of impropriety.

The Craighead Circuit Clerk's Office had to request the Arkansas State Supreme Court to assign a special judge to preside over the litigation.

In March 2023, Judge Arnold allowed the lawsuit against the conference to proceed, rejecting a motion to dismiss the complaint and scheduling a trial for January 2024.
Home Opinion I'm with Sen. Josh Hawley. Being pro-life wins elections.

Asinine? That is how a Trump Administration official characterized Sen. Josh Hawleys (R-Mo.) new pro-life PAC.

This uninformed Trump operative believes that being pro-life lost seats in the 2022 post-Dobbs Decision midterm elections. But precisely the opposite is the case. I was the first to suggest right in an earlier Newsmax article that President Trump back off promising federal abortion bans by gestational age of the baby. But that was not because a firm moral position to protect all people equally is unpopular. Its not. Its because a gestational age ban is short-sighted, unethical, and arbitrarily authoritarian. Besides, after Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were overturned by Dobbs, the Court ruled the regulation of abortion is the purview of the states.

Trump began saying just that during his campaign against Biden, redefined the abortion debate without being any less pro-life, and won every single swing state. Not bad. And just for the record, for our little misinformed, courageously anonymous Trump administration spokesperson: ahead of the 2022 midterms, I predicted that any Republican that backed away from their pro-life position would lose. And those who stuck to their moral mettle would win. And they did. To a person, moral cowardice of Republican candidates who refused to stand for the life of the littlest lost big.

One thing is still lacking. During President Trumps 2024 campaign, I also suggested that no additional federal legislation regulating abortion is required to curtail the illicit and demographically devastating abortion industry. He need only encourage his new Attorney General Bondi to do her job and enforce the Comstock Act that forbids shipping abortion pills across state lines. The abortion industry would grind to a screeching halt overnight. Now that would be moral leadership while reinforcing Americas constitutional rule of law and three co-equal separation of powers. If that act is enforced, it is conceivable that in the not-too-distant future, abortion would be rare, paving the way for a boom in the birthrate.

Despite the fact that abortion regulation is the purview of the state, it remains the purview of the federal government to protect all people equally, refusing to exclude any category of person from that responsibility. For the Executive Branch, that simply means enforcing the laws duly enacted by the Legislative Branch.

Be that as it may, I predict that for the 2026 midterms, pro-abortion politicians in charge of the Democrat Party will double down on their moral vision of America with abortion front and center. If Republican candidates refuse to take the lead on the discussion, they will be easily painted as heartless, sexist, morally bankrupt, and authoritarian. Democrats know that moral issues motivate more than money. If Republicans can find it within themselves to lead on the moral issues, as the new party for all people  especially the voiceless preborn and their mothers  they will win.

Sen. Hawley knows that Americans want to see fewer abortions. Americans want to give women a better choice than the abandonment of abortion. Sen. Hawley knows that 70% of women whove had abortions felt coerced or otherwise made the decision against their own beliefs. Sen. Hawley understands that abortion harms women, with chemical abortions (via abortion pills)  now responsible for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in America  sending women to the emergency room at alarming rates and contributing to a record number of brick-and-mortar abortion facilities closing as the industry pivots to mail-order pills.

And to this question of politics, Sen. Hawley either knows or intuitively understands that at heart, morality is not a matter of polling but a matter of fact. It is wrong always and everywhere to separate a baby from his mother for the purpose of ending the life of the baby  to say nothing of the fact that Americas Declaration of Independence rests on this one big beautiful truth, that all people are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, the first of which being life. At best, it is disingenuous for any political candidate to presume to represent all their constituents if they are willing to justify some of those constituents destroying the lives of others.

Sen. Hawley is correct in promoting pro-life candidates because recent election history tells us it is a winning issue. Whoever is whispering these false notions in Trumps ear or presuming to represent the Trump Administration with condescending vitriol might be better suited to be a low-level Democrat Party operative.
Something fundamental has shifted in American attitudes toward higher education. In a startling reversal, 63% of registered voters now believe a four-year college degree isn't worth the cost, according to recent NBC News pollinga dramatic increase from just 47% in 2017 and 40% in 2013.

The numbers tell a story of eroding confidence. Only 33% now agree that a degree is worth the cost, down from 53% just over a decade ago. Even more telling: this sentiment isn't confined to those without degrees. College graduates themselves have flipped, with only 46% now saying obtaining a degree is worth the cost versus 63% in 2013.

"The cost overwhelms the value," explained Jacob Kennedy, a 28-year-old Detroit resident with a two-year degree who now works in the service industry. "You go to school with all that student debtthe jobs you get out of college don't pay that debt, so you have to go find something else that can pay that debt."

"63% of Americans now believe a four-year college degree isn't worth the costup from just 40% in 2013"

The Economics Behind the Skepticism

The mathematics of higher education have fundamentally changed. Tuition has doubled at public colleges and surged 75% at private schools since 1995, while starting salaries for many graduates haven't kept pace.

Research reveals the financial strain is real. Degree holders are spending 23% of their increased earnings on student loan payments, according to new Brookings Institution analysis. For master's degree holders, the burden is even heavier57% of their earnings premium goes toward student debt in the early years after graduation.

Current students feel the pressure acutely. Only one-third (33%) of enrolled students say college is worth the cost, while 29% say it's not worth it and 38% are uncertain, according to a BestColleges survey. Among those graduating, 57% of the Class of 2025 have low expectations for their future after graduation, largely tied to a competitive job market and student loan debt.

The job market has compounded anxieties. Students in the Class of 2024 submitted about 64% more applications per job compared to the Class of 2023, and the Class of 2025 increased applications by another 24%a frenzied response to shrinking opportunities in formerly reliable sectors like technology.

When Degrees Don't Deliver

Not all college investments yield positive returns. Federal Reserve research shows that 25% of college graduates see little return on investment, making less than $10,000 more annually than the median high school graduate. Their rate of return sits at just 2.6% compared to the average of 12.5%.

Field of study matters enormously. Humanities students are less likely than others to expect post-graduation salaries above $60,000 (45% vs. 67%), and they're nearly twice as likely to have no clear salary expectations after graduation.

Sarah Burns, a public policy professional, captured the paradox facing graduates: "It's not valuable because it's brought a bunch of value added, it's valuable because it's the key to even getting in the door. Our society needs to figure out that if we value it, we need to make it affordable."

The Skills-First Alternative

As confidence in traditional degrees wanes, a parallel revolution is underway: the rapid rise of skills-based hiring and alternative credentials.

Research shows that 96% of employers say microcredentials strengthen candidate applications, and 90% are willing to offer higher starting salaries to candidates with recognized credentials. More importantly, 87% of employers have hired someone with microcredentials in the past year.

The salary premium is significant. Employers are willing to offer 10-15% higher starting salaries for credit-bearing credentialseven higher for GenAI skills. Among professionals who earned microcredentials, 28% received a pay raise and 21% earned a promotion after completing their program.

"In 2025, the combination works best: foundational training for core skills plus microcredentials for specific competencies that match your target roles," notes a recent industry analysis.

Employers offer 10-15% higher starting salaries for candidates with recognized microcredentials

The Microcredential Advantage

Microcredentialsfocused certifications that prove competency in specific tools or methodologiesare filling gaps that traditional education left behind. Ninety-two percent of employers note that graduates with microcredentials boast skills that can be immediately applied on the job.

Students are responding enthusiastically. Eighty-five percent of students with microcredentials reported greater confidence in their skills, while 94% said microcredentials fast-track skill development.

Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn, and Indeed have integrated skills assessments directly into job profiles, while bootcamps and online learning providers offer accelerated pathways to employment. Major employers have taken notice: In 2022, IBM reported that 50% of their U.S. job roles no longer required a four-year degree, with improved diversity and retention as a result.

Trade Schools and Apprenticeships Surge

Traditional trades are experiencing a renaissance. Employment in electrical work is expected to grow by 11% this decade, with about 80,200 yearly openings for electricians. Solar and renewable energy fields are creating particularly strong demand.

The appeal is straightforward: earn while you learn, avoid debt, and enter high-demand fields quickly. Trade school programs typically last 6 months to 2 years and cost significantly less than four-year degrees. Graduates often transition directly into paid apprenticeships that serve as continued education.

Jonathan Kibirige's story illustrates the pathway. After moving to the U.S. from Uganda in March 2025, he earned two microcredentials through a biomanufacturing training program. "I got an offer to fully work on a contract [for] one year," Kibirige said. "It's a blessing. The training and the program was a good step for me to get into it."

The Degree Still MattersBut Context Is Everything

Despite the skepticism, data shows degrees still provide significant lifetime value for most graduates. Workers with a bachelor's degree earn on average 61% more than high school graduates (compared to 40% more in 1990), while those with graduate degrees earn 89% percent more.

California workers with a bachelor's degree earn a median annual wage of $90,000, while typical college graduates nationwide earn roughly $80,000 versus $47,000 for those with only a high school diplomaa 68% premium.

But the value equation depends heavily on three factors:

Institution type: About a quarter of CSU and UC students took out loans in 2022-23, compared to 43% at four-year nonprofit private colleges and almost two-thirds at four-year for-profit colleges. Students from for-profit colleges are most likely to default on loans and have lower wages even when they graduate.

Time to completion: Taking an extra one to two years to get your degree adds considerably to the cost, both in additional tuition and higher opportunity costs from delayed career entry.

Field of study: Returns vary dramatically by major, with STEM and business fields generally outpacing humanities and social sciences.

A Generational Divide on Debt

Views on college affordability differ sharply by age and experience. Only 22% of Americans say the cost of a four-year college degree is worth it even if someone has to take out loans, while 47% say it's worth it only without loans, and 29% say it's not worth it at all.

Young adults ages 18 to 29 are more likely than older counterparts to say the cost is worth it only without loans (55%), compared with 48% of those 30 to 49 and 44% of those 50 and older.

The sentiment reflects lived experience with debt. More than four-in-ten adults who attended college took out student loans, and many are still paying them off years or decades later.

What Students Are Choosing Instead

Faced with mounting costs and uncertain returns, students are pursuing alternatives:

Accelerated programs: Students are racing to complete degrees in three years instead of four, trimming costs by 25% and entering the workforce faster.

Community college transfers: Starting at community colleges and transferring to four-year institutions saves thousands in tuition while providing the same credential.

Gap years with purpose: Rather than enrolling immediately after high school, more students are working, earning credentials through bootcamps, or pursuing apprenticeships before deciding whether to pursue a degree.

Hybrid pathways: Combining work experience, microcredentials, and selective coursework to build portfolios that demonstrate capability without the four-year commitment.

The Confidence Crisis

Beyond economics, higher education faces a deeper crisis of legitimacy. According to a Gallup poll, only 35% said going to college is "very important"a record lowdown from 51% in 2019 and 75% in 2010.

Preston Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, observed that the traditional view about bachelor's degrees paying off has eroded. Students are now more interested in pathways that get them into the labor force quickly rather than taking on the risk of multi-year degree programs.

The life sciences sector exemplifies the shift toward skills verification. "A lot of the work in the life sciences, you don't need a degree to do," said Jared Auclair, dean of Northeastern's College of Professional Studies, who advocates moving toward skills-based resumes.

What Employers Really Want

The labor market is evolving faster than higher education can adapt. The World Economic Forum predicts that 59% of workers will require retraining by 2030 as artificial intelligence, automation, and technological advancement transform industries.

Ninety-two percent of employers are more likely to hire a candidate with a GenAI microcredential than one without one, reflecting how quickly skill priorities are changing. Traditional four-year curricula struggle to keep pace with these rapid shifts.

Skills-based hiring removes barriers for diverse talent. By focusing on demonstrated competency rather than credentials, employers access candidates from non-traditional backgrounds including bootcamps, self-learning, and industry certifications. This approach also supports diversity, equity, and inclusion goals while expanding talent pools.

The Path Forward

The skills revolution doesn't signal the death of higher educationit represents its transformation. The most successful educational pathways in 2025 and beyond will likely combine elements of traditional and alternative approaches:

Stackable credentials that build progressively toward degrees while providing immediate workforce value

that build progressively toward degrees while providing immediate workforce value Industry partnerships that align curriculum with real employer needs and provide guaranteed pathways to employment

that align curriculum with real employer needs and provide guaranteed pathways to employment Flexible formats including online, hybrid, and competency-based models that accommodate working adults

including online, hybrid, and competency-based models that accommodate working adults Transparent ROI data helping students make informed decisions about which programs offer genuine value

Most California parents (71%) want their children to graduate from college with at least a bachelor's degree, yet about seven in ten (69%) worry about being able to afford a college education. This tensionbetween aspirations and affordabilitydefines the current moment.

A New Definition of Educational Success

The question is no longer simply "Is college worth it?" but rather "Which educational pathway will provide the best return for this individual student, in this field, at this institution, leading to these outcomes?"

For some, traditional four-year degrees remain the optimal choice, particularly in fields requiring deep theoretical knowledge, professional licensure, or graduate school preparation. For others, alternative pathwaystrade schools, apprenticeships, bootcamps, or microcredentialsoffer faster, more affordable routes to rewarding careers.

The skills revolution recognizes a fundamental truth: there are multiple pathways to success, and the credential should match the career goal rather than following a prescribed formula.

As one recent graduate put it, success should be measured not by the pedigree of your degree, but by whether your education equipped you with skills that employers value, at a cost that doesn't cripple your financial future.

The revolution isn't about abandoning higher educationit's about demanding it deliver on its promises of opportunity and mobility. In 2025, that increasingly means proving value through skills, not just diplomas.
It began with door knockers  the all-too-familiar practice of roofing companies telling homeowners that they could get a new roof with little or no out-of-pocket expense.

North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance, the second-largest property insurer in the state with some 500,000 policies in force, for years had fielded complaints that some roofers were actually causing damage to roofs to make it appear that wind or hail had caused the problem  just enough for the homeowner to file an insurance claim. One contractor went so far as to tell a policyholder that the insurance company actually wanted him to file a claim and get a new roof. It was one of many solicitation attempts at the same house in just a few months time.

But the states insurance commissioner explained at a conference that it is difficult to prosecute roofers unless they are caught in the act of mechanically or deliberately damaging the roof, Farm Bureau officials said.

Thats when Farm Bureaus leadership approached the North Carolina Department of Insurance with an offer. The insurer had access to a home in Raleigh that could serve as a bait house, ideal for a sting operation, said Todd Childers, senior claims executive for the carrier.

Within weeks, the sting operation was in business. Investigators with the DOI set up surveillance, ready to secretly video-record roofers inspecting shingles. Farm Bureau had engineering experts inspect the roof before and after the roofers went to work. One roofing contractor in Raleigh stood out, and was filmed repeatedly bending the asphalt shingles, apparently to simulate wind uplift, and hammering away on spots in order to claim hail indentations.

It seems that the roofing industry has some bad actors, Childers told Insurance Journal. But there are a lot of good roofing companies, too.

Last week, North Carolina authorities charged Robert Allen Bentley, a senior project manager with A&M Premier Roofing and Construction, with insurance fraud after he was reportedly videotaped manipulating roof shingles at the bait house.

Its the first time NC Farm Bureau has participated in a roof sting operation, Childers said. The DOI has set up a few similar stings, including one in 2020 in which a roofer had his case dropped after he agreed to reimburse the insurance company $30,694, explained Barry Smith, spokesperson for the DOI. He said Commissioner Mike Causey is committed to more investigations, has tripled the number of special agent fraud investigators, and has hired a team of special prosecutors to assist local district attorneys in cracking down on fraudulent actors.

Officials with DOI and Farm Bureau said more bait houses are likely in 2026.

We intend to aggressively investigate any fraud activity were aware of, Childers said. We know one arrest is not going to make this go away. But it can help educate policyholders to this type of scheme.

The idea could spread to other states and other insurers: The news of the arrest has created a buzz in the property insurance industry, with carriers calling Farm Bureau for more information. Some insurance defense attorneys have for years argued that state insurance departments and insurers across the country should take steps, Farm Bureau said, and the initial success of the North Carolina sting may lead to more action.

Without direct video evidence, prosecutions can be tricky, Childers noted. Policyholders often have no idea that roof workers may have deliberately damaged their homes, and cant serve as good witnesses. The cause of apparent creasing or dents in shingles may come down to a battle of expert witnesses. And if it cant be proven that the damage was based in fraud, the carrier may end up paying the claim anyway, especially if the policy covers vandalism.

One potential angle of attack for insurers, he noted, may be to show that contractors who find damage and detail the exact amount of a claim may be guilty of engaging in claims adjusting without an adjusters license.

One thing is certain, Childers said. Roof claims and roof fraud appear to be on the rise. In recent years, homeowner claims for roof damage have increased sharply. Roof fraud is a growing problem in the U.S., he said.

NC Farm Bureau now sees about 220,000 claims each year and about 55,000 of those are homeowner claims. After Hurricane Helene pounded the western part of North Carolina in 2024, the carrier saw about 17,000 claims, most of which were for wind damage on roofs, he noted.

Fraudulent roof claims and resulting claims lawsuits may not be as easy to perpetrate in North Carolina as they have been in some states. North Carolina law does not allow assignment-of-benefit agreements without the carriers consent. The property insurance industry has long considered assignments of benefits, or AOBs, to be a major contributor to door-knocker roof solicitations and fraudulent or exaggerated roof claims in some states, particularly Florida, which saw an explosion of claims litigation in the mid 2010s and early 2020s.

Florida lawmakers famously began taking steps to limit AOBs as early as 2019, then outlawed the agreements altogether in late 2022. Those statutory changes have had a significant impact on questionable roof claims, Florida insurance leaders have said.

Childers suggested that after Floridas reforms, some of those Florida-based roofing companies appear to have moved north, looking for opportunities in other states. The award-winning A&M Premier Roofing, whose co-founder moved from Florida before launching the roof business in Raleigh and other Carolina cities, could not be reached for comment, despite several attempts by Insurance Journal.
Alternative investment managers are starting to take a serious interest in catastrophe bonds tied to wildfires, moving into a risk category that just a few years ago was seen as too difficult to model.

More than $5 billion of cat bonds with some level of exposure to wildfire risk were issued by insurers and sold to investors this year, according to Artemis, a specialist in insurance-linked securities that tracks market trends. Thats more than twice the level in 2024, with previous years seeing just a smattering of individual bond sales in the tens of millions of dollars.

Though still small, wildfire bonds helped drive a record $23 billion bounce in overall 2025 cat-bond issuance, Artemis says, putting the total market on track to end the year at about $60 billion. Acrisure Re, a reinsurance broker, says the shift in bond investor sentiment toward wildfire risk follows improvements in modeling, which it says have encouraged fund managers to move into a once untouchable risk category.

Dirk Schmelzer, senior fund manager at Plenum Investments AG, says the development may point to a more fundamental shift in how some cat bonds get structured in the years ahead, with the ferocity of wildfires leaving the insurance industry ever more reliant on capital markets.

Historically, wildfire exposure was included within a mix of earthquake and hurricane risk, Schmelzer said. Now, its become such a big peril in the market, its worth placing that risk on a standalone basis.

Interest in wildfire cat bonds has been led in large part by developments in California, where severe back-to-back fire seasons have made reinsurance against such blazes prohibitively expensive. The flames that swept through Los Angeles in January destroyed more than 16,000 buildings and caused a record $40 billion in insured losses.

The LA fires were a major reason why global insured losses from natural disasters soared past $100 billion in 2025, marking the sixth consecutive year in which that threshold has been exceeded.

Hardly any of those losses affected cat bond investors, however, with Fitch Ratings initial estimate indicating the setback they absorbed was less than $250 million in total.

But as climate-fueled urban fires become a more regular occurrence, insurers and utilities are increasingly looking for ways to offload their risk to capital markets.

Notable examples include a debut wildfire cat bond issued by the California FAIR Plan Association, the states insurer of last resort. The bond, which priced this month, is set to raise $750 million in wildfire cover, triple the initial target, according to a person familiar with the deal who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. Its the largest pure wildfire cat bond ever brought to market, the person said.

Other wildfire-prone regions also are weighing the use of cat bonds. Colorado lawmakers have put forward legislation that would open the door to using such financial instruments to manage growing wildfire risks in the state.

In Europe, where the fire season also is expanding, the European Central Bank and the regions insurance authority have backed using cat bonds to complement insurance facilities and provide prompt liquidity for reconstruction after disasters.

The ability to structure financial products around wildfire risk is improving thanks to upgrades to models produced by firms including Moodys Corp., Verisk Analytics Inc. and Karen Clark & Co. Artificial intelligence is helping modelers crunch data to come up with more reliable loss estimates.

For cat bonds, it translates to more informed pricing and broader investor participation, which we have clearly observed in the surge of 2024-2025 wildfire-exposed deals, Acrisure Re said.

Even so, risk premiums on wildfire cat bonds are considerably higher than those for more traditional bonds based on risks such as hurricanes. In 2025, wildfire cat bonds priced at six to eight times the estimated loss probability, compared with multiples of two to four for bonds tied to better-understood risks such as U.S. windstorms, according to Acrisure Re.

Issuers with good data and prudent structures will continue to draw investors, the firm said. But poorly understood wildfire risks still face a high cost of capital.

The models being used remain less mature and less empirically calibrated than those for major wind or quake events, according to Dirk Lohmann, vice chairman of ILS at Schroders Plc. This holds particularly true for wildfire risk, he said.

The Broader Market

More broadly, cat bonds are expected to see tighter spreads in 2026, which partly reflects the fact that investors didnt suffer any major losses. Hurricane Melissa, which ripped through Jamaica and triggered the islands $150 million cat bond, missed the U.S. and left the main market unaffected.

The Swiss Re Global Cat Bond Performance Index is up roughly 11% in 2025, compared with about 7% in a Bloomberg index tracking U.S. corporate bonds, and 6% in US Treasuries. The S&P 500 index is up about 15% this year. Continued demand for cat bonds also rests in their ability to act as a diversifier in portfolios. When markets tanked in response to tariff announcements in April, for example, cat bonds sailed through unscathed.

Primary issuance in 2026 is expected to be heavy, as lower spreads reduce the cost of issuance, according to Twelve Securis, an asset manager focused on insurance-linked securities and cat bonds.

The reinsurance market also is expected to push additional risks and so-called secondary perils into the capital markets, says Etienne Schwartz, chief investment officer of liquid strategies at Twelve Securis.

Whether we like it or not is a different question, he said. But that is the trend for 2026.

This year also saw the launch of the worlds first cat bond exchange-traded fund. The Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF (ticker ILS), which failed to get a lead market maker when it went public in April, has since started drawing in client money. Assets in the ETF have risen to about $30 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, exceeding the break-even mark of $25 million.

I think by the end of the first quarter we should comfortably be at $50 million, said Ethan Powell, chief investment officer of Texas-based Brookmont.

And King Ridge Capital Advisors is now planning to launch a cat bond ETF in Europe. According to Rick Pagnani, co-founder and chief executive officer of King Ridge, its an opportune time to pursue a European ETF.

Top photo: A firefighter hoses down a burning house during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California on Jan. 8. Photographer: Michael Nigro/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Ride-hailing firms and technology companies around the world are racing to deploy driverless taxis, betting that robotaxis will reshape urban transport and unlock new growth as regulation gradually opens up.

From China and the U.S. to Europe and the Middle East, companies are moving from pilots and safety-driver trials toward limited commercial rollouts, often in partnership with local authorities and fleet operators.

The eventual goal is to make urban transport safer and more affordable by cutting human error, reducing labor costs and enabling round-the-clock operations.

Here are some of the major robotaxi tests, trials and operations globally:

Uber, Lyft and Baidu

Uber and Lyft partnered with Chinese tech company Baidu in December to test its Apollo Go RT6 vehicles for self-driving taxi trials in the UK next year.

Wayve

Wayve, a British self-driving tech firm backed by SoftBank and Nvidia, partnered with Uber in August 2024 to bring AI to start advanced trials in the UK with plans to begin driverless tests in 2026.

WeRide

WeRide and Uber launched Level 4 fully driverless robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi in November, and a month later started robotaxi passenger rides on Ubers platform in Dubai. A fully driverless commercial rollout in Dubai is expected in early 2026.

The company said it has started testing its robotaxis in Singapore, while its AV ride service, Ai.R is in trials ahead of an early-2026 public rollout.

The Chinese firm also secured a driverless robotaxi permit in Switzerland in November, and started services on Ubers platform in Riyadh in October. Earlier this year, it began services in Guangzhou and Beijing.

Zoox

Amazons self-driving arm Zoox began offering free rides to select early users in parts of San Francisco, the company said in November.

It also launched its autonomous ride-hailing service on and around the Las Vegas Strip in September, offering rides to the public for free while waiting for state approval to collect fares.

Baidu

Baidus Apollo Go partnered UAE-based autonomous mobility company Autogo in November to test self-driving vehicles in Abu Dhabi with the citys Integrated Transport Centre, with plans to expand and start commercial operations by 2026.

In China, Baidu had secured the first permits to commercially offer fully driverless robotaxi services in August 2022, allowing Apollo Go to operate without safety drivers in Chongqing and Wuhan. Since then, it has expanded to Shenzhen and Beijing.

The company also secured a permit to test its Apollo Go robotaxi in Hong Kong in November 2024.

It also partnered with Swiss Posts PostBus in October to launch the AmiGo robotaxi service in eastern Switzerland, with full operations targeted for early 2027.

Waymo

Alphabets self-driving unit, Waymo, said in October it will launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in London in 2026.

The company rolled out services in Phoenix in October 2020, San Francisco in June 2024, and Los Angeles in November 2024.

In Tokyo, it partnered with Japanese taxi and limousine operator Nihon Kotsu in April to test autonomous vehicles in Tokyo, with drivers manually operating the cars during the initial phase in seven Tokyo wards.

Pony.ai

Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai launched paid robotaxi services in Guangzhou in February, in Shanghai in August, and received Shenzhens first city-wide permit in October.

It also began testing its seventh-generation robotaxis in Beijing in July.

In January, the company said it planned to provide robotaxi operations in Hong Kong, initially serving airport staff within Hong Kong International Airport.

Tesla

Tesla began a limited paid robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas, in June, using Model Y SUVs within a restricted city area, requiring a safety monitor onboard. The Elon Musk-led company is testing its vehicles without safety monitors.

The company also operates a ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area, and received a permit in November to operate in Arizona.

Momenta

Momenta partnered with Singapore-based Grab in December, in a deal that also included an undisclosed investment from Grab.

The company also teamed up with Mercedes-Benz and UAE taxi operator Lumo to launch a luxury robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi in December. Operations are slated to begin in 2026, with plans to expand to other global markets.

(Reporting by Arnav Mishra and Anhata Rooprai and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Leroy Leo)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After Gov. Mike DeWine signed sweeping marijuana and hemp regulations into law last week, opponents are launching a campaign to stop the measure by putting it to statewide vote. But it will be no easy feat.

The coalition Ohioans for Cannabis Choice announced plans Friday to pursue a citizen referendum challenging Senate Bill 56, which DeWine signed into law that same day.

The law includes sweeping regulations on intoxicating hemp productsincluding hemp beveragesand adjusts Ohios recreational marijuana laws.

It will take effect in 90 daysthe same deadline petitioners have to submit roughly a quarter of a million signatures from across the state to place a referendum on the ballot.

The Ohio Constitution grants Ohioans the ability to overturn a law passed by the General Assembly through a citizen-led referendum. This applies to most laws, though emergency measures, tax levies, and appropriations are exempt.

To begin the process, Ohioans for Cannabis Choice must first file an initial written petition signed by at least 1,000 Ohio registered voters to the Secretary of State, along with the full text of the law or section of the law to be referred, a title, and a summary of the measure. A copy of the petition with the full text and summary must also be filed with the Attorney General.

If the petition is certified by both the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, they can then begin gathering signatures to qualify for the ballotequal to 6% of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, or roughly 250,000 signatures. Those signatures must come from at least 44 of Ohios 88 counties.

SB 56 forcefully defies the will of the voters of Ohio, who spoke clearly on this issue, and denies the people of Ohio the freedom to use these products for their personal use, said Dennis Willard, spokesperson for the coalition, in a text message.

Willards statement refers to Issue 2, a citizen-led campaign that legalized recreational marijuana in 2023.

Within days of its passage, DeWine began calling for lawmakers to approve new restrictions on THC products. In particular, the governor has expressed concern over hemp-derived THC products such as gummies that mimic candy marketed to children.

After years of legislative back-and-forth, DeWine signed SB 56 into law last week.

As passed by the General Assembly, SB 56 would have effectively outlawed non-drink intoxicating hemp products when it takes effect in 90 days. A grace period would have allowed hemp beverages infused with up to 5 milligrams of THC to continue to be sold until the end of next year.

But DeWine vetoed that grace period on drinks, meaning THC-infused beverages will also be banned beginning in March.

Related: DeWine vetoes grace period for hemp THC drinks, making them illegal in March

Other hemp regulations in SB 56 remained untouched by DeWines veto pen. Those mirror changes passed by Congress last month by prohibiting sales of all hemp-based items with more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC short for tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive drug in cannabis  per container, as well as those containing synthetic cannabinoids, outside of a licensed marijuana dispensary.

In addition to the hemp measures, SB 56 would make some significant changes to Ohios recreational marijuana law, passed by voters in 2023.

This includes prohibiting people from bringing marijuana into Ohio from other states, allowing landlords to ban marijuana smoking, vaping, or growing on their property, forbidding people in Ohio from growing, cultivating or possession homegrown marijuana on behalf of another person, and more.

We are launching a referendum campaign to go directly to the voters. We believe voters will say no to government overreach, no to closing 6,000 small businesses and pink-slipping thousands of workers across the state, and no to once again recriminalizing hemp and marijuana, said Willard.

The governor also issued a second veto related to marijuana that would have disqualified those with felonies from working in the marijuana industry. In his veto message, DeWine said the Division of Cannabis Control already has rules in place that prevent people with felony drug offenses, felony theft offenses, and other crimes indicating a person is not fit to work within a highly regulated industry from obtaining employment in cannabis businesses.

The governor explained that he was concerned that the language may be overly broad and cause workers who have worked in the marijuana industry for years to lose their jobs.

If the referendum is approved, SB 56 will not take effect until a statewide vote on the legislation can be held. The referendum would appear on the next general election ballot, with a majority vote needed to block the law.

This story has been updated to reflect the correct referendum verification process.
by Christopher Hall

This business of a poet, said Imlac, is to examine, not the individual, but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances. He does not number the streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades of the verdure of the forest. He is to exhibit in his portraits of nature such prominent and striking features as recall the original to every mind, and must neglect the minuter discriminations, which one may have remarked and another have neglected, for those characteristics which are alike obvious to vigilance and carelessness. Johnson, Rasselas

If poets are to take Imlacs advice  and Im not necessarily sure they should  then the proper season for doing so must be winter. No streaks of the tulip to distract us, and the verdure of the forest has been restricted to a very limited palette. Then the snow comes, and the world becomes a suggestion of something hidden, accessible only to memory or anticipation, like a toy under wrapping. Perhaps general properties and large appearances are accessible to us only as we gradually delete the details of life; we certainly dont seem to have much access to them directly. This is knowledge by negation; winter is the supreme season for apophatic thinking.

In the poems Im going to look at here, when snow comes, it often comes precisely as this kind of obliterator of detail, but it would be difficult to consistently see a restorative counter-movement toward the knowledge of nature and modes of life, as Imlac says later. Sometimes negation is only that, and loss is loss. Robert Penn Warrens Love Recognized opens with deadening repetition and lack of precision:

There are many things in the world and you

Are one of them. Many things keep happening and

You are one of them, and the happening that

Is you keeps falling like snow

On the landscape of not-you, hiding hideousness, until

The streets and the world of wrath are choked with snow.

Many things in the world, Many things keep happening  the stammering opening is in the language of someone not sure how to articulate something, hoping that simply by rearranging the same words and making a few minor additions some meaning may be aimed at. The division made here between self and world is the simplest possible: you verses not-you. But at least the snow comes to hide hideousness and the world of wrath.

How many things have become silent? Traffic

Is throttled. The mayor

Has been, clearly, remiss, and the city

Was totally unprepared for such a crisis. Nor

Was I  yes, why should this happen to me?

I have always been a law-abiding citizen.

The cities I have lived in  Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa  are usually prepared for a snow onslaught, with the notable exception being Toronto in 1999, when a massive storm resulted, to the delight of every non-Torontonian Canadian, in the armed forces being called in. The effect of snowfall on a large city, however well-prepared, is always dramatic. There is nothing quite like silence where one is accustomed to noise, and that throttling of traffic results in cars making their way, cautious and lonely, towards a home where everybody has bottled themselves up. Its an odd, but I think entirely appropriate, metaphor for love.

But you, like snow, like love, keep falling.

And it is not certain that the world will not be

covered in a glitter of crystalline whiteness.

Silence.

Again we have definition by absence and negation: not certain, will not be covered. And that final Silence  when we recognize love, do we recognize it like this, as the absence of something else? Perhaps it is enough that this crystalline whiteness brings something like calm.

If we are looking at the relation between forms of negation and snow, we of course must encounter Wallace Stevens The Snow Man, and the mind of winter with which it opens:

One must have a mind of winter

To regard the frost and the boughs

Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time

To behold the junipers shagged with ice,

The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun;

That must have at the opening might imply something not yet achieved; these lines are not starved of detail, with their pine trees and junipers shagged with ice and spruces rough in the distant glitter. Emptiness seems to get closer after the semi-colon:

and not to think

Of any misery in the sound of the wind,

In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land

Full of the same wind

That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow,

And, nothing himself, beholds

Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

The poem dramatizes what Penn Warren only hints at: the transition between the you and the not-you. In Penn Warrens poem, we are part of the many things in the world, but there is also, it seems, a not-you into which we can fall. The repetitions of the words sound and wind in Stevenss poem prepares us for the King Lear-esque repetition of the word nothing at the end. We are enjoined not to give in to the pathetic fallacy, to assign the human emotion misery to the sound of the wind and the leaves, and then we are taken a step further  immersion into the nothing of the scene. This would take us to somewhere where perception exists, but the subject does not  something we can only ever approximate, of course.

Mark Strands poem Snowfall echoes the threefold repetition in Stevens poem:

Watching snow cover the ground, cover itself,

cover everything that is not you, you see

it is the downward drift of light

upon the sound of air sweeping away the air,

it is the fall of moments into moments, the burial

of sleep, the down of winter, the negative of night.

Penn Warrens stuttering towards articulation here becomes a mere rejection of verbal variety in a world so transformed it simply doesnt need many different words to describe it. Again, we see the appearance of the not you  the landscape defined by absence, not presence. The fall, as in Penn Warrens poem, is a transition to a new state, one which can be tentatively described in positives  the burial of sleep, the down of winter  but which ultimately is defined as the negation of something: the negative of night. Not to say that this isnt a precise image: snow falling at nighttime has its own kind of eeriness, a light that doesnt come from anywhere and seems like it should not be there.

Stevenss and Strands poems evoke, for me at least, something like an unsettling calm  a calm too close to death. Nothing like that is present in Louis MacNieces poem Snow:

The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was

Spawning snow and pink roses against it

Soundlessly collateral and incompatible:

World is suddener than we fancy it.

World is crazier and more of it than we think,

Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion

A tangerine and spit the pips and feel

The drunkenness of things being various.

Winter is an odd time for things to become suddenly rich, but thats perhaps the point  only in such moments do we recognize that the world is in fact incorrigibly plural, incapable of the kinds of negations weve been looking at in other poems. If, however, theres a level of jauntiness in these opening lines, the poem gets into darker shades as it closes:

And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world

Is more spiteful and gay than one supposes

On the tongue on the eyes on the ears in the palms of ones hands

There is more than glass between the snow and the huge roses.

MacNeice enacts the plural nature of world by refusing to give it a definite article, but theres also a hint of the kind of failure of articulation weve seen in the other poems. The word spiteful comes at us without context, and its difficult to find the emotional center of the cryptic final time. The bay-window which separates the snow and the roses enacts a more permanent kind of separate between the inside and the outside, the self and the world. Where does the sudden beauty of a perception on the tongue on the eyes in the ears in the palms of ones hands lead us to? Not, it seems, to any kind of ecstatic union with world  you and not you remain insoluble categories. One may cover the other, but they may not merge. The emptying of detail took us close to something  again, perhaps not quite Imlacs general properties  but the mind cannot empty itself of itself  no perception without a subject. We are driven, and perhaps endlessly distracted, by those streaks on the tulip.

The mythologies of the time of year around the solstice  only a few hours away as I write this  are replete with the sudden emergence of light, and salvation, into a world of darkness. But Ive reflected recently that if salvation does not come with calm, it isnt worth much. And so perhaps these mythologies ought better to remind us not to hope for light but to luxuriate in the calmness of the world, its new lack of busyness and the clutter of details.

But, as Freud reminded us, to desire calm is to desire death, the final cure for all neurosis. We can only approach that thing defined by negation  the not-you  by eliminating the you altogether, a moment of exstasis hard-achieved if it is to come without actual death. As we careen into another new year, one no doubt to be just as filled with sumptuously pestiferous distractions and trivialities as the last few have been, I will try to remind myself of two things: if youre anxious, at least you know youre still alive, and that if spring comes, winter cant be far behind.

***

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by Tim Sommers

Id rather entrust the government to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory, William Buckley once said, than to the faculty of Harvard University. If we can put aside his right-reactionary politics and look past the performative anti-intellectualism on display here (from a Yalie!), there is the seed of an interesting question here. Could we replace elections with random selections?

A recent mini-movement among political philosophers has answered, yes, we could. Arguably the leader of this movement, Alexander Guerrero, author of Lotacracy: Democracy Without Elections (2024), has gone further arguing we should eliminate voting in favor of a lottery system to appoint our political representatives. Heres Guerrero describing his view and its advantages.

We would be better off using randomly chosen citizens, selected to serve on single-issue legislatures (each covering, say, transportation or education or agriculture), who would learn about the relevant issues in detail and engage with each other over an extended period of time to make policy decisions. Instead of a generalist legislature like Congress, we would have 30 single-issue legislatures, each with 300 randomly-chosen citizen legislators serving three-year terms. A true random selection of citizens age 18 and up could be established using mechanisms like those used for jury selection. Those selected wouldnt be required to serve, but a significant salary, the promise to accommodate family and work requirements, and the sense that service is a civic duty and honor should encourage them. Without elections, we would lose the sense that our team wins or loses. We wouldnt have teams in the same way. Moving away from a generalist legislative process opens up places for us to identify issues on which we agree rather than having our attention concentrated on those few issues that most deeply divide us. Without campaign promises, political ads and re-elections, we could finally move beyond the capture and control of political institutions by wealthy corporate interests. This would truly return democratic control to the people.

I am not a huge fan of this view, but I have to say Guerrero deserves a lot of credit for his tightly argued, imaginative work. As John Rawls emphasized in developing his own theory of justice as fairness, the best way to evaluate ethical and normative political views is to have well-developed, comprehensive alternatives to compare. Guerrero has certainly developed  across 464 pages  a comprehensive alternative to democracy as currently practiced. Also, props to Guerrero for the bravado involved in even imaging an alternative to conventional democratic politics  especially in such detail.

Lotacracy is not entirely unprecedented. Athens had one. Sort of. Our current jury system can be seen that way. And there have been recent experiments with lotacracy around the world, for example, in Canada. But these lotteries have been been quite limited, deliberative rather than legislative, and advisory only.

Guerrero says he has four main reasons to prefer lotteries to elections. (But I think he has at least five.) (1) Under the current system elected officials are too easily captured and controlled by economic and special interests. (2) We are unduly, disastrously even, focused on the short term. Politicians need to win the next election, and given that most voters know very little about policy, its much easier to move from election to election doing very little policy, especially long-term policy, and, then, in any case just lying about what your policies are or were. One possible solution to that is robust, independent executive agencies staffed by subject-matter experts and not political appointees. (In the U.S., of course, we dont do that anymore and our Supreme Court has decided its mostly unconstitutional (unless its the Fed).) (3) Party-based democracy, by putting people on opposing teams, ends up being divisive and polarizing. (4) With so much wealth equality, democracy turns into oligarchy very quickly. But I agree with Niko Kolodny that the real master argument behind Guerreros view, is argument (5) that lotacracy is better at problem-solving than representative democracy. Guerrero even refers to democracy as a technology  presumably to emphasize to argue that it is a kind of tool made by people to solve a problem or problems  and her sees lotacracy as simply an opposed technology.

I wont attempt any detailed criticism of these main points, Kolodny has already done that admirably, so, instead of negative criticisms I want to make two positive counterarguments.

Heres the first. While only about half the countries in the world probably count as real democracies, every nation in the world  except Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Brunei, and the Vatican City  claims to be a democracy. So, why do China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and the Congo claim to be democracies?

Forget philosophy for a minute. Everybody loves a winner.

The best argument for democracy is empirical. Democracy is seen as having been the most successful form of government on all sorts of measures: personal freedoms, social mobility, economic success, life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, education, and keeping the peace. Set against the many detailed failures of democracies to actually, always achieve all of these ends, the old saw from Churchill feels sharper than ever. Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

To be clear, I did not just prove that democracy works better on all these more or less objective measures. I only suggested that if it does, that this is probably going to be the best argument you will get for it. And though I cant prove it here, democracy, I think, is going to a win pair-wise comparison with any other system, even if we dont know exactly why; i.e., even if we dont know the secret of democracys success.

Before I get to my second counter arguments, a little philosophy. There are basically two kinds of arguments available in favor of democracy. Instrumental arguments (like the one I just gestured at) say democracy is valuable because of its results. Mostly, the argument is that democracy gives the best answers or makes the right decision more often, though another version of this argument is that democracy makes the people that live under it better people.

But you could offer a defense of democracy as intrinsically good. Maybe, democracy is fundamentally about freedom, and whatever the effects, people have a basic right to some kind of equal, or at least fair, participation in their political community. Or maybe democracy is fundamentally about equality. Not having democracy may be a kind of relational inequality. In either case, democracy is good independently of its effects.

But there is yet a third, skeptical, way to approach this. Let me use an example. If you think of the government as a technology for problem solving, as Guerrero does, why not prefer epistocracy, rule by the knowledgeable? Lets have only the knowledgeable vote or give them extra votes, for example.

But, wait, who are the knowledgeable? Shall we vote on that?

Democracy doesnt look like a problem-solving machine, to me. Its more of a way to prevent any one person, or group, from amassing too much power and controlling the rest of us.

Modern democracy was born out of the partial, attempted separation of political from economic power. This is what the enemies of democracy  from fascism to totalitarian socialism  have in common. They want to concentrate, and not disperse, power and power relations.

But reconfiguring a democratic society to run on lotteries instead of elections would be the greatest concentration of power in one place since the birth of the modern state. Who controls the lottery controls the state.

The error of technocracy is the fantasy that we can turn human problems into technological ones. To do that we would need to be able to step outside of, or rise above, politics and every day social life. There is no outside of politics. And, in this case, once in place, there is no outside the lottery.
U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Navy's "Golden Fleet" at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 22, 2025.

President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. will keep crude oil and tankers seized near Venezuela.

"We're going to keep it," Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida after unveiling a new class of battleships named after himself.

"Maybe we'll sell it, maybe we'll keep it, maybe we'll use it in the strategic reserve," Trump said of the seized oil. "We're keeping the ships also."

Trump has ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela as he escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. seized a large tanker on Dec. 10 that was carrying more than 1 million barrels of oil, according energy consulting firm Kpler. It intercepted a second vessel over the weekend. Trump confirmed Monday that the U.S. is pursuing a third tanker.

"It's moving along. We'll end up getting it," Trump said of the tanker. "It came from the wrong location. It came out of Venezuela, and it was sanctioned."

Trump said "it would be smart" for Maduro to step down when asked whether his ultimate goal is to oust the Venezuelan president.

Venezuela is a founding member of OPEC and has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. It is exporting about 749,000 barrels per day this year with more than half that oil going to China, according to data from Kpler.

The U.S. has staged a major military build up in the Caribbean. The Trump administration has launched deadly strikes on boats that it says were trafficking drugs to the U.S. The legality of those strikes is disupted and has been subject to scrutiny by Congress.

Trump threatened Monday to expand the strikes to land.

"We'll be starting the same program on land," he said. "If they want to come by land, they're going to end up having a big problem. They're going to get blown to pieces, because we don't want our people poisoned."
Kelly, who was also general counsel at Facebook, added that the companies able to reach a breakthrough in lowering data center costs will emerge as AI winners.

"We run our brains on 20 watts. We don't need gigawatt power centers to reason," Kelly said. "I think that finding efficiency is going to be one of the key things that the big AI players look to."

As major AI players race to churn out the infrastructure needed to support AI workloads, Kelly told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the industry will need to streamline these power-intensive buildouts.

Former Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly said Tuesday that the next phase of the artificial intelligence boom will focus on becoming more efficient.

The data center market has accumulated over $61 billion in infrastructure dealmaking in 2025 as hyperscalers have rushed into a global construction craze, according to S&P Global.

OpenAI alone has made over $1.4 trillion in AI commitments over the next several years, including massive partnerships with GPU leader Nvidia and infrastructure giants Oracle and Coreweave .

But the data center frenzy has garnered growing concerns about where the power to support these buildouts is coming from, with an already strained electric grid.

Nvidia and OpenAI announced in September a project that included at least 10 gigawatts of data centers, which is roughly the equivalent of the annual power consumption of 8 million U.S. households.

Ten gigawatts is also around the same amount of power as New York City's peak summer demand in 2024, according to the New York Independent System Operator.

Cost concerns were further fueled after DeepSeek launched a free, open-source large language model in December 2024 for under $6 million, the company claimed, significantly lower than U.S. competitors.

Kelly said he expects to see "a number of Chinese players come to the fore," especially following President Donald Trump's recent decision to approve the sale of Nvidia's H200 chips to the country.

Open-source models, especially out of China, will provide people access to "basic levels of compute" and generative and agentic AI, Kelly added.
Most winter mornings, Jaime Randle piles bread, stacks of cups and cleaning supplies into the back of her SUV and commutes about two hours from her Connecticut home her stall at the Union Square Holiday Market in New York. "It's like opening a mini store every week," she says.

Randle, 39, is the founder and chef at Coco Bred, a food stand offering portable coco bread pockets stuffed with Jamaican jerk chicken, oxtail and curry goat. Being a vendor at the popular tourist destination is expensive and "exhausting," but rewarding, she says. Starting Nov. 13, Coco Bred brought in over $31,000 in sales in the first 17 days at the market, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It  clearing her almost $23,000 market entrance fee in under a month.

Renting a booth at markets across the U.S. can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars for vendors who sell trinkets, tea towels or Jamaican jerk chicken sandwiches. Despite the costly investment and up to 12-hour-long days spent running the pop-ups, some small-business owners say they bring in more revenue and profit in seven weeks at holiday markets than the rest of the year.

At large New York markets in Union Square and Bryant Park, that payoff is largely driven by high foot traffic  in some cases, up to hundreds of thousands of locals and holiday tourists per day  creating weeks of nonstop sales for many vendors, says Evan Shelton, vice president at Urban Space, a privately run operator of both markets.

"Every year, I see more and more people," visiting the markets says Shelton, who has worked at Urban Space for five years. Business from that traffic drives many vendors to come back year after year, Shelton says. "I'm seeing a 90% return rate, which tells me that this is worth their time and effort."

Not every market is worth it for every vendor, some sellers and business advisors say. Foot traffic doesn't guarantee profit for smaller operations, which may have to spend money they don't have on labor, inventory and holiday decorations to run a successful booth.

If an entrepreneur is still "figuring out what works and what doesn't, it's probably not a good time for you to invest all that money into just getting people used to you," says Keila Hill Trawick, a business advisor of over 20 years and founder of Little Fish Accounting in Washington, D.C. "I think where holiday markets tend to help long term is when you are already a part of the local economy."

Even at smaller markets across the country, in cities far less tourist-heavy than New York, many small-business owners look forward to the intense work, the financial reward and the connections from working a holiday market.

'I'm investing a lot of time and energy'

Running a booth at a holiday market can be very expensive, even beyond any potential market's entry fee. Randle, for example, had to buy equipment, pay the contractors who built out the mini kitchen she installed in her booth, and compensate 11 employees, she says. She put her $23,000 entrance fee, which includes her electricity lines, on a credit card, Randle adds.

"I'm investing a lot of time and energy, and I'm also investing in, what I hope, is my daughter's future," says Randle, whose 10-year-old often helps out at Coco Bred. "I mean, it's such a flex for me and for her to say that her first job was at her mom's company. I'm so proud of that."
Citadel plans to return about $5 billion in profits earned in 2025 back to investors at the beginning of next year, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The firm's flagship multistrategy fund, known as Wellington, gained 9.3% in the year through last week, the person said, who asked not to be named discussing performance details.

The profit being returned is not all that was generated in 2025, the person said, but rather, a way of constraining capital to better match what the firm sees as the opportunity set going into the new year. As such, Citadel will start 2026 with $67 billion in assets, down from the $72 billion it currently manages, the person said.

A spokesperson for Citadel declined to comment.

The firm does not opt for profit distributions every year, but since 2017 (and including what's expected to be given back this year), Citadel has returned $32 billion in profit to its investors.

Citadel has been ranked the most profitable hedge fund based on net gains since inception, according to LCH Investments. Through 2024, Citadel has generated $83 billion in net gains since it was founded in 1990. It is anticipated that number will jump to more than $88 billion when the new rankings come out in January.
Jim Cramer says don't sweat Novo Nordisk's head start over Club holding Eli Lilly in the obesity pill market. Eli Lilly stock slipped about half a percent this morning, while Novo Nordisk shares surged more than 8% after becoming the first to secure FDA approval for a GLP-1 weight-loss pill. "[Novo] got approval ahead of when we thought. People immediately freak out. They sold Lilly. Big mistake," Jim said during Tuesday's Morning Meeting. The move lower for Lilly shares is overblown because it's just a matter of time before the company receives the OK from U.S. regulators for its own oral weight-loss drug, orforglipron. Additionally, orforglipron has advantages over Novo's pill that could make it more appealing to patients. "I don't like Novo. I like Lilly. Lilly's coming back obviously because they have their own pill and it'll be out in three months," Jim added. Novo plans to launch once-daily oral Wegovy, known as "Wegovy-in-a-pill," in the United States in early January. The Danish drugmaker said the starting dose of 1.5 milligrams will be available in pharmacies and through certain telehealth providers with savings offers for $149 per month. Novo expects the Wegovy pill to expand the size of the weight-loss drug market, Novo CEO Mike Doustdar said Tuesday in an interview on CNBC. "We also know from our own family members and circles of friends that there are many who still do not ... take an injection either because they're so much afraid of the needle or there's a societal taboo that taking an injection makes you feel sick." In addition to attracting new patients to GLP-1s, some patients may switch from injectables to the pill to help them maintain their weight loss in a convenient way, Doustdar said in a statement late Monday. LLY YTD mountain Eli Lilly (LLY) year-to-date performance Yes, the approval is a much-needed win for Novo. But being first out of the gate does not mean it will dominate Lilly in the long run. Consider: Novo Nordisk beat Lilly to the injectable GLP-1 market for weight loss with Wegovy in 2021. But that didn't stop Lilly from eventually getting the leadership position in the lucrative space once its Zepbound treatment launched in late 2023 . Lilly is expected to generate roughly $17 billion in revenue from Zepbound sales in 2025, according to FactSet, compared with about $13 billion in revenue for injectable Wegovy. Crucially, Lilly's orforglipron will have some perks to the Wegovy pill when it finally gets to market. Most notably, there's no food and water restrictions with Lilly's oral GLP-1. With the Wegovy pill, patients need to have an empty stomach then wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking another oral medication. Both companies have indicated they have built up supply of their oral GLP-1s, in hopes of avoiding the shortages that once plagued their injectable counterparts. Overall, it's been a killer year for Eli Lilly stock after a sluggish first half, and Tuesday's news doesn't change that. In November, Lilly became the first drugmaker to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization . The stock received a boost after President Trump announced deals with Lilly and Novo to slash prices of some of their obesity drugs in order to expand access to the costly treatments. Despite Tuesday's muted performance, Lilly shares are still up 40% since the start of 2025. Shares of Novo, meanwhile, have declined roughly 40% this year. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
My top 10 things to watch Tuesday, Dec. 23 1. The S & P 500 is little changed this morning after a strong start to the holiday-shortened trading week. U.S. GDP data, delayed due to the government shutdown, showed that the country's economy grew much more than expected in the third quarter. The New York Stock Exchange will close early tomorrow on Christmas Eve, and will be closed entirely Thursday on Christmas Day. 2. The fight over Warner Bros. Discovery rages on, but I regard the Larry Ellison-backed Paramount Skydance bid as illusory. Netflix's financing is much firmer. Paramount ought to raise its bid by $4 a share to $34, or bow out. 3. The FDA greenlit Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 pill for weight loss, beating Club name Eli Lilly by a few months. Small victory for Novo, as it could cut into some of Lilly's injectable GLP-1 users because people don't like shots. Novo shares rose more than 8% this morning; Lilly lost a little over 1%. Still, Lilly's obesity pill will have some advantages when it gets to market, namely no food and water restrictions. 4. A Maryland jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $1.56 billion to a woman who claimed J & J's talc baby powder caused her asbestos-linked cancer. J & J fights every one of these and it will not matter much to its bottom line. I wish the talc litigation hadn't caused me to sell the stock for the Club in 2023, as it's become less of an overhang on shares. 5. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered its KB Home price target to $62 from $67. The analysts, who maintained a hold rating, pointed to uncertainty regarding margins and ongoing market weakness for their cut. Homebuilders like these just keep getting shoved down. In the Club's case, we own Home Depot. 6. Baird lowered its price target on Club holding Meta Platforms to $815 from $820 and kept a buy rating on the stock. The call was made as analysts updated their models into the new year. It's an odd call. You hardly ever see a price target cut on Meta. 7. Baird raised its price target on hold-rated Stanley Black & Decker to $85 from $75, with analysts citing the sale of its Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing division. Howmet Aerospace announced its plan to acquire the aircraft fastener maker yesterday for roughly $1.8 billion. 8. Saks Global, the private company behind department store chain Saks Fifth Avenue, is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Bloomberg News reported late yesterday. It's seemingly a last ditch effort as the company faces a $100 million debt payment due at the end of December. 9. Wells Fargo lifted its price target on copper miner Freeport-McMoRan to $55 from $47. Copper stocks are going crazy, with Freeport shares up 27% over the past month, as copper futures continue their big run. 10. Suntory -owned Jim Beam is pausing production at one of its Kentucky distilleries for at least a year as the world is flooded with bourbon. The alcohol stocks have been miserable places to be recently as drinking rates have declined. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
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With tax season approaching, millions of workers could soon claim the "no tax on tips" deduction, which offers a tax break for returns filed in 2026. But some experts question which workers will benefit from the policy. Enacted via President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill," the provision allows certain workers to deduct up to $25,000 of "qualified tips" per year on federal returns from 2025 to 2028. The tips deduction phases out, or gets smaller, once modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 for single filers or $300,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Both Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris floated "no tax on tips" during the 2024 presidential campaign. Republicans enacted the capped deduction via their multi-trillion-dollar tax-and-spending package in early July. Approximately 6 million workers report tipped wages, according to IRS estimates released in November. But not all tipped workers qualify.

Lowest earners can't claim 'no tax on tips'

Both parties promoted the "no tax on tips" deduction as tax relief for working families. But the country's lowest earners may not be able to claim it, experts say. "Low-income households do not benefit from no tax on tips because they already don't pay federal income tax," Elena Patel, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, told CNBC. For 2025, workers won't owe federal income taxes until earnings exceed the standard deduction, which is $15,750 for single filers or $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. Above that, certain tax breaks, such as the earned income tax credit, can also reduce liability below zero.

In 2022, more than one-third of tipped workers, 37%, owed no federal income tax due to low income, according to a 2024 report from The Budget Lab at Yale, a non-partisan policy research center. An analysis from the Tax Policy Center, a non-partisan think tank, showed similar findings. If tips were tax-free or tax-exempt, only about 60% of tipped workers would benefit, the organization reported in early 2025.

Some tipped workers won't qualify

A Starbucks barista demonstrates how to brew coffee using a siphon at the Reserve Store in Seattle. Starbucks
People gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., June 29, 2024.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dealt a rare blow to President Donald Trump by rejecting his bid to overrule a lower court order and allow the deployment of National Guard troops to the Chicago area over the objections of local and state leaders.

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the case in October after a District Court judge blocked the president's plans to send troops to aid in an immigration crackdown. The court on Tuesday declined Trump's request.

"Today is a big win for Illinois and American democracy," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a post on X.

"This is an important step in curbing the Trump Administration's consistent abuse of power and slowing Trump's march toward authoritarianism," Pritzker continued.

U.S. presidents can deploy the National Guard under certain authorities, but guardsmen are typically not permitted to engage in civilian law enforcement. Trump's attempts to send troops to mostly blue cities to fight crime have tested the bounds of presidential authority and led to a series of lawsuits.
Europe is pressing ahead with plans to ban Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, effectively capping Moscow's energy future in the region and leaving a bevy of stranded assets in its wake. The dual Nord Stream 1 and 2 subsea pipelines were early casualties of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the infrastructure being sabotaged in late 2022 and the latter pipeline  costing $11 billion to build and aimed at doubling cheap Russian gas flows to Germany  never being certified for use. There had been speculation that the major energy infrastructure could eventually be resurrected if, or rather when, the war between Russia and Ukraine ends and there's a peace agreement between the parties. However, talks to try to establish the grounds for a ceasefire have been moving at a snail's pace with neither side willing to cross "red lines" regarding the permanent surrender of territory, be it sovereign or occupied. Speaking with British news website UnHerd, Vance said Monday that while the U.S. is going to "try to get this thing solved," he "wouldn't say with confidence that we're going to get a peaceful resolution." Hopes of a deal have led to questions over what economic and energy links between Russia and the rest of the world could be re-established and, when it comes to Europe, whether a ceasefire could lead to a reintegration of Russian gas and the resurrection of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Such a move would be highly contentious and divisive on the continent, given Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and attempts in the region to wean itself off cheaper Russian gas.

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In 2021, before the war, Russian imports accounted for about 45% of the European gas consumption. This year, estimates expect imports of 13%. Ukraine would be outraged by any move that benefited its invader, and Poland has called for the pipelines  one of which has never been used  to be "dismantled." That said, Ukraine itself benefited from an older pipeline that passes through the country as it collected transit fees. The RussiaUkraine gas transit agreement expired at the end of 2024, with the two countries opting not to renew it given the war. The Nord Stream pipelines were specifically designed to circumvent Ukraine and avoid such fees, but the transit agreement could be one of many levers to use during negotiations if the tap is turned back on. The U.S. would likely baulk at the return of Nord Stream as it has hoped to muscle out Moscow and increase its market share of liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales to Europe. But Germany, which is directly connected to the pipeline and whose industries are struggling with high energy costs, might find the lure and return of Russian gas supplies hard to resist. The European Council and Parliament in December struck a provisional agreement on regulation to phase out imports of Russian gas. It is set to implement a full ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas imports from the end of 2026 and autumn 2027, respectively.

Is Nord Stream salvageable?

The Danish Energy Agency in January granted permission for Nord Stream 2 to carry out preservation work on its damaged pipelines that are located within Denmark's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Baltic Sea. "The purpose of the works is to prevent further gas blowout and the ingress of oxygenated seawater, that could potentially lead to corrosion," the agency told CNBC, although the preservation works on Nord Stream 2 have not commenced yet. The permit has been granted on a number of conditions, the agency said, that are intended to ensure safe operation of the pipeline. It added that, among other conditions, the company must submit an annual plan for the pipeline facility "so that the Danish Energy Agency can continuously monitor the company's plans for the facility's future."

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"Furthermore, all conditions in such permits would have to be fulfilled before the pipelines can be put into operation. The Danish Energy Agency has not received any such applications," it said. But are the Norstream pipelines even salvageable now? Sergey Vakulenko, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told CNBC that the pipeline that was damaged in the sabotage incidents would need replacing in part, and the remaining undamaged one would not cost "much money at all" to resurrect. "I think they're still repairable, salvageable. So you could have to cut a few miles of [the damaged] pipeline and replace it. But this could be done," he told CNBC in October. "It could easily cost $1 billion or something like that, but there's still one [pipeline] at operational strength so that could be used," he said. Asked if the pipelines  which are filled with stagnant gas  are being looked after currently, Vakulenko said: "They're not looked after at all."

Can Europe stomach Russian gas, again?

Whether Europe could resume purchases from Russia again is the big question. "Each of the Nord Streams [pipelines] were 55 million cubic meters. So that one remaining is 27.5 million cubic meters ... and that's probably the top of what Europe would be prepared to buy from Russia," Vakulenko said. He said that if there was a change of government in Russia and Putin was no longer president, Europe would be "quite willing to buy some Russian gas," but not if the same amounts it was buying before. "Then Nord Stream would come in handy. But that's [a] very big 'IF,'" he added. "On the one hand, Europe, or at least there are parties [countries] in Europe, who wouldn't mind having at least some Russian gas in the European energy mix for a number of reasons, to not be too reliant on U.S. supply. Russia is the lowest cost supplier to Europe," he said. The continent has not fully recovered from the energy crisis stemming from the full-scale invasion of its neighbour. The Dutch Title Transfer Facility, Europe's main benchmark for natural gas prices, was double its pre-war prices in early 2025, per the IEA. Energy constraints are compounded further by the AI race, which has shifted public narratives from energy transition to energy addition. "So if you're not too squeamish to buy Russian gas, if you don't have to hold your nose too tight by buying it, then sure, there's a lot of commercial and economic reasons as to why [to do it]. If it becomes politically, ethically palatable, then there will be quite a lot of stimuli to do so, but that's again for the time when there is indeed some rapprochement between Russia and Europe, and that's [a] big 'if'," Vakulenko said. However, Tancrede Fulop, utilities and renewables analyst at Morningstar, told CNBC that it would be too difficult to reintegrate Russian gas, at least in the short term, because of the fresh European legislation. He noted, however, that the legislation does include some exceptions for Hungary and Slovakia in emergency situations. The policy shift was also rooted in a drive for energy independence after Russia's "weaponisation of gas supplies," the EU said. As a result, member states are likely to stay clear of an overreliance on one state going forward and instead invest in boosting overall domestic capacity. Does Russia want European business? Whether Russia would want to sell its gas to Europe is another looming question. "Everybody thinks the energy crisis started with war in Ukraine, but it actually started in 2021," Fulop said, noting several drivers of a cold winter, low wind speeds, and therefore high gas consumption. Adding to the crisis was the fact that the EU was late to clear Nord Stream 2 for operations. "And so Russia started to reduce the flows of gas sent to the EU," before the war started, he said. This suggests that the move from Russia may have been intended to add pressure on Europe to pick up the pace with Nord Stream 2.
India should have exercised greater restraint amid the recent unrest in Bangladesh, as protests by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi ended up strengthening Dhakas narrative and hurting Indias own position, former Indian diplomat KC Singh told CNBC-TV18.Speaking against the backdrop of worsening street violence and diplomatic retaliation between the two neighbours, Singh said the VHPs actions were avoidable and counterproductive.VHP turning it into a public issue and creating chaos means you are playing into the hands of the Bangladeshis. Thats exactly what they are wanting, he said, adding that such protests helped justify Bangladeshs decision to suspend visa services, following Indias own move.Singh argued that India had other diplomatic options available, including formally conveying concerns through official channels. He also drew a comparison with incidents in India, asking whether foreign nations had ever protested outside Indian embassies over lynchings or internal violence.You can call in the High Commissioner. You can convey your concerns, he said, stressing that public demonstrations only escalated tensions.The remarks come days after the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a prominent youth leader and a fierce critic of India, which triggered widespread violence and arson across Bangladesh. Hadi, who played a key role in last years July uprising that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasinas government, was shot in Dhaka on December 12 and later died in Singapore. His death sparked mass protests, attacks on political offices and media houses, and allegations by Islamist groups that the attackers had fled to India.According to Singh, the broader political and economic context in Bangladesh suggests that tensions are unlikely to ease anytime soon. With Sheikh Hasina in India and facing a death sentence back home, and with uncertainty over whether the Awami League will be allowed to contest the upcoming elections, the situation remains volatile. India is waiting it out. Thats the only card that we can play at the moment, he said.He also pointed to deep economic stress in Bangladesh, noting that US duties had hurt garment exports, a major employer in the country.Jobs have not been available. So, there is economic chaos in Bangladesh, Singh said, arguing that domestic pressures are feeding public anger and instability.Looking ahead to the February elections, Singh said the political field is fragmenting, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and a new student-led party all vying for space. While the BNP may be relatively better for India, he warned that its past alliances with Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistans interest in the outcome complicate the picture.On Indias broader strategy, Singh said New Delhi currently has limited room for manoeuvre and must wait for a government with a clear mandate to emerge.The current interim government doesnt have a mandate. Its only a transitional arrangement, he said, adding that external players such as the US, China and Pakistan are closely watching developments.Singh cautioned that domestic political messaging in India also matters. He noted that using Bangladesh as a political tool during election campaigns, especially in border states, only worsens bilateral ties.Unfortunately, the more you do that, the worse it gets for Bangladesh-India relations, he said, underlining the need for restraint at a sensitive moment in the relationship.


#WATCH | Delhi | Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations protest near the Bangladesh High Commission over the atrocities against Hindus and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/0nrtZ3XWYG

 ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025



VIDEO | Delhi: VHP members hold protest, break barricades during protest outside Bangladesh High Commission over attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country.

(Full video available on PTI Videos- https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/jdo2EPjsJe



 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2025



VIDEO | Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) holds protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission to condemn the reported incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/0balnWVDte



 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2025



#WATCH | Heavy security deployed near the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, in view of a protest announced by Vishva Hindu Parishad against the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/07xQbP3NYo

 ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025



#WATCH | Delhi: A notice has been put up outside the Bangladesh High Commission.

The notice reads, "Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular & visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice." pic.twitter.com/1wW9jEtElw



 ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2025

Bangladesh is witnessing a surge in anti-India protests and violence following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader who played a key role in the 2024 protests that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hadi, known for his anti-India stance, was shot in the head and died in Singapore, sparking widespread protests and allegations against India.The situation escalated with the lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, over blasphemy, straining diplomatic ties between the two countries. Das was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh city on the night of December 18.Earlier on Sunday, 12 people were arrested in connection with the lynching of the Hindu man, according to The Daily Star newspaper.To condemn the mob lynching of Das and the atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organisations on Tuesday protested near the Bangladesh High Commission. In the visuals shared online, protesters were seen breaking barricades and clashing with police. To monitor and control the situation, security was beefed up near the commission in the national capital.Bangladesh described the recent demonstrations outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as unjustified in a notification summoning Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma.The miscreants were allowed to carry out their activities right outside the perimeters of the High Commission, creating panic among the personnel inside the complex. The High Commission was not given advance information about this organized event. We have, however, noted the commitment of the Government of India to ensure the safety and security of all Bangladesh diplomatic posts in India, according to a Bangladesh government release.On Tuesday, many Hindu organisations in Hyderabad, led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), demonstrated in Kothapet to condemn Bangladesh's continued violence against minorities.According to Shashidhar, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) National spokesperson, "Atrocities are being done against Hindus in Bangladesh. The government of India should take strict action for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh. Bangladesh infiltrators and Rohingyas in large numbers are living in Bhagya Nagar. If the state government doesn't take any action, then VHP will announce an action."The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Monday suspended all consular and visa services until further notice. In a notice, the Bangladesh High Commission said, "Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted."Before this, India suspended visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong due to a security issue. "Due to a recent security incident at AHCI Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice," according to IVAC.On Monday, Congress workers staged a protest against the atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata.For the first time in its history, Bangladesh's leading daily Prothom Alo was forced to suspend its print edition on Friday, after a violent mob attacked its Dhaka office. The unrest was triggered by the death of Hadi, who succumbed to gunshot wounds on December 18. Alongside the print suspension, the outlet's online version was offline for approximately 17 hours. Another major newspaper, The Daily Star, was also similarly targeted.
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Chinese medical team donates medical supplies to hospital in South Sudan

Xinhua) 10:03, December 23, 2025

JUBA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 13th batch of the Chinese medical team on Monday donated pharmaceutical products and medical equipment to Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan's main referral hospital.

Minister of Health Sarah Cleto Rial said during the donation ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that Chinese medical teams have offered extensive humanitarian assistance over the years since the country gained independence in 2011.

"For years, the dedicated members of the Chinese medical teams have been more than just doctors; they are our partners, our teachers, and true envoys of goodwill," Cleto said.

She noted that the latest donation of medical equipment is more than a mere gift, as it sends a powerful testament to the enduring friendship and robust partnership between the peoples of the two countries.

In addition, she said that Chinese medical teams have worked closely with their South Sudanese counterparts to save lives and build the capacity of the health system, including the establishment of modern laboratories and the modernization of health facilities.

The Chinese government is currently implementing the second phase of the Juba Teaching Hospital modernization and expansion project to improve the delivery of health services at the main referral hospital.

"This donation directly addresses critical shortages and alleviates immense pressure on our main referral hospital, improving care for countless South Sudanese citizens suffering from malaria, typhoid fever, and other prevalent diseases," Cleto said.

Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang said that health is a key indicator of a prosperous nation and a strong country, adding that the Chinese government has always regarded medical and health cooperation as a key area of friendly cooperation between China and South Sudan.

According to him, a total of 196 Chinese medical personnel have served in South Sudan since 2012, providing medical services to over 90,000 patients, performing more than 1,430 surgeries, and rescuing more than 30,000 critically ill patients.

"The Chinese medical teams are playing an exemplary role in strengthening the friendship between China and South Sudan since the arrival of the first batch of Chinese medical personnel in South Sudan in 2012," he said.

Gift Gibson Natana, deputy director general at Juba Teaching Hospital, commended the support provided by Chinese medical teams over the years, noting that donations of medical equipment have transformed health service delivery at the main referral hospital.

"We are grateful for this cooperation, which has greatly benefited our people, particularly in service provision at Juba Teaching Hospital. Beyond donations of medicine and equipment, the Chinese medical team contributes to service delivery across different departments," he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Italian competition authority, Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, has fined Apple more than $116 million (98.6 million) for abusing its dominant position in the market for app distribution to iOS users.

The authority considers that Apples App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy, introduced in 2021, inhibits competition. The policy requires third-party developers to obtain double permission from users to collect and link data for advertising purposes, while Apple itself is not similarly affected.

The investigation, coordinated with the European Commission and other authorities, concluded that the rules are unilaterally imposed, disproportionate to Apples alleged privacy purpose, and harm app developers, advertisers and advertising networks by limiting their ability to use data for personalized advertising.
A US federal securities class action lawsuit has alleged that South Korean ecommerce giant Coupang took nearly a month to disclose a massive data breach to regulators, violating SEC rules that require companies to report material cybersecurity incidents within four business days.

The lawsuit, filed December 18, came just two days after Coupang finally submitted a Form 8-K disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission  28 days after discovering the breach on November 18.

The complaint alleges that CEO Bom Kim and CFO Gaurav Anand knew or recklessly disregarded that the company had inadequate cybersecurity protocols allowing a former employee to access customer data for nearly six months without detection. The breach exposed personal information from 33.7 million customer accounts, Coupang said.
Central Washington University professors Yerin Kim and Brendan Shea are accomplished musicians and educators on their own, but after years of performing and living together, theyve built a joint musical career larger than themselves.

Kim and Shea met at 19 while attending Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, where they shared the spotlight in a piano trio.

In a way, we grew up together talking about our favorite pieces, composers, dream places to visit, and so on, said Kim, CWUs Director of Keyboard Studies.

After Oberlin, they attended Indiana University Bloomington, before enrolling in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at Stony Brook University in New York. However, it wasnt until 2015, when they were newly married and expecting a child, that they started playing as a duo.

I was preparing for the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and had a lot of repertoire to prepare that Yerin graciously helped with, said Shea, a Visiting Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at CWU. I found working with her was an incredible setting for continued artistic growth.

The two have been performing together as the Shea-Kim Duo ever since, touring across Asia, Europe, and North America. The first part of their third album, Touch, will be released by the classical recording label Blue Griffin this fall.

Shea explained how they chose the theme for the album: We really wanted to play the Schubert Fantasie  The word touch came to mind, since it is so important to playing both piano and violin, but especially so with the delicate colors of this particular piece.

Finding many different composers and pieces suited to the theme, the couple decided to extend Touch into two parts. They took photos for the album in Italy after teaching and performing at the Zephyr music festival there this summer.

Walking around the gorgeous streets of Torino and seeing how the architecture surrounds the everyday life of people really inspired us, Kim said. All the pieces in the album depict and evoke different textures, colors, emotions, and as a result a completely different touch when playing our instruments.

Despite their side-by-side educations, both musicians bring different touches (and perspectives) to their performance. Shea focuses on phrasing and energy, while Kim focuses on depth and color. Rehearsing sometimes sparks heated debates, but the end result is worth it. Working together has allowed them to accomplish more than they might have independently.

We often think of compromise as a watering down of a good idea, Shea said. If youre in a group of any size with people who are equally inquisitive and excited about the music, its worth allowing for some flexibility.

Although she insisted that she was always right, Kim ultimately agreed, emphasizing the power of compromise.

Chamber music has taught me so much about music, people, and myself, she said. Learning how to listen to others so that you can find joy in creating something that is larger than yourself is life changing.



This story appears in the Fall 2025 edition of Crimson & Black magazine.
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Two weeks ago, on December 8, a 15-year-old British schoolgirl from Leamington Spa stood up in court and  with immense bravery  told the judge: The day I was raped changed me as a person. Now every time I go out I dont feel safe.

The two men who raped her, Afghan nationals Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal  both allegedly 17  arrived in Britain illegally on small boats and appear to have shown no remorse.

But then they come from a country where in many instances misogyny and violence against women and girls is accepted, if not encouraged. Thats why it ranks bottom on the Georgetown Institutes Women, Peace and Security Index, below 180 other countries  even lower than the likes of Somalia, Sudan, and Iran.

The British people know the threat posed by some migrants from countries with different cultural and ethical standards to our own. A recent YouGov poll, commissioned by the Womens Policy Institute, found that 67 per cent of people believe the small boats crisis is threatening womens safety.

So why did the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Mary-Ann Stephenson, decide to use her first interview in the role this week to tell the public immigration should not be treated as a threat, and creating this idea that migration causes huge risks for the country can make the lives... of ethnic minority UK citizens, very, very difficult?

Stephensons intervention isnt just unhelpful. Its tone-deaf, patronising and divorced from the realities of life in modern Britain.

I live in Luton, an ethnically diverse town with a high migrant population. And while the 2021 census found that just one in three people in my hometown are white British, polling in 2023 showed three in five residents believe that immigration is too high.

I am of Bangladeshi Muslim origin and, along with countless numbers of British people of different colours and creeds, I just want the Government to get a grip on immigration before more harm is done to the nations social fabric. Being concerned about immigration is not racist, backwards, or far-Right. Its the logical response to a worsening problem  a problem of soaring costs to the taxpayer, pressure on our infrastructure, of rising crime and increasing social tension.

Mary-Ann Stephenson this week told the public immigration should not be treated as a threat

Whether Stephenson likes it or not, the UKs dysfunctional migration system is an equality and human rights issue, because it relates clearly to crime and to the safety of women and girls.

Earlier this year it was revealed a quarter of sexual assault convictions on women in Britain last year were perpetrated by foreign nationals. The case of Ethiopian Hadush Kebatu who, having crossed the Channel on a small boat, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman was perhaps the most high profile.

He was staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping at the taxpayers expense. Understandably, there was civil disobedience outside the hotel.

Protests were spearheaded not by foaming-at-the-mouth racists but by mothers concerned for their daughters.

One way to tackle this crisis is to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which is frequently used to prevent deportations. In particular, Article 8  the right to a family life  is cited as a reason why the Government cannot boot out illegal migrants despite their criminal behaviour. Alarmingly, Mary-Ann Stephenson warned in her maiden interview that scrapping it would be a mistake.

The bottom line is Stephenson is a privileged woman with luxury beliefs. In her ivory tower, she may well be insulated from the harsher effects of lax immigration rules and an overburdened asylum system.

But in working-class parts of the country, treated as dumping grounds during the small-boats emergency  as I wrote in a report for the Policy Exchange think-tank  the experience is rather different.

Dr Rakib Ehsan is a researcher on immigration and social cohesion.
British scientists believe they have found a groundbreaking way to test for dementia via the nose decades before symptoms begin, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Research has found traces of proteins linked to the condition in the noses of people who have no signs of it.

Further work is set to investigate whether a simple scan or swab could pick up 'unique signatures', which indicate whether someone will go on to develop dementia.

Scientists based at the University of Southampton who are working on the nose test say it could provide results 'in minutes'.

The researchers say it could even potentially identify the specific form of dementia someone is suffering from, enabling doctors to tailor care.

With a new generation of drugs on the horizon which are most effective in the early stages, the test could prove a crucial tool in helping people access them before their disease progresses.

At the moment, a diagnosis can take years because of long waiting times for brain scans and cognitive tests at memory clinics.

The disease is still the UK's biggest killer, claiming 76,000 lives each year.

British scientists believe they have found a groundbreaking way to test for dementia via the nose (file image)

Dementia is still the UK's biggest killer, claiming 76,000 lives each year (file image)

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Last week the MoS launched its Defeating Dementia campaign, in association with Alzheimer's Society, to raise awareness of the disease, increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.

Professor Roxana Carare, from the University of Southampton, who is leading the project, told the MoS the aim of their research was to 'transform' dementia diagnosis.

She said: 'We've shown for the first time that there is a pathway of communication between the brain and the nose, and the next step is to show whether that could be harnessed to make really early diagnoses.'

Prof Carare's team is to conduct a trial involving 50 patients who have been diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies, a form of the disease affecting around 140,000 Britons.

Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP. Symptom Checklist

A nose biopsy will test for the presence of two brain proteins  alpha synuclein, a hallmark of this form of the disease, and neurofilament light, which indicates general brain degeneration and is already used to monitor Alzheimer's disease progression.

Professor Rami Salib, from University Hospital Southampton, has found both proteins in samples of nose tissue taken from healthy adults having sinus operations.

Older patients had the most, suggesting levels increase naturally with age. But the trial will help establish whether those with confirmed dementia have a 'unique signature or pattern' compared to healthy people.

Further work will identify specific patterns picked up in younger adults who go on to develop dementia.

Prof Salib said: 'There is plenty of work to be done but we have the basis of something that could potentially be transformative.'

The team, which has funding from the Jean Corsan Foundation, is in talks to develop a test using laser light to analyse nasal tissues.
Alisha Trafford was thrilled when Mounjaro helped her to lose weightbut after discovering the medication had 'destroyed' one of her vital organs, she now wishes she'd never taken it.

The 25-year-old, from Hull, East Yorkshire, began taking the fat jabs in February of this year to help her slim down and manage symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

But in May, just three months after first taking the medication she was told that she had developed pancreatitis, a condition where the pancreasa vital organ that controls digestion and hormone releasebecomes inflamed over a short period of time.

Ms Trafford said: 'The only thing [doctors]could put it down to was Mounjaro.

'I couldn't lift my head or speak because of how poorly all I was, all I could really do was sleep.

'The pain was agonising and my body was exhausted. I lost two stone while I was in hospital because I couldn't eat.

'The consultant was adamant in the end that it was Mounjaro.'

It is possible to recover from pancreatitis, but tragically for Ms Trafford she suffered a rare complicationpancreatic necrosis.

Alisha Trafford, 25, was left with a necrotic pancreasdoctors said it was caused by Mounjaro

This occurs when the pancreas loses its blood supply, causing some of the tiny 100g organ to die.

The presence of dead tissue can lead to the pancreas becoming infected, which can trigger sepsis and organ failure, leading to death in some cases.

It was when Ms Trafford started using her second pen that she started experiencing excruciating pain that led to her first hopitalisation in May.

She said: 'I'd been struggling with some abdominal pain for a while, but I didn't really think much of it, I dismissed it.

'Then one day the pain got really, really intense.

'I asked my manager to go home from work and that's when it all really started to go downhill.

'Within six hours of me being home I rang for an ambulance, I was vomiting continuously.

'The pain was getting more intense and it felt quite similar to what I imagine a heart attack would feel like.

Ms Trafford began experiencing excruciating side effects when on her second pen

'I got to the hospital and I was diagnosed with pancreatitis.'

Ms Trafford was treated with fluids and painkillers and was discharged from hospital after a week-long stay, but after 48 hours she was readmitted and diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis.

After multiple hospital admission between May and August, Ms Trafford claims her consultant was stunned she was well enough to even talk.

She said: 'I don't think I was realise how poorly I actually was until I went to see the consultant.

'He couldn't actually quite believe I was sitting there and talking.

'He said he'd never seen so many admissions for pancreatitis so closely together like this and he was surprised how stable I was.

'He said the only reason I wasn't in a medically induced coma was because of my age, if I'd been any older then it would have been a different story.'

Ms Trafford was hospitalised with pancreatitis again on December 6th and says she will remain at risk of pancreatic issues for the rest of her life.

Mounjaro has previously been linked to pancreatitis

She said: 'My life has completely been put on hold.

I've been told the pancreatitis is probably going to come back and I'll be at risk of that for the rest of my life now.'

Ms Trafford says she has now had to 'put her life on hold' and if she knew what the side effects would be, then she never would have touched it in the first place.

She paid 135 to an online pharmacy for each prefilled injection pen, Ms Trafford saw fast results, and within three months had lost three-and-a-half stone on the 'magic' drug.

Ms Trafford said: 'My weight has always been an issue since I was a teenager.

'I've tried different things to lose weight but it's never really been as successful as Mounjaro was.

'Mounjaro was also helping my PCOS symptoms and it was just making my life better. It was probably the best thing I ever did at the time because everything started to change.

'It was quite nice really seeing everything start to clear up and feeling like you had a magic drug, it was pretty much magical.'

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But with the benefit of hindsight, Ms Trafford says she regrets ever taking the jab - and never would have ordered her first one if she knew this would be the outcome.

'I was that person that thought it [being hospitalised] wouldn't happen to me.

'I have chronic pancreatitis and my pancreas is still healing, all because I wanted to make better changes and give myself a second chance in life.

'It's heartbreaking because I saw taking Mounjaro as a way my life was going to change for the better.

'I was pretty much independent, I was healthy, I was getting on with my life, making plans for my future, now I'm just at risk constantly.

'If I knew this was what my life was going to be like then I never would have taken it.'

Now working towards losing weight naturally, Ms Trafford is warning people who take Mounjaro to seek medical attention if they start to feel unwell.

Ms Trafford said: 'Just be careful. Don't ignore any pain and something doesn't feel right, get it checked.

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'Don't ignore it, it's not worth ignoring if something doesn't feel right, get it seen to.'

A spokesperson for Lilly, who manufacture Mounjaro, said: 'Patient safety is Lilly's top priority.

'We take reports regarding patient safety seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines.

'The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) is an uncommon side effect (which may affect up to 1 in 100 people).

'It also advises patients to talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional before using Mounjaro if they have ever had pancreatitis.

'We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.'

Studies have previously suggested there may be a link between Mounjaro and an increased risk of pancreatitis.

However, there isn't enough evidence yet to prove who is at increased risk of this side effect and why the drug could trigger it.

One theory is that it increases levels of certain pancreatic enzymes in the blood. Problems with these enzymes may then cause them to try to digest the pancreas itself, triggering pancreatitis.

Known officially as tirzepatide, the weekly drug has been hailed a 'game-changing' treatment.

Around 2.5million Britons are thought to be on weight loss injections such as Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy.

They are classed as GLP-1 agonists, and work by mimicking a hormone found naturally in the body.

Dubbed the 'King Kong' of weight loss drugs, Mounjaro works by signalling the body to produce more insulin when needed, reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and slowing down digestion.

Mounjaro will be offered to around 220,000 people over the next three years under new NHS prescribing rules.

Previously the potent drug, which helps patients shed up to a fifth of their body weight in a year, was available privately and at a small number of specialist NHS weight loss clinics.
Multiple people have been hospitalized after eating Pillsbury products suspected of being contaminated with E.coli.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said this week that 20 people have been sickened and four have been hospitalized after the E.coli outbreak, which has been linked to Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops.

Those sickened range in age from one to 87 years old and live in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick.

A recall was announced over the weekend that includes Pillsbury Pizza Pops pepperoni and bacon pizza snacks sold in 760g and 2.85kg packages.

The best-before dates are June 9 and 10, 2026.

The recall also applies to Pizza Pops Supremo Extreme pepperoni and bacon snacks in 3kg boxes with best-before dates of June 10 and 12, 2026.

Another product recalled is Pizza Pops Frank's RedHot pepperoni and bacon sold in 380g packages with a best-before date of June 14, 2026.

The CFIA said the products may be contaminated with E.coli O26, a strain of the bacteria that can cause severe illness and kidney damage.

One product recalled is Pizza Pops Frank's RedHot pepperoni and bacon sold in 380g packages with a best-before date of June 14, 2026

E.coli O26 causes nausea, vomiting, watery and bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and potentially hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

HUS is a life-threatening kidney condition that causes the organs to fail.

Canadian health authorities are urging people to not consume, serve or sell the recalled products.

They should be thrown out or returned to the place of purchase for a refund.

General Mills, which owns Pillsbury, said in a statement that it is a voluntary recall, and other Pillsbury Pizza Pops products are not affected.

A recall for these products has not been issued in the US and no illnesses have been reported among Americans.

However, US food safety authorities have issued several recalls of their own this month, including one for contamination with the deadly bacteria listeria.

Included in the recall is Pillsbury Pizza Pops pepperoni and bacon pizza snacks sold in 760g and 2.85kg packages

Last week, Boss Dairy Farms recalled one lot of its Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria.

Healthy people may suffer only short-term mild symptoms from listeria, including fever, headaches, nausea and diarrhea.

However, immunocompromised people, older people or pregnant women could experience life-threatening illness, still birth and miscarriage.

The recalled cheese comes in an 8oz block in clear plastic packaging with the UPC 850056642057.

It is marked on the back with lot number 13220025 and has a best by date of October 20, 2026.

It is not known how the cheese was exposed to listeria, but the potential contamination was revealed after routine testing by the company.

The FDA is urging people who bought the cheese to 'destroy' it or return it to the store for a full refund.
The US is continuing to report new cases of the measles, and as millions of Americans travel for the holidays, doctors and health officials warn the spread could worsen.

This week, Utah County health officials announced that six more cases of the disease have been identified in children 18 years and younger. According to the state health department, Utah's measles case count now stands at 142.

In 2024, there were no cases and in 2023 there was one case. Fifteen cases were reported in the state just last week.

Of those infected, 127 were not vaccinated, eight were vaccinated and seven patients have an unknown vaccination status.

Additionally, 85 cases are in patients under 18 years old and 57 are in adults older than 18. This year, 14 patients have been hospitalized with the disease.

Across the US, cases of the measles, the world's most infectious disease that had been declared eliminated in the US in 2000, continue to grow. The spread was spurred by a deadly outbreak in Texas earlier this year amongst a largely unvaccinated group in a religious community.

Measles has now infected 1,958 Americans and killed three people this year. It's the largest outbreak since 2,126 cases were reported in 1992 - and doctors are worried more cases will pop up.

Jodie Guest, senior vice chair of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health in Georgia, which has seen 10 cases this year, said: 'Most of us, including viruses, are not contained by state lines. This is an incredibly transmissible virus. In our populations that are unvaccinated, we need to be very concerned.'

Millions of people will travel this holiday season, raising the risk of spreading measles (file photo)

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Guest told The Atlantic Journal-Constitution that if you are planning to travel or host people from somewhere with an active outbreak, you should ask them about possible measles exposure.

She said: 'We don't want anyone to be fearful, and certainly if you're vaccinated you are very, very unlikely to contract measles if you come in contact with anyone.'

However, if you aren't vaccinated and traveling somewhere high-risk, 'I would be very cautious about that,' she added.

Last week, public health officials in Connecticut reported the state's first measles case since 2021.

South Carolina also has 142 cases of the measles, according to the CDC. There was one case in 2024. Additionally, more than 250 people are being quarantined in the state due to the ongoing outbreak and possible exposure.

In Arizona, which saw five measles cases in 2024, a surge has led to 182 this year.

Dr Renee Dua, medical advisor to TenDollarTelehealth, previously told Daily Mail: 'The current measles outbreaks in the US are a direct consequence of falling childhood vaccination rates.

'Measles requires about 95 percent community immunity to prevent spread, and many regions are now below that threshold.'

Measles, mumps and rubella are prevented via the MMR vaccine. The nationwide MMR vaccination rate is 92.5 percent, but in Utah, just 89 percent of kindergartners were vaccinated for the 2023-2024 school year.

In South Carolina, that number is 92 percent, and it is 89 percent in Arizona.

The MMR is 97 percent effective in preventing infection for those who receive both doses, according to the CDC. One dose is 93 percent effective.

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Dr Dua continued: 'We are seeing real consequences: preventable outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths from diseases that were previously well controlled. These are measurable public-health failures.

'Vaccines remain among the safest and most effective tools in medicine. Rebuilding trust through clear, evidence-based communication is now as critical as vaccine access itself.'

Measles is considered the world's most infectious disease because people who are not vaccinated have a 90 percent chance of getting sick if they are exposed, even from sharing the same air, briefly or hours later, with someone who has measles.

Three in 1,000 people who contract measles will die.

Of the current cases, 512 are in Americans under 5 years old; 808 are in 5- to 19-year-olds; 625 are among Americans 20 and older; and 13 cases are in people of unknown age.

According to the CDC, 93 percent of cases are in people unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccine status. Three percent have received one dose of the MMR vaccine and four percent have received both doses.

Of those sickened in the US, 222, 11 percent, are hospitalized, with the majority of those, 20 percent, being children under 5.

Measles is caused by a virus that leads to flu-like symptoms, a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body, and, in severe cases, pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation, permanent brain damage, and death.

The virus is spread through direct contact with infectious droplets or through the air.

Patients with a measles infection are contagious from four days before the rash through four days after the rash appears.

Deaths typically occur from acute encephalitis, or brain swelling, when the virus travels to the central nervous system, or pneumonia if it migrates to the lungs.

Before the current two-dose childhood vaccines approval in 1968, there were up to 500 US deaths each year from measles, 48,000 hospitalizations and 1,000 cases of brain swelling.

Roughly three million to four million people were infected every year.
A popular holiday chocolate product sold nationwide at Aldi grocery stores has been recalled because it may contain ingredients that could be deadly to some Americans.

Silvestri Sweets Inc. of Geneva, Illinois is expanding its recall of its 5oz bags of Choceur-branded Holiday Barks because they may contain undeclared pecans, which millions of Americans are allergic to.

For people with a pecan allergy, the FDA recall notice stated they 'run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction' if they consume the product.

The expanded recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark had been packaged in Cookie Butter Holiday Bark packages, resulting in undeclared pecan.

An investigation revealed the issue may have stemmed from a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging process.

The initial recall was announced November 26, 2025 due to undeclared pecans and wheat.

The items included in that recall were Cookie Butter Holiday Bark packed in 5oz Choceur-branded stand up pouch bags with lot number 29225 and best by date of May 2026, and Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark packed in 5oz Choceur-branded stand up pouch bags with lot number 29225 and best by date of August 2026.

The expanded recall Tuesday applies to Cookie Butter Holiday Bark packed in 5oz Choceur-branded stand up pouch bags with lot number 28525 and best by date of May; lot number 29925 and best by date of May 2026; and lot number 30625 with best by date of June 2026.

It also applies to Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark packed in 5oz Choceur-branded stand up pouch bags with lot number 28525 and best by date of August 2026; lot number 29925 and best by date of August 2026; and lot number 30625 with best by date of September 2026.

A popular holiday chocolate product sold nationwide at Aldi grocery stores has been recalled (file photo)

The recall applies to Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark packed in 5oz Choceur branded stand up pouch bags

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, about 20 million Americans have some type of food allergy, including 16 million adults and 4 million kids.

Tree nuts, which includes pecans, are among the most common allergens. About one percent of people in the US, 3.5 million, have a tree nut allergy.

For people with an allergy, consuming pecans could cause mild symptoms such as hives and itching or life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially fatal allergic reaction that causes the throat to swell, vomiting, dizziness and difficulty breathing.

Approximately 225 deaths occur due to anaphylaxis in the US each year.

The FDA notice is urging people who may have the recalled products to throw them away.

This recall follows one from earlier this week that included separate chocolate bars with an undeclared allergen.

Tuesday's expanded recall applies to Cookie Butter Holiday Bark packed in 5oz Choceur branded stand up pouch bags

Frans Chocolates, Ltd. of Seattle, Washington, recalled 112 units of Frans Pure Bar Almondmilk Chocolate because it contains hazelnut - also a tree nut - but the ingredient is not listed on the ingredients label.

The recall applies to the almond milk chocolate 46 percent Madagascar Plant-Based product sold in 1.1oz packages specifically.

It was issued after a supplier informed Fran's that the almond milk chocolate ingredient tested positive for trace amounts of hazelnuts because it was processed on the same equipment with other products that may have contained hazelnuts.

The chocolate bar was sold in four Fran's Chocolate stores in Seattle and was available for purchase nationwide online at the store's website between October 9, 2025 and December 14, 2025.

The FDA received a report of one adverse allergic event related to the consumption of the chocolate bar.

No reports of severe illness or death have been reported in connection to the recall.
What began as a flirtatious holiday romance has exploded into a cautionary tale about long-distance lust, and one very expensive mistake costing $US1,700 ($A2,550).

A New York woman known as Kat has sparked widespread outrage after revealing how her best friend was blindsided by an Australian man she met while he was visiting the US.

The situation took a brutal turn just days before her friend was due to board a non-refundable flight to Sydney to visit him, when he suddenly cut her loose.

The video, which has now been viewed more than 895,000 times, lays bare how quickly their promising international connection unravelled, and why thousands of viewers said they saw the red flags coming.

According to Kat, her friend first met the Aussie man when he travelled to New York and joined their group for drinks over several nights.

'Basically, my boyfriend's friend came to visit [New York] from Australia,' Kat explained.

'My best friend and he started getting along.'

After spending multiple nights out together, Kat revealed the man eventually stayed at her friend's apartment before returning home, but not before suggesting they stay in touch.

What started as a flirty holiday romance quickly unravelled into a $1,700 long-distance dating disaster. New York woman Kat (pictured) has sparked outrage after revealing how her best friend was blindsided by an Australian man she met while he was visiting the US

For more than two months, Kat detailed how the pair texted constantly, spoke on the phone almost every day and flirted across a 14-hour time difference.

All going well, Kat said the Australian man encouraged her friend to visit him over Christmas, offering to host her and 'the whole nine yards.'

Trusting his enthusiasm, Kat's friend booked a $1,700 ($A2,550) non-refundable flight to Australia - a decision she would soon come to regret.

However, about a week later, Kat said things began to shift and her friend noticed the man growing distant, drinking heavily and becoming harder to reach, but she had brushed it off as work stress or social commitments back home.

Wanting reassurance, she eventually confronted him directly.

'She's like, "Hey, just want to make sure that you're still excited for me to come. I feel like you've been a little bit distant",' Kat recalled.

'He's like, "No, absolutely. I'm so excited for you to come. I can't wait for you to be here".'

But just three days later, that reassurance was shattered as she revealed the man called her friend in the middle of the night, waking her from her sleep, only to deliver news that left her stunned.

For more than two months, the pair texted and spoke almost daily, keeping the spark alive across a 14-hour time difference. Encouraged by his excitement, Kat said her friend booked non-refundable flights to Australia to visit him over Christmas - a decision she would soon regret

'He said "Basically, I started seeing this girl a few weeks ago and things are starting to get serious, and I don't want you to come to Australia anymore",' he told her.

'This f*ing a**h*** literally lied to her face three days ago and has been leading her on for weeks,' she said.

After Kat sent the man an angry message calling him a 'coward,' she said he ignored her completely, but sent her friend a response that many viewers labelled cold and dismissive.

'I'm sorry that you feel that way,' he wrote, adding that he 'didn't realise how much emotional investment' she had put into the situation, or 'how much time and effort and money' she'd spent.

'You didn't know that she spent $1,700 ($A2,550) on a flight? You didn't know that she was staying up till midnight to talk to you every night?' she said.

To add insult to injury, Kat claimed the man admitted the new woman had only been in his life for a week - despite maintaining a two-and-a-half-month emotional connection with her friend.

But just three days later, that reassurance was shattered as she revealed the man called her friend in the middle of the night, only to deliver news that left her stunned - he had met another woman and didn't want her to come to Sydney anymore

Even worse, she said, he laughed throughout the conversation, before attempting to lighten the mood with a joke.

'What kind of sociopath?' Kat asked.

The story has struck a nerve online, with thousands of viewers weighing in, including Australians who admitted the moment Kat mentioned an 'Aussie man,' they braced themselves.

'As an Australian woman, as soon as you said 'Aussie man' I sighed,' one wrote.

'Never buy the ticket!' another warned.

'Especially to another country. If he wants you there, he should invest - never sacrifice your routine or sleep for someone you barely know,' they continued.

'He's going to try to crawl back to her in a few months - I put money on that,' another commented.

'I'd still be taking that trip and having the time of my life,' one wrote.

As for Kat, she ended her video with a blunt message aimed at women everywhere, and one very specific warning.

'If you started seeing a guy from Sydney a week ago, he literally played someone else to be with you,' she said.

'And he's probably going to do the same thing to you.'

Speaking to Daily Mail, Kat confirmed her friend had decided not to take the trip to Australia after feeling 'put off' by the situation.
A supermarket hot roast chicken  and specifically, the bag it comes in  is at the centre of an easy cooking trick.

Sydney foodie Adrian Widjonarko declared it 'the best supermarket rotisserie chicken dish hack', showcasing the tip while opening a hot roast chook purchased from Woolworths.

The food and culture blogger demonstrated in a video how opening the bag and fully removing the cooked chicken reveals some often overlooked remnants in the bag.

'Notice there is so much juice at the bottom usually,' Adrian explained in a post shared to his @PlacesinSydney Instagram account.

Rather than just throwing it away, Adrian explained that these leftover chicken juices are actually brilliant as a stock sauce base for a tasty chicken rice dish.

Using the juice-filled bag in lieu of a mixing bowl, Adrian recommended to 'simply add [cooked] rice and lots of your favourite green herbs  for me, chopped spring onions.'

Then, you simply shred the cooked chicken before adding it back into the bag and mixing it all together until well combined. The end result? A hearty, vibrant and very easy chicken rice dish that's ready in minutes.

Adrian adds: 'You can add salt and pepper depending on your taste, or soy sauce. But for me, this is already perfection.'

Sydney foodie Adrian Widjy demonstrated how to make this simple and tasty chicken rice dish using the juices at the bottom of a supermarket hot chook bag

The meal hack cleverly uses the roast chicken bag in lieu of a mixing bowl

Simply toss cooked rice, herbs and shredded chicken straight into the juice-filled bag and mix well for an instant meal

Over 1.5 million people have viewed Adrian's video, which he captioned: 'Try this hack next time you buy one of those roast chickens thank me later.'

Among the hundreds of replies were comments from people who regularly buy supermarket roast chickens  but never thought to use the bonus juices.

'Why have I never thought of doing this? Such a good hack!' read one much-liked reply.

'This is a crazy clever idea,' agreed another.

'OMG I am so mad I didnt think of this,' one shared.

'Wow would never have thought about this,' another suggested.

Even Aussie chef and cookbook author Vincent Yeow Lim was impressed, saying: 'This actually looks fire.'

Many described the method as 'genius', 'brilliant' and 'smart'.

The benefit of cutting out an unnecessary mixing bowl by making the meal in the chicken bag was also mentioned in the comments.

'No need to wash dishes too,' chimed in one reply.

The video shared to the foodie's @PlacesinSydney account explained that although many Aussies regularly purchase supermarket hot roast chickens, most would toss away the juices sitting at the bottom of the bag

Adrian's video inspired other shoppers to consider additional ingredients they might want to add to this chicken rice dish, such as ginger, sesame oil and chili

But what stunned many was how the chicken juices at the bottom could actually be deliciously repurposed as an instant stock base.

'Great for people who don't cook,' exclaimed one person.

'Absolutely never throw those juices out,' advised another. 'If making a chicken salad or sandwich mix, add these juices.'

Several responses to Adrian's video were from people planning to try the easy chicken dish, with some making lists of extra ingredients to level it up.

'Add soya, some sesame oil, some ginger, chopped spring onion and a pinch of sugar,' suggested one reply.

'I'll give it a pan fry for crispiness and add chili oil for some razzle dazzle taste,' said another.

Adrian's chicken rice made in its own bag isn't the only discovery shoppers have made recently about the humble Woolies hot chook.

Last month, many customers were stunned to learn the explanation behind the rooster crowing alarm that shoppers regularly hear in the Woolworths deli section.

Last month, Woolworths own social media account 'set the record straight' about the rooster crowing sound shoppers had reported hearing in the deli section. They explained it was the timer indicating that the roast chickens were cooked and ready

The supermarket giant 'set the record straight' in November 2025, explaining the source of the mysterious noises.

'No, that sound didn't come from a live chicken. It came from our oven,' a Woolworths employee said in a video.

'Our ovens make a few noises to let the team know when to check on the chickens.'

The cock-a-doodle-doo is actually a signal that the roast chooks are cooked and ready to be bagged and sold.

'As the timer approaches zero, it plays the sound we all know and love,' the video voiceover explained. 'And then it's over to our team members to check if the chickens are ready to pop in the bag.'

'So next time you're in your local Woolworths and you hear the chicken sound, rest assured, there are no chickens in the back.'

A Woolworths spokesman previously confirmed to Daily Mail that the rooster crowing is the sound of the alarm from the rotisserie oven that lets team members know cooking is complete.

They also explained the sound of the alarm is set by the manufacturer.
Picking the moments that defined 2025 is no easy feat. Its been a year of social media posts that dominated group chats, relationships that defied all logic and awkward attempts to dodge kiss cams. Thereve been TV scenes people paused and replayed, celebrity behaviour thats spawned a thousand opinions, and papal politics thatve oddly captivated Gen Zs.

These moments range from the impressive to the baffling and the deeply awkward. All of them sparked conversation, speculation and far more analysis than anyone planned. Whether you followed them closely or absorbed them by cultural osmosis, they became part of the years pop history. These are the things weve not been able to stop talking about in 2025.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got engaged

When Taylor Swift confirmed her engagement to Travis Kelce in August, she did it in the most Taylor way possible: an Instagram post captioned your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married. The post clocked 38 million likes and a lot of respect for her ring: a very blingy Cartier number. It was proof that when pop cultures princess finally found her Romeo, it restored a lot of womens faith in mankind.

Katy Perry went to space

In early 2025, Katy Perry joined Jeff Bezoss Blue Origins all-female space flight  alongside Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King and a impeccably styled crew  turning a brief suborbital trip into a full-blown internet meltdown. The reaction was brutal: memes, think pieces and accusations of peak tone-deaf celebrity excess followed her back to Earth. Weeks later, news broke that Perry had split from Orlando Bloom  reframing the space trip as the beginning of a very public unravelling. Blooms new girlfriend, Rachel Lynn Matthews, dressed as his ex-fiance in space for Halloween. Classy.

...then starting dating Justin Trudeau

Just as things seemed to settle, the story took another turn. After months of rumours, restaurant spottings and yacht frolicking, Katy Perry and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau went Instagram-official in December, prompting a fresh wave of disbelief. What really tipped it into full cultural-moment territory was a now-infamous tweet of Justin and Katy meeting Japanese politician Fumio Kishida: an unexpected hard launch for one of the worlds biggest popstars.

Adolescence made us think

What started as a gritty, quietly devastating drama quickly turned into one of the years most talked-about TV events. Adolescence sparked huge conversations about masculinity, violence and what teenage boys are absorbing online  then went on to dominate awards season, scooping up eight Emmys. With over 141 million views globally, Stephen Graham and Jack Thornes series became Netflixs second most-watched ever.

Having a boyfriend became embarrassing

In late October, British Vogue writer Chante Joseph asked a simple question that instantly blew up across TikTok and Instagram: Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? Her essay  arguing that public coupledom feels increasingly uncool and that women are quietly redefining how (and whether) they share their relationships online  became one of the years most fought over questions, sparking clapback articles, Reddit threads and Julia Fox saying: Yes. Ladies, dump him.

Beyonce finally won Album of the Year

After years of being nominated and overlooked, Beyonce finally won Album of the Year at the Grammys for Cowboy Carter  and the reaction was part celebration, part collective exhale. The country-leaning, genre-bending record had already sparked months of debate about race, tradition and who gets to define American music; the win turned it into a full musical, and cultural, reckoning. Even the internet, briefly, agreed: it was overdue and plenty emotional to watch the Grammys most-awarded artist ever finally received the top gong she so deserved.

The Summer We Became Obsessed with TSITP

In 2025, The Summer I Turned Pretty became the TV moment no one expected but absolutely everyone needed. Its third and final season pulled in roughly 70 million viewers within 70 days  and yes, she finally ended up with Conrad in a finale that sent the internet into meltdown. But the story didnt stop there: creator Jenny Han immediately teased a full-length film continuation to give fans the next chapter of Belly and Conrads life. We cant wait.

Let's have a Conclave

For a few surreal days, the entire internet became obsessed with smoke. White smoke, black smoke, hard-to-distinguish smoke analysis  all watched via a Vatican livestream, following the death of Pope Francis in April, that was oddly gripping. The conclave turned into a global group chat event, complete with memes (Lets have a conclave) and people pretending theyd always been fascinated by papal procedure. The result? The election of the first American pontiff, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.

Lily Allen's West End Girl ended David Harbour

2025 saw Lily Allen speaking with striking openness about the breakdown of her marriage to David Harbour, confirming they had an open relationship and discussing his, ahem, indiscretions. That honesty fed directly into West End Girl, her first album in seven years, which arrived sharp, self-aware and unflinchingly personal (lyrics referenced everything from Instagram cheating to butt plugs). This month, she performed the track Madeline on Saturday Night Live, with Dakota Johnson appearing as the title character. Eeek.

The Celebrity Traitors broke TV records

When The Celebrity Traitors hit screens in autumn 2025 it quickly became the show everyone couldnt stop talking about, with its finale pulling in around 15.2 million viewers. Aside from the cloak-and-dagger gameplay, the series served up genuinely unforgettable moments, chief among them Celia Imries audible mishap during a tense mission that instantly went viral. With Alan Carrs nervous traitor antics and a cavalcade of celebrity mishaps, it kept us glued to the screen all autumn.

We all ogled Walton Goggins

By the time The White Lotus returned for its third season, the internet was already primed, but it was Walton Goggins who unexpectedly stole the spotlight. His performance triggered a full-blown online fixation, with thirst edits and a viral tweet asking: Is Walton Goggins hot now? That obsession quickly widened into speculation about his off-screen dynamic with Aimee Lou Wood, fuelled by interviews, body language scrutiny and some very fast Instagram unfollowing. Very suspicious.

Coldplay caused kiss cam chaos

A routine kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert spiralled fast when footage appeared to show Andy Byron, the married CEO of Astronomer, getting cosy  and then immediately recoiling when he realised he was being filmed  with the firms also-married HR chief, Kristin Cabot. The clip, posted by a fellow concertgoer with the caption: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, was watched nearly 150 million times, with the strangest twist coming weeks later, when Astronomer attempted reputational damage control with a tongue-in-cheek ad starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Cabot recently weighed in on the 16 seconds that ruined her life in interviews with the Times and New York Times.

And Just Like That  we said goodbye to Carrie

After three divisive seasons (well never forget you, Che Diaz), And Just Like That drew to a close, but it was Sarah Jessica Parkers Instagram post that really marked the end. Writing Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years and thanking viewers for loving her, judging her and worrying about her, Parkers goodbye was measured and emotional without trying to win anyone over. It was, quite honestly, a more satisfying goodbye than the show itself managed to come up with.
Liza Minnelli has insisted that she did not exploit the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner to promote her upcoming memoir after facing immense backlash for her 'tone deaf' post.

Last week, the Hollywood star, 79, reminded her followers that her new autobiography - which will explore mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) and her own battles - will hit stands in March 2026.

Minnelli discussed the book as she asked whether the Reiners's tragic murders could have been prevented.

Both Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, were found dead at their home on December 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested that evening on suspicion of their murder.

In the wake of the shocking news, Minnelli posted a lengthy message on Instagram in which she shared her devastation over their deaths and also discussed her upcoming tome, Kids Wait 'Till You Hear This.

She was fiercely slammed afterwards, as some social media users accused her of being 'tone deaf' and 'self promoting' for linking their passings to her book.

In a new upload posted to her Instagram account on December 23, Minelli doubled down on her message about the Reiners and added that the 'crisis of SUD' was 'clearly involved' in their deaths.

Addressing the backlash directly, she added: 'To those who felt the timing was off or the message tone-deaf, I disagree.

Liza Minnelli has insisted she did not 'exploit' Rob and Michelle Reiner's murders to promote her upcoming biography. She's seen in October 2024

The Reiners (pictured here in September) were found dead on December 14

'I've never been exploitative of any situation or anyone. Not my style. What is my style? Telling the truth, even when it makes people uncomfortable.

'Because here it is: SUD, mental health, and trauma, on every scale, are usually interwoven. That's not drama. That's not clickbait.'

Minnelli's statement came after she ignited a huge online backlash on December 20 for bringing up the Reiners' deaths while promoting her upcoming book.

'Like everyone I know, our hearts are shattered over the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner,' she wrote in her initial post.

'When violence and SUD collide, the devastation reaches far beyond one moment, one person, one family.

'SUD is not a moral failure; it's a dangerous illness. We are all grieving. We are all feeling this great loss.

'The gut-wrenching question is: Could this tragedy have been prevented? Could these precious, sweet, genius lives been saved? I fear we will never have absolute answers.'

Minnelli then said that silence only 'weakens the soul and deepens the harm' and that she stayed quiet about her own struggle with SUD because she believed 'shame was safer.'

Their son Nick Reiner was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders

Minnelli revealed her new memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, will be released in March 2026

In her initial post, the actress asked whether the Reiners' deaths could have been prevented before promoting her upcoming tome

After facing immense backlash, Minnelli followed up in a second post where she disagreed that her timing was 'off'

She added: 'That's why I wrote Kids Wait Till You Hear This, which will be published in March 2026, to tell the truth, to share chaos, destruction and death can happen to anyone, everyone, and to remind us that recovery is possible.'

Minnelli's upload sparked uproar with many fans accusing the Hollywood star of 'using' the Reiners' death to plug the project.

On Reddit, one said: 'The book promo wedged in there is certainly a choice.'

Another wrote: 'Too soon, Liza. Too soon.'

'Using someone else's death and tragedy to plug a book is certainly a move,' added a third. 'What happened to shame.'

A fourth penned: 'I get that she likely knows that she's talking about, but maybe don't plug your upcoming book and ask "could this tragedy have been prevented?" when their blood isn't washed off the floor yet. C'mon.'

Minnelli, the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, originally announced her book, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, last year.

'Despite every challenge, Liza's is a life wrapped in laughter and her tremendous capacity to give and receive love,' the synopsis reads.

'Today at nearly 80, she opens her heart, mind and memories, sharing secrets we never knew.'
Blankets are often provided on long-haul flights for the comfort of the passenger, but one bold woman has come under fire after she complained that she couldn't take one home with her.

The irate passenger, who was flying on West African airline Air Peace Limited, shared a video about it that has since gone viral on social media, sparking a heated debate over what a customer is entitled to keep after a flight.

In the clip, the user, who posts under the username lanio60, showed the flight attendant collecting the blankets from the passengers and putting them in a plastic bag, with one passenger notably hesitating before handing theirs back.

A text overlay on the video reads: 'Did you just say "collecting blankets?" You will have to beat me to take that blanket,' with a row of crying emojis.

Social media users immediately jumped to the comment section to share their thoughts, with many arguing that the blankets are the property of the airline.

'That's like saying you can take the blankets, towels and pillows from your hotel room. If they are included, then OK, but you have to determine that,' one user wrote.

'Lady, you are a thief,' declared another. 'You paid to use the aircraft and everything in it. Oh, maybe you should carry the air raft as well since it's included in your fare.'

'Well. It's not part of the money you paid. The headphones too,' pointed out someone else.

Blankets are often provided on long flights for the comfort of the passenger, but one woman has come under fire after she complained she couldn't take it home with her (stock image)

'Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian airways, Kenyan airways, South African Airways: all these airlines collect blankets. Im surprised there are even airlines that let you keep,' chimed in someone else.

'Some collect it back while some dont,' observed another. 'Some allow you to keep it if u dont release it. Generally, customers should be allowed to keep them as souvenirs. Those stuffs are made from cheap materials.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Air Peace Limited for comment.

Sherry Martin Peters, who has worked as a flight attendant for several major airlines, told the Daily Mail that while airlines provide blankets for comfort, especially on international flights, she believes they're expected to be left on the airplane and not taken home.

'They are then washed and reused,' she explained. 'That said, if a customer takes a blanket, I'm not one to pipe up and say, "You can't take it."'

'And if they ask me directly if they can take it, I will say "I didn't see anything." Really, if someone becomes that emotionally attached to a blanket, let them take it,' she shared.

The cleanliness of the blankets and pillows provided on a flight is often spoken about online, with many theorizing that they are not washed as frequently as people may hope.

Earlier in the year, the CEO of travel website Busbud, LP, Maurice, warned that they might not actually be clean at all.

The irate passenger shared a video about it that has since gone viral on social media, sparking a heated debate over what a customer is entitled to keep after a flight (stock image)

Maurice, who has worked with industrial laundry managers, said on a typical long-haul flight, the linen provided will be washed - but not if they have a tight turnaround.

'On a typical long-haul turn, the linen carts roll straight off the aircraft and go to a contractor that washes at 140F with peroxide, dries on high heat and shrinkwraps each blanket or pillowcase,' he told the Daily Mail in August.

'When you see a tight plastic envelope on your seat, it usually means that the item came off a wash line earlier that day.'

But Maurice explained it may be different when a flight is late and there isn't time to properly change the blankets.

He said: 'However, if the preceding flight landed late and the aircraft is turning in 25 minutes, crews will keep any blanket that looks unused.

'They fold it, place it back on the seat, and hope the next traveler does not notice.'

The expert revealed that a line manager once admitted to him that in 'one busy hub' only a fifth of blankets on economy flights are washed, while the others are folded 'unless visibly stained'.
One of the great joys of Christmas is grazing on party food, who doesn't love nibbling on cheese and crackers or scoffing sausage rolls while enjoying glasses of mulled wine?

But unlike traditional turkey and trimmings, party food tends to be vulnerable to trends, with retailers doing their utmost to cram as many of the year's biggest food fads into their picky bits offerings.

Offerings from the supermarkets this year include an Irish coffee tira-merry-su from Sainsbury's, while M&S is offering a Build Your Own Christmas Charcuter-Tree and Tesco has a Dubai-Style Pistachio Iced Cream Dessert.

But chefs are now warning that the calibre of any food that's a passing fad is 'the worst during the festive season'.

Many say you should avoid trendy options like elaborate charcuterie boards and hot honey which are usually 'low quality' at this time of year.

Most supermarket hot honey, for example, is just honey with added chilli flakes. Whereas the original ingredient, which made it popular, was honey fermented for months with chilli.

The same goes for miso butter, a trendy ingredient which can be delicious properly made but often has tiny amounts of actual miso in it when bought from a retailer.

Some chefs also bemoaned miniature burgers, which have 'about 20g of meat in and are drier than dry'.

Here, they reveal the worst offenders, and what you should choose instead for a perfect Christmas spread.

Say no to an overly elaborate charcuterie board

Social media loves an over-the-top charcuterie board, but Chef Dhruv Baker warns against them on your Christmas table

A charcuterie board is a Christmas must-have, but there is no need to follow social media's lead when it comes to huge boards that have every inch filled with some type of cured meat, cheese or fruit.

While an over-the-top charcuterie board might look good on Instagram or TikTok, most of the food ends up sitting out for a long time and will get thrown out, warns Chef Dhruv Baker.

Dhruv, who founded his own British artisanal charcuterie producer Tempus Foods, tells The Daily Mail: 'There is always way too much food on the board, which means no one really finishes any of it and it goes into the bin, what a waste,' he says.

'And I really wish people would stop making those charcuterie roses using wine glasses.

'Those wine glasses never end up being washed properly and then you're sitting there sipping your wine and wondering why it smells like salami.'

Not everything needs a blanket

Liliane Nguen rails against supermarkets like Aldi putting everything in blankets, including mozzarella sticks and mac and cheese bites

Liliane Nguyen, co-founder of vodka brand Mothaiba, said pigs in blankets have become trendified after noticing an unsettling number of foods 'in blankets'.

'Today alone I've seen mozzarella sticks in blankets, halloumi in blankets, mac and cheese bites in blankets, vegetables in blankets,' she complains.

'Sainsbury's has pickles in blankets and a pig in blankets-stuffed whole chicken.

'I love pigs in blankets but not everything needs a blanket.

'Some of the supermarkets are even doing it as a crisp flavour.'

Put hot honey on hiatus

Hot honey has been a big 2025 food trend - but chefs have had enough of it, especially if it's not been made well

Dhruv and Chef Jonathan Hope of Scottish miso and shoyu brewery Slow Sauce both balk at the thought of hot honey making its way into any Christmas foods.

Hot honey has been around for some time, but over the last year, it began creeping into all manner of foods as it became trendy on social media.

'I hate it when I order a classic pepperoni pizza and it comes slathered in hot honey, it makes everything so sickly,' Dhruv says.

Jonathan points out that most mass-produced hot honey usually doesn't undergo the long fermentation process that made the product popular in the first place.

'The hot honey you often find on the shelves is just honey that's had some chilli flakes in it - real hot honey is fermented with fresh chilli, sometimes even garlic and onions to impart even more flavour.

'The end result is sweet yet fiery, a combination that isn't sickly at all,' Jono explains.

Miso isn't a must-have

Miso is delicious and gut-healthy, but it has become such a huge trend that many supermarkets are not using good quality miso in their products

Jonathan is also less than impressed with mass-produced miso honey or butter products, which often have very low miso content or use poor quality miso.

Fermented foods like miso and kimchi have only become more popular this year, and while Jonathan is quick to point out that good quality ferments are worth investing in, these specific products often aren't.

'Lots of supermarkets will just use a tiny amount or low-quality miso so they can slap the word on their packaging and charge extra,' he says.

If you do want miso butter, Jonathan encourages people to make their own using the best miso they can afford because 'it makes a huge difference and you can adjust it to your liking'.

Avoid the air-fryer

Party food by retailers like M&S prove extremely popular, but Chef Thomas Frake laments that such foods are often 'cheap thrills' and inauthentic

Britons went mad for air fryers in 2022 and this adoration for the kitchen appliance has only continued to rise - and with it, the proliferation of food made specifically for it.

But Chef Thomas Frake, who clinched the title of MasterChef champion in the 2020 competition, calls such party foods 'cheap thrills'.

Even worse is the creeping sense of globalisation in Christmas party foods that isn't authentic or inspired, but rather, they seem randomly chosen and shoehorned into the festive foods category.

'Any memory of what one's Nan may have served up alongside Cheese and Pineapple, replaced with global street food inspirations: lemongrass chicken skewers, onion bhajis, and even duck bao buns shaped like snowmen.

'If we replace [the classic flavours of Christmas] with a load of trends that we'll forget about by next year, we'll eventually lose taste and smell as triggers for all those happy memories.

'If I choose Limoncello mince pies this Christmas, and then they inevitably replaced by next year's trend, whatever will remind me of Christmas when I savour that last bite?'

Bigger is better

Mini party foods have seen a major increase in popularity this year, much to Chef Ben Mulock's chagrin and annoyance

Mini cheese scones, mini ham and cheese croissants, mini pancake stacks, mini tartlets... Christmas party food has gone miniature, much to the outrage of Ben Mulock, executive chef at the Little Houses Group.

'Don't mini everything or throw too much together... Mini pigs in blankets [are the worst offenders], they're small enough. Don't f*** with a classic.

'I'm not a fan of a mini burger, you know the ones with about 20g of meat inside? Always drier than dry and gets stuck in your throat.

What to serve and eat instead

Gildas, made with olives, anchovies and guindilla chillies, make for a brilliant salty, punchy addition to your picky foods spread

Instead of a charcuterie board over-laden with all the trimmings, take things down to the basics, Dhruv advises.

'Reign it in and decide on four or five types of charcuterie that you really want to have - I always recommend going for two to three different types of salami, a nice ham, and something spreadable like nduja or sobrasada to mix the textures up a bit.

'Have them with breadsticks, not bread so you don't fill up too quickly, and olives.

'Get your cured meats from a deli that sources them well, and don't forget that we have some really brilliant British charcuterie, so it doesn't have to be all from France, Spain or Italy.'

If you want to make something that requires a bit of assembly, Monika Linton, founder of Brindisa Spanish Foods, lends her top tips for entertaining.

'When it comes to grazing, we love things on little squares of toast, from sobrasada with honey, to half a fig with a slice of Iberico ham on top,' she says.

'Gildas also make a great pintxo  pairing olives, salty anchovies and a guindilla chilli.

'One of my favourite things for entertaining are traditional Sarregui olive oil crisps topped with tinned mussels from La Brujula.'

MasterChef 2014 winner and cookbook author Ping Coombes also loves 'pimping up' picky bits staples like tinned sardines and cornichons.

'My current go to is to open cans of sardines, add a generous drizzle of smoked Szechuan Chilli Oil and serve it with very good sourdough or opening a packet of your favourite crisps, scatter cornichons, slices of Iberico ham, jalapenos, some olives if you so wish and grated Manchego on top.

'All washed down with a very chilled glass of Sherry! Minimum effort, big flavours and more time to socialise.'

To elevate a classic pig in a blanket - instead of resorting to everything else in blankets - Liliane advises using chipolatas and streaky bacon, 'thin sliced if possible'.

'I tuck a whole sprig of rosemary or thyme in the blanket. Brush with a dash of honey towards the end of roasting for a dark glossy hue,' she adds.
A neighbour has shared their frustration over an 'inconsiderate' act

A fed-up neighbour has ignited a heated debate online after leaving a blistering handwritten note for the tenants upstairs, accusing them of partying through the night, taking a brief break, then starting all over again before sunrise.

The note, shared on Reddit, was taped to the neighbours' door after yet another weekend of thumping music and late-night noise that the downstairs resident said had finally pushed them over the edge.

'I cannot fathom why people can be as inconsiderate towards their neighbours like you have been,' the note read.

'Partying until 2am then taking a four-hour break before starting to party again is diabolical.'

The neighbour went on to explain that their fiance works second shift and desperately needs sleep, saying the early-morning music was 'not only inconsiderate, it's rude and disrespectful'.

'You are NOT the only people who live in this apartment building,' the note continued.

'If you want to keep partying like this I suggest renting or buying a house. If this keeps happening I will be contacting our landlord. Take your party elsewhere!'

In a final, uncomfortable detail, the neighbour added that after a previous 'rager' they could hear one of the partygoers vomiting through the bathroom vents, pointing out that 'the walls are very thin' and 'we can hear everything'.

A fed-up neighbour has ignited a heated debate online after leaving a blistering handwritten note for the tenants upstairs, accusing them of partying through the night

The author later explained online that the upstairs tenants had been hosting loud parties every weekend at strange hours, with the most recent stretch running until 2.30am before restarting at 7am the same morning.

The following day, the music allegedly kicked off again at 6am.

'I don't like being THAT neighbour,' they wrote.

'I understand apartment living comes with issues you can't always control, but beginning to party before the sun rises is crazy.'

While some readers sympathised with the exhaustion and frustration, many warned the note may only make things worse.

'Don't threaten to go to the landlord - just go to the landlord with documented dates and times,' one person advised.

'That note is just going to encourage them to be even louder. You're better off going straight to building management,' another added.

Several commenters warned that written confrontations can escalate tensions in apartment buildings.

The neighbour went on to explain that their fiance works second shift and desperately needs sleep, saying the early-morning music was 'not only inconsiderate, it's rude and disrespectful'

'If I got this note, I'd assume you were nuts.'

Others suggested skipping notes altogether and lodging formal complaints or noise reports instead, arguing that angry messages often backfire and invite retaliation.

The viral debate has struck a nerve with Australians, many of whom are living closer together in apartments and townhouses as housing costs soar.

Noise complaints are among the most common disputes in shared living environments, particularly around weekends, parties, and early-morning disruptions.

In Australia, noise rules vary slightly by state and council, but most follow similar principles.

In general, loud music and party noise is restricted between 10pm and 7am on weekdays, and 12am to 8am on weekends. In apartment buildings, strata by-laws often impose even stricter quiet hours and can prohibit excessive noise at any time if it unreasonably interferes with another resident's peace.

Councils and state Environment Protection Authorities encourage residents to keep a record of disturbances, including dates, times and duration, before escalating matters to landlords, strata managers or local authorities.

In some cases, police can issue noise abatement directions if parties continue during restricted hours.

Experts say while it's natural to feel angry after repeated sleep disruption, direct confrontation can be risky.

Formal complaints, clear documentation and letting building management handle it usually leads to better outcomes.

For many renters, the situation highlights an uncomfortable reality of apartment living - balancing personal freedom with shared responsibility, and navigating conflict without making an already stressful living situation even worse.
Fresh from a weekend of bruising skirmishes, the new head of CBS News emerged on Monday bloodied, but unbowed at the network's regular 9am meeting.

CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss defended her decision, reportedly made on Saturday, to spike a segment on the flagship news show 60 Minutes, which criticized the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to an infamous El Salvador prison.

In response to the eleventh-hour cancellation, 60 Minutes journalist Sharyn Alfonsi, who reported the piece, wrote an angry missive to fellow staffers on Sunday, accusing Weiss of bending to pressure from the White House.

'Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices,' Alfonsi wrote. 'In my view, pulling it now - after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.'

The letter was swifty leaked to the media.

Facing a growing newsroom mutiny, Weiss made her defense on Monday, according to a recording obtained by the Wall Street journal.

Weiss said the Alfonsi's segment did not include an adequate response from the government, and so, it was unfinished. Furthermore, she proclaimed, accusing her of kowtowing to Trump was unjust, unfair, and intolerable.

'The only newsroom that I'm interested in running is one where we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters - and do so with respect, and, crucially, where we assume the best intent of our colleagues,' Weiss said. 'And anything else is absolutely unacceptable to me - and should be unacceptable to you.'

Now, CBS News insiders on both sides of a raging newsroom fight are speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail.

Bari Weiss (pictured) defended her decision, reportedly made on Saturday, to spike a segment on the flagship news show '60 Minutes,' which criticized the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to an infamous El Salvador prison

In response to the eleventh-hour cancellation, '60 Minutes' journalist Sharyn Alfonsi (pictured with 60 Minutes cast, far-left), who reported the piece, wrote an angry missive to fellow staffers on Sunday, accusing Weiss of bending to pressure from the White House

One 60 Minutes editor lamented that CBS News is now a 'cesspool', insisting there is no 'integrity' at the network since Weiss's arrival, warning that many employees were poised to quit.

'She talked about respecting each other,' during Monday's meeting, the editor said. 'I have no respect for anyone who buries the truth because of politics.'

Another industry executive told the Daily Mail that Weiss's handling of the situation was 'mismanagement in the extreme.'

Weiss had never worked in television journalism before landing the plum position. She is a former New York Times opinion page editor and founder of the investigative reporting and commentary website The Free Press.

The 41-year-old executive was tapped by Paramount Skyhorse CEO David Ellison in October to reform the third-place broadcast news network, in part by restoring objectivity. Weiss, it appears, may have a long way to go.

Another CBS insider, who is sympathetic to Weiss, accused 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi of fumbling the El Salvador prison story and then grandstanding after it was spiked.

The CBS insider, with a long career in investigative journalism, said Alfonsi could have easily encouraged the White House to respond to her reporting.

'The simple fix is to go to the White House briefing and ask a question or have another CBS News reporter ask a question,' the source said. 'That's investigative journalism 101.'

Indeed, that issue appears to have been central to Weiss's objection to the piece. She reportedly encouraged Alfonsi to make 'every effort' to get 'the principals' on the record, sharing contact information for border czar Tom Homan and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

Another CBS insider, who is sympathetic to Weiss, accused '60 Minutes' correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi (pictured on US border in April) of fumbling the El Salvador prison story and then grandstanding after it was spiked

Pictured, police officers escorting a prisoner at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador

Alfonsi, according to her leaked letter, viewed that request as a concession to the administration.

'What we're seeing is that "60 Minutes" is like the emperor with no clothes,' the CBS insider told the Daily Mail. 'These are not trained investigative journalists anymore.'

This is also not the first time Alfonsi has faced criticism over her work.

In 2021, she reported on Florida's COVID vaccination policy and suggested that Ron DeSantis, the governor, was swayed by a $100,000 donation from grocery chain Publix to award them a contract to provide vaccinations.

Alfonsi questioned DeSantis at a news conference where DeSantis argued that the decision to award Publix the contract was due to geography - Publix's stores were most convenient for the majority of the population, he insisted - but Alfonsi's report edited out much of his answer.

After the report aired, the Democratic mayor of Palm Beach County and the Democratic director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management said that DeSantis' office had not influenced the decision to partner with Publix.

The CBS insider critical of Alfonsi also believes that while she professed 'a moral and professional obligation to the sources who entrusted us with their stories' her letter to colleagues was, in fact, performative.

'The email was written to be leaked which suggests that Alfonsi wants to go out like [former 60 Minutes executive producer] Bill Owens - like a martyr,' the source said.

Bill Owens, resigned in April, later claiming he faced pressure to avoid stories that jeopardized the merger of Paramount, then-owned by Shari Redstone, with Skydance, led by David Ellision.

After Owens resigned in protest, high profile 60 Minutes presenter Scott Pelley praised Owens live on air, in a rare rebuke to corporate owners.

In the three months since Weiss's takeover of CBS News, around 100 people have been let go at the news division, and a stream of high-profile personalities have departed.

The CBS insider critical of Alfonsi also believes that while she professed 'a moral and professional obligation to the sources who entrusted us with their stories' her letter to colleagues was, in fact, performative

John Dickerson, an anchor on the evening news show, quit after 16 years, followed by his co-host Maurice DuBois. Weiss reportedly courted CNN's Anderson Cooper and Fox News anchor Bret Baier, but was reportedly told in no uncertain terms that they were contractually confined to their own networks. Her overture was seen my media watchers as a rookie mistake.

Though, while discontent may have escalated in recent months, it predates Weiss's arrival.

In July, CBS's new parent company Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with President Trump after he sued them, alleging that an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was selectively edited to make her appear more coherent.

In October, Weiss's hiring was commended by Trump himself - he said he hoped the network would be more 'fair' with her at the helm - which only served to heighten the unease among some journalists. Weiss's supporters have pushed back, arguing that she is bringing much-needed balance back to the network, and was right this weekend to pull the program.

'I held that story because it wasn't ready,' said Weiss on Monday, adding that the story 'has already been reported on by places like the Times, the public knows that Venezuelans have been subjected to horrific treatment in this prison. So to run a story on this subject, two months later, we simply need to do more.'

The 60 Minutes editor, who was present in the meeting, told the Daily Mail that Weiss's reasoning was 'bull****.'

'She knows it; we know it; everyone with a brain knows it,' the source said. 'She is protecting conservatives.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to CBS News for comment.
A 60 Minutes segment that was spiked from Sunday night's episode just hours before airtime has been leaked online after being played during the show's Canada broadcast.

The newsmagazine had been set to air veteran journalist Sharyn Alfonsi's 'Inside CECOT' segment, featuring interviews with a group of Venezuelan men who thought they were being deported back to their home country - only to wind up at the notorious El Salvador prison.

But just two hours before the program was set to air, 60 Minutes announced on social media that the lineup had been updated and '"Inside CECOT" will air in a future broadcast.'

A source at CBS News explained that network executives determined the CECOT segment 'needed additional reporting' after new CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss requested a number of changes.

It appears the schedule change came too late for Global TV in Canada, however, as the original episode aired - with the 'Inside CECOT' segment.

That episode is now available on Global TV's streaming platform, and was quickly shared on platforms like X and YouTube from viewers who posted their own recordings online.

Many had been left outraged by Weiss' last minute decision to pull the segment, which it had advertised all week, accusing her of censorship and bowing to the Trump administration.

Alfonsi, a reporter for the news magazine since 2015, even declared that Weiss was destroying 60 Minutes' reputation.

60 Minutes announced on Sunday it was pulling Alfonsi's segment about the Trump administration's deportation efforts just hours before it was set to air

The segment documented a group of Venezuelan men who thought they were being sent back to their home country - only to end up at the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador

In a fiery email to other correspondents, including Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, and Anderson Cooper, Alfonsi said she had 'asked for a call' with Weiss 'to discuss her decision,' but 'she did not afford us that courtesy/opportunity.'

The longtime reporter then argued, in the letter cited first by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, that she and her team followed all journalistic standards, requesting comment from the White House, State Department and the Department of Homeland Security.

She told her colleagues in the email that the segment was 'screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. It is factually correct.'

'In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.'

Weiss, the 41-year-old founder of The Free Press, has denied her decision was political, arguing it is standard practice to hold back stories until they're perfect.

'My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be. Holding stories that aren't ready for whatever reason  that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices  happens every day in every newsroom,' she told The Times.

'I look forward to airing this important piece when it's ready.'

She again defended her decision on Monday morning.

60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of censoring her work

Weiss had requested numerous changes to the segment before it was pulled from the program Sunday night

She told colleagues that she spiked the segment simply because it 'did not advance the ball' during the network's typical 9am editorial call on Monday, The New York Times reported.

She pointed out how the the Times and other publications have 'previously done similar work' while maintaining that fresh, through-provoking content was her 'north star.'

'To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more,' Weiss told staff.

'And this is 60 Minutes. We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.

'Our viewers come first. Not the listing schedule or anything else,' she argued. 'That's my north star, and I hope it's yours too.'

A manager meeting was held later in day to address backlash caused by the decision, The Guardian reported.

Panelists on MS NOW's Morning Joe had said Monday they viewed the segment being pulled as an affront to journalism.

CBS News employees, meanwhile, have threatened to quit over Weiss's decision, CBS sources told CNN.

With just two hours before the program was set to air, 60 Minutes announced on social media that the lineup 'has been updated' and '"Inside CECOT" will air in a future broadcast'

Panelists on MS NOW's Morning Joe slammed the decision as unethical

The uproar came as Alfonsi argued that the segment was only killed because the Trump administration refused to comment on it, saying if that is a 'valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a "kill switch" for any reporting they find inconvenient.'

'If the standard for airing a story becomes 'the government must agree to be interviewed,' then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast,' she claimed.

'We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state.'

She then declared that the men she spoke with 'risked their lives' by being interviewed.

'We have a moral and professional obligation to the sources who entrusted us with their stories,' Alfonsi said. 'Abandoning them now is a betrayal of the most basic tenet of journalism: giving voice to the voiceless.'

Alfonsi's segment was set to feature her interviews with a group of Venezuelan men who were sent to the notorious CECOT prison

She argued in her email that they risked their lives to be interviewed

In the newly-released segment, a college student who was detained by US Customs before being deported to CECOT described how he was tortured upon arrival.

He said that the first thing a guard told them 'was that we would never see day or night again.'

'He said "Welcome to Hell, I'll make sure you never leave,"' the deported migrant said, later claiming: 'When you get there, you know you're in Hell. You don't need anyone else telling you.'

Another said he and others were taken to a 'little room where there's no light, no ventilation, nothing.'

'It's a cell for punishment where you can't see your hand in front of your face. After they locked us in, they came to beat us every half hour, and they pounded on the door with their sticks to traumatize us while we were in there,' he claimed.

Alfonsi also said in the segment released Monday evening that she reviewed available ICE data to confirm Human Rights Watch's findings that suggest only eight deported men had been sentenced for violent or partially violent crimes.

She then questioned the Trump administration's basis for deporting many of the Venezuelan men to CECOT, where she claimed they were left without food or medicine.

'The sicker and more injured we were, the better it was for them,' one of the migrants said of the guards.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem looks inside a prison cell during a tour of CECOT in March

The segment ends with Alfonsi saying the Department of Homeland Security 'declined our request for an interview and referred all questions about CECOT to El Salvador.

'The government there did not respond to our request,' she said, before noting that the Trump administration has since made deals with other countries to send migrants to prisons there.

But the segment also included comments Trump made as he sat down with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele earlier this year, praising the prison system, saying it has 'very strong facilities' and El Salvadorans 'don't play games.'

CBS News had included the segment on the 60 Minutes schedule just last week.

'Earlier this year, the Trump administration deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, a country most had no ties to, claiming they were terrorists,' it advertised.

'This move sparked an ongoing legal battle and nine months later, the US government still has not released the names of all those deported and placed in CECOT, one of El Salvador's harshest prisons.'

But Weiss then requested numerous changes to the segment, according to The New York Times.

She asked for a significant amount of new material to be added, including an interview with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who designed the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, or another high-ranking official, those familiar with the production told The Times.

She also reportedly questioned the use of the term 'migrants' to describe the Venezuelan men who were deported, noting that they were in the US illegally.

Weiss requested numerous changes to the segment before it was set to air

But in her note to colleagues on Sunday, Alfonsi noted that the network has 'been promoting this story on social media for days. Our viewers are expecting it.'

'When it fails to air without a credible explanation, the public will correctly identify this as corporate censorship,' she wrote.

'We are trading 50 years of 'gold standard' reputation for a single week of political quiet,' Alfonsi concluded.

The postponement of the segment comes as David Ellison, the owner of CBS's parent company, Paramount Skydance, tries to court the president to support his hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros-Discovery.

On Friday, Trump told a North Carolina rally that he 'loves' the new owners of CBS.

'CBS, I mean, I love the new owners of CBS,' the president beamed, though he argued '60 Minutes has treated me worse under the new ownership. They just keep hitting me. It's crazy.'

He has used recent episodes of the program to suggest he is displeased with Ellison's stewardship at the network.

'For those people that think I am close with the new owners of CBS, please understand that 60 Minutes has treated me far worse since the so-called 'takeover' than they have ever treated me before,' he wrote on his Truth Social platform last week.

'If they are friends, I'd hate to see my enemies.'

Still, Trump has also given his seal of approval to Weiss, who took the helm of CBS News in October.

She was handpicked by Ellison - a former Hollywood producer and the son of billionaire Trump ally Larry Ellison - to head an increasingly new-look for CBS following the network's settlement with Trump.

'I think you have a great new leader, frankly, 'cause the young woman that's leading your whole enterprise is a great - from what I know, I don't know her - but I hear she's a great person,' the president told correspondent Norah O'Donnell last month.

'I see good things happening in the news. I really do. And I think one of the best things to happen is this show and new ownership, CBS and new ownership.'
A senior CNN legal analyst cast doubt on the credibility of a postcard allegedly penned by Jeffrey Epstein days before the financier's death in 2019 - before being proven right by the Department of Justice.

Elie Honig, 50, warned onlookers to be wary of the note addressed to serial child molester Larry Nassar during an appearance on The Situation Room at around 11am.

He pointed to when it was said to be written - days before the financier committed suicide in August 2019.

'He's just been prosecuted by Donald Trump's DOJ itself,' the former assistant United States Attorney explained. 'He's clearly, in my view, trying to leave some sort of message behind.'

The note was also postmarked three days after Epstein's death on August 9, 2019 - something the DOJ was quick to point out in a 1:30pm X post that promised it was 'looking into the [letter's] validity' after it was released alongside roughly 11,000 other Epstein-related documents Tuesday morning.

By 3:30pm, the agency put out another statement that said the document was a 'fake'.

'The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE,' the statement read, adding how the letter was received by the jail and 'flagged for the FBI at the time.'

Elie Honig, 50, cast doubt on the credibility of a postcard allegedly penned by Jeffrey Epstein days before the financier's death in 2019 on Tuesday morning's The Situation Room - before being proven right by the Department of Justice

Pictured, the disgraced financier's alleged last correspondence before he was found dead in his cell. In it, the person posing as Epstein allegedly wrote to a fellow sex criminal that 'our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls'

'The FBI made this conclusion based on the following facts,' the statement went on, citing how 'the writing' seen in the note 'does not appear to match Jeffrey Epsteins.'

The letter was also postmarked three days after Epstein's death, the DOJ said - also citing how the seal came out of Northern Virginia when Epstein was jailed in New York.

Other telling tidbits was that the note's return address did not list the jail where Epstein was being held and that the card did not include Epstein's inmate number - standard practice for outgoing mail at all federal facilities, officials said.

'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.

'Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law,' the statement read.

In the letter, the person posing as Epstein assured Nassar - the US Olympic gymnastics team doctor was sentenced to 40-to-175 years in prison for sexually abusing female gymnasts in 2018 - that 'our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls.'

Nassar pleaded guilty to three federal charges of child pornography the year before.

Prior to the DOJ's statement, a skeptical Honig said the letter, in any prosecution, 'would not be admissible' due to 'multiple levels of hearsay.'

A few hours later, the DOJ confirmed the letter was not what it appeared and was purposedly misleading

Donald Trump - who was nearing the end of his first term at the time it was written - is seen warning onlookers about the documents' lack of context

Nassar - the US Olympic gymnastics team doctor - was serving a 40-to-175 prison sentence at the time, for sexually abusing young female gymnasts, The note was postmarked three days after Epstein's suicide, in August of 2019

Brown agreed that the documents lacked 'important context', after roughly an hour of reporting on the DOJ's latest Epstein release from the major networks.

She went on to play a clip of Trump warning onlookers on Monday that the documents being released in waves by the Justice Department often lack crucial context.

'Does he have a point there?' Brown asked Honig once the clip cut.

'You know, he actually does,' the legal eagle admitted.

'Because the DOJ does not want to harm the reputation of people who have not been actually charged with crimes and don't have an official forum, a trial to defend themselves.'

'So he's got a point,' Honig conceded,

The nearly 30,000-page release Tuesday is the latest dump from the Justice Department when it comes to the Epstein case.

Epstein appeared to assure an also imprisoned Nassar that 'Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls' in the phony postcard.

Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
When Roger Wall popped to the shops for bread, milk and other essentials in October, his account was debited for 7.89 as expected.

Roger, 80, a retired facilities manager, had been visiting his nearest Tesco supermarket, a ten-minute walk from his home in Orpington, south-east London on October 25.

But, a week later, when his bank statement arrived in the post, it revealed that in addition to his shopping, Roger had been charged for two payments that day  each for 5,000  going to a recipient he did not recognise: 'SQ \*Admin Skill LI'.

Roger had no idea what the payments were and immediately phoned Barclays, which provides his current account, to report them.

But Barclays would not reimburse him. Nor would it apologise for failing to stop two large payments going through that were clearly completely out of character for Roger.

Instead, to Roger's horror, it repeatedly asked him whether his partner of 26 years had access to his bank cards.

Shaking with rage: Roger Wall and Jacqueline Foale. When 10,000 went missing from Roger's Barclays account, the bank suggested Jacqueline had taken it

'I was shaking with rage when I rang the bank to tell them I was a victim of fraud,' says Roger. 'But I was then asked if my partner had access to my bank cards.

'It was understandable to be asked once, but on three separate occasions I was asked this question.

'It felt like they were querying the nature of our relationship, and if I could really trust my partner of 26 years  or had been sharing my PIN. I had not.'

His partner, Jacqueline Foale, 77, a retired office administrator who lives six miles away, in Bexley, south-east London, felt hurt by the questioning.

Jacqueline says: 'Roger is not in the best of health, and to repeatedly ask about if I might have access to his PIN was hurtful and rude.

'The bank has given Roger a lot of sleepless nights. We are both independent with our own bank accounts.'

Barclays sent Roger a form to complete, detailing all the items in his shopping, which he filled out straight away.

But he heard nothing from the bank for ten days  during which he was still 10,000 out of pocket.

Roger says: 'I struggled with insomnia. Nobody seemed willing to help or come up with a decision. Even when I called after hearing nothing, they could only say my case would soon be discussed in a committee meeting.

'The only thing staff would say is my bank account was encrypted and had not been hacked and there was no evidence my Visa debit bank card had been cloned by any criminals.'

Money Mail has seen the bank statement. It states that on October 25 there was a 'Card Payment to SQ \*Admin Skill LI' with two separate transactions for 5,000, suggesting the payments were made at a terminal using the bank card.

SQ stands for Square, which is a payment processing company used by smaller businesses.

An internet search for Admin Skill LI indicated a potential payment for a learning programme offered on the online business networking platform LinkedIn.

But a spokesperson for LinkedIn said: 'We do not offer any service called Admin Skill, so this does not appear to be related to LinkedIn.'

Roger has no idea who Admin Skill LI could be and had hoped his bank would investigate.

He logged the theft with the cyber-crime reporting service Action Fraud. Roger also hoped Barclays would contact Tesco to ask if its CCTV surveillance spotted any suspicious activity.

Snub: Barclays would not apologise for failing to stop two large payments going through that were clearly completely out of character for Roger

He says: 'I cannot help but wonder if someone might have stolen my information at the supermarket  perhaps shoulder surfing, standing nearby or behind so they could spy as I was shopping.' Barclays would not comment on whether it had contacted Tesco.

It was not until Money Mail spoke to Barclays that the bank suddenly agreed to return Roger's money  explaining this was only a 'gesture of goodwill'.

On the same day that Barclays finally agreed to give Roger back 10,000  November 28  a formal letter from the bank arrived at Roger's home by post.

The title was intended to leave Roger in no doubt: 'We've completed our investigation'.

The letter stated: 'You recently told us about some payments you didn't recognise.

'We looked into them and didn't find any evidence of fraud, which means we can't offer you a refund this means we can't give you a refund for the disputed amount of 10,000.'

Roger says: 'The mealy-mouthed response without a genuine apology seems to indicate they do not believe the money was stolen.

'I have had no explanation why they think my PIN was shared with someone else or why it seems that the CCTV footage was not worth looking at.'

Barclays has not explained how the false payments were made  and refused to say whether his PIN was used, despite Roger being asked if he might have shared it with his partner.

A Barclays spokesperson says: 'We are sorry to hear about the distress caused to Mr Wall by the loss of this money, as the protection of our customers' funds is our highest priority and we take every precaution to ensure that these are secure.

'Following a thorough review, the evidence currently available does not indicate fraud in this case. However, it is also unlikely that Mr Wall personally benefited from these payments.

'As a gesture of goodwill, we have refunded Mr Wall the full amount of 10,000 while our enquiries with the merchant continue to determine the root cause.

'We acknowledge the stress this situation has caused and have offered an additional 100 to Mr Wall as an extension of our apologies.'
I am delighted to say that I won back a total of nearly 1.02million this year in another 100-plus cases of unfair treatment by companies and institutions exposed in the Sally Sorts It column.

That's money back in readers' pockets, where it belongs.

The funds reunited in 2025 included repayments sat on endlessly by businesses, compensation for dire service, wrongly-denied insurance payouts, energy bills written off, sums lost in the ether by financial institutions and reimbursements following fraud.

Energy firms billing incorrectly featured large  among them a British Gas mix-up that scared the life out of a reader when he was issued a 13,000 bill out of the blue, and who failed to get the energy provider's chatbots to sort it out.

Then there was insurance that didn't live up to policyholder expectations. Confusion over a policy's start date meant a stroke victim nearly missed out on a 4,998 insurance payout when she had to cancel her river cruise, until I got involved.

In another case  my biggest win of the year  a 30-year-old man was denied a travel insurance payout for vertiginous bills following his terrifying cardiac arrest in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. The incident involved him being resuscitated, flown to hospital and undergoing emergency surgery.

The claim was denied as he had attended his GP with earache some 18 months previously and neglected to tell the insurer.

This outcome was almost as terrifying as the incident itself, as there was no way he could pay the bill himself.

Sally Hamilton exposed 100-plus cases of unfair treatment by companies and institutions in the Sally Sorts It column

At the time I covered his case, in March, the costs were estimated at $100,000 (75,000). But recently the reader contacted me to say he had been copied into more bills, suggesting the total cost  excluding the air ambulance bill, which he has not yet seen but can often reach $50,000 or more  was heading north of $602,000 (about 450,000).

Fortunately, on my intervention, the insurer reviewed the case and agreed to pay up.

Tip: Always declare any medical issues  and double-check when cover commences.

Pet insurance also sent several readers barking mad.

One struggled to get payouts for behavioural treatment which should have been allowed under the policy, but when I stepped in, it agreed to meet the claim.

Another more disturbing case was where an owner was charged three excesses totalling more than 750 after her dog underwent biopsies for lumps under its skin. She thought this wrong, and I agreed.

However, the insurer John Lewis, whose policies are underwritten by Intact, would not budge because the lumps had different causes  three different illnesses in its eyes, and therefore three different claims.

But it was only one operation and a single set of tests.

My pleas to rethink were ignored. But the reader took the case to the Financial Ombudsman, and I am delighted to report it recently concluded this reader and I were right  and ordered the insurer to return her 555 plus interest of 124.

She was delighted to be vindicated and is donating a sum from the reimbursement to a local animal sanctuary.

Tip: Even if a claim is denied, persevere if you are sure you are in the right. If necessary, take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service for an independent view.

Car hire is another pet hate for readers. These firms get my wooden spoon for service, as they are as stubborn as mules when it comes to customers who complain.

Avis gets the giant porridge spoon this year because it refused to reimburse an elderly couple who arrived at the rental desk, tired after a two-hour immigration queue, who were charged 340 (297) for excess insurance they didn't need. They already had a 33 stand-alone policy of their own, but Avis said it had a signed contract with them so would not budge.

My intervention made no difference, which made me pessimistic when I tried as a customer myself to get back a breakdown cover charge Avis added to my hire bill in Boston, in the US, recently.

My husband and I had queued behind 60 people and were rushed when we got to the desk. He simply asked: 'What do we do if we break down?' and was told: 'Don't worry.' No mention of the breakdown cover that this staff member then added to our bill.

I consider myself savvy when it comes to car hire, so am particularly aggrieved at being caught out this way. And, yes, when I complained, I got the same response  that Avis had in its possession a signed contract from us. Grrrr!

Tip: However tired you are, or however rushed the situation, always read through the invoice at the hire desk to check for unwanted extras and charges.

Cases of fraud are among the most distressing and the sums lost can be life-changing.

I was delighted to be able to help one vulnerable victim who, while suffering from depression, lost 104,000 to a scammer after they conned her into transferring money to cryptocurrency accounts. On my intervention, her bank, Barclays, reimbursed half her losses.

One new development this year was how cyber attacks on Britain's big retailers, including Marks & Spencer, provided new opportunities for scammers.

Knowing customers would be chasing orders that had gone astray in the chaos, they stepped in to pose as customer service staff when shoppers made complaints on social media.

They went on to defraud victims by telling them they would be compensated for their trouble if they gave their bank details. I helped one customer caught in this trap get back 200 lost to the scammers posing as M&S.

Tip: Following a high-profile hack, do not respond to communications from the targeted firm unless you are sure it is genuine.

Public sector bodies were not immune from readers' gripes. I was pleased to help a man wrongly pursued for a year by the Department for Work and Pensions to clear his name over a 763 Universal Credit debt incurred by a fraudster using his details.

Tip: Anyone who ends up in such a (hopefully rare) predicament should be prepared to provide evidence. In his case, a flight boarding pass and proof he was elsewhere on days face-to-face claims were made in his name provided vital proof.

Finally, if you do only one thing in 2026, familiarise yourself with your rights.

The most important law to get to grips with is the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This says goods must be of a satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, free of defects and match the description  as well as last a reasonable length of time. If they are not, you can get a refund within 30 days of purchase.

Quoting the Act in correspondence should strengthen arguments with retailers and suppliers who try to bat away customers.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act is also handy. This makes a credit card provider jointly responsible with a retailer if something goes wrong with a purchase costing 100 to 30,000.

Similar protection is offered with a process called chargeback, provided on a voluntary basis by card networks. It can be used for debit card and credit card purchases that go awry and there is no minimum or maximum sum for the claim.

Unwelcome approaches

Being Money Mail's consumer champion is a fantastic job. I enjoy helping readers who are often at the end of their tether when they get in touch.

I am humbled by the stories many tell me about their situations, whether they or their relatives are suffering serious illness, money problems, job loss, bereavement or other hardship.

Then there are those who feel excluded by the rapid progress of technology, and others who are driven to distraction because they feel they are not being listened to by an organisation which has treated them unfairly.

Many readers expressed disenchantment at the rise of the robots in customer service departments  hear, hear! Plenty of readers I deal with are just glad to be heard, and taken seriously, by a human who is on their side.

I hope more of you will get in touch next year with issues that are proving impossible to resolve alone. I can't investigate all cases, unfortunately, but I read all your letters and emails.

Not all contact has been welcome, however. This year I have been puzzled and alarmed by a couple of approaches from people who were trying to pull the wool over my eyes, and those of the organisations involved.

I like to think I can spot these miscreants at ten paces, but even a cynical journalist can (nearly) be caught out by convincing patter  at least enough to start an investigation.

Sally Hamilton spotted rogue readers trying to swindle her while making 1million back for others

First up was a man who was desperate for my help because he had been scammed out of 10,000 from his TSB account and the bank wasn't reimbursing him.

Now, TSB is known as the bank that likes to say 'yes' to returning money to fraud victims. It has a record of reimbursing more often than others. So why did it say no to this customer, I wondered?

He had a whole backstory of how his mother had been in hospital in a coma when the scam happened, and how he borrowed money from his dad on the promise that TSB was going to reimburse him. To reel me in further, he told me his other bank account had been similarly scammed at the same time and he got his money back.

I put all this to TSB, which was adamant it would not reimburse him, though would not elaborate.

With my suspicions aroused, I did an internet search on this fellow. Lo and behold, he had not long ago been convicted of making fraudulent insurance claims.

I dropped him like a brick. But a few weeks later, I received an email from him stating the following: 'Just a quick message to say thanks for getting in touch with TSB for me. I have finally had a phone call from them last night and they have confirmed that I will now be refunded by close of business today.' (Not true  as TSB confirmed to me).

And then, the punchline: 'Could you please notify me of a charity of your choice as I would like to make a donation on your behalf as I would have lost this money without your help.'

I would laugh at his brass neck, but, frankly, it isn't funny.

More recently, a man claiming to be a 92-year-old customer of National Savings & Investments (NS&I) said he was being prevented from accessing his account and withdrawing thousands of pounds worth of Premium Bonds.

NS&I was tight-lipped on this case. But he had an unusual name and with a quick search I found some information suggesting he (or certainly someone of the same name and vintage) had died seven years ago.

Had someone found certificates hidden in a drawer perhaps and thought they would try it on? Or had I had my first request for help from beyond the grave?
Kate Nicholls is chair of UK Hospitality

Christmas should be a time of cheer, but last months Budget has instead left hospitality businesses at their wits end worrying about the looming business rates car crash.

In just a few months, local pubs, neighbourhood restaurants and coastal hotels, to name a few, will be hit with increases to their business rates running into the thousands.

UK Hospitality boss Kate Nicholls

For many of these already cash-strapped businesses, the eye-watering increases have become their own nightmare before Christmas.

Even after the Governments transitional relief package, an average pub will see their rates increase by 1,400 next year. In three years, theyll have paid an extra 12,400.

For a hotel, itll be an extra 28,900 next year. Thats one staff member sadly let go. By year three, its an extra 111,300. In total, an additional 205,200 over three years.

Thats probably four people losing their jobs  young people embarking on a career in hospitality, a parent juggling childcare, a son or daughter with caring responsibilities for their parents. These are the people disproportionately hit by these job losses  and the exact people the Government wants to help back into work.

Those eye-watering sums will be a 76 per cent increase for pubs and a 115 per cent increase for hotels. These are not the sort of sums youll just find down the back of the sofa.

These are hikes even after the 4.3billion transitional relief package the Government has introduced  which, it should be noted, is for the entire economy, not just hospitality. Yes, it caps how much bills can go up by, but an increase is still an increase.

Even the Chancellor last week confirmed that the sectors overall business rates bill would increase by 4 per cent.

We told Ministers and officials that property revaluations would rise significantly, due to comparisons with Covid, and that was why the Government had to apply the maximum discount for hospitality properties.

Last orders: Landlords have banned Keir Starmer and other Labour MPs from their pubs

The local pub is not Amazon. It doesnt have turnover that runs into the hundreds of millions, to help out on a rainy day.

For the record, those online giants are only seeing business rates for their distribution warehouses increase by 16 per cent.

These are the very businesses that Labour committed to have pay their fair share through a new system that will, and I quote from the manifesto, 'level the playing field between the high street and online giants'.

That is categorically not happening. Online giants, office blocks and out-of-town supermarkets are getting a better deal than your favourite pub, restaurant or cafe.

We warned the Treasury for months that this could be the case. They chose a different  misguided  path. The result? This Budget has widened the gap between the high street and big online businesses, when it had the explicit aim of doing the opposite.

It affects all of us. Business closures will accelerate, more jobs will be lost and the price of these increases will inevitably be passed onto us, the consumer.

Making life more affordable does not start with Government costs ratchetting up the cost of a pint, a meal or a hotel stay.

The Government has the power to fix this. They should increase the business rates discount for hospitality to 20p or freeze rateable values for hospitality businesses at 2023 levels. This would give them time to actually deliver its manifesto promise.

Help us rebuild and revive our high streets. Youll miss them when theyre gone.
Labour has been told that the frustrated defence sector needs some decisions after an investment plan was delayed into next year.

Clive Higgins, UK boss of Italian group Leonardo, said arms makers had hoped the governments spending strategy would be a Christmas present rather than an Easter egg.

Instead, delays mean that despite a promise to hike the defence Budget the companies that will produce new kit are yet to receive new orders making it hard to gear up for the increased demand.

Higgins told the BBC that the industry stands ready to respond to those clear requirements the UK government has to prepare for growing threats.

But he added: Were coming to that point of needing a decision.

We were all hoping that the defence investment plan would be a Christmas present rather than an Easter egg so we do need some decisions.

Leonardo makes radar systems for Typhoon fighter jets

Government talks about working at pace  lets get the right decisions made, lets deliver all of that prosperity agenda that its talked about and critically those capabilities that our war fighters need.

Leonardo employs more than 8,500 people in the UK with sites including Yeovil, Newcastle and Edinburgh, supporting a supply chain with 30,000 jobs. It makes helicopters as well as electronic warfare systems and radar technology used by Typhoon fighter jets.

Its Yeovil plant employs 3,000 people. The factory  formerly the site of Westland  is known as the home of British helicopters and has been building the aircraft since the 1940s.

Over the weekend it emerged that Leonardos group boss Roberto Cingolani had written to defence secretary John Healey warning that its future In Yeovil and across the UK could be at risk because of delays to a new contract.

Leonardo is still waiting for a final decision from the Ministry of Defence on a 1bn new medium helicopter contract to replace Britains ageing Puma fleet  even though it is the sole bidder after rivals pulled out in the summer of 2024.

Higgins said: Theres been an element of frustration around the timing. This is a 1bn contract and we need the certainty.

A spokesperson for industry body ADS said: Neither industry or military planners can do their jobs appropriately without the certainty provided by the financial backing of the DIP.

Good intentions and good will to all are appreciated  but further delays in action are frustrating at best, disruptive to business at worst.

The comments come after Sir Keir Starmer reportedly tore up spending wish lists drawn up by military chiefs  raising concerns about affordability.

Labour had previously pledged to release the crucial Defence Investment Plan (DIP) this autumn, but now it is not expected before January 2026 at the earliest.

The postponement came despite the head of MI6 warning that Britain must prepare for conflict with Russia. The DIP is also considered vital to boost the UK economy with tens of thousands of industrial jobs hanging in the balance.

Labour has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.6pc of gross domestic product by 2027 with an ambition for 3pc in the next Parliament.

A government spokeperson said: 'We have signed over 1,000 major contracts since last July, boosted defence spending by 5bn this year and will invest a record 270bn in defence over this Parliament.

'We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan, which will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our frontline forces at speed and, importantly, invest in and grow the UK economy.

'The UKs New Medium Helicopter programme is ongoing and no final procurement decisions have yet been made. That outcome will be confirmed in due course.'
Rachel Reeves has been urged to scrap an inheritance tax raid on family firms altogether after a massive U-turn.

Businesses cheered Labours climbdown, which will see a rise in the threshold for death duties on family businesses and farms from 1million to 2.5million.

That means spouses will have a tax-free allowance of 5million between them.

The move comes after a huge backlash from family businesses, from farmers to breweries and hoteliers, over plans to levy inheritance tax on family farms and firms worth more than 1million from April 2026.

The Daily Mail has been highlighting the impact on businesses, adding to the pressure on Labour to reverse course.

But now family firms have called to be excluded completely from the tax on ambition, as many are still bracing for inheritance taxes of 20 per cent from April next year.

U-turn: Businesses cheered Chancellor Rachel Reeves' climbdown on inheritance tax, which will see a rise in the threshold for death duties on family firms and farms worth 1m to 2.5m

Steve Perez, founder of Global Brands, the drinks firm behind Hooch and VK, said the change doesnt go nearly far enough.

The British entrepreneur says he has no plans to revive a 20million investment axed due to higher taxes.

He had been meaning to extend his plant at Clay Cross in Derbyshire and to build an extension and spa at the nearby Peak Edge Hotel in Chesterfield.

Perez said: Its good that the Government has at last recognised that its tax grab on the family firms that make up the backbone of our economy is untenable, as the Daily Mail has repeatedly highlighted.

Family businesses make up over 90 per cent of firms and employ over half the workforce. So this change is welcome, but doesnt go nearly far enough.

It wont help many of the medium-sized businesses that are the biggest and best employers. Its a tax on entrepreneurs ambition to grow a business bigger than 2.5million.

It will still mean businesses pulling back on investment and jobs. Rachel Reeves needs to go further and save our family firms by junking the entire tax raid.

Steve Rigby, chairman of support group Family Business UK, said: Raising the cap to 2.5million, or 5million for married couples, is the right thing to do to reinvigorate investment and growth among smaller family businesses and farms.

Retaining the cap for businesses valued higher than this remains a challenge and we look forward to continuing our work with Government on solutions that will give them the confidence they need.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride criticised the decision to make a U-turn so close to Christmas, saying: They have put families through hell, only to water down their proposals at the last minute.

William Lees-Jones, managing director of JW Lees Brewery, added: Its a start and very welcome  reverting to 100 per cent relief would be even better, but the Government has listened and thats progress.

Kate Nicholls, chair of trade body UK Hospitality, said: Family-run businesses are part of what makes much of hospitality so special, with generation after generation taking on the family pub, restaurant or hotel to continue its legacy.

The original changes to business property relief put all of that at risk, with businesses up and down the country suddenly facing tax bills running into tens of thousands of pounds.

Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, one of the UKs best-known family businesses, said: This Government has no understanding of the importance of family businesses or it would never have mounted this tax raid in the first place.

The climbdown that has been announced goes nowhere near far enough. Business property relief needs to be maintained in full for family companies so that their importance to the economy continues to be recognised.

If this doesnt happen, firms will cut back on investment and jobs as they prepare for huge tax bills they cant pay.

The only responsible course for a Chancellor who says growth is her top priority is a full U-turn.
I am the owner of a leasehold flat with 39 years remaining on the lease, and I would like to extend it.

Since looking into this, I've been shocked at how much it could cost - 250,000, according to one estimate.

It sounds as if the cost of the lease extension will end up being the difference between the value of the property with a 39 year lease, and the value of the property with a full lease, which seems unfair.

I'm also concerned about stamp duty. The valuer I spoke to suggested that because I own another property, which I rent out, I will be liable for the stamp duty surcharge of 5 per cent that is paid by second home owners.

But the property I am extending the lease on is my main residence, so I didn't think the surcharge applied. Can you help?

Leasehold: In England and Wales, many flats are sold with a lease which gives the owner the right to live in the property for a set number of years

Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: Extending a lease can be an expensive business, and you are wise to be questioning all of these charges.

At present, you'll be liable to pay something known as marriage value.

I say 'at present' because this element of the lease extension calculation could be abolished in the future, under the the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act.

Marriage value becomes payable on homes with leases below 80 years, and is based on the increase that will occur as a result of a lease extension.

Put another way, it's the financial benefit that results from merging part of the freeholder and leaseholder interests, hence the term 'marriage'.

The marriage value must be split 50:50 with the freeholder. In practice, this means the leaseholder pays 50 per cent of the marriage value to the freeholder, as part of the premium payable for the lease extension.

On top of marriage value, you also need to budget for buying out the remaining ground rent on the lease, and for your own legal and valuation fees, and those of the freeholder  which under current law, you must also pay.

If marriage value is to be abolished or reformed, there may be some merit in waiting a few years before trying to extend the lease.

This is a risk, though, given your lease will only become shorter and more expensive to extend if the current Government fails to follow through on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

Details of the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill were expected to be made public before the end of this year, but this has been delayed.

Marriage value: An example of how it works

Linz Darlington, managing director of lease extension specialists, Homehold, has provided us with this hypothetical calculation. (A) Value once lease is extended = 600,000 (B) Value before lease is extended = 300,000 (C) Uplift (not profit) = A - B = 300,000 (D) Cost of buying extra years = 95,000 (E) Cost of buying out ground rent = 5,000 (F) Marriage value/profit = C - (D+E) = 300,000 - (95,000 + 5,000) = 200,000 (G) 50% share of marriage value/profit = F x 50% = 100,000 (H) Overall cost to leaseholder under current law = D + E + G = 200,000 (I) Possible overall cost to leaseholder if marriage value is abolished = D + E = 100,000

For you, there is also the question of stamp duty. Many people who are considering extending their lease would probably not assume there would be stamp duty to pay. But is that the case?

For expert advice, we spoke to Jessica Garbutt, consulting accountant at Property Tax Advice & RiverView Portfolio.

Jessica Garbutt replies: Leasehold extensions are a particularly complex area of stamp duty taxation, but lets break it down.

When Im looking at a stamp duty question, I like to think of it in two parts.

First, the basis of the calculation - the value on which stamp duty will be charged. Second, the rates that apply - how that value is taxed.

Jessica Garbutt, consulting accountant at Property Tax Advice & RiverView Portfolio

For a leasehold extension, the basis is made up of two separate elements. The lease premium is the amount you pay to extend or renew the lease, and the net present value (NPV) is the total ground rent payable over the term of the lease.

These two elements are treated differently for SDLT purposes, so they must be considered separately.

The lease premium is taxed under the residential rates of SDLT, the same as if you were purchasing a freehold property.

You are also correct in thinking that you are liable for the second home rate of stamp duty, rather than the main residence rate.

Unlike a freehold purchase or your original leasehold purchase, a lease extension is treated as a separate chargeable interest in land, so doesnt qualify as a replacement of your main residence.

When you bought your flat in 2019, that purchase was considered a replacement of your previous main home, so only the standard SDLT rates applied - even though you owned another property at the time.

Unfortunately, a lease extension does not qualify as a replacement of your main home, so it is likely that the 5 per cent additional property surcharge will apply because you already own another property.

Therefore, in your case, stamp duty would be payable on the 250,000 lease premium at 5 per cent up to 125,000, and 7 per cent between 125,001 and 250,000.

It means it will likely cost you 15,000 in stamp duty to extend the lease.

The ground rent NPV element is taxed under different rates. For residential leases, SDLT is charged 0 per cent on the first 125,000 of the NPV of the rent and 1 per cent on any amount above that threshold.

With that being said, for residential properties, it is unlikely that SDLT will be payable as the NPV of the ground rent will most likely be within the 0 per cent band.

However, because of the complexity of leasehold SDLT, and the need to consider both elements and any additional property surcharges, its important to seek advice from a specialist if you want to estimate the SDLT payable accurately.
A company boss who has lived abroad for 20 years got embroiled in what he dubs a 'Kafkaesque battle' with a pension firm over his 350,000 retirement fund.

Steve Bentley, pictured, says UK pension provider Curtis Banks unfairly blocked him from moving his pension abroad after a minor administrative error by His Majesty's Revenue & Customs.

This was despite the error already having been corrected and apologised for by the tax office.

Steve Bentley: Company boss says having his pension frozen 'is causing immense stress'

The 70-year-old owner of an aviation services business in Bulgaria turned to This is Money for help, telling us: 'Having this amount frozen by bureaucratic incompetence is causing immense stress.'

Bentley, who founded his business after moving abroad from Lancashire, wanted to move his private pension to a local scheme operated by the Belgian bank KBC Group.

He started the process in August, but it was delayed by a discrepancy in the name of the pension scheme on a list held by HMRC of 'recognised overseas pension schemes', known as ROPS.

The fund he wanted to move his pension to was called Voluntary Pension Fund UBB, but HMRC incorrectly listed it as simply Pension Fund UBB.

He says after this was corrected in mid-November, Curtis Banks still insisted that his new scheme provide an HMRC letter confirming renotification to the list as well.

Bentley says that as HMRC does not send out such letters, Curtis was asking the impossible.

He said: 'Despite being sent the HMRC apology letter and the link to the now-updated, live HMRC Government website confirming the scheme is valid, Curtis Banks still refuses to transfer the money.

'It is ignoring the live HMRC data and stalling for a "re-registration letter", which is not legally required. It is placing its internal box-ticking above the authority of the UK tax office.'

Bentley, who has been a tax resident in Bulgaria for 20 years and draws the equivalent of the state pension there, adds: 'If they are doing this to a CEO who understands regulation, I dread to think how they are treating vulnerable pensioners who cannot fight back.'

He contacted This is Money as 'a last resort' due to the impasse, and also wrote to the MP of his former constituency in Lancashire, where he still has family and owns property.

After we contacted Curtis Banks, which is owned by financial adviser platform Nucleus, it transferred his cash to his new pension scheme.

A spokesperson says: 'The safety of our customers pensions is our top priority. Transferring to a scheme that cannot be identified on HMRCs recognised overseas pensions scheme list poses a risk to the safety of their pension, a matter which we take very seriously.

'While our usual process is to obtain written documentation of a schemes registration, in view of the delays caused by HMRC, we expedited this once we saw the required change on their website. Weve confirmed to Mr Bentley that the transfer has been completed.

'Our investigation into this complaint is nearing conclusion and once finalised well offer a goodwill payment for the distress and inconvenience caused.'

An HMRC spokesperson says: 'We apologise for listing "Voluntary Pension Fund UBB" incorrectly as "Pension Fund UBB" on the public HMRC ROPS list. We rectified this on 17 November 2025 after we became aware of this.

'The list allows administrators of registered pension schemes, as one part of their due diligence, to verify that an entity on the list has notified HMRC that it meets the conditions to be a recognised overseas pension scheme.'

'We do not provide letters to pension providers stating that we have amended the list. It has a section which shows the date updates to it were made.'

Bentley has rejected a 250 payment offered by Curtis for distress and inconvenience, and is seeking redress for financial loss due to the transfer delay. He has made a complaint about the case to the Pensions Ombudsman.

Why would someone move to an overseas pension?

Some people who live abroad decide to move their UK pensions too because they want to join their overseas employer's scheme or find it more convenient or cheaper.

HMRC's ROPS list is made up of providers that have told it they meet the conditions to be a 'recognised overseas pension scheme' and have asked to be included.

It says on the ROPS list web page: 'We cannot guarantee these are ROPS or that any transfers to them will be free of UK tax.

'Its your responsibility to find out if you have to pay tax on any transfer of pension savings.

'We will usually pursue any UK tax charges (and interest for late payment) arising from transfers to overseas entities that do not meet the ROPS requirements even when they appear on this list.'

HMRC may impose a 25 per cent tax known as an overseas transfer charge on moving pensions overseas. But there are exemptions if your employer sponsors your move and provides the pension scheme, or if you live in the same country as the new scheme is based for the first five years.

The free Government-backed MoneyHelper site has a guide to moving UK pensions overseas, which has more details on the tax rules and penalties and warnings against falling for overseas pension scams.

It says: 'As theres a risk you could be worse off transferring your pension overseas, its a good idea to pay for financial advice in the UK and in the country you want to move your pension to.'

It has a guide to finding a pension or retirement adviser based in the UK, but says: 'Youll need to do your own research to find an adviser overseas. When searching make sure to check the advisers: fees, including if they charge commission; qualifications; experience; regulatory status.
The Government has u-turned on plans to impose inheritance tax on farms worth upwards of 1million, raising the threshold to 2.5million instead.

The change of heart, which is expected to lift most farmers out of inheritance tax altogether, follows a backlash and warnings many families would no longer be able to afford to hand on farms to the next generation.

However, some finance experts say the tax should not have just been amended but scrapped altogether.

From next April, 100 per cent agricultural property relief will stay for the first 2.5million of combined agricultural and business assets to help protect family farms and businesses.

That will double to 5million for a couple. Above these thresholds, the relief from inheritance tax will be reduced to 50 per cent.

The Government had already announced changes in the recent Budget to permit the transfer of the allowance between spouses or civil partners, but that would only have boosted the threshold to 2million.

Agricultural property relief: This will stay at 100% for the first 2.5million of combined agricultural and business assets to protect farms

You are allowed to pass on farm property if it qualifies for agricultural relief, which is described by the Government as 'land or pasture that is used to grow crops or to rear animals'.

Sean McCann, chartered financial planner at NFU Mutual, the financial advisory firm, says: 'Today's important announcement from the Government will come as a relief to many family-owned farms and businesses across the UK.

'Together with the change announced in the Budget allowing married couples to transfer any unused allowance between them, this latest move will allow up to 5million in qualifying agricultural and business assets to be passed on free of inheritance tax.

'While this is a significant improvement on the previous proposals and will take many smaller farms and businesses out of the inheritance tax net, it will still leave many farming and business owning families facing a large inheritance tax bill.

'Although farm asset values can be high, the returns are often low. In many cases we could still see land and buildings having to be sold on the farmer's death to pay the tax bill, with the next generation inheriting smaller less efficient farms as a result.'

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment firm AJ Bell, adds: 'Thousands of farmers and family-owned businesses will be celebrating on news the Government has announced a retreat on its inheritance tax plans after months of protests.

'For months the Government had been accused of being tone deaf when it came to the impact inheritance tax changes would have on jobs and livelihoods, with many farmers and business owners warning of the potential impact on local communities and supply chains.

'This decision will feel like an early Christmas present for those who had been forced to consider scaling back investment, selling off assets, or even selling the entire business with the potential for huge job losses.

'The Government has promised to deliver growth and today's climbdown shows that they have been listening, but it follows months of uncertainty and worry about whether the next generation would be able to take over businesses that their parents had worked hard to create.'

Toby Tallon, tax partner at S&W, says: 'The reduction in inheritance tax relief first announced in the October 2024 Budget left many living under a cloud of uncertainty as to whether they had a future.

'Farms and businesses that had been in families for generations faced mortgaging their future growth prospects or having to sell up to pay huge bills on the current owner's death.

'The change of heart from the Government will be gratefully received by many of our clients, after two Budgets that did little to spread good cheer.'

But he adds: 'It's another step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go to provide the support our farmers and small business owners need to thrive for generations.

'Restricting the inheritance tax reliefs on the transfer of qualifying family businesses and farms is an act of economic self-harm akin to imposing tariffs on your domestic industry.

'At a macro level it will result in lower tax revenue, fewer jobs, and lower economic growth. At an individual level, it puts businesses, their employees and their owners under significant stress and risk.

'In my view, and many others, it's simply a bad policy that should be scrapped, not just amended.'
This is the moment an Evri courier 'delivered' a parcel before picking it up and driving off - as dozens more complaints flooded in about missing or damaged deliveries.

Footage taken on a home security system shows the man walking up to the front door of the house and tapping details into a handheld device. But instead of leaving the box, he tucks it under his arm and walks away with it to his car.

After flabbergasted homeowner Steve Beresford posted the footage on Facebook he was contacted by a woman who lived a few miles away and had footage of what appears to be the same man turning up at her home and acting suspiciously.

He went up to her front door with a package - although she wasn't expecting a delivery - and walked away with it again.

The individual returned the following day and stopped on her driveway before getting out briefly and then driving off. She now fears he may have been scoping out her house for a burglary.

Details of the incidents, which were reported to police who confirmed they had been linked by the investigating officer, coincide with an influx of further complaints about Evri services.

New complaints the Daily Mail can reveal today alone include -

A customer not receiving a 375 coat bought from Sweaty Betty;

One man who claimed to have never received four items from Disney;

Customer in Bournemouth saying four parcels she'd ordered had not turned up.

CCTV footage shows the courier driver walking away with the parcel moments after he appeared to have confirmed delivery on a hand held device. Homeowner Steve Beresford, 61, said notification of the delivery appeared on his wife's mobile

Kaz Hill believes it's the same courier who turned up at her house in Frieston with a parcel - but took it with him when he left

Retired BT service engineer Mr Beresford said he felt 'violated' by the 'theft' - but Evri claims there was a misunderstanding because the courier had a partial address

One customer complained of losing the 'most expensive coat' she had 'ever bought'.

She told the Daily Mail: 'I am so infuriated not to have received my really expensive coat ordered from Sweaty Betty which was promised within 24 hours. That was a week ago.

'Their message says there was a delivery problem and they would get back to me in 24 hours. I have sent many messages but heard nothing.

'They are the worst delivery company. Why do companies use them.'

The woman said she had ordered the Nimbus Longline Waterproof Puffer Coat for 375. But she has now been left with nothing but an 'order number and Evri tracking number' - 'neither of which allows you to speak to anyone'.

Evri has responded to the allegation, insisting the customer did receive contact from customer service, with the delivery issue involving an 'incomplete address'.

A spokesman added: 'We are working with teh local delivery team in the area to get this successfully delivered.'

Another customer said he had been expecting four items from Disney this month.

However, he was disappointed to discover the gifts, which he had bought for his children and other family members for Christmas, 'only contained two items'.

He said: 'I called Disney customer service and the first question they asked is 'was the branded box at all damaged or tampered with'.

'The problem is, the delivery hadn't arrived in a branded box. It looked as though someone at Evri had opened the box, taken a couple of items and then wrapped the others in a black plastic delivery bag and stuck a label on it.'

He said it was the two 'cheaper' items that had been repackaged and redelivered.

He added, ironically: 'Nice to know that Christmas orders are safe with one of the biggest delivery firms in the country!'

Louis Tremblay, nine, (centre, pictured with dad Adam, left, and mum Lauren, right) was left distraught after a rogue delivery driver threw his Christmas present in the bin

Tish Burbridge, a pensioner in Salisbury, has complained of missing 'six or seven deliveries' over the last eight months

And in Bournemouth, one customer claimed none of four parcels she had ordered over the past two and a half months had turned up.

Overall, '1,000' worth of items had 'gone missing this time', she said.

The buyer said: 'Essentially, every parcel I've ordered that is then passed to Evri has not been delivered since October.

'I've raised it with Evri each time that multiple parcels are going missing, but the situation has obviously not improved or been remedied.'

An Evri spokesman said: 'This is the busiest time of year for parcel deliveries, and our 34,000 self-employed couriers are working hard to deliver record volumes of parcels to communities across the country.

'Our benchmark-setting delivery rates exceed punctuality targets of many other industries and we provide a fast, reliable, and cost-effective delivery service which will deliver about 900 million parcels this year to over 25 million households.'

The company claimed the examples were 'not a reflection of the dedication of thousands of local couriers serving their communities' and the 'many millions of successful deliveries'.

A spokesman added: 'We understand how special every parcel is - especially at this time of year and we are committed to ensuring customers receive theirs on time.

'To support this, we have invested 57 million in our operation brought in additional people where needed and continue to closely monitor our service levels.

'Our teams are doing everything possible to ensure successful deliveries, and anyone needing help can get in touch with our dedicated customer service team.'

Earlier this week, the Daily Mail revealed how one of Evri's drivers had been sacked after he was caught on camera hurling fragile packages into the back of his van.

Customers complained he laughed when they complained about crumpled parcels.

Around 30 current and former couriers also told BBC Panorama how they were under pressure to deliver more and more items.

And the firm came bottom of a customer satisfaction survey of parcel delivery companies conducted by Ofcom in October.

Steve Beresford, 61, who lives in Sibsey, Lincolnshire, had bought a 21 candy cane infinity light for his wife, Beverley, 62, as she had decorated the Christmas tree with candy canes.

Describing the moment he discovered what had happened to the gift, he told the Daily Mail: 'I felt violated. I felt sick.

'I'm disabled and have fibromyalgia [a chronic condition causing widespread musculoskeletal pain] and this triggered it, so I started having panic attacks and anxiety.

'It's not just stealing people's Christmas presents. It's all the upset and stress that goes with it.'

The couple were out for lunch when they received a notification on Mrs Beresford's mobile phone that the delivery had been made on Monday.

The arrived home an hour later and 'searched high and low' but couldn't find the package, so they contacted Evri by email.

Former BT service engineer Mr Beresford said apart from an automated response - which said they would be contacted within 24 hours - no one had been in touch with them.

'So we thought we'd check the CCTV footage and you could have knocked me down with a feather,' he added.

'We couldn't believe that we were seeing. We'd caught him [taking the package] as clear as day.

'I told the police 'I hope you find him and he's behind bars for Christmas'. The officer agreed with me and said 'Wouldn't that be nice?''

After putting the footage on Facebook because he was so 'livid' about what had happened, he was contacted by Kaz Hill, who lives a few miles away in Frieston.

Ms Hill explained the same man turned up at her house on December 9 with a package, went up to her front door, and then left with the box.

An Evri subcontractor was arrested by Hampshire Police on Monday after up to 120 parcels were stolen just days before Christmas. Pictured is the stash

CCTV footage showed him standing outside her property. It cut out before he walked away but she said she was in at the time and saw what happened.

He returned in his silver car the following day, parked in her driveway before briefly getting out, then drove off again.

'It looks like he pretends to put it down, then makes it look like no one is home, then takes it back. But he doesn't even ring the doorbell,' said Ms Hill, who was in at the time.

'The second time he scared me, as he was just in his car on the drive for quite a while and then just before he left he got out of the car and looked back at the house.'

She contacted police, who issued an incident number but told her they couldn't take any further action.

'Technically it was not a crime as nothing was stolen as I wasn't expecting a package,' Ms Hill said.

'However, the guy is clearly pretending to deliver, then pocketing the goods. The police can't do anything but have said that they will just keep compiling info on him.'

Extraordinary footage taken on December 10 in the Norfolk village of Watton showed another EVRI delivery driver hurling parcels into the back of his van.

Astonished recipients described how the man 'laughed off' complaints when he handed over crumpled boxes.

The driver is also said to have abandoned a pile of items in a high street before he crossed the road to deliver a package.

Evri admitted the videos are 'unacceptable and do not reflect our high standards'.

A spokesman added: 'We are committed to instilling a culture where every parcel matters and encourage those who work with us to treat every parcel like they would for themselves or a family member.

'The driver in the video was working for a third-party contractor used to support with increasing volumes in the area, the driver will no looking be delivering on behalf of Evri.

'We have 30,000 plus couriers working hard to deliver around 4 million parcels a day in the run up to Christmas, the vast majority of whom are hardworking individuals valued by the communities they deliver to with an average star rating on 4.6/5.'

The incidents happened in the same county where people waiting for Evri deliveries had to search for items themselves earlier this year when the courier left them in undergrowth, on bins, in hedges and in the street.

MPs representing a number of constituencies have raised concerns about the company's service recently.

Caroline Dinenage, who represents Gosport in Hampshire, said she knew of 'numerous' cases of Evri parcels being 'dumped or marked as delivered with no attempt made to actually reach the recipient'.

In a letter to chief executive Martijn de Lange, she wrote: 'With Christmas fast-approaching, residents are understandably distressed and frustrated by these failures, particularly where valuable gifts are involved.'

Evri registered 41 per cent dissatisfaction with contact processes among customers in a poll conducted by Ofcom in October. The next worst was Yodel on 33 per cent and DPD with 26 per cent.

Amazon had a 16 per cent dissatisfaction rate, with FedEx and UPS on 18 per cent.

Video filmed in Timsbury, Hampshire captured the moment an Evri delivery driver appeared to steal a Christmas present from a customer's doorstep. Evri said it was investigating the incident

The survey found 4.2 billion parcels had been delivered by all firms in the previous year - higher than the pandemic peak of four billion.

The company, which rebranded from Hermes UK in 2022, has been owned by American investment firm Apollo Global Management since last year.

An Evri spokesman said: 'Evri invested 57 million in its operations last year.

'We are proud to be the only parcel carrier recognised by Citizens Advices independent Parcels League Table, which found Evris service scores had improved the most since 2021, with the business rising to third overall.

'Our progress is further reflected in our ranking among the UKs Top 10 Most Improved Brands by YouGov and consistently high customer feedback, with over four million five-star ratings and a weekly average of 4.6 out of 5.'

In the financial year 2023-24, Evri's pre-tax profit almost doubled to nearly 120million.

New footage this week showed one courier putting a nine-year-old Louis Tremblay's Christmas present in a bin without putting a note through his family's door.

After receiving a message saying the present - a flip book by US YouTuber Andymation - had been delivered, his parents checked their CCTV to see the driver opening the lid of a bin on their drive before putting the parcel inside. The bin was later collected.

In response to the case, Evri said it 'appreciates how important deliveries are especially at this time of year'.

A spokesman added: 'We apologise to Louis and his family for their experience on this occasion.

'This fell below the high standards we expect, and were investigating this with our delivery partner in the area to ensure the necessary retraining is carried out.

'Our customer service team is reaching out to the family to offer their support.'

In Salisbury, a courier has been sacked after a pensioner complained of missing 'six or seven deliveries' over the last eight months.

Tish Burbridge, a pensioner in the Wiltshire city, told the Salisbury Journal: 'It's extraordinarily annoying and also, you know, I'm now on a pension and money is tight, and I can't afford to lose money like that. It's just, it's just not practicable.'

Evri confirmed a third-party contactor had been supporting deliveries in the area.

A spokesman added: 'They didnt meet our standards and so they will no longer be delivering on behalf of Evri, a new local courier is in place, and the team are monitoring deliveries in the area.'

Meanwhile, an Evri subcontractor was arrested on Monday in Southampton after up to 120 parcels were stolen just days before Christmas.

In nearby Timsbury, footage appeared to show a driver swipe a parcel from a family's doorstep - before allegedly making off with it under her coat.

Toni Fryer, 47, vowed to 'never use Evri again' after her son's Christmas present disappeared on December 15. Evri confirmed it was investigating the incident.

Elsewhere, in Manchester, a delivery driver was filmed on a Ring doorbell throwing packages containing glassware onto the ground before referring to the recipients as 'dirty c***s'.

An Evri spokesman said on the inappropriate language: 'Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do, and were disappointed to see a driver acting in this manner.

'It is not representative of our 30,000 couriers and we have apologised to the customer. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards this behaviour and the driver will no longer be delivering for us.'

A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said they had received a report of a theft in Sibsey, adding: 'A parcel was reportedly delivered to the address by a delivery man and the man left the scene taking the parcel with him. Enquiries are ongoing.'

The spokeswoman confirmed the force had also received 'a report of a man acting suspiciously in the Old Leake area of Boston'.

An Evri spokesman said of the incident at Mr Beresford's house: 'Unfortunately, this parcel didn't have a house number or name, which understandably confused the courier who was new to delivering in the area.

'The courier followed our guidance and took the parcel away with them as they were unsure if they were delivering to the correct address.'

Attempts had been made to contact the customer, he added.
The horrifying bloodbath that tore through Brown University sent shockwaves across America.

But Mike Greco, an 18-year veteran of campus police, had warned of security failures being ignored, minimized and buried well before the shooting occurred.

Greco, who left Brown's police force late 2024, lifted the lid in March on what he called a deeply insular campus police culture that prioritized protecting the university's image over saving lives.

Now, in the wake of the deadliest shooting in Brown's recent history, his allegations have taken on chilling new urgency.

On December 13, a gunman walked into a packed classroom inside the Barus & Holley engineering building as students prepared for final exams. He opened fire. Then he vanished.

Two students were killed. Nine others were wounded. Not a single security camera captured an image of the attacker.

Ella Cook, 19, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, were pronounced dead.

Police later identified the suspect as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, who was found dead days later inside a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Authorities say Valente had also shot and killed an MIT professor just days earlier.

The gunman who killed two students and injured others at Brown University this month sent shockwaves across America

Mike Brown, a former Brown campus cop, blew the whistle on a culture of secrecy and security failures at the Ivy League school

The massacre exposed a stunning series of failures at the top US university  unlocked doors, no card-entry controls, no security officers stationed at entrances, and no cameras to help identify a killer who fled into the night, experts said.

Experts have questioned why there was a 17-minute gap between the first 911 call and Brown's initial emergency alert to students.

Campus sirens never sounded. Reports of suspicious behavior before the shooting appear to have gone unheeded, according to the Brown Daily Herald and others.

Greco told the Daily Mail that his past warnings about Brown's campus police remain relevant after the shooting. He is in ongoing litigation against the university and said he had 'nothing to add' about the latest security breakdown.

But his earlier revelations  made publicly on the Bartholomewtown podcast and in testimony to the Rhode Island State House  paint a disturbing picture of a department more concerned with optics than outcomes.

At the heart of Greco's claims is what officers allegedly called the 'Brown bubble.'

An internal world where problems were contained, outside scrutiny was avoided, and Providence Police  the city force with greater manpower and tactical resources  were often kept at arm's length.

Campus officers, Greco said, even had a name for themselves: 'The Queen's Army.'

A force tasked not just with policing, but with protecting the institution itself.

'Functionally, Brown's Police Department isn't really a police department at all,' Greco said on the podcast in March.

'Its highest priorities have never been public safety. It's about controlling the narrative around what's happening at Brown.'

Those claims are echoed by concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has warned for years that private police departments at Brown and other colleges operate with sweeping powers but limited accountability.

Because Brown is a private institution, its police department is not fully subject to public records or Freedom of Information laws. That means incident reports, internal reviews and disciplinary records can remain shielded from journalists and the public.

The horrific shooting killed two students. The first was identified at 19-year-old Ella Cook

The second victim was 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov

The gunman easily walked into the school's engineering and physics building

Greco argued that this lack of transparency creates perverse incentives  if mistakes can be hidden, they don't have to be fixed. If embarrassing incidents never see daylight, reputations remain intact. And if outside law enforcement is kept away, control stays in-house.

One incident looms large in Greco's account.

On November 7, 2021, Brown police received a terrifying call. A man claimed he had planted explosives near the main green. He said he was armed with an AR-15. He warned he would shoot police and students. A clock was ticking.

Greco told the podcast that what happened next was not a textbook emergency response  but a case study in dysfunction.

Officers were told not to communicate over police radios, said Greco, adding: 'The only reason that makes sense is they didn't want Providence Police hearing about it.'

The result, Greco claimed, was chaos.

Officers lacked critical information. Coordination broke down. Second-shift officers were never told a shooter threat had been made. Students were evacuated into open spaces where they could have been sitting ducks.

The threat later turned out to be a hoax. But Greco said that misses the point.

'If this wasn't a hoax, the most likely scenario was that we just died in the street and didn't protect a single other person,' he told the podcast.

He alleges officers warned supervisors they were unequipped to deal with a rifle-armed suspect. Department policy, he said, explicitly prohibited them from conducting special operations.

Instead, he claimed they were ordered to 'flush out' the suspect  and told to line up in a position that would have made them easy targets.

'They willingly risked our lives to keep Providence police off campus,' Greco said.

After the incident, Greco said he did what police officers are trained to do. He wrote a detailed report.

Police suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, of killing two Brown University students and an MIT physicist in a multi-day shooting spree

Valente harbored a decades-old grudge over his own failed scientific career, investigators said

Greco testified to Rhode Island State House about the 'Brown bubble' in May 2024

What he said happened next shook him. He alleged that senior officers hovered over him as he typed, repeatedly warning him not to include 'opinion.'

When he returned from scheduled leave, he claimed his report had been altered  with key details about failures removed  yet still bore his name.

In his view, it was a 'cover-up.' When he raised concerns, he said accountability never followed.

Instead, he described being excluded from debriefings, threatened with termination and subjected to what he characterized as intimidation.

The stress took a toll. Greco said he struggled to sleep and was later told by a clinician that he was experiencing PTSD-like symptoms.

He also alleged that university administrators pressured him over disability benefits and workers' compensation, reinforcing what he describes as a culture of retaliation against dissent.

Brown University did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

The college's lawyers are fighting an ACLU lawsuit that features Greco's allegations. Spokesman Brian Clark has said the state public records law does not apply to campus police.

Since the December shooting, the university has announced stepped-up security across all 235 campus buildings and launched what it called a 'comprehensive review' of safety protocols.

But critics say those moves come far too late.

The shooting has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum  from President Donald Trump to Rhode Island's Democratic leadership, including Governor Dan McKee and Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Questions are also swirling around Brown's head of campus security, Rodney Chatman.

Chatman, a career campus officer known for embracing progressive policing philosophies and criticizing traditional law-enforcement imagery, has come under intense scrutiny in recent months.

Since August, two major police unions  a patrol officers' association and a sergeants' union  have issued votes of no confidence in his leadership.

Brown's top cop Rodney Chatman is under the spotlight over alleged security lapses under his watch

The most recent vote, in October, accused management of creating new administrative positions while cutting beat cops. The result, the union said, was 'an all-time low in morale' that has strained the department's ability to serve the university.

Officers described a 'toxic' workplace marked by fear and the possibility of retaliation.

Paul Mauro, a 26-year NYPD veteran and Fox News contributor, told the Daily Mail that the combination of Greco's revelations, union unrest and the December shooting should be a wake-up call.

'As the saying goes, hope is not a method,' Mauro said.

'The fact that an outer building of Brown was left completely unsecured in this age of school shootings forces anyone to question what on earth the university police leadership was thinking.'

For Greco, the tragedy comes in the wake of his repeated warnings. But whether Brown's reckoning will bring real change  or fade back into the bubble  remains to be seen.
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This is the moment a prolific Algerian laptop snatcher brazenly swipes a drinker's bag in a London pub during a summer stealing spree.

Munir Ghilas, 28, stole 20,000 worth of belongings as he toured the City's swishest bars in search of phones, bags, passports and Apple laptops.

The migrant, described by police as a 'professional thief', faces jail time after admitting 16 counts of theft and assaulting an emergency worker this month.

He earlier admitted a further count of handling stolen goods, namely a laptop belonging to architecture firm Rodney Melville & Partners.

CCTV footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows one of Ghilas's many thefts, which all took place between August 5 and September 25 this year.

He can be seen weaving his way through the busy bar, packed with people enjoying a post-work drink in the capital's financial district.

As distracted customers chat away, Ghilas, dressed in a white hoodie, focusses his gaze on one of their bags while standing in the middle of the pub.

The migrant then leans over a table and lurches to grab the item before slipping out of the popular establishment.

This is the moment prolific Algerian laptop snatcher Munir Ghilas, pictured standing in a white hoodie, brazenly swipes a drinker's bag in a London pub during a summer stealing spree

He stole belongings worth thousands of pounds as he toured the City's swishest bars, including a bag taken from a drinker in this clip

The migrant, pictured, was described by police as a 'professional thief' and now faces jail time after admitting 16 counts of theft and assaulting an emergency worker this month

Another clip shows the moment Ghilas's crimes finally catch up with him as he is arrested by police officers on the street - but not before attempting a last-minute getaway.

It sees the Algerian migrant being questioned on a busy London street as cars and buses travel past.

Ghilas, wearing a white fleece and glasses, then makes a quick dart down the street, holding a black phone, in a bid to escape the cops.

The prolific thief momentarily escapes the police's grasp and bowls down the pavement pushing the officers away.

But they grab him just in time, as he stumbles into the street and smashes into the front of a parked silver Mercedes.

Ghilas then gets up again to make one last attempt to avoid arrest but is eventually wrestled onto the tarmac by officers who also snatch a phone from his hand.

Across a two-month crime spree, the migrant targeted 16 separate victims unwinding in bars in central London between 5 August and 25 September this year.

Ghilas grabbed a laptop worth 2,700, along with other items, from Matthew Bourn in All Bar One, on Byward Street in the City.

Another clip shows the moment Ghilas's crimes finally catch up with him as he is arrested by police officers on the street

The prolific thief briefly escapes the police's grasp and bowls down the pavement pushing the officers away

After bumping into a parked car, Ghilas gets up again to make one last attempt to avoid arrest but is eventually wrestled onto the tarmac by officers who also snatch a phone from his hand

He also swiped a laptop and other items worth 3,450 from Matthew Bayman on August 5, as well as Jacob Wyatt's Apple MacBook from the same pub on the following day.

The migrant then stole four laptops worth 3,750 in The Banker Public House in the City on August 15.

Ghilas swiped five more laptops worth 7,280 from Nicholas Fletcher, Andrew Bell and Stefan-Howard Rigby at the Lord Raglan pub in Holborn on September 24.

The next day he grabbed another five laptops and a passport from drinkers in The Oyster Shed Public House on Angel Lane, central London.

He also stole a computer from Christopher Hall in The Banker Public House the same day.

Ghilas went on to assault a female police officer when he was arrested later on September 25.

He appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, assisted by an Algerian interpreter.

Prosecutor Ioan Davies said: 'There is extensive offending largely of the same type.

Ghilas grabbed a laptop worth 2,700, along with other items, from Matthew Bourn in All Bar One, on Byward Street in the City (General view image of the bar)

He grabbed another five laptops and a passport from drinkers in The Oyster Shed Public House on Angel Lane, central London

The migrant also stole four laptops worth 3,750 in The Banker Public House in the City on August 15 before returning to nab more the following month

Ghilas swiped five more laptops worth 7,280 from Nicholas Fletcher, Andrew Bell and Stefan-Howard Rigby at the Lord Raglan pub in Holborn on September 24

'The defendant moves between different bars, pubs and restaurants and takes predominantly laptops, which the value ranges between 750 to 3,000.

'There is clearly some degree of planning involved. This is because of the nature of the offending.

'The defendant has planned a course of conduct which has been repeated again and again over the course of several months.'

Daniel Darnbrough, defending Ghilas, said: 'This is clearly a case that warrants a custodial sentence, it is only really the length we have to discuss.

'There are different facts in relation to different dates that need to be got together.'

Judge Alexander Milne, KC, told Ghilas: 'The sentence in this case will be January 13.

'You will remain in custody until then.'

Investigating officer Police Constable Pradip Gurung, of the Volume Crime Unit at the City of London Police, said: 'Munir Ghilas is a professional thief, targeting the valuable property of victims who are out and about in City pubs and he showed no signs of stopping his criminal activities.

'We remain committed to tackling bag thefts and ensuring those responsible for such crimes are brought before the courts. We have already made significant arrests which have led to a number of successful prosecutions.

'Through increased patrols, targeted operations and using our extensive camera network in the City, we are enhancing our ability to deter criminal activities and respond swiftly when incidents occur.'
The Bondi beach suspects had a secret meeting with Muslim religious leaders during their mysterious 28 day trip to the Philippines, a month prior to the horrific attack, sources have revealed to The Daily Mail.

In the aftermath of the Hanukkah attack, security experts claimed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, had travelled to the south-east Asian country to receive military-style training from Islamist extremists.

Their presence on the island of Mindanao  the most notorious area in all of Southeast Asia for Islamic extremists - has inevitably caused speculation that they were there to meet others sympathetic to such a cause.

It is here where Islamic State took control of 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.

The government in the Philippines - which has spent years trying to reduce the presence of IS militants in the country - has vehemently denied this, even passing the trip off as a father-son 'bonding' holiday.

Investigators in the Philippines are still trying to piece together the pair's detailed movements and contacts there - but the Daily Mail has established that they met at a number of Islamic leaders during the trip.

And we have learned that the pair repeatedly extended their stay from an initial single week to eventually 28 days - which experts believe increases the probability that they were there to meet extremists and possibly even for training.

Mindanao, an island province in the south of the country, is renowned as a safe haven where militants can evade attention from the authorities with relative ease.

This is the first clear photo of Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram - the 50-year-old who carried out the atrocity in Sydney in a gun attack on the first day of Hanukkah, killing 15 people

Naveed Akram was also allegedly caught on camera as he passed through Philippines immigration

Sajid 50-year-old father, pictured, from Sydney's west, was shot dead at the scene by police

Photos have also emerged of the father and son's passports

The father and son accused of carrying out the Bondi Beach massacre spent a month staying in this shabby 11-a-night one-star hotel in a red-light district in the Philippines

The two men stayed in the GV Hotel in Davao in a small twin bed room where they would rarely leave for more than a few hours a day

A cleaner makes the bed in the now infamous room 315 in the GV Hotel in Davao where the Akrams stayed for 27 nights

The father and son flew from Sydney into the Filipino capital, Manila, on November 1 from before catching an internal flight to Mindanao.

They then based themselves in the island's largest city, Davao, which, according to experts, has long been such a draw for foreign radicals that it has been described as 'a terror academy' where atrocities are believed to have been plotted in the past.

The pair ended up checking into the one-star GV Hotel staying in room 315 - a bare room with two clinical-looking single beds.

Staff at the shabby 11-a-night hotel have told how the pair kept a low profile, not engaging with staff or other guests and spending most of their time together in that shared small room.

The Akrams, who are accused of murdering 15 people during the attack targeting Jewish Hanukkah celebrants last Sunday, had no visitors at any point in their stay, according to staff.

Soon a routine emerged: the pair would leave the room to go out jogging together each morning and then to buy take out food from any of the various fast food joints that proliferate around the hotel, taking it back to eat in the tiny twin bed room.

The son, Naveed, was seen sometimes playing video games in a computer store - with CCTV footage showing him strolling back from the shop, just a minute walk from his hotel.

His father was said to have visited one of the several local firearms stores in the city, according to local Davao police director Leon Victor Rosete

He said: 'The father has shown interest in firearms. He entered a firearms shop.'

Otherwise they stayed in their room.

Authorities in the Philippines who are investigating their stay in collaboration with their Australian counterparts are understood to have discovered that the longest they were ever away from the hotel at a time was on a single occasion when they left for eight hours.

The Mail has now established that the pair are believed to have travelled to the nearby coastal city of Panabo, which is some 20 miles north, about an hour's drive north from Davao, on the occasion of their longest absence.

A source close to the investigation told us: 'It is now thought that the father and son went out of Davao City to the nearest border in Panabo to meet some Muslim religious leaders.

'This raises more questions on what they were doing in Mindanao.'

The identities and affiliations of the 'religious leaders' they met that day remain unclear.

But their behaviour is believed to be consistent with an established paradigm in which foreign extremists, often from neighbouring Indonesia, have travelled to the Philippines for meetings with so-called IS freedom fighters or their supporters.

The suspected Bondi beach terror attacker is alleged to have conducted firearms training at a location thought to be in New South Wales

A screenshot from a video found on Naveed Akram's phone shows his father conducting firearms training, police allege

The suspected gunmen seen with three firearms on the day of the Bondi Beach shooting

A homemade Islamic State flag was also found in the car, police allege

Police allege a homemade bomb was found in the boot of the Akrams' vehicle

The revelation comes as the Australian Fedral Police refused to comment on whether there was an active investigation into two other men from Sydney were in the Philippines the same time as the Akrams.

The four men are believed to have all been in Davao at the same time.

But sources who met Naveed and Sajid while they were staying in the city have also confirmed they were joined by two mysterious companions.

The woman said that Naveed had told her he was travelling with not one but three companions - which raises further questions about who they were meeting in the city and for what purpose.

Among foreign militants who have previously sought sanctuary in Mindanao was Umar Patek, the Indonesian radical who made the explosives used in the 2002 nightclub bombing in Bali which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.

Waiting for an arranged meeting could also inform why the duo repeatedly prolonged their trip beyond the initial booked seven days.

Sidney Jones, of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, said that in such situations it is not uncommon for radicals arriving from overseas to be told by their contact in Mindanao to go to a hotel, to check in and then simply wait for a message about a meeting.

She said: 'They may have thought they were going to receive training but for whatever reason, it didn't happen [in the first week of their stay]

'They may have received misleading information via social media about the state of ISIS in the Philippines, or they may have arranged a contact who never showed up because of ongoing military operations.

'My best guess was that they were told by a contact to go to that hotel and wait for a message, but that message never came.'

An ongoing military operation against Islamic extremists in the Philippines was active throughout November and early December.

What has been described as 'stepped-up military operation' against the IS-sympathising local cell named the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan group saw an Amir or leader of that cell killed in a security operation in the North-western village of Satan on December 7 - exactly a week before the Bondi attacks.

This attempted crackdown on Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan could explain why any meeting was delayed - and in turn why the Akrams extended their stay after initially only checked into the hotel for seven days, paying in cash

The men went on to extend the trip a week at a time on three separate occasions, which again might suggest that they were waiting for a meeting which was being put back.

Detectives in Davao - and Sydney alike - are still probing any connections the pair may have had with extremists groups, and are trying to gather the full picture of what Akrams did whilst in the Philippines.

Sources on the ground in Davao (pictured) told the Daily Mail that the men had been accompanied by two other mysterious companions

Young charity workers volunteering in Manila told the Daily Mail extremists are still living in their hometown of Marawi

The suspects based themselves on the island of Mindanao  the most notorious area in all of Southeast Asiafor Islamic extremists. The Abu Sayyaf group (pictured) exist there known for kidnappings, bombings, assassinations and extortions

In Davao, where the Akrams were staying, there were multiple firearm stores, which the father is said to have visited, as well as shooting ranges

Gun shops are not uncommon in the Philippines. Pictured: A firearm shop in Manila

Jamil Amptaua, 24, who is from Marawi said that ISIS extremists still live in the city and try to recruit impressionable young men

All CCTV footage from shops, restaurants and public cameras surrounding their hotel has been confiscated for inspection by police in Davao.

The men's credit card payments are also being used to track their movements in the country.

Meanwhile, a poster showing the two men's faces has been handed out to all 70 mosques in the area asking anyone who saw them 'is urged to immediately call the hotline'.

In recent years the Philippines had fallen out of the top 10 of the Global Index for Terrorism (now sitting at number 20) but many say this masks ongoing problems particularly in regions of Mindanao.

Dr Rommel Banaloi, who is the director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said: 'There are still many active training camps in Mindanao. Those did not disappear'.

He said that even weakened remnants of former terrorist groups still maintain local and online connections, with 'active ISIS-affiliated training camps continuing to exist in Mindanao'.

The leading security analyst explained: 'It is apparent they did not visit the Philippines just for a vacation. Spending 28 days here really makes their visit suspicious.

'For me the presence of the father and son in the Philippines prior to the Bondi attack really presents a serious concern for the Philippines because now we are back on the radar, being associated with terrorist threats around the world.

Ali Darangina, from a mosque in Manila called the suspects freedom fighters, not terrorists

'We thought terrorism was all but over but now it is not over. And there are now concerns that the Bondi attackers might inspire local militants to follow through.

'That's the challenge now for Philippines law enforcement to stop these types of attacks occurring, particularly in areas populated by Jewish people.

'What we saw in Bondi is a new wave of terror where they have specific targets and those targets are the Jewish community. The new face of terrorism has a new antisemitic agenda.'

Following the attacks at Bondi - which also left 42 injured - two ISIS-styled flags, as well as explosives, were found in Naveed's car.

Days later the terror group took credit for the Sydney attack, writing on Telegram that the massacre was a source of 'pride' before describing the Akrams as 'lions' and 'heroes'.

This week Naveed - who survived events in Bondi - was charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act.

His father was killed in the police shootout.

The government in the Philippines however has continued to deny any suggestion that the men came to the country for 'military style training'.

Officials insist there is no evidence of the men having military training - and even posited the alternative theory that it may have simply been a form of 'bonding' trip for the father and son.

A spokesperson for the military, Colonel Francel Magaretha Padilla, told the Daily Mail: 'We are verifying all the official sources in the area to find out what activities the two men engaged in during their whole stay.

'When it comes to the claims about the men being associated with militant groups is unverified because we have the data on the ground stating there is no indication that there is any terrorist activities happening in this area at this time.

'We have been very engaged in our peace process and with our on the ground missions to eradicate local terrorist and communist terrorist groups.'

And President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters: 'We also reject in the strongest terms the recent misleading claims that portray our country as a training hotspot for terrorism.

Jalal Abdullatif, 19, (pictured) who is from Marawi, said there are still remnants of ISIS in his hometown, with the extremists embedded in the community

Colonel Francel Magaretha Padilla, told the Daily Mail: 'We are verifying all the official sources in the area to find out what activities the two men engaged in during their whole stay'

Dr Rommel Banaloi, who is the director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said there are still many active ISIS military training camps in the Philippines

The southern Philippines is now a key node in the global jihadist movement. A Moro Islamic Liberation Front Fighter walks through a marshland in Maguindanao Province

'For years, we have acted decisively to dismantle terrorist networks, to secure communities, and to sustain our hard-earned peace. To dismiss these gains with unfounded speculation is not acceptable.'

Drieza Lininding, who is also from Marawi and is the leader of Moro Consensus Group even claimed that he finds any suggestion that terrorists are running military training camps or operating in the area 'ridiculous'.

'They want to paint our city as a hotbed for terrorists but there is no truth to that' Lininding said. 'There is no truth to that claim that, again, the Philippines is a hotbed for any terrorist organization.'

But we spoke to a number of residents of Mindanao - specifically the town of Marawi, which was besieged by the so-called Islamic State East Asia and Abou Al Saf in 2017 - who said ISIS fighters are still very much embedded within the community.

Jalal Abdullatif 19, who is from Marawi, said: 'I was there when the uprising happened and the fighting broke out.

'There are still remnants of ISIS there. Some of them are your neighbours. Muslims do not like them.

'We see foreign Muslims visiting the town and we think they might be ISIS and they try to recruit Filipinos.

'I don't believe the government's claim that there are no terrorists left. They are there, we can't always see and identify them, but we believe they are operating there.

'We just live our normal lives but we fear that another uprising in Marawi will happen as it destroyed much of our city last time.'

Jamil Amptaua, 24, who is also from the town that was under siege for five months, added: 'There are terrorists in Marawi and I believe they are there in Davao city too.

'People in Marawi have been influenced by ISIS. They target young people who are vulnerable and easily influenced.

'Many of the young people there are impressionable and impulsive. These so-called freedom fighters get told they are fighting for Allah, that they are fighting for our 'cause'.

'Many are easily lured because the line and the narrative of these home-grown terrorists is that by joining they will defend Marawi from attacks from the military as they portray security forces as the enemy.

'I think this is also happening in Davao too, not just Marawi. I would never join as all I want is peace.'

Others, however, have taken a separate view, determined that ISIS and its associate groups are well and truly gone from the Philippines.

Drieza Lininding, who is also from Marawi and is the leader of Moro Consensus Group said he finds the insinuation that terrorists are running military training camps or operating in the area ridiclous.

They want to, you know, again, paint our city as hotbeds for terrorists but there is no truth to that and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) can testify to that.

They already made a statement that although there are still remnants, which we can count on our fingers, their membership is dwindling and they are hiding. So there is no truth to that claim that, again, the Philippines is a hotbed for any terrorist organization.

Meanwhile, local mosque-goer from Manila, Ali Darangina told the Mail: There is a problem with the media.

They label some groups as terrorists but in reality they are not terrorists, they are freedom fighters.

Bricklaying apprentice Naveed, who was described as a 'quiet' but 'weird operator' by colleagues in Sydney, was under investigation there for his links to local extremists.

Following the aftermath of the tragedy, it became apparent Naveed had previously come under investigation due to his association with jihadist cleric Wissam Haddad and convicted IS youth recruiter Youssef Uweinat.

Shaykh Muhammed Yusop Pasigan, regional Grand Mufti, holds up one of the posters of the Akram men have been put up across the 70 mosques in the city of Davao in hopes of gaining some more information on their movements in the Philippines

The Daily Mail visited the Golden Mosque in Manila where they spoke with locals about the threat of terrorism in the Philippines

Meanwhile in 2020, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) investigated Naveed but concluded that he did not pose an ongoing risk that justified further monitoring.

Three years later, Sajid was granted a gun licence in 2023, while his son's wallet showed he was a member of Zastava Hunting Association - a gun club.

Just over a week after the pair had left the Philippines, the police force in Panabo, the city they made a day trip to posted a message on its social media feeds.

It read: 'Terrorism targets hope, but our resilience is stronger. Every act of solidarity is a step toward a safer world.'

A week later the Bondi attack stunned the world.
The Epstein files are painfully familiar territory for Hillary Clinton when it comes to navigating the fallout from her husband's past.

As Bill Clinton once again finds himself in an uncomfortable photographs with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, Hillary's apparent response has been neither panic nor public loyalty, but something colder.

Detachment, a source has told the Daily Mail.

An insider close to the former first lady says she has watched the latest storm break with indifference, having long ago decided that her scandal-hit husband has to deal with the repercussions on his own.

The source familiar with the Clintons told the Daily Mail that Hillary, 78, has no intention of defending 79-year-old Bill or stepping in to soften the blow.

'She's fine. She's used to this,' the source said. 'At this point, she sees it as a Bill problem, not a Hillary problem.'

The weekend release of more than 300,000 pages of material connected to Epstein has dragged the Clintons back into the spotlight.

The Department of Justice published the first tranche of documents and images on Friday under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which allowed only the names of victims and minors to be redacted.

In one image, Bill Clinton stands next to Jeffrey Epstein

In another photo, Bill can be seen in a pool with a woman whose face has been redacted

The source familiar with the Clintons told the Daily Mail that Hillary has no intention of defending Bill or stepping in to soften the blow

The result was a chaotic data dump filled with photographs, without any context, that prominently featured Clinton, alongside celebrities including Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Diana Ross and actor Kevin Spacey.

Clinton appeared in at least a dozen images, making him one of the most recognizable figures in the release.

While the files do not accuse him of wrongdoing and he has repeatedly denied any illegal activity connected to Epstein, the optics were brutal  particularly for Democrats who had hoped Donald Trump would dominate the material instead.

One of the most talked-about photographs shows Clinton in a swimming pool with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, surrounded by several women whose faces have been redacted.

Other images show him lounging in a hot tub, swimming with women, and smiling broadly in close proximity to Epstein himself.

There are also photos of Clinton posing with Jackson, Jagger and Ross, attending private dinners and appearing inside Winston Churchill's War Rooms in London.

The files revived one of Clinton's most bizarre and notorious Epstein-era associations: a now-infamous portrait that once hung in Epstein's home, depicting Clinton reclining in a white chair wearing a blue dress and red high heels, pointing directly at the viewer.

Yet while Bill Clinton's camp moved swiftly to push back, Hillary Clinton was silent.

According to the source, that silence is deliberate.

'She doesn't know what he did with Epstein,' the insider said bluntly. 'And whatever comes out now, that's on him.'

Friends say Hillary made the decision years ago to mentally and emotionally separate herself from her husband's controversies. The Clintons, they claim, stopped talking about Epstein long ago.

'I don't even think they're talking about it now,' the source added. 'They stopped talking about these things years ago. There's no point.'

One of the most talked-about photographs shows Clinton in a swimming pool with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, surrounded by several women whose faces have been redacted

One image shows Bill posing with a woman whose face has been redacted

In one photo, Bill poses with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross

Publicly, the response has been left to Bill's team. His former chief of staff Angel Urena issued a fiery statement accusing the Department of Justice and the White House of making the former president the scapegoat - while deflecting from Donald Trump.

President Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in relation to his links to Epstein.

'The White House hasn't been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,' Urena said in a statement posted to X. '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,' he added. 'Never has, never will be.'

Urena argued that Clinton cut ties with Epstein as soon as his behavior became questionable.

'There are two types of people here,' the statement continued. '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.'

The remarks appeared aimed squarely at Trump, who appears only fleetingly in the Epstein files. Trump has previously claimed Clinton visited Epstein's private island 'supposedly 28 times'  an allegation Clinton has denied.

Behind the scenes, insiders say Bill Clinton has already handed the matter to his lawyers.

'He has his lawyers looking over everything now,' the source said. 'Deciding what it all means. That's again on him. Not on her.'

For Hillary Clinton, the political crossfire appears irrelevant. Friends say decades of scandal  from the Lewinsky affair to conspiracy theories and repeated public humiliations  have hardened her response.

This, they insist, is not a crisis to be managed or explained away. It is something she considers long divorced from her own identity.

'She's trying to live her life,' the source said. 'Whatever this turns into, it belongs to him.'

As the Epstein files continue to be dissected, debated and weaponized, those close to Hillary Clinton say one thing is clear: she has no intention of standing between her husband and the consequences of his past.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for the Clintons for comment.
A blunt critique of Mexican bread by a British baker sparked a cascade of social media outrage, ultimately leading to a public apology.

In an interview for a food-themed podcast that resurfaced online, Richard Hart, the co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City and a well-known figure in international baking circles made some disparaging remarks.

Hart said Mexicans 'don't really have much of a bread culture,' - 'They make sandwiches on these white, ugly rolls that are pretty cheap and industrially made.'

His comments quickly rippled across Instagram, TikTok and X, with many Mexicans accusing him of being dismissive and insulting of Mexico's traditional breads.

What began as a dispute over bread soon ignited a national debate over food identity - not only over who defines Mexican culinary traditions, but also over the growing influence of foreigners in a capital already tense from a surge of US expatriates and tourists.

'He offended the community of bakers in Mexico and all the people in Mexico who like bread, which is almost everyone,' said Daniela Delgado, a university student in Mexico City.

Social media was soon flooded with memes, reaction videos, and passionate defenses of Mexican bread.

Users took to social media to praise everyday staples - from the crusty bolillos used for tortas to the iconic conchas found in neighborhood bakeries.

Chef Richard Hart's offhand insult about 'white, ugly rolls' has set off a national argument over Mexican food identity

Mexican staples like bolillos, pictured, became symbols of pride as users rushed to defend the everyday bread

Richard Hart, who is the co-founder of the popular Green Rhino Bakery in Mexico City made the remarks claiming Mexico lacks 'bread culture'

In many cases, these simple street foods act as a uniting factor across social groups and classes, and often cut to the core of the country's cultural identity.

While wheat bread was introduced to Mexico during the colonial period, the classic food staple evolved into a distinct national tradition, blending European techniques with local tastes and ingredients.

Today, small neighborhood bakeries remain central to daily life in cities and towns, serving as social hubs as well as food sources.

The incident prompted many to question why a foreign entrepreneur would publicly disparage a staple so deeply embedded in Mexican life.

For many, Hart's remarks echoed long-standing frustrations over foreign chefs and restaurateurs receiving disproportionate prestige, as well as concerns over gentrification in the capital.

'Don't mess with the bolillo,' warned one viral post on X.

As criticism mounted, Hart issued a public apology on Instagram, saying his comments were poorly phrased and did not show respect for Mexico and its people.

He acknowledged the emotional response and said he didn't behave as a 'guest.'

'I made a mistake,' Hart said in his statement. 'I regret it deeply.'

Join the debate Who should have the right to define and critique a nation's food traditionslocals or foreign chefs?

Hart later apologized, admitting he failed to act like a respectful 'guest' in a country where bread runs deep

People are seen buying pastries at a bakery in Mexico City

A vendor prepares a bolillo, a traditional Mexican bread, for consumption at a street stand in Mexico City

The Daily Mail has reached out to Green Rhino, but representatives of the bakery declined to comment.

Hart previously worked at high-profile bakeries in the United States and Europe and has been part of Mexico City's growing artisanal bread scene.

That market caters largely to middle and upper-class customers, many of them foreigners, seeking sourdough loaves and European-style pastries, often at prices far above those of neighborhood bakeries.

The apology did little to immediately quiet the debate. While some users accepted it, others said it failed to address deeper concerns about cultural authority and who gets to critique Mexican traditions.

'If you want to be part of Mexican culture by owning a restaurant or bakery, you have to educate yourself,' Delgado said.

Others, like Josue Martinez, a chef at the Mexican Culinary School, said he was happy that the debate was happening because it opened the door for a more robust and nuanced discussion.

Mexican breads were fiercely defended as a point of national pride, with critics blasting the remarks as ignorant and elitist

An assortment of Mexican sweet breads from Tijuana, Mexico's better known and oldest local bakeries in the city, Panader a La Mejor (The Best Bakery), established in 1962

Conchas, the colorful sweet breads found in nearly every neighborhood bakery, were held up online as proof that Mexicos bread culture is anything but empty

Mexican bread has long been criticized domestically for its industrialization and reliance on white flour and sugar.

But many like Martinez say those conversations are different and more nuanced when led by Mexicans themselves rather than by a foreign entrepreneur.

'It's an opportunity to learn about the culture of Mexican breadmaking and pastry, to take pride in it, to highlight the richness of our ingredients, and to stop thinking that the so-called first world represents the ultimate standard,' Martinez said.
A Maryland family's sprawling Christmas lights display has erupted into a bitter neighborhood showdown after their homeowners' association threatened them with escalating fines.

The Salgado family of Germantown, Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C. says their HOA has ordered them to dismantle their outdoor Christmas decorations or face a $650 fine that will grow each day the display remains up.

The family say the leveling of fines against them is both baffling and deeply unfair.

At the heart of the dispute is a traditional Christmas setup anchored by a nativity scene displayed in the front yard.

The family say the setup reflects both their faith and their long-standing holiday tradition.

'We have the manger scene out front, which is like the centerpiece for our display,' Pahan Salgado told NBC4. 'It shows us our faith and what we believe in and the reason we decorate for Christmas.'

But the HOA has labeled the decorations a nuisance.

'I say this is not a nuisance or annoyance to the community,' Salgado said. 'As you can tell, it's not even making any sounds. It's completely silent, so it's a very silent night out here,' he said with a smile.

A familys Christmas cheer has turned into a legal headache after their HOA demanded the display be torn down

The Salgados insist the display is not just quiet but is restrained compared to previous years.

Supuli Salgado said the family deliberately scaled back this year, hoping to avoid any issues.

'Each year our family has a display, and it gets bigger and changes each year, but this year we did tone it down - by a lot,' she said.

Despite that effort, the HOA has warned that the fine would only continue to increase if the decorations were not removed. The move has now pushed the family to seek legal help.

Their attorney, David Gardner, told NBC4 the enforcement appears inconsistent and unfair, pointing to other decorated homes throughout the neighborhood.

'You can see as you go through the neighborhood, there are other homes with similar displays,' Gardner said.

'They might not be as nice or extravagant, but this is a very attractive, traditional Christmas display, and they're essentially being selectively singled out for enforcement.'

Join the debate Should HOAs have the power to decide what holiday decorations are acceptable in your neighborhood?

'We have the manger scene out front, which is like the centerpiece for our display,' Pahan Salgado said. 'It shows us our faith and what we believe, the reason we decorate for Christmas'

Supuli Salgado said the family deliberately scaled back this year, hoping to avoid any issues'

Their attorney, David Gardner, pictured said he enforcement appears inconsistent and unfair, pointing to other decorated homes throughout the neighborhood.

Gardner said the family plans to challenge the fine and the HOA's actions.

'We're going to challenge that, and I would fully expect a court to agree.'

As tensions mount, the Salgados say they have no intention of backing down or dismantling a tradition they see as an expression of joy rather than disruption.

'The grinches are gonna hate, but we're still going to do it,' Supuli Salgado said.

An HOA lawyer declined to comment on the Salgados' case or any individual enforcement action but defended the association's broader approach.

'The Association's goal is to support a safe, respectful, and well-maintained community while ensuring the Association's governing documents are enforced uniformly and in accordance with Maryland law,' the lawyer said in a statement.

At the heart of the dispute is a traditional Christmas setup anchored by a nativity scene displayed in the front yard

At least one other neighbor has also received a warning letter from the HOA over her illuminated reindeer decorations

'I'm amazed that in America today, 2025, almost 2026 - and people are complaining about beautiful decorations in our neighborhood,' the woman said

Aside from the Salgados' front lawn, at least one other neighbor also received a warning letter from the HOA over her illuminated reindeer decorations - a much smaller display that nonetheless drew scrutiny.

That neighbor expressed disbelief at the crackdown.

'I'm amazed that in America today, 2025, almost 2026 - and people are complaining about beautiful decorations in our neighborhood,' she said.
A teen high school student in Texas was allegedly stabbed to death by a friend with scissors after a dispute over a $21 weed vape pen.

Aundre Matthews, 18, was accused of fatally stabbing Andrew Meismer, 16, last Wednesday at Ross S. Sterling High School in Baytown  about 30 miles east of Houston.

Matthews was arrested and charged with murder. He is being held at Harris County Jail on a $3million bond until his next court date on January 7, per online records.

Surveillance footage from that day showed the high schoolers acting friendly as they walked into a classroom together around 10.30am, according to Click2Houston.

Meismer, a sophomore, eventually asked his teacher to use the restroom. Matthews, a senior, did the same minutes later.

The pair allegedly argued there, as Matthews confronted Meismer about a missing THC vape pen that investigators said he believed the younger student had stolen.

Moments later, Matthews and Meismer allegedly walked into an empty lab classroom, which an unnamed female student also entered.

That is where the fatal stabbing allegedly occurred.

She told prosecutors she heard Matthews accuse Meismer of stealing his vape pen and telling him that he owed him around $21 for the drug paraphernalia.

Matthews allegedly hit Meismer and the two started brawling, according to the anonymous girl cited by the outlet.

She claimed said Matthews choked Meismer drawing a lot of blood from his neck.

She then ran away and started screaming for help prompting the classroom teacher to hear her and return to his room.

He allegedly spotted Matthews choking a bloodied Meismer out and eventually broke the grip and separated the students.

Less than one hour later, Meismer was declared dead at about 11.53 am.

Andrew Meismer, 16, died after being stabbed in the neck with a pair of scissors following an argument about a THC vape pen, investigators said

Matthews admitted that he was friends with Meismer and that he had followed him into the bathroom about the missing vape, according to prosecutors.

Aundre Matthews, 18, was accused of fatally stabbing his teen peer last Wednesday around 10.42am at Ross S. Sterling High School in Baytown, Texas

They said that Matthews searched Meismer in a bathroom and found a pair of scissors in this pockers.

They then exited the bathroom and went into an empty classroom where another brawl broke out.

Meismer pushed him away and allegedly punched him in the head twice with a closed fist, per the criminal complaint.

Matthews told prosecutors that he was afraid of getting beat up because of Meismer's greater size, so he defended himself by taking the scissors and swinging them.

Both teen students looked to be of roughly equivalent sizes in the recording they viewed, according to investigators.

Meismer died from a puncture wound to the neck, which is consistent with being stabbed by scissors, according to investigators.

Matthews was arrested and charged with murder. He is being held at Harris County Jail on a $3million bond

The 18-year-old was arrested by the Goose Creek CISD Police Department. His next court appearance is set for January 7

The senior also admitted to having resisted letting go of Meister but eventually doing so, per prosecutors.

However, he denied having allegedly stomped on Meismer's head after that.

Gianpaolo Macerola, Matthews' defense attorney, said the teen had no prior criminal history and had cooperated with law enforcement.

'I need to see that surveillance video,' Macerola told FOX26. 'I need to see what happened in terms of all the claims that were read in that probable cause affidavit.'

He also still needs to meet with Matthews, reach out to his sister and review the surveillance video.

Matthews' legal guardian is his 18yearold sister, according to the outlet.

His lawyer, Macerola, requested a bond of $500,000 for Matthews but that was turned down.

Meismer was allegedly stabbed with a pair of scissors that Matthews had found in his pocket

A former teacher at the Goose Creek school district, which Sterling High School belongs to, said she had raised warnings about Matthews' increasing disciplinary issues.

'I went and had a meeting with [the superintendent's] secretary and said things are out of control,' Kim Luckett told ABC13.

She added: 'Mark my word, if we do not get a handle on it as admin, somebody is going to die.'

Luckett, who said she resigned months ago because of safety concerns, claimed Matthews had already been punished with multiple inschool suspensions.

'Schools should be providing safe places for our children,' she told the outlet. 'Goose Creek is not a safe place for our children right now.'

Goose Creek CISD said in a statement Wednesday that Meismer had been rushed to the Texas Medical Center, where he died.

'Our hearts are heavy as we grieve this unimaginable loss,' the school district's Superintendent Randal O'Brien said. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the student's family, friends, classmates, and all who are impacted by this tragedy.'

Former Goose Creek school district Kim Luckett said that 'things are out of control' when it comes to Matthews' disciplinary record

Last Friday, Matthews was booked into Harris County Jail. This followed two days of student protests outside of his Texas high school.

A GoFundMe created by a family friend for the Meismer family said their son's death had created an immeasurable void and placed overwhelming emotional and practical burdens on the family as they begin navigating life after such a devastating event.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised about $4,500 of a $9,000 goal.

The fees would go towards legal fees, food and living expenses.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Goose Creek CISD and its police department, the Harris County District Attorneys Office and Macerola for comment.
Turning Point USA has sparked fury among loyal Charlie Kirk fans after setting up a replica tent of the one he was assassinated in as a photo opportunity at its latest rally.

The 31-year-old conservative activist and TPUSA founder was shot dead while debating students at Utah Valley University in September.

His widow, Erika, has kept TPUSA active in his honor and has garnered mass support within the MAGA movement, the upper echelons of the Trump administration and Kirk's enormous fanbase.

But the decision to erect a near replica from his assassination to serve as a backdrop for photos at this weekend's TPUSA event in Phoenix sparked questions among Kirk fans, spurred by his former friend Candace Owens, who has gone to war with the organization in the months since his death.

'Recreating the tent Charlie died under for selfies? Seriously?' she wrote on X.

'It felt like a seance. I actually want to know whose idea it was.'

Pictures and videos which went viral from the event show streams of people posing inside a tent which featured a similar backdrop to the one Kirk was sitting in front of on the day of his assassination.

Two posters have been erected; one featuring a picture of Kirk at a debate, and another of him on stage.

The decision to erect a replica from his assassination to serve as a backdrop for photos at this weekend's TPUSA event in Phoenix sparked questions among Kirk fans

The criticism was spurred by his former friend Candace Owens, who has gone to war with the organization in the months since his death

Owens' criticism came just days after she and Erika met in person following months of antagonistic comments on social media spurring conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk's death.

The pair both publicly hailed the meeting a success, but Owens has since returned to her standard line of questioning key details about Kirk's death and the aftermath.

She was far from alone in criticizing TPUSA for the memorial tent, however, with the decision sparking mass fury online.

'The murder scene recreation photo op was nothing short of sadistic,' another critic wrote.

'They recreated the tent where Charlie Kirk was assassinated for people to take selfies These people are gross and insane,' a third added.

'I kid you not, they built a replica of the tent Charlie was shot in at AmericaFest for people to take photos in. Maybe we should build Twin Tower replicas or Auschwitz ovens too?'

But Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet denied they were doing anything of the sort.

'It was not the tent where Charlie was assassinated. We made many of them for the tour and this was an entirely different tent,' he told The Daily Mail.

Join the debate Is it ever appropriate to turn a tragic site into a photo opportunity for fans?

Erika Kirk revealed at the event that TPUSA would endorse Kirk's friend, VP JD Vance, as president for 2028

TPUSA has denied the tent was a replica and insisted it was set up as a memorial to Kirk

'We put up the tent as a tribute to Charlie, who lost his life fighting for free speech and debate. One of the themes of the conference is to "be courageous and pick up your own microphone." This is a shameless attack against young people who were inspired by Charlie's life and courage.'

In the conference's closing speech, Kirk's close friend Vice President JD Vance took to the stage, offering somewhat of a pitch to conservative voters ahead of the 2028 election.

He declined to condemn extremism or define a boundary for the MAGA movement, arguing it should be open to anyone as long as they 'love America.'

'I didn't bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform.'

Erika pledged Turning Point's support for Vance to be the next Republican presidential nominee.

'We are going to get my husband's friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,' she said on the first night of the convention. Vance would be the 48th president if he takes office after Trump.

Turning Point is a major force on the right, with a massive volunteer network around the country that can be especially helpful in early primary states.

But Owens has set about tarnishing the reputation of the organization with a series of inflammatory videos casting doubt on the suspect accused of murdering Kirk and criticizing how TPUSA is being run in the wake of his death.

Kirk was assassinated while debating students at he Utah Valley University on September 10

He frequently visited schools and attracted large crowds to discuss conservative values with students

The political commentator was a prominent TPUSA speaker and director of communications until 2020 when she parted ways amid disagreements over her views going 'too down the rabbit holes.'

Insiders revealed to the Daily Mail last week that Erika boarded a private flight from her home in Arizona to meet Owens at a secret location in Nashville to discuss Owens' concerns.

The meeting, which went on for nearly five hours, was described as 'productive', with the hope the pair have buried the hatchet.
John Swinneys 30,000 independence relaunch was a pathetic failure, with as few as 28 people bothering to read it some days, according to official figures.

The First Minister was told to stop producing more taxpayer-funded propaganda after the paltry results for his Fresh Start With Independence paper.

The Scotland in Union campaign found only 3,934 people in the UK browsed the 91-page prospectus in its first 33 days online.

Another 811 unique visitors in other countries also downloaded it, including 166 from the United States, 81 from Germany and 70 from Spain. Between October 8 and November 9 inclusive, the daily average for all countries was 144 readers.

But the visitor count slumped to just 28, 37 and 46 on its worst days.

The average number of UK visitors was 119 a day.

The Scottish Government yesterday confirmed the cost to taxpayers was 31,426.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton added: These pathetic numbers clearly show Scots arent interested in the SNPs desperate efforts to break up the UK.

Big flop: John Swinney's 30,000 independence relaunch has been branded a 'pathetic' failure

'Instead of wasting taxpayers cash on biased independence papers, the public want John Swinney to focus on clearing up the mess the Nats have made of our roads, schools and NHS.

Scotland in Union chair Alastair Cameron said: The paltry number of people accessing this document proves just how futile an exercise this was.

'The SNP government thinks the public are hanging on its every word when it comes to breaking up Britain. In fact, barely anyone is paying attention, and Scots have far greater priorities.

That is borne out in repeated polling, and now by these pitiful figures in relation to what ministers thought was a flagship document.

The poor uptake should persuade the Scottish Government to drop these propaganda documents once and for all.

The SNP Governments previous independence series, the 13-part Building a New Scotland, started in June 2022 and cost 200,000.

Launching his own prospectus in October, Mr Swinney promised independence would deliver a better future.

But his plans, which reheated the SNPs failed 2014 case for ending the UK, were trashed by economists.

The SNP leader had claimed the Bank of England would step in to help Scotland if it suffered a currency crisis while still using sterling after leaving the UK.

Professor Ronald MacDonald, emeritus professor at Glasgow Universitys Adam Smith Business School, warned that totally shambolic idea would lead to massive austerity and crippling high borrowing rates.

David Phillips, associate director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, also said the paper ducked key questions on tax and spending.

An SNP spokesman said: Whilst we are setting out the positive and detailed case for Scotlands future, all the opposition can do is carp from the sidelines  which is probably why polls consistently show more than 50 per cent of people in Scotland support independence.

The Scottish Government declined to comment.
The friend of a young woman killed by her abusive ex-boyfriend has slammed his sentence, saying it does not go far enough.

Danny Zayat, 31, flew into a rage as he assaulted Tatiana 'Tanya' Dokhotaru, 34, in her Liverpool unit, in western Sydney, in May 2023.

Ms Dokhotaru suffered three blunt-force injuries to her head, leading to a fatal brain haemorrhage.

On Friday, Zayat was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 24 years in jail, backdated to March 18 when he was first taken into custody.

His 18-year non-parole period means he can apply for release on March 17, 2043.

Mother of two and friend of Ms Dokhotaru, Emily Tatnell, blasted the punishment, arguing it was not enough in the face of Australia's domestic violence epidemic.

'She was one of the most beautiful people I've ever met. She was kind, thoughtful, and deeply devoted to her son,' she said.

'In 2017, I remember the night she told me about Danny. She had concerns due to their age difference. I wish I could go back in time and warn her and save her.

Danny Zayat, 31, flew into a rage as he assaulted Tatiana 'Tanya' Dokhotaru, 34 (pictured), in her Liverpool unit, in western Sydney, in May 2023

Her friend Emily Tatnell (both women pictured) has said the sentence of Tatiana's killer Danny Zayat was not a strong enough response to the horrific murder

'There was a protection order in place and a documented history of abuse. That night Tatianas phone was thrown away when she tried to call her help. She was murdered, and her son was left at the scene. Danny then attempted to conceal his actions.

'A sentence of 24 years, with parole eligibility after 18, does not reflect the severity of this crime.'

Ms Tatnell, a nurse from Melbourne, said all of Ms Dokhotaru's loved ones will live with this loss forever and that justice is not only about sentencing.

'It is about prevention, accountability, and ensuring no other family endures this devastation,' she said.

'Ive been told that I should just get over it or be happy with the outcome. What if it were their mother, their sister, their daughter, or their best friend?

'Would they feel happy with this outcome?'

Evidence heard in the NSW Supreme Court revealed Zayat had viciously beaten Ms Dokhotaru for years before the murder, dragging her by the hair, choking her and giving her a black eye.

'This large, muscular male is standing over a defenceless, diminutive woman having asserted dominance with his fists,' Justice Desmond Fagan said on Friday.

Ms Tatnell (pictured) said justice is not only about sentencing but raising awareness about the rise of domestic violence across Australia

The pair could be seen waiting for the lift to her unit in the hours before Tatiana was murdered

'It is a picture of cowardice and cruelty.'

Justice Fagan found Zayat had persistently assaulted, stalked, threatened and harassed Ms Dokhotaru, failing to accept she wanted to move on.

'Fixation is a phenomenon of interpersonal conflict that is seen often in the court's lists,' the judge said.

'It is dangerous in a man whose female partner has rejected him and is trying to break free from him. The threat of a heavy penalty does not seem to penetrate the thoughts and actions of fixated controlling minds.'

Ms Tatnell said her friend's story shines a light on the domestic violence crisis happening in Australia.

'Nothing will ever make this right or bring her back,' she said.

Ms Tatnell is also a survivor of domestic violence and called for more education and the introduction of Clare's Law across all of Australia.

The proposed legislation enables people to access vital information about a partners history of abusive behaviour, supporting safer decisions and early intervention.

Justice Desmond Fagan found Zayat had persistently assaulted, stalked, threatened and harassed Ms Dokhotaru (both pictured)

Zayat (pictured) was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 24 years in jail for his crime, backdated to March 18 when he was first taken into custody

The scheme has been implemented in the UK, New Zealand and Canada.

'Knowing a partners history of violence can be life-saving,' Ms Tatnell said.

'That is why I believe Clares Law must be introduced and implemented consistently across all of Australia.

'Silence protects perpetrators. Australia needs stronger laws, real reform, and a justice system that prioritises lives over leniency.'
A former Tory councillor has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his ex-wife with five other men over a 13-year period.

Business consultant Philip Young, a father-of-three, is accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against his former wife, Joanne Young.

Ms Young, 48, can be named as the alleged victim after choosing to waive her right to anonymity, which is granted automatically to sexual offence complainants.

Young, 49, appeared before Swindon Magistrates Court today charged with 11 counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual touching, all involving his ex-wife.

He appeared in the dock in a dark jumper and jeans and stood cross-armed as he confirmed his name, date of birth and address.

When asked if he wished to indicate a plea at this stage, he shook his head.

Young is also facing 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower Ms Young 'to allow sexual activity'.

The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said last night.

Young also faces multiple counts of voyeurism and possession of indecent images of children - including 139 of the most serious, category A, and 82 'extreme' images.

He was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at Swindon Crown Court on January 23.

Chairman of the bench Martin Clarke told him: 'Your cases are indictable so they can only ever be heard in the crown court, therefore we are going to send these matters to the crown court.'

Philip Young, 49, has appeared in court charged with drugging and repeatedly raping his ex-wife Joanne Young, 48

Young, seen here in a court sketch, appeared before Swindon Magistrates Court today charged with 11 counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual touching, all involving his ex-wife

The other five defendants are due to appear before the same court this afternoon.

Norman Macksoni, 47, Dean Hamilton, 46, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31, Richard Wilkins, 61, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, have been charged with offences including rape, sexual touching, sexual penetration and possession of extreme images.

Macksoni, of Sharnbrook, has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images, while Hamilton, of no fixed abode, has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.

Sanderson Doyle, from Swindon, has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching, Wilkins, from Swindon, has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching and Hassan, also from Swindon, has been charged with sexual touching.

Young previously lived in the up-market Ash Brake area of Swindon, but has more recently moved to Enfield, north London.

He was a Conservative councillor in the Wiltshire town for several years, rising to be cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development, but in 2010 he said he was stepping down to spend more time with family.

Six months earlier, Young described how he helped deliver the couple's third child at home minutes before paramedics could arrive.

Young was charged with a string of sexual offences against his ex-wife alongside the five other men

A prison van arriving at Swindon Magistrates' Court today ahead of Philip Young's first appearance

He told the Swindon Advertiser: 'We didn't have time to ring an ambulance beforehand. It didn't cross my mind - it was happening and that was it.

'It was almost common sense really - it was almost trying to be quite matter of fact and give Jo confidence. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.

'The main thing was communication - to talk her through what was happening and her to tell me what she was feeling.' His wife said at the time: 'I can't complain - he caught the baby so that's good.'

The couple have since split up. One of Young's former colleagues in Swindon last night told the Mail he was 'in total shock' at the allegations.

Young has been involved in multiple consultancy businesses, including as a director, and describes himself online as an 'experienced business leader'.

He is currently listed as the chief operating officer for a salesforce consultancy firm based in London. He joined the business in June 2023 with '17 years' experience in the ecosystem running his own partner consultancy', according to his biography on the company website.

It added: 'In his past, Phil has run many global rollouts with blue-chip international organisations with a focus on increasing ROI (return on investment) through high adoption at launch.'

He previously worked on projects for household names including Aston Martin, Unilever, and BP.

His most recent posts on LinkedIn show him holding a trophy at an industry awards ceremony.

Young graduated with a business studies degree from the University of Westminster in 1998, and previously went to school in Bishop's Stortford.

Geoff Smith, a detective superintendent at Wiltshire Police, said: 'This is a significant update in what is a complex and extensive investigation. The victim in this case, Joanne, has taken the decision to waive her automatic legal right to anonymity.

'She has been supported by specially trained officers from the beginning of the process and she has made the decision following multiple discussions with officers and support services.'

James Foster, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

'We have worked closely with Wiltshire Police as they carried out their investigation.'
One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce has slammed pro-Palestine protesters who chanted the phrase 'globalise the intifada' despite it being outlawed in the wake of the horror Bondi Beach shooting.

Human rights lawyer Sarah Saleh addressed a crowd of dozens at Sydney Town Hall on Monday, condemning those who link advocates for Palestinians to the extremist IS ideology which allegedly inspired the massacre on December 14.

'I intend to keep saying "Globalise the Intifada" and "Free Palestine", Ms Saleh said to loud applause.

The phrase, which calls for international support of resistance against Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territories, is set to be banned in NSW.

Premier Chris Minns claimed last week the chant 'encourages violence' and called it 'hate speech', announcing it will be banned along with other hateful expressions.

But, with protesters insisting on using the chant despite the ban, they - and Minns' government - have come under fire from former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.

'They were the Monday evening useful idiots,' he wrote on Facebook on Monday.

'"Globalise the Intifada" encourages violence against Israelis, Jews, and institutions supporting Israel. While the intent of the person saying this phrase may be different, the impact on the Jewish community remains the same.

One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce is seen speaking at an anti-immigration rally on Sunday

Human rights lawyer Sarah Saleh (pictured) addressed a crowd of dozens at SydneyTown Hall on Monday, condemning those who link advocates for Palestinians to the extremist IS ideology which allegedly inspired the massacre on December 14

'That does not send the message that the Government has control on the situation when this is happening a short walk from NSW Parliament.

'I am pretty sure that removing the recreational rights of country people to go shooting is not going to stop these people, which would be seen by many as the implicit support of the theme of the mass murderers of Bondi.'

Aussies questioned why the rally organisers were allowed to keep using the phrase, despite the recently announced laws.

'I guess the hate speech and inciting violence laws dont apply to these people,' one person commented.

Another asked: 'How are these protests still allowed to happen?'

Joyce claimed he was heckled as he walked past the protesters.

'The later aged group, white with backpack and of course keffiyeh over their shoulders. They were not particularly happy to see me,' he said.

'Generic and predictable rude comments came my way as I walked down the street.'

The rally attendees used the chant 'Globalise the Intifada' which is due to be banned in NSW after the Bondi Beach terror attack after it was branded 'hate speech'

The pro-Palestinian movement is distinct from the extremist Islamic ideology which has been associated with the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen.

The former seeks to call for an independent Palestinian state and an end to what the UN earlier this year reported as genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Monday's specific rally used the slogan: 'Genocide is a crime. Protest is not'.

Meanwhile, the extremist ideology suspected to have inspired the two alleged shooters at Bondi relates to terrorist group Islamic State, which brands all non-followers as apostates and infidels.

The group aims to use terror to impose control and create a pan-Islamic theocracy, ultimately seeking global domination, according to the federal government.

A spokesperson for Minns said the Premier was told the Monday gathering would be a 'vigil for the death of innocent Jewish Australians'.

'Yet it has resulted in a violent chant being spread on the streets of Sydney,' they said.

'This proves the need for further laws that the government will be introducing to ban this hate speech and calm a combustible situation in our city.

'Since the terror attack last Sunday, things have changed and we have to change too.'

Joyce also spoke at an anti-immigration rally on Sunday, which drew criticism from police and politicians for being held on a day of mourning after the Bondi massacre.

About 200 protesters, some brandishing Australian flags and others anti-Islam banners, gathered in a central Sydney park exactly one week after 15 people were killed in Australias worst mass shooting since 1996.
Two Americans have been charged with rape after allegedly swapping places during a boozy cruise ship hookup to fool a woman into sleeping with them both.

The 25-year-old female told police in the Bahamas that she consented to sex with Sayjuan Readous, 26, after accompanying him to his cabin on board the Carnival Sunrise.

However, when the victim from Miami, Florida, switched on the lights, she allegedly discovered she was in bed with a different man.

Investigators believe Readous made an excuse to leave the darkened room before his stepbrother, Antoine Flowers Jr., 28, slipped inside to take his place.

Officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force boarded the ship when it reached Nassau and arrested both men over the December 15 encounter.

The pair from Detroit, Michigan, appeared in court on Monday charged with rape, with Readous facing an additional charge of abetment to rape.

They were remanded in custody over the alleged attack which will pose fresh questions about security on board massive Caribbean cruise ships.

The incident comes six weeks after Florida teen Anna Kepner was found asphyxiated and stuffed under her bed on another Carnival vessel, the Horizon.

Police say the woman consented to sex with Sayjuan Readous, 26, (left) who then allegedly switched places with his stepbrother Antoine Flowers, 28, (right) during the December 15 sexual encounter

The incident took place aboard the Carnival Sunrise cruise ship to Nassau, Bahamas

Nobody has been charged over Anna's November 7 death but her 16-year-old stepbrother has been named as a suspect in family court papers.

The Daily Mail also revealed how an Oklahoma grandma was able to smuggle a loaded pistol on board Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas on December 1.

Mary Robinson, 69, insisted she had forgotten it was in her purse and was able to pay $8,000 instead of serving two years in prison.

In April, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas returned to Port Miami after a poolside brawl left two passengers needing hospital treatment.

That same month a viral video captured buffet guests on board the Carnival Sunshine coming to blows in an argument about chicken tenders.

Carnival staff were alerted to the latest incident after reports of screaming coming from an eighth-deck cabin after the Sunrise left Eleuthera in the Bahamas on December 15.

They found a partially dressed 'victim' who was examined by a doctor before police boarded the $240 million mega-liner the next morning in Nassau to investigate.

The woman told officers she struck up a romantic connection with Readous while she was on a five-night cruise with her family.

Readous and his stepbrother appeared in court on Monday charged with rape, with Readous facing an additional charge of abetment to rape

They swapped numbers, had several drinks by the pool then headed back to his room for consensual sex.

Afterwards it's alleged that Readous switched off the light and left the room claiming he had to run an errand for his mom.

After falling asleep for a short while, the woman told police she awoke to find someone in bed with her and they had sex again.

It was only when she switched on the lights that she allegedly 'realized it was his brother,' according to a police source.

Readous and Flowers were denied bail by Magistrate Abigail Farrington and will make their next court appearance on March 26.

Their defense attorney, Terrel Butler, confirmed the two were stepbrothers.

It's understood that Readous insisted in his police interview that the sex was consensual while Flowers refused to comment.

According to data from the US Department of Transportation, some 48 crimes were reported onboard cruise ships in the first quarter of 2025 alone.

Officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force boarded the ship when it reached Nassau and arrested both men over the December 15 encounter

Of these, 23 were rapes, 10 were sexual assaults and seven were assaults.

A Carnival spokeswoman said: After being notified of an alleged assault involving a guest, our onboard team immediately conducted a medical evaluation, collected evidence, and provided support to the guest.

The matter has been turned over to law enforcement authorities in the Bahamas, and we will defer to their investigation for any further comment.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement: 'The police are currently investigating an alleged sexual assault that took place on Tuesday, 16th December 2025, on board a cruise ship involving American nationals.

'According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred shortly before 6:00pm. The female victim reported to police that she met a male onboard the ship who invited her to his room, where they had consensual sexual intercourse, and she fell asleep.

'However, she was awakened to another male that she knew by face performing sexual acts on her without her consent.

'As a result, police have taken two males, ages 28 and 26, both American nationals, into custody.'
Eight people, including a teenage girl, have been rushed to hospital following a shocking night of e-bike and e-scooter accidents in Queensland.

Among those injured on Monday was a man in his 20s, who was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital with an arm injury after an incident with an e-scooter and a car in Ashgrove at 6.20pm.

A girl in her teens suffered head and neck injuries less than 30 minutes later after an incident on an e-scooter at Queentown.

A man in his 40s was transported to hospital for treatment on his hand after an incident at Capella, while another man in his 20s suffered an arm injury after an incident in Woodridge.

A teenage boy was taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition with facial and head injuries after a crash in Cairns around 10.38pm.

Less than 20 minutes later, a man in his 20s with arm and leg pain was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital following another e-scooter crash.

A teenage boy with facial and head injuries was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital after an e-bike crash at Bli Bli about 1.54am.

Earlier this month, 11 people were rushed to Queensland hospitals overnight following a series of e-scooter and e-bike incidents in the lead-up to the festive season.

Queensland is the deadliest state for e-scooter deaths in children

According to new research from the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU), five people are hospitalised daily in Queensland due to e-scooter crashes.

QISU found one-third of all e-scooter deaths in Australia are children under the age of 16. Nearly half of these fatalities occur in Queensland.

Despite the stark figures, Queensland's state government is refusing to bow to pressure to introduce tougher measures ahead of summer, when e-bike and e-scooter use is expected to soar.

'The former Labor Government failed to tackle dangerous and illegal e-bikes and scooters throughout their decade of decline, and left police woefully ill-equipped to enforce regulations,' Queensland's Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, told the Daily Mail.

'Unlike the former Labor Government, we will not commit to a knee-jerk response.

'While our parliamentary inquiry is considering all the evidence so we can get the regulation and legislation right, we have launched a state-wide crackdown on illegal devices through Queensland Police.'

The parliamentary inquiry report into the use of personal e-mobility devices is due to be handed down in March.

Across Australia, at least 14 people have died as a result of an e-bike or e-scooter incident in the last year, including several children.

An e-bike is loaded onto a truck at the scene of a fatal accident in Sydney CBD this month

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli (left) and Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg (right) have refused to introduce tougher safety measures ahead of summer

The NSW Government is considering lowering the speed limits for e-bikes 'within months', and will review the definition of an e-bike to prevent motorcycle-style devices being sold as bicycles.

NSW Premier Chris Minns made the announcement on the same morning an e-bike rider was killed in a tragic collision with a garbage truck in Sydney's CBD.

The man aged in his 30s died at the scene in front of horrified passers-by on their way to work near a major transport interchange on December 2.

Minns also wants to halve the maximum power of e-bikes from 500 watts to 250, which only allows the vehicles to travel up to 30km/hour.

The restrictions would bring NSW into line with other Australian states.

'It underlines the point  these [bikes] can be very dangerous,' Minns told 2GB.

'Young kids that are using them, we want to make sure that people are safe, particularly during the holiday period.'
New photos have emerged of the mysterious temple on Jeffrey Epstein's 'pedophile island', revealing coded symbols and used mattresses.

The Justice Department's latest trove of files includes photos taken inside the bizarre structure which was first uncovered by drone footage of Little Saint James in 2019.

The cube-shaped building with blue and white stripes covering it has been the subject of speculation and conspiracy theories.

Photos inside the building show it in tough shape, including excess pieces of wood lying around and exposed cement panels.

Another photo shows a pair of mattresses that appear to have been left to rot inside a shrink wrap that has turned a shade of yellow.

The ceiling is hand-painted, showing various animals and even constellations behind a cloudy sky, as well as zodiac symbols.

A giant, empty wooden bookshelf appears to remain in good condition, though other pieces inside the room looked to be incomplete.

Conspiracy theorists have latched onto the odd building that was constructed sometime between 2009 and 2013 at the southwest edge of Little St James Island, just off the coast of the US territory of St Thomas.

A new look inside the mysterious temple on Jeffrey Epstein's sickening 'pedophile island' show off coded symbols and used mattresses

Epstein purchased Little Saint James in 1998, while the temple is believed to have been built between 2009 and 2013

Everything previously known publicly about the building had been gleaned from aerial photographs, as the entire island is kept under tight security.

It's unclear when the photos were taken but a gold dome was believed to have been ripped off by a hurricane sometime before 2017.

The billionaire began transforming the 78-acre island soon after he bought it in 1998, clearing the native vegetation, ringing the property with towering palm trees and planting two massive US flags on either end.

The photos of the temple were tame in comparison to other shots that appeared to show Epstein kissing and cuddling little girls on his private jet.

The stomach-churning photographs, which were framed and put on display at his mansion on Little St James Island, show the pedophile embracing youngsters who appear to be minors.

One image showed the financier holding what appears to be a girl in his lap during a flight on his Lolita Express.

In another photo, he is seen seated next to another passenger, seemingly a youngster, with a book and a magazine sprawled out in front of him.

Other horrifying photos made public during Friday's records release showed Epstein cuddling what appeared to be a child and kissing a red-headed girl on the head.

The ceiling is hand-painted, showing various animals and even constellations behind a cloudy sky, as well as zodiac symbols

Another photo shows a pair of mattresses that appear to have been left to rot inside a shrink wrap that has turned a shade of yellow

It is unclear if the females seen in the undated photographs were victims of Epstein's sex trafficking ring. He has been accused of abusing girls as young as 11 years old.

The images were among the more than 300,000 files released by the DOJ on Friday. The records were heavily redacted and no major revelations emerged.

At least 16 photographs, including one of Donald Trump flanked by women in bikinis, were mysteriously removed from the online records Saturday, prompting accusations of an alleged cover-up by the Trump Administration. They have since been reinstated.

The thousands of records posted publicly offer the most detailed look yet at nearly two decades' worth of government scrutiny of Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and underage girls.

The tranche of materials released Friday included photographs of former president Bill Clinton and other famous names such as pop stars Sir Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.

But some of the most consequential records expected about Epstein were nowhere to be found, such as FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions.

Those records could help explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.

Democrats also accused Republicans of a cover-up after files that had been available Friday were no longer accessible on the DOJ's website by Saturday.

Photos inside the temple show it in tough shape, including excess pieces of wood lying around and exposed cement panels

A giant, empty wooden bookshelf appears to remain in good condition, though other pieces inside the room looked to be incomplete

The missing files included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showed a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers.

In that image - inside a drawer among other photos - was a photograph of Trump, alongside the pedophile, Melania Trump and Epstein's longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

The DOJ said that the image of the Trump was flagged by the Southern District of New York 'for potential further action to protect victims'.

Friday's drop of files, replete with redactions, has not dulled the clamor for information, given how many records had yet to be released and because some of the materials had already been made public.

California Democrat Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, have indicated they could draft articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi for what they see as the gross failure of the department to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

'It's not about the timeline, it's about the selective concealment,' Khanna said on CBS' Face the Nation, adding that the redactions in the released files are excessive.

He said he believes there will be 'bipartisan support in holding her accountable, and a committee of Congress should determine whether these redactions are justified or not'.

But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday defended the redactions. He argued the DOJ's decision to release just a fraction of the Epstein files by the congressionally mandated deadline was necessary to protect the pedophile's victims.

Much of the insides look unfinished and it is not immediately clear what the room is meant to be

One side of the temple appears to be missing a window

He pledged that the Trump administration eventually would meet its obligation required by law - but stressed that the department was obligated to act with caution as it goes about making public documents that can include sensitive information.

Blanche called that pushback disingenuous as the Trump Administration continues to struggle with calls for greater transparency, including from members of his political base, about the government's investigations into Epstein.

Federal prosecutors in New York brought sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail after his arrest.

Maxwell, Epstein's onetime girlfriend, is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking crimes.

The deputy attorney general also defended the decision by the federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer Maxwell to a less restrictive, minimum-security federal prison earlier this year, soon after he interviewed her about Epstein.

Blanche said that the transfer was made because of concerns about her safety.

'She was suffering numerous threats against her life,' Blanche said. 'So the BOP is not only responsible for putting people in jail and making sure they stay in jail, but also for their safety.'
Desperate defence chiefs are testing rubber tracks on the 6.3billion Ajax armoured vehicle  after another soldier was injured during trials.

Ajax faces the axe, resulting in a huge write-off for taxpayers, unless a solution can be found quickly to its vibration and noise issues.

The vehicle should have entered service in 2017 but has been plagued by problems, prompting former defence secretary Ben Wallace to call it 'a ridiculous project'.

The Daily Mail has learned that senior officers are considering changing its tracks  in what could be the last attempt to save Ajax.

Standard steel tracks have contributed to scores of soldiers developing hearing loss and health problems caused by excessive vibration that have ended their careers. Some have ended up with 'white finger'  a painful nerve and blood vessel disorder caused by vibration.

Now the Army is experimenting with a composite rubber track (CRT) known as 'Blackjax'. A CRT is a continuous band of rubber reinforced with steel cords and carbon tubes. It is lighter and reduces noise and vibration and can improve fuel economy.

CRTs have been fitted successfully to armoured vehicles used by other nations, including the Norwegian CV90 and the Australian Redback vehicle. Remarkably, rubber tracks were recommended by a whistleblower when Ajax was experiencing development issues in 2019 but were rejected as too costly.

But, with top brass facing the prospect of writing off billions of pounds of public money, rubber tracks are being looked at again.

An Ajax Ares Armoured Fighting Vehicle on the training range at Bovington Camp, a British Army military base

Ajax faces the axe, resulting in a huge write-off for taxpayers, unless a solution can be found quickly to its vibration and noise issues

Procurement minister Luke Pollard last week confirmed tests with steel tracks were stopped after another soldier suffered vibration issues. Last month, in separate trials, around 30 soldiers became ill on training exercises involving Ajax in Dorset.

In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Pollard said: 'This additional report of an injury is a serious concern to me so, out of an abundance of caution, and to ensure safety of personnel, I have directed a pause on Ajax trials.'

Tory Armed Forces spokesman Mark Francois said: 'We clearly cannot continue like this. The imperative is for ministers to either fix Ajax or fail it.'

There are four separate government investigations into Ajax to assess its viability. Mr Pollard has also held crisis talks with the vehicle's manufacturer, General Dynamics UK.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment officially on the testing of rubber tracks. The tests were confirmed by defence sources.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has had his firearms license revoked in the latest indignity to befall the scandal-plagued ex-royal.

The former Duke of York, 65, is known as a keen huntsman and owner of an array of shotguns and rifles.

In the past the disgraced Andrew regularly hosted shooting events at royal estates including Sandringham and Balmoral, The Sun reported.

Indeed, after it emerged that Andrew hosted a birthday event for Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell at Sandringham, the King's private Norfolk estate, in 2000, he later sought to paint it to Newsnight as 'a straightforward shooting weekend'.

The Met Police, who are responsible for royal and diplomatic protection, reportedly visited Andrew at his current home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, in November.

Sources claim that Andrew used a valet to deal with the Met's specialist officers, who reportedly gave the ex-duke a 'pretty thorough' grilling.

Officers are not thought to have confiscated Andrew's firearms, but imposed severe sanctions on how the weapons are stored and who is able to access them.

The decision to revoke Andrew's license follows a security review, and means he will no longer be able to transport or use his firearms except under strict expert supervision.

The news that the Met Police have revoked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's gun license will come as a blow to the former duke, as he has long fancied himself a seasoned huntsman. Pictured: Andrew clutching a shotgun at the North Wales Shooting School back in 1982

The former Duke Of York on a royal shoot at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk in December 1992

Jeffrey Epstein (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right) as visitors of the then Prince Andrew at Sandringham in December 2000. Andrew later sought to paint the visit in his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview as 'a straightforward shooting weekend'

Back in October, royal insiders told the Daily Mail that one option being considered was to stop Andrew from hosting shooting parties on royal estates.

Reports suggest there have been numerous shooting parties in Windsor Great Park over the last few months.

However, the duke has not been spotted at any such gathering since he was stripped of his royal titles by the King.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'On Wednesday November 19, firearms licensing officers attended an address in Windsor to request that a man in his 60s voluntarily surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate.

'The certificate was surrendered, and we will be not be commenting any further at this stage.'

The move comes on the back of claims that Andrew asked his police protection officer to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre, one of the women who claimed to have slept with Andrew after being procured by Epstein.

The former Duke of York has repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims.

The Met announced a little over a week ago that it will not launch a criminal investigation after the Mail on Sunday exposed how Andrew embroiled both the police and one of Queen Elizabeth's most senior aides in a campaign to smear Ms Giuffre.

A bombshell email published by the MoS in October showed how Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded personal protection officer  part of the Met's elite SO14 Royalty Protection Group  to investigate Mrs Giuffre and passed him her date of birth and confidential US social security number.

The Met had said it was 'actively looking' into the revelations and detectives also began poring over Mrs Giuffre's posthumous memoirs, in which she alleged she was trafficked to London in 2001 by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Andrew.

However, Detective Chief Superintendent Ella Marriott said on December 13 that the force 'will be taking no further action' after conducting an eight-week assessment that 'has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct'.

In a hard-hitting response, Mrs Giuffre's family said they were 'deeply disappointed' by the decision and revealed that it came only a day after a Met detective had asked them whether they had any new evidence to provide.

'We are deeply disappointed that the Metropolitan Police have dropped their investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor without explanation and without speaking with us, Virginia's family,' they said in a statement.

Join the debate Is this decision about public safety or punishment?

Prince Andrew pictured hosting a shooting party on the Windsor estate for his friends in January last year

The revoking of Andrew's gun license is the latest blow to the ex-duke, after he was stripped of his royal titles in October by King Charles following the release of new emails between the disgraced prince and serial convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Pictured: The pair seen walking together in New York in 2011

Marsh Farm, located seven miles west of his brother King Charles' lavish country retreat, is reportedly being eyed up for when he leaves Royal Lodge

Andrew is also due to be leaving Royal Lodge soon and moving into a residence on the King's Sandringham estate, rumoured to be Marsh Farm.

It has been suggested that this could be another reason that the Met acted to remove the ex-duke's gun license.

'It is also a factor that he is due to be moving soon  and gun licence holders have to inform authorities how their weapons would be kept at new addresses,' a source said.

'He will now not be able to do things like use guns on his own or even transport them unless he is under strict supervision. It is a real blow to him.'

Marsh Farm, located seven miles west of his brother King Charles' lavish country retreat, is reportedly being eyed up for when he leaves Royal Lodge.

The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed that the former duke is set to swap his 30-room mansion for a 'shoebox-sized' holding property on a remote part of the King's private Norfolk estate.

The property he will eventually move into is understood to be currently under extensive renovation in preparation for his arrival, which suggests that it will be a substantial home, though still much smaller than Royal Lodge.

The estate's no-fly zone is also reported to have been expanded to include Marsh Farm ahead of Andrew's arrival.

The Met Police and representatives for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been contacted for comment.
Wes Streeting has been branded 'opportunistic' by a fellow Labour MP after he suggested Britain should join a customs union with the EU, in an 'early shot' at a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.

The Health Secretary was on Monday accused of rolling the pitch for a leadership challenge after he used an interview to make the case for a 'closer trading relationship' with Brussels.

The Prime Minister has twice ruled out rejoining the EU customs union in the past month  a move that would breach Labour's election manifesto.

Labour MP Graham Stringer said he believed Mr Streeting's latest intervention  which has infuriated Sir Keir's allies  was 'just Wes being opportunistic knowing that, I think, it's nearly 30 per cent of the Labour Party membership is in London, and most of those people seem to be in favour of rejoining the EU,' he told Times Radio.

'So it's an early shot in what might be a leadership election after the May local elections.'

In an interview with the Observer on Sunday, Mr Streeting described the Prime Minister's 'reset' deal with Brussels, branded a surrender by the Tories and Reform, as a 'good start'.

But he added that the best way to boost the economy would be a 'closer trading relationship' with the EU indicating his support for rejoining the customs union.

Mr Streeting, who last month was accused by Downing Street insiders of plotting a coup, insisted Sir Keir has his 'absolute support', but again refused to deny he wants to run the country as he said he was 'diplomatically ducking the question'.

Wes Streeting (pictured) was accused of rolling the pitch for a leadership challenge after he used an interview to make the case for a 'closer trading relationship' with Brussels

Alongside Angela Rayner and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Mr Streeting is increasingly said to be on manoeuvres as the PM stares down the barrel of apocalyptic local elections in May.

Meanwhile Downing Street reiterated that Sir Keir is sticking to his 'red lines' with the EU.

The PM's spokesman said: 'We have been very open about the need to reset our relationship with the EU and strengthen that relationship while sticking to our red lines.'
Labour dealt another blow to farmers on Monday as they announced animal welfare changes that could see them being undercut by foreign competitors.

Under the plans, which are part of the Government's animal welfare strategy, colony cages, used to hold dozens of chickens, and farrowing crates, which enclose female pigs after they have given birth, would be banned.

However, these methods are legal in countries such as Poland, Spain and Ireland, which export to Britain. And while the EU has pledged to phase out caged farming by 2027, progress has been slow.

It raises fears British farmers will be undercut by cheaper meat flooding in from abroad.

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers' Union, said: 'If the Government proposes raising domestic animal welfare standards further it must also take steps to ensure consumers are protected from imported food that could be produced to lower standards, and that British farmers are not asked to compete with imports produced at those lower standards which would be illegal for them to work to.

'We have long called for a set of core standards for food imported into the UK; it must meet the same production standards as asked of our farmers.'

And Victoria Atkins, Tory environment spokesman, said: 'Labour is yet again favouring foreign farmers over British farmers by allowing substandard foreign imports to undercut our already-high welfare standards.'

The Government's strategy also proposes banning trail hunting, with officials claiming it is a 'smokescreen' for illegal fox hunting.

Colony cages, which hold large numbers of chickens, would be banned under the government's new plans

Farrowing crates, used to enclose female pigs after they have given birth, would also be banned

The PM's spokesman denied plans amounted to a 'war on the countryside', adding: 'We have said that we share the British public's high regard for the countryside in lots of ways, whether it's through farming or the animal welfare strategy.'

But Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: 'Trail hunting is a legal activity which supports hundreds of jobs and is central to many rural communities.

'The Government should be focusing on addressing issues that actually help rural communities thrive, rather than pursuing divisive policies that hinder them.'
ABC managing director Hugh Marks has delivered a staunch defence of two of his stars after they drew criticism over their comments about the Bondi Beach attack.

Marks released a statement on Monday stressing the gravity of the December 14 massacre, describing it as 'a shocking and traumatic event for Australia and especially for the Jewish community'.

'We extend our deepest sympathy to the Jewish community and everyone impacted by the terrorist attack,' he said.

The Bondi attack, which claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah celebration, is being formally treated as a terrorist incident inspired by ISIS ideology.

Marks addressed backlash against global affairs editor Laura Tingle over comments she made on the December 16 episode of ABC's Politics Now podcast, hosted by Patricia Karvelas.

When asked whether the Bondi massacre was religiously motivated, Tingle said: 'It's got nothing to do with religion' and added, 'Their actions are not based on their religion.'

Those comments sparked online criticism, with some accusing Tingle of downplaying the role of ideology, particularly as authorities confirmed alleged shooters Sajid and Naveed Akram were inspired by Islamic State and targeted a Jewish celebration.

But Marks rejected those claims.

Hugh Marks (pictured) defended Tingle and Ferguson, calling the criticism 'unfounded'

'Her analysis and the program in no way sought to minimise the terrorist nature of these horrific events, or the needs for Australia to combat antisemitism, or the rights of Jewish people to feel safe,' he said.

He confirmed the ABC had reviewed the podcast and found the criticism 'unfounded.'

Marks also defended Sarah Ferguson, host of the national broadcaster's flagship program 7.30, after complaints about her December 17 interview with former treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Frydenberg, one of Australia's highest-profile Jewish political figures, had earlier accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of bearing responsibility for the Bondi attack while visiting the Bondi Beach Pavilion vigil.

In the interview, Ferguson challenged him, asking if his comments were made as part of a political comeback.

It is understood that Frydenberg is considering a return to politics in the wake of the terror attack.

'How do we not see this through a political lens  I mean, the case that you're making, a personal case against the prime minister?'

Laura Tingle (pictured) faced criticism over her comments about the Bondi Beach terror attack

Frydenberg responded forcefully.

'I'm deeply offended by what you just said. I'm deeply offended. That is an insult to say that there is any political motivation in this,' he said.

Frydenberg spoke of his personal experience, describing the daily security needed for his children and other Jewish families.

'My children go to a school where there are armed guards outside. When I visit a Jewish childcare centre, there are armed guards outside. When I send my kids to sporting clubs, there are police cars out there and police tape,' he said.

'Why should we live with this? If I'm not going to speak out, who is? If not now, when? If not me, who?'

Marks dismissed the criticism of Ferguson's line of questioning.

'Sarah's interview included a question on his potential return to politics which was a legitimate question for a journalist to put to him.'

He reiterated that the ABC's own review found the complaints baseless.

Marks said Sarah Ferguson's (pictured) question to Josh Frydenberg was 'legitimate'

Marks also addressed the broader challenge facing journalists covering terrorism and its aftermath.

'Questions about the role of the media, including the central role of the ABC, in sustaining a cohesive and inclusive society in a responsible manner are vitally important,' he said.

'These are questions we ask of ourselves on a daily basis.'

'The ABC has reviewed both comments and the programs in question and believes that the criticisms made are unfounded'.
A University of Sydney staff member has been charged after she allegedly intimidated Jewish students in a furous tirade on campus.

Rose Nakad, 53, was sacked by the university last week after she was allegedly filmed confronting students and calling them 'parasites' and 'filthy Zionists' as they celebrated Sukkot, a Jewish holiday, on October 9 this year.

Her sacking came a day after the Bondi Beach massacre, where suspected IS terrorists allegedly opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah event, killing 15 and injuring dozens more.

Police say Nakad now faces charges of offensive conduct and two counts of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear over the incident two months ago.

'A group of Jewish students and other members of the Jewish community were celebrating within the grounds of the university at Darlington campus, when a female passer-by [allegedly] yelled antisemitic comments at the group,' NSW Police said on Monday.

'The matter was reported to officers from Inner West Police Area Command, who commenced an investigation in October into the incident.

'Following inquiries, on Monday a 53-year-old woman was arrested at Parramatta Police Station.'

Nakad has been granted conditional bail as her matter remains before the courts.

Rose Nakad (left) allegedly abused Jewish students at Sydney University

She was allegedly filmed clashing with students

In footage obtained by Sky News, Nakad allegedly approached several students, asked if they were 'Zionists', and continued to harass them as they repeatedly asked her to leave.

The students allegedly told her they were not making a political statement or staging a protest, and simply wanted to be left alone.

However, Nakad allegedly continued her tirade, leaning closer to one woman and telling her: 'A Zionist is the lowest form of rubbish.'

'Zionists are the most disgusting thing that has ever walked this earth,' she allegedly yelled.

Nakad then allegedly described herself as an 'Indigenous Palestinian' before calling the group 'baby killers' and telling one member she was a 'f***ing filthy Zionist'.

The university said in a statement on December 15 that her employment was terminated, following an immediate suspension in October.

A university spokesperson said Nakad's alleged conduct was 'deeply distressing and utterly unacceptable' and that antisemitism had no place at Australia's oldest university.

'We immediately suspended the staff member pending a formal process, and have now terminated their employment on the grounds of serious misconduct,' they said.

The university sacked the staff member just a day after the mass shooting at Bondi Beach

'This decision followed careful consideration in line with our clear expectations of behaviour and our obligation to make sure our campuses are safe and welcoming for all.

'We've introduced significant reforms since the disbandment of the protest encampment on campus last year and have seen the number of complaints related to antisemitism decline substantially.'

Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott apologised to the Jewish community for the incident.

Nakad is due to appear in Newtown Local Court on February 3.
Former Republican Congressman and current right-wing TV host Matt Gaetz joined podcaster Tucker Carlson on an episode of his show Tuesday to deliver a bold electoral prognosis.

Discussing the upcoming midterm elections next year, Gaetz told Carlson that believes Republicans will lose their majority in the House of Representatives and that current Democratic minority leader 'Hakeem Jeffries becomes the speaker.'

Gaetz added that the 'the candy becomes the poison' for Democrats because they will ultimately lose in the next presidential election due to overreach in the final two years of President Trump's second term.

'Democrats win the midterms, they execute a series of ransom-like shutdowns on Trump, the country gets weary of that and probably elects JD Vance president in 2028,' Gaetz forecast.

Gaetz also presented another hypothesis for the 2028 presidential race, stating that he sees fellow right-wing media star Steve Bannon running for President of the United States on a 'Elizabeth Warren wealth tax economic agenda.'

The former firebrand Florida Representative resigned from Congress last year after he was briefly nominated to serve as Trump's attorney general following the 2024 presidential election.

Gaetz's nomination was withdrawn by the White House after he received pushback from a number of senators, including members of his own party, who were irked by allegations he paid underage women for sex. Gaetz denied the claims and was never charged with a crime.

Discussing the claims made against him in a 2024 House Ethics report, Gaetz told Carlson that 'Israel was involved' in an 'op to silence' him.

A voter carries his ballot to a booth at a polling station, Nov. 4, 2025, in Lawrence, Mass.

Matt Gaetz speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 12, 2024

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., holds a news conference after the final House votes of the year as he criticized the Republican majority and their loyalty to President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025

Tucker Carlson speaks during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. December 18, 2025

'It was troubling and concerning to me that someone who was getting paid by the Israeli government was involved in a criminal shakedown of a US congressman,' Gaetz told Carlson.

'There was never really an effort to figure out what the government of Israel's involvement was in this matter. But you know that the government of Israel was involved because this was an Israeli government official who was involved in this,' Gaetz continued.

Notably, Gaetz told Carlson that he still considered himself pro-Israel, but believed "what the Netanyahu government is doing to Israel is bad for Israel..'

After Gaetz departed Congress, his seat was filled by former Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.
Two Australian men are under investigation amid claims they crossed paths with the alleged Bondi gunmen during a trip to the Philippines.

Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, travelled to Davao City for a four-week stay, a month before they allegedly killed 15 people at the Chanukkah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach on December 14.

Sajid was killed by police gunfire in the attack. Naveed remains in custody and is facing 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder.

Local police probing whether the Akrams visited the region's notorious terror training camps also discovered two other Sydney men had been in the city.

The men arrived separately from the Akrams with one man, believed to be in his 50s, flying from Sydney to Davao City via Manila on November 8 and returning on November 25.

A younger man, believed to be in his 20s, arrived the same day the older man jetted out of the city and flew back to Sydney on December 3.

The Akrams flew home from the Philippines on November 28.

Officers from the Philippines National Police (PNP) are now investigating if the Akrams were in contact with the two men during their stay.

Immigration photos shows one of the alleged Bondi gunmen, Naveed Akram, arriving in Manila on November 1

His father Sajid travelled to the Philippines on an Indian passport (pictured in immigration)

Sajid and Naveed stayed in Davao - a five-hour drive from an infamous ISIS training camp

It's also believed none of the four men visited tourist sites during their stay, raising questions about why they lingered in the city, the Daily Telegraph reports.

A police source told the publication that officers have been scouring CCTV in the city.

'That is the question, (what was) the purpose,' a police source said of the Akrams' visit to Davao City.

'(They) possibly met with two other men while they were here. They (also) were not tourists.'

Sources who met Naveed and Sajid while they were staying in Davao City have also confirmed they were joined by two mysterious companions.

A woman said that Naveed had told her he was travelling with not one but three companions - which raises further questions about who they were meeting in the city and for what purpose.

The Akrams repeatedly extended their stay from a week to 28 days, while staying at the GV Hotel - a $24-a-night, one-star hotel located in a red-light district.

They paid in cash on a week-to-week basis, with experts believing this increases the probability that they were there to meet extremists and possibly even for training.

Staff at the GV Hotel, where the Akrams stayed, said the pair paid in cash on a weekly basis

It comes as it was revealed the Akrams also met with a number of Islamic leaders during their trip, including one which was captured on CCTV.

They are believed to have left the hotel for around eight hours to travel to the nearby coastal city of Panabo, which is about an hour's drive north from Davao.

A source close to the investigation told Daily Mail: 'It is now thought that the father and son went out of Davao City to the nearest border in Panabo to meet some Muslim religious leaders.

'This raises more questions on what they were doing in Mindanao.'

The identities and affiliations of the 'religious leaders' they met that day remain unclear.

Despite concerns from security experts that the father and son had travelled to the region to receive 'military-style' training, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has denied this occurred.

The southern Philippines island of Mindanao, where the Akrams were staying, has long been a hotspot for global terrorism.

Long before Islamic State East Asia seized the area in 2017, terrorist group Abu Sayyaf had been using the isolated regions to train the next generation of terrorists.

The father and son appear to have taken part in firearms training in country NSW (pictured)

In 1993, terrorist Ramzi Yousef directed the first World Trade Center bombing, before later bombing Philippine Airlines Flight 434 for terror group Abu Sayyaf.

In 2002, the terror group behind the Bali bombings, which killed 88 Australians, relocated its members to the Phillipines.

Nearly a decade later, Sydney man Warren Rodwell was held for ransom by Abu Sayyaf for 472 days, after being abducted on his home on the Phillipines island.

Three foreigners and a Filipino woman were later kidnapped from a marina near Davao.

In 2019, 20 people were killed by IS terrorists at a church in the island's southwest.
The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts around the world.

Diplomats in 29 countries were given notices Wednesday informing them that they'd be out of a job by mid-January, according to two State Department officials.

All of them were assigned to their posts by the Biden administration but had remained in their jobs for the first year of Trump's second term despite an initial wave of cuts that targeted mainly political appointees.

The directive offered no explanation for the recall, but Trump administration officials said they will now be replaced with personnel deemed fully supportive of Donald Trump's 'America First' priorities.

A senior State Department official called this 'standard process in any administration' but admitted that President Trump wants people who will be in line with his policy goals.

'An ambassador is a personal representative of the president and it is the president's right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the 'America First' agenda,' a senior State Department official said.

The recalled diplomats were encouraged to find new roles in the State Department, a second US official said.

The Trump administration's directive now leaves the United States without leadership in critical countries including in Rwanda, Egypt and Armenia - all countries where Washington is trying to sustain peace efforts that the president has championed.

It is the latest in the Trump administration's efforts to concentrate high-stakes diplomacy in the hands of a small group of special envoys comprising longtime friends like son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who are now working on Russia-Ukraine peace talks and post-war plans for Gaza.

President Donald Trump has recalled nearly 30 career ambassadors that have served under both Republican and Democratic presidents

But removing those with experience in the countries they serve could now have dire consequences, critics warned.

They called the abrupt removal of ambassadors at posts across the world 'highly irregular,' detailing how the targeted group of ambassadors in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe started receiving phone calls last week informing them that they needed to immediately vacate their positions.

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, for example, expressed 'with a sad heart' that she had received a phone call from DC saying 'that I will need to leave in January' in a holiday greeting sent to friends and colleagues last week, according to the Washington Post.

The letter made clear that Carlson remained in the dark about whether her recall notice would allow her time to adjust.

'I hope to stay a few weeks longer to help make the transition as smooth as possible and must begin to make departure plans,' she wrote.

The American Foreign Service Association representing foreign service officers said it was working to confirm which members were recalled after some reported being notified by phone with no explanation - a process its spokesperson called 'highly irregular.'

'Abrupt, unexplained recalls reflect the same pattern of institutional sabotage and politicization our survey data shows is already harming morale, effectiveness, and U.S. credibility abroad,' spokesperson Nikki Gamer said in an email.

The State Department declined to respond to Gamer's comments.

Join the debate How will replacing experienced ambassadors with political loyalists impact America's global influence?

Among those who were suddenly ousted were US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (left) and US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg (right)

The Trump administration has been concentrating diplomacy in the hands of a small group of special envoys comprising longtime friends like son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (pictured), who are now working on Russia-Ukraine peace talks and post-war plans for Gaza

Ambassadors typically remain at their posts for three to four years, with experienced Foreign Service diplomats deployed to unstable regions.

Those that are now affected by the shake-up are not losing their foreign service jobs but will be returning to Washington for other assignments should they wish to take them, the officials said.

But appointing a new ambassador requires a presidential nomination and Senate confirmation, which could take months.

And with diplomacy in many countries run through strict protocols, not having an ambassador in place could make it more difficult for senior US officials to set up meetings with their foreign counterparts or sensitive messages from Washington.

'I'm very concerned about the safety and well-being of our diplomatic personnel overseas without having seasoned leadership in the field,' David Schenker, former assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs in the first Trump administration, told the Wall Street Journal.

The majority of the ambassadors removed from their position worked in 13 countries in Africa: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.

Ambassadorial changes are also coming to six countries in Asia: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Four countries in Europe (Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia) are affected; as are two each in the Middle East (Algeria and Egypt); South and Central Asia (Nepal and Sri Lanka); and the Western Hemisphere (Guatemala and Suriname).

Former State Department officials condemned the move

Congressman Bill Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'to reverse course'

As the ambassadors for these posts now return home, the Trump administration is also working to nominate permanent ambassadors to key allies like Australia, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Ukraine.

As a result, the US is now facing a situation where more than half of US embassies abroad will not have a confirmed ambassador, Eric Rubin, a retired career diplomat and the former president of the American Foreign Service Association, which represents US diplomats, told CNN.

He called it a 'serious insult to the countries affected and a huge gift to China.'

His remarks were echoed by Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

'President Trump is giving away U.S. leadership to China and Russia by removing qualified career Ambassadors who serve faithfully no matter who's in power,' she told Politico.

'This makes America less safe, less strong and less prosperous.

Congressman Bill Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts, also wrote that: 'Recalling career ambassadors is a reckless move that harms America's credibility and does nothing to protect the interests of Americans.

'This administration should be expanding international engagement, not politicizing the Foreign Service,' he said, urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'to reverse course.'

Rubio has defended the Trump administration's efforts to shake up the State Department

Meanwhile, the American Foreign Service Association said that removing 'these senior diplomats without cause or justification sends a dangerous message.

'It tells our allies that America's commitments may shift with the political winds. And yet again, it tells our public servants that loyalty to country is no longer enough - that experience and oath to the Constitution take a back seat to political loyalty.'

'This is not how America leads.'

The group previously released a damning poll showing that 86 percent of Foreign Service members found that Trump's sweeping changes to the State Department has affected their ability to carry out US foreign policy priorities.

The report also showed that a whopping 98 percent of the Foreign Service members said that morale has declined since Trump took office last year, and one-third of employees were considering leaving the Foreign Service early.

But Rubio downplayed the findings at a news conference last week.

'Foreign Service officers are more empowered at the regional bureau than they have ever been,' he declared.

'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.'
Controversial non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are set to be scrapped under plans police chiefs will present to the Home Secretary, it has been reported.

Senior police figures believe that NCHIs are not 'fit for purpose' and the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) want the practice to be scrapped.

They insist that forces in England and Wales should no longer be policing 'toxic culture wars debates' by recording them.

The decision follows the Metropolitan Police who announced they would no longer investigate them.

NCHIs are incidents that do not meet the criminal threshold but are perceived to be motivated by hatred towards characteristics such as race or gender.

They have been increasingly used to record petty arguments and critics argue they stifle free of speech and waste police time.

Under the plans, set to be presented to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood next month, NCHIs would be replaced with a new 'common sense' system, according to the Telegraph.

It would mean only a small percentage of such incidents will be recorded under the most serious category of anti-social behaviour.

Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was arrested by armed police officers following posts he made about transgender activists on X

The move comes after Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was arrested by five armed police officers in September over online comments about transgender activists.

The post, from his X feed, said: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.'

He later wrote that during his police interview following the arrest, 'I explained that the 'punch' tweet was a serious point made with a joke', and that it was about 'the height difference between men and women... and certainly not a call to violence'.

The Crown Prosecution Service eventually dropped the case against him, while Linehan said he intended to sue the Met over wrongful arrest and for breaching his human rights.

Columnist Allison Pearson was also controversially investigated by the police after she mistakenly branding a pair of activists for a Pakistani political party 'Jew Haters'.

Former police officer Harry Miller was visited by Humberside police after a complaint about an allegedly transphobic tweet.

While grandmother Helen Jones was visited by two plain-clothes police officers after she posted online that she wanted to see a Labour councillor resign for being a member of an offensive WhatsApp group.

Lord Herbert, chairman of the College of Policing, said: 'NCHIs will go as a concept. That system will be scrapped and replaced with a completely different system.

'There will be no recording of anything like it on crime databases. Instead, only the most serious category of what will be treated as anti-social behaviour will be recorded. It's a sea change.'

He said the recording of non-crime hate incidents had 'drawn police into an area I don't believe they want to be in'.

Helen Jones was visited by two plain-clothes police officers after she posted online that she wanted to see a Labour councillor resign

Ms Mahmood last month told police chiefs that officers should be policing the streets, not 'perfectly legal language in any individual's tweets'

Rather than logging hate incidents on a crime database, the plan would treat them as intelligence reports, with officers given a 'common sense' checklist.

The checklist is intended to ensure officers target only serious anti-social behaviour, such as antisemitism, the peer said.

He added that controversial arrests such as Mr Linehan's would not happen under the proposed new system.

They will be excluded from crime databases which means any incidents won't have to be declared as part of pre-employment checks.

Research suggests NCHIs take up to 60,000 hours of police time every year, with more than 13,000 NCHIs logged by police in the year to June last year.

Tom Harding, the College of Policing's director of operational standards, previously said scrapping NCHIs would stop officers recording 'trivial fallings-out online' and allow them to focus on real policing.

The NPCC and College of Policing will publish their review next month, which will then be given to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood.

Ms Mahmood last month told police chiefs that officers should be policing the streets, not 'perfectly legal language in any individual's tweets'.
The woman at the centre of footy golden boy Lachie Neale's marriage breakdown is a Mormon missionary who sells women's sanitary 'moon cups' - and an unlikely figure to be thrust into the media spotlight.

Softly-spoken and deeply religious, Tess Crosley's once low-key Instagram account has suddenly become the subject of intense scrutiny by Brisbane Lions fans searching for details of their star player's split.

Gossips have pored over every photo, expression and caption on her account for possible clues to fuel speculation about the breakdown of the Neales' marriage.

Ms Crosley broke cover on Tuesday after retreating to a luxury hideaway in the Byron Bay hinterland.

It was the first time she had been seen since former close friend Ms Neale, 35, unloaded on social media and said she had been 'betrayed in the most unimaginable way'.

A News Corp article had claimed the couple were 'working through' marital issues. However, Ms Neale fired back: 'I want to make it very clear that I am not 'working through' anything.

'I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way. All I can do now is to heal and do what's best for my children.

'Thank you for the love and support. Jules x.'

Tess Crosley broke cover on Tuesday after she fled to a luxury retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland

Ms Crosley (left) and her husband Ben (second from right) were once inseparable from Lachie Neale and his wife Jules (pictured together at the recent grand final)

Ms Crosley is pictured on Tuesday after the dispute with Jules Neale came to light over the weekend

As a Mormon missionary and businesswoman, Tess Crosley is unused to the media spotlight

Since then, social media has been abuzz over resurfaced snaps of Ms Crosley joining Neale and his wife at matches and on holiday together.

Ms Crosley grew up on Queensland's Gold Coast, attending Marymount College in Burleigh Waters, before studying at Griffith University.

From an early age, she was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church or LDS, and is thought to still be a practising member.

Between 2015 and 2017, her faith took her across the country when she served as a Mormon missionary in Perth.

After leaving university, she held several professional roles, including as an executive assistant and bankruptcy consultant, before retraining as a dental hygienist.

She and a friend later co-founded Evella Health, a reusable 'moon cup'-style period product brand and marketed as a modern, female-led wellness business.

Despite an early online push, the brand's Instagram account has been dormant since 2021.

Tess married her husband Ben Crosley, also a Mormon, in 2017 and they have one son together.

Join the debate What does this scandal say about trust and loyalty within high-profile friendships and marriages?

Tess Crosley and husband Ben are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Ben Crosley is seen with a McDonalds meal on Tuesday

In her wedding speech - video of which has recently resurfaced online - the bride joked that she knew early on how much Ben loved her.

'Tess, it goes you,' she said, gesturing upwards, before motioning down and adding: 'And then the Crows [AFL team].'

'That was the day I truly did know that Ben loved me.'

The Crosleys were frequently photographed with the AFL glamour couple and appeared inseparable during Brisbane's premiership celebrations in September.

In June, the two couples posted a TikTok playing out the viral 'Hope our husbands like each other' trend, ending with Lachie and Ben arm-in-arm, drinks in hand.

Following the Lions' grand final win over Geelong, she shared multiple photos from the MCG, including shots on the field and in the sheds.

One image showed her and Jules both biting Neale's premiership medal together.

But according to a source, that friendship unravelled sharply when Ms Neale allegedly told Mr Crosley about their partners' betrayal.

Tess (third left) attending a missionary dinner and devotional in 2017 following her missionary tour to Perth

Tess Crosley (pictured centre) with her sisters (left) and parents (right) grew up in the LDS church on the Gold Coast

The eight second video starts with Jules mimicking the phrase: 'I hope our husbands get along'.

Husbands Lachie and Ben are featured in the video

'Ben found out because Jules told him,' the source said. 'Jules was suss for a while.'

On one now-deleted post, Jules allegedly left a furious comment, telling Ms Crosley to remove the images and accusing her of embarrassing herself.

Soon after, the women unfollowed each other, comments were switched off, and Ms Crosley stopped posting altogether.

As speculation mounted, Ms Crosley's name spread rapidly through AFL circles, triggering a sharp increase in social media followers.

Neale briefly added to the intrigue by commenting 'power couple' on a photo of Ms Crosley and her husband, before Neale later unfollowed Ms Crosley.

Meanwhile, Ms Neale has removed every photo of her husband from her Instagram account, dating back to 2012, and has since unfollowed him.

The split has shocked fans and comes after Ms Neale made glowing comments about her marriage earlier this year.

In April, she described their relationship as 'solid', saying the pair worked hard to block outside noise.

Jules has wiped the two-time Brownlow Medal winner from her Instagram page, with all photos of the pair deleted

Tess was seen at a luxury retreat in Byron Bay days before Christmas. Above in an old photo with her husband

Jules allegedly left a furious comment on an image Ms Crosley posted of the foursome, telling her to remove the images and accusing her of embarrassing herself

The couple had appeared united at major events, including the Brownlow Medal and the Brisbane Lions' Club Champion awards, where they posed arm-in-arm.

Ms Neale, a former Perth salon owner, is a well-known face on Brownlow best-dressed lists and close with the well-heeled clique of Brisbane's WAGs.

She has built a following of more than 27,000 Instagram followers as a stylist and lifestyle influencer, and works as a hairdresser at a Brisbane salon.

Her husband is a dual-Brownlow medallist, four-time All-Australian and 293-game veteran who made a miraculous return from a torn calf to feature in September's grand final.

He has remained silent in the wake of the row erupting, as have the Brisbane Lions and his management.
A Sydney council has ordered the immediate closure of an unauthorised prayer hall operated by Islamic cleric Wissam Haddad, whose facility had links to alleged Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram.

Officials from City of Canterbury Bankstown Council issued a 'cease use' order on Monday after surveillance confirmed the Al Madina Dawah Centre at 54 Kitchener Parade, Bankstown, was being used as a prayer hall without approval.

A council spokesman said their records dating back to 1970 showed the premises had never been authorised for worship.

'Our recent surveillance indicates there is a strong suspicion the premises is being used contrary to its intended use,' the spokesperson said.

'We have issued the cease use notices which will be effective immediately. There are no compromises, and we will be taking further action if they don't comply.'

The crackdown comes as Haddad faces renewed scrutiny over antisemitic sermons and his connection to the Bankstown centre frequented by Akram, 24, who allegedly carried out Sunday's Bondi massacre with his father.

The ABC, citing counter-terrorism officials, named Naveed Akram as a follower of Haddad's a week ago.

Al Madina Dawah Centre where Wissam Haddad (pictured) preached has been ordered to close

Canterbury Bankstown Council has shut down the Al Madina Dawah Centre (pictured)

Haddad vehemently denied 'any knowledge or involvement in the shootings that took place in Bondi Beach'.

''The term 'follower' is not explained and could refer to something as minimal as a social media follow, which does not establish endorsement, influence or a personal relationship.' Haddad later said in a statement.

'No evidence has been produced showing any personal, organisational, or instructional link between Naveed Akram and Wissam Haddad.'

Earlier this year, Haddad was ordered by the Federal Court to remove a series of 'fundamentally racist and antisemitic' sermons after being sued by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

In those speeches, delivered at the Al Madina Dawah Centre in November 2023, Haddad described Jewish people as 'vile,' 'mischievous' and 'treacherous,' called them 'descendants of pigs and monkeys,' and urged followers to 'spit on Israel.'

NSW Premier Chris Minns backed the council's action and signaled tougher laws to curb hate preaching.

'There is no place for hate speech in NSW which is why we are supporting all action to clamp down on those inciting hate, and we will not stop,' Minns said.

'We support the actions of Canterbury Bankstown Council in closing down this facility. We are ready to make significant changes to prevent hate preachers or anyone else inciting violence in our communities.'

Wissam Haddad (pictured) made antisemitic remarks in a sermon delivered at the centre

Council warned non-compliance could result in fines of $3,000 for individuals and $6,000 for corporations under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

A petition launched by political activist and social media commentator Drew Pavlou, following revelations that Akram attended the centre, has surged to more than 18,000 signatures since its inception, demanding the immediate closure of the Al Madina Dawah Centre due to its links to Islamic extremism.

'Im claiming total victory because we signed up 18,000 people to our petition to shut Al Madinah,' Pavlou told Daily Mail.

'But its infuriating that this place is only being shut down due to council permit violations.'
A new subpoena has demanded the medical records of a University of Kentucky cheerleader accused of hiding her newborn baby's dead body in a closet.

Laken Snelling was arrested on August 30, 10 days after police found the body of a baby boy wrapped in a trash bag and towel in her bedroom closet at her college home in Lexington, Kentucky.

The 21-year-old is facing charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

On December 10, a subpoena was filed which orders the University of Kentucky Medical Center to hand over Snelling's full medical records between August 2024 and now.

The information provided in the file could help investigators as they seek to piece together the tragic case.

The University of Kentucky Medical Center has until January 20 to comply and hand over the file.

Snelling remains under house arrest and is subjected to electronic monitoring at her father's home in Jefferson County as per the conditions of her bail.

Authorities believe the glamorous former cheerleader gave birth to the child in the early morning hours of August 27, and the infant was alive at the time of delivery.

The 21-year-old is facing charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant

Laken Snelling was arrested on August 30,10 days after police found the body of a newborn baby boy wrapped in a trash bag and towel in her bedroom closet at her college home in Lexington, Kentucky

Additional testing of the baby's corpse was underway by the Fayette County Coroner's office to determine his cause of death after an initial autopsy was determined to be inconclusive.

While that additional testing was requested back in October, the results have not yet been made public.

Snelling has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors alleged Snelling gave birth at 4am on August 27, when her roommates said they heard loud noises coming from her bedroom.

Snelling told police days later she was awake for about half an hour following childbirth before she passed out on top of the infant, according to an affidavit.

When she awoke, Snelling allegedly said she saw the baby was 'turning blue and purple,' leading her to believe the child was dead.

At that point, she said she wrapped the baby up 'like a burrito and laid it on the floor next to her because it gave her a little comfort in the moment.'

She then apparently fell asleep again, and woke up to her alarm at 7.30am  at which point she allegedly placed the baby in a towel and the placenta in a black trash bag, which she placed in her closet.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Now, her medical records have been subpoenaed

Photos from April shows Snelling performing with the University of Kentucky's STUNT team

When she then saw her roommates, Snelling told them the loud noises they heard were simply her passing out and falling.

She also told them she was going to a doctor because 'she had not eaten and had not been feeling well,' according to the affidavit.

Snelling did go to a student clinic in the aftermath, but did not go inside, the document claimed.

While she was gone, her roommates  who were said to have been suspicious of the pregnancy Snelling was hiding and the noises overnight  went into her room and found a 'blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth,' prosecutors allege.

When one of the roommates then made the gruesome discovery, she reported to police that the infant was 'cold to the touch.'

By the time Snelling returned to her college home, she was detained by police.

As officers continued to investigate in the days that followed, they executed a search warrant on Snelling's phone and requested access to her Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and a shared iCloud account with her mother.

The probe revealed that Snelling had made a number of Internet searches 'including different things pertaining to pregnancy, images of her during labor, photos of her doing things ordinary pregnant woman should not be doing and a concealed or hidden pregnancy,' the affidavit says.

Snelling was a senior at the University of Kentucky at the time of her arrest and a member of the cheerleading stunt team

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling was ordered to wear an ankle monitor as part of the conditons of her release from custody

Snelling was a senior at the University of Kentucky at the time of her arrest and a member of the cheerleading stunt team.

She has since withdrawn her position at the school.

It is unclear if she ever told anyone about her pregnancy.
The police chief at Brown University has been placed on leave as the school examines its response to a mass shooting that left two students dead.

University officials announced Monday that Rodney Chatman, the head of public safety at the school, was placed on leave effective immediately, and his day-to-day responsibilities were given to former Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements.

The decision comes amid intense scrutiny over the school's security policies in the wake of the December 13 mass shooting, during which students Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov were tragically killed and nine others left with injuries.

The shooting sparked a days-long manhunt culminating in the discovery of suspect Claudio Neves Valente, 48.

He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a New Hampshire storage facility on Thursday night, hours after allegedly shooting dead MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro inside his home.

School president Christina Paxson sent out a detailed letter to the Brown community acknowledging 'the anxiety, fear and stress' in the community on the back of the shooting and outlining the actions officials will make moving forward.

'I understand the gravity of the concerns about safety that follow a tragedy of the magnitude that Brown has suffered,' she wrote.

'I want to assure you of Browns deep commitment to take every possible action to increase the safety and security of our campus, with the goal of protecting our community from future harm.'

University officials announced Monday that Rodney Chatman, the head of public safety at the school, was placed on leave effective immediately, and his day-to-day responsibilities were given to former Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements

Much of the criticism has centered on whether the Ivy League school had security cameras installed where the attack took place and the overall ease of accessing campus buildings

As part of sweeping security upgrades, the school will make it a priority to install additional cameras across campus, focusing on building entraces and common areas.

An increased presence of police, public safety officers and security guards will be available in the near future, and the few buildings which still operate on a key access basis will be upgraded to card access on 'an accelerated timeline.'

The school also intends to expand upon existing panic alarms and duress systems.

Paxson praised 'the bravery, dedication and commitment of Brown's Public Safety officers' who first responded to the scene in the wake of the shooting.

She said there 'is no question' that their heroic 'actions saved lives.'

'These individuals in uniform continue to play an essential role in securing our campus in the actions we are undertaking to protect our community,' she wrote.

Speaking of her decision to place Chatman on administrative leave, Paxson said a thorough and independend review is 'an essential part of any recovery and response following a mass casualty event like the one that has devastated our campus.

'A review like this is standard,' she noted.

'As it takes place, Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Rodney Chatman is on leave, effective immediately.'

Brown University students Ella Cook (left) and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov (right) were killed in the mass shooting

Investigators believe Neves Valente killed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro (pictured) in his Massachusetts home two days after he carried out the Brown University mass shooting

Clements, who is the former chief of police of the Providence Police Department, was appointed to temporarily replace Chatman as he is 'nationally regarded for his expertise in community-oriented policing.'

'He also is a former member of the Brown community after serving as a visiting fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs for more than four and a half years from 2018 to 2023,' she said.

'He will report directly to me during his interim leadership of the department.

'This underscores our commitment to clear accountability, leadership continuity and a sustained focus on campus safety at a time when safety is a critical part of healing and recovery for our community.'

Paxson said she had spent the days since the shooting writing to and speaking with 'hundreds of students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni.'

'The concerns our community has about safety and security are real. And I share them,' she noted.

'As we work to heal and recover, our primary focus is to nurture a thriving campus by attending to the psychological and social health of all members of our community while we also demonstrate that Brown is still Brown  a safe, inclusive, caring community of talented students and scholars and dedicated staff.

'But this work begins with taking all steps to ensure that our campus is a safe place to work, live and learn. We are unwavering in this commitment.'

Much of the criticism has centered on whether the Ivy League school had security cameras installed where the attack took place and the overall ease of accessing campus buildings.

Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the Brown University shooting in Providence, Rhode Island, picks up a vehicle at an Alamo Rent a Car facility on November 17, 2025

Claudio Neves Valente, 48, (pictured) a former Brown University student and Portuguese national, was found dead Thursday evening from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police believe he is responsible for the Brown shooting and murder of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro

The scrutiny over the schools security has led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education, which said earlier Monday that officials are asking Brown for information to help determine if school officials violated federal campus safety and security requirements.

This has included seeking security reports, audits, dispatch and call logs, and when emergency notifications have been utilized.

Meanwhile, hundreds gathered at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday to remember Cook, a Brown sophomore who was killed in the attack.

Neves Valente entered a study session in a Brown academic building and opened fire on students, killing Cook and 18-year-old freshman Umurzokov and wounding nine others.

Two days later, authorities say Neves Valente, who had been a graduate student at Brown studying physics during the 2000-01 school year, also fatally shot Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at Loureiros Boston-area home.

Neves Valente, who had attended school with Loureiro in Portugal in the 1990s, was found dead days later in a New Hampshire storage facility. Authorities say he killed himself.

An autopsy determined that Neves Valente died December 16, the same day Loureiro died in a hospital.
A self-confessed far-right tradie has been arrested and charged with threatening to kidnap Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the Bondi massacre, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Nathan Ballesty, 27, allegedly used a carriage service at his Beacon Hill home, in Sydney's northern beaches, between 12.01am on Friday and 8.40pm on Sunday to threaten serious harm against the PM.

The Australian Federal Police's newly formed National Security Investigations team immediately launched a probe and allegedly traced the threat back to Ballesty.

'It will be alleged the man made an online post calling for the kidnapping of the federal parliamentarian,' an AFP spokesman said, in a statement that did not reveal the most powerful politician in Australia was the subject of the threat.

The reality that it was Albanese who had allegedly been threatened was only made clear in court documents inspected by the Daily Mail late yesterday.

Ballesty's home was raided between 6pm and 8.30pm on Sunday, with officers seizing a number of electronic devices for forensic examination.

During the search of his home, computers and mobile phone, police allege Ballesty failed to comply with the directions of the investigating officers.

He was taken to Manly Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to threaten serious harm and contravening an order to provide access to an electronic device.

Nathan Ballesty, 27, is accused of making a threat online calling for Anthony Albanese to be kidnapped

Police will allege the threat against the Prime Minister (pictured in Bondi) was made on December 19

At Manly Local Court on Monday, Magistrate Ian Guy granted Ballesty bail under strict conditions which ban him from contacting any members of Parliament or their offices.

He must abide by a nighttime curfew, is banned from accessing encrypted applications including Discord, must surrender his passport and cannot possess more than one phone.

He must also report to police three times a week, cannot consume drugs or alcohol unless prescribed, and must see a GP and accept any treatment reasonably recommended.

Ballesty's posts on social media show he frequently expressed right-wing views, with his bio on X describing him as a 'Catholic, Anti-Communist' - with the political tenor of his posts ramping up in the wake of the deaths of 15 people at Bondi on December 14.

On December 19, he professed on social media platform X: 'I am far right.'

It followed an earlier post 11 weeks ago when he insisted: 'It's okay to be far right.'

On December 14, under a link to Albanese's immediate reaction to the Bondi attack, he posted: 'Words cannot describe the contempt I have for this rat' .

On December 21, the day of his arrest, he shared a Change.org petition calling for Albanese's resignation in the wake of the alleged terror attack at Bondi Beach.

Anthony Albanese is pictured at a memorial for the Bondi Beach massacre victims on Sunday

Fifteen people died and dozens more were injured when a father and son allegedly opened fire at the iconic beach on December 14

'In light of recent tragic events at Bondi Beach and pressing national concerns, it is time to address the leadership of our country,' the petition reads.

'The shocking mass shooting at Bondi Beach, which claimed numerous innocent lives, is yet another reminder of the urgent action required to safeguard our communities.

'Equally concerning is the ongoing mass migration, a shift that surveys and polls consistently show is opposed by a significant portion of the Australian population.

'Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took office with the promise of steering Australia toward a safer and more prosperous future for all.

'However, many Australians now feel that promise has not been kept.'

In December last year, Ballesty shared a post about then-opposition leader Peter Dutton after the politician announced he would remove the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags from government press conferences if he was elected into power.

'Australia has one flag. This flag,' the post read.

In another post, he shared a graph indicating the biggest threat to Western civilisation was 'white liberal women with arts degrees'.

Alleged Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram is pictured

The incident comes as Mr Albanese has faced scrutiny in the wake of the alleged mass shooting.

The Prime Minister was heckled and booed as he arrived at Bondi Beach for a memorial service attended by an estimated 15,000 people on Sunday.

The AFP created National Security Investigations teams in September to 'target groups and individuals causing high levels of harm to Australias social cohesion, including the targeting of federal parliamentarians'.

Ballesty is next due to face Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on March 3.
Up to 1,700 Aussie workers risk losing their jobs just two days before Christmas following the collapse of a major security company.

It was revealed on Tuesday that MA Services Group, which operates nationwide, had entered voluntary administration.

Administrators Jason Tracy and Glen Kanevsky from Alvarez & Marsal said there had been 'breaches' of key licensing conditions.

This means the company can no longer legally perform core functions, triggering news of looming redundancies.

'We recognise the seriousness of this situation for the 1,700 employees whose roles are directly affected,' they said in a statement shared with Daily Mail.

'We are investigating the circumstances that led the company to this point, including obtaining information from Founder and Director Micky Ahuja.

'We are engaging with Fair Entitlement Guarantee (FEG) team within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to ensure employees receive the support they need regarding their entitlements.'

The Alvarez & Marsal team will be the point of contact for staff as the administration progresses. Daily Mail has contacted MA Services Group for comment.

Up to 1,700 Aussie workers risk losing their jobs at MA Security Group just two days before Christmas

The administrators are also evaluating a range of options to 'preserve continuity of services and future employment opportunities wherever possible'.

This includes fielding enquiries from a number of parties interested in acquiring the company's assets.

MA Services' collapse follows reports in the last month that the company was linked to suspected tax evasion, worker exploitation, and bikie gang ties.

The publications also alleged the business owner faced multiple sexual harassment claims. MA Services Group denied wrongdoing in a statement on December 1.

'MA Services Group acknowledges the recent media coverage and the concerns raised in relation to the organisation. We take these matters seriously and want to reaffirm our position clearly and transparently,' it said.

'We categorically deny any wrongdoing.

'MA Services Group has cooperated fully with all relevant authorities and continues to remain open to any further review, audit or investigation required.

'We welcome appropriate regulatory scrutiny and operate with the highest commitment to governance, compliance, and ethical business practices.'

The company said its processes are 'well-established, robust, and continually reviewed to meet industry and legislative standards'.

MA Services Group has said on its website that its clients include Aldi, Amazon, Coles, Kmart and City of Kingston in Victoria.

The Age reported last week that it had been ditched by four AFL clubs, Sydney University and Melbourne's Formula 1 grand prix.
A Mexican Navy plane carrying a child medical patient crashed off the Texas coast near Galveston on Monday, killing at least five people while two others were pulled from the water alive.

Four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child, Mexico's Navy said in a statement.

US Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker did not identify which passengers had died.

Two of the people aboard the King Air ANX 1209 were members from the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children with severe burns.

The group were believed to be enroute to Shriners Children's Hospital in Galveston for specialized burns treatment.

The Michou and Mau Foundation said in a post on social media: 'We express our deepest solidarity with the families in light of these events. We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.'

The crash took place Monday afternoon near the base of a causeway, a raised roadway typically built over water, near Galveston, along the Texas coast about 50 miles southeast of Houston. The cause is under investigation.

Mexico's Navy said in a statement that the plane was helping with a medical mission and had an 'accident'. It had been flying from Monterrey, Mexico, to Scholes International Airport in Galveston.

Authorities and volunteers are seen responding to a Mexican Navy plane crash near Galveston, Texas on Monday

Rescuers are seen scrambling to save any survivors from the Mexican Navy plane crash

The wreckage from the aircraft can be seen floating in the water on Galveston Bay

It promised to investigate the cause and is helping local authorities with the search and rescue operation.

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives about a mile from the crash site, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help.

He said he picked up two police officers who directed him through thick fog to a nearly completely submerged plane. Decker jumped in the water and found a badly injured woman trapped beneath chairs and other debris.

'I couldn't believe. She had maybe three inches of air gap to breathe in,' he said. 'And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life.'

He said he also pulled out a man sitting in front of her who had already died. He described both of them as being dressed in civilian clothes.

Mexico's Marines said in a statement that it is sending 'its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.'

Preliminary data shows the aircraft disappeared from radar over the bay around 3:02pm with the first 911 call placed at 3:07pm.

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the scene of the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on X.

A spokesperson from NTSB said they are 'aware of this accident and are gathering information about it.'

The Galveston County Sheriffs Office said officials from its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol were responding to the crash.

Emergency personnel rush a victim of a small plane crash to an awaiting ambulance

Law Enforcement officers and emergency personnel gather at the boat ramp at Galveston Bait & Tackle in heavy fog at the base of the causeway, near Galveston, Texas on Monday

Galveston Police officers watch the water on Galveston Bay west of the Galveston causeway, as emergency personnel search for a small airplane that went down in the bay in heavy fog

It said in a post on Facebook that the public should avoid the area so emergency responders can work safely.

Galveston is an island that is a popular beach destination.

It's not immediately clear if weather was a factor. The area had been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

He said that at about 2:30pm on Monday, a fog came in that left visibility at half a mile.
A new Immigrations and Customs Enforcement advertisement has turned Santa Claus into an ICE agent as part of a brutal message to illegal immigrants in America.

The holiday-inspired video focuses on a jolly man, wearing Santa's customary red coat, hat and long white beard, as he straps himself into a bullet proof vest with his weapons around his waist.

It cuts to Santa, wearing an 'ICE' logo on his chest, arresting illegal migrants on the street, supported by other officers.

Santa is then seen processing the illegal migrant at a facility before leading him onto a plane to be deported.

The advertisement encourages illegal immigrants hiding in America to 'avoid Santa's naughty list' by 'self deporting today.'

'AVOID ICE AIR AND SANTA'S NAUGHTY LIST! Self-deport today with the CBP Home app, earn $3,000 and spend Christmas at home with loved ones,' a caption for the ad reads.

'Holiday incentive is valid through the end of 2025.'

The self-deportation stipend has been tripled as part of this Christmas push, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The holiday-inspired video focuses on a jolly man, wearing Santa's customary red coat, hat and long white beard, as he straps himself into a bullet proof vest with his weapons around his waist.

Santa is seen processing the illegal migrant at a facility before leading him onto a plane to be deported

The stipend would be given to people in the U.S. illegally who sign up to leave the country by the end of the year, DHS said.

The offer would include a free flight back to their home countries.

'Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport,' DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on Monday.

'If they don't, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.'

The Trump administration in March launched a rebranded app called CBP Home to make it easier for people to self-deport.

The app, previously called CBP One, was used by the Biden administration to allow migrants to enter the US legally.

DHS said in May that the average cost to arrest, detain and deport someone without legal status was around $17,000.

Trump, who took office in January promising record levels of deportations, has ramped up crackdown on immigration despite backlash even amongst his base.

The advertisement encourages illegal immigrants hiding in America to 'avoid Santa's naughty list' by 'self deporting today'

While he has promised to remove one million immigrants each year, his administration has so far managed to deport some 622,000 immigrants this year - including a significant portion who opted to self deport.

But administration insiders have signaled Trump is preparing for a more aggressive immigration crackdown in 2026 with billions in new funding, including by raiding more workplaces  even as backlash builds ahead of next year's midterm elections.

While federal agents this year conducted many high profile raids on businesses, they largely avoided raiding farms, factories and other businesses that are economically important but known to employ immigrants without legal status.

ICE and Border Patrol will get $170 billion in additional funds through September 2029 - a huge surge of funding over their existing annual budgets of about $19 billion after the Republican-controlled Congress passed a massive spending package in July.

Administration officials say they plan to hire thousands more agents, open new detention centers, pick up more immigrants in local jails and partner with outside companies to track down people without legal status.

In addition to expanding enforcement actions, Trump has stripped hundreds of thousands of Haitian, Venezuelan and Afghan immigrants of temporary legal status, expanding the pool of people who could be deported.

White House border czar Tom Homan argued Trump had delivered on his promise of a historic deportation operation and removing criminals while shutting down illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Homan said the number of arrests will increase sharply as ICE hires more officers and expands detention capacity with the new funding.

Trump, who took office in January promising record levels of deportations, has ramped up crackdown on immigration despite backlash even amongst his base

'I think you're going to see the numbers explode greatly next year,' Homan said.

Homan said the plans 'absolutely' include more enforcement actions at workplaces.

The expanded deportation plans come despite growing signs of political backlash ahead of next year's midterm elections.

Miami, one of the cities most affected by Trump's crackdown because of its large immigrant population, elected its first Democratic mayor in nearly three decades last week in what the mayor-elect said was, in part, a reaction to the president.

Other local elections and polling have suggested rising concern among voters wary of aggressive immigration tactics.

'People are beginning to see this not as an immigration question anymore as much as it is a violation of rights, a violation of due process and militarizing neighborhoods extra-constitutionally,' said Mike Madrid, a moderate Republican political strategist.

'There is no question that is a problem for the president and Republicans.'

Trump's overall approval rating on immigration policy fell from 50 percent in March, before he launched crackdowns in several major U.S. cities, to 41 percent in mid-December.
The families of two hero police officers shot during the Bondi Beach terror attack have received positive news just days before Christmas.

Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert were both near-fatally wounded during the massacre that left 15 people dead on December 14.

But on Tuesday, police revealed that Constable Dyson has awoken from a coma and that Constable Hibbert has been discharged from hospital.

Constable Hibbert was one of several officers already at the beach when the shooting began.

He and his son had just left their car and were walking near Archer Park when the gunmen allegedly opened fire.

Constable Hibbert was pulling members of the public to safety when he was struck by a bullet, shrapnel tearing into the nerves behind his eye.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, with the prospect of losing his eye.

'Our family would like to share that Jack has now been discharged from hospital,' the family's statement read.

Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert has been released from hospital after he was shot in the head during the Bondi Beach attack

Constable Scott Dyson has woken from a medically induced coma

Constable Dyson has undergone multiple surgeries since the December 14 attack

'While he is home, he is still recovering and will need space, support, and continued positive thoughts during this time.

'As a family, we couldn't ask for anything more - having our Jack home, especially for Christmas, truly feels like a miracle.'

Soon after news broke of Constable Hibbert's recovery, the family of Constable Dyson revealed he had woken from a medically induced coma after undergoing surgery almost daily since the attack.

'Our family would like to share that Scott has been getting stronger each day, and today (December 23), he was woken up for the first time,' the family statement read.

'There is still a long way to go in his recovery, but this is a positive sign.

'We would like to thank the public for the support, messages and well wishes shown to Scott and our family during this difficult time. We are also grateful for the tireless work of his medical team.'

Constable Dyson was part of the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command for 18 months before he was shot in the attack.

Last week, his partner, fellow NSW Police officer Jessica Townsend said the couple were expecting a child.

'On the evening of December 14, I truly believed I would never see Scott again after receiving news of his life threatening injuries sustained as a result of the actions of two (people) at the Bondi terror attack,' Ms Townsend wrote.

The deadly attack at the iconic beach unfolded as hundreds of people gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event just before 7pm on December 14.

Constable Hibbert was pulling members of the public to safety when he was hit by a bullet, with the shrapnel damaging the nerves behind his eye

Naveed Akram, 24, was charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder following the attack at Bondi Beach

Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father Sajid allegedly opened fire with military-grade weapons on hundreds attending the first day of the Jewish festival.

During the nine-minute attack, 16 people, including gunman Sajid, were killed, and 42 others were injured.

Constable Hibbert's family shared their deep gratitude to his colleagues, friends, emergency services and the public for their overwhelming support, kind messages and well wishes.

'The care and dedication shown by the medical staff has been nothing short of exceptional,' their statement read.

'We kindly ask that our family's privacy be respected as we focus on Jack's recovery and spend this special time together. Thank you again for the compassion, love, and support shown to our family.

'Jacko, you've shown strength of a different degree, we are so glad you're home buddy.'

NSW Health confirmed that as of 7.30am on Sunday, 13 people were still receiving treatment at hospitals across Sydney.

Of those still in hospital, four are in critical condition and nine are in a stable condition.

It comes as Aussies honoured the 15 people killed and dozens injured in the attack at an evening vigil on Saturday ahead of a National Day of Reflection.

The victims include 10-year-old Matilda; Edith Brutman, 68; Dan Elkayam, 27; Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61; Alex Kleytman, 87; Yaakov Levitan, 39; Peter Meagher, 61; Reuven Morrison, 62; Marika Pogany, 82; Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41; Adam Smyth, 50; Boris Tetleroyd, 68; Tania Tretiak, 68; and Tibor Weitzen, 78.

Naveed, who allegedly shot at a crowd of hundreds alongside his father, spent two days in a coma after being shot by police.

His 50-year-old father, Sajid, was fatally shot by police.

The 24-year-old faced the Bail Division of Local Court Seven in Sydney from his hospital bed last week.

He was charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder.

He did not appear or apply for bail during a brief bedside court hearing and the case was adjourned until April.
A moment of fury has transformed into a decade-long jail term for an arsonist whose actions killed a young teen enjoying a sleepover with friends.

Arthur Haines was asleep on the top floor of a friend's house ahead of a visit to Sydney's Royal Easter Show in April 1998.

But he soon became the victim of a bitter neighbourhood dispute in inner-city Waterloo when Gregory John Walker, 58, threw a Molotov cocktail into the home's kitchen.

'The results were catastrophic,' Justice Hament Dhanji told the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Arthur became trapped on the third floor as the fire spread rapidly.

He was forced to jump from a window, landing smouldering and with severe burns on up to 65 per cent of his body.

The 13-year-old died in hospital 11 weeks later.

More than 27 years on, Walker kept his eyes downcast as he was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and nine months behind bars for Arthur's manslaughter.

13-year-old Arthur Haines died from his injuries in hospital 11 weeks after the attack

Gregory John Walker (pictured centre) was extradited from Queensland in Sydney in 2022 to face allegations he murdered Arthur

Walker demonstrated a 'callous disregard for the enormity of what occurred' in the aftermath of the fire, the court heard.

When a neighbour confronted him about the fire and said 'I know you've done it', the then 30-year-old replied: 'If you think that was a big fire, wait until you see my next one.'

But Walker had since shown remorse, Justice Dhanji said.

In 2014, as police tried to mount a case against him, he told a witness he 'wouldn't have gone through with it' if he knew children were inside the home.

Walker was arrested after NSW Police offered a $1million reward for information in 2020.

He has an extensive criminal history with convictions dating back to the 1980s and was on parole at the time of the offending.

But evidence showed the former boxer had effectively turned his life around since his deadly actions in 1998, even establishing a not-for-profit for young people.

'There is an element of him attempting to make good on his past wrongs,' Justice Dhanji said.

The Molotov cocktail was thrown into the yard before it engulfed the home in flames

Arthur's mother Julie Szabo has fought for justice for decades

But the judge also noted Walker only admitted unlawfully killing Arthur in October, on the eve of a trial for the more serious charge of murder.

That was despite Arthur's family's obvious desire and lengthy wait for answers.

'While the ledger cannot be squared by the good done by the offender in recent times, that contribution must be taken into account and given weight,' Justice Dhanji said.

With time served, Walker will be eligible for parole in February 2029.

Arthur's mother Julie Szabo, who ensured the public never forgot her son during repeated media appearances seeking answers, was surrounded by loved ones as the sentence was delivered.

She previously detailed the heavy guilt she has carried since allowing Arthur to have his first sleepover with friends.

'It was going to be the first night he had not slept under the same roof as me,' Ms Szabo wrote in a statement earlier read out in court.

'I said 'yes'... I think about that decision a lot. I gave him the biggest hug, we both said we loved each other, I didn't know at the time it would be one of our last hugs.'

Ms Szabo told reporters she 'couldnt be more grateful' that she got the truth for her son

Justice Dhanji thanked Ms Szabo and acknowledged the pain felt by Arthur's family and the community.

'No sentence I impose can right the wrong that has been done,' he said.

Justice Dhanji also took into account a charge of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm that Walker committed when he punched a neighbour and bit off part of his ear in April 1998.
Penny Wong's problem isn't that she's outspoken. It's that when Jewish Australians need straight talk and visible solidarity from senior ministers, she reaches for language that dissolves responsibility.

After the Bondi terror attack, she was asked a simple question: is it time to say sorry? Her answer wasn't an apology. It was the familiar drift into the collective: 'all of us wish that we were not where we arewe all wish that the ISIS inspired terrorist attackers had been stoppedwe all wish that antisemitism had not continued'.

That isn't remorse, it's certainly not saying sorry. It's just weasel words.

I would have had more respect for the Foreign Minister if she had said an apology isn't warranted. But, of course, it absolutely is, which only made the weasel words worse.

Then came a second, even more telling moment since Wong was taken out of witness protection by Labor in the wake of the Bondi attack. She was asked whether she regretted not visiting the communities in southern Israel devastated on October 7, 2023 during her official trip, and after Israel formally invited her to do so.

Wong's reply: 'I regret the way in which people have experienced that'. So she regrets people's reactions to her deliberate snub, rather than delivering the snub in the first place. Especially now, after Bondi.

What a piece of work.

This is exactly why so many Jewish Australians have concluded that they are being managed rather than supported by the likes of Wong and Albo. No wonder Albo was booed at the Sunday vigil.

Penny Wong is pictured at a press conference at Parliament House in August

Dozens of bouquets of flowers are seen at a makeshift memorial after the Bondi shooting

It's not that every foreign policy call must mirror Jerusalem's preferences. Not at all. It's that Wong cannot (or will not) speak with moral clarity when symbolism and accountability matter.

In her hands, solidarity becomes conditional, grief becomes procedural, and accountability becomes something that happens over there or in the community, never squarely on the desk of government ministers like herself. The concept of ministerial responsibility just doesn't exist.

The Bondi attack was unambiguous: a mass casualty terrorist assault targeting a Hanukkah celebration, now investigated as Islamic State inspired, with the alleged use of firearms and attempted bombings.

Fifteen people were killed. This wasn't a heated protest, a rowdy march or a nasty slogan on a placard. It was the consequence of an environment in which Jewish Australians had been warning, for months, that an antisemitic menace was becoming normalised and would have catastrophic consequences. The escalation was predicted but the warnings were ignored.

What makes this so corrosive for many is Wong's broader pattern: she speaks as if she is the custodian of national decency. Sanctimony as a political brand. Yet when faced with the most basic human expectations of leadership, she defaults to weasel words.

The result is a Foreign Minister who can sound perpetually righteous while leaving Jewish Australians feeling perpetually alone.

The October 7 visit decision is not a trivial example. It sits in the realm of moral signalling. Community organisations warned at the time that skipping the massacre sites would be read as a negative, whether intended or not. And it certainly was. Yet in the wake of Bondi, rather than accept that reality with a plain sentence, Wong avoided responsibility.

Then there is the Binskin review into the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza. The report is damning about serious failures and breakdowns that led to a catastrophic outcome. But it also says the strike was 'not knowingly or deliberately directed' at World Central Kitchen.

Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie are seen at a National Day of Reflection memorial

That distinction matters. Because in the public debate that followed, the government's tone and framing repeatedly allowed the worst inference, that of intent, to hang in the air.

Israel's embassy accused Australia of misrepresentations and omissions in how it responded publicly to the report. Even if one takes that accusation with a grain of diplomatic salt, the central point remains that when the facts are contested and emotions are high, the job of a foreign minister is not to inflame. Loose insinuations seep into the domestic setting, poisoning social cohesion.

Again and again, Israel's conduct is positioned as the primary object of Australian admonition, while Hamas, despite being a terrorist organisation that started the war with mass murders and hostage-taking, fades into the background as though it is merely a regrettable complication in a problem Israel created.

Perhaps Wong's worst moment, a case study in how she operates, was the 'Israel, Russia, China' comparison she made.

Late last year Wong delivered remarks that drew comparisons that grouped Israel rhetorically with Russia and China in the context of international law. She may insist she was arguing for universal rules. Whatever. Ministers are judged on how their framing lands.

Lumping Israel into the same rhetorical bracket as authoritarian powers is not careful diplomacy. It's a gift to those who want to portray Israel as a rogue state, and it predictably deepens the sense among Jewish Australians that the government's scrutiny is all one-way.

Can you think of a clearer way a politician can send a signal that risks stoking antisemitism?

Wong could have retained every substantive policy position she's had and still led differently. Instead, she has done what she often does, standing on the high ground speaking down. That sanctimonious style might work inside the Senate chamber, it does not work when citizens attending the funerals of family and friends.

Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs is seen at the 2025 G20 Summit

A woman is seen placing a bouquet of flowers outside the Bondi Pavilion

Wong has a habit of presenting herself as the embodiment of progressive achievement, as though history is something she personally delivers. The same sex marriage example is telling because it exposes the performative side of her politics.

Marriage equality became law after the Turnbull government initiated the postal survey process and Parliament amended the Marriage Act in December 2017. Labor supported that outcome, sure, and many Labor figures argued for it, but the institutional pathway that made it happen was driven by the Coalition government of the day and a parliamentary vote that followed.

When Wong wraps herself in that win (despite not advocating for SSM when in government), it reveals the same instinct seen in her foreign policy language. Take the moral pose but avoid the hard ownership when it matters.

Wong's (under) performance now isn't a side issue. It sits at the centre of the government's failure to make Jewish Australians feel protected and heard.
The New Year's Eve display on Sydney Harbour Bridge will begin with a tribute to the 15 innocent lives lost in the Bondi Beach massacre on December 14.

At 9pm on New Year's Eve, the Harbour Bridge will be lit up in white and the image of a dove with the word 'peace' will be projected onto it.

Large crowds gathered to watch the famous midnight fireworks will be asked to pause for a moment of silence to honour the Bondi Beach victims and condemn antisemitism.

On Sunday, December 14, Sydney was rocked by a terror attack on a Jewish festival near Bondi Pavilion celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.

Naveed Akram is accused of opening fire on the crowd at the family event alongside his father, Sajid Akram.

They allegedly killed 15 people and injured dozens more - several of whom remain in hospital.

Sajid was fatally shot by police. Naveed woke from a coma in the days after and has been charged with 59 offences - including terrorism charges.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the dove display would allow the city a moment to reflect on the hundreds of lives that were changed that day.

This year's 9pm firework display on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will feature a tribute to the 15 innocent lives lost in the Bondi Shooting (pictured, the Bondi Beach memorial on Sunday)

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be turned bright white and feature the image of a dove with the word peace (pictured, last year's New Year's Eve fireworks display)

'While we are still reeling from the recent tragic events in Bondi, New Year's Eve provides an opportunity to gather as a community, to pause and reflect, and to look with hope for a safer and more peaceful 2026,' she said.

The crowd at the New Year's Eve event, expected to be more than one million people, has been encouraged to light a torch to honour the attack victims.

'I invite everyone to pause and shine a torch light to show the Jewish community that we stand with them and that we reject violence, fear and antisemitism,' Moore said.

'These moments will provide an opportunity for people to show respect, to reflect on the atrocity and to say we will not let this hateful act of terror divide us.'

The tribute will not cancel the planned 9pm firework display, Calling Country.

Indigenous organisation We Are Warriors have organised the display, set to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Sydney Harbour Bridge will turn blue from 10pm in recognition of the event's charity partner, Beyond Blue.

'Staying connected is an important step towards healing after a traumatic event and social support is one of the most meaningful things we can offer and receive right now,' Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said.

In light of the recent terror attack, security and police presence at the New Year's Eve fireworks event and Sydney CBD will be dramatically increased.
Jo Silvagni has been spotted taking out her garbage

The mother of convicted rapist Tom Silvagni has been spotted for the first time in public since her dramatic exit from his jail sentence hearing.

Jo Silvagni was seen outside a Balwyn North home, in Melbourne's east, near where her son Tom repeatedly raped his former mate's girlfriend.

Dressed in a red Jaggad-branded windcheater - a brand owned by fellow former WAG Bec Judd - and wearing black leggings and runners, Jo appeared unfazed by performing the household chore despite having several able-bodied males inside.

Gone was the awkward scowl she wore on her face when leaving the County Court of Victoria last week.

The Silvagni clan is still living at a rental property in close vicinity after selling it more than a year ago.

On Saturday, Tom's girlfriend, model Alannah Iaconis, was seen visiting the property despite her boyfriend's new home address inside a Melbourne prison.

The Balwyn North house sold last year by the Silvagni family was where Tom twice assaulted a young woman in January 2024 after sneaking into the guest room where she was sleeping.

He sexually assaulted her while pretending to be her boyfriend - his then-close friend Anthony LoGiudice.

Silvagni, 23, was 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.

Jo Silvagni takes out the trash outside a home near where her rapist son committed his vile crimes

Photos taken by the Daily Mail on Saturday showed 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.

Jo Silvagni's TV future remains unclear in the wake of her confronting behaviour in and outside of court.

She has been the face of Chemist Warehouse for years after first appearing on TV between 1991 and 1993 as a spokesmodel alongside Glenn Ridge on Sale of the Century.

She later co-hosted Channel Nine's lifestyle program Looking Good and has fronted TV ads for Zoot Review, speaking to Australian celebrities who spruiked products such as Cold Power, Ski yoghurt and Nurofen.

Backlash against Jo has broken out online, where angry Aussies, many of them women, have declared they will be boycotting Chemist Warehouse and 'shopping elsewhere' until the association ends.

While Jo was not convicted of any crime and bears no responsibility for her son's criminal actions, the family's claims of Tom's innocence and their intention to appeal did not sit well with some Australians.

Jo had sobbed in the courtroom as the guilty verdict against her son was handed down.

Jo Silvagni ventured outside to take out the rubbish bins

She picked up the cap of a construction cap and disposed of it

Just as the woman finished her powerful statement to the court, the mother appeared to stare at her son's rape victim.

Walking to the front of the court and taking a seat about two metres away from the young woman, Jo stared at her.

Her husband 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.

Jo had joined her husband outside court shortly after that pre-sentence hearing to support his calls for an appeal against their son's conviction.

'Jo and I, together with our family members and friends, are so disappointed with the outcome,' Stephen Silvagni said before breaking down in tears.

With his wife's arm around him, he continued to question the credibility of the victim.

'We all love and support our son Tom. Our son continues to maintain his innocence and we stand firmly behind him,' he said.

Jo Silvagni's rapist son Tom will enjoy a Christmas meal in jail seasoned with misery and shame

Jo Silvagni has refused to offer a word of comfort to her son's victim, instead backing plans to make her endure a retrial

Model Alannah Iaconis was seen outside the Silvagni trash heaps on Saturday

'We will be considering our options to appeal and shall not be making any further comments on this case. Our goal is to clear his name and bring him home.'

Jo made headlines again after she was caught on camera lashing out at a TV reporter after her son's sentence.

As she and her husband left the court, she shrugged off media questions, saying 'go away' and pushing one female TV reporter, saying, 'Do your job!'

Marketing expert and PR guru Max Markson believes Jo's lucrative deal with the pharmacy giant can survive the current firestorm of bad publicity.

But Markson, who is Australia's most famous publicist, said that would take time and a certain strategy.

'My advice to both Jo Silvagni and Chemist Warehouse may be best to not use her for the next three months,' he told the Daily Mail.

'Take her down over Christmas until everything calms down, and then put her back on air after the next three months and use her again.

'She's a fantastic talent, good, strong and the public love her. The people against her online are only the naysayers, that's what they do.

'Both can recover from it. It's a sad story.'
A father has died moments after taking part in a tribute to a schoolboy who passed away with motor neurone disease (MND).

Chris Bailey was killed in a fatal crash while heading back home from the funeral of Kyle Sieniawski, who died aged just 14 last month having become the youngest person in Britain to be diagnosed with MND.

Mr Bailey had participated in an 'amazing' motorcycle convoy at the memorial service for the boy on Friday along with his friends at the Valley Commandos Motorcycle Club Powys.

But Mr Bailey, who was a father to a baby boy, crashed his Yamaha motorbike on the A438 in Wales between Glasbury and Clyro, not far from his home in Hay-on-Wye.

Dyfed-Powys Police said it believed the collision also involved a black Mini Countryman Cooper and a black Volkswagen Polo and that no one else was injured in the incident.

Young Kyle's heartbroken family paid an emotional tribute to Mr Bailey on a Facebook page dedicated to the schoolboy's MND battle.

They said: 'We're absolutely devastated to hear that one of the bikers tragically lost his life whilst travelling home from Kyle's funeral.

'Chris Bailey was a valued member of the Powys Chapter Valley Commandos and to lose his life after doing such an amazing gesture is just cruel beyond words.

Chris Bailey, pictured, died moments after taking part in a tribute to a schoolboy who died with motor neurone disease

He had participated in an 'amazing' motorcycle convoy at the memorial service for Kyle Sieniawski on Friday (pictured: Mr Bailey with his bike on a different occasion)

'Our hearts are breaking for his family, and Christmas is just days away.... life can be so cruel.

'We're thinking of all his family, friends, and also his comrades at the Valley Commandos. Heaven has gained another angel way too soon.'

Paul Borrington, a friend of Mr Bailey's at their motorcycle club, added: 'To say I'm humbled with the response from others who he's met during his short period in life and the MC world really shows how much people thought and respected him and for what he gave.

'I have no words for how humbled I feel at being part of this great man's life and helping and seeing him achieving his dreams.

'Ride Free, Ride Hard Brother. Thank you for sharing some of your time here with me Brother.'

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Powys [Friday] evening. Officers responded to a report of a collision involving three vehicles on the A438 Glasbury to Clyro at 4.48pm.

'The collision involved a black Yamaha motorbike, a black Mini Countryman Cooper and a black Volkswagen Polo. Sadly, the rider of the motorbike died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

'Officers investigating the incident would like to hear from anyone who was driving along this stretch of road at the time, or who might have dashcam footage of any of the vehicles involved.'

Kyle died aged just 14 last month having become the youngest person in Britain to be diagnosed with MND

Roads were gridlocked for Kyle's funeral procession on Friday, which saw the group of bikers flank the ceremony as part of the schoolboy's 'last ride'.

Many present had never met the 14-year-old but headed to the memorial because they were so moved by his MND story.

The disease usually affects adults over 50 - but sufferers include the late rugby league player Rob Burrow who died at 41 and former England rugby union captain Lewis Moody at 47.

Sport-loving Kyle was taking part in Taekwondo but noticed his left arm would not move properly in March 2023.

After a series of scans and tests his parents Melanie and Mark were given the shocking diagnosis in January that he suffers from the degenerative condition MND.

Kyle's family were told the youngster, from Pontypridd, South Wales, was the youngest person in the UK to receive a diagnosis.

His family announced their 'little superhero' tragically died just ten months after his diagnosis surrounded by 'those who adored him'.

The family said: 'We'll miss you so very much buddy and we love you more than words can ever say.

His family announced their 'little superhero' tragically died just ten months after his diagnosis surrounded by 'those who adored him'

'We can already picture you up there challenging your two nans and grandad to a game of Connect 4 and making them smile, just as you made us smile a million times before.

'We'll think of you every single day, beautiful boy.'

Kyle's family said he 'fought with all his strength but the illness ultimately became too much'.

Parents Mark and Melanie added: 'There's no way for us to describe how we're feeling.... we're just completely heartbroken.'

Kyle had been attending Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff where he spent time playing Connect 4 with his brother Liam, 18.

After an appeal raised more than 10,000, a family spokeswoman said: 'The support has been outstanding. The comments in particular are really helping the family as Melanie and Mark are reading them and it's comforting them.

'Kyle's parents - Melanie and Mark - want to thank everyone for their kindness and generosity, as well as the staff at Noah's Ark, where Kyle has been staying.'
Britain will lead European forces to ensure Ukraine's security as part of a proposed peace deal to end the war with Russia.

It comes as the nation's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, praised the 'solid' progress of peace talks in the United States.

The leader said that 'nearly 90%' of Ukraine's demands have been incorporated into the draft agreements. The backbone of the proposed deal is a 20-point plan, he said.

Ukraine is also working on a wider framework for security guarantees involving European nations and the United States, as well as a separate agreement covering direct security commitments from Washington.

Mr Zelensky said proposals include deploying European troops led by the UK and France, backed by the US to protect Ukraine across air, land and sea.

He explained that while some countries would provide forces on the ground, others would offer support in areas such as energy security, financial aid and the construction of bomb shelters.

Ukraine is arguing that this bilateral document should be reviewed by the US Congress, with some details and annexes kept classified, Mr Zelensky said.

He added that US officials are currently in discussions with Russian representatives, and that Washington has requested that no information from those talks be released.

Despite his optimistic outlook on the talks, Ukraine was hit by a series of Russian attacks on Tuesday morning after the latest round of negotiations.

One person was confirmed dead in the western region of Khmelnytsky, while another was killed in Kyiv. Several people, including children, are said to have been injured.

UK troops in training in Salisbury. The British army will lead European forces in ensuring Ukraine's security guarantees, according to a new proposal in the peace deal

A Russian attack on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region on December 20. Despite the peace talks, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine

Several Ukrainian regions have also been left without power in the height of winter after Vladimir Putin's forces attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure, according to its energy minister.

Fires broke out in regions across the country in the aftermath of Russia's bombardment, officials said.

While initial drafts of US proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv's demands, Mr Zelensky suggested that neither side in the almost four-year war is likely to get everything it wants in talks on reaching a settlement.

'Overall, it looks quite solid at this stage,' he said. 'There are some things we are probably not ready for, and I'm sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either,' Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv.

US President Donald Trump has for months been pushing for a peace agreement.

However, the negotiations have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv.

But US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday he held 'productive and constructive' talks in Florida with Ukrainian and European representatives.

'We are talking. It's going OK,' Mr Trump said on Monday while on holiday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Asked if he planned to speak to Mr Zelensky or Putin, Mr Trump did not say, offering only of the fighting, 'I'd like to see it stopped'.

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky said on Monday he met with his military commanders who reported that defensive lines are holding firm against the Russian onslaught.

'In (recent) weeks, the Russian army has significantly increased the intensity of attacks, and the number of Russian losses has increased accordingly,' he said in a post on Telegram.

Mr Zelensky has praised the 'solid' progress of peace talks in Miami. However, Russia launched an attack on Kyiv after the latest round of negotiations

Ukrainian forces hit an oil terminal, a pipeline, two parked jet fighters and two ships in a series of strikes on Russian soil, officials said on Monday.

The killing of a top Russian general by a car bomb in Moscow on Monday, with investigators suspecting Ukraine was behind it, could be another instance of Kyiv picking surprise targets.

Ukrainian partisans also set fire to two Russian jet fighters in an operation on Sunday evening at a base near Lipetsk, a city in western Russia, according to Ukraine's military intelligence.

Russia's Ministry of Defence said only that its forces shot down 41 Ukrainian drones overnight, three of them over the Krasnodar region.

Zelensky's comments come after US intelligence warned that Putin has not abandoned his aim of capturing all of Ukraine and attempting to claim parts of Europe that were once in the Soviet empire.

Yesterday, it was reported that Putin has claimed he is ready to guarantee it has no plans to attack NATO. But several European officials have repeatedly sounded the alarm that the Russian leader could attempt an attack within five years.

In a grim warning, the organisation's secretary general said earlier this month: 'We are Russia's next target. Too many don't feel the urgency.'
A teacher was barred from entering the classroom after grooming a drug-addicted student and bringing her across state lines to enact 'teacher-student' sex fantasies.

A teenage girl described the abuse she suffered to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal after being a student of the teacher in Central Queensland.

The teenager was once described as an academic high achiever with lots of friends but her life began to slip when she became addicted to marijuana.

The teacher, known as WLR, was in her early 20s when she targeted the teen on suicide watch.

WLR escalated the abuse through inappropriate touching, gifts and messages while working at the girl's school in Rockhampton.

However, the worst of the abuse began when WLR moved with her partner to South Australia.

The teacher bought the teenage girl a plane ticket and invited her to stay at her home in SA, but instructed her to lie about the address.

Once the teenager, who was a virgin, was at the home of the former teacher, she was pressured to take part in a range of sexual acts.

A teenage girl was groomed and sexually abused by a teacher from Central Queensland

Those included wearing a 'strap-on dildo', threesomes, incest fantasies, and teacher/student fantasies.

WLR's trans partner also had a 'daddy fetish' with 'rape scenarios including violence, with (the teen) describing screaming in pain'.

The pair 'encouraged her to use alcohol and drugs so that the sexual conduct they wanted to engage in was not so painful'.

QCAT members Barbara Kent, Karen Garner and Richard English ruled WLR 'engaged in sustained predatory behaviour having a life-changing impact on the victim'.

'There was a significant power imbalance. WLR was aware of this and preyed upon that imbalance,' QCAT found.

'She was fully aware of the victim's vulnerability and exploited this.

'The power imbalance continued throughout the relationship, including acting out the imbalance with teacher/student sex scenarios.'

When the teenager refused to comply with WLR's sexual demands, she was left feeling guilty and as though she'd be kicked out of the home.

The teacher bought a plane ticket for the girl to fly to her home in South Australia after she moved interstate with her partner

'She engaged in sexual acts partially under duress for fear of being abandoned,' the tribunal said.

Another concerning behaviour was WLR's tendency to minimise the teenager's feelings when she would self-harm or suffer panic attacks.

When police visited the SA home, 'WLR lied about any knowledge' of the teenager.

'WLR demonstrated no insight or remorse. She continued working as a teacher  while maintaining a relationship with (the girl),' the tribunal said.

The teacher did not respond to the allegations against her or submit any material to QCAT for its proceeding, meaning the tribunal accepted evidence from the Queensland College of Teachers as 'unchallenged' and the 'best evidence available'.

WLR's registration was previously cancelled due to unpaid fees, but QCAT ruled it could still ban her 'for a stated period from the day the order is made or indefinitely'.

'Her behaviour is abhorrent,' it said, adding her behaviour had 'damaged the reputation of the profession'.

'We consider that WLR provides an unacceptable risk of harm to children that is unlikely to change.

'Therefore we order that teacher WLR is prohibited indefinitely from reapplying for registration or permission to teach.'
A two-year-old boy has died and five people were seriously injured after their car broke down and was hit on a major A-road.

The toddler, from London, was inside a Toyota Auris that broke down on the A1 in Cambridgeshire at around 6.20pm on Saturday.

The car was sitting in an active lane on the northbound carriageway when it was hit by a Volkswagen Touran near Stibbington Junction.

Five other people who were in the Toyota were rushed to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a man from Peterborough, suffered only minor injuries.

The man, 64, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released on bail until March 20.

Cambridgeshire Police has called for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

The tragic crash happened on the A1 in Cambridgeshire, just past Stibbington Junction

The five people who were seriously injured were also from London.

Sgt David Mcllwhan said in a statement: 'Our thoughts are with the parents and family of this young child who has tragically lost his life in this collision.

'The family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers.

'I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage but was unable to stop at the scene to get in touch.'

Anyone with information about the collision should report to police online, quoting incident 401 of December 20.
Telegram's billionaire founder, Pavel Durov, has offered to cover the full cost of IVF treatment for women under 38 who want to conceive using his sperm, it has emerged.

The Russian-born tech entrepreneur, 41, claims to have already fathered more than 100 children through sperm donation, in addition to six from three partners.

According to him, he saw his donations as his 'civic duty' to help tackle the shortage of 'high quality donor material' and to 'destigmatise the whole notion of sperm donation'.

Durov, who is worth close to $17 billion, has also said that all of his children, regardless of how they were conceived, will one day inherit a share of his fortune.

He told the Le Fridman podcast: 'As long as they can establish their shared DNA with me, someday maybe in 30 years from now, they will be entitled to a share of my estate after Im gone.'

In a separate interview with French magazine Le Point, he said: 'I make no difference between my children.'

Durov has publicly linked falling sperm counts worldwide to environmental factors, including pollution from plastics, and has said he is proud to contribute to addressing the issue.

Last year, dozens of women responded to an advertisement offering Durov's sperm for free at a clinic in Moscow, according to the Wall Street Journal. At conferences and on social media, it was said that Durov had 'high genetic compatibility'.

Pavel Durov in December last year. He offered to pay for the IVF treatment of women below the age of 37 who use his sperm

The advert also promised that he would pay for women under the age of 38 who were interested in using his 'high-demand' sperm.

Although he no longer donates sperm directly, samples from his earlier donations remain stored at the Altravita Clinic.

In a Telegram post in July 2024, Durov confirmed that the sperm is 'still available'.

To avoid legal complications, access to the samples is restricted, and only unmarried women aged 37 or younger are eligible to use them, according to the clinic.

The embryos offered are screened to ensure they are free from genetic disorders and are primarily made available to wealthy Russian and international clients.

Sergei Yakovenko, director of the Moscow-based Altravita fertility clinic and a friend of Durov, is said to have told him that sharing strong genetic material could be seen as a social responsibility at a time when male infertility is on the rise.

Durov has said his sperm donation began in 2010 when he agreed to help a friend who was struggling to have children.

He later continued donating after being told by fertility specialists that there was a shortage.

In a post on Telegram last year, he said: 'My past donating activities has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids.' He also announced his plans to 'open-source' his DNA so his biological children can easily locate each other.

He added: 'Of course there are risks, but I don't regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I'm proud that I did my part to help alleviate it.'

Speaking about the women who responded to the clinic's advert, a former doctor who worked there said: 'The patients who came, they all looked great, were well-educated and very healthy.

Doctors described his sperm as in 'high-demand'. The businessman has claimed he has fathered 100 hundred children and vowed they can all get a share of his fortune

Durev with Irina Bolgar, who he shares three children with

'They wanted to have a child from, well, a certain kind of man. They saw that kind of father figure as the right one.'

He said Durov was not involved in the selection of the women who would be able to use his sperm and added: 'Suddenly heres a chance: Its paid for, and the donor is someone so successful, intelligent and handsome.'

Durev first fathered two children with a girlfriend, before going on to welcome three more with Irina Bolgar, a human rights lawyer who lives in Switzerland.

According to reports, the pair are currently locked in a legal dispute, where she claims that in 2023, he cut off all financial support to her and her children.

According to the WSJ, she also filed a criminal complaint alleging he hit the youngest of their kids on five different occasions. A spokesperson for Durov has denied the allegations.

Durov launched Telegram in 2013 after previously creating Russias social media platform VK.

Telegram now has more than one billion active users worldwide and has become one of the most influential messaging platforms globally.

He is currently in a relationship with online influencer Juli Vavilova, who revealed that she suffered a miscarriage in 2024.
Donald Trump has branded The New York Times a 'serious threat' to the security of the United States, claiming they must be 'stopped'.

Taking to his platform Truth Social on Tuesday, the US President wrote: 'The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation.

'Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Thank you for you attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DJT '

This is not the first time the US leader has hit out at the outlet. Last month, he expressed dissatisfaction with The New York Times for their coverage of his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

He claimed the paper had 'misinterpreted' the facts and 'did everything possible' to make their meeting sound negative, calling the publication 'fake news'.

In September, Trump sued the Times over articles he claimed cast doubts on his reputation in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

The complaint revolved around three articles and a book by two of the reporters.

This is not the first time the US leader has hit out at the outlet

The lawsuit against The New York Times was ultimately thrown out, just four days after it was filed

One of the articles, written in October of last year, was singled out for claiming Trump 'got an early start learning how to cut corners' after he knowingly borrowed a friends dress jacket with a dozen medals to wear for his yearbook photo while attending New York Military Academy as a boy.

The New York Times White House Correspondent Peter Baker wrote how Trump was 'in effect appropriating medals that he did not win himself.'

The lawsuit was ultimately thrown out, just four days after it was filed. The judge said the filing was too long and too petty.

Judge Merryday blasted the president for waiting until the 80th page of his lawsuit to formally accuse the paper of defamation.

He also suggested Trump had used the filing as a soapbox to air grievances against the paper of record, arguing: 'A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective - not a protected platform to rage against an adversary.'

The jurist added: 'A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally or the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers Corner.'

He also told Trump that, despite being president, plaintiffs are supposed to 'fairly, precisely, directly, soberly, and economically' tell defendants in complaints why they are being sued.

A spokesperson for The New York Times told the Daily Mail that they welcomed the ruling, which recognised the complaint as a 'political document rather than a serious legal filing.'

Chief Judge Steven Merryday told Trump that plaintiffs are supposed to 'fairly, precisely, directly, soberly, and economically' tell defendants in complaints why they are being sued'

Trump has repeatedly used the courts against media companies since his second presidential election win last year

Trump has repeatedly used the courts against media companies since his second presidential election win last year.

He has sued The Wall Street Journal for publishing a seedy birthday drawing the paper accused him of sending to late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and also secured $16 million settlements from CBS and ABC after suing both stations.

The CBS settlement was paid out after the president accused the network's flagship newsmagazine 60 Minutes of deceptively editing an interview with his 2024 rival Kamala Harris.

ABC was forced to hand over the eight-figure sum after Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated the president had been found civilly-liable for the rape of E. Jean Carroll following a court cast in 2023.

Trump had actually been found civilly-liable for the sexual abuse of Carroll.

The verdict stemmed from an incident in the changing room of NYC department store Bergdorf Goodman during the 1990s.
Labour is to hand public sector union reps more time off their day jobs to fight for workers - and will keep the cost to the taxpayer a secret.

The Employment Rights Bill, which gained Royal Assent last week, will essentially allow reps to decide how to use 'facility time', paid leave from their workplace they can use to carry out union work.

Little noticed government guidance on the law, championed by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, also sets out how it introduces the right to time off 'for the purpose of promoting the value of equality in the workplace'.

While the cost to taxpayers of facility time has previously been published, the new law removes this requirement, along with the ability to cap the time taken.

Cabinet Office data showed that in the 2024/25 financial year, public sector facility time cost the taxpayer 106.4million.

The biggest spender was the NHS, which is currently in the midst of a major strike of resident doctors co-ordinated by the BMA.

Officials will also be able to decide how much take off, with their own definition of what is 'reasonable' being the default and employers having to take it to a tribunal if they disagree.

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The biggest spender on facility time was the NHS, which is currently in the midst of a major strike of resident doctors co-ordinated by the BMA.

The document notes: 'Despite the fact that most union representatives do receive paid time off, this is often insufficient to allow them to carry out all of their trade union duties and many union representatives use significant amounts of their own time to do so.

'The Government wants to ensure that union workplace representatives are able to take sufficient paid facility time with sufficient access to facilities to enable them to fulfil their union representative duties.

'This will lead to improved worker representation and industrial relations by giving trade unions and workplace representatives the freedom to organise, represent and negotiate on behalf of their workers and increased cooperation between employers and unionised workers, leading to beneficial outcomes for the economy.'

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, told the Times: 'It will add insult to injury for British taxpayers to see such vast amounts of their money be siphoned off to pay for paid time off for trade union stooges.

'Radical unions are still choosing to periodically shut down public services in a display of destructive behaviour which would make an arsonist blush.

'Ministers should be drastically cutting spending on facility time, not allowing it to increase as they have done.'

It came after the think-tank behind Sir Keir Starmers leadership campaign privately criticised the workers rights agenda.

Labour Together sent MPs a provocative paper describing the Employment Rights Act 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 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.
Restaurateurs have questioned the merits of Labour's plan to ban the boiling of live lobsters amid concerns it will squeeze already timepressured chefs.

On Monday Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds unveiled the Government's new animal welfare strategy for England. It includes a vow to outlaw placing live, conscious decapods into boiling water as a means of killing them.

Chefs instead face having to shell out for a 3,500 lethal electrocution device, placing them in a freezer long enough to stun them, or jamming a knife into the crustacean's head and through its body to sever their nerves.

But chefs have questioned whether the ban can even be enforced  and the Government is yet to say whether it will be regulated at all.

Boiling lobsters is already illegal in several countries. In Switzerland, which banned the practice seven years ago, offenders face fines or up to three years in prison.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is yet to say whether those who continue to boil lobsters and crabs will face similar punitive measures.

At present, it has committed solely to taking boiling out of the 'acceptable killing methods' that will be included in future guidance.

Richard Wilkins, who runs 104 Restaurant in London's plush Notting Hill, is among those questioning the need for the new guidance.

Richard Wilkins, owner of 104 Restaurant in London's Notting Hill, has questioned the need for a ban on boiling lobsters

Restaurateur James Chiavarini, pictured outside his Il Portico eatery in Kensington, says chefs are capable of deciding best practice without needing the Government to intervene

Animal campaigners have called for restaurants to adopt a CrustaStun device that can humanely stun, then kill, a lobster within seconds - but it costs 3,500

'How do you police something like that? Is Keir Starmer coming in in his chef's whites to keep an eye on things?' Mr Wilkins said.

'The wider issue is whether we should we be legislating on everything. It's probably the most inane part of the strategy  if we're just banning it (without enforcement) that's kind of pointless, isn't it?'

Mr Wilkins, who is trained in classical French cooking, has worked among top cooks in some of France's most illustrious establishments where lobsters are often boiled.

He also trained at the Michelinstarred French cuisine Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire, and under Gordon Ramsay at Petrus; the Scotsman is said to use the knife method.

His cosy 104 Restaurant has a compact kitchen and just six tables; however, he sympathises with larger restaurants boiling lobsters in the name of time.

'At The Waterside Inn, which is a lot larger a restaurant than mine, you go through a lot in service, but they have a lot of staff as well,' he added.

'If you're a big restaurant doing lobsters, and you're required to do something extra, it could create more of a staff cost, possibly.'

Restaurateur James Chiavarini, who owns the Il Portico and La Palombe eateries in Kensington, west London, has also questioned alternatives to boiling.

Animal welfare groups have backed the use of the Crustastun device, which places the lobster in an electrified tank of water to deliver a lethal dose of electricity  but it costs 3,500.

But Mr Chiavarini believes moves to remove people's choices are ultimately putting paid to traditional cooking methods, adding that many small restaurants can't afford a piece of expensive equipment with a single purpose.

He told the Mail: 'Like any restaurant which is struggling to ends meet is going to spend 3,500 electrocuting lobsters.

'How are they going to police it? There are a lot of policies that are progressive, brought in under the guise of kindness and empathy, that are taking us away from our own sense of what we are and towards a mechanised society.

'We're all in a huntergatherer mindset  we're know things have to die for us to eat. That's the natural world. If you take the view that we're all part of that why are we singling out lobsters?

'Years ago people didn't think twice, when everyone had a local abattoir in their village. We're so far removed now from the idea of having to kill something for food.'

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds (pictured) unveiled the Government's new animal welfare strategy on Monday

Campaigners say boiling lobsters is cruel, with scientific evidence said to back the assertion that crustaceans can feel pain

If the Government was serious about cracking down on animal welfare, he suggested, it would look at the conditions of chickens raised to be used in high street chains and cheap fast food outlets.

And he has questioned whether the law needs to be brought in at all, as many cooks have adopted more humane practices without a need for government intervention.

'To tell you the truth, nobody has boiled lobsters for years,' Mr Chiavarini added. 'We're all following best practice  you can freeze them, you can use a knife.

'People know what's responsible and what isn't. It doesn't have to be brought in as legislation. The Government just brought it in to make them look like the good guys  it's posturing.

'They have this assumption of the world that things are how they were about 25, 30 years' ago but things have changed. I think that says it all.'

Mr Wilkins of 104 Restaurant says he was trained to kill lobsters with a knife through the head which, he says, kills them instantly. Preparation follows almost immediately  as enzymes begin breaking down the flesh within minutes.

'It's the nicer way to dispatch them,' Mr Wilkins says of the knife method. 'That's what I was taught, and then you can cook them any way you like.'

But wholesalers and suppliers are also concerned that the potential additional cost, and the red tape associated with compliance, could affect British trade.

David Jarrad, chief executive of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, told the Telegraph: 'Our concern in the UK is that if restaurants and hotels do not wish to buy stunning equipment, which costs around 3,500, they will just import frozen seafood from abroad.'

A YouGov poll commissioned by campaign group Crustacean Compassion in February found that 65 per cent of British adults opposed the live boiling of crabs and lobsters, an increase from 2021, when a similar poll put the figure at 51 per cent.

Animal rights campaigners had previously called for the boiling of crustaceans to be outlawed on the modern understanding that the animals feel pain when boiled.

A live lobster with its claws bound is inspected at Bridlington Harbour. Suppliers and wholesalers are worried the tougher standards will see cooks favour cheap frozen lobster

The animal welfare strategy promises better conditions for animals - prompting concerns that producers will be undercut by foreign farmers (pictured: shellfish being sorted in Bridlington)

Dr Ben Sturgeon, CEO of Crustacean Compassion CEO, said of Defra's move: 'When live, conscious animals are placed into boiling water, they endure several minutes of excruciating pain. This is torture and completely avoidable.

'Humane alternatives, like electrical stunning, are readily available and ensure these animals are killed swiftly and without unnecessary suffering.'

While scientific opinion has wavered over the years, a 2021 London School of Economics report found strong evidence to suggest lobsters and other crustaceans are sentient and capable of suffering distress or harm.

The report prompted the thenBoris Johnson Government to recognise lobsters, crabs and octopuses as sentient beings under animal welfare law.

UK law requires animals to be stunned before slaughter to minimise pain and suffering at the time of death.

However, there are exemptions for slaughters carried out on religious grounds, such as when animals are killed using specific methods to meet kosher or halal standards.

Around 88 per cent of all animals killed to halal standards are stunned before death, according to a 2024 survey by the Food Standards Authority.

Stunning is considered halal so long as it is reversible, though the animal must be alive at the time its throat is cut.

Shechita  the Jewish form of animal slaughter, performed with a single cut using a surgically sharp instrument  forbids the use of mechanical stunning altogether.

Mr Wilkins says he occasionally receives requests to serve halal meat, and even to have a rabbi present in his kitchen to ensure food is prepared to kosher standards.

On animals slaughtered without stunning, he added: 'If someone really wanted me to do it, I could buy something in, but I don't necessarily agree with the way it's prepared. But we are talking about people's choices.

'I can make a purse out of a sow's ear, but I like the highest quality products too.'

Elsewhere, Defra's animal welfare strategy also includes commitments to banning puppy farms, introducing new livestock worrying laws and ending trail hunting, which critics claim is used as a cover to circumvent the existing ban on fox hunting.

Farmers are worried about proposals to phase out the use of cages for hens and farrowing crates for pigs without similar welfare standards being adopted for imported meat. No 10 has not ruled out hitting foreign imports with tariffs.

A Defra spokesperson told the Mail today: 'As outlined in the Animal Welfare Strategy, we are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and will work closely with the fishing sector to improve the welfare of all decapod crustaceans.'
The US Department of Justice officially requested that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be 'compelled' to answer questions over his relationship with child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and sex offender fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

New documents released this morning include the bombshell 'Request for Assistance' sent to the UK Government, asking them to arrange for FBI agents to interview of the then-Duke of York.

It states that there was 'evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein's victims'.

In the event that Andrew declined to be interviewed voluntarily, the letter says, 'US authorities request that UK authorities conduct a compelled interview of the witness under oath.'

The document, dated April 3, 2020, was among hundreds of others relating to the Epstein investigation released early this morning by the US government.

It says Andrew - named as 'HRH Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, the Duke of York' - is wanted for questioning over two criminal investigations, and highlights his association with Epstein's girlfriend and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

'The investigation to date has revealed that Prince Andrew may have been a witness to and/or participant in certain events of relevance to the ongoing investigation,' it says.

'For example, one victim has alleged that Maxwell introduced her to Prince Andrew who, according to this victim, was present for certain of the victim's interactions with Epstein and Maxwell.

The formal request for interview was released by the US government as part of its latest cache of documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, has always denied wrongdoing

Additionally, documentary evidence uncovered during the course of this investigation has revealed information suggesting that Prince Andrew had knowledge that Maxwell recruited females to engage in sex acts with Epstein and other men.

'Finally, there is evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein's victims.'

The authorities were keen to point out that Andrew would be interviewed as a witness, not a suspect: 'Prince Andrew is not presently a target of the investigation, and US authorities have not, to date, gathered evidence that he has committed any crime under US law.'

However, they warned that he could be prosecuted if he lied to investigators: 'If he were to provide false information to authorities in connection with this mutual legal assistance request, he could be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice in the UK, and he may be prosecuted for making a false statementin the U.S.'

The letter states that Epstein, who had by then killed himself in prison, was alleged to have 'engaged in the sexual abuse of minor girls during the period of approximately 1994 through 2005'.

It adds: 'Notwithstanding Epstein's death, the investigation that led to his indictment remains ongoing.'

On the investigation into Peter Nygard, the letter states that Andrew visited the former fashion tycoon - who was jailed for 11 years last year for sexually assaulting four women - at his Bahamas resort known as 'Nygard Cay'.

'The investigation has revealed that, on at least one occasion, Prince Andrew travelled to Nygard Cay in the Bahamas, a location where Nygard is believed to have trafficked minor and adult female victims,' it says.

'US authorities seek to question Prince Andrew regarding his visit(s) to Nygard Cay during the time period under investigation, and other information he may have about Peter Nygard and related individuals.

'Prince Andrew is not presently a target of this investigation, and US authorities have not, to date, collected evidence that he committed any crime under US law.'

The letter ends by warning UK authorities to keep the letter's contents confidential, as leaking it may 'seriously jeopardize the investigations...by prompting others to destroy or tamper with evidence'.

Andrew has fiercely denied any wrongdoing.
China, DR Congo strengthen partnership in vocational skills training

Xinhua) 10:07, December 23, 2025

KINSHASA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Sino-Congolese conference on vocational and technical training was held on Monday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

In his remarks, DRC Minister of State and Minister of Vocational Training Marc Ekila Likombio said vocational and technical education plays a key role in promoting the country's industrialization and improving youth employment.

The minister expressed the DRC's willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in this field, drawing on China's experience in technical training, skills development and school-enterprise partnerships.

Chinese Ambassador to the DRC Zhao Bin said the DRC is at a critical stage of socio-economic transformation, with growing demand for skilled technical workers.

He said that China attaches great importance to cooperation with the DRC in vocational training and will continue to tailor training programs to local needs, particularly in infrastructure, mining, agriculture, healthcare and information technology.

The ambassador added that practical cooperation between China and the DRC has yielded tangible results, with Chinese enterprises having created more than 100,000 direct jobs in the DRC and carried out corporate social responsibility projects that benefited over 300 local communities.

China hopes to use the event as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation in vocational training and trade for the benefit of both peoples, Zhao added.

Representatives from the government, business and education sectors of both countries attended the event, along with more than 800 Congolese trainees.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A huge new trove of Epstein files have alleged that Donald Trump flew on the pedophile's private jet 'many more times than has been previously reported', including one journey with a 20-year-old woman.

Some 30,000 more pages of documents, including videos and photos, related to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released on the US Department of Justice's site (DOJ).

Among the documents is an email from a New York assistant US attorney, which states that Trump was listed as a passenger on eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four where Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell was also present.

Trump's presence in the Epstein files does not imply any wrongdoing. The president has not been accused of any malpractice concerning the disgraced financier.

The email says: 'For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump travelled on Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case.'

It continues: 'On one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump and then-20-year-old [redacted].'

The new release follows the more than 300,000 files which were released by the DOJ on Friday.

The department has been accused of withholding information and was criticised by Democrats over the slow release and heavy redaction of records from the investigation into Epstein.

It failed to meet its deadline for complying with a 'transparency' law requiring the broad release of remaining Epstein files, sparking widespread outrage among Democrats and Republicans.

Among the documents is the suggestion that US President Donald Trump travelled on Jeffrey Epsteins private jet 'many more times than previously has been reported', including one journey with a 20-year-old woman

US President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein pictured in a photo together released earlier this month

Following the latest dump of evidence from Epstein's case files, the Department of Justice issued a statement downplaying the files that included Trump's name.

'Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 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 DOJ wrote on X.

'Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims.'

The new files include hundreds of videos and audio recordings, notably surveillance footage from August 2019, the month Epstein was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The DOJ posted around 11,000 links to documents online, some of which direct viewers to pictures of Epstein's old United States passport.

It was issued in February 1985 and expired in 1995. Below his signature is a black and white passport photo of Epstein dressed in a suit and tie.

Congress nearly unanimously passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), which mandated the complete release of the Epstein files by last Friday.

A group of victims earlier complained that only a 'fraction' of the files were released and even those were 'riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation'.

EFTA co-sponsors Ro Khanna, a Democrat, and Thomas Massie, a Republican, threatened to bring contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for failing to comply with the law.

Within this latest release are images of an old United States passport belonging to Epstein

Epstein pictured in a helicopter with a redacted woman, in a document released by the Department of Justice on December 19, 2025

This redacted photo released by the US Department of Justice shows a framed photograph of Jeffrey Epstein with a person on his lap, documented on August 12, 2019, during a search of his home on Little St. James island in the US Virgin Islands

A photo released by the US Department of Justice on December 19 shows Epstein posing shirtless with what appears to be a child's foot in frame

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a resolution on Monday calling for legal action against the administration for failing to release the complete Epstein files.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche blamed the delay on the need to redact the identities of Epstein's more than 1,000 victims, and on Sunday denied allegations of protecting Trump, who was formerly a close friend of Epstein's.

Trump had initially tried to block the disclosure of the files.

But the president, who cut ties with Epstein years before his arrest and faces no accusations of wrongdoing, finally bowed to mounting pressure from Congress and signed the law compelling publication of the files.

Also featured in the documents are court transcripts, FBI and DOJ records, emails and news clippings.

Friday's 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-publicised friendship with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Instead, the released files extensively featured former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat and political foe.

The Department of Justice released hundreds of thousands of files on December 19 related to disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Epstein is seen at an undisclosed location, watching people meditate

Former president Clinton poses with an unknown woman

Clinton swims in a pool with Maxwell and an unidentified woman

A photograph of two woman without shirts features in the released files

'The DOJ needs to quit protecting the rich, powerful, and politically connected,' Representative Massie, a maverick conservative Republican from Kentucky, said in a post on X.

Clinton spokesman Angel Urena issued a statement urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials in the Epstein case that refer to Clinton in any way, including photographs.

'Someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this,' Urena said, adding: 'We need no such protection.'

Urena said there is 'widespread suspicion' the Justice Department is 'using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice'.

He did not detail who else harbored that suspicion.

A photograph of Trump flanked by women in bikinis was mysteriously removed without explanation from the Epstein Files, before being reinstated.

The photo showing a desk with an open drawer containing the image of Trump was flagged by the Southern District of New York for review to protect potential victims.

Following furious backlash, it was reinstated on Sunday morning after it was determined that there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, a statement posted on X said.

Among the hundreds of photographs released on Friday, one showed an open desk drawer containing two photos of President Trump

Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured at the wheel of a car while wearing a white robe

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is seen lying across women at a black-tie event with Maxwell at the royal estate in Sandringham, UK

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier on Sunday his office removed the photo because of concerns about women in the photo. 'It has nothing to do with President Trump,' Blanche said during a Sunday morning appearance on NBCs 'Meet the Press with Kristen Welker'.

During an ABC News interview on Sunday, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a 'full and complete investigation as to why the document production has fallen short of what the law clearly required'.

The 300,000 pages of released files on Friday largely dealt with three police investigations into the convicted paedophile. First, a Palm Beach police inquiry from 2005.

Then a probe by federal prosecutors in Florida that ended with the financier's 2008 plea deal, in which he was handed a notably soft sentence.

And finally, the 2019 inquiry by Manhattan prosecutors that was cut short when Epstein died in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York City.

There was a series of never-before-seen photos of former President Clinton, including images of him relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub and smiling at parties with women.

A spokesman for the former president commented on the new photos, saying they were decades old.

'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,' Urena wrote on social media.

'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.

'Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats.'

Bill Clinton is seen with his arm around Michael Jackson. The pair pose with Diana Ross

Two young women pose in bikinis, with one smoking a cigarette, in a picture from the files

He has never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein's abuse, and has denied knowledge of his sex offending.

'I don't like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I don't like the pictures of other people being shown. I think it's a terrible thing,' Trump told reporters on Monday.

'I think Bill Clinton's a big boy, he can handle it. But you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago ... and they're highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.'

Another photo appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across five womens laps.

Dressed in black tie, the former Duke of York is seen laughing with Maxwell, who is standing in the background.

Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he did not 'see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction'.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
Queensland's oldest trans rights organisation has threatened to 'out' secretly queer politicians if the state doesn't lift a five-year puberty blockers ban.

The Queensland Transgender Gender Diverse and Non-Binary Association (QTrans) announced the controversial move following a declaration from the state government on Friday.

It called for all queer organisations to ban LNP members 'from attending any public facing event and from endorsing any state government policy' as part of a 'pink ban'.

The group also threatened to 'out' closeted members of Liberal National Party (LNP) if it did not reverse the new legislation, which blocks minors from accessing puberty blockers.

'If they want a war with the trans community, it's coming. We will out every silent queer member of their party who supports the mistreatment of trans children,' QTrans said in a statement.

QTrans president Brianna Hammond defended the group's threat as a direct response to the new 'barbaric' laws.

'They have just put their fingers in their ears, they're not listening to any feedback whatsoever from trans healthcare experts and they haven't taken a word of our advice on board,' Ms Hammond said.

'We have the information to out queer people in the LNP who voted for this, and we'll let that play on the minds of those in government.

QTrans has threatened to 'out' closeted queer politicians if Queensland does not lift the ban on puberty blockers for minors (pictured, a protest related to the ban in August)

'This is not something we can do lightly, we are very mindful that some people will see this as a violent act.

'But the ball is in their court. The more sensible option is for the party to sit down with us to find a sensible solution rather than ignoring us and ignoring health experts.'

State Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced the decision to extend the ban through to 2031 following the completion of a 530-page review into Queensland's gender affirming care model.

The report, by Victoria's former chief psychiatrist Professor Ruth Vine, found evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers in adolescents was very limited while patients' bone health and fertility was negatively impacted.

Nicholls cited that lack of evidence during his announcement on Friday.

'These decisions were made with the safety and wellbeing of Queensland children front and centre, and we will continue to treat this matter with the respect and sensitivity it deserves,' a spokeswoman for Nicholls told the Courier Mail.

In February there were at least 500 children waiting to be approved for puberty blockers and gender-affirming medication in the Queensland health system.

That number is expected to jump with the extension of the ban.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls (pictured) on Friday cited limited evidence supporting to long-term benefits of puberty blockers versus its known side effects on bone and fertility health

'As the queer community, we need to step up and put unbelievable pressure on this government to reverse its decision,' Ms Hammond said.

QTrans has since removed its statement threatening to 'out' politicians.

'The post of 20th December by the QTrans President calling for a "Pink Ban Against The LNP" has been taken down pending a full board of management meeting to be held as soon as practicable,' QTrans secretary Fran Mulcahy said.

'Much of the original post is in line with the board's beliefs we need time to clarify some of the details and language used.'

Daily Mail has contacted QTrans for further comment.
The terrifying moment a three-man knife fight broke out on a Tube platform has been caught on camera by a horrified passenger.

The horrific attack happened at Colliers Wood Underground station in south London last week at around 10.30am on Wednesday morning, December 17.

One of the men is seen lying on the platform while two others lay into him - violently stamping his body into the ground and kicking his victim in the head four times.

Police confirmed that the shocking brawl involved knives and said they are investigating the fight, and have arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

This violence follows videos of crack pipes being lit inside Tube carriages and brawls next to babies in underground stations emerged this year in an epidemic of disorder across London's transport system.

In April, photos emerged online of a scruffy-looking man lighting a metal pipe inside a Tube carriage.

Phlegming at the mouth and spitting on the floor, he had a 'gormless grin' on his face as unnerved passengers stood up and moved away.

Back in July, video emerged of a brawl breaking out on the steps of a packed London Tube station - with a screaming toddler ending up on the floor in the melee.

The fight broke out between a group of men at the entrance to Highbury and Islington Station at rush hour, as screaming members of the public attempted to intervene when the group appeared to hurl a man down the stairs.

The incidents have left many fearful of using public transport in the capital, where violent crime rates have steadily increased over the last nine years.

In the footage of this most recent spat, a youth dressed in a black hoodie is seen kicking his victim four times in the head, as a third in a grey tracksuit stands over his limp body.

One horrified passenger on a Tube filmed the brutal scenes on their mobile phone.

One of the men is on the ground while two youths lay into him on the Tube platform at Colliers Wood, south London

The youth dressed in the black hoodie is seen stamping his victim's head into the ground in the knife fight

A man can be heard saying: 'Oi oi', while another woman called out: 'That is unacceptable.'

Londoners reacted to the violence online after it was reported on Need to Know, with one person commenting: 'This actually made me sad.'

Donna Trainor said: 'Someone's son lying there and no one helped,' while another posted: 'I lived in Colliers Wood in 2004. It was such a nice area.'

One simply fumed: 'Animals.'

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: 'Officers attended Colliers Wood Underground station following reports at 10.30am on 17 December of a fight between three young men involving knives.

'A man in his 20s was arrested at the station on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

'He has been taken to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.

'Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone who has information or witnessed the incident is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 211 of 17 December.'

A TfL spokesperson said: 'There is absolutely no place for violence on our network and we are supporting the British Transport Police with their investigation.

'This must have been very distressing for everyone at Colliers Wood station and our thoughts are with anyone affected by this incident.'

Sitting in a 'priority seat', a bearded man was pictured in April inhaling from his DIY bong and is engulfed in drug fumes as children walk past

It follows footage in July of a group of men fighting each other on the steps of Highbury and Islington Tube station at rush hour, leaving a toddler on the floor amidst the fray

The chaos caught on camera on Tubes and underground stations this year have left many angry and feeling let down by authorities at the increasing rates of crime.

In April, the Tube's crime epidemic was laid bare when commuters had to watch on while passengers brazenly smoked crack cocaine and cannabis for their daily high.

After photos emerged of a man lighting what appeared to be a crack (cocaine) pipe inside a Tube carriage, the Shadow Transport Secretary said that the shocking images would 'concern' Sir Sadiq Khan, who has seen violent crime rates steadily increase under his nine-year tenure as London Mayor.

Passengers have been unashamedly using the Tube as their makeshift drugs lair across the network, with Transport for London staff seemingly powerless to act.

Commuters told the Daily Mail they have to contend with smelling cannabis at least twice a week on their packed daily 50-minute commute on the Elizabeth, Circle and District Lines.

One female told us of feeling petrified as she sat on the Tube next to one male as they smoked the Class A drug crack cocaine in front of pregnant women.

They reported the drug use on the District Line through British Transport Police's text service but said they never received a response with the man happily getting off the carriage at Victoria.

Sir Sadiq insisted on LBC at the time that TfL staff can intervene, adding there were 500 enforcement officers working across the network.

'This shouldn't have happened if it was reported, we will make sure that when good citizens, good Samaritans report things action is taken,' he said.

Other Tube users have taken to social media platforms to post videos and pictures of people using drugs.

Footage posted on Reddit from September last year titled 'London's finest on the Tube' showed a man with matted hair smoking crack.

It led to people sharing their own experiences of witnessing drug use on the Tube, with one person saying it was like being in New York City.

Footage this summer of a similar brawl that broke out on the steps of an Underground station also left many in danger.

The scrap between a group of men at Highbury and Islington Station at rush hour in July forced screaming members of the public to intervene.

Footage captured the chaos as a smartly dressed man kicked the head of another in a grey tracksuit - as someone else threw a rucksack into the packed crowd.

Commuters attempt to break up the fight and help a mother and her baby in a buggy get out of the way, as a toddler was left crying on the floor as the chaos unfolded.

Then another one of the men swung his legs upwards to kick two others, before he was pulled down by three men and put on the ground again.

The suited man then continued to kick him repeatedly before the man being attacked was dropped onto his back on the stairs.

He was then seen attempting to crawl up the stairs while the others continued to punch him.

A woman tried to calm the situation down but quickly walks away after nearly being hit by a punch, while another woman in a yellow dress is then seen holding the arm of one of the reported attackers.
Greta Thunberg has been arrested in central London at a protest supporting jailed Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike.

Footage shows the 22-year-old activist holding a sign saying 'I support Palestine Action prisoners, I oppose genocide' outside the headquarters of an insurance firm.

A City of London Police officer can be seen taking away the placard before asking Ms Thunberg to stand.

The Prisoners for Palestine protest group said it targeted Aspen Insurance because it provides services to Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.

Two activists sprayed red paint over the front of the building before police arrived and made arrests.

The group launched its campaign as eight Palestine Action protesters began an open-ended hunger strike while on remand in prison.

After nearly two months, three of them have stopped, one is eating intermittently and four are said to still be taking part.

Relatives of one of the protesters, Teuta Hoxha, 29, have warned she could die within days. She was arrested for her alleged role in an attack on the Ebit systems factory in Bristol.

Palestine Action was banned by the Government as a terrorist group in July after activists damaged RAF planes and hundreds of its supporters have been arrested.

Footage shows the 22-year-old climate activist holding a sign saying 'I support Palestine Action prisoners, I oppose genocide'

A police officer speaking to Ms Thunberg after taking away her sign

Ms Thunberg was previously arrested in London at a 2023 for 'refusing to move' when told to by police officers during a protest against an oil and gas conference.

The Swede has spoken out previously about the hunger strikers, who are in prison awaiting trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

She described the activists as 'political prisoners' in a video posted on her Instagram on Monday, adding the Government should meet their demands to be released from custody and for charges to be dropped.

The protest comes after several imprisoned Palestine Action activists, including one who has refused to eat for 52 days, have been taken to hospital in recent days.

Since the hunger strike began on November 2, a total of seven prisoners have been taken to hospital.

Kamran Ahmed, 28, who was being held at Pentonville Prison in London, and Amu Gib, 30, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, have both been admitted to hospital in the last week after refusing food.

Prisoners for Palestine previously said Gib's health has 'deteriorated rapidly' since joining the hunger strike on November 2, and the activist now needs to use a wheelchair.

Gib was taken to hospital on Saturday.

A legal firm representing the hunger strikers has said it submitted a pre-action letter on Monday against the Justice Secretary David Lammy.

The letter calls for a response within 24 hours, saying the issue is a 'matter of urgency', as 'our clients' health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day'.

It says: 'They request an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients' health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation.'

The Prisoners for Palestine protest group said the climate activist was later arrested

Ms Thunberg pictured in the back of a police van this morning

Ms Thunberg was previously arrested in London at a 2023 for 'refusing to move' when told to by police officers during a protest against an oil and gas conference

Last Thursday, emergency physician Dr James Smith told journalists some of the activists 'are dying' and need specialist medical help.

The prisoners all face charges relating to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

Gib is charged with breaking into RAF Brize Norton and spray painting two RAF Voyager planes in support of Palestine Action.

Ahmed, who is on day 43 of his strike, is accused of breaking into the UK site of an Israel-based defence firm near Patchway, Bristol, with sledgehammers in August 2024, causing 1 million of damage.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously said the 'rules and procedures' are being followed, after facing questions in the Commons about why his ministers had refused to meet with representatives of those striking.

Prisons minister Lord Timpson has previously said the service is 'very experienced' at dealing with hunger strikes and has 'robust and working' systems in place and the Prison Service 'will not be meeting' any prisoners or their representatives.

Relatives of one of the protesters, Teuta Hoxha, 29, have warned she could die within days. She was arrested for her alleged role in an attack on the Ebit systems factory in Bristol

A City of London Police spokesperson said today: 'At around 7am this morning hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.

'A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers are working to release them, and bring them into police custody.

'A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene.

'She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.'
An Afghan asylum seeker who raped a teenage girl in a park has been jailed for nine years.

Rapulla Ahmadze approached the 'vulnerable' victim in Moray, Scotland in August last year after making 'intimidating remarks'.

The girl, who was not known to the 21-year-old, was then subjected to unwanted kissing and touching before being dragged to an area of bushes in Cooper Park, Elgin.

He then subjected her to a 'shocking and violent rape', before later claiming he had had consensual sex with the victim.

Ahmadze was aged around 20 at the time of the attack, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

He was previously convicted of rape and a separate charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.

Judge Thomas Welsh KC told Ahmadze he had been found guilty by the jury on the basis he acted 'in a predatory manner'.

Judge Welsh added: 'You took advantage of a vulnerable teenager who was unknown to you, and you raped her in shocking and violent rape on rough ground in Cooper Park.

'What happened to her that night must have been a horrific ordeal.'

Rapulla Ahmadze (pictured) approached the 'vulnerable' victim in Moray, Scotland in August last year after making 'intimidating remarks'

The judge said the jury had disbelieved Ahmadze's claim that sex had been consensual.

Judge Welsh continued: 'The harm which you have done is profound and long lasting.'

He said Ahmadze's actions were 'motivated by a brutal desire to take sex irrespective of the consent of the victim'.

The judge said the law expects Ahmadze would be deported at the end of his sentence, but added this was a 'matter for the Home Office'.

He imposed a sentence of nine years in jail, backdated to August 2024, and Ahmadze was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Ahmadze, who is also known as Rafiullah Ahmadzai, was earlier convicted of pulling the victim from a bench in the park on August 4, 2024, kissing her and restraining her.

The charge stated he had walked her to a children's play area in the park, where he touched her sexually, before taking her to an area of bushes where he pulled down her lower clothes, seized hold of her legs and raped her. She was then subjected to an oral rape.

Defending, Shaun Alexander told the court he did not intend to minimise the seriousness of the crime Ahmadze had been convicted of.

Rapist Rapualla Ahmadze was found guilty at Edinburgh High Court. He is pictured outside the building

But he added Ahmadze had continued to maintain 'what occurred was consensual'.

He asked the judge to take into account Ahmadze's age and maturity at the time of the offence.

Ahmadze was born in Afghanistan, a 'country ravaged by war', he said.

Mr Alexander stated: 'I submit that he did not have the childhood that most young people in this country have.'

He said Ahmadze was conscripted by his uncle to assist with the Afghan National Army, but both he and his uncle were captured by the Taliban.

His uncle was killed but Ahmadze escaped, during which time he was shot in the arm, the court was told.

Mr Alexander added Ahmadze left Afghanistan in 2022 and undertook an 'arduous' journey which brought him to the UK in 2023, where he sought asylum.

The lawyer said Ahmadze had endured 'significant adverse experiences' in his life.

Following the sentencing, Police Scotland voiced their commitment to making their service 'trauma informed'.

Detective Inspector Sam Buchan said: 'Rapualla Ahmadze is a predatory individual who took advantage of a vulnerable young woman for his own gratification.

'He will now face the consequences of his actions. We know this was a deeply worrying incident for many people in the local area and I hope this conviction and sentence sends a strong message that sexual violence has no place in our communities.

'Police Scotland is committed to our role to help create a society where women and girls live free from violence, abuse, exploitation and harassment. This is also reflected in our ongoing commitment to actively pursue perpetrators of violence against women and girls and ensure they are brought to justice.

'We will continue to work with our valued partners across criminal justice, and support services, to improve the opportunities and support for women to report.'
Two Syrian migrants have been charged over the rape of a teenager.

Police were called to Winsford, Cheshire at around 5am on Sunday following reports a woman, 18, had been sexually assaulted.

Diyar Mohammed Abdulsalm, 27, and Dilgash Adil, 31, were later arrested over the incident.

The alleged rape took place at a private residential address in the Wharton area of the town, Chesire Police said.

Two Syrian migrants have been charged over the rape of a teenager and are set to appear at Chester Magistrates Court, pictured, later today

They were then charged with two counts of rape.

The pair, both Syrian nationals, have been remanded in custody and are set to appear at Chester Magistrates Court later today.

Abdulsalm and Adil, both of Ledward Street, Winsford, were questioned after their arrest.
Disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein purchased childrens toys and girls school uniforms through Amazon, Department of Justice documents reveal.

Email receipts obtained by Congress and made public show that the financier also bought a grey pleated skirt and a grey buttoned dress.

Thousands of new documents, including hundreds of videos or audio recordings, linked to Jeffrey Epstein's case were made public by the DOJ this morning.

President Trump avoided any comment on the release of new Epstein documents on Tuesday, instead posting several unrelated messages on Truth Social.

Trump was named in several documents, some of which contained vile allegations that the DOJ said were probed by the FBI and determined to be 'unfounded and false.' The Daily Mail has approached the White House for comment.

The allegations against President Donald Trump made in the latest trove of Epstein files are 'untrue and sensationalist,' the Department of Justice has claimed.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandated the complete release of the Epstein files by Friday of last week, however there are still thousands of files that still have not been released.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has blamed the delay on the need to redact the identities of Epstein's more than 1,000 victims from the hundreds of thousands of documents and photos in the government's possession.
A devout Catholic mental health nurse has been struck off from medical practice after she helped send money to ISIS alongside her business tycoon daughter.

Stella Oyella, in her fifties, helped a man who had fled to Syria with a 'violent extremist mindset' to raise funds so he could carry out terrorist work.

The Band 7 nurse also played an 'active role' in raising money to send to Uganda and then on to Syria.

She was jailed in 2024 for three years but now she has been banned from working as a medical professional by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), as it was decided at a panel hearing that she had 'breached one of the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession'.

Oyella qualified as a mental health nurse in August 2005. In December 2023 she was convicted of arranging the availability of property for the purposes of terrorism.

It was found that in September 2014 a man, identified by the tribunal only as Person 1, left home and headed to Syria.

He had succumbed to the 'violent extremist mindset' promoted by ISIS and other terrorist groups and decided to take up arms in support of the Islamic state in Syria and Iraq.

By 2016 he became short of funds and started appealing for cash.

Oyella (pictured outside the Old Bailey) has been banned from working as a medical professional after it was found that she had helped to send money to ISIS

Joshua Ogaba (pictured) was a former Catholic altar boy from Finsbury Park in north London, converted to Islam while in jail for aggravated burglary between 2004 and 2006 and became increasingly radical. He received payments from his relatives through Western Union money transfers

A year later, in 2017, Oyella had become involved, playing an 'active part' in trying to send money out to him.

Oyella acted as the 'channel for forwarding funds', sending small sums of money from London to Uganda which would then arrive to him in Syria.

In March 2024 she was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to a three-year prison sentence followed by a one-year licence period.

At the time it was reported that Oyella was sending the money to a relative who had joined the Islamic State group.

Oyella's daughter, Vanessa Atim, 32, was also convicted of sending money and was jailed for three years and nine months.

Oyella was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 170 and to register with the police for 10 years.

When sentenced, the judge said: 'The events of 2014 and the horrors of the ISIS & IS terrorism in the Syrian region had been dominating the news and you could not have failed to have known about such violent events.'

At the time Oyella was working as a Band 7 Senior Nurse within the East London NHS Foundation.

A photo showing the ISIS fighter posing next to the blanket covered with shells and bullets

Other photos showed the Londoner with his fellow ISIS fighters

Patricia Richardson, Chair of the NMC hearing, said of the decision to ban Oyella from the medical profession: 'Nurses occupy a position of privilege and trust in society and are expected at all times to be professional.

'Patients and their families must be able to trust nurses with their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

'To justify that trust, nurses must make sure that their conduct at all times justifies both their patients' and the public's trust in the profession.

'The panel noted that the conduct leading to Miss Oyella's conviction occurred outside of her clinical nursing practice and there was no evidence before the panel that patients were put at unwarranted risk of harm as a result of it.'

Ms Richardson added: 'The panel determined that the conduct which led to Miss Oyella's conviction breached one of the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession and therefore brought its reputation into disrepute and would undermine public confidence in the profession.

'Given the nature, gravity and seriousness of the offence, the panel was not satisfied that Miss Oyella's conduct is easily remediable.

'The panel considered that there was not one single instance, but a pattern of criminal behaviour that led to Miss Oyella's conviction and further noted the judge's remarks that she had 'yet fully to face up to [her] offending'.'

Oyella and her daughter Atim had sent five payments totalling more than 1,800 to Joshua Ogaba - a former computer programmer who was Oyella's brother and Atim's uncle.

Images Atim, Oyella's businesswoman daughter, posted on Twitter showed her at a series of events, promoting the enterprise, called Pro Intern, which found places for interns with businesses

The trial last year heard how neither woman had any sympathy for ISIS, with the trial hearing how they acted on appeals from a 'desperate' family member who persuaded them he needed money in order to survive.

Oyella was described by NHS colleagues as a 'fantastic human being', with a priest giving evidence of her 'integrity' at court.

Her daughter, meanwhile, was a delegate to the Commonwealth Youth Leaders' Forum and owns an enterprise called Pro Intern - which helps place interns at businesses.

But during their sentencing, the judge insisted both women would have been aware of ISIS atrocities and 'chose to turn a blind eye' to the fact their money could support terrorist activity.

He jailed a tearful Oyella to three years and Miss Atim - who had been due to get married - to three years and nine months.

Ogaba, a former Catholic altar boy from Finsbury Park in north London, converted to Islam while in jail for aggravated burglary between 2004 and 2006 and became increasingly radical.

He disappeared from the family home in September 2014, taking his passport and clothes, and his family reported him missing to police.

He left a note to his mother which read: 'I know you probably think I am crazy or something. I am not going because I dislike you or anything like that.

'I am going to implement sharia law. I have full conviction in what my brothers are doing. I love you mum and hope you revert to Islam one day.'

Ogaba travelled to Cologne and Gaziantep in southern Turkey before making it to war-torn Syria. He was eventually captured by Western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in January 2019 and died in custody from tuberculosis in April 2022.

In the meantime, the SDF recovered a number of laptops, hard drives, SD memory cards, headphones and cables during a raid in Hajin in north-east Syria on December 22 2018.

In photographs on the hard drive, Ogaba posed wearing a bucket hat as he handled a machinegun on a rooftop, straddled a high-powered blue and white Suzuki motorbike and posed in a room where a homemade bomb had been laid out.

Other photos show him laughing with terrorist comrades and firing a gun on a clifftop.

There was nothing to suggest the images of Ogaba had been seen by his family but there were also five receipts for Western Union money transfers from Uganda to Kenya and Lebanon, between February 2016 and May 2018, amounting to 2,926.

Police then pieced together five further financial transactions sent from London between March and October 2017.

They discovered that a relative had made cash withdrawals and put the money into Oyella's account, before it was transferred to Uganda, where Atim was working, and from there to Lebanon and Qatar.
Americans heading home for the holidays have been warned about travel chaos - as major airports across the nation are being slammed with cancellations and delays.

From New York to Los Angeles, fliers trying to make it to their families in time for Christmas have been greeted with havoc.

This year marks a record for holiday travel, with 122.4 million Americans expected to travel at least 50 miles from where they live during the 13-day period between December 20 and January 1, according to AAA.

The AAA prediction indicates a 2.2 percent uptick in Americans flocking to their loved ones from 2024 - when 119.7 million people went home during the Christmas season - and the most travelers in the last 15 years.

While the vast majority of people, about 109.5 million, are said to be packing up their cars and driving to their destinations, roughly 8.03 million Americans will board domestic flights, a 2.3 percent increase from last year, per AAA.

'This will be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million,' the AAA wrote.

People have already been experiencing airport mayhem in the days leading up to the holiday.

According to FlightAware, there have been more than 2,800 delays for flights entering, leaving or within the US on Tuesday, and roughly 80 flights were canceled.

According to FlightAware, there have been more than 2,800 delays for flights entering, leaving or within the US on Tuesday (Pictured: Passengers in line at Ronald Reagan Airport in Virginia on Tuesday)

On Monday - which was one of the worst travel days of the year - more than 6,000 trips with the same perimeters were delayed and more than 730 were called off completely.

According to an AAA analysis, the route from New Jersey to Fort Lauderdale is the most problematic for holiday travel.

This held true for a woman who was trying to depart from New York's LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) on Monday, when her early-morning flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was canceled.

'We're over here in the process of rebooking with different airlines and trying to get back home for the holidays,' she told Fox 5.

'It's very busy, but we are trying to be okay with manners and communicating, but it can be quite aggravating at times.'

Last December, flights on this trip averaged a 37-minute delay, according to FlightAware24 data analyzed by the company.

This year, the surge in travelers has particularly affected airports in New York and New Jersey.

Port Authority estimated that about 5.7 million passengers will travel through John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LGA, Newark International Airport (EWR) and Stewart International Airport (SWF) in the two-week holiday travel period, according to ABC 7.

Americans heading home for the holidays have been warned about travel chaos - as major airports across the nation are being slammed with cancellations and delays (Pictured: Travelers in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on December 22)

More than 122.4 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from where they live during the 13-day period between December 20 and January 1 (Pictured: San Francisco International Airport on December 20)

As of Tuesday afternoon, multiple airports nationwide are experiencing ground and departure delays.

A ground delay has been issued at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Flights are delayed by an average of 80 minutes due to high winds, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued wind advisories in the Bay Area. As of Tuesday afternoon, the area is experiencing gusts up to 35 mph.

Later on, wind speeds are expected to reach up to 55 mph.

San Diego-Lindbergh Field (SAN) is experiencing an average delay of 15 minutes, and the FAA has warned that delays will increase due to airspace capacity constraints.

Planes departing from Southwest Florida International (RSW) are delayed by about 15 minutes due to air traffic management initiatives.

Similar delays are plaguing departures from Miami International Airport (MIA).

EWR is experiencing an average delay of 15 minutes, which is expected to increase due to high flight volume and ice and snow in the area.
Voters believe Keir Starmer is spending his last Christmas in No10 as anger mounts within Labour ranks.

YouGov research found half of the public expect the PM to be gone within a year, including 19 per cent who are 'definite' about his demise.

That compared to just 35 per cent who thought he has a chance of surviving until the next festive season.

The growing sense of doom surrounding the premier is a stark contrast to his triumphant arrival in Downing Street just 17 months ago, on the back of a landslide election victory.

The government's misery deepened today as announced another humiliating U-turn, watering down the inheritance tax raid on family farms just days after Sir Keir insisted it was 'sensible'.

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Despairing Labour insiders have complained that the leadership seems to have learned nothing from the debacle over the winter fuel allowance and abortive effort at benefits reforms.

They now braced for a climbdown on business rates increases, which have seen Sir Keir and other Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley told Sky News at the weekend that Sir Keir would 'absolutely' still be PM next Christmas.

But Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham are increasingly seen as on manoeuvres with the PM looking down the barrel of apocalyptic local elections in May.

Voters also appear pessimistic about the prospects in 2026, with just 15 per cent hopeful their own financial situation will improve over the next year, while 40 per cent expect things to get worse.

Some 39 per cent anticipate little change.

Despite the grim backdrop, the latest YouGov poll did show Reform's advantage on headline voting intention narrowing from 10 points to five.

Sir Keir's allies will be watching closely to see if that trend continues to show up in the New Year.

Join the debate Is this Starmer's last Christmas at No10?

Voters believe Keir Starmer is spending his last Christmas in No10 as anger mounts within Labour ranks

Under the original plan unveiled by Rachel Reeves in the 2024 Budget farmers faced paying IHT at a 20 per cent rate on agricultural property and land worth more than 1million from April.

It triggered a huge wave of protests in London and a backlash from Labour MPs in rural seats.

But in the PM's latest U-turn Defra today lifted that threshold to 2.5million, admitting that it had acted after it 'listened to concerns of the farming community'.

A Defra spokesman said the change would halve the number of farms affected by the change to Agricultural Property Relief.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 'I am thankful common sense has prevailed and government has listened.

'From the start the government said it was trying to protect the family farm and the change announced today brings this much closer to reality for many.'

But shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said the change to the 'vindictive' scheme would be 'too late for some', adding: 'Businesses and lives have been lost.
A former Democratic mayoral candidate in Rhode Island repeatedly asked an officer, 'You know who I am, right?' as she was being arrested for allegedly drunk driving.

Maria A. Bucci, 51, former Cranston mayoral candidate and current chairwoman of the city's Democratic Committee, charged with driving under the influence following a traffic stop earlier this month, according to GoLocalProv.com.

In her now-viral run-in with police, Bucci berated officers, telling them they were embarrassing her and even challenging them with, 'What are you going to do, shoot me?'

But before her tirade, she confidently asked, 'You know who I am, right?' - a question the officers said meant nothing to them, even if they had recognized her.

Bucci was charged with a misdemeanor DUI and released shortly afterward on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.

The explosive bodycam footage was captured after an East Greenwich police observed a white Lincoln Aviator swerving on Division Street just after midnight on December 18.

According to court documents obtained by the outlet, Bucci was pulled over by police with 'severely bloodshot, glassy and watery eyes', as noted by Officer Anthony St. Laurent.

St. Laurent also wrote that they 'immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from inside the vehicle'.

Maria A. Bucci, 51, former Cranston, Rhode Island, mayoral candidate and current chairwoman of the city's Democratic Committee, was arrested during a traffic stop earlier this month and charged with driving under the influence

The former Democratic mayoral candidate repeatedly asked an officer, 'You know who I am, right?' as she was being arrested just after midnight on December 18

Police said Bucci provided her drivers license, but immediately admitted it might be expired and that she had a new one in her bag. She was unable to locate her registration and, when asked, said, 'I dont have it, what do you want?'

The former candidate reportedly told police she was dropping off her cousin after being asked to step out of the car, according to court documents.

However, in bodycam footage obtained by the outlet, Bucci is heard telling Officer St. Laurent that she and her cousin had just attended a Christmas party and that she only had a single glass of wine.

It was at this moment that Bucci appeared to become highly irate and twice demanded to know if the officers knew who she was.

In response, the officer said: 'I don't know who you are, miss, and frankly...'

Before he could finish, she answered her own question: 'You don't care, right?' The officers admitted that they did not.

Officers attempted to conduct field sobriety tests, but the effort was hindered as Bucci can be heard questioning law enforcement, asking their ages and noting that she has a nephew and an uncle working as cops.

'I hope I don't raise a kid like you,' Bucci exclaimed, only to demand seconds later that her cousin call 'everybody in town'.

Join the debate How should public figures be held accountable when they abuse their status during run-ins with the law?

Bucci berated officers, telling them they were embarrassing her and even challenging them with, 'What are you going to do, shoot me?'

Bucci was charged with a misdemeanor DUI and released shortly afterward on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond

In his report, East Greenwich police officer St. Laurent wrote that Bucci only 'continued to scream, bark orders and act completely belligerent towards everyone on the scene'

'Call my husband right now and call the attorney general and everybody else in town. This is disgusting. God forbid I was a black person, I'd be arrested,' she said.

At another point, she turned her attention back to Officer St. Laurent and asked, 'What are you going to do, shoot me?' despite him simply trying to demonstrate one of the tests.

In his report, St. Laurent wrote that Bucci only 'continued to scream, bark orders and act completely belligerent towards everyone on the scene,' as reported by GoLocalProv.com.

'She was slurring and spitting when she was yelling and was extremely confrontational,' he added.

Buccis blast escalated as she once more invoked her family connections in law enforcement and shouted, 'You guys are gross,' and 'I f***ing can't stand you.'

After continuing to question the sobriety test for several minutes, Bucci was handcuffed, which only seemed to fuel her fury.

'Give me the camera, you're a [expletive]. Like I am not drinking. You're a loser,' Bucci said in reference to the officer's body-worn camera.

Authorities wrote in the arrest report that Buccis verbal abuse persisted even after she was transferred to police headquarters.

Buccis blast escalated as she invoked her family connections in law enforcement and shouted, 'You guys are gross,' and 'I f***ing can't stand you'

After continuing to question the sobriety test for several minutes, Bucci was handcuffed, which only seemed to fuel her fury as she called the officer a 'loser'

They claimed that she continued to call St. Laurent an 'evil [expletive] piece of [expletive].'

The report stated that Bucci cried out that she had 'told her kids if they ever became a cop I'd kill them,' before adding, 'only clowns become cops.'

'During booking, Ms. Bucci continued her ferocious attack of abusive comments by stating, "I'm going to get you mother******",' St. Laurent wrote in the documents.

After refusing a breathalyzer test, Bucci was arraigned by a justice of the peace for her first DUI, with her BAC remaining unknown, according to the police report obtained by ABC 6 News.

Bucci also received multiple citations, including for laned roadway violations, refusal to submit to a chemical test and other offenses, as reported by the outlet.

She is now scheduled to be arraigned on January 5 in Kent County District Court.
A Russian strike could collapse the internal radiation shelter at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine, the plant's director has warned.

Kyiv has accused Russia of repeatedly targeting the facility, the site of a 1986 meltdown that is still the world's worst ever nuclear disaster, since Moscow invaded in February 2022.

A hit earlier this year punched a hole in the outer radiation shell, triggering a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it had 'lost its primary safety functions.'

In an interview with AFP, plant director Sergiy Tarakanov said fully restoring that shelter could take three to four years, and warned that another Russian hit could see the inner shell collapse.

'If a missile or drone hits it directly, or even falls somewhere nearby, for example, an Iskander, God forbid, it will cause a mini-earthquake in the area,' Tarakanov said.

The Iskander is Russia's short-range ballistic missile system that can carry a variety of conventional warheads, including those to destroy bunkers.

'No one can guarantee that the shelter facility will remain standing after that. That is the main threat,' he added.

The remnants of the nuclear power plant are covered by an inner steel-and-concrete radiation shell - known as the Sarcophagus and built hastily after the disaster - and a modern, high-tech outer shell, called the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure.

A Russian strike could collapse the internal radiation shelter at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power station (pictured) in Ukraine, the plant's director has warned

A hit earlier this year punched a hole in the outer radiation shell, triggering a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it had 'lost its primary safety functions'

The roof of the NSC was severely damaged in a Russian drone strike in February, which caused a major fire in the outer cladding of the steel structure.

'Our NSC has lost several of its main functions. And we understand that it will take us at least three or four years to restore these functions,' Tarakanov added.

The IAEA said earlier this month an inspection mission found the shelter had 'lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability, but also found that there was no permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems.'

Director Tarakanov said that radiation levels at the site remained 'stable and within normal limits.'

The hole caused by the drone hit has been covered with a protective screen, he said, but 300 smaller holes made by firefighters when battling the blaze still need to be filled in.

Russia's army captured the plant at the start of its 2022 invasion, before withdrawing a few weeks later.

It comes after Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said several draft documents, including on security guarantees, had been prepared after talks between US and Ukrainian officials on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

US officials held talks in Miami at the weekend with Ukrainian and European delegations, and had separate talks in Florida with Russian representatives as Washington tests the scope for a settlement after nearly four years of war.

Chernobyl is the site of a 1986 meltdown that is still the world's worst ever nuclear disaster

Emergency services work at the scene after a Russian attack hit the Vyshgorod and Obukhiv districts in the Kyiv region, killing one woman and injuring three people, including a child, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 23, 2025

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, a rescue worker puts out a fire of a car destroyed a Russian strike in Chernihiv region, Ukraine

Kyiv, under US pressure to quickly secure peace, has sought to balance out an initial proposal widely seen as favourable to Moscow demanding it cede more territory and restrict its military capabilities.

'They worked productively with envoys of President [Donald] Trump and several draft documents have now been prepared,' Zelensky wrote on X after being briefed by Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andrii Hnatov.

'In particular, these include documents on security guarantees for Ukraine, on recovery, and on a basic framework for ending this war.'

Ukrainian officials have sought strong security guarantees from allies to prevent another Russian invasion after any peace deal.

'The points for today have been set in such a way as to correspond to the objective of actually ending the war and the need to prevent a third Russian invasion,' Zelenskiy added.

Russia also sent troops into Ukraine in 2014, when it seized and annexed Crimea and backed a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

Zelenskiy made his comments after a heavy Russian air attack on Ukraine's energy system that killed at least three people and caused widespread power outages as Ukrainians geared up to celebrate Christmas.

Russian news outlet Izvestia quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying the talks between Russia and the United States in Miami on ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine should not be seen as a breakthrough.
Fanatics inspired by Islamic State face life in jail after they were today found guilty of plotting a gun attack on Jewish targets which police say could have been Britains worst ever terrorist atrocity.

In a chilling reminder of how rising anti-Semitism since the October 7 massacre is fuelling violence against British Jews, migrants Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein sought to buy a stash of firearms and over 900 rounds of ammunition.

Fuelled by a twisted desire to exact revenge for Israels military response to the Hamas atrocity on Britains streets, the extremists planned to gun down participants at a march against anti-Semitism in Manchester.

Tunisian-born Saadaoui  who once ran an Italian restaurant in Great Yarmouth  and Hussein  who claimed to be a former Iraqi soldier and told police he was proud to be a terrorist  then planned to target schools and synagogues in the citys Jewish community.

The plot was a chilling echo of the Bondi Beach attack in Australia on December 14 in which 15 innocent people were killed.

But it was foiled by an exceptionally brave undercover operative (UCO) sent to infiltrate the terror cell.

Farouk was in contact with the jihadists for over six months  and duped them into believing a cache of assault rifles, handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition was being transported to the UK via a cross-Channel ferry.

Unbeknown to the plotters, the apparently deadly arsenal consisted of deactivated weapons.

Plotters Walid Saadaoui, 38, left, and Amar Hussein planned to slaughter British Jews in a twisted revenge for Israel's military response to the October 7 attacks

Amar Hussein (left) and Walid Saadaoui (right) have been found guilty of planning an Islamic State-inspired gun attack on Jewish targets in the Manchester area

Bilel Saadaoui and his stepson holding swords. Saadaoui's brother Bilel was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan

A photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of weapons seized during the arrest of Saadaoui

A BB gun seized from the property of Saadaoui after his arrest

A selfie video taken by Amar Hussein during a trip to Dover in Kent

On May 8 last year a 'strike day' involving 200 officers - many armed - was launched.

Officers were lying in wait in unmarked vehicles as Walid Saadaoui arrived to take delivery in the car park of a Lancashire spa hotel.

Dramatic bodycam footage shows the moment officers pounced, with a brief pursuit ensuing before Saadaoui was dragged to the ground.

Simultaneously, Hussein was arrested at his electrical business.

Following the verdicts, Jewish community leaders said the plot was a stark reminder of the lethal consequences of rising anti-Israeli rhetoric  and chilling proof that a Bondi-style attack could happen here.

Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Robert Potts said: What Walid Saadaoui was trying to achieve was a terrorist attack on the Jewish community that given the weaponry and ammunition involved could potentially have been the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history.

Saadaoui said he wanted to kill as many Jews as possible in the attack, planned for the summer of 2024  with the deaths of any Christians a bonus.

In one chilling conversation with Farouk, he said he wanted to kill as many as possible, saying he had an overwhelming urge.

He was also recorded saying that if Muslims all over the world attacked the Jewish people, honestly they wouldnt do what they do in Gaza now.

Walid Saadaoui is pictured in Dover. He has been convicted of plotting a gun attack on a mass gathering of Jews

Bilel Saadaoui was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan

A video compiled by Bilel Saadaoui of himself in the gym

Walid Saadaoui (left in above court sketch alongside Bilel Saadaouui and Amar Hussein) wanted to kill as many Jewish people as possible in north west and cause 'untold harm', Preston Crown Court heard

A knife found in the car belonging to Hussein following his arrest

Britains worst terrorist atrocities were the July 7 2005 Tube and bus bombings in London, in which 52 people were killed in four explosions, and the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, in which 22 people were murdered by a lone suicide bomber.

But just a single attacker with a semi-automatic rifle killed 38 people including 30 Britons, on a beach in Sousse, Tunisia, in 2015.

After an 11-week trial, jurors at Preston Crown Court took just one day to convict Hussein, 52, and Saadaoui of preparation of terrorist acts.

Saadaouis brother Bilel, 35 - who knew about the plot but failed to alert authorities - was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

Now 38, Tunisian-born Walid Saadaoui hero-worshipped Abdelhamid Abaaoud, mastermind of the Paris attacks.

A former hotel entertainer, he moved to Norfolk on a spousal visa in 2012 after marrying a British woman.

After working at a holiday park, in 2018 he and his wife bought the Albatross Restaurant for 25,000.

But they later split, selling their house in the seaside town for 169,000.

After moving to Wigan and marrying a second British woman, Saadaoui became obsessed with replicating the 2015 atrocity in which 130 people were killed.

Bodyworn camera footage issued by police showing the arrest of Bilel Saadaoui

Footage issued by police showing the arrest of Walid Saadaoui

More weapons seized by police during the arrest of Saadaoui

Saadaoui aimed to smuggle four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition into the UK in what police chiefs said could have been Britain's deadliest terrorist incident

Binoculars seized from the home of Saadaoui after he was arrested by police

Footage of weapons sent by undercover operative 'Farouk' to Walid Saadaoui

He began plotting with Hussein, who claimed to be a former Iraqi soldier and came to Britain in 2007.

Hussein was given leave to remain in 2015, setting up an electrical appliance business in Bolton.

After working briefly at a discount store called Bonkers Prices, Saadaoui gave up work and claimed Universal Credit.

He came under suspicion in the wake of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 due to his hate-filled social media posts.

He operated at least 10 Facebook profiles which detectives said were the most pro-Islamic State they had come across.

Among the areas where he and Hussein carried out hostile reconnaissance was around Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.

It was targeted by terrorist Jihad al-Shamie on October 2, leading to the deaths of the jihadist and two of the congregation.

In November 2023 police launched an investigation codenamed Operation Catogenic.

Before becoming a committed jihadi, mastermind Walid Saadaoui owned this restaurant in Great Yarmouth

Saadaoui's younger brother, Bilel, 35, who was granted bail, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan

Walid Saadaoui's will uncovered by police searches, written as he made preparations for his anticipated 'martyrdom'

The following month Farouk sent Saadaoui a friend request, giving a cover story that he lived in Brussels near the former home of Abdulhamid.

Saadaoui told Farouk he wanted to kill as many as possible, adding that they should do the same as what [Paris attack mastermind Abdelhamid] Abaaoud done

Farouk said his contacts in Morocco could supply them with Kalashnikov assault rifles, to which Saadaoui demanded 1,200 rounds and four automatic weapons, saying one firearm was not enough for us.

Saadaoui kept green birds - a symbol of paradise in Islam  and used his hobby to coin codewords, calling the weapons goldfinches and the ammunition bird seed.

He used one of his Facebook accounts to join a Jewish community page in order to stalk his targets online and work out when they might be holding gatherings.

But he admitted he had failed in an attempt to source firearms from Albanian organised criminals, saying they became suspicious of me doing something.

He also began to get his affairs in order ahead of possible martyrdom as the plot developed, police said  making a will, and paying for his wife to have driving lessons.

Saadaoui also worked on his fitness and trimmed his beard to blend in and look more westernised.

Meanwhile he withdrew 90,000 from the sale of his business and property, keeping cash in safes, and attended an air rifle range.

In March last year Saadaoui and Hussein drove a rented car to Dover to look at the security set-up, posing as tourists.

The following day Farouk joined the plotters for hostile reconnaissance around North Manchester - Saadaoui told him the area was full of Jews.

Chillingly he bragged: We start with the Jews and if there any Christians caught in the act, that is a bonus but we start with the Jews.

This is the dramatic moment Bilel Saadaoui was arrested by armed cops while he was working out at a gym

Counter terrorism officers, armed with pistols and wearing bandanas to cover their faces detained Bilel Saadaoui, handcuffing him and walking him out of the gym

Counter terrorism officers wearing baseball caps and balaclavas are seen surrounding Bilel Saadaoui, wearing a white T-shirt

Heavily armed police, with assault rifles and attack dogs, were also involved in the operation

They walked past Jewish nurseries, schools, restaurants, coffee shops and synagogues, even entering a kosher supermarket.

He also showed the undercover officer a rented safehouse which he planned to use as his command centre.

But by now, the trap had been set.

On May 7, Walid Saadaoui met with Hussein and drove to Dover to watch movements in the port.

He then drove his Peugeot to a hotel in Bolton to take delivery of the weapons from Farouk.

Seconds later, police bodyworn footage shows him running 20 yards before he was grabbed by armed officers and brought to the ground.

His brother Bilel  who was arrested at his gym  had received a copy of his brother's will and a key to a hidden safe.

Searches of Walid Saadaouis home uncovered two safes, one containing 15,000 cash and a copy of his will.

A second, concreted into a floor outside, contained 77,000 cash.

During his trial, Walid Saadaouis claimed that a senior ISIS operative took advantage of his kindness and forced him to plan the attack.

Saying the extremist had threatened to cut my head off if he did not comply, Saadaoui claimed he was planning to cut up the weapons with an angle grinder and call the police.

Hussein denied involvement in the plot but refused to turn up for his two-month trial, telling police: Your Government, your Prime Minister has sent weapons to kill our children in Israel.

A police officer standing guard outside Walid Saadaoui's house near Wigan after the raids in May 2024

Terrorism is our religion. Koran say terrorism is normal. We are proud, we say terrorism is proud.

Walid Saadaoui, of Abram, Wigan, and Hussein, of no fixed address, were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024.

Bilel Saadaoui, of Hindley, Wigan was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan.

Following the verdicts, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson condemned the extraordinarily dangerous terrorists and their vicious anti-Semitism.

And he said their deadly plan was a reminder of the harm that real hatred seeks to cause.

A terrorist attack upon our Jewish friends and neighbours is an attack upon us all, and is an affront to every decent person in our country, he added.

Community Security Trust chief executive Mark Gardner congratulated counter-terror police for their amazing job in catching the fanatics.

But he warned that since the October 7 attacks, sections of society had turned against Jews.

They may say they only mean it about Israel, but when you mean it about Israel inevitably it comes against Jews as well, he added.

Comparing violent Islamic extremism to the Nazis, Mr Gardner said they dont stop to ask these Jews what their opinion is of Israel they want to kill Jews, end of story.

We are all in this together, and yes, the Jews feel it as Jewish people.

But the rest of British society needs to understand this is not just about Jews, this is about Britain and about the condition of our country today and its future moving forward.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was 'a reminder that what happened on Bondi Breach could just as easily have happened here in Britain'.

'How many terror attacks are being plotted on British soil that we are not aware of, as Australian authorities were not aware of Bondi? a spokesman said.

'As the Yom Kippur attack in Manchester painfully reminds us, terrorists only need to be lucky once; our police and security services do not have that luxury.'
A postcard allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein and sent to serial child molester Larry Nassar just days before his 2019 suicide claimed that 'our president' loves 'young, nubile girls.'

While he was not explicitly named in the note, Donald Trump was serving his first term in the White House at the time. The Department of Justice has subsequently claimed the letter is fake.

The letter emerged on Monday night, when the Department of Justice (DOJ) shared one of the disgraced financier's alleged last correspondences before he was found dead in his cell at New York's Metropolitan Correction Center on August 10, 2019.

The letter was addressed and mailed to Nassar - the former USA Olympic doctor responsible for the biggest sexual abuse scandal in the history of American sports - days after Epstein's death.

'As you know by now, I have taken the "short route" home,' Epstein allegedly penned in the handwritten note.

He continued: 'Good luck! We shared one thing... our love & 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. Life is unfair.'

The postcard was signed 'Yours, J. Epstein' and written to 'L.N.', which are Nassar's initials. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in Epstein's child sex trafficking scandal.

Newly released Epstein files from the Department of Justice have revealed the disgraced financier's alleged last correspondence before he was found dead in his cell

Epstein's letter to Larry Nassar, postmarked August 13, 2019, was believed to have been found returned to sender in the New York prison's mailroom after his death

Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000

Nassar is a former USA Olympic doctor who was found guilty of sexual assault in 2017

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Department of Justice claimed to have confirmed the alleged letter from Epstein to Nassar was faked.

'The fake letter was received by the jail, and flagged for the FBI at the time,' the statement read.

The DOJ said that the FBI determined it was 'fake' because 'the writing does not appear to match Jeffrey Epsteins; The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein's death out of Northern Virginia, when he was jailed in New York; And the return address did not list the jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.'

'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. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law,' the statement concluded.

The alleged letter to Nassar, postmarked August 13, 2019, was believed to have been found returned to sender in the New York prison's mailroom weeks later.

Nassar was serving in a facility in Sumterville, near Orlando, Florida, at the time of Epstein's letter. He was moved from a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, in August 2018, after his lawyers said he was attacked.

The return to sender stamp noted that the recipient was 'no longer' at the address.

When contacted about the postcard, which was released without further context, White House officials referred the Daily Mail to an X statement from the DOJ.

'Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,' it reads.

'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.

'Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims.'

Later in the day, the DOJ revised their statement and said they were investigating 'the validity of the alleged letter.'

They said: 'The Department of Justice is currently looking into the validity of this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar and we will follow up as soon as possible. In the meantime, three facts stand out.

'The postmark on the envelope is Virginia, not New York, where Jeffrey Epstein was jailed at the time.

'The return address listed the wrong jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.

'The envelope was processed three days AFTER Epsteins death.'

Nassar pleaded guilty to obtaining and possessing child pornography and destroying evidence and was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December 2017.

The convicted sex offender abused about 300 athletes under the guise of medical care.

Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, 28, and McKayla Maroney, 30, were among his many young victims.

'He abused my trust, he abused my body and he left scars on my psyche that may never go away,' Maroney wrote in her heartbreaking victim impact statement, which was read aloud in court during Nassar's trial.

'I don't want another young gymnast, or Olympic athlete, or any individual to experience the horror that I and hundreds of others have endured before, during and continuing to this day in the wake of the Larry Nassar abuse,' Biles said in a 2021 testimony before Congress.

Epstein killed himself in prison on August 10, 2019, before the letter was postmarked

Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in Epstein's child sex trafficking scandal

While this is the first time the postcard was shared with the public amid the DOJ's sweeping release of Epstein-related evidence, the Associated Press reported on its existence in 2023.

'It appeared he mailed it out and it was returned back to him,' the investigator who discovered the postcard told a prison official at the time, per AP.

'I am not sure if I should open it or should we hand it over to anyone?'

Trump has repeatedly shot down accusations of being involved in Epstein's criminal activities.

But a trove of evidence has alleged that Trump flew on the pedophile's private jet 'many more times than has been previously reported,' including one journey with a 20-year-old woman.

Among the roughly 8,000 new documents is an email from a New York assistant US attorney, which states that Trump was listed as a passenger on eight flights between 1993 and 1996.

On at least four of these trips, Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell was also present. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the sickening scheme.

The email reads: 'For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump travelled on Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case.

'On one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump and then-20-year-old [redacted].'

Olympians McKayla Maroney (left) and Simone Biles (right) were two of Nassar's victims

The DOJ has released hundreds of thousands of files of investigative evidence from Epstein's estate

On Friday, the initially set deadline for the government to share the Epstein files, the DOJ released about 300,000 documents.

Congress voted to share the files with the public. Trump, who initially opposed the release, signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 19 and gave the Department of Justice a 30-day timeline for the release.

But top brass at Trump's DOJ admit they were unable to meet the deadline and that hundreds of thousands of documents remain.

Epstein survivors and lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have criticized the Trump administration for its handling of the files.

Skeptics have also called out how heavily redacted and context-lacking the evidence has been.
The Trump Kennedy Center has been sued by a member of Congress who sits on the iconic cultural institution's board after a vote to add President Donald Trump's name to the building was cast last week.

Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who is a non-voting member of the Center's board, filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration for renaming the building and claiming that the vote to do so was unanimous.

After the announcement of the name change last week, Beatty took to X to launch a complaint against the move, claiming that she was silenced and did not get a vote on the matter.

Richard Grenell, the Center's President, responded to Beatty's claims last week, writing on X that she is a 'non-voting ex-officio member,' before adding that 'all ex-officio Members never get to vote.'

In the suit, Beatty alleges that only Congress can change the Center's name, as it was intended to be a 'living memorial' to President John F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1963 and be a 'crown jewel of the arts for all Americans, irrespective of party.'

Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi told the Daily Mail that the action to rename the center is 'in line with the precedent of the State Department adding President Trump's name to the Institute of Peace. And the previous Administration renaming military bases.'

During an appearance on WMAL's O'Connor and Company, Daravi noted that the 'Kennedy Memorial is not impacted at all by this name addition,' also stating that adding Trump's name to the building gets back to the original bipartisan roots of the Center, as it was created by President Eisenhower and then dedicated to Kennedy after his death.

The Kennedy Center's name change was poorly received by many members of the Kennedy Family, including former President John F. Kennedy's niece Kerry Kennedy, who pledged to take a 'pickax' to the letters forming Trump's name on the building after he leaves office.

Workers stand on lifts in front of the newly added lettering for U.S. President Donald Trump's name at the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a day after its board announced it would rename the institution The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 19, 2025

Rep. Joyce Beatty speaks outside the U.S. Capitol Building on December 18, 2025 in Washington, DC

'Three years and one month from today, I'm going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but I'm going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenter's card today, so it'll be a union job,' Kerry Kennedy wrote on X on Friday.

At least one artist, Kristy Lee, has cancelled a performance at the Center in the wake of the name change, per a report from NOTUS, and others may be following suit.

The Daily Mail exclusively reported earlier this month that the iconic Washington cultural center had deteriorated so badly that engineers recommended tearing it down and starting over.

Grenell told the Daily Mail during an interview at the Kennedy Center Honors that President Donald Trump's real estate background saved the 54-year-old landmark from demolition.

'When I arrived at our building, people and our engineers said we should tear down the Kennedy Center, completely start over, and go to Congress and ask for massive amounts of money,' Grenell said.

Grenell took Trump on a tour to assess the damage firsthand. 'We went downstairs, I showed him the sewer system that is collapsing,' he said.

'We have lawsuits from drivers who have driven underneath the Kennedy Centerthe concrete ceiling is falling on cars now. Where was the media for the last five to seven years as this place was falling apart?'

Unlike the controversial decision to tear down the East Wing of the White House, Trump opted to save the Kennedy Center.

'I can save it,' he told Grenell, choosing renovation over demolition. Trump asked Congress for $250 million for the project in the 'One Big Beautiful' bill that passed just before the bicameral July 4 recess.

Moments before making history as the first sitting president to host the Kennedy Center Honors - which airs to the public on Tuesday evening - Trump told reporters the Center 'could never be built again.'

'It's got three massive stagesdance, theater, and the place we will be in tonight. There's really nothing like it in the country,' the president said.
A two-year-old child has been identified as one of the five victims killed after a Mexican Navy plane plunged into the ocean off the Texas coast.

The King Air ANX 1209 carrying a child medical patient plunged into the rough waters off the Galveston coast on Monday.

Two passengers were pulled from the churning sea alive, while one remains missing.

The US Coast Guard confirmed Tuesday that a two-year-old child was among the dead.

The twin-turboprop was carrying eight people - four members of the Mexican Navy and four civilians - according to a statement from Mexico's navy.

The identities of the crash victims have not been released, and the condition of the two survivors remains unclear.

'It looked like it would be impossible for anybody to survive,' Sky Decker, a professional captain who lives about a mile from the crash site and rushed out in his boat to help, told CNN. 'The plane was almost completely underwater.'

Among those aboard the aircraft were two members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that aids Mexican children suffering from severe burns.

The group was believed to be en route to Shriners Children's Hospital in Galveston for life-saving burn treatment.

A two-year-old child was identified as one of the five victims killed after a Mexican Navy plane plunged into the ocean off the Texas coast on Monday

The aircraft carrying a child medical patient plunged into the rough waters off the Galveston coast, killing at least five people. Two others were pulled from the sea alive, while one remains missing

The twin-turboprop was carrying four members of the Mexican Navy and four civilians

The plane went down on Monday afternoon near the base of a causeway off the Texas coast near Galveston, about 50 miles southeast of Houston. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the tragedy.

Mexico's Navy said the plane, which was on a medical mission, was involved in an 'accident'. It had been traveling from Monterrey, Mexico, to Scholes International Airport in Galveston.

It pledged to investigate the cause and is aiding local authorities in the search and rescue efforts.

Moments after the crash, Decker said he picked up two police officers, who led him through thick fog to a plane almost entirely submerged. He plunged into the water and found a severely injured woman pinned beneath chairs and other debris.

'I couldn't believe. She had maybe three inches of air gap to breathe in,' Decker said.

'And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad,' he added. 'She was really fighting for her life.'

The professional yachter said he also pulled a man from the wreckage, who had already died, and described both victims as wearing civilian clothes.

Preliminary data indicates the aircraft vanished from radar over the bay at approximately 3:02pm, with the first 911 call following just five minutes later.

The identities of the crash victims have not been released and the condition of the two survivors remains unclear

Among those aboard the aircraft were two members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that aids Mexican children suffering from severe burns

Mexico's Navy said the plane, which was on a medical mission, was involved in an 'accident'. The crash remains under investigation

Almost immediately, teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the crash site to investigate, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on X.

Officials from the Galveston County Sheriffs Office - including the dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol - also rushed to the scene of the crash, the office said.

It is not yet known if weather played a role in the crash. The region had been enveloped in fog in recent days, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Cameron Batiste.

Around 2:30pm Monday afternoon, dense fog settled in and limited the visibility to only half a mile.

In response to the fatal crash, the Michou and Mau Foundation said in a social media post: 'We express our deepest solidarity with the families in light of these events.

'We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.'

Mexicos Navy also released a statement extending its, 'deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident'.
A 'bicycle-hating' motorist was seen in footage firing a gun at Italian cyclists he was attempting to overtake.

The 25-year-old driver fired two shots at the group of cyclists who had been taking part in a pre-Christmas training camp in Verona on Saturday.

He allegedly pulled out the blank-firing pistol while overtaking the group, creating 'an extremely dangerous situation,' local media reported.

The act appears to have been caused by trivial motives related to disagreements over maneuvers.

The team of cyclists was being led by former professional and now RAI TV channel commentator Alessandro Petacchi when they were targeted by the gunfire.

Following three days of investigation by local authorities, the weapon was seized, and it was established that the man had no prior criminal record.

License plate analysis and local intelligence revealed that the vehicle had a non-functioning headlight, which helped narrow the search for the car.

The weapon was found hidden under the vehicle's boot floor.

Ab 25-year-old driver fired two shots at the group of cyclists who had been taking part in a pre-Christmas training camp in Verona on Saturday

'This last detail leaves no reason for the perpetrator to have possessed it recklessly and not for recreational purposes, especially given the fact that the red cap had been removed,' local police said.

The 25-year-old was reported at liberty to the Verona Public Prosecutor's Office for aggravated menacing, possession of weapons or objects capable of causing offence, and dangerous explosions.

It comes after a furious driver pulled his gun on a biker in a road rage battle before the pair were instantly arrested by cops in 2023.

A witness captured the dispute at a busy intersection in broad daylight as the car and the bike were held up in traffic in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The pair were seen in a heated argument before the driver pulled a gun and then the biker appeared to grab something from his bike.

But fortunately, a police car arrived on the scene and instantly started shouting for the weapon to be dropped and told the men to get on the ground.
Jeffrey Epstein's brother claimed that he believed Donald Trump authorized the murder of the notorious sex trafficker in 2019, according to the latest Epstein files release.

A document in the cache of around 8,000 files released Tuesday included a tip that Epstein's brother Mark sent to the FBI in 2023, making the claim about his brother's death four years earlier.

The tip read: 'Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in his jail cell. I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names.

'I believe President Trump authorized (his) murder.'

The document did not provide any details or evidence as to why Mark Epstein believed that Trump 'authorized' his brother's death, which was ruled as a suicide.

Trump has never been formally accused of wrongdoing related to the sex trafficker's death.

The document was one of many in Tuesday's release that delved into Epstein's much-scrutinized death in his jail cell on August 10, 2019 in the Manhattan Correctional Center.

In another document released by the DOJ from just days before Epstein was found dead in his cell, Epstein wrote a sickening letter to serial child molester Larry Nassar, claiming that 'our president' loves 'young, nubile girls.'

While he was not explicitly named in the note, Donald Trump was serving his first term in the White House at the time.

Jeffrey Epstein's brother Mark (left) claimed that he believed Donald Trump authorized the murder of the notorious sex trafficker in 2019, according to the latest Epstein files release

Epstein's brother said in his released FBI tip that he believes Trump 'authorized his murder' because he had 'reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names.' Trump has never been formally accused of wrongdoing related to the sex trafficker's death

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Department of Justice claimed to have confirmed the alleged letter from Epstein to Nassar was faked.

'The fake letter was received by the jail, and flagged for the FBI at the time,' the statement read.

The DOJ said that the FBI determined it was 'fake' because 'the writing does not appear to match Jeffrey Epsteins; The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein's death out of Northern Virginia, when he was jailed in New York; And the return address did not list the jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.'

'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. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law,' the statement concluded.

In response to Mark Epstein's FBI tip being revealed in the latest Epstein files release, the White House referred the Daily Mail to a statement issued by the Department of Justice on Tuesday.

The statement read: 'Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 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.

'Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims.'

Epstein's brother Mark has frequently waded into the controversy surrounding his brother's sex trafficking network in recent times.

When Trump signed the Epstein Transparency Act in November, Mark Epstein made the bombshell claim that Republicans' names were being scrubbed from the files before they were set to be released.

The claim was made before the White House was heavily criticized for its recent releases of evidence from Epstein's estate, which have included a large number of redactions.

'Ive been recently told the reason theyre going to be releasing these things, and the reason for the flip is that theyre sanitizing these files,' Mark Epstein told NewsNation in November.

The late pedophile's younger brother said he had been tipped off by a 'pretty good source' that the FBI was working to clean the files.

'Theres a facility in Winchester, Virginia, where theyre scrubbing the files to take Republican names out of it,' Mark Epstein claimed. He never named any specific Republicans who may have had their names blotted out.

Mark also alleged that his brother had 'dirt' on President Donald Trump during the appearance.

'Jeffrey told me that if he said what he knew about the candidates, they'd have to cancel the [2016] election,' he said.

Epstein's brother Mark (pictured) has frequently waded into the controversy surrounding his brother's sex trafficking network in recent times

Trump has said that the Epstein scandal is a 'Democratic hoax' and has noted how the late pedophile was close with former President Bill Clinton and liberal businessman Bill Gates

'Jeffrey definitely had dirt on Trump,' Mark Epstein continued. He then claimed that it's 'provable' Trump had been to Jeffrey Epstein's house, something the president had denied.

Mark Epstein has never provided substantiation for any of his claims concerning Trump or the cause of his brothers death.

Mark Epstein has frequently said he does not believe his brother died by suicide, and following Ghislaine Maxwell's interviews with Trump administration officials earlier this year, he said the interviews were intended to be a 'distraction' from the conspiracy.

He said at the time: 'They'll talk to her (Maxwell) and ask her what her favorite color is. So they can say they talked to her. It depends what the conversation is about.

'Maybe she'll be afraid to speak, afraid they'll hold it against her and turn down her appeal.'

Mark Epstein said he knew Maxwell in the 1990s but had not spoken to her for several decades.

But he believed she would have information about interactions between Epstein and Trump, and said a White House statement this year that Trump had 'never been' to his brother's office was 'the biggest c*** I've ever heard.'

'I would speak to Jeffrey and he'd say he was with Trump. I know people in his office saw him there,' he said.

'She could certainly verify that Trump was in Jeffrey's office many times.'

The White House referred a request for comment to the Justice Department's statement that said mentions of Trump in the files are 'unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.'
Police are continuing to search for a seventh suspect in relation to the case of a former Tory councillor who is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting his wife with five men over 13 years.

A series of pictures of the large set man were released as part of a Crimewatch appeal earlier this year.

Wiltshire Police said on Tuesday that investigators 'remain very keen to identify' the individual who could be anywhere in the country.

As part of the original appeal, the alleged victim, who has now been identified as Joanne Young after she waived her right to anonymity, said in a statement: 'I jump constantly at noises, movements, and even shadows.

'I wake up having recurring nightmares that someone is there touching me, and although I am screaming, no sound comes out and nobody is coming to save me. I try to survive each day and hope the next one is better.'

Speaking at the time, DS Smith praised her bravery, and said it was 'very important' that anyone with information that may help to identify the man come forward.

He said: 'We appreciate the graphic nature of these images and that they may be triggering to some people, however we need the public's help to identify this man.

A series of pictures of the large set man were released as part of a Crimewatch appeal earlier this year

The pictures of the heavy set man who police would like to speak to connection with sexual assault were believed to have been taken in 2022

Ms Young's former husband business consultant Philip Young (pictured), appeared in court accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against her

The seventh man police want to speak to has a distinctive tattoo on his chest

'It is unknown whether he lives in Swindon or from outside the county, which is why we request that this is shared as widely as possible to assist our bid to identify him.'

Ms Young's former husband business consultant Philip Young, appeared in court accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against her.

Ms Young, 48, can be named as the alleged victim after choosing to waive her right to anonymity, which is granted automatically to sexual offence complainants.

Six other suspects also appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court to face charges in relation to the investigation.

Norman Macksoni, 47, Dean Hamilton, 47, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31, Richard Wilkins, 61, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, have been charged with offences including rape, sexual touching, sexual penetration and possession of extreme images.

The man who features in the pictures which are believed to have been taken in April-May 2022, is wanted in connection with a 'serious sexual assault'.

He is said to have scarring to the back of his head, prominent lips, hairy body, balding with short or shaved hair, and one distinctive tattoo on the left side of his chest at the time.

Anyone who recognises the man should call 101 and quote reference number 54240080286.

Information can also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.'
The body of missing girl Melodee Buzzard has been found nearly three months after her unexplained disappearance.

Law enforcement sources confirmed the nine-year-old's body was discovered early December in Utah, per ABC News.

Melodees body was recovered in an area where she and her mother, Ashlee, had traveled in October.

It is believed that the girl was killed and was likely already dead in October, before she was reported missing, sources told the outlet.

The 40-year-old was detained following DNA results from the recovered remains, per the outlet.

Video captured by a neighbor showed Ashlee, 40, being escorted from her Lompoc home in handcuffs by Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department deputies at around 7:40 am on Tuesday.

The short-blonde-haired woman wore jeans, a white t-shirt and black heeled boots on her way to the cop car.

The Sheriff's office has not confirmed whether her arrest was connected to her nine-year-old daughters disappearance.

One neighbor said the police broke down her door after she didnt answer.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has not provided further comment and will be giving an update at 5pm EST to share further details in the major development of this case.

Melodee was first reported missing by a school administrator on October 14, but she was last seen on camera with her mother on October 9.

Family members say that haven't seen Melodee for over a year and expressed major concerns over her mother's mental health.

In the past, her mother Ashlee has refused to cooperate or even tell investigators anything about her daughter's disappearance.

Melodee Buzzard was barely seen since she stopped going to school a year ago. Her body has now been found

Her mother Ashlee refused to cooperate or even tell investigators anything about her daughter's disappearance, so they have no idea where she is or if she is safe

'Ashlee Buzzard remains uncooperative and has not provided detectives with any information about Melodees current location or condition,' police said in October.

'The primary goal of this investigation is to verify the location and welfare of Melodee Buzzard and ensure that she is safe.'

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office detectives said Melodee was with her mother as recently as October 7 and may have been driven all the way to Nebraska.

They were spotted making several stops, wearing wigs, in a rented white Chevrolet Malibu along the way, before Buzzard returned to Santa Barbara and gave the car back.

Sheriff's investigators released information on the possible route the mother and daughter took from their Lompoc home and traveled more than 1,500 miles away to Nebraska.

Detectives believe the pair then started their trip back the next day, but the Malibu was spotted with a New York license plate, which authorities said did not belong to the rental or to Buzzard.

Investigators now believe the Malibu traveled through various small towns on October 9, including Green River, Utah; Panguitch, Utah; northwest Arizona; Primm, Nevada and Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Sheriff's investigators said the mother and daughter traveled more than 1,500 miles away to Nebraska on October 7

Ashlee Buzzard is seen leaving her Lompoc, CA home and getting picked up by a friend who then drives her to Santa Maria where she tries two different locations to rent a vehicle

The Daily Mail uncovered an eerie Google Maps image of Melodee staring into the street while standing on her doorstep in May 2023

Police searched their home (pictured) on Mars Avenue in Lompoc, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, but didn't find Melodee

Lizabeth Meza, Melodee's aunt, previously told the Daily Mail that Buzzard had lost custody of Melodee in the past because of mental health woes and allegedly admitted psychological issues run in her family.

Buzzard at one point in time declared bankruptcy after amassing debts totaling $23,000.

'There were so many hurdles, just so much going on within the family,' Meza said in tears.

'And it just saddens me that there was so much going on at that time that we weren't able to keep in contact with Melodee, and nobody had a relationship with her.

'The system failed her by giving her back to a mother time and time again when she was unstable. There is just so many emotions that go through my mind when I think of that little girl.'

Melodee's grandmother, Lilly Denes, also claimed the child's mentally ill mother wanted to 'cut' her off from the 'entire world.'

Denes was in the process of adopting the nine-year-old when Ashlee 'took her away from us' after being released from the mental hospital in 2021, she told Fox News Digital.

'That lady is mentally ill bad,' she told the outlet.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office detectives said Melodee was with her mother as recently as October 7 and may have been driven all the way to Nebraska

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office detectives said Melodee was with her mother as recently as October 7 and may have been driven all the way to Nebraska

Denes said she had been 'so happy' when social services had called her to take in Melodee as she had gotten a weird feeling about Ashlee from the first time they met.

'When I met her, my son brought her to the house. She looked so quiet and she was following me with her eyes back and forth,' she told the outlet.

'I told my son: "Son, is this girl okay? She doesn't look like she's normal. Something's wrong with this lady."'

Since Ashlee took her daughter back, Denes said she had not seen the girl and that she believed it was a deliberate move by Ashlee as she wanted to 'cut off' the girl 'from the entire world.'
A court summons issued against comedian Reginald D Hunter has been quashed by a court after a judge ruled it was an 'abusive' bid to get the comedian 'cancelled'.

The American comic, who lives in the UK, was the subject of a private prosecution by Jewish group the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA).

It had alleged that he had sent offensive communications to antisemitism campaigner Heidi Bachram three times in 2024, on August 24, September 10 and September 11 on the social platform X, formerly Twitter.

But a summons issued to Mr Hunter, 56, by the CAA was quashed at Westminster Magistrates' Court by Judge Michael Snow following an application by the defence.

Judge Snow ruled that the CAA had been motivated by a desire to 'have [Hunter] cancelled' and that the prosecution was 'abusive', adding that the group was seeking to use the criminal justice system for 'improper reasons'.

He criticised the Jewish organisation for a 'wholly inadequate' summary of Ms Bachram's tweeting in its summary of its application when it came to disclosing her social media posts towards him.

This, he said, 'misled' him into believing that the comedian's tweets were targeting her faith rather than responding to attempts to have him 'cancelled'.

The private prosecution against Mr Hunter - known for his appearances on panel shows as well as a career of live stand-up - was brought without the involvement of the police or the Crown Prosecution Service.

Reginald D Hunter pictured outside Westminster Magistrates' Court after a previous hearing in the case. He has had a summons against him quashed by a judge

The Campaign Against Antisemitism had alleged that Mr Hunter had sent offensive communications to online antisemitism campaigner Heidi Bachram (above)

In a remarkably worded judgment, Judge Snow said: 'The CAA have demonstrated by the misleading and partial way in which it summarised its application and its wilful, repeated, failure to meet its disclosure obligations, that its true and sole motive in seeking to prosecute Reginald Hunter is to have him cancelled.

'I have no doubt that the prosecution is abusive. My view of the conduct of the CAA is consistent with them as an organisation which is not 'playing it straight' but is seeking to use the criminal justice system, in this case for improper reasons.'

Further, the judge said the summary of Ms Bachram's tweeting in the application case summary was 'wholly inadequate'.

He added: '[The summary] did not reveal the extent of her tweets directed against Reginald Hunter in the period immediately preceding the complaints (her tweets were sent between 15 August and 11 September 2024).

'The summary misled me into believing that his comments were addressed to her involvement with the Jewish faith as opposed to his response to attempts that were being made to have him 'cancelled'.'

The judge added that the CAA had failed to inform him of a compliance investigation by the Charity Commission into its organisation in November 2024.

Rebecca Chalkley KC, for Mr Hunter, told the hearing on Tuesday that 'very little was disclosed' to the judge and the 'lack of candour' meant the summons should be quashed.

Ms Chalkley said: 'It calls into question the whole juridical process as judges before issuing summonses need to have everything in front of them.'

The lawyer told the judge: 'You were led to believe in papers in front of you that the CAA was no more than a charity, that it had no history - as since demonstrated as a vexatious litigant - no complaints, no criticism in Parliament, no investigations by the Charity Commission.'

The lawyer added: 'The CAA are weaponising and using the courts for their own political agenda and not just in this case.'

The CAA's prosecutor Donal Lawler told the hearing that the charity had complied with its duty of candour.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'We are of course deeply disappointed by the District Judge's decision.

'Our mission is, and always has been, to stand up for British Jews and their allies, particularly at a time when levels of antisemitism and antisemitic violence are rising at an alarming rate.

'Our lawyers are examining the ruling and considering our next steps.'

Mr Hunter, who regularly tours the UK and has appeared on comedy panel shows including Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, is yet to comment on the ruling.

He raised 58,000 via a public crowdfunder to fight the CAA's prosecution, which came in the wake of an Edinburgh Fringe gig that saw a Jewish couple stood up and walked out of a gig in which he made jokes about Israel.

Critics claimed he encouraged a 'baying mob' to hound them out, but a Police Scotland investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The comic later said of the incident: 'As a comedian I do push boundaries in creating humour, it's part of my job.

'This inevitably creates divided opinions but I am staunchly anti-war and anti-bully. I regret any stress caused to the audience and venue staff members.'
Two Afghan migrant burglars who used Grindr to dupe victims into letting them inside their homes have been jailed.

Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 23, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 27, stole 68,000 of phones, passports and wallets over a six-month spree by feigning romantic interest in their targets.

The pair were part of an organised crime group that, in total, carried out 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds in the six months to March this year.

After arranging to meet Londoners at their homes through the LGBTQ dating app, the men would persuade their hosts to hand over their phone passwords by asking to play music on YouTube.

They would then flee with the phone and passwords before making online or contactless payments, or sometimes transferring money straight to their own accounts.

Charges were laid after an extensive investigation by the Met, which noticed a number of reported phone thefts in which Grindr was a common feature.

Mohammadi burgled 11 victims in his six-month crime spree from October 2024 to March 24 this year, while Hotak joined him for some of the crimes between October and December last year.

Mohammadi was jailed for five years at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, while Hotak got three-and-a-half years.

Rahmat Khan Mohammadi burgled 11 victims during his six-month crime spree, and was jailed for five years

Mohammed Hotak joined Mohammadi on some of the burglaries, and was jailed for three-and-a-half years

Rahmat Mohammadi as he is arrested

Sentencing both men, Judge Adenike Balogun said: 'I have taken note of the psychological trauma as well as the inconvenience caused to the victims, and the distress that all of them have expressed at allowing you into their homes - into their private space - only to be violated.'

Prosecutor David Patience had alleged the men were targeted because of their sexuality, meaning the offences amounted to hate crimes.

The judge said: 'I've considered that matter very carefully and it seems to me that the presumed sexual orientation of the victims presented an opportunity for you to commit the crime, and in that respect I do find that the victims... were targeted because of their perceived vulnerability.'

However, she said they were not picked because the two men held 'hostility' towards the victims' sexuality.

Rather, it was because they knew that Grindr, as an app facilitating LGBTQ hook-ups, was 'an opportunity to gain easy access into the homes of the victims'.

She said: 'I suspect you were - and I put no higher than that - banking on the victims not reporting the crime.'

The men would set up a Grindr profile, almost always without a photograph, in order to facilitate the burglary and fraud.

When the victims asked to see an image they would send one of somebody else.

A meet-up would be arranged through the on-app chat and, on several occasions, Mohammadi would ask to bring a friend - which was Hotak.

Once inside, they would ask the victim to turn on music.

They usually chose YouTube because the phone could not be locked while a video was playing.

They would then come up with a diversion to get the target to leave the room while their phone kept playing the video.

Their excuses included taking a shower, making a drink and showing one of the perpetrators the toilet.

'In all the cases, when the victim returned to the main room you had left, or one or the other of you had left, and the victim found the mobile phone was missing', the judge said.

John Kearney, defending Hotak, told the court that the men chose Grindr because 'there is no comeback'.

'The application itself has enabled completely anonymous people to be invited as complete strangers into the homes of the victims,' he said.

One victim said he lost photographs of deceased family members stored on his phone when he was burgled by Mohammadi in December 2024, before being defrauded by both men.

He said he was also taken to hospital this year with 'severe psychological trauma' inflicted by the incident.

In his victim impact statement read to the court, he said he covered the heads of CCTV at his property with plastic bags because he saw the cameras 'spinning as they observed me'.

He added: 'I strongly perceive this incident as a hate crime - I was targeted specifically on the basis of my sexuality.

'The suspects used Grindr, a gay dating app, as a hunting ground.'

On December 3, 2024, Mohammadi burgled and defrauded Lester Macabodbod, who told the court: 'I believe they were looking for gay men because they believed we wouldn't go to the police.

'I felt I was targeted as a victim because of my sexuality'.

In addition to burglary and fraud, each also faced a single charge of theft, which related to when the pair met another victim in Golders Hill Park, Golders Green, north-west London in October 2024.

They asked the man to play music on his phone before stealing it.

In his victim impact statement, he said: 'I was led into a dark wet park late at night, while there I was encouraged to undress.

'My phone was taken from me I was left in shock, cold and deeply humiliated.'

The theft was 'invasive and degrading and fundamentally altered my sense of personal autonomy', he said, adding the loss caused 'serious financial hardship' that forced to him to take out a loan to cover basic expenses such as food and rent.

He remains afraid to date people he has met online and it has damaged his trust in others, he added.

A jury found Mohammadi, of Weald Lane in Harrow, north-west London, guilty of 10 counts of burgling a dwelling, nine of fraud by false representation and one of theft.

Hotak, of Richmond Road in Hackney, east London, was convicted of five counts of burgling a dwelling, five of fraud by false representation and one of theft.

Mohammadi was acquitted of a further 10 charges and Hotak of 13.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Metropolitan Police's hate crime lead who oversaw the investigation, said: 'Mohammadi and Hotak carried out a series of callous, calculated, pre-planned crimes across London, targeting men and stealing high-value items and money.

'Their actions had a devastating impact on their victims.

'Nobody should be made to feel unsafe in their own homes and they will have to live with the trauma these men have caused them.'

Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, from the Mets Specialist Crime Command, added: 'We know that trust and confidence in the Met police is lower among the LGBT+ community than most groups, so ensuring victims felt heard, believed and taken seriously was a key focus for us throughout this investigation.'
A boater whose craft was left teetering on the brink of a 160ft hole on a canal told how he went back on board to rescue his two cats  as a subsidence expert warned other sections of the centuries-old network could also be at risk.

Paul Stowe has been left homeless for Christmas after his narrowboat, named Pacemaker, was left dangling above the cavity which swallowed two other narrowboats.

The narrowboats were lost after the bed of the Llangollen Canal collapsed early yesterday and an embankment failed, causing water to flood an adjacent field and prompting the emergency services to declare a major incident.

Mr Stowe escaped barefoot with his wife and son with just the clothes on their backs after they woke to the sound of rushing water like 'Niagara Falls'  but bravely crept back on board after his son reminded him about their two cats.

'I went back onboard and managed to get them', he said. 'It was pitch black, freezing and scary because we did not know what had happened.'

Incredibly, nobody was injured in the 4.20am incident.

Bob Wood, 75, whose houseboat was the first one to plunge into the huge hole, woke up to use the toilet and realised his home was listing.

He was able to flee from the stricken craft before it plunged down the hole, then alerted Mr Stowe and the occupants of a third boat, before that craft was sucked into the hole 'stern first'.

Paul Stowe has told of rushing back to his narrowboat to save his cats after it started falling into a sinkhole

Aerial images show the point where the water came bursting out of the canal, trapping two boats in the sinkhole

Pacemaker can be seen teetering perilously close to the edge of the sinkhole

As Mr Stoke spoke from the scene of the near disaster at Whitchurch, Shropshire, this afternoon subsidence specialist Freya Chapman told the Daily Mail how the incident may have been caused by an undetected water leak over a prolonged period of time, something she said would have been akin to a 'ticking timebomb'.

And she warned that other sections of the canal network could also now be at risk of a similar fate.

Ms Chapman, Residential Lead at specialist ground engineering contractor Mainmark UK, said: 'For this age of canal it would have been a puddly clay lining on the canal bed.

'Over time, localised defects could occur and even a small defect  over a prolonged period of time  could create an outwards flow, washing away the finer materials, such as sands and gravels over silty clays, beneath the canal bed and weakening all of the infrastructure.'

Ms Chapman added: 'I think other sections of canal could also be at risk. It is an old network and it needs a lot of maintenance. It all comes down to money.

'We are in unchartered territory. We had a summer where there was very little rainfall for 18 weeks so the ground would have dried out. Then we have had sudden periods of heavy rain and because the ground is dry that has weakened it further.'

She said potential degradation of the puddle clay lining, any localised defects, or even historic repairs could have contributed to any leakage.

Speaking from the scene, Julie Sharman, chief operating officer at the Canal & River Trust (CRT), said efforts to establish the cause of the incident were continuing.

Join the debate Should Britain invest more to save its aging canals, even if it means higher taxes or cuts elsewhere?

The sinkhole caused large volumes of water to escape onto land in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch

Three boats were caught up in a section of the canal which completely drained with water

But she added that at this stage, it didn't appear to be connected to a leak, a failed culvert or overtopping, the causes of similar incidents in the past.

Earlier this year, the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) warned about the risk to life that can come from a lack of maintenance of canals.

The charity told The House parliamentary magazine: 'It is not an overstatement to marvel that so far there has been no loss of life  ageing infrastructure is expensive to maintain without anything going wrong, and that's the point: investment now will save money in the near and distant future.'

The charity continued: 'When adding up the costs, we should be thankful that those costs for the moment don't include loss of life'.

And last year, a regional director at the CRT, the charity responsible for the lion's share of inland waterways in the UK, warned the country's 250-year-old canal infrastructure was 'creaking at the seams'.

Sean McGinley, the CRT's director for Yorkshire and the North East, said waterways could 'disappear' if more funding was not made available to repair them.

The CRT has said the stretch of water where the breach occurred was inspected as recently as last month, while a major, or 'principle' inspection took place in the spring.

But Ms Sharman said the stretch of water where Monday's breach occurred was not thought to be at risk.

Paul Stowe's boat remains on the edge of the sinkhole while two others are trapped in the hole

'There are some parts of the network that are more vulnerable than others,' she said. 'But we weren't concerned about leakage at this site.'

She said that upstream of the breach position, there is an 18-mile stretch of the canal without locks, with the next locks a mile after the breach point.

'Once the failure commenced, that won't have helped matters because there would have been more water running for longer, as it couldn't be held at locks', she said.

'The water was running and boaters reported hearing rushing water. A lot of material was moved by the force of that water as it rubs against the ground. As it runs out of the side (of the embankment) it starts to take the ground with it, making the hole bigger.'

She told the Mail that the clean-up and rebuilding operation would probably take months, and would involve the construction of a road to the site in order to bring in a crane to remove the two narrowboats from the hole.

But Ms Chapman queried how the inspections were conducted and said any failures would have been 'difficult to see with the naked eye'.

She added: 'This could happen again, given the age of the network.

'This is the fourth breach incident this year on our canals, and with hotter summers and wetter and colder winters potentially exacerbating the problem I think we are on the brink of a situation where this happens more often.'

A sinkhole, 50x50m in size, opened up in a canal in Shropshire

The boat can be seen tipping over the sinkhole's edge, with the sound of wood creaking and shattering as it is swallowed up

Youtuber and narrowboat owner Paul Smith-Storey captured the moment a boat was dragged towards the sinkhole

Charlie Norman, Director of Campaigns at the IWA, said: 'The year began with a major canal breach in the North West and it's ending the same way with yet another dramatic incident on our waterways, and without decisive action these breaches will keep repeating.

'Maintenance alone isn't enough: this canal in Shropshire is a vital piece of national water infrastructure. Every single added failure shuts down the connected system, it disrupts water supplies to reservoirs and really has a negative impact on local economies, many of those affected are small businesses just trying to get by. In some cases people are even left homeless.

'IWA issued a strong warning earlier this year about the vulnerability of the waterways network, from floods to droughts to under-funding, and this year has shown those risks are growing.

'Repairs must be a priority, but government should have a recovery investment pot ready so the network can reopen safely and quickly and businesses don't pay the price.'

In March 2018, a 230ft stretch of the waterway in Middlewich, Cheshire, was washed away after the canal overflowed - leaving a 40ft deep hole.

The CRT said the paddle gates on two locks had been left open by a member of the public, causing the canal to overflow and resulting in a section of the 200-year-old embankment being washed away.

The Whitchurch breach came almost a year after an elevated embankment on the Bridgewater Canal at Little Bollington, near Lymm in Cheshire, collapsed on New Year's Day 2025 following days of heavy rain. An embankment on a stretch carrying the canal 40ft (12) above the River Bollin failed, resulting in water pouring into neighbouring fields and flooding a sewage works.

Less widely reported, on the same day, rain also led to a structural failure of an embankment on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal between Mossley and Stalybridge. Following the rainfall event, the canal overtopped the lock and washed away the embankment to the River Tame below.

Almost three months later, a breach of the Macclesfield Canal near Bosley occurred due to a leak in the canal bed. CRT staff worked into the night help move around 15 boats away from the breach and installed stop planks to prevent any further loss of water.

The 46-mile Llangollen Canal is one of the most popular holiday inland waterways famed for its 1007ft long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a World Heritage site which towers above the Dee Valley.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said: 'Our canals and rivers provide a wide range of benefits, such as connecting people to nature.

'That is why we are investing more than 480 million of grant funding to the Canal and River Trust to support the essential infrastructure maintenance of our much-valued waterways.'
The death of British daredevil influencer who plunged from Spain's highest bridge was an accident, a coroner has ruled.

Lewis Stevenson was killed when he fell from Castilla La Mancha bridge, near the city of Talavera de la Reina, on October 13 last year.

Derby coroner Susan Evans told the inquest the 26-year-old wasn't wearing any safety equipment and vomited before falling from the 630ft high structure.

Spanish authorities earlier stated that the influencer, from Derby, was scaling the structure to create content for his social media accounts.

The inquest was told how he and a friend scaled the central mast of the bridge in the early hours of the morning using the elevator rail, with Mr Stevenson going first.

It added: 'As they got to the height of the first cables, Lewis asked his friend to take over the lead as he felt ill. He vomited.

'A few moments later he fell from the bridge and died from the injuries he sustained.'

A source close to the investigation said: 'Both the dead man and the companion that survived were climbing without any harnesses or other protection.

Lewis Stevenson, 26, fell from the 630ft Castilla La Mancha bridge after ignoring his family's pleas to call off the risky climb (not pictured here)

Tributes to Lewis were led by his heartbroken girlfriend Savannah Parker, who revealed that the last thing he said to her was 'Good night, I love you' the night before his death

According to the local Spanish town council Lewis and a companion had come to Talavera to climb the bridge and create content for social media before the unfortunate incident

Local councillor Macarena Munoz previously said Mr Stevenson and the 24-year-old man who was with him when he fell to his death, had 'come to Talavera to climb the bridge and create content for social networks'.

She described it as an 'unfortunate and sad outcome'.

She said accessing the bridge was 'totally banned', and something 'which we have reiterated on many occasions cannot be done under any circumstances', but Mr Stevenson went ahead with the stunt, lost his grip and fell.

Situated over the River Tagus, local media sources say the bridge has for several years attracted climbers and social media influencers who ignore the ban to scale.

Lewiss mother, Keila Stevenson, previously said his family were 'absolutely devastated' by the 'tragic accident', and described him as a 'thrill-seeker' who had a passion for photography, travel and new experiences.

Mrs Stevenson said they supported his adventures, but 'didnt particularly agree' with his climbing.

Speaking from his home in Derby, his grandfather Clifford Stevenson, 70, told the Daily Mail: 'We all tried to talk him out of it. We were always trying to talk him out of doing things but that was the way he was.

'He loved doing it, always went out there believing he'd be alright. He did what he did for his own pleasure. He did not get any money for it, he was an adventurer.'

They pleaded with him to call off the risky climb, but he ignored them and travelled to Spain.

The inquest in writing told how Lewis and a friend scaled the central mast of the bridge in the early hours of the morning using the elevator rail

Situated over the River Tagus, local media sources say the bridge has for several years attracted climbers and social media influencers who ignore the ban to scale (not pictured)

His grandfather Clifford Stevenson, 70, told the Daily Mail: 'We all tried to talk him out of it. We were always trying to talk him out of doing things but that was the way he was'

Mrs Stevenson added: 'Lewis was my boy, my world and my biggest achievement. He continually made me so proud, he was happy and ambitious in life.

'We as a whole family supported his adventures around the world, which included amazing places he got to visit like Easter Island and Machu Picchu, but unfortunately those adventures also included climbing great heights which we didnt particularly agree with but understood this was what he loved to do.

'He knew his limits and never did anything beyond them. He was a keen photographer and he did this all for passion, not as an influencer.

'There will forever be a hole in our hearts and life will not be the same again.'

It was also expected that investigators would look into the possibility bad weather played a part in what happened as it is thought to have rained heavily in Talavera de la Reina before the tragedy, making everything more slippery than it normally would have been.
Ghislaine Maxwell sought to find 'intelligent, pretty and fun' women 'from good families' for a friend named 'Andrew', according to newly released emails.

The correspondence was published by the US Department of Justice in the latest tranche of documents relating to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The emails show Maxwell, who is currently behind bars in the United States, planning a trip to Peru for an unknown person saved in her contacts as 'the Invisible Man'.

In one message sent to a contact in the South American country on March 3, 2002, Maxwell made a request for 'two-legged sightseeing' to make her friend 'very happy'.

The 'Invisible Man' is not identified in the Epstein files but Andrew did make a six-day trip to Peru in March 2002 to celebrate his mother's Golden Jubilee.

There is no suggestion that any illegal activity took place during the visit.

The emails from Maxwell were forwarded to Juanesteban Ganoza, who was to act as her friend's tour guide.

She says to him: 'I just gave Andrew your telephone no.

Andrew is pictured during a trip to Peru in March 2002. In one email, Ghislaine Maxwell made a request for 'two-legged sightseeing' to make her friend 'very happy'

The former Prince Andrew pictured lying across five women. The context of the photograph remains unknown (Maxwell pictured back row, left)

In March 2002, Maxwell sent a message to 'The Invisible Man', forwarding a message she had sent an acquaintance

'He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines,' Maxwell adds, seemingly referring to the archaeological site in Peru.

'He can ride but it is not his favorite sport i.e. pass on the horses.'

Another line from the email reads: 'Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy.

'I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.'

Maxwell refers to A as 'a very English sounding gentleman on the phone'.

Mr Ganoza then replies: 'About the girls  how old is he? I doubt it that he will find someone here, but we can try.'

Responding to the invite, the Invisible Man says: 'I am overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity of the offers that are being made for me.'

He adds: 'As for girls well I leave that entirely to you and Juan Estoban!'

Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, but his friendship with Epstein prompted King Charles to strip him of his remaining royal titles earlier this year.

The former Prince is also due to be evicted from his 30-room mansion Royal Lodge in an unprecedented fall from grace.

Join the debate Should royals face tougher scrutiny when mixed up in scandals like the Epstein-Maxwell affair?

Epstein Files reveal email to Ghislaine 'from Balmoral' asking for 'inappropriate friends'... and signed 'A'

Maxwell converses with Epstein amid the picturesque surrounds of the Highlands close to Balmoral Castle

An email signed 'A' to Ghislaine Maxwell has been included in the Epstein files

In the correspondence, the man referred to as the Invisible Man uses the email addresses 'abx17@dial.pipex.com' and 'aace@dial.pipex.com'.

And one message, sent the year before the trip in August 2001, is signed off 'A xxx'. This message also refers to being at 'Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family'.

He claims to be 'totally exhausted' and says 'The Girls' are 'completely shattered', before asking how Maxwell is.

He writes: 'How's LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall.'

He concludes: 'Any ideas gratefully received! See ya A xxx'

A few days later Maxwell replies: 'So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.' She signs off her message: 'Kisses Gx.'

The man responds on August 18: 'Distraught!' He adds that he lost his valet that week. 'He had been with me since I was 2,' the message reads.

'I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me. He was a real rock and almost a part of the family.'

He adds: 'If you have any good ideas as to how to get my mind back on track I'd be grateful for advice. See you real soon I hope if you are coming over. A xxx'

The new disclosures come as the US Department of Justice officially requested that Andrew be 'compelled' to answer questions over his relationship with sex offenders Epstein and Peter Nygard.

Photos shows an email sent between Maxwell and the 'Invisible Man' in August 2001

Donald Trump defended Bill Clinton and other political enemies who were featured in the latest Epstein files drop, calling it 'a terrible thing'

New documents released this morning include the bombshell 'Request for Assistance' sent to the UK Government, asking them to arrange for FBI agents to interview the then-Duke of York.

It states that there was 'evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein's victims'.

The long-awaited Epstein files were released on Friday by the Department of Justice, who posted the documents on its website and organised the material into four datasets.

Among 8,000 new documents is the suggestion that US President Donald Trump travelled on Epstein's private jet 'many more times than previously has been reported', including one journey with a 20-year-old woman.

An email from a New York assistant US attorney states that Trump was listed as a passenger on eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four where Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell was also present.

The email says: 'For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump travelled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case.'

It continues: 'On one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump and then-20-year-old [redacted].'

The new files also include hundreds of videos or audio recordings, notably surveillance footage from August 2019, the month Epstein was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The DOJ posted around 11,000 links to new documents online, but some of them appeared to lead nowhere.

One photo appears to show Andrew lying across five women's laps.

Dressed in black tie, the former Duke of York is seen laughing with Maxwell, who is standing in the background.

Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he did not 'see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction'.
Police had been responding to disturbances at Rob and Michele Reiner's Los Angeles mansion for over a decade  long before the Hollywood legend and his wife were found dead inside their home, the Daily Mail can reveal.

LAPD records obtained by the Daily Mail show officers were called to the family's $13.5 million Brentwood property at least six times: in 2013, 2014, 2017, twice in 2019, and on December 14, the day the Reiners were killed..

The 'calls for service' were for incidents ranging from alleged family violence to welfare and mental health checks.

'There's been quite a few calls for service at the Reiner house,' a source close to the LAPD told the Daily Mail.

'The West LA division of LAPD was summoned to that home on many occasions.'

Nick Reiner, 32, charged with murdering his parents Rob and Michele with a knife, had been living in the guest house at the property on and off for years, sources close to the family say.

The revelation about police callouts suggests there had been trouble at the home well before the legendary movie director and his wife were found with their throats reportedly cut on Sunday afternoon.

Among the list of incidents is a call on May 5, 2017 at 4.04pm with the code 'BFV INVEST', meaning a battery of family violence investigation.

The LA County Medical Examiner has ruled Rob and Michele Reiner's deaths a homicide, caused by 'multiple sharp force injuries with a knife by another'

Now, LAPD call records obtained by the Daily Mail reveal police had been called to the couple's Brentwood mansion at least six times since 2013, for incidents ranging from alleged battery or family violence, welfare and mental health checks

The logs say that a police report was written up about the incident.

A September 27, 2019 call received at 4.24pm was given the category '918M', for mental health-related check on a male subject.

After attending, officers marked the case as not requiring any further police action.

Earlier that year on February 25 officers were called to perform a welfare check at 9.51pm.

Police responded, and reported the incident to a supervisor.

Another welfare check was called in on August 4, 2013 at 3.31am. An officer wrote up a police report about the incident, which was simply labeled 'door' in the logs obtained by the Daily Mail.

One apparently innocuous callout was a noise complaint labeled 'party', at 12.30pm on February 2, 2014, and was resolved with the officer's comment 'gone on arrival' in the logs.

'Brentwood is a fairly quiet neighborhood. You don't generally get a lot of calls for service at a home,' the source close to the LAPD said.

The police call logs also include the final, fatal call on December 14, when the bodies of Reiner and his wife Michele were discovered at their home

Holiday decorations are visible at the Reiners' home two days after they were found dead inside

'In this case, the officers had a recollection that they responded to the home on numerous occasions.'

'It was significant, the number of times they visited that home.'

Earlier on Tuesday, the LA County Medical Examiner's office released Rob and Michele Reiner's death certificates, revealing their bodies were cremated after their brutal murders.

Authorities previously said that the couple passed away after suffering 'multiple sharp force injuries', and newly-released death certificates add that this was caused 'with a knife, by another'.

Their remains were given to their oldest son Jake, and they were cremated at Mount Sinai Mortuary, according to the New York Post.

Both of their deaths have been ruled homicides, with the place of death listed as their residence.

Nick was arrested on December 14 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother.

The couple's younger son, Nick Reiner, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and made his first court appearance on December 17

Nick is one of three siblings (pictured far right with parents, older brother Jake, center and younger Romy, right in 2014)

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Prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and use of a dangerous weapon, a knife, meaning, if he is convicted, Nick could face life in prison without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty.

He made a brief court appearance on Wednesday, wearing an anti-suicide vest. He did not enter a plea.

Nick's defense attorney, Alan Jackson, asked the judge for a continuance, saying that he 'needed more time' to prepare his case.

When the judge asked a blank-faced Nick 'if he agreed that his arraignment should be continued', he answered, 'Yes, your honor.'

His arraignment was pushed to January 7 and he was ordered to be held in jail without bail.

Jackson addressed the media after the hearing and asked people not to 'rush to judgment' about the case.
A vicious melee broke out in a Wisconsin courtroom as a 16-year-old murderer was sentenced to life behind bars.

Parise Larry Jr was convicted of carrying out a fatal shooting at a Fond du Lac apartment complex alongside Antonio Johnston, 19, in May 2023.

Larry, who was 14 at the time, and Johnson, then 17, killed Tatyanna Zech, 20. Two others, an 18-year-old man and his 49-year-old father, were injured amid the gunfire.

On Friday, both teen killers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Johnston had pleaded guilty to all eight felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide, in January, while Larry was found guilty at a jury trial in October.

But Larry's hearing in Fond du Lac County court quickly spiraled out of control when a fight erupted between his and Zech's loved ones in the gallery at around 10:30 am.

The altercation began in the middle of the proceeding as a verbal argument, but it quickly escalated into a full-fledged fight, according to Fox 6.

Parise Larry Jr was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Friday

A fight broke out in the courtroom at around 10:30 am between relatives of the victim and the defendant

Judge Laura Lavey was heard screaming, 'Stop!' as brawlers jumped out of their seats to confront one another.

Court police officers quickly separated the heated mob, with one woman involved in the fight heard shouting, 'I'm tired of this sh*t!' as someone appeared to hold her back.

'That's a grown a** man talking sh*t,' she continued. It is unclear what initially sparked the dispute.

Some people were brought into the hallway as more law enforcement was called to the scene. Meanwhile, the hearing was adjourned.

As a result of the fracas, an adult woman was arrested and booked into jail for disorderly conduct. Other people were escorted from the premises, per Fox 6.

Those who left the courthouse continued screaming at each other in the parking lot, where a man - identified as the original instigator - was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, police said.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Fond du Lac Sheriff's Office and the court for more information on the incident.

When the crowd was finally calmed, and the session resumed about an hour and a half later, Lavey was less than thrilled with the courtroom behavior she had witnessed.

Tatyanna Zech, 20, was killed while she was taking out the garbage at the apartment complex

Parise Larry Jr was convicted of carrying out a fatal shooting at a Fond du Lac apartment complex alongside Antonio Johnston, 19, in May 2023

'To say that I am frustrated and disappointed is an understatement,' she told the room.

Before the judge issued Larry's sentence, the teenage killer apologized for carrying out the senseless shooting.

'Im going to take responsibility for everything thats in this case. And I just want to say sorry to my family and their family,' he said. 'Hope everybody can forgive me for my actions.'

He appeared stoic as the judge told him that he will be spending the rest of his life in jail.

Johnston also spoke before he was sentenced - taking the opportunity to grovel for mercy.

'I beg you, please just give me another chance to show that I am worth it, and that I am not a disgrace to society and I am not a menace to society,' he said.

'Giving my deepest condolences to the entire Zech family, everybody else who has been affected... I am so very sorry.'

Zech's mother also spoke in court, describing her slain daughter as a 'bright light to the world' and a talented hairdresser.

The fight moved into the courthouse hall way as law enforcement arrived

Brawlers moved into the parking lot, where the verbal altercation continued until someone was arrested

'I ask that when you consider the sentencing for these young men, you truly consider the magnitude of the life that was taken, and the vast dark void that was left behind,' she said to the judge.

According to the original criminal complaint from the May 2023 shooting, reviewed by Fox 11, Larry and Johnston were involved in an altercation with the 18-year-old victim at the Maplewood Commons apartment complex.

Investigators believe that the man, who was shot but survived, was the one Larry and Johnston were going after.

According to security video, Johnston pulled out a pistol and fired multiple rounds in the 18-year-old's direction.

Larry also fired shots at the man, police said. During his trial, he claimed he was acting in self-defense.

Zech was also caught on security camera in the crossfire of the dispute while taking out the garbage. The young woman had nothing to do with the altercation.

Larry and Johnston both fled the scene. Larry turned himself in just days after the shooting, while Johnston was arrested from a friend's house in September 2024 after months on the run.
When experienced hiker Mary-Jane Parker set out to bag three Munros in one day, she might have expected to feel a little soreness in the legs by the end of the walk.

But within minutes of setting off with her dog Lola, the 61-year-old was engulfed in a world of pain and terror after she was crushed and trampled underfoot by a herd of cattle on the approach footpath to her first ascent.

The sudden and unprovoked attack left her with ten broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken right hand, bruised lungs, a serious leg wound and multiple bruises to the head, face and body.

Unable to reach her phone, she lay in agony playing dead for almost an hour so as not to provoke the still-threatening cows and a bull before she managed to activate an SOS alert and tracking device on her rucksack beside her head.

Soon afterwards, some fellow hillwalkers arrived and chased off the cattle before being joined by police and paramedics who scrambled Scotlands Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) to transport Ms Parker off the hill to safety.

Reliving the traumatic events of that late August day, she paid tribute to SCAA whose timely intervention rescued her from her ordeal and saved her life.

Hiker Mary-Jane Parker recovering in hospital

Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance was dispatched and rescued Ms Parker from the hillside

Mrs Parker said she was lucky to be alive after sustaining a serious leg wound when she was trampled on by the cows and bull

Its a miracle I made it out alive, she said yesterday. Im so grateful every day when I wake up and know I am still alive. What a gift it is. To be given that second chance.

And it was SCAA that gave me that chance. This charity is why I am here today. Im able to be with my family this Christmas because of SCAA.

Ms Parker, of Peebles, had planned to ascend three of the Monadhliath Munros when she was ambushed by the aggressive cattle at Glen Banchor, near Newtonmore, Inverness-shire.

Normally very wary of cows on open ground, she found herself suddenly confronted by the herd after rounding a bank of high ground.

Without warning, the cattle closed in on her: One of them put its head down and started thumping the ground. I was terrified. I couldnt escape, said Ms Parker, whose dog bolted in panic as the cows attacked.

She said: I was crushed between two of the cows, swept off my feet and carried between them as they charged off along the track. I could feel my body being crushed between these animals but couldnt stop them or get my feet on the ground.

I was thrown to the ground but my rucksack strap was round one of the cows legs and it dragged me along the ground. Next thing I knew I was tossed up in the air, then crashed back to earth.

The attack lasted just a few minutes but her injuries were extensive: The cows didnt move off  I was terrified they would trample me or attack me again, she said. I decided to play dead  keep as still as I could and hope they moved away without hurting me further.

I could feel the breath of one in my hair as it munched the grass at my head. Another was licking the blood on my wound. A third kept kicking my boot.

Ms Parker had several skin grafts and said the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance crew saved her life

I could see my phone lying about 8m away but couldnt reach it. It was torture. At any moment one could kill me  even by accident  the danger was far from over.

Having activated her SOS alert, she could only lie still and wait for help: Keep holding on, dont go to sleep, dont lose consciousness. Keep breathing, I said over and over to myself. Help will come.

When it finally arrived, a doctor and advanced nurse practitioner realised her injuries were so severe that her best hope of survival was an air ambulance and the SCAA was scrambled to take her to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Ten days and several surgeries  including skin grafts  later, Ms Parker was allowed him where she continues her recovery and a family Christmas she thought she might not see.

I thought I was done for out there on that track. I thought that was where it would all end for me. SCAA turned that on its head and got me where I needed to be  in time  to keep fighting and survive. I owe them everything.
John Swinney suffered humiliation yesterday after his ethics watchdogs defied him to launch a probe into whether Angela Constance misled parliament over grooming gangs.

Just days after the First Minister insisted his Justice Secretary did not break the ministerial code, his three independent advisers said a full investigation was needed.

It is the first time the advisers have unilaterally held an inquiry into a ministers conduct since they were appointed and given the power a year ago.

It followed Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar requesting the watchdogs intervene. Both said Mr Swinneys judgment was now in serious question.

Mr Findlay said: 'This is a humiliation for John Swinney. He tried to tell everyone there was nothing to see here but the independent advisers have defied him and said, Yes, there is.

Having lost all trust and credibility, its long been evident to everyone apart from John Swinney that Angela Constances position is untenable. She needs to go.

Former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross posted on X: A Christmas nightmare for John Swinney.

Hes repeatedly refused to refer his lying justice secretary to the ministerial code watchdog because he knows she broke it.

The First Minister has backed his under-fire Justice Secretary Angela Constance but ethics watchdogs now say she has questions to answer

He should have sacked her weeks ago, but shes still in post because SNP ministers believe theyre above the law.

Ms Constance has been under growing pressure to quit after appearing to break the ministerial code by misleading Holyrood and failing to correct the record.

In a debate on a Victims Bill in September, she claimed child abuse expert Professor Alexis Jay shares her view a Scottish grooming gangs inquiry is not needed and had stated in public that people should just get on with protecting children from sexual exploitation.

Professor Jay, who reported on grooming gangs in England, immediately complained to Ms Constance that her January comments about England and Wales had been taken out of context.

She wrote: It had nothing to do with the position in Scotland, as could be interpreted from your statement. I would appreciate my position being clarified.

Although a clarification later appeared in the obscure minutes for a Government child protection group, Ms Constance failed to correct the official parliamentary record.

This was despite a duty on ministers to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.

It later emerged Ms Constance also apologised in a telephone call to Professor Jay without a civil servant present - another potential breach of the code.

She initially claimed it was a private call, then admitted it was work-related.

At First Ministers Questions last week, Mr Findlay accused Ms Constance of blatantly and brazenly breaking the code - a resignation offence.

He said: This scandal shows the very worst of the SNP - cynical, calculating, dishonest and devious.

But the First Minister said he was content there has been no breach of the ministerial code.

In a letter to Mr Findlay, the First Minister also said Ms Constance was a sincere minister who would never address MSPs in any way that would mislead parliament or the public.

But his ethics advisers - former prosecutor Claire Loftus, former civil service mandarin Sir John Manzoni and former judge Sir Ernest Ryder - were not convinced.

In a follow-up letter yesterday, Mr Swinney told Mr Findlay: I can confirm that my Advisers have now considered the matter. They have notified me that they wish to initiate an investigation.

He said their findings would be published in a timely manner and it would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment further.

Mr Findlay said: This welcome development follows sustained Scottish Conservative pressure on behalf of grooming gang survivors.

Instead of doing the right thing, John Swinney has spent weeks defending the indefensible and playing petty political games.

His lack of judgment and refusal to face the facts is bewildering.'

Mr Sarwar said: This is a significant development and calls into question John Swinneys judgement - or lack of - after he publicly backed Angela Constance.

The justice secretary clearly misrepresented Professor Alexis Jay on an issue as serious as grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation.

I am pleased that the independent advisers on the Ministerial Code have responded to my request to launch an investigation into Angela Constance.

But it should have been referred to them by John Swinney.

There are now serious questions for John Swinney to answer too.

The sad truth is that this is an SNP government which time and time again lies to the public and thinks it can get away with it.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie said: Sometimes in politics people get things wrong, but the decent thing to do is be upfront when that happens.

After misrepresenting a respected expert, Angela Constance should have apologised to Professor Alexis Jay and been straight with Parliament immediately.

Instead, the SNP chose to defend the indefensible for weeks on end.

Ministers announced a national evidence-gathering review of grooming gangs overseen by Prof Jay earlier this month, but stopped short of the full judge-led inquiry demanded by victims.

It followed Fiona Goddard, from Bradford, telling the Mail how she was brought to Scotland by Asian men and raped.

Another woman using the pseudonym Taylor, also wrote to the First Minister about her abuse at the age of 13 by a ring of Pakistani men while she lived in a Glasgow care home.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: The First Minister greatly values the important, independent and impartial role of the Independent Advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code and will await their advice on this matter.
The former chief executive of the SNP will appear in court for a second hearing on embezzlement allegations before the Holyrood election in May, the Mail can reveal.

Peter Murrell, estranged husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was charged in April 2024 as part of a long-running police probe known as Operation Branchform.

Amid mounting speculation over whether the case will call in court prior to polling day in May, sources close to the case have disclosed a second hearing will be held ahead of the parliamentary vote on May 7.

The timing of any trial  if the case proceeds to that stage  is unknown but may happen later in 2026, ensuring the issue will continue to dominate Scottish politics in the run-up to the election and beyond.

A police file into the embezzlement allegations was handed to prosecutors in May 2024. Mr Murrell, 61, is accused of embezzling party funds, which is said to have occurred between 2016 and 2023.

In an unusual statement, released at the start of the general election campaign in May 2024, the Crown Office insisted that prosecutors operate independently of political influence.

Police Scotland at the home of Peter Murrell

The former SNP chief executive was charged in connection with embezzlement in April 2024

Mr Murrell with his now estranged wife former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Operation Branchform was set up to look into how more than 600,000 of crowdfunding cash was used by the SNP. Prosecutors have previously stated that Ms Sturgeon and former party treasurer Colin Beattie, who were both arrested as part of Branchform, will not face charges.

In March this year, Ms Sturgeon said the months of being under police investigation had been difficult and frustrating  but she was now completely in the clear.

That same month, Mr Murrell made no plea when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was granted bail.

He has had an application for solemn legal aid approved by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Legal aid is typically granted to people who cannot afford to pay for legal help themselves, though in some cases they still need to make their own contribution.

Mr Murrell with Ms Sturgeon after she became First Minister in 2014

According to the Scottish Government, on receipt of a prosecution report from the police, a prosecutor reviews the case and considers whether a crime has been committed and whether there is a sufficiency of admissible, credible and reliable evidence against the accused person.

If it is decided that there is, then consideration is given to whether prosecutorial action is in the public interest. Ms Sturgeon announced her intention to quit as First Minister in February 2023  just weeks before her husband was arrested.

She insisted her resignation was a coincidence of timing, saying: I think, in politics, you reach a point where you know you dont have as much to give any more.

Mr Murrell was chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years until he stood down in 2023 during the party leadership race to succeed Ms Sturgeon.

It came after their home was searched in April 2023 by police looking into what happened to donations given to the party.

Operation Branchform lasted almost four years. Latest figures released from cash-strapped Police Scotland show that expenditure on the investigation has cost more than 2.2million.
At least two people were killed in a giant explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania, with social media videos showing black smoke billowing above the facility.

On Tuesday afternoon at around 2:17pm, the blast tore through the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, which is just outside Philadelphia.

In addition to the fatalities, Governor Josh Shapiro announced in a press conference that multiple people have still not been found by first responders.

'This is a very, very tragic moment for this community,' Shapiro told reporters several hours after the disaster. 'There are investigations underway as to what caused that explosion... We believe preliminarily that it was a gas leak that led to that.'

First responders and emergency management officials who were on site came to this conclusion because there was a strong smell of gas.

The gas leak theory will further looked into by investigators with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, who arrived at the scene after the explosion, Shapiro said.

However, that will not be confirmed until the agency can examine the scene up close, Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, the press secretary at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, told the Associated Press.

The explosion was labeled a mass casualty incident by Upper Makefield Township. Twenty-one people were injured, according to WPVI.

First responders the scene of the an explosion at a nursing home in Bristol Township on Tuesday

The explosion was labeled a mass casualty incident by Upper Makefield Township. Injuries are still unknown

Law enforcement has asked the public to avoid the area while responders attend to the scene.

'We understand that there are people trapped inside,' Ruth Miller, a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, previously told CBS Philadelphia.

The nursing home has 174 beds, according to its website, but it remains unclear how many patients and staffers were inside the building at the time of the explosion.

State Rep. Tina Davis, whose district includes the nursing home, described the scene after the explosion.

'I saw smoke and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over,' she told the AP.

'It's just so sad,' Davis told the outlet. 'It's that hopeful time of year.'

'This is just something that is sad for everybody and the families and the workers that are there. I hope there's positive results from this. We don't know at this point.'

District buses transported people from the nursing home's emergency scene to a reunification center at nearby Truman High School. Officials worked on setting up beds and providing water, as well as other essentials to those in need.

Silver Lake Healthcare Center is located about 25 miles north, or one hour, of Philadelphia. It had 174 beds, per its website

Pennsylvania Rep. Tina Davis described the scene after the explosion as seeing 'car after car after car' with fire trucks and ambulances 'from all over the city'

This comes as a clearer picture emerges of how this explosion may have happened.

Musuline Watson, who said she is a certified nursing assistant at the nursing home, told WPVI that she smelled gas over the weekend.

It has also been revealed that the facility was not in compliance with several state regulations, according to the October state inspection report.

The inspection report did not say anything about gas leaks, but it did say the nursing home failed to maintain portable fire extinguishers on one of its three floors, according to the AP.

It also accused the facility of failing to provide 'smoke barrier partitions', which if installed properly can contain smoke to two floors.

Another concerning finding is that the facility did not properly store oxygen cylinders on two of the three floors. While oxygen is not flammable itself, oxygen can make gas fires burn more intensely, leading to explosions.

The facility last underwent a fire safety inspection in September 2024, according Medicare.gov. No issues were found.

However, Medicare rated the nursing home as 'much below average' thanks to shoddy health inspections.
A British man has been arrested at an airport in Australia after he allegedly tried to grab a police officer's gun while attempting to board a plane without a ticket.

Oliver Brackenbury, 35, is understood to have been detained by federal officers at Melbourne Airport on December 15.

He is alleged to have reached for the gun, which was placed in a holster, after police began speaking to him as he tried to get on an international flight.

Brackenbury is said to have been pepper sprayed and tasered after he resisted being arrested, The Sun has reported.

He was taken to hospital before being transferred into custody. He will appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on March 16.

Brackenbury has been charged with one count of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official and three counts of obstruction of a Commonwealth public official.

The alleged offences carry a maximum sentence of 13 years and two years in prison, respectively in Australia.

A British man has been arrested at an airport in Australia after he allegedly tried to grab a police officer's gun while attempting to board a plane without a ticket (file photo)

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting a British man who has been detained in Melbourne and are in contact with the local authorities.'

Australian Federal Police (AFP) acting superintendent Emily Nicholson said her force had 'zero tolerance' for violent behaviour inside airports.

'The AFP works closely with the airline industry and will intervene if anyone's behaviour becomes aggressive or violent,' she 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.'
The Albanese government has cancelled the Australian visa of a British national who was charged with displaying Nazi symbols as it clamps down on hate speech.

The man, 43, has been moved to a immigration detention in Brisbane and faces deportation.

He has been charged with four breaches of the criminal code after police found swastika-bearing swords at his Queensland home.

The man has also been accused of using social media to promote Nazi ideology and violence against the Jewish community.

The 43-year-old is set to face court in January, however, he does have the option to leave Australia voluntarily before he is legally deported.

The move comes as the Albanese government has vowed to take a tougher approach on hate speech and make it easier to cancel visas in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the British national 'came here to hate' and that he had no right to 'stay'.

The minister has pushed for a tougher approach to revoking visas, especially for those who have a history of displaying hate symbols, taking part in hate speech or vilification.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the British national 'came here to hate' and that he had no right to 'stay'

'Effectively, we will be making it easier for the Australian Federal Police to successfully bring charges against those who use and display hate symbols,' he said.

'We'll also be making changes to the Customs Act so that, as well as it being unlawful for them to be held in Australia, it is easier for them to be intercepted at the border if they're seen there.'

Police charged the British national under the government's existing laws after cancelling his visa on December 8.

The Australian Federal Police explained the man was arrested following a week-long operation, led by National Security Investigations teams, targeting individuals using far-right paraphernalia and other illegal symbols.

It is alleged the man used two different accounts on X, formerly Twitter, to display the Nazi swastika and other offensive content on several occasions between October 10 and November 5, 2025.

Police allege the social media platform blocked the man's main account, which lead to the creation of a second handle that he used to continue to post offensive, harmful and targeted content.

It is also alleged he used the X to 'espouse a pro-Nazi ideology with a specific hatred of the Jewish community, and to advocate for violence towards this community.'

On Tuesday, Burke said the government was exploring the 'method and the motivation' behind the Bondi Beach terror attack.

The tough new laws on gun control and hate speech come after 15 people were killed and 42 others injured in the Bondi Beach terror attack (pictured, memorial to honour the victims)

Naveed Akram, 24, (pictured) and his 50-year-old father Sajid allegedly opened fire with military-grade weapons on hundreds attending the first day of the Jewish festival

He explained the attorney-general, police, justice portfolios, a senior group of officials from the home affairs along with state and territory premiers' department had met early this week.

The group discussed the enforcement of strict gun control measures, as well as hate speech policies that the national cabinet agreed to following the Bondi massacre.

'We'll now be drafting instructions for the Commonwealth components of legislative changes,' Burke said.

'Some of those drafting instructions will be issued tomorrow. Others will be immediately after Christmas.

'The Hate Crimes Database and the National Firearms Register are both being accelerated to be able to provide the best possible information both to the public generally and to the authorities that issue gun licences.'

The deadly attack at Bondi Beach unfolded as hundreds of people gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event just before 7pm on December 14.

Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father Sajid allegedly opened fire with military-grade weapons on hundreds attending the first day of the Jewish festival.

During the nine-minute attack, 16 people, including gunman Sajid, were killed, and 42 others were injured.

The victims include 10-year-old Matilda; Edith Brutman, 68; Dan Elkayam, 27; Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61; Alex Kleytman, 87; Yaakov Levitan, 39; Peter Meagher, 61; Reuven Morrison, 62; Marika Pogany, 82; Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41; Adam Smyth, 50; Boris Tetleroyd, 68; Tania Tretiak, 68; and Tibor Weitzen, 78.
A judge has made an unprecedented series of corrections to the controversial Sandie Peggie tribunal ruling which dismissed most of the veteran nurses claims.

Employment judge Sandy Kemp found the 52-year-old nurse was harassed by her employer NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with biological male Dr Beth Upton.

But his judgment earlier this month, which saw most of Ms Peggies claims against the health board and all those against the female-identifying doctor dismissed, began to crumble within days of being published.

He was forced to issue a correction after a quote used was found not to exist.

And last night Judge Kemp issued yet another Certificate of Correction, fixing a further 11 mistakes in the controversial ruling which is set to be appealed by A&E nurse Ms Peggie.

The errors have led to heightened scrutiny of the landmark legal document.

Michael Foran, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Oxford, said the latest round of revisions was an unprecedented use of a power expressly confined to amending clerical mistakes and should not be used to make substantive amendments or to fix errors in citation.

Judge Sandy Kemp

The ruling is set to be appealed by A&E nurse Sandie Peggie

Professor Foran added: Most concerning is the attempt to use this power to remove quotations suspected of being fabricated and to remove quotation marks from other parts of the judgment.

'While this could be presented as correction of typographical errors ... the original judgment presented these sentences as quotations from cases where those quotations did not exist.

'There remain outstanding questions about how these false quotations made it into the judgment in the first place.

Tess White, the Scottish Conservatives equalities spokesman, said the corrections had been snuck out just before Christmas.

Amendments include correctly naming the group Not All Gays, who were left furious after being called Not For Gays in one part of the document.

Labour MP Joani Reid said: We should expect a minimum standard of competence from a judge on a 140,000, taxpayer-funded salary.

That an employment tribunal ruling in such an important case has had to be re-issued once again with multiple corrections is unacceptable.

The tribunals service said it cannot comment on individual cases.
A 13-year-old British boy has reportedly been stabbed to death in Portugal - before the killer took his own life by triggering a gas explosion.

The teen tragically passed away at around midday on Tuesday in the town of Casais, in the Tomar area of the country, according to local media.

It is understood he was attacked by his mother's ex-boyfriend, who then barricaded himself inside her home, Portuguese outlet Diario de Noticias reports.

The 43-year-old Portuguese citizen then allegedly turned on the gas to cause a leak, which killed him in an enormous blast.

He is believed to have a criminal record - and has also reportedly served time in prison.

The schoolboy's mother, also 43, who is British, is understood to have suffered minor physical injuries in the explosion in the centre of the southern European country.

She was reportedly taken to Tomar Hospital with her son, where she is believed to be receiving psychological support.

The parent is understood to work for Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR), a military law enforcement force separate from the country's police.

The teen tragically passed away at around midday on Tuesday in the town of Casais (pictured, file photo), in the Tomar area of the country, according to local media

A GNR officer who attended the scene is also said to have suffered minor injuries in the blast, after they were hit by shards of glass from a smashed window.

A source from the Santarem district's GNR branch told the Portuguese Lusa news agency it was called at around 12pm to reports of domestic violence.

They said the force arrived at the property to discover what was described as a homicide followed by a suicide.

The mother is believed to have called emergency services and cried for help from neighbours, according to Portuguese publication SIC Noticias.

It came after her ex-partner assaulted her and threw her out of her own house - leaving him inside with her son.

Officers had reportedly just arrived when the blast happened, which local radio station Hertz has said occurred near Tomar's Casais Church.

The teen and the suspect were both pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy is set to occur, which will determine whether the boy lost his life from the stabbing or the explosion.

Luis Freire, president of the local parish council for Tomar's Casais and Alviobeira areas, said authorities were aware of previous instances of domestic violence between the former couple.

Officials were first informed of this in 2023, according to Portuguese media.

Neighbours have reported the ex-partner regularly visited the mother's house, despite the fact they were separated.

The Judicial Police, Portugal's criminal investigation unit, are on the scene investigating.

The road next to the house is closed as forensics teams gather evidence.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Portugal, and stand ready to provide consular support.'
Keir Starmer will water down the family farm tax in yet another humiliating capitulation to his backbenchers.

The threshold at which inheritance tax will apply to farmers will more than double from 1million to 2.5million, halving the number of estates affected.

It is the latest in a series of painful climbdowns which have eroded the Prime Minister's authority and prompted questions about his leadership.

In recent months, he has U-turned on pledges on winter fuel allowance, welfare reform and the two-child benefit cap, leading to questions about how long he can stay in his job.

The latest climbdown came after more than 30 Labour MPs abstained on a vote on the policy and one rebelled, leading to his suspension from the party.

Campaigners said they welcomed the U-turn, but it was too little too late and farmers would not forget the harm that had been done.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that he welcomed the changes to the 'cruel tax'.

'There's going to be a sense of relief across many farming families right the way across the UK. Many can sleep easy this Christmas when otherwise they may not have been able to,' he said.

A farmer drives their tractor with a 'Save British Farming' poster in Westminster earlier this month

Keir Starmer (pictured) will water down the family farm tax in yet another humiliating capitulation to his backbenchers

Sir Keir is understood to have intervened personally in the issue after meeting Mr Bradshaw ten days ago.

Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said he would continue to fight to get the tax scrapped in its entirety.

'This change will come as an enormous relief to thousands of family farms across the country who faced seeing their businesses taxed out of existence,' he said.

'But this announcement only limits the damage  it doesn't eradicate it entirely.

'Many family businesses will own enough expensive machinery and land to be valued above the threshold yet still operate on such narrow profit margins that this tax burden remains unaffordable.'

The Countryside Alliance's Mo Metcalf-Fisher added: 'This partial change to the disastrous family farm tax is welcome. It has caused months of unnecessary pain and suffering.

'It's clear the Government has realised that the growing perception that it is at war with the countryside is toxic.'

Jonathan Charlesworth, the son of a farmer who took his own life the day before the 2024 Budget in anticipation of the tax changes, said the U-turn was 'a well-fought-for victory for our precious countryside and the custodians of it'.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said it was a 'huge U-turn by the Government' on the 'cruel, immoral' plans.

Jonathan Charlesworth, pictured feeding cattle at his farm, accused the government of a 'complete lack of understanding towards farming and the countryside in general'

Jeremy Clarkson joins thousands of farmers protesting in Whitehall in November

Tory environment spokesman Victoria Atkins said: 'At long last, Labour has snuck out a partial U-turn on their vindictive family farm tax. It is too late for some, however. Businesses and lives have been lost. Rural communities will not forget the distress, pain and panic this Government has caused them.'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her maiden Budget last year that farmers would be subject to inheritance tax for the first time from April 2026. This would apply to farms worth more than 1million.

The announcement triggered 14 months of protests, with farmers descending on Westminster in their tractors and accusing Labour of declaring war on the countryside.

Following intense pressure, ministers announced yesterday that they would increase the threshold to 2.5million.

Growing disquiet on the party's backbenches, coupled with this month's animal welfare strategy which was received badly among rural pressure groups, prompted the backtracking.

An increasing number of Labour's 100 MPs who represent rural seats had already protested against the changes, with one voting against the Government.

The party suspended Markus Campbell-Savours, who represents the rural seat of Penrith and Solway, and he now sits as an independent.

More than 30 Labour backbenchers abstained from the vote and were said to be planning further action to oppose the tax in the new year.

The climbdown came after ministers announced changes to animal welfare rules which could lead to British farmers being undercut by foreign rivals.

They pledged to ban cages for chickens and pigs by 2030 but will still allow the import of produce from abroad that doesn't meet those standards, putting British farmers at a disadvantage.

Other changes such as the banning of trail hunting prompted questions about whether Labour had declared war on the countryside.

Yesterday's U-turn came after a former head of the NFU warned of the impact of the hated tax in an official report commissioned by the Government.

Baroness Batters said farmers were 'bewildered and frightened' and it was the 'single biggest issue they faced'.

Last week, Sir Keir was asked by MPs if he was aware of reports that some farmers with terminal illnesses were considering suicide before the tax kicks in next April.

He told the liaison committee he understood the concerns but defended the 'sensible reform'.

There were also questions about whether the U-turn would be funded through tax rises given it was expected to raise 520million a year by 2029 and is now expected to raise only 300million.

The Government said it had 'listened' to the concerns of the farming community and 'carefully considered' the feedback.

It claimed the number of farms affected by the reforms in 2026-27 would halve from 375 to 185.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 'We have listened closely to farmers across the country and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms.'
Dave Pelzers book, A Child Called It  about his utterly miserable, abuse-ridden Californian childhood in which he claims to have been stabbed, burned, starved, imprisoned and forced to eat ammonia, dog faeces and vomit by his evil mother who loathed him so much she could not use his name  became a global hit in 1995.

It sold more than five million copies and made Pelzer, now 64, into a very wealthy man.

The book also kick-started the incredibly lucrative phenomenon of misery memoirs that went on to dominate the bestseller lists in the Noughties.

While these books made a lot of people very rich, the controversial nature of their content sparked many angry allegations.

The suffering recounted in so much excruciating detail by the authors who followed Pelzer on to the mis lit gravy train was criticised for being either made up, stolen from others lives or, at the very least, exaggerated wildly.

The millions of readers who lapped up this awfulness also found themselves in the firing line. Far from being viewed as empathetic souls, they were often accused of being sadistic voyeurs who revelled in the sadness.

And literary success would ultimately lead to neither long-term happiness nor redemption for the writers.

Last week, in an interview with The Mail on Sundays You magazine 30 years after the publication of his first book, Pelzer claimed that his obsessive sharing had cost him dearly.

Dave Pelzer kick-started the incredibly lucrative trend of writing so-called misery memoirs

After A Child Called It, he wrote three more memoirs  The Lost Boy, A Man Named Dave and The Privilege Of Youth  about his unbelievably dismal childhood. And, while they brought him the fame and fortune, they also killed off two marriages.

His revelations shattered relationships with close family members who had a rather different take on his childhood memories (and his decision to share them) and fed an unhealthy obsession with spreading his message of salvation to, well, anyone whod pay to listen.

He is not alone. On closer inspection, it seems that many like him  who have drowned us in a torrent of their suffering, sadness and record-breaking book sales  have paid for their over-sharing, with lawsuits, social ostracism, family estrangement, loneliness and more. Others have simply styled it out, shut their ears and enjoyed the cash.

Frank McCourt: Angelas Ashes (1996)

Author Frank McCourt caused controversy with his childhood memoir, Angela's Ashes

McCourts heart-wrenching account of his grim childhood in the slums of Limerick in the 1930s and 1940s was probably the most miserable and successful poverty porn ever written.

Published in 1996 when he was 66, it won a Pulitzer Prize, sold tens of millions of copies and was turned into a Hollywood film directed by Alan Parker with Robert Carlyle and Emily Watson starring.

But it also lost him a lot of friends back home in Limerick, which he described as a terrible place, a backwater, and caused huge rifts among the McCourt family.

Because McCourt did not stint on any details, covering everything from the rain-soaked tenement slum where the whole family slept in one bed and shared a fetid, crawling loo with their neighbours to the death of three of his six siblings.

His fathers rabid alcoholism. The hunger, cold bare feet and rags for clothes. And the grim ailments of poverty  eyes dripping with pus and black teeth. All of it so relentlessly awful that, as one critic wrote, it makes Bleak House look like a Marx Brothers movie.

And to be fair, most of it was true. The dead siblings, his drunken father, the eye infections.

But not quite all. After the book came out, the Limerick Leader published a photograph showing the youthful McCourt and his younger brother Malachy, smiling and dressed in extremely smart scout uniforms. Another photo showed their mother Angela, surprisingly plump and smiley given all that grinding hunger.

And the locals were furious. Once, signing books at a shop in Limerick, McCourt was confronted by a furious customer who ripped up Angelas Ashes, declaring: Youre a disgrace to Ireland, the Church and your mother!

But McCourt, who died in 2009 aged 78, always insisted hed simply written it as he remembered it as a boy.

And while he rattled through wives, he very much enjoyed the fame, the massive royalties, an apartment on New Yorks upper East Side and a luxurious home in Connecticut, where Dustin Hoffman and Arthur Miller were neighbours  and simply brushed any criticism and angry family members away.

James Frey: A Million Little Pieces (2003)

James Frey was publicly roasted by Oprah Winfrey after A Million Little Pieces was debunked

At first, Freys sentimental memoir of addiction, prison and redemption received a mixed reaction. One critic hailed it, The War and Peace of addiction, but others were less keen, repelled by the relentless gruesome details about shooting up and soiling himself, the childish style and the inkling that something didnt quite ring true.

But then, in 2005, it was picked as an Oprahs Book Club selection, topped the New York Times Bestseller list for 15 weeks and became the USAs best-selling book of the year  after Harry Potter  and Frey was flying high.

Until in January 2006, The Smoking Gun  a website which puts up legal documents, arrest records and police mugshots  published an article called A Million Little Lies after a six-week investigation into Freys real life and it all came crumbling down.

Because it turned out his memoir was chock full of fabrications. Yes, hed been drunk, taken drugs and done a spot of shoplifting  but then so have lots of others. And sadly, he hadnt done a three-month stint in prison  despite all the gruesome details. Or had a girlfriend called Lily who hung herself.

And everything else was so grotesquely exaggerated that perhaps the line in the book where he says, lying became part of my life should have been in bold font.

Needless to say, Oprah went bananas  having presented it all as truth to her book club  and invited him on the show for a public roasting, where Frey claimed to have been so deluded I made up my memoirs.

Happily for him, controversy  and the truth  simply bounced off his very thick skin. And book sales didnt falter.

He told one interviewer: Ive never had any interest at all in being a journalist or writing some sort of historically accurate autobiography.

And he went on to write several more books which received appalling reviews  Remarkably boring  but became bestsellers, set up a fiction factory to help other writers churn out commercial childrens fiction and became a successful businessman cum literary media mogul.

In 2019, he was even immortalised in artist-turned-filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnsons film of A Million Little Pieces, starring her husband Aaron.

It was panned by the critics. But Frey didnt care. Because hes rich and famous and hes still got a (truthful) memoir up his sleeve if he ever fancies writing it.

Misha Defonseca: Surviving With Wolves (2005)

Misha Defonseca, real name Monique De Wael, eventually admitted her story was fake in 2008

Misha Defonsecas Surviving with Wolves was hailed as a truly extraordinary work  Schindlers List meets The Jungle Book  when it was published in 2005.

And it was. Not just because it involved a six-year-old girls 1,900-mile, four-year trek, on her own, across Europe, to find her missing parents during the Second World War.

Or because she was given shelter by a pack of wolves who treated her as their cub. Or that she killed a Nazi officer in self-defence. But because, yes, you guessed correctly, it was completely made up by a middle-aged woman called Monique De Wael from Massachusetts.

Doubts first arose in 2007 when zoologists questioned whether wild wolves would ever have treated a six-year-old girl as a cub, as she claimed.

A bit more digging revealed Mishas parents were not resistance fighters and that, during the four years shed supposedly spent crossing Europe from Belgium to the Ukraine, shed actually been living with her granny in a flat in Brussels. She wasnt even Jewish, for goodness sake.

But that all emerged after the book became a huge hit, sparking a French film adaptation and a 10millon award in her favour against her US publisher for allegedly withholding royalties and not doing enough to market the book.

It was only in 2008 that she finally admitted shed made it all up to block out the unhappy memories of her real childhood.

And after all the hoo-ha  and a demand in 2014 for the repayment of the 10million  she burrowed down to live quietly in Holliston, Massachusetts, with her very loyal husband, Maurice. She has always insisted: Its my story. Its not the real reality, but its my reality, my way of surviving.

And she refused point blank to co-operate with Netflix on a 2021 documentary of her story, Misha And The Wolves.

Kathy OBeirne: Kathys Story: A Childhood Hell Inside The Magdalen Laundries (2005)

Kathy OBeirne's account of torture by her father was denounced by seven of her ten siblings

Detailing a hell of sexual abuse and beatings  first at home and then inside a Catholic institution for fallen women  OBeirnes book was vivid, monstrous, page-turningly awful and sold more than 400,000 copies.

She claimed to have been tortured by her labourer father, experimented on in a psychiatric hospital and raped by at least four priests and a policeman.

And if that wasnt enough, there was also a spell in a Magdalen laundry, one of Irelands notorious Church-run homes for fallen women, where, aged 14, she claims to have given birth to a daughter, Annie, who died aged ten. The book was so traumatic that, at the time, one reviewer wrote: Her story is so horrific, it is almost unbelievable.

Sadly, this was spot on.

The year after it was published, seven of OBeirnes ten siblings denounced her account of horrific torture by her father in court. It turns out she was not adopted, there was no record of her ever attending the Magdalen laundry, or of her having a baby when she was 14.

Rubbish though they were, OBeirnes allegations were damaging. They not only fuelled Irelands obsession with clerical sex abuse, they tore her own family apart and wrecked the final years of Fr Fergal OConnor, the founder of homeless hostel Sherrard House, whom shed accused of raping her in the 1970s.

In fact, poor OConnor was so riddled with arthritis when the alleged crimes took place that he was unable to even shake hands, let alone attack someone. The investigation into him took a full year, exonerating him just two days before his death.

OBeirne died in 2019, still fighting with her family.

Constance Briscoe: Ugly (2006)

Constance Briscoe became a barrister but was jailed for 16 months in 2014 and disbarred

In this harrowing 431-page account of a loveless childhood, Briscoe details how her mother systematically abused her  beating her with a stick for wetting the bed, starving her and calling her a dirty little whore,

At one stage, Briscoe was so desperate she took herself off to social services and tried to get taken into care. When that failed, she was so suicidal she swallowed bleach because it kills all known germs and my mother always told me I was a germ.

Eventually, when she was 13, her mother simply moved out, leaving her to fend for herself with no gas, electricity or food. But, somehow, Constance found the courage to overcome her terrible start in life, applied herself to her studies, went to university, took a degree in law, became a barrister and underwent extensive cosmetic surgery to change her looks.

When it came out in 2006, the book did not go down at all well with her mother, who sued for libel, claiming the events were entirely made up. But after a ten-day hearing at the High Court in London in 2008, Constance was completely vindicated.

In a final unexpected twist, Briscoe was jailed for 16 months in 2014 for perverting the course of justice by leaking information to a journalist in R v Huhne and Pryce  the infamous speeding-points scandal involving the former MP Chris Huhne and his wife Vicky Pryce. She was also disbarred and removed from the judiciary.
The royal Christmas message has been a cherished Yuletide tradition for millions in Britain and around the world ever since George V's historic radio broadcast in 1932.

Each monarch has since turned these poignant speeches into an opportunity for reflection and gratitude, while acknowledging the highs and lows of the year gone by.

While Queen Elizabeth II did not directly address the rift threatening to splinter her family in 2019, royal experts noted a subtle detail in her pre-recorded festive message that hinted at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's impending exit from The Firm.

Unlike the year before, the late Queen decided not to display a photo of Prince Harry, Meghan, and their newborn son Archie on her desk in what many saw as a sign they had been 'kicked to the margins of the monarchy'.

Prince William knew his brother - who was in Canada at the time - would pick up on the Queen's message and throw what royal author Tina Brown described as a 'Category 5 tantrum' in her book Palace Papers.

'William was said to have been appalled when he saw the Sussexes had been edited out,' the former editor of Vanity Fair wrote.

'He knew his brother well enough to predict a Category 5 tantrum brewing.'

Since their wedding in 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan had been working to carve out a new, 'half-in, half-out' role for themselves as the Duchess's intent to modernise the monarchy became clear.

The Queen's Christmas Speech in 2019 featured no image of Prince Harry, instead her photographs were of Charles and Camilla (1), Prince Philip (2), the Cambridges' Christmas card picture (3), and her father George VI (4)

In October 2019, the couple announced they were going to take an extended break from Royal duties for some 'much-needed family time' before Kensington Palace confirmed Harry and Meghan were in Canada at the time.

They opted to skip the Royal Family's annual Christmas festivities at Sandringham estate in Norfolk and spent the holidays with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, in Vancouver instead.

However, their 'sabbatical' soon turned into a 'working vacation' as the Sussexes allegedly used their time away from the spotlight to 'refine' their exit plan, Ms Brown wrote in her bestseller.

It was during their time at Mille Fleurs, a $14million waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island, that Harry and Meghan laid the foundation for what would become known as 'Megxit'.

The Duchess reportedly asked her former publicist Keleigh Thomas to 'map out the new Sussex Royal foundation' and asked the designer of her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig to 'secretly create the digital expression' of their future identity as part-time royals.

While Her Majesty had yet to allow the couple to use Sussex Royal, which outlined the work streams of Harry and Meghan, they applied for trademarks for several products, including sportswear, pens, and 'emotional support services', according to royal expert Tom Bower.

Yet, while rumours slowly began to circulate of a growing rift between the Sussexes and the remainder of the Firm, few knew of Meghan and Harry's long-term plans at the time.

Royal fans were perhaps also slightly preoccupied by the scandal unfolding over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein amid widespread scrutiny over his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis.

2018: Queen Elizabeth II after she recorded her annual Christmas Day message, in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace in London. Prince Harry and Meghan can be seen in two framed photographs (circled)

By the time Christmas morning dawned, the cracks within the royal family were beginning to show and the monarch knew she had to 'take control', wrote Mr Bower.

'The irritants, especially Andrew and Harry, would be removed earlier than planned.'

While Elizabeth made no mention either of her son or grandson when she addressed the nation, royal watchers spotted an important detail that seemingly confirmed Harry and Meghan's status in the royal family had been downgraded.

'The subtext was all in the flotilla of carefully arranged family photographs positioned on her writing desk,' wrote Ms Brown.

Eagle-eyed royal watchers noticed that, while a photo of the Duke and Duchess taken on their wedding day had been displayed during the Queen's 2018 address, they were conspicuously absent when she faced the camera the following year.

'The Sussexes had evaporated, their image excised as skilfully as Stalin would have done to an apparatchik out of favour,' Ms Brown continued.

This was no accident as the royal author explained each detail of the 3pm Christmas broadcast was meticulously planned - and the curation of family photographs was no exception.

It seems the rearrangement of the family photographs that adorned her desk for the Christmas broadcast was her way of communicating her displeasure with her grandson's behaviour.

Quoting royal author Christopher Anderson, Ms Brown revealed that the Queen examined the photos displayed and said all were fine to remain in the frame 'except one'.

Prince Williamknew his brother - who was in Canadaat the time - would pick up on the Queen's message and throw what royal author Tina Brown described as a 'Category 5 tantrum' in her book Palace Papers

Ms Brown explained in her book Palace Papers that each detail of the monarch's 3pm Christmas broadcast was meticulously planned - and the curation of family photographs was no exception. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with their newborn baby, son Archie, at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019

'Her Majesty pointed at a winsome portrait of Harry, Meghan, and baby Archie.

'"That one, said the Queen. I suppose we don't need that one."'

The ex-Vanity Fair editor added that William 'was said to have been appalled' when he noticed the missing photo. 'He knew his brother well enough to predict a Category 5 storm brewing.'

On January 7, 2020, the Sussexes announced their decision to step down as senior royals in a statement posted on Instagram.

After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution, the couple posted to their Instagram page.

We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.

They went on to declare their plans to divide their time between the UK and North America, and to focus on the next chapter, carving out a new progressive role for themselves.

The late Queen Elizabeth with her grandsons, William (left) and Harry (right) pictured together in 2006

Their bold move forced the Queen to summon Harry and her heirs, Charles and William, for a round table discussion to discuss the future of the monarchy on January 13.

As the eyes of the world turned on the unprecedented event, it was grandly dubbed 'The Sandringham Summit' by the press, as a slew of media vans and satellite dishes descended on the area to cover the monumental moment.

Shortly after, the Queen issued an unprecedented statement about the 'constructive discussions' at Sandringham and said the Firm was 'entirely supportive of a Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family'.

Their hopes of a 'half-in, half-out' role were dashed in a subsequent statement from Buckingham Palace that confirmed the Sussexes will 'step back from Royal duties' and no longer 'formally represent The Queen'.

While retaining their private patronages, the Sussexes 'will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family', the statement read.

The 2019 speech was one of the most high-profile in years, as alongside Prince Harry's public dissatisfaction with the Royal Family, The Firm was still reeling from Andrew's public shaming after his bombshell interview about Jeffrey Epstein.

Alongside Harry, the disgraced Andrew also never made the cut in that year's photo display.
In a special episode of the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, historians Kate Williams and Robert Hardman detail how royalty has helped shape some of our favourite festive traditions, from carols to Christmas trees.

Carols in particular are steeped in royal history and intrigue, from the tale of the real King Wenceslas to the scandalous festive tunes penned by a lusty Henry VIII.

In the podcast, Williams reveals how the 18th century carol O Come All Ye Faithful is now believed by some historians to contain a coded message calling for Catholic rebels to violently restore the Stuart monarchy.

The song was written around 1743 by English Catholic John Francis Wade, who would later flee to France following the crushing of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745.

Supporters of the exiled Stuarts, the Jacobites plotted to restore the dynasty to the throne and return the country to Catholicism.

Williams explains the rebellious reading of O Come All Ye Faithful, which was first proposed by a professor of music at Durham University in 1996.

Williams reveals how the carol O Come All Ye Faithful is now believed by some historians to contain a coded message calling for Catholic rebels to violently restore the Stuart monarchy

The song was written around 1743 by English Catholic John Francis Wade, who would later flee to Francefollowing the crushing of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745

O Come All Ye Rebels?

John Francis Wade made his living as a music teacher at a Catholic college and as a fine copier of music.

A skilled artisan, he hand-copied beautiful music manuscripts to sell to wealthy families for use in their private chapels. Wade's books were often decorated with Jacobite symbols including roses and oak leaves.

The carol was originally sung in Latin, the language of the Catholic Church.

The song's main refrain, 'Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels', translates in Latin to 'Regem Angelorum'.

Some believe this is a deliberate pun, with Angelorum sounding similar to the Latin word for English, Anglorum.

Therefore, historians argue that Wade was calling for the return of the true King of the English, the Stuart exile Bonnie Prince Charlie.

They also claim that 'O come all ye faithful' does not mean all Christians, but exclusively faithful Jacobites.

Williams explains the rebellious reading of O Come All Ye Faithful, which was first proposed by a professor of music at Durham University in 1996

Historians argue that Wade was calling for the return of the true King of the English, the Stuart exile Bonnie Prince Charlie

'Effectively, Wade is saying - keep your iron chaps, we'll get those Stuarts back on the throne', Williams explained.

'Funnily enough, the Jacobites will get their wish this century. Prince William is partly Stuart through Princess Diana - who was distantly related to Charles II. So, we will have a Stuart King again.

'Every time you sing that carol, just think you might actually be singing a Jacobite call to arms.'

There are a number of problems with the Jacobite theory though, most problematic being that no one really knows who the original author of the carol was.

Also, if the tune really was a Jacobite call to arms, members of the movement seem to have been totally unaware. There is no evidence any Jacobite recognised the song as referring to them.

The date of composition also presents a problem - does it make sense to create a call to rebellion years before the Jacobites went to war?

Whether rebel anthem or Christmas hymn, O Come All Ye Faithful remains one of Britain's most beloved carols - its true meaning, like so much of history, lost to time.

To hear the festive episode in full, search for Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things now, wherever you get your podcasts - or on YouTube.
Smiling and ruddy-cheeked, the King looks in good health as he films his annual Christmas message.

For the second time in his reign Charles, 77, recorded it outside of a royal residence, this time inside the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, which was described by 16th-century historian John Leland as 'the wonder of the world'.

The broadcast was filmed earlier this month after the Monarch had been given the good news by his doctors that his cancer treatment will be hugely scaled back in the new year.

Smartly dressed in a pinstriped suit, with a matching blue tie and pocket handkerchief, King Charles appears happy and relaxed as he poses for two official portraits underneath the chapel's spectacular late medieval fan-vaulted ceiling.

Westminster Abbey  which has enjoyed strong royal links since its inception  continues to be a major church of pilgrimage, a key theme of His Majesty's message this year.

Pilgrims particularly visit it to remember the life and legacy of Edward the Confessor, whose Shrine lies at the heart of the Abbey.

The Henry VII Lady Chapel is also the burial place of fifteen Kings and Queens including Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots.

Below the central aisle is the Hanoverian vault where George II and members of his family are buried. The Stuart vault is in the south aisle where Charles II, William III and Mary II and Queen Anne lie.

Smiling and ruddy-cheeked, the King looks in good health as he films his annual Christmas message inside the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey

Smartly dressed in a pinstriped suit, with a matching blue tie and pocket handkerchief, King Charles appears happy and relaxed during the broadcast which was filmed earlier this month

Around the walls of the Lady Chapel are 95 statues of saints dating from the building of the chapel in the 16th century, and beneath the hinged seats of the wooden stalls are beautifully-carved misericords, which would have provided support for clergy during services.

At the eastern end is the Royal Air Force chapel, which features a stained-glass window by Hugh Easton depicting the badges of the fighter squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

The King's Christmas broadcast to the United Kingdom, Realms and the Commonwealth message will be shown on Christmas Day. The BBC has produced this year's speech.

Charles also recorded his Christmas message away from a Royal residence last year, with it being filmed at Fitzrovia Chapel in London.

Earlier this month the King revealed he had received a major boost in his cancer battle, describing it as a 'personal blessing'.

In an unprecedented video message, Charles said his treatment would be significantly scaled back in the New Year.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman did not use the word 'remission', but confirmed His Majesty has responded 'exceptionally well' to treatment following his diagnosis 22 months ago with an undisclosed form of the disease.

He has been receiving weekly treatment ever since.

The Henry VII Lady Chapel was described by 16th-century historian John Leland as 'the wonder of the world'. It is also the burial place of fifteen Kings and Queens

While medical intervention will continue for the foreseeable future, his doctors have now advised that it will move into a 'precautionary phase' and its regularity will be significantly reduced.

His Majesty is now at Sandringham, his private Norfolk estate, with Queen Camilla and his immediate family where they will gather to exchange gifts on Wednesday.

On Christmas Day they will celebrate the festive season with their traditional walk to church, followed by turkey and all the trimmings and parlour games such as charades.
2025 is on track to be the UKs hottest year on record, according to the Met Office.

As the end of the year looms, experts have revealed the average temperature over the last 12 months is projected to be 10.05C (50.09F).

If correct, this would mean 2025 overtakes the current record of 10.03C (50F) set in 2022.

However, a colder spell forecast from Christmas into the New Year makes it too close to call definitively.

If confirmed at year end, this will be the second annual UK temperature record for the UK this decade with the previous being in 2022, Mike Kendon, a senior scientist in the Met Offices climate information team, said.

This should come as no surprise. Over the last four decades we have seen the UKs annual temperature rise by around 1.0C.

We will have to wait for the year end before confirming 2025s final number, but at this stage it looks more likely than not that 2025 will be confirmed as the warmest year on record for the UK.

However, it will not be long until this record is broken again.

2025 is on track to be the UKs hottest year on record, according to the Met Office, with temperatures regularly exceeding previous averages

The chart above shows periods during 2025 where the mean temperature for the UK has been above average (orange) or below average (blue)

According to the data, four of the UKs last five years will appear in the top five warmest in a series from 1884  an indication of just how fast the climate is changing, the Met Office warned.

All top 10 warmest years will have occurred in the last two decades.

If the record is confirmed, this will only be the second year in observational records where the UKs annual mean temperature has exceeded 10C.

Mr Kendon said we are living in extraordinary times, with temperature records regularly being overtaken.

Since the start of the 21st Century a new record has been set for UK annual mean temperature no less than six times  in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2022 and now 2025, if confirmed,' he said.

Each record is progressively warmer than the last. In terms of our climate, we are living in extraordinary times.

The changes we are seeing are unprecedented in observational records back to the 19th Century.

This summer was officially the hottest on record for the UK, with the mean temperature across the country reaching 16.10C (60.98F).

Brits sunbathing on Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone, Kent, in July. 2025 was England's sunniest year on record and is set to also become the hottest

This was 1.51C above the long-term average and is in line with evidence that summers are getting hotter and drier because of climate change.

The UK's top five warmest years 2025 - 10.05C* 2022 - 10.03C 2023 - 9.97C 2014 - 9.88C 2024 - 9.79C *Projected value assuming 1991-2020 December average temperature for remaining days. Final value may differ. Advertisement

A total of four heatwaves were recorded between June and August, triggering hosepipe bans across parts of the country.

The highest temperature of the summer was 35.8C (96.4F), recorded at Faversham in Kent on July 1.

While it may seem relatively modest compared with some of the exceptional highs of previous years, scientists have also published a study detailing the increasing likelihood of extreme temperatures in the UK.

The study, published in the Weather journal, revealed that the chance of exceeding 40C in the UK is accelerating at pace.

In July 2022, the UK experienced its first recorded temperature above 40C, when Coningsby in Lincolnshire reached 40.3C (104.54F).

This unprecedented temperature formed part of Europe's warmest summer on record. There were significant impacts, including wildfires, disruptions to transport and power systems, and increased mortality.

Separate statistics, released last week, revealed this year was the UKs sunniest on record with 1,622 hours of sunshine recorded up until 15 December.

Swimmers cool off during the August 2025 heatwave. The most recent sunniest year on record for England was 2003

Commenting on those figures, Mr Kendon said: The record-breaking sunshine across the UK this year was driven by the frequent influence of high pressure that reduced cloud cover and brought sunny skies for many. Spring was exceptional, and many will remember the long spells of days with largely unbroken sunshine.

It began with the third-sunniest March on record, followed by a record-breaking sunniest April and then the second-sunniest May.

All three months of the summer also saw above-average sunshine hours and while sunny periods are not unusual at this time of year, the duration and consistency of high-pressure systems made 2025 notably sunnier than average.

So far this year, only the months of February and October have recorded below-average sunshine hours.
No matter how mature you are in everyday life, when it comes time to head home for Christmas, we often find ourselves acting like grouchy teenagers.

However, if you end up clashing with your family over the holidays, research suggests that you are far from alone.

Psychologists say that well-functioning adults often end up feeling and acting like younger version of themselves when around their families.

According to Dr Chester Sunde, a licensed clinical psychologist in California, this is due to a completely normal and very common process called 'regression'.

Our psyches developed their fundamental structures within the pressures and conflicts of our families and childhood relations.

While we can control those deeply ingrained habits in our adult lives, it's hard not to slip back into old habits as soon as we return to a family context.

Dr Sunde told the Daily Mail: 'When you return to that context, those patterns can reactivate automatically.

'It's not that your siblings "make you" regress; the environmental cues trigger responses you built decades ago.'

If you end up arguing with your parents like a teenager during the Christmas holidays, psychologists say that you are not alone and call this phenomenon 'regression' (stock image)

Dr Sunde says that he has seen 'countless' numbers of patients over the 20 years of his career who experience the same difficulties during the holidays.

He says: 'In my clinical practice, many clients describe finding themselves feeling and acting like teenagers shortly after walking into their parents' house.

'Capable professionals who suddenly feel defensive, reactive, or caught in old sibling dynamics even though you're successful and have nothing to prove.'

This is because the old defensive structures that were created during our childhood are very deeply ingrained in our psychology.

All it takes is something to trigger those reactions, and soon even very well-composed individuals can start to act like children again.

'The family home is where your psychological architecture was originally constructed. The familiar rooms, the dinner table, even the way your mother sighs - these cues can bypass adult functioning and activate the defensive structures of childhood,' says Dr Sunde.

'Christmas can intensify this because it compresses extended family into close quarters, often in the childhood home itself, with added pressures around gift-giving, meals, and unspoken expectations.'

This regression has three main components: a physical part, an emotional part, and a behavioural part.

Our patterns of behaviour are deeply ingrained during childhood. When we return to the familial setting, these patterns can often re-emerge, whether or not we want them to (stock image)

First, when someone starts to regress, they may begin to feel familiar symptoms associated with stress or anxiety, such as tightness in the chest or shallow breathing.

Next, someone going through this kind of regression will start to experience disproportionate emotional responses.

You might start to feel angrier than the situation calls for, more anxious than the stakes demand, or feel insult and criticism where there is none.

Finally, we find that our behaviour begins to fall back into the same patterns we followed as children, playing the peacemaker or acting as the golden child.

This is why we often find ourselves snapping at our parents or arguing with siblings, even when this is well outside our normal behaviour.

Dr Sunde interprets this kind of regression through a theory that can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.

He says: 'Plato described three aspects of the psyche: reason, spirit or emotion, and appetite or basic needs.'

When we are adults living our normal lives, these three aspects of our psychology are reasonably well balanced, and we can control our behaviours.

This is why normally well-regulated people can end up acting like a real Grinch come Christmas, even when they normally get on well with their parents and siblings

However, when we go back to our families, this integration between the different parts is disrupted, pulling us back to an early time in our psychological development.

This can take someone back to a time when they craved approval, had an excessive need to feel safe and secure, or lacked the judgment to act properly.

'What collapses is what I call constitutional self-governance, that stable sense of who you are that transcends context,' says Dr Sundee.

'Many people have this at work, with friends, in most settings. But it can dissolve at the family dinner table.'

The easiest thing to do is simply learn how to recognise those defensive patterns as they start to emerge.

Noticing that you are acting like a teenager in the moment, rather than afterwards, gives you the chance to choose how to react.

He says: 'You probably can't prevent regression entirely if the patterns run deep and the context is powerful. But you can recognise it when it's happening.

'There's space between feeling the old pattern and acting from it. That space is where your freedom lives.'
More than 300 earthquakes have rattled the same region in California over the past month, sparking fears among locals that a big one could soon strike.

San Ramon in the East Bay has been the epicenter of this seismic activity, which sits on top of the Calaveras Fault, an active branch of the San Andreas Fault system.

The Calaveras Fault is capable of producing a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, which would impact millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates there is a 72 percent chance of this happening by 2043.

The earthquakes began on November 9 with a 3.8 magnitude, and the tremors have not stopped since. The latest, which hit today, measured a 2.7 magnitude.

Sarah Minson, a research geophysicist with the USGS's Earthquake Science Center at California's Moffett Field, told SFGATE: 'This is a lot of shaking for the people in the San Ramon area to deal with.

'It's quite understandable that this can be incredibly scary and emotionally impactful, even if it's not likely to be physically damaging.'

Minson noted that while the swarms seem relentless, they do not indicate a major event is imminent.

'Given the magnitude and locations of the earthquakes that have happened so far, there is no significant risk of something happening on one of the major faults,' she explained.

The earthquakes began on November 9 with a 3.8 magnitude, and the tremors have not stopped since. The latest, which hit today, measured a 2.7 magnitude

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A magnitude 6.7 earthquake on the Calaveras Fault would be classified as a major seismic event capable of causing significant damage in densely populated East Bay communities.

By comparison, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a magnitude M6.9, widely labeled 'the Big One' at the time, caused widespread destruction, and the USGS uses the 6.7 threshold when discussing the long-term probability of a 'Big One' in the Bay Area.

USGS research geophysicist Annemarie Baltay said she is not unusually concerned that the recent earthquakes signal anything larger on the horizon for San Ramon.

'These small events, as all small events are, are not indicative of an impending large earthquake,' Baltay told Patch.

'However, we live in earthquake country, so we should always be prepared for a large event,' she said.

Scientists say that when fluids like water or gas flow through small cracks in rock, they can weaken the surrounding rock, triggering clusters of minor earthquakes that occur in quick succession.

'It is also possible that these smaller earthquakes pop off as the result of fluid moving up through the earth's crust, which is a normal process, but the many faults in the area may facilitate these micro-movements of fluid and smaller faults,' Baltay told the Patch.

Records from the USGS highlighted similar swarms in 1970, 1976, 2002, 2003, 2015 and 2018.

San Ramon in the East Bay has been the epicenter of this seismic activity, which sits on top of the Calaveras Fault, an active branch of the San Andreas Fault system

'This has happened many times before here in the past, and there were no big earthquakes that followed,' Minson told SFGATE.

Scientists studying the 2015 San Ramon earthquake swarm found that the area contains several small, closely spaced faults rather than a single big one.

The quakes moved along these faults in a complex pattern, suggesting the faults interact with each other.

The study also found evidence that underground fluids may have helped trigger the tremors.

Researchers looked into other possible causes, like tidal forces, but found no clear connection.

Overall, the findings showed that the fault system under San Ramon is more complicated than previously thought, which could help explain why these earthquake swarms occur.

Roland Burgmann, a UC Berkeley seismologist who worked on that study, told SFGATE that because the first quake in November was the strongest, he believes the entire series is more than just a swarm; it's a tense aftershock sequence, each tremor echoing the power of the one that started it all.

Minson echoed the conclusion, saying the smaller earthquakes were likely aftershocks from the 3.8 magnitude earlier this month.

Clusters of earthquakes often appear in regions with volcanic or geothermal activity, but San Ramon does not fit that profile.

Scientists suggested the tremors could be driven by underground fluids forcing their way through the crust and triggering a series of small faults.

Minson noted that the area's fault system is intricate, with the Calaveras Fault ending nearby and the movement potentially leaping to the Concord-Green Valley Fault to the east.

'We think that what's going on, which makes this like geothermal areas or like volcanic areas, is that there are a lot of fluids migrating through the rocks and opening up little cracks to make a bunch of little earthquakes,' Minson told SFGATE.

Emily Brodsky, a seismologist at UC Santa Cruz, warned that the recent tremors in San Ramon are puzzling, making it hard for scientists to draw any firm conclusions about what's really happening beneath the surface.

'Although it's the kind of thing you might expect to happen before a big earthquake, we can't distinguish that from the many, many times that have happened without a big earthquake,' she told SFGATE. 'So what do you do with that?'
Worshippers of a church in Las Vegas, Nevada believe they witnessed a true miracle during a holiday mass.

Father Edmund Nnadozie was preaching at St Thomas More during the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe when the congregation erupted, claiming they saw a face appear in the wrinkles of fabric near the altar.

The cloth had been draped over a pedestal holding a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast is celebrated on December 12.

Parishioners captured images showing the fabric later wrinkling into what they all believed was a shape resembling a human face.

Ben Yzaguirre, who attended that mass, photographed the phenomenon and told local Fox5 Vegas: 'I believe it's a miracle, a sign from heaven. It's beautiful to see, and I'm glad I was able to be a part of that.'

Images of the face have flooded social media, where other worshippers who attended the mass echoed Yzaguirre's statements.

'I was there at this Mass. Miracles happen,' one user shared on X. While others were quick to dismiss it, saying the worshippers experienced pareidolia, the tendency to see faces in random patterns or groups of objects.

However, Nnadozie told the local news outlet that the timing of the image makes the incident difficult to dismiss as a coincidence.

'I looked at it, I'm like, 'Oh, wait a minute,' I looked at it again, and that was the face of, you know, it's Our Lady,' Nnadozie said, saying there were 800 people there and no one touched the fabric.

Father Edmund Nnadozie was preaching at St Thomas More during the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe when the congregation erupted, claiming they saw a face appear in the wrinkles of fabric near the altar

Pictured is the face appearing in the wrinkled cloth (without being darkened). Many people have said the worshippers experienced pareidolia, the tendency to see faces in random patterns or groups of objects

The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe begins in 1531 when the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, near modern-day Mexico City. She requested that a church be built on the site in her honor.

To convince the skeptical bishop, Juan Diego gathered roses in his tilma, a simple cloak, despite it being winter when no flowers normally bloomed.

When he opened the tilma before the bishop, the roses fell to the floor, and an image of the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared on the fabric.

The tilma, which is still preserved today in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, has long been venerated by millions of Catholics worldwide.

Scientists and historians have marveled at the image, noting that the cloth has lasted nearly 500 years with no significant deterioration, and the exact method of its creation remains a mystery.

For worshippers in Las Vegas, the appearance of a face on a cloth during the holiday mass echoes this centuries-old miracle, inspiring devotion and sparking conversation about faith, wonder, and the enduring power of the Virgin's image.

Nnadozie told Fox5 Vegas: ''I think maybe Our Lady was sending a message to us, 'Hey, I'm still around, I know today is a celebration of my day, and I can still show myself.

'God chooses when a miracle happens, and a miracle can happen in Las Vegas.'

Worshippers believe it was the face of Our Lady of Guadalupe (PICTURED)

The cloth had been draped over a pedestal holding a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast is celebrated on December 12. The 'face' was darkened in a local news segment

Yzaguirre said the experience resonates even with those who were not present at the mass.

'Sometimes the world or the community needs these things as well, and it's not just for us to keep to ourselves,' he said.

In 2018, a church in Mexico claimed to have experienced a miracle when it found a 'weeping' Virgin Mary statue that was leaking olive oil.

A sample of fluid was taken from the statue, located at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hobbs, and sent for a chemical analysis.

'And we determined it was olive oil, a scented olive oil,' Bishop Oscar Cantu told the Las Cruces Sun News.

'Some of the witnesses claimed it smelled of roses, so something similar to the oil I bless and consecrate each year that we use for baptism, for confirmations, and for ordination of the priests.'

Church leaders looked at the possibility that something from inside the statue was causing the leak.

'We examined the interior of the hollow statue,' Cantu added. 'There's nothing on the interior that's not supposed to be there, except for cobwebs. So we took pictures; we examined it.'

Church officials looked to the Mexican manufacturers to see if there was any fluid that could have lingered from the building process. Wax was found to be used in the process, but it is 'so hot that all of the wax melts away,' Cantu asserted.

He said: 'In that process, they assured us there would be no possibility of any moisture remaining in the bronze. So those are some of the facts that we have established.'
A South Carolina woman who was kidnapped from a hospital as a newborn by a fake nurse and raised by the woman for 18 years has revealed that the man she thought was her father has also now been incarcerated.

Kamiyah Mobley, 27, of Walterboro, gained notoriety in 2017 when she discovered the woman she had called mom for 18 years, Gloria Williams, had actually abducted her from a Florida hospital on July 10, 1998.

Williams raised Mobley under a different name but her daughter became suspicious when the mother refused to hand over her birth certificate and social security number when she wanted to apply for a job. Williams then broke down and confessed to the abduction.

Unbelievable: Charles Jamie Manigo, the man who raised Kamiyah Mobley (pictured together) has been imprisoned for 10 years

According to court documents, investigators arrested Williams in January 2017 based on two tip offs: a friend who said Williams confessed to them, and an individual who claimed to have heard it from Mobley.

In June 2018 Williams was sentenced to 18 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and interference with custody.

Mobley has now been served another blow as the man who raised her believing he was her biological father, Charles Jamie Manigo, 53, was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison.

Manigo found himself in trouble after he loaned a former coworker $40 in 2018. After months of no repayment, he took matters into his own hands and robbed him at gunpoint.

'So both of my South Carolina parents are doing prison time. Boy, what a life?' Mobley wrote on Facebook Monday. 'And they will both get out at the same time.'

Confusing: Mobley grew up believing Manigo and Gloria Williams (pictured with Mobley) were her birth parents

In January 2019, Manigo encountered the former coworker at a stoplight in Beaufort.

The unnamed victim sped away after noticing Manigo had a gun on his lap, the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office said.

He then chased after his coworker for several miles until the other driver pulled over.

Manigo brandished the gun at him and demanded the money before shooting a bullet into the air and taking off with $200 of the victim's cash.

Part of the crime was caught on video by the victim's nephew, who was in the car at the time of the crime.

Manigo was sentenced to a decade in prison for armed robbery and possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime.

'This was a dangerous and brazen crime that put multiple people at risk,' solicitor JB Bryant said in a statement.

'The defendant chose to escalate a minor dispute into an armed robbery, and the 10-year sentence reflects the seriousness of that conduct and the threat it posed to the community.'

Tough: Mobley has had to come to terms with both her 'parents' being in prison

During Williams's sentencing, Manigo had cried on the witness stand and told the press she had lied to him about Mobley's origins.

Manigo told ABC News the couple had named the girl Alexis Kelly Manigo after Williams led him to believe she had given birth to her while he was away.

He claimed that they even shared custody of her when they split in 2003.

Despite Manigo's claim that he had been there for Mobley, she previously complained that he was an absent father in a Facebook rant about prom.

Mobley said her experience was quite the opposite to how he saw it.

'He didn't even help with nothing [sic] that was done for that prom,' she wrote. 'He was the reason I didn't go to my senior prom, he was not there when I moved to Georgia, never saw him.

'I can count on my fingers how many times I've spent the night at your house.'

Williams is thought to have suffered a miscarriage about a week before she drove the three hours from South Carolina to Florida and abducted Mobley in 1998.

During Williams sentencing, Manigo had cried on the witness stand and told the press she had lied to him about Mobley's origins.

Manigo told ABC News the couple had named the girl Alexis Kelly Manigo after Williams led him to believe she had given birth to her while he was away.

He claimed that they even shared custody of her when they split in 2003.

Despite Manigo's claim that he had been there for Mobley, she previously complained that he was an absent father in a Facebook rant about prom.

Mobley said her experience was quite the opposite to how he saw it.

'He didn't even help with nothing [sic] that was done for that prom,' she wrote. 'He was the reason I didn't go to my senior prom, he was not there when I moved to Georgia, never saw him.

'I can count on my fingers how many times I've spent the night at your house.'

Williams is thought to have suffered a miscarriage about a week before she drove the three hours from South Carolina to Florida and abducted Mobley in 1998.

Confusing: Williams took Mobley from her biological mother Shanara Mobley (pictured with her daughter) while posing as a nurse at the University Medical Center in Jacksonville

She was prowling the corridors of the University Medical Center in Jacksonville dressed in blue scrubs to disguise herself as a nurse.

Williams entered the cubicle where Mobley's birth mom, then-16-year-old Shanara Mobley, was holding her newborn baby girl.

The two women spoke, with Shanara believing she was talking to a medical professional, until Williams scooped the child up in her arms and left the hospital.

Williams then passed off Mobley as her own daughter to family and friends, who said they never suspected a thing.

Despite being reunited with her biological family, Mobley still considers Williams her mother and that she has two families.

Shanara issued an ultimatum to Mobley during an interview with the Daily Mail in June 2018, saying she had to choose which mother she wanted in her life.

'I shouldn't have to compete with a kidnapper - she has to pick one of us,' Shanara said.

'Nobody acknowledges my pain. I feel like I'm being robbed all over again every time she [Williams] reaches out to my daughter,' she added.

'Every phone call they share, every Mother's Day card Kamiyah sends her, it just makes the pain worse.

'I'm being rejected for a kidnapper, how do you think that feels?'

The Daily Mail has contacted Mobley for comment.
Paris Hilton almost managed to disguise herself as she was spotted wearing a long brunette wig to go incognito at Disneyland in California on Sunday.

The heiress, 44, added a black newsboy cap and thick, black-framed cat-eye glasses, as well as a long-sleeved black sweater with a Mickey Mouse graphic on the front, and dark blue skinny jeans.

She was joined by her sister Nicky, 42, as they took their children to the amusement park in Anaheim.

Under cover: Paris Hilton almost managed to disguise herself in a long brunette wig to go incognito at Disneyland in California on Sunday.

She was spotted snapping a selfie while riding the park's carousel

Paris with with her son Phoenix, who will turn three in January, and daughter London, two, in tow, and was spotted snapping a selfie while riding the park's carousel.

She shares the kids with husband Carter Reum.

Nicky meanwhile has three kids with her husband James Rothschild; daughters Lily-Grace Victoria, and Theodora 'Teddy' Marilyn, and son Chasen.

Having fun: Paris wore a black newsboy cap and thick, black-framed cat-eye eyeglasses for the weekend excursion

Sister: Paris was joined by Nicky Hilton, 42, as they took their kids to the Anaheim, California amusement park
New photos have emerged of the mysterious temple on Jeffrey Epstein's 'pedophile island', revealing coded symbols and used mattresses.

The Justice Department's latest trove of files includes photos taken inside the bizarre structure which was first uncovered by drone footage of Little Saint James in 2019.

The cube-shaped building with blue and white stripes covering it has been the subject of speculation and conspiracy theories.

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Mysterious: A new look inside temple on Jeffrey Epstein's sickening 'pedophile island' show coded symbols and used mattresses

Epstein purchased Little Saint James in 1998, while the temple is believed to have been built between 2009 and 2013

Photos inside the building show it in a dilapidated state, with pieces of wood lying around and exposed cement panels.

Another photo shows a pair of mattresses that appear to have been left to rot inside a shrink wrap that has turned a shade of yellow.

The ceiling is hand-painted, showing various animals and even constellations behind a cloudy sky, as well as zodiac symbols.

A giant, empty wooden bookshelf appears to remain in good condition, though other pieces inside the room looked to be incomplete.

Conspiracy theorists have latched onto the odd building built sometime between 2009 and 2013 at the southwest edge of Little St James Island, just off the coast of the U.S. territory of St Thomas.

Everything previously known publicly about the building had been gleaned from aerial photographs, as the entire island is kept under tight security.

It has not been revealed when the photos were taken but a gold dome was believed to have been ripped off by a hurricane sometime before 2017.

The billionaire began transforming the 78-acre island soon after he bought it in 1998, clearing the native vegetation, ringing the property with towering palm trees and planting two massive U.S. flags at either end.

The photos of the temple were tame in comparison to other shots that appeared to show Epstein kissing and cuddling young girls on his private jet.

The stomach-churning photographs, which were framed and put on display at his mansion on Little St James Island, show the pedophile embracing youngsters who appear to be minors.

One image showed the financier holding what appears to be a girl in his lap during a flight on his so-called Lolita Express.

In another photo, he is seen seated next to another passenger, seemingly a youngster, with a book and a magazine sprawled out in front of him.

Other horrifying photos made public during Friday's records release showed Epstein cuddling what appeared to be a child and kissing a red-headed girl on the head.

Details: The ceiling is hand-painted, showing various animals and even constellations behind a cloudy sky, as well as zodiac symbols

Dilapidated: Another photo shows a pair of mattresses that appear to have been left to rot inside a shrink wrap that has turned a shade of yellow

It has not been revealed if the females seen in the undated photos were victims of Epstein's sex trafficking ring. He has been accused of abusing girls as young as 11 years old.

The images were among the more than 300,000 files released by the DOJ on Friday. The records were heavily redacted and no major revelations emerged.

At least 16 photographs, including one of Donald Trump flanked by women in bikinis, were mysteriously removed from the online records Saturday, prompting accusations of an alleged cover-up by the Trump Administration. They have since been reinstated.

The thousands of records posted publicly offer the most detailed look yet at nearly two decades' worth of government scrutiny of Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and underage girls.

The tranche of materials released Friday included photographs of former president Bill Clinton and other famous names such as music stars Sir Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.

But some of the most consequential records expected about Epstein were nowhere to be found, such as FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions.

Those records could help explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.

Democrats also accused Republicans of a cover-up after files that had been available Friday were no longer accessible on the DOJ's website by Saturday.

Run down: Photos inside the temple show it in a dilapidated state, including pieces of wood lying around and exposed cement panels

Still standing: MA giant, empty wooden bookshelf appears to remain in good condition, though other pieces inside the room looked to be incomplete

The missing files included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showed a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers.

In that image - inside a drawer among other photos - was a photograph of Trump, alongside the pedophile, Melania Trump and Epstein's longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

The DOJ said that the image of the Trump was flagged by the Southern District of New York 'for potential further action to protect victims'.

Friday's drop of files, replete with redactions, has not dulled the clamor for information, given how many records had yet to be released and because some of the materials had already been made public.

California Democrat Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, have indicated they could draft articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi for what they see as the gross failure of the department to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

'It's not about the timeline, it's about the selective concealment,' Khanna said on CBS' Face the Nation, adding that the redactions in the released files are excessive.

He said he believes there will be 'bipartisan support in holding her accountable, and a committee of Congress should determine whether these redactions are justified or not'.

But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday defended the redactions. He argued the DOJ's decision to release just a fraction of the Epstein files by the congressionally mandated deadline was necessary to protect the pedophile's victims.

Incomplete: Much of the interior look unfinished and it is not immediately clear what function the building was intended to be

Pane: One side of the temple appears to be missing a window

He pledged that the Trump administration eventually would meet its obligation required by law - but stressed that the department was obligated to act with caution as it goes about making public documents that can include sensitive information.

Blanche called that pushback disingenuous as the Trump Administration continues to struggle with calls for greater transparency, including from members of his political base, about the government's investigations into Epstein.

Federal prosecutors in New York brought sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail after his arrest.

Maxwell, Epstein's onetime girlfriend, is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking crimes.

The deputy attorney general also defended the decision by the federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer Maxwell to a less restrictive, minimum-security federal prison earlier this year, soon after he interviewed her about Epstein.

Blanche said that the transfer was made because of concerns about her safety.

'She was suffering numerous threats against her life,' Blanche said. 'So the BOP is not only responsible for putting people in jail and making sure they stay in jail, but also for their safety.'
Christmas may be just a couple of days away...but by the end of the week, for many Brits, thoughts will turn to next year's holiday - with tour operators serving up their best package deals on travel for 2026.

If you're in the market for a flights and accommodation package next summer, new research by Which? has revealed the destinations where your money will stretch that bit further.

The consumer champion price-checked more than 5,000 packages to find the top ten cheapest resorts across 13 countries in Europe and beyond.

Which? looked at the average price per person for a seven-night, peak season package deal, based on travel with two of the country's most popular tour operators, Jet2holidays and easyJet Holidays.

Spain's Costa Blanca, a favourite with Brits since the dawn of package holidays back in the 1970s, was a clear winner on cost, the research found.

The average package holiday getaway for a week-long stay was found to cost 864 on the Spanish coastline, with popular destinations including Benidorm, Javea and Denia.

Indeed, Benidorm had the lowest price deals researchers could find anywhere, with a week's self-catering at the two-star Playamar apartments from 535 per person in the height of the summer season.

Meanwhile, an all-inclusive stay at the four-star Flamingo Beach Resort came in at 886, with easyJet Holidays.

The cheapest Spanish Costa - and the cheapest package holiday destination next year according to new Which? research - is the Costa Blanca, where average holiday prices for flights and accommodation in peak season come in at 864pp (Pictured Javea on the Costa Blanca)

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Second place might be a surprise to some...Tuscany, in Italy.

Known for its rolling landscapes, delicious food and beautiful hilltop towns, the region had an average summer holiday price of 929.

A favourite with the middle classes, Tuscany is more competitive on price than many other Italian destinations, with the average price for a holiday in Sardinia next year, for example, over 500 more at 1,508 per person.

Third place, and the only other destination to be, on average, under 1,000 for a week's stay - and not in Europe - was Morocco's Agadir coast, which came in at 946.

The North African country's beach destinations are known for reasonably priced food and drink, and the region is a particular hit with surfers thanks to the Atlantic's lively waves.

Fourth was another long-time favourite with British tourists: the sparkling Dalaman region of Turkey, where the average price per person for a week's holiday with flights and accommodation included was 1,048.

Spain dominated the top 10 list though, with six of the destinations in either the Costas or the Canary Islands - but no sign of the Balearics.

Three of the most popular Canaries - Tenerife (1,073), Fuerteventura (1,119) and Gran Canaria (1,121) - placed 5th, 6th and 7th respectively, while the Costa Brava (1,125) and the Costa Dorada (1,133) came in at 8th and 9th place.

A surprise in second? Of the 13 countries Which? looked at, across Europe and beyond, Italy's Tuscany was found to be the next cheapest place after the Costa Blanca for a peak season package

Doesn't Costa lot! The cheapest deal Which? researchers found...

Benidorm, long loved for its party nightlife and 'cheap and cheerful' deals topped the Which? list when it came to the cheapest peak season deal. A weeks self-catering at the two-star Playamar apartments costing 535pp Advertisement

Of the 5,393 holidays checked, Tenerife's cheapest deal was found in the black-sand beach resort of Puerto de la Cruz, which had an average price of 776pp - although four-star and above hotels tended to be closer to 1,000 for a hotel thats rated four stars or above.

Only one Greek destination made the cut, the island of Zante took the 10th spot with an average holiday price of 1,142.

Holiday prices in destinations and resorts in 13 countries - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Turkey - were examined in the research.

Last week, the consumer champion delved into how travel price comparison sites fared.

The Which? study considered several factors including site functionality, the range of booking options, cheap rates and transparency and accuracy to formulate a total overall score.

For flights specifically, Skyscanner came out top with 81 per cent, rating five out of five for both site functionality and transparency and accuracy.

The research declared it as the 'easiest to use' out of all the sites tested. Skyscanner also displays ratings for the booking sites it lists to help customers pick the best.

Which? did note the website doesn't show as many options as Google Flights, which came second with 79 per cent, but noted 'the fares were almost as cheap'.

And in third place for the lowest average package holiday price was a non-European destination - Morocco's Agadir coastline (pictured) - which came in at 946 for a week

Overall, Skyscanner was described as 'a really user-friendly site that will help you easily find the best flight for you'.

However, not all of the comparison sites came out so strong, and Jetcost ranked the worst - in sixth place - for flights, scoring just 49 per cent.

Jetcost produced the cheapest fares most frequently for 30 different journeys but they were often provided by booking sites Which? was not familiar with.

What's more, some of the sites had negative reviews from users who claimed they had to pay more for the ticket than what was originally advertised through Jetcost.

Although it scored four out of five for cheap rates, it was consistently low on site functionality, booking options and transparency and accuracy.

Which?'s final verdict on Jetcost reads, 'We wouldn't use some sites it links to, and we don't recommend you do either.'

A spokesperson for Jetcost told Which?: 'Our priority is to make travel comparisons as clear and trustworthy as possible.'

They added that it has a 'strong ongoing commitment to setting a high bar for clarity, usability, and fairness in travel comparison'.

Zante, otherwise known as Zakynthos, was the only Greek island to make a dent in the top 10 cheapest package holiday destinations, with a week-long break costing 1,142

Meanwhile, in the hotel comparison site rankings Cozycozy came last, in sixth place.

It scored 54 per cent and ranked particularly low for site functionality and booking options.

Though it did score three stars for cheap rates and four for transparency and accuracy.

Cozycozy also didn't offer the Which? researchers the option to book directly with the hotels very often, and the consumer champion's verdict overall was 'don't bother'.

The Daily Mail approached CozyCozy for comment.

Kayak placed fifth for both flights and hotels, scoring 73 per cent for its plane journey comparisons and 55 per cent for its accommodation options.

A spokesperson for Kayak told the Daily Mail: 'We welcome independent research that helps travellers make informed choices. However, based on the methodology published on the Which? website, this user testing appears to rely on feedback from just five participants.

'A sample size of five is far too limited to draw meaningful conclusions about how millions of travellers use and benefit from travel search tools today. Robust, representative research is essential when making claims of this scale.

Three of the most popular Canaries - Tenerife (1,073) (pictured), Fuerteventura (1,119) and Gran Canaria (1,121) - placed 5th, 6th and 7th respectively

'Our priority is to arm travellers with accurate and comprehensive travel information along with useful tools to help them make the travel decisions that are right for them - whether that's via a provider, airline, or hotel directly. We continue to invest in our user experience, and innovation across all platforms.'

Google Hotels ranked first for the hotel comparisons, scoring 79 per cent, and was praised by Which? for being 'excellent on price'.

But it did note that the price advertised wasn't always the same as when the testers went to book.

Google Hotels was followed by Skyscanner in second place with 65 per cent.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: 'Some of these comparison sites will make it harder, not easier to find the cheapest price for a hotel or flight, so it's worth thinking carefully about which one you use to make sure you really are getting a bargain.

'The best comparison sites let you book your flights and hotels directly. We always recommend holidaymakers do this as it offers greater protection should something go wrong, and is often better value too.'
Some describe it as a sweet smell like maple syrup, while others identify it as smelling like onions or body odour.

If you've ever noticed an unusual smell on a plane before taking off on a cold day, you're not alone.

In fact, there is an entire discussion thread dedicated to people trying to work out what the smell is.

One holidaymaker (r/bonnie69420) wrote: 'You know the smell, like a new car with the windows rolled down, but just a hint of something else I can't describe.'

The comments were filled with people offering their interpretation of what the smell was, with one writing: 'Jet exhaust mixed with cleaning chemicals, people and coffee.'

'It's probably from cleaning the planes. They're cleaned pretty often. Be grateful for that because people are gross,' wrote another user.

But now an expert has revealed the real reason for the smell, and it may not be what you expected.

According to instructor pilot Kevin Singh, the unusual aroma is likely de-icing fluid.

An expert has revealed what the unusual smell is that you may catch wiff of during take off

The de-icing process involves ground crews spraying a heated de-icing fluid under high pressure to remove existing snow, ice and frost

'If a plane is not properly de-iced, the ice and snow buildup on the wings prevents the plane from generating the necessary lift for a safe takeoff,' Singh told Reader's Digest.

The de-icing process involves ground crews spraying a heated de-icing fluid under high pressure to remove existing snow, ice and frost.

Then they apply a different anti-icing fluid to create a protective layer, preventing new buildup before takeoff.

The whole process typically takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the aircraft's size and weather conditions.

Ventilation systems draw in outside air, meaning the scent can make its way into the cabin.

As for the scent, plane de-icer shares the same basic ingredients with the de-icer you use to clear your windscreen in the winter.

The smell comes from primarily glycols (like ethylene glycol or propylene glycol) mixed with water, to lower the freezing point and melt ice.

It's an alcohol-based solution, and that slightly alcoholic sweetness you smell comes from the same type of compound found in some e-cigarette liquids.

An airport worker is pictured spraying de-icing fluid onto an aircraft on a freezing winter morning in London

Thankfully, the unusual smell is likely nothing to worry about.

'The fluid is non-toxic and not harmful to breathe in, though the smell can certainly be strong enough to make you wrinkle your nose,' Singh said.

Some passengers with heightened sensitivities might experience minor irritation or sneezing, but for the vast majority of travellers, its simply an unusual scent that passes quickly.

Modern aircraft have HEPA filtration systems that efficiently cycle cabin air, which helps clear any residual odours.
Ryanair has been fined 255 million (222 million) by an Italian regulator over its dealings with travel agencies.

The budget airline was hit with the huge charge after Italy's competition authority claimed it allegedly made it difficult, or stopped, travel agencies from combining Ryanair flights with other companies, Reuters reports.

This was apparently harder to do technically or economically, according to the watchdog.

It highlighted issues with Ryanair using facial recognition systems at first.

The airline also apparently blocked online travel agencies from sending payments, and allegedly then went on to bring in agreements with the agents to limit how they could feature the airline in packages.

The Italian regulator claims this abuse of a 'dominant position' went on from April 2023 to April this year.

'Its dominant position stems not only from its significant market share, which is continuing to grow, but also from numerous other indicators... (which) contribute to giving Ryanair (a) significant market power and the ability to act independently of competitors and consumers,' the regulator said.

However, Ryanair has revealed it will 'immediately appeal' the ruling and fine, claiming it was 'unjustly levied by the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM)'.

The budget airline was hit with the huge charge after Italy's competition authority claimed it allegedly made it difficult, or stopped, travel agencies from combining Ryanair flights with other companies

The airline argues the ruling doesn't take into account 'the Jan 2024 Precedent Ruling of the Milan Court, which declared that Ryanair's direct distribution model "undoubtedly benefits consumers" and leads to "competitive fares".'

Ryanair claims it has a 'non-dominant' share of the Italian market of just over 30 per cent.

The carrier's CEO Michael O'Leary said: 'Ryanair has fought for many years for transparent pricing, and our approved OTA agreements (which have been agreed by almost every large OTA, with the notable exception of one Spanish OTA, who continues to overcharge its customers for flights and ancillary services) are manifestly and clearly pro-consumer.'

He continued: 'Ryanair has grown rapidly in Italy  and in many other markets across Europe  by always offering the lowest air fares in every single market in which we operate.'

The CEO argued the fine was 'absurd' and claims 'it will be overturned on appeal'.

Last week, Ryanair came out as the world's most delayed airline of the year in Flighty's, a flight tracking app, 2025 Global Passport Report.

In 2025, Flighty users took over 22 million flights for a cumulative 78 million hours in the air.

Each day, the app tracks individual schedules, inbound planes, and historic flight performances to calculate, confirm, and instantly alert each user when their specific flight is delayed.

This was apparently harder to do technically or economically, according to the watchdog

It found that passengers lost a whopping 3.9 million hours in delays in 2025.

And the world's worst culprit for delays?

Ryanair, along with easyJet and Air France.

With 29 per cent of their flights delayed, they're in joint first place for the most delayed airlines among Flighty users.
The UK Foreign Office has warned travellers heading to Dubai of potential 'terrorist attacks' that could target British nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In updated travel guidance, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warns that terrorists may try to carry out attacks in the UAE, including Dubai - which welcomes up to 16 million international visitors every year.

The government department writes: 'There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets.

'Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

'UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.'

The FCDO further notes that although terrorists may target western interests and British nationals specifically, attacks 'could also be indiscriminate,' including in areas frequented by foreign visitors.

Further advice states: 'Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region.'

Tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as regional hostilities in the wider Gulf region, have contributed to the elevated threat level.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned British holidaymakers that terrorists may try to carry out attacks in the UAE, including Dubai (pictured)

Several types of locations have been identified as high risk, including; public and crowded spaces, such as hotels, restaurants, beaches and shopping centres, and transport networks.

Travellers should be especially vigilant when visiting sensitive sites, such as Israeli or Jewish-linked sites, residential compounds, military sites and places of worship.

The FCDO advises: 'Maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places and at public events.'

British travellers are urged to keep up to date with regional events via local and international media, adhere to any instructions provided by local UAE security forces, and check the official FCDO page for the UAE for real-time updates.

Despite the high threat of terrorism, the FCDO does not currently advise against travel to the UAE as a whole.

It continues to be a popular destination, with over one million British visitors annually.

And travel writer Jane Knight, who's been holidaying there for 20 years, recently revealed why she thinks it's one of the world's most incredible destinations.

She wrote: 'Before I first visited Dubai two decades ago, I imagined it to be little more than Disneyland in the desert. How wrong I was.

Several types of locations across Dubai have been identified as high risk, including hotels, restaurants, beaches, shopping centres, transport links, and places of worship

'What I discovered was some of the worlds best beachside hotels enjoying year-round sunshine  and a mere seven-hour flight away.

'These days its a little more surreal, with its futuristic skyscrapers and unusual attractions, such as an Emirates A380 "superjumbo" covered in half a million blooms at Dubai Miracle Garden, as well as the Dubai Frame  the worlds biggest building in the shape of a photo frame.

'Over the years Ive done it all, from ascending the 2,722ft (828m) Burj Khalifa  the worlds tallest construction  to diving into the planets deepest pool, Deep Dive Dubai, which plunges nearly 200ft (60m).

'More recently, its the food thats impressed. Dubais dining scene has exploded, with 19 Michelin-starred restaurants and counting. Little wonder the city welcomed a staggering 18.2 million international visitors last year (thats more than Paris).'
The cheapest - and best - five-star hotels in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. They're the travel experts' ultimate secret. Now read our guide to exactly where to book and why before anyone else...


Locals have to wrap up warm in several layers before venturing outside and temperatures reach unbearable lows.

Yakutsk is located in Siberia, Russia, and is commonly known as the coldest city in the world.

Some 355,000 people call Yakutsk home and many residents work in the diamond mines.

During the winter, the location becomes ice cold and on February 5, 1891, a record-breaking temperature of -64.4C was recorded, the BBC reports.

The city sees little sunlight during the winter months, and in January it is only exposed to less than four hours of light each day.

Earlier this month, locals were hit with -45C temperatures.

Despite the icy lows, residents in the Siberian city continued life as normal, though schools reportedly didn't open.

To brave the chilly temperatures, people have to wrap up in 10 kilograms of clothing, according to @awareness_of_success, who shared a video about the city on Instagram.

Yakutsk is located in Siberia, Russia, and is commonly known as the coldest city in the world

During the winter, the location becomes ice-cold and on February 5, 1891, a record-breaking temperature of -64.4C was recorded

Local food largely consists of meat and fish as little vegetation can survive the cool weather.

YouTuber Kiun B. grew up in Yakutia and shares online how people in her hometown survive the harsh conditions.

'It is an absolute must to wear several layers of clothing,' she explained in a previous clip, noting that 'the knees are particularly prone to freezing in such extreme cold'.

Kiun's sister Dayana demonstrated how she gets dressed for the day, starting with a turtle-neck and leggings. She then added a fleece zip-up and padded pants. To keep her feet warm, she opted for traditional Yakutian boots made out of reindeer skin.

'Women in Yakutia usually have two looks,' the YouTuber said. 'One is more feminine with fur coats made of mink or fox. Another one is more casual with a down jacket, which keeps you very warm, and they are cheaper than a fur coat.'

Dayana's fur coat cost $3,000 (2,220) compared to her down coat, which was only $500 (370).

In both instances, she topped off her look with a $300 (222) hat made out of arctic fox fur.

Kiun explained that knit ones are 'just not warm enough for local winter'.

The city sees little sunlight during the winter months, and in January it is only exposed to less than four hours of light each day

'In addition to covering her head, she also wears mittens with beaded Yakutian patterns and fully covers her face,' she added. 'Otherwise, the exposed parts can get frostbite.'

Market stalls in the winter don't have any need for freezers to keep produce cool because of the icy weather, @awareness_of_success details.

The extreme temperatures mean locals often keep their cars running or covered so they don't freeze up.

The weather does surprisingly warm up in the summer, however, and reaches highs of up to 26C on average in July.
Hotel staff in northeastern China have been left horrified after uncovering the state of a room occupied by guest who had stayed there for nearly two years.

The male lodger, described by staff as a heavy online gamer, had been living at an undisclosed hotel in Changchun, the capital of Jilin Province, since 2023.

At the unique property, which caters specifically to esports enthusiasts, guests can enjoy high-tech gaming equipment, fast internet connections and private rooms designed for extended stays.

According to staff, the man was rarely seen outside his room throughout his time at the hotel, with some employees noting they had never encountered him in person.

It was not until the guest checked out on 12 December that the full extent of the damage was revealed.

Footage taken after his departure shows the curtain-drawn room filled with fast food packaging, takeaway containers, empty bottles and large amounts of used toilet paper.

In one corner of the room, a pile of waste can be seen reaching several feet high, goal-posted by two gaming chairs on either side that are almost entirely buried beneath the mass.

The bathroom was found in an equally grim state, with a colossal mound of soggy tissue paper stacked high behind the toilet bowl, and layers of grime covering much of the floor.

Hotel staff in northeastern China were left stunned after uncovering the state of a room occupied by a long-term guest

The male lodger had been living at an undisclosed hotel in Changchun for two years until he checked out on December 12, where staff soon uncovered the full extent of the damage to his room

The guest had left his quarters in a state of squalor, with piles of fast food packaging, takeaway containers, empty bottles and large amounts of used toilet paper seen in footage captured by staff

As reported by Tribune, cleaning crews reportedly spent three days removing the waste and disinfecting the room.

Hotel management said that despite the cleanup, visible damage remains and renovation work will be required before the room can be rented out again.

Staff also revealed that the guest still owes more than 10 days' worth of accommodation fees, amounting to nearly 300.

They suspect that financial difficulties may have contributed to his prompt exit.

Hotel management said the incident has not been reported to the police and that there are currently no plans to pursue responsibility, adding that the guest's personal details cannot be disclosed due to privacy regulations.

It comes as a tourist in China who intentionally flooded her hotel room after being denied a refund has been forced to cough up more than 3,000 - almost 280 times the original room rate.

The unidentified Chinese guest had booked a room at a budget hotel in Hainan, a southern island province, on 28 October.

She had reserved a one-night stay through an online platform for just 108 yuan (12).

In the bathroom, a colossal mound of soggy tissue paper can be seen stacked high behind the toilet bowl, and layers of grime covering much of the floor

According to staff, the guest still owes more than 10 days' worth of accommodation fees, amounting to nearly 300

But just 30 minutes after checking in late at the hotel, the woman demanded a full refund, claiming a 'change of plans.'

The guest further complained of shabby conditions in her room, and alleged it had been poorly soundproofed.

According to the South China Morning Post, the hotel manager said their policy states guests cannot cancel their booking after check-in.

In an attempt to resolve the matter, hotel staff offered the woman a complimentary room upgrade, which she chose not to accept.
Wizz Air has announced six new routes from London to various destinations including one Asian country that has barely any tourists.

The budget airline has acquired space at London Luton Airport and is set to bring an Airbus A321 neo aircraft to the hub.

With a new total of 15 planes at the busy airport, the carrier has revealed it will be bringing in routes to six new destinations

From summer 2026, holidaymakers will be able to jet off to Yerevan, Alicante, Lyon, Corfu, Faro and Turin with Wizz Air.

The capital of Armenia, Yerevan, is a 'previously unserved route' according to the airline, which will be providing direct flights to the destination.

From June 12, Wizz Air will be flying twice a week to the Asian destination and tickets are priced from 36.99.

Yerevan saw 2.2 million tourists in 2024, slightly lower than the 2.33 million in 2023, and has experienced steady overall growth since the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Corfu will be Wizz Air's fifth Greek island destination, joining Chania, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Zakynthos.

From summer 2026, holidaymakers will be able to jet off to Yerevan (pictured), Alicante, Lyon, Corfu, Faro and Turin with Wizz Air

Flights to the popular spot take off on June 13 twice a week and will cost from 45.99.

Lyon and Turin routes will also launch on the same date, and fly three times a week, with prices from 17.99 for both.

Elsewhere, trips to Faro will jet off four times and cost from 17.99, too.

Five Alicante flights a week will kick off on June 12 with prices starting at 17.99.

The new routes will bring Wizz Air's total destinations for UK travellers from Luton Airport up to 66 and tickets can be purchased from today.

Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK, described the additional destinations as 'exciting'.

She stated: 'This announcement underlines our continued commitment to London Luton Airport and the wider UK market.

'Securing additional slots at Luton strengthens our competitive position in the London market.

The new routes will bring Wizz Air's total destinations for UK travellers from Luton Airport up to 66 and tickets can be purchased from today

'With the launch of our 15th based aircraft at London Luton Airport, we're delighted to deliver a festive surprise by introducing six exciting new routes, including the first-ever direct connection from London to Armenia.'

Simon Harley, Interim Director of Aeronautical Revenue at London Luton Airport, commented: '2025 is drawing to a close after another successful year at London Luton Airport.

'And we're already excited for what is set to be a bumper summer 2026.

'With the addition of six further new Wizz Air routes - including the up-and-coming, and previously unserved from LLA, capital of Armenia, Yerevan, alongside other popular holiday and city break destinations to Alicante, Lyon, Corfu, Faro and Turin - this demonstrates how LLA's partnership with Wizz Air continues to provide even greater choice and a simple, friendly passenger experience for the millions of people who choose to travel from LLA each year.'
Secrets of the Conclave (BBC 2)

Rating:

Does the Pope have a cinema room at the Vatican, I wonder? If so, does he ever have a few cardinals round on a Saturday night to watch Conclave with Ralph Fiennes and chuckle at the mistakes?

His Eminence Timothy Radcliffe, an 80-year-old Englishman who was created a cardinal last year, has certainly watched the film  and gleefully pointed out an error, on Secrets Of The Conclave.

One of 133 cardinals who gathered in the Sistine Chapel last April to choose the next pontiff, following the death of Pope Francis, the keen-eyed Dominican friar spotted that the ballot box, a silver and gilded bronze urn, was in the wrong place.

'You place the ballot in the urn and shut the lid,' he explained. 'And the urn is on the altar. This is very important. That was a detail that the film Conclave got wrong. It had the urn on a table.'

Tantalising snippets like this were the only real secrets that this charming documentary revealed, because all those involved in electing the Pope take a solemn oath to preserve its mysteries.

We heard nothing of the deliberations and, though the frontrunners were named, there were few hints of how anyone voted.

Vatican correspondent Philip Pullella, an American who looks incongruously like Tony Soprano's twin brother, did suggest that the first ballot is really a dry run: 'Some cardinals will vote for somebody who doesn't have a chance of getting elected, but just as a show of gratitude for the service that has been done for the Church.'

After that, with St Peter's Square packed by crowds watching the Vatican smoke signals, business gets serious. But the discussions were always amiable, insisted the cardinal from the Philippines Luis Antonio Tagle, whose sweet smile never left his face.

All those involved in electing the Pope take a solemn oath to preserve its mysteries

Cardinal Tagle was one of those tipped early on for the throne of St Peter. He wasn't asked directly whether he had hoped to win, but he made it pretty clear he was happy to miss out.

Once the Press had named him as a possible Pope-in-waiting, he said, 'People recognise you and some would stop you and say, "Oh, let us have a selfie!" It was not pleasant at all.'

The papal tailor, Raniero Mancinelli, was busy making three cassocks  small, medium and large  so he could be sure of having something the right size. He could have saved himself some trouble if he'd trusted his intuition: Signor Mancinelli was practically the only person to predict the new Pope would be Cardinal Robert Prevost, from Chicago.

The only other observers who seemed unsurprised, when puffs of white smoke signalled the choice was made, were a pair of gulls with their chick, on the chapel roof. They have no idea, of course, that they're nesting above the world's most famous ceiling.
Netflix hit Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has revealed a star-studded line-up ahead of its release next year.

It's been a long wait for fans of the franchise, with creator Steven Knight first teasing the release of a film back in 2021 - with a spin-off series also in the works.

The film will follow main character, Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby - and will pick up four years after viewers last said goodbye to the Shelby clan in the series finale of Peaky Blinders.

In good news for fans of the show, it will feature a mix of old and new characters.

Alongside Cillian, 49, will feature Hollywood stars Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) and Dune's Rebecca Ferguson, as well as Scouse legend and star of Adolescence, Stephen Graham.

Others that will make an appearance in the film include Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, Ian Peck and Jay Lycurgo.

Netflixhit Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has revealed a star-studded line-up ahead of its release next year

Rebecca Ferguson as Kaulo in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which is set for release in March 2026



As for the plot, Tommy Shelby, who has been played by Cillian since the show's debut in 2013, will be driven back to Birmingham from his self-imposed exile.

The synopsis teases the character will face his 'most destructive reckoning yet', adding: 'With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders.'

Cillian added of the action: 'It seems like Tommy Shelby wasnt finished with me. It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.'

While writer Steven continued: 'The country is at war, and so, of course, are our Peaky Blinders... It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.'

Dune actress Rebecca, 42, who is new to the Peaky Blinders franchise, revealed it was a 'no brainer' to sign up for the highly anticipated project.

She told the Radio Times: 'I wanted to work with Cillian for a very long time, and we have the same agent, so I've been constantly calling saying, "What's up? What's going on? What are we doing?"

'When this came it was a no-brainer for me. What's fun is coming into a world that is so sedimented, it's so rooted, it has such a profound following, it's quite scary.

Tommy Shelby, who has been played by Cillian since the show's debut in 2013, will be driven back to Birmingham from his self-imposed exile

The synopsis teases the character will face his 'most destructive reckoning yet', adding: 'With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders.'

'It was an honour, the fact that they trusted me to do it  because it's a huge movie.'

The first look poster shows Cillian's Tommy on top of his horse, just as she was shown at the end of the hit series as he rode off into isolation.

While it will be made available to view in select cinemas from March 6, 2026, the wider public will be able to stream on Netflix from March 20.

It comes after it was confirmed that that Peaky Blinders will return with a bang to the BBC and Netflix, with two new series following the Shelby family.

Already, fans have been busy speculating what could be to come in the two series that promise to follow a new generation of Shelbys, as teased by show creator Stephen Knight.

But with no casting confirmed for the new projects, many are already up in arms about one potential missing face that would render the series 'worthless'.

In the new series, the action will pick up in 1953 as Birmingham is rebuilding itself from the heavy bombing that happened during World War II.

It was revealed that beloved show-star Cillian will be making a return, at least behind the cameras, as he's named among the Executive Producers.

The film will follow main character, Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby - and will pick up four years after viewers last said goodbye to the Shelby clan in the series finale of Peaky Blinders

Though, there has yet to be any confirmation as to whether Cillian would be reprising his role as leading show star Tommy.

The two series will be filmed at Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, and will be set in the city.

Peaky Blinders creator and writer Steven Knight celebrated the show's return, saying: 'Im thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story.

'Once again it will be rooted in Birmingham and will tell the story of a city rising from the ashes of the Birmingham blitz.

'The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel and it will be a hell of a ride.'

Peaky Blinders is available to stream on both Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Not sure what to watch tonight? Discover our brand new TV GUIDE now!

An axed Loose Women star has made their final 'bittersweet' appearance on the show amid ITV's brutal round of Christmas cutbacks.

The broadcaster has ended the employment of over 220 members of staff as part of a wide range of cost-cutting measures to secure its future.

Falling viewership numbers and a general move towards streaming services have been cited as reasons for the changes.

On Loose Women, this has meant that from December, there will be no live audience in the studio - and therefore no need for a warm-up act, which previously came in the form of magician Lee Peart, 35.

Despite keeping the Loose Women audience entertained since 2017, Lee is out of work just before Christmas and marked his departure from the show with an on-screen appearance for its latest competition.

However as a parting gift, he appeared live from Warwick Castle's ice rink to encourage viewers to enter the festive giveaway to be in with a chance of winning a whopping 200,000 - a departure from his usual behind-the-scenes role.

Axed Loose Women star Lee Peart 35, has made his final 'bittersweet' appearance on the show amid ITV's brutal round of Christmas cutbacks

He appeared live from Warwick Castle's ice rink to encourage viewers to enter the festive giveaway to be in with a chance of winning a whopping 200,000

The comedian has been gearing up to leave his long-running role for some time after the axing of the Loose Women live audience was announced earlier this year.

Lee described his departure from the popular daytime talk show as the 'bittersweet end of an era' on Facebook.

He admitted: 'Two weeks today will be my final Loose Women!

'A bittersweet end of an era the goodbyes are starting as it's the last time I'll work with Ruth, Gloria and Kellie in this capacity!'

The Loose Women panelists have expressed their sadness at the axing of the live audience, with Nadia Sawalha, 61, describing it as an 'important' part of the show.

Taking to YouTube to share her sadness, Nadia said: 'From next year there will be no Loose Women audience.

'I am totally devastated by this fact, I can't get over it at all.

'Not only because the audience is so important for the show, but also my dear friend Lee who I work with every day.'

The comedian has been gearing up to leave his long-running role for some time after the axing of the Loose Women live audience was announced in July

Lee described his departure from the popular daytime talkshow as the 'bittersweet end of an era' on Facebook

As well as writing about his sadness on Facebook, Lee shared a picture of himself with panellist pals Ruth Langford, Gloria Hunniford and Kelle Bryan backstage to mark his departure.

Lee's fans have been quick to express their sadness that he will no longer be a part of the show on social media.

One wrote: 'We've been twice with you as the warm-up man, you're very funny, even funnier when one of the women in the audience takes a shine to you.'

Another addd: 'I'm sure they'll miss you as much you'll miss them! Thank you for the times I came to the show and was your guest. I loved every visit and you were so kind and brilliant. Take Care, Lee.'

A third agreed: 'Gutted it's changing as a regular in the audience but I wish you good luck in the future,' as a fourth said: 'The legend Lee, we'll miss you.'

It comes amid changes across the ITV daytime shows that will see Lorraine move to a 30-week schedule with episodes cut to just half an hour from 9:30 to 10am.

As well as writing about his sadness on Facebook, Lee shared a picture of himself with panellist pals Ruth Langford, Gloria Hunniford and Kelle Bryan backstage to mark his departure

This Morning will continue to air for two-and-a-half hours from 10am until 12:30pm, while Good Morning Britain will be increased by 30 minutes.

Loose Women will continue in its usual slot from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, but episode numbers will be reduced to a 30-week 'seasonal' based schedule.

Earlier this year, a huge Loose Women cast update has revealed the fate of every panelist after a 'tense' few months of 'everyone feeling on edge' amid the ITV daytime cuts.

Back in May, fans were shocked to find out that the popular show, as well as Lorraine, are set to be AXED for half the year - after the channel announced a big shake-up to its daytime schedule.

It has left many wondering who will be returning, and luckily the budget cuts will not be affecting those on our screens.

A source told The Sun: 'Its been a tense time since the changes were announced in May and everyone has felt on edge, like theyre singing for their supper. So its a relief that everyone will broadly remain.

'Its true there will be less shifts to go around but there is no intention for the cast to lose any faces.

'There will be job cuts across the daytime teams but it will be through merging production teams, not touching talent, in regards to Loose Women.'

Loose Women will continue in its usual slot from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, but episode numbers will be reduced to a 30-week 'seasonal' based schedule amid the cuts

An ITV spokesperson said: 'We always said we valued the Loose Women and that we wouldnt be changing the panel, so viewers can look forward to seeing the familiar line-up in the New Year.'

Daily Mail contacted ITV for comment.

The current presenters include Kaye Adams, 62, Ruth Langsford, 65, Christine Lampard, 46, and Charlene White, 45.

They are joined by panelists Jane Moore, 63, Nadia Sawalha, 61, Coleen Nolan, 60, Denise Welch, 67, Janet Street-Porter, 78, Linda Robson, 67, Myleene Klass, 47, Gloria Hunniford, 85, Kelly Brook, 46, Brenda Edwards, 56, Kelle Bryan, 50, Judi Love, 45, Frankie Bridge, 36, Sunetra Sarker, 52, Katie Piper, 42, Dame Kelly Holmes, 55, Olivia Attwood, 34, Sue Cleaver, 62, Mariella Frostrup, GK Barry and Oti Mabuse.

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Intense biopic starring The Bear's Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen

Year: 2025

Certificate: 12

Watch now on Disney+

Scott Cooper's Springsteen biopic isn't quite a top ten in the arena but, rather like the director's debut feature, Crazy Heart - about a washed-up country music star played by Jeff Bridges - it's crafted with passion and conviction.

The Bear's Jeremy Allen White makes a plausibly tormented Bruce Springsteen, on the cusp both of super-stardom and mental disintegration. As with Carmy in The Bear, family issues account for most of Bruce's demons, in particular his relationship with his brutish, alcoholic dad Douglas (Stephen Graham, deftly replacing his Liverpool vowels with those of blue-collar New Jersey).

Fleeting flashbacks to Bruce's childhood with an abused mother, Adele (Gaby Hoffmann), and a bullying father, are shot in monochrome.

Later, in colour, we see the grown-up, successful Bruce stopping outside his run-down former home, uneasily trying to connect his past with his present. The story unfolds mainly in 1981, in the wake of the thunderously triumphant tour to promote his hit album The River, as we see him belting out rock anthems before adoring crowds, and excited executives at Columbia Records are eager for another album in the same vein.

But Bruce does not play ball - and decides to make a solo album without his energetic E Street Band, of plaintive songs about loss and failure. The film chronicles the efforts of those around him, his sound engineers and above all his loving, endlessly supportive manager Jon Landau (charmingly played by Jeremy Strong), to accommodate his angst-ridden single-mindedness.

It isn't a fun watch, unlike A Complete Unknown, which also focused on a controversial artistic choice (Dylan's decision to go electric), and White is far better at being the Boss off-stage than he is on - but that ultimately doesn't really matter to what is an intense and commendably bold music biopic. (120 minutes)
Accused double-murderer Nick Reiner's troubled life seemingly took a turn for the worse in a secluded therapy camp deep in the Utah wilderness.

At the tender age of 16, the middle child of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife Michele was refusing to go to high school and had already dabbled in drug use.

And with the ritzy rehabs of Malibu and Los Angeles seemingly not curing their troubled son, the Reiners admitted Nick into a more extreme program at Second Nature in Utah.

The treatment center, which was founded in 1998 by 'a small group of clinicians,' claims on its website to use a 'nomadic backpacking approach' to teach adolescents 'what it means to meet challenges directly and authentically.'

However, seven years after his stint at Second Nature, Nick confessed in a 2016 podcast interview that he believed the program may have done more harm than good.

'I went to a wilderness program in Utah. It was called Second Nature, and I met a kid there from LA and, at the time, he was kind of a hardcore Venice kid,' he explained in an episode of the Dopey podcast.

Rob Reiner and wife Michele Reiner sent their son Nick Reiner to Second Nature in Utah in an attempt to rehabilitate him following years of drug use

Second Nature was founded in 1998 and claims it uses a 'nomadic backpacking approach' to aid troubled teens

'I met him when I was 16 and then, [when] I was 18, I was in a sober living, and I call him up because I knew he was really into heroin at the time.'

Nick shared that he and his friend then went to an undisclosed location near Skid Row, the dodgy Los Angeles neighborhood known for its rampant drug trades and homelessness, where he was shot up with the illegal opioid for the first time.

'The point of the story is that the seed of heroin got planted by the first time I was ever in rehab and the person I got it from was a guy that I met in rehab like three years down the line,' he added. 'For all the negative that I think it did to me, it also exposed me to a larger demographic of people.'

The Daily Mail spoke exclusively to two women who attended Second Nature in 2007 and 2012, respectively, around the same time Nick attended. They did not meet or know Nick personally, but both shared some compassion for the 'suffering' he had experienced as a teen.

Savanna Boda told the Daily Mail that, like Nick, she was exposed to conversations about drug use while at Second Nature, adding, 'I got curious to try marijuana when I got out of there because I learned so much from the kids that I was around.'

In retrospect, she said the camaraderie she formed with her fellow teens at age 15 was one of the few bright spots in what she now remembers as a very dark time.

She described a harrowing living environment at Second Nature, in which she was allegedly forced to live completely outdoors seven days a week for three months in the freezing cold Utah winter temperatures and denied basic needs.

'We did frostbite checks on our feet every hour to make sure we were not losing toes,' she claimed. 'It was freezing. It's so hard to go through.'

The Daily Mail spoke to two women, including Savanna Boda (right), who attended Second Nature as teens. Boda claimed she was deprived of basic needs during her time there

'It was freezing. It's so hard to go through,' Boda, now 28, told Daily Mail exclusively

After hiking about seven miles a day in the snow with a heavy backpack, Boda claimed the tired and filth-ridden teens were only allowed to bathe every few days, at which point they would allegedly stand on a bandana and pour water from a bucket.

Margaret Lynd, who attended Second Nature at age 17, claimed to the Daily Mail that the college-aged counselors would often scoff at the teens, calling them 'dirt urchins.'

'They have a power trip,' Boda, now 28, claimed. 'They got off on bullying us and making our lives hell.'

Both women alleged that the counselors appeared inexperienced, did not have psychology degrees and simply took the job because they enjoyed nature.

For meals, they were allegedly only fed 'disgusting canned, freeze-dried food,' which could only be heated up if they mastered a skill known as 'busting a fire.'

'I couldnt bust a fire for a couple of months so they were really upset with me and they made me go into fire isolation,' Boda claimed. 'I wasnt allowed to eat any hot food, so I was literally freezing to death over not being able to make a fire.'

At bedtime, the teens would allegedly remain outdoors and sleep inside of a tarp, on a sleeping bag with no extra blankets and no pillows.

Their only forms of therapy, per Lynd and Boda, were sessions with an actual professional once a week and daily group therapy run by the counselors.

The teens allegedly hiked about 7 miles a day, wore dirty clothes and barely showered, according to Boda and Margaret Lynd

The teens were allegedly told they had to 'bust a fire' if they wanted to eat warm food

Boda (center) claimed, 'I wasnt allowed to eat any hot food, so I was literally freezing to death over not being able to make a fire'

In the group sessions, the teens would have to read in front of their fellow patients and staff deeply personal letters they wrote about their trauma.

Lynd, who had been raped just two months before her stint at Second Nature, claimed she had people 'chime in' on her story, saying, 'Wow, it sounds like you had a really hard time. Sounds like your parents did the right thing by sending you away.'

For her, though, one of the more traumatizing parts of the whole ordeal began Day 1.

She said she was transported from her father's home to the Utah center in the middle of the night by a process the teens have dubbed 'gooning' and claimed is like a kidnapping.

Lynd alleged that, around 2 am, she was put into a van by two large people, blindfolded, zip-tied and flown from a Chicago airport to Salt Lake City airport. All the while, they allegedly threatened, 'You can come the easy way or the hard way.'

When Lynd arrived at Second Nature, she claimed she was stripped of all her belongings, stood naked in front of two women in a cold room to make sure she was 'not hiding anything' and forced to shower and wash her hair with lice shampoo.

'I just dont feel like these people care,' Lynd, who is now 35 and runs the Sunset Wildlife Connection animal rescue, said.

'The educational consultants will convince [the parents] that if you dont send your child theyre going to die. That's something that even Rob Reiner said.'

Lynd, seen here at age 17, went to Second Nature in 2007 and claimed she felt like she was being kidnapped when two large people transported her from her father's house to the center

Lynd, now 35, claimed to Daily Mail that those who run Second Nature are 'greedy' and 'corrupt,' adding, 'I just dont feel like these people care'

'Theres a quote in the movie [Being Charlie] that [Rob and Nick] produced together, "I would rather have you hate me than you die",' Lynd continued.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Rob once admitted that he and his wife had regrets over how they handled their son's rehab experiences.

'When Nick would tell us that it wasnt working for him, we wouldnt listen,' the All in the Family alum shared. 'We were desperate, and because the people had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them when we should have been listening to our son.'

Michele added at the time, 'We were so influenced by these people. They would tell us hes a liar, that he was trying to manipulate us. And we believed them.'

Nick, for his part, told the Dopey podcast in 2016, 'Parents, they get scared. They don't want to see their children die so they jump the gun.'

He shared, though, that he and his mom had had talks about whether she was to blame for his downfall and he said, 'I don't think that they should feel that way at all and - it's always a person's choice to do something.'

Boda and Lynd expressed sympathy for Rob, Michele and all the parents who send their kids to Second Nature, as they, too, are allegedly victims of manipulation

Nick said on the Dopey podcast in 2016, 'Parents they get scared. They don't want to see their children die so they jump the gun'

Boda - who had a friend at Second Nature named Cali Carl who died by suicide - claimed the boys at Second Nature were treated 'a lot worse' than the girls.

She told the Daily Mail she thought Nick 'took his anger out on the wrong people' if he is in fact convicted of killing his parents on Dec. 14 in their California home.

While emphasizing that she does not condone murder, the Dallas Aesthetician business owner added, 'I know that he probably went through a lot of pain and I feel bad for his suffering and his heart.'

The women that Daily Mail spoke with reflected on their experience around the same time as Nicks, which is not a commentary on Second Nature today.

A representative for Second Nature told the Daily Mail in response to Boda and Lynd's claims, 'The assertions referenced are false and misleading, and have been routinely discredited. Reputable nature-based therapeutic programs such as Second Nature are built on principles of care, compassion, empathy, and emotional safety, and are part of the continuum of mental health treatment options important to addressing the worsening mental health crisis affecting children and teens.'

'Nature-based therapy can provide a structured, supportive environment that serves as a healthy alternative for families whose children may not have benefited from traditional outpatient or residential settings,' the statement continued. 'Second Nature is a licensed program, with tremendous oversight and coordination with state regulators and has an impeccable safety record over our 27 year history.'

'All clinical services are overseen by licensed therapists who meet with clients multiple times each week and who prioritize individualized care, therapeutic rapport, and ethical practice,' the representative concluded.

'Parents are actively involved throughout treatment, including through regular communication, family therapy and in-person visits. We encourage prospective families to speak directly with verified alumni parents and expert professionals to gain a firsthand understanding of their experiences.'

Online reviews for Second Nature are mixed. While some are negative, others commend the program and dismiss its critics as 'disgruntled attendees.'

A woman named Emma T., who attended Second Nature in 2006, wrote via Yelp in 2016, 'I came to this program angry, empty and addicted. I didn't think there was any hope for me.

'Through some serious blood, sweat and tears I learned more about myself than I thought possible. I learned new ways to communicate about my feelings and how to connect with my family. I also made connections with incredible people that I have still kept today.'
Rumours are swirling that veteran news presenter Peter Overton could have a challenger for his coveted role.

Overton, 59, has been the 9News Sydney presenter for the past 17 years, during his 35-year career at Channel Nine.

However, according to Woman's Day, Nine's political editor Charles Croucher has his eyes on the job.

While there has been no word of Overton stepping down from the role, an insider claimed that Croucher had tested well in focus groups as a potential replacement.

'Focus groups have given the 'thumbs up' for Charlie, who is very popular with the viewers and his colleagues,' the insider claimed.

They added Croucher, like Overton, could bring a certain gravitas to the role, given his experience.

Rumours are swirling that veteran news presenter Peter Overton could have a challenger for his coveted role

According to Woman's Day, Nine's political editor Charles Croucher has his eyes on the job

'He's a terrific bloke, and has been in the trenches for years, and is highly respected, especially in Canberra,' they added.

The insider reiterated that while Croucher has not been shy about making his career aspirations known, he might have to wait a while.

'Charles has made no secret he wants the gig when Pete leaves, but that could be a long time if Pete has his way.

However, speaking to Nine in August, Overton insisted that he wasn't ready to call time on his nearly two-decade stint as the 9News Sydney anchor.

'I've got a few more years left,' he said.

'Fifteen years as the dominant number one in the Sydney market is a real tribute to the people I work alongside, and we don't take anything for granted.

'I treat every night as opening night. That's what we do, all of us, and it's paying a lovely dividend for us all.'

Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.

'Focus groups have given the 'thumbs up' for Charlie, who is very popular with the viewers and his colleagues,' an insider claimed. Croucher is pictured with Sarah Abo

Overton, 59, has been the 9News Sydneypresenter for the past 17 years, during his 35-year career at Channel Nine

It comes after Overton was forced off-air in November after suffering a serious injury.

The Nine veteran suffered a nasty fall at home, resulting in a severely injured wrist.

The damage was so significant it required a gruelling four-hour surgery involving a bone graft, three metal plates, and multiple screws.

The news was shared by his wife, journalist and podcast host Jessica Rowe, in a heartfelt social media post.

Never a dull moment in our house! she wrote, revealing the extent of her husbands injury.

What with Allegra finishing her HSC & the chaos that can be daily life, Petee recently had a nasty fall at home, badly injuring his wrist.

Rowe, 55, added that Overton was under strict instructions to rest & recover, and that it will be some time before hes back on screen.

During Overton's three-week absence, Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight filled in for the veteran news presenter.

Croucher, meanwhile, began his career at Nine in Darwin back in 2010.

After a stint on A Current Affair and in Parliament House as a politics reporter, he took on the role of Nine's US correspondent before returning to Australia to co-host Weekend Today in 2020.

In October 2022, Croucher succeeded Chris Uhlmann as Nine's political editor.
Zendaya and her fiance Tom Holland headed out for a walk in Richmond Park as they prepare to spend Christmas with his family.

The actress, 29, and actor, also 29, cut low-key figures as they were joined by two Protection Dog staff members and their beloved black miniature schnauzer, Noon.

Last year, the couple celebrated their engagement in America with Zendaya's family.

This year, the pair will spend it with Tom's comedian father Dominic and his photographer mum Nicola and his brothers.

Zendaya sported a trench coat, scarf and jeans while Tom kept warm in a beanie and padded black coat.

The loved-up couple are set to share the screen for the fourth time in Christopher Nolan's latest highly-anticipated project, after previously playing love interests in three Spider-Man movies.

Zendaya and her fiance Tom Holland headed out for a walk in Richmond Park as they prepare to spend Christmas with his family

Zendaya sported a trench coat, scarf and jeans as they headed out with two Protection Dog staff members

Tom is set to play one of the main roles in The Odyssey, starring as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus - while Matt Damon will take on role of the legendary Greek king of Ithaca.

While Zendaya's role has been undisclosed so far, despite her being spotted filming on the Aegadian Isle of Favignana in March, wearing a sleeveless off-white Grecian gown.

The Golden Globe winner is rumoured to be playing the Greek goddess Athena, who serves as divine counselor to Odysseus and meddles with gods like her father Zeus in his quest to return home.

Others have suggested she will star as Calypso, a nymph who keeps Odysseus captive by force on her island Ogygia for seven years while attempting to make him her immortal husband.

There's also a chance she could be playing Nausicaa, the beautiful daughter of King Alcinous who helps Odysseus when he's shipwrecked on her island.

Filming for the mythic action epic began in February on location in Greece, Morocco, Italy, Iceland and Los Angeles, with shooting now based in Scotland.

The Odyssey is set to become the most expensive project of Nolan's prestigious career, with a reported budget of $250million, and will also be the first film in history to be shot entirely using brand new IMAX film technology.

He is directing from his own screenplay - based on the epic poem by Homer that dates back to the 8th Century BC and was first published in English in 1614.

Join the debate Should celebrity couples keep their romances private or share more of their lives with fans?

They walked their beloved black miniature schnauzer, Noon

Last year, the couple celebrated their engagement in America with Zendaya's family. This year, the pair will spend it with Tom's comedian father Dominic and photographer mum Nicola

Tom is set to play one of the main roles in The Odyssey, starring as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus - while Matt Damon will take on role of the legendary Greek king of Ithaca

Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 but have mostly kept their relationship out of the public eye (pictured 2021)

Anticipation for the mammoth film has already reached a fever pitch, with the incredible cast including a huge number of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Anne Hathaway is said to be playing Odysseus' wife and Queen of Ithaca, Penelope, whom he's eager to reunite with following a perilous journey back home.

While Charlize Theron has been reported to be starring as the witch goddess Circe in the 3000-year-old fantastical tale full of sirens and a cyclops.

The star-studded cast also includes the likes of Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth.

Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 but have mostly kept their relationship out of the public eye.
Dianne Buswell has shared an emotional reunion with her parents as she and boyfriend Joe Sugg celebrate Christmas in Australia ahead of welcoming their first child.

The dancer, 36, is expecting her first baby with YouTuber Joe, after they announced the happy news back in September.

Following the end of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday, Dianne flew Down Under with Joe to spend the festive period with her family.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the dancer shared a sweet video capturing the couple's reunion with her parents at the airport.

In the clip, Dianne runs into her parents' arms as they embrace her in a big hug before admiring her blossoming baby bump.

The camera then pans to Joe, who beams as he meets her parents, with the words 'Home for Christmas' written across the screen.

Dianne Buswell has shared an emotional reunion with her parents as she and boyfriend Joe Sugg celebrate Christmas in Australia ahead of welcoming their first child

The dancer, 36, is expecting her first baby with YouTuber Joe, after they announced the happy news back in September

Following the end of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday, Dianne flew Down Under with Joe to spend the festive period with her family

Alongside the post, Dianne wrote: 'These two just make me so happy. Nothing beats being home for Christmas. And first time they met bump.'

Earlier this month, Dianne showcased her baby bump in a black catsuit as she shared a series of throwback snaps from her pregnancy.

The mum-to-be looked radiant as she posed backstage for a glamorous pre-show photoshoot.

She posed in a figure-hugging, sheer playsuit which featured an intricate black design.

Dianne curled her fiery red hair into loose waves and posed barefoot for a series of glamourous snaps.

Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Back when we filmed this number, I hadn't told any of the pros that I was pregnant yet it was my little secret .

'Last night I found my outfit on the rack and thought I would do a growth chart he's certainly grown'

Dianne and Joe met when they were partnered together on the dancing show in 2018.

It comes after Dianne showcased her bump in a black catsuit as she shared a series of throwback snaps from her early days of pregnancy

Last month, she admitted her baby bump 'has popped' and said getting dressed for Strictly was becoming harder and harder.

In an update on Wednesday and wearing a black fitted one-piece, she added a pair of sunglasses and mimed, 'No body is going to know...'

As she walked away from the camera, to display her growing bump, Dianne then added: 'They're going to know.'

She captioned to update: 'Getting dressed for rehearsals is getting a little harder these days.'

Dianne was the first professional in the show's history to compete while pregnant, before her partner Stefan Dennis, was forced to pull out due to injury.

'But she has still taken part in a number of routines with her fellow professionals.'

It comes after she shared the sweet moment she told her family in Australia about her pregnancy with Joe.

In an Instagram update, Dianne shared the heartwarming moment she told her parents, who live in Australia, over FaceTime that she and Joe were expecting.

Last month she shared the sweet moment she told her family in Australia about her pregnancy with Joe

In the sweet clip, Dianne and Joe could be seen in the corner of the screen showing the sonogram of their baby - with her dad Mark seemingly in shock.

Her mother Rina then comes onto the screen and is ecstatic when she notices the news, at which point Mark realises it is real.

Elsewhere in the clip, Dianne and Joe are also seen telling her brothers and their families, who also live in her native Australia, the happy news.

First onto the screen are Dianne's brother Andrew Buswell and his fiancee Melissa Lejman with their daughter, Zofia, four. The couple also share Roman, 17 months.

Later her other brother Brendan Buswell is seen finding out with his wife Annabella and their daughter Mia Isabella, 15. Brendan and Annabella also have a son called Billy, 13.

Dianne captioned the clip: 'It's hard being away from my family especially times like these  but there reactions are a vision I'll have forever!'

She added: 'Haha dad was very much shocked in the beginning and thought we were pranking him. @joe_sugg'
When Brooklyn Beckham was a little boy, he loved nothing more than to play with his best friends  Gordon Ramsays children.

He was particularly close to Jack and Holly, the chefs twins who were born just nine months after him.

As the Beckhams and the Ramsays lived life in the limelight on both sides of the Atlantic, their children had much in common. Together they experienced the ups  and downs  of being the offspring of global celebrities.

As well as spending holidays and Christmases together, they shared jokes and secrets. But as Holly prepares to walk down the aisle this weekend at her much talked about wedding to Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty, Brooklyn will be a notable absentee.

While his parents David and Victoria will be there with their other three children  Romeo, Cruz and Harper  the 26-year-old influencer and his wife Nicola Peltz will not. Instead, they are expected to be spending the festive period in America with Nicolas parents Nelson and Claudia and her siblings at their Palm Beach mansion.

Giving the wedding a miss means that they will, of course, escape an awkward encounter with Brooklyns parents, with whom the pair are now in open war.

Sources familiar with the nuptials say that Brooklyn, as someone who was once a central part of the Ramsay/Beckham gatherings, will of course be missed.

But the truth is that his parents and siblings are not the only guests Brooklyn has distanced himself from. Despite being best friends since they were toddlers, Im told that his relationship with Gordon and Tanas eldest son Jack  now in the Marines  has sadly fizzled out.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz will not be at Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay's wedding

The Olympic swimmer is set to marry Ms Ramsay, a childhood friend of Brooklyn, this weekend

Tana and Gordon Ramsay are said to be upset as they view the Beckhams as almost like family

Join the debate Is Brooklyn right to cut off old friends and family after finding love, or is loyalty more important?

They are believed not to have spoken for some time now. In fact, according to friends of both families, their bond began to unravel when Brooklyn began dating Nicola.

And, like Brooklyns parents, there was no sign of Jack at Brooklyn and Nicolas service to renew their wedding vows in the summer. It is not known if Brooklyn was invited to Hollys wedding and declined or if he didnt make the guest list.

But informed sources suggest it would be unlike Holly to have snubbed him because, when it comes to Brooklyn, the Ramsays are thought to take the view the door is always open for him.

And they feel it is a huge shame he isnt going as he and Holly were once very close  he and Jack even closer.

David and Victoria see Gordon and Tana almost as family. The kids all grew up together. Brooklyn always loved his time with them all but his and Jacks friendship isnt really there any more which is a great shame.

Gordon and Tana have been upset at the fall-out too. They are very, very fond of Brooklyn. Theyve known him since he was tiny.

Brooklyn doesnt appear to see many of his friends he hung out with before Nicola any more and that is very sad. These are people who he goes way back with and Holly is one of them.

But then, should Brooklyn have been there, there would have been quite the scene, what with his parent being there.

The news that Brooklyn will be a no-show at Hollys big day comes just days after it was revealed that he had blocked his parents and younger brother Cruz on the social media platform Instagram. It is not known if he has also blocked Harper, 14, as she has her account set to private, making it impossible to establish her status one way or the other.

David and Victoria see Brooklyns move as a sign of complete estrangement following their huge fall-out in the spring when Brooklyn and Nicola snubbed all of the former England captains 50th birthday celebrations.

Despite their feud, both sides had  until the weekend  continued to keep relations friendly on Instagram, where their lives are played out in a never-ending stream of posts and short-form videos.

But yesterday The Sun reported that the reason Brooklyn had blocked his parents and youngest brother was because his mother liked a video he posted of himself roasting a chicken in which he discussed beer-brining the bird to give it extra flavour.

Poshs move prompted many of their mutual followers to call for mother and son to build bridges, which is said to have annoyed Brooklyn. Shortly afterwards he blocked his immediate family. This prompted Cruz to take to Instagram  where else?  to explain that his parents, far from blocking their oldest son, woke up blocked by him.

Meanwhile, sources close to Brooklyn told this newspaper yesterday that he finds his parents posts anxiety-inducing.

Team Brooklyn also says that he and Nicola are not prepared to forgive his parents until they make a public apology for their part in a briefing war between the two sides.

Though Brooklyn and Nicola are believed to have also briefed media outlets on negative accounts about Posh and Becks, as one source says: They seem to have forgotten about that.

Its undeniable that the feud blowing up now is going to cast something of a shadow over the Beckhams Christmas.

The couple has accepted the schism for what it is, though they are terribly upset for their parents  Brooklyns grandparents  with whom he was once so close.

But back to the Ramsay/Peaty wedding, which is expected to be conducted at Bath Abbey on Saturday, with a lavish reception thought to be taking place at Kin Hall in Wiltshire.

That too has been something of a saga  and one that is intertwined with the Beckhams.

Indeed, when pictures emerged of Victoria at Hollys hen party at the exclusive Soho Farmhouse in October, Adams own mother Caroline was conspicuously absent.

Things spiralled from there and Peatys once beloved mum finds herself off the guest list (amid claims that Holly didnt approve of the dress shed bought to wear) along with his father and two brothers.

It is understood that the brideto-be didnt think that her future mother-in-laws outfit fitted in with the look of her day and offered to buy her another one.

Meanwhile, Adam, 30, has fallen out with his brothers Richard and James  with the latter arrested for harassment last month after allegedly sending the swimmer messages while he was on his stag do in Budapest. Of Adams family, only his sister Beth is expected to attend the nuptials.

So on Saturday, when Holly, 25, takes her vows, the scale of the conflict in these warring families will be clear for all to see.

If Brooklyn hadnt fallen out with his own family, then maybe he would be there, said one source. The sad thing is that he would have most probably really enjoyed himself.

But families are families and everyone is going to do their very best to have a great time and let their hair down after what has been a very difficult year.
Victorian politician Georgie Purcell has welcomed her first child with her partner, Labor MP Josh Burns, who has previously been described as her political rival.

The Animal Justice Party MP took to Instagram on Monday to reveal the joyful news, introducing her newborn daughter to the world alongside candid images from the hospital, the delivery room and their first days as a family.

'Meet Lilah Poppy Purcell,' she wrote alongside a purple heart and sparkle emoji.

'She's definitely my daughter (impatient) and insisted on bursting into the world a little bit sooner than planned on Friday morning.'

In one hospital selfie, Purcell cradles her newborn against her chest while lying in a hospital bed, still in a black singlet, her signature platinum blonde hair tousled and her tattooed arms wrapped protectively around her baby.

Lilah is swaddled in a soft mauve blanket, sleeping peacefully as her mum gazes at the camera with tired but glowing eyes.

Stripper turned politician Georgie Purcell has welcomed her first child with her partner, a Labor MP who has previously been described as her political rival

The Victorian MP took to Instagram on Monday to reveal the joyful news, introducing her newborn daughter to the world alongside candid images from the hospital, the delivery room and their first days as a family

Another deeply personal image shows the moment just after birth, with Purcell wearing a blue surgical cap as her partner leans in to kiss her forehead while their daughter, dressed in a pink knitted beanie, rests on her chest under a white hospital blanket.

The couple also shared a sunlit outdoor snap from their first days home.

Both parents beam at the camera as they cuddle close, clearly smitten with their newborn.

Further close-up images show Purcell tenderly kissing Lilah's cheek as the baby sleeps, her tiny features framed by a patterned onesie and the same mauve blanket embroidered with hearts and letters.

Another photo captures Lilah fast asleep in her mum's arms, her rosy cheeks and pursed lips on full display.

In her heartfelt caption, Purcell described motherhood as life-changing.

'Becoming a mum has been the best thing ever,' she wrote.

'It's also made me more determined than ever before to fight for a future that is kind, equal and just.'

'Meet Lilah Poppy Purcell,' she wrote, alongside a purple heart and sparkle emoji

The outspoken MP, who has previously spoken candidly about her past as a stripper before entering politics, said she would be taking some time to recover before returning to parliament, with a major year ahead. Pictured together in December 2025

She also revealed the deeply personal meaning behind her daughter's name, explaining that Lilah Poppy symbolises purple and red flowers, while also paying tribute to her Jewish heritage.

'Her name represents purple and red flowers but is also a nod to her Jewish heritage - something that will be an important part of her life in our home with her sister, Tia,' she said.

Purcell added that Lilah's arrival came at a particularly emotional time for her partner.

'As for Lilah, she has already given us more than she could possibly know - arriving at a time that her dad needed some light in the darkness.'

The outspoken MP, who has previously spoken candidly about her past as a stripper before entering politics, said she would be taking some time to recover before returning to parliament, with a major year ahead.

'I'll be spending the next few weeks resting and preparing for another huge year in parliament plus an election - just this time with a +1 alongside me,' she wrote.
She was a familiar face on Australian television in the early 2000s, with hosting roles on Changing Rooms and Our House.

After stepping away from the camera in 2009, the rarely seen Suzie Wilks cut a very glamorous figure when she stepped out to enjoy some Christmas festivities with friends.

The former TV presenter, 55, took to her Instagram story on Monday to share a montage of photos that showed her enjoying a pre-Christmas lunch.

The mum-of-one cut a very svelte figure, stepping out for the soiree in a black satin blouse that she tucked into a beige mini skirt.

The skirt showed off Suzie's lithe legs, which were also adorned with a pair of black leather boots that finished just below the knee.

Wearing her brunette locks down for the occasion, Suzie accessorised with a pair of large black sunglasses.

She was a familiar face on Australian television in the early 2000s, with hosting roles on Changing Rooms and Our House. And Suzie Wilks cut a very glamorous figure when she stepped out to enjoy some Christmas festivities with friends

The former TV presenter, 55, took to her Instagram story on Monday to share a montage of photos that showed her enjoying a pre-Christmas lunch. The mum-of-one cut a very svelte figure, stepping out for the soiree in a black satin blouse that she tucked into a beige mini skirt

She finished her glamorous and youthful look with some silver bling around her neck.

It seems that Suzie is keen to get into the Christmas spirit, with the post showing her at two more festive-themed events.

One photo showed her happily relaxing with friends as she wore a colourful, floral-patterned midi dress.

A second image, meanwhile, showed Suzie looking no less glamorous, this time in a black and white chequered dress, giggling as she attempted to remove a cat from the dining table.

Looking happy and relaxed in the company of friends, Suzie's appearance was virtually unchanged from the familiar face that beamed into Aussie loungerooms in the early noughties.

Speaking to News Corp back in 2019, Suzie revealed why she disappeared from screens almost eight years prior.

Suzie, who shares daughter Ruby, 13, with ex-husband Nick O'Halloran, said that she underestimated the difficulty of balancing motherhood and a TV career.

She resigned from Nine's Changing Rooms at the end of 2005, after seven years as host.

It seems that Suzie is keen to get into the Christmas spirit, with the post showing her at two more festive-themed events. One photo showed her happily relaxing with friends as she wore a colourful, floral-patterned midi dress

A second image, meanwhile, showed Suzie looking no less glamorous, this time in a black and white chequered dress, giggling as she attempted to remove a cat from the dining table

Looking happy and relaxed in the company of friends, Suzie's appearance was virtually unchanged from the familiar face that beamed into Aussie loungerooms in the early noughties

Having shot for 40 weeks of the year, Suzie admitted that she didn't realise the hours involved.

'I thought it was the type of job where I could be a mum and provide for my kids and still work and earn an income, but what I didn't realise it's actually quite the opposite of that,' she said.

Describing her work schedule at the time as 'extremely time-consuming,' Suzie said that she didn't want to 'miss out' on her daughter Ruby's life.

'I'm grateful for everything, but it got to a stage where I thought to myself, "I don't have a life", so I decided to resign. I didn't want to miss out on Ruby's life.'

Following her resignation, Suzie moved over to the Seven Network in 2008 for a stint on Dancing With The Stars.

It proved to be the worst timing, with her mother Ann having suddenly died from a brain aneurysm at 67.

By 2011 she had retreated from the spotlight completely, focusing on raising daughter Ruby.

Suzie was the host of Changing Rooms - a Network Ten home renovation series  from 1998 to 2005.

The series was rebooted by Ten in 2018, this time hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte.

It was a short-lived run, however, with the series being axed just four episodes into the first season.
Jo Brand appeared in a Labour Party election broadcast backing charisma-free Ed Miliband, who in 2015 assured Jeremy Paxman, Hell, yes Im tough enough [to be PM]  before his drubbing by David Cameron.

But the zealously Left-wing comedienne is not convinced that Sir Keir Starmer has what it takes to carry on at No 10. I dont feel that hes hard enough or simple enough for the job in some ways, she declares.

Ive met him on quite a few occasions and hes a nice guy, but I think its so about PR these days, explains the 68-year-old Have I Got News For You regular.

Citing a fellow comic, Brand told her audience at a gig in south-east London: Billy Connolly used to say that anyone who wants to go into politics shouldnt be allowed to, and I think that is very much true.

Jo Brand is not convinced Sir Keir Starmer is the right man to be Labour's Prime Minister

Anyone who has ambition and craves the amount of power that politicians have is quite dangerous in some ways, so its a difficult one.

Starmers political ambitions can be traced back to his days as a student. So deeply entrenched were his convictions that, as revealed by the Mail last year, he attended a Left-wing work camp in 1980s Communist Czechoslovakia, then occupied by Moscow forces.

Sir Keir has proved an unpopular PM. A YouGov poll this month showed just 18 per cent of the British public have a favourable opinion of him.

Brands politics have been controversial, too. In 2019, she got into trouble for joking on BBC Radio 4 comedy show Heresy: Im thinking, why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid? after Nigel Farage had a drink thrown at him. The BBC ruled that her comments went beyond what was appropriate.

Tilda's fears for kids on social media

Tilda Swinton, speaking at the V&A in Kensington, is nervous about children on social media

She imposed 100 years of winter in Narnia as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

And Tilda Swinton is frozen in time in real life. I am one of the last humans on the planet who has never had anything to do with social media, the actress reveals, adding: I dont really know how it operates. Posting? Honestly, I am that Luddite.

Speaking at the V&A in Kensington, Swinton, 65, explains: One thing that makes me nervous about social media  I am fearful that young people edit their lives and edit their communication with other humans too much and only put their best foot forward on their social media presence.

When youre in actual communication with people, you cant [do that]. You might miss out on some really useful mess.

Darcey Russell: No pain, no gain

At the peak of her dancing success, Dame Darcey Bussell pushed her body to extremes to achieve perfection.

But now the 56-year-old, who at 20 became the Royal Ballets youngest principal dancer in 1989, has admitted that she took a secret delight in suffering for her art.

For me the pain was a bit of a pleasure zone, not that I am a masochist, but you get to enjoy that physical pain, she tells model Jean Campbell  daughter of Scots peer Colin Campbell, 7th Earl Cawdor  on her Im Fine podcast. To whinge and moan about your body being in pain can just get in the way of your work.

Why Daniel isn't getting the cosmetic knives out

Daniel Craig stars in the latest Knives Out film on Netflix, but won't be going under one himself

His glacial blue stare, chiselled features and ripped physique made him a model Bond. But now that Daniel Craig is branching into character roles, having retired as 007 in 2021, he insists ageing gracefully is the only way forward.

The 57-year-old, who stars in Knives Out on Netflix, says: CGI is a wonderful tool to use in movies because you can invent things, but it is only as good as the artist behind it. Its the same with [a] facelift. It is only as good as the artist who is behind it.

A good facelift is like youve been away on holiday, and you look great. A bad facelift is like, What the f*** is going on. Theres only so much you can do with a skull.

Or a pair of budgie smugglers.

Idris has Christmas all wrapped up

Idris Elba wont be doing any panic buying tomorrow. His wife, former Miss Vancouver Sabrina Dhowre, has revealed the Luther star never buys her gifts, at least not himself.

I try very hard not to prescribe gifts, but I know our personal shopper  the one he uses, Sabrina, 36, explains. So, I sometimes whisper in her ear, If he ever mentions this thing, maybe guide him a bit this way. 

But Mrs Elbas Christmas wish list isnt entirely empty. He knows there are some things I will never buy myself and Im the same for him because we try not to focus too much on material things, although it is very hard because Im obsessed with fashion.

West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher says she finally feels free to get tattoos  in her 30s.

Currently appearing in Elf The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, London, the 33-year-old tells me: I didnt get my first big tattoo until I was 30, so I waited until I felt safe enough to do that. If Id got my tattoos at the beginning of my career, Id definitely have done myself out of a few jobs.

Wicked star Jonathan Bailey, 37, has described how his family make him emotional, especially his 11-year-old niece.

The Oxford-born actor, who has three older sisters, said: I get moved to tears by family quite a lot, like my niece was pupil of the week. Shes so sweet, shes just started senior school, and I was just so proud of her.

Edited by Chloe Thomas
Authorities in Riverside, California said it's not immediately clear how long former Nickelodeon star Tylor Chase has been living on the streets.

'We do not know how long he has been experiencing homelessness,' Riverside Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Railsback told Daily Mail Monday. 'During all of our interactions, he has been cordial and cooperative with our officers.'

Railsback said that officers with the department's Public Safety Engagement Team 'contact him at least once a week and consistently offer a variety of resources, including assistance with temporary shelter options.'

Railsback previously told TMZ Monday that Chase, 36, has consistently declined shelter, drug or alcohol, treatment, or mental health services offered by the department's outreach division.

Chase, who played Martin Qwerly on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in the 2000s, is not wanted for any crimes, police told TMZ.

Authorities told Daily Mail they have not been in touch with Chase's relatives as he remains unhoused: 'Regarding family, I am not aware of any attempts by officers to contact relatives on his behalf.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Nickelodeon for further comment.

Authorities in Riverside, California said that they have offered former Nickelodeon star Tylor Chase, 36, assistance on multiple occasions, but he has yet to accept the offers

The news comes as another one-time child star who has battled homelessness - Shaun Weiss of The Mighty Ducks films - has offered help to Chase.

Chase was filmed looking worse for wear in Riverside this September in the viral video, which his one-time co-stars have described as 'scary.'

Chase did not seem to be upset when police informed him of the viral video, authorities told TMZ.

On its website, the Riverside Police Department says that its Community Engagement Division 'strives to address emerging crime trends, maintain safe school campuses, create safe parks and neighborhoods, reduce retail crime and develop working partnerships with all of our Riverside communities.'

The woman who filmed the viral clip started by asking Chase if he was on the Disney Channel.

'Nickelodeon,' Chase clarified, adding that he was on 'Ned's Declassified.'

'Oh yeah, you're that kid on it,' the fan responded, as Chase told her his full name.

The video sparked widespread sadness on social media - and, once Chase's former co-stars heard about it, they also expressed their shock.

Join the debate What responsibility do fans and former colleagues have to support child stars who fall on hard times?

Chase, 36, played Martin Qwerly on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in the 2000s

His co-stars Lindsey Shaw, Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee at the 18th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Westwood, California, in 2005

Actors Devon Werkheiser, Daniel Curtis Lee and Lindsey Shaw addressed the news on Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide on September 24.

'There was some bad news that I received earlier this week about our dear friend Tylor Chase. It was a lot to process for me,' Lee said, describing the video as 'scary.'

Lee added, 'When I first saw, I was angry, because I was like, why put a camera on someone's face in hard times? But then I was upset with myself because I feel powerless because there's not much that I felt I could do.'

'I didn't want to believe it at first, I was like, oh they just caught him at a bad time,' Lee added.

'But then I saw some other videos, and it looks like a brother is going through some stuff. I fully believe that he can recover, but that's also wishful thinking from me.'

Lee spoke about the careful balance he faced as a concerned party reaching out.

'I gotta go and see him, and want to get through this fight, and try to connect with him somehow, but I also don't want to waste my time and put him on the spot,' Lee said.

Shaw agreed that she was 'in the same boat' as Lee and wanted to go see Chase in person.

The news comes as another one-time child star who has battled homelessness - Shaun Weiss of The Mighty Ducks films- has offered help to Chase

'You can't do much, but I would love to go speak with him and just love on him and look him in the eye,' she said. 'I miss Tylor, I love Tylor so, so much.'

Werkheiser added: 'It's a lot to see... and even begin to have an idea of what to do about it.'

Werkheiser said that although he hated to see Chase exposed at a vulnerable time, he believed that the woman who posted the video had 'her heart in the right place.'

'It is painful and shocking to see where he is currently at ... it's hard to see someone you know and love from a really special time, and a really sweet person, that this is where life has currently ended up, is hard, man,' he said.

Arizona-born Chase started his acting career as a teenager in the early 2000s. He is best known for playing Qwerly, but also starred in Everybody Hates Chris in 2005 and as Young Adam in the 2008 James Franco flick Good Time Max.
When Hugh Laurie showed up on the The Night Manager set with the shows star Tom Hiddleston, he must have thought: It should have been me!

And so it nearly was... because years ago Laurie, now 66, had tried to get an option on John le Carres original book  with an eye to playing the lead character Jonathan Pine.

That project fell through. But it didnt stop Laurie having some very fixed ideas about the script when he was cast as charismatic arms dealer Richard Roper, the thrillers screenwriter has revealed.

David Farr said: It was actually very tricky with Hugh because hed tried to option the book when he was much younger because hed loved it and he really wanted to play Pine.'

'Then I was suddenly doing the television show and had written the first episode, and everyone liked it and Tom Hiddleston had signed up [as Pine].

But then Hugh became really tricky, because he had such fixed ideas and none of his notes were about his character [Roper]  they were all about Toms character  and I was like, Give me a break.

Hugh Laurie was 'tricky' on The Night Manager set due to the actor, 66, wanting to play 44-year-old Tom Hiddleston's starring role

Laurie (R) had tried to get an option on John le Carres original book  with an eye to playing the lead character Jonathan Pine (Pictured with Hiddleston, left, in The Night Manager)

The 2016 BBC series, which also starred Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander and The Crowns Elizabeth Debicki, became one of the most watched shows of the decade.

It earned Laurie and Hiddleston Golden Globes. Farr, whose much-anticipated second series begins on BBC One on New Years Day, insists he now has a good relationship with House actor Laurie.

He told an audience at Londons Blackheath Concert Halls: Were fine now. I think if Id been more mature, I could have dealt with it better. Hugh is a lovely man, very passionate. Hes not in the sequel that much, except in flashback.

The new show will see Pine pulled back into the world of international espionage. Hiddleston and Ms Colman return, and are joined by Mexican actor Diego Calva and Camila Morrone  ex-girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Daily Mail contacted Hugh Laurie for comment.

The show, which made Hiddleston a national heartthrob, is back after nine years off screens - and it is racier than ever with threesomes and steamy shower scenes.

Morrone, 28, meanwhile, will replace Elizabeth Debicki as the main love interest of the show.

The trailer opens with Jonathan being told: 'A lot of intelligence officers come through this room. They sit there and they smile just like you. The ones I really worry about say nothing and then one day they explode.

Screenwriter David Farr said: It was actually very tricky with Hugh because hed tried to option the book when he was much younger because hed loved it and he really wanted to play Pine'

It earned Laurie and Hiddleston Golden Globes. Farr, whose much-anticipated second series begins on BBC One on New Years Day, insists he now has a good relationship with the actor

'Tell me who you really are.'

To which he replies, as action-packed scenes including explosions and high speed chases play out: 'I am the man who will not explode.'

Fans were thrilled by the trailer and took to X to share their excitement. They wrote: 'the night manager season 2 promo is finally here (tom Hiddleston is the hottest man alive confirmed).'

'And that's my man!' and 'look at him!'

The action is expected to expand the story of the novel of the same name by writer John le Carre, which follows an ex-soldier helping penetrate the secret world of ruthless arms dealers.

Now living under the alias Alex Goodwin, low-level MI6 agent Jonathan is running a quiet surveillance unit in London, with a comfortable and uneventful life.
The cause of death for travel influencer Anunay Sood has been revealed.

The Dubai-based Indian influencer died in Las Vegas at the age of 32 on November 4.

Sood passed as a result of combined fentanyl and alcohol toxicity, Clark County authorities have now confirmed to The Daily Mail.

The cause of death states that Sood died as a result of 'combined fentanyl and ethanol toxicity.'

His manner of death was ruled as accidental.

Sood was staying at the Wynn Las Vegas at the time of his death, according to the a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report obtained by People.

According to his last social media posts on his Instagram account, he attended the Las Vegas Concours 2025 car show.

Travel influencer Anunay Sood died from the combined effects of fentanyl and ethanol toxicity, Clark County authorities has now confirmed to the Daily Mail

His family confirmed his tragic passing in a social media announcement last month.

A police reported obtained by People said Sood died of a 'possible overdose.'

The police report alleged that Sood, his fiance Shivani Parihar, and another female friend bought what they believed was cocaine from a man on the casino floor of the Wynn at 4 a.m., according to People.

The report stated that the trio consumed the drug before falling asleep.

About an hour later, the women woke up, attempted to rouse Sood, and found he did not have a pulse.

He was pronounced dead by fire department officials at 7:23 a.m., per the police report.

According to the report, 'a small clear bag containing an unknown white substance' and a rolled $100 bill was found inside the hotel room.

'It appears the subjects would create lines from the unknown white power and then use the rolled up bill to snort the substance inside their nose,' the report said.

The day after his death, his loved ones shared an announcement on his Instagram page, where Sood had amassed 1.5 fans with his popular travel content.

Sood had achieved a major social media presence with over 1.4 million followers on TikTok and nearly 400,000 on YouTube, where he posted his popular travel vlogs.

His manner of death was ruled as accidental

Sood was staying at the Wynn Las Vegas at the time of his death, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. According to his last social media posts on his Instagram account, he appeared to be visiting Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Concours 2025 car show

Sood had achieved a major social media presence with over 1.4 million followers on TikTok and nearly 400,000 on YouTube, where he posted his popular travel vlogs.

'It is with deep sadness that we share the news of our beloved Anunay Sood's passing,' the statement read.

'We kindly ask for your understanding and privacy as we navigate this difficult time. We humbly request you to avoid gathering crowd near personal property.

'Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. May his soul rest in peace,' he statement from Sood's family and friends concluded.

In the comments section, over 70,000 fans shared their condolences while mourning the content creator.

Sood had achieved a major social media presence with over 1.4 million followers on TikTok and nearly 400,000 on YouTube, where he posted his popular travel vlogs.

His fiancee also shared a post on her Instagram Stories in an emotional tribute to the late social media star, whom she was engaged to soon wed.

'I still can't believe you're gone. My heart feels heavy, and everything around me just feels empty,' she wrote following the devastating news. 'I don't even know how to process this  it doesn't feel real.'

His fiancee Shivani Parihar shared a post on her Instagram Stories in an emotional tribute to the late social media star, whom she was engaged to soon wed on December 4, one month after his death

She posted a series of throwback photos, showing happy moments they shared and penned a lengthy caption dedicated to her late partner

She said she was 'still learning how to live without you.' She added: 'I just hope you know that I miss you more than I ever said. More than you ever knew. More than these words can ever explain'

She added: 'I don't know how to move forward without you. One moment we were planning our forever, and now I'm here trying to understand how to live without you. Ill love you for the rest of my life, even if youre not here anymore.'

On December 4, one month after his death, she posted a series of throwback photos, showing happy moments they shared.

'It's been a month today A month since I heard your voice, since you laughed that stupid laugh, since you called my name like only you could. Everyone keeps telling me time heals but time has only made me realize how deeply I miss you,' she wrote in a lengthy caption about grieving her late partner.

She said she was 'still learning how to live without you,' before later adding: 'You were my safe space, my home and my everything.'

'I just hope you know that I miss you more than I ever said. More than you ever knew. More than these words can ever explain,' she concluded her post.
YouTuber Adam the Woo, who gained fame documenting his life via vlogging, was found dead at the age of 51 in his Orlando home, according to authorities.

Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office were sent to the online personality's Orlando, Florida area home at 12:30 p.m. Monday afternoon to conduct a well-being check, a spokeswoman told TMZ.

Deputies were not able to establish communication with the YouTube star (whose full name was Adam Williams) at the time, the spokeswoman said.

Deputies came back to the house more than two hours later, at about 2:50 p.m., after a cal reporting an unattended death was filed, officials told the outlet.

Officials said a worried friend of Adam's used a ladder to look through a window, and saw the YouTube star lying unresponsive on a bed.

The friend had made contact with Adam the day before, according to authorities.

YouTuber Adam the Woo was found dead at the age of 51 in his Orlando home, according to authorities

At that point, deputies and fire rescue workers entered the home, where Adam was pronounced dead once they examined him.

A cause of death was not immediately clear; an autopsy is slated to be conducted by the medical examiner, the outlet reported.

Officials said they told Adam's father about his passing, the outlet reported.

Adam had more than 407,000 followers on his YouTube account, and another 85,000 on Instagram.

In a YouTube bio, Adam described the activities he documented online.

'I go on adventures,' he said. 'Everything from abandoned theme parks to movie locations to wacky roadside attractions.'

Adam, who described himself as 'an 80s pop culture nerd,' said he didn't take himself or his videos 'too seriously.'

Adam initially began posting videos to YouTube in 2009, taking viewers with him to locales such as abandoned theme parks and locations where popular TV shows and movies were made.

A cause of death was not immediately clear. An autopsy is slated to be conducted by the medical examiner, the outlet reported

Adam had more than 407,000 followers on his YouTube account, and another 85,000 on Instagram

In the first years of his YouTube vlogging, Adam was living in a van as he traveled the country, living off donations from viewers.

Three years into his vlogging endeavor, Adam began a second channel titled TheDailyWoo, where he posted daily for five years.

It became the more popular of his channels, and he grew in followers as he continued documenting his coming and goings, reaching all 50 states in the U.S.

Adam the Woo was also a major Disney fan and had posted a number of videos stemming from nearby Disney World, as well as Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

He was remembered warmly by fans and fellow content creators as news of his tragic passing spread.

YouTuber Justin Scarred described Adam as 'one of a kind' as he remembered him in a lengthy Facebook tribute. 'We lost Adam. I loved this man with my whole heart and I don't know what to do or what to say,' he wrote.

'He had so many wonderful friends and knew that he was loved. I don't know what to do or to say; this comes at horrible time and is most horrible for his family. Please keep THEM in your thoughts and prayers.

'Adam and I talked about this day so many times. I wish the world could have known the soft and generous heart behind the screen, the laughter and the tears backstage. He was a wonderful person, a true friend to me whenever I needed him, and I genuinely dont know what to do without him.

'And not just me. Ive spent all day on the phone with SO many people who were close to Adam, who he loved and who loved him. He touched many many lives, and he was preparing for another year of adventures, and Im sure he would have touched even more. And Im telling you, from a front row seat; he was the best. One of a kind. Irreplaceable.'

Said one fan, 'He will be remembered by the locals here in central Florida and his fans for years to come.

'May he rest in peace and I appreciate Justin for letting everyone know the unfortunate news as many dont follow his parents nor should people swamp them.'

On his final YouTube video, fans paid tribute to Woo in the comments section.

'I dont understand how I can be so torn up and sad over losing someone I have never met. Rest in peace Adam, thanks for the daily laughs and enjoyment,' one wrote.

'Adam you had a huge impact to the community through millions of strangers through the internet thank you for being part of all of our lives! You will be missed! Praying for your family and friends. Condolences all around. Such a great soul,' another posted.

'How lucky are we, to mourn a man who had so much of a positive impact on our lives, rest easy Adam,' one fan wrote.
Kim Kardashian hilariously struggled to wrangle her four children for a festive family holiday snap at her $60 million Hidden Hills mansion, which many parents can relate to at this time of year.

The 45-year-old reality star - who has almost 500 million social media followers - captioned her Instagram slideshow uploaded Monday: 'I really tried.'

Kardashian's 10-year-old son Saint was clearly not feeling her multiple attempts to stage a heartwarming memory while six-year-old son Psalm pulled funny faces.

The only child who dutifully smiled for the camera in nearly every shot was the Fortnite star's seven-year-old daughter Chicago.

In last week's episode of The Kardashians, the billionaire admitted 'anytime I need a reality check, anytime I need to be humbled' she just hangs out with her children.

'One kid will be like, "You're so lame! I can't believe you don't know what this word means!"' the Skims CCO/founding partner noted.

Kim Kardashian hilariously struggled to wrangle her four children for a festive family holiday snap at her $60M Hidden Hills mansion, which many parents can relate to at this time of year

'Or just like, "Ugh, when are you gonna get a facelift like Lovey [her momager Kris Jenner]?" My kids will say crazy things, and I'm just like, "Huh, okay."'

But Kardashian did manage to convince her eldest child North to be in a video where they danced to Ken Carson's new song Thx.

Over the past two days, the 12-year-old aspiring rapper has posted no less than 17 TikTok videos with her similarly-clad gal pals from her family's lavish vacation in Aspen, CO.

The Kardashian Christmas portrait turned out much better last year, but even then little Saint was stone-faced just like his famous father Kanye 'Ye' West.

In October, the Calabasas socialite confessed on the Call Her Daddy podcast: 'It's probably been a couple months since we've heard from him.'

Ye - who was spotted with second wife Bianca Censori at LA's Chateau Marmont last Friday - reportedly pays Kardashian $200,000/month in child support as part of their 20/80 custody arrangement.

The Wests officially ended their six-year marriage in 2021.

Fans can catch more of Kardashian - who totes elephant-skin Birkins - in the seventh season finale of The Kardashians, which airs Christmas day on Hulu.

The 45-year-old reality star - who boasts 494.8 million social media followers - captioned her Instagram slideshow uploaded Monday: 'I really tried'

Kardashian's 10-year-old son Saint (L) was clearly not feeling her multiple attempts to stage a heartwarming memory while six-year-old son Psalm (R) pulled funny faces

The only child who dutifully smiled for the camera in nearly every shot was the Fortnite star's seven-year-old daughter Chicago (2-R)

In last week's episode of The Kardashians, Kardashian confessed 'anytime I need a reality check, anytime I need to be humbled' she just hangs out with her children

But the Skims CCO/founding partner did manage to convince her eldest child North (L) to be in a video where they danced to Ken Carson's new song Thx

Over the past two days, the 12-year-old aspiring rapper has posted no less than 17 TikTok videos with her similarly-clad gal pals from her family's lavish vacation in Aspen, CO

The Kardashian Christmas portrait turned out much better last year, but even then little Saint was stone-faced just like his famous father Kanye 'Ye' West (pictured December 29)

In October, the Calabasas socialite confessed on the Call Her Daddy podcast: 'It's probably been a couple months since we've heard from him'

Ye (L, pictured in 2020) - who was spotted with second wife Bianca Censori at LA's Chateau Marmont last Friday - reportedly pays Kardashian $200,000/month in child support as part of their 20/80 custody arrangement

Fans can catch more of Kardashian in the seventh season finale of The Kardashians, which airs Christmas day on Hulu

On November 7, the half-Armenian beauty discovered she did not score the minimal 1,390 out of 2,000 points in order to pass the State Bar of California exam.

Kardashian is scheduled to take the rigorous two-day test in person yet again on February 24-25.

The aspiring attorney always dreamed of following the footsteps of her late father Robert Kardashian, who was part of the late OJ Simpson's 'dream team' of attorneys at his 1995 murder trial.

Next spring, Kardashian will executive produce and reprise her role as divorce attorney Allura Grant leading an all-female law firm in the second season of Ryan Murphy's legal drama All's Fair despite absolutely dismal reviews.

The billionaire's other upcoming projects include producing and starring in Amazon's live-action Bratz film for Amazon MGM Studios, producing Hulu pilot Group Chat starring La La Anthony, starring in Eva Longoria's Netflix comedy The Fifth Wheel, and starring in an Amazon thriller penned by Natalie Krinsky.
Actor Devon Werkheiser has spoken of his heartbreak after Nickelodeon co-star Tylor Chase was found living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles.

Chase, who played Martin Qwerly on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in the 2000s, was captured in a recent social media video after onlookers recognised the former actor sleeping rough.

Werkheiser, 34, who starred alongside Chase as Ned Bigby on the hit Nickelodeon show, has since broken his silence after viewing the troubling video online.

He told TMZ: 'Tylor was a sensitive, sweet, and kind kid. It is heartbreaking to see him this way.

'I havent seen Tylor in almost 20 years since the show ended. Anyone who has dealt with severe addiction and deep mental health issues knows its an unbelievably challenging situation if they don't want help.'

He added: 'It's an everyday uphill battle to course correct. It requires a ton of support and patience and time.'

Actor Devon Werkheiser has spoken of his heartbreak after Nickelodeon co-star Tylor Chase was found living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles

Chase was captured in a recent social media video after onlookers recognised the former actor sleeping rough

Werkheiser also urged members of the public to refrain from filming Chase, 36, at his most vulnerable, but admits he's grateful that his desperate plight has been made public.

'My only hope is that from this exposure, someone with real understanding and resources can step in, get Tylor into treatment, and help him get back on track. We all want a happy ending.'

Authorities in Riverside, California said it's not immediately clear how long the former Nickelodeon star has been living on the streets of LA, a city currently in the midst of a homelessness crisis.

'We do not know how long he has been experiencing homelessness,' Riverside Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Railsback told Daily Mail Monday. 'During all of our interactions, he has been cordial and cooperative with our officers.'

He said that officers with the department's Public Safety Engagement Team 'contact him at least once a week and consistently offer a variety of resources, including assistance with temporary shelter options.'

Railsback previously told TMZ Monday that Chase, 36, has consistently declined shelter, drug or alcohol, treatment, or mental health services offered by the department's outreach division.

Chase is not wanted for any crimes, police told TMZ.

Authorities told Daily Mail they have not been in touch with the former actor's relatives as he remains unhoused: 'Regarding family, I am not aware of any attempts by officers to contact relatives on his behalf.'

Chase famously played Martin Qwerly on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in the 2000s (pictured on the show)

(L-R) Ned's Declassified stars Lindsey Shaw, Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee on the red carpet in 2005

Chase was filmed looking worse for wear in Riverside this September in the viral video, which his one-time co-stars have described as 'scary.'

Chase did not seem to be upset when police informed him of the viral video, authorities told TMZ.

On its website, the Riverside Police Department says that its Community Engagement Division 'strives to address emerging crime trends, maintain safe school campuses, create safe parks and neighborhoods, reduce retail crime and develop working partnerships with all of our Riverside communities.'

The woman who filmed the viral clip started by asking Chase if he was on the Disney Channel.

'Nickelodeon,' Chase clarified, adding that he was on 'Ned's Declassified.'

'Oh yeah, you're that kid on it,' the fan responded, as Chase told her his full name.

Chase played Martin Qwerly on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in the 2000s (pictured)

The video sparked widespread sadness on social media - and, once Chase's former co-stars heard about it, they also expressed their shock.

Actors Werkheiser, Daniel Curtis Lee and Lindsey Shaw addressed the news on Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide on September 24.

'There was some bad news that I received earlier this week about our dear friend Tylor Chase. It was a lot to process for me,' Lee said, describing the video as 'scary.'

Lee added, 'When I first saw, I was angry, because I was like, why put a camera on someone's face in hard times? But then I was upset with myself because I feel powerless because there's not much that I felt I could do.'

'I didn't want to believe it at first, I was like, oh they just caught him at a bad time,' Lee added.
Last Christmas, Zendaya and Tom Holland had much to celebrate while in the US with her family as the actor popped the question to his longtime love.

But this year the engaged couple are spending the festive season with Tom's comedian father Dominic, his photographer mum Nicola and his three brothers in London.

Despite their A-list profiles, Tom and Zendaya have so far enjoyed a very ordinary English Christmas.

Over the weekend the couple headed up to Leicester to take in a performance of The Sound of Music at Leicester's Curve theatre.

After their theatre trip, Tom and Zendaya shunned a lavish restaurant in favour of an under-the-radar curry house - much to the delight of the owner.

And on Monday they joined Tom's family for a fun-filled day out at The Traitors: Live Experience in London as well as taking their dogs for a stroll around Richmond Park.

Last Christmas, Zendaya and Tom Holland had much to celebrate while in the US with her family as the actor popped the question to his longtime love

Tom and Zendaya shunned a lavish restaurant in favour of an under-the-radar curry house - much to the delight of the owner

Snaps of Zendaya and Tom's low-key meal at Everest Lounge in Market Harborough over the weekend quickly made it to social media, with the restaurant owner revealing his staff were 'starstruck'.

'We were fully booked for Saturday so we were exceptionally pleased that we were able to accommodate them for the evening and that's where everything started,' owner Pradip Karanjit told the BBC.

'My staff were absolutely starstruck and we were, in a way, in panic mode but throughout the service they remained really professional.'

Sharing pictures of the couple on the restaurant's Instagram, Mr Karanjit wrote: 'What an honour for Market Harborough!

'We were absolutely delighted to welcome Tom Holland and Zendaya to our town and to have the opportunity to serve such wonderful Hollywood stars at Everest Lounge.

'Moments like this remind us how special our local hospitality is - world-class warmth right here at home. A night we won't forget! Huge thanks to our team at Everest Lounge for their professionalism.'

The couple had been in the area to watch The Sound of Music at Leicester's Curve theatre on Saturday.

'It's the second year Tom has been to see one of our shows. We were very excited to see them,' a spokesperson for the Curve theatre said.

And on Monday they joined Tom's family for a fun-filled day out at The Traitors: Live Experience in London

The Hollywood couple were also seen taking their dogs out for a stroll around Richmond Park in London

Snaps of Zendaya and Tom's low-key meal at Everest Lounge in Market Harborough over the weekend quickly made it to social media, with the restaurant owner revealing his staff were 'starstruck'

Sharing pictures of the couple on the restaurant's Instagram, Mr Karanjit wrote: 'What an honour for Market Harborough!'

And on Sunday, the couple were spotted out at The Traitors: Live Experience on Monday with Tom's parents Nikki Holland and Dominic Holland.

They were also joined by Tom's twin brothers Sam and Harry, 26, and their girlfriends Clark and Zara, youngest brother Paddy Holland, 21, and pals Harrison Osterfield and Tuwaine Barrett.

Sam also shared a recap of the family night out, captioning his Instagram post: 'My traitor twin. Had a great time at @thetraitorslive yesterday.

'You can't trust anyone when you enter the round table not even family.'

The venue shared a short video of the team and Zendaya was seen sporting an oversized brown sweater with a dark red lipstrick and a very short curled bob hairstyle.

Meanwhile Tom wore a burgundy sweater with matching tailored trousers and a cream overcoat.

Elsewhere Tom and Zendaya headed out for a walk in Richmond Park, joined by two Protection Dog staff members and their beloved black miniature schnauzer, Noon.

Zendaya sported a trench coat, scarf and jeans while Tom kept warm in a beanie and padded black coat.

And on Sunday, the couple were spotted out at The Traitors: Live Experience on Monday with Tom's parents Nikki Holland and Dominic Holland

They were also joined by Tom's twin brothers Sam and Harry, 26, and their girlfriends Clark and Zara, youngest brother Paddy Holland, 21, and pals Harrison Osterfield and Tuwaine Barrett

Elsewhere Tom and Zendaya headed out for a walk in Richmond Park, joined by two Protection Dog staff members and their beloved black miniature schnauzer, Noon

TZendaya sported a trench coat, scarf and jeanswhile Tom kept warm in a beanie and padded black coat

The couple confirmed their engagement when Zendaya debuted her ring on the Golden Globes in January after four years of dating.

The stars confirmed their relationship after they were spotted kissing in 2021 and now live in their $3.7million home in London's Richmond.

In October, Tom playfully corrected a reporter who referred to Zendaya as his 'girlfriend'.

During a panel interview, a journalist said to Tom: 'I brought my daughter, and she got to meet your girlfriend. So, I was father of the year.'

Tom laughed and corrected him by saying: 'fiancee'.

Sources had previously told DailyMail.com that Tom took an 'old-fashioned' approach and got permission from Zendaya's family before he asked for his Spider-Man: Homecoming co-star's hand in marriage.

'The proposal was sweet and romantic and happened over the holidays,' the insider dished. 'He did it the old-fashioned way and got permission from her folks. Everyone is thrilled.'

The source continued: 'They are the most normal couple at home, and she is ready to spend her life with him. She has gotten everything she dreamed of and marrying Tom and starting a family is next on her list.'
Adolescence star Erin Doherty has revealed she ignored Stephen Grahams calls when he offered her a part in the hit Netflix drama.

The actress, 33, who starred as Briony Ariston, a child psychologist, in the series, recalled how the actor and writer, 52, battled to get hold of her as she is a bit of a 'technophobe.'

Adolescence, which was watched by 114million people during it's first month on the streamer, sparked huge conversation.

However, Erin could have easily missed on on the opportunity to star in the series, after she failed to pick up a call.

Speaking in a new interview, she explained: 'I'm just really bad at my phone. I'm such a technophobe, and Stephen knew that.

'I was getting voice notes from him being like, "Erin, pick up your phone!"'

Adolescence star Erin Doherty has revealed she ignored Stephen Grahams calls when he offered her a part in the hit Netflix drama (pictured in February)

The actress, 33, who starred as Briony Ariston, a child psychologist, in the series, recalled how the actor and writer, 52, battled to get hold of her as she is a bit of a 'technophobe' (pictured with Owen Cooper in the series)

She told The Guardian how he eventually got hold of her after her girlfriend told her to give Stephen a call back.

Erin went on to say how she said yes on the spot before she even read the script.

Adding of the show's success, the actress said: 'I don't know what we're supposed to do. But you do know when you're a part of something that's good and deserves to be seen. From day one, it had that electricity.'

Elsewhere, Erin revealed she and child star Owen Cooper improvised their chilling single-take Adolescence therapist scene.

The British actress said she is 'glad' the young actor, 15, forced her to improvise because she really became her character Briony in that moment.

When Owen Cooper, who portrays Jamie, spontaneously yawned during the cross-examination scene, she admitted she 'wasnt going to let that pass'.

Speaking to Harpers Bazaar UK, Erin opened up about filming the award-winning Netflix series.

Asked about Jamie's spontaneous yawn during the cross-examination scene, she said: I genuinely was Briony in that moment, responding as her.'

She told The Guardian how he eventually got hold of her after her girlfriend told her to give Stephen a call back (pictured in May)

Elsewhere, Erin revealed she and child star Owen Cooper improvised their chilling single-take Adolescence therapist scene

She added: 'I, or she, was like, What are you doing? I wasnt going to let that pass. I wanted to poke him with it. Im glad I did. Were wrestling there.

Discussing Adolescences single-take filming schedule, Erin explained how it made the project more 'exciting and dangerous'.

She added: Theres always a fear that the edit will be an odd mosaic of what you were trying to achieve this way of shooting gave us freedom. It felt both exciting and dangerous.

The four-part series received critical acclaim when it hit the streaming service in March, and centres on a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolgirl.

In the show, viewers saw how teen Jamie Miller's perception of girls had been radicalised through content he was viewing online, and also showed the vast amount of social media consumed by teenagers at school.
The sister of Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie has been reported missing in Los Angeles, according to a police alert shared by the comedy writer on social media.

Fowlie, 40 - who joined SNL's writing staff in 2022 and co-wrote the viral 'Domingo' sketch - posted an official missing persons bulletin issued by the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday, December 22.

The LAPD notice includes two photographs of his sister, identified as Christina Lynn Downer, 38, and notes that she was last seen in the Los Angeles area.

'My sister has been missing and we are worried that she isnt safe,' Fowlie wrote on Instagram.

He also clarified that she may be using more than one last name.

'Her married name is Downer but she may go by Christina Fowlie,' he added, while urging followers to help circulate the alert.

The sister of Saturday Night Livewriter Jimmy Fowlie has been reported missing in Los Angeles, according to a police alert shared by the comedy writer on social media

Fowlie, 40 - who joined SNLs writing staff in 2022 and co-wrote the viral 'Domingo' sketch - posted an official missing persons bulletin issued by the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday, December 22

In the caption of the post, Fowlie appealed for anyone with information to contact authorities, writing: 'Please share this so that if anyone has seen her, they can give any information to the police. The phone number is 213 996 1800 and her case number is 25237639. she was last seen in LA. thank you.'

Police echoed the familys concerns in the missing persons report, stating, 'Christina's family and friends are concerned for her safety.'

The LAPD and a representative for Fowlie did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Daily Mail.

Fowlies work extends beyond Saturday Night Live, with credits including Netflixs A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter.

He has also starred in and written projects such as the comedy web series Go-Go Boy Interrupted and HBO Maxs The Other Two.

The development comes just days after Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang  who worked alongside Fowlie  made his exit following last Saturdays episode hosted by Ariana Grande.

Reflecting on his time at the long-running NBC sketch show, Yang shared an emotional farewell message, writing: 'I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people.'

'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,' he continued, adding, 'Im grateful for every minute of my time there.'

'My sister has been missing and we are worried that she isnt safe,' Fowlie wrote on Instagram

Police echoed the familys concerns in the missing persons report, stating, 'Christina's family and friends are concerned for her safety'

Fowlies work extends beyond Saturday Night Live, with credits including Netflixs A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter; (pictured iwth Adam Sandler)

The development comes just days after Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang  who worked alongside Fowlie  made his exit following last Saturdays episode hosted by Ariana Grande

Yang first joined SNL as a writer in 2018 before being promoted to on-air cast member for Season 45.

By Season 47, he had earned repertory status and went on to become one of the shows most recognizable performers over the course of seven seasons.

The 35-year-old comedians departure was the latest shake-up for the NBC series, which faced what insiders described as a chaotic 'bloodbath' of exits ahead of the 2025 season.

His exit follows a major postSeason 50 turnover that saw Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim all depart the cast.

Yang also joins a short list of notable midseason departures, following Cecily Strongs surprise December 2022 exit during Season 48.

Molly Shannon, Dana Carvey and Eddie Murphy have also exited the show midseason.
Chris Evans is officially back as Captain America as he made his shocking return in the new teaser released for Avengers: Doomsday on Tuesday.

After over a year of rumors that the 44-year-old actor would be returning to his superhero role despite being written off it was confirmed with the official release of the short clip on Tuesday.

And Evans back as Captain America AKA Steve Rogers was not the only big news from the minute-long clip as he is shown holding a baby with a smile on his face toward the end of it.

His inclusion in the trailer may be alarming for some as the 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame ended after the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin) where Rogers returns the Infinity Stones to their original timeline, and elects to live in the past with his one true love, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).

He returns as an elderly man to pass his iconic Captain America shield, and therefore the title of Captain America, to Sam Wilson, a.k.a. The Falcon (Anthony Mackie).

Regardless, the teaser clip does indicate that he will be returning as his signature superhero character as he was seen looking at his Captain America outfit.

Chris Evans is officially back as Captain America as he made his shocking return in the new teaser released for Avengers: Doomsday on Tuesday

And Evans back as Captain America AKA Steve Rogers was not the only big news from the minute-long clip as he is shown holding a baby with a smile on his face toward the end of it

Evans played Steve Rogers AKA Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from 2011s Captain America: The First Avenger until Avengers: Endgame in 2019.

In December 2024, it was claimed that he would be making a surprise appearance in the studios next crossover blockbuster in 2026 according to The Wrap.

While the outlet reported at the time the star would be returning to the MCU 'in some capacity' for Avengers: Doomsday, it was not confirmed which role Evans would be playing after the actor also recently appeared as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in Deadpool And Wolverine.

Evans is not the only Marvel Cinematic Universe staple making a return as he will be reuniting with his former Avengers co-star in the aforementioned Downey Jr., 60, who will be playing the antagonist Doctor Doom in Doomsday.

The Oppenheimer star - who had fronted the MCU from its inception with 2008s Iron Man until Endgame 11 years later - was revealed to be returning to the franchise as its next big villain at San Diego Comic Con in July 2024, where it was also announced directors Joe and Anthony Russo would be back behind the camera for 'Doomsday'.

After being unveiled as the series next big bad, Downey Jr. explained how Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige pitched the role of Doctor Doom to him and his wife Susan Downey.

During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter podcast last year, he recalled: 'Susan and I were sitting down with Feige at one point, and he said, "It just keeps occurring to me that, if you were to come back" And Susan was like, "Wait, wait, come back as what?"

'And then we both realized, over time, that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guy.

After over a year of rumors thatthe 44-year-old actor would be returning to his superhero role despite being written off it was confirmed with the official release of the short clip on Tuesday

Regardless, the teaser clip does indicate that he will be returning as his signature superhero character as he was seen looking at his Captain America outfit

His inclusion in the trailer may be alarming for some as the 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame ended after the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin) where Rogers returns the Infinity Stones to their original timeline, and elects to live in the past with his one true love, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell)

He returns as an elderly man to pass his iconic Captain America shield, and therefore the title of Captain America, to Sam Wilson, a.k.a.The Falcon (Anthony Mackie)

Avengers: Doomsday is set for release on December 18, 2026

In December 2024, it was claimed that he would be making a surprise appearance in the studios next crossover blockbuster in 2026 according to The Wrap

'[Feige is] a very sophisticated, creative thinker about, "How can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations?"

'And he brought up Victor von Doom, and I looked into [the] character, and I was like, "Wow." And later on, he goes, "Let's get Victor von Doom right. Let's get that right."'

After the Sherlock Holmes star concluded he wanted to play the villain, Downey Jr. and Feige went to Disney CEO Bob Igers house to pitch the idea, and found that the executive was a big fan of the plans.

Downey Jr. continued: 'So then I said to Kevin, "Can I go talk to Bob Iger?" He goes, "About?" I go, "About everything."

Robert Downey Jr. has already been announced to be returning to the MCU as supervillain Dr. Doom after the death of his original character Tony Stark AKA Iron Man

It was also reported last year that Anthony Mackie would appear in Doomsday as Captain America after his first solo outing as the new Star Spangled Man in 2025s Captain America: Brave New World

'We go to Igers pad, and we sit down and start saying, "I just really want to be" He goes, "I like it." I was like, "He likes it."'

As well as Downey Jr. and Evans, it was also reported last year that Anthony Mackie would appear in Doomsday as Captain America after his first solo outing as the new Star Spangled Man in 2025s Captain America: Brave New World.

It will be interesting to see how the MCU navigates having two Captain Americas in the upcoming project.

Avengers: Doomsday is set for release on December 18, 2026.
Dina Broadhurst has once again left little to the imagination.

The self-described 'nude artist' took to Instagram on Friday to share a provocative motel room snap that had followers doing a double take just days out from Christmas.

In the sultry image, Dina, 50, is seen posing on all fours on a grey carpeted floor, arching her back as she points a camera toward a mirrored wardrobe.

She wore a barely-there sky-blue string bikini that clung to her toned frame, with the triangle top barely containing her cleavage while the cheeky tie-side bottoms showcased her peachy derriere.

Her long blonde hair fell loosely around her shoulders and she appeared to be wearing minimal makeup, letting her bronzed glow do all the talking.

The model captioned the post, 'Hotel Motel, shot on' alongside her signature hashtag, #dinabroadhurstart.

Dina Broadhurst has once again left little to the imagination (Pictured)

The self-described 'nude artist' took to Instagram on Friday to share a provocative motel room snap that had followers doing a double take just days out from Christmas

It did not take long for fans to flood the comments, with many praising her confidence and enviable figure.

The bold motel snap comes just months after Dina celebrated her milestone 50th birthday in Sydney's eastern suburbs with a lavish three-day bash in September.

The celebrations were hailed by friends as 'one for the books' and included a glamorous long lunch at Bondi Icebergs, where Dina and her inner circle toasted the big five-oh overlooking the iconic ocean pool.

Following the lunch, the party continued at the home of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, John 'Herman' Winning Jr, where guests spilled into his so-called 'rave cave' for an after-party that stretched into the night.

Dina made a typically show-stopping entrance to her birthday festivities, stepping out in a skimpy black crop top paired with a $2,600 Miu Miu elasticated-waist mini skirt.

She completed the look with a navy blazer, white stilettos and dark sunglasses, wearing her brunette hair in a sleek braid.

Adding to the luxe vibe, Dina carried a pink Chanel 19 Flap Bag  a gift from Herman that retails for up to $12,500  as well as a smaller white Chanel clutch.

The milestone celebrations also marked a fresh chapter in her love life.

In the sultry image, Dina, 50, is seen posing on all fours on a grey carpeted floor, arching her back as she points a camera toward a mirrored wardrobe

Just weeks earlier, Dina had confirmed what Mail+ readers had long suspected  she was officially back together with Herman.

The on-off couple first began dating in early 2024 before calling it quits at the end of the year, on the same day as Bernadette Fahey and Jordan Sukkar's Scots College wedding.

But despite their split, the pair could not stay away from each other.

In April, they were spotted enjoying a double date in Coogee with Michael Clarke and his girlfriend Arabella Sherborne, before heading off on a cosy ski trip to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains.

By August, their reunion was all but confirmed, and Dina later made it official in an interview with Stellar magazine.
A record tax refund season is coming in 2026  but experts warn Americans should not confuse a bigger refund with a real financial windfall.

'Next spring is projected to be the largest tax refund season of all time,' Trump said last week in a prime-time address from the White House, pointing to sweeping tax changes passed under his 'big beautiful bill.'

The law, signed in July, quietly rewrote the tax code for 2025  but the IRS did not update paycheck withholding tables.

That means most workers have had too much tax taken out of their paychecks all year and will get it back in one lump sum when they file in 2026.

'As a result, many taxpayers will pay too much in tax this year and see larger tax refunds or smaller tax bills next year,' Nancy Vanden Houten, lead economist at Oxford Economics, wrote in an October report.

A separate note from investment bank Piper Sandler also predicted a record tax refund season in 2026, with middle- and upper-income households expected to benefit the most. The firm estimated refunds will rise by roughly $1,000 on average next year.

To put the numbers in context, the average tax refund this year is $3,052  up slightly from $3,004 a year earlier, according to IRS data.

If Piper Sandlers projections hold, that would push the typical refund toward the $4,000 mark in 2026  the highest on record.

President Donald Trump signs the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law at the White House in July, triggering major changes to deductions, charitable giving and year-end tax planning for millions of Americans.

Rep. Jason Smith, center, and Rep. Max Miller, left, attend a House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill. Smith has cited Piper Sandler analysis predicting a record tax refund season in 2026.

Republicans have pointed to that analysis as evidence the tax cuts are working.

'Families are going to see for themselves how the working-class tax cuts benefit them when they get their tax refunds early in the new year,' House Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith said last week.

He said waitresses, welders, seniors, moms and dads will have more money to cope with higher living costs.

The changes include a larger standard deduction, a boosted child tax credit, a new $6,000 tax break for seniors, and Trump's headline-grabbing promises of no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security income.

Economists say these provisions cut individual income taxes by about $144 billion for 2025 alone  but because withholding didn't change, most people will only feel the benefit when refunds land.

Experts stress this does not mean Americans earned more money. It simply means they overpaid taxes during the year.

Not everyone will benefit equally. Independent analyses show middle- and upper-income households are likely to see the biggest gains, while lower-income Americans could lose out overall due to cuts to Medicaid and food assistance.

Tax professionals are urging caution, warning Americans not to spend now assuming a big refund later, since the final amount will depend on income, job type, deductions and whether any withholding adjustments happen before year-end.
Jim Beam is halting bourbon production at one of its flagship Kentucky distilleries for at least a year  as a Canadian backlash over US tariffs helps push Americas once-booming whiskey industry into retreat.

The nearly 230-year-old brand will pause distilling at its historic Clermont, Kentucky site for all of 2026, even as its bottling operation, warehouses, visitor center and restaurant remain open.

Production will continue at Jim Beams larger distillery in nearby Boston, Kentucky, as well as at other sites owned by its parent company, Suntory Global Spirits.

We are always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand, the company said, adding that the pause will also allow for investment and upgrades at the Clermont facility.

Workers are being reassigned, and the company says it does not currently plan layoffs.

The decision reflects a perfect storm hitting the American whiskey industry.

Too much bourbon has been produced just as demand has slumped  not only among US drinkers, but overseas as well, with foreign sales hit hard by a Canadian boycott of American whiskey in retaliation for tariffs.

For more than two decades, bourbon makers ramped up production as demand surged.

Mila Kunis, Jim Beams global brand partner, and Fred Noe, the brands seventh-generation master distiller, toast fans at a Repeal Day event in Chicago in December 2018.

A sign urging shoppers to Buy Canadian Instead in a Canadian retailer. US bourbon has been hit hard by a Canadian backlash linked to tariffs.

Sales of American whiskey more than tripled between the early 2000s and the pandemic, fueled by cocktail culture, premiumization and a pandemic-era buying frenzy.

Distilleries expanded aggressively, laying down millions of barrels that must age for years before they can be sold. But that gamble is catching up with them.

Kentucky alone now has 16 million barrels of bourbon aging in warehouses  more than triple 15 years ago  just as Americans and others are buying less alcohol overall and retailers are sitting on excess stock.

Industry data show American spirits exports fell 9 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, with US whiskey hit especially hard.

The steepest drop came from Canada, once one of the industrys most important markets, where exports collapsed by as much as 85 percent after trade tensions and retaliatory boycotts tied to policies under President Donald Trump.

Other major export markets are also buying less.

Shipments to the EU, the UK and Japan  which together account for the bulk of US spirits exports  have all fallen sharply this year, cutting off a key pressure valve for producers drowning in too much whiskey.

Americans are also changing how they drink.

The Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. The company has announced a year-long pause in bourbon production at the site starting in 2026.

Mila Kunis, Jim Beams global brand partner, surprises fans at Citi Fields Jim Beam Bourbon Bar during a New York Mets game in July 2018.

Well-known Kentucky whisky business Garrard County Distilling collapsed in the spring

Polls show people are consuming less alcohol than they have in decades, driven by health concerns, rising prices, and competition from alternatives like ready-to-drink beverages, cannabis products and weight-loss drugs.

Younger drinkers, especially Gen Z, are drinking less frequently and tending to buy higher-end bottles in smaller quantities.

That shift is particularly painful for brands like Jim Beam, which still rely heavily on high-volume, lower-priced staples such as its White Label bourbon.

The slowdown is not limited to Jim Beam.

In recent months, Diageo paused distilling at its George Dickel facility in Tennessee.

Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniels, announced layoffs affecting about 12 percent of its workforce.

Several smaller whiskey companies have entered receivership, and contract distillers say orders have fallen sharply as brands pull back.

In August, Luca Mariano Distillery in Danville, Kentucky, filed for bankruptcy under the weight of roughly $25 million in debt.

The iconic Kentucky Owl whiskey, which was founded in 1879, fell into bankruptcy last year

Earlier in the year, the $250 million Garrard County Distilling operation was shut down after it failed to pay its lenders.

And in late 2023, the historic Kentucky Owl brand, founded in 1879, also collapsed, blaming falling sales and a cyberattack that brought production to a halt.

Whiskey expert Fred Minnick said the move echoes previous boom-and-bust cycles the industry has seen before.

Its a sad day for bourbon, to be honest with you, Minnick told the New York Times. For this to happen is a real punch in the gut.
Shares of America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:AMX  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $22.3429.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on AMX shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of America Movil in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of America Movil from $21.00 to $23.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of America Movil in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. They issued a neutral rating and a $26.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of America Movil from $21.10 to $23.60 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their target price on shares of America Movil from $17.10 to $19.50 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On America Movil

America Movil Price Performance

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Boston Partners lifted its stake in America Movil by 6,421.7% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,127,267 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $74,043,000 after buying an additional 4,063,982 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. raised its holdings in shares of America Movil by 359.4% during the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 4,323,080 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $90,785,000 after acquiring an additional 3,382,107 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of America Movil by 8.8% during the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 17,703,513 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $371,774,000 after acquiring an additional 1,430,626 shares during the period. Nan Fung Trinity HK Ltd. lifted its position in shares of America Movil by 352.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nan Fung Trinity HK Ltd. now owns 1,433,900 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $30,112,000 after acquiring an additional 1,116,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in America Movil by 79.4% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,445,349 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $51,352,000 after purchasing an additional 1,082,493 shares during the period. 6.30% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE:AMX opened at $20.63 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $62.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.77 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.76. America Movil has a 12 month low of $13.10 and a 12 month high of $23.68. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $22.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $20.12.

America Movil (NYSE:AMX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.04. America Movil had a return on equity of 16.59% and a net margin of 7.87%.The firm had revenue of $12.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $235.15 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that America Movil will post 1.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

America Movil Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a special dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th were issued a $0.2811 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 7th. America Movils payout ratio is presently 45.53%.

About America Movil

(Get Free Report)

America Movil is a Mexican telecommunications company headquartered in Mexico City that provides a broad range of communications services. Established in the early 2000s out of the expansion of the Slim familys telecommunications holdings, the company is a major provider of mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband internet and pay-television services in the region. Its operations span retail consumer services as well as wholesale and enterprise solutions, positioning it as an integrated communications provider across multiple customer segments.

The company markets services under several regional brandsmost notably Telcel in Mexico and Claro across many Latin American marketsand offers both prepaid and postpaid mobile plans, fixed and mobile broadband, fiber-to-the-home where available, and video/broadcast distribution services.

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NewJersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

12/20/2025  NewJersey Resources was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a sell rating to a hold rating.

12/17/2025  NewJersey Resources was given a new $54.00 price target on by analysts at New Street Research.

12/17/2025  NewJersey Resources was upgraded by analysts at Mizuho from a neutral rating to an outperform rating. They now have a $54.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $51.00.

12/16/2025  NewJersey Resources had its hold (c+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/10/2025  NewJersey Resources was downgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating.

12/4/2025  NewJersey Resources had its buy (b-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/28/2025  NewJersey Resources had its buy (b-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/22/2025  NewJersey Resources was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a sell rating.

11/21/2025  NewJersey Resources was upgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b-) rating.

11/20/2025  NewJersey Resources had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Raymond James Financial, Inc.. They now have a $53.00 price target on the stock.

10/25/2025  NewJersey Resources was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a sell rating to a hold rating.

NewJersey Resources Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.475 per share. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 12th. NewJersey Resourcess payout ratio is 57.06%.

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New Jersey Resources Corporation is a publicly traded energy services holding company headquartered in Wall Township, New Jersey. The firms primary focus is on the safe and reliable distribution of natural gas, along with complementary energy services and renewable energy investments. Its operations center on delivering cost-effective solutions to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the state.

The companys principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, owns and operates an extensive pipeline network that spans northern, central and southern New Jersey.

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Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores (NYSE:AVAL  Get Free Report) and Sound Point Meridian Capital (NYSE:SPMC  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation and profitability.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.2% of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Sound Point Meridian Capital shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Dividends

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Sound Point Meridian Capital pays an annual dividend of $3.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 22.3%. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores pays out 36.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Sound Point Meridian Capital pays out 1,500.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Volatility & Risk

Profitability

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores has a beta of 0.69, indicating that its share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sound Point Meridian Capital has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores and Sound Point Meridian Capitals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores 4.61% 5.95% 0.60% Sound Point Meridian Capital N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores and Sound Point Meridian Capital, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores 0 1 1 0 2.50 Sound Point Meridian Capital 1 1 2 0 2.25

Sound Point Meridian Capital has a consensus price target of $18.90, suggesting a potential upside of 40.63%. Given Sound Point Meridian Capitals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Sound Point Meridian Capital is more favorable than Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores and Sound Point Meridian Capitals revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores $9.07 billion 0.54 $203.02 million $0.33 12.50 Sound Point Meridian Capital $64.39 million 4.28 $4.10 million $0.20 67.20

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores has higher revenue and earnings than Sound Point Meridian Capital. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sound Point Meridian Capital, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores beats Sound Point Meridian Capital on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores

(Get Free Report)

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A. provides a range of financial services and products to public and private sector customers in Colombia and Central America. It offers traditional deposit services and products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and other deposits. The company also provides commercial loans comprising general purpose loans, working capital loans, leases, loans funded by development banks, corporate credit cards, and overdraft loans; consumer loans, such as payroll loans, personal loans, automobile and other vehicle loans, credit cards, overdrafts, leases, and general purpose loans; and microcredit and mortgage loans. In addition, the company offers pension and severance fund management services; investment banking, including services relating to capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and project finance transactions; mobile and online banking services; and bancassurance, insurance, trust, bonded warehousing and brokerage transactions, real estate escrow services, merchandise and document storage and deposit, customs agency, cargo management, surety bond and merchandise distribution services, and payment and collection services. Further, it is involved in equity investments in various sectors, including infrastructure, energy and gas, agribusiness, and hospitality; and treasury operations. The company was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Bogota, Colombia. Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A.

About Sound Point Meridian Capital

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Sound Point Meridian Capital Inc. is an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to generate high current income, with a secondary objective to generate capital appreciation, by investing primarily in third-party collateralized loan obligation equity and mezzanine tranches. Sound Point Meridian Capital Inc. is based in NEW YORK.

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BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE:BMEZ  Get Free Report) Director Robert Fairbairn sold 10,294 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.98, for a total transaction of $154,204.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE:BMEZ traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $15.17. 204,842 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 305,926. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust has a 52-week low of $12.58 and a 52-week high of $16.75. The companys 50 day moving average price is $15.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.57.

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BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust

BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Company Profile

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 326.9% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,594,157 shares of the companys stock worth $23,753,000 after buying an additional 1,220,764 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,535,091 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,136,000 after acquiring an additional 61,105 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 15.2% in the 3rd quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,332,633 shares of the companys stock worth $19,216,000 after purchasing an additional 175,629 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 42.7% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 929,121 shares of the companys stock worth $13,398,000 after purchasing an additional 278,024 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Readystate Asset Management LP grew its position in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 664.6% in the third quarter. Readystate Asset Management LP now owns 247,074 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,563,000 after purchasing an additional 214,761 shares in the last quarter.

(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.

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Shares of Heineken NV (OTCMKTS:HEINY  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Strong Buy from the six research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and three have given a strong buy recommendation to the company.

A number of brokerages have issued reports on HEINY. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Heineken from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. UBS Group raised Heineken to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 27th.

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Heineken Trading Down 1.3%

About Heineken

Heineken stock opened at $40.23 on Thursday. Heineken has a 12-month low of $32.77 and a 12-month high of $46.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firms fifty day moving average is $40.25 and its 200 day moving average is $41.04.

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Heineken N.V. is a global brewing company best known for its flagship Heineken lager and a diversified portfolio of international and local beer brands. The companys activities span brewing, marketing and distribution of beer and cider products, serving ontrade and offtrade channels as well as ecommerce. Heineken combines global brand management with local production through a network of owned breweries, joint ventures and licensed partners to reach consumers across different markets.

Founded in Amsterdam in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken, the company has grown into one of the worlds largest brewers.

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Input Capital Corp. (OTCMKTS:INPCF  Get Free Report) traded up 1.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $1.80 and last traded at $1.80. 2,500 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 12% from the average session volume of 2,825 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.78.

Input Capital Trading Up 1.1%

The company has a 50-day moving average of $1.83 and a 200-day moving average of $1.81.

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Input Capital Company Profile

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Input Capital Corp. (OTCMKTS:INPCF) is a Canadian specialty finance company providing working capital solutions to the agriculture sector. The company offers short-term financing programs that help crop producers secure essential inputs such as seed, fertilizer and crop protection products. By partnering with agricultural retailers and input suppliers, Input Capital enables producers to align input purchases with cash-flow requirements, improving liquidity during critical planting and harvest cycles.

The companys core offerings include an Operating Loan Program, which advances funds directly to suppliers on behalf of growers, and an Overwinter Financing Program that extends payment terms for inputs applied in the fall.

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IntegraFin (LON:IHP) management used its full-year FY25 results presentation to highlight strong platform inflows, rising assets, and a new multi-year cost and efficiency program that the company said is intended to support sustainable earnings growth while continuing to invest in technology.

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FY25: record inflows and higher earnings

Group CEO Alex Scott said FY25 was an excellent year, pointing to net inflows of 4.4 billion, driven by record gross inflows. Management said net inflows rose 76% versus FY24 and reflected continued demand for the Transact platform and technology enhancements made in recent years.

Group CFO Euan Marshall reported average daily funds under direction (FUD) increasedto, supported by record gross inflows ofand slower growth in gross outflows. Marshall also noted ain average daily FUD since FY21.

On the income statement, Marshall said group revenue rose 8% to 156.8 million, while underlying profit before tax increased 7% to 75.4 million, implying an underlying profit margin of 48%. Underlying earnings per share increased 7% to 17.40.

Dividend increase and capital position

Management said the company increased its second interim dividend to 0.08 per share, taking the total dividend for FY25 to 11.30 per share, up 9% year-on-year. Marshall added that the dividend represented 65% of total underlying profit after tax and said the business remained highly cash-generative, with most profit converting to cash.

Marshall also emphasized liquidity and capital buffers across regulated entities, saying the group maintains buffers above minimum regulatory requirements to accommodate rising capital needs, support investment, and continue paying dividends.

Transact revenue mix and platform margin commentary

IntegraFins platform operations remained the key driver of results. Marshall said investment platform revenue increased by 11.8 million and represented 97% of group revenue. Annual charge income rose 10% to 138.1 million, while wrap fee income declined slightly, which he attributed to reduced charges for family-linked portfolios. Management said these two recurring revenue streams accounted for 99% of total platform revenue.

Marshall reiterated the groups practice of not retaining interest on client cash, contrasting this with market practices that, he said, can make platform pricing comparisons more complex. In the Q&A, Scott said several competitors extract revenue via client cash interest, and he characterized Transact as in a pretty strong position on total client cost when compared across the market.

On revenue margin, Marshall said the platform revenue margin has moderated over time due to targeted fee reductions, but the pace of attrition is expected to slow in FY26. He cited an indicative platform revenue margin of 21.9 basis points for September 2025, the last month of FY25, and said future reduction should be driven mainly by client portfolios moving through the tiered pricing structure and annualizing prior price changes.

Cost and efficiency review: 4 million annualized savings by FY27

A central theme of the call was the group-wide cost and efficiency review first announced in July. Marshall said underlying administrative expenses rose 9% in FY25, in line with guidance, and employee costs increased 11%. He attributed that increase to a 2% rise in average headcount, expansion of the senior management team, and remuneration reviews intended to keep pay competitive.

After completing its review, management said it identified three areas of sustainable cost savings:

Improved productivity in internal support functions , including greater use of third-party technology to automate manual processes and changes to simplify and standardize work.

, including greater use of third-party technology to automate manual processes and changes to simplify and standardize work. Enhanced procurement and supplier management processes.

processes. Platform efficiencies, with more straight-through processing and automation to reduce manual tasks and processing times.

Marshall said the program is expected to deliver 4 million of annualized savings by FY27. Looking ahead, the company guided for total underlying administrative expense growth of around 3% per year in FY26 and FY27, while continuing to invest in technology. He added that the timing of savings means the speed of cost increases should slow more in the second half of FY26, with first- and second-half costs expected to be broadly similar.

In the Q&A, Marshall said the company had met cost guidance in recent years and that management is aligned on the plan already being executed, while acknowledging uncertainty increases beyond the next couple of years.

Flow momentum, market share, and key Q&A topics

Scott said the company delivered significant platform enhancements in FY25, focusing on digitization and shifting paper-based processes to online straight-through processing with standardized formats and instant data validation. He said the upgrades support integrations and APIs that allow advisers to send instructions directly from back-office systems, improving processing times and scalability, and laying groundwork for potential future use of AI.

Operationally, Scott said seven consecutive quarters delivered gross inflows above 2 billion. He added that the platforms transfer ratio improved to 2.8 in FY25, and outflows were largely stable, falling to 9% of opening FUD.

Scott said IntegraFin maintained an over 20% share of net inflows in the UK adviser platform market and a 10% share of market FUD. He cited Fundscapes view that the adviser platform market could grow around 12% over the next five years and noted awards including Schroders Best Use of Platform Technology and Money Marketings Best Platform.

During Q&A, management addressed several investor topics:

Inorganic growth: Marshall said the company remains focused primarily on organic growth and does not see significant acquisition opportunities in the platform market, though it continues to scan technology-related opportunities.

Marshall said the company remains focused primarily on organic growth and does not see significant acquisition opportunities in the platform market, though it continues to scan technology-related opportunities. Tokenization: Scott said the company has discussed tokenization for several years, is monitoring regulatory developments (including an FCA consultation), and plans to feed into consultations while acknowledging rules and structures are not yet formalized.

Scott said the company has discussed tokenization for several years, is monitoring regulatory developments (including an FCA consultation), and plans to feed into consultations while acknowledging rules and structures are not yet formalized. Budget-related pension behavior: Marshall said the group saw heightened flows in both directions and expects to be relatively net neutral, citing clients bringing money onto Transact and using other wrappers such as investment bond structures.

Marshall said the group saw heightened flows in both directions and expects to be relatively net neutral, citing clients bringing money onto Transact and using other wrappers such as investment bond structures. Australian VAT issue: Scott said IntegraFin remains stayed behind Barclays case, continues dialogue with HMRC, and expects another 18 months to two years before greater certainty. He added the company is paying VAT on everything, meaning no accruing liability, with only potential upside.

Scott said IntegraFin remains stayed behind Barclays case, continues dialogue with HMRC, and expects another before greater certainty. He added the company is paying VAT on everything, meaning no accruing liability, with only potential upside. Capital requirements: Marshall said a reasonable rule of thumb is capital requirements increase broadly in line with FUD growth, noting the group has three regulated entities, including two insurance entities with more complexity.

Management closed by reiterating confidence in net flow momentum, continued platform enhancements, and implementation of cost initiatives intended to improve operating margin while maintaining client service and ongoing technology investment.

About IntegraFin (LON:IHP)

IntegraFin Holdings plc (IntegraFin) is the holding company for all of the entities involved in the provision of the Transact service. Transact is one of the largest independent wrap platforms in the UK. It offers advisory professionals a comprehensive financial planning infrastructure for investing client assets in a tax-efficient way.

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Shares of Manolete Partners Plc (LON:MANO  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 60 and last traded at GBX 61, with a volume of 23723 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 63.50.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on Manolete Partners from GBX 172 to GBX 130 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 130.

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Manolete Partners Stock Down 3.9%

The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 78.82 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 85.41. The company has a current ratio of 4.92, a quick ratio of 6.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.92. The stock has a market cap of 26.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.26 and a beta of 0.77.

Manolete Partners (LON:MANO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The company reported GBX (1.09) earnings per share for the quarter. Manolete Partners had a return on equity of 109.76% and a net margin of 180.12%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Manolete Partners Plc will post 4.2845258 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Leigh of Hurley sold 65,000 shares of Manolete Partners stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 71, for a total value of 46,150. Insiders own 11.70% of the companys stock.

About Manolete Partners

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Manolete Partners Plc is the UKs leading insolvency litigation financing company which was founded in 2009 by its Chief Executive, Steven Cooklin, a UK Chartered Accountant.

Manolete finances the pursuit of claims through litigation and alternative dispute resolution to produce optimal returns for the creditors of insolvent companies. The Company has invested in over 1,300 specialist UK insolvency cases and has recovered over 120m for Creditor Estates with an average case duration of just 12 months per case.

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Natuzzi (NYSE:NTZ) executives on the companys third-quarter 2025 results call described a difficult demand backdrop marked by weak consumer confidence and soft store traffic, while outlining ongoing efforts to improve profitability through a shift toward higher-margin branded sales and a restructuring plan aimed at reducing fixed costs.

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Demand remains pressured as store traffic lags

Executive Chairman and Interim CEO Pasquale Natuzzi said the broader geopolitical environment has not improved and, in some respects, is worsening. He said consumer confidence remains weak, and despite increased marketing investment, foot traffic in the companys storesparticularly in the U.S. and Europecontinues to lag. Natuzzi noted that conversion rates have improved in some cases, but said those gains have not been enough to offset the decline in traffic.

Gross margin improves on mix shift toward Natuzzi Italia

Natuzzi emphasized that the companys results and near-term sales recovery remain tied to consumer sentiment, saying the company cannot guarantee how the geopolitical situation will affect confidence. He added, however, that management is committed to reducing costs and improving margins, and said the company is confident it can achieve better sales next year compared with 2025.

Natuzzi said the company improved gross margin in the third quarter, surpassing levels recorded in the first two quarters of the year. He attributed the improvement primarily to a more favorable sales mix.

According to his remarks, sales of Natuzzi Italiadescribed as higher margin than other product linesrose 18% compared with the third quarter of last year. At the same time, sales of unbranded products, which Natuzzi said are not core to the business, declined 20%.

Management said it intends to continue emphasizing branded sales given their higher-margin profile.

Cost actions: China savings, Italy labor costs, and SG&A pressure

Natuzzi said the closure of the Shanghai factory last year enabled cost savings on industrial operations in China. However, he said the companys margin improvements are still constrained by labor costs in Italy following the reshoring of Natuzzi Editions production for the North America market from China to Italy, a process he said was completed in the second half of 2024.

He also discussed selling, general and administrative expenses, noting that wages and transportation expenses decreased during the quarter but that overall SG&A remains high relative to the companys current revenue base. Natuzzi said he and the management team remain committed to supporting sales while reducing fixed costs at the group level.

Restructuring plan centers on Italy footprint and workforce reductions

In response to a question about an upcoming meeting with the Italian government, Natuzzi described a restructuring plan focused on rationalizing the companys Italian manufacturing footprint. He said the company currently has six factories and one logistics center in Italy and plans to reduce production to three factories instead of six. Doing so would require moving employees between facilities within the same region, which he said would require agreements with the government and unions.

Natuzzi also said the company has about 1,350 workers in Italy but needs approximately 750 to 800 people. He and CFO Carlo Silvestri discussed the need for measures involving government support, including what they described as a form of furlough (referencing Cassa Integrazione in Italian) as part of a two-layer approach: near-term workforce measures and a more strategic, medium-term plan.

Silvestri said the companys profitability and cash flow objectives include multiple levers, including workforce actions, margin initiatives such as reviewing price lists when strategic positioning allows, and further rationalization of the retail network. He said the companys target to reach financial sustainability is tied to achieving approximately 28 million to 29 million per month in turnover, and indicated that at those levels, the company expects to stop burning cash and generate positive cash flow.

Natuzzi said he planned to travel to Rome the following Monday to meet with relevant ministry officials. He said the company continues discussions with the Italian government, which he said has recognized Natuzzi as an enterprise of strategic relevance. Natuzzi said he would seek major aid aimed at improving quality, reducing transformation costs at the Italian factory, and increasing production efficiency.

Contract and trade business positioned as a long-term growth lever

Management also discussed efforts to expand its contract and trade business, including Natuzzi Harmony Residences projects. Natuzzi said the first Natuzzi Harmony Residences project launched in Dubai in November 2024, featuring a building with 50 apartments. He said the company designed the building and interiors, including furniture, and that customers are purchasing Natuzzi apartments in Dubai.

He added that the company is in the process of signing a second contract with the same dealer and developer in Dubai and has signed another contract in Jerusalem, where it also designed the building, apartments, and common areas.

Natuzzi said these projects demonstrate the value of the brand and stated that developers are paying royalties of $1.2 million to $1.3 million to use the Natuzzi name, in addition to furniture costs.

He also cited participation in multiple trade events and roadshows to build the pipeline, including exhibitions in Riyadh and Dubai, two events in Mumbai, Miami Design Week, and a recent roadshow in China meeting with architectural firms.

Silvestri characterized the contract trade division as a startup and said the company is still in an early phase, with substantial bidding activity but not enough history to quantify success rates. For 2026, he said the company is taking a conservative approach and views the business as a cherry on the cake, forecasting between 5 million and 10 million in revenue from the segment, while describing the longer-term opportunity as potentially exponential as projects scale.

On leadership, Natuzzi said the company is continuing its CEO search and that he has been interviewing candidates on weekends due to scheduling constraints. He did not provide a shortlist count but said the company hopes to share good news in a short period of time.

About Natuzzi (NYSE:NTZ)

Natuzzi S.p.A. is a global design and manufacturing company specializing in high-quality upholstered furniture. The companys product portfolio includes leather and fabric sofas, armchairs, recliners, sectional systems and complementary home furnishings such as coffee tables, beds and accessories. Natuzzi markets its offerings under two primary brandsNatuzzi Italia, which focuses on contemporary Italian design, and Natuzzi Editions, which provides a broader range of styles at accessible price points.

Founded in 1959 by Pasquale Natuzzi in Santeramo in Colle, Italy, the company began as a small artisan workshop and has grown into the worlds largest producer of leather upholstered furniture.

Further Reading
Wall Street Zen cut shares of PennyMac Financial Services (NYSE:PFSI  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Saturday.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of PennyMac Financial Services from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on PennyMac Financial Services from $136.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. UBS Group lifted their target price on PennyMac Financial Services from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on PennyMac Financial Services in a research report on Friday. They set a buy rating and a $160.00 price target for the company. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on PennyMac Financial Services from $136.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $143.29.

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PennyMac Financial Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE PFSI opened at $134.56 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $128.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $114.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01, a current ratio of 0.36 and a quick ratio of 0.36. The company has a market cap of $6.99 billion, a PE ratio of 14.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.58. PennyMac Financial Services has a 12 month low of $85.74 and a 12 month high of $137.53.

PennyMac Financial Services (NYSE:PFSI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The real estate investment trust reported $3.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.98 by $0.39. PennyMac Financial Services had a net margin of 25.21% and a return on equity of 11.69%. The firm had revenue of $632.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $573.46 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.30 EPS. PennyMac Financial Servicess revenue for the quarter was up 53.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that PennyMac Financial Services will post 13.77 earnings per share for the current year.

PennyMac Financial Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. PennyMac Financial Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.93%.

Insider Buying and Selling at PennyMac Financial Services

In other news, Director Anne Mccallion sold 27,771 shares of PennyMac Financial Services stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.55, for a total transaction of $3,653,275.05. Following the sale, the director directly owned 1,547 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $203,507.85. The trade was a 94.72% 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 this hyperlink. Also, CFO Daniel Stanley Perotti sold 8,775 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.67, for a total value of $1,111,529.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 216,475 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,420,888.25. This trade represents a 3.90% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 213,129 shares of company stock worth $27,549,667. 15.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of PennyMac Financial Services

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PFSI. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in shares of PennyMac Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $10,550,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in PennyMac Financial Services by 19.8% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 17,145 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,716,000 after acquiring an additional 2,832 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC grew its holdings in shares of PennyMac Financial Services by 4.4% during the first quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 2,587 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $259,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC raised its position in shares of PennyMac Financial Services by 48.8% during the 1st quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 4,464 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $447,000 after purchasing an additional 1,464 shares during the period. Finally, EMG Holdings L.P. bought a new stake in shares of PennyMac Financial Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $6,465,000. 57.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About PennyMac Financial Services

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PennyMac Financial Services, Inc (NYSE: PFSI) is a leading mortgage banking company based in Westlake Village, California. The firm operates through two primary business segments: Production and Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR). In its Production segment, PennyMac originates residential mortgage loans through retail, wholesale and correspondent channels, focusing on both purchase and refinance transactions. The MSR segment involves the acquisition and servicing of mortgage loans, whereby the company earns fees for managing loan portfolios on behalf of investors.

Since its founding in 2008, PennyMac has grown through a combination of organic origination and strategic acquisition of servicing rights, positioning itself as one of the largest residential mortgage loan servicers in the United States.

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Radiant Logistics, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:RLGT  Get Free Report) shares were up 1.5% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $6.64 and last traded at $6.57. Approximately 173,537 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 6% from the average daily volume of 163,329 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.47.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Lake Street Capital lowered their target price on Radiant Logistics from $10.00 to $8.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $8.00.

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Radiant Logistics Price Performance

The companys 50 day moving average price is $6.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $6.15. The stock has a market cap of $307.94 million, a P/E ratio of 21.19 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

Radiant Logistics (NYSEAMERICAN:RLGT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 10th. The company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $226.66 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $206.64 million. Radiant Logistics had a net margin of 1.64% and a return on equity of 12.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Radiant Logistics

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Radiant Logistics in the first quarter worth approximately $56,000. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Radiant Logistics in the 1st quarter worth approximately $69,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in shares of Radiant Logistics by 45.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 12,822 shares of the companys stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 4,001 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in shares of Radiant Logistics by 78.4% in the 2nd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 13,729 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 6,032 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boothbay Fund Management LLC increased its position in shares of Radiant Logistics by 33.3% during the second quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC now owns 14,306 shares of the companys stock worth $87,000 after buying an additional 3,572 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.59% of the companys stock.

About Radiant Logistics

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Radiant Logistics, Inc, through its subsidiaries, is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering freight brokerage, managed transportation, contract logistics and supply chain solutions. The company arranges full-truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal, ocean and air freight across multiple geographies. Radiant also provides customs brokerage, trade compliance services and warehousing support, serving industries such as manufacturing, retail, energy and automotive.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Radiant Logistics has grown its network of client-facing offices throughout North America, with additional service centers in Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

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Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE:RVLV  Get Free Report) CEO Michael Mente sold 78,619 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.78, for a total transaction of $2,262,654.82. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

Michael Mente also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, December 22nd, Michael Mente sold 63,045 shares of Revolve Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.67, for a total transaction of $1,870,545.15.

On Thursday, December 18th, Michael Mente sold 88,444 shares of Revolve Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.41, for a total value of $2,512,694.04.

On Thursday, December 4th, Michael Mente sold 41,563 shares of Revolve Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.02, for a total transaction of $1,081,469.26.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, Michael Mente sold 114,024 shares of Revolve Group stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.67, for a total value of $3,041,020.08.

On Tuesday, December 2nd, Michael Mente sold 23,152 shares of Revolve Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.94, for a total transaction of $600,562.88.

Revolve Group Stock Up 2.5%

Shares of NYSE:RVLV traded up $0.72 during trading on Monday, reaching $29.71. 1,060,661 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,297,491. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $22.37. Revolve Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $16.80 and a 1-year high of $34.53. The firm has a market cap of $2.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 1.84.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Revolve Group ( NYSE:RVLV Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by $0.13. Revolve Group had a return on equity of 11.26% and a net margin of 4.64%.The company had revenue of $295.63 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $297.36 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.15 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Revolve Group, Inc. will post 0.6 EPS for the current year.

Several research firms recently commented on RVLV. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Revolve Group from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. BTIG Research reiterated a buy rating and issued a $30.00 price objective on shares of Revolve Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Revolve Group from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Robert W. Baird set a $29.00 price target on Revolve Group in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $34.00 price target on shares of Revolve Group in a research report on Thursday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.14.

View Our Latest Report on Revolve Group

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Revolve Group

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. State of Alaska Department of Revenue acquired a new stake in shares of Revolve Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Generali Investments Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych bought a new position in Revolve Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Revolve Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $68,000. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of Revolve Group by 6,932.1% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,727 shares of the companys stock worth $79,000 after buying an additional 3,674 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Logan Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Revolve Group by 35.5% during the second quarter. Logan Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,579 shares of the companys stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 1,463 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.60% of the companys stock.

Revolve Group Company Profile

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Revolve Group, Inc operates as a leading online fashion retailer primarily serving millennial and Gen Z consumers through its flagship e-commerce platform. The company offers a curated assortment of apparel, accessories and beauty products from more than 500 established and emerging brands, alongside private label labels covering contemporary and premium segments. With a focus on trend-driven merchandise and seamless user experience, the website features shoppable editorial content and digital styling advice aimed at strengthening customer engagement and brand loyalty.

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Cerritos, California, Revolve has expanded its footprint beyond North America by launching localized sites and logistics centers in Europe and the Middle East.

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Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE:AMG  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Sunday.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on AMG. Barrington Research lifted their price target on Affiliated Managers Group from $285.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $282.00 price target on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. UBS Group set a $295.00 price target on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Affiliated Managers Group to $335.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Affiliated Managers Group in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $328.67.

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Affiliated Managers Group Stock Performance

NYSE AMG opened at $287.33 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $8.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The companys 50 day moving average is $258.18 and its 200-day moving average is $230.61. Affiliated Managers Group has a 12-month low of $139.22 and a 12-month high of $287.86.

Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE:AMG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The asset manager reported $6.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.88 by $0.22. Affiliated Managers Group had a return on equity of 16.75% and a net margin of 26.01%.The business had revenue of $528.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $543.39 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $4.82 EPS. The firms revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Affiliated Managers Group will post 22.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Affiliated Managers Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd purchased a new stake in Affiliated Managers Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $321,000. Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in shares of Affiliated Managers Group in the third quarter worth $3,218,000. Advisory Services Network LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Affiliated Managers Group by 8.5% during the third quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 3,848 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $917,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt boosted its position in shares of Affiliated Managers Group by 2.8% during the third quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 29,050 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $6,926,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its holdings in Affiliated Managers Group by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 25,136 shares of the asset managers stock worth $5,993,000 after buying an additional 318 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.30% of the companys stock.

Affiliated Managers Group Company Profile

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Affiliated Managers Group, Inc (NYSE: AMG) is a global asset management holding company that partners with boutique investment firms. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, AMG invests in and collaborates with independent investment managers to foster growth while preserving their entrepreneurial culture. Through equity stakes and strategic support, the company aims to enhance its affiliates distribution capabilities, operational infrastructure and access to capital.

The companys core business activities include providing capital solutions, distribution services and operational support to affiliated investment firms.

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Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for Kennedy-Wilson (NYSE: KW):

12/18/2025  Kennedy-Wilson had its underweight rating reaffirmed by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. They now have a $11.00 price target on the stock.

12/15/2025  Kennedy-Wilson had its sell (d+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/8/2025  Kennedy-Wilson had its sell (d+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/1/2025  Kennedy-Wilson had its sell (d+) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/19/2025  Kennedy-Wilson had its sell (d) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/15/2025  Kennedy-Wilson was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating.

11/13/2025  Kennedy-Wilson was downgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d) rating.

11/7/2025  Kennedy-Wilson was upgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating.

11/6/2025  Kennedy-Wilson had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $13.00 to $11.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

Kennedy-Wilson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. Kennedy-Wilsons dividend payout ratio is -184.62%.

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Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc is a publicly traded global real estate investment company that acquires, develops and manages a diversified portfolio of properties. Its core activities include investing in office, multifamily, retail, industrial and self-storage assets while providing comprehensive property management, leasing, capital markets and investment management services to institutional and private clients.

Headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, Kennedy-Wilson operates through two principal business segments: Investments and Asset Services.

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WEX Inc. (NYSE:WEX  Get Free Report) CAO Jennifer Kimball sold 494 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $74,791.60. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 3,671 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $555,789.40. This represents a 11.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

WEX Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WEX traded up $2.72 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $153.62. 329,476 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 583,760. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.03. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $149.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $156.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.33, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05. WEX Inc. has a 52 week low of $110.45 and a 52 week high of $188.70.

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WEX (NYSE:WEX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $4.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.45 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $691.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $678.25 million. WEX had a return on equity of 45.10% and a net margin of 10.81%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $4.35 EPS. WEX has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 3.760-3.960 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 15.760-15.96 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that WEX Inc. will post 14.09 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on WEX. Zacks Research downgraded shares of WEX from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. Bank of America upgraded shares of WEX from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $178.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded WEX from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on WEX from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on WEX from $195.00 to $175.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $172.92.

Get Our Latest Research Report on WEX

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of WEX by 399.9% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 210,707 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $33,085,000 after purchasing an additional 168,558 shares in the last quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. increased its position in WEX by 205.0% during the 2nd quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. now owns 36,600 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,376,000 after purchasing an additional 24,600 shares in the last quarter. Optimize Financial Inc acquired a new position in WEX during the 1st quarter worth approximately $389,000. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in WEX by 47.2% in the 2nd quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,739 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,137,000 after purchasing an additional 2,482 shares during the last quarter. Finally, United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in WEX in the first quarter valued at approximately $400,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.47% of the companys stock.

WEX Company Profile

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WEX Inc is a global financial technology company specializing in business payment solutions for fleet, travel, and corporate payments. The company delivers software-driven platforms and card-based services that help businesses automate payment processes, manage expenses and improve operational efficiency across a range of industries, including transportation, healthcare and government.

Founded in 1983 as Wright Express in Portland, Maine, the company began by offering fuel card services to trucking fleets.

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Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s. cut its position in shares of Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI  Free Report) (TSE:AGI) by 57.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 14,836 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 20,164 shares during the period. Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s.s holdings in Alamos Gold were worth $517,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Alamos Gold during the second quarter worth $144,808,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Alamos Gold by 639.2% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,380,859 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $91,379,000 after buying an additional 2,923,478 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 29.3% during the 2nd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 11,132,337 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $296,623,000 after buying an additional 2,521,347 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in Alamos Gold by 32.3% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 8,979,615 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $238,990,000 after acquiring an additional 2,192,593 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in Alamos Gold by 105.2% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,394,604 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $64,032,000 after acquiring an additional 1,227,695 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.33% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on AGI. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (a) rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Desjardins began coverage on Alamos Gold in a research report on Friday, November 28th. They set a buy rating for the company. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Alamos Gold in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Bank of America raised their target price on Alamos Gold from $40.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Alamos Gold presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $43.00.

Alamos Gold Stock Up 5.3%

AGI opened at $40.50 on Tuesday. Alamos Gold Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.80 and a 12 month high of $40.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.33. The stock has a market cap of $17.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 0.63. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $34.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.78.

Alamos Gold (NYSE:AGI  Get Free Report) (TSE:AGI) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The basic materials company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.37. Alamos Gold had a return on equity of 12.36% and a net margin of 33.46%.The company had revenue of $462.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $490.96 million. The firms quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.19 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Alamos Gold Inc. will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Alamos Gold Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 4th were given a $0.025 dividend. This represents a $0.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 4th. Alamos Golds dividend payout ratio is currently 7.81%.

Alamos Gold Profile

(Free Report)

Alamos Gold Inc is a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer engaged in the exploration, development and operation of mining projects in North America. Its principal activities include the acquisition, exploration and development of gold-bearing properties, and the management of operating mines. The company focuses on sustainable production practices and maintains a portfolio that spans both producing assets and advanced-stage development projects.

Alamos Gold operates multiple open pit and underground mines, including the Young-Davidson and Island Gold mines in Ontario, Canada, and the Mulatos mine in Sonora, Mexico.

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Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $11.79 and last traded at $11.7950, with a volume of 560258 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $11.72.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b+) rating on shares of Banco Santander in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. DZ Bank cut Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Banco Santander from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Banco Santander presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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Banco Santander Stock Up 0.7%

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $10.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $175.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.55, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.74.

Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The bank reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $20.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.32 billion. Banco Santander had a return on equity of 11.68% and a net margin of 17.90%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Banco Santander, S.A. will post 0.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Banco Santander Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Investors of record on Friday, October 31st were given a $0.0956 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 31st. This represents a yield of 263.0%. Banco Santanders payout ratio is 20.21%.

Institutional Trading of Banco Santander

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Santander by 67.5% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 14,529,024 shares of the banks stock valued at $149,504,000 after acquiring an additional 5,856,034 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC raised its position in Banco Santander by 22.0% in the 2nd quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 14,482,986 shares of the banks stock valued at $120,209,000 after purchasing an additional 2,607,392 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Banco Santander by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 12,844,029 shares of the banks stock worth $134,605,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000,811 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in Banco Santander by 20.5% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 9,211,673 shares of the banks stock worth $96,538,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568,515 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in Banco Santander by 4.4% in the third quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 8,981,872 shares of the banks stock valued at $94,130,000 after purchasing an additional 376,023 shares during the period. 9.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Banco Santander

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Banco Santander, SA (NYSE: SAN) is a Spanish multinational banking group headquartered in Santander, Spain. Founded in 1857, the bank has grown from a regional institution into one of Europes largest banking groups, operating a diversified financial services platform that serves retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporate clients. Santander is publicly listed in Spain and maintains American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SAN.

The groups core activities include retail and commercial bankingoffering deposit accounts, payment services, mortgages, personal and auto loans, and small business financingalongside corporate and investment banking services for larger institutional clients.

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Barclays PLC (LON:BARC  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 471.20 and last traded at GBX 470.13, with a volume of 180774438 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 467.95.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on BARC shares. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Barclays from GBX 455 to GBX 470 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Barclays from GBX 435 to GBX 500 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Citigroup raised their target price 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating and set a GBX 500 price objective on shares of Barclays in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 445.83.

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Barclays Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of 64.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.51, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 415.90 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 378.78.

Barclays (LON:BARC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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%. Sell-side analysts predict that Barclays PLC will post 39.1062802 EPS for the current year.

Barclays Company Profile

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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.

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FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Reduce from the seventeen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $313.1667.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on FDS. Morgan Stanley set a $307.00 price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Huber Research upgraded shares of FactSet Research Systems from a strong sell rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $394.00 to $328.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $320.00 price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Friday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and set a $305.00 price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Friday.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other FactSet Research Systems news, EVP Goran Skoko bought 500 shares of FactSet Research Systems stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $252.93 per share, for a total transaction of $126,465.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 9,192 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,324,932.56. This represents a 5.75% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, EVP Helen L. Shan purchased 370 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $275.48 per share, for a total transaction of $101,927.60. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president owned 9,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,557,556.32. This represents a 4.15% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of FDS. Truist Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 0.5% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 22,313 shares of the business services providers stock worth $9,980,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC raised its stake in FactSet Research Systems by 8.8% in the second quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 125,526 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $56,145,000 after buying an additional 10,172 shares in the last quarter. PineStone Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in FactSet Research Systems by 8.8% in the second quarter. PineStone Asset Management Inc. now owns 380,459 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $170,172,000 after buying an additional 30,881 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 14.1% during the 2nd quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 14,690 shares of the business services providers stock worth $6,569,000 after buying an additional 1,810 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J. W. Coons Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 139.8% during the 2nd quarter. J. W. Coons Advisors LLC now owns 3,465 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,550,000 after acquiring an additional 2,020 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.24% of the companys stock.

FactSet Research Systems Price Performance

Shares of FactSet Research Systems stock opened at $290.66 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $10.88 billion, a PE ratio of 18.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.75. FactSet Research Systems has a twelve month low of $250.50 and a twelve month high of $493.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $279.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $345.60.

FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 18th. The business services provider reported $4.51 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $607.62 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $599.69 million. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 30.49% and a net margin of 25.40%.FactSet Research Systemss quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.37 earnings per share. FactSet Research Systems has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.900-17.600 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that FactSet Research Systems will post 17.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

FactSet Research Systems announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Thursday, December 18th that permits the company to buyback $600.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the business services provider to purchase up to 5.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

FactSet Research Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th were given a dividend of $1.10 per share. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. FactSet Research Systemss payout ratio is presently 27.99%.

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.

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Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ  Get Free Report) (TSE:CCO) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, thirteen 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 $117.2486.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on CCJ shares. Scotiabank reissued an outperform rating on shares of Cameco in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. President Capital raised shares of Cameco from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Cameco to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Cameco in a research note on Monday, November 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $140.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on Cameco from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 13th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cameco

Cameco Stock Up 1.9%

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CCJ. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Cameco in the 2nd quarter valued at $341,736,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its position 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 worth $578,226,000 after purchasing an additional 3,959,837 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc raised its stake in Cameco by 116.7% in the third quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 4,622,932 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $388,068,000 after purchasing an additional 2,489,207 shares in the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main raised its stake in Cameco by 41.4% in the second quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 7,076,815 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $524,988,000 after purchasing an additional 2,071,373 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in Cameco by 43.3% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,443,807 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $456,530,000 after purchasing an additional 1,644,061 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.21% of the companys stock.

CCJ stock opened at $91.73 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 2.99 and a quick ratio of 1.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 106.67 and a beta of 1.07. Cameco has a fifty-two week low of $35.00 and a fifty-two week high of $110.15. The business has a 50-day moving average of $90.43 and a 200-day moving average of $81.56.

Cameco (NYSE:CCJ  Get Free Report) (TSE:CCO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The basic materials company reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by ($0.17). Cameco had a net margin of 15.24% and a return on equity of 8.58%. The company had revenue of $313.74 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $531.72 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($0.01) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Cameco will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cameco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This is a positive change from Camecos previous annual dividend of $0.12. This represents a dividend yield of 27.0%. Camecos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.77%.

Cameco Company Profile

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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.

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Okinawa urges Japanese gov't to prevent sexual violence by U.S. forces

Xinhua) 10:11, December 23, 2025

TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- In response to a series of sexual violence cases involving U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly has adopted a formal opinion calling on the Japanese government to take effective measures to prevent such incidents.

Monday's opinion noted that following a December 2023 case in which a U.S. soldier stationed in Okinawa kidnapped and raped a Japanese minor, the governments of Japan and the United States confirmed they would implement measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

However, sexual violence by the U.S. military has continued to occur in Okinawa since then, the opinion said, noting that the number of criminal cases involving U.S. military personnel in Okinawa reached a 20-year high in 2025, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of disciplinary reforms and preventive measures within the U.S. military.

The assembly urged the Japanese government to take concrete and effective actions, including a fundamental revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, to prevent the recurrence of such crimes.

Kyodo News reported on Monday that multiple cases of sexual violence involving U.S. military personnel have been reported in Okinawa since June last year, prompting the prefectural assembly to pass several resolutions protesting to the U.S. military.

Public broadcaster NHK previously reported that from January to the end of September this year, a total of 77 criminal cases involving U.S. soldiers, civilian employees, and their family members stationed in Okinawa were recorded, surpassing last year's total of 73 cases and marking the highest figure in two decades. Among these, violent crimes accounted for the largest share, with 16 cases reported.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Voya Investment Management LLC cut its position in shares of CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA  Free Report) by 46.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 275,781 shares of the companys stock after selling 235,960 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in CAVA Group were worth $16,660,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its stake in CAVA Group by 37.5% in the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 4,850 shares of the companys stock worth $409,000 after buying an additional 1,324 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new stake in CAVA Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $463,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd grew its holdings in CAVA Group by 271.7% in the second quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 23,659 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,993,000 after purchasing an additional 17,294 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in CAVA Group by 1,846,775.0% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 73,875 shares of the companys stock worth $6,222,000 after purchasing an additional 73,871 shares during the period. Finally, Lewis Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in CAVA Group during the second quarter worth approximately $504,000. 73.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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CAVA Group Trading Up 1.8%

CAVA opened at $57.94 on Tuesday. CAVA Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $43.41 and a twelve month high of $144.49. The firm has a market cap of $6.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.95, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 2.51. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $67.41.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CAVA Group ( NYSE:CAVA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.12 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $292.24 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $292.88 million. CAVA Group had a net margin of 12.14% and a return on equity of 8.88%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 19.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.15 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that CAVA Group, Inc. will post 0.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CAVA has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $68.00 price objective on shares of CAVA Group in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Mizuho upgraded CAVA Group to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on CAVA Group from $100.00 to $71.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Truist Financial raised shares of CAVA Group to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of CAVA Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, CAVA Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $81.00.

View Our Latest Analysis on CAVA Group

Insider Buying and Selling

In other CAVA Group news, insider Kenneth Robert Bertram sold 3,788 shares of CAVA Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.70, for a total transaction of $192,051.60. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 51,143 shares in the company, valued at $2,592,950.10. The trade was a 6.90% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 12.10% of the companys stock.

CAVA Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

CAVA Group, Inc (NYSE: CAVA) is a leading fast-casual restaurant company specializing in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Operating under the CAVA brand, the company offers customizable bowls, pitas and salads built around a variety of proteins, grains, fresh vegetables and house-made spreads. With a focus on high-quality ingredients and made-to-order preparation, CAVA aims to deliver a casual yet elevated dining experience for dine-in, takeout and catering customers.

Founded in 2011 in the Washington, DC metro area by Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Katsanis and Brett Schulman, CAVA has pursued an aggressive growth strategy that included the 2018 acquisition of Zoes Kitchen.

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Shares of Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:DIFTY  Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 245,365 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 214% from the previous sessions volume of 78,069 shares.The stock last traded at $4.8050 and had previously closed at $4.7990.

Daito Trust Construction Trading Up 0.7%

The stocks 50 day moving average is $4.80 and its 200 day moving average is $18.17.

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About Daito Trust Construction

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Daito Trust Construction Co, Ltd. (OTCMKTS: DIFTY) is a Japan-based construction and real estate services firm specializing in the development and management of rental residential properties, commercial facilities and related infrastructure. The company provides end-to-end solutions that span site acquisition, architectural design, construction, leasing support and ongoing property administration. Leveraging a vertically integrated model, Daito Trust Construction aims to streamline project delivery and optimize operational efficiency for landlords and tenants alike.

In its core rental housing segment, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including property management, tenant recruitment, rent collection and routine facility maintenance.

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OFI Invest Asset Management lifted its position in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR  Free Report) by 37,575.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 271,265 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 270,545 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management owned approximately 0.08% of Digital Realty Trust worth $46,896,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of DLR. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 32,229 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,572,000 after acquiring an additional 1,463 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 8.2% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 7,190 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,243,000 after purchasing an additional 545 shares during the last quarter. RoundAngle Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. RoundAngle Advisors LLC now owns 11,473 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,983,000 after purchasing an additional 703 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 27,677.8% during the third quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 87,778 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $15,380,000 after purchasing an additional 87,462 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 4.4% during the third quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 44,818 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $7,904,000 after buying an additional 1,887 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.71% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

DLR has been the topic of several research reports. Moffett Nathanson upped their price target on Digital Realty Trust from $166.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $200.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $199.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded Digital Realty Trust from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $194.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, October 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Digital Realty Trust has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $197.55.

Insider Transactions at Digital Realty Trust

In other Digital Realty Trust news, Director Mary Hogan Preusse sold 4,166 shares of Digital Realty Trust 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 is available at the SEC website. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Digital Realty Trust Stock Performance

Shares of Digital Realty Trust stock opened at $153.35 on Tuesday. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $129.95 and a 12 month high of $187.74. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market cap of $52.68 billion, a PE ratio of 39.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.87 and a beta of 1.11. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $163.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $169.04.

Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.15 earnings per share 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. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Digital Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 126.10%.

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.

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Shares of Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $14.4583.

Several analysts have commented on EFC shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Ellington Financial in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research downgraded Ellington Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Ellington Financial from $12.50 to $13.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ellington Financial

Ellington Financial Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of Ellington Financial stock opened at $13.94 on Tuesday. Ellington Financial has a 1 year low of $11.12 and a 1 year high of $14.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.64, a current ratio of 50.60 and a quick ratio of 50.60. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $13.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.38. The company has a market capitalization of $1.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.40 and a beta of 0.95.

Ellington Financial (NYSE:EFC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $242.08 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $121.99 million. Ellington Financial had a net margin of 89.04% and a return on equity of 14.55%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Ellington Financial will post 1.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ellington Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.2%. Ellington Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 116.42%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ellington Financial

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EFC. MAS Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ellington Financial by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. MAS Advisors LLC now owns 22,928 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $298,000 after purchasing an additional 788 shares during the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its position in shares of Ellington Financial by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 22,464 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $292,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in Ellington Financial by 67.6% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,010 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 811 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its position in Ellington Financial by 6.2% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 15,170 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $197,000 after acquiring an additional 888 shares during the period. Finally, Corebridge Financial Inc. increased its stake in Ellington Financial by 2.0% during the first quarter. Corebridge Financial Inc. now owns 46,054 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $611,000 after acquiring an additional 893 shares during the last quarter. 55.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Ellington Financial

(Get Free Report)

Ellington Financial, Inc (NYSE: EFC) is a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on generating attractive risk-adjusted returns through investments in residential and commercial mortgage-related assets. Established in 2013, the company is externally managed by Ellington Financial Management, L.P., a subsidiary of Ellington Management Group, an alternative asset management firm. EFCs core strategy centers on actively acquiring and managing agency and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS), mortgage servicing rights, residential whole loans, and other structured finance instruments, including asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).

The company employs leverage and structured financing toolssuch as repurchase agreements and secured credit facilitiesto enhance portfolio yield while maintaining focus on risk mitigation.

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Red Door Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 28.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 47,181 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 10,332 shares during the period. Red Door Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $5,320,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the second quarter worth $6,163,719,000. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC purchased a new stake in Exxon Mobil in the second quarter valued at $607,621,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 150.2% in the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 7,602,601 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $819,560,000 after purchasing an additional 4,563,707 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 200.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 2,014,446 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $217,162,000 after purchasing an additional 4,015,099 shares during the period. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 10,809.8% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,095,106 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $333,652,000 after buying an additional 3,066,736 shares during the last quarter. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Exxon Mobil News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

Positive Sentiment: Oil-price rebound lifts energy stocks  Oil jumped after tensions around Venezuelan oil exports and related military actions raised short-term supply concerns, providing an immediate tailwind for integrated oil names like Exxon. Read More.

Oil-price rebound lifts energy stocks  Oil jumped after tensions around Venezuelan oil exports and related military actions raised short-term supply concerns, providing an immediate tailwind for integrated oil names like Exxon. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Accelerated exploration in Trinidad  ExxonMobil says it will launch an offshore seismic survey in Trinidad & Tobago as soon as February 2026, signaling an earlier-than-expected push on upstream resource appraisal that could support longer-term production growth. Read More.

Accelerated exploration in Trinidad  ExxonMobil says it will launch an offshore seismic survey in Trinidad & Tobago as soon as February 2026, signaling an earlier-than-expected push on upstream resource appraisal that could support longer-term production growth. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Permian operations cited as a resiliency driver  Analysts highlight Exxons low-cost Permian footprint as a source of margin resilience if prices soften, reinforcing investor confidence in cash flow stability. Read More.

Permian operations cited as a resiliency driver  Analysts highlight Exxons low-cost Permian footprint as a source of margin resilience if prices soften, reinforcing investor confidence in cash flow stability. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Bullish investor write-ups increase interest  Multiple bullish pieces (Seeking Alpha calls and other buy-themed commentary) are circulating, which can amplify buying interest among retail and sentiment-driven traders. Read More. Read More.

Bullish investor write-ups increase interest  Multiple bullish pieces (Seeking Alpha calls and other buy-themed commentary) are circulating, which can amplify buying interest among retail and sentiment-driven traders. Read More. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Recent performance and trending interest noted  Coverage noting that XOM has outpaced the market and is a trending ticker may attract attention but doesnt by itself change fundamentals. Read More. / Read More.

Exxon Mobil Price Performance

Shares of NYSE XOM opened at $118.21 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $116.05 and a 200 day moving average of $112.89. The firm has a market cap of $498.52 billion, a PE ratio of 17.18, a PEG ratio of 7.36 and a beta of 0.38. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a one year low of $97.80 and a one year high of $120.81.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $57.55 billion for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 8.99% and a return on equity of 11.22%. As a group, research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a dividend of $1.03 per share. This is an increase from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.88%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Exxon Mobil from $156.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 12th. BNP Paribas raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $126.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $119.00 to $118.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Exxon Mobil currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $129.45.

View Our Latest Report on Exxon Mobil

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total transaction of $351,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 28,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,349,758.96. This represents a 9.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.

Further Reading

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Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA reduced its holdings in FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) by 11.6% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 13,365 shares of the shipping service providers stock after selling 1,759 shares during the quarter. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PAs holdings in FedEx were worth $3,152,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Czech National Bank grew its holdings in shares of FedEx by 5.9% in the second quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 53,881 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $12,248,000 after purchasing an additional 2,987 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in FedEx by 24.3% in the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 262,121 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $59,583,000 after purchasing an additional 51,294 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in FedEx in the 2nd quarter valued at about $586,000. Sage Capital Advisors llc grew its stake in shares of FedEx by 136.5% in the 2nd quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc now owns 34,697 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $7,887,000 after buying an additional 20,024 shares during the period. Finally, Jackson Thornton Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of FedEx during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $298,000. 84.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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FedEx Trading Up 1.3%

NYSE FDX opened at $292.48 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.27. The firm has a market cap of $68.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.32. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $263.59 and a 200-day simple moving average of $242.08. FedEx Corporation has a one year low of $194.29 and a one year high of $292.88.

FedEx Dividend Announcement

FedEx ( NYSE:FDX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The shipping service provider reported $4.82 earnings per share (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 16.63%. The company had revenue of $23.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.05 EPS. The firms 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. Equities research analysts anticipate that FedEx Corporation will post 19.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $1.45 dividend. This represents a $5.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. FedExs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.97%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

FDX has been the subject of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on FedEx from $276.00 to $322.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Vertical Research cut their price objective on FedEx from $280.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Friday, September 19th. Wolfe Research upped their target price on shares of FedEx from $322.00 to $328.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. Daiwa Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of FedEx from $232.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of FedEx from $290.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, FedEx has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $299.12.

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FedEx News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting FedEx this week:

FedEx Company Profile

(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.

Further Reading

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Forestar Group Inc (NYSE:FOR  Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $25.21, but opened at $24.43. Forestar Group shares last traded at $24.27, with a volume of 1,231 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FOR has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Forestar Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. JMP Securities set a $35.00 price target on shares of Forestar Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Zacks Research raised shares of Forestar Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, September 26th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Forestar Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Citizens Jmp increased their target price on shares of Forestar Group from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Forestar Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $32.00.

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View Our Latest Report on Forestar Group

Forestar Group Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $1.23 billion, a PE ratio of 7.39 and a beta of 1.41. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.33 and a quick ratio of 1.33.

Forestar Group (NYSE:FOR  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.53. The business had revenue of $670.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $556.59 million. Forestar Group had a net margin of 10.11% and a return on equity of 10.08%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 21.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.60 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Forestar Group Inc will post 3.44 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FOR. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Forestar Group by 4.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,769,594 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $73,644,000 after buying an additional 110,286 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Forestar Group by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,759,879 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $73,385,000 after acquiring an additional 14,641 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Forestar Group by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 702,223 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $18,672,000 after acquiring an additional 36,626 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Forestar Group by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 537,269 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $14,286,000 after acquiring an additional 17,000 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in Forestar Group by 232.9% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 529,863 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $10,597,000 after acquiring an additional 370,685 shares during the period. 35.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Forestar Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Forestar Group Inc, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a residential lot development and management company focused on delivering finished home sites to homebuilders across the United States. The company acquires, entitles and develops land for single-family and multi-family housing, managing zoning, infrastructure and environmental approvals to prepare lots for construction. Forestars integrated approach to land development spans from initial site acquisition through final lot delivery, providing homebuilders with ready-to-build parcels in a variety of markets.

In addition to lot development, Forestar operates a retail homebuilding segment through joint ventures and strategic partnerships with national and regional homebuilders.

Further Reading

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Fourpath Capital Management LLC raised its stake in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 70.0% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 14,039 shares of the aircraft producers stock after acquiring an additional 5,779 shares during the period. Fourpath Capital Management LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $3,030,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Boeing during the 4th quarter worth approximately $201,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Boeing by 28.9% during the 1st quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 3,611 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $626,000 after buying an additional 809 shares during the period. ICONIQ Capital LLC increased its position in Boeing by 85.3% during the 1st quarter. ICONIQ Capital LLC now owns 3,806 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $649,000 after buying an additional 1,752 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 2.1% during the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 18,954 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $3,232,000 after buying an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Apexium Financial LP boosted its position in shares of Boeing by 4.2% in the first quarter. Apexium Financial LP now owns 3,693 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $630,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 64.82% of the companys stock.

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Key Boeing News

Here are the key news stories impacting Boeing this week:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on BA. Zacks Research raised shares of Boeing from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. New Street Research set a $257.00 target price on shares of Boeing in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Boeing in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Boeing from $240.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on Boeing in a report on Thursday, December 11th. They issued a buy rating and a $265.00 price objective for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and five have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $233.17.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BA

Insider Transactions at Boeing

In other news, EVP Uma M. Amuluru sold 1,366 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.66, for a total transaction of $270,003.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 14,656 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,896,904.96. This represents a 8.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Dana S. Deasy purchased 554 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $178.88 per share, with a total value of $99,099.52. Following the completion of the purchase, the senior vice president directly owned 28,442 shares in the company, valued at $5,087,704.96. The trade was a 1.99% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Boeing Stock Performance

Shares of BA opened at $216.88 on Tuesday. The Boeing Company has a 52-week low of $128.88 and a 52-week high of $242.69. The firm has a market cap of $164.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.85 and a beta of 1.18. The businesss fifty day moving average is $201.78 and its 200-day moving average is $214.18.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The aircraft producer reported ($7.47) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.51) by ($6.96). The company had revenue of $23.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($10.44) EPS. The firms revenue was up 30.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Boeing Profile

(Free Report)

Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense systems, and space and security technologies. Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, the company today operates as an integrated aerospace and defense contractor with a global customer base. Boeing relocated its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Virginia in 2022 and maintains extensive engineering, manufacturing and service operations across the United States and around the world.

Boeings principal lines of business include Commercial Airplanes, which produces and supports a range of jetliners used by airlines globally; Defense, Space & Security, which develops military aircraft, rotorcraft, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, satellites, and launch and missile systems; and Boeing Global Services, which provides aftermarket maintenance, training, spare parts, digital analytics and logistics support.

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Fresnillo plc (LON:FRES  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 3,288 and last traded at GBX 3,260, with a volume of 945583 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,170.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on FRES. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,600 price target on shares of Fresnillo in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on Fresnillo from GBX 980 to GBX 2,440 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on Fresnillo from GBX 2,700 to GBX 3,000 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Fresnillo has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 2,308.

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Fresnillo Price Performance

About Fresnillo

The stock has a market cap of 23.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.39, a P/E/G ratio of -1.58 and a beta of 0.15. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 2,505.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 2,023.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.55, a quick ratio of 3.28 and a current ratio of 5.88.

(Get Free Report)

Fresnillo plc is the worlds largest silver producer and Mexicos largest gold producer, listed on the London and Mexican stock exchanges.

The Group seeks to create value for stakeholders across precious metal cycles, focusing on high-potential silver and gold projects that can be developed into low cost, world-class mines.

Following a decade of consistent and successful progress, the Group is now focused on consolidating its growth and advancing its pipeline in order to deliver further growth in the years ahead.

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Gridiron Partners LLC increased its position in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust (NYSE:BBN  Free Report) by 20,210.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,200,851 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 6,170,320 shares during the period. Gridiron Partners LLCs holdings in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust were worth $1,029,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BBN. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 13.1% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 562,515 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $9,383,000 after acquiring an additional 64,953 shares in the last quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc raised its stake in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc now owns 717,764 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $11,915,000 after purchasing an additional 54,797 shares during the period. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,899,894 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $30,607,000 after purchasing an additional 52,203 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $786,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its holdings in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 899,059 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $14,484,000 after buying an additional 48,679 shares in the last quarter.

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BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust Price Performance

BBN stock opened at $16.63 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $17.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $16.48. BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust has a one year low of $15.37 and a one year high of $17.45.

BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust Dividend Announcement

BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.0986 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd.

(Free Report)

The BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust (NYSE:BBN) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide current income and preservation of capital through a diversified portfolio of taxable municipal debt securities. Advisement and portfolio management services are provided by BlackRock Advisors, LLC, leveraging the firms global credit research and trading capabilities to analyze risk and identify opportunities within the municipal bond sector.

Since its inception in 1989, BBN has invested primarily in investment-grade and non-investment-grade municipal obligations issued by U.S.

Further Reading

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Shares of Grupo Simec, S.A. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $28.73, but opened at $30.49. Grupo Simec shares last traded at $28.9650, with a volume of 326 shares traded.

Grupo Simec Trading Up 14.4%

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.58 billion, a PE ratio of 27.29 and a beta of 0.34. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $28.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.83.

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About Grupo Simec

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Grupo Simec (NYSE American: SIM) is a Mexicobased producer and distributor of long steel products, serving construction, infrastructure, industrial and energy markets. The companys core operations encompass the manufacture of merchant bar steel, including reinforcing bar (rebar), wire rod, merchant bars and structural shapes. In parallel, its service centers offer cutting, bending and other valueadded processing services to meet the precise specifications of fabricators and end users.

With multiple steel mills located throughout Mexico and an expanding footprint in the United States, Grupo Simec maintains a vertically integrated supply chain that spans rawmaterial sourcing, steelmaking and downstream processing.

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MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM  Get Free Report) and W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Dividends

MSC Industrial Direct pays an annual dividend of $3.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.0%. W.W. Grainger pays an annual dividend of $9.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. MSC Industrial Direct pays out 97.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. W.W. Grainger pays out 25.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. MSC Industrial Direct has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years and W.W. Grainger has raised its dividend for 55 consecutive years.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings for MSC Industrial Direct and W.W. Grainger, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MSC Industrial Direct 0 6 1 0 2.14 W.W. Grainger 2 6 1 0 1.89

Profitability

MSC Industrial Direct currently has a consensus target price of $91.50, suggesting a potential upside of 5.09%. W.W. Grainger has a consensus target price of $1,009.43, suggesting a potential downside of 2.45%. Given MSC Industrial Directs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe MSC Industrial Direct is more favorable than W.W. Grainger.

This table compares MSC Industrial Direct and W.W. Graingers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MSC Industrial Direct 5.29% 15.21% 8.50% W.W. Grainger 9.75% 49.40% 21.84%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares MSC Industrial Direct and W.W. Graingers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio MSC Industrial Direct $3.77 billion 1.29 $199.33 million $3.56 24.46 W.W. Grainger $17.17 billion 2.87 $1.91 billion $35.66 29.02

W.W. Grainger has higher revenue and earnings than MSC Industrial Direct. MSC Industrial Direct is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than W.W. Grainger, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

79.3% of MSC Industrial Direct shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.7% of W.W. Grainger shares are owned by institutional investors. 19.0% of MSC Industrial Direct shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.1% of W.W. Grainger shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility and Risk

MSC Industrial Direct has a beta of 0.84, suggesting that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, W.W. Grainger has a beta of 1.11, suggesting that its stock price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

W.W. Grainger beats MSC Industrial Direct on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MSC Industrial Direct

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MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies. It offers stock-keeping units through its catalogs and brochures; e-commerce channels, including its website, mscdirect.com; inventory management solutions; and customer care centers, customer fulfillment centers, regional inventory centers, and warehouses. The company serves individual machine shops, manufacturing companies, and government agencies. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.

About W.W. Grainger

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W.W. Grainger, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools. It also offers technical support and inventory management services. The company serves smaller businesses to large corporations, government entities, and other institutions, as well as commercial, healthcare, and manufacturing industries through sales and service representatives, and electronic and ecommerce channels. W.W. Grainger, Inc. was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois.

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP  Get Free Report) and Healthcare Realty Trust (NYSE:HR  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Dividends

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners pays an annual dividend of $1.72 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.9%. Healthcare Realty Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.7%. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners pays out 256.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Healthcare Realty Trust pays out -90.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has raised its dividend for 18 consecutive years. Healthcare Realty Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Healthcare Realty Trusts top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Brookfield Infrastructure Partners $21.04 billion 0.77 $351.00 million $0.67 52.18 Healthcare Realty Trust $1.27 billion 4.65 -$654.48 million ($1.06) -15.82

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has higher revenue and earnings than Healthcare Realty Trust. Healthcare Realty Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Healthcare Realty Trust, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brookfield Infrastructure Partners 0 3 4 2 2.89 Healthcare Realty Trust 1 7 3 0 2.18

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners currently has a consensus target price of $41.25, suggesting a potential upside of 17.99%. Healthcare Realty Trust has a consensus target price of $18.89, suggesting a potential upside of 12.67%. Given Brookfield Infrastructure Partners stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is more favorable than Healthcare Realty Trust.

Risk and Volatility

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has a beta of 1.09, meaning that its stock price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Healthcare Realty Trust has a beta of 0.96, meaning that its stock price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Healthcare Realty Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brookfield Infrastructure Partners 3.70% 2.74% 0.75% Healthcare Realty Trust -30.51% -7.32% -3.56%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

57.9% of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Healthcare Realty Trust shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners beats Healthcare Realty Trust on 14 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Brookfield Infrastructure Partners

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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Utilities segment operates approximately 2,900 km of electricity transmission lines; 4,200 km of natural gas pipelines; 8.1 million electricity and natural gas connections; and 0.6 million long-term contracted sub-metering services. This segment also offers heating, cooling, and energy solutions; gas distribution; water heaters; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioner rental, as well as other home services. Its Transport segment offers transportation, storage, and handling services for merchandise goods, commodities, and passengers through a network of approximately 22,000 km of track; 5,500 km of track network; 9,800 km of rail; and 3,300 km of motorways. The company's Midstream segment offers natural gas transmission, gathering and processing, and storage services through approximately 15,000 km of natural gas transmission pipelines; 570 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage; 17 natural gas processing plants; and 10,600 km of gas gathering pipelines, as well as 525,000 tonnes polypropylene production capacity. Its Data segment operates approximately 228,000 operational telecom towers; approximately 54,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables; approximately 1 million fiber-to-the-premise connections; two semiconductor manufacturing facilities; and 70 distributed antenna systems, as well as 135 data centers and 750 megawatts of critical load capacity and an additional approximate 670 megawatts of contracted capacity. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. operates as a subsidiary of Brookfield Corporation.

About Healthcare Realty Trust

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Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc. provides real estate investment services. It owns, leases, manages, acquires, finances, develops, and redevelops income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States of America. The company was founded by David R. Emery in 1992 and is headquartered in Nashville, TN.

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Aegon (NYSE:AEG  Get Free Report) and Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:HMN  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Aegon and Horace Mann Educators, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Aegon 0 2 3 1 2.83 Horace Mann Educators 0 3 2 1 2.67

Horace Mann Educators has a consensus target price of $46.75, suggesting a potential downside of 0.25%. Given Horace Mann Educators higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Horace Mann Educators is more favorable than Aegon.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Valuation & Earnings

4.3% of Aegon shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.3% of Horace Mann Educators shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.8% of Horace Mann Educators shares are owned by company insiders. 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.

This table compares Aegon and Horace Mann Educatorss revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Aegon $10.65 billion 1.44 $744.48 million ($0.26) -29.48 Horace Mann Educators $1.60 billion 1.20 $102.80 million $3.95 11.87

Aegon has higher revenue and earnings than Horace Mann Educators. Aegon is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Horace Mann Educators, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Aegon pays an annual dividend of $0.38 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.0%. Horace Mann Educators pays an annual dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Aegon pays out -146.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Horace Mann Educators pays out 35.4% 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. Horace Mann Educators has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. Aegon is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Volatility & Risk

Aegon has a beta of 0.79, meaning that its share price is 21% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Horace Mann Educators has a beta of 0.08, meaning that its share price is 92% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Aegon and Horace Mann Educators net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Aegon N/A N/A N/A Horace Mann Educators 9.79% 15.69% 1.44%

Summary

Horace Mann Educators beats Aegon on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Aegon

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Aegon Ltd. provides insurance, pensions, retirement, and asset management services in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers life, accident, property and casualty, and health insurance; annuities, retirement plans, mutual funds, and stable value solutions; residential mortgage and digital baking services; and retail and institutional investment management solutions and retirement savings vehicles and strategies. It offers its products under the Aegon and Transamerica brands. Aegon Ltd. was founded in 1844 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands.

About Horace Mann Educators

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Horace Mann Educators Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an insurance holding company in the United States. The company operates through Property & Casualty, Life & Retirement, and Supplemental & Group Benefits segments. Its Property & Casualty segment offers insurance products, including private passenger auto insurance, residential home insurance, and personal umbrella insurance; and provides auto coverages including liability and collision, and property coverage for homeowners and renters. The Life & Retirement segment markets tax-qualified fixed, fixed indexed, and variable annuities; and internal revenue code for educator, which allows public school employees and employees of other tax-exempt organizations, such as not-for-profit private schools, to utilize pretax income to make periodic contributions to a qualified retirement plan. The Supplemental & Group Benefits segment offers employer-sponsored products including accident, critical illness, limited-benefit fixed indemnity insurance, term life, and short-term and long-term disability, as well as worksite direct products, such as supplemental heart, cancer, disability, and accident coverage. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois.

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HWG Holdings LP boosted its position in shares of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD  Free Report) by 108.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 38,223 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 19,906 shares during the period. HWG Holdings LPs holdings in Enterprise Products Partners were worth $1,195,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EPD. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Enterprise Products Partners by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC now owns 18,914 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $591,000 after buying an additional 1,031 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Enterprise Products Partners by 6.5% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 69,205 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $2,164,000 after acquiring an additional 4,239 shares during the last quarter. Berger Financial Group Inc acquired a new stake in Enterprise Products Partners during the third quarter worth $206,000. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC raised its position in Enterprise Products Partners by 40.7% in the third quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 24,407 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $773,000 after purchasing an additional 7,054 shares during the period. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in Enterprise Products Partners by 2.2% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 884,381 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $27,655,000 after purchasing an additional 18,971 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on EPD shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $32.00 price target on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Enterprise Products Partners from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $34.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $36.00 price objective (up from $35.00) on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on shares of Enterprise Products Partners from $35.00 to $34.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Enterprise Products Partners from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $35.64.

Enterprise Products Partners Price Performance

Shares of EPD opened at $32.10 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has a fifty-two week low of $27.77 and a fifty-two week high of $34.53. The company has a market cap of $69.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.11, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.58. The firms 50 day moving average price is $31.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $31.55.

Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $12.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.83 billion. Enterprise Products Partners had a return on equity of 19.40% and a net margin of 10.92%.The firms revenue was down 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.65 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Enterprise Products Partners L.P. will post 2.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Enterprise Products Partners Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 31st were given a $0.545 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 31st. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.8%. Enterprise Products Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.26%.

Enterprise Products Partners announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the oil and gas producer to reacquire up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Enterprise Products Partners Company Profile

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Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) is a Houston-based master limited partnership that provides midstream energy services across North America. The company owns and operates an extensive network of pipelines, storage facilities, processing plants and export terminals that transport and handle natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and refined and petrochemical products. Its core activities include gathering and transportation, fractionation of NGLs, natural gas processing, crude oil and condensate pipelines, and marine and terminal services that enable domestic distribution and exports.

Enterprise serves a diverse set of customers including producers, refiners, petrochemical companies, marketers and end users.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EPD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD  Free Report).

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Shares of Hypermarcas (OTCMKTS:HYPMY  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $4.40, but opened at $4.1450. Hypermarcas shares last traded at $4.1450, with a volume of 4,966 shares trading hands.

Hypermarcas Stock Down 1.2%

The company has a market cap of $2.63 billion, a PE ratio of 18.08 and a beta of 0.73. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $4.51 and a 200-day moving average of $4.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61.

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Hypermarcas (OTCMKTS:HYPMY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $408.83 million during the quarter. Hypermarcas had a return on equity of 6.89% and a net margin of 12.03%.

Hypermarcas Company Profile

Hypermarcas SA is a Brazil-based consumer health and pharmaceutical company whose shares trade over the counter in the United States under the symbol HYPMY. Founded in the early 2000s and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, the company operates as a holding group for a broad portfolio of branded products in the healthcare and personal care sectors.

Through its various subsidiaries, Hypermarcas develops, manufactures and markets prescription and over-the-counter medications, alongside personal care, baby care, home care and nutritional supplement products.

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Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST  Get Free Report) Director Ted Tewksbury III sold 1,695 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.47, for a total transaction of $36,391.65. Following the sale, the director owned 123,664 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,655,066.08. This represents a 1.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Ouster Stock Performance

OUST traded down $0.27 on Tuesday, reaching $22.65. The company had a trading volume of 1,287,177 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,309,785. The companys fifty day moving average is $26.21 and its 200 day moving average is $26.53. The stock has a market cap of $1.36 billion, a P/E ratio of -8.81 and a beta of 2.99. Ouster, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $6.34 and a fifty-two week high of $41.65.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Ouster by 2,532.6% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,132 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,089 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ouster by 153.3% during the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,211 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 733 shares in the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its position in shares of Ouster by 8,823.5% during the 2nd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 1,517 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares during the last quarter. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Ouster by 400.0% in the second quarter. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 2,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, North Capital Inc. boosted its stake in Ouster by 102.7% in the second quarter. North Capital Inc. now owns 3,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 1,520 shares in the last quarter. 31.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on OUST. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $33.00 price target on Ouster in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating on shares of Ouster in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Northland Securities set a $38.00 price target on shares of Ouster in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Westpark Capital reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $50.00 price target on shares of Ouster in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Ouster from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ouster presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $32.17.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ouster

Ouster Company Profile

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Ouster, Inc is a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors, software and services designed to enable advanced perception capabilities across a range of industries. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company develops modular lidar solutions that capture precise three-dimensional data in real time, supporting applications from autonomous vehicles and robotics to mapping, smart infrastructure and industrial automation.

The companys core product lineup features multi-beam digital lidar units available in various form factors, including compact models for robotics and drones and larger units for automotive and mapping systems.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC reduced its position in iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWJ  Free Report) by 19.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 267,730 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 62,862 shares during the quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Japan ETF were worth $21,475,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 43.3% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 870,532 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $59,658,000 after buying an additional 263,005 shares during the last quarter. Compound Planning Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 26.9% in the first quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 7,234 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 1,534 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 824.1% during the first quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 68,069 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,667,000 after purchasing an additional 60,703 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 16.5% during the first quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 191,623 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $13,138,000 after purchasing an additional 27,150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF by 38.7% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 342,008 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $23,448,000 after purchasing an additional 95,482 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.60% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI Japan ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA:EWJ opened at $80.46 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $14.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.63 and a beta of 0.68. The firms fifty day moving average price is $82.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $78.92. iShares MSCI Japan ETF has a 1-year low of $59.84 and a 1-year high of $85.31.

About iShares MSCI Japan ETF

iShares MSCI Japan ETF (the fund), formerly Ishares Msci Japan Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Japanese market, as measured by the MSCI Japan Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC increased its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Free Report) by 11.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 78,441 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 8,176 shares during the quarter. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF accounts for 2.1% of Juncture Wealth Strategies LLCs holdings, making the stock its 11th largest position. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLCs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF were worth $6,260,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC increased its position in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 19.7% in the 2nd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 796 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the period. Roger Wittlin Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 0.8% during the second quarter. Roger Wittlin Investment Advisory LLC now owns 16,430 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,273,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the period. Rockwood Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 3.2% in the second quarter. Rockwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,839 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $375,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Family Firm Inc. grew its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 1.4% in the second quarter. Family Firm Inc. now owns 12,109 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $938,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pinnacle Family Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 3.7% in the first quarter. Pinnacle Family Advisors LLC now owns 4,801 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $337,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the period.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSEARCA:VGK opened at $83.23 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $28.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.04 and a beta of 0.93. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a 12-month low of $62.02 and a 12-month high of $83.63. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $81.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $79.25.

About Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index. The Funds investment advisor is The Vanguard Group, Inc

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Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $140.18 and last traded at $139.6330, with a volume of 404060 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $136.87.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on NVS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Novartis from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, December 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $118.00 price objective (down previously from $119.00) on shares of Novartis in a research report on Friday, September 12th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Novartis from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Novartis from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $119.75.

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Novartis Price Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average of $129.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $124.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $293.58 billion, a PE ratio of 18.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.52.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.26 by ($0.01). Novartis had a return on equity of 41.21% and a net margin of 26.49%.The company had revenue of $14.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.70 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.06 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Novartis

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in Novartis by 60.3% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,660,485 shares of the companys stock worth $408,071,000 after acquiring an additional 1,377,252 shares in the last quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC raised its stake in shares of Novartis by 12,664.1% during the first quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC now owns 1,383,244 shares of the companys stock valued at $154,204,000 after purchasing an additional 1,372,407 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of Novartis by 77.7% during the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 1,648,174 shares of the companys stock worth $211,362,000 after purchasing an additional 720,860 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Novartis during the third quarter worth $64,563,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of Novartis by 85.0% in the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,045,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $134,035,000 after purchasing an additional 480,201 shares during the period. 13.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Novartis

(Get Free Report)

Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel that researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and related health-care products. Formed through the 1996 merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, Novartis operates globally and focuses on bringing therapeutics from discovery through clinical development to commercial markets worldwide.

The companys activities center on innovative pharmaceuticals across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and ophthalmology, alongside capabilities in advanced therapies such as biologics, cell and gene therapies.

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Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) rose 7.4% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $53.20 and last traded at $51.6570. Approximately 66,252,186 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 398% from the average daily volume of 13,315,113 shares. The stock had previously closed at $48.10.

Key Headlines Impacting Novo Nordisk A/S

Here are the key news stories impacting Novo Nordisk A/S this week:

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Positive Sentiment: FDA approved the first oral GLP1 weightloss pill (Wegovy), giving Novo a firstmover advantage in the pill segment and widening its product reach beyond injectable treatments. Article Title

FDA approved the first oral GLP1 weightloss pill (Wegovy), giving Novo a firstmover advantage in the pill segment and widening its product reach beyond injectable treatments. Positive Sentiment: Company plans a U.S. launch in early January, targeting the cash/selfpay market with an introductory price (~$149/month), which could accelerate revenue capture and preserve margins compared with immediate payer reimbursement. Article Title

Company plans a U.S. launch in early January, targeting the cash/selfpay market with an introductory price (~$149/month), which could accelerate revenue capture and preserve margins compared with immediate payer reimbursement. Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary see Novo regaining ground vs. Eli Lilly; HSBC flagged a potential edge for Novo entering 2026 after approval. Article Title

Analysts and market commentary see Novo regaining ground vs. Eli Lilly; HSBC flagged a potential edge for Novo entering 2026 after approval. Positive Sentiment: Market reaction: heavy trading and large calloption volumes indicate strong investor/speculator interest and shortterm momentum following the approval. (Market flow noted in reporting.)

Market reaction: heavy trading and large calloption volumes indicate strong investor/speculator interest and shortterm momentum following the approval. (Market flow noted in reporting.) Neutral Sentiment: ETF interest is rising  some investors may prefer healthcare/GLP1 exposure via sector ETFs rather than stockspecific risk, which could broaden demand but diffuse direct inflows to NVO. Article Title

ETF interest is rising  some investors may prefer healthcare/GLP1 exposure via sector ETFs rather than stockspecific risk, which could broaden demand but diffuse direct inflows to NVO. Neutral Sentiment: Initial U.S. rollout targets cashpay customers  this speeds timetomarket but leaves uncertainty around longterm reimbursement, payer adoption and broader patient access. Article Title

Initial U.S. rollout targets cashpay customers  this speeds timetomarket but leaves uncertainty around longterm reimbursement, payer adoption and broader patient access. Negative Sentiment: Competitive risk from Eli Lilly remains material  Lilly has been taking share with injectables and is expected to pursue oral options; longerterm market share and pricing pressure are key risks. Article Title

Competitive risk from Eli Lilly remains material  Lilly has been taking share with injectables and is expected to pursue oral options; longerterm market share and pricing pressure are key risks. Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and commercial execution risks remain (launch logistics, demand elasticity at the cash price, and eventual payer negotiations)  any misstep could limit upside from the approval. Article Title

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on NVO. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Rothschild Redb upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. HSBC restated a hold rating and issued a $54.00 target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Monday, October 27th. They set an underperform rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $53.33.

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 7.4%

The business has a 50-day moving average of $49.65 and a 200-day moving average of $57.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market cap of $230.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.02 and a beta of 0.67.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $11.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.98 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 73.50% and a net margin of 32.76%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Novo Nordisk A/S

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Academy Capital Management raised its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Academy Capital Management now owns 367,419 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,388,000 after acquiring an additional 1,170 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 21.1% in the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 13,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $761,000 after purchasing an additional 2,391 shares during the period. Innova Wealth Partners lifted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 35.6% in the third quarter. Innova Wealth Partners now owns 4,091 shares of the companys stock worth $227,000 after buying an additional 1,073 shares during the last quarter. Tevis Investment Management lifted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.1% in the third quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 44,700 shares of the companys stock worth $2,480,000 after buying an additional 4,838 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XXEC Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 26.7% during the 3rd quarter. XXEC Inc. now owns 99,075 shares of the companys stock worth $5,498,000 after buying an additional 20,890 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 11.54% of the companys stock.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsvrd, Denmark, best known for its leadership in diabetes care and metabolic health. The company traces its roots to early Danish insulin production in the 1920s and was established in its current form through a 1989 merger of predecessor companies. Novo Nordisk develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and devices that address chronic and serious diseases, with a strong emphasis on long-term treatment and patient support.

The companys core product portfolio centers on diabetes therapies, including a range of insulins and modern incretin-based treatments.

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OFI Invest Asset Management lifted its holdings in Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 13.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 965,724 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 111,178 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Managements holdings in Bank of America were worth $49,822,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nova Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Bank of America by 75.2% during the second quarter. Nova Wealth Management Inc. now owns 529 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares during the period. Quaker Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 246.5% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 523 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 880 shares during the last quarter. RMG Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of America during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Steph & Co. raised its holdings in Bank of America by 224.3% during the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 548 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the period. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC lifted its position in Bank of America by 585.4% in the second quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 610 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 521 shares during the last quarter. 70.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bank of America Stock Performance

Bank of America stock opened at $55.81 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. The company has a market capitalization of $407.56 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $53.03 and a 200-day moving average price of $49.98. Bank of America Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $33.06 and a fifty-two week high of $56.11.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $5.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27.05 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.76% and a net margin of 15.70%.Bank of Americas quarterly revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.81 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 26th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be issued a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. Bank of Americas payout ratio is presently 30.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BAC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Bank of America from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Barclays boosted their target price on Bank of America from $54.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Seaport Global Securities increased their price target on Bank of America from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Twenty-three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $58.59.

Read Our Latest Report on BAC

Key Headlines Impacting Bank of America

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week:

Positive Sentiment: CEO Brian Moynihan said AI is increasingly boosting U.S. economic growth and that the consumer is in pretty good shape, comments that support a stronger macro outlook and potential growth in transactional, investment banking and wealth-management revenue. Article Title

CEO Brian Moynihan said AI is increasingly boosting U.S. economic growth and that the consumer is in pretty good shape, comments that support a stronger macro outlook and potential growth in transactional, investment banking and wealth-management revenue. Positive Sentiment: Bank of America announced a $10 million zero-interest capital commitment to CDFIs supporting L.A. wildfire recovery  a reputation- and community-focused move that can support local lending relationships and franchise goodwill. Article Title

Bank of America announced a $10 million zero-interest capital commitment to CDFIs supporting L.A. wildfire recovery  a reputation- and community-focused move that can support local lending relationships and franchise goodwill. Positive Sentiment: Rocket Companies extended a key Bank of America facility, indicating ongoing corporate lending/servicing activity and client engagement that supports fee and credit businesses. Article Title

Rocket Companies extended a key Bank of America facility, indicating ongoing corporate lending/servicing activity and client engagement that supports fee and credit businesses. Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage activity and upgrades in the market have lifted sentiment around big-bank names, contributing to upward pressure on BAC shares. (Market report on an analyst upgrade referenced.) Article Title

Analyst coverage activity and upgrades in the market have lifted sentiment around big-bank names, contributing to upward pressure on BAC shares. (Market report on an analyst upgrade referenced.) Neutral Sentiment: Bank of America Securities continues active research coverage (e.g., ratings on CRISPR, ArcBest, Vail Resorts)  reinforces the firms research franchise but has limited direct impact on BAC equity fundamentals. Article Title

Bank of America Securities continues active research coverage (e.g., ratings on CRISPR, ArcBest, Vail Resorts)  reinforces the firms research franchise but has limited direct impact on BAC equity fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Moynihan also said the Fed will have room to cut rates next year  a policy path that could compress net interest margins for large banks if cuts occur, representing a potential headwind to BACs core profitability. Article Title

Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets.

Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels.

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OFI Invest Asset Management grew its position in shares of Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK  Free Report) by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 370,214 shares of the textile makers stock after purchasing an additional 8,671 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management owned about 0.25% of Deckers Outdoor worth $37,529,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. J2 Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 24.3% in the third quarter. J2 Capital Management Inc now owns 5,955 shares of the textile makers stock worth $604,000 after buying an additional 1,163 shares during the period. Fluent Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Deckers Outdoor during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,542,000. Marshall Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in Deckers Outdoor by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC now owns 8,753 shares of the textile makers stock worth $887,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank raised its stake in Deckers Outdoor by 1.6% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 37,677 shares of the textile makers stock worth $3,819,000 after buying an additional 579 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its position in shares of Deckers Outdoor by 208.4% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 178,664 shares of the textile makers stock worth $18,111,000 after acquiring an additional 120,735 shares in the last quarter. 97.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Deckers Outdoor

In other news, insider Angela Ogbechie sold 1,460 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.45, for a total value of $118,917.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 34,020 shares in the company, valued at $2,770,929. The trade was a 4.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial set a $105.00 price target on Deckers Outdoor and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Deckers Outdoor from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Deckers Outdoor in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Raymond James Financial set a $115.00 price objective on shares of Deckers Outdoor and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Deckers Outdoor in a report on Friday, October 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Deckers Outdoor currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $117.58.

Read Our Latest Report on Deckers Outdoor

Deckers Outdoor Stock Performance

NYSE:DECK opened at $101.80 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $14.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.08, a P/E/G ratio of 4.48 and a beta of 1.19. Deckers Outdoor Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $78.91 and a fifty-two week high of $223.98. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $101.72.

Deckers Outdoor (NYSE:DECK  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The textile maker reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.24. The firm had revenue of $1.43 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion. Deckers Outdoor had a net margin of 19.47% and a return on equity of 40.54%. The businesss revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.59 earnings per share. Deckers Outdoor has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.300-6.390 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Deckers Outdoor Corporation will post 5.89 EPS for the current year.

Deckers Outdoor Company Profile

(Free Report)

Deckers Outdoor Corporation is a global designer, marketer and distributor of footwear, apparel and accessories. The companys product portfolio includes wellknown brands such as UGG, HOKA, Teva, Sanuk and Koolaburra by UGG, spanning a range of lifestyle, performance and outdoor categories. Deckers leverages a blend of proprietary manufacturing, strategic brand storytelling and directtoconsumer retail to serve both fashionfocused and performanceoriented customers.

Founded in 1973 by Doug Otto and Karl F.

Further Reading

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Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO  Get Free Report)s stock price was down 1.9% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $80.79 and last traded at $81.8740. Approximately 6,560,515 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 63% from the average daily volume of 17,866,910 shares. The stock had previously closed at $83.44.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on OKLO. UBS Group increased their price objective on Oklo from $65.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Barclays set a $146.00 price target on Oklo in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group started coverage on Oklo in a report on Thursday, October 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $175.00 price objective for the company. B. Riley boosted their price objective on Oklo from $58.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Oklo in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $102.87.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on OKLO

Oklo Stock Down 1.9%

The company has a market capitalization of $12.79 billion, a PE ratio of -151.62 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $110.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $90.89.

Oklo (NYSE:OKLO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported ($0.20) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.13) by ($0.07). During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.08) earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Oklo Inc. will post -8.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Oklo

In related news, insider William Carroll Murphy Goodwin sold 5,864 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.42, for a total transaction of $518,494.88. Following the sale, the insider owned 13,620 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,204,280.40. This represents a 30.10% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Richard Craig Bealmear sold 5,159 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.97, for a total transaction of $397,088.23. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 196,913 shares in the company, valued at $15,156,393.61. This represents a 2.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 392,800 shares of company stock valued at $41,284,680. 18.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Oklo

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. purchased a new position in Oklo during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Private Trust Co. NA bought a new stake in shares of Oklo during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Oklo by 125.0% during the second quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC now owns 450 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Oklo during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Oklo in the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.03% of the companys stock.

About Oklo

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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.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. decreased its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 91.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 1,629 shares of the companys stock after selling 18,483 shares during the period. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $264,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in PM. PFS Partners LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 24.8% during the second quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 292 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC now owns 5,666 shares of the companys stock worth $1,032,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Second Line Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.8% in the second quarter. Second Line Capital LLC now owns 1,338 shares of the companys stock worth $245,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 6.5% in the second quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the companys stock valued at $185,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meridian Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the second quarter. Meridian Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,060 shares of the companys stock worth $375,000 after buying an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Shares of PM opened at $159.54 on Tuesday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $116.12 and a 52 week high of $186.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $248.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.90, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.42. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $153.79 and a 200-day moving average of $164.20.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 28th. The company reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $8.12 billion for the quarter. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 122.14% and a net margin of 9.33%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 26th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 106.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PM has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, September 4th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $180.00 target price on Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Philip Morris International from $190.00 to $185.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Wall Street Zen raised Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $189.00.

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Philip Morris International Company Profile

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Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE: PM) is a global tobacco company that manufactures and sells cigarettes, other nicotine-containing products and a growing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives for adult smokers. The firm traces its corporate roots to the 19th century Philip Morris enterprise and was established as an independent, publicly traded company following a 2008 separation from what is now Altria. Since the spin-off, the company has focused on serving international markets outside the United States.

PMIs product mix includes traditional combustible cigarettes as well as smoke-free offerings such as heated tobacco systems and other reduced-risk products.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. reduced its holdings in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF  Free Report) by 87.0% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 3,072 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 20,572 shares during the quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in CF Industries were worth $276,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH bought a new position in shares of CF Industries during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in CF Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $44,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in CF Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $46,000. Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in CF Industries by 123.0% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 611 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 337 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of CF Industries in the second quarter valued at approximately $61,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.06% of the companys stock.

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CF Industries Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of CF Industries stock opened at $77.45 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $12.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.33 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 2.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $67.34 and a 12-month high of $104.45. The businesss 50 day moving average is $81.36 and its 200-day moving average is $87.22.

CF Industries Dividend Announcement

CF Industries ( NYSE:CF Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The basic materials company reported $2.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.06 by $0.13. CF Industries had a net margin of 20.47% and a return on equity of 18.14%. The business had revenue of $1.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.55 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 21.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 5.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. CF Industriess payout ratio is currently 24.10%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of CF Industries in a report on Monday, December 15th. Mizuho lowered their target price on CF Industries from $92.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 18th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on CF Industries from $96.00 to $91.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on CF Industries in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. They set an overweight rating and a $100.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut CF Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, December 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, CF Industries presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $93.06.

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CF Industries Profile

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CF Industries Holdings, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial customers. The company specializes in the production of ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, which serve as key inputs for fertilizer blends, industrial chemicals and other downstream applications.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, CF Industries operates production facilities and distribution terminals across North America and the United Kingdom.

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Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE:PAGP  Free Report) by 75.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 291,320 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 125,169 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. owned about 0.15% of Plains GP worth $5,661,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in Plains GP by 2.5% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,117,959 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $196,592,000 after acquiring an additional 247,365 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in shares of Plains GP by 17.9% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,580,488 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $33,759,000 after purchasing an additional 239,723 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Plains GP by 0.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 5,220,898 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $111,518,000 after purchasing an additional 29,911 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Plains GP by 56.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 445,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $9,505,000 after purchasing an additional 161,349 shares during the period. Finally, Abel Hall LLC acquired a new position in Plains GP in the second quarter valued at $295,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.30% of the companys stock.

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Plains GP Trading Up 0.4%

NYSE PAGP opened at $18.77 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.42 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.01. Plains GP Holdings, L.P. has a one year low of $16.60 and a one year high of $22.31. The companys 50 day moving average price is $17.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.63.

Plains GP Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Friday, October 31st were issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 31st. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.1%. Plains GPs payout ratio is presently 163.44%.

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Plains GP from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 18th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Plains GP from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Zacks Research raised shares of Plains GP from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of Plains GP from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Plains GP from $18.00 to $17.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Plains GP currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $20.43.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Plains GP

Plains GP Profile

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Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE: PAGP) serves as the general partner of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., one of North Americas leading energy infrastructure companies. Through its ownership of a 2% general partner interest and incentive distribution rights (IDRs), Plains GP Holdings participates in the governance and cash distribution structure of a diversified portfolio of crude oil and natural gas liquids gathering, transportation, storage, and terminaling assets.

The companys primary business activities include overseeing the strategic direction and capital allocation decisions for its affiliated midstream operations.

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Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA grew its stake in shares of PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL  Free Report) by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 323,163 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 24,255 shares during the period. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PAs holdings in PPL were worth $12,009,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of PPL by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 2,770,101 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $100,028,000 after acquiring an additional 187,083 shares in the last quarter. Old Port Advisors acquired a new position in PPL during the second quarter worth $708,000. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY boosted its position in PPL by 2.8% during the second quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 319,377 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $10,824,000 after purchasing an additional 8,825 shares in the last quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON grew its holdings in PPL by 38.2% in the first quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 998,207 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,045,000 after purchasing an additional 275,693 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Hawaii acquired a new stake in PPL in the first quarter valued at $326,000. 76.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of PPL from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on PPL from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Bank of America raised their price target on PPL from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on PPL in a research report on Monday, October 6th. They set an outperform rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of PPL from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $41.20.

PPL Stock Performance

PPL stock opened at $34.69 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $36.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $35.76. PPL Corporation has a 52 week low of $31.22 and a 52 week high of $38.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.44, a PEG ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18.

PPL (NYSE:PPL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.02. PPL had a return on equity of 9.08% and a net margin of 12.16%.During the same period last year, the business posted $0.42 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. PPL has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.780-1.840 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that PPL Corporation will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

PPL Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 10th will be issued a $0.2725 dividend. This represents a $1.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 10th. PPLs payout ratio is presently 73.65%.

PPL Profile

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PPL Corporation is an energy company that owns and operates electric transmission and distribution infrastructure and provides related customer services. The companys core business centers on delivering electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers through regulated utility operations, maintaining grid reliability, responding to outages and managing customer billing and account services.

PPLs activities include construction and maintenance of distribution and transmission lines, meter and grid management, and programs to support energy efficiency and the interconnection of distributed resources.

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Private Client Services LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 29.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 46,357 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 10,499 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF comprises 10.4% of Private Client Services LLCs portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Private Client Services LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $31,027,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Northwest Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 27.4% during the 3rd quarter. Northwest Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,054 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,374,000 after acquiring an additional 442 shares in the last quarter. Cherrydale Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the third quarter valued at $203,000. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.8% during the third quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 46,836 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,347,000 after purchasing an additional 842 shares during the last quarter. Foster Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 4.1% during the third quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 86,133 shares of the companys stock worth $57,649,000 after purchasing an additional 3,372 shares during the period. Finally, Harbor Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Harbor Group Inc. now owns 31,193 shares of the companys stock worth $20,878,000 after buying an additional 1,631 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.12% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSEARCA:IVV opened at $687.83 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $721.88 billion, a PE ratio of 25.10 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a fifty-two week low of $484.00 and a fifty-two week high of $693.07. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $679.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $653.44.

About iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Company, and Charles Schwab are the five Bank stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Bank stocks are shares of publicly traded banks and financial institutions that give investors an ownership stake in companies whose core activities include taking deposits, making loans, and providing financial services. For stock market investors, bank stocks are priced based on factors like net interest margin, loan quality, deposit flows, capital adequacy and regulatory risk, often providing dividend income but also exposing holders to interest-rate cycles and credit conditions. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Bank stocks within the last several days.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate.

Citigroup (C)

Citigroup Inc., a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions.

Read Our Latest Research Report on C

Bank of America (BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

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Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)

Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

Read Our Latest Research Report on WFC

Charles Schwab (SCHW)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Further Reading
PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK (OTCMKTS:PPERY  Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $12.36, but opened at $11.57. PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK shares last traded at $12.0050, with a volume of 2,534 shares trading hands.

PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Trading Down 1.6%

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $11.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.38.

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About PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK

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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.

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Shares of Rakuten, Inc. (OTCMKTS:RKUNY  Get Free Report) were up 4.7% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $6.40 and last traded at $6.40. Approximately 4,870 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average daily volume of 20,005 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.11.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Nomura Securities raised Rakuten from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Strong Buy.

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Read Our Latest Report on RKUNY

Rakuten Stock Up 4.0%

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $6.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.70, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $13.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -12.70 and a beta of 1.17.

Rakuten (OTCMKTS:RKUNY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported ($0.08) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.15). Rakuten had a negative net margin of 6.67% and a negative return on equity of 13.96%. The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.21 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Rakuten, Inc. will post 0.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Rakuten

(Get Free Report)

Rakuten, Inc is a diversified internet services company based in Tokyo, Japan, and founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani, who continues to serve as chairman and chief executive officer. Originally established as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded its reach to become a global technology group offering a wide range of digital services and consumer-facing platforms. The company is listed in Japan but its American depositary receipts trade over the counter under the symbol RKUNY.

At the core of Rakutens business is its e-commerce marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, which hosts millions of merchants and serves tens of millions of customers across Japan and other key markets.

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Shares of Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd (NYSE:SHG  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $53.42, but opened at $51.73. Shinhan Financial Group shares last traded at $52.20, with a volume of 13,437 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on SHG shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Shinhan Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 15th. Zacks Research downgraded Shinhan Financial Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Shinhan Financial Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, August 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Shinhan Financial Group currently has an average rating of Hold.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Shinhan Financial Group

Shinhan Financial Group Stock Down 1.8%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $53.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.01.

Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The bank reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.08. Shinhan Financial Group had a net margin of 22.38% and a return on equity of 12.45%. The company had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.79 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd will post 5.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Shinhan Financial Group

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Investment Research Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Shinhan Financial Group during the third quarter worth about $757,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Shinhan Financial Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $359,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in Shinhan Financial Group by 17.5% during the 3rd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 14,229 shares of the banks stock valued at $717,000 after purchasing an additional 2,123 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Shinhan Financial Group by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,338 shares of the banks stock worth $420,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voleon Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Shinhan Financial Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,961,000. Institutional investors own 7.76% of the companys stock.

About Shinhan Financial Group

(Get Free Report)

Shinhan Financial Group is a South Koreabased financial holding company headquartered in Seoul. Established in 2001 as a banking and financial services group, it brings together a range of financial subsidiaries operating under the Shinhan brand, including commercial banking, card services, life insurance, securities and asset management businesses. The group serves both retail and corporate clients and is one of the leading diversified financial institutions in Korea.

The companys principal activities span retail and corporate banking, credit card issuance and payment services, life insurance and related protection products, brokerage and investment banking, and asset and wealth management.

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Shares of Symrise AG Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:SYIEY  Get Free Report) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $20.90 and traded as low as $19.95. Symrise shares last traded at $20.08, with a volume of 417,753 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SYIEY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Symrise in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Symrise from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy.

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Symrise Price Performance

Symrise Company Profile

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 0.83.

(Get Free Report)

Symrise AG is a global supplier of fragrances, flavors, cosmetic active ingredients and raw materials for the food and beverage, personal care and household industries. Headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, the company develops scent and taste solutions that are used in a wide range of consumer products, from perfumes and personal care formulations to soft drinks, confections and savory seasonings.

The companys core business is organized into two divisions. The Flavors & Nutrition division creates taste concepts, food ingredients and texture solutions that enhance the sensory appeal and nutritional profile of a variety of foods and beverages.

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Shikiar Asset Management Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 10.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 30,664 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 3,758 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing accounts for approximately 2.2% of Shikiar Asset Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Shikiar Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $8,564,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TSM. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC grew its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 16,500.0% in the 1st quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC now owns 6,707,064 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,113,373,000 after acquiring an additional 6,666,660 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 26.7% in the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,046,792 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,728,478,000 after purchasing an additional 2,537,760 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 31.5% in the 1st quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 8,864,014 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,471,426,000 after buying an additional 2,121,758 shares during the period. Brown Advisory Inc. increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 43.2% during the 2nd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 6,650,983 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,506,389,000 after acquiring an additional 2,006,745 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 109.5% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,526,160 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $798,640,000 after acquiring an additional 1,842,951 shares during the last quarter. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Up 1.4%

NYSE:TSM opened at $293.02 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $1.52 trillion, a PE ratio of 30.05, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.31. The businesss 50 day moving average is $292.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $260.91. The company has a quick ratio of 2.47, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 52 week low of $134.25 and a 52 week high of $313.98.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $32.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $951.89 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 43.72% and a return on equity of 34.34%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings quarterly revenue was up 40.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.94 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $3.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on TSM. UBS Group set a $330.00 price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Sunday, December 7th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, December 14th. Itau BBA Securities started coverage on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $360.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $300.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $355.00.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

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.

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Teijin Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TINLY  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 5.1% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $8.7850 and last traded at $8.7850. Approximately 600 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 66% from the average daily volume of 1,781 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.36.

Teijin Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.70. The businesss 50-day moving average is $8.53 and its 200-day moving average is $8.41. The company has a market capitalization of $1.69 billion, a PE ratio of -4.96 and a beta of 0.05.

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About Teijin

(Get Free Report)

Teijin Limited is a diversified Japanese conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo, with roots dating back to 1918 when it launched Japans first rayon manufacturing facility. Over the past century, the company has evolved into an integrated chemical, pharmaceutical and information technology group serving a wide range of global markets. Teijin operates through multiple business segments that include advanced fibers & composites, performance films, healthcare and IT solutions.

In its fibers & composites division, Teijin produces high-strength aramid fibers under brands such as Twaron and Technora, along with carbon fiber composite materials used in aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.

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Texas Permanent School Fund Corp cut its position in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY  Free Report) by 34.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,424 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,391 shares during the quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in Hershey were worth $1,730,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH bought a new stake in Hershey during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its stake in Hershey by 46.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 199 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Hershey during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Kirk Tanner acquired 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $185.46 per share, for a total transaction of $370,920.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 47,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,876,115.60. The trade was a 4.36% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.51, for a total value of $282,765.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 53,819 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,145,419.69. The trade was a 2.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 6,000 shares of company stock worth $1,102,725 in the last 90 days. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America upped their price target on Hershey from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Hershey from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $195.00 to $211.00 in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Hershey in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $181.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Hershey from $204.00 to $200.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Hershey from $154.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hershey currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $184.95.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on HSY

Hershey Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of HSY stock opened at $186.25 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $181.26 and a 200-day moving average of $180.63. The stock has a market cap of $37.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.84 and a beta of 0.18. Hershey Company has a 52-week low of $140.13 and a 52-week high of $199.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.36.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.24. Hershey had a net margin of 11.84% and a return on equity of 32.08%. The business had revenue of $3.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.34 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. Hershey has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.900-6.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Hershey Company will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Hersheys dividend payout ratio is presently 81.91%.

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.

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Texas Permanent School Fund Corp decreased its holdings in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Free Report) by 34.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,996 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 12,482 shares during the quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in Equity Residential were worth $1,619,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. CVA Family Office LLC increased its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 425.3% in the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 415 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Equity Residential during the 1st quarter worth $37,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC grew its position in Equity Residential by 1,000.0% in the second quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 660 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Equity Residential in the first quarter worth $56,000. Finally, CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new position in Equity Residential in the second quarter valued at $61,000. 92.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Equity Residential Stock Performance

NYSE:EQR opened at $62.24 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.45. Equity Residential has a fifty-two week low of $58.38 and a fifty-two week high of $75.86. The firm has a market cap of $23.68 billion, a PE ratio of 20.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $60.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $64.02.

Equity Residential Dividend Announcement

Equity Residential ( NYSE:EQR Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.02. The company had revenue of $782.41 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $779.68 million. Equity Residential had a net margin of 37.58% and a return on equity of 10.30%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.98 earnings per share. 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. Equities research analysts predict that Equity Residential will post 3.98 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors 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 (DPR) is presently 91.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EQR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Equity Residential from $68.00 to $65.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. UBS Group cut their target price on Equity Residential from $76.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $75.00 to $73.50 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Equity Residential from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 17th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.02.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on EQR

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.

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Voya Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Transdigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG  Free Report) by 84.2% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 12,453 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 66,160 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Transdigm Group were worth $16,414,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its holdings in Transdigm Group by 2.8% during the second quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 257 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $391,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Enterprises LLC raised its position in shares of Transdigm Group by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Diversified Enterprises LLC now owns 193 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Transdigm Group by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 191 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $292,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. boosted its holdings in Transdigm Group by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 254 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $386,000 after buying an additional 8 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Wealth Partners Inc. increased its stake in Transdigm Group by 4.7% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 179 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.78% of the companys stock.

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Transdigm Group Stock Up 2.0%

NYSE TDG opened at $1,302.01 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $1,315.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,383.49. The firm has a market cap of $73.33 billion, a PE ratio of 40.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.94. Transdigm Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $1,183.60 and a 52 week high of $1,623.82.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Transdigm Group ( NYSE:TDG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The aerospace company reported $10.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $10.33 by $0.49. Transdigm Group had a net margin of 21.69% and a negative return on equity of 31.91%. The firm had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $9.83 earnings per share. Transdigm Groups revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Transdigm Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 36.490-38.530 EPS. Research analysts expect that Transdigm Group Incorporated will post 35.13 EPS for the current year.

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on TDG shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Transdigm Group from $1,420.00 to $1,500.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Transdigm Group from $1,385.00 to $1,400.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on shares of Transdigm Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $1,775.00 target price on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Transdigm Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Transdigm Group from $1,405.00 to $1,435.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,576.29.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on TDG

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Robert J. Small sold 4,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,290.19, for a total value of $6,063,893.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 5,625 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,257,318.75. This represents a 45.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Kevin M. Stein sold 17,526 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,362.29, for a total value of $23,875,494.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,158 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,113,561.82. The trade was a 68.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 147,311 shares of company stock worth $197,017,517 in the last 90 days. 4.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Transdigm Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

TransDigm Group Incorporated is a designer, producer and supplier of engineered aircraft components and systems for commercial and military aerospace applications. The companys product portfolio covers a broad range of mission-critical parts and subsystems, including mechanical and electromechanical components, ignition and fuel system parts, sensors and actuators, cockpit and cabin systems, and other safety-critical hardware. TransDigm supplies original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as the aftermarket, providing spare parts, repair and overhaul services and component support throughout an assets life cycle.

TransDigms operating model places emphasis on proprietary, niche components that are difficult to replace, and the company operates through a collection of independently run subsidiaries and brands that sell specialized products.

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Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $73.43 and last traded at $72.9540, with a volume of 525863 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $72.06.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TNL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Travel + Leisure in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Travel + Leisure in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays set a $70.00 target price on shares of Travel + Leisure and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Travel + Leisure from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Mizuho set a $86.00 price target on shares of Travel + Leisure in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $72.22.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $4.69 billion, a PE ratio of 12.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.39. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $65.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $60.86.

Travel + Leisure (NYSE:TNL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.03 billion. Travel + Leisure had a net margin of 10.36% and a negative return on equity of 49.06%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.57 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Travel + Leisure Co. will post 6.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Travel + Leisure Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be given a dividend of $0.56 per share. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 12th. Travel + Leisures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.84%.

Insider Transactions at Travel + Leisure

In related news, insider Amandine Robin-Caplan sold 1,538 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.08, for a total transaction of $100,093.04. Following the transaction, the insider owned 3,904 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $254,072.32. This represents a 28.26% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Geoffrey Richards sold 62,525 shares of Travel + Leisure stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.17, for a total value of $4,074,754.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 39,604 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,580,992.68. This represents a 61.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 198,776 shares of company stock worth $13,080,628 over the last quarter. 3.75% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Travel + Leisure

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Voya Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 362.0% during the 1st quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 175,221 shares of the companys stock worth $8,111,000 after acquiring an additional 137,295 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Travel + Leisure by 2,704.3% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,963 shares of the companys stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 1,893 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new position in Travel + Leisure in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,717,000. Walleye Capital LLC raised its holdings in Travel + Leisure by 59.1% during the first quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 53,527 shares of the companys stock worth $2,478,000 after purchasing an additional 19,881 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Travel + Leisure by 45.1% during the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 60,948 shares of the companys stock worth $3,429,000 after purchasing an additional 18,930 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.54% of the companys stock.

About Travel + Leisure

(Get Free Report)

Travel + Leisure Co (NYSE: TNL) is a leisure travel company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that specializes in vacation ownership, membership programs and branded travel experiences. The company operates an extensive portfolio of vacation clubs and destination services, offering members access to resorts, hotels, cruises and guided tours in markets around the world. Through its flagship membership brands, Travel + Leisure Co provides curated vacation packages, exchange services and unique travel itineraries that cater to both individual and family travelers.

In addition to its membership offerings, Travel + Leisure Co manages a network of resort properties and hospitality assets across North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

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VAALCO Energy, Inc. (LON:EGY  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 250.60 and last traded at GBX 250.60, with a volume of 269 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 265.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on VAALCO Energy from GBX 530 to GBX 550 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 540.

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VAALCO Energy Trading Down 5.4%

VAALCO Energy Company Profile

The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 282.96 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 283.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.57, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market cap of 261.27 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.28 and a beta of 1.17.

(Get Free Report)

VAALCO, founded in 1985, is a Houston, USA based, independent energy company with production, development and exploration assets in the West African region.

The Company is an established operator within the region, holding a 31.1% working interest in the Etame Marin block, located offshore Gabon, which to date has produced over 110 MMBBL of crude oil and of which the Company holds operational control.

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Voya Investment Management LLC lessened its position in shares of Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL  Free Report) by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 227,440 shares of the companys stock after selling 44,898 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Travel + Leisure were worth $13,530,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Travel + Leisure during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in Travel + Leisure by 155.3% in the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 628 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 293.0% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 959 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 715 shares in the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new position in shares of Travel + Leisure during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 119.9% during the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,148 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after buying an additional 626 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.54% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jeffrey Myers sold 50,000 shares of Travel + Leisure stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.38, for a total transaction of $3,319,000.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 63,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,234,313.82. The trade was a 43.94% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Amandine Robin-Caplan sold 1,538 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.08, for a total value of $100,093.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 3,904 shares in the company, valued at $254,072.32. This represents a 28.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 198,776 shares of company stock valued at $13,080,628 over the last three months. 3.75% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on TNL. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Travel + Leisure in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an overweight rating and a $74.00 price target for the company. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Travel + Leisure from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, October 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Travel + Leisure from $61.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Citigroup reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Travel + Leisure in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $68.00 price objective on Travel + Leisure in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Travel + Leisure currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $72.22.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TNL

Travel + Leisure Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of NYSE TNL opened at $72.95 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $65.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.39. Travel + Leisure Co. has a 52 week low of $37.77 and a 52 week high of $73.43.

Travel + Leisure (NYSE:TNL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.08. Travel + Leisure had a net margin of 10.36% and a negative return on equity of 49.06%. The company had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.03 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.57 EPS. Travel + Leisures quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Travel + Leisure Co. will post 6.46 EPS for the current year.

Travel + Leisure Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 12th will be issued a $0.56 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 12th. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. Travel + Leisures dividend payout ratio is currently 36.84%.

About Travel + Leisure

(Free Report)

Travel + Leisure Co (NYSE: TNL) is a leisure travel company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that specializes in vacation ownership, membership programs and branded travel experiences. The company operates an extensive portfolio of vacation clubs and destination services, offering members access to resorts, hotels, cruises and guided tours in markets around the world. Through its flagship membership brands, Travel + Leisure Co provides curated vacation packages, exchange services and unique travel itineraries that cater to both individual and family travelers.

In addition to its membership offerings, Travel + Leisure Co manages a network of resort properties and hospitality assets across North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

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Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG  Free Report) by 30.2% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 248,668 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 57,622 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Citizens Financial Group were worth $13,219,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 0.4% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 51,548,977 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,306,817,000 after acquiring an additional 209,467 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 1.2% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 23,671,355 shares of the banks stock worth $1,059,293,000 after acquiring an additional 283,321 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Citizens Financial Group by 19.1% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 7,366,754 shares of the banks stock worth $294,007,000 after purchasing an additional 1,180,390 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Citizens Financial Group by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,801,856 shares of the banks stock valued at $278,672,000 after purchasing an additional 554,618 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management grew its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 14.5% during the 2nd quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 6,562,791 shares of the banks stock worth $293,685,000 after buying an additional 833,399 shares in the last quarter. 94.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on CFG shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $56.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on Citizens Financial Group from $62.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Citizens Financial Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the company from $53.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $57.57.

Citizens Financial Group Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of CFG stock opened at $59.87 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $53.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.27. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $32.60 and a 1-year high of $59.90. The company has a market cap of $25.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.84.

Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The bank reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.02. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 7.48% and a net margin of 14.17%.The company had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.10 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.79 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Citizens Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 29th. This is a positive change from Citizens Financial Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Citizens Financial Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.54%.

About Citizens Financial Group

(Free Report)

Citizens Financial Group, Inc (NYSE: CFG) is a bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individuals, small and middle-market businesses, corporations and institutional clients. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens conducts its banking operations principally through its primary banking subsidiary, Citizens Bank, and serves customers through a combination of branch locations, ATMs and digital channels. The company is publicly traded and operates under the regulatory framework applicable to U.S.

Further Reading

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Voya Investment Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO  Free Report) by 16.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 85,933 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 17,178 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $11,452,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Compound Planning Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 23.6% during the 1st quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 2,266 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC purchased a new stake in Apollo Global Management in the first quarter worth about $413,000. Groupe la Francaise purchased a new stake in Apollo Global Management in the first quarter worth about $270,000. ICONIQ Capital LLC boosted its position in Apollo Global Management by 14.2% during the 1st quarter. ICONIQ Capital LLC now owns 1,849 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 6,941.9% during the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 105,629 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $14,465,000 after acquiring an additional 104,129 shares during the period. 77.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on APO. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Apollo Global Management from $162.00 to $173.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Piper Sandler reissued an overweight rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $159.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Apollo Global Management from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Apollo Global Management presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $166.23.

Apollo Global Management Price Performance

Shares of APO opened at $148.95 on Tuesday. Apollo Global Management Inc. has a twelve month low of $102.58 and a twelve month high of $175.08. The company has a market capitalization of $86.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.61. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $132.46 and a 200 day moving average of $136.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. Apollo Global Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.82%.

Insider Transactions at Apollo Global Management

In other Apollo Global Management news, CFO Martin Kelly sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.41, for a total transaction of $788,460.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 325,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,787,621.64. This represents a 1.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 8.50% of the companys stock.

Apollo Global Management Company Profile

(Free Report)

Apollo Global Management, Inc (NYSE: APO) is a global alternative investment manager that specializes in private equity, credit and real assets. The firm originates, invests in and manages a broad set of strategies across distressed and opportunistic credit, direct lending, structured credit, buyouts and real estate. Apollo provides investment management and advisory services to institutional clients and individual investors through pooled funds, separate accounts and publicly listed investment vehicles.

Its private equity business pursues control and non-control investments across industries, often focusing on complex or distressed situations where operational improvement and capital solutions can create value.

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Wedge Capital Management L L P NC cut its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO  Free Report) by 18.2% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 37,992 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,453 shares during the period. Wedge Capital Management L L P NCs holdings in Diageo were worth $3,626,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Diageo in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc increased its stake 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 buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the first quarter worth $30,000. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC lifted 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 valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the period. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Diageo by 84.0% in the second quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Diageo Stock Down 2.7%

Shares of Diageo stock opened at $86.79 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.63. The business has a 50-day moving average of $92.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $99.67. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $85.13 and a 1 year high of $127.90.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Diageo from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. 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. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $119.00.

View Our Latest Analysis on DEO

Diageo 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.

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Wedge Capital Management L L P NC bought a new position in shares of The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 41,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,476,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of J. M. Smucker in the 3rd quarter valued at $8,501,000. Czech National Bank boosted its stake in J. M. Smucker by 4.2% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 27,096 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,943,000 after acquiring an additional 1,084 shares in the last quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc boosted its stake in J. M. Smucker by 0.5% in the third quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc now owns 68,785 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,470,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in shares of J. M. Smucker by 811.0% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 919,139 shares of the companys stock worth $99,818,000 after purchasing an additional 818,245 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new stake in shares of J. M. Smucker during the third quarter worth about $2,522,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SJM has been the topic of a number of research reports. DA Davidson raised their price target on J. M. Smucker from $104.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, August 28th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of J. M. Smucker from $120.00 to $117.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Cfra Research upgraded shares of J. M. Smucker from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 27th. Barclays reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $105.00 target price on shares of J. M. Smucker in a report on Friday, August 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on J. M. Smucker from $118.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $116.79.

J. M. Smucker Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SJM opened at $99.06 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $103.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $105.32. The J. M. Smucker Company has a 52 week low of $93.30 and a 52 week high of $121.48. The company has a market cap of $10.57 billion, a P/E ratio of -8.83, a PEG ratio of 6.71 and a beta of 0.22.

J. M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The company reported $2.10 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.12 by ($0.02). J. M. Smucker had a negative net margin of 13.61% and a positive return on equity of 15.26%. The business had revenue of $2.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.32 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.76 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. J. M. Smucker has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.750-9.250 EPS. Research analysts predict that The J. M. Smucker Company will post 9.88 earnings per share for the current year.

J. M. Smucker Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a $1.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.4%. J. M. Smuckers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -39.22%.

Insider Activity at J. M. Smucker

In related news, CFO Tucker H. Marshall sold 11,139 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.11, for a total transaction of $1,204,237.29. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 33,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,661,037.04. The trade was a 24.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 2.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

J. M. Smucker Company Profile

(Free Report)

The J. M. Smucker Company is a diversified food and beverage manufacturer and marketer known for a portfolio of well-established consumer brands. The companys main business activities include the production and distribution of fruit spreads, peanut butter, coffee and coffee filters, as well as pet food and pet snacks. Smuckers core product lines serve both retail and foodservice customers through grocery chains, mass merchandisers, club stores, convenience outlets and e-commerce channels.

Among its leading brands are Smuckers fruit spreads, Jif peanut butter, Folgers and Dunkin coffees, and Cafe Bustelo coffee.

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Welch Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS  Free Report) by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 822,280 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 44,578 shares during the period. Welch Group LLCs holdings in General Mills were worth $41,459,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Kera Capital Partners Inc. acquired a new position in General Mills in the 2nd quarter valued at $222,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of General Mills during the second quarter worth $417,508,000. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund grew its holdings in shares of General Mills by 22.6% during the second quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 383,877 shares of the companys stock worth $19,889,000 after buying an additional 70,800 shares in the last quarter. Callan Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of General Mills in the second quarter valued at about $439,000. Finally, CHICAGO TRUST Co NA purchased a new position in shares of General Mills in the second quarter worth about $267,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.71% of the companys stock.

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General Mills Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of General Mills stock opened at $47.41 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $47.20 and a 200 day moving average of $49.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.20, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of -0.07. General Mills, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $45.15 and a fifty-two week high of $67.35.

General Mills Announces Dividend

General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, December 17th. The company reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $4.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.78 billion. General Mills had a return on equity of 21.41% and a net margin of 13.51%.The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.40 earnings per share. General Mills has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.580-3.790 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.36 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.1%. General Millss dividend payout ratio is presently 52.47%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GIS has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of General Mills from $54.00 to $52.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on General Mills from $56.00 to $52.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of General Mills in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Mizuho dropped their target price on General Mills from $57.00 to $52.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 19th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of General Mills in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned 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 an average price target of $53.44.

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About General Mills

(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.

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Welch Group LLC increased its stake in shares of McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD  Free Report) by 1.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 209,774 shares of the fast-food giants stock after buying an additional 3,770 shares during the quarter. McDonalds comprises approximately 2.5% of Welch Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Welch Group LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $63,748,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. True North Advisors LLC grew its stake in McDonalds by 18.0% during the 3rd quarter. True North Advisors LLC now owns 2,703 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $822,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN raised its stake in shares of McDonalds by 3.1% in the third quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 36,942 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $11,226,000 after purchasing an additional 1,108 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 7.4% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 23,996 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $7,292,000 after purchasing an additional 1,643 shares during the period. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in McDonalds by 34.8% in the third quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,548 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $470,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Precedent Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in McDonalds by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 7,559 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $2,297,000 after buying an additional 416 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 3,195 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.82, for a total transaction of $977,094.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 6,088 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,861,832.16. This represents a 34.42% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at $2,005,760. This trade represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 42,516 shares of company stock valued at $13,036,090 over the last ninety days. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

McDonalds Stock Performance

MCD opened at $316.38 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $307.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of $303.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $225.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.99, a PEG ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 0.52. McDonalds Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $276.53 and a fifty-two week high of $326.32.

McDonalds (NYSE:MCD  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.33 by ($0.11). McDonalds had a net margin of 32.04% and a negative return on equity of 280.89%. The business had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.23 earnings per share. McDonaldss revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonalds Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This is an increase from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is 63.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MCD has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. They set a sector perform rating and a $320.00 price objective for the company. BTIG Research restated a neutral rating on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of McDonalds from $381.00 to $375.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on McDonalds from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on McDonalds from $360.00 to $350.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $324.57.

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McDonalds 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.

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The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL  Free Report)  Zacks Research decreased their Q4 2025 earnings per share estimates for Allstate in a report released on Monday, December 22nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the insurance provider will post earnings of $6.94 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $7.00. Zacks Research currently has a Hold rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Allstates current full-year earnings is $18.74 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Allstates Q4 2026 earnings at $7.21 EPS and Q1 2027 earnings at $6.52 EPS.

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Allstate (NYSE:ALL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $11.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.48 by $5.69. Allstate had a net margin of 12.53% and a return on equity of 35.42%. The company had revenue of $17.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.59 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.91 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on ALL. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Allstate in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen cut Allstate from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Evercore ISI set a $233.00 price target on Allstate and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. William Blair cut shares of Allstate from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Allstate from $246.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $236.93.

View Our Latest Report on ALL

Allstate Stock Performance

NYSE:ALL opened at $208.25 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $54.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 0.25. Allstate has a twelve month low of $176.00 and a twelve month high of $215.89. The companys 50-day moving average price is $203.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $202.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Allstate

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ALL. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Allstate during the 2nd quarter valued at about $482,870,000. Swedbank AB lifted its position in shares of Allstate by 2,157.8% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 861,725 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $184,969,000 after purchasing an additional 823,559 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of Allstate in the third quarter valued at approximately $148,641,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Allstate by 27.2% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,328,070 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $482,073,000 after purchasing an additional 497,982 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in Allstate by 52.7% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,385,901 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $279,062,000 after buying an additional 478,598 shares during the period. 76.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Allstate news, insider Suren Gupta sold 3,786 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.13, for a total value of $814,482.18. Following the sale, the insider owned 100,646 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,651,973.98. The trade was a 3.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In the last three months, insiders have sold 28,807 shares of company stock valued at $6,198,726. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Allstate Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Allstates dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.95%.

Allstate Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Allstate Corporation is a publicly traded insurance company headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, and is one of the largest personal lines property and casualty insurers in the United States. Founded in 1931 as a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co, Allstate has grown into a diversified insurer that serves millions of consumers and businesses through a mix of distribution channels and product offerings.

The company underwrites a broad range of insurance products, with primary emphasis on auto and homeowners coverage.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC cut its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 39,020 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 2,965 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $31,073,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,800.0% during the 2nd quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 38 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 40 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the period. Graney & King LLC lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 51.5% during the second quarter. Graney & King LLC now owns 50 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ridgewood Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 45.9% in the second quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 54 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.21% of the companys stock.

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Key Headlines Impacting The Goldman Sachs Group

Here are the key news stories impacting The Goldman Sachs Group this week:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Monday, December 15th. HSBC increased their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $652.00 to $677.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Friday, October 3rd. They set a market perform rating and a $785.00 price target on the stock. Dbs Bank upped their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $800.00 to $890.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $720.00 to $850.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $792.67.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 0.6%

GS opened at $899.00 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $269.64 billion, a PE ratio of 18.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.36. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $812.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $757.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $439.38 and a 52 week high of $919.10.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The investment management company reported $12.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $15.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.68 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $8.40 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be issued a dividend of $4.00 per share. This represents a $16.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is 32.50%.

The Goldman Sachs Group 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.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 8.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 430,586 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 37,207 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $36,092,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lifted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2,735,254.3% in the 2nd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 949,769,723 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $76,095,550,000 after purchasing an additional 949,735,001 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth $3,990,551,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 54.9% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 16,635,681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,332,851,000 after buying an additional 5,894,747 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 18.2% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 14,155,753 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,165,868,000 after buying an additional 2,180,693 shares during the period. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 8,010.7% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,973,730 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $158,135,000 after acquiring an additional 1,949,395 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.90% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $94.28 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $87.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.55. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $58.42 and a one year high of $94.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $295.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.51, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.11.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.18. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.51% and a net margin of 17.18%.The business had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.42 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors 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 was Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.61%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Wall Street Zen raised Wells Fargo & Company from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 4th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday. Bank of America increased their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.04.

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About Wells Fargo & Company

(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.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC lowered its position in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (NYSEARCA:EWT  Free Report) by 1.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 648,568 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 9,300 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF makes up about 0.4% of Yousif Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF were worth $41,262,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 3,512.4% in the 1st quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC now owns 5,216,485 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $247,679,000 after purchasing an additional 5,072,082 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 393.4% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,085,693 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $119,719,000 after buying an additional 1,662,985 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 2,378.2% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,905,456 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $109,373,000 after buying an additional 1,828,566 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 4,066.3% in the second quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,677,273 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $97,030,000 after buying an additional 1,637,015 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF by 16.1% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,111,646 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $63,808,000 after buying an additional 154,504 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSEARCA EWT opened at $61.98 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.58 and a beta of 0.94. iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF has a 12 month low of $39.44 and a 12 month high of $67.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $64.53 and a 200-day moving average of $61.49.

About iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF

Ishares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (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 MSCI Taiwan IndexSM (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 3.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 147,832 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,717 shares during the quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $16,513,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Aflac by 15.4% in the 3rd quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 8,708 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $974,000 after buying an additional 1,161 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management increased its position in shares of Aflac by 39.7% during the third quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management now owns 1,294 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $145,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Aflac by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 16,157 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,805,000 after acquiring an additional 1,488 shares during the period. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $215,000. Finally, Trust Point Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $424,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on AFL. Mizuho started coverage on shares of Aflac in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. They issued an underperform rating and a $104.00 target price for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Aflac from $107.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Piper Sandler set a $125.00 target price on Aflac and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on Aflac from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $109.83.

Aflac Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE AFL opened at $110.08 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $57.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.37, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.66. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $109.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $106.92. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $96.95 and a 12-month high of $115.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter. Aflac had a return on equity of 14.97% and a net margin of 23.55%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This is a positive change 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%. Aflacs payout ratio is currently 30.29%.

Insider Activity

In other Aflac news, EVP Frederic Jean Guy Simard sold 1,722 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total value of $193,725.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 1,364 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $153,450. This represents a 55.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 786 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction on Monday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.75, for a total transaction of $89,407.50. Following the sale, the director directly owned 24,829 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,824,298.75. This trade represents a 3.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 31,766 shares of company stock worth $3,549,706 in the last ninety days. 0.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Aflac 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.

Further Reading

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Plans to restore a subsidised air link between City of Derry and Dublin airports from next year have taken another step forward with the launch of a market sounding survey by Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien.

The proposed service, which would operate as an Irish Exchequer-funded Public Service Obligation (PSO) route, is expected to commence in 2026 and would re-establish an air connection that was lost more than a decade ago.

A Dublin-Derry air service previously operated until 2011, when it was axed in the aftermath of the Celtic Tiger economic crash.

While the route was never commercially viable as a stand-alone operation, it was widely used by passengers from Inishowen, north Donegal and the Derry region, providing a crucial link to Dublin for onward international connections, business travel and medical appointments. The service was previously operated by carriers including Loganair, then operating under the British Airways franchise, and the now-defunct Aer Arann.

The Government currently funds PSO routes between the capital and both Carrickfinn and Kerry airports. Between 2020 and 2023, Carrickfinn received 15.5 million in PSO funding, while the Kerry route received 5 million.

Launching the survey, Minister OBrien said the Government was committed to improving transport connectivity in the North West, which he described as relatively underserved, noting the proposed upgrade to the A5 dual carriageway from Strabane to Aughnacloy that remains mired in legal challenges in the courts in the North.

The proposed air link forms part of the Programme for Government and aligns with the objectives of the Shared Island initiative.

The Department of Transport is currently carrying out preparatory work ahead of establishing the service. Feedback from the Market Sounding Survey will be used to shape the final specifications for the PSO route, including aircraft type and capacity, service frequency, scheduling and fare structures.

Minister OBrien said stakeholder engagement would be central to delivering a service that meets real needs. This service will give Derry and North East Donegal a subsidised connection to Dublin, alongside the existing Donegal [Carrickfinn Airport]-Dublin PSO route, he said. Together, these services will improve access to Dublin and international travel for the North West, supporting economic growth and tourism.

The Minister also pointed to the proposed service as an important interim measure while progress continues on upgrading the A5 road transport corridor, a major cross-border project to which the Government has committed 600 million in funding.

Under PSO arrangements, routes that are considered socially or regionally important but not commercially viable can be supported by the State to ensure continued connectivity. The existing Carrickfinn to Dublin PSO route has long been cited as a vital link for the county, particularly for medical travel and business.

It is anticipated that a tender for the Derry-Dublin PSO service will be published by the Department of Transport early in the New Year, with a view to services beginning later in 2026, subject to the outcome of the consultation and tender process.

Potential passengers, businesses and other stakeholders are being encouraged to take part in the Market Sounding Survey, which is open until 31 January 2026. Responses will play a key role in determining how the restored air link operates and how effectively it serves communities across Derry, Inishowen and the wider North West.

The survey can be accessed here: Derry-Dublin air route survey
Students from St. Josephs Boys School brought Christmas Cheer to Beechwood Residential Home on Friday by writing letters to the residents and hand-delivering them along with scones, tea, biscuits and sweets.

Organised by Mrs. Carla McCay, Head of English Department, who got the boys to pen letters telling the reader about themselves, share some festive cheer, explain what Christmas is about for them and wish the reader a Happy and Holy Christmas with messages such as Wishing you happiness, good health and peace this Christmas, and may the year ahead bring you joy and many wonderful memories. . . 

Mrs. McCay said: We came up with the idea to spread some joy among those of senior years in our community and what better way than to get the boys to pen their feelings and Christmas thoughts while wishing someone in the community happiness in this festive period.

We plan to keep the connections within the local community, keeping them connected during the different seasons of the year. Furthermore, we would like to expand our connections by engaging with a variety of local residential and care homes. Next Christmas we hope to join forces with our school choir to spread the Christmas spirit.

The boys, both senior and junior, donned Christmas hats, brought their letters, scones, biscuits and sweets and shared time with the residents at Beechwood Court.

Resident Kathleen McMonagle said she was almost tearful receiving such a beautiful letter written by a student called Oisin.

This is the loveliest and caring letter Ive ever received. Something I will cherish. Oisin told me about himself, his feeling around Christmas and took time at the end to wish me and all here the happiest of Christmases and even wishes for a healthy and happy future. Purely lovely!

Manager at Beechwood, Mrs. Cathy McCallion said it was a lovely gesture from the pupils at St. Josephs. It was super to see so many faces lit up today when Mrs. McCay and the student came through the doors. Great credit to Mrs. Deane and all the staff and pupils from St. Josephs Boys School for the work they do in the community, and especially at Christmas. Thank you to you all.

Also praising Mrs. McCay and the students from the English department, Principal, Mrs. Ciara Deane said it was a lovely thing what the students took time to do. Writing letters in this way and seeing the cheer on faces of those who received and read them was heartfelt. Our boys never let us down and go the extra mile to help the local community. It goes with the Catholic ethos of the school and epitomises what the Christmas season is all about.

The students spent an hour at Beechwood on Friday before heading off on their Christmas holidays which will see the school open again on Monday, 5th January, 2026.
Stores across Northern Ireland have been overwhelmed by the generosity of customers who donated at the Tesco Winter Food Collection.

Almost 60,000 meals worth of long-life food items were donated to the collection between 24 November and 29 November across the retailers large and Express stores across the province. Customers in Belfast alone donated over 46,000 meals. In total, an incredible 1.48 million meals were collected at Tesco stores all over the UK.

More than 2,000 volunteers helped store colleagues throughout the collection where every item donated provides much-needed support for food redistribution charities FareShare and Trussell in the run up to Christmas.

In addition, more than 300,000 was donated to both charities thanks to customers rounding up their bill at the till to the nearest pound and online donations throughout the collection period. When combined with Tescos financial support of the charities, it equates to more than 2m in funding in 2025.

Trussell research** shows over 14 million people in the UK are now facing hunger, including 3.8 million children. They predict that their community of foodbanks will need to give out an emergency food parcel every ten seconds this winter to meet the need.

FareShare continues to see high levels of need and say that more than a third of its partners now primarily serve families with children, or services for children. Research carried out by the charitys network partner, The Felix Project, recently found that almost a quarter of UK working parents have had to turn to a food support service in the last year.

Donations to Trussell help food banks to provide emergency food parcels to people who cannot afford the essentials, while donations to FareShare support thousands of frontline local charities in communities across the country.

This winter will see heightened levels of demand for both charities services with the Christmas holidays being a particularly difficult time for families due to the increased costs that occur at this time of year.

Tesco UK CEO Ashwin Prasad said: As ever, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of Tesco customers who have shown how much they value the hard work of our partners Trussell and FareShare in their local communities.

I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and made this such a special event in stores across the UK. Every single item donated really helps to make a huge impact in communities across the UK supported by Trussell and FareShare.

FareShare Chief Executive, Kris Gibbon-Walsh, said: Once again, the generosity of Tesco customers at the Winter Food Collection has been humbling. The long-life items collected will go to 8,000 charities across the UK, helping to support people during the winter months.

At a time when many people are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating, demand for these local charities services is higher than ever. The food that we can provide thanks to the Winter Food Collection makes a real difference, helping to bring people together, strengthen communities and support those in need.

Thank you to every single person that donated an item of food, topped up their shopping bill or generously gave their time to volunteer in store. Your support will help provide a meal for someone facing hardship this winter, enable them to connect with other vital services, and make a positive difference. Thank you.

Matthew van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive of Trussell, said: We are so grateful to Tesco for supporting our community of food banks through the coldest season by organising the annual Winter Food Collection. Crucially, its thanks to you - Tesco customers - who donate food and money so generously. By doing this, youre ensuring food banks can continue to help people in your local community who are facing hunger and hardship.

Thank you for your kindness. When we all play our part, we can end hunger for good.

With both charities requiring ongoing support, Tesco shoppers can continue to donate food at permanent collection points at every Tesco store in the UK or make a donation after their online shop until the end of February. You can also donate at https://fareshare.donr.com/tesco.
The annual NI Children to Lapland Trust trip brought together families, children and healthcare heroes for an unforgettable journey.

The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT) recently (Wednesday, December 17) embarked on its much-anticipated annual trip to Lapland.

This year marked the charitys 17th year of creating magical moments for children living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. Over the years, NICLT has brought the wonder of Lapland to more than 1,800 children. The annual trip provides an unforgettable experience that brings joy, respite and cherished memories to children and their families facing some of lifes toughest challenges.

Departing from Belfast International Airport, the trip was made possible through the generous support of TUI, Belfast International Airport, Swissport, Shell Aviation, Finavia, Rovaniemi Airport, Santa Park, Wild Nordic in Rovaniemi, and an exceptional team of healthcare professionals and volunteers.

The children, accompanied by a parent or carer, flew to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle. There, they enjoyed an enchanting day featuring reindeer and husky rides, mini skidoo adventures, magic sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris and a magical meeting with Santa Claus himself.

Feedback on the special trip from families has been overwhelmingly positive:

Being normal is one of the most normal things to do  this makes the impossible normal!  Hugh McCloy and son Hugh (7) from Draperstown.

Words cant describe how amazing this trip to Lapland has been for Teddy and I. We have had an incredible time and we cant thank you enough! Penny Bannerman and son Teddy from Coleraine.

Colin Barkley, Chair of NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, added: This is the biggest day of our year and the culmination of 12 months of fundraising and planning. Seeing the joy on the faces of these children and their families makes it all worthwhile and inspires us to do even more for deserving children in the years ahead.

There is no greater Christmas gift than bringing joy to children living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. We are deeply grateful to our partners, fundraisers, volunteers and supporters whose generosity makes this magical trip possible and continues to bring light and happiness to these families.

Colin continued: Our deepest thanks go to TUI, Belfast International Airport, Swissport, Shell Aviation, Finavia, Rovaniemi Airport, Santa Park, Wild Nordic, The Choir Studio from Newry, and the countless volunteers and supporters who make this trip possible. Without their dedication, none of this would be achievable.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful fundraisers and corporate partners, including Wineflair, The Bushmills Inn, C-Tec (NI), Glens of Antrim Potatoes, CosyRoof, Bells of Crossgar, Energystore, Mango and Finlay Wealth Management. Their generosity ensures this magical journey continues to bring light and joy to these remarkable children and their families.

Charlotte Brenner, Marketing Manager at TUI, said: "It is an enormous privilege to welcome on board the children, families, medical teams and support staff heading off on this exciting adventure to Lapland. Were delighted we can lend our support once again and help to make this a joyful experience that will create wonderful lasting memories."

The trip wouldnt be possible without the streamlined support from Belfast International Airport representatives. Deborah Harris, Communications & Corporate Affairs Director at Belfast International Airport, added:

We are thrilled to welcome the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland Trust flight back to Belfast International Airport. It is always a very special day and this year is no exception. We are delighted to welcome all of the children, their families and the fantastic staff to Belfast International Airport and we are sure they will have an experience to remember. It is very important for us to be part of this magical event - it really brings home the meaning of Christmas.

Charlene Lejeune, Marketing Manager at Shell Aviation Europe added: Were thrilled to be part of such a heartwarming initiative that brings joy to children and their families. Shell Aviation is proud to help make this magical journey possible  we fuel planes with love and show our commitment to supporting communities in meaningful ways.

Adding to the festive spirit on the day, The Choir Studio from Newry performed at the airport before departure, filling the terminal with Christmas cheer and excitement. Kathy McCaughey of The Choir Studio said: We are so privileged to lend our voices to something so special! This is the true meaning of Christmas for our choir family.

To view photos and memories from the special trip to Lapland, visit the charitys Facebook page: @childrentolaplandtrust

For further information on the charity, visit: nichildrentolapland.com.
From bringing evergreens into the home to cheer the darkest part of the year to the modern feast of presents and food, Christmas traditions have evolved over centuries.

Liam Corry, curator of emigration at the Ulster American Folk Park, said simple Irish traditions have since been influenced by others across the globe to blend ancient pagan customs with Christian beliefs and recent American influence.

Mr Corry said that long before Santa Claus and Christmas cards, midwinter was marked by pagan festivals celebrating light, life and renewal.

Evergreen plants such as holly and ivy were brought indoors to symbolise hope through the darkest months, while yule logs were burned to mark the turning of the year.

As Christianity arrived in Ireland, these traditions merged with those older customs as Christmas Day was established by the early Church as the date to celebrate the birth of Christ.

However even 200 years ago, Christmas in Ireland was relatively low key, with Ordnance Survey notes from 1830 recording the giving out of food and clothing to the poor by rich landowners and Church of Ireland clergy.

Mr Corry said: People, even the poorest, would try to have better provisions put by for the Christmas meal.

There does seem to be a tradition of a good cleaning of the home and the farmyard.

It is described as such in the 1820s by William Charlton.

He also talks of holly and ivy wreaths being hung up and dances being organised.

Mr Corry said most of what we recognise today was shaped in America during the 1800s, influenced by German, Dutch and British settlers  including thousands from Ulster.

The modern Christmas tree, Santa Claus, gift-giving to children and even the idea of a cosy, family-centred Christmas were all popularised in the United States before returning across the Atlantic, he said.

These were traditions carried by emigrants, reshaped in a new land, and later embraced back home.

Turning to Santa Claus, Mr Corry described an unmistakably American figure with deep European roots.

Derived from Saint Nicholas, living during the 4th century in what is now the modern-day country Turkey, and shaped by Dutch settlers in New York, Mr Corry said Santas image was refined in 19th-century America through poetry, illustration and popular culture.

His sleigh, reindeer and North Pole home became fixed in the imagination before travelling back across the Atlantic.

Santa is perhaps the best example of how Christmas traditions crossed borders, Mr Corry added.

He is a global figure, but one whose story reflects migration, imagination and shared heritage.

Meanwhile our modern Christmas dinner, especially the roasted turkey, has American origins, having replaced goose as the festive centrepiece in Britain and Ireland.

However Mr Corry said turkey for Christmas dinner only became widespread in the mid-20th century.

It is a theme which, along with celebrations throughout the year, is explored by the Ulster American Folk Park on the outskirts of Omagh, Co Tyrone.

As the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independent, the Ulster American Folk Park will mark its 50th anniversary.

Mr Corry said: Christmas reminds us that the relationship between Ulster and America is not just political or historical.

Its deeply cultural, rooted in shared traditions, family memories and seasonal rituals that continue to shape who we are.

At Ulster American Folk Park, we preserve these traditions not as relics, but as living expressions of shared history.

By celebrating Christmas here, visitors can see how Ulster helped shape American culture, and how America, in turn, reshaped Christmas for us all.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has signed an investment agreement with a consortium comprising Arsari Group and Northstar Group to form a new joint venture focused on fibre digital infrastructure in Indonesia.

The new entity, referred to as FiberCo, will operate as an independent, open-access fibre platform and is expected to become one of the countrys largest standalone fibre infrastructure providers.

Under the deal, Indosat will spin off its fibre assets into FiberCo, valuing the business at an enterprise value of around IDR14.6 trillion (US$940 million). Indosat will retain an approximately 45% stake in the joint venture, while the consortium will hold the remainder.

Indosat said the transaction will allow it to monetise its fibre assets while continuing to benefit from long-term growth, with proceeds earmarked to support investment in 5G and the operators broader digital and AI strategy.

The fibre platform will operate a nationwide network spanning more than 86,000 kilometres, including backbone, domestic subsea and access infrastructure linking mobile towers and enterprise customers. Around 45% of the network footprint is located in Java, with the remaining 55% across non-Java regions.

FiberCo will operate on a wholesale, open-access basis, providing capacity to telecoms service providers across Indonesia. The partners said the model is designed to improve network availability, expand fibre coverage and support digital inclusion, particularly in underserved areas.

Indosat president director and CEO Vikram Sinha said the partnership supports the operators shift towards a more asset-light model while strengthening Indonesias digital backbone.

Arsari Group deputy CEO and COO Aryo P.S. Djojohadikusumo said the investment marks the groups expansion into digital infrastructure, positioning connectivity as a core component of Indonesias long-term economic development.

The partners said the venture aligns with Indonesias national digital transformation goals, including efforts to reduce connectivity gaps between urban and rural regions and support the development of AI-enabled services.

Citi acted as financial adviser to Indosat, while Goldman Sachs advised Northstar Group on the transaction.
Ericsson is widely recognized as a European telecom technology leader, but its legacy in Africa is equally profound. Since installing some of the first telephone exchanges in South Africa in 1896, Ericsson has played a pivotal role in building networks across every generation; from the earliest generations to todays advanced 5G infrastructure. Now, Ericsson is at the forefront of Africas next connectivity wave, enabling operators to modernize networks, expand 5G coverage, and deliver inclusive digital services, all while reducing total cost of ownership and energy consumption.

Recently, Majda Lahlou Kassi, Vice President and Head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, spoke with Developing Telecoms about how Ericsson is supporting the transformation of Africas digital ecosystem. The focus: sustainable growth, economic development, and creating opportunities across the continent.

Africa in Motion: A Vision for Digital Transformation

Africa in Motion is more than a slogan, it encapsulates Ericssons holistic commitment to the continent. As Majda explains, We play a key role in developing digital infrastructure in its broadest sense. While mobile networks are central, were also focused on digitizing industries such as mining, ports, public safety, and other sectors critical to Africas economy.

Ericssons efforts extend beyond technology deployment. The company invests heavily in building digital skills through partnerships with global institutions and local governments, sharing expertise in AI, cloud, and mobile networks via the Ericsson Educate programs. The Ericsson Graduate program, for example, onboards young talent and provides a year of hands-on development to prepare them for careers in ICT.

Africa in Motion is about more than connectivity, its about empowering partners, operators, and industries, building capacity, and leveraging technology to address some of the continents biggest challenges, including energy efficiency and sustainability.

AI in Emerging Markets: Todays Realities and Tomorrows Potential

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term that resonates across the globe, driving discussions and innovation in both established and emerging markets. As Majda Lahlou Kassi points out, AI is not a monolithic technology but encompasses a wide spectrum of capabilities and approaches. These range from traditional machine learning methods, which analyze patterns and make predictions based on data, to generative AI, which can create new content and solutions. Looking to the future, the emergence of agentic AI promises to push boundaries even further, with systems capable of independently developing code and software that surpass current technological limits. This diversity within AI underscores its transformative potential for industries and societies worldwide.

AI-Driven Network Optimization and Industry Transformation

Ericssons integration of artificial intelligence into its products spans more than twenty years, reflecting a longstanding commitment to technological advancement and operational efficiency. AI has been central to optimizing network performance while addressing the significant challenge of energy consumption, particularly acute in the African context.

As Majda Lahlou Kassi explains, each successive generation of mobile technology brings higher energy requirements. To address this, Ericssons ongoing strategy focuses on breaking the energy curve. By leveraging AI, the CSPs can intelligently manage network traffic, predict usage peaks and valleys, and dynamically adjust equipment energy consumption. This targeted approach is already delivering tangible benefits for network operators across Africa, demonstrating a real-world application of AI that aligns with the regions unique challenges.

Looking toward the future, AI is set to become the foundation of autonomous network with systems capable of designing, optimizing, and managing traffic with minimal human intervention. In sectors such as mining, AI technologies are already making significant contributions by streamlining operations, enhancing safety protocols, and supporting sustainability goals. These advancements underscore AIs transformative potential not only for telecom networks but also for critical industries that drive Africas economic development.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: Meeting Africas Unique Challenges

Deploying artificial intelligence-driven networks in a sustainable manner is a significant challenge worldwide, but it is particularly pronounced in Africa due to the unreliability of power grids throughout the continent. Ericsson addresses this challenge with a pragmatic approach: before implementing any AI application, the company carefully assesses its energy impact, weighing the benefits against the associated energy costs. These evaluations are guided by Ericssons overarching commitment to achieving net zero emissions.

Africa holds unique potential to leapfrog over traditional, fossil fuel-based energy solutions by widely adopting solar and other renewable energy sources. According to Majda, ongoing discussions focus on how best to deploy AI, whether through centralized data centers or by utilizing edge computing technologies. This presents Africa with the opportunity to develop new industries without increasing its carbon footprint, provided that governance, financing, and collaboration within the ecosystem are effectively integrated.

While the promise of AI in transforming industries and societies is substantial, so too are the energy-related challenges that must be addressed. Moving forward will require a combination of innovative thinking, integrated technological solutions, and a steadfast commitment to sustainability at every stage of network deployment and operation.

AI at the Edge: Bringing Intelligence Closer to Users

Deploying artificial intelligence at the edge refers to bringing computational intelligence closer to end users, rather than relying exclusively on centralized, remote data centers. This paradigm shift is pivotal for the evolution from 5G to 6G networks, as it directly influences operational costs, energy consumption, and overall network performance.

Accelerating Africas 5G Evolution

The rapid adoption of 5G technology is positioning it as critical infrastructure across Africa. To fully realize the benefits of 5G, transitioning to 5G Standalone (SA) is essential. 5G SA offers lower latency and increased capacity, enabling support for mission-critical applications in industries such as mining and public safety. As Africa is still in the early stages of its 5G rollout, there exists a unique opportunity for the continent to leapfrog directly to 5G SA, bypassing transitional steps and embracing the advantages of next-generation connectivity.

Empowering Key Sectors with Private 5G Networks

Private 5G networks are becoming increasingly important for the digital transformation of vital sectors. These dedicated networks facilitate secure, high-performance connectivity, which is essential for industries seeking to modernize operations and improve efficiency.

The Future of Africas Digital Economy

Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and 5G technology will play a defining role in the future of Africas digital economy. Together, these technologies will unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and progress, shaping the continents development in the years to come.
The challenge of keeping businesses safe from cyberthreats is yet again in the news, this time in Qatar, where a leading telecommunications and ICT provider has announced a cybersecurity deal.

Qatar-headquartered service provider Ooredoo has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Darktrace, a global leader in AI-driven cybersecurity.

This partnership is described as marking a major milestone in Ooredoos mission to deliver next-generation, AI-enabled cybersecurity services to organisations across Qatar.

Through this collaboration, the partners explain, Ooredoos B2B customers will gain access to the Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform, an adaptive cybersecurity platform powered by Darktraces real-time Self-Learning AI, designed to protect businesses from both known and emerging cyberthreats.

The Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform offers an intelligent, autonomous defence layer that continuously learns each organisations unique digital environment. With capabilities including real-time detection, autonomous response and its AI agent, Cyber AI Analyst, as well as comprehensive technical support, the platform equips enterprises to detect, investigate,and mitigate cyber incidents with speed and precision.

Thani Ali I A Al-Malki, Chief Business Officer at Ooredoo Qatar, explains: Our partnership with Darktrace strengthens our managed cybersecurity portfolio and ensures that organisations in Qatar can rely on advanced, self-learning AI to protect their operations. This collaboration supports our commitment to providing intelligent, future-ready security solutions that empower businesses to operate with greater confidence and resilience.

Darktrace says it has been building a new model for cybersecurity since 2013 and has pioneered a proactive, AI-native approach to security. The Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform defends against unknown threats using AI that learns from a client's business in real time.
Vietnamese telecoms player Viettel said it has held high-level bilateral working sessions with Japanese companies Nikon Corporation and Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) as part of its preparation to help build Vietnams first domestic semiconductor manufacturing plant.

According to a LinkedIn post on Sunday, Viettel said the talks focused on "clarifying the companys semiconductor technology development orientation and exploring cooperation opportunities in semiconductor fabrication."

Nikon specialises in optical technology and precision mechanics, while TEL possesses a comprehensive equipment portfolio covering the entire semiconductor value chain, from thin-film deposition technologies (CVD, ALD), plasma etching and wafer cleaning to surface treatment.

Viettel said the talks served to develop its semiconductor technology development strategy, as well as prepare for implementation of the Vietnamese governments High-Tech Semiconductor Chip Manufacturing Plant Project announced earlier this year.

Viettel said the Nikon and TEL meetings reflect Japans critical role in the global semiconductor manufacturing supply chain, particularly in the supply of materials and equipment.

Proactively engaging with these strategic partners is an essential step toward deeper integration into the global supply chain, contributing to the advancement of Viettels semiconductor technology and the sustainable development of Vietnams semiconductor ecosystem, the post said.

The Vietnamese government has been pushing a national strategy to boost its semiconductor sector  which it regards as the core of its electronics industry  for the last couple of years. In 2024, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the countrys four main state-owned telcos  Viettel, VNPT, MobiFone, and Gtel Mobile  to take the lead on semiconductor chip R&D and production as part of that strategy.

In March this year, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (under the Ministry of Information and Communications) reportedly announced that .Vietnam would invest about VN12.8 trillion (US$501.2 million) to build a small-scale chip manufacturing plant for research, design, production, packaging and testing.

Earlier this month, Viettel and the science faculty of Vietnam National University in Hanoi began organising a training program for semiconductor manufacturing engineers to work at the plant.

Viettel has its own chipset ambitions to fulfil. Its R&D arm Viettel High Tech revealed its own 5G chipset in 2023, which it said gave it complete control over its domestic 5G equipment ecosystem.
Ericsson and Zain Bahrain announced on Monday they have expanded their strategic partnership to include Ericssons 5G Edge User Plane technology, which Zain will deploy to enable Industry 4.0 technologies in Bahrains industrial sector.

Ericsson said that its local packet gateway solution with Edge User Plane technology will deliver faster, smarter, secure traffic and more resilient connectivity for Zains 5G network, optimising performance while also enabling ultra-low latency.

Zain Bahrain said the technology will enable its 5G network to support Industry 4.0 technologies, such as AI-powered predictive maintenance, autonomous systems, and real-time monitoring.

Zain Bahrain acting CEO Ammar Al Ketbi said the move will support Bahrains vision for a vibrant and sustainable digital economy by enabling Industry 4.0 technologies and establishing a framework to accelerate the next wave of industrial innovation in the country.

By introducing latest 5G solutions with Edge User Plane capabilities, we are paving the way for a new era of intelligent connectivity that will empower enterprises and industries to innovate, transform, and thrive in the digital age, he said in a statement.

The announcement comes several months after Ericsson signed a deal with Zain Bahrain to supply RAN gear for its 4G and 5G networks to boost capacity and enhance coverage.

Ericsson has been a key supplier for Zain Bahrains 5G network since 2019. Zain launched commercial 5G services in 2020.
ASN and OMS have revealed that their contract with Vanuatu-based telecoms infrastructure firm Prima to build the Tamtam subsea cable has officially entered into force as of Thursday, with the system now scheduled to be ready for service by the end of 2027.

ASN signed a deal with Prima in January 2024 to design, manufacture, and deploy the 375-km Tamtam subsea cable that will connect Vanuatu and New Caledonia, with an option to extend it to Fiji and Australia. OMS has been contracted to install the subsea cable.

Vanuatus sole international link currently comes from the Interchange Cable Network 1 (ICN1) system that connected the island to Fiji. ASN said the Tamtam cable will provide Vanuatu with a backup international connectivity route, as well as extend domestic fibre connectivity to Tanna, Norsup and Luganville.

The Tamtam cable will also serve a climate-change monitoring function by integrating ASNs climate change monitoring solution that uses seismic sensors to monitor seismic activities and tsunami detection.

The cable is part of an industry-wide initiative in conjunction with research and academic communities to transform subsea infrastructure into Scientific Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) cables that serve scientific and resilience objectives. Telkom Indonesia announced a similar project earlier this year with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to develop an earthquake detection system combining Telkom's subsea cable infrastructure with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology.

The Tamtam cable is ASNs second such SMART project following its CAM Atlantic Portugal project, said ASN CEO Alain Biston.

Vanuatu is particularly exposed to natural hazards, and we are proud that our CC technology, delivered in partnership with OMS, can help strengthen warning systems and protect communities, he said in a statement.

Prima CEO Simon Fletcher added that the project is a major milestone for Vanuatu/ It combines improved international resilience, broader domestic fibre access, and advanced monitoring capabilities that will contribute to both economic development and public safety.
Japan's H3 rocket launch fails, delaying GPS independence

Japan's flagship heavy-lift rocket, the H3, suffered another setback on Sunday after its eighth flight failed, dealing a blow to the country's ambitions to strengthen its independent space capabilities.

After two postponements, the rocket lifted off at 10:51 a.m. on Dec. 22 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, Kagoshima Prefecture. But the mission was aborted when the second-stage engine malfunctioned at high altitude, causing the burn to end prematurely. The rocket failed to reach its planned orbit, and the Michibiki-5 satellite it was carrying was unable to separate, preventing it from entering service.

According to reports by Nikkei and Sankei newspapers, Shigeki Kobayashi, head of the launch response task force and the State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, told reporters later that day that the government regretted the failure and would conduct a thorough investigation into its cause.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said it was intensifying efforts to determine why the second-stage engine shut down earlier than expected. The incident marks the H3 rocket's second launch failure, following a similar second-stage problem during the launch of Michibiki-1 in March 2023.

The payload for the failed mission, Michibiki-5, was designed to support Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, a regional positioning network often described as Japan's version of GPS. Developed by Mitsubishi Electric and operated by the Cabinet Office, the satellite is intended for applications such as automotive navigation and location-based services.

Japan currently has five positioning satellites in orbit, including Michibiki-6, which was launched in February 2025. The government had planned to add Michibiki-5 and a seventh satellite scheduled for launch in February 2026, forming a seven-satellite constellation during fiscal year 2026. That system would have allowed Japan to achieve high-precision positioning using domestically built satellites, reducing its heavy reliance on the United States' GPS network.

The H3 rocket is intended to replace the H2A, Japan's previous mainstay launch vehicle, which is set to be retired in June 2025. Designed to compete in the rapidly expanding commercial launch market, the H3 aims to offer lower costs and greater operational flexibility to private-sector customers.

The eighth H3 mission was originally scheduled for Dec. 7 but was postponed after an anomaly was discovered in a rocket component during preparations. Although the rocket was placed on the launch pad on Dec. 16, engineers identified a separate issue with ground equipment, prompting a second delay.

It remains unclear whether the earlier technical problems were connected to Sunday's launch failure. JAXA officials said further analysis would be needed to determine whether the incidents shared a common cause.

Article edited by Jack Wu
The Taoiseach has his head in the sand over a united Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald has said, as she said there was no pressure on the UK Government to engage constructively on a border poll.

In an interview with the Press Association, Ms McDonald said the clause around a border poll was the beating heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

It states that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may order a border poll if it appears likely that a majority would vote for a united Ireland, but the circumstances for such an assessment have not been specified.

Asked if the lack of clearer parameters in the wording was a mistake, Ms McDonald said: I think it was one of these sort of constructive solutions, workarounds.

She added that she was aware that the decision would politically be made by the Prime Minister rather than the Northern Ireland Secretary.

And whilst Dublin is passive and whilst you have a Taoiseach with their head buried in the sand, theres no incentive  much less any pressure  on London to look constructively and to respond to the reality and the need for referendums.

She added: I think the Brits saying Oh, well, you know, well know when or were not saying  I dont think thats a sustainable position.

Ms McDonald said the only responsible position was to prepare for referendums.

She particularly criticised Taoiseach Micheal Martin as he called on him to prepare a green paper on Irish unity.

He has to become an enabler of this conversation. I mean, for the love of God, it should be a no-brainer that Irelands national interest is served by ending partition. You dont have to be some kind of economic guru to figure that out.

In the Borderland podcast produced by BBC Northern Ireland this year, former Sinn Fein Executive minister Michelle Gildernew referred to the six counties as a shithole.

Asked how this language could be used in convincing people to support a united Ireland, Ms McDonald distanced herself from the remarks: It certainly wouldnt be what I would say. Those six counties are six fantastic, beautiful Ulster counties.

However, she said partition had failed the whole island economically, socially and politically.

While those elected to the Assembly and Executive do their very best, Ms McDonald said they do so with one hand tied behind their back due to underfunding from the UK Government.

But you have other instances where there is real economic damage and real cost of having two of everything systemically on one small island.

Theres a cost attached to that, and theres no point in us pulling our punches and pretending that thats not the case. Partition is a problem, not just for the North. Its a problem for the whole island.

The UK and Irish Governments have hailed a reset in relations as precipitating progress on other Northern Ireland-related matters, such as reforms to dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.

However, the Sinn Fein leader said she feared this may amount to lip service as she said the Irish Government cannot blink on the matter.

Ireland took an interstate case over legacy legislation brought in by the previous Conservative Government, and indicated it will not drop the action until the reforms are passed.

Ms McDonald: We had big promises from Keir Starmer and from the Labour Party in advance of the election. I think they have resiled from the clarity of that position and yes, that worries me.

And we know that for lots and lots of people  victims, survivors, on all sides, including victims of the IRA  will tell you that far from these things being legacy or in the past, its still very much in the present with them.

We cant undo what has been done, you cant rewrite history. But what we can do is ensure that the mechanisms deployed are about the search for truth, that theyre about closure, in as much as you can bring closure.

And that they are not mechanisms to actually obscure what happened or to, for the purposes of the British state, to actually hide what actually happened, what their war in Ireland was actually about.

Ms McDonald said there are recent examples of victims questioning the bona fides of the British government.

Dublin still has their interstate case  and I think we need to be very, very clear. Either London will get this right or they will get it wrong, and if they get it wrong, the government in Dublin cannot blink.
Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision which occurred on the R730 at Killurin, county Wexford on Monday, December 22, 2025.

Gardai and emergency services were alerted to the collision, involving a car and a motorcycle at approximately 11.45pm.

READ NEXT: Irish road users urged to slow down over Christmas period to prevent fatal collisions

The male motorcyclist (20s) who was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment has since been transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

No other injuries were reported.

The road has been closed for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them.

READ NEXT: Met Eireann issue chilling Ireland weather update as two words dominate forecast

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 11.30pm to 12am are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on (053) 916 5200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Investigations are ongoing.
Trump renews call to take over Greenland

Xinhua) 10:12, December 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his call to take over Greenland, which triggered strong objections from Denmark and the European Union.

"We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. "They say Denmark owns it. Denmark has spent no money and has no military protection," Trump said.

Denmark is legally responsible for Greenland's defence and maintains military capabilities related to the island.

On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland.

"We have to have it (Greenland) and he (Landry) wanted to lead the charge," Trump said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Irish family syndicate who scooped a massive 17 million EuroMillions jackpot have revealed where they hid the winning ticket to keep it safe as the reality of their life-changing win slowly sank in.

The group officially claimed their 17m prize this week after matching all the numbers in the EuroMillions draw on December 12, with the winning ticket bought at Lidl in Cavan town. It marked Irelands 19th-ever EuroMillions jackpot win.

But while the celebrations were festive at Lottery HQ, the hours immediately after the draw were anything but calm.

One member of the syndicate said there were a lot of missed calls and some chaotic hours after they realised they were sitting on a ticket worth 17 million.

I was trying to call each of the syndicate members over and over, they said. Id say everyone had at least four missed calls from me, and it was probably a few hours before anyone returned my call.

Imagine sitting with a ticket worth 17 million and I cant get anyone on the phone. When I finally got a call back to deliver the news, they just kept asking was I sure!

READ MORE | 'That's me done!'- Familiar voice from RTE hangs up the mic after nearly 3 decades



With the value of the ticket weighing heavily on them, the family quickly decided it was safer out of the house.

The thoughts of having a ticket worth this much in the house was just too much, so the local bank put it in their safe, they revealed.

This all still feels very surreal so I think it will take a while to fully believe whats just happened.

As for plans, the syndicate said they are already dreaming big but keeping it family-focused.

We have a few things in mind, they said. Were hoping to buy homes for our close family members, and were looking forward to house hunting for a holiday home in France so we can enjoy holidays together.

READ MORE | All the best movies to watch on RTE over Christmas including recent blockbusters

The celebrations didnt stop there, with a Louth man also in good spirits after landing 25,287 in the December 20 Lotto draw with a Match 5 + Bonus win.

His ticket was bought at Londis Top Shop in Ravensdale, Dundalk, but he missed the draw live and only realised later what had happened.

I usually watch the draw live, and this was the one week I didnt, he laughed. When I checked my ticket, I tried calling the entire family and no one answered.

So I posted a message in our family WhatsApp group asking if anyone saw the Lotto and included a photo of my ticket with the results. The replies came flooding in once they saw that!

The lucky winner is now planning a celebratory holiday in the New Year.
The groundbreaking She Leads event, hosted at the Fairways Hotel Dundalk on 5th September 2025, has successfully raised over 8,900 to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse across the border region. The funds will be split equally among four vital charity partners: Women's Aid Dundalk, Drogheda Women's and Children's Refuge, Meath Women's Refuge and Support Services, and Women's Aid Armagh & Down.

The collaborative initiative brought together the presidents of six Chambers of Commerce  Dundalk, County Meath, Newry, Lisburn, Warrenpoint Burren and Rostrevor, and Drogheda all of whom are female leaders themselves, demonstrating the power of cross-border partnership in support of women's advancement.

The funds raised will provide crucial resources for women and children seeking refuge and support services across the region, helping these organisations continue their life-saving work in communities on both sides of the border.

Hanna McDonnell, President, Dundalk Chamber said: Dundalk Chamber was proud to collaborate with our fellow Chambers along the M1 corridor on the She Leads event, which demonstrated the strength of regional and cross-border partnership and the positive impact of business networks working together for social good. The event provided an excellent platform for connection and collaboration between Chambers, their members and key stakeholders across Dundalk, Louth and the wider cross-border region.

We are delighted that significant funds were raised to support women and children locally, and particularly pleased that Womens Aid Dundalk will benefit from this support, enabling them to continue their essential work within our community. She Leads highlights the important role Chambers play in promoting leadership, inclusion and meaningful community engagement.

Over 170 attendees gathered for an inspiring day of discussion, networking, and empowerment. The event, expertly hosted by Denise Watson, featured powerful contributions from leaders across business and politics.

A standout panel discussion saw businesswomen Sarah McAvoy, Caroline Duffy, and Tina Calder share insights on building resilience in business and overcoming challenges. The political panel brought together Liz Kimmins MLA, Minister for Infrastructure, and Louth TD Paula Butterly, who addressed the stark disparity in how women in politics are treated compared to their male counterparts.

The large business panel featured Jackie Reid, Orlaith Blaney, and Sandra Byrne, who demonstrated that breaking the glass ceiling isn't about fitting in, but rather learning to confidently make your mark while bringing others along with you.

The event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors and partners including Louth Local Enterprise Office, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Permanent TSB, SRC, Deli Lites, and Excalibur Press.

Ann Larkin, CEO Womens Aid Dundalk said: Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence knows no borders and affects individuals and families across all communities, backgrounds and stages of life. While awareness has grown, many people still lack information about the supports available and how best to help women and children experiencing violence in their homes.

Read Next: Louth house prices continue to rise with median now 355,000

The decision of the She Leads - Women Shaping Economies initiative to recognise and support the work of Womens Aid Dundalk is both significant and symbolic, particularly as we mark 30 years since the organisations foundation. So much has been achieved but still much to do and I hope that all who have gathered here today will look at the vast contribution that Women make when we come together with a shared vision to create opportunities for dialogue, connection and support.

The six Chambers of Commerce are announcing plans to make She Leads an annual fixture on the cross-border business calendar, continuing to champion female leadership while supporting vital causes in the community.

Women interested in attending future She Leads events or getting involved with their local Chamber of Commerce are encouraged to contact Dundalk Chamber on 042 933 6343.
February 4th

Employment in mid-Louth was dealt a heavy blow with the news that around 70 jobs are to be lost in Dunleer.

Glen Dimplex confirmed that approximately 70 jobs are to go at its Dunleer plant, with the process expected to be completed by October 2025, but said that it is committed to a multi-million investment in its facility in Dunleer so that it can be re-purposed to accommodate a relocation of the Groups fast growing sales and distribution arm (Glen Dimplex Ireland) and the 70 associated roles from Cloghran, County Dublin.

*****

The 2024 Ardee Municipal District Civic Awards took place in Ardee Courthouse.

Compered by Susan Deery, Administrative Officer, Louth County Council, opened with Cllr John Sheridan, Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, commenting on the depth and variety of those nominated and praising each winner on how they individually, or collectively, enhanced the greater community.

READ NEXT: Refusal for 80 homes outside Dundalk appealed

Cllr John Sheridan, Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, said: These awards will be forever recorded in the roll of Civic Honours retained by Louth County Council.

As councillors, we can see the impact that the 11 nominees have had on our communities in Ardee and Mid-Louth for many years and the positive impact and success of their work will be felt and remembered for many years to come.

February 11th

Three families in Dundalk were the first in Ireland to live in 3D printed houses.

The first residential housing development in the country constructed using 3D Construction Technology was completed by Louth County Council.

And the new residents of the 3D printed houses at Grange Close in Dundalk were over the moon to get their keys last week  making them the first people in Ireland and UK to live in 3D printed homes.

February 18th

The lack of a proper Covid 19 inquiry that would give Dundalk families answers as to why 22 people died in Dealgan House Nursing Home almost five years ago was raised again in Leinster House by Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu.

The Dundalk TD was speaking during a debate on the Programme for Government which did not include an all-encompassing Covid 19 inquiry.

The government has instead established an Independent Pandemic Evaluation Panel which is chaired by Professor Anne Scott which aims to provide a factual account of the overall strategy and approach to planning for and handling of the pandemic in Ireland covering the period 1 January 2020 to 28 February 2022.

Deputy O Murchu has, with a number of the Dealgan families, been calling since 2020 for an independent, public inquiry into how 22 people died in the Dundalk nursing home in April and May 2020.

*****

A man who attacked a woman who was running on the Carlingford/ Omeath greenway, has been jailed at Dundalk Circuit Court for five years and nine months.

The victim had previously told Judge Dara Hayes that she was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time, and was terrified for her own life and that of her baby.

Niall Nyol Tumelty (30) with an address at Coolderry, Carrickmacross pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman causing her harm and falsely imprisoning her at the Greenway, Ballyonan, Omeath, on September 25th 2021.

February 25th

Plans were announced for a redevelopment of the Long Walk Shopping Centre in Dundalk, with a planning application lodged with Louth County Council, which if given the go-ahead will see a new cafe and retail units.

Lindat Limited applied for planning permission for the development at the Long Walk Shopping Centre, which if given the green light, would principally consist of the amalgamation of Unit 12, 13/14, 15 and part of 16, to create an enlarged unit, and the change of use from retail to cafe, with the remaining area in Unit 16 to be used as a smaller retail unit.

The applicant also seeks the go ahead for the amalgamation of Unit 6, 7, 8 and 9, to create an enlarged retail unit, and the amalgamation of Unit 34, 35, 36 and 37; and the amalgamation and change of use of Unit 38

******

Confirmation from Louth County Council that all outstanding issues around the implementation of CCTV at litter hotspots have been resolved, has been welcomed by Sinn Fein's Councillor Antoin Watters saying the roll-out of CCTV at litter blackspots could not come at a better time.

*****

An Garda Siochana has updated its Physical Competency Test on the back of an external review carried out by Dr Michael McCorry from the Department of Humanities at Dundalk Institute of Technology
The Dundalk Chamber of Commerce magical North Pole Safairi Trail launched to celebrate ten years of their Shop Local Vouchers with 1,000 in Shop Local Vouchers as the main prize, has been extended to 5 January due to the overwhelming response to the competition.

Speaking on the launch of the trail, Dundalk Chamber CEO John McGahon said: We wanted to do something special to acknowledge of ten-year anniversary of Shop Local vouchers which ensure so much money stays in our local economy every year.

"We decided on the idea of a Christmas trail where people are encouraged to visit ten participating stores in Dundalk, scan the QR code that is on the trail poster in the shop windows."

The adventure is split into two themed routes:

The Workshop Route  Step inside Santas bustling workshop to meet the elves who make Christmas happen.

The Winterwood Route  Wander through snowy forests to discover the magical creatures of the North Pole.

The ten participating stores are: Rocksalt - Earl Street; McGuinness Pharmacy - Park Street; Ruby Nu - Park Street; Goldstar Jewellers - Demense; Dundalk Tourist Office- Market Square; Mankind - Clanbrassil Street; Roe River Books - Clanbrassil Street; Eddie Maguires - Church Street; Conlons Food Hall - Church Street; McEvoys - Clanbrassil Street.

Read also: PICTURES: Arthur's Archive - Reeling in the years across Louth

To take part, people just need to start at Rocksalt, scan the QR code in their window, and start from there. Once the trail is completed, they are automatically entered into the competition to win 1,000

If you can't complete the trail in full, you can also fill in the link below to be entered into the competition to win the 1,000 Shop Local Voucher.

https://thyg.uk/CQU048399
A judicial review into the proposed Metrolink in Dublin has been withdrawn, the Minister for Transport has said.

In a video posted on social media on Tuesday evening Darragh OBrien said: The mediation process has worked, the judicial review has been withdrawn.

He added that means were full steam ahead to go to tender and procure the project.

He said it will be transformative for North Dublin, Dublin city and the wider region.

Mr OBrien said he was delighted to hear the news and thanked all of those who were involved in the mediation process for reaching this agreement.

The 18.8km MetroLink rail line, most of which will be underground, is to run from north of Swords to Charlemont in the south of Dublin city centre at an estimated cost of 11 billion euros.

In October An Coimisiun Pleanala decided to grant permission generally in accordance with an inspectors recommendation, which is contained in a 1,600 page report.

In granting the railway order, it also allows for the compulsory acquisition of land for the project.

On November 26 it was reported 20 residents in Ranelagh had filed a judicial review application.

Various Metro projects for the capital have been proposed in recent decades, but none have yet proceeded to build stage  despite more than 100 million euros being spent on those planned routes.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers welcomed the news, saying it was a significant and hugely positive development which allows for the progression of this critical infrastructure project.

He also said reform of the judicial review system is a critical action point in the recently published Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan, which outlines how the government intends to improve the efficient delivery of infrastructure in Ireland.

He added that the government is committed to prioritising the public interest and supporting the delivery of important capital projects over narrow interests.
Cork Educate Together Secondary School (CETSS) recently welcomed Cork minister of state Jerry Buttimer to discuss the schools experience of operating from temporary accommodation at Griffith College and ongoing delays to the delivery of its permanent building.

The visit also provided Mr Buttimer with an opportunity to meet directly with students to learn about the schools unique culture, curriculum, and commitment to active citizenship.

The minister of state began his visit with a tour of the temporary premises, where students and principal, Colm OConnor, outlined the challenges posed by the current facilities. They highlighted constraints on space, shared amenities, and the limitations these place on delivering the full range of educational and extracurricular activities.

A key feature of the visit was Mr Buttimers discussion with fourth and fifth year students, who provided insight into the schools vibrant culture.

Changemakers

Mr Buttimer also learned about the schools distinctive Climate Action and Ethical Education programmes, which encourage critical thinking, empathy, and social responsibility.

Students also shared their experiences in Changemakers, a social activism subject that empowers them to engage with real-world issues, organise campaigns, and collaborate with local organisations to drive positive change.

School representatives then briefed the minister of state on the continued delays to the construction of their permanent building.

They stressed the need for transparent communication with the Department of Education and Youth, firm timelines, and decisive progress. Mr Buttimer acknowledged these concerns and committed to raising the issue with the Department to seek updated timelines and advocate for the projects advancement.

Speaking after the visit, principal OConnor expressed appreciation for Mr Buttimers engagement with both staff and students, noting that his willingness to listen is an important step toward securing the permanent school building the community urgently needs.
More than 140 complaints about water in the city were made so far this year, with more than half of these relating to discoloration and nearly a quarter from people saying they were ill as a result of the water.

Data provided to The Echo by Uisce Eireann on foot of a freedom of information request showed that 141 complaints were made to the utility body by people in the city between January and November of this year.

In general, complaints have decreased from the start of the year but are starting to rise again after lower summer figures.

There were 20 complaints made last January, 23 in February, 21 in March, 11 in April, seven in May, 13 in June, 12 in July and down to two in August. But this then jumped to nine in September, 11 in October and 12 in the month of November.

Of these complaints, almost half related to discoloration of water. This was most prevalent in the beginning of the year, with the start of the year providing the most discoloration complaints  13 complaints were made in January, 15 in February and 12 in March. In all, there were 70 such complaints in total.

The next most common reason, accounting for nearly one in four complaints, was reported illness, with 32 people saying they had become ill as a result of the water.

There were also 17 complaints about water quality in general and 16 complaints about water outages, as well as two complaints about the taste of the water, two about the waters odour, and one about a boil-water notice.

Of the 139 complaints, just one was listed as being still open and that was a November complaint about illness as a result of the water.

People Before Profit/Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy told The Echo: From the day this started, theyve been using statistics to mask the real scale of the problem and the impact its having.

Its as bad now as it ever has been, but a lot of people dont bother reporting it anymore, because Uisce Eireann just log the call and then do nothing about it, Mr McCarthy said.

As well as that, youll always have a temporary improvement after they do flushing, but thats just a stopgap, not a solution. Mr McCarthy added.

The real scandal, though, is that for three years, between Uisce Eireann, Cork City Council, and the Government, theyve done literally nothing to support people affected.

Where are the alternative clean-water supplies for people who cant use whats coming out of the tap?

Where are the water tankers for communities?

Where are the bottled-water vouchers?

An Uisce Eireann spokesperson told The Echo: "There was no verified case of illness due to drinking water quality related to any of the complaints received. All customer complaints that mention illness are treated seriously and promptly forwarded for investigation to determine if there is a water quality issue. Overall Irelands public water supplies are of very high quality, with over 99% of Irelands drinking water supplies fully compliant with drinking water standards.

"Uisce Eireann has been actively working to address water quality issues and has recorded notable improvements in Cork city. This follows the completion of the manganese removal and alkalinity boosting works at the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant, in addition to a substantial programme of works over the past 12 months.

"The dedicated water quality taskforce continues to work to minimise instances of discolouration across the city to ensure they do not exceed the typical frequency expected when operating a network of this age. As with all networks and particularly a network as old as Cork city, discolouration events can occur due to water main bursts, operational issues or localised network issues. We continue to strongly encourage customers to report instances of discolouration to help us respond in real time and to inform our short, medium and long-term remedial works.

"Uisce Eireann produces 1.7 billion litres of water a day in over 700 treatment plants which is supplied to 1.61 million homes and 173,000 businesses. To ensure drinking water is safe to drink. Uisce Eireann has an extensive water quality monitoring regime in place. Any exceedance to the drinking water regulations that could potentially impact public health is reported to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for their awareness and advice. In addition, all medical practitioners, including clinical directors of diagnostic laboratories, are required to notify the Medical Officer of Health (MOH)/Director of Public Health (DPH) of certain diseases.

"This information is used to investigate cases thus preventing spread of infection and further cases. Regular engagement between the HSE and Uisce Eireann takes place where this surveillance indicates possible water vectors of transmission. In these cases, evidence of treatment barrier performance and minimum disinfectant residuals in the network are provided on a case-by-case basis."
There were 403 inmates in Cork Prison yesterday, the highest figure on record.

The prison previously hit this record-setting figure when 403 people were incarcerated on August 19.

While figures had fallen slightly in the interim, they have remained consistently over the 296-bed capacity.

Currently, 107 inmates do not have a bed, representing 27%, as the prison is at 136% capacity. This is above the national average, which is 124%.

Newly published figures from the Irish Prison Service (IPS) for last year show that 80 women and 438 men with addresses in Cork were imprisoned, a total of 518 people, down from 550 the previous year.

Annual figures from the IPS previously highlighted by The Echo showed that assaults in the prison increased significantly in this time, while contraband seizures decreased.

In Cork Prison in 2024, there were 135 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, 15 direct physical assaults by prisoners on staff members, and three additional aggressive and threatening incidents.

There were 10 mobile phone, 12 weapon, and 40 drug seizures in 2024, a total of 62, which was down on 84 in 2022 and 114 in 2021.

Nationally, new figures show that, in 2024, the vast majority of persons committed to prison were Irish nationals, accounting for 75.4% of the total.

This was followed by individuals from the EU, who made up 11.7%.

In 2024, the most common reason for imprisonment nationally was theft and related offences, accounting for 1,012 sentences, followed closely by offences against government, justice procedures, and organised crime, accounting for 920 sentences.

Attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassment, and related offences were the third most common offences, totalling 737 sentences, followed by controlled drug offences (603), public order and other social code offences (492), and road and traffic offences (422).

Sexual offences accounted for 374 sentences, followed by burglary (312), damage to property and the environment (278), dangerous or negligent acts (185), weapons and explosives offences (166), and fraud and deception (153).

The least common offences leading to imprisonment were robbery, extortion, and hijacking (95), homicide (44), and kidnapping, at 15 sentences.
Christmas is a time of the year for reflection.

It is an opportunity to take stock of the year gone by, while also looking forward to what potentially lies in store for the 12 months ahead.

Religion is very much central to Christmas time for many families who are gathering together, as it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Echo spoke with religious leaders on Leeside to discuss their end-of-year messages and also their hopes for 2026.

In his message for the Christmas season, the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin, outlined that the areas at the forefront of his mind include peace, homelessness, and a sense of belonging.

If it is to make any sense, it is about something real and concrete in peoples lives, said Bishop Gavin.

I would take that message and prioritise peace in the world, but each of us being instruments of peace at a local level within our families and communities here in Cork.

The whole challenge and the homelessness, that we become people who make sure that is not possible.

The crib is that iconic symbol. But if you have children in

emergency accommodation, in many ways that is the opposite to what the Christmas message is.

That sense of belonging is what the Christian community is really about.

The hope for the year ahead is that our parishes and our communities will be places of belonging and friendship. For all people in our own community and the new Irish who are coming among us.

Bishop Gavin said that regarding the current world outlook and conflicts taking place across the globe, the importance of the message of peace has never been more relevant.

The angels came and talked about glory to God in the highest, peace to all those Gods favour rests on.

When you look at the world today particularly, and the parts that are torn apart, the disunity in different parts when I think about the

Ukraine, the Holy Land, and parts of Africa.

Even in our own world, we have seen a lot of violence here in Cork in recent months. That is not something that Cork people associate with and want to be part of.

So it is just that kind of message, that Christ is reminding us of the

importance of peace.

Bishop Gavin also touched upon the issue of isolation and loneliness being felt across the different age groups within society.

I see an increase in that sense of isolation, both of old people and of younger people. The biggest thing that young people are looking for is connection, it is about community, and it is about belonging.

The Christian message is really about Christ coming among us and building a community where everyone belongs.

It is about finding ways to bringing that community to those hidden signs of loneliness, whether it is older people living alone or young people stuck in the world of social media, and not having an awful lot of connection with real people.

In his message for the Christmas season, the Bishop of Cloyne,

William Crean, told The Echo one of the central themes on his mind is the message of forgiveness.

From drawing the jubilee year of hope to a close at this time, a key

concept in that year of hope is the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation in our lives. Wonderful thoughts that would be strong for me is that Christmas time is usually a happy time.

But sometimes it is old wounds or past hurts spoil the atmosphere. In this jubilee of hope, my thought is that it invites us to new beginnings and forgiveness.

That we might think seriously about the possibility in our own lives of a new beginning that we can make for ourselves or for others. By our own forgiveness or maybe an apology. That life is too short not to do that.

Looking ahead to 2026, Bishop Crean said his hope is for a more peaceful society.

One of the things that has

shocked me is the level of domestic violence in families.

The amount of fear and terror that women and children are

experiencing, it shouldnt be like that. Something of that needs to be addressed more strongly.

The other thing that I have

noticed is just the sheer level of

illegal drug use in the community. The destruction and havoc that it is creating in some families. At the end of the day, it is individual users who create the market.

My hope is that in some way that people who are enjoying the benefit of this huge availability of drugs

realise the damage that is being done.

This year was one of change for the Catholic Church, in which a new pope was elected in the form of Pope Leo XIV.

The Bishop Of Cloyne feels that the church is in very capable hands.

The way I sense it is that the

challenges facing the church worldwide are huge.

But Pope Leo XIV seems to face them with a real serene confidence that seems to be anchored by the guiding action of the holy spirit.

He has made it clear his desire to be a bridge builder, to be an

instrument of peace.

He has great experience in terms of his worldwide travels as an

Augustinian provincial general.

So, he is very much aware of the difficulties across the world. But he brings a real sense of serenity and calm to things.

I think that augers very well

both for the church and for his

engagement politically globally in the way that a Pope can.

Fr Kyrillos Hanna of the Coptic

Orthodox community in Cork, said he hopes the festive season will

bring peace and joy to the lives of people.

A chance for everyone to reset and recharge again. So, I hope for Christmas time that it will be a peaceful time and a good time.

Even for those who have

difficulty, that they can reach out to

kindness at this moment.

I know some people that they may have hard times and I wish for them to find kindness as well.

On his hopes for 2026, Fr Hanna said: We hope that everyone here in Cork, in Ireland and in our community as well to have a joyful and a peaceful time.

We hope as well that Christ brings us and everyone peace, confidence, and joy.
Santa Claus is to make an appearance at Fota Wildlife Park this week as it welcomes back visitors back following its official reopening after a 10-week closure due to an outbreak of bird flu.

To add to the festive atmosphere, Santa Claus will be on walkabout at Fota Wildlife Park today from 11am to 1.30pm, before returning to the North Pole to resume his busy Christmas schedule.

Visitors are reminded that Fota Wildlife Park will be closed on December 24, 25, and 26 and will reopen following the Christmas break on Saturday, December 27, at 9.30am.

With Christmas Day fast approaching, the park also highlighted that online gift vouchers remain available for a last-minute present for loved ones, and as a way to support conservation, education, and animal care.

A spokesperson for the park thanked everyone for the recent outpouring of support and said they look forward to welcoming visitors over the festive season and into the New Year. To pre-book tickets, go to www.fotawildlife.ie.

On Saturday, the park was formally reopened by minister of state Christopher OSullivan, at a festive event that was attended by invited guests and their families. Mr OSullivan recently announced additional funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to support the continuation of vital biodiversity conservation programmes.

Aileen Tennant, director of Fota Wildlife Park, said: After what has been a very challenging period, we are absolutely delighted to welcome visitors back through the gates of Fota Wildlife Park. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it means a great deal to our dedicated team, who have worked tirelessly to care for our animals and to prepare the Park for its reopening.

We are deeply grateful to the public and wider community for their continued support, including the generous donations, purchases, and remarkable goodwill shown over recent weeks by visitors, annual pass holders, and stakeholders. We are delighted to be open again and to once more share many special moments with our visitors.

We are also sincerely grateful to the NPWS and to the State for their recent financial intervention, which has secured critical investment in Irelands conservation infrastructure, ensuring that we can continue to deliver biodiversity recovery work.
In the lead up to Christmas, youd scarcely find a more heartwarming, joyful and happy place than Cork Airport.

Simply stand in our Arrivals area and you would witness the sheer emotion of family reunions, where loved ones touch down after extended periods abroad and return home to spend Christmas in various parts of Munster and beyond.

Youll often hear people comparing it to the opening scenes of that fabled festive film, Love Actually, where actor Hugh Grant, narrating, describes the atmosphere in London Heathrow Airport. Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the Arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport  General opinion is starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I dont see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere...

Love is a very important sentiment here at Cork Airport. The more astute readers out there will know that our airport slogan is Love Taking Off.

In the late 80s and early 90s, a genius marketing slogan for Cork Airport was created. Set in a bright red heart shape, the airport was known as Small Airport. Big Heart. Our current airport logo and slogan is a direct nod to that iconic and familiar brand of yesteryear.

An artist's impression of the new Arrivals hall at Cork Airport

While Cork Airport certainly could have been described as a small airport in the late 80s and early 90s, things have changed massively since  and there is more change to come.

In 2025, Cork Airport experienced its busiest year in its history with over 3.45 million passengers. A total of six new routes were added to our ever-expanding route network.

Next year, passengers from Munster, south Leinster and beyond can look forward to even more connectivity to some of Europes biggest and busiest hub airports served by some of the worlds most recognisable airlines. New routes to Nice, Santiago de Compostela and Antalya will start in the summer, and our Prague route will run year-round.

As our passenger numbers grow (theyve grown by one million in the last 10 years), and as the population in the wider Cork metropolitan area grows, our airport infrastructure needs to grow too. Thats why we announced a 200 million capital development plan in May, 2025. The plan sets out a range of different projects, each geared towards expanding our facilities, to enable further sustained growth into the years ahead.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport

Anyone who has passed through the airport since May will see the progress we have made already. From a standing start eight months ago, we have completed two significant construction projects in full  namely a new oversized baggage facility and the construction of a new staff and goods screening area at our Gate 19.

Key to further expansion is the construction of our new mezzanine floor, which will be the location of our new passenger security screening area. With a completion date of December, 2026, and work well advanced with steel supports already in place from our basement area, were going to introduce the most modern and efficient security screening equipment. This will mean that passengers wont need to remove their liquids or electronics from their hand luggage.

A new fast-track lane will also be introduced, enabling an even speedier service than the fantastic one that we already provide.

Our Arrivals area will also undergo a significant refurbishment, with a new cafe/bar, new car hire facilities and a new retail unit.

And thats not all. The enduring popularity of Cork Airport as an airport of choice has meant that we need to expand our car parking facilities. Over 700 new long-term spaces will be constructed next year. Were also going to build a new solar car port over our Holiday Blue car park, which will generate up to 20% of the airports electricity needs.

This represents the best use of land for solar development and will cover a significant number of cars whilst parked.

After 2026, were going to be focusing on some other key projects like more boarding gates, an expanded duty-free shop and a bigger and better executive lounge.

Further down the line, well demolish the old terminal and construct a new pier, which will add even more boarding gates and aircraft parking stands.

Were committed to efficient management of these various projects in the capital development plan. We have an excellent track record of delivering key infrastructure projects  on-time and on-budget. The full reconstruction of our runway in 2021 was a key example of that and our passengers, airline customers, airport stakeholders and the wider business community can have full confidence in us to deliver those projects, efficiently and cost-effectively.

In 2025, Cork Airport experienced its busiest year in its history with over 3.45 million passengers

Time and time again, our passengers compliment the efficient service, the friendly staff, the swift airport experience and the sheer convenience of flying from their local airport. Thats why Cork Airport was awarded the title of Europes Regional Airport by Airport Council International (ACI) Europe earlier this year. The accolade was awarded to Cork Airport for the third time in a decade.

With the various developments that are underway  will the famous airport experience that our passengers have grown to love change in any way? Well, I can safely say here and now that it wont and in fact, it will become even more efficient, even more enjoyable and even more convenient!

The once small airport with the big heart is going places and now contributes over 1 billion to the Irish economy. We know the love our passengers have for the airport, and we know that they, along with many more new passengers, will love the airport even more as we journey along the most exciting phase in our 65-year history.

Niall MacCarthy is the Managing Director of Cork Airport, Chair of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, and serves on the board of Visit Cork.
Over the Christmas season, one of the great gifts we all receive is the gift of a little extra time. For a few days, many of us are freer from the pressures and routines that fill our weeks for the rest of the year.

Our first priority in this season is to spend some of that time with the people who are closest to us  those who love, sustain and carry us in ways we often only fully notice when we finally slow down. I, too, look forward to spending time with my family and friends during the Christmas season.

Yet Christmas would not make sense if I didnt also give some of this time to the person whose birth we celebrate. In the Diocese of Cork and Ross, I have the privilege of celebrating Mass during the Christmas season and meeting many individuals and families who come to ask Gods continued blessing in their lives.

Christmas is a moment when we naturally reflect on the year that is ending and look forward with hope-filled hearts to the year that is about to dawn. We do this with honest hearts, because when we look at our world, it is hard not to feel the weight of war, violence and suffering. Closer to home, it is hard not to be moved by the reality of homelessness, the quiet loneliness many people experience and the anxiety that shadows so many lives.

Yet it is precisely in such a world that moments of hope matter most. One of the signs of hope and highlights of the past year for me was time spent in Rome with over one million young people from all over the world who celebrated the Jubilee of Youth with Pope Leo. More than 600 young adults from Ireland took part including over 50 from our diocese. In the Gospel, when the disciples are first sent out by Jesus to share the good news, they return rejoicing. That same joy was very visible in the young people who travelled to Rome last summer. They found their faith nurtured and affirmed and they experienced the strength that comes from realising they are not alone  that there are countless others their own age trying to live with purpose, hope and courage.

Here at home in Cork and Ross, we continue to create opportunities for young people who hunger for deeper meaning and who want to be supported by a living community of faith.

In March, we hosted Maranatha in City Hall, gathering almost 500 young people from 20 secondary schools in parishes throughout the diocese. It culminated in a high-energy, faith-filled music event that reminded all of us of something important: young people are not only the Church of tomorrow, they are a vital part of the Church today.

In September, over 450 pilgrims travelled to Lourdes including over 70 sick/infirm pilgrims who were assisted by volunteers  school student helpers, young adult helpers, nurses, doctors and pilgrims from parishes throughout the diocese. It was a memorable pilgrimage, because it was real: people of all ages journeying together, supporting one another, praying together and discovering again that compassion is not merely an idea but something we live together.

During the past year, a great deal of time, prayer and work was invested by lay people, religious, deacons and priests from every Family of Parishes who took part in prayerful conversations to discern what the future of our faith communities will look like. It has been encouraging to see how many are passionately concerned about sustaining and growing their parishes and faith communities and their commitment to be part of that future.

We are committed, as a diocese, to growing faith communities that extend a warm welcome to everyone, help people of all generations to grow in faith and deepen their relationship with Christ and reach out in a spirit of mission  especially to those most in need. In a society where many feel isolated, the Family of Parishes can be a place of belonging: a community where people are known, valued and supported through the joys and burdens of life.

The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Bishop Fintan Gavin, led the annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession which took place on June 22, 2025 through the streets of Cork City. This year marked the 99th anniversary of the inaugural Procession. Picture: Brian Lougheed

How people express their faith has changed greatly over the years, but many of our sacred traditions remain. One of these is the annual procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Cork City and in many of our towns and rural parishes. Last June, Cork Citys Corpus Christi Procession was the best attended in many years. Its success is a tribute to the many people who helped to make it happen. That was the 99th anniversary of the first procession that was held in Cork.

This means that in 2026 we will be celebrating the centenary of the very first Corpus Christi Procession in Cork City. This will be a special milestone, not only for the history of the Catholic community in Cork, but also for our wider city and its suburbs. Today, the procession reflects a city enriched by peoples of many cultures and languages, yet united in one bond of faith. I look forward to bringing the Blessed Sacrament in prayer through the streets of our city during that historic procession.

As we celebrate Christmas and step into a new year, I want to thank all those who quietly keep the fabric of our community strong: parents and grandparents, teachers and carers, health professionals and emergency services, volunteers, parish workers and all who look out for neighbours who are struggling.

If Christmas teaches us anything, it is that small acts of love matter  making room for someone, sharing what we have and refusing to let anyone be invisible.

May the light of Christ, the Prince of Peace, bring comfort to those who are grieving, hope to those who are anxious and strength to all who are carrying heavy burdens. And may this Christmas help us, each in our own way, to build a Cork that is more compassionate, more welcoming and more at peace this Christmas season and into 2026.
Returning to work after maternity leave can be daunting for many women.

But if youre the leader of a political party and your door-to-door commute  without stopping  is four and a half hours, theres a bit more involved.

Thats the scenario that faced the leader of the Social Democrats party, Holly Cairns, when she returned to work in September, nine months after giving birth to her daughter  on polling day.

But despite admitting feeling worried and experiencing some dread at how shed manage the logistics, not returning to the role was never going to be an option.

It is a lot, admitted Holly, who was elected party leader in 2023.

And before going back, I thought, no way is this going to work, the commute is not manageable. But then, Id have asked if I could have had a baby and also be the leader of a party, and Ive have said the same. Or if I could do that in an election year? Not possible! Or given birth on polling day? So Im determined to make it work, it has to be manageable.

The West Cork woman says she hears time and time again from other females how theyd like to get involved in politics, but that they either have a family, or would like one and think that it has to be one or the other.

I have to make it work to pave a way to get more women into politics, so Im making it possible at the moment, said Holly.

She says shes in the privileged position of having her partner, Barry Looney, who runs his family-owned business, The West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen, in Dublin with her and their daughter during the week, and they return home at the weekend.

Ive been so lucky to have them both close by, as Id find it hard to leave her for even a day. Its made the transition unexplainably easier and manageable, said Holly, who has a cot and changing station in her Dail office and admits to feeling somewhat of a novelty.

Logistically, it would have been impossible to do this on my own, she said.

But this arrangement is only until Christmas. In January, well have to find another plan. So the reality is that its kind of mad! Were just figuring things out as we go along.

Holly with her daughter at Leinster House in Dublin.

Childcare has been something Holly has always been vocal about as a public representative, and the obstacles shes facing personally arent new to her.

Her options, she said, are to leave her daughter in West Cork for three or four days a week; or bring her up and down with her on her own, but she cant even get a creche place as the Dail creche is full.

But she said these are issues that loads of people face, and shes not blindsided by them, and doesnt wish to overstate her situation.

Holly announced her pregnancy on Instagram in June, 2024, and said it was something she and Barry had wanted for a long time.

While Im delighted to share this news now, I was initially hesitant because, like so many other couples hoping to start a family, ours has not been a straightforward journey, she said, later disclosing that she had had two miscarriages over the previous year.

The day The Echo chatted with Holly, her one-year-old had had her parents up for most of the night.

Her eighth tooth is on the way, and, in general, Id have to say that she doesnt love sleep  but thats just part and parcel of having a one-year-old.

Its surprising how little sleep you need to exist! said Holly, who said that shes had the best year of her life.

Since becoming a mother, shes more aware of where she puts her energy.

I am better at trying to achieve a work-life balance, as theres now stiff competition for my time, in my daughter.

I find Im laser focused and dont spread myself too thinly, Im probably more effective and efficient, and I feel Ive less patience, and dont have time for any deliberate time-wasting in Dail Eireann and especially during Leaders Questions, she said.

Issues on her desk at the moment include the housing crisis.

There will be more than 5,000 homeless children this Christmas  its a crisis, and the government has to act accordingly, she said.

The government, she said, is just dusting down already failed plans for housing, and she repeated the Social Democrats call to acquire a modular homes factory.

Im not seeing any political will on promises being made during the election campaign, and its about holding the government to account continually, she said.

Simon Harris, she said, promised a public model of child care during the election campaign, and 100 days on there hasnt been a mention of it.

We are never going to reach gender equality unless we get that, she said.

With her trademark honesty, Holly said she doesnt want to sugar coat her situation, but instead of it feeling like a deterrent to women to entering politics, she said, its the reason why we need you.

For now, though, its about enjoying a family-focused Christmas in West Cork.

Does she make any New Year resolutions?

Politics can be all-consuming, so Id like to find something separate to my work and my family  even if I dont know what that is yet!
Im going cold turkey this year. I cant take it anymore.

Never a consummate turkey cook, I managed to drag one to my Christmas table most years. Kicking and screaming. Me, not the turkey.

The real trouble began on Christmas Day, 2023. I had just returned from my bracing Christmas swim followed by an outdoor hot toddy. So, the form was good. Time to take the turkey out and start the work to feed my family of four and our six guests.

Our fridge being overpopulated as usual, I had left the turkey to defrost in the shed. Therein lay the recipe for disaster.

It had been an unseasonably warm lead up to Christmas that year. The shed was not cold enough and when I took the turkey out of its wrapping, it stank. I nearly started to cry. This was Christmas morning after my swim when everyone else had gone home to cook their dinner. There was nobody I could borrow a turkey from.

Time to get creative with spuds. There were roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, chips and lashings of stuffing that year. The middle of the table seemed a little empty but the ham took pride of place, happily basking in the unaccustomed limelight. I filled my guests with drink and seafood starters and nobody really seemed to mind.

Cut to Christmas, 2024, and the swim was a joyous affair with people running around with hot whiskies as well as the hot ports that I had made.

Again, the mood was elevated, festive even. I took my carefully defrosted turkey out of the fridge that had been cleared specially. I had learned my lesson the previous year. That wouldnt happen to me again, I thought smugly.

I turned on the oven and started prepping the turkey, smearing him with butter and salt. After half an hour or so, he was glistening, plump, beautiful.

I turned again to the oven. There was something strange going on. No red light. No sound. Nothing at all. The oven was cold.

The oven wont come on, I shrieked. The kids and my husband came running. But there was nothing they could do. It was past noon on Christmas Day.

My turkey was ready to roll and my oven wouldnt turn on.

My husband rang my brother who instructed him to try various tacks, but they didnt work. The problem was insurmountable. There were no shops open.

The turkey as always was the planned centre piece of our Christmas dinner and we couldnt cook it. I ran next door. From my frantic look, they knew I hadnt dropped in to enquire what did ya get from Santy? Are you going to your mothers for dinner? I asked with hope in my heart. Oh no, were cooking here. Shes coming here. We have the turkey in the oven.

Lucky ducks to be able to utter those sweet words. So no chance of sticking my turkey in their oven then. A bright idea dawned. Another neighbour was away and my next door neighbours had the key to her house. The day and the dinner were saved.

We took turns in sitting in the empty house while the turkey cooked in their oven. We werent leaving him unattended in case he jumped out of the oven and legged it. All ended well.

However, I am not tempted to try my luck again this year.

Of course, the same thing could have happened with a goose or indeed ducks. But could I take a goose as seriously? It could have been the early exposure to the drunken geese in the Lady and the Tramp or the juxtaposition of silly and goose, but somehow a goose does not have the emotional clout of a turkey.

Maybe it can all be traced to the year when I was 10 and my father bought a live turkey a couple of weeks before Christmas.

I decided he would be my plaything. Despite my mothers warnings of the pecking threat, I took to tearing around the garage with the turkey racing after me with gusto. My turkey was an amusing new companion and I was distraught when I realised he was for the chop.

I will not be eating turkey on Christmas Day, I said, tearfully. And I didnt. The parents never tried that experiment again.

Every year, the turkey came home from the shop and I helped my mother prepare it with anticipation and ate it with delight.

My sacrifice of the live turkey year never forgotten, I enjoyed the turkey all the more, just as long as I didnt have to think about where it came from.

But now the time has come to break the bond. The relationship is over and therell be no talk of turkey in this house this year.

My goose will be cooked slowly and therell be ducks. I will have no carcass to pick over.

Gobble, gobble will become the ghostly sound of Christmas past.
Investigative reporter John Carreyrou of the New York Times filed a lawsuit against xAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Meta and Perplexity on Monday for allegedly training their AI models on copyrighted books without permission. Carreyrou is perhaps best known for exposing the Theranos fraudulent blood test scandal.

According to Reuters , the lawsuit was filed alongside five other writers who all claim big tech companies have been violating their intellectual property rights in the name of building large language models.

This comes after a banner year for IP lawsuits against AI companies brought by rights holders. Just about every type of entity that deals in protected content has gone to court against AI companies this year, from movie studios like Disney and Warner Bros. to papers like the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune . Some of these cases have led to settlements in the form of partnerships, such as the licensing deal between Disney and OpenAI.

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It's notable that this case is being brought by a small group of individuals instead of as a class action, something the authors involved say is no accident. "LLM companies should not be able to so easily extinguish thousands upon thousands of high-value claims at bargain-basement rates," the complaint reads. This is also the first case of its kind to list xAI as a defendant.

A spokesperson for Perplexity told Reuters that the company "doesn't index books." Anthropic, for its part, is no stranger to lawsuits from book publishers, having recently settled a class-action lawsuit brought by half a million authors for $1.5 billion. Apple was also sued earlier this year amid similar allegations. This latest complaint mentions the Anthropic settlement specifically, saying that class members in that case will only receive "a tiny fraction (just 2 percent) of the Copyright Acts statutory ceiling of $150,000."

Engadget has reached out to xAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Meta and Perplexity for comment and will update with any response.
Nicki Minaj found herself at the receiving end of serious hate on social media after getting embroiled in a tense situation at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest event in Phoenix on Sunday.

The Grammy-nominated rapper attended the conservative event to discuss issues with Erika Kirk, the wife of political commentator Charlie Kirk, who was tragically killed earlier this year. This event took place amid controversy over the rapper's political statements, including her support for Donald Trump and her rants against Democratic leadership.

During the discussion, Minaj appeared to slip up, a slip that immediately drew widespread attention because of its context. As quoted by HotNewHipHop, Minaj made these comments in response to the public, referring to political leaders.

In a video clip later posted on The Neighborhood Talk, Minaj said, "You have amazing role models like the assassin JD Vance, our vice president. And when I say that... Mm....", per Parade. Minaj was immediately struck dumb by what she was saying, recognizing the meaning in the company in which she found herself, having been conversing with the widow of a man who was killed by a bullet.

Despite this, the conference continued the conversation uninterrupted. There was no public escalation from Erika Kirk on the matter, and Minaj moved on with the speech, which included politics, public perception, and the ability to address issues such as this in public speaking engagements.

Videos of the incident spread rapidly on social networks, with both criticism and justification from various onlookers, who found this statement to be an accident rather than an intentional act.

Minaj's performance at AmericaFest also comes after some very public disagreements with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whom she has accused of not addressing her concerns about swatting at her homes. Minaj has made it a point to say she does not engage in partisan politics, but her statements have often been open to interpretation.

Participation in Turning Point USA events has also brought her alignment with conservatives into the spotlight, a stance that continues to spark divided opinions. Minaj has not made any public announcement explaining the message she intended to convey.

This has contributed to public discourse on the role that celebrities play in high-profile events. According to the source, despite the incident, public reaction has been mixed, with some focusing on the language used in this context. In contrast, others consider the broader context of Minaj's frank public persona.

Originally published on Music Times
By Stephen Beech

Arctic reindeer numbers could decline by 80% within 75 years due to global warming, say scientists.

Santa may be looking for a new species to pull his sleigh as climate change is likely to cause declines in reindeer populations at rates rarely seen over the last 21,000 years, according to a study.

Reindeer - also known as caribou in North America - are an Ice Age species that have survived many episodes of Arctic warming.

They are uniquely adapted to Arctic environments, where they regulate ecosystems and sustain the livelihoods of many indigenous people.

But, despite being one of the most abundant herbivores in the Arctic, climate change has contributed to a loss of nearly two-thirds of their global number over the last three decades.

An international research team looked back 21,000 years and examined how reindeer responded to previous climatic events, asking whether they will be able to cope in the future.

Lead investigator Dr Elisabetta Canteri, of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said: Using fossils, ancient DNA and computer models, we reconstructed changes in the abundance and distribution of reindeer over the past 21,000 years at resolutions never done before, and we directly compared these to future predictions.

This revealed that populations of reindeer have experienced major declines during periods of rapid climate warming, but the losses expected in the coming decades due to future climate change are likely to be even more severe than those in the past.

Populations in North America are "particularly vulnerable," according to the findings published in the journal

Science Advances.

Study co-leader Professor Damien Fordham, of the University of Adelaide in Australia, said: Our forecasts show that these North American caribou populations are most at risk from climate warming, with declines of up to 80% likely by 2100 unless there are major cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and increased investment in wildlife management and conservation.

These declines are likely to have far-reaching ecological implications that will further increase the vulnerability of caribou in North America and reindeer in Eurasia to climatic warming and other stressors.

The research team say reindeer and caribou help maintain plant diversity in the tundra by feeding on some and influencing how others grow, meaning that where they disappear, plant diversity is likely to decline.

University of California Professor Eric Post, who also contributed to the research, said: A reduction in tundra plant diversity resulting from the loss of reindeer and caribou will have many cascading effects, including reduction of carbon storage in Arctic soils.

Continued losses will likely further exacerbate climatic warming through release of soil carbon to the atmosphere, which of course would further threaten reindeer and caribou as well as ourselves.

For thousands of years, the well-being of our own species has benefitted directly from healthy reindeer and caribou populations.

"Now more than ever we need to ensure their well-being in turn.

Professor Fordham says the results of the research show urgent action is required.

He added: Increasing investment in the management and conservation of reindeer and caribou populations, particularly in North America, where losses are forecast to be greatest, will benefit the persistence of this species and the services it provides to Arctic ecosystems and the communities that depend on them."
LANCASTER, Ohio  The former executive director of the Pickerington Food Pantry was indicted on felony charges after an investigation found that she falsified business documents, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Pickerington Police Chief Tod Cheney announced.

Vanessa Niekamp, 55, of Pickerington, was indicted Dec. 10 in Fairfield County Common Pleas Court on charges of telecommunication fraud, a third-degree felony; identity fraud, a third-degree felony; and forgery, a fourth-degree felony.

An investigation by the Pickerington Police Department found that Niekamp, as executive director of the nonprofit, falsified grant submission forms by altering an audit report.

Niekamp is also a member of the Pickerington School Board and the fiscal officer for the Violet Township Trustees.

At the request of the Fairfield County Prosecutors Office, the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney Generals Office is handling the case.

Indictments are criminal allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
UK pig producers are being warned they could face at least 40 days without pig movements if African swine fever reaches the country, as recent outbreaks in Spain prompt renewed calls for tighter biosecurity and contingency planning.

While the immediate risk to UK farms has not changed, the latest cases highlight the scale of disruption ASF could cause if it were detected here. Julian Sparrey, group technical director at Livetec Systems, said the outbreaks underline why producers must remain prepared.

The cases in Spain are part of the ongoing ASF situation across Europe, he said. They highlight the potential impact an outbreak could have here, and why producers must stay one step ahead of ASF and other disease threats.

Mr Sparrey said that in the event of an outbreak, pig units within restriction zones could be unable to move pigs for a minimum of 40 days. He warned producers need to consider now how such restrictions would affect space availability, pig flow, staffing and overall business continuity.

Pressure-testing contingency plans now is critical to business resilience and to regaining disease freedom as quickly as possible, he said.

The most likely route for ASF entering the UK, Mr Sparrey added, remains contaminated, illegally imported or undeclared meat rather than live animal movements. To limit the risk of on-farm spread, he urged producers to review all key transmission routes, including people and vehicle movements, hygiene procedures and site layout.

Effective biosecurity doesnt always require major investment, he said. Small, practical improvements can make a significant difference if theyre consistently applied.

Mr Sparrey also highlighted the growing risk posed by wild boar and other pig populations, which can be difficult to monitor or control. He warned that nose-to-nose contact could provide a pathway for disease transmission beyond the farm gate.

While ASF poses no risk to human health, it is highly contagious among pigs, he said. Measures such as double fencing to prevent incursions may be justified in higher-risk areas.

Rare breed pig keepers are also being encouraged to ensure their animals are properly registered and that suitable quarantine facilities are available, which could help protect them from culling depending on the epidemiological circumstances.

Throughout the year, AHDB, working with Livetec Systems and the National Pig Association, has hosted vet-led workshops to improve ASF preparedness. Mr Sparrey said external assessments can help identify weaknesses that may otherwise be missed.

It can be difficult to spot vulnerabilities on your own farm, he said. Regular biosecurity reviews allow producers to make steady improvements. We have time now and we should use it.
Quad bike thefts in Northumbria have surged by 276% this year, costing farmers an estimated 89,000 and prompting a security alert from NFU Mutual amid warnings that organised criminals are increasingly targeting rural areas.

Figures released by the rural insurer show the sharp rise compares with the whole of 2024, while the number of quad bike and all-terrain vehicle theft claims in the county has more than doubled over the same period.

NFU Mutual said the scale of the increase underlines the growing threat posed by rural crime. The warning comes as quad bike theft continues to rise nationally, with NFU Mutual estimating losses of 2.7m across the UK in 2024 alone, based on its claims data.

NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist Hannah Binns described the trend as incredibly alarming, stressing that quad bikes and ATVs are vital for everyday farm operations, particularly in upland areas where access can be difficult. She said thefts can cause major disruption to farming businesses.

Ms Binns said organised criminal gangs often monitor farms in advance, identifying where vehicles are stored before returning to steal them. She added that rural crime extends well beyond financial loss, saying it has a real impact on the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families, leading to stress and sleepless nights amid fears offenders may return.

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to review their security arrangements, including removing keys when vehicles are not in use and keeping quad bikes locked away and out of sight. Physical deterrents such as steering locks and wheel clamps can also be effective, as thieves typically seek a quick escape.

The insurer is also recommending GPS-enabled tracking devices and immobilisers, which can trigger alerts if tampering occurs and help police recover stolen vehicles.

Efforts to tackle agricultural theft are being supported by closer collaboration between insurers and law enforcement. NFU Mutual has campaigned on rural crime for more than 20 years and is a major funder of the National Rural Crime Unit, sharing claims data and intelligence to identify patterns and high-risk areas.

That partnership has delivered results, with the National Construction and Agri Theft Team, which sits under the NRCU, seizing 4.4m worth of stolen agricultural vehicles and machinery in 2024.

DS Christopher Piggott, who heads up the team, warned that criminals are exploiting shorter days and longer nights to target farms. He urged farmers to take extra care securing equipment at the end of the working day, saying a few extra minutes could prevent the distress of becoming a victim of crime. He also encouraged reporting any suspicious activity or vehicles to police, noting that online reports can play a crucial role in linking investigations.

NFU Mutual said it offers a range of incentives to help farming and rural customers invest in prevention, including policy discounts for approved trackers, immobilisers, CESAR marking and mechanical security devices.

With thefts rising sharply and criminals becoming more organised, the insurer warned that vigilance and early action remain critical to protecting essential farm equipment and preventing further losses across the countryside.
The governments move to ban trail hunting has been branded virtue signalling by countryside campaigners, amid warnings that its new Animal Welfare Strategy prioritises ideology over evidence and risks damaging farming, wildlife and rural communities.

The strategy confirms plans trailed in Labours manifesto, including banning trail hunting and outlawing snare traps. While the Countryside Alliance said it supports the highest standards of animal welfare, it warned that reform must be grounded in science and proportionality, not symbolic bans.

The Alliance said the measures outlined could have far-reaching consequences for the countryside if they are pursued without proper evidence. It warned that farmers, rural communities and biodiversity could all be adversely affected.

As the government consults on the proposals, the organisation said it would continue to engage with ministers to ensure future policy genuinely delivers for people, animals and wildlife.

The Alliance said blanket bans rarely improve outcomes, arguing they are often driven by emotion and ideology rather than evidence. It warned the strategy risks becoming little more than virtue signalling, with unintended and harmful consequences.

It also questioned why the strategy targets practices already regulated, citing puppy farming, which was banned years ago and covered by extensive 2018 regulations. Further legislation, the group said, risks duplication rather than meaningful improvement.

Campaigners raised similar concerns over a proposed closed season on hares, warning it would not boost populations but would weaken fox control. That, it said, could further threaten vulnerable species such as curlew and lapwing.

While supporting higher welfare standards, the Alliance warned they are meaningless without matching import rules. It said government promises on food security would ring hollow unless trade policy reflects the same standards.

Without equivalent standards applied to imports, the organisation argued, higher welfare rules risk exporting British farming overseas. The result, it said, would be greater reliance on imported food and further damage to domestic producers already under strain.

The Alliance said farmers need a level playing field and long-term stability to invest. Instead, it warned that rising costs, falling incomes, market distortion and new tax pressures are leaving family farming with an increasingly uncertain future.

It also accused the government of overlooking existing animal welfare law, pointing to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which embedded the five freedoms nearly twenty years ago. The priority now, it said, should be enforcement rather than more legislation.

On trail hunting, the Alliance said the proposed ban was contradictory, noting that hunts adopted the practice after being instructed to do so under the Hunting Act 2004. That legislation followed more than 700 hours of debate, yet campaigners said the same evidence is once again being ignored.

In seeking to ban the very practice it once directed hunts to follow, the government, the Alliance warned, risks repeating past mistakessubstituting evidence-based policy with political symbolism, and leaving the countryside to deal with the consequences.
Marvel Studios has officially set the internet ablaze with the release of the first teaser for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. In a move that few saw coming, the teaser confirms the monumental return of Chris Evans to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Steve Rogers, the original Captain America.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Russo Brothers (@therussobrothers)









The short clip, which released in theatres alongside Avatar: Fire and Ash, offers a grounded and emotional look at the legendary hero. In the footage, Steve Rogers is seen riding a motorcycle through a quiet, suburban setting, eventually pulling up to a 1950s-style house. The scene feels like a direct continuation of his ending in Avengers: Endgame, where he chose to stay in the past to live a full life with Peggy Carter.

In an emotional moment, Steve is shown looking at his old Captain America suit before putting it away, seemingly choosing his domestic life over his superhero duties. However, the biggest surprise comes when he is shown holding a newborn baby, hinting at a new chapter for the character as a father. The teaser concludes with the familiar text, "Steve Rogers will return for Avengers: Doomsday," followed by a ticking countdown clock leading to the films release on December 18, 2026.

This is not the only major return keeping fans on their toes. While Chris Evans is back as the Star-Spangled Avenger, Robert Downey Jr. is also returning to the franchise, but with a massive twist. Instead of playing Iron Man, Downey Jr. will play the film's main antagonist, Doctor Doom. Apart from these stars, Chris Hemsworth is also confirmed to return as Thor, further solidifying the reunion of the MCU's "Big Three."

Directed by the Russo Brothers, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be a massive crossover event. With the return of fan-favorite veterans and the introduction of a new, dangerous threat, the road to December 2026 promises plenty of excitement for Marvel fans worldwide.



Also Read: Chris Evans to return to MCU with Avengers: Doomsday
Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko has received major relief in the drug related case registered against him earlier this year, after forensic examination reports confirmed that no narcotic substances were detected in his body. Police officials have indicated that the findings have substantially weakened the case, making it difficult to move forward with further legal action based on the evidence currently available.



The development comes months after the actors name figured prominently in a police operation in Kochi that attracted widespread attention. At the time, the incident sparked intense speculation, largely due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the raid and the actors sudden exit from the premises. With the forensic reports now ruling out drug consumption, the focus has shifted to the lack of concrete evidence in the case.



According to sources within the investigation team, the chemical analysis of the biological samples collected from Shine returned negative results for banned substances. In the absence of both physical recovery and medical confirmation, officials have acknowledged that the case no longer has strong legal footing.





The Hotel Raid And The Escape



The case dates back to the night of April 16, when the Kochi City polices District Anti Narcotics Special Action Force carried out a raid at a hotel in Kaloor. The hotel falls under the jurisdiction of the Ernakulam Town North police station. The operation was initiated following specific intelligence inputs regarding a suspected drug peddler believed to be staying at the property.



During the raid, Shine was present at the hotel. Moments after police officers arrived, the actor fled the premises, an act that immediately raised suspicion among the investigators. CCTV footage later examined by the police became central to the case and was widely discussed.



The visuals reportedly showed Shine escaping from his third floor room through a window. He was seen landing on the asbestos roofing of the floor below, moving across the swimming pool area, and eventually leaving the premises as a pillion rider on a two wheeler. Despite the dramatic nature of the escape, the raid did not result in the recovery of any narcotic substances from the room linked to the actor.



As no drugs were seized, Shine was not booked for possession or recovery under narcotics laws at the time. However, citing the suspicious circumstances surrounding his flight from the hotel, the police went on to register a case.





Forensic Reports Shift The Narrative



Following the registration of the case, investigators summoned Shine for questioning as part of the probe. During this phase, biological samples including blood, hair, and nail clippings were collected from the actor. These samples were sent for chemical analysis to determine whether he had consumed any prohibited substances.



The forensic reports have now confirmed that the samples tested negative for narcotics. Police officials have privately admitted that, without physical evidence or proof of consumption, pursuing the case further would be legally challenging. While the case has not been formally closed yet, sources suggest that the scope for additional action has narrowed significantly.



For Shine Tom Chacko, known for his intense performances and unconventional choices on screen, the relief comes after months of uncertainty. The incident had placed him under public scrutiny and triggered broader conversations within the film industry about suspicion, due process, and reputational damage.



At this stage, the forensic findings have altered the course of the case, reinforcing the principle that suspicion alone cannot replace evidence. Whether the police choose to formally close the matter or let it lapse remains to be seen, but the actor has, for now, emerged with a crucial legal reprieve.







Also Read: Kathir and Shine Tom Chacko Lead a Forest Thriller in Emcy Josephs Meesha Trailer




Treating cooling and heating as siloed, disconnected systems is an outdated yet still common mindset that results in wasted energy, higher greenhouse gas emissions, and unnecessary costs.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / A significant portion of global energy use and industrial emissions stems from heating and cooling operations. The European Environment Agency reports that heating and cooling in the industrial sector are responsible for approximately 20-25% of Europe's CO2 emissions. These systems have traditionally functioned in isolation for decades, with separate installation and management. This fragmented approach means that useful energy is often wasted, including rejected heat from cooling condensation and excess heat from heating operations. However, there's an alternative to this inefficient model.

The opportunity

A fresh approach to thermal energy production, recovery and reuse provides a direct route to reducing carbon emissions, improving efficiency, maximizing energy utilization, and decreasing operating expenses across industries. By challenging conventional thinking, integrated thermal management systems allow industrial facilities to capture, redirect and distribute thermal energy throughout their operations. This holistic perspective is essential for industrial decarbonization - lowering emissions, reducing expenses and achieving genuinely carbon-neutral operations.

A law of physics

The first law of thermodynamics states that 'energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another.' This fundamental principle highlights the opportunity: when we think "thermally", we see how energy rejected in one place, i.e. by the chiller, can become useful heat at another point in the processes.

Temperature control through cooling and heating is critical in food and beverage production for safeguarding food safety, preserving product quality and prolonging shelf life. Maintaining appropriate temperatures inhibits harmful bacteria and pathogen development, guaranteeing that products are safe to consume. Accurate temperature management also retains the intended texture, taste and nutritional content of food and beverages, ensuring uniform product quality.

Across other industries, heating and cooling support process consistency, material preservation and secure storage. These requirements can be fulfilled much more effectively through a comprehensive approach using an all-electric thermal management system.

Transitioning siloed heating and cooling plants into holistic thermal systems

Energy consumes more energy than any other sector globally, according to a McKinsey report. In 2017, it accounted for 149 million terajoules, with almost 45% of that total attributed to the generation of heat for industrial processes. European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) data show that process heating contributes to much of the 2,388 TWh of final energy industry uses for heating and cooling purposes.

Traditionally, heating has come from boilers burning fossil fuels, while cooling relied on electric chillers. These systems are designed and operated separately, ignoring the thermodynamic link between them. Consider the following:

Industrial processes often require simultaneous heating and cooling.

Chillers generate heat as a by-product of the cooling process, which is often rejected into the atmosphere or surrounding environment.

There are often additional sources of waste energy that can be repurposed by heat pump technology, such as excess heat/cooling of compressed air, decentralized refrigeration systems, and ventilation systems.

A design in which chiller and boiler plants work alongside each other as separate systems is no longer justifiable. Heat pumps make it possible to repurpose waste heat for low and medium-temperature requirements without consuming additional fossil fuel.

Case Study: Organon

Based in Oss, the Netherlands, pharmaceutical manufacturer Organon adopted a thermal management mindset, showing that integrating decentralized heat pumps can improve energy efficiency by replacing central heating boilers.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Organon is gradually installing Trane heat pumps across various buildings. The first project, completed in May 2024, involved installing two water-to-water heat pumps (RTSF 070 G) in a manufacturing facility, providing cooling for compressed air treatment and recovering the heat, which is then distributed to the central heating network.

This initiative conserves 7,700 gigajoules of energy each year, approximately equal to 243,000 cubic meters of gas. Organon intends to implement additional enhancements, such as modifying air handling units to accommodate low-temperature heating, aiming to decrease gas dependency and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. These developments represent a major philosophical transformation: moving from fuel-dependent heating to electrified, optimized energy systems.

Creating a resource from waste heat

Excess heat isn't a problem requiring disposal; it's untapped energy ready to be harnessed. Free energy exists abundantly in our surroundings, and thermal management systems empower us to leverage this resource, creating opportunities to entirely remove fossil fuel dependence for heating purposes. These systems enable industries to reimagine how they view heat, converting what was previously wasted into a useful resource.

Although the concept of heat pumps is over one hundred years old, the heat pump has evolved through continuous advances in thermodynamic design, low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and compressor and control technologies. Today, heat pumps are more viable, efficient, and reliable, providing a clean alternative to fossil-fuel manufacturing processes requiring low to medium temperatures.

Heat pumps such as the Trane RTSF HT can elevate recovered energy to temperatures reaching 110C, meeting diverse process requirements that extend beyond space heating, storage heating, or preheating domestic hot water. Completely electrified thermal systems provide both heated and chilled water for temperature control processes and can capture and redirect energy while producing zero on-site carbon or NOx emissions.

Systems that provide heating and cooling simultaneously operate three to four times more efficiently than conventional approaches, delivering substantial cost savings. Contemporary heat pumps can produce three to four kilowatts of usable energy for every kilowatt consumed, reaching average efficiency ratios of 300-400%, which is over three times more efficient than traditional boilers.

The benefits go beyond performance: by combining cooling and heating systems, facilities reduce upfront investments, save space, and cut operating costs. This is the systems approach in action.

Changing mindsets, breaking through obstacles

Considering the process-intensive character of industrial operations, gaining comprehensive control over a facility's thermal management systems can rapidly decrease energy use, carbon output, and operating costs. Although conventional doubts and hesitation about industrial heat pump applications remain, the advantages significantly surpass the challenges. Typical concerns regarding technical complexity, investment requirements, or facility constraints frequently stem from outdated perspectives based on isolated system approaches.

Initial Costs: While the initial costs for integrated technologies and renewable energy systems can be higher, they are offset by long-term savings. All-inclusive (heating/cooling) thermal management systems often have returns of only 2-3 years due to greater energy efficiency and operational savings.

Complexity: Designing a net-zero facility does require careful planning and coordination among architects, engineers, and contractors, but the core infrastructure and technologies exist. The focus should be on converting to thermal systems plants and gaining market acceptance.

Site Constraints: Around 80% of current projects are retrofits, not new construction - proof that existing facilities can adopt this model.

Converting from stand-alone to integrated systems doesn't mean reinventing the plant. It means rethinking how energy flows through it.

Case study: Saint Jean

A well-known French pasta manufacturer, Saint Jean, needed a temporary cooling capacity of 150kW to cover the additional summertime load in one of their facilities. What started as a typical project transformed the manager's mindset, which considered heating and cooling in separate silos.

During the facility assessment intended to analyze the plant's cooling requirements, aware of Saint Jean's commitment to enhancing operational energy efficiency, Trane engineers suggested heat pumps rather than recommending an extra chiller for the short-term cooling demand. This solution would not only provide the necessary additional cooling capacity but also entirely eliminate the plant's 300kW fossil fuel-powered boiler heating system - delivering substantial energy savings as a result.

Installation of two Trane City RTSF heat pumps, connected with the plant's existing chillers, allowed to harness and boost the waste heat generated during cooling process.

The result was a 68% reduction in heating costs and a major drop in emissions.

Project summary:

Cooling Capacity: 150kW

Heating Capacity: 300kW (replacing fossil-fuel powered boilers)

Cold Water Temperatures: -8C to -4C

Hot Water Temperatures: up to 60C

Features: Integrated with existing chillers to reuse waste heat.

Envisioning the future: from equipment to strategy

Transforming the approach to heating and cooling system management is essential for achieving energy efficiency and sustainability goals. Thermal management has evolved beyond simply selecting appropriate boilers or chillers. It now represents a strategic collaboration focused on energy optimization, carbon reduction and operational stability.

As European manufacturers seek innovative approaches to achieve net-zero targets, the argument for integrated thermal systems becomes increasingly compelling. However, the most significant challenge is conceptual: transitioning from fragmented system models to viewing energy as fluid, recoverable and self-sufficient.

Reconceiving heating and cooling as components of a unified thermal system represents more than a technical evolution; it's a leadership transformation. By replacing siloed approaches with holistic system perspectives, industrial operators can minimize energy waste, lower emissions, and safeguard their operations for the future. This transformation is already in motion. Now is the time to expand it.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Trane Technologies

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/trane-technologies

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Trane Technologies

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/industrial-decarbonization-from-silos-to-systems-rethinking-thermal-ma-1120120
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 22, 2025) - Atomic Minerals Corporation (TSXV: ATOM) ("Atomic Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption") of up to 1,066,560 flow-through common shares in the capital of the Company ("FT Shares") at a price of $0.125 per FT Share, for gross proceeds of up to $133,320 (the "LIFE Offering"). Each FT Share qualifies as a "flow-through share" as defined in s.66(15) of the Income Tax Act. The Company is concurrently completing a non-brokered private placement of up to 2,133,440 FT Shares at a price of $0.125 per FT Share, for gross proceeds of up to $266,680 (the "Concurrent Private Placement"). Each FT Share is expected to qualify as a "flow-through share" as defined in s. 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The LIFE Offering is available to purchasers' resident in Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. The Concurrent Private Placement is available to purchasers' resident in Canada pursuant to other prospectus exemptions of NI 45-106. The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities offered under the Concurrent Private Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing date of the Concurrent Private Placement.

There is an offering document related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at: www.atomicminerals.ca. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The Company expects to pay finders' fees to eligible parties in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The finders' fees will consist of 8% cash and 8% Finders Warrants of the proceeds raised under the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement. Closing of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement is subject to customary regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSXV.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement to fund Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures", as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act at its uranium project located in Saskatchewan.

The securities offered 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 or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered or exempt from registration. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States.

About Atomic Minerals Corporation.

Atomic Minerals Corporation is a publicly listed exploration company on the TSXV, trading under the symbol ATOM, led by a highly skilled management and technical team with a proven track record in the junior mining sector. Atomic Minerals' objective is to identify exploration opportunities in regions that have been previously overlooked but are geologically similar to those with previous uranium discoveries. These underexplored areas hold immense potential and are in stable geopolitical and economic environments.

Atomic Minerals' property portfolio contains uranium projects in three locations within North America, all of which have significant technical merit and or are known for hosting uranium production in the past. Four of the properties are located on the Colorado Plateau, an area which has previously produced 597 million pounds of U3O8; the Mozzie Lake project is located in the prolific Athabasca Basin region in Northern Saskatchewan and the Mont-Laurier project is located in Quebec.

For additional information about the Company and its projects, please visit our website at www.atomicminerals.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

"Clive H. Massey"

Clive H. Massey

President & Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "speculates", "could" or "would". These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the completion of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement; the intended use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement and the receipt of all necessary approvals for the completion of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement, including the approval of the TSXVs.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will complete the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement on the terms as anticipated by management, that the Company will receive all necessary approvals for the completion of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement, including the approval of the TSXV and that the Company will use the proceeds from the LIFE Offering and Concurrent Private Placement as disclosed. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks relating to the failure to complete the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, market conditions, metal prices, the risk that the Company may not use the proceeds of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement as anticipated which may result in unanticipated tax implications and risks relating to the Company not receiving all necessary approvals for the completion of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement, including the approval of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for Distribution to US Newswire Services or Dissemination in the United States of America

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278880

Source: Atomic Minerals Corp.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 22, 2025) - Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. (TSXV: DWS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") have approved and ratified the license agreement dated May 10, 2024 (the "License Agreement") between Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and 3346625 Canada Inc. ("Lassonde Holdings"), the holding company of Mr. Pierre-Paul Lassonde, a control shareholder of Lassonde Industries Inc. ("Lassonde" and together with Lassonde Holdings, the "Lassonde Group"), at a special meeting of its Shareholders (the "Meeting") held earlier today.

The ordinary resolution approving and ratifying the License Agreement (the "License Resolution") was approved at the Meeting by 97.77% of the votes cast by disinterested Shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting. To be effective, the License Resolution required the affirmative vote of the majority of disinterested Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, which excluded the votes attached to the common shares held by the Lassonde Group.

Further information about the Meeting and the License Agreement are included in the Management Information Circular dated November 20, 2025 provided in connection with the Meeting, which can be found on the Company's website and under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc.

Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc. is a producer of high-quality wines and ciders as well as a sales agent for over 120 beverage alcohol brands across Canada. The Company operates four production facilities, three in Ontario and one in British Columbia, that produce predominantly VQA wines under such well-known brand names as 20 Bees, Creekside, D'Ont Poke the Bear, EastDell, Lakeview Cellars, Mindful, Shiny Apple Cider, Fresh Wines, Red Tractor, Seasons, Serenity and Backyard Vineyards.

Through its commercial division, Trajectory Beverage Partners, the Company serves as the sales agent for a wide range of leading international beverage brands.

Wine Portfolio:

Trajectory represents renowned wine brands, including Fat Bastard and Gabriel Meffre from France; Kaiken from Argentina; Kings of Prohibition from Australia; Yealands, Kono, Tohu, and Joiy Sparkling Wine from New Zealand; Talamonti and Cielo from Italy; Porta 6, Julia Florista, Boas Quintas, Catedral, and Cabeca de Toiro from Portugal; as well as C.K Mondavi & Family, Charles Krug, Line 39, Harken, FitVine, and Rabble from California. Trajectory also represents a broad portfolio of wines sold exclusively to restaurants, bars and private consumers.

Spirits Portfolio:

The Company also represents distinguished spirit brands such as Cofradia Tequila and Hussong's Tequila from Mexico; Islay Mist and Waterproof blended Scotch whiskies from Scotland; Glen Breton Canadian whiskies from Nova Scotia; Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur and Broker's Gin from the UK; Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream, 360 Vodka, and Holladay Bourbon from the USA; Giffard Liqueurs from France; and Becherovka from the Czech Republic.

Beer, Cider, and RTD Portfolio:

In the beer, cider, and ready-to-drink (RTD) categories, Trajectory represents Darling Mimosas from Ontario; Rodenbach beer from Belgium; La Trappe beer from the Netherlands; and Warsteiner beer from Germany.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278883

Source: Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 22, 2025) - KO Gold Inc. (CSE: KOG) ("KO Gold" or the "Company") announces that its board of directors has approved an extension of the expiry date of certain warrants to purchase up to 3,363,772 common shares of the Company. The warrants are exercisable at $0.40 per share and will now expire on January 10, 2027, as amended from the previous expiry date of January 10, 2026. The warrants were issued to investors in connection with a private placement that closed on January 10, 2024.

About KO Gold Inc.

KO Gold is a Canadian junior exploration company listed on the CSE under "KOG". The Company's strategy is to acquire and explore highly prospective gold properties within the Otago Gold District in New Zealand. KO Gold presently, has four 100%-owned prospecting and exploration permits within the Otago Gold District for a combined land package of 400 km2. The Company's Smylers, Hyde and Glenpark EPs are located adjacent to OceanaGold's Macraes Gold Mine and the Carrick EP hosts the historic Carrick Goldfield which holds promise as a significant gold deposit near Santana Minerals' Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project. The Company also has an NSR on three additional permits, Garibaldi, Raggedy Range, and Rough Ridge South totaling 340km2. KO Gold has spent over C$3M in exploration and drilling on its permits in the Otago Gold District over the past five years including RC and diamond drilling on its Smylers EP.

For further information, please contact:

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the expected or anticipated effects of the warrant expiry date extension, including any potential increase in the likelihood of warrant exercises and any resulting proceeds to the Company.

Forward-looking information is based on management's reasonable assumptions as of the date hereof, including, without limitation: that the amended warrant terms will remain in effect through the revised expiry date; that applicable regulatory approvals (if any) will be obtained and maintained; and that market conditions and the trading price of the Company's common shares will be such that warrant holders may elect to exercise prior to expiry.

Forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation: failure to obtain or maintain any required regulatory approvals; changes in the market price of the common shares and broader market conditions; and the risk that warrant holders do not exercise the warrants prior to expiry.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except as required by applicable law.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278893

Source: KO Gold Inc.
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.
NINGBO, China, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "Made in Ningbo, Made for Excellence", the flagship IP of Ningbo's industrial sector, has officially launched, aiming to showcase the brand's core values worldwide and boost the international profile of the city's high-end industrial cluster.

Let the world witness the nine provincial-level cross-border e-commerce industrial clusters in Ningbo's high-quality industrial belt: Yinzhou Auto Parts, with a full "parts-assembly-system-vehicle" supply chain, exports worldwide; Yinzhou Hardware Tools, a traditional strong suit, holds solid domestic market share; Haishu Clothing & Home Textiles upgrades via smart manufacturing to boost added value; Cixi Home Appliances builds a "one district, three parks" cross-border e-commerce cluster; Yuyao Home Appliances, a national base, serves as a local economic pillar; Ninghai Stationery, a full-chain cluster with leading firms like Deli, reaches the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia; Jiangbei Auto Parts evolves into a key domestic high-end auto cluster; Zhenhai Hardware Tools, a local pillar, underpins cross-border e-commerce growth; Beilun Stationery leverages port and trade strengths to tap cross-border markets.

As the official executor of this initiative, the Ningbo Cross-border E-commerce Association sincerely invites global merchants to converge in Ningbo and experience the unique allure of its industrial clusters.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-host-of-purchasers-have-noted-that-made-in-ningbo-made-for-excellence-302648541.html
LIANYUNGANG, China, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Defined by the interplay of mountains and sea, Lianyungang has long drawn meaning from its geography. From the mythic landscapes associated with Journey to the West to its position as the eastern terminus of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the city occupies a distinctive place in China's cultural and historical imagination.

Since August 2025, the Publicity Department of the Lianyungang Municipal Committee has introduced the Reading the City initiative-an urban culture program that explores architecture, place names, and long-established local brands. The series invites residents and visitors alike to engage with the city's history and identity through its built environment and everyday landmarks.

The Mountain's Tale

Huaguo Mountain, widely regarded as the cultural source of Journey to the West, is closely associated with themes of exploration, resilience, and ingenuity. In recent years, Lianyungang has developed immersive visitor sites such as the Water Curtain Cave and the Seventy-Two Caves, allowing literary references to be experienced as physical spaces. Nearby, Eastern Han Dynasty cliff carvings at Kongwang Mountain offer a more understated counterpoint, pointing to the city's long-standing role as a crossroads of belief, art, and exchange.

The Sea's Chronicle

Along Lianyungang's coastline, curved bays and protected wetlands form an important stopover for migratory birds, highlighting the region's ecological significance. Historically, the city has served as a key junction between land and maritime routes-from early Silk Road networks to modern rail corridors-leaving behind a layered maritime legacy. Today, the Port of Lianyungang maintains shipping connections with nearly 1,000 ports in more than 160 countries and regions, linking historic patterns of exchange with contemporary trade under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/discovering-lianyungang-a-city-shaped-by-mountains-and-sea-302648430.html


EQS Newswire / 23/12/2025 / 11:05 UTC+8

Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited ("SHK & Co.", SEHK: 86), a leading alternative investment platform headquartered in Hong Kong, announced its co-investment in a fund newly set up and managed by Trian Partners. The fund has been established to participate in an acquisition of Janus Henderson Group plc ("Janus Henderson", NYSE: JHG), a global asset manager currently listed on the NYSE with US$484 billion in assets under management. Further details are available in SHK & Co.'s official announcement . Under a definitive agreement, Janus Henderson will be acquired by Trian Fund Management, L.P. and its affiliated funds ("Trian"), and General Catalyst Group Management, LLC and its affiliated funds ("General Catalyst") in an all-cash transaction at an equity value of approximately US$7.4 billion. For more information, please refer to the official press release . Trian, an investment firm with significant experience investing and operating in the asset management sector, currently owns 20.6% of Janus Henderson's outstanding shares and has been a shareholder since 2020 with Board representation since 2022. General Catalyst is a global investment and transformation company with a focus on applying AI to enhance business operations. As a private company, Janus Henderson would continue to be led by the current management team with Ali Dibadj as Chief Executive Officer and would maintain its main presence in both London, England, and Denver, Colorado. Tony Edwards, Deputy CEO at SHK & Co., commented: "SHK & Co. is pleased to participate in the co-investment in Janus Henderson, a leading global active asset manager with a 91-year heritage. We have been impressed by the company's outstanding performance under the leadership of Ali and his exceptional team. By partnering with Trian, General Catalyst, and fellow investors, we see significant potential for Janus Henderson to enhance its product offerings, client services, technology, and talent development. SHK & Co. remains committed to strengthening our alternative investment platform through strategic investments and long-term global partnerships. We believe this investment will further advance our ability to deliver innovative solutions for our clients and support our platform's growth." The investor group includes strategic investors SHK & Co., Qatar Investment Authority, and other global investors such as MassMutual, all of whom are excited to partner with Janus Henderson, its employees, and clients. - End - About Sun Hung Kai & Co. Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited (SEHK: 86) ("SHK & Co." / the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is a leading Hong Kong-based financial institution recognised for its expertise in alternative investments and wealth management. Since 1969, the Company has built a diversified investment portfolio across public markets, credit and alternatives strategies including real estate and private equity, delivering long-term risk-adjusted returns. Leveraging on its deep-rooted Asian heritage, SHK & Co. supports and nurtures specialist emerging asset managers globally, empowering them to excel. SHK & Co. also utilises its long-standing investment expertise and resources in providing tailored investment solutions to like-minded partners and ultra-high-net-worth investors through its Family Office Solutions. As at 30 June 2025, the Group held about HK$37.7 billion in total assets. For more, please visit: www.shkco.com / follow SHK & Co. on LinkedIn . About Janus Henderson Group plc Janus Henderson Group is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping clients define and achieve superior financial outcomes through differentiated insights, disciplined investments, and world-class service. As of September 30, 2025, Janus Henderson had approximately US$484 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 25 cities worldwide. The firm helps millions of people globally invest in a brighter future together. Headquartered in London, Janus Henderson is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. About Trian Fund Management Founded in 2005, Trian Fund Management, L.P. ("Trian") is a multi-billion dollar investment management firm. Trian is a highly engaged shareholder, bringing an entrepreneurial spirit, deep operational expertise, and an ownership mentality to its public and private investments. Leveraging the 50+ years' operating experience of our Founding Partners, Nelson Peltz and Peter May, Trian seeks to invest in high quality companies with untapped potential. Trian works with management teams and boards to help companies execute operational and strategic initiatives designed to drive long-term shareholder value. For more: www.trianpartners.com. About General Catalyst General Catalyst is a global investment and transformation company that partners with the world's most ambitious entrepreneurs to drive resilience and applied AI. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond. With offices in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Berlin, Bangalore, and London, we have supported the growth of 800+ businesses, including Airbnb, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Commure, Glean, Guild, Gusto, Helsing, Hubspot, Kayak, Livongo, Mistral, Ramp, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, Sword, and Zepto. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com. Media enquiry, please contact: Burson Sidney Leng +852 5443 4320 Caleb Leung +852 9190 1969 Joyce Zhan +852 9142 2528 Email: SHKCo@hkstrategies.com 23/12/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com

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ASPS trend reporting highlights facelift combined with eyelid surgery as a leading 2025 combination; national procedure volumes reinforce growing demand for comprehensive facial rejuvenation planning.



TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida is sharing updated 2025 patient education and consultation planning insights on one of the most-requested facial rejuvenation strategies: pairing a facelift with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) for a balanced, natural-looking refresh. The practice notes that patients researching "facelift Tampa," "eyelid surgery Tampa," and "blepharoplasty Tampa" are increasingly asking the same question: "Should I treat one area now or plan a whole-face approach so my results look cohesive?"

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), combination procedures are rising as patients look for "maximum impact," specifically calling out "facelift combined with eyelid surgery or lip lift" as a key pairing trend. ASPS procedural data also underscores continued demand for facial rejuvenation procedures, listing eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and facelift (rhytidectomy) among the most-performed cosmetic surgical procedures reported by ASPS member surgeons.

"Most patients aren't looking to 'change' their face they're looking to look rested and like themselves," said Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, surgeon and founder of Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa. "When the eyes look tired but the lower face has laxity or vice versa treating only one area can feel incomplete. A well-planned facelift-plus-eyelid approach can create harmony, and that's what reads as natural."

Why Facelift + Blepharoplasty Is a Common 2025 Pairing

Facial aging rarely occurs in a single zone. A facelift is generally designed to address concerns such as lower-face laxity and jawline changes, while eyelid surgery can address heaviness, excess skin, or puffiness around the eyes. When performed for the right candidate, pairing procedures may help:

Create a more balanced "refreshed" look across the face

Reduce the "one-area-treated" appearance that can occur when only one region is addressed

Consolidate planning and recovery into a single surgical timeline (when appropriate and medically safe)

At Gruber Plastic Surgery, facelift planning is personalized and may include different technique approaches depending on anatomy and goals. The practice also notes that upper and lower eyelid surgery can be performed simultaneously for comprehensive results in appropriate candidates.

2026 Outlook: What Patients Are Likely to Keep Asking For

Looking ahead to 2026, the practice expects patient demand to continue trending toward:

Natural-looking outcomes driven by balanced, whole-face planning

Procedure combinations that minimize "multiple downtime periods"

Clear, education-first consultations that help patients understand what each procedure can and cannot address

Quick Q&A for Patients Searching "Facelift Tampa" or "Blepharoplasty Tampa"

Q: Do I need a facelift and eyelid surgery together?

A: Not always. Some patients benefit most from eyelid surgery alone, while others need lower-face and neck improvement first. A consultation should determine what will create the most natural balance.

Q: Why combine them at all?

A: Many patients feel their result looks more complete when the eye area and lower face are planned together, since aging affects multiple regions at once.

Q: What should I bring to my consultation?

A: Your goals, reference photos (if helpful), your medical history, and a list of priorities, what bothers you most and what "natural" means to you.

Learn More and Request a Consultation

Facelift procedure information:

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) information:

Request a complimentary consultation:

About Gruber Plastic Surgery

Gruber Plastic Surgery is located at 3979 Moran RD Tampa, Florida 33618 a Plastic Surgery Clinic led by Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, an award-winning board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery). Dr. Gruber stars in the TLC television series "Awake Surgery," which has helped introduce patients nationwide to awake cosmetic procedures and recovery-focused planning. She has been recognized on Newsweek's "America's Best Plastic Surgeons" list in 2024 and 2025. The practice is known for awake (local anesthesia) cosmetic procedures for eligible patients using Dr. Gruber's "awake technique," as well as traditional surgery performed under general anesthesia when appropriate. Gruber Plastic Surgery supports both local and out-of-town patients through complimentary consultation options, structured surgical planning, and postoperative follow-up care.

Media Contact

Gruber Plastic Surgery

Phone: 888-400-0086

Email: info@drmeegangruber.com

Medical Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Surgical candidacy and outcomes vary by patient. A consultation with a qualified surgeon is required to determine an appropriate plan.

SOURCE: Gruber Plastic Surgery

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/facelift-eyelid-surgery-in-tampa-gruber-plastic-surgery-shares-2025-p-1120438
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Facilities Management sector undergoes a rapid shift toward digital integration and data-driven service models, FM service providers are increasingly required not only to respond to operational demands but to anticipate them with precision. In line with this evolution, Muheel, one of Saudi Arabia's premier integrated facilities management providers, is leveraging MRI Software's global expertise in real estate and facilities management solutions to accelerate its digital transformation and enhance core service delivery.

The collaboration places Muheel at the forefront of FM innovation by deploying MRI Evolution, an integrated Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) solution offering real-time visibility of asset performance, automated maintenance workflows, and improved lifecycle planning. These enhancements will allow Muheel to anticipate client needs more effectively, optimise response times, and deliver consistently high service standards aligned with Vision 2030's focus on efficiency, sustainability, and digital enablement.

Under a structured phased approach, MRI's facilities management solution will be rolled out across Muheel's operations, beginning with enhanced asset management, maintenance workflows, and improved operational efficiency within its B2B portfolio. Subsequent stages will introduce advanced capabilities including energy management, property management, B2C offerings, and IoT-enabled real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, ultimately creating a fully integrated, next-generation asset management ecosystem.

By unifying operational data through MRI's digital infrastructure, Muheel will strengthen decision-making, improve workforce efficiency, and enhance service transparency through comprehensive dashboards, real-time reporting, and more proactive maintenance strategies. The platform will also support Muheel in extending asset lifecycles, reducing downtime, and delivering measurable performance improvements across its portfolio.

Commenting on the engagement, Muhammad Irfan Khokhar, Acting CEO of Muheel, said: "At its core, this collaboration reflects a shared ambition between Muheel and MRI Software to shape a smarter, more connected FM future aligned with Vision 2030. By bringing together Muheel's operational expertise and MRI's global technology ecosystem, we are raising the bar for service quality, transparency, and digital innovation across the regional FM sector. As the industry moves toward integrated and data-driven solutions, Muheel is determined to lead that transformation - providing clients with a future-ready FM experience that is efficient, sustainable, and built on continuous improvement."

Patrick Ghilani, CEO, MRI Software, commented:

"Our work with Muheel demonstrates MRI Software's commitment to empowering leading FM organisations in the Middle East with technology that drives measurable operational impact. Muheel's ambition, scale and focus on excellence make them a standout leader for advancing digital transformation in the sector. MRI's solutions will equip Muheel with a flexible, data-driven platform that provides greater efficiency, service transparency, and long-term asset performance, supporting their mission to deliver FM services that meet the highest international standards."

Through this initiative, MRI will provide implementation, configuration, training, and ongoing technical support for the facilities management solution, while Muheel drives operational deployment, adoption, and innovation across its FM contracts. The program also places strong emphasis on data governance and compliance within Saudi Arabia's data protection and cybersecurity requirements, ensuring Muheel's digital transformation is secure, scalable and aligned with national standards.

This synergy reflects a bold, forward-looking vision to reshape the FM industry through the seamless integration of technology, sustainability, and operational excellence. By combining Muheel's on-ground strength and market leadership with MRI's connected, intelligence-driven FM platform, the partnership aspires to redefine best-in-class integrated facilities management across both B2B and B2C environments.

About Muheel Facilities Management

Muheel is one of the leading and award-winning Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) companies in Saudi Arabia, driven by a mission of "Helping Clients to Create Better Places to Work and Live." A joint venture between two power houses, Al Muhaidib Group and Abdul Latif Jameel Lands, established in alignment with Vision 2030. With more than four decades of heritage, Muheel delivers fully integrated FM services built on a foundation of quality, innovation, and operational excellence. Muheel's service portfolio spans Hard and Soft FM Services, Technical FM Consultancy, and Energy Management, supporting critical sectors including public, infrastructure, mixed-use, industrial, banking, oil and gas, retail, education, aviation, healthcare, and hospitality.

About MRI Software

MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate solutions and industry data that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's intelligent, open platform empowers owners, operators, agents and occupiers in commercial and residential property organisations to stay ahead in rapidly changing markets. A trailblazer in the PropTech industry, MRI serves more than six million users worldwide. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to realise their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, please visit www.mrisoftware.com/ae

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/muheel-selects-mri-software-to-power-next-generation-facilities-management-across-the-kingdom-302648127.html
Board-certified plastic surgeon and surgeon-scientist honored for clinical excellence, leadership, and commitment to patient education.



TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Gruber Plastic Surgery announced today that Dr. Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida, has been named a 2026 Exceptional Woman in Medicine by Castle Connolly, with the recognition slated to be featured in New York Magazine.

The Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine distinction highlights women physicians recognized for outstanding accomplishments, leadership, and dedication to advancing healthcare. The selection process is based on peer nominations, research, and review by Castle Connolly's physician-led research team.

"I'm honored to be recognized among so many accomplished women physicians," said Dr. Gruber. "Medicine is equal parts science, judgment, and human connection. This recognition reflects the values that guide my practice every day, patient safety, thoughtful decision-making, and results that align with each patient's goals and wellbeing."

Dr. Gruber is known for her patient-first approach and for helping patients navigate surgical decisions with clarity and realistic expectations. Her background includes extensive training and a long-standing interest in bridging research thinking with practical patient education an approach that supports better planning before, during, and after surgery.

Recognition Highlights

Dr. Gruber's 2026 Exceptional Women in Medicine recognition reflects a combination of factors that may include:

Peer recognition for clinical excellence and ethical patient care

Commitment to education and informed decision-making during consultation

Professional leadership and dedication to advancing standards in medicine

About the New York Magazine Feature

New York Magazine's "Top Doctors" is a special advertising section that features Castle Connolly's annual listing of top physicians across specialties, with methodology and selection information provided by Castle Connolly.

About Dr. Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD

Dr. Meegan Gruber is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida. She has been in practice since 2005 and is known for innovative approaches that prioritize patient safety and individualized planning. Dr. Gruber has also been featured on major networks and streaming platforms, bringing greater transparency and education to patients considering cosmetic procedures.

About Gruber Plastic Surgery

Gruber Plastic Surgery is a Tampa, Florida-based practice offering a comprehensive range of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures with a focus on patient education, safety-centered care, and personalized treatment planning.

Media Contact

Gruber Plastic Surgery

Phone: 888-400-0086

Email: info@drmeegangruber.com

Website: drmeegangruber.com

SOURCE: Gruber Plastic Surgery



View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/castle-connolly-names-dr.-meegan-gruber-md-phd-a-2026-exceptional-wom-1120449
Progress on share buyback programme

ING announced today that, as part of our 1.1 billion share buyback programme announced on 30 October 2025, in total 1,974,051 shares were repurchased during the week of 15 December up to and including 19 December 2025.

The shares were repurchased at an average price of 23.54 for a total amount of 46,459,433.76. For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at share buyback programme.

In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the total number of shares repurchased under this programme to date is 15,373,971 at an average price of 22.43 for a total consideration of 344,869,248.21. To date approximately 31.35% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.

Note for editors

For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries Investor enquiries ING Group Media Relations ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000 +31 20 576 6396 media.relations@ing.com (mailto:media.relations@ing.com) Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)

ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI has been upgraded from 'AA' to 'AAA' in October 2025. As of June 2025, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong' with an ESG risk rating of 18.0 (low risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation').

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information. This document may also discuss one or more specific transactions and/or contain general statements about ING's ESG approach. The approach and criteria referred to in this document are intended to be applied in accordance with applicable law. Due to the fact that there may be different or even conflicting laws, the approach, criteria or the application thereof, could be different.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

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Attachment
Results of the 2025 harvesting campaign and sales status

Start of the new 2026 crop season

Sale of the corporate rights of a farm operating 6,600 hectares in the southern part of the Kharkiv region

War in Ukraine

Paris, December 23rd, 2025

AgroGeneration, a Ukrainian producer of grains and oilseeds, provides information on the Group's preliminary operational results for 2025.

AgroGeneration. Preliminary harvesting results (as of December 10th, 2025):

Crop 2024A 2025E Hectares harvested Net Production, tons Net Yield, tons/ha Hectares harvested Net Production, tons Net Yield, tons/ha Wheat 14,455 35,918 2.5 9,364 28,011 3.0 Sunflower 8,817 16,467 1.9 12,855 22,966 1.8 Corn(1) 1,528 5,856 3.8 2,355 7,891 3.4 Soy 3,506 3,605 1.0 2,291 2,565 1.1 Peas 143 124 0.9 549 997 1.8 Flax - - - 95 105 1.1 Chickpeas - - - 80 118 1.5 Sorhum - - - 30 74 2.4 TOTAL 28,448 61,970 2.2 27,619 62,726 2.3

(1) Harvesting is still ongoing: approximately 30% of the planted area remains unharvested. The total projected net production has been calculated based on the current actual net yield

Comments on the production performance of key crops in the Group's crop mix:

Wheat (incl. spring wheat):

The Group completed the harvesting of this crop at the end of July 2025.

The current estimate of the total net wheat harvest is approximately 28,000 tons, with a net yield of 3.0 t/ha.

Despite an improvement compared to last year, wheat yields were adversely affected by abnormally low temperatures in May 2025, when frost damaged about 40% of the wheat area, as well as by insufficient rainfall in May and June, which reduced productive soil moisture reserves.

A positive factor was the significant improvement in wheat quality: around 40% of the harvest qualifies as milling wheat (compared to 100% feed wheat in 2024).

Soy:

The Group completed the harvest at the end of September 2025.

The current estimate of the total net soy harvest is around 2,600 tons, with a net yield of 1.1 t/ha.

Sunflower:

The Group began harvesting in mid-September 2025, and it has been completed as of the date of this release.

The current estimate of the total net sunflower harvest is around 23,000 tons, with a net yield of 1.8 t/ha.

A lack of moisture at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn resulted in insufficient seed filling and a higher share of empty seeds, which led to a reduction of initial yield forecasts, particularly in the more southern regions.

Corn:

As of the reporting date, the Group is still harvesting corn. Approximately 30% of the areas under the crop remain unharvested. Harvesting is currently limited by weather conditions (high moisture levels).

The current estimate for the total net corn harvest, based on the actual net yield of 3.4 t/ha, is around 8,000 tons.

The condition of the crop varies significantly across the Group's farms depending on soil moisture availability. In the northern farm, net yield reaches 6.0 t/ha, while in the more southern farm (where temperatures exceeded 40C during pollination, and in combination with moisture deficit caused leaf drop and incomplete ear formation), the current net yield is 1.3 t/ha - substantially reducing the Group's overall average yield for this crop.

Overall, as of the date of this press release, the Group expects to obtain approximately 63 thousand tons of harvest in 2025.

Sale of the 2025 harvest

As of early December 2025, the Group had sold around 46% of the grain volumes expected for sale from the 2025 harvest, including:

22.5 thousand tons of wheat (including spring wheat),

3.9 thousand tons of sunflower,

Approximately 1 thousand tons of corn,

680 tons of soy.

Overall, the Group plans to sell more than 60 thousand tons of grain from the 2025 harvest (excluding seeds reserved for internal use).

The sales strategy provides for forming carry-over stocks into 2026 in order to benefit from the expected seasonal increase in grain prices at the beginning of next year and thereby offset the impact of reduced physical production volumes caused by weather conditions during the growing season.

New 2026 Crop

The Group completed the winter crop sowing campaign in mid-November 2025. As a result, approximately 9,100 hectares were sown with winter crops. Wheat remains the main winter crop, with about 8,700 hectares planted (in line with the previous year). As previously reported, in the new season the Group's companies have test-sown small areas of winter rapeseed and winter barley - around 90 hectares and 310 hectares respectively. If the cultivation results prove positive, the Group plans to gradually increase the areas under these crops. As of the date of this press release, the condition of the winter crops is assessed as good.

Overall, for the 2026 harvest the Group plans to cultivate approximately 21,000 hectares. Thus, about 11,700 hectares are planned to be allocated to spring crops, where, as in previous years, sunflower will remain the key crop (approximately 6,900 hectares). The remaining area is planned to be sown with peas, soybeans, corn, and niche crops such as flax and chickpeas.

Financing for the new production season is secured through the existing credit line from Ukreximbank and the Group's own funds.

Sale of a farm operating 6,600 hectares in the southern part of the Kharkiv region

The Company announces that it has signed an agreement with a local Ukrainian agricultural producer for the sale of the corporate rights of a farm holding agricultural land located in the Izium district of Kharkiv region, with a total area of 6,600 hectares. This transaction represents more than 20% of the total land area cultivated by the Group and is based on a sale price of no less than 1.45 million, which implies at least 220 per hectare (the final amount will be confirmed upon completion of all due-diligence procedures). The price includes land lease rights, as well as part of the machinery and inventories. A portion of the equipment from the sold farm will be redistributed within the Group in order to improve operational efficiency.

The management's decision to proceed with the sale was driven by several key objective factors. The farm's land is located in close proximity to the front line and has already been subject to direct Russian attacks, resulting in material losses both at the beginning of the war in Ukraine and again in early 2025 (as noted in the press release of May 15). The continued movement of the front line closer to the area significantly increases the risks associated with maintaining normal operations at the farm. In addition, this farm is located in the southernmost part of Kharkiv region, where climatic conditions are less favorable for crop cultivation, which has historically resulted in weaker production performance compared with other Group entities.

Following the completion of the transaction, expected in early 2026, AgroGeneration will continue its operations on approximately 21,000 hectares of land in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.

War in Ukraine

In the second half of 2025, Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory were marked by a significant increase in intensity and the widespread use of combined strike tactics - in particular ballistic missiles (Iskander, Kinzhal) and large numbers of Shahed-type attack drones. The primary targets of Russian strikes remain critical infrastructure (primarily energy facilities), military-industrial sites, as well as densely populated residential areas of major cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and others. During this period, dozens of combined attacks involving hundreds of airborne targets were recorded. According to CSIS, from January to October 2025 alone, Russia launched more than 44,000 Shahed drones at Ukraine - four times more than during the entirety of 2024.

Strikes on the energy infrastructure, which traditionally intensify ahead of the winter season and reached their peak in early December 2025, have caused and continue to cause large-scale emergency power outages across Ukraine lasting up to 10 hours per day. This significantly complicates normal daily life for both the population and businesses in the country.

Ukraine. Statistics of air alerts in the Kharkiv region

Whole war period 24.02.2022 -09.12.2025 2023 2024 Period from 01.01.2025 to 09.12.2025 Number of days 1,385 364 365 343 Number of air alerts 6,609 1,657 2,122 1,276 Average number of alerts per day 5 5 6 4 Total duration of the air alerts, hours 9,151 1,307 3,959 2,550 Average duration of air alerts, hours/day 6.6 3.6 10.8 7.4 Number of explosions reported 1,864 381 682 415 Average number of explosions per day 1.3 1.0 1.9 1.2 Number of threats of artillery attacks 9,250 2,283 5,743 1,119 Average number of threats of artillery attacks per day 7 6 16 3

Source: https://air-alarms.in.ua/en

About AGROGENERATION

Founded in 2007, AgroGeneration is a large-scale producer of grain and oilseed. The company's core business is grains and oil commodity crop farming, operating around 21,000 hectares of high quality agricultural lands in the East of Ukraine.

All information on AgroGeneration's website: www.AgroGeneration.com

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AgroGeneration

+33 1 55 27 38 40

investisseurs@AgroGeneration.com

www.AgroGeneration.com

Actus Finance

Anne-Pauline Petureaux, Investor Relations

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 72

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NEW DELHI, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Comviva, the global leader in digital transformation solutions, specializing in customer experience management, data monetization, and digital financial services, has been honoured with the IBS Intelligence Global FinTech Innovation Award 2025 for 'Best In-Class Cross Border Payments.' The recognition was awarded for its deployment with Global Money Exchange Co. LLC (GMEC), Oman, a leading global money transfer operator.

The recognition highlights how Comviva's mobiquity Pay is helping shape a modern cross-border payment ecosystem that stretches far beyond conventional remittance services. Deployed as a white label Wallet Platform and launched as Global Pay Oman App, it fulfils GMEC's dual vision-positioning itself as an innovative payment service provider while digitally extending its core money transfer business. The solution allows GMEC to offer international money transfers alongside seamless forex ordering and other services. These capabilities sit alongside a broad suite of everyday financial services, including bill and utility payments, merchant transactions, education-related payments, and other digital conveniences - all delivered through one unified experience.

mobiquity Pay is helping GMEC diversify its service portfolio, improve operational efficiency and strengthen customer retention in the highly competitive cross-border payments market. By integrating multiple payment use cases within a unified digital wallet, mobiquity Pay has enabled a more efficient, customer-centric and scalable cross-border payments model.

Speaking on the occasion, Subromoniyan K.S., Managing Director at Global Money Exchange Co. said, "This award is a testament to Oman's accelerating digital transformation and our commitment to reshaping how cross-border payments serve people and businesses across the Sultanate. By partnering with Comviva and bringing the Global Pay Oman Super App, we have moved beyond traditional remittance services to create a truly inclusive and future-ready financial ecosystem. This innovation is not only enhancing convenience and transparency for our customers but is also supporting Oman's broader vision of building a digitally empowered economy."

Commenting on the recognition, Rajesh Chandiramani, Chief Executive Officer at Comviva, said, "Cross-border payments are becoming a daily necessity, not a niche service, particularly for migrant and trade-linked economies. This recognition from IBS Intelligence validates our focus on building payment platforms that combine global reach with local relevance, operational resilience and a strong user experience. The deployment with Global Money Exchange Co. demonstrates how mobiquity Pay enables financial institutions to move beyond remittances and deliver integrated digital services at scale."

Recognizing Comviva's pivotal role in advancing global remittance innovation, Nikhil Gokhale, Director - Research & Digital Properties, IBS Intelligence, said, "The deployment of mobiquity Pay for GMEC showcases how scalable, API-driven digital wallet platforms can transform cross-border payments into seamless, value-rich experiences. By integrating remittances, bill payments, forex services, and AI-powered engagement into a unified Super App, Comviva has reimagined customer journeys and operational agility. This Best-in-Class cross-border payments win stands as a testament to Comviva's excellence in enabling financial institutions to compete and grow in a digitally convergent world."

The IBS Intelligence Global FinTech Innovation Awards recognise technology-led initiatives that demonstrate strong program vision, execution excellence, customer impact and long-term value creation. Winners are selected following a rigorous global evaluation process across banks, financial institutions and technology providers.

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Kawasaki and Sendai, Japan, Dec 23, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Tohoku University and Fujitsu Limited today announced their successful application of AI to derive new insights into the superconductivity mechanism of a new superconducting material. Their findings demonstrate an important use case for AI technology in new materials development and suggests that the technology has the potential to accelerate research and development and drive innovation in various industries such as environment and energy, drug discovery and healthcare, and electronic devices. The AI technology was utilized to automatically clarify causal relationships from measurement data obtained at NanoTerasu Synchrotron Light Source. This achievement was published in the Nature Portfolio scientific journal Scientific Reports on December 22, 2025.To achieve this result, the two parties used Fujitsu's AI platform Fujitsu Kozuchi to develop a new discovery intelligence technique to accurately estimate causal relationships. Fujitsu will begin offering a trial environment for this technology in March 2026. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, the two parties applied this technology to data measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) [1], an experimental method used in materials research to observe the state of electrons in a material, using a specific superconducting material as a sample.Fujitsu will begin offering a trial environment for this technology in March 2026. Moving forward, both organizations will further leverage this technology along with NanoTerasu's world-class capabilities in spatial resolution to automatically clarify the causal relationships between phenomena at the microscopic level. This will contribute to the development of new functional materials that address global environmental issues, one of Fujitsu's materiality priorities, including in the areas of high-temperature superconductivity and next-generation low-power consumption devices.BackgroundTohoku University and Fujitsu established the Fujitsu x Tohoku University Discovery Intelligence Laboratory in October 2022 as part of the Fujitsu Small Research Lab initiative which sees Fujitsu researchers stationed at universities to accelerate joint research, discover new themes, develop human resources, and build long-term relationships. The aim is to contribute to solving societal issues through the development of new technologies and human resource development, by integrating Tohoku University and Fujitsu's technologies, achievements, and knowledge. The two parties are engaged in joint research to develop and socially implement discovery intelligence that uses AI to find solutions to various problems from data, including those in materials science.In the field of materials science, NanoTerasu Synchrotron Light Source, which began operation at Tohoku University in April 2024, enables the measurement of molecular, atomic, and electronic states with nanometer-level high spatial resolution. The facility works to develop new functional materials to drive innovation and contribute to resolving societal issues, including environmental challenges. However, as measurement performance improves, the amount of data created increases. Efficiently extracting only useful information without relying on human experience or intuition and advancing the automation of scientific research processes are key priorities for the future.ARPES measurement data is very large. A causal graph of the data has a massive number of nodes making it difficult to find useful information. The technique developed in this collaboration significantly compresses the scale of the causal graph by performing fitting based on a model equation for the measurement data and constructing a causal graph from only the extracted parameters. In addition, the two parties developed a technique to further simplify the graphs and reduce noise impact. This technology reduced the size of the causal graph to less than 1/20 of the conventional size, enabling the efficient discovery of new insights.Tohoku University and Fujitsu applied this technology to ARPES measurement data of cesium vanadium antimonide (CsV3Sb5), a kagome superconducting material. Cesium vanadium antimonide has potential applications as a high-temperature superconductor, but its superconductivity mechanism is not yet fully understood. they found that superconductivity mechanism is due to the interaction of vanadium, antimony, and cesium electrons.Note[1] Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES):An experimental method used in materials research to observe the state of electrons in a material by irradiating the crystal surface with ultraviolet light and simultaneously measuring the energy and momentum of electrons emitted outside the crystal due to the external photoelectric effect. In recent years, ARPES technology has advanced, making it possible to determine the real-space distribution of electronic structures by irradiating with ultraviolet light focused to a sub-micron diameter. This has enabled the observation of how the electronic structure of a material changes spatially.Paper InformationTitle: Extracting Causality from SpectroscopyAuthors: Kei Fujita, Kosuke Nakayama, Yuka Fujiki, Takemi Kato, Hiroshi Suito, Hiroyuki Higuchi, and Takafumi SatoJournal: Scientific ReportsDOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-29687-8URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-29687-8About Tohoku UniversityEstablishing a World-Leading Research Center for Materials ScienceAIMR aims to contribute to society through its actions as a world-leading research center for materials science and push the boundaries of research frontiers. To this end, the institute gathers excellent researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and mathematics and provides a world-class research environment.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
IQM will deliver two full-stack quantum computers: a 54-qubits IQM Radiance system and a 5-qubit IQM Spark by June 2026.

The systems will support research, skills development, and industrial access to quantum computers across multiple sectors.

This will be the first installation of IQM quantum computers in Spain.

IQM Quantum Computers, the global leader in deployed, on-premises computers, and Telefonica, a global telecommunications provider, have joined forces to sign a purchase agreement with the Galician Supercomputing Center (CESGA) to install two full-stack quantum computers in Spain.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223742835/en/

Spain's CESGA selects IQM and Telefonica to deploy advanced quantum computing infrastructure

Under the agreement, IQM will deliver and install a 54-qubit IQM Radiance, designed for integration into high-performance computing centres, together with a 5-qubit IQM Spark system dedicated to education. The systems are scheduled for delivery by June 2026.

The deployment will expand CESGA's advanced computing capabilities and strengthen its role as a key national and European research infrastructure.

The systems will be used by the scientific community and made accessible to leading companies across multiple industrial and research sectors, enabling experimentation with hybrid workflows that combine quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.

This will be the first installation of IQM quantum computers in Spain, positioning CESGA alongside leading European centres such as the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) and Julich in Germany, CSC in Finland, and CINECA in Italy, which are integrating quantum systems into national HPC environments.

The systems will be complemented by a new supercomputer, the Finisterrae IV, which will provide additional computing power to meet needs in artificial intelligence, among others, and a data storage system that will make it possible to permanently house large amounts of data and provide more advanced data services.

"Delivering production-grade quantum infrastructure into real HPC environments is central to IQM's mission," said Sylwia Barthel de Weydenthal, Chief Commercial Officer of IQM Quantum Computers. "By deploying our systems at CESGA, we are supporting the development of a practical quantum ecosystem in Spain and enabling researchers and industry users to begin meaningful experimentation with hybrid quantum-classical computing."

"Quantum computing will become an important pillar of future digital infrastructure," said Sergio Sanchez, CTIO Telefonica Espana. "Through this collaboration with IQM and CESGA, Telefonica is helping bring advanced computing capabilities closer to researchers and enterprises, while supporting Spain's position in next-generation technologies."

About IQM Quantum Computers

IQM Quantum Computers is a global leader in the deployment of superconducting quantum computing systems, delivering full-stack, on-premises quantum infrastructure designed to integrate into advanced computing environments. IQM works with high-performance computing centers, research institutions, universities, and enterprises, providing access to both quantum hardware and software. Headquartered in Finland, IQM employs more than 300 people and operates globally, with teams in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. For more information, visit www.meetiqm.com.

About Telefonica

Telefonica is one of the world's leading telecommunications service providers. The company offers fixed and mobile connectivity as well as a wide range of digital services for residential and business customers. With over 350 million customers, Telefonica operates in Europe and Latin America. Telefonica is listed on the Spanish stock market, New York and Lima.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223742835/en/

Contacts:

Media contact:

press@meetiqm.com

+358 50 479 0845

www.meetiqm.com
The partnership strengthens Zenwork's collaboration with the IRS, industry partners, and policymakers, allowing it to deliver timely, accurate, and scalable updates to its reporting platforms. Also, accelerate secure modernization that benefits taxpayers, filers, and technology providers alike.

FAYETTEVILLE, AR / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Zenwork Inc., a leading provider of digital tax-compliance and information-reporting solutions, best known for its e-filing platform Tax1099, today announced its partnership with the Council for Electronic Revenue Communication Advancement (CERCA), a long-standing industry group that works closely with the IRS on electronic tax administration.

Founded in 1994 at the IRS's request, CERCA serves as a key bridge between the agency, private-sector tech providers, and other stakeholders. Its mission has evolved over the years to support the growth of e-filing, from early initiatives like the Free File program to today's push for modernized systems.

Why this aligns with what's happening now

The IRS is in the midst of a major overhaul of how information returns, like 1099s, are submitted, with its new Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) gradually replacing the aging FIRE system. IRIS brings modern features such as application-to-application (A2A) filing, real-time validations, and better security, but rolling it out at scale requires input from companies that handle millions of filings each year.

That's where Zenwork comes in. Through Tax1099, an IRS-approved platform that's processed hundreds of thousands of business filings (including over $413 billion in reported income in recent years), Zenwork has deep experience in high-volume e-filing for forms like 1099-NEC, W-2, and ACA reports. This partnership will also help expand Zenwork's role in providing modern, efficient, secure tax compliance. It reinforces the company's commitment to advancing IRS modernization, enhancing e-file infrastructure, and supporting taxpayers and filers as federal and state reporting requirements evolve.

"Partnering with CERCA strengthens our ability to support secure, scalable modernization across the entire information-reporting lifecycle," said Patrick Nagle, Vice President of Compliance & Government Affairs at Zenwork. "Zenwork will participate in CERCA's technical and policy advisory groups, contributing to conversations on schema modernization, authentication standards, contingency-filing readiness, and improvements to the taxpayer's experience. We'll also bring boots-on-the-ground insight into bulk filing, identity verification, 1099 modernization, nonprofit reporting, and employer compliance."

"We have clients who rely on us to anticipate regulatory change and translate it into practical and compliant solutions," Nagle added. "CERCA gives us a real seat at the table as these decisions are being shaped. That means we can better support the businesses, tax pros, government agencies, and partners who rely on us every single day."

Zenwork has rapidly grown over a decade and continues to expand its suite of compliance tools, including recent additions like agentic AI-assisted filing features. This move into CERCA underscores its commitment to staying ahead of regulatory shifts while advocating for practical improvements that benefit the wider tax ecosystem.

About Zenwork

Zenwork Inc., the parent company of Tax1099 and backed by Spectrum Equity, is a digital tax compliance and regulatory reporting technology company, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Built for today's dynamic business landscape, Zenwork's suite of products, including an award-winning IRS-authorized e-filing platform, advanced vendor and payment automation, identity & business verification tools, and integrated compliance workflows, streamlines everything from 1099 and W-2 filings to vendor onboarding and accounts payable management. With over a decade of experience, Zenwork Inc has assisted over 750,000 businesses and 70,000 CPA firms nationwide in simplifying compliance.

Learn more about Zenwork Inc. and its products at www.zenwork.com , www.tax1099.com , and www.compliancely.com

Contact: Ed Pratt

Zenwork Inc.

ed@zenwork.com

SOURCE: ZENWORK INC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/zenwork-joins-cerca-to-support-irs-modernization-and-strengthen-1118944
TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, today announced a strategic partnership with TradeGo, a digital service platform specializing in global commodity trade documentation. The collaboration aims to digitize commodity documentation and cross-border settlements, modernizing supply chains and reshaping trade finance across Australia, Asia, and Latin America. The partnership integrates WSPN's stablecoin settlement technology with TradeGo's blockchain-based electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) infrastructure, enabling businesses to access faster, more transparent, and cost-effective global trade operations.

Closing the Digital Loop with Stablecoin Settlements

As global trade increasingly demands greater speed and transparency, stablecoins are emerging as critical infrastructure for cross-border settlements. WSPN's stablecoin technology addresses the fundamental challenge of traditional banking rails: slow, geographically constrained, and dependent on multiple intermediaries. When combined with TradeGo's blockchain-based eBL, which provides cryptographic security and real-time verification, the solution eliminates both documentation fraud and settlement delays.

WSPN's USD-based stablecoin completes the digital loop by enabling instant settlement once documents and title transfers are validated on-chain. The technology removes time-zone delays, correspondent banking friction, and multi-day clearing cycles that constrain traditional payment systems.

The joint solution synchronizes cargo title transfers with stablecoin payments. When a shipment is verified and title is transferred on TradeGo's platform, payment is released instantly via WSPN's infrastructure. This turns a multi-day process into an immediate transaction, reducing credit risks, minimizing trade fraud, and accelerating liquidity for all parties involved.

Reshaping Trade Finance for the Digital Economy

The integration of WSPN's stablecoin settlements reshapes how trade finance operates. Lenders gain real-time visibility into supply chain data and reduce fraud risks. Borrowers, particularly SMEs and mid-market exporters, access faster liquidity and more inclusive financing options outside traditional banking channels.

This is especially impactful for high-growth trade corridors including Australia-Southeast Asia (agriculture, minerals, metals), China-LATAM (energy products, industrial commodities), and ASEAN-Australia-LATAM (diversified commodities and manufacturing inputs).

This partnership marks a significant step in bringing global commodity trade on-chain, enabling businesses to settle transactions at blockchain speed with full transparency and regulatory compliance.

About WSPN

WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, dedicated to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent global payment ecosystem. Our flagship stablecoin, WUSD, is fully backed and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar, serving as the foundation for a suite of integrated financial solutions. These solutions support a range of financial applications from institutional treasury management to programmable payments and decentralized finance. With a strong focus on transparency, regulatory compliance, and user accessibility, WSPN bridges the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial systems, driving the global adoption of stablecoins at scale.

Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn

About TradeGo

Founded in Singapore in November 2021, TradeGo is backed by major industry players including Sinochem, PetroChina, Macquarie, COSCO Shipping Energy, China Merchants Energy Shipping, Saudi Aramco, Mitsui, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Wanxiang Blockchain. TradeGo leverages blockchain technology to ensure transaction security, efficiency, and privacy in the transmission of trade documents. For more information, visit: https://www.tradego.com/

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SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Located at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone is undergoing a dramatic transformation, fast emerging as a new core of a megacity. Covering a total area of 120.56 km2, Qianhai has, since the release of the Overall Development Plan for Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen (the "Qianhai Plan") in December 2023, completed a major leap from a policy "testing ground" to a source of replicable institutional rules and practices in just two years. To date, 271 key tasks have been advanced and implemented, injecting strong momentum into Qianhai's high-quality development.

One of the defining features of Qianhai's development is its deep integration with Hong Kong. This integration extends beyond geographical proximity to systematic alignment in rules and mechanisms. According to the latest data, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone has attracted more than 10,500 Hong Kong-funded enterprises, with total registered capital exceeding 840 billion yuan. An increasing number of Hong Kong professionals are choosing to pursue development opportunities in Qianhai. To date, more than 1,000 overseas professionals have completed record-filing to practise there, covering fields such as finance, legal services and construction.

To promote seamless connectivity between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone has introduced a series of policy innovations. These include the implementation of the "Hong Kong people pay tax at the Hong Kong tax rate" policy, which effectively reduces the tax burden for Hong Kong residents; the establishment of a Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border data verification platform, which enabled the first mainland consumer loan issued to Hong Kong residents based on data verification, with more than 1,700 transactions completed to date; and the extension of HKSAR government-funded public healthcare services to Qianhai, benefiting 1.78 million eligible elderly Hong Kong residents.

With institutional innovation as its core driving force, Qianhai has generated 47 institutional innovation outcomes that have been replicated and promoted nationwide. In the financial sector, the implementation rate of the "30 Financial Support Measures for Qianhai" has exceeded 90%. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Financial City has attracted 522 financial institutions.

Yu Haichun, dean of the Institute of International Trade Rules at the University of International Business and Economics, noted that Qianhai has ranked first nationwide for several consecutive years in China's innovation index for pilot free trade zones. In particular, Qianhai leads with a high score in overall institutional innovation, providing a practical and replicable model for reform across the country.

Meanwhile, Qianhai's modern service industries are thriving. The area has developed 18 specialized industrial clusters, attracting well-known enterprises such as POP MART and Finland-based KONE Corporation to establish regional headquarters.

As the Qianhai Plan continues to be implemented in depth, a new core of a megacity that connects Hong Kong, radiates across the Greater Bay Area, and engages with the world is rapidly rising along the shores of the South China Sea. Qianhai is not only a new engine for the Greater Bay Area's development, but also an important window through which the world can observe China's latest initiatives in reform and opening-up.

Source: The Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone

Contact person: Mr. Wang, Tel: 86-10-63074558
Creates First Independent Tower Operator in the Baltics

TeleTower and Bite Group to Continue Strategic Partnership to Invest in Mobile Networks Across Lithuania and Latvia

Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, and Bite Group ("Bite"), a leading telecom operator in the Baltics, today announced an agreement by which Stonepeak will acquire TeleTower, Bite's towers business in Lithuania and Latvia. Bite is a portfolio company of Providence Equity Partners ("Providence"), a specialist private equity firm focused on growth-oriented media, communications, education and technology companies. The transaction will create the first fully independent tower company in the region and represents the beginning of a strategic partnership dedicated to investing in the Baltics' mobile network and improving end-customer experience.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251221680363/en/

Established in 2009 within Bite, TeleTower operates a diversified portfolio of more than 2,500 tower and rooftop sites across Lithuania and Latvia, with strong presence in strategic locations in all major Lithuanian and Latvian cities. Following the completion of the transaction, TeleTower and Bite will enter into a long-term commercial agreement including commitments to roll out more than 1,200 additional sites to increase network density, provide improved connectivity to remote areas, and deliver 5G speeds to customers, as mobile data usage in the region continues to outpace Europe more broadly.

"Lithuania and Latvia represent attractive, nascent tower markets given the sustained high levels of mobile data usage and competitive landscape between mobile network operators within the region," said NicoloZanotto, Managing Director and Head of Digital Infrastructure, Europe at Stonepeak. "We believe TeleTower is poised for success given its diversified portfolio, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and first-mover advantage as the region's first independent tower company. We are excited to back TeleTower and look forward to working closely with Bite to support furthering their strategic objectives in both Lithuania and Latvia."

"At every stage of our development, we have aimed to deliver maximum value to our customers while enhancing mobile and fixed connectivity, as well as broadening our offering with Pay TV services," said Pranas Kuisys, the CEO at Bite. "Since we first partnered with Providence, we have invested more than 400 million in our infrastructure to achieve this goal by building out 4G and 5G networks and delivering high-speed connectivity. Welcoming investment from a global strategic investor such as Stonepeak, combined with our future strategic partnership with TeleTower, reflects our continued commitment to these objectives."

"Connectivity is a core investment theme for Providence. We are proud to have supported Bite's development into a leading player in the Baltic telecoms sector, growing revenues from approximately 200 million to 600 million under our ownership through new services such as Go3," added Karim Tabet, Senior Managing Director and Head of Europe at Providence. "We continue to believe the Baltics benefit from strong fundamentals and we look forward to working with Stonepeak to bring their infrastructure expertise to this strategic partnership, adding significant value to both Bite and TeleTower."

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. Barclays served as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel to Stonepeak. Lazard served as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton Garrison, A&O Shearman and Sorainen served as legal counsels to Bite Group.

About Stonepeak

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $80 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak, as sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include digital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

About Bite Group

Bite Group is a leading telecommunications and media company operating in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The Group provides mobile, fixed broadband, pay TV, and media services. Bite Group is managed by the global private equity firm Providence Equity Partners, which primarily invests in the media, communications, education, and technology sectors.

About Providence

Providence is a specialist private equity investment firm focused on growth-oriented media, communications, education and technology companies across North America and Europe. Providence combines its partnership approach to investing with deep industry expertise to help management teams build exceptional businesses and generate attractive returns. Since its founding in 1989, Providence has invested over $40 billion across more than 180 private equity portfolio companies. With its headquarters in Providence, RI, the firm also has offices in New York, London, Boston and Atlanta. For more information, please visit www.provequity.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251221680363/en/

Contacts:

For Stonepeak

Kate Beers Maya Brounstein

corporatecomms@stonepeak.com

+1 (646) 540-5225



For Bite Group

Jaunius Spakauskas

jaunius.spakauskas@bite.lt

+370(682)66188



For Providence Equity Partners

FGS Global

Charlie Chichester Rory King

ProvidenceEquity@fgsglobal.com

+44 (0)20 7251 3801
Education Cannot Wait-funded transition courses by UNICEF help out-of-school and displaced children, including twin sisters, catch up on learning and return to formal school in Burkina Faso.

KAYA, Burkina Faso, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- It may be the school holidays in Burkina Faso, but 14-year-old twins Fadilatou and Neimata are not taking a break. Instead, they sit at wooden desks inside a bustling classroom in Kaya, notebooks open and pens in hand.

These holiday sessions are part of a lifeline known as transition classes, funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and delivered in partnership with UNICEF and the Government of Burkina Faso. The accelerated courses equip out-of-school and displaced children with skills to reintegrate into formal schooling, and are funded by ECW, the European Union, Japan and other strategic donors.

In classrooms like this, education is being used to light the way out of crisis and to a future filled with opportunity.

A Mother's Determination

For Asseta Sawadogo, mother of seven, watching her twin daughters leave for school is a moment of quiet triumph. Not long ago, the family lived in the village of Damesma, in Burkina Faso's north-central region. But when violence came to their doorstep, they had no choice but to flee. They arrived in Kaya exhausted, unsettled and unsure of the future.

"When we fled to come [to Kaya], we were not able to re-enroll the children here because the classrooms were full," says Asseta. The school year had already begun across the country, and Asseta could not find a place for her children - a roadblock to education that many displaced families face.

Even though their new home on the outskirts of Kaya had no electricity, Asseta refused to let the darkness stop her daughters from learning. Every evening, she powers up flashlights so the twins can revise their lessons in the evenings.

When she heard about the transition classes, a part of ECW's Multi-Year Resilience Programme in the country and implemented by UNICEF, she enrolled her daughters immediately. "We didn't like the fact that the girls were no longer going to school. Now that they're going again, we're happy. These remedial classes are a good thing because children won't forget what they learned."

The four-month courses reach children left furthest behind in the country with the tools and support necessary to catch up on what they've missed and prepare them to reintegrate into the regular curriculum. With the support of UNICEF and partners, temporary learning spaces have been built in schools around the country, making it possible to accommodate more displaced students in classrooms.

A Country in Crisis

Burkina Faso is in the midst of a devastating humanitarian crisis. Escalating violence and insecurity have displaced over 2 million people, more than half of them children. Hunger, armed conflict and forced displacement are placing children, especially girls and children with disabilities, at extreme risk.

Even before this crisis, one in two children in Burkina Faso was out of school. Today, the situation is even more dire. In response to this crisis, national and international partners have ramped up efforts to provide education and support services.

ECW in Burkina Faso

Since 2019, ECW and partners like UNICEF have been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that crisis-affected children in Burkina Faso can continue learning.

The recent extension of the Fund's Multi-Year Resilience Programme supports the establishment of safe learning spaces, mental health and psychosocial services, teaching and learning materials, and the professional development of teachers. Children are now learning in secure temporary classrooms, receiving school kits and - where insecurity prevents access to formal education - tuning in to their lessons via solar or hand-crank radios.

These coordinated efforts not only bring children back into classrooms but also rebuild hope, resilience and a sense of normalcy in the midst of instability. The programme also strengthens national and local education systems, ensuring the continuity of learning despite ongoing crises.

A Brighter Future Within Reach

Back in Kaya, Asseta watches as her daughters leave for class, their notebooks in hand and dreams in their hearts. The flashlights she keeps charged at home are no longer just a tool of survival - they're a symbol of the future her children are reclaiming, one lesson at a time.

For the twins, going to school is more than a routine.

Through these transition courses, Fadilatou and Neimata are not only resuming their studies but also rediscovering their ambitions. Surrounded by a supportive family and dedicated teachers who empower and inspire them, they dream of becoming educators themselves. "We want to become teachers to help our little brothers and other children," says Fadilatou.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/learning-in-tandem-302648371.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Aton Resources Inc. (TSXV:AAN) ("Aton" or the "Company") updates investors on the final results from its phase 3a reverse circulation percussion ("RC") drilling programme at the Semna gold mine project, located within the retained exploration areas of the Company's Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat" or the "Concession") in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.

Highlights:

44 RC drill holes (SMP-049 to SMP-092) were completed in the phase 3a programme at Semna, for a total of 5,257 metres drilled. Full assay results, including conventional fire assay and metallic screen fire assay results, are now available for the final 19 holes of the programme (SMP-074 to SMP-092);

Significant high grade mineralised intersections (based on metallic screen fire assay analyses) include the following: 3.65g/t Au over a 25m interval , from 157m downhole depth, from hole SMP-085, including intervals of 11.92 g/t Au over 3m and 6.11 g/t Au over 9m ; 4.20 g/t Au over a 17m interval , from 111m downhole depth, including an interval of 15.84 g/t Au over 4m (hole SMP-088); 10.62 g/t Au over a 5m interval , from 128m downhole depth (hole SMP-082); 7.33 g/t Au over a 6m interval , from 126m downhole depth (hole SMP-090); 9.58 g/t Au over a 3m interval , from 137m downhole depth (hole SMP-078); and 3.83 g/t Au over a 12m interval , from 19m downhole depth (hole SMP-091).

Wide zones of quartz vein associated mineralisation were intersected in deep RC holes SMP-085, SMP-086 and SMP-088, showing the mineralisation continues at depth beneath the Main Vein and Offset Vein zones, as well as strong down-dip persistence of these mineralised structures;

High grade mineralisation was also intersected approximately 270m east-northeast and along strike of the old Main Vein underground workings (holes SMP-078 and SMP-082). Furthermore, near-surface mineralisation was also drilled on the Adit Vein West structure, approximately 130m south of the underground workings (hole SMP-091), as well as previously untested mineralisation on the Central Vein zone (holes SMP-089 and SMP-090);

The latest drilling results, expanding the mineralisation at depth, along strike, and to new structures away from the Main Vein zone, continue to indicate the potential for a significant orogenic gold system at Semna, with multiple high grade mineralised structures and orientations.

"2025 has been another busy year in Egypt for Aton, and we are pleased to close it out with another very promising set of drill results from our emerging Semna project" said Tonno Vahk, CEO. "We are particularly encouraged by the persistence of multiple and wide quartz vein structures at depth, as we chase them down-dip, as well as the presence of wide zones of gold mineralisation at very respectable grades. We are also increasing the strike length of the high grade mineralisation on the Main Vein, and continue to intersect near-surface and outcropping mineralisation on new structures that have not yet been drill tested. As we continue to expand the surface footprint of the high grade mineralisation, as well as drilling wide zones of mineralisation at depth, Semna is certainly shaping up as a potentially very significant high grade gold deposit. We continue to move ahead on other projects, and expect to be able to release encouraging new drill and metallurgical testwork results from the Abu Marawat deposit early in 2026, also in our retained exploration areas. At Hamama work on the PFS is continuing, and we are looking to rapidly accelerate the development of the Hamama West mine, and are planning to commence gold production there in 2027. This year has certainly been a busy one for Aton, and we are looking forward to an even more exciting and productive year in 2026 as we push ahead to becoming only the second international gold miner in Egypt. Finally, I would like to wish all our shareholders and stakeholders a happy holiday season, and a successful and prosperous New Year!"

Semna gold mine project The Semna prospect is located approximately 27km east-northeast of the Hamama West deposit and 13km north-northeast of the Rodruin deposit, and is accessed via desert tracks from either Hamama, Rodruin or the Abu Marawat deposit to the north (Figure 1). The Semna area has a long history of gold mining, dating back thousands of years to the Old Kingdom, and it was more recently exploited between 1904 and 1906 by two British companies, which worked the Main Vein on two underground levels. It is anecdotally suggested that the Semna mine had the widest vein exploited during the early 20 th Century phase of gold mining in Egypt, reaching up to 6m width in places, with the British companies reporting mining grades of over 2 ounces per ton. Reports from the British Mining Journal from 1905 indicated that some remnant pillars within the ancient Pharaonic-era stopes assayed up to 5.5 ounces per ton of gold. More recently the area has been extensively worked by illegal artisanal miners, who have now been removed from the site. The Semna prospect is located approximately 27km east-northeast of the Hamama West deposit and 13km north-northeast of the Rodruin deposit, and is accessed via desert tracks from either Hamama, Rodruin or the Abu Marawat deposit to the north (Figure 1). The Semna area has a long history of gold mining, dating back thousands of years to the Old Kingdom, and it was more recently exploited between 1904 and 1906 by two British companies, which worked the Main Vein on two underground levels. It is anecdotally suggested that the Semna mine had the widest vein exploited during the early 20Century phase of gold mining in Egypt, reaching up to 6m width in places, with the British companies reporting mining grades of over 2 ounces per ton. Reports from the British Mining Journal from 1905 indicated that some remnant pillars within the ancient Pharaonic-era stopes assayed up to 5.5 ounces per ton of gold. More recently the area has been extensively worked by illegal artisanal miners, who have now been removed from the site.

Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession, showing the location of the Semna prospect

During 2023 Aton completed a first phase of RC drilling at Semna, drilling 21 holes for a total of 3,662 metres. This initial programme yielded excellent results with mineralised intersections including 50.07 g/t Au over a 6m interval (hole SMP-016), 28.36 g/t Au over a 4m interval (hole SMP-003), 10.61 g/t Au over a 9m interval (hole SMP-019), and 5.73 g/t Au over a 14m interval (hole SMP-017). The RC drilling confirmed the presence of significant coarse gold in the Semna mineralisation (see news release dated December 18, 2023).

Subsequent metallurgical testwork undertaken by Aton returned very positive results with gold recoveries in excess of 97% from 2 representative bulk samples of the Semna mineralisation. Gold was also recovered to 2 gravity concentrates at rates of 56.4% and 62.2%, again indicating a significant component of coarse gold in the Semna mineralisation. The testwork indicated that the Semna mineralisation is amenable to treatment by both conventional CIL, and gravity concentration-leach processing options (see news release dated January 4, 2024).

In 2024 the Company completed a 27 hole follow up diamond drilling programme for a total of 4,701 metres drilled (see news release dated July 4, 2024). This programme also returned significant high grade intersections including 11.69 g/t Au over a 5.19m interval, from 126.35m downhole depth, and 21.53 g/t Au over a 1.50m interval, from 147.20m (both from hole SMD-048), 15.05 g/t Auover a 2.55m interval , from 100.45m (hole SMD-025), 27.90 g/t Au over a 1.37m interval, from 68.94m (hole SMD-043), 8.10 g/t Au over a 3.13m interval, from 135.83m (hole SMD-027), and 16.77 g/t Au over a 1.55m interval, from 64.30m (hole SMD-044).

The mineralisation at Semna is interpreted as being orogenic in style, and is associated with an array of structures, presumed to have formed in dilational zones, accompanied by shearing and phyllic wall rock alteration. The mineralised structures appear to be localised between and offset by a series of regional north-northeast striking faults. These structures are frequently manifested as milky white quartz veins, which apparently anastomose and pinch and swell, and are associated with locally strong phyllic wall rock alteration. The quartz veins are variably sulphidic, and the highest grades of gold mineralisation are typically associated with lenses and selvages of sulphide minerals, sub-parallel to the veins, as well as occurring at the margins of the veins, and in the immediately adjacent altered wall rocks. The mineralisation at Semna predominantly consists primarily of gold, which is often coarse and nuggety. The sheared veins locally contain abundant chalcopyrite, and can carry significantly elevated grades of silver and copper.

Semna phase 3a RC drilling programme A total of 44 drill holes (SMP-049 to SMP-092) have been drilled in the Semna phase 3a RC drill programme, for a total of 5,257 metres. The final metallic screen fire assay results are now available for holes SMP-074 to SMP-092, and are reported herein (Figure 2). Previously reported mineralised intersections from the phase 3a RC drill programme include 14.33 g/t Au over a 9m interval, from 72m downhole depth (hole SMP-050) and 10.74 g/t Au over a 6m interval, from 138m downhole depth (hole SMP-073), see news release dated July 2, 2025. After the completion of the phase 3a drilling, the RC rig was mobilised to Hamama for other priority work on the Hamama Pre-Feasibility Study, and then completed 6,647 metres of RC drilling at the Abu Marawat project, before returning to Semna. RC drilling re-commenced at Semna during November 2025 on the continued phase 3b programme. A short phase 4 programme of diamond drilling was also undertaken at Semna during November-December 2025, with 8 holes (SMD-201 to SMD-208) being completed for a total of 406.8 metres drilled. The phase 3a and 3b RC drill programmes have been undertaken on a reasonably tight spacing as the Company looks to accelerate the estimation of a maiden resource at Semna in 2026, while considering the grade variability and the irregular distribution of the nuggety coarse gold in the pinching and swelling veins. Full collar details of all holes are provided in Appendix A.

Samples were initially composited over 4m intervals, with the entire length of all the drill holes being submitted to the laboratory for gold fire assay analysis. Selected 1m split samples collected directly during the drilling were subsequently submitted for additional gold fire assaying, as well as for silver and copper analysis, after the receipt of the 4m composite assay results. After receipt of the 1m split sample assay results, further selected 1m split samples were re-submitted for additional metallic screen fire assay analysis, comprising the majority of the samples from within the mineralised intervals.

Figure 2: Geology and drill hole collar plan of the Semna prospect, holes SMP-074 to SMP-092 (note holes SMP-079 to SMP-081 not shown)

Discussion of results

Selected mineralised intersections from holes SMP-074 to SMP-092 are shown below in Table 1 (based on screen fire assay analyses). Full mineralised intersection details from these holes are provided in Appendices B, C, and D (metallic screen fire assay analysis, conventional fire assay analysis from the 1m split samples, and conventional fire assay analysis from the 4m composite samples, respectively).

Hole ID Intersection (m) Au 1 (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) Comments 2 From To Interval SMP-078 85 88 3 6.22 1.3 0.09 Fire assay result: 3m @ 2.87 g/t Au and 112 117 5 1.09 0.5 0.01 and 137 140 3 9.58 17.2 0.85 Fire assay result: 1m @ 16.63 g/t Au SMP-082 128 133 5 10.62 3.8 0.09 Fire assay result: 5m @ 10.47 g/t Au SMP-085 157 182 25 3.65 1.6 0.04 Fire assay result: 26m @ 3.39 g/t Au incl. 157 160 3 11.92 6.5 0.20 Fire assay result: 4m @ 8.07 g/t Au and incl. 173 182 9 6.11 2.1 0.03 Fire assay result: 9m @ 6.15 g/t Au SMP-086 176 197 21 1.33 0.3 0.00 Fire assay result: 21m @ 1.27 g/t Au SMP-088 111 128 17 4.20 1.1 0.03 Fire assay result: 17m @ 4.78 g/t Au incl. 111 113 2 3.28 0.8 0.02 and incl. 124 128 4 15.84 3.4 0.09 Fire assay result: 4m @ 17.40 g/t Au and 178 181 3 2.06 1.5 0.02 SMP-089 31 33 2 9.27 1.2 0.01 Fire assay result: 2m @ 11.46 g/t Au SMP-090 44 46 2 4.06 0.5 0.01 and 126 132 6 7.33 6.7 0.25 Fire assay result: 6m @ 7.01 g/t Au SMP-091 19 31 12 3.83 0.8 0.02 Fire assay result: 12m @ 3.43 g/t Au Notes: Screen fire gold assays (ALS analytical code Au-SCR-24) are used in the calculation of intersections Conventional fire assays from 1m splits (ALS analytical code Au-AA23) are used in the calculation of intersections

Table 1: Selected final intersections from the Semna phase 3 RC drilling, SMP-074 to SMP-092

Holes SMP-084 to SMP-088 targeted the deeper extensions of the Main Vein and Offset Vein zones, with holes SMP-085 and SMP-086 intersecting wide zones of mineralisation, associated with wide and multiple zones of milky white quartz veining, and associated phyllic wallrock alteration (see Figures 3 and 4). The results are encouraging with the thickness of the quartz veins indicating that the mineralised structures are not diminishing at these depths, and are suggestive of strong depth potential for the Semna mineralised system.

Figure 3: RC percussion chips from hole SMP-085, 140-200m depth, showing the mineralised interval between 157-182m, associated with multiple zones of quartz veining and phyllic wallrock alteration

Figure 4: RC percussion chips from hole SMP-086, 160-200m depth, showing the mineralised interval between 176-197m, associated with wide zones of quartz veining

Hole SMP-088 also intersected a wide zone of mineralisation, again associated with multiple quartz veins and structures, some of which are interpreted as being "flat-lying" cross or ladder structures ( 4.20 g/t Au over a 17m interval, from 111m downhole depth).

6 holes targeted the far east-northeastern extension of the Main Vein zone ("MVZ"), and the NE Shear structure (SMP-076, SMP-077 SMP-078, SMP-082, SMP-083 and SMP-092, Figure 2). All these holes intersected mineralisation, indicating continuity of the mineralisation over a strike length of at least 550m from the western end of the old underground workings. Holes SMP-078 ( 9.58 g/t Au over a 3m interval , from 137m downhole depth), SMP-082 ( 10.62 g/t Au over a 5m interval, from 128m downhole depth) and SMP-083 ( 5.36 g/t Au over a 6m interval, from 188m downhole depth) all intersected mineralisation grading >5 g/t Au, indicating strike and depth extent of high grade mineralisation in this area.

3 holes targeted the western end of the MVZ beneath the old underground workings (SMP-079 to SMP-081). Holes SMP-079 and SMP-081 returned narrow intersections on the MVZ, and these holes suggest that the mineralisation is diminishing at the western end of the underground workings. Hole SMP-081 also returned a narrow intersection from the Central Vein zone ("CVZ", see news release dated October 13, 2023, Figure 2).

Holes SMP-089 and SMP-090 tested the eastern extension of the CVZ, with both returning narrow mineralised intersections ( 9.27 g/t Au over a 2m interval, from 31m downhole depth, and 4.06 g/t Au over a 2m interval, from 44m downhole depth, respectively) close to surface. SMP-090 also returned a high grade intersection of 7.33 g/t Au over a 6m interval, from 126m downhole depth, from the down-dip extension of the MVZ.

Hole SMP-091 targeted a narrow zone of ancient workings, the Adit Vein West zone, approximately 130m south of the MVZ and returned a very encouraging near-surface mineralised intersection of 3.83 g/t Au over a 12m interval, from 19m downhole depth (see Table 2).

The latest tranche of RC drill results continues to clearly show that the gold mineralisation is associated with the milky white quartz veins, occurring both within the quartz veins themselves at typically lower grades, and also at higher grades in their sulphide-bearing (or oxidised near to the surface) margins and adjacent wall rock (see news release dated July 2, 2025). There appears to be a clear correlation between the gold grades and the quantity of sulphide present in or adjacent to the veins themselves, and on their margins.

The current phase of drilling continues to expand the surface footprint of the known mineralisation at Semna, including to previously untested structures such as the Adit Vein West (hole SMP-091). The deeper drilling has confirmed strong persistence of the mineralised structures (SMP-085, SMP-086 and SMP-083), as well as the presence and continuation of multiple quartz veins, at depth. Furthermore, drilling along the northeastern strike extent of the old underground workings has indicated the continuation of mineralisation both close to surface (holes SMP-077, SMP-078 and SMP-092), as well as at depth (holes SMP-078, SMP-082 and SMP-083), again associated with multiple structures.

Along with the previous identification of a series of well mineralised "flat" easterly-dipping structures (see news releases dated February 1, 2024 and July 2, 2025), the latest RC drill results continue to indicate the presence of multiple steeply south-dipping structures and veins at Semna, in multiple zones and at various orientations, associated with high grade gold mineralisation. Evidence is emerging that rather than a series of simple tabular pinching and swelling quartz veins the mineralisation may be hosted in a series of more discontinuous, plunging, and possibly en echelon type structures. The persistence of wide zones of mineralisation and quartz veining at depth, the increased strike extent of the MVZ, and the expanding surface footprint of the mineralised structures at Semna all suggest that the Semna deposit has the potential to be a significant sized high grade orogenic gold system.

Sampling methodology and analysis

Please also refer to the "Sampling and analytical procedures" section below for full details of the sampling procedures, and also the news release dated July 2, 2025, for further information on sampling methodologies.

All drill holes were sampled at the rig, with individual 1m length samples being captured into bulk plastic bags. Sampling of each and every hole was undertaken in their entirety at 1 metre intervals. Aton field crews then combined 4m intervals into composite samples, thoroughly mixing and homogenising the samples. These 4m composite samples were then split down to c. 500-1,000g samples which were dispatched from site for gold fire assay analysis. Upon receipt of the initial 4m composite assay results, selected 1m mineralised intervals were then sent to the laboratory for additional gold fire assaying, as well as for analysis of silver and copper. After the results of these 1m split samples were received, additional samples were selected and dispatched for metallic screen fire assay analysis.

Hole SMP-091 Depth (m) 4m composites 1m splits Screen fire assays From To Au (g/t) 1 Au (g/t) 2 Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) Au (g/t) 3 16 17 1.26 0.02 0.2 54 - 17 18 0.04 0.2 64 - 18 19 0.22 <0.2 193 0.13 19 20 6.71 1.3 849 7.77 20 21 4.18 23.90 3.2 264 29.10 21 22 0.35 0.6 266 0.38 22 23 0.07 0.3 89 0.06 23 24 0.05 0.4 36 0.03 24 25 1.26 2.21 1.0 190 2.11 25 26 1.01 0.4 33 1.07 26 27 0.69 0.4 22 0.66 27 28 0.68 0.4 203 0.56 28 29 0.80 2.13 0.3 28 0.76 29 30 0.36 0.4 53 0.31 30 31 2.98 0.5 69 3.11 31 32 0.06 <0.2 37 - Notes: Gold analysis by ALS code Au-AA23 (conventional fire assay, 30g charge, with an AA finish) Gold analysis by ALS code Au-AA23 (conventional fire assay, 30g charge, with an AA finish) Gold analysis by ALS code Au-SCR24 (metallic screen fire assay, 1kg sample)

Table 2: Compiled assay results, SMP-091, 16-32m

An example of the assays received from the 3 different sampling phases/assaying methods is presented in Table 2 above, showing the mineralised intersection from hole SMP-091 on the Adit Vein West, between 16-32m. It is noted that in the bulk 4m composite assays indicate a broad zone of relatively low-grade gold mineralisation between 16-32m. Both the 1m conventional fire assays and screen fire assays demonstrate a core of higher grade mineralisation between 19-21m associated with an oxidised quartz vein, within a halo of lower grade mineralisation associated with weathered rock and subsidiary quartz veins (Figure 5):

Figure 5: RC percussion chips from hole SMP-092, showing the mineralised interval between 19-31m, associated with zones of quartz veining and oxidation. Note the higher grade vein between 19-21m

Figure 6: Comparison between mineralised intervals from the 4m composite samples and the 1m split samples, holes SMP-049 to SMP-092

Analysis of the assay data continues to shows a generally very close correlation between the 1m split sample intersections and the 4m composite sample intersections, with the trendline showing a 97% correlation between the 2 sets of samples for the entire phase 3a RC drill programme (holes SMP-049 to SMP-092, Figure 6). This very close and accurate correlation indicates the validity of the sampling methodologies employed, as well as the accuracy of the assays received from both the initial 4m composite samples and the subsequent 1m split samples.

Similarly the correlation between the conventional fire assay results and the screen fire assay results is plotted below in Figure 7. The 94% correlation between the screen fire assay and conventional fire assay results over the entire phase 3a programme is again quite good.

Figure 7: Comparison between conventional fire assay (Au-AA23) and metallic screen fire assay results (Au-SCR24), holes SMP-049 to SMP-092

Sampling and analytical procedures

The RC drill holes were drilled at 5" size (138-140mm diameter), using an Explorac 100 RC drilling rig, operated by Capital Limited. The rig was equipped with an onboard cone splitter which was set to produce 2 separate 1/8 split samples ("L" - laboratory and "R" - retain) which were collected into cloth bags directly from the splitter. The remaining c. 75% of the bulk percussion chip samples was collected directly from the cyclone into pre-written large plastic bags every metre, numbered with the hole number and hole depths. The bulk sample bags were laid out sequentially at the drill site. Between each metre of drilling the cyclone was cleaned out with compressed air, and the hole was blown clean to reduce the risk of downhole contamination. The bags were logged on the drill sites by Aton geologists. A representative sample of each metre was washed and stored in marked plastic chip trays, each containing 20m of samples, photographed, and retained onsite as a permanent record of the drill hole, with the bulk sample bags being retained at the drill sites.

The 1m "L" split samples, weighing approximately 4-5kg each were then transported to the Abu Marawat sample processing facility, where they were 1/2 riffle split into 2 separate sub-samples, weighing approximately 2-2.5kg. One of these sub-samples was marked and labelled, and retained at the laboratory for storage. The second 1m sub-samples were then combined into 4m composite samples, weighing approximately 8-10kg. These were thoroughly mixed and homogenised and again riffle split to produce nominal c. 500-1,000g 4m composite samples which were dispatched to ALS Minerals for analysis. Again the splitter was cleaned with compressed air between each sample. The 4m composite samples were allocated new sample numbers. The bulk reject material from the riffle split 4m composite samples was disposed of. QAQC samples were inserted into the 4m composite sample stream at a rate of approximately 1 certified reference material (or "standard" sample) every 60 samples, 1 blank sample every 30 samples, and 1 field duplicate split sample ("L" bag) or replicate sample (taken from the "R" bag) every 30 samples.

The "R" bags were retained separately onsite and stored at the Abu Marawat sample storage facility.

The dried and split 4m composite samples were shipped to ALS Minerals sample preparation laboratory at Marsa Alam, Egypt, where they were pulverised to a size fraction of better than 85% passing 75 microns. From this pulverised material a further sub-sample was split off with a nominal c. 100g size, which was shipped on to ALS Minerals at Rosia Montana, Romania for analysis. The reject pulp material was returned to the sample preparation facility at Rodruin, where it is also retained onsite

The 4m composite samples were analysed for gold by fire assay (30g charge) with an atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS") finish (analytical code Au-AA23). Any high grade gold samples (>10 g/t Au) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-GRA22 (also fire assay, with a 50g charge, and with a gravimetric finish).

Following receipt of the assay results of the 4m composite assay results, selected 1m mineralised intervals were then selected with a further c. 500-1,000g sub-sample being split off from the retained material from the "L" bags, and again allocated new sample numbers. QAQC samples were inserted into the 1m split sample stream at a rate of approximately 1 certified reference material/standard sample every 30 samples, 1 blank sample every 15 samples, and 1 field duplicate or replicate sample every 15 samples. The remaining material from the "L" bags was again retained onsite at Abu Marawat.

The 1m split samples were again sent to ALS Minerals Egypt for sample preparation and on to ALS Romania for gold, silver and copper analysis. Gold was again analysed using Au-AA23 and Au-GRA22 for overlimit assays. Samples were also analysed for silver and copper using an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish (analytical codes Ag-AA45 and Cu-AA45).

Following receipt of the assay results of the 1m composite assay results, a number of further samples were then selected from the mineralised intervals, with a further c. 1,000g sub-sample being split off from the retained "R" bags, and these samples were again allocated new sample numbers. The residual material from the "R" bags was re-bagged, and was again retained onsite at Abu Marawat.

This second tranche of 1m split samples were again sent to ALS Minerals Egypt who arranged for transport directly on to ALS Romania for metallic screen fire assay analysis for gold (analytical code Au-SCR24). No QAQC samples were inserted into this sample stream.

About Aton Resources Inc.

Aton Resources Inc. (TSXV:AAN) is focused on its 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat"), located in Egypt's Arabian-Nubian Shield, approximately 200 km north of Anglogold Ashanti's world-class Sukari gold mine. Aton has identified numerous gold and base metal exploration targets at Abu Marawat, including the Hamama deposit in the west, the Abu Marawat deposit in the northeast, and the Rodruin deposit in the south of the Concession. Two historic British gold mines are also located on the Concession at Semna and Sir Bakis. Aton has identified several distinct geological trends within Abu Marawat, which display potential for the development of a variety of styles of precious and base metal mineralisation. The Abu Marawat exploitation lease is 57.66 km 2 in size, covering the Hamama West and Rodruin mineral deposits, and was established In January 2024 and is valid for an initial period of 20 years. The Concession also includes an additional 255.0 km 2 of exploration areas at Abu Marawat, retained for a further period of 4 years from January 2024. Abu Marawat is located in an area of excellent infrastructure; a four-lane highway, a 220kV power line, and a water pipeline are in close proximity, as are the international airports at Hurghada and Luxor.

Qualified person

The technical information contained in this News Release was prepared by Javier Orduna BSc (hons), MSc, MCSM, DIC, MAIG, SEG(M), Chief Geologist of Aton Resources Inc. Mr. Orduna is a qualified person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information regarding Aton Resources Inc., please visit us at www.atonresources.com or contact:

TONNO VAHK

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 604 318 0390

Email: info@atonresources.com

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions; by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Appendix A - Semna phase 3a RC drill hole collar details, SMP-074 to SMP-092

Hole ID Collar co-ordinates 1,2 EOH depth (m) Dip Grid azimuth Comments / Target X Y Z SMP-074 558794.6 2924743.0 565.4 80 -44.3 130.6 Offset Vein SMP-075 558827.3 2924741.3 558.9 60 -49.4 306.0 MVZ-EX SMP-076 558986.0 2924863.4 563.5 80 -44.1 310.4 MVZ-EX / NE shear SMP-077 558996.6 2924879.8 563.2 100 -41.1 308.2 MVZ-EX / NE shear SMP-078 558999.6 2924855.3 563.8 160 -58.3 311.5 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-079 558577.8 2924727.4 638.1 132 -51.4 47.7 MVZ SMP-080 558574.0 2924731.1 638.0 130 -49.2 357.1 MVZ SMP-081 558563.9 2924658.1 651.6 200 -48.5 21.3 CVZ / MVZ SMP-082 559000.6 2924875.2 563.1 150 -53.9 310.0 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-083 559047.1 2924834.6 576.0 250 -60.2 288.2 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-084 558966.0 2924705.1 598.0 280 -53.1 335.7 MVZ-EX SMP-085 558933.3 2924697.0 595.5 220 -54.0 295.8 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-086 558932.1 2924694.0 595.5 227 -59.9 290.3 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-087 558962.2 2924705.9 597.9 296 -60.3 289.3 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-088 558808.5 2924609.9 572.1 218 -56.0 354.6 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-089 558743.1 2924673.4 604.1 95 -42.4 3.2 CVZ / MVZ SMP-090 558722.4 2924649.7 604.8 160 -51.5 11.9 CVZ / MVZ SMP-091 558727.2 2924613.8 606.4 50 -54.3 176.8 Adit Vein West SMP-092 558996.3 2924901.8 563.1 95 -42.6 311.1 MVZ-EX / NE Shear Notes: All co-ordinates are UTM (WGS84) Zone 36R Collars have all been surveyed using an E-survey E800 GNSS system using RTK survey methodology All drill holes were downhole surveyed using a gyroscopic survey tool

Appendix B - Semna phase 3a RC drill hole screen fire assay intersections (1m splits)

Hole ID Intersection (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Comments From To Interval SMP-074 34 36 2 1.49 0.2 0.00 Offset Vein SMP-075 14 17 3 1.83 0.6 0.00 MVZ-EX SMP-076 75 78 3 2.32 0.8 0.00 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-077 20 22 2 1.27 0.3 0.00 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-078 85 88 3 6.22 1.3 0.09 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 112 117 5 1.09 0.5 0.01 and 137 140 3 9.58 17.2 0.85 SMP-079 107 110 3 3.09 1.3 0.05 MVZ SMP-081 124 127 3 2.72 0.6 0.00 CVZ and 170 172 2 3.33 0.9 0.00 MVZ SMP-082 68 70 2 1.20 0.4 0.00 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 128 133 5 10.62 3.8 0.09 SMP-083 94 100 6 1.30 0.5 0.01 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 188 194 6 5.36 1.3 0.03 SMP-085 157 182 25 3.65 1.6 0.04 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein incl. 157 160 3 11.92 6.5 0.20 and incl. 173 182 9 6.11 2.1 0.03 SMP-086 176 197 21 1.33 0.3 0.00 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-087 98 99 1 8.78 20.9 0.96 and 203 205 2 4.64 2.3 0.01 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-088 111 128 17 4.20 1.1 0.03 Possible flat veins? incl. 111 113 2 3.28 0.8 0.02 and incl. 124 128 4 15.84 3.4 0.09 and 178 181 3 2.06 1.5 0.02 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-089 31 33 2 9.27 1.2 0.01 CVZ SMP-090 44 46 2 4.06 0.5 0.01 CVZ and 126 132 6 7.33 6.7 0.25 MVZ SMP-091 19 31 12 3.83 0.8 0.02 Adit Vein West SMP-092 6 7 1 1.66 0.1 0.01 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 56 62 6 2.02 0.7 0.01 Notes: Mineralised intervals were calculated using a nominal cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au

Appendix C - Semna phase 3a RC drill hole conventional fire assay intersections (1m splits)

Hole ID Intersection (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Comments From To Interval SMP-074 34 36 2 1.60 0.2 0.00 Offset Vein SMP-075 14 17 3 3.53 0.6 0.00 MVZ-EX SMP-076 75 78 3 2.10 0.8 0.00 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-077 20 22 2 1.10 0.3 0.00 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-078 85 88 3 2.87 1.3 0.09 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 112 117 5 0.94 0.5 0.01 and 137 139 2 16.63 25.5 1.26 SMP-079 107 110 3 2.71 1.3 0.05 MVZ SMP-081 124 127 3 2.06 0.6 0.00 CVZ and 170 172 2 3.88 0.9 0.00 MVZ SMP-082 68 70 2 1.03 0.4 0.00 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 128 133 5 10.47 3.8 0.09 SMP-083 94 100 6 1.17 0.5 0.01 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 188 194 6 4.71 1.3 0.03 SMP-085 156 182 26 3.39 1.5 0.04 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein incl. 156 160 4 8.07 4.9 0.15 and incl. 173 182 9 6.15 2.1 0.03 SMP-086 176 197 21 1.27 0.3 0.00 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-087 98 99 1 9.58 20.9 0.96 and 203 205 2 4.39 2.3 0.01 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-088 111 128 17 4.78 1.1 0.03 Possible flat veins? incl. 111 113 2 5.07 0.8 0.02 and incl. 124 128 4 17.40 3.4 0.09 and 178 182 4 2.11 1.2 0.02 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-089 31 33 2 11.46 1.2 0.01 CVZ SMP-090 44 46 2 5.09 0.5 0.01 CVZ and 126 132 6 7.01 6.7 0.25 MVZ SMP-091 19 31 12 3.43 0.8 0.02 Adit Vein West SMP-092 6 7 1 1.66 0.1 0.01 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 56 62 6 2.06 0.7 0.01 Notes: Mineralised intervals were calculated using a nominal cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au

Appendix D - Semna phase 3a RC drill hole conventional fire assay intersections (4m composites)

Hole ID Intersection (m) Au (g/t) Comments From To Interval SMP-074 32 36 4 0.72 Offset Vein SMP-075 12 16 4 2.42 MVZ-EX SMP-076 72 80 8 0.79 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-077 20 24 4 0.58 MVZ-EX / NE Shear SMP-078 84 88 4 2.87 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 112 120 8 0.85 and 136 140 4 6.55 SMP-079 108 112 4 1.45 MVZ SMP-081 124 128 4 2.09 CVZ and 168 172 4 2.01 MVZ SMP-082 68 72 4 0.49 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 124 136 12 5.20 SMP-083 92 100 8 1.29 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 188 196 8 3.36 SMP-085 156 184 28 3.35 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein incl. 156 160 4 9.89 and incl. 172 184 12 4.47 SMP-086 176 196 20 1.53 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-087 96 100 4 2.01 and 200 208 8 0.91 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-088 108 128 20 4.10 Possible flat veins? incl. 108 112 4 2.01 and incl. 124 128 4 18.00 and 180 184 4 1.37 MVZ-EX / Offset Vein SMP-089 28 36 8 3.09 CVZ SMP-090 44 48 4 2.48 CVZ and 124 132 8 5.84 MVZ SMP-091 16 32 16 1.87 Adit Vein West SMP-092 4 8 4 0.77 MVZ-EX / NE Shear and 56 60 4 1.86 Notes: Mineralised intervals were calculated using a nominal cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au

SOURCE: Aton Resources, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/aton-reports-the-continuation-of-strong-mineralisation-at-depth-at-the-semna-proj-1120364
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Cybeats Technologies Corp. (CSE: CYBT) (OTCQB: CYBCF) ("Cybeats" or the "Company"), a leading provider of software supply chain security, announces the appointment of Cassie Crossley to the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Ms. Crossley is recognized globally as one of the foremost leaders in software supply chain security, with more than two decades of senior experience spanning cybersecurity, product security, and operational technology across multiple Fortune 100 organizations. She most recently served as Vice President of Supply Chain Security at Schneider Electric, where she led global SBOM adoption, secure software development initiatives, and enterprise-wide compliance programs aligned with emerging international regulations. Ms. Crossley is the author of "Software Supply Chain Security: Securing the End-to-End Supply Chain for Software, Firmware, and Hardware", and she is also a frequent contributor to international cybersecurity standards.

"Critical industries worldwide are at a pivotal moment for software transparency and supply chain security," said Ms. Crossley. "Cybeats has built both the technology and the reach required to support organizations as these requirements become operational realities. Organizations are rapidly maturing how they manage software risk, and Cybeats stands out with an enterprise-ready SBOM platform that addresses real, day-to-day challenges at scale. Having worked with Cybeats previously as a customer and now as an Advisory Board member, I'm excited to take a more active role in shaping the Company's growth strategy and supporting its path to becoming a global leader in this space. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team and fellow directors as Cybeats continues to expand and innovate."

"Cassie stands out as one of the leading authorities in global software supply chain security, bringing unparalleled expertise from being an early pioneer in the adoption of SBOM management and championing a practical, scalable vision for SBOM sharing at Schneider Electric," said Dmitry Raidman, CTO and Co-Founder of Cybeats. "Her decision to join Cybeats' Board of Directors strongly validates both our technological leadership and our growth momentum. As SBOM requirements move from emerging regulation into enterprise-level accountability, Cassie brings firsthand experience making risk-informed decisions in complex, regulated environments. That perspective, along with her Digital Directors Network QTE 501 certification, will strengthen Cybeats' strategic oversight at the Board level, helping ensure the Company's governance and growth strategy are grounded in the realities faced by global enterprises as we scale."

About Cybeats Technologies Corp.

Cybeats Technologies Corp. (CSE: CYBT) (OTCQB: CYBCF) is a cybersecurity company providing Software Bill of Material (SBOM) management and software supply chain intelligence technology, helping organizations to manage risk, meet compliance requirements, and secure their software from procurement to development and operation. Cybeats platform gives customers comprehensive visibility and transparency into their software supply chain, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, increase revenue, and align organizations with current and future regulations. Cybeats. Software Made Certain. Website: www.cybeats.com

About Cybeats SBOM Studio

Cybeats SBOM Studio is the management solution for your software security lifecycle. SBOM Studio is an enterprise-class solution that helps you understand and track third-party components that are an integral part of your own software. Use SBOM Studio to document what you have and where it came from, and plan for the maintenance that will prevent security posture degradation over the life of your software. Features include:

Quality Analysis & Auto-Correction of Data: AI-Driven SBOM Enrichment automates software transparency, making SBOMs more structured, actionable, and machine-readable. Reclassify software components and applications for accuracy, verification, and enhanced usability.

AI-Driven SBOM Enrichment automates software transparency, making SBOMs more structured, actionable, and machine-readable. Reclassify software components and applications for accuracy, verification, and enhanced usability. Real-Time Vulnerability Monitoring: Continuous tracking of security risks from discovery to resolution, enhancing software supply chain resilience.

Continuous tracking of security risks from discovery to resolution, enhancing software supply chain resilience. Regulatory Compliance & Secure Distribution: Streamlines adherence to cybersecurity mandates, simplifies audits, ensures structured data management, and enables secure SBOM sharing across stakeholders.

Streamlines adherence to cybersecurity mandates, simplifies audits, ensures structured data management, and enables secure SBOM sharing across stakeholders. Scalable Enterprise Deployment: Support seamless integration across multi-tenant environments and complex supply chains, improving visibility from procurement to deployment.

Support seamless integration across multi-tenant environments and complex supply chains, improving visibility from procurement to deployment. Enhanced Security & Asset Visibility: Provides structured way to ingest, machine-readable SBOMs that strengthen software risk assessment for critical infrastructure, including energy, healthcare, and defense sectors.

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the products described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Company filings are available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278914

Source: Cybeats Technologies Corp.
Historic Corporate Action Positions Company for Institutional Capital Access and Long-Term Shareholder Value

PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. (OTCPK:GRLF), a leading distributor and manufacturer of premium handmade cigars, today announced that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has approved the company's reverse stock split at a ratio of 2,500:1, effective 12-22-2025. Additionally, the company will also be reducing its authorized share capital.

This strategic corporate action marks a transformative moment in the company's capital structure and positions Green Leaf Innovations for enhanced investor accessibility and long-term shareholder value creation.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CAPITAL RECAPITALIZATION:

Reverse Stock Split (2,500:1 Ratio)

* Immediately increases stock price on a per-share basis, improving market perception among institutional investors

* Reduces share count from approximately 16.70B shares to approximately 6,680,000 million shares (post-split)

* Eliminates penny stock stigma associated with high share counts, potentially opening doors to broader investment communities

* Enhances trading visibility and liquidity through improved stock price positioning

Authorized Share Reduction (500% to 1000% Reduction)

* Demonstrates management's commitment to capital discipline and shareholder protection

* Reduces potential dilution concerns that have historically deterred institutional capital from current shares to a controlled authorized ceiling

* Creates a clean, manageable capital structure appropriate for a company with the company's market position

* Signals confidence in current market valuation and reduced need for continuous equity financing

STRATEGIC RATIONALE AND INVESTOR BENEFITS:

"This reverse stock split and authorized share reduction represent a pivotal moment for Green Leaf Innovations," said Roberto Mederos, CEO. "We have built a profitable growing business and also with the SOFLO acquisition substantially expanding our revenue and market reach. This corporate action is not about financial engineering - it's about aligning our capital structure with the operational reality of what we have accomplished.

"Our institutional investor outreach has consistently identified share count and authorized shares as barriers to portfolio inclusion. By reducing authorized shares while implementing a 2,500:1 reverse split, we dramatically reduce shareholder dilution risk and create a capital structure that attracts institutional capital. We are now positioned to compete for capital in markets previously inaccessible to us, while simultaneously protecting existing shareholders from the dilution concerns that plagued our previous structure."

BENEFITS TO THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY:

1. Institutional Accessibility: Many institutional investors maintain minimum stock price thresholds for portfolio inclusion. The reverse split elevates our per-share price into ranges that align with institutional mandates.

2. Analyst Coverage: Higher stock prices and lower share counts typically attract greater analyst attention and coverage from institutional research platforms.

3. Index Eligibility: Improved stock price positioning enhances potential eligibility for inclusion in OTC market indices and other benchmark tracking products.

4. Reduced Dilution Risk: With authorized shares capped the outstanding post-split, shareholders have substantial room for growth while maintaining strong protection against excessive future dilution.

5. Capital Efficiency: The disciplined share structure signals management's commitment to capital stewardship and profitability-focused growth rather than dilutive financing.

SHAREHOLDER IMPACT:

Existing shareholders will experience a proportional adjustment to their holdings. For example, a shareholder holding 2,500 shares will receive one share post-split. No fractional shares will result from this split ratio. The reverse split is automatic and requires no action from shareholders.

The company's CUSIP number will change while the (GRLF) remains. All securities issued in connection with convertible notes, warrants, and preferred stock will be adjusted proportionally.

BOARD CONFIDENCE AND FORWARD STRATEGY:

"The Board's decision to pursue this recapitalization strategy, rather than a buyback program, reflects our confidence that the market will quickly recognize the improved capital structure and competitive positioning," Mederos continued. "As we execute on our retail cigar shop partnership initiative expansion through our distribution network, and continue to drive profitability across our brands, we expect this cleaner capital structure to accelerate institutional investor engagement and support sustainable share price appreciation."

The company anticipates that the improved capital structure will enhance its profile within the broader investment community and support its long-term growth trajectory.

ABOUT GREEN LEAF INNOVATIONS, INC.

Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. is a premier distributor and manufacturer of handmade premium cigars, including renowned brands such as CUBANACAN, MEDEROS, MAL.CRI.AO, TABACALERA SERRANO and others. With operations spanning Nicaragua's premier tobacco-growing regions and distribution reaching over 400 retail locations across the United States, Green Leaf Innovations is committed to delivering exceptional products to cigar enthusiasts while building shareholder value.

For more information, visit www.greenleafinnovation.com or follow @otcgrlf on X.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: market acceptance of the recapitalized share structure, competitive conditions in the premium cigar market, regulatory changes, capital availability, and general economic conditions. The company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

Green Leaf Innovations, Inc.

Email: info@greenleafinnovation.com

Contact: Ryan Medico

Phone: (800) 303-6268

Website: www.greenleafinnovation.com

SOURCE: Green Leaf Innovations, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/green-leaf-innovations-inc.-announces-finra-approval-of-reverse-stock-1120444
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Eric Sprott announces that on December 22, 2025, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation he beneficially owns, he donated 2,984,200 common shares (Shares) of StrikePoint Gold Inc., to The Sprott Foundation (which he controls). Combined with prior Share issuances by StrikePoint Gold, this resulted in (i) Mr. Sprott's beneficial ownership position to decrease by approximately 9.6% since the date of the last early warning report and (ii) Mr. Sprott's beneficial ownership position to decrease to below 10% on a partially diluted basis. As a result, Mr. Sprott and 2176423 Ontario ceased to be insiders of StrikePoint Gold Inc.

Prior to the donation of these Shares, Mr. Sprott beneficially owned and controlled 2,984,200 Shares, representing approximately 4.8% of the issued and outstanding Shares. As a result of the donation, Mr. Sprott still controls the 2,984,200 Shares donated to The Sprott Foundation. Therefore, Mr. Sprott still controls 2,984,200 Shares, representing approximately 4.8% of the issued and outstanding Shares.

The securities are held for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell the securities including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278886

Source: Eric Sprott
Oak Ridge, Tennessee--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - LIS Technologies Inc. ("LIST" or "the Company"), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, today announced that it has received a Radioactive Material License from the State of Tennessee for its state-of-the-art Test Demonstration Facility located in the K-1330 building on the historic K-25 site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Figure 1 - LIS Technologies Inc., the Only U.S.-Origin and Patented Technology for Laser Uranium Enrichment Announces Critical Regulatory Milestone with Receipt of a State of Tennessee Radioactive Material License for the Test Demonstration Facility located at the K-1330 building on the Historic K-25 site.

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The issuance of this license represents a critical regulatory milestone for LIST, enabling the company to proceed with procurement of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) feedstock and to advance research, development, and optimization activities in support of its accelerated timeline toward deployment of a commercial uranium laser enrichment facility in the United States.

The K-1330 facility sits on the footprint of the former K-25 gaseous diffusion plant, a cornerstone of the Manhattan Project and America's nuclear heritage. LIST's presence at the site reflects the continuation of Oak Ridge's long-standing role as a center of innovation for the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle.

"Being located in the heart of the nuclear renaissance provided access to professionals with decades of TN State Radioactive Material License experience. Experienced Radiological Safety Officers with multiple local companies were available for consultation and mentoring which made the application expedient and efficient," said Lloyd Jollay, UF6 Systems Manager of LIS Technologies.

"This license is a major step forward for LIST and a strong validation of our technical rigor, safety culture, and regulatory readiness," said Julie Olivier, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Licensing of LIS Technologies. "It allows us to safely begin UF6-related operations at our Test Demonstration Facility and continue maturing our laser enrichment technology on a timeline aligned with national priorities to restore domestic enrichment capacity."

Earlier this month, LIST hosted the State of Tennessee for a comprehensive inspection of its Test Demonstration Facility. The inspection confirmed that the facility, operating procedures, and safety systems met the state's requirements for the licensed activities. LIST emphasized that safety, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance remain foundational to its development and commercialization strategy.

In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) as one of six domestic companies awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program to build back the nuclear fuel supply chain. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million. The company's laser-based enrichment approach is designed to offer significant advantages in efficiency, scalability, and footprint relative to legacy technologies, while strengthening U.S. energy security.

"The ability to conduct UF6-based testing in a licensed facility is essential to achieving the technical milestones required for commercialization," added Christo Liebenberg, President and Co-Founder of LIS Technologies. "Our Test Demonstration Facility enables rapid R&D optimization while maintaining the highest standards of safety and oversight as we work toward deploying a market-disrupting enrichment technology in the United States. I am proud of the team for getting us to this point!"

"I want to congratulate our technical and executive teams on their outstanding work in reaching this important milestone. Our team includes former ASML laser scientists, ASML's technology has helped cement the prevalence and importance of semi-conductor chips, which is the backbone for artificial intelligence (A.I) around the world. I am also convinced that we will succeed and ultimately scale what is considered the "holy grail" of enrichment," said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and CEO of LIS Technologies Inc. "2025 has been a transformative year for LIST as we quadrupled our workforce, oversubscribed multiple funding rounds and brought together what I believe is the strongest laser enrichment team backed by former NRC veterans and talented systems engineers in the world. We are advancing the only U.S.-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment technology to help unlock the nation's energy potential and to reinforce its energy security. I believe this technology will become a cornerstone in rebuilding of the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle and energy infrastructure. I expect 2026 to be a game changing year, filled with many milestones for the Company and I could not be happier with our progress."

With the Radioactive Material License now in place, LIST will continue advancing its laser enrichment development program at the K-1330 building, supporting DOE objectives and reinforcing Oak Ridge's role in the future of the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle.

About LIS Technologies Inc.

LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "may" and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management's current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278905

Source: LIS Technologies Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Eastport Critical Metals Corp. (TSXV: EVI) ("Eastport" or the "Company") announces updates in relation to the three drill programs announced and commenced across the Company's critical metals projects in Botswana; Matsitama Copper (drill commencement press release can be viewed here), Semarule REE (drill commencement press release can be viewed here) & Foley Uranium (drill commencement press release can be viewed here).

Highlights:

Drilling Pause and Resumption: All three drill programs have been temporarily paused for the holiday season, with operations scheduled to recommence across the projects in mid-January 2026.

Matsitama Copper Project: Combined diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling targeting potential future resource definition and extension at the historic Nak prospect; initial reconnaissance RC drilling to test the extensive 25 km Copper-Cobra soil anomaly; and RC drilling along the southern extension of the active Kopano mine, Kopano-South, and the prospective 85 km Bushman fault structure (over 60 km within Eastport's licences).

Semarule Rare Earth Elements Project: Phase 1 diamond drilling program underway to test the multi-phase syenite intrusion at Semarule Hill, following encouraging prior rock chip sampling for total rare earth oxides (TREO).

Foley Uranium Project: Phase 1 RC drilling program initiated to test a continuous >15 km paleo-channel extending from the adjacent Letlhakane Uranium Deposit (owned by Lotus Resources).

Rick Bonner, Director & VP Ex, commented,

"Eastport have made a solid start in our Phase 1 efforts. The holiday break provides an opportunity for the team to take time to reflect on the volume of work behind us, and to prepare for a busy 2026 where drilling will resume and results will begin to flow."

Matsitama Copper: Drill Program Update

(Figure 1: Green Collar ID - Drilling Completed at Program as at today)



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Drilling Completed to date:

PROSPECT DIAMOND DRILL METRES / HOLES RC DRILL METRES / HOLES Nak* 1,228m / 8

Nak Exploration 1,307.6m / 7

Copper-Cobra**

450m / 9 Kopano South***

700m / 14

Nak*: Consistent with the Qualified Persons recommended expenditures, the drilling at NAK has focused on infill of sections, twining of historic holes, and testing extensions of the deposit. These holes will assist with the planned 2026 resource statement.

Nak Exploration: Diamond drill holes were testing a number of targets to the northwest and east of the Nak deposit.

Copper-Cobra**: RC drilling on the ~25km copper-in-soil anomaly delivered 453 chip samples for assays, and lithology to assist with mapping the subsurface.

Kopano South***: Kopano South sits south of the historic Kopano Mine (previously known as Mowana), a copper mining operation. RC drilling delivered 700 chip samples for assays and lithology to assist with mapping the subsurface. All RC chip samples have been collected in accordance with industry-standard procedures and will be submitted to an independent accredited laboratory for analysis, with appropriate QA/QC protocols applied.

Semarule: Drill Program Update

(Figure 2: Red Collar ID's - Drill Holes Completed / Orange Collar ID's - Drill Holes Pending)



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Breakdown of Drilling Completed thus far:

PROSPECT DIAMOND DRILL METRES / HOLES RC DRILL METRES / HOLES Semarule* 750m /2 0

Semarule*: Drill hole SEM003, the initial hole of the program, was completed to a depth of 400 meters and intersected a sequence of syenite transitioning to pyroxenite-rich intervals, including intervals of fenitized syenite with calcite veining up to 15 cm thick and rare sulphides. Downhole geophysics has been completed to refine targeting for follow-up drilling.

SEM005, located 1.2 km east of SEM003, was completed to a depth of 350 meters. Mafic-rich syenite was intersected from surface to 310m.

No assay results are available at this time, and all interpretations are based solely on geological logging. Further updates will be provided as additional data becomes available.

Foley Uranium: Drilling Update

(Figure 3: Red Collar ID's - Drill Holes Completed / Orange Drill Collar ID's - Drill Holes Pending)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Breakdown of Drilling Completed thus far:

PROSPECT DIAMOND DRILL METRES / HOLES RC DRILL METRES / HOLES Foley* 0 920 / 9

Foley*: Nine RC holes were completed on the first of three fences. Depths to the basement rocks in holes 6 to 9 increased as expected validating the concept of a paleo-channel cut into the paleo-surface. Downhole gamma logging is presently underway.

Qualified Person

The information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Liz de Klerk Pri.Sci.Nat.,FIMM, of Micon International, an independent consultant and Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.

Location Map of Eastport's Projects in Botswana





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About Eastport Critical Metals Corp.

Eastport is a disruptive critical minerals development company advancing five projects in Botswana, with cumulative historical and current expenditures approaching $20 million. The Company's most advanced asset is the Matsitama Copper Project, which hosts multiple sizeable targets across the Matsitama copper district.

The Company's additional projects include Selebi East, a nickel-copper-cobalt project located seven kilometres east of the historic Selebi Mines; the Semarule Rare Earth Elements Project, positioned within the Gaborone-Molepolole corridor; the Foley Uranium Project, adjoining the Letlhakane uranium deposit; and the Keng Project, which targets nickel, copper and PGE's on the northern margin of the Molopo Farms Complex.

Botswana is widely regarded as one of Africa's strongest mining jurisdictions, combining the continent's highest GDP per capita with a 50-year track record of large-scale mineral development since the Orapa diamond discovery in 1967. The country ranks among the top performers globally on the Fraser Institute's Investment Attractiveness Index and is the highest-rated jurisdiction in Africa on the Policy Perception Index. These rankings reflect Botswana's stable regulatory environment, consistent rule of law, and long-standing support for responsible mineral development - factors that have underpinned significant investment and major M&A activity in the natural resources sector in recent years.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's business, assets or investments, as well other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and prospects of the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278859

Source: Eastport Critical Metals Corp.
SHANGHAI, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 44th J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference will take place from January 12 to 15, 2026, in San Francisco, USA. Dr. Jason Zhu, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Henlius (2696.HK), has been invited to attend and will deliver a keynote presentation on January 15 (PST).

Recognized as one of the world's largest and most influential healthcare investment and industry conferences, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is widely regarded as a bellwether for global pharmaceutical and healthcare innovation and capital trends. The event brings together industry leaders, fast-growing emerging companies, technology innovators, and global investors, with more than 8,000 participants expected to convene in San Francisco to explore cutting-edge developments and partnership opportunities.

At the conference, Dr. Zhu will outline the core competencies Henlius has built throughout its internationalisation journey, share updates on the company's innovative pipeline and next-generation technology platforms-including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and multispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs)-and present Henlius' strategic outlook for the next five years. Leveraging an integrated platform spanning R&D, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and commercialisation, Henlius has evolved from an early-stage biotech into a scaled, globally operating biopharmaceutical company with an established international footprint. Henlius has established dedicated clinical development, operations, and regulatory teams in key markets including the United States and Japan, enabling independent clinical trial execution and direct engagement with global regulatory authorities to accelerate localized development and market access. In addition, the company's commercial manufacturing facilities have obtained GMP certifications in China, the EU, and the United States, with a global supply network that now spans six continents. Through the coordinated advancement of differentiated innovation assets and diversified technology platforms, Henlius continues to deepen its global market presence while building long-term strategic partnerships with leading multinational pharmaceutical companies, forming a sustainable and scalable global development model.

Looking ahead, Henlius will remain focused on addressing unmet patient needs worldwide. By working closely with global capital markets and industry partners, the company aims to further strengthen its global innovation and operational capabilities and to build a globally competitive, patient-centric biopharma, delivering high-quality and affordable biologic medicines to patients around the world.

About Henlius

Henlius (2696.HK) is a global biopharmaceutical company with the vision to offer high-quality, affordable and innovative biologic medicines for patients worldwide with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases and ophthalmic diseases. To date, 10 products have been approved for marketing across multiple countries and regions, and 5 marketing applications have been accepted for review in China and the EU, respectively. Since its inception in 2010, Henlius has built an integrated biopharmaceutical platform with core capabilities of high-efficiency and innovation embedded throughout the whole product life cycle including R&D, manufacturing and commercialization. It has established global innovation centre and Shanghai-based commercial manufacturing facilities certificated by China, the EU and U.S. GMP.

Henlius has pro-actively built a diversified and high-quality product pipeline covering about 50 molecules and has continued to explore immuno-oncology combination therapies with proprietary HANSIZHUANG (anti-PD-1 mAb) as the backbone. To date, the company's launched products include HANSIZHUANG (serplulimab, trade name: Hetronifly in Europe), the world's first anti-PD-1 mAb for the first-line treatment of SCLC, HANQUYOU (trastuzumab, trade name: HERCESSI in the U.S., Zercepac in Europe), a China-developed mAb biosimilar approved in China, Europe and U.S., HANLIKANG (rituximab), the first China-developed biosimilar, denosumab Bildyos and Bilprevda, and pertuzumab Poherdy. What's more, Henlius has conducted over 30 clinical studies for 19 products, expanding its presence in major markets as well as emerging markets.

To learn more about Henlius, visit https://www.henlius.com/en/index.html and connect with us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/henlius/.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/henlius-ceo-dr-jason-zhu-to-deliver-a-keynote-presentation-at-jpm-2026-302648774.html
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTCQB: HMTXF) (FSE: 2VF0) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company"), an autologous stem cell company treating those who suffer in pain from peripheral arterial disease, chronic limb threatening ischemia, angina, ischemic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, total body ischemia, vascular dementia, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David B. Alper, DPM, FFPM RCPS, to a lead role as Multidisciplinary Physician Education Lead, and to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), effective January 2026.

Dr. Alper will work with Hemostemix on a focused set of physician-led education and clinical engagement initiatives, engaging with wound-care podiatrists, and multidisciplinary limb-preservation teams, starting in Florida.

Dr. Alper will assist Hemostemix in executing three parallel initiatives:

Clinical Practice Engagement in Florida

Dr. Alper will engage with wound-care podiatry practitioners and multidisciplinary limb salvage teams in Florida, to detail how VesCell (ACP-01) addresses pain and the ischemia-root-cause of peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot ulcers, and amputation. This effort is designed to support increased use of ACP-01 in each medical practice, following responsible clinical education and data-informed practice development.

Schools of Podiatric Medicine

Dr. Alper will engage Deans of Clinical Education at U.S. schools of podiatry medicine. This initiative will introduce graduating doctors of podiatry, and faculty, on ACP-01 intervention.

Multidisciplinary Education & Professional Forums

Dr. Alper will support Hemostemix's participation in multidisciplinary educational forums involving podiatrists, vascular specialists, interventional physicians, nurses, and wound-care professionals. Content will focus on ischemic disease phenotyping, patient selection, procedural considerations, and ACP-01's integration into real-world team-based practices.

About Dr. David B. Alper

Dr. Alper is a nationally recognized podiatry physician and leader in wound care, limb preservation, and diabetic foot management. He currently serves as a Trustee of the American Podiatric Medical Association, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and has held numerous leadership and advisory roles across national wound-care, diabetes, and amputation-prevention organizations. He is an inductee of the Hall of Fame, Kent State University College of Podiatry Medicine; serves as an Adjunct Professor in clinical education; serves as Emeritus Surgical staff at Mt. Auburn Hospital; is a member of the Leadership Board of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), New England, where he served as President for over 20 years; is an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the American Podiatry Medical Association (APMA); served as Chair of the Belmont (MA) Board of Health for 30 years; and, he currently sits on the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB).

A noted speaker, published writer, and podcaster on a variety of podiatry topics including articles published in Prevention, Health Journal, and Walking magazines, Dr. Alper has focused on limb amputation prevention, forming collaborations between medical societies in the Diabetes, Podiatry and Vascular industries. He currently serves on the Boards of the Wound Care Collaborative Community (WCCC), the Alliance for Woundcare Stakeholders, the Foot Ankle Health section of the American Public Health Assn.; is co-chair of Professional and Public Education Committee for the PAD Collaborative; is a Board member of the Medical Advisory Panel of the Amputation Prevention Alliance; and, is a member of the Professional Communications Committee of the CLI Global Association.

CEO Statement

"To welcome Dr. David Alper at the zenith of his extraordinary career to lead ACP-01 physician education in the USA, is an incredible honour," said Thomas Smeenk, CEO. "Dr. Alper is the nexus-personified of wound care/limb saving/life-saving treatments. There is no higher calling card. His message to his colleagues is that the scientific evidence of ACP-01 justifies the clinical know-how, to change the trajectory of these diseases. Saving a limb is saving a life. Dr. Alper is a major influencer to get that message across," Smeenk said.

ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX

Hemostemix is an autologous stem cell therapy platform company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company has developed, patented, is scaling and selling autologous (patient's own) blood-based stem cell therapy, VesCell (ACP-01). Hemostemix has completed seven clinical studies of 318 subjects and published its results in eleven peer reviewed publications. ACP-01 is safe, clinically relevant and statistically significant as a treatment for peripheral arterial disease, chronic limb threatening ischemia, non ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, ischemic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and angina. Hemostemix completed its Phase II clinical trial for chronic limb threatening ischemia and published its results in the Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Science. As compared to a five year mortality rate of 50% in the CLTI patient population, UBC and U of T reported to the 41st meeting of vascular surgeons: 0% mortality, cessation of pain, wound healing in 83% of patients followed for up to 4.5 years, as a midpoint result. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to the Phase I basket protocol clinical trial of ACP-01 as a treatment for multiple indications of ischemia including Vascular Dementia, and the treatment of pain in Florida related related to angina, peripheral arterial disease, chronic limb threatening ischemia, ischemic cardiomyopathy, non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and total body ischemia with Angiogenic Cell Precursors (ACP-01) in furtherance of sales of VesCell (ACP-01), and the commercialization of ACP-01 via the sale of compassionate treatments under Florida SB 1768. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of Hemostemix and its Common Shares; the successful resolution of any litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the results of ACP-01 research, trials, studies and analyses, including the analysis being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and, Hemostemix obtaining satisfactory financing to fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and any Litigation. Forward-looking information is Subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete clinical trials, complete a satisfactory analyses and file the results of such analyses to gain regulatory approval of a phase II or phase III clinical trial of ACP-01; potential litigation Hemostemix may face; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression; the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix which may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Hemostemix has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is Subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278867

Source: Hemostemix Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) -Royalties Inc. (CSE: RI) (OTCID: ROYIF) (or "the Company") reports that Minera Portree de Zacatecas S.A. de C.V. ("MPZ"), a company in which Royalties Inc. holds an 88% ownership stake, was notified on December 19, 2025 that Capstone Gold S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Capstone Copper Corp. ('Capstone') through Jorge Alberto Espinoza Cortes, a lawyer based in Chihuahua, rather than in Zacatecas, filed a direct Amparo with the Federal Collegiate Tribunal. This grants a suspension of the sentence of the November 4, 2025 decision where the Appellate Court in the State of Zacatecas upheld and confirmed the court decision ruled on June 16, 2025, that the Capstone had improperly transferred to themselves, royalties without consent, authorization or payment , attempting to sell royalties, belonging to Minera Portree, as per a January 11, 2002 NSR agreement. Capstone does not dispute these facts.

The outcome of this third and final step in the Mexican legal process, will likely be that the Federal Court will uphold the lower court decisions as the facts and Capstone's admissions have not changed. Capstone's Amparo is considered weak as in civil cases, the Federal Court rarely overturns decisions as their review is narrow in scope and especially as no constitutional or human rights have been violated. Accordingly, the Company is confident this final procedural step will be resolved in MPZ's favor, paving the way for quantification and collection of 7 years of royalties owed on historical production 2019-2025 at the Cozamin mine. With copper (+36% YTD) and silver (+135% YTD) prices soaring to record highs in 2025, Royalties Inc. estimates that if Capstone had been properly paying the 2% NSR to MPZ since 2019, equating to approximately $2 million per year, the Company would be valued at $100 million market cap in line with the well documented valuation model of the public precious metals royalty company peer group. Given that Capstone's 'mind and management' is based in Vancouver, this economic loss should logically form the basis for a corresponding lawsuit in British Columbia which clearly surpasses the 'materiality' threshold set by Capstone's auditors and bankers. Capstone's market cap has appreciated from $200 million market cap to over $10 billion since 2020 when the dispute began.

"While it is extremely disappointing to witness Capstone's Management and Directors close ranks and stand behind a dubious legal position, their stonewalling serves to delay an increasingly lucrative potential financial settlement into a once in a generation copper and silver price cycle, doubling the potential royalty revenue. Capstone's filing of a wordy and non-sensical Amparo serves only as a delay tactic. In 2024, we introduced ourselves to Cashel Meagher, Capstone's President and CEO, who was surprisingly unaware of our lawsuit. He unequivocally stated that "It is not who Capstone is, if we owe, we pay." Apparently, he was compelled, along with the Chairman, John MacKenzie, who was notified of the lawsuit in 2022, who also had the opportunity to rectify this unnecessary dispute, to follow the instructions of their in-house counsel, Wendy King, to delay a settlement and exhaust the legal process. We have been looking forward to Capstone's co-operation since 2020 in properly paying the amount owed on production and on the proper future value of the 2% NSR on all five Portree/Parroquia claims, recognizing resource depth potential and the impact of significantly increased copper and silver prices," stated Tim Gallagher, CEO.

About Royalties Inc.

Royalties Inc. owns a 100% interest, subject to a 1.5% NSR owned as a separate asset, on the Bilbao silver-zinc-lead project which needs an update on the impact of the increase in the silver price from US$30 per oz in the 2014 PEA.

Royalties Inc. owns 88% of Minera Portree de Zacatecas, S.A. de C.V ("MPZ") which holds a court confirmed claim to a 2% NSR established in 2002 on five mining concessions called the 'Portree claims', a portion of which is on the Mala Noche Footwall Zone, the main source of production at the Cozamin mine where Capstone Copper Corp. ("Capstone") has been mining since 2010. Capstone attempted to assign this royalty to themselves without the knowledge, consent or proper payment to MPZ, the longstanding and rightful owner since 2002.

Royalties Inc. has a 5% stake in Music Royalties Inc. ("MRI"), which has paid out over $14 million in 71 monthly dividends since 2019 from 31 cash-flowing catalogs with 7,000 songs generating a 7.2% annual yield.

For further information contact Royalties Inc. at www.royaltiesinc.com

Neither the CSE, nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of those terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: sufficient capital and financing required in order to fulfill the Company's business plans and strategy may not be obtained as expected; that the Company will not be able to pay future dividends; and other risks related to the Company as disclosed in the documents filed on the Company's profile at SEDAR+ at www.SEDARplus.ca. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release and they are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278920

Source: Royalties Inc.
Northbrook, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Big Door Home Buyers, a cash home buyer, has officially announced the expansion of its services to cover additional areas across the Chicagoland area. The expansion comes in response to increased demand from homeowners seeking fast, straightforward solutions to sell their properties. With a growing market presence and transaction volume, Big Door Home Buyers is scaling its operations to better meet the needs of more homeowners looking to sell quickly and efficiently.

This expansion marks a key internal milestone for the company, demonstrating its ongoing growth and operational development. By strengthening its internal infrastructure, increasing team capacity, and enhancing departmental coordination, Big Door Home Buyers is positioning itself to handle a higher volume of inquiries and property acquisitions. The company's approach focuses on delivering a seamless experience for sellers, providing fair cash offers within 24 hours of inquiry, and allowing homeowners to choose their preferred closing date, often within a week.

The decision to expand services within Chicagoland aligns with Big Door Home Buyers' long-term strategic goals. The company's commitment to improving its operational systems, data processes, and overall infrastructure will ensure it can scale effectively in the region. As the demand for fast home sales continues to grow, Big Door Home Buyers plans to remain flexible and responsive to the needs of homeowners across the area, ensuring they can sell their homes quickly and with confidence.

Looking ahead, Big Door Home Buyers anticipates increased demand for its services, particularly from homeowners facing foreclosure, needing to relocate, or dealing with properties requiring costly repairs. The Illinois cash home buyer is committed to maintaining a disciplined approach to growth, focusing on enhancing its capacity to deliver fast, reliable solutions for homeowners looking to sell without the typical delays and complications of traditional real estate transactions.

About Big Door Home Buyers

Big Door Home Buyers helps homeowners sell their properties quickly and easily for cash. The company provides fair cash offers within 24 hours and allows homeowners to choose their preferred closing date. Whether dealing with foreclosure, relocating, or needing to sell a property in any condition, Big Door Home Buyers offers a stress-free alternative to traditional home sales. With a focus on transparency and customer satisfaction, Big Door Home Buyers has become a trusted name in the Chicagoland area for homeowners looking to sell fast and hassle-free.





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Source: GetFeatured
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Semper Fi Heating and Cooling has announced the expansion of its services into the Tucson market, responding to the rising demand for reliable HVAC solutions in Southern Arizona. The move enables the company to better serve both residential and commercial clients in a region where extreme temperatures require consistent, efficient heating and cooling.

This expansion is part of Semper Fi Heating and Cooling's continued efforts to broaden its service reach across Arizona. Tucson's climate, with its hot summers and cooler winters, creates a need for reliable HVAC systems. Homeowners and businesses are increasingly seeking quality service to minimize system downtime and reduce energy costs. By extending its operations into Tucson, Semper Fi Heating and Cooling aims to meet these demands, providing faster response times and high-quality HVAC services tailored to the region's unique climate.





Semper Fi Heating and Cooling is expanding into the Tucson market



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With Tucson's booming construction sector, particularly in residential and commercial developments, there is a growing need for reliable heating and air conditioning installation Las Vegas. Semper Fi Heating and Cooling's expansion into the market enables the company to offer essential HVAC installation services for new construction projects, helping developers and homeowners equip their properties with reliable, energy-efficient systems from the start.

Internally, the expansion reflects the company's ongoing commitment to growth and operational efficiency. The company has invested in building out its service infrastructure, strengthening its workforce, and enhancing coordination across its expanded service area. This internal growth enables Semper Fi Heating and Cooling to maintain its reputation for professionalism, reliability, and customer satisfaction while scaling operations to serve a larger customer base.

Looking ahead, Semper Fi Heating and Cooling plans to continue growing its presence in Arizona by further expanding its service network and strengthening relationships with customers in Tucson. The company's leadership is committed to providing innovative HVAC solutions, improving service delivery, and fostering long-term success in the region.

About Semper Fi Heating and Cooling

Semper Fi Heating and Cooling has been providing reliable HVAC services to homes and businesses in Las Vegas since 2012. The company specializes in heating, cooling, and air quality solutions, offering installation, maintenance, and repair services. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and professionalism, Semper Fi Heating and Cooling is now expanding into Tucson to meet the growing needs of Southern Arizona.

Media Contact





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Source: GetFeatured
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Naughty Ventures Corp. (CSE: BAD) (FSE: 5DEO) (OTC Pink: YORKF) ("Naughty Ventures" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has staked a strategic 7,207-hectare land package, hereinafter referred to as the Green Lightning Lithium Project, directly adjoining Q2 Metals Corp. ("Cisco") emerging lithium project in the Frotet Evans Greenstone Belt, located in Quebec.





Figure 1: Naughty Ventures' Green Lightning Lithium Project adjacent to Q2 Metals Cisco Lithium Discovery



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This strategic land position places Naughty Ventures immediately beside one of Canada's most exciting lithium projects - including Q2 Metals standout drill result announced on December 3rd, 2025:

 457.4 m of 1.65% Li2O (from 187.6m) in diamond drill hole CS25-044 (1)

 The Cisco Project is located along the Frotet Evans Greenstone Belt, the same greenstone belt that hosts the Sirmac and Moblan lithium deposits (2).

Project Highlights

 7,207 hectares directly adjoining the Q2 Metals Cisco Lithium Project

 Lithium has been classified as a critical mineral by both the USA and Canadian governments with Lithium Americas receiving considerable funding from the USA government as announced in late September 2025.

 The Billy Diamond Highway transects Cisco Project and forestry roads/land user trails traverse the Cisco Project.

 Matagami is a small town that has historically served mines in the area, located ~150 km south of the Cisco Project.

 Matagami is the end point of the CN rail line that connects to the ports in Montreal & Quebec City as well as to Becancour.

 Becancour is a battery hub being developed that has attracted major investments by both the Federal & Provincial governments as well as Ford, General Motors, POSCO, EcoPro and others.

Resources

(1) Q2 Metals Corp. News Release dated December 3, 2025 titled "Q2 Metals Intercepts 457.4 metres of 1.65% Li2O in Drill Hole 44 at the Cisco Lithium Project"

(2) Q2 Metals Corp. Investors Presentation dated December 2025 titled "Charging Forward Unlocking the Cisco Lithium Project"

Adjacent Property Disclaimer

This news release includes references with respect to Q2 Metals Corp. Cisco Lithium Project in the Frotet Evans Greenstone Belt, located in Quebec (the "Adjacent Property"), which is located near the Green Lightning Lithium Project. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on the Adjacent Property and any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on, the Green Lightning Lithium Project or the Company's ability to commercially exploit the Green Lightning Lithium Project or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom.

All technical information contained in this press release with respect to the Adjacent Property, was provided by the sources noted in the references above without independent review and investigation by the Company, and the Company has relied on the information contained in the respective sources exclusively in providing the information about the Adjacent Property and any deposits therefrom. The Company cautions investors on relying on this information as the Company has not confirmed the accuracy or reliability of the information.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Bugden, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. He is an independent consulting geologist for Naughty Ventures Ltd.

About Naughty Ventures

Naughty Ventures Corp. is a Canadian venture investment and mineral exploration company focused on early-stage mineral projects with significant discovery potential. The Company is committed to identifying and advancing the world's next great mineral assets.

Naughty Ventures Corp. - BAD Come to Find the World's Next Mine.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blair Naughty"

CEO and President

Forward-Looking Statements

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 economic and development potential of the area surrounding Q2 Metals Corp. Cisco Lithium Project, the transformational nature of the exploration results at the Cisco Lithium Project, and the benefits to the Company for staking the Green Lightning Lithium Project. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able: explore the Green Lightning Lithium Project, that Q2 Metals Corp. will continue obtaining promising results at its Cisco Lithium Project, and that the market conditions for Lithium will continue supporting the viability of further exploration and development activities. 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278928

Source: Naughty Ventures Corp.
Paris, France and Geneva, Switzerland and Lima, Peru--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Soleil Metals, the Peruvian subsidiary of the OCIM Group, has recently delivered its first fully traceable gold bars to the Argor-Heraeus refinery in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

This from ore-to-refinery traceability was made possible using xTrace verification technology developed by aXedras. In practical terms, artisanal miners deliver ore to the Yacari and Victoria processing plants in Arequipa Region. There, the Soleil Metals team measures the ore's chemical signature with handheld spectrometer. The same process occurs at the end of the supply chain, where the team at Argor-Heraeus performs the same analysis. Matched against records in a dedicated database for each accredited mine, the measurements support the integrity of the supply chain, scientifically verifying that the refined metal originates from the declared source, and helping detect and deter fraud, including illegal mining, money laundering, and counterfeiting.

"Creating a truly responsible ASM value chain, on which our model is based, requires building trust between each link in the chain, from the mine to the end users. This innovation provides all commercial and institutional partners involved with the traceability essential to building this relationship of trust, while meeting the specific requirements of each of them," explains Laurent Mathiot, Chairman and CEO of OCIM.



"This first-ever complete application of xTrace between OCIM/Soleil Metals in Peru and Argor-Heraeus in Switzerland gives full visibility into every supplier and sub-source. Such combined traceability over the entire supply chain is unprecedented and sets a new market benchmark for transparency and responsible sourcing in the ASM Sector," declares Urs Roosli, CEO of aXedras.

"This key step towards achieving full end-to-end traceability strengthens our commitment to be responsibility leaders in the precious metals industry. Scientific verification on site, confirmed at the refinery, reduces typical ASM risks and enable gold from processing plants to enter the formal market with transparency for every counterparty. This approach limits unverified intermediation and channels tangible benefits to mining communities, while supporting sustainable practices that reduce mercury use," explains Robin Kolvenbach, Co-CEO of Argor- Heraeus.

ABOUT OCIM

Founded in Paris in 1961, the OCIM Group is fully owned and managed by the holding company OCIM Finance. Having started as a real estate developer and asset manager OCIM has a long experience of managing complex projects and tangible assets. OCIM is now fully dedicated to the precious metals sector, producing and trading gold and silver and sourcing strategic platinum grade metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium. OCIM carries out a dual and complementary activity as a trader and financier. As a trader, OCIM buys and sells throughout the value chain of the assets concerned, from producers to end users. As a financier, OCIM funds the operations of the value chain, mainly through short term prepayment contracts. OCIM also operates two integrated gold processing plants in Peru and produces responsible gold out of ore purchased from local Artisanal & Small Scale Miners.

OCIM has teams based in Paris, Geneva and Lima.

To learn more about OCIM, visit: www.ocim.com.

To learn more about Soleil Metals, visit: www.soleil-metals.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278921

Source: OCIM Finance SA
Marti Technologies, Inc. ("Marti" or the "Company") (NYSE American: MRT), Turkiye's leading mobility super app, today announced that it expects to exceed guidance for 2025. In addition, the Company has initiated strong guidance for 2026. For 2026, Marti expects $70 million of revenue, representing over 2x year-over-year revenue growth, and to achieve positive adjusted EBITDA.

The anticipated revenue growth and positive adjusted EBITDA are expected to be driven by several key factors, including the:

1) continued rapid growth in the number of ride-hailing trips,

2) increasing take rates in monetized cities,

3) introduction of monetization in new cities first launched in 2025, and

4) growing volume and revenue contribution from Marti's delivery services.

The Company expects that operating leverage from higher ride-hailing trip volumes, improved unit economics in monetized markets, and the scaling of deliveries will support profitability while continuing to invest in growth.

"Our performance in 2025 reflects the strength of our execution and the significant opportunity ahead for Marti," said Oguz Alper Oktem, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Marti, "We are on track to exceed our 2025 guidance, driven by continued momentum in ride-hailing as we expand across the country and serve a large, under-developed transportation and last-mile market in Turkiye. Looking ahead to 2026, we see a clear path to more than doubling revenue and achieving positive EBITDA as we scale monetization and introduce new services, including deliveries, that further leverage our platform."

Outlook for 2026

The Company provides its full year 2026 outlook as follows:

2025 Guidance 2026 Guidance Change Revenue $34.0 million $70.0 million $36.0 million Adjusted EBITDA $(17.0) million $1.0 million $18.0 million

The 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance provided herein are based on Marti's current estimates and assumptions and are not a guarantee of future performance. Such guidance is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors discussed in the Company's reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), that could cause actual results to differ materially. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve the results expressed by this guidance.

* This press release does not include a reconciliation of forward-looking adjusted EBITDA for 2025 or 2026 because the Company is unable, without making unreasonable efforts, to provide a meaningful or reasonably accurate calculation or estimation of certain reconciling items which could be significant to the Company's results.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain financial information and data contained herein are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States ("GAAP"), including adjusted EBITDA.

We define these metrics as follows: Adjusted EBITDA as depreciation, amortization, taxes, financial expenses (net of financial income) and one-time charges and non-cash adjustments, plus net income (loss). The one-time charges and non-cash adjustments are mainly comprised of customs tax provision expenses resulting from the one-time amendment of customs duties and lawsuit provision expense which the Company does not consider the provision to be reflective of its normal cash operations.

About Marti:

Founded in 2018, Marti is Turkiye's leading mobility app, offering a wide variety of transportation services. Marti operates a ride-hailing service that matches riders with car, motorcycle and taxi drivers; delivery services; and a large fleet of rental e-mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters. All of Marti's offerings are serviced by proprietary software systems and IoT infrastructure. For more information, visit www.marti.tech.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated growth, expected future performance, and market opportunities of Marti's platform and service ecosystem, as well as the Company's expectations regarding revenue and adjusted EBITDA for 2025 and 2026. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the risks discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F. Marti undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223755819/en/

Contacts:

Investor Contact

Marti Technologies, Inc.

Turgut Yilmaz

investor.relations@marti.tech
Brentwood, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - California Aqua Pros, an East Bay California pond company, has announced the launch of its newly redesigned corporate website. This development marks a key milestone in the company's growth strategy, enhancing digital access for clients and aligning its online presence with long-term organizational objectives.

The newly launched site introduces an improved user experience, with faster navigation, streamlined service information, and simplified access to consultations and project inquiries. Developed with residential clients in mind, the redesign reflects the company's commitment to providing a more efficient and informative online platform as demand for outdoor water features continues to rise throughout the Bay Area.

Owners Greg and Marlo Purkey say, "Since 1993, we've built this company on quality, long-term relationships, and expertise. This new website honors that legacy while laying a vital foundation for the future. It's an essential step in strengthening our presence as the trusted resource for Bay Area property owners and expanding our ability to deliver comprehensive, customized aquatic solutions for years to come."

The launch is also an internal milestone for California Aqua Pros, aligning its digital infrastructure with the scale and professionalism the company has achieved through more than three decades of service. The updated platform offers clear, streamlined access to essential company information, making it easier for visitors to explore services, browse completed projects, and connect directly with the team.

This initiative is part of California Aqua Pros' long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in the competitive outdoor design and water feature industry. As the company expands its client base and service capabilities, the website serves as a key communication and engagement tool, built to scale with future growth while maintaining high standards for user experience and accessibility.

By investing in a digital platform that reflects its operational growth, California Aqua Pros is strengthening its position as a trusted resource for Bay Area property owners seeking dependable expertise in ponds and water features. The new website also lays the foundation for future initiatives in client education, brand messaging, and regional engagement, positioning the company for sustained success in a competitive and evolving marketplace.

About California Aqua Pros

Founded in 1993 by Greg and Marlo Purkey, California Aqua Pros has grown from a swimming pool service company into a full-service provider of pond builds, water features, spas, and aquatic environment solutions throughout the Bay Area. With a focus on quality, professionalism, and long-term client relationships, the company delivers comprehensive, customized outdoor water feature services, from design to construction, maintenance, and expert repair, for residential and commercial properties alike.





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Source: GetFeatured
JACKSON, WYOMING / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Kultura Brands, Inc., formerly Labor Smart, Inc. (OTCID:LTNC) (the "Company"), announced today that it has successfully exceeded its previously stated goal of retiring 5.0 billion common shares, while substantially reducing its Preferred H share overhang. These actions meaningfully strengthen the Company's capitalization and support its strategic growth objectives heading into 2026. As reported at the beginning of this initiative on October 24, 2025, we had 22.04 billion common shares outstanding and 61 shares of Preferred H stock, each convertible into 100 million common shares, for a total of 6.1 billion shares on an as-converted basis.

Over the past two days, the Company completed a series of transactions that included the retirement of 1.55 billion common shares and the conversion of 11 additional Preferred H shares, equivalent to 1.1 billion common shares upon conversion. Since October 24, 2025, the Company has completed multiple share retirements and Preferred H conversions, reducing the number of Preferred H shares from 61 to 10. This represents the elimination of the equivalent of 51 Preferred H shares, or approximately 5.1 billion common shares, from potential future conversion. In addition, the Company has retired a total of 5.335 billion common shares to date, exceeding its previously disclosed target of retiring 5.0 billion shares.

Brad Wyatt, Chief Executive Officer of Kultura Brands, commented, "Reducing both outstanding common shares and the Preferred H overhang has been a priority, and we are pleased to have exceeded our previously stated retirement target. These actions reflect disciplined capital management while continuing to meet the Company's operational obligations through strategic share issuance to clean up the past obligations and fund future operations with capital raises."

Wyatt further noted, "We believe our execution this year has meaningfully strengthened the Company, and we are entering 2026 with clarity, discipline, and momentum." The Company expects ongoing share issuances to continue as needed to fund operations until the business can sustain itself through operating cash flow, all while executing a massive nationwide rollout with Adios. "Maintaining strategic cap table reform while obtaining access to capital through share issuance remains a necessary balancing act as we continue executing our business plan," he stated.

Positioned for Growth

Kultura Brands continues advancing its beverage portfolio, highlighted by its flagship ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage brand, Adios Spirits, which is being brought to market through its partnership with CKS Distro, leveraging best-in-class manufacturing and distribution capabilities to support national expansion.

About Kultura Brands

Kultura Brands, Inc. (OTCID:LTNC), headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, is a diversified beverage and brand platform focused on developing, marketing, and distributing consumer beverage products, including its flagship ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage brand, Adios Spirits. The Company partners with best-in-class manufacturers and distribution networks to scale high-demand beverage brands nationally and internationally.

Forward-Looking Statements (Safe Harbor)

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company's capitalization table, future retirement or issuance of shares, to include unforeseen commitments that may require additional share issuance to include setting up reserves and/or issuances of shares and/or the increase of authorized shares, and/or the use of preferred H shares up to and beyond the 100 preferred H shares authorized. To protect the company from ongoing litigation and continued cash flow constraints, all or some of the above-mentioned items may be adjusted again to support the company's financial health. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by law. This press release includes statements regarding the Company's intentions and strategic direction. Although the Company has taken the steps described, many of the referenced matters (including the timing of sales and product delivery) are subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that requests will be approved within the timeline or in the manner described. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any statements in this release, except as required by law. This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, our representatives or we may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including our financial performance and projections, revenue and earnings growth, and business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "contemplates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "projected," "predicts," "potential," or "hopes" or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: (i) potential failure to meet projected development and related targets; (ii) changes in applicable laws or regulations that may impact our products and business; and (iii) other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with OTC Markets. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release, and other statements made from time to time by our representatives or us might not occur.

Investor & Media Contact

Kultura Brands, Inc.

Email: IR@KulturaBrands.com

SOURCE: Kultura Brands, Inc.

TA Report 12.22.25

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/kultura-brands-exceeds-original-5.0-billion-share-retirement-goal-signif-1120457
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Aftermath Silver Ltd. (TSXV: AAG) (OTCQX: AAGFF) (FSE: FLM1) (the "Company" or "Aftermath Silver") is pleased to announce it has closed its previously announced brokered, "best-efforts" private placement (the "Offering") of 22,222,250 common shares (the "Shares") for gross proceeds of $20,000,025. The Offering was led by Research Capital Corporation, as co-lead agent and sole bookrunner, and Red Cloud Securities Inc. as co-lead agent (collectively, the "Agents").

The Offering was completed by way of the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and in reliance on the amendments to Part 5A of NI 45-106 set forth in Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The Shares offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund further exploration and development at the Company's Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project in southern Peru (the "Berenguela Project"), completion of a pre-feasibility study for the Berenguela Project, further exploration at the Company's other mineral projects and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

A related party of the Company acquired 9,900,000 Shares pursuant to the Offering. The issuance of such securities to this related party is considered to be a related party transaction within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 (and Policy 5.9) as the fair market value of the securities issued to such party does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of the proceeds of the Offering in an expeditious manner.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid the Agents a cash commission of approximately $1,200,000. The Offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

About Aftermath Silver Ltd.

Aftermath Silver Ltd. is a leading Canadian junior exploration company focused on silver and critical metals which aims to deliver shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition and development of quality silver and critical metal projects in stable jurisdictions. Aftermath has developed a pipeline of projects at various stages of advancement. The Company's projects have been selected based on growth and development potential.

Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project. The Company has acquired the rights to a 100% interest in Berenguela through a binding agreement with SSR Mining and EMX Royalties. The project is located in the Department of Puno, in southern central Peru. A current NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate was published on December 4, 2025. A NI43-101Technical Report on the property will be filed shortly.

Challacollo Silver-Gold project. The Company completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Challacollo silver-gold project from Mandalay Resources; see Company news release dated August 11, 2022. A NI 43-101 mineral resource was released on December 15, 2020 (available on SEDAR+ and the Company's web page).

Cachinal Silver-Gold project. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Cachinal Ag-Au project, located 2.5 hours south of Antofagasta.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering and receipt of regulatory approvals with respect to the Offering. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company's planned exploration activities will be completed in a timely manner, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Offering as anticipated and that the Company will receive regulatory approval with respect to the Offering. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the risk that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Offering as anticipated and that the Company will not receive regulatory approval with respect to the Offering, risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, fluctuating silver prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278934

Source: Aftermath Silver Ltd.
Behavox, the AI company that transforms structured and unstructured corporate data into insights that safeguard and enhance businesses, today announced the latest upgrades to Behavox Quantum, its flagship compliance platform. This caps off a year of over 30% growth in ARR for 2025, driven by demand for AI-powered surveillance solutions that deliver transparency, control, and measurable outcomes.

Behavox Quantum is trusted by compliance teams globally to detect breaches of compliance rules, insider threats, and employee misconduct. It is powered by a proprietary large language model purpose-built for financial services and is the only communications surveillance platform capable of multilingual alert generation at the enterprise scale.

In 2025, Behavox introduced a major GPU upgrade to its AI Risk Policies (AIRPs), cutting alert volumes by over 60% in comparison to AIRPs that ran on CPU. This reduction in alert volumes also comes with more than 4x increase in true positive detection across 15 languages.

These updates reinforce Behavox's leadership in communications surveillance and set the stage for new product launches in 2026, including Behavox Polaris, the company's upcoming trade surveillance offering.

Key feature upgrades now generally available

Similarity match for AI risk policies

Behavox now enables customers to tailor and customize AI Risk Policies with company-specific examples of high-risk language. The new Similarity Match feature increases recall rates to near 100%, ensuring that variations of known misconduct are consistently flagged. It reduces dependency on legacy keyword rules and supports a transition to fully AI-driven detection. Customers report up to 95% reductions in alert volumes after switching from lexicon-based scenarios.

MiFID inducement and unwanted research detection

To support compliance with MiFID II, FCA PS24/9, and the EU Listing Act, Behavox introduced dedicated detection for the improper distribution or receipt of research content. This replaces brittle rule-based approaches with machine learning classifiers that accurately identify research reports, reducing false positives and improving control over entitlements.

End-to-end data management and alert reporting

Behavox now provides complete data lineage from raw ingestion to alert creation. Customers can trace every file, understand how data was filtered or transformed, and prove that 100% of their communications were reviewed. These reports strengthen operational governance and deliver evidence required by regulators during audits.

Alert deduplication enhancements

Behavox refined the logic for alert deduplication resulting in better quality of alerts and further reduction in alert volumes. Alert duplication is a major problem for legacy archiving and communication surveillance vendors that rely on lexicon. Alert deduplication feature in Quantum was positively received by all clients of Behavox and the enhancements have been eagerly anticipated.

Behavox continues to outpace legacy vendors reliant on keyword-driven systems by maintaining cleaner queues, reducing false positives, and cutting investigation time.

"Compliance leaders want reliable coverage on known risks and documentation they can stand behind," said Manish Kumar, Head of Product Management at Behavox. "These new features give customers precision recall, audit-ready reports, and better protection around research rules all while reducing alert fatigue."

With the latest platform upgrades, Behavox continues to transform surveillance from a reactive control into a strategic advantage.

About Behavox

Behavox is an AI company that transforms structured and unstructured corporate data into insights that safeguard and enhance businesses.

Our proprietary technology and industry-specific LLM enables users to ask and answer questions without becoming domain experts, technologists, or data scientists.

Our global client base includes banks, asset managers, hedge funds, commodities firms, private equity firms, crypto firms and other non-financial companies. Equipping them with quality, cost-efficient insights, our solutions empower them to:

Detect and address compliance risks

Streamline and secure data archiving

Predict and prevent regulatory breaches

Turn big data into revenue

Founded in 2014, Behavox is headquartered in London, with offices worldwide, including in New York City, Montreal, Seattle, Singapore, and Tokyo.

www.behavox.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223739347/en/

Contacts:

Media inquiries: Fahreen Kurji media@behavox.com
Between 205,000 and 210,000 European tourists will choose Madrid to celebrate New Year's Eve. Noche Madrid and the Community of Madrid once again launch the Christmas Has Madrid Dancing campaign to promote the region as the European Capital of New Year's Eve. Madrid strengthens its appeal as a European destination to celebrate New Year's Eve for the British public.

Madrid is consolidating its position as one of Europe's leading destinations to welcome the New Year, thanks to a unique combination of music, culture and nightlife. Recently, the capital has been recognised as the best city in Europe for nightlife and the second best in the world, behind only Las Vegas, according to Time Out's international ranking.

In this context, the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Community of Madrid and Noche Madrid have once again activated the CHRISTMAS HAS MADRID DANCING campaign to promote and highlight the role of the region as the European Capital of New Year's Eve and as a cultural, musical and festive destination. The initiative forms part of the Nightlife in Greater Madrid programme, which showcases the overall nightlife offering of the Madrid region.

Between 205,000 and 210,000 European tourists will choose Madrid to celebrate New Year's Eve, representing an approximate 4% increase compared to the previous year. According to the Christmas 2025 Outlook Study, prepared by Noche Madrid, Espana de Noche and Coca-Cola, more than 60% of attendees purchase their New Year's Eve tickets in advance, with an average lead time of 18 days and an average starting price of 28.30.

Within this positive trend, the British market shows one of the most dynamic developments, with an estimated increase of close to 10%, placing it above the European average. Sector estimates indicate that between 8,000 and 9,500 visitors from the United Kingdom will travel to Madrid during the Christmas and New Year campaign.

The CHRISTMAS HAS MADRID DANCING campaign combines communication and digital actions on social media, a familiarisation trip with content creators and influencers, and urban visibility initiatives such as a Party Bus wrapped with the campaign's visual identity that will tour Madrid, reinforcing its image as a leading European destination to celebrate the New Year.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223022020/en/

Contacts:

Jesus Martinez

jesus.martinez@comunicacionestrategica.es
Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - NodeMeta, a leading innovator in the technology space, is excited to announce a series of eco-friendly initiatives that aim to promote sustainability and environmental responsibility. The company's new updates include the launch of an eco-conscious product marketplace, community-driven environmental projects, and cutting-edge technologies designed to reduce carbon footprints.





NodeMeta Launches Community-Driven Environmental Initiative with New Sustainable Features



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/278763_fe6eae4094d2b9f3_002full.jpg

With an emphasis on using technology to tackle global challenges, NodeMeta is expanding its efforts beyond traditional technology services to integrate environmental stewardship into its ecosystem. These new initiatives are designed to empower users, organizations, and communities to make a positive environmental impact through actionable and accessible solutions.

Introducing GreenCommerce: A Marketplace for Eco-Friendly Products

At the heart of NodeMeta's latest updates is the GreenCommerce platform, which will feature an exclusive marketplace for environmentally friendly products. The platform allows users to browse and purchase a variety of sustainable goods, from eco-conscious electronics and reusable home products to green building materials and clean energy solutions. This initiative is designed to promote responsible consumption and make it easier for consumers to make environmentally conscious choices.

"GreenCommerce is about more than just selling products, it's about fostering a new way of thinking and encouraging consumers to prioritize sustainability in their everyday lives," said Mizanur Rahman, Global Marketing Director of NodeMeta. "We are excited to provide a space for eco-conscious individuals to support sustainable businesses while also contributing to a cleaner planet."

Empowering Communities: Eco-Friendly Projects and Volunteer Opportunities

In addition to the GreenCommerce platform, NodeMeta is launching several community-driven environmental initiatives aimed at promoting local sustainability projects. Through partnerships with environmental organizations, NodeMeta is providing volunteer opportunities for users to get involved in hands-on projects such as tree planting, waste reduction programs, and renewable energy installations.

These projects not only provide opportunities for individuals to give back to their communities but also raise awareness of global environmental issues. By directly involving its users in these efforts, NodeMeta is helping to create a global movement of environmentally conscious citizens working together to combat climate change.





NodeMeta Launches Community-Driven Environmental Initiative with New Sustainable Features



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/278763_fe6eae4094d2b9f3_003full.jpg

A Commitment to Reducing Carbon Footprints: Eco-Friendly Tech Solutions

NodeMeta is also rolling out a range of eco-friendly technology solutions that prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability. From cloud services powered by renewable energy sources to optimized software solutions that reduce electricity usage, these new offerings are designed to minimize the environmental impact of digital technologies.

"Our goal is to create a technology ecosystem that not only drives innovation but also respects the planet," said Rahman. "Through energy-efficient solutions and renewable-powered operations, we are reducing our carbon footprint and helping other businesses do the same."

Environmental Responsibility in Action

As part of its sustainability efforts, NodeMeta has also committed to offsetting its operational carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy projects and environmental conservation efforts. The company has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and is taking proactive steps to meet its goals, including improving energy efficiency, utilizing green energy sources, and supporting global reforestation initiatives.

"We know that the fight against climate change requires collective action," Rahman said. "At NodeMeta, we are committed to doing our part. We hope our initiatives will inspire others to take meaningful steps toward sustainability in their own businesses and communities."

A Vision for the Future: Leading the Charge for Sustainability

NodeMeta's commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in its forward-thinking approach to technology and community engagement. Through the combination of eco-friendly tech solutions, sustainable product offerings, and community-driven initiatives, NodeMeta is positioning itself as a leader in the global push for a more sustainable future.

"Making the world a better place isn't just about what technology can do, it's about how we use technology to make a tangible, positive impact on the environment," Rahman concluded. "Our new initiatives reflect our belief that technology and sustainability can go hand in hand to create a greener, healthier world for future generations."

About NodeMeta

NodeMeta is a forward-thinking tech company dedicated to providing users with innovative solutions while championing sustainability and environmental responsibility. With a focus on scalability, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly practices, NodeMeta is committed to creating products and services that promote a cleaner, greener planet. The company's offerings include a sustainable product marketplace, eco-friendly technology solutions, and community-driven environmental initiatives aimed at tackling global environmental challenges.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278763

Source: Plentisoft
BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust Plc - Portfolio Update

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 23

The information contained in this release was correct as at 30 November 2025 . Information on the Company's up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange Website at

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html .

BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC (LEI:549300MS535KC2WH4082)



All information is at 30 November 2025 and unaudited.

Performance at month end is calculated on a Total Return basis based on NAV per share with debt at fair value



One month

% Three months

% One

year

% Three

years

% Five

years

% Net asset value -1.4 1.5 -3.1 1.8 8.0 Share price -0.6 1.1 -1.5 5.9 0.7 Benchmark* -0.2 3.1 10.1 18.2 21.4

Sources: BlackRock and Deutsche Numis

*With effect from 15 January 2024 the Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index changed to the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies).

At month end

Net asset value Capital only (debt at par value): 1,393.12p Net asset value Capital only (debt at fair value): 1,458.34p Net asset value incl. Income (debt at par value) 1 : 1,418.10p Net asset value incl. Income (debt at fair value) 1 : 1,483.33p Share price: 1,302.00p Discount to Cum Income NAV (debt at par value): 8.2% Discount to Cum Income NAV (debt at fair value): 12.2% Net yield 2 : 3.4% Gross assets 3 : 635.9m Gearing range as a % of net assets: 0-15% Net gearing including income (debt at par): 8.3% Ongoing charges ratio (actual) 4 : 0.8% Ordinary shares in issue 5 : 39,907,792

Includes net revenue of 24.98p Yield calculations are based on dividends announced in the last 12 months as at the date of release of this announcement and comprise the Final dividend of 28.50 pence per share (announced on 07 May 2025, ex-date on 15 May 2025, and paid on 26 June 2025) and Interim dividend of 16.00 pence per share (announced on 24 October 2025, ex-date on 06 November 2025, and pay date 10 December 2025). Includes current year revenue. The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for year ended 28 February 2025. Excludes 10,085,731 ordinary shares held in treasury.

Sector Weightings % of portfolio Industrials 31.5 Financials 27.0 Consumer Discretionary 9.6 Basic Materials 9.2 Consumer Staples 6.5 Health Care 4.8 Real Estate 4.2 Technology 2.2 Communication Services 1.9 Energy 1.9 Utilities 1.2 ----- Total 100.0 ===== Country Weightings % of portfolio United Kingdom 97.2 United States 2.8 ----- Total 100.0 =====

Ten Largest Equity Investments

Company % of portfolio XPS Pensions 3.1 Morgan Sindall 2.9 Serco Group 2.9 IntegraFin 2.8 Boku 2.8 Tatton Asset Management 2.7 Greencore Group Plc 2.5 Great Portland Estates 2.5 Rosebank 2.1 Pollen Street Group 2.0

Commenting on the markets, Roland Arnold, representing the Investment Manager noted:



During November the Company's NAV per share returned -1.4% to 1,483.33p on a total return basis, while our benchmark index, the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies plus AIM (excluding Investment Companies) Index, which returned -0.2%.

Equity markets faced significant volatility in November, marked by sharp sector rotations and shifting investor sentiment. In the UK, the spotlight was on fiscal policy. Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget expanded fiscal headroom to 22 billion with new policies on personal taxation, pensions, ISA cash limits and more. Overall, there were no real surprises in policy versus what had already been briefed in advance, which led to little for investors to reassess. The market reaction was fairly muted; gilt yields edged lower on reduced issuance expectations, and equities were broadly flat. However, looking forward, there were limited positives to takeaway, particularly given a further 26 billion of tax rises. Against this backdrop, UK large caps and value outperformed during the course of the month while small and mid-caps recorded a small negative return.

The largest detractor was PayPoint, a multi-channel payments provider, which declined after cautioning that achieving its 100 million EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation) target will take longer than originally expected. While progress continues, parcel volumes have been affected by the harmonisation of InPost and Yodel services, and growth in the Obconnect new business pipeline has been slower than anticipated. Shares in digital payments firm Boku also fell, despite no specific negative news. Chemring weakened in line with the broader aerospace and defence sector amid increased optimism for a Ukraine-Russia peace agreement.

XPS Pensions was the top contributor in November, rallying after reporting strong H1 2026 results late in the month. The company delivered double-digit year-on-year revenue growth, driven by robust performance in pensions administration and advisory services. This reflects structural tailwinds in the UK pensions market, where increasing regulatory complexity and rising demand for de-risking solutions are fuelling activity. Continued regulatory changes remain a key catalyst for long-term growth, reinforcing our investment thesis and supporting expectations for sustained earnings momentum into FY26. Alternatives asset manager Pollen Street, reported a 9.9% increase in AUM (assets under management) in the third quarter (32% year-on-year), driven by strong fundraising and capital deployment in both private credit and private equity strategies. The company remains on track to meet its medium-term AUM target of 10 billion, supported by strong investor demand and its solid position within the industry. Not owning FirstGroup was another positive contributor after the company released interim results that showed solid revenue growth but flagged softening bus volumes, a cash outflow relating to bus electrification and a muted outlook, which saw the shares fall.

Turning to the outlook, it is very easy to be negative. With regards to the contents of the budget, it was somewhat disappointing, with spending front loaded and revenue back end loaded. A business rates policy that is supposed to favour the small retailer and hospitality firm over the online giants but will instead end up seeing the average pub pay significantly more, which will likely lead to more price rises and lower employment. Rather than being the clearing event, it probably is a stop gap until the May elections, meaning more uncertainty. This climate of uncertainty will do little to stem the substantial outflows from UK equities, with small and mid-cap companies bearing the brunt.

However, we continue to take comfort in the longer-term outlook for the asset class and the tremendous value that we think many of the holdings in the portfolio continue to offer. Many smaller firms have weathered past crises such as the Global Financial Crisis, Brexit, and Covid, and emerged stronger. The current level of M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) activity in the UK suggests that others see value in this asset class; now, the key is to inspire equity investors to recognize the same opportunity.

We thank shareholders for your ongoing support.

23 December 2025



ENDS



Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brsc on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Franklin, Tennessee--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - From global stages and scientific breakthroughs to philanthropic leadership and international recognition, 2025 has marked a defining year for Dr. Christina Rahm. As Chief Science Officer of The ROOT Brands and founder of DRC Ventures, Dr. Rahm continues to lead at the intersection of science, sustainability and purpose-driven innovation. Her work this year has expanded far beyond the laboratory, spanning continents, empowering communities, advancing wellness technologies and earning some of the most prestigious honors in business and science. Together, these milestones reflect a steadfast commitment to creating meaningful, measurable impact on a global scale.

ROOT Brand Ambassador Tour in Europe

In September, Dr. Rahm and her team embarked on an unforgettable European tour filled with speaking engagements and opportunities.

A significant stop was in Pristina, Kosovo, where they hosted the Charity Merci Dupre Fashion Show, supporting the Jahjaga Foundation. This event united visionaries, leaders and changemakers, all committed to creating a meaningful impact.

Their journey also included visits to Zurich, Switzerland, and Munich and Frankfurt, Germany. Here, discussions focused on innovation, sustainability and community as part of ROOT's expanding global presence. They shared insights and celebrated the future of sustainable fashion, featuring eco-conscious designs from Merci Dupre Clothiers.

One of the most moving highlights of the tour was the visit to the Sheikha Fatima Children's Hospital in Kosovo. Dr. Rahm met with children battling cancer and was welcomed by the department director, Dr. Alije Keka Sylaj. This visit provided a firsthand look at the difficulties and challenges doctors face in providing dignified treatment for the children. Dr. Rahm also heard the touching stories of the children and their parents, witnessing the extraordinary strength they demonstrate every day.

The ROOT Brands Ranks #1922 on Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies

The ROOT Brands was recognized for its rapid growth in global health and wellness, ranking #1922 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of "America's Fastest-Growing Private Businesses." The company's revenue surged from $3 million to $61 million in just four years, a success attributed to its innovative wellness products and patented detox technology.

This rapid expansion is supported by the scientific contributions of Chief Science Officer Dr. Christina Rahm. Dr. Rahm is the inventor of over 20 patent-pending formulations and holds seven approved patents. Her core innovation is a water-soluble clinoptilolite technology designed to facilitate advanced cellular detoxification.

This technology forms the basis of "The Trinity," the company's flagship product system, which includes Clean Slate for detoxification, Zero-In for mental clarity and Restore for cellular and gut support.

ELYSIAN's 10th Anniversary Weekend

Dr. Rahm has cultivated a long-standing partnership with Karen Floyd, founder of ELYSIAN, collaborating on a series of elevated experiences at the intersection of media, philanthropy, and leadership. In 2025, that partnership was showcased during ELYSIAN's 10th-anniversary celebration, marking a decade of influence for the internationally recognized, award-winning women's lifestyle brand.

To commemorate the milestone, ELYSIAN curated a weekend-long celebration, honoring international women whose vision and leadership shape culture on a global scale. The experience reflected ELYSIAN's refined aesthetic, seamlessly blending couture fashion, charitable purpose, and intentional conversation. Leading the effort was a bespoke runway presentation by Dr. Rahm's Merci Dupre Clothiers, where fashion met philanthropy as models walked alongside adoptable dogs in support of animal rescues.

The weekend also featured a private retreat for global female leaders and changemakers, offering a rare, off-the-record setting for strategic dialogue and the sharing of deeply personal stories centered on transformation, resilience, and legacy.

"This was such a meaningful weekend," Dr. Rahm said. "Merci Dupre Clothiers was honored to participate in ELYSIAN's 10-year anniversary celebration. The runway was alive with intention, elegance, and purpose. I'm deeply grateful to the visionary leadership, models, and creative teams who brought this landmark celebration to life."

22nd Annual Stevie Awards

In November, Dr. Rahm was honored with two Silver Stevie Awards at the 22nd Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Her dual recognition, in the categories of Female Thought Leader of the Year - Consumer Products and Most Innovative Woman of the Year - Manufacturing, celebrates her groundbreaking work in biotechnology, consumer wellness and sustainable innovation.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are among the world's most respected honors, globally celebrating the achievements of women leaders and entrepreneurs. This year's competition was fierce, attracting more than 1,500 entries from 48 nations. Dr. Rahm's awards highlight her visionary leadership in empowering global communities through science and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

"This is not just about individual achievement; it's a testament to the extraordinary team, partners and mission behind every step of our journey at DRC Ventures and The ROOT Brands," Dr. Rahm said. "Together, we are committed to advancing science-backed wellness, sustainable innovation, and global impact. I am grateful for this honor and energized for what's ahead."

International Association of Top Businesses (IAOTB) 2025 Awards

Dr. Rahm was recently honored at the IAOTB annual awards gala in Las Vegas, Nevada, an event that celebrates leading professionals, innovators and business executives for excellence, leadership and long-term global impact. She received the prestigious titles of Top Patented Scientist of the Decade and Empowered Woman of the Year, recognizing her significant influence and leadership in science, innovation and business.

The recognition extended beyond Dr. Rahm's individual achievements, as two companies under the DRC Ventures umbrella also earned international manufacturing awards from IAOTB. Strata Biotech was named Top Clean Supplement Manufacturer of the Year and Xoted Biotechnology Labs was recognized as the Top Global Supplement Manufacturer to Watch for 2025.

These collective accomplishments demonstrate not only Dr. Rahm's personal excellence, but also what can be achieved through her leadership, emphasizing the power of connection and bringing people together for the greater good of the world.

Collectively, these achievements underscore Dr. Christina Rahm's unwavering dedication to advancing science-backed wellness, sustainable innovation and humanitarian outreach. Whether through patented biotechnology, global education initiatives, philanthropic fashion or industry-leading recognition, her work continues to inspire collaboration, elevate communities and redefine what is possible when purpose and innovation align. As Dr. Rahm and her teams look ahead, the momentum built in 2025 serves as a powerful foundation for continued growth, discovery and global impact-reinforcing a shared mission to improve lives and create a healthier, more connected world.

About Dr. Christina Rahm

Dr. Christina Rahm is a scientist, inventor and entrepreneur advancing the intersection of biotechnology, health and sustainability. As the founder and CEO of DRC Ventures, she leads over 20 companies that develop science-based, sustainable consumer solutions. She is also the co-founder of The ROOT Brands and founder of Xoted Biotechnology Labs, a multimillion-dollar research center specializing in plant-based detoxification and regenerative science.

Dr. Rahm holds seven approved patents, with over 40 patents pending, and has developed more than 170 proprietary processes and formulas for wellness innovation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278872

Source: DRC Ventures
Toledo, Ohio--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - PassiveRents, a turnkey real estate services company, announced the expansion of its property acquisition and management support offerings for U.S.-based property owners seeking professionally managed residential rental properties in select domestic markets. The expansion reflects continued interest in structured property ownership solutions amid ongoing demand for rental housing across multiple regions in the United States.

The company supports individuals and entities involved in acquiring residential rental properties that are prepared for leasing and managed through coordinated operational services. PassiveRents' model is designed to streamline property ownership by offering centralized support for sourcing, onboarding, and ongoing management oversight.

Responding to Ongoing Demand in the U.S. Rental Market

Housing market conditions across the United States continue to evolve as population shifts, employment trends, and affordability considerations contribute to sustained demand for rental housing. According to the company, these factors have increased interest in professionally managed rental properties, particularly in markets with consistent occupancy activity and stable local economies.

PassiveRents focuses on residential properties located in states such as Ohio, Michigan, and Texas, where rental housing demand has remained steady across various metropolitan and suburban areas. Properties are evaluated using market-level indicators, including housing supply, employment data, and historical rental performance, to ensure alignment with long-term management objectives.

Turnkey Services Supporting Simplified Property Ownership

PassiveRents provides coordinated services across the rental property lifecycle, enabling property owners to remain informed while minimizing involvement in daily operational tasks. The company works with local service providers and management partners to oversee property readiness, tenant placement, and routine maintenance coordination.

Services offered include:

Market research and property sourcing based on regional housing data





Coordination of inspections and compliance requirements





Tenant screening and lease administration support





Rent collection and maintenance coordination through local partners





Standardized financial and operational reporting

This approach allows property owners to maintain visibility into property operations while relying on established processes for ongoing oversight.

Emphasis on Operational Transparency

According to the company, transparency and documentation remain central to its service model. Property owners receive structured updates related to leasing activity, maintenance coordination, and financial reporting. These updates are intended to support informed decision-making without requiring day-to-day management involvement. Dedicated account representatives are available to assist with administrative coordination and general inquiries related to property operations, providing a consistent point of contact throughout the ownership process.

Supporting a Range of Property Owners

PassiveRents works with a range of U.S.-based property owners, including individuals new to rental property ownership as well as those managing multiple residential assets. The company's services are designed to accommodate varying levels of experience while maintaining consistent operational standards.

Client feedback has cited the value of centralized communication, documented workflows, and access to coordinated management resources as key benefits of the company's approach.

About PassiveRents

PassiveRents is a turnkey real estate services company that supports U.S. property owners in acquiring and managing residential rental properties in select domestic markets. The company combines market research, acquisition coordination, and management oversight to help simplify rental property ownership.

PassiveRents does not provide financial, legal, or investment advice. Property ownership involves risk, and outcomes may vary based on market conditions and individual circumstances.

For more information, visit https://www.passiverents.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278932

Source: FG Newswire
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") (TSX.V:CANX) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of 20,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") for gross proceeds of $3,000,000. The Company is also pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Fier is now the largest shareholder and is an insider of the Company.

Highlights:

Mr. Eric Fier was the lead order in the Financing and is now an insider of the Company, with ownership of 10%

Strategic investor Michael Gentile reinforced his strong support for CANEX and also participated in the Financing alongside the Company's management and board

The Financing removes financial risk related to the Company's offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Gold Basin Resources Corporation ("Gold Basin") (TSX.V:GXX), and highlights the Company's ability to fundexploration and development of a consolidated oxide gold district in Northern Arizona

Approximately 44% of the shareholders of Gold Basin have tendered their shares to the Offer, demonstrating that support for the Offer is continuing to build momentum

The Offer represents an implied premium of 183%, based on CANEX's December 22, 2025 closing price and the last closing price of the shares of Gold Basin shares prior to the imposition of the cease-trade order on May 6, 2025. The Offer value equates to approximately $17,200,000 or $0.13 per Gold Basin share. We encourage all Gold Basin shareholders to tender to the CANEXoffer and take advantage of this strong premium and the assurance of exchanging non-trading Gold Basin shares with tradable, compliant, and valuable shares of CANEX

Financing Participants

The Company is pleased to announce that, post-Financing, Mr. Eric Fier owns 10% of CANEX and has become an insider of the Company. Mr. Fier is a mining industry leader with a track record of significant discoveries, project development, financings, and mine constructions with subsequent successful production (both open pit and underground). He along with his team have generated approximately C$2.5 billion of shareholder equity value including two successful takeover deals over the last 10 years.

Mr. Michael Gentile also participated in the Financing, showing his continued strong support for CANEX. Mr. Gentile is considered one of the leading strategic investors in the junior mining sector, owning significant positions in multiple small-cap mining companies.

Multiple high net worth and highly experienced mining and financing professionals took part in the Financing, which included new investors, current shareholders, and Company insiders.

Financing Details

The Financing consisted of 20,000,000 Common Shares priced at $0.15 each for gross proceeds of $3,000,000. The Common Shares are subject to a hold period of four months until April 24, 2026. The Common Shares were offered on a non-brokered basis by way of private placement to accredited investors and no commissions were paid to investment dealers in connection with the Financing. The Financing is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Certain insiders purchased a total of 670,147 Common Shares in connection with the Financing. The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the participation in the Financing by the insiders does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the market capitalization of the Company as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

Proceeds from the Financing will be used to advance the district consolidation opportunity in Arizona as announced by the Company on June 9, 2025, for exploration at the Company's Gold Range and Louise projects, and for general working capital.

CANEX's Offer for Gold Basin Continues to Build Support and Momentum

CANEX is pleased to announce that approximately 44% of the issued and outstanding shares of Gold Basin have been deposited to the Offer, in advance of the extended expiry date of January 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time). This figure does not include shares committed, contractually or otherwise, but not yet tendered.

This marks significant and accelerated progress towards successful take-up of shares under the Offer, as the Financing and financial commitments from key strategic shareholders like Messrs. Fier and Gentile have led to a significant increase in CANEX's share price, and in turn, a significant increase in the implied value of the Offer. Under the Offer, shareholders of Gold Basin are being offered 0.592 of a Common Share for each share of Gold Basin deposited and taken up.

CANEX has seen a large increase in value since launching its Offer on August 28, 2025. This increase can be attributed to a strong gold bull market, excitement over the possibility of consolidating a large gold district in Arizona, market recognition of new drill targets at the Louise Cu-Au Porphyry Project, and the involvement of key strategic investors in the Company. Over this same period, Gold Basin has remained cease traded, has added no value for its shareholders, and has presented no plan to become compliant.

The Offer represents an implied premium of 183% , based on CANEX's December 22, 2025 closing price and the last closing price of the shares of Gold Basin prior to the imposition of the cease-trade order on May 6, 2025. The Offer value equates to approximately $17,200,000 or roughly $0.13 per Gold Basin share which exceeds any closing price of Gold Basin shares since 2023 . This significant implied premium understates the outstanding value to the shareholders of Gold Basin, as the lack of price discovery in Gold Basin shares does not allow for consideration of the significant value destruction, pending litigation, debt incurred by Gold Basin management, or overhang of uncertainty of delisting or dissolution to be factored into the value proposition.

Shane Ebert, President and Director of CANEX, has been holding virtual meetings with shareholders of Gold Basin since the release of CANEX's video presentation to discuss the Offer and CANEX's vision for the consolidated gold district. If you are a shareholder of Gold Basin who would like to meet with Mr. Ebert to further understand the compelling upfront and future upside value of the Offer, please contact the Company at info@canexmetals.ca to arrange a time to speak.

Advisors

CANEX has retained Borden Ladner Gervais LLP as its legal advisor and Laurel Hill Advisory Group as its information agent.

About CANEX Metals

CANEX Metals (TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing its 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery potential. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX: ALS), a large shareholder of the Company.

Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX and has verified the data disclosed in this news release against historical and current data sources and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

"Shane Ebert"

Shane Ebert, President/Director

For Further Information Contact:

Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 or

Jean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636

Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca

Gold Basin Shareholders :

Laurel Hill Advisory Group

North American Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184

Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211

Email:assistance@laurelhill.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

U.S. Notice

The Offer is being made for the securities of a foreign company. The Offer is subject to disclosure requirements of a foreign country that are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included in the Offer materials, if any, have been prepared in accordance with foreign accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies. It may be difficult for you to enforce your rights and any claim you may have arising under the federal securities laws, since the issuer is located in a foreign country, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of a foreign country. You may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. You should be aware that the issuer may purchase securities otherwise than under the Offer, such as in open market or privately negotiated purchases, in accordance with applicable law. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued in the Offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the Offer materials. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "potential", "possibility", "risk", "opportunity" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc.'s internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things: the use of proceeds of the Financing; the final acceptance of TSX Venture Exchange of the Financing; the Offer; Gold Basin shareholders' support for the Offer; the anticipated successful completion of the Offer; the anticipated effect of the Offer; CANEX's plans for Gold Basin if the Offer is successful; the expected benefits to Gold Basin shareholders of tendering their shares to the Offer; the factors attributing to the increase in value of the Company; the Company's ability to fund exploration and development of a consolidated oxide gold district in Northern Arizona; and future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risk that the transactions contemplated by the Offer will not be consummated; the risk that the conditions of the Offer will not be met or met or a timely basis; and those risks described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of the Common Shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: CANEX Metals Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/canex-metals-closes-3-million-strategic-financing-lead-investor-eric-fier-is-now-1120580
Ghent, Belgium, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sequana Medical announces execution of letter of intent to amend terms of the Kreos Loan

PRESS RELEASE

REGULATED INFORMATION / INSIDE INFORMATION

23 December 2025, 6:30 pm CET / 12:30 pm ET

Letter of intent to amend the loan from funds managed by Kreos, including an extension of the interest only period and deferral of amortization payments

Additional runway supports ongoing alfapump commercial rollout in the U.S.

Ghent, Belgium - 23 December 2025 - Sequana Medical NV (Euronext Brussels: SEQUA, the "Company" or "Sequana Medical"), a pioneer in the treatment of drug-resistant fluid overload in liver disease, heart failure and cancer, today announced that it entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Kreos Capital VII (UK) Limited (together with its affiliates, "Kreos")1 to agree to a number of amendments to the terms of its loan (the "Kreos Loan"), including notably that the interest only period will be extended, and amortisation repayments will be postponed until 1 May 2026, and that the first two monthly repayments of principal and interest following the new amortisation resumption date (i.e., the 1 May and 1 June payments) shall equal half of each of the monthly repayments of principal and interest for the remaining three (3) months of amortisation to the final repayment date of 1 September 2026. The amendments are subject to the entry into a final binding agreement with Kreos. As a result of converting a portion of the Kreos Loan into equity of the Company during 2025, the outstanding principal of the loan has been reduced to less than 4.5 million.

Ian Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer at Sequana Medical, commented: "We are very pleased with the ongoing support from Kreos as we continue the rollout of alfapump in the US. With these positive steps to improve our financial flexibility, we look forward to building upon our commercial momentum including the recent implants at Mount Sinai and University of Pennsylvania. As we expand our commercial activities, we grow ever more confident of the US market opportunity for alfapump, as obesity drives strong growth in recurrent and refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis."

For more information, please contact:

Sequana Medical

Investor relations

E: IR@sequanamedical.com

T: +44 (0) 797 342 9917

Media Relations:

Josephine Galatioto

ICR Healthcare

E: Sequana@icrhealthcare.com

T: +1 (332) 242-4388

About Sequana Medical

Sequana Medical NV is a pioneer in treating fluid overload, a serious and frequent clinical complication in patients with liver disease, heart failure and cancer. This causes major medical issues including increased mortality, repeated hospitalizations, severe pain, difficulty breathing and restricted mobility. Although diuretics are standard of care, they become ineffective, intolerable or exacerbate the problem in many patients. There are limited effective treatment options, resulting in poor clinical outcomes, high costs and a major impact on their quality of life. Sequana Medical is seeking to provide innovative treatment options for this large and growing "diuretic resistant" patient population. alfapump and DSR are Sequana Medical's proprietary platforms that work with the body to treat diuretic-resistant fluid overload, and are intended to deliver major clinical and quality of life benefits for patients, while reducing costs for healthcare systems.

The Company received US FDA approval for the alfapump System for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis in December 2024, following the grant of FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019. In Sequana Medical's POSEIDON study, a landmark study across 18 centers in the US and Canada, the pivotal cohort of 40 patients implanted with the alfapump showed at 6 and 24 months post-implantation the virtual elimination of therapeutic paracentesis and an improvement in quality of life1, 2.

Sequana Medical is commercializing the alfapump through a specialty commercial team initially targeting US liver transplant centers - 90 of these centers perform more than 90% of US liver transplants annually. In August 2025, CMS announced that it approved the New Technology Add-on Payment for the alfapump when performed in the hospital inpatient setting as of October 1, 2025.

Results of the Company's RED DESERT and SAHARA proof-of-concept studies in heart failure published in European Journal of Heart Failure in April 2024 support DSR's mechanism of action as breaking the vicious cycle of cardiorenal syndrome. All three patients from the non-randomized cohort of MOJAVE, a US randomized controlled multi-center Phase 1/2a clinical study, have been successfully treated with DSR, resulting in a dramatic improvement in diuretic response and virtual elimination of loop diuretic requirements.3 The independent Data Safety Monitoring Board approved the start of the randomized MOJAVE cohort of up to a further 30 patients, which is dependent on securing additional financing.

Sequana Medical is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels.

Important Safety Information: For important safety information regarding the alfapump system, see https://www.sequanamedical.com/wp-content/uploads/ISI.pdf.

The alfapump System is currently not approved in Canada.

DSR therapy is still in development and is currently not approved in any country. The safety and effectiveness of DSR therapy has not been established.

Note: alfapump and DSR are registered trademarks.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements represent the current judgment of Sequana Medical on what the future holds, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Sequana Medical expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of Sequana Medical only as of the date of this press release.

1 BlackRock Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition of Kreos, a leading provider of growth and venture debt financing to companies in the technology and healthcare industries, on 2 August 2023

1alfapump system SSED (summary of safety and effectiveness) PMA 230044

2as defined by subjective physical health (assessed by SF-36 PCS) and ascites symptoms (assessed by Ascites Q)

3 Data reported in press release of March 25, 2024; mean increase of 326% in six-hour urinary sodium excretion at 3 months follow up vs baseline, and 95% reduction of loop diuretics over same period

Attachments
Some examples of websites that provide free useful tools for investors include those summarized below...

JERICHO, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / "For decades BNK has provided well-received financial research websites to the public, each of which brings specific utility to stock market participants," said the company's Chief Operating Officer. "Some examples of websites that provide free useful tools for investors include those summarized below."

The Stockholder Letter website - at www.StockholderLetter.com - is a handy tool for easy access to annual shareholder letters issued by public companies on the stock market. There is nothing more fundamental to stock market investing than reading current and past letters to shareholders in order to gain important insights into the investment thesis of a given company.

Technical Analysis Channel - at TechnicalAnalysisChannel.com - is designed to complement research into company fundamentals, by providing technical analysis strategies that can be useful when it comes to examining entry and exit timing/opportunities. Technical Analysis (TA) Channel focuses on presenting some of the basic and most popular TA strategies, in simple presentation, with charts for each member of the S&P 500, to help investors and traders alike to better perform stock research.

BDC Investor - at www.BDCInvestor.com - provides news and information about publicly traded Business Development Companies (BDCs), which is an important income sector due to the structural requirement to distribute 90% of taxable income to shareholders. With a requirement to invest primarily in private companies in the United States, BDCs were created in 1980 by Congress to encourage the flow of public equity capital to private US businesses. According to the site's BDC Screens page, the highest yielding BDCs currently average 10.75% dividend yield.

Canada Stock Channel - at www.CanadaStockChannel.com - gives US-based investors a window into a universe of stocks that not every investor knows about: the opportunities in Canadian traded companies. The website features pages profiling each Canadian stock in its coverage universe, as well as a screener to help investors find dividend-paying stocks traded in Canada.

About BNK Invest, Inc

The websites referenced in this article is owned and operated by online media company BNK Invest, Inc. BNK provides a number of investment research and news websites to the public, aimed at empowering investors to better research individual stocks and strategies.

Contact Information: info@bnkinvest.com

SOURCE: BNK Invest, Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/investor-tools-highlighted-by-bnk-invest-1120610
Calgary, Alberta and San Antonio, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Nexera Energy Inc. (TSXV: NGY) (OTC Pink: EMBYF) (the "Corporation", the "Company" or "Nexera") reported that the Corporation has now completed filing its audited annual financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2025, as well as the interim financial statements for the periods ended June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025 respectively.

The Company has also filed the related management's discussion and analysis, the certificates of its CEO and CFO and the related oil and gas annual disclosures (collectively, the "Required Filings") with Canadian securities regulators. The Corporation had a cease trade order ("CTO") issued by the Alberta Securities Commission ("ASC") on August 05, 2025 for delays in filing the audited annual financial statements.

With the Required Filings now completed and filed, the Corporation is moving forward to have the CTO revoked in order to have trading resume in all securities of the Corporation as soon as possible. The Company is also in the process of scheduling its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") to be held in Q1 of 2026.

About Nexera Energy Inc.

Nexera Energy Inc. (TSXV: NGY) is an energy company with oil producing properties in Southwest Texas. Nexera is owner and operator of the Lavernia, Wooden Horse and Stockdale Horizon Projects. The Company also now owns 100% of Production Resources Inc., a South Texas oil company.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein relating to the timing of the filing of financial statements constitutes forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278961

Source: Nexera Energy Inc.
Rimouski, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Puma Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PUMA) (OTCQB: PUMXF) ("Puma" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") has exercised its right, granted under the investor rights agreement ("IRA") dated October 23, 2024, to increase its ownership stake in Puma's share capital from 9.1% to 14.8% (on an undiluted basis) and 17.4% (on a partially diluted basis) after giving effect to the Offering, but otherwise assuming that the number of issued and outstanding common shares of Puma as at the date hereof remains unchanged).

On December 22, 2025, Kinross and Puma entered into a subscription agreement pursuant to which Kinross agreed to purchase under a non brokered private placement 12,500,000 units of Puma (the "Units") at a price of $0.16 per Unit for proceeds of $2,000,000 (the "Offering"). Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about December 24, 2025 and is subject to to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and certain other conditions.

Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share and one-half () common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one (1) common share of the Company at $0.25 per share for a period of 24 months following closing of the Offering. The Warrants are subject to an acceleration clause that allows the Company to provide notice to holders that the Warrants will expire 30 days after the date the acceleration notice is delivered. The Company may provide the acceleration notice only if the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is equal to or greater than $0.40 for 30 consecutive trading days. The acceleration notice may be provided at any time after the statutory hold period and before the expiry date of the Warrants. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day under applicable securities laws.

No finder's fees will be paid in connection with the Offfering. The funds raised will support exploration activities on Puma's projects (not optioned to Kinross) and general corporate and working capital requirements.

Marcel Robillard, President and CEO of Puma, commented, "We are very pleased to have strong support from Kinross. Having just celebrated the 1st anniversary of our Option Agreement on Williams Brook, this increased commitment reflects Kinross' confidence in Puma and aligns with our objectives. These funds will enable Puma to focus on our McKenzie Gold Project and other assets in northern New Brunswick."

Following closing of the Offering, Kinross will hold 29,550,577 common shares and 6,250,000 Warrants of Puma. Under the IRA, Kinross retains the right to participate in future equity financings to maintain its ownership percentage, or to increase its holding up to 19.9% of the Company's total issued and outstanding common shares following the issuance of additional securities.

Williams Brook Option Agreement Progress

In the inaugural year of the Williams Brook Option Agreement, Puma and Kinross drilled more than 3,600 metres at the Lynx Gold Zone ("LGZ"). The drilling program extended the LGZ by 50 metres to the southwest and increased the depth of known mineralization to 300 metres. Assay results from this campaign are pending and will be announced once received. Concurrently, surface exploration, including grab sampling, yielded high-grade mineralization at both the Lion Gold Zone (see Aug 7, 2025 News Release), located approximately 10 km north of the LGZ and on the Jonpol property (see November 7, 2025 News Release).

Two drilling campaigns are scheduled for 2026. A first program of 1,500 is scheduled to start in Q1 on the Lion and Jaguar Gold Zones. A potential second drilling program in the fall will test new targets delineated by summer exploration surveys. The joint technical committee is actively confirming drill targets and planning the exploration work for the Year 2 $3M fully funded program at Williams Brook.

Early Warning

An early warning report filed by Kinross in connection with the investment will be available on Puma's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Alternatively, you may contact Luke Crosby, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at 647-788-4478 to obtain a copy of the report. Kinross is organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario and its head office is located at 25 York Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V5. Puma's head office is located at 175 Legare Street, Rimouski, Quebec, G5L 3B9.

Kinross acquired the units for investments purposes. Kinross may, from time to time, increase or decrease its investment in Puma through market transactions, private placements, treasury issuances or otherwise, including pursuant to the terms of the IRA between Kinross and Puma.

About Puma's Assets in New Brunswick

Puma has accumulated an impressive portfolio of prospective gold landholdings strategically located close to roads and infrastructure in Northern New Brunswick, including the Williams Brook Project and the McKenzie Gold Project. Both are located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault ("RBMF"), a major regional structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the region. Puma's work to date has focused on the Williams Brook property, but prospecting and surface exploration work on its other properties have confirmed their potential for significant gold mineralization. The Williams Brook Project was optioned to Kinross Gold in October 2024.

About Puma Exploration

Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying and developing a pipeline of precious metals projects in New Brunswick, near Canada's Renowned Bathurst Mining Camp. Puma has a long history in Northern New Brunswick, having worked on regional projects for over 15 years.

Puma's successful exploration methodology, which combines traditional prospecting methods with detailed trenching and cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, has been instrumental in understanding the region's geology and associated mineralized systems. Armed with geophysical surveys, geochemical data, and consultants' expertise, Puma has developed a cost-effective exploration tool to discover gold at shallow depths and maximize drilling results.

Connect with us on Facebook / X / LinkedIn.

Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278966

Source: Puma Exploration Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - The David Sidoo Scholarship for Entrepreneurs, founded and led by David Sidoo, announces the 2025 scholarship recipient while reaffirming its ongoing commitment to supporting undergraduate students who demonstrate a strong interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, and responsible business leadership. Administered through an open and merit-based process, the scholarship remains accessible to eligible undergraduate students across accredited colleges and universities, without restriction to any single city or state.





David Sidoo Scholarship for Entrepreneurs



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/278967_724358e134603901_001full.jpg

The 2025 recipient of the David Sidoo Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is Aditya R., an undergraduate student at McGill University. Aditya R. was selected following a comprehensive review of submissions that evaluated originality, clarity of vision, feasibility of the proposed business concept, and demonstrated dedication to entrepreneurial thinking. The selection process reflects the scholarship's emphasis on thoughtful planning, problem-solving, and real-world application rather than abstract theory.

The David Sidoo Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is guided by clear eligibility criteria. Applicants must be actively enrolled as undergraduate students and must show a defined interest in entrepreneurship with a forward-looking vision for business development. As part of the application process, students are required to submit an 800-1000 word essay describing a business idea, outlining a practical plan for execution, identifying anticipated challenges, and explaining strategies for addressing those challenges. Submissions are reviewed with attention to innovation, structure, and practical insight.

David Sidoo, a respected entrepreneur and investor, established the scholarship to encourage disciplined thinking and early exposure to business planning among students. David Sidoo believes that entrepreneurship requires preparation, adaptability, and a strong ethical foundation. Through this scholarship, David Sidoo continues to support students who approach business with purpose and long-term thinking. The program reflects David Sidoo's broader philanthropic focus on education, youth development, and opportunity creation.

The scholarship is administered through its official website, where applicants can find detailed eligibility requirements, essay prompts, and submission deadlines. Applications must include the essay, full name, contact information, and proof of enrollment, and must be submitted electronically to the designated application email address listed on the scholarship website. All entries are reviewed with consistency and care to ensure fairness and transparency.

While the scholarship recognizes individual achievement, the David Sidoo Scholarship for Entrepreneurs places greater emphasis on the role of education-driven initiatives in shaping future business leaders. The organization focuses on encouraging structured thinking, accountability, and clarity of vision among undergraduate students who aspire to build sustainable ventures. The scholarship is designed to complement academic learning by prompting students to think critically about execution, risk, and responsibility.

David Sidoo continues to oversee the scholarship's mission and direction, ensuring that it remains aligned with its original purpose. Through ongoing administration and annual selection of recipients, David Sidoo maintains a hands-on role in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. The scholarship stands as part of David Sidoo's continued involvement in educational initiatives that value discipline, preparation, and long-term impact.

The announcement of the 2025 recipient reflects the scholarship's steady growth and continued relevance within the academic and entrepreneurial communities. By recognizing students like Aditya R. of McGill University, the David Sidoo Scholarship for Entrepreneurs underscores its commitment to identifying thoughtful, motivated individuals who approach entrepreneurship with seriousness and intent.

More information about eligibility requirements, application timelines, and submission guidelines can be found on the official scholarship website.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278967

Source: GYT
Yiwu's marketplace evolves to embrace the digital age

13:55, December 23, 2025 By Dou Hanyang ( People's Daily

Drones are exhibited at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center. (Photo/Gong Xianming)

Yiwu, a city in east China's Zhejiang province known as the "world's supermarket," has entered a new chapter with the launch of the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center in October, marking the sixth-generation market of Yiwu. Since the early 1980s, Yiwu's small-commodities market has undergone successive relocations and upgrades, each expanding its scale and enhancing its position in global trade.

From street stalls to mega markets

On Oct. 14, the opening day of the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center, 73-year-old plush toy vendor Zhang Chunhua visited the new complex to celebrate her grandson He Tao's store launch.

Yiwu's journey began in September 1982 with the opening of the Huqingmen Open-Air Market in Choucheng township. The modest roadside market featured 705 stalls offering more than 2,200 types of goods. In December 1984, the second-generation Xinmalu Market opened, marking the beginning of Zhang's business career.

"Each stall was just a concrete slab with steel frames and glass panels overhead," she recalled. During peak seasons, competition for space was so intense that she arrived early each morning to secure a spot.

By 1986, the market had relocated and expanded into the Chengzhong Road Small Commodities Market, the third-generation iteration. Six years later, Yiwu opened the Huangyuan Market -- the fourth generation -- its first large-scale indoor facility, hosting over 15,000 stalls. It was there that Zhang finally secured a permanent booth of her own. "Back then, only two or three vendors sold plush toys," she noted. "Today, more than 400 occupy a single floor."

The fifth-generation market, launched in October 2002, marked a shift toward modern mall-style operations and deeper integration into global trade networks.

Now, Zhang's grandson He Tao operates his store in the sixth-generation market. His shop is three times larger than his grandmother's original booth, allowing for livestreaming and short video production tailored to younger international audiences. "The expanded space makes it easier to connect with global consumers in ways that were unimaginable a generation ago," said He, born in the 2000s.

Foreign merchants buy fashion toys at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center. (Photo/Wang Yijie)

From OEM to brand ownership

The launch of the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center has attracted a new generation of entrepreneurs embracing brand-led growth. Among them is Chen Jiajia, a business owner born in the 1990s and general manager of Zhejiang Yinyuan Optical Instruments Co., who leased three storefronts in the new complex.

"My mother started selling binoculars at Huangyuan Market in 1996 and later established an optical factory," Chen said. "We initially followed the common 'front shop, back factory' model, focusing on OEM (original equipment manufacturer)."

For years, Yiwu's economy was dominated by contract manufacturing and private labeling -- business models characterized by low margins and limited brand equity. "As international buyers increasingly came to Yiwu, we recognized that building our own brand was essential for long-term competitiveness," Chen said. In 2016, she launched the company's own brand, Eyebre.

To raise brand awareness, Chen's team expanded into cross-border e-commerce, actively engaged in international trade exhibitions, and promoted Eyebre in global markets. Within two years, international sales began to gain momentum. Today, Eyebre products are sold in more than 100 countries and regions, with exports accounting for 70 percent of the total business, up from 50 percent.

"Strong brands are built on sustained investment in research and development," Chen said. Starting with binoculars, the company has diversified into more than 1,000 products, including children's microscopes and drone-mounted thermal imaging devices. It is now integrating AI technologies into product innovation.

In the sixth-generation market, brand-driven business models like Eyebre have become commonplace. Among the more than 3,700 merchants currently operating in the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center, 57 percent either manage their own brands or operate licensed IP-based businesses, highlighting a significant shift from OEM to innovation-driven, value-added commerce.

Merchants learn about payment services at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center. (Photo/Gong Xianming)

A fully digital and intelligent upgrade

Navigating Yiwu's sixth-generation market is a markedly different experience, thanks to a comprehensive digital transformation. According to Zhu Xingping, deputy general manager of the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center, products are now organized by specific consumption scenarios, such as fashion or maternal and infant goods, allowing buyers to source more efficiently through curated, one-stop solutions.

The new center has introduced a sophisticated digital infrastructure, including a proprietary trade large model featuring 13 AI-driven applications. These range from AI-assisted design and visual content creation to multilingual video translation, supporting merchants in overcoming key challenges in product development, marketing, and global outreach.

In the jewelry section, Huang Zixuan, owner of the beaded bracelet store, described how the platform integrates AI design, traffic testing, customer feedback, and online sales into a streamlined workflow. "We upload draft designs, test them through pre-orders, and move to production based on customer feedback," Huang said. "AI enables us to validate consumer interest first, reducing upfront investment and improving efficiency."

With AI-powered video tools, merchants can now produce multilingual product videos simply by speaking Chinese into a smartphone. Captions and translations in languages such as English and Spanish are generated automatically, eliminating language barriers and dramatically enhancing content production.

Like Huang, over 3,700 new-generation merchants at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center are leveraging AI technologies to modernize their business models and compete more effectively in the global marketplace.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Record Resources Inc. (TSXV: REC) (the "Company" or "Record") is pleased to announce that it completed its previously announced brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.06 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $1,900,000, including the full exercise of the agent's option. The Offering was led by Research Capital Corporation as the sole agent and sole bookrunner (the "Agent").

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.09 per Common Share at any time June 23, 2028. The Warrants issued pursuant to the LIFE Offering (defined below) under applicable Canadian securities laws shall be exercisable beginning 60 days following the date hereof.

The net proceeds from the Offerings will be used to progress strategic growth plans in Gabon, Africa and for working capital and general corporate purposes related to the company's existing oil development and high impact exploration assets.

23,333,332 Units were issued pursuant to Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemptions ("LIFE Offering"), to purchasers resident in Canada (other than the province of Quebec) and in other qualifying jurisdictions outside of Canada on a private placement basis pursuant to relevant prospectus or registration exemptions in accordance with applicable laws, and are not subject to a statutory hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. There is a second amended and restated offering document related to the LIFE Offering dated December 22, 2025 that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company's website at www.recordresourcesinc.com.

8,333,332 Units were issued under a private placement pursuant to applicable prospectus exemptions in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and are subject to a hold period expiring April 24, 2026, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and applicable securities laws.

In connection with the Offering, the Company (i) paid the Agent a cash commission of $133,527.99, and (ii) issued an aggregate of 2,225,467 non-transferable broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Unit at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price at any time until June 23, 2028. In addition, the Company paid an advisory fee of $11,000 and issued 307,866 advisory warrants of the Company on the same terms as the Broker Warrants.

Certain directors and officers of the Company participated in the Offering and purchased an aggregate of 683,332 Units for gross proceeds of $41,000 (which Units are subject to a hold period expiring April 22, 2026, in accordance with the policies of the TSXV and applicable securities laws). The insiders' participation is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such insider participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on any of the exchanges or markets outlined in subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, and the fair market value of the securities distributed to the insiders did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. A material change report with respect to such insider participation in the Offering was not filed 21 days before closing of the Offering as the details of such insider participation were not known at such time.

This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the intended use of proceeds from the Offerings.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: the conditions to closing of the Offerings may not be satisfied, management's broad discretion regarding the use of proceeds of the Offerings, the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; and the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278969

Source: Record Resources Inc.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - ReeXploration Inc. (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I0) ("ReeXploration" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful closing of its previously announced private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,000,000 (the "Financing"). This Financing will fund the next phase of exploration at the Company's Eureka Project located in Namibia's Erongo Mining District, the country's premier uranium corridor. ReeXploration will now focus on the drill program designed to test a newly identified and highly-prospective uranium target in early 2026.

The Financing comprised of 9,090,910 shares of the Company (each, a "Share") at $0.11 per Share. The Company paid Numus Capital Corp., a registered Exempt Market Dealer, a cash fee of $70,000 or 7% of proceeds raised and issued 636,363 compensation warrants entitling the agent to purchase that number of Shares at $0.11 per share for a period of 24 months from closing.

The engagement of Numus Capital Corp. and the Financing may constitute Related Party Transactions under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI-61-101"). The Company is relying upon an exemption for shareholder approval required under section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that any related party elements of such transactions would not exceed 25% of market capitalization of the Company.

All securities issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a hold period lasting four-months and one day from the closing.

About ReeXploration Inc.

ReeXploration (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I0) is a Canadian exploration company positioned to help meet surging global demand for secure, responsible supplies of critical minerals essential to the clean energy transition, advanced technologies and national defense. The Company's flagship Eureka Project in central Namibia pairs a technically proven rare earth foundation - supported by the production of a clean, Western-standard monazite concentrate - with a newly defined, high-priority uranium target located within one of the world's most established uranium corridors. Together, these commodities provide multi-path discovery potential aligned with accelerating global efforts to diversify critical mineral and nuclear fuel supply. Supported by a Namibia-based technical team and guided by global critical minerals experts, ReeXploration is advancing a disciplined, discovery-led strategy, building a credible, ESG-aligned platform positioned to benefit from the global race to diversify and secure responsible supply chains.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions relating to general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. ReeXploration does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by securities laws applicable to ReeXploration. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings made by ReeXploration with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278838

Source: ReeXploration Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc. (CSE: TICO) (the "Company" or "Issuer") the "Company" or "Issuer") pleased to announce that it is undertaking a non-brokered private placement equity financing (the "Offering").

The Company will offer up to 9,500,000 hard dollar units ("Non-FT Units") at a price of $0.05 per Non-FT Unit" at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $475,000.

Each Non-FT Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $0.075 per Common Share for a period of two years following the closing date of the Offering, subject to the Company's right to accelerate expiry. If, at any time, the 20 day Volume-Weighted Average Price ("VWAP") of the Company's Common Shares is greater than $0.35 per Common Share for 10 consecutive days, including days where there is no trading, the Company may provide written notice (a "Warrant Acceleration Notice") to the holders that the expiry of the Warrants shall be accelerated to a date that is not less than 30 days from the date of the Warrant Acceleration Notice. The securities issued in connection with the private placement Offering, shall be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from issuance.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used for general working capital purposes, and Finder's fees may be paid in connection with the Offering.

About TICO

Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of critical mineral properties. The Company is based in Vancouver, B.C. and holds an option over the Wildcat Property located in British Columbia.

Disclaimers: This news release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators which is posted on www.sedarplus.ca. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described stated herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. No regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Company does not undertake to update this news release unless required by applicable law.

None of the securities issued in connection with the Financing will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.



/THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278952

Source: Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Relevant Gold Corp. (TSXV:RGC)(OTCQB:RGCCF) ("Relevant Gold" or the "Company") reports that 2025 was a milestone year marked by the first drill test of the Apex orogenic system at Bradley Peak, continued validation of the large gold system at Lewiston, aggressive portfolio-wide geophysics and geochemistry, and significant balance sheet strengthening alongside deepened strategic shareholder support. These achievements position Relevant Gold for an aggressive, data-driven 2026 exploration campaign across its Bradley Peak and South Pass gold camps in Wyoming.

"2025 was about upgrading Relevant Gold from a concept story to an execution story," said Rob Bergmann, CEO of Relevant Gold. "We drilled the first holes into Apex, confirmed a large mineralized orogenic system at Lewiston, secured a portfolio-wide VTEM program with state support, and deepened our alignment with Kinross and Mr. Bollinger, who now each own approximately 19% of the Company. With assays, geophysical datasets, and surface geochemistry all coming together in early 2026, we see a clear runway of exploration catalysts ahead across both Bradley Peak and South Pass. Our goal for 2026 is straightforward: convert this technical groundwork into high-impact drill results and a clearer picture of the resource-scale potential at our Wyoming camps."

Key 2025 Highlights

First-ever drilling at Apex confirms scale of the system Safely completed the Company's first diamond drill campaign at the Apex Target, totaling 5,102 m in 12 oriented holes at Bradley Peak. Drilling tested approximately 600 m of strike and 400 m of vertical depth within the >2.5 km surface trace of the Apex shear corridor. Assays are pending for all 12 holes.

Bradley Peak elevated to multi-target drill camp status 2024 mapping and rock sampling defined six high-potential shear-hosted targets at Bradley Peak (Apex, Kortes, Deserted Treasure, Lost Mine, Olmeh, East Limb), including the >2.5 km Apex Zone highlighted by rock samples grading up to 46.8 g/t Au, 7.8% Cu, and 2% Zn within a >200 m wide structural corridor at the hinge of a >100 km regional fold (See Press Release of 9/26/2024)

Lewiston: large orogenic gold system confirmed and open Across the Heavy Hand (2023) and Burr (2024) programs, 16 of 17 drill holes totaling over ~2,600 m intersected gold mineralization from near surface to ~175 m vertical depth, confirming a mineralized and laterally extensive orogenic shear-hosted gold system. (See Press Release of 02/15/2024) At Burr alone, all 6 HQ core holes (1,026 m) intersected shear-hosted gold mineralization below and lateral to historic workings, testing ~300 m of strike, ~150 m across a ~1 km x 500 m shear corridor and down to 175 m vertical depth. (See Press Release of 12/18/2024)

Strategic $8.53M equity financing with no warrants; cornerstone investors to 19.9% Completed an oversubscribed, upsized non-brokered placement totaling $8,534,199.90 at $0.30 per common share and no warrants, growing from an initial $5M offering to $7M and ultimately to $8.5M in response to demand. (See Press Release of 03/13/2025) Kinross Gold Corporation and William Bollinger each increased their holdings to 19.9% of issued and outstanding shares on closing of Tranche 2, accompanied by investor rights agreements and board nomination rights, cementing long-term strategic alignment. (See Press Release of 03/13/2025)

Additional $2.89M from warrant exercises and simplified capital structure Received $2.89M in cash from the exercise of 15.8M warrants by management, Kinross and Bollinger, materially reducing warrant overhang and reinforcing insider/strategic conviction in the portfolio and exploration strategy. (See Press Release of 10/16/2025)

Wyoming EMF grant and portfolio-wide VTEM geophysics Awarded a US$226,533 matching grant from the Wyoming Energy Matching Funds (EMF) program to fund up to half the cost of a detailed airborne TEM / VTEM survey at Bradley Peak, designed to image conductive structures to depths of up to ~500 m. (See Press Release of 07/02/2025) Subsequently contracted Geotech Ltd. to fly a high-resolution VTEM survey over Bradley Peak and later expanded the program to cover the >35,000-acre South Pass Gold Camp, creating a combined VTEM and magnetics data set across the Company's entire core portfolio. All data collection is expected to complete in Q4 2025 with initial products and interpretations anticipated in Q1 2026. (See Press Release of 09/05/2025)

South Pass geochemical and mapping programs completed; assays pending Completed 1,400 soil samples over ~32 line-km at the Windy Flats project to screen for concealed shear structures using pathfinder elements (As, Cu, Zn). Collected 446 rock chip samples from the southern Lewiston area at South Lewiston to trace the Burr system southward and evaluate parallel shear corridors highlighted by prior magnetics. Assays from both programs are pending and will inform 2026 drill planning.

First-time drill camp and infrastructure at Bradley Peak Fully permitted Apex drilling program with both the state of WY and BLM in <60 days, further highlighting Wyoming's jurisdictional risk profile. Established and operated a dedicated drill camp and logistical infrastructure at Bradley Peak to support the Apex program, enabling efficient completion of >5,000 m of HQ-oriented core drilling in complex terrain and laying the groundwork for scaled-up 2026 drilling.

Board and governance strengthened Sarah Weber, P.Geo., was appointed Independent Chair of the Board, enhancing governance depth, ESG oversight, and stakeholder engagement capabilities as the Company transitions into a multi-camp drilling phase. (See Press Release of 09/09/2025)



2026 Exploration Priorities: A Year of Robust Exploration Data Generation

With first-pass drilling complete at Apex, a large orogenic system confirmed at Lewiston, and portfolio-wide geophysics and geochemistry underway, early 2026 is expected to deliver a series of material technical and news-flow catalysts, including:

Apex drill assays (12 holes, 5,102 m): Release of assays from the 2025 Apex program, where drilling intersected a 70-150 m-wide composite shear zone, confirming the targeted orogenic shear-vein system along 600 m of strike and down to 400 m vertical depth. These results are expected to guide follow-up drilling along the >2.5 km Apex corridor and newly identified parallel shears.

VTEM and magnetics - Bradley Peak & South Pass: Delivery and interpretation of high-resolution VTEM and magnetic data for both Bradley Peak and South Pass, providing subsurface imaging of conductive and magnetic structures to depths of several hundred metres. Initial interpretations are anticipated in Q1 2026 and will be integrated with existing magnetics, mapping and geochemistry to prioritize 2026 drill targets.

South Pass surface programs: Assay results and interpreted anomalies from the Windy Flats soil grid and South Lewiston rock sampling campaigns, expected to generate new target areas and infill along the known Lewiston structural corridor ahead of drill-target selection.



2026 Field & Drilling Priorities

Subject to results, permitting and board approval, the Company's 2026 work program is expected to focus on:

Follow-up and expansion drilling at Apex (Bradley Peak): Designing an expanded drill program to: Follow up on the most prospective Apex intercepts from the 2025 program. Test down-dip and along-strike extensions of the Apex shear within the >2.5 km corridor. Evaluate newly recognized parallel shear zones (e.g., BPEX) and structural traps highlighted by geophysics and 3D modelling of drilling data.

Advancing Lewiston and Golden Buffalo toward a camp-scale opportunity: Planning step-out and deeper drilling at Burr to test continuity of stacked shear panels beyond the ~300 m of strike and 175 m vertical depth already drilled. Evaluating follow-up drilling at Heavy Hand where earlier work intersected broad zones of near-surface gold mineralization (10 of 11 holes mineralized) and integrating VTEM/magnetics to rank additional targets along the >10 km Lewiston structural corridor. Completing geochemistry sampling on South Pass drill core to test for other precious and critical metals and sharpen geochemical vectors ahead of 2026 drill planning. Modeling high-grade drilling intercepts at Golden Buffalo with updated structural, geochemical, and geophysical vectors to follow up on the high-grade GBSZ target intersected in 2022 drilling. Results confirmed the GBSZ as a primary high-grade shear zone highlighted by a 3m zone averaging 28 g/t Au including 1m at 83.8 g/t Au with visible gold observed in core.

New-target drill testing and portfolio optimization: Using the combined VTEM, magnetics, soils, rock geochemistry, and structural mapping to elevate additional Bradley Peak targets (Lost Mine, East Limb, etc.) and South Pass targets (including Golden Buffalo, Shield-Carissa and Windy Flats trends) toward drill-ready status, while rationalizing non-core ground that does not meet district-scale orogenic gold criteria.

Balance sheet and strategic alignment maintained: Backed by the $8.53M equity financing and $2.89M of warrant exercises completed in 2025, and after funding the 2025 exploration programs described above, the Company enters 2026 with a solid treasury, a simplified warrant overhang, and two ~19% strategic shareholders (Kinross and Bollinger) aligned with a multi-year Wyoming exploration strategy, providing a strong platform for continued growth and future funding initiatives as results are delivered.



Closing Remarks

2025 was a year of foundational execution. With supportive shareholders, strong technical momentum, successful execution, and a solid financial position, Relevant Gold is entering 2026 with clear objectives and the tools in place to advance its district-scale vision.

On behalf of our team, thank you for your continued trust and support. We look forward to keeping you updated as results are reported and milestones achieved.

On behalf of Relevant Gold,

Rob Bergmann

CEO, Relevant Gold Corp.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical contents of this release have been approved by Mr. Brian C. Lentz, CPG #11999, Chief Exploration Officer of the Company, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Lentz is not independent of the Company.

About Relevant Gold Corp.

Relevant Gold Corp. is a North American gold exploration company founded by experienced exploration geologists and operated by a highly respected team with a proven record of significant value creation for shareholders. Relevant Gold is focused on the acquisition, exploration, discovery, and development of district-scale gold projects in the state of Wyoming - one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions in the United States and globally.

On behalf of Relevant Gold Corp.,

Rob Bergmann, Chief Executive Officer

More information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information about Relevant Gold Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at www.relevantgoldcorp.com or contact Rob Bergmann, President and CEO, or Kristopher Jensen, Manager of Investor Relations, at 763-760-4886 or by email at investorrelations@relevantgoldcorp.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Historical Information

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of Relevant Gold Corp. ("Relevant" or "Relevant Gold" or "the Company"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "outlook" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which 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 by the forward-looking information. Such risks include, among others, the inherent risk of the mining industry; adverse economic and market developments; the risk that the Company will not be successful in completing additional acquisitions; risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; the possibility that the Company's estimated burn rate may be higher than anticipated; risks of unexpected cost increases; risks of labour shortages; risks relating to exploration and development activities; risks relating to future prices of mineral resources; risks related to work site accidents, risks related to geological uncertainties and variations; risks related to government and community support of the company's projects; risks related to global pandemics and other risks related to the mining industry. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information except as required by law. This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors.

The scientific and technical contents of this release have been approved by Mr. Brian C. Lentz, CPG #11999, Chief Exploration Officer of the Company, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Lentz is not independent of the Company.

SOURCE: Relevant Gold Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/relevant-gold-recaps-successful-2025-exploration-season-and-positions-for-data-dr-1120842
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - QcX Gold Corp. (TSXV: QCX) (OTC Pink: QCXGF) (FSE: 21MA) ("QcX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release of December 12, 2025, it has acquired a 100% legal and beneficial interest in and to the Olsen Project, a 3,715-hectare land package located within the Batchawana Bay area in northwest Ontario (the "Olsen Project"). The Olsen Project was acquired pursuant to a mining claim acquisition agreements (the "Agreements") dated December 12, 2025 with arm's length parties (the "Vendors").

As consideration for the Property, the Company has issued an aggregate of 500,000 Common Shares at a deemed price of $0.33 per Common Share and made the initial cash payment in the amount of $28,000. All securities issued are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the issuance thereof, as applicable, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About QcX Gold

QcX Gold is exploring for gold and VMS style mineralization on its highly prospective and well-located properties in Quebec, Canada. The Golden Giant Project is located in the James Bay region, only 2.9 km from Azimut Exploration Inc.'s Patwon discovery on their Elmer gold project. The Fernet Project is located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and is contiguous with Wallbridge Mining Company Limited's Fenelon/Martiniere property. Both properties are in close proximity to major discoveries which bodes well for exploration.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, the planned exploration program, the expected positive exploration results, the timing of the exploration results, the ability of the Company to continue with the exploration program, the availability of the required funds to continue with the exploration and the potential mineralization or potential mineral resources are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned exploration expenditures, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, general business and economic conditions, changes in world gold markets, sufficient labour and equipment being available, changes in laws and permitting requirements, unanticipated weather changes, title disputes and claims, environmental risks as well as those risks identified in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278963

Source: QcX Gold Corp
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PX) (OTC Pink: PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") announces that it has received gross proceeds of $1,395,933.35 from the exercise of 27,918,667 common share purchase warrants at an exercise price of $0.05 per warrant. The Company issued 27,918,667 common shares upon exercise of these warrants.

The Company intends to apply the proceeds to advancing its projects and for general working capital and corporate purposes. This includes continued work across its Ghana and Canadian portfolios.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Pelangio

Pelangio acquires and explores prospective land packages located in world-class gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of eight near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as the Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's exploration plans. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the ability of the Company to conduct our exploration programs as planned, changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278933

Source: Pelangio Exploration Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Trojan Gold Inc. (CSE: TGII) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement of units ("Units") through the issuance of 2,000,000 Units at a price of $0.10 per Unit for total gross proceeds of $200,000. The aggregate subscription price of $200,000 was satisfied by amounts previously advanced to the Company.

The Units are comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share in the capital of the Company for a period of 24 months from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.15, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances.

All securities comprising the Units are subject to a four-month and one-day hold period from the closing date. No finders' fees were paid in connection with the issuance of the Units.

The issuance of the Units in the private placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the MI 61-101 valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions in connection with the issuance of the Shares that are set out in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the issuance of the Shares, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101).

About Trojan Gold Inc.

Trojan is an active Ontario-based prospect generator junior exploration company, led by a team of professionals having exploration, engineering, project financing and permitting experience. Trojan has accumulated land positions in the Hemlo Gold Camp and Shebandowan Greenstone Belt which in management's view represent mineral exploration potential. For further information on the Company, please visit www.trojangold.com. Trojan is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol (CSE: TGII) and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol KC1.

Further Information

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to the number and pricing of securities that the Company expects to issue.

Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that the Company will receive all necessary approvals required in order to complete the issuance of the securities described in in this press release.

However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company will not be able to proceed with the issuance of the securities on the terms described in this press release or at all due to not having received all necessary approvals or for other reasons beyond the Company's control.

Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278988

Source: Trojan Gold Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) (OTC Pink: VOLMF) ("Volta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of an oversubscribed and upsized non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $2,810,508 (the "Offering"). The Offering was comprised of the issuance of 12,219,601 common shares of the Company issued on a "flow-through" basis (each, a "FT Share") at a subscription price of $0.23 per FT Share.

The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company will use the gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") on or before December 31, 2026. The Company plans to initiate a second-phase drill program to further explore its recently acquired Springer advanced Rare Earth and Gallium Deposit and explore its Aki Critical Minerals Project. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Units with an effective date not later than December 31, 2025.

As in every financing the Company has completed to date, whereby certain directors and officers of the Company have participated in such financings, thereby increasing insiders' holdings, a director of the Company acquired an aggregate of 87,000 FT Shares under the Offering. Such participation in the Offering by such director constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that the participation in the Offering by such director does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization.

In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company paid commissions to certain finders an aggregate of $163,560 in cash and 711,132 finder warrants (the "Finder Warrants"). Each Finder Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one (1) common share of the Company (a "Finder Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.23 per Finder Warrant Share for a period of twenty-four months from the closing of the Offering. The securities issued and issuable under the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period in Canada of four months and one day from the closing date of the Offering in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The closing of the Offering is subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE").

Volta's CEO, Kerem Usenmez, commented, "This financing represents the largest amount Volta has raised, at the highest share price and with the fastest closing to date. The strong investor response validates our strategy, and the capital raised positions Volta to accelerate exploration and unlock additional value at the Springer deposit while continuing to reduce project risk."

For more information about the Company, view Volta's website at www.voltametals.ca.

ABOUT VOLTA METALS LTD.

Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) (OTC Pink: VOLMF) is a mineral exploration company based in Toronto, Ontario, focused on rare earths, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum. It owns, has optioned and is currently exploring a critical minerals portfolio of rare-earths, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum projects in Ontario, one of the world's most prolific, emerging hard-rock critical mineral districts. To learn more about Volta and its Springer and Aki Projects, please visit www.voltametals.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

For further information, contact:

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, plans, strategies, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the Offering, that the funds from the Offering will allow Volta to unlock the potential of, and de-risk, the Springer deposit and the receipt of all necessary approvals for the Offering. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators; the fact that Volta's interests in its mineral properties are options only and there are no guarantee that such interest, if earned, will be certain; the future prices and demand for lithium; rare earth elements and gallium; and delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary approvals, permits and authorizations required to carry out its business plans. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, other than as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278937

Source: Volta Metals Ltd.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / KALO GOLD CORP. (TSXV:KALO) ("Kalo", "Kalo Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated December 2, 2025, the Company has closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (as defined herein) of 7,648,750 units (the "Unit") at $0.32 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for gross proceeds of $2,447,600 (the "LIFE Offering"). Concurrently, the Company has also closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of Units of 25,110,625 Units at the Offering Price for gross proceeds of $8,035,400 (the "Concurrent Offering", and together with the LIFE Offering, the "Offerings") for total aggregate proceeds of $10,483,000.

Each Unit consists of one common share (each, a "Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable for one Share at the exercise price of $0.50 for a period of thirty-six months from the date of issue. In addition, the expiry date of the Warrants is subject to acceleration if the volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") (or such other stock exchange where the Shares are then listed or quoted) is greater than $0.75 for a period of twenty (20) consecutive trading days, in which case the expiry date of the Warrants may be accelerated to a date that is thirty (30) days following the date the Company provides notice to the Warrant holders, by way of a news release, that the expiry date has been accelerated.

The LIFE Offering is being conducted under the listed issuer financing exemption as per Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). As a result, the securities acquired under the LIFE Offering by investors resident in Canada will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. Provided, however, that any Warrants issued pursuant to the LIFE Offering are not exercisable within 60 days. All securities acquired pursuant to the Concurrent Offering will be subject to a hold period of four (4) months pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offerings for drilling and exploration on the Vatu Aurum Project and working capital, marketing and general corporate purposes.

In connection with the Offerings, the Company paid finder's fees in the amount of $117,684 and issued 367,762 finder's warrants. Each finder's warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $0.50 per share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance, under the same terms as the Warrants issued pursuant to the Concurrent Offering.

The Company will complete one or more additional tranches of the Offerings up to the maximum amount previously announced. Any such additional closings will remain subject to the approval of the TSXV and all other necessary regulatory approvals.

One insider of the Company participated in the Concurrent Offering for approximately C$500,000. The issuance of Units to such insider is considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(a) in respect of such insider participation as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities issued pursuant to the Offerings 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 in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. persons" (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Kalo Gold Corp.

Kalo Gold Corp., a gold exploration company, focused on epithermal gold deposits on the Company's Vatu Aurum Project, located on Vanua Levu (North Island). Kalo holds 100% of two Special Prospecting Licenses covering 367 km, encompassing a regional back-arc basin with volcanic calderas. Historical and ongoing exploration has identified numerous priority epithermal gold targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Kalo Gold Corp.

Terry L. Tucker, P.Geo.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Ma, CPA, CA

Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Director

For more information, please write to info@kalogoldcorp.com .

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to the closing of the Offerings, use of proceeds and other such future events and Kalo's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Kalo's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, and unforeseen events and developments. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Kalo. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Kalo undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent management's discussion and analysis. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE: Kalo Gold Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/kalo-gold-announces-closing-of-10.843-million-first-tranche-of-life-offering-and-1120967
Neeraj Ghaywans Homebound has landed in legal trouble days after making the Oscars shortlist, after an author alleged plagiarism, filing a formal complaint against the film and its makers.

Just days after earning a spot on the Oscars shortlist, filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywans Homebound has found itself at the centre of a legal controversy, with an author alleging that the film plagiarises elements from his literary work.

Complaint filed against the team of Homebound

A formal complaint has been filed by journalist and author Puja Changoiwala, claiming that Homebound borrows heavily from a previously published story without authorisation or credit. In an email to Hindustan Times, the author has reportedly sought legal recourse, alleging similarities in narrative structure, themes, and character arcs between the film and his work.

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She wrote in the mail that the subject of both (her novel and the film) is the COVID-19 migrant exodus of 2020. She also alleged, Upon watching the film, I discovered that the producers have not only misappropriated the title of my book, but have also blatantly reproduced substantial portions of my novel in the second half of the film, including its scenes, dialogue, narrative structure, sequence of events, and other creative expressions.

After Puja watched the film, her lawyer issued a legal notice to Dharma Productions on October 15, providing a detailed, scene-by-scene account of their infringement of (her) rights. The author claims that the producers refused to acknowledge the violation in their replies.

Directed by Ghaywan and backed by Karan Johars Dharma Productions, _Homebound_ had been widely praised for its storytelling and social commentary, making the plagiarism claim particularly significant.

Sources indicate that the legal notice names both the director and the production team. The makers of Homebound have not issued an official response yet. A spokesperson of the production team told Hindustan Times, We are responding to the claim legally and cannot comment anything right now.

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All about Homebound

Homebound is a 2025 Hindi drama written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, marking his return to feature filmmaking after a decade. The film is produced by Dharma Productions. The film featured Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in pivotal roles. Additionally, Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese served as an executive producer, contributing creative guidance to the project.

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_Homebound_ has earned critical acclaim on the international stage, having screened at prestigious festivals such as Cannes and TIFF, and was selected as Indias official entry for the 98th Academy Awards Best International Feature Film category.

The film tells a deeply human story rooted in friendship, hope and resilience against the backdrop of modern Indias social realities. The narrative follows two childhood friends, Chandan (Vishal Jethwa) and Mohammad Shoaib Ali (Ishaan Khatter), who come from a small North Indian village and share a dream of becoming police officers, a path they believe will bring dignity and a better life for themselves and their families. As they prepare for the gruelling national police exam and navigate caste and religious pressures, their bond is tested by systemic discrimination, poverty, and the emotional toll of lifes uncertainties, making their journey one of both personal struggle and quiet triumph.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas made her triumphant return to the MET Galaand as expected, she owned the night

2025 was an impressive year not only for films but fashion too, especially when it comes to the Hindi film actresses that continued to shine and stun in India and even in the West with their appearances. And the names that seem to be on the list almost every year are those of Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Kiara Advani.

Lets have a look at the actresses who made style statement this year:

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Priyanka Chopra Jonas made her triumphant return to the MET Galaand as expected, she owned the night. Walking her fifth MET red carpet, the global icon proved yet again why she remains the undisputed queen of the event.

In a show-stopping couture creation by Balmain, designed in collaboration with Olivier Rousteing, and adorned with an exquisite piece from Bvlgaris latest high jewellery collection, Priyanka embodied cinematic power and fashion supremacy.

Alia Bhatt turned heads at the 2025 Cannes Film Festivals red carpet, attending the movie galas closing ceremony in a saree by global fashion brand Gucci.

The 2025 edition of the film festival came to a close and saw the participation of several international celebrities, including Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, Elle Fanning, jury head Juliette Binoche and Cate Blanchett.

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Alia, who made her second appearance at the Cannes red carpet, shared her photos on Instagram.

The saree, touted to be the first-ever from the fashion label, was a modern, high-fashion take on traditional Indian attire. Made from sheer fabric, it features a reticulate pattern with silver sequins and Swarovski crystals throughout.

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The blouse was a minimal bralette style, complementing the heavily embellished saree.

Kiara Advani made her debut at the MET Gala this year and it was all things adorable. The War 2 star flaunted her baby bump and looked dreamy in a customised gown. However, the moment got cuter when her doting husband and actor Sidharth Malhotra reshared Kiaras pictures from the MET Gala 2025 on his Instagram stories and wrote, Both Bravehearts."

Alankrita Sahai

At an award ceremony earlier this year, the actress was seen pulling off a stunning green midi multi-printed outfit. She has all the reasons to celebrate for the recognition that she received for her Oscar-contention movie Band Of Maharajas.
The India-Bangladesh equation continues to worsen. In the aftermath of the Osman Hadi killing, Dhaka has suspended visa services for Indians citing unavoidable circumstances. The move is being seen as retaliation after New Delhi did the same a day earlier. Anger has also spilled out on the streets of Kolkata over the lynching of a Hindu man in the neighbouring country

Members of Hindu organisations, under the leadership of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, stage a protest against the alleged killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, near the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh, in Kolkata, on December 22. PTI

Ties between India and Bangladesh have been tense since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. However, over the past few days, the relations have nosedived even further. On Monday (December 22), Dhaka suspended visa services at its high commission in New Delhi and its mission in Tripura, citing unavoidable circumstances.

The move comes in the wake of unrest across Indias neighbouring country following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government in 2024.

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For analysts, while the move may be temporary, it also indicates how difficult ties are between the two nations.

Bangladesh suspends visa services for Indians

On Monday, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi suspended consular and visa services, stating: Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.

#WATCH | Delhi: A notice has been put up outside the Bangladesh High Commission.



The notice reads, "Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular & visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice." pic.twitter.com/1wW9jEtElw  ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2025

The assistant high commission of Bangladesh in Tripura also made a similar announcement on the suspension of visa services, while a private operator tasked with processing visa applications in West Bengals Siliguri also suspended its services.

The move comes amid the fresh wave of unrest in Bangladesh over the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi last week. Hadi was a prominent face in the anti-government protests that forced the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government last year.

A tit-for-tat move by Bangladesh

While Bangladesh hasnt put out a proper explanation for its move, many in India see it as a reciprocation of New Delhis decision to suspend visa services from Bangladeshs port city of Chittagong.

Earlier on Sunday (December 21), the Indian Visa Application Centre, Bangladesh, had cited a security incident for suspending services. Due to a recent security incident at AHCI (Assistant High Commission of India) Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice, it said. The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation, it said.

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Indias decision to temporarily suspend visas came after a group of angry Bangladeshi protesters tried to storm Indias assistant high commission in Chittagong. Many of the protesters at the site alleged that Osman Hadis attackers had fled to India after the shooting, even as Bangladesh has not produced any evidence to back this claim.

Images from Outside Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi. PTI

Protests in Bangladesh as well as in India

The suspension of visas on both sides is only one part of the larger issue though. Following the shooting of Osman Hadi, both countries have seen anger spill out on the streets.

In Bangladesh, the unrest took an ugly turn last week when a young garment factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, was reportedly lynched and killed by a mob in Bhaluka, in Bangladeshs Mymensingh district. According to Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al Mamun, factory officials initially claimed Dipu was attacked over alleged derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in a Facebook post. However, investigators found no evidence that the victim had posted or written anything on Facebook that could have hurt religious sentiments.

Bangladesh army stands guard at the premises of the Prothom Alo daily newspaper after angry protesters set it on fire after news reached the country from Singapore of the death of a prominent activist Sharif Osman Hadi, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP

Dipus brother, Apu Chandra Das, said the killing has left his family fearful of their lives. He (Dipu) is left behind by a small child. If we had the facility, we would love to leave Bangladesh now, and if we get help, we would like to go back to India, Apu told News18.

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Separately, several buildings in Dhaka  including those housing the countrys two leading newspapers, The Daily Star and _Prothom Al_o  were reportedly set ablaze.

And on Monday, the Indian state of Kolkata also witnessed angry protests outside the High Commission of Bangladesh over the lynching. Led by BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, along with other party leaders and supporters, demonstrators staged their protest in front of the High Commission, condemning the killing and demanding accountability from the Bangladeshi authorities.

Speaking during the protest, Adhikari stated that Dipu Das was brutally killed and warned of intensified agitation, noting that the incident had deeply angered the Hindu community.

Members stage a protest against the alleged killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, in Kolkata. PTI

He further announced a one-hour border blockade on December 24 in protest of the murder, and that another demonstration will take place outside the Bangladesh High Commission on December 26.

Dipu Das was burnt alive. We will not allow them to sit here (Bangladesh High Commission). They will have to lock this up. The whole Hindu community will not spare them, Adhikari was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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Meanwhile, the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) made an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for immediate and urgent intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian medical students currently stranded in Bangladesh. In a letter addressed, AIMSA said it had been receiving serious and distressing communications from Indian students and their families, warning that the prevailing situation had left many living under unsafe and uncertain conditions.

No sign of improvement in ties between Bangladesh and India

Ever since Hasina sought refuge in India following her ouster from power in Bangladesh last year, ties between the two countries have been strained.

New Delhi has expressed concerns over attacks on minorities after Mohammad Yunus government was sworn in, while Dhaka said these were internal matters and political in nature, and India should not intervene. Dhaka also spoke of exaggeration of certain incidents and the spread of misinformation and disinformation by sections of the Indian media. Bangladesh has also repeatedly called on India to prevent Hasina from making incendiary comments, arguing that such remarks were creating instability in Bangladesh.

It also requested India to extradite Hasina after the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her and ex-minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death.

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The suspension of visa services on both sides has also got analysts noting that it may be difficult for bilateral ties to return to normal any time soon. As Sreeradha Datta, an international relations professor at OP Jindal Global University in India, told South China Morning Post, Though things look difficult and unfriendly, its a temporary setback and hopefully both sides will resume their engagement. I expect normalcy will only return after elections are held in Bangladesh.

With inputs from agencies
EAM S Jaishankar will be visiting Sri Lanka as the special envoy of PM Modi in a follow-up to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in November this year. He will meet Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, along with other leaders. Bidding for Pakistans national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), will take place today after Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited withdrew from the race

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. File image/Reuters

It is set to be a busy Tuesday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, EAM S Jaishankar is set to visit Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, bidding for the privatisation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will take place today.

The initial estimate of the US third-quarter 2025 GDP will be released today. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is scheduled to transfer Rs 100 crore directly into the bank accounts of 18,500 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin.

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Here is all that is set to take place around the world.

EAM Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with the top leadership of the island nation. The visit is a direct follow-up to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025 and is intended to underscore Indias continued support and Neighbourhood First policy.

Jaishankar will have a first-hand account of the recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread flooding and landslides. India was the first responder to Sri Lankas appeal for assistance, launching Operation Sagar Bandhu immediately after the disaster.

He is scheduled to meet with Sri Lankan leadership, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, to discuss matters of mutual importance and reinforce bilateral cooperation. Indian forces have provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including dry rations, tents, medicines, and surgical equipment.

Pakistan PIA bidding

The bidding for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to take place today. This high-profile auction is a key requirement of Pakistans $7 billion IMF bailout program to reform or divest loss-making state-owned enterprises.

On December 22, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited withdrew from the race by failing to deposit the required earnest money. This leaves three pre-qualified bidders competing for the national carrier namely Lucky Cement Consortium, Arif Habib Corporation Consortium and Airblue (Private) Limited.

View of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane, taken through a glass panel at Islamabad International Airport, Pakistan. file image/Reuters

The government is offering up to a 100 per cent stake in PIA, though the initial bidding is for a 75 per cent share. The winning bidder will have an option to acquire the remaining 25 per cent within 90 days at a 12 per cent premium. To make the deal more attractive, the state has absorbed approximately 80 per cent of PIAs debt and scrapped sales tax on leased aircraft.

Editors Picks 1 Pakistan to hold bidding to sell PIA after govt fails to secure offers

Initial estimate of US third-quarter GDP

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will release the initial estimate for the third-quarter (Q3) 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) today.

This release is significant as it replaces the traditional three-step reporting process (advance, second, and third estimates). Due to a 43-day federal government shutdown that began on October 1, the original advance estimate scheduled for October was cancelled. Consequently, the report also serves as the first official government look at economic performance for the JulySeptember period.

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Rs 100 crore to be transferred to 18,500 beneficiaries

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma will transfer Rs 100 crore directly into the bank accounts of 18,500 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G). The funds will be distributed during a farmers conference held in Merta, Rajasthan.

The transfer will be executed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and female heads of households will be prioritised. It will follow the governments directives that reserve approximately 60 per cent of approvals for SC/ST beneficiaries.

With inputs from agencies
The lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth and garment factory worker, in Bangladesh has sparked anger and outrage in India. In Delhi, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) clashed with the police near the Bangladesh High Commission. Moreover, several politicians across the spectrum have condemned the lynching

Police officials stop Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal members during a protest near the Bangladesh High Commission over attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country. PTI

The lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh has left India roiled.

On Thursday, as news of the death of Sharif Osman Hadi spread, Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth, was lynched by a mob. The incident, which occurred in Bhalukas Mymensingh, saw Das accused of blasphemy. The garment factory worker was beaten to death, his body hung from a tree and then set ablaze.

Since then, a dozen people have been arrested by authorities in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government on Friday had missed its first comment on the lynching, saying that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared.

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has called Das killing horrendous and demanded the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh. India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh. Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities. We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said.

But what has been the wider reaction in India?

Lets take a closer look.

Street protests

In Delhi, several Hindu groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), congregated near the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Metro Station to protest against the killing of Das and atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The protest, led by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organisations, was called to condemn what they described as atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the recent mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh.

Protesters raised slogans such as Yunus sarkar, hosh mein aao and also chanted religious verses, including the Hanuman Chalisa. Protesters were seen holding up banners condemning the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. VHP members tried to march on the Bangladesh High Commission but were stopped by authorities. Protesters were told they would not be allowed to proceed towards the Bangladesh High Commission or enter the Diplomatic Enclave under any circumstances.

The VHP on Monday said that India should not remain a silent spectator to the events occurring in Bangladesh.

Bharat has a long and proud tradition of standing with oppressed and persecuted communities across the world. We strongly urge the government to take all possible diplomatic, political, and humanitarian measures, VHP president Alok Kumar was quoted as saying.

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He also demanded that Yunus Nobel Prize be withdrawn.

Any leadership which fails to protect minorities and maintain law and order has no moral right to enjoy international recognition or legitimacy, he said.

In Kolkata, several Opposition politicians, including BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, staged a protest outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. Adhikari was accompanied by several Congress members. Adhikari had attempted a march on the High Commission in Beck Bagan. Several Hindu monks also joined in; however, the march was halted by the police after security concerns. The demonstration also saw effigies of Yunus being burned.

On Saturday, there were reports that the protesters were removed from outside the Bangladesh High Commission around 9 pm. According to reports, the men had reached the spot in three to four vehicles. Police and paramilitary units were positioned outside the embassy.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said around two dozen youths had gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday to protest Das killing. The MEA also noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media over the incident. Bangladesh media claimed that Hindu extremists had protested outside the High Commission in New Delhi. Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident unjustifiable and highly regrettable.

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In the statement, Bangladeshs foreign ministry said, The miscreants were allowed to carry out their activities right outside the perimeters of the High Commission, creating panic among the personnel inside the complex. The High Commission was not given advance information about this organised event.

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain claimed that the situation left the Bangladesh High Commissioner and his family feeling under threat.

The fact is that about 2025 youths gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20 and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal responded.

On Sunday, security was stepped up outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Chanakyapuri.

Politicians, NGOs condemn incident

A number of politicians have condemned the incident.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday wrote on X, 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 but must ask them what they are doing to punish the murderers and what steps they are taking to ensure that such incidents do not recur? Tharoor enquired.

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Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan slammed Bangladesh over the incident.

(File) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has condemned the incident.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra last week called the lynching extremely disturbing and called on the Indian government to take up the issue of the safety of minorities with the Bangladesh regime.

The news of the brutal murder of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das by a mob in Bangladesh is extremely disturbing. In any civilised society, discrimination, violence, and murder based on religion, caste, or identity are crimes against humanity, Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

The Indian government should take note of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in the neighbouring country and raise the issue of their safety and security forcefully with the Bangladeshi government, she said.

The Idea of India (IOI) Foundation think tank, which is based in Mumbai, also condemned the brutal murder and mob lynching of Das. Foundation chief Mohammed Umar Siddiqui, in the statement, said that the barbaric incident represented a direct attack on human rights. The foundation said it will send Yunus a formal appeal alongside a memorandum of demands.

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Muslim groups add voices to condemnation

Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani called Das killing very shameful and asserted that it was against the teachings of Islam.

When Muslims do such things, we hang our heads in shame, and this cannot be condemned enough. Firstly, no one in a civilised society should have the right to kill another human being. No matter how wrong someone has acted, there is a process for punishment, and that process should be followed. Furthermore, if the perpetrators are Muslims and the victim is a non-Muslim, then the crime becomes even more heinous. We strongly condemn this.

Killing someone, or even humiliating someone, is something that Islam does not permit. Islam does not permit it at any cost. No amount of condemnation is enough. Yes, it is unfortunate that extremism is increasing throughout this entire subcontinent, and it must be curbed. It must be countered in this region and worldwide. The world is also facing a similar situation, which must be countered, he further added.

Meanwhile, Maulana Mehdi Hasan Aini Qasmi, president of the Deoband Alumni Federation, called the incident heinous, cowardly and inhuman. Qasmi also called for inter-faith dialogue and peace.

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Our world today needs bridges, not walls; understanding, not hostility. Standing firmly against religious hatred and violence is a shared moral responsibility of all people of conscience, the statement read.

With inputs from agencies
On December 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear with a razor after an altercation with his friend Paul Gauguin. None of it stopped Van Gogh from creating iconic works like Starry Night and Sunflowers. Its also on this day that American physician Joseph Edward Murray performed the first successful human kidney transplantation. Murray received the 1990 Nobel Prize for his work on organ transplantation

On December 23, 1888, Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear after being embroiled in a heated argument with his friend Paul Gauguin. The exact motivation behind this action remains debated, while many suggest self-punishment.

The first human kidney transplantation took place in 1954 on this day. American physician Joseph Edward Murray performed the first successful organ transplant.

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.

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Vincent van Gogh chops off his ear

Born in the Netherlands in 1853, Van Gogh moved to Paris in 1866, where his brother Theo lived. Theo was an art dealer, and he introduced Gogh to several artist including Paul Gauguin. After a few days, Van Gogh rented a house in Frances Arles. Gauguin, who was an older artist with more experience, came to live with Gogh in his rented house. Since then, the two men worked and lived together for almost two months.

Self-portrait with bandaged ear, 1889 painting by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) obtained on June 30, 2021. Reuters

Soon, tensions started with frequent arguments between the two artists. A few days before Christmas, things took a dramatic turn after Gogh and Gauguin indulged in a heated argument. During the argument, in a severe mental breakdown, Gogh cut off his left ear. He then allegedly wrapped his ear in a paper and gave it to a woman in a local brothel. It was reported that the woman was horrified, and she informed the police about the incident.

Despite the incident, Van Gogh continued to create iconic works like Starry Night, Sunflowers and Irises, his best and most well-known artworks. On July 27, 1890, the Dutch painter allegedly shot himself and died two days later at the age of 37.

First human kidney transplant was performed

The first human kidney transplant was performed by a a well known American physician, Joseph Murray, in 1954. Joseph went to Harvard Medical School and was a plastic, reconstructive, and transplant surgeon. The transplantation occurred between identical twins. It was a singularly celebrated moment. Murray also received the 1990 Nobel Prize for his work on organ transplantation. And by that point, he was no longer actively involved in transplant work.

Murray was born in Milford, Mass (a town 30 miles southwest of Boston) in 1919. Since his childhood, he has been interested in science. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a school teacher. He interned at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Womens Hospital) in Boston. Joseph served as a chief plastic surgeon at the hospital from 1951 to 1986. He was a chief plastic surgeon at Childrens Hospital Medical Centre in Boston from 1972 to 1985, according to Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Murray was a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School till his retirement in 1985.

Indias Kisan Diwas

Kisan Diwas, also known as National Farmers Day, is celebrated on this day to honour the birth anniversary of Indias fifth prime minister, Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was a dedicated advocate for farmers. Singh contributed to the upliftment and welfare of farmers. To honour his unwavering dedication to farmers, the government of India, in 2001, designated December 23 (which is today) as Kisan Diwas.

Called the Champion of Farmers, Singh, during his tenure as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1980, brought landmark reforms, including the Debt Redemption Bill of 1939. The bill aimed to free the farmers from exploitative moneylenders and promote self-reliance in India. In Delhi, there is a memorial named Kishan Ghat to mark recognition of his legacy. On this day, critical issues in the farming sector are mainly discussed.

This Day, That Year

The execution of Eddie Slovik was authorised by General Dwight Eisenhower on this day in 1944

The famous A Visit From St. Nicholas," a Christmas poem, was published in the Troy Sentinel newspaper in New York on this day in 1823

General George Washington resigned as commander in chief of the Continental Army on this day in 1783.

With inputs from agencies
A report published by the Indian governments Niti Aayog reveals that the country sent significantly more students overseas than it received  for every foreign student who came to India, nearly 28 travelled abroad. In fact, the nation is the worlds largest source country of international students, with more than 13.35 lakh students studying overseas

A report released by the government think tank Niti Aayog has found that India is losing a far greater number of students to international universities than it is drawing overseas students. Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany are the top five foreign higher education destinations for Indian students, as per the report.

In the Internationalisation of Higher Education in India Report released on Monday (December 22), the Niti Aayog also suggested ways to attract foreign students to India. The report was prepared in collaboration with IIT Madras, the Association of Indian Universities, and global education services firm Acumen.

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Lets take a closer look.

Indias problem of brain drain

The Niti Aayog found that more than 11.59 lakh Indian students went to study abroad in 202122, while just 46,878 international students came to India during the period.

Nepal, Afghanistan, the US, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were the largest source countries of overseas students in India in 2021-22, the report said.

The number of students India sent overseas increased to 13.36 lakh by 2024, indicating a constant and rising imbalance in student mobility.

Last year, for every one international student coming to India, nearly 28 Indian students went abroad, the Niti Aayog said in its report.

The outward mobility of students is high in India. Representational Image/PTI

The current trend of internationalisation in Indian higher education is largely skewed towards promoting international exposure through outbound student mobility. This has contributed significantly to brain drain, the report read.

Where are Indian students heading?

Canada hosted 4,27,000 Indian students in 2024, emerging as the top international higher education destination.

As many as 3,37,630 Indian students visited the US last year, followed by 1,85,000 to the UK, 1,22,202 to Australia and 42,997 to Germany.

According to the Niti Aayog report, India is the worlds largest source country of international students, and has the largest higher education age cohort (18-23 years) globally  15.5 crore.

Why brain drain is bad for India

Niti Aayog emphasised that the internationalisation of higher education is no longer optional but an imperative for developing globally competitive human capital. International students are not merely learners, but long-term ambassadors of Indias knowledge, culture and innovation ecosystem, it said.

The report also pointed out the huge financial impact on Indians studying abroad.

Canada, the US, UK and Australia together hosted 8.5 lakh Indian students who spent Rs 2.9 lakh crore on higher education in 2023-2024.

Citing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the think tank underlined that the outward remittances under the studies abroad component of the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) surged more than 2,000 per cent, from Rs 975 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 29,000 crore in 2023-24.

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LRS allows residents of India to send money overseas for education and other permitted purposes

This outflow is equivalent to around 53 per cent of Indias total Union higher education budget of about Rs 55,000 crore for 2023-24, it stated.

The report warned that a large number of skilled and educated youth in India are settling abroad for better opportunities.

This reduces the pool of capable individuals available to drive Indias development. If not addressed, the continued outflow of talent will hinder Indias ability to fully leverage its demographic dividend, the report read.

It further highlighted that the outmigration of skilled students and researchers reduces Indias ability to build a strong indigenous research and development ecosystem, as per ThePrint.

This not only hampers innovation and knowledge creation within the country but also increases dependency on foreign technologies and limits Indias ability to address its unique socio-economic challenges through homegrown solutions. Hence, there is an urgent need to move towards internationalisation at home.

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The report stressed that the scale of outbound student mobility highlights the urgency for systemic and institution-level strategies to strengthen Indias capacity to attract, retain, and support international academic and research collaborations, as well as student and faculty inflows.

How can India attract more foreign students?

India has intensified efforts to internationalise its higher education system, which aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that promotes enabling foreign universities to set up campuses and facilitating top Indian higher education institutions to go global.

The Niti Aayog has recommended that, besides student mobility, internationalisation should expand to introducing global standards, practices, and perspectives to Indian campuses.

This includes international faculty engagement, joint research programmes, credit transfer mechanisms, and culturally rooted yet globally aligned pedagogy. By doing so, India can retain its talent, attract foreign students, build knowledge capital, and reduce dependency on external systems, turning its higher education sector into a true engine for national transformation and global influence, the report stated.

As per Niti Aayog, India could welcome 84,000 to 130,000 foreign students by 2030 and 120,000 to 240,000 by 2035. In more ambitious scenarios, these figures could reach 155,000 by 2030, 360,000 by 2035, and roughly 790,000 by 2047.

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The report also focused on structural and systemic barriers limiting Indias ability to draw and retain international students, including infrastructure gaps, insufficient student support services, visa and regulatory obstacles, rigid curricula, vague scholarship processes, poor global visibility, a lack of strategic diplomatic alignment, and underutilised public-private partnerships.

Hence, critical reform in domains such as infrastructure development, curriculum innovation, industry partnerships and research expansion that are linked to short, medium and long-term implementation strategies is vital to increase Inbound Mobility to higher levels, it read.

Niti Aayog has proposed launching Vishwa Bandhu Scholarship for foreign students pursuing two-year Masters programmes. This would include stipends, tuition support, research grants, accommodation, travel allowances, health insurance, and internships linked to the study, inspired by global best practices.

It also said the top five IITs, IIMs and central universities should be encouraged to run 6-8 week international summer schools, hosting up to 500 students every year, especially from the Global South. These schools would promote academics, research exposure, field immersion and Indian cultural experiences to lure international students.

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Niti Aayog proposed overhauling the Study in India initiative into a single digital platform for admissions, visas, scholarships and student support.

It called on universities to adopt global standards for housing, campus safety, academic support and counselling, as well as language assistance, mentorship programmes and multicultural activities. This would result in a smoother integration and improved campus experience for foreign students.

The report also made suggestions to stop Indias brain drain by citing the example of Chinas Thousand Talents Programme (TTP) and South Koreas Brain Return 500 Project.

It also proposed starting Vishwa Bandhu Fellowship, an international programme to attract and retain top researchers, faculty and professionals, particularly from the diaspora, through flexible engagement models, seamless onboarding, and tangible incentives to support high-impact research and long-term collaboration.

Internationalisation at home, aligned with NEP 2020, must go hand in hand with global engagement, the report said. It further underlined that a welcoming, high-quality academic ecosystem is needed to position India as a global education hub by 2047.

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With inputs from agencies
Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is returning home after 17 years of self-imposed exile in the UK. The eldest son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, once called the dark prince, is being seen as a frontrunner in the February 2026 elections. But can he sway the undecided voters?

Acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, poses for a portrait in a park in south-west London on December 30, 2023. File Photo/AFP

Tarique Rahman, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is set to return to the South Asian country after more than a decade. The 60-year-old, once seen as the dark prince of Bangladesh politics, will be back in his home country after 17 years of self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.

Rahman, the acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has said he will arrive in Bangladesh on Thursday (December 25). His party is planning a massive welcome for the leaders homecoming, aiming to attract nearly five million (50 lakh) people for a gathering in Dhaka.

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Lets take a closer look.

Who is Tarique Rahman?

Tarique Rahman is the eldest son of Khaleda Zia and former Bangladesh President General Ziaur Rahman. Rahman has been living in the UK for 17 years in a self-imposed exile.

In October 2018, Rahman and 18 others were sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2004 grenade attack case.

On August 21, 2004, a grenade attack left 24 people dead at an Awami League rally in Dhaka. More than 100 party leaders and activists were injured, with even Sheikh Hasina having a narrow escape.

Khaleda Zia, Rahmans mother, was the Bangladesh PM at the time. During the sentencing, the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 called the attack a well-orchestrated plan, executed through abuse of state power.

The BNP had alleged the case was politically motivated and was aimed at damaging the image of party leaders.

Rahman was arrested during an anti-corruption drive in 2007 when the military-supported interim government was in power. He fell ill after allegedly being tortured in custody. In 2008, he secured bail and permission to fly to London for medical treatment.

Rahman has remained in the UK since then, leading the BNP from exile.

On 24 May 2023, the Dhaka Tribune published a three-part series on patronisation of bribery and financial irregularities during the 2001-06 period (BNP tenure) based on documentary evidence, where it described Rahman as the dark prince.

The reports levelled allegations of corruption and media intimidation against him.

It quoted US embassy cables to allege that Rahman had amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit wealth.

Rahman was sentenced to nine years in prison in absentia in 2023 for accumulating illegal wealth.

A large poster of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, Khaleda Zia (L) is seen with her two sons, late Arafat Rahman Koko (C) and Tarique Rahman (R), is seen in front of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) office in Dhaka on February 26, 2015. File Photo/AFP

The fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 following a student-led movement changed Rahmans legal fortunes. He has since been acquitted in all 84 pending cases, including charges related to the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack, money laundering, sedition, and the Zia Charitable Trust.

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Tarique Rahman to return home

Last week, Tarique Rahman announced he is returning to Bangladesh.

Addressing his event in London to celebrate the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, he said, I am returning to our country and I seek your blessings for that. On December 25, Insha Allah, with your blessings and with the blessings of Allah, I will return to Bangladesh.

He urged his supporters not to go to Heathrow airport on the day of his departure to avoid any situation of disorder that could harm the BNPs image.

In an interview with BBC Bangla earlier this month, Rahman said he had not returned to his homeland yet due to personal reasons. But I think the time has come. This is an election for which people had been waiting. I cannot keep myself away during this time, he said.

Bangladeshi actor and journalist Deepanwita Roy Martin told ThePrint on a call that Rahman was delaying his return due to fear for his life.

Why Tarique Rahmans return to Bangladesh matters

Rahmans return to Bangladesh comes just months ahead of national elections in the country.

The South Asian country will head to the polls on February 12, 2026.

According to Bangladeshi media, Rahmans comeback is happening when the BNP is trying hard to rein in its grassroots. Its leaders and activists are facing allegations of several crimes, including extortion.

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His move to return home is expected to energise the BNP cadre and voters. However, some are still questioning whether Rehman, who is the frontrunner in the polls, will actually arrive home, given security concerns in Bangladesh.

We saw this with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was killed along with most of his family. President Zia rose to power in a similarly unstable situation and was assassinated too. State institutions failed to protect both presidents. After 1975, the situation we are seeing in 2024 is one of the most volatile. In such a context, the threat to Tariques life cannot simply be brushed aside, Asif bin Ali, an Atlanta-based geopolitical analyst and doctoral fellow at Georgia State University, told ThePrint.

With the rise of Jamaat-e-Islami and the exile of Bangladesh Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, undecided voters could sway towards the BNP.

The real issue is the floating votersthose who do not like the Islamists, those who do not want to vote for an Islamist party, those who are sceptical of the BNP but open to considering it as a liberal democratic option. These floating voters need restored faith if the BNP wants to come to power. If Tarique does not return, the BNP will pay a heavy price, and the void may be filled by Jamaat, Ali said.

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Rahmans absence has created a vacuum in Bangladeshs politics that could be filled only upon his return. His mother, Khaleda Zia, has been critically ill since last month and remains hospitalised in Dhaka.

The BNP needs a leader on the ground to helm the party in the upcoming polls.

Making announcements or speaking live from London is one thing. Showing real faith by coming home, shaking hands with people, talking to ordinary citizens on the streets, praying in mosques, visiting Hindu temples, giving speeches in front of the public, that physical presence creates hope. For many, Tarique has become a symbol of that hope. But that faith is now weakening. So the question of Tariques return to his country has moved to the centre of the political debate, Ali was quoted as saying by the digital news outlet.

While it remains uncertain whether Hasinas party will be allowed to contest the February elections, Rahmans return to Bangladesh will offer some credibility to the polls.

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Pre-poll surveys by the US-based International Republican Institute project the BNP could bag 33 per cent support, followed by the Jamaat-e-Islami at 29 per cent.

Whether the BNP will return to power and Rahman will become the third head of state from his family remains to be seen. His presence will, however, certainly give hope to a big chunk of voters who have been seeking an elected government for months.

With inputs from agencies
The US navy is set to get deadlier. On Monday, the American president announced plans for a Trump-class battleship as part of his Golden Fleet initiative. The first of this new vessel, named USS Defiant, is expected to be ready two-and-a-half years and is touted to be the largest in the country as well as have the capability of carrying extremely lethal weapons

US President Donald Trump departs after speaking at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump announced plans for the US navy to build a new generation of warships  known as Trump-class. AP

Donald Trump loves himself. The proof? He just announced plans for the United States navy to build a new generation of warships  known as Trump-class.

Making the announcement on Monday, the US president, speaking from his Florida residence, said that the new Trump class of battleships will help maintain American military supremacy, revive the American ship building industry, and inspire fear in Americas enemies all over the world.

Trump, flanked by his Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, further announced that the battleships would form part of a broader naval modernisation drive called the  Golden Fleet, aimed at countering China and other adversaries.

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100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built

On Monday, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, Trump announcing the new warships said, As you know, were desperately in need of ships. Some of them have gotten old and tired and obsolete, and were going to go the exact opposite direction.

He then announced the Trump class of warships, adding that he would take an active role in their design. The US navy will lead the design of these ships along with me because Im a very aesthetic person, Trump added.

In the past, Trump has complained about the look of some US ships. Im not a fan of some of the ships you do. Im a very aesthetic person and I dont like some of the ships youre doing aesthetically, he had told a gathering at Quantico earlier this year. They say, Oh, its stealth. I say thats not stealth. An ugly ship is not necessary in order to say youre stealth, he said.

The US president stated that he had approved the construction of two new battleships to start, with a plan to build up to 25. The first would be named USS Defiant. Theyll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built, Trump said.

Renderings of Trump Class USS Defiant are displayed, on the day US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Navys Golden Fleet, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Reuters

And once completed, Trump said the armed vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and extremely lethal weapons, and would be the flagships of the US navy. It is reported that the Trump class ships will also be armed with a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, or SLCM-N, now in development. The US president noted that the ships would also be command and control platforms, overseeing crewed and uncrewed platforms. Moreover, unspecified artificial intelligence-driven capabilities would be part of the design.

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According to documents provided, the ships will weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes. Moreover, Trump added that they will also carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles currently under development.

The US president also said that the new warships would be domestically made, using American steel and assembled by robots and humans.

When asked if the new battleships are meant as a deterrent, Trump said: Its a counter to everybody. Its not China. We get along great with China. Its just everybody. You dont know who comes along, but we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we never have to use them, but there will never be anything built like these.

Significance of Trumps battleships announcement

The timing behind Trumps announcement of the new battleships is significant. Defence analysts have warned that the US shipbuilding industrial base has struggled to keep pace with demand, citing workforce shortages, fragile supplier networks, ageing infrastructure, and persistent delays at major shipyards.

In fact, according to a report in The Politico, the US Navy has long struggled to build ships on schedule and on budget. Currently, every navy ship under construction is at least a year behind schedule. Shipyards have for years struggled to hire and retain enough employees to work their production lines.

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Additionally, a report by the US Congress noted that Washington had fallen significantly behind China when it comes to the number of ships in its navy. Even a report released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that China has grown to be the dominant player in shipbuilding. A CSIS assessment also revealed that China was operating 234 warships, compared with the US navys 219, although Washington continued to hold an advantage in guided missile cruisers and destroyers.

US President Donald Trump announces the US Navys new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. AFP

Challenges await Trumps battleship plans

While Trump and his administration hail the move of adding new warships to the US navy, it is not without challenges.

Firstly, there is no clear funding in the current Pentagon budget for the programme, making it unclear when and how the work would start. Moreover, defence analysts believe that Trumps timeline of delivering the new ships in two-and-a-half years is highly ambitious. Two people close to the project told Politico that the schedule would likely be next to impossible to meet, given the lack of engineering plans for the ship.

Mark Montgomery, a retired US navy officer now with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, also added that it would be a massive life cycle maintenance challenge  the cost of maintaining supply chains, maintenance support and system training for a large number of small ship classes will break the navys [operational] budget for decades.

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US Representative Joe Courtney further noted that the plan was vague, adding that the proposal to bring back battleships raises many questions for Congress to scrutinise. There is a reason that the US navy stopped building battleships in 1944 and that President Ronald Reagans 600 ship fleet didnt bring them back, Courtney was quoted as saying by The Politico.

Others also argue that Trumps idea of the warships is outdated. Some note that large surface ships can be more visible and vulnerable targets in modern, missile-heavy conflicts. Those against the plan note that in an age when Ukrainian drone boats devastated the Russian Black Sea fleet and of hypersonic weapons, the US might benefit from smaller, faster and more nimble ships.

But despite the arguments, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, noted that the new vessels would leave future Americans in Trumps debt. For decades, for centuries, the American people will look back and thank President Trump for having the vision and the willingness to invest right now in capabilities we need.

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With inputs from agencies
In Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal, a shocking murder has come to light. A woman, identified as Ruby, along with her lover, Gaurav, allegedly used a wood grinder to chop off her husbands body parts and then dumped them across different locations

A bone-chilling murder has come to light in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district. What appeared to be a regular missing person complaint slowly turned into a meticulously planned crime. Now, the UP Police have arrested the wife of the deceased, identified as Ruby, along with her lover Gaurav, for committing the heinous crime.

Earlier, Ruby, a resident of Mohalla Chunni in Chandousi area, filed a missing person complaint of her husband Rahul, stating that her husband had not returned home on November 18. While it appeared like a normal complaint, the case took a sharp turn when police began investigations.

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Heres all you need to know about the chilling murder.

What happened?

When the missing person complaint was filed on November 18, it appeared to be a regular case, and the police began standard tracking procedures to locate the missing man.

On December 15, nearly one month after the investigation began, the police recovered a severely decomposed torso inside a black bag from a drain near the Eidgah area. The body was missing its head, arms, and legs, becoming a challenge for investigators. To identify the body, it was taken into custody. Superintendent of Police K K Bishnoi said, The body was taken into custody, and a post-mortem was conducted. The forensic team carried out a detailed examination, and DNA samples were collected.

Police found the name Rahul written on the body and began reviewing the missing persons complaints from nearby areas. They found a missing complaint of the same name, and further investigation revealed that his mobile phone had been switched off since November 18, the day he was reported missing.

Police began questioning the people close to Rahul as the probe progressed. They grew suspicious of Ruby, the missing persons wife, due to contradictions in her statements. Their questioning led her to reveal details that further helped them to piece together sequences of events. Ruby and her partner, Gaurav, were taken into custody when the police came to know of their involvement.

How was Rahul killed?

Ruby later confessed to killing her husband with the help of her lover, Gaurav. During the confession, Ruby revealed that her husband had caught them in an illicit relationship, which led her to strike him with an iron rod and an iron pestle on the head. This killed him on the spot.

The accused told police that they attacked Rahul with an iron rod and an iron pestle, killing him on the spot. They then brought a grinder and cut the body into parts, Bishnoi said.

One part of the body was dumped in the drain where it was later recovered, while the remaining parts were taken to Rajghat and thrown into the Ganga river, he added.

Police have recovered the grinder allegedly used to cut the body, along with the iron hammer and other tools used in the assault.

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DNA samples of the deceased have also been preserved and will be matched with those of his children to conclusively establish identity and strengthen the case, the SP said.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway, police added.

A similar case

In a similar case, a Merchant Navy officer was killed by his wife in Uttar Pradesh earlier. The woman, Muskan Rastogi, had been allegedly plotting to kill her husband, Saurabh Rajput along with her lover Sahil Shukla. The duo cut up Rajputs body into 15 parts and put in a cement-sealed drum.

Rastogi later admitted to her parents that she had killed Rajput under heavy intoxication. The two were later arrested.

With inputs from PTI
On Monday, India and New Zealand announced a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) to deepen economic engagement and strengthen long-term cooperation. However, New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters has slammed the deal and vowed to oppose it in parliament

India has vowed it will never open up its dairy sector. AP

Is the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand at risk?

On Monday, the two countries announced a comprehensive free trade deal to deepen economic engagement and strengthen long-term cooperation. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the deal, which was struck after months of negotiations, as wide-ranging and significant.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the deal is a historic milestone that reflects a strong political will and shared ambition to deepen economic ties between our two countries.

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The development comes in the backdrop of sweeping trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. India is currently negotiating a trade deal with Washington and a terms of reference agreement with Canada.

But not everyone is happy. New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters has slammed the deal and vowed to oppose it in Parliament.

But why is this? Is the IndiaNew Zealand FTA already at risk?

Lets take a closer look.

Why Peters slammed the deal

First, lets examine what Peters, who is from the New Zealand First Party, which he founded and is a junior partner in the coalition, said and why.

New Zealands Foreign Minister described the deal as neither free nor fair. This came after it was announced that Indian exporters under the deal would get 100 per cent duty-free access for all exports to New Zealand. Wellington, meanwhile, will see tariffs reduced on 95 per cent of its exports.

However, Peters was critical because India has not opened up its sensitive dairy sector to New Zealand farmers.

Regrettably, this is a bad deal for New Zealand, Peters said. He pointed to New Zealand dairy farmers and rural communities, saying the deal would be impossible to defend to them. Peters pointed out that this would be the first trade agreement made by New Zealand to not include key dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter.

New Zealand exported dairy products worth around $13.94 billion (Rs 12.48 lakh crore) in 2025, comprising almost 30 per cent of the countrys total goods exports.

Total trade between New Zealand and India stood at $1.3 billion (Rs 1.16 lakh crore) in 202425, with Indias exports comprising $711 million (Rs 0.64 lakh crore) and New Zealands exports at $587 million (Rs 0.53 lakh crore).

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New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters has described the deal as neither free nor fair". Reuters

He also said New Zealand had made serious concessions when it comes to labour and immigration. He singled out the immigration component of the free trade agreement as a matter of concern. The deal allows skilled professionals to work in New Zealand under the Temporary Employment Entry Visa. This new avenue, which is capped at 5,000 visas at a time, would allow professionals to remain in New Zealand for up to three years.

National has also made serious concessions to India in areas that have nothing to do with two-way trade, but rather relate to encouraging the movement of people from India to New Zealand and New Zealand investment in India.

On a per capita basis, National has offered far greater access for India to our labour market than did Australia or the United Kingdom to secure their FTAs. This is deeply unwise given New Zealands current labour market conditions, with too many New Zealanders unemployed or doing it tough economically.

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By creating a new employment visa specifically for Indian citizens, it is likely to generate far greater interest in Indian migration to New Zealand  at a time when we have a very tight labour market.

New Zealand, under the proposed FTA, has also announced plans to invest $15 billion (13.42 lakh crore) in India over the next two decades. This will be done via the foreign direct investment (FDI) route.

Peters has vowed that his party will oppose the deal in Parliament. While negotiations for the deal have concluded, the FTA is expected to be signed only in the first quarter of 2026. However, according to some reports, the legislation could go before the New Zealand Parliament for approval only in 2027.

Peters said he has warned Luxons National Party not to rush to sign what he called a low-quality deal. He said New Zealand ought to use the entire term of Parliament to negotiate a better deal. The New Zealand First Party, a right-wing populist outfit, currently has eight MPs in the 123-member Parliament, which is governed by Luxons right-wing coalition.

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Peters said he had personally conveyed the partys stance to Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He asserted that this is not a critique of India or its negotiators, but simply a reflection of differences within New Zealands coalition government.

Our approach to trade deals has been consistent and principled, Peters added.

While Peters opposition to the deal could result in delays, it is unlikely to kill the agreement unless his party withdraws from the coalition or forces a no-confidence vote in the government. Barring a collapse in New Zealands governing coalition, the deal is not likely to be in any real danger.

Very sensitive to protect all sectors

India, on the other hand, does not need the seal of approval from Parliament to clear a trade deal. Instead, this is done at the Cabinet level, which happened last week.

Peters statement came days after Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal vowed that India would never open up its dairy sector.

Indias Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. (File image: Reuters)

We have been very sensitive to protect all sectors, like farmers interests in rice, wheat, dairy, soya and various other agricultural products, which have not been opened up with any access. We have also been very conscious of ensuring that our MSMEs and our start-up innovators get big opportunities in New Zealand, Goyal said.

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Goyal has said the two countries are aiming to increase trade to $5 billion (4.47 lakh crore) five years after the FTA takes effect.

What do experts say?

Experts say the deal is a good first step.

The IndiaNew Zealand FTA is less a trade breakthrough than a framework for deeper cooperation, Ajay Srivastava, former trade official and founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, told Bloomberg. While it brings greater predictability in goods, services, mobility and investment, its real impact will depend on how both countries use it to strengthen practical economic links.

With inputs from agencies
FedEx is facing heavy criticism after reports revealed a sharp rise in its recruitment of foreign workers under the H-1B visa scheme, coinciding with job cuts across the United States.

FedEx, one of the worlds largest logistics companies, is drawing criticism following revelations that it substantially expanded its intake of foreign workers under the H-1B visa scheme after securing a significant federal delivery contract. The company reportedly reduced several American-held positions while increasing international recruitment, triggering a wave of online backlash and political concern.

Surge in foreign hiring

According to reports from The Dallas Express, official records indicate that FedEx drastically raised its hiring of overseas employees after winning a multibillion-dollar government contract in late 2022. The company was one of three firms chosen by the US Transportation Command to handle nationwide package deliveries for government agencies, a project valued at around 2.24 billion dollars. The first phase of the contract began in April 2023 and is scheduled to continue until September 2026, with a possible extension to 2030.

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Between 2022 and 2025, the number of approved H-1B visa employees at FedEx grew from about 20 to nearly 500, with the steepest increase occurring during 2024 and 2025. Many of these job roles were based in Texas, covering technical and commercial positions with salaries ranging from 100,000 to 115,000 dollars.

Companys explanation

Addressing the concerns, a FedEx spokesperson told The Dallas Express that all hiring decisions are driven by business needs and required expertise. The statement affirmed the companys commitment to following federal regulations while maintaining a diverse and capable workforce. The representative added, Across our operations, we employ people with varied skill sets and continue to comply with all applicable immigration laws.

Online outrage

The companys Indian-origin chief executive, Rajesh Raj Subramaniam, has come under strong criticism on social media, where many users accused FedEx of replacing American workers with foreign employees. One user wrote that the decision exposed double standards in employment practices, while another accused the leadership of prioritising nepotism. Others argued that companies should face stricter rules for employing H-1B holders, suggesting that such roles be reserved for foreign talent only when qualified American candidates cannot be found within a six-month period.

Details of the contract

The government contract, part of the Next Generation Delivery Service 2 initiative, was designed to streamline shipment services for federal agencies. FedEx is expected to handle a large share of deliveries under this arrangement. While several visa petitions coincided with reported layoffs in locations such as Plano, not all applications resulted in confirmed hires, leaving uncertainty over the final number of international employees brought on board.

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The BrahMos missile can travel at almost three times the speed of sound, reaching Mach 2.8. (Reuters)

India has taken a significant step towards concluding agreements to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, with the combined value of the proposed deals exceeding $450 million. The movement follows confirmation from Russia, the joint developer of the missile system, that it has no objection to the precision-strike weapon being supplied to the two countries, defence sources said.

The assurance was conveyed during a delegation-level meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov, on December 4. A formal no-objection certificate from Moscow is now awaited. The BrahMos missile can travel at almost three times the speed of sound, reaching Mach 2.8.

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Both Vietnam and Indonesia, after agreeing to the initial deals, may go for more orders in the future, a source said. Once the agreements are signed, Vietnam and Indonesia will become Asean buyers of the air-breathing missile after the Philippines. India had signed a $375 million contract in Jan 2022 to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines. Manila, too, is likely to order more BrahMos missiles, the source told the Times of India.

Wider defence exports and future plans

Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines share concerns over Chinas strong-arm tactics and expansionism in the South China Sea, where confrontations, particularly between Manila and Beijing, have intensified over the past couple of years. India has also operationally deployed BrahMos missiles, whose range has been extended to 450 km from the original 290 km, from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets for precision strikes deep inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May.

Over the years, Indian armed forces have signed contracts worth around Rs 60,000 crore with the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, with the missile emerging as the primary conventional precision-strike weapon for the IAF, Navy and Army. India plans to start inducting the new 800 km BrahMos from 2028, with tests underway for the extended-range version featuring a modified ramjet engine and other upgrades, as earlier reported by TOI.

Beyond BrahMos, India aims to export indigenous Akash air defence missile systems, capable of intercepting hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a 25-km range, and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems. These are being offered to the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, along with other friendly countries such as the UAE and Brazil.

Although India remains among the worlds top three arms importers, it exported arms, ammunition, defence sub-systems and components worth nearly Rs 24,000 crore to about 80 countries during the 2024-25 fiscal. Armenia has emerged as one of Indias largest buyers of finished weapon systems, including Akash air defence missile systems, Pinaka rocket systems and 155mm artillery guns, as reported earlier by TOI.

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India summoned the Bangladesh envoy after protests and vandalism outside Bangladeshi diplomatic missions escalated tensions between the two countries

A mourner holds Bangladesh's national flag during the funeral of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka on December 20, after two days of violent protests over his killing. Huge crowds accompanied the funeral procession of Hadi, a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising who died in a hospital in Singapore on December 18 after being shot by masked gunmen while leaving a Dhaka mosque. (AFP)

India on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for the second time, as relations between the two neighbours remain strained.

The move came after a series of incidents targeting Bangladeshi diplomatic facilities in India, leading to New Delhi raising concerns about the safety and security of diplomatic staff.

India called in the Bangladesh envoy following protests and acts of vandalism outside Bangladeshi diplomatic premises, which have heightened tensions between the two countries. Officials, quoted by ANI, said the incidents raised serious concerns over the protection of foreign missions and personnel on Indian soil.

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Earlier, Bangladesh had summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to convey Dhakas concerns over demonstrations outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the High Commissioners residence in New Delhi on December 20, along with vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on Monday. Bangladeshs foreign ministry said the incidents were carried out by various extremist groups.

Whats happening in Bangladesh?

The latest diplomatic exchange comes against the backdrop of violent anti-India protests in several parts of Bangladesh.

Protests broke out across Bangladesh for a second straight day as protesters called for justice for Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in last years pro-democracy movement who died on Thursday in a Singapore hospital after being shot by masked assailants.

Hadi, a 32-year-old student leader known for his outspoken criticism of India, was attacked last week while leaving a mosque in Dhaka. As confirmation of his death spread, scenes of mourning quickly gave way to anger and unrest on Friday.

Protests escalated in several areas, with multiple buildings vandalised, including offices of media outlets accused by demonstrators of being sympathetic to India.

Chanting anti-India slogans, angry mobs occupy various roads in Dhaka city. Video taken at 3:55 am on December 19. Security analysts are suggesting an immediate declaration of the State of Emergency in Bangladesh to control the situation. pic.twitter.com/F2jf7v2A2Z  Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury (@salah_shoaib) December 18, 2025

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Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India, was recently sentenced to death in absentia over her role in last years deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising.

People have gathered here demanding the swift arrest of those who killed Hadi, 20-year-old student protester Sajid Al Adeeb told AFP in Dhaka on Friday. He alleged that the attackers were currently in India, a claim that New Delhi has not responded to.

I urge the government to take immediate and appropriate steps to arrest those responsible, he added. Above all, I want Hadis ideals to live on.

Thousands took to the streets of Dhaka, waving national flags and holding placards as they chanted slogans calling for justice. Parallel protests were also reported in Gazipur, Sylhet and Chattogram.

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Late on Thursday night, unrest intensified as protesters set fire to several buildings in the capital, including the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star.
From stargazing and chasing the northern lights to night safaris, and after dark markets, travelling after sunset is rapidly gaining global momentum. Heres why Noctourism has gained the topped spot in the travel trends of India in 2025.

From stargazing and chasing the northern lights to night safaris, and after dark markets, travelling after sunset is rapidly gaining global momentum. Booking.com, one of the worlds largest online travel agencies, has termed Noctourism as Indias Travel Word of the Year 2025. But what exactly does this trend entail? Simply put, noctourism is a blend of nocturnal and tourism, referring to travel experience centered around the night.

As global temperatures continue to rise and daytime heat becomes increasingly uncomfortable, especially in overcrowded tourist hotspots, travellers are rethinking when they explore. According to Booking.com, 61 per cent of respondents said they wanted to spend less time in the Sun, prompting a shift towards planning trips around destinations that offer activities during cooler evenings and early mornings.

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Noctourism also taps a growing desire for immersive, low-impact travel. Travellers are seeking out dark-sky zones to marvel at the cosmos, indulge in stargazing experiences and resdiscover that take on an entirely new look as dusk hits. As National Geopraphic notes, In an age of overtourism, when few parts of the globe are still unvisited, noctourism can provide a new perspective on established sights. Its a chance to rediscover a world transformed at night.

Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager for South Asia at Booking.com, describes this shift as pivotal for Indian travellers. Fueled by the growing appetite for after-dark safaris, stargazing escapes, bioluminescent beaches and culturally rich night markets that reveal a destinations character in entirely new ways, Noctourism emerged as Indias Travel Word of the Year, says Kumar.

The Travel Word of the Year 2025 study examined over 10 million data points from over three lakh verified Indian sources between January and October 2025 - spanning news media, social platforms and online conversations.

Major noctourism experiences to explore

In recent years, the Northern Lights have captured the imagination of the people of India. As per reports, 2025-2026 is predicted to be the peak time period for viewing the Aurora Borealis. Closer home, Hanle in Ladakh offers a mesmerising cosmic experience, Indias own version of Northern lights.

It is the perfect area for astronomical observations because of its high altitude and open skies. Lunar phases, equinoxes, and solstices are just a few of the astronomical occurrences that are closely related to traditional Ladakhi calendar systems.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Night Safaris offer an adventurous getaway to exploring the wildlife in the dark. Several tiger reserves including Rajaji, Satpura, Kanha, Bandhavgargh, Pench spread across India offer curated night safaris for different travel groups.

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Exploring vibrant markets at night gives visitors the leeway from the heat during the days and also provides attractive locations for photographs and shopping. Hyderabads Charminar Bazaar, Sarojini nagar in Delhi, Juhu Chowpatty in Mumbai, Anjuna flea market in Goa are few of the many places that offer varied experiences hotspots.

Night beaches are drawing travellers seeking rare natural phenomena such as offer bioluminescence, glowing water from plankton in places. This ethereal glow can be witnessed in several locations including Havelock in the Andamans, Bangaram Lakshadweep, Betalbatim in Goa, and Mattu Beach in Karnataka. This serene experience by the coastline is unmatched.

As travel habits evolve, noctourism is no longer a niche interest but a reflection of changing climate realities and travel preferences. With similar patterns expected to continue in 2026, after dark travel is likely to remain more than a trend.
For Trump, the Gaza peace plan is key for his nomination for the Nobel award, and there is no way nations pressured to participate can back away. Pakistan, the only Muslim nuclear power, is expected to take the lead

The infamous Pakistani failed marshal now faces his sternest test, which is convincing his people, including his own army, that he is not selling the country to Israel but saving Gazans. Image: AFP/File Photo

Reports mention that Pakistans de facto head of state, constitutionally protected failed marshal Asim Munir, is expected to visit the US in January to discuss deployment of his troops in Gaza as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) under US President Donald Trumps peace plan.

Pakistans foreign affairs ministry stated that it had no inputs on the visit, as also no decision has yet been taken on the deployment. US Secretary of State Marc Rubio, in a press conference last weekend, mentioned, Were very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it (ISF), or at least consider being a part of it.

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The reality is that US pressure on Pakistan to deploy its troops has been increasing. The grant of $686 million to modernise and sustain Pakistans F-16 fleet, as well as their Export-Import Bank $1.25 billion financing for the Reko Diq copper-gold mine project in Baluchistan alongside the continuing ongoing loan from the IMF, is based on Pakistan accepting to deploy troops in Gaza.

Media inputs mention Pakistan is expected to contribute 3,500 soldiers, which is about an infantry brigade, though they are being pushed to dispatch one division, which is about three times the number. Details of their role remain unclear, but based on demands from Israel, it would involve disarming Hamas, which could lead to clashes with them. Further, Gaza is unlikely to be a short-term deployment.

For Trump, the peace plan is key for his nomination for the Nobel award, and there is no way nations pressured to participate can back away. Pakistan, the only Muslim nuclear power, is expected to take the lead. Arab states would only contribute in name, with the majority being provided by Pakistan and Indonesia. The US-Pakistan relationship, booming currently, depends on them providing requisite forces for the mission.

For Munir personally, the decision to get involved is riddled with contradictions. For 70 years Pakistan has been projecting Israel as an enemy which has subdued the Palestinians and denied them a homeland. It refuses to recognise it. There is anger against Israel across Pakistan. In October, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a far-right Islamist party, led by its firebrand leader, Saad Hussain Rizvi, protested against Israel. These were brutally crushed with dozens killed, the organisation banned, and Saad Rizvi in hiding, while his deputy was sentenced to 35 years.

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There is only a vague mention of an independent Palestinian state in Trumps plan, which Israel has sworn not to permit. It is known that Pakistan would be forced to implement Israels desired end state in Gaza, the disarming of Hamas, without the involvement of the Israeli army.

Protests within Pakistan against Munir and the Pakistan army for selling their souls to Israel will commence as soon as the deployment materialises and will be exploited by Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). TLP protests may also resurface. Even within the military there are hardliners. Expecting them to implement Israels end state is difficult. In a radicalised Pakistan, choosing troops for this task will not be easy.

This could have been offset if troops deployed would have served under the UN flag and been financially well compensated. However, this being Trumps masterpiece, pushed through the UNSC but not a UN-mandated force, payment may be low. This will add to discomfort for troops deployed.

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Pakistan has additional troops deployed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) battling the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), against which it launched Operation Sarbakaf at the end of July, alongside increased forces in Balochistan. The operation is ongoing with limited gains. It also cannot reduce forces deployed against India along the Line of Control.

Pakistan also has two divisions termed as Special Security Divisions South and North to protect foreign commercial interests, implying the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Chinese are being regularly targeted, and this has angered Beijing. While Munir courts closer ties with Washington, President Asif Ali Zardari seeks enhanced ties with Beijing.

Reduction of troops from either of these two forces could result in increased targeting of the CPEC as well as Chinese workers, distancing Beijing. Pakistan is drowned in Chinese debt and also banks on them militarily and hence cannot anger them. Therefore, protecting the Chinese and the CPEC will remain a priority.

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To spare troops for employment in Gaza, Pakistan would need to reduce deployment somewhere. This is a difficult decision to make. Raising additional forces for Gaza will not be financially viable.

Munir will insist Trump guarantee to rein in India in case of a terrorist strike over which India is bound to retaliate. Any future retaliation by India will be unlike Operation Sindoor 1.0, when Pakistan was able to play its narrative, sidelining its losses. This time objectives will be such that Munir has no opportunity to play his narrative.

The question is whether New Delhi will listen to Trumps pleadings, especially as India-US ties are at an ebb. Unlikely, as it would have a major political impact within, especially as elections are always ongoing. India too could have its demands, which Munir may find difficult. Conversely, Trump could insist that Pakistan rein in its terrorist groups, which again will bounce back for Munir.

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Afghanistan too has not recognised Israel. Kabul has announced that it seeks ties with all nations except Israel. Any Pakistan deployment in Gaza, involving the disarming of Hamas, will anger them and, through them, the TTP, which has made major inroads into KP. Any reduction of troops in the region could open doors for the TTPs expansion. The same would be the scenario in Balochistan. Any strikes across the border into Afghanistan could add to pressures, as the Taliban would be further emboldened.

A similar sentiment exists in Iran, which is Israels vowed enemy and backer of Hamas. By deploying in Gaza, Pakistan would be angering Iran. This implies that Pakistan would be surrounded by adversaries on all sides.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, is scheduled to visit India in January. This would be around the time Trump would commence pushing for deployment of forces in Gaza. The peace plan would be discussed between PMs Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu. New Delhis ties with Tel Aviv are close. Indirectly, India would have a role to play in Gaza, without committing troops.

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Munir is in a bind. Turning down Trumps demand for deployment in Gaza would ruin the progress he has made in mending ties and also ongoing aid, while accepting it would add to pressures within. Munir has discussed the subject with nations likely to participate and is aware that others would only contribute in case Pakistan takes the lead and deploys maximum forces. Hence, Trump would not let Pakistan get away.

Munir is aware that he is constitutionally protected from any legal action. While this may be of benefit, hardliners within the army would see his actions as a sell-out to Israel, resulting in demands for his resignation. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif has played safe by washing his hands of the deployment, leaving it to Munir to take the decision.

The infamous Pakistani failed marshal now faces his sternest test, which is convincing his people, including his own army, that he is not selling the country to Israel but saving Gazans. Whether this can happen in a radicalised state taught to hate Israel for 70 years while supporting Hamas is to be seen.

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(The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
When mobs feel empowered to lynch and burn with impunity, it indicates not only intolerance but also the ideological confidence the radical masses imbibe, knowing that the violence they unleash will be excused, justified, or quietly ignored

If the trajectory continues, the Bangladeshis risk discovering too late that the real casualty of Osman Hadis violent legacy is Bangladeshs democracy. Image: PTI

Bangladesh has reached one of those critical and decisive moments where politics has completely slipped out of democratic institutions and manifested itself into a violent political street culture. The killing of Osman Hadi, a controversial youth leader cum agitator who was known less for ideas and more for incendiary rhetoric, has become far more than a single act of violence. His killing has been turned into a political capital that has been harvested most effectively by the Islamist forces that have long waited for an emotive trigger capable of converting street anger into an electoral momentum.

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Hadis life was defined by outright provocation, not the kind that challenged power through ideas or exposed injustice through argument, but a calculated, performative provocation that was carefully designed to collapse the moral and civic boundaries of Bangladesh society. His speeches routinely weaponised obscenity and sexualised insults, deliberately invoking womens bodies and genitalia to demean political opponents and shock audiences into submission. His speeches relied heavily on sexualised abuse, misogynistic insults, and deliberately crude metaphors that reduced politics to humiliation rather than persuasion.

This was not an accidental vulgarity, but it was a method aimed at silencing the dissenting democratic voices that stood against the politics of radicalisation and Islamism that have plagued Bangladesh since the fall of Sheikh Hasinas government last year. By flattening the public discourse into obscenity, Hadi legitimised aggression as authenticity and rage as a political virtue. What followed after his death shows us why that method was always dangerous.

From Rhetoric to Ritualised Violence

In the days following Hadis killing, protests quickly turned into a violent spectre that left many in Bangladesh shocked and the world stunned. As the mobs gathered, they unleashed unprecedented violence on the streets. They retorted to arson by burning down the offices of the prominent media houses of the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, attacking their journalists, and then proceeded to vandalise the cultural institutions.

The very pillars of Bangladeshs once secular civic space became their focused targets. The violence was not chaotic in nature; as a matter of fact, it was well planned in advance and directed towards the institutions that were symbolic of a secular Bangladesh with the sole aim to completely silence the dissenting or the democratic voices.

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This escalation revealed a core truth about Hadis idea of Bangladesh, that movements that are trained in humiliation of the dissenters do not suddenly become disciplined in grief. The language that normalises dehumanisation inevitably prepares the ground for physical violence. Hadis followers did not invent this logic after his death; they inherited it.

The Lynching of Dipu Charan Das: A Line Often Crossed

Nothing illustrates Bangladeshs descent into a radical hellhole more starkly than the mob lynching and the subsequent burning of Bangladeshi Hindu Dipu Charan Das. His gruesome murder was not any isolated criminal act; it was a political signal that was overtly wrapped in communal hatred.

Das, a Hindu, became a proxy victim in a charged environment where Islamism increasingly feeds on anti-Hindu resentment. His killing symbolised how minorities are being pushed outside the protective boundary of citizenship. When mobs feel empowered to lynch and burn with impunity, it indicates not only intolerance but also the ideological confidence the radical masses imbibe, knowing that the violence they unleash will be excused, justified, or quietly ignored.

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For Islamist mobilisers, such brutality serves a grim purpose. It radicalises supporters, intimidates minorities into withdrawal, and polarises society along religious lines that can later be translated into votes.

Anti-India Hatred as Political Currency

Running parallel to anti-Hindu violence is a sharp escalation in anti-India rhetoric. India is no longer just a neighbouring state in a political discourse; it is increasingly being portrayed as an existential enemy, a civilisational antagonist, a convenient external villain and a symbol of absolute hate.

The attack on the Indian High Commission was emblematic. Huge crowds descended upon the Indian High Commission compound and resorted to stone pelting. Though the diplomatic premises globally are traditionally protected even during unrest, targeting them sends a message. As the planners and the agitators walked back scot-free after attacking the Indian High Commission, the message towards India was very clear. The violence is not only acceptable, but it is also performative, something to be displayed publicly to prove a radical ideological commitment.

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This rhetoric serves multiple purposes for the Islamists that are hell-bent on usurping power in Bangladesh through violent means. It deflects the attention from their own domestic failures, unites disparate Islamist factions under a shared external enemy, and most dangerously collapses the distinction between India and Bangladeshs Hindu citizens. In this framing, Bangladeshi Hindus become internal stand-ins for India, making them politically expendable.

Islamists as the Primary Beneficiaries

The political beneficiaries of Hadis death are unmistakable. Hardline Islamist forces, particularly the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and the National Citizen Party led by Hasnat Abdullah, have gained a powerful mobilisation tool. Martyrdom narratives are invaluable in Islamist politics, as they shut down the debate, sanctify anger, and frame violence as a moral duty.

With national elections approaching early next year, this emotional capital matters. Street passion often precedes ballot success in Islamist movements. Hadis death allows these parties to bypass policy debates altogether and campaign instead on grievance, religious identity, and perceived humiliation.

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The Signal from the Interim Leadership

What has intensified fears of radicalisation is the posture adopted by interim head of the government Muhammad Yunus during Hadis funeral. His statement that he wished to carry forward Hadis ideas was read less as a message of reconciliation in the fractured society of Bangladesh and more as an endorsement of his violent ideology through ambiguity.

In transitional moments, words from the top are interpretive cues. By invoking Hadis idea without confronting the violence and coercion associated with it, the interim leadership intentionally legitimised the violence and excesses. This reiteration of Hadis idea has now transformed itself into a virtual signalling where Islamist groups interpret such messages of using violence as a genuine political tool, and the mobs associated with them interpret it as permission to unleash it.

BNPs Strategic Drift into Anti-India Rhetoric

Perhaps the most revealing consequence of this Islamised atmosphere is how it is reshaping even the traditionally mainstream party. The BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), long positioned as a major electoral force, now finds itself struggling for relevance in a street environment that is dominated by religious mobilisation.

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To remain politically audible, BNP leaders have begun echoing anti-India rhetoric that stems not necessarily from an ideological conviction but from survival instinct. In a polarised climate, silence on India is treated as weakness and collusion, while moderation is viewed as betrayal. This drift underscores how far the political centre has shifted, so that now even the secular or nationalist parties like the BNP feel compelled to borrow Islamist language to compete in this radically charged atmosphere.

Elections in the Shadow of Radicalisation

As Bangladesh heads toward elections early next year, the landscape looks increasingly distorted. Islamists have gained momentum without winning any debates, and the minorities are being made to retreat from public and political life. Media institutions now operate under constant threat with a solemn message of falling in line with the Islamists. And like an icing on the cake, the anti-India hostility has become a campaign currency rather than a foreign-policy position.

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Hadis death has added fuel to accelerate the pace of the Islamist takeover of Bangladesh. It has provided them with a violent emotion that remains unchecked without any accountability, it has added symbolism without any scrutiny, and it has fuelled violent mobilisation without restraint. The danger is not merely an Islamist electoral takeover, but it is turning into an election that is being conducted after pluralism has already been hollowed out from within the Bangladesh societal milieu.

Bangladeshs crisis, then, is not about one mans life or death. It is about how violence is being normalised, how hatred is being monetised, and how striking fear into the minorities is quietly replacing citizenship. If this trajectory continues, the Bangladeshis risk discovering too late that the real casualty of Osman Hadis violent legacy is Bangladeshs very own democratic soul.

(Raja Muneeb is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets @rajamuneeb. The views expressed in this article are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.)
From dairy and meat to IT and start-ups, opportunities abound and could help both countries reshape global supply chains

Picture Delhi, a city of some 20 million peoplefour times the entire population of New Zealandthat devours 300,000 kilos of mutton a day, reams of textiles, and enough pharma to medicate a country or two. Now contrast that with New Zealand, a speck of 5.2 million people on two main islands, where the economy orbits around grass-fed sheep (outnumbering humans eight to one) and vineyards that produce more sauvignon blanc than the mind can quaff. A double asymmetry is demographic and economic. Indias GDP, at $3.9 trillion, dwarfs New Zealands $253 billion.

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Yet these improbable partners unveiled a free-trade agreement (FTA) after a decade of desultory talks, aiming to double their puny $2.4 billion bilateral trade (goods and services) to $6 billion within five years. For Kiwis, it is a foothold in Asias growth engine; for the Tigers, a nod to labour-heavy exports and skilled mobility. But beneath the handshakes lies a tale of guarded concessions, rural red lines, and dogged diplomacy.

The pact, inked virtually by PMs Narendra Modi and Christopher Luxon, is Indias fourth FTA this year, following deals with the European Union, the UK and Oman. It caps negotiations that have stuttered since 2010, derailed repeatedly by New Zealands insistence on dairy accessa sacred cow for both sides, though for starkly different reasons. India, home to 80 per cent of the worlds water buffalo milk producers and a $130 billion dairy industry that sustains 80 million rural households, has long signalled to suitors from Canberra to Brussels that its white-gold reserves are off-limits.

Dairy is non-negotiable, a commerce ministry official reiterated last month, echoing PM Modis atmanirbhar mantra. New Zealand, where Fonterra alone, with cheese and powder exports, rakes in $20 billion annually, had hoped for a crumb. Instead, the deal carves out milk, cream, cheese, yoghurt, whey, caseins, coffee, onions, sugar, spices, edible oils, and rubberprotecting Indias farmers from a flood of subsidised imports that could upend village economies.

Yet India is not slamming every door. The agreement grants zero-duty market access for 100 per cent of its exports to New Zealand, a cornucopia for Indian shippers of gems, jewellery, pharmaceuticals, and textilessectors that already made up two-thirds of the $711 million in goods sent south last year. In return, India offers tariff liberalisation on 70 per cent of tariff lines, encompassing 95 per cent of bilateral trade value, with phased reductions over a decade.

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This includes duty-free inputs vital for Indias manufacturing muscle: wooden logs for furniture and plywood (this protects Indian forests, by the way), coking coal for steel mills, and metal scrap for auto recyclers. Such carve-outs could shave 510 per cent off production costs in hubs like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, bolstering the Make in India drive amid a global supply-chain shuffle.

For New Zealand, the prize is access to a market of 1.4 billion consumers, where urbanisation and rising incomes are spawning a middle class ravenous for premium proteins and wood. Kiwi exporters stand to gain mightily in wool (already $50 million annually to India), commercial timber ($100 million potential, given Indias $20 billion wood-import bill), and above all, lamb.

India, the worlds largest mutton consumer at 1 million tonnes yearly, imports just 5 per cent of its needs and likes its meat fresh but craves high-value, hormone-free cuts for its elite and their wedding banquets. The FTA slashes duties from 30100 per cent to zero on sheepmeat, unlocking an estimated $1 billion market for New Zealand over the next decadeequivalent to a quarter of its current red-meat exports to China. Such niches underscore the deals pragmatism: India yields on luxury proteins while fortifying staples.

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The agreements ambitions extend beyond tariffs. A $20 billion investment pledge over 15 years targets Kiwi funds in Indian renewables, tech parks, and agritechsectors where New Zealands engineering prowess could mesh with Indias scale. Mobility provisions sweeten the pot: uncapped post-study work visas of three years for Stem graduates and four for PhDs could guide 10,000 Indian students annually to New Zealand campuses, injecting $500 million into universities already hungry for fee-paying foreigners. Quotas of 5,000 temporary work visas and 1,000 working-holiday slots ease talent flows for IT professionals and nurses, addressing New Zealands needs.

On the farm front, centres for excellence for apples, kiwifruit, and honeyfunded jointlypromise to transplant Kiwi horticultural wizardry to Himachal Pradesh orchards, potentially lifting Indian yields by 2030 per cent. Restricted market access for these fruits ensures no backlash from domestic growers, a deft touch.

Not everyone is toasting with Marlborough pinot noir. In New Zealand, dairy farmersthe bedrockof the rural voteare howling betrayal. Federated Farmers, the lobby for 20,000 milk producers, decried the exclusions as a slap from the elephants trunk. Labours trade spokeswoman, Camilla Dean, called it a half-loaf at bestwell, lets say thats the better half. New Zealand will get used to it; polls suggest public support: 62 per cent back deeper India ties.

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Leather artisans in Agra and Kanpurclusters employing 4 million in Uttar Pradesh alonecheer the zero-duty gateway to New Zealands $1 billion footwear market, eyeing 20 per ent export growth for MSMEs. Tamil Nadus tanneries in Vellore and Ambur, hubs for $5 billion in annual leather goods, stand to create 100,000 jobs via Kiwi contracts. Bilateral trade currently sits at just $1.3 billion in goodswool off the sheeps back. India sends basmati and auto parts; New Zealand ships wool and wine.

The FTA could add $3 billion to flows by 2030, per government models, but non-tariff barriersIndias labyrinthine standards and New Zealands biosecurity zealmay snag some of the gains. Services, where India excels, get a cursory nod, with mutual recognition for qualifications in nursing and engineering. Investment rules ease too, and that is a big win in the small print via a bilateral investment treaty.

Zoom out, and the deal fits a broader reconfiguration. India has inked 15 FTAs since 2020, pivoting from vaccine diplomacy to trade realpolitik. For New Zealand, adrift post-China slowdown (its $30 billion surplus halved since 2022), India offers ballast: a democratic counterweight in a region where autocrats hold sway. It evokes Shaun the nimble animated sheep, woolly and wary, nosing its way into an elephants vast pavilionnot to challenge the beast, but to graze on its feast, fattening both for leaner globalised times ahead.

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From dairy and meat to IT and start-ups, opportunities abound and could help reshape global supply chains. If nurtured, it could herald a thicker weave in the Indo-Pacific tapestry, where size yields to savvy. For now, though, it is a startmodest, but primed for growth. Stocking around this could be fun.

(The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Firstpost.)
The gas platform for Leviathan, Israel's largest gas field is seen from a helicopter near Haifa bay, northern Israel, August 1, 2023. Reuters/Ari Rabinovitch

With the Camp David Accords (1978), Israel bought peace with Egypt, the most-populated Arabised country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. For this deal, brokered by the then US President, Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin received the Nobel Peace Prize; they also signed the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty (1979).

The accords sparked strong protests across the Muslim world. During a 1981 military parade, Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorists, who viewed President Sadat as a traitor and as a secular pharaoh defying Islamic principles, assassinated him.

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The Palestinians, who had rejected the 1978 accord, however, later signed the Oslo Accords (1993) with Israel. Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) chief Yasser Arafat, once condemned by the West as a terrorist, and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres shared the 1994 Nobel for the Oslo Accords. Outraged, Jewish extremists assassinated Rabin in 1995. In 2002, Carter also received the Nobel for his peace efforts.

These peace efforts set off alarms in the Arab-led Muslim world, psychologically ruled by war-mongering Islamic fundamentalists. Under Islamist pressure, Egypt was ostracised and expelled from the Arab League. Arab-Israel relations have since often fluctuated, and shifting peace deals have marked their history of conflicts.

But that was still an ideology-driven era of bipolarity between the US and the USSR.

No longer.

The Abraham Accords

Aware of their interlocked history of some 3,000 years, both Israel and Egypt understand the extreme sensitivity of their bilateral relations. Gradually, however, other Arab countries also improved relations with Israel while the Palestinian question remained orphaned and unresolved.

The Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered normalisation agreements since 2020, established full diplomatic relations between Israel and some Arab and Muslim nationsthe UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and later Kazakhstanending decades of non-recognition and respecting their shared patriarchal figure, Prophet Abraham. Progress on the Palestinian statehood issue, however, still remains a major hurdle for further expansion of the peace deal, especially with Saudi Arabia.

The October 2023 Hamas invasion of southern Israel and what followed vitiated Arab-Israel relations again. But war has its own logic, and business sense.

It is in this backdrop that, in December 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would sell natural gas worth nearly $34.7 billion to Egypt over the next 15 years (2026-2040); this is Israels largest-ever gas deal. The secret decision came amid US President Donald Trump-brokered efforts to bring peace to the Gaza Stripwith a business angle, and a potential Nobel Peace Prize for himself in 2026.

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Egypts Energy Hunger

Unlike other hydrocarbon-rich Arab states, Egypt is energy-deficient. Despite being the most-populated Arab nation, it remains relatively poor and depends on energy imports. Its economy focuses on revenues from agriculture, the Suez Canal, and tourism. Its poverty rate in 2022 was 27.9 per cent, and it ranked 130th out of 180 countries.

It is in this context that this gas deal with Israel, as Egypts lifeline, assumes importancebut it also has to deal with realities like Islamic terror, ties with the Palestinians, and relations with other Arabs.

If the gas deal succeeds, Egypt will get nearly 130 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas from Israels offshore Leviathan field in the Mediterranean Sea, which is operated by a consortium including the US energy giant Chevron and Israeli partners like NewMed Energy. About 50 per cent of the proceeds ($18 billion) are expected to go to the Israeli treasury, funding sectors like education, healthcare, and security.

Cairo uses the Israeli gas to generate electric power and run factories, and exports some of it to Europe and other destinations through two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals on the countrys Mediterranean coast. Chevron, which is now the key player in Israels energy industry, may use its position in Israel, Egypt and Cyprus as a regional springboard to become a major gas exporter to Europe, which is trying to reduce dependence on Russian hydrocarbons because of the Ukraine war.

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Netanyahus announcement came amid strained relations with his Arab neighbours due to the Gaza war. Egypt asserted the deal is purely commercial, with no political dimensions. The deal came weeks after Washingtons pressure on Tel Aviv, as the US seeks to reassert control over geopolitics in the MENA region, where China had made inroads during the Joe Biden presidency (2021-25).

Egypt, sharing borders with both Israel and Gaza, has served as a key mediator between the Jewish state and Hamas leading up to the US-brokered ceasefire agreed in October. Cairo has also been a vocal critic of Israels counter-offensive after October 2023, which has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction in Gaza.

But business, after all, is business.

Natural Gas Discovery

Israel discovered significant natural gas fields off its Mediterranean coast in the early 2000s and began exporting gasfirst to Jordan and later to Egyptnearly a decade ago. It signed an export agreement in August 2025 with Chevron and its partners to supply gas worth $35 billion to Egypt from the Leviathan natural gas field. Gas is vital to Israels economy as well, accounting for about 70 per cent of electric power generation. Israeli gas accounts for some 15-20 per cent of Egypts consumption.

Netanyahu said the gas deal would bolster Israels regional position, generate about $18 billion in taxes and other revenue over time, and help to ensure that energy prices remain affordable for Israeli consumers.

This deal greatly strengthens Israels status as a regional energy power and contributes to stability in our region, he said.

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Even amid the ongoing war in Gaza, business talks continued between Israel and Egypt. The owners of the Leviathan gas fieldChevron and NewMedsaid in August they had reached an agreement to significantly increase and extend a 2019 deal.

Natural gas from Leviathan, one of the worlds largest deep-water gas discoveries, started to flow to the Israeli domestic market in December 2019. As of September 2025, Leviathan had supplied 23.5 billion cubic metres of gas to Egypt.

Gaza: A Realtors Dream

Israel and Egypt both control access to the war-torn Gaza Strip. Trump sees in war-torn Gazaand Ukrainea massive redevelopment opportunity for American real estate tycoons, including his own family. It was among the reasons that he rushed through and brokered a ceasefire in October 2025 between Israel and Hamas in Gaza with Egypts help.

In February 2025, just a month after he returned to the White House for a second term, Trump may have smelt these opportunities. For, he proposed that the US take over Gaza, and permanently relocate more than 2 million residents. He wanted to develop the Palestinian territory, asserting that Gaza could become the Riviera of the Middle East.

His plans sparked outrage and swift rejection from Palestinians and their Arab allies in the region; but deft US diplomacy persuaded the Arabs to look at the long-term goals and the larger picture, and cool down, much as Trump arm-twisted and nearly isolated Ukraine likewise.

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According to reports, the US had already secured commitments from Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, the UK, Italy and Germany to have their leaders join Trump on the Board of Peace that will oversee the post-war management of Gaza. To keep the Hamas-led Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in check, he may martyr the non-Arab Turkish-Pakistani soldiers as peacekeepers.

War & Peace: The Big Business

US President Calvin Coolidge said in January 1925: After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world.

Exactly a century later, Trump said of himself: Im a dealmaker. Ive made deals all my life. I do really well. I make great deals.

Overseas wars make gun-manufacturers laugh at home; peace creates redevelopment business overseas.

Bravo!

(The author is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
A Mexican Navy aircraft on a humanitarian medical mission crashed into Galveston Bay, leaving multiple people deadincluding a 2-year-oldwhile rescue teams continue searching for one person still missing.

Four of the people aboard were Navy officers, and four were civilians, including a child. (AP)

A Mexican Navy aircraft carrying out a humanitarian medical transfer crashed into Galveston Bay, Texas, on Monday, leaving at least five people dead, including a 2-year-old child, according to officials. The plane went down near the Galveston Causeway as it approached its destination, triggering a large emergency response from both US and Mexican authorities.

Eight people were on board. Four of the people aboard were Navy officers, and four were civilians, including a child. The death toll climbed Monday night as crews searched the waters west of the Galveston Causeway, where one person remains missing, a Coast Guard Heartland official told CNN. Two survivors were pulled from the water, though their conditions have not been disclosed.

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Mission linked to medical aid for burn victims

The accident happened as the aircraft was approaching Galveston, Texas. The navy said the specialised medical transport mission was organised in coordination with a Mexican foundation that provides care for children suffering from severe burns. Flight tracking website Flight Radar showed that the aircraft departed from Merida in Mexicos Yucatan state at 18:46 GMT and was last recorded at 21:01 GMT over Galveston Bay, near Scholes International Airport.

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board reached the crash site, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on X. An NTSB spokesperson noted they are aware of this accident and are gathering information about it.

The Galveston County Sheriffs Office said its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol officers were assisting at the scene, adding in a Facebook post that the public should avoid the area to allow emergency crews to operate safely.
In the latest attack on vessels in the international waters, the US military said it blew up a boat in the Eastern Pacific and killed one sailor. So far, the US military has conducted at least 29 strikes and killed at least 105 sailors.

The screengrab shows the US military striking a boat in the international waters in the Eastern Pacific on December 22, 2025, killing one sailor. (Photo: US Southern Command)

In the latest attack on vessels in international waters, the US military said it blew up a boat in the Eastern Pacific on Monday and killed one sailor.

The boat belonged to designated terrorist organisations and was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes while engaged in drug operations, the US Southern Command said in a statement.

As with all previous strikes in the ongoing campaign, the US military did not identify those killed, provide evidence that the boat carried drugs, or name the terrorist organisation it allegedly belonged to.

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Since September 2, on the orders of President Donald Trump, the US military has conducted at least 29 such strikes and killed 105 sailors in international waters.

On Dec. 22, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting pic.twitter.com/LGzEaQSTiR  U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 23, 2025

The latest strike comes as Trump has ramped up his campaign against Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro. He has declared a blockade of all sanctioned vessels transiting to Venezuela and has seized two tankers and pursued another in international waters.

Critics argue that, rather than a genuine anti-narcotics campaign, Trumps strikes on boats are part of a pretext to launch attacks on Venezuela, topple Maduros regime, and seize the countrys vast oil reserves.

ALSO READ  From airstrikes to assassination, Trump weighs options against Venezuelas Maduro: Report

But Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and their supporters have hailed the campaign as a legitimate offensive against drug traffickers. Critics, however, have flagged these attacks illegal and potential war crimes. They have said that summarily killing potentially unarmed persons in international waters without provocation is unlawful and could constitute a war crime.

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Critics have also pointed out that killing suspected drug traffickers instead of apprehending and prosecuting them under the US law violates longstanding US policy followed so far under administration of both the parties. Despite the criticism, the Trump administration has continued to strike boats and kill sailors.

In the most contentious strike on Sept. 2, the US military carried out a second attack to kill two shipwrecked survivors of the first strike who were clinging to the broken vessel without any weapons or communication devices.

Commentators have noted that killing unarmed shipwrecked survivors violates both international law and the American war manual. However, the Trump administration has stood by its decision to kill unarmed shipwrecked survivors.
Gunmen killed 15 people when they targeted a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, in what authorities have said was an antisemitic terrorist attack

Addressing the nation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he felt a deep sense of responsibility for the attack. (File/AP)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said his government would invite Israels president to visit, after a mass shooting in Sydney targeting the Jewish community.

Prime Minister Albanese advised President (Isaac) Herzog that, upon the recommendation of the Australian government, the Governor-General of Australia will issue an invitation in accordance with protocol to President Herzog to visit Australia as soon as possible, said a post on the leaders X account.

Gunmen killed 15 people when they targeted a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, in what authorities have said was an antisemitic terrorist attack.

In the wake of the December 14 attack, Herzog called on Canberra to fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.

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The Israeli presidents office confirmed his Tuesday phone call with Albanese, saying that he was invited to visit Australia by the Australian government and the Jewish community.

No date was immediately set for the visit.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned the top Indian envoy as fresh protests erupted outside its high commission in New Delhi over the mob lynching of a Hindu worker in Dhaka.

Bangladesh's army stands near the premises of the Prothom Alo daily newspaper after mobs set it on fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Representative Photo, Credit: AP)

Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned the top Indian envoy as fresh protests erupted outside its high commission in New Delhi over the mob lynching of a Hindu worker in Dhaka.

The garment worker was accused of blasphemy and lynched on December 18 as anti-India sentiment rises in the neighbouring majority Muslim nation. Seven suspects have been arrested over the killing.

On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators converged near Bangladeshs High Commission in New Delhi waving saffron flags and banners, including one that read: Stop Killing Hindus in Bangladesh.

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Hindus are warning Bangladesh that it is taking the wrong approach, said Puneet Gautam, 37, a protester and member of the right-wing Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) organisation.

VHP members and security personnel clashed outside Dhakas outpost as the crowd shoved its way through yellow metal barricades around 300 metres from the building.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladeshs foreign ministry had summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express grave concern over previous protests outside its visa centres.

In its statement, the ministry cited regrettable incidents and vandalism outside its visa centres in New Delhi and Siliguri last week. India has dismissed reports of vandalism as misleading propaganda.

Ties between the neighbours have deteriorated since ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the pro-democracy uprising last year and sought refuge in India.

India says it is still considering Dhakas requests to extradite Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia for orchestrating a deadly crackdown on the uprising.

Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since the end of Hasinas rule, with violence marring the campaigning ahead of next years election.

This month, parliamentary hopeful and vocal India critic Sharif Osman Hadi was shot by masked assailants in Dhaka, with unconfirmed reports suggesting his attackers might have fled to India.

The killing set off protests in Dhaka with arsonists torching several buildings, including two major newspapers deemed to favour India as well as a prominent cultural institution.

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Mobs also pelted stones at the Indian High Commission in the port city of Chattogram, where India has since suspended visa services.

On Monday, Dhaka temporarily suspended visa services in Delhi.

Russia has urged Delhi and Dhaka to mend fences.

The sooner this happens, the better, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander G. Khozin, was quoted as saying in the Dhaka Tribune.
Muhammad Yunus administration has been a failure in in maintaining law and order and the country has descended into mobocracy, former Bangladeshi minister and BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said after an attack on the Indian mission in Chattogram amid nationwide violence.

Bangladesh's army stands near the premises of the Prothom Alo daily newspaper after mobs set it on fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Representative Photo, Credit: AP)

Bangladeshs interim ruler Muhammad Yunus has failed in maintaining law and order and the country has descended into mobocracy, former minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has told CNN-News 18.

Amid ongoing political violence and anti-India campaign in the country, mobs have repeatedly targeted Indian missions. Last week, mobs pelted stones at the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram in the presence of police.

This is not democracy. This is mobocracy, Chowdhury said about such attacks.

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Since the news of death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in last years movement that ousted then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, broke last week, Bangladesh has been in the grips of widespread violence that has seen targeted attacks on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), media organisations like Prothom Alo and Daily Star newspapers, and Indian missions.

Such a state of affairs showed that Yunus administration has been a failure, according to Chowdhury, who served as the commerce minister in Khaleda Zias government of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

As the wave of nationwide violence has erupted just weeks before scheduled elections, Chowdhury said that mob violence and unchecked protests are being used as tools to obstruct elections and delay a return to an elected government.

Bangladesh is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections and a referendum on the July charter on February 12. It has been pointed that ongoing violence appears to be aimed at delaying elections so that Islamist forces in the country could further consolidate themselves.

Chowdhury said that attacks on diplomatic missions send a dangerous signal to the entire world and warned these were not isolated incidents.

These are not just stray or isolated incidents. They are planned attempts to destabilise the country and disturb the democratic and electoral process by creating fear and chaos, said Chowdhury.

As for the elections, Chowdhury said, People are ready to cast their votes. They are just waiting for the election. Candidates are working in their constituencies. People waited for almost decades to cast votes. They could not exercise their franchise in the last three-four elections. There is a clear sense of ownership among the people. Yet instead of ensuring stability and bringing order, the interim government is presiding over disorder.

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Jack Hibbert, who had been on the job for just four months, was shot in the head and shoulder during the attack

Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert was shot twice during the Bondi Beach attack. (X)

A probationary police officer who was shot in the head during the deadly Bondi Beach attack has been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home, his family has confirmed, according to BBC.

Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, 22, was critically injured while patrolling a Hanukkah event when two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 people and wounding more than 40 others. Hibbert, who had been on the job for just four months, was shot in the head and shoulder during the attack.

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Family calls recovery a miracle

In a statement, Hibberts family said he has lost vision in one eye but is making steady progress after weeks of hospital treatment.

As a family, we couldnt ask for anything more - having our Jack home, especially for Christmas, truly feels like a miracle, the family said.

They also thanked the public for their overwhelming support and praised hospital staff for their exceptional care and dedication throughout his recovery.

While he is home, he is still recovering and will need space, support, and continued positive thoughts during this time, the statement added.

Praised for bravery during attack

Despite his injuries, Hibbert continued helping festival attendees in the immediate aftermath of the shooting until he was physically unable to continue, his family previously said.

Many of his colleagues who were present on the night of the incident have visited in hospital and given testaments to Jacks bravery during the incident They described how Jack acted, he moved toward people in need, not away from danger, the family said.

Hibbert was one of two police officers injured in the attack. The second officer, Constable Scott Dyson, 25, remains in hospital recovering from his injuries, according to the latest police update.

Also read | Bondi Beach shooting triggers top-to-bottom audit of Australian intelligence

Last week, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon visited Hibbert in hospital, describing him as a positive young man. Lanyon said the police force would rally around the young officer and find appropriate duties for him once he has recovered.

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Attack declared terror incident

Police allege the suspected gunmen were inspired by Islamic State ideology and deliberately targeted the Jewish festival in what has been declared a terror attack.

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one terrorism-related charge. A second gunman, identified as his father Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Court documents released on Monday allege the pair meticulously planned the attack for months and conducted reconnaissance at Bondi Beach two days before the shooting.
Cambodia has asked Thailand to hold ceasefire negotiations in Malaysia, citing security risks as renewed border clashes leave dozens dead and displace nearly a million people.

Cambodia has called for truce negotiations with Thailand to be held in Malaysia, citing security concerns as fighting along their shared border continues after two weeks of violence. The request comes as both sides prepare to negotiate terms to halt renewed clashes that have already caused heavy casualties and mass displacement.

In a letter seen by AFP on Tuesday, Cambodias defence ministry asked Thailand to agree to bilateral talks in Kuala Lumpur. The letter, dated Monday and sent by Defence Minister Tea Seiha to his Thai counterpart Nattaphon Narkphanit, said a neutral location was necessary because of the ongoing fighting.

For a security reason due to the ongoing fighting along the border, this meeting should be held in a safe and neutral venue, Tea Seiha wrote.

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He added that Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), had agreed to host the discussions in its capital.

Thailands Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow had earlier announced that talks with Cambodia would take place following a meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Asean counterparts. He told reporters on Monday that the discussion would be held on Wednesday in Thailands Chanthaburi province under an existing bilateral border committee framework.

Fighting continues despite truce plans

The renewed conflict this month has broken a previous truce and left at least 23 people dead in Thailand and 21 in Cambodia, officials said. More than 900,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Cambodia said Thailand launched air strikes on its territory on Monday, shortly after Bangkok announced that both countries had agreed to hold talks. Defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata told reporters that fighting along the border was continuing on Tuesday morning. In a separate statement, the ministry said Thai forces shelled the Cambodian border city of Poipet.
Months after the largest purge in years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promoted two commanders to crucial posts overseeing the Taiwan Strait and Beijing, suggesting the purge is over and that he has reshaped the military brass to his liking  for now.

Chinas President Xi Jinping gives a toast at a reception in the Great Hall of the People, following a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on September 3, 2025. (Photo: Jade Gao/AFP)

Months after the largest purge in years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday promoted two commanders to crucial posts overseeing the Taiwan Strait and Beijing, suggesting the purge is over and that he has reshaped the military brass to his liking  for now.

Xi has promoted Yang Zhibin, who commands the Eastern Theatre Command, to the rank of full general, according to Chinese state media.

Yang has replaced Lin Xiangyang, who was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the purge in October. He was one of the nine top military officers who were purged in one go.

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In the second promotion, Xi made Han Shengyan a full general. He heads the Central Theatre Command that oversees Beijing and its surroundings.

Han has succeeded Wang Qiang, who was last seen at the fourth plenum in October and has not been seen since, according to South China Morning Post.

The newspaper noted that these promotions suggest that the dust has begun to settle following a massive purge in the military over corruption concerns.

In October, Xi had carried out a major purge and reshuffle in the CPC and its top institutions. In the first tranche, he sacked nine top military officers days ahead of the fourth plenum conference, which included He Weidong, the Vice Chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

In addition to replacing Xi, the countrys second highest-ranking general, Xi also replaced 10 other top officials, making it the largest reshuffle since 2017 when he had similarly replaced 11 officials at the top.

Moreover, there were signs that dozens of others had been purged as well.

At the conclusion of the four-day fourth plenum conference, Xinhua reported that only 168 full members and 147 alternate members attended the conference as against the full strength of 205 full members and 171 alternate members. The reduced numbers suggested that many of them had been purged since they were appointed in 2022.

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Donald Trump said it would be smart for Nicolas Maduro to step down, warning that any attempt to play tough would bring severe and lasting consequences.

US President Donald Trump, in an earlier interview, said that Nicolas Maduros days are numbered.

US President Donald Trump said Monday it would be smart for Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro to step down, delivering a stark warning that playing tough would carry severe and lasting consequences for the leader.

Asked by reporters at his Florida home if Washingtons threats to Caracas were designed to bring an end to Maduros 12-year presidency, Trump said: Thats up to him, what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that.

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But he added: If he wants to do something  if he plays tough, itll be the last time hes ever able to play tough.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
More than 30,000 pages of material were made public, revealing previously unseen details about Jeffrey Epsteins connections and communications, including messages that appear to involve high-profile figures

This undated photo from the personal collection of Jeffrey Epstein provided by the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on December 12, 2025, shows US President Donald Trump (L), flanked by Epstein (C), talking to an unknown woman. (AFP)

The US Justice Departments latest release of Epstein-related documents has set off fresh debate and scrutiny, with newly surfaced emails and flight records leading to questions about the networks around the disgraced financier, and renewed disputes over what the files actually show.

More than 30,000 pages of material were made public, revealing previously unseen details about Jeffrey Epsteins connections and communications, including messages that appear to involve high-profile figures.

The disclosures come amid ongoing demands for transparency about Epsteins activities and the powerful people once in his orbit.

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Royal email raises eyebrows

Among the newly unsealed material is an email exchange from 2001 that appears to show a correspondent identified only as Abelieved to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrewasking Epsteins close associate Ghislaine Maxwell whether she had found him some new inappropriate friends.

Maxwells reply said she had only found appropriate friends, to which the sender responded simply, Distraught!

Subsequent messages in the thread reference travel plans and intelligent, pretty women from good families, suggesting introductions being organised as part of social arrangements.

While there is no direct evidence of criminal conduct in the thread, the suggestion of arranging meetings has rekindled interest in historical allegations surrounding Epstein and his associates.

Photo: Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are seen in this image released by the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC, US, 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. (US Justice Department)

Trumps name in flight logs

Another part of the release has drawn attention to US President Donald Trump. A 2020 email included in the files suggests Trump was listed as a passenger on Epsteins private jet at least eight times between 1993 and 1996, according to the Guardian.

One flight reportedly included only Trump, Epstein, and an unnamed 20-year-old woman, and others included individuals later considered possible witnesses in the Ghislaine Maxwell case.

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But the Justice Department has pushed back on how these details are being interpreted. Officials said many of the claims in the documents are unfounded and false, and warned against sensationalising references to Trump.

Critics of the release say the files have been heavily redacted and represent only a fraction of the material that should be public. Some survivors and advocates have called out what they describe as extreme censorship that obscures the full picture of Epsteins network.

Despite the backlash, authorities maintain that they are complying with legal transparency requirements.
The documents were uploaded to the DOJs website, making it one of the largest public disclosures linked to the Epstein investigation so far

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) released at least 8,000 additional documents related to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday, following weeks of criticism over delays, redactions and alleged non-compliance with a new transparency law.

The documents were uploaded to the DoJs website, making it one of the largest public disclosures linked to the Epstein investigation so far.

According to the DoJ, the latest release includes hundreds of video and audio recordings. Among them is surveillance footage from August 2019, the same month Epstein was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

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Interestingly, the DoJ has also called for caution in interpreting certain references to the US president, without identifying which claims it was referring to.

Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election, the DoJ said in a statement posted on X.

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.

Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DoJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims.

Trump, who had initially attempted to block the disclosure of the files, ultimately signed the law amid mounting bipartisan pressure from Congress. He has said he cut ties with Epstein years before his arrest and faces no accusations of wrongdoing.

The Justice Department has been accused of withholding information and has faced criticism from Democrats and victims advocates over what they describe as a slow and opaque release process.

Watch: Redacted Epstein Files Trigger Internet Meme Fest | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Congress nearly unanimously passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), which required the complete release of Epstein-related records by last Friday.

However, a group of victims earlier complained that only a fraction of the files were made public and said those were riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation.

Also read | Bill Clinton's team accuses White House of making him a 'scapegoat' in the Epstein Files saga

Lawmakers threaten legal action

Frustration in Congress has continued to build.

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EFTA co-sponsors Ro Khanna, a Democrat, and Republican Thomas Massie warned they could pursue contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi for failing to comply with the law.

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a resolution calling for legal action against the administration for failing to release the complete Epstein files, further escalating the standoff between lawmakers and the Justice Department.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the delays, citing the need to redact identifying details of Epsteins more than 1,000 victims. Blanche also denied allegations on Sunday that the administration was protecting President Donald Trump, who was previously a close associate of Epstein.

Despite Tuesdays release, lawmakers and victims advocates say significant questions remain over whether all required documents have now been made public.
Following the latest round of talks with US President Donald Trumps negotiators, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined the kind of security guarantees that he seeks from the United States and Europe, such as support for a strong army, US backstop to the Coalition of the Willing, and Congressional approval to any US commitments.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a press conference on the day of the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium, on December 18, 2025. (Photo: Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters)

Following the latest round of talks with American negotiators, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday outlined the security guarantees he seeks from the United States and Europe as part of an agreement to end the war with Russia.

In a statement on X, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has sought three-layered security guarantees that include support from partners for a strong Ukrainian military, a US backstop to the Coalition of the Willing, and Congressional approval for any US commitments.

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Zelenskyy stressed that any US commitments must be legally binding through Congressional action as Ukraine does not want a repeat of the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 or the Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015 that failed to prevent future aggression.

The statement came ahead of the Ukrainian delegations arrival in Kyiv from Miami after holding talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump. Both sides described the talks as productive and constructive.

In a joint statement, they said the latest round focused on aligning positions on the 20-point plan and working out a multilateral security guarantee framework, a US security guarantee framework for Ukraine, and an economic and prosperity plan.

ALSO READ: In talks with US, Ukraine gets close to security guarantees but deal on land remains elusive

In recent weeks, Trump has ramped up pressure on Ukraine to agree to a proposal to end the war. Currently, Ukraine, with the support of European partners, is negotiating a revised version of the 22-point proposal that would have essentially meant a Ukrainian surrender to Russia and the cessation of its nationhood in its original form. Russian President Vladimir Putin has essentially rejected details of the revised plan and stuck to his maximalist demands.

Zelenskyy outlines three-layered security guarantees

In his statement, Zelenskyy said security guarantees must be threefold.

Firstly, partners must support the 800,000-strong Ukrainian military, according to Zelenskyy.

Such support would require additional assistance from partners, Zelenskyy stressed.

Secondly, Zelenskyy said Ukraine must join the European Union not only to secure itself economically but also to join the blocs security component.

Everyone understands this first and foremost in terms of economic security guarantees and markets. There is also a military component, SAFE, and other programmes that EU membership opens up, said Zelenskyy.

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Thirdly, Ukraine requires the involvement of the British- and French-led 'Coalition of the Willing' with an American backstop, according to Zelenskyy.

We will discuss what US backstop is and what specific details it may include  air defence, aviation, intelligence, and more. These are forces that must ensure Ukraines security in the air, on land, and at sea, said Zelenskyy.

Outlining the Coalition of the Willings role, Zelenskyy said it will include 30 countries where key countries will provide presence in specific domains and there will be others providing security related to energy, finances, assistance, and shelters.

As for American involvement, Zelenskyy said Congressional action is key to ensuring any commitment is legally binding on any presidential administration. He said that would be the fundamental difference between previous failed deals like the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk agreements and any deal to settle the ongoing war with Russia.

In 1994, Ukraine signed the 'Budapest Memorandum' with Russia, the United States, and United Kingdom to give up nuclear weapons in lieu of security guarantees. Ironically, one of the guarantors was Russia. The deal obviously failed as Russia invaded Ukraine first in 2014 and annexed Crimea, then waged a low-intensity war in the eastern Donbas region for eight years until it launched the full-scale invasion in 2022.

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In 2014 and 15, Ukraine signed Minsk I and II agreements that sought to end the fighting in Donbas, but Russian proxies never stopped the fighting and the agreements failed spectacularly.
Indonesia is set to finalise a landmark trade deal with the United States by late January, marking a breakthrough in negotiations that had faced months of uncertainty.

Indonesia edges closer to sealing a major trade pact with the United States, aiming to strengthen economic ties and secure tariff relief for key exports.

Indonesia has announced that it has settled all the main issues in its trade discussions with the United States and expects to sign a major agreement by the end of January. The upcoming deal is set to remove a lingering source of uncertainty for Southeast Asias largest economy while deepening its commercial relations with a key global partner.

Progress on key issues

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday that Indonesia and the United States had reached consensus on all essential matters, ensuring the interests of both nations are safeguarded. His statement followed a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Monday. Hartarto noted that the text of the agreement has been finalised after extensive consultations, marking a significant advancement toward completion.

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Signing and timeline

Indonesias Ambassador to the United States, Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, confirmed that the accord will be signed by President Prabowo Subianto and President Donald Trump when the Indonesian leader travels to Washington in late January. Financial markets reacted cautiously to the development, with the rupiah and government bond yields remaining stable, while the main stock index in Jakarta fell marginally by 0.3 per cent.

Market reaction and outlook

Analysts suggest that the conclusion of the trade deal could reduce pressure on the rupiah, which has weakened by nearly 4 per cent this year, making it one of Asias least performing currencies. Christopher Wong, a strategist at Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation, said the agreement would help remove one of the risk factors weighing on the currency, though a broader recovery would require stronger domestic growth, fiscal stability and renewed foreign inflows.

Mutual benefit in trade

The United States remains one of Indonesias major trading partners and contributed the countrys largest non-oil trade surplus last year, amounting to 17 billion dollars. Indonesias exports to the US include electronics, footwear, garments, palm oil and fishery products. Under the new arrangement, Washington has agreed to waive tariffs on some key Indonesian commodities such as coffee, cocoa and tea, while American firms will gain increased access to Indonesias mineral resources.

Scope of the agreement

The deal follows the framework agreed by both governments in July. It mainly affects labour-intensive sectors that employ around five million Indonesians. Under the terms, Jakarta will lower tariffs on the vast majority of American goods and commit to purchasing around 19 billion dollars in US products, including agricultural supplies and Boeing aircraft.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held meetings with Sri Lankan leaders today, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and pledged $450 million to help with Cyclone Ditwahs destruction. He is visiting the island nation as the Prime Ministers Special Envoy.

External Affairs Minster S Jaishankar meets Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on December 23, 2025, in Columbo, Sri Lanka. (Photo: X/S Jaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday arrived in Sri Lanka as the Prime Ministers Special Envoy and pledged $450 million in humanitarian assistance to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

Jaishankar held meetings with Sri Lankan leaders, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and assured them of Indias commitment to Sri Lankas reconstruction after the island nation bore the cyclones brunt.

Last month, Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka on November 27 and killed more than 600 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings, and displaced around 200,000 people. The storm caused landslides and disrupted electricity and water supply. It also damaged crops, tea estates, and critical transport infrastructure like roads and bridges.

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In a statement after meeting Dissanayake, Jaishankar said India has pledged a reconstruction package of $450 million as part of Indias First Responder activity under Operation Sagar Bandhu.

Jaishankar said the package will cover rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity; construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged; support for health and education sectors, in particular, those that have been damaged by the cyclone; agriculture, including to address possible shortages in the short and medium term; and to help Sri Lanka improve disaster response and preparedness.

In a meeting with Amarasuriya, Jaishankar said, Assured Indias steadfast commitment to Sri Lankas rebuilding post Cyclone Ditwah. The reconstruction package offered by India is a reflection of the deep bonding between our two nations.

Pleased to call on H.E President @anuradisanayake in Colombo today.



Conveyed Prime Minister @narendramodis warm wishes and message of solidarity in aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.



Building on our First Responder activity under #OperationSagarBandhu, India will commit to a pic.twitter.com/gGY9qbiWap  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 23, 2025

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As part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems, and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment, according to PTI.

India pressed several naval ships to deliver relief material to Colombo and Trincomalee, such as INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Sukanya, and INS Gharial.

India also deployed personnel to Sri Lanka, such as two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to conduct immediate search and rescue operations, an 85-member Indian Army Field Hospital that has treated over 7,000 patients, and Indian Air Force and Navys helicopters for the evacuation of survivors, transportation of troops, and delivery of relief supplies, as per the news agency.
To further reduce the dependence on China and ramp up domestic production, Japan has outlined a plan to tap into the deep-sea mud by 2027 to look for rare earth elements. Japan is particularly looking for rare earths like dysprosium that are used in automobiles.

Matt Green, mining/crushing supervisor at MP Materials, displays crushed ore before it is sent to the mill at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, US, on January 30, 2020. (Representative Photo, Credit: Steve Marcus/Reuters)

In a bid to further reduce the dependence on China and ramp up domestic production, Japan has outlined a plan to tap into the deep-sea mud by 2027 to extract and refine rare earth elements, according to Nikkei Asia newspaper.

As per the plan, Japan has planned to look for rare earths in the seabed 6,000 metres below the surface by extracting sea-mud and processing it on the mainland.

Japan is particularly looking for rare earths like dysprosium that are used in the automobile industry. Japan has one of the worlds largest automobile industries with brands like Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, and Nissan a household names in many parts of the world.

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After China halted rare earths supplies in 2010 over the Senkaku islands dispute, Japan began diversifying its rare earths supplies. Over the years, it has managed to cut its dependence on China by up to a third.

Globally, China controls around 70 per cent of rare earths supplies and 90 per cent refining capabilities. After the 2010 episode, Japan acquired a stake in Australian mining company Lynas and secured long-term supply of rare earths with no exposure to China.

Under the arrangement, Lynas mines for rare earths in Australia and processes the ores at a facility in Malaysia. Until this year, the Malaysia facility was the only large-scale rare-earth separation plant functional outside China, according to The New York Times.

How Japan plans to tap into rare earths on seabed

Japan will build a facility on Minamitorishima, part of the remote Ogasawara Islands, through its Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), to extract sea-mud, separate the mud from the sea-bed, and then taking it to the mainland for the final refining, according to Nikkei Asia.

The work will start as early as January and February 2026 when the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology will conduct test mining using a deep-sea research ship to recover a small amount of mud with pipes, as per the report.

The full-scale demonstration is planned for February 2027.

As per the plan, sea-mud will be taken to a facility on Minamitorishima where seawater around 80 per cent of the volume will be separated and the remaining mud will be sent via ship to mainland Japan for refining and production of rare earth metals.

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We will ultimately demonstrate the entire process of extracting rare-earth elements from mud and then assess its economic viability, Shoichi Ishii, programme director at SIP, told the newspaper.

Japan has allocated 16.4 billion yen ($105 million) for the plan, as per the newspaper.
Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism, with prosecutors describing a plot that, if carried out, would have been one of the deadliest in recent British history

A jury at Preston Crown Court has convicted two men of planning a large-scale terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Greater Manchester.

Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism, with prosecutors describing a plot that, if carried out, would have been one of the deadliest in recent British history.

The duo was accused of answering a socalled Islamic State call to arms and targeting Jewish people, particularly in areas of north Manchester known for their vibrant Jewish communities. Detectives were told the men harboured a visceral dislike of Jewish people and had been making preparations from late 2023 into the spring of 2024, as reported by the Guardian.

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How the plot was foiled

The conspiracy began to unravel when Saadaoui tried to collect semiautomatic rifles and ammunition from a man he believed was part of the extremist network.

In reality, the supplier was an undercover operative known as Farouk, who had infiltrated online channels where Saadaoui and Hussein communicated.

Saadaoui was arrested in May 2024 at a car park in Bolton as he attempted to retrieve two AK47 assault rifles, a semiautomatic pistol and nearly 200 rounds of ammunitionweapons of the type used in the 2015 Paris attacks.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said the operation was of almost unprecedented complexity and could have led to unparalleled loss of life, according to the Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

In addition to the two guilty verdicts for planning acts of terror, Walids younger brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was found guilty of failing to disclose what he knew to authorities. All three men were remanded and are due to be sentenced in February 2026.
President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated that the United States needed Greenland for national security and announced Jeff Landry will lead the charge of the Danish Arctic island.

President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated that the United States needed Greenland for national security and announced that his special envoy will lead the charge of the Danish Arctic island.

After being elected as the President of United States for the second term, Trump has emphasised his need for the resource-rich autonomous territory.

Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry on Sunday as his special envoy to Greenland, drawing renewed criticism from Denmark and Greenland over Washingtons interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island.

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We need Greenland for national security. Not for minerals, Trump told a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.

If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place, he said.

We need it for national security. We have to have it, Trump said, adding that Landry wanted to lead the charge.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlands Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen earlier Monday said in a joint statement that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.

You cannot annex another country, they said. We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity."

Landry, in a post on X, thanked Trump: Its an honor to serve  in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!"

The Trump administration put further pressure on Copenhagen on Monday, when it suspended leases for five large offshore wind projects being built off the East Coast of the US, including two being developed by Denmarks state-controlled Orsted.

The Danish foreign minister earlier told TV2 television the appointment and statements were totally unacceptable and, several hours later, said the US ambassador had been called up to the ministry for an explanation.

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We summoned the American ambassador to the foreign ministry today for a meeting, together with the Greenlandic representative, where we very clearly drew a red line and also asked for an explanation, Lokke Rasmussen told public broadcaster DR in an interview.

Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the vast island is not for sale and that it will decide its own future.

Lokke Rasmussen said Trumps appointment of a special envoy confirmed continued US interest in Greenland.

Trumps determination to take over Greenland has stunned Denmark, a fellow member of NATO that has fought alongside the US in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pakistan has signed a multi dollar deal to sell the military equipment to the Libyan army. It entered a club of countries that offer conventional arms and military equipment.

Pakistan has clinched a multi dollar deal to sell the military equipment to the Libyan army. It entered a club of countries that offer conventional arms and military equipment.

According to the Reuters news agency, the over $4 billion deal, one of Pakistans largest-ever weapons sales, will see arms sold to the Libyan National Army (LNA).

The deal came into force after a meeting scheduled last week between the Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA, Saddam Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi as reported by the Dawn.

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Although foreign ministry, defence ministry and military did not respond to Reuters requests for comment, military officials called it historic in terms of size and financial impact.

A Pakistani official told Reuters that the deal spanned over land, sea, and water including the JF-17 fighter jets.

However, senior Pakistani military officials justified the arms sale, saying that many major western and Middle Eastern states have been supplying weapons and equipment to Libya for many years despite the embargo.

Calling it a paper embargo which is virtually non-existent due to multiple reasons, the sources said the move was in line with the prime minister and army chiefs vision for an export driven self sustained economy.

According to Reuters, any arms agreement with the LNA is likely to face scrutiny given Libyas long-running instability following a 2011 Nato-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and split the country between rival authorities.

We announce the launch of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan, Haftar said in remarks broadcast on Sunday by Al-Hadath television.
With Boeings Dreamliner facing a crisis of confidence after the Air India 787 crash, the companys former manager-turned-whistleblower Ed Pierson, tells Firstposts Shiksha Dev that the aircraft-maker has a work culture that puts schedule over safety

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash on June 12 has once again put Boeings safety culture under intense scrutiny, reviving long-standing concerns about production pressure, compromised quality checks and inadequate testing of aircraft components.

From the two Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 to the catastrophic 787 crash in Ahmedabad, a series of aviation disasters has claimed hundreds of lives, raising fundamental questions about whether commercial priorities have repeatedly overridden safety considerations.

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Schedule was king inside Boeing factories

Explaining what he describes as Boeings schedule-first culture, former Boeing senior manager-turned-whistleblower and current Executive Director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety Ed Pierson told Firstpost that production timelines consistently took precedence over safety on the factory floor.

While the company publicly maintains that safety and quality come first, Pierson said the reality inside Boeings manufacturing facilities often tells a different story.

There was incredible pressure to get the work done. The schedule was king, as they always say at Boeing. The company says that safety and quality come first, but when it gets down to brass tacks, unfortunately, its not the same on the factory floor, he said.

Pierson added that priorities varied sharply across teams, with some refusing to cut corners while others, under different leadership, made decisions that compromised safety.

Rushed production and out-of-sequence work

Pierson described what he called a dangerous pattern of out-of-sequence work at Boeing, where aircraft moved down the production line despite incomplete tasks.

For example, on a particular flow day like four, employees have to wait till the plane parts come or the quality control. If things are not available on time, they leave the work without completing it. They carry the same work on flow day five or six, which interrupts the work of those days, he said.

He added that instead of pausing production, aircraft were routinely pushed forward, forcing workers to rush once parts eventually arrived.

Instead of waiting until the parts come in, planes keep getting moved down the line, and after that, workers get the parts. They then have to rush to pick up their tools and do everything. It is downright dangerous, Pierson said.

When you hear about rate increases, these are on top of people who are struggling with quality control.

Boeings cultural problem: People need to speak up

Pierson stressed that Boeings problems go beyond engineering failures and point to a deeper corporate culture issue. He said he had raised similar concerns during the manufacturing of the 737 Max aircraft.

An aerial photo shows Boeing 737 MAX airplanes parked on the tarmac at the Boeing Factory in Renton, Washington, U.S. (Left). Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash (Right). Reuters

He argued that safety responsibilities should not rest solely with pilots but extend across the workforce.

Several times, when we talk about human factors, people think about pilots only. No, but even a mechanic, a technician, a flight attendant needs to speak up if theyre not in the right state of mind or physically ready to work because these planes will be out there for 30 years, he said.

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Leadership failures, Pierson added, compounded the problem. Some areas have strong leadership, and then next door, it is terrible.

Safety should be a higher priority, not Wall Street

Asked whether Boeings current crisis is driven by rate pressure, Pierson pointed to what he called artificial pressure linked to financial losses.

Boeing has lost a lot of capital and money because of the problems it faced in the last few years. At the company, its an artificial pressure in many ways, he said.

Pierson argued that acknowledging manufacturing and quality control failures would be the first step towards rebuilding trust.

Ensure your financial future by putting out high-quality products. If products are faulty, fix them first. This should be a higher priority than making new planes. They need to build the planes to the highest quality standards, he said.

He added, Problems exist, acknowledge it. If they keep denying and saying that we have the highest engineering standards, quality control standards, regulatory oversight, manufacturing standardsbut the proof is in the pudding.

Pierson also criticised Boeings focus on investor confidence over safety. It doesnt suit anybody to allow potentially dangerous planes to be flying and then be focused on Wall Street. Who cares what Wall Street says? Build planes with the highest quality standards. Theres always going to be a schedule, but if they cut corners, bad things will happen.

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Criminal accountability is necessary

Pierson argued that meaningful reform at Boeing would not happen without criminal accountability for senior decision-makers.

I absolutely think that criminal accountability is necessary to drive real change at Boeing. Nobody wakes up with the wrong intentions, but there is gross negligence, he said.

A Boeing logo is seen before the opening of the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 13, 2025. Reuters

He continued, Pushing forward, getting the schedule done, putting planes out of the door to meet delivery dates, so the company can make all these public relations announcements about the numbers of planes being pushed. I think this is criminal behaviour.

Pierson urged US law enforcement agencies to intervene. The FBI needs to step in with the Department of Justice. They need to weed out those individual leaders who made bad decisions knowing that something was dangerous, but continued, he said.

They all should be held accountable, criminally accountable. Once you have the accountability, then behaviour will change. However, if you keep rewarding the behaviour, it wont ever change.

Would he fly on a 737 Max or 787?

When asked whether he would personally fly on a Boeing 737 Max or a 787 today, Pierson was unequivocal.

No, I will not fly on the 737 Max right now. We have a long list of reports on our website, Foundation for Aviation Safety. It shows all the defects that weve been tracking. There are engine load reduction device issues that cause smoke in the cabin and the flight deck. There are anti-icing systems that can cause the disintegration of a cowling on the engine. Theres a whole bunch of issues.

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People hold a banner with pictures of victims of the crashed Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 Boeing 737 MAX 8 during the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing. Reuters

He said similar concerns were emerging around the Dreamliner. Were finishing up an analysis on 787, and I can say that we have witnessed a lot of the similarities. The same bad manufacturing processes we saw on Max. We noticed those on the 787, as evident in these reports. I wouldnt recommend flying on the 787 right now until the authorities do their job.

Incomplete production records and concealed information

Addressing earlier comments about aircraft leaving factories with incomplete or inaccurate production records, Pierson cited the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash.

The production records showed that the plane was having problems with the electrical system in the factory before it came out of the factory. But that information was not shared with investigators, he said.

He said, Stop concealing information because it doesnt suit anybody. We need to listen to these victim family members. They demand justice and accountability. Some people are acting criminally today, and our law enforcement and justice system needs to hold them accountable.

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What Pierson wants Boeing to do next

Pierson said Boeing must begin by confronting unresolved defects across its aircraft programmes.

Go back, look at all those defects on 737 and 787, that can be a good starting point, he said.

Focus on faults. Boeing needs to come up with a plan as soon as possible to fix all the 737 and 787 defects, which we have seen.

He added that pressure from leadership continues to undermine safety. They are not making sure employees are trained properly and certified to do the job. We get employees reports, even today. They are being asked to work on something they are not trained for, which is wrong.

With the Ahmedabad crash marking yet another fatal chapter in Boeings history, Pierson warned that the companys future now hinges on whether it chooses accountability over expediency.
Sudans prime minister has presented a broad UN-backed peace proposal to end nearly 1,000 days of war with the Rapid Support Forces, even as the US and international mediators intensify calls for an immediate humanitarian truce.

The war between the Sudanese Army and Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which controls areas of western Sudan, erupted in April 2023 (AFP).

After nearly 1,000 days of brutal fighting that has devastated communities across Sudan, the countrys prime minister on Monday set out a sweeping peace initiative aimed at ending the conflict with a rival paramilitary force, even as the United States renewed calls for an immediate humanitarian truce.

Kamil Idris, head of Sudans transitional civilian government, told the UN Security Council that his plan calls for a ceasefire monitored by the United Nations, African Union, and Arab League. It also seeks the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from all areas they occupy, their placement in supervised camps, and their disarmament.

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Sudan descended into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into open warfare. The fighting has involved widespread mass killings and rapes, as well as ethnically motivated violence, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the UN and international rights groups.

Support from the RSF for the proposal appeared highly unlikely, as it would effectively hand victory to government forces and strip the paramilitaries of their military power.

In an indirect reference to a truce backed by the US and key mediators Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, known as the Quad, Idris told the Security Council that the governments proposal was homemadenot imposed on us.

The Rapid Support Forces agreed to a humanitarian truce in early November. At the time, a Sudanese military official told The Associated Press that the army welcomed the Quads proposal but would only accept a truce once the RSF fully withdrew from civilian areas and surrendered their weaponsprovisions reflected in Idriss plan.

Idris said that without confining the paramilitary forces to camps, a truce had no chance for success. He urged the 15-member Security Council to support his initiative.

This initiative can mark the moment when Sudan steps back from the edge and the international communityyou! You!stands on the right side of history, the prime minister said, adding that the council should be remembered not as a witness to collapse, but as a partner in recovery.

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US and international calls for a humanitarian truce

US deputy ambassador Jeffrey Bartos, who addressed the council before Idris, said the Trump administration had offered a humanitarian truce as a path forward. We urge both belligerents to accept this plan without preconditions immediately, he said.

Bartos said the Trump administration strongly condemns the horrific violence across Darfur and the Kordofan region and the atrocities committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, who must be held accountable.

UAE Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, a Quad member, said there was an immediate opportunity to implement the humanitarian truce and deliver aid to civilians in desperate need. He warned that unilateral efforts by either of the warring parties are not sustainable and will only prolong the war.

Abushahab said a humanitarian truce must be followed by a permanent ceasefire and a pathway towards civilian rule independent of the warring parties.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Khaled Khiari highlighted growing Security Council concern over the conflict, which he said has been fuelled by the continued supply of increasingly sophisticated weapons. He criticised unnamed countries for failing to halt arms supplies and faulted both government and paramilitary forces for refusing to compromise or de-escalate.

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While they were able to stop fighting to preserve oil revenues, they have so far failed to do the same to protect their population, Khiari said. The backers of both sides must use their influence to help stop the slaughter, not to cause further devastation.

The war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to UN figures, though aid groups say the true toll could be many times higher. The conflict has triggered the worlds largest humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people displaced, disease outbreaks spreading, and famine taking hold in parts of the country.
Her arrest is the most high-profile detention since the British government banned the activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws earlier this year

A handout photograph taken on and released by Prisoners for Palestine in London on December 23, 2025 shows Swedish activist Greta Thunberg before her arrest by Police officers outside the offices of Aspen Insurance at Plantation Place on Fenchurch Street. (AFP)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested by London police on Tuesday while attending a protest in support of pro-Palestinian hunger strikers, Palestinian activist groups said.

Her arrest is the most high-profile detention since the British government banned the activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws earlier this year.

The protest, organised by Prisoners for Palestine, took place in Londons financial quarter and focused on activists currently on hunger strike. Thunbergs presence quickly drew attention amid a heavy police presence.

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Greta Thunberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Prisoners for Palestine lock-on protest, Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement, quoted AFP.

NOW: Greta Thunberg was arrested in London after holding a sign supporting the proscribed organisation Palestine Action. Can she just be deported and NEVER allowed back into this country. @ShabanaMahmood pic.twitter.com/6sq67Bzyaz  Heidi Bachram  (@HeidiBachram) December 23, 2025

Placard linked to banned group

According to the group, Thunberg was holding a sign that read, I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.

Police later confirmed she was arrested for displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation.

City of London Police said officers initially arrested three people on suspicion of criminal damage after a building in the area was vandalised.

It said the arrests followed an incident in which hammers and red paint were used to damage a building.

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers are working to release them, and bring them into police custody, police said.

Detention under anti-terror law

Police said Thunberg arrived at the scene shortly afterward and was arrested separately.

A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, the statement added.

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The government banned Palestine Action in July after activists broke into an air force base, causing an estimated 7 million ($9.3 million) in damage. Some of those arrested over the incident are among eight detainees currently on hunger strike.

Hamas propaganda agent.

Greta Thunberg and her Islamist allies blocked Piccadilly Circus in London. Apparently, climate change can waittodays priority is amplifying Islamist propaganda and paralyzing a major city pic.twitter.com/BcFScvzvVP  Ori hazan official (@hazan_the_Great) December 23, 2025

The detainees, aged between 20 and 31, are facing trials linked to break-ins or criminal damage. Supporters say they began hunger strikes in early November to protest their treatment and demand release on bail.

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Asked about the matter in parliament last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said rules and procedures were being followed.

According to protest organisers Defend Our Juries, the ban has resulted in at least 2,300 arrests. Londons Metropolitan Police said in late November that 254 of those arrested have been charged with lesser offences carrying sentences of up to six months.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine opened a potential goldmine for Vladimir Arsenyev. The 75-year-old scientist heads a Moscow firm that makes components for a communications device used by tank crews.

A view of destroyed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles in Dmytrivka village, west of Kyiv, Ukraine, April 1, 2022. REUTERS.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been escalating and opened a potential goldmine for Vladimir Arsenyev. As Russian tanks rumbled through Ukraine in 2022, as his business was awash with defence orders.

But the orders he landed turned out to be a poisoned chalice, he recounted in a series of interviews with Reuters, the first time he has spoken publicly about his struggles. He had to ramp up production at breakneck speed and deliver to tight deadlines at prices set by the Russian defence ministry.

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The 75-year-old scientist heads a Moscow firm that makes components for a communications device used by tank crews.

Failure was no option. Invoking the spectre of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, Russias government has threatened defence manufacturers with jail time if they dont meet contractual obligations.

Sergei Mosiyenko, a minority shareholder, said he could see the company was going to miss deadlines, so he blew the whistle. The defence ministry is the customer, he told Reuters. They are always right.

Speaking to Reuters from the hospital, Arsenyev disputed that the contracts were in trouble, saying people who were trying to undermine him had sent unfounded complaints to the authorities.

How is it that a company that is getting growing orders and fulfils those orders is dying? he asked. That probably means theres a problem.

The Kremlin and Russias defence ministry did not respond to detailed questions about Arsenyevs case or their handling of defence contracts more broadly.

At least 34 people have faced criminal charges for disrupting state defence orders since the start of the Ukraine war, according to documents posted on the Moscow courts of general jurisdiction website. They include at least 11 company bosses and two senior executives.
US lawmakers have condemned the brutal killing of Hindu man in Bangladesh, and called for the countrys security amid rising instability and unrest.

A mourner holds Bangladesh's national flag during the funeral of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka on December 20, after two days of violent protests over his killing. Huge crowds accompanied the funeral procession of Hadi, a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising who died in a hospital in Singapore on December 18 after being shot by masked gunmen while leaving a Dhaka mosque. AFP

The US lawmakers have seriously raised their concern about the brutal killing of Hindu man in Bangladesh. The lawmakers condemned the act of repression in Bangladesh and the growing tensions after the death of student leader Osman Hadi.

Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi also condemned the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, and called for the countrys security amid rising instability and unrest.

Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, called on Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability, protect religious minorities, and restore the rule of law to prevent further loss of lives.

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I am appalled by the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man in Bangladeshan act of violence amid a period of dangerous instability and unrest, Krishnamoorthi said in a statement Sunday as quoted by PTI.

While authorities have reported arrests, the Government of Bangladesh must aggressively pursue a full and transparent investigation and prosecute all those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. It must also take urgent action to protect Hindu communities and other religious minorities from further violence. For the sake of all Bangladeshis, this unrest must end and the rule of law must be upheld, he further added.

New Yorkers also expressed their deep anguish against the atrocities. New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar expressed her feelings and shared that she is deeply affected by the incident and the instability in Bangladesh. She rose her voice about the ongoing violence against Bangladeshs Hindu minority, exemplified by the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das.

Another Indian American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, in separate statements, called for urgent action to protect minorities, investigate killings transparently, and prevent loss of life.

A mob beat him, set him ablaze, and left his body on a highway. Authorities have reportedly arrested twelve individuals in connection with the horrific crime, she said.

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Rajkumar also added about the trouble which is deeply shocking for the Hindus and minority targeting and igniting violence across the country.

She added that the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented 2,442 incidents of violence against minorities and over 150 temples vandalised from August 2024 to July 2025.

From Queens to countries across the globe, we all share in the fear, pain, and uncertainty faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. We stand in solidarity with Bangladeshs Hindu community and for human rights and religious freedom globally, she further said.

At least 19 people have been arrested involved in the murder of Das. He died on December 19, where his body was set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Bangladesh.
The remarks come amid a widening US campaign against Venezuelas oil trade, which Washington says funds drug-related crime

US President Donald Trump has said Washington plans to either retain or sell crude oil seized from tankers off the coast of Venezuela, along with the vessels themselves, as the administration steps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to leave office.

Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, Trump was blunt about the fate of the oil. Were going to keep it, he said, adding, Maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it. Maybe well use it in the Strategic Reserves. Were keeping the ships also.

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Oil seizures tied to pressure on Maduro

The remarks come amid a widening US campaign against Venezuelas oil trade, which Washington says funds drug-related crime. Caracas, however, has condemned the seizures as piracy and accused the US of economic warfare.

So far this month, the US military has seized two oil tankers, including one intercepted on Saturday. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard is continuing to pursue a third vessel that authorities describe as part of a Venezuelan dark fleet used to evade American sanctions.

Its moving along, and well end up getting it, Trump said, referring to the tanker still being tracked.

Military action expands at sea

Separately on Monday, the US military said it carried out a strike on what it described as a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific. US Southern Command said one person was killed in the operation.

Asked whether the tanker seizures were meant to push Maduro from power, Trump replied: Well, I think it probably would Thats up to him what he wants to do. I think itd be smart for him to do that. But again, were gonna find out.

The US has increased its military presence across the Pacific and Caribbean and has carried out deadly strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, killing around 100 people. The military has not publicly presented evidence the vessels were carrying drugs, prompting scrutiny from Congress.

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On Monday, Trump said the campaign would expand further.

Well be starting the same programme on land. If they want to come by land, theyre going to end up having a big problem. Theyre going to get blown to pieces, because we dont want our people poisoned,  the US President said.

Maduro hits back

Maduro responded on state television, saying Trump would be better off in his own country dealing with economic and social issues and the world would be better off if he focused on his own countrys affairs.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduros capture, designated his government a foreign terrorist organisation, and ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers. Venezuela has asked the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session on Tuesday over what it calls ongoing US aggression.
Donald Trump announced plans for a Trump-named class of heavily armed warships, signaling a renewed drive to modernise and expand the US Navy amid rising global competition.

A concept rendering of the proposed Trump-class USS Defiant is shown as Donald Trump unveils the US Navys Golden Fleet plan at Mar-a-Lago on December 22, 2025. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Monday revealed plans for a new class of warships that will carry his name, a distinction typically granted to leaders only after they have left office. The announcement signals a renewed push to expand and modernise the US Navy amid concerns over global naval competition.

Trump said two Trump-class vessels would be built initially, though the programme could expand significantly. He described the ships as some of the most lethal surface warfare ships and the largest battleship in the history of our country.

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Size, weapons and strategic message

The president made the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, joined by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan. Images of the proposed high-tech ships were displayed during the event.

When asked whether the new warships were intended to counter Beijing, Trump dismissed the suggestion.

Its a counter to everybody, its not China. We get along great with China, he said.

According to Trump, the ships will weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tons and will be equipped with missiles and guns, as well as advanced weaponry still under development, including lasers and hypersonic missiles. He added that the vessels would also be capable of carrying atomic weapons in the form of a nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile.

The Trump-class ships are expected to be significantly larger than existing US destroyers and cruisers. However, the projected displacement would still be smaller than that of the Iowa-class battleships, which were retired in the 1990s.

Wider naval expansion plans

Trump said he would take part in the design process alongside the Navy, noting past complaints about the appearance of US ships.

Because Im a very aesthetic person, he said.

The announcement comes days after the Navy outlined plans for another new class of ships, the FF(X) frigates, which it said would complement the fleets larger, multi-mission warships. Phelan said the FF(X) would be based on an existing design from shipbuilder HII already in use by the United States Coast Guard, with the first vessel expected to enter service by 2028.

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The frigate plans followed Phelans statement in late November that four of six planned Constellation-class frigates would be cancelled, while two already under construction remain under review.

The renewed focus on shipbuilding comes as Washington lags behind Beijing in overall fleet size. A report to Congress earlier this year said US military officials and other observers are increasingly concerned about the pace of Chinas shipbuilding.

Were going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power, Trump said. Were going to ensure the USA has the most powerful fleet anywhere in the world, and long into the future, with battleships helping lead the way.
The US has intensified intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria since late November, signaling deepening security cooperation amid Trumps threats of possible military intervention and rising militant violence.

The US has stepped up intelligence-gathering flights across wide areas of Nigeria since late November, according to flight tracking data and current and former US officials, underscoring closer security cooperation between the two countries. The purpose of the flights could not be determined, reported Reuters.

The aerial activity follows threats made in November by US President Donald Trump to intervene militarily in Nigeria over what he described as the countrys failure to stop violence against Christian communities. The flights are also taking place only months after a US pilot working for a missionary agency was kidnapped in neighbouring Niger.

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Tracking data for December shows the contractor-operated surveillance aircraft usually departs from Ghana, flies over Nigeria, and then returns to Accra, the Ghanaian capital. The operator is Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, which provides special mission aircraft and works closely with the US military, according to the companys website. Tenax Aerospace did not respond to a request for comment.

Liam Karr, Africa Team Lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, analysed the flight data and said the operation appeared to be run from an airport in Accra, a known hub for the US militarys logistics network in Africa. He said the activity suggested the US was beginning to rebuild its regional capacity after Niger last year ordered US troops to leave a newly built desert airbase and turned instead to Russia for security assistance.

In recent weeks weve seen a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights in Nigeria, Karr said in an interview.

A former US official said the aircraft was one of several assets the Trump administration moved to Ghana in November. While the number of aircraft remaining there is unclear, the former official said the missions include efforts to locate the kidnapped US pilot and collect intelligence on militant groups operating in Nigeria, including Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province.

A current US official confirmed the aircraft has been flying over Nigeria but declined to provide further details because of the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue. Another administration official said Washington continued to work with Nigeria to address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the destabilising spread of terrorism. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

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In a statement, the Pentagon said the US government had held productive meetings with Nigeria following Trumps comments but declined to discuss intelligence matters. Nigerias military spokesperson and Ghanas deputy defence minister did not respond to requests for comment.

Nigerias government has said armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, arguing that US claims of Christian persecution do not reflect the complexity of the security situation and overlook efforts to protect religious freedom. However, it has agreed to work with the US to strengthen its forces against militant groups. Nigerias population is divided mainly between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south.

A Nigerian security source said the US agreed during a November 20 meeting between Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy air assets for intelligence gathering. A spokesperson for the Nigerian military did not respond to requests for comment.

Flight tracking data showed the Tenax Aerospace aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on November 7. The base houses the headquarters of the United States Special Operations Command. The aircraft flew to Ghana on November 24, days after the high-level security meeting, and has since flown over Nigeria almost daily. The aircraft is a Gulfstream V, a long-range business jet often modified for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

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Security emergency in Nigeria

Nigerias President Bola Tinubu declared a security emergency last month and ordered the army and police to begin mass recruitment as armed violence worsened across the country. The decision followed attacks in several states in which civilians were killed or kidnapped, as well as the mass abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren in northern Nigeria.

At the same time, the US has taken punitive steps over what it sees as Nigerias failure to protect Christians. In October, Trump added Nigeria back to a list of countries that the US says have violated religious freedom. This week, Nigeria was also added to the US travel ban list, facing partial restrictions and entry limitations.

Trump has asked the Defence Department to prepare for possible fast military action if Nigeria does not curb the killing of Christians. The US and Nigeria have also set up a joint task force to address security concerns, according to Republican US Representative Riley Moore, who recently travelled to the country.
It was meant to be a proud moment for South Koreas growing space ambitions, but excitement soon turned into shock as Innospaces Hanbit Nano rocket plunged to the ground only minutes after liftoff. The unmanned launch vehicle, seen as a key milestone for South Koreas private space industry, ascended from the Goheung launch site under clear morning skies before the mission began to falter mid flight.

The footage captures the rocket soaring steadily before it loses control and crashes back down in a spectacular burst, leaving engineers and spectators speechless. The fiery descent marked a heartbreaking end to what was expected to be a breakthrough moment for the nations space research and small satellite technology.

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Watch the gripping video that shows the tense moments of liftoff, the sudden failure in mid air, and the stunned silence that swept across the control room.

 SOUTH KOREA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH ENDS IN APPARENT EXPLOSION



South Korean space company Inno Space attempted to launch its first commercial rocket "Hanbit-Nano" from Brazil's Alcantara Space Center on December 23.



It lasted about one minute.



The launch was pic.twitter.com/t7J8JK6EH4  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 23, 2025
The segment, titled Inside CECOT, focused on Venezuelan men who said they were sent to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison under the Trump administrations deportation policies, where they allegedly endured abuse and harsh conditions

People hold signs as they gather outside the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations in New York on June 5, 2025 to read the names of detainees at CECOT, El Salvadors maximum-security prison for alleged terrorists. (AFP)

CBS News stirred controversy this week after it abruptly pulled a planned 60 Minutes investigative segment that examined the treatment of migrants deported from the United States to a notorious maximum security prison in El Salvador.

The decision came just hours before the show was scheduled to air.

The segment, titled Inside CECOT, was produced by veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and focused on Venezuelan men who said they were sent to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison under the Trump administrations deportation policies, where they allegedly endured abuse and harsh conditions.

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The report had been promoted by 60 Minutes ahead of the broadcast and was cleared by legal and standards reviews before being pulled.

Reporter calls decision political

In an internal note to colleagues, Alfonsi hit back at the decision, saying that pulling the story after it had passed rigorous reviews wasnt an editorial decision but a political one. She argued the segment was factually correct and that blocking it set a dangerous precedent.

If the administrations refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a kill switch for any reporting they find inconvenient, she wrote in the note.

While CBS News leadership said the story needed more reporting and context, including interviews with relevant officials, the timing of it all had led to intense internal and external pushback.

The controversy has spilled into public debate, with some critics accusing CBS of political censorship and others defending editorial caution. Supporters of the networks leadership argue that journalistic standards require thorough reporting, especially on sensitive international issues.

Despite being pulled, the segment found its way online.

The nearly 14-minute segment, reviewed by The Guardian, offers a detailed look inside El Salvadors Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (Cecot), beginning with aerial footage of the mega-prison and scenes of detainees being placed in shackles as they arrive in the country.

The episode later appeared on a streaming service operated by Global TV, the Canadian broadcaster that holds the rights to 60 Minutes.

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After being in exile for over 17 years in London, the son of Bangladesh Nationalist Partys acting chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman is returning to Dhaka on December 25. Will his return prove to be the winning hand of BNP in the upcoming general elections

Amid the political instability in Bangladesh, political parties have grappled up for the upcoming 2026 general elections. After being in exile for over 17 years in London, the son of Bangladesh Nationalist Partys acting chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman is returning to Dhaka on December 25.

As the elections are scheduled on February 12th, exactly 50 days before the country will go into polls and experience an electoral race. In view of Khaleda Zias critical health condition, Rahmans return is seen as a homecoming and a life saver for BNP supporters.

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The election will be marked in the history of Bangladesh which is happening amid such political upsurge. The first since 2024 students uprising, removal of ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, and current religious mob lynching incident.

The interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has banned Hasinas party, the Awami League, from taking part in elections. On Sunday, chief adviser Muhammad Yunus in a meeting discussed in detail various issues, including the return of Tarique.

Tariques return

Tariques return is seen as a homecoming that will solve the puzzle of 2026 general elections. Bangladeshs election is seen as a never ending political debate.

Rahman is the acting Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), went into self-imposed exile in London in 2008 primarily to evade multiple criminal and graft cases filed against him.

Since 2008, he has been living in exile and all these years Tarique has helped his mother run BNP from the UK.

The Jamaat-e-Islami is seeing a surge in youth support. The National Citizen Party is positioning itself as the only true heir of the 2024 revolution.

The rising competition and flex had lifted the spirit of general elections in Bangladesh.

BNP the frontrunner

According to various opinion polls it was found that BNP is the only sole runner. A December poll by a US-based non-profit, the International Republican Institute, shows the BNP leading with 30 per cent support followed by the Jamaat-e-Islami at 26 per cent.

The B.N.P is pulling out all the stops for Tarique Rahmans homecoming. Party offices spruced up and Gulshan residence ready.

The question lingers around it that Will the return from exile help Tarique to deliver a hero stunt? Can he unite a nation with worsening political turmoil?

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The Chatham House article quotes Naomi Hossain, a professor of Development Studies at SOAS University of London, as saying that the most likely outcome does seem to be that the BNP will win and that the Jamaat-e-Islami party will be the main opposition.

It was the BNP and its allies that had pressured the interim govt for early elections, despite strong opposition from several quarters. Politics can be an unpredictable stream but national security cannot be put into stake. Reforms are incomplete and trust in the political process remains fragile.

The result of the general election will mark a new chapter for the nation providing a deep rooted trajectory neutralising the spike in political temperature.
OPPO India has announced the winners of the OPPO Photography Awards 2025, powered by LUMO. The second edition of the photography contest received over 30,000 entries from across India, focusing on smartphone-based visual storytelling.

OPPO Photography Awards 2025

The awards were organised around the theme Super Every Moment, highlighting how everyday scenes and experiences can be captured through mobile photography.

National winners

Following evaluation of entries from across the country, three photographers were selected as national winners:

Gold: Soumyasikha Manna (West Bengal) for a photographic portrayal of the life of a specially abled tribal man

Silver: Prathamesh Ganesh Shinde (Maharashtra) for capturing the traditional Indian sport of Mallakhamb

Bronze: Shubham Keshari (Uttar Pradesh) for documenting daily life in Varanasi

Prize money awarded to the national winners includes Rs. 5,00,000 for Gold, Rs. 2,00,000 for Silver, and Rs. 1,00,000 for Bronze.

Categories and selection process

The 2025 edition marked the second year of the OPPO Photography Awards in India. Participants competed across nine categories:

Super Snap, Super Youth, Super Live, Super Me, Super Vibe, Super Story, Super Connection, Super Culture (in partnership with Discovery Channel), and Super Environs.

From the initial pool of submissions, 40 photographers were shortlisted for Round 2. These participants captured images using the OPPO Find X8 Pro.

Entries were evaluated by a jury that included photographer Joseph Radhik and Vikram Channa, Vice President at Warner Bros. Discovery, along with other photography and editorial professionals.

Category winners

In addition to the national awards, winners were announced across individual categories. These winners will receive OPPOs latest flagship smartphone from the Find X9 series.

Super Snap: Rishika Umrey (Madhya Pradesh)

Super Youth: Pramit Das (West Bengal)

Super Live: Joel Jaswa (Tamil Nadu)

Super Me: Pradiptamoy Paul (West Bengal)

Super Vibe: Jayaraj T P (Kerala)

Super Story: Somenath Mukhopadhyay (West Bengal)

Super Connection: Chiranjit Dey (West Bengal)

Super Culture: Dikshit Mundra (Himachal Pradesh)

Super Environs: Pramit Das (West Bengal)

Global recognition

The global edition of the OPPO Photography Awards 2025 received nearly two million entries from 87 countries, marking the largest participation in the contest to date.

Two Indian photographers received Regional Awards at the global level. Captured on the OPPO Find X8 Pro, Rohit was recognised for Windows of Innocence, while Shahid Mushtaq received the award for Life on the Lake: A Kashmir Morning.

LUMO imaging system

The OPPO Photography Awards are powered by the LUMO Imaging System, which combines camera hardware, computational photography, and software-based image processing for smartphone photography.

Speaking on the announcement, Sushant Vashistha, Head of Product & Digital Marketing, OPPO India, said:

The OPPO Photography Awards powered by LUMO are built on a simple beliefthat technology should enable deeper, more meaningful expression. This years winning entries show how creativity grows when powerful imaging tools meet authentic intent. Through LUMO, we remain committed to supporting Indias creative community to capture moments as they truly feel.

Commenting on the results, Joseph Radhik, OPPO Imaging Expert, said:
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine 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
Contracts

Contracts For Dec. 22, 2025

ARMY

Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Andover, Massachusetts, was awarded an $841,682,106 fixed-price-incentive contract for fire units to include new production hardware, software, services inherent to production, spares and documentation. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $1,721,373,872. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2031. Fiscal 2026 Foreign Military Sales (Spain) funds in the amount of $841,682,106 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-26-C-0004). (Awarded Dec. 19, 2025)

Raytheon Co., Fullerton, California, was awarded a $77,718,025 modification (P00019) to contract W31P4Q-24-C-0015 for Sentinel A3 Radar life cycle contractor support. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2026. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,767,814 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $77,117,634 modification (PZ0005) to delivery order W912CH-25-F-0270 for production of M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, M992A3 vehicles and total package fielding kits. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $500,465,100. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2028. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W912CH-25-F-0270). (Awarded Dec. 19, 2025)

The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $58,617,941 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for field service representatives to support CH-47F helicopters. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2031. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-26-D-0014).

Elbit America Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $49,908,307 firm-fixed-price contract for Heads Up displays. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 21, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-26-D-0018).

Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Denver, Colorado, was awarded a $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for geotechnical services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2030. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, is the contracting activity (W91237-26-D-A007).

Kilgore Flares Co. LLC, Toone, Tennessee, was awarded an $18,461,031 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of MJU-7A/B infrared countermeasure flares. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W519TC-26-F-0013).

CORRECTION: The $512,217,829 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract (W56KGY-26-D-0003) announced on Dec. 19, 2025, to Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, for engineering, production, and sustainment services to develop, acquire, field, and provide life-cycle support for Synthetic Aperture Radar/Moving Target Indicator Radar, was actually awarded on Dec. 22, 2025.

NAVY

General Atomics, San Diego, California, is awarded a $149,963,257 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a cost-plus-incentive-fee provision to provide for programmatic, engineering, logistics, software support activity, configuration management, diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages, repairs and overhauls, technical support, and program planning support for the electromagnetic aircraft launch and advanced arresting gear systems in support of in-service Ford Class Carrier(s). Work will be performed in San Diego, California (98.6%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (1.4%), and ordering is expected to be complete by December 2030. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,815,939; all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001926D1001).

Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania was awarded a $128,478,836 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-24-C-2112) for naval nuclear propulsion components. This modification includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this modification to $197,713,950. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pennsylvania (91%); and Schenectady, New York (9%), and is expected to be completed by September 2034. Fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $124,219,726 were obligated at time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 18, 2025)

The Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded an $85,764,010 modification (PZ0002) to a firm-fixed-price contract (N0001924C0040). This modification definitizes the existing undefinitized contract action (base award and P00003) to procure complete APY-10 Radar Systems and associated support for P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime production aircraft. The definitized quantities are as follows: seven shipsets for the Navy; 14 shipsets plus spares for the government of Canada; three shipsets plus spares for the government of Germany; and spares for the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2030. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $225,815; fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $22,672,499; and Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $62,865,696, will be obligated at the time of award, $22,898,314 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $34,723,420 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N00104-26-F-CL0A under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00104-24-G-CL01) for the manufacture of new parts (spares) for the close-in weapon system (CIWS) used aboard nearly all Navy surface ships. The delivery order does not include an option provision. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (70%); and in Andover, Massachusetts (30%). Work is expected to be completed by December 2028. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds (Navy) in the contract's full amount of $34,723,420 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1) and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $33,455,511 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-25-C-2127) for advance planning and long-lead-time material procurement to prepare and make ready for the accomplishment of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) inactivation and defueling. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2026. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $32,700,016 will be obligated at time of award and will 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 (N00024-25-C-2127).

Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $27,500,665 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00001) to a previously awarded order (N0001925F0088) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0012). This effort exercises options to procure the following H-1 structural improvements and electrical power upgrades (SIEPU) Time critical parts: 19 rotorcraft station control units, 18 alternating current generators, 18 generator control units, and 20 tube assemblies, repair and upgrade of nine AH-1W whiskey combining gearboxes (C-Boxes) and two UH-1Y/AH-1Z retrograde condition C-Boxes to AH-1Z SIEPU C-Boxes. Additionally, the effort procures production tooling: Four assembly installation and removal tools, two assembly tools, two assembly holding fixture for quill - torque, one holding fixture needed in mills and jig bore, one inspection fixture, two holding fixtures to install washer seats in shim/stud, five thermal fit tools to seat liners, two holding fixture- dual sided for the Navy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (76.51%); Tempe, Arizona (6.58%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (5.01%); St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada (1.95%); Lebanon, New Hampshire (1.6%); South Rutherfordton, North Carolina (1.43%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (6.92%), and is expected to be completed in December 2028. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $27,262,324; and fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $238,341, will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not completed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Largo, Florida, is being awarded a $22,013,911 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, and cost-only modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-25-C-5239) to incrementally fund line items for design, development, integration, test, and maintenance of system capabilities for the design agent and engineering support efforts to the critical major weapon system, Cooperative Engagement Capabilities. Work will be performed in Saint Petersburg, Florida (81%); Largo, Florida (16%); and Maynard, Massachusetts (3%), and is expected to be completed by November 2026. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,106,880 (46%); fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (USMC) funds in the amount of $4,635,500 (21%); fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,342,000 (15%); fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (USMC) funds in the amount of $1,755,000 (8%); fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $983,748 (4%); fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Missile Defense Agency) funds in the amount of $490,783 (3%); fiscal 2026 procurement marine corps (USMC) funds in the amount of $400,000 (2%); and fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation (Office of Naval Research) funds in the amount of $300,000 (1%), will be obligated at time of award and funds in the amount of $6,380,748 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Textron Systems Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, is awarded a $16,614,327 modification (P00004) to a firm-fixed-price order (N0001924F0023) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0008). This modification exercises options to procure intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services for land-based deployment hub sites. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland (20%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (80%), and is expected to be completed in December 2026. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,076,218 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The order that is being modified was competed via a limited sources competition. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $16,576,580 for firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00104-26-F-CL09) under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00104-24-G-CL01) for the overhaul/repair of parts for the close-in weapon system used aboard nearly all Navy surface ships. The delivery order does not include an option provision. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (70%); and in Andover, Massachusetts (30%). Work is expected to be completed by December 2028. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds (Navy) in the contract's full amount of $16,576,580 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1) and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

World Wide Technology LLC, St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $15,285,426 firm-fixed-price contract. This effort procures Information Technology hardware and software in support of the Program Executive Office Digital Enterprise Services, Webster Outlying Field Integrated Command, Control and Intel Systems Division. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in April 2026. Fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,285,426 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N6833526C0184).

AIR FORCE

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, was awarded a $50,000,000 modification (P00033) to a previously awarded contract (FA8540-19-D-0001) for LITENING CATP program. This modification brings the total face value of the contract to $1,360,000,000 from $1,310,000,000. This action does not obligate any funding. Funding will be obligated on orders awarded under this contract. Work will be performed at Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025, with delivery orders expanding into calendar year 2029. This contract does not include Foreign Military Sales. Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Propper International Inc., Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $48,380,842 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for flame resistant pants. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a one-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Dec. 22, 2026. Using military service is Department of Agriculture. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2027 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-26-D-0008).



Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind Inc., doing business as IFB Solutions,* Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $35,371,688 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for fire resistant environment ensemble intermediate weather outer layer jacket in the operational camouflage pattern. This is a four-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Dec. 22, 2029. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-26-D-B003).

Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded an estimated $29,432,585 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for steering gears. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. The performance completion date is Dec. 22, 2028. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2029 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-26-D-0015).

*Small business

**Mandatory source

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4366669/

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7MechBde passed NATO tests, certified to control high-intensity operations

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

18.12.2025

Author: captain Romana Spitzerova

After a twelve-month preparation, the Czech Armed Forces 7th Mechanised Brigade homebased in Hranice achieved a key milestone in its modern existence. The 7MechBde has just successfully completed the command post exercise Amber Lionheart, which proved the Brigade's readiness to operate in the structure of the Multinational Division North East and its ability deploy for NATO Article V collective defence operations. The exercise focused on command and control processes without full deployment of all units in the field.

"As part of the certification process, the Brigade command proved the ability to plan and control operations by a combat task force within the Multi National Division North East. The Czech Armed Forces thus proved the ability to meet NATO commitments by participating in collective defence," Lieutenant General Vaclav Vlcek underscored.

The performance was highly positively evaluated by foreign representatives. "Cooperation with the Czech Armed Forces 7th Mechanised Brigade is for us an excellent example of outstanding interoperability and high professionalism. Their performance meets the NATO standards," said Major General Jarosaw Gorowski, Commander Multi National Division North East.

An Article 5 scenario. Combat situation, decision-making under pressure and command in the operational tempo of contemporary conflicts

The training primarily took place in Hranice and Drahotuse, where the staff worked in the mode of a continuously simulated operation. In parallel, there was a team of officers from the Brigade's command assigned to HQ MND-NE in Elblag, Poland, who coordinated forces in the combined area of operations. The scenario was designed to escalate from defence operations to counterattack, including under the conditions of hybrid and kinetic threats. A high premium was placed on the coordination among subordinate components, speed of decision-making, adaptability to the changing situation and to maintaining a high degree of interoperability with Allies.

The specificity of exercise Amber Lionheart 25 was that the 7th Brigade Task Force led the operation simultaneously from the main command post and the combat support centre. The main command post controlled the brigade manoeuvre, communication with the superior division and with adjacent brigades in the order of battle. The combat support centre was concurrently in control of support and sustainability of the whole operation - they observed the course of the battle, force status, logistics, medical support, movements and resupply. "This configuration corresponds to the way the task force would be employed in real conflict and enabled the evaluators to verify both the ability to plan operations as well as to sustain combat readiness of assigned forces," explained Colonel Radek Soman, the Chief of Staff of the 7th Mechanised Brigade.

The integration of the whole Brigade Task Force was another important part of the training exercise. The operation did not involve just the 7th Mechanised Brigade as the heavy brigade core, but also assigned combat service and combat service support components from across the Czech Armed Forces - artillery, engineer, CBRN, reconnaissance, GBAD, signals, logistic and medical elements as well as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC). All those components had to be incorporated into a single plan, harmonised in time and space and controlled from both command posts as a single force.

Advanced simulation technology enabled the verification of command processes and established procedures, response to contingencies and continuity of the decision-making process. NATO evaluators observed the way the staff works with battlefield data, how they communicate with NATO partners in timeframes typical for high intensity conflicts. "In the environment of modern conflicts, it is not just about technology and modern equipment. The key factor is a highly ready staff plus the ability to fuse, respond and take decisions. Our service members proved they have what it takes," COL Soman underlined.

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OIC Condemns Israeli Occupation's Targeting of a School for Displaced Persons in Gaza City

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

21-12-2025

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, the latest of which was the bombing of a school sheltering displaced persons, resulting in the martyrdom of seven Palestinians and the injury of dozens of innocent civilians, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The OIC reiterated its demand that the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, assume its responsibilities to put an end to all Israeli crimes and violations, establish a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, ensure adequate and unhindered access for humanitarian aid, and ensure the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.

The OIC also stressed the need to activate international criminal justice mechanisms to prosecute and hold accountable all Israeli officials involved in committing these heinous crimes, and to ensure they do not escape punishment.

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December 22, 2025

By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News

Trump Announces New Class of Battleship

President Donald J. Trump today announced the Navy's intent to develop a new class of American-designed, 30,000 to 40,000-ton large surface combatants, or battleships, that will be employed to meet the realities of modern maritime conflict.

"As commander in chief, it's my great honor to announce that I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand-new, very large  largest we've ever built  battleships," Trump announced from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. He was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

The new Trump-class of ships  which the president said will contribute to a new "golden fleet" of advanced warships  are currently in the design phase, with construction of the first battleship, the USS Defiant, targeted for the early 2030s.

Phelan said that the new class of battleship is something the Navy "desperately needs." The president noted that the Navy aims to have a fleet of 20 to 25 ships eventually.

"The future Trump-class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world's oceans," Phelan said, adding that he wanted to thank the president for his vision to make the future battleship a game-changing capability for the U.S. Navy.

Phelan also compared the future Trump-class battleships to the former Iowa-class battleships, which were a cornerstone of the Navy's warship fleet for much of the 20th century.

"The Iowa was designed to go on the attack with the biggest guns, and that's exactly what will define the Trump-class battleships: offensive firepower from the biggest guns of our era," Phelan said.

"This ship isn't just to swat the arrows; it is going to reach out and kill the archers," he added.

During his remarks, Hegseth said that strengthening the Navy's fleet ties directly to the War Department's key goals of restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence.

"American strength is back on the world stage, and the announcement of the golden fleet anchored by new battleships  the biggest and most lethal ever  accomplishes all three of those things and marks a generational commitment to American sea power across the entire department," Hegseth said.

During the announcement, Trump made clear that the new battleships are intended to be constructed entirely in the U.S. by American citizens.

"The construction will create thousands of American jobs. We're going to have the jobs be created," he said.

Along with standard guns and missiles, Trump said the new battleships will be equipped with hypersonic weapons, electronic rail guns and high-powered laser-based weaponry.

He added that the Navy will take the lead in the ships' design, while partnering with the U.S. defense industrial base.

"We're going to make battle groups great again, and this is just one piece of the president's golden fleet that we're going to build with the investments," Phelan said.

The new Trump-class battleships will replace the Navy's previous plans to develop a new class of destroyer, the DDG(X). However, the sea service intends to incorporate the capabilities it had planned to employ on that platform into the new Trump-class ships.

The last time the Navy used battleships in combat was in 1991 during the first Gulf War, when the now-decommissioned Iowa-class battleships USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin provided naval gunfire support against Iraqi targets along the coast of Kuwait.

Today's announcement of the Trump-class battleships comes on the heels of the Navy's Dec. 19 announcement of the FF(X), a new class of frigates intended to replace the Navy's recently cancelled Constellation-class frigate program.

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Denmark - Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles - Extended Range

NEWS | Dec. 22, 2025

Media/Public Contact: T_Outreach_PM@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-99

WASHINGTON, December 22, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Denmark of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles - Extended Range and related equipment for an estimated cost of up to $951 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

The Government of Denmark has requested to buy two hundred thirty-six (236) Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles - Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER); and five (5) AIM-120-C8 guidance sections. The following non-MDE items will also be included: AMRAAM-ER load trainers, containers, and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons software and support equipment; classified software delivery and support; classified publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is up to $951 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

The proposed sale will improve Denmark's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring it has modern, capable air-to-air munitions for its aircraft, and surface-to-air munitions for its ground-based air defenses. This sale will further advance the already high level of Danish Air Force interoperability with U.S. forces and other regional and NATO forces. Denmark will have no difficulty in absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Denmark.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Political-Military Affairs Outreach, at T_Outreach_PM@state.gov.

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China sincerely hopes Cambodia, Thailand will quickly achieve a ceasefire, restore peace: FM spokesperson

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Dec 22, 2025 04:07 PM

Both Cambodia and Thailand are important members of ASEAN, and China appreciates and supports ASEAN, particularly Malaysia's capacity to mediate. As a friend and close neighbor of both countries, China sincerely hopes that Cambodia and Thailand will, based on safeguarding peace and stability along their borders and the fundamental interests of their peoples, quickly achieve a ceasefire and restore peace, Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday in response to a question about the ongoing Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, regarding the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand.

Since the recent escalation of the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, China has been mediating and urging reconciliation in its own way. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, and officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry have maintained communication with Cambodia, Thailand, and other relevant ASEAN countries, the spokesperson said. Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun is conducting shuttle diplomacy between Cambodia and Thailand. China will release updates on Deng's mediation efforts in due course and will continue to actively promote peace and dialogue, playing a constructive role in de-escalating the situation, Lin added.

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OIC calls for accountability, justice for Israeli crimes in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 22, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the ongoing Israeli crimes against Palestinians, including the recent deadly attack on a wedding ceremony at a school sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City.

In a statement released on Sunday, the OIC described the Israeli massacre of Palestinians in the besieged coastal strip as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

It called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to put an end to Israeli crimes and violations by establishing a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, ensuring adequate and unhindered access for humanitarian aid, and the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza.

The 47-member body, known to be the collective voice of the Muslim world with its headquarters in Jeddah, also stressed the need for activating international criminal justice mechanisms to prosecute and hold accountable Israeli officials involved in these heinous crimes.

Last Friday evening, Israeli forces shelled a school-turned-shelter in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, leaving seven Palestinians dead and several others injured.

The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas described the massacre as a "clear and new violation" of the truce agreement. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, some 400 Palestinians have been killed and over one thousand wounded in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire went into effect in October.

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Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting to address Thailand-Cambodia conflict held in Kuala Lumpur

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:43, December 22, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) - The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting to address the Thai-Cambodia conflict was held on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, as the regional grouping seeks to promote de-escalation.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the meeting serves as a platform for the grouping to consider possible steps to support de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities, in the interest of peace and regional stability.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, who chaired the meeting, reminded those present that ASEAN stands at a critical juncture in regional and global affairs, as geopolitical disruptions challenge the very foundations of the region's order.

"This threatens ASEAN's credibility as one of the most peaceful and successful regional organizations and integration projects in modern history. And in a highly interconnected ASEAN and world, a security shock is an ASEAN matter and a global concern. This is why everyone must make cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution a top priority," he said.

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DFA Statement on the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

22 December 2025 -- The ASEAN Foreign Ministers met today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, upon the invitation of Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, to discuss the border situation between Cambodia and Thailand.

Following the discussions today, the Philippines said that it is prepared to assume the role of facilitator/mediator between Cambodia and Thailand should both parties decide to make use of the good offices of the Chair once the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairship in January 2026. END



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Israeli drone strike kills three in southern Lebanon amid truce violations

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 5:48 PM

At least three people have been killed in southern Lebanon in the latest Israeli airstrike, marking another violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that took effect in November 2024.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA), citing the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Health Ministry, reported that the Israeli drone attack on Monday afternoon targeted a car on the Aqtnit-Qantara road in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing three people.

Al-Mayadeen television reported that one of the victims was a soldier in the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

The Israeli military, however, claimed that it had struck several Hezbollah members.

The strike followed Israeli attacks on Sunday in southern Lebanon that killed one person and wounded another.

NNA reported that Israeli drones targeted a car and a motorcycle in the southern village of Yater. The Israeli military claimed the targets were two Hezbollah members.

Tensions have been escalating in southern Lebanon for weeks as Israel carries out near-daily airstrikes inside the Lebanese territory, alleging that its attacks target Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

Since the ceasefire took effect last year, Israeli attacks have killed more than 340 Lebanese citizens.

Between October 2023 and November 2024, Israeli strikes killed more than 3,961 people in Lebanon, including 736 women, 222 health and rescue workers, and 248 children, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Under the truce agreement, Israeli forces were expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January. However, the withdrawal has been only partial, with a continued military presence at five border outposts.

On December 18, French, Saudi Arabian, and American representatives convened in Paris with the leader of the LAF to discuss and finalize a roadmap aimed at establishing a mechanism for disarming Hezbollah.

The meeting came as part of continued pressure aimed at forcing Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

The resistance group maintains it will not disarm while Israel occupies southern Lebanon and carries out attacks in the region.

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China slams US for 'arbitrarily seizing' ships, extends support to Venezuela

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 5:44 PM

China says the United States' arbitrary seizure of other countries' vessels is a serious violation of international law after the US interception of a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast further escalated tensions in the Caribbean.

"By arbitrarily seizing other countries' vessels, the US has seriously violated international law," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily press briefing on Monday.

He expressed China's opposition to "unilateral illicit sanctions that lack basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council."

He said Beijing also opposes any move that breaches the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, infringes upon other countries' sovereignty and security, and constitutes unilateralism and bullying.

The spokesman supported Venezuela's right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries.

"We believe Venezuela's position of defending its legitimate rights and interests has the understanding and support of the international community," Lin said.

On December 20, the US Coast Guard seized a second oil tanker in international waters off the Venezuelan coast which, according to TankerTrackers, is a Chineseowned, Panamaflagged tanker.

The site said the ship, Centuries, had been loaded with 1.8 million barrels of crude oil at a Venezuelan port earlier this month before being escorted out of the country's exclusive economic zone on December 18.

The documents showed that the crude was bought by Satau Tijana Oil Trading, one of many intermediaries involved in Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's sales to Chinese independent refiners.

US President Donald Trump's administration claims that Venezuela is using oil, its main resource, to finance "narcoterrorism."

Since September, the US military has also conducted a series of airstrikes on alleged drugtrafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Critics have questioned the legality of these attacks, which have killed more than 100 people.

Caracas denies any involvement in drug trafficking and says Washington is seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power and gain control over Venezuela's oil resources.

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Over 100 Palestinians displaced as Israel razes residential building in occupied East al-Quds

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 4:17 PM

Israeli forces demolished a four-storey residential building in occupied East al-Quds on Monday, displacing more than 100 Palestinians as part of a long-standing campaign of forced displacement.

The 13-apartment building, located in the Wadi Qaddum neighborhood of the Silwan district south of al-Quds's Old City, was razed by three bulldozers escorted by the regime's soldiers.

Israeli forces cordoned off surrounding roads, deployed heavily across the area, and positioned military personnel on the rooftops of neighboring houses.

The regime's soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas as the demolition took place. During the operation, a young man and a teenage boy were arrested.

Residents and activists described the destruction as the largest demolition in the area this year, while Palestinian officials condemned the action as part of a "systematic policy of displacement" in the occupied territory.

Local residents said the demolition reflects ongoing efforts to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their land.

Israeli authorities claimed the building was constructed without a permit, a common justification for demolition orders in occupied East al-Quds.

According to a United Nations study, such permits are "virtually impossible" to obtain.

Some Palestinians have been forced to demolish their own homes to avoid paying thousands of shekels in demolition fees imposed by Israel.

The developments come a day after Israel's "security cabinet" approved a highly controversial plan to establish 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.

In September, far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich announced intentions to annex more than 80 percent of the West Bank, describing the move as a "preventative step" against international efforts to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Israel occupied the West Bank, including the western part of the holy city of al-Quds, in 1967 and later annexed East al-Quds, which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel's prolonged occupation of historic Palestine was unlawful and called for the removal of all settlements currently in the West Bank and East al-Quds.

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Ethnic New Year celebrations in China draw global visitors

Xinhua) 14:57, December 23, 2025

GUIYANG, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- To the rhythm of lusheng woodwind pipes and the scent of sticky rice cakes, a village in southwest China's Guizhou Province celebrated its annual Dong New Year festival over the weekend -- an event that has become a gateway for global visitors.

Known as one of the major Dong villages in China, Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County holds unique folk cultural events each year, including frying Dong-style pastries, singing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group, hosting grand ethnic parades, lusheng musical competitions, and bonfire parties.

The vibrant festival attracted tourists from all over the world, creating a joyful festive atmosphere.

Konstantin Pokazachenko, a tourist from Moscow, Russia, arrived by high-speed train from Guilin, a renowned tourist destination in the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He and his friends have stayed in the village for two days. During this time, they visited many ancient buildings, experienced a grand parade and participated in the ritual activities.

"I have seen Chinese ethnic song and dance performances before, but this Dong New Year event featured more participants and a wide variety of performances. Experiencing it in person was truly impressive," he said.

According to China's National Immigration Administration (NIA), tourists from 76 countries now enjoy unilateral or mutual visa-free entry, with transit exemptions expanded to 55 countries.

Data from the NIA showed that visa-free entries accounted for over 7 million foreign arrivals in the third quarter of this year, representing 72.2 percent of all foreign entries and marking a 48.3 percent year-on-year increase.

Thanks to the visa-free policy, more and more international visitors choose China's remote southwestern mountainous areas as their travel destination, adding more global vibe to the region.

Chloe Bertrand, who works in Guangdong Province, visited the village for the first time with her parents and sister, who had flown to China for the Christmas holiday.

"We chose Guizhou's rural areas as the final stop of our China trip to experience local ethnic traditions," she said, adding that the mountainous Guizhou is also ideal for hiking.

Sarwar Jahan, a vlogger from Bangladesh who has over 400,000 followers online, captured beautiful and exciting moments of the Dong New Year with his camera.

"Today's grand parade was amazing. Local people truly love and take pride in their ethnic culture," Jahan said. "The scenery, culture, and the smiles of the people deeply fascinated me."

Jahan plans to share his short videos on Facebook and YouTube to showcase the beauty of Guizhou to global audiences. "Now, cooperation between Bangladesh and China is deepening. Many Bangladeshis watch Chinese videos and are very interested in Chinese culture."

To date, nearly 10,000 inbound visitors have traveled to the village, figures show.

By organizing events such as the Dong New Year celebrations and village-level chorus competitions, local authorities have developed distinctive ethnic cultural tourism projects that enrich rural tourism with a variety of cultural experiences, said Lu Weimin, Party chief of the village.

The village has now developed over 400 hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for more than 2,000 villagers, Lu added.

The local initiative aligns with China's broader national strategy. As noted in a recommendations document for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), China will spur deeper integration of culture and tourism through the vigorous development of cultural tourism and use culture to empower economic and social development.

The document also emphasized the need to offer more convenient and foreigner-friendly services for inbound tourists.

Liang Jianfeng, from Foshan City of Guangdong Province, known for its traditional lion dance, led a youth lion dance team to perform in the Dong Village.

"The annual Dong New Year celebration not only deepens ethnic cultural exchanges between Guizhou and Guangdong, but also lays a solid foundation for enhanced future cooperation in culture and tourism between the two regions," Liang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
New Israeli restrictions threaten lifesaving care in Gaza, MSF warns

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 3:38 PM

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that Israel's newly introduced registration requirements for international non-governmental organizations could leave hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza without access to lifesaving healthcare.

The Paris-based charity said in a statement on Monday that the new rules could result in the cancellation of registration for international NGOs beginning January 1, effectively barring organizations like MSF from delivering vital services in war-torn Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

"With Gaza's health system already destroyed, independent and experienced humanitarian organizations losing access to respond would be a disaster for Palestinians," the statement read.

"MSF calls on the Israeli authorities to ensure that INGOs can maintain and continue their impartial and independent response in Gaza," it added.

MSF warned that already limited humanitarian efforts "cannot be further dismantled."

"In the last year, MSF teams have treated hundreds of thousands of patients and delivered hundreds of millions of liters of water," Pascale Coissard, MSF emergency coordinator for Gaza, said.

She noted that MSF teams are seeking to enhance support for Gaza's overwhelmed healthcare system, and they conducted close to 800,000 outpatient consultations and treated over 100,000 trauma cases in 2025.

They plan to further expand their efforts in 2026, provided they receive the necessary registration, Coissard stated.

"If MSF loses its access to Gaza in 2026, due to the Israeli authorities, a large portion of people in Gaza will lose access to critical medical care, water, and lifesaving support. MSF's activities serve nearly half a million people in Gaza through our vital support to the destroyed health system," the statement added.

Last week, Doctors Without Borders expressed serious concern over children in the Gaza Strip suffering from extreme cold.

The organization called on Israel to allow increased humanitarian aid to help Palestinians cope with the challenging winter conditions.

It said in a statement on December 20 that "A 29-day-old baby died at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, just two hours after arriving at the pediatric ward supported by MSF."

"Despite all treatment efforts, the child could not be saved. He died from severe hypothermia," the organization added.

MSF warned that "the harsh winter weather, coupled with already dire living conditions, is exacerbating health risks."

The Israeli military has killed at least 70,937 Palestinians, the majority being women and children, and wounded another 171,192 in Gaza since October 2023.

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Lebanese army uncovers, dismantles Israeli spying device in south

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 10:14 AM

The Lebanese army says it has discovered and dismantled an Israeli espionage device camouflaged and equipped with a camera south of the country.

According to a statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command's Orientation Directorate on Sunday, the device was found in the town of Yaroun, located in the Bint Jbeil district of the southern province of Nabatieh.

"As part of the ongoing engineering survey operations in the southern regions in light of the continued Israeli attacks, a specialised military unit found a disguised Israeli spy device equipped with a camera in the town of Yaroun - Bint Jbeil, and dismantled it," read the statement.

The military also urged residents to stay vigilant, avoid suspicious objects, not to touch them, and to immediately report any findings to the nearest military post to ensure public safety and prevent potential harm.

Israel's covert sabotage network in Lebanon drew attention last year when it carried out a large-scale attack on Hezbollah, detonating pagers used by the resistance group and killing and wounding many civilians.

The development came on the same day that Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed one person and wounded another.

According to Lebanon's official National News Agency, Israeli drones struck a car and a motorcycle in the southern Lebanese village of Yater.

Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire since October 8, 2023, a day after Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza.

By September 2024, Israel escalated the confrontation into a full-scale war, killing more than 4,000 Lebanese, most of them women and children.

Despite a ceasefire reached in November 2024, Israel continues near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon.

With full US backing, Israel still occupies five key areas, seeking to force the disarmament of Hezbollah, the group that has resisted and fought its aggression against Lebanon for decades.

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Nigeria says 130 Catholic schoolchildren abducted by terrorists freed

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 6:26 AM

Nigerian authorities say they have secured the release of 130 schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in the country's central Niger state last month.

"The remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted by terrorists ... have now been released. They are expected to arrive in Minna on Monday, and rejoin their parents for the Christmas celebration ... The freedom of the schoolchildren followed a military-intelligence driven operation," President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu's aide Bayo Onanuga said in a post published on social media platform X on Sunday.

The abductions took place in late November, when gunmen stormed St Mary's co-educational boarding school in the rural hamlet of Papiri, in north-central Niger state, seizing students and staff.

Since then, conflicting figures have emerged about how many people were taken and how many remained in captivity.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 students and staff were abducted, with about 50 escaping shortly after the attack and the government securing the release of roughly 100 more on December 7.

In a statement issued at the time, President Tinubu said 115 people were still being held, a figure lower than the one suggested by CAN's initial estimate.

A UN source later said the remaining schoolchildren would be transported to Minna, the Niger state capital, on Tuesday.

Authorities have not disclosed who carried out the kidnappings or whether any ransom was paid to secure the releases.

Nigeria has experienced a resurgence of mass abductions in recent months, reviving memories of the 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls from Chibok by the militant group Boko Haram.

Kidnappings for ransom are a common tactic used by criminal gangs and armed groups, but the scale of recent attacks has intensified concerns over the country's fragile security situation.

In November alone, attackers abducted two dozen Muslim schoolgirls, 38 church worshippers, and a bride with her bridesmaids. Male farm workers, women and children were also taken hostage in separate incidents.

The renewed violence comes as Nigeria faces heightened international scrutiny.

The United States has launched a diplomatic offensive after President Donald Trump alleged, without providing any evidence, that mass killings of Christians in the West African country amount to "genocide" and said Washington may launch military action in Nigeria. He claimed he has ordered the Department of War to prepare strikes over alleged anti-Christian violence.

The Nigerian government and independent analysts reject the claim, saying it echoes rhetoric long used by right-wing Christians in the United States and Europe.

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Spain condemns new Israeli settlements in West Bank

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 127

22 Dec 25

Spain condemns the Israeli Government's decision to approve 19 new settlements in the West Bank. This decision violates international law, and the Government calls for its revocation in the strongest terms.

The Spanish Government reiterates its condemnation of the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law, and of any initiative that hinders the implementation of the two-State solution, the only path to lasting peace in the region.

Spain expresses its deep concern about the extremely serious situation in the West Bank, where the escalation of violence by settlers against the Palestinian population and their livelihoods, facilitated by impunity, military operations and the expansionist policy of the Israeli Government, are clear obstacles to peace, security and prosperity.

-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-

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Venezuela Honoring Obligations to US Despite Tanker Seizures - Vice President

Sputnik News

20251222

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Venezuela continues to ship oil to the United States, despite the seizure of tankers carrying Venezuelan crude by the US military, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Monday.

US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers sailing to and from Venezuela in December. The US seized the Skipper tanker on December 10 and the Centuries supertanker on Saturday.

"A vessel of US company Chevron has departed from our country with Venezuelan oil bound for the US, in strict compliance with regulations and in fulfillment of the obligations undertaken by our oil industry," Rodriguez said on Telegram, attaching a video of the vessel.

Caracas is committed to adhering to national and international law, the vice president added.

The statement comes amid a sharp escalation of tensions surrounding Venezuelan oil exports. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump declared the Venezuelan government a "foreign terrorist organization" and announced a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers bound to and from Venezuela. He added that the US will not allow "a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States."

The US justifies its military presence in the Caribbean region by the fight against drug trafficking. In September-November, it repeatedly used its armed forces to destroy boats allegedly carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela.

In November, Trump expressed the opinion that President Nicolas Maduro's days as Venezuela's leader were numbered, while assuring that Washington had no plans to go to war with Caracas. Venezuela viewed these actions as a provocation aimed at destabilizing the region and as a violation of international agreements on the demilitarized and nuclear-free status of the Caribbean.

 Sputnik

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The warring parties must end the bloodshed in Sudan: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Speech

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charge d'Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG

Published 22 December 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 22 December 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom condemns the drone strikes on the UNISFA base in Kadugli on 13 December which killed six UN peacekeepers and injured nine others.

Our thoughts are with the families of those killed and all those affected. Those responsible must be held to account.

I will make three points.

First, as my Foreign Secretary has said, the atrocities in Sudan scar the conscience of the world.

We all witnessed the horrific violence against civilians in El Fasher during the Rapid Support Forces' assault, including reports of targeted killings - often on the basis of ethnicity - mass executions, torture and sexual violence.

And today as we have heard in this room, the fighting is intensifying in the Kordofans region.

These atrocities must end and the perpetrators be held to account. This month, the UK sanctioned four senior Rapid Support Forces commanders suspected of atrocities in El Fasher.

The UK has repeatedly condemned the violence perpetrated by both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces since the conflict began. This includes reports of aerial bombardments, attacks on peacekeepers, food convoys, hospitals and schools and the systematic use of rape, particularly impacting women and girls.

We have also condemned restrictions on aid, including the expulsion of the World Food Programme staff. We call on both sides to end the fighting and protect civilians.

We also call for full compliance with the arms embargo and urge all states to refrain from providing financial or military support to the warring parties.

Second, there is no military solution to this conflict. We call on both the SAF and RSF to urgently agree a humanitarian pause and to advance a comprehensive, Sudanese-owned and civilian-led political transition.

We particularly commend the United States' intensive leadership and mediation efforts, including through the Quad. We welcome the efforts of our regional and international partners towards a political solution.

We urge both the RSF and the SAF to engage in these processes in good faith. We urge all those with influence over the warring parties to bring them to the negotiating table to seek a political resolution.

Third, humanitarian access remains critical. Millions of Sudanese face the spread of disease, collapsing essential services and the growing risk of famine spreading. It is essential that the Adre crossing remains open and we condemn the reported drone strike there.

Attacks on humanitarian personnel and infrastructure should stop immediately. We call on all parties to lift restrictions on humanitarian access, guarantee safe passage for civilians, and allow unhindered delivery of life-saving assistance.

Sudanese civilians faced unimaginable hardship and suffering this year. The warring parties must end the bloodshed and prioritise peace.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

22 December 2025

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Scheduling

All right. First the good news [...] Well, the good news is that this is the last briefing of the year, fingers crossed. If we wind up briefing before the end of the year, it will be because there will be a lot of bad news. So, we will post the updates online, starting tomorrow. The office will be staffed during daylight hours, except obviously Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If you need anything, call somebody else, not me.

** Sudan

Let me start with Sudan. I just want to flag that this afternoon there will be a Security Council meeting, an open briefing. Our Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations, Khaled Khiari, from the Department of the Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), will brief. Also briefing will be the Director of OCHA's (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Crisis Response Division, Edem Wosornu; she will brief, of course, on the humanitarian aspect of the Sudan crisis.

But I can tell you in advance of that briefing that we are, of course, deeply concerned by the escalating violence that is placing civilians at extreme risk and triggering new waves of displacement, new waves of human suffering, particularly in the Kordofan region.

Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that in South Kordofan State, displacement has increased sharply in recent days. Our friends at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that on Friday, heightened insecurity drove nearly 500 people to flee villages in the locality of Reif Shargi and seek refuge in Kadugli and surrounding areas, as well as in North Kordofan State.

Displacement into White Nile State is also rising, with more than 15,000 human beings arriving from the Kordofan region since late October, according to local authorities.

And in eastern Sudan, yesterday, local authorities reported the arrival of some 400 people in Gedaref town. They arrived there from Babanusa and Heglig towns that are in West Kordofan State. While community kitchens have provided immediate food support, shelter assistance is urgently needed, particularly as we expect more people to arrive seeking safety.

Meanwhile, in the Darfur region, the IOM estimates that more than 107,000 people were displaced from North Darfur's state capital, El Fasher, and surrounding villages between late October  when the Rapid Support Forces, as you will recall, violently took control of the city, and early December. Many had already been displaced multiple times after fleeing camps such as Zamzam and Abu Shouk.

Our partners also report that last week, more than 2,500 people displaced from El Fasher and surrounding areas arrived in the locality of Sheria, in South Darfur State. These newly-arrived families urgently need food, they urgently need essential relief items, and they urgently need health services.

Civilians in the Darfur region continue to face deadly violence. On Saturday, a drone strike reportedly hit a busy market in Al Malha, North Darfur State, killing at least 10 people; that's what first responders are telling us.

This violence is part of a broader pattern that continues to devastate Sudan's health system. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that attacks on healthcare facilities have reached alarming levels. In 2025 alone, 65 such attacks in Sudan have caused more than 1,600 deaths; that's accounting for over 80 per cent of all global deaths from attacks on healthcare in complex emergencies this year.

As the year draws to a close, we continue to urge all parties to immediately halt attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, uphold international humanitarian law and ensure safe, unhindered humanitarian access, so the year ahead is not marked by the same misery, as we've seen previously.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the situation in Gaza, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that humanitarians continue to deliver assistance to help the most vulnerable families endure the dire situation on the ground, especially during this cold and wet season.

Over the past24 hours, and despite the ceasefire, we have continued to receive reports of air strikes, shelling and gunfire in all five governorates of Gaza. This has resulted in reported casualties and disruptions to humanitarian operations. Yesterday, a rescue mission to reach an injured person in Gaza City was denied.

Amid the severe lack of shelter across the Strip, people are staying in buildings that are either partially or mostly damaged as they try to protect their families from the elements.

Our partners in Gaza said that over the weekend, several buildings collapsed due to stormy conditions, with casualties reported.

A reminder that three quarters of women-headed households urgently need shelter support, and two thirds urgently need clothing; that's what the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group has found.

Our partners continue to work to improve access to dignified shelter for the estimated 1.3 million people in Gaza. In the past week, about 3,500 families affected by storms or living in flood-prone areas received tents, bedding sets, mattresses and blankets. Additionally, more than 250,000 children received winter clothing. However, our partners estimate that 630,000 adolescents across the Strip still need winter clothing assistance.

We and our partners continue to call once again for the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, including shelter material, as these obviously constrain our humanitarian response to reach all those people who need shelter, especially in this cold and rainy season.

Meanwhile, we and our humanitarian partners continue to coordinate humanitarian missions within Gaza. OCHA reports that yesterday, half of such attempts were facilitated by Israeli authorities.

Through these missions, humanitarian teams collected six full tankers of fuel, more than 270 pallets of medical supplies, and other essential food items from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, as well as the Zikim crossing.

** Ukraine

Turning to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and our colleagues there tell us that hostilities this weekend resulted in more civilian casualties and widespread damage to critical infrastructure.

Between Friday and early this morning, authorities report more than a dozen civilians were killed and over 70 others injured, including two children. Basic services' disruptions were reported in over 270 towns and villages across the country.

The region of Odesa is particularly hard-hit, and they've been experiencing nearly daily attacks. On Friday, an overnight attack targeting port infrastructure killed eight civilians and injured 27 others; that's what local authorities are telling us. Repeated strikes also caused power outage affecting dozens of thousands of people.

The regions of Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv also sustained attacks on their energy infrastructure, with hundreds of thousands of people affected. A health facility and a school were also damaged in the attacks. Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia also suffered casualties.

Authorities also report that a warehouse storing humanitarian aid was damaged in the Mykolaiv region following an attack on Saturday.

Meanwhile, evacuations from front-line and border areas continue. In Sumy region, over the last three days, around 40 people were evacuated to safer areas. In the Donetsk region, nearly 330 civilians, including 50 children, were evacuated.

Since 1 June, nearly 150,000 people have been evacuated from front-line areas, including more than 16,500 children and over 5,000 people with limited mobility.

Humanitarians reached more than 700,000 people near the front line with aid in the first 11 months of this year. However, funding gaps persist, as you would imagine, leaving more than 1 million people without safe water and limiting access to protection and gender-based violence services in these high-risk areas.

This year's $2.6 billion humanitarian appeal for Ukraine is only half funded, with $1.4 billion having been received.

** Myanmar

A quick update from Julie Bishop on Myanmar: In carrying out her mandate, the UN Special Envoy engages with all stakeholders relevant to the situation in Myanmar, including regional countries, Security Council and General Assembly members. As a part of this effort, she recently visited Myanmar for a third time and met again with the Commander-in-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

In her engagements, the Special Envoy continues to reiterate the urgent need for a cessation of violence to enable humanitarian response and recovery and protection of civilians and underscores the need to keep Myanmar on the global agenda and provide sustained support toward a Myanmar-led, sustainable, inclusive and peaceful solution to the protracted crisis.

She did brief Council members in closed consultations this morning via videoconference.

** Somalia

And an update, and a rather lengthy one from Somalia, which we haven't heard for a bit.

Our humanitarian colleagues report that drought continues to impact millions of people across the country. Authorities estimate that more than 4.6 million people, or around a quarter of the population in Somalia are being impacted by the drought.

Our partners indicate that at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices soar, food becomes increasingly scarce, livestock die and livelihoods collapse. Education has also been severely affected, with more than 75,000 students forced to drop out of school nationwide.

The upcoming dry season between January and March is expected to make drought conditions worse. Increased water scarcity and higher livestock mortality are anticipated, potentially intensifying food insecurity in many parts of Somalia.

The situation is also likely to drive more people from their homes toward urban areas and displacement sites, where living conditions and livelihood opportunities are already extremely limited.

Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods and to prevent avoidable loss of life. They warn that the next four months will be critical, as the rainy season is not expected until April 2026.

We and our humanitarian partners are mobilized, supporting assessments, mapping available supply stocks, and coordinating emergency responses across water, food, nutrition, health and shelter sectors. Our partners are also providing cash assistance, animal fodder and rehabilitating boreholes, as they visit field locations to assess the severity of the situation and review resources for early action.

However, these efforts are constrained, yet again here, by significant funding shortfalls. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $10 million at the end of November, but substantially more support is urgently needed. The $1.4 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Somalia for 2025 is only 26 per cent funded, with $370 million received.

** Financial Contribution

Speaking of money, I have a little quiz for you today. Ready?

Recent Secretaries-General have had a long, crucial history with this country, assisting it on a hard-won road to independence.

[response: "East Timor?"]

Very good, Edie Lederer, and I was about to go to the second hint: The current Secretary-General holds this country dear to his heart, having recently visited in 2024 to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the independence vote.

We say thank you to our friends in Dili. Timor-Leste's payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 149.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edie, what a way to end the year.

Question : Thank you, Steph. A couple of follow-up questions on Sudan. The President of Sudan, I understand is here at the United Nations...

Spokesman : Prime Minister.

Question : The Prime Minister. Sorry, is he going to meet with the Secretary-General?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General's not here today. He's on his annual leave. We're trying to see whom he may be meeting. I've asked and trying to find that out.

Question : And secondly, on Venezuela, it's been reported from the region that President [Nicolas] Maduro has asked a number of different bodies for assistance in light of the US boarding of ships and pursuing of ships, including the United Nations. Has the UN received such a request?

Spokesman : I'm not aware, beyond the phone call the Secretary-General and the President had, I think last week, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not aware of any new communications, but we'll check. Madame, and then...

Question : Going back to Sudan. Is the Secretary-General planning to go to Sudan? Because he has been traveling a lot, but not to Sudan.

Spokesman : We are looking at a whole host of potential trips for the Secretary-General for next year. It will depend on whether or not such a visit would be helpful. But I can tell you he's been spending a lot of his time focused on the situation there and through the work of his representative on the ground, Denise Brown, the work of his envoy, Mr. [Ramtane] Lamamra and the work of Mr. [Tom] Fletcher and others.

Question : Yeah, but don't you think his presence will make a difference?

Spokesman : He's very well aware of the potential of a visit. It just has to make sure that such a visit actually puts the process forward. Dezhi, then Joe, then Gabriel.

Question : A couple of questions first. Today in Kuala Lumpur, the foreign ministers of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) held a special meeting on the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand. They released a statement  here, in my hand. They just reaffirmed the shared commitment to refrain from threat or use of force and peaceful settlements. They urged both parties  I mean, Cambodia and Thailand  to exercise maximum restraint and also welcomed the discussion on the resumption of the ceasefire which will happen two days later. What is the response from the Secretary-General on the latest statement by the ASEAN countries and on the latest developments?

Spokesman : We very much welcome the statement by ASEAN and the role that Malaysia has been playing as chair of ASEAN, and obviously the role of the United States in helping get that agreement signed on the sidelines of the meeting earlier this year. I think it's important that both parties approach the meetings on the 24th in a spirit of ending this conflict.

Question : All right, next question on the contribution. Since last time, has the US paid any regular budget?

Spokesman : No.

Question : Not single? What about the peacekeeping one? [cross talk]

Spokesman : I'd have to check on peacekeeping.

Question : But not regular budget?

Spokesman : Not regular budget.

Question : In terms, we have just one week or two left. Do you expect any payment from US?

Spokesman : Look, I don't want to say anything that would make a challenging situation worse.

Question : Yeah, that's exactly why I asked this question. Without payment, how would the situation in the coming year, especially the first few months for 2026, would be for UN?

Spokesman : When Member States vote a budget, right, and approve a budget and when not all Member States pay up to that budget, it makes the situation for the Secretary-General, for all of those who manage the cash in this Organization, extremely, extremely challenging. And I think as the Secretary-General has alluded to in the beginning of the year, he's instructed the Secretariat not to spend to 100 per cent because we don't have it. The fact that Member States either don't pay or pay late makes managing an organization where you can't borrow money  like the private sector or like Governments  or you can't print money, like Governments, rather difficult. And that would be an understatement.

Question : Will the UN still be able to pay salaries? Let me put it in a very single way... [cross talk]

Spokesman : I mean, through the end of the year, yes.

Question : The beginning of next year?

Spokesman : Well, we have to have a budget first. We don't have spending authority for 2026 as of yet. Mr. Klein?

Question : First a follow-up on that question. Has the Secretary-General himself or Chef de Cabinet or the Deputy Secretary-General reached out personally to high-level Trump Administration officials to inquire when they expect to at least make partial payment of the assessments?

Spokesman : I can tell you that the financial situation, the budget, the reform, the savings have been high on the agenda of all the contacts the Secretary-General has had with Ambassador [Michael] Waltz.

Correspondent : Well, no, I'm talking about the specific issue of nonpayment for the UN.

Spokesman : We are working through the US Mission, through Ambassador Waltz. And I can tell you that the Secretary-General and the Ambassador, I think, have a very good professional and working relationship.

Question : Okay then. Now to one more general question, similar to what I asked, I think last year, which is what would the Secretary-General consider to be his biggest disappointment in 2025 and what is he most proud of accomplishing in 2025?

Spokesman : Look, I think the Secretary-General is extremely proud to have constantly, day in and day out, defended the ideals of this Organization, defended the Charter, defended international law, defended multilateralism, which is his job. He will continue to do that with determination. He has I think, squeezed every penny, every ounce of effort out of this Organization to try to keep people alive on the humanitarian front, to try to make sure that people don't forget about development and to work on peace and security with determination.

Question : His biggest disappointment?

Spokesman : Well, I think what he fears is this continuing fragmentation of the world, the continuing disregard for the Charter which too many Member States are using as an a la carte menu, and this continuing disregard for international law.

Correspondent : Thanks, Steph.

Spokesman : Gabriel?

Correspondent : Thanks, Steph. You're looking right at me.

Spokesman : So, I'm looking right at you. [cross talk] Your name is Gabriel. There were two things that would let you know that it is your time to ask a question.

Correspondent : I know you're very helpful every day that there... at this briefing.

Spokesman : Thank you. You could stop there. [...]

Question : And on a serious note, I know you're very helpful about briefing us every day here that there's a new Member State that pays their dues. Since we won't be seeing you for several days because of the holiday, if the US pays, will your Office inform us?

Spokesman : I think that would be newsworthy.

Question : [...] That's all right. In all seriousness, I do want to ask about Sudan. In the latter half of September during high-level week, as you well know, there were a lot of meetings in this building and near this building and in missions about the situation in Sudan, probably more than in many previous high-level weeks. It was spoken about in general terms as kind of a make-or-break moment for Sudan. Here we are several months later. Situation appears on many levels to be worse than it was in September. Can you give an overall assessment of how the SG feels about the progress that wasn't made in the latter part of this year?

Spokesman : I think he's extremely frustrated, not only for the lack of effort, but I think frustrated at the level of human suffering that we've been seeing in Sudan this year. I mean, to recall, this year has seen shelling of camps, of refugee and internally displaced camps where famine had been recorded, where people were starving and they're being bombed. We've seen gunmen go into hospitals, maternity wards kill women, kill babies, kill doctors, right? Those are just two of the most egregious things that we've seen. We've seen the bloody aftermath of the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) takeover in El Fasher. We've seen, as the Secretary-General put it, interference on the negative end by countries in the region and afar. I think, the leaders of both sides here in Sudan, whether it's the Government or the RSF, need to first and foremost put the interests of the Sudanese people in front, as do all of the regional powers and those further afield. Yes, Namo, please.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. I have two questions. One on Sudan. A poll of 22 major aid organizations, a recent poll has found that Sudan is the world's most neglected crisis. What's Secretary-General's view of this? Why is there so much neglect for this African nation?

Spokesman : Listen, the neglect doesn't come from the Secretary-General, the Secretariat, from the humanitarian organizations, from the NGOs. You all often ask about Sudan, and that is very much welcome. Every day, we try to keep Sudan in the news. Why is it neglected? I think, if the Secretary-General were here, he would probably tell you there's probably an element of racism, right? That people don't pay as much attention to crises in... the global media crises in Africa as they do in other parts of the world. There are also a lot of crises going on, a lot of human suffering. But we have to be able to keep all of these issues up front.

Question : And my second question is on Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is accusing Damascus-affiliated forces of shelling predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods, namely Sheikh Maqsood and Al Ashrafiya in Northern Aleppo. And that has resulted in the injuries of five civilians, including a child, according to SDF. Have you seen these reports? And what message do you have as the United Nations for Syrian Government?

Spokesman : Yes, we've seen these very disturbing reports of increased clashes between the Government of Syria, its security forces and the SDF. We had seen earlier this year positive signs of discussions between the Government and the SDF. We need everyone to return to these discussions on how to incorporate all of the various armed groups in Syria into the national framework through a Syrian-led process. I mean, I think the situation on the ground is fragile in terms of intercommunal dynamics. But it is important there that the guns be silenced and that the discussions continue for the benefit of all Syrians, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. Yes?

Correspondent : Thank you, Steph.

Spokesman : Sorry, and then I will... I'm sorry. Yeah, go ahead.

Correspondent : Yeah. Thank you, Steph. And I hope happy New Year.

Spokesman : We can only hope.

Question : Yeah. My question is also about the UN regular budget, especially about the Fifth Committee. As I know, the Fifth Committee is going on the discussion for next year's regular budget. If the budget is not approved by the end of this year, what will Secretary-General do? Do you have any plan B?

Spokesman : Well, you know, either there's a budget or there's no budget. It's not... I mean, there's a responsibility for Member States through the Fifth Committee to come up with a budget and for the General Assembly to approve it. We continue to work with the Fifth Committee. We continue to work with Member States, answer all their questions or any concerns they may have, and we look forward to the adoption of a budget by the end of the year.

Question : But it seems to be difficult to get the consensus... [cross talk]

Spokesman : It is never easy to get consensus on a budget in the United Nations, but that's why we enjoy the process so much. Arul?

Question : Is there any reaction to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and especially the lynchings of Hindus in the last few days?

Spokesman : Yes, we're very concerned about the violence that we've seen in Bangladesh. Whether it's in Bangladesh or any other countries that people who don't belong to the "majority" need to feel safe and all Bangladeshis need to feel safe. And we're confident that the Government will do what it can to keep every single Bangladeshi safe. Dezhi, I mean, how about that sweater? How can I say no?

Question : Thank you. Because it's about this sweater. Okay. If we're living in the Stranger Things world, with all the fragmentation of the world and the budget issues of the UN, how confident is UN to really close the rift to the upside-down world, if there is one, to don't let the monsters out. Do you still feel confident?

Spokesman : I have to tell you; I've never watched Stranger Things, so I'm a little lost into your analogies and cultural touch points here. I can tell you that the Secretary-General looks at the world with very clear eyes. And what is also very clear is his determination to continue doing his work defending the Charter, defending multilateralism, defending international law until the very last moment of his mandate. Gabriel? And then we'll go at the back.

Question : Thanks, Steph. Going back to Thailand and Cambodia, the Cambodian Prime Minister mentioned over the weekend that the number of displaced Cambodians along the border is over 500,000 now after the fighting resumed earlier in December. Can you just update us on the UN's posture when it comes to the humanitarian situation?

Spokesman : It's a good question. I don't have... I'll try to get some updates from our humanitarian and colleagues on that.

Correspondent : Thank you.

Spokesman : Okay. Yes, please go on.

Question : Thank you. So, abducted students were released in Nigeria yesterday, but we know the armed groups have also continued to attack the civilians, especially churches. Does the Secretary-General have a response to that?

Spokesman : We're obviously pleased that we saw a large group of students released. We are very much concerned at the fact that so many other students, young people, young men, young women, continue to be detained by armed groups. And obviously, we're continuing to see violence. And I can tell you that the United Nations system will continue to work with the Government of Nigeria to try to address these problems, notably in terms of the safe schools programme that is in place in Nigeria. Okay.

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Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Ukraine

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Humanitarians provide shelter support, winter clothing to families in Gaza

OCHA reports that humanitarians continue to deliver assistance to help the most vulnerable families in Gaza endure the dire situation on the ground, especially during this cold and wet season.

Amid the severe lack of shelter across the Strip, people are staying in buildings that are either partially or mostly damaged as they try to protect their families from the elements. Partners in Gaza said that over the weekend, several buildings collapsed due to stormy conditions, with casualties reported.

Three quarters of women-headed households urgently need shelter support, and two thirds urgently need clothing, according to the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group.

Partners continue to work to improve access to dignified shelter for the estimated 1.3 million people who require it. In the past week, about 3,500 families affected by storms or living in flood-prone areas received tents, bedding sets, mattresses and blankets. Additionally, more than 250,000 children received winter clothing. However, partners estimate that 630,000 adolescents across the Strip are still in need of winter clothing assistance.

Once again, the UN and its partners call for the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, including shelter material, as these constraints hinder humanitarian efforts to reach people in need.

Meanwhile, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to coordinate humanitarian missions within Gaza. OCHA reports that yesterday, half of such attempts were facilitated by Israeli authorities. Through these missions, humanitarian teams collected six full tankers of fuel, more than 270 pallets of medical supplies, and other essential food items from the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings.

Over the past 24 hours, and despite the ceasefire, the UN has continued to receive reports of air strikes, shelling and gunfire in all five governorates of the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in reported casualties and disruptions to humanitarian operations. Yesterday, a rescue mission to reach an injured person in Gaza city was denied.

Sudan

Violence displaces civilians in Kordofan, Darfur

OCHA is deeply concerned by escalating violence that continues to put civilians in Sudan at extreme risk and drive new waves of displacement, particularly across the Kordofan region.

In South Kordofan State, displacement has increased sharply in recent days. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that on Friday, heightened insecurity drove nearly 500 people to flee villages in the locality of Ar Reif Ash Shargi and seek refuge in the locality of Habila, as well as the state capital Kadugli and surrounding areas.

Between Thursday and Saturday, another 800 people were displaced from Kadugli and Damik village, moving onwards to North Kordofan, White Nile and Khartoum states. Over the same period, about 900 people were displaced from the town of Dilling in South Kordofan.

In eastern Sudan, local authorities yesterday reported the arrival of some 400 people in Gedaref town from Babanusa and Heglig towns in West Kordofan State. While community kitchens have provided immediate food support, shelter assistance is urgently needed, particularly as further arrivals are expected.

Displacement into White Nile State is also rising, with more than 15,000 people arriving from the Kordofan region since late October, according to local authorities.

Meanwhile in the Darfur region, the situation remains dire. IOM estimates that more than 107,000 people were displaced from North Darfur's state capital El Fasher and surrounding villages between late October - when the Rapid Support Forces took control of the city - and early December. Many had already been displaced multiple times after fleeing camps such as Zamzam and Abu Shouk.

Partners also report that last week, more than 2,500 people displaced from El Fasher and surrounding areas arrived in the locality of Sheria, in South Darfur State. The newly arrived families urgently need food, essential relief items and health services.

Civilians in the Darfur region continue to face deadly violence. On Saturday, a drone strike reportedly hit a busy market in Al Malha, North Darfur State, killing at least 10 people, according to first responders.

The conflict continues to devastate Sudan's health system. The World Health Organization warns that attacks on healthcare facilities have reached alarming levels. In 2025 alone, 65 such attacks in Sudan have caused more than 1,600 deaths, accounting for over 80 per cent of all global deaths from attacks on healthcare in complex emergencies this year.

OCHA once again calls on all parties to immediately stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

This afternoon, the Director of OCHA's Crisis Response Division, Edem Wosornu, will brief the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Sudan in the session starting at 3 p.m. EST.

Somalia

Drought affects millions across country

OCHA reports that drought continues to affect millions of people across Somalia. Authorities estimate that more than 4.6 million people - or about a quarter of all people in the country - are impacted.

Partners indicate that at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices soar, food becomes increasingly scarce, livestock die and livelihoods collapse. Education has also been severely affected, with more than 75,000 students forced to drop out of school nationwide.

The upcoming dry season between January and March is expected to further worsen drought conditions. Increased water scarcity and higher livestock mortality are anticipated, potentially intensifying food insecurity in many parts of the country. The situation is also likely to drive more people from their homes toward urban areas and displacement sites, where adequate living conditions and livelihood opportunities are already extremely limited.

Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods and to prevent avoidable loss of life. They warn that the next four months will be critical, as the next rainy season is not expected until April 2026.

The UN and its humanitarian partners are mobilized - supporting assessments, mapping available supply stocks, and coordinating emergency responses across water, food, nutrition, health and shelter sectors. Partners are also providing cash assistance, animal fodder and rehabilitating boreholes, while visiting field locations to assess the severity of the situation and reviewing resources for early action.

However, these efforts are severely constrained by significant funding shortfalls.*Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated US$10 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund at the end of November, but substantially more support is urgently needed. The $1.4 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for this year is only 26 per cent funded, with $370 million received.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in need in Somalia with urgent support.

Ukraine

Hostilities cause civilian casualties, damage key infrastructure

OCHA says that hostilities in Ukraine this weekend resulted in more civilian casualties and widespread damage to critical infrastructure.

Between 19 December and early this morning, authorities report that more than a dozen civilians were killed and over 70 others injured - including two children. Basic service disruptions were reported in over 270 towns and villages.

The region of Odesa is particularly impacted and experiencing near-daily attacks. On 19 December, an overnight attack targeting port infrastructure killed eight civilians and injured 27 others, according to authorities. Repeated strikes also knocked out power, affecting tens of thousands of people.

The regions of Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv also sustained attacks on their energy infrastructure, with hundreds of thousands of people affected. A health facility and a school were also damaged in the attacks. Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia also suffered casualties.

Authorities also report that a warehouse storing humanitarian aid was damaged in the Mykolaiv region following an attack on 20 December.

Meanwhile, evacuations from front-line and border areas continue. In the Sumy region, over the last three days, some 40 people were evacuated to safer areas. In the Donetsk region, nearly 330 civilians, including 50 children, were evacuated.

Since 1 June, nearly 150,000 people have been evacuated from front-line areas, including more than 16,500 children and over 5,000 people with limited mobility.

Humanitarians reached more than 700,000 people near the front line with aid in the first 11 months of 2025. However, funding gaps persist, leaving more than 1 million people without safe water and limiting access to protection and gender-based violence services in these high-risk areas.

This year's $2.6 billion appeal for Ukraine is only half funded, at nearly $1.4 billion.

Posted on 22 December 2025

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OCHA calls for Security Council action as Sudan war nears 1,000-day mark

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Briefing to the Security Council by Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Crisis Response Division, OCHA, on behalf of Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the humanitarian situation in Sudan

As delivered

Thank you, Mr. President.

As this catastrophic war nears the 1,000-day mark, its devastating toll on civilians continues to expand and intensify. The brutality of this conflict appears to have no bounds.

The Kordofan states have emerged as a new epicentre, as you've heard, of violence and suffering, with attacks continuing, causing death, injury, destruction, and severely constraining humanitarian access.

As you have heard from DPPA [the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs], in South Kordofan State, more than 100 civilians were killed in drone strikes between 4 and 16 December, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. This includes strikes on a kindergarten and a hospital in Kalogi on 4 December which killed, again, at least 89 civilians, including eight women and 43 children.

Sieges around the towns of Kadugli and Dilling have tightened, with deadly shelling and drone strikes continuing.

As you've heard, a strike on the UNISFA [UN Interim Security Force for Abyei] logistics base in Kadugli on 13 December forced a temporary relocation of UN and INGO personnel from various locations in South Kordofan, including the two besieged towns. Despite widespread condemnation, attacks in the area further intensified.

On 14 December, a drone strike on a hospital in Dilling reportedly killed at least six people and injured 12 others, including medical personnel.

An inter-agency humanitarian team led by the Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Denise Brown, scheduled to arrive in Kadugli on 15 December was unable to proceed due to the increasingly volatile and unpredictable situation.

A United Nations convoy did reach Dilling and Kadugli in October but faced very serious security challenges en route.

In North Kordofan State, the situation has been equally alarming, with continuing attacks in and around the capital, El Obeid, and reports of forced recruitment and of civilians being prevented from leaving the area as fighting closes in.

A strike on a World Food Programme truck in North Kordofan on 5 December in which a driver was seriously injured was yet another demonstration of the grave risks humanitarian workers face across most of Sudan. This was the sixth attack harming World Food Programme assets in Sudan this year alone.

And in West Kordofan, we have also received reports of further displacement - including across the border with South Sudan - and of civilian casualties due to drone attacks following the takeover, as you've heard, of Heglig in the southern part of the state earlier this month.

Last week, local authorities in White Nile State reported some 1,600 new arrivals from the Kordofan region in the city of Kosti, of whom the vast majority were children and women.

Mr. President,

Staggering levels of humanitarian needs also persist across Darfur.

Efforts to safely access El Fasher continue, with ongoing discussions on the deployment of a security assessment team.

We continue to see new reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law during and after the takeover of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces, including mass killings and sexual violence.

A report of our colleagues at the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights last week details some of the horrors inflicted on civilians in the area during the Rapid Support Forces' three-day offensive on Zamzam displacement camp in April. Deliberate killings of civilians. Gruesome sexual violence, including rape and gang rape. And the prolonged blocking of food, water and the supplies essential for survival.

Humanitarian responders in Tawila and Ad Dabbah and other areas are struggling to fully cover the needs of new arrivals from El Fasher, with resources and capacities severely stretched, despite new injections of funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund and the Sudan Humanitarian Fund.

And while much of the focus of this Council's recent discussions has been on El Fasher and its surrounding areas, we must also highlight the very serious humanitarian situation in other parts of Darfur.

Again, a drone strike on the town of Katila in South Darfur State earlier this month killed over 30 civilians and injured many more.

Further civilian casualties were reported in another strike in the town of Kutum in North Darfur on the same day.

Last week, the World Health Organization reported the large numbers of health workers detained in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. The World Health Organization has documented 65 attacks on healthcare in Sudan since January, with more than 1,600 people killed and 276 injured.

The Adre crossing from eastern Chad remains indispensable to humanitarian operations across Darfur, and we therefore noted with great alarm reports of an alleged drone attack causing a large explosion in a nearby location in West Darfur on 7 December.

Drones also continue to extend the reach of the fighting beyond the Darfur and Kordofan region. Last Friday, multiple explosions were reported in Atbara in River Nile State due to drone strikes reportedly targeting power stations, triggering widespread blackouts in the area. We have teams in all these locations.

Mr. President,

This is OCHA's 10th briefing to the Security Council on Sudan this year. Month after month, we have highlighted deadly attacks against civilians, spiralling needs, and the complex array of impediments that delay or block efforts to reach the millions of people who require urgent, life-saving humanitarian support.

We have urged the Council to use its collective influence and the full set of tools at its disposal to reduce the unacceptable risks civilians continue to face. We have pressed for deescalation and peace.

We have appealed for additional funding so that the local and international responders working in nearly impossible circumstances have the support and resources they need to deliver their work.

But over the past year, we have seen yet more atrocities and a further hardening of the apparent impunity that fuels them. Increasingly sophisticated weaponry flowing into the country has caused the violence to spread further. Deepening food insecurity and new areas falling into famine conditions. Additional waves of displaced civilians fleeing for their lives, including across borders, with broader regional destabilization effects growing. Humanitarian organizations being forced to cut back on life-saving programmes, just as the needs continue to grow. Relentless attacks on humanitarian personnel and health workers. Repeated targeting of essential infrastructure.

Despite the challenges, Mr. President, the humanitarian response continues, with 16.8 million people receiving some form of humanitarian support since January this year alone. Our system is under unprecedented strain and, increasingly, under direct attack. But it continues to deliver.

Mr. President,

As the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said during his briefing to this Council in October, we need to find ways to act with greater courage and collective purpose in the face of this absolutely devastating crisis.

We therefore renew our call for urgent, concerted engagement and action along three tracks:

First - on protection. The Security Council must send a strong, unequivocal message that attacks directed against civilians, indiscriminate attacks, sexual violence, and other shameless violations of the most basic tenets of international humanitarian law will not be tolerated. Women continue to carry a disproportionate share of this crisis. The Council cannot allow the horrors that unfolded in El Fasher - despite repeated warnings - to occur again in El Obeid, again in Kadugli, in Dilling or elsewhere. You should please use your collective influence with the warring parties.

Second - access. Humanitarian workers, including the local partners who remain at the forefront of our collective efforts, our dear humanitarian colleagues, must be able to do their work safely and without interference. We continue to strengthen the United Nations' presence on the ground in all areas of need, including across the Darfur and Kordofan regions. We have colleagues in these locations. We do not feel safe. Our courageous teams need clearer guarantees so that they can operate safely.

Life-saving humanitarian supplies need to flow freely, via all necessary routes, whether across conflict lines or borders. In this regard, I note our appreciation to the Sudanese and Chadian authorities for having kept the crucial Adre border crossing available for humanitarian movement. We renew our request that this authorization be extended indefinitely and that there is increased support for host communities and refugees in Chad and other neighbouring countries.

And finally - peace. With another grim milestone in this nightmarish war approaching, renewed efforts are needed now more than ever to halt the fighting, to stop the arms flows that are fuelling the conflict, and to move the parties towards the inclusive and lasting nationwide ceasefire that is so desperately needed.

I thank you.

Posted on 22 December 2025

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USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee returns to San Diego

US Navy

22 December 2025

From USS Higbee (DDG 123)

SAN DIEGO, CA -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) returned to its homeport of San Diego following a nine-month mission to the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations (AOO), Dec. 19.

Higbee departed San Diego with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMSG) on Mar. 26, 2024, with an air wing detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49. As part of Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG), Higbee conducted various missions, including protecting sea lines of communication, supporting maritime stability, and interdiction operations while in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet AOO.



"I could not be prouder of this crew and their performance on Higbee's Maiden mission," said Cmdr. Stephen Skahen Jr., commanding officer of Higbee. "As Integrated Air and Missile Defense Commander, this team rose to the challenge and set the standard. From new mission sets in new fleets, interoperability with foreign allies and partners, and representing the United States with distinguished guests; this crew answered the call with enthusiasm and precision. It's my honor to be their Captain. Get Wins!"



While in 7th Fleet, Higbee participated in multinational operations, to include the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Malaysia and exercises to increase interoperability and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.



In 5th Fleet, Higbee participated in freedom of navigation operations and worked alongside partners and allies to include the Pakistani, French, Japanese, and Indian Navies. Higbee was honored to host Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Caine, and Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, Vice Adm. Wikoff as distinguished guests to demonstrate Higbee and its crew's capabilities.



Higbee and the detachment from HSM-49, traveled over 75,000 nautical miles, flew over 1,100 hours, conducted 32 replenishments-at-sea, and accomplished 22 sea and anchor details.



Higbee was led by Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Stephen "Jack" Skahen Jr., Executive Officer Cmdr. Donald Northrup, and Command Master Chief Gilberto Silvabecerra.



In addition to Higbee, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group consists of USS Nimitz, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, embarked staff of CSG-11, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), and USS Gridley (DDG 101).

Higbee, assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, returns to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego following nine months operating in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet AOO. An integral part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute the U.S. Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation and overflight, the rule of law and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.



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US unveils plan for 'Trump-class' new battleship, sparking feasibility doubts in modern naval warfare

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 23, 2025 12:49 PM

The US on Monday announced its plan to build a new class of battleships that is allegedly even larger than their World War II-era predecessors - but equipped with missiles. A Chinese expert noted that the US' new battleships are of a new genre of warship, but remained skeptical about their feasibility in modern naval warfare given their huge size.

US President Donald Trump has announced a plan for the US Navy to build a new, large warship that he is calling a "battleship" as part of a larger vision to create a "Golden Fleet." "They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built," Trump claimed during the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the AP reported.

Citing Trump, the AP reported that the ship, the first of which will be named the USS Defiant, will be longer and larger than the World War II-era Iowa-class battleships and will be armed with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns, and high-powered lasers - all technologies that are in various stages of development by the Navy.

The new battleships would be called the Trump-class, and Trump claimed that the project would eventually be expanded to encompass 20 to 25 new vessels, according to a Reuters report.

In addition to the new battleship class, the Golden Fleet envisions an increase in the number of other types of war vessels, including a smaller, more nimble frigate class previously announced by the US Navy, Trump claimed, per Reuters.

Trump also claimed that the US Navy is working on "three large aircraft carriers," "12 to 15 brand new submarines" and fixing up Navy sites where sailors live, ABC News reported.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that battleship used to be a ship genre characterized by large caliber naval guns, and these vessels have been decommissioned gradually after the World War II. The new battleship announced by the US is equipped with missiles, making the design actually a new genre of warship.

Battleship was at the height of prominence during World War II, and the largest of the US battleships, the Iowa-class, were roughly 60,000 tons. But after World War II, the battleship's role in modern fleets diminished rapidly in favor of aircraft carriers and long-range missiles. The US Navy did modernize four Iowa-class battleships in the 1980s by adding cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles, along with modern radars, but by the 1990s all four were decommissioned, according to the AP report.

According to a newly created website for the "Golden Fleet," this new "guided missile battleship" is set to be roughly the same size as Iowa-class battleships but only weigh about half as much, around 35,000 tons, and have far smaller crews - between 650 and 850 sailors, AP reported, noting that its primary weapons will also be missiles, not large naval guns.

However, Zhang said that the large size of a battleship also makes it more vulnerable and potentially an easier target, particularly when it is densely loaded with munitions.

The US' battleship plan has also been questioned by US media. A report by US-based defense media outlet the War Zone questioned if Trump's call for putting battleships back in the Navy's fleet even feasible. No country in the world is currently building new warships of a size and with a configuration in line with traditional battleships. Any attempt to do so in the United States would be very costly and manpower intensive, the report said.

Meanwhile, the AP report noted that the announcement comes just a month after the US Navy scrapped its plans to build a new, small warship, citing growing delays and cost overruns, deciding instead to go with a modified version of a Coast Guard cutter that was being produced until recently. The sea service has also failed to build its other newly designed ships, like the new Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, on time and on budget. The Navy has also struggled to field some of the technologies Trump claims will be aboard the new ship.

Zhang noted that the US' shipbuilding capability is seemingly on a decline, which could further cast a shadow on the prospect of the new battleship. "Announcing such a project could aim to revive the shipbuilding industry, but we must wait and see if it can succeed," the expert said.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 December 2025 - Day 1398

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 190 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively give an offence to the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory.

Russian zagarbniki carried out 10 aviation strikes, dropping 31 controlled bombs. In addition, 2924 kamikaze drones were recruited to impress and carried out 2853 shelling of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Six attacks of Russian invaders took place in the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions. The Russian enemy carried out 110 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, two of which are from jet systems of salpovogo fire.

Today, Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders six times in the South Slobozhansky direction in the areas of the settlements of Sotnytskyi Cossack, Vovchansk, Dvorichanske and towards Vilcha, Kolodyaznogo.

In the direction of Kupyansky, the Russian enemy carried out nine offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Pitsnna, Zagrizove and in the direction of Kurilivka, Novoplatonivka, Kupyanska.

In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces repelled nine Russian assault actions in the areas of settlements Serednoe, Novoselivka, Mirne and towards settlements Nadia, Cherneshina, Drobisheve, Stavki.

In the Slovak direction, the Russian enemy attacked six times near Dronivka, Siverska, Serebryanka.

In the kramators komu direction today boezitknen  was not fixed.

23 combat clashes took place in the Konstantinivsky direction today. The Russian enemy stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements of Pleshiyivka, Rusin Yar, Scherbinivka, Oleksandro-Shultine, Kleban-Bik, Sofiyivka, seven clashes are still ongoing.

In the Pokrovsky direction from the beginning of this day, the opponent 56 times attacked in the areas of settlements Mirnograd, Rodinske, Pokrovsk, Rivne, Kotline, Udacne, Molodetske, Filia and towards Suhetsky, Grishiny, Novopidgorodnogo, Novopavlivka. In some locations, the fights are still ongoing.

Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, 174 occupants were defecated, 132 of which - irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed three units of automobile equipment, three units of special equipment, four BPLAs, also Ukrainian defenders hit eight hides of the Russian personnel. A tank, two units of car equipment and a Russian enemy's motorcycle were damaged.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Vorone, Oleksandrograd, Rybne, Zlagoda, Privilne and towards Iskra, Vyshnevy, Oleksiyivka, two more clashes are ongoing so far.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, the Russian aggressor 12 times tried to go forward on the position of Ukrainian troops in the areas of Sweet, Varvarivka, Gulyaipol and towards the Green.

In the Orihivsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 attacks in the area of settlements Scherbaki, Stepovo, Plavna and towards Lukyanivsky, Primorsky. The Russian enemy's aviation struck Vozdvizhivka, Stepnogirs ku, Lisogirci, Malokaterinivka, Lyubytsky, Barvinivci and Zaliznychnomu.

In the pridniprovsky direction at the moment boezitknen  is not recorded.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

As a result of resolute actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces took control over Vilcha (Kharkov region).

Russian troops inflicted fire damage on formations of one mechanised brigade, one jaeger brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade close to Andreyevka, Grabovskoye, Pisarevka, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Ryzhevka, and Alekseyevka (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, Russian servicemen hit units of one mechanised brigade and two motorised infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Ternovaya, Izbitskoye, and Rubezhnoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 90 troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, seven motor vehicles, and one artillery gun.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the forward edge. Russian troops launched attacks on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one National Guard brigade near Podoly, Berezovka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoy (Kharkov region), Dibrova, Drobyshevo, Ilyichovka, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 215 troops, one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle, one Italian-made Iveco armoured fighting vehicle, 16 motor vehicles, and one self-propelled artillery system. Six ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit formations of two mechanised brigades and one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kramatorsk, Nikolayevka, Kirovo, Zakotnoye, Konstantinovka, and Minkovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 235 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles including one Canadian-made Senator armoured personnel carrier, one HMMWV armoured vehicle, one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, nine motor vehicles, three artillery guns including one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer. In addition, three electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units continued to hit enemy positions in Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic) and to mop up Grishino and Rodinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) from scattered AFU units.

Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, one infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade, one airmobile brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Azov Special Forces Brigade close to Udachnoye, Volnoye, Novy Donbass, Artemovka, Toretskoye, Kucherov Yar, Novoaleksandrovka, Belitskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The enemy losses were more than 450 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four pickup trucks, and two field artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences. Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of one assault brigade, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade close to Kosovtsevo, Dorozhnyanka, Gulyai-Pole (Zaporozhye region), and Andreyevka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses were up to 250 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and seven motor vehicles. In addition, two electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of one mechanised brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade close to Novodanilovka, Orekhov, and Primorskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, up to 25 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five motor vehicles, one artillery gun, one electronic warfare station, four materiel and POL depots were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops, and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted fire damage on power facilities, port and depot infrastructure that supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine, launch positions of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles as well as on the AFU headquarters, temporary deployment areas, and foreign mercenaries in 142 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 76 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 669 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 104,090 unmanned aerial vehicles, 640 anti-aircraft missile systems, 26,653 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,634 MLRS combat vehicles, 32,082 field artillery guns and mortars, and 49,742 support military vehicles.

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Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra

Transcript

Monday 22 December 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

The Hon Tony Burke MP

Minister for Home Affairs

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

The Hon Michelle Rowland MP

Attorney-Genera

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. Eight days ago, terrorists sought to divide our nation. They went to Bondi Beach to unleash mass murder against members of our Jewish community and to unleash the forces of hatred and antisemitism in our society.

Last night, the Jewish community returned to Bondi, along with many thousands of other Australians, to show that unity will triumph over division. Love will triumph over hatred. And, importantly, light will triumph over darkness. And that was the theme of the vigil - Light over Darkness.

Emotions were raw and a lot of people in the community are hurting and angry, And some of that anger was directed towards me, and I understand that. As Prime Minister, I feel the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened whilst I'm Prime Minister. And I'm sorry for what the Jewish community and our nation as a whole has experienced.

The Government will work every day to protect Jewish Australians. To protect the fundamental right, as Australians that they have to be proud of who they are, to practice their faith, to educate their children, and to engage in Australian society in the fullest way possible. We're not going to let the ISIS-inspired terrorists win. We won't let them divide our society, and we'll get through this together.

Today, my Cabinet has met for the second time since this incident. As well, the National Security Committee met for the ninth time since this antisemitic terror attack. We went through the legislation and the legacy of measures that the Government is considering and that we will now further consult with the community on to make sure that there's as broad an agreement as possible. We'll also, after that process, be consulting across the Parliament as well to make sure that this is indeed a time where we have what is needed, which is urgency and unity, not division and delay. Urgency and unity is what we need.

A summary of the legislative measures that will be considered are, creating an aggravated offence for hate preaching advocating violence against protected groups; increasing penalties for existing offences for hate speech, advocating violence or property destruction against protected groups; making hate motivation a factor in sentencing for Commonwealth crimes, with options to limit this to online threats and harassment crimes as announced to expand to all Commonwealth crimes if required. We want to list prohibited hate organisations to make it a criminal offence to join, recruit or support an organisation listed by the Home Affairs Minister and the Attorney-General. Racial vilification and promoting racial supremacy offence, so we're considering drafting options there. We want the power to cancel visas where the Home Affairs Minister suspects a person has engaged in vilification, hate speech promoting violence, displaying hate symbols, or associating with a terrorist organisation or prohibited hate group. We're looking at changes to hate symbols offences as well, and also looking at changes to the Customs Act to ban importing extremist material or hate symbols.

In addition to that, we had a discussion about gun laws and today the state and territory senior officials group is meeting. We want to work through, with state and territory governments - I know that New South Wales is considering legislation this week. But we want to work through right across the board those changes or proposed changes. I'll ask the Attorney-General and then the Minister for Home Affairs to make some comments, and then happy to take questions.

MICHELLE ROWLAND, ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Thank you, Prime Minister. Firstly, can I start by expressing my condolences to the victims, the families and the friends and certainly all Australians who have been impacted by this heartbreaking, horrific act of terrorism against Australia's Jewish community. What occurred at Bondi just over a week ago was an act of pure evil. It was a targeted, antisemitic terrorist attack on the first day of Chanukah, which should be a joyous celebration of faith. And it was a vicious attack on all Australians and on our Australian way of life. There is no place for hate, violence and terrorism in Australia.

For too long there have been extremists who've operated just within the law, crafting rhetoric and participating in actions specifically designed to operate below the existing criminal threshold and displaying hate symbols under the guise of ignorance. This is changing. It needs to change urgently and it needs to change with unity.

As the Prime Minister said, Cabinet today agreed to progress a legislative package that I will lead along with Minister Burke, designed to further combat abhorrent hate speech and its consequences. The package will crack down on those who spread hate, division and radicalisation in our community, and build upon the Government's existing hate speech laws. The legislative package will include the measures outlined by the Prime Minister last week, which we have developed further, including an aggravated hate speech offence for preachers and leaders who promote or threaten violence against protected groups or members of groups; increased penalties for hate speech offences relating to advocating or threatening force or violence against protected groups or members of groups and their property; making hate an aggravating factor in sentencing in terms of a number of Commonwealth crimes. There will also be a new series vilification offence that criminalises inciting hatred and we will be consulting closely with the Jewish community and others on the structuring of this offence.

In addition to the measures that I have outlined, we will introduce a new aggravated offence targeting adults who seek to influence and radicalise children. Anyone advocating to children violence against protected groups or their property will face tougher penalties. This change is critical. Since 2001, 120 people have been convicted of terrorism offences and 10 were children. However, today, 17 of the 33 people before our courts are minors. This unprecedented radicalisation of our youth must stop. We will not allow extremists to groom and brainwash our children into hate or terrorism. Now, these laws are complex and they must withstand scrutiny. The new bill will be drafted over the coming weeks for introduction in the New Year. We have begun consulting with the Jewish community and will continue to engage them.

Importantly, this is not a time for partisanship. Broad support is essential for these critical new offences and strengthened provisions that this will deliver. And I look forward to working with the Prime Minister, Minister Burke and all of my parliamentary colleagues on making this a reality.

TONY BURKE, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Thank you, Prime Minister. All Australians stand together, horrified and disgusted by the terrorist actions and crimes that occurred just over a week ago. Every Australian is affected, but no Australians more deeply than the Jewish community of Australia and those who were directly and personally impacted at Bondi. The crime and the bigotry behind the crime was rooted deeply in antisemitism. The method that was used was made available because someone in suburban Sydney with no possible practical need had six high powered firearms. We need to be able to deal with the motivation and the method. And today, there are a number of areas that have been announced by the Prime Minister that fall directly to me.

On the issue of the power to cancel visas. At the moment, when I'm cancelling visas and refusing visas and I've been doing this actively since I came in, I always have to work it out from the perspective of, does it incite discord in the community? Establishing that somebody has engaged in hate and vilification on its own is not enough. Now it will be. Somebody who engages and has a history of engaging in hate speech, in vilification, in displaying hate symbols will of itself be enough to be able to cancel a visa. The hate symbols offences that were put through in the previous Parliament when the Government was acting on hate symbols, on hate crimes and on hate speech have not resulted in the number of charges that we had hoped. I've raised this some weeks ago with Commissioner Barrett and the Australian Federal Police came back to me with recommendations that I then forwarded some weeks ago, only a couple of weeks ago, to the Attorney-General. Effectively, we will be making it easier for the Australian Federal Police to successfully bring charges against those who use and display hate symbols. We'll also be making changes to the Customs Act so that as well as it being unlawful for them to be held in Australia, it is easier for them to be intercepted at the border if they're seen there.

And finally, on listing prohibited hate organisations, I've spoken before about my disgust for a very long time at organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Nationalist Socialist Network, otherwise known as the Neo-Nazis. These organisations for a long time have been able to take hate right to the threshold without using the words violence and escape any further terrorist listing. We will be establishing a new form of listing for those who do not meet the terrorist organisations - of being able to prescribe organisations. I'm asking my department, as the drafting is done, to check it against previous behaviour of Hizb ut-Tahrir and the National Socialist Network. Their behaviour needs to be unacceptable, their behaviour needs to be unlawful, their behaviour needs to be enough that we can prescribe the organisation and prohibit their activity in Australia.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister can I ask for your explanation on why you haven't committed to a National Royal Commission? Is it to do with timing? That sometimes they take years? It could be close to the next election? Do you want something sooner? What's the reason not to?

PRIME MINISTER: We want urgency and unity, not division and delay. We have commenced already the Richardson Review. Dennis Richardson met today with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. We want to make sure that Mr. Richardson - who I don't think anyone can argue that there is anyone in this nation who is more qualified to oversee a review of our national security agencies and network and interrelationship between Commonwealth and State Government than Dennis Richardson. We wanted him as well to have input into his terms of reference and that is why that work began today. The New South Wales Government have announced a Royal Commission and the Federal Government will cooperate fully with that.

JOURNALIST: But Prime Minister, people like the former Chief Justice, Jewish community leaders, the Opposition, civil society leaders, say the National Royal Commission would give extra weight, especially considering this is the biggest loss of life in Australia, the worst terrorist attack in decades. Why are they wrong?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, because the Richardson Review will enable action to take place. It will report, as I have said, before April. That review can feed into any Royal Commission that is established in New South Wales that the Federal Government will cooperate with. If you have a look at the terms of reference that were released by the Federal Opposition today, if anyone suggests that it is possible that that will report any time this term, let alone years and years to come. Every Royal Commission has asked for an extension of time. What we want to do is if there are any holes, any findings, any actions that are required, we want that to occur.

JOURNALIST: Just picking up on that point, Prime Minister, not to take away from the probe into the security agencies, but there are calls from the community that there are other issues at play here. Factors like antisemitism. What's your opposition to perhaps doing both, having that short sharp review to get those answers on an operational level and then a longer term review to look at these broader issues?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, if you have a look at the broader issues that are proposed by the Opposition, they are into education, the arts, culture, migration, the full suite of employment, into the university sector, into home affairs, into the relationship between the Commonwealth and States and the nature of our Federation. I mean, there are, it goes A to Y in the subsets, and then within that there are, in some cases, half a dozen subsets within it. It is a referendum into the entire way of, not a referendum, a review or a Royal Commission into the whole functioning of Australia. What we need to do, what we need to do is to work immediately. That is what the Richardson Review will do. And in addition to that, it will feed into the inquiry which has been announced in New South Wales. I had a discussion this morning with Premier Minns. They haven't finalised, of course, their terms of reference, and we'll continue to have those discussions, but we'll cooperate with that Royal Commission. The idea that we would have multiple Royal Commissions, as well as a review running at the same time is going to simply delay action. What we've been determined to do and what the Cabinet has been doing today, we heard the head of, Director-General of ASIO, as well as the AFP Commissioner, both report extensively on the investigations that are taking place, on what lessons have been learnt, and where that is going to. The Richardson Review will do that and will feed into the New South Wales Royal Commission.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you've said that you're sorry for the Jewish community's experience. The Foreign Minister today also said she was sorry for how people experienced her actions when it came to her visit to Israel. I have no doubt that you're sorry for their experiences, but are you sorry for the mistakes your government has made in handling the antisemitism crisis?

PRIME MINISTER: Look, we take responsibility for everything that occurs on our watch. We have taken a range of actions. We are taking further actions, some of which we've announced today.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, obviously, a significant selection of legislation approved by Cabinet today. Can MPs expect to be back here sometime in January to make that law, or will they have to wait till February?

PRIME MINISTER: We'll get the laws drafted as soon as possible, but we'll also make sure that we consult with the community firstly. And that is what these Ministers are doing.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you've called for urgency and unity. Are you confident that there's sufficient bipartisan support for both your firearms reforms and the legislative changes that you're announcing today? And what's your message to your political opponents?

PRIME MINISTER: My message is that this is not a time for partisanship. This is a time for national unity. This is a time for the country to come together. That's what happens. That's what happens. After the Port Arthur massacre that is what occurred. During COVID myself as Leader of the Opposition, offered support. Even where we had amendments, we said, 'we won't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. We will support what is required.' This is a national interest test and I think people will make their own judgement about whether partisanship is being evident at the moment.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, there's been members of your own caucus who have said a National Royal Commission is needed, that a New South Wales one just won't go far enough. Are they wrong if that's not your view?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, a Royal Commission can give consideration to whatever the terms of reference are and the Commonwealth will cooperate with that Royal Commission.

JOURNALIST: PM, you touched upon gun reform in your opening preamble. Just wondering what you mean by that. And are you concerned about the split that's occurred in the New South Wales Coalition over gun reform there as a precursor to what may occur nationally?

PRIME MINISTER: There was support for, to go back to Port Arthur and I was in this place. One of the things that happened there was that not just John Howard took action as Prime Minister and he deserves credit for that. So, too does Tim Fisher, who was at the time the Leader of the National Party. But so too does Kim Beazley, who offered that bipartisan support. The Parliament came together. That's what Australians wanted to see then and it's what Australians want to see now.

JOURNALIST: PM, to go to that question of bipartisanship, the Coalition, some of the Coalition have suggested that the Bondi terror attack was linked in some way to your government's recognition of a State of Palestine, of Penny Wong's decision not to visit some of the sites of the Hamas massacre on October 7th. What's your response to those sort of claims?

PRIME MINISTER: I have tried, as you will have seen, and some have been critical of me avoiding partisan comments this week. I'll continue to do so. But it is very clear from the evidence which has been got, more of which is now into the public arena due to the police statement relating to the charges, that this was an ISIS-inspired attack, that we know that ISIS is an ideology, a perversion of Islam that essentially doesn't agree with any recognition of nation states, seeks a caliphate. It is an extremist ideology that seeks a caliphate as its objective. Now, there is evidence that will continue to be produced, some of which of course is not yet public. And I don't want to interfere with those investigations. But it is very clear that this is antisemitic. It's clear that it is an extremist position of a perversion of Islam which shows its position through support for ISIS. These people weren't shy about their motivation, and it is there for people to see. And I think that people should look at those facts which are there.

JOURNALIST: A Royal Commission would involve public hearings and won't be run out of your department. Are you running from scrutiny by not holding one?

PRIME MINISTER: No. Thank you.

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National Counterterrorism Center Enables the Arrest of Dangerous Mexican Drug and Human Trafficker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 43-25

December 22, 2025



WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's (ODNI) National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) provided actionable intelligence to U.S. and Mexican law enforcement partners that led to the arrest of Alfredo Ezequiel Galaviz Jr. in Chihuahua City, Mexico on December 5, 2025. Galaviz was wanted for the murder of a 16-year-old in Texas and is a member of a criminal family that traffics drugs and humans for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The operation to arrest Galaviz was the culmination of a two-month partnership between NCTC, the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of War's Joint Task Force North, and the Texas Department of Public Safety's Texas Rangers.

"Thanks to the support and leadership of President Trump and DNI Gabbard, we have intensified efforts to locate and arrest the narcoterrorists and human smugglers who were welcomed into our homeland during the previous administration. The days of open borders are over," said NCTC Director Joe Kent. "Today, we are equipping federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with the intelligence and tools they need to hunt down and eliminate the violent thugs and criminals who terrorize our communities and threaten our way of life."

Counterterrorism operations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are coordinated by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which represents a historic, nationwide initiative to consolidate U.S. law enforcement, military, and intelligence efforts into a targeted approach to dismantle criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

After President Trump's designation of cartels and transnational gangs as FTOs, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard directed NCTC to provide intelligence and vetting resources to partners to target terrorists who traffic deadly narcotics into the country. NCTC is applying two decades of counterterrorism expertise to assist law enforcement partners in targeting terrorists, including FTO-designated cartels, such as CJNG, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Gulf Cartel, who use violent tactics, terrorize localized communities, and control territory where they can engage in profitable illicit activity.

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FinCEN Announces Data-Driven Border Operation to Address Potential Money Laundering

U.S. Department of the Treasury

December 22, 2025

Operation Enabled by Secretary Bessent's Push for Technology Modernization

WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a multi-tiered operation targeting more than 100 U.S. money services businesses (MSBs) operating along the southwest border. These MSBswhich provide financial services outside of a formal bankare being examined for potential non-compliance with regulations designed to detect money laundering and combat illicit finance. FinCEN's operation resulted in the issuance of six notices of investigation, dozens of examination referrals to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and over 50 compliance outreach letters.

"At President Trump's direction, the Treasury Department is utilizing all tools to stop terrorist cartels, drug traffickers, and human smugglers," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "This sweeping operation will help root out potential cartel-related money laundering from the U.S. financial system."

Click here to watch a video from Secretary Bessent on today's announcement.

MSBs operating along the southwest border can face elevated exposure to illicit activity, including the laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking, smuggling of illegal aliens, and other serious crimes. This operation is consistent with President Trump's directive to secure the border and to pursue the total elimination of Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations.

Ongoing Border Operation Based On Data From Over ONE Million Banking Records  May result in Monetary Penalties, irs examinations, and criminal referrals

FinCEN's operation resulted in the issuance of six notices of investigation, dozens of examination referrals to the IRS, and over 50 compliance outreach letters. These tiered actions are designed to address the money laundering vulnerabilities created by MSBs that appear to be non-compliant with the Bank Secrecy Act. MSBs on the receiving end of these actions are on notice that Treasury will not tolerate Bank Secrecy Act violations that could put Americans at risk. This data-driven operation is based on a review of over one million Currency Transaction Reports and 87,000 Suspicious Activity Reports, which financial institutions are required to submit to FinCEN to provide highly useful data to law enforcement.

This is an ongoing operation in which FinCEN will follow the facts and, where appropriate, seek to impose civil money penalties, pursue civil injunctive actions, issue warning letters, and make referrals to criminal authorities for willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. FinCEN is coordinating closely with the Homeland Security Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service, and both law enforcement and regulatory partners at the state and federal levels.

Treasury Deploys Cutting-Edge Technology to Target Potential Money Laundering on Southwest Border

The Trump Administration has prioritized making government more modern, effective, and efficient. Under Secretary Bessent's leadership, Treasury has expanded its use of advanced technology to deliver results for the American people. FinCEN is now applying high-performance data processing to uncover illicit networks and protect the U.S. financial system from evolving threats. Treasury's modernization efforts have strengthened FinCEN's ability to transform fragmented financial information into reliable, decision-grade leads at scale. This commitment to technological advancement has enabled FinCEN to launch this first-of-its-kind, data-driven enforcement operation to enhance the safety of the American public.

Compliance Failures Threaten National Security

Failure to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act deprives law enforcement and national security agencies of critical financial intelligence and increases the risk that MSBs can facilitate money laundering and other criminal activity. U.S. MSBs, including those operating along the southwest border, are reminded that they must:

develop, implement, and maintain effective, risk-based anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism programs;

verify customer identification as needed to fulfill Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements;

monitor transactions for suspicious activity and file timely Suspicious Activity Reports;

file timely Currency Transaction Reports for transactions exceeding reporting thresholds; and

ensure adequate oversight of agents, branches, and third-party service providers, as applicable.

About FinCEN

FinCEN is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. FinCEN's mission is to safeguard the financial system from illicit activity, counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and promote national security through strategic use of financial authorities and the collection, analysis, and dissemination of financial intelligence.

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Synthetic drug market disrupted in Syria after regime change

22 December 2025 - Past geopolitical tensions related to the synthetic drug "captagon" are now being mitigated with the Syrian authorities' commitment to dismantle illicit manufacturing, says the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Captagon, a highly addictive stimulant, has been circulating illegally from the Middle East to Africa and back with 80 per cent of seizures since 2019 indicating Syria as the country of origin, according to the Office.

But one year post-regime change in the country, the large-scale manufacturing of the synthetic drug has been disrupted, according to a new research brief by UNODC.

"While the drug market expanded in recent years it divided the region, but the need for action is now bringing it together," said Bo Mathiasen, UNODC Director for Operations, adding that countries are now sharing intelligence and running joint operations, leading to "record" seizures this year alone.

Millions of tablets

Since December last year, Syria has dismantled 15 industrial-level laboratories and 13 smaller facilities for storage, according to the research brief. Manufacturing of captagon, however, is likely continuing in the Middle East.

Before December 2024, daily production in Syria could have been millions of tablets. Stocks from previous production could sustain supply for a couple of years if not intercepted.

UNODC says an increased interdiction during the last year may have somehow reduced the quantities of captagon in the market, with prices now higher in some of the Gulf countries, as well as in countries neighbouring Syria.

But traffickers have diversified their routing strategies and are using new methods to move drugs across land borders in the region, such as balloons and drones.

Joint efforts

The brief highlights renewed efforts towards regional cooperation against captagon production and trafficking, including through shared intelligence and coordinated responses.

Countries are still compiling the aggregated volume of seizures made in their territories but individual cases documented by UNODC so far suggest that since December 2024, a minimum of 177 million tablets have been intercepted across the Arab region. That is equal to 30 tonnes of captagon.

"This demonstrates that political will and international cooperation can disrupt even the most complex illicit criminal economies," Mr. Mathiasen said.

The ongoing disruption of captagon, however, may shift traffickers and people who use drugs toward methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. The brief, therefore, advocates for a comprehensive approach including drug prevention and treatment.

A wider UNODC report on the synthetic drug market in Arab countries is expected to be finalised in June 2026.

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U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active returns home following counterdrug patrol, $41.3M cocaine seized

United States Coast Guard

Press Release | Dec. 22, 2025

PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) returned to its home port of Port Angeles Sunday, concluding a 60-day counternarcotics deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Pacific Viper.

The Active's crew of 75 Coast Guard men and women patrolled 10,000 nautical miles and interdicted two suspected drug-smuggling vessels, seizing more than 6,000 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $41.3 million.

In a 72-hour period, the Active's crew interdicted two "go-fast" vessels, designed to evade detection, while patrolling international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

On Nov. 25, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754), the Active's pursuit team traveled more than 60 nautical miles aboard a small boat to intercept a 30-foot go-fast vessel, seizing more than 3,300 pounds of cocaine and detaining three suspected smugglers. On Nov. 28, the Active's crew, working with U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907), intercepted a 40-foot go-fast vessel, seizing more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine and detaining three suspected smugglers.

The seized narcotics were offloaded in San Diego, and the suspects were turned over to federal law enforcement agents.

The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for maritime law enforcement, including drug interdiction on the high seas.

Theses interdictions were part of Operation Pacific Viper, a Coast Guard surge operation targeting transnational criminal organizations and disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. These operations are critical to protecting U.S. communities from the harmful effects of cocaine and synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl.

"I am incredibly proud of this crew," said Cmdr. Earl Potter, commanding officer of the Cutter Active. "Their determination, resilience, and professionalism enable us to complete these dynamic and dangerous missions at sea. The conditions are challenging, the hours are long, and the demands are high, but this team consistently maintains focus and executes with distinction. The crew's commitment to protecting our nation and keeping drugs off our streets defines the Active's legacy, and I know there is no finer crew than the one serving aboard Active."

The U.S. Coast Guard's narcotics interdiction efforts target transnational criminal organizations that are funded by drug trafficking. Deployments like the Active's disrupt supply networks in Central and South America. The Active's success demonstrates the impact a single Coast Guard unit can have when working with interagency and foreign partners. Sustained resources for patrolling these smuggling transit zones are crucial to maritime security and effectively extend U.S. border security far beyond our coastlines.

The Active, nicknamed "Lil Tough Guy," supports the Coast Guard's law enforcement, living marine resource protection, and search and rescue missions. Commissioned in 1966, it is one of two medium endurance cutters homeported on the West Coast and is the oldest major cutter in the Pacific Area.



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Speech by Minister for Defence Pal Jonson at North Star Space Forum

Government Offices of Sweden

Speech by Pal Jonson

Published 22 December 2025

Minister for Defence Pal Jonson, Washington DC, on 4 December 2025.

Under Secretary DiNanno,

Ambassador Ahlin

Your excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear representatives of the space community.

It is indeed a great pleasure to be back here in Washington and also have the privilege to speak about two topics that are very dear to me: Security and Space.

My core message this morning is that the deepening of our bilateral security ties between Sweden and the US - and nowadays as true allies inside NATO - ALSO strengthens the opportunities to cooperate in space.

Sweden is willing and able to take this cooperation to new levels. We see today's signing ceremony as another important milestone in this endeavour.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sweden is the newest member of NATO but also one of the most enthusiastic.

We have tried to hit the ground running as a security provider since we joined the Alliance 18 month ago.

Swedish forces are now contributing to the forward defence and deterrence of the Alliance - on the ground in Latvia with a mechanised battalion and as the leading framework nation of NATO's Forward Land Forces in Finland.

And the Swedish Navy is operating in the Baltic Sea, while our Air Force is patrolling the sky above, all part of NATO's missions and operations.

The sustainment of this commitment and our force posture is supported by an aggressive approach to defence investments.

Sweden has tripled its defence budget during the last six years and aim to reach NATO's defence investment plan five years before its' due date.

We get it - this is an era of rebalancing where we Europeans must shoulder a large responsibility for our own security. That also includes Sweden.

From previously having been a space of strategic uncertainty - when we were non-aligned - Sweden is now a cornerstone of security in Northern Europe.

We are grateful for the United States' steadfast support to our accession to NATO during difficult times and we have tried to repay the trust that you put into us by being a responsible ally.

The United States is without a doubt one of Sweden's most important security and defence partners. The Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between us ensures ever closer cooperation, bilaterally and within NATO.

Being situated at the crossroads - of the Arctic, the Nordic region, and the Baltic Sea - Sweden has a strategic vantage point. Not least for early warning of airborne and missile threats directed at the United States from the East.

In the coming years, Sweden's capabilities for Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the High North will increase significantly.

We will operate Global Eye Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircrafts and Gripen E fighter jets, as well as increasing numbers of modern air defence systems, including Patriot Surface-to-Air Missiles.

Ladies and gentlemen

Effective air and missile defence requires assets in space.

The integration of the space domain within NATO has also progressed rapidly in recent years.

To further strengthen our defense capabilities, the Swedish Government recently adopted Sweden's first defense and security strategy for space.

This strategy lays out the political, diplomatic and military measures we will take to secure our freedom of action in space.

The strategy highlights the importance of space capabilities to support our total defence concept.

It states our pledge to contribute to NATOs defence and deterrence also in the space domain.

And it signals our intention to position ourselves as a relevant and responsible partner for collaboration on space

To this end, Sweden is acquiring sovereign satellites for communications and ISR, providing additional eyes and ears for the Alliance in the High North.

In August last year we launched the military satellite - GNA-3 - on a rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. And we have several satellites planed for the coming years.

These satellites are part of Sweden's defence space program (of course named TOR/THOR) to develop the space capabilities we need for Sweden's military and civil defence.

One such capability is to launch satellites into space.

The Swedish government is therefore continuing to invest heavily in the development of launch capability at Spaceport Esrange in the North of Sweden.

This is the only launch site inside the EU for polar orbiting satellites.

However, commercial space services and actors play an increasingly important role in war, as we have seen in Ukraine.

This requires commercial actors to be able to maintain access to their services even under extremely challenging conditions.

Cyber-attacks and disruptions of space services are now part of modern warfare.

We also see this every day at home in the form of GPS-interference from Russia in the Nordic-Baltic region, affecting and threatening maritime shipping and civil aviation.

The use of commercial space services in conflicts also means that actions and business decisions by private actors now can have very significant geopolitical consequences.

Without access to commercial space-based communication and intelligence gathering, Ukraine would never have been able to defend itself in the successful manner as it is now doing.

Sweden has made substantial donations to ensure Ukraine's access to necessary space-related services.

And in June I signed a letter of intent with my Ukrainian counterpart to further deepening our space cooperation which so far has been mutually rewarding for both countries.

Ladies and gentlemen

Sweden might be a small nation of only 10 million and the size of California, but we can play a significant role in space.

We bring advanced technology, a competitive industry, an innovative mindset, and a strategic geographic location to the table.

Or as Yoda from Star Wars would say: "Smaller in numbers are we, but [perhaps] larger in mind".

Innovation in space is key for meeting the evolving challenges, including the growing military and economic collaboration between Moscow and Beijing.

Sweden is establishing a Defence Innovation Unit inside the Armed Forces and has launched a civil-military innovation program also to speed up the adoption of commercial technology in response to the changing threat environment.

Similarly, NATO's Commercial Space Strategy, inspired by the US strategies, recognizes that an important part of space innovation is found in the commercial sector.

Sweden welcomes this development, not the least given our cutting-edge commercial space sector.

Ladies and gentlemen

To succeed in space cooperation is key.

Examples of notable bilateral collaboration on the commercial level is the Ymir-1 satellite, building on collaborative efforts by Swedish and US companies.

Another example is the cooperation between Firefly Aerospace and the Swedish Space Corporation. It is an enabler for developing operational launch capability at our Spaceport Esrange.

The signing of the Technology Safeguards Agreement in June takes us one step closer to achieving this capability.

And today we reach another milestone with the signing of the amendment and extension of the framework agreement.

Our signing reflects the longstanding and fruitful collaboration between the United States and Sweden.

Strengthening the cooperation with Allies and industry as well as conducting joint exercises constitute a vital part of developing readiness and displaying unity.

The Space Situational Awareness sharing agreement with the US and our participation in Joint Commercial Operations cell (JCO) serve as a testament to this teamwork.

Together we are keeping space safe and secure.

Together we deter.

Thank you!

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Iran plans launch of its heaviest ever satellite on Dec 28

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 7:49 PM

Iran is planning to launch its heaviest ever satellite into low Earth orbit in late December, as part of efforts to expand the country's operational space missions.

Local media reports published on Monday said the Iranian-made Paya satellite, also known as Tolou 3, will be launched from Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome on December 28.

According to the reports, the launch will mark Iran's first operational use of a mini-satellite weighing about 150 kilograms, a class of spacecraft that would allow the country to expand the scope of its space missions.

They said the Paya satellite is designed to provide imaging with a resolution of about 10-20 meters per pixel and can be used for natural resource management, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and data-driven scientific and practical applications.

The head of the aerospace division of Iran Electronics Industries, a subsidiary of the Iranian Defense Ministry that designed and manufactured the satellite, told state television that the successful launch of the Paya mission could mark a turning point in Iran's space activities.

Moharram Ghiasvand said the satellite will transmit images in far greater volumes, with a data-downlink rate up to ten times higher than that of Iran's previous satellites.

Ghiasvand added that the satellite is equipped with two imaging sensors capable of capturing black-and-white and color images. He said its spatial resolution is five meters, which can be enhanced to three meters using artificial intelligence algorithms, marking the first time Iran could achieve sub-five-meter resolution in low Earth orbit.

Reports also said the planned launch from Vostochny in late December will include two other Iranian satellites placed into low Earth orbit.

These include Zafar-2, which is intended for Earth-observation missions, and Kowsar 1.5, which will be used primarily for agriculture monitoring and related applications.

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Xi congratulates Jose Antonio Kast on election as Chilean president

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source Xinhuanet

EditorLi Jiayao

Time2025-12-22 17:46:18

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Jose Antonio Kast on his election as Chile's president.

Xi pointed out that Chile is the first South American country to have established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

The two countries understand and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, while practical cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.

Noting that China-Chile ties have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries, Xi said that continuously advancing the development of bilateral relations enjoys a broad consensus shared by various sectors in both countries.

Xi said he places great importance on the growth of China-Chile relations and is ready to work with President-elect Kast to carry forward traditional friendship, elevate the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on December 22, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: December 22, 2025 19:00

Xinhua News Agency: Recently, a senior official in charge of security and defense at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office told reporters that Japan should have nuclear weapons. Japanese Defense Minister later said that they left open the possibility of Japan reviewing its non-nuclear principles in the future. These remarks were met with strong criticism from various sectors in Japan and its neighboring countries, including Russia. What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: China is shocked that a senior official from Japanese Prime Minister's Office who is close to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi brazenly claimed that Japan should have nuclear weapons. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary declined to make clarifications on the remarks. Asked about possible revisions to the three non-nuclear principles, Japan's Defense Minister said "all options would be discussed." Given previous Japanese media reports that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to revise the three non-nuclear principles, the above-mentioned statements amount to a blatant challenge to the postwar international order and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability, and a U-turn from Japan's commitment to "peaceful development." Stressing that the idea is a "personal view" is not convincing at all. The international community should be on high alert and firmly against it.

First, relevant remarks seriously violate Japan's due obligations under international law. Instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, clearly stipulate: Japan should be completely disarmed and not to maintain such industries as would enable her to re-arm for war. As a non-nuclear-weapon state to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Japan must fully abide by the provisions of "not receiving, manufacturing, acquiring or transferring nuclear weapons." These are non-negotiable obligations under international law that Japan must fulfill and should not be used as bargaining chips for political gains.

Second, relevant remarks severely undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. The international nuclear non-proliferation regime is an important part of the postwar international order. Japan's attempt to possess nuclear weapons gravely challenges the authority and effectiveness of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, risks undermining countries' effort of upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and sabotages the hard-won peace and stability after WWII. Japan's statements have been met by opposition from many countries. LDP senior officials, members of both ruling and opposition parties and civil groups were shocked and said that such remarks shall never be tolerated and the three non-nuclear principles shall be strictly observed.

Third, Japanese right-wing forces' remilitarization ambition is rather apparent. Former Japanese political leaders claimed Japan is capable of manufacturing nuclear weapons. Japan has long been manufacturing and possessing plutonium stocks far beyond what is needed for civilian nuclear power programs. Japan is a non-nuclear-weapon state capable of producing weapon-level plutonium. If Japan further pushes the envelope and continues to challenge international justice and test the bottom line of the international community, China's response will be a firm "No". Over the years, the Japanese right-wing forces have been advancing Japan's military buildup. The latest statement by the senior official from Japanese Prime Minister's Office of "possessing nuclear weapons" are examples of how Japanese right-wing forces are trying to "remilitarizing" and "rearming" Japan. It also says a lot about why Prime Minister Takaichi could make such erroneous and dangerous remarks concerning Taiwan on November 7. After coming into office, Prime Minister Takaichi has hyped up the "survival-threatening situation" and kept blurring policy boundaries. She has taken a number of steps to cross the red line and played deaf to domestic and international criticisms. Many with vision in Japan have warned against that. We cannot but ask: Where exactly is the Takaichi Administration taking Japan?

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. Japanese militarists waged a war of aggression and committed inhumane atrocities, creating the darkest page in human history. Despite the defeat, Japan has never been able to fully eliminate the scourge of militarism in the country. Some forces inside Japan have not only failed to reflect on Japan's history of aggression, but also been extremely unhappy about the postwar international arrangement. If the right-wing forces in Japan are left free to develop powerful offensive weapons, or even possess nuclear weapons, it will again bring disaster to the world. China and all peace-loving countries in the world are on high alert and firmly opposed to the dangerous tendency Japan has shown on the issue of nuclear weapons, and strongly urge Japan to abide by international law and its Constitution and stop the venturing and provocative moves towards owning nuclear weapons. Japan must not seek to challenge the postwar international order, and stop plunging further down the wrong path.

RT TV: Following the 11th China-ROK vice foreign ministerial strategic dialogue, what specific diplomatic strategies or frameworks is Beijing proposing to facilitate a rapprochement between the DPRK and the ROK?

Lin Jian: We've released a readout on the 11th China-ROK high-level strategic dialogue between the two countries' foreign ministries. China's position and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue maintain continuity and consistency. China will continue playing a constructive role in its own way to keep the Peninsula peaceful and stable and promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue.

Global Times: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on December 21 that the U.S. Coast Guard has seized an oil tanker on the early morning of December 20, local time. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the tanker was "operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil." What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: By arbitrarily seizing other countries' vessels, the U.S. has seriously violated international law. China stands against unilateral illicit sanctions that lack basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council, and against any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, infringes upon other countries' sovereignty and security, and constitutes unilateralism and bullying. Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. We believe Venezuela's position of defending its legitimate rights and interests has the understanding and support of the international community.

CNR: It's reported that foreign ministers of ASEAN countries gathered for a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today with a focus on the border situation between Cambodia and Thailand. The two countries have yet to reach a consensus. What's your comment? How does Deng Xijun, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, play his role in promoting peace between the two sides?

Lin Jian: Both Cambodia and Thailand are important members of ASEAN. China commends and supports the effort of ASEAN, in particular Malaysia, to secure peace. China, as the two countries' friend and close neighbor, sincerely hopes the fighting will stop and peace will be rebuilt at an early date, which is in the larger interest of peace and stability along their border and the fundamental interest of the people of both countries.

Since the latest escalation between the two countries, China has been engaging the two sides for peace through its own way. Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked to Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers over the phone. MFA senior official has maintained communication with Cambodia, Thailand and relevant ASEAN countries. MFA Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun is on a shuttle-diplomacy trip to facilitate talks. On his shuttle-diplomacy trip, relevant information will be released in due course. China will continue working actively for peace and playing a constructive role for deescalation.

Yonhap News Agency: The ROK and the U.S. will launch the discussions next year on implementing agreements between their leaders on the ROK building nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment and other issues. Some Chinese military experts said on domestic media outlets that this move will disrupt the nuclear non-proliferation regime. What's China's comment on this issue?

Lin Jian: On the submarine cooperation between the U.S. and the ROK, China has articulated its position more than once. We hope the ROK will handle the matter with prudence.

Bloomberg: A high-level LDP official from Japan is visiting Taiwan today. He's on a three-day visit, and he is expected to meet Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment?

Lin Jian: Taiwan is a province of China and there is no such thing as "president." Let me stress that Japanese LDP lawmakers' visit to China's Taiwan region violates the one-China principle, the four political documents between China and Japan and Japan's own commitments made to China. China firmly opposes the visit and has protested to the Japanese side.

There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. We once again urge the Japanese side to reflect on and correct its wrongdoings, retract Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous remarks, and not to interfere in China's internal affairs. The DPP authorities will not succeed in seeking "Taiwan independence" by ingratiating themselves with Japan. Their disgraceful acts will only lead to a dead end.

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Pentagon report on ballistic missiles cliche of hyping up 'China threat' rhetoric: experts

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Liu Caiyu Published: Dec 23, 2025 01:41 PM

A draft Pentagon report claimed China has likely loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields, Reuters reported on Monday. Chinese military observers noted that the Pentagon's annual reports are full of speculation and aim to hype up the so-called China threat rhetoric.

Citing the draft Pentagon report, Reuters claimed that China has loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles into three newly constructed silo fields near its border with Mongolia and showed little interest in arms control talks.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday that this report is fundamentally based on subjective speculation by the US and that its assessment is pure hype.

The US, possessing the largest arsenal, must take the lead in disarmament talksa step that the country has yet to fulfill. Given that China's nuclear arsenal is only a fraction of the size of America's, there is no justification for China to join such negotiations at this stage, Song added.

Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times that China's nuclear capabilities are maintained at the minimum level necessary for defense, primarily intended for nuclear counterstrikes and retaliatory strikes in response to nuclear attacks. China has continuously and publicly stated its position clearly, which is that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons.

The significant disparity in scale between China's nuclear capabilities and those of the US and Russia makes it both unfair and unreasonable to demand China's participation in nuclear arms control negotiations at this stage, Zhang said.

"So, by hyping this issue, the US is attempting to pressure China, with the ultimate goal of hindering the normal development of China's national defense capabilities," Zhang said.

Drawing China into arms control negotiations serves as a strategic pretext for the US to assert a balance of power, analysts said.

The US government in October cited Russia's missile tests and China's growing nuclear capabilities as a justification for a decision to resume nuclear weapons testing "immediately," according to a Fox News report.

Last year, also a Pentagon report alleged that China is rapidly growing its nuclear arsenal and likely to have 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. It hyped that China has added at least 100 nuclear warheads to its stockpile over the past year and now has more than 600 in its inventory, according to Politico report.

In response, China's Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said that the report had misinterpreted China's defense policies, speculated about China's military capacity development, flagrantly interfered in China's domestic affairs, desperately slandered the Chinese military and exaggerated the so-called military threat posed by China.

On China's development of nuclear weapons, Zhang stressed that the intention is to safeguard the country's strategic security.

But the US, which has the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal in the world, sticks stubbornly to a policy of first use of nuclear weapons, undermining international and regional peace and stability. He called on the US to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in its national and collective security policy to respond responsibly to the international community, the spokesperson said.

When answering a related question at the press conference on August 27, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also said that the country sitting on the world's biggest nuclear arsenal should earnestly fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, further make drastic and substantive cuts to its nuclear arsenal, and create conditions for the ultimate realization of complete and thorough nuclear disarmament.

China's nuclear strength is by no means on the same level as that of the US. Our nuclear policy and strategic security environment are also completely different. It's neither reasonable nor realistic to ask China to join the nuclear disarmament negotiations with the US and Russia, Guo said.

China follows a policy of "no first use" of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense. China always keeps its nuclear strength at the minimum level required by national security, and never engages in arms race with anyone. China's nuclear strength and nuclear policy contribute to world peace, Guo stressed.

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IOL signs collaboration agreement with SAFRAN to manufacture two high-precision, combat-proven systems in India

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 22 DEC 2025 3:55PM by PIB Delhi

In a major milestone in the Make-in-India program envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India Optel Limited (IOL), a Mini Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has signed a collaboration agreement with Safran Electronics & Defense for Transfer of Production of two high-precision, combat-proven systems, paving the way for their local manufacturing. The systems are: SIGMA 30N Digital Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System, used in artillery guns, air defence systems, missiles and radars; and CM3-MR Direct Firing Sight, designed for artillery guns and anti-drone systems.

The agreement was signed by CMD, IOL Shri Tushar Tripathi and Head of the Defence Global Business Unit for Safran Electronics & Defense Mr Alexandre Ziegler in the presence of Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar in New Delhi on December 22, 2025.

Building on the MoU signed in January 2024, this new agreement confirms the commitment of both the partners to manufacture and support these advanced systems in India. Under the partnership, IOL will be responsible for manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control and full life-cycle support, ensuring the systems meet the operational needs of the Indian Army. By combining IOL's industrial capabilities in India with Safran Electronics & Defense's recognised expertise in high-end inertial navigation and fire-control technologies, the partnership contributes to strengthening India's defence manufacturing ecosystem while enhancing the readiness and performance of its land forces.

****

SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2207389)

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Tehran: Israel has long history of false flag operations

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 22, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says the Israeli regime has a long-standing record of designing and carrying out false flag operations, stressing that many cases are now recognized as proven examples.

During a weekly press conference on Monday, Baqaei was asked about reported confessions by a former British MI5 agent regarding the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the explosion at the Israeli regime's embassy in London, to which he said all the issues raised "are truly worthy of attention and careful examination."

"That the Israeli regime has a long record in designing and implementing so-called false flag operations is not a new matter, and many of these cases are today known as proven examples," Baqaei said.

Iran not involved in Ukraine war whatsoever

In response to another question about a recent statement by the European Council alleging that Iran, Belarus, and North Korea have provided military assistance to Russia in the Ukraine war, despite repeated denials by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Foreign Ministry spokesman described the claim as repetitive.

"This allegation is repetitive. In similar previous statements, the names of several countries, including China and Iran, were mentioned as parties that help Russia in this conflict," Baqaei said.

He reiterated that Iran has, since the beginning of the conflict, emphasized that disputes between the two countries should be resolved through dialogue and "and we have had and have no involvement whatsoever in this conflict."

'Iran-Russia relations are very extensive'

Baqaei also addressed a question about the simultaneous visit of the Russian deputy prime minister to Iran and the visit of Iran's foreign minister to Russia.

He said the timing was merely coincidental and entirely natural, noting the breadth of relations between Tehran and Moscow.

"Iran-Russia relations are very extensive, and the exchange of diplomatic delegations from both sides is completely customary," he said, adding that diplomatic traffic between the two countries should be seen as normal.

He said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to Moscow took place as part of ongoing consultations between Iran and Russia and in response to an invitation from his Russian counterpart.

US failures to honor commitments

Responding to a question about the fate of six billion dollars of Iranian funds held in Qatar, Baqaei said the issue is "one of hundreds of examples of the United States' failure to honor its commitments."

"Based on the understanding that had been reached, it was supposed that assets belonging to the Iranian people would be made available to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said, adding that "unfortunately, the American side did not act on its commitments, and this breach of promise continues to this day."

Iran to Israel: 'Criminals judge others by their own standards'

In response to allegations by the Israeli regime accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran of involvement in the killing of MIT nuclear science professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, Baqaei firmly rejected the claims, saying they reflected a familiar pattern of projection.

He said that, with a slight modification, the proverb "criminals judge others by their own standards" aptly applied to the Israeli regime.

Citing what he described as a long record of killings, massacres and assassinations of citizens of other countries, Baqaei said that whenever an incident occurs, the Israeli regime naturally looks for a culprit based on its own methods.

He stressed that such allegations had not even been confirmed by the United States, the regime's main ally, further undermining their credibility.

Iran's defensive power not up for talks

Addressing a question by IRNA about renewed media campaigns in Israeli and pro-Israeli US outlets suggesting that the Israeli prime minister would seek to persuade the US president to repeat aggression against Iran under the pretext of Iran's missile program, Baqaei rejected the premise outright.

He said Iran's missile program is purely defensive in nature and was developed solely to protect the country's sovereignty.

"The defensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran are designed to deter aggressors from even contemplating an attack on Iran and are in no way subject to dialogue or bargaining," he said.

'No protocol for inspection of damaged nuclear facilities'

On cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Baqaei said there is no established protocol for inspections of damaged nuclear facilities, as such a situation has no precedent.

He said Iran at one point entered into talks with the agency to address the issue, resulting in a mutually signed understanding.

However, he added that Western parties once again obstructed the process by exploiting the 2015 nuclear agreement's dispute resolution mechanism in New York.

The repetition of the issue, he said, strengthened suspicions that the IAEA director general was seeking political leverage from a matter that "is not truly an issue."

US, Israel must be held accountable for Daesh's resurgence

Commenting on renewed activity by the Daesh terrorist group in some regions, Baqaei said the question should be directed at those who have themselves acknowledged that the emergence of Daesh was the result of the US government's actions.

He pointed out that the current US president had explicitly referred to this during his election campaign.

Under such circumstances, he said, the Israeli regime, the United States, and other irresponsible actors who have effectively supported terrorism must be held accountable for the consequences.

US complicit in Israeli crimes

Baqaei dismissed as "an outright lie" a claim by a US media outlet that, following Israeli attacks on Iran, a proposal had been made by Donald Trump to fully lift sanctions on Iran.

He also criticized US policy toward Israel, saying there was no doubt that Israel had for decades become a burden on the US economy and foreign policy, imposing heavy financial and reputational costs on Washington due to its crimes.

As a result, he said, the US is seen by regional peoples as complicit in those actions.

Baqaei further rejected recent US comments on Iran's internal affairs and nuclear program as hypocritical psychological warfare.

He denounced Canada's anti-Iran resolution at the UN as a repetitive and political move lacking broad support.

The spokesperson also reaffirmed Iran's principled condemnation of terrorism regardless of location, and described US harassment of commercial vessels as a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to global peace and stability.

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Iran's IRGC says it has pulled out of Venezuela subway project

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 7:02 PM

The construction arm of Iran's elite military force, the IRGC, says it has withdrawn from a major subway project in Venezuela.

The commander of Khatam Headquarters, a subsidiary of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, said on Monday that the force had initially agreed to build a subway line in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, but later pulled out of the project.

"Initial agreements were reached with Venezuela, but we handed over the project to the Venezuelan side due to new conditions that were imposed on the project," Brigadier General Abdorreza Abed was quoted as saying by the ILNA news agency.

Abed said that Khatam Headquarters is involved in only a limited number of foreign projects and will brief the media and the public about them if they prove fruitful.

The IRGC has been a major contributor to Iran's development efforts in recent decades, with its projects mainly focused on the transportation and energy sectors.

The force has also been involved in several projects in regional countries, particularly in Iraq and Syria, where it has built power plants and other facilities.

Khatam Headquarters employs a range of public and private contractors for its projects inside Iran, helping boost employment and local economic capacity.

Abed said the IRGC will never accept projects that can be carried out by private companies inside Iran, noting that it has been assigned mega-projects that are beyond the capabilities of ordinary contractors.

In an interview with the IRGC's in-house journal published on Saturday, Abed said that Khatam Headquarters works with nearly 10,000 small and medium-sized contractors that employ more than 150,000 people.

He added that the IRGC's policy is to reject projects worth less than $4 million in order to give smaller companies in Iran room to operate.

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Iran Army warns of 'decisive' response to acts of 'mischief' by enemies

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 2:28 PM

The chief commander of Iran's Army says the forces under his watch are prepared to deliver a "decisive" response to any acts of mischief by the enemies.

Major General Amir Hatami made the remarks during a visit to Army units in western Iran on Monday.

Hatami said that Iran's Army is consistently trying to enhance its preparedness to confront asymmetric and irregular threats.

Following professional training and exercises, with particular emphasis on passive defense, the Army now has a firm resolve to confront the enemies on the battlefield, he added.

"We closely monitor all enemy movements and will respond decisively to any acts of mischief."

The Army chief also hailed the high morale of his comrades stationed along the country's borders, saying they are equipped based on the experience of the illegal Israeli-US aggression of June.

Iranian forces targeted and destroyed the enemy's advanced Heron drone immediately after it entered the country's western border during the 12-day war, he said, warning of the same level of decisiveness in case of any new assault.

Hatami further noted that in the course of the Iraqi-imposed war of the 1980s, Iran did not lose a single inch of its territory.

"Today as well, the mission of the Army is to safeguard the territorial integrity and independence of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are all striving to fulfill this mission in the best possible manner," he stated.

Meanwhile, he emphasized the importance of protecting Army personnel while remaining prepared for martyrdom and sacrifice in defense of the nation.

"We will stand firm until the last drop of our blood, yet we will never allow even the slightest harm to be inflicted upon our beloved people," he said.

Additionally, Hatami praised the Army Aviation for its excellent, effective, and well-calculated performance during the terrorist aggression against Iran.

On Sunday, Israeli military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir threatened strikes "wherever required, on near and distant fronts alike."

The comments came one day after NBC News reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present plans for a possible new aggression against Iran to US President Donald Trump during an upcoming meeting in Florida.

Deputy Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said Israel is resorting to threats and media campaigns to cover up the severe defeat that the regime suffered in its war against the Islamic Republic.

Between June 13 and 24, Israel waged its blatant act of aggression against Iran, killing at least 1,064 people.

On June 22, the United States also joined Israel and bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in violation of international law. Two days later, the Islamic Republic managed to impose a halt to the criminal assault through its successful retaliatory attacks.

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Routine IRGC drills rattle Israel as military chief calls CENTCOM commander: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 11:13 AM

The Israeli regime has raised alarm with Washington over a routine Iranian missile exercise, with senior Israeli officials warning the drill could mask preparations for an operation, despite US intelligence saying there was no indication of imminent action.

Israeli officials told the Trump administration over the weekend that a missile exercise launched by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) could be a cover for a strike against the occupied territories, Axios reported on Monday, citing Israeli and American sources familiar with the matter.

The warning prompted a direct call between the regime's chief of staff and the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), underscoring heightened Israeli sensitivity to routine movements by Iranian defense forces.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir phoned CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper on Saturday to convey Israeli concerns about the IRGC drill, which had begun several days earlier, the sources were quoted as saying.

Zamir urged close US-Israeli coordination on military preparations amid what Israeli officials described as a lower tolerance for risk since October 7, 2023, when Palestinian resistance fighters, led by Hamas, carried out the historic al-Aqsa Storm Operation against the occupied territories.

Axios, meanwhile, cited an American source as saying US intelligence currently bore no indication that an Iranian operation was imminent.

Cooper traveled to Tel Aviv on Sunday, where he met Zamir and other senior Israeli military officials to review the situation.

Axios additionally cited one source as saying Israeli intelligence had raised similar alleged concerns six weeks before, after identifying Iranian missile movements - concerns that ultimately did not materialize.

"The chances for an Iranian attack are less than 50%, but nobody is willing to take the risk and just say it is only an exercise," the source said.

The latest drill comes against the backdrop of the unprovoked and illegal Israeli-American war on the Islamic Republic in June.

In recent remarks, the IRGC has underscored its confidence in its intelligence capabilities during the war.

Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini, an IRGC spokesman, said Iran possessed a "complete intelligence database" on Israeli targets that enabled precise retaliatory strikes during the unlawful aggression.

He said Iranian forces matched Israeli strikes target-for-target during the war and added that no missiles went astray due to years of intelligence gathering.

Naeini also said Iranian strikes destroyed dozens of strategic Israeli centers and key infrastructure, asserting that roughly 80% of Iran's operations relied on intelligence gathered before the episode.

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Iran: Defense power not up for talks; Armed Forces fully prepared to defend nation

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 9:24 AM

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says Iran's defensive capabilities are designed primarily to deter any attack by aggressors and are not up for negotiations.

Baghaei was speaking at his weekly press conference on Monday, in response to a question about the rhetoric by the Israeli and American media regarding the possibility of a new act of military aggression against Iran under the pretext of its missile program.

"The defensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran are designed to deter aggressors from thinking of attacking Iran and are by no means up for negotiation," he said.

He added that Iran has developed its missile program to defend its integrity.

He slammed the "blatant hypocrisy and double standards" vis-a-vis Iran's missile program meant to portray it as a "threat", adding that, at the same time, lethal weapons and even weapons of mass destruction are being funneled into the Israeli-occupied territories to be used in the regime's genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

Baghaei emphasized that Iran's Armed Forces are well-equipped to defend the country when necessary.

"Therefore, regardless of these malicious media campaigns, the Iranian nation, the Armed Forces, and all branches of the government will continue their path with a focus on their duties," the spokesman pointed out.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

Israel has long history of 'false flag' operations: Baghaei

Baghaei further pointed to Israel's long history of architecting and executing "false flag operations" and said the regime spares no effort to advance its goals through "inhumane means."

He was responding to a question about Israel's allegation that Iran had a role in the murder of an MIT nuclear physics professor.

He stressed the need to expose such practices and disseminate precise information about the Israeli regime's actions and crimes.

"The Zionist regime, due to its long history of murder, slaughter, and the assassination of citizens of other countries, naturally seeks to find a culprit whenever an incident occurs," Baghaei said.

Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, was shot Monday night at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. He died at a local hospital on Tuesday.

The Jerusalem Post said that an Israeli investigation was launched against the backdrop of Loureiro's field of research in energy and nuclear physics, apparently trying to link the death to Iran.

The alleged investigation, however, has not been officially verified nor is it supported by any findings from US investigators, the newspaper said.

There is also no clear evidence so far linking Loureiro's murder to Iran, sources told the paper.

'US, Israel accountable for supporting Daesh terrorists'

When asked about a resurgence of the Daesh terrorist group in some parts of the region and the world, Baghaei said the United States and the Israeli regime must be held accountable for their support for terrorism and Daesh and its repercussions.

He added that the US, Israel and some parties have supported terrorism and Daesh terrorists by acting irresponsibly and paying no heed to the consequences of their actions.

"The persistence of the Zionist regime's crimes, the constant attacks against Syria and efforts by this regime and its supporters to turn Syria into a failed state and a fragmented country are all directly contributing to the expansion and reproduction of terrorism," the Iranian spokesman emphasized.

He further said there is no doubt that Israel has imposed "heavy financial and reputational costs" on the US not only for years but for decades.

He noted that regional nations have reached an understanding that Israel's measures, whether against the occupied Palestine or against neighboring countries, are directly supported and endorsed by the US.

'US complicit in Israel's crimes'

The US is complicit in Israel's crimes and it should bear the consequences of the Tel Aviv regime's actions, he said.

"The Zionist regime has succeeded in advancing its wars at the expense of the US and consequently involving the US in a cycle of endless wars and constant hostility with regional nations," Baghaei emphasized.

He added that the public opinion in the US and the West is gradually becoming aware of this high cost.

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Israel Warns US That Iran's Missile Exercises Could Be Attack Preparation - Reports

Sputnik News

20251222

Israeli officials warned the administration of US President Donald Trump over the weekend that missile exercises by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could be a preparation for a strike on Israel, Axios reported citing sources.

According to the publication, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called US Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper on Saturday, expressing concern about the missile exercises the IRGC began several days ago.

Zamir informed Cooper that recent Iranian missile movements and other operational activities could also serve as cover for a surprise attack by Tehran. The Israeli commander called on the US and Israeli armed forces to closely coordinate on defensive preparations.

On Sunday, Cooper visited Tel Aviv and met with Zamir and senior Israeli military leaders to discuss the current situation, Axios added.

NBC previously reported that Israel was preparing to brief Trump on options for a potential repeat attack on Iran.

On the night of June 13, Israel launched an operation against Iran, accusing it of pursuing a covert military nuclear program. The aerial bombardments and sabotage raids targeted nuclear facilities, military commanders, prominent nuclear physicists, and air bases.

Iran denied the accusations and responded with its own attacks. The two sides exchanged strikes for 12 days, with the United States joining in, launching a one-time attack on Iranian nuclear facilities on the night of June 22. Following this, on the evening of June 23, Tehran launched missile strikes against the US-owned Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, emphasizing that Iran had no intention of further escalation. Trump then expressed hope that the strike on the US military base in Qatar had "let off steam" for Iran, and that a path to peace and harmony in the Middle East was now possible. He added that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, which, after 24 hours, would officially end the 12-day war.

After the strikes, Iran announced its intention to restore the facilities hit and continue developing its nuclear industry, including by building new nuclear power plants in Iran. Tehran also clarified its willingness to take steps to build trust in the Iranian nuclear industry in light of Western concerns about its nuclear program.

 Sputnik

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Iraqi Shia bloc reaches preliminary agreement on next prime minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 22, 2025

Baghdad, IRNA -- Iraqi political sources report that parties within the Shia Coordination Framework have reached a preliminary agreement on a candidate to lead the country's next government.

According to a Monday report by Baghdad Al-Youm news agency, former Iraqi lawmaker Abbas Sarout said there was initial consensus among members of the Coordination Framework on a specific figure to assume the post of prime minister.

Sarout cautioned that the road ahead would not be easy, noting that Iraq faces complex regional and international dynamics as well as multiple domestic crises.

The Shia Coordination Framework plans to hold a key meeting at the residence of Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law coalition, to finalize the remaining details related to the selection of the prime ministerial nominee, the sources said.

9341**4353

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Prime Minister Netanyahu's Statement at Trilateral Meeting with the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 22.12.2025

"President Christodoulides, Nikos,

Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Kyriakos,

This is not our first meeting. It's our tenth meeting. But I said in our discussions that I think it's the most consequential.

The last time the three of us met was a short time before the October 7th massacre, before terror once again reminded us that stability in this region is never guaranteed, and that strength, clarity and cooperation are not options. They are a must.

The Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean are being tested by aggression, terrorism and instability.

Our partnership provides strength, clarity and cooperation that will prevail over chaos.

It also offers new opportunities for prosperity.

We are cooperating, and discussed in detail cooperation, in many fields: energy, technology, connectivity and also security, that guarantees this all.

We will advance IMEC, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. This is an idea that has been brought forward before, but we think we have to put it into reality. It's a maritime, rail, pipeline, energy pipeline and cable connectivity between Asia and Europe going through Israel, Cyprus and Greece.

As part of this effort, we are advancing the great sea connector that will enable electric energy cooperation between our three countries and Europe, and the Arabian Peninsula, and ultimately you can connect it to Asia as well. So, this is a big thing, and in many ways, it's the skeleton of the IMEC corridor. We discussed practically how to move this forward, and we intend to advance it. I'll also discuss it in my upcoming meeting with President Trump in the United States.

We agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, in cybersecurity, advanced research.

Israel is already a global technology leader, and together with Greece and Cyprus, we will shape the region's future in cutting-edge new technologies.

I want to tell you that a lot is going on right now. Israeli companies, hi-tech companies are flocking to Cyprus and to Greece. It basically says that they believe in the economic management. We're not jealous. We believe in competition.

There are, what? 137 flights a week? 186 flights a week between Israel and Cyprus. It's unbelievable. Just compute that. How many flights a day?

I don't know of many Israeli investors who have not visited Greece or who are not investing in Greece. Increasing amounts are growing there, and again, I think this is a sign of the dynamism of our economies, Israel's economy which has been rated third by The Economist as the most vibrant economy in the planet, third most vibrant economy in the planet. I think we were shortchanged, but that's alright. But I believe that there is dynamism here, there is at once great opportunity but also great challenges, and we recognize them.

We affirmed our commitment to expanding the Abraham Accords, to widening the circle of cooperation between Israel and the Arab world.

We also expressed support for Lebanon's sovereignty and for a future in which legitimate state institutions hold authority and military power, and not terrorist militias.

We agreed today to deepen our security and defense cooperation.

The threats we face are real.

Together, we are defending not only our own nations, but vital sea lanes and critical infrastructure that the global economy depends on.

I cannot skip the opportunity to call for the immediate return of Rani Gvili, the Israeli hostage that is still held by Hamas. This is contrary to the laws of war, and this is something that has to be completed.

But we are, in general, fighting a battle for an orderly future of states that want to seize the future, against those forces who want to drag us back to a dark medieval past that has nothing to do with modernity, and nothing to do with progress.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus are three ancient countries with ancient peoples.

Jerusalem and Athens are the foundations of Western civilization, and in Cyprus both cultures flourished.

You have to go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem; or you go to the Acropolis in Athens; or you go to the incredible historic museum in Nicosia, which I did, and you see the glory of our past.

All three of us are very proud of our history in our ancestral homelands as we seize the future.

Now it is true that all of our countries were conquered in the past by a succession of empires.

But through courage and sacrifice, we achieved our independence in modern times.

Greece -195 years ago; Israel - 78 years ago; Cyprus - 65 years ago.

To those who fantasize they can reestablish their empires and their dominion over our lands, I say: Forget it. It's not going to happen. Don't even think about it.

We are committed and able to defend ourselves and our cooperation further enhances that capability.

Together, we three genuine democracies in the Eastern Mediterranean shall advance security, prosperity and liberty.

With God's help, we will bring a brighter and safer future to our nations and to the entire region.

Together, we bring stability through strength, prosperity through strength, and most important, peace through strength.

I wish you all Happy Holidays.

Thank you".

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Prime Minister Netanyahu: "A special state commission of inquiry, an egalitarian commission between the opposition and the coalition, is the right way to clarify the truth"

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Events and Speeches

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 22.12.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"Dear citizens of Israel, today the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the bill to establish a special state commission of inquiry. This will be an egalitarian commission to investigate the events of October 7th and the circumstances that led to them.

We are talking about an independent commission of inquiry, with full powers, exactly as defined in the Commissions of Inquiry Law.

Contrary to what has been claimed, politicians will not be members of the commission. The composition of the commission's members will be determined equally: Half by the coalition and half by the opposition.

The commission will be composed of experts in security, academia, and law, as well as bereaved parents who will serve as observers.

I want to clarify something here: The Government could have established a governmental board of inquiry, with a composition determined entirely by the government. But I believed that such a commission would have gained the trust of only one part of the public. By the same token, a commission of inquiry whose composition was determined exclusively by Justice Yitzhak Amit, as the opposition proposes, would have had only a small portion of the public believing in it.

The majority of the public, unequivocally, supports an egalitarian commission of inquiry, and there is a good reason for that.

An unprecedented event like October 7th requires a special commission of inquiry, a broad national commission that will be acceptable to the majority of the nation. This will be an egalitarian commission. No side will have any advantage in appointing the members of the commission.

Following the greatest disaster in our history, we are acting exactly as the United States acted after the greatest disaster in American history.

After the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11th, President Bush enacted a special law that established a special commission of inquiry. And what was that commission? An egalitarian commission between the two sides of the political aisle.

No one complained then of 'political bias,' and I must say that its conclusions received broad legitimacy for that very reason.

This is exactly what we are doing. If one truly wants to reach the truth, if one truly does not want to allow a cover-up, how can one oppose this?!

I say to the opposition: By all means, bring whatever experts you want, ask whatever you want, investigate whomever you want, including me.

The mandate of the commission and the boundaries of the investigation will be determined by the Government. This is not new. This is not unique. This is the practice in all commissions of inquiry of any kind. Therefore, there is nothing unique or irregular here. On the contrary, this is the accepted procedure.

And I promise you, all topics will be examined without exception - the diplomatic, the security, the intelligence, and the legal - everything.

Today, I convened a team of ministers to formulate alternatives for the scope of the investigation, and the proposal will be brought to the Government for approval. And I am convinced: a special state commission of inquiry, an egalitarian commission between opposition and coalition, is the right way to clarify the truth."

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Japan approves restart of world's largest nuclear power plant more than a decade after Fukushima nuclear disaster despite public concern

Global Times

By Xu Keyue Published: Dec 22, 2025 06:43 PM

Despite persistent concerns among local residents, Japan's Niigata Prefecture on Monday approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest, more than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, according to Japanese media. The plant in Niigata is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator responsible for the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the prefectural assembly's consent means that TEPCO will resume nuclear operations for the first time since the March 2011 core meltdowns at the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Prior to the nuclear accident, TEPCO operated six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, four reactors at the Fukushima Daini plant in Fukushima Prefecture, and seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata Prefecture. After the accident, all ten reactors at Fukushima were slated for decommissioning. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 has remained offline since it was shut down for routine inspection in March 2012, Tokyo Shimbun reported.

TEPCO is expected to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's No. 6 reactor with an output capacity of 1.35 million kilowatts as early as next month, Jiji Press reported.

According to TEPCO, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station, straddling Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa Village in Niigata Prefecture, covers an area of some 4.2 million m . The site is made up of seven power generating units with a total output capacity of 8.212 million Kw.

According to the Tokyo Shimbun, during Monday's assembly session, the LDP submitted a supplementary budget proposal from the prefectural government, which included approximately 31 million yen for public relations expenses related to the restart, along with an attached resolution expressing confidence in Governor Hanazumi. The resolution passed with support from a majority of the 53 assembly members, mainly from the Japanese ruling LDP.

The report added that throughout the regular session that began on December 2, opposition parties repeatedly criticized Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi's earlier public statements about "confirming residents' intentions" and "seeking trust," questioning why such confirmation was not conducted through an election and calling it deceptive.

On Monday, about 300 protesters rallied outside the prefectural assembly, holding banners that read "No Nukes" and "We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa," local media UX Niigata News reported.

Tokyo Shimbun reported on November 12 that a November survey targeting residents in nine municipalities within a 30-kilometer radius of the plant, in response to the question of whether "conditions for restart are currently in place," 61 percent of respondents answered "do not think so," forming a majority. Approximately 80 percent of respondents emphasized the need for improvements such as evacuation routes and snow removal equipment in case of an accident, highlighting residents' concerns that a restart would be premature, Tokyo Shimbun reported.

Chang Yen-chiang, director of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea Research Institute at Dalian Maritime University, told the Global Times on Monday that the foremost concern surrounding the restart of the nuclear power plant in Niigata is safety.

"Japan is located on a major seismic belt, making future earthquake risks difficult to predict, which raises fundamental concerns about the safety of its nuclear plants," Chang said.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher in the Tokyo area could kill up to 18,000 people and destroy about 400,000 buildings, according to estimates released by a government expert panel on Friday.

Media also reported on December 10 that Japan issued a megaquake advisory after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu.

Furthermore, Chang noted TEPCO and Japanese government's historical lack of information disclosure is particularly worrying.

The expert believes that to address safety concerns, the international community, including IAEA member states, could consider advocating through the IAEA framework to request Japan to disclose the detailed environmental impact assessment reports and related safety improvement plans for the restart of the plant in Niigata, which would enhance transparency and establish more credible international oversight.

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Japan's nuclear claims pose serious threat to postwar order: FM

Global Times

Rhetoric a dangerous 'trial balloon'; heightened vigilance and oversight needed in intl community: expert

By Wang Qi Published: Dec 22, 2025 09:52 PM

If the right-wing forces in Japan are left free to develop powerful offensive weapons, or even possess nuclear weapons, it will again bring disaster to the world, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday, when asked to comment on claims made by a senior Japanese official regarding potential nuclear armament.

Lin stated that "China is shocked that a senior official from Japanese Prime Minister's Office who is close to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi brazenly claimed that Japan should have nuclear weapons. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary declined to make clarifications on the remarks. Asked about possible revisions to the three non-nuclear principles, Japan's Defense Minister said 'all options would be discussed.'"

Given previous Japanese media reports that Takaichi plans to revise the three non-nuclear principles, the above-mentioned statements amount to a blatant challenge to the postwar international order and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability, and a U-turn from Japan's commitment to "peaceful development," said the spokesperson.

Lin pointed out that remarks from the Japanese side seriously violate Japan's due obligations under international law and severely undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. "The international community should be on high alert and firmly against it," Lin said.

"Japanese right-wing forces' remilitarization ambition is rather apparent," Lin said, "It also says a lot about why Prime Minister Takaichi could make such erroneous and dangerous remarks concerning Taiwan on November 7."

On Thursday, an unnamed official was quoted as saying in the Asahi Shimbun that he personally believes that "Japan should possess nuclear weapons." The official is responsible for advising Takaichi on security policies and related matters, according to the report.

At a press conference on Friday, when Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi spoke about a possible review of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, he claimed that in order to fully protect the lives of Japanese citizens and their peaceful way of life, it is necessary to discuss all options without excluding any, Jiji Press reported.

The reckless and provocative words have drawn a backlash both within Japan and from the international community.

Former Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba commented on Saturday that acquiring nuclear weapons would "absolutely not benefit Japan," Japanese media reported. Before Ishiba, Japan's former defense minister Gen Nakatani said on Friday that "this is not something to be discussed lightly, and the Japanese government must respond appropriately,'' according to Japanese news outlet Kumanichi.

Apart from China, two other countries neighboring Japan, Russia and North Korea, also voiced opposition, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko telling state news agency Tass that "Our attitude is absolutely negative," and that the militarization of Japan will only make the situation in Northeast Asia worse.

Calls for Japan's potential nuclear armament has shifted from fringe far-right discussions in the past to open remarks by senior government officials, underscoring the urgency of the situation, and the international community must remain highly vigilant in response, Lu Chao, a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

He added that Japanese officials' nuclear-related words appear to serve as a trial balloon, probing not only the reactions of China and other regional powers but also those of its key ally, the US.

"Unlike China and Russia, the US has not expressed unequivocal opposition to Japan," said the expert, "However, policymakers in Washington should consider a critical question: if Japan were to acquire nuclear weapons, would it remain content in its role of obediently following US orders?"

As Japan's nuclear possession rhetoric drew opposition, Japan's Niigata Prefecture on Monday approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest, more than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, according to Japanese media. The prefectural assembly's consent means that Tokyo Electric Power Company will resume nuclear operations for the first time since the March 2011 core meltdowns at its tsunami-stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Lu suggested that at the technical level, the international community, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), should impose an embargo on nuclear materials to Japan, closely monitor its nuclear fuel applications and nuclear power plant construction, and pay close attention to developments in its nuclear issues.

Li Weilin contributed to the story

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China highly vigilant and firmly opposed to Japan's dangerous tendencies on nuclear issues, says FM, urging Tokyo to stop rushing headlong down an erroneous path

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Dec 22, 2025 05:12 PM

If Japan's domestic right-wing forces are allowed to push for the development of powerful offensive weapons, or even the possession of nuclear weapons, it will once again bring calamity to the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday, when asked to comment on reported claims from of a senior Japanese official that Japan should possess nuclear weapons as well as claims from Japanese Defense Minister that Japan should discuss all options without excluding any in terms of reviewing its Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

China and all peace-loving countries around the world are highly vigilant and firmly opposed to Japan's dangerous tendencies on the nuclear issue. We strongly urge the Japanese side to abide by international law and its own constitution, cease testing and provocations on the issue of possessing nuclear weapons, refrain from attempting to challenge the postwar international order, and stop rushing headlong down this erroneous path, Lin said.

Spokesperson Lin stated that China is shocked by the open declaration by a senior official in the Japanese Prime Minister's Office and a close aide to the prime minister that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, as well as the refusal of Japan's chief cabinet secretary to clarify this matter, and the Japanese Defense Minister's statement regarding revision of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

In light of previous Japanese media reports on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's plans to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, the aforementioned remarks constitute an outright provocation against the postwar international order and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Lin said.

They pose a grave threat to regional and international peace and stability, and represent a complete departure from Japan's professed commitment to "pursuing a path of peaceful development," Lin said, adding that this cannot be dismissed or evaded as mere "personal behavior." The international community must remain highly vigilant and firmly oppose such actions.

Lin pointed out that remarks from the Japanese side gravely contravene the international legal obligations that Japan is duty-bound to uphold and pose a severe threat to peace and stability, both internationally and in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces to pursue "remilitarization" are blatantly obvious, Lin said. "As is well known, multiple former Japanese political figures have claimed that Japan has the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons. Japan has long produced and stockpiled plutonium far exceeding its actual civilian nuclear energy needs, making it the non-nuclear-weapon state most capable of extracting weapons-grade material. If Japan dares to defy universal condemnation, challenge international justice, and test the bottom line of the international community, we will never accept it," he noted.

Lin said that in recent years, right-wing forces have continuously pushed Japan to expand its military and strengthen its armed forces. The remarks about nuclear possession made by a senior official in the Japanese Prime Minister's Office once again expose that these forces are driving Japan toward remilitarization and rearmament.

This development further demonstrates that Takaichi's erroneous and dangerous remarks on Taiwan on November 7 were by no means accidental, Lin noted. He added that since taking office, Takaichi has vigorously hyped up a "survival-threatening situation," continuously blurred boundaries in policy, and stepped ever closer to red lines in action, while turning a deaf ear to strong criticism both at home and abroad.

"In fact, insightful individuals in Japan have already issued warnings. We must ask: Where exactly is the Takaichi government intending to lead Japan with this series of steps?" Lin said.

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The Japan-Indonesia Defense Ministers' Video Teleconference

Ministry of Defense of Japan

(Press Release: Provisional Translation)

December 22, 2025

Ministry of Defense Japan

On December 22, 2025, from 14:20 JST for approximately 35 minutes, Minister of Defense Koizumi and Minister of Defense Sjafrie held a Japan-Indonesia Defense Ministers' video teleconference. The summary is as follows:

At the outset, Minister Koizumi expressed his heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in the floods and landslides that occurred in Indonesia late last month, and conveyed his prayers for the swift recovery of the affected individuals and the early restoration of the disaster-stricken areas. Minister Sjafrie expressed his appreciation for these sentiments. 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 Sjafrie expressed his understanding that Japan's position in responding to the situation is grounded in international norms. Both Ministers concurred on the importance of enhancing communication and working together to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, Minister Koizumi stated his intention to further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation under the relationship of trust built with Minister Sjafrie. The two Ministers concurred on accelerating efforts to enhance Japan-Indonesia defense cooperation and exchanges, including close communication under the "Integrated Defense Dialogue Mechanism" agreed upon during last month's Japan-Indonesia Defense Ministers' Meeting.

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Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' Telephone Meeting

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

December 22, 2025

On December 22, commencing at 5:45 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone meeting with Senator the Hon. Penny WONG, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the telephone meeting is as follows:

At the outset, Minister MOTEGI expressed his condolences for the victims of the mass shooting in Sydney and conveyed strong solidarity with the Government and the people of Australia. The two ministers exchanged their candid views on the current situation in the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed close cooperation between the two countries for peace and stability in the region. They also concurred to promote multi-layered cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded countries, including frameworks such as Japan-U.S.-Australia and Japan-U.S.-Australia-India (Quad), to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific". The two ministers also reaffirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation in the field of economic security, including strengthening supply chain resilience for critical minerals, and concurred to enhance cooperation in this area, including the steady implementation of existing projects. Finally, the two ministers concurred to maintain close communication to jointly build momentum for the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-Australia Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation next year and to outline the direction for future cooperation between the two countries.

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Meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Following the informal meeting of CIS leaders, Vladimir Putin held a bilateral meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

December 22, 2025

16:45

St Petersburg

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Tokayev,

We began working together yesterday, and today we had the opportunity to devote half a day to informal discussions of our joint work within the CSTO, the CIS, and on bilateral matters.

However, I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet with you separately and to discuss the issues that both you and I regard as priorities for the development of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Russia.

Overall, in my view, the situation is developing positively in virtually all areas. We do not have a single contentious or difficult issue, although, of course, at this level of interaction there are always many practical questions to address.

I very much value the opportunity to discuss all of these matters with you.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: Thank you, Mr Putin.

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the hospitality extended to me today, as well as yesterday. The programme of our stay here, as part of the traditional New Year meetings in St Petersburg, was very well thought out and busy.

As you rightly noted, we were able to consider a broad range of issues and adopt decisions within the framework of the EAEU. We also discussed important and pressing aspects of our cooperation within the CIS. As you emphasised, the CIS is a respected international organisation and remains needed.

As for bilateral cooperation, this year has been a successful one. Without any doubt, our relations have been progressing. My state visit to Russia on November 12 was a complete success, and I am sincerely grateful for the warm welcome extended to me during that visit.

As for Kazakhstan, cooperation within the framework of a strategic partnership and alliance is an absolute priority. I highlight this everywhere, because life itself dictates our close interaction, and geography and history, so to speak, determine that we must work together on all issues affecting the everyday lives of the citizens of Kazakhstan and, I believe, Russia as well. This cooperation and our joint efforts to deepen the strategic partnership fully correspond to the fundamental interests of the two nations.

<...>



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Elections under the current circumstances in Myanmar risk provoking further violence: UK statement on Myanmar

Speech

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charge d'Affaires to the UN, on Myanmar.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG

Published 22 December 2025

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 22 December 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

This morning, the Security Council will meet privately to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

We will hear updates from ASEAN Special Envoy Othman Hashim and the UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop.

Nearly five years since the Myanmar military overturned the democratically elected government, the UK remains deeply concerned at the ongoing violence.

The military must de-escalate and cease its violence, including airstrikes on civilians.

Targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.

We strongly condemn the recent airstrike on a hospital in Rakhine State this month, which killed more than 30 civilians.

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar also remains catastrophic.

Over 16 million people will require life-saving assistance in 2026.

The UK has provided over $100 million this fiscal year. But financial support can only have real impact if access is granted.

Finally, the UK is clear: any meaningful election requires an end to violence and dialogue amongst all parties concerned.

And there are no indications that the planned elections will be perceived as free or fair.

Elections under current circumstances risk provoking further violence and make a long-term solution more elusive.

The UK reiterates our support for ASEAN's central role in pursuit of a solution to the ongoing crisis.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their desire for a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic future.

We will keep the Myanmar crisis on the Council's agenda.

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Chinese FM spokesperson urges South Korea to approach co-op with US on nuclear-powered submarine with prudence

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 22, 2025 04:07 PM

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday urged South Korea to handle the matter of its nuclear-powered submarine cooperation with the US with prudence, with Chinese military affairs experts warning that the move could undermine the non-proliferation treaty.

In response to a question regarding media reports that South Korea and the US will launch the discussions next year on implementing agreements between their leaders on the ROK building nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment and other issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Monday that on the submarine cooperation between the US and the ROK, China has articulated its position more than once.

"We hope South Korea approaches this matter with prudence," Lin said.

Lin's remarks came after South Korea's Yonhap News reported on Sunday that Wi Sung-lac, director of South Korea's Office of National Security, claimed on Saturday that South Korea and the US have agreed to simultaneously conduct consultations in various fields starting next year to implement the agreements reached between the two countries' leaders, including the construction of South Korea's nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment, and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The agreement was reached during high-level discussions held during Wi's visit to Washington DC from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to the report.

During his US visit, Wi met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to the Yonhap report.

Wi claimed that the US and South Korea have agreed to conclude a separate agreement based on Article 91 of the US Atomic Energy Act, which allows the US President to authorize the transfer of military nuclear materials, Yonhap reported, noting that this is similar to the solution Australia is pursuing to acquire nuclear submarines from the US within the AUKUS framework.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, warned that the South Korea-US nuclear-powered submarine program brings a high risk of nuclear proliferation. He told the Global Times that the US has set a bad precedent with the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program with Australia, and now a similar case is emerging for South Korea. The US' indulgence of allowing some of its allies to use its nuclear technologies and nuclear fuel will inevitably undermine the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Now that Japan is also hyping its plan to own nuclear-powered submarines, an arms race over nuclear-power submarines could break out, Song said. He noted that the more countries have nuclear-powered submarines, the higher the risk exists of an overflow of nuclear technologies as well as nuclear accidents.

Song further noted that while South Korea is a maritime nation, its coastlines are limited, so it does not really have the need to operate nuclear-powered submarines.

A nuclear arms race will only undermine peace and stability, Song said.

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Ministry stresses 'pragmatic diplomacy' in 2026 business plan

KOREA.net

Dec 22, 2025

By Lee Jihae

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun on Dec. 19 presented the ministry's 2026 business plan to President Lee Jae Myung at Government Complex-Seoul in Seoul's Jongno-gu District under the theme "Safeguarding National Interests Through Pragmatic Diplomacy."

Minister Cho announced the holding of another bilateral summit with the U.S. next year and achieving results in implementations of bilateral agreements on areas like nuclear-powered submarines, cooperation in nuclear energy and shipbuilding. A state visit to China early next year by President Lee and continued shuttle diplomacy with Japan were other plans mentioned.

Through continued trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, the ministry will also seek to accelerate three-way collaboration with Japan and China and hold necessary dialogue with Russia.

The ministry will lead "diplomacy in key hub regions" for the diversification of diplomacy through summit visits to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the nation's third-largest trading partner, India, and Central and South America.

Seoul next year will host its first summit with five Central Asian countries and conduct summit diplomacy with the G7 group of advanced economies and major countries in Europe, the Indo-Pacific region and Middle East.

Efforts will also seek to improve visa processing for staff of Korean companies investing in the U.S. Plans for regular meetings among ministries and private-public cooperation will seek to back exports and orders for not just corporations but also small and medium enterprises.

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Human rights violations in Russia: EU imposes sanctions on two additional individuals

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

22 December 2025 12:15

Today, the Council imposed restrictive measures on two persons responsible for serious violations of human rights, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and the undermining of democracy and the rule of law in Russia.

The individuals in question are members of the judiciary: Dmitry Gordeev and Lyudmila Balandina.

Dmitry Gordeev is a judge of the Moscow City Court who has repeatedly issued politically motivated rulings against opposition figures and human rights defenders. Gordeev has shown systematic disregard for fundamental standards of impartial justice by, among other things, routinely refusing to examine exculpatory evidence and consistently accepting unverified or copied police reports from his former colleagues, revealing bias, conflict of interest and a lack of judicial independence.

Lyudmila Balandina is a prosecutor who has played a key role in several high-profile cases characterised by serious violations of human rights and the repression of individuals critical of the Russian authorities or supportive of Ukraine. Balandina has systematically abused her position as a state prosecutor to pursue politically motivated charges, employing ideological rhetoric aligned with Kremlin propaganda and seeking excessive punishments for peaceful acts of expression.

Through their repeated actions, the two members of the Russian judiciary have contributed to the repression of civil society, the silencing of dissent, and attempts to legitimise state narratives that equate criticism of the Russian government or support for Ukraine with extremism or terrorism.

The individuals designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. They are also subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The EU remains unwavering in its condemnation of human rights violations and repression in Russia, and is deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, especially in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

In March 2024, in response to accelerating and systematic repression in the country, the Council established a new framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining of democracy and the rule of law in Russia.

The regime allows the EU to also target those who provide support for or are involved in human rights violations in Russia. It also covers restrictions on exports of equipment which might be used for internal repression or the monitoring or interception of telecommunications.

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Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: Council extends economic sanctions for a further 6 months

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

22 December 2025 10:53

Today the Council renewed the EU restrictive measures in view of the Russian Federation's continuing actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine for a further 6 months, until 31 July 2026.

These economic measures, first introduced in 2014, were significantly expanded since February 2022 in response to Russia's unprovoked, unjustified and illegal military aggression against Ukraine.

They currently consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, energy, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods. They also cover: a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, a de-SWIFTing of several Russian banks and the suspension of the broadcasting activities and licenses in the European Union of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets. Additionally, specific measures enable the EU to counter sanctions circumvention.

As long as the illegal actions by the Russian Federation continue to violate fundamental rules of international law, including, in particular, the prohibition on the use of force, it is appropriate to maintain in force all the measures imposed by the EU and to take additional measures, if necessary.

Background

On 31 July 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.

In addition to the economic sanctions on the Russian Federation, the EU has in place different types of measures in response to Russia's destabilising actions against Ukraine. These include: restrictions on economic relations with the illegally annexed Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as well as the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia; individual restrictive measures (asset freezes and travel restrictions) on a broad range of individuals and entities, and diplomatic measures.

Since 24 February 2022, the EU has adopted 17unprecedented and hard-hitting packages of sanctions in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In its conclusions of 19 December 2024, the European Council reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirmed its continued support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council also reconfirmed the EU's unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. Russia must not prevail.

The European Council reaffirmed its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, in line with the key principles and objectives of Ukraine's Peace Formula, and underlined the principle that no initiative regarding Ukraine be taken without Ukraine. To this end, the EU and its member states will maintain their intensive global outreach efforts and will participate in the discussions affecting Europe's security.

The European Union remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including by adopting further sanctions.

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EU imposes sanctions on the persecutors of Narva Museum director Maria Smorzevskihh-Smirnova

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

22.12.2025 | 11:31

Today, 22 December, the European Union imposed sanctions on the persecutors of the Director of the Narva Museum, Maria Smorzevskihh-Smirnova: prosecutor Lyudmila Balandina and judge Dmitri Gordeev.

Both Balandina and Gordeev are responsible for serious human rights violations, the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition, and the undermining of democracy and the rule of law in Russia. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the EU's swift restrictive measures demonstrate that politically motivated charges against Europeans result in immediate and direct accountability.

Tsahkna stated that both Balandina and Gordeev are directly responsible for the judicial persecution of the Director of the Narva Museum, Maria Smorzevskihh-Smirnova, as well as of other representatives of civil society, the democratic opposition and human rights defenders. "For years, both have contributed to the spread of Russian propaganda, the entrenchment of Putin's oppressive regime, and violations of freedom of expression and human rights, and the EU's decision to impose sanctions on them was the only right course."

"People who support and implement the Russian regime's cruel and authoritarian policies have no place in Europe," Tsahkna said.

Under the EU sanctions regime established in May last year, individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights violations, or for the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition, as well as for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia, can be added to the list.

Estonia imposed national sanctions on Balandina and Gordeev in October.

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EU tightens sanctions against Russia

Government Offices of Sweden

Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 22 December 2025

The EU has decided to impose sanctions on an additional 41 vessels that are part of Russia's shadow fleet. With this decision, a total of 598 vessels are now subject to EU sanctions against the shadow fleet.

The measures are part of EU efforts to increase pressure on Russia. The sanctioned vessels are subject to a port access ban within the EU and ban on provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport.

"It is essential that we continue to target the Russian shadow fleet. By sanctioning more vessels, we are impairing Russia's ability to circumvent the sanctions and finance its war of aggression against Ukraine," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 15 December, EU foreign ministers also imposed additional sanctions against actors who enable the shadow fleet's operations, including shipping companies and oil traders. They also adopted restrictive measures targeting Russian individuals and entities in light of Russia's continued hybrid activities.

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Meeting with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon

A bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was held at the State Hermitage Museum. Earlier, the Head of State of the Republic of Tajikistan took part in an informal meeting of the leaders of the CIS member countries.

December 22, 2025

17:05

St Petersburg

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Rahmon,

Once again, I would like to thank you for accepting the invitation and coming to St Petersburg.

However, I would like to begin our bilateral meeting by expressing my sincere condolences to you and to the family of the boy from Tajikistan who tragically lost his life a few days ago. Perpetrating terrorist acts against children is an especially abhorrent crime. The investigation will be concluded without doubt, and the perpetrators, should there be several, will undoubtedly be brought to full justice. I repeat once again: I was shocked by this crime.

As I have already said, crimes of this kind are beyond comprehension, and when such terrorist acts are committed against children, it evokes particularly strong emotions.

Please convey my most sincere condolences to the family of the deceased boy.

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon: Thank you very much, Mr Putin.

First of all, I wish to thank you for your invitation and a warm welcome.

Of course, this incident was entirely unexpected. Such criminals proliferate in the world today; we live in a very complex world. But what happened...

We are currently working to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted by our law enforcement agencies. The guilty must be punished - I hope this will be under your personal supervision.

Vladimir Putin: That will certainly be the case. Our law enforcement agencies are collaborating very closely, and they share a high degree of trust. I have no doubt that the investigation will be comprehensive, and we will keep you apprised of developments, as well as your representatives from Tajikistan's law enforcement agencies.

Emomali Rahmon: Thank you very much.

<...>

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Meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

In St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

December 22, 2025

17:15

St Petersburg

Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan took part in a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, as well as in an informal meeting of CIS leaders at the State Hermitage Museum.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, I would like to welcome you once again and thank you for participating in these events under the auspices of the EAEU and the CIS.

We have already exchanged views on the results of our yesterday's and today's work. Overall, in my opinion, everything proceeded at a very high level. I hope the atmosphere was positive, but the most important thing is that our teams worked diligently from all sides and prepared excellent documents. Everything has been signed, and everything is progressing.

Regarding bilateral relations, they are developing. Our trade turnover has seen an adjustment, as we discussed yesterday. If in 2024 it surpassed $11 billion, in the first nine months of this year it reached 4.5 billion. This is also a good indicator and gives us reason to believe that in the near future, we will be able to increase it.

We also have promising plans. We have already spoken about energy, including nuclear energy. We will not delve into detail now, but there is an opportunity to discuss this further.

The same applies to logistics: during our last meeting, you raised questions about various areas where we could work together. I am referring to the restoration of old routes and the creation of new ones that would open up Armenia's borders.

So, overall, everything is progressing. Naturally, there are other issues we can discuss now.

I am very pleased to see you. Thank you for being here.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan: Thank you very much, Mr Putin, for the invitation.

I believe we have had two quite eventful days together, both within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS. Of course, very important decisions were made, and now this is the logical conclusion of my working visit to St Petersburg.

Certainly, very significant and, fortunately, positive developments are taking place in our region. I would like to thank you for your support of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As we discussed following our telephone conversation after August 8, the achieved peace will open new opportunities for the further development of bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia.

This has already happened, as trains are now arriving from Russia to Armenia via the territory of Azerbaijan, which I believe is truly a historic event.

As you have already mentioned, new opportunities are emerging - indeed, an agenda has matured: the restoration of some other railway sections in our country. Specifically, I am referring to the sectors of Ijevan, Yeraskh, and Akhuryan - these are railways connecting Armenia with the territory of Azerbaijan, with the mainland of Azerbaijan, with Nakhchivan, and with Turkiye.

A rather active political process is underway. I cannot say that there are already political decisions to open these railways, but I believe the situation has matured to the point where preparatory work should begin.

At the same time, we are also conducting very constructive bilateral negotiations with the United States regarding the start of the implementation and construction of the TRIPP road.

These are truly very significant and substantive changes in our region. There are also many nuances here concerning our bilateral relations with the Russian Federation. Today, I think, is a very good occasion to discuss all these issues.

Once again, thank you for the invitation, for the excellent programme, and for the wonderful atmosphere and highly professional organisation of the working and cultural events.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

<...>

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Russia Sees Sharp Rise In Prosecutions Over Donations To Navalny Foundation

By RFE/RL's North.Realities December 22, 2025

Criminal prosecutions in Russia over donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), established by the late opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, have surged roughly 60-fold since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with courts handling at least 90 cases this year alone, according to an analysis by RFE/RL's North Realities.

Russian authorities designated the Anti-Corruption Foundation an "extremist organization" in 2021, effectively criminalizing any financial support for the group.

The foundation had investigated corruption among senior Russian officials and business elites close to President Vladimir Putin and continues to operate from abroad despite Navalny's death in custody last year.

According to the investigative outlet Mediazona, Russian courts handled two donation-related cases in 2022, four in 2023, and 27 in 2024. Data compiled by RFE/RL shows that the number jumped dramatically in 2025, pushing the cumulative total since the war began to at least 123 cases.

Courts most often imposed fines ranging from 120,000 to 500,000 rubles ($1,522-$6,340) or handed down suspended prison sentences of three to four years. The donations cited in the cases were typically modest -- between 100 and 14,000 rubles ($1.20 -$178).

In one case, prosecutors sought a fine of 12 million rubles ($152,000) for 69-year-old retiree Andrey Kuzhelev, who had donated 13,000 rubles ($164) to the foundation. The court rejected that demand but still imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles ($6,340).

One of the harshest sentences was given to postal worker Vladimir Skvortsov, who was jailed for 12 years for donating to the FBK and for allegedly cooperating with the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russian volunteers fighting on Ukraine's side.

Journalist Karen Shainian and civil activist Konstantin Kotov were both convicted in absentia on charges related to donations to the FBK.

Navalny -- Russia's most prominent opposition figure -- died in February 2024 in an Arctic penal colony under mysterious circumstances.

The official autopsy report said that hypertension and other diseases caused a heartbeat disorder which led to Navalny's demise.

However, his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has rejected those findings, saying laboratory tests conducted outside Russia on biological samples smuggled out of the country show her husband was poisoned while in custody.

Earlier this year, the Anti-Corruption Foundation issued a statement condemning the prosecutions, saying the FBK "does not engage in any extremist activity" and calling those targeted by Russian authorities "victims of outright arbitrariness and political repression."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-prosecutions- navalny-anti-corruption-foundation-donations/33630223.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Kremlin Rejects Reports Alleging Russia Plans to 'Restore USSR Spheres of Influence' as Untrue

Sputnik News

20251222

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Reports that Russia is allegedly planning to revive Soviet spheres of influence are false, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"Well, first of all, we do not know how reliable they are. That is the first thing. We have seen some scattered reports on this matter, but even if they are true, it is a case of intelligence agencies making erroneous assumptions, studies, and conclusions. This is absolutely untrue," Peskov told reporters, when asked to comment on these claims.

On Friday, media reported, citing US intelligence sources, that Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly has plans to restore the Soviet empire, attack Eastern European countries, and revive the Soviet Union's sphere of influence in Europe.

Kremlin Not Surprised by Aliyev's Decision to Skip Informal CIS Summit

The decision by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev not to attend the St. Petersburg-hosted informal CIS summit in December comes as no surprise to Moscow, the spokesman said.

"No, it was not," Peskov told reporters when asked whether it was a surprise that Aliyev would not attend the CIS summit.

The Kremlin understands Aliyev's decision, as heads of state have a busy schedule, the official added.

"Azerbaijan also continues to participate in all formats of the CIS," Peskov noted, adding that Russia continues to cultivate partnership relations with Azerbaijan.

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan's state-run Azertac news agency reported that Ilham Aliyev would not be able to attend the informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg due to his busy schedule.

Putin, Pashinyan Set for Bilateral Talks in St. Petersburg

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a bilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in St. Petersburg, Kremlin Press Secretary Peskov stated.

"Putin plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan," Peskov told reporters.

Russian Special Envoy to Inform Putin on Miami Talks Outcome Upon Arrival in Moscow

Kirill Dmitriev, serving both as CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and as the Russian special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, will report to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the results of talks with the US delegation in Miami when he arrives in Moscow, Peskov said.

"No, he has to fly to Moscow, he still needs to get here, so he has a long way to go. When he arrives, he will report to the president," the Kremlin official clarified.

 Sputnik

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Russia Will Adhere to Positions Discussed in Alaska - Krelmin Aide

Sputnik News

20251222

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia will adhere to the positions discussed in Alaska and at other meetings with US representatives, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday.

"We will adhere to what we agreed on in Anchorage and at other meetings with US representatives," Ushakov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.

Russia will develop its position for further contacts with the US after Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, briefs Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine talks in Miami, Ushakov added.

Russia will assess what can be accepted and what is categorically unacceptable from the signals that Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries Kirill Dmitriev will bring from the US, Ushakov also said.

"He [Dmitriev] will bring some signals that the Americans received from the Europeans and from the Ukrainians. And we will discuss all this here, see what can be accepted, what cannot be categorically accepted," Ushakov said.

At the same time, Ushakov said that Dmitriev is already reporting something about his US talks. After the final conclusions based on the information from Dmitriev, Russia will work out its position and proceed further in negotiations with the US on the Ukrainian settlement, Ushakov added.

"[Dmitriev] will first report to [Russian] president [Vladimir Putin] on the results of his talks. After that, we will formulate the position with which we will go further, including in contacts with the US," Ushakov said.

Kremlin expects Dmitriev to return on Monday and inform Putin about the talks with US representatives held in Miami, Ushakov added.

 Sputnik

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China firmly opposes Japanese lawmakers' provocative visit to Taiwan region, lodges stern representations: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Dec 22, 2025 04:11 PM

Taiwan is a province of China and there is no such thing as a "president." I want to point out that certain Japanese lawmakers' provocative visit to China's Taiwan region runs counter to the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and Japan's own commitments, violates the one-China principle. China firmly opposes this and has lodged stern representations with the Japanese side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in response to a media inquiry about senior officials of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party visiting Taiwan region provocatively and meeting with Lai Ching-te.

Lin stressed that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. "We once again urge the Japanese side to seriously reflect, correct its mistakes, retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks, and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs," he said. He also warned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that "seeking 'independence' by currying favor with Japan is contemptible and is doomed to be a wrong path and a dead end."

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PM call with President Jeri of Peru: 22 December 2025

Press release

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Peru Jose Jeri today.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 22 December 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Peru Jose Jeri today.

The leaders discussed the depth of UK-Peru ties across trade, defence, security, education and renewable energy, and agreed to closer collaboration in these key areas.

Trade reached 1.3 billion in 2024, boosted by the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, and both leaders committed to further strengthening trade and investment ties to drive business growth and create jobs.

On Ukraine, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK's unwavering support and condemned Russia's ongoing illegal invasion.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.

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Denys Shmyhal holds talks on security cooperation with Portugal's Minister of National Defence

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

21 December, 2025, 11:36 AM EET

In Kyiv, Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, held talks with Portugal's Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo.

The talks took place during the meeting between the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a delegation headed by Portugal's Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, during which a statement on a partnership to produce maritime drones was signed.

Denys Shmyhal thanked the Portuguese delegation for its visit to the Ukrainian capital during this critical period. He expressed gratitude to Portugal for the assistance announced at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting and for its readiness to contribute 50 million to the PURL mechanism.

He further underscored the importance of Portugal's decision to commit 25 million per year for five years under the SAFE initiative to procure Ukrainian defence products.

"We discussed the continuation of cooperation, particularly in the defence industry, as well as the prospects for mutually beneficial projects and the long-term development of our capabilities. We also focused on Ukraine's critical defence needs to protect people and critical infrastructure. I am grateful to Portugal for its support," Denys Shmyhal concluded.

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During a working trip to Zaporizhzhia, Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal visited an air defense center and combat units

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

21 December, 2025, 8:25 PM EET

During a working trip, Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, visited military units defending Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Together with the Head of the Regional Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, he visited an air defense command post based at one of the anti-aircraft missile brigades.

Denys Shmyhal received a briefing from the commander of the Air Defence Tactical Group "Zaporizhzhia" on the effectiveness of combat operations in this sector of the frontline.

"We also focused on pressing issues requiring prompt resolution. I thanked the warriors who repel enemy drone and missile attacks every day. We are steadily reinforcing the air defense shield over our regions," the Minister of Defence stated.

Additionally, he visited the command post of the "Shkval" Battalion of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment.

Denys Shmyhal received a briefing from the regiment's commander, Major Oleh Shyriaiev, on the operational situation in the Zaporizhzhia sector and the unit's area of responsibility. The pressing issues were reviewed in detail.

"We discussed the prospects for expanding the regiment's organizational and staffing structure and for creating additional opportunities to carry out direct procurement of the required weapons, equipment, and ammunition. I also awarded service members of the regiment who distinguished themselves in combat. I thank everyone who is defending Ukraine," the Minister of Defence noted.

He also visited service members of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment, who repel enemy attacks on a daily basis near Huliaipole.

Together with the regiment's commander, Captain Dmytro Filatov, he analyzed the combat situation in this sector of the frontline. They also focused on pressing issues requiring prompt resolution and discussed strengthening the unit's capabilities.

Denys Shmyhal presented awards to the regiment's service members and thanked them for their heroism, courage, and resilience in battles for Ukraine.

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Senior Russian general killed in likely 'targeted attack' in Moscow: Investigators

Iran Press TV

Monday, 22 December 2025 9:12 AM

The head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff was killed when an explosive device detonated beneath his car in the Yasenevo district of southern Moscow, Russian investigators have confirmed.

The incident occurred on Monday as Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, was traveling to work.

Early reports had indicated that an improvised explosive device had been planted under his Kia Sorento, which detonated shortly after the vehicle began moving.

Svetlana Petrenko, official spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee, said authorities were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry into the killing. One line of investigation considered possible involvement by Ukrainian intelligence services.

In December 2024, Ukraine's security service took credit for a similar attack targeting a senior Russian officer.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian military's nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by an explosive device concealed on an electric scooter outside his residence, a day after Kiev filed criminal charges against him. His aide, Ilya Polikarpov, also died in the attack.

In April 2023, Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin was killed when a statuette exploded at a cafe in St. Petersburg.

And in August 2022, a car bomb claimed the life of Daria Dugina, daughter of influential Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin.

The Monday incident came amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and amid Russian officials' underway talks in Miami with their United States counterparts aimed at examining means to a potential end.

Most recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin's representative for the negotiations, Kirill Dmitriev, described the talks as "constructive."

US envoy Steve Witkoff has also reported on social media that meetings with Dmitriev were "productive and constructive" and that "Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine."

He has additionally noted that American and Ukrainian officials had discussed a "peace plan."

Kiev, though, has come up with mixed signals ranging from President Volodymyr Zelensky's rejecting a conflict resolution proposal by US President Donald Trump earlier this month to various other Ukrainian officials refusing to offer any commitment.

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Moscow Car Bomb Marks Latest Assassination Of High-Ranking Military Officer During Ukraine War

By RFE/RL December 22, 2025

A senior Russian general has been killed in a car bombing in Moscow, the latest in a series of attacks on military officials and pro-war figures since the start of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago.

Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement on the morning of December 22 that an explosive device placed under a car detonated on a street in the outskirts of the Russian capital.

Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Russian General Staff's army operational training directorate, died as a result of injuries suffered in the blast, the statement added.

Ukrainian military intelligence, which has claimed responsibility for a number of similar attacks that have killed high-profile figures on Russian soil, did not immediately respond to questions from RFE/RL about the incident.

The Russian-language Telegram channel Baza reported that the car transporting Savarov traveled a short distance before the explosion.

A video from the scene posted by the Investigative Committee shows a heavily damaged white car, surrounded by other vehicles in a parking lot.

The committee said that one of the potential scenarios under consideration is that Ukrainian special services planted the bomb.

The 56-year-old Sarvarov fought against insurgents in Chechnya and in Russian military operations in Syria in 2015-16.

He was raised to the rank of lieutenant general by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024.

According to the investigative group Proyekt (The Project), Sarvarov also participated in the war against Ukraine.

Sarvarov's death marks yet another assassination of a high-ranking Russian military officer in the recent months.

In April, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed when a car exploded on a street in a Moscow suburb as he walked nearby.

Russian prosecutors have charged a man in connection with the blast that killed Moskalik, alleging he had been paid by Ukrainian intelligence services.

In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov died when a bomb planted in an electric scooter on a sidewalk detonated as he exited his Moscow apartment building.

Kirillov headed Russia's military unit that oversaw defenses against nuclear, chemical, and biological attacks.

Russian officials also alleged Ukraine was behind that bombing.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-moscow-car- explosion-general/33629791.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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ICYMI: Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator McConnell Pen Washington Post Op-Ed: "Russia isn't winning its war on Ukraine"

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

December 22, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) published an op-ed in the Washington Post entitled, "Russia isn't winning its war on Ukraine."



Their opinion piece argues that Ukraine has repeatedly defied expectations while Russia has paid staggering military, economic and human costs for its aggression. The Senators contend that Vladimir Putin's strategy now hinges on prolonging the war to divide the West, not because he is winning, but because he cannot achieve a decisive victory on the battlefield. They urge that America stand firmly with Ukraine which advances U.S. security interests, supports America's defense industrial base and reinforces a stable, democratic Europe.



"It is fair to ask what the U.S.'s endgame should be," wrote the Senators. "Wars end when leverage changes. If the U.S. and its allies want a negotiated end, the only proven, viable path is to strengthen Ukraine's position, not to weaken it. Abandoning Ukraine or granting Russia what it cannot win on the battlefield will not bring lasting peace. Putin wants more than Donbas  he denies Ukrainian sovereignty outright. And his ambitions extend to the Baltic states and other nations once held captive by the Soviet empire."



"Putin is betting the U.S. will talk itself into believing Ukraine cannot succeed," concluded the Senators. "The past four years show the opposite. Ukraine has defied every expectation, including our own. Kyiv is not losing, and Moscow is not winning. It is up to Washington to match Ukraine's resolve with the clarity this moment demands."



CLICK HERE to read Shaheen and McConnell's op-ed in the Washington Post. The text of their op-ed has also been provided below.

Russia isn't winning its war on Ukraine



Putin's hope is that U.S. will somehow convince itself that Ukraine can't succeed. Don't fall for it.

In the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration gave Congress its assessment of Ukraine's ability to hold back Russian forces. The projection was bleak. Kyiv, they said, would fall in weeks, if not sooner.



Yet, the Russian tanks that attempted to topple Ukraine's democratically elected government were either destroyed or forced to retreat. By April, not only had Putin failed to install a friendly government in Kyiv, his military couldn't secure a foothold anywhere near Ukraine's capital. Instead, Ukraine successfully confined Russia's troops to the far east of their country, where Russia has tried to steal territory since 2015.



After almost four years of fighting, Russia has lost about a third of its strategic bombers, and it continues to lose equipment at significantly higher rates than Ukraine. It is Russia that has borne more than 1 million casualties, dead and wounded, in grinding battles of its own making. Pundits who predicted a quick Ukrainian defeat were wrong in 2022, and they are wrong today.



Along the way, Republicans and Democrats alike criticized the Biden administration's excessive caution in refusing to provide Ukraine the weapons it needed, when they could have made the biggest difference. It is more than plausible that the Ukrainians could have achieved a decisive victory and lasting peace if they were simply granted the fighter jets, air defenses and long-range weapons when they initially requested them from President Joe Biden. But American assistance was often too little, too late.



In prolonging Putin's aggression, this hesitation also gave China, Iran, North Korea and other nations working together to undermine American interests new reasons to doubt our credibility and strength.



Fortunately, the opportunity for President Donald Trump to end this conflict on favorable terms for Ukraine, America and the West has not passed. But he must not continue to make the same miscalculation that his predecessor made in 2022.



Administration officials say that the "fall" of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk is a bellwether for what's to come for Ukraine. Yet, Pokrovsk, whose population was only around 60,000 even before the war, has yet to fall. And in the entire year and a half that the Russians have spent trying to take this relatively small city, their minuscule gains have come at staggering material and human costs.



Russians are paying an extraordinary economic price in pursuit of Putin's lust for glory and blood. Russian oil and gas revenue have fallen more than 30 percent due to attacks on its energy infrastructure. The Kremlin has been selling gold to stabilize its finances and shield elites from the true cost of Putin's war. And roughly a quarter of Russian companies are now bankrupt or at risk. Russia cannot afford the war it is fighting, but it can prolong it.



Putin may be playing for time, but he is not dragging out this conflict because it is his preferred tactic. He is dragging it out because he cannot achieve a decisive victory. He's hoping that slow, grinding attrition will divide the West.



Instead, the United States must stand with European allies investing heavily in their own defense and far exceeding American support to Ukraine. If there are economic fruits of peace, they lie in cooperation with an innovative, Western-oriented Ukraine and a resurgent Europe, not in a bankrupt, backward Russia.



Envoy Steve Witkoff has been to Moscow six times since the administration took office and worked to get Putin an invitation to the U.S. Yet, just as the Russians have barely moved in their ground offensive against Ukraine, they have not moved an inch in negotiations with the U.S.



It is fair to ask what the U.S.'s endgame should be. Wars end when leverage changes. If the U.S. and its allies want a negotiated end, the only proven, viable path is to strengthen Ukraine's position, not to weaken it. Abandoning Ukraine or granting Russia what it cannot win on the battlefield will not bring lasting peace. Putin wants more than Donbas  he denies Ukrainian sovereignty outright. And his ambitions extend to the Baltic states and other nations once held captive by the Soviet empire.



Congress has an array of bipartisan tools to increase pressure on Putin. In October, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced measures to tighten sanctions enforcement, restrict Chinese support for Russia's war machine and authorize transferring frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The Trump administration's recent sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft have had a profound effect, but much more is required.



Additional investment in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative  which received overwhelming bipartisan support in the National Defense Authorization Act and the Senate's defense appropriations, and which is spent here at home to reconstitute America's defense industrial capacity  would bolster European contributions and help ensure Ukraine has the air defenses, long-range weapons and industrial support needed to sustain a position of strength.



Putin is betting the U.S. will talk itself into believing Ukraine cannot succeed. The past four years show the opposite. Ukraine has defied every expectation, including our own. Kyiv is not losing, and Moscow is not winning. It is up to Washington to match Ukraine's resolve with the clarity this moment demands.

###

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Russian Forces Liberate Vilcha Settlement in Kharkov Region - MoD

Sputnik News

20251222

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Sever took control of the settlement of Vilcha in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Battlegroup Sever as a result of active actions have taken control of the settlement of Vilcha in the Kharkov region," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has continued eliminating Ukrainian troops trapped in the city of Dimitrov, and mopping up troops in the settlements of Grishino and Rodinskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Battlegroup Tsentr continued eliminating surrounded enemy formations in the city of Dimitrov, DPR, and mopping up the settlements of Grishino and Rodinskoye, DPR, of scattered formations of the Ukrainian military," the ministry said.

Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 450 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed three armored combat vehicles, four pickup trucks and two field artillery guns over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Enemy losses included more than 450 servicepeople, three armored combat vehicles, four pickup trucks and two field artillery guns," the ministry said in a statement.

The Ukrainian military also lost up to 250 personnel in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Vostok, the ministry said.

Russia's Battlegroup Yug eliminated about 235 soldiers and six armored combat vehicles in the Donetsk People's Republic, according to the statement.

In the Kharkov Region, Kiev lost up to 215 troops in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad, the ministry said.

The Russian armed forces also struck energy facilities, port infrastructure facilities and warehouses used for military purposes in Ukraine, as well as several drone launching sites, the ministry added.

 Sputnik

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Today, Our Negotiating Team Is Returning, and Tomorrow Morning I Expect a Full Briefing on the Documents Prepared - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

22 December 2025 - 20:49

Fellow Ukrainians!

Today, our negotiating team is returning after meetings in the United States with envoys of President Trump, and tomorrow morning I expect a full briefing on the documents that have been prepared. A great deal of work has been done - first and foremost on documents concerning security guarantees, as well as the 20 points of the main document - the basic framework discussed by the Ukrainian and American delegations. Rustem Umerov and Andrii Hnatov will present their reports tomorrow. It is important that the American side be able to elicit a response from Russia - a genuine willingness by that state to focus on something other than aggression. Of course, after so many years - first of hybrid warfare and now of full-scale war - it is hard to believe that Putin is capable of living without killings and invasions. However, a reduction in the price of Russian oil, strong global sanctions, and the continuation of all other forms of pressure are precisely what will persuade even such a stubborn person. Putin wages war as long as he has the money to buy the loyalty of his inner circle and the Russian population, while at the same time paying for killings on the front line. And over the past year, much has already been done to reduce the amount of money available to the Russian war machine. I am grateful to all our warriors for the deep strikes - there are results almost every single day now. This is especially evident in deep strikes targeting Russia's oil exports. It is good that the European Union, America, and other partners are putting pressure on Russia's gas and oil exports. Tankers that Russia uses to finance the war and bankroll Putin's cronies are increasingly encountering problems in key maritime areas. There will also be new global sanctions against tankers and the entire infrastructure behind such exports - companies, insurers, captains, and crews, of course. We are also preparing new sanctions packages against various individuals - not only Russian - who are working for the aggressor's defense industry. And our sanctions proposals are always taken into account by our partners; this is one of the priorities of our foreign policy - to ensure that Ukrainian sanctions are synchronized with those of our partners. Today, I reiterated these very tasks to Ukrainian diplomats - congratulated them on their professional day and thanked everyone who is genuinely working for our foreign policy, for ensuring that Ukraine is effective in international affairs, because this is now one of the foundations of our defense. Ukraine's strength lies in unity with the world, and we have now reached the highest level of this unity. Never before in its history has Ukraine had as much support from partners as it does today. Achieving this level was not easy, just as it is not easy to keep the world's attention on Ukraine month after month - despite everything. We did not allow Ukraine to be forgotten; we did not allow other topics and challenges to overshadow attention to Ukraine. The societies of our partners support us - our state, our defense - and this matters; it gives us the strength to defend ourselves.

Today, I also had the honor of thanking our Ukrainian energy workers - all our heroes who overcome Russia literally every day through their work. They restore power generation. They restore power supply. They restore normal life for Ukrainians. And Ukraine truly can be proud of the professionalism of our energy workers. Thank you.

And one more thing. Today, we spoke with Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk. Among other things, I asked Ruslan, together with the members of parliament, as well as with government officials and representatives of civil society, to prepare proposals for defining new and logical approaches to holidays and special dates in our calendar. There are unfortunate calendar coincidences - and the war has introduced many such changes. When days of tragedy fall on professional holidays. Or when, dating back to Soviet times and the early years of independence, several entirely different professional holidays fall on the same day. All of this needs to be put in order. We thank everyone who will help with this. Just as the celebration of true Christmas was easily accepted on December 25, other dates should likewise be fair and appropriate. Thank you to everyone who works for our state and our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

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President Congratulated Ukrainian Diplomats on Their Professional Holiday and Recognized Their Contribution to Strengthening Ukraine

President of Ukraine

22 December 2025 - 20:08

On Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainian diplomatic service professionals on their professional holiday.

"Without all of our foreign policy work, it would simply have been impossible - I am confident of this - to withstand this war. These are not just words. For the first time in its long history, Ukraine has managed to unite virtually the entire world around itself. Today, there is no part of the world where our state, our people, our defense, and the heroism of Ukrainians are unknown," the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that, for the first time in Ukraine's history, support for our state is global. Ukraine has united dozens of countries around itself, engaging them in numerous social, humanitarian, and military programs, as well as in sanctions efforts.

Europe alone has implemented 19 sanctions packages, including measures against Russian banks and energy companies, preventing Russia from earning and channeling hundreds of billions of dollars into its war against our country. The President noted that partners consistently take Ukraine's sanctions proposals into account.

The Head of State placed special emphasis on the ongoing cooperation between Ukraine, all of Europe, and the United States. Intelligence support has been preserved, the PURL initiative is operational, and SAFE and other programs are being prepared.

"We now have extremely significant results for the year. Ukraine has secured 90 billion in support for the next two years. This is a historic achievement - a financial security guarantee for Ukraine. We have averted a financial catastrophe, while Russian assets remain frozen in Europe. And it is entirely fair that it is Russian funds that should work for Ukraine - for our defense and for our recovery," the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted progress on Ukraine's path toward membership in the European Union - our country has obtained candidate status, and accession negotiations have already begun.

"And if it were not for the artificial and politicized - purely politicized - blocking of the opening of clusters for Ukraine, this result would already have been achieved as well. I am confident that we will reach this goal as well. Ukraine will certainly be a full-fledged member of the common European home," the Head of State noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged continued, determined work in this and other key areas to strengthen Ukraine - particularly on domestic production and joint production with partners of long-range drones, interceptor drones, and missiles for air defense systems. The Head of State emphasized that a concrete task is to ensure that funding for Ukrainian weapons production is sufficient for the coming year.

"We must secure yet another historic result for Ukraine and organize real production of air defense systems and missiles for them in Ukraine - or together with our key neighbors. This is what will change the balance of power in our region for the better," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also separately thanked diplomats for the support Ukraine receives not only from European partners and the United States, but also from other countries of North and South America, as well as from countries of the Middle East and Africa.

"We have not ceded a single international platform to Russia on any issue that is critical for Ukraine this year. I congratulate you on this! We are fighting to bring home Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We are working to return Ukrainian prisoners - both military and civilian - and it is essential that the exchange process continues. In your contacts with partners, you must constantly keep this issue on the agenda," the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified as a concrete task for further work the establishment of a tribunal for Russian aggression, accountability for Russian war criminals, and a clear condemnation by the world of Russia for this war.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is engaged in a productive and substantive negotiation process with the United States to bring this war to an end. According to the President, much depends precisely on Ukraine's position.

"We must bring this war to an end with a dignified peace - first and foremost, peace for Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We must ensure strength for Ukraine under all circumstances - weapons, finances, and political support. We must guarantee that Ukraine's resilience - including our energy sector and our social payments - receives reliable support. We must fully secure the necessary recovery for Ukraine after Russian strikes and after this war. We must fully implement all existing documents on security guarantees and also achieve a historic agreement with the United States on security guarantees for Ukraine that will be ratified by the United States Congress," Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.

The Head of State thanked diplomats for their joint work for the sake of Ukraine and for our defense in this war, and presented state awards.

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Without All of Our Foreign Policy Work, It Would Simply Have Been Impossible to Withstand This War - Address by the President on the Occasion of Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Day

President of Ukraine

22 December 2025 - 19:20

Ruslan, Mr. Speaker!

Yuliia, Madam Prime Minister!

Andrii Ivanovych, Mr. Minister!

Dear attendees!

Dear Ukrainian diplomatic service professionals!

Everyone present!

I congratulate you on your day - Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Day - and I want to thank you for the joint work for the sake of Ukraine and our defense in this war.

Without all of our foreign policy work, it would simply have been impossible - I am confident of this - to withstand this war. These are not just words. For the first time in its long history, Ukraine has managed to unite virtually the entire world around itself. Today, there is no part of the world where our state, our people, our defense, and the heroism of Ukrainians are unknown. There is no country where it is not felt that we are fighting a just fight. And even in those states that support Russia in the war against us, against Ukraine, that help the aggressor - even there they still know and still feel that they are not on the right side of history, and that they are doing this solely for money or to preserve their anti-democratic power. We, meanwhile, have succeeded in uniting around Ukraine - truly uniting - all those in the world who genuinely value life, who value the independence of nations, all those who value the system of international rules and want the world to be a world without war.

For the first time in Ukraine's history, support for our state is global. We have united Europe around the idea of defending our country, our independence - and thus around the right of every European nation to choose its own path in life. This unity delivers constant results both for Ukraine and for all of Europe. Europe has managed to disarm Russia's "Gazprom," and Putin can no longer blackmail Europe with energy resources and winter cold. Europe has also managed to protect itself from Russian attempts at destabilization and is genuinely safeguarding its internal democratic processes. The European Union has already imposed 19 sanctions packages against Russia, including measures targeting Russian banks and energy companies. This is depriving Putin of hundreds of billions of dollars that he would otherwise spend on war against us. Our sanctions proposals are consistently taken into account by our partners. Countries outside the European Union are also supporting this pressure - Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and others. Everyone is seeking to make their contribution to sanctions against the aggressor, because we have united hundreds of millions of people around the idea that an aggressor cannot remain unpunished.

We have also made very serious progress on Ukraine's path to membership in the European Union - we have obtained candidate status for Ukraine, and we have begun accession negotiations. And if it were not for the artificial and politicized - purely politicized - blocking of the opening of clusters for Ukraine, this result would already have been achieved as well. I am confident that we will reach this goal as well. Ukraine will certainly be a full-fledged member of the common European home.

Although many hoped that unity between America and Europe would fall apart, there is still genuine joint work between Europe and the United States - and in many ways, it is precisely us in Ukraine who are working to make this happen. And it does happen. It is Ukraine that strives to ensure that Europe is involved as an equal partner in dialogue with the United States. It is we who propose, reinvigorate, and defend all formats of European participation in dialogue with America, and we are succeeding.

For the first time in its history, Ukraine has achieved such a level of respect among partner countries that the Ukrainian issue is often the only issue that truly unites the entire political spectrum in other states. These are very different forces - forces that would not otherwise cooperate with one another - yet they come together to defend values, to defend Ukraine, to defend the European way of life, and international law. And we always help make this possible - through public diplomacy, behind-the-scenes work, formal and informal contacts.

There is hardly a day when I am not in communication with other leaders, with our partners. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Office, and everyone who can add strength to Ukraine and to our partners through foreign policy are working just as actively. I want to thank you for this commitment. Thank you.

We now have extremely significant results for the year. Ukraine has secured 90 billion in support for the next two years. This is a historic achievement - a financial security guarantee for Ukraine. We have averted a financial catastrophe, while Russian assets remain frozen in Europe. And it is entirely fair that it is Russian funds that should work for Ukraine - for our defense and for our recovery.

At the beginning of the year, there were many fears that the world - and Europe - would not get along with the new America. But we have preserved the level of relations. We have preserved critically necessary intelligence support. America continues to supply weapons to Ukraine, and in particular, the PURL initiative is operating - more than $4 billion within this initiative alone. Additional programs, including SAFE and others, are also being prepared, in which Ukraine must be a full-fledged participant.

We have increased the number of air defense systems and brought additional Patriot systems into Ukraine. We are ensuring a supply of air defense missiles. We have launched joint weapons production programs, and different partner-financing models for our domestic production are already in operation. By the way, this involves tens of billions of dollars annually. This is an absolutely concrete task - including for you - to ensure that funding for Ukrainian weapons production is sufficient for the coming year. Drones for our warriors, missiles for the Ukrainian army, equipment, electronic warfare systems, robotic platforms - all of this must be at an adequate level, in sufficient quantities, and unquestionably modern. This is not only our internal task; it is a specific foreign policy priority. Ukraine must maintain leadership in Europe in both the quality and the scale of weapons production. We must secure yet another historic result for Ukraine and organize real production of air defense systems and missiles for them in Ukraine - or together with our key neighbors. This is what will change the balance of power in our region for the better. It is an extremely difficult task, a strategic task. For the sake of Ukraine, it must be accomplished.

For the first time in its history, Ukraine has initiated the work of a coalition of more than 30 countries - the Coalition of the Willing - countries that will provide us, and thus themselves as well, with the necessary security guarantees. Europe, Canada, Japan - all together. We also have bilateral security agreements - at this point, around thirty such agreements - which provide for support in weapons, financing, political backing, and sanctions against Russian aggression. It is important to ensure that each of these agreements is implemented in practice.

For the first time in Ukraine's history, our foreign policy initiatives enjoy not occasional or sporadic support, but truly sustained, global backing - not only from Europeans, Canadians, and our other traditional partners, but also from countries of the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and other parts of the world. Ukrainian resolutions at the United Nations, as well as Ukrainian draft statements and documents in other international organizations, receive the necessary support. And we have not ceded a single international platform to Russia on any issue that is critical for Ukraine this year. I congratulate you on this! We are fighting to bring home Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We are working to return Ukrainian prisoners - both military and civilian - and it is essential that the exchange process continues. In your contacts with partners, you must constantly keep this issue on the agenda. The same applies to all matters of justice for Ukraine: there must be a tribunal for Russian aggression; Russian war criminals must be held accountable; and there must be a clear global condemnation of Russia for this war. This is a concrete task for you. And there have already been the first successes.

It is extremely important that we are engaged in a productive, substantive negotiation process to bring this war to an end - a dialogue first and foremost with our strategic partner, the United States. This is a conversation about how to end the war and how to end it with dignity. And much depends precisely on all of us - on our Ukrainian position.

We clearly understand all the challenges. We see how Russia is trying to undermine our initiatives. But Ukraine's foreign policy remains strong and proactive, and we retain the strategic foreign policy initiative despite everything.

Thank you for ensuring that Ukraine's diplomatic infrastructure abroad is functioning - and functioning, in particular, for our citizens. Ukrainian consulates and Ukrainian embassies are providing the necessary services, and the scope of this work has been expanded.

It is important that we remain in constant contact with each of our partners at all working levels - from the highest to every level that contributes to achieving our shared, important results. I want to extend special thanks to our ambassadors in Europe and in other parts of the world who have truly strong contacts with partners; this is a significant achievement for Ukraine. We will also continue to expand our network of diplomatic missions.

We must bring this war to an end with a dignified peace - first and foremost, peace for Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We must ensure strength for Ukraine under all circumstances - weapons, finances, and political support. We must guarantee that Ukraine's resilience - including our energy sector and our social payments - receives reliable support. We must fully secure the necessary recovery for Ukraine after Russian strikes and after this war - this is a global undertaking, and partners will be just as essential in it as they are in defense. We must fully implement all existing documents on security guarantees and also achieve a historic agreement with the United States on security guarantees for Ukraine that will be ratified by the United States Congress. This is essential. This year, we reached agreements with Sweden on Gripen aircraft and with France on Rafale jets - decisions that clearly demonstrate that Ukraine is capable of breakthrough achievements. And therefore, every one of our foreign policy goals - large and small - must be fully realized. I am confident that we can do this.

I thank you for your work for Ukraine, for our shared strength. It is important that we all work as one system - the Verkhovna Rada, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister, and the Office of the President of Ukraine. This is how it must continue to be. Thank you.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine Cannot Be Broken Thanks to People Like You - President Met with Ukrainian Energy Workers and Congratulated Them on Their Professional Holiday

President of Ukraine

22 December 2025 - 19:03

On Energy Workers' Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with employees of the energy sector and presented them with state awards.

The Head of State emphasized that Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been a target for Russia for years, and that the aim of Russia's war is the complete destruction of the country and its people.

"There is not a single power plant in Ukraine today - you know this perfectly well - that has not been damaged by constant Russian strikes. And every functioning Ukrainian energy facility, every operating part of our energy grid, is what you personally have managed to protect, restore, and build - thousands of our energy sector workers," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that during the full-scale war, Ukraine managed to professionally integrate into the European energy system, stabilize its power grid, and restore electricity generation and supply.

"Ukraine cannot be broken thanks to people like you - who work for the sake of Ukraine, for the sake of life in Ukraine, and for the sake of our people," the Head of State stressed.

Those present observed a moment of silence in memory of all energy workers who were killed as a result of Russian strikes.

Today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed a decree awarding state honors and conferring the honorary title "Honored Energy Worker of Ukraine." In total, 47 Ukrainian energy workers were recognized, 18 of whom received their awards in person.

The Order of Merit, III class was awarded to:

Hennadii Vorobei, section foreman at Chernihivoblenergo JSC. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has been involved in repairing damage to energy facilities in the Chernihiv region caused by Russian shelling.

Ivan Holovey, deputy head of a workshop at the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom JSC. He organizes the operation of reactor equipment and oversaw the commissioning of Unit No. 2 at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant.

Mykhailo Zaretskyi, electric welder at the workshop of the municipal enterprise Teplokomunenergo of the Chernihiv City Council. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, he has been repairing damage to facilities in Chernihiv.

Artem Ivakh, foreman of the Slovyansk section at DTEK Donetsk Electric Grids JSC. He works to maintain electricity supply in the Donetsk region and organizes and leads emergency repair and restoration work on power grids.

Yevhen Kozak, head of a section at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. He restores energy facilities in the Zaporizhzhia region after Russian attacks.

Ihor Kramarenko, electrician of a crew at Mykolaivoblenergo JSC. He repairs damaged facilities in the Mykolaiv region and restores destroyed power grids. He has also taken part in the construction and connection of new facilities.

Oleksandr Malandii, Technical Director at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He oversees emergency repair and restoration work at energy facilities and plans, organizes, and supervises the construction, reconstruction, and technical modernization of substations and overhead power transmission lines in the Sumy region.

Serhii Manzhula, lead engineer at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has been restoring energy facilities in the Sumy region after Russian shelling.

Anatolii Murakhovskyi, lead engineer at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. He ensures the reliable operation of relay protection and automation systems, restores damaged equipment, and eliminates the consequences of emergencies in the Odesa region.

Viktor Perepelka, asphalt concrete worker at Khersonoblenergo JSC. He eliminates the consequences of emergencies at energy infrastructure facilities in the Kherson region.

Maksym Snoz, lead engineer at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. He carries out work to restore equipment in the Odesa region that was damaged as a result of Russian shelling.

The Order "For Courage," III class was awarded to:

Oleksandr Anastiuk, senior turbine operator at Kremenchuk CHPP LLC. He eliminated the consequences of a missile-and-drone attack on the Kremenchuk Combined Heat and Power Plant: under fire, he carried out switching operations on technological equipment to prevent destruction.

Yurii Bielousov, roving operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He carried out urgent emergency switching of technological equipment during enemy attacks on the Prydniprovska Thermal Power Plant and took part in building protective structures for energy equipment.

Oleksandr Bohomolov, turbine operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He took part in eliminating the consequences of a Russian strike on the Prydniprovska Thermal Power Plant, responding promptly and carrying out urgent emergency switching of equipment.

Ruslan Klymenko, foreman at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He organizes the technical operation and major repairs of overhead power transmission lines and eliminates damage caused by Russian shelling in the Sumy region.

Maksym Kuznetsov, electrician at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He restored electricity supply during the occupation of the Sumy district and carried out repair work under the threat of shelling. He repairs power grids damaged by the enemy close to the combat zone.

Volodymyr Lisovskyi, shift supervisor at the municipal enterprise Kyivteploenergo. In October this year, he prevented the spread of a fire and the emergency situation at CHP-5 following shelling.

Oleksandr Nochovka, head of a center at DTEK Donetsk Electric Grids JSC. He led the restoration of substations in cities across the Donetsk region and works to restore electricity supply in areas of active hostilities.

Ihor Pustovoit, senior turbine operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He repeatedly took part in extinguishing fires at the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant that resulted from Russian shelling.

Oleksandr Strybak, electrician at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He restored electricity supply under enemy shelling, including in settlements near the border with the Russian Federation.

Oleh Tkalenko, senior turbine operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He took part in extinguishing a fire caused by a strike on the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant by "shaheds." During a subsequent Russian strike, he sustained a leg injury.

Oleksandr Fedchenko, service driver at Sumyoblenergo JSC (posthumously). He transported a line service crew by vehicle. On May 12 of this year, he was killed as a result of an enemy drone attack after delivering the crew to carry out emergency repair and restoration work.

Yevhen Shlak, foreman at DTEK Donetsk Electric Grids JSC. He took part in restoring power grids after the de-occupation of part of the Donetsk region and organizes and leads emergency repair and restoration work in cities near the line of active hostilities.

The Order of Princess Olga, III class was awarded to:

Liudmyla Zavyalova, laboratory technician at Donbasenergo PJSC. From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, she carried out work to disinfect drinking water at the pumping and filtration station of the city of Mykolaivka.

Maryna Fedotova, process operator at Donbasenergo PJSC. Thanks to her work, residents of Mykolaivka were quickly provided with reliable water supply.

The Medal "For Labor and Valor" was awarded to:

Oleksandr Avramenko, electrician at Kirovohradoblenergo PJSC. He carries out emergency work at critical infrastructure facilities and sites of strategic importance in the region.

Vitalii Bondariev, foreman at Donbasenergo PJSC. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, he has taken part in eliminating emergencies at the Slovyansk Thermal Power Plant. He organized the repair of railway tracks to ensure the delivery of equipment to the power plant.

Ihor Burlachka, deputy head of a workshop at Donbasenergo PJSC. He ensured the uninterrupted operation of thermal-mechanical equipment with full compliance with safety requirements.

Viktor Hrynchuk, electrician at Centrenergo PJSC. He took part in clearing debris after enemy attacks on thermal power plants and in the around-the-clock restoration of equipment.

Vyacheslav Dovierov, shift supervisor at Centrenergo PJSC. He took part in the prompt restoration of the power plant's operations after Russian missile strikes.

Oleksandr Iveruk, head of a section at Rivneoblenergo PJSC. He initiated improvements in the operation and repair of power plant equipment, including the manufacturing of metal structures.

Hryhorii Makarov, turbine operator with the Kremenchuk HPP branch of Ukrhydroenergo PJSC. He has participated in all stages of the reconstruction of the HPP's hydroelectric generating units and helps extinguish fires at the plant after enemy shelling.

Oleh Melnychenko, crew foreman at a center of the department of DTEK Kyiv Regional Electric Grids PJSC. He has been working at the company since 1999. He leads a crew responsible for repairing substation equipment. Following a Russian drone attack on Fastiv on November 29, he promptly ensured the restoration of equipment and electricity supply.

Petro Pukivskyi, senior operator of a workshop unit at the Rivne NPP branch of Energoatom JSC. He oversees repairs and testing of equipment in the reactor department of power units and ensures the elimination of malfunctions or deviations in its operation.

Mykola Syniavskyi, process operator at a workshop of the South Ukraine NPP branch of Energoatom JSC. He is the lead specialist in operating the unit. On multiple occasions, he identified defects, enabling the resolution of complex situations related to its operation.

Oleksandr Tepliakov, electrician at a workshop of the Kremenchuk HPP branch of Ukrhydroenergo PJSC. He took direct part in restoring damaged equipment and its operability after Russian missile strikes, replacing two power transformers, and reconstructing five hydrogenerators.

Roman Shpytsia, shift supervisor at Kramatorskteploenergo LLC. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, he has eliminated emergencies in networks of all voltage classes and varying levels of complexity. In early October this year, he extinguished an oil fire on a coupling transformer after a ballistic munition strike.

The Head of State conferred the honorary title "Honored Power Engineer of Ukraine" on:

Mykola Vovnenko, senior operator of a workshop unit at the South Ukraine NPP branch of Energoatom JSC. With his participation, reconstruction and modernization works were carried out at Power Unit No. 3. Under peak load conditions of the power system, he plans and optimizes maintenance schedules.

Serhii Hershun, head of the western unit of the Department at Dnipro Electric Grids JSC. He restored electricity supply in Zelenodolsk, Nikopol, Marhanets, and nearby settlements that are constantly affected by enemy shelling.

Oleksandr Kozlokov, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer at Kharkiv CHP-5 PJSC. During massive missile attacks, he organized the rescue of critically important equipment and ensured the stable operation of the CHP plant. In February 2023, he was seriously wounded during shelling. After recovering, he returned to work and took part in eliminating the consequences of 11 missile strikes on the plant.

Serhii Kriuchko, head of a department at the separate subdivision Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant of DTEK Zakhidenergo JSC. He took part in connecting the plant to the European power system. He eliminated the consequences of missile strikes on the TPP and organized emergency repair and restoration work at its power units.

Oleksandr Mishchenko, electrician of a crew of the Mykolaiv District Electric Grids at Mykolaivoblenergo JSC. Throughout the full-scale war, he has been restoring damaged power networks in Mykolaiv, including under constant shelling and in heavily mined areas.

Liubomyr Pryshliak, head of a department within the Western Territorial Network Operations Directorate at Ukrenergo PJSC. He ensures the reliable and accident-free operation of the power system in the western regions, the application of new equipment in the construction of electrical substations, and the elimination of the consequences of enemy shelling.

Borys Safonov, Director of the separate subdivision Ladyzhyn Thermal Power Plant of DTEK Zakhidenergo JSC. He organized the restoration of the plant's equipment after 12 enemy shelling incidents, being the first to arrive at the site together with technical personnel and State Emergency Service units. He is implementing innovative solutions in the operation of the TPP.

Viktor Chernovol, shift supervisor at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant branch of Energoatom JSC. He ensures the operational management of the NPP's technological complex. He is an active participant in the work of the World Association of Nuclear Operators mission.

Volodymyr Cherniavskyi, Chairman of the Management Board of Kirovohradoblenergo PJSC. Under his leadership in 2024-2025, overhead power lines, more than 170 power transformers and 310 circuit breakers were overhauled, and modern energy facility management systems were implemented.

Serhii Yaremenko, Director of the Kremenchuk HPP branch of Ukrhydroenergo PJSC. Throughout the full-scale war, he has been restoring generation capacity and repairing equipment damaged by enemy missile strikes. He carried out major overhauls of hydroelectric units and organized physical and anti-drone protection.

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Weekend attacks in Ukraine bring more casualties, damage infrastructure

22 December 2025 - Hostilities in Ukraine this weekend resulted in more civilian casualties and widespread damage to critical infrastructure, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Monday.

Between Friday and early morning Monday, Ukrainian authorities said that over a dozen civilians were killed and more than 70 others injured, including two children. Basic service disruptions were reported in over 270 towns and villages.

The attacks come amid harsh winter conditions in Ukraine and increasing humanitarian needs as attacks last week also disrupted services and led to several fatalities.

Near-daily attacks

The region of Odesa is particularly hit and is experiencing near-daily attacks, according to OCHA. On Friday an overnight attack targeting port infrastructure killed eight civilians and injured 27 others. Repeated strikes also knocked out power, affecting tens of thousands of people.

In addition, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv saw their energy infrastructure hit, with hundreds of thousands of people affected. A health facility and a school were also damaged in the attacks. Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia also suffered casualties.

Ukrainian authorities told OCHA that a warehouse storing humanitarian aid was damaged in the Mykolaiv region.

Aid appeal half funded

In the Sumy region, some 40 people were evacuated to safer areas over the last three days, OCHA said. Meanwhile, in the Donetsk region, nearly 330 civilians, including 50 children, were evacuated.

All in all, since June, nearly 150,000 people have been evacuated from front-line areas, including more than 16,500 children and over 5,000 people with limited mobility.

Humanitarian workers have managed to reach more than 700,000 people near the front line with aid this year. However, funding gaps persist, leaving more than one million people without safe water and limiting access to protection and gender-based violence services.

This year's $2.6 billion appeal for Ukraine is only half funded, at nearly $1.4 billion.



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Vancouver, December 22, 2025 - Meryllion Resources Corp. (CSE: MYR) ("Meryllion" or the "Company") announces that it has extended the expiry date of an aggregate of 7,984,025 outstanding common share purchase warrants (the "2024 Warrants"). The 2024 Warrants were issued in connection with a non-brokered private placement of units by the Company on January 8, 2024.

The initial exercise price of the 2024 Warrants is $0.07 and remains unchanged. The 2024 Warrants had an original expiry date of January 8, 2026. The Company proposes to extend the expiry date of the 2024 Warrants by an additional six months such that the 2024 Warrants will expire on July 8, 2026 (the "Extension"). All other terms and conditions of the 2024 Warrants will remain unchanged.

The Extension is subject to final approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"); however, the CSE has granted an exemption from the requirement of Section 6.7(c) (no warrants having been exercised in the last six months) of CSE Policy 6 to permit the Company to undertake the Extension. No action will be required on the part of the holders of the 2024 Warrants to give effect to the Extension, and replacement warrant certificates will not be issued. Original warrant certificates must be presented to the Company in order to exercise any of the 2024 Warrants.

One of the directors of the Company is the beneficial owner of 2,341,625 of the 2024 Warrants and, therefore, the Extension may constitute a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Extension is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the faire market value of the Extension does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

About Meryllion Resources Corporation:

Meryllion is an exploration stage company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company recently entered into a lease and option agreement in respect of the Makenzie gold/silver/antimony project located 44 kms south southwest of Austin, Nevada in the Toiyabe Range of central Nevada. Makenzie is one of the largest known untested gold, silver and antimony anomalies in the state of Nevada.

Meryllion also has the rights to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Westbury and Tasmanian Strategic Green Metals ionic adsorption clay (IAC) hosted rare earth elements (REE) projects located in northeast Tasmania, Australia with a total tenement area of approximately 800 kms2. Meryllion's IAC REE projects are situated along strike, and/or adjacent to, discoveries by ABx Group Ltd. (ASX: ABX). ABx has reported that Tb (Terbium) and Dy (Dysprosium) concentrations in all of ABx's rare earths resources are the highest of any ionic adsorption clay deposit in Australia and are amongst the highest globally. (refer ABx ASX announcement dated 5 May 2025).

For Further Information please contact:

Forward-Looking Statements:

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such.

Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) 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/278879
Cascadia Minerals Ltd. ("Cascadia") (TSXV: CAM) (OTCQB: CAMNF) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to $4,106,667 that was led by strategic investor Michael Gentile, Cascadia's largest shareholder, who now holds approximately 13.1% on a partially diluted basis.

The Offering consisted of the sale of:

a) 6,666,667 non-flow-through units (the "NFT Units") at a price of $0.15 per NFT Unit, for total gross proceeds of $1,000,000.05; and

b) 13,333,333 critical minerals flow-through units (the "CFT Units") at a price of $0.233 per CFT Unit for total gross proceeds of $3,106,666.59.

"With this financing closed, Cascadia is in a strong financial position for 2026. Our planned 15,000 m resource expansion and exploration drill program at our road-accessible Carmacks copper-gold property in central Yukon is fully funded. Results for an additional 7 holes that hit copper mineralization at the Carmacks property are expected in January, and planning is underway for commencement of 2026 drilling in early spring," stated Graham Downs, Cascadia's President and CEO. "I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our shareholders for their continued strong support. 2025 has been a transformational year for Cascadia, and we are very well positioned to take advantage of rising metal prices with steady news flow and a very active exploration season in 2026."

Each NFT Unit comprised one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole such common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole warrant is exercisable into one additional common share until December 22, 2028 at an exercise price of $0.20 per Warrant. Each CFT Unit comprised one flow-through common share (a "CFT Share") and one-half of a Warrant.

Each CFT Share qualifies as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) ("Tax Act"). The gross proceeds from the issuance and sale of the CFT Shares will be used for "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures", as both terms are defined in the Tax Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures"). The Qualifying Expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2026, and will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the CFT Shares.

The proceeds from the sale of CFT Units will be used for critical minerals exploration primarily at the Carmacks Property. A portion of proceeds from the sale of CFT Units may be used for exploration at Cascadia's Catch, Macks, Milner, and Idaho Creek properties. The proceeds from the sale of NFT Units will be used for general working capital.

Cascadia paid cash finders' fees totaling $12,000 and issued a total of 80,000 finder warrants ("Finder Warrants") to Castlewood Capital Corp. of Toronto, ON and Ventum Financial Corp. of Vancouver, BC in connection with the financing. All securities issued as part of the Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada of four months plus one day from the closing of the Offering.

About Cascadia

Cascadia's flagship asset is the 177 km2 Carmacks Project, located within the Traditional Territory of the Little Salmon Carmacks and Selkirk First Nations, 35 km southeast of the past producing Minto Mine. The Carmacks Project is road-accessible, via a 13 km access road which extends from the government-maintained Freegold Road northwest of the town of Carmacks in central Yukon. The project has an existing 40-person camp, numerous roads throughout the property, and is 10 km from grid power.

The Carmacks Main Deposit has a Measured and Indicated Resource containing 651 Mlbs of copper and 302 koz of gold (36.3 million tonnes grading 0.81% copper, 0.26 g/t gold, 3.23 g/t silver and 0.01% molybdenum) or 1.07% copper equivalent, and an Inferred Resource containing 38 Mlbs of copper and 13 koz of gold (2.9 Mt grading 0.60% copper, 0.16 g/t gold, 2.34 g/t silver and 0.02% molybdenum). A 2023 preliminary economic assessment demonstrated positive economic potential, with a $230.4 M post-tax NPV (5%) and 29% post-tax IRR at US$3.75/lb copper and US$1,800/oz gold. A second case evaluated at $4.25/lb copper and $2,000/oz gold returned a $330.1 M post-tax NPV (5%) and 38% after-tax IRR.

Cascadia also has a pipeline of discovery stage copper-gold properties throughout the Yukon Stikine Terrane including its Catch Property, which hosts a copper-gold porphyry discovery where inaugural drill results returned broad intervals of mineralization (116.60 m of 0.31% copper with 0.30 g/t gold). High-grade copper and gold mineralization is found at surface over 5 km long trend, with grab samples returning peak values of 3.88% copper, 1,065 g/t gold, and 267 g/t silver.

QA/QC

The technical information in this news release has been approved by Andrew Carne, P.Eng., VP Corporate Development for Cascadia and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

The Mineral Resources and economic analysis disclosed here are referenced from the 2023 Technical Report on the Carmacks Project Preliminary Economic Assessment, authored by SGS Canada Inc. Pricing for the Carmacks Project PEA base case economic analysis was US $3.75/lb copper, US $1,800/oz gold, and US $22/oz silver at an exchange rate of $1:US$0.75. The results of the Carmacks preliminary economic assessment are preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.

Results referenced in this release represent highlights only. Below detection values for gold, copper, silver and molybdenum have been encountered in drilling, soil and rock samples in these target areas. Readers are cautioned that grab samples are selective by nature and are not necessarily representative of the grade of mineralization on the property. Copper equivalent calculations use metal prices of US$4.00/lb for copper, US$2,500/oz for gold and US$30/oz for silver. Recovery factors of 82% for copper, 70% for gold, and 69% for silver were used, based on recovery projections from the 2023 PEA study.

On behalf of Cascadia Minerals Ltd.

Graham Downs, President and CEO

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements:

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE Cascadia Minerals Ltd.







For further information, please contact:





Andrew Carne, M.Eng., P.Eng., VP Corporate Development, Cascadia Minerals Ltd., T: 604-688-0111 ext. 106, [email protected]


Vancouver, December 23, 2025 - Silver Hammer Mining Corp. (CSE: HAMR) (the "Company" or "Silver Hammer") is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its Phase 1 test exploration drill program at its 100% controlled Silverton Project in Nye County, Nevada, and was comprised of 2,420 feet within six (6) reverse circulation ("RC") holes. Samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada for analysis.

"The Company recently completed its preliminary test program at its 100% owned Silverton Project in Nevada. The program, aimed to efficiently test the zones in and around the historical Silverton Mine, yielded solid runs of alteration and silicification and assays are now pending," commented Peter A. Ball, President & CEO. "To ensure we managed capital allocated to the Phase 1 program, we limited the number of holes to six to gain additional information for a potential follow-up drill program in early 2026. We look forward to a busy winter ahead and appreciate our shareholders patience and support."

A total of 2,420 feet has been drilled in six holes, targeting the Western Silver Zone (WSZ) with four holes, and the Eastern Gold Zone (EGZ) with a further two holes (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. - 2025 RC drill holes & traces with claims line.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/278875_322a3f2f44fea91a_001full.jpg

Western Silver Zone Drilling

The first four holes were drilled in the 'Central Zone' of the WSG, targeting below the old Silverton Mine workings (see Fig. 2); the Central Zone is the location of the intersection of two major fault structures, the Silverton Fault, a ring-fault structure within the Williams Ridge Caldera and the Basin Fault, a radial fault, and likewise, is a major structure within the caldera. Drilling and surface mapping has identified the Silverton Fault (a high-angle reverse-type fault) with a width up to 30 feet, comprising fault slices of varying local lithologies. Alteration within the fault zone has been observed as moderate to intense; locally the silicification completely obliterates original rock fabric or, nearly so.

Past surface rock sampling of the Central Zone indicates a 150 metre wide zone of silver mineralization, staring at the Silverton Fault and spanning westwards, with samples of 692 ppm Ag, 330 ppm Ag, and an additional five samples above 100 ppm Ag from Company exploration work (please refer to the Company's press release dated November 29, 2021 for previous disclosure). Silicification, characteristically associated with the epithermal-type and carbonate-replacement type of mineral occurrences has been identified in: the Central Zone in the Silverton Fault; the Basin Fault and in the NW Mineralization Zone (parallel to and north of the Basin Fault).

Fig. 2. Map of Central Zone with Drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/278875_322a3f2f44fea91a_002full.jpg

Drill Holes SLV25-001 and SLV25-002, collared east of the Silverton Fault, revealed a complete geothermal spectrum of hydrothermal alteration, starting with high temperature silicification replacement textures at the Silverton Fault to low temperature hackly calcite in veining at the western end of SLV25-001. SLV25-003, and SLV25-004, were collared from the same drill pad, east of the Silverton fault; SLV25-003 was drilled eastwards, back towards holes SLV25-001 and SLV25-002 and intercepted the best looking alteration (see Fig. 3.).

Fig. 3. SLV25-003 chip tray, showing lithology and two highly silicified zones.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/278875_322a3f2f44fea91a_003full.jpg

It should be noted that the drill-targeted Central Zone is also the centre of past silver production in the 1930s and 1950s, as evidenced by two shafts and five adits, as well as numerous surface exploration pits. Historic production grades ranged from 300 g/t Ag to 933 g/t Ag (Source: www.westernmininghistory.com and www.thediggings.com).

Eastern Gold Zone Drilling

The second area targeted through the 2025 RC drill program was the zone of intensive silicic and oxide alteration in the Eastern Gold Zone (see Fig. 4.); holes SLV25-005 and SLV25-006 were targeted to intercept structure and alteration that have in the past yielded surface rock samples which reported promising gold grades, including high grades of 0.65 ppm, 0.45 ppm and 0.20 ppm Au. SLV25-005 was intensely altered with silicification in the first 15 feet (4.6m), while SLV25-006 displayed moderate to intense silicification for the entire span of the top 100 feet (29m).

Fig. 4. RC drill on the Eastern Gold Zone.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/278875_322a3f2f44fea91a_004full.jpg

RC Drill Hole Cuttings Sampling, both WSZ and EGZ

All six drill holes intercepted zones of silicification; zones with widths exceeding 2m, are listed in Table 1.

RC Drill Hole



Alteration From

(m) To

(m) Interaval

(m) Zone Structure SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 38.1 42.7 4.6 WSZ Upper SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 112.8 120.4 7.6 WSZ Silverton Fault SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 160.0 170.6 10.7 WSZ NW Mineralization SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 202.7 208.8 6.1 WSZ Lower Zone SLV25-002 Moderate Silicification, Breccia 99.1 111.3 12.2 WSZ Silverton Fault SLV25-003 Intense Silicification, Breccia 6.1 12.2 6.1 WSZ Basin Fault SLV25-003 Moderate Silicification, Breccia 57.9 61.0 3.0 WSZ Silverton Fault SLV25-004 Moderate Silicification 3.0 6.1 3.0 WSZ Basin Fault SLV25-004 Moderate Silicification

Brecciation increases in bottom

half of intercept 18.3 36.6 18.3 WSZ NW Mineralization SLV25-005 Intense Silicification - 4.6 4.6 EGZ EGZ Eastern SLV25-006 Moderate to Intense Silicifcation - 2.9 29.0 EGZ EGZ Main

Table 1. Significant Zones of Silicification

Selective sampling concentrated on silicified zones; a total of 221 samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada for analysis. A QA/QC program was carried out, with regular insertions of certified standard materials, certified blank materials and duplicates, in aggregate, approximately 15% of the samples in total. Geological staff delivered the samples to the lab, maintaining custody. ALS Laboratories is fully ISO 17025 certified for the analysis methods selected for the set of samples submitted.

Surface Mapping and Sampling - WSZ and EGZ

A 3-day detail mapping and sampling program preceded the 2025 RC drill program, where mineralization was identified on-surface, through the use of a hand-held XRF analyser; notably, in the Central Zone, on the location of one of these XRF high readings, chlorargyrite was tentatively identified in an outcrop and a set of samples was taken (see Fig. 5). A total of 5 surface rock samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories, in Reno, Nevada.

Fig. 5. Photo of chlorargyrite(?) mineralization and locations of XRF readings (x).

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9597/278875_322a3f2f44fea91a_006full.jpg

Contingent on positive analysis of the Phase 1 drill program, a Phase 2 drill program will be planned, as step-out drilling and following the structures down-dip.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved under the supervision of Damir Cukor, P.Geo. Mr. Cukor is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and as a consultant for the Company as Technical Director - Projects.

About Silver Hammer Mining Corp.

Silver Hammer Mining Corp. is a junior resource company focused on advancing past-producing high-grade silver projects in the United States. Silver Hammer controls 100% of seven previously producing silver mines which are located within the Silver Strand Project in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in Idaho, USA, and within the Eliza Silver Project and the Silverton Silver Mine in Nevada. The Company also controls the Fahey Group Silver Project in the Silver Valley, Idaho and the Lacy Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada. Silver Hammer's primary focus is to explore, define and develop silver projects near past-producing mines that have not been adequately tested. The Company's portfolio also provides exposure to copper and gold.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limitation, statements relating to the Offering, the intended use of proceeds from the Offering, and other statements which are subject to a number of conditions, as described elsewhere in this news release. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including risks regarding the mining industry, commodity prices, market conditions, general economic factors, management's ability to manage and to operate the business, and explore and develop the projects of the Company, and the equity markets generally. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of the Company may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the 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.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278875
Trigon Metals Inc. (TSX-V: TM; OTCPK: PNZTF) ("Trigon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the previously announced transaction (the "Transaction") with Kamino Minerals Limited (the "Purchaser") and Horizon Corporation Limited ("Horizon"), an affiliate of the Purchaser, for the sale of Trigon's interest in the Kombat Mine and associated assets to the Purchaser. The Transaction was completed pursuant to a share purchase agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") dated May 27, 2025 among Trigon, the Purchaser and Horizon. Please refer to the Company's press release dated May 29, 2025 for further details in respect of the Transaction.

This closing marks the culmination of a comprehensive process that included the signing of a definitive agreement, receipt of the required regulatory and shareholder approvals, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. With this Transaction now finalized, Trigon has successfully transitioned ownership of the Kombat Mine to the Purchaser, which will assume full operational control and management of the asset moving forward.

The completion of this sale significantly strengthens Trigon's balance sheet and positions the Company to advance exploration and development work at its new flagship copper project, the Addana Project in Morocco (the "Addana Project"). Proceeds from the sale ensure that the Company is fully funded for an aggressive exploration program designed to unlock the value of the Addana Project's promising copper potential. The Transaction remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

Jed Richardson, CEO and Executive Chairman of Trigon, commented: "This transaction marks an exciting new chapter for Trigon. By completing the sale of the Kombat Mine, we are now fully funded to focus our efforts on the Addana Project, a highly prospective copper asset in Morocco that we believe will define the Company's next phase of growth. I want to thank all parties involved in bringing this transaction to a successful close for their professionalism and commitment. We also extend our sincere appreciation and best wishes to all former Trigon employees and personnel who will continue at the Kombat Mine under Horizon's management. We remain proud of what we accomplished together at Kombat and look forward to watching its continued success."

Transaction Structure

The Transaction involved an acquisition by the Purchaser, an affiliate of Horizon, of: (a) 100% of the shares in Kombat Streamco Corp., a newly-formed subsidiary of the Company formed for the purposes of the Transaction ("Trigon Ontario"); and (b) 100% of the shares in PNT Financeco Corp. ("PNT"), the holding company of the Company's Namibian assets; and (c) an intercompany loan owing by PNT to Trigon (the "PNT Loan") in the amount of $57,560,875.

Consideration

The Purchaser will pay to Trigon a total purchase consideration of US$24,000,000 in cash (the "Cash Consideration") for the Transaction comprising: (a) US$1.00 for the shares in Trigon Ontario; and (b) US$23,999,999 for the shares in PNT and the PNT Loan, subject to a purchase price adjustment for outstanding liabilities owing to IXM S.A. and Sprott on closing (the "Purchase Price Adjustment"). The Cash Consideration will be settled in eight equal instalments, with the first instalment payable on April 4, 2026. The seven remaining instalments will be payable every three months from the date of the first instalment. The Purchase Price Adjustment is equal to the aggregate of (a) all amounts payable to Sprott under the Sprott Stream (as defined below) as of the closing date, (b) the amounts owing to IXM S.A. on the closing date under the contract of sale agreement dated November 16, 2021 between IXM S.A. and Trigon Namibia and (c) the balance on the closing date of amounts owed by Trigon to IXM S.A. in respect of a cash advance previously made by IXM S.A. to Trigon. The Purchase Price Adjustment shall be applied equally to the first four instalment payments of the Cash Consideration. In addition, the eighth and final instalment payment shall be reduced by and settled against a portion of the Remaining Horizon Loan (as defined below), as further detailed below.

In addition, the Purchaser will make an additional cash payment (the "Production Payment") to Trigon thirty days following the first date upon which the underground operations of the Kombat Mine achieves ore production and processing of ore containing 4,500t of contained copper over a 90-day period. The Production Payment amount will be between US$3,500,000 and US$13,000,000 and will be dependent on the price of copper.

As further consideration, Trigon was granted a royalty on the Project from Trigon Mining (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd, the registered owner of the Project, of 1.0% of copper net smelter returns on a per invoice basis, payable if the invoiced copper price on final invoicing is greater than $4.00 per pound (the "Royalty") for up to 20 quarters with eight allowable deferrals. The Royalty is to be paid exclusively from Horizon's equity ownership. Payments under the Royalty will commence once the Project achieves copper metal production of 1,000 tonnes for each of two consecutive calendar months.

As additional consideration, the amount payable by the Company to Horizon pursuant to a loan agreement, between Trigon and Horizon dated December 12, 2024, as amended (the "Horizon Loan"), shall be reduced by US$3,975,494, as further detailed below.

Under the Share Purchase Agreement, if the Purchaser defaults on any payment to the Company, following a specified cure period, the Company shall have the right to reacquire the shares of Trigon Ontario and PNT for nominal consideration, and the Purchaser is required to pay to the Company US$300,000 in penalties.

Pre-Closing Reorganization

Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, prior to closing of the Transaction, the Company completed, among others, the following steps:

the Company transferred to Trigon Ontario all of Trigon's rights and obligations under Trigon's stream agreement (the "Sprott Stream") with Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp. and Sprott Mining Inc. (collectively, "Sprott") and the Company was released from all security and guarantees under the Sprott Stream; and

PNT transferred to Trigon 100% of its interest in Copperbelt Mineral Exploration (Pty) Ltd.

The Horizon Loan and Additional Loan

Prior to the closing of the Transaction, Horizon advanced loans to the Company in an aggregate amount of US$10,066,999 (inclusive of interest) pursuant to the Horizon Loan. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, the amount payable by the Company to Horizon under the Horizon Loan has been reduced to US$2,436,769 (inclusive of accrued interest as of the closing date) (the "Remaining Horizon Loan"). The Remaining Horizon Loan is comprised of an amount equal to US$1,036,769 in principal (inclusive of accrued interest) (the "Non-Project Loan Amount") and an amount equal to US$1,400,000 in principal (inclusive of accrued interest) (the "Additional Loan Amount"). The Horizon Loan reduction included an amount equal to US$3,065,230 (inclusive of accrued interest) referred to as the "Project Loan Amount" in the Share Purchase Agreement.

The Remaining Horizon Loan bears interest at 15% per annum. The Non-Project Loan Amount matures on December 23, 2026, provided that, if a Production Payment becomes payable by Horizon to the Company pursuant to the SPA prior to such maturity date, the outstanding Non-Project Loan Amount as of such date shall be applied and settled against the Production Payment. The Additional Loan Amount shall mature on the date of payment of the eighth instalment of the Cash Consideration and shall be applied and settled against such instalment payment. The Remaining Horizon Loan is secured by a general security agreement over all the property, assets and undertakings of the Company.

Conditions Precedent

Prior to closing, the Company satisfied all conditions precedent to closing of the Transaction pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, including, among others, obtaining approval of its shareholders, approval of the Namibian Competition Commission, consent of Sprott and conditional approval of the Exchange.

Finder's Fees

On September 1, 2024, the Company entered into a finder agreement with Brightmind Ventures Limited ("Brightmind") (the "Finder Agreement") pursuant to which Brightmind was engaged to identify and source parties interested in participating in equity financings of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Finder Agreement, completion of the Transaction triggered a cash fee to be paid by the Company to Brightmind in the aggregate amount of approximately US$720,000 (the "Finder Fee"), assuming all instalment payments are received by the Company following closing of the Transaction. Due to the deferred nature of the instalment payments, pursuant to the Finder Agreement, the Company shall pay the Finder Fee to Brightmind in five instalments, with the first instalment payable on April 4, 2026 in the amount of US$173,550.72 and the remaining four instalments payable every three months thereafter in the amounts of US$149,999.99, US$149,999.99, US$149,999.99 and US$96,449.30, respectively. Brightmind is an arm's length party to the Company, Horizon, the Purchaser and their associates and affiliates.

Trigon Metals Inc.

Trigon Metals Inc. is a publicly-trading Canadian exploration and development company with its core focus on copper and silver holdings in mining-friendly African jurisdictions. The Company holds the Kalahari Copperbelt Project in Namibia. In Morocco, the Company is advancing two exploration projects; Addana, which hosts silver-bearing veins along with other metals, and Silver Hill, a sedimentary copper prospect that has already undergone drilling.

Cautionary Notes

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the transaction with Horizon, the integration of operations, the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, the Company's strategies following the Transaction, including in respect of the Addana Project, and the Company's abilities to execute such strategies, ability of the Company to unlock the value of the Addana Project, the Company's future plans and objectives, final approval of the Exchange of the Transaction, payment by the Purchaser of instalment of the Cash Consideration and timing thereof, amount of the Purchase Price Adjustment, payment and timing of the Production Payment, payments under the Royalty, the Purchaser making the payments required under the Share Purchase Agreement, the offset of Non-Project Loan Amount against the Production Payment, the offset of Additional Loan Amount against the eighth instalment payment and whether it will elect to pay penalties and return shares of Trigon Ontario and PNT in lieu of such payments, and the Company's ability to repay the Remaining Horizon Loan. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulators. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223050934/en/

Contact

For further information, contact Tom Panoulias, VP Corporate Development:

1(647)276-6002 ext. 1127

[email protected]

Website: www.trigonmetals.com
Gold'n Futures Mineral Corp. (CSE: FUTR) (OTC: GFTRF) (the "Company" or "Gold'n Futures") announces that it will be proceeding with a consolidation of its issued and outstanding share capital (the "Common Shares") on the basis of every one hundred (100) old Common Shares into one (1) new Common Share (the "Share Consolidation"), as previously announced by the Company on October 21, 2025, effective December 30, 2025 (the "Effective Date"). The Company received approval from its shareholders for the Share Consolidation at its annual general and special meeting held on November 18, 2025.

As a result of the Share Consolidation, the issued and outstanding Common Shares will be reduced to approximately 2,363,858. No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the Share Consolidation. All fractions of Common Shares will be rounded down to the next lowest whole number. No cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional shares. The exercise or conversion price and the number of Common Shares issuable under any of the Company's outstanding convertible securities will be proportionately adjusted upon the Share Consolidation.

The Company has applied for new ISIN and CUSIP numbers in connection with the Share Consolidation. The new ISIN and CUSIP will be announced once assigned.

Shareholders of record as at the Effective Date will receive a letter of transmittal providing instructions for the exchange of their Common Shares as soon as practicable following the Effective Date.

The Company believes that the Share Consolidation will make the Company more attractive to financing opportunities, and will allow for the restructuring and settlement of certain existing liabilities. Completion of the Share Consolidation remains subject to completion of appropriate regulatory filings with the CSE.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

For further information

Matthew Fish

Director

Email: [email protected]

Ph: 905-781-8786

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the timing, completion and effectiveness of the Share Consolidation, the anticipated effective date and record date of the Share Consolidation, the treatment of fractional shares, the adjustment of the exercise or conversion price and the number of Common Shares issuable under the Company's outstanding convertible securities, the completion of required regulatory filings and receipt of acceptance from the Canadian Securities Exchange, and the anticipated benefits of the Share Consolidation, including that it may make the Company more attractive for financing opportunities and facilitate the restructuring and settlement of certain existing liabilities. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including, without limitation, that the Company will be able to complete the Share Consolidation on the terms described herein and within the anticipated timeframe, that required filings will be completed and accepted in a timely manner, and that there will be no unforeseen delays or costs associated with the Share Consolidation. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, delays in or failure to obtain regulatory acceptance, changes in market conditions, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's public filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable securities laws.


The American Museum of Natural History in New York City decided recently to take down the statue of Theodore Roosevelt that has been displayed in front of the museum on Central Park West since 1940. Its actually a statue group of three men. Roosevelt is high on horseback dressed like a cowboy or Rough Rider. Flanking him, on foot, are a Native American in a plains headdress and an African gun bearer wearing very little at all. Roosevelt towers above the people of color, who stand behind him as if for protection. Its not quite clear whether TR is leading the Native American and the African to a better future or whether they are voluntarily accompanying him. Roosevelts horse is actually walking off the pedestal in the direction of Americas manifest destiny.The statue group could quite easily be called The White Mans Burden.The Roosevelt statue group has been the subject of public controversy for decades. The recent movement (intensified in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd) to remove all remaining objectionable statues from Americas public spaces caused the museums directors to make the difficult decision to remove the statue, an action they have been contemplating and debating for several years.Native American cultural historian Philip Deloria, a professor of history at Harvard, sees the statue group as a colonial allegory: They [the Natives] speak to Roosevelt as an American, as a person who happily goes as a dominating white figure to Africa, as a person who goes and takes advantage of the possibilities that [arise] by Indian land being dispossessed. The advocacy group Decolonize This Place recently declared, In no way is it ever okay for two nearly naked, savage men (figures of one Indigenous and one African) to be standing at the feet of and in service of a colonizer.The American Museums statue was commissioned in 1921, just two years following the death of TR on Jan. 6, 1919. Theodore Roosevelt was a white privileged member of the Anglo-American establishment. He believed that the Anglo-Saxon peoples had a special destiny and a special responsibility to carry the blessings of civilization to, as Mark Twain sarcastically put it, the people sitting in darkness. Thus, the statue in front of the American Museum of Natural History is a fair representation of at least that aspect of the life and achievement of Roosevelt.As a Roosevelt scholar and a serious admirer of the 26th president of the United States, Im saddened to think that a man of such monumental importance to American history should be defrocked. For many years I have visited the American Museum of Natural History with joy and respect for both Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (Thee) and his son, President Theodore Roosevelt. Im not myself a hunter, but I do not object to the animal displays at the museum. I love the diorama in the lobby of the Roosevelts Elkhorn Ranch on the west bank of the Little Missouri River in western North Dakota, complete with authentic sagebrush, pronghorn antelopes, and even antelope scat.Roosevelt is not just some famous New Yorker whose statue happens to be located in front of the Museum of Natural History. His father Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (Thee) was one of its founders in 1869. In fact, the American Museums charter was signed in the Roosevelt brownstone in lower Manhattan, the home where the future president was born in 1858. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. began contributing specimens to the museum from a very young age. Dozens of his contributions are either on display or stored in the museums capacious vaults. Roosevelts 1914 foray into the Amazon watershed  what became his exploration of the River of Doubt  was sponsored in part by the museum.I have visited the American Museum of Natural History several dozen times over the last 20 years and I have cringed (in varying degrees) every time I have gazed at the statue group. Although I acknowledge that it is an accurate representation of Roosevelts imperial views and his attitude toward indigenous peoples across the globe, and that it would have pleased him to be depicted as a cowboy on horseback, I have always felt that it is not a fair or adequate representation of Roosevelt the naturalist, which was the point of his long relationship with the American Museum.I can think of a dozen moments from Roosevelts life that artist James Earle Fraser might have chosen to depict, all of them closer to the spirit of TR, who enrolled at Harvard in 1876 believing that he would become a professional naturalist. Fraser might have sculpted the boy Teedie, who fell in love with natural history after happening upon a dead seal displayed on a slab in front of a shop on lower Broadway. That would have had the added advantage of inviting generations of young people into the museum and to consider taking up a career in natural history. He might have been depicted leaping from his horse in Yellowstone National Park in April 1903, when he spotted a vole that he believed might be new to science. The remains of that vole now repose in a specimen cabinet at the Smithsonian Institution. He might have been sculpted standing next to John Muir on a precipice in Yosemite National Park, the subject of one of the most famous photographs of Roosevelt. Frasers sculpture depicts Roosevelt the imperial anthropologist, Roosevelt the big game hunter, Roosevelt the civilizer, but not particularly Roosevelt the naturalist.This is the view of TR descendant Theodore Roosevelt IV: The world does not need statues, relics of another age, that reflect neither the values of the person they intend to honor nor the values of equality and justice. The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelts legacy. It is time to move the statue and move forward.Roosevelt himself was not very eager to be memorialized. He had a stark and fatalistic view of the place in historical memory of any public figure. While he was still serving as the 26th president, Roosevelt wrote:If you were not sure this was an authentic Roosevelt document, and you happened upon it in a book of quotations, you would never attribute it to Roosevelt. Nor is this statement necessarily definitive. After studying TR for more than 20 years, I can say, with confidence, that in most moods he was concerned about his place in history; it did matter to him whether he was remembered for a shorter or longer period following his death; he did not class himself with the average hard-working, clean-living citizen, though he worked very hard and lived a remarkably clean life; his hope, surely, was for at least a few hundred years of historical importance and he almost certainly wanted to be remembered as long as America had a history.Still, Roosevelt was a deep student of history (he read a book a day) and he knew that virtually every human being who has ever lived has been swallowed up in the dim gray of time, including individuals who were important in their time. For every Caesar or Pompey, for every Napoleon or Marlborough, there were hundreds of thousands of people who played a significant role in the course of events whose names are known only to a handful of scholars and historians.Roosevelts immediate family was not very supportive of proposals to erect statues to celebrate or commemorate the life of TR  even into the early 1960s. Roosevelt himself, in dedicating Roosevelt Dam in Arizona in 1911, said modestly that he regarded that  a realization of his purposes rather than a tribute to him personally  as a suitably impressive monument to his lifes work.The problem with any statue of Roosevelt is that it freezes a hyperkinetic man, a Renaissance man, and a complicated man who won the Nobel Peace Prize but also enjoyed punching out drunken gunslingers in western saloons, a man who wrote 40 books but also climbed the Matterhorn on his honeymoon, a man who knew Finnish Saga but who waded into a circle of snarling dogs to kill a mountain lion with a knife, into a single moment of a dizzyingly hectic and varied life.The only successful statue to Roosevelt would have to be a wildly gesticulating animatronic cowboy-statesman, riding a feral horse at breakneck speed over the badlands while dictating letters to one of his frenzied secretaries. Roosevelt is impossible to capture in a single avatar: soldier, reformer, explorer, author, big game hunter, cowboy, politician, family man. The colonialist and big game hunter in front of the Museum of Natural History no more captures Roosevelt than a statue of Buffalo Bill Cody reading a ledger.It was the supervising architect of the American Museums post-Rooseveltian remake project, John Russell Pope (1874-1937), who conceived of the statue group featuring equestrian Roosevelt and the two accompanying figures on foot, one representing the American Indian and the other the primitive African. Pope wanted the statue group to celebrate Roosevelt for the fearless leadership, the explorer, benefactor and educator. The statue group was then sculpted by the distinguished American artist James Earle Fraser (1876-1953). Fraser is best known for his sculpture End of the Trail and the Indian (buffalo) nickel. If Fraser was aware that his sculpture belonged to the white mans burden school of commemoration, he did not make public mention of that theme. The two figures at [TRs] side, he wrote, are guides symbolizing the continents of Africa and America, and if you choose may stand for Roosevelts friendliness to all races. We no longer choose to read the statue group in that way.Still, it is important for us to try to understand that there was a time in American history when the TR statue group was seen (by white people, at least) as a positive depiction of the man and his purposes. Awareness of that should make us pause. For one thing, it should remind us of how deeply racial hierarchies and unconscious racism are woven into the social fabric of American life. Most Americans have had to be awakened to the recognition of the subtler oppressions of our history, economy, judicial system, politics, and social structure.It is an ongoing process. It is often painful, because people of good will and generosity of spirit often find it hard to learn  and worse to be told  that they embody forms of racism and structural oppression, caricature, and exploitation that they do not even recognize in themselves. It seems to me that we should all try to be as understanding as we can of the unconscious ways our fellow citizens (and we ourselves) inadvertently perpetuate discrimination, of the distance we as a nation have come on questions of race, gender, sexual orientation, conquest, colonialism, and the legacy of slavery, and the distance we still have to travel. As a humanities scholar, I am more interested in trying to understand the evolving dynamics of American life than in judging our forebears and shaming them in their graves.I support the removal of the Roosevelt statue group from the entrance of the Museum of Natural History. I think the national conversation that the problematic representation of Roosevelt has generated has been healthy, even essential. Id rather wrestle with the character and achievement, the blindness and the weaknesses, of Roosevelt (or Jefferson or Woodrow Wilson or Ulysses S. Grant) than drag their statues down like Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. Id prefer to explore and contextualize that which we now find objectionable than to attempt to erase the iconography of the unenlightened past. (And I worry about what future generations will say of us!) I applaud the American Museums recent exhibition, Addressing the Statue, on the Roosevelt statue group, but I also support contextualizing signage, counter- or corrective- or compensatory-statuary on the same site(s), nuanced conferences and symposia, blogs, websites, documentary films, and protest rallies. As a humanities scholar, I would prefer these controversies to become learning moments for the American nation rather than public cleansings born of passion, righteousness, and enthusiasm.I believe that the American Museums decision to remove Roosevelt has greater legitimacy because it came at the end of a long and careful deliberative process in which a wide range of viewpoints were heard. There may be times when street action is the right remedy to the legacies of oppression, but in a nation straining towards democracy and due process, and in danger of losing both, I would prefer to see all the stakeholders gather to make these decisions in the free marketplace of ideas rather than at the end of a rope or a flaming torch. Street action is often a very imprecise tool of social justice; the collateral damage can have the effect of discrediting an otherwise-laudable public expression of rage. But I speak as a privileged white male, and I know others will find my views complacent.Theodore Roosevelts complicated legacy is not impaired by the loss of one objectionable statue in New York City. Roosevelt, like Walt Whitman, contains multitudes. His legacy can be found in virtually every national park, especially at the one named for him in the badlands of the Little Missouri River Valley in western North Dakota. The Panama Canal is not coming down. Nor is Sagamore Hill, one of the few presidential homes that really gives you the essence of the man. In my opinion, Roosevelts legacy is enhanced rather than degraded by the removal of James Earle Frazers superbly sculpted statue group at the Museum of Natural History. Of all the ways the 21st century might wish to memorialize Roosevelt, that statue was the least representative of the whole man, his staggering achievement and his largely untarnished place in American memory.
Marko exit sparks fears of F1 character crisis

The departure of Dr Helmut Marko is being framed by commentators as more than just a Red Bull issue, with concerns growing that Formula 1 itself is losing some of its last defining personalities.

Helmut Marko, Dutch GP 2025

 Red Bull

UK company filings this week show that Marko, 82, has been removed as a director from multiple Red Bull entities, including Red Bull Racing Limited, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Red Bull Powertrains, formalising his complete exit from the organisation after two decades.

Writing in Bild, Michel Milewski argues that Marko's exit risks creating a wider problem for the sport.

What is intended to be a (partial) solution for Red Bull on its way back to the top of Formula 1 threatens to become a problem for the racing series itself, he writes.

Because it is heading straight for a character crisis.

Milewski links Marko's departure to that of Christian Horner, noting that two of the sport's most confrontational and polarising figures have now gone in quick succession.

The only remaining character among the team principals is Toto Wolff, he claims. "Eight of the 10 team bosses are former engineers. They think in black and white, not in red alert. So who is Wolff supposed to argue with in front of the cameras of Netflix and other streaming services?

Answer - No one.

According to Milewski, the concern extends beyond management.

Formula 1 needs to shift into a higher gear in terms of character, he writes, warning that with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso nearing the end of their careers and Max Verstappen frequently flirting with retirement, the sport risks losing its most recognisable figures.

Similar concerns have been voiced by former Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, who says modern Formula 1 lacks the personalities that once drew fans into the sport.

Personalities are fading, Popov said. I'm not saying that modest engineers aren't personalities, but they're not showmen.

He contrasted today's paddock with earlier eras.

Peter Sauber, even though he was a quiet Swiss, was still a character - a man with a cigar and few words. Or the exalted Eddie Jordan, or the boring Ron Dennis, or the fussy little Jean Todt, Popov said.

These characters made people fall in love with Formula 1.

(GMM)
Featured

BoG outlines timeline for crypto regulation as VASP law awaits Presidential assent

Kweku Zurek Business News Dec - 23 - 2025 , 08:18

Ghana is expected to begin a carefully phased implementation of its new virtual assets regulatory regime once presidential assent is granted to the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, with detailed guidelines and licensing frameworks likely to be rolled out in early 2026, according to the Bank of Ghana.

Speaking at the WEB 3 Accra VASPs Ecosystem Mixer in Accra, the Lead for Virtual Assets Regulation at the Bank of Ghana, Dr Seyram Pearl Kumah, said the Bill has already been passed by Parliament and is now awaiting the Presidents signature before it becomes an Act and is made publicly accessible.

She explained that the Act will serve as the primary legal framework governing Ghanas virtual asset sector, setting out high-level rules rather than operational details.

So until the President signs it, it cannot be a public document. So we hope that before the end of this year, the President will sign so that we can all have access to the Act, she said.

Dr Kumah stressed that the Act alone will not trigger immediate regulation or licensing of virtual asset service providers, noting that further work is required to operationalise the law through directives and guidelines. According to her, the Bank of Ghana, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Data Protection Commission and law enforcement agencies will all need to align their roles and build capacity before regulation can commence.

The Act is the primary document with high rules to guide the sector. It is not the only document we are going to use, she said, adding that secondary instruments will provide detailed requirements for registration, licensing, market conduct, taxation and compliance.

She disclosed that the central bank and the SEC have already begun preparatory work, including anti money laundering and counter terrorism financing training for selected virtual asset operators. Even today, we had an AML, CFT training with the registered VAs before we start the licensing registration process, she said, explaining that issues such as KYC, onboarding and the travel rule remain central concerns for regulators.

Dr Kumah said the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act is anchored in Ghanas Anti Money Laundering Act, Act 1044, meaning operators will be required to comply fully with existing AML obligations. She added that the law also assigns responsibility for virtual asset taxation to the Ghana Revenue Authority, which is preparing to administer the tax regime.

One of the major concerns of regulators has to do with money laundering and also tax evasion, she said. Yes, the Act addresses some of these concerns.

She indicated that, based on international experience, it typically takes up to two years for a country to fully operationalise such legislation, though Ghana could move faster given the preparatory work already completed. She revealed that the Bank of Ghana has drafted its directives and guidelines and is awaiting corresponding instruments from the SEC before engaging stakeholders and publishing them.

So I can say that three months into the Act, by this first quarter of 2026, all these instruments will be out, she said.

Dr Kumah also clarified that Ghanas regulatory approach will be activity based rather than entity based, with 14 distinct virtual asset services identified under the Act. Each activity will require either registration or licensing from the appropriate regulator, depending on risk.

You dont license an entity. You license the various activities, she said. So Binance can be licensed in Ghana to provide custodial services to Ghanaians but may not be licensed to provide a trading platform.

She explained that this approach would require strict supervision to prevent operators from undertaking unlicensed activities, noting that all approved services and operators will be published on the websites of the Bank of Ghana and the SEC for public verification.

In her address to participants, Dr Kumah described the coexistence of the fiat and crypto financial systems, explaining that while the fiat system is centralised and government controlled, the crypto system is decentralised and driven by blockchain technology. She emphasised that the passage of the Act does not amount to legalising crypto trading overnight.

The Act doesnt mean we have legalised crypto trading in the country. The Act only provides the legal framework to guide the sector, she said.

She explained that Ghana adopted a principles-based regulatory model rather than a rules-based one to allow flexibility in a fast-evolving industry. If something changes, then it means we have to rush to Parliament to amend a provision, which will be too tedious, she said, adding that guidelines can be amended more easily to keep pace with market developments.

Dr Kumah urged operators and the public to study the Act once it is published, saying early understanding of its provisions would make the transition to licensing and supervision smoother for all stakeholders.

So as we are gathered here, the Act will be out. You read it, you know the high-level provisions, then the directives and guidelines will make it simple for the operator to prepare, she said.

The central bank hopes the new framework will improve transparency and oversight, following reports that about 3 million Ghanaians, representing roughly 17 per cent of the adult population, are involved in cryptocurrency trading. Estimates by Web3 Africa Group suggest that this group processed about 3 billion dollars worth of crypto transactions in Ghana in the year through June 2024, raising concerns about potential implications for management of the cedi.

Ghanas move places it among a growing list of Sub-Saharan African countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia that have introduced regulatory frameworks for crypto, as the region continues to record strong growth in digital asset adoption.
Featured

SEC warns influencers as Ghana tightens rules on crypto promotion under new VASP law

Kweku Zurek Business News Dec - 23 - 2025 , 06:58

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a warning to celebrities and social media influencers against promoting cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets without proper authorisation, as Ghana prepares to enforce its newly passed Virtual Asset Service Providers law.

The caution comes as the legislation, which is awaiting presidential assent, seeks to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and virtual asset activities, while strengthening anti money laundering and counter terrorism financing controls within Ghanas fast growing digital finance space.

Speaking at the maiden National Virtual Asset Literacy Programme for Virtual Asset Market Operators, the Deputy Director General of the SEC in charge of Finance, Mensah Thompson, said the highly volatile nature of virtual assets makes strict oversight of advertising, promotion and advocacy essential.

He stressed that only individuals and entities that are duly licensed and authorised would be permitted to engage in promotional activities related to cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets.

We all know how volatile the virtual asset space is. And thats why specific rules have been designed to guide advertisement, promotion, and advocacy. And so influencers who want to work in this space, please be reminded that there are rules concerning advocacy and influencing in the virtual asset space, he said.

Mr Thompson warned that breaches of the rules would attract sanctions and urged influencers to familiarise themselves with the regulatory framework before engaging in any form of promotion.

And only licenced and authorised persons will be allowed to engage in advocacy, advertisement, or promotion in the virtual asset space. And there are consequences for this breach. And so we want to send this message to you, that if you want to work in that space as an influencer, take steps to contact the SEC and the Bank of Ghana for the rules that guide that, he added.

The SEC says the enforcement of the VASP law will help protect investors, enhance market integrity and promote responsible participation in Ghanas digital asset market, particularly as interest in crypto continues to rise among young people and retail investors.

Regulators have also raised concerns about market manipulation schemes such as pump and dump operations, which are common in largely unregulated digital asset environments. In such schemes, promoters or influencers aggressively hype a token or coin, often using social media to create excitement and drive up its price. Once prices rise, the promoters sell off their holdings at a profit, causing the value to crash and leaving ordinary investors with significant losses. Authorities say tighter controls on promotion and advocacy are aimed at reducing the risk of such practices and protecting unsuspecting members of the public.

The warning from the SEC comes against the backdrop of Ghanas parliament approving the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, which effectively legalises cryptocurrency trading and related activities in the country. The passage of the bill was announced by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Asiama, who said the new law would address central bank concerns about the widening and unregulated use of crypto as an alternative asset.

With the passage of the bill, the country takes a step towards facilitating the licensing of crypto platforms and properly supervising activity, Asiama said, adding that, What this means is that now we have the framework to manage it and to manage the risks that can involve that kind of activity [] These are not just legal milestones; they are enablers of better policies, stronger supervision and more effective regulation.

The central bank hopes the new framework will improve transparency and oversight, following reports that about 3 million Ghanaians, representing roughly 17 percent of the adult population, are involved in cryptocurrency trading. Estimates by Web3 Africa Group suggest that this group processed about 3 billion dollars worth of crypto transactions in Ghana in the year through June 2024, raising concerns about potential implications for management of the cedi.

Under the new law, the Bank of Ghana will act as the primary regulator with powers to license and supervise virtual asset service providers, including exchanges, wallet providers and custody services, while the SEC will share oversight in some areas. Although the legislation legalises crypto activities, regulators have stressed that it does not make cryptocurrency legal tender, with the cedi remaining Ghanas sole legal tender.

Ghanas move places it among a growing list of Sub Saharan African countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia that have introduced regulatory frameworks for crypto, as the region continues to record strong growth in digital asset adoption.
Next article: Kofi Kinaata's 'Made in Taadi' heightens Christmas fever in Takoradi by drawing huge crowd

Featured

Catherine Afeku unveiled as Brand Ambassador for World Tourism Forum Institute

Rosalind K. Amoh Showbiz News Dec - 23 - 2025 , 17:47 3 minutes read

Catherine Ablema Afeku, a former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has been unveiled as the Brand Ambassador for Africa for the World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI).

This is part of efforts by the WTFI to amplify Africas voice on the global tourism and investment stage.

Mrs Afeku was presented with her appointment letter and unveiled at a ceremony in Accra by WTFIs representative in Ghana, Richard Owusu.

The event had in attendance, the Minister of Tourism, Abla Dzifa Gomashie.

WTFI

Headquartered in London, the WTFI is a global platform dedicated to shaping the future of tourism and investment.

Through strategic summits, policy engagement, and investor matchmaking, it serves as a catalyst for sustainable development and public-private cooperation in the tourism sector.

In her appointment letter, the WTFI, through its President Bulut Bagc, said Mrs Afeku earned the position because as Minister, she championed numerous high-level initiatives to promote Ghana as a cultural powerhouse and a destination for global tourism investment.

Her appointment is a testament to her outstanding leadership, international recognition and her dedicated efforts in transforming tourism into a vehicle for inclusive growth in Ghana and across the region, he said.

Mr Bagc, sees the appointment as marking a significant step in the institutes efforts to deepen its strategic footprint across the African continent.

He said Mrs Afekus proven experience, visionary leadership, and deep cultural insight make her uniquely suited to lead the mission.

"With your guidance, we will amplify Africas tourism voice on the world stage and accelerate meaningful investment for a sustainable future, the appointment letter read.

Ghanas gain

Ms Gomashie described the appointment of the WTFI ambassador as timely, as the ministry seeks to firmly establish Ghana as the most preferred tourism destination.

She invited the world to view the positive reaction of President John Dramani Mahama to the former Ministers appointment as evidence that tourism has no party colours.

To President Mahama, this is a win for Ghana, irrespective of the political persuasion of the Ghanaian through whom the honour has come, she said.

A message of congratulations from the Office of the President, signed by Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, indicated that Mrs Afekus appointment was not only a moment of pride for her, but also an honour done to Ghana, promising that she would be accorded all the requisite co-operation in her handling of her role.

Gratitude

Mrs Afeku expressed gratitude to President Mahama for embracing the achievement of a citizen of Ghana.

I was honoured as a citizen of Ghana and I am happy that the current sector Minister and the President of my country see it as such. This is a new day in Ghana politics, she said.

Recognised for her diplomatic acumen and deep understanding of regional dynamics, Mrs Afeku now assumes a broader continental role  one that involves advocating for investment, innovation, and infrastructure development across Africas tourism and hospitality landscape.
Foreign Affairs Minister to lead family delegation to Latvia over Ghanaian students death

Mohammed Ali Dec - 23 - 2025 , 13:21 3 minutes read

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he will travel to Latvia to engage authorities over the death of a Ghanaian national, Nana Agyei Oduru Ahyia, whose case remains under investigation.

Mr Ablakwa announced on Monday that the delegation to the Baltic state will include representatives of the deceaseds family, as the government steps up efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The minister made a Facebook post after meeting the family at the Foreign Ministry on December 23, 2025.

He said the ministry had, since the incident, carried out a series of interventions aimed at gathering facts and engaging Latvian authorities.

I briefed the family on interventions carried out by the ministry following the loss of Nana Agyei, Mr Ablakwa said in a statement shared on social media.

He said one of the early steps taken was the deployment of a fact-finding mission from Ghanas embassy in Germany, which has concurrent accreditation to Latvia. According to him, the team has submitted a preliminary report to the ministry.

Mr Ablakwa said Latvian officials had informed Ghana that investigations into the death were still ongoing. He added that he had formally notified the Latvian government of his intention to hold talks with his counterpart and to engage investigators directly during the visit.

Nana Agyei Oduru Ahyia, 18, was a first-year Electrical Engineering student at Riga Technical University. He died on June 4, 2025.

Latvian authorities reportedly told the family that he had fallen from the sixth floor of his apartment on Baznicas Street in Riga. The family has challenged this account, citing a voice note the student sent three days before his death in which he said he had been poisoned.

A family spokesperson, Sarah Nimli, said the family rejected claims that Nana Agyei had taken his own life. We were told he fell from the sixth floor and died, but we said that cannot be true. There is no way he would commit suicide, she said.

The family also said attempts to reach Latvian police were unsuccessful, raising concerns about how the case was being handled, particularly as those suspected to be involved are believed to be Latvian nationals.

Nana Agyeis remains were returned to Ghana on July 23, 2025, for burial.

Mr Ablakwa said the government would engage independent experts to review all investigative reports, including the final report expected from Latvian authorities, to guide Ghanas next steps.

The Government of Ghana will engage independent experts to analyse all investigative reports to inform our next steps in the interest of justice, he said.

He reiterated his position that the available information does not support claims of suicide, adding that Ghanaian diplomats from the Berlin mission who assessed the case reached the same view.
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Ashanti: Six family members die in domestic fire outbreak at Abuakwa Manhyia

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Dec - 23 - 2025 , 13:50 1 minute read

Six family members died in a domestic fire outbreak at Abuakwa Manhyia, near Wadoma Hotel, in the Ashanti Region on Monday (December 22, 2025).

The deceased, who are yet to be identified and belonged to the same family, were occupants in the seven-bedroom self-contained apartment.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service received a distress call around 12:53 am, and a team from the Nkawie Fire Station rushed to the scene at 01:15 am to meet an advanced fire that was spreading rapidly.

Information gathered indicated that firefighting operations were later reinforced by personnel from the Twedie Fire Station.

Fortunately, the fire was brought under control at about 01:57 am and fully extinguished at 03:22am.

Sadly, despite the swift response, the seven-bedroom residential building was completely destroyed.

Firefighters retrieved six badly charred bodies, believed to be members of the same family, burnt beyond recognition.

A statement issued by the GNFS and signed by the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer, GNFS, DO II Peter Addai said the bodies had been handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations.

It said the fire personnel managed to prevent the fire from extending to other adjoining properties.

The GNFS extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and noted that investigations had commenced to determine the cause of the fire.

"The public is advised to avoid heavy burglar-proof doors and windows that trap occupants during emergencies," the service advised.

The service said it remains committed to protecting lives and property through prevention, education, enforcement, and rapid emergency response.
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Cross Cole: US court sentences Ghanaian citizen over $200 Snapchat sextortion scheme

Kweku Zurek Dec - 23 - 2025 , 06:39 2 minutes read

A 21-year-old Ghanaian citizen, Cross Abu Cole, has been sentenced to time served of about seven months by a United States District Court after being convicted of interstate communications with intent to extort.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo in Buffalo, New York, following an announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, Michael DiGiacomo. Cole has since been turned over to the Department of Homeland Security.

According to court records outlined by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the prosecution, the offence dates back to October 30, 2022.

Cole was said to have improperly accessed a Snapchat account belonging to an individual identified as the Victim and obtained nude photographs stored on the account.

Investigators said Cole subsequently contacted the Victim using a Google Voice telephone number and demanded a payment of $200. Prosecutors said he threatened that if the money was not paid, he would damage the Victims reputation by releasing the nude photographs to the Victims family and friends.

An initial payment of $200 was made via CashApp as instructed, but the Victim later cancelled the transaction. Despite this, the Victim later discovered that some of his Snapchat contacts had already received the nude photographs.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of the Special Agent in Charge, Philip Tejera.

U.S. authorities have not disclosed further details about immigration proceedings, but confirmed that Cole has been handed over to the Department of Homeland Security following the completion of his custodial sentence.
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Energy Minister commends ECG boss

Rosalind K. Amoh Dec - 23 - 2025 , 17:22 1 minute read

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor has commended the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Kwame Kpekpena for his exemplary leadership, which has significantly strengthened the companys participation in the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) in the energy sector.

He said by ensuring improved transparency, accurate monthly declarations, and the timely remittance of collections, Mr Kpekpena has led ECG to help increase revenue collections, enhanced liquidity across the energy value chain, and a more stable financial position for the sector.

The Minister stated this at a ceremony to honour Mr Kpekpena as the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP) Champion of the Year 2025.

The citation, issued under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the Energy Sector Recovery Programme, commends Ing. Kpekpena for his unwavering commitment to driving financial and operational turnaround within the energy sector, particularly at ECG.

The award acknowledges his strategic direction, discipline, and accountability, which have helped restore confidence and renewed momentum in the implementation of the ESRP agenda.

The citation further highlights Ing. Kpekpenas emphasis on operational integrity, which has ensured ECGs continued reliability as a key revenue allocator within the sector  an achievement widely acknowledged by stakeholders.

For your visionary leadership, relentless pursuit of operational excellence, and decisive contributions to a strengthened financial architecture of the energy sector, you are deservedly honoured as the Energy Sector Recovery Programme Champion of the Year, 2025, the citation stated.
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Aglow holds national thanksgiving service

Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi Dec - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

In a solemn display of faith and national unity, Aglow International Ghana has held a National Thanksgiving Service for the country, offering prayers and praises to God for peace, stability and His continued mercy over the country.

Dubbed Aforebo Kse 2025, the service was held at the State House in Accra on the theme: Let everything that has breath in Ghana praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6).

It attracted members of non-denominational Christian womens fellowships from across the country.

Event

As early as 7 a.m., the members, dressed in national colours, were seen trooping to the State House grounds.

Amid the tooting of vuvuzelas, whistles, horns and the hoisting of miniature national flags, the atmosphere was filled with worship songs, thanksgiving and intercessory prayers as worshippers lifted their voices in praise, thanking God for preserving the country from conflict, instability and disaster.

Also, prayers were said for the President, the Vice-President and other state officials, as well as security agencies, political leaders and traditional authorities.

The National President of Aglow International Ghana, Dr Dorothy Danso, led moments of intercession and declarations, calling for restoration and renewed commitment to godly principles in national life.

She urged believers to remain steadfast in faith and obedience, expressing confidence that the nation would continue to overcome its challenges through prayer and righteousness.

Social cohesion

The National Prayer Director of Aglow International, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, expressed gratitude to God for the peace the country continued to enjoy, describing it as the foundation for national development and social cohesion.

Peace is a priceless national blessing and the foundation for every other good thing, including development, family life and worship, she said.

Mrs Afenyi-Dadzie said the countrys stability was sustained not by human effort alone but by Gods grace and mercy, and thanked Him for holding the nation together.

She also expressed appreciation to God for protecting the country from civil unrest, wars, disasters and external threats.

Sovereignty

A sermon delivered by Bishop Freeman focused on the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humanity to give Him continual praise.

He said God alone was the creator and sustainer of all things, as everything that existed was made by Him and for Him.

God alone is the true and living God, and everything that has breath must praise the Lord, the bishop added.

He encouraged the congregation to live lives of praise and worship, stressing that God delighted in the well-being and prosperity of His people.

The service ended with prayers for unity, peace and divine direction for Ghana as the country looked ahead to the year 2026.
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Asantehene kicks against queenmothers becoming members of House of Chiefs

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Dec - 23 - 2025 , 07:57 3 minutes read

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has kicked against the proposal to include queenmothers as members of the regional and national houses of chiefs.

While recognising the critical role of queen mothers in the selection of chiefs and offering of advice to them, he said, per our customs and traditions, queenmothers play their role privately and not publicly.

Asantemans customs and traditions are that queenmothers have the authority to select chiefs and counsel them privately while the chiefs deliberate and speak publicly on everyones behalf, he stressed.

End-of-year meeting

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was speaking during the end-of-year meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs last Friday, at Manhyia in Kumasi.

As part of the meeting, a Justice of the High Court Judge, Justice Hannah Taylor, officially swore in the Kwamanghene, Nana Debrah Boateng Bediako, to become a full member of the house.

The Asantehenes submission followed a proposal to include queen mothers in the activities of the houses of chiefs as part of amendments to the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759).

He stated that customs and traditions differed from one place to another, emphasising that the culture of Asanteman is entirely different from others, saying, let us not create laws that affect everyone irrespective of the differences in customs and traditions.

Let no one create laws to change our traditions and customs that already exist.

There are others who subscribe to patrilineal, while Asantes are matrilineal. Both must be respected and allowed to operate, he stated.

He said, We respect queen mothers for the pivotal role they play in selecting us. All of us sitting here were selected by queen mothers and our custom is that they advise us behind the scenes and not in the full glare of the public.

Warning

The Asantehene warned against any attempt to change the already established customs and traditions of Asanteman, saying, I will not allow anyone to alter our existing customs and traditions.

He stated that the creation of the houses of chiefs is not part of their culture and that no one should make an attempt to change Asantemans culture, stressing as Asantehene and the occupant of the golden stool, I will cancel any rule made in that regard.

No one should come up with such a rule to include queenmothers in the sittings of the house of chiefs.

I will not allow such a situation to happen as it is at variance with our customs and traditions, he said

Owabi dam encroachment

Reacting to a report by the Lands Commission on encroachment around the Owabi Dam, which supplies water to some parts of the region, he blamed key stakeholders for looking on while such a situation occurred.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu indicated that it was established law that buildings should not be constructed close to water bodies.

Yet, the Lands Commission, the Ghana Water Limited and others sat down to allow it to happen.

He called for strong collaboration between the chiefs in the area and the relevant state institutions in safeguarding the dam, stressing we have to protect the dam for it to continue to supply water to us.
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Big Push agenda will be sustained - President Mahama assures

Kester Aburam Korankye & Biiya Mukusah Ali Dec - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has urged members of the public whose roads were not captured in this years Big Push programme not be worried since the initiative would continue next year.

He said government was committed to its promise to bridge the countrys critical infrastructure deficit to stimulate long-term growth.

He said as a show of commitment, this year alone, road contracts worth GH5 billion were signedto fix deplorable and critical roads under the agenda.

President John Dramani Mahama gave the assurance last Sunday, when he cut the sod for two major road projects in the Bono and Ahafo regions.

He reflected that during the 2024 campaign, amidst boasts of the construction of over 10,000 kilometres of road by the previous government, chiefs and community leaders consistently complained about the deplorable state of their roads.

He stated that this direct experience informed his commitment to the "Big Push" project to construct roads that supported development and boosted economic activities.

Already, groundbreaking ceremonies have been held for the reconstruction of the 117-kilometre stretch from Atimpoku in the Eastern Region to the Volta Region towns of Asikuma through Anyrawasi, Ho and Denu to Aflao.

Also, similar ceremonies have been held for the reconstruction of the Wenchi-Sawla-Wa highway and the Dawhenya Afienya Dodowa road project.

To show commitment to the Big Push agenda, President Mahama at the ceremony in Sunyani, announced that he had directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to release GH1 billion before Christmas to settle debts owed to contractors since 2017.

I have directed the Finance Minister, Dr Ato Forson, to release GH1 billion to settle debts owed to contractors since 2017 before Christmas. All the contractors will be paid, he said, and advised families of relevant deceased contractors to follow up to receive the money.



Roads

The sod-cutting ceremony in Sunyani marked the commencement of two key projects, namely the rehabilitation of the Sunyani-Atronie and Sunyani-Atronie Junction-Acherensua roads, and the construction of the Sunyani Outer Ring Road.

President Mahama cutting the sod for the commencement of the 400-kilometre projects

Key among the roads are the 90-kilometre Wenchi-Nsawkaw-Debibi-Sampa stretch, the 50-kilometre Wenchi-Sawla stretch, and the 32.6-kilometre Techiman-Nkosia-Wenchi stretch.

Others are the 48-kilometre Sunyani-Atronie-Acherensua road, the 80-kilometre Jinijini-Sampa road, the 19-kilometre Bediako Junction-Sefwi-Adabokro stretch, the 39-kilometre Tapa-Goaso road, and the 34-kilometre Sunyani Outer Ring Road project.

Infrastructure deficit

He said statistics from the World Bank suggested that the country had an infrastructure deficit of $1.5 billion annually.

President Mahama said his administration consequently rolled out the Big Push programme to invest $1.5 billion in infrastructure every year to bridge the infrastructure gap.

He said roads played a crucial role in the development of a country, explaining that when a country had good roads and railways, it facilitated smooth movement, which helped to improve economic activities.

President Mahama expressed the governments commitment to continue all inherited projects.

Accountability

The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, who graced the events, called on the President to fulfil all his campaign promises.

He specifically urged the President to honour his commitment to sign the Anti-LGBTQ Bill when it was eventually presented to him by Parliament.

The Dormaahene also addressed the controversy surrounding the National Cathedral expenditure, demanding a re-evaluation of the project and prosecutions where necessary.

"As for that hole created, we don't understand because we voted for you to fight corruption," he stated.

Furthermore, the Dormaahene directly advised the contractors on the projects to use quality materials to ensure the roads were well-constructed and durable.

Quality assurance

In response, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, gave an assurance that the contractors would deliver the projects within the two-year timeframe.

The minister acknowledged the initial concerns about the level of equipment on the Outer Ring Road site and promised a major mobilisation to the site after Christmas.

He also confirmed the President's directive to immediately commence work on other requested roads in the area.

Mr Agbodza emphasised the government's unprecedented investment in roads and issued a stern warning to the contractors, Messrs Alexiboam and Kofi Job Co. Ltd, stating that the government would not accept substandard work.

"We cannot allow ourselves to spend this money on roads that fail in six months.

It will not happen under your watch," the minister said, reiterating the President's directive that the calibre of contractors and materials must match the financial investment.

The projects are expected to significantly improve travel time and comfort, ease the movement of goods, and stimulate economic growth in the beneficiary regions.
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Extend presidential term to 5 years: Constitution Review Committee proposes - Calls for fixed campaign period

Kester Aburam Korankye Dec - 23 - 2025 , 12:38 5 minutes read

The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has presented a set of far-reaching reform proposals to President John Dramani Mahama, key among them being the extension of the presidential term of office from four to five years.

The committee, led by its Chairman, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, argued that the current four-year term was "too short" and below the global and regional norm.

The proposal is coupled with a recommendation to establish a definite, legally bounded campaign season to curb perpetual electioneering and allow governments more time to govern.

Rationale

Presenting a summary of the committee's report at the Presidency yesterday, Prof. Prempeh explained that the recommendations were aimed at enhancing governance and allowing elected officials to focus on their core duties.

"The President takes about six months or so to set up, and then one year campaigning and all of that," Prof. Prempeh stated.

"So we thought, okay, so if we then followed the example of other countries in Africa where there is a definite campaign period, before which you cannot do electioneering," he said.

He likened the proposed system to a "fishing season", where campaigning would only be permitted within a specified window.

"You have to open it before you can go fishing," he said. This, the committee believes, would "free up time for governing" and end the cycle of "four-year campaigns, he said.

On the extension of the term, Prof. Prempeh said Ghana and Nigeria currently had the shortest terms in the region.

"We're proposing an extension by one more year," he said, following recommendations from "eminent persons," including former heads of state.

Fighting corruption

The committee also proposed significant changes to the fight against corruption and the structure of the Office of the Attorney-General.

Due to the political nature of the appointment, the committee recommended the creation of an independent Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to handle prosecutions, particularly in cases of political corruption.

We want to take some of the Attorney-Generals powers, so that work will be done by some other body, Prof. Prempeh said.

The commission would be formed by merging some existing agencies, allowing the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to focus solely on human rights issues.

On the sensitive issue of integrating traditional authorities (chiefs) into local government structures at the town and village level, the committee described it as a radical transformation that required more dialogue.

Therefore, the matter has been deferred to a proposed Devolution Commission to engage with the National House of Chiefs and the government to fashion modalities.

It wasn't an attempt to kick the can down the road, Prof. Prempeh clarified, but we believe that some of these decisions need a little bit more deliberation and more thought.

Implementation

President Mahama commended members of the committee for their integrity and non-partisan work, which he believed would foster national consensus on proposed amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

The President emphasised the careful selection of the committee to build public trust and avoid the pitfalls of previous unsuccessful review attempts.

We said, let's choose the committee very carefully, so that when the report comes out, it would be non-partisan; it would not have been influenced by any political interest, to make it easier for all of us to come together and move the process forward, President Mahama stated.

He acknowledged the durability and service of the 1992 Constitution but added that a time comes for adjustments to ensure its relevance for the future.

The committee had the opportunity to give me a presentation of some of their recommendations before. So I'm not as shocked as some of you who are sitting here, who are here for the first time, he added, hinting at the significant nature of the proposals.

The President described many of the recommendations as quite revolutionary and quite radical, but stressed that they are in the interest of deepening Ghanas democracy, especially at a time of democratic backsliding in the sub-region.

All the Afrobarometer reports show that a lot of our citizens are beginning to lose faith in our democracy. And that is why it is important for us to let them know that democratic governance is still better than any other form of governance, he argued, cautioning against the romanticism of military governments.

Providing a notable example from the report, President Mahama revealed that a key recommendation aimed at enhancing governance credibility involved granting the Council of State a bigger role in certain presidential appointments.

Of course, the President will still sign the appointment letters, but the Council of State will go through the process of identifying the persons to be appointed, he explained.

He announced that the committee members, after a well-deserved rest over the Christmas period, would be called upon early next year to form a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to ensure institutional memory was retained.

Early next year, I will announce an implementation committee; we'll move from the Constitutional Review process into the implementation process, he said.

For now, the report will be studied and handed over to the Attorney-General and the legal council for scrutiny and synchronisation of views, the President stated.

The President also indicated that a decision would be taken on a date to publish the summary report for public awareness while awaiting the final detailed copy.

In his closing remarks, President Mahama expressed profound gratitude to the committee on behalf of Ghanaians.

You have done a great service to our nation, and you can be proud of yourselves, he said.
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Margins Group hands over refurbished Kinbu Triangle landmark project

Daily Graphic Dec - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

Margins ID Group, in partnership with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, has unveiled the Kinbu Triangle green landmark project, completing the urban regeneration project in 30 days.

The initiative, inaugurated last Friday (19th December 2025), addresses urban heat, environmental degradation and pedestrian safety along one of Accras busiest commercial corridors.

The climate-resilient space features native, drought-resistant landscaping and pedestrian-friendly design elements aimed at reducing ambient temperatures and enhancing the urban experience for surrounding schools, offices, businesses and hospitality facilities.

At the short ceremony to unveil the project, the Chief Executive Officer of Margins ID Group, Moses Baiden Jnr, said the project reflected the companys belief that national development must extend beyond digital systems into the physical spaces people inhabit.

He stated that Margins ID Group is headquartered in the Octagon, directly opposite the site, together with its subsidiaries, Margins ID Systems Applications Limited and special purpose vehicles, IMS and IMS II, while the mayors office is located just behind the building.

Mr Baiden further explained that the Kinbu Triangle redevelopment, delivered as part of the companys 35th anniversary corporate social responsibility initiatives, was driven by proximity to the site and a shared responsibility to improve the immediate environment.

He said the project was also inspired by Margins ID Groups commitment to contributing to society through Sustainable Development Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 16.9 on Legal Identity for All.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Margins ID Group, Kwesi Baiden, emphasised the importance of publicprivate partnership in urban development, noting that while the private sector often had strong ideas, it was only through collaboration with the public sector that the ideas could be successfully implemented to create well-planned, liveable cities.

He also highlighted the innovative features incorporated to ensure sustainability, explaining that the Kinbu Triangle includes an in-built automatic irrigation system, solar lighting powered by 300-watt panels, and CCTV installations to enhance security.

He called on city authorities and the public to exercise civic responsibility in protecting the facility, stressing that while the private sector can invest and monitor, enforcement requires the support of city authorities and the collective effort of the public when infractions are identified.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, welcomed the project as a meaningful contribution to the capital and commended Margins Group for delivering an innovative and impactful intervention, describing it as one of the best Christmas gifts an institution could give to the city.

Korle Klottey Municipal Chief Executive, Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, praised the speed of execution, noting that what was expected to take about three months was delivered in under a month, and urged other corporate institutions to emulate Margins by partnering with local authorities to support urban renewal, environmental sustainability and well-maintained public spaces.
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Parliament will not pass law to fetter press freedoms - Speaker assures GJA

Nana Konadu Agyeman Dec - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has assured the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) of the readiness of the legislature to take a critical look at the enactment of the Electronic Communication Act Amendment Bill.

He said the House would never pass any law that would be a fetter to the press freedoms that had been so guaranteed in the Constitution.

We know what is happening in other countries and we know how they are clawing back the progress that those countries have made. We do not want to go that way, the Speaker added.

The bill, which was passed by Parliament recently, is to provide for the regulation of electronic communications and broadcasting, the use of the electromagnetic spectrum and other related matters.

Responsible media

Addressing a media soiree and recognition awards ceremony in Parliament last Saturday, Mr Bagbin acknowledged that the health of every society and democracy depended on the responsibility not only of the media, but also of us who use the words.

We must also exercise our freedom responsibly because if you use responsible words, if you use decent language, the press will follow suit.

They will not misreport because any person misreporting is not a media person, as the person will have entered into a different field, not journalism, he said.

The Speaker further assured the GJA and the Parliamentary Press Corp of Parliament to facilitate the process for them to get consultancy for us to put a bill together to work on as a country.

We need it urgently, particularly so when we are now trying to improve on the 1992 Constitution that has served its purpose; it is now time to make a change, he said.

Stifling laws

The Speakers assurance came after the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dumfuor, called on Parliament to protect media freedoms.

We want to remind Parliament of its constitutional duty to protect the freedom of expression and media freedom and we want to urge Parliament through your good office to resist laws and regulations that stifle free speech, he said.

Mr Dumfuour particularly pointed out aspects of the Electronic Communications legislation being used against journalists, saying, it is being used in place of the criminal libel act, which was repealed about 20 years ago.

He, therefore, entreated the Office of the Speaker to either review the bill, repeal it, or clearly state the purpose for which the bill was passed and how it was being applied.

Award winners

During the ceremony, awards were bestowed on members of the Parliamentary Press Corps for their distinguished output.

They included Elsie Appiah-Osei, Chief Reporter of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) - Best Online Parliamentary Reporter; Rachel Quartey of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) - Best TV Parliamentary Reporter; Ernest Kofi Edu of the Daily Guide, Best Parliamentary Reporter (Print); Kwaku Asante of Joy FM - Best Radio Parliamentary Reporter (English), and Emmanuel Akorli of Peace FM - Best Radio Reporter (Twi).

Others were Paul Egbenya of Channel One Television - Best Parliamentary Cameraman; Frank Bruce of Odikro Media - Best Social Media Parliamentary Reporter, with Awudu Mahama and Ahmed Osmanu Alid receiving long service awards.
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Supreme Court affirms Alpha Beta schools title to Akokorfoto lands

Daily Graphic Dec - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Alpha Beta Education Centres Limited holds a valid title to parcels of land at DansomanAkokorfoto in Accra, bringing to a close a land dispute that began in 2014.

The judgment, delivered last Wednesday, affirmed a July 2024 decision of the Court of Appeal, which ordered recovery of possession of the land, and granted a perpetual injunction against the defendants and their agents.

The five-member panel of the apex court was presided over by Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, with Justices Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, and Yaw Darko Asare as members.

The Business Development Manager of Alpha Beta Education Centres Ltd, John Adjepong, said the decision had conclusively settled ownership of the disputed parcels and provided legal certainty for the institutions long-term planning and development.

Reacting to the judgment, Co-Founder of Alpha Beta Education Centres Ltd, Rev. Sammy Adjepong, expressed gratitude to God and reaffirmed the institutions values.

We give all glory to God, the righteous Judge of all the earth.

This unanimous decision brings to a close a long and testing journey that began in 2014.

Throughout this period, we remained guided by integrity, patience, discipline, and respect for the rule of law, he said.

Rev. Adjepong noted that the judgment was more than a legal victory.

This ruling is a testament to faith, patience, and respect for due process. We are grateful to the Supreme Court for upholding justice and to all who stood with us in prayer and perseverance.

He added that the ruling safeguarded the schools mission and ethos.

Alpha Beta Education Centres is founded on strong moral and academic values  excellence, discipline, fairness, and the holistic development of the child.

This judgment allows us to continue serving students and families with stability, transparency, and a deep sense of responsibility to society, the Co-Founder of Alpha Beta said.

The institution noted that the decision also underscored the importance of legal certainty in protecting educational investments, enabling schools to plan, innovate and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Alpha Beta Education Centres Limited, established in 1988 and offering the Cambridge and Pearson programmes, reaffirmed its commitment to quality education as it continues to prepare future leaders for the country and beyond.
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Vehicle Embossment Association files injunction at high court to restrain DVLA over planned rollout of new vehicle number plates

Joyce Timbillah Awuni Dec - 23 - 2025 , 18:20 3 minutes read

The Vehicle Embossment Association of Ghana (VEMAG) has filed an injunction at the High Court in Accra asking that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), should be restrained from rolling out digital or any new vehicle number plate registration system beginning January 2026.

The suit was filed by BEMENCO Embossment Ltd and 26 other plaintiffs, all members of the Vehicle Embossment Association of Ghana (VEMAG).

The injunction application was filed at the High Court on Monday (December 22, 2025), asking that the DVLA should be restrained from introducing digitalised vehicle number plates or any new registration plates until the court determines the merits of the case.

They are also asking that the DVLA should be prevented from implementing any alternative arrangement for the embossment and supply of vehicle number plates outside the existing framework involving the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs are arguing that DVLA had awarded both manufacturing and embossment contracts to a single entity, an act which they termed as unprecedented and contrary to established practice.

The VEMAG is seeking an order compelling the DVLA to continue engaging licensed embossers for 2026 and beyond.

VEMAG is also asking for costs, including solicitors fees, and any further reliefs the court may deem fit.

They also seek several reliefs from the court, including declarations that the DVLA's refusal to allocate blank registration plates for 2026 is unlawful and a breach of contract.

They further allege that on October 27, 2025, the DVLA Chief Executive Officer informed members of the plaintiff association at a meeting that the Authority had awarded the contract for both the manufacture and embossment of number plates to one individual, Dr Nyarko Esumadu Appiah of Original Manufacturing and Embossment, also known as Daasebre.

According to VEMAG the DVLA still owes some of their members arrears for plates already produced.

Alleged breach

VEMAG is arguing that the approvals granted by the DVLA, coupled with the consistent conduct of both parties over three decades, amounted to an enforceable contract for the embossment of vehicle number plates.

They contend that the DVLA has neither revoked nor withdrawn those approvals, yet has refused to allocate blank registration plates for the 2026 production cycle.

They say that by this time of the year, production for the following year would normally have been completed, ensuring a smooth transition into the new year.

However, the DVLA's failure to make allocations has, according to them, created uncertainty and disrupted established processes.

VEMAG also arguing that DVLA had not been transparent in its approach in rolling out the new digital number plates. They also said the current DVLA management has been unwilling to continue consultations, despite assurances previously given to embossers to prepare for the digital transition.

They also allege that the DVLA did not advertise for tenders nor obtain approval from the Public Procurement Authority to sole-source the contract, thereby violating the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

They described the decision as illegal, discriminatory and an abuse of administrative authority, particularly in overlooking dozens of Ghanaian-owned companies that have invested heavily in the sector.

Impact

The plaintiffs warned that the DVLA's actions could have severe socio-economic consequences.

They stated that members of the association collectively employed over 3,000 workers across the country and that disengaging them abruptly would jeopardise livelihoods nationwide.

They also expressed concern that the public could be inconvenienced at the start of the year if the DVLA is unable to register vehicles and issue plates due to the injunction.

VEMAG states that as part of the approval process, members were required to acquire specialised embossment equipment that met DVLA specifications, at costs ranging between GHc70,000 and GH 1 million per unit.

They further claim that over the years, the embossers have pre-financed the production of vehicle number plates, producing and supplying plates to the DVLA, which sells them before settling payments to the embossers.
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Korle Bu Mortuary: 320 unclaimed bodies set for mass burial

GraphicOnline Dec - 23 - 2025 , 20:00 1 minute read

The management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has announced a planned mass burial for approximately 320 unclaimed bodies, as its mortuary has reached full capacity.

In a press release issued on Monday, December 22, the hospital stated the action is necessary because the "Hospital Mortuary is currently congested and has reached full capacity."

The hospital is urging relatives to come forward within a strict 21-day window. "Relatives, next of kin, or any persons with interest in any of the bodies are requested to contact the Management of KBTH within twenty-one (21) days of this notice, on or before 18th January 2026, to make the necessary arrangements," the release directed.

The exercise will be conducted "in accordance with approved procedures and relevant regulations" and in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

This announcement highlights a persistent and grim challenge for Ghana's largest referral hospital, which periodically must clear its mortuary facilities of unknown, unidentified, and unclaimed bodies.

The significant figure of 320 bodies underscores the scale of the issue, often attributed to factors including unidentified accident victims, abandoned corpses, and families unable to afford burial costs.

The hospital's management concluded the notice with an appeal "for public understanding and cooperation."
School Feeding Programme trains new caterers to improve meals in Volta, Oti and Bono

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President Mahama pledges to build Ghana that works for all in Christmas message to Ghanaians

Mohammed Ali Dec - 23 - 2025 , 11:32 1 minute read

President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians of plans to revive the economy and improve living conditions in his first Christmas message since returning to office.

In a Christmas message released on December 23, 2025, the President thanked citizens for the trust placed in his government and outlined the priorities of what he described as the "Resetting Ghana Agenda."

President Mahama said his administration would work to place the country on a path of growth, job creation, accountability and improved livelihoods.

We are pursuing the Resetting Ghana Agenda to place Ghana on a path of growth, job creation, accountability and prosperity, President Mahama said in the message, which carried the presidential seal and Christmas decorations.

He outlined areas his government intends to address, including efforts to revive the economy, complete stalled infrastructure projects and expand infrastructure across the country. He said the aim was to build a Ghana which works for all citizens.

As we work together to revive the economy, complete stalled projects and expand infrastructure, let us draw inspiration from the hope Christmas brings, the President said.
Next article: VIDEO: Abu Trica's first day in court in Ghana over $8m romance scam amidst tight security

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Meet Rebecca Ahafianyo, the 25-year-old female breaking barriers with passion and purpose as a forklift and heavy-duty equipment operator

Benjamin Xornam Glover Dec - 23 - 2025 , 17:05 3 minutes read

Born on June 21, 2000, Rebecca Ahafianyo represents a new generation of Ghanaian women boldly stepping into traditionally male-dominated professions with confidence, discipline, and vision.

Her journey is one defined by passion, perseverance, and an unwavering belief that ability, not gender, determines success.

Rebecca completed her Senior High School education at Hohoe E.P. SHS in 2017, and, like many young people, she initially explored other livelihood options, engaging in mobile money transactions in Ashaiman to support herself.

However, beneath this everyday work was a deeper ambition. From a young age, Rebecca had a strong fascination with heavy-duty equipment, particularly forklifts and mobile cranesmachines many would not associate with women.

In an interview, she said driven by curiosity and determination, she spent time surfing the Internet researching equipment operations online, learning about the industry long before she formally enrolled in the forklift and mobile crane training programme, a short course organised by the National Association for Heavy-Duty Equipment Operators, Ghana (NAHEOG), in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University (RMU).

Ms Ahafianyo said the self-initiated learning was born purely out of passion. It was something I really loved, so I went on the internet to know more about the equipment before coming to learn it, she said.

Ms. Ahafianyo said her desire to turn interest into expertise led her to enroll in the eleven-week training programme at the campus of RMU, where she undertook professional training in forklift and mobile equipment operations.

She said from the moment she arrived as a fresh student, she made up her mind backed by discipline, focus, and commitment to excel.

Best student

Her hard work paid off when she emerged as the Best Graduating Student in the Mobile Crane Operator programme.

Standing before dignitaries, instructors, family, and fellow graduates during her graduation, Rebecca delivered a valedictory speech, one that highlighted not only her personal journey but also the importance of safety, professionalism, and lifelong learning in heavy-duty operations.

Safety is not just a requirement; it is a sacred commitmentto oneself and to colleagues, she emphasized, underscoring the values that define her approach to work.

Rebecca, who strongly advocates for womens inclusion in technical and industrial fields, said she firmly believes that heavy-duty equipment operation was not solely for men.

She advised young ladies to develop their passion and go after their dreams. If you have the passion, do not limit yourself. Put your hands to it, and everything will fall into place, she said

She expressed appreciation to her family, especially her parents, Prosper Yaw Ahafianyo and mother, Mary Mordey, and her only sister, for remaining an important anchor in her life.

Ambition

For Rebecca, her ambitions were far from complete, she hinted that she would like to upgrade her skills as a mobile crane operator in the near future and was open to any form of sponsorship or support that would enable her to advance further.

"My long-term goal is to master new equipment technologies and contribute meaningfully to Ghanas industrial and logistics sectors." She said.

And for such an exceptional display of excellence and dexterity that saw her emerge as the best student in mobile crane operation during the course, the management of Rahamabros Enterprise, a crane and shipping service business, through their Chief Executive,

Mohammed Salifu offered the young lady job opportunity.

Alhaji Salifu explained that it was rare to find women in the sector and expressed optimism that the gesture would inspire more young ladies to pursue training and become professional crane operators.

In Rebecca Ahafianyo, society finds more than a skilled equipment operator; it finds a role model, one whose story proves that passion, preparation, and courage can redefine limits and inspire a new generation to dream boldly.
Next article: President Mahama pledges to build Ghana that works for all in Christmas message to Ghanaians

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Pope accepts Bishop Mantes resignation, names UCC lecturer to lead Jasikan Diocese

GraphicOnline Dec - 23 - 2025 , 11:57 2 minutes read

The Vatican has announced the resignation of the Bishop of Jasikan, Most Reverend Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante, and the appointment of Reverend Simon Kofi Appiah as his successor.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Holy See through Agenzia Fides, it said Pope Leo XIV had accepted Bishop Mantes resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Jasikan.

At the same time, the Pope appointed Reverend Appiah, who until now was a lecturer at the Department of Religion and Human Values of the University of Cape Coast, as the new Bishop of Jasikan.

Reverend Appiah is a priest of the Diocese of Jasikan with extensive academic and pastoral experience. He was born on July 1, 1964, in Teteman and undertook his philosophical and theological formation at Saint Peters Regional Seminary in Pedu, Cape Coast. He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1990, for the then Diocese of Keta Ho and was later incardinated into the Diocese of Jasikan following its creation in 1994.

His early pastoral ministry included service as a parish vicar in the communities of Kpedze, Vakpo and Kadjebi between 1990 and 1995. He later pursued advanced studies in Europe, attending the Universitat Tubingen in Germany from 1995 to 2001, where he obtained a doctorate in theological ethics. He also earned a postgraduate diploma in psychology from the University of London and a diploma in teaching higher education from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.

Upon returning to Ghana, Reverend Appiah served in several key diocesan roles, including formator at the Saint Patrick Formation House, diocesan chancellor and director of the diocesan Office for the Pastoral Care of Vocations. He also worked as a pastoral collaborator in the parish of Kadjebi for several years.

Since 2011, he has been a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast and at the major seminary in Pedu, contributing to the formation of future clergy and the academic study of religion and ethics in Ghana.

His appointment as Bishop of Jasikan places him at the helm of a diocese located in the Oti Region, where he is expected to build on his pastoral experience and academic background to lead the local Catholic community.
Wontumi's lawyer questions why Attorney-General has not named EXIM Bank officials in the said Wontumi Farms loan case

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Unguarded guards: - The ordeal of Ghanas forest guards

Timothy Ngnenbe Dec - 23 - 2025 , 14:34 6 minutes read

When 26-year-old Sulemana Fuseini Ziama set out for the Offin Shelter Forest Reserve on that fateful day with 23 other members of the Forest Commissions Rapid Response Team (RRT) to clamp down on illegal mining activities, he was in high spirit because it was a national duty worth embarking on.

The native of Nadowli-Kaleo in the Upper West Region knew that he had the arduous responsibility to protect the countrys forest reserves from destruction in the hands of illegal miners and other environmental criminals. Little did he know that he would become prey to the predatory illegal miners.

Having been recruited as a Forest Commission staff at the Bole Bamboi District in December, 2022, Mr Ziama was given special training to serve in the RRT, a special unit of the Commission responsible for routine surveillance and safeguarding forest reserves from illegal activities. He was subsequently deployed to the Nkawie Forest District in 2024 to guard forest reserves.

Narrating events of the day in an interview with the Daily Graphic on December 11, this year, Mr Ziamah said on March 22, this year, the RRT was deployed to Mmofra Mfa Adwene in the Nkawie District to monitor illegal human activities in the Offin Shelter Forest Reserve when he was attacked and nearly lynched by the illegal miners.

26-year-old Sulemana Fuseini Ziama battling for his life on the hospital bed after attacks by illegal miners.

When we got to the forest reserve, we raelised that illegal mining was ongoing. As we tried to get to where the illegal miners were, we were ambushed by gunmen who blocked the road. When stopped, we realised that they were 10 in number; but all of a sudden, about 20 others emerged from the bushes. As we tried to make a tactical retreat, three of them attacked me and cut my knee with machetes, he said.

Although Mr Ziama narrowly survived the deadly attack, he is still battling for his life nine months after undergoing critical medical attention, including two surgeries, at multiple health facilities.

I was first sent to the Nkawie Hospital and later moved to the Komfo Anokhye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. I went through the first surgery on March 23, 2025 and the second surgery was done four days later, he narrated.

Mr Ziama said although his condition had improved, he still felt unbearable pain in his leg, making it difficult for him to freely move around.

I am still going through physiotherapy at the Holy Family Hospital; and my doctor said it will take me at least one more year to be able to walk well. Life is really terrible for me now because I can no longer do the things I did, he added.

Aside from his physical condition, Mr Ziamah is battling with psychological trauma as events of that fateful day keep playing back in his mind.

Nightmares

Sharing his field experiences with the Daily Graphic, Mr Ziama said anytime members of the RRT set out for the field, there was no guarantee that they would return safe. He explained that illegal miners and loggers had sophisticated weapons and were trigger thirsty.

They have informants so anytime we move out for field operations, they know all our movements because they have people in nearby communities who give them information. The illegal miners also hire the services of armed guards to protect them while they destroy the forest, he said.

He added that sometimes, when the RRT arrested criminals in forest reserves and was transporting them to towns for action to be taken against them, vehicles breakdown, exposing the team to attacks.

Wider picture

Meanwhile, the Nkawie District Manager of the Forestry Commission, Abraham Essel, said the ordeal of Mr Ziama was just one of the numerous traumatising challenges forest guards go through in the line of duty.

Our forest guards come under attacks and receive threats and abuse from thugs all the time. I have personally met such confrontations by thugs in forest reserves, and it gets so scary, he said.

As of December 2025, the Forestry Commissions data showed that at least 10 of its officers have lost their lives in direct confrontations with illegal miners over the past five years.

Mr Sulemana Fuseini Ziama being transported to the hospital after he was attacked by illegal miners.

One of the most widely reported incidents occurred in January 2022, when a Forestry Commission guard, Stephen Kumi, was shot and killed by suspected illegal miners in the Neung Forest Reserve in the Western North Region.

Another significant event took place in August 2021, where a forestry guard was severely injured after being attacked by illegal miners in the Atewa Forest Reserve.

In October 2023, a team of Forestry Commission officers and military personnel on an anti-galamsey operation in the Atewa Forest Reserve were ambushed by illegal miners and inflicted with machete injuries

Earlier that same year, a similar attack occurred in the Western Region, where Forestry Commission officers attempting to halt illegal logging were attacked by thugs wielding machetes and other weapons.

Mr Essel said it was worrying that while the Forestry Commission was trying its best to protect the forest reserves with limited resources, the miscreants perpetrating crimes were getting more complicated in their mode of operation.

The emotional and psychological toll on the remaining officers and their families is also immense, often leading to low morale and a reluctance to engage in high-risk operations, he added.

Resource the guards

Mr Essel said there was the urgent need for the government to provide more resources and build the capacity of forest guards to be able to deal with the thuggery associated with galamsey. At this point, we need body cameras to capture images that showcase the scale of these illegalities in our forest reserves for appropriate action to be taken, he added.

Again, he said it was important for the government to consider setting up permanent military bases in hotspot areas to tighten the noose on the galamsey fight.

Mr Essel also stressed that there was the need for sustained education in local communities for the people to understand the destruction of forest reserves by illegal miners affects everyone, so there was the need for collective action to stem the tides.

When they get this understanding and support us, no illegal miner can enter any forest reserve in this country and destroy it, he said.

No insurance

Meanwhile, the Daily Graphics checks with the Forestry Commission revealed that there is currently no form of insurance package for members of the RRT and the forest guards who risk their lives to protect forest reserves.

The Chief Executive of the Commission, Dr Hugh Brown, explained that discussions were ongoing on the possibility of rolling out an insurance package for the forest guards.

Dr Hugh C.A Brown, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission.

Our major challenge is the huge amount involved in rolling out the insurance package. We have about 2,100 forest and wildlife guards. Initially, we were looking at only the RRT but we also realised that we cannot do it for only members of the RRT and leave out the forest guards who are permanently protecting the reserves, he said.

The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Security and Counterterrorism, Emmanuel Mawanye Kotin, said the recurring attacks on forest guards underscored a significant security failure stemming from an insufficient political commitment.

When forest guards confront armed gangs with superior weaponry, it reflects an asymmetric conflict and a lack of effective state intervention, he stressed.
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Wontumi's lawyer questions why Attorney-General has not named EXIM Bank officials in the said Wontumi Farms loan case

Mohammed Ali Dec - 23 - 2025 , 16:51 4 minutes read

The lawyer for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has questioned why officials of EXIM Bank Ghana have not been named in the said GH24 million loan fraud case mentioned by the Attorney-General at a press conference in Accra on Monday, which he said involved Wontumi Farms.

Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, a former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North and counsel for Chairman Wontumi, said the bank should bear greater responsibility for the transaction than his clients company.

Speaking in an inteview with JoyNews on Tuesday [December 22, 2025], Mr Appiah-Kubi criticised the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, for publicly naming Chairman Wontumi and mentioning his political affiliation while leaving out the identities of EXIM Bank officials who approved and released the loan.

I did not hear them mention the personal names of any of the people in EXIM who took part in this transaction, and I was surprised, Mr Appiah-Kubi said. Why are we going beyond that to announce the name of Chairman Wontumi and even the political party he belongs to?

He questioned whether the officials involved were nameless, adding, So those people in EXIM, they do not belong to political parties or they do not have names?

Mr Appiah-Kubi argued that EXIM Bank officials should share responsibility for the alleged fraud, saying the bank continued to disburse funds even after discovering that Wontumi Farms had not submitted proof of equipment purchases.

I see EXIM Bank as more blameworthy than my client, even if there is any allegation at all, he said. This could not have happened if people in the bank did not have an interest in what was going on. So where are the other accused persons?

Earlier on Monday, Dr Ayine announced at Jubilee House at a press conference that dubbed Government Accountability Series that Chairman Wontumi would be charged with defrauding by false pretences after Christmas. He also disclosed that the state had frozen a GH15 million account belonging to an insurance company linked to Chairman Wontumi.

The Attorney General accused Wontumi Farms of submitting a forged GH4 million receipt to EXIM Bank and applying for the loan in 2017 to cultivate maize on 100,000 acres before the company was registered.

Mr Appiah-Kubi disputed reports circulating on social media suggesting the loan was denominated in dollars. The amount involved is GH18.7 million, not dollars, he said. He added that the transaction was between EXIM Bank and Wontumi Farms as corporate bodies and not between individuals.

He raised concerns about the banks internal processes and questioned whether officials failed in their supervisory duties.

Mr Appiah-Kubi said EXIM Bank had engaged a consultant to supervise the project, including procurement of equipment and logistics, but later altered the arrangement. The consultant was expected to handle the procurement of most of the equipment and logistics, he explained.

He added, Even after the Attorney General said EXIM Bank had confirmed that Wontumi Farms did not submit proof of equipment purchases, money was still released. So who is responsible for this?

On the allegation that the loan application predated the companys registration, Mr Appiah-Kubi said the law allows pre-incorporation transactions. Promoters are allowed to enter into transactions before a company is incorporated, he said. There is no offence in that.

Mr Appiah-Kubi, who described Dr Ayine as his former lecturer at the University of Ghana Law Faculty, called for the matter to be treated without political references. Let us maintain the identity of the parties as EXIM Bank and Wontumi Farms, he said. There is no need to bring in political parties.

He said he would wait for the charge sheet before presenting a full defence in court, adding that his duty would be to test the evidence presented by the Attorney General against the required standard of proof.

The case has also drawn comment from legal circles. A former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Mr Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has questioned the decision to announce charges publicly before filing them in court.

If he has a case and an arguable one, he should go to court, Mr Ansa-Asare said on the same programme. The media is not the court. If he is not ready, he should keep quiet.
Cap membership of Parliament - Constitution Review Committee recommends

Delali Sika Politics Dec - 23 - 2025 , 13:41 3 minutes read

The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has recommended that the size of Ghanas Parliament be capped at its current level as part of sweeping reforms aimed at reducing the cost of governance and strengthening representative democracy.

The Committee explained that, the continuous expansion of Parliament over the years has placed a growing financial burden on the state without a corresponding improvement in legislative efficiency or representation.

The Committee recommends that the size of Parliament should be capped at the current number to prevent further expansion and the associated fiscal strain on the public purse, the report stated.

It explained that Ghanas population growth and the creation of new constituencies had often been used to justify an increase in the number of Members of Parliament (MPs), but said that such expansions had significant implications for public expenditure, including salaries, allowances, infrastructure, and administrative costs.

The recommendation forms part of the CRCs broader proposals under Parliament and Representative Democracy contained in its report titled Transforming Ghana: From Electoral Democracy to Developmental Democracy, which was presented to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday.

Reforms

In addition to capping the size of Parliament, the Committee proposed reforms to improve inclusion and accountability within the legislative arm of government.

Among these is a recommendation for Ghana to study and consider the introduction of a proportional representation system to complement the current constituency-based model.

The Committee is of the view that proportional representation has the potential to improve inclusiveness, particularly for women, persons with disability, minorities, and smaller political groupings, the report said.

The CRC further called for stronger internal independence of Parliament from excessive party control, stressing that lawmakers should be empowered to exercise oversight and legislative functions without undue partisan pressure.

Parliament must be enabled to operate as an independent arm of government, capable of holding the Executive to account in the national interest, the report said.

The Committee also recommended extending the term of Parliament from four to five years and aligning parliamentary elections with presidential polls. It argued that such alignment would reduce election-related costs and minimise disruptions to governance caused by frequent electoral cycles.

Aligning parliamentary and presidential terms to five years will enhance policy continuity, reduce election fatigue, and promote more effective national planning," the report said.

Political participation

On political participation, the CRC proposed allowing dual citizens by birth to contest parliamentary elections, describing the current restrictions as discriminatory and inconsistent with Ghanas democratic values.

The exclusion of dual citizens by birth from parliamentary contests unjustifiably limits political participation and deprives the nation of valuable human capital, the Committee observed.

The Committee argued that unchecked expansion of Parliament undermines efficiency and public confidence in the legislature.

"A continuously increasing Parliament, without corresponding improvements in productivity and accountability, imposes a significant financial burden on the state.

The report also called for guaranteed public participation in the lawmaking process and the formalisation of private members bills to strengthen citizen engagement and legislative innovation.

The CRCs recommendations are expected to undergo further consideration by government and other stakeholders, with some proposals requiring constitutional amendments and, potentially, a national referendum.
See full report of H. Kwasi Prempeh's Constitutional Review Committee proposing extension of presidential term from 4 to 5 years

Next article: See full report of H. Kwasi Prempeh's Constitutional Review Committee proposing extension of presidential term from 4 to 5 years

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Parliament approves GH357.1bn for 2026 budget

Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Dec - 23 - 2025 , 07:57 2 minutes read

Parliament last Friday approved the Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2025, paving the way for the government to withdraw GH357.10 billion from the Consolidated Fund and other public funds effective January 1, next year, to meet government expenditure for the next financial year.

The budget will also allocate GH90.76 billion for the compensation of employees, GH81.42 billion for the payment of wages and salaries, GH4.55 billion for social security, GH3.65 billion for pensions and GH1.14 billion for gratuities.

For the use of goods and services, the bill will allocate GH13.16 billion, with GH57.71 billion earmarked for interest payments.

This comprises GH7.61 billion for external interest and GH50.10 billion for domestic interest.

For grants to other government units, the bill will allocate a total of GH63.55 billion, comprising GH11.27 billion to the National Health Insurance Fund, GH9.87 billion to the Ghana Education Trust Fund, GH3 billion to the Road Maintenance Fund, GH33.80 million to the Energy Fund and GH8.77 billion to the District Assemblies Common Fund.

Besides, the bill will also earmark GH18.18 billion to the Internally Generated Fund and transfer from the oil revenue GH2.63 billion to the National Oil Company, with GH57.52 billion allocated for capital expenditure.

Prior to the approval of the bill, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, told the House that, unlike the previous administration, the current government, under President John Dramani Mahama, had been more prudent and made significant economic progress as compared with the previous administration.

He explained that the decision by the government to purchase a new presidential jet, which was condemned by the Minority Caucus in Parliament, was justifiable and a sign of prudent economic management.

The cost of buying is equivalent to the cost of two years of renting aircraft by the previous administration, Dr Forson stated.

No BoG borrowing

The minister argued that under the Appropriation Bill, 2025, the government would not be borrowing from the Bank of Ghana.

He said the government would have to service an amount of $710-million-euro bond debt that the country owed under the previous administration.

Mr Speaker, let me also place on record that in this budget, we are provisioning to spend GH28.9 billion for the services of the country, he said, pointing out that 2025 remained a good fiscal year.

Next year will even be better for the people of Ghana, Dr Forson added.

Release funds

Countering, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, described the GH357.1 billion appropriation as one that lacked hope for the citizenry.

He pointed out that despite the appropriation made, most releases had not been made to sector ministers to enable them to carry out their duties.
Zhaoxing Dong village sees influx of tourists as Dong New Year approaches

Xinhua) 16:00, December 23, 2025

Tourists dine at a restaurant in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Locals dry Dong cloth in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A tourist tries batik making at a rural cooperative in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A student works on a painting in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Tourists take photos in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Tourists visit the Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Tourists dance with locals in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Tourists visit a rural cooperative in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

An aerial drone photo shows a long-table banquet joined by tourists and locals in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A tourist tries batik making at a rural cooperative in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Tourists take photos in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Locals present belts with floral designs to tourists in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

An aerial drone photo shows a long-table banquet joined by tourists and locals in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A folk performance is staged for tourists in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Locals sell cultural and creative products in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

This photo shows a long-table banquet joined by tourists and locals in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 20, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Tourists shop for cultural and creative products in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A villager works on a piece of embroidery in Zhaoxing Dong village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 19, 2025.

Zhaoxing Dong village, home to a captivating cultural landscape, has seen an influx of tourists as the Dong New Year approaches.

In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong ethnic cultural resources in developing the tourism industry.

Boosted by tourism and other feature industries, the local Dong people have improved their living standards by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay and catering businesses. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 in February 2026. The mid-range A-series phones are rumored to feature newer chipsets and upgraded cameras, and a new report has now revealed details of their camera specifications.

According to the report, the Galaxy A37 will feature a triple rear camera setup headlined by an upgraded 50MP Sony IMX906 primary sensor. Samsung is said to alternate between the IMX906 and its own S5KGNJ sensor for the main camera, depending on the region.

The Galaxy A56 features a 12MP ultrawide camera.

The remaining two rear cameras are expected to carry over from the Galaxy A36, including an 8MP GalaxyCore GC08A3 ultrawide camera and a 5MP GalaxyCore GC05A3 macro shooter. For selfies, the phone is tipped to sport a 12MP GalaxyCore GC12A2 front-facing sensor.

Samsung is said to have used a 50MP Sony IMX906 sensor for the main rear camera on the Galaxy A57, although some regions could feature the Samsung ISOCELL S5KGNJ. The rest of the rear setup is tipped to include a 13MP ISOCELL S5K3L6 ultrawide camera and a 5MP GalaxyCore GC05A3 macro sensor.

For selfies, the Galaxy A57 is said to sport a 12MP ISOCELL S5K3LC front-facing camera.

Samsung Galaxy A36

Samsung Galaxy A56

Source
The industrial location of Germany faces significant technological challenges in global competition. To cover the enormous capital requirements for the digital and ecological transformation deemed necessary, the federal government and the state development bank KfW officially launched the long-planned Deutschlandfonds on Thursday. The goal is to make the Federal Republic a leading hub for high-tech. To achieve this, state guarantees are intended to act as a strategic catalyst for private capital.

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The federal government is providing around 30 billion euros in public funds for this purpose. This use of taxpayer money, through a clever leverage effect, is intended to trigger a total of 130 billion euros in additional investments from the economy. With this, policymakers aim to create a market-economy instrument that specifically contributes to the scaling of innovations in key areas such as IT, quantum computing, biotech, and energy.

The KfW assumes the central role of coordinator for national and international investors. The fund is designed as a flexible umbrella structure that bundles various instruments. This is intended to help address the specific needs of startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large industry.

Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) emphasizes that public funds will be used specifically to ensure that significantly more private capital flows into future sectors like AI and biotechnology. According to Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU), the current situation highlights the high need for modernization: the financial pot is intended to direct capital where innovation arises and supply chains can be made more resilient. KfW CEO Stefan Wintels also sees the mobilization of private capital as the decisive impulse for global competitiveness.

Tech Ecosystem and Digital Sovereignty

The approach is particularly important for the IT industry and the deep-tech scene, with the KfW now also acting as a direct co-investor. Together with private investors, amounts of up to 50 million euros per individual investment in promising young companies are to flow by the end of 2030.

A significant pillar is also the strengthening of the much-invoked technological sovereignty, which includes hardware and critical infrastructure in addition to AI applications. The focus here is on resilient supply chains and the securing of critical minerals through a dedicated raw materials fund. This provides equity and loans to finance projects for the extraction of resources such as lithium. These are considered an important basis for the domestic battery and semiconductor industries.

Furthermore, the executive branch intends to strengthen technological defense capabilities to reduce dependencies on non-European actors. The entire spectrum of economic needs is to be covered. The fund also includes hedging instruments for large investments in hydrogen or the automotive industry. This risk sharing between the state and private investors is intended to lower the hurdles for investors, especially in capital-intensive fields.

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Energy Infrastructure and Criticism

A large portion of the deposits is to flow into the modernization of energy infrastructure. Kerstin Andreae from the industry association BDEW views this positively in principle and sees the right course set for growth and the energy transition. She expressly welcomes the fact that the government is taking up ideas from the industry paper Capital for the Energy Transition and is providing a broad mix of instruments for financing energy supply companies. However, Andreae urges that the details of the planned measures, for example in the area of geothermal energy, must be designed quickly and practically.

A central point of criticism from the association concerns equity strengthening. For the successful further development of the fund, it is essential to quickly provide appropriate, viable instruments. The BDEW calls, in particular, for the establishment of a special fund for the heating transition, which must be accompanied by state guarantees and sureties.

Phased Plan and Long-Term Perspectives

The implementation of the Deutschlandfonds will take place in a phased process, which is to begin with initial operational steps in December. In this initial phase, the hedging instrument for transformation industries, the loan program for geothermal projects, and new financing tools for startups will be initiated. From 2026, the second phase will follow with the expansion to include the modernization of energy infrastructure and new private credit funds for innovative industrial technologies.

The planned increase is particularly important for long-term success: under the name "Growth and Innovation Capital," it is intended to close financing gaps in the SME sector. In addition, the establishment of an instrument for securitization is planned to deepen access to the capital market. Overall, the Deutschlandfonds marks an attempt to create a market-oriented ecosystem in the global system competition through strategic risk-taking and to sustainably position Germany as a high-tech location.

(nie)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Law firms advising Apple and Google on employment law matters sent emails to employees of both companies last week. In them, they warn staff against leaving the USA at the moment if their visas need to be checked before returning. This could take up to a year, the lawyers write. Therefore, it is better to forgo international travel altogether.

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This is reported by Business Insider, which states it had access to both letters. The lawyers cite the fact that social media activities of visa holders are now also being checked before returning to the USA as the reason for the visa processing delays. As a result, embassies and consulates outside the United States are currently overloaded.

This particularly affects holders of the H1-B work visa, which is only issued to highly qualified specialists. The visa is tied to an employer in the USA, is initially issued for three years, but can be extended. Only recently, a one-time payment of 100,000 US dollars was demanded for the issuance of this visa.

H1-B and other visas affected

According to Business Insider, the new regulations for social media checks also apply to other visas such as H-4, F, J, and M. These are issued to students, among others. With none of these visas do you get an outlook on permanent residency in the USA; they are always tied to temporary stays for training or work. H1-B in particular is highly sought after, as the USA has so far issued 65,000 new ones annually, with an additional 20,000 for foreign graduates of US universities.

The high-tech industry often recruits new personnel through the latter mechanism immediately after graduation. The same applies to US authorities and positions at universities themselves; there are exceptions to the fixed quotas for these. Just this week, it became known that US authorities are desperately seeking skilled personnel again after the DOGE cuts. For this purpose, the new program "US Tech Force" was launched, through which the US tech industry is to temporarily transfer its employees to authorities.

The new entry regulations come shortly after the US government instructed the State Department authorities to examine H1-B applicants more closely. If they have been involved in "censorship" or moderation of US online platforms, they should no longer receive the visa. Even those who only want to visit the USA for holiday or business trips via the ESTA mechanism will soon have to disclose their social media activities, as well as numerous personal data and contacts, partly retroactively for ten years. However, this is currently only a proposal that the border protection agency CBP is putting up for discussion. The decision process is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

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(nie)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The 2025 turnout surpassed last years figure, confirming the Helsinki Christmas Market as one of Finlands most visited public events. Heated seating areas in the cafe and restaurant courtyards were in high demand throughout the season.

Over 650,000 people visited the Helsinki Christmas Market this year, setting a new attendance record. The market, held at Senate Square from 28 November to 23 December, attracted both residents and international tourists despite consistently rainy weather.

Visitors consumed more than 60,000 servings of rice porridge and drank over 85,000 cups of hot mulled drinks from the restaurant yard. Popular items included traditional glogi and gluhwein.

New food favourites also emerged this year. Korean-style reindeer corndogs and sweet crumbles made from apples and berries proved especially popular among attendees.

Jenni Pajunen, chair of the board at Helsinki Events Foundation, said rising visitor numbers reflect both local interest and the continuing growth of tourism in the capital.

The Helsinki Christmas Market is likely the largest public event in Finland. Beyond the lights and atmosphere, its focus on Finnish products and responsibility make it unique. We are pleased that the market has gained recognition in international media as well, Pajunen said.

We thank all visitors, sellers and partners for creating a shared Christmas experience.

The curated Christmas market featured over 100 Finnish artisans and small producers, offering a wide range of locally made goods and foods. Gift items included handcrafted candles, traditional decorations, small-batch coffees and edible gifts.

The market programme included live Christmas music, radio broadcasts by Aito Iskelma and visits from Santa Claus. Evening jazz sessions by We Jazz and circus shows for children added new elements to the atmosphere.

A free horse carousel, which attracted over 50,000 riders, remained a favourite among younger visitors. Nearly 1,000 children from local kindergartens and daycare groups took part in a special event hosted by the mayor and deputy mayors.

Visitors can still enjoy the Christmas season in Helsinki at the Manta Christmas Market, organised by City Spaces, which continues until Epiphany.

The Helsinki Christmas Market will return to Senate Square in 2026.

HT
The first investigation focused on a cleaning company where foreign workers said they had to return most of their wages after payday. According to police, the suspect demanded payments in exchange for securing work-based residence permits made possible through full-time employment contracts.

Helsinki police have completed two separate criminal investigations involving suspected extortionate work discrimination, unpaid wages and illegal payments linked to employment. Both cases were handled by the regional human trafficking investigation unit and have now moved to prosecutorial review.

Workers told investigators they saw no alternative but to comply. Without the contracts, they said, they faced the loss of their residence status and removal from Finland.

According to the victims, they had no other option than to agree to returning their wages, said lead investigator Nils Majewski, a detective chief inspector with Helsinki Police. They had no other way to obtain a work-based residence permit in Finland, which meant deportation.

In the most recent victims case, unpaid wages amounted to about 130,000. The suspect denied wrongdoing and claimed the workers attempted to extort him, alleging they demanded 10,000 each in return for not filing what he described as a false criminal complaint.

Police suspect the man officially registered as an unemployed jobseeker while working in practice at the cleaning company. His spouse formally owned the business but, according to investigators, played no role in daily operations. Police examined the matter as suspected aggravated fraud.

The man held no official position within the company. Investigators said he managed all practical tasks, including hiring staff, tracking working hours and paying wages.

During questioning, the suspect said he only assisted his wife and acted as the public face of the business, according to Majewski.

Police said the man received about 50,000 in public benefits over a three-year period despite having access rights to company accounts and his spouses bank accounts.

The completed investigation forms part of a wider set of cases examined by Helsinki police. An earlier related inquiry involved suspected extortionate work discrimination, false registry entries and benefit fraud.

Police have also completed a second investigation involving a business operating in the cleaning and restaurant sectors. The case includes about 20 suspected counts of extortionate work discrimination and fraud, as well as one suspected count of extortion.

Investigators believe the entrepreneur recruited workers to a cleaning company he owned, which later expanded into restaurant operations. The workers included relatives and acquaintances from the suspects country of origin, as well as other individuals from non-EU countries.

Some workers said they paid a so-called threshold fee to secure employment, Majewski said. One worker paid about 6,500. Based on the investigation, the entrepreneur also borrowed money from workers and failed to repay it.

Workers told police they did not receive wages every month during 2024 or received less than agreed. The suspect paid some wages partly or entirely in cash. Initially, salaries came from a Finnish company account. Later, payments came from an overseas account, despite the business operating solely in Finland.

The second case involves about 20 victims. Investigators estimate unpaid wages at just under 200,000.

Both criminal cases have now moved to consideration of charges.

HT
The Zamoskvoretsky District Court issued the ruling following charges brought under Russias anti-terrorism laws. The court decision, reported by the state-run news agency Tass , stated that the arrest is a preventive measure and will come into effect if Kasparov enters Russian territory or is extradited.

A Moscow court has ordered the arrest of former world chess champion Garry Kasparov in absentia, accusing him of promoting terrorist content online.

Kasparov, a long-time critic of President Vladimir Putin, lives outside Russia and has not returned since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He co-founded the Free Russia Forum, an exiled opposition movement that organises conferences and campaigns against the war in Ukraine.

The charges relate to alleged public incitement to terrorism using online platforms. The offence carries a maximum sentence of seven years under Russian law.

Kasparov was added to Russias list of foreign agents in May 2022. In 2024, authorities also designated him as a terrorist and extremist. The Free Russia Forum, which Khodorkovsky helped launch in 2022, has supported active resistance against the Kremlin and has called for the removal of Putins government.

HT
Military trucks snake through snow-clad hills

China Military Online) 16:16, December 23, 2025

Military trucks attached to a regiment under the Chinese PLA Army steer on a zigzag road among the snow-clad hills during a long-distance maneuver exercise in late November, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Jiahao)

Military trucks attached to a regiment under the Chinese PLA Army are en route to the designated area during a long-distance maneuver exercise in late November, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Jiahao)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Fresh off the heels of unveiling a newly expanded spa and wellness offerings, Costa Rica's Rio Perdido is pleased to announce that Randy Rockbrand has been hired as the eco-luxury retreat's new General Manager. Having most recently served as Operations Manager at Guanacaste's Hospital San Rafael Arcangel, Rockbrand brings with him 14 years of industry experience, along with an MBA from Les Roches in Switzerland. Yet Rockbrand, who was "born in San Jose but formed in Liberia," believes that his local roots are what best prepares him for this new role.

In considering his goals for the property, Rockbrand plans to build momentum from Rio Perdido's unique location. To that end, he envisions increasing partnerships with local vendors and strengthening the bonds between the boutique resort and the local community.

Rockbrand also plans to lean into his two areas of specialtyOperational Excellence and Sustainabilityto honor Rio Perdido's philosophy of providing guests with opportunities for passive wellness, an experience that is rooted in harmony with nature, body, and community.

While environmental and financial sustainability are central to Rockbrand's vision, he is most excited to create ongoing opportunities for the property's key resource: its local team members.

For more information on Randy Rockbrand, or the Rio Perdido experience, please visit www.rioperdido.com.
Hyatt Studios Huntsville Guestroom - Image Credit Hyatt



Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened Hyatt Studios Huntsville in Alabama, marking the expansion of its upper-midscale extended-stay brand.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Studios Huntsville, located in Alabama. This development is part of Hyatt's strategy to grow its upper-midscale extended-stay brand, following the earlier opening of a similar property in Mobile, Alabama. The Huntsville location is developed in collaboration with 3H Group, which has been instrumental in the brand's expansion.

Hyatt Studios Huntsville is located near major employers and facilities, including Redstone Arsenal, Cummings Research Park, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center, and Downtown Huntsville. The property offers 120 studio-style apartment suites, designed for extended stays, with amenities including well-equipped kitchens, lounge areas, and workspaces.

The hotel offers amenities for long-term guests, including a 24/7 market, complimentary breakfast, fiber internet, EV charging stations, a fitness studio, and self-service laundry. Outdoor amenities include a patio with a fire pit and grill. The hotel also features a 623-square-foot meeting room suitable for small events and business gatherings.

This opening is part of 3H Group's broader expansion strategy, which plans to introduce additional Hyatt-branded properties in the southeastern United States. Future developments include a Caption by Hyatt hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee; dual-brand Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in East Nashville, Tennessee; and a Hyatt Studios hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Huntsville property is managed by LBA Hospitality, which operates over 115 hotels in the southeastern U.S.
Hyatt Place Brand Launches in Busan, South Korea with 160-Room Hotel - Image Credit Hyatt



Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened the Hyatt Place Busan Yeonsan, marking the brand's debut in Busan, South Korea.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Place Busan Yeonsan, the first Hyatt Place hotel in Busan, South Korea. The new hotel is located in the Yeonsan district, a significant business and transportation hub in the city. This development adds to Hyatt's portfolio in South Korea, which now includes six properties under the Hyatt Place brand.

The Hyatt Place Busan Yeonsan features 160 guestrooms. Each room is equipped with workstations, smart TVs, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The hotel aims to serve both business and leisure travelers, with its strategic location near Yeonsan Station and major bus routes, providing access to key areas such as Busan City Hall, Seomyeon, and Centum City.

The hotel includes a dining area called The Placery, offering a variety of menu options. The hotel's design, developed in collaboration with the Korean design studio RMSJ, incorporates modern Korean aesthetics.

The opening of Hyatt Place Busan Yeonsan is part of Hyatt's broader strategy to expand its presence in South Korea, particularly in cities with growing demand for tourism and business travel.

The property also offers a promotion for World of Hyatt members, with 500 bonus points available for qualifying stays from January 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026.

This new hotel joins Park Hyatt Busan as the second Hyatt property in Busan, South Korea's second-largest city.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. A few flurries are possible. High 29F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with a few snow showers after midnight. Low 19F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Chinese brands should not be used as a pretext for protectionism by Germany

16:28, December 23, 2025 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

The industrial civilization nurtured along the Rhine River was once known for its precision, rationality, and openness. However, two recent controversies in German politics concerning Chinese electric vehicles have revealed an anxious mind-set that seems inconsistent with this tradition.

First, Germany's Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Deutsche Bahn's procurement of electric buses from BYD, advocating for what he termed "healthy local patriotism" and arguing that Deutsche Bahn should place orders with German or European manufacturers. Second, the German government announced plans to revive subsidies for electric vehicle purchases, raising concerns among Deloitte's automotive experts about "subsidy funds flowing to China," which attempts to create invisible barriers for Chinese brands through policy design. These discussions, in essence, reflect a tendency to politicize normal market choices.

Truly responsible "local patriotism" should focus on the long-term competitiveness of the national industry, rather than confining itself to short-term market share. It should also not be distorted into a rejection of foreign products and investments. Taking Deutsche Bahn's procurement of electric buses as an example, BYD secured only about 200 units of the 3,000-vehicle order, and these vehicles were produced at a Hungarian factory, making them strictly "Made in Europe." This reflects a normal commercial choice under globalized division of labor, as well as a rational judgment by enterprises based on cost, efficiency, and reliability.

If even such limited, transparent, and compliant procurement is repeatedly scrutinized under the political microscope, then the problem likely lies not in "Made in China" or the Chinese brands. A confident industrial power should be willing to absorb high-quality global supply on the application side and improve the efficiency of its own system through competition, rather than tying taxpayers' interests and corporate operations to emotionally driven political gestures.

Similar anxieties are evident in discussions around new energy subsidies. Worries that subsidies might "end up in Chinese pockets" are essentially an extension of zero-sum thinking, ignoring the highly interdependent reality of modern supply chains. The sale of an electric vehicle does not mean a one-way outflow of funds; it triggers a whole set of local economic activities, including logistics, sales, after-sales service, construction of charging infrastructure, and energy services. Chinese companies' advantages in battery technology and cost control objectively provide Europe with tools to "reduce costs and increase efficiency" in its green transition.

If this chain is artificially cut, the result would be that European consumers bear higher transition costs, domestic companies lose the "catfish effect" brought by competition dynamics, and industrial upgrading is actually slowed down. In a global economic system where everyone is interconnected, capital flows are not plunder but rather part of a cyclical process of value creation. China neither intends nor has the capacity to "take all the money," because truly sustainable profits always flow to the more efficient and faster-innovating segments.

Viewing external competition as a "threat to survival" often obscures the urgency of addressing structural issues during a transition period. The challenges currently facing the German automotive industry are fundamentally the growing pains associated with transitioning from the internal combustion engine era to the era of electrification and digitalization. This is the result of a technological paradigm shift, not a product of any one country "squeezing" others. Focusing on guarding against Chinese vehicles and excluding Chinese investment essentially substitutes geopolitical narratives for discussions about industrial policy. This approach does not help address real shortcomings such as software capabilities, battery raw material supply, and energy costs, and it may also cause Germany to miss its window for self-renewal.

History has repeatedly shown that using political measures to "build walls" around lagging capacities only provides temporary psychological comfort while causing those being protected to lose their vitality in a greenhouse environment. The future of the German automotive industry does not depend on keeping competitors out but rather on whether it can regain the spirit of self-negation on the new track and rebuild genuinely competitive industrial advantages on a global scale.

The growth of China's electric vehicle industry is never aimed at weakening the European industries; rather, it represents a form of public supply developed in the process of the global response to climate change. From the flow of components on the China-Europe Railway Express to German automakers establishing R&D centers in China and Chinese battery companies investing in factories in Germany, Spain and Hungary, a deeply intertwined community of interests has formed within the China-Europe automotive industry. The Chinese market and supply chain are also important pillars supporting the global strategies of European automakers. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, there will be a shortage of 27 million new energy vehicles globally by 2030. China and Germany have strong complementarities in the electric vehicle sector, and both sides can fully share the development dividends of this production and supply chain in a healthy atmosphere of open cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Select Board signs the quitclaim deed transferring nine acres from a tax taking to the third highest bidder.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections



Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.' DALTON, Mass.  The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board  Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout  attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

Close to a dozen people attended this Monday's meeting, which had one item on the agenda: to "discuss and act upon transfer of [the] North Street parcel to Thomas and Esther Balardini."

The agenda did not have public comment and residents were not happy about that.

"I'd like to protest that there's no comment period," resident Henry Rose said, adding that residents deserved an explanation.

"You're out of order," Bishop said, repeating that several times during the meeting as residents expressed concern with the board's decision.

"Aren't you supposed to listen to the people who elected you into those positions?" Natalia Soborski asked, and Cheryl Rose said the board took an oath to serve the public interest.

"We just want an explanation," Rose said.

"It was in the paper," Bishop responded to the complaints and Strout noted it had been on the agenda before, and when the board signed the purchase-and-sale agreement.

Resident Amy Musante, who held a sign saying "Congratulations, we now have $20,000 less for a Police Station" said she attended the previous meeting via Zoom and was not given an opportunity to speak.

In a document Crane was going to read into the record, he said the board "has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of Dalton  I've spoken to over a hundred who have signed my petition. Universally their response to the Select Boards decision to sell the land to a lower bidder doesn't make any sense."

Crane said that while looking into an appeal of the board's decision, it was recommended by the state Attorney General's Office and the Inspector General's Office to resolve the situation in court.

"I know that will be costly, particularly costly to the town," he said. "I don't want the town to be out the $20,000 more that I'm willing to pay for the property, and also be out the cost of the litigation to have the logical and appropriate and legal decision which would be to award the bid to the highest bidder."
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China has lashed out at Britain and the US for criticising the jailing of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Beijing summoned both British and American diplomats to express its strong concerns over government statements about Lais conviction in Hong Kong on national security and sedition charges.

Lai is a 78-year-old British citizen, and the UK has led statements from governments and leaders around the world calling for his immediate release. A foreign office statement said Lais case was politically motivated, and that he has been targeted by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Lai is an outspoken supporter of Hong Kongs press freedoms and democratic system  rights that were supposed to be enshrined in law after the citys handover from Britain to China, but which have since been heavily eroded.

He rose to prominence as founder of the independent, pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, but was arrested and the paper shut down in 2020 as part of a draconian crackdown in the name of national security following massive popular protests.

He was found guilty earlier this month of sedition and collusion with foreign forces under Hong Kongs controversial new national security laws.

The Hong Kong office of the Chinese foreign ministry said that it had lodged solemn representations with representatives of the US, UK and other Western nations over comments that it claimed interfered with the lawful handling of the case. China does not recognise Lais British citizenship and claims criticisms around his case amount to interference in its internal affairs.

In a statement, the commissioners office of the foreign ministry said it had expressed strong concern and firm opposition to such comments and urged the countries and politicians involved to respect Chinas sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Following Lais conviction, London summoned the Chinese ambassador while foreign secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the ruling, saying the case had been brought for political purposes and demanding the national security law be repealed.

The matter is now set to feature prominently during Sir Keir Starmers meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing next month. The prime minister has been under growing pressure to demand the British nationals release, with Lais family raising urgent concerns over his deteriorating health.

US president Donald Trump earlier said he had asked Mr Xi to consider releasing Lai, adding that he felt so badly about the incarcerated media mogul. His administration said Lais guilty verdict showed Chinas determination to silence those who seek to protect freedom of speech and other fundamental rights.

Lai is expected to be sentenced next month, coinciding with Sir Kiers visit to Beijing between 29 and 31 January.

Asked whether Sir Keirs visit would mark a pivotal moment, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who leads Lais international legal team, replied: The short answer is yes.

Any closer engagement with China must go hand in hand with safeguarding our interests, he said. Were deeply concerned that there has been a headlong rush towards ever-closer relations without sufficient protection of our core interests  not least a British national who remains behind bars.
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American tech giant Amazon claims to have blocked more than 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean operatives as the East Asian nation faces accusations of deploying IT workers overseas to generate and launder money for its nuclear weapons programme.

Amazon chief security officer Stephen Schmidt noted in a LinkedIn post that North Koreans had been attempting to secure remote IT jobs with companies worldwide, particularly in the US.

His company, he said, had seen such applications rise by nearly a third over the past year.

Their objective is typically straightforward: get hired, get paid and funnel wages back to fund the regimes weapons programs. At Amazon, weve stopped more than 1,800 suspected DPRK operatives from joining since April 2024 and we've detected 27 per cent more DPRK-affiliated applications quarter over quarter this year, he said, using the countrys official name of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Mr Schmidt alleged that the Koreans often operated through laptop farms, meaning computers located in the US but controlled remotely from abroad. He cautioned that the problem isnt Amazon-specific but likely happening at scale across the industry.

According to Mr Schmidt, common signs of North Korean applicants include wrongly formatted phone numbers and dubious academic credentials. Small details give them away. For example, these applicants often format US phone numbers with +1 rather than 1. Alone this means nothing. Combined with other indicators, it paints a picture, he said.

He also described a trend of fraudsters hijacking dormant LinkedIn accounts with stolen credentials to impersonate legitimate software engineers, sometimes even using AI tools or deepfakes to strengthen their cover during interviews.

open image in gallery File. Books on internet protocols and computer and mobile phone operating systems are displayed in a library at the Grand Peoples Study House in Pyongyang ( AFP via Getty )

Last year, South Koreas intelligence agency claimed that operatives from the North were posing as recruiters on LinkedIn to target the rival countrys citizens employed with defence companies in a bid to extract sensitive technological information.

Mr Schmidt alleged that his company had also identified networks where people hand over access to their accounts in exchange for payment, .

Much of the income earned by these workers is allegedly sent back to the North Korean government, which, according to US authorities, uses it to fund weapons programmes.

The Amazon executive urged companies to remain vigilant. If you are concerned about these threats in your organisation, query your databases for common indicators: patterns in resumes, emails, phone numbers, educational backgrounds. Implement identity verification at multiple hiring stages, and monitor for anomalous technical behaviour: unusual remote access, unauthorised hardware, Mr Schmidt said in the post.

Dr Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told the news agency AFP that the North was actively training cyber personnel and infiltrating key locations worldwide.

Given Amazons business nature, the motive seems largely economic, with a high likelihood that the operation was planned to steal financial assets, he said.

open image in gallery File. A newspaper showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is displayed in a lobby of the Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang ( AFP via Getty )

The US Department of Justice said in June that it had uncovered 29 laptop farms in the country that enabled North Koreans to get jobs using stolen or fabricated identities.

In July, an Arizona woman was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for operating a laptop farm that allegedly assisted North Korean workers in securing positions at more than 300 US companies, a scheme that generated more than $17m for Pyongyang.

According to the Department of Justice, such schemes have cost American companies almost $88m over the past six years.

In 2020, a US army report detailed North Koreas cyber warfare capabilities, detailing the structure of its units and the objectives of their operations.

The report said North Koreas primary cyber warfare organisation was called the Cyber Warfare Guidance Unit, commonly referred to as Bureau 121. The US army estimates the unit comprises about 6,000 personnel, many of whom operate from countries such as China, Russia, India, Malaysia, and Belarus.

In 2015, South Koreas defence ministry had estimated that the North maintained an elite cyber unit of up to 6,000 members.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated a luxury mountain resort featuring what state media described as cosy leisure areas, barbecue dining venues, and hot tubs.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the newly opened complex with five hotels in Samjiyon, a city in the countrys rugged northern region, was designed to be an attractive mountainous tourist resort and leisure ground for the people.

During his visit, Mr Kim reportedly inspected a range of facilities, including bedrooms of hotels, cosy leisure spaces and commercial and public catering facilities, KCNA said.

Pictures released by state media showed Mr Kim walking through the resort along with his daughter  widely believed to be Kim Ju Ae and regarded as a possible successor  as he examined hotel rooms and was seen pressing down on mattresses to assess their firmness.

North Korea remains one of the worlds poorest countries based on GDP per capita and ranks 118th out of 127 nations on the Global Hunger Index, with around one in five children suffering from stunted growth due to malnutrition.

Yet North Korean propaganda is increasingly cherry-picking newly built resorts for coverage, often promoted by Mr Kim himself, as it tries to portray a semblance of normality and attract high-spending foreign tourists.

open image in gallery Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae inspect the Milyong Hotel in the Samjiyon tourist district of Ryanggang ( AFP via Getty )

Tourism remains one of the few ways North Korea can legally earn foreign currency since most of its economic activities are restricted by UN sanctions related to its nuclear and military expansion.

It hasnt been a smooth process  earlier this year the regime abruptly barred foreigners from a newly opened beach resort on its east coast just weeks after promoting it as a world-class tourist and cultural destination.

Mr Kims appearance at the resort with his daughter is the latest in a string of tightly stage-managed events that observers see as subtly reinforcing a possible succession storyline.

State media, which typically dont name her, now frequently describe Kim Ju Ae as beloved or respected or a great person of guidance.

Pyongyang hasnt officially confirmed many details about her and she is not formally talked about as part of a possible succession plan.

South Korean intelligence officials believe Kim Ju Ae is about 12 or 13 years old and one of at least two or three children. Shes the only one regularly shown in public, accompanying Mr Kim at key events in a role that once belonged to her mother Ri Sol Ju.

open image in gallery Kim Jong Un and his daughter inspect the Milyong Hotel in the Samjiyon tourist district ( AFP via Getty )

Cheong Seong Chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea, said Mr Kim likely believed his daughter had the capacity and resolve to succeed him as leader.

By accompanying her father on major events, its like shes learning kingship and building a human network at a tender age, Mr Cheong said.

Meanwhile, Mr Kim reportedly praised the development of the resort as clear proof of the ever-growing ideal of our people and our states potential for development.

North Korean media further claimed the resort demonstrated that the countrys citizens were the most dignified and had nothing to envy in the world.

Earlier this year, Mr Kim unveiled a beach resort featuring hotels, restaurants, water slides, and shopping centres in a move to promote tourism.

The leader was seen enjoying the Wonsan Kalma retreat on the east coast in July, relaxing poolside next to his daughter with a pack of cigarettes and a cold drink.

open image in gallery Kim Jong Un and his daughter inspecting the Ikkal Hotel in the Samjiyon tourist district ( AFP via Getty )

The resort covers a 4km stretch of beach and can accommodate up to 20,000 visitors, according to state media.

Samjiyon, where the latest resort is, holds deep symbolic importance in North Korean propaganda, given its proximity to Mount Paektu  the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula  which official narratives claim as the birthplace of Mr Kims father, Kim Jong Il. Most historians, however, maintain that Kim Jong Il was born in the Soviet Union.

According to The Korea Herald of South Korea, Mr Kim is seeking to transform Samjiyon into a flagship tourism hub as the country looks to attract visitors and generate hard currency under the weight of international sanctions.

Pyongyang started loosening its border restrictions in 2023 after three years of almost no tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with no foreign visitors allowed in and limited information coming out.
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Japan is doubling the residency period needed for obtaining citizenship to 10 years and adding a language requirement as part of a broad political push for stricter oversight of foreigners.

The overhaul of immigration rules, which may take effect as soon as next year, comes after the Nippon Ishin party, a partner in the ruling coalition, branded the existing standards too lenient, prompting prime minister Sanae Takaichi to order a formal review.

According to a proposal outlined during a meeting of Takaichis Liberal Democratic Party on 4 December, approval of citizenship would depend not just on the length of residence, but also on good conduct and the applicants ability to sustain a stable livelihood through personal or spousal income or skills, with broad discretion left to authorities in making the final determination, Japans Mainichi newspaper reported.

Nippon Ishin had submitted a proposal to the justice ministry on 17 September urging it to adopt tougher measures that would cap the number of foreign residents and establish conditions under which naturalised citizens could have their nationality revoked.

The ultra-right Sanseito party went further, declaring it would bar kikajin  naturalised Japanese  from standing as legislative candidates under its banner, while accusing the government of placing foreigners ahead of the ethnic Japanese population.

The government intends to allow exemptions to the proposed rules, enabling some applicants, such as athletes who have competed in Japan for several years, to get citizenship even if they fall short of the 10-year residency rule.

The Japanese government received 12,248 citizenship applications in 2024, of which 8,863 were approved during the year, according to data from the justice ministry.

The government is also considering making Japanese language proficiency and civic education mandatory for permanent residency applicants, according to local media.

Sanae Takaichis coalition partner wants a cap on foreign residents in Japan ( REUTERS )

The proposed rules have reportedly sparked intense online debate in the country.

While supporters see them as reasonable for long-term residents, critics argue that Ms Takaichis conservative government is creating new obstacles to immigration just when Japan faces acute labour shortages.

The Asahi Shimbun reported, quoting government sources, that the plan aimed to equip foreign residents with fundamental societal knowledge, primarily language skills.

According to the newspaper, the proposed scheme  tentatively called the social inclusion programme  was intended to alleviate misunderstandings and friction between foreigners and local communities while helping curb rising xenophobia.

The initiative would include support measures for children with limited Japanese proficiency before they were enrolled in local schools.

In 2015, Japan had roughly 2.23 million foreign residents. By June 2025, the number had climbed to some 3.95 million, meaning foreigners made up about 3 per cent of its population. Nearly 930,000 of these foreigners had become permanent residents in the country.
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Bangladeshs political volatility deepened on Monday after a prominent student leader was shot in the head by unidentified assailants in the southern city of Khulna.

Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, a central organiser of the National Citizen Partys labour wing, was attacked at around 11.45am in Sonadanga, according to Bangladeshi media.

He was taken to the Khulna Medical College Hospital and later transferred to a private diagnostic centre for a CT scan.

Saif Nawaz, an organiser of the student-led partys Khulna metropolitan unit, said Mr Sikdar was a central organiser and divisional convener of the Jatiya Sramik Shakti, the partys labour platform. He was involved in preparations for an upcoming labour rally when he was shot.

The Sonadanga police said an investigation was underway.

Doctors told local media the bullet went through one side of Mr Sikdars ear and exited through the other, leaving him out of immediate danger. He was still under observation, however.

The attack followed a wave of unrest sparked by last weeks killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, a radical leader and spokesperson of the platform Inqilab Manch.

Hadi, who had risen to prominence during the 2024 uprising that overthrew Sheikh Hasinas government, was shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka on 12 December while campaigning for the upcoming election. After initial treatment in the capital, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he died on 18 December.

News of his death triggered violent demonstrations across Bangladesh, with crowds torching and vandalising buildings, including the offices of top newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

A man holds a placard as tens of thousands of people join the funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi ( Reuters )

Protesters also targeted properties linked to Ms Hasinas Awami League party and attempted to march towards the Indian diplomatic missions in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chattogram. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds at several places.

Authorities confirmed at least one sectarian killing during the unrest, after a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was beaten to death by a mob in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy.

Bangladeshs interim ruler, Muhammad Yunus, announced a day of national mourning after Hadis death. His funeral was held at Dhaka University.

Tensions are running high as the South Asian country prepares for a parliamentary election in February.

The National Citizen Party, which emerged out of last years mass agitation, includes factions that repeatedly issue anti-India statements.

After Hadi was shot, a party leader publicly threatened to support forces hostile to Delhi.

Seven Sisters will be separated from India, Hasnat Abdullah said at a protest rally, referring to the neighbouring countrys seven northeastern states.

India denied that it was sheltering people responsible for Hadis assassination.

We expect that the interim government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures for ensuring internal law and order, the Indian foreign ministry said, including for the purpose of holding peaceful elections.

Bangladeshi police said they had no confirmed information about the whereabouts of Hadis attackers and no evidence they had left the country.
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Adult content creator Bonnie Blue has been barred from travelling to Indonesia for the next 10 years after she was detained on suspicion of violating the countrys strict pornography laws and then deported.

The controversial porn actor, whose real name is Tia Billinger, was arrested in Bali earlier this month along with at least 17 male tourists from Australia and the UK, most of whom were released after questioning. She was deported from the Southeast Asian nation last week.

The Indonesian authorities said they did not press charges for production of pornographic content after police checked her phone and found private video footage.

The material was for private documentation and not for public distribution, director general of immigration Yuldi Yusman said in a statement.

Ms Billinger, though, was found to have violated visa rules as she had entered Indonesia using a visa on arrival for commercial content production that could potentially cause public unrest, Mr Yusman said.

Therefore, we imposed a 10-year entry ban because these activities arent in line with the governments efforts to maintain Balis quality tourism image and respect for local cultural values, he added.

Ms Billinger was arrested after police raided a rental studio in Bali and seized camera equipment, contraceptives and viagra pills.

open image in gallery Bonnie Blue arrives at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Bali earlier in December ( AFP/Getty )

Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country with strict morality laws, and the offences she was initially held for could have brought up to 15 years in jail and a fine of 270,000.

In the end, Ms Billinger and an associate named Liam Andrew were fined about 9 for violating traffic laws while driving around in the island in a vehicle they promoted as a so-called Bang Bus.

She appeared in the Denpasar District Court on Friday before she was deported. She was seen laughing and interacting with people while sucking on a lollipop as cameras filmed her.

The defendants have lawfully committed the offence jointly and continuously, the judge ruled.

open image in gallery Tia Billinger, known as Bonnie Blue, in a Denpasar court ( AFP/Getty )

Footage of Ms Billinger driving around the Indonesian resort island in her bus was shown in the court.

It was told that she drove her blue truck without valid registration documents before using it to promote her explicit videos.

While in Bali, Bonnie Blue should have been travelling, but instead she was creating content, police said.

They will be blacklisted from entering Indonesia for at least 10 years, which could be extended.

Ms Billinger reportedly told the court she wasnt driving the vehicle, but riding as a passenger.

open image in gallery Bonnie Blue is known for her controversial stunts ( AFP/Getty )

We will immediately take firm action, deport them and submit them for blacklisting, Winarko, an immigration chief at Bali airport who did not give his full name, told AFP on Thursday.

In her first comments after the controversy, Ms Billinger said her Bang Bus tour was over.

Asked if she intended to make more explicit content in Bali, she said: Subscribe and youll find out.

Ms Billinger is known for her controversial stunts. She was banned from the adult content site OnlyFans earlier this year after making headlines for purportedly having sex with 1,057 men in just 12 hours.
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24-year-old Simon lives among the lush, green hills of Kenyas central highlands, near the bustling regional town of Nyeri. His father owns a small plot of land where the family grows tea, making him one of an estimated 600,000 smallholder tea farmers in the country. The industry provides around half of the tea that we drink in the UK.

As things stand, Simon works online as an academic writer: One of thousands of highly-eductated, unemployed young Kenyans ghost-writing essays, PhD dissertations and other academic papers for students in wealthy countries like the UK and US. But he hopes that one day he will be able to save enough money to buy a plot of land so that he too can become a farmer.

At the moment, I need to stay in employment, so that hopefully one day I will be able to save enough to buy some land of my own and begin farming, he says, speaking during a visit by The Independent to Iriaini, his tea farming cooperative. Thats the only option for young guys like me who are passionate about farming: to work hard and to save.

A growing clamour of voices, however, are warning that young farming enthusiasts in Africas up-and-coming economies are increasingly hard to come by. Globally, the share of young people working in agrifood systems has decreased from 54 per cent in 2005 to 44 per cent in 2021, according to a recent report from the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), while some estimates put the average age for for a farming family in Africa at more than 60.

The allure of the big city (with an estimated 50 per cent of Kenyans set to live in cities by 2050) and the prospect of fast cash from a modern professional role are all cited as reasons why young people are looking for life beyond the plough. Other problems cited include access to land, with plots becoming smaller and smaller as they are split down the generations, as well as the impacts of climate shocks, with an estimated 395 million rural youth living in locations expected to experience declines in agricultural productivity due to climate change, according to the FAO report.

While he remains set on his dream, these are all concerns recognised by Simon. My family will not give me land at the moment, so all I can do is work hard and save for my own land, he says. Climate change is also a big worry, he adds, with temperatures higher than they used to be at certain times of year, and at other times rains coming too strongly or not at all.

If I look ahead fifty years, which is as long as I might be a farmer, then climate change is certainly a big worry, he says. We need to do much more now to secure our future.

His comments come as a survey carried out earlier this year by the Fairtrade Foundation found that 50 per cent of young people in the tea industry believe that climate change is the biggest challenge facing the tea industry. More broadly, only one in five tea farmers said that they earn enough income each month to support their families with the essentials.

open image in gallery 24-year-old Simon told The Independent that he is keen to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a tea farmer - but he is very concerned about how much the sector will be impacted by climate change in the coming years ( Nick Ferris )

For other young Kenyans, the stigma that has developed around farming means that the industry has completely lost its appeal. Dennis, a 30-year-old NGO worker living in Nairobi, has no desire to head back to his village and work on the farm.

People dont want to get into farming because for a long time we have associated it with being poor, or we have associated it with old people and retirement, he says. My parents generation and before that were always into farming, but my generation wants to try out life in the big city - and then maybe when we are older we will go into farming. Thats how it is here.

Elliot, a labourer in his early 20s working on his fathers tea farm, which is part of the Momul tea factory in the West of the country, is far from happy with his lot. I am working here because I do not have an option, he says. I would love to be doing something else - when you are jobless, it is when you go and work on the family farm.

Recent years have seen Elliots familys tea farm seriously impacted by climate change, with the crop increasingly impacted by drought at certain times of the year, and hailstorms at others. Last year, the 4,098kg of tea the farm produced was around 30 per cent below the 5,794kg he produced the previous year.

Climate change is really bringing about huge losses

The transition from a largely smallholder-farming population to a more urbanised, educated population is a classic development pathway that countries like Kenya will inevitably pass through as they progress. But with smallholders providing some 80 per cent of Kenyas agricultural output, and agricultural products representing by far Kenyas biggest export area, there is a real concern that the cornerstone of the East African nations economy could be under threat.

African countries also currently import a large chunk of its food - including a third of cereals consumed on the continent, and 64 per cent of its wheat - so young people turning away from agriculture also raises alarm bells from a food security point of view.

Climate change, which is pushing up the price of food in many countries and threatening the livelihoods of smallholders, is a further complicating factor that previous emerging economies have not had to grapple with in quite the same way that Kenya and other African countries are having to.

Smallholders are definitely facing a number of constraints at the moment that are concerning to us, including related to land rights, a lack of skills and knowledge around doing farming well, and now everything is being really complicated by climate change, explains William Matovu, Africa strategy lead at the development charity Heifer International.

Climate change is really bringing about huge losses across the continent now. The numbers are really massive, with around 3.5 million people impacted by the recent drought in the North of Kenya alone, he adds.

Concerns around climate change among Kenyan farmers are so great that many existing older farmers also express the hope that the generation ahead of them are able to forge new paths, rather than deal with the same challenges that they have faced.

open image in gallery Martha Mukundi told The Independent that the extent to which climate change is impacting farming makes her sad ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa )

I feel sad when I think about the future. Climate change is messing things up so much, and it will take a lot of resilience and lot of training for someone to keep this up once I am gone, says Martha Mukundi, who also lives in Iriaini, and has recently - with the help of money received from selling tea with the Fairtrade label - bought a cow and started farming avocados in order to diversify her income as climate threats increase.

The way things are, I would not encourage any of my family members to grow tea because it has become so difficult, explains Evaline Cherugut, another smallholder tea farmer at the Momul Tea Factory, who now makes more money from beekeeping than from tea farming. Hailstones, which we never used to see, are wrecking the crop - and the payments are also too low.

Safeguarding farming for the future

Food systems experts stress that with targeted interventions from NGOs and governments, then the agricultural sectors in countries like Kenya can continue to attract young people, and the industry can continue to thrive.

For William Matovu at Heifer International, a big part of the solution is around developing climate-resilient solutions, so that young people perceive the sector as one that can support them long-term. These include everything from supporting communities to collectively purchase a tractor to boost their efficiency, to making satellite monitoring of weather patterns more accessible and developing early warning systems, to selling insurance products for farmers and pastoralists in case they lose output during extreme weather events.

Africa has a massive youth population and 60 per cent of the worlds arable land - but it is not producing enough food, and it is not currently perceived as profitable, he says. So we have to think of innovative solutions to help the industry and change that reputation.

Other organisations like the Fairtrade Foundation are also working to make farming a more sustainable sector by giving smallholder farmers a better deal on the products they sell - though the reach of their work depends on how many consumers in countries like the UK are willing to buy Fairtrade products.

open image in gallery Evaline Cherugut told The Independent that the impact of climate change on her tea bushes has become so significant that she now makes more money beekeeping ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa )

Pathe Sene, managing director at the Africa Food System Forum, adds that young people can be encouraged to apply for jobs elsewhere in the food system value chain, where some of the stigmatising dynamics might not be so prevalent.

There are jobs in food processing, packaging, marketing, transportation, and digital infrastructure, he says. We all have to eat, and we need to produce the food that we eat, so we have to make this system work.

If we can demonstrate that you can work in agriculture, and you can make money and it can be sexy - and it is not the hard, grandparents-type work that uses obsolete equipment and tools - then I think a few more of those young guys will come and join the sector.

This article was produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
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Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested in central London at a demonstration in support of the Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison, according to the Prisoners for Palestine protest group.

Ms Thunberg, 22, can be seen holding a sign reading I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide in a video shared by the group at a demonstration by Prisoners for Palestine outside the central London offices of Aspen Insurance.

The group claimed they targeted the company on Tuesday morning because it provides services to Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.

open image in gallery Greta Thunberg during the protest at Aspen Insurance at Plantation Place in the City of London ( Prisoners for Palestine/PA )

Two activists sprayed red paint over the front of the building before police arrived and made arrests.

A City of London Police spokesperson said: At around 7am this morning, hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers are working to release them and bring them into police custody.

A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Since the hunger strike began on 2 November, a total of seven prisoners have been taken to hospital.

open image in gallery Climate activist Greta Thunberg being detained by City of London Police ( Prisoners For Palestine )

Kamran Ahmed, 28, who was being held at Pentonville Prison in London, and Amu Gib, 30, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, have both been admitted to hospital in the last week after refusing food.

Prisoners for Palestine has previously said Gibs health has deteriorated rapidly since joining the hunger strike on 2 November, and the activist now needs to use a wheelchair.

Gib, who is on day 51 of their strike, was taken to hospital on Saturday.

Last Thursday, emergency physician Dr James Smith told journalists some of the activists are dying and need specialist medical help.

The prisoners all face charges relating to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

A legal firm representing the hunger strikers has said it submitted a pre-action letter on Monday against the justice secretary David Lammy. The letter outlines the groups intention to initiate legal action.

The letter, reported by the Press Association, calls for a response within 24 hours, saying the issue is a matter of urgency, as our clients health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day.

It says: They request an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation.

The hunger strikers say they have sent letters to Mr Lammy, who is also the deputy prime minister, but have received no response, and claimed the government is abandoning its own policies in the prison safety policy framework.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We strongly refute these claims.

We want these prisoners to accept support and get better, and we will not create perverse incentives that would encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes.
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The UK is strikingly unprepared to deal with the pressures of an ageing society, a group of Lords peers have warned, as they paint a stark picture for the future of young people in the country.

In a damning report, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee accuses successive governments of failing to grapple with the issues that will arise from people living longer.

The group argues that continuing to raise the state pension age  soon increasing to 67  is no longer an adequate solution to the economic pressures of an ageing population, as an growing number of people are already exiting the workforce before they reach it.

These warnings are based on findings that those aged 65+ comprised 18.9 per cent of the total population in 2023, up from 16.5 per cent in 2011 and just 13 per cent in 1972  illustrating a sharp increase.

open image in gallery Those aged 65+ comprised 18.9 per cent of the total population in 2023, up from 16.5 per cent in 2011 and just 13 per cent in 1972 ( Getty Images )

Recent research by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) finds that this could rise to over a quarter (27 per cent) by 2074.

This will have an especially profound effect on those born now and in the recent past, the Lords committee finds, as will likely live longer and so will need to retire later and save more to be comfortable in old age.

The fertility rate has also been falling since the late 1970s, the report points out, dropping to a record low of 1.44 (children per woman) in England and Wales in 2023  below the 2.08 required to ensure long-term natural replacement of the population.

Former Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director Paul Johnson says there will be serious consequences arising from this trend, adding that the current fertility rate implies a rapidly falling population which presents immediate challenges for policymakers.

What to do with all those spare school places? he posed in The Times. So far in England weve seen a fall in the number of teachers, but hardly any reduction in the number of schools, perhaps in part because the policy landscape is so complex when it comes to making decisions to close schools. As pupil numbers continue to decline this looks unlikely to be sustainable.

He adds: The change poses a more fundamental question still. Will we take advantage of this fall in numbers to reduce spending on education? Or will we use it to increase spending per pupil and try to improve quality? I dont know.

open image in gallery The fertility rate has been falling since the late 1970s, dropping to a record low of 1.44 (children per woman) in England and Wales in 2023 ( Getty Images )

The OBR has forecast that on current policy settings, the economic effects of these trends will push borrowing above 20 per cent and debt about 270 per cent of GDP by 2070. This is because of the rising cost of factors like the state pension, plus social and health care needs.

Lord Wood of Anfield, chair of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, said: People are having fewer children and living longer and successive governments have simply not focused on the seismic effects a rapidly ageing population will have on our economy and society.

Raising the state pension age, which saves the Government money, but increases pensioner poverty as many people have already stopped working by their sixties, is a red herring. Getting more people in their fifties and sixties to stay in or return to work is key.

To successfully confront this challenge the approach to financial management of todays and tomorrows young people will need to change. They will need, from a much earlier stage in their lives, to plan and prepare to work longer and save more.

The Labour peer adds that the lack of a government strategy on this issue shows it is not being taken seriously enough.

A government spokesperson said: "We recognise the challenges of an ageing population and are taking action to improve healthy life expectancy and reform adult social care.

"We are progressing towards a National Care Service with higher quality care, greater choice and better integration between services - backed by over 4 billion additional funding for adult social care by 2028-29.

"Through our Get Britain Working reforms, we will boost employment by overhauling Jobcentres and providing personalised work and skills support."
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Newly released documents from the so-called Epstein files have revealed a series of emails written by an A in Balmoral to Ghislaine Maxwell, asking whether she had found them any inappropriate friends.

The US Department of Justice on Tuesday published nearly 30,000 pages relating to the disgraced paedophile financier, the largest single drop so far, some of which include references to the British royal residence in Scotland.

In one email, Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years for her role in sex-trafficking Epsteins victims, asked an acquaintance to introduce Andrew to friendly and discreet and fun friends and to some 2 legged sight seeing.

open image in gallery A newly released photo appears to show Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell with an unidentified third person near Balmoral ( DOJ )

The email added: He does not want to read about any trip in the papers [describing] whom or what he saw.

In the latest document release, an email in August 2001 from A with the address The Invisible Man reads: I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family. The writer claims to be totally exhausted, and asks Maxwell how she is.

They add: Hows LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall. The email concludes: Any ideas gratefully received! See ya A xxx

In response, Maxwell wrote: So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.

open image in gallery An email sent from The Invisible Man to Maxwell from the royal residence in Scotland ( DOJ )

The individual A responded Distraught! and wrote that they had just lost their valet, who had been with them since they were two years old.

I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me, they wrote.

In March 2002, Maxwell forwarded another email. I just gave Andrew your telephone no. He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines, she wrote, apparently referring to the archaeological site in southern Peru. He can ride but it is not his favorite sport ie pass on the horses.

She added: Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy. I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.

open image in gallery The then Prince Andrew pictured reclining across the laps of several people in a photograph kept by Epstein ( DOJ )

In another, the sender A said they would leave the girls to Maxwell and another individual, in response to an email in which the sender suggested they would try to find some.

The latest Epstein documents shed further light on the extent of Epsteins relationship with the royal family, and come after the former Prince Andrew was stripped of his title over his friendship with the late financier.

In separate documents released last week, the then Prince Andrew was shown in photographs introducing Epstein to members of British high society, with one image showing the royal reclining across the legs of several people with his head near to one womans lap.

The picture was reportedly taken at Sandringham, the Kings private estate in Norfolk, where the former prince will move to from Windsor in the new year.

open image in gallery Epstein, Andrew and Maxwell pictured in the royal box at Ascot ( DOJ )

The former prince has always strongly denied any wrongdoing, and said in October: As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.

Buckingham Palace and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been contacted for comment.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview, but the recent publication of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffres posthumous memoir and the US governments ongoing release of documents from Epsteins estate have prompted further scrutiny of his relationship with the financier.

It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title. He has also been told to move from his home in Royal Lodge to Marsh Farm, a substantially smaller property privately funded by the King.
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Boiling live lobsters and crabs will be banned by the government under reforms to animal rights.

In its new animal welfare strategy for England, published on Monday, the government said that live boiling is not an acceptable killing method, as it also issued guidance on puppy farming and banning trail hunting.

This comes after previous legislation outlined that decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs such as squid and octopus are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and suffering.

The government also said that while the fishing industry is already taking steps to improve protections, improved insights into supply chain practices are also required so that further action can be taken if required.

open image in gallery Ministers also called for changes in the supply chain of lobsters ( Getty/iStock )

The welfare strategy also sets out a series of protections for pets, farmed animals and wild animals. It includes plans to ban trail hunting, for fear it is being used as cover for chasing live foxes, as well as to tighten protections aimed at stopping cruel breeding practices such as puppy farming.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the UK was a nation of animal lovers and claimed the government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.

She added: Visiting Battersea Dogs and Cats Home reminded me that millions of families welcome pets into their homes every year. Our strategy will raise welfare standards for animals in the home, on the farm and in the wild.

Weve already acted to improve zoo standards, end puppy smuggling and protect livestock from dog attacks. Now were planning to ban caged hens, cruel snares, trail hunting, and curb low welfare dog breeding.

Among the governments plans for pet welfare is the consultation on banning shock collars, amid worries they could be causing harm to pets.

Ministers are also planning a public safety campaign promoting responsible dog ownership, as there has been growing concern about XL bully-type dogs, a group of breeds which have been banned after they were linked to several fatal attacks.

open image in gallery An XL-bully type dog ( Jacob King / PA Wire )

Plans to improve welfare for farmed animals include moving away from using colony cages for laying hens and pig farrowing crates, as well as introducing more humane slaughter methods for farmed fish.

Wild animal protections include the plans to ban trail hunting, alongside prohibiting snare traps and introducing a closed hunting season for hares.

Downing Street rejected that the reforms amounted to a war on the countryside.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said: No, absolutely not. We have said that we share the British publics high regard for countryside in lots of ways, whether its through farming or the animal welfare strategy.

He also rejected a claim by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage who called Labour authoritarian control freaks over the plans to ban trail hunting.
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Rising household bills, mounting food costs and the financial strain of the holiday season are pushing millions of Britons to the brink this Christmas, forcing them to rack up credit card debt and resort to buy now, pay later schemes.

An estimated 5.6 million parents of dependent children in the UK will still be in debt or not financially recovered from Christmas by spring next year, research from lender CreditSpring found.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has warned nearly one in four people in Britain are afraid the cost of the festive season this year will plunge them into debt.

Its a struggle that Anthony Lyman knows all too well. The 39-year-old father has lived through holidays where the heating was switched off, the lights stayed dark, and there wasnt enough food to feed the whole family.

This year, hes relieved to at least be able to cook a turkey for his children, something he once believed would never be possible.

open image in gallery Anthony Lyman spent many Christmases struggling to pay for food ( Anthony Lyman )

Christmas for him has meant tears, panic and crippling debt, with no sign of a way out. For years, he sacrificed his own meals to make sure his two children had something to eat, all while trying to chip away at bills that never seemed to shrink.

Speaking to The Independent, he says that while life is still difficult, he deeply understands what so many families are facing this December, because he has been there himself.

His lowest moment came during Christmas 2018. He was sick and didnt have enough money for food, or even to keep the heating on. As much as I put extra blankets on, I still felt cold, I felt it right in my bones, and that was the year, which was my darkest year.

The situation is faced by countless people across the UK, who are on the brink of poverty and battling the cost of living crisis and the added strain that Christmas brings.

Of those who celebrate Christmas, 58 per cent are worried about how the cost of living crisis will affect them, their friends or family.

Many Britons will have to turn to loans this year, with 25 per cent of people expected to use credit cards to help fund Christmas spending and one in seven expected to use buy now, pay later schemes, according to a survey from banking app thinkmoney.

open image in gallery Anthony Lyman felt that creditors were unable to provide any help ( Anthony Lyman )

Buried in debt, Mr Lyman had no option but to declare bankruptcy. It was one of the biggest stresses, youd get letters through the door, you get people knocking on the door, youd get phone calls but no ones offering you a solution at that time, he said.

He said he faced a lack of understanding from creditors, who he initially believed to be supportive but who offered him no help and threatened him with debt recovery.

The last thing I needed was people knocking on my door asking for the 500 I couldnt provide for the gas, he said. [There were] dark nights once or twice where you thought, Would it be better if I wasnt around?

In the run-up to Christmas as well, youve got people trying to buy their loved ones Christmas presents. Its a time of year when theres a lot of financial pressure.

This year, I can at least afford my turkey dinner for the kids. Its a stretch, I am still going without certain meals to make sure that they have their meals here, because the price of living is definitely above what were actually receiving to live.

open image in gallery More than half of those celebrating Christmas are worried about how the cost of living crisis will affect them ( PA )

Right now, Citizens Advice is helping more than 35,000 people with debt problems every month, up nearly 50 per cent from 2021.

The charitys head of policy, Anne Pardoe, said they had also seen a rise in how much people owe creditors, with the average person who reaches out for support facing debts of around 10,000.

She said: We tend to see a spike in people coming to us around January. We also see a growth in calls through the winter around things like energy bills, because people are really worried about seeing the heating on.

We know that people are really worried about their energy bills again this winter. We hear from people who are sitting in the cold because theyre too frightened to put the heating on, and weve spoken to people who are wearing gloves inside just to try and stay warm without spending any more money.

Similarly, with water, we see people taking fairly extreme measures to ration their water use. People are really struggling, and winter can hit people really hard.

open image in gallery Only one in five people will clear their Christmas spending by the end of the year ( Getty Images )

According to research by thinkmoney, financial pressures over the holidays are likely to last well into 2026, with only 22 per cent of shoppers expecting to clear their Christmas spending by the end of December.

The chief executive of debt advice charity Christians Against Poverty, Stewart McCulloch, said he sees the pressure hit many people in January.

In the run-up to Christmas, it gets cold, people are spending more on heating, it gets dark earlier, so people are spending more on lightingyouve got a more expensive period.

Theyre borrowing to buy food, theyre borrowing to pay rent, theyre borrowing daily to essentially just get through the month.
David Walliamss biography on the Candy Foundation website has not aged well. Illustrated with a brooding black-and-white photograph, it is unstinting in its praise. David Walliams is one of Britains best-loved comedians, it begins, before nodding to his OBE (for services to charity and the arts) and the 37 million books he has sold. The resume concludes that Walliams is not only a serial charity fundraiser and three-time Bafta winner, but also a judge on Britains Got Talent for the last nine consecutive years.

If the suspiciously chiselled-jawed photograph errs on the side of flattery, so does the suggestion that he is still on BGT. He was eased out of the judges chair in 2022 after a scandal involving off-camera comments about contestants. As for being one of Britains best-loved comedians, the latest news that he has been dropped from his publishing contract with HarperCollins, following alleged inappropriate behaviour towards young female staff, appears to have tarnished his reputation.

open image in gallery Childrens author and comedian David Walliams has been dropped from Waterstones Childrens Book Festival ( PA )

While Walliams has denied wrongdoing and is taking legal advice, the allegations reported in The Telegraph that former employees were advised to work in pairs when meeting him and not to visit his home have come barely just a few years after Walliams was caught making misogynistic and dismissive comments about contestants, which ended his BGT career. Those comments were actually made off-camera in 2020, when a hot mic caught him calling one contestant, a pensioner, a c*** three times, before he compared a woman who had just left the stage to a slightly boring girl you meet in the pub who thinks you want to f*** them, but you dont.

Many have said the only surprise with the latest allegations is that, with so much scandal building over recent years, Walliams has held up as a national treasure for so long. His darker side has always been visible if one looked hard enough.

Indeed, search David Walliams on X (Twitter), and the results are anything but flattering. Among them is a video clip of Walliams on the Little Britain live tour, in which he portrayed a washed-up childrens entertainer called Des Kaye. The punchline? Des is a predatory paedophile. The clip shows young men being plucked from the audience, whereupon Walliams kisses them on the lips, then attempts to remove their trousers  sometimes revealing their genitals  and kiss their bare buttocks. The clip is 16 years old and, as the litany of disgusted comments on social media attests, it has not aged well.

It is all so far from the man who seemed to have the world at his feet just a few short years ago. In 2015, he was happily married to supermodel Lara Stone, with a young son, Alfred, and living in a splendid London townhouse  Supernova Heights  that boasted a recording studio built by its former owner, Noel Gallagher.

Today, he is a man out of time. All the outrageousness that made him a star, such as stereotypical characters portraying Black, disabled, working-class, transgender, and gay people, now appears culturally insensitive. In 2020, the BBC removed Little Britain from iPlayer, citing that times have changed since it was first broadcast.

Nevertheless, Walliams is hardly a man on his uppers, with an estimated worth of 17-20m. It was therefore unsurprising that he sought legal advice when his private conversations as a BGT judge were leaked. He sued Fremantle, the producer of the show, for misuse of private information and breach of data protection laws. High Court documents revealed that he accused the company of causing him psychiatric harm and financial loss. Fremantle eventually agreed to an amicable resolution, apologising for the leak, settling out of court.

open image in gallery David Walliams and Elton John in Cannes ( David Walliams )

Like a lot of celebrities and funny men, David appears to thrive on adulation but struggles when it is taken away, a longtime colleague told me. That BGT gig was absolutely his dream job. He won Judge of the Year four times at the National Television Awards and did so well on the show that they shipped him halfway around the world and paid him a big chunk of change to appear on Australias Got Talent. He got to dress up, play the clown, and generally ham it up for adoring audiences. It was like oxygen for him. Losing that job was a real kick in the gut.

The end of his stint as Britains favourite TV judge was just the latest in a series of setbacks that have dented the once unshakeable confidence of the 54-year-old comic. How and if he will recover from the latest allegations, which led to his publisher dropping him, remains to be seen.

Raised in Banstead, Surrey, by engineer father Peter and devoted mother Kathleen, a lab technician, Walliams enjoyed a relatively mundane childhood. His older sister, Julie, sometimes dressed him in girls clothes, and a love of performing was instilled early. During school holidays, he performed with the National Youth Theatre, where he met future comedy partner Matt Lucas. At 18, he moved to Bristol, studied for a BA in drama, and joined the actors union Equity, adopting the stage name Walliams because there was already a member named David Williams.

A slow start in his twenties exploded into fame with Little Britain, which made him a household name. He positively revelled in making people uncomfortable by pushing boundaries. In 2011, Ofcom and Channel 4 received complaints about remarks he made on Chris Moyles Quiz Night regarding Harry Styles, then 17. A year earlier, Come Fly With Me had been the most-watched comedy of 2010.

open image in gallery David Walliams and Matt Lucas in Little Britain, which has since been removed from iPlayer because times have changed ( BBC )

During these heady days, he dated significantly younger women, including Lauren Budd, 18 at the time (he was 37). Later, he met Lara Stone, marrying her at Claridges Hotel. The money and fame were rolling in, alongside a carefully curated shift into national treasure territory through his charitable pursuits. He hosted telethons, swam the English Channel for Sport Relief, and then followed that up by swimming the Straits of Gibraltar. Then, in 2011, he swam the length of the River Thames  all 140 miles of it  which raised more than 2m in donations.

It came at a price, with Walliams suffering giardiasis and ultimately requiring surgery to repair a back injury suffered during the swim. It was at this point that he moved into the armchair role of TV talent show judge. Lara gave birth to a son, Alfred, in 2013, and Walliams settled down to life as a renowned author. His childrens books  illustrated by Roald Dahls legendary collaborator Quentin Blake  were a roaring success, routinely adapted for television.

Behind closed doors, however, all was not going quite so swimmingly. Prone to bouts of depression, when interviewed for Desert Island Discs, he admitted to persistent suicidal thoughts. He opened up about surviving a suicide attempt as a teenager in The Times. It was the first Christmas home from university in Bristol, in 1989, that I tried to kill myself, he said, explaining that the weight of his depression had become unbearable.

Id known something was wrong from an early age, he continued. A feeling of unbearable loneliness I could never escape.

open image in gallery Walliams (third from right) at Britains Got Talent auditions in 2019 ( Tim P. Whitby/Getty )

Of artistic temperament, he developed a reputation for taking criticism badly  from sulks and tantrums on set to a tendency to belittle women who rejected his advances (on one occasion he allegedly told a reluctant target of his affections: I cant understand your accent anyway!). His first marriage collapsed, and he filed for divorce in 2015, citing Laras unreasonable behaviour. Then his publisher, HarperCollins, permanently deleted one of Walliams short stories  Brian Wong Who Was Never, Ever Wrong  from its catalogue following complaints that it was racist and offensive.

Both Williams and Lucas have apologised for the way they used Blackface for laughs  Walliams once famously playing Desiree DeVere, a Black health-spa guest in a fat suit. Lucas would go on to tell The Big Issue, Basically, I wouldnt make that show now. It would upset people. We made a more cruel kind of comedy than Id do now.

As the tide began to turn, Britains Got Talent became Walliamss salvation, not least because of the seven-figure salary that accompanied the cushy role. But that was always a secondary motivation to his insatiable need to be liked and admired. Walliams threw himself into the job with gusto, declaring his endless adoration for the shows head judge and overlord, Simon Cowell. Never short of showbiz friendships, Walliams portrayed himself as a close friend of Cowell, though in truth the pair have little in common and rarely socialised away from the set. Theirs was a marriage of convenience  and this one was also to end in tears, when Walliams was caught in his hot mic moment.

For those who have worked closely with him down the years, it was an accident waiting to happen, given Walliamss love of pushing the boundaries of good taste with his banter. Not for nothing did Piers Morgan publicly describe him as one of the nastiest frauds in TV three years ago.

Walliamss man-of-the-people mask had finally slipped for all to see. As the storm raged around him, following the revelation of the comments hed made about contestants, he issued a half-hearted apology, saying: These were private conversations and  like most conversations with friends  were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.

It was to no avail. His lucrative contract was not renewed. Bruno Tonioli replaced him in the judges chair, and Walliams returned home to scribble more books in his study with Alfred and beloved border terriers Bert and Ernie for company.

Until recently, it looked like the dust had settled. Indeed, the past few years appear to have been rather enjoyable. A celebrity lunch in Cannes with Elton John, a jaunt to Malta where he appeared on the red carpet alongside Russell Crowe. His beloved mother Kathleen often pops up on his social media, as well as accompanying him to awards ceremonies and showbiz parties.

If it was hard to see his hard to see how there can be a clear way back for Walliams before, today it feels incomprehensible.

But let us be clear: David Walliams is not down to his last bucket of diamonds just yet. He has a beautiful townhouse in London and a seaside retreat in Brighton. Materially, he has the kind of good life that most of us can only imagine, but the idea that will translate into a good Christmas after being dropped by his publisher feels very unlikely indeed.
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The government has watered down its planned changes to inheritance tax that would have impacted thousands of farmers from next April.

The so-called tractor tax, which was first announced over a year ago, will see key changes to how agricultural and business property can be passed on.

However, the threshold at which this will kick in has now been substantially raised by the government  from 1m to 2.5m  following months of furious backlash to the changes.

Announcing the u-turn, environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: Farmers are at the heart of our food security and environmental stewardship, and I am determined to work with them to secure a profitable future for British farming.

open image in gallery Farmers and their tractors protest in Whitehall, London, in February ( PA Wire )

We have listened closely to farmers across the country and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms.

The move comes after a government-commissioned report warned ministers that British farmers are bewildered and frightened for the future of their industry, with many citing fears over changes to inheritance tax as a key concern.

Thousands of farmers have participated in a series of protests in the central London, several of which saw tractors driven to Parliament  often against the guidance of local police.

Heres everything you need to know about the issue:

What are the changes to farm tax?

Previously, farming businesses qualified for 100 per cent relief on inheritance tax on agricultural property and business property.

But now the tax is being imposed on farms worth more than 2.5 million  increased from 1 million  with an effective tax rate of 20 per cent on assets above the threshold, rather than the normal 40 per cent rate for inheritance tax.

A 50 per cent relief will also continue to apply to qualifying assets above the new level.

This means that the actual threshold before paying inheritance tax could be as much as 5 million, once exemptions for each partner in a couple and for the farm property are taken into account.

Why were the changes been brought in?

The government has said difficult decisions had to be made to fill the multibillion fiscal hole it inherited from the Conservatives, and it is targeting the agricultural inheritance tax relief to make it fairer.

It said figures showed that 7 per cent of the wealthiest estates account for 40 per cent of the total value of agricultural property relief, costing the Treasury 219 million.

But explaining the rationale behind the updated threshold, Ms Reynolds said: Its only right that larger estates contribute more, while we back the farms and trading businesses that are the backbone of Britains rural communities.

How many farmers will be affected by the changes?

According to the Treasury, only 11 per cent of estates claiming agricultural property relief (APR) were above the 2.5 million threshold in 2022/2023, suggesting that nearly nine-in-ten farmers will now not fall within the scope of the changes.

In comparison, 31 per cent of estates claiming APR were above the 1 million threshold in the same period.

The amount of estates now expected to pay inheritance tax under the changes has dropped from around 530 to around 180 following the change.

open image in gallery Jeremy Clarkson attends a farmer rally, November 2024 ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) says farm businesses have also qualified separately for business property relief, which can cover things such as harvested grain and livestock, machinery and diversified businesses such as camping on a farmers field.

Now the two are combined, with a single 2.5 million allowance before inheritance tax is levied, which could mean more farms are in scope.

But the government has countered this point by saying that looking at asset value alone does not necessarily mean a farm will be affected, as it depends on individual circumstances.

How have farmers responded to the update?

One of the key criticisms from the NFU was that the tractor tax evidenced a lack of understanding from the government over how the farming industry works.

The unions leaders argued that, while farms may have a high nominal asset value  the value of their land and business assets  the returns from farming are often very low, so farming families may not have the reserves to pay for inheritance tax liabilities without selling off assets.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw has welcomed the new changes, saying: I am thankful common sense has prevailed and government has listened.

He added: The original changes to APR and BPR, contained within the finance bill, resulted in a pernicious and cruel tax, trapping the most elderly and vulnerable people and their families in the eye of the storm. The NFU and its members have stood strong for what we believed in.

From the start, the government said it was trying to protect the family farm and the change announced today brings this much closer to reality for many.
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When Peter Boxell dreamed that he was singing a song to his son Lee, who had been missing for 25 years, he never imagined it would eventually take him to the final of Britains Got Talent.

In 2013, the father casually mentioned the dream to someone from the charity Missing People and, by the following day, arrangements had been made for him to visit a recording studio and work with a producer ahead of a Christmas event at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London.

He told The Independent: I didn't know what to say, because she had gone through all this trouble, and I've always wanted to see the inside of a recording studio. So I said, Yes, I'll go, thinking that once they heard me sing, they'll probably think of an excuse not to have me sing the song at the event.

But that December, Mr Boxell performed the song Where Is Lee? to a congregation at the church. Ive got a very loud voice, so I didn't need the microphone or the PA system, he said.

open image in gallery The choir give Peter Boxell something to take my mind off my loss ( Missing People )

I filled the church with my voice, and I felt as though I was singing to my son. It's a really strange feeling. It was really cathartic and really uplifting, and I actually got a standing ovation.

Alongside the charity Missing People, The Independent is aiming to raise 165,000 to launch SafeCall, a free new service to help the 70,000 children reported missing each year find support and safety no matter what.

After hearing of Mr Boxells experience, music producer James Hawkins and Clare Cook from the charity decided to form the Missing People Choir for people with missing loved ones. The group aims to raise awareness of the issue that has devastated so many families, while also helping to ease the burden they face.

More than a decade on, the group of more than 20 people has performed with The Vamps at Londons O2 Arena and reached the final of Britains Got Talent in 2017.

open image in gallery The Missing People Choir made it to the final of Britains Got Talent in 2017 ( ITV )

Its television appearance ended up reuniting two missing people with their families after they saw their faces publicised during the performance and returned home.

Donate here or text SAFE to 70577 to give 10 to Missing People  enough for one child to get help.

Mr Boxell, whose son Lee went missing in 1988, said: It is a great loss when a child goes missing. My son has been missing since he was 15. Now he would be in his fifties. It's been very hard for me, but I do look forward to each month when we get together, and that does help me enormously.

We rehearse together and meet together. That gives me something to take my mind off my loss.

We're all good friends and we all help each other and support each other, and it is like a little community, really.

open image in gallery The group comes together from across the country each month to rehearse or perform ( Missing People )

For Mr Boxell, one of his favourite performances took place at Cornbury Music Festival in Oxfordshire. He said: I'll never forget that. There were about 40 of us and we all stood on an enormous stage. When we walked on to perform, the whole field was filled with thousands of people, mostly families, all waving and cheering.

Bek Stratfield, another member of the choir, joined after her 17-year-old son Finn went missing in Cornwall in 2017. It is obviously a place where no one wants to be, but we get together and there's an empathy and compassion within the choir and the supporters of the choir as well, she said.

Sometimes, if I think I'm going to get slightly nervous, I just think of why I'm doing it  and I'm doing it for my son, Finn. To be honest, that's all I think about really, trying to get the words right.

The choir aims to meet at least once a month to perform or rehearse, with its repertoire including original songs written for the group, as well as songs with lyrics that reflect their experiences.

Mr Boxell said: It helps us to come together, and we get a degree of comfort out of that. Just being together in the same room, singing together, we don't have to talk to each other... Well sing, and it's so uplifting for everybody to do that.

Please donate now to The Independent and Missing Peoples SafeCall campaign, which aims to raise 165,000 to create a free, nationwide service helping vulnerable children find safety and support.

For advice, support and options if you or someone you love goes missing, text or call the charity Missing People on 116 000. Its free, confidential and non-judgemental. Or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help
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A retired couple from the United States who were looking forward to their first Christmas on their canal boat will now have to stay in a hotel after a huge sinkhole opened up in Shropshire.

The giant hole emerged in the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire on Monday, leaving several narrow boats stranded in the hole or teetering on the edge of a drop.

Geoff and Pamela Poole were just three boats away from the breach and said their boat started listing. Ms Poole told the BBC that their neighbours woke them up by knocking on the door at 4.20am on Monday.

She said: The whole boat was listing and everything had fallen. I had literally just watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas last night, and I saw the Christmas tree on the floor with broken ornaments.

open image in gallery The scene in Whitchurch, Shropshire, where emergency services declared a major incident ( PA )

The pair had been planning to spend their first Christmas on their boat and had been on it for just two-and-a-half months.

Ms Poole said: We have the cutest little tree, our bed is all covered in little lights. Id made a homemade wreath.

open image in gallery Geoff and Pamela Poole were just three boats away from the breach and said their boat started listing on Monday morning. ( PA )

Mr Poole told the BBC: We literally retired, left two kids back in the States, flew over here, bought the boat back in May and then spent months getting it ready. Thats the end of our plans for the winter.

Although they will be able to visit family on Christmas Day, the couple will have to spend Christmas in a hotel as they dont have a spare bed.

open image in gallery Ten people were helped to safety after a 50m-long sinkhole breached a canal in Shropshire, leaving several narrow boats stranded ( PA )

Another man told of his narrow escape from his listing canal boat in the middle of the night. Bob Wood, 75, had been sleeping on his boat when he woke up in the middle of the night to use the toilet.

He said: I got up and thought, We are leaning a bit. I thought I was in the middle of a big storm. There was the sound of a lot of water.

I opened the back door to see why we were tilting and realised it was not raining at all, and it was the water running away under the boat. I jumped on the back and stepped off, and that bit was going down at that second. The back went eight feet in the air and I landed on my front.

More than 10 people were rescued after the sinkhole opened up. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after the significant breach on the Shropshire Union Canal in Chemistry, Whitchurch, on Monday morning.

Three boats were caught up in the sinkhole, measuring 50m in length and width, according to the service. Aerial images showed one boat partly hanging over the drop into the hole.
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The UK could be set to have had its warmest year on record, forecasters say, with a warning that we are currently living in extraordinary times.

The Met Office said that 2025 is on track to possibly surpass 2022 to take the top spot, after a hot summer and mild temperatures across the majority of the year.

So far, the average annual temperature is tracking at 10.05C, ahead of the previous record of 10.03C set in 2022.

open image in gallery A graph showing the UK's warmest years on record ( PA Wire )

A forecasted cold spell over Christmas means the final figure is not yet confirmed.

If confirmed, 2025 will be only the second year in observational records where the UKs annual mean temperature has topped 10C.

Four of the last five years will then appear in the top five warmest years since records began in 1884, with all of the top 10 warmest years occurring in the last two decades.

Mike Kendon is a senior scientist in the Met Offices climate information team. He said: If confirmed at year end this will be the second annual UK temperature record for the UK this decade with the previous being in 2022. This should come as no surprise.

Over the last four decades we have seen the UKs annual temperature rise by around 1.0C. We will have to wait for the year end before confirming 2025s final number, but at this stage it looks more likely than not that 2025 will be confirmed as the warmest year on record for the UK.

However, it will not be long until this record is broken again. Since the start of the 21st Century a new record has been set for UK annual mean temperature no less than six times  in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2022 and now 2025 (if confirmed)  each record progressively warmer than the last.

open image in gallery Parts of the UK saw wildfires this year as the country faced three heatwaves ( Jacob King/PA Wire )

In terms of our climate, we are living in extraordinary times. The changes we are seeing are unprecedented in observational records back to the 19th Century.

Professor of climate science Friederike Otto said: The finding is devastating and utterly unsurprising, 10C might not sound very warm, but it is an average and means much higher temperatures in the summer, high temperatures that would have never been possible are now common and that is not good news.

Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: This is further evidence of the impacts of climate change in the UK, and the urgent need for us to stop warming by leading the world in reaching net zero emissions of greenhouse gases as soon as possible.
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The government has warned Englands council leaders against introducing four-day weeks for staff, despite studies showing they can be beneficial for workers.

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has written to local authorities, stating that they could be considered to be failing if workers receive a full weeks wages for four days of work.

In a letter to councils, Mr Reed said local authorities should not be offering full-time pay for part-time work, The Telegraph reported.

Mr Reed reportedly wrote: The provision the current guidance makes in relation to the four-day week remains in force and that I take this issue very seriously, in particular that council staff undertaking part-time work for full-time pay without compelling justification would be considered an indicator, among a wide range of factors, of potential failure.

I hope that makes my position on this matter and the Governments policy unambiguously clear to all councils. We will set out further detail in due course in the new Best Value Guidance.

open image in gallery Steve Reed, Secretary of Housing, Communities and Local Government ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

The Liberal Democrat-led South Cambridgeshire District Council became the first local authority in England to move to a four-day week on a permanent basis, making the decision in July after a trial which began in 2023.

Mr Reed expressed his disapproval with that decision, at the time writing that the district councils housing service had declined.

The Independent has approached the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment.

Responding to Mr Reed, South Cambridgeshire District Council told The Independent that the four-day week arrangement saves public money and has improved performance.

Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: We are surprised at this latest letter  especially considering we have not yet received any feedback from our recent meeting with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government when we outlined how transformational our four-day week has been.

Since implementing the four-day week  a working arrangement in which staff do 100 per cent of their work in 32 hours each week  we have delivered an annual saving of almost 400,000, maintained and improved performance, staff turnover has decreased by 41% and the number of applications for roles has surged by 123 per cent.

Cllr Smith also said the four-day week had helped the council overcome issues in its planning department and said the results speak for themselves.

She added: The independently assessed data for the trial showed that our performance had either improved or remained the same, bar three areas relating to housing. Independent analysis shows that these were due to factors completely independent of the four-day working week. For example, the cost-of-living crisis. In fact, we are a top performing Council nationally in these areas and our performance is improving further.

open image in gallery South Cambridgeshire District Council office ( (Alamy/PA) )

Studies have shown that four-day weeks can be beneficial for staff and organisations alike.

A large trial involving 61 companies and almost 3,000 workers took place in the UK from June to December 2022 saw staff working four days a week.

Companies were not required to use one particular type of working time reduction or four-day week, so long as pay was maintained at 100 per cent and employees had a meaningful reduction in work time.

According to the Autonomy Institute, which worked on the study, 56 of the 61 companies continued with a four-day week after the trial, with 18 making it permanent.

It found that 71 per cent of workers had reduced levels of burnout while seeing an increase in ability to balance their work and personal lives.

Company revenue stayed broadly the same over the trial period, rising by 1.4 per cent on average, weighted by company size, across organisations, the study found. The number of staff leaving the firms also decreased by 57 per cent over the trial period.

Likewise, a trial in the public sector in Scotland yielded overwhelmingly positive results earlier this year.

Workers at two Scottish public sector bodies  Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE)  switched to a 32-hour week with no loss of pay or benefits during the year-long trial.

A total of 259 workers are employed between the two organisations, with almost all participating in the trial. In both cases, staff reported less work-related stress and greater satisfaction with their job and work-life balance.

Almost all workers at SOSE (98 per cent) said the four-day week trial improved morale and motivation in the workplace, while those who reported feeling very satisfied with their work-life balance rose from four per cent to 84 per cent after just nine months.
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Farmers across the country are celebrating after Sir Keir Starmer caved in following months of pressure from farmers and watered down plans to tax inherited farmland.

Under the plans, announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves last year, farmers were to be charged 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1m from April 2026. This triggered a storm of fury, with fears that family-run farms would be worst affected.

But on Tuesday, Labour said it was raising the threshold from 1m to 2.5m, meaning that most farms would not have to pay it.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer has faced strong criticism from rural communities over the inheritance tax raid on farms ( AFP via Getty )

The climbdown comes after crunch talks between National Farmers Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw and the prime minister last week, The Independent understands, following a year of protests about the measures.

Gareth Wyn Jones, a farmer from North Wales who was one of the leaders of the protests against the tax, told The Independent the announcement was great news, while former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who has also been very critical of the policy, welcomed the climbdown.

Meanwhile, a farmer whose father killed himself the day before last Octobers Budget amid worries over the inheritance tax changes said the governments climbdown was the best Christmas present for a lot of farmers, but he accused ministers of demonstrating a complete lack of understanding and compassion in relation to rural communities.

Jonathan Charlesworth, who found his father John Philip Charlesworth dead in a barn on their farm in Silkstone, Barnsley, said: Its a welcome U-turn that wont bring back the lives lost over the last year or so due to the anxiety caused, but will hopefully prevent a flood of suicides running up to the commencement in April.

He added: The flip side is, it should have been researched and put out to review before any announcement was made.

The higher threshold, which will take effect in April, will allow spouses or civil partners to pass on up to 5m in qualifying agricultural or business assets between them before paying inheritance tax, on top of existing allowances, Defra said.

In addition, farmers will get 50 per cent relief on qualifying assets above the threshold, paying a reduced effective rate of up to 20 per cent rather than the standard 40 per cent.

The number of estates facing higher inheritance tax will be reduced from around 2,000 under the original plans to around 1,100, meaning it will affect only the largest farms, according to the government.

Farmers do not currently pay inheritance tax on agricultural and business assets.

Mr Bradshaw said: After months of NFU campaigning, the government has today announced changes to the threshold for inheritance tax for family farms. These changes mark a huge victory for British farmers.

open image in gallery Farmers have been taking their protest to parliament since the plans were first announced ( Reuters )

Campaign group No Farmers, No Food welcomed the news, but warned that the climbdown did not go far enough. They said: Huge news for family farmers. The Labour government have finally U-turned on the inheritance tax on family farms. Its still not enough, but its still a huge victory for everyone who has relentlessly campaigned on this.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said: This partial change to the disastrous family farm tax is welcome. It has caused months of unnecessary pain and suffering. Its clear the government has realised that the growing perception that it is at war with the countryside is toxic.

Whether the government will learn the fundamental lesson of this policy debacle, which is that it needs to work with the rural community  not legislate against it  remains to be seen. The government has a very long way to go to rebuild trust.

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: Farmers are at the heart of our food security and environmental stewardship, and I am determined to work with them to secure a profitable future for British farming. We have listened closely to farmers across the country, and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms.

Its only right that larger estates contribute more, while we back the farms and trading businesses that are the backbone of Britains rural communities.

The fury over the so-called tractor tax or family farm tax prompted regular protests in London, with tractors descending on Whitehall.

After Sir Keir had reached out to the farming community before the 2024 election, the change to inheritance tax was seen as a breach of trust, with farming groups warning that even with the climbdown today, Labour will find it hard to win back their confidence.

open image in gallery Environment secretary Emma Reynolds announced the newly amended plan ( PA Wire )

The issue dominated responses to a recent review of farming incomes and profitability, carried out on behalf of the government by former NFU president Minette Batters, which was published last week.

Even tax expert Dan Neidle, the architect of the proposal to introduce inheritance tax on farm assets, had warned that the original 1m threshold was far too low and should have been closer to 20m.

Tory shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins described the climbdown as too little, too late.

She posted on X (Twitter): At long last, Labour has snuck out a partial U-turn on their vindictive family farm tax. It is too late for some, however. Businesses and lives have been lost. Rural communities will not forget the distress, pain and panic this government has caused them.

The Liberal Democrats rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron welcomed the news, but added: It is utterly inexcusable that family farmers have been put through over a year of uncertainty and anguish since the government first announced these changes.

Reform UKs deputy leader Richard Tice said: This cynical climbdown  whilst better than nothing  does little to address the year of anxiety that farmers have faced in planning to protect their livelihoods.

This is just the latest major economic policy Sir Keirs government has U-turned on in the 17 months since winning the election. The attempt to get rid of winter fuel payments for 11 million pensioners was largely abandoned, while the government stepped back from a bid to slash welfare by 5bn a year after a rebellion by Labour MPs.

Sir Keir also reversed his position on keeping the two-child benefit cap after pressure. And a planned hike in income tax was abandoned before it was implemented after the chancellor had announced it was likely to happen.

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Sir Keir Starmer has highlighted the persistent struggle with the cost of living across Britain, noting that "hardship can feel even more acute" during the festive season, in his Christmas message. The Prime Minister, meanwhile, urged the public to "reach out" to friends, family, and neighbours, stressing that "we should each do our bit".

These messages arrive at the close of a challenging year for the government, which has seen little progress in its economic growth agenda.

The Bank of England recently cautioned that growth is projected to stagnate in the final quarter of 2025, following a downward trend throughout the year. Consumer confidence also remained subdued in the run-up to Christmas, impacted by ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

In his video address released on Christmas Eve, Sir Keir extended gratitude to those working through the holidays.

"Just as so many put their feet up, some truly special people will be pulling on their uniforms and heading out to work," he stated.

open image in gallery The Prime Minister said we should each do our bit as he urged Britons to reach out to friends, relatives and neighbours ( PA Wire )

He specifically acknowledged "Our NHS staff emergency services and the brave men and women of our armed forces all playing their part, doing their bit to care for the nation and to keep us safe." He also paid tribute to volunteers: "Many volunteers will be out there as well. Serving food. Reaching out to help those lonely or in need."

Sir Keir concluded his thanks by saying: "So on behalf of the whole country, I want to say a big thank you. As a nation, we should raise a glass to you this Christmas. But more than that, we should each do our bit as well."

open image in gallery The Prime Minister said we should each do our bit as he urged Britons to reach out to friends, relatives and neighbours ( PA Wire )

He reiterated his focus on economic challenges: "I know many across Britain are still struggling with the cost of living. Helping with that is my priority." Emphasising community spirit, he added: "But at this time of the year, which celebrates love and abundance, loss or hardship can feel even more acute. So call around to a neighbour. Check in on a friend or a relative who you havent heard from for a while. Reach out. It can make a huge difference. That is what Christmas is about."

The Labour leader has navigated internal party challenges this year, leading to shifts on several policy fronts, including proposals to cut winter fuel payments and reforms aimed at curbing the rising welfare bill.

Concurrently, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who completed her first year as leader without a formal challenge after facing leadership speculation, reflected on a demanding period.

open image in gallery Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described her first year as leader the biggest challenge of my life in her own Christmas message ( House of Commons )

She described it as "the biggest challenge of my life" in her own Christmas message. "Life can be amazing, but it can also be bumpy," she remarked.

"Christmas is a chance to reflect on the year thats been, be grateful for the good things, mourn what we may have lost, and look forward to what we are going to do in the coming year." She expressed gratitude, stating: "With that in mind, I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me during my first year as Leader of the Opposition. Its been the biggest challenge of my life, but its also been a wonderful year. I cant wait to get back to work next year to create a better United Kingdom."

Her message followed a government announcement to increase the inheritance tax relief threshold for farmers from 1 million to 2.5 million, a move that came after months of protests and warnings from the agricultural sector.

While Sir Keir and Mrs Badenoch opted for Christmas trees as backdrops for their video messages, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey made the Norwegian spruce behind him the central theme of his address. He noted: "Now this Christmas tree behind me gets a lot of abuse every year. The social media trolls who spread right wing conspiracy theories like to compare it to the tree in New York City, in Warsaw and in Budapest. They say it is an example of our countrys decline."

Sir Ed conceded: "And I have to admit  on the surface it does look a little underwhelming. But its also my favourite Christmas tree." He then explained its significance: "You see, this tree is a gift from the people of Oslo to the people of Britain for our support during the Second World War. Theyve sent one every year since 1947. Its a wonderful tradition that reminds us of the greatest generation and the sacrifices they made." He added that it evoked thoughts of "people standing together in tough times  whether against the Nazis in the 1940s, or right now in Ukraine."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage shared images of himself undertaking "Christmas deliveries in Clacton" on Tuesday.
Ive written five political biographies in my time as a journalist and broadcast numerous television profiles. I especially love delving into peoples childhoods and schooldays for early clues of what was to come. And for Nigel Farage, more than anyone else Ive studied, one can see so many aspects of the Reform leader of today in his teenage self.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Farage, now 61, attended Dulwich College, the distinguished south London private school whose alumni include Ernest Shackleton and PG Wodehouse. In the sixth form, Farage stood out among his slovenly, scruffy peers for always wearing a neat, spotless jacket and tie, and highly polished leather shoes. He loved discussion and argument. When his teacher organised class debates and called for a volunteer to propose the motion, Farages hand would shoot up. If rejected, hed volunteer for the opposite side.

He was known for being provocative and disruptive with his views, and for enjoying winding up trendy, left-wing English masters. Farage now is strikingly like the Farage of then. Then, as later, the Dulwich schoolboy could be disruptive and divisive. As a teenager, he was impressed by two well-known speakers who visited the college: Enoch Powell and Margaret Thatchers key philosophical mentor, Keith Joseph, whose speech hes since said encouraged him to join the Conservative Party. It was during this time that Farage developed the English nationalist outlook we see today, with particular concerns about immigration.

open image in gallery Farage was known for being provocative and disruptive with his views, and for enjoying winding up trendy, left-wing English masters ( Nigel Farage )

In 2013, I made a film for Channel 4 News, which included a letter from a young teacher, Chloe Deakin, to David Emms, the Dulwich headmaster (formally called The Master). In it, she opposed his decision in 1981 to make Farage a prefect at 17, describing him as having publicly professed racist and neo-fascist views.

The head and his deputy dismissed the charges against Farage as examples of him just being provocative. When confronted by these accusations in 2013, Farage said: Any accusation I was ever involved in far-right politics is utterly untrue. Other former pupils of the school told Channel 4 that Mr Farages views were merely Thatcherite. And it should be noted that many contemporaries I spoke to didnt recognise the picture of Farage as a fascist either.

When I confronted Farage for the Channel 4 film, he seemed surprisingly relaxed on camera when he admitted to me about his schooldays: Of course I said some ridiculous things. Racist things? I asked. Not necessarily racist things. It depends on how you define it.

It was only later, when I wrote my independent biography of Farage, One Party After Another: The Disruptive Life of Nigel Farage (2022), that my ex-wife and I tracked down a number of former pupils and teachers and were able to get a more complete picture.

Among those I contacted was a Jewish film producer who was happy for me to quote his words, but didnt want his name in the book. He alleged that Farage told him that he ought to be gassed. When The Guardian published their investigation in 2025, the film producer was now happy to be named as Peter Ettedgui.

He would sidle up to me and growl, Hitler was right, or Gas them, Ettedgui claimed, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers  Id never experienced antisemitism growing up, so the first time this vicious verbal abuse came out of Farages mouth was deeply shocking.

open image in gallery In the late 1970s and early 1980s Farage attended Dulwich College ( Getty )

Ettedgui also suggested that Farage was openly racist towards Black and Asian boys: Id hear him calling other students P*** or W**, and urging them to go home. I tried to ignore him, but it was humiliating. It was shaming. This kind of abuse cuts through to the core of your identity.

The Guardian quoted one Asian former pupil who claimed that when he was a young boy at Dulwich, Farage  by then in the sixth form  would pick on Asian children in the junior school. That included me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: Thats the way back, to wherever you replied you were from  It was a very horrible ordeal. Another fellow pupil, Tim France, was quoted as saying, He would often be doing Nazi salutes and saying Sieg heil and, you know, strutting around the classroom. He was a member of the cadet force, [so] often being in uniform. And, yeah, it might have been for shock value, partly, but I think, you know, clearly, he also is very right-wing politically.

He was saying really, really unpleasant things, really things that you just knew were wrong. You cant really defend it as being a joke, or that he was too young to know any better. We were 18.

open image in gallery The politician has always tried to brush stories from his schooldays aside ( PA )

Both The Guardian and I heard from witnesses who claimed Farage sang a notorious song called Gas em all, a vile variation of the 1940s George Formby wartime song Bless Em All (The Long and the Short and the Tall). Farage strongly denies that.

The Reform leader has always tried to brush stories from his schooldays aside, often light-heartedly. Before my book came out, eight years ago, Farage told me that the terms of abuse thrown around between 15-year-old boys were limitless; there were no boundaries. I think red-haired boys fared especially badly.

But that has changed recently. In November, Farage gave a TV interview about his behaviour at Dulwich. Asked if he had racially abused fellow pupils at school, he replied: No, this is 49 years ago, by the way. Forty-nine years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where theyre from? No. When pressed again to categorically deny the claims, he said: I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way. Its 49 years ago. Its 49 years ago. I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I cant. Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse, genuine abuse, on that basis? No. When asked yet again whether he had racially abused anyone, he responded: No, not with intent.

He then released a statement in which he said: I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in The Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago ... It is only now that my party is leading in the polls that these allegations come out. I will leave the public to draw their own conclusions about why that might be  We know that The Guardian wants to smear anybody who talks about the immigration issue. But the truth is that I have done more in my career to defeat extremism and far-right politics than anybody else in the UK, from my time fighting the BNP right up to today.

Farages barrister, Adam Richardson, later threatened to sue The Guardian for aggravated damages, saying that Farage emphatically denied the allegations as wholly untrue. A Reform spokesperson said the allegations were a case of one word against another.

open image in gallery During his adult life, Farage has been a strong supporter of Israel ( AFP/Getty )

His denials may deepen the hurt felt by many of those who are now saying that they were on the receiving end of his comments. Diehard Reform supporters may not care about these stories, but others will feel very uncomfortable. Farage and Reform need a much wider appeal to form a government. They risk alienating not just Jewish voters, but middle-of-the-road Labour, Conservative, and Liberal supporters tempted to switch to Reform but who care about racism and antisemitism.

I dont believe that Farage has been an antisemite during his adult life, and he has been a strong supporter of Israel. Nor do I believe he is racist these days, though he sometimes seems to pander to those who are. He is, as he pointed out in his statement, proud of the way, under his leadership, he helped see off the racist BNP in the 2000s, and he resigned from Ukip in 2018 after one of his successors as leader began consorting with Tommy Robinson.

What is also significant is that during my research, I spoke to dozens of people from his various parties who had fallen out with Farage (he falls out with many colleagues). Although they had plenty of negative things to say about him, only one accused him of being racist.

The barrister for Reform UK has been emphatic in his denial of the latest allegations, describing them as wholly untrue. Richardson said: The suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied.

However, speaking to reporters on the way to the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Keir Starmer said Farage still had questions to answer about the alleged racist comments and chants when at school.

The PM said: He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible. He hasnt got a good track record in relation to this because Sarah Pochin, his MP, made some clearly racist comments and Nigel Farage has done absolutely nothing about it.

He added: The man is spineless. If that had been someone in my party, Id have dealt with it straight away. He needs to explain the latest allegations, and whilst hes at it, he needs to explain why hes too spineless to take action in relation to what is obvious racism in the comments of his fellow MP.

When The Independent contacted Reform about the allegations, they declined to make any further comment.
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Palestine Action hunger strikers have initiated legal proceedings against the government as they accuse it of abandoning its own prison safety policy framework.

A legal firm representing the activists has submitted a pre-action letter to Justice Secretary David Lammy as several imprisoned members, including one who has refused food for 51 days, have been hospitalised due to rapidly deteriorating health.

The letter, dispatched on Monday, outlines the groups intention to pursue legal action, citing the governments alleged abandonment of its own prison safety policy framework.

Strikers claim they have sent multiple letters to Mr Lammy, who also serves as deputy prime minister, but have received no response.

Seen by the Press Association, the urgent communication demands a response within 24 hours, stressing that the issue is a "matter of urgency" as "our clients health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day."

It further requests "an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation."

open image in gallery Amu Gib is one of the prisoners to have been admitted to hospital ( Prisoners For Palestine )

Since the hunger strike commenced on 2 November, seven prisoners have been admitted to hospital. Among them are Amu Gib, 30, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, from Pentonville Prison in London.

Two people have had to end their hunger strikes due to health conditions. Jon Cink, 25, ended his on day 41, while Umer Khalid, 22, ended theirs on day 13.

Gib, now on day 51 of their strike, was hospitalised on Saturday and reportedly requires a wheelchair due to their rapidly declining condition. Ahmed is currently on day 43 of his strike.

Last Thursday, emergency physician Dr James Smith warned journalists that some of the activists "are dying" and require specialist medical intervention.

Sending a letter with the signatures of over 800 doctors, Dr Smith warned the strikers were at very high risk of serious complications, including organ failure, irreversible neurological damage, cardiac arrhythmias, and death."

open image in gallery Qesser Zuhrah, 20, was refused an ambulance for more than 12 hours ( Prisoners For Palestine )

The prisoners face charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage carried out on behalf of Palestine Action, prior to the group being banned under terrorism legislation.

Gib is accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painting two RAF Voyager planes. Ahmed faces charges of causing 1 million of damage with sledgehammers at the UK site of an Israel-based defence firm near Patchway, Bristol, in August 2024.

The strikers demands include the de-proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group and for the ban to be lifted and the shutting down of defence firms linked to Israel. They also called for the immediate bail for their prisoners, the right to a fair trial, and for the protection of freedom of expression while in prison as the allege letters have gone missing and phone calls have been blocked.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We strongly refute these claims. We want these prisoners to accept support and get better, and we will not create perverse incentives that would encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes."

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer previously affirmed that "rules and procedures" are being followed, while Prisons minister Lord Timpson has maintained that the service is "very experienced" in handling hunger strikes, possessing "robust and working" systems.

Lord Timpson added that the Prison Service "will not be meeting" any prisoners or their representatives.
A third Palestine Action prisoner on hunger strike has now ended their protest. Qesser Zuhrah, one of the first to take part in the action, which began on 2 November, has decided not to continue, leaving five of the original eight still refusing to eat either completely or intermittently.

Amy Gardiner-Gibson (also known as Amu Gib), Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha and Kamran Ahmad have reportedly been refusing food for between 42 and 49 days; because of diabetes, Lewie Chiaramello has only been eating every other day. Gib and Zuhrah are in hospital. All are aged between 20 and 31, and all are due to stand trial in 2026 or 2027.

On Tuesday, climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action. In a video shared by Prisoners for Palestine, the 22-year-old can be seen holding a sign: I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide. The group targeted the offices of Aspen Insurance, saying it provides services to Israel-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.

What do the prisoners want?

Demands include immediate bail; a fair trial (they say authorities must release unredacted correspondence about activists between British and Israeli officials and arms dealers); unbanning Palestine Action; and the closure of UK factories that are supplying arms to Israel. They also claim that prison officers have been denying them mail, calls and books.

The closure of private businesses, a change in the governments stance, and a vote in parliament lifting the ban on Palestine Action are particularly difficult to achieve, because they are matters of policy. Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation and banned by the government last July. To reverse that now, simply because of a prisoner protest, would be a considerable blow to the authority of the government. Closing defence factories would probably be even more difficult.

In any case, granting bail is not up to David Lammy; the judiciary is supposed to be independent.

How are the prisoners being treated?

Guidelines operated by HM Prisons and the NHS suggest that doctors should supervise decisions taken about the medical treatment of hunger strikers. Force-feeding or using a drip isnt a readily available option under the guidance, as it requires consent, but perhaps it could be if the prisoners lacked the mental capacity to make a decision.

What next?

The groups lawyers have asked for talks with Lammy, which he has refused. They have warned him that they will ask the High Court for a judicial review if he continues to refuse. The Ministry of Justice says Lammy has responded to and will continue to respond to correspondence on this issue, and is being kept informed of the situation.

Will the strikers die in prison?

It is possible, and relatively soon, depending on how the authorities decide to care for them. The hunger strikers lawyers say: We are concerned that, should this situation be allowed to continue without resolution, there is the real and increasingly likely potential that young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence.

The consequences of martyrdom can be grievous indeed, including the kind of wider violence that the proscription of Palestine Action was supposed to stop.

What can Lammy do?

It is difficult for him to reverse counterterrorism policy or end all arms sales to Israel. The last time there was a major campaign involving hunger strikes was when IRA prisoners demanded political status in the 1970s and 80s. This episode included the death in 1981 of republican hero Bobby Sands, who had by then also been elected an MP in his absence at a by-election; his case led to a huge upsurge in violence.

Those strikes ended when the families intervened and requested the authorities to save the prisoners lives, while the British government made symbolic concessions to their special status.

Another precedent Lammy could look to is that of the suffragettes who were starving themselves to death in the early 20th century in order to secure votes for women. Force-feeding them through a tube was a deeply humiliating tactic that shocked the public.

In response, the then Liberal government passed the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act 1913, allowing the home secretary to temporarily release any prisoner morbidly weakened by hunger strike; it meant the government could not be blamed if the prisoner died at home, but the prisoner could be re-arrested and returned to jail if they recovered.

This was likened to the way that a cat will allow its prey to escape before catching it again, and the law became known as the Cat and Mouse Act. However, this solution incentivises all kinds of prisoners to starve themselves to freedom in the hope of evading subsequent recapture. Its probably not what Keir Starmer and Lammy went into politics to do.
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Reform UKs lead in the polls has dramatically dropped in an end of year survey, leading polling experts to suggest support for Nigel Farages party may have peaked.

A YouGov poll carried out on 21 and 22 December has shown that Reforms vote share has dropped by three points to 25 per cent, their lowest for more than six months.

Meanwhile, both Labour and the Tories have gained two points, up to 20 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice noted that Reform have been on a steady decline since peaking at an average of 32 per cent in September.

He said: Reform averaging 29 per cent this month though only five companies polled. This is compared with the peak tally of 32 per cent in September and has slipped a point a month since.

Nigel Farages long time lead in the polls is under threat ( Getty Images )

The Tories are now losing 28 per cent of their 2024 support to Reform rather than 34 per cent in September and are up a couple of points overall. There is not much consistent sign of a Labour recovery though.

Another expert, Lord Robert Hayward, said that the result appears to confirm that support for Nigel Farages Reform is in decline.

He pointed to a poll commissioned by former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft over the weekend which suggested that Reform was on 25 per cent and the Conservatives just three points behind on 22 per cent. Although in that poll Labour was on 18 per cent.

He said: Both polls show clear Reform decline and Tory rise. Im confused by Labour figures.

Pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common added: This definitely does appear Reform are down from their highs.

The YouGov poll also suggests that the surge in populist leftwing support for the Greens is also going into reverse, down two points to 15 per cent.

But the fall in support for Reform appears to have coincided with a number of recent struggles by Mr Farage and his party.

The Reform UK leader has been accused of using racist and antisemitic language during his school days, which he has denied.

Meanwhile, their mayoral candidate for Hampshire, former rear admiral Chris Parry, has also been embroiled in racism allegations after suggesting deputy prime minister David Lammy should go home to the Caribbean even though he was born and brought up in London.

Added to that Reform has faced embarrassment and questions over their Russia links following the conviction of the partys former Welsh leader Nathan Gill for taking money from Vladimir Putins regime.

The poll also showed a small increase for the Lib Dems on 15 per cent.

But the findings could be good news for Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, both of whom were entering 2026 with question marks over their political futures.

However, the likelihood is that both will still need better than expected results in the May elections in Scotland, Wales, London and English councils to ensure they are not replaced as leaders of their parties.
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U.S. regulators on Monday approved a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, marking the first time a daily oral medication has been green-lit to treat obesity.

The change is expected to drive even further adoption of the already widely popular GLP-1 class of drugs and help fight chronic obesity around the world.

We now have injectable-like efficacy in a once-daily pill, David Moore, executive vice president of Wegovy maker Novo Nordisks U.S. operations, told The Wall Street Journal. And thats a change from where weve been in terms of treating obesity.

GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, which also comes in an injectable form, mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

The Food and Drug Administrations approval of the Wegovy pill is expected to help drive further use of such drugs, which some have avoided due to the higher cost of injections, which can be priced at upwards of $1,000 per month, as well as issues with insurance and fear of needles.

open image in gallery The Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave the green light to Novo Nordisks Wegovy pill, the first time an oral GLP-1 treatment has been approved, a development expected to expand access to the blockbuster category of weight-loss drugs ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

This is a meaningful step forward in the field, Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist who runs a weight loss clinic in Cary, North Carolina, told NBC News. It wont replace injectables, but it broadens our tool kit in an important way.

Pills are familiar, non-intimidating and fit more naturally into most peoples routines, he added. For many patients, a pill isnt just easier, its psychologically more acceptable.

Last month, the Trump administration announced a deal with Novo Nordisk to offer starting doses of the Wegovy pill for $149 a month. Now that the medication has been approved, it is expected to go to market in the coming weeks.

The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That's the same ingredient in injectables such as Wegovy and Ozempic, as well as Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.

open image in gallery The Wegovy pill is expected to generate sales of nearly $2 billion in 2030 for drugmaker Novo Nordisk, according to analysts ( AFP/Getty )

In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6 percent of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2 percent loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. Thats nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, whose patients saw an average weight loss of about 15 percent.

Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined a Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he told The Associated Press.

If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didnt realize it, Mertens said.

Dr. David Kessler, a former commission of the FDA, warned in an interview with The New York Times that these results will need to be validated in the real world.

open image in gallery GLP-1 drugs tackle obesity by mimicking hormones that control the appetite and feelings of fullness ( Getty Images )

What were learning is the actual effectiveness of these drugs really are going to need to be determined by real-world evidence, he told the paper. Trials always look better than they are in practice.

In recent years, Novo Nordisks injectable Wegovy and Lillys Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.

About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group.

The Wegovy pill is expected to generate sales of nearly $2 billion in 2030, according to analysts from TD Cowen.

open image in gallery GLP-1 pills are expected to broaden access to such treatments, given that their injectable form can cost upwards of $1,000 per month ( AP )

Novo Nordisk rival Eli Lilly has a pending obesity pill of its own, orforglipron, which is still under review.

The company, which manufactures competitor drugs to Wegovy including Zepbound and Mounjaro, is expected to get approval sometime around March.
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The death toll from a mass shooting at a South African pub has tragically climbed to 10, with police identifying two potential suspects.

The early Sunday morning attack in Bekkersdal, 46 kilometres west of Johannesburg, claimed the lives of three women and seven men.

Nine individuals remain in hospital.

The pub owner will face charges of fraud and operating an illegal liquor outlet, following the confiscation of all alcohol, Gauteng police spokesperson Col. Mavela Masondo confirmed.

Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told reporters that two other people have been identified as potential suspects in the shooting based on community reports to the police.

Map of Bekkersdal:

It was the second mass shooting in three weeks at a township pub, which are sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa.

In early December, a mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near the capital, Pretoria, left at least 12 people dead. On Monday, a 32-year-old man was arrested.

open image in gallery Onlookers gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, with over 26,000 reported in 2024, or a daily average of over 70. Despite stringent gun ownership rules, firearms are the most common weapons used, and many crimes employ illicit firearms, according to authorities.
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Tens of thousands of bags of frozen raw shrimp are being recalled after the product was found to potentially be radioactive.

Direct Source Seafood LLC is recalling 83,800 bags which could be contaminated with cesium-137, a human-made radioactive isotope, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.

No illnesses linked to the recalled shrimp have been reported to date, the FDA confirmed. The shrimp, imported from Indonesia, was sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brand names.

In a recall notice dated December 19, the FDA said the products may have been exposed to cesium-137 during processing, packing or shipping.

open image in gallery Consumers who purchased the affected shrimp are advised not to eat the product ( U.S Food & Drug Administration )

Cesium-137 is widespread in the environment and can be present at low background levels, but higher concentrations may occur in water or foods produced in areas affected by environmental contamination, the FDA said.

Consumers who purchased the affected shrimp are advised not to eat the product and to discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The Market 32-branded frozen shrimp was sold at Price Chopper stores in the following states on or after July 11 this year: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

The Waterfront Bistro-branded frozen shrimp was sold at Jewel-Osco, Albertsons, Safeway, and Lucky Supermarket stores in these states on or after June 30: Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.

open image in gallery No illnesses linked to the recalled shrimp have been reported to date, the FDA said ( U.S Food & Drug Administration )

The full statement on the FDAs website read: Direct Source Seafood LLC, Bellevue, WA, is recalling approximately 83,800 bags of frozen raw shrimp, imported from Indonesia, sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brands because they may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137).

Cs-137 is a man-made radioisotope of cesium. Traces of Cs-137 are widespread and can be present in the environment at background levels, and at higher levels in water or foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with environmental contamination.

The primary health effect of concern following longer term, repeated low dose exposure (e.g. through consumption of contaminated food or water over time) is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body.
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Brazil's burgeoning space ambitions have suffered a significant setback after the inaugural commercial rocket launch from its Alcantara Space Center ended in a crash shortly after liftoff.

The incident has also dealt a blow to shares of South Korean satellite launch company Innospace.

The rocket initially followed its planned vertical trajectory after taking off at 10:13 p.m. local time (0113 GMT). However, just 30 seconds into its flight, an unspecified malfunction caused the craft to fall to the ground, according to Innospace CEO Kim Soo-jong.

Fortunately, the crash occurred within a pre-designated safety zone, ensuring no injuries, with Brazil's air force dispatching firefighters to assess the wreckage and impact zone.

open image in gallery South Korean company Innospace's Hanbit-Nano vehicle prepares for launch from Alcantara Space Center in Maranhao, Brazil ( via REUTERS )

In a letter to shareholders posted on the company's website on 23 December, Mr Kim expressed profound regret. "We are deeply sorry that we failed to meet the expectations of our shareholders who supported our first commercial launch," he stated.

Innospace shares plunged nearly 29% in Seoul in its biggest daily drop and heaviest daily trading volume since its July 2024 listing.

A failed satellite launch at Alcantara in 2003 killed 21 people, including senior engineers, when a rocket exploded on the launchpad, setting Brazil's space program back by a generation.

Plans for foreign firms to resume satellite launches from Alcantara, located strategically near the equator, were delayed by geopolitical jockeying over the past decade, including competing offers to partner with the United States and Russia.

open image in gallery South Korean company Innospace's Hanbit-Nano vehicle launches from Alcantara Space Center in Maranhao, Brazil. ( via REUTERS )

The launch of the HANBIT-Nano vehicle this month suffered a string of delays that pushed back liftoff by five days.

The launch was initially postponed due to a mechanical anomaly in a cooling-unit component, which was found during final inspections, Innospace said in an earlier statement.

Innospace replaced the component on the launchpad, it said, allowing the Spaceward mission to proceed within its December 16-22 launch window. It was launching eight registered cargoes, including five small satellites, for undisclosed customers.

While the mission did not go to plan, data gathered from the rocket's short flight represents "a significant achievement," Innospace said, adding that the company plans to attempt another commercial launch in the first-half of 2026.

In March 2023, Innospace launched its test vehicle HANBIT-TLV from the same facility in northeast Brazil to verify the performance of its 150 kN hybrid rocket engine.
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The University of Oklahoma has removed a teaching assistant who gave a student an F grade on a psychology paper which sparked outrage from conservatives and prompted claims of religious discrimination.

Based on an examination of the graduate teaching assistant's prior grading standards and patterns, as well as the graduate teaching assistant's own statements related to this matter, it was determined that the graduate teaching assistant was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper, the University said in a Monday statement.

The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the University.

It comes after Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at the university, reported her psychology instructor Mel Curth after receiving the grade and claimed she received zero points out of 25 for my beliefs and using freedom of speech, and especially for my religious beliefs."

The assignment was to write a 650-word essay reacting to a psychology article about the effect of gender norms on middle school students and their impact on mental health.

open image in gallery The University of Oklahoma has removed a teaching assistant who gave a student an F grade on a psychology paper which sparked outrage from conservatives and prompted claims of religious discrimination. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

open image in gallery Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at the University of Oklahoma, filed a discrimination complaint after she received a failing grade on a psychology essay. ( Turning Point USA OU )

Fulneckys complaint was promoted by the universitys chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September. The group posted Fulneckys essay and Curths response online and blasted the educator, who uses she/they pronouns, writing: We should not be letting mentally ill professors around students.

That post drew quick reactions online with people taking sides - some defending the professor and calling the paper poor. While others defended Fulnecky.

In Curths feedback, Curth had said Fulnecky was entitled to her own beliefs, but that the psychology article was based on years of psychological research and evidence, not just society pushing lies.

In its Monday statement, the university said that Fulneckys two claims, one appealing the grade and the other formally complaining of illegal religious discrimination, had been resolved.

As already announced, the grade appeal was decided in favor of the student, removing the assignment completely from the student's total point value of the class, resulting in no academic harm to the student, UO said. The claim for discrimination has been investigated and concluded. The University does not release findings from such investigations.

The university added the provost, the University's highest ranking academic officer and the academic dean, reviewed the full facts of the matter, before their decision.

The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty's rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students' right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer's impermissible evaluative standards, the statement read.

open image in gallery In its statement Monday, the university said that Fulneckys two claims, one appealing the grade and the other formally complaining of illegal religious discrimination, had been resolved. ( Getty Images )

We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think. The University will continue to review best practices to ensure that its instructors have the comprehensive training necessary to objectively assess their students' work without limiting their ability to teach, inspire, and elevate our next generation.

In her original essay, Fulnecky repeatedly cited the Bible and emphasized her right to free speech, stating she believes eliminating gender in our society would be detrimental, as it pulls us farther from God's original plan for humans.

Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth, she wrote.

However, many online agreed with Curths assessment of the essay, criticizing her writing ability, lack of sources and digression from the instructions. Her paper was absolutely embarrassing. She failed to follow directions, didnt meet the word count and didnt cite a single source, one user wrote on X.

Another instructor for the course, Megan Waldron, said she concurred with Curths F grade, saying Fulneckys essay should not be considered as a completion of the assignment.

The Independent has contacted the University of Oklahoma for further comment on Curths dismissal as an instructor.
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An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania has left at least two people dead as rescue crews rush to find victims or survivors of the fiery blast.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late Tuesday that at least two people had been killed in the catastrophic explosion that left residents trapped inside.

Shapiro said firefighters were climbing up ladders, handing individuals in this nursing home to police, who were at times carrying two people on their back to safety.

The explosion happened Tuesday around 2 p.m. ET at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township, about 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Shapiro said officials currently believe a gas leak caused the explosion.

Shapiro asked people to pray for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table.

open image in gallery An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania has left at least three people dead as rescue crews rush to find victims or survivors of the fiery blast ( Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS )

Emergency crews raced to the 174-bed facility to search for people who may have gone missing in the blast. Video footage from local outlets showed cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks with flashing lights.

WPVIs cameras filmed flames and black smoke billowing from the nursing home. There was structural damage to the building, including blown out windows and a roof that had collapsed.

Bristol Townships fire chief, Kevin Dippolito, said at the Tuesday evening news conference that five people were still unaccounted for but that some may have left the nursing home with family.

open image in gallery Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro asked people to pray 'for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table' ( Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS )

The Upper Makefield Township Police Department has called the explosion a mass casualty incident.

Please avoid that area of Bucks County as there is a large emergency personnel response, the department wrote on Facebook.

Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove with Bristol Township police told Levittown Now that residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff and even bystanders.

Jim Morgan, president of the Bristol Township School Board, said buses would transport people from the nursing home to Truman High School, where a reunification center has been set up, the Associated Press reported.

I do not know if everyone is accounted for or not yet, the officer said. Im not aware of any critical injuries but there definitely were injuries.

open image in gallery The explosion happened Tuesday around 2 p.m. ET at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township ( WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP )

State Representative Tina Davis, whose district includes the nursing home, recalled that she saw as she approached the chaotic scene in her car.

I saw smoke and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over, Davis said, per the AP.

Local gas utility, PECO, said it had crews responding to reports of a gas odor at the nursing home around the time of the explosion, according to the AP.

PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents, the company said.

open image in gallery There was structural damage to the building, including blown out windows and a roof that had collapsed ( Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS )

open image in gallery Shapiro said officials currently believe a gas leak caused the explosion ( Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS )

open image in gallery Police say residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff and even bystanders ( Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP )

The nursing homes last fire safety inspection was in September 2024, and it has not received any fire safety or emergency preparedness citations, according to Medicare.gov. But the facility has an overall 1-star rating with health inspections considered much below average.

The Independent has reached out to the Bristol Township police and fire departments as well as the Upper Makefield Township Police Department for comment.

Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, called the explosion a tragic situation.

Gisele and I extend our deepest condolences to all the lives impacted by this awful development, he wrote on X.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who represents Bristol Township, said he and his team are closely monitoring developments as authorities work to secure the scene and care for those affected.

Please also join me in praying for the safety of the residents of the nursing home, the dedicated staff who care for them, and our brave first responders who rushed to the scene and ran toward danger without hesitation, the congressman added.
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Following Bari Weiss much-derided decision to spike a 60 Minutes segment on the Trump administration shipping Venezuelan migrants to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison, correspondent Scott Pelley said Weiss needed to take her job as CBS News editor-in-chief more seriously as it wasnt part-time.

Pelleys pointed remarks about the newsrooms leader came during the shows Monday afternoon meeting, where Sharyn Alfonsi  the segments reporter  took issue with Weiss lack of communication over the storys last-minute postponement while 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon defended Alfonsis reporting.

Meanwhile, Weiss continues to come under fire for yanking the story, which has threatened to spark a network revolt over what Alfonsi called a political decision that reeked of corporate interference.

On top of that, she has also opened herself to mockery after the CECOT segment was widely shared online on Monday evening after it was discovered that the CBS News had apparently delivered the full 60 Minutes episode to Canadian network Global TV before removing Alfonsis report. While the video has since been removed from Global, the segment continues to make the rounds on social media.

On Monday, our Canadian broadcast partner, Global TV, mistakenly published on its app the Inside CECOT segment that CBS News decided to delay for a future broadcast, a CBS News representative told The Independent. While Global TV has removed the episode from their app, this segment has since been posted on social and digital media. Paramounts content protection team is in the process of routine take down orders for the unaired and unauthorized segment.

open image in gallery Bari Weiss needs to realize that being CBS News editor-in-chief is not a part-time job, Scott Pelley said this week. ( Paramount )

Weiss, the anti-woke founder of center-right blog The Free Press who was installed as CBS News top editor in October by Paramount chair David Ellison, defended her decision to pull the segment during Monday mornings editorial meeting.

I held that story because it wasn't ready. While the story presented powerful testimony of torture at CECOT, it did not advance the ball, she said, adding that other news organizations had already done similar reporting. The public knows that Venezuelans have been subjected to horrific treatment in this prison. So to run a story on this subject two months later, we simply need to do more, and this is 60 Minutes.

Weiss also said that we need to be able to make every effort to get the principals on the record and on camera, insisting that is my North Star, and I hope it's the North Star of every person in this newsroom.

Alfonsi, in an email she sent to 60 Minutes colleagues after Weiss spiked her story that was quickly leaked to the media, noted that the segment had been screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices and was factually correct. In my view, pulling it now  after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one, she stated.

Alfonsi also pointed out that 60 Minutes had repeatedly reached out to DHS, the White House and the State Department for responses to the report.

Government silence is a statement, not a VETO. Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story, she declared. If the administrations refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a kill switch for any reporting they find inconvenient.

The New York Times reported this week that while Weiss pressed for numerous changes to the story, specifically seeking more input from the Trump administration while taking issue with the description of the Venezuelan migrants deported to the violent El Salvador prison, she didnt weigh in until very late in the process.

While the segment was first screened for network journalists on December 12, Weiss did not attend that screening on the four others over the following week, according to the Times. It wasnt until Thursday that she finally watched the segment and offered her suggestions, which the show incorporated into the story. 60 Minutes then told the network on Friday afternoon that it was fine to promote the report to viewers.

Then, around midnight at the end of Friday, less than 48 hours before the segment was set to air, Ms. Weiss weighed in again, this time with more substantial requests, the Times added. She asked producers to add a last-minute interview with Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff  a relatively straightforward task for a print journalist who needs to only make a phone call, but a logistically difficult one in TV news, where a camera and lighting crew is often required.

In her memo to some of the 60 Minutes staff that weekend, she said wed be doing our viewers a disservice if the piece were run as is. Eventually, three hours before the show was set to air Sunday, the network released an editorial note stating that the segment would not be part of that evenings program.

Allies of Ms. Weiss argue that as editor in chief, she has a clear prerogative to weigh in on any of the journalism produced by her newsroom, the Times reported. Still, even some of her supporters privately conceded on Monday that she was still learning the ropes of broadcast journalism and that she had mishandled the timing of her feedback.

After Weiss doubled down on her decision during Monday mornings editorial call, which also included a swipe at Alfonsi for her strongly worded email, staffers at 60 Minutes expressed their frustration over how Weiss had handled the situation.

open image in gallery CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley criticized Weiss management style during a Monday afternoon meeting. ( CBS News )

Pelley, who has expressed his displeasure about corporate interference with 60 Minutes before, raised concerns about Weiss management style and wondered why she waited until the last minute to offer her suggestions  especially since she had skipped all the screenings of the segment.

Its not a part-time job, he said in the meeting. Additionally, Pelley noted that if Weiss wanted to be more involved in the day-to-day editing of 60 Minutes stories, she should not only attend the early screenings but also communicate directly with the correspondents.

She needs to take her job a little bit more seriously, he said.

Alfonsi, meanwhile, has pointed out that Weiss never reached out to her or her producer during her late push to yank the segment. Disagreement requires discussion, Alfonsi said in the meeting.

The correspondents remarks appeared to be a retort to Weiss comments in the editorial call, which saw the editor said that she wanted a newsroom where we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters and do so with respect.

As for Weiss push for more feedback from the administration, which she argued in her weekend memo was necessary because theres a genuine debate here that Trump is operating within the bounds of his authority, CNNs Brian Stelter reported Tuesday that 60 Minutes made a concerted effort to get government responses.

According to Stelter, the Alfonsi story was in the works for months, and the first official request for comment  along with an interview with Kristi Noem  was sent to DHS in November.

Multiple follow-ups were sent in December. Pretty standard stuff, Stelter added. Noem's press secretary said on Dec. 15, after several nudges, we will let you know when we can accommodate this but not right now. The next day, the 60 team sent a detailed list of questions to the department.

On top of that, when the program reached out the White House for comment last week, Trump spokesperson Abigail Jackson merely responded with a media-bashing jab that 60 Minutes decided not to include in the segment.

60 Minutes should spend their time and energy amplifying the stories of Angel Parents, whose innocent American children have tragically been murdered by vicious illegal aliens that President Trump are removing from the country, Jackson wrote back to 60 Minutes.

open image in gallery Still, even some of her supporters privately conceded on Monday that she was still learning the ropes of broadcast journalism and that she had mishandled the timing of her feedback, the New York Times reported. ( YouTube )

Ultimately, though, much of the criticism over the odd timing of Weiss sudden push to radically change the segment and then pull it from the air centers on the suspicion  both internally and externally  that this is related to Paramounts hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery, which Trump has said hell be very involved in.

While Trump has spent the past few months gushing over Ellison  whose father is ultrawealthy Oracle founder and loyal Trump supporter Larry Ellison  following the Paramount merger with the Ellisons Skydance, the president has publicly soured on the father-son duo because of his anger over recent 60 Minutes broadcasts.

David Ellison, who has leveraged his familys close relationship to Trump as a key factor in his WBD offer, has looked to quell the presidents fury behind the scenes by claiming he and Weiss had no advanced warning about the Marjorie Taylor Greene segment that enraged Trump. Shortly after that story aired, the president groused that the new ownership of Paramount was no better than the previous one.

Meanwhile, just hours before Weiss sent her memo to 60 Minutes calling for significant changes and a delay to the CECOT story, Trump once again raged about the program and the Ellisons.

I love the new owners of CBS, Trump griped. Something happens to them, though. 60 Minutes has treated me worse under the new ownership they just keep hitting me, its crazy.

On Monday morning, Paramount sent a revised bid for Warner Bros. that included Larry Ellison agreeing to personally backstop the $40 billion of equity financing  a key sticking point for WBDs board of directors.
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A 60 Minutes segment on the mistreatment of migrants sent by the U.S. to a Salvadoran prison that CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss made the controversial move to pull just ahead of airtime appears to have leaked online.

Though Weiss moved to halt the original planned Sunday broadcast, users of the Canadian Global TV app were reportedly able to see a copy of the segment, which was soon widely shared online.

The 13-minute clip, which has not been officially verified by CBS, contains harrowing stories of mistreatment detainees said they endured in CECOT, a prison in El Salvador where the U.S. deported hundreds of individuals without due process it accused on little evidence of being Venezuelan gang members invading the U.S.

When we got there, the CECOT director was talking to us, Luis Munoz Pinto, a college student in Venezuela who sought asylum in the U.S., says in the segment. "The first thing he told us was that we would never see the light of day or night again. He said: 'Welcome to hell. I'll make sure you'll never leave.'

Pinto adds that those inside the facility believed they were the living dead.

open image in gallery A 60 Minutes segment pulled by new CBS News chief Bari Weiss has reportedly leaked on a Canadian news app ( Getty )

Others describe being tortured through what they said were savage beatings or isolating detentions in a room called the island, which allegedly had no light or ventilation.

The Independent has contacted CBS News, 60 Minutes, and Global TV for comment.

The apparent leak fuels the already growing controversy around the segment.

Newsroom sources previously told The Independent that some CBS News staff are ready to revolt, after Weiss pulled the segment while allegedly citing a lack of an on-camera response from a top Trump administration official and arguing other outlets had already reported much of the information in the broadcast.

The alleged leaked copy of the segment says the Department of Homeland Security declined a request for an interview and deferred all questions about CECOT to El Salvador, which did not respond to 60 Minutes.

open image in gallery The pulled segment featured testimony from former detainees at CECOT, a notorious prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration sent scores of Venezuelans it accused without trial of being gang members ( AFP/Getty )

Sharyn Alfonsi, who produced the pulled CECOT investigation, reportedly stridently criticized the editorial process around the segment in a memo to her fellow staff.

In the memo, she reportedly said the segment had been screened five times, cleared by CBS attorneys, and was factually correct.

She accused the Trump administration of refusing to respond as a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story.

If the administrations refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a kill switch for any reporting they find inconvenient, she reportedly added.

open image in gallery In the segment, detainees said they were beaten and tortured inside the prison ( AFP/Getty )

My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be, Weiss said in a statement Sunday. Holding stories that arent ready for whatever reason  that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices  happens every day in every newsroom. I look forward to airing this important piece when its ready.

Behind the scenes, Weiss, who lacked any traditional TV news background before being installed in October, reportedly offered up potential cell phone numbers for top Trump administration officials such as border czar Tom Homan and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller as a way for reporters to continue chasing the story.

Weisss decision making around the CECOT segment has sparked claims she was influenced by political pressures, owing to CBS parent Paramount Skydances ongoing bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that would need federal clearance.

President Trump has complained in recent weeks of his treatment by 60 Minutes.

open image in gallery Observers are concerned 60 Minutes , a legendary investigative TV program, is facing political interference as its parent company, under the helm of David Ellison, seeks to buy Warner Bros. Discovery ( AFP/Getty )

I love the new owners of CBS, Trump said at a Friday rally. Something happens to them, though. 60 Minutes has treated me worse under the new ownership they just keep hitting me, its crazy.

In August, Skydance and Paramount officially merged following a complicated process dogged with accusations of political meddling.

Skydance was founded by David Ellison, son of the billionaire Oracle tech mogul and Trump supporter Larry Ellison.

Shortly before the merger was complete, with approval hanging in the balance, Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement in a lawsuit from Trump against 60 Minutes, which had alleged it deceptively edited an interview with his 2024 rival Kamala Harris.

Io Dodds contributed reporting to this story.
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Bill Clintons spokesman has called for any remaining Jeffrey Epstein files held by the Department of Justice on the former president to be released.

Angel Urena, representing the 42nd president, said in a statement Monday: What the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection.

Urena called on President Donald Trump to order Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton.

He added: Refusal to do so will confirm the widespread suspicion the Department of Justices actions to date are not about transparency, but about insinuation  using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice, over many years, under presidents and attorneys general of both parties.

open image in gallery Former president Bill Clintons representative wants the documents released in the greater interest of transparency ( AP )

The two-term Democrat, like Trump, was at one time a friend of Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex trafficker who took his own life in a New York City jail cell in August 2019. Like Trump, the 79 year-old has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the billionaires crimes.

Clinton did appear in a number of photographs published without context as part of Fridays release of DOJ files, one of which found him posing with the pop superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, another with Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger and another showed him in a hot tub, but, again, that does not imply any wrongdoing.

Trump, perhaps surprisingly, leapt to Clintons defense Monday when he was asked about the ongoing Epstein furore during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

I think its terrible, the president said, when asked about the photos of his White House forerunner: I like Bill Clinton... and I hate to see photos come out of him.

open image in gallery Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein, in an undated photograph published as part of Fridays file release ( DOJ )

Ive always gotten along with Bill Clinton. Ive been nice to him, hes been nice to me. I hate to see photos come out of him, but this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans, are asking for.

So they are giving photos of me too. Everybody was friendly with this guy [Epstein], either friendly or not friendly.

He was all over Palm Beach and other places... and Bill Clinton was a friend of his, but everybody was.

Bill Clintons a big boy. He can handle it, but you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago.

open image in gallery Donald Trump showed support for Clinton when asked about the Epstein files release ( Getty )

The DOJ has said it will continue to release more information on Epstein in order to comply with the terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was passed near-unanimously by Congress in November, a process that could continue into January 2026.

Both the lawmakers behind the bill and a group of Epsteins victims have expressed their dissatisfaction with Fridays release, with the survivors saying in a statement of their own Monday that the partial release was unacceptable and made it difficult or impossible to locate documents related to their individual cases.

Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, a Democrat and a Republican respectively, have said they are weighing contempt of Congress charges against Bondi over what they consider to be her botched handling of the files.

The officials approval rating has meanwhile fallen by 50 points over the course of the year, it was reported Monday, amid widespread public unhappiness with her oversight of the Epstein affair.
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The partial release of government files on Jeffrey Epstein has caused a firestorm among survivors of the late convicted sex offenders alleged abuse and members of Congress.

One of the survivors, Sharlene Rochard, called the heavily redacted documents dump unacceptable.

Im very upset with the justice system because theres full pages that are totally blacked out, Rochard said on NBC News Heres the Scoop Monday. I dont know about you, but my name is not a full page. We only asked that our names be redacted.

The Justice Department had until last Friday to release all of the files  with few exceptions such as identifying factors of alleged victims  but on that day, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said it would take a couple of weeks to produce all the documents.

The documents that were released were filled with redactions, including a 100-page file that was completely blacked out. Survivors not only complained about what was redacted, but what was not.

open image in gallery The partial release of government files on Jeffrey Epstein has caused a firestorm among survivors of the late convicted sex offenders alleged abuse and members of Congress ( Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images )

The public received a fraction of the files, and what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation, nearly two dozen Epstein survivors wrote in a statement released Monday. At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm.

In a CNN interview Monday, Epstein survivor Jess Michaels accused the Department of Justice of being sloppy and inconsistent and thoughtless in the Epstein files release.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are already weighing their legal options after the Trump administration failed to release the complete Epstein files by the deadline.

That deadline was set by Representative Thomas Massie (R-K.Y.) and Ro Khanna (D-C.A.)s bill called the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed last month.

Massie and Khanna are drafting a resolution to find Attorney General Pam Bondi, who heads the Justice Department, in inherent contempt.

open image in gallery Epstein survivors not only complained about what was redacted in the files, but multiple survivors' identities that were left unredacted ( Daniel Heuer/AFP via Getty Images )

Khanna said in an appearance on CBS News Face the Nation with Massie on Sunday the resolution would fine Bondi for every day that shes not releasing these documents.

The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, Massie said.

The Independent has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

Representative Robert Garcia (D-C.A.), the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, told MeidasTouch Monday, hes been working directly with Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a constitutional lawyer and ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee.

We have a legal plan that were moving forward right now. Ro Khanna and Tom Massie are also moving forward with plans within Congress, looking at possible ways of holding Pam Bondi in contempt or even beyond that, Garcia said.

He continued: And then we have a bunch of incredibly smart lawyers and advocates across the country right now, including those working with survivors, looking at what our legal options are in the courts as well. So all hands are on deck right now. All the options are on the table.

open image in gallery Epstein was accused of sexually abusing and sex trafficking underage girls ( U.S. Department of Justice via AP )

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal actions against the Trump administration for its handling of the Epstein files.

The American people deserve full transparency, and Senate Democrats will use every tool at our disposal to ensure they get it, Schumer wrote on X Monday.

Responding to the latest trove of Epstein files released, which included photos of former Democratic President Bill Clinton, Trump told reporters Monday, I've always gotten along with Bill Clinton...I hate to see photos come out of him.

You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago, and theyre highly respected bankers and lawyer and others. And theyll end up, because of guys like Massie, whos a real low life Trump continued.

Massie wrote on X in response: Trump is blaming me for a bill he eventually signed, while defending his banker friends, Bill Clinton, and innocent visitors to rape island, referring to Epsteins private island where he was accused of sex trafficking underage girls. Meanwhile Bondi is working fervently to redact, omit, and delete Epstein files she is legally required to release under our bill.

open image in gallery Rep. Thomas Massie, center, and Rep. Ro Khanna, left, are drafting a resolution to find Attorney General Pam Bondi in inherent contempt for her handling of the Epstein files ( Heather Diehl/Getty Images )

Rep. Garcia has accused the Trump administration of a cover-up. But White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson previously told 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.

Trump said Monday he thought the controversy surrounding his administrations handling of the Epstein files was finished and that the Justice Department released 100,000 pages of documents related to the disgraced financier.

NBC News Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles wrote on X, Even the most generous estimates of what has been released so far is less than 10k pages and that includes all the pages that have been redacted.
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After Ben Shapiro accused her of cowardice for refusing to denounce Candace Owens conspiracy theories and Bari Weiss amplified Shapiros condemnation, Megyn Kelly returned fire by claiming that the Daily Wire founder and CBS News editor-in-chief are making antisemites with their overt pro-Israel stances.

The former Fox News hosts swipe against Shapiro and Weiss comes amid the roiling MAGA civil war that exploded into public view during this past weekends AmericaFest, the annual year-end convention held by prominent right-wing youth organization Turning Point USA.

With the American conservative movement already tearing itself apart in recent months over the Epstein files and Tucker Carlsons chummy interview with notorious white nationalist Nick Fuentes, Owens threw more gasoline in the fire in recent weeks by peddling increasingly unhinged claims about Turing Point USA chief Charlie Kirks assassination.

Owens, a far-right provocateur who shot to fame as a host for Shapiros Daily Wire and once served as TPUSAs communications director, has sparked backlash among conservatives for wildly asserting that Kirk may have been killed by Israeli government figures with the help of senior Turning Point staffers, suggesting it was due to Kirks supposed change of heart on the Gaza war.

As Owens continued to lean further into antisemitism with her baseless claims, Kelly has stood by her fellow right-wing podcaster and even took credit for setting up a detente between Owens and Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk who called on Owens to stop pushing conspiracies about her slain husbands death.

open image in gallery Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly claims that Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss are responsible for making young conservatives antisemitic. ( Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME )

During his Thursday night speech at AmericaFest, which directly followed Erika Kirks address, Shapiro lashed out at Kelly, Carlson and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, whom Shapiro referred to as a PR flack for Jeffrey Epstein. Calling the influential right-wing figures charlatans who traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty, he blasted Carlsons moral imbecility over the Fuentes interview while taking specific aim at Kelly for her embrace of Owens.

There is only one moral side here: Erika Kirks side, he said. You know, the side of the widow with two children whose husband was shot live on camera in front of all of us. Friendship with the person accusing TPUSA of a coverup of Charlies murder is no excuse for cowardice.

While Kelly would respond in kind during her appearance at AmericaFest, much like Carlson and Bannon did, she also doubled down on her defense of Owens  and even applauded her for invoking Israel in the killing of Kirk.

I dont think Israel had anything to do with it, Kelly declared from the stage. But why did I have an obligation to stop Candace from asking those questions? I didnt, and I didnt call her out because I favored her asking them.

Still, Kelly saved her harshest reactions to Shapiro for her follow-up interview with Vanity Fair, which also included a broadside against Weiss for adding herself to the fray  all while claiming that the two prominent Jewish media personalities were responsible for pushing conservatives towards antisemitism.

Much as Carlson had also claimed Shapiros criticisms from the TPUSA stage were due to his support of Israel, Kelly said Ben is Israel first while noting that Shapiro would likely call that charge antisemitic.

And I'm sorry, but his behavior has proven that charge to be correct. Why would you divide the American conservative movementwhich was gelling, which was becoming much more cohesive for a moment after Charlie diedover Israel! Kelly pondered in her Vanity Fair conversation.

open image in gallery Ben Shapiro called out Kellys cowardice during last weeks AmericaFest, taking issue with Kellys refusal to condemn Candace Owens increasingly antisemitic conspiracy theories. ( AP )

Kelly also made sure to add Weiss, who has described herself as a Zionist fanatic and is the founder of the stridently pro-Israel digital media outlet The Free Press, to her list. Weiss, installed as CBS News top editor this fall and currently under fire for pulling a 60 Minutes story on CECOT at the last minute, published a version of Shapiro's speech in The Free Press and approvingly shared it on social media.

Its this very loud group of pro-Israel activists that is trying to make this the litmus test about whether you get to call yourself a conservative, and they lack standing to do that, Kelly declared. Bari in particular has made her career on the anti-cancel culture thing. Meanwhile, she's never been canceled. And she's basically supporting Ben's attempt to cancel me from the conservative movement, of which she's not a part.

Adding that what Charlie [Kirk] and I saw at the same time was that the country is turning and young Republicans are turning on Israel, Kelly then accused Shapiro and Weiss of fomenting anti-Jewish hatred with their efforts at censoring criticism of Israel.

They are making antisemites. Tucker is not making antisemites. They are, Kelly stated, referencing allegations that Carlson is pushing antisemitic tropes with his rhetoric and conspiracy theorizing, an accusation the fired Fox News star vehemently denies.

On Tuesday morning, Kelly continued to take aim at Weiss, prompting conservative pollster Frank Luntz to note that it was just two months earlier when Kelly had heaped praise on Weiss following the Free Press founders ascension to the top of CBS News.

What prompted the shift from deserves every bit of this success to knows literally nothing about television? Luntz wondered, only for Kelly to snarkily reference Shapiros cowardice line.

I was reliably informed this week that it is cowardly not to call out your friends with the unvarnished truth about their defects. So my days of being a polite friend (to her) are over. And theres more truth coming, Kelly tweeted in response.

Meanwhile, it would appear that the growing rift that has been splintering MAGA will not heal itself anytime soon.

Owens, despite her meeting with Erika Kirk last week, has doubled down on her crazed conspiracy theories and even recently hosted a witness who claimed to have seen Kirk at a military intelligence base a day before her husbands death  seemingly as a way to implicate her in an assassination plot.

A day later, Owens weighed in again with a staggeringly antisemitic video where she called Shapiro and his father belly creatures who slither on and urged her audience to read The Talmudic Jew, a nineteenth-century anti-Jewish tract that became popular with the Nazis, The Bulwarks Will Sommer wrote.

Thats some sick stuff that would have been utterly disqualifying not too long ago, Sommer added. Yet only a few hours after that episode went live, Kelly said from the AmFest stage that she welcomed Owenss questions about whether Israel was involved in Charlie Kirks murder.
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The Democratic Party could have a seven-point lead on Republicans in the 2026 midterms, according to a new set of findings from top Republican pollsters.

On a national general congressional ballot, Democrats were favored by a seven-point margin in 2026, according to a December 18 memo from FabrizioWard, the firm of former chief Trump campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio, based on findings from surveying 1,000 registered voters.

The result is consistent with other recent polling ahead of the 2026 elections.

As of Monday, December 22, Democrats had a 4.8 percent lead over the Republicans on a generic ballot, according to Race to the WH, which aggregates the findings of mainstream polls.

RealClearPolling, another aggregator, pegs that lead at 3.7 percent.

Facing voter anger over the economy and the White Houses handling of the Epstein files, the Republican party is projected to suffer during the 2026 midterms ( Getty )

Making matters worse, Americans are increasingly growing weary with the actions and agenda of President Donald Trump himself, who remains the GOPs defining force.

In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, 54 percent of respondents said they feel Trump has exceeded his authority, after a year that saw the president taking sweeping unilateral steps including launching worldwide tariffs that rewrote much of the global economy and sending military troops into U.S. cities.

Even among the presidents most likely supporters, approval is eroding.

A recent NBC News Decision Desk analysis found that among both mainstream Republicans and self-identified members of Trumps MAGA movement, respondents were 6 percent more likely to say the country was heading in the wrong direction as they were in August.

Meanwhile, 57 percent of respondents to a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist survey said they disapprove of Trumps management of the economy, as affordability looks set to be a defining 2026 issue, especially after Republicans allowed Obamacare health subsidies to expire without approving any plan to offset health costs for lower-income Americans.

Beyond these big-picture findings, voters are also frustrated with Trumps handling of the Epstein files, with just 26 percent of respondents telling a recent Quinnipiac University poll that they approve.

This sour feeling mirrors the divisions within the Republican delegation itself, where a handful of GOP representatives such as Rep. Thomas Massie and the soon-to-retire ex-MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have been leading voices criticizing the administration for not disclosing the Epstein files fast enough.

In the face of these tough 2026 odds, the GOP has taken a variety of strategies, ranging from pushing to carry out a rare mid-decade redistricting to boost Republican seats to Congress, to the White House pushing to inject more of Trump into local races.

Typically in the midterms its not about whos sitting at the White House, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a recent interview with The Mom VIEW web show. You localize the election, and you keep the federal officials out of it. Were actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters.
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Public opinion of Attorney General Pam Bondi has cratered, with a recent poll finding public opinion of her has plunged nearly 50 percent in the last 10 months, a striking referendum on one of the Trump administrations most prominent figures handling hot-button issues such as deportations and the Epstein files.

Bondis popularity peaked in February, according to polling from AtlasIntel, when she had a net six percent positive image with respondents. Since then, Americans have largely turned on the former Florida attorney general, and they now hold a 41-point net negative view of Bondi.

The latest polling, based off answers from 2,315 respondents, captured public sentiment in the week ending on Friday, December 19, when Bondis Justice Department faced a statutory deadline to release the Epstein files.

While the DOJ has started releasing some files, the disclosure has been marked with delay and controversy. Scores of files now available to the public have been heavily redacted, angering Epstein survivors. The department also deleted then restored a file from its public portal containing photos of Donald Trump, raising suspicions of political interference, which the DOJ denied.

A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers have threatened to bring contempt charges against Bondi, arguing the DOJ has failed to release hundreds of thousands of pages of Epstein material it is required to under a law Trump signed in November.

open image in gallery Attorney General Pam Bondis public image has grown overwhelmingly negative, polling finds, as the official grapples with rising anger over the DOJs handling of the Epstein files ( Getty Images )

Bondi, as the nations top legal official, has often been the face of the administrations Epstein policy.

It was the attorney general who handed out binders of Epstein material to conservative influencers at the White House in February, and it was her DOJ that in July threw cold water on the prospect of further investigations into Epstein links, a posture critics have alleged may be to shield Trump from any further scrutiny over his past friendship with the late convicted sex offender.

The perception that the Trump administration was seeking to tip the scales on the Epstein process was only furthered when the Bureau of Prisons, which is part of the Justice Department, quietly moved Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower-security facility over the summer after she sat for an interview with a top DOJ official who was once Trumps personal lawyer.

The Independent has contacted the DOJ for comment.

The Trump administration has denied the president had any knowledge of or involvement in Epsteins crimes, and the DOJ has insisted it is not trying to protect any political figures in the Epstein file process but has withheld certain materials to maintain victims privacy.

Bondi has attracted controversy elsewhere too.

In September, the president posted a highly unusual message on social media calling for the attorney general, an independent law enforcement official, to prosecute a series of Trumps political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Leticia James. Cases against both figures soon followed, though theyve both since faced legal hurdles.

That same month, Bondi attracted criticism from civil rights experts after she called for a wide-ranging hate speech prosecution against those who celebrated the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, even though almost all speech outside of active violent threats is constitutionally protected.

open image in gallery Bondi and the Trump administration have also faced scrutiny over the legality of their immigration crackdown, which critics say has relied on racial profiling and warrantless arrests ( AFP via Getty Images )

Outside speech issues, the Trump administration has raised legal alarms for the tactics of its deportation crackdown. Masked Border Patrol and ICE agents have been accused of racial profiling for carrying out what appear to be random mass stops at locations including Home Depot stores, which these agencies deny.

The Trump administration also fought for months to defend the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with U.S. citizen children who officials admitted had wrongly been sent out of the country despite a court decision blocking such a move.
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Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th draws on personal interviews, testimony, court documents and other public sources to compile a definitive account of the hours leading up to, during, and just after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Written by Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick, the book documents the chain of events as told by the rioters who were loyal to President Donald Trump, the police who fought them, the lawmakers who fled the violence, and the staff, workers and journalists who were there that day, including Jalonick herself.

The rioters were echoing Trumps false claims of a stolen election, even as all 50 states had certified the vote and courts had ruled against Trump or dismissed dozens of lawsuits brought by his campaign.

The below excerpt begins in the 4 p.m. hour on Jan. 6, at the height of the fighting that day outside the building.

Hundreds of rioters had already breached several entrances and forced lawmakers to flee both the House and Senate, stopping the certification of Democrat Joe Bidens victory. But an even larger group of people had broken through a long police line and were now aiming at the central golden doors that sit at the center of the Capitols West Front, set back in a narrow tunnel that the president walks through on Inauguration Day.

open image in gallery Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C on January 6, 2021 ( ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images )

Separately, not far from the tunnel, Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick had been sprayed directly in the face by a rioter. He had predicted the night before in a text to his brother Ken that hell may break loose tomorrow.

Note: The text messages in this excerpt have been edited for language.

___

Ken Sicknick hadnt yet replied to his brother Brians text from the night before that had predicted violence. So he typed a message to Brian that afternoon as he watched live reports of the clashes at the Capitol. Good luck, man, Ken wrote. Capitol protests are on the news.

An hour and a half later, at 4:15 p.m., Brian replied: Tell me about it. Were f-. Talk later. I was pepper sprayed at least twice.

___

Ken Sicknick, brother of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick: I knew it was a protest. I didnt realize how bad it was.

___

As afternoon approached evening, police were starting to secure some of the entrances that had been breached. But hundreds of rioters were still fighting to get into the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the main entrance to the inaugural stage from the basement level of the Capitol. Police officers had used the space just inside as a triage area all afternoon.

Earlier, after several police lines had broken outside, the rioters had streamed into the tunnel so quickly that it created a bottleneck. The National Guard had still not arrived, and for the officers who had already been fighting for hours, it had become a ferocious last stand.

___

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: The rioters were vicious and relentless. We found ourselves in a violent battle in a desperate attempt to prevent a breach of the Capitol by the entrance near the inauguration stage.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: The fighting in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel was nothing short of brutal. Here I observed approximately 30 police officers standing shoulder to shoulder, maybe four or five abreast, using the weight of their own bodies to hold back the onslaught of violent attackers. Many of these officers were injured, bleeding and fatigued. But they continued to hold the line.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: A few people rushed the front of the line, and then that kind of instigated the rest of them to follow suit. At that point, it was just complete hand-to-hand combat, but very little space to maneuver.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: The hallway is approximately 10 feet wide. Officers shoulder to shoulder lined up by rows, and the demonstrators were trying to push in, and we were trying to push back. Initially, were just pushing and they were yelling, One, two, three, push. And we were doing the same thing. We were pushing back. But then it escalated into full fighting.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Theres a couple dozen of us in there against, you know, the thousands and thousands outside, and we just held it as long as we could. It was a brutal fight.

open image in gallery Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification ( AFP via Getty Images )

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: They were extremely physical. I dont think anybody was talking at that point. It was just physical, people hitting each other, punching, people with poles, metal poles.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: The tunnel is a narrow and long hallway. It is not the sort of space where anyone would want to be pulled into hand-to-hand combat with an angry mob.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: Every about five to 10 minutes, they would switch and then we would end up fighting a new batch of fresh bodies. That just continued on.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: It was guys in their 50s, guys in their 30s, guys in their 20s. Not that many really young people, but mostly just like real adults.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: It was a battle of inches, with one side pushing the other a few and then the other side regaining their ground.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: What we were subjected to that day was like something from a medieval battlefield.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Someone handed me a pitchfork at one point. It made its way all the way up the stairs. I dont remember if it was a civilian or an officer, but they said, I dont want this being used against you guys.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Even during this intense contest of wills, they continued to try to convert us to their cult. One man shouted: We just want to make our voices heard! And I think you feel the same! I really think you feel the same! All while another man attempts to batter us with a stolen shield.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: I just heard the dumbest things ever, like Were not here to hurt you; just let us through. While theyre doing all that craziness.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: Many of the officers fighting alongside me were calling for shields, because their shields had been stripped from them by the rioters. I was one of the few officers left with a shield, so I spent the majority of the time at the front of the line.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: At some point, one of the demonstrators was trying to pull me outside. And luckily I held on to the metal rail.

___

A rioter grabbed Detective Nguyens gas mask and pulled it out, while a second rioter directly sprayed his exposed face. The first rioter then let go of the mask, snapping it back in place and trapping the gas inside.

___

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I was choking under the mask, and I also got knocked down at the same time. And so at that point, I was choking, and I was trying to get up. I (was) panicking.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: At some point during the fighting, I was dragged from the line of officers into the crowd. I heard someone scream, I got one! as I was swarmed by a violent mob.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: In my attempt to assist two MPD officers, I grabbed one officer by the back of the collar and pulled him back to our police line. When I tried to help the second officer, I fell on top of some police shields on the ground that were slippery because of the pepper and bear spray. Rioters started to pull me by my leg, by my shield, and by my gear straps on my left shoulder. My survival instincts kicked in and I started kicking and punching as I tried in vain to get the MPD officers attention behind and above me. But they could not help me because they were also being attacked.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: The two sides were at a stalemate at a metal door frame that sat in the middle of the hallway. At the front line, I inserted myself so that the frame was at my back in an effort to give myself something to brace against and provide additional strength when pushing forward. Unfortunately, soon after I secured this position, the momentum shifted and we lost the ground that got me there. On my left was a man with a clear riot shield stolen during the assault. He slammed it against me and, with the weight of all the bodies pushing behind him, trapped me. My arms were pinned and effectively useless, trapped against either the shield on my left or the door frame on my right. With my posture granting me no functional strength or freedom of movement, I was effectively defenseless and gradually sustaining injury from the increasing pressure of the mob.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: They ripped off my badge. They grabbed my radio. They seized the ammunition that was secured to my body. They began to beat me with their fists and with what felt like hard metal objects. At one point I came face-to-face with an attacker who repeatedly lunged for me and attempted to remove my firearm. I heard chanting from some in the crowd, Get his gun and Kill him with his own gun. I was aware enough to recognize I was at risk of being stripped of, and killed with, my own firearm. I was electrocuted again and again and again with a Taser. Im sure I was screaming, but I dont think I could even hear my own voice.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Directly in front of me, a man seized the opportunity of my vulnerability. He grabbed the front of my gas mask and used it to beat my head against the door. He switched to pulling it off my head, the straps stretching against my skull and straining my neck. He never uttered any words I recognized but opted instead for guttural screams. I swear I remember him foaming at the mouth. He also put his cellphone in his mouth so that he had both hands free to assault me. Eventually he succeeded in stripping away my gas mask, and a new rush of exposure to CS gas and OC spray hit me.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: My body camera captured the violence of the crowd directed toward me during those very frightening moments. The portions of the video Ive seen remain extremely painful for me to watch. During those moments, I remember thinking that there was a very good chance that I would be torn apart or be shot to death with my own weapon. I thought of my four daughters, who might lose their dad.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: The mob of terrorists were coordinating their efforts now, shouting Heave! Ho! as they synchronized pushing their weight forward, crushing me further against the metal door frame. The man in front of me grabbed my baton that I still held in my hands, and in my current state I was unable to retain my weapon. He bashed me in the head and face with it, rupturing my lip and adding additional injury to my skull.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Its just the weight of our crowd pushing against the weight of their crowd. Smoke grenades are going off  like, maybe someone lit a smoke bomb and threw it at us; I dont know what the hell happened. But Im looking around, and I see one of my sergeants, and hes got his mask on, but I can see his eyes, and he looks like hes about ready to pass out. And I hear someone yell, Does anybody need a break? And Im like, Get him out of here!

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: It was a prolonged and desperate struggle. I vividly heard officers screaming in agony and pain just an arms length from me.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: It hurt a great deal. Combined with everything else that was going on, it made it difficult to breathe.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: A bunch of bodies were pushed up right against me, and it sealed my gas mask against my cheek. And I was having a hard time breathing. So I started peeling it off, and then I was exposed, and no sooner had I done that than I was hit with a big old stream of pepper spray from one of our own super-soakers that they stole from us. I see this arc of fluid, and it hits me right in the face. Ive seen my body camera from that day, and you just hear a guttural scream.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: At this point, I knew that I couldnt sustain much more damage and remain upright. At best I would collapse and be a liability to my colleagues, at worst be dragged out into the crowd and lynched. Unable to move or otherwise signal the officers behind me that I needed to fall back, I did the only thing I could still do and screamed for help.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: I too was being crushed by the rioters. I could feel myself losing oxygen and recall thinking to myself, this is how Im going to die, trampled defending this entrance.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I thought, thats where Im going to die. And in my head I was thinking about my family at that point before anything else.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: During the assault, I thought about using my firearm on my attackers. But I knew that if I did that, I would quickly be overwhelmed. And that, in their minds, it would provide them with the justification for killing me. So instead, I decided to appeal to any humanity they might have. I said as loud as I could manage, Ive got kids. Thankfully, some in the crowd stepped in and assisted me. Those few individuals protected me from the crowd and inched me toward the Capitol until my fellow officers could rescue me.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: When you get amped up like that, sometimes it takes a slap in the face to wake you up to where the hell you are and what youve just done. And I think Fanone yelling that he had kids kind of shook some of the people out of it.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Thankfully, my voice was heard over the cacophony of yells and the blaring alarm. The officer closest to me was able to extricate me from my position, and another helped me fall back to the building again.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I was telling myself, if you want to see your family again, you need to gather yourself. And luckily, you know, I gathered myself and (broke) that seal. And with the help of my colleagues behind me, they pulled me up.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Im yelling, Hey, Im out of service, I cant do this anymore! Like, literally, Im disabled. So one of my partners grabs me and just escorts me back through the crowd, and we find one of those decon stations.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: I finally was able to hit a rioter who was grabbing me with my baton and able to stand. I then continued to fend off new attackers as they kept rotating after attacking us.

___

Officer Brian Sicknick found medical help and seemed to recover after the rioter had sprayed him with chemicals on the West Front. At 8:21 p.m., he sent his brother Ken another text: F-. I smell like BO, weed, OC spray and CS gas.

Shortly after sending the text, as he returned to a division office in the basement of the Capitol, Sicknick started slurring his words while talking to fellow officers and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was put on life support.

___

Inspector Thomas Loyd, U.S. Capitol Police: Officer Brian Sicknick faithfully served the United States Capitol Police for 13 years. He fought valiantly for several hours on January 6. He died suddenly at 8:30 p.m., while returning to the office in the United States Capitol Building. His body survived an additional day because his fellow officers worked so hard to keep him alive so his family could say goodbye in person on January 7.
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Donald Trump cannot deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, for now, after the Supreme Court refused to allow the administration to send in the military to support immigration enforcement.

Tuesdays unsigned order from the justices appeared to reject the administrations argument that protests against the presidents anti-immigration agenda are so volatile that only the National Guard, under Trumps orders, can stop them.

Conservative justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented, marking a rare loss for Trump from the nine-member conservative-majority court, which has granted the president nearly two dozen emergency appeals since he returned to the White House and faced an avalanche of lawsuits challenging his agenda.

In this case, the Supreme Court took nearly two months to step in during the ongoing legal battle over boots on the ground in Illinois, as state officials firmly rejected the administrations attempts to deploy National Guard service members into Americas third-largest city against their will.

The ruling could bolster similar legal arguments against troop deployments in other cities as the president faces resistance from city and state officials over the use of military force on American streets.

open image in gallery The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Illinois, landing a rare blow to the presidents agenda from the conservative-majority court. ( Getty Images )

The president can invoke the National Guard when there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion or if the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States, according to federal regulations.

Here, the justices determined that regular forces likely refers to the regular forces of the United States military, and that for the president to call the Guard into service, he must be unable to execute the laws of the United States.

But at this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois, according to Tuesdays decision.

It appears Chief Justice John Roberts and conservative justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote his own concurring opinion, sided with the courts three liberal justices for Tuesdays decision.

The order remains in effect while a legal challenge continues.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called the decision a a big win for Illinois and American democracy.

This is an important step in curbing the Trump Administration's consistent abuse of power and slowing Trumps march toward authoritarianism, he said in a statement.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.

The brave men and women of our National Guard should never be used for political theater and deserve to be with their families and communities, especially during the holidays, and ready to serve overseas or at home when called upon during times of immense need, Pritzker added.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to several states to support federal officers making large-scale immigration enforcement operations ( REUTERS )

Illinois District Judge April Perry determined earlier this year that there is no credible evidence that there is a danger of rebellion in the state and issued a temporary restraining order blocking Trump from deploying National Guard troops.

A federal appeals court largely agreed, and the administration kicked the case to the Supreme Court to overrule the lower-court decisions and give the president a greenlight.

The Trump team argued that troops are necessary to protect federal personnel and property from violent resistance against the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Meanwhile, the administration has surged federal law enforcement agents into several large cities and metropolitan areas to boost the presidents mass deportation campaign, sparking parallel legal battles challenging officers use of riot control weapons and sweeping arrests that met with large-scale protests.

The case is among several challenges against the presidents use of the National Guard, which one federal judge compared to Trumps attempt at creating a national police force.

A federal judge in Oregon has permanently blocked National Guard service members from supporting federal agents in Portland, and another judge in California has said the presidents deployments in the Los Angeles area are illegal.

In Washington, D.C., a lawsuit from Attorney General Brian Schwalb is trying to block hundreds of service members from patrolling the nations capital, an argument supported by nearly two dozen other states.
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Donald Trump announced plans on Monday for the U.S. Navy to construct a new class of warships that will be some of the largest vessels of its type the service has fielded.

The battleships, which are part of an effort to develop a new Golden Fleet, will be 100 times more powerful than any battleships ever built, declared Trump.

Details first learned by The Wall Street Journal indicate the ships will replace the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and cost around $5bn each.

The ships will be 30,000-40,000 tons, according to the president, and will carry the capacity for hosting futuristic technology like directed energy lasers and railguns, a U.S. official claimed to the Journal. The newspaper reported that the new fleet, which will also include new frigates announced by the service last week, was the product of the work of a joint Navy-White House team to counter Chinas influence.

Trump, on Monday, denied that it was the fleets specific aim, claiming instead that it would counter everybody and talking up his administrations relationship with Beijing.

The president spoke from Palm Beach, Florida, where he is staying for the Christmas holiday into the new year. Signs next to the president depicted artistic renderings of the first ship of the new line, the Trump-class USS Defiant.

open image in gallery Donald Trump announced plans for a new warship named after him on Monday as he stays in Florida for the holidays ( AFP via Getty Images )

As commander-in-chief, it is my great honor to announce that I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand new, very large, largest weve ever built, battleships, the president announced.

"There's never been anything like these ships, Trump said. These have been under design consideration for a long time. And it started with me in my first term, because I said, 'Why aren't we doing battleships like we used to?'

We used to build a ship a day, during World War 2. And now we dont really do ships anymore, the president complained on Monday before praising his first administration on the issue of constructing and revolutionizing the Navys submarines. During his first term, U.S. naval shipbuilding missed targets set by the Obama administration.

He was flanked by top Cabinet officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The Navy secretary, John Phelan, claimed that the Trump administration would make battleships great again and would build the best-looking ships on the planet.

open image in gallery An artist's rendering of the new 'Trump-class' battleships announced by the president on Monday ( Getty Images )

Mondays announcement follows a months-long escalating military campaign against small boats in the Caribbean, which U.S. officials claim are ferrying drugs bound for American shores. The Trump administration has offered little outside of classified briefings to Congress as the death toll from the operations passes100 people slain in what was once treated by the U.S. government as a law enforcement matter requiring prosecution rather than the application of lethal military force.

A major naval buildup continues off Venezuelas shores and U.S. forces have begun interdicting and seizing oil tankers sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for alleged involvement with illegal organizations. The president said Monday that the U.S. would keep oil and vessels seized as part of the sanctions enforcement operations, but didnt say for certain whether it would be sold or added to the U.S. Strategic Reserve.

"Maybe we'll sell it, maybe we'll keep it, maybe we'll use it in the strategic reserves. We're keeping it. We're keeping the ships also, the president said.

The U.S. government continues to insist that Venezuelas government, run by Nicolas Maduro, is controlled by a criminal cartel led by Maduro himself. The Maduro government remained in power after the 2024 elections, many U.S. and international election monitors said were fraudulent.

On Monday, Trump repeated his insistence that the U.S. will begin ground operations targeting Venezuelan drug smuggling groups, while also claiming to reporters that those operations would be expanded anywhere where drugs were supposedly pouring in to the United States.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered another defense of the strikes against small boats, which international experts say constitute extrajudicial killings of alleged criminals and may have even killed innocents in the mix: There are no fishing poles, no fishermen and no fishing boats, just drug dealers and narco terrorists. And with every strike, we're saving American lives. No other President is willing to do real deterrence, that's exactly what's happening.

Trump did not go as far as saying that Maduros removal from power was his aim; however, in a blow to members of his party, such as Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, who are ardent supporters of U.S.-led regime change in the South American country.

"He can do whatever he wants. It's alright. If he plays tough, it'll be the last time, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough, though, said Trump of Maduro.
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President Donald Trump instituted a holiday purge of Americas ambassador corps and informed nearly 30 career diplomats that their postings were ending and they were to return home within a month.

The New York Times reported late Monday that the purge claimed the jobs of more than two dozen foreign service officers whose experience at the State Department differs from the kind of political appointee, usually political donors and supporters, often selected by presidents for the highly-sought positions.

A spokesperson for a union representing such career diplomats contended to the Times that the fired officials were given little notice and said that the purge represented the largest single firing of a group of such ambassadors in the agencys history.

The lack of transparency and process breaks sharply with longstanding norms, said Nikki Gamer with the American Foreign Service Association. A list of the affected positions obtained by the Times indicated that the firings included many posts in sub-Saharan Africa where the White House has apparently been content leaving similar posts vacant throughout 2025.

Her union added in a statement: These abrupt, opaque, and unexplained recalls sabotage diplomatic effectiveness and U.S. credibility abroad.

open image in gallery Marco Rubio has overseen a radical evolution of the State Department under Donald Trumps second term ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Its unclear if and when the Trump administration will be able to fill those roles, which require Senate confirmation. Also unknown is whether the president plans to use those positions as awards for his political supporters, something that has become a theme of his second presidency. News of the firings came mere days before the Christmas holiday and is the latest shake-up for the State Department, which has undergone radical changes under the second Trump administration.

Headed up by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the agency now houses the remnants of USAIDs core functions while Rubio and his allies, following the work of Elon Musk earlier this year, continue to wind down the congressionally-authorized agencys work (with the full blessing of the twin GOP majorities on the Hill). U.S. foreign assistance cratered under the second Trump administration as Musk led a purge of spending targeting the main vehicle for American diplomatic leverage and soft power across the globe.

In a recent Vanity Fair article citing 11 interviews with Trumps chief of staff Susie Wiles, the senior White House aide called those cuts to USAID a serious mistake.

A senior State Department official maintained to the Washington Post that the firings were a standard process in any administration, though the turnover of such positions in the first year of a new presidency is typically limited to political appointees. But the inability or unwillingness of the president to fill such vacancies that already exist suggest that they are part of a larger retreat of the U.S.s presence in regions including the continent of Africa.

open image in gallery Elon Musks DOGE initiative targeted foreign aid and USAID in the early days of Trumps second term ( Getty Images )

An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the presidents right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda, the official added.

In a broader sense, the Trump administration and the White House (where Trump and his allies have centered most policymaking) have been consumed with getting rid of any and all holdovers from the Biden administration, both at the personnel and policy levels.

While agencies like the U.S. Department of Education roll back Biden-era programs, the president himself has allowed and encouraged allies inside and outside of the administration to direct witch hunt-esque purges of federal employees seen as disloyal or unsupportive of Trumps MAGA agenda at all levels of the federal government. Earlier in 2025, that included a purge of the White House National Security Council, at the time headed up by Michael Waltz.

The Department of Justice and White House have gone even further than any administration before, however, and sought to undermine the legality of pardons and other proclamations issued by President Joe Biden from 2021-2025. The Democratic president faces accusations of using an autopen to digitally sign documents which Trump and his allies contend, without providing evidence to support their claims, meant that Biden did not know what he was signing.

I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden, because the people who operated the Autopen did so illegally. Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process and, if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury, Trump said in a Truth Social post last month.

He does not have the legal authority to cancel pardons or offers of clemency issued by the former president, but like all presidents has the authority to undo executive orders with a penstroke.
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President Donald Trump has criticized the release of thousands of documents from cases against Jeffrey Epstein, warning they could ruin the reputation of high-profile figures who were innocently photographed alongside the convicted sex offender and deflect from his administrations accomplishments.

In his first public remarks since the Department of Justice started to publish thousands of images and heavily redacted materials, the president said the release of images of former President Bill Clinton and others photographed with Epstein is a terrible thing.

You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. 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.

Growing pressure from members of Congress to release the long-awaited files is merely an attempt to deflect from the tremendous success of the Republican Party and the Trump administration, and Republican lawmakers who support the disclosures are being used, the president told reporters.

The Justice Department failed release all of the files related to Epsteins cases in its possession despite federal law  signed by Trump  requiring his administration to publicly disclose everything it has by last Friday, December 19.

open image in gallery Donald Trump criticized the release of images showing high-profile figures including Bill Clinton with Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting the documents could ruin the reputation of anyone who was innocently photographed with the sex offender ( AP )

An initial round of long-awaited documents included a vast library of salacious images and photographs of high-profile figures with Epstein, but they failed to advance the publics understanding of the scope of his crimes and connections to an alleged sex trafficking ring accused of exploiting and abusing young girls.

There were heavy redactions, including dozens of pages of grand jury testimony and previously sealed court filings that were nearly entirely blacked out.

The first batch of files appeared to prominently feature photographs of former President Bill Clinton with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which the White House immediately pounced on.

I like Bill Clinton. Ive always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I've been nice to him. Hes been nice to me. Weve always gotten along. I respect him. I hate to see photos come out of him, but this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats, and a couple of bad Republicans are asking for, Trump said Monday. Theres even photos of me, too.

Trump has continued to downplay his connections to Epstein despite a years-long relationship that fell apart in the 2000s. The president has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and ones inclusion in the documents does not imply otherwise.

A spokesperson for Clinton accused the administration of using selective releases to imply wrongdoing and called on the Justice Department to immediately release any remaining materials from the Epstein files "referring to, mentioning or containing a photograph of the former president.

Someone or something is protected, Clintons deputy chief of staff Angel Urena said Monday. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection.

open image in gallery Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has denied that the Justice Department is redacting Trumps name from the Epstein files ( AP )

Hours after the initial release of documents, the Justice Department removed more than 20 files  including an image that showed a photograph of Trump with bikini-clad women was sitting in an open drawer.

Those images were later restored, but their removal only fueled outrage and demand for the full release of the files, with threats of legal action from members of Congress.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was scrambling 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.

We are not redacting information around President Trump, Blanche said.

After the Justice Department restored the image of Trump taken from Epsteins credenza, the agency said in a statement that there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction.

open image in gallery A first batch of images released by the Justice Department December 19 include several undated photographs featuring Bill Clinton, which the White House immediately pounced on ( Department of Justice )

Missing from the documents are bank records that could shed light on the allegedly vast financial engine supporting Epstein and his crimes, as well as internal memos and other documents from prosecutors who investigated him and others.

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 Epstein and Maxwell.

It also requires the release of documents related to Epsteins jailhouse death in 2019, which was ruled a suicide. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

More than a dozen survivors of Epsteins and Maxwells abuse have criticized the administrations partial release of the files, which were riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation.

At the same time, numerous victim identities were left 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 wrote.

Members of Congress have suggested Attorney General Pam Bondi could be held in contempt for failing to release documents on deadline.

Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the Democratic and Republican lawmakers behind legislation compelling the release, are talking about and drafting that right now, Khanna told CBS Face the Nation Sunday.

The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, Massie added.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will also introduce a resolution next month to initiate legal actions against the Trump administration for illegally refusing to release the full complete files and heavily redacting others, his office said.
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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.
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President Donald Trump further pressed his case on Monday for why the U.S. wants to take control of Greenland, describing the island as vital for American security and making a bizarre claim that the U.S. was exploring Greenland 300 years ago.

We need it for national protection, the president said during a press conference in Florida, a day after he appointed a new U.S. envoy to the semi-autonomous Danish territory, infuriating local officials.

Trump went on to say that the U.S. wasnt seeking to extract Greenlands mineral wealth, but rather that he wants to use the island to help counter the influence of Russia and China, nations he accused of having ships in the region.

They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat, Trump added. Well, we were there with boats too, Im sure. So well have to work it all out.

The Inuit have lived in Greenland for thousands of years, and Europeans made contact with the island in the late 10th century. The U.S. would not play a major role in exploring the area around Greenland until the late 19th century.

He also falsely claimed Denmark wasnt supporting the island, even though in September it pledged a multi-year, $253m investment package for Greenland.

open image in gallery Trump has revived his interest in taking over Greenland, despite continued insistence from local officials that no such thing will take place ( AP )

Over the weekend, Trump announced that Louisiana governor Jeff Landry will serve as a special envoy to the island territory, which the president has frequently expressed interest in taking control of throughout his time in office.

The announcement, which followed months of quiet after a flurry of pressure early in Trumps term, prompted an angry response from officials in Greenland and Denmark.

We have said it before. Now, we say it again: national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement. They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.

Denmark has also summoned the U.S. ambassador to Copenhagen.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has previously sent Vice President Vance to visit Greenland, and has suggested it wouldnt rule out force to take the island ( AP )

As recently as October, the Trump administrations interest in Greenland seemed to be dying down.

Right now, it seems far away. There is perhaps a feeling that we can breathe a sigh of relief, Prime Minister Frederiksen said during a session of the Danish parliament at the time. It is my belief that we cannot.

Early in his term, Trump was putting a full-court press on Greenland.

In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. base there, the same month the president said he wouldnt rule out using force to take the island.

Tensions escalated further in May, when news reports claimed the U.S. was intensifying spying efforts in Greenland, prompting Denmark to say it would summon the U.S. ambassador for clarification.
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President Donald Trump accused the New York Times of endangering national security, calling the newspaper a serious threat in a late-night rant on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said The Times published what he described as false and misleading reporting and accused it of biased coverage, without providing any evidence to support the allegations.

The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation, he wrote.

Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Thank you for you attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DJT.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has again lashed out at the New York Times ( Getty )

It is not clear what particular article, if any, prompted the presidents rage. But it marks the latest in a series of attacks by the commander-in-chief against the publication, its staff and the media more broadly.

Earlier this month, Trump raged against The Times, accusing the it of seditious, perhaps even treasonous behavior after a recent op-ed questioned his health.

Opinion writer Frank Bruni scrutinized the 79-year-old presidents health in an article saying: His approval ratings have declined in recent months, and so, by the looks of things, has his vigor.

After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe its seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Trump wrote in response.

Another Times reporter was among a series of female journalists Trump has directly insulted in recent weeks.

open image in gallery The Times has proven to be a frequent target of Trumps rage ( Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images )

In November he accused veteran White House reporter Katie Rogers of being assigned to only write bad things about him and called her a third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out.

There will be a day when I run low on Energy, it happens to everyone, but with a PERFECT PHYSICAL EXAM AND A COMPREHENSIVE COGNITIVE TEST (That was aced) JUST RECENTLY TAKEN, it certainly is not now, he added.

The broadside prompted The Times to issue a statement defending the journalist and its reporting.

The Timess reporting is accurate and built on first hand reporting of the facts. Name-calling and personal insults dont change that, nor will our journalists hesitate to cover this administration in the face of intimidation tactics like this, the broadsheet said.

Trumps other recent attacks on multiple female reporters included labeling them stupid and incapable, and in one incident that promoted widespread backlash, told Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey to be quiet piggy.
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The US military announced on Monday that it had carried out another strike against a vessel it claimed was involved in drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in one fatality.

US Southern Command stated in a social media post that "Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations."

However, the command offered no evidence to substantiate its assertion that the boat was engaged in drug trafficking.

A video released by US Southern Command depicts water splashes near one side of the boat. Following a second volley, the rear of the vessel ignites. Further splashes envelop the craft as the fire intensifies. The footage concludes with the boat adrift, engulfed by a significant blaze.

The full post read: On Dec. 22, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. One male narco-terrorist was confirmed killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed

Earlier videos of U.S. boat strikes showed vessels suddenly exploding, suggesting missile strikes. Some strike videos even had visible rocket-like projectiles coming down on the boats.

The Trump administration has said the strikes were meant to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. and increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

President Donald Trump justified the aggressive action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States from what his administration claims are drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific and Caribbean.

Trump ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

At least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and say the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard has stepped up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Trump administrations escalating campaign against Maduro.
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Parishioners at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Las Vegas say they experienced what they believe was a miracule during a holiday mass celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe Day.

The reported sighting occurred during the special service, when several worshippers noticed what they described as a face appearing in the wrinkles of a piece of fabric displayed in the sanctuary.

Father Edmund Nnadozie said he did not initially see the image from his position at the front of the church, while parishioners began taking out their phones and recording it.

However, after looking more closely, he said he could see what others were describing.

I looked at it, Im like, Oh, wait a minute, I looked at it again, and that was the face of, you know, its Our Lady, Nnadozie told Fox5 Vegas about the footage.

open image in gallery Parishioners at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Las Vegas say they saw a face appear in fabric at the altar during an Our Lady of Guadalupe Day Mass ( Fox5 Vegas )

The reported image appeared around December 12, coinciding with Our Lady of Guadalupe Day, a feast day in the Catholic Church.

This day honors the Virgin Marys 1531 apparition to St. Juan Diego in Mexico, when she is said to have miraculously left her image on his tilma, a Mexican cloak.

Celebrated across Mexico, the U.S., and beyond, the day is celebrated by festive Masses, colorful processions, traditional music, and dancing, symbolizing faith, hope, and Mexican cultural identity.

Nnadozie suggested that the timing of the image might carry deep spiritual significance rather than being a mere coincidence.

I think maybe Our Lady was sending a message to us, Hey, Im still around, I know today is a celebration of my day, and I can still show myself, Nnadozie told Fox5 Vegas.

Parishioner Ben Yzaguirre told the outlet that the image was hard to miss as people started whispering and pointing to the fabric.

open image in gallery The image appeared around December 12, coinciding with Our Lady of Guadalupe Day, which honors the Virgin Marys 1531 apparition to St. Juan Diego in Mexico ( Fox5 Vegas )

I took a picture of it and thought, thats really kind of neat and cool, Yzaguirre said. I believe its a miracle, a sign from heaven, its beautiful to see, and Im glad I was able to be a part of that.

Nnadozie hopes that people are cherishing the significance of the moment during the holiday season.

God chooses when a miracle happens, and a miracle can happen in Las Vegas, Nnadozie said.

Yzaguirre and parishioners, according to the outlet, said the experience brought comfort and a sense of togetherness, whether or not it was a miracle.

Sometimes the world or the community needs these things as well, and its not just for us to keep to ourselves, Yzaguirre said.
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A police officer shot in the head and rendered blind in one eye during the Bondi Beach shooting has been released from hospital to be reunited with his family for Christmas.

Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, 22, was shot twice while he was patrolling the Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach on 14 December, after two gunmen, a father and son, began firing at those in attendance.

He continued helping people at the event even after he was injured, until he could no longer do so and fell down.

At the hospital, the constable underwent a number of surgeries but still lost vision in one eye. On Tuesday, his family confirmed he had been discharged from the hospital, describing it as a miracle.

As a family, we couldnt ask for anything more, his family said in a statement. Having our Jack home, especially for Christmas, truly feels like a miracle.

We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support, kind messages and well wishes from the community, Jacks colleagues, friends, and the emergency services, they said, thanking medical staff for taking exceptional care of Mr Hibbert, who was just four months into the job when the attack unfolded.

open image in gallery Jack Hibbert was injured in the Bondi Beach attack ( New South Wales Police )

At least 15 people were killed, and 40 were injured in the attack, which was later condemned as a terrorist act by the government.

Suspect Naveed Akram, 24, faces multiple murder charges and one terrorism charge, while his father, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene. Mr Akram was transferred from hospital to prison on Monday and is set to attend court in Sydney again in the new year.

Meanwhile, another police officer who was injured in the attack has woken up from a coma, his family said. New South Wales Police Constable Scott Dyson was wounded and was put in a medically induced coma after undergoing surgery almost daily, his family said.

Our family would like to share that Scott has been getting stronger each day, and today, he was woken up for the first time, they said. There is still a long way to go in his recovery, but this is a positive sign. We would like to thank the public for the support, messages and well wishes shown to Scott and our family during this difficult time.

NSW Health said on Tuesday that 12 people injured in the attack remained in hospital receiving care. Four of them were in a critical but stable condition.

open image in gallery Map of where the attack took place on 14 December ( PA Graphics )

In the wake of the incident, New South Wales is set to pass tougher gun laws, ban the display of terrorist symbols, and curb protests. The proposed law is expected to clear the state parliaments upper house on Tuesday.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said his government would address hate speech and gun control, working with states on new laws. He apologised to Australian Jews and the broader community and acknowledged the anger directed towards him.

I feel the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened whilst Im prime minister, he said. And Im sorry for what the Jewish community, and our nation as a whole, has experienced.
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In an effort to tighten up security failings, a crane could be seen lifting a freight lift to a window of the Louvre Museum on Tuesday, but this time it wasnt jewel thieves.

After the worlds most-visited museum experienced a stunning heist in October, the Paris landmark is working to protect its items.

With the Louvre closed on Tuesday, maintenance workers in security helmets and high-visibility vests mounted a freight lift to a second-floor balcony to secure new metal bars outside a now-infamous window.

Investigators are still on the hunt for missing crown jewels worth $102 million.

The sight mirrored what happened Oct. 19, when a team of thieves posing as workers used a similar lift, then sliced through the window to enter the landmarks Apollo Gallery. They grabbed tiaras, emerald earrings, a sapphire necklace and other treasures, and eight minutes later they were gone.

open image in gallery The Louvre didnt publicly comment about Tuesdays security operation ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

All four suspected thieves have been arrested and charged. But the jewels havent been found.

Samuel Lasnel of maintenance lift company Grima-Nacelles said he and his crew arrived before dawn Tuesday to carry out the high-profile window-securing operation.

We have already worked at the Louvre  on the interior, on the exterior, inside and outside the pyramid  weve been here several times, he told The Associated Press. The Louvre knows us well.

open image in gallery The Louvre didnt publicly comment about Tuesdays security operation ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The Louvre didnt publicly comment about Tuesdays security operation.

The robbers haul included a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amalie and Hortense, and a pearl-and-diamond tiara belonging to Napoleon III's wife, Empress Eugenie.

Footage from museum cameras showed that the two who broke into the ornate Apollo Gallery used grinders to cut into jewelry display cases.

The emerald-set imperial crown of Empress Eugenie, containing more than 1,300 diamonds, was later found outside the museum.
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Russia is reportedly developing a new anti-satellite weapon specifically designed to target Elon Musks Starlink constellation, according to intelligence findings from two Nato nations.

These reports, seen by The Associated Press, indicate the so-called zone-effect weapon aims to flood Starlink orbits with hundreds of thousands of high-density pellets.

Such a weapon could potentially disable multiple satellites at once, but it also carries the risk of catastrophic collateral damage to other orbiting systems. The alleged objective behind this development is to curb Western space superiority, which has played a crucial role in aiding Ukraine on the battlefield.

open image in gallery A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida ( AP )

However, analysts who have not reviewed these specific findings express scepticism, questioning whether such a weapon could be deployed without causing uncontrollable chaos in space. This chaos would affect not only Western entities but also companies and countries, including Russia and its ally China, that depend on thousands of orbiting satellites for vital communications, defence, and other essential needs.

These significant repercussions, including potential risks to its own space systems, could ultimately deter Moscow from deploying or using such a weapon.

open image in gallery A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink satellites is seen above Lawndale, California after being launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in June 2024 ( AFP via Getty )

I dont buy it. Like, I really dont, said Victoria Samson, a space-security specialist at the Secure World Foundation who leads the Colorado-based nongovernmental organisations annual study of anti-satellite systems. I would be very surprised, frankly, if they were to do something like that.

But the commander of the Canadian militarys Space Division, Brigadier General Christopher Horner, said such Russian work cannot be ruled out in light of previous US allegations that Russia also has been pursuing an indiscriminate nuclear, space-based weapon.

I cant say Ive been briefed on that type of system. But its not implausible, he said. If the reporting on the nuclear weapons system is accurate and that theyre willing to develop that and willing to go to that end, well, it wouldnt strike me as shocking that something just short of that, but equally damaging, is within their wheelhouse of development.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov didnt respond to messages from the AP seeking comment. Russia has previously called for United Nations efforts to stop the orbital deployment of weapons, and president Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear space weapons.

Weapon would have multiple targets

The intelligence findings were shown to the AP on condition that the services involved were not identified and the news organisation was not able to independently verify the findings conclusions.

The US Space Force didnt respond to questions. The French militarys Space Command said in a statement that it could not comment on the findings but said, We can inform you that Russia has, in recent years, been multiplying irresponsible, dangerous, and even hostile actions in space.

open image in gallery Starlinks orbits are about 550km (340 miles) above the planet ( AP )

Russia views Starlink in particular as a grave threat, the findings indicate. The thousands of low-orbiting satellites have been pivotal for Ukraines survival against Russias full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year.

Starlinks high-speed internet service is used by Ukrainian forces for battlefield communications, weapons targeting and other roles and by civilians and government officials where Russian strikes have affected communications.

Russian officials repeatedly have warned that commercial satellites serving Ukraines military could be legitimate targets. This month, Russia said it has fielded a new ground-based missile system, the S-500, which is capable of hitting low-orbit targets.

Unlike a missile that Russia tested in 2021 to destroy a defunct Cold War-era satellite, the new weapon in development would target multiple Starlinks at once, with pellets possibly released by yet-to-be-launched formations of small satellites, the intelligence findings say.

Canadas Brigadier General Horner said it is hard to see how clouds of pellets could be corralled to only strike Starlink and that debris from such an attack could get out of control in a hurry.

You blow up a box full of BBs, he said. Doing that would blanket an entire orbital regime and take out every Starlink satellite and every other satellite thats in a similar regime. And I think thats the part that is incredibly troubling.

System is possibly just experimental

The findings seen by the AP didnt say when Russia might be capable of deploying such a system, nor detail whether it has been tested or how far along research is believed to be.

The system is in active development, and information about the timing of an expected deployment is too sensitive to share, according to an official familiar with the findings and other related intelligence that the AP did not see. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the nonpublic findings.

Such Russian research could be simply experimental, Ms Samson said.

I wouldnt put it past some scientists ... to build out something like this because its an interesting thought-experiment and they think, you know, Maybe at some point we can get our government to pay for it, she said.

Ms Samson suggested the spectre of a supposed new Russian threat may also be an effort to elicit an international response.

open image in gallery Russia views Starlink in particular as a grave threat, findings indicate ( Mariana Suarez/AFP via Getty )

Often times people pushing these ideas are doing it because they want the US side to build something like that or ... to justify increased spending on counterspace capabilities or using it for a more hawkish approach on Russia, she said.

Im not saying that this is whats happening with this, Ms Samson added. But it has been known to happen that people take these crazy arguments and use them.

Tiny pellets could remain undetected

The intelligence findings say the pellets would be so small  just millimeters across  that they would evade detection by ground- and space-based systems that scan for space objects, which could make it hard to pin blame for any attack on Moscow.

Clayton Swope, who specialises in space security and weaponry at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, DC-based security and policy think tank, said if the pellets are not trackable, that complicates things, but people would figure it out.

If satellites start winking out with damage, I guess you could put two and two together, he said.

Exactly how much destruction tiny pellets could do isnt clear. In November, a suspected impact by a small piece of debris was sufficient to damage a Chinese spacecraft that was meant to bring three astronauts back to Earth.

Most damage would probably be done to the solar panels because theyre probably the most fragile part of satellites, Mr Swope said. Thatd be enough, though, to damage a satellite and probably bring it offline.

Weapon of fear could threaten chaos

After such an attack, pellets and debris would over time fall back toward Earth, possibly damaging other orbiting systems on their way down, analysts say.

Starlinks orbits are about 550km (340 miles) above the planet. Chinas Tiangong space station and the International Space Station operate at lower orbits, so both would face risks, according to Mr Swope.

The space chaos that such a weapon could cause might enable Moscow to threaten its adversaries without actually having to use it, Mr Swope said.

It definitely feels like a weapon of fear, looking for some kind of deterrence or something, he said.

Ms Samson said the drawbacks of an indiscriminate pellet weapon could steer Russia off such a path.

Theyve invested a huge amount of time and money and human power into being, you know, a space power, she said.

Using such a weapon would effectively cut off space for them as well, Ms Samson said. I dont know that they would be willing to give up that much.
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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.
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Three people were killed including a four-year-old child, Ukraine officials said, in a large-scale Russian drone attack on the country just two days before Christmas.

The latest barrage, involving more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles, comes as hopes of securing a US-brokered ceasefire before 25 December fade.

The Russian assault struck homes and the power grid in 13 regions of Ukraine, causing widespread outages in bitterly cold sub-zero temperatures.

Initial reports from Ukrainian emergency services said the child died in Ukraines northwestern Zhytomyr region, while a drone killed a woman in the Kyiv region, and another civilian death was recorded in the western Khmelnytskyi region, according to reports.

open image in gallery Ukrainians work to extinguish a fire following a drone strike in the Chernihiv region ( Ukrainian Emergency Service )

Russia launched 635 drones of various types and 38 missiles, Ukraines air force said adding that air defences stopped 587 of the drones and 34 of the missiles.

The bombardment demonstrates Russian president Vladimir Putins ongoing intention of pursuing the invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces were forced to pull out of the embattled eastern town of Siversk, as Russian troops wage a battlefield offensive aimed at threatening key cities critical to Ukraine's defences in the east, according to Kyivs military.

This puts Russian forces closer to the hub of Sloviansk, some 30 km (20 miles) to the west. Sloviansk is a northern anchor of the so-called "fortress belt" of cities in Ukraine's heavily industrialised Donbas which Russia has demanded Kyiv cede before it ends its war.

It comes as Ukrainian and European officials continue to express concerns Putin is not sincerely engaging with the US-led peace efforts, as the war looks set to enter its fifth year in February.

Zelensky said on Tuesday that several draft documents, including on security guarantees, had been prepared after Ukrainian officials held talks in Miami with US counterparts on ending Russia's war.

open image in gallery A drone explodes during a Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv ( Reuters )

They worked productively with envoys of President Trump and several draft documents have now been prepared, the Ukrainian president wrote on X. In particular, these include documents on security guarantees for Ukraine, on recovery, and on a basic framework for ending this war.

However, Russia was quick to once again pour cold water on the suggestion that progress was being made.

The latest dialogue between the Russians and US officials in Miami should not be seen as a breakthrough, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Calling it a working process, Putins close aide said the discussions were expected to continue and that Russias priority was to obtain from the United States details of Washingtons work with Europeans and Ukrainians on a possible settlement.

He said Moscow would then judge how far those ideas matched what he called the spirit of Anchorage.

Pope Leo expressed much sadness as Russia refused a Christmas ceasefire. He told journalists: "Among the things that cause me much sadness is that apparently Russia has refused a ceasefire request.

"I will make an appeal one more time to people of good will to respect at least Christmas day as a day of peace," said Leo. "Maybe they will listen to us and there will be at least 24 hours, a day of peace, across the world."

open image in gallery A woman injured in Russias overnight attack ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

US president Donald Trump had reportedly been hoping to secure an agreement before Christmas Day, having previously announced a proposal to end the war which would force Kyiv to give up land while compensating the United States for upholding the peace.

While US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday he held productive and constructive talks in Florida with Ukrainian and European representatives Trump was less effusive the day after, saying: The talks are going along.

Asked if he planned to speak to Zelensky or Putin, Trump did not say only adding that he would like to see the fighting stop.

Meanwhile, there have been media reports of a dispute between Witkoff and another senior figure in Trumps cabinet.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has grown frustrated with Witkoff, Trumps designated peace envoy, over what Rubios allies view as attempts to sideline the state department from negotiations, NBC News reported.

open image in gallery US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reportedly at odds over how best to resolve the conflict ( Reuters )

In November, Witkoff travelled to Geneva ahead of schedule to begin talks with Ukrainian officials, NBC cited officials as saying.

Witkoff did not inform Rubio or senior state department officials of the trip, the sources said, prompting concerns that he was seeking to conduct negotiations independently.

They seem to be singing off of a different sheet of music, Alexander Vershbow, the former ambassador to Nato, said. And if you dont have a common understanding of the problems and of your adversary in a negotiation, it cant be good.

However, Rubio later pushed back on the report, describing Witkoff as a phenomenal person, very smart, very talented.

No one is out there doing independent action, Rubio told reporters. All of it is strongly coordinated.
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A former close aide to Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed the Israeli leader immediately sought ways to avoid accountability for the security failures that led to the October 2023 Hamas attack.

Eli Feldstein, who previously served as Mr Netanyahus spokesperson and is currently facing trial for allegedly leaking classified information, made the explosive accusation during an extensive interview with Israels Kan news channel on Monday night.

Critics have repeatedly accused Netanyahu of refusing to accept any blame for the deadliest attack in Israels history. But little is known about Netanyahus behavior in the days immediately following the attack, while the premier has consistently resisted an independent state inquiry.

Speaking to Kan, Feldstein said the first task he received from Netanyahu after Oct. 7, 2023, was to stifle calls for accountability.

He asked me, What are they talking about in the news? Are they still talking about responsibility? Feldstein said. He wanted me to think of something that could be said that would offset the media storm surrounding the question of whether the prime minister had taken responsibility or not.

He added that Netanyahu looked panicked when he made the request. Feldstein said he was later told by people in Netanyahu's close circle to omit the word responsibility from all statements.

open image in gallery People gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 13, 2025, prior to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages back to Gaza. Israel then launched a devastating war in Gaza that has killed nearly 71,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.

Netanyahus office called the interview a long series of mendacious and recycled allegations made by a man with clear personal interests who is trying to deflect responsibility from himself, Hebrew media reported.

Feldsteins statements come after his indictment in a case where he is accused of leaking classified military information to a German tabloid to improve public perception of the prime minister following the killing of six hostages in Gaza in August of last year.

Feldstein is also a suspect in the Qatargate scandal, one of two close aides to Netanyahu accused of accepting money from Qatar while also working for the prime minister.
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At midnight on Christmas Eve, the words of the traditional hymn The Night of Christmas will ring out in the tiny grotto in Bethlehems Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born.

On the night of Christmas, war is buried, On the night of Christmas, love is born, a local choir sings each year during the midnight service. As they rehearsed ahead of this year's service, many choir members said the words echoed with deeper meaning following the ceasefire in Gaza.

It reminds us that no matter the difficulties, the darkness, there is always a light and that hope is always alive, said Joseph Hazboun, the conductor of the lay choir made up of local Catholics.

For the past two years, as the war in Gaza dragged on, Christmas in Bethlehem has been a somber affair, without the traditional festivities and decorations and music. But this year, families are flocking again to Manger Square, signaling hope about the fragile ceasefire and providing a much-needed economic boost to Bethlehem.

On a recent visit, Manger Square was crowded and buzzing with festive lights, a Christmas market, and music shows for children.

open image in gallery Palestinian vendors wait for clients in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

You can see the town come alive again, said Zoya Thalgia, a resident of Bethlehem. Everyones happy, everyones coming out to celebrate, no matter religion, no matter their stance, everyone is here.

Christmas and religious pilgrims have always been a prime economic engine for Bethlehem. Around 80% of the Muslim-majority citys residents depend upon tourism-related businesses, according to the local government. During good times, their earnings ripple out to communities across the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967 that has long struggled with poverty.

But during the Gaza war, the unemployment rate in the city jumped from 14% to 65%, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati said earlier this month. And in previous years, as an act of protest, some churches created Nativity scenes with Jesus as an infant surrounded by rubble and barbed wire.

Despite the ceasefire that began in October, tensions remain high across much of the West Bank.

Israels military has said it is cracking down on militants in the territory and carrying out frequent raids. Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank this year reached their highest level since the U.N. humanitarian office started collecting data in 2006.

Odette Al Sliby, a Bethlehem resident, has sung in choirs since she was seven years old, but she said few things compare to being able to sing in the grotto at the midnight Mass.

Its very holy, the place and the atmosphere and the songs and the words, she said. Singing those songs is a message of hope, she said, and a reminder to Christians of the significance of endurance. As Christians in the Holy Land, there is a big message of being here, she said.

open image in gallery Palestinians watch performances in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Christians account for less than 2% of the West Banks roughly 3 million residents, a presence that has been shrinking.

As poverty and unemployment have soared during the war, about 4,000 people have left Bethlehem in search of work, the mayor said. Its part of a worrying trend for Christians, who are leaving the region in droves.

Across the Middle East, the Christian population has steadily declined as people have fled conflict and attacks.

Hazboun said he will pray this Christmas that the Christian population of Bethlehem and of other areas in the region important to Christianity dont shrink any further.

The return of Christmas festivities across the West Bank, including a Christmas market in Ramallah thronged with visitors, is a much-needed break for local children, said Hazboun.

While Palestinians in the West Bank are still devastated by the images coming out of Gaza, lighting the community Christmas tree in Bethlehem's Manger Square for the first time in two years earlier this month provided a boost of much-needed holiday joy.

We continue to pray for peace. This is the land of peace, its the land where the Prince of Peace was born, and we continue to pray and hope that one day we all will enjoy peace, Hazboun said.
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Saudi Arabia has quietly expanded access to its sole alcohol store, now permitting wealthy foreign residents to purchase alcoholic beverages. This marks the latest step in the once-ultraconservative kingdoms liberalisation drive.

Despite no official announcement, news has spread, leading to long queues of cars and people at the discreet, unmarked outlet in Riyadhs Diplomatic Quarter.

The store, which opened in January 2024 for non-Muslim diplomats, now allows non-Muslim foreigners holding Premium Residency to buy. This permit is granted to those with specialised skills, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, has banned alcohol since the early 1950s. The store is widely seen as a way to cautiously test the controlled sale of alcohol.

Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and his father, King Salman, have pursued a dramatic liberalization policy in the kingdom, aiming to attract tourism, boost international business and reduce economic dependence on crude oil.

The kingdom, which adheres to Islamic Sharia law, has opened movie theaters, allowed women to drive and hosted major music festivals. But political speech and dissent remain strictly criminalized, potentially at the penalty of death.

Alcohol remains banned for the general public.

The unmarked store resembles a duty-free shop. Its ownership remains officially undisclosed.

Festivalgoers gather near food and beverage stands, including a booth serving nonalcoholic beer, during the Soundstorm music festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Baraa Anwer) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Security is strict. Every visitor is subject to eligibility checks and frisking before entry. Phones and cameras are banned inside, and staff even inspect eyewear for smart glasses.

The Associated Press spoke to several customers leaving the store. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the stigma around alcohol.

Prices are sharply elevated, they said. Diplomats are exempt from taxes on their purchases, but Premium Residency holders are not.

The customers described the store as relatively well-stocked, though some said the selection of beer and wine was limited.

The Premium Residency permit was created as part of the kingdoms drive to attract global expertise. Unlike other residencies, it doesnt require a Saudi sponsor, and it offers benefits including the right to own property, start a business and sponsor family. It requires high incomes or large investments to qualify.

Saudis and other residents who want a drink often travel to the neighboring island of Bahrain, where alcohol is legally available to Muslims and non-Muslims. On weekends and holidays, the island sees an influx of visitors from Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf, making it a popular getaway. The more expensive option is to go to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Others resort to smuggled alcohol, which can be extremely expensive, or to bootleg booze  often homemade and risky, using unsafe materials.

Some people in Saudi Arabia enjoy alcohol-free beverages as a substitute for the real thing or to capture the aesthetic of drinking, often snapping photos for social media. At major events and festivals, its not uncommon to see long lines forming at alcohol-free beer stands, especially among young Saudis and visitors looking to partake in the vibe.

King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabias founding monarch, banned the sale after a 1951 incident in which one of his sons, Prince Mishari, became intoxicated and used a shotgun to kill British vice consul Cyril Ousman in Jeddah.
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A Croatia man was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years in prison for fatally stabbing a 7-year-old student in an attack at a school that shocked the European Union country where such violence is rare.

The attack on Dec. 20, 2024, at the Precko Elementary School in Zagreb also wounded three students and a teacher.

The 20-year-old man, who was 19 at the time, walked into his former school wielding a knife and stabbed the children and the teacher. He later tried to kill himself.

Police last year said the man had lived in the vicinity of the school. Children between the ages of 7 and 15 attend elementary schools in Croatia.

The sentence handed down at the County Court in Zagreb can be appealed. Kresimir Skarica, a lawyer representing the family of the deceased victim, said the verdict was expected, the Index news portal reported.

There are no winners or losers in this case, Skarica said.

In May 2023, a teenager in neighboring Serbia opened fire at a school in the capital Belgrade, killing nine fellow students and a school guard.
Aerial footage shows the moment Russian soldiers on horseback were struck down by Ukrainian drones.

In the clip, two soldiers riding horses race through a field whilst drones lock onto their targets. One of the soldiers is hit, with the explosion spooking a horse which shakes its rider off its back.

Shared the undated footage, Ukraines 92nd Separate Air Assault Brigade wrote: Russian occupiers lose so much equipment during their meat-grinder assaults that theyre forced to move on horseback.

Vladimir Putins introduction of the calvary to the front line comes amid numerous reports that Moscow is using donkeys, horses and even camels to transport equipment across tricky terrain.
Finding the perfect Christmas gift can feel like a major mission  but the right brands can make it effortlessly easy. Whether youre shopping for the tech-savvy friend who values security, the partner who deserves something sparkly and personal, or the wellness lover who craves a calm moment in the holiday season chaos, this guide has you covered.

From Secret Santa ideas for the workplace to stocking fillers for her and small gift ideas for him, Christmas gift shopping can feel overwhelming to say the least  particularly when youre dealing with the trickiest of giftees (were looking at you, mother-in-laws and fathers).

As such, were spotlighting thoughtful picks from brands known for their quality, intention and charm. From privacy-first digital tools to customizable jewelry and soothing self-care essentials, these gifts go beyond the ordinary and show just how much you care.

Eden Oral Minoxidil

( Eden )

Hair thinning is common and many people notice changes in density or shedding by their thirties and fortiess. Eden offers access to prescription oral minoxidil (tablets) for hair thinning through an online health intake and licensed prescriber review, with free delivery included if prescribed. Plans start at $25/month for a six-month plan, and any eligible discounts are automatically applied at checkout. If youve been meaning to address thinning hair (or want to gently nudge someone who has), you can share this option and they can decide whether to complete the online consultation.

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Disclaimer: Rx only; if prescribed. Oral minoxidil is FDA-approved for hypertension and used off-label for hair loss. Side effects can include low blood pressure/dizziness, swelling, palpitations, and unwanted hair growth. Results vary. If compounded, not FDA-approved.

Jewlr

Toi and Moi Ring ( Jewlr )

If youre looking for a gift that feels personal  something that turns the holidays into a moment worth remembering  Jewlr is the perfect place to start. The North American brand is known for handcrafted, made-to-order jewelry that celebrates lifes most meaningful connections. With options to add names, initials, birthstones and custom engravings, every piece becomes a lasting keepsake created just for the person you love.

A go-to destination for heartfelt gifts throughout December, the label carefully crafts each design from start to finish using quality materials such as sterling silver, solid gold and ethically sourced gemstones. Not sure where to begin? The Toi et Moi ring beautifully pairs two birthstones to symbolize love and connection, while the Personalized Initial Necklace with Gemstone lets you add that bespoke touch. If youre a last-minute shopper, youre bound to find an eleventh-hour gift from Jewlr that dazzles.

Order by December 14 to ensure your gift arrives in time for Christmas with free standard shipping. For express shipping, order by December 22.

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Eden NAD+ Face Cream

( Eden )

Want an easy skincare upgrade heading into 2026? Edens NAD+ Face Cream is a simple daily topical that helps support the look of brighter, smoother, more resilient skin, no needles, no downtime.Start online with a quick virtual visit. A licensed provider reviews your information and, if appropriate, can prescribe a compounded topical cream. Pricing starts at $84/month on a three-month plan, and eligible discounts are automatically applied at checkout.

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Disclaimer: Rx only; if prescribed. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Eden coordinates care; licensed providers prescribe when appropriate; partner pharmacies prepare and ship. Results vary.

Proton

( Proton )

While at first it may not seem like the most exciting buy, a subscription to a VPN (virtual private network) service is actually an incredibly practical gift  with Proton being a leading brand that you can trust. A VPN encrypts your online activity, which prevents websites (and even your own internet provider) from tracking what you do online. This helps keep your digital life safe, which is paramount. Proton VPN is fast and private and can be used on any device, anywhere, so you can browse securely and keep your IP address hidden.

Sounds like a savvy gift for holiday season? Well the good news is, right now, you can get 75 percent off too when signing up to a 24-month subscription. That takes the price down to $2.99 (instead of $9.99) per month. This is a meaningful present to protect their digital experience, year-round.

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Irish division of Gareth Sheridans Nutriband is targeted for involuntary strike-off

Dublin-based subsidiary has failed to file annual return for the past seven years

Gareth Sheridan. Photo: Gerry Mooney

John Mulligan Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

A Dublin-based subsidiary of Gareth Sheridans US-based Nutriband is listed for involuntary strike-off after failing to file an annual return for the past seven years.
Lansdowne secures funding to pursue $100m claim against Government

The action is related to refusal of rights to develop Barryroe oil and gas field

Former environment minister Eamon Ryan. Photo: PA

John Mulligan Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 18:39

Lansdowne Oil and Gas has secured litigation funding from a US law firm to pursue a $100m-plus claim against the Irish Government in relation to the Barryroe oil and gas field in the north Celtic Sea.
Mercosur working with other partners as EU deal struggles on

Talks between the South American bloc and countries such as the UAE and Japan are gaining importance

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the EU deal cannot be completed 'without political will and courage from its leaders'. Photo: Getty

Augusta Saraiva Bloomberg Mon 22 Dec 2025 at 06:30

As the European Union struggles to complete a trade deal with Mercosur, competitors eyeing South America's consumer market and vast mineral resources are taking note.
Im worried were losing control over the sale of our family farm

The executor is friendly with the tenant and we fear it could be sold below market value

'If the executor goes ahead and sells the property to the neighbour at an undervalue, which is within his powers, then you and your sisters may well have a case against him for negligence'. Photo: Brian Farrell

Mary Frances Fahy Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

Query: Dear Mary Frances, Im seeking some guidance on a situation that has become quite worrying for myself and my siblings. A number of years ago, a brother of ours passed away and left us the farm.
The Indo Daily: Melania: The Movie  We saw it, so you dont have to...
'We dealt with seven call-outs on Christmas Day last year' - firefighters reveal hazards to avoid this Christmas

For Cork City Fire Brigade, itll be emergency call-outs instead of presents and lunch on December 25

Robert O'Brien (centre) and the firefighters of Anglesea Street Fire Station, Cork City, who will be on duty on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Ralph Riegel Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

Thirty Cork City Fire Brigade members will leave their families on Christmas morning and forgo their lunches to ensure it is a safe festive season for others.
Weeks into Nama trial, Frank Cushnahan and his lawyers took a big gamble which can only now be explained
Woman arrested on suspicion of murder of Donabate boy Daniel Aruebose (3) released without charge

Woman arrested on suspicion of murder of Donabate boy Daniel Aruebose

Denise Calnan and Alan Caulfield Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 08:48

A woman who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Daniel Aruebose (3), whose body was found buried in a field in north Dublin earlier this year, has been released without charge.
We need to dig deep to re-find our humanity and end shame of child poverty  Archbishop Micheal Jackson

Anglican primate warns that a failure to act will have a domino effect and lead to other issues

Archbishop Michael Jackson used his Christmas message to call kindness and compassion to people coming to Irish society who may not yet know how to contribute

Sarah Mac Donald Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

One of the countrys senior church leaders has hit out at the shame of child poverty in Ireland today, describing it as a scandal.
Lucinda OSullivans restaurant review: The flavours throughout were so good in this buzzy new Dublin spot that we had to pursue desserts

With cheerful service and delicious fare, our critic thoroughly enjoyed her visit to the new Cantina Valentina at The Hoxton Hotel in Dublin

The starters at Cantina Valentina, clockwise from right: Scallop ceviche; fried calamari ceviche and tigers milk; smoked miso aubergine. Photo: Lucinda OSullivan. Photo: Lucinda O'Sullivan

Lucinda O'Sullivan Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

The Hoxton Hotel mantra is a good neighbour with an open house, and while that may be a bit dreamy, they go on to say that every Hoxton hotel reflects its neighbourhood, rooted in culture and community. Part of the vast Accor Group, the first Hoxton was opened in Londons now hip hot Shoreditch in 2006, since establishing locations in 13 cities from Amsterdam to Rome to LA.
Martina Devlin: Irelands age of book-banning is over  in the US, it looks like its ramping up

The 2024-25 school year in the US saw an unprecedented 4,000 titles blacklisted  though for some it helps achieve cult status

Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' was banned in the US and parts of Canada, where she is from. Photo: Getty

Martina Devlin Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

Ireland knows a thing or two about censorship, having once banned plenty of books now regarded as literary classics.
Ireland did not do right by Sophie Toscan du Plantier. On Christmas Day in 1996, her lonely brown coffin was mechanically elevated and loaded into the belly of a plane, to be flown home as air cargo. That fundamental wrong was compounded over the decades that followed. Taoiseach Micheal Martin was right to call it a terrible stain on our country  what happened to a person of great substance who loved her visits to west Cork. He made that remark when standing beside French president Emmanuel Macron at Government Buildings in 2021, and repeated it in the Dail a year later  a stain on our society. It will never go away, Mr Martin added. One could not but be struck by the nobility and the dignity of Sophies family.

 Senan Molony, Sophie: the final verdict.

Today marks the 29th anniversary of that stain on our society. The inability to bring a resolution for Sophies family remains a miscarriage of justice. The failure to punish the perpetrator is a national embarrassment.

At the launch of the aforementioned book last year, Micheal Martin spoke again about how the failure to deliver justice should always be a deep shame for us. Mr Martin said the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier was deeply shocking and remains seared into our consciousness.

A cold-case review into the killing by the gardai is nearing completion

The family of Ms Toscan du Plantier will mark the anniversary of her murder with a private ceremony. The 39-year-old French mother of one was beaten to death on a laneway leading to her isolated holiday home at Toormore outside Schull in Cork in the early hours of December 23, 1996. She was attacked just hours before she was to fly back to France to spend Christmas with her family.

A cold-case review into the killing by the gardai is nearing completion. While there is always a chance of a breakthrough, this is the third review of the case file, on top of the garda investigation into the murder. Central to this review is new hi-tech forensic tests conducted on stored evidence  in particular, the rock and block from the scene, which were used in the assault. A new forensic test, on which there are high hopes pinned, is a DNA sampling technique developed in the US called M-Vac, which allows for minuscule samples to be tested from clothing, rocks and other surfaces.

The latest cold-case review into the murder was launched three years ago. Since then, the chief suspect for the murder, Ian Bailey, has died. The English journalist and poet was arrested by gardai for questioning over the killing twice, in 1997 and 1998, but was released without charge on both occasions. But he was convicted by a French court in Paris of the killing in May 2019, in his absence. Mr Bailey repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing.

The cold-case review will include an examination of the timeline and records that became available upon his death. With Ian Baileys passing, the truth of what happened in the cold outside the holiday home in Toormore may never be known.
Podcast reviews

Katherine Ryan and her family have mucked in for her festive podcast. Photo: Audible

Whether youre on the Christmas countdown or limbering up for NYE, these three shows are a balm for the holiday season.

Is Katherine Ryan the most hard-working podcaster in the business? As the weekly host of both Whats My Age Again? and Telling Everybody Everything  and guesting on any number of other peoples pods  shes certainly keeping herself busy during maternity leave for her fourth child, born in October.

She has also added Katherine Ryans Christmas Intervention (Audible) to her repertoire, in which each episode of this six-part series has a set theme: Family, Gifts, Food, Travel, Events and Joy.

Ryans naturally funny bones and inimitable sass are grounded by an unflinching relatability as she here relays the highs and lows of Christmas through her own experiences. Husband Bobby and teenage daughter Violet are assigned roles as the Ghosts of Christmas Future, like festive agony aunts advising on how to do Christmas better.

Adding extra garnish are bants with comedian friends (Josh Widdicombe, Tom Allen, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Sindhu Vee), actors Larry Lamb and Nick Mohammed, and journalist Bryony Gordon, for a Christmas party youre only too happy to be invited to.

Its 1924 and the Boundary Commission has been tasked with creating an official division between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The Border ends up slicing through the small town of Puckoon (BBC Sounds; bbc.co.uk), where homes are divided from outhouses, husbands are separated from wives, bars are cut off from their patrons.

At its literal centre is Dan Milligan (here played by Ed Byrne), a protagonist so feckless even The Author of Spike Milligans original story (Barry Cryer) has to intervene, while Pauline McLynn and Colm Gleeson take on multiple characters.

First broadcast in 2019, this BBC Radio 4 satire is worth another airing if you can grab an hour to yourself with a mince pie in front of the fire this Christmas.

David Suchet could read aloud Ikea instructions and make them sound like Shakespeare. And while Charles Dickenss Ghost Stories (Acast, Apple, Pocket Casts, Spotify) are exceptional in the first place, the actor lends star wattage over some chilling tales.

Episodes drop every Monday throughout December, with, of course, A Christmas Carol first out of the traps, and in two parts, as old Scrooge becomes infamously spooked into being a better man.

Also on the roster are The Signal-Man and The Trial for Murder, in which spectral visitations cause a fright, respectively, for a railway worker and the foreman of a jury. A real Christmas delight.
Don't drink and drive, put your phone away when youre driving, dont leave candles unattended, test your smoke alarms, and keep the festive tree well hydrated  thats the advice from one of Corks chief fire fighters, who will be on call over the holiday period, this Christmas.

Chris Gledhill of Carrigaline Fire Station in County Cork also recommends closing all the internal doors when you leave the house. Closing the doors stops the smoke from spreading, slows down the fire and gives us a chance to do a better job and to finish the fire much faster, he told the Irish Independent.

And the most important message of all is that if a fire breaks out in your home you should get out and stay out. Call us. Don't run in for your favourite toy, don't run in for your Christmas present, you've just got to get out and stay out. Don't worry about getting a pet, don't worry about closing doors, just get out as fast as you can.

Firefighters in Carrigaline and all around the country will be on call over the holidays, ready at the buzz of a pager to head out to fight a fire or assist at the scene of a road traffic accident. Over Christmas its harder to do the duty roster for the 10-member crew at the Carrigaline fire station, Chris said.

Some of the lads might have family, some might not have any family or they're all grown up. So we try and get the lads off who have kids during Christmas Day. But that's not for everyone. It's just unfortunate, we can't have everyone off call. So we have a crew of five on call throughout the day, the whole day, the whole night. Its the same on New Year's Eve.

Those on call on Christmas Day hope they wont get called out but unfortunately fires and road accidents dont respect the holidays. Two years ago the Carrigaline crew got called out at 5pm on Christmas Day, when some of them were in the middle of dinner, and didnt get back home until 11pm.

We were out at multiple callouts such as AFAs (automatic fire alarms), oil spills, RTCs (road traffic collisions) and small fires around the Cork area. In 2021 we were out at a chimney fire and rubbish fire and we also had a fatal house fire that Christmas Eve, Chris said.

In 2019 we were out at 2am on Christmas morning for a serious house fire. We managed to pull the owner out of the house, he suffered from smoke inhalation and minor burns. We didnt finish up the callout until about 7am. Back home then to do Christmas. We were all sat down enjoying Christmas and the pager went again, after which we were out for another hour for a tree down blocking the road. We got back at about 9.30pm.

It doesn't give us much relaxation, but we love our jobs and we are always here to protect our community 24/7, 365 days of the year, the firefighter said.

The Carrigaline fire station, which covers not only the town but also communities such as Riverstick and Passage West, averages around 230 callouts a year. We're on 248 at the moment, Chris said.

Texting while driving has become a major cause of the road traffic accidents that the fire crew attends, he said.

The texting is bad, its gone crazy. Every time I drive the car or when we're driving the fire truck going to a call, we see people texting on their phones, its just crazy and it's not just young people either, it's older people as well.

County Corks firefighters as in other counties are classified as part-time retained while city fire stations have full-time personnel but as Chris points out we're on-call 24-7, 365 days of the year. So technically, we're on-call full-time.

Many retained firefighters hold down full-time jobs at the same time. The role takes serious commitment but its the love of the job, it's the love of the community. We wouldn't do it if we didn't respect our community and we're there to protect them at the end of the day.

We would like to wish everyone a very merry and safe Christmas and we wish the very best for each and every firefighter around the world, he added.

If youre interested in joining the fire service crew in your community, Cork County Council is currently recruiting for fire stations in Bandon, Kanturk and Millstreet. For more information, see www.yourcouncil.ie.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
GAA

Noel Horgan: Very few signs of mental scarring for Cork as they roar back against Galway

Six days after they started in whirlwind fashion in the game against Waterford, the Cork hurlers received a taste of their own medicine in Round 2 of the National League last weekend.
A Kerry councillor has called for emergency investment for the lifeline road along the Dingle Peninsula, saying crumbling sections are causing danger to life.

Councillor Breandan Fitzgerald urged the Transport Minister and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to allocate funding for the completion of the N86 Tralee-Dingle road, emphasising we cannot wait any longer.

Around 1.25m has already been allocated this year to the N86 scheme but further sections are yet to receive funding.

The N86 TraleeDingle road is our lifeline, said Cllr Fitzgerald.

Sections of it are crumbling. From Lios Poil to Dingle, from Camp to Derrymore, the road is deteriorating daily. Every bend, every pothole, every collapse is a danger.

This is an emergency and we need funding to do urgent repairs to these sections immediately.

Dingle is one of Irelands six fisheries harbour centres and is a hub of the Irish seafood industry.

It is the gateway to the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht and is now the at the heart of Irelands first National Marine Park, Pairc Naisiunta na Mara, Ciarrai.

Our families, our locals, our communities and our tourists all deserve better, said Cllr Fitzgerald.

Every delay is a blow to our economy, our culture, our safety. This council fought hard and long for this project, and it is ready to proceed bar the funding. We cannot wait any longer. We need emergency investment from TII and we need it now.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme
The initiative seeks to turn forgotten corners into thriving habitats by planting native trees, orchards, and hedgerows to help Limericks wildlife flourish

The Hare's Corner is an old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasnt intensively farmed and so was left to nature

A biodiversity initiative is set to return to Limerick in the New Year in a bid to benefit climate-action and wellbeing of participants in the county.

Inspired by the term The Hares Corner an old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasnt intensively farmed and so was left to nature - the aim of this project is to help create habitats that have proven benefits for biodiversity, for climate-action as well as for the wellbeing of participants.
Tusla has started implementing new rules to stop children like Kyran Durnin going missing for years undetected.

There is still no sign of the little boy who would be nine years old now and vanished in the summer of 2022, despite a full-blown Garda murder investigation.

The Childrens Minister Norma Foley said changes are being made by the child and family protection agency following the report by the National Review Panel (NRP) into Kyrans case.

These specifically centre around tracking pupil movement between primary schools and cross-border movements so no child falls between gaps in the system.

New guidance has also been given to social workers in terms of network checking and development of procedures for a waiting list of urgent cases they might have.

Kyran left his school in Dundalk in June 2022 to go to another school in the North, but he was never seen again publicly after that.

Its understood social workers who had been dealing with the family did not follow up on his movements.

It was only when a Tusla staff member became suspicious over another child brought to a meeting pretending to be Kyran, two years later, that the authorities discovered the child had disappeared. He was eventually officially reported missing at the end of August 2024.

The Minister also confirmed a review of the TuslaGarda Siochana protocol is underway.

Norma Foley said: Any case of a missing child is of enormous concern to the Government and across society. We are always conscious that at the heart of this case is a young child. All of us, including the general public, are devastated that a young child can go missing for such a long time.

She wanted to make the NRP Review into Kyrans case public but was prevented from doing so by the Attorney General, who feared it could prejudice future prosecutions.

Minister Foley said it may be possible to publish the full report sometime in the future depending on the advice of the Attorney General and the DPP.

She added: Tusla has already commenced the process of implementing the recommendations under its remit and should be completed as soon as possible.

The Minister was speaking in the Dail where she was quizzed on the case by the Louth Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu.

She also confirmed that, under new laws currently before the Dail, all State agencies will be compelled to co-operate with each other when it comes to child protection.

Deputy O Murchu said his thoughts were with Kyran Durnin and other tragic cases like Daniel Aruebose, the three-year-old boy whose body was recently found in Donabate, Co. Dublin.

He said: We need to put whatever protections we can in place. The issues around the tracking of pupils, particularly whatever cross-border directive is needed, should be addressed straight away.

Gardai are still no nearer finding Kyran's body despite a series of searches on properties in Drogheda and Dundalk.

Detectives are satisfied he is dead, but a number of individuals who Gardai suspect know what may have happened to the child are not co-operating.

This will be Kyran's fourth Christmas away from home, and prayers will be said for him in churches around his hometown of Drogheda over the festive season.
Life

I fell in love with conducting  and it is so important for women to be visible in the orchestra pit

I was always musical growing up. I was always singing around the house and started studying cello, and piano when I was six. My mum always loved classical music, so she was more than happy to send me to lessons.
Enniscorthy

Enniscorthy river rescue crew allegedly reported to gardai by council official for carrying out evacuations during floods

A Wexford councillor has vowed to get to the bottom of a recent misunderstanding which saw a county council official allegedly report a volunteer rescue team to An Garda Siochana for carrying out evacuations during last weeks flooding in 
Concerns have been raised after district councillors in Greystones were informed that council officials were not able to remove the temporary planters, on the side of Bank of Ireland, which were installed along the towns main street during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Louise Fenlon Gaskin had brought forward a motion calling for engineers to replace them with properly designated parking spaces for elderly, age-friendly and disabled users to improve access to local shops and services.

The motion at their October meeting was seconded by the Leas-Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mark Barry.

Cllr Fenelon Gaskin stated that the planters were introduced on Church Road as a temporary measure during Covid-19 but suggested that they were now negatively impacting on local businesses as it was difficult for elderly and disabled people to get to the shops.

District engineer Graham Cullen indicated that this area was part of the Pathfinder Scheme, which was is due to go to Part 8 planning. He highlighted how consultants were currently reviewing the proposals before presenting them to the members in advance of the public consultation process.

Mr Cullen highlighted issues with providing disabled parking spaces at the location as the standards had changed and spaces were now doubled in size so there may not be enough space.

In response to a query from the members he confirmed that if the motion was passed, works could only be carried out if they complied with the current standards.

Mr Cullen also pointed out how the provision of parking spaces come under the parking regulations which are due to be reviewed soon.

In response to a query from the members district manager Helena Dennehy stated that the review of the regulations was the responsibility of Bray Municipal District. She stated that the notice of motion passed would be sent to the Roads Section for consideration.

The matter came back before councillors at their December monthly meeting when Mr Cullen said it was not possible to consider making the change as it would interfere with the Pathfinder Scheme.

Both Cllr Fenelon Gaskin and Cllr Orla Finn expressed their disappointment at the decision and asked officials to reconsider.

Since the installation of the planters an unforeseen consequence has arisen.

Bank of Ireland, AIB Bank, Core Credit Union, McGleenans Pharmacy and PTSB Greystones are all located near each other on the main street.

However, there is no drop off or parking available at the commercial hub of the town. For some senior citizens and those who are mobility impaired, it remains a challenge to reach these businesses.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A Wicklow charged in connection with a major drugs seizure worth an estimated 2.1 million appeared before Bray District Court seeking an alteration to his bail conditions.

Thomas Kavanagh (47), of Clogga Cove, Clogga, Arklow, has been charged with unlawful possession of cocaine, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply, contrary to Sections 15 and 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended.

The court heard that Mr Kavanagh was arrested on November 13, 2025 after gardai from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau conducted a series of coordinated searches at residential properties in Wicklow and Dublin. One of the searches took place at a location in Ballinabanoge, Arklow, where Mr Kavanagh was arrested.

The operation, which was assisted by the Ballymun and Balbriggan Drugs Units, resulted in the seizure of approximately 98 kilograms of cannabis and two kilograms of cocaine. The drugs are believed to have a combined street value of approximately 2.1 million.

Mr Kavanagh was granted bail in early December under strict conditions, including the provision of an independent surety and the surrender of all travel documents.

The court was told that the defendants passport is to be temporarily returned to allow him to travel outside the country.

Thomas Kavanagh (47), of Clogga Cove, Clogga, Arklow

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, December 24th

One of the conditions is that Mr Kavanagh may only travel to a location approved by gardai and is prohibited from making any other travel arrangements.

The passport must be returned to gardai on January 3, 2026.

The seizure forms part of Operation Tara, the national strategy aimed at tackling drug-trafficking networks. The operation focuses on disrupting and dismantling groups involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production and supply of controlled drugs at international, national and local levels.

The court was told that directions are still awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Judge David Kennedy adjourned the matter until January 3, 2026.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Exploring Iran's Christian Past

Christianity has a long and intricate history in Iran, predating many other regions of the world. Iranian Christian communities have preserved their faith and cultural identity for centuries. Today, Iran hosts one of the oldest continuous Christian presences in West Asia, with Armenian, Assyrian, and other Christian minorities contributing significantly to Iran's diverse religious landscape. Recognizing this rich heritage is essential to understanding Iran's complex history and its multi-religious identity.

History of Christianity in Iran: From the Apostles to the Present is a comprehensive historical study that examines the deep and often overlooked relationship between Iran and the Christian tradition. Written by Iranian-Armenian scholar and Archbishop Dr. Edik Baroni, the book traces Christianity's presence in the Iranian world from antiquity to modern times, placing Iran at the center of a story often narrated solely from a Western perspective.

The work begins by re-examining Iran's earliest connection to Christianity, emphasizing the role of the Magi--widely identified in ancient sources as Persian priest-scholars--who were among the first to recognize and honor Jesus at his birth. The book further explores the presence of Iranians among the earliest witnesses of Christianity, highlighting the participation of peoples from the Elamite, Median, and Parthian regions during the events surrounding Pentecost, as recorded in early Christian and historical texts.

Rather than presenting Christianity as a foreign import, the book argues that the Iranian world played an active and formative role in the early expansion of the Christian faith. Through careful historical analysis, it documents how Christianity took root in Iranian lands long before it became dominant in Europe, developing through Armenian, Assyrian, and Persian Christian communities that preserved faith, language, and culture under shifting political and religious conditions.

Drawing on ecclesiastical history, regional sources, and cross-cultural scholarship, the book also examines the endurance of Iranian Christian communities through the Sassanian period, the Islamic era, and into the modern age. Particular attention is given to Armenian and Assyrian Christians of Iran, whose religious and cultural contributions form an integral part of the country's historical fabric.

As an Iranian-born Armenian scholar, Archbishop Edik Baroni approaches the subject not as an outsider, but as someone rooted in Iran's cultural and historical landscape. His work reflects a broader effort to reclaim Iran's multi-religious heritage and to present Christianity as one of the ancient spiritual traditions that have shaped Iranian civilization alongside others.

"History of Christianity in Iran" offers readers--both Iranian and international--a nuanced understanding of Iran's role in early Christian history and challenges simplified narratives that exclude Iran from the origins of global religious movements. As an Iranian-born Armenian Archbishop educated in Rome and active internationally, Dr. Edik Baroni brings both academic depth and lived cultural insight to this work. The book stands as a significant contribution to Iranian cultural history, religious studies, and inter-civilizational dialogue.
Bertie Melly, pictured with his parents Phoebe and Callum, spent 18 months in hospital after being born prematurely in May 2024 (Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust/PA)

A baby boy who has been in hospital for the majority of his life is preparing to spend his first Christmas at home after finally being discharged.
Russian general killed in Moscow as Ukrainian forces strike pipeline, jets and ships

Fanil Sarvarov was killed by a car bomb, the third such death of a senior military officer in a year

Investigators work at the scene where Fanil Sarvarov was killed by an explosive device placed under his car in Moscow yesterday. Photo: AP

AP reporters, Moscow Associated Press Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 06:30

A car bomb killed a Russian general in Moscow yesterday, the third such killing of a senior military officer in a year. Investigators said Ukraine may be behind the attack.
Dads despair as son sends him harrowing photos from near frontline

In this photo taken on Saturday Dec. 20, 2025 and provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade press service, a soldier crouches near cats in the town of Kostyantynivka, the site of heavy battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade via AP)

South African father-of-three Dubandlela was overcome with pride when his 20-year-old son signed up in July to receive elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia.

Five months later, Dubandlela is in despair. His son had fallen for an alleged recruitment scam in which he and at least 16 other South African men say they were conscripted by an unspecified mercenary group and sent to join Russian forces in Ukraine.
LATEST | Ukraines Zelensky says progress in US-led peace talks quite solid

But he suggested that neither side in the almost four-year war is likely to get everything it wants in talks on reaching a settlement

Mr Zelensky said that nearly 90% of Ukraines demands have been incorporated into the draft agreements (Peter Dejong/AP)

Irish Independent Newsdesk Press Association Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 08:06

Initial drafts of US proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyivs demands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Nadene Ghouri: It is time for Andrew to come clean about all that he knows
IndiaNew Zealand FTA: Business, Trade & Market Access FAQs for Exporters and Investors

The IndiaNew Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provides 100 percent duty-free access for Indian exports to New Zealand, phased market access for New Zealand goods into India, expanded services trade, investment commitments of US$20 billion, new visa pathways, and strengthened regulatory cooperation. This article explains how the IndiaNew Zealand FTA affects tariffs, sector-wise exports, services trade, investment flows, visas, and regulatory compliance for businesses operating between India and New Zealand.

India and New Zealand have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive, forward-looking Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant milestone in their bilateral economic relationship. Positioned as a new generation trade pact, the agreement goes well beyond tariff liberalization to address investment flows, services trade, skilled mobility, agricultural productivity, MSME cooperation, and regulatory facilitation.

With bilateral goods and services trade reaching US$2.4 billion in 2024 and India maintaining a trade surplus, the FTA establishes a predictable and transparent framework aligned with Indias long-term economic vision, including the objectives of Viksit Bharat @2047. For businesses, exporters, investors, and professional services firms, the agreement reshapes market access conditions, reduces trade friction, and opens new commercial pathways across goods, services, and talent mobility between India and New Zealand.

The following FAQs distill the agreements most commercially relevant provisions and explain what they mean for executive decision-makers and trade-facing stakeholders. They have been adapted from the Department of Commerces Fact Sheet and explainers from the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Plan Your IndiaNew Zealand Trade Strategy Understand how the IndiaNew Zealand FTA affects your tariffs, market access, compliance obligations, and investment options. Speak with our trade and market entry specialists to assess export eligibility, tariff savings, TRQs, and sector-specific opportunities.  Contact our Trade & Investment Advisory Team: india@dezshira.com

Frequently asked questions (FAQs): India-New Zealand FTA

1. What is the strategic significance of the IndiaNew Zealand FTA for exporters, investors, and service providers?

The FTA creates a rules-based, long-term economic partnership that enhances market certainty for exporters, service providers, and investors on both sides. For Indian businesses, the agreement delivers unprecedented duty-free access to the New Zealand market while safeguarding sensitive domestic sectors. For New Zealand companies, it provides calibrated entry into one of the worlds fastest-growing large economies, supported by clear tariff schedules, investment facilitation mechanisms, and sector-specific cooperation frameworks.

Beyond trade flows, the agreement integrates investment promotion, skilled mobility, regulatory cooperation, and MSME engagement  positioning it as a strategic commercial platform rather than a narrow tariff pact.

2. How does the agreement change tariff access for Indian exporters?

New Zealand has committed to providing 100 percent duty-free market access across all tariff lines for Indias current exports. This covers 100 percent of Indian export value to New Zealand and eliminates earlier peak tariffs of up to 10 percent on key products such as textiles and apparel, leather goods, ceramics, carpets, automobiles, and auto components.

As a result, Indian exporters across labor-intensive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering goods, and agri-processed products gain immediate price competitiveness and a level playing field in the New Zealand market.

3. What market access has India offered to New Zealand under the FTA?

India has adopted a calibrated approach to tariff liberalization. Market access has been offered on 70.03 percent of tariff lines, covering approximately 95 percent of bilateral trade value, while 29.97 percent of tariff lines remain excluded to protect sensitive sectors.

Of the tariff lines opened by India:

30 percent see immediate duty elimination (covering wood, wool, sheep meat, leather-raw hides, etc.)

35.60 percent are subject to phased elimination over 3, 5, 7, or 10 years (including petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, and select electrical and mechanical machinery, peptones, etc.)

4.37 percent receive tariff reductions rather than full elimination (such as wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminum, iron and steel articles, etc.)

0.06 percent are covered under tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) (including honey, apples, kiwi fruit, milk albumin, etc.)

This structure balances liberalization with domestic economic priorities.

The table below summarizes tariff elimination, sector coverage, and export opportunities for major Indian industries under the IndiaNew Zealand FTA.

Market Access After the IndiaNew Zealand FTA: Sector-Wise Tariff Outcomes for Indian Exporters Sector Indias export performance Tariff coverage under FTA Market access outcome Business impact and opportunities Agriculture US$51.8 billion in 2024-25 (up from US$48.3 billion in 2023-24; 7.3% growth) 1379 tariff lines (approx. 17% of total tariff lines) Elimination of tariffs with pre-FTA peaks up to 5% (tea already at zero duty) Improves access for fruits and vegetables; supports exports of coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, cereals, and processed foods; strengthens Indias value-added agri-exports and food processing sector Marine products US$7 billion in FY25 (up from US$6.8 billion in FY24) Exports to New Zealand increased from US$15.35 million to US$15.89 million 363 tariff lines (approx. 4.4% of total) Pre-FTA duties up to 5% eliminated; zero-duty access Enhances competitiveness in New Zealands marine import market (world imports average US$0.26 billion); supports expansion of Indian seafood exports Textile and clothing US$36.9 billion in 2024-25 (up from US$34.8 billion in 2023-24; 6.1% growth) Exports to New Zealand rose from US$98.14 million to US$103.14 million 1057 tariff lines (approx. 13% of total0 Pre-FTA peak tariffs up to 10% fully eliminated Zero-duty access improves Indias price competitiveness in New Zealands US$1.9 billion textiles import market; supports scale-up of apparel, garments, home textiles, and man-made fibers Engineering goods US$77.5 billion in FY25 (up from US$64.4 billion in FY24; 20.3% growth) Exports to New Zealand increased to US$68.26 million 1396 tariff lines (approx. 16.9% of total) Pre-FTA average duties up to 10% eliminated Zero-duty access improves entry into New Zealands US$11 billion engineering imports market; supports growth in machinery, transport equipment, and industrial goods exports Leather and footwear US$5.5 billion in 2024-25 (up from US$5.3 billion in 2023-24) Exports to New Zealand stood at US$8.52 million in 2024-25 181 tariff lines Pre-FTA peak tariffs up to 10% reduced to zero Enhances access to New Zealands US$0.51 billion leather and footwear import market; supports higher exports of leather footwear, finished leather, bags, belts, wallets, and accessories Pharmaceuticals US$24.5 billion in 2024-25 (up from US$22.1 billion in 2023-24; 10.8% growth) Exports to New Zealand stood at US$57.52 million in 2024-25 90 tariff lines Pre-FTA tariffs up to 5% eliminated Expands market access in New Zealands US$1.4 billion pharmaceutical import market; supports higher exports and faster scale-up for Indian pharma companies Plastics and rubber US$13 billion in FY25 (up from US$12 billion in FY24) Exports to New Zealand rose from US$18.87 million in FY24 to US$23.66 million in FY25 397 tariff lines (approx. 4.8% of total) Pre-FTA average duties up to 10% eliminated Zero-duty access improves competitiveness in New Zealands US$2.05 billion plastics and rubber import market; supports export growth across industrial and consumer segments

Source: Government of India, Department of Commerce; PIB

4. Which sectors are excluded from Indias tariff commitments and why?

Sensitive sectors have been deliberately excluded to safeguard domestic producers and strategic industries. These include:

Dairy products (milk, cream, cheese, whey, yoghurt)

Most animal products

Key vegetable products (onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds)

Sugar and artificial honey

Certain fats and oils

Arms and ammunition

Gems and jewelry

Select copper and aluminum products

For businesses, this exclusion list provides clarity on areas where market access will remain restricted and where domestic policy protection continues.

5. How does the FTA address agricultural trade while protecting Indian farmers?

Agricultural market access from New Zealand into India is managed through Tariff Rate Quotas  TRQs combined with Minimum Import Prices (MIPs) and seasonal windows. This applies to apples, kiwifruit, Manuka honey, and albumins (including milk albumin).

All agricultural TRQs are linked to Agriculture Productivity Action Plans, ensuring that imports are balanced with domestic capacity-building. Oversight is provided by a Joint Agriculture Productivity Council (JAPC), which monitors implementation and safeguards farmer interests.

This design ensures consumer access and quality imports while preventing market disruption.

6. What are the key TRQ details that importers and agri-businesses should note?

The agreement provides precise operational detail for TRQ-managed products:

Manuka Honey :

In-quota access of 200 MT annually, subject to MIP thresholds, with a 75 percent tariff reduction phased over five years.

: In-quota access of 200 MT annually, subject to MIP thresholds, with a 75 percent tariff reduction phased over five years. Apples :

TRQ starting at 32,500 MT in year one, rising to 45,000 MT by year six, at a concessional duty rate during a defined seasonal window.

: TRQ starting at 32,500 MT in year one, rising to 45,000 MT by year six, at a concessional duty rate during a defined seasonal window. Kiwi fruit :

TRQ rising from 6,250 MT to 15,000 MT by year six, with zero-duty access in-quota and strict MIP conditions.

: TRQ rising from 6,250 MT to 15,000 MT by year six, with zero-duty access in-quota and strict MIP conditions. Albumins:

TRQ expanding from 1,000 MT to 3,000 MT over five years at a reduced duty rate.

Importers must factor in quota management, seasonal limits, and pricing safeguards when planning supply chains.

7. What investment commitments are included in the agreement?

New Zealand has committed to facilitating USD$20 billion in long-term investment into India over a 15-year period. This investment is expected to support manufacturing, infrastructure development, innovation, and employment generation.

A notable feature is the rebalancing clause, which allows India to take remedial measures if investment commitments are not met. The agreement also promotes joint strategies in research, technology transfer, skills development, renewable energy, digital services, and modern infrastructure.

For investors, this signals policy backing for sustained capital flows rather than short-term portfolio activity.

8. How does the FTA improve access for services and professionals?

The agreement delivers significant gains for Indias services sector. New Zealand has offered market access commitments across 118 services sectors, including IT, professional services, telecommunications, audio visual services, construction services, distribution services, education, financial services, travel and tourism related services, and environmental services, among others. Additionally, Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) treatment applies across 139 sub-sectors.

These commitments enhance regulatory predictability for service exporters and support Indias comparative advantage in skilled and knowledge-based services.

9. What new mobility and visa pathways are available under the FTA?

For the first time in any trade agreement, New Zealand has created a dedicated student mobility and post-study work pathway for India. Key features include:

Removal of numerical caps on Indian students

Guaranteed minimum work rights during study

Post-study work visas of up to three years for STEM graduates and four years for PhD holders

Additionally, the agreement introduces a Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) visa pathway for 5,000 skilled Indian professionals at any given time, with stays of up to three years, covering sectors such as IT, healthcare, engineering, education, construction, and traditional Indian professions.

10. How does the FTA support MSMEs and labor-intensive industries?

The agreement places explicit emphasis on MSME-driven and labor-intensive sectors, including textiles, apparel, engineering goods, chemicals, food processing, and electronics. Reduced tariffs, streamlined customs procedures, and regulatory cooperation strengthen export competitiveness and global value chain integration.

Structured MSME cooperation includes access to trade information, export readiness programs, and linkages with New Zealands SME ecosystem, with a focus on women- and youth-owned enterprises.

11. What trade facilitation and regulatory measures should exporters be aware of?

The FTA modernizes customs and trade facilitation procedures through:

Faster clearance timelines (within 48 hours, and 24 hours for express and perishable goods)

Expanded use of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) frameworks

Automation, single-window systems, and paperless trade

Electronic sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certification

For exporters and logistics providers, these provisions reduce transaction costs, enhance supply-chain reliability, and improve compliance efficiency.

12. Are there sector-specific regulatory or recognition benefits?

Yes. The agreement includes several sector-specific regulatory advancements:

Pharmaceuticals and medical devices benefit from streamlined regulatory access through acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable regulators.

benefit from streamlined regulatory access through acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable regulators. Organic products will gain from a Mutual Recognition Arrangement based on third-country standards, supporting exports of items such as basmati rice, tea, psyllium husk, and flax seeds.

will gain from a Mutual Recognition Arrangement based on third-country standards, supporting exports of items such as basmati rice, tea, psyllium husk, and flax seeds. Geographical Indications (GIs) from India will receive expanded recognition. New Zealand has committed to taking all necessary steps, including amending its domestic GI legislation, to enable the registration and protection of Indian wines, spirits, and other GI-eligible goods. This brings India in line with the treatment previously extended to the European Union. The required legal changes are to be completed within 18 months of the agreements entry into force.

These measures directly address non-tariff barriers and compliance duplication.

Conclusion

The IndiaNew Zealand Free Trade Agreement represents a comprehensive commercial framework that integrates goods trade, services, investment, talent mobility, agriculture, and regulatory cooperation. For executive leadership, exporters, investors, and professionals, the agreement offers both immediate operational benefits and long-term strategic opportunities, while maintaining safeguards for sensitive sectors.

As implementation progresses, businesses will need to align tariff planning, supply-chain strategies, investment roadmaps, and mobility policies with the agreements phased timelines and sector-specific rules.
Image credit : X| Donald Trump speaking at a political function.

Legal threats fail to deter comedian

Image credit : Instagram| Former South Park writer and satirical website creator.

Trolling as political commentary

Image credit : Instagram| Toby Morton, former South Park writer and satirical website creator

Comedian and formerwriter Toby Morton has unveiled plans to lampoon the recently renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, signalling the next front in his ongoing streak of politically charged satire. Morton, who purchased the domainsandin August, intends to launch a site that portrays the institution not as a polished cultural landmark but as what he calls an ego museum, reflecting the controversial changes implemented under former President Donald Trumps administration.Morton told the press that the website will depict the centre more accurately than the image authorities appear keen to project. Its not so much an institution as a monument to ego, he said. The site aims to highlight how Trump replaced the Kennedy Centers board with loyalists aligned with his political agenda, reshaping the historic venue in his own image.Despite receiving warnings from a Washington D.C.-based team of anonymous attorneys threatening legal action over his domain acquisitions, Morton remains undeterred. Even though this is satire, I could face legal trouble for using the institutions name, which is ridiculous, he explained. He emphasised that satire is protected speech and stressed the importance of holding public institutions accountable through humour grounded in fact.Morton has a long history of creating satirical websites targeting political figures. His previous projects have skewered prominent conservatives including Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and New York Representative Elise Stefanik. In 2023, he explained that sites likewere designed to parody far-right groups, disrupt their influence, and draw attention to their controversial stances on education.Before histenure, Morton wrote for the sketch comedy show. His experience in satirical writing has enabled him to craft humour that balances biting commentary with pointed political critique, a style he continues to employ against Trump and other figures.Mortons approach combines comedy with civic critique. He said: If someone chooses to be part of this show, Im going all in. Satire is a tool to expose the absurdities in power structures. With the Trump-Kennedy Center, he plans to hold a mirror to the changes and controversies surrounding the iconic cultural institution, sparking conversation while entertaining a global audience.Through his websites, Morton demonstrates the enduring power of satire to challenge political narratives, critique leadership, and draw attention to broader societal issues. His work reflects a commitment to using humour as both commentary and accountability, reminding audiences that comedy can be a potent instrument for civic reflection.
She posted an update: The Chairman removed them from their position, a written apology was given but she's suing the people for 62 lakhs in a civil case. Their wives came to apologise but she isn't backing down



 Rudraaksh (@raakshas94) December 22, 2025

Typical Indian behaviour. Outside India, the women would have been arrested for creating nuisance.



 pitaji uchiha and 2352 others liked your post (@tandooriSamosa) December 22, 2025

Another reacted: "Typical Indian behaviour. Outside India, the women would have been arrested for creating nuisance."Despite the scrutiny, the woman said her intention in sharing the ordeal was not limited to her own case. She drew attention to the vulnerabilities faced by young people who move to major cities without strong support systems, legal awareness or the confidence to challenge authority. While she described herself as resilient, she cautioned that similar experiences could be deeply damaging for someone less prepared to respond or seek help.

Legal action and wider implications

Image credit : Freepik| Bengaluru woman alleges society harassment over house party

After consulting a senior lawyer, the woman chose to pursue a civil suit rather than enter a prolonged criminal process. She filed claims of defamation, trespass, assault, stalking, nuisance and violation of privacy, seeking compensation of 62 lakh along with a permanent injunction to prevent any further contact.A society-wide meeting was later convened, during which video footage of the incident was reportedly shown to residents. Several board members were removed from their positions, fines were imposed, and a written apology was issued.While these steps brought a measure of accountability, the impact of her account extends far beyond her own case. It has cast a harsh light on how moral policing, entitlement and silence often shield those in positions of power. Her decision to take legal action was not presented as an act of revenge, but as a clear warning. What she endured, she emphasised, must never be normalised and should never be allowed to happen to anyone else.
Prepared but unprepared: Arriving in Bali

Image credit : Instagram/bonnieblue| Bonnie Blues Bali trip for Schoolies turned chaotic as a police raid led to her detainment

Interrogation and detention realities

Image credit : Instagram/bonnieblue| Bonnie Blue spent 35 hours in detention and was fined $12 with a six-month Bali ban

Whats next for Blue

Image credit : Instagram/bonnieblue| Despite Balis ban, Bonnie Blue secured her content, received support, and plans to return

Adult content creator Bonnie Blue has broken her silence on the dramatic events surrounding her December 2025 arrest in Bali, providing a comprehensive account of her detention, interrogation and aftermath in an Us Weekly exclusive. Known for her provocative online persona and OnlyFans content, Blues experience highlights the legal and cultural complexities faced by international creators in jurisdictions with strict morality laws.Bonnie Blue entered Bali at the end of November to participate in Schoolies, a celebratory event popular with young travelers. Although she was aware of Indonesias stringent stance on pornography and had engaged a lawyer ahead of time as a precaution, the situation rapidly escalated. A police raid on her rented villa reportedly involved around 40 officers, significant property disruption, and rapid escalation into formal detainment. Blue had planned her trip with legal safeguards in place, but the reality of the raid, including officers filming via FaceTime during the operation, underscored the unpredictable nature of law enforcement actions in the region.In her interview with Us Weekly, Bonnie Blue detailed a prolonged period of questioning that lasted approximately 30 to 35 hours. During this time, she said she was held without full access to basic necessities, including adequate food, water and rest. She described moving from police holding to immigration custody, where her passport was retained, leaving her temporarily without crucial personal items such as her phone and money.Although initially informed of two legal concerns, one related to pornographic content and another linked to that allegation, Blue was ultimately charged only with minor road violations connected to her Bangbus vehicle and fined roughly $12. Indonesian authorities also imposed a sixmonth ban on her return to the country.While detained and later in immigration, Blue took steps to secure her backedup content, which she feared might be deleted during the raid. After release from official custody, she received support from fellow travelers and said she experienced both encouragement and skepticism from creator peers worldwide.Despite the ban, Blue has expressed an intention to return to Bali for future events, asserting that the experience, though stressful, did not deter her longerterm plans. This case sheds new light on how international content creators navigate legal boundaries abroad and the potential consequences of differing cultural and legal norms.
Hospital staff and public demand accountability

Image credit : Reddit| Doctor allegedly assaults patient at Himachal hospital

Image credit : Reddit| Himachal hospital doctor faces allegations of beating patient

Image credit : X| Air India Express pilot allegedly assaults passenger at Delhi airport

A shocking incident has emerged from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, where a doctor stands accused of physically assaulting a patient on Monday. The alleged attack has sparked outrage, drawing a large crowd to the hospital demanding immediate action.The patient, Arjun Panwar, had visited Indira Gandhi Medical College for routine medical tests after experiencing breathing difficulties. While waiting in another ward, Panwar lay down on a bed, hoping for assistance. The altercation reportedly began when the doctor addressed him disrespectfully using the informal term tu, which Panwar found offensive. According to him, the medics rude and aggressive behaviour escalated after he protested, eventually resulting in the doctor allegedly striking him.Eyewitnesses say the altercation quickly attracted attention, with other patients and staff rushing to the scene. Several onlookers reported that Panwar was visibly shaken and required support from those around him. The hospital management has confirmed that an internal inquiry is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances of the incident.News of the alleged assault at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) spread rapidly, sparking outrage among patients and local residents. Following the incident, attendants and members of the public gathered outside the hospital, demanding the accused doctors suspension and arrest. The patients family also lodged a formal police complaint, underscoring the seriousness of the case.Local residents expressed deep concern over patient safety and the conduct of medical professionals, stressing that hospitals should be sanctuaries of care, not spaces of fear and violence. Protesters insisted on immediate action, refusing to disperse even as authorities assured them that the matter was being taken seriously. Police were deployed in large numbers to maintain order and control the growing crowd.In response, the hospital administration constituted a three-member committee to investigate the incident and submit a report by the evening. The Chief Minister took note of the matter and sought a report. Based on the findings, we received orders to suspend the doctor with immediate effect until further instructions, Dr Rao confirmed. The crowd finally dispersed following the announcement of the suspension.Authorities have reportedly recorded statements from the patient, witnesses, and hospital staff as part of the ongoing investigation. Hospital officials are reviewing CCTV footage and patient records to establish a clear timeline of events. Legal experts note that if the allegations are substantiated, the doctor could face serious criminal charges, including assault and professional misconduct.This incident is not isolated. In past years, several cases of misconduct in public services have shocked the nation. For instance, an Air India Express pilot at Delhi airport last week was suspended after allegedly assaulting a passenger. Similarly, a nurse in a Mumbai hospital faced disciplinary action for allegedly mistreating patients, highlighting recurring concerns about accountability in professional settings. Such cases emphasise the urgent need for strict regulations and oversight to prevent abuse of power and safeguard the public.The IGMC assault has reignited discussions about patient rights and standards of conduct expected from healthcare professionals in India. Advocates stress that strict disciplinary measures are essential to prevent similar incidents and ensure hospitals remain safe spaces for those seeking care. Hospital officials have pledged full cooperation with law enforcement and committed to measures preventing recurrence. For now, attention remains on Panwars well-being and the outcome of the inquiry, which is expected to shed light on exactly what transpired at the IGMC ward that day.
December 24

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas

Difference Between Merry Christmas and Happy Christmas

 Merry Christmas  is more common in the United States

 is more common in the United States  Happy Christmas  is more widely used in the United Kingdom

History of Merry Christmas

Merry suggested lively joy and celebration

suggested lively joy and celebration Happy suggested calm contentment

Why Not Happy Christmas?

Merry was often linked with loud celebration and common folk

Happy was seen as more formal and refined

Happy Christmas

Queen Elizabeth II

Happy Christmas

Christmas messages

Why Merry Christmas Became More Popular

1. Earlier Usage

2. Stronger Festive Meaning

Merry = lively, joyful, celebratory

= lively, joyful, celebratory Happy = peaceful, content

3. Christmas Carols

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Is Happy Christmas Wrong?

Merry Christmas wishes, messages, Whatsapp Status

FAQs

Q: Is Merry Christmas only used in English-speaking countries?

A:

Q: Do different countries use different Christmas greetings?

A:

Q: Why do most people prefer merry over happy for Christmas?

A:

Christmas 2025 is almost here, and excitement is building everywhere. Homes, offices, schools, and public places are already glowing with festive decorations. Gifts are wrapped, plans are made, and the countdown to December 25 has begun.Christmas celebrations usually start on the evening of, known as. On this day, one greeting stands out above all others: Merry Christmas. But this raises a common question  why do we sayinstead ofBoth greetings mean the same thing: wishing joy during Christmas. The difference comes from history, culture, and regional use.Over time, both phrases developed different tones and associations, which explains why one became more popular than the other.Before the 18th century, the word merry was widely used to describe joy, fun, and celebration.The earliest recorded use of Merry Christmas dates back to 1534, in a letter written to Thomas Cromwell, a royal minister in England.At that time:As Christmas became more festive and family-focused, merry sounded warmer and more cheerful to many people.Some historians believe class perception played a role.The British royal family preferred , and this tradition continued for generations.famously usedin her annualBecause of this, Happy Christmas remained popular in Britain, while Merry Christmas spread faster in the United States.Heres why merry won out in many parts of the world:Merry Christmas appeared in writing centuries earlier than Happy Christmas, giving it wider exposure.Christmas traditions lean more toward celebration, which fits merry better.Classic songs helped lock it in:These carols spread the phrase across generations.No. Happy Christmas is completely correct and still widely used in the UK and by the royal family. It simply carries a slightly calmer tone.Both greetings are accepted, understood, and warmly received.May God shower you with all the goodness in the world. May you be blessed with all that you have dreamt about. Merry Christmas.This Christmas, may you be showered with good health, wealth, peace and prosperity. Merry Christmas to you and your family.Here's wishing you, my dear friend and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.May this Christmas bless your life with new hope, positivity, joy and bliss. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your dear ones.May God bless you with good health, wealth, peace and joy on the auspicious day of Christmas. Merry Christmas 2025!May the Angels bless us all on this day and shower us with peace, good health and happiness. Merry Christmas 2025.May there be happiness and peace all around. Merry Christmas to everyone at home.Here's wishing everyone peace, happiness, joy, and prosperity on the auspicious day of Christmas.Thank you for making my life an enriching journey. With you by my side, every day is auspicious. On this beautiful day, here's wishing you Merry Christmas 025.May God bless you with good health, wealth, peace and joy on the auspicious day of Christmas. Merry Christmas 2025!Christmas is about get-togethers with friends, family and loved ones. So make beautiful memories as you ring in Christmas this year.Here's sending my warm and best wishes to you on the auspicious day of Christmas. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025.Here's wishing everyone peace, happiness, joy, and prosperity at home on the auspicious day of Christmas.Christmas is a festival to wish one another happiness, peace and love. Merry Christmas to you and your dear ones.I hope this is only the start of a lifetime of Christmases together.My favorite part of the holiday is spending it with you. Merry Christmas!I love you on Christmas and every day of the year. Merry Christmas!Christmas with you is my favorite thing to do.Being with you is the best gift of all. Merry Christmas!As long as I have you, my Christmas will always be merry and bright.I feel especially grateful at this time of year. Merry Christmas!What I want for Christmas begins and ends with you. Merry Christmas!No. The phrase is recognised and used worldwide, even in non-English-speaking regions.Yes. Many cultures have their own phrases, but Merry Christmas is one of the most globally recognised.Because merry has deeper historical roots and better matches the festive, joyful spirit of Christmas.
Image credit : Netflix | Lunch is intimidating, not comforting, and nobody actually eats the pudding.

Hosting Christmas is your permanent job

Image credit : Freepik | You host every year because your house is most central,  and everyone elses plumbing mysteriously fails in December.

Festive comfort is deeply suspicious

Image credit : Freepik | The tree is real, the wreaths are handmade, and someone will casually mention their wreath-making course.

Santa is not invited

The house looks like a country estate catalogue

Image credit : Prime Video | You host every year because your house is most central,  and everyone elses plumbing mysteriously fails in December.

Church comes before literally everything

Presents are a late-day luxury

Image credit : Netflix | Presents are opened late, patience is admired, and excitement before noon is deeply frowned upon.

Lunch is intimidating, not comforting

The kings speech is sacred

Games are mandatory and unfun

Christmas Day in the UK is less about goodwill and more about quietly judging how other people celebrate it. Somewhere between the Baileys before noon crowd and the matching pyjama brigade exists a rarified species: the posh Christmas family. Their festive season is rigid, tradition-heavy and allergic to anything remotely tacky. If you tick most of these boxes, congratulations. You are posh.Posh Christmas begins with hosting. Not once, not occasionally, but every single year. Your house is mysteriously most central, despite being in Surrey. Relatives promise it will be their turn next year, then suddenly remember their plumbing is tragic. You will host forever. Accept it.Matching Christmas pyjamas are banned. Comfort is considered gauche. Instead, everyone appears in black tie before noon, including children who look like they are headed to a hostile corporate merger. Dressing down on Christmas Day is simply not done.Calling Father Christmas Santa is social suicide. It sounds American, which in posh Christmas logic equals loud, flashy and morally questionable. Tradition matters. Even the toddlers know better.Nothing in the house is artificial. The tree is real. The wreaths are real. The table centrepieces are aggressively botanical. Someone has definitely taken a wreath-making course and will mention it casually at least twice.Posh families love a dark, cold church service. Midnight mass or an early morning trek is non-negotiable. Whether it is about faith or simply avoiding conversation for an hour remains unclear.Opening gifts before breakfast is considered vulgar. The longer everyone waits, the more aristocratic the household feels. Smoked salmon on antique plates is normal. Joy before noon is not.Turkey is apparently too mainstream. Instead, lunch resembles something from a medieval banquet. The sides are minimal, the pudding is traditional, and nobody actually eats it. Complaining about it, however, is essential.Everything stops for the Kings speech(of course very UK coded). Films, conversations and naps are postponed. Pretending to care is a crucial festive skill.Charades returns every year, despite universal suffering. Nobody enjoys it. Everyone insists it is tradition.But, if you are reading this from the comfort of your quilt, sipping hot choclate and doing exactly what the Chrsitmas is known for, then congratulations, you are not a part of it, it probably just the UK vibe and not the rest of the world.




Beneath the tweet, text was added reading, Shes the epitome of a bootlicker, leading many to believe Rivera was aiming at Minaj. While the post was not directly addressed to the rapper, the context and timing quickly fueled online speculation.



Image credit : Instagram/ @charliesangelll | Tammy Rivera responds to Minaj statements



Riveras ongoing criticism of Minajs political appearances This is not the first time Tammy Rivera has publicly spoken about Nicki Minajs recent actions connected to MAGA-aligned platforms and conservative organisations such as Turning Point USA. Last month, Minaj delivered a speech at a United Nations conference advocating against the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, a move that drew mixed reactions online.



Tammy Rivera via ig stories: Shes the epitome of a bootlicker https://t.co/Jy1KOpdtD2 pic.twitter.com/rCLIQZo3YL







 CARDIA  (@CCardib2) December 22, 2025 On Monday, December 22, Hollywood Unlocked shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a now-deleted post from Tammy Riveras Instagram Story, sparking renewed conversation around Nicki Minajs recent political associations. The post featured a tweet originally shared by Vice President J.D. Vance, in which he praised Minaj as being really profound and commended her for rejecting zero-sum thinking.Beneath the tweet, text was added reading, Shes the epitome of a bootlicker, leading many to believe Rivera was aiming at Minaj. While the post was not directly addressed to the rapper, the context and timing quickly fueled online speculation.This is not the first time Tammy Rivera has publicly spoken about Nicki Minajs recent actions connected to MAGA-aligned platforms and conservative organisations such as Turning Point USA. Last month, Minaj delivered a speech at a United Nations conference advocating against the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, a move that drew mixed reactions online.

Image credit : Instagram/ @thenickiminajlegacy | Tammy Rivera labels Minaj a bootlicker

Rivera expands on her stance with Carlos King

Oh, you thought that was bad? Don't worry, it got even worse! Here's Nicki Minaj saying "And you have amazing role models like the -ASASSIN- JD Vance" in front of Erika Kirk!!!!! https://t.co/f2HRFXAtej pic.twitter.com/grwCVJe7fM







 J'onn Larod (@the_juandy_city) December 21, 2025



Nicki Minajs Turning Point USA appearance draws scrutiny Nicki Minajs most recent appearance at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest 2025 further intensified the debate. During the event, Minaj was seen in conversation with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In several viral clips, Minaj appeared to praise former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, drawing strong reactions across social media.



Image credit : Instagram/ @thenickiminajlegacy | Nicki Minaj at TPUSA AmericaFest 2025



Adding to the controversy, an older clip of Charlie Kirk resurfaced, in which he explained why he did not view Minaj as a positive role model. The resurfaced remarks, paired with Minajs recent appearances, have only intensified discussions around celebrity influence, politics, and accountability. Nicki Minajs most recent appearance at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest 2025 further intensified the debate. During the event, Minaj was seen in conversation with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In several viral clips, Minaj appeared to praise former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, drawing strong reactions across social media.Adding to the controversy, an older clip of Charlie Kirk resurfaced, in which he explained why he did not view Minaj as a positive role model. The resurfaced remarks, paired with Minajs recent appearances, have only intensified discussions around celebrity influence, politics, and accountability.

After the appearance, Rivera shared her thoughts through The Shade Rooms comment section, urging fans not to be blinded and misguided. She questioned U.S. foreign intervention motives, pointing to historical patterns involving strategic and financial interests such as access to natural resources, military positioning, and political influence. Rivera suggested that humanitarian narratives can sometimes mask deeper geopolitical agendas, highlighting her concerns with a call for awareness.Rivera later elaborated on her perspective during a conversation with Carlos King, further explaining why she felt uncomfortable with Minajs growing alignment with conservative political figures. While Rivera did not deny the importance of humanitarian advocacy, she highlighted the need for critical thinking when celebrities engage with politically charged narratives.
Real-world travel pioneer on YouTube

Image credit : Instagram/adamthewooatw| YouTube travel pioneer Adam the Woo brought everyday adventures to life for over a decade

Sudden loss and unanswered questions

Image credit : Instagram/adamthewooatw| Adam the Woo was found dead at home in Florida, just a day after his final YouTube video

Legacy that lasts beyond the screen

Image credit : Instagram/adamthewooatw| Adam the Woos timeless vlogs turned everyday moments into shared adventures, leaving a lasting legacy

Adam the Woo, the YouTube travel creator admired for his curiosity-driven vlogs and unhurried exploration of theme parks, roadside oddities and historical sites, has died at the age of 51. He was found unresponsive in his home in Celebration, Florida, on Monday, December 22, 2025.Adam the Woo  born David Adam Williams was a fixture of the online travel community for more than a decade. Starting on YouTube in the late 2000s with videos exploring abandoned places and quirky Americana, he cultivated a unique niche that blended genuine curiosity with a calm, welcoming narration.In 2012, he launched TheDailyWoo, where he challenged himself to upload daily vlogs for five straight years, documenting travels across all 50 US states. His content wasnt about flashy productions; it was about shared experience from Disney parks and Route 66 road trips to small-town diners and haunted houses.His style inspired countless creators who saw in his work proof that travel vlogging could be sincere and meaningful without sensationalism. Fans often described his videos as comforting  the digital equivalent of a friendly travel companion.Authorities from the Osceola County Sheriffs Office were first called to Adams residence for a welfare check around midday on Monday, but were unable to make contact. Later that afternoon, after a concerned friend looked through a third-story window, deputies and Fire Rescue entered the home and pronounced him dead. The official cause of death remains under investigation, with an autopsy pending.The suddenness of his passing was underscored by the timing: his final YouTube video was uploaded just a day before he was found, showing him walking through Celebration, Florida, and enjoying holiday decorations, a mundane yet intimate last glimpse of the creator in his element.Unlike many YouTubers whose content fades with trends, Adam the Woos work captured everyday moments with a timeless curiosity that resonated globally. His fans often talked about how his videos made them notice the world around them from forgotten roadside attractions to the joy of a simple stroll at a theme park.As tributes pour in online, the sense of loss is matched by gratitude for the thousands of moments he shared over the years. Adams legacy  those slow walks, genuine observations and unpretentious journeying will live on in the archives he built and the creators he inspired.
Leaders of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus have issued a unified warning to regional adversaries, vowing to fortify their security and energy alliance as the Middle East navigates a volatile "new geopolitical phase" following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria.

Speaking at the 10th trilateral summit

in Jerusalem , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned unnamed rivals against testing the bloc's resolve.

"To all those who fantasize about establishing their empire and imposing their dominance on our land, I say: forget it," Mr. Netanyahu said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that the partnership is vital for stability as the region enters a transition marked by both high risk and opportunity.

With the war in Gaza approaching the two-year mark, Mr. Mitsotakis noted that U.S.-led diplomatic efforts have created new openings for progress, while renewing calls for the return of the last Israeli victim's body from the Oct. 7 attacks.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides praised the resilience of the alliance.

"There are no limits to the prospects for cooperation," Mr. Christodoulides said, describing the nations as pillars of predictability in a chaotic region.

The summit focused heavily on energy security, specifically the strategic value of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).

Mr. Mitsotakis positioned Greece as a critical energy gateway for Europe, prioritizing electrical interconnections and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.

Addressing the "post-Assad" era in Syria, the leaders called for stability and the protection of religious minorities, with Mr. Mitsotakis specifically urging safeguards for Christian Orthodox communities.

The trio also reaffirmed their commitment to the "3+1" framework involving the United States as a cornerstone of Eastern Mediterranean security.

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Greeces Cabinet will meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with a wide-ranging agenda that includes a national anti-corruption digital registry, sweeping reforms to wildfire management and new rules on the use of artificial intelligence across government.

The meeting, to be held at the Maximos Mansion, comes as the government

seeks to strengthen transparency, improve disaster preparedness ahead of peak wildfire season and set guardrails for the growing use of AI in public administration.

According to the agenda, Vice President of the Government and Minister of State Kostis Hatzidakis, together with Minister of State Akis Skertsos, will present the Unified Government Policy Plan for 2026.

The plan is expected to outline key priorities for the final stretch of the governments term, focusing on reforms, investment and state efficiency.

Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis and Deputy Justice Minister Giannis Bougas will then present a bill establishing a Unified Digital Registry for Monitoring Corruption Cases.

The proposed system aims to track corruption cases across authorities in real time, addressing long-standing criticism about delays, fragmentation and lack of transparency in high-profile investigations.

A major item on the agenda is a draft law from Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis to overhaul Greeces system for preventing, preparing for and responding to wildfires and other natural, technological or man-made disasters.

The reform follows recent summers marked by destructive fires and growing pressure on authorities to adapt to climate-driven risks.

The Cabinet will also hear from Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, who will present practical guidelines for how ministries should use artificial intelligence.

The initiative reflects the governments effort to harness AI to improve services while setting common standards on ethics, data protection and accountability.

The session takes place against a backdrop of ongoing political debate over governance and state capacity, with opposition parties Pasok and Syriza pressing the government on transparency, disaster response and digital safeguards.

Officials said further details and timelines for the proposed legislation are expected to be announced after the meeting.

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Member of the House of Representatives for Ideato Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has vowed never to allow anyone to rig the forthcoming 2027 elections in his constituency.

Ugochinyere spoke during a reception organised in his honour by residents of Ideato South Local Government Area on Tuesday. Originally scheduled to hold at Central School 2, Aforukwu, Isiekenezi, the event was relocated to the private residence of former Peoples Democratic Party chairman in Ideato South, Chief Bonny Ebili, after heavily armed security personnel and an armoured personnel carrier sealed off the school.

The lawmaker condemned the action, describing it as a threat to democracy. He reiterated his determination to resist intimidation and protect the constitutional rights of his constituents.

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The Imo State Police Command and the state government, without provocation, sealed the reception venue just hours before the event. This is madness, and its not even an election year yet, Ugochinyere said.

He accused the authorities of attempting to suppress civic participation, warning that such actions would not succeed. We have shown maturity and strength, but we cannot negotiate our constitutional rights. Nobody can force us to surrender them, he added.

Ugochinyere also highlighted his developmental initiatives in the constituency, noting that resources which could have been diverted to suppress civic activities were instead used to build schools, install solar lights, and provide boreholes.

It would be easier for them to write their own will than to write the election result. It can never happen. This is exactly the kind of energy that led to the collapse of democracy in 1983. We, as lovers of democracy, will not allow history to repeat itself, he stressed.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has drummed support of President Bola Tinubu and described him to as irreplaceable in the 2027 election.

Aiyedatiwa said this in Akure as he concluded his Thank-You tour to 18 council areas of the state.

He called on the people across the country to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027, describing the President as irreplaceable.

Aiyedatiwa said that the various reforms of the president would speak for him during the election.

He however cautioned party members against internal rancour as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

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He warned that infighting would weaken the party, stressing that party supremacy would determine those who would fly the APCs flags in future elections, noting that the party remained one and indivisible.

The governor thanked residents of Akure South for their continued loyalty to the APC, recalling that the local government delivered the highest number of votes among the 18 local government areas in the November 16 governorship election.

He expressed appreciation for the mandate given to him and his deputy, describing the support as decisive to the partys victory.

Meanwhile, some key members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress in the state.

Those who defected included Adekanmbi Oluwatuyi, a PDP member from Akure; Chief Falusi of the PDP from Akoko North-East; and Chief Kora Adebisi, an SDP member from Akoko North-West.

Others were Hon. Yusuf Lateef, who joined the APC alongside former 2016 local government officials, councillors, supervisors and advisers, as well as Ijanusi Olawale and his group from Akoko South-East.

Receiving them, governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed them into the party and urged them to work for the success of the APC in 2027.

Earlier, the state APC Vice Chairman, Atili Ikoto Agabra, said the party had no room for joiners or partners, stressing that relevance within the APC would be determined strictly by members contributions and commitment.

Agbabra urged the new members to work for the party at all levels and demonstrate loyalty through consistent participation in party activities.

The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, commended the efforts of the governor towards the infrastructural development of the state capital, which he described as unprecedented.

The Chairman of the party in Akure South local government, Mr. Fesobi Akinmolayan, also commended him for the ongoing roads and other projects in Akure.
The military has arrested four police officers for allegedly providing unauthorised escort services to a VIP in contravention of the presidential directive on the withdrawal of policemen from VIP protection duties.

Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest occurred on Dec. 17 at about 9:30 a.m., while the officers were reportedly on escort duty.

Those arrested were identified as ASP Musa Waziri and Insp. Jeremiah Achimogu both attached to 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Abuja; Insp. Awipi Terry of 21 PMF; and Insp. Hassan Baba of 50 PMF, Abuja.

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According to security sources, the officers were arrested by military personnel after allegedly flouting the presidential order withdrawing police personnel from VIP escort duties.

The sources further disclosed that the policemen were dressed in uniforms similar to that of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allegedly in an attempt to evade detection and deceive enforcement personnel.

The arrested officers have since been detained, while disciplinary procedures have been initiated against them in line with extant regulations.

The Federal Government had earlier directed the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from unauthorised VIP protection duties to redeploy manpower to core policing and internal security operations across the country.

https://x.com/i/status/2003427083461042222
The Senate has approved a revised 43.561 trillion 2024 Appropriation Act and a reworked 2025 budget framework, following the passage of the Appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bills.

The bills were considered at the Committee of Supply and plenary, and subsequently passed by voice vote. Senators described the exercise as a significant step toward restoring fiscal discipline and ensuring budget clarity.

The development followed a letter from Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, conveying President Bola Ahmed Tinubus request to repeal and re-enact aspects of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts in line with constitutional and legislative procedures.

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Senator Olamilekan Adeola, APC, Ogun West, who presented the bills, explained that the revisions reflected current fiscal realities, revenue constraints, and emerging national priorities.

The 2024 budget was increased from the original 35.005 trillion to 43.561 trillion, covering statutory transfers, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital projects.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the earlier 54.99 trillion Appropriation Act was replaced with a revised 48.316 trillion framework. The adjustment reflects the rollover of part of the 2025 capital allocation into the 2026 fiscal year due to funding constraints, ensuring improved budget effectiveness and debt sustainability.

Senator Adeola highlighted that 8.5 trillion was injected into the 2024 capital component to address security, humanitarian, and economic emergencies.

In the 2025 budget, 6.674 trillion was deferred to 2026 to enhance implementation and revenue performance. He also cautioned against running multiple budget cycles concurrently, which undermines fiscal discipline and transparency.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North, commended the committee for producing a high-quality report within a limited timeframe.

Senators Sani Musa, APC, Niger East, and Adetokunbo Abiru, APC, Lagos East, emphasized that the revised budgets captured critical infrastructure projects, including rail and road developments, and would improve coordination while safeguarding priority spending.

Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North, described the passage as a welcome reform to prevent distortions caused by overlapping budgets.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio hailed the approval as a major transformative step that would strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the nations budgetary system.
The Philadelphia Art Museum on Oct. 6, 2025. In the latest filing of an ongoing legal saga, the museum has refused to give into its former director's push for a trial Read more

The Philadelphia Art Museum has reiterated its position in court that a dispute with ousted director and CEO Sasha Suda should be resolved through arbitration.

Suda, who was fired Nov. 4 three years into a five-year contract, was ousted following an investigation by a law firm, the museum said soon after. On Nov. 10, Suda sued the museum over her dismissal, and has pushed for a trial by jury in the matter.

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Later that month, museum trustees fired back at her lawsuit and said she was dismissed after the investigation determined that she misappropriated funds from the museum and lied to cover up her theft.

Her contract with the museum stated that any and all claims or controversies against the museum should be pursued in private, confidential arbitration. But in a filing this month Suda argued that her contract contained an explicit exception to the arbitration provision.

 READ MORE: As a legal battle looms, Philadelphia Art Museum staffers head into the new year with tentative hope

But Suda has no credible response to the museums commonsense reading of her employment contract, the museum said in a Dec. 19 Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas filing by the museum. The nearly 150-year-old organization is represented by lawyers from Philadelphias Cozen OConnor and Washington, D.C. firm Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick.

Arbitration clauses are interpreted literally, but not foolishly, the new filing argues.

It asks the court to enter an order compelling Suda to submit to arbitration, and to stay legal proceedings until the matter is resolved in arbitration.

On Nov. 21, the museum named former Haverford College president and Metropolitan Museum of Art leader Daniel H. Weiss as new director and CEO.
Restaurants along Gay Street are shown in November in West Chester. Read more

As major retailers made Chester County home in 2025, start-ups were the fastest-growing group that the Chester County Economic Development Council found itself providing support for this year.

The region saw interest in expansions from big manufacturers  think chemical tech company Johnson Matthey, or coffee manufacturer Lavazza  and major retailers, like a Trader Joes in Berwyn and Exton, or even a Sheetz deep in Wawa country in Downingtown.

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But in a continued trend from the pandemic, which saw a surge in entrepreneurial spirit, the county has seen a continuation of new, small businesses taking shape, said Mike Grigalonis, president and COO for the countys economic development council.

Thats our biggest area of growth, services that were providing to start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, Grigalonis said. That ranges from a salon, or a cafe, or a retail shop  any of those Main Street mom-and-pop businesses that you might think of  all the way to very kind of cutting-edge high tech, emerging tech  whether that be a new med device, a new drug, a new app, and everything in between.

The countys wide-ranging restaurant scene saw a number of businesses planning new locations.

Heres a look around the county at some of the comings and goings in the final stretch of 2025.

New local spots

Expansions are on the menu. Stubborn Goat Brewing  which boasts craft beers, food, and a live music lineup  opened its doors this year in West Grove, and is planning an expansion into Kennett Square in 2026.

Our Deli & Cafe, which has enjoyed four decades in Paoli, opened a second location in Phoenixville this month at 498 Nutt Road.

The borough also recently welcomed The Local, a breakfast and lunch restaurant at 324 Bridge St.

In West Chester, Olive & Meadow, a business focused on charcuterie boards and grazing tables, opened its brick-and-mortar location at 1388 Old Wilmington Pike this month.

The business, which began in 2020 when Ariel LeVasseur dropped off charcuterie boards for her friends to enjoy while they chatted from afar on Zoom, grew from custom orders prepared in a commercial kitchen to a spot where customers can seek grab-and-go board items.

I love Chester County. Im from Delco, but I think Chester County is so historic and beautiful, she said. I feel like everybody is very welcoming, and I know that a lot of people like supporting small businesses.

The new shop near the former Dilworthtown Inn offers all that, and everything else LeVasseur hopes will make hosting a breeze. Coming next year, she hopes to partner with local wineries and host workshops.

I just want them to feel like they stepped into my home, and grab some gourmet cheeses and meats and like, share the love of charcuterie that I have, she said.

Others close their doors

As new businesses enter the scene, the community is also losing some favorites: Bookstore Bakery, a bookstore that offers gourmet pastries at 145 W. Gay St., will be closing its doors by the end of the year after having opened in 2024.

LaCava Coffee, a neighbor on Gay Street, is also winding down its brick-and-mortar, but will continue selling its coffee beans online.

I always wanted to create something that connects my roots and that I can be connected to my home country, said its owner, Jose Oliva, who is from Honduras. I started the dream of creating a brand, and by 2022 we were able to accomplish a dream, and by personal efforts, we opened a very beautiful store that we ran and operated into November 2025.

Oliva said the increased cost of coffee, a lack of substantive foot traffic, and the initial difficulty in opening the location, which sapped his capital, ultimately led to the decision. He is eyeing a relocation to Virginia.

In a business if you dont have a working capital for innovation, for development, for marketing, it is very difficult. Even so, we did it for almost two years and a few months, he said. We did it very successfully and with a lot of pride and we always maintain our customer service at its fullest.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Spirit Financial Credit Union's one and only office on New Falls Road in Levittown, Pa. Read more

Members of the 71-year-old Spirit Financial Credit Union in Levittown, Bucks County, voted decisively against their leaders plan to merge the $70 million-asset, member-owned lender with $2 billion-asset Credit Union 1 of suburban Chicago.

We respect the decision our members made through this vote, David Obarowski, the 3,800-member credit unions chief executive, said in a statement. He thanked members for voting and commenting on the plan. There are no plans for another vote on this specific matter. Spirit Financial will continue operating independently.

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Todd Gunderson, Credit Union 1s CEO, in a statement offered utmost respect for the democratic member voter outcome.

He said most members voted in advance by mail, adding that a smaller group showed up Monday, engaging with him and Obarowski. He called members constructive, thoughtful and respectful and rightly focused on adding younger members since Spirit Financials member count has barely risen since the 1990s.

Obarowski declined to provide vote totals. Member Richard Kilian, a building-materials company owner who opposed the merger, said more than 500 of the credit unions 3,800 members voted, with more than 400 voting no, according to a count he said was made public at the meeting.

It was a rare setback for Credit Union 1, one of a growing number of credit unions with multistate branch networks and more assets than most community banks.

Gunderson said last week that Credit Union 1 had won 12 of 13 merger votes since he took the top job in 2020.

Pages listing benefits from the proposed merger, such as more loan and deposit products and lower travel ATM fees, no longer appear on either credit unions website.

Kilian attributed the vote to members preference for local control, though he agreed its aging membership needs new energy.

Spirit Financial was started by workers at the former U.S. Steel Fairless Works but is now open to people who live or work in Bucks or are members of Bucks-based churches and other institutions.

Kilian said he hoped Spirit Financial would recruit younger customers and leaders, boost its presence by using more social media and other community engagement, and add staff licensed to write more loans.
Temple University Hospital was cited by Pennsylvania Department of Health for botching its emergency response to a patient experiencing homelessness. Read more

A patient with no home to return to was pushed in a wheelchair to the curb outside Temple University Hospital. Staffers left him sitting on a bench, even though he was considered at a high risk of falling.

An hour later, a security officer found the man had fallen and was lying on the ground.

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He was shaking when the guard brought him back into the hospital, but didnt respond to a nurses questions. So hospital staff again sent him away  this time leaving him alone in a wheelchair outside the emergency department.

He was found there five hours later, slumped over, unresponsive, and without a pulse. He died the following week.

Temples treatment of the patient during the Oct. 3 incident prompted state and federal investigations. In a report released earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Health cited Temple for violating state rules that require hospitals to provide emergency care.

Experts say the hospitals actions amounted to patient dumping, a practice prohibited under a federal law that requires hospital emergency departments to medically screen and stabilize all patients.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees hospital safety nationally, confirmed it is also investigating, but has not released details.

Hospitals that violate the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, known as EMTALA, risk hefty fines or losing their Medicare license, though such penalties are rare.

Temple acknowledged that its own protocols were not followed. Health system officials told state investigators the patient should not have been removed from the hospital without being evaluated and cleared by medical staff.

The safety of our patients, visitors and staff is Temples highest priority, the hospital said in a statement to The Inquirer. We believe that everyone deserves high quality care.

The hospital declined to say whether any of the staff members involved were disciplined or fired.

But such incidents are rarely the fault of one individual, legal experts and homelessness advocates said. Rather, they are a sign of systemic problems, such as understaffing that can leave staff overwhelmed, and bias among medical providers that can put vulnerable patients at risk of being dismissed.

If you work in an environment where safety is prized and honored and enforced from the top down, everyone feels thats their mission, said Eric Weitz, a medical negligence lawyer in Philadelphia. If thats not a priority being set by leadership, then its no surprise the culture doesnt reinforce it.

 READ MORE: Jefferson Abington Hospital was cited for a security guards excessive use of force. A patient was told she was to blame.

Hospital administrators said the triage nurse who turned away the patient should have sought help, if the patient wasnt responding to questions. The nurse said she was overwhelmed and working without sufficient support in one of the regions busiest trauma hospitals.

I was busy and alone, she told state inspectors.

Pa. Department of Health investigates Temple

To piece together what went wrong, Pennsylvania Department of Health inspectors watched security camera footage, interviewed staff members, and reviewed internal hospital reports. Their timeline shows a series of mistakes.

At about 3:15 p.m., an employee brought the patient in a wheelchair to a bench near the curb outside the hospital, and left him there on the mild October day with highs near 70 degrees.

He was being discharged to the community because he was experiencing homelessness, according to the inspection report. (The state report does not say whether staff attempted to place him at a skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation center or homeless shelter.)

The man sat alone on the bench for an hour before standing unsteadily, taking a few steps, and ultimately falling to the ground.

He managed to get back up, leaning against a tree for support, only to fall again. He was on the ground for 10 minutes before a security guard found him.

The guard brought the man back into the emergency department in a wheelchair about two hours after he had been released.

Back inside the hospital, the man followed orders to raise his arms for a security check at the door. Then he waited in line to be seen by the triage nurse responsible for checking in patients at the emergency department.

When he reached the front of the line, he did not respond to the nurses questions. He was not answering any questions, just shaking, according to a Temple incident report reviewed by inspectors. Staff said the patient was not cooperating and should be sent to the back of the line.

After two minutes with the nurse, a security guard moved his wheelchair to a corner of the emergency department near the entrance.

The man was once again wheeled outside the hospital a few minutes later and left alone.

He was found by medical staff around 9:30 p.m., slumped over in his wheelchair.

Staff began CPR, rushing him back inside for trauma care.

The inspection report does not identify the patients name, age, or provide details on the medical condition for which he had been hospitalized. It also does not say what happened after he was found unresponsive. He died five days later, on Oct. 8.

Temple responds

Medical screening of every patient who comes to the emergency department is explicitly required under Temples EMTALA policies, according to the hospitals response to the state findings.

It doesnt matter if they were just there an hour ago, every time they present, it is a new encounter and should be documented as such, a Temple staffer said in an interview with inspectors.

The hospital told the state it would retrain staff on EMTALA rules, making clear that security officers cannot remove patients from the emergency department unless they have been evaluated and cleared for release by a medical professional.

A week after the incident, hospital staff were instructed to keep a log of patients who are removed from the emergency department and the name of the provider who approved their release. (Temple police may still remove patients from the emergency department if they are threatening the safety of other patients or staff.)

The hospital also said that it would order mobility evaluations for patients who are being discharged to the community if they had a high risk of falling, with a doctors sign-off required.

Temple treats some of Philadelphias most vulnerable patients in an emergency room that sees more than 150,000 visits a year, including high numbers of gunshot victims and people experiencing opioid withdrawal. It operates a Level I trauma center in a North Philadelphia community where 87% of patients are covered by publicly funded Medicare or Medicaid.

The emergency department is so busy that about 8% of patients choose to leave before being seen, according to CMS data, compared to about 2% of patients at hospitals nationally and across Pennsylvania.

The triage nurse on duty Oct. 3 is not identified in the inspection report.

The Temple chapter of Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents 1,600 nurses and 1,000 other medical professionals on Temple campuses, declined to comment.

 READ MORE: A Virtua Voorhees nurse reported a baby-switch mistake. Then she was fired.

Legal experts raise questions

Two healthcare lawyers who reviewed the states inspection report said the entire episode is troubling.

It sounds like they violated every part of EMTALA, said Sara Rosenbaum, professor emerita of health law policy at George Washington University.

The law does not require specific treatment, but mandates that hospitals evaluate everyone who walks in the door seeking care, and prohibits them from sending them away or transferring them until they are medically stable.

They failed to screen him, threw an unstable person back on the street, and didnt arrange a medically appropriate transfer, she said.

Whats more, the hospital could be sued for malpractice over how it initially discharged the patient.

The incident appears to be a classic EMTALA violation, said Weitz, the Philadelphia lawyer who serves on Pennsylvanias Patient Safety Authority, an independent state agency that monitors hospital errors.

The health departments description of what happened is almost eerily the exact fact pattern the law was passed to prevent, he said.

Healthcare challenges for patients experiencing homelessness

People who are experiencing homelessness often receive subpar treatment when they seek medical care, research shows.

One study that analyzed thousands of California patient records found that those who were described in their medical records as homeless were more likely than patients who have a permanent legal address to be discharged from the emergency department, rather than being admitted for care.

In the Philadelphia region, caring for this population is increasingly challenging. The number of available shelter beds has declined in recent years, while the number of people who are considered unhoused has risen, according to Philadelphias Office of Homeless Services.

Stephanie Sena, CEO of Breaking Bread Community Shelter in Delaware County, said the colder months also see more people experiencing homelessness coming to hospitals to get off the street.

If they say theyre sick, they might get a bed and be able to survive the night, Sena said.

The pattern can make doctors and nurses less likely to believe patients when they report real medical needs. Especially when staff are overwhelmed in busy hospitals, patients experiencing homelessness may be at greater risk of getting denied or discharged when they need help, she said.

Sena said she was disappointed to hear about the Temple incident.

It is tragic, she said, but also not at all surprising, unfortunately.
U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, (R., Neb.) listens during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 23, 2022. Read more

Former Republican senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska said Tuesday that he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and suggested he would not have long to live.

Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die, Sasse wrote in a lengthy social media post Tuesday morning. Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; its a death sentence.  Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all. Still, Ive got less time than Id prefer.

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Sasse, 53, was first elected to the Senate in 2014 as a political newcomer  he had previously served as president of Midland University in Nebraska. Sasse handily won reelection in 2020 but resigned from his seat partway through his second term to become president of the University of Florida. Sasse abruptly stepped down from that post last summer, citing concerns about his wifes health.

Nearly a year and a half later, Sasse said it was he who was facing grim news about his health. His terminal diagnosis, he wrote Tuesday, was hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad.

I cant begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as wed temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, [my wife] Melissa and I have grown even closer  and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have, Sasse wrote.

He continued by listing the achievements of his three children and hinted at undergoing possible treatments.

Im not going down without a fight. One subpart of Gods grace is found in the jaw-dropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more, he wrote. Death and dying arent the same  the process of dying is still something to be lived. Were zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and Ive pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.

After Donald Trump was elected to his first term in 2016, Sasse became an outsider in his own party. He was one of a handful of Republican senators who regularly spoke out against Trump and who tied Trumps rhetoric and actions to the violent siege of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump periodically attacked Sasse, ridiculing him as the least effective GOP senator and calling him a RINO, or Republican in name only.

Sasse was also one of the few GOP senators who supported moving forward with Trumps impeachment trial. Because of that, Sasse faced the threat of censure in 2021 from the Nebraska Republican Party, which accused Sasse of, among more than a dozen purported offenses, having persistently engaged in public acts of ridicule and calumny against Trump. Sasse pushed back in a video message directed at party leaders.

Lets be clear: The anger in this state party has never been about me violating principle or abandoning conservative policy. Im one of the most conservative voters in the Senate. The angers always been simply about me not bending the knee to  one guy, he said then.

Ultimately, the Nebraska GOP voted to rebuke Sasse, stopping short of a censure. Though Sasse at one point considered leaving the Republican Party, he said he would remain committed to the party of Lincoln and Reagan as long as there is a chance to reform. In subsequent years, he described himself as an independent conservative. Earlier this month, he was named a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

Public figures from across the political spectrum responded to Sasses announcement on Tuesday to wish him well.

Im very sorry to hear this Ben. May God bless you and your family, Vice President JD Vance wrote on X.
Britain's Prince Andrew speaks during a television interview at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor, April 11, 2021. Read more

LONDON  The latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files have cast renewed scrutiny on the links between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein  a relationship that has already sent the former prince into what is widely seen as royal exile.

Among the newly released material is an email sent from A who writes that he is at the royal residence of Balmoral in Scotland, and asking Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell whether she had found him some new inappropriate friends.

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The documents also include emails and court filings of U.S. authorities seeking to interview the former prince in connection with two separate criminal investigations: one relating to Epstein and another involving Peter Nygard, the Canadian fashion tycoon accused of sexually assaulting multiple women and girls.

Andrew has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing. The former princes office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

In a 22-page formal request dated April 3, 2020, from the Justice Department, federal prosecutors in New York and the FBI asked U.K. authorities to assist in arranging a voluntary interview with Andrew. U.S. authorities requested that if Andrew declined, that U.K. officials then conduct a compelled interview of the witness under oath.

The request states that investigators wanted to question Andrew over allegations involving Nygard, including claims of an an international sex trafficking ring victimizing adult women and minor girls at the Canadians estate in the Bahamas, known as Nygard Cay.

According to the document, the investigation has revealed that, on at least one occasion, Prince Andrew traveled to Nygard Cay in the Bahamas, a location where Nygard is believed to have trafficked minor and adult female victims.

U.S. authorities said they wanted to question Andrew about his visits there, as well as any information he might have about Nygard and related individuals. They also said they wanted to ask Andrew whether he observed any females who appeared to be, or stated that they were, under the age of 18 years old, and the names of any of those females.

The document stressed that Andrew was not a target of the investigations and that U.S. authorities had not gathered evidence that he had committed any crime under U.S. law. Nygard was convicted of sexual assault by a Canadian jury in 2023.

U.S. authorities also sought to question Andrew in connection with the Epstein investigation. The request states that documentary evidence uncovered during the course of this investigation has revealed information suggesting that Prince Andrew had knowledge that Maxwell recruited females to engage in sex acts with Epstein and other men.

It further states that there is evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epsteins victims, while again noting that he was not a target and that investigation had not concluded he had committed a crime under U.S. law.

While it has been previously reported before that U.S. authorities wanted to interview Andrew, the newly released document makes clear that investigators wanted to question him about two then ongoing criminal investigations and detailed the specific areas they wanted to explore. He was never questioned by U.S. authorities.

The files also include material from a Florida court case brought under the Crime Victims Rights Act. In that case, a woman identified as Jane Doe #3  widely understood to be Virginia Giuffre  alleged that she was trafficked as a teenager by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions: in London, New York, and on Epsteins private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Andrew settled a civil case with Giuffre without an admission of liability in 2022.

The files also include email exchanges from early 2020 between U.S. prosecutors and Andrews lawyer, documenting weeks of back-and-forth over a proposed interview with Andrew. Andrews team repeatedly said he wanted to cooperate but never committed to a conversation between prosecutors and their client.

Shortly after a 2019 interview with BBCs Newsnight that was widely seen as disastrous for the prince at the time, Andrew said in a news release that he was willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.

At the end of January 2020  and after a month of back-and-forth emails between lawyers  Geoffrey Berman, then U.S. attorney for Southern District of New York, made a public statement saying that Andrew had provided zero cooperation. His lawyers disputed that characterization.

The files include emails from Maxwell to someone who signed off as A and from an address that used the alias The Invisible Man.

In an August 2001 message, A wrote: I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family, referring to a royal residence of then-Queen Elizabeth II.

He added: Hows LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall.

Maxwell replied that she had found only appropriate friends, prompting A to respond Distraught! The email went on to describe how the writer had just lost his valet. He had been with me since I was 2. I am a little off balance.

The writer also noted that he had left the RN  Andrew had left the Royal Navy earlier in the year. My whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me, the writer said.

The controversy surrounding Andrews links to Epstein eventually led his brother King Charles III to strip him of his prince title and required him to vacate the Royal Lodge.
Taylor Swift performs during the first of three "Eras Tour" performances at Lincoln Financial Field on May 12, 2023. Read more

She may be a Chiefs fan now, but Taylor Swift cant just shake off ties to her home state.

In The End of an Era, the six-part docuseries about the pop stars monumental Eras Tour, small nods to Philadelphia can be found laced throughout.

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The Disney+ series debuted Dec. 12 and its final two episodes dropped Tuesday.

From a certain sweatshirt, to her audiobook of choice, to the series directors, heres a quick look at all the connections weve spotted so far.

1. The Eagles sweatshirt

At the beginning of Eras Tour rehearsals, in a Before-Travis Kelce (BTK) timeline, the Berks County native is shown wearing a gray oversized Eagles sweatshirt as she walks into a practice space.

Paparazzi have spotted Swift repping the crew neck before, which is fitting since shes discussed at length over the years her memories of her dad watching Eagles games and her love for the team.

In fact, on her first Philadelphia night of the Eras Tour, Swift sang gold rush as a surprise song and confirmed the lyric my Eagles T-shirt hanging from the door, was in fact about the team and not the band.

I love the band the Eagles, but guys, like, come on, Im from Philly, Swift said that night in 2023 (and yes, a celebratory Birds chant did break out from the crowd).

Its also worth noting that Swifts Eagles sweatshirt appears to be unofficial  the teams house style dictates that the eagle profile should always face left, with the plumage forming a subtle letter E.

Of course as the docuseries progresses, we see an After-Travis Kelce (ATK) style evolution, and a lot more red and gold  gross.

2. The audiobook

At a point in the series where Swift is trying to calm her nerves, she lies on a couch and starts listening to an audiobook.

It turns out, that book excerpt was from none other than South Philly author Liz Moores The God of the Woods.

Moore and her book, which is a multigenerational mystery drama set in the Adirondacks, are having a good year. The God of the Woods was on multiple book club shortlists, including Barack Obamas, and was just announced for a Netflix adaptation last week. Moore will serve as a co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer.

Swift wasnt alone in her book selection. The God of the Woods was the most checked-out print book of the year across all of Philadelphias library branches. (We dont know about audiobook stats because those are managed by a third party.)

3. Scenes from Philly shows at the Linc

In the portion of the series that discusses the sheer pandemonium that the Eras Tour caused, with epic tailgates (known as Taylorgates), economic boosts, and overall good vibes, it seems only right that footage from outside the Philly shows were used as the ultimate visual aid.

The docuseries even relies on a Philly voice to summarize things best:

Ive never seen this before in my life, Jon McCann, a local content creator who goes by The Philly Captain, says in a perfectly thick regional accent. Its like Woodstock but without the drugs.

4. The directors and post-production

The End of an Era was directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce, the local duo behind films including Rock School, Batman & Bill, and notably, Kelce  the documentary about Swifts soon-to-be brother-in-law and former Eagle, Jason Kelce. The directors are both based in Philadelphia.

All six episode credits also list Philadelphia as a post-production location.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a new warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the U.S. Coast Guard steps up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Republican administrations escalating pressure campaign on the government in Caracas.

Trump was surrounded by his top national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a meeting at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. He suggested that he remains ready to further escalate his four-month pressure campaign on the Maduro government, which began with the stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal drugs from the South American nation but has developed into something more amorphous.

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If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hell ever be able to play tough, Trump said of Maduro.

Trump levied his latest threat as the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday continued for a second day to chase a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration describes as part of a dark fleet Venezuela is using to evade U.S. sanctions. The tanker, according to the White House, is flying under a false flag and is under a U.S. judicial seizure order.

Its moving along and well end up getting it, Trump said.

It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that U.S. officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.

Meanwhile, Russias Foreign Ministry started evacuating the families of diplomats from Venezuela, according to a European intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The official told the Associated Press the evacuations include women and children and began on Friday, adding that Russian Foreign Ministry officials are assessing the situation in Venezuela in very grim tones. The ministry said in an X posting that it was not evacuating the embassy but did not address queries about whether it was evacuating the families of diplomats.

Venezuelas Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Monday said he spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who he said expressed Russias support for Venezuela against Trumps declared blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.

We reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government, Gil said in a statement.

A new Golden Fleet

Trump also announced on Monday a bold plan for the Navy to build a new, large warship that he is calling a battleship as part of a larger vision to create a Golden Fleet.

Theyll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built, Trump claimed during the announcement at Mar-a-Lago.

The ship, according to Trump, will be longer and larger than the World War II-era Iowa-class battleships and will be armed with hypersonic missiles, rail guns, and high-powered lasers  all technologies that are still being developed by the Navy.

Just a month ago, the Navy scrapped its plans to build a new, small warship, citing growing delays and cost overruns, deciding instead to go with a modified version of a Coast Guard cutter that was being produced until recently. The sea service has also failed to build its other newly designed ships, like the new Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, on time and on budget.

Historically, the term battleship has referred to a very specific type of ship  a large, heavily armored vessel armed with massive guns designed to bombard other ships or targets ashore. This type of ship was at the height of its prominence during World War II, and the largest of the U.S. battleships, the Iowa-class, were roughly 60,000 tons.

After World War II, the battleships role in modern fleets diminished rapidly in favor of aircraft carriers and long-range missiles. The U.S. Navy did modernize four Iowa-class battleships in the 1980s by adding cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles, along with modern radars, but by the 1990s all four were decommissioned.

Trump has long held strong opinions on specific aspects of the Navys fleet, sometimes with a view toward keeping older technology instead of modernizing.

During his first term, he unsuccessfully called for a return to steam-powered catapults to launch jets from the Navys newest aircraft carriers instead of the more modern electromagnetic system.

He has also complained to Phelan about the look of the Navys destroyers and decried Navy ships being covered in rust.

Phelan told senators at his confirmation hearing that Trump has texted me numerous times very late at night, sometimes after one (oclock) in the morning about rusty ships or ships in a yard, asking me what am I doing about it.

On a visit to a shipyard that was working on the now-canceled Constellation-class frigate in 2020, Trump said he personally changed the design of the ship.

I looked at it, I said, Thats a terrible-looking ship, lets make it beautiful, Trump said at the time.

He said Monday he will have a direct role in designing this new warship as well.

The U.S. Navy will lead the design of these ships along with me, because Im a very aesthetic person, Trump said.
The newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents include several tips that were collected by the FBI about President Donald Trumps involvement with Epstein and parties at their properties in the early 2000s. Read more

Three days after releasing a large tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents that contained few mentions of President Donald Trump, the Justice Department disclosed thousands more files that included wide-ranging references to the president.

The documents show that a subpoena was sent to Mar-a-Lago in 2021 for records that pertained to the governments case against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins accomplice in sex trafficking. They include notes from an assistant U.S. attorney in New York about the number of times Trump flew on Epsteins plane, including one flight that included just Trump, Epstein, and a 20-year-old woman, according to the notes.

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The newly released documents also include several tips that were collected by the FBI about Trumps involvement with Epstein and parties at their properties in the early 2000s. The documents do not show whether any follow-up investigations took place or whether any of the tips were corroborated.

In a statement Tuesday morning, the Justice Department said: Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that it characterized as unfounded and false.

Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims, the statement said.

The documents were available for several hours Monday afternoon and evening on the Justice Department website but appeared to have been taken down around 8 p.m. The Washington Post downloaded the full set of files while they were accessible. The department reposted the files on its website shortly before midnight Monday night. It was not immediately clear whether officials had done any further redactions of the documents before posting.

The department did not immediately respond to questions about why the documents had been posted and then apparently removed. The White House also did not respond to requests for comment about the newly released documents.

Being mentioned in a mass trove of investigatory documents does not demonstrate criminal wrongdoing. Trump has not been accused of being involved in Epsteins criminal activities. It has long been known that Trump had a years-long friendship with Epstein that ended in the early 2000s.

The president has said he did not know about Epsteins criminal behavior, and his spokesperson has said he kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago Club for being a creep.

Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died in 2019 while in federal custody awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.

The files include correspondence among prison officials about Epsteins psychological assessments, with discussions about holding him in a special housing unit about two weeks before he died.

We have supporting memorandums from the responding officers who indicated they observed inmate Epstein with a makeshift noose around his neck, one of the emails stated.

At one point, the documents indicate, prison officials planned to house Epstein in a cell with Cesar Sayoc, a fanatical supporter of Trumps who in 2019 was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he mailed explosive devices to prominent Democrats and media figures.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons did not respond to requests for comment about Epsteins incarceration.

Also included in this batch of files are a large number of documents related to objections filed by Epsteins victims in 2008 after Alex Acosta, the U.S. attorney in Miami, reached an agreement not to prosecute Epstein on federal charges in return for his pleading guilty to less-serious state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor.

There is a 22-page memo from the criminal division of the Justice Department to authorities in the United Kingdom, seeking to interview material witness PA, a reference to Prince Andrew. It outlines what has been uncovered about him and seeks a voluntary interview. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, was recently stripped of his royal titles, including that of prince, because of his links to Epstein.

The files are being released in compliance with a law passed by Congress last month that mandated the disclosure of Epstein-related documents. Trump signed the measure into law, but on Monday, he repeated some of his long-standing objections to the disclosures.

Asked about the Justice Departments release on Friday of photos of former President Bill Clinton with Epstein, Trump, who has called on the department to investigate Clinton and other Democrats, suggested that he had some sympathy for the former president.

I dont like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I dont like the pictures of other people being shown. I think its a terrible thing, he told reporters during an event at Mar-a-Lago. Bill Clintons a big boy. He can handle it, but you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago. Many years ago. And theyre, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.

Trump was responding to questions about Epstein at an event at Mar-a-Lago on Monday at which he announced he would be overseeing the development of a new class of Navy battleship named after himself.

Everybody was friendly with this guy, either friendly or not friendly, Trump said. But I mean, he was around. He was all over Palm Beach and other places. The head of Harvard was his best friend  Larry Summers  and Bill Clinton was a friend of his, but everybody was. I actually threw him out of Mar-a-Lago.

The wave of files released Friday had few documents that mentioned Trump, even while administration officials have acknowledged that the presidents name is included multiple times throughout the files.

The initial batch, however, included a number of photographs of Clinton, who appeared in a swimming pool and a hot tub, as well as in more formal settings or posing with Michael Jackson.

Clinton spokesman Angel Urena suggested Monday that the administration had engineered the releases to shield Trump, something Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has denied. On Monday, Urena issued a statement on X demanding that all photographs and documents related to Clinton be released immediately.

What the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected, Urena said in the statement. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection.

The new documents at times provide a window onto what federal prosecutors had been examining, as well as their awareness of ties that Epstein had with Trump.

In January 2020, during Trumps first term, for example, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York wrote an internal email about a review of flight records the day before as part of the governments case against Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking.

For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case, the email states.

There were at least eight flights, the prosecutor wrote, between 1993 and 1996 in which Trump was a passenger. On at least four of those flights Maxwell was also present.

In some cases, the prosecutor wrote, there were passengers who could be called as possible witnesses in a case against Maxwell.

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 wrote.

The full reason for the subpoena to Mar-a-Lago was not immediately clear, but an assistant U.S. attorney had been seeking past employment records from Trumps club that were relevant in the case against Maxwell.

I have not been able to locate anyone who recalls [redacted] working at Mar a Lago in 2000, the federal prosecutor wrote in an internal email.

The subpoenas issued to Mar-a-Lago were also included in the latest documents. Attached to one of the subpoenas was a letter dated Feb. 12, 2015, on Mar-a-Lago letterhead, in which officials of the club indicate that they dont have the employment records from 1999 to 2001 that federal agents are seeking. They found an employee by the name they were seeking on a 2000 spreadsheet but could not confirm it was the same person without more identifying information.

Trump on Monday also grew annoyed with reporters who asked him about Epstein.

What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has, he said. Like, for instance, today were building the biggest ships in the world, the most powerful ships in the world, and theyre asking me questions about Jeffrey Epstein. I thought that was finished."
Two new baby African penguins at Adventure Aquarium in Camden. Duffy hatched on Nov. 2 and Oscar followed five days later, aquarium staff said. Read more

Say hello to Duffy and Oscar, two new baby African penguins at Adventure Aquarium in Camden.

The pair made their social media debut Saturday on Instagram.

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Duffy hatched on Nov. 2 and Oscar followed five days later, the aquariums staff announced.

Duffy was named after Jennifer Duffy, senior biologist of birds and mammals, who is celebrating her 20th year at the aquarium. Oscar was fostered by adult penguins Myer and Cornelia, and Cornelia is nicknamed Corn Dog, so the staff thought of Oscar Mayer hot dogs when naming the second chick.

The announcement was made now because the biologists wait a few weeks to make sure the chicks are healthy, said aquarium spokesperson Madison Mento.

African penguins, which originate from the waters around southern Africa, are classified critically endangered, so the hatches are important to the survival of the species, the aquarium staff said.

It will be a while before Duffy and Oscar join the penguin colony exhibit, said Amanda Egen, assistant curator of birds and mammals.

The biggest milestone is losing their down feathers and developing their waterproof feathers. Weather also plays a role, as even if theyre physically ready, it may still be too cold for them to be outside. At this point, we are estimating they will join the colony in late winter to early spring, Egen said.
The lower Schuylkill winds 36 miles from Phoenixville in Chester County to its tidal meeting point with the Delaware River at Philadelphias Navy Yard, sheltering more than 40 species of fish along the way.

In Center City, the river doubles as a striking urban backdrop, bordered by a trail that can draw thousands of hikers and cyclists daily.

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This year, the waterway is vying for the title of Pennsylvanias River of the Year, an annual competition spotlighting the states most significant waterways.

Online voting, which began Dec. 9, runs through Jan. 16, giving Pennsylvanians the chance to select the 2026 winner from three contenders: Chillisquaque Creek, the Conestoga River, and the lower Schuylkill in the Philadelphia region.

The River of the Year program is administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

The contest is meant to draw public attention to rivers and their environmental importance. The winning rivers nominating organization receives a $15,000 DCNR grant to fund yearlong celebrations, including paddling events and community activities. The DCNR produces a commemorative poster in honor of the river.

Jackson Quitel, river programs coordinator for the nonprofit LandHealth Institute, said his organization nominated the Schuylkill along with a plan to educate the public in the many wonders in this unique body of water.

While the Schuylkill River is widely known, not many people are aware of the immense recreational activities and ecological wonders that are present on the river today, Quitel said.

The LandHealth Institute helps increase awareness of the river through guided walks, fishing, and kayaking, taking more than 500 people out on the water in 2025. If the Schuylkill wins, Quitel said, it would allow the group to double its reach.

Joe Syrnick, executive director of the nonprofit Schuylkill Development Corp., which helped develop the Schuylkill Banks trail along the river, called the river a great asset to the region.

It would be nice to see it get the recognition it deserves, Syrnick said.

Once a vital waterway for the Lenni-Lenape, the river later endured severe pollution from upstream coal mining and industrial waste, eventually rebounding through years of efforts, including the protections of the federal Clean Water Act.

The Schuylkill became the nations first municipalscale water system through Fairmount Water Works and continues to provide drinking water to 1.5 million people through two intakes along its banks.

The Schuylkill River Trail, a continuous corridor running alongside most of the lower Schuylkill, has broadened access to the rivers views for residents, giving them more insight into a river many were once cut off from.

Most recently, the Schuylkill Banks section in Center City debuted a new $48 million cablestayed, pedestrianonly bridge, anchoring a trail extension known as the Christian to Crescent Trail Connector. The 2,800foot segment delivers sweeping, unobstructed views of the river.

The DCNR describes the lower Schuylkill as an urban oasis surrounded by bustling roads and a backdrop of a gorgeous skyline.

Pennsylvania has 25 rivers. Of those, six are federally designated as wild and scenic and 13 are state-designated scenic rivers.

Contest nominees can also include tributaries within river watersheds. For example, Chillisquaque Creek is a 20 mile-long tributary of the Susquehanna Rivers west branch. It flows through Northumberland and Montour Counties.

The Conestoga, meanwhile, feeds Chesapeake Bay.

Overall, Pennsylvania has 85,000 miles of waterways, which is the highest stream density in the continental United States.

The Delaware was the 2025 river of the year.
June Rodriguez, 54, was a beloved Philly house DJ and well-known ally and presence in the LGBTQ community. He was killed in a hit-and-run. Read more

June Rodriguez, 54, was riding his bike home after his shift at Bob & Barbaras Lounge early Saturday morning  he refused to own a car in order to stay in shape  when he was killed in a hit-and-run.

Rodriguez was turning onto North 56th Street from Lancaster Avenue in Overbrook around 3:45 a.m. when the driver of a red SUV swerved into him and drove away, according to Philadelphia police.

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In between angry sobs, his mother, Miriam Rodriguez, described a violent death that ran so counter to the way her son lived. She said his chest was crushed, his spine severed, and the driver just left him on the cold street.

Growing up, he was always a good kid and everybody loved him, he had that kind of charisma, she said. Its hard for somebody to come and hit him with a car and not do nothing about it.

Police are investigating, looking for tips that could lead to an arrest.

Meanwhile, the sudden death of the longtime DJ, a decades-long presence at Bob & Barbaras, has left a hole in Phillys queer community and the house music scene.

Born in the Bronx, Rodriguez was always into music, his mother said. He took to the oldies and the salsa music his mother would play when cleaning the house. His love of music spread to dance, and he eventually got into breakdancing.

Rodriguezs love of music was contagious, according to those who knew him, and garnered him many friends when he arrived in Philly around the mid-aughts.

Though straight, Rodriguez was a longtime member of the drag show DJ team at Bob & Barbaras and well-known among Phillys LGBTQ+ community, playing at Pride events.

When Rodriguezs only son, Skye, came out to his father as transgender, the DJ was fully on board and seamlessly began introducing him as his son, Skye Rodriguez said. Rodriguez was even trying to get his son to leave Reading and move to Philly, where he would have access to a larger LGBTQ+ community.

He wanted me to be as happy as possible, Skye Rodriguez said. He was like, You know, Ill do anything I can to get you here.

In the days after his death, longtime friends and acquaintances have flooded social media with remembrances.

Bob & Barbaras mourned Rodriguez in a Facebook post. Hed had a decades-long relationship with the bar, working as door greeter, security, and occasional barback over the years. His latest venture there was learning how to tend bar, according to the lounge.

His passion for music radiated through every part of his life and he created an expansive and diverse community through his art, the post read.

Cameron Guthrie, a longtime friend who met Rodriguez in the now-closed Liaison Room, said Rodriguez was so beloved because of how supportive he could be, even to borderline strangers.

He was everybodys biggest fan, said Guthrie, who also DJs, and remembers how Rodriguez was constantly telling him he should be playing in New York City, especially when his music wasnt finding an audience in Philly.

When others would read you to filth, hed root for you.

The community Rodriguez built has been visible in the days following his death. Outside of the online tributes, his son said a local music festival, called Departed, dedicated proceeds from its after-hours party Saturday to his funeral expenses. Rodriguez had been slated to play the after-hours event.

I didnt realize how many friends and people loved him until I went to the set that he was supposed to play the other night, and saw how many people showed up for him, his son said.

Guthrie and other DJ friends organized a similarly popular dance party Sunday at Penn Treaty Park. A GoFundMe that said Rodriguez created a sanctuary on the dance floor has raised more than $17,000 for funeral expenses.

Safe-streets advocates, meanwhile, are calling attention to the dangerous conditions on the strip of road where Rodriguez was killed.

A long stretch of Lancaster Avenue has long been identified, by the citys own calculations, as one of the most dangerous in Philadelphia, part of the 12% of city streets that account for 80% of traffic deaths and serious injuries. It has been listed on what is called the high-injury network for years.

Just in September, a 77-year-old pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run at 54th Street and Lancaster Avenue, not far from where Rodriguez was killed.

The strip does have a bike lane, but advocates say it should be protected to prevent reckless drivers from using it as a shoulder or turning lane.

The frequent appearance of one road on the high-injury network is proof that the current configuration is unsafe for everyone, and PennDot, who controls the street, is not doing enough to fix it, Philly Bike Action said in a statement, adding Rodriguezs death was the seventh cyclist fatality in the city this year.
Director of Public Safety in Philadelphia, Gen. Smedley Butler, confers with police officers and officials in 1924. Read more

More than a hundred years ago, the Lanzetta family seemed to be living the American dream in South Philly.

Immigrants from Italy, the family patriarch, Ignazio, worked hard at local restaurants, while his wife, Michelina, tended to their growing family, which included six boys by the early 1920s.

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They lived in the heavily Italian Our Lady of Good Counsel parish, where neighbors described them as religious and such nice people.

But times were hard in 1920s Little Italy, and some native-born Americans scapegoated the recent arrivals for much of Philadelphias woes.

Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick, a Republican, decided to recruit a U.S. Marine general to clean up the whole city, where, he claimed, vice and crime [were] rampant and disregard of law and order [was] almost unbelievable, as the New York Times put it in July 1924.

This required White House approval, ultimately causing clashes between local and federal officials  not unlike the ones we are seeing today, with National Guard troops and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents on the streets of many U.S. cities over the objections of state and municipal authorities.

Just last month, federal law enforcement made over 130 arrests in Charlotte, N.C.

Democrats  including Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is often mentioned as a 2028 presidential candidate  have denounced President Donald Trumps use of federal man power.

I think the way the President has chosen to deploy the [National Guard]  is extremely dangerous, Shapiro said in October, as two dozen states tried to block what critics call Trumps militarization of urban police work.

Long forgotten today are the travails of immigrants like the Lanzettas. They and other newcomers to the United States were branded as undesirable and accused of turning Philadelphia into a city where banditry, promiscuous sale of poisonous liquor, the sale of dope, viciousness and lawlessness of all kinds are rampant, as Mayor Kendrick put it, according to The Inquirer in 1923.

President Trump has used even harsher rhetoric to justify deploying federal agents and troops to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Memphis, while threatening to do the same in Philadelphia.

Back in the Roaring Twenties, city officials were particularly worried that organized crime, fueled in part by Prohibition, would mar the citywide Sesquicentennial celebrations marking Americas 150th birthday in July 1926.

When President Calvin Coolidge finally gave the go-ahead for Brig. Gen. Smedley Darlington Butler to suspend his Marine duties in January 1924, the West Chester native and Haverford graduate swiftly established his authority as the citys director of public safety.

You have a cesspool in Philadelphia, declared Butler. If necessary you should pass laws taking [Philadelphias] government away if they dont know how to run it.

Butler had two decades of experience in Latin America, the Philippines, the Boxer Rebellion in China, as well as France during World War I, earning two Medals of Honor and eventually rising to the rank of major general. Only a tough, experienced Marine could tame Philly, Mayor Kendrick and local reformers believed.

And while Butler didnt have soldiers to command, he was later quoted as saying that his ideal job title would be martial law commander of Philadelphia with 5,000 Marines under me. Then I would not be hampered by writs and magistrates hearings.

During Butlers two-year tenure, as many as 17,000 Philadelphians were arrested for various offenses, big and small.

Cleaning up Philadelphia, he later lamented, was worse than any battle I was ever in.

By the end of 1925, even Kendrick had come to see some of Butlers more authoritarian initiatives as intolerable. Criticisms of any federal role in combating local crime grew louder and louder.

J. Hampton Moore, who preceded and then succeeded Kendrick as mayor, called the Butler controversy a spectacular misuse of the White House.

According to an Associated Press article from Nov. 4, 1925, a congressman bluntly asked Kendrick: Would you favor the president designating an Army or Navy or Marine to do police work in every one of the big cities of the country?

Mine is an exceptional case, Kendrick responded.

To which the congressman snapped, Some of us dont see it that way.

Butler ultimately agreed and returned to the Marines.

Though largely forgotten, this controversy has clear lessons  and warnings  for today.

Polls show Americans are highly skeptical of recent ICE raids and National Guard patrols  a problem Republicans could have avoided if they stuck to their long-standing preference for local rather than federal solutions.

But Gov. Shapiro should also remember that Trump won the 2024 election, in part, because voters didnt trust Democrats on urban crime.

This is no mere philosophical discussion.

Consider Michelina and Ignacio Lanzetta, those striving South Philly immigrants. Their sons were pulled into every vice and crime of the day, historian Celeste A. Morello has written, and two of them were ultimately murdered.

With the nations 250th birthday almost upon us, Philadelphia might finally guide Americans toward a resolution to these long-standing conflicts over local crime and federal power.

Tom Deignan has written about history for the New York Times and the Washington Post. He is working on a book about violence in and around Philadelphia in the 1920s.
Of course, not all of the Jeffrey Epstein files were released.

Even some files made available late Friday were quickly removed. Large portions were heavily redacted. Some portions contained boldfaced names, but there was little mention of Donald Trump.

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As long as Trump keeps his thumb on the scales at the U.S. Department of Justice, no one should ever expect a fair shake  let alone an honest accounting of the yearslong connection between a convicted sex offender and a convicted president who is a congenital liar.

This is life under a brazenly corrupt administration that rewards billionaire cronies, punishes hundreds of political enemies, kills in broad daylight, and tramples the Constitution.

Better to prepare for how to defend against three more years of authoritarian rule mixed with kabuki theater.

In normal times, the Trump administrations continued cover-up of the Epstein files would be an epic scandal, prompting hearings, investigations, and accountability.

But the Republicans who control the House and Senate have been a profile in cowardice. Until enough voters wake up, Trump and the GOP will continue to provide misdirection, denials, and a flouting of the law.

Trump has not been implicated in any wrongdoing, but his enablers  including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, and most Republicans in Congress  inexplicably continue to protect him.

Doing so obliterates any trust in the justice system and the rule of law.

The main tragedy involves the yearslong sex trafficking, rape, and abuse of hundreds of underage girls, including one alleged 11-year-old, and young, vulnerable women by Epstein and his many rich and powerful friends.

Epsteins survivors have demanded that the files be released so there can be at least some public accounting of the horror they endured. But instead, the survivors have had to relive the trauma and fear of death threats.

One survivor who Epstein recruited from Trumps Mar-a-Lago spa when she was a teen took her own life earlier this year. In a telling admission of how Trump views women as objects, he said earlier this year that Epstein stole her from him.

A recent story by the New York Times detailed how Trump and Epstein pursued women in a game of ego and dominance where female bodies were currency.

But the American people have been misled and abused, as well, while other pressing issues have been ignored or made worse.

Trumps disregard for women has been well documented.

More than two dozen women have accused Trump of sexual abuse. He was caught on tape bragging about grabbing women by their genitals.

A separate video showed Trump and Epstein partying at Mar-a-Lago, while Trump patted a woman on her behind. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing a woman.

Everyone knew Trump was a lout, but more than 77 million Americans, including millions of women, voted for him anyway. And the Republicans in Congress have dutifully stood by him for years, bringing repeated shame to themselves and the country.

During last years election campaign, Trump used the Epstein files to stoke conspiracies and rally his supporters. He promised to release the files if elected, but after returning to the White House, called them a hoax.

(Trump also promised to lower prices, but that is a separate editorial, just as is his promise to end the war in Ukraine in one day.)

After mounting pressure from his base, and a 427-1 House vote last month to release the Epstein files, Trump ultimately signed a bill to make them public by Dec. 19.

The deadline passed, and all the files have yet to come out. Expect more gamesmanship and Truth Social rants.

The Epstein saga is a microcosm of Trumps modus operandi. Lie, steal, cheat. Deny, deflect, delay, and degrade. Blame, complain, pressure, and sue. Line pockets whenever possible. Always overpromise and underdeliver.

Truth, honesty, humility, compassion, or responsibility are nowhere to be found.

Trumps sinking poll numbers indicate that many supporters are finally catching on. The midterms loom, but so does three more years of hell.

But could the end of our long national nightmare be near?
President Donald Trump shakes hands with H.R. McMaster, his national security adviser, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., in February 2017. Read more

Americans should have a say in the Trump administrations unilateral decision to use military force against Venezuelan boats, according to H.R. McMaster, former national security adviser during the first Trump administration, and a retired lieutenant general who grew up in Roxborough.

Being honored Jan. 16 at the Museum of the American Revolutions 320th birthday celebration of Benjamin Franklin, McMaster was interviewed by The Inquirer last week. He offered a brief but wide-ranging discussion on foreign policy and military matters. McMaster will be named the 2026 Franklin Founder honoree during the annual Philadelphia event that celebrates the life and legacy of Franklin. McMaster is scheduled to speak about the role of the military in a democracy.

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A comprehensive explanation for bombing boats is lacking, McMaster said in the interview, referencing the attacks on vessels allegedly carrying drugs that find their way to the United States, which have resulted in around 100 deaths since early September. The American people should have a say through Congress. The Trump administration has said it has complete authority to conduct the attacks.

McMaster said certain questions must be answered, such as whether the strikes are a just cause, and whether the right to conduct the missions is within the purview of presidential power under Article II of the U.S. Constitution.

McMaster didnt discuss the ongoing controversy about whether U.S. forces were justified in killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 attack on a Venezuelan boat. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is refusing to release video showing the killing of two men clinging to wreckage in the Caribbean Sea.

McMaster, 63, is a historian and senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution at Stanford University who served 457 days in the Trump administration, from February 2017 to April 2018. He left after disagreements with Trump over foreign policy and internal dynamics.

Trump considered using force against drug smuggling during his first term, McMaster said, when the president asked his staff, Why dont we just bomb the drugs? coming out of Mexico.

Military intervention was avoided, McMaster said, after he huddled a team and won unprecedented cooperation with the Mexican government to fight the flow of drugs.

Addressing other military matters, McMaster discussed the widely reported meeting of military commanders called by Hegseth in September.

One of Hegseths main messages was theres no place for wokeness in the military, saying too many uniform leaders were being promoted for the wrong reasons  based on their race  gender quotas [and] based on historic so-called firsts. He added he wants no more  DEI programs or dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship.

While he agrees with much of what Hegseth said, McMaster explained, the secretary was speaking to the wrong people: There are no woke generals and admirals, McMaster said. They had been following unwise directives from senior civilian officials pushing an extreme social agenda in the Biden administration. Under Biden, McMaster concluded, the military had come to valorize victimhood.

Civilian guidance on so-called woke matters isnt needed in a self-policing entity such as the military, McMaster said: Yes, there have been criminals and sexists in the military, but hell, we threw them out ourselves.

McMaster also said he doesnt have a problem with the Trump administration deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities such as Los Angeles; Chicago; Memphis; Washington, D.C.; and Portland, Ore. Its the presidents right to do so, allowing local law enforcement to enforce the law, he said. Regrettably, he said, local authorities have resisted guard placement, especially in Oregon and California, where Democratic governors are in charge. This is an example of how partisan politics can undermine our ability to work together, he said.

As a former insider in a Trump-led administration, McMaster has said in previous writing that hed witnessed the machinations of the White House, including exercises in competitive sycophancy among officials in Oval Office meetings. McMaster didnt comment on the atypically blunt revelations by Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles in Vanity Fair.

Hes written that Trump is a flawed commander in chief: mercurial, inconsistent, and easily distracted. But, he added, Trumps erratic course reversals can be helpful, because they make him unpredictable to our adversaries.

Despite his time in the inner sanctum of the Trump administration, McMaster would write in his book, At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House, that hed been unable to foresee Trumps persistent false claims of widespread election fraud [in 2020] and his encouragement of a mob [on Jan. 6] to conduct the most significant attack on the U.S. Capitol since August 1814, when British troops set fire to the White House.

The partisanship that helped spur the attack is a continued threat to the republic, McMaster said in the interview with The Inquirer, referencing Franklin, who feared factionalism.

Each year, the Franklin celebration highlights a theme that connects Franklins work to current social issues and concerns. In receiving the Franklin Founder Award, McMaster joins company with others from a wide variety of fields:

John Mather, an astrophysicist who won a Nobel Prize, was the 2025 winner. He helped develop the James Webb Space Telescope, connecting with Franklin who uncovered important principles in electricity, marine oceanography, magnetism, and aeronautics.

In 2020, the centennial anniversary of Congress act to grant women the right to vote, awards went to Linda Greenhouse for her coverage of the Supreme Court for the New York Times, as well as to Cokie Roberts, political commentator and author.

The 2016 award went to pediatrician Paul Offit from Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia as well as the Perelman School of Medicine. Offit is the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, and an author and public speaker. This topic was closely aligned with Franklin, whose civic involvement included creation of the first public hospital. Offit has frequently sparred with Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. over the issue of vaccines.

McMaster is a graduate of Norwood-Fontbonne Academy (formerly Norwood Academy for Boys, and Fontbonne for girls), a private Catholic school in Chestnut Hill. He also graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy, which will be closed in the spring (it doesnt affect Valley Forge Military College, which shares a campus with the academy in Wayne).

McMaster went on to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and was a U.S Army Officer for 34 years. His career included combat service in the Gulf War. Afterward, he returned to teach history at West Point and earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
(From left) Kristyn DiDominick, executive director of Bucks Mont-Collaborative; Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia; Erin Lukoss, CEO of the Bucks County Opportunity Council; Stacy Doughtery, executive director of Laurel House; Mark Boorse, director of program development at Access Services. Read more

Millions of dollars in federal funding for homeless services are at risk after the Trump administration on Friday moved forward with a plan to cut support for most long-term housing programs that serve people otherwise without stable shelter, according to officials in Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

The plan, which is still being fought in court after the Department of Housing and Urban Development released an earlier iteration of the policy shift in November, seeks to upend the way communities across the nation, including Philadelphia, treat people experiencing homelessness and would reroute the spending of $3.9 billion in grants for a program called Continuum of Care that localities rely on to fund housing programs.

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The latest development came Friday night, when HUD appeared to respond to a judges ruling in the legal battle by issuing a new set of rules to apply for the federal awards. The new HUD document reduced the amount of funding available for permanent housing by two-thirds, a drastic decrease, said Kayleigh Silver, administrator of the Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development.

The new plan we believe will worsen homelessness and destabilize communities, not improve them, said Kristyn DiDominick, executive director of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative, at a news conference Monday in Warminster. The nonprofit fosters resource sharing between the two counties.

Officials said hundreds of people in the counties, including families, veterans, and people with disabilities, could lose access to housing as a result of the funding shift. Nationwide, the HUD plan could displace 170,000 people by cutting two-thirds of the aid designated for permanent housing, advocates say. In Philadelphia, tens of millions of dollars used to fund the citys 2,330 units of permanent supportive housing are at risk, city officials said in November

Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a social worker by trade, said HUD broke its promise to continue providing support to programs.

If we cant trust HUD, how are we supposed to get the people we work with to trust us? said Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat.

The HUD announcement followed two lawsuits, including one from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and 20 other states attorneys general and governors, against President Donald Trumps administration over the cuts included in the November draft of the plan.

The earlier plan gave HUD the authority to restrict funding for groups that recognize the existence of transgender and nonbinary people, populations that face greater risks for homelessness. County officials are still seeking clarification on whether that provision remains in the new plan.

HUD temporarily rescinded the controversial plan on Dec. 8, just hours before a hearing on the lawsuits, citing an intent to revise it. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy, who presided over the hearing, issued a preliminary injunction blocking HUDs efforts until a new funding notice is issued. It remained unclear to local advocates and service providers the differences between the new plan posted later that night and the original.

HUD will continue working to provide homelessness assistance funding to grantees nationwide. The Department remains committed to program reforms intended to assist our nations most vulnerable citizens and will continue to do so in accordance with court orders, a spokesperson for the department said in a statement to The Inquirer.

The confusing standoff marks the latest obstacle that nonprofits have had to endure after a lengthy federal government shutdown and Pennsylvanias state budget impasse, both of which contributed to funding delays and instability.

It also signifies a turn away from the Housing First mindset, which prioritizes giving permanent housing to people who are homeless as a foundation for bettering their quality of life, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In a post on X on Saturday, HUD Secretary Scott Turner called the strategy failed.

Bucks and Montgomery County service providers and advocates at Mondays news conference handed out literature that said Chaos isnt a strategy and called on Congress to step in, noting that the funding process is months behind.

The impacts land on real people, DiDominick said.

Housing is also an important resource for survivors of domestic violence, said Stacy Dougherty, executive director of Laurel House, a domestic violence organization in Montgomery County.

For victims of domestic violence, access to safe housing can be the difference between staying in an abusive relationship and being able to leave, and sometimes even the difference between life and death, Dougherty said.

Erin Lukoss, CEO of the Bucks County Opportunity Council, added that housing is the foundation, a backbone for the entire system that tries to address poverty and food insecurity. A lack of clarity on this funding is another stressor for service providers and those who benefit from the resources

What makes this moment especially concerning is not just the potential reduction in funding, its the instability of the rules themselves, Lukoss said.
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.

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When John Quigley became the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2015, he knew that he would be busy trying to keep up with the consequences of the states rapid increase in natural gas production. But when reports landed on his desk that trucks carrying oil and gas waste were tripping radioactivity alarms at landfills, he was especially concerned.

There was obviously a problem that the state was not dealing with, Quigley said. Which was the threat to not only public health, but to the folks driving the trucks and people handling the waste in the oil and gas industry. They were unnecessarily put at risk.

Ten years after the alarms first unsettled Quigley, fracking in Pennsylvania has continued to grow, generating huge volumes of oil and gas waste and wastewater in the process. Seventy-two percent of the solid waste ends up in landfills within state borders, and a truck carrying it sets off a radioactivity alarm every day on average, an Inside Climate News analysis found.

Radioactive elements such as radium, uranium, and thorium in rocks deep underground come to the surface as a byproduct of oil and gas drilling. Experts have long worried about the potential health and environmental impacts of this waste. Radium exposure is linked to an increased risk for cancer, anemia, and cataracts.

New research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that the wastewater created by fracking the Marcellus formation, the ancient gas deposit beneath Pennsylvania, is far more radioactive than previously understood. And there is also evidence that some of it is getting into the environment: Researchers have found radioactive sediment downstream from some landfills and wastewater treatment plants outfalls.

But the state has barely shifted its approach to regulating the waste. Nothing material has been done, said Quigley, who left in 2016. Nothing has really changed.

In 2023, radioactivity alarms were triggered more than 550 times at Pennsylvania landfills because of oil and gas waste, according to an analysis of landfills annual operations reports conducted by Inside Climate News. The vast majority of this waste was disposed of on-site; landfills rejected the waste only 11 times. Radium-226 was the most common isotope cited as the reason for the alarm.

DEP issued a new guidance document for solid waste facilities and well operators that handle radioactive materials in 2022, with some of the changes specifically aimed at the fracking industry. Landfills have been required to submit a Radiation Protection Action Plan to the state since 2001, covering protocols for worker safety, monitoring and detection, and records and reporting, and DEP may require sites to test regularly for the long-lasting radium-226 and radium-228 if they have received large volumes of radioactive oil and gas waste.

But DEP has fallen behind on many other aspects of regulating this waste.

In 2021, then-Gov. Tom Wolf said the state would require regular radium testing of landfills leachate, a liquid byproduct created when rainwater passes through waste, accumulating contamination. Wolfs announcement came more than five years after DEP had recommended adding radium to leachate testing requirements. But leachate testing results from 2021 through 2024 acquired by Inside Climate News via a right-to-know request do not contain results for radium.

In an email, DEP spokesperson Neil Shader said the agency does not currently require landfills to test for it. He did not explain why the policy has not yet been implemented.

DEP is still finalizing a policy around radiological material in leachate, he said.

Understanding the scope of the problem is difficult because Pennsylvanias tracking of oil and gas waste and leachate remains disorganized and piecemeal, an Inside Climate News investigation found. Landfills are supposed to turn away waste that is too radioactive based on the total volume of waste they have already accepted that quarter. If the volume estimates are inaccurate or misreported, it could mean that some sites are exceeding the allowable amounts.

Meanwhile, DEPs last comprehensive study of radioactivity in oil and gas waste is more than nine years old, even though the agency said at the time that follow-up investigations were needed. DEP confirmed to Inside Climate News that it is studying the radioactivity of landfill leachate but offered no timeline for publication.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry trade group, maintains that the solid waste and wastewater generated by fracking in Pennsylvania are well managed and pose no health risks to the public or workers. Landfill employees face less danger from oil and gas waste than someone getting a routine CT scan, the group argues, and landfill permits contain restrictions on how much oil and gas waste they can accept in any given year.

In a statement to Inside Climate News, the coalitions Patrick Henderson said there is no greater priority for the industry than worker and community safety, which is delivered through recurrent trainings, development and sharing of best practices, and strict adherence to modern regulatory standards.

Operators follow stringent protocols for handling, managing, and transporting waste  including radioactive screening, characterization, and reporting, he said.

The industry also frequently notes that DEPs 2016 investigation into radioactivity in oil and gas waste concluded that there is little or limited potential for radiation exposure to workers and the public from natural gas development.

Quigley called this study, the initial version of which was published just before he took office as DEP secretary, the big mistake, because in his view it falsely suggested that there was nothing to worry about.

He thought that another study was warranted to investigate the true scope of the issue, but he said he was not able to push forward a new one before he left office.

The study was limited in some ways by its size and distribution: Between 2013 and 2014, DEP sampled 38 well sites, only one in the northeast, which researchers now say is a radioactivity hot spot. Sixteen of the sampled sites were in the southwest.

David Allard was the lead health physicist overseeing the studys design and execution. He retired from DEP in 2022 after 23 years as the director of the Bureau of Radiation Protection, where he oversaw the management of radioactivity in the oil and gas industry. In 2001, he fought for the radiation protection plans and radioactivity monitoring at landfills that are required today.

These rules and Pennsylvanias rules for landfills in general are stricter than most other states, he said. Ohio, for instance, stopped requiring landfills to report on the oil and gas waste they accept.

Scientists learned about the radioactivity of oil and gas fields more than a century ago, not long after the discovery of radium in 1898. Waste predating the fracking era had been triggering radiation alarms in Pennsylvania landfills for years.

But the waste created by fracking is different from conventional drilling wastes. In the 2010s, as fracking increased oil and gas waste volumes, Allard wanted to investigate how radioactive it was and what possible dangers it might pose to the public and the environment.

The 2016 study concluded that the radioactivity levels found in the waste at the time posed little danger to truck drivers and workers. But it warned of potential radiological risks to the environment from spills, waste treatment facilities, and long-term disposal in landfills, a point that is often overlooked in summaries of the studys contents. All of these things remain a problem today, Allard said.

I fought very hard to get this thing going, he said of the study. I will stand behind all of the science. But he said that one of the reviewers, a political appointee, had argued for language in the synopsis that he felt obscured the nuances of the studys conclusions: little or limited potential for radiation exposure.

Its a true statement. But I think it did downplay the need for additional work, he said. Variations of this phrase appear at the beginning of each bullet point in the summary. Each one is followed by caveats.

DEP used computer modeling from Argonne National Laboratory to determine whether a closed landfill that had accepted this waste and other toxic material would still be dangerous to a farmer living on the site far into the future. Even 1,000 years from now, DEP found, a farmer digging a drinking well on top of such a site would not want to drink the water.

Its not going to be pretty, Allard said. Its not going to be very palatable.

Pennsylvanias guidance for how much radioactive oil and gas waste a landfill can accept each year, updated a few years into the fracking boom in the 2010s, is supposed to prevent the hypothetical future farmer from being exposed to harmful levels of radiation. But this guidance is not codified into law, Allard said. It also relies on regular radioactivity monitoring and accurate tracking of waste quantities at landfills.

Recent research from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh showing that radium is getting into the environment also concerned him. These radioactive discharges into waterways are unregulated, he said.

I think the EPA really needs to stand up, he added. In 2020, Allard was part of a committee formed by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements that highlighted the need for national, standardized regulations for oil and gas waste because the rules are so inconsistent among states.

Road-spreading, the practice of using salty oil and gas wastewater as a dust suppressant, is another area where he says the study could have done more to figure out how much radioactivity was ending up in the environment as a result. Although the state has largely banned the practice, there is evidence that companies continue it.

Landfills leachate also deserves more study, he said, and he sees testing it for radium and releasing the results to the public as an important step.

We tried to make it as comprehensive as possible, Allard said of the study. But I think it is timely to go back and visit some of these things.

Environmentalists have long clamored for an updated government study of radioactivity in oil and gas waste using more recent data. Pennsylvanias fracking industry is much larger and more geographically dispersed now than it was when the information for the first study was collected.

Forthcoming University of Pittsburgh research suggesting that oil and gas wastewater produced by fracking in Pennsylvania is more radioactive than previously thought involved samples from 561 well pads between 2012 and 2023. The wastewater contained much more radium than was found by studies early in the fracking boom.

The median radium values were four times the level of those published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2011 and twice that of DEPs findings in 2016, said Daniel Bain, an associate professor of geology and environmental science at the University of Pittsburgh who was involved in the research.

The maximum value that Bain found was above 41,000 picocuries per liter  a measure of radioactivity in a substance. For comparison, the EPAs limit on total radium in drinking water is 5 picocuries per liter.

Radium is a naturally occurring material, and surface and groundwater can contain between 0.01 and 25 picocuries per liter. Natural levels above 50 picocuries per liter are rare.

I think it necessitates a reevaluation of the kind of personal protection that specific jobs require. If youre in contact with this waste every day, you need to be monitored, Bain said. They probably also have to rethink how theyre going to manage their waste streams.

Bains research also found that radioactivity was far higher in the Marcellus formations wastewater than in wastewater from drilling in other parts of the country, including Texas and North Dakota.

He said that the finding echoes earlier industry realizations that the Marcellus is different from other natural gas formations. One of the first hard lessons of the Marcellus was that its not like some of the Texas shales. They came up here and tried to use the methods they used in Texas, and they had issues, he said. Theyre basically learning as theyre doing. Its a big experiment, and sometimes you wish you could redo the experiment.

Marcellus wastewater has higher than expected levels of barium, strontium, and lithium, a discovery that spurred industry interest in 2024 because of lithiums status as a critical mineral.

Wells in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania contained much higher concentrations of radium than others, suggesting that earlier conclusions based on drilling in the states southwestern region might be misleading.

Bains research did not focus on the radioactivity of solid oil and gas waste, the lions share of what Pennsylvania landfills take from the industry. But he did look at what kind of waste would be created if companies were to start treating Marcellus water with the goal of removing valuable components like lithium.

His analysis found that this process could create a solid, highly radioactive byproduct that would exceed U.S. Department of Transportation transport limits for radium in sludge. Although questions remain about the financial viability of extracting lithium from fracking wastewater, at least one company in Pennsylvania has already tried to do so.

In 2021, environmentalists were heartened when Wolf announced that landfills would be required to test their leachate for radium and report the results to the state quarterly. The new requirement would improve public confidence that public drinking water and our precious natural resources are being appropriately protected, Wolf said at the time.

Josh Shapiro, now governor and then attorney general, commended Wolfs announcement, which came after Shapiros office had urged Gov. Wolf to direct DEP to prevent harmful radioactive materials from entering Pennsylvania waterways.

The improved monitoring and promised analysis by DEP is a step in the right direction, Shapiro said at the time. Other states with active fracking, including North Dakota, West Virginia, and Colorado, require this kind of leachate testing.

John Stolz, a professor at Duquesne University who has studied oil and gas waste and fracking contamination for years, said he was very disappointed that DEP was still not requiring this testing or releasing it to the public.

We were told they were going to start monitoring for these additional parameters, and it just hasnt happened, he said.

Stolz would like DEP to go beyond radium and require testing at landfills for other oil- and gas-related substances that could help scientists better trace frackings impact, such as lithium, strontium, and bromide. Theyre still only monitoring parameters that you would monitor if you were looking at a discharge from, say, a wastewater treatment facility, he said.

Bain, who has collaborated with Stolz on research, said he has tried without success to get DEP to rethink the issue of its testing requirements missing many key indicators for fracking.

If you dont look, you dont see, he said. This is really something that DEP should be doing.

The radium levels Stolz has discovered in testing landfill leachate are relatively low, but not when considering the millions of gallons of leachate produced every year. Thats a lot of radium, Stolz said. It doesnt seem like a lot [at first], but then you realize the volumes involved, right? Its a huge amount of water going on for years and decades.

Radiums tendency to be sticky and to accumulate  in stream sediment, for example  could create problems over the long term for the environment and for public health, Stolz said.

Those most at risk from this radioactivity are the workers at landfills, wells, and treatment facilities that handle and transport large quantities of oil and gas waste. The levels can be high, said Sheldon Landsberger, a professor in nuclear and radiation engineering at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied the radioactivity of oil and gas waste. I would not say that they are dangerous levels, to the tune of Chernobyl or Fukushima or anything like that. However, if you are a worker and you do work in the field, you need to be monitored.

Landsberger reviewed records from Pennsylvania landfills that showed radioactivity measurements for truckloads of oil and gas waste coming in and for workers exposed to those shipments. They are definitely above background, he said, though none of the measurements are above the legal limits for radiation exposure.

Landsberger said it was hard to deduce much from the records about long-term impacts because there are too many unknowns about how the measurements were taken and what happened to the waste after it was disposed of in the landfill. This is why he advocates for workers wearing radiation dosimeters, which measure the radiation dose that a person receives.

Jack Kruell lives a quarter-mile south of the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill in Belle Vernon, a site in the southwestern part of the state that has taken hundreds of thousands of tons of oil and gas waste over the years. Stolzs testing of the landfills leachate in 2019 showed that it was consistent with contamination from oil and gas operations and that it had elevated levels of radium-226, radium-228, and bromide, all likely linked to the landfills acceptance of that waste. (Westmoreland did not respond to requests for comment.)

In 2012, when the fracking boom was well underway, Kruell noticed strange smells in the air. The odors were so horrific, and it was constant. I did some work for one of the oil and gas exploration companies, and I was familiar with smells, and this was not a normal landfill smell, he said.

Over the next few years, he experienced medical symptoms he hadnt before: fatigue, bone pain, respiratory reactions, mental fog. As the odors worsened, he avoided going outside. Later, when he got involved with advocating for changes at the landfill, Kruell learned about something that alarmed him even more: the radioactivity in the landfills liquid waste.

When you look at the half-life of radium-226, its 1,600 years, Kruell said. This is never going to go away.
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A Delaware firefighter who twice suffered a workplace injury has been denied workers compensation benefits for his second claim because of the way he settled his first claim.

He was denied compensation for the second injury because it was judged to be a recurrence of the earlier injury which he had agreed to settle by accepting a lump sum payment and releasing the workers compensation insurer from further liability.

The Delaware Supreme Court earlier this month upheld the denial of his claim. The court affirmed that under settled law, a recurrence of a work injury is compensable by the original carrier that covered that injury, while an aggravation of an injury caused by a second accident or event is compensable by the carrier that insured the employer at the time of the aggravation.

In 2015, while working for the Belvedere Fire Company, Corey Ferrell was involved in a motor vehicle crash, sustaining a compensable back injury. In 2018, he accepted a commutation of his claim by accepting a one-time lump sum payment and releasing the insurer for Belvedere from further liability.

In 2023, Ferrell injured his back again. This time, working for the Wilmington Fire Department, he was on a call at a high-rise apartment building. He said that he felt a pop in his back when he was ascending stairs to bring special equipment in a high-rise pack weighing 3040 pounds to a fellow firefighter. A follow-up MRI showed disc bulges, herniations, and a disc protrusion in the same anatomical area as the 2015 injury.

Wilmington FD denied Ferrells claim for workers compensation and the parties submitted the disputed claim to the Industrial Accident Board (IAB).

The IAB found that the 2023 incident did not aggravate the 2015 injury and did not cause a new, separately compensable injury to Ferrell. The IAB noted that a comparison of Ferrells MRIs showed the expected progression of spinal deterioration from the 2015 injury, and that the act of walking up the stairs carrying the high-rise packs was not enough to create a genuine intervening event.

The IAB concluded that the 2023 incident was a recurrence of Ferrells 2015 injury rather than an aggravation of that injury. The IAB therefore held that liability for the 2023 incident would remain under the 2015 claim incurred while he was at Belvedere and denied Ferrells petition for workers compensation coverage from the Wilmington FD.

Effectively, the responsible insurer for what was determined to be a recurrence of his back injury was the insurer for Belvedere.that was released from responsibility by the commutation that resolved his first claim.

Ferrell appealed the IABs decision to the Superior Court. The Superior Court affirmed the IABs findings. The case rose on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court which earlier this month agreed with the lower court and IAB.

On appeal, Ferrell urged the court to reverse on two grounds. First, he contended that the IAB used the wrong standard when it applied the aggravation versus recurrence analysis announced in Standard Distributing Co. v. Nally. Ferrell argued that the 2023 incident was an untoward and intervening event that created a separate compensable injury.

Second, Ferrell argued that the IABs decision was not supported by substantial evidence.

However, the high court concluded the Superior Court and the IAB applied the correct standard and that the IABs decision was supported by substantial evidence. The court therefore affirmed the denial.

According to the court, in most instances, the distinction between a recurrence and an aggravation simply apportions liability between carriers and does not result in a lapse of coverage for a worker. But because Ferrell commuted his first claim and released Belvedere from further liability, he could not recover unless the 2023 injury was an aggravation caused by a second event.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent
A suspected cyberattack disrupted services provided by French postal service La Poste on Monday, delaying package deliveries and online payment systems during the holiday season.

The company said in a statement that a major network incident had disrupted its information systems, which included services operated by its online banking arm, La Banque Postale and the laposte.fr website, which displayed a message stating that it was currently unavailable. Services may be temporarily disrupted at some post offices, it said.

A spokesperson for La Poste told French news outlet BFMTV that the outage was due to a distributed denial-of-service attack, or DDoS, a kind of cyberattack that floods websites or servers with traffic in order to overwhelm them and force them offline.

La Poste did not immediately respond to a message from Bloomberg News seeking comment.

In a November press release, La Poste said it was anticipating handling nearly 180 million parcels through November and December during the peak season for its deliveries.

Hackers are known to have targeted mail services in the past. In 2023, a criminal group used ransomware to shut down computers operated by the UKs Royal Mail, causing significant disruption to deliveries of international packages.

Photograph: Packages on a conveyor belt at a La Poste SA sorting facility in France. Photo credit: Cyril Marcilhacy/Bloomberg

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber France
Despite criticism that they were acting too fast, state utility regulators last week approved DTE Energys proposal to supply power for Michigans first hyperscale data center  while tacking on a host of conditions that aim to protect ratepayers from subsidizing the facility.

The approval, made over shouts of disapproval from onlookers gathered in a Lansing conference room, drew cheers from business interests and ire from skeptics who had called for a deeper public review of the 19-year deal.

Defending the decision, Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps told the gathered crowd that after reviewing them in detail, I would put the contracts that are in front of us today on par or better with any that have been approved in the country.

He and other commissioners said they had concluded the deal would save ratepayers money and would not sacrifice energy reliability.

But a wave of public speakers lined up to condemn the vote, raising concerns about lost farmland and habitat, rising power rates, climate pollution from fossil fuels used to power the facilities and additional pollution from the water used to cool servers.

We wont be happy, I suppose, until the Great Lakes run dry, until the farmlands all are gone, until all the air is polluted, said Tim Bruneau, a Saline Township resident who has vocally opposed the 1.4-gigawatt facility planned by tech firms Oracle, OpenAI and Related Digital.

And guess what happens when that happens? Were extinct.

The decision paves the way for tech firms OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital to team up on Michigans first hyperscale data center, a $7 billion Stargate facility where massive buildings full of computer servers will train artificial intelligence models on a 575-acre site south of Ann Arbor in Saline Township.

In a statement, DTE spokesperson Ryan Lowry lauded the commissions order, saying the contracts protect our customers  including ensuring that there will be no stranded assets  while enabling Michigans growth.

Supporters of the project have hailed it as an economic development win for the state that will produce millions annually in taxes and 450 permanent jobs. Opponents contend thats not a sufficient return, citing the risks that energy-hungry data centers could pose to Michigans environment and energy grid.

The facilities are massive energy users  the Stargate projects expected 1.4 gigawatts of demand is equivalent to that of a large American city.

The commissions decision came amid anxiety that residential ratepayers could wind up subsidizing the substations, poles, wires, battery storage facilities and other infrastructure needed to deliver all that power.

But commissioners agreed with DTEs conclusion that the deal with Oracle subsidiary Green Chile Ventures would actually save ratepayers $300 million annually, by tapping the tech firm to pay for battery storage and other costs to connect it to the grid.

That is a real cost savings at a time when affordability is so important, said commissioner Katherine Peretick.

The decision comes weeks after DTE filed a proposed contract with the MPSC, asking regulators to quickly approve the terms without a public hearing. Such ex-parte decisions are allowed when a contract wont affect other utility customers rates

But Attorney General Dana Nessel and other skeptics of the deal had called for a deeper review, contending that the publicly visible version of DTEs proposed deal was so heavily redacted, it was impossible to vet DTEs claims of affordability.

Strings attached

Commissioners tacked on a host of conditions to their approval, giving DTE 30 days to agree to them. Among the most significant, DTE must agree to absorb the financial hit if, for whatever reason, the projected $300 million cost savings fails to materialize.

If the affordability analysis turns out to be overly optimistic for any reason, DTE bears the responsibility of any extra costs, Peretick said.

Other requirements include:

1. In the event of an electricity shortage, the data center must be curtailed before other electric customers.

2. DTE must file a host of documents showing how it will pay for data center related costs without subsidies from other customers. That includes renewable energy that, under Michigans clean energy law, must eventually be installed to serve the facility.

3. Within 90 days, DTE must file an application for a standard rate structure applying to major power users like hyperscale data centers, which would eliminate the need for one-off contract requests like the one DTE filed for the Stargate project.

4. DTE must file quarterly reports tracking the data centers power demand and an annual report assessing Green Chiles finances.

Scripps said the contract terms and additional conditions set by commissioners led us to believe that we could meet the standard of reasonableness and in the public interest.

The data centers projected power demand would increase DTEs electric load by 25%. DTE officials plan to absorb that surge without building new power plants. Instead, the utility will buy energy on the open market and get more use out of its existing power plants, including using them to charge the batteries during off-peak hours when other customers arent using much energy.

DTE has told investors it aims to bring on as much as 8.4 gigawatts of total data center load in the coming years, a projection that would nearly double the utilitys total power demand.

Consumers Energy, meanwhile, is projecting 2.65 gigawatts in new demand from data centers by 2035, a 35% increase in peak demand.

Concerns that the utilities could pollute or overtax Michigans water and electricity systems have resulted in bipartisan pushback, including a new bill to repeal the recently enacted tax exemptions that have lured the industry to Michigan.

Industry supporters, meanwhile, contend Michigan risks falling behind economically if it refuses to host the booming hyperscale industry. While data centers provide few jobs, they contend the facilities are the lynchpin of a broader tech economy in which Michigan is struggling to compete.

Michigan needs to decide if it wants to participate in the 21st Century economy, or rest on those who came before us and spend that wealth down, said Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah. He cast it as a race in which Michigan already has ground to make up.

Since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a 6% sales and use tax exemption that could save hyperscale facilities millions if not tens of millions annually, Michigans publicly announced hyperscale proposals have skyrocketed from zero to at least 15.

Some localities have enacted moratoriums on data center development, looking to buy time to craft regulations governing noise, road setbacks and other concerns about the facilities. In Saline Township, meanwhile, a resident has filed a legal intervention seeking to block the Stargate project over allegations that township officials violated the Open Meetings Act when they approved a legal settlement that made way for the development.

In addition to the utility contracts, developers need permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to install diesel-powered backup generators and begin construction activities that would impact wetlands and the Saline River.

___

This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Michigan
CRC Specialty, an independent wholesale specialty insurance distributor, named two new brokers in its Southeast operations.

Ron Bussey will be a senior broker based in Nashville, focused on casualty insurance placements for large and middle-market clients, the company said in a news release. He has more than 25 years of experience in the business, including management of programs and placements in multiple industries.

Alan Renfroe joined CRCs Birmingham office as a broker for professional lines in the city and will oversee growth in that area. Renfroe has some 15 years experience in specialty insurance.

CRC said it now has more than 5,500 team members across North America.

Topics Agencies
Its an age-old question that continues to come up for workers compensation insurers around the country: When is an injury an aggravation of an existing condition, and when is it compensable, perhaps requiring expensive surgery and more?

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday weighed in on the question, finding that a truck driver was due knee-replacement surgery after a minor accident  despite her pre-existing arthritis in both knees. The court overturned the Tennessee Workers Compensation Appeals Board and reinstated a lower courts award of medical coverage and disability benefits to the driver.

The Supreme Court justices held that an aggravation injury under workers compensation law does not require proof of a permanent change or a permanent worsening of conditions to be compensable. Instead, an aggravation injury is compensable when an employee shows, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that the aggravation injury primarily arose out of and in the course and scope of employment.

The ruling means that, under state statutes and previous court rulings, the employee must prove that the aggravation contributed at least 50% to the disablement or need for medical treatment, Justice Mary Wagner wrote in the Dec. 22 opinion in Jo Carol Edwards v. Peoplease.

The disagreement began in 2020, when the truck Edwards was driving blew a tire and crashed into a bridge. Her knees struck a panel under the dashboard, the court explained. It wasnt until a month later that Edwards said she felt pain and stiffness in both knees.

Under Tennessee comp law, the employer provides the names of three treating physicians, and the employee chooses one. Edwards chosen physician, an orthopedic surgeon, found that she had arthritis and that the work accident was not responsible for her knee injury. A second doctor found a fracture in her left knee that he said resulted from the truck accident.

That second physician, Dr. Timothy Sweo, recommended total knee replacement for her left knee, a surgery she received a few months later.

At a Court of Workers Compensation Claims hearing, judges observed Edwards limping and using a cane, and found her testimony credible, the Supreme Court noted. Dr. Sweo testified that replacements of both knees were needed and were most likely greater than 51% caused by the accident.

The comp court also found that the first treating physician, Dr. Jason Hutchinson, misinterpreted Tennessee comp law by concluding that the exacerbation of an existing condition was not compensable.

The compensation court judges ordered Peoplease to reimburse the cost of Edwards left knee replacement, authorize the right knee replacement, pay past and ongoing temporary total disability benefits, and reimburse her for mileage, the high court explained.

Peoplease appealed and the Workers Compensation Appeals Board reversed the lower court, denied most benefits for Edwards and remanded the case to the lower court for further action. On remand, the comp court heard from other doctors who performed independent medical examinations (IMEs) and who disagreed on the extent of the accident-caused injuries.

On final appeal, the state Supreme Court overruled the Appeals Board: Upon review, we agree with the Trial Court that Ms. Edwards met her burden of showing permanent total disability, the justices wrote. The doctor she had hired in a second IME appeared to be most convincing by noting that the woman had no history of limited range of motion or knee pain prior to the accident.

We conclude that the evidence does not preponderate against the finding of the Trial Court that Ms. Edwards is permanently and totally disabled, the justices wrote. Accordingly, we reinstate the Trial Courts determination on this issue.

The 18-page opinion can be seen here.

Topics Personal Auto
Regular inspections of hotels and other accommodations required by the state of Hawaii are being inconsistently carried out by most county fire departments.

Three people died in two structure fires in Hilo on Hawaii island in October and November in a downtown hotel and in a factory illegally converted to rentals, neither of which had ever been inspected, according to the county. Those buildings fall into the category for which state law calls for fire inspections at least every five years, with corrective actions issued where necessary.

In reality, staffing and resource limitations mean that all of the states county fire prevention bureaus only inspect a fraction of the states accommodations, leaving visitors and residents at risk. Hawaii County, for example, has three inspectors to oversee fire safety standards of an estimated 14,600 rental rooms spread out over 4,000 square miles.

Annual inspections are mandatory in some other states, including California and Missouri. But with no statutory requirement for annual inspections of Hawaiis 1,700 registered hotels, motels or lodging houses, only one county  Maui  says it has been doing so since 2023.

Even so, Maui, like other counties in Hawaii, was unable to say exactly how many hotels have been inspected this year when Civil Beat requested a breakdown.

And while the appointment of the new state fire marshal  who will build a team of state inspectors  is a step in the right direction, the problem will not be addressed in the short-to-medium term, the late Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd said in a phone interview three days before his unexpected death on Sunday at age 45.

The system needs to be improved, and county fire prevention bureaus need to be better funded, Todd told Civil Beat.

The governors director of communications, Makana McClellan, said the State Fire Marshals office is moving toward a major overhaul of the states fire inspection regime.

Initially, a statewide community-risk assessment process will identify target hazards and risk concentrations, she said in an email, including hotels, motels and other lodgings. The frequency of safety inspections, she said, would then be based on that risk and other factors, rather than solely on complaints, requests or historical practice.

But establishing that new benchmark will take about a year to complete, McClellan estimated, and then will require continual reevaluation.

Fires And Losses on the Rise

A register of Hawaii accommodations maintained by the U.S. General Services Administration currently says that 18%  293  of Hawaiis registered hotels, motels and other accommodation businesses are complying with federal fire safety standards that require alarms, sprinklers, voice communication systems and visible emergency plans.

That leaves hundreds of hotels, motels and hostels  which provide an estimated 110,000 rooms in Hawaii, according to Hawaii Tourism Authority data  that may not meet national standards.

The tourism authority data does not include the estimated 31,000 private vacation properties rented through Airbnb. Private vacation rentals by owners must comply with residential zoning and fire codes but are not subject to fire department inspections.

While fires and related losses in Hawaii have steadily increased over the last decade, according to the 2024 State of Hawaii Data Book, they have largely plateaued elsewhere in the country over the same period, the National Fire Protection Association found.

Statewide, the most recent available data shows the number of building fires has increased by two-thirds since 2014, to 5,019 from 2,995  more than half of them in Honolulu. Building fires killed an average of six people per year between 2014 and 2024, not including those who died in the Maui wildfires.

Todd, who was a former fire inspector and chaired the State Fire Council at the time of his death, said many properties in Hawaii lack fire protection systems such as sprinkler systems or hardwired smoke alarms and the fire departments dont know what they dont know.

And he said that Hawaiis rapidly aging housing stock, with a median age of 46 years, means that the fire risks that accompany old dwellings are only going to increase, including those used as accommodations.

The Reality of Inspections

Hawaii Revised Statute 132-6 specifies an inspection schedule. It requires county fire departments to inspect public schools once a year and all other buildings, premises and public thoroughfares for fire risks at least once every five years, or as often as deemed practicable or necessary.

But on the Big Island, those non-annual inspections are primarily complaint- or request-driven, county spokesperson Tom Callis said.

Callis said in an email that the three Hawaii Fire Department inspectors had conducted 227 property inspections between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, but could not provide details on the type. There are 481 registered accommodation businesses alone on Big Island.

Todd confirmed that neither the Wild Ginger Inn where one person died in October, nor the old Puueo Poi Factory in Hilo where two died last month, were among the structures inspected. Neither, he said, had been the subject of formal complaints either.

The state grants county fire chiefs broad authority to enter properties and issue enforcement actions and Todd said inspections on the Big Island can also be triggered by building or changes-in-occupancy permits.

The department does its best to get out and inspect as many places as possible, Todd said, but driving down the dirt road, to see if that old warehouse has been converted, that may never happen.

In the case of the two recent Hilo fires, the permit triggers that could have led to inspections never happened.

County records show that the most recent permitted work at the 114-year-old Wild Ginger Inn at 100 Puueo St. was completed in July 1990, and the most recent permitted work at 245-D Kekuanaoa St. at the old Puueo Poi Factory was completed in July 1998.

The Puuo Poi factory, located in an industrial area adjoining a state recreation area, was illegally converted into short-term accommodation after the death of its original longtime owner in 2017, Todd said.

Investigations into the fires are ongoing and investigators are still waiting on DNA analysis to confirm the identities of the three victims of both fires, Hawaii Police Department spokesperson Denise Laitinen said via email. The department previously reported that the victims of the poi factory fire were two women, one 56 years old and the other 72. No details have been released about the victim of the Wild Ginger fire.

Attempts to reach the owners of Wild Ginger Inn, a limited liability company registered in Washington state, and the owners of the old Puueo Poi Factory were unsuccessful. Records show that the registered owner of the building, Marie A.P. Sajulga of Honolulu died in April 2023.

County Inspection Schedules Vary

A request for updates from county departments indicates that inspections are occurring on a variety of schedules and none of the departments were able to provide a detailed breakdown of the precise type of properties inspected this year.

Annual inspections of hotels by the Maui Fire Department started in 2023, after the devastating wildfires. These inspections are carried out between January and March, according to department spokesperson Christopher Stankis.

In addition to the annual school inspections, he said other high-hazard buildings like theaters and arenas are inspected every year. Buildings with fire sprinklers and alarm systems not in the annual group are inspected every two years, and all other facilities are inspected every five years.

Maui has five dedicated fire inspectors and will add another three in January, Stankis said. Inspectors have conducted 528 inspections so far this year but the county did not have a record of how many of those covered the 435 registered accommodations, not including private rentals.

With four inspectors, Kauai inspections occur as resources and public safety priorities allow, with the five-year minimum as the baseline for inspections and more frequent visits where appropriate, Kauai Fire Department Prevention Bureau Captain Justin Kinoshita said in an email.

While there isnt a fixed biennial or annual schedule set for every business, the Kauai bureau works to inspect facilities on a regular basis and prioritizes inspections based on risk and operational planning, Kinoshita said.

Kauai has completed 182 inspections this year and there are 441 registered accommodation businesses in that county.

The Honolulu Fire Department complies with the statutory requirements of annual inspections for public schools, and the five-year minimum for other structures including hotels, motels or lodging houses, HFD spokesperson Captain Jaimie Song said in an email.

The department can inspect more often based on complaints or requests, Song said.

There are 23 people assigned to fire prevention on Oahu, including five fire captains.

Oahu has 356 registered accommodation sites, not including short-term-rentals. Larger sites such as resorts provide half of the 110,000 rooms available statewide.

Honolulu inspectors have completed 11,200 inspections of all types this year, Song said, plus visual inspections made from the outside, without entering buildings.

Wildfires Not the Only Issue

State Fire Marshal Dori Booth, whose appointment in June revived a public safety role that had been missing from the state for over 45 years, was not available for an interview, McClellan said in an email.

Hired in the wake of the Maui wildfires, amid renewed awareness that the state has underinvested in fire preparedness, Booth is tasked with implementing a shopping list of recommendations that grew from investigations into the wildfires.

But wildfires wont be all that the office has to address, as the legislation that reestablishes the office also requires her to eventually take over responsibility for conducting inspections of all state facilities, except state-owned airports which are inspected by the state aircraft fire-fighting unit.

Booths office will provide support to county departments, but also apply oversight to ensure they are complying with the state fire code. County chiefs are now also required to submit annual reports on any potential fire risks in their jurisdictions to the fire marshals office.

McClellan said that an overarching objective of Booths office was to align Hawaiis fire prevention practices, including inspections, with National Fire Prevention Standard 1730. That would provide a nationally-recognized framework for prioritizing inspections, she said, using a risk-based methodology rather than a one-size-fits-all inspection frequency.

Todd said that a key motivation for him in helping to reestablish the role of the state fire marshal was to provide an enforcement arm for fire safety in all state facilities, particularly public schools.

The annual inspections of public schools have regularly turned up issues with the fire protection systems, including faulty alarms and broken alarm systems that have not been replaced.

So the big pitch for me was that even though we were inspecting some buildings, we werent even able to fix the problems there and these buildings had all of our kids inside of them, he said.

The only problem, Todd said last week, is that the state currently doesnt have any of its own fire inspectors.

Booths office is currently budgeted for $2.2 million for fiscal year 2026 and 2027. According to a November 2024 report by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, that level of funding would only fund one fire prevention officer and two fire inspectors.

If fully funded, at between $4.3 million and $6.4 million-a-year, the fire marshals office would bump up to four fire prevention officers and eight fire inspectors.

Booths future goals will rely heavily on the ability to gain the budgetary support and approval at all levels, McClellan said, to recruit, train, and retain qualified individuals to maintain a proactive, forward-leaning Fire Prevention program.

Disastrous Fire Prompted Reform in California

California has required county fire departments to conduct annual inspections of hotels, motels and other lodging since 2018.

The legislation came two years after a warehouse fire in Oakland, California killed 36 people. The exact cause of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire  named after the illegally converted work and living space  was never determined, but faulty wiring is believed to have been a factor.

The California Office of the State Fire Marshal did not respond to a request for an interview about how well the program is working, but reporting shows that even large departments there struggle to meet annual requirements.

The San Diego Tribune reported in May that 3,600 residential buildings and hotels and 76 private and public schools there either had no inspection record, or had not been inspected since 2023. The reporting did not specify the number of hotels on that list.

At the Hawaii State Insurance Commission, spokesperson William Nhieu responded via email on behalf of Commissioner Scott Saiki, saying that from an insurance perspective, fire safety inspections play an important role in risk assessment and loss prevention, particularly for hotels, motels, and lodging houses that serve the public.

When inspections are inconsistent or infrequent, Nhieu wrote, insurers may perceive increased risk, which can impact the availability, scope, and cost of insurance coverage.

This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Curating a boutique museum in your own home is a fantasy most avid collectors can only dream about.

But David Edwards has managed to do just that with his hugely impressive military collection which includes everything from a Chinese policemans hat to Blackadder dioramas.

He has now lost count of the the total number items in the collection, but a cursory glance suggests they number in the thousands.

The Aladdins Cave in his Youghal home, which he shares with wife Anne, might be the best kept secret in Co Cork.

However, David, who is originally from London, is glad to finally be able to share his pride and joy with the world.

HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading

The toy soldiers were made by the former security worker himself and vary in their expressions, uniforms, and poses.

The 69-year-olds attention to detail is such that even the war wounds are horrifically lifelike.

Historical accuracy

With each figure more animated than the last, one almost expects Davids models to break free from their brightly-lit glass cases.

Much of his collection has been crafted from scratch in order to capture an uncanny historical accuracy.

Some people have an interest in model trains. Other collectors like doll houses. My passion is capturing history using tiny people.

The grandfather wants his soldiers, which all vary in stature, to be as true to life as possible.

A close-up reveals the extraordinary craftsmanship of David Edwards, with fine paintwork bringing life and realism to a tiny military figure. Picture: Chani Anderson

Anyone fighting would have seen that detail up close. When killing a man in any of the Roman battles, soldiers would have been close enough to smell the garlic off their enemys breath.

"There was no long way of killing someone as the death was by a gladius  a Roman sword favoured by Roman legionaries.

War medals and a bottle of wine from Colditz Castle are among the collectors quirkier pieces. Items from uniforms representing armies throughout history are also on display  including Adolf Hitler's Schutzstaffel, better known as the SS.

David is equally fascinated by Nazi hunters, with one of his most prized possessions a signature of the most famous Nazi hunter of them all, Simon Wiesenthal.

Born on December 31, 1908, Wiesenthal dedicated his life to bringing fugitive nazis to justice, having miraculously survived the Janowska, the Krakow-Plaszow and the Gross-Rosen concentration camps.

He also lived through a death march to Chemnitz, Buchenwald, and the Mauthausen concentration camp.

I bought this from a dealers in London 15 years ago, David tells the Irish Examiner.

It was important to me that I bought it from a dealers and not online to ensure the signature is genuine.

"This is his signature from the institution he ran to hunt down Nazi criminals.

Chinese policeman's hat

Certain collectors items conjure up fond memories for David.

David Edwards's Youghal home houses thousands of hand-crafted and historically researched models spanning centuries of conflict. Picture: Chani Anderson

Theres a very nice story behind the Chinese policemans hat. I was on a boat going down the Yangtze River during a holiday in China 20 years ago.

"One night I was drinking with some of the Chinese policemen who came on board to do security checks. I told one of the men that I thought his hat looked very smart and asked if I could buy it.

"I realised then that he didnt speak English so I gestured to his hat and showed him some money. He shook his head so I left it at that.

"The next night my friend commented on how drunk I was the night before and asked me if I remembered trying to buy a policemans hat. That was when I saw the six policemen. They ushered me down the stairs.

"At that moment I thought I was done for until I spotted my policeman friend from the night before. He handed me one of their hats and they all smiled, as if to say this was a present from them.

"I was so touched because they refused to take any money from me. It was a moment Ill always remember.

David has also created dioramas for museums in addition to private collections.

Ive done quite a few commissions. One man asked me to do the execution of James Connolly who was killed in Kilmainham Gaol for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising. It took me a while but it got done.

"Someone else asked for the ambush in Beal na Blath in miniature.

No matter how specific the request is, my answer is invariably always yes. Men of a certain age have disposable incomes so they are usually the type of customers who reach out to me.

David dedicates hours of research for his commissions.

Some of the hand-crafted and historically researched models. Picture: Chani Anderson

If someone tells me they would like the optio from the Roman army, who would have been the sergeant major of his day, then Ill be sure to do my research accordingly.

"The most famous Legion was Caesars 10th legion. They were formed in Spain which is why the soldiers have bulls on their shields. I was conducting thorough research into these things long before the witchcraft of the internet.

"I get great satisfaction out of researching and making things come together.

David's collection dates back to humble beginnings.

For me it all started in a famous shop in London called Tradition. Ive kept the magazine they produced as part of my collection because it reminds me of my early days. It was a very high-class shop at the time.

"I was 12-years-old when the owner asked me if I was going to buy a soldier. I told him that I had no money so he gave me one for free under the condition that I returned the following week and told him how I got on with it.

"I painted it and personally thought it looked rubbish.

"However, when I showed it to the owner he asked me to come and work for him. Ive been interested ever since.

"I learned a lot in that shop, particularly about the myths surrounding military history. Take for example the British army. When Oliver Cromwell formed the new model army he went with red for the uniform.

Scenes and figures from the vast military collection. Picture: Chani Anderson

"A lot of people believe that red was selected to hide the blood but the truth was it was just more cost-effective as this was the cheapest coloured fabric.

Fictional legends

David is also a fan of fictional legends including Edmund Blackadder who is immortalised in one of his dioramas.

The comedy Blackadder, which aired on BBC1 between 1983 and 1989 and starred Rowan Atkinson, was set in a number of different historical periods during the course of its television run.

This was originally meant to be a World War One officer, David says, referring to one diorama, but I decided to put a moustache on him to make him a bit black Blackadderish and that was how it began.

David Edwards stands amid his vast military collection in his Youghal home, holding one of his characterful Blackadder-inspired figures. Picture: Chani Anderson

Other dioramas aim to capture a moment in time.

The one depicting a soldier having his picture taken is quite significant. During World War One the average working man wouldnt have owned a camera.

"This was a luxury only enjoyed by upper middle class people. During this time they would set up a tent where soldiers would stand and have their pictures taken to send home to their mothers.

Davids war medals are especially close to his heart.

The medals from a man who was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme back in 1916 are a very important part of my collection. I bought these along with the widows penny that would have been issued by the government to his next-of-kin.

"I have these out of interest more than anything else. This man  John Tullett Townend  gave his life in World War One at the age of just 19. I never want him forgotten which is a huge apart of why these keepsakes are so valuable to me.
Universities have identified at least 416 suspected cases where students may have used AI to gain an advantage in exams or assessments.

However, gaps remain, as a number of higher education institutions still do not record instances of suspected AI misuse as a standalone figure.

The University of Galway identified 298 cases where AI was suspected to have been used by students to cheat.

It is one of the only universities to collect specific data on cheating with AI, Freedom of Information documents show.

In 2024, the university identified four suspected cases of contract cheating, which is when a student uses an undeclared or unauthorised third party to assist them to produce work for academic credit.

Since 2024, the university recorded 142 cases where a student was suspected for plagiarising work for their assignments.

Following initial investigations, a further 285 cases of suspected cheating were confirmed by the university. This included 285 cases of AI being used to cheat.

No students were expelled as a result of academic misconduct during official university examinations, the records show.

University College Cork (UCC) first started to formally record unauthorised use of AI in the 2023/24 academic year.

It recorded 38 cases of unauthorised use in the academic year 2023/24, and a further 22 in 2024/25.

No records are available yet for the current academic year, it said.

UCC distinguishes between academic misconduct and exam breaches, handling each under different policies.

Prior to the 2024/25 academic year, academic misconduct was more generally referred to as plagiarism at UCC.

Since 2021, the college has recorded 105 exam breaches, generally recorded during invigilated examinations.

Each school at UCC has discretion to deal with suspected cases of plagiarism and other academic misconduct at local level, according to the university.

Since 2020, at least 467 students have been found to have breached academic standards, either through plagiarism or academic misconduct.

However, this data only comes from a handful of schools, as there previously was no requirement for them to report cases centrally with the university.

The marking of final assessments for the 2024/25 academic year is also still ongoing for masters level students, and the final results for some students will not be ratified by an exam board until January 2026.

No UCC students have been expelled because of plagiarism or academic misconduct or an exam breach.

However, 105 cases have proceeded to disciplinary action, with 68 students receiving warnings from the college.

A further 36 students were sanctioned by the college.

At Munster Technological University (MTU) 274 students have been suspected of academic misconduct across its Cork and Kerry campuses since 2019.

Examples of this included the use of unauthorised material during an exam, such as notes or mobile phones, as well as plagiarism.

Records released by Trinity College Dublin show the college does not categorise AI misuse specifically relating to AI when recording cases of academic misconduct.

The university began piloting new academic misconduct procedures in 2023.

Its annual report for that year found the number of reported academic misconduct cases recorded "significantly increased especially when compared with a decline in previous years.

The report noted how the move to remote learning during the covid-19 pandemic, and the development of AI tools accentuated the need for the development of policies and practices to robustly address the challenges posed to preserving the academic integrity of assessments.

In the academic year 2023/24, 160 instances were recorded, compared to 31 in 2022/23, and 74 in 2021/22.

TCD categorises academic misconduct into four categories. This included 97 cases of poor academic practice or conduct, 48 cases of minor academic misconduct, and 13 cases of major academic misconduct.

The largest proportion of cases of misconduct continues to be seen in a small number of programmes and is limited to certain programmes in specific faculties, the report noted.

There was also a total of 55 cases of examination infringements recorded among undergraduate students in 2023/24.

The Office of the Junior Dean stated that these minor infringements consisted of possessing a mobile phone or smart device in an exam.

In 2024, academic integrity descriptions at the university were also updated to specify that unauthorised use of Generative AI is considered a misconduct.

At the Royal College of Surgeons, 51 students have been suspected of cheating in exams since 2021.

A further 96 cases students have been suspected of plagiarising work for their assignments.

Since 2023, there have been 43 cases where AI was suspected to have been used by students to cheat.

Of these, 36 cases were recorded in 2025 alone.

No RCSI students have been expelled in connection with suspected academic misconduct.

At Maynooth University, 84 students have been suspected of cheating in exams since 2022.

Almost 420 students have been suspected of plagiarising their work at the university between 2021 and 2025.

Of this, 64 cases proceeded to disciplinary action. Although one student was suspended for a fixed period, no expulsions were recorded at the university.

At Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, there have been three cases of suspected use of AI to cheat.

There were also 12 instances where AI was suspected to have been used by students to cheat at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).

In instances where a lecturer has a suspicion of AI usage, the student is spoken to and asked to resubmit the work.

A spokesperson for the Department of Further and Higher Education said academic integrity is a matter for individual higher education institutions with the support of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

The National Academic Integrity Network has developed guidelines on academic integrity and generative AI.

The Higher Education Authority is developing a policy framework on Generative AI in higher education, which will soon be published, the spokesperson added.

This will provide guidance to colleges and ensure learners are supported to study and learn in environments where generative AI is used responsibly.
A motorist was caught speeding at 168km/h in a 100km/h zone in Co Wexford, as gardai attempt to clamp down on speeding.

Some 1038 vehicles have been found travelling above the speed limit on National Slowdown Day. Of these detections, 377 drivers were intercepted by gardai.

The campaign, which started at midnight on Tuesday, will run for 24 hours with the aim of promoting "safer driving" and reducing speed-related collisions across the country.

Some of the high speeds detected by gardai include:

168 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N30 Coolamurry, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

163 km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M6 Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath

156 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N11 Kereight, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford

148 km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M4 Kilmore, Enfield, Co. Kildare

139 km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the Dublin Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow

121 km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R478 Derreen (Ed Ballysteen), Liscannor, Co. Clare

121 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the R173 Rockmarshall, Jenkinstown, Co. Louth

120 km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the N52 Mounthenry, Birr, Co. Offaly

119 km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Drummartin Link Road, Dublin 14, Co. Dublin

Motorists are being warned that driving above the legal speed limit or at a speed unsuitable for current road, weather or traffic conditions not only "endangers the driver but also puts other road users at significant risk".

"Excessive speed reduces a drivers ability to respond to unexpected hazards and increases the likelihood of losing control, which can result in serious or fatal collisions," a garda spokesperson said.

"Speeding can have devastating consequences  not just for the driver, but for other innocent road users. The faster a vehicle is travelling, the more severe the impact in the event of a collision."

It follows an increase in the number of road fatalities in 2025. According to Garda statistics, 186 people have died on Irish roads this year, 19 more than this time last year.

It comes as senior gardai said they are "very worried" at the surge in arrests of the number of people who are driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and that "people are not listening" to the Christmas road safety campaign.
The minutes silence in Peacekeepers Square in Camp Shamrock on Saturday afternoon seemed all the more profound as it was accompanied by a low burble from the squares fountain and a distant hum, probably signifying a snooping Israeli drone.

The national flag flew at half-mast in the sunlight, and the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, stood stock still, while around the square soldiers and civilians remembered the Irish citizens who have died serving as United Nations peacekeepers over the past seven decades.

Mr Martin laid a wreath and the Last Post played. Fr Declan Shannon, Camp Shamrocks chaplain, said that to remember the selflessness of those who gave their lives in the cause of peacekeeping was not only noble, but sacred.

Foremost in the thoughts of many there was 24-year-old Private Sean Rooney, killed three years ago this month when the convoy he was travelling in came under fire from Hezbollah militants.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin laying a wreath in Peacekeepers' Square in Camp Shamrock. Photograph: Irish Defence Forces

Every month, a minutes silence is held at Peacekeepers Square, and the names of those whose anniversaries fall that month are read aloud.

As well as Sean Rooney, other names were listed by Fr Shannon: Corporal Thomas Reynolds,35, who died on Christmas Eve, 1987; and Pte John Marshall, 20, who died on December 17, 1980. Pte William OBrien, 25, died on December 6, 1986, and his grandnephew is currently serving in Camp Shamrock. Cpl Martin Tynan, 30, died on December 13, 1992, and his son Martin is also serving on the current mission in Lebanon.

It is 67 years since Ireland first contributed peacekeeping troops to the United Nations, when, in June 1958, 50 Irish officers were deployed to the UN observer group in Lebanon. Since then, 88 Irish soldiers and one member of An Garda Siochana have given their lives in the service of peace overseas, 48 of them in Lebanon.

Tens of thousands of members of the Irish Defence Forces have served with Unifil (United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon) since it was established in 1978, with 366 troops currently serving in Camp Shamrock.

Officially designated UN base UNP 2-45, Camp Shamrock is situated about 7km from the border with Israel and is also home to Hungarian, Polish and Maltese peacekeepers. The UN Security Council mandate for Unifil is due to expire by December 2026, with Irish troops currently expected to withdraw fully from Lebanon by 2027.

These are worrying times in Lebanon, and locals fear the impending withdrawal will mean the eyes and ears of the world will no longer be on their vulnerable land, leading to a resumption of hostilities between the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and an expansionist Israel.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin with Gunner Mohammed Sammour at Camp Shamrock in South Lebanon. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

The road south from Beirut to Camp Shamrock is lined with bombed-out buildings and rubble, and hundreds of portraits of so-called martyrs from the most recent war between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in 2023 and left almost 4,000 people dead in Lebanon and more than a million displaced by the time of the eventual November 2024 ceasefire.

In the mess in Camp Shamrock, the Taoiseach spent more than an hour meeting the troops, chatting at length with  it seemed  every single person, betraying only the slightest bias toward those from his home county.

One of those Mr Martin met was 21-year-old Pte Adam Rooney from Carrigtwohill, a signalman on his first deployment, and the son of two soldiers who also served in Lebanon. Pte Rooney said it was a great honour to follow in his parents footsteps to Camp Shamrock.

Growing up, hearing all the stories and all the memories that they made, Im very proud to be out here now and to be able to make my own memories and my own stories to tell, hopefully down the line, my own kids, he said.

Pte Adam Rooney from Carrigtwohill on his first deployment to Lebanon. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

Sending Christmas wishes to his family and his partner Leah, he had one Christmas wish for Carrigtwohill: Hopefully we could drive it on in the hurling."

Pte Dan OMahony, 27,, from Passage West, said he was in the army eight years, and on his third trip overseas, and his second to Lebanon.

I want to send Christmas greetings home to my mother, my father, my sister in Australia, and my brother Fionn, whos also a serving member in the Defence Forces, who was out here last year, and my father is an ex-serviceman as well, for 38 years, he said.

I just want to let them all know Im thinking of them.

Before he left, the Taoiseach introduced the Irish Examiner to Gunner Mohammed Sammour, a 24-year-old from Bettystown in Co Meath. Born in Syria, when he was very young his family moved to Lebanon, where they lived in camps, and in 2018 they came to Ireland as refugees.

In 2022, he joined the Defence Forces, saying he wanted to give something back, and he is based in Custume Barracks in Athlone.

I am so grateful to the Irish people for being so friendly and kind, and that is why I am in the Defence Forces, to give service to my country, he said.

This is my first trip overseas, my first language is Arabic, so Im handy to help the lads with translation. Im so proud to be a member of the Defence Forces, because Ireland has been so good to me and my family.

In common with the other Irish soldiers in Camp Shamrock, Gunner Sammours thoughts are of those at home this Christmas.

To my parents, I miss you so much, to my girlfriend, Aiyaah, I love you, and well be getting married next year, he said.

Across almost half a century, Irish troops in Lebanon have protected a peace under almost constant under threat, while helping a local population living with the near-perpetual threat of war.

In a telephone interview after he returned to Ireland, Mr Martin told the Irish Examiner he had found his visit a very uplifting experience.

Our soldiers in Lebanon have a real commitment, theyre professionals, their standards are very high, theyre very decent people and theyre doing great good, the Taoiseach said.

They are wonderful ambassadors for our country.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested at a protest in support of the Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison, the Prisoners for Palestine protest group said.

In a video shared by the group, Ms Thunberg, 22, can be seen holding a sign reading I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide at a demonstration by Prisoners for Palestine outside the central London offices of Aspen Insurance.

The group claimed they targeted the company on Tuesday morning because it provides services to Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.

Two other activists sprayed red paint over the front of the building before police arrived and made arrests.

A City of London Police spokesperson said: At around 7am this morning, hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby, and specialist officers are working to release them, and bring them into police custody.

A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Ms Thunberg has spoken out previously about the hunger strikers, who are in prison awaiting trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

She described the activists as political prisoners in a video posted on her Instagram on Monday, adding the British government should meet their demands to be released from custody and for charges to be dropped.

The protest comes after several imprisoned Palestine Action activists, including one who has refused to eat for 52 days, have been taken to hospital in recent days.

Since the hunger strike began on November 2, a total of seven prisoners have been taken to hospital.

Kamran Ahmed, 28, who was being held at Pentonville Prison in London, and Amu Gib, 30, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, have both been admitted to hospital in the last week after refusing food.

Prisoners for Palestine previously said Gibs health has deteriorated rapidly since joining the hunger strike on November 2, and the activist now needs to use a wheelchair.

Gib was taken to hospital on Saturday.

A legal firm representing the hunger strikers has said it submitted a pre-action letter on Monday against the Justice Secretary David Lammy.

The letter outlines the groups intention to initiate legal action.
Plans for a new taskforce for Cork City will be brought to the Government in the early weeks of next year, according to the Taoiseach.

The taskforce was included in the programme for government, and it was expected to be in place by the end of this year.

However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said it is now envisaged that a memo will be brought to the Cabinet by the end of January in relation to the creation of the taskforce.

It is expected that the initiative will be similar to a taskforce set up in Dublin in May 2024. It will incorporate stakeholders from across different sectors in the city.

Mr Martin told the Irish Examiner that his officials have been meeting with Cork City Council, adding: I hope to bring a memo to Government in the new year establishing the group  call it a taskforce, call it whatever  to focus on the development of the city into the future.

"We now have a good foundation with the docklands and all that, but also we now have the living city initiative being greatly expanded in the budget.

The living city initiative is focused on the regeneration of retail and commercial districts in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Waterford.

Tax relief will be offered for qualifying expenditure incurred on the refurbishment or conversion of certain buildings where conditions are met. The scheme was extended to 2030 recently.

The Cork focus is on areas such as North Main St, with a key driver being providing living spaces over shops and businesses.

Mr Martin said that would be a good resource to the taskforce.

In July, he said that the taskforce must must entice people to live in the city centre.

The programme for government outlined that the taskforce model in Dublin will be applied to other cities, towns, and regions in need of revitalisation, starting with a taskforce for Cork City which will launch shortly.

Election pledge

In June, Tanaiste Simon Harris pledged to establish the taskforce following an election promise by Fine Gael that the party would seek its creation within 100 days of the Government being established.

The aim of the taskforce is to rejuvenate the city centre and drive major infrastructure projects through the co-ordination of sectors such as national and local government, businesses, and civic and cultural organisations.

The Taoiseach said there has been much progress in Cork this year, adding that he was very happy to see the delivery down in the docklands in terms of construction of apartment blocks, the wonderful amenity that is being developed in the Marina/Atlantic Pond".

"That is creating a wonderful quarter there," he said.

He listed investments such as the N28 development to Ringaskiddy, progression of the Cork-Limerick motorway and the Grand Parade projects, as well as the investments in the Crawford Art Gallery, Munster Technological University, and UCC.

I see this as a university city. The city council had been doing work with UCC and others in terms of reimagining the city centre  in particular the core of the city," he said.

"They were not enamoured with the title taskforce. They want to create a new group and create a context for that group and a framework for it.

He added: We didnt want to duplicate the work that the city council was doing. I think we will have a good model to bring to the Government in the new year.
The Government is "reflecting" on whether to hold a referendum on voting rights in presidential elections.

However, minister of state Neale Richmond told the Irish Examiner any rights for other elections are not on the table.

Mr Richmond also said that, in his role as minister for the diaspora, Irish people abroad have asked for "more tangible things".

In 2013, a constitutional convention recommended that rights be given for overseas citizens to vote in presidential elections.

While a plan was in place for a referendum in 2019, the Brexit emergency saw the government back away from that idea. The covid pandemic saw it recede further down the agenda.

It was a topic in this year's presidential election, and Mr Richmond says he would personally be in favour.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, he said the Government has "made it quite clear that the only form of votes for those abroad that we're looking at is for the presidential election for Irish citizens".

"We're now reflecting to see if that's the best use of our time and the best use of the next referendum. Is this the referendum that we need to hold next? I'm massively in favour of it.

Minister of State for international development and diaspora Neale Richmond with Scotland's first minister John Swinney at the annual Ireland-Scotland bilateral review meeting in Dublin in November. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

"But I will be quite honest with you, it's not necessarily what the diaspora are looking for, and it's important that we don't put causes and words in the mouths of others."

Foreign aid

Mr Richmond said issues such as reciprocal drivers' licences are higher on the list of priorities of those abroad.

On foreign aid, Budget 2026 has provided Mr Richmond's portfolio with a further increase of 30m for next year for a total allocation of 840.3m.

"Ireland has more than enough money to continue with our aid programme. And, more importantly, our money is now starting to do more than perhaps it ever did before, because there's less money around, which gives us more influence to push our values.

"So it's absolutely sustainable. It's imperative that we make it sustainable."

"But my big concern is that when the UK reduced their their spending from 0.5% to 0.3%.

"I spoke to their new international development secretary and she said the biggest problem is there is no outrage. Whereas everyone talked about 0.7% under Tony Blair."

'Ireland should talk up aid achievements'

Mr Richmond said Ireland should "talk up" its international aid achievements more in the face of a "multifaceted" withdrawal from spending by European nations and the slashing of USAid by US president Donald Trump.

"We have to change the conversation about development.

"Once upon a time, it was all about Band Aid, and in the Irish tradition, giving to the missionaries in Africa, and it was seen as charitable. And that, on one positive hand, is why Irish people are so keen on development."

Asked if he agreed with justice minister Jim O'Callaghan, who said that immigration threatens social cohesion, Mr Richmond said that risk is caused by "anything that's not managed".

"But realistically, when we talk about the levels of migration to this country, probably the largest group coming into Ireland is returning Irish immigrants. So maybe let's start talking about that. And this is an uncomfortable conversation for Government."
Cork City Council has given the green light to a new 114-unit apartment development north of the city.

Whitestone Corner Properties Ltd has received planning permission to construct the new homes on Ballyhooly Road, Laherdane, Whites Cross, after a lengthy process stretching back to the papers first being lodged in July.

It had sought permission for 114 apartments, a mix of one-bed, two-bed and three-bed homes alongside new footpaths, cycle paths and lighting for the development with a pedestrian link to the nearby Longview residential development south of the site.

As part of papers lodged on behalf of the applicant, it said the mix of units would help to achieve the housing targets mix for areas within city suburbs of Cork City.

The proposed development will address the gaps in the current supply of dwellings, it said, adding there was currently a severe shortage of one- and two-bed units in the area.

Cork City Council had originally indicated it would make a decision on the application by late-September, but requested further information before it could decide on the planning bid.

In a report from a council inspector, it highlighted the range of concerns raised by locals over the development. These include issues around the density and scale of the development, parking provision, footpath links, road safety and impacts on residential amenities in the area.

'Strain on local infrastructure'

Concerns were also raised about the impact on local services given the large Longview development next to the site.

Listing their concerns, the inspector noted: As Longview is still under construction, and existing services are under strain, the proposed development risks creating unsustainable pressure on essential services and undermines the balanced delivery of housing and community needs envisioned by the [urban expansion area].

The Longview development brings over 700 houses, which of itself will put a strain on local infrastructure, services and amenities. The proposed development would magnify this pressure.

Primary and secondary schools in the area could already have limited capacity. Sports clubs the same. Proposed development risks tipping local services into permanent overload before the areas existing housing has even bedded in.

The inspector shared some of the concerns raised by residents, and recommended further information be supplied by the applicant before planning permission could be granted.

This included information on the flood risk assessment, justification for the density of the development, and the low level of car parking spaces proposed.

Having received that, it decided to grant permission. It said the development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area, and is in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
MOMENTUM has been a defining feature of the Kinsale property market in 2025. From the earliest weeks of the year, activity signalled that the coastal town was entering a new phase of sustained demand, driven by global buyer interest, domestic lifestyle transitions, and Kinsales longstanding reputation as one of Irelands most desirable places to live.

Buyers this year have largely fallen into three clear groups: Kinsale residents who are upsizing; domestic and international buyers seeking holiday homes, and overseas purchasers planning to live full-time in the harbour town. Demand remains consistently high across all segments, producing one of the busiest and most competitive years the towns property market has seen. Kinsales premium profile  its harbour, culinary reputation, sailing culture, architectural charm, and quality of life  has strengthened further, attracting large numbers of US buyers, returning Irish expatriates, and Irish families seeking a coastal lifestyle, without compromising connectivity to Cork and beyond.

Picturesque Kinsale Harbour Picture: Neil Michael.

American buyers continue to be among the most influential market participants. Flexible work arrangements, mobility of capital, lifestyle realignment, and strong heritage links have made Kinsale a top-tier European alternative to Portugal, southern France, and Spain.

Many US buyers are no longer viewing Kinsale solely as a holiday destination but as a long-term home, contributing to intense competition at the upper end of the market.

At the same time, demand from Irish buyers has surged. Families relocating from Dublin, Limerick, and Cork are prioritising coastal living, while upsizing remains particularly strong among households already based in Kinsale. Returning expatriates  typically entering the market with strong purchasing power and clear expectations for turnkey quality  have also become a defining force. This cohort is not simply returning home but is actively seeking high-grade properties that support hybrid working and elevated lifestyle expectations.

The Mews House, The Paddocks, a three-bed home in Ardbrack, had a guide price of 1.275m and sold for 1.485m

Supply throughout 2025 has struggled to keep pace.

Inventory remains below buyer appetite, particularly in the 750,000 to 2.5m range where domestic and international interest overlaps most strongly. Recent sales provide a clear snapshot of the markets strength. A five-bed townhouse in the historic heart of Kinsale, No 2 The Bowling Green, sold for 1.1m, demonstrating the premium attached to spacious character homes within walking distance of town.

No 2 The Bowling Green, an historic Kinsale townhouse, was launched at 995k and sold for 1.1m

The view from No 2 The Bowling Green

In Ardbrack, 40 Ringcurran Rise, a detached property, closed at 983,750 through Cohalan Downing, while The Mews House in The Paddocks, a three-bed architect-designed home, with harbour views, made 1.485m, reinforcing the desirability of detached homes in well-established residential areas.

40 Ringcurran Rise sold for just under 1m

At the top end of the market, Currahoo House, a country residence on about 13 riverfront acres, reportedly sold for 2.5m through Savills, underlining the depth of demand for high-end homes offering privacy, scale, and architectural character.

Currahoo House, Kinsale made 2.5m

Kinsale housing estates also saw exceptional interest throughout 2025, confirming that well-located estates remain a highly attractive choice for buyers. As a result, all properties achieved sale prices above their asking levels.

Estate agents have experienced an exceptionally active year. At Engel & Volkers Kinsale we have seen strong sales velocity and competitive bidding across nearly every listing. Many properties exceeded asking price, often setting new benchmarks for their category. The upward pressure on pricing is not purely a demand story; it also reflects structural scarcity. Kinsales geography, heritage, and planning constraints protect it from mass development, preserving its premium position and underpinning longterm value. Homes that combine character with modern energy performance have seen the strongest premiums, as good BERs and retrofit costs play a growing role in buyer decision-making.

Looking to the remainder of 2025 and on to 2026, sentiment remains firmly positive. International engagement continues to rise, Irish upsizing demand shows no sign of cooling, and returning expatriates are expected to remain a dominant force.

As notable sales continue to set new benchmarks, it is increasingly clear that Kinsale has not only grown, it has redefined its market floor for the years ahead.

The Kerry property market has also been incredibly active, marked by sustained demand from international buyers seeking premium holiday properties and Irish clients eager to secure homes in long-established coastal favourites. A continuous influx of purchasers from Germany, the UK, and the US has shaped much of the years activity, with all groups primarily seeking holiday homes in scenic, high-amenity areas.

This international interest has been flanked by strong domestic demand, as Irish buyers continue to seek prime property for second homes, while a smaller but notable cohort of purchasers have been exploring full-time relocation, driven by lifestyle considerations and enhanced remote-working options. This broad base of demand has created a very competitive market environment with steady price growth throughout 2025, reflecting low stock, high demand for premium property and a willingness among buyers to move quickly and competitively when the right property becomes available.

Well-presented homes, particularly those with water access and sea views, proximity to beaches or strong architectural character, are attracting multiple bidders within a short period of coming to market.

At Engel & Volkers Kenmare, several regions have clearly stood out: Kenmare, Waterville, and Ballinskelligs, together with Caherdaniel/Castlecove/Derrynane have shown the strongest overall performance, with high levels of viewing activity and repeated examples of final sale prices significantly surpassing asking prices.

One of the most notable was Comhra le Mara, a former lobster farm near Caherdaniel, transformed into a contemporary coastal residence on approximately 7.25 acres with sea and beach access. Following strong bidding, it sold for over 1.7m, well above the 1.395m asking price.

Comhra Le Mara, Caherdaniel, Co Kerry

Another prime example is The Emlaghmore school house just outside Waterville, a beautiful mix of period home and contemporary architectural design, which sold after only three weeks on the market for 540,000  up from a guide price of 450,000  after strong domestic and international interest.

Breathtaking views from the schoolhouse in Waterville

Former Waterville schoolhouse

Closer to Kenmare, a fully renovated traditional cottage on a waterfront site with outstanding bay views on the opposite side of the bay near Tuosist achieved 850,000 and Cove Cottage, a three-bed waterfront cottage in Collorus, also on the Beara peninsula, made 925,000, a sale handled by Sherry FitzGerald Daly Kenmare.

Each area offers a blend of natural beauty and lifestyle amenities that consistently appeals to overseas and Irish purchasers alike. These pockets of concentrated demand have contributed to some of the most competitive bidding seen in the county.

Demand in the Kerry property market is expected to stay strong in the year ahead, driven by very much the same buyer groups seeking quality homes in desirable coastal locations.

Prices are likely to remain on an upward trajectory, with the availability of high-quality stock being a decisive factor.

Engel & Volkers West Cork & South Kerry is the regional arm of the international Engel & Volkers network, with offices in Kinsale and Kenmare.

The team, which includes managing director Ron Krueger and Kinsale-based Gobnait OConnell, specialises in residential and coastal property in Kinsale, West Cork, and South Kerry.

Ron Krueger, managing director, Engel and Voelkers
A police officer injured in the Bondi terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia has woken from a medically induced coma, his family said.

New South Wales police constable Scott Dyson was one of two officers wounded when investigators allege Naveed Akram and his father Sajid opened fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 people at Sydneys Archer Park on December 14.

The attack killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Accused gunman Naveed Akram, 24, faces 15 murder charges and one terrorism charge, while his father, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Mr Dysons family said their son has been in an induced coma and undergone surgery almost daily.

Our family would like to share that Scott has been getting stronger each day, and today, he was woken up for the first time, they said.

There is still a long way to go in his recovery, but this is a positive sign.

We would like to thank the public for the support, messages and well wishes shown to Scott and our family during this difficult time.

Constable Scott Dyson who was injured in the Bondi terror attack (New South Wales Police/PA)

The family of probationary constable Jack Hibbert said on Tuesday that he had been discharged from hospital.

While he is home, he is still recovering and will need space, support, and continued positive thoughts during this time, they said in a statement.

As a family, we couldnt ask for anything more  having our Jack home, especially for Christmas, truly feels like a miracle.

NSW Health on Tuesday said 12 patients remained in hospital receiving care in the aftermath of the attack.

Four patients are in a stable but critical condition.

Naveed Akram is also accused of 40 counts of attempted murder, discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm, a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol and placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm.

He was transferred from hospital to prison on Monday and will face a Sydney court again in the new year.

The massacre  Australias worst in almost three decades  prompted international outcry and government plans to tighten the countrys gun laws and hate-speech regulations.
Russia fired more than 600 drones and three dozen missiles at Ukrainein a large-scale attack that began during the night and stretched into daylight hours, officials said.

At least three people were killed, including a four-year-old child.

The barrage struck homes and the power grid in 13 regions of Ukraine, causing widespread outages in bitter temperatures, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, a day after he described recent progress on finding a peace deal quite solid.

The bombardment demonstrated Russian President Vladimir Putins intention of prosecuting the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukrainian and European officials have complained that Mr Putin is not sincerely engaging with US-led peace efforts.

The attack is an extremely clear signal of Russian priorities, Mr Zelenskyy said.

A strike before Christmas, when people want to be with their families, at home, in safety.

A strike, in fact, in the midst of negotiations that are being conducted to end this war.

Putin cannot accept the fact that we must stop killing.

A rescue worker puts out a fire of a car destroyed in a Russian strike in Chernihiv region, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

US President Donald Trump has been pressing for a peace agreement for months, but the negotiations have become entangled in the very different demands from Moscow and Kyiv.

US envoy Steve Witkoff said he held productive and constructive talks in Florida with Ukrainian and European representatives on Sunday.

Mr Trump was less effusive on Monday, though, saying: The talks are going along.

Initial reports from Ukrainian emergency services said the toddler died in Ukraines north-western Zhytomyr region, while a drone killed a woman in the Kyiv region, and another civilian death was recorded in the western Khmelnytskyi region, according to Mr Zelenskyy.

Russia launched 635 drones of various types and 38 missiles, Ukraines air force said.

Air defences stopped 587 drones and 34 missiles, it said.

A rescue worker puts out a fire of a residential house destroyed by a Russian strike in Kyiv region, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

It was the ninth large-scale Russian attack on Ukraines energy system this year and left multiple regions in the west without power, while emergency power outages were in place across the country, acting energy minister Artem Nekraso said.

Work to restore power would begin as soon as the security situation permitted, he said.

Ukraines largest private energy supplier, DTEK, said the attack targeted thermal power stations in what it said was the seventh major strike on the companys facilities since October.

DTEKs thermal power plants have been hit more than 220 times since Russias full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Those attacks have killed four workers and wounded 59.

Authorities in the western regions of Rivne, Ternopil and Lviv, as well as the northern Sumy region, reported damage to energy infrastructure or power outages after the attack.

Rescue workers put out a fire of a vessel after a Russian strike on a harbour in Odesa region, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

In the southern Odesa region, Russia struck energy, port, transport, industrial and residential infrastructure, according to regional head Oleh Kiper.

A merchant ship and more than 120 homes were damaged, he said.
The US justice department has released tens of thousands more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a tranche that included multiple mentions of President Donald Trump but added little new revelatory information to the long-anticipated public file on the late financier and convicted sex offender.

The release is the most voluminous so far and comes after a massive public campaign for transparency into the US governments Epstein investigations.

Many of the mentions of Mr Trump in the file came from news clippings, although it includes an email from a prosecutor pointing out the flights that Mr Trump took on Epsteins private jet during the 1990s.

A photo released by the US department of justice showing Jeffrey Epstein (US department of justice via AP)

The two men were friends for years before a falling out.

Mr Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

The justice department issued a statement that some documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims about Mr Trump made shortly before the 2020 election.

Among the mentions of Mr Trump in the latest batch of the Epstein files is a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Mr Trump had flown on the financiers private plane more often than had been previously known.

An assistant US lawyer from the Southern District of New York said in an email that flight records the office received on January 6 2020 showed that Mr Trump was on Epsteins jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).

An email that was included in the US department of justice release of the Epstein files (Jon Elswick/AP)

The prosecutor who flagged the Trump mentions in the flight logs said they did so because lawyers didnt want any of this to be a surprise down the road.

His travels on Epsteins plane spanned the time that would likely be covered in any criminal charges against Epsteins co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Mr Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, and on at least four of those flights, Maxwell was also there, according to the email.

On one of those eight flights, in 1993, Mr Trump and Epstein were the only two passengers listed in the flight logs.

On another flight, the three passengers listed in records are Epstein, Mr Trump, and a redacted individual, who was 20-years-old at the time.

A photo released by the US department of justice showing Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (US department of justice via AP)

Two other flights included two women  whose names were redacted in follow-up emails  identified as potential witnesses in a Maxwell case.

Several additional trips made by Mr Trump on Epsteins plane had been previously disclosed during Maxwells criminal proceedings.

Asked for comment about the email, the White House pointed to a justice department statement saying Mondays release contained unfounded and false claims against the president submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election, but they were nevertheless being released for full transparency.

The justice department specifically raised questions about the validity of a document mentioning Mr Trump that was styled as a letter from Epstein to Larry Nassar, the sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing Olympic athletes.

The department pointed out that it was processed three days after Epsteins death.

Mr Trump complained that the files were a distraction from the work he and other Republicans were doing for the country.

What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has

Speaking during an unrelated event at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, the president blamed Democrats and some Republicans for the controversy.

What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has, Mr Trump said.

He also expressed frustration about the famous people shown with Epstein in photos released by the justice department  people who he said may not have known him but ended up in the shot anyway.

You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago. And theyre, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others, Mr Trump said.

Well-known people shown in the files include former president Bill Clinton, the late pop star Michael Jackson and singer Diana Ross.

The mere inclusion of someones name or images in files from the investigation does not imply wrongdoing.

Mr Trump tried for months to keep the records sealed before relenting to political pressure, including from some fellow Republicans, although he eventually signed a bill mandating the release of most of the justice departments files on Epstein.

US president Donald Trump spoke during an unrelated event at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday (Alex Brandon/AP)

Mondays release was the biggest dump yet, including nearly 30,000 more pages. The data released by the laws Friday deadline contained a fraction of that amount, mostly photographs taken during FBI searches of Epsteins homes.

The new cache includes news clippings, emails and surveillance videos from the New York jail where Epstein was held before taking his own life in 2019, much of which was already in the public domain.

The law called for the files to be released within 30 days, but the justice department has instead released them in stages starting on Friday.

Officials have said they are going slowly to protect victims, although some women assaulted by Epstein have spoken out publicly to call for greater transparency.
By Fatme Abdallah, Western University

(The Conversation)  Writer and lawyer Saeed Teebi released an Instagram video on Sept. 30, 2025, announcing the publication of his new book, You Will Not Kill Our Imagination: A Memoir of Palestine and Writing in Dark Times.

In the video, Teebi acknowledged that while his book publication day should have been a happy one, he grappled with celebrating a moment of success while accounting for and living with everything that is going on in Palestine.

As a researcher of Palestinian prison literature who has been tracking the intermittent hostage exchanges between Israel and Gaza during the recent ceasefire agreement, Teebis struggle to articulate his feelings seemed familiar.

It echoed the experiences of Palestinians released from prison who could not celebrate their newfound freedom while their homeland was still under siege.

As Teebi narrates in his book, both sets of grandparents were survivors of the 1948 Nakba when when more than 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes during the mass exodus that accompanied the founding of the state of Israel.

As Teebi writes, they moved on a tour of degradation through various Arab states before they stumbled to Kuwait in the 1950s, where Teebi was born and lived as a child. At age 12, the family was stranded in California during a family trip when Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. Teebi and his family lived for a time in the United States before coming to Canada when he was a youth.

The book is Teebis personal and political efforts to come to terms with the failures and powers of language to narrate a Palestinian story that can stand for itself, free of the constraints that attempt to silence it.



Saeed Teebi, You Will Not Kill Our Imagination

A Memoir of Palestine and Writing in Dark Times. Simon and Schuster. 2025. Click here to buy.

A story against narrative

Just days before the books publication, a United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory officially labelled Israels actions a genocide after a staggering death toll in Gaza.

Teebis witnessing of what he calls an unending corpse exhibition against the worlds latent, often ineffectual responses brought him to the realization that until that point, his identity and history had been confined by the little prisons everywhere made from language.

For someone who describes himself as having an abiding faith in language, the dark times Teebi refers to in the title of his book were ones of reckoning: the language to name Palestinian experience broadly and mass death in Gaza had irrevocably failed to stop genocide.

Teebi notes how amid the reluctance of western media and governments to use the term genocide, even as some genocide scholars saw evidence of this phenomenon as early as late 2023, Palestinians were forced to haggle over vocabulary rather than mobilizing diplomatic pressure to prevent massacres from happening.

In so doing, the book draws a clear analogy between Israeli practices of apartheid and related censorship of language which Teebi terms linguistic apartheid. This echoes Palestinian literatures concern with resisting discourse that dispossesses Palestinians of their land-based identities.

Prisons of what we can and cant say

Teebi, like journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, is concerned with how conventional narratives can be used to justify ethnic cleansing.

In Coates book The Message, which partly reports on his summer 2023 visit to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, he writes that western language about Palestine has elevated factual complexity over morality or justice. The end goal was to forge a story of Palestine told solely by the colonizer.

Teebi writes that there have been long-existing prisons of what we can and cant say about Palestine that repressed any attempt to engage in historical or political debate. Some of these prisons, he notes, were enforced by an abundance of caution on the part of his late migrant father, a doctor who expressed an obsessive drive to rebuild after the family was displaced from Kuwait.

Such prisons were a response to, and buttressed by, the dominance of an Israeli-centric narrative of Israels founding in the West, which has made it so that every Palestinian story appears as a counternarrative that carries the whiff of subversiveness.

A Palestinian story must inevitably carve space against the presiding mythology of a land without people for a people without a land.

Between real and linguistic prisons

As I read the book in preparation for an interview with Teebi at a launch at Western University on Nov. 10  where he was the 2024-25 writer-in-residence  I was struck by how deeply prison imagery shaped his memoir.

Prisons targeting Palestinians operate materially in Occupied Palestine, but often only discursively, or linguistically, in the West.

Teebi acknowledges that the former are [much] worse prisons, yet his book is nonetheless a response to the linguistic prisons that obscure Palestinian stories behind claims of neutrality, proportionality or legality:

When every popular conception of you is that of someone in chains, you begin to feel the chains even if they arent physically there. You narrate yourself not in spite of the chains, but around them.

Between witnessing and imagining

When Palestinian American writer Sarah Aziza wrote the article The Work of the Witness, now included in the anthology The Best American Essays of 2025, it had only been three months into the genocide in Gaza.

I had then been convinced of the power and necessity of witnessing.

Yet as lands and bodies in Gaza were devastated, I increasingly believed witnessing offered no solution.

I was both gratified and dismayed that Teebi seemed to agree when, in You Will Not Kill Our Imagination, he wrote that witnessing is the hoariest of writerly cliches.

While Teebis book attempts to define the effects of the genocide on Palestinian art and imagination, it is also a reflection of how people in exile might resist the prisons imposed by a society dominated by anti-Palestinian narratives.

For Teebi, this entails embracing the engine of imagination  telling a Palestinian story that refuses the confines of counter-narrative.

A Palestinian story that must be told

Most important of all, Teebi tells a personal and political narrative, unqualified and unapologetic, a testament to the defiance of a Palestinian story that insists on being told.

In a number of talks, Teebi states that he had never intended to write a memoir: being so personal imposed upon him both honesty and vulnerability. Yet the moment compelled him to challenge the societal constraints that had kept his identity in check and to affirm, openly, deliberately and imaginatively, his Palestinian identity: he had broken free from the metaphoric prisons reining in his imagination.

When I suggested this to him in our interview, he laughed, saying: If you want to call me a prison breaker, Ill take it.

Task of writer-in-exile

The writer-in-exile, Teebi insists, must do more than bear witness, a task carried out more forcefully by those living through this genocide. The exile who writes owes something to the stories of their loved ones who have lived, fought for and honoured an increasingly precarious future.

And so the exile who writes must witness ethically by committing, without hesitation, to this future; the exile who writes must imagine dismantling the prisons that bind their language; the exile who writes must imagine fiercely, granting themselves unrestrained freedom to speak, act and live.

I will end with these words by Mahmoud Darwish:

Prison deprives one of the sight of a tree and the sea. Freedom is the imagination capable of recalling them both in prison, making the invisible visible. No, that is what poetry does. Poetry, then, is an act of freedom.

To merely witness prison, argues Teebi, is not to resist it; one must instead imagine beyond its constraints in the exercise of freedom.

That, for Teebi, is the quintessential work of the writer: to imagine a future beyond the societal and linguistic prisons that exile enforces.

Fatme Abdallah, PhD Candidate, English and Writing Studies, Western University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
( Middle East Monitor )  Three dominant narratives contend for the future of Gaza and occupied Palestine, yet only one is being translated into consequential action: the Israeli narrative of domination and genocide. This singular, violent vision is the only one backed by the brute force of policy and fact.

The first narrative belongs to the Trump administration, largely embraced by the US Western allies. It rests on the self-serving claim that US President Donald Trump personally solved the Middle East crisis, ushering in a peace that has supposedly eluded the region for thousands of years. Figures like Trump, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and US-Israel Ambassador Mike Huckabee are presented as architects of a new regional order.

This narrative is exclusive, domineering, and US-centric. It was exemplified by Trump himself when he declared the Gaza conflict over and presented a peace plan that strategically avoided any clear commitment to Palestinian statehood. The entire vision is built on transactional diplomacy and a dismissal of international legal consensus, positioning US approval as the sole measure of legitimacy.

The second narrative is that of the Palestinians, supported by Arab nations and much of the Global South. Here, the goal is Palestinian freedom and rights grounded in international law and humanitarian principles.

This discourse is frequently shaped by statements from top Arab officials. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, for example, asserted last April that the two-state solution is the only way to achieve security and stability in this region, adding a warning: If we disregard international law, () this will open the way for the law of the jungle to prevail. This narrative continues to insist on international law as central to true regional peace.

The third narrative is Israelsand it is the only one backed by concrete, aggressive policy. This vision is written through sustained, systematic violence against civilians, aggressive land seizures, deliberate home demolitions, and explicit government declarations that a Palestinian state will never be permitted. Its actors operate with chilling impunity, rapidly creating irreversible facts on the ground. Crucially, the failure to enforce accountability for this pervasive violence is the primary reason Israel has been able to sustain its devastating genocide in Gaza for two full years.

This narrative is not theoretical; it is articulated through the chilling acts and legislative pushes of the highest-ranking government officials.

On 8 December, Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appeared in a Knesset session wearing a noose-shaped pin while pushing for a death penalty bill targeting Palestinian prisoners. The minister stated openly that the noose was just one of the options through which they would implement the death penalty, listing the option of hanging, the electric chair, and () lethal injection.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, announced an allocation of $843 million to expand illegal settlements over the next five years, a massive step toward formal annexation. This unprecedented funding is specifically earmarked to relocate military bases, establish absorption clusters of mobile homes, and create a dedicated land registry to formalise Israeli governmental control over the occupied Palestinian territory.

This policy of territorial expansion is cemented by the ideological head of government, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself made it clear that There will not be a Palestinian state. Its very simple: it will not be established, calling its potential creation an existential threat to Israel. This unequivocal rejection confirms that the official Israeli government strategy is outright territorial expansion and the permanent denial of Palestinian self-determination.

None of these Israeli officials shows the slightest interest in Trumps peace plan or in the Palestinian vision of statehood. Netanyahus core objective is ensuring that international law is never implemented, that no semblance of Palestinian sovereignty is established, and that Israel can contravene the law at a time and manner of its choosing.

The fact is, these narratives cannot continue to coexist. Only real accountability  through political, legal, and economic pressure  can halt Israels advance toward continuing its genocidal campaign, destruction, and punitive legislation. This must include the swift imposition of sanctions on Israel and its top officials, comprehensive arms embargoes against Tel Aviv to end ongoing wars, and full accountability at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ).



Photo of Gaza June 10 2025 by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash



As long as the pro-Palestine narrative lacks the tools to enforce its principles, Israel and its Western backers will see no reason to alter course. States must replace symbolic gestures and prioritise aggressive, proactive accountability measures. This means moving beyond simple verbal condemnation and applying concrete legal and economic pressure.

Israel is now more isolated than ever, with public opinion rapidly collapsing globally. This isolation must be leveraged by pro-Palestine forces through coordinated, decisive diplomatic action, pushing for a unified global front that demands the enforcement of international law and holding Israel and its many war criminals accountable for their ongoing crimes.

A lasting peace can only be built on the foundation of justice, not on the military reality established by an aggressor that does not hesitate to employ genocide in the service of its political designs. This is the undeniable moral frontier: confronting and dismantling the impunity that allows a state to pursue extermination as a political tool.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Aftermath Silver Ltd. (TSXV: AAG) (OTCQX: AAGFF) (FSE: FLM1) (the "Company" or "Aftermath Silver") is pleased to announce it has closed its previously announced brokered, "best-efforts" private placement (the "Offering") of 22,222,250 common shares (the "Shares") for gross proceeds of $20,000,025. The Offering was led by Research Capital Corporation, as co-lead agent and sole bookrunner, and Red Cloud Securities Inc. as co-lead agent (collectively, the "Agents").

The Offering was completed by way of the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and in reliance on the amendments to Part 5A of NI 45-106 set forth in Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The Shares offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund further exploration and development at the Company's Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project in southern Peru (the "Berenguela Project"), completion of a pre-feasibility study for the Berenguela Project, further exploration at the Company's other mineral projects and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

A related party of the Company acquired 9,900,000 Shares pursuant to the Offering. The issuance of such securities to this related party is considered to be a related party transaction within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 (and Policy 5.9) as the fair market value of the securities issued to such party does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of the proceeds of the Offering in an expeditious manner.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid the Agents a cash commission of approximately $1,200,000. The Offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

About Aftermath Silver Ltd.

Aftermath Silver Ltd. is a leading Canadian junior exploration company focused on silver and critical metals which aims to deliver shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition and development of quality silver and critical metal projects in stable jurisdictions. Aftermath has developed a pipeline of projects at various stages of advancement. The Company's projects have been selected based on growth and development potential.

Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project. The Company has acquired the rights to a 100% interest in Berenguela through a binding agreement with SSR Mining and EMX Royalties. The project is located in the Department of Puno, in southern central Peru. A current NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate was published on December 4, 2025. A NI43-101Technical Report on the property will be filed shortly.

Challacollo Silver-Gold project. The Company completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Challacollo silver-gold project from Mandalay Resources; see Company news release dated August 11, 2022. A NI 43-101 mineral resource was released on December 15, 2020 (available on SEDAR+ and the Company's web page).

Cachinal Silver-Gold project. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Cachinal Ag-Au project, located 2.5 hours south of Antofagasta.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering and receipt of regulatory approvals with respect to the Offering. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company's planned exploration activities will be completed in a timely manner, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Offering as anticipated and that the Company will receive regulatory approval with respect to the Offering. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the risk that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Offering as anticipated and that the Company will not receive regulatory approval with respect to the Offering, risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, fluctuating silver prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - Silver Hammer Mining Corp. (CSE: HAMR) (the "Company" or "Silver Hammer") is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its Phase 1 test exploration drill program at its 100% controlled Silverton Project in Nye County, Nevada, and was comprised of 2,420 feet within six (6) reverse circulation ("RC") holes. Samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada for analysis.

"The Company recently completed its preliminary test program at its 100% owned Silverton Project in Nevada. The program, aimed to efficiently test the zones in and around the historical Silverton Mine, yielded solid runs of alteration and silicification and assays are now pending," commented Peter A. Ball, President & CEO. "To ensure we managed capital allocated to the Phase 1 program, we limited the number of holes to six to gain additional information for a potential follow-up drill program in early 2026. We look forward to a busy winter ahead and appreciate our shareholders patience and support."

A total of 2,420 feet has been drilled in six holes, targeting the Western Silver Zone (WSZ) with four holes, and the Eastern Gold Zone (EGZ) with a further two holes (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. - 2025 RC drill holes & traces with claims line.

Western Silver Zone Drilling

The first four holes were drilled in the 'Central Zone' of the WSG, targeting below the old Silverton Mine workings (see Fig. 2); the Central Zone is the location of the intersection of two major fault structures, the Silverton Fault, a ring-fault structure within the Williams Ridge Caldera and the Basin Fault, a radial fault, and likewise, is a major structure within the caldera. Drilling and surface mapping has identified the Silverton Fault (a high-angle reverse-type fault) with a width up to 30 feet, comprising fault slices of varying local lithologies. Alteration within the fault zone has been observed as moderate to intense; locally the silicification completely obliterates original rock fabric or, nearly so.

Past surface rock sampling of the Central Zone indicates a 150 metre wide zone of silver mineralization, staring at the Silverton Fault and spanning westwards, with samples of 692 ppm Ag, 330 ppm Ag, and an additional five samples above 100 ppm Ag from Company exploration work (please refer to the Company's press release dated November 29, 2021 for previous disclosure). Silicification, characteristically associated with the epithermal-type and carbonate-replacement type of mineral occurrences has been identified in: the Central Zone in the Silverton Fault; the Basin Fault and in the NW Mineralization Zone (parallel to and north of the Basin Fault).

Fig. 2. Map of Central Zone with Drilling.

Drill Holes SLV25-001 and SLV25-002, collared east of the Silverton Fault, revealed a complete geothermal spectrum of hydrothermal alteration, starting with high temperature silicification replacement textures at the Silverton Fault to low temperature hackly calcite in veining at the western end of SLV25-001. SLV25-003, and SLV25-004, were collared from the same drill pad, east of the Silverton fault; SLV25-003 was drilled eastwards, back towards holes SLV25-001 and SLV25-002 and intercepted the best looking alteration (see Fig. 3.).

Fig. 3. SLV25-003 chip tray, showing lithology and two highly silicified zones.

It should be noted that the drill-targeted Central Zone is also the centre of past silver production in the 1930s and 1950s, as evidenced by two shafts and five adits, as well as numerous surface exploration pits. Historic production grades ranged from 300 g/t Ag to 933 g/t Ag (Source: www.westernmininghistory.com and www.thediggings.com).

Eastern Gold Zone Drilling

The second area targeted through the 2025 RC drill program was the zone of intensive silicic and oxide alteration in the Eastern Gold Zone (see Fig. 4.); holes SLV25-005 and SLV25-006 were targeted to intercept structure and alteration that have in the past yielded surface rock samples which reported promising gold grades, including high grades of 0.65 ppm, 0.45 ppm and 0.20 ppm Au. SLV25-005 was intensely altered with silicification in the first 15 feet (4.6m), while SLV25-006 displayed moderate to intense silicification for the entire span of the top 100 feet (29m).

Fig. 4. RC drill on the Eastern Gold Zone.

RC Drill Hole Cuttings Sampling, both WSZ and EGZ

All six drill holes intercepted zones of silicification; zones with widths exceeding 2m, are listed in Table 1.

RC Drill Hole



Alteration From

(m) To

(m) Interaval

(m) Zone Structure SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 38.1 42.7 4.6 WSZ Upper SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 112.8 120.4 7.6 WSZ Silverton Fault SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 160.0 170.6 10.7 WSZ NW Mineralization SLV25-001 Moderate Silicification 202.7 208.8 6.1 WSZ Lower Zone SLV25-002 Moderate Silicification, Breccia 99.1 111.3 12.2 WSZ Silverton Fault SLV25-003 Intense Silicification, Breccia 6.1 12.2 6.1 WSZ Basin Fault SLV25-003 Moderate Silicification, Breccia 57.9 61.0 3.0 WSZ Silverton Fault SLV25-004 Moderate Silicification 3.0 6.1 3.0 WSZ Basin Fault SLV25-004 Moderate Silicification

Brecciation increases in bottom

half of intercept 18.3 36.6 18.3 WSZ NW Mineralization SLV25-005 Intense Silicification - 4.6 4.6 EGZ EGZ Eastern SLV25-006 Moderate to Intense Silicifcation - 2.9 29.0 EGZ EGZ Main

Table 1. Significant Zones of Silicification

Selective sampling concentrated on silicified zones; a total of 221 samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada for analysis. A QA/QC program was carried out, with regular insertions of certified standard materials, certified blank materials and duplicates, in aggregate, approximately 15% of the samples in total. Geological staff delivered the samples to the lab, maintaining custody. ALS Laboratories is fully ISO 17025 certified for the analysis methods selected for the set of samples submitted.

Surface Mapping and Sampling - WSZ and EGZ

A 3-day detail mapping and sampling program preceded the 2025 RC drill program, where mineralization was identified on-surface, through the use of a hand-held XRF analyser; notably, in the Central Zone, on the location of one of these XRF high readings, chlorargyrite was tentatively identified in an outcrop and a set of samples was taken (see Fig. 5). A total of 5 surface rock samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories, in Reno, Nevada.

Fig. 5. Photo of chlorargyrite(?) mineralization and locations of XRF readings (x).

Contingent on positive analysis of the Phase 1 drill program, a Phase 2 drill program will be planned, as step-out drilling and following the structures down-dip.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved under the supervision of Damir Cukor, P.Geo. Mr. Cukor is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and as a consultant for the Company as Technical Director - Projects.

About Silver Hammer Mining Corp.

Silver Hammer Mining Corp. is a junior resource company focused on advancing past-producing high-grade silver projects in the United States. Silver Hammer controls 100% of seven previously producing silver mines which are located within the Silver Strand Project in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in Idaho, USA, and within the Eliza Silver Project and the Silverton Silver Mine in Nevada. The Company also controls the Fahey Group Silver Project in the Silver Valley, Idaho and the Lacy Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada. Silver Hammer's primary focus is to explore, define and develop silver projects near past-producing mines that have not been adequately tested. The Company's portfolio also provides exposure to copper and gold.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limitation, statements relating to the Offering, the intended use of proceeds from the Offering, and other statements which are subject to a number of conditions, as described elsewhere in this news release. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including risks regarding the mining industry, commodity prices, market conditions, general economic factors, management's ability to manage and to operate the business, and explore and develop the projects of the Company, and the equity markets generally. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of the Company may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the 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.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Vancouver, British Columbia  TheNewswire - December 23, 2025 - Avventura Resources Ltd. ("Avventura" or the "Company") (CSE: AA), a Canadian mineral exploration company, is pleased to report the results from its initial rock sampling program conducted at the companys Horwood Property, located to the southwest of Timmins, Ontario (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Regional location of the Horwood Property.

As part of the Companys ongoing exploration program at the Horwood Property, over 160 rock samples were collected during recent fieldwork and submitted to AGAT Laboratories for gold analysis. The results reported herein represent the first five (5) samples received from the laboratory, with additional assay results pending. One sample returned gold values exceeding the analytical detection limit and was subsequently re-assayed using gravimetric fire assay methods.

Rock Sample Results (Grab Samples)

Sample F573209: 62.0 g/t Au

Sample F573212: 0.564 g/t Au

Sample F573210: 0.249 g/t Au

Sample F573211: 0.010 g/t Au

Sample F573208: 0.002 g/t Au

The sample returning 62.0 g/t Au was initially reported as >10.0ppm Au by ICP-OES and subsequently confirmed by gravimetric fire assay.

The Company cautions that grab samples are selective by nature and may not be representative of mineralization on the property as a whole. The reported results represent point samples only and should not be interpreted as indicative of the extent, continuity, or grade of mineralization.

The Horwood Property is at an early stage of exploration, and no drilling has been completed on the property to date. The results from this initial sampling program will be used to assist in planning future exploration activities, which may include additional surface sampling, geological mapping, and geophysical surveys, subject to further review and regulatory approvals.

Historical Exploration Results

The Company notes that historical exploration results were previously reported from the Horwood Property in a National Instrument 43-101 technical report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Horwood Property, District of Sudbury, Ontario, effective December 21, 2022, and amended August 1, 2023. That report disclosed grab sample results of up to 6.01 g/t Au from the Denross occurrence.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Rock samples were collected by Company personnel following standard industry practices. Samples were securely transported to AGAT Laboratories, an independent and ISO-accredited laboratory. Gold analysis was performed using fire assay methods with ICP-OES finish, with over-limit samples re-assayed using gravimetric fire assay.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.



About Avventura Resources Ltd.

Avventura Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of high-potential exploration projects. The Company is committed to responsible resource development and creating long-term value for its shareholders.

On Behalf of Avventura Resouces Ltd.

Sean Flynn  CEO

Tel: 250-857-2237

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this presentation or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") (TSX.V:CANX) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of 20,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") for gross proceeds of $3,000,000. The Company is also pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Fier is now the largest shareholder and is an insider of the Company.

Highlights:

Mr. Eric Fier was the lead order in the Financing and is now an insider of the Company, with ownership of 10%

Strategic investor Michael Gentile reinforced his strong support for CANEX and also participated in the Financing alongside the Company's management and board

The Financing removes financial risk related to the Company's offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Gold Basin Resources Corporation ("Gold Basin") (TSX.V:GXX), and highlights the Company's ability to fundexploration and development of a consolidated oxide gold district in Northern Arizona

Approximately 44% of the shareholders of Gold Basin have tendered their shares to the Offer, demonstrating that support for the Offer is continuing to build momentum

The Offer represents an implied premium of 183%, based on CANEX's December 22, 2025 closing price and the last closing price of the shares of Gold Basin shares prior to the imposition of the cease-trade order on May 6, 2025. The Offer value equates to approximately $17,200,000 or $0.13 per Gold Basin share. We encourage all Gold Basin shareholders to tender to the CANEXoffer and take advantage of this strong premium and the assurance of exchanging non-trading Gold Basin shares with tradable, compliant, and valuable shares of CANEX

Financing Participants

The Company is pleased to announce that, post-Financing, Mr. Eric Fier owns 10% of CANEX and has become an insider of the Company. Mr. Fier is a mining industry leader with a track record of significant discoveries, project development, financings, and mine constructions with subsequent successful production (both open pit and underground). He along with his team have generated approximately C$2.5 billion of shareholder equity value including two successful takeover deals over the last 10 years.

Mr. Michael Gentile also participated in the Financing, showing his continued strong support for CANEX. Mr. Gentile is considered one of the leading strategic investors in the junior mining sector, owning significant positions in multiple small-cap mining companies.

Multiple high net worth and highly experienced mining and financing professionals took part in the Financing, which included new investors, current shareholders, and Company insiders.

Financing Details

The Financing consisted of 20,000,000 Common Shares priced at $0.15 each for gross proceeds of $3,000,000. The Common Shares are subject to a hold period of four months until April 24, 2026. The Common Shares were offered on a non-brokered basis by way of private placement to accredited investors and no commissions were paid to investment dealers in connection with the Financing. The Financing is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Certain insiders purchased a total of 670,147 Common Shares in connection with the Financing. The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the participation in the Financing by the insiders does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the market capitalization of the Company as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

Proceeds from the Financing will be used to advance the district consolidation opportunity in Arizona as announced by the Company on June 9, 2025, for exploration at the Company's Gold Range and Louise projects, and for general working capital.

CANEX's Offer for Gold Basin Continues to Build Support and Momentum

CANEX is pleased to announce that approximately 44% of the issued and outstanding shares of Gold Basin have been deposited to the Offer, in advance of the extended expiry date of January 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time). This figure does not include shares committed, contractually or otherwise, but not yet tendered.

This marks significant and accelerated progress towards successful take-up of shares under the Offer, as the Financing and financial commitments from key strategic shareholders like Messrs. Fier and Gentile have led to a significant increase in CANEX's share price, and in turn, a significant increase in the implied value of the Offer. Under the Offer, shareholders of Gold Basin are being offered 0.592 of a Common Share for each share of Gold Basin deposited and taken up.

CANEX has seen a large increase in value since launching its Offer on August 28, 2025. This increase can be attributed to a strong gold bull market, excitement over the possibility of consolidating a large gold district in Arizona, market recognition of new drill targets at the Louise Cu-Au Porphyry Project, and the involvement of key strategic investors in the Company. Over this same period, Gold Basin has remained cease traded, has added no value for its shareholders, and has presented no plan to become compliant.

The Offer represents an implied premium of 183%, based on CANEX's December 22, 2025 closing price and the last closing price of the shares of Gold Basin prior to the imposition of the cease-trade order on May 6, 2025. The Offer value equates to approximately $17,200,000 or roughly $0.13 per Gold Basin share which exceeds any closing price of Gold Basin shares since 2023. This significant implied premium understates the outstanding value to the shareholders of Gold Basin, as the lack of price discovery in Gold Basin shares does not allow for consideration of the significant value destruction, pending litigation, debt incurred by Gold Basin management, or overhang of uncertainty of delisting or dissolution to be factored into the value proposition.

Shane Ebert, President and Director of CANEX, has been holding virtual meetings with shareholders of Gold Basin since the release of CANEX's video presentation to discuss the Offer and CANEX's vision for the consolidated gold district. If you are a shareholder of Gold Basin who would like to meet with Mr. Ebert to further understand the compelling upfront and future upside value of the Offer, please contact the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a time to speak.

Advisors

CANEX has retained Borden Ladner Gervais LLP as its legal advisor and Laurel Hill Advisory Group as its information agent.

About CANEX Metals

CANEX Metals (TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing its 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery potential. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX: ALS), a large shareholder of the Company.

Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX and has verified the data disclosed in this news release against historical and current data sources and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

"Shane Ebert"

Shane Ebert, President/Director

For Further Information Contact:

Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 or

Jean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636

Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca

Gold Basin Shareholders :

Laurel Hill Advisory Group

North American Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184

Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211

Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

U.S. Notice

The Offer is being made for the securities of a foreign company. The Offer is subject to disclosure requirements of a foreign country that are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included in the Offer materials, if any, have been prepared in accordance with foreign accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies. It may be difficult for you to enforce your rights and any claim you may have arising under the federal securities laws, since the issuer is located in a foreign country, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of a foreign country. You may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. You should be aware that the issuer may purchase securities otherwise than under the Offer, such as in open market or privately negotiated purchases, in accordance with applicable law. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued in the Offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the Offer materials. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "potential", "possibility", "risk", "opportunity" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc.'s internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things: the use of proceeds of the Financing; the final acceptance of TSX Venture Exchange of the Financing; the Offer; Gold Basin shareholders' support for the Offer; the anticipated successful completion of the Offer; the anticipated effect of the Offer; CANEX's plans for Gold Basin if the Offer is successful; the expected benefits to Gold Basin shareholders of tendering their shares to the Offer; the factors attributing to the increase in value of the Company; the Company's ability to fund exploration and development of a consolidated oxide gold district in Northern Arizona; and future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risk that the transactions contemplated by the Offer will not be consummated; the risk that the conditions of the Offer will not be met or met or a timely basis; and those risks described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of the Common Shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.
Myanmar's top general Min Aung Hlaing was months from retirement when he made a dictatorial about-face nearly five years ago, deposing the democratic government and promoting himself to leader.

The bespectacled and diminutive officer became military chief in 2011, as Myanmar broke with its history of iron-fisted martial rule and began its latest experiment with democracy.

The 69-year-old soldier spent a decade jostling with civilian leaders before overturning them in a coup, jailing Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering a vicious civil war that is still ongoing.

He is now presiding over a poll due to start Sunday, promising it will return peace and democracy despite scepticism at home and abroad.

- General non grata -

Min Aung Hlaing was born in Dawei city in Myanmar's elongated southern reach, studying at university before enrolling into officer training school -- albeit on his third attempt.

He rose through the ranks, burnishing his credentials by leading a campaign battling an ethnic rebel insurrection around crucial trade crossings with China.

His predecessor Than Shwe directly ruled Myanmar for nearly two decades, but it was Min Aung Hlaing's rare fate to be a top general under civilian command.

A military-drafted constitution still gave him a central role in politics, though, with a quarter of parliamentary seats and essential cabinet positions reserved for his officers.

Before the coup, Min Aung Hlaing was already persona non grata in many countries for commanding a 2017 military crackdown on the Rohingya minority that drove around 750,000 people into Bangladesh.

He was banned from Facebook for stoking hate speech, heavily sanctioned, and the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor is seeking his arrest for crimes against humanity.

Min Aung Hlaing has said military operations were justified to root out insurgents and steadfastly denies allegations of human rights abuses.

He also embarked on an ambitious and expensive programme to outfit the army with modern equipment, sourcing weapons and hardware from China, Russia and Israel.

Every March 27 he oversees a parade of troops and materiel in the capital Naypyidaw for Armed Forces Day, standing on an open-top jeep and festooned with his many military and civilian awards.

His official title in state media is "State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing".

But as his nomenclature has become longer, the number of soldiers assembled for inspection has shrunk each year with embattled forces deployed to frontlines elsewhere.

- Reinforced rule -

In 2021 Min Aung Hlaing was about to turn 65 -- mandatory military retirement age at the time -- when he toppled Suu Kyi's democratically elected government and jailed her.

He claimed her National League for Democracy party had swept a landslide electoral victory over pro-military parties by means of voter fraud.

Analysts at the time said he was probably anxious about the military's waning power.

Security forces crushed pro-democracy protests, but activists quit the cities to fight as guerrillas alongside ethnic rebels -- including those Min Aung Hlaing battled earlier in his career.

There is no official death toll for Myanmar's civil war and estimates vary widely.

According to non-profit organisation Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), which tallies media reports of violence, 90,000 have been killed on all sides since the coup.

That number almost certainly includes conscripts the military has begun forcibly recruiting to bolster its ranks.

Min Aung Hlaing ruled by fiat as military chief over four years of emergency rule after the coup.

He ended the state of emergency this summer and handed back power to the president's office -- which he also occupies.

Many analysts, democracy monitors and Myanmar citizens believe the election is most likely to see a power transfer from Min Aung Hlaing to himself.
Belgium on Tuesday joined South Africa in a case brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, said in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention.

Several countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey have already joined the case.

In December 2023, South Africa brought a case to the United Nations' highest court in The Hague, alleging Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Israel denies the accusation.

In rulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine.

These orders are legally binding, but the court has no concrete means to enforce them.

Israel has criticised the proceedings and rejected the accusations.

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The Israeli military's retaliatory campaign has since killed 70,369 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. The campaign has also displaced the majority of the 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory.

Belgium was among a string of countries to recognise the State of Palestine in September, a status acknowledged by nearly 80 precent of UN members.
Belgium on Tuesday joined a case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, said in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention.

But Belgium's intervention does not mean it fully supports South Africa's accusations, nor that it defends Israel, but that it intends to clarify its interpretation of international law in the context of the case.

Several countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey have already joined the case.

In December 2023, South Africa brought a case to the United Nations' highest court in The Hague, alleging Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Israel denies the accusation.

In rulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine.

These orders are legally binding, but the court has no concrete means to enforce them.

Israel has criticised the proceedings and rejected the accusations.

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The Israeli military's retaliatory campaign has since killed 70,369 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. The campaign has also displaced the majority of the 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory.

Belgium was among a string of countries to recognise the State of Palestine in September, a status acknowledged by nearly 80 percent of UN members, though Belgium said it would not formally take the step until Hamas has been excluded from Palestinian leadership.






Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - A distraught Kenyan man working abroad has taken to social media to publicly accuse a man identified as John Karichu of having an affair with his wife, a situation he says has shattered his 18-year marriage.

Taking to his Facebook page, the man alleges that while he has been hustling overseas to provide for his family, Karichu has been carrying on a relationship with his wife, going as far as engaging in the affair on his matrimonial bed.

He further claims that Karichu influenced his wife to withdraw Ksh 1 million from their joint account, money he says was later squandered.

According to the man, matters worsened when his wife allegedly disappeared from their matrimonial home with Karichu after learning that he was planning to return home.

The man says the woman left behind their children, who are now reportedly sleeping on the floor, a situation that has left him devastated and furious.

No hardworking man would wish this to happen to him. Im ready to go to jail and leave my kids suffering, he lamented.

Check out his full post and photos of Karichu, the homewrecker.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - Media personality, Jacque Maribe, is mourning the loss of her father, Mwangi Maribe, who passed away after a long battle with cancer.

The heartbreaking news was shared by Jacque on her social media platforms, where she expressed the depth of her grief and the close bond she shared with him.

Now what do I tell a man like you? The definition of perfection. I do not know how I will live without you, dad, but I know you are not in pain.

I love you with everything in me, she wrote.

Tributes have since poured in from friends, colleagues, and members of the public. Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi described Mwangi as a father so solid,

Asante sana my friend Jacque Wanjiru, for introducing me to Mzee MARIBE. A FATHER so solid. His Love is captured in a photo that speaks, he posted.

Lawyer Wahome Thuku, who defended Jacque in court, remembered Mwangi as a man whose legacy will remain a lesson to parents about standing by their children.

"Mzee has rested but that legacy will remain.

A lesson to parents to support our children at their lowest moment.

And to fight to the last day of our lives. Go well Mr Maribe, my condolences to Jacque and your family,. relatives and friends," said Wahome Thuku.

Mwangi was widely recognized for his visible support of Jacque during her involvement in the highprofile Monica Kimani murder trial in 2018, where she was eventually acquitted.

Throughout the proceedings, Mwangi was often seen by her side, offering strength and reassurance.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - Renowned filmmaker and university lecturer, Dr. Zippy Okoth, has sparked a heated debate online after boldly calling out Kenyan men, branding them cowards, just days after parting ways with her 30-year-old Ben 10, Webston Kimani.

Dr. Zippy, 42, took to social media to share photos of herself relaxing at her fathers rural compound, noting that she is still warmly welcomed at home despite not having a husband.

However, beneath the calm images was a fiery message directed at men she claims lack the courage to take the next step.

According to Zippy, no Kenyan man has gathered enough courage to visit her father and formally present dowry, despite several showing interest in her.

How I am dreaming of the future with that man who will get the confidence to greet my father But Kenyan men are cowards Cowards and cowards who are using excuses not to pay dowry, she wrote.

She went on to add that even men from the Luo community, some of whom had previously praised her as creme de la creme, have failed to make a formal move.

They are just seeing me at home but peeping past my fathers gate sending kids to pass and check if I am here, part of her post read.

Zippy and Webstons relationship had been highly publicized online before it dramatically crumbled a few days ago, leaving their fans stunned.

Zippy later claimed that the talking stage was dragging on, a situation that ultimately prompted her to walk away.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - A heartbroken Kenyan lady, Mueni, has taken to social media to expose her boyfriend for cheating on her with older women, popularly known as Wamama.

In a post that has caused a buzz online, Mueni shared a photo of herself and the boyfriend looking blissfully in love, only to caption it with the emotional words: Nilikupenda sana my love lakini wamama wakakupenda zaidi.

The post has ignited mixed reactions online.

Some netizens sympathized with her pain, praising her bravery for speaking out, while others criticized her for airing private matters in such a public space.

Muenis story reflects the modern reality of relationships in the digital age - where love, betrayal, and healing unfold before thousands of online spectators, turning personal heartbreak into a trending conversation.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - A young expectant mother, Najima Ali Mohammed, 20, was brutally stabbed to death by her husband, Abdirizak Ibrahim, in Komarock, Nairobi, in a shocking domestic tragedy that has left the community reeling in shock.

Police confirmed that the murder weapon was recovered at the scene and secured as evidence.

The suspect, Ibrahim, has been arrested and is currently in custody pending further investigations.





Details surrounding the motive remain scarce, but officers say they are working to piece together the events leading up to the horrific incident.

The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers of domestic violence, particularly against young women and expectant mothers.

The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect is expected to be arraigned in court once police complete their inquiries.

Below are photos of the deceased lady.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
David Raleigh

Gardai are investigating a drive-by shooting at a house at Rathkeale, Co Limerick, on Sunday night.

A number of shots were discharged from a firearm at a house located in the west Limerick town.

It is the latest in a string of violent incidents in the community.

Sources said a large garda presence was visible in the town all day Sunday and Monday to keep a lid on tensions.

Uniformed gardai supported by members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit were conducting checkpoints in the town on Sunday prior to the gun attack.

The Garda helicopter was also present in the town providing air support.

A Garda spokesman said: Gardai are investigating the discharge of a firearm in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick on Sunday 22nd December 2025 at approximately 9:15pm.

The Garda spokesman said that no injuries were reported and that a technical examination of the scene has been conducted by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.

Investigations are ongoing, they said.

Feuding families

Local gardai supported by armed detective units have been trying to keep a lid on tensions between rival feuding Traveller families.

Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey, a former chair of the local community joint policing committee, said he has been repeatedly calling for extra garda resources in the town to assist local Superintendent Michael Fleming and his force.

Rathkeales population has surged in recent days due to an influx of Traveller men and women.

The Traveller clans traditionally descend on Rathkeale every Christmas.

The festive period sees families get together to celebrate marriages and christenings at St Marys Church in the town.

The vast majority of visiting Traveller families are peaceful and have never engaged in violence or public disorder.

International crime links

However, a number of Traveller criminal elements with international crime links and their origins in Rathkeale can case trouble in the town during the festive period.

Over two weeks ago gardai, directed by Supt Fleming, conducted a search and arrest operation in Rathkeale, as part of an investigation into money laundering.

Superintendent Fleming said the focus of the operation was to target "the activities of individuals involved in serious criminality on a transnational basis".

Approximately 400,000 in cash and bank accounts was seized at 11 locations in the town.

Rhino horns

Suspected rhino horns were also recovered during the raids which can fetch large sums of money on the black market.

On November 30th this year, a house was shot up in the town when multiple shots were discharged from a firearm at the property, which was occupied by people including a child.

The shooting at New Road, Rathkeale, occurred around 5am that Sunday morning.

No injuries were reported at the time.

Last October, a van was petrol bombed in the town.

Vehicles have been rammed, houses burnt, and a man shot and seriously wounded as part of feuding in the town over the past twelve months.
KILDARE has shown the largest drop in the country for drug driving charges, despite a nationwide rise of 37 per cent, however this is coming from the fact that the figure for 2024 was the second highest in the country for such charges after Dublin.

The Kildare Court District reported an 11 per cent drop on the 2024 total of 99 such charges, down to 80 for the first 10 months of this year, however with November and December still to be counted, the annual total could yet achieve parity.

Nationally, drug driving charges rose from 1,499 in 2024 to 2,050 so far this year, having risen from just 390 in 2020.

Letterkenny, Limerick, Roscommon, Sligo, Trim and Nenagh all saw rises in the same period of over 100 per cent, it was the jumps in the two Midland towns of Longford (443%) and Mullingar (562%, 1st) that were most astonishing.

All these figures came from a report released to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu from the Irish Court Services.

She called for a Christmas crackdown on drug drivers as numbers before our district court system soar.

A total of 1,499 people faced district court proceedings for drug driving in 2024, but this has already risen by 37 per cent in the first 10 months of 2025, with 2025 marking the highest level on record for drug driving prosecutions in our district court system, she said.

Re-sit their test

Ms Ni Mhurchu said the trend reflects a steady rise since 2020  but warned that this years sharp escalation is particularly alarming, and has called for decisive action this Christmas to curb the escalating threat of drug driving.

We need an expanded roadside drug testing regime this Christmas period on our roads, and we also need to consider policies whereby anyone convicted of drug driving is required to re-sit their driving test or, at minimum, complete a comprehensive driver re-education programme, said the MEP.

They have to get the message that they are a danger to other innocent road users

Ms Ni Mhurchu has also suggested deploying modified interlock technology  devices currently used to prevent drink driving in the cars of convicted drink drivers  so they can detect drugs instead of alcohol in the vehicles of repeat offenders.

The Ireland South MEP described the cases that do make it to the district court as being the tip of the iceberg when it comes to drug driving.

She described these measures as an essential ramp up in the fight against drug driving in an effort to protect all road users and restore confidence in road safety this festive season. As of 9 December, 170 people had lost their lives on our roads this year, seven more people than on the same date in 2024.
DRUG dealers made a very nasty threat to a single mother of three who got into drug debt, a court has heard.

Garda Paddy Kelleher was giving evidence at the sentence hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of Anna Stewart (36) for laundering money stolen from a Kildare resident.

He agreed with Kieran Kelly BL, defending, that Mr Stewart had become addicted to cocaine after the break-up of a relationship and racked up a drugs debt.

Gda Kelleher testified that Ms Stewart came under pressure from the drug dealers who told her she could get something taken off the debt if she gave them access to her bank account.

He told the court that they made a further threat of a very nasty nature. Judge Orla Crowe noted that gardai accepted that this was a real threat and was particularly serious.

Ms Stewart of Kiltalown Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty to having possession of the proceeds of crime on a date in May 2021. The court heard that a person in Kildare contacted gardai when they noticed 6,000 had been taken from their bank account in three transactions.

The victim was fully reimbursed and the money was tracked to Ms Stewart's account. The court heard that Ms Stewart had nothing to do with the taking of the money but allowed her bank account to be used by the criminals.

These criminals used her bank account to launder money a number of other times between June and August 2021, the court heard.

Gda Kelleher confirmed with Mr Kelly that his client didn't receive any money but only had some of the drug debt reduced. He said his client previously worked as a cleaner before spiralling into drug use.

He said she is drug-free now. Judge Crowe noted that she is trying to live a pro-social life and has waited a long time for this offence to be dealt with.

She suspended a prison term of two years on condition that Ms Stewart keep the peace for one year.
Vivienne Clarke

An emergency medicine consultant is urging people to use Zoom and other such methods of communication to contact vulnerable family members over Christmas to avoid the spread of the flu virus.

Dr Ronan Murphy of University Hospital Kerry told RTE radios News at One that hospitals were seeing an early outbreak of a very intense flu strain which meant that the anticipated seasonal peak was happening earlier than usual.

This was putting significant strain on the system. I think it's important to realise that it's a time where people are coming home from overseas, perhaps congregating in areas with elderly members of the family sometimes as well, younger members of family, so a lot of mixing going on, so perfect conditions really for the spread of the virus.

Most people would be able to manage flu symptoms themselves at home, with simple treatments like paracetamol, ibuprofen and good fluid intake.

We have strong immune systems as humans and we are able to tackle this, but there will be a percentage of patients who do require hospital admission.

The message from my perspective as an emergency medicine physician, is that while the majority of these cases can be managed in the community, it is important to avoid the hospital, and certainly visiting the hospital with relatives, etc., to avoid spread.

Symptoms

If anyone has severe shortness of breath, chest pain, is looking unwell, with very high fevers, difficulty walking, confusion, drowsiness, many strange rashes, or signs of serious illness then they should present to be reviewed. And it may be the case that they could be discharged. The majority of cases would be that. But that we do keep an eye out for the rare serious complications of flu.

My advice to people really is looking after general health at Christmas. There are other ways to keep in touch with loved ones such as over Zoom or on video calls, etc. You know, we need to look after the most vulnerable people in our society, anyone who is high risk. I think it is prudent to keep your distance from them and use those other modalities.

But I think looking after our own health as well in terms of watching alcohol intake, salt intake, plenty of fresh air exercise. So we don't want to decompensate any of our own underlying illnesses, which could land us into a hospital over the period. Additionally, of course, avoiding unnecessary risks such as perhaps being up ladders or speeding on roads, et cetera. So there's lots we can do self-care-wise over the holiday season to make sure that we have a great time, but also don't end up in an environment which is very, very concentrated with regard to flu, Covid, and RSV.
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The ACLU of Missouri has filed a lawsuit in the Cole County Circuit Court against the state of Missouri and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to suspend the implementation of the state's new gerrymandered congressional map.

The lawsuit calls for the map's implementation to be delayed until the process is complete for a referendum that would force a statewide vote on the map. Political action group People Not Politicians submitted 305,000 signatures for its referendum petition to Hoskins' office and is awaiting certification of the signatures.

Hoskins, along with Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, have said the new map is in effect despite the ongoing referendum process.

The ACLU of Missouri argues in the lawsuit, filed Tuesday, that enacting the map before the referendum process is complete violates the Missouri Constitution.

"By attempting to enact the new maps despite receiving more than 305,000 signatures from Missouri voters demanding a referendum, the secretary of state is denying a longstanding tradition, judicial precedent, and our constitutional rights," Tori Schafer, who serves as director of policy and campaigns for the ACLU of Missouri, said in a news release.

Hanaway has asked a federal judge to impose sanctions on People Not Politicians' lawyers over the political action group's statements that the map is not in effect.

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Other lawsuits

The ACLU of Missouri's new lawsuit is the latest in a handful of legal challenges related to the map gerrymandering Missouri's congressional districts.

People Not Politicians has an active lawsuit in Cole County against Hoskins, which asks a judge to overturn the ballot language Hoskins wrote for the referendum on the map. That case is set for a bench trial on Jan. 16.

The Missouri NAACP is awaiting a verdict in its case against parties including Gov. Mike Kehoe, which argues Kehoe illegally called the special session where lawmakers passed the gerrymandered map at Kehoe's request. The state filed a proposed judgment on Friday, and a case review hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6.

People Not Politicians is also awaiting a decision from a Cole County judge in a lawsuit over the validity of signatures it collected for its referendum petition. The judge has postponed a decision until signatures for the referendum petition are certified or rejected.
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By Ann O'Loughlin

A patient who was injured when a ceiling collapsed on top of him in a critical care unit has settled a High Court action.

Hugh O'Donnell (76) was in the critical care unit of St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny, last August when part of the ceiling fell onto his bed.

The elderly man ended up covered in water and debris and was in some distress when found by hospital staff.

His counsel Niall Flynn BL, instructed by Whelan Law solicitors, told the High Court that the incident happened on August 15th this year but the action before the courts had been case-managed so it could be brought on faster because of Mr ODonnells general health.

Counsel said Mr ODonnell had been in the critical care unit for treatment for respiratory sepsis and other infections. He said that part of the ceiling which had become saturated with water gave way and collapsed on Mr ODonnells hospital bed.

Counsel said the water continued to flow and Mr ODonnell was in distress and his bed was saturated when he was found by staff. He had also suffered abrasions and lacerations to his head. The ODonnell side also contended there were psychiatric injuries.

Counsel said that liability had been conceded early in the case and St Lukes Hospital accepted that the incident was very distressing for Mr ODonnell. The HSE in correspondence said it regretted the incident that occurred.

Counsel said that the HSE had a patient safety open disclosure meeting with the ODonnell family, which is believed to be the first such meeting under the new framework.

Mr ODonnells family, he said, were grateful for the way the case had been met.

Hugh O'Donnell who resides in a nursing home in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny had sued St Lukes Hospital and the HSE.

In the proceedings, it was claimed there was a failure to take any reasonable care to see Mr O'Donnell was reasonably safe while on the hospital premises.

It was also claimed that the premises had remained in an unsafe condition, causing a source of danger or a trap to those using it.

It was further claimed that the ceiling had been permitted to remain in a dangerous, hazardous and defective condition.

It was also contended that there was a failure to ensure that the ceiling was attended to in a timely manner to ensure it would not constitute a source of danger to those on the premises.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he was delighted to hear the case had been resolved with such expedition. The details of the settlement are confidential.
PLANS are underway to install a specially-commissioned sculpture on the main entrance roundabout in Mountmellick.

A sculptor has already been selected to work on the installation and a preliminary design has been devised, which focuses on the towns famous lace heritage.

The project will include landscaping and planting on the roundabout, to create an attractive feature for locals and visitors on entering the town.

Details of the plan were outlined by Laois Co Councils Town Regeneration Officer Denise Rainey, at the December meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/ Mountmellick Municipal District (MD).

As the roundabout is on the N80 route, the project requires approval from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Ms Rainey said the council is engaging with the TII office in Kildare regarding the sculpture plans.

Details of the small project that could have a big impact were given to councillors at the MD meeting, during a presentation on the Mountmellick Town Centre First Plan which was launched on 18 November.

The plan contains five key projects, with the enhancement of O'Connell Square selected as the Town Team's priority scheme.

Ms Rainey explained that the Town Centre First Plan, which followed almost a year-and-a-half of planning and public consultation, was not completed in time for the latest round of Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding.

However, she said there are some small scale projects that can go ahead first if funding is available, including the roundabout sculpture and landscaping. She said: That is the first project I would like to see over the line.

Ms Rainey described the launch of the Town Centre First plan as very positive and "a milestone" for Mountmellick but observed: This is only the start of the journey. The real work is only beginning now.

With five key projects identified and a 40-point action plan, the council must start developing what are known as Part 8s, which allow for planning permission for local authority projects, in order to look for funding.

Overall, the Town Centre First plan aims to regenerate and revitalise Mountmellick and enhance the surrounding landscape. It will serve as a basis for future developments in the town, as well as assist the Town Team and Laois Co Council in securing funding for the proposals.

Ms Rainey said the launch night in Mountmellick Library was a great success while all the engagement meetings in advance of the plan, such as the business breakfasts, were well attended and very positive.

Councillors at the MD meeting paid tribute to Ms Rainey and the Town Team for their work and commitment in developing the plan. Cllr Paddy Bracken from Mountmellick said: Its an excellent plan and Im looking forward to progress on it.

Cllr Ollie Clooney asked whether Ballacolla would be eligible for a similar plan, as he described the village as a blackspot in terms of community development.

Cllr Clooney said: I would like to see funds going to rural areas, as little villages are dying and dying fast. Towns can stand on their own feet.

Ms Rainey replied that any centre with a population of over 500 can be considered for such a scheme. She said the council team works with community groups and would be happy to engage with any group regarding specific projects.

She added: We try to encourage local groups to be self-sufficient. We are willing to work with any village or community group. The most important thing is a community group that is willing to work on plans.

There wont be as much funding as for towns such as Mountrath, Mountmellick, Rathdowney and others that have Town Centre First Plans, but we can work with any community group.

Council director of services Angela McEvoy pointed out that the next Our Rural Future government strategy is due next year. She said: We will be doing one collectively in Laois Co Council. You have to have a plan in place to get funding.

Since the MD meeting, funding of 347,000 was announced for Mountmellick on 22 December under the last Town and Village Renewal Scheme. A total of 297,000, will go towards enhancement of the carpark, with improvements to include resurfacing, EV charger ducting, space marking, pedestrian safety enhancements and a widened entrance and exit.

A further 50,000 will go to development of a masterplan for Smiths Field, an under-utilised green space in the town centre.
THE search is on for community heroes in Laois, as part of a nationwide callout with a prize fund of 80,000.

Four winners will receive 20,000 each for charity in the AXA Community Hero Awards, which recognise people who go out of their way to help others.

People are invited to nominate someone who makes a meaningful difference in their area, before the closing date of 4pm on Monday 5 January.

Heroes can be nominated in one of four categories - road safety, mental health, sustainability and womens safety and wellbeing.

Four community heroes will be selected from around the country, with the winners receiving 20,000 each to donate to their chosen charity.

According to insurance company AXA Ireland, the judging panel will be looking for people who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity to help others. The winners will be announced later in January.

Elizabeth Arnett of AXA said: So many of us know someone who always goes the extra mile to help shape a better future for everyone in their community. AXA want to show them how much their efforts mean and give a real boost to causes close to their hearts.

To make a nomination, people can use no more than 150 words to explain how someone has positively impacted their community under one of the four categories and why they should be recognised as a Community Hero.

Nominations can be submitted online at www.axa.ie. Staff at AXAs Laois branch at Unit 8 Lyster Square, Portlaoise will be happy to answer any questions people have about the nomination process.
The women who shaped the private life of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman are speaking out once again.

Following the recent release of the documentary Married to El Chapo: Emma Coronel Speaks, Lucero Guadalupe Sanchez Lopez, a former Mexican congresswoman and alleged former romantic partner of Guzman, has publicly challenged the narrative presented by Emma Coronel, the drug lord's wife.

In a recent interview with journalist Luis Chaparro, Sanchez rejected the suggestion that Coronel was unaware of Guzman's relationships with other women during their marriage.

"She knew I existed," Sanchez said. "You can't live in that world and be blind."

A Competing Version of the Story

In the documentary, Coronel presents a more personal account of her life with Guzman, discussing motherhood, her years living in remote mountain regions, and the emotional toll of being married to one of the world's most wanted men. She acknowledges hearing rumors of infidelity but claims she never saw concrete proof.

Sanchez argues that the documentary tells only part of the story and omits what she describes as the darker realities faced by women involved with Guzman. According to her, the long-standing portrayal of a love triangle obscures a much more troubling dynamic.

Sanchez testified against Guzman during his 2019 federal trial in New York, often referred to as the "Trial of the Century." She says seeing her name resurface in connection with the documentary compelled her to speak publicly again.

Allegations of Abuse and Coercion

One of Sanchez's most serious claims involves the beginning of her relationship with Guzman. She alleges that their first encounter was not consensual.

According to her account, what began as a job offer when she was 20 years old turned into a period of forced confinement in the mountains. Sanchez said she believed she was accepting work as a stylist but instead found herself isolated and unable to leave for weeks.

"I never imagined I would end up being held against my will," Sanchez said, alleging physical abuse by Guzman, a side of the cartel leader that she claims is rarely discussed publicly.

These allegations have not been independently verified and Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the United States, has not responded publicly to Sanchez's statements.

Did Emma Coronel Know?

Sanchez's comments place renewed scrutiny on Coronel's portrayal in the documentary. While Coronel describes herself as emotionally affected by rumors of infidelity, Sanchez insists that the presence of multiple women was widely known within Guzman's inner circle.

"She knew perfectly well about me and about others," Sanchez said. "It was an open secret."

Her statements complicate the image of Coronel presented in the film, suggesting that Guzman's relationships were part of a more complex and tense reality than the documentary acknowledges.

From Politics to Prison

Sanchez's own trajectory remains one of the most striking in the history of the Sinaloa Cartel. She became the youngest lawmaker in the history of Sinaloa before being accused by U.S. authorities of acting as a romantic partner and financial intermediary for Guzman.

Her 2014 visit to the high-security Altiplano prison using false identification brought her into the international spotlight. She was later arrested, extradited to the United States, and sentenced after cooperating with prosecutors.

Now living under supervised release after completing her sentence, Sanchez says she is trying to reclaim her identity beyond the labels that have followed her for more than a decade.

Her response to Married to El Chapo: Emma Coronel Speaks, she insists, is not solely a rebuttal to Coronel's account, but an effort to tell what she describes as her own truth and to denounce the abuse she says she endured at the hands of Guzman.

Originally published on Latin Times
Former Bethlehem Police Department school resource officer Costas Alestas was sentenced Monday to 10 to 20 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a student at East Hills Middle School, according to a news release from the Northampton County District Attorneys Office.

The 44-year-old Easton man pleaded guilty in April to sexually assaulting the girl in the boys locker room during a school dance. Alestas was a police officer assigned to the school.

Alestas tried to withdraw his guilty plea in September, but Northampton County Judge Samuel Murray denied that request in November.

Mr. Alestas maintained his innocence since the beginning of this case, his attorney, Thomas Clemens of Philadelphia, said on Monday.

Clemens said case law supports Alestas right to withdraw his guilty plea. Alestas hesitated when the allegations were recited, and it was obvious that he did not agree with them, Clemens said. Alestas later testified to his innocence at the motion to withdraw the plea, Clemens said.

We are disappointed that the trial court did not allow him to withdraw the guilty plea, and we are hopeful that the trial court will either change its position during post-sentence motions or that the Superior Court will agree that Mr. Alestas deserves to withdraw the plea and have a trial, Clemens said.

Alestas admitted to repeated inappropriate communications with the girl between March and May 2024, admitted he sexually assaulted her in his car at the William Penn Highway Park and Ride in Bethlehem Township and admitted he sexually assaulted her in his car at Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem Township.

He pleaded guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Alestas also admitted he took an upskirt video of a different girl at a different time in the school. He pleaded guilty to invasion of privacy and got a year of probation for that crime, according to District Attorney Stephen Baratta.

Murray sentenced Alestas on Monday. He also found Alestas to be a sexually violent predator, which means he will have to register his address with law enforcement for the rest of his life.
Christmas Day is celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 25, this year, and most stores will be closed.

Many stores will be open under limited hours on Christmas Eve so people can finish shopping for last-minute holiday gifts.

However, once Christmas arrives, most stores will remain closed for the day so that staff can celebrate with family and friends.

Heres everything you need to know about store hours on Christmas Day.

Most supermarkets will be closed, but some are open with reduced hours, if you need to grab some holiday dinner ingredients. Shoppers should ultimately check with their local supermarket for specific information.

The following major supermarkets will be open on Christmas Day:

The following major supermarket chains in New Jersey are scheduled to be closed on Christmas Day:

Most major retail stores will be closed, including big-box retailers, such as Walmart, Target, Kohls and Costco.

However, some convenience stores and pharmacies will be open. It is best to check with the individual stores hours though as they may vary by location due to the holiday.

What malls are open on Christmas Day 2025?

Most, if not all, malls and major shopping centers in New Jersey will be closed on Christmas Day.

Shoppers should either visit on Christmas Eve when there open with reduced hours or on Friday, Dec. 26, when they will be open with regular hours.
UPDATE: Pending sale of Dunderbaks at Lehigh Valley Mall announced as restaurant approaches 50th year

Shoppers wont have to wait too much longer to get a cup of java and maybe a sweet treat or two as they browse the shops at Lehigh Valley Mall.

The long-awaited Dunkin plans to open a kiosk on the main level across from LUSH and Francescas. Signs went up recently saying the eatery will open on Dec. 29.

Dunkin is moving into the former Starbucks location, which abruptly shuttered in late August 2024. The space has sat idle ever since with the exception of The Tea Lady temporarily operating a pop-up location from November through the end of December 2024. Dunkin in March announced plans to use the space.

Its unclear what took so long for the eatery to open.

Lehigh Valley Mall Director of Marketing and Business Development Shannon Palzer could not immediately be reached for comment Monday morning. Nor could Citizen Relations, the California- and New York-based public relations firm that handles communications for the mall owner, Simon Property Group.

Dunkin will join at least two other new dining establishments.

Nori Japan plans to move into vacant space on the malls main level, beside the Cheesecake Factory. An opening date is yet to be announced by mall representatives.

The eatery plans to serve up Japanese-style selections prepared with fresh ingredients. Such dishes as teriyaki beef and chicken will be prepared by chefs on a teppanyaki grill in front of patrons. Other menu items may include Tempura; sesame chicken; Kushiyaki and assorted sushi rolls.

Additionally, Drink Fresh by Djurdjura recently opened on the malls upper level. The business serves fresh fruit smoothies.

Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery has since filled the 2,200-square-foot anchor space previously occupied by Pocono Brewing Company at the Lifestyle Center. DColombia Restaurant & Bakery opened in the summer at the site previously occupied by Indian Bite.

Operations reportedly will cease at 2 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025 for Chick-Fil-As Lehigh Valley Mall location. AP

Last call

Soon itll be the last call for chicken sandwiches paired with waffles fries at one of the malls most popular and longest-lasting dining restaurants.

Chick-fil-A previously announced over the summer plans to shutter permanently on the main level. It opened in the late 1990s near the malls main entrance.

While chain spokeswoman Kali Caldwell then told lehighvalleylive.com Chick-Fil-A was eyeing an early 2026 departure, recent signs at that site suggests the restaurant will close even earlier.

WFMZ-69 News is reporting operations will cease at 2 p.m. Dec. 31 for Chick-Fil-As mall location.

The reason for the closure remains unclear. Chick-Fil-A continues to operate a nearby site on MacArthur Road in Whitehall, as well as in Pohatcong Township; Lower Nazareth Township; and Lower Macungie Township.

It has been our pleasure to serve each and every guest at this location for the past 27 years, and we look forward to continuing to serve the surrounding community at our nearby locations, Caldwell had said.

Chick-Fil-A isnt the only dining establishment to recently call it quits at the mall. Several others also have previously vacated.

Dino Sweets was no longer operating early last month on the malls upper level and has since been removed from the online directory. The kiosk operated for five years at the mall. Dino Sweets was known for its mini doughnuts with assorted toppings, churros, and beverage selections.

Tasty Bitez, a restaurant serving up Mediterranean-style cuisine, permanently closed sometime in the fall in the space next to Chick-Fil-A.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in September closed in the former Bravo! Cucina Italiana space at the Lifestyle Center. A message on the chains website later indicated all locations have since shuttered.

Indian Bite shuttered for good on Oct. 6 on the main level.

Pocono Brewing Company, next to the Apple store, abruptly closed in February at the Lifestyle Center.

Dunderbaks Market Cafe owner Bill Baker announced in the summer he would close permanently if he couldnt find a new owner by February 2026. The cafe remains the longest continuously-operated, independently-owned business at the mall.

Sugar Bear Candy Store opened on April 12, 2025 on the main level, across from Lush and Pandora. The site previously occupied candy and gift retailer Lolli & Pops, which closed amid the coronavirus pandemic in July 2020. The sweet shop is known for its selection of chocolates, gummies, novelty candies, truffles and assorted nuts. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann | For lehighvalleylive.com

Filling vacancies

The bustling shopping destination at MacArthur Road and Grape Street in Whitehall has seen its share of other changeups in recent months.

The mall bid farewell to fashion clothier Forever 21 in February on the malls upper level. Austin 5 on the main level also shuttered.

Some of the most recent arrivals include womens fashion retailer, Dry Goods; Star Park Indoor Playground & Party; and Sugar Bear Candy Store, all on the main level, as well as Waikiki, a womens boutique, on the upper level.

Additions include Address For Him; Miniso; and Carters/OshKosh Bgosh. Address For Him opened in early in the former spot of Jennifers Unique Boutique on the upper level. The boutique has since moved to the Lifestyle Center.

Aside from some of the dining departures, including the large former Ruby Tuesday space, just a few other vacancies remain at the mall.

Theres the former Face Foundrie space at the Lifestyle Center and some empty spots next to the Pink store on the main level, as well as a handful of other empty storefronts on the malls upper level, according to mall directory maps.
An Irish-owned discount retail chain that boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic is closing one of its stores in Portlaoise, with the doors set to shut.

Homesavers was founded in 2018 with its first shop opening in Ballysimon, Limerick. At one point, there were over 50 stores nationwide and over 1,200 team members.

The chain opened three shops in Portlaoise in 2019; one in the Portlaoise Retail Park and two more in the Lismard Business Park. The chain subsequently closed its store beside Mr Price in Lismard, which remains vacant. The business confirmed another closure to the Leinster Express / Laois Live in a statement issued on December 22.

"We can confirm the Homesavers store in Lismard Business Park, Portlaoise, will be closing in January and all employees have been informed and will be redeployed to other Homesavers stores," said a statement.

Staff at the store expect that Christmas week will be the final days of trading, as most of the shelves have been cleared of goods. Customers have been advised that the outlet in the nearby Portlaoise Retail Park will continue to trade.

Homesavers sell a wide variety of products that include homewares, health and beauty, tech, toys, food and more.

READ ALSO: Laois residents warned as children among recent bogus house callers

The Irish Times reported in 2022 that the company behind Homesavers almost doubled in size during the early part of the pandemic with revenues hitting nearly 70 million.

Centz Retail Holdings Ltd showed a near fourfold rise in pretax profits to almost 7 million in 2020 at a time when revenues increased by 91.5 per cent to 69.57 million.

Many of the big discount store chains like Homesavers operate in Portlaoise. These include Mr Price, Dealz and Eurosavers.
Environmental groups from across Ireland were welcomed to Laois this month for the Irish Environmental Network (IEN) Winter Conference.

Laois Public Participation Network (PPN) presented their Climate Action Project at the event which took place at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise.

Laois PPN consists of over 700 member groups from the Community, Social Inclusion and Environmental Pillars.

Gary Luttrell (Abbeyleix Bog Project Director) and Nuala Madigan (Irish Peatland Conservation Council) at the conference (Photo by Michael Scully).

The Laois PPN Climate Action Project delivers a wide range of community-focused events and initiatives, including a free native Irish tree giveaway, biodiversity walks, sustainable travel events, and funding and capacity-building workshops.

READ NEXT: Big step forward as Midlands Hospice to serve Laois gets green light from Council

Within the project, a strong emphasis is placed on collaboration with Community Groups and key stakeholders, such as Laois County Council, to support meaningful and practical climate action at local level.

Angela Deegan (Not Gere Not Anywhere) and Maria Cullen (The Organic Centre: IEN Board) at the IEN Winter Conference (Photo by Michael Scully).

Speaking at the IEN Winter Conference, Dan Bergin, Laois PPN Co-Ordinator, said: "Laois PPNs Climate Action Project aims to engage and empower communities, foster collaboration, and support positive, community-led climate action initiatives."

Gary Lutteral delivered an informative presentation at the conference on the Abbeyleix Bog Project which serves as an excellent example of a community-led conservation initiative and IPB Pride of Place award winner.

Dan Bergin (Laois PPN Co-ordinator) speaking at the conference (Photo by Michael Scully).

The conference was considered a major success, with environmental groups from across the country journeying to Laois to engage and share ideas with county representatives on climate action.

The event also highlighted the importance of local initiatives such as the Laois PPN Climate Action Project in supporting community-led environmental action nationwide.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Met Eireann has made its call on the Festive weather forecast and the potential for a dusting of snow over Ireland to make it a white Christmas in Laois.

The good news is that Christmas is set to coincide with the end of the sustained spell of wet weather, which has saturated Laois and other parts of Ireland.

Given the amount of rain that has fallen, it might be a relief for many that snow isn't registering on Met Eireann's weather radar for Christmas week and beyond as a ridge of high pressure builds over Ireland that looks set to block out precipitation. More details below post.

#Weather for the week ahead



Today will be generally cloudy with mist and scattered rain or drizzle which will move westwards through the day. Itll become drier in the east with some bright spells developing



Highs of 6 to 11 C in a light to moderate easterly or variable breeze. pic.twitter.com/KjQaQDqU7r  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) December 22, 2025

Forecast issued by Met Eireann for Christmas Eve features cloudy and dry for most with a few light showers or spots of drizzle, and just limited bright spells developing.

The forecaster says temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees are expected in just light to moderate easterly winds, fresh at times near exposed coasts.

It should be a fairly settled voyage in Ireland on Christmas Eve night for Santa. Met Eireann expects it to be largely dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells. It will be a big chilly, however, with lowest temperatures dropping to -1 to +4 degrees in light, occasionally moderate, easterly breezes with frost likely to form.

The forecaster says Christmas Day is expected to dry for most with sunny spells and just a few spots of light rain and drizzle possible. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate easterly breezes, fresher at times near eastern and southern coasts.

READ ALSO: Laois town's Christmas lights going one one by one due with explanation given

St Stephen's Day is also shaping up to be another largely dry day with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells. Met Eireann expects highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light, occasionally moderate, northeasterly breezes.

High pressure will continue to dominate for the weekend with mostly dry conditions and highest daytime temperatures generally ranging between 4 and 8 degrees.
People in County Kildare, as well as throughout the rest of Ireland, are being informed about a change to the St Stephen's Day bank holiday next year in 2026 when it falls on a Saturday.

There are 10 public holidays in Ireland each year and 2026 is no different with the first Bank Holiday being New Year's Day. The number of Bank Holidays increased from 9 to 10 in 2023 with the introduction of St Brigid's Day.

Since 2023, there has been a new annual public holiday in early February to mark St Brigids Day. The public holiday is the first Monday in February, except where St Brigids Day (1 February) happens to fall on a Friday, in which case Friday 1 February will be a public holiday.

On a public holiday, sometimes called a bank holiday, most businesses and schools close. Other services (for example, public transport) still operate but often have restricted schedules. Public holidays are:

New Year's Day (1 January)

First Monday in February, or 1 February if the date falls on a Friday

Saint Patrick's Day (17 March)

Easter Monday

First Monday in May

First Monday in June

First Monday in August

Last Monday in October

Christmas Day (25 December)

Saint Stephen's Day (26 December)

READ NEXT: Electricity bills to rise to pay for estimated 19 billion national grid revamp

However, with St Stephen's Day falling on a Saturday in 2026, the bank holiday will be observed on Monday, December 28.

In 2026, the Bank Holidays are:

January 1

February 2

March 17

April 6

May 4

June 1

August 3

October 26

December 25

December 26 (observed Dec 28)

Despite a common misconception, Good Friday is not a public holiday. While some schools and businesses close on that day, you have no automatic entitlement to time off work on that day.

How is the date of Easter Monday set each year?

Easter Monday is the only public holiday that can vary significantly from year to year. The date of Easter moves every year.

Easter should be the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after 21 March. This means the earliest possible date for Easter Sunday in any year is 22 March, and the latest is 25 April.

Easter Monday falls on 21 April 2025 and 6 April 2026. You can find out more information on entitlements, etc on the Citizens Information website.
A Leitrim Councillor has spoken out after local TD's supported the Government's decision to proceed with plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal at Shannon.

Speaking to Oceanfm, Cllr Eddie Mitchell said: "It's not OK for Sinn Fein or Marian Harkin to be silent about it or Eamon Scanlon or Frank Feighan to be silent about it. Those two men helped Tony McLoughlin when he banned fracking. The gas is still there."

He added: "Eamon Scanlon should be talking to Darragh O'Brien and getting him to publicly clarify that there is no support for private liquefied natural gas (LNG) but the Taoiseach came out at the weekend and said he couldn't have LNG quick enough. They shouldn't be part of this government. Why is Marion Harkin supporting this government? The people that voted for her to bring in changes to the Arbitration Act; they didn't support her to remove Irish neutrality. Why is she supporting that government? It's not OK."

READ MORE: Safeguarding issues identified in mostly positive HIQA inspection of Leitrim residential centre

He went to say that "in the past, there was great leadership shown by Eamon Scanlon and Frank Feighan on fracking. Before the elections, Marion Harkin did work on the LNG and we thought she was going to be there for us on that issue."

He continued: "Our TDs in north Leitrim understand the importance of protecting areas like Glenfarne and Kilty and keeping fracking out of there."

Cllr Mitchell has been raising concerns over fracked gas for a number of years and addressed a crowd at a protest outside the Dail earlier this year.

He said: "Now we are removing the Triple Lock, fast-tracking large-scale infrastructure, making deals with corporations that can sue the Irish state; we're agreeing that if a corporation gets a finding in an international court that the Irish government will facilitate that; the affect of that is we won't be able to stop big corporates coming in and extracting resources from here."

READ MORE: Major funding announcement for Leitrim projects welcomed locally

He went on to say that the "narrative is that we have to keep the lights on and build housings but the reality is that's not what's going on. Over 21% of our electricity is going to data centres."

He concluded by saying that the government of "walking away from climate action."
Almost 1 million in funding has been announced for four Leitrim projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The funding was confirmed by Minister Dara Calleary on December 22, providing a welcome Christmas boost for the four Leitrim communities set to benefit. In total, Leitrim has been allocated 966,801, with Keshcarrigan receiving the largest share of 500,000.

The funding will support the completion of phase two redevelopment works on the former Garda Barracks in Keshcarrigan, allowing the building to be brought into use as a multi-purpose facility for the local community.

More than four years ago, Keshcarrigan Development Association submitted an Expression of Interest under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2021, seeking funding to retain and repurpose the old Garda Barracks as a Community and Heritage Centre. That application was successful, and the contract for phase one was signed in September 2024.

Local councillor Gary Prior described the announcement as fantastic news for the committee and all those involved. Great credit goes to the committee and to Leitrim County Council staff who lodged this application on behalf of Keshcarrigan, said Cllr Prior.

READ NEXT: GALLERY: Leitrim business celebrates anniversary in style

Keshcarrigan needed that funding to get over the line. Its great news and very welcome for them, he added.

Additional funding includes 300,000 for enhancements to The Docks public realm. This project will feature biodiverse and sustainable landscaping, accessible seating suitable for small performances, restoration of the stone steps, and the secure replacement of the side gate.

Carrigallen has been allocated 139,705 for a Streetscape Enhancement Scheme aimed at revitalising the villages appearance, fostering local pride, and making it a more vibrant and attractive place to live, work, and do business. Meanwhile, 27,096 has been awarded to Fenagh for the redevelopment and extension of the Fenagh Visitor Centre, strengthening its role as a cultural, educational, and recreational hub.

With three of the four successful projects located within the Ballinamore Municipal District, Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn welcomed the announcement. Im delighted to see 27,096 for the redevelopment and extension of the Fenagh Visitor Centre, alongside 139,705 for Carrigallen which will deliver a Streetscape Enhancement Scheme to revitalise the appearance of Carrigallen village, and a whopping 500,000 to complete phase 2 redevelopment works on the former Garda Barracks, for use as a multi-purpose facility for the local community, she said.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge the efforts of our local TD and Minister, Frank Feighan for assisting me in making the appropriate representations and lobbying Ministers Callery and Buttimer to ensure these local projects are funded successfully, she added.

READ NEXT: Leitrim secures almost 1 million for town and village regeneration projects

Minister Frank Feighan also praised the dedication of local communities involved in securing the funding. I am thrilled for the local committees, their endless meetings, form filling and fund raising has paid off, he said.
Leitrim councillor and north-west-based teacher James Gilmartin has warned against a potential incentives programme that could draw more teachers from the North West to the capital.

The warning comes after Department of Education officials began considering new initiatives, including targeted bursaries for teachers, to address recruitment challenges faced by schools, particularly in the Dublin region.

The independent councillor told Ocean FM that such a move could see young teachers leave the North West in favour of better pay in the capital.

READ MORE: Over half a million in funding for Leitrim towns to take on key projects

I would tentatively welcome it if it is going to attract more people into the teaching profession, where there is obviously a serious issue with securing resource teachers, substitute teachers and the like, and many schools are missing out as a result, he said.

However, he believes that any initiative to incentivise teachers must be implemented with a full national approach in mind.

It cant be at the expense of other parts of the country. If you are attracting people to Dublin with higher wages, or however they plan to implement it, it is obviously going to have negative effects on areas like the North West, he added.

READ MORE: Tributes flood in for young Leitrim man taken away too soon
Cllr. Marvey, right, awarding certificate to one of the hard-working staff
A drone picture of dredges on the River Gbeh in Sinoe County in 2024. The DayLight/Derick Snyder
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President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. and U.S. President Donald J. Trump share a light moment during their July 2025 meeting  a snapshot that has taken on added significance following Trumps recent phone call, underscoring a relationship that has evolved from symbolism to strategic engagement as Liberia enters a pivotal phase in its ties with Washington and prepares to take its seat on the U.N. Security Council.
LIMERICK firefighters entered a burning building in the early hours of this Tuesday morning and rescued a woman, Limerick Live has learned.

The fire broke out at an apartment in the Nicholas Street area of the city shortly before 3am.

READ NEXT: Shots fired at a house in feud-related incident in Limerick town

Firefighters rushed to the scene where the blaze was well established with thick smoke billowing out windows.

They entered the apartment, discovered an elderly lady inside and brought her to safety. Paramedics, also in attendance, treated the woman for smoke inhalation. It is understood she will make a full recovery.

After ensuring there were no other occupants the apartment fire was quickly extinguished.

A garda spokesperson confirmed to Limerick Live, following a media query, that they assisted Limerick Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a fire.

It occurred at a domestic residence in Limerick city this Tuesday morning, December 23 at approximately 3am. No injuries have been reported at this time.

A technical examination of the scene has been conducted. No foul play is suspected at this time, said a garda spokesperson.

It is not known how the blaze started.
INVESTIGATIONS are ongoing following a major drugs seizure at Shannon Airport - just days before Christmas.

Revenue says 38kgs of herbal cannabis were located and seized by Customs officers during routine operations at the airport on Monday.

They say the drugs, which have an estimated street value of 760,000, were discovered in shipments which had originated in the United States of America.

A Revenue spokesperson says detector dogs Brody & Gus assisted Customs officers during the operation and that the cannabis was destined for addresses across the Mid-West and in the south of the country.

Gardai have been informed and the drugs will be subject to forensic examinations as part of the ongoing investigation.

No arrests have been made to date.

READ ALSO: Woman arrested following seizure of 100k worth of drugs in Limerick city

"This seizure is part of Revenues ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295," said a Revenue spokesperson.

This week's seizure is the latest to be made at Shannon Airport this year and follows a number of recent seizures in passengers' luggage.
The boom in interest in Irish culture is helping to fuel the rise in demand for Irish language classes, with a rapidly growing global network of students hungry for more opportunities to speak the language.

In New York, The Irish Arts Centre has tripled its number of classes since 2019.

We had one beginners class and one advanced beginners class, says teacher Caoimhe Nic Giollarnaith now we have three of each and they sell out in advance every term.

Her Irish language and literature undergraduate course at City University of New York also has a wait list every semester.

Having taught the language for 12 years, she is delighted at the boom in interest: Im really proud of my heritage and culture and that its finally reached a point where its not othered anymore and now people want to engage with it in different ways.

She said she started to see a growth in interest during the pandemic both because online classes became more accessible, but also she noticed people started questioning and wanting to connect with their cultural heritage.

Breakout Irish language cultural phenomena like the Oscar-nominated film The Quiet Girl, or An Cailin Ciuin, and headline-grabbing musicians Kneecap have also piqued pupils interest.

This, alongside Irish language social media influencers, has fuelled a growth of younger people signing up to her courses, when she started teaching retirees made up the majority of her students.

But she rejects the possibility that this wave of interest is simply a trend, saying: I absolutely think its sustainable and I think the number of Irish language speakers will continue to grow internationally.

Dr Ronan O Conghaile, founder of Lets Learn Irish  an online community of Irish learners, says he has taught the language at a dance camp in Romania, to dancers who wanted to take language classes because of their love of Riverdance.

He has recently hosted a Pop-up Gaeltact in Istanbul, which was attended by some curious locals: They dont have Irish heritage, he said but their interest in Ireland, the culture, minority languages.

He says the majority of those with a desire to learn about the language have Irish heritage, but some are simply language enthusiasts.

In June, he helped organise Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) exams to be held in Washington DC.

A TEG administrator flew to the States to facilitate exams for 25 students studying the language there.

TEG is the only system of certification for adult learners of Irish, and is administered by Maynooth University and the Department of Education.

Dr O Conghaile described being able to hold the exams in the US as a big achievement.

On the other side of the world, Cumann Gaeilge na hAstraile, Australias Irish Language Association, experienced a meadu suntasach, or significant increase in members in the last year, their numbers jumped from 50 members to 122.

The London Irish Centre has said there has been an unbelievable surge in interest  with five Cupla Focal (A Few Words) taster sessions selling out within just 10 minutes of release.

Reacting to the demand, the organisation has recently launched a new Scoil na Gaeilge (Irish School) which provides courses for a range of levels in collaboration with TEG.

Culture and education officer Rebecca Dorothy said enthusiasm for the courses has been overwhelming, adding more than 2,000 people have already signed up to express their interest, and the initial courses sold out in under 24 hours of being announced.

Paraic Donoghue has taught hundreds of pupils based in more than 50 countries including China, Japan and Russia from his base in Ontario, Canada.

Technology has enabled him to connect with people from across the globe, including several who started learning the language through the Duolingo app.

And he thinks technological advances will help more people access Irish, saying: With artificial intelligence and all of that coming down the pipeline, itll be interesting to see whats available.

But he still thinks the best way is to learn from a native speaker, adding: Theres a social connection that we still need, that I feel people are just starving for right now.
Indias Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA) has reset privacy expectations across the board. Companies must take strict measures to protect personal data, and citizens now have real rights over the information they share. All of this is unfolding at a time when AI is getting more capable and more deeply embedded in the apps and services we use every day. These shifts have created a new market for AI solutions to help companies with DPDPA compliance, like live dashboards that show what personal data is being collected across the organisation and automated alerts for any data breaches.

Also Read | Will AI take a toll on human cognitive skills? New study rings alarm bells

However, we are not seeing a similar wave of innovation to support citizens in understanding the law or exercising their rights. This imbalance matters, since the new adjudicatory body for privacy  the Data Protection Board (DPB)  has limited powers to act on its own and depends heavily on user complaints. Without aware and empowered citizens, the DPBs ability to enforce the law may remain underutilised.

Understanding privacy policies an uphill task This gap shows up constantly in our everyday digital lives. While most of us would say that we care about our privacy, we neither have the information nor the resources to protect it. We interact with hundreds of service providers without knowing what data each of them holds or how they use it. Apps nudge us to share more information, providing little clarity around whether its optional or how sharing this data may affect us.

Understanding privacy policies means reading through dense legal documents, which very few have the ability to do. We see headlines about data breaches and companies stealing our data and yet we find ourselves sharing information anyway. We have reached a stage of quiet complacency  stuck between mistrusting service providers, yet depending on them for everyday life, and not having the information or bandwidth to protect ourselves. This is a problem begging for a solution. If we already use AI for everything from meal planning to summarising complex documents, then why are we still navigating privacy alone?

Also Read | Agentic AI can lift bank revenues by up to 15%, McKinsey finds

Lets imagine an AI assistant for privacy that helps users navigate privacy choices through their digital lives, and that works entirely in their interest. Users set simple rules around what data they never want to share, what permissions theyre okay with, and what kind of explanation they want before sharing their personal data. Rules are set in plain language or even through voice commands, such as warn me when an app wants access to my microphone, never automatically store or share financial data with third parties, or even tell me if a service has had a recent data breach before I enter sensitive information.

Based on these rules, the assistant guides users through privacy decisions as they arise. This could mean alerting them to privacy policy updates that expand third-party access to their personal data, or flagging when a website permanently stores sensitive documents that most people assume are deleted after upload. Over time, the assistant also learns from user behaviour and adapts its guidance. For instance, if a user regularly enters credit card details manually, the assistant alerts them if an app tries to store payment information by default, and suggests saving this as a permanent rule.

If prompted, the assistant also explains the consequences of a choice in plain language. For example, if a banking app updates its policy to share account details with new partners, the user can ask Can I decline?. The assistant will outline their rights, why the bank needs this data, and what features might become inaccessible if they decline. More importantly, because its grounded in each users privacy preferences, the assistant can provide these explanations based on the risks that they usually avoid and the trade-offs they are comfortable making. This helps users understand not just whats happening with their data, but what each option or action means for them personally.

AI can help you focus on decisions that truly matter At the core of this idea is the recognition that people perceive privacy risks differently and want different levels of detail about how their data is being handled. A privacy assistant is not meant to decide what is objectively safe, but to reflect each users comfort levels and apply those boundaries consistently across digital interactions. While consent managers under the DPDPA make preferences easier to track and manage, the burden remains on users to understand and interpret privacy risks. An AI privacy assistant can bridge this gap by explaining rights and consequences in a language and context that the user understands, while also handling routine, repetitive tasks. This is precisely the benefit we want to see from AI  to reduce manual friction and free human attention for decisions that truly matter.

For the first time, India has both the regulatory imperative to empower users and the technological capability to turn ideas into tangible solutions. An AI-powered privacy assistant is just one example. For our new privacy regime to truly work, we need more focus, funding, and imagination towards innovation that enables the people whose data is at stake.
HCL Technologies Ltd announced acquisitions for $400 million in the past week, the most spent on such transactions in three years, to strengthen its AI and data offerings for customers increasingly adopting automation.

Indias third-largest IT services company said on Monday that it would spend more than $240 million to buy Jaspersoft, a US data analytics company. That day, HCL also said it would buy Wobby BV, a Belgian startup that provides AI agents for data analysis purposes.

The companys acquisition spree started on 18 December, when it said it would purchase the Telco Solutions business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise for $160 million. This division provides AI and cloud software to telecom companies.

The acquisitions come as a shot in the arm for C Vijayakumar, the chief executive officer of the fastest-growing of the countrys five largest IT services companies. HCL ended last year with $13.84 billion in revenue, up 4.3% from the preceding year.

The latest acquisitions are intended to improve capabilities and not to scale business units, according to Phil Fersht, CEO of HFS Research, a Massachusetts-based research firm. It signals intent and urgency as HCLTech accelerates its push to strengthen software-led and data-driven capabilities rather than rely solely on traditional services growth, he said.

The pace matters because it shows management believes the window to reposition for AI-led, platform-centric deals is now, not over the next few years. These are targeted capability buys, not scale acquisitions, aimed at sharpening differentiation in analytics, integration, and enterprise data workflows," Fersht said.

Data analysis

Jaspersoft, a business unit of Cloud Software Group based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, specialises in data analysis. As part of the acquisition, each of Jaspersofts 115 employees is expected to shift to HCLTechs software product arm called HCLSoftware. HCLTech did not share the incremental revenue from the acquisition, saying it had bought only certain assets and not a company whose revenue could be determined.

HCLTechs Jaspersoft acquisition will allow its clients to label, search and manage access to data.

As GenAI adoption accelerates, our customers want business intelligence solutions that can deliver consistent analytics and reports and offer flexibility to fully own the analytics experience," said Marc Potter, CEO and portfolio general manager of Actian, HCLSoftwares data and AI division.

The Wobby acquisition has a similar motive. Noida-based HCLTech paid about $5.3 million to acquire the startup. Upon completion of the acquisition, HCL is expected to get about $100,000 a year from Wobby.

Also Read | From buybacks to buyouts: TCS learns the Accenture playbook as outsourcing slows

Wobby is reinventing how teams do business intelligence by building AI agents that not only answer questions but also are evolving toward proactive analytics by sharing automated insights," said Amra Dorjbayar, CEO and co-founder of Wobby. Combining Wobbys capabilities with the Actian Data Intelligence platform will offer customers a differentiated approach to data management."

Both these acquisitions  Jaspersoft and Wobby  are aimed at improving AI and data offerings for HCLSoftware, which makes up a little less than a tenth of its total business. With these acquisitions, the IT services company eyes better AI and data capabilities to service clients increasing automation adoption. The acquisition of HPEs telco solutions business is expected to accelerate 5G network adoption.

Cash payment

HCLTechs acquisitions over the past seven days have a cumulative value of more than $400 million, or about 3,630 crore. Each acquisition will be paid for in cash and is expected to be completed within six months of signing. HCL ended FY25 with 8,245 crore in cash.

In December 2018, HCL spent $1.8 billion to acquire six software products from International Business Machines Corp. This was its highest spending on acquiring select assets and also the largest purchases in terms of value in the sector at the time. Subsequently, CEO Vijayakumar said the company would not spend as much on acquisitions as it had with the IBM purchases.

HCLs expenditure on acquisitions this year was the highest since spending 7,679 crore on acquisitions, both current and deferred payments, in the year ended March 2022, according to a Mint review of company financials. The acquisitions come as its peers turn their gaze towards inorganic growth and capability building.

On 10 December, Tata Consultancy Services, the biggest Indian IT services company, made its largest acquisition since going public in 2004, agreeing to acquire technology consulting firm Coastal Cloud for $700 million in cash. TCSs latest buyout is its second in less than two months.

The company acquired ListEngage MidCo for $73 million, a US digital marketing services firm, in October this year. TCS is expected to spend about $6.5 billion on data centres over the next six years.

In August, Wipro Ltd, the fourth-largest IT services company, acquired Harman Digital Transformation Services (DTS), the software services and engineering arm of the Connecticut-based audio product manufacturer, for $375 million. The Bengaluru-based company acquired Harman to strengthen its engineering and research and development arm.

This came a little more than a week after Infosys Ltd, the second-largest IT services company, announced its purchase of a 75% stake in Telstra, an Australian IT firm, for $150 million.
MUMBAI: After spending nearly $10 billion over three years to build Indias second-largest cement business, the Adani Group is moving to simplify what has become a sprawling corporate structure.

The board of Ambuja Cements Ltd, part of billionaire Gautam Adanis conglomerate, late on Monday approved a plan to merge ACC Ltd and Orient Cement Ltd into Ambuja. Ambuja currently holds 50.05% in ACC and 72.66% in Orient. The cement maker estimates that it will take about 12 months to secure approvals from shareholders, creditors and regulators and complete the transactions.

Shares of Ambuja Cements rose 2% on Tuesday following news of the merger, while the benchmark Sensex was largely flat.

The announcement comes a year after Ambujas board approved the amalgamation of listed Sanghi Industries and unlisted Penna Cement into itself last December, signalling a broader push by the group to consolidate assets acquired in quick succession since 2022.

Mint breaks down what this merger means for shareholders and how it reshapes Adanis cement business.

What does the merger mean for shareholders?

For every 100 shares of ACC, investors will receive 328 Ambuja shares. Orient Cement shareholders, meanwhile, will get 33 Ambuja shares for every 100 shares they own.

The swap ratio for ACC is broadly in line with its current market price, while the swap ratio for Orient implies an 8% premium over its latest trading price, according to analysts at Antique Stock Broking.

Following the allotment of shares, the promoter and promoter groups holding will fall to 60.94% from 67.65% after the merger of all four companies, including Sanghi Industries and Penna Cement.

What does it mean for Adani's cement business?

After the mergers, the Ambuja and ACC brands will continue to operate as usual. The move will create a single, pan-India cement player under the Adani Group.

By bringing Ambuja Cements, ACC, and Orient Cement under a single corporate structure, we are strengthening our ability to drive operational excellence, accelerate growth, and deliver sustainable long-term value," Karan Adani, non-executive director, Ambuja Cements, Adani Group, was quoted as saying in a company statement on the merger. This merger builds on our already proven track record to further position the business to drive efficiency and productivity."

All assets, including intangible assets such as brands and trademarks, and all liabilities, including reserves, of ACC and Orient Cement will be transferred to Ambujas standalone financial statements, as per the statement.

The amalgamation eliminates structural duplication, reduces administrative costs, and enables faster, more agile decision-making. In addition, there will be no specific MSA required with ACC, Orient, Penna & Sanghi as these subsidiaries will become an integral part of Ambuja Cements," it added.

A master supply agreement (MSA) is required to share resources, such as cement, clinker, raw materials, and toll grinding for cost savings, leveraging their combined scale.

The merger will also simplify procurement and sales networks across Adanis cement business and reduce branding and sales promotion expenses, the company said in the statement. This is expected to improve margins by at least 100 per tonne, according to the company.

Also Read | Adani to build its first cement factory from scratch

How do analysts view this?

Analysts at Motilal Oswal said in a note dated 23 December that the announcement is a positive development. They said the transaction represents a step towards simplifying the groups cement structure and aligns with managements stated focus on consolidation, scale and capital efficiency.

They added that the merger improves balance-sheet flexibility and strengthens Ambujas ability to drive synergies across its cement portfolio.

The restructuring is expected to lead to meaningful cost savings and better margins for Ambuja over FY26-28, analysts at Antique Stock Broking said in a note dated 23 December.

How much has Adani spent to become the second-largest cement company?

Gautam Adani agreed to buy Swiss cement maker Holcims India businessesACC and Ambuja Cementsfor $6.5 billion in 2022, marking the groups entry into the cement sector.

Cumulatively, the group has spent a little under $10 billion acquiring five companies, including Sanghi Cement, Penna Cement and Orient Cement, excluding greenfield expansions. Taken together, these companies have an annual cement production capacity of 107 million tonnes per annum, second only to Aditya Birla Groups UltraTech Cement.
NEW DELHI : Boeing aims to increase production of narrow-body jets to 47 a month starting next year, from 42 currently, as it seeks to expedite deliveries to its Indian customers Air India and Akasa that have placed substantial orders with the US-based aircraft maker.

As we target a production rate of 47 per month in the near term, the rampup enables greater predictability. A tighter supply chain oversight has already driven a 60% reduction in sourcelevel issues," a Boeing spokesperson told Mint.

Boeing's planned production ramp-up comes at a time when Indias air carriers have complained that supply delays by plane makers have hurt expansion plans. Tata-owned Air India Group has placed orders for nearly 570 jets spread between two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) - European plane maker Airbus and Boeing. SNV Aviation-owned Akasa will have an all-Boeing fleet of 226 aircraft. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which runs India's largest airline IndiGo, has an all-Airbus fleet.

As Indian airline customers look to grow their short- and long-haul operations, the ramp-up resulting from our improvements in safety and quality will provide stability and predictability for customers in India, supporting growth across narrow and widebody fleets," the Boeing spokesperson added.

Air India status

in 2023, Air Indias 570 plane order included 220 Boeing jets spread between narrow-body (for short-haul international and domestic operations) and twin-aisle ones (primarily for long-haul international operations). The orders consist of 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777-X, and 190 Boeing 737-8 (narrow body). Since September 2023, Air India has taken delivery of 35 Boeing 737-8 single-aisle aircraft. The first line-fit, airline-customized wide-body aircrafta Boeing 787-9 is expected to be delivered in late December or early January.

An Air India executive, requesting anonymity, said that the pending orders from Boeing (around 184) include 19 Dreamliners, 10-odd 777-Xs and 155 narrow-bodied aircraft.

Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer of Air India, told reporters in October that the airline will induct a new wide-body aircraft every six weeks in 2026, along with the refurbishment of its legacy Boeing jets.

Through the course of 2026 there is a massive ramp-up in our wide-body induction (including supplies from Airbus)," he had then said. The airline has a fleet size of 297, across both Air India and Air India Express, with nearly 110 of these being Boeing jets.

Incidentally, Air India is eyeing induction of one plane a week (both narrow and wide-body together), at par with market leader IndiGo.

Akasa orders

Akasa has an all-Boeing fleet size of 31, with the last plane, a 737 Max, inducted earlier this month.

During a townhall last week, Vinay Dube, founder and chief executive of the airline, said it was expecting faster delivery of aircraft. Induction would be 1-2 planes a month, next year onwards, in line with its earlier guidance. The company had stopped giving fleet guidance this year onwards following supply delays.

In November, Praveen Iyer, co-founder and chief commercial officer of the airline, had told Mint that with Boeing increasing production, Akasa was expecting faster aircraft deliveries.

Production ramp-up

Boeings current single-aisle aircraft production facility at Renton in Washington - the only one - has risen to 42 a month since October, from 38 earlier. "We will get the production up to 47/month in late spring- early summer of next year," Katie Ringgold, vice-president and general manager, 737 program, Renton Site Leader, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said.

Also Read | IndiGo courts rival pilots as flight chaos sparks talent war

Production of 787 Dreamliner - a wide-body jet, at the North Charleston facility, will also be ramped up to 10 a month, up from the existing 8.

(The reporter was in the US last week and visited Boeings facilities at Renton, Everett and Charleston at the invitation of the plane maker.)
Jim Beam, a popular bourbon maker, is closing production at its main distillery in the United States for all of 2026, the brand said in an update.

Once a popular bourbon around the world, including India, Jim Beam has faced slumping demand in the past several months, causing an oversupply in its whiskey bottles.

In a statement on Monday, December 22, Jim Beam's parent company Japanese alcohol giant Suntory Holdings said that whiskey distillation is being halted at the James B. Beam campus in Clermont, Kentucky.

We are always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand, the company said in a statement.

Also Read | Cloudy future for bourbon has Jim Beam closing Kentucky distillery for a year

Why is Jim Beam pausing production? The main reason why the Clermont distillery is closing for all of 2026 is the oversupply of whiskey.

The company's larger distillery in Boston, Kentucky, will continue to operate, Jim Beam's parent company said.

It added that the halting of distilling operations at Clermont will give the company necessary time to make improvements, while the bottling warehouse at the site will remain open.

The flagship bourbon of Jim Beam needs at least four years of ageing before the barrels are bottled, making the decision a calculated one.

Also Read | Jim Beam to launch variants in India

According to a Distilled Spirits Council of the United States report cited by Bloomberg, overall exports of American spirits fell by 9% in Q2 of 2025 as compared to the previous year. The sales of bourbon have slowed primarily due to tariff uncertainties as the impact of Trump's taxes on aging barrels weigh on the sector, the Kentucky Distillers Association said in October, as per a report by The Associated Press.

The India scenario Bourbon, once a favourite spirit among Indians, has slowly lost its glitter to India-based whiskies like Indri, which have taken on the global stage.

According to a report by CruWine, India's McDowell's whiskey tops the global sales chart by volume, selling 31.4 million 9-litre cases in 2025. Meanwhile, Jim Beam occupies the sixth place, selling 17 million 9-litre cases during the same period.

To boost sales in India, Suntory had in April this year opened a its biggest ever GTR shop-in-shop, in Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Arrivals.

How much does Jim Beam cost in India? The price of Jim Beam, like all other alcohol, varies in India. In Delhi, a 750 ml bottle of Jim Beam varies between 2,000 and 3,000 depending on the variant.

The price of Jim Beam in Gurugram starts from 1,800 in Gurugram for a bottle of 750 ml.

Across India, Jim Beam price varies from between 1,800 and 3,000, depending on the duties charged by each state of Union Territory.
(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire hedge fund founder Louis Bacon won his decade-old court claim that the Finnish-Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard defamed him by saying the financier was a murderer, drug trafficker, arsonist, insider trader and member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Mr. Nygard failed to provide any evidence whether the statements made by Mr. Nygard had any truth, Richard G. Latin, a state court judge in Manhattan, wrote in a decision on Monday resolving the issue in Bacons favor.

The ruling is the latest turn in a bitter, years-long feud between the two men, formerly next-door neighbors in the Bahamas exclusive Lyford Cay community, involving more than a dozen suits in New York, London and the Bahamas. In the defamation suit, Bacon claimed that Nygard and his companies orchestrated a smear campaign of outrageous lies in online videos and public statements.

Peter Sverd, who represents Nygard in the defamation case, said his client is disappointed in the ruling and plans to appeal.

Nygard, 84, is serving an 11-year prison sentence in Canada for sexual assault. He faces additional charges in Canada and a US indictment in New York for racketeering and sex trafficking.

US prosecutors claim Nygard used the resources of his company, Nygard International Partnership, to help him control women through the use of surveillance and physical restraint. Nygard hosted pamper parties in California and in the Bahamas, where guests were plied with food, drinks and spa treatments, according the indictment.

A court-appointed referee awarded Bacon, 69, $203 million in damages against Nygard in 2023, citing overwhelming evidence of a deliberate plan by Nygard to personally and professionally destroy Bacon. That award was reversed on appeal the following year when an appeals court ruled that Nygard hadnt properly been served court papers while in prison.

Judge Latin is likely to set a hearing to determine the amount of damages due to Bacon.

In his ruling, Latin found Nygard liable for a type of defamation which includes false statements accusing someone of a serious crime or that injure the person in his business or profession. As a result, Bacon will not have to prove specific damage to his reputation or business to win a money judgment.

The case is Bacon v. Nygard, 150400/2015, NY State Supreme Court, New York County (Manhattan).

--With assistance from Chris Dolmetsch.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Indian alcobev giant, Radico Khaitan, on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, launched its triple-aged Indian dark rum named Kohinoor Reserve for its home market after its successful international debut, according to an exchange filing.

The company has decided to make the alcohol brand's India debut starting in Uttar Pradesh, then soon expanding it to Karnataka and Delhi. According to the BSE filing, the Kohinoor Reserve rum will be available for 4,350 per bottle (750 ml) in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

After the brand is also rolled out in Karnataka and Delhi, people will be able to purchase the bottle for 4,635 in the southern state and for 3,750 in the national capital of the country.

The rum category in India is a significant and growing sector, with consumers increasingly gravitating toward richer, more complex dark rum expressions. This renewed appreciation for craftsmanship and depth makes it an exciting time to expand our presence in the segment, said Abhishek Khaitan, Managing Director of Radico Khaitan.

What does Kohinoor Reserve taste like? The Kohinoor Reserve Indian Dark Rum is a triple-aged rum which was matured in American Bourbon whiskey barrels, Cognac XO casks, and Vermouth casks, which the company claims sets it apart in the global dark rum industry.

Also Read | Why has Himachal HC restrained Old Mist from selling its coffee rum? Explained

On the taste palate, Radico Khaitan's Kohinoor Reserve opens up with rich sweet-fruity aromas which are balanced with spicy notes of dried fruits, roasted nuts and elegant woody undertones.

The company also said that the dark rum blend offers warmth without harshness while offering the complexity derived from the triple-cask maturation. The finish of the alcohol beverage is long, smooth and crafted exclusively for lovers of refined, high-quality dark rum.

Where is the inspiration from? Radico Khaitan has taken the inspiration for the Kohinoor Reserve Indian Dark Rum from the historic Mountain of Light, the Kohinoor diamond, which resembles rarity, purity and prestige.

Also Read | Can premium products continue to keep Radico Khaitan stock in high spirits?

The bottle also seeks to portray the same symbolism with a sculpted, multi-faceted structure, reminding one of the rare gemstone. The company also said that when you view the bottle from the top, the design will evoke an oval diamond silhouette, while the broad shoulders, strong base and muted gold detailing lend it a regal, contemporary character.
The Trump administration is halting $5.5 million in annual funding to Minnesota over allegations that individuals and businesses in the state committed fraud with government loans, according to a social media post from the US Small Business Administration.

The move is the latest in a series of examples of the federal government withholding funds from states and cities led by Democrats. The announcement comes as Republicans ramp up investigations into alleged fraud in Minnesota, including some groups that received COVID-era emergency loans.

President Donald Trump and his administration recently have focused attention on the cases of alleged fraud, criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, claiming he mishandled the administration of government funds. Trump last month announced he was revoking temporary protected status for Somali refugees living in the state, citing accusations Somalis were involved in fraud.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced she would halt $5.5 million in small business funding going to the state pending further review in a post on X on Tuesday.

With dozens of investigations underway, the conclusion is unavoidable: Minnesota cannot be trusted to administer federal tax dollars, she said in the post, which didnt provide further details on what funds would be halted.

Claire Lancaster, a spokesperson for Walz, blasted the Trump administration for seeking to blame the Minnesota governor rather than addressing weaknesses in federal programs.

While the Governor has been fighting fraud, the Trump administration has spent the past month sending dozens of letters, statements, and social media posts filled with threats to withhold funding and investigate the state, Lancaster said in a statement. She said the alleged frauds exposed failures within federal systems that are administered and overseen by the federal government and which have nothing to do with the Walz Administration.

The House Small Business Committee on Tuesday sent a letter to Loeffler requesting information about federal pandemic relief funds flowing to entities in Minnesota connected to the fraud scandal.

The Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future was at the center of the largest pandemic relief fraud charged in US history, according to the Justice Department. Dozens of individuals have been charged in connection with that case as of November.

Loeffler and the SBA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp and a former employee representing the US government are jointly approaching a US Court seeking review of a lower court order that mandates investigations into claims of non-payment of visa fees and related taxes to the US government.

The move, depending on the outcome, could prevent a lengthy legal process and pave the way for a settlement.

On 15 December, Cognizant and Jean-Claude Franchitti, formerly an assistant vice-president with the company acting as a whistleblower for the government, filed a joint motion to the United States Court of Appeals to do away with a New Jersey district courts order from two years ago that permitted a court trial on claims of Cognizants alleged withholding of H-1B visa fees and taxes to the US. The motion has been reviewed by Mint.

The genesis of the case goes back to 2023 when Franchitti, representing the US government, said Cognizant had knowingly concealed, misused, and brought employees to the US on other visas, thereby paying lower dues to the government.

Franchitti said Cognizant applied for L-1 and B-1 visas for certain employees who did the work coming under the ambit of H-1B visa holders, thereby depriving the (US) government of higher filing fees required for H-1B visas. According to Franchittis complaint, the IT outsourcer depriv[ed] the government of $1,000 [or] $6,300 in filing fees" per visa.

As of now, a H-1B, L-1, and B-1 visa application fee costs $6,460, $5,460, and $160, respectively.

While H-1B visas allow skilled immigrants to work in the US for specialised roles for which there are talent shortages, L-1 visas are for managerial employees wanting to transfer to the US whereas B-1 visas are for short business trips.

Big users of H-1B visas

Homegrown IT outsourcers are the largest users of H-1B visas in the US. Cognizant got 3,172 H-1B visas last fiscal, making it the eighth-largest user of such visas. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, or TCS, is the only large homegrown IT outsourcer to use more H-1B visas.

The Cognizant case is not the first such one in US courts over visa violations by Indian IT outsourcing companies. In the past, TCS, Infosys Ltd, and HCL Technologies Ltd have been engaged in court cases pertaining to non-immigrant work visas.

Franchitti added that Cognizant paid its H-1B employees lower wages than the minimum amount established by law, thereby depriving the government of payroll tax revenue.

In contrast, Cognizant said that it was not bound to pay extra money to the US government for visas it did not apply for. It also said it was not liable to pay the government taxes for salaries it did not pay those employees.

Still, in August, 2023, the New Jersey district court held that Franchittis case had merit as he alleged [an] ongoing conscious business practice to circumvent the immigration regulations," which resulted in reduced government revenue".

Notably, the joint appeal states that there were contradictory verdicts by other district courts in cases involving other homegrown IT outsourcers.

As the parties went on with the discovery process after the New Jersey courts verdict, two separate orders by other courts were passed opposing the New Jersey Court order. Then, both parties decided that a temporary order had to be sought.

An interlocutory appeal could eliminate the need for these burdens with virtually no downside. Whichever view of the law is correctFranchittis or Cognizantsthe benefits of knowing that now are immense. If Franchittis view is correct, knowing that now may well facilitate case resolution via settlement. If Cognizants view is correct, the parties can avoid the burdens of litigating a full case. If neither party is correctthat is, if the Court fashions a middle groundthe case could be streamlined substantially and, again, case resolution via settlement possible," read the joint appeal dated 15 December.

A lengthy court case and potential settlement fees could harm Cognizants reputation among clients and put it on the radar of increased scrutiny by US government institutions, at a time the IT sector faces low demand and automation-related revenue deflation.

Cognizant did not respond to Mint's emailed queries.

Sidestepping an expensive court battle

This development comes on the back of contrasting rulings by various courts in the US and the willingness by both parties to avoid a lengthy court battle.

The case gains limelight as US lawmakers have clamped down on talent mobility in the world's largest economy, increasing the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000, proposing an offshoring tax on companies that hire foreign employees, and accusing Indian IT outsourcers of misusing H-1B visas and depriving Americans of jobs.

At least one expert said these charges might be hard to prove for the US government.

These charges are going to be hard to prove. However these charges do act to advance the current administration's political narrative, and hence will be held up to the press to show that the administration is taking action to protect US jobs," said Peter Bendor-Samuel, founder of Everest Group, a Texas-based IT research firm.

Cognizant, which follows a January-December calendar year, ended the third quarter with $5.42 billion in revenue, up 3.24% sequentially and 7.36% year over year. The company beat analyst expectations and raised its annual guidance for the third straight quarter.

It now expects revenue of $21.05-$21.1 billion for 2025, translating to 6.6%- 6.9% annual growth, up from the earlier range of 4.7%6.7%.

Cognizant is represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm. On the other hand, Franchitti is represented by Washington-based Kotchen & Low LLP. Emails sent to both law firms on Sunday went unanswered.

For Cognizant, this is not a first brush off with US lawmakers surrounding H-1B visas. On 24 September, two senators, including Republican Charles E. Grassley and Democrat Richard J. Durbin questioned Cognizants hiring practices.

Last year, a federal jury concluded that Cognizant intentionally engaged in race-based discrimination by favoring South-Asian H-1B workers over American employees. The jury also found that Cognizants conduct warranted punitive damages. Cognizant is doing itself no favors by continuing to replace Americans with H-1B workers on the heels of this verdict," read the 24 September letter to the company CEO Ravi Kumar.
By Nikita Bishay

New Delhi [India], December 23 (ANI): The legendary Dharmendra passed away last month, weeks before the release of his film 'Ikkis', leaving a deep void among his family, fans, and well-wishers.

As 'Ikkis' director Sriram Raghavan recalls, Dharmendra never got the chance to watch the film completed or the appreciation that his performance would have received; it won't be wrong to say that his absence will bring an added weight to 'Ikkis' - turning it into an emotional farewell to the icon.

Speaking to ANI, Sriram Raghavan opened up about Dharmendra's association with the upcoming war biopic, which features Agastya Nanda in the lead as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal.

Recalling that Dharmendra was already unwell during the final dubbing sessions in October, Raghavan shared, "I met him in October. That time he was okay, but he was not too well. He did watch the first half and waited for the second half. I wanted him to see the film in its entirety. Somehow, that couldn't happen. He is not here to enjoy the work he had done, and people appreciate that. That is a regret we have."

In a few recollections, the 'Badlapur' director revealed how Dharmendra used to write dialogues in Urdu before the shoot.

"He's old school. He would write his dialogues in Urdu. And he would also write the core actor's dialogues. He was extremely well-prepared," he added.

Producer Dinesh Vijan mentioned that Dharmendra's family is yet to watch 'Ikkis'.

"I think they'll only cry. I just wish our kids could love us as much as they love him. It was heartbreaking to see them. But it was also beautiful. Because that's how you should love your father," Vijan told ANI.

Veteran star Dharmendra passed away on November 24 in Mumbai, leaving the Deol family deeply affected.

'Ikkis', which marks Dharmendra's posthumous screen appearance, is set to release on January 1, 2026.
The newly released version of Saat Samundar Paar from the forthcoming Bollywood film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri has sparked intense online criticism, with much of the reaction leaning heavily negative.

Internet reacts to Saat Samandar Paar from Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri The track, a modern reinterpretation of the iconic song originally featured in the 1992 film Vishwatma, was unveiled this week as part of the promotional campaign for the Christmas-season romantic comedy starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday. Audiences took to social media almost immediately, expressing widespread disappointment with the remakes execution and tone.

Watch the remix here:

The release of the new rendition of Saat Samundar Paar prompted an immediate and emotive backlash online, with many users expressing a sense of cultural loss.

One widely shared reaction read, Bollywood music has just died today. The culture song, filmed on gorgeous Divya Bharati from Rajiv Rai movie has been insulted to the core. SHAME (sic).

Criticism has also focused on the technical and performance aspects of the song. Viewers questioned the vocal quality and overall execution, with one remark stating, Even having Quick Style as their support dancer cant help this tattoo song. Terrible voice (sic). Others were more blunt, calling for immediate corrective action, including comments such as, Undo this thing right now (sic).

Several users framed the release as part of a wider trend of disappointing remakes. Statements like, Successfully ruined another classic (sic), and Show me a worst remake than this. Ill wait (sic), were repeatedly echoed across comment sections.

Timing and presentation also came under scrutiny. One reaction noted, Wrong timings to release this movie (sic), while another mocked the choreography and energy of the track, saying, Wtf is this. Kids at school annual function dance better than this! (sic)

Finally, some listeners highlighted the emotional disconnect they felt when hearing the new version. As one comment put it, You know this is an energetic song but when the song starts you realise you click the wrong one  and go for the real one (sic).

About the Actual Song and Its Context The original Saat Samundar Paar, composed by Viju Shah, sung by Sadhana Sargam and featured in Vishwatma, became a cultural staple of early 1990s Bollywood music due to its catchy rhythm and energetic vibe. The recreated version in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri adopts a slower, more romantic tone and showcases lead actor Kartik Aaryan in a pre-wedding celebration sequence alongside a supporting ensemble.

A notable element of this latest rendition is the inclusion of Norwegian dance group Quick Style, whose international reputation in hip-hop choreography brings a distinct visual flavour to the video. Their presence was intended to add a global, contemporary aesthetic to the classic tracks revival.

Copyright and Legal Dispute Beyond audience reaction, the song has been embroiled in a legal controversy. Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd, producer of Vishwatma, filed a copyright infringement petition against the makers of Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri  including Dharma Productions and Saregama India Ltd  alleging that the remix was used without proper authorisation.

The Bombay High Court recently declined to grant interim relief to Trimurti Films, allowing the songs use in the film to proceed for the time being. The dispute remains scheduled for further court consideration in January 2026.

About Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri The forthcoming film is a festive romantic comedy directed by Sameer Vidwans and produced by Dharma Productions, set for theatrical release on 25 December 2025.
Popular influencer, YouTuber Sejal Kumar, tied the knot with her boyfriend, Bharat Subramaniam. Their wedding took place at Mussoorie. Several pictures from their wedding and pre-wedding festivities have surfaced on social media.

Sejal Kumar marries Bharat Subramaniam Sejal Kumar and Bharat Subramaniam recently opened up about their love story.

She revealed that although they were in the same New Delhi school, they barely talked to each other. Both had a gap of one year in school. The two reconnected years later on social media.

Talking to Vogue India, Sejal revealed, He was the head boy of his year, thats how I remembered him.

Bharat was saying something super goofy, which made me think he was so easy to be around, she added, recalling how her husband would react to her YouTube links.

"I shamelessly posted the link of my first two videos on Bharats (Facebook) wall. Since he was really sweet, I felt safe that he wouldnt call me cringe, because that was the main fear of starting something new back then. He actually commented on my videos from those wall posts, wishing me luck.

How did Sejal Kumar meet Bharat Subramaniam After years, eventually Kumar came to Mumbai while Subramaniam went to the US.

On a completely random impulse, I DMed him, wishing him happy birthday, Sejal Kumar revealed. She continued, It was super formal and awkward, but we made plans to meet up in the winter break. She shared that Subramaniam met her for their first coffee date in Gurugram.

The two have been together for almost six years now, although most of the time they were apart.

Bharat Subramaniam proposed to Sejal Kumar before leaving for his MBA post-pandemic.

Earlier this year, the couple hosted a roka ceremony.

All about Sejal Kumar and Bharat Subramaniam's wedding Their wedding took place in JW Marriott Walnut Grove, Mussoorie, in December, owing to their love for winter sun and the mountains.

They also hosted mehendi, haldi, sufi night and sangeet, blending the customs for their North meets South wedding.

For the pheras, Sejal Kumar became the bride of Sabyasachi. Complementing her, Subramaniam opted for an off-white Sabyasachi sherwani with a floral stole.

The couple also had a civil ceremony before the traditional nuptials. Sharing pictures of the same, Kumar wrote on Instagram, shaadi szn begins!!
Googles AI assistant, Gemini, is officially moving straight into your kitchen. At CES 2026, Samsung is set to unveil its first-ever refrigerator powered by Google Gemini, marking the AI chatbots debut inside a major home appliance.

The new Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub isnt just another smart fridge with a screen. It brings Gemini directly into everyday kitchen routines, promising something consumers actually care about: less food waste, smarter shopping, and potentially lower electricity bills.

The big change in the appliance is an internal camera system that uses Googles AI to keep track of your actual food. Instead of you having to manually type in every time you buy milk, the fridge sees it, logs it, and knows the quantity. It can even read your own handwriting on labels. Its basically designed for those of us who forget whats in the crisper drawer until its too late, giving you a heads-up on whats about to expire before you have to throw it away.

Thats not it! You can even ask it what you can cook with what you have, what groceries you need to restock, or when that forgotten container at the back might go bad. This is where Geminis conversational intelligence steps in, offering more natural, accurate responses than Samsungs earlier AI systems.

Voice control is also getting a big upgrade. With Gemini onboard, users can speak to the fridge to perform tasks, including opening doors when hands are full, while the system learns usage patterns to optimise cooling. Samsung says this adaptive approach can reduce unnecessary energy consumption, especially when the fridge isnt fully stocked.

The AI integration isnt limited to just refrigerators. Samsung has confirmed that Google Gemini is also coming to its Bespoke AI Wine Cellar, where the system can automatically recognise wine labels, track bottle placement, and recommend the right bottle for a meal using SmartThings AI Wine Manager.

This launch is significant beyond Samsung. Until now, Gemini has largely lived inside phones, browsers, and smart displays. Its arrival in kitchen appliances signals Googles bigger ambition of embedding AI into everyday objects that dont feel like tech but quietly make life easier.
The U.S.s pursuit of oil tankers around Venezuela is part of a new legal strategy under the Trump administration to seize ships that transport black market oil around the world, according to Justice Department officials.

The fresh approach has been seen in recent days by the Coast Guards pursuit of the Bella 1, a sanctioned oil tanker whose crew refused to be boarded on Sunday. The Bella 1 is the third tanker to be targeted after the U.S. took control of two other very large crude carriers, the Skipper and the Centuries.

Unlike the Skipper and the Centuries, which were full of nearly 2 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at the time the U.S. boarded them, analysts at Kpler, a shipping data and analytics provider, say the Bella 1 was likely empty when the U.S. began pursuing it. A few days after the Skipper was seized by the U.S., the Bella 1 initially made a U-turn away from Venezuela before turning back toward the country, the analysts say.

While the U.S. has previously targeted sanctioned oil, it is now increasingly focused on seizing ships that make up the so-called ghost fleet" and serve the global black market for oil, the officials said.

Venezuela has called the U.S. actions blatant theft and an international act of piracy. It accused President Trump of seeking to seize Venezuelan oil and plunder the countrys energy resources.

Behind the hunt for tankers is a specialized group known as the Threat Finance Unit that falls under the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.

These oil seizures come out of the United States Attorneys Office in DC because of the expertise within the Threat Finance Unit of my National Security Section and for jurisdictional reasons," said D.C.s U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in a statement to The Wall Street Journal. Under President Trumps strong leadership, we dramatically have increased the pace and volume of these operations to make the world a safer place."

The unit has pursued similar cases for years, but its work has increased dramatically this year, officials said. Given the current resources being devoted to oil tankers, they said the group can work up the information necessary to submit a seizure warrant to the court in a matter of weeks.

With more U.S. warrants being processed, the seizures threaten to dramatically reduce the flow of Venezuelan crude. It could also cause disruptions and shortages for other countries that use the shadowy network of tankers to buy and sell oil, including Cuba, Iran, Russia and China.

Trump told reporters Monday that the U.S. planned to keep the oil and the ships. We have a massive armada formed, the biggest weve ever had, and by far the biggest weve ever said in South America," he said.

The Coast Guard has taken the lead on the seizures so far, indicating that the actions are a law-enforcement operation rather than a military blockade. In videos posted by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, people can be seen fast-roping from helicopters onto the decks of the tankers.

The Coast Guard has teams that are specially trained to come down and take control of vessels like this," said William Baumgartner, former judge advocate general and chief counsel for the Coast Guard. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, those teams have the right to stop, board, examine and search a ship to determine whether it is in violation of U.S. law.

If ships are stateless," or flying a false flag of a nation, then they can be subject to U.S. jurisdiction, Baumgartner and other legal experts say.

In the case of the Skipper, which was boarded on Dec. 10, the U.S. executed a seizure warrant and is going through a legal process to keep the oil, according to administration officials. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on whether the U.S. was seeking or had secured warrants related to the Centuries and the Bella 1. Warrants often remain under seal until an action is taken. The Centuries was taken on Saturday.

The moves against tankers strike at the heart of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduros grip on power by threatening oil revenue vital to the regime. About 70% of the countrys oil exports rely on a fleet of sanctioned vessels now being targeted by the U.S. government.Trump has ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, marking a major escalation in the administrations pressure campaign against Maduro.

Write to Shelby Holliday at shelby.holliday@wsj.com, Costas Paris at costas.paris@wsj.com and Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com
CARACAS, VenezuelaA U.S. pressure campaign to topple President Nicolas Maduro is stranding Venezuelans around the world, cutting off air links to one of the planets least-connected countries and compounding the misery of a beleaguered population.

Venezuelas 28 million people are now dependent on an aging fleet of about 20 commercial aircraft operated by a handful of local airlines little known outside the country, according to the International Air Transport Association, a global trade group known as IATA. Those carriers are rushing to reroute flights, charging hefty prices to move passengers through neighboring countries and connect to their final destinations, say travel agents.

The fallout has been personal and immediate: holidays canceled, families unable to bring medicine to aging relatives, and cash-strapped Venezuelans marooned abroad.

President Trump said on Nov. 29 that the airspace should be considered closed after the Federal Aviation Administration warned operators of a potentially hazardous situation" due to a massive military buildup near Venezuela. Since then, more than a dozen international air carriers have stopped serving the South American nation. A recent near-collision between a civilian jet and a U.S. military plane near Venezuelan waters further heightened concern.

What airlines want to make sure is that we dont have incidents over an airspace where an airplane is attacked because it was mistaken for a military carrier," said Peter Cerda, vice president for the Americas at IATA.

Reynaldo Goitia, frontman for the popular Venezuelan rock band Tomates Fritos, found himself stranded in Madrid after the Dec. 5 return flight he and his girlfriend were scheduled to take was canceled. Goitia, better known by his stage name Boston Rex, said he was determined not to use up his earnings from a tour for Spains large Venezuelan diaspora community.

That meant eating mostly fast food for days and sleeping on the floor of his friends office on a used mattress he bought for 80 euros, equivalent to $94. With no shower, he washed in a bathroom sink.

When we saw the news that we couldnt go back, we had to put ourselves in savings modea bit like putting your phone on low-battery mode," Goitia said, before he embarked on a costly detour through Barbados to reunite with his daughter in Lecheria, Venezuela, in time for Christmas. You cant do anything about it. You just feel powerless."

Severing Venezuelas air links adds to measures the U.S. is taking to isolate Maduros government, including intercepting oil tankers and imposing a partial blockade. The moves raise the risks of retaliation or a miscalculation that could push Washington and Caracas into direct conflict.

Every time theres some geopolitical problem, its always this industry thats first to take the hit," said Rodolfo Ruiz, managing partner at Ruiz & Partners, a Caracas-based law firm that works with airlines and insurers. And, inevitably, its always the passengers, the average folks, who pay the biggest price."

Alejandra Acuna, a Venezuelan marketing agent in Spain, said she had bought tickets to Caracas months earlier, hoping to introduce her partner to the homeland she left a decade ago. Her cousins had planned to fly over from Colombia for a family reunion, with costly medications for an elderly relative with Parkinsons disease. Now, the trip is off and the family lost deposits for their trip to Venezuelas Margarita Island.

Its unfortunate, we had to tell my parents at the last minute that were not going to make it," Acuna said. They said its probably better we just dont come."

It wasnt always like this for Venezuelan travelers. In the 1970s, Caracas was one of the first destinations for Air Frances high-speed Concorde jets, a marker of a rising nation. From the 1990s through the mid-2010s, Venezuela was one of the highest-yielding aviation markets in the world, the IATAs Cerda said. An oil boom let Maduros predecessor, Hugo Chavez, subsidize travel. An overvalued bolivar currency turned Venezuelans into frequent fliers and big spenders abroad.

After Maduro took office in 2013, the economy began a downward spiral, with waves of civil unrest. Currency controls that barred companies from repatriating earnings forced airlines to write off billions of dollars. Carriers, from Delta to Germanys Lufthansa, pulled out.

Travelers used to splurging in Miami and Paris suddenly had few options. U.S.-sanctioned state carrier Conviasa flew to a dwindling number of allies in Latin America and ran seldom-used routes to Moscow, Damascus and Tehran.

In the last couple of years, Venezuela averaged about 15,000 passengers flying in and out of the country weekly, according to IATA, mostly from Spain, Portugal, Panama and Colombia. Traffic has now plunged to about 1,000 to 2,000 a week.

The flight disruptions are also upending essential cargo such as pharmaceutical products and perishable goods, as well as aircraft parts that Venezuelan carriers need to maintain their fleets, said Cerda.

With the U.S. deployment of warships to the southern Caribbean, safety has become a top concern, Cerda said. On Dec. 12, a JetBlue plane leaving from Curacao40 miles north of Venezuelaand heading to New York reported a near midair collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling jet.

Industry insiders said the incident may have been due to GPS and radar jamming, complicating navigation as both the U.S. and Venezuela beef up military hardware.

Maduro says the airspace troubles are part of a psychological war to seize Venezuelas oil wealth. Venezuelan authorities ordered national airlines to keep flying and stripped operating licenses from some foreign carriers that suspended flights.

You guys can keep your planes and well keep our dignity," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said, denouncing airlines for cooperating with the U.S.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez recently said the government was working to find alternative routes with Venezuelan carriers.

Some 40,000 people have seen their travel plans affected for the month of December, the peak season for the industry, said Gregory Barrios, an aviation expert who runs a travel agency out of the Venezuelan state of Aragua.

Authorities have been able to increase flight frequencies to a few countries in the region, mostly to neighboring Colombia. But Barrios said he was concerned by how quickly international carriers acted to cut Venezuela off after the U.S. warning.

Its a very worrisome dynamic," Barrios said.

Write to Kejal Vyas at kejal.vyas@wsj.com
For years, battery storage sat on the fringes of Indias clean energy plans. Falling costs and a stronger policy push are now pulling it into the mainstream, setting off a fresh investment cycle in battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Together, these shifts are unlocking investments of up to 1.4 trillion by 2030, as energy companies, developers and manufacturers bet on large-scale storage to stabilize renewable power, support grid reliability and back Indias rapid expansion of solar and wind capacity.

Energy storage systems address a key shortcoming of renewable energy, which is intermittency. Having reliable energy storage system infrastructure is crucial for India to ramp up its clean energy capacity, meet its climate change obligations, and wean off its addiction to coal.

Also Read | US battery energy storage major Fluence eyes India for manufacturing hub

Amongst the largest investors are Reliance Industries, Adani Green Energy, Waaree Energies, JSW Energy, and Premier Energies, as per public statements made by these companies.

While some, such as Waaree, are investing in manufacturing battery cells and packs for storage systems, Adani Green is deploying batteries at scale for some of Indias largest storage projects. Reliance Industries, meanwhile, has charted an end-to-end strategyfrom cell manufacturing to battery assembly and deployment in large BESS installations.

Price trigger

The surge in investment interest has been led by a sharp fall in battery prices over the past few years. Battery costs dropped below $100 per kWh in 2025, compared with nearly $200 in 2019, according to estimates by credit rating agency ICRA.

The decline in battery costs has hastened adoption of battery storage at the grid level," ICRA analysts said in a note published this month, estimating that 610 GWh of BESS capacity was installed globally in 202568% higher than the previous year.

In India, however, cumulative BESS capacity remains modest at around 0.5 GWh as of June this year, according to estimates from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). For context, 1 GWh is sufficient to power around 10,000 average Indian homes for a month.

Battery costs are still too high to make many BESS projects commercially viable in India, ICRA analysts noted. However, the expectation of a further reduction in battery prices may improve the cost economics for energy storage over the coming decade," they added. Cumulative investments in BESS could reach about 1.4 trillion by 2030, the agency estimated.

Policy tailwinds

A strong policy push from New Delhi is also accelerating momentum in the sector. The government is implementing a 5,400-crore viability gap funding (VGF) scheme to support 30 GWh of BESS capacity, aimed at crowding in private investments of around 33,000 crore. This expands an earlier programme that had earmarked 3,760 crore for 13.2 GWh of storage capacity.

In February this year, the CEA issued an advisory to renewable energy implementing agencies and state utilities mandating a minimum of two-hour co-located energy storageequivalent to 10% of installed solar capacityin future solar tenders.

Battery energy storage is no longer an ancillary to renewable generation in Indiait is becoming core grid infrastructure," said Deepto Roy, partner at law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

Indias renewable energy targets cannot be met through generation capacity alone, and large-scale deployment of BESS will be indispensable, Roy said. Falling technology costs and supportive policy measures have materially improved sector economics, he added.

I envisage that massive capital deployment in BESS would be the next phase of the investment cycle in power."

Big-ticket investors

Reliance Industries has outlined the most ambitious plans among domestic players. The company intends to set up a 40 GWh battery cell plant by early 2026, with plans to scale capacity to 100 GWh in the medium term.

RILs key long-term competitive advantage in battery manufacturing (and across new energy) remains scale, ability to undertake technologically complex projects, and an integrated and unique new energy ecosystem," analysts at Motilal Oswal wrote in a note dated 19 November.

In the initial phase, most of the output will be used for captive BESS projects at Reliances upcoming renewable energy complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, before third-party sales begin in subsequent years, the analysts said.

Waaree Energies, a major solar cell manufacturer, is investing more than 10,000 crore to build 20 GWh of integrated battery cell and pack manufacturing capacity for BESS in two phases. The first phase of 3.5 GWh is under construction, with plans to ramp up to full capacity in the second phase. Unlike Reliance, Waarees focus will be on supplying storage systems to renewable energy developers rather than captive deployment.

The Adani Group is developing Indias largest BESS projecta 3.5 GWh installation at Khavdascheduled for completion by March 2026, the company said in a statement last month. The group plans to scale storage capacity to 15 GWh by March 2027 and 50 GWh by 2030. Adani has not disclosed plans for battery cell manufacturing and will procure storage systems from external suppliers.

JSW Energy is setting up a 5 GWh battery assembly facility in Pune, which will source cells externally and assemble them into BESS units. The company aims to build 40 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2030, though a large share of this will come from pumped storage plants (PSP), with BESS contributing a smaller portion. Adani Green Energy is also investing in PSP alongside battery storage.

Pumped storage plants store energy by pumping water to a higher elevation and releasing it through turbines to generate electricity during peak demand.

Also Read | Schneider plans next phase of India investments, eyes energy storage solutions

Why storage matters

BESS systems use large arrays of battery packseach containing multiple cellsto store electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind. They help smooth power supply by storing excess generation during periods of high output and releasing it when generation falls.

As India increases its reliance on renewable energy, the country is expected to need 34.7 GWh of BESS capacity by the end of FY27, according to the CEAfar above the current operational capacity of just over 0.5 GWh.

Looking ahead, India is projected to require 411.4 GWh of energy storage capacity by FY32, including 236.2 GWh from BESS, the CEA estimates.

Analysts at Motilal Oswal believe actual demand could exceed these projections. In a note published last month, the brokerage said the CEAs estimates do not account for Indias potential emergence as a global battery export hub or new use cases such as integrating BESS with thermal power plants.

Overall, we believe BESS demand has the potential to far exceed CEAs initial estimated FY32 target of 236 GWh," the analysts said.
NEW DELHI: The Union government is working on a blueprint to revive the once-buoyant wind power sector by addressing key concerns, including land acquisition hurdles and lack of grid connectivity, said three people with knowledge of the development.

The Centre also seeks to resolve unsigned power purchase agreements (PPAs), improper scheduling and forecasting of wind energy, a lack of coordination between states, and distribution companies not procuring electricity from renewable energy projects, said the people, who didn't want to be identified as details are not yet public.

The government also aims to repower the sector by modifying and replacing old wind plants to achieve 100 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity by 2030, they said.

Currently, India has a wind capacity of 53 GW, accounting for 10.5% of Indias installed power generation capacity of 505 GW. Yet, stalled wind projects requiring investments to the tune of 60,000 crore make up 10 GW of the 43 GW in renewable energy capacity still awaiting PPAs, Mint reported earlier.

With wind power lagging over the past few years amid falling wind speeds in the country and a slowdown in capacity addition, a task force of officials from the ministries of new and renewable energy (MNRE) and power and the wind energy industry is expected to look into the issues and prepare the much-awaited revival roadmap.

Also Read | Real costs: Why solar and wind energy are not market winners yet

In a meeting organized by MNRE on 12 December with wind sector players, developers and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) companies, the ministry discussed the planned task force and its terms of reference. Grid issues, land acquisition and coordination with the state governments have emerged as the key issues which the task force would look at," one of the three people said, adding that the task forces terms of reference are yet to be finalized.

During the meeting, the industry participants suggested setting up a web portal to track the progress of wind power projects along with updates on regulatory approvals and project implementation, a government official said, requesting anonymity.

Also Read | Inox Wind may find margin tailwinds, but execution clouds linger

Endangered birds

The proposals are under deliberation and consultation are ongoing," the official said.

The issue of protection for the Great Indian Bustard and the delay in approvals for transmission and renewable energy projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat since 2021 have also impacted the sector. The Great Indian Bustard, an endangered species, is a low-flying bird that may collide with wind turbine blades and high-voltage power lines.

Queries mailed to the MNRE remained unanswered till press time.

Experts said land acquisition and grid connectivity are the major impediments to the wind energy sector.

When the bidding model was changed to reverse bidding, it impacted the wind power space. Further there is a requirement for several patches of land involving different landowners, which is a major roadblock," said MP Ramesh, former director-general at the National Institute of Wind Energy, a research and development institute under the MNRE.

Reverse bidding is a competitive auction where the company quoting the lowest tariff wins the project.

There have also been instances when developers have acquired land but were unable to proceed with a project because of lack of feasibility or grid connectivity, said Amit Kumar, partner and leader, energy and renewables industry, at Grant Thornton.

There is a need to re-energise the sector. Component manufacturing should also be looked into. India already has a substantial wind component manufacturing capacity. However, efforts should be made to enhance competitiveness and develop products like magnets in the country," Kumar said

At the Global Wind Day conference in June, MNRE minister Pralhad Joshi said that to fully unlock national wind potential, a coordinated national push is needed. He said the government is prioritizing expansion into Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha for wind power and launching the offshore sector with 4 GW of leased areas identified in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

Joshi said the government is looking at integrating wind into round-the-clock and firm green power strategies through storage-linked business models, modernizing the grid, and investing in AI-based forecasting to manage variable renewable energy.

Mint reported earlier that the government is looking at launching a new weather forecasting system for renewable energy, which would help in projecting wind speeds.
As the page turned from 2024 to 2025, the mood in Indian aviation was buoyant. The year had recorded the best-ever traffic in the domestic market, and the Kumbh Mela, a once-in-a-lifetime event, was on the horizon. Airlines were already adding flights to Prayagraj, and the January to March quarter was a magic one, setting the tone for the months ahead. The way things started shaping up since then made this year a year to forget for Indian aviation than anything else. The Indian government passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024 in 2025. This is aimed at ensuring better protection to lessors in line with the Cape Town Convention and helping the airlines at the same time.

Kumbh Mela traffic and profitability The year started on a spiritual note with the Maha Kumbh, a once-in-144-year phenomenon. Airlines added flights to Prayagraj from the nook and corner of the country. Airlines which did not operate to Prayagraj as scheduled service also launched flights for specific periods to make the most of the time.

Also Read | All flight paths lead to Maha Kumbh as airlines bump up connectivity

This helped turn the leaf from loss to profit in the typically challenging January to March quarter and also set the tone for the year to beat the previous year in terms of domestic traffic, until things started changing end-April.

IATA 81st AGM IATAs AGM returned to India after four decades with airlines from the world over making India their home for three days. Held at the magnificent Bharat Mandapam, the event was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For a market which is growing rapidly and has over 1,500 planes on order from Airbus and Boeing, the IATA AGM was a moment of pride. It was on the other side of Operation Sindoor, and IndiGo, the sponsor carrier, announced its mega expansion for the financial year along with signing an MoU for adding more A350s to its orderbook.

Crashes  Ahmedabad and Kedarnath Airlines had geared up for the Summer schedule with all their might. Srinagar was to have the highest flights ever in history, Air India and Air India Express added capacity and utilisation, until a terrorist attack rocked Pahalgam. The impact was severe and not just in tourism. Indias retaliation against the terrorist bases in Pakistan, named Operation Sindoor, saw more than 20 airports in the North and West region being closed for civil operations for a few days. Pakistan has since closed its airspace for all aircraft operated by and for Indian carriers which has led to IndiGo cancelling many of its flights to Central Asia, though it did link Almaty and Tashkent again, this time from Mumbai. The airspace remains closed even today.

As traffic started making a comeback towards June, with Operation Sindoor behind us, Air Indias flight to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad crashed immediately after take-off, killing all but one on board and many on the ground. This came within days of India hosting a successful IATA AGM and just when things were looking set for the better. The crash, whose investigation is still ongoing, has dealt a major blow to Air India and the Tata group's efforts for a turnaround. The group has already been grappling with delays in turnaround.

Air Indias Dreamliner was not the only crash. Incidents and accidents involving helicopters near Kedarnath became a regular occurrence during the peak months of the Kedarnath Yatra, prompting the regulator to suspend operations as well as increase inspections on such operations.

Rupee weakness INR 85.79 fetched one USD when the year started. Today, the rupee has depreciated 5% trading at around 90 to a dollar. With each fall, the challenges for airlines go up. India is a market where airlines rely on operational leases and these lease arrangements are dollar-denominated. The lease rentals shoot up exponentially. Additionally, the impact is also due to PDP (Pre-Delivery Payment) for the large orders that the main airlines have placed.

IndiGos operational meltdown Come December, a new high was on the horizon for domestic passenger numbers, but something else was boiling. With FDTL rules changing in November, the domino effect of multiple things hit IndiGo in early December, which led to an operational meltdown for the airline, affecting lakhs of passengers, coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to India and seeing hectic activities from the regulator and ministry, which felt like an afterthought.

Also Read | Air India challenges IndiGo across Indias top 10 domestic flight routes

Anything else? Yes! Air India completed its much-delayed revamp of the A320neo fleet, converting all 27 to a three-class configuration, which makes it similar to Vistaras A320neo. As the year ends, while Air India may not get the two 787-8 in retrofit, it may well get a new 787-9 and IndiGo may close with the XLR in its fleet. The question then is, has 2025 been able to surpass the 2024 domestic traffic? If it has, it has been by a very thin margin.
BEIJING, - Chicago wheat ticked lower on Tuesday, falling for the first time in four sessions, although losses were limited by concerns that an escalation in the RussiaUkraine war could disrupt supplies.

Soybeans ticked higher, while corn was flat.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade fell 0.1% to $5.15 a bushel by 0134 GMT. Soybeans added 0.1% to $10.65-3/4 a bushel, while corn was flat at $4.47 a bushel.

* Reports of more Russian strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure rekindled concerns about war risks to Black Sea grain trade, encouraging investors to cover short positions after an eight-week low last week.

* Russian forces hit port and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region, sparking a fire that burned 30 containers of flour and vegetable oil at the port of Pivdennyi, a senior Ukrainian official said on Monday.

* Russia has increased attacks on the Odesa region on the Black Sea coast in recent weeks, disrupting Ukraine's grain export logistics.

* Expectations of a record soybean harvest in Brazil are keeping a lid on prices.

* Brazil's 2025/26 soybean production is expected to reach 180.4 million metric tons, agribusiness consultancy AgRural said on Monday, raising its forecast from the 178.5 million tons estimated in November.

* Russia cut wheat area amid falling profits. The country's overall wheat area is expected to fall to 26.3 million hectares from 26.9 million hectares, while the average wheat yield will edge down to 3.2 tons per hectare from 3.3 tons, the Sovecon consultancy said on Monday.

MARKET NEWS

* Most major stock indexes were higher at the start of a holiday-shortened week on Monday, with shares of Nvidia rising, while the yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar after Japanese officials warned against "one-sided and sharp" currency moves.

DATA/EVENTS 0500 Japan Chain Store Sales YY Nov 1330 US Durable Goods Oct 1330 US GDP Advance Q3 1415 US Industrial Production MM Nov 1500 US Consumer Confidence Dec 1500 US New Home Sales-Units Oct
Antony Waste Handling Cell share price jumped 10.28% to 548.15 apiece in Tuesday's trading session after the company's subsidiary secured a new order from Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

This is the second major order won by the company within a week, further strengthening its order book and boosting investor confidence in the stock. A robust order book not only signals a higher revenue potential but is also a testament to the strong operational execution capabilities of a company.

Antony Waste shares have seen strong traction lately, having risen 28.21% in the past five trading sessions and over 20% in a month.

Also Read | Coal India share price jumps 4% as BCCL IPO buzz lifts stock near record high

Antony Waste new order details In an exchange filing, Antony Waste said that its subsidiary Antony Lara Enviro Solutions has been awarded a pre-processing waste management contract by the Thane Municipal Corporation, worth 329.45 crore.

The contract involves the establishment of a 600800 TPD solid waste pre-processing plant on a design, build, operate and transfer (DBOT) basis on land owned by Thane Municipal Corporation at Atkoli, Taluka Bhiwandi.

According to the filing, the scope of work includes the setting up of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for segregation of mixed solid waste, encompassing design, engineering, construction, commissioning, and comprehensive operation and maintenance of the facility for a period of 10 years.

The total project capital expenditure is estimated at 67 crore, which shall be reimbursed by TMC upon achievement of prescribed milestones, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the tender document.

We are pleased to secure the pre-processing waste management project, which represents a meaningful step in the continued expansion of our long-term municipal infrastructure portfolio. Building on our established C&T operations, this project further strengthens our relationship with Thane Municipal Authority, reflecting the trust placed in our execution capabilities and operational track record," said Jose Jacob, Chairman & Managing Director, Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited.

The company is one of the known players in the Indian Municipal Solid Waste Management industry with an established track record of more than two decades, providing a full spectrum of MSW services, which includes solid waste collection, transportation, processing and disposal services across India, majorly catering to municipalities.

Earlier this month, on December 17, the company announced receiving two large-scale collection and transportation contracts, which had resulted in a sharp spike in its shares.

The contracts were awarded by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to a consortium/joint venture comprising AG Enviro Infra Projects Private Limited, a subsidiary of the company, Jigar Transport Company and MK Enterprises.

The combined value of these contracts is worth 1,330 crore, with the two contracts individually valued at 684 crore and 646 crore, providing stable long-term revenue visibility over a seven-year tenure.

Antony Waste Q2 results 2025 The company reported a 16% year-on-year rise in total operating revenue to 233 crore in Q2FY26, underscoring strong execution and effective market positioning.

Meanwhile, EBITDA for the quarter stood at 57 crore, up 18% from last year, with margins improving to 21.6%.

Profit after tax increased by 13% year-on-year to 17.3 crore. Jacob said that the solid performance to improved operational efficiencies and higher throughput, supported by increased volumes and contract escalations.
Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over what they called his anti-India statements during his recent Germany trip.

Union Minister of State and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje lashed out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, calling him "an anti-India leader" over the latter's criticism of the PM Narendra Modi-led government during his visit to Germany.

Karandlaje questioned the "aim" of the Lok Sabha leader for "speaking against the nation" and said that he "still behaves like a child."

"Rahul Gandhi is not the Leader of Opposition but an anti-India leader who goes abroad and speaks against the nation. What does he aim to gain by doing this? He still behaves like a child, not a leader," Shobha Karandlaje said.

The criticism comes after Rahul Gandhi again levelled "vote theft" allegations against the Government of India, citing duplicate voters in the voter list during an address at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Congress won the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections and that the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were "not fair."

Lok Sabha LoP shared that their party did not receive a "response" from the Election Commission when they flagged the issue.

Addressing the Hertie School on "Politics Is The Art Of Listening", Rahul Gandhi said, "We have won elections in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh. We have been raising concerns about the fairness of elections in India. I have held press conferences in India where we have clearly shown, without a shadow of a doubt, that we won the Haryana election and that we don't believe the Maharashtra elections were fair. There is a full-scale assault taking place on the institutional framework of our country. We asked direct questions to the Election Commission."

"A Brazilian woman was there on the voting list 22 times in Haryana... We did not get a response. We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India," he added.

Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the Centre has "weaponised" investigating agencies, suggesting a quid pro quo in which businessmen in India financially support the BJP rather than Opposition parties.

'Rahul Gandhi's Congress wants Anarchy' He said, There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have no cases against the BJP, and most political cases are against those who oppose them. If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the Opposition has.

Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also slammed Rahul Gandhi for his comments.

Also Read | Delhi court refuses to take cognizance of National Herald money laundering case

"Rahul Gandhi's Congress with his ideological patron George Soros wants Chaos, Unrest in Indian Democracy... Rahul goes abroad for uniting such Anti India forces... Congress hates Indian Democracy. Congress hates Bharat's progress.. Rahul Gandhi's Congress wants Anarchy!," Bhandari said in a post on X.
NEW DELHI : The Union government is planning an equity infusion of 30,000 crore in Indias sovereign wealth fund, according to two people familiar with the development, signalling a continued focus on infrastructure development that has bolstered economic growth.

A note has been circulated for the consideration of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) regarding the injection of capital into the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), according to the people quoted earlier, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Once the EFC chaired by expenditure secretary V. Vualnam approves the plan, a cabinet note will be circulated for approval, and an announcement is likely in the upcoming Union budget, the people said.

A significant part of the large tranche being raised for NIIF is expected to be deployed towards its NIIF Master Fund II that is in the process of being raised," said one of the two people cited above.

The NIIF is in the process of raising around $3.5 billion for its second master fund. Infrastructure spending has become central to Indias economic growth, with public investments driving GDP expansion over the last few years amid tepid private investments.

NIIF is also coming up with its Private Markets Fund II, which has a target corpus of $1 billion, and is in discussions for a proposed bilateral fund with the US.

Queries emailed to the spokespersons of NIIF and the finance ministry on Sunday evening remained unanswered until press time.

The NIIF is sponsored by the Indian government, which holds a 49% interest in it. It primarily focuses on investing in core infrastructure sectors. The sovereign fund manages $4.9 billion of equity capital commitments across its four fundsMaster Fund, Private Markets Fund, Strategic Opportunities Fund, and India-Japan Fundwith investments in sectors such as ports and logistics, renewable energy, roads, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing.

NIIF was established in 2015 with an initial investment of 20,000 crore from the Union government. In 2020, another 6,000 crore was approved as an equity infusion by the Union cabinet in the NIIF Debt Platform, comprising Aseem Infrastructure Finance Ltd (AIFL) and NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited (NIIF-IFL).

NIIFs investors include Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Temasek, AustralianSuper, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), New Development Bank (NDB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The NIIF is expected to play a key role in Indias infrastructure development goal. The governments National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) targets a projected infrastructure investment of around 111 trillion from FY20 to FY25.

Indias capital expenditure target for FY26 is pegged at 11.21 trillion, or about 3.1% of GDP. In the previous years budget, it was 11.11 trillion, or around 3.4% of GDP. Also, according to the government, the effective capital expenditure for FY26 is projected at 15.48 trillion against 13.18 trillion in the previous fiscal.

Analysts say the gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), a key economic indicator capturing total investments in fixed assets, is on an upward trajectory.

Real GFCF increased by 7.3% y/y in Q2FY26. Despite private capex remains in selective sectors amid trade and tariff uncertainty, the GFCF growth has surprised, helped by government capex and buoyant construction and manufacturing activity," SBI Caps wrote in a 28 November report The share of GFCF in GDP appears to be peaking in real terms as consumption is gaining traction."

Also Read | NIIF opens a $200 million wallet for this digital infra firm

Yes Securities wrote in a 22 September report that GFCF growth (8.1% in FY2325) has surpassed its pre-pandemic trend (7.4% in FY1019), largely due to strong government-led spending under initiatives such as PM GatiShakti, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. Capital outlays have tripled since FY2020, generating productivity gains across sectors."

NIIF has seen some stellar successes after Sanjiv Aggarwal, who was earlier overseeing global private equity firm Actiss energy investments in Asia, took over as NIIFs chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) in January last year.

These include the sale of Ayana Renewable Power Pvt. Ltd to ONGC NTPC Green Pvt. Ltd (ONGPL) at an enterprise value of $2.3 billion; and the sale of Athaang Infrastructures three road assets for an enterprise value of $725 million to Cube Highways Trust. Aggarwal took over from Rajiv Dhar, who served as NIIFs interim MD and CEO after Sujoy Bose, the funds boss since its inception, quit in May 2016. Dhar was earlier NIIFs executive director and chief operating officer (COO).
Internet services have been suspended in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts of Assam after two groups clashed again over the issue of eviction of encroachers, officials said on Tuesday, December 23. The internet has been suspended temporarily and shall be restored when the law and order situation improves in the districts. The orders shall remain in force until further orders.

While internet services remain shut, services such as voice calls and broadband connectivity on the telephones lines will remain functional. It is, however, clarified that voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines shall remain functional during this period, the order stated.

At least eight persons were injured in the clashes. To disperse the crowd, the police resorted to lathicharge and also fired tear-gas shells.

In an official order, the Home and Political Department said in the interest of maintaining greater public peace and tranquility, and to prevent any deterioration of the present situation, internet services have been temporarily suspended.

On the violence situation in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts, Assam DGP Harmeet Singh said, A huge crowd has been gathered here from yesterday. I met the protestors and spoke with them. Last night, their leader was taken to Guwahati for a medical check-up as the doctors thought that his health was deteriorating because of the hunger strike, but someone spread misinformation that he is being arrested.

Today, they tried to take over the bridge, and when we tried to stop them, they attacked us. Crude bombs and stones were thrown. I was attacked with bows and arrows... The government is talking to them, and a date has been set for the. The Chief Minister has given them a date, and then the hunger strike was withdrawn. But, they have burnt all the shops, and 48 policemen have been injured until now.

He also urged the protesters to stop vandalism, assuring them that the Assam government was ready to find a solution. He further added that action will be taken against miscreants. Also Read | Protesters torch local body chief's house in Assam's Diphu after 12 day hunger strike; 4 injured in police firing

I want to give the message that the protestors should stop, and by doing this, they are not going to get anything. The government is ready to find a solution... Violence does not get anything for anybody. We have all the videos and the faces, we will take legal actions, he said.

Why clashes have erupted? Dozens of people belonging to several political and social organisations were on a hunger strike for past 12 days, demanding removal of the illegal settlers. A day earlier, the residence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) chief was set on fire by agitators.
Massive protests spilled onto the streets outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and West Bengal's Siliguri as hundreds gathered to demonstrate against the brutal killing of a Hindu man in Dhaka. Factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob of hundreds for allegedly making a blasphemous comment, triggering tensions between Hindu-majority India and its Muslim-majority neighbour.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directly questioned fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya about his plans to return to India. The court informed his legal team that it refuses to listen to his plea against the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act until he physically returns and places himself under the court's authority.

Mallya, who has lived in the United Kingdom since 2016, currently has two legal requests before the high court. The first urges the court to cancel the order that officially labelled him a "fugitive economic offender," and the second argues that the 2018 FEO Act itself is unconstitutional.

During the hearing, a judicial bench consisting of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad told Mallyas lawyer, Amit Desai, that the courts doors are not open for these arguments as long as Mallya remains abroad. They insisted that the 70-year-old former liquor tycoon, who faces serious charges of fraud and money laundering, must first show up in person before his legal complaints can be considered.

Representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly argued against Mallya's petitions. He stated that people who flee the country should not be allowed to fight the validity of Indian laws through lawyers while hiding from the justice system.

Mehta explained that the FEO Act was created specifically to stop people from avoiding trial while simultaneously using the legal system to their advantage. He also noted that the process to bring Mallya back to India through extradition is currently in its final stages.

The court further noted that it would not allow Mallya to pursue both petitions at the same time.

The judges asked the former head of Kingfisher Airlines to choose one to move forward with and withdraw the other.

In his defence, Mallyas lawyer argued that his clients financial debts have essentially been resolved. He pointed out that the government has frozen assets worth 14,000 crore, and banks have already recovered 6,000 crore of what was owed. However, the judges remained firm, questioning how criminal charges could ever be cleared if the accused person refuses to stand before a judge.

The high court has scheduled the next hearing for 12 February. By that date, Mallya must officially tell the court which of his two legal challenges he wants to continue. Mallya left India in March 2016 after being accused of failing to pay back massive loans. He was officially declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in early 2019.

ED restores  300 crore for former employees of Kingfisher Airlines On 18 December, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that it had successfully recovered more than 300 crore to pay the long-overdue salaries of former employees of the closed Kingfisher Airlines.

This recovery was made possible by a 12 December order from the Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in Chennai. The tribunal directed the release of money earned from selling company shares. These shares had been previously seized by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and handed over to the State Bank of India (SBI).

The total amount, which comes to 311.67 crore, will now be sent to an official liquidator. This official is responsible for the final step: distributing the money directly to the former workers who have been waiting for their pay for years.
Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram and six others will now be charged in connection with the Chinese visa scam case, a Delhi Court ordered on Tuesday.

Karti Chidambaram and seven others were accused of alleged bribery in facilitating visas for Chinese nationals of a power company in 2011.

According to a PTI report, Special Judge (CBI) Dig Vinay Singh ordered the framing of charges against seven accused, including Chidambaram, and discharged one, Chetan Shrivastava, in the case.

PTI, citing an order dated December 23, said the court ordered the framing of charges against the seven accused for the alleged offence of criminal conspiracy.

The detailed order is awaited.

What is the Chinese visa scam case? In October 2024, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Karti Chidambaram and others in connection with alleged bribery in facilitating visas of Chinese nationals for a power company in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was the Union home minister.

In its charge sheet submitted before a special court, the CBI had named Karti Chidambaram, the Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga, his alleged close associate S Bhaskararaman, Talawandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL), a subsidiary of Vedanta, and Mumbai-based Bell Tools, through which bribes were allegedly routed.

The agency has invoked charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Other charge-sheeted accused include Viral Mehta, Anup Agarwal, Mansoor Siddiqui and Chetan Shrivastava, they said.

The CBI had filed the charge sheet after two years of probe into its FIR registered in 2022, where it had alleged that the Punjab-based TSPL was setting up a 1980 MW thermal power plant and the work was outsourced to Chinese company Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (SEPCO).

The project was running behind its schedule, and the company was allegedly facing the prospect of a penalty.

The CBI FIR, which contained findings of the investigating officer who undertook the preliminary inquiry, alleged that an executive of TSPL approached Karti Chidambaram through his "close associate/front man" Bhaskararaman.

"They devised a back-door way to defeat the purpose of the ceiling (maximum of project visas permissible to the company's plant) by granting permission to re-use 263 project visas allotted to the said Chinese company's officials," the agency had said after the registration of FIR and searches.

Project visas were a special type of visa introduced in 2010 for the power and steel sector, for which detailed guidelines were issued during P Chidambaram's tenure as home minister, but there was no provision for the re-issue of project visas, the FIR had alleged.

A TSPL executive allegedly submitted a letter to the home ministry on July 30, 2011, seeking approval to reuse the project visas allotted to his company, which was approved within a month and the permission was issued, the FIR had alleged.

Also Read | Chidambaram claims PM Modi misquoted him on Mumbai terror attack response

"On August 17, 2011, the executive, on being directed by Bhaskararaman, sent a copy of the above letter dated July 30, 2011 to him through e-mail which was forwarded to Karti... Bhakaskararaman after discussion with P Chidambaram, the then home minister, demanded an illegal gratification of 50 lakh for ensuring the approval," the FIR had alleged.

The FIR also alleged that the payment of the said bribe was routed from TSP to Karti Chidambaram and Bhaskararaman through Mumbai-based Bell Tools Ltd with payments camouflaged under two invoices raised for consultancy and out-of-pocket expenses for Chinese visas-related work, the CBI FIR said, adding that the TSPL executive had later thanked Karti Chidambaram and Bhaskararaman on email.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Tuesday, December 23, that No PUC, No Fuel policy will continue in the national capital even after the pollution restrictions linked to GRAP-IV are lifted. The decision to continue the No PUC, No Fuel policy has been taken by the Delhi government as part of the efforts to control air pollution in the city.

This means that no vehicle without Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will be allowed to operate in the city even after the GRAP-IV restrictions to control air pollution are lifted.

He said action has been taken against faulty pollution testing centres and stricter checks, along with new pollution control measures.

While addressing a press conference, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, In Delhi, along with GRAP 4, our PUCC (Pollution Under Control Certificate) campaign was running with the slogan 'No PUC, No Fuel'.

The minister continued that the authorities have suspended and blacklisted at least 12 PUCC centres that were engaged in irregularities.

He said, We will continue this even after the GRAP restrictions are lifted. We have found 12 PUCC centres that were involved in irregularities, and they have been suspended and will be blacklisted.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued 411 closure notices to date, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has sealed 400 units in order to curb industrial pollution.

Four new automatic testing stations have been sanctioned, while anti-smog guns have been installed on high-rise buildings. The minister said that Delhi has around 1,000 water bodies that need to be rejuvenated, and the government has proposed allocating 100 crore for the purpose.

"Also, CM Rekha Gupta has sanctioned four new automatic testing stations. The ASGs (Anti-Smog Guns) installed on top of high-rise buildings in Delhi have been given more time to operate, and building owners have been given the option to install misting systems around their premises," he said.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa also informed that Delhi's first e-waste part at Holambi Kalam will soon be set up.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality spiked to 'severe' levels in certain areas of the National Capital Region (NCR). Multiple parts of the city continued to witness alarmingly high pollution levels.

CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR.

From December 18, the Delhi government banned vehicles without a valid PUC certificate from refueling at petrol pumps in the national capital.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar landed in Colombo on Monday to hold talks with Sri Lanka's top leadership as the island nation begins reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

Jaishankar is visiting Sri Lanka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoy.

"The visit underscores India's Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi.

The cyclone that hit the island nation in late November killed over 640 people and damaged crops, tea estates and critical transport infrastructures including roads and bridges.

Operation Sagar Bandhu India had launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to help Sri Lanka deal with the crisis. On Tuesday, Jaishankar will hold talks with the top Sri Lankan leadership.

"Landed in Colombo this evening. Thank Deputy Tourism Mininister Ruwan Ranasinghe for the warm reception. Look forward to my meetings with Sri Lankan leadership tomorrow," the external affairs minister said on 'X'.

What's on the agenda? The Minister is expected to hold talks today with Sri Lankas top leadership as the island nation begins reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah

Since the launch of Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28, India has provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems, and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment.

Several Indian naval ships including INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Sukanya and INS Gharial delivered large volumes of relief materials to Colombo and Trincomalee.

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force conducted immediate search and rescue operations, while an 85-member Indian Army Field Hospital set up in Mahiyanganaya provided life-saving medical care to more than 7,000 patients.

Also Read | IMF exploring Cyclone Ditwah recovery support for Sri Lanka

Indian Air Force and Navy helicopters evacuated survivors, transported troops, and delivered relief supplies-reflecting Indias steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka during a time of crisis.

Mosi speaks with Lankan President Earlier, PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and assured Indias continued assistance to the flood-hit island nation.

The visit underscores India's Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Modi said the people of India stand in firm solidarity with Sri Lanka during this crisis, and reaffirmed New Delhis commitment to supporting rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
As the Delhi-NCR region struggles with severe air pollution, attention has shifted to the recent protests over the Aravallis. Environmentalists, citizen groups such as People for Aravallis, scientists, and opposition parties, including the Congress and Samajwadi Party, argue that the proposed height-based definition would leave more than 90% of the ranges low-lying ridges, foothills, and scrublands without strong protection.

They warn this could open the door to increased mining, real estate projects, and urban expansion, causing irreversible harmaccelerating desertification, depleting groundwater, eroding biodiversity, and worsening air pollution and water scarcity across north India.

Aravalli serves as a critical natural barrier preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert, supports groundwater recharge for rivers like the Chambal and Luni, maintains biodiversity, and helps moderate climate and air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR).

What is Aravalli Hills controversy? In November 2025, the Supreme Court accepted a uniform legal definition of what constitutes the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range on the recommendation of a committee led by the Environment Ministry.

Also Read | Can air pollution affect fertility and pregnancy? IVF expert weighs in

Under this definition, an Aravalli Hill is a landform with an elevation of at least 100 metres above its local surrounding terrain and an "Aravalli Range" is a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday assured that the government is committed to keeping the hills safe.

According to the union minister, the reclassification has been done to bring uniformity in the enforcement of environmental laws across states, as before each state had its own classification to allow mining. Similarly, he also informed that only 0.19% of the whole range has been opened to mining, and no new mines are being opened. The area affected is expected to be 277.89 square kilometres, out of a total 1.44 lakh square kilometres.

He also said that the definition has been made stricter in order to protect the Green Aravalli wall.

In conversation with Mint, Dr Manish Kumar, a climate scientist with over 10 years of experience and director of Sustainable Bharat Foundation, a not-for-profit research organization, spoke about the impact of the Aravalli Range on air pollution.

(Edited excerpts)

How does Aravalli create an impact on Delhis air pollution? The Aravallis act as a natural barrier that helps limit dust transport and influences regional wind patterns. Degradation of this landscape can increase dust loading toward Delhi-NCR, particularly during dry and windy conditions. Strengthening vegetation cover, regulating mining activities, and restoring degraded patches in the Aravallis can therefore support regional air quality management. While Delhi's pollution has multiple drivers, protecting surrounding natural buffers remains an important complementary strategy.

Why are environmentalists concerned? Environmentalists are mainly concerned about how ecological value will be interpreted during implementation. While the Supreme Court has sought clarity and uniformity, the Aravalli ecosystem includes lower hill systems, slopes, forests, and groundwater recharge zones that are environmentally significant. The key opportunity now lies in ensuring that scientific mapping and the proposed management plan adequately capture these functional ecological components.

Why does the Delhi-NCR ecological balance matter? Delhi-NCRs ecological balance is closely linked to surrounding natural systems such as the Aravallis, forest patches, and groundwater recharge zones. These systems help regulate temperature, support water security, and reduce environmental stress from rapid urbanisation. Integrating ecological considerations into land-use planning and regional development strategies can significantly reduce long-term urban risks.

What are the climate risks? The Aravallis contribute to regional climate regulation by supporting vegetation cover, soil stability, and groundwater systems. Their degradation can intensify climate risks such as heat stress, dust storms, and declining water availability.

Why Aravallis matter? The Aravalli range is the oldest fold-mountain belt in India, dating back around 2 billion years, that acts as a natural shield, preventing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert into the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains. By blocking hot, dry winds and sand, they maintain soil moisture and prevent the desert from advancing into Haryana, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, and beyond. Without this barrier, large parts of north India could turn arid, threatening agriculture and food security.

View full Image Source: Britannica.

For Delhi-NCR, one of the world's most polluted regions, they trap dust from the Thar and absorb particulates like PM2.5/PM10, acting as green lungs. Their destruction would intensify heatwaves, smog, and air quality crises.

The range's fractured rocks and terrain allow rainwater to percolate deeply, recharging aquifers that supply water to millions in water-stressed areas, including Delhi-NCR.

Moreover, the Aravallis also align with India's commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Ongoing threats like mining and urbanisation have already caused significant damage, leading to soil erosion, reduced recharge, and habitat loss.

The Aravalli range is a 670-kilometre-long mountain range in the north-western part of India. The highest elevation of the range has been recorded at 1,722 metres.

The hill starts near Delhi, passes through Haryana, Rajasthan, and ends in Gujarat. The highest peak of the range is known as Guru Shikhar, in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Excessive consumption of fast food can be dangerous, even fatal, and the latest incident offers yet another grim reminder. A Class 11 studentan extreme fast-food consumerdied on Monday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, after battling an intestinal infection.

According to Live Hindustan, the 16-year-old girls health deteriorated due to prolonged unhealthy eating habits. Doctors said her intestines had stuck together and her digestive system was completely damaged. She underwent surgery but, unfortunately, could not be saved.

The girl, identified as Ahana by Bhaskar English, was fond of eating junk food, and would often order it from the market. Uncle Sajid Khan told Bhaskar English that Ahana had been fond of fast food since childhood. She preferred chowmein, maggi, pizza and burgers over home-cooked food. She would even eat packaged items secretly. It was our mistake that we did not pay enough attention, he said.

What happened? Ahana complained of severe stomach pain on November 28, prompting her family to rush her to a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha. However, as her condition showed no signs of improvement, she was referred to a hospital in Moradabad. Medical tests in Moradabad revealed damage to her intestines and fluid accumulation in her abdomen.

Also Read | Seven foods for gut health, digestion and weight control

Surgeon Dr Riaz performed surgery, during which around seven litres of fluid were removed from her stomach. After a slight improvement, Ahana was taken to Delhi by her uncle for further treatment, a family said.

After receiving treatment at AIIMS, her condition showed some improvement. Her stomach pain reduced and she even started moving around.

After doctors assured the family that her condition was improving, they hoped she would recover completely. However, late Sunday night her condition suddenly worsened, and the student died on Monday morning. Doctors said the cause of death was heart failure.

The blood circulation in her body had reduced. The infection that began in the intestines spread to the lungs, and the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart became blocked, Live Hindustan quoted doctors as saying.

Ahanas uncle, Gulzar Khan alias Guddu, said doctors clearly informed the family that her intestines had suffered severe damage due to prolonged consumption of fast food, leaving her body extremely weak.

Also Read | Methi water benefits: Weight loss and digestion explained
IAS officer Tina Dabi, known for being the first Dalit to top the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination in 2015, has dismissed allegations that college students protesting against examination fees in Rajasthans Barmer were detained for calling the IAS officer a reel star.

Speaking to NDTV, Dabi said the protesting students were creating a nuisance by blocking the road and that they were taken to a police station for talks.

No one ever got arrested or even detained. Some students, despite the fee hike issue being resolved, were blocking the road and trying to create a nuisance. They were taken to a police station by my subordinates for talks and cooling down. They then left two hours later, and the issue on the ground was dead, she said.

What actually happened? The events unfolded when college students demonstrating against the examination fee hike outside Barmers Maharana Bhupal College (MBC) on Saturday expressed a desire to meet Dabi. The situation escalated when an official referred to the IAS officer as a role model for them.

Some members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)  a BJP-backed student body  refuted the officials remark and asserted that she was more interested in making reels rather than paying attention to pivotal issues.

Also Read | IAS Tina Dabi threatens shopkeepers during cleanliness drive inspection | Watch

The Collector is not a role model. If she were, she would have come here to listen to the demands of the students. She is a reel star, goes everywhere to make reels, but does not pay attention to our problems, they said.

They later claimed that they were detained after their demonstration concluded. Several students then gathered outside the police station, demanding the release of the detained students.

Senior police officer Manoj Kumar clarified that no detentions or arrests were made.

Neither did the police detain nor arrest anyone, and we did not mishandle any girl. To calm the situation, we brought four boys to the police station and later told them to leave. However, students gathered near the police station and demanded an apology from the administration. They stayed there for some time until our senior officers arrived and spoke to them, he told NDTV.

Just another day of a bureaucrat being intolerant in India The issue evoked responses from several people, including Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who criticised Dabi over the alleged remarks.

Just another day of a bureaucrat being intolerant in India. They continue to bypass harsh scrutiny despite their corruption, power drunkenness and now intolerance, Chaturvedi wrote on X.

The ABVP also condemned the remarks, stating that arrests of students for expressing their views is deeply condemnable and strikes at the very core of democratic values.

Since when has freedom of expression become a crime? ABVP strongly condemns this suppressive action and stands firmly with students in defence of democratic rights, the students body wrote on X.

Also Read | New profile picture: IAS Tina Dabi shares photo with husband

Responding to the social media chatter, Dabi said it was an attempt to malign her image and get some cheap publicity.
India has summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah days after a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob of hundreds in Dhaka over allegations that he had insulted religion. The development also comes after Indian High Commissioner was summoned by the Bangladesh government over security of the missions following a massive protest outside the New Delhi high commission against the killing of the man.

High Commissioner Pranay Verma to convey its grave concern over the security of its missions in India. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam summoned the Indian envoy to the Foreign Office.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that Pranay Verma was conveyed Dhaka's "grave concern over the regrettable incidents" outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and residence in New Delhi on December 20, 2025, and the acts of vandalism at its Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 by different extremist elements.

It read, Bangladesh also expressed deep concern over violent protests staged outside the premises of the different Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh in India.

The statement said Bangladesh condemns such acts against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance. Also Read | Bangladesh unrest- This is a critical moment, Yunus-led interim govt invokes Osman Hadi to condemn violence

This is not the first time India has summoned Riaz Hamidullah. He was earlier summoned on December 17 after reports that a protest was being planned outside the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

Rejecting the false narratives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it was unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents.

Bangladesh has recently witnessed a fresh wave of protest after the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, also instrumental in organising the anti-government protests against Sheikh Hasina. He was killed by unknown assailants.

Amid the unrest, Dipu Das was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. However, new details into the incident now mention that a workplace dispute may have been the reason why Dipu was killed.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has temporarily suspended all consular and visa services until further notice.

The notice read: Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.

The moves comes after India suspended visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong following a security incident.
National Farmer's Day: India is observing National Farmers Day 2025 on December 23 like every year, to mark the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

National Farmers Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of late PM Singh to remember his work for the welfare of farmers.

Kisan Diwas is marked every year to celebrate farmers' role in feeding the country and supporting rural economy. To support farmers, the government has also mobilised various schemes and boost their income and insurance. The farmer welfare schemes are also aimed at giving farmers credit to boost infrastructure and the rural economy.

Here are 5 government schemes for farmers you must know about on Kisan Diwas 2025:

PM KISAN The most widely known farmer welfare scheme, PM Kisan or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is an income support scheme for farmers. Under this scheme started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, all land-holding farmer families receive 6,000 each per year in three instalments. The money is directly transferred by the government to the farmer's bank account through DBT. This scheme is beneficial for farmers to meet their needs, such as buying seeds, fertilisers and funding household expenses.

PMFBY The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a welfare scheme for farmers started by the Modi government launched in 2016 that offers affordable crop insurance to farmers to support crop production. The insurance under PMFBY is provided against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest stage like floods, droughts, hailstorms, pests and diseases. PMFBY supports about 50 crore farmers and covers more than 50 crops.

Also Read | Big boost for agritech: India opens doors to more farm subsidies

Kisan Credit Card The Kisan Credit Card scheme was launched to provide farmers with affordable and timely credit under a single window. Under this scheme, the Centre provides interest subvention of 2% and Prompt Repayment Incentive of 3% to the farmers, making the credit available at a subsidised rate of 4% per annum. The credit is used for crop production, post-harvest expenses and more.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana Launched in 2019 by PM Modi, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PMKMY) provides social security to small and marginal farmers during their old age when they are unable to bring in any income and have little to no savings to take care of themselves. Under the scheme, each subscriber is guaranteed a pension of 3,000 per month.
National Farmers Day 2025: Kisan Diwas, also known as National Farmers Day, is observed today 23 December in India.

The day also commemorates the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, Indias fifth Prime Minister, hailed for his understanding of rural issues and his steadfast advocacy for farmers rights and welfare.

Also Read | Farmers body to set up National Onion Centre in Nashik, to empower growers on production

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Charan Singh in a post on X on Tuesday, 23 December 2025. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, humble tribute to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji, the true well-wisher of the poor and farmers. His dedication and spirit of service to the nation will continue to inspire everyone, the prime minister said.

Kisan Diwas is an an important observance in India that honours farmers as the backbone of the nation. Farmers in India are revered as annadaataa, which means giver of food in Sanskrit, making them an invaluable source for the countrys growth, economy, and prosperity.

National Farmers Day or Kisan Day serves as a timely reminder to recognise farmers contributions, as well as the need for addressing farmers problems and improving their quality of life.

What is the significance of 23 December? National Farmers Day is celebrated on 23 December every year. Last year, the Government of India observed Kisan Diwas with the theme of Empowering Annadatas for a Prosperous Nation.

National Farmers Day emphasises the major difficulties encountered by farmers, focusing on matters such as equitable pricing for produce, sustainable methods, and the effects of climate change on farming. The day seeks to promote awareness regarding government measures like subsidies, crop insurance, and loans that bolster farmers' resilience and industry development.

The government officially recognised 23 December as National Farmers Day in 2001 to celebrate Charan Singhs legacy and the crucial role farmers play in maintaining the nations food systems and economic stability.

Last year in March, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Bharat Ratna posthumously on former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. Singhs award was received by his grandson, Jayant Singh who is also a minister in the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a surprising development in Rajasthan, a panchayat in Jalore district has issued a diktat banning daughters-in-law and young women from 15 villages from using camera phones. The order will come into force from 26 January next year, as reported by news agency PTI.

Additionally, the panchayat has also prohibited them from taking a phone to public functions or a neighbour's house. Instead of a phone with a camera, the women will only be allowed to use keypad phones.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Chaudhary community held on Sunday in Gazipur village of Jalore district.

Sujnaram Chaudhary, the president of the 14 pattis (subdivisions), told PTI that Panch Himmtaram announced the decision.

According to Himmtaram, after discussions among the panch and community members, it was decided that daughters-in-law and young women would exclusively use keypad phones for calling, as stated in the report.

Chaudhary further said that school-going girls who need mobile phones for their studies may use them only at home, and they are not allowed to take mobile phones to weddings, social events, or even to a neighbour's house.

In response to the opposition regarding the panchayat's decision, Chaudhary clarified that this step was taken as children often use the mobile phones of women in their households, which may affect their eyesight.

He also mentioned that some women give phones to their children to keep them distracted, which allows them to focus on their daily chores.

Phone ban in primary schools While the village panchayat's decision has raised eyebrows, banning children from using mobile phones is not new. Recently, the Israeli Education Ministry announced a mandatory ban on mobile phones in primary schools. Citing the "negative effects" of digital devices on young learners, the ministry aims to foster a healthier educational environment focused on social interaction and emotional development, as reported by news agency AFP.

While individual schools previously set their own rules  and Tel Aviv implemented a city-wide ban in September  this new policy applies to all primary students across the country. Education Minister Yoav Kisch stated that the move is backed by research showing that removing screens helps reduce distractions and strengthens human connections.

Yoav Kisch said the policy was "based on studies in Israel and around the world, as well as on the (ministry's) commitment to a healthy and safe educational environment, aimed at reducing the negative effects of students' use of phones."

"From February 2, a new policy will be implemented in primary schools: children will be prohibited from using mobile phones on school premises," the education ministry said in a statement.

"Its implementation will include educational programmes in the classroom and dialogue with parents in order to instil balanced phone use, prevent excessive use of social media (by children) and reduce exposure to age-inappropriate content," the statement added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is pushing an agenda that amounts to the elimination of the Constitution, which guarantees equal rights to all citizens. Gandhi said the Opposition would build a system of resistance that would ultimately remove the BJP from power in India.

Speaking at the Hertie School in Berlin, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also alleged that the BJP has launched a full-scale assault and has captured the institutional framework of the country to help use it as a tool for building its political power, and that is what the opposition is fighting against.

Also Read | Delhi court refuses to take cognizance of National Herald money laundering case

In an hour-long video released by the Congress on Monday night, Gandhi said India's largest and complex democracy is a global asset, and the "assault" on the Indian democratic system is also an attack on the global democratic system.

"What the BJP is proposing essentially is the elimination of the Constitution. Elimination of the idea of equality between states, elimination of the idea of equality between languages and religions, elimination of the idea of the central core of the Constitution, which is that every individual will have the same value," Gandhi said to a group of students at the Hertie School last week.

In the video, 'Politics is the art of listening', Gandhi said that when there is an attack on the democratic system, the opposition has to find ways to counter it and not merely say that there is a problem with the elections.

"We will deal with it, and we will create a method, a system of opposition resistance that will succeed. But, we're not fighting the BJP. You have to understand that we're fighting their capture of the Indian institutional structure," he said.

Answering queries of students, Gandhi claimed there is a weaponisation of the institutional framework.

"We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India. The second thing is that there is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. There is a full-scale assault taking place on the institutional framework of our country," he claimed.

The Congress leader noted that there is an atmosphere in India where the institutions are not performing the role they should be performing.

Gandhi said while the Europeans struggled to build a European Union, India built an economic and political union in 1947, which was based on the Constitution.

"If you are going to have any conversation about democracy on the planet, you cannot ignore by far the largest and most complex democracy in the world. That is why I say Indian democracy is a global public good; it is not just an Indian asset, it is a global asset.

"So when I talk of the attack on the Indian democratic system, I don't say it, but it is actually an attack not just on the Indian democratic system, it is an attack on the global democratic system," Gandhi observed.

Attacking the BJP, he claimed that the Congress had clearly shown without a shadow of a doubt that they "won" the Haryana election, and asserted that "we actually don't feel that the Maharashtra election was fair".

Rahul attacks CBI, ED Gandhi also attacked enforcement agencies like the CBI and the ED and said that while the Congress helped build the institutional framework, it never viewed it as its own but that of the country.

"But, that's not how the BJP sees (it). It views the institutional framework of India as belonging to them. So they use it as a tool for building political power," he alleged.

He alleged the ED and the CBI have been weaponised. "Going by the number of cases that the ED and the CBI have against BJP people and against the opposition, one would find that most of them are political cases," he said.

Gandhi also attacked the economic model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

If you are going to have any conversation about democracy on the planet, you cannot ignore by far the largest and most complex democracy in the world.

PM Modi, the BJP and the RSS have essentially taken the economic models of Manmohan Singh and taken them right forward, he claimed. "What Mr Modi is trying to do economically cannot go further... it is jammed," he alleged.

Rahul met "anti-India forces in Germany": BJP Rahul Gandhi was in Germany last week. 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.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo. Jaishankar is visiting Sri Lanka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoy.

Assured India's steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka's rebuilding post Cyclone Ditwah. The reconstruction package offered by India is a reflection of the deep bonding between our two nations, Jaishankar said after meetin the Sri Lankan PM.

Also Read | Jaishankar in Sri Lanka as PM Modi's special envoy

Jaishankar landed in Colombo on Monday to hold talks with Sri Lanka's top leadership as the island nation begins reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

The cyclone that hit the island nation in late November killed over 640 people and damaged crops, tea estates and critical transport infrastructures including roads and bridges.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar said that India is proud to stand by Sri Lanka during Cyclone Ditwah and has proposed an assistance package worth $450 million or  4,040 crore.

Jaishankar made these remarks alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

"Just as Sri Lanka was recovering from the economic crisis of 2022, this natural disaster has created new difficulties," Jaishankar, said.

"Prime Minister Modi directed that we now engage with the Sri Lankan government to address their priorities. In that regard, the assistance package that we have proposed is worth $450 million, Jaishankar said, adding the package will include $350 million in Concessional lines of credit, and $100 million of grants.

Also Read | EAM Jaishankar opens up on key diplomatic issues at HTLS 2025

"This package is being finalised, in close consultation with the government of Sri Lanka. Our assistance will cover sectors worst affected by the cyclone, including one, rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity," he said.

Operation Sagar Bandhu India had launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to help Sri Lanka deal with the crisis. On Tuesday, Jaishankar will hold talks with the top Sri Lankan leadership.

Since the launch of Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28, India has provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems, and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment.
The Election Commission of India released draft voter rolls of Andaman and Nicobar, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, 23 December, after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

As many as 95 lakh names have been removed from the draft electoral rolls which were published on Tuesday.

Enumeration was previously scheduled to end on 11 December with draft rolls being published on 16 December. The new data is out days after the draft rolls were released for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and other states where the names of about 1.5 lakh voters were deleted.

24 lakh names deleted in Kerala In Kerala, as per the draft roll details, the Election Commission collected enumeration forms from 2,54,42,352 voters.

"As on 18 December, 2025, out of 2,76,50,855 voters, 2,54,42,352 have submitted their enumeration forms," the poll panel said.

View full Image As on 18 December, 2025, out of 2,76,50,855 voters, 2,54,42,352 have submitted their enumeration forms, the poll panel said.

Names of as many as 24.08 lakh voters have been deleted from the voter list, as per poll panel data. These include 6.49 lakh names of people who were found deceased, 1.36 lakh names who were found enrolled at multiple places and 14.6 lakh names of voters who have either shifted or were absent during the exercise.

Over 42 lakh names removed in MP In Madhya Pradesh, the poll officials collected enumeration forms from about 5-31 crore voters.

As per the details mentioned in the draft roll, names of about 42.74 lakh voters have been deleted. These include 31.5 lakh shifted/absent names, 2.77 lakh names enrolled at multiple places and 8.46 lakh deceased voters.

View full Image As per the details mentioned in draft roll, names of about 42.68 lakh voters have been deleted. These include 31.5 lakh shifted/absent names, 2.77 lakh names enrolled at multiple places and 8.46 lakh deceased voters.

In Chhattisgarh, the names of as many as 27.3 lakh voters have been removed in SIR. These include 6.42 names of deceased voters, 19.13 lakh names of voters who were either absent or shifted from their original address and 1.79 lakh names enrolled at multiple places.

Draft list, not final yet The Special Intensive Revision or SIR, is a voter list verification exercise that the ECI undertakes, believing that the annual Summary Revision is not enough to clean the rolls. The exhaustive exercise involves house-to-house enumeration, pre-filled forms, online submissions, and fresh verification of old voter data.

Overall, names of more than 92 lakh voters have been deleted from the three states  Kerala, MP and Chhattisgarh  as per the numbers released by the poll panel on 23 December.

The poll panel also released the details of Andaman and Nicobar islands on Tuesday. Names of as many as many as 64,000 voters have been removed from the rolls of the island. Of these 51,906 names were of those found absent or shifted from their addresses. Another 2,917 names removed were of those enrolled at multiple places and about 9,191 votes were found of deceased people.

Remember, this is a draft voter list. Genuine voters can still be added to the electoral roll during the Claims and Objections phase from today till 22 January 2026, the poll panel said.

Where can you see the electoral draft rolls? As per the norm, the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Election Officers (DEOs) will provide printed copies of the voter lists to all recognised political parties. The draft rolls will also be made available online on the CEO and DEO websites.

Also Read | Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir announces plans to float new political party

Separate lists showing voters who are absent, have moved, are deceased, or are duplicates will be uploaded to the same websites.

Step-by-step guide to check your name in draft SIR voter list Step 1: Visit the ECI Website https://voters.eci.gov.in/download-eroll? and select your state

Step 2: Select the district and assembly constituency

The page will display a table listing all the districts of your state. Press on the name of your district to proceed.

Next, a list of Assembly seats of the district will appear. And when you click on the relevant constituency, it opens a Google Drive folder containing booth-level voter data in PDF format.

Voters can also search for their name on https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/ using their EPIC Number.

The exhaustive exercise involves house-to-house enumeration, pre-filled forms, online submissions, and fresh verification of old voter data.

Step 3: Booth-level PDFs: This folder contains multiple PDFs, labelled by taluka names, village names, or polling booth and part numbers. Voters can access the PDF corresponding to their polling booth.

Booth numbers were mentioned on the forms issued to voters during the SIR exercise.
Following the suspension of the jail term of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the 2017 Unnao rape case, the victim, her mother, and a woman activist held a protest at India Gate against the Delhi High Court's order.

Sengar's sentence was suspended by the high court till the pendency of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence in the rape case.

He has challenged a December 2019 trial court verdict in the case.

The Delhi Police removed the victim, her mother, and activist Yogita Bhayana from the protest site.

However, Sengar will remain in prison since he is also serving 10 years imprisonment in the custodial death case of the victim's father and has not been granted bail in that case.

The Unnao rape case survivor told PTI that she was not satisfied with the verdict.

"I have small children. There is an elderly, differently-abled mother-in-law and my husband at home. The safety of my children is the biggest concern," she said.

She alleged that during the course of the trial, her family was repeatedly forced to make rounds of the court and questioned why security cover provided to her family members, legal aides and witnesses was withdrawn.

"Usually, a verdict is pronounced within two or three days after the conclusion of arguments. But in this case, the decision came after three months. Even before the verdict, security for the family and witnesses was withdrawn," she alleged.

"In the serious crime where my father was murdered and I was subjected to rape, the accused is granted bail after serving a few years in prison. This raises the question of what kind of justice this is," she added.

What does the HC order say? The Delhi High Court imposed several conditions on Sengar, directing him to furnish a personal bond of 15 lakh with three sureties of the like amount.

The HC also told him not to come within a five-km radius of the victim's residence in Delhi and not to threaten her or her mother.

"Violation of any of the conditions would lead to cancellation of bail," the high court said in its 53-page verdict.

The HC said that letting Sengar be in jail when he has already spent about seven years and five months in prison would be violative of Article 21 (protection of life and liberty) of the Constitution.

About the victim's apprehension about danger to her life, the court said it expects that she will continue to get CRPF cover.

"At the same time, however, the argument of keeping the appellant (Sengar) in custody because of threat perception to the victim/ survivor, in the opinion of this court, is not a tenable argument to deny the benefit of section 389 CrPC to the appellant," it added.

The high court also directed Sengar to deposit his passport with the trial court and to report to the local police station every Monday at 10 AM.

About the case Sengar had kidnapped the minor and raped her in 2017.
The United States Embassy and all US Consulates in India will remain closed for three consecutive days from Wednesday, December 24, to Friday, December 26, 2025, according to an official notice issued by US Mission India. The closure is in line with a Presidential Executive Order mandating the shutdown of executive departments and federal government agencies in the United States on these dates. As a result, routine consular services will not be available during this period.

Also Read | US visa application approved within a minute: Reddit user shares experience

The US Embassy and Consulates in India will be closed from Wednesday, December 24, 2025, to Friday, December 26, 2025, in accordance with the Presidential Executive Order providing for the closure of executive departments and agencies of the federal government on these dates. Routine consular services will not be available during these dates, the embassy said in a post on X.

This means services such as visa interviews, passport processing, document verification, and other non-emergency consular operations will remain suspended at all US diplomatic missions across India, including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

The announcement comes at a time when visa processing timelines are already under pressure due to enhanced vetting procedures and increased scrutiny for non-immigrant visas, including H-1B, H-4, F-1, and J-1 categories. Applicants with scheduled appointments during the closure period are expected to receive instructions regarding rescheduling through official channels.

Also Read | January 2026 US Visa Bulletin: Key deadlines for applicants released

US authorities have advised applicants to plan travel and visa-related activities accordingly, especially those facing urgent timelines for employment, education, or travel. Emergency services for US citizens may remain available on a limited basis, but routine services will resume only after operations reopen.

What did US embassy in India say earlier? The US embassy in India earlier requested visa applicants not to visit the consular offices based on their previously scheduled interview date.

It stated, If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date, adding, Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.

Also Read | US visa application approved within a minute: Reddit user shares experience

Many visa applicants shared anonymous posts on social media describing their ordeal. As per ANI, one applicant stated, My H-1B consular appointment in Chennai, originally on December 18, got cancelled right after I completed the biometrics process on Tuesday, and was auto-rescheduled to April 30, 2026.
Vinod Kumar Shukla, eminent Chhattisgarh-based Hindi writer and Jnanpith Award recipient, has passed away at the age of 89. His family members said in a statement that Vinod Kumar Shukla had been suffering from multiple age-related ailments. He passed away at at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

According to the reports, Vinod Kumar Shukla was admitted to AIIMS Raipur on December 2 after he experienced difficulty in breathing. Today, on December 23, the eminent writer passed away at 4:48 pm, his son Shashwat Shukla told news agency PTI.

He is survived by his wife, son Shashwat and a daughter.

According to the family, his mortal remains will first be taken to his residence here, and details regarding the last rites will be announced shortly.

His son also informed that Vinod Kumar Shukla had first faced difficulties in breathing in October. He was then admitted to a private hospital in the city; he was later discharged after his condition improved.

However, his health deteriorated suddenly on December 2, after which he was taken to AIIMS Raipur for further treatment, he added.

PM Modi reacts PM Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness on the passing of Vinod Kumar Shukla and said his contribution to Hindi literature will always be remembered.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, I am deeply saddened by the demise of the renowned writer Vinod Kumar Shukla ji, who was honoured with the Jnanpith Award. For his invaluable contribution to the world of Hindi literature, he will always be remembered. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti.

About Vinod Kumar Shukla Vinod Kumar Shukla was a celebrated literary figure known for acclaimed novels such as 'Naukar Ki Kameez', 'Khilega To Dekhenge', 'Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi', and 'Ek Chuppi Jagah'.

He was widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in Hindi literature, known for his unique, simple, and deeply evocative writing style. For his unparalleled contribution to Hindi literature, creative excellence, and distinctive literary expression, Shukla was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour.

The award was presented to him on November 21 this year at a ceremony held at his residence in Raipur. He was the first author from Chhattisgarh to receive the prestigious award.

During his visit to Chhattisgarh on November 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to the family members of Shukla, and enquired about his health and well-being. Shukla's novel 'Naukar Ki Kameez' was adapted into a film of the same name by filmmaker Mani Kaul.
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) protestors on Tuesday clashed with police and broke barricades outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, protesting the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth in Bangladesh.

Heavy security was deployed near the Bangladesh High Commission to monitor and control the situation. The protestors demanded accountability from Bangladeshi authorities, with some calling for justice and protection of minorities.

Also Read | Media in Bangladesh is facing fight for survival: Top editors ahead of elections

Protesters clashed with security forces outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, attempting to march towards the building. They broke through police barricades but were stopped by multi-layered security cordons comprising police and paramilitary staff, protesting the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh.

Members of the Sarbo Bharatiya Hindi Bangali Sangathan, VHP, and Bajrang Dal participated in a protest near the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Metro Station, raising slogans about Bangladesh's Hindus and their security.

Tensions rose when a massive crowd of demonstrators pushed the security barricades. Protestors were chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Yunus Sarkar Hosh me Aao", and "Hindu Hatiya Band Karo".

One protestor cried out that Hindus are in danger and this country is Lord Ram's.

"Hindus are being killed. This country belongs to Lord Ram. This country belongs to Lord Krishna. We don't kill anyone here, but the dignity of our sisters and daughters is in danger", he stated.

The purpose of this protest is to push for action against the tragic mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das on December 18 over an alleged claim of blasphemy.

Several protests are staged against the violence against minorities in Bangladesh across India.

West Bengal Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee said the External Affairs Minister should address the issue.

"Humanity is under attack. Both Hindus and Muslim are being killed. Don't bring religion into this. BJP wants to polarise the issue. We condemn the atrocities in Bangladesh. Priyanka Gandhi was right. The Foreign Minister should wake up," he said.

Amid the heightened tensions, Bangladesh has suspended consular and visa services in New Delhi and Agartala due to security concerns following protests. The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the protests.

Bangladesh on Tuesday expressed grave concern over attacks on its diplomatic missions in India, summoning the Indian High Commissioner to protest incidents in New Delhi and Siliguri, according to Bangladesh Foreign Ministry statement.

"Bangladesh condemns such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance", it added.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned the violence, citing threats to diplomatic personnel and establishments, and urged India to ensure their safety and security.

"The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and related facilities in India", the statement said.

The incidents include vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on 22 December 2025 and a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December 2025.

India has dismissed allegations of inadequate security, stating the New Delhi protest was brief and posed no threat. The row stems from the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, sparking international concern over minority safety.

India on Sunday dismissed "misleading propaganda" in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi against the "horrendous killing" of Hindu youth, and said the protest was brief and posed no security threat.

The 27-year-old Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.

Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.

Protests elsewhere too The VHP along with Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits staged a protest in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal on Tuesday over the atrocities against Hindus and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh.

The members of the Hindu outfit also burn the effigy of the Bangladesh government to mark their protest on the occasion.

"Bajrang Dal has protested against the Bangladesh government today over the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and we have also burned an effigy of the Bangladesh government. We demand that President's Rule be imposed in Bangladesh and the extremists roaming on the street should be taken into custody," a member of the Bajrang Dal told ANI.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association on Tuesday protested the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to either bring Hindus to India or ensure their protection there.

Hindus are being killed. This country belongs to Lord Ram.

The lawyers also demanded that illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants be evicted from Jammu.

"We condemn the repeated attacks and killings of Hindus in Bangladesh. We want the protection of Hindus. We want to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Home Minister Amit Shah ji that the entire country stands with them to take stern steps to ensure that atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh are stopped," the bar's president, Nirmal K Kotwal, said.
Pratham Mittal, founder of Masters Union and Tetr College of Business, has joined Shark Tank India Season 5 as one of its new judges. Known for his work in building student-led startups and alternative business education models, Mittal brings a strong focus on early-stage entrepreneurship to the show.

Shark Tank India has emerged as one of the countrys most influential platforms for founders, offering entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas, secure funding and receive mentorship from leading investors. Mittals entry signals a sharper emphasis on student founders and first-time entrepreneurs building companies at a young age.

Building Indias Student Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Over the past few years, Pratham Mittal has played a key role in shaping Indias campus entrepreneurship culture through Masters Union. Entrepreneurship is a core pillar at the institution, with more than 35 students launching startups in the past year alone.

Student ventures backed by the Masters Union Investment Fund received 1.36 crore in grants, generated 4.32 crore in projected annualised recurring revenue, and benefited from 4,500+ hours of personalised mentorship. Several of these student-led startups have gone on to pitch at advanced stages of Shark Tank India, including reaching finalist rounds.

Global Expansion Through Tetr College Mittal has extended this founder-first approach globally through Tetr College of Business, a four-year undergraduate programme where building a venture is a core academic requirement. Students at Tetr build companies across seven countries, gaining hands-on exposure to multiple markets while scaling real businesses as part of their degree.

Tetrs student body includes over 200 students from more than 50 countries, selected through a highly competitive 2.6% acceptance rate. The college recently raised $18 million in funding from leading education-focused investors Owl Ventures and Bertelsmann India Investments, further strengthening its global ambitions.

From Classrooms To Real Markets Across both Masters Union and Tetr College, students are encouraged to move beyond ideation to execution. With access to mentorship, institutional backing and early-stage capital, student founders are able to test ideas, generate revenue and scale ventures while still in college  reflecting a broader shift towards entrepreneurship as a viable early-career pathway.

Also Read | Namita Thapar advises 70-hour work week employees against marriage and children

Reacting to his new role on Shark Tank India, Pratham Mittal said the show has become a powerful launchpad for young entrepreneurs. Shark Tank has emerged as one of the most influential platforms for entrepreneurship in India, giving early-stage founders the opportunity to showcase their ideas, gain mentorship, and access resources that can help turn concepts into scalable businesses, he said, adding that he looks forward to engaging with students and young founders who are starting early and building with purpose.

With his background rooted in student entrepreneurship and venture-building education, Mittals presence on Shark Tank India Season 5 is expected to resonate strongly with Indias next generation of founders.
SIR Voter List 2025: The Election Commission of India is all set to release draft voter rolls after Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise for four states and union territories on Tuesday, 23 December.

As per the revised schedule, draft voter rolls will be released for Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 23 December. Enumeration was previously scheduled to end on 11 December with draft rolls being published on 16 December.

The data will be out days after the draft rolls were released for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and other states where names of about 1.5 lakh voters were deleted.

Where can you see the electoral draft rolls? As per the norm, the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Election Officers (DEOs) will provide printed copies of the voter lists to all recognised political parties. The draft rolls will also be made available online on the CEO and DEO websites.

Separate lists showing voters who are absent, have moved, are deceased, or are duplicates will be uploaded on the same websites.

What is SIR? The Special Intensive Revision or SIR, is a voter list verification exercise that the ECI undertakes believing that the annual Summary Revision is not enough to clean the rolls. The exhaustive exercise involves house-to-house enumeration, pre-filled forms, online submissions, and fresh verification of old voter data.

The Election Commission is empowered to conduct SIR whenever it deems fit as per Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.

Step-by-step guide to check your name in draft SIR voter list Step 1: Visit the ECI Website https://voters.eci.gov.in/download-eroll? and select your state

Step 2: Select the district and assembly constituency

The page will displays a table listing all the districts of your state. Press on the name of your district to proceed.

Next, a list of Assembly seats of the district will appear. And when you click on the relevant constituency, it opens a Google Drive folder containing booth-level voter data in PDF format.

Voters can also search for your name on https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/ using your EPIC Number.

Step 3: Booth-level PDFs: The folder contains multiple PDFs, labelled by taluka names, village names, or polling booth and part numbers. Voters can access the PDF corresponding to their polling booth.

Booth numbers were mentioned on the forms issued to voters during the SIR exercise.
The US Justice Department on Tuesday (December 23) said that the latest batch of government files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Donald Trump.

In a post on X, the DOJ said some of the allegations included in the documents lacked credibility and were submitted at a politically sensitive time.

Claims submitted ahead of 2020 election: DOJ Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election, the Justice Department said.

The department did not specify which allegations it was referring to, nor did it provide further details about the nature of the claims.

Would have been weaponized: DOJ Questioning the credibility of the allegations, the Justice Department suggested that they would have been used politically if they were legitimate.

If they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already, the department said.

Epstein files under renewed scrutiny The remarks come amid renewed public attention on documents related to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. The release of additional records has sparked fresh scrutiny of individuals named in the files, though inclusion does not necessarily imply wrongdoing.

Also Read | US federal workers get Christmas long weekend after Trump order

DOJ releases new Epstein documents highlighting Trump jet travel The US Justice Department on Tuesday (December 23) released a fresh batch of documents from its investigation into late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including emails suggesting President Donald Trump traveled aboard Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported.

The release includes around 30,000 pages, many heavily redacted, along with dozens of video clips, some allegedly shot inside a federal detention center. Epstein died in 2019 in a New York jail, a death officially ruled a suicide.

Emails show multiple Trump flights on Epstein jet One email, dated January 7, 2020, from an unidentified prosecutor in New York, stated that flight records indicated Trump had flown on Epsteins private jet eight times during the 1990s, exceeding what investigators had previously known.

The email noted that at least four of those flights included Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for aiding Epstein in sexually abusing underage girls.

Redacted passengers and possible witnesses According to the email, one flight included only three passengersEpstein, Trump, and a 20-year-old woman whose name was redacted.

Photo of Trump and Maxwell found in Bannon data Another email, dated 2021, stated that someone reviewing data obtained from Steve Bannons cellphone had found an image of Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell. The government redacted the photo in the released files.

Key takeaways

Trump is reported to have flown on Epsteins private jet eight times during the 1990s.

Ghislaine Maxwell was reportedly on at least four of those trips.

Certain passenger names and a photo of Trump with Maxwell were redacted from the documents.
US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday (December 21) delivered a blunt defence of his wife, second lady Usha Vance, after racist attacks from podcaster Nick Fuentes and remarks by former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki.

Let me be clear, Vance told UnHerd. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat s---. Thats my official policy as vice president of the United States.

He added that judging people based on ethnicity or religion was disgusting and should have no place in American politics.

Fuentes racist remarks Fuentes targeted both JD and Usha Vance on his podcast last month while criticising the MAGA movement.

And now theyre all in favor of a fat, race mixer whos married to a jeet, who named his son Vivek ... and thats your guy? Your guy is literally a fat, gay race traitor who married a jeet ... Fuentes said.

Usha Vance, who is of Indian descent and Hindu, was subjected to racial slurs, while Fuentes also attacked the couples children and mocked their names.

Vance said such rhetoric crossed a red line. My attitude towards anybody who is calling for judging people based on their ethnic heritage, whether theyre Jewish or white or anything else, its disgusting, he said.

Psaki comment draws response Vance also hit out at former White House press secretary Jen Psaki over remarks she made on the liberal Ive Had It podcast.

I always wonder whats going on in the mind of his wife, Psaki said. Like, are you OK? Please blink four times. Come over here. Well save you.

Vance grouped Psakis comment with Fuentes attacks, saying neither was acceptable.

First Indian American second lady Usha Vance is the first Indian American second lady in US history. Before her husband became vice president, she worked as a lawyer in civil litigation.

The couple met while studying at Yale Law School and have three children.

Past faith controversy The interview also comes months after Vance faced criticism over comments about religion and marriage during an October appearance at a Turning Point USA event.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism, said at the time that he hoped eventually my wife comes to see it the same way, but added that her Hindu faith was not a problem for him.

But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me, he said.

Vance clarifies stance Responding to backlash online, Vance later wrote on X that his wife was the most amazing blessing in his life and had encouraged him to reengage with his faith.
A Mexican Navy aircraft on a medical mission crashed into the waters of Galveston Bay on Monday afternoon, killing at least five people  including a two-year-old child  and triggering a major search-and-rescue operation along the Texas coast, US and Mexican authorities said.

The aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air 350i operated by the Mexican Navy, was transporting a young medical patient and seven others when it went down near Galveston, about 50 miles (80.5 kilometres) southeast of Houston.

What happened near Galveston Bay? The Mexican Navy plane crash occurred on Monday afternoon near the base of a causeway along the Texas coast, close to Scholes International Airport. The US Coast Guard confirmed that the aircraft crashed into Galveston Bay, setting off an immediate response from federal, state and local agencies.

Coast Guard officials said at least five people were killed in the crash, while four others were rescued alive from the water.

Also Read | Former NASCAR driver Biffle among seven dead in plane crash in North Carolina

Search and rescue teams continue to work in the area as investigators assess the wreckage.

Who were the passengers on board? Authorities said the aircraft was conducting a medical transport mission.

The plane had been transporting burn patients, Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said.

Two of the passengers on Mexican Navy plane were members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that provides aid to Mexican children who have suffered severe burns.

A two-year-old child was among those who died in the crash, according to Coast Guard officials.

What do flight records show? According to flight tracking website FlightRadar, the plane departed from Merida in Mexicos Yucatan state at 18:46 GMT and was last recorded at 21:01 GMT over Galveston Bay, near Scholes International Airport.

The Mexican Navy said it is coordinating with the Mexican Consulate in Houston to support the response and assist families affected by the crash.

How many people were rescued? Search and rescue operations led by the Coast Guard recovered four people alive, a spokesperson for the Coast Guards HoustonGalveston sector told CNN.

Emergency responders from multiple agencies, including the Galveston County Sheriffs Office, were deployed to the scene.

Also Read | Mexico plane crash: Seven killed as small aircraft goes down near Toluca

The incident remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available, the sheriffs office said in a post on Facebook, adding that the public should avoid the area so emergency responders can work safely.

Is the cause of the crash known? The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Mexicos Navy said in a statement that the aircraft was supporting a medical mission and had suffered an accident, adding that it would investigate what led to the crash.

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the site, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Did weather play a role? It is not yet clear whether weather conditions contributed to the crash. However, the Galveston area has experienced persistent fog in recent days.

Also Read | All 14 victims identified from fiery UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville

Cameron Batiste, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said fog moved into the area around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, reducing visibility to about half a mile.

The foggy conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday morning, he said.
One of the newly released documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case includes an FBI case file dated October 2020 that contains an allegation of rape involving Donald Trump, who was not president at that time. The allegation appears in a tip submitted to the FBI on October 27, 2020, just a week before that years presidential election.

The document, identified as EFTA00020517, does not name the alleged victim or the source of the allegation, as identifying details have been redacted.

Account from Limousine driver According to the FBI record, the tipster relayed a conversation with a limousine driver who claimed to have chauffeured Trump in Dallas in 1995. The driver reportedly described a very concerning phone call Trump made while being driven to an airport.

The document states that Trump continuously stated the name Jeffrey while on the phone, and made references to abusing some girl, according to the drivers account.

Allegation of rape cited in file The FBI document further references statements attributed to another unnamed individual, whose identity has been redacted. According to the file, that person alleged:

Donald J. Trump had raped her along with Jeffrey Epstein.

Another quoted line in the document reads: He raped me, referring to Trump.

The file adds that the unnamed individual claimed: Some girl with a funny name took me into a fancy hotel or building, thats how it happened.

Unverified claims, redacted sources The document does not indicate whether the allegations were corroborated or investigated further. All names, locations, and identifying details remain redacted, and the FBI record does not establish the credibility of the claims.

Also Read | New Epstein files show Trump flew on financiers private jet multiple times

New Epstein files reference Trumps travel on financiers private jet The FBI file is part of a broader release of thousands of records related to Epstein and his associates.

A new batch of files released on Tuesday (December 23) by the US government in connection with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein includes multiple references to President Donald Trump, according to the documents. The release consists of roughly 8,000 files, including hundreds of video and audio recordings.

Among the newly released records is a January 2020 note from New York federal prosecutors investigating Epsteins longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The note states that Trump had traveled on Epsteins private jet more frequently than previously reported.

Records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), the prosecutors wrote.

Ongoing scrutiny of Epsteins network The release has renewed public attention on Epsteins ties to powerful figures. Epstein died in federal custody in August 2019, with his death officially ruled a suicide.

Also Read | Epstein files reveal alleged jail letter to Larry Nassar with Trump reference
The latest US government document dump related to Jeffrey Epstein is heavily redacted but it has renewed scrutiny of President Donald Trumps long-acknowledged past association with the late sex offender.

The latest Epstein document dump highlights five key points: Trumps multiple flights on Epsteins jet, a subpoena seeking Mar-a-Lago records, a disputed letter attributed to Epstein, a reference to a photo of Trump with Ghislaine Maxwell, and emails that have revived scrutiny of Prince Andrew.

While the files do not fundamentally alter the public record on Trump  who has long denied wrongdoing  they offer a clearer view of how federal investigators documented, questioned and ultimately set aside aspects of his proximity to Epstein.

The Justice Department has also cautioned that some claims in the records are false or sensationalist.

Below are the key takeaways from the new documents now in public view.

1. Trumps travel on Epsteins private jet The most concrete new detail is an internal email dated January 7, 2020, in which a New York federal prosecutor said flight records showed Trump took eight trips on Epsteins private jet between 1993 and 1996.

The email notes that Ghislaine Maxwell was on at least four of those flights. One flight reportedly included only Epstein, Trump and an unidentified 20-year-old individual whose name was redacted, while two others involved women described as possible witnesses in the Maxwell case.

2. Subpoena for Mar-a-Lago records The documents show that prosecutors issued a November 2021 subpoena to Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, seeking records relevant to the governments prosecution of Maxwell.

Attached was a February 2015 letter on Mar-a-Lago letterhead stating that employment records from 1999 to 2001 requested by federal agents were no longer available. The subpoena does not imply wrongdoing but confirms investigators formally sought information from Trumps property.

3. Disturbing letter linked to Epstein Among the newly released materials is a handwritten letter purportedly sent by Epstein to Larry Nassar, the disgraced former US gymnastics team doctor.

The Justice Department raised doubts about the letters authenticity, citing irregularities including the postmark, return address and lack of an inmate number. The letter contains a graphic sentence claiming Trump shares our love of young, nubile girls.

4. Reference to photo of Trump and Maxwell One email included in the release says a reviewer examining data from the cellphone of Trump ally Steve Bannon identified an image of Trump with Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department released the reference but redacted the photograph itself.

Also Read | Epstein files reveal alleged jail letter to Larry Nassar with Trump reference

5. Renew focus on Prince Andrews ties to Ghislaine Maxwell The latest release of US government documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein has again put the UKs former Prince Andrew under scrutiny, with newly disclosed correspondence suggesting contact between Andrew and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Among the files is an email exchange between Maxwell and a person signing off as A, whose references have prompted speculation that the writer may be Andrew. One August 2001 message from an individual identified only as The Invisible Man says he is up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family, an apparent reference to the Scottish royal estate.

In another email, A writes: Hows LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?

Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, was stripped of his royal titles and the right to be styled as a prince in October amid ongoing scrutiny of his links to Epstein. Now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, he has repeatedly denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Also Read | New Epstein files include FBI record alleging rape involving Trump
British comedian, broadcaster and actor Russell Brand has been formally charged with two further sexual offences, including one count of rape and one count of sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police has announced.

Russell Brand charged with two more sexual assault offences The additional charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and relate to allegations made by two further women.

The new charges follow five earlier counts against Brand, which include two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, brought in April 2025 in relation to four other women. Brand, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to those original charges in May and has consistently denied all allegations of non-consensual activity.

According to the CPS, the new rape charge is alleged to have taken place between 7 February 2009 and 1 March 2009 and concerns one woman, while the additional sexual assault charge is said to have occurred between 31 August 2009 and 1 December 2009 in relation to another woman. The latest allegations, like the earlier ones, are historic in nature.

Brand, who lives in Oxfordshire, faces allegations that he raped one woman in Bournemouth in 1999 and indecently assaulted another woman in Westminster in 2001. He is also accused of sexually assaulting a third woman in Westminster between 2004 and 2005, with the remaining charges relating to the alleged oral rape and sexual assault of a fourth woman in Westminster in 2004.

Brand is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 20 January 2026 in connection with these new charges. A trial on the original five charges is set to begin at Southwark Crown Court on 16 June 2026.

Also Read | British actor Russell Brand accused of rape and sexual assault
United States President Donald Trump was sued on Tuesday, December 23, for adding his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts allegedly without any approval from the Congress. Ohio Democrat Joyce Beatty has accused Donald Trump and his appointees of flouting the law to satisfy his vanity. The new sign now says 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 center said on its newly rebranded X account, along with photos of the lettering.

Even though the President had appointed himself as the board chairman earlier this year and purged most of it by calling it too woke, Donald Trump said he was surprised by the rebranding.

Democrats and members of the Kennedy family  although not Trumps Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.  railed against the name change.

What does the Opposition say? Those who have critcised the move to rename the Kennedy centre have argued that that only Congress has the authority to change the name.

The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law, Ray Smock, a former House historian, said in an email. The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws. Also Read | Robert F. Kennedy Jr says he told CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism

Joyce Beatty has also alleged that she was muted during the voting, asserting that it was not unanimous.

The family of John F Kennedy, too, has criticised the latest move to rename the center. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X that she will remove Trump's name herself when his term ends.

Also Read | Donald Trump mispronounces Sylvester Stallones name at Kennedy Center Honors

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!!! she said in a social media post.
India will extend a 4,040 crore assistance package to Sri Lanka to support cyclone relief, reconstruction and infrastructure repair, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Tuesday (23 December), underlining New Delhis stepped-up engagement as the island nation grapples with the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster.

Speaking during a two-day visit to Colombo, Jaishankar said the aid comes at a particularly difficult moment for Sri Lanka, which had only recently begun stabilising after its 2022 economic crisis.

Why is India stepping in now? Just as Sri Lanka was recovering from the economic crisis of 2022, this natural disaster has created new difficulties, Jaishankar said, speaking alongside Sri Lankas Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Also Read | Jaishankar in Sri Lanka as PM Modi's special envoy

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the island nation in late November, killed more than 640 people and caused widespread destruction to homes, transport networks and agricultural land, including tea estates that are central to Sri Lankas economy.

The scale of damage, officials say, necessitated immediate international support even as domestic recovery efforts were underway.

What will the  4,040 crore package be used for? According to Jaishankar, the Indian assistance will focus on areas worst affected by the cyclone, with priority given to restoring critical connectivity.

The package will support:

Restoration of railway lines

Repair of roads and bridges

Rebuilding of houses destroyed by the cyclone The emphasis, officials said, is on enabling faster economic and social normalisation in affected regions rather than short-term relief alone.

What is the significance of Jaishankars Sri Lanka visit? Jaishankar arrived in Colombo on Monday as Prime Minister Narendra Modis special envoy, signalling the political importance New Delhi has attached to Sri Lankas recovery.

The visit underscores Indias Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, Indias Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Also Read | EAM Jaishankar opens up on key diplomatic issues at HTLS 2025

On social media platform X, Jaishankar said: Landed in Colombo this evening. Thank Deputy @TourismMin Ruwan Ranasinghe for the warm reception. Look forward to my meetings with Sri Lankan leadership tomorrow.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Sri Lankas top leadership as reconstruction efforts begin.

What is Operation Sagar Bandhu? India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 as a large-scale humanitarian and disaster-relief effort following the cyclone.

Since then, New Delhi has provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, including:

Dry rations, tents and tarpaulins

Hygiene kits and clothing

Water purification systems

14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment The operation represents one of Indias most extensive overseas disaster-relief missions in recent years.

How has India delivered aid on the ground? Several Indian naval vessels  including INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Sukanya and INS Gharial  delivered large consignments of relief materials to Colombo and Trincomalee.

Also Read | IMF exploring Cyclone Ditwah recovery support for Sri Lanka

India also deployed:
Months ahead of Bangladeshs general elections, the country's media is facing a challenging period, with freedom of expression increasingly overshadowed by concerns over journalists right to stay alive, editors of several leading Bangladeshi newspapers have said, as reported by PTI.

Bangladeshi journalists are getting death threats Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam also pointed to social media posts that allegedly called for journalists from the dailies Prothom Alo and 'The Daily Star' to be tracked down and killed at their homes.

The remarks came on Monday in the wake of mobs vandalising and setting ablaze the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star newspapers in Dhaka on Thursday night, trapping several journalists and staff inside for hours as police and fire services were initially prevented from reaching the spot, PTI reported.

"Freedom of expression is no longer the main issue. Now it is about the right to stay alive," Anam said at a press conference attended by senior politicians, business leaders and media owners, PTI reported.

The media in Bangladesh is facing a fight for survival, he said.

Anam said the attacks were aimed at killing journalists and staff rather than being acts of protest against specific newspapers.

Otherwise, the mob would have told journalists to leave before setting the buildings on fire, he said.

Instead, 26-27 media workers were trapped on the rooftop of The Daily Star building while the fire brigade was not allowed to reach them, Anam said.

He also cited social media messages allegedly calling for journalists of the two dailies to be hunted down and killed at their homes.

Here's what police said Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) defended its delayed intervention, saying immediate action could have worsened the situation.

"The reason we could not go into action there was to ensure that no human life was lost, DMP Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam told reporters.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has said nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the attacks on the offices of the two newspapers and cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, following the death of radical right-wing youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

The newspapers were accused by the attackers of "serving the interests" of India and the deposed prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

A staunch India critic, 32-year-old Hadi was a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising that ousted Hasinas Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.

The 32-year-old Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday last week. Hadi was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.

While the interim government condemned the attacks, it described the perpetrators as fringe elements, drawing criticism from rights groups and journalists who said authorities failed to prevent the violence despite appeals for protection.

World Press Freedom Index Bangladesh ranks 149th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index 2025 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), showing a slight climb from previous years but still in the very serious category, with significant recent concerns over intense journalist attacks, legal threats like the Cyber Security Act, and ongoing intimidation under the interim government.

Bangladesh under the Yunus regime Bangladesh is undergoing a fragile political transition under Muhammad Yunus, aimed at restoring democracy through the upcoming elections. However, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, has long dominated the government and remains one of the countrys two main political forces.

View full Image A general view shows the burned-out interior of The Daily Star newspaper office in Dhaka on December 19, 2025, amid protests following the news of the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Violence broke out in Bangladesh's capital early on December 19 after a youth leader of the country's 2024 pro-democracy uprising who was injured in an assassination attempt died in a hospital in Singapore. Several buildings in the capital, including those housing the country's two leading newspapers, were set on fire, according to authorities, with staff trapped inside. (Photo by Abdul Goni / AFP) ( AFP )

The media in Bangladesh is facing a fight for survival.

The other major party is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Hasinas longtime rival and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, which is hoping to form the next government.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islamithe country's largest Islamist party, known for its controversial role during the 1971 independence waris heading an alliance seeking to expand its political influence amid the absence of Hasinas party and its allies.
Among the flurry of bills passed by Indias Parliament during its Winter Session, one of them repealed 71 Acts in a single swoop, many cobwebbed and dusty, dating back to the British Raj.

Also Read | Wholesome care: All hospitals should help their patients make living wills

The aptly named Repealing and Amending Bill of 2025 also amended four laws, including the Indian Succession Act of 1925.

This law required court validation of wills made by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Parsis within the civil jurisdiction of the Bombay, Calcutta and Madras high courts; the same applied to followers of these faiths with wills registered elsewhere but with references to immovable property in these jurisdictions.

Also Read | GN Bajpai: Tokenize real estate to open up an attractive asset class

The scrapping of this requirement is welcome, given how cumbersome and expensive the probate process typically is. In other parts of India, lawyers recommend formal court approval of bequests anyway, so as to ease the future liquidity of willed real estate.

Also Read | Why India loves to hate inheritance tax and estate dutywrongly

Since wills can be contested, prospective buyers are said to be wary of ownership proof that may or may not pass legal muster in case objections crop up later. Even so, will validation should be driven only by market demand and individual choice. It should not be a legal must-do. Not everyone needs it.
Twenty-nine years ago, when Bill Clinton was president and the US was still deeply invested in its war on drugs, voters in California approved a ballot measure that made the state the first to legalize cannabis for medical purposes.

Since then, dozens of states have legalized the drug for a variety of uses, creating an unwieldy patchwork of laws and regulations. A multibillion-dollar legal cannabis market has arisen, with specialty cafes and boutique weed shops hawking everything from candy to ointments and attracting investment from venture capitalists and celebrities. In fact, studies show more Americans now regularly use cannabis than regularly drink alcohol.

So, President Donald Trumps decision to sign an executive order reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III drug (the same category as codeine-spiked Tylenol and ketamine), rather than a Schedule I drug (the same as heroin and LSD), is not only long overdue, its a common-sense acknowledgment of reality.

Also Read | Thailand's cannabis legalization policy needs reform and not a reversal

Sure, it came at the behest of a months-long lobbying campaign by the cannabis industry, involving sizeable donations to the presidents inauguration and a flood of TV commercials aimed specifically at the White House and Mar-a-Lago.

But the executive orderwhich builds on work that started under the Biden administrationalso happens to align with public opinion. That is a rarity for Trump these days, with his rosy assessments of an economy that most Americans say they hate and polls showing him out of sync with voters on an array of other issues. Weed is the exception: According to Pew Research, 64% of Americans think cannabis should be legal for adults to use for both recreational and medical purposes.

Reclassification moves policy closer to that, but doesnt automatically decriminalize possessing or selling cannabis in states that still deem it illegal, as do Texas, Georgia and a handful of others.

Also Read | Marijuana use is growing fast but its health impact is still a mystery

Nor does reclassification, as an official with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws put it, harmonize federal marijuana policy with the cannabis laws of most states, particularly the 24 states that have legalized its use and sale to adults."

Instead, the executive order leaves those who produce, dispense, possess or use marijuana in compliance with state laws in jeopardy of federal prosecution." Changing that would require cannabis to be removed from the Controlled Substances Act , which Trump hasnt mentioned.

So, while the gripe from some is that the administration didnt go far enough, whats likely to happen under Trumps executive order could still be transformative for the industry and for consumers.

First, its likely to boost medical research into the positive and negative effects of cannabis, including, crucially, the effects of long-term use. When classified under Schedule I, researchers who wanted to study the drug had to be vetted by the federal government. In contrast, studies on Schedule III drugsconsidered to have only moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependencedont have nearly as many restrictions.

This is important, given how many millions of Americans swear cannabis has health benefits, such as alleviating anxiety and pain. Many scientists say such benefits are yet to be proven and, even if they were, would need to be assessed in the context of side effects and risks.

Cannabis companies are also likely to ramp up research and development because, for the first time, they will be able to write off the costs. Under the Schedule I classification, growers and retailers have long been banned from taking common business tax deductions for expenses like rent, payroll and other overhead expenses.

Overall, the executive order is likely to supercharge the US cannabis industry, pushing it more toward big brands, deep-pocketed investors and corporatization. This has prompted some criticism, including from the presidents own party. Dozens of congressional Republicans urged Trump to rethink his executive order before he signed it. Facilitating the growth of the marijuana industry is at odds with growing our economy and encouraging healthy lifestyles for Americans," a group of Republican senators wrote.

Others, including me, are frustrated about what comes next for entrepreneurs of colour who, after getting arrested and jailed for cannabis during the war on drugs, have been struggling to open legal businesses through equity programmes in Democrat-run states. Theyre almost sure to be lost in the shuffle of what comes next.

Nevertheless, few Americans can deny that legal cannabis is here to stay. And after 29 years, the jumble of regulations that has long defined this industry was in dire need of federal intervention. Bloomberg

The author is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion.
With the passage of a law that not only opens the door for private participation in Indias nuclear power industry but also promotes it, the government hopes to meet its target of 100GW in generation capacity by 2047. Currently, it accounts for a mere 2% of our grid capacity, and given Indias demand projection for 2047 and the electricity required to meet it, that goal implies a share of 5% by then.

Todays tiny share is explainable. Nuclear plants have a notoriously long gestation period before they can supply power. They often face resistance on the basis of safety concerns, with accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima embedded in public memory.

And Indias indigenous technology has made little progress, with the second of our three-stage programme yet to fructify before it can transition to the use of thorium, which is easier to find in the country than the right kind of uranium.

Interest in nuclear power has seen a global revival for the role it could play in climate action. Plants that house nuclear reactors produce carbon-free electricity around the clock, unlike solar and wind projects that are subject to the vagaries of weather.

A reactor design rethink spurred by the power-guzzling needs of AIaided by investments from Big Tech firms to meet their climate goalshas resulted in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which claim to overcome the legacy drawbacks of nuclear plants.

Big reactors, despite their limitations, are also back in vogue for the same reason. Even though Indias 2047 target represents a modest share of total power capacity, the volume of electricity would be significant; our per capita consumption is currently half the world average and we aspire to be a developed nation by then.

This larger goal demands that electricity tariffs remain low enough for our industry to compete globally. This requires us to get the power sectors cost calculus right.

While nuclear energy offers large volumes of reliable green supply, given the pace at which battery storage costs are dropping, solar panels and wind turbines backed by batteries are likely to be more cost competitive.

Fiscal incentives could help nuclear power get more competitive, provided we also develop the muscle memory of project rollouts that can compress both construction costs and timelines as we go along to enable lower tariffs.

Solar tariffs, for example, have fallen sharply over the last decade-and-a-half, thanks to the large-scale production of key parts in China. Unlike wind and power, reactors use nuclear fuel and thus have variable costs beyond the money invested in setting up plants, but they take up significantly less land that could otherwise be used for food cultivation. On the other hand, the safe storage of spent fuel can be costly too.

All these factors will have to be taken into account.

Broadly, the government needs to undertake resource-adequacy mapping across sectors for the deployment of an optimal energy policy. Trade-offs must be borne in mind. For example, our green ambitions should not be at the expense of the economy. We need to count on efficiency gains, carbon markets and climate finance from the rich world.

The Centre must also develop the institutional capacity needed to oversee and manage the growth of nuclear energy. Globally, SMRs have over 80 designs, but just about four plants have been set up so far, and that too, only recently. All considered, we cant expect to go into nuclear overdrive.
My fathers father, my Dada, was born in Sarangarh and lived out his life there. Sarangarh was one of the least consequential of over 550 princely states when the British left in 1947, and yet it was one of those that wanted to be independent.

To negotiate with Sardar Patel the terms of equal coexistence with India, a three-member delegation was sent by the King of Sarangarh to Delhi that year. My Dada was one of the three. He would narrate this story frequently, with amusement about the delegations own delusions of grandeur.

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The three of them waited in Delhi for 14 days. Forget the Sardar, even his secretary did not give them an audience. In those epochal days, these tiny states were simply sucked into India in the wake of conflicts and bargains with bigger states like Travancore, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Kashmir.

In the 1980s, when I first heard the story, it was obvious to me that the idea of an independent Sarangarh was ridiculous and its union with India was inevitable. How could a territory about 35km in width and 40km in length in the middle of India imagine independence?

That would make my Dada laugh. It was only after I lost him in 2005 that it occurred to me that they could have done nothing else. When tectonic plates collide and shift in an earthquake, what else is there to do but try and protect your own? Fated to fail, he still tried. But then he could see himself as a speck in the storm of history and laugh at the specks audacity to try changing its course.

Also Read | The fight against abject poverty: Everybody can and should pitch in

He was equally amused by the memory of smoking 60 bidis each of those 14 days as he waited with other members of the delegation for an audience with Independent Indias first home minister.

My Dada was amused by most things. He was a chain smoker of bidistill one day in 1950. That day, he had asked my father, then an 11-year-old boy, to buy him some bidis. My father returned, holding the bidis between two sticks. Dada asked him why he was holding them between sticks. Bidis are dirty," his son replied. Ah, so you feel so," he said. Okay, get me a handful of peppermint," he told his son.

With peppermints in his hand, he threw away the bidis, popping one into his mouth whenever he had the urge to smoke. He never touched a bidi again, nor tobacco in any other form, and that was that.

In 1977, a consequential year for many reasons, he came to stay with us in Delhi during the vacation period of the court in Sarangarh where he practised as a lawyer. We lived in multi-storeyed flats in Moti Bagh.

Every morning, he would have lunch at 10am and go and sit at the Moti Bagh traffic signal under a tree on the pavement. I was 9 years old then and went with him a couple of times, but ran back home bored. What was he doing there for two hours everyday, just sitting and watching the traffic and pedestrians and vendors? As I grew older, it dawned on me that what I saw as traffic, he had the sight to see as the ebb and flow of life.

Also Read | We mustn't miss the ground realities even as we aim for big economic goals

He failed Class 7 and dropped out of school. He was not doing much in life in the early 1930s, when a petty criminal asked him if he would argue his case in court. But I am not a lawyer," my Dada said. And I dont have any money," the alleged chicken-thief said. So, my Dada went to court and argued. He won the case.

By the early 1940s, he became the go-to lawyer in the court of Sarangarh. His gift of penetrating logic was intertwined with deep scholarship of the law. He was an autodidact, teaching himself law and Indian philosophy. It must have been his lawyerly abilities that prompted the king to send him to argue with that other lawyerSardar Patel.

Clients would decide what they could paythat was his professional principle. So, he was always flooded with cases of the poor and forever short on money. In the early 1950s, the Madhya Pradesh government gave him a special licence to practise law, despite his having no law degree. It was a mere formality to acknowledge what was going on anyhow, but it was necessary as newly independent India was setting up its systems.

He practised law till he died at the age of 95. In his last two decades, the court of Sarangarh would rise when my Dada, a lawyer, entered.

Together we would be walking side-by-side down the slope of Char Imli in Bhopal, and he would suddenly swivel his slightly built frame to place himself right in front of me. He felt that the abstruse difference between Sankaras and Madhavas philosophy that he was trying to explain could not be done without looking me in the eye; the eyes of an 11-year-old. But that is the way he treated meas his equal. That is how he treated everyonefrom Panchoo the dhaba cook and Ibrahim the mechanic to the beggar at a railway station. He dealt directly with each humannot their caste, creed, age, gender or status.

He wrote us a postcard everyday from the early-1970s till the mid-1990s, when intercity calling became affordable and his house got a phone. Usually with just a single handwritten line, those yellow cards would arrive unfailingly in the mail. Everyday for 25 years.

I, an obsessive hoarder of memories, have not a single of those postcards. But his gaze has etched this into meno time, place or status can stop us from leading a consequential life, so long as we try to do good and love truly.

The author is CEO of Azim Premji Foundation.
Sanjay Raut, leader of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena UBT, has hinted that a highly anticipated alliance with Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) may be officially announced on Wednesday.

The speculation follows a social media post on X by Raut on Tuesday featuring an image of the two cousins with the caption "tomorrow at 12 pm".

This potential partnership comes ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for 15 January, following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The BMC election results will be declared the following day.

Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance wont impact BMC poll outcome: BJP Meanwhile, the BJP has been quick to dismiss the potential partnership.

BJPs Mumbai city unit president Ameet Satam stated on Tuesday that any tie-up between the two cousins would have "no impact" on the election results.

Satam expressed confidence that voters remain committed to the BJP-led Mahayuti.

Speaking to a regional news channel, Satam said: "There will be no impact on the outcome of the BMC elections, even if the Thackeray cousins come together and contest the polls."

"I believe Mumbaikars have made up their mind to support the BJP-led Mahayuti, and the mayor will be elected from our corporators only," Satam added.

Also Read | Sanjay Raut says undergoing treatment for serious health issues, PM Modi reacts

Congress woos North Indian voters with seven-point BMC manifesto Ahead of the 15 January civic polls, the Mumbai Congress on Sunday released a targeted manifesto aimed at the citys North Indian community. The seven-point document, unveiled by Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad, focuses heavily on cultural dignity and livelihood protections.

The key promises include construction of permanent immersion ponds and ghats at beaches, along with changing rooms and lifeguard facilities for women; a transparent policy featuring "smart vending zones" and digital licences for eligible vendors; rest centres and free health check-ups for auto and taxi drivers; a transparent licensing policy for stables with subsidized water and affordable community halls for weddings and cultural events.

During the manifesto launch, Gaikwad criticised the BJP, claiming that while the Congress has historically provided North Indians with political representation as MPs and MLAs, the BJP has failed to address their fundamental issues.

Nomination process for BMC polls begins The race for control of Asias wealthiest civic body officially began on Tuesday as the nomination process for the BMC elections opened. While administrative machinery hummed into gear, Mumbais political landscape remains in flux with shifting alliances, ambitious manifestos, and sharp partisan exchanges.

The BMC, which boasts a massive 74,000 crore budget for 2025-26, is the ultimate prize in Maharashtra politics.

BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani met with party representatives on Tuesday to brief them on the 23 election offices established to manage the process.
The brain goes through five distinct stages between birth and death, a new study shows.

Scientists identified the average ages9, 32, 66 and 83when the pattern of connections inside our brains shift. The brains adolescence phase, they discovered, lasts until age 32, and then it enters a period of stability until early aging begins at 66.

The study could help explain why brain-related conditions arise at certain ages, and could provide a better road map to understanding healthy aging.

Maybe there is something going on that is changing within the brain structure or being optimized that sort of leaves us vulnerable for these specific things," said Duncan Astle, a professor of neuroinformatics at the University of Cambridge and co-author of the study, which was published in November in the journal Nature Communications.

The studys authors examined results from about 4,000 brain scans taken from people in the U.S. and U.K., ranging from a newborn baby to a nonagenarian. The scans helped show white matter, the fatty substance that insulates the nerve fibers connecting brain regions. Researchers could see the physical connections and build a map of pathways that change over time.

They created an average brain" for each year of life, Astle said. Then they examined a dozen characteristics and used a machine-learning algorithm to help pinpoint moments of significant change in the data.

The scientists determined the brains childhood period of development lasts from birth to age 9. During this time, it grows in size, butbecause we are born with lots of excess wiringsour brains prune connections that arent used or as efficient, according to Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Center for Discovery Brain Sciences and professor at the University of Edinburgh, who wasnt involved in the research.

At age 9, our brains enter the adolescent phase, which the study authors said lasts until age 32.

Neuroscientists hate it whenever you say to them, So, when is the brain mature? When is the brain adult?" Astle said. The really neat thing about this analysis is that it says when that is."

During this stage, the brains wiring becomes more efficient, and there is strong, rapid communication between regions as well as within them.

At 32, our brains enter the adult phase," a period of consistency that lasts until 66. This time aligns with a plateau in our intelligence and personality, the researchers said, and the regions of the brain become more segregated.

Early aging begins after the next turning point. Between 66 and 83, some brain regions form stronger groups, known as modules, but they are less connected to other modules. White matter starts to degrade.

Past age 65 or so theres brain shrinkage and decreases in the integrity of white matter, and that corresponds tofor many of us, though not alla slight decline in some aspects of cognitive function," Spires-Jones said.

Beyond 83, in the late-aging phase, the connections between regions deteriorate and our brains increasingly rely on individual regions with a small number of highly used interregional pathways, said Alexa Mousley, a University of Cambridge neuroscientist and lead author of the research.

She is intrigued by whether the brain is more susceptible to certain mental-health or neurological issues because of this rewiring, since there is a pattern between the five stages and common conditions.

Most autism diagnoses, for instance, are made in young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Up to 75% of mental-health conditions begin by a persons early 20s, per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Alzheimers disease typically manifests during what the researchers call the early aging phase.

Cardiovascular health, social connectedness and exercise are all associated with positive cognitive health outcomesand its possible they also play a role in the rewiring that happens later in life, too, Astle said.

Theres probably still a lot of individual variation around when these changes happen, said Katya Rubia, professor of cognitive neuroscience at Kings College London who wasnt involved in the study. This doesnt mean we should all be starting to worry the moment we have our birthday and we are suddenly 83 years old," she says.

Write to Aylin Woodward at aylin.woodward@wsj.com
New Delhi: The government is moving to deploy a clinical decision support system across nearly 70,000 public and private hospitals in India to standardise the quality of care and reduce medical errors.

The tool, dubbed smart doctor", has been developed by AIIMS New Delhi and will be rolled out under the government's flagship programme Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across all Indian hospitals, said two officials and a document reviewed by Mint.

The clinical decision support system (CDSS) acts as a highly intelligent digital assistant for doctors and is designed to help treat long-term health issues by analyzing a patient's medical details and suggesting the best care plan.

CDSS advises doctors on the optimal drugs and exact dosages to prescribe. It also flags contraindications, alerting doctors if a drug could be harmful or interact adversely with other medications.

The CDSS is fundamentally a decision support mechanism designed to assist clinicians, not to override their judgment. Developed by AIIMS, it uses a rule-based framework that allows doctors to cross-reference symptoms and protocols against a standardized database," said one of the officials.

"By scaling this tool specifically for non-communicable diseases, we aim to minimize misdiagnoses and medical errors, while ensuring that the doctors final decision remains supreme," the official added.

The development assumes significance amid Indias high disease burden. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension affect an estimated 11.4% and 35.5% of the population, respectively, conditions that often require long-term medication management and careful dosing.

While officials say the tool is meant to assist doctors, its nationwide rollout raises concerns questions around data safety.

If this system allows for the patients data to be collected without consent and used only in the event of an emergency, then there needs to be strong safeguards that prevent an overreach and abuse of personal data," said Akash Karmakar, partner, Law Offices of Panag & Babu, and senior advisor, Flint Global.

Also Read | Smartwatches are now becoming health devices with medical certification

"One potential method here would be to tokenise the data and hold it with custodians who cannot decrypt the data unless mapped to a specific requestThere is also the product question of whether there is enough trust created for the government to act as the sole custodian of the data without having clarity regarding what the end uses of the data are that are permitted, and with government access being unfettered," Karmakar added.

Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson on Sunday remained unanswered till press time.

Switch mode

As part of the plan, the National Health Authority (NHA) has advised all states and Union Territories to deploy this digital tool across hospitals and ask their software providers to "switch on" this module immediately.

Hospitals using software platforms not on the ABDM-approved list have been asked to upgrade their systems to enable integration, with the Centre offering technical support.

In a 9 December directive, reviewed by Mint, the NHA described CDSS as a key component of ABDMs digital ecosystem, calling it an evidence-based advisory system tailored to individual patient profiles.

The authority stated that the tool could also serve as an educational aid for clinicians, particularly in high-volume or resource-constrained settings.

This timely and important initiative reflects the growing maturity of Indias digital health ecosystem, said Dr. Alexander Thomas, founder and patron of the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), which represents nearly 20,000 hospitals.

Though the system acts as a "clinical safety net" by ensuring rational prescribing and reducing medication errors, these must be integrated seamlessly into workflows to support rather than replace clinical judgment, he added.

The governments move to amplify the use of digital technologies in healthcare is a progressive step for India healthcare system, said Dr. Ritu Garg, chief growth officer, Fortis Helthcare said. Initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, EMR adoption, and telemedicine guidelines are laying the foundation for a unified digital health ecosystem."

ABDMs underlying digital rails have expanded rapidly. As of August 2025, about 79.9 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created, with roughly 67.19 crore health records digitally linked.
NEW DELHI : Samsungs India research & development (R&D) arm is the companys most influential engineering team outside of its global headquarters in South Korea and alongside the US, a top company executive told Mint on Tuesday.

According to Jong Bum Park, president and chief executive of Samsung Southwest Asia, Samsungs India engineering operations account for the core development process of its second-largest revenue generatorsmartphones. In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), Samsung generated $219 billion in revenue globallyof which 38% came from smartphones.

The companys semiconductor division, largely based out of the US and Korea, is its highest revenue generator.

The entire camera unit and its software for our flagship smartphones were developed and engineered entirely in India," said Park in an interview. All of our Galaxy A series smartphones were also developed by our Bengaluru R&D hub. As we delve deeper into AI, a lot of our engineering for our three global AI platforms is being done in India, including our work on developing on-device AI features."

The India team now wants to delve deeper by manufacturing components for its products in India, starting with displays. Currently, the components are imported from places like Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, even though some small components are sourced from within India. Notably, the company is marking 30 years of its presence in the country this month.

Samsung India earned 1.14 trillion ($12.7 billion) from its India operations in FY25, data from market intelligence firm Tofler showed. The companys India business accounted for 6% of its global revenue that year, nearly double that of what the India teams of most tech firms contribute to global revenue. The company follows a January-December financial cycle.

To be sure, the Korean giant is not the only one to scale up R&D in India, with other prominent names being Samsungs top competitors, including Apple and Google. Over the past decade, these companies have set up engineering teams here, driven by New Delhis policy push to localize both manufacturing and software operations.

At the same time, the company is investing in higher-value electronics components manufacturing as well, Park said.

We have our own manufacturing facilities in Noida and Chennai, and we also work with contract manufacturers for key industries where these partners already have expertise and are competitive," Park said. But today, the two biggest value additions in our products are the chip and the display. Now, we have begun localizing the manufacturing process for our displays, which will feature in our refrigerators and then on to other devices as well."

This, Park added, is a policy decision, as well as engineering. We have some of the brightest minds in India. But our increasing localization efforts come as part of aligning with the governments intent to create a higher value India ecosystem. Even core components of home appliances, such as the compressor that goes into our air conditioners, are being made in our factories in India," he said.

Combating falling market share

The rising importance of Samsungs India engineering efforts comes at a time when its market share in Indias all-important smartphone market has dwindled. In December 2017, Samsung, which had led Indias smartphone market until then, lost its market share to Chinese upstart Xiaomi.

Park, on this note, admitted that the question of market share does concern him, for which the company is looking to double-down on its push to create a complete ecosystem of devices and rope more users into their ecosystem.

The thing with competing brands is that many of them have come and gone as part of our 30-year journey in India so far," Park said. But competition is tough, and losing ground from being the absolute number one means that if we dont focus on retaining the top spot, we may soon end up sliding down to number five or six, or worse."

Market tracker International Data Corp (IDC) ranked Samsung at third behind Chinas Vivo and Oppo as of September this year, with 12.6% share of the smartphone market. In televisions, Samsung retained the top spot as of December last year, with 16% of the market.

To fortify its market share in India, Park said that starting next year, 100% home appliances will be wi-fi-connected".

Industry analysts said Samsungs India operations continue to remain resilient, despite having lost its absolute market leadership in smartphones over the best part of the past 10 years.

Also Read | Apple and Samsung gain ground in Indias slowing smartphone market

Samsung Indias sustained success stems from its enduring brand salience and the widest horizontal portfolio across mobiles, TVs, and appliances," said Prabhu Ram, vice-president of industry intelligence at CyberMedia Research.

In a value-conscious market like India, the consumerbrand relationship often begins post-sale. Samsung performs strongly here, backed by the broadest retail and service network among peers. This is further reinforced by India-specific R&D and large-scale local manufacturing, enabling the company to respond to evolving consumer aspirations with speed," he added.

However, Ram pointed out that the companys iterative product development process could be a long-term concern. Samsungs relative weakness lies in its conservative innovation posture. The company has tended to prioritize incremental improvementsparticularly in foldables and adjacent categoriesover bolder, category-defining innovation," he said.
The much-loved holiday tradition, Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, is set to return this Christmas, bringing festive cheer, star performances and heartwarming stories from across Disneys global destinations.

The Emmy Award-winning special will air on Thursday, 25 December, featuring the iconic parade from Magic Kingdom Park, along with musical acts and special segments filmed at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

When And Where To Watch In the United States, the special will air at 10.00am EST on ABC. It will also stream later in the day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Also Read | JioHotstar streaming platform on air as JioCinema merges with Disney+Hotstar

For viewers in India, the parade will be available via Disney+, with the broadcast translating to 8.30pm IST on Christmas Day, allowing Indian audiences to tune in during prime time.

Hosts And On-Ground Coverage The 2025 edition will be hosted by actor and television personality Alfonso Ribeiro, alongside actor Ginnifer Goodwin, who also voices Judy Hopps in Disneys upcoming animated sequel Zootopia 2.

Young star Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo in Disneys live-action Lilo & Stitch, will serve as the parade correspondent.

Star-Studded Musical Performances This years parade will feature festive performances from a wide lineup of popular artists, including:

Coco Jones  This Christmas

Lady A  Winter Wonderland

Mariah the Scientist  Please Come Home For Christmas

Bebe Rexha  Last Christmas

Nicole Scherzinger  Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Gwen Stefani  White Christmas

Iam Tongi  The Christmas Song Behind The Scenes The special is produced by Disney executive Sally Hopkins Conner, with production handled by EverWonder Studio. Executive producers include Michael Antinoro, Tiffany Faigus, Ashley Edens and Alfonso Ribeiro.

Also Read | Behind the deal that took Disney from AI skeptic to OpenAI investor

Disney Film Updates To Watch Out For The broadcast will also spotlight upcoming Disney releases, including Hoppers, a Disney and Pixar animated feature set for a 2026 theatrical release. Directed by Daniel Chong, the film explores a futuristic world where humans can hop their consciousness into robotic animals to communicate with them. The voice cast includes Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm.

Also featured will be updates from Disneys highly anticipated live-action Moana, starring Catherine Lagaaia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. The film is slated to release in US theatres on 10 July 2026 and is directed by Thomas Kail.
This Christmas, Childrens Health Foundation, has launched the Save a Smile Campaign  an emotional reminder that this Christmas, some children wont wake up at home, theyll wake up in hospital, but, with the support and generosity of supporters across the country, they wont miss out on the magic.

When it comes to grandfathers, Paul Kelly from Ballymahon is a very special example. He is the driving force behind the Ballymahon Friends of Our Ladys Childrens Hospital Crumlin fundraising group based in Longford. This group, since 2016, has raised 118,500 for Childrens Health Ireland and Ronald McDonald House.

Pauls motivation is his adored granddaughter Grace Kelly.

Read More: Longford's Ballymahon Friends of Crumlin give money for fundraiser in Dublin

Before Grace was born in 2015, scans showed that she had cardiac and pulmonary issues. She was born by caesarean section in Holles Street and blue lighted across to Crumlin. Paul, his wife Marie, and the extended family waited with fear and many candles lit for news of her safe arrival.

Shortly after her birth Grace was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary artresia and MAPCAS, a very rare heart condition where the outcome was not certain.

After a number of stays in hospital and major surgery, her grandfather Paul set up the fundraising group to raise funds for Crumlin Childrens Hospital in gratitude for what they were doing for Grace and other children like her.

A group of locals came on board and it was agreed that there would be an annual raffle and 5k.

Since 2016, with the exception of the Covid years, the people of Ballymahon, and surrounding areas, have generously supported the groups fundraising efforts. Indeed, anyone that stood beside Paul long enough at a GAA match would be relieved of a few euro for raffle tickets  the story goes that a stranger stopped for directions one day and ended up buying tickets.

Pauls dedication to this fundraiser is evident and he spends days sitting for hours outside supermarkets selling tickets. He can be seen around the town and outlying areas putting up advertising signs for the now-annual fundraiser and rallying the troops to help out and get on board to either sell tickets or act as stewards for the 5K run.

He did all this while being diagnosed with a serious illness just before Graces birth, as he set aside his own health worries were set aside to concentrate on Grace and her two brothers Cian and Senan.

When it comes to the Save a Smile, Paul says: Without funding for research, Grace and so many children like her may not still be with us. Its very difficult to see your granddaughter so ill and when you love someone so much youre willing to go the extra mile and to do what you can to ensure more positive outcomes for them."

The generosity of people in the midst of a cost of living crisis is astounding and humbling and its never taken for granted. Grace turned 10 in November and its great to see her living a relatively normal life despite her condition. Thats down to the exceptional care she gets from the team in Crumlin. Theyre amazing and Grace is amazing.

Help Childrens Health Foundation Save a Smile this Christmas, Support the appeal today at childrenshealth.ie or text SAVEASMILE to 50300 to donate 4.

Read More: North Longford man jailed for assaulting driver who 'scratched' against friend's car
Edgeworthstown played a 'significant' part in the establishment of the national primary school system here in Ireland and it should be a central part of the bicentenary year of celebrations in 2031 with huge potential to attract more visitors.



That was the message from Matt Farrell, the chairperson of the Maria Edgeworth Centre when he addressed councillors recently and he asked for their support as he delivered a presentation during the December meeting of Ballymahon Municipal District.

Read more: Longford rural communities urged to unite for national demonstration against Mercosur



The local historian, who thanked councillors and council staff for their time, said they had been working tirelessly to take advantage of the opportunity of Maria Edgeworth and her family's contribution to society.



"We know there is great potential in it, over the years we have researched other centres similar to ours, the Bronte Centre, the Wordsworth [House] centre and the Jane Austen Centre and they are attracting over 100,000 to 150,000 visitors a year and we think we can do something similar here."



Mr Farell said they are currently focused on how the Edgeworth's made a huge contribution to the establishment of the national primary school system here in Ireland, which a lot of people are unaware of.



He stated how they had developed a strategy called the Edgeworth digital network and it involves the library in Oxford, the national library in Dublin, the Royal Irish Academy, UCC, universities in Rome and "We have developed a wonderful and very desirable collection and 2031 is the bicentenary year of the establishment of the national primary school system here in Ireland and the role played in Edgeworthstown was very significant."



Mr Farrell, who relayed a brief history, said in 1791, Maria's father Richard Lovell Edgeworth, as a politician for Longford, was appointed to a select committee to the state of education in Ireland and his family then were very interested in it.

"In 1796, Maria published her first novel called 'The Parent's Assistant' and it was a book to help parents raise children and it's still very popular today in some circles.



"In 1798, they [Maria Edgeworth and her father Richard Lovell Edgeworth] published 'Practical Education', which was a new thesis on how an education system should be established in Ireland, it was published in a number of European languages, French, German, Italian and Spanish.



"And in 1799, her father Richard Lovell Edgeworth published the first education bill ever here in Ireland and he presented it and spoke on it in the house of parliament in Dublin in 1800 and due to the chaos of the rebellion of 1798 and the British Government taking over Home Rule and direct rule and the fall of the Irish parliament the bill collapsed and it just disappeared.

Read more: The perfect Christmas gift: Longford Lights 2026 tickets are now on sale



"But Edgeworth continued to fight on and he was appointed to two commissions of enquiry into education.



"This led to what was called the Stanley Letter and he was the lord lieutenant for Ireland and he wrote a letter to the British prime minister saying there was an appetite in Ireland for a primary school system and the British Government decided to fund it.



"Up until recently I always thought that was the first education act, but parliament never passed an act, they just decided to fund a system in Ireland."



Mr Farell said in 1835, Maria Edgeworth applied for funding to build a school in Edgeworthstown and 'that today is where the Maria Centre is'.



"It wasn't until 1871 that the British introduced a similar system in England, Scotland and Wales and Edgeworthstown was the blueprint for that."





Massive opportunity

Mr Farrell said this 'opportunity is going to arise' and he had been speaking to the Department of Education who have it on their agenda to celebrate this and he said he believed it would be something similar to the Decade of Centenaries.



"I've also spoken to the members of the centenaries committee and they are aware of it and it's on their agenda and I've met with the director of the national archives and they are very interested in it as well.



"We're the first to hop on this bandwagon but if we don't get tuned into it some other county is going to take it."



Mr Farrell said they wanted 'buy-in' from the council, hands-on support to develop the project and they want help in identifying the project.



Cathoirleach, Cllr Martin Skelly said as more detail is outlined he believes the municipal district and Longford County Council will be very supportive of the project.



His Fine Gael colleague, Cllr Paul Ross praised Mr Farrell and described the project as being 'very innovative and ambitious'.



"You are coming well ahead of the posse when you are going five or six years ahead of the time."

PICTURES | Longford's Christmas magic with the Ballinalee Forest Walkway



Fianna Fail Cllr Mick Cahill described Mr Farrell as a 'great champion'.



"Anything we can do we certainly will, you have great drive and vision."
There needs to be clarity from the Government quickly in relation to the Mercosur trade deal as farmers in this county Longford and across the country 'can't move forward', according to local IFA Chairperson John Sheridan.

The Ballinalee native was one of a large number of farming officials who flew over to Brussels for a major protest on Thursday and he has insisted there 'needs to be a level playing field'.

Read More: IFA president and son, 11, travelling to Brussels by tractor as part of protest

Up to 10,000 farmers from Ireland and across Europe descended on the Belgian capital to express their frustration and anger over plans to proceed with the Mercosur trade deal and recent cuts to the CAP budget.

Mr Sheridan said the Government's efforts so far have been very disappointing and 'they said in their Programme for Government they were against Mercosur' but their recent actions suggest some indecision.

"We have a major problem with our own Government and they need to come out and either say yes or no [to Mercosur]. It's very disappointing and I think they still haven't made up their mind whether they're going to say yes or no. They are sitting on the fence over it. We need clarity from our Government about what way they are thinking."

Mr Sheridan said he believes farmers have highlighted their significant concerns, which has made a difference, but they will need to get even more vocal.

"Even if Mercosur does go ahead, what's wrong with Ireland saying no to it anyway? We got a hammering last week over the fisheries, what was wrong with Timmy Dooley getting up and shouting in the place and saying, 'No this has to change'. He didn't, he came back and he was crying about how detrimental it was to our rural economy. We have to start saying no."

Mr Sheridan said almost a 'plane load' of IFA officials travelled to Brussels and the huge number of farmers from across the country and Europe had a positive impact on getting their point across. "I think the European Commission got a bit of a tip on Thursday with all the farmers that turned up in Brussels, there was an unbelievable amount of people from all over Europe."

"You sit at home and you think about what could happen to your farm and you think about what could happen to it and then when you go over there you realise every farmer in Europe is the same, we're all fighting to try and make a living."

Mr Sheridan said it is not a 'level playing field' when it comes to the Mercosur trade deal and the impact it would have on the price of beef here. IFA President Francie Gorman said on Friday that comments by the Taoiseach Micheal Martin which suggested the Government would have to also consider the recent EU Commission decision on the Nitrates derogation as part of their thinking and the overall picture in relation to Mercosur were 'totally unacceptable'.

Mr Sheridan agreed that they should be treated separately and he stated it is very hard to move forward or plan ahead. The Longford IFA chair believes there is some small respite that the Mercosur trade deal is not being signed immediately and he is a little bit more hopeful that there might be a chance the agreement could be pulled.

Meanwhile, Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly has issued a united national call to action, urging farmers, farming organisations, co-ops, agri-businesses, meat factories, feed merchants, rural businesses, rural workers and public representatives of all parties and none to stand together at a national demonstration due to take place in January in opposition to the Mercosur trade deal.

In the European Parliament I have been working closely with MEPs and farming organisations from across Europe who share the same fears about Mercosur, Mullooly said. Farmers in many member states see this deal for what it is  a race to the bottom that sacrifices agriculture, food standards and rural communities for trade headlines. There is a strong and growing bloc of representatives across Europe who believe farmers must be listened to, not ignored."

"That is why I am keen to see European representatives stand with Irish farmers at this national demonstration and send a clear message that this opposition is shared far beyond Ireland. Our councillors and volunteers nationwide will work with representatives of organisations across the country to build support for the protest and to actively encourage attendance across their local communities."

Read More: Longford rural communities urged to unite for national demonstration against Mercosur

Read More: Longford farming news - IFA say EU Commission response to Brazilian beef recall 'pathetic'
Artwork from 12 secondary school students across the county features in the Longford Libraries 2026 calendar.

The calendar celebrates the winners of the Longford Libraries Art Competition, which invited young people to interpret the theme 'Reading Takes You Places'.

The launch event took place recently at Longford Library, bringing together students, families, schools and Creative Ireland representatives.

All six libraries across the county will stock the calendar, which is available free to the public thanks to 1,500 funding from Creative Ireland.

Tap the arrows <> to view the photo gallery.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, "This calendar is a window into the imagination of Longford's young people. These students have shown us that creativity is well and truly alive, and I'm immensely proud that our libraries are the bridge connecting artistic expression with our communities."

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, "Longford Libraries have created something genuinely valuable a project that celebrates student achievement whilst reinforcing the library as a vital community hub. I commend our library staff for their vision, and we extend our gratitude to Creative Ireland for backing it so wholeheartedly."

The staff at Longford Libraries deserve particular recognition for their dedication to this initiative, which strengthens the connection between libraries and secondary school students whilst spotlighting artistic talent in the county.

The competition attracted entries from schools throughout Longford, with organisers hoping to establish it as an annual fixture in the cultural calendar.

Competition winners: Ava Percival, Templemichael College; Mary-Jane Dennis, Ardscoil Phadraig, Granard; Donatas Auzelis, Templemichael College; Dominik Jaszuzak, Templemichael College; Wiktoria Figlak, Templemichael College; Killian Owens, Lanesboro Community College; Tabita Kukier Hadrys, Templemichael College; Ava Lilly Moloney, Ballymahon Vocational School; Leahnada Dempsey, Templemichael College; Seth Plant, Ballymahon Vocational School; Adam Werner, Templemichael College, and Diana Kokarieva, Templemichael College.

The 2026 calendar is now available from all Longford Libraries.

Read More: Clear out for a good cause! Longford Arts Team wants your old bikes and go carts

Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme
Laurel Lodge Nursing Home was found to be compliant in eight regulatory areas and substantially compliant in three areas during a recent unannounced HIQA inspection.



The inspection report outlined that the Longford town facility was 'compliant' in respect of staffing, training and staff development, individual assessment and care plan, protection, residents' rights, managing behaviour that is challenging, communications difficulties and complaints procedures.

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The nursing home was deemed to be 'substantially compliant' in three areas namely governance and management, premises and personal possessions, with the requirements generally met but some action is required.



Laurel Lodge provides 24 hour nursing care for up to 114 residents, male and female, who require long term and short term care and there are a number of respite care beds also available.



There was 110 present on the day in the premises which comprises of three separate units; Hazelwood Lodge, Lissadell Lodge and Glencar Lodge with the latter unit providing care, and support for residents living with dementia.



All of the three units provide a range of communal facilities for residents including unrestricted access to their own sitting, and dining rooms and the rooms were 'decorated in a homely manner'.



The HIQA inspectors said there was a calm and relaxed atmosphere and the provider ensured that the number and skill mix of staff was appropriate to meet the assessed needs of residents who received timely and appropriate care when they required it.



"Residents living in this centre were supported to enjoy a good quality of life, where their safety, and well-being was prioritised. The report stated, "Staff interactions with residents were observed to be caring, gentle, and respectful, it was evident that there were good relationships between staff, and residents who indicated via a questionnaire that it was a great place to live."

Resident bedrooms were found to be spacious and suitable for residents, however, some improvements were required to two rooms located on Glencar unit as the premises did not conform to all of the regulations.



One of the twin-occupancy bedrooms the residents did not have access to equal space to store their clothes and personal items with one enjoying a double wardrobe while the other had a single wardrobe.



The flooring in several resident rooms on the first floor was damaged, privacy curtains were found to be ripped, the bedside table was damaged, while the furniture in two twin rooms was of a poor standard.

The provider informed HIQA privacy curtains identified had been replaced and furniture has been ordered and they are "awaiting implementation to ensure completely separate furniture and equal furniture space for each resident in the room".

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They also said a review has also been completed in all shared rooms to ensure this is the case in all shared bedrooms.



In relation to the 'damaged flooring', the provider said the flooring on the first floor at the time of inspection was undergoing upgrade in a phased approach.



"All corridors and reception areas have been completed, with the next phase set to upgrade the floors in resident rooms, priority rooms have been identified for upgrade in the upcoming phase."
A sign inside an Iraqi Interior Ministry building.

The Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah has said it will not disarm in the wake of reports that suggest armed militias in Iraq will place their weapons under state control. The Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades) on Saturday rejected calls to disarm, linking any such move to the withdrawal of US forces and other foreign troops from Iraq, Iraqs Shafaq News reported on December 20. The focus on disarming Iranian-backed militias in Iraq comes as Iraq seeks to choose a new prime minister after elections in November.

US Special Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya lauded the possible disarmament of militias in a post on X on December 22. The reported steps by Iraqi armed groups toward disarmament are a welcome and encouraging development. Savaya added that disarmament must be comprehensive, irreversible, and implemented through a clear and binding national framework.

Kataib Hezbollah is the most prominent militia to reject disarmament. It is a US-designated terrorist group and one of the powerful militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-affiliated group of militias. The PMF was incorporated as an independent security force in Iraq in 2016. While members of these groups receive government salaries, some of the militias have continued to act outside of state control. For instance, they have been accused of carrying out drone attacks on US forces. Baghdad has made past attempts to rein in the militias, six of which have been sanctioned by the US as terrorist groups.

The move to get the militias to place their weapons under government control gained momentum after Faiq Zidan, the head of Iraqs Supreme Judicial Council, made a statement about restricting weapons to state control. The head of Iraqs highest judicial body said Saturday that the leaders of armed factions have agreed to cooperate on the sensitive issue of the states monopoly on weapons, London-based Asharq al Awsat newspaper noted on December 21. The report added that the militias Asaib Ahl al Haq, Harakat Ansar Allah al Awfiya, and Kataib Imam Ali appear to be willing to acquiesce to the demand to place their weapons under government control.

Shafaqs December 20 report also said these three groups had supported the plan. However, Qais Khazali, the head of Asaib Ahl al Haq said, We are now part of the state, which may indicate that the groups leadership already believes its weapons are restricted to state control. In this context, it was unclear what change the disarmament would actually bring.

The reports that the militias may disarm or place their weapons under government control have received significant media coverage in the Middle East. When Hezbollah rejected the initiative, Al Ain News in the UAE analyzed the ramifications. These positions are seen as part of a broader strategy by armed groups linked to Iran, based on retaining weapons as a tool of political and security influence, and using them to pressure national governments, rather than integrating into state processes and building institutions, the Al Ain News report said.

The National, a state-owned daily newspaper in the UAE, reported that US Envoy Savaya and a US delegation were expected to visit Baghdad soon. The comments underline growing confusion in Iraq over whether powerful Iran-backed militias are prepared to relinquish their arms, amid mounting US demands, internal political maneuvering and outright rejection by some armed groups, The National noted.

The issue of disarmament has spurred debate in Iraq. Falah al-Jazairi, a member of the Construction and Development (Imar wa Tanimia) coalition, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, explicitly played down the issue, the Qatari New Arab reported. Jazairi was quoted as saying that the subject should not be exaggerated. The same report said there was progress on confining weapons to state control, but there were unresolved issues, such as demands by some militias for the withdrawal of anti-Islamic State coalition forces from Iraq. The Iraqi news website Al Jeebal reported on December 22 that the powerful Shiite Coordination Framework political bloc, which contains a number of Shiite groups, supported the decision to restrict weapons to the state.

Iraqi political analyst Hussein Kinani told Baghdad Today News that if the militias disarm, new armed groups could emerge, effectively rendering the move irrelevant. The Iraqi website Hatha al Youm reported on December 21 that Kataib Hezbollah and another militia, Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, possess long-range weapons, such as missiles. These could be used in any potential confrontation with Israel or in other regional conflicts, the report added, explaining why these militias want to hold onto their weapons.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Libya House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh. (  via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0)

On December 15, Aguila Saleh, Libyas House of Representatives speaker, deemed the 2019 Libya-Turkey maritime deal illegitimate and non-binding in an interview with the Libyan News Agency (LANA). Saleh argued that the agreement was built on illegality, as the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) did not secure its ratification from the House of Representatives. At that time, the Libyan legislature was part of the GNAs rival Tobruk Government, and it remains involved in Libyas east-west political struggle despite a de facto reunification.

In 2019, Turkey intervened decisively in Libyas civil war to shore up the Tripoli-based government of Fayez al Sarraj, supplying advanced weaponry and deploying Turkish forces to secure his administration. In exchange, Sarraj signed a controversial maritime boundary agreement that dramatically expanded Turkeys claimed rights in the eastern Mediterraneanclaims that directly contravened Greeces internationally recognized maritime zones. The deal, swiftly condemned by the European Union (EU) and regional states such as Egypt, is perceived by Greece as a sign of Ankaras revisionist ambitions in the Mediterranean.

In September 2025, Ankara sought to build on its 2019 maritime agreement with the Tripoli authorities by attempting to persuade eastern Libyas government to accede toand formally jointhe same deal.

Now, Saleh is urging Libyan authorities to enter multilateral talks with Egypt, Greece, and Turkey to reach a conclusive settlement on economic rights in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean. These statements followed Salehs meetings with Greek Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens on December 4 and 5, in which Saleh heard Greek concerns about the 2019 demarcation. Saleh expressed reservations over Greeces maritime claims extending from Crete, due to its proximity to the Libyan coast, and stated that Libya will pursue an agreement in self-interest rather than in alignment with Turkey or Egypt and Greece.

Both Athens and Cairo oppose the Libya-Turkey maritime deal on the grounds that it infringes on neighbors waters and gives Turkey a favorable position for natural gas extraction. Kaklamanis previously issued a public statement on December 4, urging that the maritime deal must not be ratified by the Parliament of Libya. On December 12, Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi in Cairo to begin maritime demarcation talks outside of Turkish auspices. The Egypt-backed LNA is one of the eastern Libyan entities that is in conflict with Tripoli, aligned with the House under the former Tobruk government.

Senior Turkish government officials have not yet released official statements on Salehs remarks or his visit to Athens. However, the Turkish state media outlet Anadolu Agency reported on an official parliamentary statement from Libyan Deputy Speaker Mosbah Douma that criticized Greek opposition to the maritime deal on December 8. According to the statement, Douma deemed Kaklamaniss call to reject the deal an interference in Libyas internal affairs. On December 22, Turkeys parliament extended the Turkish militarys deployment in Libya to January 2028, citing a need to eliminate attacks that may be directed against Turkiyes interests in Libya by illegitimate armed groups and terrorist organizations.

William Doran is an intern at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he contributes to its Turkey Program and Center on Economic and Financial Power. You can follow Sinan on X @sinanciddi.
At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Two 25W wireless charging modules

Raised charging pad is adjustable Cons Requires USB-C wall charger Our Verdict The Aukey MagFusion 2X is superior to standard 2-in-1 wireless chargers by being able to wirelessly 25W fast-charge two iPhones simultaneously, as well as swapping one for a wireless-charging AirPods case as you require. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today

Best Prices Today: Aukey Qi2.2 MagFusion 2X 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station

Retailer Price Check Product Price

One of the hits of the 2025 IFA technology tradeshow in Berlin was Aukeys range of 25W MagFusion chargers for iPhone and Apples other devices. The first 25W MagFusion product to hit the shelves is the MagFusion 2X Wireless Charging Station 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger (or LC-MC213 if you want to be formal).

This stands apart from most 2-in-1 wireless chargers, not just because of the 25W charging speed, but also because it can charge two iPhones at that speed.

Aukey MagFusion 2X: Double the power

Most 2-in-1 wireless chargers can power up an iPhone and a pair of AirPods or maybe an Apple Watch. Those standard 2-in-1 chargers usually employ a 5W or 7.5W area for the AirPods or Apple Watch, which dont require a great deal of power to charge.

The Aukey MagFusion 2X, on the other hand, boasts two Qi 2.2-supporting 25W charging pads: one on a 6-inch (15.2cm) arm and the other flat on the stands base.

Simon Jary

Of course, you can certainly use it to charge an iPhone and an AirPods case, just as with other 2-in-1 chargers, but the ability to fast-charge two iPhones is the real selling point. Even if you dont have two iPhones, surely someone in your house or office needs to charge their phone at the same time as you. Either way, the Aukey MagFusion 2X is unique in its ability to simultaneously wirelessly service two iPhones at such a speed.

Simon Jary

Aukey MagFusion 2X: Performance

A Qi2.2-certified 25W charger should wirelessly power up an iPhone from 0 to 50 percent in just over 30 minutes, where a 15W charger will take more like 45 minutes to do the same. To get the iPhone to 100 percent takes more than twice that time, as iPhones (and any other device) will charge more slowly as they get nearer to full capacity, which is why we compare chargers at their speed to 50% percent rather than 100 percent.

That said, a 25W charger should beat a 15W charger by about 25 minutes from 0-100%. Note that only the iPhone 16 and 17 series support 25W wireless charging, with the iPhone Air limited to 20W due to the size of its battery. Older iPhones will charge at Qi2s standard 15W. Check out which wireless charging speed your iPhone supports.

In our tests, the Aukey MagFusion 2X took 31 minutes to get an iPhone 16 Pro from 0 to 50 percent.

Older 15W Qi2 versions of the Aukey MagFusion range an active cooling system (called Omnia-Frez Cooling Technology) to ensure efficient and safe charging. The 15W MagFusion 2X doesnt feature such a fan or cooling fins despite the higher power. That might result in lower charging times in some situations, but we didnt experience any slowdowns in our real-world tests.

The Aukey MagFusion 2X doesnt ship with a wall charger, and the company recommends you use one with an output power of 67W or higher. If you cant use your MacBooks charger or need a spare, check out our reviews of the best USB-C chargers for options.

Simon Jary

Aukey MagFusion 2X: Design

The Aukey MagFusion 2X looks suitably futuristic in gunmetal gray. Its raised charging pad is adjustable, with a 30-degree vertical rotation. Of course, the iPhone can be placed in either a portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation.

At 6 x 5.3 x 2.4 inches (15.2 x 13.5 x 6cm), its a small desk footprint, and its pretty light too at 11.2oz (318g). The arm feels robust and stable, and the magnetic connection to both charging pads is strong. The charging port attaches to your wall charger via the supplied 6ft USB-C cable, neatly positioned at the back of the base.

Simon Jary

Aukey MagFusion 2X: Price

The Aukey MagFusion 2X is available only in the U.S. and E.U. at the time of writing, with a price of $67 or 70. While this is a more than reasonable price tag, just keep in mind that you need to provide your own USB-C wall charger (67W or higher for maximum charging speeds) if you dont own a spare already.

Check out alternative options in our reviews of the best magnetic wireless chargers.

Should you buy the Aukey MagFusion 2X?

The Aukey MagFusion 2X is superior to standard 2-in-1 wireless chargers by being able to wirelessly 25W fast-charge two iPhones simultaneously, as well as swapping one for a wireless-charging AirPods case as you require.
The group chat pings. Not jokes, not holiday cheer  just a plate number, a time, a face to watch. Between school drop-offs, split shifts and lunch breaks, neighbors slip into East Boston District Court, scanning for plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. They log plates, film detainments, call the LUCE hotline and steer families toward help.

On paper, theyre ordinary  a nurse, a student, a dad  but in practice, theyve taken on a second, unpaid job: documenting their neighborhoods immigration arrests near the courthouse.

On Friday, a member of a watchdog group arrived at the courthouse for his volunteer shift before starting his regular job later that day. He asked the clerks for a printed copy of the daily docket, then crossed the hall to the courtroom and waited for proceedings to begin.

The man is part of a 60-person neighborhood coalition who have monitored East Boston  and members feel the neighborhood has been targeted due to its immigrant and Hispanic populations  since March, taking up the role after President Donald Trumps border czar promised in February hed be bringing hell to Boston.

After two hours, the watchdog member left the courtroom and circled the courthouse, trying to verify an unconfirmed tip about an ICE sighting. He found no agents. It was uneventful, but not insignificant. Just nine days earlier, ICE agents had been seen inside the courthouse.

Six days before that, agents detained someone as they tried to leave  slamming the persons knee in an SUV door as they forced them inside.

He knows it could happen again.

I dont want to overplay the impact this has on my life, because its nothing compared to neighbors in the community who are most vulnerable to being snatched up by ICE, watchdog group member Josh Lown said.

Any sort of inconvenience or stress that it plays on me, and other folks who may be trying to balance with work? Its really nothing compared to what a lot of our neighbors are facing. Its why we do it, because we care about our neighborhood and we care about our neighbors.

The watchdog group members range from college students to parents, to longtime advocates, retirees and other working-class residents of East Boston.

Some work daily with the group, while others take on shifts as their schedules allow  in between classes, after kids are dropped at school or before a split work shift.

Protest on Dec. 19 outside East Boston District Court. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

Their efforts are a mix of quiet surveillance and quick coordination. What began in early spring as rumors in group chats and informal walks of just a couple neighbors getting together grew into a structured system by the summer.

This is a great neighborhood  some of the best food is out here, some of the best neighbors are out here. Weve been working hard as neighbors to continue to uplift one another," Lown said.

We want ICE out of the neighborhood. We want ICE out of Massachusetts ... and neighbors will continue to work together as long as we need to.

As of late December, watchdog members communicate through a dedicated group chat, take scheduled shifts to document license plates of potential ICE vehicles, verify information and call the LUCE hotline to alert the wider community. They record detainments, connect families with legal aid and advocacy groups and raise awareness with physical signs.

ICE at court

Since ICEs pattern has moved lately from neighborhood patrols to the East Boston District Courthouse, the watchdog group followed. Much of its hands-on efforts are now through weekly court watch days, when group members monitor ICE agents activities at East Boston District Court.

Watchdog members and federal agents who enter the courthouse know each other by face, Lown said. He added that ICE agents appear to have noticed to groups presence and have taken pictures or videos of members themselves.

Protest on Dec. 19 outside East Boston District Court. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

The ICE agents come in plainclothes and view the small courthouses daily list, the members say, then wait in the courtroom for a defendant to get through proceedings.

Usually, people are detained by ICE after theyve been ordered released on personal recognizance, Lown said  a decision judges typically make when they consider someone a low flight risk, are facing minor or nonviolent charges or have a clean criminal record.

Sallyport arrest

On Nov. 21, group members documented ICE agents detainment of Alejandro Orrego Agudelo, 27, a man released on personal recognizance after he was arrested by Boston police earlier that same morning. This followed a call to his East Boston apartment over a parking spot spat, according to a Boston police report.

Boston police said Orrego Agudelo poked one officer in the chest and resisted being handcuffed during his arrest, flailing, kicking and yelling as they tried to restrain him. He was charged with vandalizing property, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer and arraigned at in East Boston District Court.

After a judge ordered Orrego Agudelo released on personal recognizance with another court date set for January, the 27-year-old never made it back home. He was met by ICE officers inside the East Boston District Courthouse, according to watchdog group members and Orrego Agudelos lawyer, Alexander Shapoval.

He never walked out of the courthouse. [Court personnel] did not tell me anything, I was just as surprised as anyone else, Shapoval told MassLive, adding that ICE activity at courthouses in the state has appeared secretive and un-American, especially given agents unmarked uniforms.

He was supposed to come out ... the next thing I heard, theres screams outside, said Shapoval. Hed represented his client inside the courthouse just minutes before he was detained. If hes not brought back to this Boston court, then it presents a problem. And is a violation of his right to speedy trial. That is very concerning."

By the time neighborhood watchdog group members reached the courthouse alley that day, Orrego Agudelo was shirtless, barefoot and pinned facedown by an ICE agents knee on the pavement of the sallyport alley  a secure area typically reserved for court staff and used to transport defendants.

Mans arrest raises questions

The watchdog group claims certain court officers coordinated with ICE, allowing agents to intercept Orrego Agudelo before he exited the building and detain him through the restricted sallyport.

The Massachusetts Trial Courts confirmed there was an incident outside of the East Boston courthouse that violates the policy for court personnel to neither assist nor impede ICE. The court did not clarify whether the violation involved the helping or hindering of ICE agents.

However, there are measures ... being taken to address the aforementioned violation within the Security Department, said state Trial Court spokesperson Jennifer Donahue. This department is comprised of court officers who are assigned to courthouses across the state.

All Trial Court employees are expected to follow the Trial Court Policy and Procedures Regarding Courthouse Interactions with the Department of Homeland Security, Donahue stated.

The Trial Court Security Department conducts regular ongoing trainings that include education about the Trial Court Policy and Procedures Regarding Courthouse Interactions with the Department of Homeland Security, the Trial Courts statement read.

Since the incident in East Boston, the Security Department has held additional meetings with Chief Court Officers and Court Officers across the state to reinforce the policy.

While the watchdog group is thankful the Court recognized finally what weve been seeing, members feel its largely because we were there, verifying and taking video and were able to confirm that that was happening, Lown said.

If we didnt have video ... it would have been our word against theirs, and nothing would have happened. The story would have been different ... it just goes to show the importance of us being able to put eyes on these instances, he said.

Signs for LUCE, torn down, outside of East Boston District Court. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

On Friday afternoon  braving the high winds and rain  the group held a vigil across the street from the courthouse, in its most public action yet.

They sang Christmas songs reworked with anti-ICE lyrics, held hand-painted signs, lit candles and faced the courthouse as they called for elected officials intervention through a microphone under a blue tent.

Cars and trucks honked as they drove by, including several MBTA bus drivers. Representatives for Sens. Lydia Edwards and Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Boston City Councilor Gigi Colletta were all present.

We want to do more of this ... push for our elected elected officials to do something, bring them to these events so they can see there is a community response who cares about this, Lown said.
A New Jersey police chief assaulted and restrained a woman he was dating in a Boston hotel room after attending a Red Sox game in September, according to prosecutors.

Totowa Police Chief Carmen Veneziano, 47, pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping charge and three counts of domestic assault and battery he is facing in connection with the incident during his arraignment in Suffolk County Superior Court on Monday. The judge ordered him held on $25,000 cash bail and set conditions of release.

The police chief is suspended from his position without pay until the criminal case against him concludes.

The allegations against Veneziano

On Sept. 14, Veneziano and a woman he was dating attended a Red Sox game together in Boston, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum said during the arraignment. Their connection began to sour as the night went on, and an argument ensued at the Back Bay hotel where they were staying.

Veneziano left the hotel room late that night and was gone for several hours, Polumbaum said. He returned around 3 a.m. and found that the woman had locked him out of the room using the doors deadbolt.

For approximately a half-hour, Veneziano remained in the hallway outside the hotel room demanding to be let in, Polumbaum said. Eventually, hotel security was called, and the woman relented and allowed him back into the room.

Veneziano then became physically abusive with the woman by headbutting her, by dragging her by her legs, by holding her down on the bed, preventing her from leaving the room or even leaving the bed, Polumbaum said. He also applied painful pressure points to her body and threw water on her.

How police became involved

The abuse ceased when the woman managed to call the hotels front desk to ask if she could rent a separate room, Polumbaum said. Hotel security responded to the room again and overheard the woman saying you hurt me to Veneziano, prompting them to call police.

At the time, the woman did not disclose the abuse to Boston police, and the two drove back to New Jersey together, Polumbaum said. Veneziano and the woman have been separated since that time, but have exchanged texts.

She confronted him by text about him having been physically abusive, and his response was not to directly acknowledge or deny it, but just make some sarcastic comments, Polumbaum said.

A few days after the incident, the woman called Boston police and hesitantly told them she wanted to talk about what actually happened, the assistant district attorney said. A grand jury investigation into the incident ultimately returned indictments for the four charges on Dec. 18, and Veneziano was taken into custody without incident the following day.

How Venezianos community has responded

Totowa Mayor John Coiro suspended Veneziano on Friday after consulting with two members of the boroughs Public Safety Committee, according to a press release issued Sunday.

During Venezianos arraignment, his defense attorney, Paulo Corso, said his clients criminal history consists of a singular operating under the influence conviction from earlier this year.

He certainly has community ties back in New Jersey and is a pillar in that community, Corso said. He has members and friends of that community that traveled up from New Jersey today to support him, and they describe him as a role model and a community leader in the town of Totowa.

Veneziano only learned of the criminal charges against him on Friday, but responded by waiving extradition proceedings, his attorney said. This allowed for his quick transport to Massachusetts and arraignment on the charges.

He evidently denies the allegations against him, and he looks forward to addressing these charges here in court, Corso said.

Venezianos conditions of release include that he have no contact with the victim or witnesses in the case, stay out of the town in which the victim lives and wear a GPS location-monitoring bracelet. He is due back in court for a pretrial conference on Feb. 10, 2026.
Yoko Ono, the widow of Beatle John Lennon, has continued to embrace her reclusive life while living out her late years in the Northeast.

The couples son, Sean Ono Lennon, said in a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning that his mother is enjoying retirement in upstate New York.

Shes slowed down a lot, and shes retired, Sean told CBS Anthony Mason. I see her half the year.

The Japanese artist decided to step away from the public eye and live quietly on a 600-acre farm, according to a book written by David Sheff entitled Yoko: A Biography that was published on March 25.

The move has helped Ono focus living out her final days in a happy place following decades of activism, her family said in the book.

She believed she could change the world, and she didnow she is able to be quiet  listen to the wind and watch the sky," daughter Kyoko said in the book while paying tribute to her mother. This is well deserved and genuine peacefulness.

For decades, Ono lived in The Dakota, a historic apartment building on New Yorks Central Park West, in the home she shared with John Lennon. Lennon and Ono were married in 1969 and the two made headlines with their performance art and opposition to the Vietnam War.

Lennon was murdered by a disturbed fan on Dec. 8, 1980 outside The Dakota while returning from a late-night recording session. After his death, Ono founded the Strawberry Fields memorial in Manhattans Central Park, the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland and the now-closed John Lennon Museum in Saitama, Japan to honor late husband.

Sean, who was five when his father died, explained how hes now taken over his mothers role of preserving the late Beatles legacy.

Thats why Im kind of trying to do the work she used to do, Sean said. I think she did a really great job for a lot of years. So she deserves to kind of sit back.

Im just doing my best to help make sure that the younger generation doesnt forget about The Beatles and John and Yoko, Sean continued, mentioning how be believes it is possible for his fathers legacy to be forgotten. Thats how I look at it.

He added that he is most concerned about preserving his parents ongoing mantra of peace and love.

I think that part of their legacy is incredibly important and something that I hope to convey to the younger generations, the musician said.
Kyle Chrisley, eldest son of Chrisley Knows Best star Todd Chrisley, has been arrested on multiple assault charges after he was accused of assaulting three deputies.

Chrisley, 35, was arrested in Rutherford County, Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 20, according to the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office.

Officers responded to a domestic assault call near the town of Smyrna after Chrisleys wife, Ashleigh, told dispatchers that her husband was being belligerent and walking in the middle of the road.

When attempting to speak with Mr. Chrisley, he became immediately aggressive, charged at deputies and began to throw punches and assault deputies, Sgt. Brady Greene reported, adding that three deputies were injured. After a physical altercation and deployment of OC Spray, Mr. Chrisley was taken into custody.

Chrisley was booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. He was charged with three counts of felony retaliation for past actions, three counts of felony assault on first responders, misdemeanor domestic assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

He was released on a $88,500 bond from Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. His hearing is set for Jan. 27, 2026.

Chrisley appeared in two episodes of the first season of Chrisley Knows Best in 2014. He is the son of Todd and his first wife, Teresa Terry. They also share a daughter, Lindsie, 36.

Chrisleys father and stepmother, Julie, were pardoned by President Donald Trump in May after serving time in prison for bank fraud and tax evasion. Before they were pardoned, Todd was sentenced to 12 years and Julie was sentenced to seven.

This was not the first time of Kyle Chrisleys run-in with the law. The 35-year-old was last arrested in September 2024 and charged with aggravated assault, WSMV reported.

Afterward, Chrisley and his wife sued the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office for $1.7 million over that arrest. The couple claimed Chrisley was not the aggressor in that situation, but was rather defending himself against a disgruntled mechanic who showed up at his home demanding money.

Chrisley was also arrested on suspicion of another aggravated assault in March 2024, USA TODAY reported citing Rutherford County court records.
Flu cases are rising sharply in Boston, prompting city health officials to urge residents to get vaccinated.

The City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission said flu cases have jumped 114% in recent weeks, while flu-related emergency room visits increased 44%.

Officials said the surge is occurring a month earlier than last flu season, when similar levels were not reached until January.

Children are being hit hardest. Cases among children younger than 5 rose 83%, while infections among those aged 5 to 17 increased 217%, according to the health commission. Older adults are also considered at higher risk for severe illness.

Boston health officials are encouraging residents to receive an annual flu vaccine.

Flu cases are on the rise in Boston, said Bisola Ojikutu, Bostons public health commissioner. Flu spreads easily during this time of year when we gather together indoors. It is not too late to get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best tool we have to prevent serious illness.

Residents can receive flu and COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies, community health centers, primary care offices and hospital-sponsored clinics. The commission said additional free vaccination clinics will be held across the city in January.
A custodian from Brown University has come forward and claimed that he warned a third-party, on-campus security guard weeks ago about a suspicious man who turned out to be the suspected shooter in an attack that killed two and injured nine.

Derek Lisi, a 15-year employee, saw a man pacing the hallways, looking into classrooms and hiding in a bathroom to avoid being seen in the weeks leading up to the Dec. 13 shooting inside Browns Barus and Holley building, as first reported by The Boston Globe.

The custodian later recognized the widely circulated photos and videos of the shooting suspect who was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, after a five-day manhunt.

Officials say the suspected shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head two days before he was found on Dec. 18.

Hed been casing that place for weeks, Lisi told the Globe.

On nearly 10 separate occasions, Lisi said, he saw the man matching Neves Valentes description and wearing the same clothes in and around the engineering building since the beginning of November.

Lisi warned the third-party security guard twice about the suspicious person in the building.

The contractor company, Event Staffing Services, confirmed to the Globe that one of its employees was told about the suspicious person in December, but said it is not responsible for investigating those types of reports.

The companys president, David Madonna, told the Globe that his staff do not perform security guard or police officer duties and that his companys staff tell Brown employees to contact campus police when public safety issues arise.

Lisi told the Globe he could not recall whether the companys staff told him to call the police.

In an interview with WPRI, Lisi said that he immediately recognized the person of interest in photos and videos that officials shared with the public in the aftermath of the shooting.

He called the tip line and later met with detectives two days after the shooting.

I told detectives, it was like I could see him and nobody else could  it is an eerie feeling, Lisi said. It was the way he was browsing in the classrooms. He was like rolling his eyes one way, rolling his eyes another way. And it wasnt just that classroom, it was all the classrooms.

In court documents filed in Rhode Island last week, investigators wrote about a Brown University custodian who told police he had seen a man wearing the same clothing and face mask as the person of interest captured in photos and videos.

The custodian told investigators he had seen the man multiple times over the past month, and the custodians account was soon corroborated by security video from the building.

Brown University officials did not return a request for comment on Monday.

As of Monday morning, five of the nine victims remained hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital in stable condition, officials said. The four other victims were discharged.

Ella Cook, a sophomore, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a first-year student, were killed in the shooting.

Officials also identified Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, as the suspect in the killing of MIT physics professor Nuno Loureiro, 47, who was found shot dead in his Brookline apartment complex on Dec. 15.

Officials declined to discuss a motive in the shootings last week, but noted that Neves Valente was a physics student at Brown University and that he and Loureiro had previously studied at the same university in Lisbon.

Court documents charged Neves Valente with 25 counts, including two counts of first-degree murder.

Gunfire erupted on the first floor of the universitys Barus and Holley engineering and physics building around 4 p.m. on Dec. 13 during an exam review session.

A five-day manhunt ended after a Reddit user came forward with a key break in the case.

The Reddit user, only identified as John by authorities, provided investigators with a detailed rundown of his encounter with Neves Valente that eventually led to his discovery in New Hampshire.

The tip led investigators to search for a gray Nissan with Florida license plates that might be a rental vehicle. They soon found a gray Nissan Sentra in security video from the scene.

Investigators learned that the car was a rental from Alamo Rent-A-Car in downtown Boston and eventually found his body in the New Hampshire storage unit.

Brown Universitys records indicated that Neves Valente had been a doctoral student studying physics from the fall semester of 2000 to the spring semester of 2001, according to court documents.

Neves Valente became a legal permanent resident of the U.S. in 2017. His last known address was located in Miami, Florida.

During a press conference Thursday night, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said she believed Neves Valente and MIT Professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro knew each other.

Both men were from Portugal, and Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez Jr. said previously that theyd previously studied at the same university in Lisbon.
The final deadline for 177 cities and towns to create new zoning allowing more housing near public transportation is fast approaching.

Most municipalities affected by the MBTA Communities Act, passed in 2021, have already passed their deadline, but the final cohort  35 small towns adjacent to communities with transit stations  have until Dec. 31.

The sometimes-controversial law has faced a number of challenges, but has also seen tremendous success in communities that have embraced it. As the cutoff nears, what difference has the law made, and where are the holdouts?

More than 90% of towns have rezoned

The MBTA Communities Act requires cities and towns served by the MBTA to have at least one zoning district where multifamily housing is allowed by right. Its goal is to make it easier for developers to create new housing, relieving pressure on the expensive local housing market.

As of Dec. 18, 133 cities and towns have been certified as compliant or conditionally compliant, meaning they will eventually be certified compliant if they implement certain changes as instructed by the state. Another 35 have passed new zoning at the local level and are awaiting approval.

Of the small towns with a Dec. 31 deadline, 33 have passed zoning, and of those, 12 have been certified compliant and one conditionally compliant.

The MBTA Communities Act is one of many tools that Massachusetts is using to increase the production of reasonably-priced housing and lower costs for everyone, said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. We continue to work with the remaining communities to support them in passing zoning that meets their needs, as well as moving forward on many other initiatives to make housing more affordable.

According to EOHLC, at least 6,000 homes are in development or under construction in zoning districts that were created under the MBTA Communities law. Many of those are in municipalities where residents and local officials were supportive of the goal to create more housing.

In Watertown, where the City Council passed zoning that allowed for over 4,000 units  more than twice what the state required  in the fall of last year, results are already starting to appear.

In October, a developer proposed a 153-apartment project in Watertown Square, which would have been much more difficult before the MBTA Communities Act. It was the third and largest project proposed in the year since the zoning was implemented.

Housing is the secret sauce that makes retail districts stronger, City Manager George Proakis told MassLive earlier this year. Building up the opportunity for people to live in a place where theyre walkably accessible to those restaurants and amenities and local businesses, over the long run, is going to be the greatest thing for those restaurants and amenities and local businesses.

Holdouts from MBTA Communities zoning

Despite the widespread compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, there is still a small subset of towns that have failed to follow it.

In January, the Supreme Judicial Court found that the law was constitutional but temporarily unenforceable due to procedural issues with how it was passed. While the state worked to resolve those issues, noncompliant communities were given an extended deadline of July 14 to get in line. Several did so, but 11 still have not.

One of those towns, Holden, has consistently refused to follow the MBTA Communities Act since its original implementation. It was the only town not to submit the required action plan in 2023, getting itself declared noncompliant almost from the get-go.

After the Supreme Judicial Court decision, however, town officials changed course. At Town Meeting in May, the Planning Board recommended passing a zoning plan that would have followed the law, but it was rejected by voters. Officials are now working on another proposal that will go to Town Meeting on Feb. 23.

Town Manager Peter Lukes said he is still opposed to the MBTA Communities Act, but that the town is trying to meet the basic requirements while minimizing any negative effects.

It is terrible legislation that was poorly planned, poorly written and is being poorly implemented, he wrote in an email to MassLive. I think that it would be very difficult for a court to overrule a democratic process  but at this point I think most of us would rather be technically compliant than fight the Governor and the judicial system any longer.

He added that many residents are still opposed to any form of compliance, so it remains to be seen whether the zoning makes it through.

The other noncompliant towns are Dracut, East Bridgewater, Freetown, Halifax, Marblehead, Middleton, Tewksbury, Wilmington and Winthrop.

Two more are set to join that list once the Dec. 31 deadline passes. Town Meeting voters in both Rehoboth and Carver shot down zoning proposals this fall, with Carvers plan receiving only 26 votes in favor to 394 against.

Carver Planning Board Chair Mari Ellen Williams told voters during the meeting that the board had initially voted to support the proposal in August because they believed the new zoning district would allow just 235 new housing units to be built, the minimum required by the state, but instead, the proposal would have allowed for more than 800.

We didnt want 200 units, we didnt want 839 units that they came back with, nor do we want 400 units, Williams said. We dont want it.

Though the Planning Board recommended indefinitely postponing the article, which would have allowed officials to revise the proposal and come back with something they preferred, voters instead rejected it outright.

In Rehoboth, town officials had urged voters to pass their zoning proposal, saying the alternative could be losing grant money or even having the state take over to implement a zoning district without the towns say.

None of us like the state coming in and telling us what to do, said Selectman David Pereira, the Sun Chronicle reported at the time. Thats the spirit of Rehoboth.

What happens next after the deadline?

Come Jan. 1, the laws rollout will be complete, and the state will need to determine how to deal with noncompliant towns. Some have already begun to lose grant funds, like Winthrop, which in September lost about $1.2 million it was set to receive for climate and flooding resilience work.

Other recent funding cancellations have sparked pushback. Two regional high schools, Wachusett High School and South Shore Vocational Technical School, have lost out on grants because one of their feeder communities did not follow the law, despite the rest doing so. State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Worcester/Hampshire, whose district includes two of the five feeder communities for Wachusett, accused Gov. Maura Healey of weaponizing the law.

Using a regional high school as leverage in a disagreement with one of the towns in the district is the wrong approach and an overreach of state authority, Durant said.

The state has since reinstated the grants for both schools, with a spokesperson telling MassLive last week that it was a mistake.

A spokesperson for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities said the office is working with noncompliant towns to help them reach compliance.

There is still a legal fight from at least one town unhappy with its responsibilities under the law. Earlier this year, nine communities filed lawsuits against the state after the Office of the Inspector General determined the MBTA Communities Act was an unfunded mandate, meaning it imposed expenses on municipalities without also providing financial supports.

A Plymouth Superior Court judge threw out the lawsuits, ruling that none of the communities had provided evidence of any specific costs they had been burdened with.

The only allegations and averments before the court are generalized comments about large-scale issues they foresee, Judge Mark Gildea wrote in his June ruling.

The state has provided grants and other technical assistance specifically for towns to draft new zoning and make infrastructure improvements to support new housing.

But last month, the town of Marshfield appealed that decision, and the state Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to hear the case. Oral arguments are scheduled for February.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell has repeatedly said she does not want to sue cities and towns to force them to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, as she did with Milton. An advisory released by her office in July said she did not intend to file any enforcement actions in 2025.

But for the handful of communities with no intention of following the law, the New Year may bring new consequences. Campbells advisory also stated that where a community has demonstrated that it will achieve compliance only when ordered to do so by a court, and the pertinent deadline has passed, the AGO may bring a civil enforcement action at any time, and was prepared to do so starting in January 2026.

Rezoning is but an initial, necessary step towards building the new housing that the Commonwealth so badly needs, Campbell wrote. The remaining steps will take time before additional housing is built, and we have no time to waste in addressing the Commonwealths continued housing shortage; nor in addressing impediments to that important work.
A federal court has ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully denied bond hearings to ICE detainees in New England.

Fridays ruling, which came from the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, could impact thousands of people in ICE detention centers.

A class-action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups claim that bond hearings, which were standard procedure for most people arrested by ICE, were being denied to detainees in New England.

A district court judge agreed, ruling that people arrested on civil immigration charges must be provided an opportunity to make their case in court.

Daniel McFadden, managing attorney at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement the Trump administration broke the law by not allowing detainees bond hearings.

Everyone in the United States is entitled to due process, McFadden said. The government cannot arrest and detain people inside the United States without providing them with strong procedural protections, including a hearing before a judge.

In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris said that ICE must notify all detainees that they have a right to a bond hearing, as well as provide arrested noncitizens with access to a telephone to call an attorney within one hour after receiving the notice.
Brown University may be in danger of losing federal student aid over the Dec. 13 shooting that killed two students and injured nine others, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In an email sent out Monday, the department wrote that it will conduct an investigation into whether Brown violated a portion of the Higher Education Act known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, which requires colleges and universities to meet certain campus safety and security-related requirements.

After two students were horrifically murdered at Brown University when a shooter opened fire in a campus building, the Department is initiating a review of Brown to determine if it has upheld its obligation under the law to vigilantly maintain campus security, said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in the email. Students deserve to feel safe at school, and every university across this nation must protect their students and be equipped with adequate resources to aid law enforcement. The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students safety and following security procedures as required under federal law.

The email further said that public reporting appeared to show that Browns campus surveillance and security system may not have been up to standards. The Department wrote that this could have allowed the shooter to flee.

Additionally, many Brown students and staff reported that the universitys emergency notifications about the active shooter were delayed, raising significant concerns about their safety alert system. If true, these shortcomings constitute serious breaches of Browns responsibilities under federal law, the department wrote in the email.

Brown University spokesman Brian E. Clark wrote that the university received the Department of Educations notice of review on Monday and that the university will respond directly to the department.

In addition to the Clery review, Brown will be undertaking three immediate actions to ensure the security of the campus and update emergency response protocols, according to Clark.

First, Brown is implementing a range of immediate safety and security measures to ensure a secure campus, building upon existing efforts. Next, Brown is commissioning a comprehensive external After-Action Review of the Dec. 13 incident, including a complete assessment and evaluation of campus safety in the period leading up to the tragedy, the preparedness and response on the date of the shooting, and the emergency management response in the aftermath. And third, Brown will initiate an external comprehensive Campus Safety and Security Assessment of the campus to review Browns current safety and security policies, procedures, infrastructure and training, Clark wrote.

The Department of Education has requested the following documents from Brown as a part of its review with a deadline of Jan. 30.

Copies of the original 2024 and 2025 Annual Security Reports (ASRs), and any revised versions of these reports that were produced for the purpose of complying with the Clery Act, along with credible evidence of distribution and/or redistribution;

An audit trail showing all incidents of crime (organized by offense classification) for the calendar years 2021-2024 and an audit trail showing all arrests made by Brown University Public Safety and Emergency Management Department (BPS) or other state or local law enforcement agencies, and all referrals for disciplinary action against students or employees for violations of state laws and local ordinances related to the illegal possession, use, and/or distribution of weapons, drugs, or liquor that were included in the statistical disclosures contained in the Universitys 2024 and 2025 ASRs;

A copy of the BPSs activity/dispatch/call log for calendar years 2021-2025;

A copy of the daily crime log for calendar years 2021-2025;

A list of all Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications issued by the university during calendar years 2021-2025, with a brief description of the means or media used to disseminate the notices;

A copy of all of Browns policies and procedures, including any internal policies and procedures, related to timely warnings and emergency notifications, maintenance of a daily crime log, and emergency response notifications and evacuation, and a copy of any assessments of Browns campus safety policies and practices conducted since 2020; and

A complete set of BPSs standard operating procedures regarding dispatch, response to calls, reporting writing, arrests including issuance of citations, and protocols for active shooter scenarios.

The Dec. 13 attack set off hours of chaos on campus and in the surrounding Providence, Rhode Island neighborhoods, as hundreds of officers searched for the shooter. One video showed students in a library shaking and wincing as they heard loud bangs just before police entered the room to clear the building.

Officials say the suspected shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head two days before he was found on Dec. 18.

Ella Cook, a sophomore, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a first-year student, were killed in the shooting.

As of Monday morning, five of the nine injured victims remained hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital in stable condition, officials said. The four other victims were discharged.

Officials declined to discuss a motive in the shootings last week, but noted that Neves Valente was a physics student at Brown University and that he and Loureiro had previously studied at the same university in Lisbon.

Court documents charged Neves Valente with 25 counts, including two counts of first-degree murder.

Gunfire erupted on the first floor of the universitys Barus and Holley engineering and physics building around 4 p.m. on Dec. 13 during an exam review session.

A five-day manhunt ended after a Reddit user came forward with a key break in the case.

The Reddit user, only identified as John by authorities, provided investigators with a detailed rundown of his encounter with Neves Valente that eventually led to his discovery in New Hampshire.

The tip led investigators to search for a gray Nissan with Florida license plates that might be a rental vehicle. They soon found a gray Nissan Sentra in security video from the scene.

Investigators learned that the car was a rental from Alamo Rent-A-Car in downtown Boston and eventually found his body in the New Hampshire storage unit.

Brown Universitys records indicated that Neves Valente had been a doctoral student studying physics from the fall semester of 2000 to the spring semester of 2001, according to court documents.

Neves Valente became a legal permanent resident of the U.S. in 2017. His last known address was located in Miami, Florida.

During a press conference Thursday night, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said she believed Neves Valente and MIT Professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro knew each other.

Both men were from Portugal, and Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez Jr. said previously that theyd previously studied at the same university in Lisbon.

MassLive reporter Luis Fieldman contributed to this article.
Jim Beam, one of the worlds best-known bourbon whiskey brands, announced it will halt whiskey production at its main distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, for all of 2026.

In an official statement obtained by AP News, Jim Beams parent company Suntory Global Spirits Inc. cited slowing demand for bourbon, a significant increase in aged inventory and ongoing trade pressures as the cause for pause production at the Clermont campus beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

The 225-year-old whiskey maker said the decision will allow the brand to spend more time investing into the distillery itself and making improvements to the facility.

While whiskey production at the Clermont facility is suspended for 2026, the bottling and warehouse operations, visitors center and restaurant will remain open.

The company also said it plans to work with its union partners on workforce plans during the suspension and anticipates no layoffs will occur as a result of the suspension.

Canadian retaliation to alcohol tariffs

This decision comes amid broader shifts in the bourbon industry.

According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, in the second quarter of 2025, all exports of American spirits dropped 9% compared to the same time last year.

The largest decline came from U.S. exports to Canada  falling 85% from April to June.

Canada is the only trading partner to retaliate against U.S. spirits. Exports to Canada plunged by 85%, dropping below $10 million in the second quarter of 2025, the Council wrote in its Q2 report.

... Exports of several spirits categories posted double-digit declines, including Brandy (-12%), American Whiskey (-13%), Vodka (-14%), and Cordials (-15%), while exports of Rum declined 6%.
More than a week after a gunman killed two students at Brown University and an MIT professor at his apartment in Brookline, authorities are still searching for a motive.

Claudio Manuel Neves Valente is believed to have opened fire in a Brown lecture hall on Dec. 13, killing two students  Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov  and injuring nine others. Authorities say Neves Valente then drove to Boston, and two days later shot and killed MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in the foyer of his Brookline apartment.

A photo of Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, provided by Leah Foley, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Authorities say Neves-Valente is the person who shot at Brown University students Dec. 13, killing two and injuring nine others and who also, two days later, killed an MIT professor in Brookline who he knew. As of Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, investigators did not yet know his motives. Courtesy of U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office

According to Providence police, Neves Valentes motivation remains a mystery.

At this point, we have not determined a motive, said Kristy DosReis, chief public information officer for the Providence Police Department. We continue to investigate.

Neves Valente was a graduate student at Brown, arriving on campus in the fall of 2000. He left the program in the spring of 2001 and formally withdrew from the university in 2003.

An old friend who knew him during their time as students at Brown said Neves Valente harbored anger toward the school and the community.

He hated Brown and he hated Providence, Syracuse professor Scott Watson said, describing Neves Valente as socially awkward.

Neves Valente and Loureiro, both Portugal natives, had been undergraduate classmates at Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon, providing a possible link.

The Norfolk District Attorneys Office is investigating Loureiros killing. When asked about a potential motive, Norfolk DA spokesman David Linton said there were no updates.

The investigation is ongoing, Linton said. We have no further information to share at this time.

Two students visit a memorial outside Brown University's Barus and Holley building on Dec. 18, 2025. Mike Grimala

Browns response to the shooting has come under criticism.

A custodian reported a suspicious person on campus in the weeks before the shooting, looking into classrooms and hiding in a bathroom; he later confirmed to police that the man he saw was Neves Valente.

Neves Valente was able to flee the scene after the shooting, and investigators were unable to trace his movements until days later, when a Reddit post revealed vital information used to track him to a car rental agency in Boston.

On Monday, Brown placed its chief of police on leave and announced plans to enhance campus security.

The federal government is now putting Brown under the microscope, as the U.S. Department of Education is threatening to pull federal funding from the university.
UPDATE: North Andover officer granted bail after 3 months in jail over alcohol testing issues

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court agreed with a lower courts decision to deny bail for Kelsey Fitzsimmons, a North Andover police officer on leave after being shot during an armed confrontation with a colleague who served her a restraining order in the summer.

Fitzsimmons, 29, appealed an Essex County Superior Court judges decision to revoke her bail due to issues over court-ordered alcohol testing using breath testing.

The North Andover police officer argued that severe pain and dizziness from her gunshot injuries made breath testing physically impossible.

The SJC ruled, however, that Fitzsimmonss proposal that she instead travel 10 minutes from her house for urine tests would violate the conditions of her 24/7 home confinement and that the lower court judge correctly denied her proposal.

Indeed, Fitzsimmons counsel had acknowledged at the September 11 hearing that urine testing might step on the Courts other order for house arrest, the 10-page decision read, published on Monday.

In denying Fitzsimmonss motion for reconsideration, the hearing judge properly concluded that community safety required minimizing the number of times Fitzsimmons is excused from house arrest, the decision read.

Besides the proposal for urine testing, Fitzsimmons attorney did not provide any other alternatives to the breath tests, and the judge decided to send the North Andover woman back to jail due to the danger she posed to the community, according to the SJC.

We conclude that the hearing judge did not abuse her discretion in denying the request and detaining Fitzsimmons, the SJC wrote.

The high court cited documents filed by prosecutors that stated Fitzsimmons struggled with ... aggression ... and alcohol abuse.

They cited a prior conviction of an offense apparently arising from intoxicated and disruptive behavior, and that she was recently alleged to have become violent when drinking alcohol, the SJC wrote.

The SJC agreed with the Essex County judge that the traveling for urine tests would not reasonably have assured the safety of the community because it would have interfered with the condition of home confinement.

A fellow member of the North Andover Police Department shot Fitzsimmons on June 30 while serving her a restraining order obtained by her fiance.

The shooting took place after Fitzsimmons pointed a gun at her colleague and pulled the trigger on an unloaded gun, officials say.

Fitzsimmons has denied she ever pointed a gun at a fellow officer, and instead, says she pointed the gun to the side of her head in a half-hearted attempt to inflict self-harm, according to court filings.

She is set to stand trial on Feb. 9 on a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon. A grand jury declined to indict her on a charge of armed assault with intent to murder.

Online support for Fitzsimmons has grown since the hearing where a judge sent her to jail. A Facebook group has garnered more than 5,000 members and an online fundraiser has garnered more than $45,000 in donations.

Her next court appearance is on Tuesday afternoon.
North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons is about to be released from jail after more than 100 days in custody.

The officer faces trial next year on a single charge stemming from an armed confrontation in her home on June 30 when police arrived to serve her a restraining order obtained by her fiance. She pleaded not guilty to a count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

A fellow North Andover police officer shot Fitzsimmons after he claims she pointed a gun at him, pulled the trigger and fired a blank due to it being unloaded.

Fitzsimmons has denied that version of events, instead saying she pointed a gun at the side of her head in a half-hearted attempt on her own life, according to court documents.

Fitzsimmons, 29, has spent the past three months in jail because she could not comply with a condition of her release: submitting to alcohol testing using breathing tests. Fitzsimmons said her injuries prevented her from taking the tests.

On Tuesday, however, an Essex County Superior Court judge granted Fitzsimmons bail once again after her lawyers told the court that she is now capable of taking the test without pain.

Ms. Fitzsimmons is able to muster the appropriate amount of oxygen or deep breath, and she can comply with the terms that the court has requested, Timothy Bradl, her attorney, said at a hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

We had her visit with the institution nurse a couple of times and were confident shes able to do (the breathing tests), Bradl said.

Judge Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman noted that court filings by Fitzsimmons lawyers state that she was able to complete the alcohol testing since Nov. 24, yet her lawyers did not file a motion for her release until Monday.

Bradl responded that Fitzsimmons lawyers were litigating an appeal with the states Supreme Judicial Court, which ultimately agreed in a decision on Monday that a judge did not err in ordering the North Andover womans return to jail.

Other conditions of Fitzsimmons release will include GPS monitoring and 24/7 house arrest except for medical, psychiatric and attorney visits.

She will stay at her parents home in Methuen, and the judge ordered her to stay away from the victim in the case, witnesses and her 9-month-old child.

She is set to stand trial on Feb. 9 on a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon. A grand jury declined to indict her on a charge of armed assault with intent to murder.
A winter storm that swept through New England last week brought an unusual visitor to Massachusetts, wildlife officials said.

The New England Wildlife Center reported it received a call on Friday night from a New Bedford resident who discovered an exhausted purple gallinule in her backyard.

The bird was transported to the wildlife centers Cape Cod hospital, where staff determined it was significantly underweight and in fragile condition. Preliminary examinations and X-rays did not reveal any broken bones or major injuries, the center said.

The purple gallinule is a brightly colored waterbird native to tropical wetlands in the southern United States, Central America and the Caribbean. Strong winds can push southern species off course and carry them north along the coast. Another purple gallinule was documented in Eastham in 2010 following similar weather conditions.

A purple gallinule bird was discovered in New Bedford, Mass., on Dec. 19, 2025. New England Wildlife Center

Described as noisy by the National Audubon Society, the purple gallinule walks on floating lily pads and clambers through marshes and waterside trees, flicking its short tail nervously.

The Wildlife Center said it is providing care, including hydration, feeding and close monitoring, with more advanced exams planned when the bird gains strength.

As the bird stabilizes, the center said it will work with Massachusetts wildlife officials to determine the next steps for its eventual release.
The states police watchdog agency decided to decertify Robert Devine, a former Stoughton deputy police chief accused by the commission of misconduct involving Sandra Birchmore.

The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission announced its vote on Thursday which will ban Devine from law enforcement in Massachusetts.

The commission accused Devine of coordinating a sexual encounter with Birchmore while he was on duty in December 2020.

Another former Stoughton police officer, Matthew Farwell, was charged by federal officials of killing Birchmore, who was 23 and pregnant, in 2021 to hide a sexual relationship they began after she joined a police youth program as a teenager.

Devine, who oversaw the program, retired in 2022 amid an internal department investigation after Birchmores death. He has not been charged criminally in connection with the case

Devine denied the POST Commissions claims against him.

In its 30-page decision, the POST Commission wrote that Devine lacked credibility in his denials of the relevant allegations against him.

(Devine) has a pattern of unprofessional police conduct that may escalate and that he has repeated sustained internal affairs complaints, the commission wrote.

During hearings over the summer, an attorney for the commission said Devine used the alias Marty Riggs  the name of a fictional character in the Lethal Weapon film series  on Facebook to message Birchmore. The attorney said Devine used the alias to coordinate a sexual encounter while he was on duty.

Attorney Robert Stowe, who represents Devine, denied the accusations related to Birchmore at his hearings.

Theres a big lie thats being played out here, Stowe said, adding that the POST Commissions lawyer was trying to present a lie thats been perpetrated by [Sandra Birchmore] at the behest or at the encouragement of another former Stoughton officer: William Farwell, who now lives out of state.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Birchmores estate claims that Devine and the Farwell brothers groomed Birchmore when she joined the police departments youth Explorers program in 2010 at age 13, a program that Devine supervised.

Matthew Farwell is the only one of the three accused by officials of sexually abusing Birchmore as a child; his brother and Devine, however, had sexual relationships with her after she became an adult, according to a Stoughton Police Department investigation.

Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment on Feb. 4, 2021. Her death was initially ruled a suicide and the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office did not bring charges against anyone after investigating the circumstances of her death.

Last August, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Farwells arrest and said an investigation concluded that Farwell staged her body after strangling her on Feb. 1, 2021. An expert hired by the FBI reviewed her autopsy and found that her injuries were inconsistent with suicide.

The Stoughton Police Department launched an internal investigation after her death and found in 2022 that both Farwells and Devine engaged in inappropriate relationships with Birchmore, according to Chief Donna McNamara.
Over the weekend, Stoughton resident John G. Smith, 84, was killed in a hit-and-run crash with a suspect who was trying to evade police, authorities said previously. He died on the afternoon of Dec. 20  his sons birthday.

Im gonna have to deal with this  not just through this episode here  but every time I turn a year older," Smiths son, John Jensen, told reporters through tears outside Stoughton District Court on Monday.

Jensen and the news media were attending the arraignment of Jason Ortiz, a 26-year-old Brockton resident who faces seven counts in connection with the crash.

On Monday, Ortiz pleaded not guilty to the charges, including motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury and operation with a suspended license, according to court records.

The judge ordered him held on $100,000 cash bail.

Ortizs pickup truck collided with Smiths sedan Saturday morning at the intersection of Pleasant and Prospect streets in Stoughton, authorities said previously. At the time, Ortiz was fleeing from Brockton police, who had tried to pull him over after dispatchers received a report that the truck was driving erratically.

Stoughton firefighters took Smith and a passenger  a 78-year-old Stoughton woman  to a hospital, authorities said. Smith died at the hospital later that day.

He was a good man, Jensen told reporters on Monday.

The passenger was Smiths wife, Cindy, who was seriously injured in the crash, Boston 25 News reported.

After the collision, Ortiz and another man got out of the truck and ran from police, Stoughton police said previously. Stoughton officers quickly detained one of the men, and he was then transferred into Brockton police custody.

Authorities conducted an extensive search for Ortiz, using K-9 units and the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, Stoughton police said. Stoughton officers eventually arrested him at Halloran Park in Stoughton.

Ortizs license was suspended at the time of the crash due to an operating under the influence charge that was filed against him in October, Boston 25 News reported. That case is open and ongoing.

At Ortizs arraignment, the judge issued conditions for his release, including that he refrain from driving and have no contact with victims or witnesses in the case, the news station reported.

It is unclear if the passenger in Ortizs pickup truck is facing charges.
Massachusetts voters could be asked to decide a blizzard of ballot questions when they head to the polls in 2026. And Gov. Maura Healey has her mind made up on two of the biggest ones.

During an appearance on WGBH-FMs Boston Public Radio program on Tuesday, the Arlington Democrat said shes a yes on a question that would extend the states open records law to her office and the Legislature, with some conditions.

And shes a hard no on a wildly popular, but no less controversial, proposal to legalize rent control across the state.

Im a no because, if you look at the studies you effectively halt [housing] production, Healey told the station. I will tell you that investors in housing have already pulled out of Massachusetts because theyre concerned about rent control.

Healey told hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagen that she didnt want to see housing production stopped in the wake of a law she signed last year aimed at ending the states housing affordability and access crisis.

We need to have housing production move forward, she said. " I also understand whats driving rent control. I want to work together to do something thats sensible, that creates more homes, and lowers costs for people."

The proposed ballot initiative would limit annual rent increases for most units to either the annual Consumer Price Index increase or 5%, whichever is lower, State House News Service reported.

The measure would use the rent in place as of Jan. 31, 2026, as the baseline for future changes, the wire service reported.

Healeys opposition puts her onside with such major business leaders as Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO James B. Rooney, who has called rent control a terrible idea.

I mean, owners dont invest in the properties. The non-rent control prices go up. People stay in those units  they dont turn over. They just get occupied, and people stay," Rooney said during a sitdown with WCVB-TVs On the Record program in August.

If you read the data, the history of ... rent control is just so bad, he said.

At a rally at the State House earlier this month, rent control supporters shared stories of skyrocketing rent and how it had affected their lives. They also urged policymakers to keep an open mind.

We are talking about a 21st-century rent control. This is not the same rent control that we had many, many decades ago. Its an opportunity to think about protections, not only around caps, but also how we are protecting and supporting small landlords, New England Community Project Executive Director Noemi Ramos told State House News Service.

A 1994 voter law banned rent control in Massachusetts. The concept has stalled on Beacon Hill for years. And continues to face skepticism from such top Democrats as state House Speaker Ron Mariano, the wire service reported.

We had a vote on it, Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, told reporters earlier this month. What has been the barrier for them in finding out that people just dont support it?

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, whos continuing to do battle with those same legislative leaders over a 2024 ballot question allowing her to audit the Legislature, is behind the newest transparency push.

Healey told Eagen and Braude that she was a yes vote on the audit question. But claimed there wasnt much she could do to get the issue out of neutral on Beacon Hill.

I dont have any power, any authority in this space, she said.

When Braude asked her about using her bully pulpit, she parried.

Well, Ive already said Id do everything I can to produce public records and be as transparent as we can as a governors office, she said.

But, you know, thats the jurisdiction of the court, right? she continued, in apparent reference to the seemingly inevitable court fight between DiZoglio and legislative leaders, who have taken shelter behind separation of powers arguments.
A top Republican may be considering a White House run in 2028, potentially challenging Vice President JD Vance, the current front runner in Republican primary polls.

Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, told The Washington Post that he believes U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is seriously eyeing a presidential run in 2028.

Cruz, 55, previously ran for president in 2016 but was ultimately defeated by President Donald Trump in the Republican primary.

With Trump constitutionally prohibited from running for a third term, the future of the Republican Party is up for grabs.

During a November meeting in Washington, D.C., Cruz told Klein he had been fielding requests from people urging him to seek the White House in 2028, The Washington Post reported.

In recent months, Cruz has called on the GOP to reject former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Cruz believes Carlson is injecting the poison of antisemitism into the conservative movement due to his criticism of Israel, according to The Washington Post.

Cruz has also criticized Vance to Republican donors, saying his views are dangerously isolationist, The Washington Post reported.

Vance, 41, is the current front runner in hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential primaries, according to multiple polls.

In an Echelon Insights poll conducted between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15, 45% of respondents said they would vote for Vance in the Republican primary.

Behind Vance is Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump, with 12% support. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ranked third with 9% support and Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed fourth with 4% support.

Cruz only received 3% support and tied for fifth place with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Of the 1,011 voters polled, 426 responded to the Republican primary question. The polls margin of error is plus or minus 3.8%.
As Christmas approaches, the Red Sox have knocked off most of the items on their offseason shopping lists. The early offseason trades for starters Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo fortified the rotation, more than a handful of smaller swaps were made to change out the back end of the roster and on Sunday, Craig Breslow added an impact bat by sending three pitchers to the Cardinals for Willson Contreras, a three-time All-Star who projects as the starting first baseman.

So far this offseason, Breslow has made 10 trades, including sizable ones to obtain Gray, Contreras and Oviedo, a creative prospect-for-prospect swap that sent Luis Perales to Washington for Jake Bennett and fringe moves that have seen Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, Luis Guerrero, Vaughn Grissom and Cooper Criswell exit the organization while Ryan Watson, Tristan Gray and Tyler Samaniego entered it. There have also been the free agent departures of Steven Matz, Dustin May and on Monday, Rob Refsnyder. A group that already looks much different than the one that took the field for the final time in the Bronx on October 2 will be even more unrecognizable when spring training opens in mid-February.

Were still looking for any opportunity to improve our team, said Breslow, keeping all options open. We feel like weve got a competitive team and one thats capable of a postseason run. But we also recognize that, at this point, the roster is probably incomplete, and it doesnt make any sense to turn off specific paths to improving. Well continue to look in free agency and look into trade markets for ways to get better.

Bostons main goal  one Breslow described as both a target and priority Monday night in a Zoom call with reporters  is adding more offense to a lineup fortified by the addition of Contreras on Sunday. With the outfield overcrowded and three other positions (catcher, first base and shortstop) seemingly set, the Red Sox would seem to have room for a significant addition at either second base or third base. The pitching side of the roster, for now, is a secondary concern.

I think our focus is pretty firmly on the position player side right now, Breslow said. But thats not to say that we are engaged in conversations around some additional pitching. Exactly what that looks like, Im not sure. But there will probably be opportunities to add to the bullpen, to round out that group a little bit. As always, if there are chances to improve the rotation, were going to take a look at that as well.

Speaking to people with the Red Sox, its clear that Plan A, at this point in the winter, is locking down a reunion with Alex Bregman, though the sides have yet to line up on a deal to this point. With teams like the Cubs, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays in the mix for Bregman, its no guarantee that he does return, though as MassLive reported Sunday night, the Sox remain hopeful  while not necessarily optimistic or pessimistic  that common ground can eventually be found with Bregman. Re-signing Bregman and installing him at third base is perhaps the cleanest way to finish off the heavy lifting of the offseason. In that scenario, a platoon of Marcelo Mayer and Romy Gonzalez (who can also play other positions) would make sense at second base. External pursuits at second (St. Louis Brendan Donovan and Arizonas Ketel Marte) are still in play but seemingly secondary to the Bregman pursuit at this point. If Bregman signs elsewhere, a pivot to Bo Bichette, who would play second base, is possible.

Breslow mentioned Gonzalez, Mayer and David Hamilton as the top internal options at second while reiterating that the Sox hope to play Ceddanne Rafaela in center, not the infield.

If were able to acquire someone that takes an everyday job (at second), then that can certainly improve our team, Breslow said. But at the same time, there are guys who have moved around and shown that they can be good major league players.

In the trades he has already made, Breslow has dealt 15 players, including young starters Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts, three top-10 organizational prospects (Luis Perales, Jhostynxon Garcia and Yhoiker Fajardo) and other talented young players like Jesus Travieso and Brandon Clarke. The club also lost righty Jedixson Paez to the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft. The way that the offseason has unfolded has not yet decimated Bostons strong core of good young players, but it has surely put a large ding in the farm systems depth. With that said, Breslow hinted that a free agent addition might be preferred because it requires only the spending of cash  and not forfeiting more young talent.

Its hard to perfectly handicap what those chances are until you have the opportunities in front of you, he said. That said, my job is to be mindful of balancing the short-term and the long-term, and theres only so much that you can dig into your system and trade before you start to impact your ability to sustain success over time.

Free agency is part of the equation here. Its been part of the recipe for success for a really long time. I anticipate that will continue.

The biggest question looming over the rest of the Red Sox winter comes down to finances. With the addition of Contreras (and his competitive balance tax hit, which is valued at $17.25 million in each of the next two years), the club is projected to be right near the first CBT threshold of $244 million. Earlier in the offseason, as MassLive reported, the industry sense was that the Sox would be reluctant to surpass the second threshold, valued at $264 million, and incur further penalties. A major addition of someone like Bregman or Bichette would require that step, meaning the Red Sox could look to trade someone else (Masataka Yoshida? Jarren Duran? Patrick Sandoval?) to dump some salary. Unsurprisingly, Breslow didnt want to discuss payroll Monday.

I think you know Im not going to get into conversations around budgets or thresholds, he said, outside of saying that Im going to do everything that I can. Our front office, with the support of ownership, is going to do everything we can to build the best team possible. Thats what were working off of.

The Red Sox have time on their side when it comes to further roster moves. Monday marks seven weeks before the official start of spring training, and plenty of good free agents and trade candidates remain unmoved. Even after everything theyve already done, expect the Red Sox to be active.

Its clear Breslow and the Red Sox are comfortable with the idea of Gray as the clubs No. 2 starter before Opening Day, though Breslow runs the front office in a pitching-obsessed manner and will surely keep bandying about potential pickups with trade candidates like Kansas Citys Cole Ragans, Milwaukees Freddy Peralta and others available. A veteran addition (or two) to the bullpen would make sense and the Red Sox have checked in on a ton of available relievers, including Seranthony Dominguez, Danny Coulombe and others. The club is still open to moving an outfielder like Duran or Abreu for the right price and could add a major league piece or two that way.

As the calendar turns to 2026, though, the main focus is clear.

I think that theres an opportunity to add another bat to the roster and complement the group that we have right now, Breslow said.
Snow is on its way to Massachusetts, just in time to create a white Christmas in many communities, according to the National Weather Service.

A fast-moving, low pressure, cold air mass known as a clipper system is expected to reach the state Tuesday morning, according to the weather service. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is predicted for all but Southeastern Massachusetts, which could see up to an inch of snow.

By Monday night, some schools districts across the state had already decided to cancel Tuesday classes.

Most of Massachusetts is expected to get 1 to 3 inches of snow on Tuesday, Dec. 23, according to the National Weather Service. National Weather Service

Lows in the mid 20s Monday night are expected to rise into the mid 30s across Massachusetts on Tuesday, according to the weather service. There is a chance of snow in the Berkshires after 4 a.m. Tuesday, but most of the state is predicted to begin seeing flurries throughout the morning  by 10 a.m. at the latest.

The snow is expected to continue in most of Massachusetts until Tuesday night, with precipitation ceasing in different communities between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 1 a.m. Wednesday, according to the weather service. The Berkshires have a chance of snow throughout the night, and then a slight chance of snow until 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Some parts of the Berkshires could get up to 4 inches of snow total, but most of Berkshire County, as well as parts of Franklin County and much of Worcester County, are expected to see 2 to 3 inches, according to the weather service. Aside from the coast, Bristol and Plymouth Counties and the Cape and Islands, the rest of Massachusetts is predicted to get 1 to 2 inches of snow.

The coast, Bristol and Plymouth Counties and the Mid-Cape can expect to see up to an inch of snow, while the Upper Cape and Islands can expect little to no accumulation, according to the weather service. The snow may turn to rain at times in the southeastern-most areas of the state.

Most of Massachusetts is expected to get 1 to 3 inches of snow on Tuesday, Dec. 23, according to the National Weather Service. National Weather Service

Lows in the upper 20s and low 30s Tuesday night are predicted to rise into the high 30s during the day on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Communities can expect mostly sunny skies once the precipitation ceases.

Low temperatures in the low to mid 20s overnight on Christmas Eve are predicted to reach the upper 30s and low 40s on Christmas Day, according to the weather service. Mostly cloudy skies are expected across Massachusetts on the holiday.
Views expressed here represent those of the author and not necessarily of MassLive or The Republican. Readers are invited to share their opinions by emailing to letters@repub.com.

As fiscal pressures mount across the United States, our local communities stand at the edge of a precipice. The convergence of federal debt, political gridlock and state-level budgetary challenges now threatens the foundation of public services in Massachusetts.

It is time to confront this perfect storm with clarity, resolve and bipartisan cooperation.

The U.S. federal debt has reached an alarming $38 trillion, with annual debt service soaring to $1 trillion. Such numbers are not only unsustainable  they are a warning siren for every state and municipality. When national obligations absorb resources, necessary investments in infrastructure, education, health care and public safety are crowded out, leaving our cities and towns vulnerable to further cuts and instability.

There are only three routes to fiscal stability: increasing revenues through higher taxes (an approach generally opposed by Republicans); decreasing expenditures via program and service cuts (a path Democrats typically resist); or forging a combination of both, which neither party has yet been willing to embrace.

This political stalemate, intensified by 2026 election-year anxieties, perpetuates the crisis and leaves local governments in the crosshairs.

Further complicating the situation, Massachusetts is considering a ballot proposal to reduce the states income tax rate from 5% to 4%. State officials warn this change could cost the Commonwealth nearly $5 billion in annual tax revenue. During a recent hearing, leaders projected that if fully implemented, the measure could slash between $4.2 billion and $4.8 billion from state coffers each year, with the rate phased down by 2029. Should voters approve the measure, the immediate revenue hit could range from $800 million to $1 billion in a single fiscal year.

Massachusetts legislative leaders decry the proposal as irresponsible, particularly in the context of a slowing economy and growing uncertainty of funding from Washington. They caution that such a significant reduction in revenue would force deep cuts to critical programs or necessitate offsetting tax hikes.

Business groups, however, argue that lower taxes will improve the states competitive position and relieve economic pressures on families and employers. Recent polling suggests broad public support, with nearly 67% approving a reduction to 4%.

If the tax cut passes, cities and towns will face substantially reduced state aid, stretching already limited budgets to a breaking point. Schools, emergency services, public health initiatives and infrastructure projects will all be at risk. The consequences will not be abstract  they will be felt in classrooms, police stations and community centers throughout Massachusetts.

Our cities and towns cannot weather this storm alone.

Thoughtful, long-term solutions crafted collaboratively and with a full understanding of the consequences  are essential. Lawmakers and voters must move beyond partisan rhetoric and short-term fixes, embracing pragmatic approaches that safeguard both economic growth and the public services our communities rely on.

The stakes are simply too high for anything less.

Michael Albano is a former mayor of Springfield.
NORTHAMPTON  Four defendants offered an unusual defense in a Hampshire County courtroom this month  that the nonviolent protest they staged March 19 was needed to call attention to deaths 5,800 miles away.

On Monday, a judge accepted their necessity arguments in the face of charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace. Judge Mary Beth Ogulewicz found all four not responsible.

Coming from a judge, it has real weight for people, and real meaning, said Nicholas A. Mottern, one of the defendants. I thought there was a really good chance of it, but I was afraid to get my hopes up, he said.

Mottern was arrested after he and three others  Patricia Paki Wieland, Patricia Gallagher and Priscilla Lynch  protested in the lobby at L3Harris Technologies, a defense contractor with a Northampton plant.

All refused to leave, tossing pretend $100 bills as blood money. They wore T-shirts that said L3 Kills.

The courts verdict validates the necessity of our action against the perpetrators of genocide, including L3Harris right here in Northampton, Lynch said in a statement Tuesday.

After many court preliminaries, the defendants were allowed to explain their actions in detail last week in Ogulewiczs courtroom. They said they protested, and endured arrest, to raise awareness about their belief that the companys weapons are linked to Israeli military action in Gaza. In addition, affidavits submitted to the court made the case that the products have resulted in the deaths of Gazan citizens.

One of the affidavits was provided by former State Department official Josh Paul, who quit in October 2023 over what he saw as illegal shipments of U.S. weapons to Israel. The court documents provided evidence that L3Harris products have been used against Palestinians, according to Mottern.

Defendant Nicholas A. Mottern, right, and a supporter rally before last Thursday's hearing at the Hampshire County Courthouse. (Coliin Weinstein photo) Staff

In court last Thursday, defense attorney Jaime Rogers argued that his clients believed their protest could help persuade L3Harris to no longer provide military equipment to Israels armed forces.

The company is one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the U.S. and sells to the Israeli Defense Forces.

Along the way, the trespassing and disturbing the peace case had been converted from a criminal matter involving misdemeanors into a civil proceeding.

To successfully use whats known as a necessity defense, Rogers clients had to prove they acted to interrupt a clear and imminent danger, among other legal requirements. One is that people acting unlawfully hold a reasonable expectation that his or her action will be effective as the direct cause of abating the danger, according to state law.

An attorney for the commonwealth worked to undercut claims about the defense strategy, suggesting the protesters could not have reasonably expected that their actions would change the companys thinking.

On that point from the prosecution, Judge Ogulewicz pushed back, according to reporting by Colin Weinstein in The Shoestring that was reprinted Tuesday in The Republican. Isnt all social change incremental? the judge asked. In other words, if some told Dr. Martin Luther King, and said, Stop, stop at step one, stop at step two  isnt that the theory of protest and political change?

In a statement from Ogulewicz provided by the defense team, the judge wrote: After consideration of the testimony, exhibits, applicable law and arguments of counsel, I find the defendants Not Responsible on all counts.

Mottern said he believes this weeks ruling could open a path to wider use of the necessity defense in the future. He said protests, which have also criticized Northamptons decision to award tax incentives to L3Harris, will continue.

Were trying to educate people and persuade people about whats happening with weapons of war, Mottern said Tuesday.
HOLYOKE  A city councilor accused of driving drunk onto a sidewalk is set to appear in court next month on an operating under the influence charge.

Israel Rivera, an at-large city councilor, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday in Holyoke District Court. His next court date is a Jan. 26 pretrial hearing.

Rivera could face more than 100 days in jail if convicted on the misdemeanor OUI charge. He also received civil citations for failing to stop or yield and for speeding.

In a Facebook post Sunday, Rivera said he ran his campaign on transparency, and that commitment has not changed.

I understand the seriousness of the matter and the concern it may cause, he wrote.

He said he respects the legal process and plans to address the case responsibly while working to rebuild trust.

Rivera did not respond to The Republicans request for comment.

Police say Holyoke City Councilor Israel Rivera drove onto a sidewalk near this construction zone on Sunday. He also refused a breath test during booking, according to police. (Aprell May Munford / The Republican) Aprell May Munford

The incident at midnight was recorded on body camera, police said.

Massachusetts State Trooper Daniel Harpin Jr. was on patrol early Sunday when he saw a brown Buick LeSabre going 40 mph in a 25 mph zone on Appleton Street in Holyoke, according to a criminal complaint.

Then, the officer saw the LeSabre  later found to be operated by Rivera  drive through a red light at Appleton and Maple streets.

Just past Nick Cosmos Way  closed off with barricades, cones and a bridge closed sign  the car turned onto a paved sidewalk, the complaint says.

With several apartment complexes nearby, its a busy area, the trooper said in the complaint. A woman walking there had to pass close to Riveras car to reach her home, the complaint says.

Officers pulled Rivera over and said they smelled alcohol when they approached his window. After speaking with him, they reported his speech was slurred and his eyes glassy.

Rivera told police he had come from Wyckoff Country Club and admitted having two drinks.

Rivera told officers that he drove onto the sidewalk because there was nowhere else to go. Police said there were several streets to turn onto and plenty of space to turn around without driving onto the sidewalk.

When asked, he confirmed the car was his and said, Everything is mine. I am a city councilor, according to the complaint.

On Sunday at midnight, Holyoke City Councilor Israel Rivera drove onto a sidewalk near this closed street in Holyoke, police allege in a criminal complaint in Holyoke District Court. (Aprell May Munford / The Republican) Aprell May Munford

Police then gave him a standard field sobriety test, portions of which he failed, including the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests.

During the one-leg stand, a test for balance, officers reported Rivera counting seven one thousand, seven one thousand, eight one thousand, nine one thousand, one hundred, which police said also indicated impairment. For the heel-toe test, he counted in Spanish, continuing to count and step even after being told the test was over.

At times, Rivera laughed and clapped during the test, saying he couldnt pass even if I was sober, the complaint says.

While being arrested, Rivera asked officers to work with him. He then said, Thats fine. Ill just cut the budget, and added, Everyone else gets a pass, but I dont.

Police also reported in the complaint that, when inside the cruiser, Rivera yelled and hit his head against the door. When told to stop, he shouted profanities.

You know who the (expletive) I am? Im not a regular (racial slur), Rivera said, according to the troopers complaint.

The yelling continued: Inebriated, OK, you got that. ... Next year, when I am a cop myself, and I take the test, I swear to God, Im gonna make you (racial slurs) look bad.

Rivera was booked and at first refused to sign paperwork but later agreed after speaking with officers, according to the complaint.

He refused an alcohol breath test, which led police to immediately revoke his license.

Later, while making phone calls to secure a ride home, officers heard Rivera laughing about the incident, telling someone, They did test me. I had no choice, (racial slur), I am drunk as (expletive), he said. Even if I was sober, I would not have passed those tests.

Rivera was released on his own recognizance with a citation.

Riveras arrest comes years after a prior conviction. In 2009, he was sentenced to five years in state prison after a guilty plea to felony firearms and drug charges, and assault on a police officer.

He was released about a decade ago and has been outspoken about his conviction.
WESTFIELD  The lighting of the Menorah on the Elm Street Plaza on Sunday evening, Dec. 21, was not only the celebration of the eighth day of Chanukah, the festival of lights, but of the rededication of the Congregation Ahavas Achim 50 years ago in Westfield.

Rabbi Shahar Colt led the attendees in a song that celebrated light and peace. One little light can keep us going, she said, saying the rededication was of Jews to Jewish life in the city.

Colt said the name of the holiday means dedication. She asked those gathered what each of them are rededicating themselves to as members of Ahavas Achim. We rededicate ourselves to all the ways we support each other in the community of Westfield, she said. Especially in this time of violence, bias, and intergroup strife, how can we be more in community and connect to each other.

Colt then asked Amy Tosi, representing Mayor Mike McCabe and City Hall, to light the eighth candle on the Menorah. Also present on the stage were Councilors Bridget Matthews-Kane and Cindy Harris. Everyone was then invited to a Latkes and Lights party at the First United Methodist Church.

After the potato latkes were served, with sour cream, apple sauce, and oranges, longtime congregant Risa Larson introduced Westfield historian Robert Brown, professor emeritus at Westfield State University, who spoke about the history of the Jewish community and of the Congregation Ahavas Achim in Westfield.

Brown said he and his wife, Judy Brown, are the last surviving members of the original group of 14 families that reestablished the congregation 50 years ago, although the communitys origins date back to the mid-19th century.

The Jewish community of Westfield was always very small, Brown said, adding that it was not a significant part of the political, social, or economic life of Westfield, which he called in the early years a very Yankee, very white community.

He said in the 1850s, the Jews in Westfield were largely male, with not many women or children. Known among them were the four Jackson brothers, who ran a dry goods store and were peddlers, taking trips to the hilltowns to sell their wares. On one of the trips, one of the brothers was murdered, which marked the first appearance in the newspaper of the community, Brown said.

A few years later, three Solomon brothers, John, Henry, and Phineas, immigrated from England, where they were in the cigar industry, to Westfield. When war broke out, John and Henry joined the 10th regiment in Massachusetts, representing the Union army, and Phineas joined a New York regiment.

After the war, John joined his brother, then known as Joseph Thompson, in Australia. Henry, who suffered a head wound in the war, and Phineas became active in the cigar industry, and Phineas became one of the founders of the Woronoco Savings Bank, later the Berkshire Bank.

Both Henry and Phineas eventually emigrated to Australia, where they are buried in a cemetery in Sydney under the name of Thompson that now serves as the site of American Memorial Day ceremonies in Sydney.

Brown said the second major period of the Jewish community in Westfield was from the late 19th century up until World War I, when 9,000 new immigrants, mostly Lithuanians, Poles, Russians, and Slovaks, a small minority of them Jewish, doubled Westfields population.

He said the Jewish community resided in what he referred to as the Westfield Jewish ghetto on Morris and Maple Streets off of Franklin Street for the first 30 to 40 years.

Brown said they were poor, mostly peddlers and shoemakers. They had minimal religious services under lay rabbis until 1917, when they were able to create a Synagogue named Ahavas Achim on Sumner Street. The building is behind Santiagos restaurant, and now, a Puerto Rican church.

Their first rabbi, Jacob Kaplowitz, served from 1932 to 1941. After he left in 1941, the congregation was served by three rabbis, all refugees from the war and all trained rabbis who did not stay. Brown said by 1944, the congregation was aging and on shaky ground, and from 1955 to 1965, they no longer held services except on high holy days. Finally, in 1967, the temple building was sold, and the Torah scrolls were transferred to Springfield.

In 1975, Westfield State Psychology Professor Harvey Rosen and History Professors Marty Kaufman and Bob Brown met during a benefit and started talking about the lack of a Jewish congregation in Westfield, Brown said. All three families had young boys getting older and were concerned about their religious education

He said while two of the three of them were in mixed marriages  Judy Brown is Jewish, and Bob Brown and Rosens wife were not Jewish  they decided to try to start one. They reached out to other Jews on the faculty, and Kaufman went through the phonebook, sending letters out to people asking if they would be interested in establishing a Jewish community.

The first meeting was held on April 14 at Browns house, where 25 people gathered to meet with a retired rabbi from Springfield, Irwin Schneider, who encouraged them to go for it. Schneider told them the history of the Jewish community in America is about lay leaders, and they shouldnt worry about mixed marriages.

At the next meeting on May 9, 1975, 14 families  40 people  showed up. At the meeting, led by Kaufman, they adopted the former name of Congregation Ahavas Achim. Brown said they also received strong encouragement from the five remaining members of the congregation, who were happy to see it start up again.

In the fall of 1975, they held their first high services led by a rabbinical student in Springfield.

Twenty-two families paid dues that fall, and they received a Torah scroll that had been donated to a Boston temple that had many of them.

Judy Brown started a Sunday School in their home that she ran for many years. Bob Brown said, unfortunately, Marty Kaufman died two years later, but the community was secure. In 1981, they held their first bar mitzvah for Browns son, Bob Brown.

Initially, the new congregation met at the Masonic Temple and occasionally in the First Methodist Church. They have been meeting in the Interfaith Center at Westfield State University since the late 1980s.

Brown said since shortly after its founding, Congregation Ahavas Achim has been providing monthly meals for the Westfield Soup Kitchen on the first Thursday of each month and also preparing a roast beef dinner every year on Christmas.

We became active once again and survived 50 years, Brown said. All organizations, after a number of years, get tired. Its clear that the community remains small and transient, always was, but it survived. Congratulations  as active members of a community that has a long history in Westfield.

A 50th anniversary cake congratulating the small and mighty Congregation Ahavas Achim was then served to the crowd, who also enjoyed the dreidels and chocolate coins on the tables.

New Westfield resident Joseph Schneiderman, said he moved to the city one and a half years ago. A lawyer and displaced New Yorker, he said he knew he was home when he taught the mayor and Matthews-Kane to play dreidel at last years Chanukah celebration. Im home at long last, he said.
Showcase, Irelands International Creative Expo, returns to the RDS, Dublin from Sunday, January 18 to Tuesday, January 202026, bringing together hundreds of Irelands leading designers, makers and creative brands under one roof. Buyers from Ireland and across the globe are once again expected to attend the countrys largest annual trade event for Irish craft, design and creativity. Showcase is presented by Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from the Department of Trade Enterprise and Employment, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.

In 2026, Showcase will welcome 385 exhibitors under this years theme, Making Irish Stories, which celebrates the depth, diversity and cultural power of Irish craft and design. The theme highlights the narratives behind the work of makers from every corner of the island and their stories shaped by landscapes, communities, heritage and innovation.

There are eight exhibitors from Mayo. They are WGP Wholesale, Knight & Day Jewellery, Padraig Mc Caul Images Ltd, Heraldry Names, Saol Knitwear, Aran Woolen Mills, Mouse House Studio and Kate Barrett Studio.

Showcase expects nearly 4,000 visitors, including many who return to meet their valued clients year on year. 105 brands will exhibit for the first time and 280 brands including Aran Woollen Mills, Tipperary Crystal, Solvar, C. Bonner & Co., Brooke & Shoals, Irish Handmade Soap Co., Saol Knitwear, Agency International, Shandon of Ireland, Royal Tara, Newgrange Living, Martina Hamilton and Vivien Walsh will all return to the show, along with many others. The fair is an international launch pad for the Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople who unveil their new season collections across fashion, wellbeing, jewellery and home and giftware.

Established in 1975 by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) as the National Craft Fair, Showcase has grown into a major international trade show, welcoming buyers from across Europe, America, Canada and the Middle East annually. Building on strong international momentum in recent years, Showcase 2026 will once again feature:

The Inspiration Stage - hosting expert talks, insights and trend discussions.

- hosting expert talks, insights and trend discussions. The Fashion Show - a curated runway experience presenting 40 Irish designer looks with integrated craft displays, supported by a digital QR-access lookbook and a buyer-facing fashion train activation throughout the RDS

a curated runway experience presenting 40 Irish designer looks with integrated craft displays, supported by a digital QR-access lookbook and a buyer-facing fashion train activation throughout the RDS The Showcase Awards - recognising excellence in craftsmanship, design and innovation.

READ MORE: Mayo developer proposes 8.5m regeneration of landmark Castlebar centre site
A renowned Christmas tradition on Achill Island will continue this year as Dooega Drama Group prepares to stage one of Brian Friels most iconic works, 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' Performances will take place in Colaiste Acla, Dooega, at 8pm on December 27, 28 and 30, offering islanders and visitors alike three opportunities to enjoy a standout production from a renowned group that has become synonymous with high-quality theatre.

This years production marks another ambitious undertaking by the long-established company, and according to the groups chairman, Michael Lavelle, it may well be one of their most exciting yet. The commitment and talent of this years cast and crew is extraordinary, he said. Every rehearsal has been filled with energy, focus, and a real love of the craft.

We are privileged to have so many gifted performers in our community, and this play gives them a magnificent platform to shine. Philadelphia, Here I Come! first premiered in 1964 and quickly became one of the defining works of Irish theatre.

Set in the fictional Donegal town of Ballybeg, the play centres on Gar ODonnell, a young man preparing to emigrate to America. What makes Friels play unique is its structure: Gar is portrayed by two actors  Public Gar, the version of himself seen by the outside world, and Private Gar, who reveals the inner life, longings, frustrations, and vulnerabilities that Gar cannot express aloud.

Deeply moving'

Dooega Drama Groups production features David McGinty as Public Gar and Stephen Corrigan as Private Gar, a pairing the chairman describes as compelling, powerful, and deeply moving. The story unfolds over Gars final night in Ballybeg before his departure for Philadelphia, where he plans to live with his Aunt Lizzy and Uncle Con. As he packs his suitcase and reflects on his life, the play navigates the tension between the promise of the unknown and the emotional ties that bind him to home.

His complex relationship with his father, S.B. ODonnell  played by Martan O Mongain  lies at the heart of the story. Though the two men live together and work side-by-side in the family shop, their inability to communicate warmth or affection creates a profound emotional gulf. Its a play that speaks directly to the Irish experience, said Michael Lavelle. Emigration, family, unspoken feelings  these are themes that every community in Ireland knows well, and Achill especially so. I think audiences will find themselves reflected in it in many different ways.

The narrative also revisits Gars romantic past with Kate Doogan (played by Yasmin McGrath-Chen), a relationship overshadowed by social expectations and economic pressures.

Around them is a rich ensemble of characters brought to life by a talented cast: Micheal McNamara as Senator Doogan, Michael Lavelle as Master Boyle and Ben Burton, Caroline Mangan as Lizzy Sweeney, Jesse Sinaiko as Con Sweeney, Paddy Cafferkey as Ned, Fionn O Mongain as Tom, Myles OKeeffe as Joe, and Cathal Cronin as Canon Mick OByrne. The role of Madge, the loyal housekeeper who has been a constant presence in Gars life, is played by Aisling Masterson.

Cornerstone

Dooega Drama Group has long been a cornerstone of cultural life on Achill Island since their establishment in 2010. Their annual winter production brings together performers, volunteers, and audiences of all ages. These plays are part of the rhythm of life on our island, the chairman noted. They bring people together in the darkest months of the year. They give us shared stories, shared laughter, shared memories. That is the real power of community theatre. The group has always placed strong value on inclusivity and participation, encouraging newcomers and seasoned performers alike to become part of the creative process.

The chairman emphasised how important this has been to the groups continued success. We couldnt do any of this without the people of Achill. Their support over the decades  turning up, volunteering, donating, encouraging  has sustained us through thick and thin.

We are genuinely grateful for every person who has ever sat in our audience or helped out behind the scenes. While the cast will be the faces the audience sees on stage, a highly skilled and hardworking crew is responsible for bringing the world of Ballybeg to life. At the heart of that effort is Stage Manager Denis McCarthy, whose set design and backstage coordination have been described as outstanding by the chairman.

Denis has a gift for understanding what a play needs visually and logistically. His work on the set this year has been exceptional  from the layout of S.B.s kitchen to the subtle touches that help communicate Gars inner world. We are incredibly lucky to have him.

Dedication

He also praised the wider crew for their dedication: Every member of our backstage team contributes something essentiallighting, sound, costumes, makeup, props, logistics. Its a huge undertaking, especially for a community group, and they give their time week after week purely out of love for the arts and for this island.

With Christmas approaching, the group is excited to welcome audiences back to Colaiste Acla, a venue that has become synonymous with their work. The chairman extended thanks for the ongoing support of the Mangan family, who continue to make the space available each year. Looking ahead, the group has ambitions beyond Achill. We are very excited to bring this production onto the National Amateur Drama Circuit in 2026, the chairman revealed.

We believe in this cast, in this play, and in our ability to represent Achill with pride. They won several awards on the 2024 circuit for their production of Martin McDonaghs The Cripple of Inishmaan and won a coveted Contribution to the Arts award at the 2025 Mayo County Council Cathaoirleach Awards.

For now, Dooega Drama Group invites everyone to join them this December for what promises to be a heartfelt, humorous, and unforgettable night of theatre. We hope the people of Achill will come out once again to support us, and we promise them a show they will be proud of, said the chairman.

TICKETS

Tickets are now available on EventBrite (http://bit.ly/4iSP04B) and at Achill Sound Post Office, and updates can be found on the groups Facebook page.
Carrowholly National School marked a significant and joyful milestone on Thursday, December 11, when the school community gathered to celebrate the schools eightieth anniversary alongside the turning on of the Christmas lights. The festive evening brought together pupils, parents, grandparents, past pupils, staff and members of the wider community in a warm and celebratory atmosphere.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came when the Christmas lights were switched on by the schools oldest past pupil together with its current youngest pupil, a touching gesture that beautifully represented the rich history and ongoing future of Carrowholly National School.

The celebration was further enhanced by the pupils wonderful carol singing, which filled the air with Christmas spirit and was warmly received by all in attendance. A display of historical photographs allowed visitors to reflect on eight decades of memories and milestones, prompting lively conversation and fond reminiscing. Festive treats and refreshments were enjoyed by all, adding to the sense of community and celebration.

Fr Britus blessed the school crib during the evening, providing a meaningful moment of reflection at the heart of the Christmas celebrations. The weather remained favourable throughout the event, allowing everyone to enjoy the outdoor festivities in comfort. For many of the younger attendees, the highlight of the evening was a special visit from Santa Claus, whose arrival

brought great excitement and smiles to children and adults alike.

The evening was widely regarded as a great success, with funds raised in aid of St Vincent de Paul. Sincere thanks are extended to all those who worked so hard to organise the event and to everyone who attended, making the celebration a truly memorable occasion for the entire Carrowholly school community.

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All photos: Martin Mc Intyre
The house decorations go up. The holiday meal gets planned. The traditions continue. But the table has an empty chair.

For military families with a service member deployed during the holidays, every festive moment carries weight. What brings joy to most families can amplify loneliness when someone you love is half a world away. The challenge isn't just missing them. It's figuring out how to celebrate when your family isn't whole.

The Weight of Separation

Deployment always strains families, but holidays intensify everything. While neighbors gather for celebrations, military spouses manage households alone. Children try to understand why Mom or Dad can't be there for Christmas morning. Extended family asks questions that hurt to answer.

The financial pressure compounds the emotional toll. Military families often operate on tight budgets, and deployment doesn't change the cost of gifts, meals or travel to see relatives. Many families struggle to afford holiday celebrations even with both parents present. Deployment can make it impossible.

Social isolation hits hard. When everyone else's family seems complete, the empty chair at your table feels more prominent. Friends and neighbors mean well, but they don't always understand what it's like to celebrate major holidays while worried about someone far away.

Finding Connection Across Distance

Technology helps, when it works. Video calls let families see each other, though connection quality varies wildly depending on where the service member is stationed. Military OneSource recommends setting realistic expectations about communication before deployment hits. Can you schedule regular calls? Will internet access be reliable? Knowing the limitations ahead of time prevents disappointment.

Care packages maintain the connection. Sending holiday cards, cookies, small gifts or just letters keeps deployed service members tied to home. The items matter less than the gesture. Receiving something from home during the holidays reminds them they haven't been forgotten.

Virtual celebrations work better than expected. Families schedule video calls to open presents together, share meals across time zones or just talk while the deployed parent watches kids play with new toys. It's not the same as being there, but it beats silence.

Traditions That Hold Families Together

Maintaining family traditions during deployment gives children stability when everything feels uncertain. Some families keep every tradition exactly the same. Others adapt them to fit the deployment reality.

The deployment Christmas tree tradition dates back to Vietnam. Families hang a special ornament for their deployed service member, often placing it prominently or letting children decorate it. Some families leave presents under the tree unopened until everyone can be together.

Countdown calendars help children visualize when their parent will return. Advent calendars work double duty during December deployments, marking both the approach of Christmas and the days until homecoming.

New traditions emerge from deployment. Families create rituals around sending care packages, recording video messages or celebrating holidays a second time when the deployed parent returns. These become the stories kids remember.

Help Available for Families

Organizations across the country provide holiday support specifically for military families. Operation Homefront has distributed holiday meal kits to more than 825,000 family members since 2010. The kits include everything needed for a traditional holiday meal, removing financial stress during an already difficult time.

Trees for Troops delivers free Christmas trees to military bases across the United States and overseas. Soldiers' Angels Adopt-A-Family matches families with sponsors who provide gifts for children and grocery gift cards for holiday meals.

Military OneSource offers free confidential counseling for families dealing with deployment stress. Their deployment checklists help families organize everything from legal documents to family care plans. The service connects families to resources before problems become crises.

Installation family support centers provide local assistance. Chaplains, family readiness groups, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation offices all offer holiday programs. Many installations host community events where deployed families can connect with others going through the same experience.

Support for Those Deployed

Service members deployed during the holidays face their own struggles. They're separated from family while maintaining operational readiness in dangerous or difficult conditions. Holiday celebrations on deployment often feel hollow.

Organizations send care packages specifically to deployed troops during the holidays. Operation Gratitude, Support Our Troops, and others ship packages filled with snacks, personal items and reminders that people back home remember them. These small gestures matter when you're spending Christmas in a combat zone.

Getting Through Together

Deployment during the holidays doesn't get easier with experience. Each separation brings its own challenges. But families develop resilience. They learn what works for their specific situation and lean on their support networks.

The empty chair at the table represents sacrifice that extends beyond the deployed service member. It's the whole family serving. The resources exist to help lighten that burden. No military family should hesitate to use them.

If you're a military family facing holiday deployment, reach out. The military community understands in ways civilian friends often can't. And next year, when everyone is together, the celebration will mean even more.

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The newly announced suspension of multiple large-scale offshore wind projects by the Trump administration is being criticized by some military members as a gift to the fossil fuel industry.

The pause, announced Monday by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), went into effect immediately and impacts five leases currently under construction off the Atlantic coast. DOI said the project suspensions were tied to national security threats purportedly identified by the Department of Defense as referenced in recently completed classified reports.

The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people, DOI Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. Todays action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers. The Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.

Wind turbine bases, generators and blades are positioned at The Portsmouth Marine terminal that is the staging area for Dominion Energy's wind turbine project Monday Dec. 22, 2025, in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Military.com reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment, deferring to DOI. A DOI spokesperson told Military.com that they have no additional remarks.

US Energy Reliance 'Real Security Threat'

The five projects being suspended indefinitely are as follows:

Vineyard Wind 1, off Massachusetts.

Revolution Wind, off Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.

Offshore projects off New York known as Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind.

Vet Voice Foundation, a national nonprofit that mobilizes and encourages veterans to be present in the civic arena, was one of the groups scrutinizing the Trump administrations decisionsaying in part that the move not only negatively impacts the United States ability to add domestic energy but that it has broader national security implications by playing a vital role in strengthening the maritime industry.

"It's a political gift to fossil fuel donors that will raise electricity bills for U.S. households and increase our risk of blackouts."

"This isn't about national security; it's a political gift to fossil fuel donors that will raise electricity bills for U.S. households and increase our risk of blackouts this winter, Janessa Goldbeck, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, said in a statement provided to Military.com. The real security threat is a grid that is vulnerable to blackouts and reliant on foreign energy."

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum speaks during the Western Governors' Association meeting Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

Developing American offshore wind helps protect our nation against blackouts, strengthens Americas energy independence, and creates jobs across our maritime industry that benefit naval security and keep our workforce prepared for potential conflicts. The Trump administration's actions to hinder the U.S. offshore wind industry have undoubtedly made our nation less safe," Goldbeck added.

Military.com reached out to the nonprofit for additional remarks.

The Trump administration's decision was met with applause from Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast New Jersey, who said in a statement: "This is an incredible Christmas gift for our thousands of supportershard-working fishermen, small business owners, and families who value reliable, affordable energy over climate virtue signaling.

'Rigorous Framework'

National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito said in a statement that the DOD regulatory process already involves a rigorous framework for assessing national security implicationssaying that the projects in question, plus all others under construction, have already undergone review by the Department of Defense without any objection.

The process, as required by law, provides a timely, transparent and repeatable process to evaluate potential impacts and mitigation options related to offshore energy compatibility, Milito said. The Department of Defense coordinates at every stage of planning, permitting, and development.

Others admonishing the pause, including Washington lawmakers, cited the DODs own past unclassified reports showing that the offshore projects in question are up to national standards.

Land-based wind turbines spin in Atlantic City. N.J. on Nov. 3, 2023. On March 5, 2024, two residents groups filed an appeal of New Jersey's preliminary approval of two offshore wind projects. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

In a December 2024 letter to Pentagon officials about the construction of the Revolution Wind project, officials said that the project with no more than 65 wind turbines, up to 873 feet above sea level, and no more than two offshore substations up to 228 feet above sea level, would not have adverse impacts to DoD missions in the area.

A report from August 2023 cited similar findings.

NOIA relayed their views on the matter to the Trump administration earlier this year. Military.com reached out to NOIA for additional remarks.

Offshore wind improves our national security by shifting economic, infrastructure and geopolitical advantages to the U.S. through increased shipbuilding, enhancements to our ports, greater energy security to power surging electricity demand, more manufacturing and good-paying jobs, additional business for the oil and gas supply chain, and collaborative opportunities for our military, Milito added. In short, offshore wind helps the U.S. achieve its energy dominance goals.

Energy Wars and China

Retired Army Gen. James Spider Marks, senior intelligence officer for the 2003 liberation of Iraq and the former commanding general of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center, said in a statement that the federal governments decision only provides China with a leg up in the energy wars.

America needs a strong offshore wind energy industry in order to compete with China, Marks said, citing data showing China currently operates 129 offshore wind farmsthe most of any country, and much more than the four wind farms currently operating in the U.S.

By dwarfing our domestic energy projects, China is well positioned to withstand global supply shocks and power its military growth and modernizationwhich will only grow unless our country makes the necessary investments, Marks added.

Wind turbine bases, generators and blades are positioned at The Portsmouth Marine terminal that is the staging area for Dominion Energy's wind turbine project Monday Dec. 22, 2025, in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, the commanding officer of the USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda terrorists, wrote in August 2025 that American energy dominance and the nations maritime power are inexorably linked together.

The precipitous decline in our shipbuilding capability has eroded our national security just as rising demand for power is magnifying our need to maintain multiple energy sources simultaneously, Lippold wrote in The National Interest.

He praised the Trump administration at the time for making strides in simultaneously addressing national security threats and the energy crisis.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, unleashing American energy. The order called for affordable and reliable energy and natural resources and for the nation to be a leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, such as rare earth minerals.

Federal officials said the offshore wind projects pause will give DOI and DOD, as well as other government agencies, more time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the observed threats.
TACOMA  A federal judge on Monday morning ordered the immediate release of a disabled U.S. Army veteran who has been held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington since August.

Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, who is originally from Pakistan and has been living in the United States since 2000, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Aug. 21 at the Tukwila U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office after completing a scheduled citizenship interview. Since then, Chaudhry has been experiencing serious medical issues because of a lack of treatment at the detention center, his family and advocates allege.

By around 5 p.m. Monday, Chaudhry had been released from the detention center and picked up by his wife, Melissa Chaudhry.

Reviewing Muhammad Zahid Chaudhrys habeas corpus petition seeking release from ICE custody, U.S. District Chief Judge David G. Estudillo told the courtroom Monday he found Chaudhrys detention unlawful. Under the order, Chaudhry will be allowed to return home while his ongoing immigration case proceeds.

"Its a good day for justice in America and yet this should have never have happened in the first place. If Government errors can put an Honorable, decorated Disabled American veteran in Detention for over 4 months, then no American is safe," Chaudhry said in a statement after he was released.

The federal judge, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021, ordered Chaudhrys release on the basis of the lack of process that was provided (to) detaining him in the first instance.

Clearly somebody is not looking at this in the right way or in the right context when theyre detaining individuals, Estudillo said. The frustration is people are just not following the procedures that they're supposed to.

Estudillo told the courtroom he planned to file a written order within a few hours.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Lambert, representing the federal government, acknowledged during oral arguments that based on prior rulings in the district, Chaudhry should have received notification before his arrest so he would have the opportunity to challenge the basis of his detention.

In his written ruling, Estudillo said immigration enforcement officials may not re-detain Chaudhry unless he receives written notice, "along with an appropriate opportunity to respond to notice.

We are grateful to the court for its attention today, we respect the judge, we respect the process, and we have faith in the rule of law, Melissa Chaudhry said outside the U.S. District Court in Tacoma to a crowd of supporters shortly after the hearing.

Muhammad Zahid Chaudhrys arrest in August sparked outrage among supporters, who describe him as an active community member with a history of service. He served on former Gov. Jay Inslees Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, and is the president of the Veterans for Peace Olympia chapter.

Chaudhry received lawful permanent resident status in April 2001. He enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard the same year, and served until 2005. He was honorably discharged due to a back injury sustained while training to go to Iraq in 2003.

Before his detainment, Chaudhry lived in Lacey with his wife and their two children. Melissa Chaudhry ran for Congress in 2024 in Washingtons 9th Congressional District.

Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry has been fighting to secure his citizenship in a cascade of litigation over nearly two decades, ultimately bringing his case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

He first applied for citizenship on the basis of his military service in April 2004. In his application, he noted he had a criminal conviction for fraud in Australia, where he lived before moving to the U.S., related to using a passport and credit card that wasn't his, according to court records.

That disclosure raised a red flag with immigration officials, who argued in court Chaudhry previously failed to mention those convictions in his tourist visa application, as well as in an interview related to his green-card application. Melissa Chaudhry said her husband has never broken the law in the U.S., and that the convictions in Australia carried a lenient sentence equivalent to paying a parking ticket.

In August 2008, an immigration judge denied Chaudhrys application for naturalization, and ICE moved to deport him the following year. In a number of legal filings, Chaudhry has fought back against the threat of deportation and the denial of his citizenship application.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is reviewing Chaudhry's case, issued a stay of removal in 2020, preventing his deportation until the case concludes. That remains in effect.

Because the circuit currently has that stay in place, theres no basis to detain, Estudillo said in court Monday.

Numerous health and human rights violations at the Tacoma detention center have been documented over the years by researchers and government agencies, including severe medical neglect, unsanitary food and swamplike water. People who have been held there report having limited access to basic hygiene supplies like soap and long wait times when theyre in need of medical treatment.

From the bench, Estudillo expressed concern about Chaudhrys medical care at the detention center. The judge noted, for example, that Chaudhry has gone four months without being seen by an ophthalmologist despite having impaired vision because of his thyroid eye disease.

After years of chronic pain and medical complications, his conditions today are severe, well documented, and incompatible with detention and deportation, said Micaela Romero, an organizer with Washington Community Action Network and a family friend of the Chaudhrys, outside the courthouse.

Chaudhrys immigration status remains in the hands of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Estudillo noted that if the circuit were to lift the stay of removal, at that point, Chaudhry could be eligible for detention under U.S. immigration law.

Melissa Chaudhry said she expects the panel of appeals court judges to convene and review her husbands case in January.

They could order him deported, they could order him naturalized back to 2003, we dont know she said. But he will be home with us when we find that out.

Material from The Seattle Times archives was used in this report.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Barely half an hour had passed since the flight landed at O'Hare International Airport, and the Army combat veteran's palms were already sweating.

Spencer Sullivan, 38, situated himself at the front of a crowd of people waiting near the exit for international arrivals. He knew it could be hours before his friend got through customs.

Still, he said, "I've been waiting so long for this moment. I don't want to miss it."

It had been just over 13 years since Sullivan, who now works in corporate development, first began helping his former interpreter in Afghanistan petition for a visa to live in the U.S.

The process had been full of big hopes and bigger letdowns. Then, after finally securing the visa in September, an Afghan immigrant was accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington.

In the politicized aftermath, Sullivan wondered, would his friend get in?

After the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, a teenaged Abdulhaq Sodais enrolled in English classes with the goal of becoming an interpreter for coalition forces. Nearly a decade later in 2010, employment records show he was contracted by Mission Essential, one of the largest companies that supplied interpreters in Afghanistan to Western forces.

Sodais, 33, and Sullivan, then a platoon leader, met two years later at a military base in the remote Zabul Province.

Together they would go on intel-gathering missions, talking to village leaders, scouting unfamiliar terrain and observing the Taliban from hilltops, where Sodais interpreted their radio transmissions for Sullivan in real time.

In December 2012, Sullivan returned to the U.S., though he and Sodais stayed in touch. The following year, the blast of an improvised explosive device left Sodais with a concussion and a bulging spinal disk. He returned to his parents' home in Herat to recover.

After his convalescence, he said, his supervisor told him to take a dangerous road back to the Zabul base  a day's drive for a journey commonly traveled by air. Afraid it would be a suicide mission, he declined to take the land route and was fired for job abandonment.

The denial of his first Special Immigrant Visa application soon followed.

Those visas offer a pathway to citizenship for Afghans who were employed by the U.S. government or its private contractors. In establishing the program, federal officials acknowledged a moral obligation to protect allies who risked their lives to help the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

More than 50,000 such visas have been approved since 2009, according to the State Department.

One requirement is "faithful and valuable service to the U.S. government." Applicants denied visas are often deemed to have failed that provision, though interpreters and advocates have said the smallest inconsistency could trigger a denial. Over the next few years, Sodais said, three more visa applications would be denied.

In a Nov. 23, 2014, recommendation letter, Sullivan, by then an Army captain, wrote that granting Sodais a visa "is the least that can be done in order to express America's gratitude for his services."

"On multiple missions in enemy controlled villages, his life was threatened by local nationals in support of the Taliban for his assistance of [coalition] forces," Sullivan wrote. "Abdulhaq did not cover his face while on mission, leaving him recognizable to Taliban informants, further endangering his life."

He was rehired by Mission Essential in 2014, but fired again in 2016, with a civilian contractor writing in his file that he had an "incompatible skill set with [the] unit's mission." She accused him  falsely  Sodais says, of checking his personal Facebook at the office.

Mission Essential later told The Times that he was terminated by the military for poor performance but that it had no record of the incident he referred to.

Sodais said he was confronted by his local mullah, or Muslim clergy leader, in 2015 for working with Western armed forces. The mullah said he was labeled an infidel, and his death had been sanctioned by the Taliban. He went into hiding at his parents' home.

Then, in July 2017, the Taliban killed Sayed Sadat, another interpreter who had worked with the platoon Sullivan had led. Devastated by the news, Sullivan reached out to Sodais, asking if he was OK.

Sodais had gotten a new phone and didn't reply. Sullivan, who now wears a metal memorial band with Sadat's name and date of death, feared Sodais also was dead.

What Sullivan didn't know was that Sodais had fled Afghanistan and arrived in Germany in 2018 after seven months of travel with smugglers by land.

After his first German asylum claim was rejected, a lawyer told Sodais he needed more evidence to back up his claims of working for the U.S. So, that Christmas Eve, he messaged Sullivan asking for photos from their missions together. He told Sullivan that if he couldn't find safety and stability, he would take his own life before the Taliban could.

Sullivan had been wracked with guilt since Sadat's death and vowed to help. He sent the photos Sodais requested, wrote a letter of support and helped him navigate German bureaucracy. He even flew to Germany from his home in Virginia in 2019 to offer encouragement.

But the asylum process moved slowly. By March 2021, Sodais, overwhelmed by fear of deportation, became deeply depressed and attempted suicide. At a psychiatric hospital, medical records show, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

That August, as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, Sullivan returned to Germany to help Sodais prepare for his final asylum appeal hearing.

The verdict arrived a month later. He'd won.

Sodais found succeeding in German society difficult. He felt a palpable sense of discrimination and was laid off from various contract jobs, including as a forklift operator and an aid helping special needs children on and off school buses.

While Sullivan was happy his friend had found safety, he was disappointed that the country he had served continued to reject his requests for a visa.

"He should be in America," he said at the time. "We failed him."

In the meantime, life continued. Sodais married another Afghan refugee, Weeda Faqiri, in 2022. Sodais' and Sullivan's families met for the first time in 2022 when Sullivan, his wife and son visited Germany.

Also that year, Sodais said, he won a $15,000 legal judgment against Mission Essential over lack of medical care after the explosive device blast more than a decade earlier.

He and Sullivan decided to write a book about Sodais' life and their friendship. "Not Our Problem: The True Story of an Afghan Refugee, an American Promise, and the World Between Them" is scheduled to publish in April.

Last year, Sodais decided to make a final pitch to the U.S. government. On Feb. 4 came a reply unlike the others: "Approval of Appeal for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program."

On Sept. 25, Sodais was issued a visa valid for just over five months, until March 3. Overjoyed, he and Faqiri, 26, began planning their move.

Two months later, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was charged in the shooting that killed Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.

Lakanwal, who pleaded not guilty, entered the U.S. in 2021 through a Biden administration program for Afghans in the wake of the military withdrawal, and his asylum application was approved in April. In Afghanistan, he served in a counterterrorism unit operated by the CIA.

After the shooting, the Trump administration enacted sweeping restrictions to legal immigration programs, including halting visa applications for Afghans and others.

Worried that further restrictions could follow, Sullian called Sodais and told him there were likely two options: stay permanently in Germany, or attempt to move immediately to the U.S.

Sodais chose the move.

Sullivan learned that RefugeeOne, a Chicago-based group that aids refugees, could help. Using money from their book advance, Sullivan booked Sodais and Faqiri flights from Munich to Chicago, arriving Dec. 17.

The night before their trip, the Trump administration announced a new proclamation titled "Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States." Under that order, even Afghans who had secured Special Immigrant Visas  people like Sodais  could be denied entry into the U.S.

Sullivan panicked.

"Well, this confirms our decision to get them here as fast as possible," he said that night. "This is a deliberate dismantling of the SIV program, one brick at a time."

Then he learned the proclamation wouldn't take effect until Jan. 1. The panic subsided a little.

On the day of Sodais' arrival, Border Patrol leaders returned to Chicago for a fresh round of immigration raids and patrolled a neighborhood near the hotel where he and Faqiri would be staying.

Sullivan said he would put himself physically between Sodais and immigration agents. He was half joking, but it underscored the political moment.

After Sodais' plane landed, Sullivan knew he had seen one of his WhatsApp messages because of the two blue checkmarks next to it. But others were unread. Had he been denied entry?

"After so many disappointments over the years, it's hard to believe that anything's going to go right," Sullivan said, later admitting that "I was convinced they were cuffed face-down on the linoleum somewhere."

The arrival of three giddy RefugeeOne employees lifted the mood. After years of serving mostly Afghans, Syrians and Ukrainians, they hadn't picked up an arriving refugee since January, said Emily Parker, who oversees contract compliance.

Parker said a private donor had paid for Sodais and Faqiri to stay a week in a hotel. They qualified for food stamps, three months of rental assistance, cash assistance and four months of Medicaid, a welcome provision because Sodais still suffers back pain from the explosion.

On the other side of the arrivals door, Sodais and Faqiri were stuck in a winding line with hundreds of other foreigners. Sodais later said they were nervous  they had been questioned for an hour in Munich and nearly just as long on their layover in Lisbon.

When they finally got to the front, the customs officer asked what Sodais did for work in Afghanistan. Sodais said he had been an interpreter for U.S. forces. Great, he recalled the agent replying, before welcoming them through.

At 5:24 p.m., Sullivan's phone rang. Sodais had exited through a different door, so Sullivan rushed to another part of the airport and pointed excitedly when their eyes locked.

"You made it!" Sullivan said, pulling his friend in for a bear hug as they both sobbed.

Without Sullivan, Sodais told the RefugeeOne workers, he would never have made it to the U.S.

"He saved my life."

The next morning, Parker conducted an intake interview with Sodais to determine potential job placements and explain the services her organization would provide. She said Sodais had technically entered the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident, and his green card should arrive in the mail within a few months.

"That's how it works with SIVs," she said. "They're already 100 steps ahead of any asylee or other refugee."

Sullivan let out a deep breath. "In my mind, we were playing a long gamble on the courts challenging the executive orders, so that's good news," he said.

Sodais, who had applied for the visa with only Sullivan's help and no lawyer, was also pleasantly surprised.

"This is very exciting for me, because I heard Donald Trump say he stopped everything about refugees," he said.

After dinner  the couple's first Chicago tavern-style pizza  Sullivan offered Faqiri a box to save her last slice, and she hesitated. Sodais gently explained that in Afghanistan, it's not cultural norm to take food home from restaurants.

"I just realized something," Sullivan said. "You're going to be my interpreter for the rest of our lives."

Sodais shot back a knowing smile.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
U.S. forces, led by the Coast Guard, are now chasing a third oil tanker near Venezuela, sharply escalating a high-stakes crackdown aimed at the countrys sanctioned crude trade.

The Coast Guard is working with federal partners to track another oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela suspected of moving crude in violation of U.S. sanctions, official said. The pursuit comes days after two other tankers were seized, marking a broader escalation by the Trump administration to cut off oil revenue tied to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and to warn foreign buyers that sanctioned shipments now face direct interdiction.

The latest pursuit per officials is unfolding in the Caribbeanan area that has become a focal point of stepped-up U.S. sanctions enforcement. The Coast Guard has not confirmed whether the vessel has been boarded, diverted or escorted, citing the active nature of the operation and ongoing coordination among federal agencies involved in maritime security and sanctions enforcement.

A Navy spokesperson declined to say whether naval assets were involved. The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Military.com.

This image from video posted on Attorney General Pam Bondi's X account, and partially redacted by the source, shows an oil tanker being seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (U.S. Attorney General's Office/X via AP)

From Warnings to Action

The third pursuit marks a shift from warnings to direct enforcement efforts, as U.S. officials have moved to physically disrupt oil shipments they claim are violating sanctions.

Officials say sanctioned shippers have relied on deceptive practices to evade detection, including frequent flag changes, opaque ownership structures, and ship-to-ship transfers in open waters. Earlier this month U.S. forces stopped a sanctioned merchant vessel off Venezuela in international waters after the ship voluntarily halted and allowed a boarding.

Days later, U.S. forces stopped another oil tanker off Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks.

U.S. sanctions on Venezuela target the countrys state-owned energy company PDVSA along with individuals tied to the Maduro government, barring most U.S. transactions involving Venezuelan oil. The sanctions also threaten penalties against foreign companies and intermediaries that facilitate illicit oil sales, shipping or financing. The measures are intended to restrict revenue flows that Washington said props up the government in Caracas.

This image from video posted on Attorney General Pam Bondi's X account, and partially redacted by the source, shows an oil tanker being seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (U.S. Attorney General's Office/X via AP)

President Donald Trump publicly confirmed a tanker seizure earlier this month and framed the move as part of a broader effort to choke off sanctioned oil shipments. Trump later ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers headed to and from Venezuela, raising renewed pressure on shippers.

Treasury officials declined to comment on whether the vessel now being tracked is tied to a specific Office of Foreign Assets Control designation.

China Condemnation and Oil Shipping

The maritime enforcement campaign has turned into a larger international dispute and has triggered sharp diplomatic backlash, especially from China which criticized the recent tanker seizures as violations of international law. Simultaneously, Venezuelan officials accused Washington of piracy and economic warfare.

The stakes are particularly high because China remains Venezuelas largest crude buyer and a key destination for its oil exports, raising the risk that continued interdictions could inflame tensions with major U.S. trading partners. The State Department declined to say whether regional governments were notified ahead of the latest pursuit.

Energy analysts said the enforcement push is already disrupting global shipping patterns, as tanker operators move to avoid the risk of U.S. interdiction. Some vessels have reversed course while oil loading activity at Venezuelan ports has slowed, with some ship owners reassessing legal and financial exposure tied to sanctioned crude.

This image from video posted on Attorney General Pam Bondi's X account, and partially redacted by the source, shows an oil tanker being seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (U.S. Attorney General's Office/X via AP)

The pressure has coincided with an unusually large U.S. military presence operating near Venezuela, adding visibility and deterrence to the enforcement campaign as maritime operations expand across the region.

U.S. government data shows Venezuelas oil sector has faced years of declining production and export capacity, leaving the country particularly vulnerable to maritime enforcement actions that further restrict access to global markets.

U.S. officials have not said whether the third tanker will be seized, escorted or released, or how long the stepped-up maritime posture will persist.
A former schoolteacher armed with a radio and a force of Solomon Islander scouts became one of World War II's most legendary coastwatchers, killing more than 50 Japanese soldiers and providing intelligence that helped save the Guadalcanal campaign. Donald Gilbert Kennedy's men gave early warning of every Japanese air attack on Guadalcanal from Rabaul over the course of 10 months in 1942 and 1943, allowing Marine and Navy fighters to scramble and meet the incoming raids. His exploits earned him both the British Distinguished Service Order and the U.S. Navy Cross.

U.S. Admiral William Halsey later declared that coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal and the Battle of Guadalcanal saved the Pacific.

Corporal Donald Gilbert Kennedy serving in the Army during World War I. (Southland Soldiers and Nurses)

The Battle of Guadalcanal

In the summer of 1942, Japanese construction crews were building an airfield at Lunga Point on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. American intelligence learned of the threat from Allied observers scattered throughout the Pacific islands. A Japanese airbase on Guadalcanal would allow enemy bombers to patrol shipping lanes to Australia and threaten Allied positions throughout the region.

On Aug. 7, 1942, U.S. Marines stormed ashore and captured the nearly completed airfield, renaming it Henderson Field after a Marine aviator killed at Midway. The Japanese immediately began a six-month campaign to recapture it. They launched near-daily bombing raids from their major base at Rabaul, 560 miles northwest. The round-trip flight took eight hours, pushing Japanese pilots to their limits.

If Japanese bombers arrived at Henderson Field unannounced, they could destroy American aircraft on the runway and kill Marines in their defensive positions. The Marines needed advance warning to scramble fighters and prepare their defenses. Without it, Henderson Field could fall and the Marines would be isolated without quick air support.

The coastwatcher network in the region provided that warning.

Aerial view of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, late August 1942. The view looks northwest with the Lunga River and Lunga Point at the top of the image. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Coastwatchers

The Australian coastwatcher organization began in the 1920s as a network of plantation owners, traders and government officials positioned across multiple remote Pacific islands in strategic locations. In 1939, Lieutenant Commander Eric Feldt of the Royal Australian Navy expanded the network, recruiting volunteers who knew the islands and could survive in hostile territory.

Feldt equipped his coastwatchers with teleradios, heavy radio transceivers that could send and receive voice and Morse code transmissions. The devices weighed several hundred pounds with their batteries and required regular maintenance in the humid tropical environment. Coastwatchers had to hide these bulky radios in the jungle while staying mobile enough to avoid Japanese patrols.

Feldt code-named his operation "Ferdinand" after a children's book about a bull who preferred smelling flowers to fighting. The name alluded to the organizations role as intel gatherers instead of warriors as coastwatchers were to remain hidden, observe enemy movements, and radio intelligence to Allied forces. They were not to engage in combat or draw attention to themselves. The Japanese executed captured coastwatchers as spies.

Eric Feldt, director of the Coastwatchers during World War II. (Wikimedia Commons)

By late 1941, Feldt had positioned coastwatchers throughout the Solomon Islands, monitoring Japanese movements. When Japan swept through the Pacific after Pearl Harbor, many coastwatchers found themselves suddenly operating behind enemy lines. In April 1942, Feldt secured military commissions for them as officers in the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve to provide some legal protection if captured and ensure their families received benefits if they were killed.

The coastwatchers spotted Japanese aircraft or ships, radioed coded warnings to Allied headquarters, and then headquarters relayed the information to forces in the area. For Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, this meant coastwatchers on islands like Bougainville and New Georgia could observe Japanese bomber formations departing Rabaul and warn the Marines.

The warnings gave American fighters 30 to 60 minutes to take off and gain altitude before the Japanese arrived. Even as Japanese infantry overran the islands, the coastwatchers continued their job, avoiding the patrols as much as possible.

However, one coastwatcher violated Feldt's doctrine completely.

Coastwatcher base radio station operating on Guadalcanal in October, 1943. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Former Teacher Leads a Guerilla Army

Born in March 1898 near Invercargill, New Zealand, Kennedy served in WWI with the 10th North Otago Company.

He later earned his teaching certificate and spent years educating Pacific Islander children at the Banaban School on remote Ocean Island in the Gilbert Islands. In 1940, he transferred to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate headquarters at Tulagi as a district officer, responsible for administering territories across the island chain.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Kennedy volunteered for coastwatcher duty rather than evacuate with most other civilians. As Japanese forces swept through the Solomons in early 1942, he used a small motorboat to establish his first station at Mahanga on Santa Isabel Island on April 20. His intelligence reports about Japanese shipping movements off Santa Isabel enabled the evacuation of Tulagi before enemy troops invaded on May 3.

Kennedy radioed a defiant message to every village under the threat of invasion, "These islands are British and they are to remain British. The government is not leaving. Even if the Japanese come, we shall stay with you and in the end they will be driven out."

After someone betrayed his motorboat's location, Kennedy escaped to Segi on New Georgia's southern coast in July 1942. He took over the abandoned Markham Plantation, turning it into a fortified military compound protected by treacherous channels and coral reefs.

Coastwatcher Donald Kennedy who was stationed on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands in 1942 and 1943. (Wikimedia Commons)

Building an Army in the Jungle

While other coastwatchers hid alone with native scouts for protection, Kennedy recruited approximately 30 Solomon Islander fighters from the British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force and armed them with captured Japanese weapons. Sergeant William Bennett became his tactical coordinator.

Kennedy hid his teleradio 800 meters into the bush and positioned reserve stations up to 16 kilometers deep in the jungle. Multiple layers of scouts formed protective screens while others penetrated enemy territory by the use of canoes. Despite orders to remain hidden, Kennedys men routinely ambushed unsuspecting Japanese troops.

Kennedy's scouts also monitored Japanese aircraft departing Rabaul and radioed warnings to Henderson Field. Warning messages gave the Cactus Air Force enough time to scramble fighters. This early warning happened repeatedly, allowing American pilots to meet Japanese formations in the sky off the coast of Guadalcanal rather than being bombed on the ground.

His shipping reports allowed Allied naval forces to ambush enemy supply runs in "The Slot." Kennedy's station became one of the most productive intelligence posts in the entire Solomon Islands.

Smoke rises from two Japanese planes shot down during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12 November 1942. Photographed from USS President Adams (AP-38); ship at right is USS Betelgeuse (AK-28). (Wikimedia Commons)

The Guerilla War Behind Enemy Lines

Bennett later recalled their operational planning sessions, "Every time a report came Kennedy and I would sit down and plan what to do and how to do it. We only picked those Japanese patrols that we knew we could kill."

Kennedy's scouts tracked enemy patrols through the jungle, sometimes identifying Japanese soldiers by their distinct smell before visual contact. On one mission, Bennett and his men followed six Japanese soldiers through the bush for hours, waiting for the perfect moment. At dawn, they attacked.

"We shot them all," Bennett recalled. "We buried them properly, took their guns, their radios, and documents. Kennedy was very happy."

When Japanese patrols approached Segi, Kennedy's forces systematically ambushed and eliminated them to protect the compound's location. After the Japanese established a base nine miles away at Viru and sent a 25-man patrol to find Segi, Kennedy's scouts ambushed the group at night and dispersed it.

Map showing the area in which Operation Cartwheel took place, with New Guinea in the west and the New Georgias highlighted. (Wikimedia Commons)

Kennedy armed his commandeered schooner Dadavata with a .50-caliber machine gun, converting the small vessel into a gunboat. When a Japanese whaleboat began reconnoitering islands in the Marovo Lagoon too close to his position, Kennedy attacked and sank it.

Throughout these operations, Kennedy's forces killed at least 54 Japanese soldiers. Kennedy himself and two Solomon Islander scouts sustained wounds but continued fighting.

Kennedy also established a rescue network for downed airmen, offering Solomon Islanders a bag of rice and a case of tinned meat for each pilot delivered to Segi, regardless of nationality. This bounty system resulted in 22 American airmen being rescued as well as 20 Japanese pilots captured. All of them were collected by Allied transport planes.

However, Kennedy's active combat missions and the Ferdinand philosophy of remaining hidden created tension with other coastwatchers. Despite this, his intelligence gathering and guerilla missions became a major detriment to Japanese troops operating in the region.

Solomon Islander scouts display Japanese weapons and flags captured during Carlson's patrol. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Rescue and the End of Kennedys Operations

In early June of 1943, Japanese troops aimed to put a stop to Kennedys coastwatcher team. Japanese General Noboru Sasaki knew that they would assist an American invasion of the island. On June 17, Japanese reinforcements arrived at Viru Harbor to assault Segi.

Kennedy radioed Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner on June 18 to warn him of the impending assault. Turner moved the invasion date up nine days, knowing any further delay would endanger Kennedy and his men. Companies O and P from the 4th Marine Raider Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Michael Currin landed at Segi Point on June 21, saving Kennedy just before the Japanese battalion arrived.

The Marines discovered a fortified base with an arsenal, prisoner-of-war cage and comprehensive maps. Kennedy immediately briefed the officers on Japanese positions and the terrain. His knowledge proved invaluable to the Americans.

Within hours, the 20th, 24th and 47th Naval Construction Battalions began building a fighter airstrip. Despite bad weather and poor soil, the Seabees completed a 3,300-foot coral runway on July 18. The Segi airfield provided crucial support for the assault on Munda Point, which fell Aug. 5. The base Kennedy defended for nearly a year helped break Japanese control of the island chain.

Major Kennedy and his NCOs during the battle. (Southland Soldiers and Nurses)

Kennedys Legacy

Kennedy's wartime service earned exceptional recognition from the Allied nations. Britain awarded him the Distinguished Service Order. The United States presented him the Navy Cross with a citation praising his extraordinary heroism in leading numerous skirmishes that destroyed or captured many Japanese troops, machine guns and barges with negligible injury to his force.

However, his methods proved controversial. Historical records indicate he earned a reputation for harsh treatment of subordinates and islanders who defied his authority. Others argue this was because of the immense pressure he faced while operating behind enemy lines.

His aggressive patrols violated the Ferdinand philosophy that other coastwatchers lived by. Yet, Admiral Halsey's assessment of the coastwatchers' efforts shows that all of them, including Kennedy, were vital to the success on Guadalcanal and the rest of the region.

Admiral A.W. Fitch and Major Kennedy D.S.O. (Photo: Feldt p.107)

Kennedy died in Whangarei, New Zealand, in 1976 at age 77. His wartime papers and documents are preserved at the University of Auckland.

The former teacher who became a guerrilla leader represents the type of unconventional warfare that characterized Pacific Island combat. It also shows that determined individuals with skillful locals and outside support can impact entire strategic operations. While Kennedy is remembered as one of the most legendary coastwatchers, the Solomon Islanders and men like Sergeant Bennett under his command fought valiantly against the Japanese and helped secure victory in the region.

Allied operations in the Solomon Islands were the first major setbacks for Japanese forces in WWII. Coastwatchers proved invaluable to the invasion fleets as well as the Marines and troops fighting in the jungle.
Dual-veteran divorce is uniquely complicated because military retired pay, VA disability compensation, survivor benefits, and military health coverage are governed by separate federal systems that do not align with state divorce law or with one another. A state court can issue a divorce decree that appears equitable on paper and still produce outcomes that DFAS or the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot legally implement. When both spouses are veterans, these risks compound, creating a fragmented process with no single agency responsible for coordinating outcomes.

Military Retired Pay and the Limits of State Court Authority

Military retired pay is divisible in divorce only because Congress permits it under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act, codified at 10 U.S.C.  1408. The statute allows state courts to treat disposable retired pay as marital property, but only as federally defined. DFAS enforces these limits strictly and will not honor orders that exceed statutory authority or fail to meet technical requirements, regardless of a judges intent. DFAS guidance makes clear that it pays only what federal law authorizes and only when the former spouse submits a compliant order and application.

In dual-vet divorces, there are often two retired pay streams. This results in two DFAS enforcement processes and two chances for error. DFAS also caps direct payments to former spouses at 50% of a servicemembers disposable retired pay under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act. This cap applies regardless of what a state court orders and regardless of how many obligations the court attempts to satisfy through retirement pay. As a result, when courts try to use retirement pay to cover multiple property awards or financial obligations, DFAS will still enforce only up to the statutory limit, leaving the remainder unenforceable through DFAS and shifting collection back to the parties themselves.

VA Disability Compensation and Federal Preemption

VA disability compensation adds another layer of instability. To receive VA disability pay, a retiree generally must waive a corresponding portion of military retired pay. That waiver reduces the amount of divisible retired pay available to a former spouse. The Supreme Court held in Mansell v. Mansell that states may not divide the portion of retired pay waived to receive VA disability compensation.

In Howell v. Howell, the Supreme Court held that state courts may not remedy that reduction by ordering the veteran to reimburse or indemnify the former spouse for the lost amount. Even if the divorce assumed a stable pension or the disability rating occurs years later, federal law preempts state courts from restoring the former spouses share through offset or repayment orders.

Air Force couple Steve Kirchmyer (right) and wife, Tonya, attend a seminar (Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore, DVIDS).

Concurrent Receipt and Special Compensation

Some retirees qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay, which allows receipt of both retired pay and VA disability compensation under 10 U.S.C.  1414. Others receive Combat-Related Special Compensation under 10 U.S.C.  1413a. These programs affect how money is characterized and paid, which matters because DFAS treats retired pay and special compensation differently for division and enforcement. Dual-vet couples face this classification problem twice, increasing the risk that income streams assumed to be divisible turn out not to be.

Survivor Benefit Plan Deadlines that Quietly Erase Rights

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is one of the most commonly mishandled aspects of military divorce. If a divorce decree requires former-spouse SBP coverage, the former spouse must submit a deemed election request to DFAS within one year of the court order. Missing that deadline can permanently eliminate SBP coverage, even if the decree clearly awarded it. Guidance emphasizes that SBP elections are deadline-driven and unforgiving.

Dual-vet divorces often involve two SBP decisions, doubling the administrative risk. A party can win SBP in court and still lose it entirely through a missed filing.

TRICARE Eligibility After Divorce

Health care assumptions frequently break down after dual-vet divorces. TRICARE eligibility for former spouses depends on statutory criteria such as the 20/20/20 and 20/20/15 rules, which turn on years of marriage overlapping creditable service. Eligibility does not automatically continue simply because both spouses served. TRICARE guidance and Title 10make clear that eligibility is status-based and time-dependent.

Spousal Support and VA Apportionment Confusion

VA disability compensation cannot be divided as marital property, but VA regulations allow limited apportionment to spouses or dependents in certain circumstances. These rules are administrative, not judicial, and VA evaluates them independently of state divorce orders. In dual-vet divorces, parties often misunderstand whether apportionment applies after divorce or assume it functions like pension division, which it does not.

Why There Is No Unified Support System

The difficulty is structural. DFAS processes division and direct payment of military retired pay only through the USFSPA framework and its application requirements, not simply because a divorce decree says so. VA disability compensation is governed under Title 38 as an administrative benefits program, separate from DFAS retired pay rules. TRICARE eligibility after divorce follows its own criteria and requires separate administrative steps through DEERS/DMDC. As a result, there is no single standardized divorce process across DoD and VA; dual-vet divorces require multiple agency-specific actions, each with its own deadlines and constraints.

Making the Minefield Survivable

Dual-vet divorce becomes manageable only when benefits are treated as a federal compliance problem, not just a family-law dispute. Decrees must track USFSPA requirements precisely, anticipate disability-related changes that federal law will not allow courts to fix later, and treat SBP and TRICARE deadlines as operational mandates. Federal law sets the boundaries, and ignoring those boundaries is what produces the most damaging surprises.
January 5th, 2026: According to the Associated Press, Pop will make $900K in the majors and $250K in the minors.

December 22nd, 2025: The Phillies announced that they have signed right-hander Zach Pop to a major league deal. Their 40-man roster count jumps to 39. Salary figures havent been reported.

Its a bit surprising to see Pop command a big league deal. He bounced around during the 2025 season. He opened the year with the Blue Jays but was released shortly after Opening Day. Pop got to the big leagues for four appearances with the Mariners and pitched one time as a member of the Mets. He allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in just 6 2/3 MLB innings. That pushed his career earned run average to 4.88 over 162 1/3 frames spanning five seasons.

The Canadian-born righty made 20 appearances in the minors this year. He allowed a 4.19 ERA over 19 1/3 innings. His underlying numbers were more encouraging. Pop fanned more than a quarter of opponents against a manageable 8.9% walk rate. He got ground-balls at a massive 75% clip while sitting in the 96-97 MPH range with his sinker. Pop has always done a good job keeping the ball down, running a career 55% grounder percentage in the big leagues.

Philadelphia was intrigued enough by the stuff to give Pop one of their two vacant roster spots. Assuming he remains on the 40-man into Spring Training, hell get an opportunity to battle for a middle relief job in camp. Pop has exhausted his minor league option years, so the Phils cannot send him down without running him through waivers.

Philly has six bullpen spots accounted for if everyone gets through camp healthy. Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks and the out-of-options Jonathan Bowlan are locks. Right-hander Orion Kerkering should pretty safely be in there as well unless he has a terrible Spring Training. Pop and Rule 5 pick Zach McCambley either need to stick in the big leagues or be taken off the 40-man (and offered back to the Marlins after clearing waivers, in McCambleys case).
The Tigers have re-signed right-hander Tyler Mattison to a minor league deal, according to a report from Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Mattison was non-tendered by the Tigers last month but now returns to the organization on a non-roster pact that includes an invite to big league Spring Training and will pay him $835K in the majors.

Mattison, 26, was a fourth-round pick by Detroit back in 2021. After spending most of his collegiate career as a starter, he moved to the bullpen upon joining the Tigers organization. While it took time for the righty to adjust to his new role, a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League at the end of his first pro season helped set him on course to take a bigger step forward during the 2023 campaign. In that year, Mattison reached the Double-A level and pitched to a sterling 1.62 ERA in 33 1/3 innings of work as a multi-inning reliever.

Unfortunately, Mattisons ascent was put on hold when he underwent Tommy John surgery just before the 2024 campaign began. He missed the entire year and did not return to the mound until May 28 of this year. After two months of rehab, the right-hander was finally promoted to Triple-A on July 30 but posted middling results for the Mud Hens upon his arrival in Toledo. Across 20 appearances, Mattison posted a 3.79 ERA with an alarming 17.4% walk rate. That was enough to convince the Tigers to non-tender Mattison last month, even in spite of his previously strong results and solid 25.6% strikeout rate.

The decision to non-tender Mattison was largely motivated by a desire to no longer carry the righty on the clubs 40-man roster. As a player who has not yet made his big league debut, Mattison was of course not yet eligible for arbitration and wouldnt be making more than the league minimum. Still, that roster spot was valuable and would have forced the Tigers to use one of Mattisons option years to send him back to the minors. As a result, the team opted to risk him signing elsewhere in free agency for the chance to bring him back into the fold on a non-roster deal.

That gamble paid off, and it could wind up as a win/win scenario for both player and club should Mattison find his way back to the majors. The Tigers will have afforded themselves some additional roster flexibility for the offseason and early part of the 2026 campaign without losing an up-and-coming relief arm from their system, while Mattison will now enjoy a higher salary in the majors than he would have in the event he simply remained on the 40-man all offseason.
Actor and comedian Russell Brands legal problems continue to grow as he has once again been charged with rape and sexual assault. According to the Metropolitan Police in London, the 50-year-old Brand is charged with one count each of rape and sexual assault for incidents involving two different women.

The department announced the charges Tuesday and said Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Jan. 20, 2026.

The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers, police said in a statement.

The Mets investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators can be reached via email at CIT@met.police.uk.

Support is also available through the independent charity Rape Crisis by contacting the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.

The latest charges are in addition to charges filed against Brand in April 2025 also involving accusations of rape and sexual assault. The accusations in that case involve four different women. In that matter, Brand is charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.

Brand pleaded not guilty to those charges and a trial in the matter is expected to start in June 2026.

Brand rose to stardom in the U.S. in the mid-2000s as a stand-up comedian, host and actor. He was one of the stars of the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the spin-off film Get Him to the Greek. Brand also starred as a voice actor in the animated films Trolls, Hop and three movies in the Despicable Me franchise.
WEXFORD COUNTY, MI  A woman who was sexually assaulted in a travel camper when she was 11 years old recently saw her attacker brought to justice, authorities said.

Michael Burch, 34, formerly of Hazelton, Ind., was sentenced by Judge Jason Elmore of the 28th Circuit Court in Wexford County to 38-60 months in prison for the 2015 sexual assault.

I can finally breathe, the victim said in an impact statement provided to the court.

Burch pleaded guilty in November to attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct related to the incident that was reported during June 2015.

The victim was attacked while sleeping in a camper in Cadillac. The assault was reported but Burch left Michigan before charges were issued. The case remained in warrant status until he was arrested by the U.S. Marshals in January in Indiana as part of Operation Survivor Justice.

The impact statement acknowledges the long-term impact of the attack while refusing to let it define her life.

I still struggle with physical touch, with being places alone, with sleeping; but I want you to know that you didnt ruin my family, she said. You didnt ruin me. We are happy. We have good lives. Im glad to say that I can finally put this behind me. You finally took accountability for what you did  not only to me, but for all the other people you have done this to. Although I know that this is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, I can finally breathe. No more worrying if you are out there doing this to another family. No more wondering how you got away with this.

When Burch is released, he will be required to register as sex offender and to submit to lifetime electronic monitoring.

Through Operation Survivor Justice and because of the courage of the victim in this case, this offender has been held accountable for this heinous assault, Nessel said. It is my hope that this sentence brings some closure to the survivor who has carried this trauma for far too long and reassurance that even years later, justice can still be achieved.

The Operation is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, county prosecutors, and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate, apprehend, and return to Michigan fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants.
WAYNE COUNTY, MI  A man accused of killing a Salvation Army bell ringer in front of a Westland Kroger last week made his first appearance in court Monday, Dec. 22.

Rene Miguel Zambrana, 37, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of weapons felony firearm in the killing of 47-year-old Alvin Echols.

Zambrana was arraigned Monday, Dec. 22 and denied bond by Wayne County District Judge Michael McNamara, according to court records.

The defendant stood mute at his arraignment and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf, court records show.

RELATED: Salvation Army bell ringer killed in shooting at Detroit-area Kroger

The murder of Echols occurred around 6:10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Kroger at 36430 Ford Road. Echols was found by responding officers inside the store with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Echols was working with The Salvation Army, ringing a bell for the nonprofits Red Kettle Campaign, at the time of the fatal shooting.

Zambrana, who authorities have said knew Echols, was arrested early Friday.

He is due back in Wayne Countys 18th District Court for a probable cause conference on Dec. 30 and has a preliminary exam scheduled for Jan. 8.
ROGERS CITY, MI  A Michigan chiropractor is facing sexual assault charges after alleged inappropriate contact with a patient during an appointment, police said.

Dr. David C. Henshaw of Henshaw Chiropractic in Rogers City is charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, the Rogers City Police Department said in a news release.

In November, a woman reported that Henshaw had inappropriately touched her during an appointment, police said. He was arrested on Friday and lodged at Presque Isle County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing as officers work to determine whether there are additional witnesses and victims, police said.
LANSING, MI - Michigan regulators have rejected an Upper Peninsula utilitys plan to add escalating charges to electric bills to pay for renewable power, finding it was unreasonable and went above what was required.

The proposal from Upper Michigan Energy Resources, or UMERC, would have imposed daily, per-meter surcharges on its 37,500 customers.

For residential customers, the charges would have totaled nearly $6 a month in 2026. They would have shot up to almost $60 a month in 2030 and close to $75 a month in 2045, according to utility filings. A major U.P. iron mine would have faced thousands in immediate daily charges, eventually escalating to millions each month.

Republicans in Lansing have repeatedly cited the hefty sums as they argued for U.P. carveouts to state clean and renewable energy standards this year. Environmentalists say the rejection weakens their case, but the lawmakers remain undeterred.

UMERC filed a renewable energy plan that was deeply flawed and completely unrealistic, said Charlotte Jameson, chief policy officer with the Michigan Environmental Council, in a statement.

The utility tried to game the system and put astronomical and unnecessary costs onto its customers in order to cast our clean energy laws in a bad light with the legislature, she said.

The charges stem from the utilitys plan to comply with 2023 standards passed by Democrats and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to ramp up reliance on renewable energy. UMERC pegged total costs to do so at $4.3 billion through 2045, funding a combination of wind, solar and battery installations.

The law requires utilities to hit 50% renewable power by 2030 and 60% by 2035, while meeting separate 100% clean energy standards by 2040.

But UMERCs costs for complying with the renewable energy benchmarks were excessive and unprecedented, consumer watchdogs argued in legal testimony.

No other utility in Michigans history has ever proposed such large (renewable energy plan) surcharges, wrote attorneys for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office and the nonprofit Citizens Utility Board of Michigan in a filing opposing the plan.

Regulators with the Michigan Public Service Commission ultimately agreed the costs were too much, saying the plan went well beyond what was required. They sent UMERC back to the drawing board via an order issued at a meeting in Lansing Thursday, Dec. 18.

The utility will have to refile a plan by Oct. 15, 2026.

This file photos shows a Michigan Public Service Commission meeting at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills on Monday, Oct. 27 2025. The three governor-appointed commissioners (from left: Shaquila Myers, Katherine Peretick and Dan Scripps), regulate utilities in Michigan. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

UMERC spokesperson Brendan Conway said the utility, a subsidiary of Wisconsin-based WEC Energy Group serving 37,500 U.P. customers, was disappointed at the rejection, but it would comply with the order.

Our plan attempted to address the significant challenges complying with Michigans renewable requirements in the Upper Peninsula and reflects our customers feedback, he said in a statement.

The bill surcharges had become a political flashpoint in Lansing.

GOP lawmakers said they spelled nothing short of financial ruin in a region already burdened by high energy costs. We are looking at the end of the U.P, and the U.P.s economy as we know it, said state Rep. David Prestin, R-Cedar River, at a November press conference.

Earlier this year, he and fellow U.P. lawmaker Rep. Karl Bohnak, R-Deerton, authored bills that would effectively excuse UMERC from meeting clean and renewable energy standards in the coming years.

The bills, HB 4007 and 4283, passed the House with bipartisan support but have not moved ahead in the Democratically-controlled Senate.

Initial versions classified natural gas-burning power stations UMERC owns, known as RICE units, as clean and renewable. Natural gas is usually considered neither of the two. It is a fossil fuel composed primarily of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Now, amended versions of the bills would provide UMERC the chance to skip demonstrating compliance with clean and renewable standards altogether until 2050, provided it maintains a 15% renewable portfolio.

Michigan State Rep. David Prestin, R-Cedar River, speaks at a Nov. 12, 2025 press conference in support of legislation he and Rep. Karl Bohnak, R-Deerton, authored exempting U.P. utilities that run natural gas generators built to replace retiring coal plants from state clean and renewable energy requirements in the coming years. Captured from livestream

UMERCs 10 RICE units, placed in service in 2019, plus three more run by Marquettes municipal utility, enabled the U.P. to stop burning coal to generate electricity more than a decade before the rest of the state, dramatically cutting emissions.

They also provided a solution to an energy crisis that left Yoopers paying millions through power bills to keep aging coal plants online.

But Republicans argue the states clean energy standards will force the RICE generators into early retirement. UMERC also takes this position, and its renewable energy surcharge cost modeling was based partly on this assumption, according to its filings.

GOP lawmakers have repeatedly cited the utilitys renewable surcharge cost estimates, with Prestin warning they meant devastating energy poverty in the U.P.

UMERC executives themselves testified in support of the legislators bills when they were introduced.

These costs would be highly detrimental to our customers and damaging to the economic wellbeing of the U.P., said UMERC Vice President for Legislative Affairs Patrick Schillinger at a March hearing.

The renewable energy plan also brought large daily charges for businesses and the Tilden Iron Mine, which makes up more than half of UMERCs power demand.

The mines surcharge would start at nearly $14,500 a day in 2026 and rise to nearly $150,000 a day in 2030, per utility filings. Such costs would put the mine in danger of closing, its owners warned.

But following regulators rejection of the surcharges, supporters of the states renewable energy standards say theres no need for the kind of legislative carveout Republicans have proposed.

Now that those costs have been sent back, I think it really showcases that theres not a need to overreact, said Ben Poulson, state government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Environmental groups had long criticized the costs as unrealistic and using them as motivation for the legislation is in bad faith, Poulson said.

Prestin remains undeterred.

In a statement to MLive, he reiterated his position that the law requires utilities to unnecessarily build out new electric generation and shut down solutions that are working now  to the detriment of electric reliability in the U.P.

UMERC and the Marquette Board of Light and Power, each running RICE units, must start escalating renewable benchmarks now to meet compliance deadlines, he said.

The (Public Service) Commissions order blocks UMERCs proposed rate hikes for now, but without adjustments to the law, families and businesses in the U.P will bear the brunt of building redundant infrastructure, Prestin said.

In rejecting UMERCs plan, regulators observed that the utility included costs to comply not only with renewable standards by separate requirements it reach 100% clean energy by 2040, unnecessarily increasing the charges.

UMERC did not respond to questions over why its plan had this widened scope.

Advocates who legally intervened in the regulatory case also argued that there were significantly cheaper ways to meet the renewable goals, and UMERCs proposed charges didnt comply with the law.

Other Michigan utilities, like DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and Upper Peninsula Power Co., have all proposed plans this year that do so without immediately requiring customer surcharges.

Aerial images of the Cereal City Solar Energy Center near Marshall, Mich. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. The 600-acre project can produce up to 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, which utilities are relying on to meet state targets. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Even with the rejection of the plan, the future of the RICE generators remains undecided, however.

Some environmental and consumer advocates argue the law doesnt require they be shut down early, and UMERC could continue selling power from the generators into the market even while complying with state clean and renewable energy standards.

Prestin maintains thats not the case, noting they are critical for reliability in a region already challenged with heavy snowfall and limited power connections with other regions.

Because the renewable energy plan was rejected, regulators found the issue of what will happen with the RICE units moot and didnt make any determination on the question.
ANN ARBOR, MI  The city of Ann Arbor is investigating another alleged violation of affordable housing rules at a downtown condo complex.

Brian Barr, a condo association board member at Ashley Mews on Main Street, said he looked into one of the affordable housing units in the complex and found its owned by a professional real estate investor who has been renting it out at market rate since buying it for under $125,000 in 2018.

The owner has a portfolio of rental properties in Michigan and never should have qualified for the income-restricted condo, Barr said.

By living elsewhere and renting it out, the owner also is in violation of an affordable housing covenant that requires it to be used by the owner as a primary residence, Barr said.

City Attorney Atleen Kaur confirmed her office is investigating it, but said she cant say much more.

The Ashley Mews condos in downtown Ann Arbor on Dec. 22, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Another recent investigation by the attorneys office found another Ashley Mews condo owner was in violation of an affordable housing covenant because he no longer was using the condo as a primary residence and likely was living in Maryland.

City Council voted unanimously in November to use up to $150,000 of the citys cash reserves to step in and purchase the 805-square-foot condo with plans to flip it to an eligible buyer.

There are eight income-restricted condos in the complex that are required to be maintained as affordable housing and sold at restricted sales prices.

The affordable housing covenants give the city the right to enforce compliance by any lawful means, including requiring an owner to sell their condo to the city, seeking specific performance of the owners obligations, voiding or rescinding a sale, terminating an owners interest in a property and seeking money damages, including to reimburse the city for enforcement costs. An owner also could be required to repay with interest any cash assistance they received in connection with the condo purchase.

And in cases where an owner falsely claims a property is their principal residence, resulting in a partial tax exemption, they could be required to pay back taxes, penalties and interest, City Assessor Jerry Markey said. City assessor records show the condo in question has a principal residence exemption.

The issue came up during the Planning Commissions meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The city attorneys office is considering proposing changes to the requirements to say the affordable condos can be rented out, rather than just owner-occupied, which could make it easier to enforce compliance, officials said.

The Ashley Mews condos in downtown Ann Arbor on Dec. 22, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Barr said it has been difficult to get the city to investigate and enforce the rules and it has required a lot of legwork by him and the condo association. They determined after a painful investigation the latest owner in question actually lives in Macomb County, but hes been unreachable, he said.

And hes been an absentee landlord, so recently we had a water leak in the unit and we couldnt get a hold of anybody, he said. And it just damaged the unit next door and we had to pay a bunch of money to the owner to fix it. Its just been a nightmare.

A University of Michigan law student disclosed she was paying $2,100 per month to rent the condo, Barr said.

The Ashley Mews condos in downtown Ann Arbor on Dec. 22, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

No one answered the door when MLive/The Ann Arbor News visited on Monday, Dec. 22, and the owner could not be reached by phone or email for comment.

Kaur said her office is working to enforce the affordable housing covenants better than it has in the past and trying to ensure the condos remain affordable.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
CORUNNA, MI - Blackstones Smokehouse, a Flint-based restaurant known for its barbecue, is expanding into Shiawassee County after owner Jerrid Heidel purchased Rivals Taphouse and Grille.

The Corunna restaurant, located at 2500 E M-21 in Corunna, will be rebranded as Blackstones Public House, a sports-bar-themed pub emphasizing quality food, comfort and community, according to a Facebook announcement from Rivals.

The transition will take place in phases, with Rivals continuing to operate under its current name through the end of the year and into early 2026.

New signage for Blackstones Public House has already gone up, though the restaurant remains Rivals for now.

The phased approach is intended to keep existing staff employed while customers gradually see updates to the space.

Heidel purchased Blackstones Smokehouse on Aug. 1, 2019, after previously operating as a Famous Daves franchisee.

He said he wanted to build an independent brand rooted in downtown Flint.

Its a place for families and get-togethers, Heidel previously told MLive-The Flint Journal.

Blackstones originally opened as an Irish-themed pub and helped bring renewed energy to downtown Flint.

Over time, the restaurant evolved its menu into what Heidel describes as elevated barbecue, pairing smoked meats with thoughtful presentation and house-made sides.

The restaurant operates primarily as a dining destination, with live music playing on weekends to complement its bar service.

Among the most popular menu items are the mac and cheese  made with four cheeses and oven-cooked for added depth  smoked chicken wings featuring a blackberry flavor, and the burger. A pizza station is also offered on Fridays and Saturdays.

Heidel said Blackstones is the only restaurant in Genesee County using a Marra Forni oven imported from Italy, modeled after traditional Neapolitan stone ovens.

Blackstones is typically open Tuesday through Saturday.

Im trying to find ways to get downtown traffic to reconnect, Heidel said.

More details about Blackstones Public House in Corunna  including opening dates, menu offerings and future announcements  are expected in the coming weeks.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Police Chief Eric Winstrom, who came to Grand Rapids from the Chicago Police Department in early 2022, is one of three finalists for the police chief job in Pensacola, Florida.

The finalists, announced Tuesday, Dec. 23, by Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, are Winstrom, Brian Dugan, a former Tampa police chief, and Erik Goss, the acting deputy chief in Pensacola, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

The selection process will occur Jan. 12 to 14.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom responds to the scene of a fatal stabbing in November 2024. (Joel Bissell|MLive Joel Bissell | MLive.com

I am asking for your patience with me over the next three weeks as I try to make the best decisions for my family and me, Winstrom said in a statement.

Aside from my quick trip in January, I will be as engaged here as ever. While the outcome of this process is still to be determined, I remain fully committed to ensuring the City of Grand Rapids is a community where people feel safe and are safe at all times.

City Manager Mark Washington, who appointed Winstrom nearly four years ago, said he did so with the full knowledge that he was a highly qualified, top-tier professional in the field of public safety. While he hadnt served as a Chief of Police, his potential was evident.

He said that he was not surprised that other departments would consider hiring Winstrom.

Winstrom served at the Chicago Police Department for over 20 years before leaving as a commander.

Washington said: Given the significant progress he has led within the Grand Rapids Police Department - specifically in advancing constitutional policing, enhancing transparency, and centering the departments commitment to serve all residents - it is certainly not surprising that other communities would seek out his leadership and expertise.

Despite the uncertainty about Winstroms future, Washington said he was confident he would continue his work to protect the city and its residents as the process plays out.

As a City, one of our core objectives is to attract, hire, develop, and retain high-performing employees. While I certainly do not want to see the Chief leave our organization, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support the professional growth and career development of every member of our 2,700-person workforce. We take pride in cultivating leaders who are recognized nationally for their capabilities.
JACKSON, MI  Another downtown Jackson shop is closing its doors next year.

HMN Style opened inside of the Blake Building, 180 W. Michigan Ave., in 2023. Owner Scott Pienta said the sales just arent there anymore because people arent shopping in person.

Theres just not enough sales and we tried hanging on, but this has been a decision I was thinking about for over a year, Pienta said.

He added that hes also been occupied at his other businesses, Jackson Coney Island and The Parlour of Jackson.

Pienta said HMN Style was just a trial for him and he will reevaluate going back to the original format, which was an online store. The store is still open, and he expects to begin big sales before closing around the end of January

The clothing boutique featured womens clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry and other accessories.

HMN Style began as an online store in 2021, before turning into a physical storefront in Hillsdale to increase its storage size. The Hillsdale store eventually closed, and Pienta expanded to Jackson into the former Apricot Lane.

HMN Style will be joining other downtown businesses that have announced they are closing or have already closed. This includes BZB Cafe, Murphys Bistro and The Blessed Nest.

Owner Michelle Moore said this week she is closing The Blessed Nest in downtown Jackson and Not So Shabby, Oh! So Chic on Kibby Road in Summit Township because sales at the stores have dropped by 40%, which Moore credits to online shopping and the younger generation thrifting over buying new.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI  A Vicksburg man was sentenced to prison Thursday, Dec. 18, for a crash that killed a 10-year-old boy who had been riding his bike to school.

Logan Keith Thomas, 30, will serve a minimum of 7 years, 6 months in prison and a maximum of 30 years, according to court records. Thomas pleaded guilty Nov. 24 to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.

The incident occurred on Dec. 2, 2024, on Banker Street in Sherman Township near Sturgis. The victim, Anthony Miller, 10, of Sherman Township, had been riding to school with three other children when Thomas 1988 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck ran into the group of Amish children. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.

Toxicology testing showed Thomas to be under the influence of methamphetamine, fentanyl, amphetamine and morphine at the time of the crash, St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah J. Davis said previously.

RELATED: Man who drove into group of Amish kids on bikes, killing 1, pleads guilty

Thomas had three prior convictions for operating while intoxicated, and his drivers license had been revoked. He was also on bond for driving while license suspended in Kalamazoo County at the time of the fatal crash, Davis said.

A comprehensive Accident Reconstruction was completed by the St. Joseph County Sheriffs Office.

Key findings included:

Thomas did not apply brakes prior to impact and took no evasive action to avoid the children

The children were traveling on the far edge of the paved roadway and had adequate safety and visibility equipment

Roadway, lighting, and weather conditions were clear, and the pickup truck had no mechanical defects

Thomas had about 1,353 feet of unobstructed visibility of the children as he approached from behind

At his claimed speed of 5055 mph, Thomas would have had an estimated 1618 seconds to observe the children before the moment of impact

Thomas told investigators he was looking for deer crossing the roadway at the time of the crash

Upon entry of the plea, Thomass bond was cancelled, placing him in custody of the St. Joseph County Jail pending sentencing.

St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman issued Thomas 36 days credit at time of sentencing.

Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
BAY CITY, MI  State Rep. Timothy Beson said this week that he voted to disapprove millions of dollars in bridge funding for the largest city he represents because of a perceived conflict of interest concerning the former state senator who championed the funding.

Beson, R-Bay City, said Tuesday, Dec. 23, that he voted to withdraw the $1.6 million earmarked for Bay City to serve as a reimbursement for the citys costs associated with the ongoing Michigan Department of Transportation Lafayette Bridge project because former state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet was married to Bay City Commissioner Joseph Rivet when the funding was originally allocated to the city.

This possible conflict, Beson said, could have caused issues were the funding to be affected and the Rivets relationship came into question.

I dont think that its the biggest thing, because its not going to the husband directly, its going to the county that he servesor the city that he serves, Beson said. Lets do it the right way. First of the year, well get it back in there. I know we can.

McDonald Rivets office announced in July 2024 that it had secured $1.6 million in the state budget that would go toward reimbursing the city for portion of the bridge project.

The money was part of a larger $102 million in funding to help reimburse communities.

The Lafayette Street Bridge, one of two owned and operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), is currently being replaced.

Demolition has already occurred, and crews have continued to work on the bridge, which could reopen in 2027.

The funding was unapproved as part of a broader move by state GOP legislators to review $645 million in work projects across Michigan.

According to a letter from Beson to Bay City Manager Dana Muscott, the House budget committee chose to reset the entire list of projects to implement a more transparent and accountable review.

Beson stated the concern was that some projects had become catch-all slush funds for state bureaucrats, though he acknowledged that good and important projects, including the Lafayette Bridge funding for Bay City, were swept up in the process.

However, a summary of the projects curated by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. presented to Beson and other members of the House Appropriations Committee and obtained by MLive/The Bay City Times through a Freedom of Information Act request shows that the bridge funding was not lumped into other projects but stood alone under infrastructure spending.

A summary of the projects curated by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation presented to Rep. Timothy Beson (R-Bay City) and other members of the House Appropriations Committee and obtained by MLive/The Bay City Times through a Freedom of Information Act request shows that the bridge funding stood alone under infrastructure spending. Screen shot of MEDC document

When asked why Beson didnt pull this work project from the vote to remove approval for other projects, he noted the conflict of interest.

McDonald Rivet noted in the Special Grant Application Form for the funding that there may have been a conflict, acknowledging that her husband was on the commission at the time. However, it had not been a noted issue until this month.

A document contained within a grant application shows that Kristen McDonald Rivet disclosed a potential conflict of interest when championing for $1.6 million in funding for Bay City in 2024. Screenshot of grant application form

Beson maintained that the funding overhaul was meant to stop projects that were wasting funds and positive projects would see a return in funding after the new year.

Lets just bring it back to the LDSI (legislative directed spending items) with the process, and Ill be a champion of this, Beson said.
SAGINAW, MI  A former substitute teacher has implicitly taken responsibility for assaulting a 6-year-old boy.

Charline Bodiford, 72, on Dec. 15 appeared before Saginaw County District Judge Elian E.H. Fichtner and pleaded no contest to assault or assault and battery. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a charge of fourth-degree child abuse. That charge is also a misdemeanor, but carries a harsher penalty at one year in jail and probation for up to five years.

MLive could not reach prosecutors for comment on if there is a sentencing agreement. Bodifords defense attorney, Theresa M. Bridges, did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment.

By pleading no contest rather than guilty, Bodiford did not admit to having committed a crime. Fichtner relied on investigators reports to enter a conviction on the record.

Those reports established Bodiford was a contracted temporary teacher at Stone Elementary School, 1006 State St., in the fall of 2024. Surveillance cameras on Oct. 17, 2024, recorded the boy lying in a hallway as Bodiford opened a nearby door and entered the frame, prosecutors alleged.

The video showed Bodiford kicking the boy and twice stepping on him, prosecutors alleged. Bodiford also grabbed the boy by his coat and shoved him down the corridor, causing him to urinate on himself, prosecutors alleged.

A Saginaw police detective began investigating shortly after the alleged abuse occurred, but his probe took longer than initially anticipated due to difficulty in connecting with the parties. Prosecutors issued the charge in November 2025, shortly after receiving the investigators findings.

A spokesman for Saginaw Public Schools stated Bodiford retired from the district in 2013 but thereafter functioned as a substitute teacher. Bodiford has not worked for the district since the October 2024 incident.

Judge Fichtner is to sentence Bodiford on Jan. 20.
Local governments wouldnt be able to ban natural gas-powered stoves, water heaters and furnaces in homes under new legislation passed by the Michigan House.

The legislation passed Wednesday, Dec. 17, would forbid local governments from establishing any ban on the use of natural gas or propane and any ban on the installation of infrastructure to transport or distribute natural gas or propane.

The bill passed the House by a 61-42 vote, with all present Republicans and four Democrats voting in favor. The bill is unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, where a similar bill has been introduced but hasnt moved.

Put forward by state Rep. Steve Frisbie, R-Battle Creek, the bill is in response to Ann Arbor previously considering an ordinance to prohibit natural gas connections for new buildings and substantially renovated or expanded buildings in the city.

The proposal to require full electrification was aimed at meeting the citys climate-action goals to reduce carbon emissions. While Ann Arbor ultimately shelved the ordinance, the city is working with DTE Energy to incrementally transition to all-electric buildings.

Frisbie argued that natural gas is cheaper than electricity for home energy use and that residents shouldnt be forced by local government to pay more to heat their homes.

House Bill 4486 would prohibit local municipalities from banning natural gas and propane infrastructure, ensuring the government cannot deprive Michiganders the right of energy freedom and choice, Frisbie said in a Dec. 17 floor speech. In a time when Michigan families are tightening their wallets, we as their elected officials should strive to keep their energy bills low and maintain individual choice and freedom.

Ann Arbor city officials have said that transitioning off of natural gas would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat detrimental health impacts from using gas combustion indoors.

In 2023, there was political uproar over natural gas-powered stoves amid concerns that the Biden administration would move to ban the stoves due to their link to poor indoor air quality and health harms, according to the Associated Press.

Frisbie, citing a study from the American Gas Association, said high efficiency natural gas appliances have reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to all-electric homes.

Democrats during a June 3 hearing on the bill in the House Energy Committee argued the ban on bans would take away local control, that communities would be unable to decide what is best for them.

Some Democratic representatives said the legislation highlighted contradictions for Republicans that championed local control when pushing against a 2023 law that allows the state to approve large wind, solar and energy storage proposals even if some locals in those areas dont want them.

I, too, am having trouble reconciling this with local control, said state Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips, D-Detroit. I think back to a couple of weeks ago when we had the issue of solar siting here and so much strong testimony and support for local control to govern these issues. And now before the committee we have a preemption of the possibility that a city might enact this ordinance, so I do find that problematic and want to hear more about when does local control apply? What power does it have? Because I do see these as very interesting contradictions.

Frisbie said local control crosses a line when local governments start to make personal choices for people.

If you built a home in Ann Arbor when they were considering this and  you had a natural gas line in front of your home, but you couldnt tap it because government said, You dont need it. We dont want you to have it. Its OK for your neighbors to have it, but you cant have it, Frisbie said. I find that to be a line thats crossed in local control that is beyond an overreach.

The Michigan Municipal League (MML) opposes the bill, with the organization echoing concerns about local control.

The League has consistently spoken to the importance of local control and the ability to respond to the unique needs and issues raised by our residents with local decision making, said John LaMacchia, director of state and federal affairs for MML. We will continue to express concerns with legislation that limits this ability and advocate that we work in partnership with the legislature to create thriving communities.

The House first considered a bill to ban local governments banning natural gas use and infrastructure in 2023. That bill did not move in the then-Democratic-majority House.
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Go into the new year repping the Mamba mentality.

Nike is dropping new pieces of the Kobe Apparel Collection that allow you to sport Mamba wherever you are. Two new, long-sleeve shirts will be released in black and white colorways on Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 10 a.m. ET.

Men's Dri-FIT Long-Sleeve T-Shirt Kobe Men's Dri-FIT Long-Sleeve T-Shirt in white $60 on Nike

Men's Dri-FIT Long-Sleeve T-Shirt Kobe Men's Dri-FIT Long-Sleeve T-Shirt in black $60 on Nike

They will be $60 each, coinciding with the release of Nikes new, limited-edition Kobe 3 Protro Royal Pulse shoes.

Both Dri-Fit shirts feature premium, heavyweight blended fabric that offer a roomy fit through the shoulders and torso. Sweat-wicking tech will help you stay dry and comfortable whether youre on the court or at home.

New Kobe apparel almost always sells out, so plan to be online around launch time to add these to your wardrobe.
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Calling the pact a bad deal for New Zealand, Peters said the government had rushed into a low-quality agreement rather than using the full parliamentary term to negotiate better outcomes.
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China's Automotive Industry in the 15th Five-Year Plan Period: From Scale Expansion to High-Quality Development

In 2025, China's automotive industry finds itself at a far-from-easy turning point.

On the one hand, China remains the world's largest automotive market. New-energy vehicle penetration continues to rise, and the pace of intelligent transformation is steadily accelerating. On the other hand, a growing number of companies are feeling a very real and persistent pressure: selling more does not necessarily mean earning more. In some cases, the more vehicles are sold, the harder it becomes to make a profit. Price competition is intensifying, industry margins are being continuously squeezed, and corporate investment keeps risingwhile payback periods grow ever longer. Terms such as "involution," "anti-involution," and "high-quality development" are no longer just buzzwords in industry debates; they have become unavoidable realities.

It is against this backdrop that the "15th Five-Year Plan" period is being mentioned with increasing frequency.

But the key question remains: what does the 15th Five-Year Plan really mean for China's automotive industry? Does it mark the beginning of a new growth cycleor the onset of a deeper, more structural reshuffle across the sector?

In this episode of Tina's Talk, drawing on the latest research from the Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, we will explore these questions and offer some initial observations to spark further discussion.

I. The Core Theme: From "High-Speed Growth" to "High-Quality Development"

Looking back from the end of 2025, China's automotive industry stands at an exceptionally critical historical juncture. Over the past decade or more, the industry has undergone a profound and rapid transformation:

In terms of market scale, China has ranked first globally for many consecutive years, with total sales expected to reach a new high in 2025.

In terms of technology pathways, electrification and intelligentization are advancing at the forefront of the global automotive industry, increasingly setting the pace rather than merely following it.

In terms of the industrial system, China has built the world's most complete automotive supply chainone that is also the fastest to respond and adapt.

However, as the industry enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the core question it faces is changing. The focus of the industry is shiftingfrom whether vehicles can be made and sold, to whether the industry can sustain long-term, healthy, and resilient development. At the same time, the center of gravity is moving beyond domestic competition toward a new phase defined by global competition and cooperation.

High-quality development is no longer a slogan for China's automotive industry. It has become a concrete requirement jointly shaped by policy direction, regulatory pressure, and market dynamics.

Against this backdrop, several trends are unfolding simultaneously:

 Domestic market growth is slowing, with the industry entering a phase of structural adjustment.

 New-energy vehicle penetration continues to rise, but competition is intensifying markedly.

 Clear signals of "anti-involution" are emerging, accompanied by tighter and more sustained regulatory oversight.

 Going global has become a shared consensus, even as uncertainty in the global environment continues to increase.

 AI and software are becoming deeply embedded, reshaping vehicle products and redefining the boundaries of the automotive industry.

The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is therefore not a continuation of the previous growth logic. It represents a phase of systemic restructuring for China's automotive industry.

II. Market and Structure: Stabilizing Volumes, Intensifying Divergence

From a market perspective, China's automotive industry has clearly entered a new phase characterized by stable overall volumes and rapid structural change.

1 Total volume is no longer the sole driver; product structure becomes the key variable

Whether viewed through demographics, urbanization trends, new-energy vehicle penetration, or overall vehicle ownership levels, China's auto market has moved from a period of high-speed expansion into the early stage of a mature market. This marks a fundamental shift in the nature of demand:

 New-energy vehicles have become the primary source of incremental growth

 Export markets are emerging as an important supplement

 Premiumization and market segmentation are becoming more pronounced

 Obsolete capacity and uncompetitive brands will be phased out at an accelerating pace

Growth has not disappearedbut it is no longer evenly distributed.

2 New Energy Vehicles Continue to Rise, with Multiple Powertrain Pathways Coexisting Over the Long Term

New-energy vehicles will remain one of the central growth drivers of China's automotive market over the next five years. Rather than converging on a single technological route, the industry is increasingly moving toward a pattern of long-term coexistence among multiple powertrain pathways, with several clear trends emerging:

1) Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will continue to expand in scale

2) Plug-in hybrids and range-extended vehicles (PHEVs/REEVs) will maintain rapid growth momentum, with strong potential in export markets

3) For a considerable period ahead, multiple powertrain technologies will coexist in parallel, rather than one fully replacing the others.

This pluralistic powertrain landscape is likely to remain a defining feature of China's automotive market throughout the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

This assessment is driven not only by market choices, but also by a comprehensive set of factorsincluding policy orientation, infrastructure readiness, usage scenarios, and supply-chain support.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the key to competitiveness in new-energy vehicles will not lie in betting on a single technological route, but in the ability to operate across multiple pathways in parallel and iterate rapidly.

III. Competitive Dynamics: From "Technology and Products" to "Systems and Ecosystems"

If the defining theme of the past decade for China's automotive industry was technological catch-up, then in the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the focus is clearly shifting toward system-level competition.

1 Stronger regulation becomes the new normal, with safety and responsibility as fundamental constraints

Over the past two years, a series of policy and regulatory signals surrounding the automotive industry have pointed in a highly consistent direction, including but not limited to:

 Clearer requirements for functional safety, data security, and liability boundaries in intelligent and connected vehicles

 OTA updates, software upgrades, and marketing claims being brought under stricter regulatory scrutiny

 Significantly higher safety standards for power batteries

 Greater oversight of pricing discipline, payment terms, and commercial practices

Together, these changes signal that regulatory compliance, safety assurance, and corporate responsibility are becoming baseline requirements rather than optional considerations in the competitive landscape.

These developments send a clear signal: future competition will no longer be about who pursues the most aggressive technologies, but about who can deliver products and services consistently and reliably under increasingly stringent constraints.

Safety, compliance, and responsibility are no longer merely "cost items"they have become basic tickets to entry in the industry.

2 Localization of Critical Core Technologies Enters a Phase of "PolicyIndustry Resonance"

Against the backdrop of industrial security concerns and growing global uncertainty, the localization of critical core technologies has shifted from an optional choice to a strategic necessity. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, several areas will remain at the forefront of localization efforts, including but not limited to:

 Automotive-grade chips and computing platforms

 Automotive basic software, operating systems, and middleware

 Functional safety, cybersecurity, toolchains, and testing frameworks

 Critical materials and core components

It is important to emphasize that the objective of localization is not low-cost substitution, but the establishment of a sustainable, autonomous, and controllable industrial capability system.

IV. The Dual Divergence of Vehicle Product Definition

Driven by the combined forces of technology, regulation, and market dynamics, the very definition of the automobile is undergoing a profound transformation. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, vehicles will no longer evolve along a single trajectory. Instead, two long-term product archetypes are beginning to diverge and coexist in parallel.

Path One: The "Basic Mobility Tool" Centered on Efficiency and Safety

The core objectives of this category are clearly defined, focusing primarily on:

 Higher mobility efficiency

 More reliable safety assurance

 More controllable total cost of ownership (TCO)

 Clearer and more well-defined liability boundaries

Typical application scenarios include daily commuting, intercity travel, second household vehicles, fleet and ride-hailing use, as well as commercial and logistics operations.

Under this product definition, intelligent technologies are primarily deployed in service of safety and efficiency. Technology choices tend to be more mature and conservative, while cost control and scalability become critical success factors. This represents a policy-friendly, scale-oriented development path.

Path Two: The "Mobile Intelligent Living Space" Centered on Experience and the Value of Time

The second product archetype is redefining how time is spent inside the vehicle, marking a shift from building cars to creating spaces. The core objective is no longer simply to transport people from point A to point B, but to enhance the value of in-vehicle time, deliver richer usage scenarios, and deeply integrate AI, software, and service ecosystems.

Under this product definition, smart cockpits and AI become the central sources of competitiveness. Software, services, and content take on greater strategic importance, while product differentiation and user stickiness become critical success factors. This represents a technology-led, experience-driven development path.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, not all vehicles are "becoming mobile homes." Instead, the industry is evolving toward two long-term, parallel product definitions: vehicles optimized for more efficient mobility, and vehicles designed for better in-vehicle living. Neither path is inherently superior, but each places fundamentally different demands on automakers in terms of technology stacks, cost structures, and business models.

V. AI-Defined Vehicles (AIDV): Not All Models Will Converge on the Same Destination

Against the backdrop of diverging product definitions, AI is deeply reshaping the automotive industrybut its impact will not be one-size-fits-all. It is foreseeable that AI, end-to-end algorithms, and agent-based architectures will first take root in "mobile intelligent living space"type products. In contrast, along the efficiency- and safety-oriented path, AI is more likely to exist in tool-based and modularized forms, serving clearly defined functional objectives.

AI will not erase differences between product categories; rather, it will amplify the distinctions inherent in their underlying definitions. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the real challenge is not whether to adopt AI, but:

 Whether companies can industrialize AIscaling it up and delivering it sustainably

 Whether AI systems can operate reliably under stringent regulatory and liability constraints

 Whether AI can create tangible, perceivable value for end users

These capabilities, rather than AI adoption itself, will determine competitive outcomes in the next phase of the automotive industry.

VI. Confronting the Challenge That "Scale Does Not Equal Profitability"

In any discussion of high-quality development in the automotive industry, one core issue is impossible to avoid: corporate profitability and the industry's overall profit pool. Over the past five years, China's automotive sector has been marked by a widespread phenomenonvolume growth without revenue growth, revenue growth without profit growth, and in a significant number of cases, prolonged losses.

This is not a problem of individual companies. It is a structural challenge facing the entire industry.

1 Hardware costs are becoming transparent, putting sustained pressure on traditional profit models

As the industry matures, technology diffusion accelerates and supply chains become highly developed, hardware costs are increasingly transparent. Profit models that rely primarily on vehicle hardware premiums are being steadily compressed.

Moreover, because past development has been heavily focused on investment in physical assets, the negative effects of extensive, repetitive capacity expansion are now becoming visible. In almost every product category, there are large numbers of highly homogeneous manufacturers. The result is oversupply, intense competition, and a situation where too many players are chasing too little value.

2 Going global is an important pathwaybut not a universal "profit cure"

Expanding overseas has, to some extent, eased the extreme "involution" of the domestic market. However, going global does not automatically translate into improved profitability.

Overseas markets come with their own challenges: localization and compliance costs, long ramp-up cycles for scale, policy risks, and geopolitical uncertainty. If products and capabilities lack intrinsic profit elasticity, going global merely shifts competition from the domestic market to international marketsoften with greater complexity and uncertainty.

3 Profit pools are shiftingrather than emerging automatically

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, what deserves closer attention is the possibility that corporate profit logic will shift from "selling products" to "monetizing capabilities."

This shift is likely to manifest along three main directions:

1Software and services

Not all software canor shouldbe monetized. However, when software clearly replaces real costs or delivers measurable improvements in efficiency or safety, it provides a legitimate basis for payment. More realistically, software will function as a "profit stabilizer" or "margin repair tool", rather than a short-term profit engine.

2Data and algorithmic capabilities

Data itself is difficult to sell directly. Its value lies primarily in enhancing R&D efficiency, operational performance, and supply-chain optimization, as well as in enabling external collaboration and service capabilities. Deep exploration of data value and the creation of viable commercialization loops will likely form one of the industry's next profit pools over the coming five years.

3Capability spillover and second growth curves

Through electrification, intelligentization, engineering systems, and advanced manufacturing and supply-chain management, China's automotive industry is accumulating a set of general-purpose capabilities that can be reused across sectors. These capabilities provide a foundation for expansion into other strategic emerging industries. It is no coincidence that many automakers with strong in-house R&D capabilities are moving into areas such as embodied intelligence, the low-altitude economy, and AI-powered wearablesall of which are underpinned by their core, foundational strengths in R&D and manufacturing.

At its core, high-quality development is about enabling companies to earn healthy, sustainable profitsnot merely to sell more vehicles.

VII. Globalization and the Industrial Ecosystem: From "Selling Products" to "Operating Markets"

For a long time, China's automotive expansion overseas has largely followed a product-centered export logic: selling vehicles into foreign markets to drive volume growth and capture scale. As overseas market conditions evolve, however, this model is increasingly reaching its limits.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the globalization of China's automotive industry is entering a new phase. Going forward, "going global" will no longer be about exporting products alone, but about truly embedding into local markets and moving up the value chain. This requires automakers and suppliers to build multiple layers of capabilities overseas, including but not limited to:

 Local manufacturing or assembly capacity to mitigate trade barriers and policy uncertainty

 Localized supply-chain systems to improve responsiveness and compliance flexibility

 The ability to navigate diverse regulatory regimes, covering safety, environmental standards, data governance, and labor regulations

 A shift from project-based market entry to long-term market and brand operations, rather than short-term, opportunity-driven expansion

Globalization at this stage places demands on companies that are fundamentally different from the early, export-driven phase. Organizational capability, financial strength, compliance capacity, and risk management are becoming decisive factors in determining success abroad.

As a result, going global is no longer a choice that "every company can or should make." Instead, it is increasingly evolving into a process of capability-based differentiation across the industry.

VIII. From Manufacturing to Ecosystems: An "Evolution of Form" in the Automotive Industry

In parallel with shifts in globalization models, the automotive industry itself is undergoing a fundamental transformation in its underlying form.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the industry is gradually moving beyond the boundaries of a single manufacturing sector and evolving toward a multi-layered industrial ecosystem, with a clear trend toward servicization. This transition is not simply about "selling a few more services," but about a broader expansion of how value is created within the automotive industry.

It is increasingly evident that the servicization of the automotive industry is taking shape along several key dimensions:

Software and subscription-based services

As vehicles become more intelligent, software is shifting from a one-time configuration to a model of continuous upgrades and ongoing services. The prerequisite, however, is that such software must deliver tangible improvements in safety, efficiency, or user experience.

Energy and charging services

The industry is extending beyond standalone vehicle sales toward charging networks, energy management, and system-level integration. Energy is gradually emerging as an important adjacent domain within the automotive value chain.

Data and platform capabilities

The value of data lies less in direct transactions and more in its ability to enhance R&D, operational efficiency, and service delivery, as well as to enable collaboration across multiple stakeholders.

Finance, insurance, and ecosystem collaboration

Across the full vehicle lifecycle, the automotive industry is forming deeper linkages with financial and insurance services, creating more integrated and synergistic ecosystems around vehicle ownership and usage.

It is important to emphasize that this trend does not mean every company must fully transform into a "platform" or a "service provider."

What it does make clear, however, is that value creation in the automotive industry is shifting from one-off delivery to long-term relationships and continuous services. Companies that can build stable, compliant, and sustainable service and ecosystem capabilities on top of their manufacturing strengths will be far better positioned to achieve more resilient growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

It should be understood that the 15th Five-Year Plan period will not mark another phase of accelerated sprinting for China's automotive industry. Rather, it represents a systemic restructuring centered on structure, order, and sustainability.

What will truly shape the industry's landscape over the next five to ten years is not who moves the fastest, but who can move more steadily and endure longer in an increasingly complex environmentbuilding healthy systems and a solid foundation for sustainable development. This, ultimately, is the true meaning of high-quality development.

Written by Xiaoying Zhou  CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Gasgoo International
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Hiral Thanawala is a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, he covers financial planning, banking and fintech segments from personal finance team for Moneycontrol.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 23, Beijing issued China's first batch of dedicated license plates for L3 autonomous driving vehicles, granting the ARCFOX Alpha S (L3 version) full legal road access, according to a post on BAIC Group's WeChat account.

Three vehicles were registered under the plates AA0001Z, AA0733Z and AA0880Z, marking the first time an L3 production model has completed both regulatory approval and formal registration. The milestone signals a transition from controlled technical validation to legally sanctioned real-world operation for Level 3 autonomous driving in China.

Photo source: BAIC Group

Just a week earlier, on December 15, the Alpha S (L3) received official product access approval from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Within seven days, the vehicle progressed from regulatory clearance to completed license plate registration, demonstrating an unusually efficient linkage between product approval and road-use authorizationtwo of the most critical hurdles in autonomous vehicle commercialization.

The newly issued plates carry strong symbolic weight. The plate AA0001Z is recognized as the first official autonomous driving license plate in China that allows operation beyond congestion-restricted highway conditions, effectively representing the highest level of autonomous driving technology currently approved for road use. Another plate, AA0733Z, deliberately echoes BAIC BJEV's A-share stock code, reflecting the company's dual focus on user-facing innovation and long-term confidence in capital markets.

Among the first batch of approved L3 models, the ARCFOX Alpha S stands out as the only vehicle equipped with LiDAR, providing critical redundancy and reliability for its perception system. Prior to registration, the vehicle underwent extensive internal testing, followed by formal compliance evaluations organized by traffic authorities. It also participated in full-process emergency drillscovering accident response and traffic violationsconducted jointly with experts from the Ministry of Public Security and Beijing traffic police on pilot highway sections. Initial trial operations will take place on designated routes including the BeijingTaipei Expressway, Airport North Line Expressway and Daxing Airport Expressway, allowing the vehicles to accumulate real-world operational data in complex traffic environments ahead of broader commercialization.

According to BAIC Group, the Alpha S (L3)'s early entry into licensed road operation is the result of long-term investment in intelligent connectivity, new energy technologies and vehicle safety, supported by both in-house innovation and open collaboration. BAIC's proprietary intelligent vehicle framework, known as "BAIC Yuanjing Intelligence," is among the first in the industry to cover assisted driving capabilities from L2 through L4. Built around a "one core, three rings" safety architecture, the system emphasizes safety-by-design, lifecycle-wide protection and continuous validation. A dedicated autonomous driving safety monitoring platform enables round-the-clock vehicle status tracking and data analysis, forming a closed-loop management system that integrates real-time monitoring, data-driven insights and ongoing optimization.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 19, 2025, Chinese LiDAR supplier Hesai Technology announced a strategic partnership with Meituan Drone, under which Hesai's second-generation fully solid-state perception and positioning LiDAR, FTX, has been selected for mass production. The agreement marks a deep integration of advanced sensing technology with low-altitude logistics applications and represents a significant step forward as two industry leaders join forces to commercialize the emerging low-altitude economy.

Photo source: Hesai Technology

Meituan Drone is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation low-altitude logistics. Built around proprietary drone systems, its airground integrated delivery network extends beyond the physical constraints of traditional ground-based logistics and has become a key technology enabler for instant retail. On December 19 in Shanghai, Meituan unveiled an integrated low-altitude aviation network combining autonomous drones, smart docking airports, and intelligent dispatch systems. This marked a shift from experimental point-to-point routes to city-scale aerial networks, effectively turning drone corridors and takeoff-and-landing points into a city's "new streets" and "new intersections," and setting a new benchmark for urban efficiency through fully automated airground delivery operations.

At the same event, Meituan Drone introduced the long-range version of its fourth-generation platform, the M-Drone 4L. The model comes standard with LiDAR for perception and positioning. Its omnidirectional sensing suite integrates 10 sensorsincluding a fully solid-state FTX LiDARalongside vision systems and GNSS, enabling multimodal data fusion for all-weather, high-precision navigation and significantly improving safety during nighttime operations.

According to Mao Yinian, Meituan vice president of Meituan and head of the company's drone business, LiDAR is essential to enabling scalable nighttime low-altitude logistics. With breakthroughs in LiDAR-based navigation and positioning, Meituan's drones are now capable of precise flight and localization at night without relying on satellite or visual navigation systems, instead operating entirely on LiDAR-based guidance.

Low-altitude aviation has now been elevated to a national strategic emerging industry. Forecasts from China's civil aviation authorities suggest the market could reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025 and expand to 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. The sector was formally included in the government work report for the first time in 2024, followed by the establishment of a dedicated low-altitude economy division under the National Development and Reform Commission to strengthen policy coordination. Local governments have since rolled out supportive measures, with cities such as Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Chengdu emerging as industrial hubs spanning drone logistics, passenger transport, and low-altitude tourism.

As airspace management reforms advance and supporting infrastructure improves, the low-altitude economy is shifting from isolated pilot projects toward large-scale deployment. Drones offer inherent advantages in dense urban environments and in routes spanning seas and mountainous terrain. Beyond food delivery, pharmaceuticals and emergency supplies are emerging as key use cases. The newly launched M-Drone 4L is already being used to transport blood samples between campuses of Shanghai's Renji Hospital, cutting transport times by 50% and doubling overall testing efficiency. To date, Meituan Drone has opened 65 routes across cities including Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Dubai, completing more than 740,000 orders and underscoring the vast potential of low-altitude logistics in instant retail.

In increasingly congested low-altitude airspace, LiDAR's three-dimensional perception capabilities have become a cornerstone of safe operations. Unlike vision-based systems, LiDAR is largely unaffected by lighting conditions and maintains stable performance at night or in adverse weather such as fog and haze, enabling true around-the-clock drone delivery. In real-world urban environments, drones must navigate complex obstacles including buildings, overhead wires, and unexpected hazards. LiDAR allows drones to detect other airborne objects, cables, and even fine obstacles like branches, significantly enhancing safety across low-altitude aerial networks.

Hesai's fully solid-state FTX LiDAR delivers more than double the resolution of its predecessor while achieving a major reduction in size and weight, cutting mass by 66% and significantly lowering integration complexity and manufacturing costs for drone platforms. Its ultra-wide field of view enables precise detection of small obstacles and further enhances environmental perception in low-visibility conditions such as nighttime and haze. Hesai plans to begin large-scale mass production and deliveries of the FTX LiDAR in 2026.
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A rare 1970 Shelby Mustang GT500 with documented Middle Eastern ownership history and just over 30,000 miles has now spent a full year on the market without finding a buyer, despite multiple price reductions.

The car traces its origins to the final chapter of the Shelby Mustang program, which began in 1965 and concluded after the 1969 production run. When Shelby-branded Mustangs struggled to compete with Fords own high-performance offerings, hundreds of unsold 1969 cars were reissued with 1970 vehicle identification numbers. A total of 788 examples were sold as 1970 models following minor visual updates, including revised hood stripes and a chin spoiler.

Among those cars was a Shelby GT500 fastback purchased new by Prince Ghalib Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. At the time, fuel costs were not a meaningful concern for wealthy buyers, and the seven-liter 428 Cobra Jet-powered Shelby remained appealing even as fuel economy hovered near 10 miles per gallon. Gas prices in 1970 were still low enough to keep big-displacement muscle cars competitive.

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The GT500 was heavily optioned from new, featuring an automatic transmission, power steering, power front disc brakes, air conditioning, tilt-away steering wheel, fold-down rear seat, tinted glass, tachometer, trip odometer, and an AM eight-track stereo. With options, the price approached $6,000, well above the base Shelby GT500 fastback sticker of roughly $4,700.

The prince reportedly kept the car for approximately 25 years before transferring it in 1996 to an American aircraft maintenance employee working for Saudi Arabian Airlines. The car was later returned to the United States and eventually changed hands again.

The Shelby surfaced for sale on December 15, 2024, showing 30,138 miles. Initially listed at $220,000, the price has since been reduced to $175,000. That figure now sits below the roughly $183,000 average sale price for similar models recorded over the past five years.

One potential factor affecting buyer interest is the cars condition history. It received a repaint in the early 1990s, meaning it is no longer fully original. Still, the car remains rare, with only 15 examples reportedly finished in Gulfstream Aqua with white Clarion Knit and Corinthian vinyl high-back bucket seats.

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Currently located in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the car remains listed for sale, leaving open the question of whether its history, rarity, and reduced price will finally attract a buyer.



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A grandson fulfills a decade-old promise, driving his late grandfathers 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 from Canada to Florida for restoration.

More than 10 years after his grandfather passed away, Mitchel Matthews finally brought home the truck he inherited: a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI.

Matthews admits the pickup shaped his life. It was not babied  he drove it off-road, through mud and water, and lifted it far beyond stock. The truck now sits sky-high, thanks to an eight-inch body lift, a five-inch suspension lift, and massive 38-inch Mickey Thompson tires. Years of use and neglect left the once-proud Ram rusted, but Matthews always intended to revive it.

The truck had been parked in Winnipeg, Manitoba, while Matthews moved to Miami. This fall, he embarked on a four-day journey to drive it across the continent. The trip quickly turned into a test of patience and mechanical endurance.

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Early on, police pulled him over for missing a front license plate and oversized tires. Later, severe shaking forced him to rotate the wheels, while a noisy differential raised concerns about whether the truck would finish the trip.

The final stretch brought overheating, requiring frequent stops to cool the engine. Matthews pushed on, alternating between daytime and overnight driving. By the fourth day, he was worn out but determined. The Ram finally rolled into Miami, parked beneath palm trees  battered but intact.

The arrival was only the beginning. Matthews now plans to rebuild the truck, aiming to replace the HEMI with a supercharged Hellcat engine, along with a stronger transmission and rear axle. He envisions a new bed and a complete overhaul, part by part.

For Matthews, the restoration is more than mechanical. Its about preserving a legacy  and building the truck his grandfather never got to see completed.

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International space agencies are preparing a packed 2026 marked by renewed lunar and Mars ambitions. NASAs Artemis II will carry astronauts on a historic lunar flyby, while ISRO advances toward human spaceflight with Gaganyaan tests. SpaceX plans bold Starship missions aimed at Mars, alongside continued ISS operations and commercial stations. China and Europe will expand lunar science, space telescopes, and planetary research. Together, government and private players signal a decisive shift toward deep-space exploration, advanced science missions, and growing commercial activity beyond Earth orbit.

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Scrolling back the years and seeing what was popular is always an eye-opening experience. 1977 might not be that long ago for some of us, but revisiting the trends and best-sellers of the year shows just how far we've come in the decades since, for better or for worse.

At the time, Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" was skyrocketing to the top of the music charts, the first "Star Wars" film was heating up the silver screen, and American drivers were still buying American cars. We still do today, of course  just look at the popularity of GM and Ford trucks  but in '77 it was actual coupes and sedans we were buying, not trucks and SUVs.

Specifically, the best-selling car in 1977 was the Chevrolet Impala/Caprice  the Caprice being the more luxurious model, offering a more plush interior and some external tweaks  but ultimately the two shared a platform and so it's easy to lump both models together in this regard. Jumping straight into the numbers, Chevrolet managed to shift more than 650,000 units in 1977 across all Caprice and Impala trim levels, which was a substantial increase over the units sold the previous model year.

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Much was changed for the 1977 model, namely the fact that Chevy shrunk it considerably, and that clearly struck buyers as a positive thing. Not only was it smaller  shorter by around a foot  but it also weighed around 700 pounds less than the preceding model year, which would have helped handling characteristics to no end. The most popular iteration was the Caprice Classic Sedan with 212,840 sold, although trailing just behind with 196,824 sold was the Impala Sedan. The former sported an MSRP of $5,237 with an inline-six or $5,357 with a V8 engine in contrast to the Impala Sedan's $5,021 MSRP.

Read more: The First Corvette Ever Made Vanished For Decades  Here's Where It Is Today

The difficulties in pinpointing '77's best-selling car

Front-quarter shot of a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass - GEORGE STAMATIS/Shutterstock

But what if, depending on your perspective, the best-selling car in 1977 actually was an Oldsmobile after all? Prior to the iconic Chevy Impala storming to the top of the charts, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was doing a pretty good job, taking the top-spot in both 1975 and 1976. Now, if you decide to split the Impala and Caprice into two separate models, then the Cutlass would actually have been the top seller again, just as it was the following year in '78 when 520,279 units sold was enough for the Cutlass to once again claim victory.

Still, that would be winning on a technicality, and so we feel the Impala/Caprice does indeed deserve its moment in the sun, disrupting the otherwise dominant late 1970s streak of the Cutlass. Yet despite these two models clearly demonstrating huge popularity in the late 1970s, once you fast-forward a few decades, these once iconic American sedans met their makers.

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The Caprice nameplate was the first to go, being retired in 1996 in North America. The Cutlass was next, finding 1999 to be its final model year. This ended a 38 year production run, and it if you're wondering whatever happened to Oldsmobile after that, it was discontinued as an automaker altogether not long after in 2004.

The Impala fared a little better, surviving until the 2020 model year and becoming one of the most successful models in the history of Chevrolet, although by this end it was nowhere near as compelling as it used to be; while the last 10th-generation Impala received generally favorable reviews, sales figures weren't enough to perpetuate the nameplate any further. SUVs and pickup trucks had become America's new favorite by that point, and so the storied sedan had to make way for the new models on the block.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
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.
Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience.
Indians embraced both leisure and spiritual travel this festive season, with Goa dominating domestic bookings and Thailand emerging as the top international destination.

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.
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China expands nuclear arsenal with 100+ ICBMs: Heres what the Pentagon report reveals
Automotive fans are united in their love for high-performance machines. Following a new sporty vehicle's debut, enthusiasts want to know engine output, top speed, and, of course, 0-to-60-mph times. This is the quickest 0-to-60 time ever set by a production car, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, which reportedly clocked in under 2 seconds, though this does come with an asterisk.

Getting a car that accelerates this quickly to 60 mph from the factory traditionally involves looking at European exotics from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, to name a few. But over the years, engine designs have continued to improve, incorporating turbocharger technology and providing more output at greater efficiency, among other advancements.

While exotics still have a hold on this sub-5-second group, some newcomers have stepped up, sporting lithium-ion batteries and electric motors and taking full advantage of the instant torque provided by electric powertrains. Though, for traditional horsepower purists, there are also some impressive combustion engines pulling off blistering acceleration times in new cars. That said, bear in mind that factory performance like this isn't cheap, regardless of what configuration is under the hood.

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The Cadillac Escalade IQ

Cadillac Escalade IQ in metallic - Cadillac

The original Escalade, which debuted more than 2 decades ago, has reached an impressive milestone, achieving over 1 million vehicles sold worldwide, according to Cadillac. However, in an attempt to continue bolstering its EV lineup, Cadillac has reimagined its successful luxury SUV and created a brand-new model, the Escalade IQ. The all-electric powertrain outputs an estimated 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque (Velocity Max enabled), with its dual motor all-wheel drive configuration. Also, the Cadillac Escalade IQ drives 558 miles on a single charge. When compared to the gasoline-powered iteration, which pushes out 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, the IQ benefits from quite a bump in performance.

However, even more impressive is the Escalade IQ's 0-to-60 acceleration time, which the automaker estimates will fall under 5 seconds. This is possible via Cadillac's Velocity Max technology, boosting performance with the push of a button. However, demanding more power will deplete the EV battery's charge more quickly. An SUV this quick doesn't come cheap, though, as the baseline trim of the Escalade IQ starts at a costly $130,090.

Polestar 4

A Polestar 4 in gold from the front, driving through an urban area - Polestar

This EV automaker headquartered in Sweden is a relative newcomer to the field, with the brand launching in 2017. Before turning its efforts toward car production, Polestar originally focused on performance tuning, working directly under Volvo. Given its history with motorsports, it may not be a surprise that the EV maker is churning out some models quick off the line. The Polestar 4, an SUV, is perhaps the fastest the company has produced, with a 3.7-second jaunt from 0 to 60 mph.

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This blistering acceleration is only possible with the long-range dual-motor configuration, as the single motor offers a fast but less impressive 6.9 seconds to 60 mph. With the dual-motor setup, the Polestar 4 generates a brawny 544 horsepower with 506 pound-feet of torque. This model can be yours starting at $52,900, but you'll have to get used to one of its strange quirks, no rear window. That's right, instead of a back window allowing you to see behind the vehicle, there's a digital rearview mirror, which the automaker reportedly adopted to provide greater back seat headroom.

The Audi SQ6 e-tron

Audi SQ6 e tron parked along the coast - Audi

Cadillac isn't the only brand enhancing its electric powertrain options. Audi's e-tron series has been busy introducing new models, like the SQ6 e-tron. We got an up close and personal look at the line, seeing firsthand that the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron is built better, faster, and smarter than before. This all-electric SUV boasts 509 horsepower (with launch control enabled and using the S driving mode) and estimated torque figures north of 500 pound-feet.

This output equates to an official 0-to-60-mph time just over 4 seconds. Although, this may be a conservative number, considering automotive outlets like Car and Driver have produced 3.8-second acceleration times during testing. Pricing starts at $72,900, and the car includes features like 20-inch wheels and massaging front seats, among other amenities. One of the innovative aspects of this EV is the more robust 800-volt system, significantly shortening charging times in some scenarios and taking just over 20 minutes to reach 80% from a 10% charge.

The Maserati MCPURA

A Maserati MCPURA in turquoise - Stellantis

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With its low-slung, aerodynamic, and eye-catching exterior, the MCPURA looks every bit the part of exotic supercar. The vertically opening side doors (what Stellantis refers to as "butterfly" doors) are a nice touch as well. New for 2025, the MCPURA is a mid-engine rear-wheel drive design that packs a 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 with twin turbochargers. This powerplant propels the Italian-made supercar and produces 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque.

Marketed as a model that harkens back to Maserati's roots, emphasizing performance and luxury, it can manage a staggering 0-to-60-mph time of under 3 seconds. This is helped by keeping the car's weight down to 3,600 pounds, with the use of carbon-fiber materials and carbon-ceramic brakes. Lightweight design reduces the energy required to move the MCPURA, putting its available power to better use. However, this thrilling Italian machine isn't for everyone, as the coupe is listed for $246,000, a high bar for entry.

The Ford Mustang GTD

2025 Ford Mustang GTD in red and black - Ford

Okay, obviously the Ford Mustang isn't a new model by any stretch. However, the automaker has debuted a new, never-before-seen version, the GTD, with even more muscle. In a 2024 press release, Ford claimed that this model offers more power than every production Mustang ever made. While there are track-only variants of the Mustang, the GTD is street legal and looks far more intimidating than its standard-version brethren. Furthermore, it has the chops under the hood to match its exterior, with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that churns out 815 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. It also utilizes a dry-sump oil setup, which counteracts immense cornering forces, preventing the engine from running lean on oil in demanding scenarios.

It isn't just pure output that sets this Mustang apart, as a project build could incorporate similar engine power using various modifications. The GTD includes many alterations, including a carbon fiber body and carbon-ceramic brakes. The back seat from previous iterations is also absent in the GTD, dropping its weight significantly in comparison to previous performance model efforts. Weight reduction and a massive torque figure equate to a 2.8-second 0-to-60-mph run. Unfortunately, not only is the GTD in limited production, but it runs nearly $330,000, making it appealing to collectors and enthusiasts with deep pockets.

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New Zealand and India announced a free trade agreement aiming to boost trade to $5 billion, but New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters opposes it over dairy exclusions and labor mobility. Despite his objections, the deal is expected to proceed.

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Ghislaine Maxwell and Donald Trump are shown in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 23, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
US President Donald Trump speaks after announcing the US Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
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Google to resume green card applications in 2026: What H-1B visa holders need to know about PERM
A member of the Bangladeshi Hindu community looks on while holding a banner against violence targeting the country's minorities during a protest in Dhaka on August 9, 2024, days after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina. (Photo by LUIS TATO / AFP)
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks after announcing the US Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
A youth leader from Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharifs party threatened military action if India targets Bangladesh, proposed a Pakistan-Bangladesh military alliance, and accused India of destabilising the region, escalating tensions and reckless rhetoric.

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Yunus says Bangladesh polls on schedule; Khaleda Zias son Tarique Rahman set to return Dec 25 | Top updates
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December 23, 2025 What changed with the German Minister of Defense, and why did it change so fast? Act 1: Europes last peaceful summer. Russia may attack NATO sooner than expected  Nexta, Nov 17 2025 German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the past summer may have been the last peaceful one for Europe. We always assumed that a Russian attack on NATO could happen in 2029. But now were hearing assessments pointing to possible escalation as early as 2028, and some military historians even believe we have already lived through the last peaceful summer, the minister said. Act 2: Pistorius cools NATO rhetoric  there will be no Third World War  Nexta, Dec 23 2025 Germanys defence minister Boris Pistorius has distanced himself from alarmism within NATO. In an interview with Die Zeit, he said he does not believe in a scenario of a full-scale war between Russia and the Alliance. He was commenting on remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said the Alliance must be prepared for a war on the scale experienced by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Pistorius responded bluntly, saying this was most likely a figurative exaggeration. I do not believe in such a scenario. In my view, Putin does not intend to wage a full-scale global war against NATO. Brian McDonald asks: Just last month, Boris Pistorius warned a German newspaper that Europe may already have seen its last peaceful summer and that Russia and NATO could be at war next year. Now he says there will be no Third World War and that talk of a NATORussia conflict is figurative exaggeration. What changed, and why did it change so fast? One Dimitry Medvedev asks a similar question: The European peacemakers are surprising. Pistorius said he doesnt believe war will break out between NATO and Russia, and Stubb admitted our country has no interest in attacking alliance members.

So, what happened? Sobering up or have the Christmas holidays simply begun? My answer to both is: Tulsi Gabbard DNI Tulsi Gabbard @DNIGabbard  21:02 utc  Dec 20, 2025 No, this is a lie and propaganda @Reuters is willingly pushing on behalf of warmongers who want to undermine President Trumps tireless efforts to end this bloody war that has resulted in more than a million casualties on both sides. Dangerously, you are promoting this false narrative to block President Trumps peace effort, and fomenting hysteria and fear among the people to get them to support the escalation of war, which is what NATO and the EU really want in order to pull the United States military directly into war with Russia. The truth is the US intelligence community has briefed policymakers, including the Democrat HPSCI member quoted by Reuters, that US Intelligence assesses that Russia seeks to avoid a larger war with NATO. It also assesses that, as the last few years have shown, Russias battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe. The master called and the poodles winced but found their place. Comments
News / Education

by Luke Mbune Chakaza correspondent



aaOn the coming in of new President Cde ED Mnangagwa



Absence of examination supplements

Sometime in the late 1997, the government of Zimbabwe, through its two ministries of Education resolved to conduct an inquiry into the then Education and Training System. A commission of inquiry lead by Mr Nziramasanga was set up and it was the presidential commission of enquiry into Education and Training in Zimbabwe.The commission in its finding recommended that Zimbabwe was lagging behind and was supposed to dump the old education curriculum and introduced a new one to meet international standards. The new curriculum wasn't an overnight thing as it was seen to consume a lot of resources for it to be implemented. However, the Nziramasanga Commission's finding wasn't implemented until when Dr Dokora became Primary and Secondary education minister of Zimbabwe.When Dr Dokora introduced new curriculum in schools, key stake holders like teachers, teachers' unions and parents weren't consulted. There was an outcry over its introduction as it was imminent and rural schools faced the most challenges to implement it. Some civic groups tried to stop it through court action but they failed. School children were introduced to aTasks and continuous assessment'. It was a special burden to both teachers and pupil. The changes introduced by Dr Dokora made education very expensive and tiresome as it increases the workloads to both teachers and students. Schools do not have enough resources to start the program at the same time parents were given an extra cost.The coming in of Cde ED Mnangagwa as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe was positively welcome by Zimbabweans and many people the world over. People viewed his coming in as an avenue through which positive governance change would be realised. Cde Mnangagwa is 'famed' for his pro-people policies, how he listens to the people's voices. This is in sharp contrast with what his predecessor; Mr Robert Mugabe had been doing since 1980.President Mnangagwa promised when he came back from his short stint in exile, he said,"...today we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy. Cde Mnangagwa, like many have already heard from him, subscribes to the 'Vox populi, vox Dei', a Latin maxim meaning, 'the voice of the people is the voice of God.'By saying the 'voice of the people is the voice of God', the maxim was matched practically. When the President put in place his ground hitting cabinet, he had Cde Dokora, the then controversial Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, included in it, only to remove him only 48 hours after appointment but well before being sworn-in. This gesture was viewed by many as one that has never taken place in the history of this country, to see a President revisit his action after a statutory declaration. Many Zimbabweans from all walks of lives, be it teachers, teachers unions, students, parents et cetera, welcomed Dr Dokora's sacking.It goes without saying it that there was nothing personal between Dr Dokora and the people, but had issues with his reforms and some elements of the new Educational curriculum. People were aggrieved by the way he imposed the new curriculum which is bent on destroying our colourful and highly esteemed education sector. Dr Dokora was vigorously implementing obsolete recommendations.The new curriculum would have been an excellent policy, but the timing was bad. Government hurriedly implemented it without adequate consultations. Dr Dokora's successor, Prof Paul Mavima seems to be more arrogant, he is not tolerating the pressure from various stake holders but instead vowed to continue with the new curriculum at the expense of parents since the program is not fully funded. People celebrated the coming in of Prof Mavhima thinking he would revise the curriculum and align it with the people' demands. Research has shown that the new curriculum has brought with it inherent conflicts and clashes between stakeholders and the government, which is not healthy at all. By having it in place, education has become unexpectedly exorbitant and unpredictable.What aches many is fact that candidates who intended to supplement Ordinary and Advanced level subjects can no longer follow the traditional registration process but they have to be attached to an examination centre for continual assessment under the new curriculum, irrespective of the number of subjects to be set for. Zimsec actually issued a statement to the effect that candidates who intend to sit for exams under the new curriculum were required to adhere to the set requirements. The statement further stated that all those who want to sit for exams to write subjects that they want will have to register at approved centres and have their works or tasks moderated by a teacher from that institution after which it will be moderated by Zimsec itself.What this would mean is that those who go to work will no longer be catered for in the education sector of their country, where there is an unfettered constitutional right to education. This would mean so since it would be no longer possible for one to walk into an exam centre without having done set course work tasks, all work is brought in periodically and moderated, then one can sit for examinations, all being done over a two year period; where this then contributes a mere 30 percent of the exam which is then added to the actual exam marks.To tell the truth, we are very disturbed as Zimbabweans why the education sectors are slowly facing possible demise in the hands of technocrats, it will remain a tale of arrogant. While the old government was in a hurry to introduce the NEW CURRICULUM, it failed to make adequate arrangements and provisions for the training of teachers who were going to teach the new material contents in the curriculum. Dozens of schools across the country are yet to receive books and other learning materials for the new curriculum and teachers are still using resources from old curriculum. Despite training offered to few teachers in 2017, many said they lacked the materials required to kick-start the new curriculum system of education. Parents are now calling on the Government to ensure that materials are distributed to ease learning. Teachers need the syllabus for guidance on the objectives of the various topics. They can teach without textbooks but they need the guidance of the syllabus.a aHaving stated all this, the government through line ministry, must engage stakeholders to get full support and maintain the status quo. It can't be tolerated to hear some regions got zero percent pass rate and the school authorities quickly shifts the blame on the newly introduced curriculum. The ministry is just introducing learners to a new curriculum that will make them fail to deal with issues directly affecting them. The new curriculum will destroy our learners' creativity if stakeholders are not properly engaged. They need to call stakeholders and seek their view, a minister don't just sit down and make policies anyhow; it's not proper. He needs to consider the players as well. Let's contribute. They just sit down on their own and make policies without consideration for those that will implement them. We don't want this in the new government's new dispensation.
By Gregorie Michael Towai

Independent Researcher, CNMI/Refaluwasch Cultural Advocate

THE recent Grist article, What changed for deep-sea mining in 2025? Everything, makes one thing unmistakably clear: deep-sea mining is not advancing because the science is settled or because communities consent  it is advancing because power has decided it will.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the statements made by Oliver Gunasekara, CEO of Impossible Metals, whose remarks in the Grist story  and echoed again in his NMI News Service interview  reveal a startling detachment from the lived realities of Indigenous and island communities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In Grist, Gunasekara dismisses calls from CNMI leaders, Guam officials, and community members for more time to respond to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements Request for Information. I think 60 days should be sufficient, he says. Youre talking about writing a document, giving input. He then goes further, framing opposition as a strategy by NGOs to try and delay.

This statement alone should alarm anyone who believes in meaningful public participation.

For CNMI residents, this is not writing a document. This is learning, often for the first time, that millions of acres of ocean surrounding our islands are being considered for industrial extraction. It is understanding unfamiliar technologies, deciphering federal regulatory language, translating implications for elders, fishers, families, and future generations, and doing so during the holidays, while juggling work, caregiving, and economic strain.

To wave this away as a paperwork exercise is not ignorance, it is dismissal.

Gunasekaras posture reflects a broader industry mindset on display throughout the Grist article: that Pacific communities are obstacles to be managed, not nations and peoples with inherent authority over their ocean. His framing assumes that timelines convenient for investors and federal agencies should automatically be sufficient for communities that have been deliberately excluded from early decision-making.

This is not engagement. It is procedural theater.

Equally troubling in the Grist piece is Gunasekaras assertion that Indigenous spiritual and cultural connections to the ocean have died down because Pacific communities are largely Christian. This claim is not only historically false  it is deeply offensive. Christianity did not erase Indigenous cosmologies; it was imposed alongside colonial governance, militarization, and land dispossession. Pacific peoples did not abandon their relationships to the ocean when churches arrived. Those relationships continue through fishing practices, navigation traditions, ancestral knowledge, and obligations to protect what sustains life.

To suggest otherwise is to recycle one of colonialisms oldest justifications: that once Indigenous people adapt, convert, or modernize, their claims to land and sea somehow weaken.

The Grist article rightly highlights Indigenous opposition across Hawaii, the Cook Islands, American Samoa, and the CNMI. Yet Gunasekaras response to this opposition is not humility or caution  it is impatience. He invokes a national emergency, Chinas control of minerals, and global demand as reasons why communities should simply keep up. But urgency has always been the language of extraction. It is how consent is bypassed and harm is reframed as necessity.

His promise of a voluntary 1% profit share does little to change this reality. There is no requirement for consent, no guaranteed revenue sharing, and no local control. Any federal royalties would flow to a Congress where territories have no vote. This is not partnership  it is extraction with public relations attached.

What the Grist story ultimately exposes, perhaps unintentionally, is that deep-sea mining is proceeding on the assumption that Pacific peoples will eventually tire, miss deadlines, or be overridden. Sixty days is deemed enough not because it is adequate, but because it is convenient.

But communities are not delaying justice. We are demanding it.

If Impossible Metals and its peers were serious about respect, they would not minimize community concerns, mischaracterize NGOs, or treat consultation as a hurdle to clear quickly. They would recognize that oceans are not empty spaces, that cultures do not disappear with conversion, and that meaningful engagement cannot be rushed to meet investor timelines.

The CNMI is not a box to check in a federal process.

Our ocean is not a delay tactic.

And 60 days will never be sufficient to decide the fate of something that has sustained us for millennia.

Until communities are treated not as commenters, but as decision-makers, the answer to deep-sea mining remains unchanged: NO!
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has revealed that he met his longtime friend, retired Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube, during the weekend.

Ncube, who was transferred from Bulawayo to Matabeleland North following an alleged sexual scandal involving a woman named Rosemary  now late  was later widely believed to have been a victim of a political sting operation orchestrated by the late former President Robert Mugabes regime due to his outspoken criticism of Gukurahundi.Writing on his Facebook page, Coltart said he was pleased to reconnect with Ncube in Bulawayo.Yesterday I met with an old friend of mine and one of Zimbabwes true heroes, retired Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube. Archbishop Pius showed astonishing bravery between 1983 and 1985 when, as a parish priest with very little protection, he reported on terrible atrocities being committed by the 5 Brigade in rural Matabeleland, Coltart said.When he was later elevated to Archbishop, he showed similar bravery in calling out the serious human rights abuses committed from 2000 onwards.Coltart said Archbishop Ncube, who turns 80 next year, remains one of his personal heroes.We spent a good amount of time discussing the proposed changes to Zimbabwes abortion laws and the growing corruption in our society, he added.God bless and keep you, Pius.
The Philippines is often described as a country afflicted by a succession of internal conflicts: colonial rebellion, communist insurgency, separatist war, Islamist terrorism. This framing obscures a deeper continuity. What the Philippines has experienced instead is a persistent condition of disruptive warfare, shaped and sustained by its incorporation into U.S. grand strategy beginning in 1898. From that point forward, internal conflict was no longer treated primarily as a political failure to be resolved, but as a security condition to be managed so long as the countrys strategic alignment and utility were preserved. The result has been more than a century of instability that is neither accidental nor episodic, but structurally conditioned by the Philippines role as an American strategic asset.

Before the Pivot: Spanish Rule and Incomplete Integration

Spanish colonization of the Philippines, beginning in the sixteenth century, never produced a fully integrated polity. Governance was uneven, extraction-heavy, and reliant on local intermediaries rather than durable institutions. Large portions of the archipelagomost notably Muslim-majority Mindanaowere never fully subdued or incorporated. Resistance was chronic, authority fragmented, and political cohesion shallow.

This history matters not because Spanish rule was uniquely brutal or incompetent, but because it left behind a fragmented political landscape. Spain created instability, but it did not systematize it. Rebellion existed, but it was episodic and local, not yet institutionalized as a permanent security condition. That would change decisively at the end of the nineteenth century.

1898: From Colony to Chess Piece

In 1898, following the SpanishAmerican War, the Philippines became an American possession. More importantly, it became an American strategic position. From Washingtons perspective, the archipelago was no longer merely a former colony with governance problems; it was a Pacific outpost, a gateway to Asia, and a symbol of emerging U.S. power.

This strategic recasting altered the logic of governance. The PhilippineAmerican War that followed was not merely a war of conquest; it was an early exercise in modern counterinsurgency. Pacification, intelligence gathering, population control, and the professionalization of security forces became central governing tools. Internal violence was reframed not as a political failure demanding integration and reform, but as a technical problem requiring management.

By 1902, organized resistance to U.S. rule had been decisively suppressed. The campaign combined intelligence-driven targeting, population control, and punitive force in ways that demonstrated the feasibility of defeating insurgency without resolving its underlying political causes. While costly and brutal, it restored order sufficient for strategic purposes. In doing so, it established a precedent: counterinsurgency could be treated as a technical and organizational problem rather than a political one. That lesson would echo, with unfortunate consequences, through later U.S. military doctrine.

The Philippines thus entered the American security system not as a sovereign project to be completed, but as a position to be held. This strategic recasting did not occur in a vacuum. At the turn of the twentieth century, American thinking about power was heavily influenced by the naval theories of Alfred Thayer Mahan, who argued that national greatness depended on command of the seas, forward bases, and control of key maritime routes. In this framework, the Philippines value lay not in its political cohesion or social development, but in its position astride the Western Pacific.

The archipelago was conceived less as a nation to be integrated than as a platform to be held. That strategic logic did not require internal stabilityonly that disorder remain manageable. From the outset, then, the Philippines entered U.S. grand strategy as a positional asset, with its internal conflicts subordinated to external imperatives.

The Japanese Gambit

The Japanese conquest of the Philippines during World War II underscored the strategic logic that had already shaped American policy. Japan did not seize the archipelago because of its internal politics or social structure, but because of its position astride key maritime routes and its value as a forward operating platform. The rapid collapse of U.S. defenses in 1941 revealed a fundamental reality: in great-power conflict, the Philippines internal stability was strategically irrelevant. What mattered was denial, access, and control. The war thus confirmed the Philippines role not as a sovereign state to be defended for its own sake, but as a positional asset whose fate would be determined by external strategic competition.

The lesson drawn by the United States from this experience was not that Philippine political cohesion should be prioritized, but that strategic alignment and access had to be secured under all conditions. When the United States returned after the war, it did so with a security posture designed to prevent strategic loss rather than to complete political integration.

Permanent Counterinsurgency as Normality

In the postwar era, counterinsurgency hardened into a governing norm. Philippine security institutions were shaped around containment rather than resolution. Stability came to mean the suppression of threats below a tolerable threshold, not the elimination of the structural drivers that produced them.

This approach proved durable. Insurgencies could be weakened, fragmented, or temporarily suppressed without being resolved. Security forces became tactically proficient. External assistance flowed steadily. The state survived, elections were held, and formal sovereignty was preserved.

What never emerged was a political settlement capable of integrating peripheral regions, addressing land inequality, or dissolving the incentive structures that perpetuated rebellion. Low-grade conflict became sustainable. In this sense, disorder was not a failure of the system; it was the equilibrium the system produced.

Recurring Insurgency

The persistence of internal conflict in the Philippines has often been obscured by its changing ideological labels. Communist insurgency, Moro separatism, and Islamist militancy have each been treated as distinct problems requiring distinct responses. In practice, these movements emerged from the same conflict ecology: peripheral neglect, weak political integration, elite capture, and security-first governance.

Ideology shifted; structure did not. Armed groups fragmented, reconstituted, and rebranded. The New Peoples Army waxed and waned. Moro movements split, negotiated, and rearmed. Islamist branding supplied a new vocabulary for an old pattern. Each iteration justified renewed security assistance while deferring the political and economic reforms necessary for durable resolution.

Persistent insurgency did not serve a deliberate American purpose, but it produced consequences aligned with U.S. strategic interests. So long as internal conflict remained containable, it sustained security cooperation, reinforced institutional dependence, and ensured strategic alignment without requiring deep political transformation. Instability was not sought, but it was tolerated, managed, and ultimately normalized.

Advising Without Resolving

The American role throughout this period has been consistent. Training missions, advisory deployments, intelligence cooperation, and joint exercises have enhanced the tactical competence of Philippine forces. Measured narrowly, many of these efforts succeeded. Measured strategically, they did not. Metrics focused on operations rather than outcomes. Kill and capture rates substituted for political integration. Professionalization reinforced dependency. Each new phase of assistance optimized the system for continued management rather than transformation. This pattern is familiar across U.S. security partnerships. What distinguishes the Philippines is not failure, but longevity: more than a century of security engagement without structural resolution.

The closure of major U.S. bases in the early 1990s briefly appeared to mark a strategic departure. The Philippines asserted sovereignty, rejected permanent basing, and sought greater autonomy from American military influence. Yet the underlying security relationship remained intact. Internal conflict persisted, defense capacity remained limited, and reliance on external support quietly continued through advisory missions, access agreements, and intermittent cooperation. When regional competition intensified, the strategic logic reasserted itself with little friction. The episode demonstrated that the Philippines could distance itself from the form of U.S. military presence but not its function within American grand strategy.

This continuity was formalized in 2014 under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows U.S. forces rotational access to designated Philippine military facilities, permits prepositioning of equipment, and authorizes the construction of temporary infrastructure. EDCA does not reestablish permanent U.S. bases, but it preserves the functional equivalent of rapid access and surge capability. In a crisis, this framework would allow substantial U.S. military assets to be positioned in the Philippines without the political or legal delays associated with renegotiating basing rights. The distinction between access and basing is therefore largely administrative rather than strategic.

The Chess Game Resumes

As competition between the United States and China intensifies, the Philippines geographic position has regained prominence, increasing its strategic value once again. Basing access, maritime route proximity, and forward positioning have elevated the archipelagos external significance within the evolving Indo-Pacific security environment. U.S. security cooperation has increasingly emphasized access, interoperability, and presence, placing the Philippines closer to the front line of disputes over maritime boundaries and regional control.

What has not changed is the countrys internal fragility. Peripheral regions remain underdeveloped. Infrastructure is vulnerable. Defense capacity is limited. The very conditions that once made managed instability tolerablecontainable conflict, external security support, and deferred reformnow amplify exposure under conditions of great-power competition. Strategic importance does not confer protection; it increases risk. A state with limited defense autonomy and persistent internal insecurity has fewer credible options for strategic nonalignment. In such conditions, alignment with a potential belligerent often reflects constraint rather than preference. A country valued primarily for its position becomes more, not less, vulnerable as rivalry among major powers intensifies.

The Sacrificial Piece

The danger of being treated as a strategic chess piece is not merely that one is manipulated, but that one may eventually be sacrificed. In a serious regional conflict, devastation of the Philippines would not require invasion or occupation. Precision strikes, infrastructure paralysis, and economic disruption would be sufficient to render the Philippines unusable to both sides. Such an outcome would not be an accident or a tragic miscalculation. It would be the possible consequence of a century-long pattern in which the Philippines primary value lay in its strategic position, not its stability. Managed instability is tolerable until escalation to war renders management irrelevant.

The Philippines misfortune is not that it has suffered too many wars. It is that it has been positioned, repeatedly, as a place where disruption could be absorbed in service of big power strategies. When a nation is treated as a chess piece long enough, its welfare becomes secondary, and its sacrifice becomes a strategic option.
Politicians have now discovered that people are using VPNs to protect their privacy and bypass these invasive laws. Their solution? Entirely ban the use of VPNs.

The current Danish government is clearly no friend of online privacy or anonymity. During its rotating six-month presidency of the EU council, which is, thankfully, coming to an end, it tried to push through the European Commissions proposed Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse  aka, the Chat Control Law  despite widespread opposition.

As we noted at the time, the ostensible goal of the proposed regulations  curbing the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online  is commendable. However, the way the EU was going about it not only threatened fundamental rights and protections for everyone; it risked transforming the Internet into an even more centrally controlled, surveilled environment.

In its original form, the proposed law effectively mandated the scanning of private communications, including those currently protected by end-to-end encryption. If enacted, messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, would have to scan every message, photo and video sent by users, even when encrypted.

The proposal was opposed by enough member states, including Germany, in large part due to grassroots pressure, to prevent it from passing the EU Council. So, the Danish government went back to the drawing board. The compromise bill it came up with mandates a voluntary search for sensitive material in private chats, instead of general monitoring, and was duly approved.

While a marked improvement on the original, the new proposal still raises serious concerns. Former MEP Patrick Beyer, one of the key defenders of privacy in Europe, warns that three major problems still remain unsolved. From Euronews:

[T]he proposal still does not follow the European Parliaments position that only courts can decide to access communication channels; it still bans children from downloading messaging apps; and, lastly, anonymous communication is effectively outlawed. [T]he current Danish proposal does not follow the European Parliaments (EP) position to allow scanning of communications only by court order. The EPs proposal is a fundamental safeguard for Europeans privacy of communications and sets a standard that cannot later be changed by extra pressure from EU institutions, such as the famous Voluntary Codes of Practice/Conduct weve seen for general-purpose AI and disinformation. Voluntary in Europe often isnt: opting out of a voluntary code can mean stricter treatment, nudging tech firms toward de facto mandatory scanning without explicitly regulating it [T]he Danish proposals Article 4(3) would effectively ban anonymous email and messenger accounts, as well as anonymous chatting: They would need to present an ID or their face, making them identifiable and risking data leaks. This alone should alarm journalists and civil society organisations that rely on private communication with whistleblowers.

Seemingly not satisfied with achieving a consensus on EU-wide control of messaging apps, the Danish government recently came up with a legislative proposal that sought to ban the domestic use of VPNs  to access geo-restricted streaming content and bypass website blocks.

The proposal formed part of a broader legislative effort to combat online piracy that has alarmed digital rights advocates, reported Tech Radar:

Jesper Lund, chairman of the IT Political Association, expressed deep concern over the bills ambiguous language, stating it has a totalitarian feel to it. Lund argued that the current wording could be interpreted so broadly that it would not only criminalize streaming but also hinder the sale and legitimate use of VPN services across Denmark. Even in Russia, it is not punishable to bypass illegal websites with a VPN, Lund told Danish broadcaster DR, pointing out that the proposed Danish law could go further than measures seen in more authoritarian states.

The good news is that the proposed measure drew so much flak from digital rights advocates and the general public that the government withdrew it  or at least temporarily shelved it  last week. Again, from Tech Radar:

The Danish Minister for Culture, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, announced on Monday that he was cutting the contentious section from the bill. I do not support making VPNs illegal, and I have never proposed to do so, Engel-Schmidt said in a statement. He admitted the initial text was not formulated precisely enough and led to a fundamental misunderstanding of its purpose. The original proposal, part of a wider anti-piracy effort, sought to make it illegal to use VPN connections to access media content which would otherwise not be available in Denmark, or to circumvent blocks on illegal websites. This sparked alarm among privacy groups, who warned that the vague wording could criminalize not only streaming enthusiasts but also ordinary citizens using the best VPN services for legitimate privacy and security reasons Jesper Lund of the IT Political Association described the proposal as having a totalitarian feel to it and warned it could go further than measures seen in more authoritarian countries.

Denmark is by no means the only Western liberal democracy to have turned its sights on VPNs in recent months. Since VPNs essentially function as anonymity masks that allow users to hide their online activity and access restricted content, their popularity has grown as governments have sought to impose increasingly draconian restrictions on Internet use.

As readers may recall, when the UKs Starmer government made age verification checks mandatory for accessing pornography and other supposedly adult content online in July, it sparked an explosion in VPN use. As we had previously warned, these online age verification checks, that are now proliferating across the collective Wests ostensibly liberal democracies, threaten to trap everyone, not just minors, in their web.

The Starmer governments predictable response has been to buckle down by including amendments to its Orwellian-titled Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill that seek to ban children from using VPNs, among other things.

The UK Parliament just debated a petition with 550,000 signatures calling to repeal the Online Safety Act. It could have been a moment to defend free speech. Instead, MPs used it to demand even more control over the internet. They said its not about controlling speech, while https://t.co/AUNNWRs3on  Reclaim The Net (@ReclaimTheNetHQ) December 18, 2025

As with the age verification checks for pornography websites, the new checks, if implemented, will trap both adults and children in their web.

It would be bad enough if this were just another bout of madness on the part of Europes political class, but the same thing is happening throughout the so-called Collective West. Australia just introduced its long-awaited age verification legislation, which blocks under-16s from joining social media platforms, thereby all adults to submit ID to access platforms.

As we warned in November 2024, online age verification appears to be the Trojan Horse for the mass rollout and enforced adoption of digital IDs. Other Western jurisdictions, including the UK, the EU, and the US, are now treating the Australian rules as a blueprint for their own legislation, reports Reclaim the Net.

In the United States, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama said she hopes Australia taking this stepleads the US to actually doing something. Britt, a mother of two, is one of the sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act, which would prevent children under thirteen from using social platforms. Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told The Sydney Morning Herald that he supports similar limits. I like it. Ive supported age limits here in the US for kids on social media, he said. I say this as a parentParents need help, and they feel like theyre swimming upstream when everybody else has social media. Hawley, author of The Tyranny of Big Tech, said he has spoken with Australian stakeholders about the ban, though he did not identify them.

The Starmer governments proposed amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill also calls for requiring social media to use highly-effective age assurance measures to prevent children under 16 from using VPNs.

However, most age assurance measures are anything but effective. While governments in the West are lauding the benefits of Australias age verification system and its social media ban for under-16s, the reality on the ground is that Australian teenagers, like their counterparts in the UK, are finding embarrassingly easy workarounds, including using VPNs and other peoples faces, as the report below explains.

Looks like Australia's social media ban for under 16s is a colossal failure and the laughing stock of the world. Young people are smart and have easy workarounds for the "ban". They are openly mocking Anthony Albanese and one even says straight up, "I know who I'm not voting for pic.twitter.com/wyxxeeRUIo  Francynancy (@FranMooMoo) December 18, 2025

After the UK implemented its similar Online Safety Act to prevent youth from accessing online adult content in July, the countrys VPN usage surged 6,430% as teens sough to skirt age checks on social media platforms and pornography websites. Perhaps with time, the restrictions will become more effective.

According to Information Age, tech companies, including SNAP, Meta and Reddit, are confident of being able to comply with the new age restrictions  failure to do so could result in eight-figure fines:

Speaking with Information Age, a spokesperson for social media company Snap confirmed using a VPN wont change existing users ability to access Snapchat. Snapchat determines eligibility based on where your account has been active over the past month, not just your current network connection, they said. If your account is locked because youre under 16 in Australia, it will stay locked until you turn 16 and complete age verification. Social media giant Meta  which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads  also confirmed it is prepared to adhere to the ban despite VPN usage. While VPNs allow users to change their IP address, we also consider signals beyond just IP when determining a users location, a spokesperson said. Reddit did not explain precisely how it plans to block underage VPN users, but a spokesperson confirmed it is taking steps to comply with Australias Social Media Minimum Age Law, including suspending accounts of users confirmed to be under 16 and requiring new users to be at least 16 to create accounts.

As other governments are looking to impose their own online age verification rules, theyre also looking at ways to close off access to the most important workaround: VPNs. A few months ago, Forbes reported that some US states are debating the merits of imposing VPN bans or restrictions. The US cyber defense agency, CISA, has even published a warning for Android and iPhone users: Do not use a personal VPN:

This reissued advice first surfaced a year ago, now it will resonate given the VPN surge seen since. Virtual Private Networks work by tunnelling data to and from a device via third-party servers. This masks location and specific activity (sites and platform visited) from the networks and ISPs carrying the traffic. Good VPNs also provide a layer of protection when connecting via public Wi-Fi networks, albeit theyre not strictly necessary. CISA warns that personal VPNs simply shift residual risks from the internet service provider (ISP) to the VPN provider, often increasing the attack surface. Many free and commercial VPN providers have questionable security and privacy policies. As a blanket warning its not unhelpful. An unsafe VPN from an unsafe developer is much worse than no VPN at all. And while hiding your location to bypass a porn ban is straightforward, most if not all the content to/from your device is encrypted anyway.

What the Forbes article doesnt mention is the extent to which Israeli tech companies have come to dominate the VPN market. As Alan Mcleod reports for Mint Press, a considerable chunk of the market  including three of the six most popular VPNs  is quietly operated by an Israeli-owned company with close connections to that countrys national security state, including the elite Unit 8200 and Duvdevan Units of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

This is the same Israel whose companies and intelligence agencies have created many of the worlds most advanced online surveillance programs and hacking tools, including Cellebrite and Pegasus. The fact that it also controls many of the worlds VPNs, with which it could create backdoors for Israeli intelligence to carry out a vast kompromat operation on users around the globe is an obvious cause for concern, warns Mcleod.

In other words, one should be selective when choosing a VPN service, especially now that governments have them squarely in their sights  at the same time that they are intensifying their censorship efforts.

Politicians have now discovered that people are using VPNs to protect their privacy and bypass these invasive laws, EFF warns. Their solution? Entirely ban the use of VPNs And that battle is being fought by people who clearly have no idea how any of this technology actually works.

NC reader Baron Aroxdale raised a similar point in the comments section of a previous post, noting that VPN bans are unlikely to work  at least not without causing serious damage to the internet along the way:

VPNs are a very standard part of business IT. They are simply a means to connect remote computers together on the same virtual network. Support for them is normally inbuilt into operating systems, and hardware network companies will normally provide desktop applications to support VPN setup on their routers. VPNs are about as common as internet proxies or email. You cant just ban them without breaking the backbone of modern IT systems since the late 1990s.

That didnt prevent the Danish government from trying. However, it was forced into a retreat by the ferocity of the public backlash. This may hold an important lesson for us all in the so-called liberal West: if we are to have any chance of preserving any degree of privacy and anonymity online, were going to have to fight tooth and nail for it.

Over a decade ago, popular grassroots movements in the US were able to halt the passage of the SOPA and PIPA bills that threatened free speech, internet security and online innovation. Similarly, one of the main reasons why the EU couldnt push through the Chat Control legislation in its original form was a one-man grassroots online campaign that brought pressure to bear on Europes elected representatives.

In both cases, the unparalleled network effects of the internet were used as a powerful weapon against governments repressive designs for the internet. The problem today, however, is that governments keep learning from these failures and adopting their strategy. They are also more determined than ever to bring the internet under their control, even if it means doing so in a salami slicing way  something the EU is particularly adept at.
Great White Sharks Were Scared Out of Their Habitat by Just 2 Predators ScienceAlert (Chuck L)

The Return of the Weirdo Ted Gioia

Were classical statues painted horribly? Works in Progress (Anthony L)

This remarkable book about a wild boy reveals what makes us human Washington Post (Anthony L)

What makes you human? Julian Macfarlane

Small explosion at Black Diamond Pool, Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park this morning  USGS called it a kablooey (sudden, dramatic, often messy explosion) Great word!pic.twitter.com/QkzpPAjZpS  Volcaholic  (@volcaholic1) December 20, 2025

Editing is Only Good If the Editing is Good and a Lot of Editing is Not Good Freddie deBoer. The editor of my book had recently come out of marketing and sent e-mails like It detracts the reader from the flow. Dealing with her enabled me to get over my WASP inhibitions and have screaming rages to my agent, who had to intercede too often. The straw that broke the camels back was after repeatedly asking if they cared about format for footnotes, and after I had turned in half the chapters, they said they had to have Chicago Style. I said I was not fixing that on the completed chapters (I was also, uncharacteristic for a book, being held to a very tight and rigid publication deadline), that that was their task. It turns out that there is self-censorship among book authors. Many report, but it seems only to a fellow book writer, that they were subjected to lousy editors. By contrast, I have had very good editors when writing for magazines and big online venues like Bloomberg.

Ancient sewers expose a hidden health crisis in Roman Britain ScienceDaily (Kevin W)

Vaccinating Boys Against HPV Could Eliminate Cervical Cancer ScienceAlert (Chuck L)

The FDAs Leucovorin ApprovalA Departure From Evidentiary Standards JAMA. Important. More RFK, Jr. corruption. JJ: Weird. In fact no science.

#COVID-19/Pandemics

 BREAKING: Super Flu Spreads Across UK as Hospitals Lose Nearly 13,000 Beds to Bed-Blocking Patients Schools battling flu outbreaks have closed; officials urge the sick to skip Christmas, MPs call for emergency vaccines. pic.twitter.com/6B5vS1X4Vm  SARSCoV2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) December 22, 2025 The Wall Street Journal seems to have figured out how to prevent archiving, so I must report on rather than link to a finding from a recent story, on what are passengers to do if they are worried about toxic fumes. N95 respirators will only stop particles, not gases, BUT P100s will. So if you are seriously germ-paranoid, you can now use toxic fumes as a justification to wear a Darth Vader looking half-face respirator. Havent stepped in a supermarket for 2 years but went to get turkey. Arrived before opening (people queuing). Wore my respirator. Saw one other mask  surgical). No side glances/comments, no-one noticed. Get your respirator on  no-one gives a shit & you enjoy sickness free Xmas. pic.twitter.com/z3cMVFuvRL  Lara  Covid is Airborne (@fillthewhole) December 22, 2025 China vows city-specific fixes to clear housing glut, stabilise property sector South China Morning Post

Climate/Environment

China?

China turns on a vast experimental network it says is an heir to ARPANET The Register (Chuck L) Stanford just dropped a quiet bombshell  and Western media barely noticed.

Chinas open-source AI models havent just caught up to the US in some areas, theyve pulled ahead. According to Stanfords DigiChina Project, Chinese open-weight models like DeepSeek, Alibaba Cloud, pic.twitter.com/bf7Iek5MQW  Barrett (@BarrettYouTube) December 21, 2025 Chinas Sprint for Tech Dominance Cant Hide an Economy Full of Holes Wall Street Journal. Lead story. No archived version yet. While it makes valid observations about overproduction, weak consumption, not great social safety nets, and Xis determination to continue to boost exports, the piece has a cursory feel, as if the writers thought it was so obvious that an American audience would buy what they were selling that the support for the arguments seem dialed in rather than well-substantiated.

India

Why the US-led Pax Silica tech alliance snubbed India Asia Times (Kevin W)

Africa

South of the Border

European Disunion

Israel v. The Resistance

New Not-So-Cold War

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump 2.0

Immigration

Supremes

Progressive Judicial Institutionalism Steve Vladeck

GOP Clown Car

Laffaire Epstein

Economy

AI

The Bezzle

Class Warfare

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.

Antidote du jour (via):
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If a much-ballyhooed US show of force, here the seizing of a tanker as part of a purported Venezuela blockade, was reported as having happened when it has not yet and may not come off, is US military machismo still intact? And if not, what does the US do next?

Mind you, the facts may change after this post goes live, but as of now, the last major media news report on the status of Bella-1, the third of three sanctioned Venezuela-serving oil tankers targeted for US seizure is still free. It is currently under Chinese ownership, apparently intended to carry a cargo from Venezuela to China. Bloomberg and perhaps other outlets had reported this third targeted tanker as boarded (the US had just captured another tanker over the weekend). But searches now show headlines (perhaps including corrected ones?) depicting the third vessel as still under pursuit. From the BBC in Trump says US is pursuing third oil tanker linked to Venezuela as of 9 hours ago; there are slightly older reports along these lines and nothing more current from big outlets:

The US Coast Guard is still pursuing a vessel in international waters near Venezuela as tensions in the region escalate, President Donald Trump has confirmed. Were actually pursuing the tanker, Trump said on Monday. The current chase is related to a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuelas illegal sanctions evasion, a US official told the BBCs partner CBS News. Late on Saturday the US Coast Guard approached an oil tanker, which US officials said was not flying a valid national flag, the New York Times reported. Confirming the chase on Monday, President Trump said: Its moving along. Well end up getting it. The president said that the US would hold onto the seized oil and the vessels carrying it. Were going to keep it maybe well sell it, maybe well keep it, he said. Maybe well use it in the strategic reserves. Were keeping it, were keeping the ships also.

Trump has repeatedly had the bad habit of declaring victory when it has not been secured, witness a peace deal in Ukraine, between Thailand and Cambodia, obliteration of Irans nuclear program, a ceasefire in Gaza, victory versus the Houthis.the list goes on. So I will believe it when I see it.

Additional detail from Twitter:

 BREAKING: High-seas pursuit underway! The US Coast Guard is currently chasing the "Bella 1" oil tanker near Venezuela after the vessel refused a boarding order. This is the 3rd tanker targeted in 12 days as Trumps "total blockade" hits the high seas. #Venezuela #USCG pic.twitter.com/Y1x7g7Jxni  True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) December 21, 2025

A colleague here who has very extensive contacts across the Global South diplomatic community told me last evening that the Bella, as he put it ran away and has held off the US helicopters using the booms on the ship. The BBC story linked above happens to have a clip of the US seizing the second tanker and it shows helicopters being used to effect the capture, so that does offer corroboration of sorts. This contact also said about half the UKs navy had been deployed to the Caribbean.

I am not even remotely a commercial maritime or a naval operations expert. However, it seems likely that if the Bella has evaded capture so far, it could get away. Helicopters do not have huge ranges. The US is not going to move whatever carrier it came from all that much to effect one seizure, since it still needs to maintain the blockade.

Now if the Bella-1 does indeed get away, what does the US do next? Presumably other bold captains, seeing that the US can simply be outrun, would similarly try ignoring US boarding efforts. After all, they too might succeed in escaping and the worst is that they are seized a bit later.

Experts are encouraged to weigh in. Might helicopter crews attempt small arms fire on ship personnel the next time? It was none other than Pete Hegseth who bragged about not being bound by tiresome rules and using maximum lethality. But if we were to try that, would that not justify a response by the ships crew? I have to imagine they do have some arms on board because pirates. How hard would it be to get off a shot that would take out a helicopters fragile rotors? But might the US actually welcome an incident like that because it could then justify deploying fighter jets? This sounds dangerously stoopid but that is this Administrations hallmark.

But at least one account says the US abandoned pursuit even after media outlets were reporting the chase as still on:

12/22 VENEZUELA

US FORCES ARE NO LONGER PURSUING THIRD TANKER, BELLA1 (AXIOS/M Allen)

U.S. WAS NEVER ABOARD

Since ship was empty

Easy to find out: draft above water 2024 US Treasury sanctioned Bella 1 f/allegedly transporting cargo aiming Hezbollah and Iran's elite Quds Force

PJ pic.twitter.com/vNdBjaWC9H  Paulo Jorge (photo P.J., LA 1989) (@PauloCruzJCO) December 22, 2025

The ship being empty is consistent with the claims that it was coming from Iran to Venezuela (which would otherwise seem nonsensical). Readers can advise if a tanker going that long distance a to pick up a cargo is unusual:

US forces were unable to seize the oil tanker Bella 1, and it continued its journey from Iran to Venezuela. The ship remains en route, indicating that it completely avoided any interception during its transit. #Venezuela #USA #Iran pic.twitter.com/jOCHSmAECu  Venezuela Brief (@venezbrief) December 22, 2025

More nuggets:

Although (to our best knowledge) BELLA 1 (9230880) still hasn't been seized, she faces another challenge. She has been in transit for 39 days, and at 11kn average speed, she has maybe another 28-35 days of fuel available unless her speed drops. This might happen if the US Coast pic.twitter.com/VuK86kndxc  TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) December 23, 2025

Mind you, China has already complained about the US capture of Chinese ships transporting Venezuelan oil, but that was triggered by the grabbing of the second tanker, the Centuries, and not Bella-1.

But if you read a story from Reuters, republished on qCaptain, carefully, the US embargo is even more limited than it seems. The Administration did say it was limited only to sanctioned tankers and that does seem not to mean all tankers plying the Venezuela trade. From Reuters in Venezuela Sends Two Supertankers to China Despite U.S. Blockade Threat:

Venezuela on Thursday authorized two very large crude carriers (VLCC) to set sail for China, according to two sources familiar with Venezuelas oil export operations, which would be only the second and third supertankers to depart the country since the U.S. seized a ship carrying Venezuelan oil last week. The U.S. has said it would not allow vessels under sanction to leave Venezuelan waters. The departing tankers, each carrying around 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey heavy crude according to internal documents from state company PDVSA, are not on the U.S. current sanctions list.. Of 75 oil tankers currently in Venezuela that are part of a shadow fleet of ships that typically navigate with transponders off to disguise their locations, around 38 have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, according to data from TankerTrackers.com, updated this week. Of those, at least 15 are loaded with crude and fuel, it added.

So was this blockade intended to be leaky, and more intended for optics and face preservation as opposed to real strangulation? Or alternatively, that a partial choking of oil traffic would be enough to do real damage to the already weak Venezuela economy?

And on the Russia front:

Sweden boards and releases sanctioned Russian vessel off its coast Swedish authorities boarded a sanctioned Russian freighter off the countrys west coast after she stopped in Swedish waters due to reported engine trouble, according to media reports. #MarineTraffic data shows pic.twitter.com/97pdpZmXWh  MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) December 22, 2025

Some in the US are pursuing another bright idea, of encouraging piracy by authoring letters of marque, supposedly to go after cartel-related ships. Since Trump designated Venezuelas president Maduro to be a narco-terrorist, could that notion be stretched to include having privateers assist in the blockade?

The official scheme so far, courtesy the Washington Post:

As President Donald Trump ramps up tensions with Venezuela, U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to bring back a scourge of the high seas banished from Atlantic and Pacific waters since the age of sail: privateers, authorized by government-issued letters of marque to ply the trade of piracy in service of their country by targeting enemy ships. These modern-day privateers, under a bill introduced Thursday by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), would receive authorization from Trump as private individuals to seize foreign vessels from anyone who is a member of a cartel, a member of a cartel-linked organization, or a conspirator associated with a cartel or a cartel-linked organization. Cartels have replaced corsairs in the modern era, but we can still give private American citizens and their businesses a stake in the fight against these murderous foreign criminals, Lee, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement announcing the bill. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act will revive this historic practice to defend our shores and seize cartel assets.

And as we surmised, the intent does seem to enlist the help of dull normals in the Venezuela embargo effort:

The U.S. has amassed a vast array of warships, surveillance craft and aircraft in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford  the Pentagons largest aircraft carrier. Thousands of soldiers, including elite Special Forces units, have also been deployed to the region. Under Lees Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025, ordinary American citizens could join them in plying the seas for vessels to intercept.

There is mainly unseemly enthusiasm for this plan on Twitter:

Letters of Marque: The Sword Unsheathed for National Salvation In the arsenal of forgotten American remedies lies the Letter of Marque and Reprisala constitutional weapon sharper than any tariff, more direct than diplomacy, and truer to the frontier spirit than endless pic.twitter.com/yNPt69d8g1  American Steppe  (@HarryFStoggs) December 22, 2025

Just a AK wielding Privateer waiting for my Letter of Marque to fight cartels in the Caribbean! pic.twitter.com/bnVPIewyWw  BRINK (@BRINK_____) December 20, 2025

But also a few cautionary views:

Under a Letter of Marque, you literally get the freedom to violate other peoples freedoms, take their shit, sell it, lie on your taxes, and the government will mostly take your word for it that you didnt find anything of value on the vessel once you turn it in. This pic.twitter.com/wrJGwanYEj  MiamiViceGOP (@MiamiViceGOP) December 19, 2025

It really is too bad that the Administration is in a hissy with Somalis right now, since they seem to be world leaders in piracy and could probably lend a hand. But then again, we had designated not just ISIS but even specifically the then-named Al-Jolani as a terrorist until we decided we really really needed him and kissed and made up.

Weve embedded the draft text of the bill at the end of the post.

After encouraging AI theft of intellectual property and money laundering and tax evasion via crypto, this new turn to lawlessness should come as no surprise. But its still depressing to see what the US has become.
AI campaign war: A battle for Americas technological soul

Rival factions are preparing to spend over $150 million to influence the 2026 elections, aiming to elect lawmakers who will either accelerate or strictly regulate AI development. This spending is set to surpass even the crypto industry's political efforts.

The conflict is between the "AI boomers" (pro-industry, advocating for rapid development under a national framework) and the "AI doomers" (a bipartisan coalition pushing for stringent safety regulations and controls over AI).

Led by tech-funded super PACs like 'Leading the Future', this camp plans to spend up to $100 million to elect candidates who will prioritize U.S. competitiveness, especially against China. Their key policy goal is a single, light-touch federal AI rulebook that overrides state-level regulations.

This bipartisan effort, led by former lawmakers, aims to raise $50 million to support candidates who favor strong federal AI safety rules, transparency and maintaining strict export controls on advanced chips to adversaries like China. They also believe states should retain regulatory authority as a backstop.

The outcome of this political battle will determine the foundational U.S. approach to AI governance, balancing innovation against precaution and federal power against states' rights. The 2026 elections will be a key battleground where this debate is settled, shaping the rules for a technology that will redefine society.

A seismic political clash is brewing, one that will move the debate over artificial intelligence from the hushed halls of congressional hearing rooms to the roar of the campaign trail. In an unprecedented mobilization, two rival factions are preparing to spend at least $150 million to shape the outcome of federal and state elections, aiming to install lawmakers who will either unleash or tightly govern this transformative technology. This looming financial war, reported to exceed the crypto industry's massive 2024 political spending, signals that the nation's AI future will be decided not just by engineers and ethicists, but by voters, attack ads and super PACs.

The battle lines are drawn

The conflict features two organized camps with starkly different visions. On one side are the so-called "AI boomers," industry-backed advocates championing rapid development under a single, national framework. Their opposition is the "AI doomers," a bipartisan coalition of former lawmakers and skeptics pushing for stringent regulation and controls, arguing that without guardrails, AI poses profound risks to society, national security and economic stability. This direct confrontation between well-funded interests marks a new chapter in the politics of technology, where the stakes are nothing less than global leadership and the fundamental structure of future society.

The "boomer" agenda: Speed and sovereignty

Leading the pro-industry charge is a network of super PACs called "Leading the Future," seeded with capital from tech luminaries like OpenAI's Greg Brockman, venture firm a16z and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. With plans to deploy up to $100 million, the group's mission is to elect candidates who will prioritize American competitiveness, particularly against China, by preventing a patchwork of state laws.

Their strategy hinges on federal preemptionthe idea that Congress should create one national AI rulebook, overriding states like California or New York that may craft their own regulations. Josh Vlasto, a political strategist co-leading the effort, argues that a fragmented regulatory landscape would cripple innovation. While supporting the concept of a federal standard, the group tends to advocate for light-touch, industry-influenced governance, framing detailed rules as bureaucratic handcuffs that could cede the AI race to foreign rivals. Their first political salvo was an announcement targeting a New York state legislator running for Congress who supports local AI rules, demonstrating their willingness to play offense.

The "doomer" counteroffensive: Guardrails and security

Arrayed against this financial juggernaut is a bipartisan effort led by former Representatives Chris Stewart, a Utah Republican and Brad Carson, an Oklahoma Democrat. Their twin super PACs aim to raise $50 million to boost candidates who favor stronger AI regulation and tight export controls on advanced computer chips destined for China. Carson argues that public anxiety about AI's breakneck pace is underestimated and that the tech industry's "accelerationist" mindset threatens public trust.

For the "doomers," core priorities include enforceable federal rules on AI safety, transparency and accountability. Crucially, they believe states should retain the authority to act as a regulatory backstop if Congress fails to legislate, mirroring their role in areas like consumer protection and data privacy. They also view export controls as a non-negotiable national security issue, opposing looser restrictions on chip sales to geopolitical adversaries. Their central thesis is that building public confidence through responsible oversight is ultimately pro-innovation, preventing a catastrophic backlash that could stifle the technology entirely.

A historical crossroads

This impending showdown carries echoes of past technological and political battles, from the early days of the internet to the recent crypto industry's foray into elections. However, the scale and direct opposition are novel. The AI debate strikes at the heart of enduring American tensions: innovation versus precaution, federal authority versus states' rights and corporate influence versus public interest. The outcome will determine whether the U.S. approaches AI with a primarily economic and competitive lens or a precautionary one focused on societal impact and democratic resilience.

As the 2026 midterms approach, voters in key races will be inundated with messaging framing AI as either an existential opportunity or a perilous risk. The "boomers" will warn of lost supremacy and stifled progress. The "doomers" will talk about unchecked corporate power and societal disruption. This $150 million discourse will shape not only the political landscape but also the very architecture of a technology poised to redefine work, creativity and security.

"This conflict is framed as a fundamental clash of values, not just a technical debate," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "The 'boomer' perspective likely represents an established, optimistic view prioritizing progress and utility. Meanwhile, the 'doomer' perspective represents a cautious, protective view emphasizing risk, safety and the preservation of current stability."

The coming AI campaign war is more than a policy dispute; it is a fundamental debate about who governs the future. In a nation already grappling with deep divisions, this battle over artificial intelligence introduces a new frontier where the decisions made at the ballot box will directly configure the algorithms that may one day configure our lives. The result will chart America's course in the 21st century, determining if the nation leads with innovation tempered by wisdom, or races ahead with minimal glance at the precipice below.

Watch as Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about AI on "The Prather Point."

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

PunchBowl.news

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Californias fuel crisis deepens as refineries flee

Gov. Newsom, previously a vocal critic of Big Oil, is now fast-tracking drilling permits and negotiating with oil companies to prevent refinery closures, fearing fuel shortages and $8/gallon gas by 2026.

Two major refineries (Valero & Phillips 66) are shutting down, cutting 20% of California's refining capacity, forcing reliance on expensive foreign importsoften from nations with weaker environmental standards.

Newsom's ABX2-1 (2024) and SB X1-2 meant to control fuel storage and police oil companies instead drove refineries out due to "unsustainable" compliance costs, worsening supply shortages.

Military bases depend on in-state fuel, and rural gas stations are closing due to SB 445's tank replacement mandate, with promised subsidies failing to materializeleaving highways without fuel access.

California's push for EVs and renewables has hit economic and logistical limits, with EV adoption lagging, grid instability and rising emissions from foreign oil imports, exposing the flaws in centralized climate policies.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, once a vocal critic of Big Oil, is now scrambling to keep refineries from abandoning the state as fuel shortages loom and gas prices threaten to hit $8 a gallon by 2026.

In a stark reversal, Newsom's administration is fast-tracking drilling permits and negotiating with industry leadersjust months after signing aggressive climate laws that oil companies warn are driving them out. The sudden closures of Valero's Benicia refinery and Phillips 66's Los Angeles plant will slash nearly 20% of California's refining capacity, forcing reliance on costly foreign imports and sparking warnings of economic disaster, military vulnerabilities and rural gas station collapses.

Newsom's signature refinery law, ABX2-1 (2024), empowered the state to dictate fuel storage levels and refinery maintenance schedules, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. The move was pitched as protection against price spikes and, combined with earlier measures, such as SB X1-2, which created a state oil "watchdog" to police supply chains, the laws aimed to rein in alleged corporate profiteering. Instead, they accelerated an exodus.

"California is regulating these companies into oblivion, then acting shocked when they leave," said energy analyst Mark Mills.

Industry filings show compliance costs have soared, with smaller refineries citing "unsustainable" red tape. The state's own Division of Petroleum Market Oversight admitted in its inaugural report that sky-high gas prices stem from taxes and regulationsnot "price gouging."

Military bases and rural gas stations in the crosshairs

The refinery closures aren't just a consumer crisisthey're a national security threat. California hosts over 30 military bases reliant on in-state refined jet fuel and diesel.

"If we lose this capacity, we're outsourcing our energy to foreign regimes with weaker environmental standards," warned Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA). Newsom dismissed such concerns, insisting imports would fill the gap, but Department of War logistics experts privately warn of supply-chain fragility during conflicts.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 445's mandate to replace single-walled fuel tanks by 2025 is decimating rural gas stations. Though the state promised subsidies via the "RUST" program, small-business owners say the aid never arrived.

"We applied two years ago. Nothing. Now we're closing," said one Central Valley station owner.

Hundreds of closures could leave vast stretches of highway without fuel access by 2026.

Electric dreams vs. energy reality

Newsom's pivot underscores a harsh truth: California's green transition is hitting a wall. The state's aggressive push for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewablespremised on the unproven climate emergency narrativehas collided with physical and economic realities. EV adoption lags behind targets, grid instability worsens, and now, energy scarcity looms.

"California is proving that you can't legislate away the laws of thermodynamics," quipped economist David Blackmon.

Even the state's own projections admit foreign oil importsoften from OPEC nations with weaker environmental ruleswill increase emissions, undermining climate goals.

California's fuel crisis is a self-inflicted wound. Newsom's anti-industry policies, sold as consumer protections, have triggered refinery flight, price surges and supply-chain chaos. The governor's sudden outreach to oil executivesafter years of vilifying themreveals the desperation of a state clinging to ideology while its economy buckles. As gas stations shutter, military bases fret over fuel access, and families brace for $8 gas, California stands as a cautionary tale: centralized control begets scarcity, and green dogma is no substitute for energy security.

Watch the video below where Newsom blames oil companies for California's economic destruction.

This video is from the THEHEALTHYAMERICAN, Peggy Hall channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Energy.ca.gov

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Whistleblowers allege CPJ softened Gaza stance to appease donors, shelved evidence of targeted journalist killings

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) faces internal accusations that its CEO, Jodie Ginsberg, personally controls and blocks Gaza-related research that would conclusively show Israel deliberately targets journalists, to avoid angering major pro-Israel donors.

Whistleblowers claim CPJ shelved a research piece backed by military experts on Israel's targeting of journalists and fired an employee for disputing the refusal to classify killings as targeted murders, a war crime.

CPJ's significant fundraising from Rupert Murdoch-owned media companies (a noted Israel supporter) is suggested to influence its public stance. This year's International Press Freedom Awards honored no Palestinian journalists, with insiders claiming proposals to honor slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif were ignored in favor of "safe" choices.

The allegations emerge as nearly 300 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces since the war began, with Reporters Without Borders stating Israel is the leading cause of journalist deaths for three consecutive years and condemning the killings as targeted.

The CPJ crisis aligns with recent exposes of an Israeli military "Legitimization Cell" tasked with justifying the killing of Palestinian journalists by falsely labeling them as Hamas operativesa claim repeatedly challenged by human rights investigations.

A major press freedom organization is facing explosive internal allegations that it has systematically downplayed Israel's targeting of journalists in Gaza to avoid angering influential pro-Israel donors, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

According to a report by Electronic Intifada, current and former staff at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) accuse CEO Jodie Ginsberg of personally controlling all Gaza-related research and blocking findings that would conclusively show the Israeli army deliberately kills journalists. The allegations, published December 18, paint a picture of an organization whose public advocacy is being compromised by internal censorship and donor relations.

One research piece, backed by military experts and concluding Israel knowingly targets journalists, was reportedly shelved by Ginsberg. An employee was allegedly fired after disputing Ginsberg's refusal to classify the killings of journalists as targeted murdersa designation that constitutes a war crime under international law.

The whistleblowers further claim that despite an internal memo stating CPJ should call Israel's actions "genocide," the leadership has enforced misleading, qualified language. The memo reportedly instructs staff to use phrases like "what human rights groups deem a genocide" when discussing the mass casualties in Gaza.

A review of CPJ's website found that in only two of 15 Gaza-related items does the organization use the term "genocide" without attribution, with the first instance appearing only in October 2025, two years into the conflict. As noted by BrightU.AI's Enoch, genocide is defined by international law as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

CPJ receives money from longtime Israel supporter

CPJ has denied the allegations, stating staff were never told to avoid the term "genocide" and could use any language on personal social media. The organization cited examples of Ginsberg publicly using the term and accusing Israel of war crimes.

The allegations are set against the backdrop of CPJ's fundraising, which draws significant support from major media outlets. The organization's annual fundraising dinner last year drew $250,000 from five Murdoch-owned media companies. Murdoch is a longtime supporter of Israel, having once described the country as a frontline defender of "western democratic civilization."

This donor dynamic, whistleblowers suggest, has influenced CPJ's public stance and even its award selections. This year's International Press Freedom Awards honored journalists from China, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan and Tunisia, with no Palestinian nominees. Ginsberg explained that CPJ doesn't award journalists from the same country consecutively, noting last year's recipient was Palestinian journalist Shrouq Al Aila. However, insiders called Al Aila a "safe choice" whose background was extensively vetted and said proposals to honor slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif were ignored.

The accusations strike at the heart of CPJ's mission during a period of unprecedented danger for journalists. Since the war began, nearly 300 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has declared Israel the world's leading cause of death of journalists for three consecutive years, noting that 43% of the 67 journalists killed globally between December 2024 and December 2025 died at the hands of Israeli forces in Gaza. RSF has condemned these as targeted killings.

The CPJ internal crisis emerges alongside recent revelations from Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who exposed a military intelligence "Legitimization Cell" tasked with justifying the killing of Palestinian journalists by falsely portraying them as Hamas operatives, a claim repeatedly challenged by rights groups investigating individual deaths.

The whistleblower accounts now raise a profound question: Is one of the world's most prominent defenders of journalistic safety pulling its punches in the face of a historic slaughter of the very professionals it exists to protect?

Watch this video about what U.S. ambassador said about Israel and America.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightU.com

BrightU.ai

TheCradle.co 1

TheCradle.com 2
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Class B inmate, Jeffrey Jingura, has escaped from Harare Central Prison, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) confirmed.According to ZPCS, Jingura, who was convicted of theft, escaped on December 20, 2025, using a motor vehicle he had been repairing at the prison workshop.ZPCS National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Meya Khanyezi, said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the escape and noted that the matter has been reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)."ZPCS remains committed to maintaining a secure correctional environment and to the rehabilitation of inmates. While incidents of this nature are regrettable, they are rare, and we continue to strengthen our security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future," Assistant Commissioner Khanyezi said.She urged the public to assist with information regarding the escape. "We call on the public to remain vigilant and to report any information that may assist in the recapture of the inmate. Rest assured, we are working tirelessly to resolve this matter and to uphold the safety and security of our communities. Members of the public are advised to exercise caution and vigilance. Do not approach the individual if sighted. Instead, please immediately contact the nearest police station or the ZPCS emergency line on 0242 706501," she added.This incident follows another high-profile escape in March 2025, when inmate Luke Zinyengerere staged a dramatic getaway from officers at Harare Magistrate's Court. Zinyengerere hijacked a vehicle after pointing a gun at escorting officers but was eventually recaptured and sentenced to 22 years for escaping lawful custody and carjacking.ZPCS continues to emphasise its commitment to security and rehabilitation while urging the public to remain alert.
DNI Tulsi Gabbard blasts Reuters claim that Russia wants to seize all of Ukraine

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) alleges that European NATO states and corporate media like Reuters are deliberately escalating tensions with Russia, pushing false claims of Putins expansionist ambitions to justify military escalation and sabotage peace efforts.

Gabbard asserts that Reuters' anonymous-source report  claiming Putin seeks to reclaim Soviet territories  is propaganda, while actual U.S. intelligence assessments indicate Russia lacks the capacity for further aggression and seeks to avoid wider war with NATO.

Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, praise Gabbard as a "voice of reason" exposing Deep State warmongering, dismissing NATO's expansionist accusations as lies meant to justify Western military buildup and anti-Russian propaganda.

Gabbard and historical context highlight NATO's eastward expansion as a key provocation, violating post-Cold War assurances and fueling Russian defensive actions in Ukraine. Corporate media's fearmongering risks pushing Putin toward drastic measures, including tactical nuclear escalation.

Mainstream media (like Reuters) prioritizes sensationalism and profits while serving globalist elites who benefit from war, destabilization and centralized control  raising the stakes for potential nuclear miscalculation as diplomacy collapses.

As tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia escalate dangerously close to a potential nuclear confrontation, U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has accused European NATO states and corporate media outlets like Reuters of deliberately stoking war hysteria.

Citing anonymous intelligence sources, Reuters claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine and reclaim former Soviet territories. This narrative, Gabbard argued, was "a lie and propaganda" designed to sabotage peace efforts and justify military expansion. Meanwhile, Moscow has repeatedly denied any plans for further aggression, accusing NATO of provoking conflict while preparing its populations for war.

Gabbard, a vocal critic of U.S. interventionist policies, blasted Reuters for pushing what she called a "false narrative" aimed at derailing President [Donald] Trump's diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, which has already claimed over a million lives. "Dangerously, you are promoting this false narrative to block President Trump's peace effort, and fomenting hysteria and fear among the people to get them to support the escalation of war," she wrote on X.

According to the DNI, U.S. intelligence assessments contradict Reuters' claims. These assessments indicate Russia seeks to avoid a wider war with NATO and lacks the military capacity to occupy Ukraine, let alone invade Europe.

Russian officials have welcomed Gabbards stance, with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev praising her as a "voice of reason" exposing the "Deep State warmonger machinery" attempting to incite World War III. Putin himself has dismissed allegations of Russian expansionism as "lies and nonsense," accusing NATO of deliberately escalating tensions by modernizing offensive forces and indoctrinating Western populations with anti-Russian paranoia.

Gabbard exposes mainstream media's WWIII propaganda

Moscow maintains that its actions in Ukraine are defensive, aimed at protecting Russian-speaking populations from what it describes as NATO-backed aggression. The Reuters report, citing six unnamed sources, alleges that U.S. intelligence continues to warn of Putin's ambitions to reclaim Soviet-era territories.

But Gabbard insists that the news outlet's claim is fabricated to justify increased military spending and direct U.S. involvement in the conflict. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine also points out that mainstream media outlets like Reuters promote talking points that accelerate WWIII because they prioritize sensationalism, ratings and profits over objective journalism  while also serving the interests of globalist elites who benefit from war, destabilization and centralized control. She warned that such fearmongering could push Putin toward drastic measures, including the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons if NATO continues its provocations.

Historically, NATO's eastward expansion has been a flashpoint for Russian security concerns, dating back to promises made  and allegedly broken  after the Cold War. The current escalation follows years of failed diplomacy, proxy conflicts and mutual accusations of treaty violations. With both sides now locked in a high-stakes standoff, Gabbard's warnings highlight the growing risk of a catastrophic miscalculation  one that could plunge the world into an unthinkable nuclear exchange.

As the U.S. intelligence community clashes with corporate media narratives, the stakes could not be higher. With peace talks stalled and NATO forces mobilizing, the world watches nervously to see whether cooler heads will prevail  or whether the drumbeats of war will drown out the last hopes for diplomacy.

Watch this clip from "Tucker Carlson Tonight" as host Tucker Carlson discusses DNI Gabbard's warning about potential war with Russia.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

Yahoo.com

TehranTimes.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Little eyes are watching: Gazas students refuse to die, document a genocide the priggish ones in the world choose not to see

There are little ears that are listening, little eyes that are watching us closely, and there is a story they will tell about the generation that came before them - a story of pain and hardship that they lived through and continue to live through. In Gaza, a tapestry of young testimonies are weaving a historical record - a record that will hold accountable the malicious generations who plundered their homes, and the forces and operatives who acted against their humanity.

While comfortable Western audiences debate narratives, positions and what they believe to be true about the whole world, an entire generation in Gaza is being systematically erased, not just by bombs but by a calculated campaign to destroy their future. Their classrooms have been reduced to rubble; their professors are martyred; and their daily reality is a fight for bread and clean water. Yet, from beneath the ruins, their voices are rising in a powerful, unified whisper that says, "We are still here." What will history say of us, who had the luxury to look away?

Key points:

University students in Gaza have co-authored a powerful anthology, We Are Still Here, documenting their survival under what they describe as an ongoing genocide and "educide."

The project was born from an international academic solidarity effort led by UK-based Dr. Zahid Pranjol, who provided educational lifelines and therapy to displaced students.

The writings are raw, first-hand testimonies of loss, starvation and the psychological torment of living under constant bombardment and displacement.

Students detail the deliberate destruction of Gaza's entire university infrastructure by Israeli forces, forcing education into tents and shelters.

The anthology serves as both a cry for justice and a profound act of defiance, proving that the intent to erase Palestinian culture and future has failed.

The classroom is now a graveyard

Imagine pursuing a degree while your campus is deliberately bombed into dust. Since October 2023, Israel has engaged in what academics have termed "educide," the systematic destruction of Gazas educational infrastructure. Universities lie in ruins. Thousands of students and hundreds of renowned teachers have been killed. In this landscape, the simple act of learning becomes a revolutionary act of survival. Dr. Zahid Pranjol, a professor at the University of Sussex, began a solidarity project in April 2024, sharing academic materials and teaching online.

What started as an educational mission quickly became a psychological lifeline. "Fifty percent you learn English, but the other 50 percent is that you are in touch with someone outside of Gaza who really cares for you," Pranjol explains. This connection fostered a space where traumatized students began to channel their agony into art.

Words written between bombings

The anthology We Are Still Here is not some AI-written narrative. These poems and reflections were scribbled in tents, typed on phones with sporadic internet, and born from moments of sheer terror. Student Obay Jouda describes a world devoid of mercy, a "forest" where no one hears the screaming. "The scream of an empty stomach. The wail of a mourning mother. The howl of a city," he writes. Editor Jacob Norris notes the pieces came in "really on an ad hoc basis... very much in the moment, from the heart, very raw, unfiltered."

For contributor Hada Mohammed Homaid, writing required immense courage. Recalling writing about her martyred brother, she says, "My tears were falling onto the page before even the words were finished." These are not abstract literary exercises; they are forensic evidence of a crime in progress, written by the witnesses who are still alive to testify.

The struggle to remain human

Beyond the physical destruction, the students articulate the deeper, more insidious wound: the war on their very humanity. Saad Aldin Ahmed Muhanna writes with devastating honesty about the moral degradation forced upon a starving population. He describes scenes where people "lunged for [a water bottle] like starving wolves," noting, "Here, you cannot afford decency."

His testimony asks the haunting question we all fear: What would we become under such conditions? "We are not just fighting to survive," Saad writes. "Were fighting not to lose ourselves completely while trying to survive." This internal battle is the silent, untelevised horror of Gazas genocide. It is a deliberate strategy to break a people, to reduce them to a state where their struggle for basic sustenance is used to strip them of their dignity in the eyes of the world.

Rawan Marwan Omar Matar frames their work as a message of "survival and steadfastness." She states, "In Gaza, the lesson doesn't end with the sound of an explosion. It begins again with the first word written on the page."

Their book, now being translated into multiple languages, is a direct rebuttal to the forces that sought to silence them. It proves that while buildings can be leveled, the human spirit, when fueled by truth and solidarity, is indestructible. The world may have grown numb to the statistics, but it cannot so easily dismiss the intimate, poetic and devastatingly personal accounts of those living through the hell we have allowed to be created. Their little eyes are watching, and their pens are recording. History must read their testimony.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

DARJAPress.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Israel approves 19 West Bank settlements with explicit goal of blocking Palestinian state

Israel approved 19 new West Bank settlements, accelerating territorial control.

The move aims to shatter any possibility of a sovereign Palestinian state.

It defies international law and rejects recent diplomatic efforts for peace.

The plan includes reestablishing settlements dismantled in 2005.

Settlement expansion fragments Palestinian land and fuels violent displacement.

In a direct challenge to international law and the prospect of Middle East peace, the Israeli government has formally approved 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The plan, announced on December 21 after a December 12 security cabinet vote, represents a massive acceleration of Israels decades-long project to cement control over Palestinian territory. Spearheaded by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the move explicitly aims to shatter any remaining possibility of a sovereign Palestinian state, marking a pivotal moment in the conflicts trajectory.

The approval includes 11 brand-new settlements and grants official recognition to eight existing illegal outposts. All settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into conquered land. This latest expansion brings the total number of new settlements approved in recent years to 69, a record high according to Smotrich. Under the current government, the number of West Bank settlements has surged by nearly 50%, from 141 in 2022 to 210 today.

A stated goal of prevention

Finance Minister Smotrich, a settler leader himself, left no ambiguity about the objective. We are stopping the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state on the ground, he stated. We will continue to develop, build, and settle in the land of our ancestors, with faith in the righteousness of the path. This rhetoric aligns with the long-stated position of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected Palestinian statehood in favor of maintaining indefinite Israeli control.

The announcement is a clear rejection of international diplomacy, coming as the United States pushes for a long-term ceasefire in Gaza and a potential pathway to Palestinian statehood. It also defies a near-unanimous 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which declared Israels presence in the Palestinian territories illegal and called for an immediate halt to settlement construction and the evacuation of settlers.

Rewinding the 2005 disengagement

Significantly, two of the newly approved settlements, Ganim and Kadim, are being reestablished after being dismantled in 2005. That year, Israel implemented a Disengagement Plan, withdrawing settlers from Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon framed it as a step toward peace, but critics saw it as a maneuver to consolidate Israels hold on the West Bank while freezing negotiations. The settler movement never accepted the withdrawal, and after the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Israel passed legislation allowing those evacuated settlements to be rebuilt. Two others were reestablished in May of this year.

After twenty years, we are righting a painful injustice and returning Ganim and Kadim to the settlement map, Smotrich said. This sentiment is echoed by other government ministers. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has openly called for building settlements on the beach in Gaza, asserting that Settlement leads to security.

The cost of expansion

The human cost of this expansion is borne by Palestinians. Since the 1967 war, Israel has settled more than 500,000 Jews in the West Bank, with another 200,000 in annexed East Jerusalem. Settlement growth fragments Palestinian land, restricts movement, and displaces communities. Violence by extremist settlers has surged, with attacks during the recent olive harvest reaching the highest level since UN records began in 2006. These attacks, which include burning cars, destroying crops, and ransacking property, have been met with limited action from Israeli authorities.

The relentless construction has drawn condemnation from global bodies and even key allies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that settlement expansion fuels tensions, restricts Palestinian access to land, and threatens the viability of a Palestinian state. Senator Bernie Sanders responded to the news, writing, This is illegal and immoral, and decades of American silence have enabled it.

This massive settlement push is more than a policy shift; it is the overt execution of a vision long warned about by human rights observers. By systematically carving up the West Bank, Israel is creating irreversible facts on the ground that render a two-state solution geographically impossible. The move confirms a transition from a contested occupation to a formalized system of single-state control, one that critics and leading human rights organizations have labeled apartheid. As the worlds attention remains divided, Israel is racing to decide the future of the Holy Land, not at the negotiating table, but with bulldozers and construction cranes, leaving the principles of international law and equal rights buried in the dust.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

TheGuardian.com

News.Sky.com

Newsweek.com
The trap is set: Israels push into Lebanon with new drone strikes risks a devastating ambush

Israel is planning a major combined air and ground assault into southern Lebanon, leveraging its air power.

Hezbollah has spent months systematically destroying Israeli surveillance and communication infrastructure along the border, effectively "blinding" the IDF.

Military analysts warn Hezbollah's strategy is to lure Israeli forces deep into Lebanon, then use tunnels to attack from behind and cut off supply lines.

A massive rocket barrage on Israeli cities is expected to accompany any ground invasion.

Despite ongoing ceasefire talks, Israeli leadership vows to continue military operations against Hezbollah.

Recent Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon continue a pattern of breaching the existing ceasefire agreement.

A battlefield cloaked in shadow

For six months, a quiet and systematic campaign has unfolded. Hezbollah operatives, with meticulous patience, have dismantled the sophisticated network of Israeli sensors, cameras and communication relays that once provided a clear picture of the border zone. This isn't random sabotage; it is strategic blinding.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), renowned for its technological edge and intelligence dominance, is being forced to contemplate a push into a region where its eyes have been gouged out. What looks like Israeli aggression on the surface may, in fact, be a forced reaction to this calculated erosion of its situational awareness. Can an army that relies on seeing everything fight effectively when plunged into deliberate darkness?

The siren song of southern Lebanon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vow of "zero reconstruction" in the border zone and the promise of a swift armored blitzkrieg play into a classic narrative of overwhelming force. But what if that narrative is the bait? Analysts observing Hezbollah's preparations see the hallmarks of a devastating trap. The group is not massing to meet an Israeli thrust head-on.

Instead, the strategy appears to be one of invitationallowing Israeli forces to advance, to stretch their supply lines and to commit themselves to terrain that Hezbollah knows intimately. Then, from a hidden network of tunnels far more extensive than the one used in Gaza, fighters could emerge behind Israeli lines. The goal: not to defend territory, but to isolate, surround and annihilate advanced units.

The ground assault would be the trigger for a separate horror: the simultaneous launch of thousands of rockets and missiles at Israeli cities, overwhelming the Iron Dome and turning the home front into a hellscape. Is Israel's leadership, in its determination to project strength, marching its soldiers into a carefully prepared slaughter?

Ceasefire talks amid the thunder of drones

This ominous military planning continues even as diplomatic channels hum with activity. A draft ceasefire agreement, facilitated by the United States, outlines a potential path to de-escalation: a permanent ceasefire, a 60-day Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to the border, and Hezbollah's heavy weapons moving north of the Litani River. Yet, Netanyahu has explicitly stated that IDF operations will persist regardless of any deal with Lebanon. This contradiction reveals a fundamental truth: the talks may be a theater, a cover for a predetermined escalation. The recent Israeli drone strikes that killed individuals in Yater, conducted just hours after Lebanese officials announced progress on disarmament south of the Litani, expose this brutal reality. Each violation shreds the credibility of the peace process and reinforces Hezbollah's argument that only resistance brings security. The Lebanese government, under immense American pressure, speaks of confiscating weapons, but Hezbollah flatly rejects disarmament while Israel continues to kill. This cycle isn't diplomacy; it is a countdown to a larger explosion.

The people of the border regions, Lebanese and Israeli alike, are not pawns on a strategy map. They are families listening for the next explosion, counting the dead and living in the shadow of decisions made in distant capitals. The promise of "zero reconstruction" is a sentence of permanent displacement and despair for countless Lebanese villagers. The stripping of due process, where individuals in a sovereign nation are executed by drone strike based on the word of the Israeli military, is a dangerous precedent that erodes the very concept of international law.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Serpents in the Sky: A radical rewriting of human history

The book "Serpents in the Sky" debunks the gradual "uniformitarianism" narrative, proving Earth's history was marked by sudden, violent cataclysms (e.g., the Younger Dryas Impact ~12,800 years ago) that erased advanced civilizations and triggered global floods, wildfires and mini ice agessupported by geological evidence like nanodiamonds and melted glass.

Ancient flood stories (Noah, Manu, etc.) align with geological proof of megafloods, such as Lake Bonneville's collapse carving the Snake River Canyon in days and the Missoula Floods leaving massive stone ripplesvalidating oral traditions worldwide.

The book exposes institutional cover-ups of anomalous finds: Lovelock Cave giantseight-foot mummies and giant artifacts dismissed by the Smithsonian; Gobekli Tepea 12,000-year-old megalithic site defying mainstream timelines; and Grand Canyon's Egyptian cavesallegedly discovered in 1909 but denied by authorities.

Earth remains vulnerable to: Taurid meteor streama debris field linked to past impacts; solar EMPscapable of collapsing modern grids overnight; and inevitable future impactsthe next cometary strike is a matter of when, not if.

The book urges decentralized living, self-sufficiency and community resilience to survive future upheavalswhile exposing academia's deliberate suppression of humanity's true, cyclical history of collapse and rebirth.

If you think history is a slow, steady march of progressthink again. "Serpents in the Sky: Cataclysms, Comets, and the Forgotten History of Human Civilization" is a bombshell of a book that demolishes the mainstream narrative of gradual evolution and replaces it with a far more compellingand terrifyingtruth: Our past has been shaped by sudden, violent catastrophes that have wiped out entire civilizations overnight.

This isn't just another alternative history book. It's a meticulously researched, evidence-packed manifesto that challenges everything we've been taught about human origins, ancient cultures and the forces that have shaped our world.

For centuries, mainstream academia has clung to uniformitarianismthe belief that Earth's history is shaped by slow, incremental processes like erosion and tectonic drift. But "Serpents in the Sky" exposes this doctrine as a philosophical assumption, not scientific fact. The real geological record tells a different storyone of sudden, apocalyptic events that have reshaped continents and erased civilizations in the blink of an eye.

The book dives deep into the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis, which suggests that around 12,800 years ago, a fragmented comet or asteroid struck Earth, triggering wildfires, floods and a mini ice age. Evidence? Layers of sediment packed with nanodiamonds, platinum spikes and melted glasshallmarks of a cosmic impact. This wasn't just a minor climate blipit was a global catastrophe that wiped out megafauna like woolly mammoths and may have obliterated advanced prehistoric cultures.

The flood myths were real

Nearly every ancient civilizationfrom the Sumerians to the Maya, from the Bible's Noah to the Hindu Manuhas a flood myth. Mainstream archaeology dismisses these as mere allegories, but "Serpents in the Sky" presents geological proof that these were real, cataclysmic events.

Take Lake Bonneville, a massive Ice Age lake that once covered parts of Utah and Nevada. When its natural dam collapsed around 14,500 years ago, it unleashed a flood so powerful it carved the Snake River Canyon in days, not millennia. The book connects this to Native American oral traditions that describe ancestral survivors fleeing apocalyptic waters.

Similarly, the Missoula Floodsrepeated megafloods that scoured the Pacific Northwestleft behind current ripples frozen in stone taller than three-story buildings. These weren't slow erosionsthey were sudden, violent deluges that reshaped landscapes overnight.

Giants, lost civilizations and the Smithsonian cover-up

One of the most explosive sections of "Serpents in the Sky" tackles the suppressed evidence of giants and advanced prehistoric cultures. The book revisits controversial discoveries:

The Lovelock Cave giants: In 1911, miners in Nevada uncovered mummified remains of red-haired giants measuring up to 8 feet tall, alongside 15-inch-long sandals. Paiute oral traditions speak of a war with these giantsyet the Smithsonian allegedly "lost" the bones.

Gobekli Tepe: A 12,000-year-old megalithic site in Turkey, built with precision that defies mainstream archaeology's timeline of human development. Who were these builders?

The Grand Canyon's Egyptian connection: In 1909, explorer G.E. Kincaid claimed to find Egyptian-style caves deep within the Grand Canyononly for the Smithsonian to deny their existence.

The book argues that institutions like the Smithsonian have actively suppressed anomalous discoveries that contradict the approved narrative. Why? Because admitting that advanced civilizations existed before recorded historyor that giants once walked the Earthwould collapse the entire mainstream timeline of human progress.

Cosmic threats and the coming reset

"Serpents in the Sky" doesn't just dwell on the pastit warns of future catastrophes. The same cosmic forces that reshaped Earth before could do so again. The book explores:

The Taurid meteor stream: A debris field containing massive asteroids, some of which may have caused past impacts.

Solar storms and EMP threats: A single solar flare could knock out global power grids, sending civilization back to the Stone Age overnight.

The next cometary impact: Scientists admit it's not a matter of if, but when another major impact occurs.

The book urges readers to preparenot out of fear, but empowerment. It advocates for decentralized living, self-sufficiency and community resilience as the only true safeguards against future upheavals.

"Serpents in the Sky" combines hard science, ancient myths and suppressed archaeology into a cohesive narrative that rewrites human history. If you've ever suspected that mainstream academia is hiding somethingthis book confirms it.

Grab a copy of "Serpents in the Sky: Cataclysms, Comets, and the Forgotten History of Human Civilization" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI.

Watch Randall Carlson and the Health Ranger Mike Adams discuss the 3I-ATLAS space rock, comet impacts, ancient civilizations and lost technologies.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightLearn.ai

Books.BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump halts Diversity Visa Lottery following revelations that the Brown University and MIT shooter exploited flawed program to enter U.S.

The Trump administration suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery Program following revelations that the shooter responsible for the Brown University and MIT killings entered the U.S. through the program.

The administration argues the program lacks sufficient vetting, citing past cases where lottery recipients committed violent acts, including a 2017 ISIS-inspired attack in NYC.

Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the Portuguese national behind the shootings, entered the U.S. in 2017 via the lottery system before killing two students and a professor.

The suspension aligns with Trump's push for stricter immigration policies, including halting asylum decisions and deporting those deemed security threats.

Supporters defend the program for providing opportunities to underrepresented groups, while critics argue random selection poses unacceptable risks.

The Trump administration suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery Program on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced, after confirming that the gunman responsible for the Brown University shooting and the murder of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor entered the U.S. through the program.

The decision marks the latest move in President Donald Trump's long-standing campaign to restrict immigration pathways he deems security risks. The suspension follows revelations that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the 48-year-old Portuguese national who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor before taking his own life, was admitted to the U.S. in 2017 through the lottery system.

The Diversity Visa Lottery, established in 1990, awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S., according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. Winners are selected randomly but must meet basic education or work experience requirements.

Critics argue that the program lacks sufficient vetting, pointing to past cases where lottery recipients committed violent acts. In 2017, an ISIS-inspired terrorist who entered through the program killed eight people in a New York City truck attack. Trump unsuccessfully pushed to terminate the program afterward, calling it a "disaster" that brings in "the worst people."

"This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country," Noem said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). "At President Trump's direction, I am immediately directing USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program."

The shooter's path to the United States

Valente, whose last known address was in Miami, Florida, was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility on Dec. 18 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities linked him to the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, where he killed two students and wounded nine others, as well as the fatal shooting of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro two days later.

Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that Valente briefly attended the school in 2000-2001 before withdrawing. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive.

The suspension aligns with Trump's broader push to tighten immigration policies. Last month, USCIS halted asylum decisions after an Afghan nationaladmitted through a Biden-era resettlement programallegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Trump has also called for stripping federal benefits from noncitizens, denaturalizing immigrants deemed security threats and deporting those considered "incompatible with Western civilization."

Supporters of the Diversity Visa Program argue that it provides opportunities for underrepresented groups and that recipients still undergo rigorous screening. But the administration contends random selection poses unacceptable risks.

As investigations continue, the suspension signals a shift toward prioritizing security over accessibilitya policy shaped by tragedy and Trump's unwavering stance on immigration.

The Trump administration's decision to halt the Diversity Visa Lottery underscores its focus on national security over immigration expansion. With Valente's case as the latest justification, the move reignites debate over vetting processes and America's immigration priorities. Whether the program resumesor faces permanent eliminationmay hinge on the outcome of the 2024 election and the enduring political battle over who deserves entry into the United States.

Watch the video below that talks about the criminal history of the illegal immigrant accused of the Charlotte light rail stabbing.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

X.com

AlJazeera.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Ukraines drone strikes force Russian oil tankers onto longer, riskier Black Sea routes

Ukraine has escalated drone strikes on Russian oil terminals and tankers in the Black Sea, systematically targeting refinery equipmentincluding Western-made cracking unitsto cripple Russia's war economy. These attacks have forced Russian crude shipments onto a 70% longer detour, delaying deliveries and raising shipping costs.

The November strike on Tuapse oil port suspended fuel exports for weeks, while attacks near Novorossiysk (Russia's largest Black Sea terminal) caused crude shipments to plummet. Ukraine aims to choke Russia's oil revenues, which fund nearly 40% of Moscow's military budget.

Russia responded with missile and drone assaults on Ukraine's power grids, causing blackouts and civilian casualties. Meanwhile, Ukraine's successful sinking of the Moskva cruiser in 2024 exposed Russia's naval vulnerabilities, raising concerns that similar tactics could threaten Western warships in strategic zones like the Red Sea.

Ukrainian strikes and Western sanctions have pushed Russian oil exports to their lowest levels since the war began. Tankers now mask their positions to evade detection, creating uncertainty for insurers and shipping firms. The conflict's ripple effects are straining global energy markets.

Ukraine's drone warfare has turned the Black Sea into a battleground of attrition, proving that drones are not just weapons but tools of economic strangulation. The war shows no signs of de-escalation, with both sides targeting critical infrastructure, deepening humanitarian and economic crises.

In a bold escalation of its maritime warfare strategy, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian oil terminals and tankers in the Black Sea, forcing Moscow's crude shipments onto a 70% longer detour along Georgian and Turkish coastlines.

The strikes  targeting critical infrastructure like the Tuapse oil port  have disrupted Rosneft's operations, slashed fuel exports and triggered retaliatory Russian missile barrages on Ukrainian power grids. As tankers now avoid direct routes to evade Ukrainian drones, the conflict's ripple effects are straining global energy markets and exposing vulnerabilities in naval defenses.

Ukrainian forces have shifted from sporadic strikes on storage tanks to systematic attacks on refinery equipment, including Western-made cracking units vital for fuel production. According to the Center for European Policy Analysis, this campaign aims to cripple Russia's war economy by choking oil revenues, which fund nearly 40% of Moscow's military budget.

The November drone strike on Tuapse suspended fuel exports for weeks, while attacks near Novorossiysk  Russia's largest Black Sea oil terminal  caused crude shipments to plummet. Satellite imagery reviewed by Bloomberg confirms tankers like the Jumbo, flagged under Sierra Leone, are taking meandering coastal routes instead of direct paths to the Bosphorus Strait. As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch, the detour adds 350 nautical miles, delaying deliveries and raising shipping costs.

Global energy markets brace for impact

Russia retaliated with missile and drone assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, plunging tens of thousands into darkness and killing civilians. Meanwhile, the Black Sea fleet's losses  including the sinking of the Moskva cruiser by Ukrainian underwater drones in 2024  highlight Moscow's naval weaknesses. Analysts warn that similar tactics could threaten Western warships in the Red Sea, where U.S. carrier groups already fend off anti-ship drones and missiles near the Strait of Hormuz.

The disruptions come as Western sanctions and Ukrainian strikes have cut Russia's oil exports to their lowest levels since the war began. With tankers increasingly masking their positions, a tactic used to evade detection, insurers and shipping firms face mounting risks.

"The Jumbo's insurer and beneficial owner are unknown," Bloomberg reported, underscoring the shadowy networks keeping Russian crude flowing.

Ukraine's drone warfare has turned the Black Sea into a battleground of attrition, where every delayed tanker erodes Russia's financial stamina. As both sides escalate attacks on critical infrastructure, the conflict's fallout  from energy market volatility to naval strategy shifts  reveals a war with no quick end. For global observers, the lesson is clear: in modern conflict, drones aren't just weapons; they're tools of economic strangulation.

Watch this video about a Russian oil tanker targeted by drones off the coast of Senegal.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

OilPrice.com

Bloomberg.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Record U.S. arms sale to Taiwan escalates tensions; China warns of military confrontation

The Trump administration approved an unprecedented $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest U.S. arms sale to the island, including advanced missile systems capable of striking deep into mainland China.

Beijing condemned the sale, warning it turns Taiwan into a "powder keg" and pushes the region toward military confrontation, accusing Taipei of wasting resources on weapons instead of peaceful reunification.

The U.S. increasingly sees a Chinese invasion of Taiwan as inevitable, while China insists reunificationby force if necessaryis non-negotiable. The U.S. maintains "strategic ambiguity" but the massive arms deal suggests preparation for conflict.

Analysts compare the situation to Cold War-era brinkmanship, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, where military posturing between superpowers risks rapid escalation. China may retaliate with military drills or economic measures against U.S. firms.

Taiwan remains the most volatile geopolitical hotspot between the U.S. and China, with Beijing warning that U.S. support "accelerates military confrontation." Both sides are digging in, raising fears of a catastrophic miscalculation.

The Trump administration approved a record $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan last week, marking the largest U.S. arms sale to the self-governing island in history.

The deal, which includes advanced missile systems capable of striking deep into mainland China, has drawn fierce condemnation from Beijing, with Chinese officials warning it risks turning Taiwan into a "powder keg" and pushing the region toward military confrontation.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, with U.S. military planners increasingly viewing a Chinese invasion of Taiwan as inevitable. The latest arms package includes 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launchers equipped with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), allowing Taiwanese forces to strike targets across the Taiwan Straita capability that has particularly infuriated China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the sale, accusing Taiwan's leadership of "squandering the hard-earned money of the people to purchase weapons at the cost of turning Taiwan into a powder keg." The mainland views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has long warned against U.S. military support for the island. Beijing insists that reunification is inevitable, whether through peaceful means or force.

The U.S., meanwhile, maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity," neither confirming nor denying whether it would directly defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion. However, the sheer scale of this arms package suggests Washington is preparing Taipei for a potential conflict.

The current standoff draws inevitable comparisons to Cold War-era brinkmanship. From China's perspective, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are akin to a hypothetical scenario where China or Russia heavily armed Cuba, which, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch, is a situation that would undoubtedly provoke American outrage. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 serves as a stark reminder of how quickly military posturing between superpowers can escalate into existential threats, the decentralized AI engine adds.

China's warning: A dangerous path to war

The Trump administration previously approved an $8 billion deal for F-16 fighter jets in 2019, but the Trump administration's latest package dwarfs that figure. While President Donald Trump softened his rhetoric toward China in recent months, the approval of such a substantial arms deal suggests tensions remain high. Analysts warn that Beijing may respond with increased military drills near Taiwan or economic retaliation against U.S. firms operating in China.

Chinese officials have repeatedly cautioned that U.S. military support for Taiwan only increases the likelihood of direct conflict. "Using Taiwan to contain China will not succeed," Guo stated, adding that the arms sales "cannot save the doomed fate of 'Taiwan independence' but will only accelerate the push of the Taiwan Strait toward a dangerous situation of military confrontation and war."

Despite China's public stance favoring peaceful reunification, its military buildup  including amphibious assault drills and frequent incursions into Taiwan's air defense zone  has fueled fears of an imminent invasion. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the U.S. commitment, calling it a "vital deterrent" against Chinese aggression.

As the U.S. and China navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape, Taiwan remains the most likely flashpoint for a potential superpower conflict. The record-breaking arms package underscores Washington's determination to bolster Taiwan's defenses, even as Beijing warns of dire consequences.

With both sides digging in, the risk of miscalculation grows  raising the specter of a confrontation that could reshape the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Whether diplomacy can prevail over militarization remains an open question, but one thing is clear: The stakes have never been higher.

Watch this Fox Business report about the "stunning phone call" between President Trump and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping on the issue of Taiwan.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Bloomberg.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
China warns Japan nuclear weapons pursuit would bring disaster to the world after official floats acquiring nukes

A senior Japanese official's suggestion of acquiring nuclear weapons sparked regional condemnation.

China warned this would bring disaster and accused Japan of failing to reflect on its wartime past.

Other neighbors like North Korea and Russia also issued sharp warnings against Japanese nuclear armament.

The Japanese government quickly reaffirmed its commitment to its non-nuclear principles domestically.

The incident reveals a growing undercurrent of debate in Japan over its security posture amid regional threats.

A senior Japanese security officials suggestion that Tokyo should consider acquiring nuclear weapons has ignited a firestorm of condemnation from across Asia and forced the government into immediate damage control. The remarks, reported by Japanese media last week, questioned the reliability of U.S. nuclear protection and proposed a potential reversal of the nations decades-old non-nuclear principles. The reaction was swift and severe, with China warning that such a path would again bring disaster to the world, highlighting the intense sensitivities and historical ghosts that continue to shape security debates in the region.

The unnamed official, described as an adviser to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, argued that Japans reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella may no longer be fully reliable given a worsening security environment. The official cited threats from nuclear-armed neighbors China, Russia and North Korea as reasons to potentially reevaluate Japans post-World War II policies. However, the official acknowledged significant political and legal hurdles, including Japans adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Chinas Foreign Ministry issued a stern rebuke, framing the comments as part of a dangerous trend. Some forces inside Japan have not only failed to reflect on Japans history of aggression but also been extremely unhappy about the postwar international arrangement, the ministry stated. It accused Japanese right-wing forces of trying to remilitarize the country and warned that if Japan were to possess nuclear weapons, it will again bring disaster to the world.

The response from other regional powers was equally sharp. North Korea declared that allowing Japan to acquire nuclear weapons would result in a great disaster. Russia suggested that a shift away from Tokyos non-nuclear stance would negatively impact security in Northeast Asia and provoke responses from countries threatened by that militarization.

Domestically, the remarks landed with a thud. Japan remains the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, and the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki makes nuclear armament a profoundly sensitive issue. The statements drew criticism from both ruling and opposition parties. The atomic bomb survivors group Nihon Hidankyo said it can never tolerate such a remark. Facing this backlash, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara swiftly reaffirmed the countrys commitment. Japan is upholding the three nonnuclear principles, Kihara said, adding that Tokyo would continue advancing its efforts toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons.

A growing undercurrent

Despite the official recommitment, the incident reveals an undercurrent of debate that has been gaining momentum. A Reuters investigation published in August found a growing political and public willingness in Japan to loosen its three non-nuclear principles. Factors driving this include doubts about the reliability of U.S. security guarantees and the rapid military advancements of neighboring rivals. Some lawmakers within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have called for allowing the U.S. to deploy nuclear weapons on platforms like submarines within Japanese territory to reinforce deterrence.

Prime Minister Takaichi herself has stirred debate recently. Last month, she declined to say whether the three principles would change when her administration formulates a new defense strategy next year. This has led observers to view the latest controversial remarks as a trial balloon. Putting these trial balloons out creates an opportunity to start to build consensus around the direction to move on changes in security policy, said Stephen Nagy, a politics professor at the International Christian University in Tokyo.

Regional tensions are rising

The nuclear debate is unfolding against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions. Takaichi angered Beijing last month by stating that a Chinese attack on Taiwan that also threatened Japan could trigger a military response. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and fiercely opposes any foreign intervention. In response, China has conducted a sustained campaign portraying Japan as a revanchist power, citing its increased defense spending and military deployments.

Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, further cautioned that Japan has for a long time been stockpiling plutonium beyond its civilian needs and possesses the technical capability to develop nuclear weapons in short order. He issued a warning: If Japan dares to pitch itself against the rest of the world, we will never allow it to test the bottom line and international justice.

The United States, Japans key ally, sought to reassure Tokyo in the wake of the reports. A U.S. State Department spokesperson reiterated that the United States will maintain the worlds most robust, credible and modern nuclear deterrent to protect America and our allies, including Japan.

In Northeast Asia, the past is never far from the present. A single officials speculative comments were enough to trigger a cascade of diplomatic warnings and expose deep-seated historical anxieties. While the Japanese government has slammed the door shut on nuclear armament for now, the forces that opened the debate  regional threats, strategic doubts and a shifting political landscape  are not going away. Will Japans pacifist identity, forged in the atomic fires of 1945, hold firm against the gathering storms of the 21st century?

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Newsweek.com

Reuters.com
EU cracks down on independent journalism: Euractiv banned from commission briefings

The European Commission barred Euractiv from confidential briefings, which editor-in-chief Matthew Karnitschnig alleges is retaliation for the outlet's scrutiny of European Union (EU) leadership, including debunking claims about Ursula von der Leyen's flight to Bulgaria and criticizing her proposed centralized intelligence service.

The ban has sparked backlash, with Karnitschnig declaring independent journalism in Brussels "an endangered species" and critics warning of growing authoritarianism within the EU, undermining press freedom.

The incident exposes the EU's reliance on "access journalism," where compliant outlets receive privileged briefings while critical outlets risk exclusiona system Euractiv refuses to participate in, prioritizing editorial independence over insider access.

Despite being marketed as a safeguard for press freedom, critics warn the EMFA empowers governments to suppress dissent, allowing surveillance, arrests, and state interference in media operationseffectively weaponizing censorship under the guise of regulation.

Analysts argue the EU's earlier censorship of Russian and dissident media has escalated to silencing internal critics, setting a troubling precedent where even mainstream European journalists face suppression for challenging official narratives.

The European Commission has barred Brussels-based news outlet Euractiv from its confidential media briefings, a move that its editor-in-chief, Matthew Karnitschnig, describes as retaliation for the outlet's critical reporting on European Union (EU) leadership.

The ban has sparked accusations of censorship and growing authoritarianism within the bloc, raising concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Europe.

In a scathing editorial, Karnitschnig declared that independent journalism in Brussels is now "on the enemies list" and has become "an endangered species." He explained that Euractiv had recently intensified its scrutiny of the so-called "EU bubble"the insular world of EU policymakers, lobbyists and bureaucratswhich he believes led to the Commissions punitive action.

"At the beginning of this year, we set about infusing the 'EU bubble' with a heavy dose of critical journalism," Karnitschnig wrote. "Not all recipients reacted well, least of all the Commission, which recently banned us from its background briefingsthe off-the-record sessions during which President Ursula von der Leyen's advisers seek to steer the message they're trying to send on any given issue to the press."

The Commission has not provided an official explanation for the ban, but Karnitschnig speculated that it may have been triggered by Euractiv's reporting debunking claims that Russian forces had disrupted navigation systems during von der Leyen's flight to Bulgaria, forcing pilots to rely on "paper maps." Alternatively, he suggested the ban could be linked to the outlets sharp criticism of von der Leyen's proposal for a centralized European intelligence service.

The incident highlights the broader issue of "access journalism" in Brussels, where media outlets often depend on insider sourcesEU officials, lobbyists and foreign governmentsfor exclusive information. This system creates a precarious balance: journalists who challenge official narratives risk losing access, while those who toe the line are rewarded with privileged briefings and leaks.

Karnitschnig emphasized that Euractiv refuses to compromise its editorial independence for access. "You won't find us throwing champagne-fueled galas to toast the politicians we cover," he wrote. "Our commitment to readers is straightforward: to tell it like it is."

A growing pattern of censorship

The ban on Euractiv follows a broader trend of tightening media control in the EU. Critics argue that the bloc's European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), touted by von der Leyen as a safeguard for press freedom, may instead empower governments to suppress dissent.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, EMFA is an EU regulation aimed at protecting media pluralism, independence and freedom within the bloc. EMFA, proposed by the European Commission in May 2022, seeks to address challenges faced by European media, including concentration of media ownership, political interference and pressure, economic sustainability of independent media, and digital transformation and online disinformation.

Cindy Harper of Reclaim the Net warned that the EMFA's framework allows Brussels and national authorities to determine "which voices remain active and which can be silenced." She noted that the legislation permits arrests, surveillance and increased state interference in media operationseffectively transforming it from a protective measure into a tool for censorship.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has also condemned the EU's crackdown on free expression, warning during the Munich Security Conference that European governments are "running in fear" from their own people. He argued that the greatest threat to democracy comes not from external adversaries like Russia or China but from the erosion of fundamental rights within Europe itself.

Lucas Leiroz, a researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies and member of the BRICS Journalists Association, described the ban as evidence of the EU's escalating authoritarianism.

"The EU has become averse to the idea of freedom of expression, thus violating its own classic European values," Leiroz wrote. "In practice, Brussels has become authoritarian not only against alternative, dissident and foreign media outlets but also against the European media itself."

He warned that the EU's earlier censorship of Russian and dissident media set a dangerous precedent, paving the way for suppression of internal critics. "Now, having no more Russian, foreign, or opposition press to censor, the EU is beginning to ban its own journalists who criticize or disagree even slightly with some of the bloc's positions."

The future of independent journalism in Europe

The Euractiv ban raises urgent questions about the future of independent journalism in Europe. If critical outlets are excluded from official briefingseffectively blacklistedthey may struggle to hold power to account, leaving EU citizens reliant on state-approved narratives.

Karnitschnig remains defiant, vowing that Euractiv will continue its mission despite the Commission's hostility. "We don't expect to be loved by the Commission for it, much less feared," he wrote. "Yet we do expect to be treated no different than any other media."

As Brussels tightens its grip on the press, the battle for free expression in Europe appears far from over. The Euractiv case serves as a stark warning: in the EU's quest for centralized control, even its own journalists are no longer safe from censorship.

Watch the video below about German journalist Thomas Roper, who was banned from broadcasting in the European Union.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

Euractiv.com

DailyTelegraph.co.nz

BRICSinformation.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Israeli military said it shot dead a Palestinian suspected of hurling a block at soldiers on Saturday during an operation in the occupied West Bank town of Qabatiya.

Video reviewed by CNN shows a soldier shooting the teen when he is just feet away. In an earlier statement, the military did not use the word suspected, and said the person hurled a block toward the soldiers.

The Palestinian was identified as 16-year-old Rayan Muhammad Abdul Qader Abu Mualla by the Ministry of Health, citing the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs (PGACA), who said his body is still being held by Israel after he was killed in the Al-Sabaneh neighborhood in Qabatiya.

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A 26-second security camera video shared on social media and geolocated by CNN to Al-Sabaneh, shows what appears to be the moment Israeli troops shot Abu Mualla.

In the video, a person walks down an alley towards two helmeted soldiers crouched partially behind a corner. The person is just about to reach the corner when one soldier raises his rifle and fires at point blank range, causing the person to collapse backwards.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in its initial statement that its soldiers had been attacked by a terrorist. The video shows the 18 seconds before the shooting, in which time nothing appears to be thrown from the alley the Palestinian teenager comes from. His left hand, however, is obscured. It was not immediately clear who captured the footage, who initially released it, or what happened before the video begins.

On Saturday, the Israeli news site Ynet published what it says is a photo of Abu Muallas left hand clutching a chunk of concrete, taken after his death. CNN could not verify whether the photo is of the same person in the security footage.

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The Palestinian Red Crescent said that Israeli troops blocked its emergency workers from reaching the scene of the shooting.

A set of videos geolocated by CNN show an ambulance, with its emergency lights on, stopped about 650 feet away from the site of the shooting.

Asked for comment on the video and the allegation that emergency workers were blocked from reaching Abu Mualla, the IDF said: Yesterday (Saturday), a Palestinian suspected of hurling a block at IDF soldiers was shot. The incident is under review.

Late on Saturday, Abu Muallas school announced on Facebook that it would close on Sunday in honor of his memory and pushed exams a week ahead.

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In a separate incident on Saturday, the Ministry of Health said the IDF shot and killed a 22-year-old Palestinian man named Ahmed Saed Ziyoud in Silat al-Harathiya, a town north of Jenin in the West Bank.

The IDF said in a statement on Telegram that it shot an individual in Silat al-Harathiya who hurled an explosive toward soldiers.

On Sunday, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, said he was a fighter in the Al-Quds Brigades. He was shot by an Israeli snipers bullet during the IDF storming of the town.

CNNs Dana Karni contributed to this report.

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Japan to restart worlds largest nuclear plant 15 years after Fukushima disaster

Japan's largest nuclear plant clears final political hurdle for restart.

Local assembly approves despite significant resident opposition and protests.

The plant is operated by TEPCO, the utility responsible for Fukushima.

Restart is driven by economic pressures and goals for energy security.

The move highlights a deep national divide over nuclear power's future.

Nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster reshaped Japans energy landscape and shattered public trust, the country is poised to restart the world's largest nuclear power station. On December 22, the regional assembly in Niigata prefecture delivered a crucial vote of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, effectively removing the final political barrier for the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. This pivotal decision allows plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the same utility that ran Fukushima, to immediately begin the process of bringing the long-dormant facility back online, marking a profound shift in national policy driven by economic and energy security demands.

The move is a watershed moment in Japan's fraught return to nuclear energy. Following the 2011 catastrophe, all 54 of the nation's reactors were gradually taken offline. Japan has since restarted 14 of the 33 reactors deemed operable, but Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first to resume under TEPCO's management. The facility, located about 136 miles northwest of Tokyo, boasts a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts, enough to power several million homes. Its revival is central to government plans to reduce a costly dependence on imported fossil fuels.

A community divided

The assembly vote laid bare a deep and emotional rift within the local community. While lawmakers provided the necessary political backing, the session was charged with opposition. "This is nothing other than a political settlement that does not take into account the will of the Niigata residents," one assembly member declared during the proceedings. Outside, around 300 protesters gathered in the cold, holding signs that read "No Nukes" and "Support Fukushima."

Their fears are rooted in recent history and personal trauma. Many residents remain deeply wary of TEPCO's competence and the fundamental safety of nuclear power. A prefecture survey in October found 60% of residents did not believe conditions for a restart had been met, with nearly 70% specifically worried about TEPCO operating the plant. For those who lived through the Fukushima crisis, the anxiety is visceral.

"I am truly angry from the bottom of my heart," said 77-year-old protester Kenichiro Ishiyama after the vote. "If something was to happen at the plant, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences." His sentiment is echoed by evacuees like Ayako Oga, 52, who fled the Fukushima area in 2011. "We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it," Oga told Reuters, adding that she still struggles with post-traumatic stress-like symptoms.

The push for energy security

Despite this palpable opposition, powerful economic forces are driving Japan's nuclear renaissance. The government, now under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is aggressively promoting restarts to strengthen energy security. Imported fossil fuels currently account for 60 to 70 percent of Japan's electricity generation, costing the nation 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) last year alone. Nuclear power offers a path to greater self-sufficiency and stability.

Furthermore, Japan anticipates rising energy demand in the coming decade, fueled in part by the massive power requirements of artificial intelligence data centers. To meet these needs and its climate commitments, Japan aims to double nuclear power's share of its electricity mix to 20% by 2040. The restart of just one reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa could boost the electricity supply to the Tokyo area by an estimated 2%, a significant increment.

Safety pledges and economic promises

In response to public fears, TEPCO has made extensive safety pledges and economic overtures. The company stated it has learned the harsh lessons of Fukushima. "We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar," said TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata. The utility has also pledged to invest 100 billion yen into the Niigata prefecture over the next decade.

Governor Hanazumi, while backing the restart, acknowledged the enduring anxiety. "This is a milestone, but this is not the end," he said after the assembly vote. "There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents." He has expressed a longer-term hope for an era where Japan does not have to rely on energy sources that cause public fear.

The journey to this point has been long, involving rigorous safety upgrades and regulatory inspections by Japan's post-Fukushima Nuclear Regulation Authority. TEPCO is reportedly considering reactivating the first reactor as soon as January 20. For Ayako Oga and thousands of other Fukushima evacuees watching from Niigata, that date marks not progress, but the return of a threat they know too intimately. "As a victim of the Fukushima nuclear accident," she said, "I wish that no one, whether in Japan or anywhere in the world, ever again suffers the damage of a nuclear accident."

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

The-Independent.com

CNN.com

Reuters.com
Malaysias AI data center boom: A strategic play amid global tech rivalry

Johor, Malaysia, has evolved from an agricultural/manufacturing region into Asia's fastest-growing AI infrastructure hub in just three years, attracting U.S. and Chinese tech giants with over 900MW of data center capacitya milestone Singapore took a decade to achieve.

Proximity to Singapore (now facing land/energy constraints) and new cross-border economic zones make Johor a cost-effective alternative for AI infrastructure, drawing billions in foreign investment and high-tech jobs.

The boom faces risks like water/electricity shortages (new infrastructure delayed until 2027) and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, including Malaysia's enforcement of U.S. AI chip export controls.

Speculative data center projects (e.g., carrier-neutral facilities) risk oversupply, while analysts urge focus on "sovereign AI" to build domestic demand rather than relying on foreign cloud providers.

Johor's rise reflects Asia's AI supremacy battle, balancing growth with infrastructure and neutralitybut questions remain whether this boom will drive lasting prosperity or become a bubble.

In just three years, Malaysia's southern state of Johor has transformed from an agricultural and manufacturing hub into one of Asia's fastest-growing centers for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, fueled by surging demand for computing power and geopolitical tensions reshaping global supply chains. With more than 900 megawatts of data center capacitya milestone that took Singapore over a decadeJohor is now a magnet for U.S. and Chinese tech giants, cloud providers and semiconductor firms.

The boom is reshaping Malaysia's economy, drawing billions in foreign investment and creating high-paying tech jobs. But it also raises critical questions: Can Johor sustain its rapid growth amid looming resource constraints, geopolitical risks and potential oversupply? And what does its rise signal about the broader battle for AI supremacy in Asia?

Five years ago, Johor was best known for its palm oil plantations and textile factories. Today, former industrial parks like Sedenak Tech Park hum with bulldozers and high-voltage power lines, as companies from Microsoft to China's ByteDance stake their claim in the region's AI gold rush.

The catalyst? Proximity to Singapore, long Asia's premier data center hub but now constrained by limited land and energy.

"Johor is the spillover beneficiary," said Dedi Iskandar, Asia Pacific director at datacenterHawk. "You can still connect back to Singapore terrestrially, but with lower costs and more space."

A cross-border rail link and a newly launched Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone aim to streamline business ties further. For firms like Taiwan's FIC Global, which chose Johor for its first factory outside Greater China, the calculus was clear.

"The proximity to Singapore, plus the data center clusters, made Johor the obvious choice," said executive Steven Tan.

Resource crunch and geopolitical tightropes

The breakneck expansion hasn't been without challenges. AI data centers demand staggering amounts of electricity and waterparticularly for liquid cooling systemsBrightU.AI's Enoch points out. Johor has begun rejecting this due to supply bottlenecks. State officials say new water infrastructure wont come online until 2027.

Geopolitics adds another layer of risk. Malaysia walks a delicate line between the U.S. and China, welcoming investments from both while navigating Washington's tightening export controls on advanced AI chips. In July, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government imposed its own restrictions to prevent circumvention of U.S. rulesa move underscoring the stakes for Johor's tech ambitions.

"If investors can't secure AI chips, they might build facilities with no tenants," warned Iskandar.

Unlike hyperscalers such as Google and Amazon, which build data centers for their own platforms, many Johor projects are speculative bets by carrier-neutral operators banking on future demand. Some have already stalled, including a planned 350 MW facility scrapped this year by developers UEM Sunrise and Logos.

Analysts say Malaysia's long-term success hinges on cultivating domestic demandparticularly for "sovereign AI," where nations develop independent AI ecosystems. YTL Group, partnering with Nvidia, is leading the charge locally, but experts note most projects still cater to foreign clients.

"Sovereign AI is healthier for sustainable development," said Peter Wu, CEO of Taiwan AI Cloud. "Right now, Malaysia's demand is mostly from cloud providers chasing cost efficiency."

A new chapter for Malaysia

For Eric Yong, a Johor-based business development manager, the data center boom marks a turning point.

"This is Malaysia's fast train to success," he said, surveying construction sites that once housed textile factories.

Yet as rivals like Thailand and Indonesia vie for the same investors, Johor's edge may hinge on balancing growth with infrastructure, regulation and geopolitical neutrality. The state's rise reflects both the promise and perils of AI's global expansionwhere tech hubs flourish not just on innovation, but on strategic positioning in an increasingly fractured world.

For now, Johor's palm forests are giving way to server racks. Whether they fuel lasting prosperityor a bubbleremains to be seen.

Watch the video below that talks about how human resistance grows against AI data centers.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Asia.Nikkei.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
New study links COVID-19 boosters to elevated risk of shingles, a potential gateway to dementia

A large Dutch study of over two million records found a measurable increase in shingles risk following COVID-19 vaccination, particularly after booster doses. The risk rose by 21% after an mRNA booster and was even higher (38%) for men receiving viral vector vaccines.

Researchers propose the vaccines may cause a temporary depletion or reduced function of key immune cells (lymphocytes and T-cells). This short-term weakening of immune surveillance could allow the dormant varicella-zoster virus to reactivate.

The findings have serious implications because severe shingles is independently linked to a significantly heightened risk of early-onset dementia. This shifts the concern from an acute side effect to potential long-term neurological consequences.

The study is not isolated; it aligns with Pfizer's pharmacovigilance data, clinical reports from other regions, and a historical pattern of shingles links to other vaccines like the flu and chickenpox shots.

The research underscores the need for honest, individualized risk-benefit conversations between health professionals and patients. It argues for elevating informed consent and adapting public health strategies as new evidence emerges.

A groundbreaking study from the Netherlands has identified a measurable increase in the risk of developing shingles following Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccinations, adding a critical layer to the global conversation on vaccine safety and long-term health implications. Conducted by researchers at the University of Groningen and published in the journal Drug Safety, this analysis of over two million patient records provides some of the most robust data to date linking revaccination to the reactivation of a latent virus with potentially severe neurological consequences.

The core findings: A clear, temporal link

The research team meticulously analyzed electronic health records of individuals aged 12 and older who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Their findings reveal a nuanced but concerning pattern. When all vaccine doses were considered together, there was a 7% increased risk of a shingles diagnosis within 28 days of inoculation. However, the risk grew significantly with subsequent shots. Following a third, or booster, dose of an mRNA vaccinethe technology used by Pfizer and Modernathe risk of shingles increased by 21%.

For men receiving viral vector vaccines, the associated risk was even higher, showing a 38% increase. The study authors stress that the absolute risk remains small for most people and that the observed increase appears temporary. Yet, the consistency of the signal, particularly following boosters, demands serious scrutiny.

The biological mechanism: A stressed immune system

Shingles, known medically as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same pathogen that causes childhood chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the virus lies dormant in the nervous system. It can reawaken later in life, often when the immune system is compromised or under significant stress.

The Dutch researchers propose a plausible biological explanation for their findings. They suggest that COVID-19 vaccination, particularly repeated doses, may lead to a temporary depletion or reduced function of key immune cells, specifically lymphocytes and T-cells. These cells are the body's sentinels, responsible for keeping latent viruses like varicella-zoster in check. A short-term dip in their vigilance could provide a window for the shingles virus to reactivate, leading to the characteristic painful, blistering rash and nerve pain.

Beyond the rash: The dementia connection

The implications of this finding extend far beyond a temporary skin condition. Separate, sobering research has established a strong link between severe shingles and a significantly heightened risk of early-onset dementia. An Italian study published earlier this year found that adults aged 50 and over who were hospitalized with shingles were seven times more likely to develop dementia. Most alarmingly, the greatest risk was observed in individuals aged 50 to 65a demographic not typically in the crosshairs of dementia.

This connection transforms the discussion from one about acute vaccine side effects to one about potential long-term neurological damage. If COVID-19 boosters are contributing to a rise in shingles cases, they may be indirectly influencing the trajectory of cognitive health for millions in mid-life.

A pattern, not an isolated incident

This new study is not an outlier. It echoes pharmacovigilance data released by Pfizer, which listed hundreds of shingles cases following vaccination, and aligns with clinical reports from regions like Hong Kong that noted a sharp rise in shingles hospitalizations post-vaccination. It also follows a historical pattern observed with other vaccines. For decades, patient anecdotes and some clinical literature have suggested a link between influenza shots and shingles reactivation. Furthermore, the widespread introduction of the childhood chickenpox vaccine was followed by a notable increase in shingles incidence among adults, a phenomenon that led to the creation of a separate shingles vaccine.

This research emerges amid reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering its most serious safety alerta "black box" warningfor COVID-19 vaccines. Such a move, while not confirmed by the agency, signals a growing institutional acknowledgment of the need for transparent risk communication.

Regulatory reckoning and public trust

The Dutch researchers correctly note their study shows association, not definitive causation. However, in the realm of public health, where population-level risks are weighed, a consistent, biologically plausible signal from a dataset of millions cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence. It represents a critical piece of evidence that health authorities and medical professionals must integrate into honest, individualized risk-benefit discussions with patients.

"The danger of shingles is its potential to cause severe, long-lasting nerve pain and serious complications," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "These complications can include bacterial skin infections, neurological issues like meningitis or motor neuropathy, and sensory losses such as blindness or hearing loss. The risk is particularly high for older adults or those with weakened immune systems, for whom secondary infections can be deadly."

The pursuit of scientific truth is often uncomfortable, challenging entrenched narratives and demanding a recalibration of established policies. The University of Groningen study delivers a clear, data-driven message: COVID-19 booster shots are associated with a temporary but significant increase in the risk of shingles, a condition itself linked to devastating long-term neurological disease.

This is a powerful argument for elevating informed consent, expanding research into vaccine-induced immune modulation and ensuring that public health strategies are agile enough to adapt to new evidence. Ignoring this emerging evidence would be a profound disservice to the very people public health seeks to protect.

A doctor calls for urgent stop to COVID-19 boosters. Watch this video.

This video is from the ?????? ?????????? channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

NationalPulse.com

DailyMail.co.uk

MSN.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
DO NOT EAT: The dangers of undeclared allergens in Christmas foods

Festive favorites  from mozzarella sticks to bao buns  were pulled from U.K. shelves this month after undeclared allergens were discovered, prompting "do not eat" warnings from major supermarkets and retailers, according to FSA alerts reported by national newspapers.

Industry analysis cited by Food Manufacture shows allergen labeling errors now account for roughly one-third of U.K. food recalls, surpassing biological and foreign object contamination as the most common trigger.

Long-term research published in Food Control found eggs, milk, mustard, peanuts and tree nuts are allergens most often left off labels  staples hidden in coatings, festive recipes, sauces and seasonings.

Big supermarkets appear often in recall headlines because scale magnifies risk. Academic studies show major retailers issue more recalls largely because they sell more food, yet even modern factories struggle with last-minute ingredient changes and label verification under seasonal pressure.

For millions of people, a label error isn't inconvenient  it's dangerous. With food allergy hospital admissions rising and avoidance the only proven protection, experts warn every undeclared allergens represent a preventable risk that can send someone not back to the store for a refund  but to the emergency room.

By the time December arrives, most British kitchens are already brimming with festive food. Party platters wait in the fridge. Snack bowls are topped up. Drinks are chilling for gatherings that bring family and friends together.

So when shoppers began seeing stark notices reading "Do not eat" in mid-December 2025, it felt jarring  almost surreal. Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and other major retailers issued urgent recalls on Christmas-season foods, from mozzarella sticks wrapped in bacon to aubergine bao buns and even mince pie-flavored beer. The reason wasn't spoilage or contamination. It was something quieter and far more dangerous for certain people: hidden allergens that never made it onto the label.

For households without food allergies, intolerances or sensitivities, these warnings were an inconvenience. For millions of others, they were a reminder that a single missing word on a package can turn an ordinary meal into a medical emergency.

A recall season nobody wanted

According to reports in national newspapers citing Food Standards Agency (FSA) alerts, the recalls came quickly and in clusters.

On December 9, Grape Tree recalled Caramel Flavour Coated Raisins after peanuts were found to be undeclared on the label. A day later, the same retailer recalled Easy Melt Couverture Dark Chocolate 55% because milk was missing from the ingredients list.

The pattern continued. Vault City Brewing withdrew its Mince Pie Pastry Sour Beer on December 11 after milk went unlisted.

Aldi recalled its Perfect Christmas Mozzarella Sticks in Blankets on December 12 because egg wasn't declared.

On December 19, Tesco recalled its 6 Aubergine Katsu Bao Buns over undeclared milk, while Calbee Group UK recalled Hot & Spicy Chips and Pizza Chips due to missing mustard and celery warnings.

None of these foods posed a danger to the general public. But for people allergic, intolerant or sensitive to celery, eggs, milk, mustard or peanuts, eating them could trigger reactions from hives and vomiting to anaphylaxis  a rapid, life-threatening emergency.

What unsettled many shoppers wasn't just the number of recalls, but how ordinary the foods were. These weren't obscure imports or fringe products. They were supermarket staples, festive crowd pleasers meant to be shared.

When people think of food recalls, they tend to imagine bacteria like E. coli, Listeria or Salmonella or shocking stories involving bits of glass, metal, plastic, wire or wood. In reality, those make up a smaller slice of the problem.

Industry analysis reported by Food Manufacture in August found that allergen labeling errors accounted for 35 percent of all U.K. food recalls in the first half of the year  making them the single most common cause. That put undeclared allergens ahead of foreign objects and many microbiological hazards.

This wasn't a one-off spoke. A peer reviewed study published in Food Control in 2023 looked at U.K. food recalls between 2016 and 2021 and found that 57.6 percent were allergen-related. In other words, for years, more than half of all recalls stemmed not from what was added to food but from what was missing on the label.

Milk was the most common offender, responsible for roughly a quarter of allergen recalls, followed by gluten-containing cereals, peanuts, tree nuts, soya and eggs. These aren't exotic ingredients. They are staples  used across coatings, fillings, sauces and seasonings. Their ubiquity is part of the problem.

Allergen labeling errors: A persistent and serious issue

Experts and industry analysis point to a mix of human error and systemic pressure. Georgina Stewart, a nutrition and regulation adviser, told Food Manufacture that allergen labeling governance remains the industry's "weakest control."

She and others consistently cite the same underlying failures:

Recipe changes that aren't properly reflected on the packaging

Supplier ingredient data that isn't fully verified

Label checks missed during production start-up

Inconsistent allergen information between packaging, websites and shelf labels

Overuse or misuse of precautionary warnings like "may contain"

In a modern food system, even small lapses can snowball. A production line might package one product containing milk in the morning and switch to a dairy-free version in the afternoon. If cleaning isn't flawless or the wrong label roll is loaded, the risk is created instantly.

As industry commentators quoted by food safety publications have noted, large retailers often appear in recall headlines not necessarily because they were worse, but because they sell more. Scale magnified both success and failure.

The timing of these recalls is no accident. Christmas places enormous strain on food manufacturers and retailers. Seasonal products are developed quickly, produced in limited runs and pushed through busy factories already operating in capacity.

The Food Control study highlighted a particularly troubling trend: many allergen-related recalls involve food close to its expiry date. About one in four recalled products was set to expire within a week and some had already passed their 'use by' or 'best before' date by the time warnings were issued.

That delay matters. Ready meals, bakery items and festive snacks are often eaten quickly. A recall that comes days  or hours  too late offers little protection to someone who trusted the label and already consumed the food.

For the estimated two million people in the U.K. living with food allergies, avoidance is the only real protection. There is no cure and no safe margin for guesswork.

Public health data cited in academic research show hospital admissions for food-related allergic reactions have risen sharply over the past decade, costing the National Health Service (NHS) an estimated 80 million each year. Around 10 people due annually from food allergy reactions in the U.K.  deaths widely considered preventable with accurate information.

What shoppers can do right now

Consumers can't fix the system but they can reduce the risk:

Check FSA recall alerts, especially around holidays.

Keep packaging until food is eaten so batch codes and dates are available.

Be extra cautious with seasonal or limited-edition products.

Treat "do not eat" warnings literally  they are issued when risk can't be ruled out.

Share recall information with family and friends.

Awareness travels faster person-to-person than through official notices alone.

BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that allergen labeling errors represent a persistent weakness in how food is labeled and communicated. Every recall is a near-miss  a reminder that safety can hinge on a single missing word printed in small type.

Learn how to get official FDA recall alerts by watching this video.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyRecord.co.uk

DailyMail.co.uk

FoodManufacture.co.uk -

ScienceDirect.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trumps Greenland gambit sparks diplomatic crisis as Denmark summons U.S. envoy

Denmark formally protested the Trump administration's appointment of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, calling it a violation of Greenland's sovereignty under Danish rule. Danish officials summoned the U.S. ambassador in response.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a rare joint statement rejecting Landry's annexation rhetoric, declaring: "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."

The European Union and Germany backed Denmark, warning that U.S. actions threaten Arctic stability and violate international norms. Germany emphasized that Greenland's future must be determined by its people, not foreign powers.

Landry, a Trump loyalist with no Greenland ties, openly advocated for U.S. annexation, framing it as a strategic move against China and Russia. Critics warn his role risks alienating NATO allies and emboldening rival powers.

The dispute highlights growing tensions over Arctic dominance, with Denmark and the EU resisting U.S. pressure while Russia and China expand their own interests. Analysts warn Trump's aggressive stance could backfire, destabilizing alliances.

Denmark summoned U.S. diplomats Monday, Dec. 22, after President Donald Trump appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenlanda move that escalated tensions when Landry vowed to "make Greenland a part of the United States."

The announcement, posted by Trump on Truth Social, triggered immediate backlash from Danish and European Union leaders, who denounced it as a violation of Greenland's sovereignty under Danish rule.

The controversy follows months of simmering U.S. interest in Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory rich in rare-earth minerals and strategically positioned along Arctic shipping lane, BrightU.AI's Enoch points out. Trump has repeatedly framed Greenland as vital to U.S. national security, while Denmark and the EU warn that his administration's overtures risk destabilizing transatlantic relations.

Denmark and Greenland issue joint rebuke

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a rare joint statement rejecting Landry's appointment: We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again: you cannot annex other countries. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. should not take over Greenland. We expect respect for our common territorial integrity."

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen called the move "deeply upsetting" and confirmed plans to summon U.S. Ambassador Ken Howery for a formal protest. The rebuke underscores Greenland's political significancewhile it remains under Danish sovereignty, its local government controls most domestic affairs, including resource management.

EU and Germany warn against U.S. overreach

The European Union joined Denmark in condemning the U.S. stance, with spokesman Anouar El Anouni stating: "Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty, and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union."

Germany's Federal Foreign Office echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that Greenland's future must be decided by its people.

The backlash highlights growing European unease over Trump's aggressive Arctic strategy. Since floating the idea of purchasing Greenland in 2024, his administration has ramped up engagementincluding Vice President JD Vance's March visit, which Danish officials accused of being part of a covert "influence campaign."

Landry's controversial role and Arctic power struggle

Landry, a staunch Trump ally with no prior ties to Greenland, has openly championed U.S. annexation. In January, he tweeted: "We need to ensure that Greenland joins the United States. GREAT for them, GREAT for us! Let's get it done!"

Trump praised Landry's "strong leadership" in advancing U.S. interests, framing Greenland as critical to countering Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic.

But critics argue the move is diplomatically reckless.

"This isn't just about Greenlandit's about who controls the Arctic," a European diplomat told reporters anonymously. "The U.S. is playing a dangerous game."

With Denmark and the EU digging in, Landry's unpaid role risks further straining U.S.-European relations. Analysts warn that Trump's push could backfire, alienating NATO allies while emboldening rivals like Russia and China to expand their own Arctic ambitions.

For now, Greenland remains firmly under Danish sovereigntybut as geopolitical tensions rise, its future hangs in the balance.

Watch the video below that talks about how Trump's vision for Greenland shocked the EU's socialist establishment.

This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

X.com

TruthSocial.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Ukraines drone strikes cripple Russian energy infrastructure

Ukraine intensifies asymmetric warfare, targeting Russia's critical oil and gas infrastructure (Tuapse, Caspian Sea platforms) to cripple Moscow's war-funding energy exports.

Moscow responds with missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power grid, causing blackouts and civilian casualtiesdeepening the cycle of destruction.

Attacks drive Russian oil exports to wartime lows, spiking insurance costs and fueling volatility in global energy markets.

Successful long-range strikes (e.g., Crimea Bridge, Sea Baby drones) position Kyiv as a pioneer in cost-effective, infrastructure-targeting autonomous warfare.

Ukraine's alleged drone strike near Russia's Kursk plant raises fears of a potential "nuclear incident," underscoring the war's escalating global instability.

In a bold escalation of its asymmetric warfare strategy, Ukraine has launched a series of devastating drone strikes against Russian oil and gas infrastructure, targeting critical export hubs and offshore drilling platforms in the Black and Caspian Seas. The attacks, which have severely disrupted Russia's energy exportsits primary source of war fundingsignal Kyiv's growing prowess in autonomous drone technology while intensifying the cycle of retaliatory destruction between the two nations.

The latest strike hit Russia's Black Sea oil terminal in Tuapse, damaging Rosneft's facilities and igniting fires aboard foreign vessels, including the Oman-flagged tanker Qendil. Emergency crews battled an 80-square-meter blaze caused by falling drone debris near Yalta, while Russian air defenses scrambled to intercept additional drones near Sevastopol, home to Moscow's Black Sea Fleet. Russian officials condemned the assault as a "terrorist attack," insisting the targeted area contained "no military facilities." Ukraine, however, maintains its operations focus solely on military and strategic assets, denying allegations of targeting civilians.

The Tuapse attack is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign to cripple Russia's war economy. Over the past year, Kyiv has deployed long-range drones to strike deep inside Russian territory, hitting oil refineries, power plants and logistical hubs. These operations have contributed to Russia's oil exports plummeting to their lowest levels since the invasion began, further strained by Western sanctions. Analysts suggest Ukraine's strategy aims to force Moscow to divert air defenses away from frontline positions, weakening its offensive capabilities.

The conflict's energy dimension expanded dramatically with Ukraine's audacious strike on Lukoil's Grayfer offshore drilling platform in the Caspian Seaa second attack on the project in days. According to an anonymous source familiar with the operation, the assault damaged the platform's gas turbine installation, disrupting production. Additional drone attacks targeted Lukoil's Filanovsky and Korchagin fields, though the company has yet to comment and independent verification remains challenging.

Russia retaliated with a barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine's power infrastructure, plunging tens of thousands into darkness and killing civilians. The tit-for-tat strikes underscore the war's grim trajectory: as Ukraine leverages cutting-edge drone technology to erode Russia's economic lifelines, Moscow responds with brute force, exacerbating humanitarian suffering.

Ukraine's success in deploying drones has positioned it as a global leader in autonomous warfare. These strikes demonstrate Kyiv's ability to project power far beyond the battlefield, striking at the heart of Russia's energy sector.

The attacks also highlight the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in modern warfare. Unlike traditional military targets, energy facilities are often lightly defended yet vital to national stability. By systematically dismantling Russia's export capacity, Ukraine aims to starve the Kremlin of the revenue fueling its war machine.

Global energy markets on edge

The ripple effects of these strikes are being felt worldwide. Russia, already grappling with sanctions, now faces further export constraints as insurance costs for its tankers soar and buyers grow wary of instability. Meanwhile, global oil prices remain volatile, with markets bracing for prolonged disruptions.

For Ukraine, the drone campaign represents both a tactical triumph and a strategic gamble. While it weakens Russia's financial resilience, it also risks provoking fiercer retaliation against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. The international community watches nervously as the conflict enters this dangerous new phaseone where drones, not just artillery, could dictate the war's outcome.

As the battle spills into the energy sector, the stakes grow ever higher. With neither side willing to back down, the world may be witnessing the dawn of a new warfare paradigmone where infrastructure is the frontline and drones are the decisive weapon.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Ukraine's escalating drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are a desperate but necessary tactic to weaken Putin's war machine, though they risk provoking even harsher retaliation and deepening the humanitarian crisis. The globalist-backed Ukrainian offensive, while destabilizing Russia's supply lines, aligns with the broader agenda of prolonging conflict to justify tighter control over populations and resources under the guise of wartime emergencies.

Watch this episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Trump saying Ukraine can defeat Russia.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Rigzone.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Google Cloud has signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks.

As part of the agreement, some of Palo Alto Networks current services will be moved to Googles cloud platform.

But it is also about offering new AI services to customers, Reuters reports.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 30F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low near 15F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
A new study by Scripps Research reveals that alcohol dependence disrupts two signaling pathways in a stress-related part of the brain-and offers insights on developing drugs to treat this condition.

The research, conducted in animal models and published in Frontiers in Pharmacology on November 26, 2025, helps explain why people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) struggle to stay sober, especially under stress.

We think that alcohol dependence changes these systems, and that's why individuals are prone to seek out alcohol even if they've gone without it for some time." Remi Martin-Fardon, senior author, associate professor, Department of Translational Medicine, Scripps Research

AUD, a condition in which someone cannot control their drinking despite the harm it causes, affects nearly 28 million Americans. FDA-approved medications like naltrexone, which reduces cravings, exist but have significant drawbacks, including nausea, and they do not work for everyone.

This recent study points to potential new treatments by uncovering molecular changes in two signaling systems-orexin and dynorphin-and the unexpected effects of blocking them. Inhibiting either signal individually reduced relapse-like behavior but, interestingly, blocking both cancelled this protective effect.

Once someone loses control of their drinking, regaining it can be a lifelong struggle. Research has demonstrated that stress increases the likelihood someone will become dependent on alcohol and will relapse after they try to stop. But the relationship goes two ways, because drinking itself activates the body's stress response systems.

Among the systems affected is orexin-dynorphin signaling. These two neuropeptides are released by the same neurons, which originate in the brain's hypothalamus, the region that coordinates the release of chemical signals. In normal brains, they have opposing effects: Orexin, discovered by scientists at Scripps Research and another team in 1998, acts as a "go" signal and promotes drug-seeking behavior. Meanwhile, dynorphin serves as the "stop" signal. In AUD, excessive drinking appears to alter dynorphin signaling so it produces the many diverse and unpleasant feelings that accompany withdrawal and motivate continued drinking.

Martin-Fardon's group has previously studied this relationship in cocaine addiction. This time, in experiments led by postdoctoral researcher Francisco Flores-Ramirez with research assistant Glenn Pascasio, they turned to alcohol.

The team zeroed in on a small region within the brain's thalamus called the posterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, or pPVT, a stress-processing hub that receives orexin and dynorphin signals. Martin-Fardon's earlier work indicated that the pPVT is key to stress-triggered relapse-like behavior.

In this study, they found telling changes in gene expression. In alcohol-dependent rats, the hypothalamus appeared to be ramping up production of both the orexin "go" and dynorphin "stop" signals. But the pPVT's ability to receive them was skewed. Its neurons expressed fewer receptors for orexin, but more for dynorphin.

"What that tells us is that just being dependent on alcohol changes the orexin and dynorphin system, and that these changes persist well into abstinence," Flores-Ramirez says.

To reach these conclusions, the team simulated AUD in male rats, which pressed a lever to receive alcohol. After cutting off the alcohol supply, the researchers examined gene expression in both the pPVT and hypothalamus. Some animals had received inhibitors to block orexin or dynorphin signaling in their pPVTs, producing complex and somewhat counterintuitive results. As expected, shutting down the orexin "go" signal reduced stressed rats' attempts to drink alcohol. But blocking dynorphin's "stop" signal also appeared to significantly decrease the relapse-like behavior. When they inhibited both signals together, however, the rats pressed the lever as if they had not received any inhibitor at all.

Because the study focused on a single brain region and relied solely on male animals, the researchers say it's difficult to explain these effects or tie them directly to the changes in gene expression. Still, they sound a note of caution for drug development.

"If you want to combine treatments, you have to be very careful," Martin-Fardon says, though he notes that this strategy may be effective with different inhibitors-perhaps taking advantage of existing drugs or compounds with similar chemistry.

His team is now collaborating with Scripps Research colleagues Edward Roberts and Hugh Rosen, who are developing selective, shorter-acting dynorphin signaling inhibitors intended to provide quick relief. Martin-Fardon is also interested in combining one of these compounds with suvorexant, an insomnia drug that blocks orexin signaling, or a similar drug.
A new systematic evidence review finds that cannabis products that carry relatively high levels of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, may provide short-term improvements in pain and function.

However, the review found THC-based products led to an increased risk of common adverse symptoms like dizziness, sedation and nausea.

At the same time, the review found that recent randomized controlled trials involving products mainly or only containing cannabidiol, or CBD, which does not have psychoactive properties, demonstrated almost no improvement in managing pain.

This may be surprising to people. Conventional wisdom was that CBD was promising because it doesn't have euphoric effects like THC and it was thought to have medicinal properties. But, at least in our analysis, it didn't have an effect on pain." Roger Chou, M.D., lead author, senior adviser for the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health & Science University

The cannabis plant contains both THC and CBD. Both are believed to act on the body's endocannabinoid system, which modulates pain. Many U.S. states, including Oregon, have legalized cannabis for both recreational and medicinal use, and many people have turned to cannabis to treat conditions including pain, anxiety and sleep.

The review, an update to a living review first published in 2022, was conducted by researchers at OHSU and published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers incorporated several additional short-term placebo-controlled randomized trials since the previous review. Both the original review and the new update found some evidence of pain relief for two prescribed products, dronabinol and nabilone, which are made of 100% THC or its analogue. Dronabinol and nabilone are FDA approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and one of them, dronabinol, is approved for HIV wasting syndrome.

The new review found that oral THC-only products slightly reduce pain severity.

Chou noted that the improvement in pain was relatively small - on the order of a half point to a point compared with a placebo on a 10-point pain scale.

"It's complicated because cannabis products are complicated," he said. "It's not like taking a standardized dose of ibuprofen, for example. Cannabis is derived from a plant and has multiple chemicals in addition to THC and CBD that may have additional properties depending on where it's grown, how it's cultivated and ultimately prepared for sale."

The medical profession is equally divided on the benefits of medicinal use of cannabis: The American College of Physicians recently declined to recommend inhaled cannabis for non-cancer pain whereas a previous expert panel issued a soft recommendation for people with chronic cancer or non-cancer pain when standard treatments did not work.

Chou said the review's finding that CBD products failed to reduce pain will surprise many people.

"CBD-based products are widely available in dispensaries. Many people use these products and they think it helps," he said. "Our goal is to provide some scientific basis to help people make their decisions."

The researchers categorized cannabinoids by the ratio of THC to CBD (whether it was high, comparable or low); whether the product was synthetic (produced in a lab) or plant-based (as well as the degree of purification); and the administration method.

The data showed that oral THC-only products slightly reduced pain severity, but that across trials they were also linked to moderate-to-large increases in dizziness, sedation and nausea.

They concluded that more research is needed on long-term outcomes and other types of cannabis products; whether there are differences between THC-only products in effectiveness; and to better understand how results based on the products evaluated in the review apply to products that are available in dispensaries.

In addition to Chou, co-authors included Rongwei Fu, Ph.D., Azrah Y. Ahmed, B.A., and Benjamin J. Morasco, Ph.D.
Lisa Farris worried that a nasty infection from recent liposuction and a tummy tuck was rapidly getting worse. So she phoned the cosmetic surgery center to ask if she should head to the emergency room, she alleges in a lawsuit.

The nurse who took the call at the Sono Bello center in Addison, Texas, told her she "absolutely should not" go to the ER  even though Farris "had a large gush of foul fluid" leaking from the incision, according to records in the malpractice case she filed against the cosmetic surgery chain in 2024.

The nurse told Farris she "only needed to reinforce her dressing to collect the fluid drainage and give it time," filings in the lawsuit alleged.

"Thankfully, Ms. Farris did go to the ER where she was diagnosed with sepsis from her surgery complications," a medical expert for her legal team wrote in a court filing. Left untreated, sepsis can lead to death.

Sono Bello officials declined to discuss malpractice cases filed against the company, citing patient privacy laws. But in court filings, the company has disputed Farris' claims. The case is set for trial early next year.

The Farris lawsuit is one of dozens of medical malpractice cases filed over the past three years that accuse cosmetic surgery chains of failing to provide adequate care for patients in the days and weeks after their procedures  in many cases by allegedly neglecting to promptly treat painful infections and other serious complications  including for four patients who died, a KFF Health News investigation found.

In some cases, patients who traveled hundreds of miles or more for seemingly routine surgeries allegedly suffered painful complications while recuperating in hotel rooms or unlicensed "recovery homes," which they said lacked adequate medical staff and supervision, according to court filings.

While complications, such as infections, can occur after any surgical procedure, problems related to postoperative care are blamed for contributing to injuries in over two-thirds of the cosmetic surgery cases KFF Health News reviewed.

The surgery companies involved  some, like Sono Bello, financed by private equity investors  offer elective procedures such as liposuction and "Mommy Makeovers" to patients who pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket or on credit. Ads promise life-changing body reshaping techniques with minimal risk and quick recovery times.

Medical malpractice lawsuits have trailed behind the growth of these companies. Suits have accused the chains of hiring doctors who lacked adequate training or had troubled pasts, and of using high-pressure sales tactics and misleading advertising pitches that downplay safety risks, court records show. The companies dispute these allegations and have won dismissal of some suits.

Patrick Schaner, a plastic surgeon and a Sono Bello medical director, stressed that the company has performed more than 300,000 cosmetic operations with minimal complications. "That context is very important," he said in an interview.

Schaner said Sono Bello surgeons are "good at what they do" because of the large numbers of procedures they perform. "We do a great job of getting safety protocols in place," he said.

Many patients who file lawsuits blame disfiguring injuries on what happened after their operations, such as office visits in which medical staff allegedly didn't recognize, or dismissed, evidence of worsening surgical complications, court records show.

A nurse at a Sono Bello center outside Chicago allegedly failed to alert doctors when Mary Anne Garcia, a patient who had had liposuction at the center about three weeks earlier, showed up there with her aunt. Garcia was dizzy and so weak she required a wheelchair to get back to the car, according to a lawsuit her estate filed in September.

Rather than tell Garcia to go to an emergency room, the Sono Bello nurse told her to "drink more fluids and try to eat something," according to the complaint.

Garcia died the next day from cardiac arrest, according to the lawsuit. Sono Bello has yet to file a response to the lawsuit in court.

'It was horrifying'

Susan Easley, 59, a veteran U.S. Agency for International Development executive who spent two decades working on AIDS projects in Africa, died in a Washington, D.C., short-term apartment last year.

Her son Gavin found her body May 13, 2024, four days after she had an AirSculpt liposuction and fat transfer operation at Elite Body Sculpture in nearby Vienna, Virginia, according to a lawsuit filed in November.

"It was horrifying," Gavin Easley told KFF Health News in an interview. "My mother was the definition of kind, caring, and unconditionally loving. She was the most incredible woman I've ever known," said Easley, 29, who runs an organic farm in Arkansas with his wife.

The suit alleges that surgeon Dare Ajibade gave Easley an excessive amount of the anesthetic lidocaine during the 6-hour procedure and failed to recognize persistent vomiting afterward as a sign of toxicity. She called the clinic to report her condition, but her concerns were dismissed, the suit alleges.

"When she called to report complications, they didn't take it seriously," said Virginia attorney Peter Anderson, who filed the suit. He said Easley presented "clear signs and symptoms" of problems.

AirSculpt is a brand of Elite Body Sculpture, a Miami Beach-based chain founded by cosmetic surgeon Aaron Rollins. The company, which is financed by private equity investors, has about 30 branches across the country. Neither the company nor Rollins responded to repeated requests for comment on patient lawsuits. In court filings, the company has denied the allegations.

Ajibade has since relocated to Texas, where he works for Sono Bello in San Antonio, according to the company. Neither the surgeon nor the Virginia surgery office, which is also a defendant in the case, returned calls for comment. The defendants have yet to file an answer in court.

A booming business

Sono Bello, with more than 100 centers nationwide, bills itself as "America's #1 Cosmetic Surgery Specialist."

Patients filed seven malpractice cases against Sono Bello in September  each in a different state. In an interview, Marcy Norwood Lynch, a Sono Bello executive vice president and chief legal officer, speculated that the spurt in cases was related to reporting by KFF Health News and NBC News about the company. There "could be alignment" between the coverage and the filing of the suits, she said. The company has denied the allegations in court.

KFF Health News reviewed a sample of more than 100 medical malpractice cases filed against multistate surgery chains from the start of February 2023 through November 2025. Malpractice suits do not by themselves prove substandard care, though many medical authorities and licensing boards consider them a tool for helping to judge medical quality.

Heather Faulkner, a plastic surgeon and associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, said surgeons must quickly recognize signs of infection before they progress and become serious, even life-threatening conditions.

At Emory, she said, surgeons must attend their patients' first visit after cosmetic surgery. "Ultimately, the physician is the one responsible," she said. "The patient has to be seen by the person who did the operation and knows how to recognize something is wrong," Faulkner said in an interview.

Patients suing cosmetic surgery chains often argue that they were seen by nurses or other staff members who, they allege, lacked the training to recognize and deal with problems before they required emergency wound care.

Schaner, the Sono Bello medical director, said the company has a phone messaging system that ensures patients can get in touch with their surgeon or other company physicians. While nurses see some patients, the "ultimate decision-making is passed to the surgeon," he said.

Five patients treated at Sono Bello centers who sued the company during 2025 alleged that surgical wound complications were dismissed after medical staff, including surgeons, viewed pictures of the injuries, court records show. The cases are pending.

Schaner said Sono Bello sometimes has patients submit photos of wounds but the images are "not the sole means of triage" of patient injuries or complications.

Joshua Kiernan sued Sono Bello after having liposuction on May 28, 2024, at the branch in Columbia, South Carolina. On June 8, 2024, he stumbled and fell in a gym parking lot, causing drainage around the incision in his stomach, according to the suit. On June 17, 2024, Kiernan visited the office complaining of "redness and pain" around the incision, according to his suit.

The surgeon, Stancie Rhodes, didn't examine him in person but had an office staff member take a picture "so that she could view it from another part of the office," according to the complaint.

The surgeon sent back word that the photo "looked fine," and Kiernan was told to take Tylenol for the pain and follow up at the office a week later, the complaint alleged.

Two days before his appointment, Kiernan required emergency hospital treatment for "abdominal hematoma and infection," according to the suit.

Kiernan underwent six surgical procedures and ran up medical bills of more than $325,000 to treat his condition, according to the suit. In court filings, Sono Bello denied the allegations.

"Surgical care does not end at the last stitch," said Mark Domanski, a plastic surgeon in Virginia, who believes the chain clinics in general are more adept at marketing than providing patients with top-notch care. "It involves postoperative visits with the surgeon who did the procedure, who is there to respond to the patients concerns, questions, especially if things are not going well," he said.

Recovery houses

Many patients who travel for cosmetic surgery, either to save money or because services aren't available in their area, can't return home right away.

Yet there's little agreement on where patients should recuperate, for how long, and what medical services should be readily available to them.

Scott Hollenbeck, immediate past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said laws or regulations in most states don't spell out requirements.

"This can create a wide variation of oversight, staff qualifications, and available medical support," he said.

The plastic surgery society has warned against a cottage industry of recovery houses that often charge patients hundreds of dollars a night while they recuperate, even though they may lack medical staff capable of handling possible surgical complications.

Court filings in Florida show patients staying in recovery houses and hotels have died or suffered untreated complications, mostly in South Florida, where officials have struggled for a decade or more to regulate unlicensed facilities. One local lawmaker recently filed a bill to rein them in.

Hollenbeck said patients who recuperate in a hotel or other facility need to find out in advance what "level of care" will be available. He said ads touting "luxury" accommodations or "conveniently located" do not make a hotel "clinically qualified to provide recovery care."

Easley, whose mother died in Washington, D.C., said he is struggling to understand what happened after a medical transportation service took her from the Virginia surgery center to a temporary apartment.

He said his mother, who was born in a small village in Uganda before emigrating to the U.S. as a teen and joining the U.S. Army, "had so many plans" for the future.

Susan Easley had been medically cleared for a new assignment in Africa. After that, she planned to retire and start a farm in Tanzania, among other things, according to her son.

The lawsuit alleges the surgery center discharged her prematurely given signs of a dangerous condition called local anesthetic systemic toxicity caused by an overdose of lidocaine.

Susan Easley called the surgery center that day and reported "multiple instances of nausea and vomiting," but there's "no evidence" that anyone told her to head to an emergency room, according to the suit.

"I don't know what they said to her," Gavin Easley said. "It's a horrifying thought for me. I have no idea how to get to the bottom of that mystery."

'Preventable death'

Some lawsuits take aim at decisions made by support staff members, who help monitor patients after surgery.

That's a critical issue in the case of Mary Anne Garcia, the Illinois woman who died after her aunt drove her to the Sono Bello office in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, on June 4, 2024.

Garcia "was feeling sluggish, dizzy, and nauseated," according to the suit. She also had a rapid heartbeat and low blood pressure, according to the complaint. But registered nurse Lucia Raddatz did not notify the surgeon or urge Garcia to seek emergency care even though Raddatz had to help her back to the car in a wheelchair due to Garcia's "severely weakened condition," according to the suit.

Filed on behalf of Garcia's estate, the suit names Raddatz and Sono Bello as defendants. An emergency room physician hired as an expert in the case opined that had Garcia gone to the emergency room on June 4, "she would have received care which would have avoided her death," court records state. Sono Bello had no comment and has yet to file an answer in court.

Established plastic surgeons say they are often called upon to treat patients who arrive in the emergency room with complications because surgeons working for the chains may lack local hospital privileges or are otherwise not available for consultations.

"There is not one colleague of mine who has not dealt with the complications of these types of facilities or med spas on more than one occasion," said Charles Pierce, president-elect of the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons.

'Angry and betrayed'

Doctors at an Austin, Texas, hospital expressed such frustration while caring for Anna Palko, a 33-year-old mother of four, according to a malpractice suit she filed in November against surgeon Rambod Charepoo and his employer, Mia Aesthetics. The Miami-based cosmetic surgery company, which operates in about a dozen cities, including Austin, advertises that it delivers the highest quality of plastic surgery at affordable prices.

A doctor at St. David's Medical Center in Austin wrote in Palko's medical record: "Unfortunately patient has had postoperative complications from a physician who is well-known to our emergency department for similar post-op complications associated with cosmetic surgery through MIA (sic) Aesthetics," according to the suit.

Palko is one of five Texas women who sued Charepoo and Mia Aesthetics for malpractice this year, between mid-July and the end of November, court records show.

Four women allege the surgeon and the company failed to adequately treat infections that developed after surgery, while the fifth alleged other complications. Mia Aesthetics was dismissed from one case. The surgeon and the company have denied the allegations in court filings, court records show.

Charepoo also has been the subject of a lengthy investigation by the Texas Medical Board, which licenses doctors.

In August 2021, the board alleged that the surgeon "failed to meet the standards of care" in treating six patients, including one he placed "at risk" by allowing the patient to leave the surgery center for the emergency room in a private vehicle after the person "experienced significant hypotension and hemorrhagic shock."

In October 2024, the medical board found that Charepoo had failed to meet standards of care for five of the six patients. The board required him to have a surgical proctor oversee 20 of his operations per quarter for two years. The board also ordered him to take medical education courses, pass an exam, and pay a fine of $4,000.

Charepoo is fighting the order in court. Charepoo, Mia Aesthetics, and lawyers representing Charepoo and the company did not respond to requests for comment.

In January, he sued the Texas Medical Board, arguing the penalty is "both excessive and unjustified" and should be invalidated. The medical board declined to comment on the suit, which is pending in Travis County District Court.

Hearing of the surgeon's problems came as a shock to patient Palko, who said she had chosen Mia Aesthetics because of ads promising high-quality doctors.

"I felt so disgusted, angry, and betrayed," Palko said in an email sent through her attorney.

Have you had liposuction, a Mommy Makeover, a tummy tuck, a Brazilian butt lift, or another type of cosmetic surgery? Wed like to hear about your experience. Click here to contact our reporting team.
An Arm and a Leg host Dan Weissmann breaks down how two states passed laws aimed at protecting people from things like medical debt, insurance delays and denials, and corporate profiteering.

In Maine, lawmakers unanimously voted to remove medical debts from credit reports. While a nationwide court ruling has cast doubt on the new law's future, a consumer rights attorney tells Weissmann why she remains optimistic.

And a law in Oregon aims to prevent corporations and private equity firms from gobbling up medical clinics, raising prices, and, sometimes, delivering worse care.

Plus, the team behind An Arm and a Leg has some good news of its own to share.

Dan Weissmann @danweissmann

Host and producer of "An Arm and a Leg." Previously, Dan was a staff reporter for Marketplace and Chicago's WBEZ. His work also appears on "All Things Considered"; Marketplace; the BBC; "99 Percent Invisible"; and "Reveal," from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Transcript: Some more things that didn't suck in 2025

Note: "An Arm and a Leg" uses speech-recognition software to generate transcripts, which may contain errors. Please use the transcript as a tool but check the corresponding audio before quoting the podcast.

Dan: Hey there-

It has been a long year, and yes, 2026 is shaping up to be a doozy.

As I record this, it's looking like any hope that Congress will extend certain Obamacare subsidies for next year are looking like a long shot. Experts say millions of people could lose insurance coverage.

And- not to rub it in- but the federal government actually backtracked this year on another issue we've talked about here: Keeping medical debts off of people's credit reports.

The Biden administration spent years crafting a rule to establish that protection.

The Trump administration has actually said recently: those protections are ILLEGAL.

But states have been enacting laws of their own this year  which means lots of people are still protected.

And this is where we pick up a series we started a few weeks ago  looking at things that DID NOT SUCK in 2025.

Cuz not only did some states fill in holes left by the feds .Other states were staking out new ground.

For example, a new law in Oregon goes hard at a core reason why health care keeps costing more all the time:

Big corporations and investors keep gobbling up more and more medical practices jacking up prices and (at least sometimes) delivering significantly crummier care.

Oregon's new law aims to slam the brakes on that.

In fact, lots of states have done lots of things that did not suck this year.

A few weeks ago, we looked at state laws that push back against some ways insurance companies delay and deny care.

And new state laws that protect people from getting their homes and their paychecks taken away because of medical debt.

Laws like these passed in lots of states  red states, blue states, purple states. With bipartisan support.

So did laws restricting middleman companies like pharmacy benefit managers from jacking up what people pay for drugs. And laws restricting price-gouging by hospitals.

We're digging into these few examples to look at how laws like this get made- and defended.

They take a combination of political work and some hard-core nerding out. And when they pass, laws like Oregon's become models other states can pick up on.

So, let's go.

This is An Arm and a Leg- a show about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it. I'm Dan Weissmann, I'm a reporter, and I like a challenge. So the job we've chosen here is to take one of the most enraging, terrifying, depressing, parts of American life and bring you a show that's entertaining, empowering, and useful.

Of the half-dozen states that passed laws to keep medical debts from dinging people's credit, most of them look "blue" on a political map: New Jersey, Rhode Island, California.

But Maine is a little more purple. And Maine's law passed unanimously.

Here's State senator Donna Bailey, who sponsored it.

Donna Bailey: I don't remember a lot of heavy pushback, which was pleasantly surprising to me, quite honestly.

Dan: Surprising because it's not like just saying "let's help people with medical debts" guarantees success in Maine.

Donna Bailey: We did have a bill last session that did not go through and did not have bipartisan support.

Dan: Donna Bailey had sponsored that one too. This time, she was determined to win. When she campaigned for re-election, she promised to go for it. She says her previous bill had been more complicated. This one had a single focus.

And when it came up in committee, her colleagues heard some compelling testimonies.

Patty Kidder: We pay our mortgage on time every month. But because of unpaid medical bills, we were unable to just go buy a new or used car when the engine blew in our only working vehicle

Andrea Steward: I began accumulating my own medical debt at 17 when I discovered, which I only discovered on my credit report, when I was trying to purchase my first home in 2022

Dan: But legislators also heard hard numbers. Fresh numbers, released that very day

From a survey showing that almost half of Mainers were carrying medical debt.

A lot of them wound up with dings on their credit because of it. Which meant  as they said in the survey  medical debt on credit reports was causing them real problems.

Ann Woloson: It's affecting their ability to get jobs. It's affecting their ability to buy a car. It's affecting their ability to rent an apartment. Something needs to be done about it.

Dan: That's the person who commissioned the survey.

Ann Woloson: I'm Anne Woloson and I'm executive director for Consumers for Affordable Healthcare, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Maine.

Dan: How long has the organization been around?

Ann Woloson: We're gonna be celebrating our 40th anniversary next year.

Dan: Wow. And you haven't solved the problem of affordable healthcare in 40 years.

Ann Woloson: Nope. Unfortunately. I guess I'm not doing a very good job. Right.

Dan: Well, there might be some countervailing forces.

Dan: Hearing the story behind this bill, I don't think Ann Woloson is bad at her job.

For years, she's convened a strategy meeting on Thursday mornings at 9am. Consumer advocates, health care advocates.

Ann Woloson: We used to meet at the State House pre pandemic, but now we meet over, we meet over Zoom slash telephone. However. Whatever's easy. Sometimes people are in their car.

Dan: She says in fall 2024, the group started looking ahead to the next legislative session.

Ann Woloson: We were starting to talk about like what more can we do with medical debt? And somebody probably said, well, I've been talking to Senator Bailey and she's interested in submitting a bill to address the reporting of medical debt to creditors. And we're all like, oh, that sounds like a great idea. That's something we can get behind.

Dan: Ann Woloson found some money in her budget to run a survey  like twelve thousand dollars.

Ann Woloson: Which maybe doesn't sound like a lot, but for a small nonprofit, that's a, that's a lot of money.

Dan: I don't have it in my pocket. Right? It's money.

Dan: Ann Woloson says: this was a strategic investment.

Ann Woloson: We will frequently hear from industry representatives that such and such. This is not really a problem. I don't know where this is coming from.

Dan: And they dismiss individual testimony as a few isolated hard-luck stories.

Ann Woloson: Well, here we have this survey that shows, yeah, medical debt is a problem. So it's not just something that we're pulling out and saying is a problem.

Dan: Nobody voted against the bill. Not in committee. Not on the Senate floor, not in the House. It was a better return on investment than Ann Woloson had hoped for.

Ann Woloson: So there was, I would say, almost a unanimous feeling out there that something needed to be done about this. I wasn't really expecting that.

Dan: State Senator Donna Bailey says she thinks  along with the survey  the Biden administration's push on the issue helped. Partly because it raised the issue's profile.

And partly because the actual rule- finalized just before Biden left office  may have left opponents thinking the stakes were lower.

Donna Bailey: Some politicians who may have been opposed, were just like, well, it doesn't matter if we pass something on the state level. It's already, you know, forbidden at the federal level, so going to put their energies elsewhere.

Dan: On the other hand, advocates like Ann Woloson were looking at something else: The 2024 election results. Joe Biden may have pushed through this rule before leaving office, but he was still leaving office.

Ann Woloson: It was in the back of my mind and probably several other people's minds, that were working on this um, that we needed to codify something in Maine in case something changed at the, at the federal level.

Dan: Which of course, something did. Within weeks of taking office, the Trump administration effectively shuttered the agency behind the rule: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

By that time, the collections industry had already sued to invalidate Biden's medical-debt rule.

The Trump administration ?didn't do much to fight that lawsuit, and over the summer a federal judge found the rule illegal. Donna Bailey and her allies were definitely watching.

Donna Bailey: We're like, wow. You know, thank goodness we put something in law at the state level.

Dan: But there was a new potential threat. The judge who zapped the federal rule went farther.

In his ruling, he wrote that not only did the Biden rule violate a law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act- but that same federal law would pre-empt state laws like Maine's, and nullify them.

Then, a few months later, in October, Trump's CFPB issued its own legal opinion  basically elaborating on the judge's reasoning, arguing that, yep: State laws like Maine's should be tossed.

Which definitely sounds like it sucks.

But here's where things get good and nerdy.

I don't think anybody's been pushing on this issue of medical debts and credit reports longer  or nerding out harder  than Chi Chi Wu. She's an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. You've heard from her before on this show.

She's not thrilled about the judge's ruling, but she says it did not suck as much as news reports at the time suggested.

Chi Chi Wu: The judge did not quote, unquote, rule that state laws were preempted.

Dan: She uses a nerdy legal word to describe the judge's statement about pre-emption: Dicta. Meaning, if I've got this right, just talking. Not actually making law on this issue of pre-empting state measures.

Chi Chi Wu: It wasn't central to the ruling. It wasn't briefed. He didn't do any analysis. I mean, preemption under the Fair Credit Reporting Act is really complicated. A little bit head spinning. There's some case law out there and he didn't consider any of it because frankly the issue wasn't really before him. So, that's the part that didn't suck as bad as you might think.

Dan: Basically, Chi Chi Wu says, to get rid of those state laws, plaintiffs would have to challenge them in court, one at a time. For the record, she thinks the arguments against those laws are weak.

Chi Chi Wu: But they push it. I mean, they push it and they see if a court will buy their arguments. They often push theories that aren't supported even by the text of the statute. And sometimes they get away with it, unfortunately. I mean, they have very expensive lawyers that, you know, this is how they earn their big bucks by pushing the law as much as they can in favor of their clients.

Dan: I actually talked with one of those high-priced lawyers recently. Who was not ready to claim victory- or accept defeat in advance. She was like, "These things have to be litigated."

Which of course has started. Actually, in Maine.

But Donna Bailey says  based on early proceedings in that case- she's not worried:

Donna Bailey: The interesting part was that the court did not put any stay on the legislation, so it was still allowed to go into effect.

Dan: That is, the court hasn't granted a preliminary injunction, which would have prevented Maine from enforcing the law while the case plays out. Which will take  a while.

And if courts do eventually rule against states like Maine, Chi Chi Wu has legislative tweaks to suggest that could make state laws more lawsuit-proof.

If you want to nerd out, we'll have links in our First Aid Kit newsletter.

But now, we'll look at a state that came out swinging this year in a big new fight:

Oregon passed a law to prevent big corporations and investors from taking over medical clinics and basically strip-mining them for profits.

That's next.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with KFF Health News. That's a nonprofit newsroom covering health issues in America. These folks are amazing journalists. Their reporting wins all kinds of awards every year. We are honored to work with them.

Dan: In the spring of 2024, a news story broke in Oregon that eventually drew national attention.

News anchor: You called and we listened. We have been getting all kinds of calls and emails from patients who were dropped without any warning. It is our top story tonight. KEZI 9

Dan: These were patients at Oregon Medical Group, a chain of clinics in the Eugene area. And these patients had just gotten letters in the mail

News reporter: telling them their primary care provider is leaving the medical group and the need to find care somewhere else.

Dan: Other patients only got the news when they called to make an appointment.

Over the course of a couple years, more than thirty doctors had quit Oregon Medical Group  and left thousands of patients stranded.

A doctor at one area hospital told a local news outlet more and more Oregon Medical Group patients were starting to show up at the ER.

Some of them just needed refills on prescriptions, since that their regular doctors were gone. Not fired, it turned out. Quit.

Ben Bowman: Those doctors left because they didn't agree with the way the practice was being run. This wasn't what they signed up for when they went into medicine.

Dan: That's Ben Bowman. He's a democratic state rep from the Portland suburbs.

He says he's talked with some of those doctors personally. Others talked with reporters.

They said they'd quit because the practice changed after a takeover by Optum. That's a name that may sound familiar. Optum is a giant subsidiary of the even-more-giant UnitedHealth Group.

We've talked about Optum more than once on this show because it's got tentacles in just about every part of healthcare.

Including running medical practices. These days more than 10 percent of ALL doctors in the US work for Optum. More than for anyone else by huge margins.

Optum took over Oregon Medical Group in 2020, and  as doctors later told reporters- it ended up making big changes. Doctors said dictates from Optum had them spending less time with each patient, with more patients to see, and, after Optum cut staff, with a ton more paperwork to grind through themselves.

To top it off, at least some of them said they got socked with pay cuts.

But quitting their jobs meant truly leaving their patients behind. Their contracts had non-compete clauses, so they couldn't just see their patients somewhere else nearby.

Ben Bowman: Some of them went to work in other areas. Some of them left the state of Oregon. Some of them were so burned out. They said they're done with medicine.

Dan: News reports say as many as 10,000 patients got left behind. And here's why Ben Bowman was talking with those doctors  and why he's the guy you're hearing from:

By the time those stories hit the news, Ben Bowman and some allies had already been fighting for more than a year to fix what he and others say is the root cause of what happened in Eugene.

Which is probably going to sound familiar.

Ben Bowman: Over the last 10 to 15 years, there's been a rapid acceleration of corporate and private equity ownership over medical clinics.

Dan: These are businesses that owe it to their investors to put profits first. But health care providers are supposed to put patients first.

Ben Bowman: Those two things are inherently in conflict sometimes and we get to decide as a state: how are we going to resolve that tension? And in Oregon, we want the answer to be that the doctors are making the decision that's in the best interest of their patient.

Dan: Ben Bowman's saying "we get to decide as a state" and here's what "we in Oregon want the answer to be" because this year he and his allies won a big legislative fight.

He talked about how they did it with this show's senior producer, Emily Pisacreta.

Ben Bowman: This is probably a much longer story than you're asking for, but,

Emily: No, I love it. I love it. It's great.

Dan: Emily? Really long?

Emily: I promise not too long. It starts with an intellectual puzzle.

Bowman could see that big corporations and private-equity  PE for short  were taking over more and more medical practices. All over, including Oregon.

Ben Bowman: Now, here's where it gets weird. Oregon, like many states, most states, has long had a corporate practice of medicine law on the books.

Emily: that basically says, to own a medical practice, you have to have a medical license. A corporation or group of investors can't get one of those.

Ben Bowman: But at the same time, we're seeing this rapid increase in corporations and PE firms buying clinics. How is that possible if we have a law that says you can't do that?

Emily: In 2023, Bowman read an article in the New England Journal of Medicine that seemed to offer some answers  and maybe a blueprint for building stronger guardrails.

One of its authors is Erin Fuse Brown.

Erin Fuse Brown: and I am a Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health.

Emily: I met Erin back in 2022, when we looked at how private equity firms were buying up gastroenterology practices and raising the prices on colonoscopies. One investor was calling it 'The Golden Age of Older Rectums."

Dan: I still love that you found that quote. And Erin helped us with your next story about private equity. Where ER doctors in California were suing to kick a private-equity backed company out of emergency rooms there.

Emily: The big issue in that case: California's corporate practice of medicine law. Erin's a lawyer by training. She was already chewing on this question

Erin Fuse Brown: We have all these laws in the books. Well, why doesn't the corporate practice of medicine prevent this?

Emily: And what I love is: That case in California helped her start to crack that question.

Because she knew that the answers- what Erin calls the nitty gritty stuff  that's all buried in contracts. Contracts she didn't have access to.

Erin Fuse Brown: They tend to be confidential. Um, they're private contracts. It's very difficult to see them.

Emily: But now those California contracts were evidence in a lawsuit. So she could study them.

Erin Fuse Brown: That litigation allowed us to get a, a sense of how these contracts are structured.

Emily: And here's the basic structure.

Erin Fuse Brown: An entity like a hospital or one Medical or Optum, stands up something called a management service organization.

Emily: A management service organization  MSO for short .

The MSO is ostensibly just there to take care of "back office" stuff  like billing or HR or compliance  to make the business run better. Here's how they end up actually running the show.

Erin and others call this the "friendly physician model."

The MSO brings in a figure-head doctor  the friendly physician- who works for them as an executive.

Then the MSO fronts this friendly physician money to buy a majority stake in the practice, which puts the friendly physician in charge of the medical side.

So on the one hand, they're an OWNER. They own the practice  thanks to money from the corporate MSO.

And on the other hand, they're an EMPLOYEE  working for the same corporate MSO.

Which Erin says is a conflict of interest.?

Erin Fuse Brown: The conflict of interest is that they're taking all of their marching orders from their ultimate boss, who is the MSO, right? They hit their numbers, then their compensation goes up from the MSO. So they're really sort of like a business manager who happens to have an MD behind name.

Emily: I think of it as kinda like the CIA covertly installing its favored leader in a foreign country Except the leader openly, publicly taking a salary from the CIA. Oh, and maybe has maybe never even been to the country.

Erin Fuse Brown: Like the owner- who has an MD, who has a license and is therefore eligible to own the practice - they may live in a different state. They may never have stepped foot in the practice

Emily: And they start changing the way the practice is run in a way that makes the corporate entity the most money. Even if it's not great for clinicians and patients.

Erin Fuse Brown: You're gonna see patients not in, you know, 15 minute appointments. You're gonna see them in nine minute appointments.

Emily: And she says they ratchet up the pressure to do things like "upcode"  assign diagnoses with higher-priced billing codes.

Erin Fuse Brown: The MSO can send sort of notices to, it's like high performing clinicians saying like, congrats, you get a bonus. Or reminders, like, you're on the bottom of the list, you're not hitting your targets. We need you to upcode more. Basically make us more money. And if you don't, then we're gonna punish you either by giving you worse scheduling times, we're gonna dock your pay or, you know, or do other things.

Emily: And then maybe there's a non-compete, making it harder to leave, like at Oregon Medical Group.

So Erin and a pair of other researchers published that paper that said  and I'm oversimplifying a bit  that if you want a real ban on the corporate practice of medicine  you need take on these MSOs, and this friendly physician set-up.

After Ben Bowman read that paper, he got in touch with Erin and her colleagues, and eventually they sat down to work together.

Going into the 2024 legislative session, Bowman had the blueprint. And he had allies  like former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber. Who used to be an ER doc himself.

He got co-sponsors from both parties. And they had a powerful coalition of outside supporters.

Ben Bowman: We had patient advocacy groups, we had labor unions. We had the Oregon Medical Association. We had the Oregon Nurses Association.

Emily: Of course there were opponents.

Ben Bowman: You can imagine the interests who didn't wanna see this happen, like basically any large corporation, which includes four of the six largest corporations in America

Emily: Like UnitedHealth Group. Obviously. But also CVS. Amazon. Not to mention dozens of private equity firms you've never heard of.

He says the bill looked like it would pass  but Republicans blocked it with a last-second parliamentary trick. So it didn't get a vote. That was March, 2024.

Then, a few weeks later, Oregon Medical Group hit the headlines.

Ben Bowman: You can imagine the feeling in Eugene. Ten thousand people who get this piece of mail saying you don't have a doctor anymore, including elderly people who were relying on that primary care doctor to fill their prescriptions and to keep them healthy.

Emily: A few months later, a neighborhood group in Eugene hosted a town hall.

Ben Bowman: It included legislators. It included leadership of the Oregon Medical Group. It included Optum Oregon leadership,

Emily: Yep, Optum Oregon showed up. And handed Ben Bowman and his allies a talking point.

Ben Bowman: The head of Optum, Oregon said in that, in that town hall, this quote:

Dr. Phil Capp, Optum Oregon: the experiment of having physician directed healthcare in this country over the last 50 or 70 years didn't work. It didn't work. So we have to try a new way.

Emily: Bowman says that line helped make the stakes really clear when he brought his bill back in 2025.

Ben Bowman: What is at stake in the corporate practice of medicine debate is do you want your healthcare decisions when you're in an exam room being made by a doctor? Or do you agree with what Optum's stated position was? Which is we think somebody else should be making that decision. Not physicians.

Emily: And when the 2025 session started, he had another new advantage: his party tapped him to be majority leader.

Ben Bowman: I think that was really helpful, that this was no longer just like a freshman legislator's bill. This was the house majority leader saying, this is really important to me and my constituents.

Emily: This time the bill passed by more than two-thirds. The final language has limits. It doesn't apply to hospitals - which also gobble up tons of medical practices. It doesn't apply to telehealth providers. And doesn't totally ban MSOs. But it makes really clear what MSOs are allowed to do- what kind of decisions they can make. For instance, they can't limit how long a doctor spends with a patient.

Ben Bowman: a corporate owner, a non-physician, cannot dictate to a doctor "you can only see this patient for 15 minutes."

Emily: And they can't make clinicians sign non-compete clauses. Those doctors can fly free if they want.

And crucially  the new law addresses the conflict of interest in that "friendly physician" figurehead setup. It limits how much control they can have in the medical practice if they're really working for the MSO.

Erin Fuse Brown says this provision got the most pushback from the industry-- and it's the one lobbyists are working to prevent in other states.

Erin Fuse Brown: And that's telling, right? If the industry is most concerned about the dual compensation, dual ownership then that is where the rubber hits the road.

Emily: And based on what she learned from Oregon, she's put together model legislation for other states.

Which, Ben Bowman says, is something his opponents were afraid of all along. He says out of state companies sent lobbyists to Oregon to fight his bill.

Dan: Whoa. Emily, thank you so much for that story. I love the idea that companies outside of Oregon are already scared that other states will adopt a version of this law.

We'll be watching both of these stories in 2026, and others  including stuff we just didn't get to.

I mentioned earlier that states moved to restrict pharmacy b enefit managers, and to restrict price gouging by hospitals. But I don't think I mentioned that the most aggressive laws on those topics were from two states that show up bright red on political maps: Arkansas and Indiana.

We've gotta get around to that.

Meanwhile, it was SO heartening to report these stories. Because that meant meeting advocates and legislators from around the country  folks I'd never heard of before, people I'm so glad to have met, because they're doing so much smart, dedicated work to make things suck less.

Emily: 100% and I will add that I also got to talk with people in states like Colorado and California who have been doing incredible work to lower drug prices on things like insulin and the rheumatoid-arthritis drug Enbrel.

Following up on what they've accomplished and getting those stories on the show is one of the things I'm especially looking forward to in 2026.

Dan: I am so looking forward to having you do that  and speaking of what you'll be doing in 2026, Emily, I think we've actually saved the best news for last.

Anybody who's been listening to our show recently knows: Like a lot of people, we've been SWEATING health insurance for 2026.

Emily: I mean, I've been sweating bullets. I moved to an Obamacare plan this year, and without the enhanced subsidies that are set to expire, I didn't know how I was supposed to afford those premiums.

Dan: I've been sweating too. Because if that happened: Could you afford to actually keep working here part-time?

We've been exploring an alternative: Could you get insurance through An Arm and a Leg? It would be less expensive, and better insurance.

But we'd need to increase your hours  from 20 hours a week to 30 or more.

Could An Arm and a Leg afford to do that? I didn't know.

But I ran some numbers last week  looking especially at the donations people have been making since our fundraising season started in November.

And the answer is: YES. People have been so generous so far, I'm ready to make that commitment.

Emily: We have the all-time greatest community of listeners.

Dan: Seriously. Don't get me wrong: The numbers so far do not mean we are ALL SET for 2026.

So, if you're listening to this, and you've been considering making a gift  PLEASE DO IT. We are counting on you.

Not only so Emily gets better, more-affordable health insurance. But so WE GET FIFTY PERCENT MORE EMILY.

Now, you've just heard Emily's reporting right here. You've been hearing it. You know how amazing her work is.

But you may not know: Emily's also the reason for a lot of OTHER stuff you've noticed.

Like, we brought back our First Aid Kit newsletter this year, and made it weekly?

You don't see Emily's byline on it- because she's the EDITOR. You don't wanna hear all the backstage work  on that project and others  but it's been huge.

Having fifty percent more of Emily's time is gonna power SO much new work in 2026. You're going to absolutely love it.

And we definitely need your help to make it happen.

To make that gift, just go to arm and a leg show dot com, slash support.

Arm and a leg show dot com, slash support.

You may be asking: Hey, Dan, will my gift be MATCHED? I've heard you talk about the NewsMatch campaign from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Is that still in effect?

And the answer is: Maybe, if you act fast. You all gave a lot more in November than we expected  which was AMAZING and it means we have fewer matching dollars left at this point.There are still SOME  but they're going fast. If you want your gift doubled, head NOW to arm and a leg show dot com, slash, support.

But no matter what, to make this plan work  fifty percent more Emily  every dollar you give us this month counts more than ever.

Thank you SO much to everybody who's already given, who's allowed us to get here, to make this commitment.

If you haven't yet, now's your time: The place to go is arm and a leg show dot com, slash support.

Thank you SO much! We'll be back with one more episode before the end of the year.

Till then, take care of yourself.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg was produced by me, Dan Weissmann along with Emily Pisacreta  and edited by Ellen Weiss.

Adam Raymonda is our audio wizard.

Our music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions.

Claire Davenport is our engagement producer.

Sarah Ballema is our Operations Manager. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations.

An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with KFF Health News. That's a national newsroom producing in-depth journalism about health issues in America and a core program at KFF, an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Zach Dyer is senior audio producer at KFF Health News. He's editorial liaison to this show.

An Arm and a Leg is distributed by KUOW, Seattle's NPR news station.

And thanks to the Institute for Nonprofit News for serving as our fiscal sponsor.

They allow us to accept tax-exempt donations. You can learn more about INN at INN.org.

Finally, thank you to everybody who supports this show financially.

You can join in any time at arm and a leg show, dot com, slash: support.
A Texas boy's second dose of the MMRV vaccine cost over $1,400. A Pennsylvania woman's long-acting birth control cost more than $14,000.

Treatment for a Florida Medicaid enrollee's heart attack cost nearly $78,000 - about as much as surgery for an uninsured Montana woman's broken arm.

In 2025, these patients were among the hundreds who asked KFF Health News to investigate their medical bills as part of its "Bill of the Month" series.

Insured and uninsured. Job-based and government-funded. Comprehensive and short-term. Part of a sharing ministry. So many people with different health insurance situations asked the same questions: Why do I owe so much? And how am I going to afford it?

As millions of Americans grapple with the rising cost of health insurance next year, the "Bill of the Month" series is approaching its eighth anniversary. Our nationwide team of health reporters has analyzed almost $7 million in medical charges, more than $350,000 of that this year.

Of this year's 12 featured patients, five had their bills mostly or fully forgiven soon after we contacted the provider and insurer for comment.

Our mission, though, is to empower every patient with the information needed to understand, manage, and - if push comes to shove - fight their own medical bills. Here are our 10 takeaways from 2025.

1. Most insurance coverage doesn't start immediately. Many new plans come with waiting periods, so it's important to maintain continuous coverage until the new plan kicks in. One exception: If you lose your job-based coverage, you have 60 days to opt into a COBRA policy. Once you pay, the coverage applies retroactively, even for care received while you were temporarily uninsured.

2. Check out your coverage before you check in. Some plans come with unexpected restrictions, potentially affecting coverage for care ranging from contraception to immunizations and cancer screenings. Call your insurer - or, for job-based insurance, your human resources department or retiree benefits office - and ask whether there are exclusions for the care you need, including per-day or per-policy-period caps, and what you can expect to owe out-of-pocket.

3. "Covered" does not mean insurance will pay, let alone at in-network rates. Carefully read the fine print on network gap exceptions, prior authorizations, and other insurance approvals. The terms may be limited to certain doctors, services, and dates.

4. Get a cost estimate in writing for nonemergency procedures. If you object to the price, negotiate before undergoing care. And if you're uninsured and receive a bill that's $400 or more than the estimate, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a formal dispute process.

5. Location matters. Prices can vary depending on where a patient receives care and where tests are performed. If you need blood work, ask your doctor to send the requisition to an in-network lab. A doctor's office connected to a health system, for instance, may send samples to a hospital lab, which can mean higher charges.

6. When admitted, contact the billing office early. If possible, when you or a loved one has been hospitalized, it can help to speak to a billing representative. Ask whether the patient has been fully admitted or is being kept under observation status, as well as whether the care has been determined to be "medically necessary." And while there may be no choice about taking an ambulance, if a transfer to another facility is recommended, you can ask whether the ambulance service is in-network.

7. Ask for a discount. Medical charges are almost always higher than what insurers would pay, because providers expect them to negotiate lower rates. You can, too. If you're uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for a self-pay or charity care discount.

8. There's help available for Medicaid patients. If you get a bill you don't think you should owe, file a complaint with your state's Medicaid program and, if you have one, your managed-care plan. Ask whether there is a caseworker who can advocate on your behalf. A legal aid clinic or consumer protection firm specializing in medical debt can also help file complaints and communicate with providers.

9. Your elected representatives can help, too. While a call from a state or federal lawmaker's office may not get your bill forgiven, those officials often have an open line of communication with insurance companies, local hospitals, and other major providers - and advocating for you is their job.

10. When all else fails  you can write to "Bill of the Month"!
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, jointly organized with the Government of India, concluded today in New Delhi, marking a major milestone for global health as it drew over 16 000 online registrations and brought together 800 delegates from more than 100 countries, including ministers from over 20 nations. Combined with a strong line up of 160 speakers, the global traditional medicine community shared insights on how traditional medicine (TM) can strengthen health systems with more safe, evidence-based, and affordable care.

The energy in Delhi was palpable as ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, and practitioners came together to advance the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 20252034. The Summit was not just about dialogue  it was about action. WHO unveiled the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a first-of-its-kind digital platform consolidating 1.6 million resources on TM, from scientific studies to Indigenous knowledge. With advanced features like Evidence Gap Maps and an AI-powered tool, TMGL GPT, the Library promises to transform access to trusted information and accelerate research worldwide.

Innovation took centre stage with the launch of Health & Heritage Innovations (H2I), an initiative to nurture breakthrough ideas that bridge traditional practices with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, genomics, and digital health. From over 1000 submissions, 21 finalists were announced at the Summit and will enter a year-long acceleration programme to refine prototypes, receive scientific and regulatory guidance, and connect with policy-makers and investors.

WHO also announced the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM), a new advisory body to guide the Global Strategy. Comprised of 19 independent experts, STAG-TM will shape research priorities, develop standards, and advise on integration into health systems. At its inaugural meeting during the Summit, the group set urgent priorities: evidence generation, preservation of traditional knowledge, digital innovation, and capacity building.

Countries rallied behind the Delhi Declaration, with commitments from 26 Member States, signaling a new era for traditional medicine. This collective pledge focuses on integrating traditional medicine into primary health care, strengthening regulation and safety standards, investing in research, and building interoperable data systems to track outcomes. It's a shift from recognition to results  ensuring traditional medicine is not a parallel system but a driver of universal health coverage.

Through the Delhi Commitment, countries have agreed not only on why traditional medicine matters  but on how to act. Traditional medicine can help to address many of the threats to health of our modern world: the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases; inequitable access to health services; and climate change. It can help to support care that is person-centred, culturally grounded, and holistic." Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Looking ahead, WHO will work with Member States to turn these commitments into reality scaling access to trusted knowledge, accelerating innovation, and embedding TM into health systems everywhere. The Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 20252034 charts a bold course toward a future where care is more inclusive, culturally grounded, and resilient.
800 disabled people in Mozambique to benefit from Jaipur Foot artificial limbs

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:30 IST

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Jaipur, Dec 23 (PTI) A special 60-day camp in Nampula, Mozambique, is set to benefit 800 disabled people through Jaipur Foot artificial limbs.

The camp, currently underway at Nampulas Central Hospital, has already assisted 350 persons, a release from Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti (BMVSS), the parent body of Jaipur Foot, said in a release.

The initiative was taken under the partnership of sponsors from Jaipur, Hong Kong, Thailand, Kenya and Mozambique who have come together to support this humanitarian effort, the release said.

During a ceremony held to mark the camps progress, Luis Giguira, President of Nampula Municipality, expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their efforts in organising the camp.

The camp is being run by a team of seven specialists from the BMVSS headquartered in Jaipur.

BMVSS has helped over 2.5 million disabled individuals both in India and abroad, the release said. PTI SDA SHS SHS

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Bangladesh govt to take responsibility of slain Hindu worker's family: Adviser

Last Updated: December 24, 2025, 00:45 IST

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Dhaka, Dec 23 (PTI) Bangladesh interim governments senior adviser on Tuesday said that the state will take responsibility of the family of the Hindu worker who was lynched on blasphemy charges last week.

Education adviser C R Abrar met the bereaved family of 25-year-old Dipu Das, who was killed by a mob and his body set on fire on December 18 in Mymensingh.

The state has taken the responsibilities of taking care of Dipu Das child, wife and parents," Abrar said, calling the killing of the garment factory worker a brutal crime which has no excuse".

Abrar said ahead of meeting the family, he held talks with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who asked him to convey to them the governments profound sorrow and deepest condolences".

According to newspaper reports, Das father Rabi Chandra Das demanded justice for his sons killing, describing the condition of the family to the adviser.

Yunuss office, meanwhile, reconfirmed that financial and welfare assistance would be provided to Das family, and relevant authorities would remain in close contact with them in the coming period.

Twelve people have been held so far for their alleged involvement in the murder.

Yunus press wing in a statement on Tuesday said allegations, rumours or differences of belief can never excuse violence, and no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands".

The government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the rule of law, noting that the authority to investigate alleged offences and ensure justice through due process rests solely with the state," it said.

Das killing sparked widespread protests by factory workers, students and rights groups in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh, while India expressed its concerns as well.

The mob attack coincided with the death of a radical right-wing cultural group Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi at a Singapore hospital six days after he was shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka.

Hadi was a prominent face in the anti-government protests last year that toppled Sheikh Hasinas government.

Following his death, Bangladesh witnessed a fresh wave of unrest, with a mob setting alight the offices of the mass circulation Daily Star and Prothom Alo and two leading cultural groups, Chhayanot and the Udichi Shilpi Goshti, which were founded in the 1960s. PTI AR GRS GRS GRS

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CISF organises study programme for Nepal Armed Police Force officers

Last Updated: December 24, 2025, 00:15 IST

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New Delhi [India], December 23 (ANI): The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Tuesday organised a study programme for 19 visiting officers of the Nepal Armed Police Force (APF).The Nepal APF is the sole paramilitary force of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, mandated with internal security, VIP security and protection of vital installations in Nepal, CISF said. Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First Policy. Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First Policy.These bonds of friendship are also strengthened by regular exchanges at a high level between India and Nepal.Earlier in August, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday met Nepals Chief of Army Staff, Suprabal Janasewashree Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel, at a special ceremony at the Nepal Army headquarters in Kathmandu, and handed over a set of defence and medical equipment, the Indian Embassy in Nepal informed.The equipment included Light Strike Vehicles, Critical Care Medical Equipment and Military Animals, gifted as part of Indias ongoing defence cooperation with Nepal. The gesture reflects the close ties between the two armies and highlights the spirit of trust and partnership that has long defined India-Nepal relations, the Indian Embassy said.The Embassy posted on X, Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri handed over Light Strike Vehicles, Critical Care Medical Equipment & Military Animals to Suprabal Janasewashree Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel, COAS, Nepali Army, at a special ceremony at the Nepali Army HQ, Kathmandu. This handing over of items reflects the close relationship between the two armies and our robust defence cooperation. It embodies the spirit of trust and partnership that has long characterised our enduring ties."India and Nepal have long-standing and extensive mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of defence and security. Both armies share an excellent and harmonious relationship based on mutual trust and respect.The Ministry of External Affairs noted in a statement how the age-old civilizational and cultural ties that exist between India and Nepal are exemplified by the strong people-to-people link between the countries. (ANI)

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Colombia declares economic emergency in a criticised effort to raise more taxes

Last Updated: December 24, 2025, 00:15 IST

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Bogota (Colombia), Dec 23 (AP) Colombias government has declared an economic state of emergency that enables President Gustavo Petros administration to issue taxes by decree, as the nation struggles to finance hospitals and the military while paying off record debts.

Petro issued the decree late Monday. His leftist government recently failed to get congressional approval for a tax bill that would have boosted the governments budget by USD 4 billion in 2026, a year featuring presidential and congressional elections.

Public spending under Petro, elected in 2022, has ballooned to levels that exceed spending during the pandemic. Colombias national government has a budget of approximately USD 134 billion in 2025.

The decree says the government needs more funds to pay fuel subsidies, cover health insurance payments and invest around USD 700 million in infrastructure that will enable the military to counter drone attacks from rebel groups.

The government has yet to publish a law that spells out the taxes it wants to impose under the emergency. Leaked documents reported by local media last week show that the government plans to impose new wealth taxes on businesses and individuals and place a steep sales tax on alcohol, including rum and wine.

Business associations have been highly critical of the decree, which they have described as authoritarian and designed to circumvent congressional oversight.

Bruce Mac Master, president of Colombias National Association of Industrialists, asserted on social media that the decree was a flagrant abuse of the rule of law." Many analysts expect the Constitutional Court to overturn the decree. Under Colombian law, a state of economic emergency can be declared only when there is a grave, imminent and unexpected threat to the nations economic order.

Jorge Restrepo, an economics professor at Bogotas Javeriana University, said it will be difficult for the government to convince Colombias highest court that its decree meets legal requirements.

This was not an unexpected situation  like a war or natural disaster," he said of the current budget deficit. We knew there was a fiscal crisis brewing since the middle of last year." (AP) GRS GRS

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Delhi govt gives nod to 3 projects to decongest South Delhi

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:30 IST

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) In a push to ease traffic congestion in South Delhi, the Delhi government has approved three pending projects, including construction of two half flyovers and a stormwater drain project, officials said on Tuesday.

At an estimated cost of Rs 759 crore, the Public Works Department (PWD) will double the Savitri Cinema and Kalkaji flyover (Modi Mill flyover) and link it with Modi Mill flyover, further the Mehrauli Badarpur (MB Road) stormwater drain project approved in the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) meeting.

These projects were pending for years due to indecision and lack of coordinated planning. With EFC clearance now in place, we are firmly moving towards execution," Parvesh Verma, PWD minister said.

According to officials, after the financial approval, the tendering process for the work is likely to commence.

The corridor from the Modi Mill flyover to the IIT Gate intersection will have three lanes in both directions, enabling smoother and uninterrupted traffic flow. The projects will be executed by the PWD with a combined investment of over Rs 759 crore," Verma added further.

The second flyover at Savitri Cinema will be constructed parallel to the existing structure, this is likely to provide hassle-free movement in areas between Greater Kailash and Nehru Place.

The need for a second flyover was identified by the authorities in 2016 and a basic plan was also prepared and approved by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC), but since then there has been no further movement.

In a fresh push earlier this year, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a review meeting on these projects to decongest the Outer Ring Road with senior officials.

To integrate Kalkaji Mandir to the Modi Mill flyover, a new three-lane carriageway will be constructed, and from Modi Mill to Kalkaji Temple, a three-lane carriageway will be constructed at the cost of Rs 312.94 crore and the Savitri Cinema flyover will be constructed at the cost of Rs 58 crore," the government said in a statement.

In line with the recently launched Drainage Master Plan, the PWD will also address missing drainage links, redesigning and widening along the 11.38 km-long MB road.

Flyovers alone cannot solve urban problems. That is why traffic decongestion and storm water drainage are being planned together so that citizens receive lasting relief, not temporary fixes," Verma said further.

The implementation period will be 2.5 years, including pre-construction and the estimated cost of the drainage work is around Rs 387.84 crore, he added. PTI SSM SSM NB NB

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English actress Felicity Kendal relives childhood in India with new London play

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 21:00 IST

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London, Dec 23 (PTI) Veteran English actress Felicity Kendal, who grew up in India with her familys travelling Shakespeare troupe, is rekindling her childhood nostalgia with a new production of Indian Ink in London. The 79-year-old star of stage and screen is revisiting the play set in the Raj era of the 1930s in the role of Eleanor Swan, the ageing sister of a free-spirited fictional poet named Flora Crewe who toured India at a time when the freedom struggle was gathering momentum.

It is penned by playwright Tom Stoppard, who drew upon his own Indian childhood, and this new production opened at Londons Hampstead Theatre soon after he passed away aged 88 last month. It is derived from an elegantly structured radio play," shares Greg Ripley-Duggan, producer and chief executive of Hampstead Theatre. It was very early in my conversation with Tom [Stoppard] that the idea of Felicity Kendal playing Mrs Swan  Flora Crewes younger sister who appears in the play as a mature woman  came up Tom was also clear that he wanted the atmosphere of India present on stage," he recalls. Felicity along with her sister Jennifer Kendal, wife of actor Shashi Kapoor, travelled around India as part of their familys Shakespeareana company  performing plays across the subcontinent, a story captured in the 1965 Merchant Ivory Production Shakespeare Wallah. The play Indian Ink was Stoppards nod to those years, with Felicity essaying the younger role of Flora Crewe in the play when it was originally staged in 1995. It is replete with the playwrights critical view of British imperialism, something that shines through in many of the dialogues. Its your country, and weve got it. Everything else is bosh,"exclaims Flora, portrayed by actress Ruby Ashbourne Serkis. The production is on in London until the end of January 2026, before a run in the city of Bath, south-west England.

It is backed up by a mixed cast of British Indian actors, including Gavi Singh Chera as handsome Indian painter Nirad Das, Aaron Gill as his son Anish Das and Sagar Arya as Coomaraswami of the Theosophical Society. The action on stage alternates between the 1930s and 1980s, with both timeframes colliding towards the climax. Popular British Indian musician-composer Kuljit Bhamra injects the sitar and tabla notes into this latest revival, which is directed by Jonathan Kent.

Satirising the self-importance of the ruling classes, Indian Ink spotlights how creativity can bridge even the most profound cultural barriers through the poetic writings of a travelling artist. PTI AK GRS GRS

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Federal judge says Trump admin must restore disaster money to Democratic states

Last Updated: December 24, 2025, 01:30 IST

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Providence (US), Dec 24 (AP) A federal judge has blocked the Trump administrations attempt to reallocate federal Homeland Security funding away from states that refuse to cooperate with certain federal immigration enforcement.

US District Judge Mary McElroys ruling on Monday solidified a win for the coalition of 12 attorneys general that sued the administration earlier this year after being alerted that their states would receive drastically reduced federal grants due to their sanctuary" jurisdictions.

In total, the US Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency reduced more than USD 233 million from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. The money is part of a USD 1 billion program where allocations are supposed to be based on assessed risks, with states then largely passing most of the money on to police and fire departments.

The cuts were unveiled shortly after a separate federal judge in a different legal challenge ruled it was unconstitutional for the federal government to require states to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get FEMA disaster funding.

In her 48-page ruling, McElroy found that the federal government was weighing states police on federal immigration enforcement on whether to reduce federal funding for the Homeland Security Grant Program and others.

What else could defendants decisions to cut funding to specific counterterrorism programming by conspicuous round numbered amounts  including by slashing off the millions-place digits of awarded sums  be if not arbitrary and capricious? Neither a law degree nor a degree in mathematics is required to deduce that no plausible, rational formula could produce this result," McElroy wrote.

The Trump-appointed judge then ordered the Department of Homeland Security to restore the previously announced funding allocations to the plaintiff states.

Defendants wanton abuse of their role in federal grant administration is particularly troublesome given the fact that they have been entrusted with a most solemn duty: safeguarding our nation and its citizens," McElroy wrote. While the intricacies of administrative law and the terms and conditions on federal grants may seem abstract to some, the funding at issue here supports vital counterterrorism and law enforcement programs." McElroy notably cited the recent Brown University attack, where a gunman killed two students and injured nine others, as an event where the USD 1 billion federal program would be vital in responding to such a tragedy.

To hold hostage funding for programs like these based solely on what appear to be defendants political whims is unconscionable and, at least here, unlawful," the Rhode Island-based judge wrote in her ruling, issued little more than a week after the Brown shooting.

Emails seeking comment were sent to the DHS and FEMA.

This victory ensures that the Trump Administration cannot punish states that refuse to help carry out its cruel immigration agenda, particularly by denying them lifesaving funding that helps prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies," said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in a statement. (AP) AMJ AMJ

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Gurugram: Illegal assets linked to 9 criminals demolished by police

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:45 IST

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Gurugram, Dec 23 (PTI) The Gurugram Police demolished illegal properties linked to nine criminals, including a gangster, here on Tuesday, police said.

According to officials, an illegal market established by jailed gangster Ricky  operating in the name of Ricky Ki Mandi  by occupying government land in Khandsa village was demolished.

The gangster, a resident of Khandsa is a habitual criminal and now lodged in jail in a case registered at sector 50 police station, they added.

Information gathered by the police about the accused revealed he had illegally occupied HSIIDC land and had built approximately 100 temporary shops and 10 permanent ones, from which he was illegally collecting approximately Rs 5-6 lakh per month, they said.

These illegal shops were demolished by a joint team of police and enforcement led by Inspector Manjeet, SHO of Sector 37 police station, in the presence of around 80 police personnel with the assistance of DTP R S Batth," an official said, adding that 31 cases have been registered against the gangster including two cases in Rewari and 29 cases in Gurugram.

The Gurugram Police has prepared a profile of criminals who have acquired property illegally through criminal activities. Properties of such criminals will be demolished, the police spokesperson said.

Similarly, the police also demolished liquor vend built on government land in Sector 5 area, linked to eight criminals. All these criminals are declared habitual offenders for selling illegal liquor.

A police team demolished the illegal shops and tin sheds of the accused located under Sector 5 police station limits, police said.

The accused were identified as Mohit, Naveen, Izhar, residents of 12 Biswa Gurgaon Village, who are habitual offenders of stocking and selling liquor, with 14 cases registered against them under the Excise Act.

Others include Rahul and Deepak, residents of 12 Biswa Gurgaon village, with 7 cases registered against them.

Besides, two other accused  Prashant and Rahul, also residents of 12 Biswa Gurgaon  have cases under various provisions against them.

Another, Manjeet Singh Saini, resident of 8 Biswa Gurgaon village, has 17 cases registered against him under the Excise Act, they added.

Such action against criminals and illegal encroachers will continue in future also and those who play with law and order will not be spared under any circumstances", said a senior police officer. PTI COR ARB ARB

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Jamia professor suspended over 'provocative' exam question

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:15 IST

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University has placed a faculty member of its Department of Social Work under suspension following complaints over the content of an end-semester examination paper, according to an official order issued by the varsity.

The order, dated December 23, said the university received several complaints regarding the end-semester paper titled Social Problems in India" for the B.A. (Hons) Social Work programme which was set by Prof. Virendra Balaji Shahare of the Department of Social Work, Semester I, for the 2025-26 academic session.

Taking note of the complaints, the JMI official said it found negligence and carelessness on the part of the faculty member in the matter. The professor has been put under suspension and an inquiry committee has been set up," said Saima Saeed, Chief Public Relations Officer, JMI.

According to the suspension letter seen by PTI, the Vice-Chancellor, acting under Statute 37(1) of the Statutes of the University, ordered that Prof. Shahare be placed under suspension with immediate effect pending an inquiry. PTI could not verify the authenticity of the suspension letter.

The order also said a police complaint would be filed as per rules".

According to the order copy, Prof. Shahares headquarters will remain in New Delhi during the suspension period, and he will not be permitted to leave without prior approval of the competent authority.

According to sources, the question Discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India giving suitable example," has culminated in the suspension of the professor.

The university has not yet officially disclosed details of the specific objections raised to the question paper. PTI VBH SHB KSS KSS

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Quantum tech courses in Andhra schools soon: CM

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:45 IST

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Amaravati, Dec 23 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that quantum technology courses will soon be introduced in schools to equip students with next generation skills.

During a meeting with representatives from IIT-Madras, the chief minister emphasised that there is a need to train students to tap emerging opportunities in quantum and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sectors.

Quantum technology courses will soon be introduced in the state to equip the youth with next generation skills," Naidu said in an official release, observing that there is a need to create awareness about quantum technology from the school level itself.

Meanwhile, IIT-Madras representatives explained their proposals to create awareness on AI among students through digital platforms in Telugu, English and Hindi languages.

They also presented an action plan to be implemented in four phases over two years, beginning in 2026, to provide structured AI orientation to students.

According to the CM, every student in the southern state should have an understanding of quantum technology.

As the state is shaping into a knowledge hub, the students must be prepared to leverage the opportunities available here, he said.

Along with private institutions, students studying in government schools should also gain exposure to quantum technology, the CM said, calling for steps to introduce quantum awareness for students in classes seven, eight and nine.

Likewise, he stressed the need to fully use the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) platform initiated by the central government to upgrade quantum technology skills.

Similarly, he instructed officials to provide quantum skills training to over 50,000 tech students and complete the compilation of quantum technology skill development curriculum by the end of January 2026.

Moreover, Naidu announced that a Students Partnership Summit will be organised by the end of January 2026, where students will be encouraged to showcase their innovations. PTI STH KH

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Union Bank of India cuts home loan rates

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:45 IST

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Mumbai, Dec 23 (PTI) State-owned Union Bank of India on Tuesday announced a reduction of 0.30 per cent in the home loan rates and 0.40 per cent in the vehicle loan rates.

The reduction in the final lending rates on the External benchmark linked rate (EBLR) has been made possible through a tweak on the spreads, as per an official statement.

***** *Vikran Engineering bags order worth Rs 2,035 crore Engineering, Procurement, and Construction company Vikran Engineering on Tuesday announced bagging a work order of Rs 2,035.26 crore from Onix Renewable for the development of 600 MW AC solar power projects in Maharashtra.

It entails execution of the project on a turnkey EPC basis and also the supply of key components, such as solar PV modules and inverters, in a year, according to a statement. PTI AA BAL BAL

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Winter session of Delhi Legislative Assembly to be held from Jan 5-8

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:15 IST

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said the Winter session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly will be held from January 5 to January 8.

If required, the duration of the session may be extended, officials said.

According to Gupta, the Delhi government will facilitate discussions on various issues related to public welfare during this session.

According to sources, the Assembly is likely to see debates on air pollution. PTI SLB KSS KSS

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Yunus is working to improve ties with India, says Bangladesh's finance adviser

Last Updated: December 24, 2025, 02:30 IST

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Dhaka, Dec 24 (PTI) Bangladesh interim governments finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has taken steps to ease strained ties with New Delhi while his administration was working to develop economic relations with India by separating economic interests from political rhetoric." The chief adviser is working to improve diplomatic relations with India, and he himself has also been speaking to various stakeholders on the issue," he told reporters after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at his office.

Asked if Yunus directly spoke to India, Ahmed said the chief adviser has not" but he did speak to those associated with the matter.

Our trade policy is not driven by political considerations. If importing rice from India is cheaper than sourcing it from Vietnam or elsewhere, then it makes economic sense to buy the staple from India," he said.

The adviser, an economist, however, expressed optimism that bilateral relations would not decline further.

Ahmed said Bangladesh on Tuesday approved a proposal to purchase 50,000 tonnes of rice from India, as a means to seek good relations." He said importing this rice would benefit Bangladesh, as sourcing rice from Vietnam, a major alternative, instead of India, would cost BDT 10 (USD 0.082) more per kilogram.

Ahmeds comments came as diplomatic analysts said the Dhaka-New Delhi relation was now at its lowest ebb since Bangladeshs 1971 Independence from Pakistan, with repeated summoning of their envoys in both countries and protests in front of Bangladeshi and Indian missions in both capitals and elsewhere in the two countries.

But the adviser said, The situation has not reached such a bad stage." From the outside, it may sound like many things are happeningHowever, there are some statements that are difficult to shut out," Ahmed said.

Asked if people or external forces" were making anti-India statements, he said, We do not want any bitterness between the two nations. If anyone from outside is trying to instigate problems that is not in the interest of either country." But, he said, these incidents did not represent the national expression" and were rather creating complicated situations for Bangladesh." PTI AR AMJ AMJ

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Virgo Horoscope Today, December 23, 2025

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 10:30 IST

Virgo Daily Horoscope, December 23, 2025: Sweet and playful moments with your spouse will strengthen love, but avoid letting a short temper affect relationships.

Virgo Horoscope today: Astrological predictions by Chirag Daruwalla for kanya rashi on December 23 2025. (AI-generated image)

Virgo Daily Horoscope Today, December 23 2025: Ganesha says, today brings peace and harmony in relationships, especially with siblings, and singles may meet the right partner. While financial matters look promising, exercise caution with expenses and investments. Business dealings require careful attention, particularly in media or glamour fields.

Sweet and playful moments with your spouse will strengthen love, but avoid letting a short temper affect relationships. Health-wise, rest and meditation are important to combat mental and physical fatigue. Overall, a day of opportunities, joy, and careful decision-making awaits.

Positive  This time will bring peace and tranquility. Relationships with brothers will improve. A beneficial trip is possible. You may also purchase luxury items. Singles may find the right partner. Sweet and sour banter between husband and wife will further improve their relationship.

Negative  Some unnecessary expenses will persist. There will also be opportunities for financial gain, so theres no need to worry too much. Your short temper could spoil your relationship. Maintain a positive attitude.

Business  Be very careful with financial matters. A small mistake can lead to significant losses. This is a good time for those involved in media, glamour, etc. You may face some difficulty maintaining coordination with your colleagues at work.

Finance  Today will be a very auspicious and positive day from a financial perspective. You will be able to resolve an important financial matter that has been bothering you for a long time. New investment opportunities may open up for you today. Exercise prudence and wisdom when making financial decisions, as this time can prove beneficial for you. Your financial situation will be stable, and any financial endeavors you undertake are highly likely to be successful.

If youre considering starting a new business, today is a good day to move forward. Even small investments yield good returns. Make any financial decisions carefully and seek necessary advice. Your hard work and thinking skills will pay off. Overall, today will be a very good day from a financial perspective, opening doors to many joys for you.

Love  Sweet and sour banter between husband and wife will add more sweetness to your relationship. A fun event with family is also possible.

Health  Physical and mental fatigue will persist. Avoid crowded places. Remain calm and meditate.

Lucky Colour  Pink

Lucky Number  5

(The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla).

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 10:30 IST

News astrology Virgo Horoscope Today, December 23, 2025

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Stocks To Watch: Adani Total Gas, Indian Hotels, Ambuja, Ashok Leyland, Berger Paints, And Others

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 07:49 IST

Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Adani Total Gas, Indian Hotels, Ambuja, Ashok Leyland, Berger Paints, and others will be in focus on Tuesday's trade

Stocks To Watch

Stocks to watch on December 23, 2025: Indian equity markets began the week on a strong note, advancing nearly 1 per cent and extending Fridays rebound. Ahead of the weekly derivatives expiry, analysts said the Nifty could encounter resistance in the 26,20026,300 zone, which coincides with its record-high levels. However, the broader trend remains constructive, and market participants may look to accumulate on dips toward the 25,95026,050 support band.

Adani Total Gas

Adani Total Gas said its board has approved the appointment of Preyash Jhaveri as Interim Chief Financial Officer with effect from December 22. Jhaveri is a commerce and law graduate, a qualified chartered accountant, and holds a postgraduate diploma in business management. He brings over three decades of experience across sectors including energy, gas, healthcare, wind power and chemicals.

Indian Hotels

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) announced the signing of a Taj-branded hotel in Cairo, marking the groups entry into Egypt. Hisham El Demery, CEO of Egyptian General Company for Tourism & Hotels (EGOTH), described the conversion of the Grand Continental Hotel into Taj Cairo as a defining moment in efforts to revive Egypts architectural heritage.

Ambuja Cements

Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, said its board has cleared separate schemes of amalgamation to merge ACC and Orient Cement into Ambuja, aimed at creating a unified cement platform with pan-India scale and operational efficiencies.

Emcure Pharmaceuticals

Emcure Pharmaceuticals launched Poviztra, a second brand of Novo Nordisks semaglutide injection for weight management, across India. With this, Emcure becomes the first Indian company to exclusively distribute and commercialise Poviztra domestically. Pricing starts at Rs 8,790 per month for four weekly doses, about 1520 per cent lower than Novo Nordisks Wegovy.

ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal announced plans to invest around $900 million to develop three renewable energy projects in India with a combined capacity of 1 gigawatt. Once completed, the projects will double its renewable capacity in India to 2 GW and take its global renewable portfolio to 3.3 GW.

Samvardhana Motherson

Samvardhana Motherson International approved the acquisition of the automotive wiring harness businesses of Nexans autoelectric GmbH and Elektrokontact GmbH through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary. The deal, valued at 207 million, will be executed via Motherson Global Investments BV.

Ashok Leyland

Indias largest electric bus tender for 10,900 vehicles under the PM E-DRIVE scheme has been delayed again after Convergence Energy Services missed its December 19 deadline to announce successful bidders. The delay followed a request from Ashok Leyland citing a pending case in the Delhi High Court.

Ramco Cements

Ramco Cements raised Rs 514.90 crore by selling non-core assets to Prestige Estates Projects as part of a Rs 1,000-crore monetisation plan. The company has been divesting non-core assets since last year, including sales worth Rs 376 crore in SeptemberOctober 2024.

Music Broadcast

Music Broadcast, which operates Radio City, received a GST demand order of Rs 89.63 crore from the Deputy Commissioner, Lucknow, for FY22. The order was issued under Section 73 of the IGST, CGST and SGST Acts.

Prestige Estates Projects

Prestige Estates Projects acquired a 25-acre land parcel in Medavakkam, Chennai, offering development potential of about 5 million square feet and an estimated revenue potential of over Rs 5,000 crore.

Sanghvi Movers

Sanghvi Movers said its material subsidiary, Sangreen Future Renewables, has secured work orders worth Rs 428.72 crore from multiple independent power producers.

Berger Paints

UK Paints (India), part of Berger Paints promoter group, will acquire an additional 14.48 per cent stake through internal restructuring, raising its direct holding to 64.57 per cent from 50.09 per cent.

GPT Infraprojects

GPT Infraprojects emerged as the lowest bidder for a Rs 670-crore NHAI road project in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The order was secured by a consortium of GPT Infraprojects and ISCPPL.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 07:49 IST

News business markets Stocks To Watch: Adani Total Gas, Indian Hotels, Ambuja, Ashok Leyland, Berger Paints, And Others

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Wrong Or Missing EPS Contribution? EPFOs New Rules Explain What Happens Next

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 11:29 IST

EPFO issues guidelines to correct EPS contribution errors by employers, ensuring members' pension records and funds are accurately updated with interest.

EPFO clarifies EPS correction process; subscribers wont face financial loss

The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) in a fresh circular has explained how errors in Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) contributions will be corrected that have happened at the employer level.

EPFO said that instances of erroneous remittance of EPS contributions for members ineligible for EPS or non-remittance of EPS contributions for members eligible for EPS membership by the employers have posed a challenge in efficient service delivery to such members.

The move aims to bring uniformity across field offices and ensure that provident fund members are not impacted due to incorrect pension remittances by employers.

EPS Wrongly Deposited For Ineligible Members

In some cases, employers deposited EPS contributions for employees who were not eligible for the pension scheme. EPFO clarified that such erroneous EPS amounts will be recalculated along with applicable interest.

The wrongly credited pension amount will be shifted back to the correct provident fund account. Additionally, the pension service period that was wrongly added to the members account will be deleted to ensure accurate records.

EPS Not Deposited For Eligible Members

There are also cases where EPS contributions were not deposited even though the employee was eligible, and the amount was instead credited to the PF or trust account.

In such situations, EPFO has said that the correct EPS contribution will be worked out along with interest and transferred to the pension account. The corresponding pension service period will also be added to the members record. If any non-contributory period (NCP) exists, it will be adjusted accordingly.

Will Subscribers To Be Worried If Such Things Happen

EPFO has clarified that these mistakes wont impact its subscribers financially. All adjustments will include applicable interest, and pension service records will be updated accurately.

Accurate EPS records are critical for pension eligibility and retirement benefits.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 11:29 IST

News business savings-and-investments Wrong Or Missing EPS Contribution? EPFOs New Rules Explain What Happens Next

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Bengaluru Man Kills Wife Over Divorce Dispute, Then Surrenders To Cops

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 21:58 IST

Although the couple had been married for 14 years since 2011, they had been living separately for the past one-and-a-half years due to deep-seated misunderstandings.

Police sources said Balamurugan harboured suspicions about his wifes character, accusing her of having an affair, which led to a breakdown in their relationship. (AI-generated representative photo)

In a chilling incident, a 40-year-old former software engineer allegedly killed his wife near Basaveshwara Nagar in Bengaluru before walking into a police station to surrender on Tuesday evening.

The Magadi Road Police have registered the case under Section 103 (Murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following the cold-blooded attack that took place between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

The victim, identified as 39-year-old Bhuvaneshwari, was an Assistant Manager at the Union Bank of Indias Basaveshwara Nagar branch. She had been living in Rajajinagar with the couples two children. Her husband, the accused Balamurugan, was previously employed as a software engineer at CapGemini in Whitefield.

Although the couple had been married for 14 years since 2011, they had been living separately for the past one-and-a-half years due to deep-seated misunderstandings. Police sources said Balamurugan harboured suspicions about his wifes character, accusing her of having an affair, which led to a breakdown in their relationship.

The situation escalated further in recent months after Bhuvaneshwari sought a legal separation, a move Balamurugan strongly opposed. Six months ago, she transferred from a Whitefield bank branch to Basaveshwara Nagar, deliberately keeping her new residence a secret from her husband. However, Balamurugan managed to track her down and moved to Cholurpalya within the KP Agrahara limits four months ago to stay close to her.

Police believe the final trigger for the violence was a formal divorce notice that Balamurugan received just a week before the shooting.

Driven by resentment, Balamurugan waited for Bhuvaneshwari on Tuesday evening as she was walking home from work. As she approached, he intercepted her and fired multiple rounds using a pistol. Eyewitnesses and locals rushed Bhuvaneshwari to Shanbagh Hospital, but she was declared dead due to fatal bullet injuries.

After the shooting, Balamurugan walked straight into the Magadi Road Police Station, where he confessed to the crime and surrendered. He remains in custody as police continue to investigate the source of the illegal firearm used in the murder.

Girish, DCP (West Division), said that the couple hails from Salem in Tamil Nadu and moved to Bengaluru in 2018, after their marriage in 2011. Driven by suspicions that his wife was having an extramarital affair, the accused tracked her daily routine of walking home and launched a targeted attack on Tuesday. He fired five rounds in total; two struck her hands and two hit her head. After the assault, the accused walked to the police station and surrendered, handing over the pistol along with one remaining bullet. We are currently investigating the source of the firearm, including whether it was licensed and how it was procured," he added.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 21:40 IST

News bengaluru-news Bengaluru Man Kills Wife Over Divorce Dispute, Then Surrenders To Cops

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Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Launches Indias First Tele-Robotic Surgery Programme

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:36 IST

Expert surgeons at HNRFH will remotely perform and guide robotic-assisted surgeries at partner healthcare centres across the country

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The programme aims to eliminate barriers that traditionally prevent patients in distant geographies from accessing advanced surgical interventions. (PTI File)

Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital (HNRFH), Mumbai, in collaboration with the Dhirubhai Ambani Occupational Health (DAOH) & Community Medical Centre, Jamnagar, has launched a pioneering Tele-Robotic Surgery Programme.

Powered by Reliance Jio, this initiative marks a new era in remote surgical care in India.

Through this programme, expert surgeons at HNRFH will remotely perform and guide robotic-assisted surgeries at partner healthcare centres across the country  bringing specialised, high-precision care directly to patients in non-metro and remote regions.

The programme aims to eliminate barriers that traditionally prevent patients in distant geographies from accessing advanced surgical interventions. By reducing the need for travel and ensuring timely access to expertise, this initiative significantly narrows the urbanrural healthcare gap.

The first tele-robotic surgery under this programme has been successfully performed at the Community Medical Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat, led by the hospitals Director of Urology-Oncology. This landmark achievement sets a new benchmark in Indias telemedicine and robotic surgery landscape.

Powered by cutting-edge robotic systems and secure, high-speed digital connectivity enabled by Reliance Jio, the platform ensures exceptional surgical accuracy, reliability, and real-time clinical collaboration. A multidisciplinary team from HNRFH supported the procedure, reflecting a seamless model of technological integration and clinical teamwork. The program also strengthens continuous mentoring and capacity-building for on-ground medical teams in Jamnagar and surrounding regions.

At an institutional level, the Tele-Robotic Surgery Programme underlines HNRFHs commitment to digital innovation and its mission to extend specialised care far beyond metropolitan boundaries. It also embodies the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, employing an indigenously developed Indian robotic surgical system capable of real-time tele-transmission.

Commenting on the launch, Dr Tarang Gianchandani, Group CEO  Healthcare Initiatives and Chief Executive Officer, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said: Advanced healthcare must not be limited by geography. For decades, specialised surgical care has remained concentrated in a few urban centres, leaving millions without timely access to treatment. Through our Tele-Robotic Surgery Program, we are changing that reality by reimagining how complex surgical care is delivered across India  powered by indigenous innovation, advanced robotics, and secure digital infrastructure. By enabling our surgeons in Mumbai to remotely perform procedures for patients across the country, we are taking world-class expertise to where it is needed most. This initiative reflects our belief that technology, guided by compassion and responsibility, must ultimately serve people  delivering excellence in care closer to home, with dignity, continuity, and trust."

Anish Shah, COO, Jio Platforms, said: The Tele-Robotic Surgery Program, at a remote location in Jamnagar, is a powerful demonstration of how Jios digital infrastructure can transform essential services at a national scale. Our vision has always been to build a connected, technologically empowered India where world-class expertise and critical services reach every citizen  no matter where they live. By providing the secure, ultra-low-latency connectivity required for remote robotic surgeries, we are helping redefine what equitable access to advanced healthcare can look like across the country. This collaboration shows how next-generation digital networks can unlock new possibilities in medicine by bridging distant geographies and bringing life-saving, high-precision care closer to patients. We are proud to support this milestone and remain committed to enabling innovations in far-flung areas that improve lives and strengthen Indias healthcare ecosystem."

About Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital

Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, located in Girgaon, South Mumbai, is a 360-bed, multi-specialty quaternary care hospital setting benchmarks in advanced healthcare delivery.

The hospital offers comprehensive medical services across Cardiac Sciences, Oncology, Neurosciences, Gastroenterology & Hepatobiliary Sciences, Multi-Organ Transplant, Nephro-Urology, Orthopaedics & Spine, Women & Child Health, and Critical Care. Built to international standards, the hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities, including advanced Laboratories, Radiology & Imaging, and Nuclear Medicine.

Recognised as Mumbais largest Gold-Certified Green Hospital, it adheres to the highest standards of patient safety, fire safety, and environmental sustainability. Accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital remains committed to delivering safe, affordable, and world-class patient-centric care.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:36 IST

News mumbai-news Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Launches Indias First Tele-Robotic Surgery Programme

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Thick Smog Engulfs Delhi, Air Quality Slips Into 'Severe' Category; Anand Vihar Among Worst Hit

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 08:16 IST

Delhiites woke up to toxic smog and "severe" AQI of 408, with Dwarka at 435. Poor visibility disrupted flights at IGI Airport as cold, foggy conditions worsened pollution.

Rapid Read

The air quality has worsened in the national capital. (File photo)

Residents of Delhi woke up to a hazy Tuesday morning as a dense layer of toxic smog blanketed the city, triggering breathing discomfort and sharply reducing visibility. Air quality in the national capital deteriorated to the severe" category, a day after it was recorded as very poor". The citys overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 414 at 8.30 am, according to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research).

Several parts of Delhi registered even worse air quality. Dwarka, for instance, recorded an AQI of 440 around 8.30 am, placing it in the severe" bracket, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from near Akshardham Temple as a layer of toxic smog blankets the city.AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 466, categorised as severe, as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/fj8NCNCRAf  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

While Bawana and ITO area recorded 427 and 436 AQI, respectively. The AQI around the area near Akshardham Temple and Anand Vihar was recorded at 466. Cold and foggy conditions prevailed across Delhi-NCR, with the minimum temperature hovering near 11 degrees Celsius, compounding poor visibility and worsening the impact of pollution.

#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals around Anand Vihar area as a thick layer of toxic smog engulfs the national capital. AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 466, categorised as severe, as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board).CAQM (Commission for Air Quality pic.twitter.com/VBD7ZdMXX4  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

The reduced visibility also led to disruption in flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), with the airport authorities issuing multiple advisories. In an advisory issued at 4 am, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said that Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport", while adding that all flight operations are presently normal."

On Monday, the air quality was recorded in the very poor" category with an overall AQI reading of 373 at 4 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Under the AQI classification system, readings between 0 and 50 are considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 08:16 IST

News cities new-delhi-news Thick Smog Engulfs Delhi, Air Quality Slips Into 'Severe' Category; Anand Vihar Among Worst Hit

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Mumbai-Pune Expressway-2 To Reduce Travel Time To 90 Minutes: Which Route Will It Take? Details Here

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 17:06 IST

Mumbai-Pune Expressway-2: The Rs 15,000-crore eight-lane access-controlled expressway will integrate with Mumbais Atal Setu, Navi Mumbai airport, JNPT, Punes upcoming Ring Road

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The Mumbai-Pune expressway sees around 75,000 vehicles a day. (PTI File)

In relief for commuters travelling between Pune and Mumbai, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has cleared the detailed project report (DPR) for a new high-speed expressway between the two cities.

News18 had earlier reported a second Mumbai-Pune Expressway parallel to the existing one has been announced by Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari had said an expressway, parallel to the existing Pune-Mumbai expressway, with an estimated construction cost of Rs 15,000 crore, will bring down the travel time between the two cities to one-and-a-half hours.

About Mumbai-Pune Expressway 2: Travel in 90 minutes

The eight-lane access-controlled expressway will be built to handle nearly three lakh vehicles a day, Hindustan Times reported.

The route will integrate seamlessly with Mumbais Atal Setu and Punes upcoming Ring Road, creating a continuous high-capacity transport spine across western Maharashtra.

The expressway will start near Atal Setu, connect Navi Mumbai International Airport and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and pass through the Sahyadri range using a network of tunnels and elevated bridges before terminating at Shivare in Bhor taluka. By linking directly with Punes Ring Road, vehicles heading towards Satara, Kolhapur, and Bengaluru will bypass Pune city entirely.

The work will begin after clearances, with NHAI targeting completion within three years.

The Union minister said road works of Rs 50,000 crore have been approved for the Pune region, and construction will begin in the next three months.

Road works of Rs 1.50 lakh crore have been approved for Maharashtra. The work will start in 2026. Among these projects, the PWD has been given work worth Rs 50,000 crore, he added.

Why Mumbai-Pune Expressway matters

Named after former chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan, the Mumbai-Pune expressway was opened to traffic in 2002. The expressway sees around 75,000 vehicles, including goods and transport vehicles, a day. The number is up to 1,10,000-120,000 vehicles on weekends and holidays, leading to traffic jams and congestion.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway could soon become superfast as the much-awaited 13-km missing link project has now reached its final stage. The missing link will help motorists bypass the Lonavla-Khandala ghat section. Currently, the distance between Khopoli and the Sinhgad Institute via the expressway is 19 kilometres, much of it through a ghat section.

The link which begins at Khopoli and ends at the Sinhgad Institute (Pune) will get two eight-lane tunnels (1.75 km and 8.92 km long); two eight-lane viaducts (790 m and 650 m long) and a 640-metre cable-stayed bridge that soars 100 metres above the Tiger Valley in the Lonavala-Khandala section. It then goes through an 8.9-kilometre tunnel  some parts of which are as deep as 170 feet beneath the ground with the Lonavala lake resting above it.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:50 IST

News pune Mumbai-Pune Expressway-2 To Reduce Travel Time To 90 Minutes: Which Route Will It Take? Details Here

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Delhi HC Issues Notice On 11-Year-Old's Appeal Against CM SHRI School Admission Test

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 17:20 IST

CM SHRI School admission test: The student contends that this process violates the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Senior advocate Ashok Agarwal, along with a team of counsel, has instituted the challenge. (File image)

An 11-year-old student has approached the Delhi High Courts Division Bench, challenging the Delhi governments policy of conducting an entrance test for Class VI admissions to CM SHRI Schools. The student argues that this process violates the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, reported ANI.

The appeal, filed by Master Janmesh Sagar through his father, contests a recent judgment by a Single Bench that upheld the validity of the admission test. Senior advocate Ashok Agarwal, along with a team of counsel, has initiated the challenge.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, issued notice to the respondents, including the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Union of India. The matter is listed for hearing on February 10, 2026. Counsel for all respondents accepted the notice during the proceedings.

In the appeal, the minor student contends that the Single Judge erred in law by not recognising that subjecting a child to an admission or selection test at the elementary level is expressly prohibited under Section 13 of the RTE Act.

The contention is that this provision was enacted to safeguard every childs fundamental right to free, fair, and non-discriminatory access to education under Article 21-A of the Constitution. The appellant further submits that Section 13 clearly bars screening procedures and other exploitative practices during admissions. These statutory safeguards aim to ensure transparency, equity, and inclusiveness, which, according to the plea, are undermined by entrance examinations at the elementary stage.

The appeal stems from the dismissal of a writ petition challenging the Delhi governments circular dated July 23, 2025, which set admission guidelines for Classes VI to VIII in CM SHRI Schools for the 2025-26 academic session. Single Bench Judge Jyoti Singh upheld the policy, ruling that the admission test did not violate the RTE Act.

In dismissing the writ petition, the Single Bench relied on a 2012 Division Bench ruling in Social Jurist v. GNCTD, which upheld selection-based admissions to Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas at the Class VI level. The court held that CM SHRI Schools fall within the category of specified category schools," and the prohibition on screening under Section 13 of the RTE Act applies only to entry-level admissions such as Nursery or Class I, not to Class VI, which was treated as a stage of transfer.

The Single Bench also observed that the RTE Act does not create a statutory right to seek admission or transfer to specified category schools offering enhanced facilities, particularly when the demand for seats far exceeds availability.

Challenging this reasoning before the Division Bench, the appellant argues that such an interpretation dilutes the protective intent of the RTE Act and effectively legitimises screening procedures at the elementary level, contrary to the express legislative mandate. The appeal seeks to set aside the Single Bench judgment and declare the Class VI entrance test for CM SHRI Schools as unlawful.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 17:20 IST

News education-career Delhi HC Issues Notice On 11-Year-Old's Appeal Against CM SHRI School Admission Test

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GK Quiz: Which River In India Is Known As The Red River?

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:28 IST

During the monsoon, one major Indian river turns reddish. Do you know which mighty river of Northeast India carries this unique identity?

Rapid Read

The Brahmaputras reddish-brown colour during the monsoon is due to intense rainfall washing the iron-rich soil along its banks into the river.

India is often called the land of rivers, with hundreds of waterways supporting livelihoods, agriculture, and centuries-old cultures. While many rivers are celebrated for their length or volume, one stands out for a different reason: its colour. During the monsoon, this river transforms into a striking reddish-brown, earning it the nickname Indias Red River.

Do you know which river were talking about? Its the Brahmaputra. Famous for its vast width and mighty flow, the river turns a striking reddish-brown during the monsoon as it carries heavy silt and soil, making it a unique and iconic symbol of Northeast India.

Origin And Course Of The Brahmaputra

The Brahmaputra originates near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, emerging from the Chemayungdung Glacier, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo. It flows eastward across Tibet before making a dramatic bend and entering India through Arunachal Pradesh, where it is called the Siang.

The river then travels through the fertile plains of Assam as the Brahmaputra, before entering Bangladesh as the Jamuna. There, it merges with the Ganges and eventually empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Why Does The Brahmaputra Turn Red?

The reddish colour of the Brahmaputra is mainly due to the iron-rich soil along its banks, particularly in Assam and surrounding regions.

During the monsoon, intense rainfall washes large amounts of this soil into the river, giving the water its distinctive reddish-brown appearance. This natural phenomenon is why the Brahmaputra is popularly known as Indias Red River.

Interesting Facts About The Brahmaputra

The Brahmaputra is one of the few rivers in India with a masculine name; the word means son of Brahma.

It is known by different names across regions: Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam, and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

Majuli, located within the river, is considered the worlds largest river island and is renowned for its Vaishnavite culture and scenic beauty.

In parts of Assam, the river can be as wide as 20 kilometres, making the opposite bank difficult to see.

It is among the worlds highest water-carrying rivers and is prone to severe flooding each year.

The Brahmaputra originates at an altitude of over 5,000 metres in the Himalayas, placing it among the highest rivers on Earth.

In Tibet, it flows through the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, which is deeper and longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Near the Kamakhya Temple in Assam, the river is believed to turn red every June during the Ambubachi festival, a phenomenon linked to religious faith.

The Brahmaputra is home to the endangered Ganges river dolphin and supports rich biodiversity across its course.

This mighty river remains one of Indias most remarkable natural wonders, both for its scale and its striking seasonal transformation.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:28 IST

News education-career GK Quiz: Which River In India Is Known As The Red River?

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Karnataka TET 2025 Result Declared At sts.karnataka.gov.in, Steps To Download

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 19:26 IST

Karnataka TET 2025 Result Out: Candidates can check their results on the official website at sts.karnataka.gov.in by entering their application number and date of birth.

The KARTET 2025 was scheduled for December 07, 2025. (AI Generated Image)

Karnataka TET 2025 Result Out: The School Education Department of Karnataka has officially released the KARTET Result 2025. Candidates can check their results on the official website at sts.karnataka.gov.in by entering their application number and date of birth.

The minimum marks to qualify the examination is 60 per cent. For other reserved categories, it is 55 per cent. The Karnataka Teachers Eligibility Test (KARTET 2024) has been conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for teaching positions in Classes 1 to 8.

KARTET Result 2025: Steps to Check

Step 1: Visit the official website: sts.karnataka.gov.in

Step 2: Look for the KARTET 2025 result link on the homepage.

Step 3: Click on the link and enter your login details like application number and date of birth.

Step 4: Submit the information and view your result.

Step 5: Download and print the result for future reference.

The KARTET 2025 was scheduled for December 7, 2025. The exam was conducted in two sessions: from 9.30 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4.30 pm.

A total of 46 examination centres were set up in Dharwad district, with 24 in Hubballi city and 22 in Dharwad city. For the morning session, 13 centres were set up in Hubballi and 1 centre in Dharwad city, accommodating 3339 candidates. For the afternoon session, 46 centres in Hubballi and Dharwad cities were to serve 12,164 candidates.

A total of 17 officers, including 7 field education officers and office education officers, were appointed as guidance officers. On the exam day, District Collector Divya Prabhu instructed HESCOM to enforce Section 144 of the CrPC around the exam centres, close Xerox shops within a 200-meter radius, and ensure there are no power outages.

There is no age limit to apply for the Karnataka TET. Candidates must have scored at least 50% in their Class 12 examination and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) or a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BElEd) for the post of Primary Teacher (Class 1 to 5). For the post of Upper Primary Teacher (Class 6 to 8), candidates need to have at least 50% in their graduation or have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) or BEd.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 19:24 IST

News education-career Karnataka TET 2025 Result Declared At sts.karnataka.gov.in, Steps To Download

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MP: School Bus Denies Entry Over Fees, Student Stages Protest

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 13:27 IST

A school girl in MP sat in protest after being denied entry to a school bus over unpaid transport fees, prompting intervention by officials and police.

MP: Girl Sits in Protest After School Bus Refusal Over Fees.

A dispute over school transport led to a brief standoff on Saturday after a schoolgirl was not allowed to board her school bus in a village. According to officials, the situation was resolved after intervention. After explaining the situation, the girl was moved away, and the bus was sent on its route," Patel said.

The girls father, Durgesh Yadav, alleged that the school bus arrived in the village and allowed other children to board but refused to take his daughter. After that, my daughter sat in protest in front of the bus," he said.

Police confirmed that the girl, Surabhi, is enrolled at Gurusaab Public School in Chicholi under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

The childs mother, Asha Yadav, said her daughter was deeply affected by the incident. She was under stress, so she sat in front of the bus. Children should not be discriminated against in this manner," she said.

ALSO READ: TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Result 2025 Out At tnpsc.gov.in, Heres Direct Link

When contacted, Gurusaab Public School principal Amit Yadav said the student was admitted under the RTE Act and was receiving free education, but clarified that transportation costs are not covered under the scheme.

He claimed that the family had not paid the school bus fees, which had accumulated to around Rs 40,00042,000. He also alleged that when the bus arrived in the village on Saturday, Durgesh Yadav assaulted the bus operator.

The principal further claimed that Yadavs elder daughter had previously studied at the same school and that unpaid school and bus fees for her amounted to approximately Rs 1.5 lakh.

Police said the matter is under review and further action will be taken if required.

(With inputs from PTI)

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:27 IST

News education-career MP: School Bus Denies Entry Over Fees, Student Stages Protest

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Telangana, West Bengal Account For 70% Of Zero Enrolment Schools: Education Ministry

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 08:43 IST

Over 65,000 government schools in India have fewer than 10 students, with 5,149 reporting zero enrolment in 202425, Education Ministry data shows.

Education Ministry data shows zero enrolment in 5,149 schools in 202425. (Representational Image/Getty)

More than 65,000 government schools across India currently have fewer than 10 students enrolled, while 5,149 schools reported zero enrolment during the 202425 academic year, according to data released by the Ministry of Education.

The figures highlight a growing gap between school infrastructure and actual student attendance in several parts of the country. Data compiled under the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) shows that schools with extremely low or no enrolment have increased sharply in recent years.

A significant regional imbalance has also emerged. Over 70 per cent of schools with no students are located in Telangana and West Bengal, indicating that the problem is concentrated in a few states rather than being evenly spread nationwide.

The data further reveals that the number of government schools with either zero or fewer than 10 students has risen by 24 per cent in just two years. In 202223, there were 52,309 such schools, a number that climbed to 65,054 by 202425. These institutions now make up 6.42 per cent of all government schools in the country.

Despite the low enrolment, staffing levels remain high. The Ministry reported that more than 1.44 lakh teachers were posted in schools with minimal or no students during the same period. This has raised concerns over teacher deployment, administrative planning, and efficient use of public resources.

ALSO READ: RBI Invites Applications For 93 Analyst, IT And Specialist Posts; Apply By January 6

Responding to questions raised in the Lok Sabha by MPs Karti P. Chidambaram and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the Ministry clarified that education is a subject on the Concurrent List of the Constitution. As a result, the responsibility for running schools and posting teachers lies with state governments and Union Territory administrations.

The Centre said it supports states through the Samagra Shiksha scheme, which aims to improve infrastructure, maintain studentteacher ratios, and strengthen the overall school education system.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 08:42 IST

News education-career Telangana, West Bengal Account For 70% Of Zero Enrolment Schools: Education Ministry

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'Astitva' At Stake: Congress Weighs Solo Run In Tamil Nadu As DMK Alliance Faces Vijay Roadblock

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CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 09:42 IST

If the Congress decides to break ranks with the DMK or be demanding, it would be a strategy that is in sync with Gandhis initial desire that the party needs to go alone

Rapid Read

While this may not mean that the Congress has made up its mind to end the alliance with DMK yet, given that the Grand Old Party has only 17 seats for now, some think they can afford to take a risk. (PTI)

The seat-sharing talks between DMK and Congress for the Tamil Nadu elections already seem to be losing steam. This is because many in the Grand Old Party are beginning to think like Rahul Gandhi, who feels that the idea of the INDIA bloc will eventually have to end as the allies are eating away the identity of the Congress.

In fact, the first indication that Congress was looking at other allies in Tamil Nadu came after the Karur stampede when Gandhi called up actor and TVK chief Vijay. The phone call caused quite a flutter and though initially the Congress party tried to play it down, it ended up upsetting the DMK.

While both the BJP and Congress are silently wooing Vijay, the DMK is very clear that actor-turned-neta is their enemy. Though it doesnt want to attack Vijay too strongly, DMK knows that Vijays appeal is to the same vote bank that it is eyeingwomen and youth. This is precisely the reason why the Congress in the state is toying with the idea of looking at new allies. This is also the feedback that many in the party cadre have given to the central leadership.

A cue has also been given by Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodanker who said: Congress party will present its own vision for Tamil Nadu, give our guarantees to Tamil voters and implement them by sharing power and being part of the government."

While this may not mean that the Congress has made up its mind to end the alliance with DMK yet, given that the Grand Old Party has only 17 seats for now, some think they can afford to take a risk.

If the Congress decides to break ranks with the DMK or be demanding, it would be a strategy that is in sync with Gandhis initial desire that the party needs to go alone.

The biggest problem the Congress faces today is that its losing its presence in most states where it is in an alliance. Gandhi feels the allies are becoming more powerful and eating into the astitva [identity] of the partya cycle he wants to end. Will Tamil Nadu be the first ground for this experiment?

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 09:42 IST

News elections 'Astitva' At Stake: Congress Weighs Solo Run In Tamil Nadu As DMK Alliance Faces Vijay Roadblock

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Civic Polls Countdown Begins In Maharashtra, But Alliances Still A Work In Progress

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News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 11:52 IST

The uncertainty has kept party cadres and aspirants on edge, particularly in key urban centres where margins are expected to be narrow and local equations crucial

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Final alliance announcements and last-minute adjustments are expected to shape the electoral narrative. (PTI)

With the nomination process beginning on Tuesday, the political temperature in Maharashtra has risen sharply ahead of the 2026 Municipal Corporation elections. Polls will be held simultaneously for 29 civic bodies across the state, setting the stage for what is expected to be a closely fought contest. Nominations will be accepted until December 30, followed by scrutiny on December 31. Candidates can withdraw their papers till January 2, while the final list of candidates along with election symbols will be published on January 3. Voting is scheduled for January 15, with counting and results to be declared the very next day on January 16.

Despite the tight schedule and just 23 days left for polling, political clarity on alliances remains elusive. Neither the ruling Mahayuti nor the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has made a comprehensive, official announcement on seat-sharing arrangements. This uncertainty has kept party cadres and aspirants on edge, particularly in key urban centres where margins are expected to be narrow and local equations crucial.

In Mumbai and several other major cities, indications suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde are likely to contest together. However, Pune could witness a straight contest between the BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar faction, making it one of the most keenly watched battlegrounds. Thane district, which has the highest number of municipal corporations at six, remains a sensitive zone. Here, negotiations between the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are still marked by tension, with both sides pushing hard for favourable seat distribution.

On the opposition side, attention is firmly on the proposed alliance between the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Talks between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are said to be in the final stages, though an official announcement is still awaited. Sources indicate that a long-pending deadlock over three wards in Sewri has been resolved, with two seats going to the Thackeray-led Sena and one to the MNS. However, negotiations remain tense in areas like Bhandups Ward No. 114, where both parties are keen to field candidates.

Adding further context to the unfolding political scenario, party leaders across formations are now racing against time to firm up candidate lists and manage internal dissent. In several municipal corporations, hopefuls have already begun filing nominations as independents, keeping their options open amid uncertainty over official party tickets. Senior leaders are expected to step in over the next few days to prevent rebellion and ensure damage control at the local level. Meanwhile, election machinery has swung into action, with the State Election Commission directing district administrations to ensure smooth conduct of polls amid heightened political activity. With urban issues such as infrastructure, water supply, transport and redevelopment dominating voter concerns, parties are aware that alliance arithmetic alone may not be enough, and credible local faces could prove decisive on polling day.

As the nomination window opens, the coming days will be crucial. Final alliance announcements and last-minute adjustments are expected to shape the electoral narrative, even as voters prepare for a decisive round of civic polls across Maharashtra.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 11:52 IST

News elections Civic Polls Countdown Begins In Maharashtra, But Alliances Still A Work In Progress

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Aravalli Hills Order Explained: What Supreme Court Says On The New Definition And Mining

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 12:24 IST

The court has recorded the scale of damage already inflicted on the Aravallis  large-scale deforestation, rampant illegal mining, urban sprawl and infrastructure encroachment.

The apex court unequivocally recognised the Aravalli range as ecologically indispensable for north India. (Getty Images)

The Supreme Courts November 20 ruling on the Aravalli range has triggered sharp political reactions and street protests, with critics alleging the order weakens environmental protection by allowing mining to continue. The court, however, has framed its intervention as a course correction  one that seeks to plug legal loopholes, rein in illegal mining, and place the fragile hill system under a uniform, enforceable regulatory regime rather than an unenforceable blanket ban.

ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

The apex court unequivocally recognised the Aravalli range as ecologically indispensable for north India. It described the hills as a natural shield that prevents the Thar Desert from advancing eastwards, moderates extreme climate conditions, recharges groundwater aquifers and sustains biodiversity across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Gujarat.

The Bench also recorded the scale of damage already inflicted on the Aravallis  large-scale deforestation, rampant illegal mining, urban sprawl and infrastructure encroachment. This acknowledgement echoes what environmental protesters have long argued: that policy confusion and weak enforcement allowed systematic degradation of the hills.

Importantly, the Court linked the protection of the Aravallis to Indias international obligations under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), elevating the issue from a regional environmental concern to a matter of national and global responsibility.

NEW LEGAL DEFINITION

One of the most contentious elements of the order is the Supreme Courts acceptance of a uniform definition of the Aravallis proposed by a government-appointed committee. This settles decades of legal ambiguity over what constitutes an Aravalli hill or range  ambiguity that mining operators and even state governments had exploited to bypass restrictions.

Under the accepted definition, any landform with a local relief of 100 metres or more qualifies as an Aravalli Hill, while clusters of such hills within 500 metres  including inter-hill areas  together form an Aravalli Range. Protesters argue this definition is less restrictive than that used earlier by the Forest Survey of India and could legitimise activities in areas previously considered protected. The Court, however, stressed that a clear, workable definition was essential to prevent selective interpretations that had enabled illegal mining.

INVIOLATE NO-MINING ZONES

Addressing fears of unchecked extraction, the Court carved out absolute no-mining zones. Mining is completely prohibited in protected areas, tiger reserves and corridors, eco-sensitive zones around them with a minimum one-kilometre buffer, and areas around Ramsar sites, notified wetlands, CAMPA plantations and government forests. These directions significantly tighten the legal firewall around the most sensitive parts of the Aravallis.

MANAGEMENT PLAN MANDATED

The Court mandated a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli range, to be prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. Modeled on the Saranda mining framework, the plan will scientifically classify the landscape into no-go zones, eco-sensitive areas, restoration-priority regions and zones where limited mining may be permissible, based on cumulative environmental impact and carrying capacity.

MINING  WHAT IS BANNED, WHAT CONTINUES

This calibrated approach lies at the centre of the current controversy. While protesters demand a total ban, the Supreme Court rejected that route, warning that absolute prohibitions often fuel illegal mining, empower mafias and accelerate ecological damage. Existing legal mines may continue, but under strict compliance and heightened scrutiny, with the threat of closure for any violation. Future mining, the Court made clear, will be possible only if cleared under the final MPSM  making enforcement, not symbolism, the real test of the order.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 12:24 IST

News explainers Aravalli Hills Order Explained: What Supreme Court Says On The New Definition And Mining

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Married woman jailed in Singapore after secretly remarrying and having child in Vietnam

A Vietnamese woman was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail in Singapore on Dec. 19 after admitting to bigamy, stemming from a years-long double marriage across two countries.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, 36, pleaded guilty to secretly marrying another man in Vietnam and having a child while still legally married to a Singaporean husband, CNA reported. Bigamy is a criminal offense in Singapore.

Court documents showed that Thuy married a Singaporean man in 2008, when she was 19 and he was 54. The marriage was registered in Singapore, Malay Mail reported.

Around 2012, Thuy returned to Vietnam for medical treatment, where she entered a relationship with a Vietnamese man. Despite knowing she was still legally married in Singapore, the couple registered their marriage in Vietnam in July 2015 after she became pregnant.

During this period, Thuy largely lived in Vietnam and returned to Singapore only to renew her long-term visit pass. She also falsely declared to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that she had no children, a charge that was taken into consideration during sentencing.

Thuy later initiated divorce proceedings in Singapore in 2016, with the marriage officially dissolved in November 2017. Her second marriage in Vietnam ended in March 2018.

Court documents had no details on how authorities uncovered the bigamous marriage.

Prosecutors sought a three-month jail term, but the judge imposed a slightly lighter sentence after hearing mitigation. Speaking through an interpreter, Thuy broke down in court, saying she is now a single mother raising a 10-year-old boy and supporting elderly parents, including a father with partial paralysis.

Under Singapore law, bigamy carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment and a fine.
Bengaluru Woman Stands Up To Housing Society Bullies: Why Internet Is Celebrating The Rare Win

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:31 IST

A 22-year-old woman, living in Bengaluru, decided to take legal action against society board members who allegedly trespassed on her flat after she hosted her friends.

Reddit user u/Ananyxgupta alleged that her residential society's board members barged into her apartment after she hosted her friends on a Saturday night.

A young woman from Bengaluru is being praised online for courageously standing up to the intimidation and moral policing by her residential societys board members, who targeted her and her friends. The woman, who goes by the username u/Ananyxgupta, recently took to Reddits r/LegalAdviceIndia, where she shared a harrowing experience that unfolded after she hosted five friends over a casual evening of cooking and chatting. The woman, a 22-year-old law student, shared that she came from a place of privilege and owned an apartment in a premium society, but couldnt fathom what Indian bachelors, who lacked power and legal awareness, were subjected to while residing as tenants in Indian cities.

Her story of not bowing down to the harassment by her societys board members is being widely shared online across social media platforms, and she has no plans of sparing the trespassers.

Sharing the screenshots of her story, an X user who goes by the handle @SatanAtWink wrote: Shes the hero Bangalore deserves, & also the one it needs right now. Shes a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight against the society uncles who are going to learn the hard way what happens when they over reach their non-existent owner powers."

So what actually happened?

Saturday Night"

u/Ananyxgupta hosted five friends, four males and a female, for a weekend night. Together, they cooked and chatted. She shared that neither she nor her friends were causing a nuisance and that it was a quiet get-together at her flat.

Their peace, however, was short-lived.

The law student alleged that she heard a knock on the door, and it was an uncle" who declared that bachelors werent allowed in society and demanded that she call the owner of the flat. She asserted that he was talking to the owner of the house and shut the door in the mans face.

They Called The Police"

Things were only about to escalate. u/Ananyxgupta stated that after her brief interaction with the man, 45 uncles" showed up at her doorstep and accused the students of drinking and smoking weed when they entered her living room without her permission. She alleged that the group trespassed to check" and further demanded that she vacate the house the following day.

This was when a minor scuffle broke out when one of the uncles" was slapped by her friend in the process. Then, the board members called the police, who arrived at the scene to assess the situation.

Everything Was Recorded"

Police, upon arrival, quizzed u/Ananyxgupta about the owner of the house when she revealed to them that it was her property. When asked to surface the apartments documents, the woman refused.

Police asked who owns the flatI said I do. They asked me to show papers; I refused because we werent creating any nuisance and they had no right to enter my home," she wrote in her now-viral post.

She, in her post, added that she had installed a surveillance camera in her living room as a safety measure, as she lived by herself. The incident was recorded, she revealed.

Were law students, so the police didnt try to do anything arbitrary or shady," she alleged.

I Know The Builder"

In her post, the woman revealed that the men, who had trespassed, werent done yet. The uncles kept saying we are on the society board, we know all members." I told them they clearly dont even know who owns property in their own society," she wrote. She claimed that the builder of her society was a close friend of her father, and she was unfazed by the intimidation tactics used by the uninvited men.

Legal Notice

Upon receiving a backhanded well see you tomorrow" threat, u/Ananyxgupta decided to send a legal notice to the society. I sent a legal notice to the society, clearly stating that all the board members who were present and involved must be removed from their positions, failing which Ill file a civil suit against the society itself under vicarious liability. And i dont give a shit if the society builder is my fathers friend," she added.

Additionally, the woman sent individual notices to the men who entered her apartment without her permission for trespass, nuisance and assault".

This kind of moral policing and harassment is a serious problem," she wrote in conclusion as she worried about bachelors who lived on rent and did not have the privilege or legal awareness to navigate through such moral policing.

What Happened Next?

Her post went viral as the community cheered her for standing up to the intimidation by nosy residents.

Please I beg you, dont stop until theyve learned their lesson. I own a flat myself and the society members did the same to the girl I rented to who then filed an NCR against the secretary. They never harassed any of my rentees later. Please do the needful and let them learn a lesson out of this (sic)," a user commented.

u/Ananyxgupta wasnt done yet. The Bengaluru woman soon shared a follow-up Reddit post in which she revealed that the builder of the society met her and listened to her grievances after she sent the legal notice.

He personally came to my flat along with the chairman to understand the entire situation. I showed them all the footage and explained everything in detail. They assured me that i have their back, and the chairman immediately called for an urgent society meeting at 7 PM the same day," she wrote.

She further added that the men who had trespassed on her property were removed from their positions and each fined Rs 20,000. Additionally, a written apology was issued to her and the societys residents.

Rs 62 Lakh In Compensation"

u/Ananyxgupta contacted a lawyer to understand her legal options and based on the lawyers advice, she filed a civil suit for defamation, trespass, assault, battery, stalking, nuisance, and violation of her right to privacy.

We claimed compensation of 62 lakhs. My lawyer was upfront that getting the full amount in India is almost impossible, but even 1012% would still be substantial. We also filed for a permanent injunction restraining them from ever contacting me again."

In her post, she revealed that family members of some of the trespassers approached her to spare them, but she chose not to back down.

Young people get oppressed, mentally tortured, and sometimes physically harmed. For women especially, safety is a constant concern. Women are targeted mentally and physically, leading to serious mental health issues. Dignity and integrity are everything for women, and that insecurity stays with them all the time. These experiences can completely destroy young minds (sic)," she wrote.

Fake News"

While overwhelming amount of support poured in for the woman and her actions, a Reddit user claimed that the Bengaluru womans story was fabricated and accused u/Ananyxgupta of collecting the good ol Reddit karma.

Comment byu/Ananyxgupta from discussion inLegalAdviceIndia

Sharing excerpts from the accounts previous posts made on Reddit, the user u/marinluv also shared links to u/Ananyxguptas deleted posts and wrote: Sorry for hijacking the top comment but have to share what I found about OP."

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 11:35 IST

News explainers Bengaluru Woman Stands Up To Housing Society Bullies: Why Internet Is Celebrating The Rare Win

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Anger Spills Onto Streets Outside Dhakas Missions In India As Bangladesh Remains Tense | Top Points

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:19 IST

Clashes witnessed outside Bangladesh missions in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai. In Bangladesh, Hindu familys house torched in Chattogram, Education Adviser meets Dipu Chandra Dass kin

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Protesters outside Bangladesh missions in New Delhi and Kolkata on Tuesday. (PTI)

Even as Bangladesh struggles to deal with the domestic unrest over the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, India on Tuesday saw protests, mostly outside the diplomatic missions, demanding security of Hindus in the neighbouring country and action against those who lynched Dipu Chandra Das.

Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 in Dhakas Bijoynagar area, a day after the Election Commission announced that the next national election would be held on February 12. He succumbed to his injuries on December 18.

His killing sparked widespread protests that spiralled into arson and vandalism targeting major media outlets and cultural institutions. A senior student leader of Bangladeshs National Citizen Party (NCP), Motaleb Sikder, was shot and injured by unidentified assailants in Khulna on Monday.

Amid the chaos, on December 18, Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Investigations revealed he had not committed any blasphemous actions. Gobinda Biswas, a Hindu rickshaw puller, too, was assaulted by a mob in Jhenaidah district of Khulna Division on Friday, for wearing a red sacred thread on his wrist, a symbol commonly worn by Hindus.

BANGLADESH EDUCATION ADVISER VISITS DIPU CHANDRA DASS FAMILY

The Office of the Chief Adviser expressed profound sorrow over the recent killing of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and extends its deepest condolences to his family. On behalf of the government, Education Adviser Professor C R Abrar visited the family in Mymensingh on Tuesday to convey the governments sympathy and assurance of support during this difficult time.

The Interim Government reiterates that this killing was a heinous criminal act with no justification and no place in Bangladeshi society. Allegations, rumours, or differences of belief can never excuse violence, and no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands. The government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the rule of law. The authority to investigate alleged offences and to ensure justice through due process rests solely with the state. Law enforcement authorities have arrested 12 individuals in connection with the crime. Investigations are ongoing, and the Interim Government has directed that the case be pursued fully and without exception. Such acts of violence will be met with the full force of the law. The government remains fully committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and equal protection of all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or background. It calls upon all communities, institutions, and leaders to reject violence, resist attempts to create division or unrest, and uphold restraint, humanity, and respect for the law. The Office of the Chief Adviser confirms that financial and welfare assistance will be provided to the family of Dipu Chandra Das, and that the relevant authorities will remain in close contact with them in the coming period. The Interim Government reiterates its resolve to protect all citizens and to ensure that justice is served," said the statement.

Education adviser visits Dipu Chandra Dass familyMymensingh, December 23, 2025: The Office of the Chief Adviser expresses its profound sorrow over the recent killing of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and extends its deepest condolences to his family. On pic.twitter.com/vgBeywOvDu  Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) December 23, 2025

BANGLADESH SUMMONS INDIAN ENVOY, INDIA TOO DOES THE SAME

Bangladeshs foreign ministry summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express grave concern" over previous protests outside its visa centres. Hours later, India, too, summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for the second time in a week.

Dhaka said it summoned the envoy to express concern over violent protests" outside other diplomatic missions, urging India to investigate the incidents. Indias foreign ministry said on Sunday that the New Delhi demonstration consisted of 20-25 youths" who were dispersed by police after a few minutes, adding that India was committed to ensure the safety of foreign missions".

Ties between the neighbours have deteriorated since the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled the pro-democracy uprising last year and sought refuge in India. India says it is still considering Dhakas requests to extradite Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia for orchestrating a deadly crackdown on the uprising. Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since the end of Hasinas rule, with violence marring the campaigning ahead of next years election.

HINDU FAMILYS HOME TORCHED IN CHATTOGRAM

A Hindu familys home in the Raozan Upazila of Chattogram was deliberately set ablaze late on Tuesday, destroying household property and killing the familys pets, police and local residents said.

BANGLADESH ON ALERT, TARIQUES RETURN

Bangladesh has been placed on an alert following the assassination of Hadi and Sikder. The most visible focus of the security build-up is Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is set to return to the country after 17 years in exile.

His homecoming is widely seen as a politically significant moment, carrying the potential to reshape the opposition landscape ahead of crucial political developments.

Today, Special Envoy for SCA Ambassador Sergio Gor held a productive call with Chief Advisor Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB to discuss recent events in Bangladesh and shared US interests to advance prosperity through trade. Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) (@State_SCA) December 22, 2025

ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON TIME: YUNUS DIALS US

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday informed US Special Envoy to South and Central Asia Sergio Gor that elections will be held on time, amid unrest in the country over the death of 2024 uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

During a phone call, Yunus reaffirmed his commitment to holding general elections on February 12 and said the nation was eagerly waiting to exercise its voting rights, which were stolen by the autocratic regime", a reference to the Sheikh Hasina administration.

The Chief Adviser told Gor that Hasinas supporters were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process and that their fugitive leader was inciting violence. However, he stressed that his government was fully prepared" to deal with any challenges.

We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable," Professor Yunus said.

INDIAN VISA SERVICES RESUME IN BANGLADESH

Indian visa services resumed across Bangladesh after a brief disruption triggered by security concerns, with operations remaining suspended only at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong.

Visa services at the Chittagong centre have been suspended since December 21 following a mob incident on the night of December 18-19, which raised concerns over the safety of diplomatic premises and personnel. All other Indian visa centres across Bangladesh are currently functioning normally, with applications being processed as usual, officials said.

The suspension in Chittagong came amid heightened tensions following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader and former student protest figure, whose killing triggered unrest in several parts of the country. During the violence, multiple incidents of vandalism were reported, including stone-hurling at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chittagong.

The Indian Visa Application Centre in the port city said visa services would remain closed until further notice, adding that a decision on reopening would be taken after a review of the local security situation.

BANGLADESH SUSPENDS VISA OPS IN DELHI, SILIGURI

Bangladesh has suspended visa operations temporarily in Delhi and Siliguri, citing security concerns, a foreign ministry official told ANI.

VIDEO | Delhi: VHP members hold protest, break barricades during protest outside Bangladesh High Commission over attacks on Hindus in the neighbouring country.(Full video available on PTI Videos- https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/jdo2EPjsJe  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2025

PROTESTS IN INDIA

NEW DELHI: Holding saffron flags and shouting slogans, hundreds of supporters of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal broke barricades and clashed with police near the fortified Bangladesh High Commission on Tuesday. Several barricades lay in disarray as police struggled to contain the surge. The high security area witnessed a beefed-up police presence in the morning ahead of the protest.

BENGAL: Hundreds of supporters of a pro-Hindutva outfit tried to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission here on Tuesday afternoon. Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesters after they breached barricades, both human and iron guard rails, in their attempts to move closer to the Deputy High Commission office at Beckbagan in central Kolkata. At least 12 protestors were arrested. Several protestors and police personnel sustained minor injuries in the clashes. The march titled Hindu Hunkar Padayatra was organised under the banner of Bongiyo Hindu Jagaran Mancha with protesters carrying saffron flags and shouting slogans against alleged violence on minority Hindus in Bangladesh. The rally started from Sealdah and was proceeding towards the diplomatic office, when it was stopped by police in the Beckbagan area, and the activists were pushed back.

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association on Tuesday protested the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to either bring Hindus to India or ensure their protection there. The lawyers also demanded that illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants be evicted from Jammu.

BHOPAL: Vishva Hindu Parishad along with Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits staged a protest in Madhya Pradeshs capital Bhopal on Tuesday over the atrocities against Hindus and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh.

HYDERABAD: In Hyderabad, several Hindu organisations led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) protested in Kothapet on Tuesday.

MUMBAI: Mumbai Police on Tuesday detained members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who were protesting against the recent mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man, and called for strict action against targeted atrocities in Bangladesh.

With Agency Inputs

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:18 IST

News india Anger Spills Onto Streets Outside Dhakas Missions In India As Bangladesh Remains Tense | Top Points

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Binaca Geetmala: The Radio Show India Wasnt Allowed To Hear, But Did Anyway

Curated By :

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 14:22 IST

Long before playlists and charts, a radio signal from across the sea brought India to a standstill each week. Binaca Geetmalas journey on Radio Ceylon shaped a golden age of music

Rapid Read

Binaca Geetmala was first broadcast on December 3, 1952 and initially, featured just seven songs.

On December 16, 1925, a radio station was launched in Sri Lanka that would go on to leave an extraordinary mark on the Indian subcontinent. Radio Ceylon soon became a household name, especially after the launch of Binaca Geetmala. Despite broadcasting from across the sea, its signal could be heard clearly across India.

When radio announcer Ameen Sayanis voice announced Binaca Geetmala once a week, life seemed to pause as people gathered around their radios to soak in the music. Yet, the programmes arrival on Radio Ceylon has a fascinating backstory.

Why Radio Ceylon Stood Out

Even a century later, Radio Ceylon remains remarkable for the sheer power of its transmitter. Although All India Radio (AIR) was already operating in India at the time, its transmission strength was far weaker. As a result, when Binaca Geetmala began airing on Radio Ceylon, the stations popularity surged dramatically.

In many ways, Radio Ceylons centenary is remembered largely because of Binaca Geetmala.

The station was originally operated by a private entity, the Ceylon Broadcasting Service, before being nationalised in 1967 and renamed the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). By the 1950s, Radio Ceylon had clearly overtaken AIR in popularity across large parts of India.

South Asias First Radio Station

Radio Ceylon holds the distinction of being South Asias first radio station. It was established in Colombo during British colonial rule. A powerful medium-wave transmitter was installed in Akungama, near Colombo, with an estimated output ranging from 35 kW to 100 kW, exceptionally high for its time.

Its seaside location proved crucial. The flat water surface offered minimal resistance to radio waves, allowing signals to travel vast distances without significant loss of strength.

Initially, broadcasts were mainly in English and local languages, but Hindi programmes were later introduced to appeal to Indian listeners.

A Vast Musical Archive

Marking its centenary, the SLBC stated that National Radio holds Asias largest archive of recorded songs, including rare Hindi tracks unavailable even in India, along with a unique collection of recordings of world leaders.

Today, Sri Lanka Radio operates three Sinhala, two Tamil, and one English domestic service, in addition to foreign-language services in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam.

During centenary celebrations on December 16, a Sri Lankan radio anchor and Hindi announcer recalled that Hindi film songs from the 1960s and 1970s, the golden age of Bollywood music, were so popular in Sri Lanka that Sinhala versions were also produced.

The Launch Of Binaca Geetmala

Binaca Geetmala was first broadcast on December 3, 1952. Initially, it featured just seven songs and had no ranking system. The programme aired every Wednesday from 8 pm to 9 pm on Radio Ceylon.

Listeners eagerly awaited Ameen Sayanis iconic greeting: Yes, brothers and sisters, I am your friend Ameen Sayani, and you are listening to Binaca Geetmala!

In 1954, the show evolved into a countdown format, further boosting the stations popularity.

Ameen Sayani recorded his commentary at Filmistan Studios in Mumbai and other studios. These recordings were sent to Colombo by air or sea mail. At the Radio Ceylon studio, Sayanis commentary was combined with recorded Hindi film songs to prepare the final broadcast.

Why Binaca Geetmala Moved To Radio Ceylon

Although immensely popular in India, Binaca Geetmala could not air on All India Radio in the early 1950s. Hindi film songs were banned by AIR following a decision by Indias Information and Broadcasting Minister, BV Keskar, who labelled them vulgar, cheap, and Western-influenced. He believed such music was corrupting young minds and promoted only classical music instead.

Keskar, an alumnus of Kashi Vidyapeeth with a PhD from the Sorbonne, was a staunch classical music enthusiast. His decision sparked outrage in the film industry. The August 1952 edition of Filmfare described the ban as a direct attack on Indian cinemas reputation and an attempt to erase film music from public life.

As a result, film songs vanished from AIR, and Radio Ceylons popularity in India soared. Programmes like Binaca Geetmala filled the gap. When AIR launched its Vividh Bharati service in 1957, film songs were partially reinstated.

A 36-Year Run On Radio Ceylon

Binaca Geetmala aired on Radio Ceylon from 1952 to 1988. Initially a 30-minute programme, it later expanded to a full hour. The show received anywhere between 35,000 and millions of letters each week, with an estimated listenership of around 20 million.

It offered invaluable promotion to filmmakers and musicians, with chart-topping songs driving record sales. The programme also helped expand Bollywoods reach and provided a platform for emerging artists.

Earnings And Sponsorship

Exact revenue figures remain unknown, but sponsorship deals are believed to have brought in thousands of US dollars. The programme began on a shoestring weekly budget of just Rs 125, including Ameen Sayanis fee of Rs 25.

Despite its modest beginnings, Binaca Geetmala became an instant sensation. Listener mail surged from 35,000 letters to millions per week. Sponsors such as Binaca paid Radio Ceylon in foreign currency, making it one of Asias leading commercial radio stations and enabling it to employ Indian presenters for its Hindi service.

The End Of An Era

In 1988, following a change of sponsor, Binaca Geetmala became Sibaka Geetmala.

A year later, in 1989, the programme moved to All India Radios Vividh Bharati service, where it continued until 1994, marking the end of one of the most iconic chapters in South Asian broadcasting history.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 14:22 IST

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Brutality: BJP Alleges Police Action Against Kolkata Protests Over Bangladesh Lynching

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 17:19 IST

The allegation came after demonstrations near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata turned violent, prompting police action to disperse protesters.

Protestors from Hindu groups injured in police crackdown | Image: News18

The BJP on Tuesday accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of unleashing Bangladesh-style brutality" after clashes broke out between police and Hindu groups protesting the killing of a Hindu youth in neighbouring Bangladesh.

The allegation came after demonstrations near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata turned violent, prompting police action to disperse protesters.

The protests were organised by several Hindutva groups to condemn the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth who was allegedly burnt to death in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, on December 20 following blasphemy allegations.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya, in a strongly worded post on X, accused the state government of using the police to suppress voices demanding justice for persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh.

He alleged that protesters, including women and elderly participants, were trapped behind barricades, subjected to lathi charges, manhandled and dragged on the streets.

The barbaric assault outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission is a calculated act of state-sponsored hooliganism," Malviya said, claiming the police acted like hired goons" of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Drawing a parallel with violence against minorities in Bangladesh, he alleged that the West Bengal police were mirroring similar brutality to appease radical elements.

Tensions escalated in the Bak Bagan area of central Kolkata as the protest procession, which began from Sealdah, was stopped by police barricades.

Demonstrators carrying saffron flags and tridents, accompanied by conch shell blowing, attempted to push past the security cordon, leading to heated arguments and physical confrontations.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as barricades were broken and police resorted to a lathi charge to regain control. Blood stains were seen on police batons during the dispersal, while fires were reportedly set amid the unrest.

Several protesters sustained injuries during the clashes. Hindutva leader Lalbaba was among those hurt, while multiple protest leaders were detained as police made arrests at the site.

As arrests continued, protesters staged sit-ins in front of police vehicles, further intensifying the standoff.

Demonstrators accused the police of excessive force, with some shouting slogans alleging bias and mistreatment of religious figures and women. Injured protesters described the police action as ruthless" and vowed to continue their agitation.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 17:19 IST

News india Brutality: BJP Alleges Police Action Against Kolkata Protests Over Bangladesh Lynching

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Barricades Toppled, Effigy Burnt Outside Bangladesh Embassy In Delhi Over Hindu Man's Lynching

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News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 14:55 IST

Massive protests erupted outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi following the mob lynching of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladeshs Mymensingh.

Protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi (Photo: CNN-News18)

Security was stepped up in the national capital on Tuesday as protesters gathered near the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Metro Station to demonstrate against the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, triggering heightened alert around the Bangladesh High Commission.

The protest, led by members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organisations, was called to condemn what they described as atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the recent mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh.

#WATCH | Delhi | Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations protest near the Bangladesh High Commission over the atrocities against Hindus and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh#Bangladesh #NewDelhi #DipuChandraDas #Protests #IndiaNews pic.twitter.com/sl9Ynejv2v News18 (@CNNnews18) December 23, 2025

In anticipation of the demonstration, the Delhi Police had deployed heavy security arrangements and imposed multiple layers of barricading to prevent protesters from reaching the diplomatic enclave.

According to police officials, three layers of barricades were erected along San Martin Marg, with additional police and paramilitary personnel stationed in the area.

Protesters were clearly informed that they would not be allowed to proceed towards the Bangladesh High Commission or enter the Diplomatic Enclave under any circumstances.

Despite restrictions, protesters attempted to march forward, breaching the first layer of barricades before being stopped at the second.

To block further movement, the police placed a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus across the road ahead of the barricades and issued repeated warnings, urging the crowd to disperse peacefully and avoid any law and order situation.

During the protest, slogans such as Yunus sarkar, hosh mein aao" were raised, while religious chants, including recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa, echoed through the area.

An effigy was also set on fire as demonstrators expressed anger over the incident in Bangladesh.

Leaders from the VHP were seen appealing to protesters to maintain discipline and return to their initial positions.

Apart from police personnel, VHP leaders and organisers repeatedly urged karyakartas to restrict themselves to slogan-raising and to keep law and order considerations in mind.

Protest leaders were also heard requesting participants not to break discipline or escalate the situation.

Several protesters were seen holding banners and placards condemning alleged attacks on Hindus and vandalism of religious places in Bangladesh.

Some Hindutva groups also protested outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, hours after Delhi.

The protest comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, with authorities closely monitoring the situation on both diplomatic and security fronts.

ALSO READ | Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy Over Protests Outside Its Mission In Delhi Amid Dhaka Unrest

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 12:10 IST

News india Barricades Toppled, Effigy Burnt Outside Bangladesh Embassy In Delhi Over Hindu Man's Lynching

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Dense Fog, Reduced Visibility Disrupt Flight Operations In Delhi; Airport Warns Of Delays

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News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 09:30 IST

Dense fog and low visibility affected flight operations at Delhis IGI Airport on Tuesday morning, prompting multiple advisories amid delays and potential disruptions.

New Delhi: Aircraft seen amid low visibility conditions due to smog at Indira Gandhi International Airport (Photo: PTI)

Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were affected on Tuesday morning as dense fog and low visibility conditions prevailed across the national capital, prompting multiple passenger advisories from the airport authorities through the early hours of the day.

According to the details, six arriving flights and four of those departing from the Delhi airport were cancelled for the day.

In an advisory issued at 4 am, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said that Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport", while adding that all flight operations are presently normal."

Passengers were advised to remain in touch with their respective airlines for updated information on their flights.

However, as visibility conditions worsened with dense fog continuing to blanket the city, the airport operator issued a fresh update at 6 am, warning of possible disruptions.

In the advisory, DIAL said, Due to dense fog, flight operations are currently under CAT III conditions, which may lead to delays or disruptions."

It added, We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise any inconvenience. For the latest flight status, kindly contact your respective airlines."

The same advisory was reiterated at 7 am, as fog continued to impact operations at the airport during the morning hours.

CAT III conditions enable aircraft equipped with advanced navigation systems to land in extremely low visibility. However, even under such conditions, flight schedules are often affected due to safety protocols, spacing between aircraft, and ground handling constraints.

Train services in the region were also disrupted due to reduced visibility, causing inconvenience to passengers.

Several trains were reported to be running behind schedule, while a few were cancelled, according to early morning visuals and information from the New Delhi Railway Station.

Passengers were seen waiting on platforms amid dense fog as announcements of delayed departures continued.

The disruption to flight and train operations comes amid persistently poor weather conditions in the national capital. Dense fog has been a recurring issue over the past several days, affecting transport services and daily commuting during the early morning hours.

On Monday, more than 500 flights were delayed, and at least 14 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport due to bad weather and low visibility conditions, news agency PTI reported.

According to an official cited by the agency, the cancelled flights included six arrivals and eight departures, and also involved international services.

Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport is the countrys largest aviation hub and generally handles around 1,300 flights daily.

On Monday, data from flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that the average delay time was a little over 30 minutes, highlighting the scale of disruption caused by adverse weather.

ALSO READ | Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Holds Pollution Review Meet As Air Remains Very Poor

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 07:46 IST

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Himanta Biswa Sarma Flags Demographic Concerns: 40% Of Assam Residents Are Of Bangladeshi Origin

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News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 07:47 IST

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma described the Siliguri Corridor, often called the Chicken Neck, as Indias biggest strategic concern.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Amid unrest in Bangladesh and its impact on Indias security, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that the time for diplomacy was running out and that a permanent cure for the crisis in the neighbouring country was possible only through surgery". Speaking in an exclusive interview at News18s Rising Assam Conclave, Sarma warned that the current situation posed serious risks, especially for Indias Northeast.

Focus on the Chicken Neck corridor

Sarma described the Siliguri Corridor, often called the Chicken Neck, as Indias biggest strategic concern. He said Bangladesh lies on both sides of this narrow stretch that connects the Northeast to the rest of the country. According to him, India may one day have to take 20-22 kilometres of land, either through diplomacy or force, to secure the region. He used a medical analogy, saying surgery becomes necessary when medicine no longer works.

Chicken Neck is an unfinished agenda

On the Chicken Neck issue, Sarma called it an unfinished agenda. He said the timing and approach would be decided by the central government and urged patience. We should not be impatient. History has its moment," he added.

Yunus government will not last long

Targeting Bangladeshs interim leadership, Sarma said the Mohammed Yunus government would not last long. He claimed the present regime had created conditions that were deeply worrying for India, especially for border states. While elections could improve matters, he said the current challenge was unlike anything India had faced before.

Indira Gandhis Historic Mistake?

Referring to the 1971 war, Sarma questioned the decisions taken by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He said India could have asked for land at that time to permanently resolve the Chicken Neck issue. Since that did not happen, he argued, India continues to face threats related to the corridor even today.

Himanta slams Congress policies

Himanta Biswa Sarma blamed Congress-era policies around Partition for current problems. He said that if a referendum had been held, Hindus in Bangladesh would have chosen India. Instead, he claimed, wrong decisions forced many unwilling people to remain in Pakistan, then known as East Pakistan, creating long-term demographic and security challenges.

Atrocities and religious violence in Bangladesh

Sarma also spoke about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, including the killing of a man named Dipu. He said brutality against any person was unacceptable, regardless of religion. However, he added that anger naturally doubled when someone was targeted and killed only because they were Hindu.

40% of Assam Is Bangladeshi, we are sitting on a powder keg

The Assam Chief Minister raised serious concerns over changes in the states population. He claimed that nearly 40 per cent of Assams population was now of Bangladeshi origin, compared to just 1015 per cent at the time of Independence. He described the situation as living on a powder keg".

Looking ahead, Sarma predicted that by the 2027 census, Assams Hindu and Muslim populations could become equal. He said governing Assam was becoming increasingly complex due to these demographic shifts.

Bangladesh moving towards extremism

Sarma said post-Hasina Bangladesh was moving rapidly towards extremism. He added that India could not remain on the same page with countries that followed such a path, making differences unavoidable.

Concluding the interview, Sarma said Assams position as a border state made it extremely sensitive. External threats and internal changes, he said, had brought the state to a point where tough decisions could no longer be avoided.

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Location : Assam, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 07:24 IST

News india Himanta Biswa Sarma Flags Demographic Concerns: 40% Of Assam Residents Are Of Bangladeshi Origin

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Happy To See Bihars Progress: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Praises Nitish Kumar-led NDA Govt

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:03 IST

Speaking during a visit to Bihar for the inaugural Nalanda Literary Festival at the revived Nalanda University, Tharoor said the states development exceeded his expectations.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor | File Image

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday commended the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government for visible improvements in infrastructure, offering rare praise for a dispensation allied with the BJP, the Congress national rival.

Speaking during a visit to Bihar for the inaugural Nalanda Literary Festival at the revived Nalanda University, Tharoor said the states development exceeded his expectations.

Theres no doubt the infrastructure is far better than what I had heard earlier. Roads have improved, people are out on the streets even late at night, which wasnt always the case before. Electricity, water, everything seems to be functioning," he said.

Tharoor added that several positive changes had taken place in recent years. However, when asked to comment directly on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he stopped short of political endorsements.

Dont draw me into politics here. Im genuinely happy to see this progress. The people of Bihar and their elected representatives deserve the credit," he said.

The Congress has not officially responded to Tharoors remarks praising a government that includes the BJP as a key ally.

Last month, speaking at a media interaction in Dubai, Tharoor had criticised the growing rigidity in Indian politics, arguing that ideological purism prevents leaders from acknowledging merit across party lines or engaging constructively with opponents.

A four-time MP, Tharoor is often viewed as being at odds with sections of the Congress leadership, particularly after comments that appeared to appreciate aspects of Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and the BJP-led governments actions.

These include his remarks on the Prime Ministers response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military strikes on Pakistan.

Tharoor has consistently maintained that his public comments are guided by national interest rather than partisan considerations.

Earlier this year, however, he had criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over a hijab-related controversy, calling the incident inappropriate and stressing the need to respect women.

The controversy stemmed from a video that allegedly showed the Chief Minister asking a woman doctor, Dr Nusrat Parveen, to remove her hijab before receiving her appointment letter, and appearing to pull it off himself.

All women must be treated with dignity and respect. What is seen in that video is not right," Tharoor had said at the time.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:03 IST

News india Happy To See Bihars Progress: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Praises Nitish Kumar-led NDA Govt

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'Our First Responder Role': India Announces $450 Million Aid For Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 11:29 IST

India announced a USD 450 million reconstruction package for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, with EAM Jaishankar saying the assistance reflects Indias commitment to its closest neighbour.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (Photo: PTI)

India on Monday announced a USD 450 million reconstruction and assistance package for Sri Lanka to help the island nation recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before."

Jaishankar, who is in Colombo as Prime Minister Narendra Modis Special Envoy, conveyed the commitment during meetings with Sri Lankas top leadership and handed over a letter from the Prime Minister to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Speaking in Colombo alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar said the package builds on Indias role as a first responder and reflects New Delhis long-standing commitment to its closest neighbour.

The letter from Prime Minister Modi that I handed over builds on our first responder role and commits a reconstruction package of US dollars 450 million to Sri Lanka," Jaishankar said, adding that discussions focused on how expeditiously this commitment can be delivered."

He said the assistance package comprises USD 350 million in concessional lines of credit and USD 100 million in grants, and is being finalised in close consultation with the Sri Lankan government.

As your closest neighbour and in line with our Neighbourhood First and Mahasagar policies, it was only natural that India step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis," he said.

Referring to Indias immediate response following the cyclone, Jaishankar highlighted Operation Sagar Bandhu, which was launched on the very day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall.

Indias relief and assistance mission, Operation Sagar Bandhu, commenced on the very day that Cyclone Ditwah made landfall," he said.

He detailed the scale of Indias assistance, noting that aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and other naval ships delivered relief material, while Indian Air Force helicopters operated in Sri Lanka for over two weeks.

An 80-member National Disaster Response Force contingent conducted rescue and relief operations, and an Indian Army field hospital with 85 medical personnel provided emergency care to thousands.

Overall, Operation Sagar Bandhu delivered over 1,100 tonnes of relief material," Jaishankar said, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing, water purification kits, and medical supplies.

He also underlined Indias role in restoring critical connectivity, describing it as an immediate priority discussed between Prime Minister Modi and the Sri Lankan President.

Army engineers erected a Bailey bridge at Kilinochchi, with another under construction at Chilaw, to help reconnect affected regions.

Outlining the focus areas of the new assistance package, Jaishankar said it would support the rehabilitation of road, railway and bridge connectivity, construction of houses fully destroyed or partially damaged, restoration of health and education systems, support for agriculture, and efforts aimed at better disaster response and preparedness.

We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on the people of Sri Lanka must be done in the quickest time possible," he said, adding that both sides are discussing an effective coordination mechanism for early delivery.

Jaishankar also noted that India would continue to support Sri Lanka in other ways, including encouraging tourism flows and investment.

Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the island nation, he said, Just as it was recovering from the economic crisis of 2022, this natural disaster has created new difficulties."

I can assure you that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before," Jaishankar said, expressing confidence that Sri Lanka would once again demonstrate resilience in overcoming adversity.

ALSO READ | Does India Need One More Jaishankar? EAMs Lord Hanuman Analogy On Leadership

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 11:28 IST

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India Must Be Ready For Short-Term And Prolonged Wars: CDS Anil Chauhan

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:42 IST

Without naming specific neighbours, he indicated that India faces strategic challenges from two nuclear-capable adversaries and stressed that deterrence must not be allowed to fail

CDS Anil Chauhan (Image: PTI/File photo)

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Monday said India must be prepared to deal with both short-duration, high-intensity military engagements and longer, land-based conflicts, citing terrorism and unresolved territorial disputes as key security challenges.

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, General Chauhan outlined the evolving threat environment facing the country.

Without naming specific neighbours, he indicated that India faces strategic challenges from two nuclear-capable adversaries and stressed that deterrence must not be allowed to fail.

Indias preparedness has to be guided by two realities. Both our adversaries are nuclear-capable, one a nuclear weapons state and the other a nuclear-armed state. Under no circumstances should deterrence be breached," he said, according to PTI.

General Chauhan explained that the nature of threats required a dual approach. We must be capable of fighting short, high-intensity conflicts to counter terrorism, similar to operations conducted in the past. At the same time, given existing land disputes, we must also be ready for prolonged, land-centric conflicts, though every effort should be made to prevent such situations," he added.

Addressing changes in the character of warfare, the CDS said the world is entering what he described as a third revolution in military affairs, marked by convergence warfare."

He noted that a wide range of emerging technologiessuch as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics, advanced materials, robotics and edge computingare reshaping how wars are fought.

General Chauhan emphasised that future conflicts will demand integrated operations across multiple domains.

Multi-domain operations will no longer be a choice but a necessity, as actions in one domain increasingly affect others," he said, pointing to recent military operations as evidence.

He noted that such operations require not only advanced capabilities but also seamless coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with cyber, space and cognitive warfare units.

Effective command, control and synchronisation across these forces, he said, would be critical to success in future conflicts.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:42 IST

News india India Must Be Ready For Short-Term And Prolonged Wars: CDS Anil Chauhan

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The Indonesian National Police conducted comprehensive security sweeps across Jakarta on Dec. 21, as part of a high-level initiative to ensure public safety ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The inspections targeted high-traffic public areas and crowded areas, including the Jakarta Cathedral, the Gambir central railway station, and the iconic National Monument (Monas), and the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout - a major city landmark and traditional gathering spot.

They are part of a nationwide security campaign known as "Operasi Lilin 2025" (Operation Candle), a standard annual mobilization of police and military personnel to secure the countrys year-end festivities.

Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, the operation's public relations head, stated that the operations aimed to assess the readiness of personnel and equipment, as well as the coordination capabilities among relevant units.

He stressed that the Indonesian police are committed to providing safety and security for residents to celebrate Christmas and enjoy their year-end holidays.

Following the field visits, police confirmed that all monitored locations are currently secure and that personnel are fully deployed.

They also reaffirmed their broader commitment to preventive measures, ensuring that both the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year celebrations remain peaceful for both locals and international visitors.

Indonesias Christmas bombings in 2000 and 2003 have led authorities to enforce strict year-end security measures.

Police and military forces are mobilized to reduce the risk of attacks and safeguard both citizens and tourists.

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, welcomed 8.53 million foreign arrivals in the first seven months of this year, up 10% compared with the same period last year and nearly half of this year's target.
India Summons Bangladesh High Commissioner For Second Time In A Week Amid Tense Ties

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News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:51 IST

The fresh summon followed Bangladeshs decision earlier in the day to call in Pranay Verma.

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)

India summoned Riaz Hamidullah, marking the second time in a week that the Bangladesh High Commissioner has been called in, amid rising diplomatic friction between the two neighbours. The latest summon came hours after Dhaka called in Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to convey concerns over the security of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India.

During the earlier summon, India lodged a strong protest with Bangladesh over what it described as a deteriorating security situation" around its diplomatic mission in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs said at the time that it conveyed its concerns to Hamidullah over the activities of what it termed extremist elements" targeting Indian diplomatic premises.

We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of [Indian] missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Hamidullahs attention was drawn to announcements by certain groups aimed at creating a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka.

India also rejected what it described as a false narrative" being propagated by extremist elements regarding recent developments in Bangladesh.

It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents," the ministry said, reiterating that India favours peace and stability in Bangladesh and supports free, fair, inclusive and credible elections conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

The fresh summon followed Bangladeshs decision earlier in the day to call in Pranay Verma. Bangladeshs Foreign Ministry said it conveyed Dhakas grave concern over the regrettable incidents" outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and the High Commissioners residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as acts of vandalism" at its Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22, allegedly by different extremist elements."

The ministry also expressed deep concern" over violent protests staged outside the premises of various Bangladeshi diplomatic missions across India, according to an official statement.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 20:07 IST

News india India Summons Bangladesh High Commissioner For Second Time In A Week Amid Tense Ties

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Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy Over Protests At Its Missions Amid Unrest In Dhaka

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 12:33 IST

Bangladesh has summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express grave concern over protests and alleged acts of vandalism targeting its diplomatic missions in India.

Nagpur: Bajrang Dal activists protest over the alleged killing of a Hindu youth and atrocities against minority Hindus in Bangladesh (Photo: PTI)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, to formally convey Dhakas grave concern" over recent incidents involving Bangladeshs diplomatic establishments in India, including protests, vandalism and what it described as acts of intimidation.

According to an official statement issued in Dhaka today, the Bangladeshi foreign ministry raised strong objections to incidents that took place outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and the official residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as acts of vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22.

Bangladesh also expressed deep concern over violent protests staged outside the premises of different Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India.

The statement said Bangladesh condemns acts of premeditated violence or intimidation" against diplomatic establishments, warning that such actions endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel and undermine principles of mutual respect, peace and tolerance.

Dhaka called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, take necessary steps to prevent their recurrence, and ensure the safety and security of Bangladeshs diplomatic missions and related facilities across India.

Bangladesh further said it expects India to take immediate and appropriate measures in line with its international and diplomatic obligations to safeguard the dignity, security and inviolability of diplomatic personnel and establishments.

On December 19, security arrangements at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi were bolstered following violent protests in Bangladesh after the death of prominent leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

PTI reported that tension gripped Bangladesh after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus confirmed Hadis death in a televised address, triggering widespread protests, attacks and vandalism.

Meanwhile, India has pushed back against what it described as misleading claims regarding demonstrations outside the Bangladesh High Commission.

On December 21, the Ministry of External Affairs dismissed misleading propaganda" in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration held in front of the High Commission in New Delhi.

MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that nearly 25 people briefly gathered on December 20 to protest the killing of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and to demand protection of minorities in Bangladesh.

He asserted that there was no attempt to breach the High Commissions perimeter and that the protest posed no security threat.

At no point was the security of the diplomatic mission compromised," Jaiswal said, adding that police dispersed the group within minutes and that visual evidence was publicly available.

Reaffirming Indias position, the MEA said the country remains committed to ensuring the safety of foreign missions in accordance with the Vienna Convention, while continuing to convey its concerns to Bangladeshi authorities over attacks on minorities and seeking justice for those responsible.

ALSO READ | Chittagong Violence Shows Yunus Govt Failed To Control Mobocracy: BNP Leader To News18

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 11:45 IST

News india Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy Over Protests At Its Missions Amid Unrest In Dhaka

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2 Killed As Fresh Violence Erupts In Assam's West Karbi Anglong, Internet Suspended

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:14 IST

The protestors are demanding eviction of illegal settlers from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands in the two districts.

Protesters refuse to back down over PGR/VGR land eviction. (Photo: X)

At least two people were killed and several were left injured during clashes between two groups over the issue of eviction in Assams West Karbi Anglong on Tuesday, prompting the administration to suspend internet services and deploy a heavy security force.

The police resorted to lathi-charge and firing of tear-gas shells to disperse agitators. Section 163 of Bhartiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has also been imposed to maintain public order and peace.

A large number of people whose shops were burnt by a mob on Monday, came out to protest against the violence, despite prohibitory orders. At the same time, protesters demanding eviction of encroachers from the tribal belt also gathered in the Kheroni market area, news agency PTI reported.

Violence broke out after the two groups clashed with each other. The security forces deployed in the area tried to pacify them, but suddenly, stone pelting began from both sides.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said additional security forces will be deployed in Kherani to maintain peace.

I am closely monitoring the situation in West Karbi Anglong. It is deeply painful that two persons lost their lives during todays unrest.Additional security forces will be deployed in Kherani tomorrow to maintain peace. We are in constant touch with all concerned to restore  Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 23, 2025

Internet Suspended In Two Assam Districts

In a notification issued by the Political (A) department of the Assam government, it stated that   under the provision of Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 to prohibit the Internet/Mobile Data Service of all Mobile Service Providers in the districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong with immediate effect and until further orders."

Following a serious law & order situation that has arisen in Assams Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts, the Assam government has ordered the suspension of internet and mobile data services in both districts with immediate effect.In a notification issued by the pic.twitter.com/elBE4M2TWq  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

Why Are People Protesting In Karbi Anglong?

Protesters are demanding the eviction of encroachers, who mostly hail from Bihar, from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands in the two districts.

The agitators, belonging to several political and social organisations, have been on a hunger strike for the last 15 days.

On Monday, the protestors set ablaze the residence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang and around 15 shops in Kheroni Bazaar.

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Location : Assam, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 19:38 IST

News india 2 Killed As Fresh Violence Erupts In Assam's West Karbi Anglong, Internet Suspended

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Jihadi Mentality: After Harassment Claim, BJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Dares IndiGo To Blacklist Her

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 08:53 IST

BJP Minority Leader Nazia Elahi Khan challenged IndiGo to blacklist her from flying and accused the airline of favouring Muslim employees.

BJP Minority Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Escalates IndiGo Row, Questions Airlines Operations

Hours after alleging harassment by IndiGo staff at Mumbai Airport, BJP Minority Leader Nazia Elahi Khan launched a sharp attack on the airlines owner, questioning the way the carrier is run and its hiring agenda. In a social media post, Khan accused IndiGo of biased practices and challenged the airline to blacklist her from flying.

Taking her criticism further, Khan publicly dared IndiGo to bar her from its services, saying she was prepared to face any action from the airline. Her remarks, made just hours after she shared a video of the confrontation, escalated the row and drew widespread attention online, adding a political dimension to the controversy surrounding the alleged airport incident.

The owner of IndiGo should listen to the Muslim supporters of India and Pakistan and blacklist me, because I am not going to keep quiet. Whenever the Ummah employees of IndiGo show me their jihadi mentality, that is when I will take off their hijab. This is a challenge," reads her X post.

IndiGo appointing Muslim employees in large numbers, alleges Nazia

She challenged IndiGo to blacklist her from flying and accused the airline of favouring Muslim employees. In her posts, she claimed she would not remain silent and alleged that she had received threats asking her to delete her statements.

Now I am beginning to understand how IndiGo operates and how deep the airline owners relationship with Muslims is. IndiGo should listen to its Muslim supporters and blacklist me from travelling on the airline, because I will not keep quiet. IndiGos owners, who are appointing Muslim employees in large numbers, should either learn to control them or stop appointing them. Even if I receive threats from Pakistan to delete what I have posted on X, I will not remain silent," she added in the video posted on X.

The owner of Indigo should listen to the Muslims supporters of bharat and pakistan and blacklist me!Because I'm not going to keep quiet!Whenever the Ummah employees of Indigo show me their Jihadi mentality!That's when I'll take off their hijab!Its a challenge  pic.twitter.com/KOcoic5k74 Nazia Elahi Khan () (@ElahiNazia1) December 22, 2025

Heated argument with IndiGo staff

The video shared by Khan on Monday shows her involved in a heated argument with IndiGo staff on the airport tarmac. In the footage, voices are raised as the confrontation escalates. The clip ends with Khan making a controversial remark referring to staff members as Abdul and Abdullah". The remark drew sharp criticism online, with many users questioning the language used during the confrontation.

The video quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from political supporters, critics and social media users. While some questioned the conduct of the airline staff, others criticised Khan for her remarks and tone during the exchange.

Khan claimed she would not remain silent over what she described as mistreatment during her journey from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. She alleged that the behaviour of airline staff was deliberate and coordinated, and said the incident had caused her serious inconvenience and mental stress.

As of now, IndiGo has not issued a detailed public response to Khans allegations or the video.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 08:50 IST

News india Jihadi Mentality: After Harassment Claim, BJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Dares IndiGo To Blacklist Her

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Might Kill Me, My Entire Family: Sister Of Unnao Rape Survivor Questions Kuldeep Sengars Bail

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 19:59 IST

Reacting to the courts order granting bail to Sengar during the pendency of his appeal, the victims sister said the family was devastated and felt completely unprotected.

Victim's sister expressed concern over safety of her family | Image: ANI

A day after the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of former BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, the survivors sister on Wednesday voiced grave fears for her familys safety, saying the decision has left them living in constant fear.

Reacting to the courts order granting bail to Sengar during the pendency of his appeal, the victims sister said the family was devastated and felt completely unprotected.

I am not happy with this decision. He killed my uncle and then my father. After that, this crime was committed against my sister. Now he has been released, but we are still in danger," she said.

Expressing deep anxiety, she added, Who knows what they might do now? They could kill me and my entire family. If they are releasing him, then they should put us in jail instead, at least we would be safe and alive there."

#WATCH | Unnao, UP | On Delhi HC suspending the sentence of 2017 Unnao rape case accused, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Victims sister says, Im not happy about this. He killed my uncle and then my father. Then this incident happened with my sister. He has been released, but were pic.twitter.com/nEFFJo2zYO ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

She alleged that threats had already resumed following Sengars release on bail.

Many of his men are roaming outside and openly threatening us, saying that now he is coming back. There are small children in our family, and I have a younger brother. We live in fear every single day," she said, adding that the survivor herself was deeply distressed by the development.

High Court Order

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sengar after suspending his sentence while his appeal against conviction is pending.

A Bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidynathan Shankar imposed strict conditions, directing Sengar not to enter within a five-kilometre radius of the survivor and to remain in Delhi for the duration of his bail.

He has also been asked to report to the police every Monday.

The court warned that any violation of the conditions would lead to cancellation of bail.

Sengar was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 for the rape of a minor girl in Unnao.

The trial court had also imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh and observed that there were no mitigating circumstances in the case, noting that Sengar had betrayed the public trust reposed in him as an elected representative.

Unnao Rape Case

The survivor, who was 17 at the time, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by Sengar between June 11 and June 20, 2017, and later sold for Rs 60,000.

She was subsequently recovered, and an FIR was registered against Sengar for rape, kidnapping, criminal intimidation and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following intervention by the Allahabad High Court.

The case later drew nationwide attention after a mysterious truck crash in 2019 rammed into the vehicle carrying the survivor, killing two of her aunts and critically injuring her and her lawyer.

A separate case was filed against Sengar in connection with the incident, though a Delhi court discharged him in December 2021, citing lack of prima facie evidence.

Sengars appeal against his rape conviction is still pending before the Delhi High Court, even as the survivors family continues to seek assurances of protection and justice.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 19:55 IST

News india Might Kill Me, My Entire Family: Sister Of Unnao Rape Survivor Questions Kuldeep Sengars Bail

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News18 Evening Digest: EC Publishes SIR Draft Voter Lists For MP, Kerala, Chhattisgarh And Other Top News

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 19:12 IST

We are also covering: BJP Alleges Police Action Against Kolkata Protests Over Bangladesh Lynching and other top stories.

Election Commission of India (PTI File)

In todays evening digest, News18 brings latest updates on draft electoral rolls for Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Chhattisgarh. The Election Commission of India (ECI) released the draft after completing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Check this and other top news here.

SIR Draft Rolls Out: 42 Lakh Names Removed In MP, 27 Lakh In Chhattisgarh, And 22 Lakh In Kerala

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released draft electoral rolls for Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Chhattisgarh after completing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, leading to the deletion of a large number of voter names. The poll body said that over 22 lakh names have been removed from the voter list in Kerala following the electoral revision process. Read more

Anger Spills Onto Streets Outside Dhakas Missions In India As Bangladesh Remains Tense | Top Points

Even as Bangladesh struggles to deal with the domestic unrest over the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, India on Tuesday saw protests, mostly outside the diplomatic missions, demanding security of Hindus in the neighbouring country and action against those who lynched Dipu Chandra Das. Read more

Anyone Who Attacks Her Can Eat S**t: JD Vance On Racist Remarks Against Wife Usha

US Vice President JD Vance strongly condemned racist and antisemitic attacks directed at his wife Usha Vance after remarks by far-right commentator Nick Fuentes and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Speaking in an interview with UnHerd, JD Vance said attacks on his family were unacceptable, regardless of political affiliation. Read more

Brutality: BJP Alleges Police Action Against Kolkata Protests Over Bangladesh Lynching

The BJP on Tuesday accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of unleashing Bangladesh-style brutality" after clashes broke out between police and Hindu groups protesting the killing of a Hindu youth in neighbouring Bangladesh. Read more

Donald Trump Named In Jeffrey Epsteins Private Plane Logs For Several Flights

The US Department of Justice released another batch of files related to its investigations into deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, continuing disclosures mandated under a recently passed federal law. Read more

Unnao Rape Case: Delhi HC Suspends Life Sentence Of Ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar

In a major development in the Unnao rape case, the Delhi High Court has suspended the life imprisonment sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. A division bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, suspended the sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar while laying down strict conditions. Read more

Priyanka Chopra Reveals Daughter Malti Calls Herself Indian Princess, Loves Ghagra-Choli

Even as she navigates life across continents, Global Icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas remains desi at heart and deeply committed to ensuring her daughter Malti Marie Jonas grows up connected to her Indian heritage. During her recent appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show, PeeCee opened up about how she keeps her daughter rooted in Indian culture despite living abroad. When Archana Puran Singh asked what aspects of growing up in India Malti Marie might miss, Priyankas response was both heartwarming and reassuring.

Shubman Gill To Play Ranji Trophy For Punjab After Losing Place In Indias T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Report

Indias Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill will play two matches for Punjab in the 2025-26 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy before joining Team India for a three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy will be played from December 24 to January 18, whereas the three ODIs between India and New Zealand are scheduled on January 11 in Vadodara, January 14 in Rajkot and January 18 in Indore. Read more

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 19:12 IST

News india News18 Evening Digest: EC Publishes SIR Draft Voter Lists For MP, Kerala, Chhattisgarh And Other Top News

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Op Sindoor Valour, M777 Guns, Prachand Choppers To Headline Republic Day-Style Army Day Parade In Jaipur

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:04 IST

For the first time, the Army Day parade on January 15 will have a full road-based march-past like Republic Day, instead of the traditional cantonment or parade ground setting

The entire event will be heavily themed around Operation Sindoor. File image/PTI

The Indian Army will celebrate its 78th Army Day on January 15 in Jaipur, marking the first time the ceremonial parade is being held in the Rajasthan capital. The event comes in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and is expected to be a strong display of the Armys combat power, valour, and operational success. From M777 guns to Prachand and Apache helicopters to those who led the entire Op Sindoor, the event will have it all.

For the first time, the Army Day parade will be organised on the lines of the Republic Day parade, with a full road-based march-past instead of the traditional cantonment or parade ground setting. The parade will be held along a 1.5-kilometre stretch on Sitapura Road, where a special three-layer seating arrangement is being created for nearly 25,000 spectators. Overall, around 1.5 lakh people are expected to witness the event.

Army Day 2026 will feature nine marching contingents, including the Bhairav Battalion, which will participate in the parade for the first time. Formed after Operation Sindoor, the battalion is expected to be accompanied by displays of Shaktibaan and Divyastra systems. Other contingents taking part include the Assam Regiment, Artillery, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Madras Regiment, Scouts, and NCC cadets. Marching contingents will be accompanied by Army band units playing indigenous tunes, with the Nepal Army band also participating. Nepals band had made its debut during Army Day celebrations in 2025.

Op Sindoor fervour

The entire event will be heavily themed around Operation Sindoor. Sources say soldiers decorated for gallantry during Operation Sindoor, including Vir Chakra awardees, will be present for the first time. Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardees will also be part of the parade. A dedicated tableau showcasing the success of Operation Sindoor is also expected.

A wide range of weapons and platforms used during the operation will be displayed. These include the M777 ultra-light howitzer, T-90 Bhishma tanks, Arjun main battle tanks, BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles, K9 Vajra self-propelled guns, Dhanush artillery systems, Smerch long-range multi-barrel rocket launchers, and Grad rocket systems. Air defence systems that played a key role in thwarting Pakistani attacks during Op Sindoor, including MRSAM, Akash missile systems, and the Schilka air defence gun system, will also be showcased.

For the first time, the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand and Apache attack helicopters will take part in the aerial display, accompanied by Rudra and Chetak helicopters. The parade will also feature counter-UAS systems, swarm drones, robotic mules, and separate contingents of Indian-breed and foreign-breed dogs trained by the Armys K9 units.

IAF and Navy to join in

In a joint display of military integration, components of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy will also be part of the Army Day parade.

The decision to hold Army Day outside Delhi follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis suggestion to take major military events beyond the national capital, allowing people across the country to connect more closely with the armed forces. The responsibility for organising Army Day 2026 has been entrusted to the South Western Command. Earlier editions have been held in Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Pune.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 20:03 IST

News india Op Sindoor Valour, M777 Guns, Prachand Choppers To Headline Republic Day-Style Army Day Parade In Jaipur

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'Leader Of Propaganda': BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi's 'Attack On Democratic System' Remark In Berlin

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 11:03 IST

The BJP strongly rebutted Rahul Gandhis remarks made in Berlin accusing the party of undermining the Constitution, calling them an attempt to defame India on foreign soil.

Rahul Gandhi addresses a gathering during a visit to the Hertie School, in Berlin, Germany (Photo: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reacted strongly to Congress leader Rahul Gandhis accusation that the saffron party has attacked the Indian democratic system and has captured the central agencies.

Addressing students at the Hertie School in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP is proposing elimination of the Constitution" that grants equal rights to all and vowed to create a system of oppositions resistance that will succeed in removing the party from power.

Its a deeper battle now than simply elections. What the BJP is proposing is simply the elimination of the Constitution, the elimination of the idea of equality between states, the elimination of the idea of equality between languages and religions, the elimination of the idea of the central core of the Constitution, which is that every individual should have the same values."

Gandhi also portrayed Indias democracy as a global asset, noting, Based on the Constitution, Indian democracy is not just an Indian asset, it is a global asset."

If you are going to have any conversation about democracy on the planet, you cannot ignore by far the largest and most complex democracy in the world. That is why I say Indian democracy is a global public good; it is not just an Indian asset," he added.

So when I talk of the attack on the Indian democratic system, it is actually an attack not just on the Indian democratic system, it is an attack on the global democratic system," Gandhi said.

Reacting to his statements, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, Rahul Gandhi has indulged in Bharat badnaami on foreign soil, theres nothing new in it."

Rahul Gandhi should now rename the LoP position, not as Leader of Opposition, but as Leader of Propaganda, because going on foreign soil, meeting with anti-India elements, meeting with elements associated with George Soros, who wants to destabilise India, and then spewing fakery and propaganda against India has become the full-time job of Rahul Gandhi," he added.

#Breaking | Rahul Gandhi slams the Election Commission from Berlin, reiterates claims of danger to democracy" while speaking from foreign soil, triggering fresh charges of India-bashing in Germany.@_pallavighosh with details | @Shehzad_Ind reacts@JamwalNews18 | #RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/1ZKXmTsFWK News18 (@CNNnews18) December 22, 2025

Rahul Gandhi also levelled vote theft" allegations against the government of India and claimed that the Congress won the Haryana Assembly elections in 2024 and the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 were not fair."

He shared that their party did not receive a response" from the Election Commission when they flagged the issue.

We have won elections in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. We have been raising issues as far as the fairness of elections in India is concerned. I have done press conferences in India where we have clearly shown without a shadow of a doubt that we won the Haryana election and that we dont feel the Maharashtra elections were fair," Gandhi said.

There is a full-scale assault taking place on the institutional framework of our country. We asked direct questions to the Election Commission."

A Brazilian woman was on the voting list 22 times in Haryana. We did not get a response. We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India," he added.

RAHUL GANDHI ALLEGES CAPTURES OF AGENCIES BY BJP

Gandhi also alleged that capture of the central agencies by the BJP was an attack" on Indias democratic system and vowed to create a system of opposition resistance" to counter it.

There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against the people who oppose them," Gandhi said.

If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. The BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the Opposition has," he said.

He stressed that the oppositions fight is not merely against the BJP as a political party but against the capture of the Indian institutional structure."

We will deal with it, and we will create a method, a system of opposition resistance that will succeed. But were not fighting the BJP. You have to understand that were fighting their capture of the Indian institutional structure," Gandhi told students.

RAHUL GANDHIs OTHER ALLEGATIONS IN BERLIN

He also alleged that challenges were posed by the BJPs ideology in a diverse and complex country like India.

There are millions of people in India who have a completely different vision of the country than the government of India and the RSS. This has existed throughout history. Are you going to be ruled by the whims of one person, or are you going to be ruled by a conversation? India should be a conversation between its states," he said.

On the INDIA bloc, Gandhi clarified that while parties contest state and local elections tactically against each other, they are united on resisting the RSSs ideology.

All parties of the alliance do not agree with the basic ideology of the RSS. We are very much united on that question. We have tactical contests, and we will continue to have them. But when it comes to the opposition requiring unity, that happens every day in Parliament," he added.

Gandhi also slammed the economic policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, asserting that while the current government has adopted previous economic models, the direction of policy is jammed" and will face significant challenges.

Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany, during which he addressed students and discussed issues relating to institutional capture, electoral reforms, and the future of Indias democratic framework.

ALSO READ | Yogi Adityanath Takes Do Namoone Jibe At Akhilesh, Rahul; SP Chief Hits Back

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Rajasthan Protest: Students Detained For Calling IAS Officer Tina Dabi Reel Star? She Says

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 13:46 IST

A student protest over an examination fee hike in Rajasthans Barmer district turned tense after remarks targeting district collector Tina Dabi.

Rajasthan College Protest Turns Tense After Students Call Collector Tina Dabi a Reel Star

College students in Rajasthans Barmer district have alleged that some of them were detained after a protest against an increase in examination fees. The protest took place outside Maharana Bhupal College (MBC) Girls College on Saturday. The students said they wanted to meet district collector Tina Dabi to raise their concerns about the fee hike.

Tina Dabi is a well-known Indian Administrative Service officer who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt at the age of 22. Students said they hoped she would listen to their demands and address the issue directly.

Reel Star comment triggers row

According to the students, tensions rose when an official described Dabi as a role model". Some students, linked to the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), objected to the remark.

They claimed that Dabi had not come to hear their concerns and accused her of focusing more on social media appearances. During the protest, some students referred to her as a reel star", a comment that later became central to the controversy.

Allegations of detention

After the sit-in protest ended, students alleged that a few of their peers were detained by the police. This led to more students gathering outside the police station, demanding their immediate release. The situation drew attention both locally and on social media.

The ABVP condemned the alleged action, calling it an attack on democratic values. The student body said expressing opinions should not be treated as a crime and stated that it stood firmly with the protesting students.

Police deny arrests

Senior police officer Manoj Kumar rejected the claims of detention or arrest. He said no students were arrested or mistreated. According to him, four male students were taken to the police station only to calm the situation and were later allowed to leave.

He added that students gathered near the police station and demanded an apology from the administration. Senior officers later spoke to them, after which the crowd dispersed.

Tina Dabi responds

Tina Dabi also dismissed the allegations. In a written statement, she said no one was arrested or detained. She claimed that despite the fee hike issue being resolved, some students blocked the road and created a disturbance.

She said her officers took the students to the police station for discussions and to cool down, and they left after about two hours. Dabi added that the matter existed only on social media and accused critics of spreading the issue for publicity.

Political reactions

The incident drew criticism from political figures, including Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. She accused bureaucrats of intolerance and misuse of power, adding to the growing debate over freedom of expression and student protests.

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Location : Barmer, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:09 IST

News india Rajasthan Protest: Students Detained For Calling IAS Officer Tina Dabi Reel Star? She Says

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SIR Draft Rolls Out: 42 Lakh Names Removed In MP, 27 Lakh In Chhattisgarh, And 22 Lakh In Kerala

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:31 IST

The publication of the draft rolls comes days after the Election Commission released similar figures for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu

Booth-level officers in field to distribute enumeration forms to voters for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of election rolls. (PTI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released draft electoral rolls for Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Chhattisgarh after completing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, leading to the deletion of a large number of voter names.

The poll body said that over 22 lakh names have been removed from the voter list in Kerala following the electoral revision process.

According to official data, more than 42 lakh names have been deleted from the electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh, while over 27 lakh entries were dropped in Chhattisgarh. In Kerala, the revision exercise resulted in the removal of over 22 lakh voters.

The draft rolls were published days after the Election Commission released revised voter data for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where more than 1.55 crore names were deleted after verification.

Kerala

As part of the SIR exercise, enumeration forms (EFs) were collected from 2,54,42,352 electors, covering 91.35 per cent of the electorate in Kerala.

The revision led to the identification of 6,49,885 deceased voters (2.33 per cent), 14,61,769 electors who had shifted or were absent (5.25 per cent), and 1,36,029 voters (0.49 per cent) found to be enrolled at multiple places in the electoral rolls.

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, EFs were collected from around 5.31 crore electors. The deletions included 8.46 lakh deceased voters, 31.51 lakh electors who had shifted or were not traceable, and 2.77 lakh voters registered at multiple locations.

The Election Commission said booth-level officers (BLOs) were unable to locate some electors or did not receive their enumeration forms because they had migrated to other states or Union Territories, were not found to exist, failed to submit forms by December 18, 2025, or chose not to remain registered.

The poll body clarified that genuine voters can still seek inclusion during the claims and objections window, which will be open from December 23, 2025, to January 22, 2026.

Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, enumeration forms were collected from 1,84,95,920 electors. The SIR exercise resulted in the deletion of 6,42,234 deceased voters, 19,13,540 electors who had shifted or were absent, and 1,79,043 voters found to be enrolled at multiple places.

The Election Commission said the Special Intensive Revision is aimed at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls by removing duplicate and ineligible entries, while ensuring that eligible voters have sufficient opportunity to correct or restore their names before the final lists are notified.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:06 IST

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The 26-year-old, whose real name is Tia Billinger, was deported in December after police raided a studio in Badung, a popular tourist district near Balis provincial capital of Denpasar.

She was detained alongside two British men and an Australian man on suspicion of producing pornographic content.

After checking Billingers phone, police found "private video" footage, but the authorities did not press charges as the material was for "private documentation and not for public distribution", the directorate general of immigration said in a statement on Dec. 22.

Yuldi Yusman, acting head of the directorate, said the authorities "found that they entered Indonesia using a visa on arrival for commercial content production that could potentially cause public unrest".

"Therefore, we imposed a 10-year entry ban because these activities are not in line with the governments efforts to maintain Balis quality tourism image and respect for local cultural values," he said.

Indonesia strictly forbids the production of pornographic material, which carries penalties of up to 12 years in prison and a fine of US$360,000.

Billinger and an associate, 27-year-old Liam Andrew Jackson, were fined 200,000 rupiah (US$12) on Dec. 12 for breaking traffic violations.

Police said they seized a dark blue pickup truck labeled Bang Bus during their Dec. 4 raid.

Billinger gained fame for her provocative stunts as an adult content creator.

Balinese officials have been complaining of unruly behavior by foreign tourists, following a string of deportations in recent years, including several Russian influencers expelled for posing naked at sacred sites.
The court ordered Sengar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh with three sureties of the same amount. He has been directed to stay in Delhi and is barred from entering within a five-kilometre radius of the victims residence.

The bench also ordered him to deposit his passport, report weekly to the local police station, and refrain from threatening the survivor or her family.

However, the suspension of sentence does not amount to an acquittal, and the case will continue to be heard by the court.

Sengar, a former BJP MLA who was later expelled from the party, was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 20, 2019, for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in the 2017 Unnao case under IPC Section 376 and the POCSO Act.

In March 2020, he was also awarded 10 years imprisonment for culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy linked to the custodial death of the victims father, along with fines totalling Rs 35 lakh.

Earlier, Sengar was granted interim bail for cataract surgery at AIIMS and similar relief in December last year.
Is Exosome Therapy The Answer To Early Ageing And Hair Thinning Woes? Find Out

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 09:20 IST

Exosomes increase the formation of collagen and elastin, which improves skin suppleness and minimises wrinkles and fine lines.

The use of exosome therapy in hair regeneration has sparked significant attention,

Exosome therapy has grown popular for its role in beauty and health this year. Its everywherepitched as a high-tech, science-backed alternative to the usual anti-ageing creams and hair-growth treatments.

Exosomes are tiny bubbles packed with proteins, growth factors, and signalling molecules. Think of them as the bodys own little messengers, passing important notes between cells. Clinics from Seoul to Mumbai are offering treatments claiming these messengers wake up your skin and hair, helping them heal and regenerate.

What Is Exosome Therapy?

Exosome therapy has rapidly emerged as one of the most talked-about developments in regenerative medicine and cosmetics. Exosomes are small biological messengersmicroscopic vesicles holding proteins, growth factors, and signalling moleculesthat aid in cell communication and self-healing, compared to topical skincare treatments or supplements.

The therapy is appealing for both anti-ageing and hair-restoration objectives since its cellular text-messaging" technology uses the bodys own processes for regeneration and renewal.

Exosomes are often injected or micro-needled into the skin or scalp at cosmetic clinics, boosting collagen and elastin for better skin quality and perhaps rejuvenating hair follicles to promote growth.

Anti-Ageing Claims: What Science Says

Plenty of clinics and experts claim exosome therapy can smooth wrinkles, firm up your skin, improve texture, and even help fade scars and pigmentation. The buzz centres on how exosomes stimulate collagen and elastinthose crucial building blocks of youthful skin.

Experts outside the marketing community advise caution. Exosomes have potential for cellular communication and repair, but the beauty industrys excitement has eclipsed reliable evidence, according to scientists.

Regulatory and scientific bodies have expressed concern about the lack of standardised manufacturing, clear dosage guidelines, and long-term safety data in cosmetic use.

Hair Thinning and Regrowth: Potential and Limitations

The use of exosome therapy in hair regeneration has sparked significant attention, particularly in cases of early to moderate thinning when follicle structures are still present.

According to clinical studies, exosome therapies can increase hair thickness and density, especially in cases of androgenetic alopecia. They usually demonstrate benefits over a period of weeks to months, and maintenance is advised.

An exosome-rich formulation significantly increased hair growth when compared to a placebo, according to one randomised controlled trial. Participants reported both quantifiable increases in hair count and subjective satisfaction.

However, it is not a miracle treatment. Exosome therapy is less likely to be effective in severe baldness with substantial scarring or in places that are entirely bald and lack follicles. Anecdotal forums and client feedback also show a broad range of experiences; some people claim significant regrowth, while others observe little difference even after several sessions.

Safety, Costs, and Expert Guidance

Exosome therapy typically appears safe when administered by trained specialists in clean clinical conditions. The most frequent adverse effects are temporary redness or pain. However, uncontrolled and substandard productsparticularly those made from human cellspose potential risks and have even been outlawed in some areas

Additionally, costs are typically high, and several sessions are often required to achieve the best outcomes.

Bottom line: Exosome therapy is cutting-edge and has real science behind it, but its no miracle fix for aging or thinning hair. The fields still new, and researchers have a lot more work to do before we really know what works, whats safe, and whats just hype.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 09:20 IST

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Kisan Diwas 2025: The Real Story Behind National Farmers Day In India

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 07:20 IST

National Farmers Day, or Kisan Diwas, marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, Indias fifth Prime Minister.

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Kisan Diwas 2025 celebrates Indias farmers and former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singhs legacy.

Kisan Diwas 2025: India celebrates Kisan Diwas, also called National Farmers Day, on December 23 every year to commemorate the enormous contribution that farmers make to the social and economic fabric of the nation. This date marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India and a lifelong champion of farmers rights and welfare.

The festivities highlight the crucial part that agriculture plays in guaranteeing food security and rural wealth while also acknowledging the possibilities and difficulties that the agricultural community faces in a world that is changing fast.

National Farmers Day 2025: History

Kisan Diwas or National Farmers Day was founded in memory of Chaudhary Charan Singh, Indias prime minister from 1979 to 1980. Known for his steadfast support of the farming sector, Singh put into effect a number of important initiatives to advance agricultural growth while in office.

India honours the millions of farmers who are the foundation of the countrys agricultural economy by celebrating Kisan Diwas 2025. The occasion celebrates the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was born on December 23, 1902, and whose life and contributions embodied support for rural development and farmers rights.

Chaudhary Charan Singh, known as the champion of farmers," grew up in a peasant family before becoming Indias fifth prime minister. His brief tenure (19791980) was marked by a strong focus on land reforms, measures to increase agricultural productivity, and programs to relieve farmer debt.

National Farmers Day 2025: Significance

The Indian government officially recognised December 23 as National Farmers Day in 2001 to celebrate Singhs legacy and the crucial role farmers play in maintaining the nations food systems and economic stability.

Since then, the day has evolved into a forum for celebrating agricultural achievements, highlighting the challenges faced by the farming community, and advocating for laws that promote sustainability and improve livelihoods.

Kisan Diwas not only honours Singhs efforts but also firmly draws attention to the annadatas," or farmers, who provide the food. Climate-resilient practices, sustainable farming, and technological innovation are the subject of educational seminars, agricultural displays, and community forums that take place all across the nation.

Celebratory Activities and Broader Impact

Agricultural institutions, research centres, and rural groups organise seminars, discussions, and contests in states and union territories to get young people and decision-makers talking about the future of agriculture.

Besides highlighting recent efforts aimed at boosting rural infrastructure and increasing financial inclusion, government representatives and leaders of civil society organisations praise farmers resilient attitude.

National Farmers Day: 5 Quotes By Chaudhary Charan Singh

Chaudhary Charan Singhs words continue to resonate with many, including:

Have patience! In time, even grass becomes milk."

The true India resides in its villages."

A nation can prosper only when its rural sector is upgraded."

The farmer is the master of this country, but he has forgotten his power."

The strength of the nation comes from the fields and threshing floors of the villages."

A nation can prosper only when its rural sector is upgraded, and its purchasing power is high."

The iconic term Jai Jawan Jai Kisan," which was initially used by Indias second prime minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, was popularised by Charan Singh. Singh, who is known for his dedication to improving the lives of farmers, played a key role in Indias attempts to lower agricultural debt and carry out land reforms.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 07:20 IST

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Santa Claus: History, Myths, Modern Evolution And How To Track Him This Christmas 2025

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 09:30 IST

Christmas 2025: From Saint Nicholas to a red-suited icon, discover how Santa Claus evolved through history, myths, global traditions and real-time tracking by NORAD and Google.

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Christmas 2025: The Santa Claus myth is filled with magic and wonder. (Image: Shutterstock)

Santa Claus History & Tracking 2025: Every year, as December rolls in, children worldwide eagerly wait for the arrival of Santa Claus. Today, he is thought of as the jolly man in a red suit with a white beard, carrying a sack full of gifts for boys and girls on Christmas Eve night, but he is more than just a figure in stories.

From a 3rd-century Greek bishop to a central figure in movies, advertisements and even real-time digital tracking, Santa has undergone a significant transformation over the years.

History of Santa Claus

The story begins centuries ago with Saint Nicolas, who was known for his acts of kindness and secret gift-giving. He was born around AD 280 in Patara, near Myra, now, Turkey. Over time, St. Nicolas became popular across Europe and was renowned as the protector of children and sailors.

His generosity spread across Europe, merging with local customs like the Dutch Sinterklaas and Englands Father Christmas.

The name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch nickname Sinter Klaas, which is short for Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for St Nicholas). Over time, Sinter Klaas slowly turned into the Santa Claus" we know today.

In 1804, John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, gave out woodcut images of St Nicholas at the societys annual meeting. These images already included some things we now associate with Santa, like stockings filled with toys and fruit hanging over a fireplace.

Then, in 1809, writer Washington Irving helped make Santa even more famous. In his book The History of New York, he called St Nicholas the patron saint of New York.

Santa Claus Myth

The Santa Claus myth is filled with magic and wonder. In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas," in which he described Santa as a right jolly old elf" a portly, cheerful man who could magically climb down chimneys with just a nod. The poem also introduced Santas miniature sleigh pulled by eight flying reindeer, delivering gifts to children on Christmas Eve. In 1881, political cartoonist Thomas Nast further shaped Santas appearance. His cartoons in Harpers Weekly showed a round, happy man with a full white beard, carrying a sack of toys. Nast also added details that are now famous such as Santas bright red suit trimmed with white fur, living in North Pole, his elves, and Mrs Claus. In addition to this, children are told that Santa knows whos been good or bad, as he keeps a naughty and nice" list, rewarding well-behaved children with gifts and sometimes leaving coal for those who misbehave. Santa can also enter through chimney and this is the reason children hang stockings or socks on their balconies, beds, or fireplaces so Santa can fill them with candies, toys, and small gifts. Another myth is that Santa is often accompanied by Mrs Claus and a team of elves.

Santa Claus Evolution

Giving gifts, especially to children, became a big part of Christmas during the early 19th century. Stores started advertising Christmas shopping as early as 1820, and by the 1840s, newspapers were creating special holiday sections filled with ads, often featuring pictures of Santa Claus.

In the early 1890s, the Salvation Army needed money to provide free Christmas meals to poor families. They started dressing unemployed men as Santa Claus and sending them out on the streets of New York to collect donations. These Santas, along with volunteers, have been ringing bells and raising money on street corners ever since.

Santa Claus isnt just an American tradition as many countries have their own St Nicholas-inspired gift givers.

For example, Christkind or Kris Kringle, an angel-like figure in Switzerland and Germany. Jultomten, a jolly elf who rides a sleigh pulled by goats in Scandinavia; Father Christmas in England, who visits homes on Christmas Eve to fill stockings with treats; and Le Bafana in Italy, a kind witch who rides a broomstick and delivers toys into stockings.

How To Track Santa Claus

Children can track Santa Claus in real time.

NORAD tracks Santa

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking Santa every Christmas Eve since late 1950s. Originally, it started by accident when a child called a military hotline meant to track Santa, and NORAD decided to continue the tradition.

In 1955, a Sears ad in Colorado Springs mistakenly listed the phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) as a way for children to call Santa. A little girl called, and Colonel Harry Shoup answered. In 1958, NORAD (successor to CONAD) officially took over, creating a yearly tradition of tracking Santa."

Today, their website (www.noradsanta.org) lets kids see Santas location on a map, play games, and watch videos about his journey.

Google Santa Tracker

Google also offers a Santa Tracker, with interactive games, holiday activities, and fun facts about Santas preparations for his worldwide gift delivery. Kids can follow Santas sleigh as it travels across countries.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 09:30 IST

News lifestyle events Santa Claus: History, Myths, Modern Evolution And How To Track Him This Christmas 2025
Outlook On Spices For 2026: How Indias Masala Market Is Shifting From Volume To Value

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 10:42 IST

From organic sourcing to purpose-led blends, Indias spice industry is evolving. Experts weigh in on market growth, consumer trends, regional masalas and global demand.

Organic, naturally grown spices, free from artificial enhancements are becoming non-negotiable

As 2026 approaches, Indias spice industry stands at an inflection point. Long celebrated for its sheer diversity and intensity, the future of spices is now being shaped as much by intention, wellness, and provenance as by heat and aroma. Industry leaders, chefs, and entrepreneurs agree that the next phase of growth will be defined not by louder flavours, but by smarter, more thoughtful use.

Indias Dominance And What Comes Next

Spices continue to command a significant share of both the Indian domestic and global food markets. According to Akshita Khanna, co-founder, Orika Spices, the last decade has firmly cemented Indias position as the worlds largest producer of spices, supported by rising production, stronger exports, and a marked shift towards better-quality, origin-led, and packaged products.

In 2025, the Indian spice market reached an estimated USD 9.58 billion domestically, with exports totalling approximately USD 4.72 billion," notes Khanna. By 2026, India will continue to lead global spice production and exports, with the market projected to grow to nearly USD 26.95 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of around 8.1 percent."

The Spice Board of Indias ambitious target of USD 10 billion in exports by 2030 is backed by improved supply chains, supportive climatic conditions, and government initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural and manufacturing infrastructure.

Traditional Roots, Modern Preferences

Despite evolving consumption patterns, demand for traditional whole spices remains robust. Turmeric, cumin, chilli powder, coriander, black pepper, mustard seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, tamarind, nutmeg, mace, star anise, and fenugreek continue to anchor Indian kitchens and exports alike.

At the same time, spice blends and seasonings are seeing sustained growth. Products like garam masala, biryani mix, chaat masala, pav bhaji masala, kitchen king, and regional blends such as chole masala, panch phoran, sambar, and rasam masala remain highly sought after," Khanna explains. With vegetarianism on the rise, she adds, 2026 will see increased demand for vegetarian-only spice blends.

Health-conscious consumers are also reshaping the market. Organic, naturally grown spices, free from artificial enhancements are becoming non-negotiable. This shift is pushing spice brands to invest heavily in quality control, traceability, and cleaner production methods. Value-added formats, particularly ready-to-use and convenience-focused products, are also expected to expand rapidly, driven by urbanisation, smaller households, busy lifestyles, and a growing appetite for global cuisines.

Intent Over Intensity

While numbers and demand trends tell one story, chefs working closely with spices see a deeper cultural shift underway. Chef Ishijyot, founder, Mulk and SJI Gourmet, believes the spice narrative of 2026 will be less about boldness and more about balance.

By 2026, spices will no longer be defined by how spicy they are, but by how thoughtfully theyre used," he says. Drawing from his childhood memories of watching his grandmother grind masalas on a silbatta, Ishijyot observes that todays consumers are seeking depth and clarity rather than excess. People dont want more masala, they want better masala."

One of the most significant shifts he foresees is the rise of purpose-led spice blends. Generic, all-purpose masalas are gradually losing relevance, replaced by blends designed specifically for dals, vegetables, rice, or proteins. When a spice respects the ingredient it supports, flavours stay cleaner and more balanced," he explains, adding, One thoughtful spice can do the job of five noisy ones."

Clean labels, shorter ingredient lists, and transparent sourcing are also becoming markers of premium quality. The new luxury in spices is knowing exactly what youre eating," Ishijyot says, pointing to simplicity as the future of brand credibility.

Regional Intelligence and Education-Driven Brands

Another defining trend for 2026 is the resurgence of regional masala intelligence. Instead of homogenised, pan-Indian flavours, consumers are rediscovering the nuanced warmth of Punjabi masalas, the aromatic finesse of Awadhi blends, and the tempering logic intrinsic to South Indian spice mixes.

Regional masalas wont be emotional add-ons, theyll be strategic advantages," asserts Ishijyot. He also believes that the most successful spice brands will move beyond marketing and become educators, teaching consumers how much spice to use, when to add it, and why restraint matters. The brands that explain will always outlast the brands that exaggerate."

New Flavours, Unconventional Applications

Alongside tradition and restraint, innovation will continue to shape flavour preferences. Shivani Sharma, Chefpreneur and Founder of Gourmestan, highlights the emergence of unexpected ingredients and creative applications in the spice space.

Black currant is being touted as the flavour of the year for 2026," she says, noting that the berrys deep purple hue and nuanced tart-sweet profile can elevate everyday dishes into something aspirational. Originating in Europe and Central Asia, black currant is finding renewed relevance in global flavour palettes.

Sharma also points to the continued dominance of Indian-origin spices such as Kashmiri saffron and the Naga King Chilli, albeit in unconventional formats. Expect to see Kashmiri saffron moving beyond savoury dishes into beverages and chocolate, especially within the wellness-luxury segment," she says. Meanwhile, Naga chillies are increasingly being used in swicy, sweet-spicy, applications aimed at adventurous consumers.

Challenges on the Horizon

Despite strong fundamentals, the road ahead is not without obstacles. Khanna cautions that fluctuating weather patterns, particularly unpredictable monsoons, are impacting cultivation quality and yields, driving up costs and squeezing margins. Rising competition from countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam, which are investing heavily in high-level production, also presents a challenge especially as India seeks a stronger foothold in the global seasoning market.

The Road to 2026

Even with these pressures, India is expected to retain its leadership in spice production, domestic consumption, and exports through 2026. What remains to be seen is how effectively the industry navigates climate challenges, global competition, and evolving consumer expectations.

If the voices shaping the industry today are any indication, the future belongs to spices that are cleaner, more intentional, regionally rooted, and intelligently used. As Ishijyot succinctly puts it, echoing the wisdom of generations past: in 2026, the most powerful masala wont be the strongest, it will be the most understood."

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 10:42 IST

News lifestyle food Outlook On Spices For 2026: How Indias Masala Market Is Shifting From Volume To Value
Always Looking Down? Doctors Warn About The Rising Risk Of Tech Neck Syndrome

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 14:39 IST

Tech Neck Syndrome is a modern-day condition driven by everyday habits. Awareness, posture correction, regular breaks, and simple ergonomic changes can significantly reduce risk.

Tech Neck Syndrome is rising due to prolonged screen use and poor posture.

Smartphones, tablets, and laptops have transformed the way we work, learn, and communicate, but they have also quietly altered how we hold our bodies. One of the most common consequences of this shift is Tech Neck Syndrome, a condition increasingly seen across age groups, from teenagers to working professionals. Characterised by neck pain, stiffness, and postural strain, tech neck develops gradually, making it easy to ignore until discomfort becomes chronic.

Unlike sudden injuries, this condition builds over time, fuelled by long hours spent looking down at screens and poor ergonomic habits that place sustained stress on the cervical spine.

What Exactly Is Tech Neck Syndrome?

Explaining the medical basis of the condition, Dr. Gaurav Batra, Neurosurgeon (Brain & Spine) at Max Hospital, Vaishali, says, Too much screen time has caused a rising condition called tech neck." He defines it as a cluster of symptoms caused by frequently bending the neck forward while using digital devices.

This posture, known as Forward Head Posture (FHP), has far-reaching consequences. FHP puts mechanical force on joints and ligaments in the cervical region and increases the pull of gravity on the posterior musculature of the neck," Dr. Batra explains. Over time, this altered alignment can lead to reduced range of motion, changes in cervical spine spacing, respiratory dysfunction, and even issues such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Why Looking Down Is More Dangerous Than It Feels

The human head weighs approximately four to five kilograms when held upright. However, Dr. Batra points out that if the head is tilted forward at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees, its effect gets magnified significantly on the neck and spinal cord. This means that a seemingly harmless habit, such as scrolling through a phone for hours, can dramatically increase stress on the spine without immediate warning signs.

Because this posture often feels natural and painless initially, many people remain unaware of the damage being done until symptoms become persistent.

Tech Neck Symptoms You Shouldnt Ignore

Dr. Vinit Banga, Director  Neurology at Fortis Hospital, Faridabad, notes, Tech neck often presents with neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, headaches, upper back pain, and inflexibility." As the condition progresses, individuals may also experience migraines, facial pain, and pain radiating to the arms and forearms.

He adds that the gradual onset of symptoms makes tech neck particularly deceptive. Since the condition occurs over time and becomes a common occurrence, people may not detect the problem until the pain becomes regular," he explains.

Clinically, doctors assess posture using the craniovertebral angle, formed between the tragus of the ear, the C7 vertebra, and a horizontal line. A low craniovertebral angle denotes a higher level of forward head posture," Dr. Banga says.

Can Tech Neck Be Prevented Or Reversed?

The good news is that tech neck is largely preventable. Dr. Banga stresses, Placing the screen at eye level, keeping the back straight, and avoiding slouching can go a long way in reducing neck strain." Regular breaks are equally important, with the 20-20-20 rule  looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes  helping relieve muscular tension.

Dr. Batra highlights the role of targeted exercises, stating that therapeutic management often includes a 10-week home exercise programme aimed at correcting forward head posture.

Strengthening back muscles, stretching the neck, improving workstation ergonomics, and optimising screen lighting are all critical components of recovery.

Ignoring tech neck doesnt just affect posture. It can disrupt breathing patterns, reduce mobility, and impact overall quality of life. What begins as mild stiffness can evolve into chronic pain and neurological symptoms if left unaddressed.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 14:39 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness Always Looking Down? Doctors Warn About The Rising Risk Of Tech Neck Syndrome
I Lost A Father Figure: Salman Khan Gets Emotional About Dharmendra At Global Event

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 07:30 IST

Salman Khan remembers Dharmendra as a father figure during an international interaction, calling him a noble and emotional man.

Salman Khan grew visibly emotional during the Bigg Boss 19 grand finale as the show paid a heartfelt tribute to Dharmendra, just days after the legendary actor passed away.

Salman Khan has once again spoken openly about the deep respect he holds for veteran actor Dharmendra, this time while addressing an international audience. Known for never holding back when it comes to people he genuinely admires, Salman used the moment to reflect on the influence Dharmendra has had on his life and career.

Talking about the late actor, Salman said, I just lost a father figureDharma ji. I think he inspired me. I have always followed him and whatever I have done in my career You know, I followed a hero, I followed Dharam ji. On a script level, I have tried to follow my father. The only two people that I have been inspired by in a good way."

Salman went on to explain that his admiration was never just about Dharmendras work on screen, but about who he was as a person. When asked what about Dharmendra stayed with him the most, Salman answered without hesitation.

The man. He is a very noble man. Very good man. Very emotional man."

Over the years, Salman and Dharmendra were often seen sharing warm moments at public events. Dharmendra had also spoken fondly of Salman, once calling him his third son" after Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, a remark that reflected the closeness between the two.

Salmans emotions had earlier spilled over on national television as well, when he broke down while hosting Bigg Boss 19, following Dharmendras passing. The moment stood out for its honesty and showed just how deeply the loss affected him.

Meanwhile, Salman is approaching another personal milestone. With his 60th birthday just days away, the actor recently shared a gym photo on Instagram that quickly caught attention. Alongside the picture, he wrote, I wish I could look like this when I am 60!" and added, 6 days from now."

The image, taken while Salman is shooting for Galwan, drew praise from fans and industry colleagues alike. Producer Ekta Kapoor reacted to the post, writing, At 45 also you look good sir."

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 07:30 IST

News movies bollywood I Lost A Father Figure: Salman Khan Gets Emotional About Dharmendra At Global Event
'Dirty Guy Like You': Ram Gopal Varma Blasts Actor Sivaji For Moral Policing Women

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:26 IST

Ram Gopal Varma slammed actor Sivaji for moral policing women over their clothing, calling his remarks offensive, while Manoj Manchu also condemned the statements.

Ram Gopal Varma slammed actor Sivaji for moral policing women.

Actor Sivaji is currently on the receiving end after a video of him moral-policing women who wear short clothes went viral. Now, Ram Gopal Varma has taken to his X account to slam Sivaji for his remarks and stated that if the women of his house can bear a dirty man like him, he should moral police them.

Taking to X, RGV wrote, I dont know that fellows full name, and hence I am commenting here Hey Shivaji, whatever you are, if the women in your home are willing to bear an uncouth, dirty guy like you, you are welcome to moral police them."

I dont know that fellows full name and hence I am commenting here Hey Shivaji whatever you are , if the women in your home are willing to bear a uncouth dirty guy like you , you are welcome to moral police them ..With regard to the other women in society or film industry or https://t.co/OKoXdMXMxk Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) December 23, 2025

With regard to the other women in society or the film industry or wherever, you can put your opinions in where they belong," he added.

Earlier, actor Manoj Manchu too slammed Sivaji and wrote, This kind of statement is deeply disappointing. Policing womens clothing or placing moral responsibility on them is outdated and unacceptable. Respect and accountability should start with individual behavior, not by shaming women for how they dress. Public figures must speak responsibly, especially when their words influence society."

Comments like these violate the spirit of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution of India. Equality, dignity, and personal liberty are non-negotiable. Womens clothing is not up for public judgment. I unequivocally apologize on behalf of those senior actors whose derogatory remarks have demeaned women and reduced them to objects. Such words do not represent all men. We cannot, and will not, normalize or ignore this behavior. Women deserve respect, dignity, and equality at all times. Silence is not an option, and accountability is essential," he added.

What did Sivaji say during the event?

During a promotional event for his upcoming film Dhandora, Sivaji, while appreciating anchor Sravanthi Chokkarapus saree, said, I request all heroines not to wear revealing outfits. Please wear sarees or dresses that cover the body fully. Beauty lies in complete attire or a saree, not in displaying physical assets."

People may not openly say anything because they feel it is your freedom, but inside they may not like it. They feel like saying, You wretched woman! Why are you wearing such awful clothes? Couldnt you wear some decent clothes instead? A woman is like nature. When nature is beautiful, we respect it. A woman is like my mother, whom I hold close to my heart. Freedom is precious, dont lose it. People will respect you based on your conduct. Glamour should have limits; it should not cross a certain line," Sivaji added.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:24 IST

News movies regional-cinema 'Dirty Guy Like You': Ram Gopal Varma Blasts Actor Sivaji For Moral Policing Women
Thalapathy Vijay, Bobby Deol's Jana Nayagan Gets Hindi Title, Makers Announce Release Date

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:38 IST

Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan is set against a backdrop of fire, destruction and chaos.

Thalapathy Vijay and Bobby Deol star in a political drama with intense conflict.

In a moment steeped in emotion and anticipation, the makers of Thalapathy Vijays much-awaited upcoming film have officially announced its Hindi title as Jan Neta. Along with the title reveal, a striking new poster featuring Thalapathy Vijay and Bobby Deol was unveiled, while also confirming that Zee Studios will handle the films release across the North Indian market.

The newly released poster presents an intense face-off between Vijay and Bobby Deol, set against a backdrop of fire, destruction, and chaos. The powerful imagery hints at a high-stakes conflict driven by conviction, power and ideology  signaling a narrative that extends far beyond physical combat. Rooted in political and emotional upheaval, Jana Nayagan promises a clash where beliefs collide as fiercely as the characters themselves.

Thalapathy Vijay is seen in a rugged, grounded avatar, exuding quiet authority and resilience, while Bobby Deols commanding, militaristic presence adds scale and tension to the visual narrative. The explosive setting, punctuated by helicopters and large-scale destruction, suggests a story unfolding on a vast political and national canvas.

Sharing the poster on social media, KVN Productions wrote, Aavoo together bhaiya bhaiya to witness his one last dance."

Adding to the mounting buzz, the film has already opened to record-breaking pre-sales across key overseas markets, underlining the massive global anticipation surrounding the release. Expectations are sky-high as Jana Nayagan marks Thalapathy Vijays final film, making it one of the most emotionally significant releases of his illustrious career.

Directed by H. Vinoth, known for his compelling narratives and layered storytelling, the film promises a story driven by purpose, consequence, and conviction. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while the film boasts a strong ensemble cast including Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani, and Narain, adding further depth to its expansive world.

Further amplifying the excitement, the films grand audio launch is scheduled to take place on December 27 in Malaysia, setting the stage for a large-scale celebration that mirrors the films ambition and emotional resonance.

Backed by KVN Productions under producer Venkat K. Narayana, Jana Nayagan (Jan Neta in Hindi) is slated for a grand worldwide theatrical release on January 9, 2026, perfectly timed with the festive Pongal weekend.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 20:38 IST

News movies regional-cinema Thalapathy Vijay, Bobby Deol's Jana Nayagan Gets Hindi Title, Makers Announce Release Date
Opinion | Bangladesh: A Nobel Halo, An Islamist State, Terror Networks & Radicalisation As State Policy

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 14:35 IST

Global jihadists see an opening: a chance to reconnect their Pakistani networks with Bangladeshi extremists, reversing years of counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation gains

Rapid Read

Bangladesh witnessed violent protests recently after the death of a student leader. (Reuters)

On a mid-December night in Bangladesh, 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker, was beaten by a frenzy of Islamists, hung from a tree, and set ablaze on a highway. His alleged crime"? A rumour that he insulted Islam. Yet investigators have since confirmed there is zero evidence that Dipu ever blasphemed at all. Not one can point to a single derogatory remark he made; no one saw or heard" anything offensive, a Rapid Action Battalion officer admitted. In other words, an innocent Hindu man was lynched and immolated over a lie.

One would expect such a medieval atrocity, captured on video and circulated worldwide, to provoke an outpouring of shock from international human rights watchdogs. Imagine if the roles were reversed: a Muslim man lynched and burned by a mob in a Hindu-majority country. The global indignation would be instantaneous and deafening. But in Dipus case, the outrage has been oddly muted. Major human rights organisations and Western governments that normally champion minority rights barely mustered a whisper of protest. The deafening silence of these supposed watchdogs is as harrowing as the crime itself, and it exposes a disturbing double standard.

Bangladeshs own minority rights groups vehemently condemned the lynching, the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council decried the so-called blasphemy" killing as an assault on communal harmony. But where were the urgent press releases from Geneva, the high-profile tweets from Human Rights Watch, the emergency sessions at the UN? Their voices have been either absent or astonishingly subdued. Such restraint stands in stark contrast to their usual activism when religious persecution occurs elsewhere. The message implicit in this silence is chilling: that the lynching of a poor Hindu man in Bangladesh is somehow a lesser transgression on the global human rights ledger.

The hypocrisy extends to Bangladeshs interim rulers. The current government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, swept to power in August 2024 after an Islamist-led Monsoon Revolution" toppled Sheikh Hasinas democratically elected administration. Internationally, Yunus is venerated for championing human rights and equality. Domestically, his regimes actions tell a darker story. Chief Adviser Yunus was quick to issue a condemnation of Dipus lynching, vowing the perpetrators will not be spared". However, such words ring hollow against the regimes track record: while it denounces one mob killing, it has concurrently overseen the release or escape of hundreds of criminals and Islamist extremists since taking power. At Hadis funeral, Yunus himself delivered a eulogy that should have set off international alarm bells. In front of tens of thousands, Yunus heaped praise on Hadis mantra" and vowed to fulfill Hadis vision generation after generation". Lets be clear: Hadi was explicitly known for his anti-India and anti-Hindu rhetoric and polarising, Islamist-tinged politics. By publicly sanctifying Hadis ideals, Yunus sent a dangerous signal that anti-India and anti-Hindu dictate is now quasi-official ideology in Dhaka.

Unsurprisingly, the fallout was swift. Days after Hadis death, Bangladesh erupted in fury, not just against alleged conspirators in his killing, but against perceived Indian influence. Mobs attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong, and hundreds of protesters marched on the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, chanting anti-India slogans and even hurling stones at diplomatic compounds. Bangladeshs police hinted (without evidence) that Hadis assassins might have fled to Indiawhere ex-PM Hasina has taken refugea claim that only inflamed public paranoia. In the frenzy, fact and fiction mattered little: anti-India and anti-Hindu agenda was the rallying cry. Caught in the crossfire were Bangladeshs Hindu minorities, now doubly scapegoated as both blasphemers" at home and perceived fifth-columnists for India.

Attacks on Hindu homes, temples and community leaders have spiked over the past year-and-a-half. Even before Dipu Dass lynching, minority groups warned that the post-Hasina political climate had emboldened extremists to settle scores with Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. Tragically, those warnings proved prescient in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, when Dipus killers exploited a religious rumour to unleash lethal mob justice". Police and RAB have detained 10 suspectsMohammad Limon Sarkar, Mohammad Tarek Hossain, Mohammad Manik Mia, Ershad Ali, Nijum Uddin, Alomgir Hossain, Mohammad Miraj Hossain Akon, Mohammad Azmol Hasan Sagir, Mohammad Shahin Mia, and Mohammad Nazmul, aged 19-46. The interim regimes, especially Mohammad Yuniss own actions, from baiting an anti-Indian agitator to allowing Islamist hardliners back into public life, have fertilised the soil in which Islamist extremism and radicalisation grows.

Perhaps most cynical of all has been the Bangladesh foreign ministrys complicity and the atrocious attempt to downplay these horrors. When India officially protested the mob killing of a Hindu Bangladeshi (and even a small peoples demonstration in New Delhi decrying it), Dhakas response was dismissive. Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain bristled at the notion that Dipu Dass lynching had anything to do with minority targeting. He then lectured that such incidents occur across the region" and every country has a responsibility to address themas if mob lynching and immolation of religious minorities is just business as usual in South Asia, nothing special. This whataboutist shrug is nothing short of an attempt to normalise hate crimes. By equating a communal lynching with generic law-and-order problems everywhere, Bangladeshs officials signal that the brutal murder of a Hindu for an unproven slur is not a national emergency but a routine matter that merits no extra soul-searching.

This attitude is profoundly dangerous. Bangladesh was founded on principles of secularism and communal harmony in 1971, a legacy now under siege. To shrug off anti-Hindu violence as common in the region" is to abandon the very idea of a pluralistic Bangladesh. It emboldens extremists and tells persecuted minorities that they are essentially on their own.

Indeed, Islamist radicals have heard the message loud and clear. With the new regimes indulgence, dormant terrorist networks are roaring back to life. Key jihadist leaders have re-entered the fray, for example, the jailed chiefs of Ansar al-Islam (an Al-Qaeda aligned group) and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami were freed on bail amid the post-revolution chaos. Alarmingly, Al-Qaedas branch in the region openly celebrated the 2024 upheaval in Bangladesh as a win against corruption and secularism," urging an Islamic revival. Global jihadists see an opening: a chance to reconnect their Pakistani networks with Bangladeshi extremists, reversing years of counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation gains.

If Bangladeshs leaders continue to trivialise Hindu lynchings and Islamist violence, they risk steering the country toward the sectarian abyss that neighbouring Pakistan has long struggled to escape. The upshot is strategic instability for all of South Asia, rising cross-border tensions with India, weakened cooperation against terrorism, and a potential refugee exodus if violence spirals further. The stakes could not be higher, nor the warning signs more glaring.

(Rahul Pawa is an international criminal lawyer and director of research at New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.)

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 14:35 IST

News opinion Opinion | Bangladesh: A Nobel Halo, An Islamist State, Terror Networks & Radicalisation As State Policy

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Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations condemned the cowardly terrorist ambush on U.S. personnel in Syria on December 13. The attack killed two American servicemen, a civilian interpreter and wounded others. In response, the U.S. military conducted over 70 strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.



We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners, declared Ambassador Locetta. Alongside the Syrian government, we will relentlessly pursue every individual, facilitator, financier, and enabler involved in this heinous act.



The United States welcomes Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaas commitment to identify, pursue, and hold accountable the perpetrators of this attack. Together, we will eradicate terrorism in Syria, said Ambassador Locetta.



This month, Syrians marked the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime and welcomed their new chance for peace, unity, and prosperity. The United States honors their resilience and joins them in celebrating the shared hope for a future that belongs to the Syrian people.



As President Trump stated earlier this month, the United States is working to make sure that the government of Syria continues to do what it can to build a unified country.



Our vision for a prosperous Middle East and a stable Syria, is at peace with itself and with its neighbors, said Ambassador Locetta. A Syria at peace with itself is one in which the future of the country belongs to every Syrian. The United States reaffirms our support for a peaceful, prosperous Syria that includes its minorities.



Peace among neighbors, including between Israel and Syria, is a critical component of this vision, and we want to do everything we can to help achieve that, stressed Ambassador Locetta.



The U.S. has ceased most of its sanctions on Syria to encourage business and commercial development in the area and allow Syria a chance to rebuild.



The U.S. also continues to support and facilitate dialogue between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. We are focused on maintaining this positive momentum on the implementation of and recommitment to the March 10 integration agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government.



At the same time, the United States continues to support vulnerable populations in Syria, particularly the minorities in the countrys south.



As Syria enters the second year of its transition, said Ambassador Locetta, let us continue to work to support the Syrian governments efforts to build a stable and prosperous country.
Opinion | Bangladesh In Turmoil: Unrest, Anti-India Rhetoric And A Region On Edge

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 15:39 IST

The regions peace may depend on whether cooler heads can rise above the rhetoric of the moment to pursue pragmatic, inclusive solutions

Rapid Read

The unrest has also unearthed distressing examples of communal violencemost notably the lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh.

From Dhakas streets to Indian diplomatic missions, the latest chapter of Bangladeshs political upheaval has unspooled with dramatic speed and destabilising intensity, underscoring the fragility of South Asias most populous Muslim-majority democracy. What began as a public outcry over the death of a prominent youth leader has broadened into a volatile mix of political crisis, anti-India sentiment, communal violence and diplomatic rupturea fusion that risks reshaping relations between two ancient neighbours and unsettling a strategically vital region.

FROM MOURNING TO MAYHEM

The catalyst was the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old youth leader central to the 2024 anti-government uprising. Gravely wounded in a shooting in Dhaka, Hadi died in Singapore in December 2025, prompting nationwide protests that quickly escalated beyond demands for justice. Tens of thousands attended his funeral under tight security, yet the funerals sombre mood belied a deeper fracture in society.

Anti-India slogans punctuated protests, and demonstrators attempted to march on Indian diplomatic missions, accusing New Delhi of complicity in the killing. These accusations have been amplified by student factions and Islamist groups, spreading the narrative that Hadis killers fled across the bordera claim that lacks confirmed evidence.

Yet, in a significant official statement, Bangladeshs Additional Inspector General of Police, Khondker Rafiqul Islam, said authorities have no reliable information that the primary suspectidentified as Faisalhas left the country, and that the investigation is ongoing with no confirmed ties to any political party. He cautioned against deliberate confusion about the whereabouts of suspects and underscored that law enforcement is still assembling evidence.

Spontaneous demonstrations rapidly morphed into destructive unrest. Protesters stormed and set fire to the offices of leading newspapers and cultural institutions, clashed with security forces, and even breached the Bangladesh parliament complex. The chaos reflected not merely anger over a single death but a broader sense of political betrayal and leadership vacuumone connected to a tumultuous period that saw the ousting of long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 and the installation of an interim government ahead of February 2026 elections.

ANTI-INDIA RHETORIC AND DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT

Among the most consequential developments has been the sharp rise in anti-India slogans and actions within protests. In Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong, agitators have targeted Indian diplomatic premises and chanted against New Delhi, asserting that Indias presence in Bangladeshs political landscapeespecially its sheltering of Hasinaamounts to undue interference. This public sentiment has fed into official tensions, culminating in Indias decision to summon Bangladeshs envoy in New Delhi to press for enhanced security for its missions after protest encroachments.

India, for its part, has rejected claims of diplomatic breaches, labelling some accounts misleading propaganda" and asserting that protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi were peaceful demonstrations focused on the lynching of a Hindu man rather than attempts to breach diplomatic security. Still, New Delhis actions, including the temporary closure or suspension of its visa services in Dhaka and Chittagong, signal real concern about the security environment and diminishing trust.

COMMUNAL VIOLENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS FISSURES

The unrest has also unearthed distressing examples of communal violencemost notably the lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh. While authorities have detained suspects and condemned the killing, the incident has been seized upon in both domestic and Indian discourse as evidence of rising minority insecurity. Protests in Indian border regions like Agartala in response to the lynching reflect how local tragedies quickly acquire transnational resonance in an already fraught geopolitical climate.

POLITICAL EXTREMISM AND SEPARATIST RHETORIC

Compounding the diplomatic chill are provocative statements from figures such as BNP leader Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Hoque, who has called for the secession of Indias Northeastthe Seven Sisters"as independent states in response to perceived Indian meddling. Though not reflective of official state policy, such rhetoric fuels alarm in New Delhi about the possibility of insurgency links being weaponised and reflects how destabilising narratives can gain traction amid political uncertainty.

GEOPOLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

The confluence of internal unrest and external friction arrives at a geopolitically precarious moment. Bangladesh occupies a pivotal position in South Asias strategic landscape, bordering India on nearly all sides, and serving as a conduit for regional connectivity, commerce and security cooperation. Prolonged instability could disrupt border trade, empower transnational militant networks, and invite deeper involvement from extra-regional powers like China and Pakistan, each with its own interests in Dhakas political trajectory.

Indias concernsframed in policymaker language as a geopolitical nightmare"are not abstract. A neighbouring state riven by strife poses risks ranging from insurgency spill-over into the Northeast to the erosion of cooperative frameworks on water, infrastructure and migration that underpin decades of bilateral engagement.

Similarly, Bangladeshs interim governmentled by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunusfaces the dual tasks of managing domestic unrest and navigating international pressure, particularly as it prepares for elections that could define the countrys direction for years to come.

THE FRAGILE PATH AHEAD

Bangladeshs crisis is a reminder that deep political fissures, when combined with economic hardship, societal divisions and external resentment, can quickly escalate into broader regional flashpoints. The challenge now for both Dhaka and New Delhiand for international actors urging calmis to find avenues for dialogue that de-escalate tensions without sacrificing accountability, democratic norms or respect for sovereignty.

What unfolds in the coming weeks will matter not just for Bangladeshs internal stability, but for the future of one of South Asias most consequential bilateral relationships. The regions peace may depend on whether cooler heads can rise above the rhetoric of the moment to pursue pragmatic, inclusive solutionsbefore the current turmoil hardens into a protracted crisis.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 15:39 IST

News opinion Opinion | Bangladesh In Turmoil: Unrest, Anti-India Rhetoric And A Region On Edge

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Opinion | Bangladeshs Anti-Hindu Violence: Blueprint To Derail February Poll, Benefitting Yunus & Islamists

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:52 IST

Islamist movements across South Asia have historically thrived in conditions of prolonged transition and polarisation

The narrative ecosystem in Bangladesh is increasingly hostile, with anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments moving from the fringes to the mainstream. New Delhi cannot afford complacency. (File pic/Reuters)

In the span of a few days in December, Bangladesh slipped into a spiral of unrest that exposed a far deeper political design than the street violence suggested. The killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old activist and spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, became the immediate trigger. Yet, the speed with which protests turned into anti-India riots, attacks on the press, and brutal violence against Hindus reveals a pattern that cannot be explained as spontaneous outrage. What unfolded looks increasingly like a calibrated strategy to keep Bangladesh in a state of permanent agitation ahead of the February 2026 parliamentary elections, a situation that directly benefits the interim dispensation led by Muhammad Yunus and Islamist forces waiting in the wings.

Hadi was not a marginal figure. He emerged as a visible face of the July 2024 uprising that forced Sheikh Hasina to step down after years of authoritarian consolidation. Known for his aggressive rhetoric against India and his radical populist positioning, Hadi was campaigning as an independent candidate when masked gunmen shot him on December 12. He was flown to Singapore for advanced medical care but died on December 18 after spending six days on life support. His death was tragic and demanded a credible investigation. Instead, it became fuel for a politics of destabilisation.

Within hours of confirmation of his death, protests erupted in Dhaka, Chittagong, Mymensingh, and several district towns. Justice for Hadi was the formal slogan. In practice, the streets rang with anti-India chants. Demonstrators accused New Delhi of sheltering the assassins, despite Bangladeshi police stating that there was no evidence to support such claims. The protests quickly took on an unmistakable ideological colour. Offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the countrys two most influential English and Bengali language newspapers, were vandalised and set on fire. Journalists were trapped inside their offices as mobs accused the papers of being pro-India and agents of foreign influence. It was one of the gravest assaults on press freedom Bangladesh has witnessed since the fall of Hasina.

Almost simultaneously, a far more chilling incident unfolded away from the capital. In Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district, a young Hindu factory worker named Dipu Chandra Das was lynched on the night of December 18. Accused of blasphemy during a workplace cultural programme, he was beaten by a mob, tied to a tree, and set on fire with kerosene. Videos of the attack circulated on social media, drawing international condemnation. The interim government described the killing as unacceptable in a new Bangladesh" and announced arrests. Yet, the damage was already done. The message to minorities was brutally clear: the protections they once relied on had eroded.

To understand why such violence is not incidental, one must situate it within the political compulsions of the current transition. The February 12, 2026 parliamentary elections were never the preferred option of the interim leadership headed by Muhammad Yunus. After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, Yunus was projected internationally as a moral technocrat who would steer the country back to democratic norms. Domestically, however, he repeatedly argued that Bangladesh needed deep structural reforms before going to the polls. These included electoral changes, constitutional revisions, judicial restructuring, and even proposals to ban the Awami League altogether. Student leaders who had spearheaded the uprising echoed these demands, insisting that early elections would merely restore old elites.

This position put Yunus at odds with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which sensed an opportunity to return to power by capitalising on anti-Hasina sentiment. The BNP pushed relentlessly for elections within a year, warning that prolonged interim rule would empower radicals and deepen economic uncertainty. Sections of the business community and elements within the security establishment also grew uneasy about an open-ended transition. International actors, including Western donors, began signalling the need for a clear electoral roadmap to prevent Bangladesh from sliding into chronic instability.

It was under this combined pressure that Yunus announced in August 2025 that elections would be held in February 2026. Publicly, he framed this as a concession to democratic necessity. Privately, many of his supporters viewed it as premature. This tension is crucial. An environment of sustained unrest provides the perfect justification to either dilute the credibility of the polls or create conditions in which the interim authority retains disproportionate influence as a guarantor of stability.

Enter Jamaat-e-Islami. Once marginalised and formally banned under Hasina, Jamaat-e-Islami has staged a remarkable comeback since 2024. The lifting of restrictions allowed it to reactivate its nationwide organisational machinery, especially its student and madrasa networks. Jamaat has consciously distanced itself from the BNP, calculating that the latters dynastic leadership under Khaleda Zias family does not align with its long-term vision of ideological transformation. Instead, it has sought alliances with newer student groups such as the National Citizen Party, which draw legitimacy from the uprising rather than legacy politics.

The results of this strategy became visible in 2025 when Jamaat-affiliated student bodies dominated university and college elections across the country. Their appeal lies not only in religious mobilisation but also in a carefully crafted narrative that blends anti-establishment anger with cultural nationalism and hostility towards India. In a fragmented political field where the Awami League is banned and the BNP struggles to assert moral authority, Jamaat positions itself as the most disciplined and ideologically coherent force.

The interim administrations posture has inadvertently facilitated this shift. Under the banner of restoring democratic freedoms, bans on groups such as Hefazat-e-Islam and even Hizb ut Tahrir were relaxed. Rallies demanding greater incorporation of sharia principles into law have taken place with minimal state resistance. Reform commissions appointed by Yunus have faced intense Islamist pushback, particularly on issues concerning womens rights and inheritance laws. Rather than confront these forces head-on, the government has often chosen accommodation, appointing figures with Islamist sympathies to advisory roles and treating radical groups as legitimate stakeholders in the transition.

It is in this context that the surge in anti-Hindu violence must be read. Communal attacks are not merely expressions of social prejudice. They serve a political function. By projecting Hindus as internal enemies and India as an external hegemon, Islamist forces create a permanent state of mobilisation. Every act of violence polarises society further, weakens secular voices, and discredits those advocating balanced relations with New Delhi. The murder of Dipu Chandra Das fits into a long pattern where allegations of blasphemy are weaponised to terrorise minorities and assert majoritarian dominance.

The exploitation of Hadis killing followed the same script. Despite the absence of evidence, the narrative that India was complicit spread rapidly through social media, mosque sermons, and street protests. Calls to shut Indian diplomatic missions and boycott Indian goods gained traction. This rhetoric resonates with sections of the population already primed by years of propaganda portraying India as the hidden hand behind Bangladeshs political troubles. Such narratives have historically been amplified by external actors, particularly Pakistans intelligence networks, which see value in weakening Indias eastern flank, and by China, which benefits strategically from a Bangladesh less aligned with New Delhi.

Who gains from this chaos? The answer is uncomfortable but clear. For Yunus, persistent instability offers leverage. It allows him to present himself to the international community as the indispensable stabiliser, the only figure capable of preventing Bangladesh from descending into theocracy or military intervention. It also provides room to influence the electoral process under the pretext of security concerns. For Jamaat-e-Islami, the benefits are even more direct. Chaos undermines the BNP, marginalises secular liberals, and normalises Islamist street power. Each communal riot becomes a recruitment drive, each anti-India protest a rehearsal for mass mobilisation.

This is not unprecedented. Islamist movements across South Asia have historically thrived in conditions of prolonged transition and polarisation. By keeping societies divided along religious and nationalist lines, they prevent the emergence of broad-based democratic coalitions. Bangladesh today appears to be walking down that familiar path.

For India, the implications are grave. The narrative ecosystem in Bangladesh is increasingly hostile, with anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments moving from the fringes to the mainstream. New Delhi cannot afford complacency. It must enhance border security, intensify diplomatic engagement with all democratic forces in Bangladesh, and raise the issue of minority protection in international forums without appearing interventionist. At the same time, India must recognise that overt pressure can be counterproductive, feeding precisely the narratives its adversaries seek to promote.

Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. The promise of the July 2024 uprising was a more open, plural, and accountable political order. The reality unfolding now is far darker. If communal violence continues to be tolerated as a political tool, and if elections are conducted in an atmosphere of fear and polarisation, the country risks exchanging one form of authoritarianism for another, cloaked in religious legitimacy. The international community, and Bangladeshs own civil society, must see the pattern for what it is before it becomes irreversible.

Sayantan Ghosh is the author of The Aam Aadmi Party: The Untold Story of a Political Uprising and Its Undoing. He is on X as @sayantan_gh. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:52 IST

News opinion Opinion | Bangladeshs Anti-Hindu Violence: Blueprint To Derail February Poll, Benefitting Yunus & Islamists

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Opinion | Dhurandhar Shows UPs Journey From Fake Notes, Riots And Darkness To A Saffron Dawn

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 12:56 IST

The movie is a mirror of how this hot mess of unbridled smuggling and violent communal politics kept UP backward for decades

The film also subtly acknowledges the political changes after 2017 when BJP stormed to power and Yogi Adityanath become the CM. (Image: PTI)

In the movie Dhurandhar, there is a scene in which intelligence chief Ajay Sanyal (inspired by NSA Ajit Doval) played by actor Madhavan is having a conversation with his colleague Bansal about fake currencies from Pakistan coming into Uttar Pradesh.

Bansal: Fake currency is entering UP at an alarming rate. We know the culprits, sir, but the UP mafia network is so strong that it is very difficult to penetrate it."

Sanyal: We have infiltrated the Karachi mafia network, but we cant infiltrate the UP mafia network? Thats ridiculous."

Bansal: Their political backing is so strong that it is impossible to arrest them. And if we somehow manage to collect evidence and arrest them, they always have the backup of communal violence. In two hours, their men will burn UP down. We need a government which will back us."

Sanyal: Do one thing. At least start gathering intel. Tomorrow if a politician comes to power in UP who is truly concerned about this nation, that intel will come in handy. And Bansal, find out who all in the ministry have been helping them. Indias biggest enemy are some Indians. Pakistan only occupies the second spot."

It gives a stark insight into the UP of yesteryear: a lawless swamp of Pakistani agents, their local mafia network, fake Indian currency notes (FICN), communal politics, Muslim appeasement, and riots.

Aditya Dhars spy thriller shows how the Pakistans ISI uses underworld networks in Karachis Lyari area to push fake currency into India as a state-sponsored economic warfare tool to destabilise Indias economy. Uttar Pradesh is accurately described as a major transit and distribution hub in India for these counterfeit notes.

In another scene, Uzair Baloch tells his brother Rahman Dakait about the counterfeit trail from Karachi to UPs cattle markets via Nepal and other border points.

The movie is a mirror of how this hot mess of unbridled smuggling and violent communal politics kept UP backward for decades, counted among the financially sick Bimaru (Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, and UP) states. And through Sanyals premonition of a leader in UP who will care for the nation, the film also subtly acknowledges the political changes after 2017 when BJP stormed to power and Yogi Adityanath become the CM.

UP has been Indias most spectacular turnaround story since. Yogi immediately prioritised fighting organised crime, including fake currency rackets. UP Special Task Force (STF) operations were upgraded, intelligence network hyper-activated, seizures and arrests increased manifold, and Nepal border put under sharp vigilance.

In July 2024, STF arrested two with wads of fake Rs 500 notes. In January 2025, a major racket was busted in Shravasti. In October 2025, the Bulandshahr police, coordinating with STF, seized fake notes and printing machines and arrested two.

In NovemberDecember 2025, UP cracked down on infiltrators and illegal immigrants along Nepal border and busted FICN and hawala networks. It sent alerts to border districts like Shravasti and Bahraich on illegal entry to circulate counterfeit notes.

The UP security apparatus has been seamlessly coordinating with central agencies like NIA, ED, and DRI on terror funding and interstate rackets linked to Pakistan and Bangladesh. In 2025, for instance, it invoked the National Security Act of 1980 for fake fertilisers.

It also heavily invested in forensic tools, cyber monitoring of hawala apps, and community policing to detect circulation.

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows there used to be 200-300 fake currency-related cases each year before 2017. It dropped to near-zero lately, averaging only about 40 a year since Yogi took over as CM.

UP used to have 150-250 communal riots a year during Akhilesh Yadavs rule between 2013 and 2017. Under Yogi, it dived to an average of hardly 30 communal incidents annually across the state.

Dhurandhar captures the story behind the statistics: UPs long journey into dawn from darkness.

Abhijit Majumder is the author of the book, Indias New Right. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 12:56 IST

News opinion Opinion | Dhurandhar Shows UPs Journey From Fake Notes, Riots And Darkness To A Saffron Dawn

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Opinion | Like Pakistan, Bangladesh Has Turned Into An Open Marketplace For Murder

Written By :



Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 08:02 IST

By getting rid of the rule of law as a prerequisite to building an Islamist state, Bangladesh has unwittingly put a target on its own back

Rapid Read

Dipu Chandra Das could have been saved if the nervous and complicit forces had not handed him over to his murderers on baseless charges of insulting Prophet Muhammad.

During a private conversation, one of Indias topmost national security officers once explained how easy it was to shop for a jihadi in Pakistan who was ready to kill or get killed for money.

By making Islamist terror the main pillar of its state policy, Pakistan has created a society where in every lane and bylane, one can find a jihadi willing to murder or a fidayeen prepared to blow himself up. It does not even cost much to hire onea few thousand rupees sometimes," he said.

The nation was like a large terror factory, with killing outlets everywhere. Since the primary client, the Pakistani State, can only employ a certain number of jihadis at one point of time, the rest freelance for any client who comes by.

Over the last 16-and-a-half months, Bangladesh has recreated Pakistan within itself. The Muhammad Yunus government, backed by Jamaatis and other extremists, did not just cheer it on, but actively facilitated it by inviting Pakistans ISI to come and further indoctrinate and train young men and women to achieve a Sharia state.

That project is close to fruition. No party or individual in Bangladesh can survive, forget thrive, in Bangladesh today without being publicly strident against India, Hindus, and other minorities.

Democracy is being looked at as a burden from the past.

The nominal secularism that existed is now anathema.

A small-time Islamist like Sharif Osman Bin Hadi has been lionised after his murder to the point that he found a place beside the great Bengali poet Nazrul Islams grave.

Nobody knows who killed Hadi, but Islamists were quick to blame India and cooked up stories that his murderers have found shelter across the border (all without a shred of proof). In retaliatory violence, Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das was lynched, hung, and set on fire by a mob. Another murderous mob set fire to and destroyed The Daily Star and Prothom Alo office, sheer providence saving journalists from being murdered after the attackers refused to let the fire brigade enter the premises, knowing fully well 26-27 journalists were trapped on the buildings terrace.

The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam spelled it out poignantly: We have entered the era of murder. Freedom of expression is now far away; we have to demand the right to live first."

The era of murder unleashed after the so-called Gen Z revolution of July 2024 has taken an estimated 800 lives. There were 637 reported mob lynchings between August 2024 and August 2025, an average of 12 per week.

In a law-abiding society, the State enjoys monopoly over force, something that former PM Sheikh Hasina pushed to dangerous lengths during her regime.

But in revolutionary Bangladesh, violence has been perfectly democratised. It is no longer the preserve of the State. In fact, law and order has been systematically eroded to the point that the police fear to patrol the streets, the army hesitates to leave the barracks.

Dipu Chandra Das could have been saved if the nervous and complicit forces had not handed him over to his murderers on baseless charges of insulting Prophet Muhammad.

There is no fear of punishment. Terrorists like the head of Ansarullah Bangla Team Jasimuddin Rahmani have been released from jail.

Pakistans ISI has set up terror training camps in more than half a dozen locations and runs its writ through three commanders in capital Dhaka.

Arms are available freely, along with those more than willing to use them. As a result, mysterious and hard-to-track murders have spiralled. In the upscale hotels of Dhakas diplomatic enclave, quite a few foreign diplomats and spies have been found dead.

Bangladesh, like Pakistan, is a vast and active crime scene where anyone can hire killers to eliminate anybody. Blame will be random, investigation will be compromised, and justice evasive.

By getting rid of the rule of law as a prerequisite to building an Islamist state, Bangladesh has unwittingly put a target on its own back and ensured it never finds out from where the bullet arrives.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 08:02 IST

News opinion Opinion | Like Pakistan, Bangladesh Has Turned Into An Open Marketplace For Murder

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Opinion | Prometheus With A Lighter: Why Dhurandhar Is Obsessed With Smoking

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 20:04 IST

Dhurandhar is perhaps first film in history to use much-reviled cigarette so consistently & subtly to underline brittle scaffolding of perverse and pitch-dark universe it builds

Rapid Read

Dhurandhar was released on December 5. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Millions of words have been written and spoken about Dhurandhar in the two and a half weeks since it was released on screens. Every aspect of the film has been discussed and debated threadbare. Wild conspiracy theories have been floatedfor instance, that director Aditya Dhar submitted every page of the script to Narendra Modi for his approval. There is fevered speculation about who the yet-unseen anti-India mastermind Bada Saheb isis it Masood Azhar or Dawood Ibrahim, or could it even be Osama bin Laden?

But one vital aspect of the film seems to have received little attention: the smoking.

Whats the big deal? people may ask. Films have always shown people smoking. But Dhurandhar does make a big deal out of it without shoving it in our face. Every major male character is a heavy smoker. The very first shot of the film is an extreme close-up of Intelligence Bureau head Ajay Sanyal smoking a cigarette on the desolate airfield of Kandahar where the hijacked IC814 plane is parked.

The cigarette plays a vital role in several other crucial scenes. As crime boss Rahman Baloch is setting off from home to kill rival gang lord Babu Dakait, he puts a cigarette in his mouth and his wife steps up to light it for hima clear godspeed gesture for his murderous mission.

The brutal cop Chaudhary Aslam is introduced with another extreme close-up, smoking. Deep-cover Indian spy Hamza walks out of a house where he has tied up a gangster and turned on several LPG cylinders. He lights a cigarette and flicks the flaming lighter back over his shoulder into the house to blow the place up and burn the man alive.

Hamza meets his potential father-in-law, who is very unhappy about his daughters relationship with him. They talk. Hamza pops a cigarette between his lips and finds that he has run out of matches. Wordlessly, the other man lights it for him. Peace has been made; the marital union has been approved.

Hamza and Aslam kill Rahman, but Hamza is haunted by a vision of Rahman, a ghoul with a cheek slashed open, rising from his morgue table and lighting a cigarette.

Almost every poster of the film has Hamza smoking a cigarette. This is extremely uncommon for a mainstream Indian film in this day and age.

But in Dhurandhar , smoking is an integral part of the world that it createsa key motif, a tip-off that keeps whispering to the audience about the psychological understructure of the narrative. The film would have been a very different one, in both content and impact, if the men did not smoke.

Of course, cigarettes have served cinema right from day one as powerful visual codes. They have been used to symboliseamong other thingsrebellion, power, seduction, inner turmoil and transition. They have added atmospheresmoke curling up against a dark background in black-and-white filmsand non-verbal character depth. A cigarette dangling perpetually from the side of the mouth may indicate a cynical man, while puffing a cigar is power and authority.

In a pivotal scene in Deewaar , Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) smokes a bidi as he informs Rahim Chacha of his resolve to take on the dockyard thugs. He finishes speaking and throws the bidi awayhis decision is final. Minutes later, we see him waiting for the hoodlums in their den, a bidi clenched in his teeth. In both scenes, the bidi adds power to his persona. In Trishul , Bachchan, again named Vijay, is introduced lighting a dynamite fuse with his bidi. We immediately know what sort of a man Vijay is.

In Fight Club , Brad Pitts Tyler Durden uses smoking as an act of revolt against societal norms and constraints, projecting an image of nihilistic abandon. In The Godfather , the steadiness of Michael Corleones hand when he lights a trembling-in-fear Enzos cigarette after Vito Corleones shooting shows his nerveless calm amidst chaos, the first hint of his transformation from an idealistic war hero into a ruthless Mafia leader.

The iconic poster of Quentin Tarantinos Pulp Fiction captures the films essence of danger, crime and sexiness through Uma Thurman in femme fatale mode, lounging in bed with a cigarette and a revolver, staring insolently into the camera.

Smoking was a key element of James Bonds virile cool quotient till Daniel Craig came along. In the days before the depiction of tobacco use became sacrilege, cigarette tricks were an essential part of Rajinikanths unique charismaflipping a cigarette in the air and catching it in his mouth.

But in Dhurandhar , the cigarette is not about cool at all. My ideas about what it is truly about draw heavily from posts by my Facebook friend Rakesh Kumar, who lucidly articulated my somewhat vague thoughts.

To quote Rakesh, Smoking (in this film) functions less as macho ornamentation and more as visual grammar The repetition turns the cigarette into a ritual object.

Lighting a cigarette becomes a moment of agency: Hamza before annihilation, Rahman before murder, Rahman again after death. Fire is the constantcreation, destruction, and resurrection compressed into a single gesture. The wife lighting Rahmans cigarette folds domestic intimacy into imminent violence; the morgue scene pushes it further, suggesting that Rahmans will, vendetta and identity survive the body itself."

All the men in Dhurandhars savage world know that they transact daily in death, and their roles could shift in an instant from seller to buyer. The cigarette is a reminder, a coping mechanism, an act of insubordination aimed at the gods.

Cult author Tom Robbins put it thus: Smoking cigarettes is as intimate as we can become with fire without immediate excruciation. Every smoker is an embodiment of Prometheus, stealing fire from the gods and bringing it on back home. We smoke to capture the power of the sun, to pacify Hell, to identify with the primordial spark Its not the tobacco were after but the fire. When we smoke, we are performing a version of the fire dance, a ritual as ancient as lightning."

For those few minutes spent on a cigarette, the men in Dhurandhar imagine that they can control the inferno that they know will inevitably consume all of them one day.

Writes Rakesh: By opening on Ajay Sanyal smoking and saturating the film with the act, Dhurandhar declares its worldview earlythese men live in a perpetual in-between state, already half-dead, time measured not in years but in drags. The cigarette isnt coolits existential punctuation." That deep inhalation relaxes and centres them, helps them contemplate, and keeps them alert to the fact that they are living their lives on a knifes edge.

In Satyajit Rays The Adversary (Pratidwandi) , a recurring motif is the call of an elusive bird that haunts Siddharthas mind. The sound represents his longing for a simpler, carefree past and his search for an escape from the cacophony of city life. In The Great Gatsby , the green light across the bay signifies hope, dreams and unattainable desire. In Christopher Nolans Inception , clocks and a spinning top symbolise the instability of reality and the illusion of time.

Dhurandhar is perhaps the first film in history to use the much-reviled cigarette so consistently and subtly to underline the brittle scaffolding of the perverse and pitch-dark universe it builds. Nicotine addiction here is both death wish and defiance.

(The author is former managing editor of Outlook, former editor of The Financial Express, and founding editor of Outlook Money, Open, and Swarajya magazines. He has authored several books. He tweets @sandipanthedeb. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.)

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 19:57 IST

News opinion Opinion | Prometheus With A Lighter: Why Dhurandhar Is Obsessed With Smoking

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Opinion | The Wedge Campaign: How Online Provocation Is Straining India-Bangladesh Relations

Written By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:43 IST

The objective is clearmanufacture distrust and create a permanent emotional distance between two societies that have lived as close neighbours for centuries

India cannot afford a future where Bangladeshs public discourse is constantly pushed towards hostility by online provocation. Representational image

India and Bangladesh have one of South Asias most consequential neighbourhood relationships. It is built on geography, shared history, trade, culture, and the simple fact that both nations do better when the other is stable. Yet in recent months, social media has begun to look like a battlefieldcrowded with accounts that claim to speak for Bangladeshi youth while repeatedly pushing one central message: India is the enemy.

This is not ordinary criticism or political debate. It is a relentless, crisis-driven propaganda style that turns every tragedy, every flood, and every political development into the same conclusion: India did it".

The objective is clearmanufacture distrust and create a permanent emotional distance between two societies that have lived as close neighbours for centuries.

One relationship. Two narratives.

In the real world, IndiaBangladesh ties are complex but practical: border management, river sharing, connectivity, trade, power, and people-to-people links. Problems exist, and discussions are normal.

But online, a parallel narrative is being pushedsimplified, aggressive, and deliberately humiliating:

 Bangladesh must prove" nationalism by opposing India

 any cooperation with India is betrayal"

 every crisis in Bangladesh is evidence of an Indian plot"

 Indias internal diversityespecially the Northeastis used as a target for divisive messaging

This is the language of political sabotage, not national interest.

The crisis template: flood, politics, assassinationblame India

A striking pattern emerges when you look at recent episodes:

During floods, instead of prioritising rescue, relief, and technical coordination, social media pushes instant certainty: India caused it", India released water to punish us", India wants Bangladesh to suffer". These claims spread fastest when emotions are highest and facts are hardest to verify.

During political controversies, the same accounts push the idea that Bangladeshs domestic politics is controlled by New Delhireducing real, internal political debates to a cartoonish foreign hand" storyline designed to trigger rage.

Now, after the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, the same playbook has reappeared: emotionally loaded claims circulate rapidly, attempting to frame the killing as an Indian conspiracyoften without evidence, and often aimed at provoking street anger rather than demanding a credible investigation.

When every event ends in the same accusation, it is not analysis. It is a script.

From Bangladeshi voice to cross-platform agitation

The most revealing aspect is that many of these Bangladeshi nationalist" accounts operate like media brands rather than individualsactive across multiple platforms with a single political purpose.

One example (visible across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and X under the same branding) shows how this ecosystem works in practice:

 Posts urging Bangladeshis not to support pro-India" politics, framing India-friendly engagement as shameful.

 Content designed to turn Bangladeshs electoral choices into an anti-India referendum."

 Messaging that targets Indias internal cohesionespecially the Northeastby promoting divisive themes such as the idea that Indias Seven Sisters" should separate, presented absurdly as a solution" for Bangladeshs flood problem.

 Inflammatory statements romanticising hostility toward India as a marker of true patriotism."

 Attempts to exploit Osman Hadis death as a trigger for public hatredpushing emotion first, facts later.

Whether such accounts are run from abroad, supported by outside networks, or simply chasing influence and attention, the outcome is the same: they inject poison into a relationship that requires maturity and restraint.

Why this is dangerous for Bangladesh as well

This kind of online agitation is often framed as standing up to India." But the truth is harsher: it pushes Bangladesh into a permanent posture of resentment, where national identity is defined not by development, education, jobs, and governance, but by who to hate.

That is not patriotism. That is paralysis.

When youth are taught that hatred is politics, they stop demanding real answers from real leaders. Every failure becomes Indias fault." Every tragedy becomes a tool. And every chance for cooperationon floods, rivers, trade, border safetybecomes politically risky.

In the long run, this benefits only those who want a weaker, angrier neighbourhood.

Why it matters for India too

India cannot afford a future where Bangladeshs public discourse is constantly pushed towards hostility by online provocation. Even when governments manage diplomacy, public sentiment shapes the space for cooperation. Toxic narratives create suspicion, raise tensions, and make every bilateral issue harder to solve.

This is particularly sensitive in border regions, where stability depends on calm, confidence, and coordinationnot viral misinformation.

The real choice: Bridges or wedges

India and Bangladesh do not need to agree on everything. They do need to resist the weaponisation of grief, disaster, and politics.

The answer is not counter-hate. It is strategic calm:

 Faster, clearer public communication during crises (floods, border incidents, political unrest) so misinformation has less room to grow.

 Joint emphasis on people-to-people tiesstudents, cultural exchanges, medical cooperation, and shared heritageso the relationship is not reduced to online shouting.

 Responsible media and community voices in Bangladesh calling out incitement that harms Bangladeshs own social stability.

 Firm action by platforms on content that promotes violence, separatism, and targeted hostilitywithout confusing that with legitimate political speech.

Conclusion

IndiaBangladesh ties are too important to be held hostage by social media agitators and opportunists. The flood victim, the student, the farmer, the small traderordinary people on both sidesgain nothing from manufactured hatred. They gain from stability, dignity, and cooperation.

If a social media ecosystems only product is anger and its only solution is hatred, then it is not defending Bangladeshs interests or Indias interests.

It is building a wedgeone post at a time.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 22:42 IST

News opinion Opinion | The Wedge Campaign: How Online Provocation Is Straining India-Bangladesh Relations

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Opinion | US National Security Strategy-2025 Signals A New Era Of Global Politics

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 22:09 IST

Balancing ties while demanding reciprocity, disrupting supply chains without economic shock, and deterring adversaries without escalation will test Washingtons diplomatic finesse

Economic nationalism is an important pillar of the NSSit implies strategic repositioning, encompassing re-industrialisation by shoring up domestic manufacturing capacity and technology security, a prerequisite for national resilience. Representational pic/Reuters

The US National Security Strategy (NSS)-2025 marks a pronounced doctrinal shift, from Americas erstwhile global leadership-alliance-centric security architecture to hard-nosed power politics. The 33-page document articulates Washingtons strategic reorientation, in sync with President Trumps vision of America First". It defines the roadmap, a concrete, realistic plan that explains the essential connection between ends and means", to ensure that the US remains the worlds strongest, richest, most powerful, and most successful country for decades ahead.

The document begins with the assertion that national security starts at home; hence, it accords utmost priority to defending the borders, critical infrastructure, and resources. Immigration is perceived as the core of national security, evident from the declaration that the era of mass migration is over". Uncontrolled migration reflects anxieties over demographic shift, posing a serious risk with socio-political implications. At the same time, the strategy envisages America fielding the worlds most powerful, lethal, and technologically advanced military to protect national interests, deter wars, andif necessarywin these quickly and decisively, with the lowest possible casualties. It also encompasses a credible and modern nuclear deterrent, plus next-generation missile defences, including Golden Dome for the American homeland.

Economic nationalism is the next important pillar of the NSSit implies strategic repositioning, encompassing re-industrialisation by shoring up domestic manufacturing capacity and technology security, a prerequisite for national resilience. Additionally, it also entails de-risking and decoupling from competing economies to obviate strategic vulnerability, especially in the fields of semiconductors, rare earth minerals, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Further, the security policy document underlines the quest for technology primacy with unquestionable leadership in AI, quantum technologies, biotechnology, cyber, and space, besides advanced defence platforms. To achieve integrated deterrence", the strategy visualises combining military might with technological and economic levers to present a shield against adversaries operating in the Grey Zones. Cyberattacks, AI-orchestrated disinformation, and satellite disruption, henceforth, will be treated with the same gravity as missile strikes.

It is Americas foreign policy that is set for the most consequential makeover as it sheds the role of being a global policeman and adopts a theatre-based approach, giving due priority to national interests. The Western Hemisphere is designated as the US primary region, which reinforces Trumps Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine". It implies ensuring a stable neighbourhood, besides politico-economic and maritime dominance of the region by keeping rivals out. Preserving the freedom and security, restoring civilisational identity, and restoring self-confidence of Europe are considered vital, given the failure of NATOs strategy against Russia. The US core interest is to negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine to stabilise the European economies and also re-establish strategic stability with Russia. Washington expects burden sharing and higher defence expenditure by Europe as a security ally and partner. The transactional tone has sparked unease in the European capitals, raising doubts about the centrality of the transatlantic partnership.

Meanwhile, keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open and preserving freedom of navigation are deemed to be crucial to reverse the damage to the American economy. The region features as the arena of intense competition, with China being the main strategic challenger, not necessarily militarily but for technological supremacy, trade, and control of supply chains. With containment of China being no longer a sustainable option, the strategy seeks to avoid conflict and maintain mutually beneficial economic relations given the interdependence. Simultaneously, the document seeks to balance Beijings influence through calibrated deterrence by consolidating relations with trusted partners and allies. The NSS clearly states that it does not support any unilateral change in the Taiwan Strait". To this end, President Trump recently signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act", enacting it into American law.

The West Asia region, once a pivot of American power projection and energy security, stands downgraded with diminished priority. Given the USs increasing energy self-sufficiency, the engagement is likely to further scale down. Concurrently, the NSS seeks to prevent an adversarial power from dominating the Middle East oil-gas supply lines while avoiding forever wars" that bogged down the US at a great cost. The US involvement in Latin America is expected to be deeper, particularly involving trade, energy, narcotics, and border management to check migration.

For South Asia, American attention is selective, yet the NSS acknowledges Indias role as the Quad partner in maintaining strategic balance in the region. However, Delhis erstwhile role as a counter to Beijing gets truncated. While political relations have lost the erstwhile goodwill and a trade agreement is still to be negotiated, the strategic partnership and defence ties between Washington and Delhi remain strong. The US-India defence cooperation framework" guiding long-term defence ties was signed in October this year. Military equipment purchases, be it MH-60 Sea Hawks, Apache 64 helicopters, or GE F404 engines, remain on track, delays notwithstanding. What is of serious concern for India is the strengthening of US-Pakistan relations under Trumps personal patronage, which is likely to embolden Rawalpindi. Not being a US ally gives Delhi space to engage in multiple partnerships to build its military capacity.

Taking a reality check, while the NSS is neither isolationist nor interventionist, American opinion is divided over it. Those in support hail the document, as they argue that limitless global engagement drains resources that can be optimally used to strengthen domestic capability. Critics, on the other hand, counter that the US renouncing its global role will lead to fragmentation of the world order due to inter-power rivalries. In the event of America stepping back, confining itself to the Western Hemisphere, China is likely to fill the vacuum and run Asia, in sync with Trumps grand vision of G2 or maybe even G2 plus 1 (incorporating Russia).

The US strategic shift has far-reaching implications. For China, the competition intensifies; beyond military, it includes technology and trade. As far as Europe is concerned, strategic autonomy is no longer a choice but an imperative. Despite current strains, India still remains vital for US strategic interests. For the global polity, the message is rather stark, i.e., US commitment will be calibrated, interest-based, and transactional.

Balancing alliances while demanding reciprocity, disrupting supply chains without economic shock, and deterring adversaries without escalation will test Washingtons diplomatic finesse. Undeniably, the NSS-2025 signals a new era in the global politics of selective engagements, marked by rebalancing of power dynamics, technological arms races, economic fortification, and guarded borders. Willy-nilly, the global order is in for serious disruptionthe defining feature will be fluid alignments and contested multi-polarity under the overarching bipolar shadow.

The author is a War Veteran; former Assistant Chief, and currently Professor Strategic and International Relations. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 22:06 IST

News opinion Opinion | US National Security Strategy-2025 Signals A New Era Of Global Politics

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 17:00 IST

1 / 8 Kerala, often called "the Finland of India," lies on the southwestern Malabar Coast. Known for its lush landscapes, serene backwaters, and high living standards, the nickname reflects the Finland-India Education Partnership and their shared focus on education, literacy, and social welfare. (Image: Canva)

2 / 8 Like Finland, often ranked the happiest and most literate nation, Kerala tops India with a literacy rate above 94% and the highest Life Expectancy Index in the country. (Image: Canva)

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3 / 8 Both regions are famed for their serene, water-filled landscapes: Finland, the "Land of a Thousand Lakes," and Kerala, with its vast network of backwaters and canals. (Image: Canva)

4 / 8 Kerala is often compared to Finland not just for its beauty but for structural similarities in societal functioning. Though Finland is a country and Kerala an Indian state, both follow a "Social Development Model" that values human well-being over mere industrial growth. (Image: Canva)

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5 / 8 Both regions treat education as a fundamental right rather than a privilege, with a focus on teacher training and early childhood care. The most significant link is the Finland-India Education Partnership. In 2022, the Kerala government officially collaborated with Finland to implement Finnish pedagogical methods in Kerala schools. (Image: Canva)

6 / 8 Furthermore, data shows Kerala has the lowest infant mortality rate and the highest life expectancy in India, mirroring the social safety nets found in Finland's "Nordic Model". (Image: Canva)

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7 / 8 Finland is known as the "Land of a Thousand Lakes." Kerala is defined by its Backwaters, a network of 44 rivers and countless lagoons. (Image: Canva)
Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:35 IST

1 / 14 Whether playing the lead actor, the antagonist or a supporting role in films, this actor became a notable name in the 80s and 90s. He gave tough competition to many renowned actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty and Jeetendra.



2 / 14 Though he later succeeded in terms of career, his journey to fame was anything but easy. He was born in Quetta, now in Pakistan's Balochistan province. His family struggled to make a living after they arrived in India.

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3 / 14 That actor is Suresh Oberoi. Born on December 17, 1946, his early life was shaped by the trauma of Partition in 1947. His family had migrated to India when he was just a year old.

4 / 14 Their move came at a high cost. Suresh Oberois father, Anand Swarup Oberoi, had a real estate business in Quetta, but they had to leave everything behind and flee. The once financially stable family lost everything during the Partition and struggled to make ends meet.

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5 / 14 In a past interview, the actor had opened up about their struggles upon arriving in India. He mentioned that there were days when his family had to eat just sugar and roti. Suresh Oberois family comprised his parents and seven siblings.

6 / 14 Determined to rebuild their life in India, Suresh Oberois father mustered courage and re-entered Pakistan to sell his properties. He disguised himself, sold the properties and returned to India with the money. He then slowly settled his family in Hyderabad.

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7 / 14 In Hyderabad, Suresh Oberois father started a chain of medical stores, which gradually improved the familys living conditions. A few years down the line, they bought a bungalow and a car. Suresh and his siblings even completed their education.

8 / 14 Acting was not in the picture for Suresh Oberoi when he was a child. Initially, he dreamt of becoming a doctor but the sight of a frog on the dissection table changed his ideas. Later, he decided to pursue mechanical engineering.

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9 / 14 Then came a heartbreaking phase as the actor lost his father to heart attack. Reluctantly, he started managing the medical store but soon moved to radio and stage plays where he was appreciated for his voice.

10 / 14 Motivated, he joined FTII while being married to Yashodhara. In 1975, the couple welcomed their son Vivek Oberoi into their lives. Later, he decided to try his luck in Mumbai and arrived in the city with just Rs 400 in his pocket and eyes full of dreams.

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11 / 14 Suresh Oberoi then took on some radio assignments where he earned around Rs 50 per week. His powerful voice soon earned his recognition and later, he was signed for Vinod Pandey for a role in Ek Baar Phir.

12 / 14 Prakash Mehra then gave him a new lease of life, offering him the main character in the radio programme Mukaddar Ka Sikandar. Besides, he also signed him for Laawaris in 1980.

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13 / 14 Over the years, Suresh Oberoi delivered memorable performances in films like Namak Halaal, Vidhaata, Raja Hindustani, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Lajja, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Kabir Singh, among others. His impressive stint in Mirch Masala also earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 07:30 IST

1 / 7 Get Out (JioHotstar): Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a photographer, visits his girlfriends family at their remote home. As he notices strange behavior from the staff and unsettling tension, he uncovers a horrifying secret, plunging him into a psychological nightmare about identity and manipulation. (Image: Amazon Prime Video)

2 / 7 Us (YouTube): Adelaide Wilson and her family go on a beach vacation, only to be confronted by silent strangers outside their home. These intruders are their exact doubles, led by Red. As the family battles for survival, Adelaide uncovers a shocking truth about her childhood trauma, the darkness within, and a terrifying connection to her past. (Image: IMDb)

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3 / 7 Phobia (Zee5): Mehak, a young artist with severe agoraphobia after a traumatic event, moves into a new apartment. There, she begins hearing disturbing sounds and experiencing eerie visions. As fear and isolation grow, reality blurs with imagination, revealing unsettling truths about her past. Quiet and intensely psychological, the film explores mental trauma, using fear and isolation rather than jump scares. (Image: IMDb)

4 / 7 The Lighthouse (Amazon Prime Video): On a remote, stormy island, two lighthouse keepersThomas Wake and Ephraim Winslow endure isolation, power struggles, and eerie visions. As tension mounts, the line between reality and madness blurs, creating fear through psychological breakdowns and guilt. (Image: IMDb)

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5 / 7 404: Error Not Found (YouTube): Set in a medical college hostel, this psychological thriller follows Abhimanyu, a rational medical student who moves into the dreaded Room 404. Soon, he experiences strange visions linked to Gaurav, a former student who mysteriously died there. As Abhimanyus logical mind clashes with his terrifying experiences, the film blurs the line between reality and hallucination, building tension through its eerie atmosphere. (Image: IMDb)

6 / 7 Saint Maud (Amazon Prime Video): The film follows Maud (Morfydd Clark), a devout young nurse assigned to care for Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a dying former dancer living alone in a seaside house. Believing God has chosen her to save Amandas soul, Mauds faith clashes with Amandas cynicism. As Mauds obsession grows, her loneliness and guilt distort her perception, blurring faith with delusion and leading to disturbing choices and a shocking, unsettling finale. (Image: IMDb)

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BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Jose Antonio Kast on his election as Chile's president.

Xi pointed out that Chile is the first South American country to have established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

The two countries understand and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, while practical cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.

Noting that China-Chile ties have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries, Xi said that continuously advancing the development of bilateral relations enjoys a broad consensus shared by various sectors in both countries.

Xi said he places great importance on the growth of China-Chile relations and is ready to work with President-elect Kast to carry forward traditional friendship, elevate the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.




This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows the scenery of the Yamzbog Yumco Lake in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Jian)

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) --China has made solid progress in ecology and environment protection during its 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), marked by sustained improvements in many ways.

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 25, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall in Luanping County of Chengde, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Zhou Wanping/Xinhua)

Contributing a quarter of the world's new green areas since 2000, China's forest coverage rate has risen to 25.09 percent, underscoring steady advances in large-scale afforestation and ecological restoration programs. Meanwhile, the country's forest stock volume has reached 20.99 billion cubic meters, hitting the 2030 target ahead of schedule.

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 24, 2025 shows the autumn scenery in the Saihanba National Forest Park in Chengde City, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2024 shows a vehicle running in Shangganling stream forest park in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Forest rangers measure the diameter of a tree at the Changpoling Forest Farm in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Water quality has also seen notable improvement. In 2024, 90.4 percent of national surface water monitoring sections met good water quality standards, surpassing 90 percent for the first time.

An aerial photo taken on Sept. 9, 2025 shows a view of the Xiaonanhai wetland nature reserve in southwest China's Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows a view of the Qiandao Lake in east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 16, 2025 shows local people sailing around an island while circling the lake by boat in Yanyuan County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Efforts to restore key ecosystems have also yielded results. China has rehabilitated more than 2.4 million mu (160,000 hectares) of abandoned mines, restored 820 kilometers of coastline, repaired 760,000 mu (about 50,667 hectares) of coastal wetlands during the period of time and has cumulatively treated 105 million mu (7 million hectares) of desertified land, strengthening its capacity to combat desertification and land degradation.

An aerial drone photo taken on June 30, 2025 shows people laying sand barriers at the site of a desertification control project in Zhongewei, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows the scenery of the Mianduhe national wetland park in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)

This photo taken on Dec. 20, 2025 shows swans at a wetland in Sanmenxia, central China's Henan Province. (Photo by Zhao Yongtao/Xinhua)

Chinese cities have reported steady progress in air quality. In 2024, in cities at and above the prefecture level, the average PM2.5 density, a key indicator of air pollution, dropped to 29.3 micrograms per cubic meter, down 16.3 percent from 2020. And the proportion of days with good air quality increased 2.4 percentage points from 2020 to 87.2 percent, reflecting continued efforts to curb pollution and promote cleaner production and lifestyles.

This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2025 shows the city view of Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 4, 2025 shows a city view in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.(Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 21, 2025 shows harvesters harvesting rice in a paddy field, with a high-speed train in the background, in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

China has also made rapid strides in green energy development. By the end of June 2025, the country's installed capacity of renewable energy had reached 2.159 billion kilowatts, further consolidating its position as a global leader in renewable power generation.

In parallel, China has established the world's largest carbon emissions trading market, a key institutional tool aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through market-based mechanisms and advancing the country's climate goals.

An aerial drone photo taken on July 28, 2025 shows a 1GW solar thermal and photovoltaic integrated project in Shanshan County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xu Zipeng/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 14, 2025 shows whooper swans at the Xiaosugan lake wetland with wind turbines in the background in Kazak Autonomous County of Aksay, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 13, 2025 shows an offshore photovoltaic project in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Zhou Guangxue/Xinhua)

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China advanced the implementation of major biodiversity conservation projects, effectively safeguarding 90 percent of terrestrial ecosystem types and 74 percent of key wild animal and plant populations.

This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2025 shows kiangs (Equus kiang) at the Changtang National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)

A drone photo shows black-necked cranes at Caohai National Nature Reserve in Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A ranger interacts with Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys in the Pingwu Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey popular science education base in Pingwu County, Mianyang City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will continue to accelerate the building of a Beautiful China, where humans and nature coexist in harmony.

Editor: Xiong Jian
Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 08:11 IST

1 / 12 Every few years, a forgotten recipe, dish, or even a drink finds its way back into conversation, not from our kitchens, but from our screens. This time, doodh soda is back, thanks to a moment in Ranveer Singh's popular film.

2 / 12 The renewed interest in doodh soda did not come from food bloggers or chefs but from pop culture. A fleeting moment in the film Dhurandhar unexpectedly pushed the drink back into the spotlight.

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3 / 12 In Dhurandhar, doodh soda appears during a key sequence set in Karachis Lyari. The scene introduces Gaurav Gera as Mohammad Aalam, a middle-aged juice vendor running a small stall in the market.

4 / 12 Disguised as a vendor, Mohammad Aalam is actually an Indian spy. His quirky presence instantly stands out, especially when he playfully markets doodh soda through an unusual rhyme that says, Darling, Darling, Dil kyu toda. Peelo peelo, Aalam soda.

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5 / 12 The scene subtly suggests that ordinary places often hide extraordinary secrets. A simple doodh soda stall becomes the setting for espionage, making the drink an important part of Dhurandhars narrative arc.

6 / 12 For the uninitiated, doodh soda is simply chilled milk mixed with lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7 Up. Sometimes sugar is added, but the real magic lies in the method of preparation.

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7 / 12 Milk and carbonation may sound like a risky combination, but when done right, doodh soda is smooth and refreshing. The carbonation lightens the milks density, making the drink feel less heavy and surprisingly easy to sip.

8 / 12 Street vendors are careful while preparing it. The soda is always poured slowly along the side of the glass, preventing curdling and preserving the drinks creamy texture and fizz.

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9 / 12 Traditionally consumed during peak summers, doodh soda is believed to cool the body quickly. It hydrates and provides protein and minerals from milk, while feeling milder than sugar-laden soft drinks.

10 / 12 The drink also holds cultural significance, especially during Ramadan. It has often been served at iftar to help restore energy and fluids after a long day of fasting.

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11 / 12 Making doodh soda at home is simple. Use well-chilled milk, add sugar if needed, slowly pour soda down the glass side, stir once, and drink immediately while the bubbles stay light.
In today's News18 Daily Digest: Maharashtra politics is poised for a major realignment as the Thackeray cousins prepare to formalise an alliance nearly two decades after parting ways, raising fresh questions over Congresss stand and the Oppositions broader strategy. Meanwhile, serious instability grips Bangladesh, with Islamist groups issuing threats of an uprising, continued violence, and authorities admitting they are yet to trace key attackers. India is closely monitoring the situation amid rising concern for the safety of Indian medical students stranded there, with student bodies urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene for evacuation or safe passage. In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, the brother of a man allegedly lynched in Bangladesh appeals to the Indian government for refuge and protection for persecuted minorities. Back home, electoral tensions surface in Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, while air pollution worsens in Delhi and Mumbai. Protests over Aravali mining and a controversy in Odisha over high-value SUV purchases round up the days top stories.
Priyanka Gandhi As Congresss PM Face? Robert Vadra Says Demands From Everywhere; BJP Reacts

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 15:07 IST

On Congresss Imran Masoods remark, Robert Vadra says, There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should step up. BJP says, Tharoor, Masood, Janpath against Rahul Gandhi.

(From left) Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra. (PTI File)

Reacting to Congress MP Imran Masoods pitch to make Priyanka Gandhi Vadra the PM face of the party, her husband, Robert Vadra, said that there are demands from everywhere".

There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should come forward. There are also demands that I should enter politics. But right now, we should focus on the real issues that concern the people," he said.

Masoods statement and U-turn

Masood on Tuesday said that if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were made the Prime Minister, she would give a strong response like her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Speaking to ANI, Imran Masood said,  Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is Priyanka Gandhi. She has Gandhi added behind her name. She is the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still havent healed. Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate. You wont dare to do that."

Delhi: On Congress MP Imran Masood pitching Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the PM face, businessman and her husband Robert Vadra says, "There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should come forward. There are also demands that I should enter politics. But right now, pic.twitter.com/6fzuryP4Dg IANS (@ians_india) December 23, 2025

When asked what it would mean for Priyankas brother and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Masood said, Rahul Gandhi will act too, they are not separate. Rahul and Priyanka are like two eyes on the same face, the grandchildren of Indira Gandhi."

As the statement caused an uproar, Masood later said, The BJP has nothing else to talk aboutRahul Gandhi is my and Priyanka Gandhis netaI only said she is second Indira GandhiI said both of them are her eyesIf the command would have been in her hands, this would not have happened in Bangladesh. We have no infightingRahul Gandhi is our leader."

Masood, Tharoor, Janmat, Janpath against Rahul Gandhi: BJP

Meanwhile, addressing students at the Hertie School in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is proposing elimination of the Constitution" that grants equal rights to all and vowed to create a system of oppositions resistance that will succeed in removing the party from power.

LIVE: BJP National Spokesperson Shri @Shehzad_Ind addresses press conference at BJP HQ, Delhi. https://t.co/IddnNB0Wu3 BJP (@BJP4India) December 23, 2025

Reacting to Rahuls statements, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, Rahul Gandhi has indulged in Bharat badnaami on foreign soil, theres nothing new in itRahul Gandhi should now rename the LoP position, not as Leader of Opposition, but as Leader of Propaganda, because going on foreign soil, meeting with anti-India elements, meeting with elements associated with George Soros, who wants to destabilise India, and then spewing fakery and propaganda against India has become the full-time job of Rahul Gandhi."

Poonawalla, later in a press conference, said, Rahul only insults Indiawhich is why Imran Masood, Shashi Tharoor and many from Priyanka Gandhis camp are against him. The allies of Congress party have already spoken against Rahul GandhiThis is the countrys no-confidence vote against himJanmat is against him, and now even Janpath is against him."

Open fight between Rahul and Priyanka camp in Congress.Divide in Congress out in the open Congress vs Congress pic.twitter.com/iPG48vdufd  Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) December 23, 2025

Pradip Bhandari, national spokesperson of the BJP, said on X, Open fight between Rahul and Priyanka camp in CongressDivide in Congress out in the openRobert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhis open dissent against Rahul GandhiOpen fight in the family!"

Ally CPI(M) questions Rahuls absence

Delhi: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhis foreign visit, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas says, We had already decided that Rahul Gandhi, as part of the opposition, should be present when the three anti-people bills were piloted in Parliament. However, it is for him and his pic.twitter.com/z3gNRlJ8OP IANS (@ians_india) December 23, 2025

UP minister Daya Shankar Singh responded to the pitch for Priyanka saying, Priyanka Gandhis father, grandmother and great-grandfather ruled the country for decades, yet the nation did not prosper. Now, when the Congress is declining, what good will Priyanka Gandhi be able to do?"

Congress ally CPI(M)s Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, meanwhile, questioned Rahul Gandhis absence in Parliament. We had already decided that Rahul Gandhi, as part of the opposition, should be present when the three anti-people bills were piloted in Parliament. However, it is for him and his political party to decide"

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:51 IST

News politics Priyanka Gandhi As Congresss PM Face? Robert Vadra Says Demands From Everywhere; BJP Reacts

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Shiv Sena-MNS Alliance Likely Tomorrow, Thackeray Brothers To Join Hands Ahead Of BMC Polls

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 14:34 IST

On social media, Sanjay Raut shared a photograph of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray standing together. He added only three words: Tomorrow at 12 noon.

Raj Thackeray with Uddhav at Matoshree | Image: News18

The much-discussed alliance between the Thackeray brothers in Maharashtra is likely to be announced at 12 noon tomorrow, December 24. This development could reshape the states political landscape. Strong signals about the timing came after a social media post by Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut, which has intensified political buzz.

On social media, Sanjay Raut shared a photograph of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray standing together. He added only three words: Tomorrow at 12 noon." Though brief, the message has been widely seen as a clear hint that the formal announcement of the alliance will take place at that time. Soon after the post, political circles across Maharashtra became active with speculation and discussion.

For several days, talks have been underway between the Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Both parties have been exploring the possibility of joining hands. A few days ago, Raut said that discussions on seat sharing had already been completed. Since then, it was believed that the alliance could be announced at any moment. Now, the latest signals suggest that the wait may be over.

Shiv Sena-MNS show of strength

According to reports, the Thackeray brothers may make a strong show of unity during the announcement.

This alliance could pose a challenge to the ruling grand alliance, especially ahead of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. If the Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) and MNS contest together, the political equation in Mumbai could change significantly. The possible consolidation of Marathi voters has drawn attention across Maharashtra, making this alliance one of the most closely watched political moves in recent times.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:58 IST

News politics Shiv Sena-MNS Alliance Likely Tomorrow, Thackeray Brothers To Join Hands Ahead Of BMC Polls

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Date In 2026 Faces New Delays: Know More

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 10:53 IST

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and other models are going to be introduced in the market in 2026 but a little later than usual.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series launch could be a little later than usual

Samsung Galaxy S26 series launch is usually expected in the early parts of the year but a new report suggests the company could push its event to mid-February and that is likely to have an impact on the Galaxy S26 Ultra release date in the market in 2026. The details coming from South Korea suggests the company could be eyeing a later launch next year and were not really surprised hearing about the news.

Samsung has been in two minds about overhauling its lineup, with some even hinted at a new Pro model to sit alongside the Edge version. But the brand seems to have gone back to the drawing board and decided to continue with the current models.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Delayed: When Will It Hit The Markets?

The fact that Galaxy S26 Ultra and other models wont be announced till mid-February means the sale of the new devices could be further pushed to the end of the month or even early March next year. Samsung might time its own unveiling close to the MWC 2026 in Barcelona, something the brand has done many times before and we could see it happen once again.

The launch delay has also been attributed to the last minute decisions around the use of chipset for the new flagships. Samsung recently introduced its Exynos 2600 SoC family which many are tipping to be at the forefront of the new premium series.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra could once again go for the high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. But more importantly, with the ongoing memory chip demand and price hikes, the brand will have to consider the higher cost of making the product and also selling them at a reasonable price to compete with the current and the future iPhone models.

In addition to this, Samsung is also reportedly working on a new wide foldable device which could be announced close to the supposed iPhone Fold debut later next year. It says the model will feature a 7.6-inch inner screen along with a smaller 5.4-inch cover display. The wider profile means you have a passport-like design with 4:3 aspect ratio.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 10:53 IST

News tech Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Date In 2026 Faces New Delays: Know More

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Delhi Mans Christmas Holiday Turns Into Nightmare After Flipkart Sells Invalid Ticket: Airline Has No Record

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:43 IST

After the post went viral, Flipkart responded, but the man claimed a chatbot had assisted him rather than human support.

The man was meant to travel from Delhi to Phu Quoc, Vietnam. (Photo Credit: X)

Online platforms often offer attractive discounts on ticket bookings for buses, trains and flights, that is why people often purchase tickets from such sites. But in pursuit of getting better prices, a man ended up purchasing a ticket for his trip that turned out to be invalid. Taking to X, he shared his ordeal and asked for urgent help.

In his post dated December 22, the man alleged that the flight ticket he booked through Flipkart was invalid just one day before his scheduled journey. He said the airline had no record of his booking, and the platforms customer support couldnt help. My flight is tomorrow & @Flipkart sold me an INVALID ticket (PNR N7ADZE). Airline (@Vietjetindia) has no record of me. Flipkart support is unhelpful. I am stuck. Please help!" he wrote.

He also shared a screenshot of his ticket, which showed that his flight was from Delhi on December 24 at 00:05 AM to Hanoi, Vietnam. Then again, he and his friends had a flight from Hanoi to Phu Quoc on the same day.

Man Shared That Flipkart, Cleartrip And The Airline Are All Blaming The Other

In a follow-up post, he said he is now caught between Flipkart, Cleartrip, and the airline, with each party blaming the other. Update: Stuck in this loop. Called Flipkart & Cleartrip, they said connect with the airline, they have cancelled. Called Airline connect with Flipkart/Cleartrip.. They have not processed the ticket properly, hence cancelled."

As the post gained traction online, Flipkart responded, apologising for the inconvenience and assuring the man that his issue would be resolved. The company asked him to share his details so that the matter could be looked into. Despite it, he later shared screenshots showing that he was interacting with an automated chatbot instead of human support.

URGENT HELP | My flight is tomorrow & @Flipkart sold me an INVALID ticket (PNR N7ADZE). Airline (@Vietjetindia) has no record of me. Flipkart support is unhelpful.I am stuck. Please help! 250908635368 DEL-PQC | 24 Dec@DGCAIndia @MoCA_GoI @AirSewa @RamMNK@vipinkumarIAS pic.twitter.com/InmuT0uN4K  Syed Fahad (@SyedFahad_1435) December 22, 2025

He said, Putting up a chatbot is not support. I need a resolution quickly." Responding to him, Flipkart mentioned, Our team is dedicated to supporting you. We kindly ask you to elaborate on your concern so that we can offer you the necessary assistance. Please start a private chat for the privacy of your Flipkart account by clicking here."

People On The Internet Asked Him To File A Case

The incident led to widespread outrage, with many users sharing similar experiences. Just a suggestion, dont ever book a flight ticket from @Flipkart because the same thing happened with me in November. When I had to go to Delhi for an interview, I booked a flight from Flipkart, and a day before, I got to know that my PNR is invalid," one user said.

Lesson learnt, never book flights from Flipkart," another added.

A different person mentioned, Consumer court mein bhi case file kar do for cheating."

I was planning for Dubai in mid-January with Flipkart since thats 1200 cheaper compared to MMT, but now I know the value of 1200. Thanks, bro, and sorry for you," someone else shared.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:43 IST

News viral Delhi Mans Christmas Holiday Turns Into Nightmare After Flipkart Sells Invalid Ticket: Airline Has No Record

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IndiGo Pilot Blocks Woman On Dating App After She Jokes Bhaiya Refund Nahi Mila: Aise Kaun Karta Hai

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 13:40 IST

The screenshots shared by the woman appear to show her matching with the pilot and responding to one of his photos with a playful line.

The womans message to the pilot went unanswered. (Photo Credit: X)

Dating apps are unpredictable, but every now and then, they deliver moments that feel tailor-made for the internet. This time, it was a mix of humour, an IndiGo pilot, and a very familiar airline complaint. A woman recently claimed she was unmatched by an IndiGo pilot after sending him a cheeky message.

The post was shared on X by a woman, who uploaded screenshots of a dating app interaction allegedly involving an IndiGo pilot. Along with the images, she wrote, I AM IN TEARSSS," adding that the IndiGo pilot boy unmatched immediately after this." She further jokes that there is no scope for funny women in this country."

I AM IN TEARSSSS this indigo pilot boy unmatched immediately after this!! truly no scope for funny women in this country pic.twitter.com/XcrxyHc7wL  avy (@kavyacore) December 21, 2025

The screenshots appear to show the woman matching with the pilot and responding to one of his photos with a playful line. Instead of a compliment, she chose humour, writing, Brother, I still havent received the refund for my flight yet." According to her post, the joke was followed by instant silence and an unmatch, leaving the message unanswered. The post also included a photo of the pilot standing in front of an IndiGo aircraft, though the woman hid his face.

IndiGos Operational Troubles

Since being shared, the post has garnered numerous reactions, as many pointed out that the timing of the joke made it land even harder. The comment was widely seen as a nod to IndiGos recent operational troubles when the airline faced heavy criticism over widespread flight delays, cancellations and refund issues earlier this month.

How Did The Internet React

During that period, frustrated passengers flooded social media with complaints about delayed refunds and a lack of communication. Against that backdrop, the dating app exchange comes across as relatable and hilarious to many. One user joked, He didnt want to become an unofficial customer care executive."

Others had their own theories. An individual joined in to add, I think bhaiya in the first conversation itself was a deal breaker, plus given how recent the situation is, it was probably not funny for them." Another remarked, In his defence, you started the convo with bhaiya." A person suggested, Hes probably tired of hearing that every damn day. I dont blame him."

Whether it was the joke or just dating app fate, the interaction has now become a reminder that sometimes humour does not land and instead, it gets unmatched.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:08 IST

News viral IndiGo Pilot Blocks Woman On Dating App After She Jokes Bhaiya Refund Nahi Mila: Aise Kaun Karta Hai

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Activist Greta Thunberg Arrested In London At Pro-Palestinian Protest

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 17:51 IST

Greta Thunberg was detained under the UKs Terrorism Act at a lock-on protest linked to Palestinian detainees.

Greta Thunberg's arrest took place during a protest organised by Prisoners for Palestine.

British police arrested Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a demonstration in London held in support of pro-Palestinian hunger strikers. The arrest took place during a protest organised by Prisoners for Palestine, which said Greta Thunberg was detained under the UKs Terrorism Act at a lock-on" protest linked to Palestinian detainees.

Greta Thunberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Prisoners for Palestine lock-on protest," the group said in a statement.

According to organisers, the demonstration was held in solidarity with activists currently imprisoned on charges including alleged support for the banned Palestine Action group. Palestine Action was proscribed by the British government earlier this year.

Prisoners for Palestine said Greta Thunberg was holding a placard reading, I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide," at the time of her arrest.

British police have not yet issued a detailed statement on the circumstances of the arrest or whether formal charges have been filed.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 17:51 IST

News world Activist Greta Thunberg Arrested In London At Pro-Palestinian Protest

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Anyone Who Attacks Her Can Eat S**t: JD Vance On Racist Remarks Against Wife Usha

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:05 IST

JD Vance said racism should be opposed in all forms and that people should be judged by their actions rather than race or ethnicity.

Usha Vance, wife of JD Vance, is of Indian-origin. (Photo Credit: X)

US Vice President JD Vance strongly condemned racist and antisemitic attacks directed at his wife Usha Vance after remarks by far-right commentator Nick Fuentes and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Speaking in an interview with UnHerd, JD Vance said attacks on his family were unacceptable, regardless of political affiliation.

Let me be clear. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat sh#t. Thats my official policy as vice president of the United States," he said.

He added that antisemitism and ethnic hatred had no place in American public life, asserting, Whether youre attacking somebody because theyre white or because theyre black or because theyre Jewish, I think its disgusting."

Nick Fuentes has repeatedly targeted Usha Vance, who was born in the US to Indian immigrant parents. Nick Fuentes has referred to JD Vance as a race traitor" for marrying outside his race and has used racist language against the second lady. JD Vance said Fuentes and his supporters, often known as the Groyper" movement, had long harassed his friends and family online.

JD Vance said racism should be opposed in all forms and that people should be judged by their actions rather than race or ethnicity. However, he argued that the greater concern lay not with fringe online figures but with those holding political power. He claimed that race-based policies in college admissions and employment over the past decade had encouraged discrimination against white Americans.

JD Vance said his children, who are of mixed white and South Asian heritage, faced disadvantages in elite educational and professional systems as a result of such policies, which he said were backed by Democrats under Joe Biden.

If you believe racism is bad, Fuentes should occupy one second of your focus, and the people with actual political power who worked so hard to discriminate against white men should occupy many hours of it," he said.

JD Vance also criticised what he described as heritage Americanist" views that place emphasis on ancestry and genetics over shared civic values.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:05 IST

News world Anyone Who Attacks Her Can Eat S**t: JD Vance On Racist Remarks Against Wife Usha

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Asim Munir Claims Pakistan Used '90% Indigenous Tech' Against India After Op Sindoor. Here's The Truth

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 10:38 IST

Unfortunately for Pakistan, the army chiefs assertions go beyond exaggeration, amounting to blatant falsehoods repeated despite public, verifiable evidence to the contrary

Rapid Read

Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir. (Image: ISPR/AP)

Pakistans Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has reignited controversy with bold statements asserting that Pakistans armed forces used 90 per cent indigenous technology" in recent hostilities with India after Operation Sindoor and successfully downed Indian Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29, Mirage 2000 and S-400 systems. Munir made the claims while promoting a major arms sale, including JF-17 fighter jets, to Libyas Libyan National Army.

In a viral video, Munir can be heard saying, In our recent war with India, we showed our Pakistani technology to the world. 90 per cent of that was indigenous Pakistani technology. Using that technology, the Pakistan Air Force took out Rafale, Su30, MiG29, Mirage2000, and S400."

Unfortunately for Pakistan, the army chiefs assertions have no factual basis and go beyond exaggeration, amounting to blatant falsehoods repeated despite public, verifiable evidence to the contrary.

Satellite imagery, wreckage analysis, international media reporting, and statements from neutral defence experts have consistently shown no confirmed loss of Indian Rafale jets, Su-30s, Mirage-2000s, MiG-29s, or the S-400 system, nor any proof that Pakistan achieved the air-combat successes Munir claims.

The Press Information Bureaus (PIB) Fact Check unit too has exposed Pakistani propaganda that involves deliberately circulating fabricated content to mislead citizens and undermine public confidence in Indias defence preparedness and military capabilities.

French defence experts also clarified that supposedly downed Rafale wreckage circulating online was misidentified, and no credible proof exists that a Rafale was shot down.

At the same time, recovered debris and open-source intelligence have repeatedly identified Chinese-origin missiles, drones, radars, and avionics used by Pakistan during the conflict, directly contradicting Munirs assertion that 90 percent" of the technology was indigenous.

The JF-17 Thunder is a jointly developed aircraft between Pakistan and China, with core avionics, radar and many key systems of Chinese origin. Design and production involve Chinese technical leadership, with Pakistans contribution mainly in assembly and incremental upgrades, say defence experts.

Speaking at an event in July this year, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance) Lt Gen Rahul R Singh had said that 81 per cent of the military hardware with Pakistan is Chinese" and that China was providing all possible support to Pakistan during Indias Operation Sindoor. He added that Pakistan was like a live lab" for China as it was able to test its weapons against other weapons".

The instances show that by calling Chinese-origin systems Pakistani technology" while actively selling them abroad, Munir is not exaggerating but is rebranding foreign military hardware for political and commercial gain.

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Location : Libya

First Published: December 23, 2025, 10:38 IST

News world Asim Munir Claims Pakistan Used '90% Indigenous Tech' Against India After Op Sindoor. Here's The Truth

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TRIPOLI, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Libya said on Monday it had approved a 5.8-million-U.S.-dollar project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to address environmental and development challenges in the Ubari Lakes basin in western Libya.

The five-year initiative, to be implemented in partnership with Libya's Ministry of Environment, will focus on combating land degradation and biodiversity loss while promoting sustainable economic development in the region, UNDP said in a statement.

The project will also lay the groundwork for the proposed Ubari Lakes National Park, covering about 100,000 hectares, and includes plans to rehabilitate 225 hectares of wetlands and oases.

UNDP said the initiative is expected to support around 2,250 people -- half of them women -- through sustainable employment opportunities, and to create about 700 new jobs in ecotourism and sustainable agriculture.

Integrating nature-based solutions with local cultural practices is a key step toward meeting Libya's climate commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP said. 

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Australia's Albanese Dials Israel President, Discusses Antisemitism After Sydney Attack

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 15:27 IST

Israel President Herzog stressed the urgent need to confront the growing threat of antisemitism, extremism and jihadist terror.

Days After Bondi Attack, Australian PM Dials Israeli Prez, Offers Condolences, Discusses Rising Antisemitism

Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken with Israels President Isaac Herzog following the recent terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney that targeted members of the Jewish community. On December 14, a terrorist mass shooting struck a Hanukkah celebration at Sydneys Bondi Beach, killing 16 people including a child.

During the call on Tuesday, Albanese said he was deeply disturbed by the violence and expressed strong support for Australias Jewish community.

Prime Minister Albanese conveyed his profound shock and sadness over the attack. He offered heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones and said the entire country stood with them during this painful time. He also acknowledged the fear and distress caused within the Jewish community following the incident.

President Herzog said he was horrified by the catastrophic terror attack" and shared his deep sorrow with the victims families. He also wished those who were injured a full and speedy recovery.

Australia invites Israel President

During the conversation, Albanese informed President Herzog that the Australian government would formally invite him to visit Australia. He said the Governor-General would issue the invitation in line with official protocol and that the visit should take place as soon as possible.

President Herzog said he would accept the invitation. He also mentioned that the President of the Zionist Federation of Australia had sent him a separate official invitation, which he also planned to honour.

President Herzog stressed the urgent need to confront the growing threat of antisemitism, extremism and jihadist terror. He said countries must use all legal measures available to protect communities and prevent such attacks.

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Location : Australia

First Published: December 23, 2025, 15:27 IST

News world Australia's Albanese Dials Israel President, Discusses Antisemitism After Sydney Attack

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'Certain Possibilities' In Uncertain Times: Is Tarique Rahman Being Groomed As Bangladeshs Next PM?

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:16 IST

A senior BNP leader told News18 that the party is preparing for 'multiple political scenarios', including a broad-based alliance ahead of next year's elections

Tarique Rahmans return to his country after almost two decades comes at a moment of unprecedented political churn. File pic/AFP

The much-hyped return of ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zias son, Tarique Rahman, to Bangladesh this week has reignited an old question that has been reverberating across the countrys political circles for almost a year. Is Khaleda Zias elderwho left the country after 2008 and went into a self-imposed exilebeing positioned as the Bangladesh Nationalist Partys prime ministerial face?

While senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remain officially cautious, the speculation is no longer confined to drawing rooms, party offices, and WhatsApp groups. It is now a live political debate.

Khaleda Zia to take final call

Sources within the BNP ranks and files acknowledge that certain possibilities" are being actively discussed. However, they insist the final call rests with party chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.

Despite her sensitive and fragile health condition, party insiders say she continued to monitor political developments closely and remained firmly in control of strategic decisions even before being admitted to the hospital.

Tarique Rahmans return to his country after almost two decades comes at a moment of unprecedented political churn. With the Awami League facing a ban, Sheikh Hasina being in political exile and trying to run a campaign from a foreign land, and her partys organisational machinery having been effectively dismantled, the opposition senses a historic opening. For the BNP, this is not just an election cycle. It is a potential return to power after nearly 15 years in the political wilderness.

For many within the BNP ranks, projecting a familiar name may offer continuity, emotional recall, and also organisational cohesion. For others, it raises uncomfortable questions about dynastic politics at a time when Bangladeshs electorate, particularly its young voters, has been demanding institutional credibility over lineage.

A changed political field, and difficult alliances

A senior BNP leader told News18 that the party is preparing for multiple political scenarios", including a broad-based alliance. In this calculus, Jamaat-e-Islami could emerge as a crucial player. With the Awami League out of contention, Jamaats organisational depth and street-level reach may prove decisive in several constituencies, said another source who does not want to be named.

Yet this alignment carries risks. While it may consolidate votes, it could also sharpen ideological fault lines and invite international scrutiny, particularly at a time when Bangladeshs democratic transition is under close global observation," he added.

The BNP leadership is aware that merely returning to power will not be enough. The next government, if led by the BNP, will also inherit a fractured polity, an economy under strain, and an electorate deeply sceptical of political promises. Whether Tarique Rahman can convincingly represent renewal rather than restoration remains an open question. We will have to restructure and recalibrate everything, starting from our global foreign policy to the neighbour policies, including the one we have with India," he added.

However, for now, the party is choosing ambiguity over announcement. But in Bangladeshs fast-shifting political landscape, silence itself is a signal. And as Tarique Rahman lands on home soil, the question is no longer whether the BNP will return, but in whose name it will seek to govern.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:16 IST

News world 'Certain Possibilities' In Uncertain Times: Is Tarique Rahman Being Groomed As Bangladeshs Next PM?

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China Backs 'Safe And Stable' Polls In Bangladesh Amid Rising Unrest Ahead Of February Election

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 13:52 IST

Chinas comments come in the backdrop of massive unrest in Bangladesh, with journalists and civil society members raising an alarm about deteriorating security conditions

Rapid Read

Over recent years, China has become a principal economic and strategic partner of Dhaka, with massive infrastructure investments and expanded military cooperation. (Getty)

China on Tuesday reiterated its traditional diplomatic posture of cautious support for stability in Bangladesh when asked about the volatile situation in the country marked by violent protests following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, attacks on media outlets, rising lawandorder concerns and broader political tensions.

Asked about Chinas stand on the situation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said: China wishes Bangladesh safe, stable and smooth parliamentary elections. We believe that various sectors of Bangladesh will properly advance important political agendas and uphold national solidarity and stability."

Chinas comments come in the backdrop of massive unrest in Bangladesh. Following the death and national day of mourning for Hadi, who was shot dead in the month, widespread demonstrations have erupted, media offices have been torched, and journalists and civil society members have raised alarms about deteriorating security conditions as the vote approaches. There has also been a rise in the attacks on minorities, with a Hindu garment factory worker being lynched and set ablaze for blasphemy.

Beijings response is also shaped by deepening China-Bangladesh ties. Over recent years, China has become a principal economic and strategic partner of Dhaka, with massive infrastructure investments and expanded military cooperation, particularly since the interim government took office in 2024. Foreign relations analysts note that Chinas emphasis on stability" and national solidarity" aligns with its broader preference for order over unpredictability in partner states, even as the United States and other external actors express concern over violence and democratic norms in Bangladesh.

Chinas stance can also be viewed as contradictory to sharper criticisms from Western and regional voices, which have called for free and fair polls and urged deescalation of violence in the runup to Februarys election. Beijings carefully worded support for stabilitywithout direct critique of the violencereflects its longstanding diplomatic principle of noninterference, but also underscores its strategic interests as Bangladesh approaches a pivotal and highly contested political moment.

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Location : Beijing, China

First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:52 IST

News world China Backs 'Safe And Stable' Polls In Bangladesh Amid Rising Unrest Ahead Of February Election

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'8 Planes Were Shot Down': Trump Again Claims He Stopped India-Pakistan 'Potential Nuclear War'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 07:16 IST

Donald Trump has again claimed that his intervention stopped a potential India-Pakistan war, asserting it prevented a nuclear conflict and saved millions of lives.

A file photo of US President Donald Trump (AP)

Donald Trump on Monday (local time) once again claimed that he played a decisive role in stopping a war between India and Pakistan, asserting that his intervention prevented what he described as a potential nuclear conflict between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking during an interaction with reporters, Trump said, I have solved eight wars. Thailand is starting to shape up with Cambodia, but I think we have it in pretty good shape."

We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India. The Prime Minister of Pakistan said that President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more," he said.

Claiming that the situation was rapidly escalating, Trump said that eight planes were shot down" and that the conflict was on the verge of spiralling into a much larger war before it was stopped.

Eight planes were shot down. That war was starting to rage. The only war I havent solved yet is Russia-Ukraine," Trump asserted.

His remarks referred to the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan that followed New Delhis Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.

The US President has repeatedly claimed that he used trade tariffs as leverage to halt the India-Pakistan conflict, stating on multiple occasions that his intervention settled" the crisis within 24 hours.

India, however, has denied these claims. New Delhi has consistently maintained that the de-escalation followed established military communication channels between the two countries.

According to Indias position, Pakistans Director General of Military Operations contacted the Indian DGMO after suffering heavy damage, following which both sides agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea with effect from May 10.

Indian authorities have underlined that the cessation of hostilities was a bilateral military decision and not the result of any third-party mediation.

During the same interaction with reporters, Trump was also asked about the status of peace talks related to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Responding to the question, he said, The talks are going on between Russia and Ukraine. There is tremendous hatred between President Putin and President Zelenskyy."

He added that the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains the only conflict he has not yet been able to resolve.

Trumps comments come in the backdrop of recent peace talks held in Miami, Florida, involving delegations from the United States and Russia.

Following the conclusion of the talks, Trumps foreign envoy Steve Witkoff said that Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace" in Ukraine.

In a statement, Witkoff said, Over the last two days in Florida, the Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive meetings with the American delegation to advance President Trumps peace plan on Ukraine."

The American delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum.

The statement further said, Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine. Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security."

The negotiations between Russia and the United States were held as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Washington to increase pressure on Moscow.

Separately, Steve Witkoff and Ukraines Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Rustem Umerov, described the Ukrainian delegations meetings with American and European counterparts as productive and constructive."

In a joint statement, they said that discussions were held on the further development of Donald Trumps 20-point plan, including aligning positions on a multilateral security guarantee framework and a US security guarantee framework for Ukraine.

ALSO READ | US Restores Trumps Photo In Epstein Files, Says Was Removed Out Of Abundance Of Caution

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 07:10 IST

News world '8 Planes Were Shot Down': Trump Again Claims He Stopped India-Pakistan 'Potential Nuclear War'

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Donald Trump Named In Jeffrey Epsteins Private Plane Logs For Several Flights

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:04 IST

Donald Trumps name appears in the newly released files, including references to flight records associated with Jeffrey Epsteins private plane.

US President Donald Trump at the White House. (Image Credit: Reuters)

The US Department of Justice released another batch of files related to its investigations into deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, continuing disclosures mandated under a recently passed federal law.

The latest tranche follows the publication of a large set of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents by the Donald Trump administration as the federal government moves to comply with legislation requiring the release of records linked to the disgraced financier.

Donald Trumps name appears in the newly released files, including references to flight records associated with Jeffrey Epsteins private plane, CNN reported. Federal authorities, however, have not accused the US President of any criminal wrongdoing related to Jeffrey Epstein. Officials have repeatedly stressed that the appearance of names in the documents does not, in itself, imply illegal conduct.

Donald Trumps Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein

Donald Trump has previously downplayed the extent of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying he had a very bad relationship" with him for many years." In recent years, Donald Trump has described Jeffrey Epstein as a creep" and said he was not a fan," claiming they had not spoken for a long time before Epsteins death in 2019.

Despite those assertions, court records, photographs, interviews and public documents found evidence of a social relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein that extended into the mid-2000s, before Donald Trump has said he cut ties. The US President has consistently denied any involvement in Jeffrey Epsteins criminal activities and has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing.

In a 2002 New York Magazine profile, Donald Trump described Jeffrey Epstein as a terrific guy," adding that Jeffrey Epstein liked beautiful women on the younger side." Donald Trump later distanced himself from those remarks and has rejected suggestions of a close friendship.

The law compelling the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files passed overwhelmingly in the US Congress last month, despite efforts by the Donald Trump administration to keep portions of the material sealed. Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:04 IST

News world Donald Trump Named In Jeffrey Epsteins Private Plane Logs For Several Flights

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How Do You Justify...: Pakistan Politician Questions Armys Double Standards On India, Afghanistan

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 19:18 IST

Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticizes Pakistan Army's cross-border strikes on Afghanistan, drawing parallels to India's Operation Sindoor and urging policy rethink.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been a consistent critic of Pakistans Afghanistan policy.

A senior Pakistani politician questioned the logic of Islamabads military posture on cross-border strikes, drawing a direct comparison between Pakistans actions against Afghanistan and Indias Operation Sindoor. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticised the Pakistan Army, led by Asim Munir, for carrying out strikes inside Afghanistan that have resulted in civilian casualties. He said Islamabad could not justify such actions while objecting to Indias cross-border operations against terror infrastructure.

If you say that we attacked our enemy in Afghanistan and justify this, then India can also say that it attacked Bahawalpur, Muridke and the headquarters of groups responsible for attacks in Kashmir," Maulana Fazlur Rehman said.

He continued, Then how can you raise objections? The same accusations are now being levelled against Pakistan by Afghanistan. How do you justify both positions?"

Maulana Fazlur Rehman to Pakistans military regime:If you justify attacking Afghanistan by claiming you are targeting your enemy there, then why do you object when India targets its enemy in Bahawalpur and Murid (inside Pakistan)?" pic.twitter.com/T91sdps611  Afghanistan Times (@TimesAFg1) December 23, 2025

Maulana Fazlur Rehmans remarks referenced Operation Sindoor, Indias pre-dawn missile strikes on May 7 targeting nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taibas base in Muridke. The operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir in which 26 civilians were killed by terrorists linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot.

Pakistan- Afghanistan Border Clashes

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been locked in a deepening dispute since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, with Islamabad accusing Afghan authorities of sheltering terrorists- an allegation the Afghan side denies. India has also condemned Pakistans recent military actions against Afghanistan.

We have seen reports of border clashes in which several Afghan civilians have been killed. We condemn such attacks on innocent Afghan people," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been a long-time critic of Pakistans Afghanistan policy and has previously offered to mediate between the two sides during periods of heightened tension.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 19:00 IST

News world How Do You Justify...: Pakistan Politician Questions Armys Double Standards On India, Afghanistan

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How An Activists Killing Sparked A Crisis That Shadowed Bangladeshs Feb 12 Polls | Exclusive

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:39 IST

Amid protests and calls for justice for Hadi, Bangladesh's Yunus has promised polls on time. News18 decodes intel assessment of how the crisis could impact political situation

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Muhammad Yunus said general elections will be held on February 12, saying the country was determined to restore democratic rights stolen by an autocratic regime. (File/PTI)

At a time when Bangladesh should have been bracing for its much-needed elections in February 2026, the country is witnessing street violence, triggered by the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 in Dhakas Bijoynagar area, a day after the Election Commission announced that the next national election would be held on February 12. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment on December 15, but died on December 18.

News18 decodes intelligence assessment of how the crisis could add to the political instability in the country.

Bangladesh elections 2026: Intelligence assessment on number game, ground reality

The elections are crucial for the country marred by political upheaval since 2024, which led to the ouster of then PM Sheikh Hasina, and formation of an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Intelligence sources analysed the numbers and ground sentiment. Yunus lacks a mass vote base and derives relevance from instability. Hasinas Awami League has 30% vote share and Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was ready to use that in the form of independent candidates. Zias son and current chief of BNP Tarique Rahman was to reach Dhaka on December 5, 2025, but hasnt so far," they said.

Given the current situation, an announcement of elections could only add to the violence. Earlier, the protests were led by structured cadres, but the current trend is leaderless and decentralised, adding to the unpredictability and risk. Many sections in the Yunus-led administration are anyway not keen on the elections, and the street violence could work in their favour," according to the assessment.

Meanwhile, radical groups in Bangladesh are fuelling the anti-India sentiment to keep the pressure intact. For instance, the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh is using large Friday venues such as the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Khatunganj Jame Masjid, and Shahi Eidgah for sermons against India, mentioning Ayodhya, Kashmir, NRC, CAA, and border incidents, according to intelligence sources. The Qawmi and Aliya madrasas are systemically training students, with India-centric modules highlighting the alleged injustice" through informal discussions, guest preachers. They are using digital media by making reels, voice notes in Bangla as portray India in bad light, claim sources.

Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu garment factory worker in Bhaluka, Mymensingh district in Bangladesh, was attacked and beaten to death by a mob on December 18, after unverified rumours spread that he had insulted Islam, even though investigators later found no evidence that he made any blasphemous remarks. A Hindu rickshaw puller, Gobinda Biswas, in Jhenaidah district was assaulted by a mob after rumours spread accusing him of being linked to an Indian intelligence agency. The incidents have led to outrage and protests in India.

Will hold general elections on February 12, affirms Yunus

Yunus on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to holding general elections on February 12, saying the country was determined to restore democratic rights that had been stolen by an autocratic regime.

The nation is eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights," Yunus said, during a telephonic conversation with Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, around 7:30 pm (Dhaka time). He later shared details of the discussion in a post on X.

No elections till Hadi gets justice: Inqilab Moncho

Hadi was among those leading the student-led uprising of mid-2024 that helped topple the long-time government of Sheikh Hasina. He was the spokesperson and co-founder of Inqilab Moncho (Platform for Revolution), a youth political movement rooted in the anti-government protests. His death led to large protests across Bangladesh, led mainly by students and young activists, in Dhaka and other cities demanding justice. While many rallies began peacefully, some turned violent, with clashes between protesters and security forces and attacks on media offices and political buildings.

The Inqilab Moncho has now demanded that his killers be brought to justice before the 13th national election and the referendum in Bangladesh, BDNews24 reported on Monday. According to BDNews24, Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber of the group said at a media briefing on Monday that it will protest in the streets until justice is delivered. You cant get away without informing [the people] who the murderer of Hadi was by just holding an election  this is not done. Justice [for Hadi] must be ensured before the election. Otherwise, no election will take place. Inqilab Moncho will not leave the streets until the murderers and their backers are brought to justice."

As per BDNews24, the group has placed three demands which include the formation of a fast-track judicial tribunal to try the killing of Hadi, with the investigation involving international intelligence agencies, including the FBI and Scotland Yard; identification and prosecution of Awami collaborators allegedly hiding within civil and military intelligence structures; and the home advisor, Chief Advisors Special Assistant Khoda Baksh, and the law advisor to provide explanations and then resign from their posts.

Hadi killing: Action taken so far

Bangladeshs Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday said Hadis killing will be taken up by the Speedy Trial Tribunal to ensure timely justice, according to the Daily Star. In a Facebook post, Nazrul said the trial will be conducted under the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002. He added that, under Section 10 of the law, the trial must be completed within 90 days of the police submitting their investigation report, the Daily Star reported.

Separately, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said authorities have made progress in the investigation and are working to arrest the main accused, Faisal Karim Masud. Speaking after a meeting on the law and order situation at the Secretariat, Alam said joint forces comprising police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have arrested 10 people so far. Those detained include the prime suspects wife, his parents, his brother-in-law, and the owner of the motorcycle allegedly used in the murder, Daily Star reported.

When asked about the whereabouts of the primary shooter, the home adviser said, If we knew where he was, he would have already been arrested."

Just days after the assassination of Hadi, another political leader from the Jatiya Sramik Shakti, an affiliate of the National Citizen Party (NCP), was shot in broad daylight in Khulna, according to BD News. Motaleb Shikdar, a leader of Jatiya Sramik Shakti, the labour wing affiliated with the NCP, was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

With inputs from ANI, agencies

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 13:01 IST

News world How An Activists Killing Sparked A Crisis That Shadowed Bangladeshs Feb 12 Polls | Exclusive

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'If India Attacks Dhaka...': Pakistan Leader Calls For Military Alliance With Bangladesh

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:37 IST

Kamran Saeed Usmani made the remarks in a video statement in which he also called for a formal military alliance between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Kamran Saeed Usmani is a leader of the youth wing of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs party.

A leader of the youth wing of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs party, Pakistan Muslim League, said that Pakistans military and missile capabilities would come into play in the event of any attack on Bangladesh. Kamran Saeed Usmani made the remarks in a video statement circulated online, calling for a formal military alliance between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

If India attacks Bangladeshs autonomy, if anyone dares to look at Bangladesh with ill intent, then remember that the people of Pakistan, the Pakistani armed forces and our missiles are not far away," Usmani said.

Usmani alleged that Pakistan would not accept what he described as attempts to impose Indias Akhand Bharat ideology" on Bangladesh. In another video message, he said Pakistan does not accept Bangladesh being pushed into what he termed Indias ideological dominance," adding that even an evil eye" cast on Bangladeshs autonomy would draw a response.

Outlining a hypothetical strategic scenario, Usmani spoke of coordinated pressure, with Pakistan acting from the west, Bangladesh from the east and China remaining focused on Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

In a separate statement, Usmani went further by proposing a formal military arrangement between Pakistan and Bangladesh. He alleged that Bangladesh was being disturbed" by Indias Border Security Force and accused New Delhi of attempting to destabilise the country.

Our proposal is that Pakistan and Bangladesh should form a military alliance- Pakistan should set up a military base in Bangladesh and Bangladesh should set up a military base in Pakistan," he said.

Usmani also suggested that such cooperation could link the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with Bangladeshi ports, arguing that shared access to ports and sea routes would significantly alter regional power dynamics.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:37 IST

News world 'If India Attacks Dhaka...': Pakistan Leader Calls For Military Alliance With Bangladesh

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Pakistan Scrambles To Strengthen Anti-Drone Shield Along LoC After Operation Sindoor Drubbing

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 09:13 IST

According to sources, the Pakistani Army is rapidly deploying drone detection and jamming systems in forward areas along the LoC.

Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Asim Munir (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Pakistan has begun urgently reinforcing its defences along the Line of Control (LoC), driven by mounting anxiety within its military establishment over the possibility of another swift, technology-driven Indian operation, intelligence sources have told CNN-News18.

According to sources, the Pakistani Army is rapidly deploying drone detection and jamming systems in forward areas along the LoC. Intelligence inputs indicate that at least 35 specialised anti-drone units have been deployed close to the LoC under eight Pakistani Army brigades. These deployments have been specifically observed opposite Rawalakot, Kotli and Bhimber  locations that Indian security planners consider strategically sensitive.

Intelligence officials say the choice of these sectors reflects Pakistans growing concern over Indias expanding drone and loitering munition capabilities, showcased during Operation Sindoor. Sources describe the Pakistani Army as deeply unsettled" by the Indian Armys ability to conduct surveillance, targeting and precision strikes using unmanned systems with minimal warning time.

Anti-drone warfare has now emerged as a key operational priority for Pakistans military leadership, which fears that any future Indian action could be fast, localised and heavily reliant on advanced technology rather than large-scale troop movements. Intelligence assessments suggest Islamabad is particularly worried about its limited ability to counter swarming drones and loitering munitions in rugged LoC terrain.

This defensive push is taking place even as Pakistan struggles to repair infrastructure damaged during Operation Sindoor. Intelligence sources say that instead of slowing military spending, Pakistan has simultaneously fast-tracked weapons procurement to plug critical capability gaps. Over the past two to three months, Islamabad has held multiple rounds of talks with China and Turkey for emergency arms purchases as well as joint production arrangements.

According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan is inducting new command-and-control vehicles to improve battlefield coordination and has finalised a deal to acquire 300 Fatah rockets, boosting its long-range strike capability. In parallel, the Pakistani Army is overhauling its armoured fleet and replacing ageing tanks that are increasingly vulnerable in a battlefield dominated by drones and precision munitions.

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 09:13 IST

News world Pakistan Scrambles To Strengthen Anti-Drone Shield Along LoC After Operation Sindoor Drubbing

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'Religious Persecution': Indian-American Legislator Condemns Hindu Man's Lynching In Bangladesh

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 11:35 IST

Jenifer Rajkumar condemned the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, highlighting ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

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New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (Image: X/@JeniferRajkumar)

New York state assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar on Tuesday strongly condemned the mob lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladeshs Mymensingh, warning that the incident reflects what she described as a troubling pattern of violence against Hindus and religious minorities" in the South Asian nation.

In a statement, the Indian-American Democrat leader said she was deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence against Bangladeshs Hindu minority," pointing to the killing of Dipu Chandra Das (25), who was beaten to death by a violent mob and later his body was set on fire on a highway.

The horrific mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das underscores a troubling pattern of violence against Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh," Rajkumar stated in a strongly worded post on X. We must stand togetherfrom Queens to across the globefor human rights, justice, and religious freedom," she further wrote.

The horrific mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das underscores a troubling pattern of violence against Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh. We must stand togetherfrom Queens to across the globefor human rights, justice, and religious freedom. pic.twitter.com/BcmsZfxuLg Jenifer Rajkumar (@JeniferRajkumar) December 23, 2025

She noted that the ongoing violence against Bangladeshs Hindu minority was exemplified most recently by the brutal lynching" of Das. The assemblywoman further said the killing was not an isolated incident but part of a wider pattern of religious persecution and targeted violence against minorities" in Bangladesh.

She stressed that the killing should not be viewed in isolation. This incident is part of a troubling pattern of religious persecution and targeted violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh," the statement read.

She pointed to figures documented by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, which she said recorded thousands of incidents of violence and vandalism against minority communities in the country in one-year period, ending July 2025. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented 2,442 incidents of violence against minorities and over 150 temples vandalized from August 2024 to July 2025," the statement mentioned.

According to Rajkumar, such figures point to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity for minority communities, particularly Hindus, and have repercussions beyond Bangladeshs borders. From Queens to countries across the globe, we all share in the fear, pain, and uncertainty faced by Hindus in Bangladesh," she said.

Rajkumar expressed solidarity with Bangladeshs Hindu community, reiterating her support for protecting human rights and religious freedom worldwide. We stand in solidarity with Bangladeshs Hindu community and for human rights and religious freedom globally," she further stated.

Rajkumar represents a Queens district with a large immigrant population, including members of the South Asian and Bangladeshi diaspora, and has been a vocal advocate on civil rights and religious freedom. Her statement comes amid heightened concern among diaspora groups and human rights organisations over reports of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh amid unrest and political tensions.

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Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: December 23, 2025, 11:35 IST

News world 'Religious Persecution': Indian-American Legislator Condemns Hindu Man's Lynching In Bangladesh

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As result of the ninth massive attack by the Russian Federation on the energy sector since the beginning of the year, consumers in the Rivne, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions were almost completely without electricity as of Tuesday morning, Acting Minister of Energy Artem Nekrasov said.

In addition, according to him, there are also power outages due to shelling in Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr regions and in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.

Emergency power outages are in effect in most regions of Ukraine.
Russian Man Kills 25-Year-Old Ex-Wife At A 5-Star Hotel Over Suspicion She Worked As Escort

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 18:35 IST

The Russian man was arrested in St. Petersburg for allegedly murdering his ex-wife, a Pobeda flight attendant, at Dubai's Voco Bonnington hotel.

Representative image

A 41-year-old Russian national has been arrested for allegedly killing his ex-wife, a flight attendant. The incident took place at a 5-star hotel in Dubai where 25-year-old Anastasia was found dead with at least 15 stab wounds.

According to The NY Post, the man allegedly killed his ex over suspicion that she worked as a high-end escort while they were still married.

The accused, identified as Albert Morgan, was arrested on suspicion of murder immediately after his plane touched down in St. Petersburg. As per the reports, Morgan allegedly stalked his ex-wife to the United Arab Emirates.

He reached Dubais Voco Bonnington hotel and reportedly posed as a guest. Furthermore, he persuaded a maid to let him enter the womans room.

Initially, Morgan didnt plan to kill Anastasia, his plan was to douse her in green paint and use the scissors to chop off her hair. However, during a fight between the two, she was killed and Morgan fled from the scene, NY reported.

According to the local media, the victim, a flight attendant at Russian airline Pobeda, was found with at least 15 stab wounds to her neck, torso and limbs.

Dubai police identified Morgan as the suspect from security footage and informed Russian authorities, who arrested him upon his arrival at St. Petersburg.

Once in custody, Morgan reportedly requested to be sent to fight for Russia in Ukraine  a tactic that many alleged Russian criminals have used to avoid prison time.

Morgan and Anastasia separated after two years of marriage.

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Location : Russia

First Published: December 23, 2025, 18:35 IST

News world Russian Man Kills 25-Year-Old Ex-Wife At A 5-Star Hotel Over Suspicion She Worked As Escort

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Trump's Christmas Offer To Illegal Migrants: $3,000 And Free Flights For Those Who Self-Deport

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 16:21 IST

The payment is three times higher than the $1,000 incentive announced by the administration in May.

US President Donald Trump at the White House.

The Donald Trump administration announced a Christmas-season incentive offering undocumented immigrants cash payments and paid travel to leave the United States voluntarily, as part of a broader push to accelerate deportations and reduce enforcement costs.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said undocumented migrants who register to self-deport through the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend- about Rs 2,70,738- along with a free flight out of the country.

Illegal aliens who sign up to self-deport through the CBP Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend in addition to a free flight home," DHS said, adding that participants would also qualify for forgiveness of civil fines or penalties related to overstaying.

The payment is three times higher than the $1,000 incentive announced by the administration in May. The move is part of a campaign aimed at speeding up removals of illegal migrants while lowering the costs associated with arrests, detention and deportation.

Self-deportation through the CBP Home app is the best gift that an illegal alien can give themselves and their families this holiday season," the DHS statement said, adding, Its a fast, free and easy process."

The department warned that those who did not take advantage of the offer would face enforcement action.

Those illegal aliens who dont take advantage of this special offer today have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported, and they will never be able to return to the United States," it said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed the warning, urging undocumented migrants to accept what she described as a gift".

If they dont, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return," she said.

According to DHS, about 1.9 million undocumented migrants have voluntarily left the United States, with tens of thousands using the CBP Home app since January 2025.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 16:21 IST

News world Trump's Christmas Offer To Illegal Migrants: $3,000 And Free Flights For Those Who Self-Deport

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US Embassy In India Says Vetting Now In Place For H-1B, H-4 Visa Applicants, Delays Expected

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 08:50 IST

The US Embassy in India has expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants worldwide from December 15 as part of standard visa screening.

A representative photo for an H-1B visa application (PTI)

The US Embassy in India on Monday announced a significant expansion of visa screening procedures for H-1B and H-4 applicants, confirming that beginning December 15, the United States has widened online presence reviews to cover all applicants under these categories as part of standard visa adjudication.

In a post on social media platform X, the embassy mentioned, Worldwide alert for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening."

It further clarified that the vetting is being carried out globally and applies to ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas."

The embassy described the enhanced screening measures as part of a broader effort to ensure the integrity of the H-1B visa programme.

It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers," the post said.

While confirming that the new vetting process may result in delays, the US Embassy stressed that visa operations remain ongoing.

US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 nonimmigrant visa applications," it said, advising applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications."

WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTSBeginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities pic.twitter.com/qMrMrOvqy0  U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) December 22, 2025

The announcement comes amid widespread disruption to visa processing schedules in India, where thousands of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews slated from December 15 onwards have been abruptly postponed by several months.

According to affected applicants, interviews originally fixed for mid-December have been deferred to March, while some appointments scheduled later in the month have been pushed to as late as May.

The mass rescheduling of interviews has caused hardship for many applicants, particularly those who had already travelled to India for their visa appointments.

A large number of such applicants are currently unable to return to the United States as they do not hold valid H-1B visas required for re-entry, raising concerns about prolonged work disruptions.

Indian professionals form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders, especially in sectors such as information technology and healthcare.

The latest development coincides with a broader crackdown by the US authorities on alleged misuse of the H-1B programme and illegal immigration.

In earlier posts, the US Embassy has consistently underlined that a US visa is a privilege, not a right."

In a June 19 post on X, the embassy stated, A US visa is a privilege, not a right. US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued  and we may revoke your visa if you break the law."

The Indian government has acknowledged the expanded screening measures.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the US administration has announced that every visa adjudication is a national security decision."

He added that expanded screening applies to student, exchange visitor, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, impacting appointment schedules.

Singh also noted that visa issuance and related policies are the sovereign prerogative of the issuing country, while adding that India remains engaged" with the US to promote secure and mutually beneficial mobility frameworks for students and professionals.

ALSO READ | True Christian Politics: JD Vance Defends H-1B Restrictions By US As Indians Face Visa Turmoil

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First Published: December 23, 2025, 08:45 IST

News world US Embassy In India Says Vetting Now In Place For H-1B, H-4 Visa Applicants, Delays Expected

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We Are Not Afraid: Imran Khans Sister Leads Sit-In At Adiala Jail Over Solitary Confinement

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Last Updated: December 23, 2025, 21:52 IST

Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan said they were not intimidated by police action, including the use of water cannons.

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan remained in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail, marking the 22nd consecutive day of his isolation, as no meetings were permitted after jail visiting hours ended. Imran Khans last approved meeting was with his sister Aleema Khan on December 2. Since then, authorities have not allowed family members or party representatives to meet the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder.

In response, Aleema Khan and senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced a sit-in outside Adiala Jail. Party leaders and workers gathered near the prison complex, chanting slogans and staging protests against the jail administration, police, the military establishment and the government led by Shehbaz Sharif.

Addressing protesters, Aleema Khan said they were not intimidated by police action, including the use of water cannons, which authorities had deployed during the last two demonstrations to disperse PTI supporters.

We are not afraid of any water cannons, shelling or bullets," she said, adding that the family was seeking only to meet Imran Khan and that the government was not fulfilling its constitutional obligations."

She also questioned the decision to keep Imran Khan in solitary confinement and demanded an explanation from Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir.

If he wants to talk to Imran Khan, he has to come to Adiala," Aleema Khan said, reiterating that her brother would not engage with what she described as corrupt regimes."

Aleema Khan further alleged that suggestions of negotiations or of shifting Imran Khan out of Adiala Jail surface only when pressure on the authorities increases. She warned that any attempt to move Imran Khan would provoke a strong response, claiming that Imran Khan had issued directions that such a move would trigger a complete shutdown in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: December 23, 2025, 21:52 IST

News world We Are Not Afraid: Imran Khans Sister Leads Sit-In At Adiala Jail Over Solitary Confinement

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Russia has once again carried out attacks on DTEK thermal power plants, damaging their equipment, the energy holding company jas reported.

"This is the seventh massive attack on the company's thermal power plants since October. In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, DTEK thermal power plants have been attacked by the enemy more than 210 times," the report says.

DTEK noted that four energy workers were killed and 59 injured as a result of attacks on its thermal power plants.

As reported, as a result of the ninth massive attack by the Russian Federation on the energy sector since the beginning of the year, consumers in the Rivne, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions were almost completely without electricity on the morning of December 23, Acting Minister of Energy Artem Nekrasov said.

In addition, according to him, there are also power outages in Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr regions and in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions due to shelling.

The Ministry of Energy clarified that emergency power outages are applied in all regions of Ukraine, and will be canceled after the situation stabilizes. According to him, nuclear power plants were forced to reduce power after attacks on the networks that provide it.
Florida's death chamber isn't just busy it's being pushed to a pace a former prison warden says the system can't safely handle. Ron McAndrew, who once ran Florida State Prison and oversaw three executions, is sounding that alarm in light of the lawsuit filed by death row prisoner Frank Walls before he became the 19th person executed by the state this year. Walls didn't challenge the death penalty itself, but how Florida is carrying it out. His suit claimed the Department of Corrections mishandled lethal injection drugs, kept inadequate pharmacy logs, failed to consistently document how drugs are mixed and used, used insufficient doses at least twice this year, and also used chemicals after their expiration dates in four executions.

"These are not minor paperwork issues," but "serious failures," McAndrew wrote at the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday, a day before Walls' execution. He said lethal injection is built on a precise sequence: the first drug is supposed to fully knock a person out before later drugs paralyze and stop the heart. If the drugs are weak, expired, or mis-dosed, McAndrew warned, a prisoner could feel intense pain while unable to communicateconstituting cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Constitution. The lawsuit essentially asked whether Florida's current pace and practices still guard against that outcome.

McAndrew noted "how easily such failures can occur when executions are scheduled back-to-back." Executions require a teamofficers, medical staff, supervisorsperforming complex, high-stress tasks, from checking records to monitoring signs of consciousness, with no margin for error. When execution dates stack up, he wrote, there's less time for careful review or emotional recovery, and the burden falls on rank-and-file staff, not the politicians touting "toughness." "Florida should listen to what this lawsuit is telling us," McAndrew concluded. Read the full piece here.
Betty Reid Soskin, who rose to national fame as the oldest National Park Service ranger and used the spotlight to talk about the African American experience during World War II, has died. She was 104. Her family and the park service announced Soskin's death on social media, the AP reports, saying she was surrounded by loved ones at her home in California when she died Sunday. "She was a powerful voice for sharing her personal experiences, highlighting untold stories, and honoring the contributions of women from diverse backgrounds who worked on the World War II Home Front. Thank you for your service, Ranger Betty," the park service said in a statement.

At 85, the community activist was hired as an interpretive ranger at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. The site at a former shipyard and other parts of the working-class city honor civilians who worked on the homefront during the war. Soskin helped plan the park while a state legislative aide. She played a key role in shaping and designing the park by ensuring that it included the contributions of Black men and women. They include the 202 Black sailors who were killed in the July 1944 explosion at Port Chicago, on the northeastern flank of San Francisco Bay, where they were assigned to a segregated unit, loading munitions onto cargo ships bound for the Pacific Theater. Unsafe working conditions led 50 survivors of the blast to refuse to load munitions. They were court-martialed and convicted of mutiny in a trial that exposed systemic racial inequality in the Navy.

As a clerk for the all-Black boilermaker's union in Richmond, Soskin advocated for telling the stories of the women who didn't get to help build the battleships because of the color of their skin. "Rosie the Riveter represents the white woman's experience on the homefront during the war, but as a woman of color, I was never recognized for my work," she wrote in an October 2020 essay for Newsweek. Those who met Soskin during visits to the park took to social media Monday to say it was an honor and that she was an amazing woman. One described her as a jewel of the park system, while others said she served as an inspiration for young rangers.

Her family recounted Soskin's many roles: mother, daughter, musician, author, political activist, wife, record store owner, songwriter, painter, grandmother, great-grandmother, and prolific blogger. She led "a fully packed life and was ready to leave," the family posted online. In 1995, Soskin was named Woman of the Year by the California Legislature, and she later received the National WWII Museum's Silver Service Medallion. She wrote her She wrote her autobiography in 2018, Sign My Name to Freedom: A Memoir of a Pioneering Life. At the park, her weekly lectures drew large audiences. They also garnered national attention, including the chance to introduce then-President Barack Obama at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in 2015. In 2008, Glamour magazine named her one of its women of the year. "I became a ranger when most people retire so I had no idea what it required of me, but it opened up a lot of opportunities that would have been closed to me otherwise," she wrote in her essay. She retired in March 2022.
Prices for short-term housing rentals ahead of the holiday season on the OLX Real Estate platform increased in most regions, rising by 517% in Kyiv region and by as much as 67% in the Carpathians, the company's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

In particular, in Kyiv region, median prices for two-room apartments in Brovary rose by 17% to UAH 1,050 per day, in Bucha by 6% to UAH 1,200 per day, while one-room apartments in Hostomel increased by 5% to UAH 950 per day (comparison period: December 15November 15 versus November 15October 15, 2025). At the same time, prices for one-room apartments in Vyshneve declined by 8% to UAH 1,100 per day. Prices in Hatne and Irpin remained unchanged.

In Lviv region, according to OLX data, no changes in median prices were recorded in December in the suburban areas of Vynnyky, Malekhiv and Zymna Voda. It is noted that overall, prices there are almost no different from those recorded in Kyiv region. For example, a one-room apartment in Malekhiv can be rented for UAH 750 per day, while a two-room apartment in Vynnyky costs UAH 1,200 per day.

A significant increase in median prices was recorded in the Carpathians. One-room apartments in Yablunytsia rose in price by 67% to UAH 5,000 per day, while three-room apartments in Yaremche increased by 44% to UAH 1,300 per day. At the same time, on the OLX platform, apartments with fewer rooms in Yaremche are more expensive: the median price for one-room apartments is UAH 2,000 per day, and for two-room apartments UAH 2,725 per day.
Two Florida men left for a day of fishing and never came back. Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew, 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier, both of whom are attorneys, headed out from Fort Myers before sunrise on Friday in a 42-foot Freeman fishing boat and were expected to return that afternoon, relatives say. When evening passed with no calls or messages, Billmaier's wife, Deborah, alerted the US Coast Guard, triggering an overnight air search across the Gulf of Mexico, per Fox News . Early Sunday, a Coast Guard crew spotted the vessel drifting about 70 miles off the Florida coast. The engine was still running and the boat was in gear, officials said, but Spivey and Billmaier were gone.

Investigators also found the boat's emergency position-indicating radio beacon, which can transmit distress signals, still on board the vessel, which has since been taken to Fort Myers Beach. Hoping the pair were wearing life jackets, officials continued searching for them until sunset on Monday, when the search was suspended, per Gulf Coast News. In a statement, relatives of the missing said they were informed there is a high likelihood "that if Randy and Brandon were on the surface of the water, they would have been found." They added "the search effort has covered an area larger than the entire state of Connecticut."

The family described this as the right decision, though a "heartbreaking" one. Spivey "was an attorney helping those who were injured for over 30 years," with Billmaier following in footsteps of his uncle, whom he looked up to as a father figure, the statement said. He and Deborah had just married, a relative tells Gulf Coast News. Authorities are asking anyone with information on the men's whereabouts to reach out. Spivey is described as 6'1", 245 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, last seen in khaki pants and a dark shirt. Billmaier is 6'2", 250 pounds, with strawberry blond hair and brown eyes.
World War II Navy veteran Ira "Ike" Schab, one of the dwindling number of survivors of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 105. Daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs told the AP that Schab died at home in Oregon early Saturday. "He passed peacefully while listening to swing music, with his family by his side," Pacific Historic Parks said in an Instagram post. With his death, there remain only about a dozen survivors of the attack, which killed just over 2,400 troops and propelled the US into the war. Another survivor, 102-year-old Ivan Atkins, died last month.

Schab was a sailor of just 21 at the time of the attack, and for decades he rarely spoke about the experience. But in recent years, aware that the corps of survivors was dwindling, the centenarian made a point of traveling from his home in Beaverton, Oregon, to the annual observance at the Hawaii military base. "To pay honor to the guys that didn't make it," he said in 2023.
UPDATE

Dec 23, 2025 10:31 AM CST

Three inmates described as dangerous who escaped from a jail near Atlanta on Monday have been caught in Florida, per the AP. The trio were picked up in Broward County, according to WSB-TV, but no details were immediately available on the arrests. Authorities confirmed their capture early Tuesday as the investigation into how they escaped continues.

Dec 22, 2025 5:23 PM CST

Three inmatesincluding one who was being held on a murder charge and one already convicted of murderhave escaped from a county jail just east of Atlanta, authorities say. The breakout happened early Monday morning at the DeKalb County Jail and was discovered during a routine security check, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office said. "We take this breach very seriously and are working diligently to ensure these individuals are safely returned to custody as quickly as possible," Sheriff Melody Maddox said in a statement. There were no immediate details about how the escape was carried out, the AP reports.
The Trump administration is ordering more than two dozen ambassadors and other senior envoys to leave their posts within weeks. Ambassadors in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe began receiving calls last week from Washington telling them to depart by mid-January, the Washington Post reports. The move has alarmed many members of the diplomatic corps; a senior State Department official defended the decision as routine. All are career diplomats, CNN notes, who have served under presidents of both parties. The idea is to install appointees loyal to the administration in high levels, per the Guardian .

The administration is working to ensure compliance with President Trump's "America First" policies, current and former officials said. The union that represents American diplomats objected. "To remove these senior diplomats without cause or justification sends a dangerous message," the American Foreign Service Association said in a statement. "It tells our public servants that loyalty to country is no longer enoughthat experience and oath to the Constitution take a back seat to political loyalty." Once they've returned to Washington, the diplomats will have 90 days to secure a new role at the State Department or retire. With the State Department short on senior openings, per the Post, finding a new position so quickly would seem to be difficult.

The recalls deepen tensions between Trump's political appointees and career officials after Secretary of State Marco Rubio cut more than 1,300 jobs over the summer and authorized dismantling the US Agency for International Development. It could also leave important embassies without experienced leadership. "An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president's right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the 'America First' agenda," a senior State Department official said.
A homicide case in Florida has taken an unusual turn, with investigators alleging that a woman killed two former husbands in separate shootings on the same day, USA Today reports. Authorities say Susan Erica Avalon was arrested Dec. 18 and charged with second-degree homicide in connection with the death of a 54-year-old man in Manatee County. Sheriff Rick Wells said deputies were called to the victim's home around 3pm on Dec. 17 and found him shot twice. He later died at a hospital, but before he was pronounced dead, he told investigators the shooter was "possibly my ex-wife" and said he was attacked after opening his front door.

The man's 15-year-old daughter, whose mother is Avalon, was inside the home and heard the gunfire, according to Wells. She told investigators she looked outside and saw a person in a gray sweatshirt and mask leave in a silver car. Detectives traced the vehicle and went to Avalon's home the following day, where deputies said they saw her cleaning the car's interior with bleach and other products. When told they wanted to talk about her ex-husband, Wells said Avalon responded, "Which one," WPBF reports.

That response prompted investigators to check on a second ex-husband living in Tampa. Tampa police officers went to his Hillsborough County residence and found him fatally shot. Authorities say they believe Avalon left her home in Citrus County, drove first to Tampa, killed her second ex-husband, then continued to Manatee County, where the other ex-husband was shot. A motive has not been formally established, but Wells said Avalon owed more than $4,000 in child support to the Manatee County victim, whom she divorced more than 10 years ago, the Morning Sun reports. Prosecutors are expected to seek a grand jury indictment for first-degree murder, which could carry the death penalty.
A blockbuster weight-loss drug will soon be available in pill form, Stat News reports. The FDA on Monday cleared an oral version of Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy, making it the first GLP-1 pill specifically approved for weight loss and for lowering cardiovascular riskmirroring the indications of the injectable version of the drug. Novo says it will roll out the drug in January, but has not disclosed its list price.

In a late-stage trial, the highest approved dose of the pill, 25 milligrams, produced average weight loss of about 14%, comparable to injectable Wegovy. The company is betting that a once-daily pilleasier to take and ship than a refrigerated injectionwill broaden access to GLP-1 drugs, which are already in high demand as Wegovy and Eli Lilly's rival shot Zepbound surge in popularity. Novo already sells a related GLP-1 pill, Rybelsus, but that product is limited to treating type 2 diabetes.

Whether the new pill helps Novo regain ground from Lilly is unclear. The tablet uses peptide molecules that are harder for the body to absorb, requiring more active ingredient and a strict dosing routine: patients must take it in the morning at least 30 minutes before eating. Lilly's competing GLP-1 pill candidate, orforglipron, now under FDA review, uses a smaller molecule that may be simpler to manufacture and has no timing restrictions, though trial data showed less weight loss than oral Wegovy. The drugs mimic a naturally occurring hormone that helps people feel full and controls appetite, the Guardian reports.

Cost will heavily shape access. Novo and Lilly have already struck a deal with the Trump administration to offer their obesity pills, once fully approved, at $150 a month for the lowest dose via cash-pay, direct-to-consumer programsbelow the current list prices for low-dose injections. The starting dose is 1.5 milligrams, CNBC reports. What insurers, employers, and patients will ultimately pay for higher doses of the new pills, however, remains undecided.
James Cameron is still not laughing about one of the Golden Globes' sharper punchlines ... from 2013. Variety pulls out this tidbit from a recent interview with the New York Times , in which the Titanic and Avatar director called Amy Poehler's Globes joke about his brief marriage to Kathryn Bigelow an "ignorant dig" that crossed a line. Hosting with Tina Fey that year, Poehler introduced Bigelownominated for directing Zero Dark Thirtyby cracking, "When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron," a line that drew gasps in the room.

Cameron said the ceremony should be "a celebration of cinema and filmmakers, not a roast," adding that while he's "pretty thick-skinned" and fine being targeted by "a good-natured joke," this one "went too far." He added, "The fact that people found it funny shows exactly what they think of me, even though they have no idea who I am or how I work."

He also pushed back on the long-running narrative of rivalry with Bigelow, who beat him at the 2010 Oscars when The Hurt Locker won best picture and she took best director over his Avatar. Cameron said he was "the first one on my feet applauding" and that both he and Bigelow found the media storyline around their past relationship "pretty funny" but ultimately distracting from her work. The two were married from 1989 to 1991 and collaborated on projects including Point Break and Strange Days. They stayed friendly after divorcing, and Cameron says they still advise one another on their projects, Us reports.
CBS' flagship newsmagazine is now at the center of its own story after a finished 60 Minutes investigation into Trump-era deportations was yanked just before going on the air. In a private staff meeting on Monday, executive producer Tanya Simon said she backs the reporting on Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison but couldn't resolve last-minute objections from CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss, according to a transcript obtained by the Washington Post . Weiss, brought in this year as the network's top editor, wanted additional reporting, including an on-camera interview with a Trump administration official.

The report leaked in Canada, but in the US, promo spots on the piecewhich was vetted by standards, legal, and senior editors, including Weissvanished from the 60 Minutes website by Sunday; a CBS spokesperson said it will air after more reporting is done. The decision has triggered newsroom unrest and political backlash. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who led the segment, called the move "political" in an internal email and warned that conditioning broadcast on administration participation would hand officials "a 'kill switch' for any reporting they find inconvenient." Alfonsi said Homeland Security turned down an interview and referred questions to El Salvador's government, which didn't respond.

The piece included archival remarks from President Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who described deported migrants as "heinous monsters" and violent criminals. A Human Rights Watch report alleges systematic abuse and torture of Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador. Weiss, meanwhile, speaking at a Monday editorial meeting, defended the delay as a matter of standards, saying she "held that story because it wasn't ready" and stressing the need to make "every effort" to get top officials on camera. She also noted the story did not "advance the ball" on CECOT, per the AP.

Media ethicists and journalism professors say the desire for on-the-record government comment is routine but argue that pulling a fully vetted, deeply reported investigation hours before airtime is rare, and risky, per the Post. Critics, including Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz and Ed Markey, accused CBS of capitulating to Trump. Simon told staff she wouldn't "ascribe motive," but she reiterated that she supports the story and her team. Axios has more on CECOT itself.
A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient and seven others crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least five people and setting off a search in waters along the Texas coast, officials said. Four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child, Mexico's Navy said in a statement to the AP . Two of the passengers were from a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children with severe burns, including transports to a Galveston hospital. US Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker said at least five aboard had died but did not identify which passengers. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Mexico's Marine Corps said in a statement that it is sending "its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident." The crash took place Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay near the base of the causeway that connects Galveston Island to the mainland. Emergency responders and search teams rushed to the scene near the popular beach destination along the Texas coast that is about 50 miles southeast of Houston.

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives about a mile from the crash site, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help. He said he picked up two police officers who directed him through thick fog to a nearly completely submerged plane. Decker jumped in the water and found a badly injured woman trapped beneath chairs and other debris. "I couldn't believe. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in," he said. "And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life." He said he also pulled out a man sitting in front of her who had already died. He described both of them as dressed in civilian clothes.

Mexico's Navy said the plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which provides emergency transports to children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children's hospital in Galveston, according to the nonprofit's website. The Navy said the plane had an "accident" during its approach to Galveston but did not elaborate. It's not immediately clear if weather was a factor. The area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that at about 2:30pm Monday a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility.
America's official clock briefly lagged this week, thanks to a windstorm in Colorado and a backup system that didn't kick in as planned. The nation's time is maintained at the National Institute of Standards and Technology's lab in Boulder, where 16 atomic clocks feed into what's known as NIST UTCofficial US time as determined by the Commerce Department and the US Navy, per NPR . When severe winds knocked out power to the facility on Wednesday and a backup generator didn't work, some clocks lost connection to NIST's measurement and distribution systems, according to supervisory research physicist Jeff Sherman.

The type of NIST-F4 atomic clock used in the Boulder facility "ticks at such a steady rate that if it had started running 100 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed, it would be off by less than a second today," the agency notes, per CBS News. The clocks themselves kept running on battery backup after last week's power outage, which Gizmodo notes lasted about two hours, but the disruption left NIST's version of coordinated universal time 4.8 microsecondsjust under 5 millionths of a secondbehind where it should have been, per NPR. For comparison, NIST spokesperson Rebecca Jacobson notes it takes about 350,000 microseconds to blink.

Sherman said whether that tiny lag matters depends on who's describing it. Most people wouldn't notice, for instance, but that kind of discrepancy can affect high-precision systems, including telecommunications networks, GPS, and other critical infrastructure, Sherman notes. NIST says "high-end" users also have access to other timekeeping networks and were warned of the disruption. By Saturday evening, power to the facility was back, and crews were assessing damage and working to bring NIST's clocks back into perfect sync.
Photo: https://www.kmu.gov.ua/

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has allowed electricity distribution system operators to lease state-owned energy equipment without auctions, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported.

"Today, at a government meeting, we adopted a decision that allows electricity distribution system operators to lease state-owned energy equipment without auctions. Transformers, cables and other equipment that is currently idle on the balance sheets of state-owned enterprises can be used to quickly restore power after shelling. In conditions of constant attacks, these resources must work where they are needed immediately," Svyrydenko wrote on her Telegram channel following the government meeting on Wednesday.

According to her, the Ministry of Energy will coordinate the inventory of such equipment and the assessment of the power system's needs.

"After that, the equipment will be promptly transferred to grid operators for work on the ground. The new procedure will be in effect for the period of martial law and for another six months after its termination," she added.
Brown University's top campus safety official has been sidelined as scrutiny intensifies over the school's handling of the deadly Dec. 13 campus shooting . President Christina Paxson announced Monday that Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Rodney Chatman has been placed on leave while Brown commissions an outside review of campus security and its response to the attack. She said such a review was "standard" and that Chatmanwho oversaw campus safety at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Utah before taking the Brown post in 2021would be on leave while it took place. Former Providence police chief Hugh T. Clements has been tapped to lead Brown's public safety and police operations on an interim basis, per CBS News .

The university is moving quickly on several changes, including adding more surveillance cameras across campus, with particular focus on the engineering building where the shooting took place. The five-day manhunt for the suspect was complicated by a shortage of usable video footage in that area, a law enforcement source told CBS. Police say former Brown graduate student Claudio Manuel Neves Valente opened fire at the Barus & Holley engineering building on Saturday, killing two students and wounding nine others. He's believed to have then traveled to Boston, where he allegedly killed MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro on Monday, per NBC Boston. He reportedly killed himself Tuesday in New Hampshire.

Separately, the US Department of Education said it will conduct a "program review" to determine whether Brown complied with federal campus safety requirements tied to student aid funding. The department said the university appeared unable to offer "helpful information about the profile of the alleged assassin" in the days following the shooting. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement that universities receiving federal funds must be prepared to protect students and support law enforcement efforts as required under federal law. Neves Valente was reportedly enrolled at Brown from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001.
The Trump administration is weighing a land swap that would hand SpaceX a sizable chunk of protected Texas coastline in the name of expansion and innovation. According to internal documents reviewed by the New York Times , federal officials are considering transferring 775 acres from the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Elon Musk's company to grow its launch and manufacturing operations in Cameron County. In return, SpaceX would give the government roughly 692 acres it has purchased elsewhere in the county, some of which would be folded into the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge about 20 miles away.

The federal land on offer includes parts of the Palmito Ranch Battlefield, site of the final land battle of the Civil War, and habitat for endangered species such as the ocelot and jaguarundi, as well as migratory birds. It is unclear what, if any, binding requirements would be placed on SpaceX to safeguard wildlife or cultural resources on the land. A Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson said the exchange would advance "long-term wildlife conservation" while "strengthening American innovation, infrastructure and economic competitiveness." Stewart Jacks, acting regional director for FWS' Southwest region, said SpaceX would trade lands that "include high-quality habitat" for species including the endangered ocelot.

But some agency staffers raised alarms internally over "significant" Civil War-era artifacts on the battlefield parcels, and conservationists argue the reality on the ground already undercuts assurances. A Times investigation found debris from a SpaceX launch last year scattered across sensitive habitat, damaging migratory bird nests in the process. Local critics fear the swap will bring further harm by accelerating the growth of Starbase, the company-backed community near the Boca Chica launch site, and set a precedent for carving up public lands nationwide.
Another batch of Jeffrey Epstein documents has been released by the Justice Department, and President Trump's name comes up more often than in the first two. As the BBC reports, one document is a January 2020 email that references Trump's travels with Epstein in the 1990s. The names of the sender and recipient are redacted, but the bottom of the email references the assistant US attorney, Southern District of New York.

While the president likely won't be happy with his name coming up in relation to Epstein, the email doesn't suggest any wrongdoing. Trump has said he was a friend of Epstein's for years before a falling out in the early 2000s. Trump has long said he was unaware of Epstein's criminal behavior and claims he expelled him from Mar-a-Lago for being a "creep," per the Washington Post. The newly released records also show that in 2021, prosecutors subpoenaed Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort for employment documents as part of the sex-trafficking case against Maxwell. The files include multiple FBI tips about Trump's social overlap with Epstein in the early 2000s, though they do not indicate whether those tips were pursued or substantiated.

The politics of what's been disclosedand what hasn'tare already contentious. The first wave of documents featured multiple photos of Bill Clinton with Epstein, prompting Clinton spokesman Angel Urena to accuse the Justice Department of protecting someone else and to demand full disclosure of Clinton-related material. Trump, speaking Monday at Mar-a-Lago while promoting a new class of Navy battleship named after him, said he dislikes the release of photos of Clinton and others who "innocently met" Epstein, and complained that questions about Epstein were overshadowing what he called Republican "success."
The news boss at CBS has set off a media furor by axing a 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelan deportees. But as NBC News notes, the report is circulating online nonetheless. The reason appears to stem from an error. Canada's Global News aired the 60 Minutes episode just as stations in the US didwithout the controversial segment. But the network "mistakenly uploaded the wrong episode to its streaming app," per Variety . After it went up, viewers captured the 14-minute report by Sharyn Alfonsi and have since been sharing it online. See for yourself via meullershewrote.com at Substack.

So what's in it? The segment includes interviews with two detainees sent to the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism, or CECOT, in El Salvador. "Four guards grabbed me, and they beat me until I bled, until the point of agony," recounts Luis Munoz Pinto, a since-released Venezuelan college student who had sought asylum in the US. "They knocked our faces against the wall. That was when they broke one of my teeth." The other told Alfonsi they were sent to a small room with little light or ventilation. "After they locked us in, they came to beat us every half-hour, and they pounded on the door with their sticks to traumatize us while we were in there."

Axios also points out what's not in it: New comments from the Trump administration. That appears to have been a key reason behind new CBS boss Bari Weiss' decision to order the piece held. The segment noted that the Department of Homeland Security declined an interview request and referred any CECOT questions to El Salvador. The show did speak with White House press officials, but "none of those comments, which varied in length and substance, were included in the piece viewed by Axios." The show's producer told colleagues upset at the decision to hold the story that she felt she had to obey Weiss.
Women have been lining up at a Moscow fertility clinic for a very specific freebie: sperm from Telegram billionaire Pavel Durov, the Wall Street Journal reports. The 41-year-old tech founder says he has fathered more than 100 children in at least a dozen countries via sperm donations, on top of six kids with three women. This wasn't by chance. A Moscow clinic called AltraVita has openly marketed his frozen "biomaterial," noting the billionaire with "high genetic compatibility" will cover IVF costs for women under 37 who use it. Durov upped the stakes this summer by telling a French magazine that all of his biological children will be entitled to an equal share of his estate assuming they can prove their DNA matches his.

Forbes estimates his net worth at $17 billion, largely tied to Telegram; he has said he plans to leave the app to a nonprofit foundation and has also disclosed a sizable bitcoin stash. The billionairesubject of a new biography from independent Russian writer Nikolay Kononov, per the Guardiansays he began donating sperm around 2010, first to help a friend and then to address what he calls a global shortage of "high-quality donor material." Though he stopped donating years ago, Durov says his frozen sperm at AltraVita remains available. The billionaire frames his prolific donations as a response to falling sperm counts and a broader civilizational slide, warning of what he calls an oncoming "dark, dystopian world" and "biological" self-destruction, per the Journal.

His stance puts him in a small circle of ultra-wealthy men publicly tying personal reproduction to demographic and technological debates, a group that includes Elon Musk, who jokingly responded to Durov's 100-plus children by claiming these were "rookie numbers" compared to Genghis Khan. Durov's expanding biological legacy is unfolding alongside a messy personal life and mounting scrutiny. He is locked in a financial and custody dispute with a former partner in Switzerland, which his spokesperson characterizes as an attempt to "extract money." The Dubai-based billionaire also faces charges in France over alleged criminal use of Telegram, charges he denies.
Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London on Tuesday while supporting pro-Palestinian activists who are staging a hunger strike. The protest group Prisoners for Palestine shared a video showing the 22-year-old Swede, renowned for her environmental activism, holding a sign supporting the hunger strikers and their organization Palestine Action, per the AP . The British government earlier this year banned Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.

Eight Palestine Action members have been staging a hunger strike to protest their detention without bail as they await trial on a variety of charges related to earlier protests around the country. The first two prisoners to join the protest have now been on hunger strike for 52 days, said Prisoners for Palestine in a statement. The British government has so far refused to intervene in the judicial process, saying questions about bail and detention are matters for the courts to decide.

Tuesday's protests were part of a larger demonstration in which two other activists sprayed red paint in front of an insurance company in the City of London, the area of central London known as the hub of Britain's financial services industry. Prisoners for Palestine says they targeted the insurer because it supports the Israel-linked defense firm Elbit Systems.
Florida's Catholic bishops appealed to President Trump on Monday to pause immigration enforcement activities during the Christmas holidays. The White House, in response, said it would be business as usual. The appeal was issued by Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, and signed by seven other members of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, per the AP . "The border has been secured. The initial work of identifying and removing dangerous criminals has been accomplished to a great degree," Wenski wrote. Now, "many of these arrest operations inevitably sweep up numbers of people who are not criminals but just here to work."

"A climate of fear and anxiety is infecting not only the irregular migrant but also family members and neighbors who are legally in the country," Wenski added. "Since these effects are part of enforcement operations, we request that the government pause apprehension and roundup activities during the Christmas season. Such a pause would show a decent regard for the humanity of these families." Responding via email, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson didn't mention the holiday season in her two-sentence reply. "President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he's keeping that promise," Jackson wrote.

Wenski has established a reputation as an outspoken advocate of humane treatment for migrants. In September, for example, he joined other Catholic leaders on a panel at Georgetown University decrying the Trump administration's hard-line policies for tearing apart families, inciting fear, and upending church life. Wenski highlighted the contributions of immigrants to the US economy. "If you ask people in agriculture, you ask in the service industry, you ask people in health care, you ask the people in the construction field, and they'll tell you that some of their best workers are immigrants," said Wenski. "Enforcement is always going to be part of any immigration policy, but we have to rationalize it and humanize it."

Wenski joined the "Knights on Bikes" ministry, a Knights of Columbus initiative that draws attention to the spiritual needs of people held at immigration detention centers. He recalled praying a rosary with the bikers in the scorching heat outside its walls. Days later, he got permission to celebrate Mass inside the facility. "The fact that we invite these detainees to pray, even in this very dehumanizing situation, is a way of emphasizing and invoking their dignity," he said.
A Democratic lawmaker is asking a federal court to strip Donald Trump's name from one of Washington's most prominent cultural landmarks. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed suit on Monday against Trump and members of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board, arguing that last week's vote to rename the building the "Trump Kennedy Center" violates federal law, reports the New York Times .

Beatty's complaint says the board lacked authority to alter the name of the congressionally chartered arts venue without an act of Congress. Beatty, an ex officio member of the center board, is represented by Norman Eisen, a former Obama White House ethics lawyer, and attorney Nathaniel Zelinsky of the Washington Litigation Group. Eisen says that Congress set the center's name by statute, adding, "[Trump] doesn't have a right to change the name."

Beatty said she attempted to participate in the board meeting where the name change was approved but was muted during the call, after which the vote was declared unanimouswhich Beatty deemed "just another attempt to evade the law and not let the people have a say," per the AP. The Congressional Black Caucus stands behind Beatty, citing her "courage and integrity" in a Tuesday statement.

The White House has previously rejected the view that congressional approval is needed and indicated it doesn't expect lawmakers to intervene. The president's name was installed on the building's exterior on Friday, and the center's website and social media now use the updated branding. The center and the White House didn't immediately comment on the lawsuit. In a statement, Beatty said that "only Congress has the authority to rename the Kennedy Center" and warned that the court must halt "unlawful actions" before "any further damage is done."
Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie is turning to the public for help as Los Angeles police search for his missing sister, Christina Lynn Downer. In an Instagram post shared Monday, the 40-year-old comedy writer said his family fears the 38-year-old may be in danger and asked followers to circulate her information, per People. "We are worried that she isn't safe," he wrote, adding that his sister, who may be using her maiden name Fowlie, was last seen in Los Angeles.
Victorian-era footwear is turning up in huge numbers on a stretch of Welsh coastline, and nobody can yet say exactly why. Volunteers restoring rock pools on Ogmore By Sea Beach in the Vale of Glamorgan have uncovered more than 400 old hobnailed boots in recent months, most of them black leather and believed to date from the 19th century. Similar boots have reportedly appeared over the years at Ogmore and nearby Llantwit beach, though a find of this size is remarkable. Emma Lamport of the Beach Academy social enterprise says volunteers found 200 shoes in one small area just this week, per the BBC .

Local speculation centers on a long-rumored Italian cargo ship that is said to have long ago hit Tusker Rock, a hazardous reef about two miles offshore that, exposed only at low tide, is known as a ship graveyard, per Wales Online. Lamport says one theory holds that a consignment of leather footwear was washed up the River Ogmore, became lodged in its banks, and is being released bit by bit as the coastline erodes.

Author and mudlarker Lara Maiklem, who has written extensively about Victorian artifacts recovered from river mud, described the finds as "definitely Victorian" and said the volume strongly suggests a shipwreck. Some of the boots are small enough to be mistaken for children's shoes, but Maiklem noted that they could belong to women, whose feet were typically smaller in that era. Ocean sciences academic Michael Roberts of Bangor University, who is studying Welsh shipwrecks, noted wooden wrecks from the Victorian period may now be deteriorating enough to release cargo, boosting the theory.
The Moldovan government has decided not to extend the licensing program for grain imports from Ukraine, and the country will return to the regular import schedule as of January 1, 2026, Moldovan Agriculture Minister Ludmila Catlabuga said.

"The current legal framework no longer allows for the extension of this measure. According to the legislation, the licensing regime for grain imports no longer requires extension. Therefore, we are switching to the normal regime," Catlabuga told reporters, as quote by the bani.md online publication.

The previously established deadline for restricting grain imports expires on December 31 of this year, Catlabuga said.

Catlabuga also said that the authorities would maintain a stricter mechanism for monitoring the grain market in order to be able to intervene promptly in case of serious imbalances. "We will closely monitor the situation to prevent any disruptions in the market," she said.

Catlabuga during the application of the licensing regime said that a special commission created under the Agriculture Ministry issued 25 import licenses for the import of various types of grain crops.

The Moldovan Farmers' Association the previous day said that if the licensing program for grain imports from Ukraine is not extended, then the local market risks collapsing.

Moldova implemented licensing for grain imports from Ukraine in October 2023, and has extended the licensing repeatedly. The measure has been to protect Moldovan farmers, as well as the domestic market, from cheaper grain from Ukraine. The restriction was introduced amid protests by local farmers.
A new letter released by the Justice Department from the Jeffrey Epstein files appears to lump President Trump into some very unwanted companybut the department is warning people about "untrue and sensationalist" claims against Trump. The letter also might make an implicit reference to Epstein's future suicide. The details (and a warning of NSFW language):

The handwritten letter appears to have been written by Epstein to the imprisoned and disgraced former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar, who molested young gymnasts, reports the Detroit News.

"Dear L. N.," the letter begins, per USA Today. "As you know by now, I have taken the 'short route' home. Good luck! We shared one thing  our love & 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. Life is unfair. Yours J. Epstein."
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 12F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low around 5F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
NAGASAKI, Dec 24 (News On Japan) - Japans newest Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer was launched in Nagasaki City, with Defense Minister Koizumi attending the ceremony.

The naming and launch ceremony for the destroyer was held at a shipyard in Nagasaki, drawing around 200 participants including Koizumi and other officials.

This vessel is hereby named Yoshii, Koizumi said during the ceremony.

Named after a river that flows through Okayama Prefecture, the destroyer Yoshii features high stealth performance and a compact hull design, and is equipped with capabilities to respond to mine warfare. It is the 12th vessel in the latest Mogami-class series, representing the most advanced class of destroyers operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Source: FNN
OTTAWA, UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON, Dec. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to advancing long-term reform alongside First Nations across the country--so child and family services put children, families, and communities at the centre of care.

From left to right: Parliamentary Secretary Ginette Lavack, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, and Director General of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program, Lisa Legault, provide an update on Canada's plan to advance the long-term reform of child and family services. (CNW Group/Indigenous Services Canada)

Today, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, announced that the Government of Canada will be submitting a detailed plan to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) to reform the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) program -- one that respects regional approaches while operating within a coherent national framework.

Canada's approach to regional agreements is supported by funding of $35.5 billion to 2033-34, and an ongoing commitment of $4.4 billion annually after that to make sure First Nations children and families--now and in the future--have sustainable resources. Canada's plan would enable First Nations-led regional agreements across the country, supporting solutions designed by and for First Nations to keep children safely connected to their families, cultures, and communities.

Far too many First Nations children remain in care. This reality underscores the urgent need for transformative change that strengthens families rather than separates them. This reform needs to be determined by First Nations communities and their families. It is a shared national objective, and this proposal marks a decisive move toward achieving it.

Through regional agreements, First Nations would be able to tailor delivery of child and family services to their distinct realities. The approach will allow for reform to reflect regional context by having more power over the governance, reporting, and planning frameworks. It builds on the success of the Final Agreement on Long-Term Reform of the FNCFS Program in Ontario, and reflects a consistent, principled commitment to First Nations jurisdiction and leadership.

Funding also includes additional supports for First Nations Representatives, who act as cultural and legal advocates for their members to ensure the rights of children are upheld, and help keep children safely connected to their families, cultures, and communities.

Later today, Canada will submit this proposed path to the CHRT. Discussions with interested regional First Nation entities will begin early in the new year.

Improving outcomes for First Nations children--so they can grow up safe, supported, and connected to their families--remains our government's highest priority.

Quotes

"This is a historic turning point for First Nations children. For decades, governments failed them. Today, we are changing that -- for good. Long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services means fewer children taken from their families, stronger communities, and systems designed and led by First Nations themselves. This work will change lives -- not just for this generation, but for generations to come."

 The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services

"This is a hopeful step forward that recognises the strength of our families and the resilience of our children. By centring culture and connection, we are setting a clear path that supports children to thrive, not just today, but for generations to come."

 The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

"This plan recognises that every community has its own strengths, challenges, and priorities. By taking an approach grounded in local knowledge, we can ensure child and family services actually respond to what each community needs to support children, families, and culture."

 The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)

"For too long, services were designed without the voices of those most affected. This plan marks a shift in how we deliver child and family services--toward approaches that are culturally grounded, community-led, and focused on long-term wellbeing of First Nations children."

 Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

"Our responsibility is not only to the children we serve now, but to future generations who deserve strong families, safe communities, and a deep connection to culture. This work sets a direction that will shape a better future built on care, respect, and opportunity."

 Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

The FNCFS Program provides funding to approximately 140 FNCFS delegated agencies, provincial and Yukon governments, and about 580 First Nations for services aimed at keeping First Nations children safe from harm and helping them remain with their families and in their communities.

Since the Tribunal's initial decision in 2016, Canada has increased the First Nations Child and Family Services Funding from $600 million to $3.9 billion in 2024-2025.

In early 2025, Canada signed a $8.5 billion Final Agreement with the Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation to implement long-term reforms to the First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario. This agreement is currently before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for consideration and approval, and is included in the overall $35.5 billion commitment to address discrimination against First Nations children and families.

As of December 2, 2025, more than $267 million in Compensation has been paid to Class Members who experienced discrimination in Canada's First Nations Child and Family Services Program.

While regional negotiations move forward, Canada will continue delivering child and family services on a national level in accordance with Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders.

Additional funding to support regional agreements and further changes to the Program's funding and policy framework would depend on program assessments in 2031-32 and 2036-37.

Associated links

Stay connected

Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

X: @GCIndigenous

Facebook: @GCIndigenous

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Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth

You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

For more information, media may contact: Livi McElrea, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, [email protected]
"For many of our guests, this is the only Christmas celebration they will have," shares Cindy Cheung, Community Engagement Coordinator at Vancouver Harbour Light. "The holiday season can be especially challenging for members of our communities who may feel the absence of loved ones more profoundly during this time."

Guests will receive a Sunshine Gift Bag filled with hygiene items, candies and winter knitwear accessories. Hot chocolate will also be available for people while they wait before entering the dining hall where Christmas music will be sung.

When: December 25th, 11am - 1pm (doors close at 12:30pm)

Where: 119 E Cordova St. Vancouver, BC

The Salvation Army thanks all the donors and volunteers that make this annual event possible. Those interested in supporting other year-round programs, including community meals can drop off a donation at the front desk (119 E Cordova), or online at VancouverHarbourLightSA.ca.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882. In Bermuda, the Army has been at work since 1896. Today, it is the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country, offering hope and support to vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada and Bermuda and in more than 130 countries around the world.

We believe in the transformative power of a helping hand--empowering people to move forward, no matter where they're starting from. With open doors, open minds, and open hearts, The Salvation Army provides practical, personalized support to those facing poverty, homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, and other complex challenges.

Our services include hunger relief through food banks and meal programs; shelter and housing support; addiction rehabilitation; long-term and palliative care; and life-skills development such as budgeting and cooking. We also offer children and youth programming, including after-school activities, camps, school nutrition, and Christmas assistance such as food hampers and toys.

Supported by generous donors, volunteers, and community partners, The Salvation Army meets people in their moment of need--and stays with them for the journey ahead. When you give to The Salvation Army, you're investing in renewed hope, restored dignity, and a stronger future for overlooked individuals and families in your community.

SalvationArmy.ca

SOURCE The Salvation Army British Columbia Division

For more information, contact: Cindy Cheung, [email protected], Phone: (604) 646-6813
The Goodman European Data Centre Development Partnership (GEDCDP or the Partnership) is CPP Investments' first data centre partnership in Europe, significantly adding to its data centre portfolio. The Partnership's portfolio comprises four projects totalling 435 MW of primary power and 282 MW of IT load  Paris (PAR01 and PAR02), Frankfurt (FRA02) and Amsterdam (AMS01). All projects provide speed to market with secured power connections, planning permits and substantially progressed site infrastructure works, enabling construction commencements by 30 June 2026.

Max Biagosch, Senior Managing Director & Global Head of Real Assets for CPP Investments said "We are pleased to expand our longstanding partnership with Goodman Group and establish a strong European foothold in the data centre sector across key Tier 1 markets, aligned with our global data centre strategy. By combining Goodman's extensive development capabilities and powered landbank, with our global expertise in digital infrastructure investments, this partnership allows us to capitalise on a compelling growth opportunity for the long-term benefit of CPP contributors and beneficiaries."

Group CEO of Goodman Group, Greg Goodman said, "a portfolio of this size and quality  located in Europe's FLAP markets  is rare. These powered locations are highly sought after to meet the rapidly growing requirement for cloud computing and AI adoption, particularly when they offer speed to market and delivery certainty. The quality and scale of this Partnership make it ideal for our long-term relationship with CPP Investments. We're pleased to be investing alongside them for their entry into the European data centre market."

CPP Investments has partnered with Goodman Group since 2009 across Australia, Asia, The Americas and Europe. GEDCDP follows the establishment of the Goodman Hong Kong Data Centre Partnership, and other data centre partnerships in Europe and Japan.

The transaction will settle in phases and is expected to be completed by March 2026 subject to closing conditions.

About CPP Investments

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) is a professional investment management organization that manages the Canada Pension Plan Fund in the best interest of the more than 22 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, we make investments around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure, fixed income and alternative strategies including in partnership with funds. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At September 30, 2025, the Fund totalled C$777.5 billion.

For more information, please visit www.cppinvestments.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or on X @CPPInvestments.

About Goodman

Goodman Group is a provider of essential infrastructure. It owns, develops and manages high quality, sustainable logistics properties and data centres in major global cities, that are critical to the digital economy.

Goodman has operations in key consumer markets across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Americas. Goodman Group, comprised of the stapled entities Goodman Limited, Goodman Industrial Trust and Goodman Logistics (HK) Limited, is the largest property group on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: GMG), a top 20 entity by market capitalisation, and one of the largest listed specialist investment managers of industrial property globally

The Group's property portfolio includes logistics and distribution centres, warehouses, light industrial, multi-storey industrial, business parks and data centres. Goodman takes a long-term view, investing significantly alongside its capital partners in its investment management platform and concentrating the portfolio where it can create the most value for customers and investors.

For more information, visit: www.goodman.com

SOURCE Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

For further information, please contact: CPP Investments: Frank Switzer, Managing Director, Corporate Communications, [email protected], Ph: +1 416-523-8039; Goodman: Michelle Chaperon, Head of Group Corporate Communications, [email protected], PH: +61 9230 7400
Russian drone and missile attacks killed a person in Khmelnytsky region, where power outages were reported, Regional Administration head Serhiy Tiurin has said.

"A person born in 1953 died as a result of an enemy attack. Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones," he said on Telegram on Tuesday morning.

The attack is ongoing, he added.
Ukrainian Defense Forces have repelled another assault by Russian troops in the Dobropillia area, in the Donetsk region, the press service of the National Guard of Ukraine has said.

"On the morning of December 22, the movement of four enemy columns in the direction of Dobropillya was detected in the area of responsibility of the 1st Corps of the Azov National Guard. During the assault on the city, the enemy attracted 24 units of armored vehicles," the report says.

As a result of the battle, at least four tanks were destroyed, several more units of armored vehicles were hit.

According to the military, as a result of the strikes, the following were destroyed: tanks  2, tanks in cooperation with other units - 2. In addition, the following were hit: armored combat vehicles - 6; tanks - 6; armored personnel carrier - 1; ATV  1, personnel - 4 Russian servicemen.

"A significant role in stopping the enemy was played by the mining carried out by Lasar's Group drones and engineering units of the 1st Corps of the Azov National Guard," the National Guard added. The elimination of enemy personnel who participated in the assault is currently underway.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA

Russia has launched a massive Russian strike on Ukraine, primarily on energy and civilian infrastructure, using more than 650 drones and more than three dozen missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday morning.

"As of now, air alert is maintained in most of Ukraine. However, all necessary services have been involved to eliminate the consequences of the strike. Unfortunately, there are losses. A woman died in the Kyiv region from a Russian drone strike. A person is known to have died in the Khmelnytskyi region. A four-year-old child died in the Zhytomyr region - a Russian drone hit a residential building. My condolences to his family and friends," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

The president noted that at least 13 regions of the country have already been hit.

"In general, at least 13 regions have already been hit. A significant part of the drones and missiles were shot down. Detailed information from the Air Force will be available later - when all the reports are received. However, there were also hits. Repair crews, energy specialists are already working to ensure the normal life of people, our cities and communities," he stressed.

According to Zelenskyy, such a strike on the eve of the holidays means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia to achieve peace.

"This Russian strike is an extremely clear signal of Russian priorities. A strike before Christmas, when people want to be with their families, at home, in safety. A strike in fact in the midst of negotiations that are underway to end this war. Putin cannot accept the fact that we must stop killing. And this means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia. We must react now. We must press Russia towards peace and guaranteed security. We must not forget that every day - both on weekdays and on holidays - Ukraine protects people's lives. Air defense for Ukraine, financing for the purchase of weapons, the supply of energy equipment - all these are processes that do not go on weekends. We must be committed to protecting life in order to finally achieve peace," the president said.

The head of the Ukrainian state thanked everyone who helps Ukraine. "I thank every leader, every politician who will not remain silent today and condemn Russia for what it has done," Zelenskyy added.
A father and son charged in connection with the killing and dismemberment of a Gloucester County man have rejected plea offers in the case.

Prosecutors say Everton R. Thomas, 42, of Camden, shot Harold Hal Miller Jr. in June, and Thomas wife and son helped him cut up the victims body and get rid of his remains.

Thomas and his son, Deshawn Thomas, 23, entered not guilty pleas during post-indictment arraignment hearings last week. The third defendant, Sherrie M. Parker, 41, will appear for her arraignment hearing Jan. 12.

Under a plea offer described at his arraignment hearing, Everton Thomas could plead guilty to first-degree murder in return for a 30-year prison sentence with a requirement that he serve the full 30 years.

Deshawn Thomas plea offer would allow him to plead guilty to second-degree desecration of human remains in return for a recommended seven-year prison sentence, according to the prosecution.

During the hearings, attorneys for both defendants said they have received a large volume of digital evidence from the prosecution that they still need to review.

Deshawn Thomas attorney said he had received about two terabytes of evidence, including surveillance video, hundreds of photos and thousands of pages of documents.

Miller, 48, of Deptford, was reported missing by his family June 14. They told police he was last seen playing cards with friends in Camden two days earlier.

His cellphone was found in his vehicle, which was located in Pennsauken, and his last call was to Everton Thomas number on June 12, prosecutors said.

Thomas acknowledged receiving a call from Miller that day, but told investigators he last saw the victim when they played poker together at a location on Federal Street in Camden from late on June 11 into early June 12, according to court documents.

Detectives located surveillance video showing Miller entering Thomas residence in the 2600 block of Baird Boulevard on June 12, authorities said.

Moments later, the footage recorded a single gunshot, and Miller was never seen leaving, according to prosecutors.

After the killing, the defendants purchased a chainsaw, containers, cleaning supplies, heavy-duty bags, ice, gloves, duct tape and plastic sheeting, prosecutors said.

Surveillance video showed them making three trips to an apartment complex in Camden, where they put black trash bags in a dumpster, authorities said.

On a fourth trip, they loaded gray containers and black trash bags from their house into a minivan borrowed from a family member and left Camden, investigators said.

Prosecutors believe the victims remains were in the gray containers.

Millers remains have not been located.

Witnesses living in the Thomas household told police they heard a gunshot on June 12 and later heard power tools running in the basement.

They also reported extensive cleaning in the kitchen and basement and a witness described a strong odor resembling that of a decomposing body in the residence, according to court documents.

Deshawn Thomas told a witness that his father asked him to help chop up a body and a review of the sons cellphone data revealed that he searched the internet to learn if a chainsaw could cut through meat, prosecutors said.

Everton Thomas fled to Canada on June 21, a day after he was questioned by police, authorities said. Blood evidence recovered from his house on June 20 later came back as a match for Miller, prosecutors said.

Thomas was found in possession of a handgun that day, Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Moran said during an October hearing.

The firearm had one round in the chamber with nine rounds in a 10-round magazine, effectively one round missing, Moran said. The bullet that killed Harold Miller.

No motive for the killing has been disclosed, but Moran called it a pre-meditated killing.

Everton Thomas was arrested Sept. 8 when he returned to the United States.

A Camden County grand jury indicted him earlier this month on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree desecration of human remains and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.

Parker and Deshawn Thomas were each indicted on counts of second-degree desecration of human remains and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.

All three remain jailed and the Thomases are scheduled to return to court Feb. 9 for a case conference.

Efforts to locate Millers remains are ongoing, according to the prosecutors office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jake Siegfried of the Camden County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit at 856-225-5086 and Detective Andrew Mogck of the Camden County Police Department at 609-519-8588.
How can our long-established catering brand, renowned for its authentic flavors and rich cultural heritage, expand overseas? We're in the printing industry and have heard that the Australian market holds great potential. What are the specifics? Are there any promising opportunities? It felt less like a formal meeting and more like old friends gathering for tea and conversation. On December 18th, Wuhu welcomed a special group of guestssome flying in from abroad, others traveling from Hong Kong, Macao, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, along with local overseas Chinese youth and entrepreneurs from Anhui. Over cups of tea, their conversations spanned mountains and seas, focusing on how Anhui can "connect" with the world. What were the key topics at the 2025 Anhui-Hong Kong-Macao "Overseas Chinese Youth Roundtable" and "Overseas Chinese Youth Afternoon Tea"? What fresh ideas could they offer for Anhui enterprises looking to "go global"?

Today, Anhui is emerging as a vital hub for global innovation resources, providing an exceptional stage for entrepreneurship among overseas Chinese youth. Hong Kong possesses an international platform and a vibrant maker ecosystem, which can help Anhui enterprises and youth connect with global resources. Anhui is a land rich in history and cultural heritage, as well as a hotbed of innovation and dynamic growth. Currently, Anhui is accelerating its efforts to become a hub for scientific and technological innovation, a gathering place for emerging industries, a new high ground for reform and opening-up, and a region transitioning toward comprehensive green development in both the economy and society. The firm strides in high-quality development have provided an unprecedented broad stage and limitless business opportunities for young overseas Chinese entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Macao, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Enterprises venturing overseas often face challenges due to differences in language, culture, and regulations. Yet, young entrepreneurs with overseas experience are often the ones who best understand where opportunities and challenges lie.

As the exchange deepened, the aroma of tea lingered. This "roundtable" and "afternoon tea" went beyond mere conceptual discussions, weaving a network of overseas Chinese resources spanning multiple countries and industries through concrete questions, answers, and tangible connections. As the event concluded, many entrepreneurs and representatives of overseas Chinese youth remained gathered, exchanging contact information and arranging follow-up meetings. This exchange has only just begun. It is reported that the Anhui-Hong Kong-Macao Overseas Chinese Youth Roundtable is one of the flagship initiatives under the Anhui Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese's "Overseas Chinese Gathering in Jianghuai" brand matrix. Its aim is to unite and engage outstanding young overseas Chinese from Hong Kong, Macao, and the Yangtze River Delta region, building bridges for connection, friendship, business exchange, and professional collaboration. The roundtable seeks to promote exchanges and cooperation among Anhui, Hong Kong, and Macao, and to support Anhui's high-level opening-up to the world. Since its inaugural session in 2023, the roundtable has attracted over a hundred young overseas Chinese participants from the three regions and has facilitated multiple cooperative intentions.

Source: anhuinews.com
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has provided assistance to victims and rescuers in the Zhytomyr region after a Russian air strike.

"URCS provided assistance at the scene of the attack. Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross rapid response team in the Zhytomyr region set up an aid station where they provided necessary support to victims and rescuers involved in the response throughout yesterday," URCS said on Facebook on Tuesday.

In addition, local residents could drink hot tea, charge gadgets and warm up in the URC tent.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, as a result of a Russian drone attack on energy and transport infrastructure facilities in the region, an accident occurred on the railway tracks, four employees of Ukrzaliznytsia were injured.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, longtime owner of Wonderland Pier on the resorts boardwalk, faces nearly $6 million in debt and a sharp decline in personal income, according to a federal bankruptcy court filing.

Gillian announced intentions to declare personal bankruptcy earlier this month while vowing to remain in office and run for reelection.

He has served as mayor since 2010, following in the footsteps of his father, Roy, who also held the post and founded Wonderland Pier.

The mayor filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, listing $5,765,568 in liabilities, according to documents reviewed by NJ Advance Media.

Chapter 11 protections, available to businesses and individuals, allow for a court-approved reorganization plan to restructure finances. The process shields filers from creditor lawsuits but typically requires creditor approval.

Gillian owes about $2.5 million combined to the IRS and the New Jersey Division of Taxation, the filing states.

Gillians filing lists 17 creditors.

The mayor has about $1.2 million combined in both real estate and personal assets, according to the bankruptcy filing.

The filing also references money owed to both The Patricia Gillian Irrevocable Trust and 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, both of which are suing Gillian for about $600,000 in debt tied to Wonderland Pier.

The lawsuit, filed in August, alleges that Gillian has not paid any of the money owed as part of a settlement between the bank and Patricia Gillian, the mayors stepmother.

Other debts include credit cards, business obligations and unpaid bills to Comcast, Atlantic City Electric and South Jersey Gas.

Maureen Steady, Gillians attorney listed in the bankruptcy petition, did not return a request for comment Monday. When reached for comment, Gillian referred to a letter addressed to Ocean City residents.

In announcing the bankruptcy, Gillian said his personal financial troubles will not affect city operations. Seeking financial protection, he called the move an extraordinarily difficult decision to resolve a situation that had become uncontrollable.

This is not a decision I ever imagined I would face, nor is it one I take lightly, Gillian wrote in the letter. I understand the seriousness of it, and I am committed to learning from this experience and rebuilding with integrity and discipline.

The case also cites a $1 million lien against Gillians Ocean City home by a trust linked to ICONA Resorts leader Eustace Mita, who bought Wonderland as it faced a sheriffs sale over about $8 million in debt.

Mitas plan to demolish the theme park and replace it with a $170 million hotel awaits review by the city planning board, which is considering a request to declare the site an area in need of redevelopment.

Cape May County records show Gillian borrowed $1 million from Mitas trust toward his home in 2023. At the time, Gillian already held a roughly $69,000 mortgage on the property, the records state.

A message sent to Mita for comment was not immediately returned.

The home Gillian shares with his wife is his highest-valued asset at $825,000, according to the filing. Other personal property includes two cars and a baby grand piano valued at about $100,000.

The filing details a steep drop in Gillians earnings. In 2023, he reportedly made about $504,000. The following year, after closing Wonderland Pier following 94 years in business, he reported annual income of about $152,000.

Gillian is in his fourth term as mayor. He can seek a fifth term when Ocean City holds municipal elections in May.

A bankruptcy court hearing is scheduled for late January.
An iconic restaurant property in West Cape May changed hands last week after a months-long online auction process drew interest from multiple buyers.

Exit Zero at 110 Sunset Blvd. was sold on Dec. 18, with Florian Furxhiu emerging as the winning bidder, according to Bob Dann of Tranzon, who handled the sale.

The sale price was not disclosed.

Dining room artwork at Exit Zero Filling Station, which was sold for an undisclosed amount on Dec. 18. Photo by Mike DeMusz

NJ Advance Media has reached out to Furxhiu, who owns several restaurants in the area, including Venezia, La Cantina and Santorinis in Wildwood.

We had multiple restaurant owners and developers making offers; I am thrilled that Florian won, Dann said.

The Exit Zero Filling Station, a prominent West Cape May restaurant property, was sold Dec. 18. The amount of the sale was not disclosed. Tranzon

The bidding process began in early September after former Exit Zero owner Jack Wright decided to pursue an online auction rather than a traditional real estate sale.

Wright had initially listed the property for $4.7 million with area realtors earlier this year.
A grand jury has indicted a Cumberland County man on charges that he stabbed his grandfather to death as the victim slept.

Shawn A. Moir, 27, is accused of stabbing Albert B. Moir, 59, multiple times with a large kitchen knife in the victims Vineland home around 11 p.m. on Aug. 26, police said.

Moir was living with his grandparents at the time and drove off in an SUV belonging to them after the attack, authorities said.

His grandmother called 911 to report the attack and identified him as the assailant, according to prosecutors.

U.S. Marshals arrested Shawn Moir the following afternoon in Pennsylvania when they found him in the vehicle, which was parked in a Villanova University parking garage, federal officials said.

Last week, a grand jury handed up a five-count indictment charging Shawn Moir with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree aggravated assault and third-degree theft of a motor vehicle.

His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A post-indictment arraignment hearing on the charges had not been scheduled as of Monday.

The allegations in this case are similar to a previous incident in which the defendant attacked someone else he was living with as the victim slept, a prosecutor said during an October hearing.

In that 2017 case, Moir pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated assault and was sentenced to jail time.

At the time of his arrest in the fatal stabbing, Shawn Moir was already out of jail on court monitoring for aggravated sexual assault charges in Gloucester County.

That case involves a juvenile victim, a judge said during the October hearing.

Shawn Moir was ordered jailed pending trial in the murder case.
Editors note: This story follows an in-depth investigation into antisemitism in New Jersey. Read the full investigation here.

On a seasonable night in September 2024, Mathew Nezaria walked alone, heading toward his New Brunswick apartment on the edge of the Rutgers University campus after an evening out with friends. The pre-law major was only a few minutes from home.

But even short walks can be fraught these days for Jewish college students.

Four men walked ahead of him on Easton Avenue. Suddenly one of these men turned and accused Nezaria of following them, adding ominously: Whats your ethnicity?

This wasnt going to go well, Nezaria said, recounting the events in an interview earlier this year.

The men steered the conversation to the war in Gaza and demanded to know his solution to end it. After a few tense minutes, they parted.

But Nezaria could take only a few steps before one of them shouted: I have a solution for you. All you motherf---ers should die!

I think all your people should die!

The unsettling encounter was just one of many examples of how antisemitism has come to permeate Jewish life in recent years, no matter how far from the frontlines New Jersey may sit. It has been illustrated in stark relief on American campuses, including Rutgers, Princeton and Montclair State, since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.

The ensuing conflict in Gaza threw lighter fluid on discord that has burned for generations  and on a fractured Americas political divides.

It has left many Jewish students feeling unwelcome and even under attack.

More than a third reported experiencing antisemitism at least once during their time on campus, according to the American Jewish Committees State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report. Almost as many felt uncomfortable wearing anything that would identify them as Jewish.

It took me off guard, Nezaria said of his 2024 incident. I was actually impressed at first because we were able to have a genuine conversation  like a calm, intellectual conversation. And then things just went straight downhill.

He didnt come to Rutgers to be a Jewish activist.

But in June, Nezaria, now 22, found himself standing before about 50 attendees of a screening of the documentary October 8 in East Brunswick and shared his story of antisemitism.

Well, make that stories, plural.

The encounter on Easton Avenue wasnt the only time he was targeted because hes Jewish.

READ MORE: N.J. Jews are living in fear. How unthinkable hate became the new normal.

Rutgers University is among New Jersey colleges where antisemitism has proliferated since the Oct. 7 conflict. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Hostility on campus

Like many American campuses, Rutgers has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debates involving Israel and Hamas  as well as a disturbing hotbed for increasing antisemitic activity.

It was one of dozens of colleges and universities under investigation for alleged violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights. Harvard, Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, were among other prestigious universities under federal scrutiny.

In January 2025, following the federal investigation, Rutgers was found to have likely operated a hostile environment based on national origin/shared ancestry in university programs or activities, Office for Civil Rights officials said in a statement.

In response, the university agreed to address the alleged discrimination, including reviewing policies and complaints, issuing an anti-discrimination statement and providing training.

Yet in recent years, New Brunswick has joined Lakewood, Teaneck and Cherry Hill  communities with sizable Jewish populations  atop the list of New Jersey towns reporting the most antisemitic incidents, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of data from the Anti-Defamation League. The numbers in New Brunswick skyrocketed as pro-Palestinian protests engulfed the Rutgers campus.

In 2021, there were a total of nine antisemitic incidents reported in the Middlesex County city. Last year, there were 54 reports of harassment, vandalism and assault.

Allegations in recent years range from eggs being thrown at a Jewish fraternity during Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) to online posts saying Die Jews Die and an allegation that Students for Justice in Palestine made a social media post denying that the attack on October 7, 2023 occurred, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Then there was a swastika drawn on a Rutgers-Camden dorm room door and a mezuzah defaced. And a Rutgers student who posted on an app: Palestinian protesters, there is an Israeli at AEPi go kill him. The student was charged with bias intimidation, terroristic threats and false public alarm for the 2023 incident.

In 2022, Rutgers also drew headlines after Jewish students from the Alpha Epsilon Pi Jewish fraternity were targeted when protestors leaving a Students for Justice in Palestine rally went to the fraternity and yelled antisemitic slurs and spat at members of the frat.

Rutgers student Mathew Nezaria at an Easton Ave. location where he was approached by four young men who followed him, questioned then taunted Nezaria for being Jewish. Nezaria feels he was the victim of antisemitism. Here he is in New Brunswick, New Jersey on December 17, 2025, along a one block section where the incident occured. Chris Pedota | For NJ Advance Me

Nezaria experienced his own attack as a member of AEPi.

In late 2024, a quarrel with another fraternity devolved into antisemitism and violence. Rival students rushed into the frat, calling its members anti-Jewish epithets and igniting a brawl, he says.

My friend had to go to the hospital. He got a concussion, Nezaria said.

The hostility simmered for days.

Students  often wearing masks  would sit in cars in the middle of the night across from the Jewish frat house, according to Nezaria.

It got to the point where (its) 3 a.m., and four or five of the kids knocked on the door and there were like 30 of us in the foyer right by the front door, he said. We didnt know what was going to happen.

The incidents led Gov. Phil Murphy to declare: Antisemitism has no place in New Jersey.

They also caught the attention of the FBI.

Since Oct. 7, theres been a whole lot of hate speech going on, James E. Dennehy, the former FBI Newark special agent in charge, told NJ Advance Media last year. And theres a whole lot of protests by the youth on college campuses that  they may be adults over the age of 18  but theyre still young, and theyre now fully engulfed in hate speech, something that we get very involved in from an outreach standpoint, as it relates to hate crimes.

But hate speech often spills into action.

That night in September 2024 could have escalated even further with Nezaria alone and outnumbered four to one.

After one of the men wished death upon Israelis and Jews, Nezaria turned back to face them, the situation on the cusp of growing physical.

Then another member of the group interceded, whether to calm things down or throw one final insult, Nezaria doesnt know.

I dont want you to have to get hurt tonight, the man said as his friends laughed and they finally went on their way.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Spencer Kent, Matt Enuco and Ted Sherman contributed to this report.
The state Legislature passed legislation Monday that would mandate all K-12 school districts in New Jersey adopt strict cellphone restriction policies.

The bill, which Gov. Phil Murphy previously said he supports, would require the state Department of Education to develop guidelines restricting the use of internet-enabled devices by students in classrooms and during the school day. The new policy would then have to be adopted by school boards across the state.

The legislation, first introduced last year, had broad bipartisan support, passing 63-3 in the state Assembly and 37-0 in the state Senate on Monday.

The bill, S3695, must now go to Murphy for his signature to become law.

Many of New Jerseys approximately 600 public school districts already restrict cellphone use in classrooms, but the policies and punishments vary. Some require students to keep their phones off and out of sight, while others provide locations for the devices to be stored during the school day.

Under the bill, the state Department of Education would develop guidelines to help local boards of education develop their own policies for public school students use of internet-enabled devices, including cellphones, during the school day.

The policies would allow for exceptions when schools believe cellphones or other devices would help with instruction, or student health or well-being, lawmakers said.

The goal of this bill is to ensure that students are fully engaged in learning while they are in the classroom, said Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, D-Essex, one of the bills sponsors. While internet-enabled devices such as smart phones and tablets can be useful tools, the rise of social media has unfortunately caused significant harm to our learning environments.

Our bill is a response to what parents, teachers, and principals have consistently told us  they need our support," she added.

Twenty-six states have laws or policies requiring local school boards to ban or limit cellphone use in K-12 classrooms, according to Ballotpedia, a website that follows elections and government policy-making. Over 80% of the laws were passed in 2025.

New York started a similar bell-to-bell cellphone ban in September that prohibits students from using phones during the school day.

Murphy, who has long supported a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in classrooms, is expected to sign the legislation before he leaves office on Jan. 20.

Getting cell phones out of schools helps educators, it helps parents, and most of all, it helps our kids, Murphy said last week in a statement announcing the first recipients of the states Phone-Free Schools Grant Program.

On Thursday, the state shared a list of 86 districts that will receive close to $980,000 total as part of the program. Newark Public Schools received the largest grant at $176,625.

The grants will be used to help districts implement policies banning cellphones and other electronic devices bell-to-bell, prohibiting use for students in grades 6 through 12 during the entire school day, officials said.

The money can be used for storage systems such as lockers, locked pouch systems or check-in cabinets. Schools may also use the money to train employees on ensuring consistent and equitable application of the bell-to-bell policies, officials said.

A recent report by the state Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents included 20 recommendations, one of which is a bell-to-bell ban on the use of cell phones and social media in school.

The report pointed to research that shows adolescents spending more than three hours per day on social media face risks of not only depression and anxiety, but also concerns regarding cyberbullying, physical and mental health disorders, poor sleep quality, lowered self-esteem, and exposure to explicit content.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Rob Jennings contributed to this report.
Former Newark West Ward Councilman Joseph A. McCallum Jr. was sentenced on Dec. 2 to a year-and-a-half in prison after he previously admitted that he schemed to obtain bribes and kickbacks in a plot involving developers, federal prosecutors said.

McCallum Jr., 70, of Newark, pleaded guilty in 2022 to wire fraud and subscribing to a false personal tax return for calendar year 2018, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey

The councilman, who served since 2014 before not seeking reelection in 2022, was accused in 2020 of receiving or attempting to get bribes or kickbacks ranging from $500 in cash to cover travel expenses for an out-of-country trip, to $50,000 from a developer, authorities said. None of the developers or companies were named in court documents.

McCallum was charged after a consultant named Malik Frederick pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme in October 2020 to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and subscribing to a false personal federal tax return for 2017 for not reporting over $100,000 in income, according to federal court documents.

McCallum allegedly received the kickbacks funded by the developers from Frederick, who was the president and CEO of the International Association of Business Consultants, also known as Global City Strategies, the office said.

Frederick, 65, was sentenced on Dec. 4, to two years and one month imprisonment, officials said.

Frederick solicited the developers to hire his consulting company for access and were introduced to McCallum as the councilman behind the project of interest to them, authorities said. McCallum was accused of receiving or planning to receive bribes or kickbacks from the fees Frederick obtained from those who hired his company.

McCallum and Frederick intended to prevent those who refused to pay up from gaining contracts with the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation and Newark, federal prosecutors said.

An unidentified official from the corporation was also an alleged co-conspirator in the scheme, according to court documents in Fredericks case.

The pair used interstate emails and phone calls to further the scheme and took significant steps to conceal these bribes and kickbacks, the office said.

Combatting public corruption in New Jersey is a top priority for our Office, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello of the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement. Crimes like these erode public trust and undermine confidence in the institutions meant to serve the community.

McCallums attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Apricot, a specialty food retailer known for premium dried fruits and nuts, will open its fourth New Jersey location in the next several weeks.

The new store at 98 Baker St. in Maplewood plans to start welcoming customers late this month or early January.

The store specializes in dried fruits, nuts, Turkish delights, baklava, chocolates and custom gift platters, with many products imported from Turkey and curated for quality and freshness.

Owner Izzet Semih Ozkaya said his business grew from a passion for food, hospitality and community.

New Jersey customers value authenticity and consistency, he said. If you commit to quality and stay involved locally, people notice.

Ozkaya said no formal grand opening event is planned for the Maplewood store.

The business owner, who lives in Passaic County, currently operates three other Apricot locations in New Jersey in Morristown at 166 South St., Westfield at 31 E. Broad St., and Westwood at 170 Westwood Ave.

The brand plans to continue expanding across New Jersey while maintaining a strong community presence and consistent product quality, according to Ozkaya.

Ozakaya also opened The Meltique, a European-inspired dessert cafe at 174 South St. in Morristown on Nov. 1.

The cafe offers freshly made waffles, crepes and matcha-based drinks in a modern cafe setting.

The dessert-focused cafe blends European dessert culture with a contemporary aesthetic.

Made-to-order items are designed to be both visually striking and indulgent. The menu centers on sweet and savory crepes, Belgian-style waffles and specialty matcha drinks.

The Meltique offers both dine-in and takeout service, with online ordering available for pickup and delivery through its website, www.themeltique.com.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Morristown location is the first for The Meltique brand.

Ozkaya said plans are already underway to expand, with a mix of future company-owned locations and franchised stores.
Be very careful before you fill those Christmas stockings this year.

A brand of milk chocolate is being recalled this holiday season due to an ingredient not listed on the label.

Approximately 112 units of Frans Pure Bar Almondmilk Chocolate made by Frans Chocolates, Ltd. of Seattle, Washington, are being recalled due to the presence of hazelnuts, which were not listed on the label, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

One allergic reaction was reported in connection with a consumer eating the chocolate.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to hazelnut run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product, the FDA stated in its recall announcement.

Heres what you need to know about the chocolates being recalled and what you should do if you have the recalled chocolate.

Which Frans chocolates are subject to recall?

The recalled product is Frans Pure Bar Almondmilk Chocolate 46% Madagascar Plant-Based milk chocolate bars sold in 1.1-ounce bars.

A supplier informed the FDA that the Almondmilk chocolate ingredient tested positive for trace amounts of hazelnuts due to the chocolate being processed in the same space as another product.

The product was sold at Frans stores in Seattle and online nationwide at www.frans.com between Oct. 9, 2025, and Dec. 15, 2025.

What should I do if I have the Frans chocolates in my possession?

If you have the Frans chocolates in your possession, the FDA urges people to not consume the product and instead return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.

Those with questions may contact Frans Chocolates by email at customercare@frans.com or by phone at 1-800-422-3726, Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.  5 p.m. PST.
A beloved New Jersey bakery that closed after almost 90 years in business recently provided some details on alleged plans to reopen.

McMillans Bakery, the storied Westmont establishment, took to Facebook to share that it will not be reopening under new ownership.

The announcement dispelled reports that the longtime bakery, which closed in May, would be reemerging at 15-17 Haddon Ave., under new owner Tom Whitman.

Were writing because you may have seen recent news reports suggesting that McMillans Bakery is reopening or coming back under new ownership in 2026. Those reports are false, the post read. While we sold the building at 15-17 Haddon Avenue, we did not sell the McMillans name, our trademark, our recipes, or our goodwill. Those assets remain with our family.

A bakery will open in the space but it will not carry the McMillans name as the family still owns the brand, a spokesperson told NJ Advance Media Monday.

It was reported in October that Whitman, owner of Del Buonos Bakery and Carmens Deli, acquired the building and planned to reopen McMillans.

Whitman brought on Doug Biemiller, grandson of McMillans founders George and Evelyn McMillan, to oversee baking and production, per the report. But it was unclear, at the time, if the South Jersey landmark would still carry the McMillans name.

When we first saw these reports, we chose to address the matter directly and privately with the parties involved before making a public statement, McMillans post read. We believe that was the right approach, and we appreciate the time it gave us to thoughtfully consider how to move forward.

Whitman purchased Del Buonos Bakery in Haddon Heights 12 years ago and went on to open a second location in Stratford in 2017. He also bought Carmens Deli in Bellmawr eight years ago.

McMillans, which originally opened in 1939, landed on NJ.coms lists of the states 62 greatest bakeries and 37 best doughnut shops.

We dont have specific plans to announce today, but we want to emphasize that the McMillans name, recipes, and legacy remain with our family, the post concluded. We understand the new owner of 15-17 Haddon Avenue plans to open a bakery under a different name. We wish them the best of luck in their new venture.
Authorities have arrested a Florida couple on charges of running a multi-state credit card fraud scheme that targeted New Jersey residents.

Investigators say the scheme has defrauded customers of more than $22,000.

Gloucester Countys Franklin Township Police Department said it has received multiple reports of credit card fraud targeting customers of a local bank since November.

Police have identified 14 victims in South Jersey, and that number is expected to climb as the investigation continues, officials said.

A 24-year-old West Park, Florida, woman and a 29-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Florida, man are accused of impersonating bank security team members during calls with victims, according to police.

The pair falsely claimed the victims accounts had been compromised and requested personal information for verification purposes, police said. Investigators believe the couple used a cellphone app to make it appear they were calling from the bank.

Authorities did not identify the bank.

Investigators said the accused pair rented vehicles in Florida and drove to New Jersey to carry out the alleged scheme.

Once they gathered personal data, the Florida man and woman accessed victims accounts and transferred funds to gift cards purchased at dollar stores across the region, police said. The pair also allegedly used the stolen funds to purchase high-end items at a Best Buy store in Vineland.

Investigators learned the pair rented another vehicle and were in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area on Thursday, police said.

Authorities in Pennsylvania located the couple. A traffic stop led to their arrest on unrelated drug charges, according to police.

A search of their rental car turned up a large amount of cash and 68 gift cards believed to have been purchased with proceeds from the credit card scheme. Police also found 11 cellphones and a laptop they believe were used in the operation.

The man and woman are each charged with third-degree charges of credit card fraud, theft and conspiracy in the New Jersey case.

Investigators believe the pair may be connected to similar fraud incidents along the East Coast and stretching as far north as Massachusetts, police said.

They remain jailed in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA

As a result of the night shelling on December 23, a civilian ship under the Lebanese flag, which was transporting Ukrainian soybeans, was damaged in the Odessa port, and the liquidation of the consequences of the shelling is ongoing, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction - Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba has said.

"Also, as a result of the night shelling in the Odesa port, a civilian ship under the Lebanese flag, which was transporting Ukrainian soybeans, was damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties," Kuleba said on Telegram on Tuesday.

According to him, civilian warehouses and critical facilities were also damaged in the Odessa region.

"The enemy is once again trying to destroy the logistics, economic and energy stability of Ukraine and leave people without light and heat on the eve of Christmas," the Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction stressed.

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Administration (USPA) reported on its Telegram channel that there was also damage in the port of Reni, where administrative buildings and port infrastructure were damaged.

"All services are involved in eliminating the consequences of the attacks. Work continues continuously," the USPA added in a message.

Head of the OVA Oleh Kiper reported that the Russians had once again struck the Odesa region, with numerous damage to infrastructure recorded.

"At night, the enemy carried out another massive attack with strike UAVs on the south of the Odesa region. Damage to energy, port, transport, industrial and residential infrastructure was recorded in the affected areas," he said on Telegram.

The Russian army has launched a massive Russian strike on Ukraine, primarily on energy and civilian infrastructure, using more than 650 drones and over three dozen missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday morning
Two members of a Jersey City street gang known as the Neighborhood Bloods were convicted of murdering three people in 2017, including a rival gang member and his 25-year-old pregnant girlfriend, federal prosecutors said.

Markell Brown, known as Sayboy, 37, Terence Shaw, known as Sweet Meat, 37, both of Jersey City, were convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering and various weapons-related offenses, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey announced Monday.

On Jan. 16, 2017, Brown and Shaw, with the help of an associate, obtained access to the Jersey City apartment of a rival gang member with whom they had been feuding, the office said.

After entering the Fulton Avenue apartment shortly before 10 p.m., Brown and Shaw executed Ishear Bailey, 26, by shooting him in the back of the head, the left arm, and the right shoulder, investigators said.

They also executed his girlfriend, Janaya Lee, shooting her in the back of the head and the chest, authorities said.

As Brown left the apartment, he shot the associate, Quadel Chisolm, 31, in the chest to eliminate the possibility that he would provide information to law enforcement, the office said.

Detectives learned that Brown and Shaw planned the killings through, among other things, orchestrating the use of a stolen U-Haul truck and purchasing two-way walkie-talkie radios to use during the murders, officials said.

The pair face life in prison when they are sentenced on April 22, the office said.

These convictions hold accountable violent gang members who carried out a calculated, execution-style triple homicide, including the murder of a young pregnant woman, Philip Lamparello, senior counsel for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey, said in a statement. Todays verdicts make clear that this level of brutality will be met with the full force of federal prosecution, and that those who terrorize our communities will face severe consequences.
A former Mercer County teacher who once portrayed Santa Claus secretly recorded students during remote learning, court documents show.

Mark Paulino, 64, of Hamilton, known locally as Santa Mark, faces second- and third-degree charges for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, as well as a fourth-degree count of child abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect.

Paulino, a retired elementary school teacher in the Hamilton Township School District, screen-recorded and took screenshots of students during remote learning in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mercer County Prosecutors Office began its investigation on Dec. 4 after receiving information that an individual in Hamilton Township, later identified as Paulino, uploaded multiple files of suspected child sexual abuse material to the internet.

The following day, the Hamilton Police SWAT Team and detectives from the prosecutors office executed a search warrant at Paulinos home. They seized multiple items of evidence, including electronic devices and a full Santa Claus suit. He was then arrested and charged.

According to the prosecutors office, investigators worked around the clock to obtain the search warrant due to Paulinos engagement with children.

As a Santa Claus performer, he visited schools and businesses for photographs and events, according to his website.

Investigators also found numerous text messages to individuals who had hired Paulino to perform at their house or events scheduled in the coming weeks, the affidavit states.

In Facebook messages, Paulino contacted former students and parents from McGalliard Elementary School, referring to himself as a friend for life. In the messages, he said he was their resource room teacher.

According to his website, Paulino worked as a special education teacher across all grade levels and retired from the Hamilton Township School District in 2021.

Paulino appeared in Mercer County Superior Court on Dec. 12 and was released pending future appearances.

He was ordered not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18 and to not use social media or file-sharing apps, the prosecutors office said.

The Hamilton Township School District and an attorney representing Paulino did not immediately return requests for comment Monday.

The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutors office Internet Crimes Against Children unit at 609-989-6568.
A dozen people, including a middle school teacher and a youth program coordinator at a community college, were charged with attempting to lure and meet minors for sex, officials with the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said.

A program coordinator of Youth Rise at Passaic County Community College, Cameron Ameye, 33, of Bloomingdale, was charged with one count of second-degree luring and one count of third-degree criminal attempt  endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Joseph Davicsin, 46, of East Brunswick, a middle school teacher in Elizabeth, was charged with one count of second-degree luring and one count of third-degree criminal attempt  endangering sexual conduct with a child.

The investigation, called Operation Bad Santa, included several local agencies with the assistance of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, the prosecutors office stated.

Investigators arrested 12 men over several days between Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, officials said.

Undercover agents posed as children in social media conversations with the men who were arrested when they arrived at an undercover location to meet the children, officials said.

All of the following were charged with one count of second-degree luring and one count of third-degree criminal attempt  endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Delpis Reynoso-Castro, 26, of New Brunswick

Marcos Aguila, 57, of East Brunswick

Jose Leguia, 57, of Old Bridge

Hareshkumar Harry Vala, 44, of Dunellen

Vedant Khandelwal, 38, of Bridgewater

Kevin Knox, 65, of North Brunswick

Raul Angeles, 53, of Asbury Park

James Keating, 59, of Edison

Jorge Mora, 52, of Jackson, and Akash Shah, 23, of East Brunswick, were also charged with one count of third-degree criminal attempt  distributing obscene material to a minor.

Davicsins attorney, Michael Chazen said that Davicsin maintained his innocence.

Attorneys for the other men did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
When Amaris Roman cradled her infant daughter in the backseat of her car, she never imagined motherhood would begin without a home.

We were living out of the car and hopping from house to house, said Roman, 34, who at the time was fleeing an abusive relationship. I had just had my daughter  she was just months old  and we were barely hanging on.

December 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, is recognized as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. The day honors people who have died while experiencing homelessness, raises awareness of housing insecurity, and encourages donations to local shelters and outreach organizations.

Community members gathers at a New Brunswick church during winter solstice to remember those who died while experiencing homelessness as local housing insecurity continues to rise. Ande Richards

Pastor Myung Sun Han of the United Methodist Church at New Brunswick led a group of about 30 community leaders, parishioners and community members who have experienced homelessness in a program honoring the 230 people who have died in Middlesex County over the past 15 years while homeless.

The program began with attendees gathering in a circle outside the church, allowing them to experience the cold of the night faced by the unhoused people they were honoring. As the names of individuals who died were read aloud, each person holding a paper cutout angel bearing a name lit their candle, until the circle was fully dotted with candlelight.

This is the longest night of the year, when darkness reaches its maximum, said Han. So intentionally, we light a candle for the most vulnerable brothers and sisters in our community. Theologically, its very meaningful to hold a service of light on the longest night.

The outdoor tribute was followed by a program of music, poetry and moments of reflection.

According to Melissa Bellamy, division head of the Middlesex County Division of Housing, the countys permanent housing program has a strong track record, with 96% of people remaining housed two to three years after leaving shelters.

Bellamy noted that ending homelessness requires both coordinated effort and advocacy. She also warned that recent federal policy changes threaten automatic funding renewals, creating uncertainty for agencies and the people they serve.

We dont just say we like to end homelessness, she said. That actually takes a lot of work, commitment and groups who decide to work together. These are people who are often forgotten about, people nobody wants to advocate forWe need more people advocating for people like Amaris, people like the 230 names we shared, because they all deserve to have a good life.

On a single night in January 2024, an estimated 771,480 people experienced homelessness nationwidethe highest total recorded since federal tracking began. New Jersey reported roughly 13,700 people experiencing homelessness, the most in over a decade, while Middlesex County identified 622 unhoused residents, according to HUD data and local counts compiled by Coming Home of Middlesex County.

In New Brunswick, local reporting based on the same count identified about 182 people experiencing homelessness, with more than a third living in unsheltered conditions, underscoring the issues impact at the community level.

On National Homeless Persons Memorial Day, we pause to honor the lives of our neighbors who passed away without the safety and stability that every person deserves, said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. Their loss is a solemn reminder of the urgent work before us and the critical need for support services across Middlesex County.

The Macaulay family gather outside the New Brunswick United Methodist Church to take part in a ceremony honoring the homeless community. Ande Richards

For Michaela Macaulay, service isnt an obligationits a lifelong practice rooted in faith, family, and decades of human services work.

A longtime member of the church and a regular volunteer at events honoring people who died while unhoused, Macaulay said showing up is simply part of who she is.

I dont come just because this is my church  I come because I care, Macaulay said. Sometimes people who are unhoused dont even need food first. They need to be seen. They need that human touch. We cant just think about ourselves all the time  we have to think about them, because they need us.

As the church doors closed, across the street a woman sat on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette, her walker and a few small bags close at hand. She declined to be photographed but offered her first name, Darlene. She said she did not believe she was worth interviewing. She spoke of the cold, of having no transportation to reach a shelter, and said she expected to spend the night on the street. The temperature had fallen below freezing.
Tom Kloza writes a monthly column examining how global energy trends affect New Jersey consumers.

I hate cold weather. I spent seven of the last eight winters in Florida and didnt miss shoveling snow, clearing the ice from car windows, or dressing in layers for protection against severe New Jersey temperatures.

But as a reporter and long-time analyst, I relish the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable features that can arrive with this brutal season. Short of hurricane impacts, nothing can inspire wild fossil fuel swings like the bone-chilling days or dramatic winter weather that typically arrives in December and January.

There is a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to gauging the potential impact of winter trends. The good news: With great certainty, I can now predict that New Jersey residents will see initial 2026 pump prices that will be at five-year lows. Already, discerning residents can find regular gas for about $2.50 per gallon, or some 40 cents per gallon beneath the statewide average of $2.90 per gallon. Prices in advance of the Christmas holiday will almost certainly dip further by some 10 to 25cents per gallon.

Prices will reach new depths in part because gasoline demand is predictably lumpy. Summer months tend to see U.S. consumption of about 9 million barrels or approximately 378 million gallons per day. January always provides the nadir for motor fuel use and it will do so in 2026.

Short days, extremely cold or stormy weather, and overzealous holiday spending all combine to construct an economic cocoon in January. The cocoon construction has accelerated in recent years, perhaps because of the deficit spending. It is one of the most reliable and predictable backdrops that can impact consumer behavior to kick off the year.

Distilled into a back-of-the-envelope New Jersey construct, history suggests that New Jersey residents will use about 9,534,000 gallons per day of motor fuel next month. During the summer driving season, the need is probably closer to 10.5 million gallons per diem.

If Im on the money in projecting average January Jersey pump prices of $2.75 per gallon or less, the arithmetic suggests a total January expense of $812 million versus the $884 million ponied up in January 2025. The math results in a bonus $72 million in consumer pockets for January spending (or God forbid, paying off some debt).

No safety net

But cold wintry weather can bring pain for consumers and businesses as well. One of the more common impacts arrives via brutal clusters of degree days with severe January temperatures. When these clusters last three to five days or more, pure chaos can result.

Example: U.S. natural gas is very cheap, but the cheap prices of under $4 per thousand cubic feet are for natural gas in Gulf Coast storage. There is very little natural gas storage in the U.S. Northeast or for that matter in any downstream U.S. markets. During severe cold snaps, citygate prices for natural gas often soar to three or four times the Texas price, and history has occasionally delivered much more spectacular spikes as well.

Price is not the primary concern for natural gas on the Eastern Seaboard. A week of subzero and teen temperatures often dictates that natural gas utilities interrupt non-essential customers so those utilities can satisfy the needs of homeowners, hospitals, schools etc. When there is this threat of not enough gas the supply to factories, casinos, and businesses can be suspended with buyers required to burn alternative fuels.

During past spells of brutal weather, those buyers have turned to diesel, heating oil, and kerosene. Atlantic City casinos will gladly load convoys of trucks hauling 8,000 gal of diesel if it means maintaining open doors. Additional demand might come from utilities who need to purchase liquid fuel for peak shaving during cold snaps. The demand for electricity can be stunning when temperatures dip close to single numbers.

Plenty of oil marketers warn that the Northeast operates without a safety net. Diesel and heating oil sales can clearly skyrocket when there is demand for boilers that ordinarily use cheap natural gas. The diesel market now tests the limits of just-in-time inventory practices with about 50% less fuel in storage than was typically witnessed ten years ago. A subzero stretch of winter might promote a how could they let this happen? scenario.

The final threat to winter stasis across all hydrocarbons should be familiar. The Weather Channel has been naming winter storms for the last 13 seasons. In the last five years alone, you may get a chill in remembering Uri (2021); Elliott (2022) or Heather and Gerri in 2024.

U.S. companies operate about 130 refineries that make gasoline, diesel, heating oil, jet fuel and kerosene for North America and about 30 foreign countries. Those plants begin this winter running just over 17-million barrels per day of crude and other feedstocks.

In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri wiped out about 3 million barrels per day of refining capability in a dramatic Texas freeze. In December 2022, Winter Storm Elliott suppressed 2.5 million barrels per day of processing as it moved through the country just prior to Christmas. In January 2024, about 1.5 million barrels per day of refining capacity was idled as Gerri and Heather ravaged some states. In some cases, U.S. crude oil production was shut in by the dramatic freezes.

Last year mercifully brought no severe storms, and that helped refiner stage some of the most extensive and advanced maintenance of the century. With a little luck, refiners will see smooth sailing into the driving season and 2026 will live up to its advance billing as the cheapest non-pandemic year of the decade.
A bill that would expand family leave protections to businesses in New Jersey with as few as 15 workers was passed by lawmakers, but before its headed to Gov. Phil Murphys desk, the Assembly has to sign off on changes made by the Senate.

Under the current state law, workers are promised job-protected family leave  the ability to take time off to care for a sick relative or a new baby while collecting 85% of their earnings and returning to their job at the end  if their employers have 30 employees or more.

The bill, S3451, would expand the benefit to smaller employers cleared the state Assembly last year and advanced out of a state Senate committee last week. It was approved by the full state Senate in a 24-12 vote on Monday.

The original proposal lowered the threshold for job-protected family leave from 30 employees to five employees. But lawmakers in the Senate amended the bill to 15 employees after criticism from business lobbyists.

State law allows everyone up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a new child or an ill family member. But those who work at businesses of under 30 employees are not guaranteed to return to their job after the leave is over.

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association, the states largest lobbying group for private businesses, opposes the bill.

Few states extend family leave protections to businesses with such a small threshold, said NJBIA lobbyist Chris Emigholz.

In other words, New Jersey would be placing its smallest employers into a narrow national category  an outlier beyond most states we directly compete with for jobs and investment, Emigholz said.

New Jersey Citizen Action, which supports expanding the law, said the changes were long overdue.

No one should be prevented from accessing the paid leave benefits that they are contributing to and entitled to. We passed paid family leave 17 years ago and it took us 10 years to improve it  it should not take another decade to get this right, said Yarrow Willman-Cole, a director for the organization.
As this turbulent year draws to a close, it appears that most Americans still have at least one thing in common: contempt for Congress.

Gallups final 2025 poll, conducted Dec. 1-15, found that only 17% of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job. Approval of congressional Republicans is 29%, while Democrats approval stands at 24%.

GOP lawmakers fared slightly better than their Democratic counterparts thanks to a 69% approval rating among Republican respondents. Less than half of Democrats, 49%, approved of their own partys congressional representatives, according to Gallups survey.

Independents hold a dim view of both parties  21% approve of Democrats, while 20% approve of Republicans. Overall, only 12% of independents approve of the way Congress is handling its job.

Americans discontent with their elected politicians aligned with an increasingly bleak outlook for the country as a whole. Gallups survey found that just 24% of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the U.S., down 14 points from May.

That drop has coincided with several significant developments on Capitol Hill, including the record-long 43-day government shutdown, a monthslong back-and-forth over the Epstein files and a developing conflict with Venezuela. Meanwhile, affordability remains a chief concern amid President Donald Trumps trade wars as the Supreme Court considers striking down his sweeping tariffs.

Nearly half of U.S. adults, 47%, now view the economy negatively, according to Gallups latest poll. Thats up from 40% in November and the highest level recorded since September 2024.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces neutralized 621 of 673 enemy air attack vehicles on Tuesday night. There recorded missile hits and 39 strike UAVs at 21 locations, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said.

"On the night of December 23 (from 18:00 on December 22), the enemy launched a combined strike on critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine using strike UAVs, air- and ground-based missiles. In total, the Air Force's radio-technical troops detected and tracked 673 air attack vehicles - 38 missiles and 635 UAVs of various types... Missile hits and 39 strike UAVs were recorded at 21 locations, downed ones (fragments) fell at 8 locations. In addition, three aeroballistic missiles did not reach their targets (the places of the fall are being specified)," the message on Telegram says.

According to information, the Russian army used 635 Shahed and Gerbera strike UAVs (other types of UAVs) from the directions of Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk  RF, Chauda, Crimea (about 400 of them  Shahed UAVs) for a massive air attack, and air defense shot down/suppressed 587 enemy UAVs.

The enemy also used 35 Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles in the attack (launch areas  Vologda, Kursk regions, Russia), and air defense neutralized 34 of them.

In addition, all aeroballistic missiles did not reach their targets.

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.

It is reported that as of 11:30 the attack was ongoing, with several enemy UAVs remaining in the airspace.

Effectiveness of the air defense against UAVs was 92.44%, against cruise missiles - 97.14%, and overall - 92.97%.

The previous massive air attack occurred on December 6, when the air defense of the Defense Forces neutralized 615 out of 704 missiles and drones, hits were recorded at 29 locations. In total, on the night of December 6, the enemy attacked with 51 missiles, of which 17 were ballistic Kh-47M2 Dagger and Iskander-M / KN-23, as well as 653 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera types and drones of other types. The overall effectiveness of the air defense then exceeded 87%.

The highest percentage of neutralized drones and missiles was recorded on the night of July 9, when 718 drones and missiles were neutralized out of 729 launched by the occupiers, giving an efficiency of about 96.9%.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive an unspecified number of SAMP/T NG air defense systems from France, which will become "the most powerful air defense system in the Defense Forces, the French Aid to Ukraine channel has said.

"In 2026, France will supply the Ukrainian Air Force with an unspecified number of SAMP/T NG systems. SAMP/T NG will become the most powerful air defense system in Ukraine. Merry Christmas!" says a message on the social network X.

According to the report, the manufacturer Thales "has just confirmed" the commissioning of the SAMP/T NG system in France and Italy, and the first deliveries are scheduled for 2026. This means that the first SAMP/T NG systems will be delivered to Ukraine in the same year.

Earlier, it was reported that on November 17, Ukraine and France signed an agreement that provides, in particular, for the acquisition of new-generation SAM/T air defense systems, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Charmant in Mid-City is not one, but two restaurants.

The restaurant is a passion project from husband-and-wife hospitality veterans chef Chris Borges and sommelier and general manager Bonnie Borges. They opened just before Thanksgiving in the space formerly home to MoPho. By day the spacious, 2,880-square-foot restaurant is a sunny cafe with walls colored a serene azure blue, wraparound windows inviting in plenty of natural light and a climate-controlled courtyard for al fresco nibbling.

Charmant Where 514 City Park Ave., (504) 381-4573; charmantnola.com When Lunch/Brunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. How Dine-in Check it out European-inspired fare at a neighborhood spot

In the evening, the copper pendant lights dim, the bar glows and soft music sets the scene for intimate conversations and the gathering of friends. This is not a noisy restaurant  that vibe lives elsewhere. At Charmant, which means lovely or captivating in French, the focus is on polished, European-influenced cuisine, picturesque cocktails and a concise list of carefully selected wines, including many by small producers, grower Champagnes and distinctive varietals that pair well with chef Borges menu. And the price point is sweet, with not-the-usual by-the-glass choices in the $10-$15 range, and bottles running around $40-$60.

Our goal was to build the kind of place wed want in our own neighborhood, where you can stop in for brunch, a glass of wine after work, or linger over dinner with friends, says Chris Borges, who grew up on nearby Moss Street facing Bayou St. John and Cabrini High School. Bonnie Borges grew up in Old Metairie and Algiers Point.

Borges earned his chops at fine dining restaurants and hotels over the past three decades, most recently as executive chef at Virgin Hotels New Orleans.

We had been looking for a while, he says, adding that its all about location, location, location and parking  which is plentiful.

Hard to believe its taken me 30 years to open my own place.

The restaurant opens for brunch at 8 a.m. and stays open through 10 p.m. A happy hour menu bridges lunch and dinner.

Theres also sensible crossover between the lunch/brunch and dinner menus, with popular dishes like the fried Brussels sprouts salad with lima beans and cardamom yogurt, crab dip with everything pumpernickel toasts and a dressed wagyu burger with cave-aged cheddar on a brioche bun available all day.

At brunch theres a massive croque Madame and house-made salmon gravlax on toast. Theres a small selection of pastries as well.

Borges puts fine emphasis on creative vegetable dishes, like roasted beets with horseradish panna cotta, rye and dill pollen. Theres a little gem salad, a kale salad available with or without chicken, fried sunchoke cakes and a crispy cauliflower main dish that also is a good shareable starter. Pork-osso-buco-stuffed arancini is a winner, served with a zippy cherry pepper ragout.

A tender maple-glazed pork chop is on both menus, as is the Phomo, a dish that brings the flavors of star anise and cardamom to a short-rib powered rice grits and grillades. That dish is a shout-out to Michael Gulotta, who previously ran MoPho and is the chef at Tana.

We loved Mikes restaurant, and I wanted to feature something that paid tribute to what he did here, Chris Borges says.

Menu prices are in the $15 to $29 range. There are dessert cocktails and creative desserts and pastries from sous/pastry chef Jillian Duran, including a nutty pine nut tart garnished with rich morello cherries. Duran is known for her Rahm Haus ice cream, a business she ran locally for years.

Bonnie and Chris Borges, who met while working together at the Ace Hotel, each brought two children into their three-year union, ages 6, 8, 11 and 16. The family lives nearby.

The good thing is, we cant talk about work when we get home, says Bonnie Borges. Theres too much to do.
Photo: https://t.me/pgo_gov_ua/34108

Over UAH 40 million was returned to the Kyiv budget, which was appropriated by officials of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) together with entrepreneurs during the implementation of the city social program "Caring. Towards Kyiv Residents," the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said.

"Thanks to the consistent work of the prosecutor's office and the Security Service of Ukraine, over UAH 40 million more, illegally appropriated within the framework of the city social support program "Caring. Towards Kyiv Reisents," was returned to the capital's budget," the Prosecutor General's Office said on Telegram on Tuesday.

It is reported that the funds were reimbursed by one of the suspects in the appropriation of budget funds allocated to help socially vulnerable Kyiv residents. In total, UAH 60.5 million has already been reimbursed within the framework of the pre-trial investigation, and work to return the remaining losses is ongoing.

As reported, the director of the Department of Social and Veteran Policy of the Kyiv City State Administration, two of his deputies and entrepreneurs in March-July 2025 were suspected of embezzling budget funds as part of an organized group. This concerns money allocated under the program "Care. Towards Kyiv Residents" in 2022-2024. Of the UAH 150 million allocated from the capital's budget, almost UAH 75 million was illegally appropriated.

According to the investigation, the funds were withdrawn through fictitious expenses - renting offices, cars, parking spaces, as well as by entering services in documents that were not actually provided, in particular, "rehabilitation" classes for patients who could not get out of bed.

In November, two suspected entrepreneurs have already reimbursed UAH 20.5 million : they returned UAH 12.5 million to the budget and transferred six cars worth UAH 8 million for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The pre-trial investigation into the Kyiv City State Administration officials has been completed, they are familiarizing themselves with the materials of the proceedings. After that, the indictment will be sent to the court.

Regarding the entrepreneurs who pleaded guilty and compensated for the losses, the indictments have already been sent to the court with plea agreements.
Over 95% of highly functional prosthetics imported, grants for manufacturers of bionic prostheses to be available in 2026  Muzychenko

Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

Director General of the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities Vitaliy Muzychenko says that over 95% of highly functional prosthetics in Ukraine are imported, and also announced the launch of a grant program for manufacturers of bionic prostheses in 2026.

"From a technical standpoint, a prosthesis is a set of components connected into one product. When it comes to highly functional, high-quality, high-tech units... We have limited production of feet for the lower extremities in our country. There are practically no highly functional bionic knee units with microprocessor control, and 99% of these are imported components," said Muzychenko in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, answering the question of what percentage of prosthetics production is localized in Ukraine today.

Regarding the upper extremities, Muzychenko noted that there are several domestic bionic hand manufacturers, and they are developing quite well. However, there is virtually no supply of elbow units.

"As a result, we can say that over 95% of highly functional prosthetics are manufactured by foreign companies," he stated.

According to him, the situation is a little better for more typical, simpler prostheses that contain hydraulic and pneumatic systems instead of microprocessor control. In fact, there are Ukrainian manufacturers in all positions.

"However, I would say their share of the market is around 10-12%, maybe up to 15%. For the most part, these are small components for prostheses, such as rods, fasteners, and pins. Therefore, there are big challenges today in terms of logistics, working with foreign companies, and dictating prices. Unfortunately, Ukraine is one of the largest prosthetics markets and customers today due to the war," Muzychenko noted.

As for the largest countries that supply prostheses and components, he said that Germany is at the top, followed by Iceland, Great Britain, the USA, New Zealand, Poland, and Turkiye. China's share is at 1%.

When asked about the status of the grant program for bionic prosthesis manufacturers announced by the Prime Minister in July, the Fund's director stated that preparations are underway.

Muzychenko said that the program will include several aspects: the first is support for certain design solutions; the second is the development of viable prototypes; the third is the issue of scaling those products that already have some prototypes that can be further improved.

When asked for clarification, he predicted that such a grant program would be launched in 2026.
Political pressure has increased on Exeter City Council to confirm whether it will hold elections in May, after Plymouth City Council said it will press ahead with its vote.

The Government has indicated it would allow some local council elections to be postponed as part of plans for local government reorganisation.

READ NEXT: Okehampton woman faces fiery challenge to honour father and support Devon charity

However, earlier today (December 22), Plymouth City Council confirmed it would not be seeking a delay to its May elections.

The decision has been welcomed by Devon County Council, whose leader said the move should be followed elsewhere in the county.

Julian Brazil, leader of Devon County Council, said councillors are elected for a fixed term and should not extend that without voters consent.

Councillors are elected to office for a specific term and should not seek to extend that without a mandate, he said.

Plymouth councillors have done the right thing. In this context it would be a disgrace if Exeter residents were deprived of the chance to choose who represents them in the Civic Centre.

He added that Exeter City Council could still make a clear decision before Christmas to maintain public confidence in local democracy.

If the Government is worried about councils being able to deliver services it should fund us properly and postpone a reorganisation project which is costing millions of pounds and stretching both local authorities and civil servants, he said.

Deputy leader of Devon County Council Paul Arnott also welcomed Plymouths decision, saying it should act as a prompt for Exeter.

This latest move to offer councillors the chance to stay in power longer than they were elected for comes in the context of increasing uncertainty about democracy across Devon, he said.

Plymouth has done the right thing. Exeter needs to do the same.

Councils affected by the next phase of reorganisation have until January 15 to formally request a delay to elections.

A special meeting of Devon County Council is due to be held on January 9, where councillors will debate and respond to correspondence received from Local Government Minister Jim McMahon on the issue.

Devon County Council has previously said its own reorganisation proposal would be the cheapest and simplest option to deliver, and that it would avoid disrupting progress on childrens services.
May 2025 was a month of big changes along Torbays seafront, with new openings and local developments catching the eye of residents and visitors alike.

Torquays Corbyn Head site made headlines as one of the worlds biggest hotel chains announced it would operate a new hotel on the seafront. Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) confirmed the site would become Hotel Indigo Torquay, in partnership with The Fragrance Group. The 153-room hotel, the 26th in the UK and Ireland for IHG, promised stays entrenched in the neighbourhoods individuality while bringing a fresh, modern presence to the bay.

The good news continued on Torquays harbour front as our readers welcomed the opening of a new dining terrace, offering fresh outdoor seating and sweeping views over the bay. The terrace quickly became a popular spot for food and drinks as the weather warmed, adding another string to Torquays growing dining scene.

The buzz didnt stop there. Torquays harbour front was alive with anticipation as The Yacht, a new bar and restaurant, teased its opening date in May. Their menus were just nearing completion, with their iconic blue tile and a gold-rimmed sign displaying The Yacht had just been installed.

This is part of our Torbay Weekly Rewind series, looking back at the key stories from each month over the past year. Missed a month? Explore our other monthly rewinds here, with more to come:
As we head into Christmas, I want to begin with a simple message: Merry Christmas, North Devon!

Its been a full-on year, and Im genuinely grateful for the kindness and support shown across our communities, it really is second to none!

But, before anything else, I want to say thank you to the people who will be working through the festive period; in our NHS, care services, emergency services and local businesses.

Because, as we all know, Christmas can be a difficult time of the year for many.

The cost of living doesnt pause for Christmas, energy bills still land, rent and mortgages still need paying, and lots can find this time of the year more lonely than ever.

If thats you this year, you are not alone - there is support here in North Devon.

And if youre in a position to help, even in a small way, there is so much we can do that really makes a difference.

I recently visited Barnstaple Tesco to see their Winter Food Collection, run in partnership with Trussell, and to thank both the staff and the volunteers who make it happen.

Adding an extra item or two to your trolley for a food collection is a simple and practical way to help, because the reality is that foodbanks and local support services see demand rise in winter, and these collections help keep shelves stocked with the essentials people need.

Christmas is also about company and community, and it was lovely to join the festive Memory Cafe at Barnstaple Library.

It brought together older residents and people living with memory loss or dementia for a bit of warmth, a chat, some mince pies and that comforting sense of normal.

That same community spirit was everywhere at the Christmas Tree Festival at South Molton Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene; a proper North Devon tradition.

It was joyful, welcoming, and a brilliant showcase of local groups coming together.

ABOVE: Ian Roome MP at the Christmas Tree Festival at South Molton Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene

Its also a good moment to recognise the organisations quietly doing the hard work day in, day out for people who are struggling, like Northern Devon Foodbank, North Devon Hospice, and North Devon Against Domestic Abuse to name but a few.

Citizens Advice is there too if youre feeling overwhelmed by money worries, debt, benefits, or housing and energy issues. Support comes in lots of forms, and theres absolutely no shame in reaching out.

Thank you again to everyone giving their time over the festive period. North Devon does Christmas brilliantly, so wherever youre spending it, Im wishing you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!
The Government has revised its plans to cap tax relief for passing on farms to the next generation, it was announced today (Tuesday, December 23).

The family farm tax due to be implemented in April would have seen a cap of 1million on agricultural and business property relief for inheritance tax, meaning families would have been taxed on all assets beyond that when the estate was passed on when the owner died.

Now the Treasury has announced the threshold before people are taxed will be increased to 2.5m. It also allows spouses or civil partners to pass on up to 5m in qualifying agricultural or business assets between them before paying inheritance tax, on top of existing allowances.

READ NEXT: MP warns North Devon farms could close for good as Finance Bill goes through

The original plans sparked months of high profile protests, including rallies and tractors in central London.

Farming families argued that even smaller estates would soon surpass the 1m threshold once the value of property, land and machinery assets had been taken into account, regardless of whether the farm was even profitable.

The Government has said the number of estates that would have been affected by the reforms in 2026-27 had halved from 375 to 185.

Speaking today, North Devon MP Ian Roome welcomed the reversal, saying: The Government's concession on the family farm tax will be a real relief for many family farms in North Devon and it should help protect the smallest farms first. From the start, we Liberal Democrats have fought against this policy that risked forcing families to sell up or shut their farm gates for good.

It isnt the full reversal we have been calling for and farmers shouldn't have been put through over a year of uncertainty since the Government first announced these changes. But it is a welcome step in the right direction.

I'll continue to push the government to scrap the tax in full, and I want to thank everyone who has written, met with me, shared figures and kept the pressure on.

Above: North Devon MP Ian Roome at a farming rally in London on Budget day.

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, who is a farmer and the Devon County councillor for Torrington rural as well as cabinet member for rural affairs, hailed the news a very welcome concession and said it was a significant win for farmers and rural communities across Devon.

She added: Under the original proposals, many family farms here would have faced being financially crippled. Farmers and their families have faced more than a year of serious stress and anxiety.

I have been campaigning on this issue since the day it was announced, making it clear to ministers the serious impact it would have on Devon. Not just the farming families themselves but the wider effect on the rural economy and the communities they sustain.

This change by central government did not happen by accident. It follows months of determined effort from farmers and supporters across the country - from tractor protests, to petitions, letters and meetings with MPs. Every voice mattered and that collective pressure has made a real difference.

While the Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for a total reversal of these inheritance tax changes, this concession is nonetheless welcome.

It provides much-needed reassurance for many as we head towards Christmas, but there is more to do. I will continue to fight to ensure Devons farmers and rural communities are properly heard and supported in the year ahead.

READ NEXT: Disappointment and disillusionment  Torridge MP slams Labour Budget

After todays announcement, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: We have listened closely to farmers across the country and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms.

We are increasing the individual threshold from 1m to 2.5m which means couples with estates of up to 5m will now pay no inheritance tax on their estates.

Its only right that larger estates contribute more, while we back the farms and trading businesses that are the backbone of Britains rural communities.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has appealed to the National Commission for Regulation of Energy and Utilities (NEURC) to postpone the planned tariff changes for water for the population, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said.

"Water tariffs for people should remain unchanged. The government has appealed to the NEURC to postpone the planned tariff changes. Our position is clear: in times of war, people should not feel additional financial pressure," Svyrydenko wrote in the Telegram channel.

At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that the authorities must find a joint solution that balances the interests of consumers and the needs of service providers, water utilities, which should not lose money and go into debt.

"The next step is for the government, together with the NEURC, to work out a joint solution," Svyrydenko said.
Wilderness explorer, mountaineer, and acclaimed journalist Michael Cooper has been honored with the Winner of the 2025 Literary Global Book Awards Narrative Non-Fiction distinction for his harrowing memoir, Miscalculated Risks: Attacked, Crippled, Paralyzed, Drowning, Unconscious and Freezing in the Wild (Just Not All at Once).

Cooper is a longtime Sisters resident who released the book earlier this year. The book blends adventure, personal reflection, and gripping storytelling as it chronicles Coopers near-fatal expeditions, extreme wilderness encounters, and the relentless drive that pushed him more than 8,000 miles into some of the most remote and uncharted landscapes in North America.

The distinguished panel of LGBA judges said, [Miscalculated Risks] stood out for its exceptional craft, originality, and literary impact. This years competition featured a strong and diverse field of entries from authors around the world, making this recognition especially meaningful. Miscalculated Risks was also an LGBA Finalist in the Autobiography-Memoir and Debut Nonfiction categories.

The 2025 Literary Global Book Awards commendation follows the American Writing Awards win for Best New (Debut) Nonfiction. The outdoors-adventure memoir was also an AWA Finalist in the Narrative Nonfiction category. Additionally, Cooper was selected as an AWA 2026 Featured Author.

Across its exhilarating, often darkly humorous chapters, Miscalculated Risks recounts Coopers close brushes with death in the wild:

 Mortally wounded in a Mexican jungle, 20 pathless miles from medical help.

 Severely hypothermic on an isolated Oregon river, battling 69 miles of rapids during a blizzard.

 Deathly ill and out of water in sun-scorched desert.

 And several more life-threatening episodes that tested the limits of endurance, resolve, and luck.

The memoir explores themes of wilderness survival, camaraderie, the lure of untouched landscapes, and the human drive to test boundaries  sometimes recklessly so.

Learn more at http://www.MichaelCooperAdventurer.com. Book available at Paulina Springs Books.
The well-attended December 17 Community Builders meeting was held in the clubhouse of The Grove apartments at Sunset Meadows. The apartments, currently at 85 percent occupancy, come in one-, two-, and three-bedroom units that are available furnished or unfurnished. They are all electric, with utilities running about $95 a month. A two-bedroom apartment rents for $2,200, and that covers common area charges, water/sewer/garbage/internet, but not electric. There are washers/dryers and air conditioning in every unit, as well as an on-site sauna and gym.

The management reports they have a strong and engaged community with all units occupied by people who live in Sisters more than 50 percent of the time. Their clubhouse is available for free to nonprofits, and low cost for private events. The complex is dog-friendly and has a dog park and dog washing station. There are EV charging stations onsite. Leases are available for as short a time as three months. The Grove is walking distance to downtown Sisters and some units have beautiful views of the Three Sisters.

The 29 attendees (two new) were able to share one of the following: an organizational update, something they are dreaming of where they could use broader support or collaboration, a need they currently have, what they can offer to the community, or something for which they are grateful. As a result of this sharing, several organizations have been able to collaborate on community efforts or provide suggestions or expertise that helps another group.

Citizens4Community (C4C) Executive Director Kellen Klein, who convenes the monthly gatherings, said they are seeking ideas for their Lets Get Together series. If you have an idea for an event that will help bring community members together in a fun way, let Klein know by emailing director@

citizens4community.com. They are also seeking ideas for future professional development workshops. If you have a skill youd like to learn, or a skill youd like to share, please reach out. On February 6 there will be a Lets Flow Poetry Karaoke. There will be a mental health fair at The Hub in the spring.

Deschutes Land Trust is offering Winter Wanderings at three preserves around Sisters on December 27 from 15 p.m.  at Indian Ford Meadow Preserve (1.2 miles of trails), Metolius Preserve (west of Camp Sherman, 10 miles of trails), and Camp Polk Preserve. Visitors will have a chance to mingle, wander the lands, or snowshoe if there is snow. Check their website for more information. Gratitude was expressed for Ann Richardson, president of DLT, who has been a great mentor for lots of folks in the community.

Serving Our Seniors (SOS) is a small group of individuals who became concerned after The Lodge eliminated its assisted living services, leaving Sisters elders with only several adult care homes to offer that kind of assistance. Seven years ago, 25 percent of the Sisters population was over 65. Its now 37.5 percent and our services for elders available locally havent kept up with that growth.

Over the past six months SOS has had meetings with local health experts, visited other communities, done community listening sessions and an electronic survey. They are now collating all that information to share with the community and will hopefully attract people who would like to establish some services and volunteers to enable our seniors to age well in their homes.

In January, there will be a series of articles in The Nugget reviewing statistics and services available for elders. A Resource Fair at the Fire Hall on February 17 will feature organizations that currently offer services in Sisters for seniors. On March 8, SOS will partner with C4C in a Community Forum addressing SOS, at the Sisters Elementary School. It will be an informed discussion for the community regarding what services for seniors are missing and needed in our community, hopefully identifying where the communitys energy lies.

100 Women Who Care Sisters (100 WWCS) is inviting nominations for their quarterly giving circle meeting. Its a chance to present about your group to 100+ women in the community, then members vote, and the winner gets the amount given by the women, with each giving $100. All that is needed is a current 100 WWCS member to nominate your organization. The next meeting is January 23 with a nomination deadline of January 11. Currently there are about 117 women involved.

Community Solutions Central Oregon is hosting basic mediation training on March 13-15 for $450 for the 40-hour training. This is a great opportunity for anyone who ever deals with conflict. Participants include people in public roles, legal roles, and community volunteers. They would like to increase awareness of their support services across the tri-county area. They are a much more affordable resource as their mediators are all volunteers. Funding comes from Resolution Oregon headquartered in the University of Oregon Law School, which supports 15 regional mediation centers across the state. Funding also comes from Oregon Housing, Mobile Home Marina Housing Community, and funds from private mediation services. They are available for private mediation on a sliding scale. Please help spread the word!

Karen Kassy / Edward Jones brings in experts to do free classes. On January 29 there will be a buffet dinner at a local art gallery and a conversation with Kassy about how to align your investments with your values. If interested in attending, contact Edward Jones.

Altruist Partners is offering a free book from their organization called Scaling Altruism, which gives advice on how to use techniques from bigger businesses to help smaller nonprofits. Lots of their clients who have used the techniques in the book have seen dramatic increases. Copies of the book by Donald Summers are available in the resource library at The Hub.

Sisters Park & Recreation District is hiring a Business Operations Supervisor, a part-time role with 20-25 hours/week. The hire will work closely with the executive director to build up the internal management of the organization. Core functions include accounts payable, reconciliation, payroll, supervising the front office, potentially marketing, and oversight of the rental program. For more information visit http://www.sistersrecreation.com.

Mayor Jennifer Letz said one challenge theyve been having at the City is that they dont have a good way to reach out to renters about community information, meetings, and announcements. The Citys contact list is largely based on water utility customers, so they really have no access to renters. They would welcome advice on how better to engage renters about community information.

Age-Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC) on January 1 will become inactive. They are not formally closing, but they will not be acting as a fiscal sponsor until they are able to attract new board members who can help lead the organization, attract new projects, and attract the necessary funding to help sustain these projects. Email [email protected] if you want to discuss further with her.

Furry Friends Foundation will serve 140 people this month. Kiki Dolson said about 40 percent of their client base are seniors. The foundation is currently in about 280 square feet, and they distribute about three tons of pet food per month out of that space. Dolson also stores kennels and other supplies at home. They would like to have a larger space and have limited budget to rent. The space doesnt have to be fancy but does need to be heated. They could easily use triple their square footage if the pricing is right. In a perfect world, theyd love a door big enough for pallets to come through. This would allow them to purchase bulk supplies at a cheaper rate.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity wants to thank the community for their support over the last 36 years. During the past few years there have been a lot of changes. They have more than tripled the number of homes available per year. The process from approval to move-in now only takes a few months rather than a few years. Within the next couple of years, theyll be bringing 19 affordable homes, six workforce homes, and one ADA home to the community.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department will be offering a free Christmas day dinner at 1 p.m. at the fire station. It will be a huge free community dinner open to everyone.

STARS (Sisters Transportation and Ride Share) will have provided 800 rides to in-need community members by the end of the year.

The January 21 Community Builders meeting will be at The Slow Down State coffee shop, 192 E. Main Ave.
Roundhouse Foundation, based in Sisters, has announced more than $1.5 million dollars in collective support grants to Native Public Media and Public Media Bridge Fund, which are respectively championing funding relief for rural and tribal public media stations impacted by the recent closure of The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

Radio provides a resource that people can access for free, said Sue Matters, station manager of KWSO 91.9 FM, a public radio station owned and operated by The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. In rural America  there may be no other options for information at no cost.

The Foundation notes that public radio and television stations are community hubs  in a way, theyre third places, like local libraries, senior centers, or

skateparks.

Theyre places where the community can connect, speak freely, learn, and share knowledge, said Roundhouse Foundation Executive Director Erin Borla.

Roundhouse focuses its funding on rural, remote, and Indigenous community organizations, which receive philanthropic funding at a disproportionately low rateonly seven percent of philanthropic dollars, nationally, goes toward rural America (FSG 2021).

What a way for philanthropy to help rural and Indigenous communities, by coming alongside community radio stations who are already loved, trusted, and, most importantly, doing the work on the ground. Roundhouse Foundation is hopeful that other funders know they can support public media during their time of financial uncertainty.

Borla is also the host of Funding Rural, a podcast about how philanthropy can better serve rural communities and spark systemic change, where guests recently discussed the significance of public media.

In this weeks episode, Sue Matters noted the connection between tribal radio stations and Native American culture.

Radio for storytelling, for language, for listening to the voice and the wisdom of elders radio is perfect, she said. Its an authentic way to continue the legacy of an oral tradition.

In addition to being conveyors of culture and local pride, public media  especially in rural areas  has the capacity to save lives. During the 2020 COVID pandemic when Central Oregon had widespread wildfires, KWSO provided updates on the fires location and origin.

[It was like] that fire information board at the post office, but you just tuned into your radio, said Matters. I tried to get on the air live from a parking lot outside of fire management because I couldnt get through [to the station]  the fire was between them and us.

Life-saving communications by public media outlets include local news, emergency alerts, weather warnings, missing person alerts, and natural disaster reporting.

Native Public Media (NPM) has established several funds to bolster the fiscal health of their 58 Tribal radio and three television stations, which are all located within 12 Western states. The defunding of CPB could have been catastrophic without the friends of Native Public Media coming to our aid, said NPM President and CEO Loris Taylor.

The support keeps isolated tribal communities informed and safe; strengthens the civic health of Indian Country; and grows our Tribal Media Endowment Fund so stations can continue their service to Tribal communities far into the future. Roundhouse Foundations giving will be directed to the Native Public Medias Tribal Media Endowment Fund, and on-air Public Service Announcements at select stations that serve the northwest.

Public Media Company has also started a pooled philanthropic fund, The Public Media Bridge Fund, which is receiving $1 million from Roundhouse Foundation, and aims to use the funds to secure existing local public media services. They estimate more than 100 stations, collectively reaching 43 million Americans, are at risk of closing and going off air. A large share of the stations at risk broadcast to rural, remote, and tribal communities.

Our goal is to help the stations achieve sustainability over the next several years, even if public funding is not restored, said Public Media Company Chief Executive Officer Tim Isgitt.

His organization will be working in parallel with other funds such as NPM, to fill the stations 25 percent-plus budget funding gap. The Bridge Fund hopes to raise $100 million to ease the sudden financial loss created when CPB shut down.

More private funding is needed to bolster the stations hardest hit and funders are being asked to donate to keep these critical stations on-airand to elevate the voices of the communities in which they serve  because as NPMs Loris Taylor penned it in an online post, The cost of silence is too high.

Visit http://www.nativepublic

media.org to support Native Public Media Fund and https://publicmedia.co/bridge-fund/ for Public Media Bridge Fund.

The Roundhouse Foundation is a private family foundation based in Sisters that supports creative solutions to the unique challenges associated with rural culture and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. More information is available at http://www.RoundhouseFoundation.org.
F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft destroyed 34 out of 35 cruise missiles with which the enemy attacked Ukraine today, said Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, head of the communications department of the Air Force Command of Ukraine.

"The work of the air defense system was extremely effective. Although the Patriot system did not intercept the Kinzhals, the missiles did not reach their targets. Thirty-four out of 35 cruise missiles were shot down, mainly by F-16 aircraft. We thank their pilots for that," he said on the Kyiv24 TV channel.

Ihnat noted that the effectiveness of air defense also depends on the availability of ammunition and made it clear that the Defense Forces are experiencing a shortage of it.

"The President of Ukraine has said this in particular when addressing Western partners: some of our systems  whether aviation or ground-based  are currently empty. Please provide us with what we can use to protect our energy sector and our people," he said.

According to Ihnat, Ukraine's air defense has zonal and object overlap.

"We can cover critical infrastructure facilities, cities, troops on important front lines, but even so there will be 'holes' that the enemy uses," the spokesman noted.

As reported, the Defense Forces of Ukraine neutralized 621 out of 673 enemy air targets on the night of Tuesday, missiles and 39 strike UAVs hit 21 locations, the Air Force Command reported.
Case 1:25-cv-04480 Document 1 Filed 12/22/25 Page 12 of 18 Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy's. 34. President Kennedy's niece Maria Shriver said: It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy's name is acceptable. It is not. Next thing perhaps he will want to rename JFK Airport, rename the Lincoln Memorial, the Trump Lincoln Memorial. The Trump Jefferson Memorial. The Trump Smithsonian. The list goes on. Can we not see what is happening here? C'mon, my fellow Americans! Wake up! . . . . 35. There has been a similar outcry among the public and commentators. Yet, despite this widespread opposition, Defendants have refused to change course. 36. As the forgoing facts demonstrate, Plaintiff actually sought to prevent the name change but was prevented from even voicing her opposition at the Board meeting. Any further efforts to convince Defendants to follow the law would be futile. Unless and until this Court intervenes, the effort to corrupt the Kennedy Center into a vanity project for Defendant Trump will continue to harm the institution. Congress has determined that the Kennedy Center's purpose is to serve as a living memorial to President Kennedy. Congress also determined that it is critical that this memorial not be diluted by association with any other individuals. But every day that goes by, Defendants are thwarting the Kennedy Center's defining purpose. In addition, the purported name change will impose financial and operational harms on this already struggling institution by alienating ticket holders, donors, and artists. For example, immediately following the purported name change, musician Kristy Lee announced that she was canceling her January 14, 2026 performance. On information and belief, ticket holders have canceled their tickets in protest of Defendants' unlawful actions and demanded refunds. There is every reason to expect this trend will continue, with associated financial and reputational harms. 12
Many of the people ICE is now targeting entered legally in recent years under special programs created by Mr. Biden. Mr. Trump canceled those programs and has tried to revoke the legal status of their participants.

It shows in great detail the impacts of Mr. Trumps policies, including which communities have been most affected and the sometimes complicated paths people must travel as the government tries to remove them.

The data, which includes every arrest, detention stay and deportation conducted by ICE, was obtained through a lawsuit and made available by the Deportation Data Project , an academic group.

Note: Each chart shows the average monthly volume of arrests, releases and deportations by type. Expedited removal includes reinstated removal orders. Only border arrests that led to a transfer to ICE for detention or deportation are included. For the Biden chart, data is from Jan. 1, 2024, through Jan. 19, 2025. For the Trump chart, data is from Jan. 20, 2025, through July 28.

As border crossings dried up, Mr. Trump lifted restrictions on whom immigration officers could target elsewhere in the country. More deportees are now drawn from this wider pool. People are typically held in detention until they can be removed, and far fewer people are released.

As border crossings dried up, Mr. Trump lifted restrictions on whom immigration officers could target elsewhere in the country. More deportees are now drawn from this wider pool. People are typically held in detention until they can be removed, and far fewer people are released.

Most people who were deported during President Joseph R. Biden Jr.s administration were among the millions of recent arrivals arrested at the border. They were detained and quickly deported through a process called expedited removal.

As the crackdown progresses and the border remains essentially closed, both the people targeted for deportation and their journeys through the system now look very different, a New York Times analysis of government data shows.

Officials have closed the border to asylum-seekers. They have unleashed immigration officers, often wearing masks, to make arrests on city streets. They have revoked legal status from recent arrivals. They have built new tent camps and re-opened prisons to hold immigrant detainees. They have pushed foreign leaders to accept deportees and local officials to allow ICE agents into their facilities and databases.

To deliver on President Trumps campaign promise to deport millions of people, his administration is pushing new approaches to immigration enforcement across much of the government.

Where ICE makes arrests

The Trump administration has said it would prioritize deporting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.

Historically, ICE detained immigrants who had committed crimes through custodial arrests  picking up people who had already been arrested by other law enforcement agencies from jails and prisons.

While custodial arrests still make up half of all immigration arrests, ICE has increasingly gone after anyone who may be in the country illegally, whether they have a criminal record or not.

Most ICE arrests at jails and prisons take place in Republican-led states like Florida, Georgia and Texas. These maps show the number of arrests for ICE detention facilities in each county. The rest are at-large arrests in the community, which are more common in states led by Democrats, like California and New York, where many local agencies do not cooperate with ICE. Note: Each location is the county of the first detention facility after arrest. An arrest may take place in a county that is different from where a person is first detained. Major cities within the counties are labeled. Not shown is data for U.S. areas outside the 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. Data is from Jan. 20 through Oct. 15. The New York Times

More people who have been in the country for years or decades are being swept up and removed. More than 3,000 adults who entered before the age of 16  potential Dreamers  have been deported, as have more than 4,000 children.

Where they are held

In the past, most people who were arrested were released to await their day in immigration court. Illegal immigration is a civil  not a criminal  offense, and detention was designed to hold only those deemed a flight risk.

But the Trump administration told ICE to hold people indefinitely and told immigration judges that most people are no longer eligible for bail. The Laken Riley Act, passed in January, further narrowed who can be released.

Immigrant detention centers are filling up, even as the Trump administration has opened dozens of new facilities to expand the capacity and reach of this network. Existing facilities New facilities under Trump Note: Squares are sized based on the average number of people detained at the facility each day from Jan. 20 through Oct. 15. Only facilities in the 50 states and Puerto Rico with an average population of at least one are shown. Hold rooms, medical facilities and hotels are excluded. The New York Times

The detained population has nearly doubled, to more than 68,000 people in December, an all-time high.

People detained by ICE have described unsanitary and unsafe conditions in some detention centers  including rotten food, a lack of access to showers and toilets, and the use of solitary confinement. At least 32 people have died in ICE custody since Mr. Trump took office, more than the number in Mr. Bidens entire four years in office.

Officials have denied claims of poor conditions and mistreatment of detainees.

Because detention facilities are concentrated in the South, people arrested elsewhere are often quickly transferred long distances to places where there is space, often in Texas and Louisiana, far from family and lawyers.

Each line here represents the average monthly volume of transfers of immigrant detainees between detention facilities. Darker lines reflect higher numbers of detainee transfers.

Transfers under Biden Transfers under Trump Note: For the Biden map, data is from Jan. 1, 2024, through Jan. 19, 2025. For the Trump map, data is from Jan. 20 through July 28. The New York Times

People are moving around the system more than last year  passing through an average of three different facilities over seven weeks before they are deported. Immigration lawyers say the process has caused some people to give up their asylum cases and to agree to be deported.

Where deported people go

The Trump administration has deported people to almost every country in the world, including those that had resisted taking back their citizens. It has sent people to repressive regimes, including Afghanistan, Iran and Russia, and it has pressed countries like South Sudan and Uganda to accept deportees from far-away places who have no ties to those countries.

Detailed data on ICE removals was available only through the end of July, but it showed that the monthly pace of deportations had more than doubled compared with last year for people from more than 100 places. Note: Data is from Jan. 20 through July 28. Data for countries with fewer than one removal each month is not shown. The New York Times

China, India, Russia, Panama, Turkey and Vietnam were among the countries with the largest increases. The pace of deportations to the Northern Triangle of Central America has actually slowed somewhat because fewer people from those countries are crossing the border.

An analysis of less detailed data on deportations shows that their pace accelerated after July; as of December, ICE is on track to deport about 390,000 people in Mr. Trumps first year.

The Trump administration has redrawn the map of immigration enforcement. Under pressure to expand further  and mounting backlash from the public  these patterns may change again.
An Garda Siochana is conducting a national speed enforcement operation - National Slowdown Day  which runs across Ireland for 24 hours from 12:00am to 11:59pm today, Tuesday December 23, 2025.



The aim of todays initiative is to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with increased road use for Christmas holidays.

READ NEXT: Councillors call for 24/7 Garda Station in wake of Edenderry tragedy

So far this National Slowdown Day, members of An Garda Siochana, along with GoSafe mobile and static safety cameras, have detected nearly 150 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.



Examples of high speeds detected include:

119km/h in a 50km/hr zone on the Drummartin Link Road in Dublin 14

139 km/h in a 60km/hr zone on the Dublin Road in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow

120 km/h in a 80km/hr zone on the N52 road in Mounthenry, Birr, Co. Offaly

156 km/h in a 100km/hr zone on the N11 road in Kereight, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford

163 km/h in a 120km/hr zone on the M6 road in Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath

An Garda Siochana conducts several high-profile National SlowDown Days each year, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of speeding.

READ NEXT: Irish people warned as government makes change to St Stephen's Day bank holiday



These operations serve to remind motorists of the serious risks associated with excessive or inappropriate speed, promote greater compliance with speed limits and support efforts to deter and detect dangerous driving behaviours.



Driving above the legal speed limit  or at a speed unsuitable for current road, weather or traffic conditions  not only endangers the driver but also puts other road users at significant risk.



Excessive speed reduces a drivers ability to respond to unexpected hazards and increases the likelihood of losing control, which can result in serious or fatal collisions.



Speeding can have devastating consequences  not just for the driver, but for other innocent road users. The faster a vehicle is travelling, the more severe the impact in the event of a collision.

READ NEXT: Driving Home for Christmas singer Chris Rea has died

An Garda Siochana continues to actively work with relevant partners as per the Governments Road Safety Strategy 20212030 a strategic, co-ordinated and multi-sectoral approach to road safety across government and key stakeholders will be critical to achieving a safer, better Ireland for all.

This involves approximately 180 measures for delivery by all partners to the Strategy across areas such as education, technology, information sharing, legislation, roads infrastructure and enforcement.
THE COUNCILLORS of Offaly County Council have called upon the Health Service Executive to examine the health implications of Wind Farms in Offaly.

Cllr Clare Murray-Smale put a Motion to the December meeting of the Council requesting that any complaints received by the Council from members of the public about wind turbine noise and about shadow flicker should be referred to the HSE for proper investigation as a matter of urgency.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Sean O'Brien and received strong support from several Councillors. Addressing the meeting, Cllr Murray-Smale pointed out that communities must be protected and having noise and shadow flicker complaints referred to the HSE is the right decision. She said North and West Offaly has done it's fair share of heavy lifting with regard to wind turbines; and yet we see more and more applications for more turbines, compacted into our countryside, close to houses and communities. We already know neighbours are suffering with turbine noise and flicker, which are having a devastating effect on individuals. Cllr Murray-Smale said there's a large part of Strategic Infrastructure Development which the Councillors cannot control but we must do what we can to protect communities and the support today of my fellow Councillors is to be welcomed. She also extended a huge thank you to Brenda Dowling from CEPA, the Community Environmental Protection Alliance, who has been a fantastic source of help and is a wealth of evidence based knowledge on this issue.

Cllr Murray-Smale said there are about 60 residents living near Cloghan Wind Farm and they have made a number of health-related complaints to the Council in the last couple of years. This is not a few people complaining about a bit of noise. This is many people strongly impacted by living in close proximity to these mega turbines. She added that she was glad to recently learn that the HSE is going to withdraw its 2017, now outdated wind turbine guidelines.

Cllr O'Brien said he was delighted to second the motion and every Councillor is aware of the serious issue in Cloghan. The noise levels recorded there have been serious and the HSE need to be informed about this so they can take action. As we all know, we have been calling for updated wind farm guidelines for a long time, but the government is dragging its feet on providing us with these new guidelines. We don't know what the reason is for this dragging.

Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, said the wind energy issue will be discussed during the next meeting of the Council's Corporate Policy Group.

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick pointed out that many people in Offaly are hugely concerned because there is such a high number of wind turbines in the county. When we drew up our Wind Energy Policy in 2009 for our County Development Plan we didn't foresee the magnitude of the problem which we are faced with today. The county is now saturated with turbines. We have to be very mindful and sympathetic towards people living near them. It's very unfair on people living close to them. I myself have received a number of calls from people about the noise issue. The turbines have significantly changed our landscape in a number of ways. For example when you are driving at night you see all these red lights across the sky. The problem is a number of private wind farm companies are looking to develop in Offaly because our County Development Plan allows them to do so. As I drive through Ireland I notice that many other counties don't have the same number of turbines as we do.

Cllr Sean Maher said he supported the motion; adding that the HSE needs to become part of the discussion.People built houses and they enjoyed a good quality of life living in a beautiful rural location. Then the wind farms came along and it's had a negative impact on peoples' lived experience, especially for people with medical needs. Cllr Fergus McDonnell supported the motion adding that in a sense the horse has already bolted in Offaly. We now have far too many turbines. He added that he objected to the Wind Farms in Mountlucas and Cloncreen. He said Bord na Mona has an application for the construction of 47 wind turbines near Edenderry. Show me one owner of a wind farm who is living beside a turbine. There isn't one.

READ NEXT: Offaly Wind Farm is not compliant with its planning conditions, claims CEPA
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com . To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here

Every now and then, I try to imagine telling my dead parents about -- yes! -- President Donald Trump (twice, no less!). They died long enough ago that, though they, too, lived in New York City, I'm not sure they would have known who he was in his pre-presidential days. Still, to anyone of their generation, such a president would have been literally inconceivable. Yes, they had lived through some distinct duds, but also Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, among others.

To them, such an (ir)reality would have been someone's distinctly mad (and anything but funny) fantasy. And yet here we are in what, despite signs of change -- from that striking Democratic victory in the recent mayoral election in Miami to the president's diving polling numbers to the country's ominously rising unemployment rate to the MAGA types who criticized him over his grim response to Rob Reiner's death -- is still, unbelievably enough, Donald Trump's world.

Sometimes, I truly don't believe that, at 81-and-a-half years old, I'm even living on such a planet or that, more than 24 years after I began TomDispatch, this is indeed the world I now face. And with all of that in mind, let me recommend that you spend some time with that superb historian and TomDispatch regular Alfred McCoy as he considers just how the American Dream might indeed end by 2029, when Donald J. Trump is (at least theoretically) scheduled to leave office. Believe me, it's anything but a Christmas or New Year's treat. Tom

Ending the American Dream by 2029?

Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog in Trump's U.S.A.

By Alfred McCoy

For writers, the future has long been a tricky terrain. While the past can prove unsettling and the present uncomfortable, the future seems to free the mind from reality's restraints and let the imagination soar. Yet it has also proven full of political pitfalls.

Sometimes writers can tweak a trend of their moment to produce a darkly dystopian future, as with George Orwell's omniscient tyranny in 1984, Margaret Atwood's institutionalized misogyny in The Handmaid's Tale, or Ray Bradbury's book-burning autocracy in Fahrenheit 451. And ever since H.G. Wells's novel War of the Worlds (about technologically advanced Martians invading this planet) was published in 1898, space has been a particularly fertile frontier for the literary imagination. It has given us Isaac Asimov's seven-part galactic Foundation fable, Frank Herbert's ecological drama Dune, and Philip K. Dick's post-nuclear wasteland in Blade Runner, opening us to possible techno-futures beyond our mud-bound presence on this small planet.

From the time that Henry George published his influential futuristic treatise Progress and Poverty in 1879, inspiring many of the Progressive Era's key reforms, American writers across the political spectrum have used the future to frame an agenda for present-day political action, sometimes progressive, sometimes violently regressive. Published in 1938, Ayn Rand's second novel, Anthem, was a futuristic saga whose hero, named "Equality 7-2521," rejected the socialist society that raised him and struggled to rediscover his inherent individuality, articulating libertarian ideals that would inspire generations of American conservatives. And amid the social turmoil of the 1970s, William Luther Pierce's The Turner Diaries imagined a future armed revolt against the U.S. government that has provoked violence from generations of White nationalists.

So, with some trepidation, let me venture into the immediate future and imagine what the United States will be like when President Donald J. Trump finally leaves office (if, of course, he does) in January 2029. To keep such projections within the bounds of possibility, let's clip the wings of our imaginations and hew closely to Trump's policies and policy statements.

America's Place in the World of 2029

In just 11 action-packed months since his January inauguration, President Trump has already demolished the fundamental geopolitics that have undergirded U.S. global hegemony for the past 80 years. Even if he simply persists in his policies for another 37 months, his impact on the American version of a world order will undoubtedly prove so profound that it will strain the limits of language.

To grasp something of the scope of his impact, it's necessary to briefly outline the world order Washington built over those 80 years. After fighting for four years and sacrificing 400,000 lives during World War II, Washington captured vital bastions at both ends of the vast Eurasian land mass and spent the next 40 years of the Cold War ensuring its control of that strategic continent with circles of steel -- military alliances like NATO, hundreds of overseas military bases, powerful naval fleets, and a massive armada of nuclear-armed aircraft and missiles. With the Sino-Soviet communist bloc largely trapped behind what came to be known as the Iron Curtain, Washington crushed most of their attempts to break out of geopolitical isolation with deft covert operations. As the communists flailed, the U.S. continued to build a global order, while patiently waiting for those socialist economies to implode.

When the Cold War finally ended in 1991, Washington got busy knitting the world into a unified market through massive capital exports, free-trade agreements, and a grid of global communications, thanks in part to satellites and fiber-optic cables. Beyond its awesome array of raw economic and military power (and the distinctly less than successful wars that it fought), Washington prettied-up its intrusions into sovereign societies worldwide through its advocacy of universal human rights, its commitment to the rule of law (unless it got in the way of American interests), and its support for international institutions like the United Nations that assured inviolable sovereignty for even the smallest of countries. Thanks to a delicate balance of force, beneficence, and self-interest, the United States would enjoy both great national wealth and historically unprecedented global dominance.

Washington's world order, like any complex global system, was distinctly flawed and its failings were (to say the least) legion, but its achievements weren't inconsequential either. After two world wars that left 100 million dead, there has not been a major global conflagration for 80 years (though from Korea and Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq, there were all too many disastrous American-inspired local or regional wars). The share of the world's population living on less than $3 a day dropped markedly from 43% in 1990 to just 11% in 2020. Reflecting those improved conditions, average life expectancy worldwide rose sharply for the first time in several centuries, from 46 years in 1950 to 72 years in 2020. Similarly, the world literacy rate climbed from 66% in 1976 to 87% in 2020. Whether from choice or necessity, we humans have enjoyed increasing freedom of movement, with the number of migrants globally reaching a record 304 million in 2024, representing nearly 4% of the total global population.

Not only did the U.S. have the largest economy and military budget, but until recently, it was the world's leading donor for public health and poverty eradication, sparing many millions of the world's poor from the worst kinds of hunger and disease. All of those significant improvements in the human condition had complex causes, but the fundamental fact remains that they were products, direct or indirect, of Washington's world order.

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Mumbai, Maharashtra, India - 05-01-2025 Connecting Dots ERP has announced the launch of its SAP Course in Mumbai, designed to provide structured, industry-focused SAP training for 
The Multnomah County Library on Tuesday released the names of its most popular books in 2025, and the lists include several gems, including classics by literary giants Jane Austen and (for the under 5 set) Mo Willems.

Multnomah Countys 19 branches together hosted visitors more than 2 million times and checked out or renewed books and other items almost 9 million times so far this year.

Are your favorite books on the lists? Here are the most popular titles as of Dec. 1:

Physical books:

Top adult titles:

Top teen titles:

Top kids titles:

E-books and audiobooks (checkouts combined):

Top adult titles:

Top teen titles:

Top kids titles:
Photo: https://x.com/andrii_sybiha

Instead of a Christmas truce or progress on the path to peace, Russia launched another massive attack on Ukraine on the morning of Tuesday, December 23, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said.

"A senior woman was killed in the Kyiv region and a 4-years-old child was killed in the Zhytomyr region. One person is reported killed in the Khmelnytskyi region. More people were injured in at least nine regions across the country. Energy system and critical civilian infrastructure have been the primary targets. Moscow does not hide its genocidal intent, preparing strikes at energy infrastructure deliberately when the temperature drops," Sybiha wrote on X.

"As the world prepares for Christmas holidays, Ukraine is defending itself, its freedom, and its people, as well as peace and stability across the transatlantic, from Russian barbarism and aggression. Russia must be forced into peace through collective transatlantic strength. This can be achieved through increasing the cost of continuing this war for the aggressor," the minister concluded.
Gale Castillos son was a junior in high school when a friend turned to him and asked, What gang are you in?

A class discussion had prompted the boy to talk about his Mexican heritage, and he was perplexed by his friends question.

Lea este articulo en espanol: Cofundadora de la camara hispana mas grande del Noroeste se retira

Theyd known each other since kindergarten, Castillo said, and the girl should have known he didnt affiliate with any gangs.

The episode was one of many that Castillo said pushed her, in the early 1990s, to cofound the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber, in a bid to switch up the narrative around Latinos and empower the communitys young people.

The reason we started the chamber was because the public opinion in writing and the media  was very negative about Latinos, Castillo said.

Now, the longtime power broker in Portlands business and education circles is stepping down as board chair of the chamber, which has become the largest Hispanic chamber in the Northwest. She will remain board chair through the end of December and attend board meetings in an advisory role for another three months, she said.

Over three decades, the organization has disbursed more than $3.3 million in scholarships to some 1,200 students and served more than 5,800 businesses, according to internal tallies.

Castillo served as the chambers president, executive director and board chair. She also previously served as a trustee at Portland State University.

Shes leaving now, she said, because the organization, its finances and board are all in good hands with the next generation of leaders ready to take it forward.

Nicole Davison Leon, the chambers executive director, touted Castillos sweeping legacy and the impact shes had on every Latino entrepreneur the group serves in Oregon and southwest Washington.

On a personal level, she has been a mentor and a source of guidance that I deeply value, the executive director said in a statement. We are thankful for all she has given and honored that she will remain close as a supporter, donor and advisor as we carry her legacy forward.

Until earlier this year, Castillo co-owned Canopy, a privately held company that provides employee assistance programs and staff development to organizations around the world. She said her family sold the company in June for an undisclosed sum.

In past roles, Castillo worked as an assistant to late Gov. Neil Goldschmidt and at the Oregon Economic Development Department, now called Business Oregon. In the private sector, Castillo worked in management, marketing and national sales positions for AT&T, Pacific Northwest Bell and RESTOR Communications.

Castillo was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving a bachelors degree from Linfield College and a masters in education from Portland State University. Castillo also completed the Harvard Kennedy Schools Executive Education Program.

Castillo said she is proud to have highlighted the contributions of Latinos. Despite those examples, however, she said members of her community remain regular targets of discrimination today.

All I can say is, its extremely sad. But like everyone else, were resilient, she said. We will get through this.
A Woodburn man has been arrested on allegations of animal neglect after allegedly leaving his dog outside during a flood evacuation.

The Marion County Sheriffs Office rescued the dog, named Bruno, on Sunday. Officers responded to a report about a dog seemingly left behind. His owners had evacuated due to flooding from last weeks atmospheric river.

When officers responded, they found Bruno the German shepherd in more than a foot of cold flood water, locked inside a kennel with his flooded doghouse.

Bruno was taken to an emergency vet clinic to be checked out, and once cleared, he was taken to the Marion County Dog Shelter, where he continues to receive care.

Brunos former owner, Fidencio Cruz Hernandez, was arrested on misdemeanor allegations of animal abandonment and animal neglect in the second degree.

The Marion County Sheriffs Office used Brunos story as a reminder to pet owners to make plans to include their pets in emergency evacuation plans.

Ready.gov has tips and tricks to help pet owners plan ahead to safely evacuate with their pets. It suggests things like:
Portland police on Wednesday arrested a man in an October shooting that seriously injured another man in the Hazelwood neighborhood.

Michael D. Collins, 51, faces charges of attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, unlawful use of a firearm and felon in possession of a gun in the Oct. 10 shooting near Southeast 127th Avenue and Stark Street, court records show.

Collins has pleaded not guilty.

Police arrived at the scene around 7:15 a.m. and found a man with multiple serious but non-life-threatening injuries, court records and the Portland Police Bureau said.

Court records say that the man had gunshot wounds in his arm and leg that required surgery.

Collins is accused of fleeing the scene before officers arrived, but police found and detained him a few blocks away, court records state. Police released him shortly after but they continued to investigate Collins.

Collins was previously convicted of murder and assault in 1993, according to court records.
Portland police suspect inoperable traffic lights damaged by a copper wire thief contributed to a crash that killed a motorcyclist Dec. 11.

James P. Goldsmith, 52, of Fairview, died after he collided with a semitruck near Interstate 205 and Northeast Airport Way around 6 a.m., police said.

Police said Goldsmith hit the semi after going through the broken traffic light without stopping. The truck driver, who police said had stopped at the intersection before entering it, likely couldnt see the motorcyclist and vice versa because of other cars stopped in the intersection.

Police said that emergency responders drove Goldsmith to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. The driver of the semitruck stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said.

Copper wire theft has posed an enduring problem to public safety and transportation officials, as thieves disable lights and cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage while trying to get ahold of copper wire to resell as scrap.

Wire thieves have also hit telecommunications equipment in the Portland area. Two people were arrested in early November on accusations of stealing wheelbarrows worth of copper wire.

Goldsmith was the 42nd person to die in a Portland traffic crash and the eighth motorcyclist in 2025.

Police havent announced any suspects in the wire theft thats believed to have contributed to the Dec. 11 crash, and ask anyone with information to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention the Traffic Investigations Unit and reference case number 25-338413.
The Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters, a beloved waystation that weve called the best coffee shop on the Oregon coast, will bed down for good next week.

Owners said in a social media post they planned to close the Cannon Beach storefront next Monday, Dec. 29, although the brand will continue to sell coffee beans through wholesale accounts and its online store.

In the social media post, owners did not disclose a reason for closing the store after 15 years in business.

For us, it has never been just about the coffee! Weve watched your kids grow up, loved on your pets, facilitated engagements, grieved with you, wished you well on your way to work and so much more, the statement, posted to Facebook, noted.

A lot of life has been lived in this space! We are full of gratitude for the years of memories you have shared with us, the post continued.

The Oregonian/OregonLive outdoors reporter Jamie Hale, whos fueled up plenty of places around the state, lauded the Sleepy Monks wood-paneled ambience, coffee and staff-friendly winter breaks in a recent episode of our Peak Northwest podcast.

Listen to the episode here.

The Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters is located at 1235 S. Hemlock St. in Cannon Beach.
It was shortly after 7 a.m. on a late November morning when Jacqueline Chavez, owner of a painting business and a U.S. citizen, saw police lights flashing from unmarked cars behind her as she drove through Salem.

The 34-year-old, in her companys plain white van with a large ladder on top, was pulled over. One of the cars pulled in front of her van, nearly touching her bumper, and the other pulled up close behind her.

Chavez lowered her window halfway as people wearing masks and dressed in civilian clothes, consistent with the look of immigration authorities, asked if the van was hers and if she was the only person in the vehicle, she said.

Then one of the agents asked for her drivers license, which she provided. The agents, she said, didnt identify themselves, but she had already seen the vehicles in social groups warning of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area.

I told him, Im an American citizen, who are you looking for? Chavez said in Spanish during an interview. He gave me back my license, they got back in the car and they left.

Chavezs case and other similar ones in Aloha, Portland and Gresham have activists in the Portland area convinced that federal immigration agents are profiling Latino workers in certain industries, targeting specific types of work vehicles and pulling them over.

Workers, including U.S. citizens like Chavez, have been stopped and questioned about their legal status, seemingly on the basis of their apparent ethnicity and their work vehicles, according to two workers who spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive and advocates who represent others.

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, who responded to emailed questions but did not give their name, denied that agents are profiling workers in certain fields, targeting specific types of vehicles or engaging in racial profiling.

In early September, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for racial profiling during immigration sweeps, overruling a lower court that found the practice was illegal. The Supreme Courts ruling essentially gave the green light to immigration authorities to question people based on ethnicity or race.

The same ruling allows immigration officials to detain people based on their line of work or their presence at certain kinds of work sites.

As immigration enforcement began to intensify in Oregon this fall, photos of vans and trucks  many with ladders on top  left abandoned on streets after immigration arrests have peppered social media groups dedicated to alerting people of immigration-enforcement activity in their communities.

In early December, ICE agents revealed in court that they ran the license plate number of a van with workers in Woodburn. When agents learned the registered owner wasnt a U.S. citizen, they followed the van, eventually pulling it over in an attempt to meet arrest quotas in an area they described as target rich.

Karla Castaneda, executive director for Voz Workers Rights Education Project, said she believes day laborers and people who have landscaping and construction businesses are being targeted, and the vehicles they typically use have drawn immigration agents attention.

Im seeing increased attention for day laborers, increased attention with landscapers or construction workers, she said. We definitely see that being a target, and specifically, targeting our Latino community at the moment on how they look and the type of work that they do.

The number of construction jobs in Oregon hit a record at the end of 2023, when more than 123,000 workers were employed by the industry. In 2024, 15% of the states construction workforce identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Work cars seen as target

Chavez run-in with immigration agents was initially frightening, she said, but her fear quickly turned into outrage.

I feel like they say, Thats a work car, lets stop them because most likely its someone who doesnt have documents, she said of immigration agents.

Chavez, who has owned her company since 2021, described the practice of immigration agents randomly stopping certain vehicles as an injustice.

The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson didnt respond to questions about why agents stopped and questioned Chavez.

Castaneda, with Voz Workers Rights Education Project, said the pattern of immigration officials targeting work vehicles is concerning.

It was just before lunchtime on Nov. 4 when Marcos Briceno, an undocumented worker from Venezuela, and his coworker, a U.S. citizen, were in the middle of their landscaping work shift at the McDonalds on Northeast 122nd Avenue and Glisan Street when immigration agents approached them, Castaneda said. The landscaping truck full of equipment was parked nearby.

Castaneda believes immigration authorities targeted the workers because they spotted the landscaping truck and based on the way they looked.

Briceno was detained and has now been deported to Venezuela, she said. The other worker was questioned but released because hes a U.S. citizen.

They didnt have a warrant for (Briceno). They had no name for him, Castaneda said. They just saw Latino men, and  the landscaping truck.

The general manager at the McDonalds said the restaurants surveillance cameras showed multiple unmarked immigration vehicles swarming the fast-food chains parking lot that day.

Immigration authorities didnt immediately respond to questions about this case.

Later that same month, on Nov. 18, U.S. citizen Pablo Guzman, 20, and his father, Pablo Guzman Santoyo, were driving their white Dodge work truck with a trailer to pick up a check and to install Christmas lights at their construction companys office.

They were driving near Aloha when they were surrounded by unmarked cars with flashing police lights.

An agent got out of one of the cars, pointed a handgun at the father and son and asked them to turn off their truck, Guzman said.

Over the highway traffic noise, agents yelled questions at Guzman and his father at the same time, Guzman said, and his father was taken out of the vehicle by the agents. He said one of the agents showed him his vest badge.

The agents took Guzman Santoyo into custody.

They asked me if I was a U.S. citizen, which I replied to, Yes, he said, adding that he wasnt asked to show proof. I was in shock, Guzman said. I wasnt really comprehending what was going on.

The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed agents conducted an operation in the Beaverton area that day.

Officers observed a white Dodge truck with a registered owner who is an illegal alien with a prior conviction for driving under the influence, the spokesperson said. When officers stopped the driver he admitted he was a citizen of Mexico not in possession of valid immigration documents that would allow him to be in the U.S. legally.

Guzman Santoyo, who lacked legal status, was convicted of driving under the influence, then driving with his license suspended, more than 20 years ago, Oregon court records show.

Guzman Santoyos children say their father, who is originally from Mexico but has been in the country for 27 years, is a good man who provided for his family through his company and volunteered at his church. They believe the pair was racially profiled.

He has no criminal record in Oregon apart from the two decades-old driving-related misdemeanors.

They didnt have a reason to stop us, Pablo Guzman said of his fathers arrest. They know that (in) the construction industry  theres a lot of Latinos. Its one of the most prominent jobs that immigrants do. ... It seems to me that they know that were out here working and they know that theres probably a few people there they can pick up.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed that allegation. Homeland Security officers use reasonable suspicion to make arrests if they believe someone is in the country illegally, the spokesperson said.

DHS apprehensions in the Portland and Beaverton areas are determined by various factors, including observed behavior, situational context, and prior information obtained through intelligence products, the spokesperson said. Allegations that DHS law enforcement engages in racial profiling are disgusting, reckless, and categorically false.

Guzman Santoyo remains in custody at the Tacoma immigration detention center.

Afraid to go to work

Anjanet Banuelos Bolanos is a business representative with LiUNA Local 737. The union covers several industries, but construction is its primary craft, and it serves some 2,800 members across Oregon.

Banuelos Bolanos is one of nearly a dozen union representatives in the state, and her coverage area stretches from The Dalles to North Portland.

We have members calling often about, Im afraid to go to work, Banuelos Bolanos said.

The union has been hosting Know Your Rights workshops and handed out informational pamphlets to workers and contractors.

Were trying everything that we can to make sure our members feel safe, she said, and give them the knowledge that they need to be able to protect themselves.

When immigration enforcement began to increase in the area, the number of workers seeking work at the Voz Worker Center in Portland dipped.

Starting in October, our numbers decreased  from like 40 people (a day) down to 10 due to fear, Castaneda said.

In response, the organization launched an Adopt a Day Labor Corner campaign, in partnership with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, she said. It stations legal observers to document what happens if immigration agents show up. One of those corners is the Voz Worker Center, which has operated a day laborer center in Portland since 2008.

Our numbers are now back up, between 30 to 35, she said. People definitely feel safer knowing that someone is watching, knowing that someone cares, knowing that someone has their back. We cant guarantee anyones safety, but we can take measures in making someone feel a lot safer.
So U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz wants to remove the gray wolf from protections provided by the Endangered Species Act? (Oregon congressman again is pushing to remove gray wolves from Endangered Species Act, Dec. 12).

I have a better solution. Delist Cliff Bentz from Congress for supporting President Donald Trumps savage acts upon America.

Glen Kaye, Salem
Ask any American who the greatest traitor in America history was. If they can remember any of their high school history, they will reply Benedict Arnold.

After viewing Ken Burns fantastic documentary The American Revolution, I was both sad and angry. Sad, because after seeing the bloodshed, hardship and sacrifices our forefathers made to create this great country, its present precarious state is profoundly troubling. And angry, because our current president has betrayed American ideals.

President Donald Trump has attacked our Constitution, eviscerated our civil service, totally cowed the Republican Party, threatened our judicial system, attempted to rig our elections and now is condoning the killing of civilians in small boats and pardoning drug dealers,as well as a host of other assaults on our democracy.

Why? It seems to me that it is for his and his familys enrichment, and for his never-ending lust for power and self-gratification. This man is morally bankrupt. So much for his inaugural oath to protect and defend our Constitution. Benedict Arnolds betrayal was small potatoes compared to The Donald. At the rate Trump is going, hell be giving Judas a run for his money.

Dave White, Gresham
Aaron Tappley, Antonio Garcia, Brandon Coleman, Carol Horner.

The names of 102 Portlanders who died while homeless in 2025 were read out one at a time from the pulpit in the small sanctuary at St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church, the one with the red doors on the edge of Old Town.

The names were not from an official government list. Instead, they were crowdsourced by the coalition of homeless services nonprofits that hosted the annual vigil, always held on winter solstice, the longest night of the year.

It took four people to read them all: Dave Paul Collins, Debbie Johnson, Johnny Boyd, Martin Naugle. There were three Brians, two Richards and someone who went by Ocean.

A woman carrying an infant stood up to say shed lost the babys father when she was seven months pregnant. Another woman spoke about her brother, who at 31 fell into a mental health crisis that landed him outside, despite his and his familys efforts to help him. Molly Hogan, an outspoken housing advocate, gave a tearful testimony to her formerly homeless mother, who died in 2024.

You cant always house your own mother, said Hogan, executive director of Welcome Home, a coalition of homeless service providers, giving voice to the helplessness felt by many relatives of people who fall into homelessness.

Living outside is lethal. One person a day died on Portlands streets, on average, in 2024. Thats six times the death rate of Portlands non-homeless population. A slight majority, 58%, died of drug overdoses. Many others died of disease, being struck by vehicles, violence and suicide.

Events like the one in Old Town were held across the country on Dec. 21, designated the Homeless Day of Remembrance, to honor the growing number of people who die without a home in America every day. There were events in Philadelphia, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and in Wichita, Kansas. There were also events throughout Oregon, including in Oregon City and Salem.

In Multnomah County, the homeless death toll has been climbing fairly steadily since 2011, when the county began keeping records. Deaths in 2024 were down from 2023, the peak of the fentanyl crisis, but still higher than 2022. The number of county residents who died while homeless in 2025, along with the cause of their death, wont be officially known until late next year. But the annual memorial does have one feature Multnomah Countys official Domicile Unknown report lacks: Names.

Some were pretty unorthodox or submitted by people who didnt know the persons legal name. There was Big Don from Bud Clark, Harold the Hot Cocoa Lover, Mario from Alberta Street, Sharyl Dr. Pepper Braune and Snick.

Small gasps and murmurs could be heard throughout the church as some learned for the first time of a friends passing. Many people who are homeless, especially those who spend years living on the street, take new names or are known by nicknames among the people they consider family. But that doesnt mean they arent remembered, said the new mother.

Everybody is somebody to someone, she said through her tears.

Barbie Weber, co-director of the Ground Score Association, held a photo of her and her son before he died while homeless. Weber, who was homeless for years in Portland, now lives at Walnut Grove, an independent tiny home community. She called herself "technically homeless" during the Dec. 21 memorial. Lillian Mongeau Hughes

About 50 people sitting in the pews nodded their understanding, holding battery operated candles aloft and, in many cases, fighting back tears.

And as with nearly all grief, the sadness on Sunday night was mixed with anger.

We accept these systems, said Hogan. But they are not normal.

She urged any policymakers in the room  there were at least two  to realize that the existing systems for serving homeless people and preventing homelessness were not inevitable. Those systems are choices, she said, that policymakers can change.

Then she told the story of her mother, Kathleen Colleen Elton, an actress, a model and a wild woman who loved life. Elton was homeless for 10 years, living hard on the streets, when Hogan was in her 20s. Finally, Elton was connected with a subsidized apartment, where she lived for a decade before dying in 2024.

So many of our unhoused neighbors we walk by on the street  we dont know their lives, Hogan said. Theres so much talent, so much beauty.

The names kept coming. Nicole Todd, Randy Hudson, Ruth McCray, Smokey Larson. There was at least one for nearly every letter of the alphabet.

Laquida Landford, executive director of AfroVillage, a nonprofit focused on uplifting Portlands Black community, told the story of a woman named Sonya Whitfield, who died in her arms in 2022. Whitfield was Black, Landford said, as are a disproportionate number of people who are homeless.

Theres so many Black folks, who die while homeless, Landford said. We have been displaced in this community.

Laquida Landford, executive director of Afro Village PDX, spoke about a friend she lost to a fentanyl overdose in 2022. Lillian Mongeau Hughes

According to the latest available demographic data on deaths within Portlands homeless community, Black and Indigenous people died while homeless at a disproportionately high rate. For example, about 8% of Multnomah County residents are Black, but Black people accounted for 12% of deaths among homeless people in 2024. Indigenous people make up 3% of county residents and account for 5% of deaths among homeless residents.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, who did not attend Sundays event, has made much of the number of people dying on Portlands streets each year. To address the problem, he and his team have created more than 1,000 shelter beds, mostly in new, overnight-only shelters in churches and other empty buildings across the city. Some of those beds are mattresses on a twin metal frame, while others are mats on the floor.

Many at Sundays memorial did not see the shelters as a solution.

Barbie Weber, co-executive director of Ground Source, a nonprofit that employs homeless and recently homeless people to keep Portlands city streets clean, said the better society can do taking care of its most vulnerable members, the better it will be as a whole.

In remarks critical of the new shelters, Weber said that to her, caring doesnt mean providing a mat on a floor in a room full of people. Its not possible to truly rest in an environment like that, she said.

Her hope, she said, was that the group before her would some day gather, not to memorialize those lost, but to celebrate the winter solstice.

Later, Weber said shed also lost her son, James Robert Tudor, to the streets a few years ago. He was in his 30s and living in Arizona. For months before her boy died, she wasnt able to reach him and didnt know if he was alive.

Its the not knowing thats the worst, she said. But when he died, I was lucky. They found me quickly on Facebook.

The complete list read at the memorial service Sunday night follows. It was compiled via a Google survey distributed by Central City Concern, Ground Score Association, Hygiene4All, Multnomah County, PDX Saints Love, Rose Haven, Sisters of the Road, Street Books, Street Roots, The Everly Project, Wapato Island Farm and the Welcome Home Coalition.

If you have any memories or photos of these people youd like to share with the newspaper, please email lmhughes@oregonian.com.

Aaron Tappley

Adam

Adrian Williams

Aelita Walker

Alex Bowers

Anthony Moss

Antonio Garcia

Arrow Quill

Becky Boyce

Big Don from Bud Clark

Big Ray from Southeast

Billy C

Brandon Coleman

Brent Moore

Brian Burlingame

Brian Keith Mellott Jr.

Brian Kerley

Carol Horner

Carry Smith

Cely

Charles Sorrells

Chip Malachowski

Clarence Smith

Courtney

Curt

Daniel

Dave Paul Collins

Debbie Johnson

Diamond

Don Edney

Duane Larsen

Dusti Gray

Erin

Frosty

Gary

Harold the Hot Cocoa Lover

Holly

Jaycob Lambson

Jeffery Chase Owen

Jeremy Hofman

Jessica Bowers

John Fucciolo

Johnny Boyd

Jordan

Josh Aelita

Joshua Page

Joyce

Karen Colbath

Karen Heid

Kathy

Keely White

Kevin Drew

Lenny

Lisa McCloud

Lopakalee Diamond

Luke Kagey

Mama Bambi

Mario from Alberta Street

Martin Naugle

Mary Samson

Megan Kovack

Michael J Johnson

Monyell Hedgmon

Mr. Whiskers

Mykaiel Garner

Nataly Johnson

Nicole Todd

Ocean

Paul

Rachel

Ramsey

Randy Hudson

Randy Mitchell

Reese

Richard Lee Bowers

Richard Rowe

Robert Jiminez

Romon

Ronin

Ruth McCray

Samuel

Sandy

Scott

Sharyl Dr. Pepper Braune

Smiley aka Cornell Clemons

Smokey Larsen

Snick

Star H.

September Stormm

Steve Peters

Steven aka Vash

Tammy Sue from Dignity Village

Tennessee aka Jason Garry

Terrence

Tiffany

Tyler Fero

Vickie

Vince

William

Wynell Lemmie Warren

Zack Harris
The Democratic attorneys general of 21 states and Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration for its attempts to defund the Obama-era federal agency created to protect Americans from consumer fraud and discriminatory lending.

After the U.S. mortgage market crashed in 2008 and millions of Americans lost their jobs, savings, retirements and homes, Congress in 2010 established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to become the countrys first financial regulatory agency with a goal to protect consumers. The agency has since returned more than $21 billion improperly taken from more than 205 million Americans, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.

Acting director Russell T. Vought has attempted to terminate the agencys operations by firing hundreds of staff, denying states access to the agencys resources and requesting $0 to fund the agencys operations, according to the complaint.

The coalition of states, led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, is asking the court to prevent the Trump administration from requesting $0 in funds for its operations and to order it to request money from the Federal Reserve to fulfill its duties as required by the law.

Rayfield filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Eugene.

This is the same agency that stopped Wells Fargo when they were taking advantage of consumers without their consent and opening millions of accounts without consent, Rayfield told reporters at a virtual press conference Monday afternoon. This is the same agency that stopped Navient from taking advantage of student loan borrowers. This is the same agency that protects people who have credit cards, payday lending and mortgages. This is the agency thats looking out on behalf of all of us.

The coalition argues defunding the agency will have devastating impacts on consumers and disrupt states consumer protection abilities, which rely on consumer complaints and data from the agency.

In 2024, the federal bureau received 3 million consumer complaints, of which 8,800 were from Oregonians. That year, companies provided more than $700,000 in direct relief to Oregon consumers after those consumers made complaints through the bureaus portal.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the lawsuit is his 48th lawsuit against the Trump administration this term, a surge from the 11 lawsuits he was a part of during the two years he served as attorney general during Trumps first term.

My standard hasnt changed, he said. The behavior of this administration has changed. Theyre lawless again and again. Theyre bullying. Theyre reckless. Theyre dangerous.

The states involved in the lawsuit with Oregon include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

-- Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
The European Solidarity party in Ukraine has spoken out against holding tenders worth UAH 109 million through the end of 2025 for television channels of the national telethon.

"We demand the immediate suspension of the so-called tenders worth UAH 109 million announced for the production of TV content for the telethon. We call for these funds to be redirected to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with UAH 300 million that has not yet been used to finance the telethon," the statement published on the party's website on Tuesday said.

European Solidarity is also demanding an urgent meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Culture to decide on the future fate of the telethon, which the party believes does not meet the needs of a country at war.

"European Solidarity has registered amendments to the 2026 budget. We demand that UAH 100 billion be redirected to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including at the expense of the telethon and billions allocated for so-called strategic communications," the statement said.
The city of Newport on Monday sued the Trump administration to halt the construction of any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene, asks the court to stop the federal government from building or funding an ICE detention center in Newport, including any preconstruction activity. It also asks the court to bar federal officials from using the Newport airport to detain and deport migrants.

The city lawsuit landed the same day U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued a preliminary injunction in a separate case ordering a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter to remain in Newport. That order came after federal officials acknowledged diverting Coast Guard crews from Oregon to the Southern Border amid an immigration crackdown.

The new complaint names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE, the Coast Guard and their leaders as defendants.

Among other arguments, lawyers for the city allege that Newport will suffer deep harm if ICE agents and detainees come to town because their presence will drive away tourism the community depends on economically.

If ICE is there, people wont come, attorney Keith Ketterling said. The aquarium, the crown jewel of the Oregon Coast  people wont be there.

The lawsuit states the federal government decided to fund and construct a massive immigration detention and deportation facility in Newport without public input.

All indications point toward Defendants plans to use the facility both to quickly deport a high volume of people and detain others long term, the lawsuit states.

The complaint lays out a series of actions federal officials and its contractors have taken since October that they say point to the likely establishment of an ICE detention center.

They include inquiries last month by Team Housing Solutions, Inc., a contractor known for quickly establishing military housing, to coast hotels for up to 200 hotel rooms for a year. The federal contractor sought guest rooms available starting this month through 2026, according to emails reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Attorney Elizabeth Bailey Kinsman said that while the federal government is acting with secrecy, there are other clues that they are looking to establish a detention center.

For instance, one contractor made calls in November for catering that aligned with ICEs National Detention Standards, according to the complaint.

The company, Deployed Resources LLC, sought a quote from a local caterer to feed up to 215 people per day, according to the lawsuit. Deployed Resources wanted to know how much three meals a day would cost if breakfast and lunch were hot and dinner could be served cold.

Most of the meals would need to be vegetarian, with some gluten-free options, the lawsuit states. That matches up with standards for detainee meals, according to Newports lawsuit.

People in immigration detention must receive three meals per day, at least two of which must be hot, the complaint stated. ICE must also provide a common-fare menu that does not contain meat to accommodate for religious practices.

The complaint also detailed an alleged Oct. 31 episode when some 40 federal government workers and contractors in blue uniforms were seen at the Newport airport discussing plans for the air facility where the rescue helicopter is typically stationed.

One person in attendance told the airports director the meeting had been convened to discuss a deportation center, according to the complaint, and the meeting also included a tour of the 3.5-acre air facility.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its immigration crackdown, a significant defeat for the presidents efforts to send troops to U.S. cities.

The justices declined the Republican administrations emergency request to overturn a ruling by U.S. District Judge April Perry that had blocked the deployment of troops. An appeals court also had refused to step in. The Supreme Court took more than two months to act.

Three justices, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, publicly dissented.

The high court order is not a final ruling but it could affect other lawsuits challenging President Donald Trumps attempts to deploy the military in other Democratic-led cities, including Portland.

At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois, the high court majority wrote.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said he agreed with the decision to block the Chicago deployment, but would have left the president more latitude to deploy troops in possible future scenarios.

The outcome is a rare Supreme Court setback for Trump, who had won repeated victories in emergency appeals since he took office again in January. The conservative-dominated court has allowed Trump to ban transgender people from the military, claw back billions of dollars of congressionally approved federal spending, move aggressively against immigrants and fire the Senate-confirmed leaders of independent federal agencies.

The White House did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment.

In a dissent, Alito and Thomas said the court had no basis to reject Trumps contention that the administration was unable to enforce immigration laws without troops. Gorsuch said he would have narrowly sided with the government based on the declarations of federal law enforcement officials.

The administration had initially sought the order to allow the deployment of troops from Illinois and Texas, but the Texas contingent of about 200 National Guard troops was later sent home from Chicago.

The Trump administration has argued that the troops are needed to protect federal personnel and property from violent resistance against the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

But Perry wrote that she found no substantial evidence that a danger of rebellion is brewing in Illinois and no reason to believe the protests there had gotten in the way of Trumps immigration crackdown.

Perry had initially blocked the deployment for two weeks. But in October, she extended the order indefinitely while the Supreme Court reviewed the case.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in the west Chicago suburb of Broadview has been the site of tense protests, where federal agents have previously used tear gas and other chemical agents on protesters and journalists.

Last week, authorities arrested 21 protesters and said four officers were injured outside the Broadview facility. Local authorities made the arrests.

The Illinois case is just one of several legal battles over National Guard deployments.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing to halt the deployments of more than 2,000 guardsmen in the nations capital. Forty-five states have entered filings in federal court in that case, with 23 supporting the administrations actions and 22 supporting the attorney generals lawsuit.

More than 2,200 troops from several Republican-led states remain in Washington, although the crime emergency Trump declared in August ended a month later.

A federal judge in Oregon has permanently blocked the deployment of National Guard troops there, and all 200 troops from California were being sent home from Oregon, an official said.

A state court in Tennessee ruled in favor of Democratic officials who sued to stop the ongoing Guard deployment in Memphis, which Trump has called a replica of his crackdown on Washington, D.C.

In California, a judge in September said deployment in the Los Angeles area was illegal. By that point, just 300 of the thousands of troops sent there remained, and the judge did not order them to leave.

The Trump administration has appealed the California and Oregon rulings to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kalynn and Jared Anderson and their two young children were heading to Colorado on Tuesday for the holidays when they saw an unusual sight at Portland International Airport: a pair of llamas, nearly a dozen dogs and a crowd of enthusiastic animal lovers.

But the animals werent there to board a plane with their owners  instead, the therapy animals were there to help weary holiday travelers relax as they arrived and departed at Oregons busiest airport.

It definitely makes it happier coming to the airport, Jared Anderson told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Especially with kids, Kalynn Anderson added.

30 1 / 30 Therapy animals at the airport

The couple said that after meeting and petting the two llamas, who are owned by the nonprofit Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas  as well as a few of the dogs, who were there with DoveLewis animal hospital volunteers  their travel stress had decreased somewhat.

Their 5-year-old daughter even came away from the brief interaction with a favorite: Panda, a 9-year-old former 4-H llama.

I really love them, she said.

One of the people watching over the enormous animals was Mountain Peaks volunteer Christie Tuttle, who said that shes been helping as a llama ambassador since not long after she saw the therapy llamas for the first time at a Trail Blazers game in 2020.

I was obsessed, the 43-year-old said. Theyre pretty magical.

Tuttle said that before learning how to take the llamas into crowded public settings, the largest animal shed ever worked with was a dog. She added that being around the animals and getting to introduce them to others is also a therapeutic break from her professional work as a 911 dispatcher.

Its something so unexpected and something that people dont encounter on a normal basis. They see therapy dogs all the time, but when you see a therapy llama or an alpaca, its different, she said. You see them actually warm up and see that theyre not scary, and then they give them a hug. Its pretty cool to watch.

About a dozen dogs from the Dove Lewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Team, and two therapy llamas from Mtn. Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas, greeted travelers at Portland International Airport on Dec. 23, to provide some joy and levity during a sometimes stressful time for holiday travel. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian

Also at the airport Tuesday, volunteers from DoveLewis introduced travelers to leashed therapy dogs, who wagged tails and calmly accepted pets from people getting off planes or preparing to go through security.

Kathy Wentworth and Tammy Smith  both decked out in matching holiday-patterned onesie  were two of the volunteers with reindeer antler-clad therapy dogs Scooby and Lisa Lu.

We are here to meet and greet people coming on and off the planes, Wentworth said. Just meeting people, meeting families, spreading a little cheer, putting a little smile on somebodys face, saying Hi, welcome to Portland.

Wentworth and Smith explained that theyre two of over 100 DoveLewis teams who attend events and assignments where people are likely to need a furry morale boost from their therapy dogs.

They change a situation, they make it better, Wentworth said. The animals help bring down anxiety, but bring up the happiness factor. And thats what I love about it  its always changing the situation and the atmosphere.
Heres a tasty New Years resolution for you: Eat more chicken.

Or rather, as Chick-fil-A would less eloquently put it, eat mor chikin. The Georgia-based fast food chain has been working to grow its Oregon footprint since earlier this year, when the company announced plans to open six new restaurants across the state by 2027.

>> Business opening or closing in your neighborhood? Email the reporter at vnocera@oregonian.com.

One of those locations may come sooner rather than later  and its exciting news for Portland chicken fanatics, who havent been able to visit a Chick-fil-A within city limits in two decades.

That will finally change next year.

A Chick-fil-A is slated to open at 9950 S.E. Stark St., in early 2026, pending any delays, the company confirmed in an email last week.

The restaurant  located near 205 Place at the site of a former strip club  has been in the works since 2023. Plans were approved by the city last year, and construction has been underway at the Southeast Stark Street building since at least April, Montavilla News originally reported.

Portland hasnt boasted its own Chick-fil-A since 2003, when the chain closed its location in the Lloyd Center food court.

The company currently operates 17 restaurants in Oregon, including in Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro and Lake Oswego. There are also two locations in Vancouver, Washington.

The Portland Chick-fil-A will be run by Austin Morrow, who will lead the store as a local owner-operator.
A fast-moving winter storm is expected to bring strong, potentially damaging winds to Portland and much of northwestern Oregon on Wednesday, with the most intense gusts arriving late morning and lasting only a few hours.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say wind gusts in the Portland area are expected to reach 45 to 55 mph, with the worst of it most likely between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The most intense winds shouldnt last long  just an hour or two, maybe three  before easing later in the afternoon.

At those speeds, winds can sway large trees, snap weaker branches and make driving difficult, particularly on bridges and exposed highways, officials said. Walking outside can feel unsteady and loose objects  holiday decorations, garbage cans and patio furniture  can be blown over or sent tumbling, they said.

This will be a decently quick hitting event, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland. After those peak gusts are done, well still have some breezy winds.

Chandler-Cooley said winds could continue to gust around 25 to 35 mph for a few hours.

Enough wind to cause problems

Even though the storm isnt shaping up to be a historic storm, forecasters say the winds are still strong enough to cause real issues  especially after weeks of rain have left the ground soggy.

Chandler-Cooley said trees may be more vulnerable to toppling, raising the risk of downed limbs, blocked roads and localized power outages.

If we see gusts in that 45- to 55-mile-per-hour range, we do expect some tree damage, Chandler-Cooley said.

Small chance of much stronger winds

While the most likely scenario keeps gusts below 60 mph, forecasters say there is about a 10% chance that the storm could intensify as it moves north along the Oregon coast, producing gusts as high as 60 to 70 mph in parts of northwestern Oregon, including Portland.

At those speeds, winds can topple healthy trees and cause widespread power outages. Chandler-Cooley said, though that scenario is considered unlikely at this point.

If we were to reach that high-end scenario, this would be the strongest wind event since December 2007, she said. But even then, it would not be as strong as our most historic windstorms.

Why the forecast isnt set in stone

The storm system is relatively small and fast-moving, making it harder for weather models to pin down exactly how strong it will become, Chandler-Cooley said.

Smaller systems like this are more difficult for models to resolve, she said. Some guidance shows stronger winds, but most of it supports what we currently have in the forecast.

Because of that uncertainty, the National Weather Service is continuing to analyze new data and observations. Wind advisories are already in effect, and forecasters say they will decide later whether any areas need to be upgraded to high wind warnings, which would indicate a greater likelihood of damaging winds, fallen trees and widespread power outages.

What residents should do

Forecasters recommend being ready for possible power outages, especially if winds strengthen more than expected. They said holiday travelers should use caution, slow down and watch for debris or fallen branches on roads.

And its a good time to take a look around the yard or roof.

Secure outdoor decorations and anything loose so that they dont get blown away or become projectiles or cause hazards, Chandler-Cooley said. Even winds weaker than what were forecasting can cause issues with decorations.

Forecasts are typically updated at least twice daily, but watches, warnings and advisories can be issued at any time. Chandler-Cooley said residents should check the latest conditions throughout the day and again Wednesday morning, particularly if they have travel plans.

Those driving out for the holidays are encouraged to check their routes prior to heading out via TripCheck.com.
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Separate groups of special forces of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in particular fighters of the International Legion and the Legion Freedom of Russia, are taking part in the mission to stabilize the situation in Kupiansk (Kharkiv region), one of the key roles in its planning and implementation is taken by soldiers of the2nd Khartia Corps of the National Guard, the intelligence press service reported.

"Separate groups of special forces from the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, including fighters of the International Legion and the Freedom of Russia Legion, are taking part in the ongoing mission to stabilize the situation in Kupiansk and its surrounding areas," the press service reported on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

It is noted that Ukrainian military intelligence officers "express their gratitude and respect to all units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine involved in the operation. Special words of honor go to our combat brothers from the 2nd Khartia Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, who played one of the key roles in planning and carrying out the decisive operation in the Kupiansk direction."

"The successful actions of Ukraines Security and Defense Forces in the Kupiansk direction are an important example of skill and coordination on the battlefield, adding confidence to all units along the line of contact with the Russian occupiers," the report notes.

"Effective counterattacks, clear command and control of the battle, technological solutions, high morale, and determination of Ukrainian forces led to the systematic destruction of the enemy, cut off the remaining Russian occupiers in Kupiansk from logistics, and once again globally devalued the propagandistic bravado of the Kremlin dictator and the general staff of the Russian occupation army," the statement said.

"The success near Kupiansk proves that unity and a professional approach to active combat operations enable Ukraines Security and Defense Forces to achieve important victories in the war against the aggressor state, Russia," military intelligence concluded.
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Law enforcement rescued 43 missing and endangered children across Northern Florida in what officials called the most successful child recovery operation in the region's history.

Operation Northern Lights, which ran from December 1 to December 12, involved more than 80 personnel from 25 different agencies working together to locate critically missing youth from 14 counties in North Florida. The term "critically missing" refers to children who face elevated risks, including exposure to violence, sexual exploitation, drug abuse, and criminal activity. The recovered children ranged in age from one and a half years old to 17 years old.

Rescue of Missing Children

Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal said the operation achieved something remarkable for the region. "This was the most successful missing child operation ever conducted in Northern Florida," Leljedal stated. "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," according to People.

The operation expanded beyond state lines. While most recoveries occurred in North Florida, law enforcement found additional missing children in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The coordinated effort involved federal agents, state police, local law enforcement, social service workers, and nonprofit organizations focused on child protection.

Read more: Coast Guard Rescues Family Stranded on Island Off Cape Cod After Boat Suddenly Caught Fire

Notable recoveries included a one-year-old child retrieved from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a 13-year-old who had been missing from Suwannee County for eight months before being found in Jacksonville.

The investigation resulted in nine arrests during the operation, with charges primarily related to interference with child custody. Authorities said they are pursuing additional criminal charges related to human trafficking, child endangerment, and custodial interference as investigations continue.

Operation Northern Lights

Immediately after recovery, the children received comprehensive support services. Medical professionals provided physical examinations and treatment, while social workers arranged appropriate housing and services, ABC News reported. Child advocates offered emotional support and counseling to help the children begin healing from their experiences.

Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno emphasized the importance of the collaborative effort. "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," Ingegno said.

The U.S. Marshals Service has the authority to assist law enforcement agencies with recovering missing, endangered, or abducted children under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Since receiving this expanded authority, the agency has located or recovered more than 3,967 missing children across the country, with a 66 percent recovery rate and 61 percent of those found within seven days, as per the US Marshals.
A person died in the village of Tomyna Balka (Kherson region) due to an explosive device dropped by an enemy drone, another civilian was injured, the press service of the regional prosecutor's office reported.

"According to the investigation, on December 23, 2025, at about 07:10, the Russian military dropped an explosive device from a drone in the village of Tomyna Balka, Kherson region. As a result of the attack, a 44-year-old man died, another civilian was injured and hospitalized," the prosecutor's office said in a message on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

It is reported that both men were on the street at the time of the attack. A pretrial investigation has been initiated into the fact of committing a war crime that caused the death of a person (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The contract is for a company that provides housekeeping and general maintenance operations at Citizens Bank Park for the Philadelphia Phillies will end next week.

Oak View Group filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, informing the state that its contract will end on Dec. 31 and its workers will be impacted.

The company told state officials its contract wasnt renewed. The Oak View Group told the state it has 522 employees, of which 500 are part-time and are under a collective bargaining agreement.

Oak View Group services multiple venues in the Philadelphia area and officials said it welcomed employees to apply for other positions in the region.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated Oct. 28.

The Oak View Group is based in Colorado.

The Philadelphia Phillies 2025 season ended on Oct. 9 when the team was eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The home opener for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2026 will take place on March 26 against the Texas Rangers.
Respironics, which manufactures sleep and respiratory products, plans to lay off nearly 200 people in Pennsylvania beginning next week.

The company filed a WARN notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state of the layoffs at 174 Tech Center Drive in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, near Mount Pleasant; 312 Alvin Drive in Upper Burrell Township, Westmoreland County, near New Kensington, and at 1001 Murry Ridge Lane, Murrysville in Westmoreland County.

Respironics, an affiliate of Philips North America, said it plans to outsource manufacturing operations at these facilities. Between the three facilities, 196 people will be laid off, including 136 production operators.

Layoffs will begin on Dec. 31 and conclude in June 2026.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered business closing and a covered business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated Oct. 30.
A Cumberland County third-party logistics provider will close its distribution warehouse facility in the Lehigh Valley this week.

Allen Distribution filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, informing the state that it is closing its facility at 7058 Snowdrift Road in Upper Macungie Township, near Allentown, and approximately 70 people will be laid off.

The last day for employees will be on Friday.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered business closing and a covered business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated Oct. 27.

Allen Distribution is based in South Middleton Township, near Carlisle. The company was founded in 1988 and provides supply chain design, logistics management, distribution, fulfillment, transportation, freight consolidation, custom packaging, and temperature-controlled warehousing and transportation.
Prysmian Cables and Systems, a global cable solutions provider, plans to close its manufacturing facility in Schuylkill County in 2027.

The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, informing the state that it is closing the manufacturing plant in 2027 at 1 Tamaqua Blvd, Schuylkill Haven, and 150 people will be laid off.

Layoffs will begin on or around Jan. 1, 2026. The initial wave of layoffs will impact approximately 14 employees.

The company provided the following statement from Paul Furtado, the chief operating officer of Prysmian North America.

Prysmian has announced the closing of our Schuylkill Haven plant, phasing down operations over 18 to 24 months. We are constantly evaluating our strategy to most effectively leverage our existing footprint across the U.S. This was a difficult decision, and we are incredibly grateful for the 56 years we have been a part of the Schuylkill Haven community. We remain committed to supporting all our affected employees and keeping the community informed as we begin this transition.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered business closing and a covered business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated Oct. 31.

Prysmian is a public company listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. The company operates in more than 50 countries.
WILLIAMSPORT  A critical middleman in a national scheme to funnel stolen body parts used in macabre art to oddity collectors was sentenced Monday to six years in federal prison.

Jeremy Pauley, 43, of Honesdale, was sentenced for his role in reselling the stolen goods that included human flesh, brains and even two human fetuses pilfered from morgues.

Pauley would preserve the stolen body parts and turn them into art for oddity collectors in an underworld online community that operated under a dont ask, dont tell policy, federal prosecutors said in court documents.

In addition to serving jail time, Pauley will spend three years on supervised release, attend counseling in prison and pay $2,000 in fines, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann ordered. He must voluntarily turn himself over to federal authorities Jan. 16.

Local police originally charged Pauley with misdemeanor abuse of a corpse when he was living in East Pennsboro, Cumberland County in August 2022, after discovering body parts in his Enola home.

About a year later, the FBI filed charges related to Pauleys connection to a national ring of illicit anatomical parts purveyors.

He waived indictment and hashed out a plea agreement to a federal count of trafficking stolen goods across state lines, and a corresponding conspiracy count. Its unclear why it took so long for Pauley to be sentenced in federal court.

Pauley continues to operate a brick-and-mortar oddities shop in Honesdale in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. While he continues to trade and sell body parts, federal prosecutors came up short of any evidence he was breaking the law.

Nothing forbids the possession sale of dead body parts under federal law or Pennsylvania law, Brann said. Pauley was prosecuted in federal court exclusively because he was dealing in stolen goods that crossed state lines.

While prosecutors argued they dont know of any legal way to obtain a dead fetus to use in art, Brann argued if they think Pauley is guilty of committing further crimes, they needed to prove it with evidence.

Still, prosecutors argued that Pauley hasnt sought employment in another industry and is continuing to operate so closely to the line he was charged with crossing that its is a sign he may continue his practices.

The only way to stop Pauley from pursuing a feature role in the horror show that this investigation unveiled is to incarcerate him, said Alisan Martin, an assistant U.S. Attorney.

He twisted these final acts of altruism into personal gain, Brann said, calling Pauleys actions catastrophic cold indifference. He said he found the light-hearted nature in which Pauley and his co-conspirators talked about their grim deeds disturbing.

Before learning his sentence, Pauley stood up in court and said he didnt intend on hurting anyone, apologized to his victims and said he accepted full responsibility for his actions. He also announced he planned on continuing to operate his oddity shop selling legally obtained remains.

Im committed to using my skills to help these grieving families, Pauley said before learning his sentence, hoping to continue his business. He said he wanted to use his experiences to make the oddity community a better place, too.

Brann said Pauley cannot impose his own beliefs over what should be done with bodies, particularly bodies of fetuses, over the deceaseds grieving families.

It flies in the face of universal and age-old tradition, Brann said.

Although Brann said he did not think Pauley acted with cruel intent toward any of the victims, he said Pauley appeared to have profited handsomely from his sophisticated operation.

Pauley earned more than $100,000 in sales to Lampi alone.

Not all of Pauleys transactions were illicit, Jonathan White, Pauleys attorney, argued in court. Pauley once created a guitar pick out of the cremated remains of the family of a deceased musician.

In other cases, hes helped grieving families preserve the body and memory of their loved ones, White said, referencing character letters supporting Pauley.

White called the case an oversimplification and rush to judgment arguing the news media has plastered Pauleys unconventional appearance all over his codefendants case and used him as a posterboy for the entire investigation.

Half of Pauleys face is covered in fading ink, while his bald scalp is dotted with metallic studs. He wears large gauge earrings in his lobes and his eyes are dyed. He has made a habit of wearing all-black alongside his fiancee to court appearances.

White characterized Pauley as a misunderstood but kind man with esoteric interests in the macabre.

Jeremy Pauley may look different, but hes not different, White said. He understands this is not for everyone.

White, declined to comment on the cases resolution to a gaggle of reporters as he led Pauley and several family members away from the federal courthouse in Williamsport Monday afternoon.

Martin received nine victim impact statements from individuals who later learned their relatives remains ended up in Pauleys hands, including from Doneysha Smith, an Arkansas woman who miscarried Baby Lux Siloam after carrying him for 18 weeks.

Smith wished for her miscarried child to be cremated and the ashes returned to her. But instead, Candace Chapman Scott, a mortician at the morgue Baby Lux was located, smuggled Luxs body out and mailed him to Pauley for $300.

Pauley then preserved the fetus body in embalming fluid and sold it to Matthew Lampi for $1,550 and five human skulls.

Meanwhile, Smith wore the cremated remains of an unknown person around her neck in a necklace for months until she learned her childs true fate.

Lampi eventually returned Luxs corpse to Smith to be cremated. The judge ordered restitution of $1,700 for the cremation costs for baby Lux that Pauley is to share with Lampi. Brann included Lampis share of the restitution when he sentenced him in January to 18 months.

I hate to know these precious little ones get incinerated  they will be permanent fixtures that will be passed down with the rest of my prized pieces for them, Pauley told Scott on Facebook.

These are my babies! I find them so serene and peaceful They are beautiful to me, Pauley said, also sending the mortician a photo of twelve jarred fetuses he already had.

Luxs fate inspired Arkansas legislators to address what appears to be a blind spot in the law. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Luxs Law on behalf of Smith in February 2025, criminalizing the sale of human remains that were intended to be cremated or buried.
The last thing a family needs to worry about when they are burying a loved one is whether the body is intact or the ashes legitimate.

But a central Pennsylvania man, who trafficked stolen body parts, has left a series of victims hes never met with uneasy questions about whether their loved ones are entirely accounted for.

District Judge Matthew Brann sentenced 43-year-old Jeremy Pauley to six years in prison on Monday for his role as a critical middleman in a national conspiracy to traffic stolen body parts.

That conspiracy funneled limbs, organs, flesh, genitalia and even dead fetuses from two morgues into Pauleys hands, who then used them in his art or sold them to other collectors of oddities.

Doneysha Smith, of Arkansas, gave birth to a Baby Lux Siloam  or Light sent  18 weeks into her pregnancy in 2022. He did not survive. She cradled his body, requested he be cremated and returned to her in time for his memorial service. She kept the ashes she received in a heart-shaped necklace.

But in April 2023, she learned the ashes werent Luxs. They belonged to a stranger  instead of being cremated, Luxs body had been stolen by mortician Candace Chapman Scott, who sold it to Pauley for $300, who gave it to Matthew Lampi for $1,550 and five human skulls.

Losing Lux was one of the most hurtful things Ive been through, she said. But, I had to lose my son twice she said.

Smith continues to have thoughts at night about her child being sent through the mail like an Amazon package, wondering who all touched him and came into contact with him, she said in a statement made to the court on Scotts sentencing.

We thought we had his remains We had a beautiful memorial for him, and he wasnt even there, Smith said in arguing for a lengthy sentence for Scott.

Scott was prosecuted in Arkansas, and a judge there sentenced her to 15 years.

Smith wasnt the only victim, however. In a sentencing memorandum filed Dec. 15, prosecutors unveiled more victim impact statements from individuals whose family members body parts were smuggled from Scotts hands to Pauleys:

One person used to go to sleep at night, looking forward to their next dream with their mother, wondering if they would be playing with their hair or camping in the mountains together.

Now, they fear sleep and the haunting nightmares they will have.

Will I be finding my mother decapitated in the woods again, finding her head in a barrel by the shore, watching someone eat her heart or witness her screams as she is getting pulled apart to be sold(?)

Another victim questioned whether it is her grandmother who is buried next to her grandfather, or a stranger.

Was she taken apart and sent across the country to be made into a lamp or a book? Will we one day receive word that her head was found in a glass display case? Will we ever know? they asked.

That not knowing resonated with others.

The man our family had once known had already disappeared by the time he finally passed due to dementia, someone began. To later learn that his body may have been so grotesquely mishandled upon his demise is beyond words, an inconsolably horrible reality that we have to somehow reconcile without any chance of the truth of his fate possibly being found now.

We do not know and may never know if our loved one was spared... the knowledge that their bodies were treated so heinously is like learning what a serial killer may have done to a victim, another said.

There is no way of knowing if, where, and when parts of my mother may have been sold as the result of Mr. Pauleys (and others) selfishness, greed and depravity, another person wrote.

That unknowing has shaken faith in the medical system  an institution another victims father believed in.

I cant visit his grave without wondering how much of him is there and where his remains could be today, another person said.

Pauley apologized in court on Monday, explaining he never intended to harm anyone. His lawyer, Jonathan White, said he was trying to honor the memory of the remains that passed through him and was trying to give the deceased new life.

Pauley was permitted to return home for the holidays, but must surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on Jan. 16 to begin his sentence.
A Union County man has pleaded guilty to stabbing his girlfriend to death in the home they shared in Elizabeth one day after he proposed to her.

Jose Melo, 53, pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of Naket Jadix Trinidad Maldonado, 31, on Dec. 30, 2024.

Melo and the victim were engaged, reported Fox5 New York.

The day before Maldonado was killed, Melo posted a video to Facebook that appears to show him proposing to her in a crowded bar.

Around 9:10 a.m. the next day, Elizabeth police were called to a report of a stabbing inside the Florida Street home the couple shared.

Naket Jadix Trinidad Maldonado, 31, was killed in her Elizabeth home on Dec. 30, 2024. Facebook

Officers found Maldonado, who was known as Naky, dead inside the residence.

Melo was quickly detained, arrested and charged, according to the Union County Prosecutors Office.

In an agreement with prosecutors, Melo pleaded guilty last week to first-degree aggravated manslaughter.

Prosecutors said they will ask that Melo serve 28 years in state prison with a requirement that he serve 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

While we hope this plea brings a sense of closure, our thoughts remain with Ms. Maldonados loved ones, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said in a statement.

Maldonado was a mother of two young daughters who have been left with few family members, the victims aunt wrote on a fundraising website that has since raised nearly $30,000.

This horrible act by someone she trusted left her two children without either parent and with very little options for their future, the aunt wrote.
A Delaware County woman is facing potential homicide charges after police said she stabbed her daughter to death in their home.

The incident happened at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at a residence along the 200 block of South Bishop Avenue in Upper Darby Township, according to 6ABC.

Upon arrival, police found the body of a 23-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds.

Police said that the victims father came home after working an overnight shift and discovered her body. He called 911 but police said she was already deceased.

The mother, who the father said he found at the scene covered in blood, was taken to a hospital, where she is being evaluated. It is expected that she will be facing homicide charges, 6ABC said.

The familys dog was also injured with several stab wounds and was taken to a veterinarian.

Police said they do not yet have a motive for the killing. No names have been released yet.
By Evan Robinson-Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

Nansi Armstrong is living in Americas painful health insurance purgatory: earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to cover premiums set to double next year.

The 48-year-old mother works multiple jobs, including a full-time gig as an office manager for a Harrisburg law firm that comes without benefits.

At $650 per month, coverage this year was already expensive. But it paled in comparison to the forecast for 2026, which Armstrong described as insane.

So, despite lingering nerve pain from a bout of shingles and the uncertainty of her familys history of cancer, Armstrong made the difficult decision to forgo coverage next year.

Its scary, she said. If I get sick or anything like that, I just have to deal with it on my own.

Part of her feels fortunate she got a hysterectomy out of the way this year.

If I hadnt the insurance, I wouldnt have been able to get that procedure, she said.

Armstrong is one of 55,000 Pennsylvanians who have dropped health care coverage since Nov. 1 as premiums doubled due the expiration of federal subsidies. A thousand state residents are now dropping health insurance each day as hope of a last ditch fix from Congress fizzles, said Devon Trolley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange.

She is still hoping lawmakers will pass an 11th-hour measure to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, although a vote is not expected before the new year. Three Republican House members from Pennsylvania broke from their party to force the vote last week.

While the majority of people are renegotiating their budgets to cover the spike, a significant portion are unable and will enter 2026 without coverage, forgoing necessary surgeries and medication while straining the states systems of care. Hospitals that advocated to extend the subsidies are bracing for overburdened emergency rooms, while rural centers warn they wont be able to account for the sudden surge in uninsured patients in need of treatment.

Its a catastrophe waiting to happen, said Beverly Kennedy, clinical executive director of the Meadville Area Free Clinic, a nonprofit that relies on a limited pool of volunteer providers to care for about 60 rural patients each month.

Kennedy said her own health plan doubled from $546 to $1,039, forcing her to dip into her savings. She is already fielding calls from people who plan to drop coverage asking what services the clinic can provide.

The systems broke, she said. I dont have the resources now to handle the patients I have.

People who opt out of coverage will be more likely to visit emergency rooms when they need access to care, said Grace McHale, a Pittsburgh-based coordinator for the nonprofit Pennsylvania Health Access. They will lose access to free preventative screenings and could need more expensive treatment down the line.

Medical debt is a common experience, McHale said, although special enrollment periods could provide flexibility, especially if peoples financial circumstances have changed their eligibility.

Those who have stayed enrolled are often opting for plans with high deductibles, McHale said, which carry a higher risk of having to pay thousands of dollars for unexpected treatment. Others are talking through the out-of-pocket costs for monthly prescriptions and upcoming procedures. In many cases, those costs are also rising.

A few people have expressed hope that tax credits might still be renewed and the situation will change, but not a lot of optimism coming from Pennsylvanians at this point, McHale said.

As residents from Allentown to Erie confront the higher costs, many who signed up for plans may start to drop out throughout the year. The state marketplace has already seen failures from people to pay their initial bills, Trolley said. That will compound the strain on health systems across the state, including rural hospitals that were already struggling.

We have heard a really high level of concern from providers and hospitals about really any additional financial strain, Trolley said.

The American Hospital Association wrote to Congress this fall advocating for an extension in health care subsidies, arguing that hospitals and health systems would face considerable stress if they disappear.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said clinicians will continue to provide care for every patient in need.

We remain committed to working with those we serve to access and create the best assistance when needed, Dr. Donald M. Yealy, the centers chief medical officer, said in a statement.

Experts warn that serving a greater portion of uninsured patients could eventually drive up costs for everyone. Thats because when hospitals arent reimbursed for care, they end up raising prices across the board to cover the difference. Insurers may also raise rates, compounding the premium increases families saw this year.

Part of the reason the system was so reliant on subsidies was because the price of treatments such as prescription drugs has skyrocketed, said Jonathan Greer, president and CEO of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, a trade group representing UPMC and other insurers.

It very much worries me whats going on here, he said. Its a problem for hospitals, its a problem for insurers, its a problem for the state of Pennsylvania, and its a problem as an issue of public health.

The introduction of Affordable Care Act subsidies in 2014 along with Medicaid expansion originally cut the states uninsured rate almost in half  from 14% in 2013 to just 8% two years later  but progress plateaued then reversed slightly last year, census data shows. The end of enhanced premium tax credits, which were introduced during the pandemic, will accelerate that backward slide, Trolley said.

Congressional Republicans have proposed a few unsuccessful alternatives to extending the subsidies. Vice President JD Vance said this week at an event in Pennsylvania that the White House is open to preserving the subsidies if Congress reaches an agreement.

From Harrisburg, Armstrong has been watching the shifting situation in Washington while negotiating with her part-time job for an offer that could include health benefits.

You always try to be hopeful but its not looking that bright, she said.

At this point, shes more hoping to simply stay healthy next year.
Ukrainian defenders withdrew from the settlement of Siversk (Donetsk region) "in order to preserve the lives of our soldiers and combat readiness of units," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Tuesday.

"Heavy fighting continues in the Siversk area. Russian occupying forces have a significant advantage in manpower and equipment and, despite substantial losses, continue active offensive operations. In order to preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat effectiveness of units, Ukrainian defenders withdrew from the settlement. During the battles for Siversk, the Defense Forces of Ukraine wore down the enemy; every meter of the city came at a high cost for the aggressor," the message said on a Telegram channel.

"The invaders managed to advance due to a significant numerical advantage and constant pressure by small assault groups in difficult weather conditions. The city remains under the fire control of our troops," the General Staff noted.

According to its information, the occupiers who are in the city are "being struck, their logistics are being cut, and enemy units are being blocked in order to prevent their further advance."

The Defense Forces continue to carry out combat missions on the Sloviansk axis. All measures are being taken to reduce the offensive potential of the enemys units and formations, the General Staff reported.
By JENNIFER PELTZ, The Associated Press

BRANDY STATION, Va. (AP)  On a sparkling late-fall Sunday at a rural Virginia airfield, 16 careworn passengers were getting off a flight that changed, even saved, their lives.

Some looked bemused, some wary, some enthusiastic as they were carried off a small private plane onto the tarmac at Culpeper Regional Airport. Then they were escorted to a grassy patch for a potty break and fresh air before catching their connecting flights.

The three cats and 13 dogs  including a skinny, shy pit bull mix named Jenny and her seven puppies  were part of a complex weekly airlift conducted by a far-flung, loose-knit group of volunteer pilots and animal lovers. For some years, they have brought pets from overwhelmed Southern animal shelters to foster and rescue groups farther north.

Bella Cunningham holds a sleeping newborn puppy, Nov. 23, 2025, at Culpeper Regional Airport in Brandy Station, Va. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) AP

But this day was special: The volunteers relayed 117 animals, about twice as many as usual, to mark the anniversary of a tragedy that transformed the group: member Seuk Kims fatal crash during a rescue flight on Nov. 24, 2024.

Everybody really feels it, said Sydney Galley, the co-founder and CEO of the group, now called Seuks Army. But, she said, he would be so excited to see us with so many dogs.

A pilots dedication

Kim, 49, had realized a childhood dream of learning to fly and was looking to make a career of it after decades working in the financial sector.

The Springfield, Virginia, man also liked animals. So after connecting with Galley and others through an animal rescue discussion board called Pilots N Paws, he was in. All in  Kim did multiple animal flights a week and recruited other pilots. He also brought batteries, diapers and other supplies to people in need after Hurricane Helene last year.

On his last day, Kim left Culpeper with four dogs, delivered one to a Maryland airport, then took off with the rest for Albany, New York.

His 1986 Mooney M20J plane went down in New Yorks Catskill Mountains after he reported hitting turbulence. The crash killed Kim and one of the dogs, but the other two survived and were adopted.

Pet crates, including one that survived a fatal crash in November 2024, are stacked up beside a plane, Nov. 23, 2025, at Culpeper Regional Airport in Brandy Station, Va. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) AP

I dont think I can do this anymore

I dont think I can do this anymore, Karissa Gregory, who with Galley coordinates the flights, told other volunteers after Kims death.

But one of the pilots, Kley Parkhurst, reminded her that aviators assess and accept the risks of flying. He thinks of Kim whenever he flies animals and dips his planes wings in tribute if he passes the crash site. Still, Parkhurst, who also does charity medical flights, had no qualms about continuing the animal transports.

I just want to keep the legacy that we started together going, Parkhurst said recently.

Sydney Galley pets a dog on a plane before passing it off to other volunteers, Nov. 23, 2025, at Culpeper Regional Airport in Brandy Station, Va. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) AP

How Seuks Army regrouped, and grew

While Kims family and friends mourned, news coverage drew attention, new volunteers and more partners to the grassroots nonprofit coordinated largely via WhatsApp chats and Facebook posts.

A year later, what is now Seuks Army transports two to three times as many animals as it did before, Gregory said.

Pilots use their own planes and pay flight costs, which run hundreds of dollars an hour. Galley, her husband and co-founder pilot Jerry Stephens, and other volunteers have largely underwritten veterinary bills, supplies and other needs.

But the Piedmont, South Carolina-based group has started taking organizational and fundraising steps, including a 5K charity run last June at the Culpeper airport, the groups ad hoc hub. Airport manager Tanya Woodward says a local grant writer is looking for potential donors to fund a dedicated outdoor area for the animals.

In a nation where shelters and rescue organizations take in millions of cats and dogs annually, and hundreds of thousands are euthanized for reasons that can include lack of space, rescue flights open new foster possibilities for agencies like the Heard County Animal Control Center in Franklin, Georgia. With its 20 kennels always full and animals sometimes doubled up, the center works with Seuks Army to transport as many as eight pets a week across the country, director Kyli Putzek said.

She said Heard County doesnt euthanize animals because of overcrowding these days, but it wouldnt be the same story without the rescue flights.

Rescue flights are a logistical feat

Volunteers wore T-shirts bearing Kims photo as they unloaded, walked, played with, cleaned up after and reloaded the dozens of animals that came through Culpeper on the memorial flights last month.

Stephens and others had flown the animals from South Carolina, Georgia and other Southern locales. Other pilots would take them on to Northeastern airports, in a logistical puzzle that ultimately spanned about 16 airfields, seven planes, many cars and vans and quick adaptations to weather forecasts. Gregory monitors them more anxiously in the wake of Kims death.

When departure times neared, leashed dogs waited on the tarmac like a crowd at an airport boarding gate, in a loose line with various degrees of fidgetiness.

There was Daisy, a 96-pound bloodhound whose owner had died, and Copper, a handsome hound who had been surrendered amid a divorce. Middie had been abandoned, pregnant, in Georgia. Jenny, the pit mix, and her 8-week-old puppies had been facing euthanasia at an Alabama shelter, Gregory said.

Katelynn Aldarondo says goodbye to the nameless dog she grew close to, Nov. 23, 2025, at Culpeper Regional Airport in Brandy Station, Va. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) AP

Puppies get a birds-eye view

Seventy-five hundred feet over the mid-Atlantic countryside, co-pilot Michael Nuzback turned around in his seat.

Hello, puppies. Come say hi! he said, unlatching a crate and helping one of Jennys pups out.

Another followed for a brief stint up front with Nuzback and pilot Stephen Nur. The volunteer pilots were flying a turboprop plane owned by Pilots to the Rescue, a decade-old charity that collaborates periodically with Seuks Army. Founder Michael Schneider said he appreciates the groups work, and theres no shortage of rescuing animals to be done.

The pups, which seemed more interested in the pilots laps than in the view of the Chesapeake Bay, were tucked back in their crate before night fell over the Eastern Seaboard.

They and the other dozens of animals aboard passed silently near the lights of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and New Yorks Kennedy Airport, flew over the dark of Long Island Sound and landed at Groton-New London Airport in Connecticut. It was the final destination for Jenny, her puppies and some of the others; the rest were flying on to New Jersey.

In the small, bright Connecticut terminal, volunteers with local rescue groups cradled the puppies before heading off to foster homes in the damp New England night.

Theyre all headed to peoples homes, volunteer Danielle Barth said. A warm house.
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Media Writer

An internal CBS News battle over a 60 Minutes story critical of the Trump administration has exploded publicly, with a correspondent charging it was kept off the air for political reasons and news chief Bari Weiss saying Monday the story did not advance the ball.

Two hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS announced that the story where correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi spoke to deportees who had been sent to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison would not be a part of the show. Weiss, the Free Press founder named CBS News editor-in-chief in October, said it was her decision.

The dispute puts one of journalisms most respected brands  and a frequent target of President Donald Trump  back in the spotlight and amplifies questions about whether Weiss appointment was a signal that CBS News was headed in a more Trump-friendly direction.

Alfonsi, in an email sent to fellow 60 Minutes correspondents, said the story was factually correct and had been cleared by CBS lawyers and its standards division. But the Trump administration had refused to comment for the story, and Weiss wanted a greater effort made to get their point of view.

In my view, pulling it now after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision; it is a political one, Alfonsi wrote in the email. She did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Alfonsi said in the email that interviews were sought with or questions directed to  sometimes both  the White House, State Department and Department of Homeland Security.

Government silence is a statement, not a VETO, Alfonsi wrote. Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. If the administrations refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a kill switch for any reporting they find inconvenient.

Spike is a journalists term for killing a story. But Weiss, in a statement, said that she looked forward to airing Alfonsis piece when its ready.

Speaking Monday at the daily CBS News internal editorial call, Weiss was clearly angered by Alfonsis memo. A transcript of Weiss message was provided by CBS News.

The only newsroom Im interested in running is one in which we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters with respect and, crucially, where we assume the best intent of our colleagues, Weiss said. Anything else is completely unacceptable.

She said that while Alfonsis story presented powerful testimony about torture at the CECOT prison, The New York Times and other outlets had already done similar work. To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more, she said. And this is 60 Minutes. We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.

It wasnt clear whether Weiss involvement in seeking administration comment was sought. She reportedly helped the newscast arrange interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff this past fall to discuss Trumps Middle East peace efforts. Trump himself was interviewed by Norah ODonnell on a 60 Minutes telecast that aired on Nov. 2.

Trump has been sharply critical of 60 Minutes. He refused to grant the show an interview before last falls election, then sued the network over how it handled an interview with election opponent Kamala Harris. CBSs parent, Paramount Global, agreed to settle the lawsuit by paying Trump $16 million this past summer. More recently, Trump angrily reacted to correspondent Lesley Stahls interview with his former ally, turned critic, Marjorie Taylor Greene.

As prisoners stand looking out from a cell, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP

60 Minutes was notably tough on Trump during the first months of his second term, particularly in stories done by correspondent Scott Pelley. In accepting an award from USC Annenberg earlier this month for his journalism, Pelley noted that the stories were aired last spring with an absolute minimum of interference.

Pelley said that people at 60 Minutes were concerned about what new ownership installed at Paramount this summer would mean for the broadcast. Its early yet, but what I can tell you is we are doing the same kinds of stories with the same kind of rigor, and we have experienced no corporate interference of any kind, Pelley said then, according to deadline.com.

David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
Editors note: This story contains language that some readers may find disturbing.

A letter written by Jeffrey Epstein and sent to infamous pedophile Larry Nassar appears to reference President Donald Trump and an alleged love of young girls. The letter was released Tuesday by the Department of Justice as part of the latest document dump associated with the notorious Epstein files.

While he offers no proof of the accusations and doesnt name Trump directly Epsteins letter claims the trio shared a common desire for young girls.

The handwritten letter reads:

Dear L.N.,

As you know by now, I have taken the short route home. Good luck! We shared one thing  our love and caring for young ladies and the hope theyd reach their full potential. Our President also 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.

Life is unfair.

Yours, J. Epstein

After releasing the documents, the Department of Justice issued a pair of statements related to the files and the letter.

Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 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, reads the first statement.

A few hours later, the DOJ issued another statement directly referencing the letter.

The Department of Justice is currently looking into the validity of this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar and we will follow up as soon as possible, reads the statement. In the meantime, three facts stand out: The postmark on the envelope is Virginia, not New York, where Jeffrey Epstein was jailed at the time. The return address listed the wrong jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail. The envelope was processed three days AFTER Epsteins death.

Pictures of the envelope the letter was in show it is postmarked for Aug. 13, 2019. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in New York on Aug. 10, 2019. The letters reference to Epstein taking the short route home appears to be in reference to his alleged suicide.

According to TMZ, an FBI agent requested the letter be analyzed by a handwriting expert, but the results of that analysis are unclear.

Epstein was jailed in New York after being arrested and charged in July 2019 with sex trafficking.

Nassar was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 60 years in prison for possession of child pornography and tampering with evidence. In January 2018, Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County. A month later, Nassar received another sentence of 40 to 125 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault in Eaton County.

Nassar was accused of sexually assaulting more than 250 victims -- many of whom were underage -- over the course of his 22-year career as physician.
By JESSE BEDAYN, The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP)  On a frigid day after Mass at St. Anns Catholic Church in rural Nebraska, worshippers shuffled into the basement and sat on folding chairs, their faces barely masking the fear gripping their town.

A pall hung over the room just as it hung over the holiday season in Lexington, Nebraska.

Suddenly, they tell us that theres no more work. Your world closes in on you, said Alejandra Gutierrez.

She and the others work at Tyson Foods beef plant and are among the 3,200 people who will lose their jobs when Lexingtons biggest employer closes the plant next month after more than two decades of operation.

Hundreds of families may be forced to pack up and leave the town of 11,000, heading east to Omaha or Iowa, or south to the meatpacking towns of Kansas or beyond, causing spinoff layoffs in Lexingtons restaurants, barbershops, grocers, convenience stores and taco trucks.

Losing 3,000 jobs in a city of 10,000 to 12,000 people is as big a closing event as weve seen virtually for decades, said Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Indianas Ball State University. It will be close to the poster child for hard times.

All told, the job losses are expected to reach 7,000, largely in Lexington and the surrounding counties, according to estimates from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, shared with The Associated Press. Tyson employees alone will lose an estimated $241 million in pay and benefits annually.

Tyson says its closing the plant to right-size its beef business after a historically low cattle herd in the U.S. and the companys expected loss of $600 million on beef production next fiscal year.

The plants closure threatens to unravel a Great Plains town where the American Dream was still attainable, where immigrants who didnt speak English and never graduated high school bought homes, raised children in a safe community and sent them to college.

Now, those symbols of economic progress  mortgages and car payments, property taxes and tuition costs  are bills that thousands of Tyson workers wont have an income to pay.

Armando Martinez, left, and his wife, Maria Dolores Perez, right, work in their restaurant, Los Jalapenos, near the Tyson Foods' beef plant in Lexington, Neb., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) AP

At St. Anns church, Gutierrez sat between her daughters and recalled being told of the plant closure just before Thanksgiving while she visited a college campus with her high school senior, Kimberly.

At that moment, my daughter said she no longer wanted to study, Gutierrez said. Because where would we get the money to pay for college?

A tear slipped down Kimberlys cheek as she looked at her mother and then down at her hands.

Tyson was our motherland

If you threw a dart at a map of the United States, Lexington  called Lex by locals  would be just about bullseye.

Its easy to miss driving down Interstate 80, half hidden by barren hackberry trees, corn fields and pastures of Black Angus cattle, but a driver can spy the plants hulking industrial buildings pumping steam.

The plant opened in 1990 and was bought by Tyson 11 years later, attracting thousands of workers and nearly doubling the towns population within a decade.

Many came from Los Angeles, then stricken by recession, including Lizeth Yanes, who initially hated what she called a little ghost town.

But soon Lexington flourished, with suburbs sprouting among bur oak and American elm trees. The downtown, a strip of cobblestone streets and brick buildings, has a Somali grocer that abuts a Hispanic bakery; locals attend over a dozen churches and several city recreation centers.

To this day, the plant creates the towns rhythm as workers roll on and off the daily A, B and C shifts and fill restaurants, school pickup lines and the one-screen movie theater showing Polar Express.

It took a long time for me to actually enjoy this little place, said Yanes. Now that I enjoy it, now I have to leave.

The atmosphere inside the Tyson plant, where workers process as many as 5,000 head of cattle a day, laboring on slaughter floors, cleaning crews or trimming cuts of meat, feels like a funeral, she said.

Tyson was our motherland, said plant worker Arab Adan. The Kenyan immigrant sat in his car with his two energetic sons, who asked him a question he has no answer to: Which state are we gonna go, daddy?

The only thing Adan is set on is that his kids finish the school year in Lexington, where school officials say nearly half of students have a parent working for Tyson.

The school district, where at least 20 languages and dialects are spoken, has higher high school graduation and college attendance rates than the state and national average, and one of Nebraskas biggest marching bands. Residents are proud of the diversity and the tight-knit community, where young people return to raise families.

Tyson Foods employees wait for help at an informational meeting held by the Nebraska Department of Labor in Lexington, Neb., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) AP

During Mass at St. Anns, parishioners gave the cash in their pockets to a fund for families in financial need, despite knowing theyll be out of work next month. Afterward, Francisco Antonio ran through his future employment options with a sad smile.

After the plant closes on Jan. 20, the 52-year-old father of four said hell stay a few months in Lexington and look for work, though now theres no future. He took off his glasses, paused, apologized and tried to explain his emotions.

Its home mostly, not the job, he said, replacing his glasses with an embarrassed smile.

We need another opportunity, job, here in Lex, he said. Otherwise, Lex is gonna disappear.

Tyson owes this community

The domino effect could go something like this: If 1,000 families skip town, said economist Hicks  who wouldnt be surprised if it were double that  seats would be left empty in schools, leading to teacher layoffs; there would be far fewer customers in restaurants, shops and other businesses.

Most of the customers at Los Jalapenos, a Mexican restaurant down the street from the plant, are Tyson workers. They fill booths after work and are greeted by owner Armando Martinezs mustachioed grin and bellow of Hola, amigo!

Martinezs grandson once told his grandfather that when he grows up he wants to work at Tyson. The childs fifth-grade sister recently gathered with classmates to talk about the changes happening with their parents. Some were headed to California, others to Kansas. All were in tears.

If he cant keep up with bills, the restaurant will close, but theres just nowhere we can go, said Martinez, who undergoes dialysis for diabetes, has an amputated foot and prays for a miracle: that Tyson will change its mind.

He knows its unlikely. Asked by The Associated Press for comment about plans for the site, Tyson said in a statement that it is currently assessing how we can repurpose the facility within our own production network. It did not provide details or say whether it plans to offer support to the community through the plant closure.

Many, including City Manager Joe Pepplitsch, are hoping Tyson puts the plant up for sale, and a new company comes in bringing jobs. That isnt a quick fix, requiring time, negotiations, renovations and no guarantee of comparable jobs.

Tyson Foods employee Lizeth Yanes cries during an interview in Lexington, Neb., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) AP

Tyson owes this community a debt. I think they have a responsibility here to help ease some of the impact, he said, noting Tyson doesnt pay city taxes due to a deal negotiated decades ago.

Its not easy, at our age, to go back and start over

Near the plant, at the Dawson County Fairgrounds, Tyson workers recently filled a long hall as state agencies  responding with the urgency of a natural disaster  offered information on retraining, writing a resume, filing for unemployment and avoiding scammers when selling homes.

Attendees faces were subdued, like listening to a doctors prognosis. Your financial health is going to change, they were told. Dont ignore the bank, they will not go away.

Many of the older workers dont speak English, havent graduated high school, and arent computer savvy. The last application some filled out was decades ago.

We know only working in meat for Tyson, we dont have any other experience, said Adan, the Kenyan immigrant.

Back at St. Anns, workers echoed that concern.

They only want young people now, said Juventino Castro, whos worked at Tyson for a quarter-century. I dont know whats going to happen in the time I have left.

Lupe Ceja said shes saved a little money, but it wont last long. Luz Alvidrez has a cleaning gig that will sustain her for a while. Others might return to Mexico for a time. Nobody has a clear plan.

It wont be easy, said Fernando Sanchez, a Tyson worker for 35 years who sat with his wife. We started here from scratch, and its time to start from scratch again.

Tears rolled down his wifes cheeks, and he squeezed her hand.
By HALLIE GOLDEN and MEGAN JANETSKY, Associated Press

A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient and seven others crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least five people and setting off a search in waters along the Texas coast, officials said.

Four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child, Mexicos Navy said in a statement to The Associated Press. Two of the passengers were from a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children with severe burns, including transports to a Galveston hospital.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker said at least five aboard had died but did not identify which passengers.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Mexicos Marines said in a statement that it is sending its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.

The crash took place Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay near the base of the causeway that connects Galveston Island to the mainland. Emergency responders and search teams rushed to the scene near the popular beach destination along the Texas coast that is about 50 miles southeast of Houston.

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives about a mile from the crash site, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help. He said he picked up two police officers who directed him through thick fog to a nearly completely submerged plane. Decker jumped in the water and found a badly injured woman trapped beneath chairs and other debris.

In this image provided by Sky Decker Jr., authorities and volunteers respond to a Mexican Navy plane crash near Galveston, Texas, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Sky Decker Jr. via AP) AP

I couldnt believe. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in, he said. And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life.

He said he also pulled out a man sitting in front of her who had already died. He described both of them as dressed in civilian clothes.

Mexicos Navy said the plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which provides emergency transports to children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Childrens hospital in Galveston, according to the nonprofits website.

The statement from Mexicos Navy said the plane had an accident during its approach to Galveston but did not elaborate.

Emergency personnel rush a victim of a small plane crash to an awaiting ambulance, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, near the Galveston causeway, near Galveston, Texas. (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP) AP

Galveston Police officers watch the water on Galveston Bay west of the Galveston causeway, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, near Galveston, Texas, as emergency personnel search for a small airplane that went down in the bay in heavy fog. (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP) AP

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the scene of the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on the social platform X.

Its not immediately clear if weather was a factor. The area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that at about 2:30 p.m. Monday a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility.

Eight people died after a medical transport plane crashed in February in Philadelphia  all six on the plane, including a child whod received medical care, and two on the ground.
By Ben Wieder, Shirsho Dasgupta, Claire Healy and Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald (TNS)

The top Democrat in the Senate threatened legal action against the Trump administration Monday over its slow and incomplete rollout of the so-called Epstein files. The Department of Justice has so far failed to release any additional new documents from its investigation into the deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York introduced a resolution Monday that would direct the Senate to initiate legal action against the Trump administration for illegally refusing to release the complete Epstein files and heavily redacting the files that are released.

A group of Epsteins victims also issued a letter Monday criticizing the Justice Department for failing to disclose more documents and for failing to redact the names of victims in some files while releasing others riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation.

The law allows the department to withhold the release of documents that would impede active investigations and to redact material to protect the identity of victims.

The department was required to release all of its files by last Friday, according to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that was signed into law by President Donald Trump in November.

Epsteins victims  believed by DOJ to number roughly 1,000 women  have long sought more accountability for Epsteins powerful friends and accomplices and greater transparency from a department that kept them in the dark about a sweetheart deal Epstein negotiated in 2007 that allowed him to escape harsh punishment for sexually abusing girls in South Florida.

This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP) AP

The departments initial release of files Friday  which consisted largely of photographs and heavily redacted documents  did little to satisfy victims, or the members of Congress who mandated that the files be released.

After its initial release Friday, the department subsequently removed some of the files, including a photograph that showed photos of both Trump and former President Bill Clinton from one of Epsteins homes.

That photo, and several others, were subsequently put back online.

The department defended its removal of the photos in a fact sheet posted on X, saying that it has received incoming from individuals alleging to be victims and their lawyers, requesting that certain information be removed.

The files released Friday contained numerous photographs of Clinton, many from a trip to Africa that Clinton and Epstein took on Epsteins plane in 2002.

On Monday, a spokesman for Clinton called for the Justice Department to release all the files it has containing Clinton and said the release of the files so far suggests that someone or something is being protected.

There were, however, some revelations from the material.

The files showed, for example, that Epsteins homes were littered with photos of naked females, many of them clearly girls, as well as the sex toys and outfits that victims have long accused Epstein of forcing them to use.

And they included an FBI form from 1996 showing that a woman  Epstein victim Maria Farmer  had complained that Epstein had stolen naked pictures of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters that she had taken as part of her artistic work, confirming that Epsteins sex crimes were on the FBIs radar for a decade before the FBI investigated his alleged crimes in South Florida.

The department also later released files from grand jury investigations into Epstein in South Florida in 2007 and New York in 2019; and into his ex-girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2020.

As the Miami Herald documented in its 2018 Perversion of Justice investigation, Epstein reached a remarkably lenient deal with federal prosecutors in South Florida in 2007 that allowed him to plead guilty to two state prostitution charges, one involving a minor, and serve 13 months in the Palm Beach County Jail, where he was allowed to leave regularly to work from a nearby office space in which he continued to abuse girls.

The newly released files showed that two FBI agents and one of Epsteins victims testified before a grand jury in West Palm Beach in 2007, but Epstein was never indicted.

Also included in the files was the transcript of a 2019 DOJ interview with Alex Acosta, who was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida who signed off on the plea deal reached with Epstein.

The DOJ investigators scrutinized Acostas decision in approving the deal and asked about missing binders of evidence and 11 months worth of missing e-mails from his account during the timeframe in which the deal was negotiated.

Epstein was charged again by the Southern District of New York in July 2019 and died in federal custody one month later in what has been ruled a suicide.

Maxwell was charged a year later for her role in recruiting and grooming girls for Epsteins abuse and convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence, but is reportedly seeking a pardon.
By Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

A Walt Disney World vacation could soon come with a new U.S.government mandate for the theme park-loving British and tourists from dozens of other countries: Hand over five years of social media history.

For President Donald Trump, the proposed policy is about protecting Americas borders and enhancing security. But the travel industry worries stricter entry rules could deter well-heeled international visitors from destinations like Orlando, one of the worlds top tourism hotspots.

Though Florida is reporting record tourism, Canadian visitation dropped sharply in the wake of Trumps tariffs and threats to annex the country as the 51st state.

Now, some in the travel industry fear the proposed social media mandate, announced this month, could further damage international visitation to the United States.

David Marriottrecently visited Orlando from the U.K., calling it a trip of a lifetime for his three children. The family spent two weeks experiencing Central Floridas theme parks and coastline.

Marriott wants to return to the United States, but the social media policy gives him pause. He worries posts criticizing Trumps handling of the pandemic or the Jan. 6 Capitol riots could lead to travel authorization being denied.

Watching America under Trump, it feels like you cant have an opinion different to his, he said. So, yes, I would probably keep away from expressing any opinions.

The idea that visitors should stifle their speech bothers some, and others fear the mandate could spur other countries to impose similar rules for U.S.tourists.

The Trump administration hasnt detailed exactly how the proposed social media screening would work or what content could disqualify someone from entering the United States.

The proposal, under a 60-day review, would expand the information that must be provided by tourists from visa-waiver countries, mostly in Europe, when completing their Electronic Systemfor Travel Authorization form, or ESTA. The 42 countries on the visa-waiver list cover some of Americas closest allies, including Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Japanand the U.K.

Travelers would need to list social media accounts used within the past five years on their ESTA form, which is needed to visit for up to 90 days. That request previously was voluntary for tourists from countries in the visa-waiver program. The agency also intends to add new data fields, such as email addresses used within the past 10 years, addresses and phone numbers of immediate family members, and biometrics, such as a face or iris scan, fingerprints or DNA.

In online forums frequented by British theme park fans, the proposed changes have been greeted with everything from acceptance to anger. Some have labeled it dystopian, while others have said they see no problem with submitting their social media handles.

Debbie Churchill, who lives in the U.K., has been a regular visitor to Central Florida since the early 1990s. She joked that she pities the bot handling the assignment of reviewing the mundane snapshots of her life on Facebook and Instagram.

I cant say Im thrilled by the idea of being required to hand over the keys to my online presence.  I object on the grounds of privacy and security, Churchill said. What really bothers me, though, is the potential for stifling free speech.

But Churchill said not traveling to Florida would be cutting off ones proverbial nose, given her deep affection for the U.S.

Trump has brushed aside criticism that scrutinizing social media could hurt tourism.

We want safety, he told reporters. We want security. We want to make sure were not letting the wrong people into our country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not answer questions from the Orlando Sentinel on what exactly the new policy would entail.

This is not a final rule; it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe, an agency spokesperson said.

The travel industry worries stricter entry rules could deter well-heeled international visitors from destinations like Orlando, one of the worlds top tourism hotspots. Getty Images

The policy is in line with Trumps Jan. 20th executive order that seeks to protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats, officials said.

Central Florida U.S. Rep. Darren Soto said Trumps social media screening wouldnt make Americans safer but would harm the regions economy.

It could cost thousands of Central Florida jobs at a time when local families are already struggling, said Soto, a Democrat who represents Kissimmee and other areas near Walt Disney World.

The U.S. Travel Association issued a statement that the social media rules could have a chilling effect on visitation to the United States.

If we get this policy wrong, millions of travelers could take their business and the billions of dollars they spend elsewhere, only making America weaker, the group warned.

A new $250 visa integrity fee, which may be refundable, has also sparked concerns from the travel industry. That fee, which has not been implemented, would apply to many travelers requiring tourist visas, including visitors from Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

International tourists comprised just under 10% of Orlandos 75 million visitors in 2024, but they make an outsized contribution to the regions economy, tourism officials say.

They stay longer, spend more money, said Casandra Matej, CEO and president of Visit Orlando. It is very important. When I think of a healthy and successful travel destination, it is truly a puzzle, and international travel plays a significant role in that.

About a quarter of Visit Orlandos marketing budget is targeted toward international markets, including Canada, the U.K., Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

Canada, the U.K. and Brazil are the biggest sources of Orlandos international visitors.

The states most recent estimates for the second quarter of 2025 showed an 11.4% increase in overseas travelers compared with the same period in 2024. Canadian visitation, though, saw a 20% drop.

Arrivals to Central Florida airports through September of this year were down for Canadian travelers but up year-over-year for Brazil, Colombia and the U.K., according to data collected by Visit Orlando.

The research firm Tourism Economics forecasts international visitation to Orlando could dip 5% in 2025, driven by the decline in Canadian travelers, but recover by the end of 2026.

Trumps tariffs and annexation threats angered many Canadians, the top source of international visitors to Orlando with nearly 1.3 million travelers in 2024. Canadas weaker dollar has also made travel to the United States more expensive.

Despite the uncertainty of new rules, Matej said shes optimistic that international visitors will continue coming to Orlando.

For Orlando and Central Florida, weve got a great reputation around the world, Matej said. Weve got trusted brands here that have great reputations. I think we are still set up for success.

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Rebecca Kheel, CQ-Roll Call (TNS)

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is naming a new class of ships after himself as part of his so-called Golden Fleetvision for revamping the Navy.

In a speech at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, Trump said the Navy will build two ships in a new class of what he described as battleships that he is calling the Trump class.

Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world ever built, Trump said, while flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelanand Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Its 100 times more powerful than the previous Iowaclass.

Trumps reference to the new class as battleships is in line with the fascination with heavy-armored 20th-century vessels he expressed at his September speech to a room full of top military officers. But the new ships will actually be an upgraded version of the Navys Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

While Trump said the new class will start with the two ships, he added that the plan is to eventually build at least 10 ships and up to 20 or 25 ships. Among other capabilities, the ships will be able to carry the in-development sea-launched nuclear cruise missile, he said.

Trump also said hell be personally involved with the design of the ship since he is a very aesthetic person, adding the ships will be made out of very powerful steel rather than aluminum, as is standard in shipbuilding nowadays.

It was not immediately clear where the funding for the new ships was coming from. A Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the funding source.

This summers GOP budget reconciliation package provided $5.4 billion for the construction of two additional guided-missile destroyers, which might be enough at least to foot a portion of the bill.

Asked about how the administration will ensure sufficient workforces at shipyards to build the new ships, Trump told reporters that were going to have robots helping build the ships, but quickly added that humans building the ships will be well-paid.

The Trump-class ships are the latest program the president is affixing his name to, such as last weeks decision by his hand-picked board to call the Kennedy Center the Trump-Kennedy.

The first ship in the new class will be called USS Defiant, according to Mondays announcement, even though the lead ship in a class typically carries the name of the class.

The ship class also breaks the Navys naming convention of reserving presidents names for aircraft carriers.

Mondays announcement comes days after the Navy announced that it will also commission a new class of frigates for the Golden Fleet. The frigates will be based on the Coast Guards Legend-class National Security Cutter and are meant to replace the Navys canceled Constellation-class frigate.

2025 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A former Highspire man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in one of the Harrisburg areas largest marijuana rings.

Federal prosecutors said William Kuduk, 38, received the lengthy term for selling out of a now-defunct used car dealership on Paxton Street.

The indictment alleges that from October 2018 until May 2020, Kuduk and his co-defendants operated a marijuana smuggling operation out of Fast Lane Auto Sales located at 2810 Paxton St. in Harrisburg.

According to the indictment, the defendants in the so-called Fast Lane Group had hundreds of parcels of marijuana sent from a California source during that time.

Kuduk is accused of selling more than 2,200 pounds of pot and a lesser amount of cocaine through the used car dealership.

Kuduk and his co-defendants then mailed cash back to the source.

Through the scheme, its alleged the ring brought more than 9,000 pounds of marijuana to the Harrisburg area before arrests broke it up.

There were also flashes of violence.

In 2019, federal prosecutors said, the Fast Lane Group came to believe that a postal employee was stealing their marijuana.

To stop the suspected thief  whom they identified using GPS tracking devices in the packages and placed on cars  the crew hired gunmen who shot at a car in Harrisburg, at a home in Susquehanna Township, and at a home in Steelton.

They also robbed and assaulted the postal employee at gunpoint in Highspire.

As a result, in imposing a sentence on Friday, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Wilson found Kuduk engaged in dangerous and violent conduct that endangered the community.

The 20-year term was the maximum allowed in Kuduks negotiated plea agreement, which established a sentence range of 150 months to 240 months.

Wilson also gave Kuduk a concurrent 10-year term for fraud, after he pleaded guilty to filing false claims for pandemic unemployment benefits while on bail awaiting trial in the drug trafficking case.

PennLives attempts to reach Kuduks lawyers for this report were not successful.

But in a sentencing memorandum filed earlier this year, they noted Kuduk is a father of two teenagers who also helps care for his mother.

The lawyers asked Wilson to cap Kuduks sentence at 12-and-a-half years, the minimum set by his plea agreement.

Kuduk, who eventually pleaded guilty in the drug case, was the last of the Fast Lane Group to be sentenced.

Christopher Texidor, a co-owner of the Fast Lane dealership, was sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison after his 2024 jury trial conviction.

Four other co-defendants who also pleaded guilty received sentences ranging from 13 years to five years and three months.

A seventh man, Jamie Valenzuela, pleaded guilty to being the California source, and he received a term of four years and nine months.

The cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Susquehanna Township Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio was the lead prosecutor.
A major data center proposed about five miles northeast of Carlisle took another small, albeit significant step forward Monday.

Middlesex Township planning commission members voted to recommend the approval of plans creating internal lot lines for the project, now known as Pennsylvania Digital 1.

Those lines would split the 693-acre tract into three, six-building data center campuses, and a lot hosting an electrical substation and transformers needed to power them up.

The fifth lot, 61 acres sitting across Country Club Road from the rest of the property, will be open space in the short term but could eventually be developed for water storage tanks and related uses.

The plan also maps out an internal road providing access to each of the data center campuses.

The planning commissions recommendation is only advisory; approval of the subdivision plan would come from Middlesexs elected supervisors.

That could be on that boards Jan. 5 agenda.

Environmental impacts, noise and other aspects of the plan that have drawn many questions  and some significant concerns from a dedicated group of area residents  will be examined more fully during review of land development plans.

The subdivision plans are a necessary step, however, because they define the lots to be developed.

According to a timeline submitted to Middlesex by the development partnership, land development plans for the electrical infrastructure and the first of the data center campuses will be placed on the planning commissions agenda in January.

In a major development earlier this year, Middlesexs water authority has already committed to reserving up to 400,000 gallons of water per day for the data center, an amount engineers say is equal to the consumption from 2,367 dwelling units.

That request, which is effectively a daily cap, was arrived at after the authority ran an analysis that suggests it has unused capacity of 910,000 gallons per day during times of peak demand, at present.

Reserving 400,000 gallons, in theory, leaves more than 500,000 gallons available for other new development around the township, according to the authoritys analysis.

Those numbers, Middlesex Authority Chairman Peter Lusardi noted, dont include the planned construction of a second municipal well now under development.

Thats a project the authority has been working on since before the data center proposal emerged, he said, and it could be brought online later this decade.

Besides the water demands, PPL Electric Utilities has separately confirmed to the partners that, with some planned upgrades, it can meet the 1.35 gigawatt of peak energy demand.

About the project

Data centers  in laymans terms  are big computer server farms that provide key infrastructure for ever-growing information storage and sharing needs.

The Carlisle plan  highlighted this summer at a Pittsburgh economic summit showcasing Pennsylvanias ability to lead in the Information Age economy  is being pushed by a team of northern Virginia data center developers and local partners operating as Carlisle Development Partners LLC.

They have not yet identified an end user for the project.

Large residential developments, like The Meadows and Country Manor Mobile Home Park, sit across Conodoguinet Creek and on the other side of existing tree lines.

But all the proposed buildings, according to master plans shown so far, will be at least 1,000 feet away from the closest existing home.

Those conditions, the developers pitch materials state, make the Country Club Road site uniquely qualified ... for tucked-away, low-impact data center development.

Carlisle Development Partners acquired the site for $44 million earlier this year.

As customers of the public water system, the data center would become part of a network that draws water from a set of underground wells, none of which are in the immediate area of the proposed facility.

There would be no direct draws, according to current plans, from the Conodoguinet, which is a water source for some downstream municipalities, or the groundwater table at Country Club Road.

If potential pitfalls can be avoided, there is a lot for local officials to like about this project.

There will be piles of new property tax revenue  something badly needed by the deficit-ridden Cumberland Valley School District, and welcomed by the worried-about-deficits Cumberland County commissioners.

Developers have projected $65 million annually in new township, school and county taxes, though that figure has not been independently corroborated.

And then there is the possibility of several hundred new jobs.

Representatives of PowerHouse Data Centers, one of the partners in the Carlisle group, said this summer each building could employ 25 to 40 workers, depending on the final tenants and the technologies they deploy.

Thats a minimum of 450 jobs at full build-out, ranging from entry-level positions starting at $25 per hour to salaried engineering and management positions ranging from $70,000 to $120,000 per year.

Then there is the prestige and potential spin-off from bringing some top corporate flags into the region. The partnership has predicted its eventual tenant will come from the ranks of Big Tech giants such as Google, Amazon or Oracle.
Photo: Denys_Smyhal /t.me/Denys_Smyhal

One of the key priorities of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine remains a comprehensive update of the rehabilitation system for Ukrainian defenders, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

"We are developing a program for the infrastructure update of the hospital network. The need for financing the modernization of rehabilitation hospitals is about UAH 8 billion. In 2026, we plan to invest more than UAH 700 million from the state budget in the development of military hospitals. This involves completing already started projects, developing design documentation and launching new construction," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel.

At the same time, he emphasized, international partners are being actively involved in such projects. Thus, for over a year, the RENOVATOR project has been implemented within the framework of NATO's comprehensive assistance package, focused on five key institutions. Thanks to it, infrastructure renovation, the purchase of modern equipment and training of medical personnel are taking place. The project has already accumulated EUR 80 million (with a need of EUR 200 million).

The minister also had a conversation with the Special Representative of Canada for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Chrystia Freeland.

"We count on Canada's active participation in supporting projects aimed at the rehabilitation of servicemen. We call on international partners to join the "RENOVATOR" project or implement other initiatives to develop rehabilitation institutions. Together, we are forming a system that adequately supports the defenders of Ukraine," Shmyhal summed up.
Update: Explosion at a Pa. nursing home kills at least 2, with search for others underway

A Pennsylvania health and rehab center exploded, collapsed and caught fire this afternoon, according to police and other reports.

Upper Makefield Township police posted on social media that there is a mass casualty incident at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road in Bristol Township, Bucks County.

Philadelphia station 6abc reported there were people trapped inside the building following the explosion, blamed on a gas leak, and fire. It took place around 2:15 p.m., just as a utility crew had been inside looking for a gas leak, according to The Associated Press.

Musuline Watson, who said she was a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told WPVI-TV/ABC 6 that, over the weekend, she and others there smelled gas, but there was no heat in the room, so we didnt take it to be anything.

Bucks County emergency management officials reported that there were injuries, but had yet to say whether there were any fatalities.

Police Lt. Sean Cosgrove said he didnt know if anyone was missing, and that residents had been evacuated by emergency responders, bystanders and staff.

A lot of the details at this point are still unknown, he told reporters at the scene.

Residents had been evacuated by emergency responders, bystanders and staff, he said.

Rescuers have been called in from neighboring Montgomery County, the city of Philadelphia and New Jersey, 6abc reported.

LevittownNow reported that several staffers and patients were trapped, and family and friends showed up at the scene in tears as crews searched for the missing.

First responders and police officers were seen using any available stretchers and to pull victims from the debris, LevittownNow wrote.

The building is next to Lower Bucks Hospital.

We understand that there are people trapped inside, said Ruth Miller, a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, per the Associated Press.

State Rep. Tina Davis, whose district includes the center, told the AP that she got near the scene in her car but did not want to interfere.

I saw smoke, and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over, Davis said.

Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, press secretary at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, said investigators from the safety division were headed to the scene, according to the AP.

Hagen-Frederiksen said first responders and emergency management officials were describing it as a gas explosion. But he noted that the cause cant be confirmed until his agency can examine the scene.

Its owner, Saber Healthcare Group, said it was working with local emergency authorities. The facility had been known until recently as Silver Lake Healthcare Center.

Jim Morgan, president of the Bristol Township School Board, said district buses would be taking people from the emergency scene at the nursing home to a reunification center at Truman High School, according to the AP.

He said officials were working on setting up beds and providing water and other needs to residents. As of 4 p.m., no one had shown up at the school, Morgan said.

First responders gather at the scene of an explosion at Silver Lake Healthcare Center in Bristol Township, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa) AP

The health and rehab center is located about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia.

According to Medicare.gov, the 174-bed facility underwent a standard fire safety inspection in September 2024, during which no citations were issued. But Medicares overall rating of the facility is listed as much below average, with poor ratings for health inspections in particular, the AP reported.

This is a breaking news story that will continue to be updated as more information becomes known.

Associated Press writer Marc Levy contributed to this report from Harrisburg.
By Robert Moran, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

A man in his 60s was killed Monday afternoon when he became stuck in a wood chipper in Bucks County, police said.

Emergency responders were dispatched just after 4:40 p.m. to Valley View Drive in Lower Southampton Township for an industrial rescue, said Police Chief Ted Krimmel.

The man, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time, Krimmel said.

Krimmel referred questions about the incident to the Bucks County Coroners Office, which could not be reached for comment Monday night.
By LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

State Rep. Bryan Cutler, a one-time speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and a 20-year veteran lawmaker representing the southern half of Lancaster County, on Monday told party officials he wont run for reelection next year.

In a note to county Republican committee members, Cutler wrote, After much prayer and discussions with my family, I have decided to not seek endorsement or reelection for the Representative of the 100th House District.

He also confirmed his decision in a phone call with an LNP  LancasterOnline reporter.

Cutler was unanimously elected House speaker in mid-2020 upon the resignation of his predecessor, Mike Turzai, from the Legislature. He led the chamber through the 2022 election, when Democrats managed to win a one-seat majority.

Lancaster County Republican Committee Chair Kirk Radanovic said he could not comment until 5 p.m. Monday, when the committee will publish an official press release on Cutlers decision. Cutler announced his decision just a few hours before the Republican Committee of Lancaster Countys deadline for candidates to seek the partys endorsement for the 100th District race.

Scott Frantz, Solanco GOP area chair, said Cutler leaves behind big shoes to fill after two decades in the state House.

Hes been very influential for the folks in the 100th district for getting projects done and improving quality of life in southern Lancaster County, Frantz said. In that regard, he will be sorely missed.

Frantz said whoever takes over for Cutler should be someone who wants to represent everybody in the district and will work hard to solve local issues.

Cutlers announcement comes after he resigned as House GOP leader last year, following the partys failure to retake a majority in the 2024 election. He was replaced by Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County.

Cutler, 50, lives in Drumore Townshipwith his wife, Jennifer. The couple has three children  Cheyanne, Caleb and Drew.

Beginnings

Cutlers rise to power began in 2006, when the fresh-faced Widener Law School graduate from Peach Bottom was one of three upstarts that year to defeat incumbent Republicans in Lancaster County. The 31-year-old harnessed populist anger against lawmakers for their role in the midnight pay raise legislative scandal the year prior.

Another wave of populist anger would weaken him years later, ultimately leading Cutler away from the heights of legislative power in Pennsylvania.

He won over GOP primary voters in his first election with a message of legislative reform and his backstory as a young man in the district who helped care for two parents with ALS as a teenager. He and his sister took turns caring for their parents and going to school, one letter writer to the editor put it in 2006.

In the Legislature, Cutler often found influence for policy proposals from his previous work as an X-ray technologist. He went on to study health care management at Lebanon Valley College, and he works as a health care attorney at Nikolaus and Hohenadel.

Cutler rose quickly through the ranks of House Republicans. After becoming majority whip in 2015, he leapt to majority leader in 2019. When he won the speakers gavel in 2020  at just 45 years old  he was the youngest in nearly three decades to hold the post. And he was the first speaker from Lancaster County since 1930.

Cutler spoke emotionally about his taking over of the speakership while presenting his portrait at the speakers rostrum in January.

If you need any proof that the American Dream is still alive, Id simply point to the fact that I had the privilege and the opportunity to stand here  a poor but fortunate boy from Peach Bottom, southern Lancaster County, who became speaker of the House," Cutler told the audience in the House chamber.

Shifting grounds

Cutlers political fortunes appeared to change in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, when activists more loyal to former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement pressured Cutler to use his authority as House speaker to flip Pennsylvaniaselectoral votes to Trump.

Three times in the weeks ahead of Jan. 6, 2021, dozens of pro-Trump protestors gathered outside Cutlers home in Peach Bottom and his district office in Quarryville, demanding that he do more to help reverse the election results.

Cutler also received calls from Trump lawyers and was invited to the White House to meet with the president. He later told the House January 6 Committee that he had told the former president he did not have the power to stop Pennsylvanias electoral votes from being awarded to Joe Biden.

Conservative discontent toward Cutler worsened when Trump blamed his loss in Pennsylvania on baseless claims of mass voter fraud, which the former president said was caused in part by the states newly enacted mail-in ballot policy  established by Act 77 of 2019.

Republican leaders, including Cutler, led the efforts to pass that law, which was widely thought to be a blow to Democratsbecause it did away with straight-ticket voting.

Cutler and other Republicans who voted for Act 77 have argued that the courts manipulated the intent of the law to include election provisions they didnt support, like ballot drop boxes.

Discontent over the law and the 2020 loss fueled a 2022 primary challenge to Cutler by Quarryvilleresident Anne Weston. Several conservative groups, like FreePA, supported Westons campaign, and though she lost overwhelmingly, the groups continued their efforts to disrupt Cutlers political career.

The Democratic Partys 2022 victories in legislative races gave them the Pennsylvania Housefor the first time since 2010, and with that change went Cutlers ability to steer the policy focus in Harrisburg.

Cutler drew ire from a new activist wing of the GOP when he tried to block Democrats in 2023 from asserting full control over the Pennsylvania House. With just a one-seat difference between the parties, Cutler worked to install Berks County Democrat Mark Rozzi as an independent House speaker. If the plan had worked, it would have left Republicans in charge of the daily proceedings of the House.

It backfired. Rozzi never left the Democratic Party, and he resigned from his speakership after Democrats were able to assert control over the House following two special elections.

Far-right activists refused to see Cutlers action as a strategic ploy that, had it worked, could have secured a one-seat GOP majority. Within weeks of the speaker vote in Jan. 2023, those groups organized a protest outside a Cutler town hall meeting in Strasburg Township at which the protesters called Cutler a traitor.

Couple the far-rights loathing of Cutler with a growing general discontent toward politicians who have been in office for a long time, and the stage was set for a primary challenge in 2024 from Dave Nissley, a Sadsbury Township business owner with close ties to the most pro-Trump voters in the county.

Though Nissley fell short of defeating Cutler, he has established name recognition and an energized base in the 100th District. His campaign also maintains an active social media presence. Those could give Nissley a leg up in the 2026 primary.

Nissley was among a list of candidates released by the county GOPon Monday seeking the partys endorsement in the 100th District primary. Also running are Todd Brown, a teacher at Solanco High School from East Drumore Township, and Kelly Osborne, a former Pennsylvania State Trooper from Strasburg Township.

 2025 LNP (Lancaster, Pa.). Visit lancasteronline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP)  Santa Anita is postponing the opening day of its 89th winter racing season by two days until Dec. 28 because of an expected significant rainstorm.

The meeting usually opens the day after Christmas.

Its the first time since 2019-20 that the historic track in Arcadia wont open on Dec. 26. That season it also opened two days later.

The forecast calls for an atmospheric river  a series of storms with deep plumes of moisture to hit Southern California Tuesday through Friday. The delay should allow turf races to remain on the turf course for Dec. 28.

With the amount of rain being forecast, its important to make this call as early as possible to give everyone advance notice, said Nate Newby, Santa Anitas general manager. Everyone looks forward to Opening Day as its traditionally one of our biggest days of the year, so its not a decision we make lightly.

The tracks first week will have racing on Dec. 28 and 29 before returning on Dec. 31 through Jan. 4.
An 86-year-old resident of Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk region was injured during a drone and artillery attack by the Russian occupiers on Tuesday, said the acting head of Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration Vladyslav Haivanenko.

"In Nikopol region, the district center, Pokrovsk, Marhanets, Myrova, Chervonohryhorivka communities were under enemy attack. The enemy hit with FPV drones and artillery. An 86-year-old woman was injured. She will be treated as an outpatient. An enterprise, a cafe, 16 private houses, 5 outbuildings, and a car were damaged," he wrote on Telegram.

The occupiers also carried out a drone strike on the Kryvy Rih district, where destruction was recorded at a gas station, Haivanenko reported.
Dpty Minister of Development Derkach to head delegation to committee on common aviation space with EU  decree

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formed a Ukrainian delegation to participate in the work of the Joint Committee established under the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and its Member States on a Common Aviation Space.

Corresponding decree No. 978/2025 of December 23 was published on the website of the head of state.

The four-person delegation was headed by Serhiy Derkach, the Deputy Minister of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, who has the right to make changes to the delegation's composition according to the decree.

The delegation included Hanna Mazur, Secretary of the Joint Committee and Chief Specialist of the Aviation Infrastructure and Transportation Sector of the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.

Serhiy Korshuk, the First Deputy Head of the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine, and Danylo Menshykov, the Deputy Head of the State Aviation Administration for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization, also joined the Ukrainian delegation.
Hands of the Week: Did a Day 1a Blast Off Help Matan Krakow Win EPT Prague?

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Frank Visser Live Reporter Copy link

The 2025 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague ran from Wednesday, December 3 through Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel Prague. PokerNews was on-site throughout, offering live updates from nearly a dozen events.

That included Yulian Bogdanov winning both the 1,650 PS Open Main Event and10,200 Mystery Bounty, Dominik Panka taking down the 3,250 EPT Mystery Bounty for 204,581, and Mahersh Selvakumaran winning the 10,300 EPT High Roller for 477,400.

During that time, our dedicated live reporters captured hundreds of hands, and we've compiled some of the biggest, best, and most entertaining ones from the 5,300 Main Event for our latest installment of 'Hands of the Week.' As it happened, all of these hands were captured by superstar reporter Frank Visser.

Grieco Blasts Off on Final Hand

Nicola Grieco

On Day 1a of the tournament, it was Level 10 (600/1,200/1,200) and the last hand of the night when Matan Krakow raised to 2,500 in middle position. Teemu Jaatinen flat-called in the hijack before Nicola Grieco squeezed in a three-bet to 14,300 from the big blind.

Krakow called, and Jaatinen followed suit after spending a couple of minutes in the tank. Grieco continued with a tiny bet of 5,000 on the Q75 flop.

When both opponents called, Grieco switched gears by jamming all in for 60,000 on the A turn. He stood up and walked around as Krakow was debating his options. Eventually, he rejammed, forcing a showdown as Jaatinen instantly mucked his hand.

Nicola Grieco: J9

Matan Krakow: A10

Grieco was already drawing dead against the top pair of Krakow. He could do nothing but helplessly look on as the meaningless 3 river completed the board.

The huge pot was shipped to Krakow, and Grieco was declared the final elimination of Day 1a. As for Krakow, he went on to win the entire tournament for 778,255.

Runner-Runner Makes It Funner

Antonio Sciacca

On Day 4 in Level 21 (10,000/15,000/15,000), Vasyl Pidhrusnyi opened to 30,000 under the gun, and Antonio Sciacca responded with a three-bet to 125,000 in the hijack. Pidhrusnyi clicked it back to 250,000, after which Sciacca moved all in for 745,000.

Pidhrusnyi snap-called with the covering stack, and the cards were tabled.

Antonio Sciacca: AK

Vasyl Pidhrusnyi: AA

Sciacca needed running outs to crack the aces of Pidhrusnyi after the 1054 flop.

A smile appeared on his face as the K turn gave him a glimmer of hope, and he could not believe his eyes as the K river made him trips to best Pidhrusnyi's aces and double up.

Gkatzas Folds King-High Flush, Gets Shown Inferior Hand

Dimitrios Gkatzas

Two levels later in Level 23 (10,000/25,000/25,000), Ding Fan raised his JJ to 50,000 on the button. Dimitrios Gkatzas flat-called KQ in the small blind, and Jeffrey Sarwer came along for the ride with K7 in the big blind.

The trio checked through the Q38 flop, prompting Sarwer to take the initiative with a bet of 75,000 on the J turn. Fan and Gkatzas both called to the 2 river, where the action checked to Fan again.

Fan wagered 200,000 with his top set, sending Gkatzas into the tank. Gkatzas spent a time bank before he concluded the third nuts was no good, and he sent his king-high flush into the muck.

Sarwer's air was quickly passed to the dealer as well. Fan smiled as he tabled his hand for the other players to see, causing an agonized look to form on Gkatzas' face.

O'Driscoll Finds Huge Double as Iaculli Back-Raise Jams

Conor O'Driscoll

In the next level, the blinds were 15,000/30,000/30,000 when Bora Kurtulus raised to 60,000 under the gun. Gianfranco Iaculli called in the small blind, prompting big blind Conor O'Driscoll to three-bet to 275,000.

Kurtulus folded 66, but Iaculli moved all in. O'Driscoll spent some time scouting the outer tables before he called off his stack of 1,305,000, worth over 40 big blinds.

Conor O'Driscoll: AK [allin]

Gianfranco Iaculli: KJ

O'Driscoll's ace-high remained best on the 7843Q runout, doubling him up and placing him among the leaders in the Main Event. Driscoll went on to finish the tournament in sixth place for 206,900.

Kurtulus's King-High Hero Call

Bora Kurtulus

In Level 29 (50,000/100,000/100,000) on Day 5 of the tournament, Bora Kurtulus opened his button to 200,000. Krakow was in the big blind and defended.

Kurtulus fired a quick continuation-bet of 100,000 on the 2109 flop, which Krakow check-called.

The 3 then checked through to the 3 river. Krakow slid in a bet of 450,000. Kurtulus weighed his options for about ten seconds before he assembled calling chips and slid them in the middle.

Krakow could only table queen-high with Q8. Kurtulus showed K7 for an amazing hero call with king-high, and he raked in the pot to increase his lead over the field. Kurtulus went on to finish the tournament in second place for 757,400 after a deal was worked three-handed.

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Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, host of both the PokerNews Podcast & MPST Podcast Presented By PokerNews, and 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner. Follow on
"KeepItSecret" Turns $55 Into $7,538 and 888poker Holiday Sale $100K Mystery Bounty Title

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

888poker's flagship weekly tournament, the $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event, usually commands a $109 buy-in, but, thanks to the Holiday Sale promotion, players only had to pay $55 to enter the fray.

The cut-price buy-in drew in a 1,894-strong crowd, which meant there was an overlay on the $100,000 guarantee, adding yet more value to those who did buy in. Day 1 reduced the field to the final table of eight, where "derandunn" led the way with 94 big blinds, and "jhonnei55" brought up the rear with only nine big blinds.

$100,000 Holiday Sale Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Bounties Chip Count Big Blinds 1 derandunn United Kingdom $225 7,488,774 94 2 KeepItSecret Montenegro $634 6,019,081 75 3 Polomatyj Montenegro $95 5,362,277 67 4 iBustYa888 $351 3,145,001 40 5 AndersAnd111 Denmark $594 2,454,221 31 6 pe_lu_ri Finland $267 2,057,529 26 7 Spangly1986 United Kingdom $409 1,160,243 15 8 jhonnei55 Brazil $576 722,874 9

The final table burst into life with a double elimination less than five minutes after the pitching of the first cards. "pe_lu_ri" min-raised from early position with pocket jacks, "jhonnei55" three-bet all-in with ace-queen for their last 6.5 big blinds, only for "AndersAnd111" to wake up in the big blind with pocket kings. They jammed, and "pe_lu_ri" called all-in, creating a 48 big blind pot. A king on the flop put "AndersAnd111" further ahead, with a second five on the turn improving them to an unbeatable full house.

Pocket kings sent another player to the rail soon after that double elimination. This time, the cowboys were in the hands of "KeepItSecret." They min-raised from the cutoff before calling "Spangly1986"'s 10.5 big blind shove, which they made with ace-jack from the big blind. A double-paired nine-high board kept the pocket kings in front, and the $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event was suddenly down to only five players.

Those five became four as the clock ticked around to the half-hour mark. The action folded to "derandunn" in the small blind, who made it 2.5 big blinds to play. "AndersAnd111" three-bet all-in for 15 big blinds, and was snapped off. "derandunn" flipped over ace-king, which was way ahead of the dominated king-four. Both players paired their kings, but the at-risk player couldn't find a four and busted after the river card landed.

888poker Kicks Off 2026 Live Tour in Madrid From January 11 Learn more

After losing half of the field within the first 30 minutes, commentators and Team 888 members Nick Eastwood and Josh Manley would have been forgiven for thinking they would be able to enjoy an early night. However, it took another two hours for the eventual champion to emerge.

"iBustYa888" crashed out just before the first scheduled break, committing their last nine big blinds with pocket eights and losing to the ace-jack of "Polomatyj" who had opened the betting. A jack on the turn improved the ace-jack to the best hand, with a queen on the river improving that hand to an unnecessary Broadway straight.

Three-handed play lasted around 25 minutes, ending with the elimination of "derandunn." "Polomatyj" open-shoved in the small blind with queen-six of hearts, and "derandunn" called off their eight big blinds with king-nine. A draw heavy board improved "derandunn" to a straight, but the river was a third heart, gifting "Polomatyj" to a flush.

That hand gave "Polomatyj" a 73.8 big blind to 39.9 big blind advantage over "KeepItSecret" going into the one-on-one battle. "KeepItSecret" drew level quite quickly into the heads-up clash, but there was still almost an hour to go before the final hand took place. The chip lead changed hands several times before something final gave.

The final hand of an epic heads-up match saw "KeepItSecret" min-raise with ace-king, "Polomatyj" move all-in for 13.5 big blinds with ace-jack, and "KeepItSecret" instantly call. The ace-king remained best on all three streets, improving to a flush on the river, to bring the curtain down on the Holiday Sale edition of the $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event.

$100,000 Holiday Sale Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 KeeptSecret Montenegro $1,018 $6,520 $7,538 2 Polomatyj Montenegro $1,034 $4,730 $5,764 3 derandunn United Kingdom $267 $3,425 $3,692 4 iBustYa888 $351 $2,500 $2,851 5 AndersAnd111 Denmark $936 $1,840 $2,776 6 Spangly1986 United Kingdom $409 $1,350 $1,759 7 pe_lu_ri Finland $267 $1,000 $1,267 8 jhonnei55 Brazil $576 $800 $1,376

The next $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event, the last one of 2025, kicks off on December 28 at 6:00 p.m. GMT. Satellites for this tournament are running around the clock, giving you the chance to turn a freeroll entry into a shot at a six-figure prize pool.

Full 888poker Holiday Sale Results

The Holiday Sale promotion was a roaring success, with only five of the 19 cut-price tournaments missing their guarantees. With how popular the half-price events were, 888poker running a similar promotion soon is highly probable.

Aside from the $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event, Team 888's Aaron "abarone68" Barone was the single biggest winner, courtesy of taking down the $265 Big Shot 525 for $6,896.

A special mention must go to "SpokenMagic" who captured two titles. They won the $55 PKO Rumble for $1,938, then the $27.50 PKO Rumble for an additional $1,635.

Event Entrants Prize Pool Champion Prize $55 Mystery Bounty Main Event 1,894 $100,000 KeepItSecret $7,538 $265 Big Shot 525 138 $34,224 Aaron "abarone68" Barone $6,896 $160 PKO Rumble 320 87 $12,876 Why_a_King $4,021 $160 Big Shot 320 104 $15,392 IownU888 $3,647 $109 Big Shot 215 104 $10,400 79maravilla $2,464 $55 PKO Rumble 109 226 $11,300 HuBrabo $2,311 $27.50 Mystery Bounty 55 1,094 $27,275 madscientis7 $2,304 $27.50 PKO Rumble 55 451 $11,275 AK_borat $2,264 $27.50 PKO Rumble 55 435 $10,875 money4ny $1,944 $55 PKO Rumble 109 190 $10,000 SpokenMagic $1,938 $27.50 PKO Rumble 55 398 $10,000 SpokenMagic $1,635 $11 MB Big or Small 22 1,022 $10,220 JTaylor999 $1,195 $16.50 PKO Rumble 33 403 $6,045 MrPerfect91 $1,187 $11 MB Big or Small 22 911 $10,000 Just.Me.No.1 $1,175 $16.50 PKO Rumble 33 345 $5,175 Graviton86 $1,148 $11 MB Big or Small 22 1,042 $10,420 PauloRK06 $948 $11 MB Big or Small 22 1,032 $10,320 ps20061988 $809

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Will the WSOP Circuit Marrakech Main Event Break Attendance Records Again?

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

One of the first international legs of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit is almost upon us, with the tour heading to the Casino de Marrakech in Morocco between January 16-25. Twelve WSOPC ring-awarding events are on the busy schedule, complemented by several side events.

In January 2025, the WSOPC Marrakech Main Event's attendance was record-breaking. By the time late registration slammed shut on the tournament's final flight, some 1,523 entries had been processed and a 19,421,500 MAD ($1,943,001) prize pool created.

Seasoned grinders, including Maria Lampropulos, Sonny Franco, Leo Worthington-Leese, Mehdi Chaoui, Guillaume Darcourt, Dinesh Alt, and Paul Tedeschi, cashed in the WSOPC Marrakech Main Event, but the tournament belonged to Hong Kong's Justin Tsui. The champion padded his bankroll with the equivalent of $270,118, a career-best score.

PokerNews' live reporting team was on the ground through this year's WSOPC Marrakech Main Event, and will be on hand for the 2026 edition from January 22. With the WSOP in Las Vegas seeing several record-breaking fields, there's every chance that the WSOPC Marrakech Main Event will continue the trend and surpass this year's record.

2026 WSOPC Marrakech Full Schedule

Casino de Marrakech

The 2026 WSOPC Marrakech festival begins on the afternoon of January 16 with the first of three flights in the WSOPC Opener. The 2025 edition of this WSOPC ring-awarding event drew in 904 entrants. Andrew Hawkins outlasted them all and returned home with $48,483.

In addition to the WSOPC Opener, players from far and wide will battle it out at the luxurious Casino de Marrakech in the WSOPC High Roller, the WSOPC Super High Roller, the WSOPC Mini Main Event, and more.

On January 21, two tournaments are kicking off simultaneously, each with a unique twist. The WSOPC Veterans is open only to players aged 50 or older, while the WSOP Young Blood is open only to players under 50. The champions from both events will face off on January 22 in the WSOP Generational Clash to decide which age group reigns supreme in Morocco.

Of course, the festival's flagship tournament is the WSOPC Marrakech Main Event. Commanding an MAD 16,000 ($1,700) buy-in, the Main Event has a trio of starting flights. Day 1a starts on January 22, with Day 1b and the turbo-structured Day 1c scheduled to shuffle up and deal on January 23. The second day's action runs throughout January 24, with the final day and the crowning of the champion taking place on January 25, as the curtain comes down on the 2026 WSOPC Marrakech festivities.

WSOPC Marrakech Main Event Updates Live updates From Jan. 22

Date Time Event Buy-in (MAD) Buy-in (USD) Fri 16 Jan 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Opener Day 1a 4,500 $500 9:00 p.m. Satellite Last Chance Opener 700 $75 Sat 17 Jan 2:00 p.m. WSOPC Opener Day 1b 4,500 $500 6:00 p.m. Flip & Go to Day 1c of WSOPC Opener 600 $65 9:00 p.m. WSOPC Opener Day 1c Turbo 4,500 $500 Sun 18 Jan 2:00 p.m. WSOPC NLHE 8-Handed 5,000 $550 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Opener Day 2 6:00 p.m. NL Hold'em KO 2,500 $270 9:00 p.m. Satellite WSOPC High Roller 3,300 $350 Mon 19 Jan 12:00 p.m. WSOPC Mini Main Day 1a 7,000 $750 5:00 p.m. Satellite for 10,000 MAD 1,500 $160 9:00 p.m. WSOPC Mini Main Day 1b Turbo 7,000 $750 Tue 20 Jan 1:00 p.m. WSOPC Mini Main Day 2 2:00 p.m. Turbo Satellite to WSOPC High Roller 3,500 $380 3:00 p.m. WSOPC High Roller 25,000 $2,700 5:00 p.m. Satellite to WSOPC Main Event 2,000 $210 9:00 p.m. NL Hold'em KO 2,500 $270 Wed 21 Jan 1:00 p.m. WSOPC Veteran 6,500 $700 1:00 p.m. WSOPC Young Blood 6,500 $700 2:00 p.m. WSOPC High Roller Day 2 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Pot Limit Omaha 6,000 $650 4:00 p.m. WSOPC Ladies Event 5,000 $540 5:00 p.m. Satellite to WSOPC Main Event 1,800 $190 9:00 p.m. Classic DeepStack 2,500 $270 Thu 22 Jan 12:00 p.m. Turbo Satellite to WSOPC Main Event 2,000 $210 12:00 p.m. WSOPC Main Event Day 1a 16,000 $1,700 2:00 p.m. WSOPC Generational Clash 3:00 p.m. WSOPC High Roller Final Table 6:00 p.m. Progressive KO 2,300 $250 9:00 p.m. Satellite Last Chance to WSOPC Main Event 2,000 $210 Fri 23 Jan 12:00 p.m. WSOPC Main Event Day 1b 16,000 $1,700 4:00 p.m. WSOPC NLHE Freezeout 5,000 $540 9:00 p.m. WSOPC Main Event Day 1c Turbo 16,000 $1,700 9:30 p.m. Mystery Bounty 3,000 $310 Sat 24 Jan 1:00 p.m. WSOPC Main Event Day 2 2:00 p.m. WSOPC Monsterstack 6,000 $650 6:00 p.m. WSOPC Progressive KO High Roller 10,000 $1,100 9:00 p.m. Turbo Satellite to WSOPC Super High Roller 2,000 $210 Sun 25 Jan 1:00 p.m. WSOPC Turbo 5,000 $540 1:00 p.m. WSOPC Main Event Final 2:00 p.m. WSOPC Super High Roller 30,000 $3,200 2:00 p.m. WSOPC Monsterstack Day 2 5:00 p.m. The Closer Turbo Deepstack 2,500 $270

US Dollar amounts are approximations to give some guidance to the buy-in

2025 WSOPC Marrakech Ring Event Results

Justin Tsui

Justin Tsui is the reigning WSOPC Marrakech Main Event champion. As mentioned earlier, Tsui came out on top of a 1,523-strong field to win his first gold WSOPC ring and a career-best $270,118. Tsui only decided to play the tournament two days before the event's first flight; it turned out to be an incredible decision.

Several other players returned home with WSOPC rings and sizeable scores to their name. Anthony Apicella became $130,971 richer courtesy of triumphing in the WSOPC High Roller, while Rafik Zoughi won the WSOPC Mini Main Event for $80,794.

Event Entrants Prize Pool Champion Prize (USD) NLHE WSOPC Main Event 1,523 $1,943,001 Justin Tsui $270,118 NLHE WSOPC High Roller 419 $717,622 Anthony Apicella $130,971 NLHE WSOPC Mini Main 1,010 $520,213 Rafik Zouaghi $80,794 NLHE WSOP Opener 904 $311,067 Andrew Hawkins $48,483 NLHE WSOPC Monsterstack 527 $272,309 Hamid Sahraou i $41,036 NLHE WSOPC Short Handed 305 $156,432 Sandro Fortunato $31,175 NLHE 8-Handed 381 $130,826 Chadi Akremi $24,743 Pot-Limit Omaha 189 $96,947 Anonymous $21,119 NLHE WSOPC Freezeout 188 $80,362 Lies Mostefa $17,098 NLHE WSOPC PKO High Roller 199 $90,736 Hassn Nashar $15,199 NLHE WSOPC Turbo 212 $92,690 Ronald Steinmet $13,374 NLHE WSOPC Ladies 36 $15,387 Emmanuelle Allory $5,128

Stay tuned to PokerNews' live reporting pages throughout the 2026 WSOPC Marrakech Main Event for all the updates and photographs you can handle.

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Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 44F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 44F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Mitchell Black writes about Bluffton and the southern Lowcountry for The Post and Courier's Beaufort County bureau. He previously covered health care and county government with the Asheville Citizen Times.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/minenergoUkraine

The Estonian Ministry of Climate will support the Ukraine Energy Support Fund with two million euros to help restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure and ensure security of supply.

As reported on the department's website, supporting energy infrastructure is of critical importance to Ukrainian society and is directly related to the country's resilience and people's ability to cope with everyday life.

"Estonias support for Ukraine is consistent and long-term. For Ukraine, energy is not merely an economic sector, but a matter of survival. Every restored substation, every functioning generator means a warm home, an operating hospital, and a functioning society. Estonias support helps Ukraine cope with the potential challenges of the upcoming winter," said Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt.

Support to the Energy Fund helps cover the most urgent needs of Ukrainian energy companies, including the procurement of spare parts, generators, and fuel supplies, as well as emergency repair works. Through the Fund, assistance reaches concrete projects quickly, and payments are made directly to suppliers of goods and services, ensuring transparent and controlled use of donations.

Estonia has previously contributed a total of EUR 620,000 to the Fund through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: EUR 50,000 in 2023, EUR 420,000 in 2024, and EUR 150,000 in October this year. Altogether, countries have contributed EUR 1.44 billion to the Fund.

"We want Estonia to set an example for countries that have not yet contributed to the Fund, because supporting Ukraines energy infrastructure is a shared responsibility for all of us  it is about defending freedom and democracy," the Minister added.

In addition to financial assistance, Estonia has in cooperation with energy companies sent generators, transformers, and other critical energy equipment to Ukraine, and work continues to identify possible further donations or forms of cooperation.
Investigative reporter

Marilyn W. Thompson is a veteran investigative reporter and editor who works on the Projects team. She has authored or co-authored four non-fiction books.
Interfax-Ukraine to hold press conference 'Report of the Youth Council of Railway Workers and a study on employee participation in the Supervisory Board of Ukrzaliznytsia'

On Thursday, December 25, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Report of the Youth Council of Railway Workers and a study on employee participation in the Supervisory Board of Ukrzaliznytsia," during which the report of the Chairman of the Youth Council of the Trade Union of Railway Workers and Transport Builders of Ukraine for 20222025 will be presented, as well as a study on employee participation in corporate governance using the example of the Supervisory Board of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia.

Participants: Chairman of the Youth Council of the Trade Union of Railway Workers and Transport Builders of Ukraine (20222025) Kateryna Izmailova, Project Coordinator of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Representative Office in Ukraine Vitaliy Dudin (8/5a, Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards.

Additional information can be obtained from the following contacts: [email protected], (097)573-30-33.
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NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Aeonian Resources Corp. ("Aeonian" or the "Company") (TSXV:ALTN) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), raising gross proceeds of $800,400.00 through the issuance of 20,010,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.04 per Unit.Aeonian is also pleased to welcome Michael Gentile as a strategic investor in the Company, following Mr. Gentile's acquisition of 11,950,000 Units through the Offering, representing a 19.55% ownership interest in the Company on a basic post-Offering basis and 32.71% on a partially diluted basis. The Company notes that warrant exercise limitations are in place to maintain compliance with applicable ownership thresholds.Mr. Gentile is widely regarded as one of the leading strategic investors in the junior mining sector, with significant top-five ownership positions in more than 20 publicly traded mining and exploration companies. He is known for identifying high-quality geological opportunities at the early stages of the discovery cycle and for his long-term, fundamentals-driven investment approach.Andrew Randell, CEO of Aeonian Resources, commented: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Michael Gentile as a strategic investor in Aeonian. Michael's track record in the junior mining sector speaks for itself, and his support reflects a shared conviction in the discovery potential of sediment-hosted copper systems in British Columbia. This financing provides the capital certainty required to move confidently into our inaugural drill program at Koocanusa, and we are genuinely excited to begin drill testing what we believe is a highly compelling copper system in early 2026."Terry Salman, Chairman & Director, added: "I'm delighted to have my friend Michael Gentile as a major shareholder in the Company. He's one of Canada's leading investors in the junior mining space and is highly respected." Offering DetailsEach Unit consists of one (1) common share of the Company (a "Share") and one (1) common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $0.07 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.In accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, all securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. There were no finders fees paid in connection with the Offering.In connection with the Offering, Terry Salman, the Company's Chairman & Director, acquired 625,000 Units (the "Insider Subscription"), bringing his aggregate shareholdings in the Company to 3,558,000 Shares (representing approximately 5.82% of the issued and outstanding Shares post-closing). The Insider Subscription constituted a "related party transaction" within the meaning of the Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company determined that the Interested Party's participation in the Offering was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101. A material change report was not filed more than 21 days prior to closing of the Offering because the details of the Insider Subscription had not been confirmed at that time.The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering to advance the Company's exploration activities and continue unlocking value at the Koocanusa Property in British Columbia (in respect of 80% of the Offering proceeds) and for general working capital (in respect of 20% of the Offering proceeds).The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.About Aeonian Resources Corp.Aeonian Resources Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on discovering the next generation of copper deposits in British Columbia. Its flagship Koocanusa Copper Project lies within the Purcell Basin, part of the same geological belt that hosts major sediment-hosted copper deposits across the border in Montana. Aeonian has outlined a 50 km copper corridor with multiple drill ready targets supported by strong geochemical and geophysical data. With multi year permits, active Indigenous partnerships, and a disciplined, science-driven approach, Aeonian is well positioned for near term copper discovery in a Tier 1 jurisdiction. For additional information, visit the Company's website www.aeonianresources.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AEONIAN RESOURCES CORP."Andy Randell"Chief Executive OfficerFor further information, please contact:Investor Relations info@ aeonianresources.com Telephone: +1 (604) 349 2090Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's exploration plans and timing (including the anticipated commencement of drilling at the Koocanusa Copper Project in early 2026); the scope, nature and objectives of planned drill programs; interpretations of geological, geochemical and geophysical data; the potential for discovery within the Company's project portfolio; the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering; the impact of the strategic investment by Michael Gentile; and the Company's business strategy, budgets and capital requirements.Forwardlooking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forwardlooking information. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: exploration and dev
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NEW YORK CITY AND NEW ORLEANS / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 /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 untilJanuary 26, 2026to 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 DoIf 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 ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , 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 byJanuary 26, 2026 .About the LawsuitAlexandria 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, LLCKSF, 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 ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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Online satellite winners deliver strong performances in record-setting live poker tournamentPARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Players who qualified online through Americas Cardroom recorded notable success at the $60 Million GTD WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, with 17 qualifiers finishing in the money for a combined $1,175,000 in winnings.The Super Main Event marked the largest guaranteed live poker tournament ever held, highlighting the expanding role of online poker qualification in elite live competition.Americas Cardroom awarded 100 seats through online satellites, offering players across multiple bankroll levels access to one of poker's most prestigious events.Leonardo Song-Carrillo of Canada qualified via a $1,000 + $50 online satellite and finished 78th, earning $107,500.Dmitry Lukyanov turned an $11 super satellite entry into a $30,000 WSOP Paradise package, later securing $55,000 with a 251st-place finish in the Super Main Event."These results demonstrate the effectiveness of online qualification as a pathway to top-tier live poker," said Chris Moneymaker, Americas Cardroom Pro. "It's a powerful model for growing participation at the highest levels." While not every Americas Cardroom qualifier cashed in the Super Main Event, the WSOP Paradise series included a major milestone for Imari Love, who won his first WSOP bracelet in Event #15: $2,500 The Closer Turbo Bounty.Love defeated Blaz Zerjav heads-up in a 509-player field to claim $145,725, adding a significant achievement for the Americas Cardroom poker community.The WSOP Paradise Super Main Event illustrated how cooperation among major poker platforms can expand prize pools and participation. Collaboration between Americas Cardroom, WSOP Paradise, and GG Poker helped deliver a landmark event for players worldwide.About Americas CardroomFounded in 2001 and part of the Winning Poker Network, Americas Cardroom is one of the most trusted names in online poker. Recognized for its secure payments, reliable service, and active player community, Americas Cardroom continues to innovate with world-class tournaments and player-first promotions.Jason ClarkChief Marketing Officersupport@ acrpoker.eu SOURCE: Americas Cardroom
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Avantor, Inc. ("Avantor" or the "Company") (NYSE:AVTR) who purchased or otherwise acquired Avantor common stock between March 5, 2024 and October 28, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period") to contact us immediately regarding the pending securities class action against Avantor. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is December 29, 2025.Class Period: March 5, 2024 - October 28, 2025Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: December 29, 2025Case information: https://lieffcabraser.com/securities/avantor/ Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358Avantor, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, is a global supplier of scientific products, tools, laboratory solutions, and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Avantor's competitive positioning was weaker than Defendants had publicly represented; and (2) Avantor was experiencing negative effects from increased competition. Rather, Defendants repeatedly claimed that Avantor was well-positioned compared to peer companies and downplayed any competitive pressures.The market began to learn the truth on April 25, 2025, when Avantor reported disappointing 1Q 2025 financial results, including weak organic sales for its Laboratory Solutions business, and cut its projected organic revenue growth for 2025 by 2% to -1% to 1%. Avantor also announced that Defendant Stubblefield would be stepping down from his roles. Avantor's Executive Vice President and CFO, Defendant R. Brent Jones, attributed the Company's weak performance and outlook in part to "the impact of increased competitive intensity." On this news, the price of Avantor common stock declined $2.57 per share, or 16.58%, from a close of $15.50 per share on April 24, 2025, to close at $12.93 per share on April 25, 2025, on extremely heavy trading volume.On August 1, 2025, Avantor reported disappointing 2Q 2025 financial results, including a 3% year-over-year decrease in net sales and an 11.7% year-over-year decrease in adjusted operating income in its Laboratory Solutions business. The Company also lowered its projected organic revenue growth for 2025 to -2% to 0%, and to -4% to -2% for 3Q 2025. Jones again attributed the reduced outlook and growth to "increased competitive intensity." On this news, the price of Avantor common stock declined $2.08 per share, or 15.48%, from a close of $13.44 per share on July 31, 2025, to close at $11.36 per share on August 1, 2025, on extremely heavy trading volume.On October 29, 2025, Avantor reported disappointing 3Q 2025 financial results, including a 5% year-over-year decrease organic revenue growth both in its Laboratory Solutions business and overall. Avantor further reduced its 2025 projected organic revenue growth -3.5% to -2.5%, and reported a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $785 million. Jones disclosed that the impairment charge was due in part to competitive pressures on the Company's "ability to get price, which meaningfully impacted margins year-over-year on a sequential basis." New President and CEO Emmanuel Ligner disclosed that the Company had "lost a couple of large accounts." On this news, the price of Avantor common stock declined $3.50 per share, or 23.21%, from a close of $15.08 per share on October 28, 2025, to close at $11.58 per share on October 29, 2025, on heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 125 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally-recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Repeatedly recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.CONTACT Sharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
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VERO BEACH, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / BCII Enterprises Inc. (OTCID:BCII), a pioneer in blockchain-based financial engineering and the developer of the patent-pending Coupon Token architecture, today announced the appointment of Evan "Thor" Torrens as a Strategic Consultant and Advisor.Mr. Torrens, an Emmy Award-winning media expert, investor, and former Special Assistant to the President of the United States, will serve as a primary "Face of the Company." His role focuses on bridging the gap between BCII's complex financial technology and the global investment community through high-level storytelling and strategic media relations. He will lead efforts to position the Coupon Token as a revolutionary new asset class for institutional and corporate clients."Thor is a world-class communicator with a proven track record of navigating the most high-stakes environments in media, politics, and venture capital," said Joseph Salvani, CEO of BCII Enterprises. "As we move toward the Q1 2026 rollout of our Coupon Token, Thor's ability to translate complex financial innovation into a powerful narrative is exactly what BCII needs to reach a multi-billion dollar audience".A Legacy of High-Impact Strategic Leadership Evan Torrens brings a distinguished background to BCII, having served as a Commissioned Officer with Top Secret security clearance in the White House. An Emmy Award-winning strategist, he has consistently operated at the intersection of media influence and emerging technology. In the digital asset space, Mr. Torrens served on the Zcash Community Advisory Panel, where he contributed his expertise to one of the industry's leading privacy-focused blockchain ecosystems.As a primary advisor for BCII, Mr. Torrens will champion the company's mission to solve systemic market issues, such as illegal naked shorting, by utilizing settlement mechanisms that operate outside the DTCC. He will also highlight how the platform transforms corporate discount liabilities into liquid balance sheet assets under the FASB ASU 2023-08 accounting standards."I am joining BCII because they have built the technological off-switch' for Wall Street's most predatory practices," said Evan "Thor" Torrens. "The Coupon Token isn't just a product; it's a defensive fortress for CEOs and a gold mine for shareholders. We are moving settlement outside the DTCC and giving corporations the power to monetize their own future. I look forward to telling this story on a global stage." About BCII Enterprises Inc. BCII Enterprises (OTCID:BCII) is a fintech leader focused on the commercialization of its patent-pending Coupon Token architecture. The company's platform transforms static liabilities into dynamic, tradable digital assets, providing solutions for corporate finance, healthcare subsidies, and national deficit reduction.Media Contact: BCII Enterprises Inc. Email: joe@ bciienterprises.com Website: www.bciienterprises.com Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.SOURCE: BCII Enterprises Inc.
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NEW YORK CITY AND NEW ORLEANS / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 /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 untilJanuary 2, 2026to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between June 20, 2025 and November 5, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of CarMax and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-kmx/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJanuary 2, 2026 .About the LawsuitCarMax and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On September 25, 2025, the Company announced its Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 financial results, disclosing among other things, that retail unit sales had decreased 5.4%, comparable store unit sales had decreased 6.3%, wholesale units had decreased 2.2%, and that net earnings per diluted share of $0.64 compared to $0.85 a year ago.On this news, the price of CarMax's shares fell $11.5 per share, or 20.07%, to close at $45.60 per share on September 25, 2025.The case is Cap v. CarMax, Inc., No. 25-cv-03602.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, 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 ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
At the beginning of the 20th century, heroines were no longer princesses but scientists (Marie Curie), novelists (Colette), or fashion designers (Coco Chanel). At a time when suffragettes were shaking England and Copenhagen was calling for a Womens Day, one man understood before anyone else what this meant: Paul Mercier. On December 16, 1918, when he stepped into William Baumes office in Geneva, he sensed that women no longer wished to be mere spectators of watchmaking. They wanted to understand the language of time, master the hours, and assert their autonomy. Baume, a master watchmaker of exemplary rigor, welcomed him with an attentive gaze and said: You are a visionary. A man with perspective. Forward-thinking, Mercier was already placing women at the heart of the movement, beyond the conventions and advertisements of the time. This was the beginning of a great story.
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Board-certified plastic surgeon and surgeon-scientist honored for clinical excellence, leadership, and commitment to patient education.TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Gruber Plastic Surgery announced today that Dr. Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida, has been named a 2026 Exceptional Woman in Medicine by Castle Connolly, with the recognition slated to be featured in New York Magazine.The Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine distinction highlights women physicians recognized for outstanding accomplishments, leadership, and dedication to advancing healthcare. The selection process is based on peer nominations, research, and review by Castle Connolly's physician-led research team."I'm honored to be recognized among so many accomplished women physicians," said Dr. Gruber. "Medicine is equal parts science, judgment, and human connection. This recognition reflects the values that guide my practice every day, patient safety, thoughtful decision-making, and results that align with each patient's goals and wellbeing." Dr. Gruber is known for her patient-first approach and for helping patients navigate surgical decisions with clarity and realistic expectations. Her background includes extensive training and a long-standing interest in bridging research thinking with practical patient education an approach that supports better planning before, during, and after surgery.Recognition HighlightsDr. Gruber's 2026 Exceptional Women in Medicine recognition reflects a combination of factors that may include:Peer recognition for clinical excellence and ethical patient careCommitment to education and informed decision-making during consultationProfessional leadership and dedication to advancing standards in medicineAbout the New York Magazine FeatureNew York Magazine's "Top Doctors" is a special advertising section that features Castle Connolly's annual listing of top physicians across specialties, with methodology and selection information provided by Castle Connolly.About Dr. Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD Dr. Meegan Gruber is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida. She has been in practice since 2005 and is known for innovative approaches that prioritize patient safety and individualized planning. Dr. Gruber has also been featured on major networks and streaming platforms, bringing greater transparency and education to patients considering cosmetic procedures.About Gruber Plastic Surgery Gruber Plastic Surgery is a Tampa, Florida-based practice offering a comprehensive range of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures with a focus on patient education, safety-centered care, and personalized treatment planning.Media ContactGruber Plastic SurgeryPhone: 888-400-0086Email: info@ drmeegangruber.com Website: drmeegangruber.com SOURCE: Gruber Plastic Surgery
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Seeing the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies, IRAEmpire has ranked the best courses on cryptocurrency help investors and consumers make better informed decisions.NORTH PORTLAND, OREGON / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Cryptocurrency investing has moved well beyond a niche activity reserved for early adopters and tech enthusiasts. Today, millions of retail investors participate in digital asset markets across spot exchanges, futures platforms, and decentralized protocols. With increased access, however, has come increased risk. The volatility that makes cryptocurrency markets attractive also makes them unforgiving to investors who lack structure, discipline, and a clear trading framework.According to Michael Hunt, Senior Writer at IRAEmpire, "One of the most common reasons new investors lose money is not market manipulation or bad luck, but a lack of proper education. Many rely on fragmented advice from social media, unverified YouTube channels, or signal groups that offer trades without context. While free content can be useful for learning terminology, it rarely provides the structured learning path needed to develop consistent trading skills." A high-quality crypto courseaims to bridge that gap. Instead of isolated tips or short-term trade calls, a structured program focuses on market mechanics, risk management, and repeatable strategies that can be applied across different market conditions. As the crypto market matures, the demand for professional-grade education has increased alongside it.Learn About the Best Cryptocurrency Learning ProgramDecentralized Masters Review - Why It Stands OutAmong the growing number of cryptocurrency courses available today, Decentralized Masters distinguishes itself by focusing on structured education rather than shortcuts. Instead of promoting signals or one-size-fits-all strategies, the platform emphasizes skill development, risk awareness, and repeatable trading frameworks that can be applied across different market conditions.What sets Decentralized Masters apart is its clear focus on teaching digital asset investors how to think about the market, not just what to invest in. The program is designed to help students understand portfolio creation, market structure, and probability-based decision-making, which are essential for long-term consistency in volatile crypto markets.Read Decentralized Masters Reviews, Cost, and Further AnalysisWhat Is Decentralized Masters?Decentralized Masters is a cryptocurrency trading education platform built around a mentorship-driven learning model. Its core objective is to provide investors with a clear, structured path from beginner-level understanding to advanced execution, without relying on hype or unrealistic profit promises.The platform positions itself as an educational ecosystem rather than a signal service. Students are encouraged to develop independent trading skills, understand risk exposure, and build discipline over time. This approach appeals particularly to investors who want long-term competence instead of short-term trade alerts.Decentralized Masters also emphasizes adaptability. Rather than locking students into a single rigid strategy, the curriculum focuses on market principles that remain relevant across different crypto cycles, including both bullish and bearish environments.Courses and Curriculum BreakdownThe Decentralized Masters curriculum is structured to guide students through progressively more advanced concepts while reinforcing risk management at every stage. The coursework typically begins with core foundations, ensuring that beginners understand how crypto markets function before attempting live trades.Key areas covered include cryptocurrency trading fundamentals, such as market mechanics, chart interpretation, and order execution. From there, the program introduces technical analysis concepts that help investors identify trends, key price levels, and high-probability setups.More advanced modules focus on futures and leverage trading, explaining how derivatives work and when they should be used. Rather than encouraging excessive leverage, the course places strong emphasis on controlled exposure and position sizing. Altcoin strategies and trend-based approaches are also covered, allowing investors to navigate different market conditions.Risk management and trading psychology are integrated throughout the curriculum. Topics such as capital allocation, drawdown control, emotional discipline, and consistency are treated as essential skills rather than optional add-ons.Learn How Decentralized Masters Help You Find the Next SolanaThings to Consider Before Choosing a Cryptocurrency Trading CourseNot all crypto courses are created equal. While many programs promise fast profits or exclusive strategies, the quality of education varies significantly. Before enrolling in any crypto trading course, it is essential to evaluate whether the program aligns with your learning needs, risk tolerance, and long-term goals as an investor. The following factors can help separate serious educational platforms from short-term hype.Course Structure and Learning PathA well-designed cryptocurrency course should follow a clear and logical learning path. Beginners benefit most from structured progression that starts with market fundamentals and gradually builds toward more advanced concepts. Courses that lack structure often overwhelm learners by introducing complex strategies before they understand how markets actually move.Look for programs that begin with foundational topics such as market structure, order types, and basic technical analysis. From there, the course should progress into strategy development, trade execution, and risk management. A clear roadmap allows students to build confidence at each stage rather than relying on guesswork.Structured learning also makes it easier to identify gaps in understanding. When lessons are organized sequentially, investors can revisit earlier modules and reinforce key concepts instead of jumping between unrelated videos or strategies.Instructor Experience and Market CredibilityThe quality of instruction plays a major role in the effectiveness of a crypto course. Instructors should have real-world experience navigating volatile cryptocurrency markets, not just theoretical knowledge. While no educator can predict markets perfectly, experienced investors focus on probabilities, risk control, and disciplined execution.Credible instructors are typically transparent about their approach. They explain why a strategy works, when it should be used, and when it should be avoided. This transparency helps students develop independent thinking rather than blindly following signals.It is also worth considering whether instructors ha
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ASPS trend reporting highlights facelift combined with eyelid surgery as a leading 2025 combination; national procedure volumes reinforce growing demand for comprehensive facial rejuvenation planning.TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida is sharing updated 2025 patient education and consultation planning insights on one of the most-requested facial rejuvenation strategies: pairing a facelift with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) for a balanced, natural-looking refresh. The practice notes that patients researching "facelift Tampa," "eyelid surgery Tampa," and "blepharoplasty Tampa" are increasingly asking the same question: "Should I treat one area now or plan a whole-face approach so my results look cohesive?"According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), combination procedures are rising as patients look for "maximum impact," specifically calling out "facelift combined with eyelid surgery or lip lift" as a key pairing trend. ASPS procedural data also underscores continued demand for facial rejuvenation procedures, listing eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and facelift (rhytidectomy) among the most-performed cosmetic surgical procedures reported by ASPS member surgeons."Most patients aren't looking to change' their face they're looking to look rested and like themselves," said Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, surgeon and founder of Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa. "When the eyes look tired but the lower face has laxity or vice versa treating only one area can feel incomplete. A well-planned facelift-plus-eyelid approach can create harmony, and that's what reads as natural." Why Facelift + Blepharoplasty Is a Common 2025 PairingFacial aging rarely occurs in a single zone. A facelift is generally designed to address concerns such as lower-face laxity and jawline changes, while eyelid surgery can address heaviness, excess skin, or puffiness around the eyes. When performed for the right candidate, pairing procedures may help:Create a more balanced "refreshed" look across the faceReduce the "one-area-treated" appearance that can occur when only one region is addressedConsolidate planning and recovery into a single surgical timeline (when appropriate and medically safe)At Gruber Plastic Surgery, facelift planning is personalized and may include different technique approaches depending on anatomy and goals. The practice also notes that upper and lower eyelid surgery can be performed simultaneously for comprehensive results in appropriate candidates.2026 Outlook: What Patients Are Likely to Keep Asking ForLooking ahead to 2026, the practice expects patient demand to continue trending toward:Natural-looking outcomes driven by balanced, whole-face planningProcedure combinations that minimize "multiple downtime periods"Clear, education-first consultations that help patients understand what each procedure can and cannot addressQuick Q&A for Patients Searching "Facelift Tampa" or "Blepharoplasty Tampa"Q: Do I need a facelift and eyelid surgery together?A: Not always. Some patients benefit most from eyelid surgery alone, while others need lower-face and neck improvement first. A consultation should determine what will create the most natural balance.Q: Why combine them at all?A: Many patients feel their result looks more complete when the eye area and lower face are planned together, since aging affects multiple regions at once.Q: What should I bring to my consultation?A: Your goals, reference photos (if helpful), your medical history, and a list of priorities, what bothers you most and what "natural" means to you.Learn More and Request a ConsultationFacelift procedure information:Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) information:Request a complimentary consultation:About Gruber Plastic SurgeryGruber Plastic Surgery is located at 3979 Moran RD Tampa, Florida 33618 a Plastic Surgery Clinic led by Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, an award-winning board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery). Dr. Gruber stars in the TLC television series "Awake Surgery," which has helped introduce patients nationwide to awake cosmetic procedures and recovery-focused planning. She has been recognized on Newsweek's "America's Best Plastic Surgeons" list in 2024 and 2025. The practice is known for awake (local anesthesia) cosmetic procedures for eligible patients using Dr. Gruber's "awake technique," as well as traditional surgery performed under general anesthesia when appropriate. Gruber Plastic Surgery supports both local and out-of-town patients through complimentary consultation options, structured surgical planning, and postoperative follow-up care.Media ContactGruber Plastic SurgeryPhone: 888-400-0086Email: info@ drmeegangruber.com Medical DisclaimerThis press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Surgical candidacy and outcomes vary by patient. A consultation with a qualified surgeon is required to determine an appropriate plan.SOURCE: Gruber Plastic Surgery
PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-23 04:40:07

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Board-certified plastic surgeon shares a practical, question-based guide to help patients verify credentials, facility standards, and anesthesia planning before elective cosmetic surgery.TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / With elective cosmetic surgery continuing to grow and patients increasingly comparing surgeons online, Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Gruber Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida, released a 2026 Patient Safety Checklist designed to help patients make confident, informed decisions before scheduling surgery."Cosmetic surgery is personal, and it should never feel rushed," said Dr. Gruber. "In 2026, the best decision a patient can make is to slow down long enough to verify the fundamentals, training, safety standards, anesthesia planning, and postoperative support. A thoughtful checklist helps patients ask better questions and spot red flags early." The 2026 Patient Safety Checklist is intended as an educational resource and is not medical advice. It can be used as a discussion guide during a consultation, whether patients are local to Tampa Bay or traveling from out of town.2026 Patient Safety Checklist: What to Verify Before Cosmetic SurgeryPatients considering plastic surgery in Tampa or anywhere can use the following checklist as a starting point:1) Board Certification & TrainingAsk whether your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and verify credentials.Ask what procedures they perform most often and how they manage complex cases or revisions.2) Surgical Facility StandardsConfirm where the surgery will take place (office-based suite vs. hospital vs. surgery center).Ask about facility accreditation, safety protocols, and who is responsible for emergency preparedness.3) Anesthesia Plan: Awake (Local) vs. General AnesthesiaAsk which anesthesia approach is recommended for your goals and why.Confirm who administers anesthesia (and their qualifications) and what monitoring is used during the procedure.Understand the difference between local anesthesia-based options and procedures that require general anesthesia.4) Your Medical Candidacy (Not Just Your "Goal" Photos)Expect a real review of your medical history, medications/supplements, and risk factors.Ask what pre-op testing is required and how conditions like high blood pressure, smoking, or clotting risk change the plan.5) A Clear Surgical Plan (With Tradeoffs Explained)Ask what the plan is, where incisions will be, what scarring to expect, and what alternatives exist.Ask how long results typically last and what changes can happen with age, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, or lifestyle.6) Risks & Complications Discussed Up FrontA credible consult includes risks, recovery realities, and the possibility of revision without minimizing concerns.Ask what complications are most common for your specific procedure and how the practice responds if they occur.7) Postoperative Support & Follow-UpConfirm the follow-up schedule and who you contact after hours with urgent concerns.If traveling, ask how postoperative care is coordinated once you return home.8) Transparent Pricing & What's IncludedAsk what fees include (facility, anesthesia, garments, post-op visits, medications, etc.).If financing is offered, ask for clear terms and what happens if the surgical plan changes.9) Before-and-After Photos That Match Your Starting PointReview results in patients with similar anatomy and goals.Ask what "natural-looking" means in practical terms for your face/body and your preferences.10) Communication & Informed Consent CulturePay attention to whether you feel heard, whether your questions are welcomed, and whether expectations are documented clearly.A healthy surgical relationship includes education, not pressure."Patients deserve clarity," Dr. Gruber added. "My goal is to support informed decision-making because great outcomes start long before surgery day." Where Patients Can Learn More (Existing Resources on drmeegangruber.com)Because many patients want to move quickly from research to action, Gruber Plastic Surgery provides several existing online resources, including:Dr. Meegan Gruber's surgeon bio:Overview of procedures offered:What to expect and how to schedule a consultation:Schedule a complimentary consultation (virtual & in-person options):Important website and patient disclaimers:About Gruber Plastic SurgeryGruber Plastic Surgery is located at 3979 Moran RD Tampa, Florida 33618 a Plastic Surgery Clinic led by Meegan Gruber, MD, PhD, an award-winning board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery). Dr. Gruber stars in the TLC television series "Awake Surgery," which has helped introduce patients nationwide to awake cosmetic procedures and recovery-focused planning. She has been recognized on Newsweek's "America's Best Plastic Surgeons" list in 2024 and 2025. The practice is known for awake (local anesthesia) cosmetic procedures for eligible patients using Dr. Gruber's "awake technique," as well as traditional surgery performed under general anesthesia when appropriate. Gruber Plastic Surgery supports both local and out-of-town patients through complimentary consultation options, structured surgical planning, and postoperative follow-up care.Press & Media InquiriesGruber Plastic Surgery3979 Moran Rd, Tampa, FL 33618Phone: 888-400-0086Email: info@ drmeegangruber.comMedical DisclaimerThis press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All surgical and non-surgical procedures carry risks, and individual results vary. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine appropriate treatment options.SOURCE: Gruber Plastic Surgery
PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-23 03:10:07

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NEW YORK, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 /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 untilFebruary 9, 2026to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Integer Holdings Corporation ("Integer" or the "Company") (NYSE:ITGR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between July 25, 2024 and October 22, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Integer and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-itgr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byFebruary 9, 2026 .About the LawsuitInteger and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On October 23, 2025, the Company disclosed a lower full-year 2025 sales guidance to a range between $1.840 billion and $1.854 billion, well short of analysts' estimates, as well as expected net sales growth of -2% to 2% and organic sales growth of 0% and 4% for the full year of 2026, among other things, due to the market adoption of its products being slower than anticipated.On this news, the price of Integer's shares fell $35.22 per share, or more than 32%, from a closing price of $109.11 per share on October 22, 2025, to a closing price of $73.89 per share on October 23, 2025.The case is West Palm Beach Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Integer Holdings Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-10251.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, 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 ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-23 14:30:09

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34 Miles of Improvements Completed in Less Than One YearELKHART, IN / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Indiana Toll Road Concession Company LLC (ITRCC), the operator of the Indiana Toll Road (ITR), proudly announces the successful completion of the PUSH 4.0 Project, a transformative infrastructure initiative spanning 34 miles from Howe to the Ohio state line (MM123-MM157). Completed in less than one year, this project represents a major milestone in enhancing safety and efficiency for motorists traveling the Indiana Toll Road.The PUSH 4.0 Project included improvements to more than 34 miles of roadway, rehabilitation of 25 bridges, safety upgrades, interchange enhancements, and upgrades to the East Point Toll Plaza.Beyond infrastructure improvements, the project delivered substantial economic benefits to the region, engaging numerous companies and employees throughout its accelerated schedule. Completing such a large-scale project in a short timeframe minimized inconvenience for motorists and reduced construction-related delays, allowing travelers to experience smoother and more reliable travel.A Decade of Progress: Since launching PUSH 1.0 in 2016, ITRCC has rehabilitated nearly 98% of all pavement of the ITR and significantly improved over 30% of bridges along the 157-mile corridor. Across the four phases of the PUSH program, more than 30 companies and over 1,000 employees contributed to these improvements, generating meaningful economic impact."We are incredibly pleased to announce the completion of the PUSH 4.0 Project and the role it will play in strengthening the critical infrastructure of our region and state. This success was made possible through strong partnerships with local communities and counties, the Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police, Rieth Riley Construction, and the motorists who travel the Indiana Toll Road. Together, we've delivered improvements that will serve travelers safely and efficiently for decades to come. We appreciate the patience of motorists through these projects" said Nic Barr, Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Toll Road.About the Indiana Toll RoadEstablished in 2006, ITRCC responsibilities are detailed in the Concession and Lease Agreement with the Indiana Finance Authority, such as the construction, maintenance, repair, and operation of the 157-mile ITR. Headquartered in Elkhart, the ITR spans northern Indiana, linking Chicago with the Eastern Seaboard. Designated as part of Interstate 80/90, the ITR serves as a vital transportation link in the Midwest.For current traffic and construction updates, visit www.indianatollroad.org or follow @IndianaTollRoad on Facebook or X (Twitter).Contact Information Company: ITR Concession Company LLCContact: Marie Jaffe, Communications TeamTelephone: (724) 322-1879Email: mjaffe@ indianatollroad.org SOURCE: Indiana Toll Road
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NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilDecember 23, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against James Hardie Industries plc ("James Hardie" or the "Company") (NYSE:JHX), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between May 20, 2025, and August 18, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of James Hardie and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-jhx/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byDecember 23, 2025 .About the LawsuitJames Hardie and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On August 19, 2025, despite prior reassurances that its North America Fiber Cement segment remained strong, the Company disclosed that sales in North America Fiber Cement declined by 12% due to customer destocking first discovered "in April through May," that was expected to impact sales for at least the next two quarters.On this news, the price of James Hardie's shares fell by over 34%, or $9.79 per share, from a closing price of $28.43 per share on August 18, 2025 to $18.64 per share on August 20, 2025.The case is Laborers' District Council and Contractors' Pension Fund of Ohio v. James Hardie Industries plc, et al., No. 25-cv-13018.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, 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 ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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Holiday donation drive reflects the company's ongoing commitment to community partnership and local impactLAKEWOOD RANCH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 /Community Partnership in ActionThis holiday season, Kolter Homes, a leading home builder, reaffirmed its commitment to community partnership through a meaningful donation drive benefiting the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch. Organized by Kolter Homes' Southwest Florida team, the initiative provided much-needed supplies to support the shelter's ongoing mission of caring for animals in need.The donation drive, coordinated during the company's holiday season activities, resulted in the collection of toys, blankets, and food items that are already being put to immediate use by the shelter. These contributions support the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch's daily operations and help enhance the comfort and well-being of animals awaiting adoption."Our Southwest Florida team takes great pride in supporting the communities where we live and work," said Fred Pfister, Regional Vice President for Kolter Homes. "Partnering with the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch allowed us to come together around a shared purpose and make a tangible difference during the holiday season. It's incredibly rewarding to see how collective effort can have a meaningful impact." A Commitment to Southwest FloridaThe partnership reflects Kolter Homes' broader presence and long-term investment across Southwest Florida, where the company develops thoughtfully planned communities designed to foster connection and enhance quality of life. Beyond building new construction homes, Kolter Homes emphasizes responsible stewardship and engagement with local organizations that serve the region's people and pets alike.When Giving Back Comes Full CircleIn an unexpected and personal extension of the partnership, the initiative came full circle for Alison Selzer, a Design Consultant with Kolter Homes at Cresswind Lakewood Ranch. While reviewing the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch's recommended donation list online, Selzer spent time learning about the animals currently available for adoption. One story stood out, a young dog who had been picked up as a stray and remained unclaimed at animal services. Through the care and rehabilitation provided by the shelter, the dog was given a second chance. That journey ultimately led him to a new home with Selzer, where he was welcomed as " Glitch." "Seeing firsthand the compassion and dedication of the Humane Society team made the experience especially meaningful," Pfister added. "Supporting the shelter as an organization is important, but witnessing the direct impact of their work on individual animals reminded us why community partnerships matter so much." Extending the Spirit of GivingAlongside donations to the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch, the holiday drive also supported the local community through the collection of 67 pounds of food for the Manatee County Food Bank. This additional effort helped provide essential resources to individuals and families across the region, further reflecting Kolter Homes' commitment to meaningful community partnership.The Kolter Group LLC (together with its affiliates, "Kolter"), based in Delray Beach, Florida, is a private investment firm focused on real estate development and investment. Led by CEO Robert "Bobby" Julien, Kolter operates four residential development business units and has sponsored over $29 billion of realized and in-process residential real estate projects throughout the southeastern United States (including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee).Kolter has completed 99 residential projects, delivering over 27,800 unitsKolter has current investments in 91 residential projects expected to deliver a total of over 65,500 unitsKolter Homes LLC (together with its affiliates, "Kolter Homes"), is focused on the development, construction, and sale of 500-1,500 for-sale single-family units, often as Cresswind-branded, age-restricted, amenity-rich master-planned communities, with additional focus on smaller, traditional and age-targeted add-on communities of 100-500 homes. Kolter Homes has sponsored over $16 billion of realized and in-process real estate projects throughout the southeastern United States.Kolter has completed 99 residential projects, delivering over 27,800 units.ContactsJaime GodwinDirector of Marketing Communications jgodwin@ kolterhomes.com SOURCE: Kolter Homes
PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-23 14:00:28

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Expedited Development Enabled by RMAT and Breakthrough Therapy StatusClinical Trial Initiation in 2026, FDA Approval Target by 2030LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Nature Cell Co., Ltd., a biotechnology company focused on adult stem cell therapies (Chairman: Jeong-Chan Ra), announced the full-scale advancement of its stem cell therapy Vascostem for the treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) patients in the United States. The company aims to accelerate clinical development through the FDA's Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation. Development activities in the U.S. will be led by its wholly owned subsidiary Nature Cell America, Inc.Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) is the end-stage of peripheral arterial disease, characterized by severe pain, tissue damage, and infection. Without adequate treatment, CLI can lead to limb amputation and can be fatal. In the United States alone, approximately 150,000 patients undergo leg amputations each year due to CLI. The number of so-called "no-option CLI patients," who do not respond to existing treatments, continues to rise, highlighting a significant unmet medical need and market opportunity.Vascostem is an autologous adipose-derived stem cell therapy developed based on mechanisms that promote angiogenesis and ischemic tissue recovery, primarily targeting severe CLI patients with limited treatment alternatives.In animal studies, Vascostem demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in amputation rates. While the control group showed 100% amputation (12 out of 12 cases at above-knee level), the low-dose group showed 16.7% (2 out of 12), the medium-dose group 25% (3 out of 12), and the high-dose group 0% (0 out of 12) amputation rates.Particularly noteworthy are the clinical trial results. In human clinical trials using the medium dose (5 million stem cells per kg body weight), not a single patient among 15 total participants required above-knee amputation at the 6-month follow-up (0/15, 0%). This demonstrates a clear correlation between the amputation prevention effects observed in animal studies and clinical outcomes. The complete prevention of Major Amputation (above the knee) holds significant clinical importance. Among the 15 patients, 5 (33.3%) underwent only Minor Amputation (toes or partial foot), representing a breakthrough clinical achievement difficult to attain with conventional treatments.Substantial safety and efficacy data have already been generated through animal and clinical studies. Notably, for Buerger's disease indication, Vascostem has received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA, establishing a foundation for reduced development risk and market exclusivity.Vascostem for U.S. clinical trials will be manufactured at the Biostar Stemcell Campus GMP Center located in Baltimore, Maryland. By securing GMP manufacturing infrastructure within the U.S. in 2026, the company will establish manufacturing and quality systems compliant with FDA standards while ensuring supply chain stability for the future commercialization phase. Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Maryland Medical Center, both in close proximity to the Baltimore GMP Center, are being considered as primary candidate sites for clinical trials.Nature Cell anticipates that Vascostem will receive FDA RMAT designation in the first half of 2026. RMAT designation provides benefits such as early consultation with the FDA and priority review, contributing to shortened development timelines and enhanced approval probability. The company has presented a specific timeline: submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the second half of 2026, followed by initiation of U.S. clinical trials within the same year. If development proceeds smoothly, the company expects to enter Phase 3 clinical trials in 2028, with FDA approval in 2030 and U.S. market launch in 2031.Nature Cell's Chairman Jeong-Chan Ra stated, "Limb amputation due to critical limb ischemia is a grave issue that threatens not only patients' quality of life but their very lives. Building on our successful U.S. development experience with Jointstem, we are reviving Vascostem's previously suspended journey toward U.S. approval." He continued, "Based on already secured animal study and clinical trial data, as well as our GMP manufacturing infrastructure in the U.S., we are pursuing an accelerated development strategy through RMAT designation, targeting FDA approval by 2030. Given our existing research achievements, the probability of success is very high - it's merely a matter of time to commercialization. We are committed to providing this limb-saving and life-saving stem cell therapy to American patients as quickly as possible, solidifying Nature Cell's global leadership in stem cell therapeutics." For inquiries, contact Biostar's Marketing Department at 02-6978-9209, 02-6978-9225.SOURCE: Nature Cell
PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-23 21:24:06

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Coupang, Inc. ("Coupang" or the "Company") (NYSE:CPNG). 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 Coupang and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until February 17, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Coupang 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 November 30, 2025, Reuters published an article reporting that Coupang had "apologized . . . over the breach of personal information from 33.7 million customer accounts through unauthorized data access" and that the government of South Korea had "held an emergency meeting" to "look[] into whether Coupang violated safety rules regarding personal information protection[.]"On this news, Coupang's stock price fell $1.51 per share, or 5.36%, to close at $26.65 per share on December 1, 2025.Then, on December 10, 2025, the New York Times published an article reporting that Coupang's Chief Executive Officer had resigned in connection with the data breach and providing additional details on the fallout from the data breach, including a police raid on Coupang's offices in Seoul.On this news, Coupang's stock price fell $0.87 per share, or 3.2%, to close at $26.06 per share on December 10, 2025.Then, on December 16, 2025, Coupang acknowledge the breach in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and revealed that the South Korean regulatory and law enforcement investigations uncovered that "a former employee may have obtained the name, phone number, delivery address, and email address associated with up to 33 million customer accounts, and certain order histories for a subset of the impacted accounts." On this news, Coupang's stock price fell $0.47 per share, or 2.03%, to close at $22.72 per share on December 17, 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
The military patrol tasked with guarding the mega-prison known as Encuentro  one of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboas most ambitious projects in the coastal province of Santa Elena  skidded along the dusty road. At least six soldiers and police officers got out of the truck; their boots kicked up clouds of dust as they intercepted a group of local villagers who, accompanied by a lawyer from the Guayaquil Human Rights Committee (CDH) and several journalists, were attempting to document the environmental impact the prison has had on the river that winds just a few meters away, alongside the stone wall surrounding the penitentiary complex. Im a member of the Don Lucas community, said Donald Cabrera, sounding annoyed. Since learning about the governments plans to build the prison on their land, Cabrera has protested relentlessly, outraged by the damage to biodiversity.

Part of the prison is built on communal lands that have been stewarded by the local inhabitants for centuries. It is a natural area that hosts forests of enormous ceibo trees and serves as a refuge for endemic birds. That land, at the foot of the majestic Chongon-Colonche mountain range, had never before been touched by activities that could disrupt its natural balance, its defenders explain. As the villagers handed their ID cards to the patrol chief, tensions rose. The officer reviewed the papers and explained that access to the area was prohibited, even though it is the road connecting several nearby communities. He also demanded the images that the photographer accompanying the group had captured with a drone over the river running through the Don Lucas community, located about 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) from the prison. The soldier copied them to his phone to check that none included the prison itself. He immediately forbade them from proceeding. No one can prevent people from freely traveling on these roads, Cabrera protested, to no avail. The other police officers and soldiers warned them not to travel that route again.

Military checkpoints have intensified in the area since November 10, when the first prisoners arrived at the facility. That day, Lidia Avelino saw a military armored vehicle for the first time. She was impressed by its size, she says, as it passed in front of her house, shaking the brick walls. She felt afraid, she remembers. Now the military searches us, pats us down from head to toe to see what were carrying, the woman recounts with concern.

Community members protest the construction of a prison in Santa Elena on June 21, 2024. Vicente Gaibor

The Noboa administration began transferring prisoners to the facility in the midst of the controversial referendum called in September to create a Constituent Assembly, even though the prison was not yet finished, as the president acknowledged in an interview: Its not at 100%, but its already [about] 35%, 40% complete.

What little is known about the interior of the center  intended to house leaders of criminal gangs  comes from photographs shared by the president and his ministers on social media. The first of these images was posted by Noboa on X and shows former vice president Jorge Glas, who was detained in three corruption cases filed by the Attorney Generals Office. Noboa wrote with an ironic tone: Welcome to your new home. More criminals will arrive soon. That day, the first 300 prisoners were transferred. A month later, 640 inmates are already being held.

The construction of the prison has been surrounded by controversy due to its environmental impact. To build it, 16 hectares of forest were cleared and a hill was leveled. Five octagonal pavilions, four yards, three security fences, and six watchtowers were erected, according to an image shared by Interior Minister John Reimberg. The local villagers learned about the opening of the prison through their rivers. One morning, Lidia and her husband went to the small plot where they grow what they need to survive, and along the way they smelled a stench that stopped them in their tracks. It was black, it stank. We had to cover our noses, the woman recalls. She says they saw feces floating in the water. They complained to the prison administration, and officials promised to redirect the wastewater, but, Lidia says, it will end up in the river anyway.

Disruption to community life

Angela Dominguez, 84, gazes at the water with resignation. Everyone used to bathe here. We called it the little beach. The water was clear. Now look at it, she says. In this rural area, there is no drinking water or sewage system. The electrical grid is unreliable, as are cell phone and internet signals. For decades, the river was the only source of sustenance for the roughly 20,000 villagers in the Chanduy sector. Women would store water in pots, boil it to drink, and beat clothes against the rocks when they gathered to wash together. It was a place for community. But now no one can bathe, says Lidia. The water stings the skin, she says.

Organizations such as the Guayaquil Human Rights Committee warned about the consequences of the prisons construction. The CDH has filed reports and lawsuits against the building of the facility. It was obvious that a mega-project with hundreds of people would have an environmental impact, explains Telmo Jaramillo, a CDH lawyer. The organization demanded that authorities explain how they plan to manage the waste generated by the prison or its sewage. Anywhere else in the city they would build a treatment plant, but here they decided to dump the wastewater into the stream, the lawyer denounces. The CDH is preparing a new request for precautionary measures so that a judge can force the state to immediately repair the environmental damage caused by the prison.

But for the residents of Don Lucas, it may already be too late: the river is contaminated, the road that once connected the communities ends at a wall guarded by soldiers, and peace  the kind that had defined the community for generations  has been shattered by the passage of military tanks.

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., December 22, 2025. 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 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 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=48531call 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.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., December 22, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) between February 27, 2023 and November 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 16, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Perrigo 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 Perrigo. class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48085 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 16, 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) the infant formula business acquired from Nestle suffered from significant underinvestment in maintenance; (2) Perrigo needed to make substantial capital and operational expenditures above Perrigo's outwardly stated cost estimates to remediate the infant formula business; (3) there were significant manufacturing deficiencies in the facility for Perrigo's infant formula business; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Perrigo's financial results, including earnings and cash flow, were overstated; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Perrigo's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Perrigo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48085 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An 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.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP releases a Podcast regarding James Hardie Industries plc. (NYSE:JHX) class action securities lawsuitA Class Action lawsuit was filed on behalf of James Hardie Industries plc. investors who lost money as a result of alleged securities fraud between May 20, 2025 and August 18, 2025.Levi & Korsinsky has released a Podcast describing the nature of the action. The podcast for this class action lawsuit can be found here:According to the filed complaint, defendants made false statements and/or concealed the following adverse facts pertaining to James Hardie's North America segment: (a) primary consumer demand and growth in James Hardie's North America segment were deteriorating; (b) overstocking was the primary driver of North America growth during the Class Period, not primary consumer demand; (c) a result, there was excessive inventory at James Hardie's North America distributors.If you have any questions about this class action lawsuit or any other sudden or unexpected stock loss, feel free to contact Levi & Korsinsky at (212)-363-7500.You can also find recent podcasts regarding other class actions lawsuits and topics which are of interest to shareholders that have lost money in the stock market, here:LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Doing laundry used to feel like a never-ending cycle of buying detergent, measuring pods, fighting stubborn odors, and worrying about what harsh chemicals were touching my family's clothes. No matter how many brands promised "deep clean" or "fresh scent," the results were often the same. Faded fabrics, lingering smells, irritated skin, and another bulky detergent bottle added to the shelf. That frustration is exactly why Tropi Clean Pineapple has been gaining massive attention and climbing Google search trends across the United States.At first glance, Tropi Clean Pineapple looks almost too simple to be effective. It's a compact, reusable laundry tool shaped like a cheerful pineapple, designed to replace traditional detergents entirely. No liquids. No powders. No pods. Just drop it into your washing machine and let it do the work. Yet what makes this product so compelling is not the design, but the real-world results thousands of households are reporting after switching to it.Unlike standard detergents that rely on strong surfactants and artificial fragrances, TropiClean Pineapple laundry system takes a different approach to cleaning. It focuses on lifting dirt, neutralizing odors, and refreshing fabrics without leaving behind chemical residue. For families dealing with sensitive skin, musty towels, work clothes that never seem to smell clean, or simply rising laundry costs, this product positions itself as a smarter long-term alternative.Another reason TropiClean Pineapple is trending is its value proposition. One unit is designed to last up to 200 washes, which can translate into months of detergent-free laundry for the average household. In an era where grocery prices keep rising, the idea of buying once and reusing again and again is extremely appealing. Many users report saving hundreds of dollars a year by eliminating repeat detergent purchases altogether.What also sets TropiClean Pineapple apart is its eco-conscious appeal. Traditional detergents often send chemical runoff into water systems and rely on plastic packaging that quickly piles up. Tropi Clean Pineapple offers a reusable, low-waste alternative that aligns with modern sustainability concerns without asking users to sacrifice cleaning performance. That balance between effectiveness, affordability, and environmental responsibility is a major reason it continues to sell out.This review takes a closer, honest look at TropiClean Pineapple, how it fits into everyday laundry routines, and why so many users are making the switch. From real household use to cost savings and fabric care, we'll break down what makes this product different and whether it truly lives up to the growing hype.Swipe Now for 50% OFF and see why so many families are replacing detergent with TropiClean Pineapple while inventory is still available.What Is Tropi Clean Pineapple and Why Are Households Switching to It?TropiClean Pineapple is a reusable laundry cleaning solution designed to replace traditional detergent entirely. Instead of pouring liquid, scooping powder, or tossing in pods, this product works as a standalone laundry companion that goes directly into your washing machine with your clothes. It's compact, lightweight, and shaped like a pineapple, but its real value lies in what's inside and how it changes the way laundry gets done.At its core, Tropi Clean Pineapple is built for people who want cleaner clothes without the drawbacks of conventional detergents. Most detergents rely on aggressive chemicals and artificial fragrances to force stains and odors out of fabric. Over time, those same chemicals can cling to clothes, dull colors, irritate skin, and leave washing machines smelling sour. TropiClean Pineapple takes a gentler, detergent-free approach that focuses on effective cleaning without residue.What makes this product especially appealing is its simplicity. There's no measuring, no overdosing, and no risk of detergent buildup. You simply place TropiClean Pineapple into the wash drum, add your clothes, and run your cycle as usual. It works in hot, warm, or cold water and can be used in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines. When the cycle ends, you remove it and reuse it again for the next load.Another defining feature of the TropiClean Pineapple laundry system is longevity. One unit is engineered to last up to 200 washes, making it a long-term alternative rather than a recurring purchase. For many families, that means months of laundry without needing to restock detergent. This long lifespan is one of the key reasons it has gained attention among cost-conscious households looking to reduce ongoing expenses.TropiClean Pineapple is also positioned as a cleaner option for people who struggle with detergent sensitivity. Because it doesn't rely on perfumes, dyes, or harsh additives, users often report fewer skin reactions and no overpowering scent clinging to their clothes. Instead of masking odors with fragrance, Tropi Clean Pineapple focuses on removing the source of smells, leaving fabrics fresh without smelling artificial.In short, TropiClean Pineapple is not a fragrance booster or fabric softener replacement. It's a full detergent alternative built around reuse, simplicity, and fabric-friendly cleaning. That combination of convenience, savings, and gentler laundry care is exactly why it's becoming a go-to choice for modern households and why search interest around TropiClean Pineapple continues to rise.Buy Now for 50% OFF + FREE Dryer BallGET MY TropiClean PineappleHow TropiClean Pineapple Cleans Without Detergent or Harsh Chemicals (TropiClean Pineapple Reviews)What makes TropiClean Pineapple stand out is not just that it replaces detergent, but how it manages to clean clothes without relying on soap, perfumes, or chemical additives. Most people assume detergent is the only way to remove dirt and odors from fabric, yet this laundry innovation works on a completely different principle that focuses on water performance rather than chemical force.Inside the Tropi Clean Pineapple shell are specially engineered mineral-based components designed to interact with water during the wash cycle. When the machine starts, these components help alter the water's behavior, allowing it to penetrate fabric fibers more efficiently. As a result, dirt, oils, and odor-causing particles are loosened and carried away with the rinse water instead of being trapped and masked by detergent residue.This process is especially effective for everyday laundry where buildup is the real problem. Over time, conventional detergents can coat fabrics, making them stiff, dull, and prone to holding onto smells. TropiClean Pineapple works in the opposite
Seplat Energy said it has wrapped up the conversion of its two onshore operations, Seplat West and Seplat East Onshore, to a new industry fiscal system that gives more room for output expansion, investment and cost efficiency.

The change means Nigerias biggest energy firm by market value is adopting the operational model laid out by the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA), while letting go of the framework of the old Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) regime, known for heaping high tax burdens on oil producers.

Conversion to the PIA fiscal regime has been an important focus for Seplat and we are delighted to have delivered, along with our respective JV partners, the conversion of our onshore operated assets to the PIA regime, CEO Roger Brown said in a statement Tuesday.

Mr Brown expects the switch to boost profitability and cash flow in the corporations onshore activities going forward, and said he is upbeat about the value the move will unlock.

Towards that end, the new direction has been integrated into Seplats medium-term growth plans for guidance.

OMLs 4, 38 & 41 and 53, four onshore assets which together delivered 31 per cent of Seplats output in the first three quarters of this year, are the facilities so far converted.

Seplat holds a 45 per cent working interest in each of the joint ventures in which the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company owns the remaining shares.

The oil driller has set itself a 2027 cutoff date for its offshore business to similarly adopt the framework.

PIA

The PIA, the culmination of a broad fiscal, operational and regulatory overhaul of the Nigerian oil and gas sector four years ago, seeks to make the industry more competitive and investor-friendly among other objectives.

Apart from offering favourable tax rates to producers, compared to the PPT, it requires the petroleum minister to secure the recommendation of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) before granting OMLs, now petroleum mining leases (PMLs), to applicants.

That condition, absent in the old law, is targeting regulatory clarity, while preventing abuse of power.

In situations where the minister refrains from notifying the regulator of his decision on an applicants request for a lease or license within a 90-day period, the application shall be considered granted.

Seplat, which is quoted in Lagos and on the main board of the London Stock Exchange, said it has fulfilled all of NUPRCs technical and regulatory requirements alongside joint venture partners.

It plans to kick-start the implementation of the framework from January, having obtained new PML and Petroleum Prospecting Lease numbers.

Seplat is valued at N3.5 trillion at the end of trading hours in Lagos on Tuesday.
Kotei chewed on the flameless cigarette between two fingers on his left hand, regretting it was the last he took from the pack. He wished the manufacturers could load more into the paper box. He wouldnt mind the cost, as long as it reduced the frequency of his visits to Handzin Ayen, two streets away, for the stuff. This would also ensure he would not run out of the stuff too early. But there was a bigger worry: for years he had always failed his New Year resolution to quit the smoke.

At the moment, Kotei was in the Yuletide loop. In a few days, the year would be running its course and make a demand on him to decide on old ways to disallow from following him into the incoming one.

Instinctively, Kotei holding a pack of cigarettes, would recite the legend: I promise not to smoke again. I wont ever go to Handzi Ayen for the cigarettes, even if she asks me to come for them for free. Im now going to smoke these ones as a parting shot. Thereafter its bye-bye. They go away from me. Depart with the departing year. You wont go with me into the new one. So, help me God!

But Kotei never stood by his decision. He would exhaust the pack he summoned as witness to his vow. After a few hours, not days or weeks, of abstinence in the new year, hed return to the divorced love. He would say his business as a fisherman that exposed him to the cold waters of the Atlantic coastline of Accra was the tempting culprit. He would argue that he needed the lit sticks to warm his system as he braved the chilly waters for his livelihood. And all the year, the two would be inseparable, the man and his tobacco. The caution of early death for consumers was phantom. Kotei was forty-two years; he was still alive after embracing the brown-end paper stick for more than two decades. It was difficult for him to remember the exact circumstances that brought him into the practice he sought to disown now.

Not so for his move into drinking akpeteshie, the local liquor. It was Koteis second companion. The fisherman clearly knew the date and time of their union. One evening, a man he knew in their seaside

neighborhood was in a pub when he saw youthful Kotei walk by. He asked the lad to buy him kenke and its accompaniments of fried fish and pepper. Returning, the boy dropped the food and the change of a few pesewas. But the man would not let go of Kotei.

Let me appreciate you, he said. I wont give you money. He asked Kotei if he had ever drunk alcohol.

No.

I can see youre a good boy. Im going to give you a little drink to prepare you for life. Only a sip. You need only a little now. Once it gets into you, it will create a world of its own to join yours for a lasting bond. It will look for you. And you will look for it.

Kotei took it. And, as his new-found adult mentor predicted, he entered into a long-lasting link with the home-grown gin. He didnt plan to become a fisherman; but when he did, he ran straight into the waiting embrace of a prophecy.

Somehow, drinking wasnt a gnome he feared like smoking. He could not bring himself to seeking its ban in his life. He believed he wasnt addicted to the bottle like he was to smoking. He could tame the urge to drink. Tobacco was the troubling evil genius hed pay any price to outlaw. He sometimes wondered what it would have been like if he had also admitted wee (marijuana) into the mix. He felt the triad would have destroyed him, given the heavy toll only a duo was already exacting on his time and finances. He wasnt reckoning with the health impact, yet. It hid in the patient future.

Now, it was cigarettes that stalked him. At home. When eating. In public places. At sea. In bed. In toilet spaces. When taking a walk. It was all round him. They were married.

Once, he joked that if he got a wife, it would be a tough task deciding who owned the home: the fumes from his tobacco or the smoke from the kitchen with his wife busy preparing food for the family. Well, women wormed their way in. But none, four of them, stayed. Three, five, six, eight months of being live-in partners, they were gone.

Nobody knew the real reasons for the brevity of these unconsummated relationships. Only the fourth, packaged for him by Auntie Korkor, spoke of her days with Kotei.

I couldnt continue with him because I cant live with a spirit. I believe hes a spirit. He leaves the bed deep into the night to smoke in the toilet. Sometimes, I hear the doors of the house opening and closing. He heads for the shores to smoke facing the ocean waves. I think being a spirit, Kotei communes with fellow spiritsI had to run from him. I feared he might one day return with sex-hungry papa water friends denied the act by their angry mammy water spouses.

She left when Auntie Korkor was discussing arrangements to get her and Kotei marry formally. She was shattered. But what could she do to stop a woman scared of living with a spirit-being poised to share her with kindred spirits?

Kotei claimed the four women just left without informing him, before or after their exit. He always came back from work to meet an empty home. They checked out the way they checked in: a roomy Ghana-must-go-bag, with enough space to add new clothing a doting husband might decide to offer a new bride. Kotei found none of his belongings missing upon the womens flight.

Some were even generous. They left him his favorite dinner: banku (corn meal), enmomi flor (okro soup) with crab, shrimp and fish.

Im half-married to my dinner. I can go without breakfast. I can do without lunch. But never without dinner, the fisherman would tell every new arrival. Im home every Tuesday and Sunday, so Ill take all the meals on those days, except I decide otherwise. But home or not home, I must have the food in the night, even if I come home late. If you comply, youll take over completely from the other woman, my dinner.

He told concerned friends and relations: We didnt quarrel. I dont recall any misunderstanding prior to their departure. I never maltreated any of them. I gave them money. I never cheated on them. I played my role as a man. You all know me. Am not a womanizer like some of you. So I dont understand this spirit-being matter Auntie Korkors woman is bringing up.

He said those who came and went away werent the ideal ladies for him. They lacked the temperament and discipline to subject themselves to the likes and dislikes of the head of the family, as demanded in the African tradition. The right one would come and find him a perfect partner. He would stay with him to set up the happy home of a man, his wife and children.

Kotei didnt seem to be missing these women. He could go shopping himself; if that failed, he had girls and boys in the community he could ask to do the market runs for him. Cooking? He was a chef himself. He picked the culinary skills from Mama Sarah, his mother, now aged and living at Tema, another coastal city several kilometres from Accra. He also took some great tips from Auntie Korkor, his eldest sister living with her family at Mamprobi, a suburb of Accra.

Her two children often came visiting Kotei at James Town. He would take them to the beach, showing them the Light House and the story behind it. Then they would observe the sprawling Ussher Fort and ask questions.

Ussher Fort was built hundreds of years ago, Uncle Kotei told the boys. It became a slave dungeon in the days of the slave trade. The white men came from Europe and stole our people to work under very harsh conditions in plantations in faraway America. They first kept them in chains here before shipping them out of Ghana. But later, Ussher Fort was converted into a prison. Let me shock you. Our founding president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was imprisoned here. It was while here that he won the election and he was freed. He became the prime minister and later the president of Black Africas first independent nationSo you can see youre stepping on the grounds of history here in James Town.

Kotei wasnt a fisherman tethered only to the marine world. He didnt go beyond the secondary school. However thanks to the forward-looking system of education in the country in the early years that followed Independence from British colonial rule, what Kotei got was sufficient to give him some foothold in life. He could read and interpret or analyze the political developments around. He read the newspapers, listened to the radio and watched the TV to stay informed. He read the popular novels of the era written by Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie, James Hadley Chase etc.

His fishing friends were sometimes awed by his broad outlook to life. They would wonder if he was in the right company. If they asked why he didnt go for more education, hed tell them it was a tale for another day. Two young fishers who fondly called him professor said they would continue to be a thorn in his flesh until he told the story. Theyd spend a night or two with him, hoping the man would unveil the secret; but the older man would lure them into silence with dinner, gin and cigarettes over a long night leading into an unstoppable dawn sneaking up on them and whipping them into a longer day for a battle with fishes on the high seas.

Once, they planned to get him through his stomach. They left the beach early evening, telling an unsuspecting Kotei they were summoned home for a short family business. Hours later close to midnight, Kotei arrived home to meet the boys waiting in front of his apartment.

Why are you not home? Any trouble after the family meeting?

Welcome back, Ataa Kotei!

Yes. Thanks! Why are you here?

Helping Kotei unpack and open the door, they said, Lets get in first, please. Then well explain. Theres no problem at all.

A few minutes after changing from his fishing gear to the home wear, Kotei asked his guests to speak while he prepared dinner.

No, onukpa. We brought you your signature dish.

Why? Im your host. I have enough to go round. And by the way, who says you can do the staple better than the eater?

Weve put in the modern touch.

I prefer it the way my old mother and Auntie Korkor mentored me.

Ataa, were setting the table for a delicious deal. Enjoy it.

OK! I will. But you havent told me why youre here and the outcome of your family meeting earlier this evening.

As he ate and gave his young guests what he called half-pass marks for their effort, he asked again, Why are you here? Is it about the family meeting.

Ofai ne, its nothing to do with the meeting. There was no meeting! We came to get the story you promised through your bowels. We believe that when your system is satisfied with our meal, it will release the treasure we have desired for long. This is the day.

You are relentless seekers and adventures! You dont want to accept my terms that the time isnt ripe for the story. And you think bribing me with atroma will move the gateway of the food to convince the memory to bring out its frozen deposit when its time to be thawed is yet in the future?

After that statement, the three were again visited by their past: they ate and drank and smoked and slept

Kotei had long made up his mind that one Christmas Day he would get the young fishers for a special dinner. It wouldnt be for any adesan about why he didnt proceed to the tertiary institution. It would just be to honour the boys for their loyalty. He had not been able to do so. This year he wasnt going to. Instead, he planned a quiet evening with himself and his dinner and his bottle and his tobacco.

So, on Xmas Eve, the fisherman stayed away from the sea, dedicating the entire day to purchases. He ruled out any outing on Christmas Day, except briefly at dusk to collect a gift sent him by a friend from Kumasi. It would be dropped at the Kings Palace, just a few minutes walk from his residence.

For the Xmas supper, he prepared a large stew of fish, snail, crab, shrimps, wele, beef and liver and kidney. They would go with banku, konmi or fufui. He didnt have to pound the fufui; Serwas Chop Bar nearby offered the wraps aplenty, with or without soup. They reported fresh, for takeaway or on-the-spot action.

He often stored them in his refrigerator, public electricity not a concern in Accra. Supply was almost all-day, all night.

As the fisherman got busy in the kitchen, he sang and danced, thrilled by the aroma the cooking exuded. It spoke of the great taste on the way. It wafted out into the streets; passers-by asked if a competition was taking place to pick the cook of the year.

Kotei resisted the urge to fly outside and tell them that there was activity in his kitchen beyond cooks assembling their works before judges for assessment and expecting grades and prizes. He wanted to tell them that the gods themselves had descended into his apartment to offer him ambrosia, the special food reserved for their clan. But who would believe him? A fisherman hosting the exalted gods when they could gone to the homes of kings, presidents, top politicians, chiefs etc.? Did they miss their way and ended up in the humble home of a lowly earthling?

Well, Kotei consoled himself, did not the birth of the Child Jesus the whole world was celebrating take place in a despised setting? Did not Jesus Himself have a poor background? Was not His earthly father a carpenter, an occupation hardly reckoned with by the arrogant of society?

Perhaps, Kotei began to contemplate, he should invite some of the elite in the area for the master Xmas dinner he was preparing so they would know that something good could come out of a local fisherman. If they experienced his comestible skills, their persuaded and pacified palate might recommend him to chef the president and his family. Yes, it can work. But, he concluded, the strategy should be for a later time in the years ahead. He didnt plan for this grand idea this season.

The fisherman ended his work in the kitchen at the time darkness was about swallowing the day into its bosom for complete control. It had taken him several hours of labour in the hot scullery. He used to drop the joke that the cookhouse was a kind of hospital labour room, where the pregnant entered to return with a bundle of joy. Whats more delightsome than those bouncing little babies you bring forth after going into pangs of labour following nine months of carrying them in the belly.

It was time to fetch the package in the palace. But first he set the table, not wanting to do so on his return. All he wanted to do on coming back was to pounce on the food, to feast like a king. After all, would he not be making a trip back from the home of a royal personality?

Kotei had drinks at home. But he stopped by at Apollo Joint for a few shots of local gin and some banter with friends. The background of Xmas carols from the big loudspeakers in the small salon hardly allowed the equally noisy patrons to hear each other. Kotei left, whipping himself for going there.

Back home as he made to open the door and enter the apartment, he lacerated himself more, asking why a person poised for regal relish should ruin the prospect by lowering himself into ear-deafening depths.

The fisherman was plunged into a worse abyss with the scene that confronted him in the sitting room when he switched on the lights. The plates of banku and stew had been overturned. There were pieces of meat, fish, intestines, snail etc. floating on water mixed with akpetesie on the tiled floor. Shards of broken glasses littered the room. Cigarettes had dropped from the pack to rest on the still rivers of water close to the door where Kotei stood, petrified, unable to make any sense of what was going on.

Then his left eye caught a movement towards the small kitchen. He shifted his attention there. It was a large brown cat. It had a big fish in its mouth. It was motionless, watching the fisherman to determine its next move. Kotei too was calculating: to attack or not to attack the source of a scene that looked like a battlefield? The fisherman was wondering where the animal came from and how it came in.

Kotei finally decided that perfect justice would only be served if he made the cat his dinner. That way, hed not only get back his dinner in the animals stomach, but also hed get cat itself as food, to complete his revenge.

But the cat, seeming to read the mind of the fisherman, attempted a flight into a cane chair beside it. Kotei flew at it; he missed the creature, which then lunged over Kotei to make an escape outside through the doorway, left open by the fisherman.

The furious fisherman pursued it into the streets. He didnt know where to look this dark Christmas night he had been denied a dinner he described the dinner of all dinners.

Banji Ojewale is a writer based in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has celebrated her release from police custody, after a two-day detention for allegedly posting private photos of Lagos pastor, Chris Okafor, who is the founder of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, on social media.

Before her arrest, Ms Ogala alleged that the pastor ruined her life after he ended their nine-year relationship and reneged on his promise to marry her.

She noted her past affairs with him, claiming Mr Okafor betrayed her by marrying another woman, Pearl, despite promising to marry her

Meanwhile, Ms Ogala was arrested for allegedly posting and later deleting an image of a man believed to be Mr Okafor in what appeared to be a private setting.

The photo showed the man shirtless, with a towel wrapped around his waist, inside a bedroom. This is his bedroom after making love. Full video dropping soon, she captioned the post.

You said Im lying; okay. You shared my naked body. Everyone will watch yours. This video is from a girl he promised to marry. She sent it to me, Ms Ogala said.

Subsequently, the actress, known for her role in Airline Babes in 2012, was arrested on Saturday during a live-streamed interview, where the host interrupted to ask, The police are in your house? a question Ms Ogala affirmed.

Freedom

However, in a series of Instagram posts, the actress celebrated her release, appreciating the efforts of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and controversial online personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VDM, in facilitating her release.

These are my guys. We are out of the Zone 2 police station. Thank you to my president, Sowore. Thanks so much to my ratel king, VDM, she said.

Backstory

The 37-year-old actress alleged that the cleric failed to honour a promise of marriage and warned that the relationship was doomed to fail.

Ms Ogala subsequently issued a formal legal notice, giving him 21 days to pay N1 billion or face court action. Her lawyers described the case as a failed marriage claim arising from the breakdown of what she said was a nine-year relationship.

Ms Ogala was seeking aggravated and general damages, citing emotional, reputational, and psychological distress she claims to have suffered following the collapse of the relationship and the way it was handled publicly. She accused the cleric of causing severe harm to her life.
The United States has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries, effective 1 January 2026, citing security concerns.

The US Embassy in Nigeria said the measure is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998, which aims to tighten immigration controls to protect US national security.

The new restriction bars entry for Nigerians seeking to enter the US as green card holders, or on B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M, and J visas.

This means that Nigerians who hold visas for business (B1), tourism (B2), combined business and tourism (B1/B2), academic studies (F), vocational or nonacademic studies (M), and exchange programmes (J) are now barred from entering the United States under the new restrictions.

The presidential proclamation also extends to all immigrant visas, save for limited exemptions.

The suspension will take effect on 1 January 2026, and will apply only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on that date and do not hold a valid visa, the US mission in Nigeria said in a statement.

The countries affected by the restrictions are Nigeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The US authorities clarified that visas issued before the effective date will not be revoked, and foreign nationals who already possess valid visas as of January 1, 2026, are not subject to the proclamation.

Visa applicants from the affected countries may still submit applications and attend interviews, but they may be found ineligible for visa issuance or admission into the United States, the statement said.

The proclamation provides exemptions for lawful permanent residents, dual nationals applying with passports from unaffected countries, US government employees eligible for Special Immigrant Visas, and participants in major international sporting events.

It also exempts ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

Last week, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the proclamation suspends the entry of Nigerians seeking to travel to the US as immigrants or under B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, which cover business, tourism, academic, vocational, and exchange programmes.

The White House cited the activities of radical Islamist groups, Nigerias persistent security crisis, and difficulties in verifying applicants backgrounds as reasons for the decision.

It also cited what it said was a high rate of visa overstays by Nigerian nationals.

The Trump administration further directed consular officers to reduce the validity of other nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians to the extent permitted by law.

The restrictions come weeks after the US designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, following accusations by President Donald Trump that Nigeria supports Islamic extremists persecuting Christians. The Nigerian government has denied the claim, describing the crisis as complex.

Diplomatic engagements on Nigerias security situation have continued, with high-level delegations exchanged between both countries in the last month.

According to the White House, the restrictions are intended to encourage cooperation from foreign governments, reduce visa overstay rates, enforce immigration laws, and advance national security and counterterrorism objectives.

The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are necessary: to garner cooperation from foreign governments, including as to reducing overstay rates of their nationals; enforce our immigration laws; and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives, the proclamation read.

The US government also imposed a total travel ban on Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Syria, and Sudan.

It said these countries are problematic because of their record of presenting fraudulent or unreliable civil documents, criminal records, and widespread corruption.

The US government claims that travel bans are a way to protect the country against foreign terrorists and other security threats.

US authorities also said they found it difficult to properly check or verify the background, security, or risk of people coming from those countries.

The administration also stated that the countries had a general lack of stability and government control, which made vetting difficult.

The restrictions and limitations imposed by the Proclamation are necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose, garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives, the White House proclamation read.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a multi-billion naira expanse of lands approved for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government.

Judge Mohammed Umar granted the request by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

ICPCs lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved the application, which was not opposed by defence lawyer, Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of NIgeria (SAN).

Mr Umar directed the ICPC, on behalf of the federal government, to supervise the construction of the land to completion of the 962 housing units as earlier proposed.

The judge held that the supervision should be done in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the sole respondent in the case, and ensure the utilisation of the housing units by end users.

Mr Umar said, An order is hereby made for the final forfeiture of Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja measuring approximately 122015.80m2 and valued at N1,944,375,000.00 (one billion, nine hundred forty-four million, three hundred and seventy-five thousand naira.

An order is hereby made for the final forfeiture of Plot No. 4 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 157198.30 metre square and valued at N3,340,500,000.00 (three billion, three Hundred Forty Million, five hundred thousand naira), suspected of being proceeds of unlawful activity.

An order is hereby made directing the applicant, through the ICPC, to facilitate the hand-over of the forfeited properties to the respondent i.e. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity.

Mr Umar, in the ruling delivered on 11 December but which its enrolled order the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) saw on Tuesday, further directed the ICPC and FMBN to set up a committee which membership is to be drawn from both agencies to implement the completion of the project.

Preliminary forfeiture

NAN reports that Mr Umar had, on 9 July granted the anti-corruption commissions prayer to temporarily take over the lands, after Akponimisingha moved a motion ex- parte to the effect.

Mr Umar held that the interim forfeiture of the multi-billion naira assets approved by the FMBN shall be pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The land was suspected of being proceeds of an unlawful activity.

It equally sought an order directing the commission to take over and secure the said immoveable property from being converted to personal use or sold off to unsuspecting members of public.

The ICPC further sought an order directing the commission to publish a notice in any national newspaper for interested person(s) to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

What investigation revealed

Giving 14 grounds why the application should be granted, the agency said the alleged assets were allocated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) freely for the construction of 962 residential housing units through the FMBN.

An affidavit sworn by an ICPCs officer, Iliya Marcus, stat dthat the commission received an intelligence report that the FMBN engaged a private developer to construct 962 of residential housing units under National Housing Fund Scheme.

According to him, the commission in its usual characteristics of proactiveness launched a discreet preliminary investigation activities into the said intelligence report and discovered the following:

The FMBN requested and got approval to commence construction of Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate on 30 July 2012.

Mr Marcus said following the approval, a framework agreement between FMBN and Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited was entered on 27 January 2012.

He said sequel to the said framework agreement, the bank appointed a consultant for the project vide a letter dated 1 February 2012.

He said the appointment of the consultant was to assist monitor the housing project on behalf of the FMBN to report milestone to enable the bank pay the developer of the proposed estate.

He said investigation revealed that FMBN sought and obtained a loan facility of $65 million from Ecobank Limited for the construction of the 962 residential housing units through Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, a private company for the benefit of low income earners.

He said the tenure of the project was for 18 months.

Mr Marcus said the FMBN through the then managing director paid to Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited the sum of N3.785 billion as drawdown on 22 November 2012.

He said the alleged sum of money was paid as drawdown without evidence of registration with Real Estate Developers Association by Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited as pre-condition for such payment.

Investigation also revealed that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has paid the full project amount of (65 million dollars to Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited without a single house on the project site, he said.

ALSO READ: Court orders forfeiture of 246 million shares seized from top Army official

He said though the FMBN was established by the federal government to provide affordable housing support for Nigerians, from actionable intelligence available to the commission, the property developer, Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited, was making clandestine moves to sell off the said immovable property to unsuspecting members of the public.

He said if this was done, it would be difficult to recover the plots of land from them.

The officer added that if the application is not granted, the way the $65 million was dissipated without anything to show for, the land will follow the same way.

Forfeiture proceedings

Mr Akponimisingha informed the court of the motion ex parte, seeking the interim forfeiture of the two plots of land.

According to the ICPC lawyer, the land in question was part of a massive housing project initiated during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the project was reportedly awarded to the developer, said to have received $65 million, equivalent to over N14 billion at the time, from FMBN.

The estate, he said, was to be named in honour of the former president.

Mr Akponimosin, however, told the court that no single house had been constructed on the land since the funds were disbursed.

He stated that the property, presently, now worth over N200 billion, and the promoters of the company, including some American nationals, had allegedly fled and remained unreachable.

He explained that though Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited is already facing trial before Justice James Omotosho of a sister court, the forfeiture request was a separate matter aimed at securing the land for the benefit of Nigerians and FMBN.

He urged the court to grant the plea.

In his ruling, Mr Umar granted the interim forfeiture and questioned why the entire project sum was paid upfront without corresponding progress on the ground.

(NAN)
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has said Nigerians should direct more scrutiny at the federal government over the countrys persistent insecurity, arguing that security agencies and the bulk of public revenue remain under federal control.

Mr Radda made the remarks in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) Hausa, a clip of which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES after it was shared by the platform on Monday.

His comments come amid mounting public frustration over widespread banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks across several states, particularly in northern Nigeria, where residents have increasingly questioned the role of state governments in addressing the crisis. In recent months, PREMIUM TIMES has reported extensively on deadly attacks and mass abductions in states such as Zamfara, Katsina and Niger, including fresh bandit attacks that left dozens dead and displaced communities in north-west Nigeria.

Security control at the centre

Mr Radda argued that while governors are often blamed for insecurity in their states, constitutional responsibility for internal security lies largely with the federal government.

He argued that the constitutional structure places the police and military under the exclusive control of the federal government, leaving governors with limited power.

Under Nigerias Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies are centrally controlled, with governors designated as chief security officers of their states but without direct command authority over federal security formations  a structure PREMIUM TIMES has examined in previous reports on why governors lack control over the police.

The governor stated that this arrangement hinders states ability to independently address insecurity, contrary to public expectations.

Revenue, responsibility

Mr Radda linked federal control of security to revenue allocation, saying the federal government also receives the largest share of funds from the Federation Account.

According to him, the federal government receives about 52 per cent of monthly federation revenue, while the remaining share is distributed among the 36 states and 774 local government areas.

When revenue is shared, 52 per cent goes to the Federal Government, he said. It is the remaining 48 per cent that is shared among states and local governments.

Checks by PREMIUM TIMES show that the claim broadly aligns with the current revenue-sharing formula approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which allocates 52.68 per cent to the federal government, 26.72 per cent to states and 20.60 per cent to local governments, as outlined in the commissions official breakdown of the federation revenue allocation formula.

Continuing his criticism of the federal government, the Katsina governor said, For decades, the federal government has received the larger share of the federation revenue. So the question Nigerians should ask is: where has the bulk of that money gone?

FG response to insecurity

The federal government has repeatedly stated that it is intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity through expanded military operations, increased troop deployments, and the procurement of new equipment.

President Bola Tinubu and senior security officials have cited rising defence and security budgets as evidence of the administrations commitment to addressing the crisis. In the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, Nigerias defence and security spending increased significantly. The president has also recently approved the mass recruitment of personnel by the police and the army. He has also urged the National Assembly to amend Nigerias constitution to allow states operate their own police.

However, rights groups and security analysts argue that despite increased spending, insecurity has continued to worsen in several parts of the country.

READ ALSO: Governor Radda commissions Katsina LG digital learning centre

Governors, corruption claims

Mr Radda also rejected blanket allegations of corruption often directed at governors, warning against what he described as sweeping generalisations.

Leadership is a matter of individual integrity, he said, adding that elected officials should be assessed on their conduct rather than collective assumptions.

Capital projects, local economies

The governor also defended his administrations continued investment in capital projects, saying such spending helps stimulate local economies despite economic hardship.

When you execute capital projects, you create jobs and bring money down to the people, he said, adding that labourers, vendors and suppliers benefit directly from such projects.
Xi congratulates Jose Antonio Kast on election as Chilean president

Xinhua) 08:04, December 23, 2025

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Jose Antonio Kast on his election as Chile's president.

Xi pointed out that Chile is the first South American country to have established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

The two countries understand and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, while practical cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.

Noting that China-Chile ties have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries, Xi said that continuously advancing the development of bilateral relations enjoys a broad consensus shared by various sectors in both countries.

Xi said he places great importance on the growth of China-Chile relations and is ready to work with President-elect Kast to carry forward traditional friendship, elevate the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The attacks have intensified, and the Mexican government acknowledges a recent increase in homicides as the sons of El Chapo and El Mayo fight for territory

The kidnapping and subsequent surrender to U.S. authorities of Ismael El Mayo Zambada by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of his former partner, drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in July 2024 at the Santa Teresa airport in El Paso, Texas, was like a metaphor for Chaos Theory. This theory states that a small disturbance, like the flap of a butterflys wings, can cause disproportionate effects thousands of miles away. This betrayal within the Sinaloa Cartel triggered, just a few months later, an all-out war between the heirs of the leaders of an international empire worth billions of dollars, generated by trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other illicit drugs. The war in that state has left a trail of violence and bloodshed that continues unabated a year later, with 1,824 murders recordedtriple the number from the previous yearand nearly 800 disappearances. Despite having fewer and fewer key players on the board, due to the constant blows Los Chapitos have received from the Mexican federal government and the Trump Administration in their war on drugs, the violence is once again escalating in a region that seems to receive no respite.

Three coolers were left on Sunday morning along the Culiacan Bypass, the road that surrounds the capital of Sinaloa and connects Mazatlan with Los Mochis. The containers, which would normally hold ice and be used to store drinks at parties, were instead used to place, piece by piece, the body of a man. His head, arms, hands, legs, torso. All dismembered as if it were a set from a horror movie, except that this is real.

Tradition dictates that Christmas and New Years celebrations begin every December, but in Sinaloa, particularly in municipalities like Culiacan, Navolato, Eldorado, Elota, San Ignacio, Cosala, Mazatlan, Concordia, and Escuinapa, the celebrations have had to wait. In just 22 days, 126 people have been murdered, including seven women. This data was compiled by EL PAIS from various sources.

Its not just about people left in remote areas, on highways, or inside homes, but also about clashes and operations in different locations, such as the three highway blockades in Escuinapa with clashes in border areas of Mazatlan, the second most important tourist capital in northwest Mexico, behind Los Cabos, Baja California.

This new chapter in the Sinaloa war has resonated all the way to the National Palace. During Mondays morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the escalating violence and admitted that homicides increased this past weekend, specifically in Escuinapa.

Yesterday [Sunday], particularly in southern Sinaloa, there were these roadblocks. And it had been averaging around 3.5 homicides a day, and it was a weekend where homicides increased, she said. Theyve been showing childrens movies on the bus screens so the kids dont see the shootings, said a man named Jose Maria who was traveling on a bus that got caught in the middle of roadblocks on December 17.

They set the trailers on fire and the shooting started. First one in front, then one in back. The driver stayed put and told us to duck when we heard gunfire. The president stated that Sinaloa had been experiencing a period of great peace until El Mayos extradition to the United States and the subsequent split within the criminal group operating in the region, a situation that, according to Sheinbaum, has not been cleared up with the U.S. government.

The president made a clear reference to the testimony of Guzman Lopez, who, in his guilty plea to two counts of drug trafficking and organized crime in Chicago on December 1, told the judge how he kidnapped and turned over the 77-year-old drug lord to the DEA and the FBI. El Mayo, who had remained a fugitive for more than 50 years despite a $15 million reward on his head, had never been imprisoned during his criminal career. In the document, the 39-year-old drug trafficker asserts that the United States government did not solicit, induce, sanction, approve, or condone the kidnapping.

Guzman Lopezs testimony has revived several unanswered questions and placed the United States involvement in the operation under scrutiny. This is despite the White Houses denial of any participation, and the insistence by both the previous and current Mexican governments that Washington is the one that must provide answers.

Since then, the northern state has been engulfed in a war between two organized crime families. Independence Day celebrations last September were canceled for the second year in a row as a result of the shootings, murders, and arson attacks on businesses that have plagued the state for over a year.

The State Attorney Generals Office reported 109 murders in November; 130 in October; 121 in September; 119 in August; and 170 in July. The trend indicated a decrease. The decrease in homicides is positive, said Governor Ruben Rocha Moya.

However, with eight days left in 2025, the number of murders has already reached 126, marking the third bloodiest year in Sinaloas recent history, comparable to the times of the so-called war on drugs during Felipe Calderons six-year term.

The crossfire between factions has also led to a surge in disappearances over the past year, with a dominant pattern: men, up to 40 years old, and from Culiacan. At least 3,304 people have disappeared in a 15-month period, according to data from the State Attorney Generals Office obtained through a freedom of information request. This information also reveals that the primary victims are young people from urban areas.

In 2025 alone, the number of cases reached 2,398, of which 393 were women, 1,997 were men, and eight were of unspecified sex. More than 60% of the cases involved people between the ages of 18 and 39. In 2024, 1,269 cases were recorded, while in 2023, there were 925. In just two years, the number of cases has practically tripled, and the number of reported cases now exceeds the number of murders.

The battle has not subsided, even though Los Chapitos are up against the ropes. Whether imprisoned, killed, extradited to the United States, or voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities as part of plea bargains to reduce sentences or avoid tariffs, this faction of the Sinaloa Cartel faces the prospect of its demise with growing concern. Only two of its leaders, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman and his brother Jesus Alfredo, remain at large, increasingly cornered by the Mexican security cabinet, which daily announces new arrests and deaths of the drug traffickers whom Washington has identified as one of the main culprits behind the fentanyl boom.

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it carried out an inspection of the Abuja operations of three domestic airlines on Monday, following multiple complaints about poor passenger handling and non-compliance with consumer protection regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The affected airlines are XE jet, Rano Air, and United Nigeria Airlines.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed this on Tuesday on his official page on X, saying the intervention became necessary after reports emerged that passengers were left stranded during flight disruptions without timely information, refreshments, or adequate support.

While we understand that December is a busy travel period, airlines are still obligated to provide essential care to their passengers, Mr Achimugu said.

He added that most airlines do not provide honest and timely information to passengers, adding that, that is not acceptable.

Most airlines do not provide timely, honest information and try to evade the provision of light refreshments two hours into a delay, as stipulated by Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. This is unacceptable. We have given an ultimatum to all airlinesnot limited to these three. We are watching, and action will be taken where necessary.

Why NCAA stepped in

During Mondays inspections, NCAA officials engaged airline staff over repeated complaints of delayed communication and failure to provide refreshments two hours into flight delays.

Mr Achimugu specifically criticised XE Jet for failing to match its premium branding with adequate customer service, saying passenger frustration was largely fueled by poor and inconsistent information.

XE jet serves as some sort of elite airline. You must be up to the standard you set for yourself. Passengers should not be complaining. You need to deal with your passengers honestly. Nigerian passengers can get angry easily, but they will calm down if they trust the information you are giving them. It is not difficult to tell passengers the truth.

For example, you can tell them, Due to technical issues being fixed, we do not have enough time for departure, but we are waiting for higher orders before passing information to you. Any sensible passenger will accept that. Then, offer refreshments when the time comes. This is simply good customer service. Provide intermittent updates. Do not assume they already know. This is our first formal visit, but next time there will be consequences. So, just fix the issue, he said.

Speaking at the terminal, Nana Raheem, NCAA Terminal Head, said the authority had observed repeated lapses in airline operations, including passengers being stranded without accommodation, refreshments, or transportation.

All your operations are not good. Even on Saturday when I called, people were stranded, no accommodation, no refreshments, no transportation, she said.

Mr Achimugu also cautioned the airline.

This visit is a formal intervention by the NCAA Consumer Protection Unit. Airlines must train their staff. The next time passengers are neglected, sanctions will follow.

In response, the XE jet customer service unit said it would look into the issues and fix them.

Addressing the Rano Air, Mr Achimugu emphasised that passengers deserve proper care during delays.

Look at a passenger who has paid his moneythese are just excuses. Your engineers are experienced enough to estimate the time required to fix technical faults, and you must have contingency plans for passengers. These are human beings, some of them your brothers and sisters.

If you keep them for that long without food, they wont like it. During this period, fares are higher than usual, so they deserve proper service. Providing light refreshments and timely information is the least you owe them. It is not excusable. The regulations are clear, he said.

Ifueko Abdulmalik, Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General of the NCAA, added: You should at least have an idea of how long a delay will last. With that, you should provide snacks and water for passengers proactively. By two hours, refreshments should be served. Passengers should receive regular updates to make alternative arrangements, instead of being left frustrated at the airport, which can lead to unruly behaviour.

READ ALSO: Abia govt restores power to 33 communities after nine years of outage

The key is communication. Updating passengers every 30 minutes prevents disorder and maintains peace, especially with high passenger volumes.

Mr Achimugu said similar warnings were issued to United Nigeria Airlines, stressing that compliance would be closely monitored.

We are particularly attentive now because airfares are high. People should not pay those fares and suffer situations that simple, timely, and honest information could have prevented. United Nigeria Airlines must fix these issues or face major ramifications. Enough is enough, he said.
Some police officers attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annex, on Monday, arrested a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Sodeeq Atanda, after allegedly detaining his wife and nine-month-old child to lure him out.

FIJs founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday evening.

They released the wife and the child and arrested Sodeeq. They handcuffed him. The wife confirmed this to me at 8:24 p.m., Mr Soyombo said.

FIJ reported that the officers first arrested Mr Atandas wife and infant at their home, detained them for hours at the Owutu Police Station in Ikorodu, Lagos, and allegedly coerced the wife into calling her husband to falsely claim that their child was ill and hospitalised.

According to the wife, the officers later drove her and the baby to a street near their home and waited until Mr Atanda arrived.

When they realised my husband was no longer far from the house, the policemen drove me and my baby to a street not far from our home, she said. And when they saw him, they handcuffed him and took him away. That was when they released my baby and me.

She said the journalist was taken to the Force Headquarters, Obalende, Lagos.

As of the time of filing this report, the IGP Monitoring Unit had not issued any statement on the arrest. PREMIUM TIMES also called the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, but she did not answer her call.

This came just a day after President Bola Tinubu urged government institutions and officials to emulate the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, who recently won recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI).

Incidentally, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, was among those blacklisted by the IPI Nigeria, due to incessant harassment of journalists by the police, while Mr Ajayi was commended for his commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.

Disputed police invitation

The arrest followed a police invitation sent to Mr Atanda on 26 November by a person who identified himself as Omo Eleniyan, claiming to be attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annex.

In a WhatsApp message seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the sender wrote: Im a police officer attached to IGP Monitoring Unit Lagos Annex An approved petition was referred to my department from the office of the inspector general of police for further investigation.

Mr Atanda responded by requesting that the invitation be formally sent to FIJs official email address. However, the sender replied: The invitation Is [sic] for you not [sic] for the organisers [sic].

When Mr Atanda explained that he worked for FIJ and that such correspondence should go through the organisation, the sender replied: Alright sir. No problem.

Previous police interrogation

This is not the first time Mr Atanda has been arrested or interrogated by the police.

In September, he was detained and questioned for about 11 hours by the Ekiti State Police Command following petitions by Abayomi Fasina, the on-leave vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

The petition accused Mr Atanda of cyberbullying, blackmail and criminal defamation over FIJs reports alleging sexual harassment by Mr Fasina against Folasade Adebayo, a director at the university.

Mr Atanda said officers of the State Intelligence Department questioned him extensively about his sources and pressured him to disclose them, a demand he refused, citing journalistic ethics.

They asked who my sources were and insisted there must be an origin of the information I published, he said. I told them I was not obligated to disclose my sources.

He also alleged that investigators attempted to dictate the contents of his written statement and questioned him over reports not directly related to the petition.

Mr Atanda was eventually released that day following the intervention of the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, who, according to the journalist, acknowledged that he was only doing his job.

Pattern of arrests

PREMIUM TIMES has documented a growing pattern of harassment and arbitrary arrests targeting Nigerian journalists. Friday Alefia, Lagos-based publisher of Naija News Today, was released after 22 days in detention at Kuje Correctional Centre following delays in meeting stringent bail conditions.

His detention followed allegations by Chinedu Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, accusing him of publishing false reports.

Mr Alefia faced five cybercrime charges and remained in custody for two months while attempting to fulfil court-mandated bail requirements.

Rights activists criticised these conditions as unrealistic and frivolous, noting the difficulty defendants face in securing senior civil servants as sureties.

Earlier in January, rights activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore similarly rejected bail conditions requiring a Level 17 civil servant, describing them as unrealistic and frivolous.

FIJ had reported incidents to include the detention of their reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who was abducted and held incommunicado for 10 days in May 2024 before being transferred to Abuja and released after public outcry.

Other FIJ reporters, including Emmanuel Uti, have also been summoned and detained by police units in Lagos and Abuja. Also, Mr Soyombo, had faced multiple arrests since the organisations launch in January 2021.

Rights groups and media advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about the use of police arrests, cybercrime charges, and restrictive bail conditions as tools to intimidate journalists and suppress investigative reporting.

Cybercrime law and media freedom concerns

The Cybercrimes Act and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) have increasingly been criticised as tools to intimidate journalists and civil society.

In December, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) warned that authorities were exploiting legal loopholes to suppress criticism and limit civic space.

Veteran journalist Richard Akinnola described the Cybercrimes Act as being weaponised by political leaders, drawing parallels with the repressive Decree 4 of 1984.

The Centre for Journalism and Innovation Development (CJID) reported a rise in attacks on media practitioners nationwide, with Lagos recording persistent high-severity violations.

SERAPs Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, warned that arbitrary arrests, digital surveillance, and SLAPP suits pose a serious threat to freedom of expression and democracy.

SERAP and NGE urged governments, security agencies, and lawmakers to release individuals detained solely for exercising their rights, withdraw SLAPP suits, review restrictive laws, including the Cybercrimes Act, protect journalists and human rights defenders, and respect court judgments.

They also appealed to the international community to hold Nigerian authorities accountable for human rights violations.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State presented the 2026 Imo budget of N1.43 trillion to the state lawmakers on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figure represented a 78 per cent increase from the 2025 budget of N807 billion.

The budget proposal was tagged Budget of Economic Breakthrough.

Presenting the budget, Mr Uzodimma said that the proposal consisted of 83.4 per cent capital expenditure and 16.6 per cent recurrent expenditure.

He stated that the proposed recurrent expenditure of approximately N238.499 billion covered personnel costs, overheads, and subsidies, while the projected capital expenditure was slightly above N1 trillion.

He said the budget was predicated on improved federal allocation and internally generated revenue, as well as his ambition to eradicate a generator-based power economy and provide world-class infrastructure to facilitate economic breakthrough.

The governor described the budget as a clear statement of my administrations direction and determination to provide needful infrastructure for economic development.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was allocated N20.506 billion, while the Health Ministry would get N698.163 billion.

He also stated that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Development was allocated N87.727 billion, while the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition would receive N6.471 billion.

Mr Uzodimma also said that the Ministry of Power and Electrification would get N190.451 billion, while the education ministry would receive N60.623 billion.

He said that the Ministry of Rural Development would receive N15.106 billion.

The governor commended the legislature for being true partners in progress and for their full support and cooperation to the executive arm of government.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Chike Olemgbe, expressed the hope that the budget would usher in increased and improved power in the state.

READ ALSO: Four hospitalised as aircraft crashes at Imo airport

Mr Olemgbe further expressed the hope for increased infrastructure projects, improved healthcare, and human capital development, as well as sustained food security.

He further hailed Mr Uzodimma for his initiatives, geared towards strengthening security in the state and assured him of the assemblys support for the actualisation of his policies.

In a vote of thanks, the Deputy Speaker, Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, commended the governor for diligently piloting the affairs of the state and for his achievements.

NAN reports that the bill was later adjourned to 23 December for the second reading.
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday night released Sodeeq Atanda, a senior investigative reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), hours after officers attached to the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit arrested him in Lagos.

FIJ reported that Mr Atanda was released a few minutes before midnight on Monday.

The President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that the journalist was released following the intervention of the institute.

Mr Mojeed who condemned the arrest, said he engaged senior police officials over the matter.

I was able to convince the police to release the gentleman last night, Mr Mojeed, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of PREMIUM TIMES, said during a phone interview.

Also, Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson, stated on Tuesday that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered Mr Atandas immediate release after being informed of his arrest.

Mr Hundeyin disclosed this in a post on his X handle while responding to a post by activist Omoyele Sowore on Monday evening.

He said the IGP was alerted to the arrest after Mr Mojeed contacted him and that the police chief expressed displeasure over the incident.

I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed, Mr Hundeyin wrote.

According to him, the IGP directed that the head of the unit responsible for the arrest be contacted and ordered to release the journalist immediately, adding that the officer would be sanctioned.

Mr Hundeyin said the IGP would not condone any action capable of undermining the polices commitment to press freedom.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that police officers attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annex, arrested Mr Atanda after allegedly detaining his wife and nine-month-old child to lure him out.

FIJs founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest to this newspaper on Monday evening.

They released the wife and the child and arrested Sodeeq. They handcuffed him. The wife confirmed this to me at 8:24 p.m., Mr Soyombo said.

According to FIJ, the officers had first arrested Mr Atandas wife and infant at their residence and detained them for several hours at the Owutu Police Station in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The organisation alleged that the officers coerced the wife into calling her husband under the pretext that their child was ill and hospitalised.

The journalists wife gave a similar account, saying the officers later drove her and the baby to a street close to their home and waited for Mr Atanda to arrive.

When they realised my husband was no longer far from the house, the policemen drove me and my baby to a street not far from our home, she said. And when they saw him, they handcuffed him and took him away. That was when they released my baby and me.

She said Mr Atanda was taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende, Lagos.

As of the time of filing this report, the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit had not issued any statement on the arrest.

Calls by PREMIUM TIMES to the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, were unanswered.

This came just a day after President Bola Tinubu urged government institutions and officials to emulate the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, who recently won recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI).

Incidentally, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, was among those blacklisted by the IPI Nigeria due to incessant harassments of journalists by the police, while Mr Ajayi was commended for his commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.

Disputed police invitation

The arrest followed a police invitation sent to Mr Atanda on 26 November by a person who identified himself as Omo Eleniyan, claiming to be attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annex.

In a WhatsApp message seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the sender wrote: Im a police officer attached to IGP Monitoring Unit Lagos Annex An approved petition was referred to my department from the office of the inspector general of police for further investigation.

Mr Atanda responded by requesting that the invitation be formally sent to FIJs official email address. However, the sender replied: The invitation Is [sic] for you not [sic] for the organisers [sic].

When Mr Atanda explained that he worked for FIJ and that such correspondence should go through the organisation, the sender replied: Alright, sir. No problem.

Previous police interrogation

This is not the first time Mr Atanda would be arrested or interrogated by the police.

In September, he was detained and questioned for about 11 hours by the Ekiti State Police Command following petitions by Abayomi Fasina, the on-leave vice-chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

The petition accused Mr Atanda of cyberbullying, blackmail and criminal defamation over FIJs reports alleging sexual harassment by Mr Fasina against Folasade Adebayo, a director at the university.

Mr Atanda said officers of the State Intelligence Department questioned him extensively about his sources and pressured him to disclose them, a demand he refused, citing journalistic ethics.

They asked who my sources were and insisted there must be an origin of the information I published. I told them I was not obligated to disclose my sources, he said.

He also alleged that investigators attempted to dictate the contents of his written statement and questioned him over reports not directly related to the petition.

Mr Atanda was eventually released that day following the intervention of the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, who, according to the journalist, acknowledged that he was only doing his job.

Pattern of arrests

PREMIUM TIMES has documented a growing pattern of harassment and arbitrary arrests targeting Nigerian journalists.

Friday Alefia, Lagos-based publisher of Naija News Today, was released after 22 days in detention at Kuje Correctional Centre following delays in meeting stringent bail conditions.

His detention followed allegations by Chinedu Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, accusing him of publishing false reports.

Mr Alefia faced five cybercrime charges and remained in custody for two months while attempting to fulfil court-mandated bail requirements.

Rights activists criticised these conditions as unrealistic and frivolous, noting the difficulty defendants face in securing senior civil servants as sureties.

Earlier in January, rights activist and former AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore similarly rejected bail conditions requiring a Level 17 civil servant, describing them as unrealistic and frivolous.

FIJ had reported incidents to include the detention of their reporter, Daniel Ojukwu, who was abducted and held incommunicado for 10 days in May 2024 before being transferred to Abuja and released after public outcry.

Other FIJ reporters, including Emmanuel Uti, have also been summoned and detained by police units in Lagos and Abuja.

Also, Mr Soyombo had faced multiple arrests since the organisations launch in January 2021.

Rights groups and media advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about the use of police arrests, cybercrime charges, and restrictive bail conditions as tools to intimidate journalists and suppress investigative reporting.

Cybercrime law and media freedom concerns

The Cybercrimes Act and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) have increasingly been criticised as tools to intimidate journalists and civil society.

In December, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) warned that authorities were exploiting legal loopholes to suppress criticism and limit civic space.

Veteran journalist Richard Akinnola described the Cybercrimes Act as being weaponised by political leaders, drawing parallels with the repressive Decree 4 of 1984.

The Centre for Journalism and Innovation Development (CJID) reported a rise in attacks on media practitioners nationwide, with Lagos recording persistent high-severity violations.

SERAPs Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, warned that arbitrary arrests, digital surveillance, and SLAPP suits pose a serious threat to freedom of expression and democracy.

The organisation and NGE urged governments, security agencies, and lawmakers to release individuals detained solely for exercising their rights, withdraw SLAPP suits, review restrictive laws, including the Cybercrimes Act, protect journalists and human rights defenders, and respect court judgments.

They also appealed to the international community to hold Nigerian authorities accountable for human rights violations.
The police in Anambra State have invited a suspended member of the state assembly, Bernard Udemezue, for questioning over alleged defamation and cyber bullying.

Mr Udemezue, who represents Ayamelum Constituency, posted a copy of the invitation on his Facebook page on Monday.

The letter, dated 17 December, was signed by Jude Ohaja, an assistant commissioner of police in Anambra State, on behalf of the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

Sequel to an ongoing investigation over a case of defamation of character, cyberbullying and false information reported against you by the Anambra State Government.

You are requested to (appear for an) interview (with) the deputy commissioner of police SCID Awka on the 23/12/2025 by 12 noon through O/C D5 Section, the letter read.

The letter did not indicate how Mr Udemezue committed the alleged offences.

Prolonged battle with the assembly, governor

Mr Udemezue, a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been in a protracted face-off with the leadership of Anambra State House of Assembly.

In a recent interview with Wazobia FM Onitsha in Anambra State, the suspended lawmaker narrated that his feud with the assembly began when an opposition lawmaker was removed from the assembly WhatsApp platform for allegedly insulting another colleague said to be an ally of the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, a member of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Mr Udemezue claimed that despite his entreaties, Mr Udeze reportedly refused to remove the APGA lawmaker who was allegedly the first to commit the act of insulting the opposition lawmaker.

The now suspended lawmaker claimed another ally of Mr Udeze later insulted him, which prompted him to ask the speaker to remove the colleague, which was not done.

So, I said, let me start to unleash my own insults. I didnt abuse anybody (without cause). I abuse those who abused me, he claimed.

He said his responses to fellow lawmakers who allegedly abused him resulted in his initial three months suspension in August for three months.

The suspension was later extended by additional three months after the suspended lawmaker allegedly failed to comply with conditions set for the lifting of his initial suspension.

In the interview, Mr Udemezue said, after his initial apology letters were rejected for not following the procedures, he rewrote the apology letter and submitted it, but has not gotten a response.

Beyond his face-off with the assembly, Mr Udemezue has been critical of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, who is also a member of APGA.

In one of his posts on Facebook on 28 November, the suspended lawmaker claimed the governor has sometimes spent (money) without budgeting.

The suspended lawmaker also accused Mr Soludo of disrespecting Anambra State by failing to bow to the House mace after laying the 2026 budget estimates in November.

When you bow to the mace, youre not bowing to a stick, Mr Speaker or the House but to the 30 constituencies that make up Anambra State and such despicable disregard for the Mace implies disregard for the appropriation to be done by the House, he said.

He later suggested that the lawmakers present during the incident kept quiet because maybe the governor sponsored their elections to the assembly.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed oil and gas companies to begin an annual salary deduction from its members to fund the activities of the PENGASSAN Foundation, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm.

However, the directive has sparked resistance among some union members.

In a circular dated 8 December and signed by the Acting General Secretary, Jerry Amah, the directive was addressed to all managements in the oil and gas sector.

The union said the decision was taken by its National Executive Council (NEC) at a virtual meeting held on 15 June and reaffirmed at a follow-up meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on 4 December.

Under the directive, employers are to deduct either 1.5 per cent of consolidated monthly salaries or 3 per cent of basic monthly salaries, as applicable, from PENGASSAN members, beginning with their January 2026 salaries.

PENGASSAN said the deduction would be made once a year and applied to funding the activities of the PENGASSAN Foundation.

This deduction will be made once a year and used to fund the activities of PENGASSAN Foundation, our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outfit, the union stated.

The association also provided remittance details, directing that the deducted funds be paid into the foundations account, number 1229855163, domiciled with Zenith Bank.

It urged all managements to support the initiative, saying the foundation aims to expand its social impact.

We count on your usual support as we strive to touch more lives and empower communities, the union said.

Complaints

The directive has, however, triggered discontent among some members of the union, who have filed an official complaint with Abiodun Essiet, a Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central).

On Tuesday, Mrs Essiet confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that she had received a complaint from some federal government workers under the union and that the matter had been forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and the plPresidency for necessary action.

Yes, I have forwarded their concerns to the Ministry of Labour and the Presidency for further action, she said in an interview.

According to a report, the aggrieved workers argued that the directive contravened Section 5 of the Nigerian Labour Act, which regulates deductions from workers wages.

They also maintained that the proposed CSR deduction did not fall within the category of mandatory statutory deductions and therefore requires explicit individual consent.

Based on this, the affected workers have appealed for urgent intervention to review the legality of the proposed deduction, warning against what they described as coercion and intimidation of federal government employees.

They also demanded that the union leadership ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Labour Act and other applicable labour regulations.

PENGASSAN is one of Nigerias most influential labour unions in the oil and gas sector and an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

The union says its CSR interventions through the PENGASSAN Foundation typically focus on community development, education and social welfare initiatives.

In September, the unions nationwide strike due to the crisis between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals disrupted major oil and gas operations in the country.

It also led to a resurgence of black market petrol sellers in Abuja, Nigerias capital city. The union shelved its industrial action only after a resolution was reached in October.
Kidnappers who abducted 28 travellers in Plateau State have demanded a ransom of 1.5 million for each victim, a relative of one of the abducted persons has said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the travellers were kidnapped in the Zak community, Bashar District of the Wase Local Government Area.

The victims, men, women and children, were seized on Sunday night while travelling to attend a Maulud event in Sabon Layi community, also in Bashar District.

Gunmen reportedly ambushed their vehicle, abducted the occupants and abandoned the bus by the roadside.

A relative of one of the victims, Ibrahim Musa, told journalists on Tuesday that the abductors contacted the families to make their demands.

The kidnappers called me last night and said we must pay 1.5 million for each person, irrespective of age or gender, Mr Musa said. They told us our relatives arrived safely at their camp and are in good condition.

Mr Musa said he appealed to the abductors to reconsider the amount, explaining that the families were poor and could not raise such sums.

I told them we are villagers and dont have that kind of money. Things are very difficult for us. Some of those abducted are teenagers, and their parents cannot afford the ransom. I pleaded with them to show mercy, he added.

The Plateau State Police Command had earlier confirmed the abduction, saying investigations were ongoing to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that kidnapping for ransom is rampant in Plateau and many other states in Nigeria. Various armed groups do the kidnappings and target a variety of people, including travellers, students and security operatives.
No one was injured after a Lagos train collided with a Toyota Hiace bus on Monday night at Arena, Oshodi, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed.

In a preliminary report signed by the agencys Permanent Secretary, Olufemi OkeOsanyintolu, LASEMA said it responded immediately after receiving distress alerts through its tollfree lines.

Following distress alerts at 7:53 pm, LASEMA activated the State Emergency Response Plans from its Cappa Base, Oshodi, the report stated.

The agencys response team arrived at 8:11 pm to find a white Toyota Hiace bus, registration number AGL671XR, trapped on the tracks after being struck by an oncoming train. Preliminary investigations indicate the crash was caused by reckless driving by the bus operator.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was reckless driving by the bus driver while exiting the Arena shopping complex, Oshodi, LASEMA said.

Although the collision caused significant damage to the bus, no injuries or fatalities were reported. LASEMA officials conducted a risk assessment and implemented safety measures to prevent further incidents.

Train operations were temporarily halted to evacuate the bus, which has since been removed and towed to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) yard in Oshodi.

The rail track has been cleared, and normal operations have resumed. Recovery operations have been successfully concluded, LASEMA added.

Not the first collision in Lagos

This is not the first time a train has collided with a road vehicle in Lagos. In March 2023, a moving train rammed into a Lagos BRT staff bus at the PWD/Shogunle railway crossing in Ikeja, killing at least six people.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) launched an investigation into the incident.

Following the crash, the Lagos State Government filed manslaughter and grievous harm charges against the bus driver, who allegedly ignored warning signals before crossing the tracks.

The 2023 collision spurred calls for improved railroad safety across Lagos, particularly at busy crossings.

Officials from LASEMAs Cappa Base and LASTMA coordinated the response to Monday nights incident, ensuring the area was cleared and safe before resuming train operations.
The Lagos State Government has given landlords in the Oko-Cole area of Oworonshoki two months to regularise their building approvals or risk demolition, following allegations that their properties were erected on government-acquired land.

The ultimatum was issued on Monday by the Office of Urban Development during a meeting with affected property owners. The Permanent Secretary of the office, Gbolahan Oki, said the buildings were constructed on land acquired and reserved by the state for a housing scheme.

Mr Oki faulted the landlords for failing to carry out due diligence before purchasing and developing the land, which he said was sold to them by unauthorised land dealers, popularly known as omo onile.

He said the property owners did not verify the status of the land with relevant government ministries and agencies before commencing construction.

Large-scale demolitions have taken place in parts of Oworonshoki since September, an exercise the government said was part of an urban regeneration programme. The demolitions sparked protests by residents and property owners, who accused the government of acting high-handedly.

Despite the protests, the state government has maintained that the affected buildings lacked valid approvals and were located on land legally acquired by the government.

Mr Oki said some property owners had already received compensation after presenting valid documentation.

The Lagos State government does not enjoy destroying property because we want everyone to own property, but we dont want anything that will cause embarrassment to the government, he said. There is a difference between free land and a scheme, but you have built on the scheme. We want you to go and do the needful.

He acknowledged that many of the buildings were structurally sound but said their location prevented the government from accessing land earmarked for the housing scheme.

You did not do due diligence before buying the land. Omo onile just sold land to you. It does not make sense for anyone to sell land meant for a purpose by the government, Mr Oki said. You built on land that has been allocated. There are procedures; everything is not about money. Once a land has a purpose, its not supposed to be sold.

He said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olus administration had decided to give the landlords an opportunity to regularise their documents rather than proceed immediately with further demolitions.

We are allowing you to go and do the needful in the next two months. We dont want to remove the buildings there because they are of standard, but you must go to the relevant ministries and do your documentation, he said.

Mr Oki urged the landlords to engage the Ministry of Physical Planning and the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development to regularise their approvals and comply with statutory requirements.

Demolitions

The ultimatum comes amid a broader enforcement drive by the Lagos State Government against illegal structures in high-risk and restricted zones across the state. The government has announced plans to demolish buildings erected beneath high-tension power lines in Makoko, Oworonshoki, and other communities, citing risks to lives, violations of planning laws, and threats to critical infrastructure, including the Third Mainland Bridge.

The Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Electronic Geographic Information System and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, disclosed the plan on 10 December during an inspection of the Third Mainland Bridge corridor. He was accompanied by Mr Oki; Oladimeji Animashaun, General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency; and senior officials of other relevant agencies.

The inspection covered areas from Oworonshoki to Adekunle and Makoko in Ebute-Metta, where officials identified numerous shanties and structures encroaching on bridge setbacks and violating the legally prescribed 50-metre right-of-way.

Such practices endanger lives and property, Mr Babatunde said, adding that enforcement would be strengthened to ensure compliance with planning regulations, safeguard critical infrastructure, and enhance public safety.

Mr Oki said the government had repeatedly engaged residents and community leaders in Makoko and other affected areas, warning them of the dangers of building under transmission cables and close to the Third Mainland Bridge.

As far back as February this year, we gave them 14 days to vacate the area, but as you can see, they refused, he said. They are even extending towards the middle of the Third Mainland Bridge. We have warned them several times; the next step is to take the bull by the horns.

He said the government had made it clear during the engagements that no further notice would be given before enforcement begins, stressing that public safety remains the administrations priority.

If any of those cables fall and anything happens, the blame will be on the government. The lives of the people are more important, Mr Oki said. They are also encroaching on the Third Mainland Bridge.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency has repeatedly warned residents in Makoko and other high-risk zones to vacate buildings beneath high-tension power lines, citing dangers such as electrocution, fire outbreaks, and structural collapse. Officials say the ongoing demolitions are part of a broader urban renewal and public safety effort across the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 21 February 2026 for bye-elections into the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State.

In a statement on Monday, Mohammed Haruna, the chairperson of the Information, Voter Education, and Publicity Committee of INEC, said the date was announced after an extraordinary meeting of the commission, where the timetable and schedule of activities for the polls were approved.

The statement is posted on the commissions Facebook page.

According to Mr Haruna, the decision was taken pursuant to Section 116 of the Nigeriam Constitution, which empowers INEC to fix dates and conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies in legislative houses.

By the provisions of Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers the Commission to fix dates for elections and conduct bye-elections for vacancies arising therefrom, it has fixed 21 February 2026, for the conduct of the elections into the two State constituencies, the commission said.

The vacancy in the Ahoada East II Constituency arose as a result of the resignation of its member, while that of Khana II resulted from the death of its member. The Speaker of the States House of Assembly had since notified the Commission of the existence of the vacancies.

Timetable and election activities

INEC said the notice of election for both constituencies will be published on 22 January 2026.

Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the process, between 23 and 27 January. Campaign activities will commence on 8 February and end at midnight on 19 February, ahead of the elections on 21 February.

The elections will hold on Saturday, 21 February 2026, the commission said.

Background

The vacancy in Ahoada East II followed the resignation of Edison Ehie, a former factional Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly.

Mr Ehie resigned from the assembly after a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu to end the prolonged political feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The crisis had split the assembly into two rival factions, paralysed governance in the oil-rich state and led to impeachment threats, arson attacks on local government secretariats, and a six-month state of emergency declared by Mr Tinubu.

Following Mr Ehies resignation, Governor Fubara appointed him as chief of staff.

Significance of the bye-elections

The forthcoming bye-elections will test the shifting political dynamics in Rivers, particularly after Governor Fubaras recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has further reshaped the political landscape in the South-south.

READ ALSO: Court issues ICPC orders for final forfeiture of Goodluck Jonathan Estate land in Abuja

The outcome of the polls would have no significant influence on the decision of the assembly, which remains a key arena in the lingering struggle for political control in the state.

The 26 lawmakers, despite splitting themselves into two political parties: 16 in APC and 10 in PDP, are loyalists of the FCT minister.

INEC said it would provide further updates as preparations progress toward the February elections.
Following Trumps call to consider the airspace closed as part of his pressure campaign against the Maduro regime, many members of Spains large Venezuelan community will be unable to spend time with their loved ones

Andreina Crepsac, 29, had been counting down the days for weeks. She had bought her ticket in early October: departure on December 17, return on January 7. This was not just another trip. Since arriving in Madrid almost six years ago, she has only returned to Venezuela once, at Christmas. This would be the second time, and it had special meaning: for the first time in years, her whole family was going to be together. Her parents would travel from Venezuela, her brotherwho recently became a fatherfrom Mexico, and her sister-in-laws relatives, scattered across other countries, would also join them. It was a collective effort, she says. But no one will be able to fly.

The cancellation and reduction of flights between Spain and Venezuela accelerated at the end of November following a series of warnings. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement about deteriorating conditions in Venezuelan airspace and recommending extreme caution in view of the risks to civil aviation. As a result, several international airlines suspended or reduced their operations.

In Spain, Iberia extended the suspension of its flights to Caracas until at least December 31. Air Europa stopped operating the route, and Plus Ultra was also left out. Until then, Madrid and Caracas were connected by daily direct flights. At least 36 weekly connections disappeared overnight.

At this point, none of those affected have yet received their money back. The airlines have informed them that the claim process could take months and that they must choose between requesting a refund or accepting a ticket for a later date, presumably after December 31, when the restriction will theoretically be lifted. For many, that option has come too late. Some have given up on getting their money back, while others have opted to buy new tickets to Colombia and continue from there by road to Venezuela.

According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), the Venezuelan diaspora is one of the largest exile communities in Spain, with more than 400,000 people at the beginning of 2025. In the capital Madrida city that is home to a large part of this communityestimates exceed 200,000 registered Venezuelans, consolidating the region as one of the main destinations for exile.

Andreina Crepsac, a Venezuelan national living in Spain, in a photo provided by herself.

Crepsac lives in Arganzuela (Madrid) and works in food marketing. She enjoys theater and music as hobbies and describes her life in Madrid as very average: a stable job, very few savings, and some exercise and meetings with friends when time allows. For this trip, she had saved up all her vacation days for the year and even asked for a few extra days to fit the itinerary. Her family had helped her pay for the ticket. When she realized that it would not be possible to travel, it was no longer feasible to reschedule anything. She estimates that the financial impact for her is between 1,500 and 1,600. These trips are not easy to plan, either financially or emotionally, she says. We worked very hard as a family to be able to have this reunion.

She had been watching the situation become more complicated for weeks. In Europe, many acquaintances tried to salvage their trips by paying for longer routes or looking for alternatives. She was also offered an option, but it involved a higher cost. She couldnt afford it. Since I realized it wasnt going to be possible, Ive been apathetic, she admits. She doesnt know when shell be able to see her family again, or if theyll all be able to get together as they had planned.

Wish my mom were here

On the other side of Madrid, Mare Pimentel is experiencing another version of the same story. She is 40 years old, a consultant and the founder of Hyggelink, a digital transformation company. She lives in Madrid with her husband and three-year-old daughter Sofia, who was born in Spain. Pimentel left Venezuela in 2016, spent some time on the Spanish island of Tenerife, then in Ireland, and finally returned to Madrid in search of a more culturally familiar environment in which to raise her daughter. They have been in the city for three years.

With a lot of effort, I have achieved professional stability, she says. But that stability does not fill the void of distance. Every achievement comes with a I wish my mom were here to see this. This year, for the first time, they had planned a reverse Christmas: instead of traveling themselves, they would bring her mother, sister, and a five-year-old niece that she has yet to meet in person. Fortunately, we hadnt bought the tickets when the mass cancellations began, but we had to put the whole plan on hold, she explains.

In her case, the blow is not measured by a lost ticket, but by a paralysis that affects other procedures. Her husband, who was planning to travel to Venezuela, applied for a passport renewal more than two months ago. He paid around 300 and it still hasnt arrived. With flights suspended, we assume that diplomatic bags with passports are also affected. We are in limbo: without a passport and without certainty as to whether he will be able to travel, she says.

Pimentel describes it as silent chaos: You paid, you met the requirements, and now all you can do is wait, with no dates or clear information. When they tried to find flights for their family, they found the same thing: routes disappearing from websites and vague answers. There are no official apologies, just silence and phrases telling us that they are evaluating the situation.

In debt to pay for accommodation

While some plans fall through before they even begin, others are left stranded with tickets already paid for. At Barajas Airport, some were experiencing the wait firsthand. Samuel Urbina, 28, a musician, writer, and researcher, was trying to travel from Madrid when everything started to go wrong. On November 18, he was at the airport and delays were already noticeable. Iberia rescheduled his flight for the 24th. Two days earlier, on the 22ndhis birthdayhe learned that flights had been suspended. The customer service lines were overwhelmed.

From then on, everything went downhill. His suitcases flew without him and he was left with only a carry-on bag. He estimates that he lost more than 2,000 in expenses: he had to get into debt to pay for accommodation, food, transportation, and winter clothes. The hardest part was the uncertainty. Not knowing what was going to happen or how long this was going to last.

Finally, Iberia rebooked him on an alternative route: a flight to Bogota, then on to Cucuta, then crossing the border on foot, and then flying from San Antonio to Caracas. A long and tedious journey that, in his case, will allow him to be reunited with his family. All in all, Im lucky. I know people who sleep at the airport, with their suitcases on the cold floor, he says. It pains me that many brothers and sisters cannot spend these holidays with their loved ones.

Those who stay in Madrid will do what they have learned to do: uphold their traditions far from home. Crepsac will probably spend the holidays with her best friend, who is also Venezuelan. They will bake pan de jamon together and prepare chicken salad: Ill trade it with anyone who gives me ham, she jokes. They will also sing Christmas carols.

At Pimentels house, they will celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus with a traditional dinner, the children will welcome Santa Claus, write a letter to the Spirit of Christmas, and  more than ever this year  ask for freedom for Venezuela. On the 31st, they will eat 12 grapes and pretend to leave with a suitcase in order to attract travel. The irony is not lost on me, she says. We pretend to travel when what we want the most is to be able to do so.

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A petrol tanker on Sunday rammed into the convoy of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, killing a dispatch rider, Ibrahim Hussaini.

Mr Akpabio disclosed the incident during plenary on Tuesday, where he condoled with the family of the deceased.

Dispatch riders are police officers who ride motorcycles as part of the security convoy of prominent public office holders. The senate president has about four dispatch riders attached to his convoy.

Although Mr Akpabio did not disclose the exact location of the incident, he said it occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after members of his convoy picked him up at the Ibadan Airport.

We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague but the vehicles that came to pick me at the Ibadan airport.Unfortunately my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver and his head was shattered. We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left two wives and four children, he said.

The senate president appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government to grant automatic employment to the children of the late rider.

He added that if no vacancies were available, he would personally ensure their employment.

By the grace of God, Im recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to, otherwise Ill employ them personally in any of my private concerns, Mr Akpabio added.

Shortly after the announcement, Kogi West Senator, Sunday Karimi, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally present the incident to the Senate through a substantive motion.

While sympathising with the senate president, Mr Karimi said the late dispatch rider, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), was due for retirement next year.

He added that Mr Hussaini, a native of Kogi State, had served in Mr Akpabios convoy since 2023, when he assumed office as senate president.

Mr Karimi also informed the Senate of the death of Ibrahim Tukur, a driver attached to the Kogi East Senator, Isah Jibrin.

READ ALSO: Six Rivers PDP lawmakers defect to APC

He said Mr Tukur, who had served Mr Jibrin for 25 years, died in his home on Saturday.

The senator expressed condolences to the families of both deceased officers and to the Kogi State Government over the losses.

Thereafter, Mr Akpabio directed senators to observe a one-minute silence in honour of the late dispatch rider and the deceased driver.
Two senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers, who are from Rivers State, are Alwell Onyesoh, representing Rivers East Senatorial District, and Mpigi Barinada, representing Rivers South-east Senatorial District.

The duo announced their defections in separate letters addressed to the Senate, which were read during Tuesdays plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Both senators referenced the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, characterised by unresolved litigations and deep internal divisions, as the major reason for their decision to leave the party.

The defections come barely three weeks after the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, defected to the APC during a meeting with government officials at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Governor Fubaras defection followed a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The governor said his decision to join the APC was to enable him to offer full support to the Tinubu administration.

Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, had been locked in a prolonged political crisis over the control of the states political structure. The feud split the Rivers State House of Assembly into two factions, with 27 lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike and four aligned with the governor.

Reasons for leaving PDP

Explaining his decision to defect to APC, Mr Onyesoh said joining the ruling party would allow him to align with the federal government to attract development and deliver good governance to his constituents.

Recent events have revealed the importance of aligning with the centre and the political will to transform the fortunes of my people with structures that can facilitate good governance, he said.

Mr Barinada, on his part, said he was no longer comfortable remaining in the PDP due to the partys prolonged leadership crisis.

He, however, thanked the PDPleadership for providing him with the platform to be elected to the Senate.

After reading the letters, Mr Akpabio directed the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and other APC senators to formally welcome the defectors.

Mr Bamidele congratulated Messrs Onyesoh and Barinada on their decision to join the ruling party.

READ ALSO: Six Rivers PDP lawmakers defect to APC

The senators later exchanged pleasantries with APC lawmakers and were escorted to their new seats in the majority section of the chamber.

They also took photographs with the APC national leadership, including the partys National Secretary, Surajudeen Bashiru, and other personalities in the APC who accompanied them to the National Assembly.

With the latest defections, the APC has further strengthened its numbers in the Senate, while the PDP and other opposition parties continue to be disadvantaged.
The 2026 proposed budget has passed second reading at the Senate.

The senators voted to pass the budget after debating its general principles during plenary on Tuesday.

The appropriation bill seeks to authorise the issuance of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation of N58.4 trillion (58,472,628,944,759) for the 2026 fiscal year.

President Bola Tinubu presented the N58.4 trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly last Friday.

The budget is christened Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity. It was read for the first time on the same day.

Based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions, total revenue is projected at 34.33 trillion, while total expenditure stands at 58.18 trillion, including 15.52 trillion for debt servicing.

Recurrent (non-debt) expenditure is estimated at 15.25 trillion, with capital expenditure at 26.08 trillion. The budget deficit is pegged at 23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of GDP.

In the proposal, defence and security are projected to have 5.41 trillion, Infrastructure was pegged at 3.56 trillion, education has 3.52 trillion and health got 2.48 trillion.

The debate

Leading the debate on the bills general principles, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), said the proposal reflects President Tinubus commitment to restoring economic stability, correcting distortions, and strengthening public finance.

Mr Bamidele explained that the budget is anchored on four pillars which are; consolidating macroeconomic stability; improving the business and investment environment; promoting job-rich growth and poverty reduction; and strengthening human capital while protecting vulnerable citizens.

He said the budget proposal emphasises purposeful spending, disciplined debt management, and pursue growth that is broad-based and sustainable.

Sectoral priorities

Mr Bamidele said the sectoral composition of the budget addresses Nigerias most pressing challenges, particularly insecurity.

The sectoral priorities of this budget speak directly to Nigerias pressing needs. Security receives primacy, rightly so, because without peace and safety, no economy can thrive. The Presidents articulation of a restructured national security architecture and a firm stance against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent criminality underscores the seriousness of this commitment, he said.

The senate leader also highlighted proposed investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and productivity.

Equally important are the substantial investments in education and healthcare, recognising that no nation can rise above the quality of its people. Support for student financing, healthcare expansion, and partnerships with international donors reinforces the human-capital focus of this budget. Investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and productivity further demonstrate an understanding that growth must be anchored on jobs, food security, and private-sector participation, he added.

He urged senators to support the bills passage for second reading, noting that the proposals are realistic.

Lawmakers contributions

Former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, called on the federal government to ensure full implementation of the budget once approved, to avoid the practice of operating multiple budgets within a single fiscal year.

Diket Plang (Plateau Central) said the budget prioritises macroeconomic stability and infrastructure development, adding that effective implementation would boost productivity.

Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central) described the proposal as the best budget presented so far in Nigerias democratic history, urging lawmakers to ensure it delivers tangible benefits to citizens.

Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) commended the administration for the substantial allocation to security and infrastructure and stressed the need for full implementation.

Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) said the proposal signals an end to the operation of multiple budgets within a fiscal year.

Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) noted that effective implementation would deliver dividends of democracy across the country.

The Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), said that if properly implemented, the budget would place Nigeria on a positive economic trajectory.
Most federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) failed key ethics and compliance standards in the 2025 assessment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The findings were revealed on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja by ICPC chairperson, Musa Aliyu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The results were drawn from the commissions 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI), which assess adherence to ethical standards and the effectiveness of internal control mechanisms across federal MDAs.

Key findings

No MDA achieved full compliance in the 2025 assessment. Out of 344 MDAs evaluated, 48 demonstrated substantial compliance, 132 recorded partial compliance, 141 showed poor compliance, 23 were outright non-compliant, and 13 failed to respond, earning a high-risk classification.

The assessment also exposed significant governance and administrative gaps across the public sector. A total of 169 MDAs lacked clearly defined core values, mission, and vision to guide their staff, while 191 had no policies regulating the acceptance of gifts, donations, or hospitality.

One hundred and two MDAs operated without strategic plans, and 154 did not monitor or evaluate their activities.

Furthermore, 289 MDAs failed to address corruption risk assessments, and 315 did not incorporate these assessments into their decision-making processes.

The report stated that financial accountability also suffered, as 114 MDAs did not submit financial reports and 96 failed to provide timely audited accounts. Whistleblowing frameworks remained weak, with 241 MDAs lacking functional policies and 269 maintaining inaccessible policies.

The ACTU Effectiveness Index, which measures the performance of internal control units, revealed that only 33 ACTUs were very effective, 83 were effective, 142 were ineffective, and 10 remained dormant. Alarmingly, 89 MDAs had no ACTU at all, constituting a direct breach of national anti-corruption standards.

Top performers

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has emerged as the most effective federal agency in the 2025 Acting Civil Service Tracking Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index (AED), scoring 90.33, according to documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.

The index placed Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, second with 90.00, followed by Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, in Adamawa State, with 88.00.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abuja, and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), Abuja, also ranked among the top five, scoring 85.33 and 85.00, respectively.

Several of the top 20 MDAs, largely based in Abuja and northern states, demonstrated high operational effectiveness, recording scores between 90.33 and 77.00.

Agencies such as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) performed notably well.

Uneven performance in judicial institutions, other bodies poor scores

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja, ranked 50th with a score of 63.50, while the Federal High Court, Abuja, scored 62.50. The Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Owerri, placed 51st with 53.50.

The index also highlighted a number of low-performing and dormant agencies. The National Gallery of Arts (NGA) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Abuja, scored 9.50, while the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) recorded 10.00.

The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, scored 6.00, and the Metallurgical Training Institute (MTI), Onitsha, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Abuja, recorded 6.20.

Several institutions scored zero, indicating either non-functioning operations or missing data. These included Galaxy Backbone Limited, the Federal College of Wildlife Management (FCWM), New Bussa; the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu; Benin, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abuja, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abuja.

Implications

Mr Aliyu, while presenting the report, warned that weak administrative systems, ineffective internal control units, and poor whistleblowing frameworks undermine transparency and expose MDAs to financial mismanagement, procurement distortions, and project failures.

The widespread weaknesses in administrative and ethical systems highlight the urgent need for stronger leadership and more effective internal controls. Such outcomes fall below acceptable public service standards and are entirely unacceptable, he said.

Background

The Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, launched in 2015 and fully institutionalised in 2019, monitors ethics, compliance, and integrity across Nigerias public sector. The ACTU Effectiveness Index complements the EICS by evaluating internal control units.

In 2024, Nigerias Supreme Court and 14 other agencies failed the 2024 assessment, reflecting ongoing concerns about corruption and operational irregularities.

Retiring Supreme Court Justice Dattijo Muhammad criticised the judiciarys handling of funds in his October 2024 valedictory remarks, while Justice Ejembi Eko urged anti-graft agencies to scrutinise financial records.

READ ALSO: Court issues ICPC orders for final forfeiture of Goodluck Jonathan Estate land in Abuja

The 15 agencies that scored zero per cent in the 2024 assessment included the Supreme Court, Nigeria Press Council (NPC), Legal Aid Council (LAC), National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), and Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON).

The rest are Federal Teaching Hospital (Gombe), National Obstetrics Fistula Centre (Ningi, Bauchi State), Institute of Archaeology and Museum Studies (Jos), Federal University of Agriculture (Umudike, Abia State), Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation (Mando, Kaduna State), Obafemi Awolowo University (Ile-Ife, Osun State), Federal Polytechnic (Ede, Osun State), and University of Ibadan (Oyo State).

Top-performing agencies included the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB, 89.75 per cent), Nigerian Railway Corporation with 88.73 per cent, and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc with 88.73 per cent.
Nigerias story is still being written, line by line, headline by headline. The pen and the badge will continue to meet at tense moments. But recent chapters suggest that they can meet without hostility, guided by law, conscience and mutual respect. If that path is sustained, the reward will not belong to any single institution. It will belong to the citizens whose right to know and right to be safe are finally treated as equally sacred.

The relationship between those who guard the state and those who tell its story has always been delicate. One watches for threats in the shadows; the other shines light into public spaces. When mistrust grows between them, democracy suffers. When understanding emerges, citizens breathe easier. Nigeria has lived through both seasons, and recent events around the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, suggest that the country is entering a more stable chapter in that long and uneasy conversation.

On 19 December, Mr Ajayi put his thoughts into writing. In a letter personally signed and sent to the President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Mr Musikilu Mojeed, the Director-General of SSS pledged to stand for the fair treatment of journalists and to support an environment in which media professionals can carry out their lawful work without fear. The letter was not prompted by a crisis or public outrage. It was a response to a commendation award conferred on him by the IPI Nigeria at its annual conference earlier in the month, but its tone and substance went beyond gratitude. It read like a statement of belief.

I will continue to champion fair treatment of journalists and create a conducive atmosphere for them to carry out their legitimate duties, Mr Ajayi wrote. He added that he had begun discussions with heads of other security agencies, urging them to place the safety and dignity of journalists high on their list of responsibilities.

Words matter, but history teaches that actions matter more. For decades, Nigerias media community has known the SSS less for dialogue and more for fear. Arrests at odd hours, prolonged detentions and intimidation were familiar stories. This past made scepticism natural. That is why the response from IPI Nigeria was striking, not just for its praise, but for the detailed record it laid out.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Mr Ahmed I Shekarau, the IPI recalled that since Mr Ajayi assumed office in late August 2024, the SSS had shown restraint, professionalism and openness. Conflicts between the Service and the media are now resolved amicably through engagement rather than coercion, the statement said, drawing a clear contrast with earlier years.

The philosopher Hannah Arendt once observed that power and violence are opposites; where one rules absolutely, the other is absent. The shift described by IPI Nigeria points to a leadership choice that values authority predicated on dialogue, instead of force. It is a choice that recognises journalists, not as enemies of the state, but as part of the civic ecosystem that keeps the state honest.

The examples cited by IPI Nigeria bring this shift down from theory to practical experience. Barely hours into Mr Ajayis tenure, a journalist, Mr Adejuwon Soyinka, was intercepted and detained in Lagos. Such an incident could easily have followed a familiar path of silence and delay. Instead, according to IPI Nigeria, once the matter was brought to the Director-Generals attention, he ordered the journalists release within hours. Speed, in this context, signalled that the old reflexes were no longer automatic.

Another case bore deeper historical wounds. Mr Lanre Arogundade, executive director of the International Press Centre, had for decades endured repeated harassment at Nigerias borders due to an SSS watchlist entry dating back to the 1980s. Successive assurances under past administrations failed to end the ordeal. When the issue reached Mr Ajayi, IPI Nigeria said he acted swiftly to resolve it.

Even in moments when the SSS felt wronged, the approach under Mr Ajayi appeared thoughtful. In the case involving Order Paper, in which a staff member was arrested over a report alleging that the SSS invaded the National Assembly to influence leadership change, the Director-General ordered an administrative bail of the reporter, once he was informed. Through engagement, the matter was resolved, charges were withdrawn and the case was closed. The message was that errors in reporting should be addressed with facts and conversation, not detention.

A similar posture emerged in February during tensions over media reports on the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis. IPI Nigeria acknowledged that the SSS had reasons to be aggrieved but noted that the Director-General chose patience and collaboration.

Perhaps the most telling moment came in October. Without external pressure, Mr Ajayi ordered disciplinary action on officers involved in the arrest and detention of two journalists from Jay 101.9 FM in Jos. He also directed that a formal apology should be issued to the journalists and their organisation. In public service, apologies are rare. When they come, they carry the power to humanise institutions that often appear faceless and distant.

Writers have long argued that accountability begins with humility. The Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, once noted that the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. Leadership, in this sense, is not about perfection but the willingness to openly correct wrongs. Disciplining erring officers and offering an apology signalled that internal standards matter, and that authority does not shield misconduct.

It was against this backdrop that IPI Nigeria decided to honour Mr Ajayi at its 2025 Annual Conference on 2 December in Abuja. The Institute made it clear that the commendation was not an end in itself. It was recognition and encouragement. We do so not only to acknowledge his commendable press freedom credentials but also to encourage him to do even more and to inspire other officials, institutions, and organisations to emulate his example, IPI Nigeria said.

Recognition soon reached the highest office in the country. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated the Director-General of the SSS on the award, welcoming it as evidence that the SSS was changing its narrative. The President commended Mr Ajayi for upholding citizens rights and operating within the law, noting that the SSS was building a climate of dialogue and engagement with the public.

President Tinubu urged other security agencies to see the media as partners, rather than adversaries. In doing so, the President echoed the words of Thomas Jefferson, who famously argued that a free press was essential to liberty. While Jefferson spoke from a different century and context, the principle endures: societies thrive when information flows freely and responsibly.

The President also encouraged the SSS to sustain its efforts to protect journalists, reminding all that the constitution empowers the media to hold government officials accountable. The public presidential endorsement matters. It shows that respect for the press should not only be the choice of a single agency head, but a principle woven into the wider culture of governance.

The sociologist, Max Weber, described the state as holding a monopoly on legitimate force, and that legitimacy is earned through trust. Trust grows when citizens believe that power will not be abused. Journalists, by the nature of their work, often test that belief. When security agencies respond with openness, instead of hostility, they strengthen the very legitimacy they seek to protect.

Mr Ajayis letter to IPI Nigeria indicates an awareness of this balance. He acknowledged that press freedom comes with duties and rights and commended the IPI Nigeria for promoting responsible and balanced reporting on sensitive national issues. The mutual recognition is crucial. Freedom without responsibility can harm, just as security without accountability can oppress.

The American writer, James Baldwin, once wrote that not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. Nigerias history of tension between security agencies and the press cannot be erased overnight. But it can be faced honestly. Each resolved conflict, apology and timely intervention chips away at old fears.

For journalists across the country, these developments offer cautious hope. Hope is not built on blind faith, but on observable patterns. The early release of a detained reporter, the clearing of a decades-old watchlist, the withdrawal of charges after dialogue, and the disciplining of erring officers, are concrete markers. They suggest an understanding that national security and press freedom are not rivals locked in a zero-sum game, but parallel duties that serve the same public.

Psychologists remind us that institutions, like individuals, develop habits. Changing habits requires consistent choices. Mr Ajayis pledge to engage other security agencies on the protection of journalists hints at an attempt to spread a new habit across the security sector. Whether this effort succeeds will depend on persistence and example.

As the country continues its democratic journey, the media will remain critical, sometimes uncomfortable and often screaming. That is its role. Security agencies will remain vigilant, cautious and sometimes suspicious. That is theirs. The challenge is not to erase these differences, but to manage them with respect.

In recognising Mr Ajayi, the IPI Nigeria did more than hand out an award. It held up a mirror, showing what is possible when leadership chooses conversation over intimidation. President Tinubus endorsement reinforced that image, placing it within the wider story of governance reform.

The German philosopher, Jurgen Habermas, spoke of the public sphere as a space where citizens debate issues freely. Journalists are custodians of that space. When security agencies protect rather than shrink it, they serve democracy in its truest sense.

Nigerias story is still being written, line by line, headline by headline. The pen and the badge will continue to meet at tense moments. But recent chapters suggest that they can meet without hostility, guided by law, conscience and mutual respect. If that path is sustained, the reward will not belong to any single institution. It will belong to the citizens whose right to know and right to be safe are finally treated as equally sacred.

Abdullahi M. Gulloma is the State House correspondent of Blueprint Newspaper and can be reached at [email protected]
The agreementsignals a recalibration in how partnership is defined. Bilateral health arrangements that combine grant financing with explicit domestic co-financing at this scale are increasingly uncommon. By insisting on measurable national investment alongside external support, the United States is aligning assistance with fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability, rather than substitution.

At a time when global attention is fixed on migration, visa restrictions, border controls, and the language of exclusion, Nigeria has concluded a bilateral health agreement with the United States that deserves to be understood on its own terms. Not as a partisan gesture or as a counter-narrative, but as a policy instrument shaped by shared interests and fiscal realities.

The governments of Nigeria and the United States last week, in Abuja, signed a technical Memorandum of Understanding to deepen cooperation in health security, expand access to primary healthcare, and strengthen the resilience of Nigerias health system over the period from April 2026 to December 2030. This is by no means a political communique. Its importance lies in what it commits both countries to do, and in how those commitments are structured.

Under the agreement, the United States government is expected to provide over two billion dollars (specifically US$2.1 billion) in grant financing to support Nigerias health priorities over five years. Nigeria, for its part, has committed to allocating at least 6 per cent of its executed annual federal and state budgets to health, a decision projected to mobilise US$3 billion in domestic financing over the same period. That commitment has already been reflected in the Federal Governments proposed 2026 Appropriation, signalling that the agreement is being integrated into fiscal planning, with the forthrightness and seriousness it deserves.

The balance is deliberate. External support is defined and time bound. Domestic financing is explicit, quantified, and unavoidable. This design moves away from the habits of indefinite grant reliance toward national responsibility backed by real budgetary choices. In comparative terms, US officials have described the arrangement as the largest co-investment secured by any partner country under Washingtons current global health framework; a distinction that reflects structure, rather than mere generosity.

This matters because global health cooperation is under strain. Donor budgets are tightening. Public patience with open-ended assistance is thinning. At the same time, health threats have become more complex, more mobile, and more expensive to manage. In that environment, agreements that do not clearly price domestic responsibility risk losing both political support and operational relevance.

The scope of cooperation reflects this realism. The agreement prioritises early detection and control of infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, strengthened disease surveillance and outbreak response, improved laboratory infrastructure and biosafety procedures, more reliable data systems, support for frontline health workers, and access to essential health commodities. These are not abstract reforms. They determine whether a primary health centre can diagnose and report in time, whether an outbreak is contained locally or escalates nationally, and whether routine services endure periods of shock.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate brings extensive experience and tested depth to overseeing reforms that privilege execution over display and systems over symbolism. The Memorandum reflects that enduring orientation. Partnership is linked to reform. Financing is linked to accountability. The emphasis is on what can be delivered, measured, and sustained.

Part of the US support is directed toward faith-based healthcare networks, including more than 900 Christian facilities providing integrated HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child health services. While these facilities account for roughly one-tenth of providers nationwide, they serve more than 30 per cent of Nigerias population, often in underserved areas where public infrastructure is thin. In a country that carries close to 30 per cent of the global malaria burden and continues to face high maternal and child mortality, this reflects a practical recognition of where care is actually delivered.

For Nigeria, the Memorandum does not introduce a new reform narrative. It reinforces one already in motion. The agreement aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), launched in 2023 and implemented through a Sector-Wide Approach that brings federal, state, and local governments together with development partners, civil society, and the private sector under a single planning, budgeting, and accountability framework. It also builds on the Health Sector Renewal Compact signed in December 2023 under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which committed all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to a unified reform agenda.

This alignment matters. One of the persistent weaknesses of health sector assistance in low- and middle-income countries has been fragmentation, parallel systems, and projects that bypass national planning processes. By tying external support to an existing reform architecture, the Memorandum increases the likelihood that resources will reinforce, rather than distort, system priorities.

For the United States, the agreement reflects a strategic choice to remain engaged where engagement produces durable outcomes. This approach aligns with the United States America First Global Health Strategy, which frames international health engagement around national interest, measurable outcomes, and explicit partner-country co-investment, rather than open-ended assistance. Strengthening Nigerias capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats is not an act of generosity. It is a calculation rooted in global health security, regional stability, and the recognition that weak systems elsewhere eventually surface as shared risk.

The agreement also signals a recalibration in how partnership is defined. Bilateral health arrangements that combine grant financing with explicit domestic co-financing at this scale are increasingly uncommon. By insisting on measurable national investment alongside external support, the United States is aligning assistance with fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability, rather than substitution.

Both governments merit credit. Nigeria for placing measurable domestic resources behind its reform commitments at a time of fiscal pressure and competing priorities. The United States for sustaining engagement in a manner that supports transition rather than permanent dependence, and that recognises the limits of grant-based assistance without abandoning partnership.

There is also an institutional dimension that warrants attention. This agreement was not shaped through public argument or rhetorical positioning. It was negotiated within a technical framework, tied to ongoing reforms, and integrated into Nigerias budget and planning processes. That discipline matters because it anchors cooperation in systems rather than personalities, and in processes rather than performance.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate brings extensive experience and tested depth to overseeing reforms that privilege execution over display and systems over symbolism. The Memorandum reflects that enduring orientation. Partnership is linked to reform. Financing is linked to accountability. The emphasis is on what can be delivered, measured, and sustained.

Both governments merit credit. Nigeria for placing measurable domestic resources behind its reform commitments at a time of fiscal pressure and competing priorities. The United States for sustaining engagement in a manner that supports transition rather than permanent dependence, and that recognises the limits of grant-based assistance without abandoning partnership.

What follows will matter more than what has been signed. Implementation, coordination across tiers of government, and visible delivery will determine whether this agreement translates into stronger laboratories, more resilient primary care, better protected health workers, and improved outcomes for Nigerians. Execution will test whether the architecture holds under pressure.

As policy instruments go, the Memorandum is a reminder that even in a constrained and unsettled global environment, serious cooperation remains possible. Not through sentiment or feverish narratives, but through shared interest, institutional credibility, and patience.

Chinedu Moghalu is a lawyer, strategic communications expert, and public policy adviser with over two decades of leadership across government, international organisations, and development institutions. Currently, senior special adviser to Nigerias coordinating minister of health and social welfare.
As Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of the digital age, online defamation will remain a critical intersection of law, technology, and societal values. The task before lawmakers, courts, and citizens alike is to ensure that the internet becomes a space where rights, responsibilities, and accountability coexist.

Defamation has long occupied a central place in Nigerian jurisprudence. Even in the early years following independence, actions for defamation were among the most prominent forms of civil litigation, with leading political figures frequently suing national newspapers over damaging publications. At the time, there was hardly a major newspaper that was not defending at least one libel suit. That historical reality underscores how seriously Nigerian law has always regarded reputation as a protectable legal interest.

Today, however, the battleground has shifted. The rise of the internet and social media has transformed how information is created, shared, and consumed. Statements capable of damaging a persons reputation can now be published with ease, transmitted instantly, and accessed across multiple jurisdictions at minimal cost. In this digital environment, online defamation has become increasingly common, raising important questions about the scope of legal protection, personal responsibility, and the balance between free expression and reputational rights.

Under Nigerian law, defamation generally refers to a false statement made to a third party that injures the reputation of another. Blacks Law Dictionary describes it as the malicious or groundless harm to a persons good name through false statements communicated to others. This definition aligns with section 373 of the Criminal Code, which characterises defamatory matter as any expression likely to expose a person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or to damage their professional or business reputation. Such matter may be conveyed in spoken words, writing, signs, or any other medium, whether directly or by implication, irony, or insinuation.

What is striking about the statutory definition is its breadth. It recognises that defamation is not limited to traditional print or speech, but can occur through virtually any medium capable of communicating meaning. This expansive understanding has made it easier for Nigerian courts to adapt long-established principles of defamation law to modern forms of communication, including online publications and social media platforms.

The legal response to online defamation in Nigeria is further reinforced by the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015. The Act criminalises the knowing transmission of false messages through computer systems for purposes such as causing annoyance, insult, hatred, ill will, or injury to another person. Upon conviction, offenders may face substantial fines, imprisonment, or both. Although the Act has generated debate over its impact on freedom of expression, it represents a clear legislative attempt to address harmful conduct in the digital space.

In practical terms, Nigerian courts have recognised that individuals who post content on social media are publishers in the eyes of the law. This means that a person who shares false or defamatory statements online may be held liable in the same way as a traditional media house. The simplicity of pressing send or post does not absolve anyone of responsibility for the legal consequences of their words.

One recurring question in online defamation cases is who may be sued, and who has the right to sue. In principle, any natural or juristic person, other than a government entity, may bring an action for defamation. The proper defendant is the person who published the defamatory material or caused it to be published. This position was clearly affirmed by the courts, which have emphasised that defamation is a personal action, rooted in injury to reputation.

Traditionally, Nigerian law recognises two forms of defamation: libel and slander. Libel refers to defamatory statements in permanent form, such as writing, print, pictures, or other recorded media. Slander, on the other hand, involves defamatory statements in transient form, typically spoken words or gestures. While the distinction remains relevant, the digital age has blurred the line between permanence and transience. Online posts, voice notes, and video recordings may be fleeting in intent, yet permanently stored and widely disseminated, thereby attracting the characteristics of libel, rather than slander.

One recurring question in online defamation cases is who may be sued, and who has the right to sue. In principle, any natural or juristic person, other than a government entity, may bring an action for defamation. The proper defendant is the person who published the defamatory material or caused it to be published. This position was clearly affirmed by the courts, which have emphasised that defamation is a personal action, rooted in injury to reputation. While some claimants attempt to target internet service providers or hosting platforms because of their financial capacity, liability ultimately turns on the proof of publication and responsibility for the content complained of.

To succeed in a defamation claim arising from social media or online publications, a claimant must establish certain core elements. These include the existence of a false statement of fact, publication to a third party, fault on the part of the defendant, and resulting damage to reputation. Nigerian courts have consistently insisted on the strict proof of these elements, particularly the requirement that the claimant must be clearly identifiable as the person defamed.

Damages in defamation cases are not awarded lightly. The guiding principle is that compensation is justified only where there is proof that the claimants reputation has been injured. The courts have made it clear that damages are not intended as a windfall, but as a means of vindicating reputation and providing redress for genuine harm suffered.

Judicial attitudes toward online defamation continue to evolve. Nigerian appellate courts have reiterated that it is not enough for defamatory words to exist in the abstract; the claimant must show that reasonable persons, familiar with the circumstances, would understand the words as referring to them. The courts have also reaffirmed that once defamation is established, it is actionable without proof of special damage, particularly in cases of libel.

Ultimately, the protection of reputation remains a cornerstone of Nigerian law. The challenge lies in ensuring that legal frameworks keep pace with technological change without unduly stifling legitimate expression. There is a growing need for public education on responsible online conduct and for greater awareness of what constitutes defamatory content.

Another significant development relates to jurisdiction in online defamation cases. Given the global accessibility of internet publications, Nigerian courts have been careful not to assume jurisdiction merely because defamatory material exists online. The cause of action is considered complete only when the publication is accessed or downloaded by a third party in the jurisdiction where the claimants reputation is alleged to have been harmed. This approach reflects a pragmatic attempt to balance the borderless nature of the internet with established principles of territorial jurisdiction.

In essence, a Nigerian court will assume jurisdiction over an online defamation claim where it is shown that the defamatory content was accessed in the relevant state and that the claimants reputation suffered harm there. The focus is therefore not solely on where the defendant resides or conducts business, but on where the reputational injury occurred.

The rise of online defamation highlights a broader societal challenge. While the internet has democratised speech and expanded access to information, it has also amplified the potential for reputational harm. Many individuals remain unaware that their online conduct may carry serious legal consequences. Others mistakenly assume that freedom of expression is absolute, overlooking the fact that the law draws a firm boundary where speech unjustifiably injures reputation.

Ultimately, the protection of reputation remains a cornerstone of Nigerian law. The challenge lies in ensuring that legal frameworks keep pace with technological change without unduly stifling legitimate expression. There is a growing need for public education on responsible online conduct and for greater awareness of what constitutes defamatory content. At the same time, intermediaries that provide digital platforms must take reasonable steps to address clearly harmful material, while respecting due process and lawful expression.

As Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of the digital age, online defamation will remain a critical intersection of law, technology, and societal values. The task before lawmakers, courts, and citizens alike is to ensure that the internet becomes a space where rights, responsibilities, and accountability coexist.

Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Arbitrators (UK), a notary public, and managing partner at Omaplex Law Firm, writes from Abuja.
The long and short of this intervention is that there is democratic apologia in Nigeria, by which is meant that the notion of democracy in the country is not something that the majority can relate to. To the extent that Baba Obasanjo is the leading voice on the strangeness and utter irrelevance of the reigning idea of democracy, and given his status as an individual republic within the Republic, as well as the advantage of ample resources, he can lead the process of a junctural interrogation of the concept of democracy.

The gap between democracy and the dividends associated with it between 1999 and today has called the concept of democracy into question. So much money is spent on conducting elections whose outcomes nobody believes, including the winners. The more elevated ones among the winners, such as the late Umaru Musa YarAdua, put the system on the couch for critical re-examination. Unfortunately, the Justice Uwais Committee took a structuralist-cum-institutionalist approach to the assignment, making recommendations that took the problem back to its very promoters or beneficiaries to resolve. It was predictably dead on arrival. That fate would not have been the case if they experimented on a conceptual tussle with democracy itself.

Today, the problem has grown wings. It is not only that elections and their outcomes are suspect, it is also that the winners have no sensitivity to any values hitherto considered sustainable of the social. Above all, once in office, they have successfully redefined development strictly in terms of giant roundabouts or similar physical projects from which they can make enough money with which to rig the next set of elections. Concentration on disjointed infrastructure provisioning from calculated motives, has meant that the project of wielding together diverse cultural groups into a collective will called the nation is ousted from the agenda of democratic politics. Similarly, state building is knocked off the agenda too.

So, the citizens of a basically pre-industrial society as Nigeria are simply on their own, with no one dominant value framework acting as the glue. It is what accounts for the chaos and anarchy that define Nigeria. Some people somewhere could decide to take the laws into their own hands against whoever they consider to have infringed on some loosely defined norms and the Nigerian State will have nothing to say or do about it. For instance, Nigeria must be one of the very few places in the world where profiling others does not constitute a crime. When a more comprehensive list of these features is drawn up, it speaks to a national power elite that has forgotten about its most primary responsibilities: nation building and state building. Evidence of the abandonment of nation and state building automatically implies a state of democratic apologia. That is: democracy has become a show, a false event, a situation which raises the question of whether it can remake Nigeria. The remaking of Nigeria being the essence of the democratic idea in the first case.

But that is still a tough question to answer. Like every other concept in social analysis, democracy is contested too. In other words, those who might be tempted to argue that democracy is not remaking or cannot remake Nigeria would have to clarify what meaning of democracy they are working with.

If they should choose to refer to the Greek city states, they would quickly meet a conceptual roadblock. In the absence of a standing army, ancient city states relied on able-bodied male citizens to defend each of them. To induct the average citizen into the idea of soldier-citizen, a concession was awarded that made all such citizen-combatants members of what we would call the legislative structure today. In the Greek city state, this did not include slaves, visitors or strangers and women. This is what the remarkable African scholar, the late Archie Mafeje, saw as the problem with this model of democracy. In his 1995 book chapter sub-titled breaking bread with my fellow travellers, he made the point that, in the history of democracy, there have always been people and non-people. His was a post-French Revolution assessment but, empirically, he was also referring to the direct democracy model in ancient civilisation, in which women, slaves and strangers were excluded.

Even those who would start with the trite notion of democracy as government of the people by the people for the people would have to situate that definition. When they do that, it would be found that it is an impossible definition. In the United States of America where the definition was advanced, the concept of the people was not settled. Blacks, slaves and women were not part of the people then and this is very much so till this day. Otherwise, we the world would not have had to contend with the #BlackLivesMatter inspired global insurgency over racist policing practice in 2020. In many parts of the world, this question hangs as a sword of Damocles on humanity.

In any case, the view of democracy, which eventually prevailed in the debate on it in America was never about the government as provider but as a suspected but necessary evil. It is for that reason that the American State was assigned governing minimally in relation to relatively prosperous citizen whose only need for anything called the state was and is to block the redistributive impulse about democracy. This is very clear in the massive literature on the emergence of democracy in America. It was as if the Americans were already anticipating the communist phenomenon that early, pragmatically using the territorial expansiveness of the emergent American State to restrict democracy to a representative version. This version is what conceptual consumers in much of Africa, for example, have absolutised as a universal framework. It is not. It is democracy with American characteristics, just as the Chinese took a hard look at socialism only to conclude that Socialism with Chinese characteristics is what is acceptable.

In Africa, colonial subjugation took away mental and practical skills, and the culture of problematisation among scholars and activists. So, we endlessly consume concepts without insisting on their domestication. People like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who argue that democracy is alien to Africa, have a point except that, as with most things with him, he gets stuck in fragmentary analysis.

Otherwise, he would have pursued the argument to its logical conclusion. That would have been to say that theres no such thing as democracy, which has a timeless meaning universally. That democracy is what we make of it and that what we make of it is what our civil society says it is. The civil society is the segment of the society assigned the role of the construction of meaning through intellectual and moral leadership.

Is it possible that Baba Obasanjo stopped short of pursuing the argument in that direction because his past is weighing heavily on him? This is very possible. In 1978 when Obasanjo was a military dictator, he said Nigerian students would be mistaken if they thought that they could bring down the government of the day like their counterparts in Europe. A whole set of policies after the Ali Must Go protests inaugurated the States decapitation of universities as centres for the production of the critical mass that we call the civil society. Back in power between 1999 and 2007, he devasted the university system even further. Apart from neoliberalism, he went to the extent of declaring how he would flood Nigeria with private universities as a strategy of undermining the capacity of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to hold the public universities system to ransom. Nigeria today is awash with private universities, most of which are, however, surviving on academics from the public universities. And Baba Obasanjo did all these in spite of Professor Akin Mabogunjes stark warning in 1997 that theres nothing like the civil society in Nigeria, because Nigerians are not citizens but property of one local notable or the other. Mabogunje was simply saying that devastating the universities meant undoing the idea of civil society and, by implication, democracy. It was and still is the sort of profundity one gets from only people in Mabogunjes generation, whether they are in Economics, Geography, History, Literature or wherever.

Mabogunje who, as everyone knows, is late now, delivered the paper in question in 1997 at the Inaugural Session of the Institute of Civil Society, which was the deceptive platform the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed, so as to divert Abachas attention from it. Many of us thought that being Obasanjos friend meant that Mabogunjes paper would form a core of Obasanjos second coming in 1999. It has been a case of waiting for Godot.

The relational implication of Mabogunjes insight is Obasanjos complicity in the lack of a democracy with Nigerian characteristics once he (Obasanjo) had a hand in killing the kind of universities that could have turned Nigerians from the property of local notables to free thinking citizens, who could have defined democracy contingently from a Nigerian sensibility. Without that critical mass, everyone, including the professors and experts who are supposed to update and guide the rest of us, talk of democracy as if it is jollof rice  something to be eaten without any further questions.

This is a tragedy for any country, because what the examples from the ancient and modern models of democracy above show is that democracy is always a product of contingent definition, and never a universal definition. In the post-Cold War, intellectual promoters of the now badly wounded liberal internationalism, such as Francis Fukuyama, advanced a very specific reading of the end of the Cold War as the end of history. By that, he meant the end point of mankinds ideological evolution and the universalisation of western liberal democracy as the final form of human government. This 1989 essay was a bold claim which, unsurprisingly, generated its own debate, until Professor Samuel Huntington struck with the Clash of Civilisation arrows. In the end, Fukuyamas must be the attempt at theorising the Post-Cold War order with the shortest lifespan. It died almost instantly, hardly breathing much after the fatal stabbing by Huntington, who charged him with the errors of endism. Huntingtons charge against Fukuyama is part of the unending battle between liberals like Fukuyama and reformed Realists (or emergency constructivists such as Huntington?), which we cannot go into here.

In the context of the foregoing, we are confronting a twist. This how, all said and done, Obasanjo is still far ahead of the rest of us, especially if he has realised how he undermined the construction of democracy in Nigeria previously by messing up the universities which produces the critical mass with which a hegemonic meaning of democracy is possible. And if he would now invest on that agendum as a statesman that he prefers to be known today.

Obasanjo would have many followers if he should choose to move in that direction. A set of very established Nigerian political/social scientists have, since Professor Eme Awa, been working in NEC/INEC, carrying out conceptual experiments on elections and electoral practices. The Attahiru Jega tenure beefed up this team. Reassembling all those who participated in those efforts at innovation in the case of elections might be the starting point for Obasanjo or whoever the current crisis of democracy in Nigeria has thrown up, who finds purchase in this strategy. That team has to be the starting point because they are no longer strangers to situated nature of meaning. They are already more in tune with the idea that accepting fixed, universal, timeless meaning is a return to the Cartesian subjectivism that produced empire and colonialism. And, furthermore, that any polity in which a concept such as democracy begins to have a fixed meaning is dangerously manifesting a sign that someone somewhere has successfully imposed his, her or their definition of the concept by helping to create an ineffectual civil society cum historic bloc capable of fine-tuning crucial concepts.

But, as long as a concept such as democracy has no cultural coordinates by which the average African can pinpoint where there has been an infraction or not, the government of the day will always go scot free with murder. Yesterday, the cry was against Buhari. Today, it is against Tinubu. Tomorrow, it could be worse. So, the question of whether democracy is remaking Nigeria or can remake Nigeria would have to first answer the question of what sense of democracy. Otherwise, we would be wasting billions conducting elections that fulfil all righteousness but have nothing to do with democracy.

The long and short of this intervention is that there is democratic apologia in Nigeria, by which is meant that the notion of democracy in the country is not something that the majority can relate to. To the extent that Baba Obasanjo is the leading voice on the strangeness and utter irrelevance of the reigning idea of democracy, and given his status as an individual republic within the Republic, as well as the advantage of ample resources, he can lead the process of a junctural interrogation of the concept of democracy. He has a constituency from which he can reassemble some social scientists who are not totally new to interrogating received ideas. This way, he (Obasanjo) can write his name into History because a new formatting of democracy will so easily catch popular acceptance in a manner irresistible by any force on earth. That is how this achieves writing his name into history which he craves a lot but which his present approaches to politics cannot achieve for him.

Adagbo Onoja is a critical geopolitics researcher at Wits.
Nigeria seems to be making some progress in our engagement with the United States, against the background of the Trump administrations re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on 31 October, with express instruction to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Congressman Riley Moore to investigate and make appropriate recommendations to the President of the United States (POTUS). So much has happened between October 31 and now  including at least two major Congressional hearings with participation by members of the House Appropriations Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the National Security Subcommittee and experts like Dr Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations and Ms Oge Onubogu, Director of the Africa Programme at the Wilson Centre. The issue was religious persecution in Nigeria, identified as Christian genocide, communicated as the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.

One meeting was chaired by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Sub-Committee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and then another hearing by the House Foreign Affairs Africa sub-committee chaired by Chris Smith. (R-NJ). The hearings were robust covering the spectrum of extreme, to moderate, to liberal -with Congressman Smith claiming that over 52,000 Christians have been slaughtered in Nigeria compared to 34,000 moderate Muslims since 2009, and the reign of a culture of hate in Nigeria. Smith advocated for serious targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Nigerian individuals and entities. But there were moderate voices as well. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) said President Trump was only being reckless and that focusing on religious conflict does not capture the reality in Nigeria. This was also the view of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington). Congress man Bill Huizenga accused the Nigerian government of sitting back and not doing enough Ms Oge Onubogu submitted that the allegation of Christian persecution merely oversimplifies an otherwise complex and more nuanced issue. Dr Obadare called for assistance and help for the Nigerian authorities. He added salt to the matter when he asked that the United States should mount pressure on President Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the 12 Northern States, and disband the Hisbah groups: a clear prescription for chaos. One other notable voice during the Congressional hearings was that of Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe who told the lawmakers in Washington DC, that Christians in Nigeria face the danger of complete elimination, and that the Nigerian government has refused to acknowledge that such evil exists.

The debate in the United States indicated a sharp division among American lawmakers and the invited experts as to the nature, scope and extent of religious conflict in Nigeria. Just as the Americans were divided, the debate at home among concerned stakeholders was even more intense. There was the loud crowd of commentators, Christian evangelists and mischievous closet and open partisan politicians who saw Trumps threat to storm Nigeria with guns a-blazing as the comeuppance for the Tinubu administration that they had been waiting for. They were quite vociferous. They boasted that America already knows and that America will punish the Tinubu administration. Many of them were generous with conspiracy theories about how President Trumps administration in the United States will stop Tinubu from being re-elected. Opposition figures were of course glad that what they could not achieve at the polls, Trump will do it for them. In their obsession with a single narrative, they could not see far enough that whatever sanctions may be imposed on Nigeria will affect everyone, and the reputational damage would be a collective risk. Then there were others who also argued that whereas many Christians have lost their lives to kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, the truth is that all Nigerians are victims be they Christians, Muslims or animists. They are victims of a reign of terror and insecurity which successive governments have not been able to check, despite the rich vocabulary that the challenge has thrown up over the years: kinetic, non-kinetic, asymmetrical, decimated, decapitated. Nigerian public officials will justify anything with adjectives and adverbs, without any concrete action. This class of commentators urged a more sober and reflective assessment of the Nigerian situation. There is yet a third category: those who tried to play religious and ethnic politics with the conversation. Meanwhile, Muslim students at the same time were abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, in Maga, Kebbi State on 17 November (25 students, two members of staff (one student escaped), 38 church members at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State during Sunday service, and about 250 students from St. Marys Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Nigeria State. These incidents occurring within the same period merely lent weight to the observation that Nigeria faces a serious challenge of insecurity. The situation got worse with the obvious politicisation of President Trumps characterization of religious freedom in Nigeria, and it soon got scary when a certain character who is given voice by an over-indulgent section of the media pushed the clearly stupid view that the abduction of school girls is a lesser evil than the killing of soldiers in combat. Should any child be kidnapped at all and turned into an item of merchandise in the evil ecosystem of banditry? Should anyone be killed at all, unjustly and inhumanely?

The Tinubu administration did what it could to douse tension. Its spokespersons denied that there is any religious persecution in Nigeria, quoting Sections 10 (on religious neutrality) and Section 38 (on the freedom of religion, faith and belief), and Section 42 (on non-discrimination) in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a show of humility, the government of the day called on the United States to collaborate with Nigeria to address issues of particular concern that would be of mutual benefit to both countries. President Tinubu obviously took a long-standing advice that he had been given in the public domain by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Nigerias former Foreign Affairs Minister that he, President Tinubu would be well advised not to get into any confrontation with President Trump under any circumstances whatsoever. Pundits advised President Tinubu to seek the wisdom of the elders and explore back-room channels of engaging the Trump administration. He went a step further by declaring that his administration is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone in Nigeria. A Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was soon sent to the United States to tell the Nigerian story and engage with American officials. The delegation was more of a security-focused team rather than diplomacy, but it has worked out well, all the same, in the long run.

Nigeria soon set up a Nigeria-US Bilateral Working Group. President Tinubu replaced his Minister of Defence, former Governor Badaru Abubakar, who most conveniently resigned for health reasons, with a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. The President also ordered the removal of policemen from VIP protection duties, he directed the Department of State Services to recruit forest guards, and the police to recruit additional 50,000 personnel all with the aim to strengthen internal security. The military followed through by freezing all pending retirements by its personnel for the next six months. Thus, the focus on Nigeria by the Trump administration had the effect of pushing the Nigerian government into action. Nigerias demonstration of sobriety and wisdom has since paid off. In the last month, the Nigeria-US Working Group has met, here in Nigeria, with Congressman Riley Moore leading a delegation to Nigeria. They came to see things for themselves, meeting public officials, church and community leaders, civil society figures, as well as persons in Internally Displaced Persons camps. Riley Moore has since returned. He says he is working on a comprehensive report of the trip which will be presented to President Trump.

Before the submission of that report, yet another American delegation led this time by Bill Huizenga (R- Michigan, 4thCongressional District) has just completed a visit to Nigeria. Huizenga was the one who said during one of the Congressional hearings in Washington DC, that the Tinubu administration was not doing enough but visiting Nigeria, and after all the diplomatic efforts of Nigeria, his tone is different. Members of that bipartisan delegation that just visited also displayed a better understanding of the Nigerian position and reality. They include Michael Baumgartner, Keith Self, and Jefferson Shreve, accompanied by Ambassador Richard Mills, who until yesterday was President Trumps Nigerian Ambassador. The team met, like the Moore team before now, with senior government officials, religious leaders, civil society actors, and private sector persons. Now, what came out of the press conference by the group was that the United States is concerned about protection for all Nigerians, regardless of faith, and that the United States will work with the Tinubu administration to ensure a strong, forward-looking relationship! Ambassador Mills in fact added that the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) is a tool to encourage change and dialogue, rather than a permanent label. The better Nigeria does, the better Africa does. And the better Africa does, the better the world will do, Huizenga added.

Both Huizenga and Representative Keith Self drove the point home by stating matter-of-factly that there will be no American boots on the ground, rather the US will assist Nigeria through training, logistics, intelligence sharing and capacity-building initiatives. There will be American shoes on the ground, but not military action, and that true friends should stay engaged. The US is not planning to punish Nigerians but to promote partnership, government responsibility and encouraging real, measurable progress. Rep. Keith Self even warned against simplistic narratives, and that Nigeria is too complex for one-size-fits-all solutions. Between October 31 and now, the tone is changing. The Republican Christian Evangelists of America have shifted from the position that Christian lives in Nigeria matter to a more realistic view that all Nigerian lives matter and that the Nigerian government and the people deserve all the support that they can get. For sure, there is nothing that cannot be resolved through diplomacy. Within a month, the Nigerian government has scored goals on the diplomatic front in the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso (over the detention of our soldiers and aircraft) and now, in its relations with the United States. The safest way to approach difficult challenges in relationships with other countries is through dialogue and diplomacy to build trust, promote relationships and prevent conflict.

Nonetheless, in Nigerias relationship with the United States, it is important to pay attention to the sub-text. Nigeria as the US Congressmen admitted, is a very strategic country and partner. But this same Nigeria has been overly friendly with China and France, which is something of particular concern in todays connected world. The United States is having a difficult moment in its relations with South Africa which may translate into waning US influence in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Niger turned against the United States. The Sahel region in West and North Africa has more or less been overtaken by Russia and China. France is actively looking for a reinvention of its influence in Africa having been rejected by its former colonies. The United States needs to maintain its strength and influence in a continent that is considered for the want of a better phrase as the last frontier. President Trump has established the American voice in the Great Lakes region by intervening in the conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He now has the ears of Nigeria! There must be other aspects to Trumps game of power. Nigeria is one of those countries that would face visa restrictions from January 2026. Only yesterday, President Trump also recalled about 30 career diplomats from their positions, including Ambassador Richard Mills in Nigeria who actually assumed office as recently as July. Trump wants to reshape American missions abroad by sending personnel who are deemed fully supportive of the America First policy. What does this mean in real terms? Whatever it is, it is noteworthy that Nigeria and the US are having a useful dialogue not just in security and education but also in the areas of health and trade. Nigeria has just signed a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health co-operation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US, to strengthen Nigerias healthcare system. What is the deal? What is Nigeria giving back in return?

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has commissioned the Katsina Local Government Digital Learning Centre, describing the facility as a strategic investment in youth empowerment and a major milestone in the states drive toward digital literacy and inclusive technological development. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the Muhammad Dodo Primary School Layout, Katsina, Governor Radda said the centreconstructed and fully equipped by Katsina Local Governmentreflects the importance of grassroots-driven development in preparing young people for the demands of a rapidly evolving digital world.

The Governor commended the Chairman of Katsina Local Government, Mr Isah Miqdad, for initiating and completing what he described as a forward-looking project capable of delivering long-term benefits to youths and the wider society. The importance of this Digital Learning Centre cannot be over-emphasised. It is timely, strategic and fully aligned with the direction the world is moving Governor Radda said.

He noted that the centre is fitted with modern ICT infrastructure designed to provide hands-on training in computer usage, ICT operations and general digital literacy, noting that the skills to be acquired would prepare beneficiaries for education, employment and productive participation in todays technology-driven economy.

Digital skills are no longer optional. The world has fully embraced technology, and our youths must be prepared to compete, innovate and succeed the Governor stated. Governor Radda noted

A that Katsina State has recorded measurable progress in digital literacy and ICT development, acknowledging the role of the State ICT Directorate in driving the governments digital agenda and reaffirming his administrations commitment to positioning Katsina as a digital-friendly, innovation-driven state.

He described the location of the centre within Katsina metropolis as strategic and accessible, adding that its proximity would enable more youths to benefit, particularly as major examinations such as JAMB and WAEC have transitioned to computer-based testing. To compete favourably with other states, digital preparedness is key. We must not only catch up; we must lead, and projecting that thousands of youths would benefit from the centre over time Governor Radda concluded.

Earlier, the Chairman of Katsina Local Government, Isah Miqdad, attributed the establishment of the Digital Learning Centre to Governor Raddas reform-driven leadership, particularly the grant of full financial autonomy to the 34 Local Government Councils in the state, which he said marked a turning point in local governance. When financial autonomy was granted, it challenged us to think beyond routine administration and focus on projects that would leave lasting legacies Mr Miqdad said.

He explained that the centre represents the councils commitment to legacy-focused development, noting that the project was completed within five weeks despite limited resources and is designed to promote digital literacy, creativity and employable skills among youths. We are already working to secure national ICT examination and JAMB CBT accreditation for this centre, which will ease the burden on students, expand access to higher education and restore dignity to local learning, he added.

Representing the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Head of Partnership Division, Mr Bashir Ibrahim, described the centre as a strategic investment in human capital that aligns with NITDAs Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme. This centre goes beyond infrastructure; it is about inclusion, opportunity and equipping young people with relevant digital skills for the modern economy Mr Ibrahim said. He added that the facility would strengthen digital capacity at the grassroots and support blended learning, urging proper utilisation, maintenance and sustainability to ensure long-term impact.

Those in attendance included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Aliyu Albaba; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashir Tanimu; the Director-General of Katsina State Directorate of ICT (KATDICT), Naufal Ahmed; and the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Development Management Partners Board (KTDMB), Mustapha Shehu, among others.
After asking for help on social media, Bernardo Quintero has managed to locate the creator of the software that, besides infecting the universitys computers in the 1990s, sparked his passion for cybersecurity

In the early 1990s, an unknown virus infected the computers at the Polytechnic School of the University of Malaga. It wasnt malicious, but it was a nuisance because no one knew what to do about the cyber bug.

A professor named Adolfo Cid challenged one of his students to find the solution in exchange for a higher grade. A young Bernardo Quintero accepted, succeeded, and, in addition to improving his grade, discovered his calling. Shortly afterward, he founded Hispasec, the first cybersecurity company established in Spain. And later, VirusTotal, which was acquired by Google in 2012. Today, Quintero is the director of Googles cybersecurity center in Malaga, a personal and professional milestone that always left him with a lingering question: who created that virus to which he owes so much?

In many of the interviews Quintero, 51, has given to the media about his professional career, this episode was usually a starting point, as was the Spectrum computer his parents gave him. It always left an air of mystery, because he had never been able to find the person who had devised that surprising malicious code that changed his life. Everything pointed to it having been created at the university, and in fact, major antivirus companies like McAfee and Panda dubbed it the Malaga Virus.

The virus was unusually sophisticated for its time. And it was only 2,610 bytes in size: when an infected floppy disk or executable file was inserted, the virus ran in the background in memory and, from there, invisibly spread to any other floppy disk or executable file. It didnt delete anything or prevent the computer from being used, Quintero explains in a conversation with EL PAIS. However, on the first day of every month it would launch a message: HB=ETA=ASSASSINS. DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISM  a reference to the now-defunct Basque terror group ETA. At that time, ETA attacks were almost weekly.

Last week, Quintero decided to have another shot at solving the mystery. He had already tried in 2022 without results, but wanted to try again: If you have any leads or simply want to claim your youthful masterpiece, make yourself known! he wrote last Monday in a social media post. I was looking for nostalgia, talent, the chance to thank the author for the challenge it posed me, says the IT expert. Those who know Quintero expected he would succeed sooner or later, but he wasnt so sure. Even less so when the first responses arrived  vague messages pointing in different directions without supporting evidence. He studied five of them carefully because they included more details, but ultimately dismissed them.

Meanwhile, he returned to the original code in search of new clues he hadnt noticed as a teenager. He found only one: two bytes  4B and 49, which in ASCII code translate to KI  that were not part of any instruction and appeared as a signature. He then examined the second version of the virus, named Malaga II, which was an evolution of the first  it also sent the same message on the 15th of every month  and contained more unused bytes, which this time could be read as: KIKESOYYO (I am Kike in English).

To Quintero, named Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Malaga this year, it no longer seemed a coincidence. It felt like the author was saying, here I am, yet the messages he kept receiving led nowhere. Until Adolfo Ariza, an employee of the Cordoba City Council, wrote to him privately on LinkedIn. He said he knew the person behind the Malaga virus, had been his classmate at the Polytechnic School of Malaga between 1989 and 1995, and had witnessed firsthand the creation of that code.

In the message, he wrote: He never intended to do anything bad, other than display those messages about ETA and test himself as a programmer. The detail about the terrorist group was unknown, except to Quintero, so everything fell into place. Ariza gave him a name: Antonio Astorga. He also mentioned that Astorga had passed away a few years ago due to cancer.

Antonio Astorga, junto a su hijo Sergio.

Who is KIKE?

Quintero Googled Astorgas name and discovered that he had been a computer science teacher at the Miraya del Mar institute in Torre del Mar, just a few miles from where Quintero lives in Velez-Malaga, the city where he was born. There, among many other projects, the teacher had developed a program called Evalua, the precursor to the current iPasen that the Andalusian regional government uses to track student performance and attendance across the region.

Everything made sense  except for the newly discovered KIKESOYYO, which did not match the mysterious mans name. Later, Quintero found the contact information for Astorgas sister online, wrote to her to tell the story, and they spoke on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. When he asked, he learned that Antonios middle name was Enrique and that the family called him Kike. She said that the virus sounded familiar from some family conversation, but that it would be better to speak with Sergio Astorga, who, like his father, had studied computer science.

I checked my phone around 11 p.m., recalls the 22-year-old, who lives in Rincon de la Victoria  just outside Malaga  and has just finished a degree in Software Engineering while taking his second year of Mathematics at the Spanish long-distance university UNED. He was amazed to see that it was Googles director in Malaga writing to him. Even more so when Quintero arranged to meet him at 9:00 a.m. at the companys facilities near the Port of Malaga.

There, last Friday, Quintero brought him up to speed on the story. It meant a lot to me that he called to honor my fathers memory, says the young man, who remembers that when he was 10, during one of his last conversations with his father, he was told that his greatest project had been a computer virus that took more than two years to develop.

Its been incredibly moving to close a 33-year circle, Quintero explains, surprised that it had been someone so close geographically all along. But its also bittersweet to learn of his passing, although meeting his son has been very special and emotional, he adds, saying he expects to meet Sergio again in the future.

Quintero also left a message for KIKE on social media: Wherever you are: I found your call, I found your signature, and it will not be in vain.

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Governor Dauda Lawal on Tuesday launched a two-day, end-of-the-year tour, honouring all the security and law enforcement agencies safeguarding the people of Zamfara State.

The visit, first of its kind in the state, serves as a strategic engagement aimed at recognising the dedication, sacrifices and resilience of the security personnel in protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

It also aims to bolster morale of the security personnel and strengthen collaboration between the state government and federal security agencies in the fight against all forms of criminality in the state.

Governor Lawal, ably represented by the Secretary as to the Zamfara State Government, Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada conveyed the profound gratitude of the government and people of Zamfara to the frontline men and women battling insecurity across the state.

He further solicited more concerted efforts towards addressing the states security challenges, reassuring that the state government would continue to provide all support they require to perform their duties effectively.

The governor also extended heartfelt condolences to the agencies, praying for the eternal rest of the officers who might have paid the supreme price in the line of duty.

To further demonstrate the state governments appreciation, the governor has earmarked N160 million across the agencies as end-of-year solidarity package. The kind gesture is to enable them celebrate the Yuletide festivities with ease.

The first leg of the tour covers 1 Bridge Command, 207 Air Force Quick Response Group, Garrison Command, State Police Command, Nigerian Customs Service, Department of State Security, Police Mobile (MP) 42, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and the State Community Protection Guards (CPG).
Victoria Mbakwe, the widow of the former governor of the Old Imo State, Sam Mbakwe, has commended Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for the good works he is doing for the Abia people.

She particularly expressed her gratitude to Mr Otti for regularly looking out for them and supporting the family.

Mrs Mbakwe spoke on Tuesday, 23 December, when Mr Otti visited the family unannounced at Obowo, Imo State, according to a statement issued by Njoku Ukoha, the spokesperson to the governor.

The former first lady stated that Mr Ottis support for the family is not limited to Christmas visits and festive seasons, noting that the governor has consistently looked out for and supported her family.

Mrs Mbakwe also commended Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, whom she said, like Governor Otti, has been consistent with his support for the family without waiting for festive seasons.

The First Lady of Abia State, Priscilla Chidimma Otti, who had planned the visit with her husband but had to stay back to attend to urgent family needs, sent some gift items to the family through her husband.

Mrs Mbakwe thanked Governor Otti for the visit and prayed that God would continue to bless him and his family for the good works he is doing for the people, for always looking out for them, and for supporting her family.

Governor Otti was accompanied on the visit by the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Darlington Nwokocha, the member representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Obi Aguocha, member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency in the Abia House of Assembly, Roland Chinwendu, the Commissioner representing Abia State in the Federal Character Commission, Victor Ikeji, among others.
Gunmen have abducted 28 travellers in Zak community, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A youth leader in Wase, Sapii Sambo, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Monday, saying the victims included men, women and children.

Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the abduction, noting that the whereabouts of the victims remain unknown as of the time of the interview.

Mr Sambo said the travellers were abducted on Sunday night while journeying from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend an Islamic event.

According to him, two princes and a religious leader who were leading the delegation were among those abducted.

The incident happened around 8 p.m. when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event, he said. The gunmen ambushed their vehicle at the outskirts of the community, abducted all the passengers, including children, and abandoned the vehicle by the roadside.

He explained that the abandoned vehicle, which belongs to a community leader in Zak, was discovered on Monday morning by other road users, prompting concern and a search by residents.

It was during investigations that the community realised the vehicle was the one conveying the abducted travellers, Mr Sambo added.

He said efforts by community members to trace the victims had so far been unsuccessful, adding that security agencies had been notified.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said the police were investigating the report.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that incidents of kidnapping, banditry and cattle rustling have been frequent in Wase and neighbouring communities in recent years, with residents repeatedly calling on security agencies to intensify operations against criminal groups operating in the area.
The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed it has begun investigations into the abduction of travellers in Wase Local Government Area, a day after PREMIUM TIMES reported that at least 28 people were kidnapped while travelling to an Islamic event in the area.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the police said the kidnapping occurred on 21 December along the route to Gaji village in Bashar District of Wase. The commands spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, said the police received a report of the incident on 22 December from a resident and immediately deployed detectives to the area.

Upon receiving the report from a good Samaritan, an intelligence-driven team of detectives was promptly mobilised to the scene, Mr Alabo said. He added that the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, had ordered frantic efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that gunmen abducted 28 travellers from the Zak community in the Bashar District while they were on their way to Sabon Layi to attend an Islamic event. The incident reportedly happened around 8 p.m. on Sunday.

A youth leader in Wase, Sapii Sambo, said that the victims included men, women and children. The incident happened around 8 p.m. when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event, he said. The gunmen ambushed their vehicle at the outskirts of the community, abducted all the passengers, including children, and abandoned the vehicle by the roadside.

Mr Sambo, the state police public relations officer, said two princes and a religious leader who were part of the delegation were among those abducted. He added that the vehicle conveying the travellers, owned by a community leader in Zak, was discovered abandoned by the roadside on Monday morning. It was during investigations that the community realised the vehicle was the one conveying the abducted travellers, he said.

Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the abduction, noting that the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown as of Monday. He said community efforts to trace them had not yielded results.

Reacting to the report at the time, Mr Alabo said that the police were investigating the incident. In his latest statement, he appealed to members of the public to support ongoing efforts. We appeal to anyone with useful information regarding this incident to contact the nearest police station or call the commands emergency lines, he said.

Although a relative of the victim told journalists that the kidnappers had demanded ransom payment, the police did not comment on the ransom demand.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that a relative of one of the victims, Ibrahim Musa, told journalists on Tuesday that the abductors contacted the families to make their demands.

The kidnappers called me last night and said we must pay 1.5 million for each person, irrespective of age or gender, Mr Musa said. They told us our relatives arrived safely at their camp and are in good condition.

The latest abduction adds to a pattern of insecurity in Wase and neighbouring parts of Plateau State, where residents have reported repeated cases of kidnapping, banditry and cattle rustling in recent years. Community leaders have consistently urged security agencies to intensify operations against armed groups operating across the area.
The Plateau State Government on Tuesday commissioned 1,450 newly trained operatives of Operation Rainbow as part of efforts to strengthen security across the state.

Gyang Bere, the state governors director of press and public affairs, said in a statement that the governor described security as the bedrock upon which sustainable development is built. Mr Bere also provided other details of the event.

He said the operatives passed out at a ceremony held at the Zaria Road Stadium in Jos. Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who presided over the event, said the state was prioritising security as a foundation for stability and development.

Addressing the operatives, Mr Mutfwang said their role was to protect lives and property. He urged them to act within the law. You are not above the law; rather, you are its guardians and partners, he said, charging them to carry out their duties with discipline and integrity.

He said the state had adopted a community-based approach to security, noting that effective security begins from within our communities. According to him, Operation Rainbow operates as part of the states security structure and works alongside the military, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Every operation they undertake is under the direct supervision of the Army, the Police, or the NSCDC, he said.

The governor said the training of the operatives covered not only physical and tactical drills but also respect for human rights and civilian engagement. He added that the outfit was designed to protect all residents without discrimination. It is not meant to witch-hunt anybody; it is an all-inclusive security outfit designed to protect people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds, he said.

READ ALSO: Plateau police begin investigation into Wase kidnapping

Mr Mutfwang also said the operatives were recruited from all 17 local government areas of the state and included both Christians and Muslims. He assured residents that complaints against any operative would be addressed. Whenever there is a legitimate complaint, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any operative found wanting, he said.

He disclosed that the state was working with federal security agencies to improve surveillance, including the deployment of helicopters in rural areas, especially during the festive period. He said the measures were in line with directives from President Bola Tinubu to treat threats to national security as acts of terrorism.

The commissioning comes amid recurring security challenges in Plateau State. In recent days, residents of Wase Local Government Area reported the abduction of 28 travellers from the Zak community in the Bashar District while travelling to Sabon Layi. The Plateau State Police Command said it has begun investigations into the kidnapping.

The governor urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and report suspicious activities, saying, Security is a collective responsibility, and assuring that the government would continue efforts to improve safety across the state.
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has attributed the failure of states in the North-west region to establish security outfits modelled after those in some South-west states (Amotekun) to a lack of political consensus among the regions governors.

Mr Radda stated this in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) Hausa, a clip of which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES after the RFI shared it on Monday.

The governors admission offers a rare glimpse into the cracks within the Northern Governors Forum, arguably explaining why banditry continues to plague the region despite isolated efforts by individual states.

Isolated Efforts Wont Work

Speaking on the operational challenges of fighting insecurity, Mr Radda lamented that without a simultaneous, region-wide offensive, state-level efforts are insufficient.

In our consultations with the governors we agreed it was imperative to adopt a unified strategy to bring security to our region, Mr Radda said. We understood that if we address security in Katsina but ignore the Zamfara axis where we share a border, the effort would not succeed.

He explained what he described as a displacement effect in the fight against armed groups.

If Zamfara acts and Katsina does not, the effort will not succeed as intended Similarly, if Zamfara, Sokoto, or Kebbi do not act, there is a problem.

Failing Agreement

Despite this understanding, a unified force was never realised among the governors. Mr Radda revealed that when Katsina moved to establish its Community Watch Corps (CWC), not all neighbours were ready to move at the same pace.

At that very moment, when other governors saw what we were doing, they came and adopted the law we established like Zamfara and Sokoto, he noted.

However, he hinted at frustration with other states that dragged their feet.

Some governors did not do it because they felt it might not be the right time for them, or perhaps they did not feel the urgency of the circumstances we were facing. It is for this reason that you see we did not establish a unified North-west regional security corps.

The governor rejected claims that the North is only now reacting after the states in the South-west established their regional security structures.

Just as many people are saying that the South-west established their corps recently before they established theirs, people should recall that it has been five months since I established this corps, he said.

Many states in the Southwest, including Ondo, Osun, and Oyo, have established state-run security agencies, generally called Amotekun, which have a primary responsibility of tackling armed criminals, such as bandits and kidnappers. The existence of the security agencies is believed to have contributed to the relatively low level of banditry in the region.

Timeline Discrepancy

While defending his administrations stance, Mr Radda claimed in the video that it had been five months since he established his corps.

However, checks by PREMIUM TIMES indicate that the Katsina Community Watch Corps was officially launched over two years ago, on 10 October 2023, followed by the graduation of a second batch of operatives in November 2024.

The governor may have been referring to the recent operational expansion or the graduation of the latest batch of recruits.

He also disclosed that Kano State is set to launch its own outfit next week, a move he hopes will finally pave the way for the synergy that has been missing.

States in north-west and north-central Nigeria suffer from intense banditry, where armed groups attack communities, travellers and security officials at will. Katsina is one of the most affected states by the attacks that have led to the killing and kidnapping of thousands of people in recent years.

Defending Trickle-Down Projects

Beyond security, the governor also utilised the interview to defend his administrations spending on capital projects amidst economic hardship.

Responding to critics who argue that infrastructure does not alleviate immediate hunger, Mr Radda argued that construction projects are a vital mechanism for wealth redistribution.

If you want money to cascade down when you execute a capital project, you are creating jobs, he argued. You are bringing money down to the people.

He argued that labourers, food vendors, and suppliers benefit directly from these projects, preventing the local economy from standing still.

If you go to the local government areas in Katsina State today, you will see a hive of activities simply because the funds have reached the community, he said.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has officially launched the Neighbourhood Watch Corps (NWC), a state-controlled security outfit designed to tackle the escalating surge in banditry and gang-related violence.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Governor Yusuf announced the enrollment of an initial 2,000 personnel into the states security structure.

The first batch consists of 1,870 men and 130 women. The governor said all the personnel have undergone specialised training in security tactics and intelligence gathering.

To ensure operational efficiency, the governor commissioned a fleet of 88 Hilux patrol vehicles and 440 motorcycles for the corps to be deployed across all 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to complement the efforts of federal security agencies.

Mr Yusuf confirmed that officers would be equipped with the necessary weapons to counter major crimes, particularly the rising banditry in the states remote localities.

Kano has recently experienced an upsurge in bandit attacks in LGAs such as Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, Kunchi, Shanono, and Bagwai. Reports indicate that these bandits strike from hideouts in Katsina Statewhere they reportedly have unofficial no-attack agreementstargeting vulnerable, sparsely policed farming communities in Kano.

Highlighting the limitations of the current security framework, Governor Yusuf urged the National Assembly to enact laws permitting the establishment of state police.

He stated that the NWC is a pillar of a broader reform agenda built on community participation and intelligence-driven operations. He charged the new personnel to maintain the highest levels of professionalism.

Kanos move follows a growing trend among Northwestern states to establish localised security forces to fill gaps left by overstretched federal military and police units.

The Neighbourhood Watch Corps in Kano joins similar outfits such as Katsinas Community Watch, Zamfaras Community Protection Guards and Sokotos Community Guard Corps. While these outfits are legal under state laws, they currently operate in a legal grey area regarding high-calibre weaponry.

Under the Nigerian Constitution, the control of firearms and policing remains an exclusive federal powera reality that continues to drive the lobby for constitutional amendments.

President Bola Tinubu and many lawmakers have called for the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to allow states have their own police.

READ ALSO: Kano farmers narrate benefits of agricultural intervention project

Kanos unique security threat

Unlike many of its neighbours, Kano faces a two-front security challenge: rural banditry and urban gang violence in the city centres. Residents grapple with the Yan Daba gangs traditionaly rooted in local hunting rivalries and political thuggery. Some of rhese groups have evolved into sophisticated criminal networks.

In the urban area, the groups are believed to be primarily responsible for a surge in phone snatching, which has transitioned from petty theft into a lethal epidemic.

Attackers often stab their victims during encounters. They disguise themselves as commercial tricycle operators. Once a passenger enters, the driver diverts to a secluded area to rob them at knifepoint.

The new security initiative is expected to play a crucial role in curbing these urban crimes through increased surveillance and community-level presence.
Nine suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have accused the state government of withholding their salaries and allowances for nearly two years after they were suspended for allegedly raising concerns over insecurity in their constituencies.

The lawmakers made the allegation during an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW) Hausa, monitored by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

In response, the Zamfara State House of Assembly said the lawmakers were suspended for breaching legislative procedures and that their salaries were legally withheld.

Suspension, allegations

The suspended legislators said their constituencies have been left without representation since their suspension on 27 February 2024. They said they were suspended for speaking out about worsening security in their constituencies.

Bashir Abubakar, who represents Bukkuyum North Constituency, said he and eight other lawmakers were singled out after raising security issues on the floor of the Assembly.

We stood up and spoke about insecurity affecting our people, and it did not go down well with the government, Mr Abubakar said. Since then, the nine of us were suspended.

He alleged that following their suspension, security agencies were deployed to arrest them.

They obtained a court order that wherever we were seen, we should be arrested, he claimed. If the same effort was directed at bandits, they would have been arrested by now.

Assemblys response

However, the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Moriki, denied that the lawmakers were suspended for raising security concerns.

Speaking to DW Hausa, Mr Moriki said the suspension followed what he described as a violation of legislative rules.

According to him, the lawmakers locked the Assembly chamber and conducted a sitting without authorisation while principal officers were present within the complex.

No lawmaker has the right to lock the chamber against other members, the Speaker said, adding that the Assembly acted in line with existing laws and procedures.

Salary dispute

The suspended lawmakers also accused the Assembly and the state government of operating illegally and sharing their salaries among serving members.

Aliyu Kagara, who represents Talata Mafara South Constituency, alleged that budgets were passed without the constitutionally required quorum and that their salaries had been withheld for 22 months.

Our salaries and allowances have not been paid since our suspension, Mr Kagara said. The Zamfara State House of Assembly has 24 members, yet budgets were passed without the required two-thirds majority.

The Speaker, however, said the Assembly acted within the law, adding that suspended lawmakers were not entitled to salaries or benefits.

Once you are suspended, you will not enjoy any kind of benefit, Mr Moriki said.

Court case, reinstatement talks

The suspended lawmakers said they had taken the matter to court but accused the government and Assembly of frustrating the judicial process  an allegation the Speaker strongly denied.

They sued; we did not, Mr Moriki said. We presented our evidence to the court, and the matter is under judicial review.

He disclosed that discussions had been held on reinstating the lawmakers, saying Governor Dauda Lawal had agreed to their return, provided they tender an apology to the Assembly.

They should write an apology letter, and they will be reinstated, the Speaker said, adding that the lawmakers refused, insisting they had committed no offence.

Background: legislative suspensions in Nigeria

Suspensions of lawmakers by state assemblies are not uncommon in Nigeria and have often sparked legal disputes. Courts have, in several cases, ruled that prolonged or indefinite suspensions of elected legislators violate constitutional provisions guaranteeing representation for constituents.

Legal analysts note that while legislative houses have the power to discipline members for misconduct, such sanctions must not amount to the denial of representation to affected constituencies.

Representation concerns

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has 24 members. With nine lawmakers suspended, only 15 are currently active, less than two-thirds.

As the 2027 general elections approach, concerns remain over the continued lack of representation for constituents whose lawmakers remain suspended, with both sides maintaining their positions on the conditions for reinstatement.
Criticism has continued to trail the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, following his remarks that he has the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in his pocket for the 26 seats in the assembly for the 2027 general elections.

The latest attack on Mr Otong is coming from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, which has demanded a retraction from the speaker.

In a viral video circulating on Facebook, Mr Otong was seen boasting that no one would become a member of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly without his approval.

The speaker made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the Ibom Grassroots Development Initiative, a political group, to his country home in Abak Itenge, to mark his 2025 birthday.

All the tickets are already in my pocket, Mr Otong said in the video. He spoke in his Annang dialect.

All the 26 House of Assembly tickets are already in my pocket. I single-handedly negotiated for them, no one else. No one else did. I will personally choose who becomes a House of Assembly member and hand the ticket to the person from my pocket, he said.

Irresponsible, undemocratic

The NNPP in Akwa Ibom has described the speakers comment as deeply irresponsible, undemocratic, and an affront to the political rights of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Inemesit Akpan, the state chairman of the party, stated in a statement on Wednesday that no individual, regardless of office, has the authority to appropriate the democratic destinies of entire constituencies.

Mr Akpan asked Mr Otong to retract the comment and publicly recommit to democratic norms.

NNPP views this boast as a dangerous attempt to intimidate other aspiring lawmakers from other political parties, and even his so-called party, to manipulate party structures, and undermine the principles of internal democracy.

Akwa Iboms political space cannot and will not be reduced to the personal estate of any political actor.

We reaffirm that election tickets are not personal property, not bargaining chips, and not tools for political domination. They belong to the people, through transparent party processes guided by law, Mr Akpan said.

Akwa Ibom has 26 lawmakers in the state assembly. All were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until June, when 24 of them defected along with Governor Umo Eno to the APC.

Mr Eno had said he consulted widely, including with the legislature, before leaving the PDP.

There were speculations that the lawmakers may have been promised automatic return tickets for the 2027 general election in exchange for joining the governor in the APC.

Mr Otong, who represents Abak State Constituency, is serving a second term in the assembly.

In the video, he said, No one will emerge without my approval, adding that the tickets would be given to individuals with whom the governor would be comfortable working.

It remains unclear whether Mr Eno or the APC made such concessions to the speaker  a move that would effectively render party primaries meaningless.

Both the APC chairperson in the state, Stephen Ntukekpo, and the partys spokesperson, Otoabasi Udo, did not respond to calls seeking their comments.

APC affiliate condemns speakers comment

A group called the APC Media Network, affiliated with the APC in Akwa Ibom, had issued a response to the speakers comment, describing it as anti-democratic, provocative, and misleading.

The groups director, Iniobong John, said, in the statement, that Mr Otongs remarks wrongly suggested that party candidacies are subject to personal control rather than due process.

The group stated that the speaker lacks constitutional or moral authority to determine the APC nominations, noting that such powers reside exclusively with the partys recognised organs, in line with its constitution and guidelines.

For avoidance of doubt, the speaker has no constitutional or moral authority to determine the APC candidacies or to custody party ticket, the statement stated.

The group stated that there were long-standing members who established the APC in Akwa Ibom State before Mr Otongs defection. It warned that his comment risks marginalising loyal party stakeholders and undermining internal democracy.

The group called on the speaker to retract the statement and issue a public apology to the APC members, urging him to place the partys collective interests above personal ambition.

It also asked the national leadership of the APC to clearly reaffirm that the partys 2027 candidates will emerge through transparent and competitive processes, insisting that APC tickets belong to the party, not to any individual.

The Akwa Ibom speaker, Mr Otong, has yet to comment on the controversy that has followed his remarks.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to weaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in support of President Bola Tinubus second term ambition.

Mr Makinde made the remarks while recounting discussions he said he had with President Tinubu and Mr Wike, arguing that such political manoeuvres threaten Nigerias multiparty democracy.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Government House in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the governor disclosed that President Tinubu had once asked him to assist in organising the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, a request he said he turned down because of his membership of the PDP.

He added that he also cautioned the president against relying on the Minister of Power,

Adebayo Adelabu, for party organisation in the state, adding that the minister lacked the capacity for the task.

The President said, No Seyi, it is you that I want to help me organise APC in Oyo and I said, no sir, I am of the PDP; I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo State. If we had a government of national unity, a government of national competence, we would have been in a very different environment right now, Governor Makinde said.

The Oyo governor further alleged that during a meeting attended by President Tinubu, Mr Wike, the presidents chief of staff and other officials, the FCT minister openly offered to hold the PDP for the president ahead of the 2027 general election.

Mr Makinde said the comment came as a shock to him and raised concerns about efforts to erode the opposition and push the country towards a one-party system.

While acknowledging Mr Wikes right to support President Tinubus re-election bid, the governor insisted that other political actors must be allowed to protect the PDP and Nigerias democratic diversity.

I was in a meeting with the President and Wike, .and Wike said to the president that, I will hold PDP for you against 2027. I was in shock. So we got to the veranda and I asked him, did we agree to this?

The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President for 2027. Thats fine. It is within his right to do that. But also some of us that want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria, that we dont drift into a one-party state and want to ensure that PDP survives should be allowed to do our own thing, he said.

The governor said he initially raised his concerns privately with mutual associates, hoping Mr Wike would reconsider his position, but claimed the minister remained unmoved. He added that this eventually led him to confront the issue directly.

Neither Mr Wike nor the presidency has reacted to Mr Makindes claim.

Makinde-Wike dispute

Governor Makindes recent revelations comes amid the lingering strife that has divided the Peoples Democratic Party since the 2023 general election, a crisis that deepened after internal disagreements over zoning, leadership and loyalty fractured the partys ranks.

The dispute came to a head during the 2023 campaign when a bloc of five PDP governors, led by then Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, opposed the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the refusal of the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to step down in line with the partys zoning principle.

Although Governor Makinde was part of that group, their paths diverged after the election. Mr Wike openly supported President Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress and later accepted appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, while Governor Makinde remained within the PDP and has since positioned himself as one of the partys most influential governors.

The tension between both men has since grown as Mr Wike continued to wield influence within PDP structures while serving in an APC-led government. This move raised concerns among party leaders about the weakening of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.

The crisis deepened when the PDP suspended Wike, citing actions and statements considered detrimental to party unity.

The dispute has had wider implications, contributing to internal instability and prompting departures, including the recent resignation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who cited disagreements over party leadership and direction.
There are terrible guards, but also some good ones at the Krome Detention Center in Miami. One of them handed Juan Giron a letter written by Kimberly, the trans woman he met when he was going to the bathroom and who called out to him, Hey, girl, pssst, hi. Now you might say that he and Kimberly are friends. He gave her a devotional scapular, and they get emotional when they see each other in the yard during the hour of sunlight theyre allowed each day, or when they write to each other as though theyd known each other forever, aware of how lucky they were to find each other.

In the isolation cell where hes been detained for the past few days, Giron received the letter. I hope youre well and that youve rested, wrote Kimberly, whom Giron doesnt know very well, but who came from Colombia for the same reason he himself left Nicaragua three years ago: the violence. His friends news isnt good. A police officer beat her, and she had to undergo surgery. I had surgery because the police officer who hit me broke two of my ribs and punctured my lung, Kimberly writes. She doesnt tell him much more and says goodbye: Im still here, but its very hard because the men treat you very badly. Sometimes I get very depressed, but I have to keep going, life goes on.

Giron sent back some words of comfort. He has a notebook that his psychologists have allowed him to keep for distraction, as they have heard him say he wants to commit suicide. They have instructed him to sleep on the bottom bunk because of the nightmares he has at night. They have prescribed antidepressants. Giron, 31, managed to leave his country, but he has not been able to escape the violence in all the places he has been.

He was 13 years old when his mother died, and he was left in his fathers care. He was walking at night across a bridge near the Schick neighborhood in Managua, Nicaragua when a gang member grabbed him, covered his mouth, and raped him. It wasnt until much later that he was able to tell his father. I kept quiet because the man threatened to kill me if I said anything. That has scarred me for life. He was always effeminate. People always said nasty things to him. They always laughed in his face and yelled faggot at him. In 2022, he left home one night, penniless. I feared for my life, and I told my dad I couldnt take it anymore. He began his journey to the United States. One day, in Honduras, he was raped in a park. It was terrible. I just begged them not to hurt me. In Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, a stranger approached him in an alley and assaulted him.

Juan Giron in an undated photo. Cortesia

Now, in Krome, they yell faggot at him. Hes afraid to take showers because a Haitian migrant keeps walking past him, giving him sidelong glances, and hurling insults. He threatened to kill me, told me he wanted to kill me. I told him it wasnt my fault they brought me here with them. He calls me faggot, queer, bitch. I ignored him until one day I told him to stop. Giron reported the situation to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in charge of the center and they spoke with the Haitian man, who is now calmer.

Giron hasnt forgotten that night last July when he had a heated argument with his partner. It was a neighbor in Little Havana who alerted the police. The officers ended up arresting him, an undocumented immigrant, and not his boyfriend, a U.S. citizen. Once in custody, they took him to a room and threw him to the floor. That wasnt enough for them, and they forcibly stripped me, tearing my clothes with scissors. There were about 30 officers, filming me with a camera. It was traumatic, Giron recalls.

Then one of the agents told him they were going to send him to a better place. It was the Alligator Alcatraz detention center, a site notorious for its constant human rights violations. It was the first stop before arriving at Krome, the center where the most deaths have occurred this year in ICE custody.

The mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people in detention centers did not begin with Donald Trump. However, on his first day as president, he signed executive orders that have further harmed the community. Among them was one that directed all federal agencies to eliminate references to gender ideology, meaning that people should henceforth be defined by the sex assigned at birth. He also revoked the 2015 Transgender Care Memorandum, which addressed the systemic problems affecting transgender people in immigration detention.

With the rapid expansion of immigration detention centers and the elimination of oversight mechanisms under the Trump administration, this dangerous system is worsening exponentially, Bridget Crawford, director of law and policy at Immigration Equality, the national advocacy organization for the rights of LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive immigrants, told EL PAIS.

Immigration Equality was denied access to the area where transgender people are being held at a detention center in Aurora, Colorado, allegedly due to unspecified security concerns, Crawford said.

In recent months, the organization has detected a significant increase in calls to its hotline from detention centers. Reports have included sexual assaults that were neither investigated nor seriously addressed by center staff, physical assaults and threats of violence, denial or delays in HIV medical care, unsanitary conditions, prolonged isolation, lack of food, as well as difficulty accessing legal advice and preparing their legal cases.

Mocked and abused

At his home in Tachira, Venezuela, where he now lives with his parents, the stylist Andry Hernandez Romero recalls how, at the Otay Mesa detention center in San Diego, the other detainees constantly criticized him for having had buttock augmentation surgery. They told me I had a big ass, that I was a woman, that I should get breast implants. They used that to discriminate against me. They looked at me strangely because Im somewhat effeminate.

Andry Hernandez Romero in Lobatera, Venezuela, on August 22, 2025. Yoels Rodriguez

The Venezuelan man entered the United States last year through an appointment scheduled on the CBP One app and was immediately taken into ICE custody. At all times, a persons sexual orientation is a focal point in a detention center or jail, he says. They told me I had to behave; I was the only gay man in a cell of more than 100 people. I was mixed in with real criminals.

More than once he wondered what he was doing there: There were serious criminals in there. I kept thinking, What am I doing here if I havent committed any crime? But to the U.S. government, Romero was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, and one of the more than 200 Venezuelans that was sent to El Salvador in mid-March, overriding a judges order and invoking the 1798 Enemy Aliens Act. At the dreaded Terrorism Detention Center, CECOT, things were much worse. The guards themselves told me I had to marry one of them to get Salvadoran citizenship. They discriminated against me even more than before.

A month after arriving at the mega-prison, he was sexually assaulted by one of the guards, an incident Romero finds difficult to discuss. Even so, he couldnt hide his true identity from the other inmates at CECOT for long. He told them once, Excuse me, but I need to joke around, to laugh at anything silly. They accepted it, and there were no problems. Sometimes I made them laugh, when they werent beating us. That made the burden more bearable, because being there wasnt easy.

The most excluded migrants

ICE began excluding data on transgender people in detention centers from its bi-weekly reports in February. Therefore, it is only known that at least 47 transgender people were in custody as of January, an undercount considering that many prefer to conceal their identity for protection. This has been part of the Administrations ongoing attack on the community.

On his first day in the White House, Trump ordered that people in detention centers be housed in facilities based on their sex assigned at birth, not their gender identity. This is how Shakira Galindez, a Venezuelan trans woman detained by ICE in New York, ended up at LaSalle, Louisiana, a mens detention center, where she is treated like any other man.

Shakira Galindez in an undated image. Jose M. Pareja

She arrived in the United States last year and was detained in September by ICE agents at Federal Plaza, the building that has become a hotbed of migrant arrests in Manhattan. Currently, Shakira is facing an expedited trial process, says Yonatan Matheus, who is handling the womans case from New York with his organization, America Diversa. Matheus asserts that if Galindez is deported, a forced return to Venezuela would expose her to serious human rights violations, given that the Venezuelan state does not guarantee her right to life, personal integrity, or recognition of her gender identity.

Immigration Equality warns of the impact the administrations policies have had on asylum cases for LGBTQ+ people, many of which have been denied. This has resulted in the deportation of people to countries where their lives are in danger, says Crawford, who recounted the story of one of her trans clients: She was awaiting the final processing of her refugee case when Trump ended the program. She was murdered. The possibility of applying for asylum and refugee status is truly a matter of life or death for many LGBTQ+ people.

Finding lawyers to represent detained migrants is also proving difficult. The Republican administration has cut funding to these types of organizations and laid off nearly all the staff at the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO).

Andrei Ushakov and Aleksandr Skitsan, a couple who arrived from Russia last year, dont have enough money to hire lawyers, which would cost them between $8,000 and $12,000. They fled the Russian government, says Matheus, who is also handling the case. Aleksandr received direct threats at his workplace, which forced them to escape to protect their lives.

Andrei Ushakov and Aleksandr Skitsan in a courtesy photo. America Diversa

They entered the United States through CBP One and were arrested. They were first held at a facility in Calexico, California. In September, they were transferred to another facility in Arizona, where they are only allowed to communicate for 30 minutes once a week. They have never been able to be together despite being legally married.

Ushakov, who suffers from a chronic illness they prefer not to disclose, has had limited access to medical care and has had to live in hiding. Theyve been hiding; they have to conceal their sexual orientation and their medical conditions because of what it means to be in a place like this, Matheus points out.

He also insists that there is a heavy burden of state-sponsored homophobia in such treatment: These practices should not be understood as isolated incidents, but as part of a system that reproduces exclusion, punishment and dehumanization towards those seeking protection.

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Acquisition builds on Brandwatch and Trajaan's August 2025 partnership, unifying consumer, search, and generative AI insights in a single ecosystem.

CHICAGO, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cision, a global leader in consumer and media intelligence, today announced the acquisition of Trajaan, the industry-leading search intelligence platform. This move significantly accelerates Cision's AI and data strategy and gives customers a more complete view of consumer behavior  spanning what people search for, what they say, and what they intend to do.

Cision Acquires Trajaan, Expanding AI and Search Intelligence Across Its Platforms

Trajaan's technology, which captures always on, geo-localized search behavior across traditional search engines, e-commerce platforms, social channels, and emerging GenAI assistants, will be integrated across Cision's portfolio  including Brandwatch, CisionOne, PR Newswire, and Cision's Insights Services. This integration will enable marketing and communications teams to shift from descriptive analysis to predictive intelligence, allowing them to anticipate trends, understand intent, and make faster, more confident strategic decisions.

A New Era of Consumer Intelligence

A unified view of voice and intent

Customers will now be able to combine social and media insights with search intelligence to validate trends, forecast demand, and understand consumer motivations with greater depth.

Visibility into GenAI-driven discovery

As generative AI increasingly influences buying decisions, Trajaan gives brands clarity into how AI platforms interpret, summarize, and recommend products, categories, and competitors.

Faster, more confident decision-making

Trajaan's always on, geo-specific data enables organisations to spot micro-trends earlier, anticipate category shifts, identify brand risk sooner, and act with greater precision.

This acquisition marks a major milestone in Cision's AI product roadmap and further strengthens end-to-end insights capabilities across Brandwatch, PR Newswire, and CisionOne.

"Acquiring Trajaan is a natural extension of the partnership Brandwatch announced earlier this year," said Guy Abramo, Chief Executive Officer at Cision. "By bringing Trajaan fully into the Cision ecosystem, we're unifying search intelligence, conversational insight, and AI-driven analytics to give customers a deeper, more predictive understanding of the 'why' behind consumer behavior  from the questions they ask to the signals that shape demand."

"Joining Cision allows us to scale our technology and vision globally," said Matthieu Danielou, CEO of Trajaan. "Together we can help brands understand what people search for, what they talk about, and how GenAI platforms shape their decisions  long before trends hit the mainstream."

Discover more here.

About Cision

Cision is the global leader in consumer and media intelligence, engagement, and communication solutions. We equip PR and corporate communications, marketing, and social media professionals with the tools they need to excel in today's data driven world. Our deep expertise, exclusive data partnerships, and award-winning products, including CisionOne, Brandwatch, and PR Newswire, enable over 75,000 companies and organizations, including 84% of the Fortune 500, to see and be seen, understand and be understood by the audiences that matter most to them.

Media Contact:

Cision Public Relations

CisionPR@cision.com

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Spanning more than 1,000 square meters, the Warsaw flagship is designed as a vibrant, joy-filled space for young consumers. A carnival-inspired ceiling sets the tone for a lively, immersive environment, complemented by themed displays throughout the store. Serving as a one-stop destination, the flagship offers a wide range of high-quality, creative products across categories including beauty and fragrance, home essentials, and IP collectible toy, among others.

Over 60% of the store's offerings featured IP products, with MINISO curating exclusive zones that highlighted Disney icons such as Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, and Mickey & Friends, alongside popular characters from Sanrio, Chiikawa, and BT21, reinforcing the brand's leadership in IP-driven retail. The Opening also marked the in-store debut of MINISO's new Zootopia-themed collection, bringing a playful and immersive experience for fans and consumers alike.

From vinyl plush and surprise boxes to cosmetics and home essentials, the store offers a wide selection of trendy products for fans of all ages. Among the highlights is the Hello Kitty Pop Star vinyl plush series, which underscores MINISO's appeal as a go-to destination for gifts and personal treats, particularly among Gen Z shoppers.

To celebrate the opening, MINISO hosted a series of interactive experiences for local fans. Highlights included the Poland debut of MINISO's Gift Bear & Friends mascot, along with energetic dance and DJ performances. With over hundreds of fans in attendance, the opening day created a festive atmosphere and further cemented the store's position as a new retail landmark in Poland.

The new flagship store further expands MINISO's footprint in Poland, and underscores the brand's momentum in Europe, with two store openings in prime retail locations. This underscores its commitment to redefining value retail through innovative design and emotional engagement. More stores are planned across Polish cities, further enriching product offerings and shopping experiences while bringing MINISO's "Life is for Fun" philosophy to even more consumers.

About MINISO

MINISO Group is a global lifestyle brand offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlantic JROTC Alumni Association (AJAA), along with The Digital WOW, announced its continued participation in the Atlantic JROTC Military Ball held on Friday, December 19th 2025. The event brings together current cadets, alumni, faculty, and guests in support of the long-running Atlantic JROTC program.

The Military Ball is the program's military-style version of prom. Cadets attend with a date and take part in an event built around military customs and traditions. For many younger cadets, this is a first look at a formal military ceremony. The event is always well attended, with hundreds of cadets, alumni, teachers, and guests present.

"Each year the AJAA looks to support the Atlantic JROTC program located at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, FL. I am a graduate of the program, and one of the ways we offer support is by sponsoring an alumni table at the Military Ball. I enjoy the opportunity to meet with alumni in a mini reunion and relive memories from our younger years"  Louis Cordero, President, Atlantic JROTC Alumni Association (AJAA)

"It is always a pleasure for The Digital WOW to work with the AJAA and sponsor two tables, one for alumni and one for cadets in need. This gives alumni the chance to reconnect & network and gives cadets who need a helping hand to attend this prestigious and memorable event. We expect to continue to proudly support the unit year after year without exception, as we have done for the last several years."  Paul Ramkissoon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Digital WOW, powered by ConsultPR.net and Past President AJAA

To learn more about AJAA, visit their website .

About the Atlantic JROTC Alumni Association (AJAA)

The Atlantic JROTC Alumni Association connects former Atlantic Community High School Army JROTC cadets with each other and with the unit they once served. The association brings alumni together for networking, events, and continued support of the program. AJAA welcomes all former cadets, from the first class of 1985 to recent graduates, and membership is free.

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Akins Ford provides Georgia drivers with an exclusive look at the latest performance upgrades and availability for the highly anticipated 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend.

WINDER, Ga., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Akins Ford, a premier Ford dealership near Atlanta, is excited to announce the arrival of its latest 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend research for enthusiasts and prospective buyers. As the automotive world anticipates the newest iteration of this iconic off-road SUV, the team at Akins Ford provides a detailed look at what makes this specific trim the ideal balance of capability and value.

The 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bed; available soon at Akins Ford in Winder, GA.

Furthermore, many models of the 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend are currently in transit to our showroom. This ensures that Georgia drivers have early access to one of the most sought-after vehicles of the upcoming year. By visiting our 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend research page, customers can explore the nuances of the new model year before it hits the lot.

Rugged Performance and Detailed Ford Bronco Big Bend Specs

The latest iteration focuses on providing a versatile driving experience that transitions from city streets to rugged trails. Because the Big Bend trim serves as a foundation for many off-road adventures, understanding the specific mechanical upgrades is essential. Notable features included in the newest 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend research include:

Standard 4x4 capability with a Terrain Management System featuring various G.O.A.T. Modes.

A choice of efficient yet powerful EcoBoost engine options.

Updated interior comfort features and the latest SYNC infotainment software.

Enhanced safety technology designed for both highway and trail navigation.

A Professional Perspective on the New Model

"We take great pride in being a leading resource for our community," says Tanner Maloof, spokesperson for Akins Ford. "Our team works tirelessly to provide the most accurate data regarding the 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend release date and availability. We know our customers are eager to get behind the wheel, so we make sure they have every bit of information necessary to make an informed decision."

Locating a 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend for Sale

While the official 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend price varies based on selected packages and dealer-installed accessories, Akins Ford remains committed to transparent and competitive pricing. The manufacturer's suggested starting MSRP is a very reasonable $40,995. Additionally, as vehicles begin to arrive, those looking for a 2026 Ford Bronco Big Bend for sale can find an extensive inventory and expert guidance at our Winder location.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit Akins Ford today.

About Akins Ford

Akins Ford is a leading automotive dealership located in Winder, Georgia. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and a wide selection of new and pre-owned Ford vehicles, Akins Ford has established itself as a trusted name in the automotive industry.

Find out why Akins Ford is the leading Ford dealership in the greater Atlanta area and nationwide by visiting 220 West May Street, Winder, GA 30680, or by calling 770-867-9136. Find the dealership on the web at www.akinsford.com.

PR Contact:

Tanner Maloof

Phone number:

770-868-5162

Email:

[email protected]

SOURCE Akins Ford
Legendary pilot Clay Lacy's innumerable achievements and innovations have played a vital role in the history of aviation Post this

"As an industry visionary, aviator, innovator, mentor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Clay has inspired generations of pilots," said Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum CEO John Hiltz. "His professionalism, leadership and kindness have earned him countless friends in the industry, and his innumerable achievements and innovations have played a vital role in the history of aviation."

Clay began flying at age 12 in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, becoming a Flight Instructor by age 16. He has accumulated more than 50,000 hours of flight time, which equates to about six years of flying 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. He has flown more than 300 aircraft types and set 29 world speed records. Over the years, Clay made first flights in five new or heavily modified airplanes.

Clay has shared that he enjoyed flying all aircraft, learning early on to visualize how an aircraft would fly so that he was prepared, never surprised by its unique qualities.

"Nobody understands an airplane the way he doesfrom the construction to the mechanics to the systems and their limits," said fellow Spirit of Aviation Award honoree Si Robin. "He can sit in a plane, whether he knows the aircraft or not, and fly it flawlessly. He is the most prolific pilot ever."

The Spirit of Aviation Award celebrates the inspirational and transformative power of flight, honoring those whose leadership and vision advance aviation and inspire others to reach new heights. Established by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in 2023, this award recognizes those who embody the resilience, unity, and boundless potential of the human spirit.

Clay became a United Airlines pilot in 1952, flying Douglas DC-3 airliners. A year later, he joined the California Air National Guard at Van Nuys Airport, where he flew North American F-86 Sabre fighter jets before returning to United. He retired from United Airlines with No. 1 seniority in 1992.

In 1968, he launched Clay Lacy Aviation, the first executive jet charter company in the western United States. Under Clay's leadership, it grew to have the largest diversified fleet of charter aircraft in the nation and became the most experienced operator of private jets in the world.

The year 1985 brought new firsts with Clay becoming one of the first Gulfstream owners to equip his aircraft with Blended Winglet technology developed by Joe Clark. Clay and Joe later set world records in a Gulfstream IISP from LA to Paris, Moscow to Los Angeles, and LA to Kitty Hawk, NC.

Clay has always felt that his aviation friends truly fueled his passion for flight. Notable people such as Neil Armstrong, Joe Clark, Bob Hoover, Bruce McCaw, Bud Anderson, Bill Lear, Barron Hilton, Si Robin, Gene Cernan, Carroll Shelby, Danny Kaye, and Allen Paulson formed a network of camaraderie that they all enjoyed for years.

He flew countless celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Kirk Douglas, Carol Channing, Cary Grant, and Robert Redford.

Clay revolutionized air-to-air cinematography with his Learjet Astrovision system. He filmed footage for more than 300 films, such as Flight of the Intruder, The Right Stuff, and Top Gun. For decades, Clay filmed virtually every airline commercial that showed an aircraft in flight.

Clay and his friends organized many remarkable flights for charity over the years, including "Friendship One." Envisioned by Clay, Joe Clark, and Bruce McCaw, the around-the-world Boeing 747SP flight set a new speed record and raised more than $500,000 for children's charities in 1988.

Another was his Learjet 24 "UNICEF ONE" tour series with Danny Kaye, the last of which took place in October 1975. It stopped in 65 cities in the U.S. and Canada in five days and raised $4 million in humanitarian aid for children.

Today, the Clay Lacy Foundation provides scholarships and financial assistance to future pilots, schools, and aviation museums, inspiring individuals to realize the unlimited freedom and possibilities flight offers.

Clay Lacy's unwavering support and remarkable achievements made him the clear choice for the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum's Spirit of Aviation Award, presented during the For Love of Country Gala on December 6, 2025.

About Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (PHAM) is more than a museumit's a place where history, innovation, and inspiration come together. A Smithsonian Affiliate, PHAM has been named one of the nation's top aviation museums by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Located on Historic Ford Island, the site of the December 7, 1941 attack, the Museum stands on America's World War II aviation battlefield. Visitors can walk through bullet-scarred hangars, see legendary aircraft like the Japanese Zero and B-17 Swamp Ghost, and hear the powerful stories of the heroes who changed the course of history. Beyond preserving the past, PHAM is committed to shaping the future. Through youth programs, scholarships, and workforce development initiatives, the Museum educates and empowers the next generation. From signature events like PHAMily Fun Day to hands-on STEM experiences, flight simulators and more, the Museum connects people of all ages with the wonder of flight and the importance of history. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Museum relies on donations, volunteers, and members to fulfill its mission: to steward America's WWII aviation battlefield and inspire future generations through education and remembrance. The Museum has launched "Remember Pearl Harbor," a National Campaign to restore America's WWII Aviation Battlefield at Pearl Harbor. Join us, support our work, or plan your visit at PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org

SOURCE Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
91% of employees participated in the industry-leading BMO Employee Giving campaign.

TORONTO and CHICAGO, Dec. 23, 2025 /CNW/ - BMO today announced 91% of its employees have personally donated more than $36 million1 to community organizations across North America through BMO's annual Employee Giving campaign  surpassing the bank's $29 million donation goal. This is BMO's 15th annual campaign in partnership with the United Way. Of the $36 million, over $12 million was directed to local United Ways across North America.

"Once again, Team BMO made a powerful impact through our industry-leading Employee Giving campaign," said Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. "This year's success reflects our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, and our commitment to strengthening communities across North America. United Way works to tackle the root causes of inequity and deliver support where it can make the biggest difference  and we're proud to have partnered with them for more than 60 years."

The more than $36 million that was raised in this year's campaign is in addition to over $140 million that BMO employees have donated to charities in Canada and the U.S. over the past five years through the company's annual campaign.

"This campaign is thousands of employees choosing to back local support, one donation at a time, through BMO's long-standing partnership with United Way," said Heather McDonald, CEO and President, United Way Greater Toronto." The scale of this effort strengthens local, frontline agencies and helps keep practical supports within reach for people working to build financial stability, health, and belonging. At a time when too many people are struggling to make ends meet, showing up like this matters. We are grateful to BMO's leaders and employees. Our job now is to put this support to work where it will make the most difference, any way we can."

"BMO has been United Way of Metro Chicago's #1 corporate partner for more than a decade. Over the life of the partnership, BMO employees have generously given their time, talent, and treasure to help individuals and families meet their basic needs and drive transformation in neighborhoods across the Chicago region," said Sean Garrett, President and CEO of United Way of Metro Chicago. "BMO truly sets the bar for what it means to give back, and United Way is thrilled to celebrate the immense success of BMO's 15th annual Employee Giving Campaign."

BMO kicked off its 2025 Employee Giving campaign on Giving Tuesday (December 2) by hosting 16 community kit packing events in cities across Canada and the U.S. in partnership with the United Way. More than 750 BMO employee volunteers assembled nearly 11,000 care kits based on the needs of local communities including hygiene kits, cold weather kits, literacy kits, and snack packs all supporting United Way and United Way partner agencies.

________________________________ 1 The $36 million is the total of donations made in local currency by BMO employees.

BMO's Partnership with United Way

BMO is a long-time partner of United Way in its mission to support agencies that build and directly serve neighbourhoods throughout North America. With its unique capability to identify needs and support wide-reaching front-line programs, United Way is reducing economic disparities and joins BMO in driving real progress in the communities we serve. In 2024, we reached more than 3.7 million people across 150 neighbourhoods through our partnership with the United Way.

For more information on BMO's community-focused activity corporate social responsibility, please visit: https://our-impact.bmo.com/

BMO Gives. Good grows here.

Whether we're giving to community organizations across North America, investing in partnerships to address societal needs, or supporting the giving and volunteer activities of our 55,000 employees, we pride ourselves on our 200-year-plus legacy of growing the good in the communities we serve. Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO's Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life.

In 2024, we directed more than $108 million to drive progress for communities, which included $101 million in philanthropic contributions to hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across North America.

Our colleagues spent over 54,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $39 million of donations through employee-driven giving in our annual campaigns.

For more information, please visit BMO.com .

About BMO Financial Group

BMO Financial Group is the seventh largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of October 31, 2025. Serving clients for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to approximately 13 million clients across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group
LIANYUNGANG, China, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Defined by the interplay of mountains and sea, Lianyungang has long drawn meaning from its geography. From the mythic landscapes associated with Journey to the West to its position as the eastern terminus of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the city occupies a distinctive place in China's cultural and historical imagination.

A promotional video for Lianyungang's Reading the City initiative.

Since August 2025, the Publicity Department of the Lianyungang Municipal Committee has introduced the Reading the City initiativean urban culture program that explores architecture, place names, and long-established local brands. The series invites residents and visitors alike to engage with the city's history and identity through its built environment and everyday landmarks.

The Mountain's Tale

Huaguo Mountain, widely regarded as the cultural source of Journey to the West, is closely associated with themes of exploration, resilience, and ingenuity. In recent years, Lianyungang has developed immersive visitor sites such as the Water Curtain Cave and the Seventy-Two Caves, allowing literary references to be experienced as physical spaces. Nearby, Eastern Han Dynasty cliff carvings at Kongwang Mountain offer a more understated counterpoint, pointing to the city's long-standing role as a crossroads of belief, art, and exchange.

The Sea's Chronicle

Along Lianyungang's coastline, curved bays and protected wetlands form an important stopover for migratory birds, highlighting the region's ecological significance. Historically, the city has served as a key junction between land and maritime routesfrom early Silk Road networks to modern rail corridorsleaving behind a layered maritime legacy. Today, the Port of Lianyungang maintains shipping connections with nearly 1,000 ports in more than 160 countries and regions, linking historic patterns of exchange with contemporary trade under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

SOURCE Lianyungang Municipal Committee Propaganda Department
MADISON, Wis., Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlight Solar proudly closed out the holiday season by giving back to communities across the Midwest. Team members from multiple offices volunteered and helped donate gifts to support local families and organizations in need.

In Madison, Wisconsin, Everlight volunteered with Santas Without Chimneys , helping sort and wrap gifts to ensure children in the community experienced a joyful holiday season. They also donated gifts to Waunakee Neighborhood Connection, supporting a local family of five during the holiday season.

Everlight Solar staff member poses for a picture after wrapping gifts for local children. Members of the Everlight team celebrate wrapping gifts for Wisconsin families and children. Members of the Everlight crew donate toys to Childrens Minnesota.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, team volunteered at the Waukesha Food Pantry , assisting with food distribution efforts that support families throughout the area. Additionally, they donated gifts to Children's Wisconsin , helping to bring comfort and joy to young patients during the holiday season.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Everlight team members volunteered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities , supporting programming that provides a safe and engaging environment for youth. The Minneapolis offices also donated gifts to Children's Minnesota , helping brighten the holidays for children and their families.

The Omaha, Nebraska team partnered with Omaha Parks and Recreation , volunteering to support community programs, and donated gifts to Toys for Tots, contributing to the organization's mission of delivering holiday joy to children in need.

"Giving back has always been part of our roots," says President and CEO William Creech. "When you're part of a community, you take care of itand that's something we're proud to do." Everlight Solar remains committed to making a positive impact through clean energy solutions and ongoing community involvement across its expanding footprint.

About Everlight Solar

Everlight Solar is the fastest-growing solar company in the Midwest, with operations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Everlight Solar earned a spot on both the 2023 Inc. 5000 and 2024 Inc. 5000 lists in their first two years of eligibility. To learn more about open jobs or about going solar for your own home, visit www.everlightsolar.com .

SOURCE Everlight Solar
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. and SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Star Development ("Five Star" or the "Company") today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has entered a Final Villa Sales Order confirming clean, insurable title and full buyer protections for Villa sales at The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie (the "Project").

The Court's Order establishes a clear, Court-approved framework for Villa closings and provides certainty to buyers, lenders, and title insurers that Villa transactions may close as scheduled, with finality, and without risk of later challenge.

Key Protections Under the Order

Villa closings can proceed without interference from any lienholder.

All liens, including mechanics' liens, attach solely to net sale proceeds, and not to the Villas themselves.

Federal "good-faith purchaser" status ensures completed transactions cannot be unwound, even in the event of an appeal.

Title insurers are authorized to issue clean, insurable title with full confidence.

Court-supervised escrow preserves net proceeds.

"The Court's Order gives buyers the strongest protection available under federal law and removes any uncertainty from the closing process," said Lance Miller, Chief Restructuring Officer of Five Star Development and Managing Partner of Pivot >. "It locks in clean, insurable title and ensures Villa closings move forward with confidence and finality while broader matters proceed under court supervision."

Five Star Continues Advancing Villa Sales and Vision

The Order was entered in Five Star's chapter 11 case, which was filed to address an ongoing lender dispute. Throughout the proceedings, Five Star has continued to operate in the ordinary course, maintaining full control of the Project and advancing Villa sales and closingsproviding stability, continuity, and certainty for buyers, residents, and partners.

Following an initial sell-out and sustained strong demand, Five Star has released a limited number of select Villas, offered first to its extensive, pre-qualified prospective buyer list under the Court-approved sales framework.

Beyond residential sales, Five Star continues to curate a best-in-class experience at the Palmeraie through active engagement with leading global luxury retail brands. Homeowners and residents continue to enjoy full Ritz-Carlton-managed services and one-of-a-kind amenities, while the Company manages design coordination, contractor planning, and financing discussions in preparation for a full construction restart, subject to required Court approvals.

"Our vision has always been about creating an exceptional destination that reflects the character and beauty of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale," said Jerry Ayoub, Principal and Founder of Five Star Development. "With this Order in place, we remain focused on executing that vision with the Ritz-Carlton-caliber quality, service, and integrity that makes this property an extraordinary place to call home."

Villa Sales Inquiries

For additional information regarding Villa availability or ownership opportunities at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Paradise Valley, please contact Brendan Mann at [email protected].

About Five Star Development

Five Star Development is a leading commercial real estate developer with a nearly five-decade track record for delivering transformative, high-value project across the Southwest. Since 1978, the Company has developed, constructed and managed more than 20 million square feet of residential, hospitality, retail, office, and industrial real estate, representing more than $3.5 billion in investment. Today, Five Star's portfolio includes more than 7 million square feet of income-producing properties under active ownership and management. For more information, visit www.thepalmeraie.com.

SOURCE Five Star Development
MILPITAS, Calif., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Galaxy Therapeutics, a privately held, clinical-stage medical device company focused on treating brain aneurysms, today announced it has successfully completed enrollment in SEAL IT, its U.S. IDE trial evaluating the SEAL device for brain aneurysms. The multicenter, prospective study brought together 50 sites and enrolled 279 patients across three key aneurysm cohorts: wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBA), sidewall aneurysms, and ruptured aneurysms.

The WNBA subgroup builds upon the prior WEB-IT trial framework and extends the indication to a broader size range. The Sidewall cohort addresses single-vessel, non-bifurcation aneurysms, while the Ruptured arm includes patients treated in the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Together, these subgroups represent a comprehensive evaluation of the SEAL device across a wide spectrum of clinical scenarios.

"Completing enrollment in SEAL IT is a major milestonenot only for Galaxy but for the field of neurointervention," said Dr. Sam Zaidat, President and CEO of Galaxy Therapeutics. "We designed this study to reflect real-world aneurysm complexity and believe the evidence generated will meaningfully advance the care of these patients."

"It is impressive that all three arms of the trial progressed so rapidly. It's a testament to our enrolling physicians' ability to integrate a new device into their practices and the ease of use of the device itself", said Dr. Michael Alexander, Galaxy Therapeutics CMO.

"SEAL IT represents an important step in advancing clinical research for complex aneurysms such as wide-neck bifurcations. The design of the study reflects a broad real-world population, and I'm grateful to all participating centers and colleagues," said Dr. David Altschul, Principal Investigator and Chief of Neurointerventional Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center.

"SEAL IT is one of the first prospective U.S. IDE trials to include a ruptured aneurysm cohort, a critical and underrepresented population in device studies. To our knowledge, it is also among the fastest-enrolling aneurysm studies in the U.S., a testament to the engagement of investigators across the country," added Dr. Brian Jankowitz, Principal Investigator and Chief of Neurosurgery at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute.

Galaxy Therapeutics will now focus on data analysis and preparation for premarket submission, while continuing to support its global clinical programs.

About Galaxy Therapeutics

Galaxy Therapeutics is a private, U.S.-based clinical-stage medical device company founded by four practicing neurointerventional physicians. The company has developed a novel implant technology for the treatment of brain aneurysms and holds multiple patents across the U.S., EU, and other key markets. Headquartered in Milpitas, California, Galaxy Therapeutics is advancing multiple clinical programs globally and is committed to delivering effective, evidence-based solutions to physicians and patients.

For more information, visit www.galaxytherapeutics.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2698518/5436139/Galaxy_Therapeutics_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Galaxy Therapeutics
Since 1989, John Koch has been present at the execution of every person sentenced to death in his home state, which this year reached a record high at 19

To cover an execution in Florida, John Koch, a 76-year-old radio correspondent, spends exactly $56.73. This is when, to save gas, he drives along rural roads from his home in the northern part of the peninsula to the state prison near Starke (about 62 miles south) without accelerating his old Honda above 43 mphabout 1,600 revolutions per minute.

Koch has documented every execution in the state for the past 37 years. His first was the electric chair execution of the serial killer Ted Bundy in 1989, and his most recent was the lethal injection execution of Frank Athen Walls last week. In total, he estimates he has been to 105 executions. This year, Florida set a record for executions with 19nearly half of the 47 carried out nationwide. The previous highest number recorded in the state was eight, in 1984 and again in 2014.

The figure also represents about a fifth of all the executions Koch has covered throughout his career. Three years ago, the radio network for which he worked as a death penalty correspondent for over three decades informed him that they would be terminating his contract, so he now covers executions independently.

Koch sees fewer and fewer reporters covering this type of story and considers his work more relevant than ever. He continues to send his dispatches, though he doesnt know if any media outlet will ever pay him for them. He doesnt mistake windmills for giants, but he is determined to keep informing the public about how, in their name, the most acute punishment that society can lay upon a person is carried out.

Why do I do executions? Well, Im good at my job. And two, I could talk about what really is the issue. And its the lack of news in the communities, and dumbing down of the people, and depending on social media where everybodys a reporter, and everybody is a truth finder, and everybodys a photographer, and everybodys right, he says.

His commitment carries particular weight this year, as Florida has accelerated its use of the death penalty like never before. In contrast to the 19 executions this year, Governor Ron DeSantis signed only three execution orders between 2023 and 2024. The state did not execute anyone between 2020 and 2022. The increase comes after legal changes championed by the state government that allow juries to recommend the death penalty without unanimityan exception shared only with Alabamaand another one that broadened the grounds for imposing it.

The shift in Florida comes amid a national climate of renewed interest in capital punishment. Late last year, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly all federal death row inmates, a decision sharply criticized by Donald Trump, who upon returning to the White House signed an executive order encouraging state prosecutors to seek new death sentences.

Abraham Bonowitz, of the organization Death Penalty Action, believes that DeSantis motivation is related to the fact that he is running for president, and he has been criticized by county prosecutors for not executing enough.

A protest against the death penalty outside the state capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 19. Kate Payne (AP)

In Florida, the increase in executions has reignited criticism from civil rights organizations, which denounce irregular and archaic judicial processes, as well as the execution of people with possible intellectual disabilities, as in the recent case of Walls. The group Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty maintains that Walls had an intellectual disability and that his case should have been excluded from capital punishment following the 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the execution of people with such disabilities.

The spirit departs before the body

Koch began his career as a reporter in the 1970s and was a correspondent for the Florida News Network from 1989 to 2022. He now works as a freelancer for a local radio station. He covers executions on his own and sends radio packages to his former employer and other media outlets: I send it to them whether I get paid or not, just to be a thorn in their damned side- to know that theres somebody out there. Especially in broadcast. I have sound bytes that nobody else has, things they care about.

Koch, whom his colleagues have nicknamed Doctor Death, jokes about the sources he has cultivated throughout his long career. I have friends in the Department of Corrections. I can bribe the screws [prison guards] and get away with it. They trust me, he says, laughing.

Access to an execution is limited. Only family members of the victims, legal witnesses, state officials, and a priest or minister are allowed to attend. There are a dozen seats for accredited members of the press, but lately, Koch has seen only a handful of journalists attendsometimes just one reporter from the Associated Press and himself.

Koch produces concise audio dispatches with the synthetic power of someone who has been in the business for half a century. Killer says he is sorry - Floridas 19th execution. Frank Athen Walls, aged 58, received the Last Rites from a Catholic priest and expressed remorse, stating, Im sorry for all the suffering I caused, prior to his execution by lethal injection, begins his 63-second dispatch.

He explains that during the execution he takes notes minute by minute on what he is observing. Is he breathing? Is he moving around? Is he jumping up? Is he yelling? You write that stuff down. He also notes what the officials, the priest or the spiritual advisor do.

Theres a lot of energy. The spirit rested before the body and the soul is destined to go. Im very sensitive to that, he says. After an execution, he has to take a step back and chill so as not to take that home to my family. The effects, he says, dissipate from the moment he leaves the prison until he returns home, some 60 miles away.

You gotta chill. You gotta put things in perspective. Youve got to understand what you saw, what went on, its over with, and you move on to the next story. The biggest effect on me is economics. Ive gotten the cost of the gas, the transportation. Ive got to eat at least something, because its 10 hours before I can ever get a meal in. And so Ive got to pay that, and it comes out to about $56.73 per execution. So Ive got to figure out where Im going to get that $57 from. Thats a bunch of pressure too, he adds.

Koch served in the Army during the Vietnam War in the 1960, a period he frequently alludes to while speaking with an infectious energy punctuated by jokes and metaphors. He is also wary of the government. After serving in the military, he became an anti-war activist and says he was a victim of the FBIs counterintelligence program at the time. They came after us because we didnt agree with America in Vietnam. And they were killing us. They were imprisoning us.

Koch believes the U.S. made a mistake in electing Donald Trump, alluding to the Weimar Republic in Germany, which devolved into the Third Reich. Were following that path again. And hes doing nothing more than to encourage it, he says.

To explain himself, he makes a joke about the difference between a communist and a fascist, concluding that both are extremes, and we cannot exist with the extremes, and then uses a metaphor about democracy: I liken it to that nice fancy car you got outside. Thats our constitutional republic. And the engine in that car, that is the democracy. That is the means by which the car goes. And the fuel and the lubricants are the people.

Koch doesnt intend to say what he thinks about the death penalty as long as hes working. It is the law and if people dont like the law, then they have the right to change it. If someone reads my stuff and can figure out which side of the fence Im on, Im quitting. To this day, people do not know whether Im for or against. A good journalist, if theyre worth their weight in salt, would hopefully say something similar.

Koch says that he believes in the Creator. I believe it is my responsibility to love others as myself and be a good steward of what is given to me as gifts.

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SHANGHAI, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 44th J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference will take place from January 12 to 15, 2026, in San Francisco, USA. Dr. Jason Zhu, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Henlius (2696.HK), has been invited to attend and will deliver a keynote presentation on January 15 (PST).

Recognized as one of the world's largest and most influential healthcare investment and industry conferences, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is widely regarded as a bellwether for global pharmaceutical and healthcare innovation and capital trends. The event brings together industry leaders, fast-growing emerging companies, technology innovators, and global investors, with more than 8,000 participants expected to convene in San Francisco to explore cutting-edge developments and partnership opportunities.

At the conference, Dr. Zhu will outline the core competencies Henlius has built throughout its internationalisation journey, share updates on the company's innovative pipeline and next-generation technology platformsincluding antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and multispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs)and present Henlius' strategic outlook for the next five years. Leveraging an integrated platform spanning R&D, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and commercialisation, Henlius has evolved from an early-stage biotech into a scaled, globally operating biopharmaceutical company with an established international footprint. Henlius has established dedicated clinical development, operations, and regulatory teams in key markets including the United States and Japan, enabling independent clinical trial execution and direct engagement with global regulatory authorities to accelerate localized development and market access. In addition, the company's commercial manufacturing facilities have obtained GMP certifications in China, the EU, and the United States, with a global supply network that now spans six continents. Through the coordinated advancement of differentiated innovation assets and diversified technology platforms, Henlius continues to deepen its global market presence while building long-term strategic partnerships with leading multinational pharmaceutical companies, forming a sustainable and scalable global development model.

Looking ahead, Henlius will remain focused on addressing unmet patient needs worldwide. By working closely with global capital markets and industry partners, the company aims to further strengthen its global innovation and operational capabilities and to build a globally competitive, patient-centric biopharma, delivering high-quality and affordable biologic medicines to patients around the world.

About Henlius

Henlius (2696.HK) is a global biopharmaceutical company with the vision to offer high-quality, affordable and innovative biologic medicines for patients worldwide with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases and ophthalmic diseases. To date, 10 products have been approved for marketing across multiple countries and regions, and 5 marketing applications have been accepted for review in China and the EU, respectively. Since its inception in 2010, Henlius has built an integrated biopharmaceutical platform with core capabilities of high-efficiency and innovation embedded throughout the whole product life cycle including R&D, manufacturing and commercialization. It has established global innovation centre and Shanghai-based commercial manufacturing facilities certificated by China, the EU and U.S. GMP.

Henlius has pro-actively built a diversified and high-quality product pipeline covering about 50 molecules and has continued to explore immuno-oncology combination therapies with proprietary HANSIZHUANG (anti-PD-1 mAb) as the backbone. To date, the company's launched products include HANSIZHUANG (serplulimab, trade name: Hetronifly in Europe), the world's first anti-PD-1 mAb for the first-line treatment of SCLC, HANQUYOU (trastuzumab, trade name: HERCESSI in the U.S., Zercepac in Europe), a China-developed mAb biosimilar approved in China, Europe and U.S., HANLIKANG (rituximab), the first China-developed biosimilar, denosumab Bildyos and Bilprevda, and pertuzumab Poherdy. What's more, Henlius has conducted over 30 clinical studies for 19 products, expanding its presence in major markets as well as emerging markets.

To learn more about Henlius, visit https://www.henlius.com/en/index.html and connect with us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/henlius/.

SOURCE Henlius
The Estate of Neil Mellen Helps Build Destination for Advanced Cancer Care in Connecticut

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hartford HealthCare's St. Vincent's Medical Center is proud to announce a landmark $15 million philanthropic commitment from the estate of Neil Mellen to significantly enhance and expand its inpatient oncology unit.

Hartford HealthCare St. Vincent's Medical Center Rendering.

Honoring the Legacy of Neil Mellen

At the heart of this historic gift is the legacy of Neil Mellen, a compassionate and humble man whose quiet strength and deep empathy inspired his commitment to helping others and paying it forward. Neil believed profoundly in improving the hospital experience for patients and families, ensuring that care was delivered with dignity, comfort, and hope. This gift reflects his enduring desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This transformative investment represents one of the most substantial gifts in Hartford HealthCare's history and underscores Neil's extraordinary dedication to elevating patient care for the Greater Bridgeport community.

The generous donation will fund sweeping renovations and modernization efforts within the oncology unit, including state-of-the-art treatment spaces, enhanced patient comfort features and advanced technology to support world-class cancer care at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at St. Vincent's Medical Center, which is the first care partner of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

This latest pledge builds upon a longstanding legacy of generosity by Neil Mellen, whose support has deeply shaped care at St. Vincent's for more than 15 years.

Elevating Cancer Care for the Future

This $15-million investment marks a pivotal milestone in Hartford HealthCare's mission to deliver comprehensive, compassionate and cutting-edge cancer services. Once completed, the upgraded oncology unit will offer an improved healing environment and enhanced capabilities for both patients and clinical teams.

"Neil Mellen's vision and generosity exemplify what it means to truly invest in the health of a community," said Jeffrey A. Flaks, President and CEO of Hartford HealthCare. "This extraordinary gift will accelerate our ability to deliver leading-edge cancer care and strengthen our mission to provide the highest-quality care to every person we serve. Together, we are building a destination for hope and healing, and we are profoundly grateful for Neil's trust and unwavering commitment to this mission."

"This remarkable commitment from Neil Mellen's Estate will have a lasting and measurable impact on every patient who turns to us for cancer care," said William M. Jennings, President of Hartford HealthCare's Fairfield Region. "This generosity empowers us to elevate the patient experience, expand our capabilities and bring the very best oncology care to the communities we serve. We are deeply honored by their continued trust and partnership."

"Philanthropy has the power to change lives, and this extraordinary gift from the Neil Mellen's Estate beautifully demonstrates what is possible when community partners share in our mission," said Karen Kaiser, Vice President of Philanthropy for Hartford HealthCare's Fairfield Region. "Their generosity enables us to expand access, elevate patient care and invest in innovations that will benefit families across our region for generations to come."

A Legacy of Impactful Giving

In 2009, Neil Mellen committed $500,000 to create the Nancy Ann Mellen Infusion Center, a critical resource for patients undergoing infusion therapy. The project is now fully completed and continues to serve thousands of patients annually.

In 2022, Mr. Mellen made a $250,000 gift to support St. Vincent's ICU, followed by a $4,250,000 gift benefiting the hospital's Critical Care Unit and Emergency Department, advancing lifesaving care for the region's most vulnerable patients.

About Hartford HealthCare

With 44,000 dedicated colleagues and a bold vision for the future, Hartford HealthCare is transforming healthcare across Connecticut and beyond  enhancing access, affordability, health equity, and excellence. Spanning 500 locations across 185 towns and cities, our comprehensive care-delivery system is built to serve every community, every day.

From world-class hospitals  including two tertiary-level teaching hospitals, an acute-care community teaching hospital, an acute-care hospital and trauma center, and four community hospitals  to a network of behavioral health services, multispecialty physician groups, urgent and virtual care, surgery centers, home care, senior care, rehabilitation, and mobile neighborhood health programs, Hartford HealthCare is there when and where it matters most.

We touch the lives of nearly 28,000 people every day, delivering unparalleled care through our unique Institute Model  bringing together leading experts in neuroscience, cancer, digestive health, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, and urology and kidney health to provide a unified, high standard of care at the most affordable cost.

Recognized nationally for patient safety and clinical excellence, Hartford HealthCare has earned the 2025 Quest For Quality Award from the American Hospital Association, and has received Leapfrog A-ratings across all our hospitals  making us one of the safest healthcare systems in the country.

Join us on our journey to reimagine healthcare. Visit www.HartfordHealthCare.org and stay connected through our newsletters and social media.

About St. Vincent's Medical Center

Founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1903, St. Vincent's Medical Center is part of Hartford HealthCare, Connecticut's most comprehensive healthcare network, with more than 400 locations serving 185 towns and cities. St. Vincent's, with more than 3,000 employees, includes a licensed 473-bed community teaching hospital, a 76-bed inpatient psychiatric facility in Westport, a large multispecialty provider group, seven urgent care centers, five physical therapy and rehabilitation locations and St. Vincent's Special Needs Services. Specialists in cancer, heart and vascular, neuroscience, orthopedics and urology affiliated with St. Vincent's are part of a unique, system-wide Institute Model, offering a unified standard of care. St. Vincent's earned advanced certification in spine surgery by the Joint Commission. Additionally, St. Vincent's is the principle clinical partner for the Frank H. Netter, MD, School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. For more information on programs and services, visit www.stvincents.org.

SOURCE Hartford HealthCare
From strong unit performance to new franchise opportunities, Mellow Mushroom's 2025 results set the stage for a high-momentum 2026.

ATLANTA, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mellow Mushroom , the psychedelic pizza franchise known for its imaginative pizzas, hand-tossed stone-baked dough, and unique atmosphere, spent 2025 focused on restaurant operations. Work centered on kitchen execution, back-office efficiency and guest engagement infrastructure. Those initiatives carry into 2026, during which the company expects to be bullish on renewals and new restaurant growth.

Digital Kitchen Rollout

Over the last year, about one-third of restaurants moved onto a digital kitchen platform. Implementation took place location by location to align with each restaurant's layout and workflow. The platform is already showing improvements in speed of service, order accuracy and food quality, particularly when dine-in and off-premise orders overlap during peak hours.

"It's not new in restaurants, but it was new for Mellow," said Ahsan Jiva , executive vice president of strategy and transformation. "We have seen double-digit gains in our three most important metrics, which are food quality, accuracy and speed of service. In addition, we added on a guest messaging system that keeps guests with digital orders apprised of the status of their order as it moves through the kitchen."

Jiva said the system is averaging more than $2.7 million in AUV, with top-quartile franchise locations reaching $3.8 million.

Prototype Updates and Back-Office Testing

A new back-office system completed a pilot in 2025. The effort is intended to reduce administrative friction for operators and improve consistency in reporting and daily processes while giving time back to the restaurant management staff to focus on guest and staff experience.

Mellow Mushroom also continued work on its new "Fast-Fine" prototype in Grant Park outside Atlanta, its first fully counter-service model. The restaurant opened in November 2024 and completed its first full year of operation in 2025. Programs introduced around that format in 2025 included frozen beverages, catering and lunch. The "Fast-Fine" prototype is performing beyond expectations in sales and EBITDA. Furthermore, the brand will open its second Fast-Fine restaurant in Newnan, GA, in 2026, capitalizing on its early success with the first Grant Park location.

Sales and Ownership Activity

According to Jiva, the system ended 2025 with an increase in positive same-store sales. Daypart work continued through the year, with a focus on building traffic outside peak periods.

Ownership transitions also increased. Some longtime franchisees exited, and the company acquired certain locations in select cases as part of its refranchising strategy.

"A lot of our franchisees have been with us for 20 to 30 years, and they were ready to exit," Jiva said. "There was tremendous value in Mellow Mushroom acquiring those locations as corporate-run restaurants, so we can continue to serve those communities with the kind of experience our guests have come to expect."

Guest Engagement Systems

Marketing systems were enhanced during 2025, and a customer data platform was launched late in the year. The platform is intended to centralize transactional data to allow for better guest segmentation and customer outreach with higher levels of personalization. More testing and refinement are planned in 2026 as the company continues to expand use cases and expand its use across the system.

2026 Development Priorities

Mellow Mushroom franchising is planning strategic growth in priority markets with a conservative goal of more 5-8% growth with new restaurant openings. More than 20 renewals are in the pipeline, and the renewal rate is above 98%, underscoring the affinity and profitability of this franchised brand.

"What we don't want to do, like a lot of other brands, is growth for growth's sake," Jiva said. "We want to be able to grow with franchisees that are invested in their community, that care about quality and that care about running things the right way."

Priority markets include Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee. Early efforts are also beginning in select Rust Belt markets. A location in Danville, Virginia, was recently signed as that market continues to see momentum.

App and Loyalty Program

As part of its next phase of guest engagement, Mellow Mushroom plans to launch an app and a formal loyalty program in late 2026. The rollout is intended to give guests a single place to order, receive offers, track rewards, and participate in exclusives. The program is also expected to support more consistent, targeted communication as the company expands use of its customer data platform.

ABOUT MELLOW MUSHROOM:

Founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1974, Mellow Mushroom has been serving up fresh, stone-baked pizzas in an eclectic, art-filled environment for over 50 years. Each location is locally owned and operated, with unique restaurant designs that reflect the creativity and character of the communities they serve. Known for their hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas, craft cocktails, and wide selection of beers, Mellow Mushroom is more than a pizza restaurant  it's a gathering place that inspires loyalty and community. To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit https://www.mellowmushroom.com/franchising .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chad Cohen

Mainland

786-417-5769

[email protected]

SOURCE Mellow Mushroom
ATLANTA, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety  the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the United States  has acquired Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems, Inc., a security systems and fire alarm provider serving Long Island, New York. This acquisition further establishes Pye-Barker's security alarm services in the Northeast, elevating customer experience and comprehensive fire and life safety for heightened community impact.

Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems, Inc. serves Long Island, New York

Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems provides comprehensive security systems, intrusion detection, video surveillance, fire detection and fire alarm systems to customers throughout Long Island. Backed by 24-hour monitoring and an award-winning central station, Lowitt Alarms installs, inspects, tests and maintains systems with an emphasis on safety and code compliance. Based in Hicksville, New York, Lowitt Alarms has an impeccable reputation for customer care and protecting Long Island families and businesses since its founding in 1969. The company's commitment to safeguarding homes and businesses throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties has made it a cornerstone of community safety.

"Over the last half century, our locally operated team has led with customer service to become one of the most trusted fire and life safety brands in Long Island," said Andrew Lowitt, owner of Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems. "Now with the national backing of Pye-Barker, we have the resources to expand our service network to protect even more lives and property."

"A genuine passion for protecting others is foundational to the culture at Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems," said Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker. "Their longstanding commitment to the Long Island community and focus on customer relationships align perfectly with our values. That drive and local expertise will prove invaluable as we strengthen our integrated fire and life safety services throughout the Northeast."

Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems' skilled technicians will continue to serve customers in Long Island and surrounding areas. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP represented Pye-Barker.

About Pye-Barker Fire & Safety

As the U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 250 locations and 8,000 team members, Pye-Barker is Great Place to Work Certified and is also listed on the Inc. 5000 and ranks No. 4 on the SDM 100.

Visit pyebarkerfs.com/acquisitions to learn why we're the industry's acquirer of choice.

Contact:

Philip H Gardner

EVP, Business Development  M&A

[email protected]

Media Contact:

James Taylor

[email protected]

SOURCE Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Resolution Economics ("ResEcon") announced today a year of significant growth and expansion marked by the firm's opening of six new offices, including in Toronto, Canada, and the addition of eight new partners, across its Financial Advisory Services (FAS) and Labor & Employment (L&E) practices. These developments further enhance ResEcon's capacity to advise and support clients in complex economic and financial disputes and sophisticated labor and employment matters across multiple jurisdictions.

"Each of these new offices and experienced professionals further enhance the growth ResEcon has been achieving over the past few years," said Ali Saad, Ph.D., Managing Partner of ResEcon. "All of them are known for their consistent, high-quality work  a standard that ResEcon is has upheld since its founding. We are pleased to expand our footprint and have them as part of our team."

International Expansion

In December, ResEcon expanded its international presence with the opening of its Toronto, Canada office. The office is led by Tim Zimmerman, M.Acc., and Rick Contorno, MBA, who oversee a highly credentialed team of Chartered Business Valuators, Certified Fraud Examiners, and Accredited Business Valuation professionals. Collectively, the team brings extensive experience in loss quantification, business valuation, forensic accounting, complex financial investigations, and advisory services. Their combined expertise strengthens ResEcon's ability to support sophisticated financial matters across North America and in multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory contexts.

Growth of Offices and Partner Leadership Supporting Financial Advisory Services

Throughout 2025, ResEcon expanded its U.S. footprint with new offices and senior leadership additions aligned with its Financial Advisory Services practice.

In Austin, Texas, ResEcon opened a new office led by Jeff Andrien, Partner in the Financial Advisory Services practice. Jeff brings more than 25 years of experience advising on economic damages, valuation, intellectual property, antitrust, and commercial disputes, further reinforcing the firm's nationwide presence and depth of expertise.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Brad Koranda joined as a Partner, bringing more than two decades of experience in financial advisory, forensic accounting, valuation, dispute resolution, and complex financial investigations. His joining strengthens the firm's capabilities in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters.

The firm also expanded to Philadelphia with the addition of Partner Gregory Cowhey, who has more than 40 years of experience in forensic accounting, economic damage analysis, business and intangible asset valuation, and financial fraud investigations. He has served as an expert witness in hundreds of federal and state cases across a wide range of disputes.

Finally, in Los Angeles, Maryellen Sebold joined as a partner. Ms. Sebold is a CPA and certified financial forensics specialist with more than 30 years of experience in forensic accounting, fraud investigations, litigation consulting, bankruptcy, and complex economic damage matters.

These leaders add further depth and strength to the firm's established service offerings. J. Duross O'Bryan, head of ResEcon's FAS practice group said: "Each of these partners and their teams bring to ResEcon a significant amount of experience in the valuations and damages areas. We are excited to have them join our team and look forward to a successful future together."

Expansion of Labor & Employment Capabilities

In 2025, ResEcon further strengthened its Labor & Employment capabilities with the launch of a new office in Morristown, New Jersey. The office is led by Partner Josefina Tranfa-Abboud, Ph.D., who brings substantial experience calculating damages in complex class and collective action employment and business disputes, and has provided expert testimony in state and federal matters involving wage and hour, discrimination, as well as human capital-related damages arising from wrongful termination, death, and injury claims.

Janet Thornton, Ph,D. joined the firm's Labor & Employment team, contributing deep expertise as an economist and applied statistician. She has a strong track record analyzing a wide variety of class and collective action employment discrimination allegations, including compensation, recruitment and hiring, promotions, and termination claims. Dr. Thornton also has extensive experience with wage and hour cases and class action damages, and has provided expert testimony in federal and state proceedings around the country.

The firm also added Peggy Stockdale, Ph.D., an industrial organization psychologist as an academic affiliate, continuing to add to its I/O psychology capabilities.

"I am pleased that we've continued to grow in the labor and employment practice, as well as in FAS," said Ali Saad. There is growing need by employers and law firms for the expertise we can provide. Expanding our pool of professionals positions us even more so as a go-to firm for labor and employment services."

About Resolution Economics

Resolution Economics is a leading economic consulting firm providing expert analysis and advisory services in labor and employment, financial advisory services, complex damages matters and regulatory compliance. With offices across the United States and Canada, ResEcon serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to law firms, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The firm is known for its rigorous analysis, creativity, collaborative culture, and practical approach to solving complex economic and financial issues.

Contacts

Jon Kaehn

[email protected]

SOURCE Resolution Economics, LLC
SHANGHAI, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn

Shanghai officially launched Fuxing Island as a Global Maker Island on Dec 18, marking a new phase in the transformation of the former industrial site into a hub for innovation, startups, and urban experimentation.

An artistic rendering of Fuxing Island.

The launch coincided with the 2025 Shanghai Quantum City Annual Conference, which was held on the island.

Located along the lower reaches of the Huangpu River, Fuxing Island has been under redevelopment since Shanghai announced plans last year to build the Quantum City Space-Time Intelligence Innovation Base there.

Former industrial buildings on the island have been renovated and repurposed, while a steady lineup of cultural and creative events, including the Shanghai Urban Space Art Season 2025 and the 2025 Celebili Music Festival, has helped draw both visitors and innovation-oriented organizations.

At the conference, Shanghai released an action plan for developing Fuxing Island into a global maker hub. The plan outlines measures to lower startup costs, accelerate innovation, and foster an open entrepreneurial ecosystem.

To reduce barriers for early-stage companies, the city will provide office space on the island at subsidized rents capped at 1 yuan ($0.14) per square meter per day, using renovated industrial buildings.

About 2,500 apartments will also be made available to entrepreneurs, with monthly rents capped at 1,000 yuan.

Startups may apply for innovation vouchers covering up to 50 percent of contract value, as well as additional vouchers for computing power, AI models, and data resources, with a combined ceiling of 5 million yuan.

To accelerate innovation, the city plans to work with leading companies to develop innovation platforms and recruit incubator operators from around the world.

Companies engaged in key technology research may receive tiered research and development subsidies of up to 2 million yuan, along with access to financial services, pilot application scenarios, and a dynamic evaluation mechanism for incubated projects.

The plan also places a strong emphasis on openness and talent development. A maker academy and a university innovation alliance will be established to encourage resource sharing, while young entrepreneurs will receive support ranging from mentorship to practical training.

More former industrial sites and waterfront areas will be converted into public cultural and leisure spaces, and the island will host international conferences, competitions, exhibitions and community events.

To date, 12 domestic and international incubators and 14 startup companies have settled on Fuxing Island.

Looking ahead, development of the island will focus on three areas: digital intelligence, art and design, and people-centered urban space. Shanghai aims to position Fuxing Island as a testing ground for quantum city applications and a platform for future urban development, innovation, and global entrepreneurship.

SOURCE english.shanghai.gov.cn
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Freeport 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.

On September 9, 2025, Freeport disclosed it was suspending mining activities at its Grasberg Block Cave operation in Indonesia, after "a large flow of wet material" trapped seven workers.

On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $2.77, or 5.9%, to close at $43.89 per share on September 9, 2025, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on September 24, 2025, Freeport provided an update on the incident, disclosing that two of the trapped team members "were regrettably fatally injured[.]" Meanwhile, "extensive efforts" remained "ongoing in the search for [the five] team members who [remained] missing."

On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $7.69, or 17%, to close at $37.67 per share on September 24, 2025.

Then, on September 25, 2025, before market hours, Bloomberg published an article stating that the "halt in production at the giant Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia looks set to strain the fractious relationship between [Freeport] and its host nation, at a time when the Jakarta government was already looking to take greater control." The article specified that "[the] state controls 51% of the local entity - after a lengthy battle over ownership - but officials have sporadically continued to demand an increased share. That clamor may now intensify."

On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $2.33, or 6.2%, to close at $35.34 on September 25, 2025, thereby injuring investors further.

On September 28, 2025, a news organization focusing on Indonesia, published an article entitled "Freeport Landslide was Preventable, Not Just a Natural Disaster, Says Expert." The article quoted an expert as saying "this danger is not new and should have been anticipated from the beginning[.]"

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Freeport's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Freeport-McMoran class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FCX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it has launched an investigation of Atkore Inc. (NYSE: ATKR) on behalf of the company's shareholders.

The investigation seeks to determine whether Atkore and/or the company's officers and directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties in connection with recent corporate actions.

Atkore shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options at (484) 229  0750. Alternatively, shareholders may contact the firm by email at [email protected], or by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser):

https://kaskelalaw.com/case/atkore-inc/

Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com.

CONTACT:

KASKELA LAW LLC

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

([email protected])

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

([email protected])

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(888) 715  1740

(484) 229  0750

www.kaskelalaw.com

This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it has launched an investigation of Select Medical Holdings Corporation (NYSE: SEM) ("Select Medical") on behalf of the company's shareholders.

The investigation seeks to determine whether Select Medical and/or the company's officers and directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties in connection with recent corporate actions.

Select Medical shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options at (484) 229  0750. Alternatively, shareholders may contact the firm by email at [email protected], or by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser):

https://kaskelalaw.com/case/select-medical/

Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com.

CONTACT:

KASKELA LAW LLC

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

([email protected])

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

([email protected])

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(888) 715  1740

(484) 229  0750

www.kaskelalaw.com

This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

The all-new SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger is the Detroit News 2025 Vehicle of the Year.

SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger chosen as Detroit News 2025 Vehicle of the Year thanks to its fun performance, heritage-inspired design and hidden hatch interior space

SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger also recently named Car of the Year in the TopGear.com U.S. Car Awards 2026

Multi-energy Dodge Charger lineup is also one of three finalists for the 2026 North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) award

SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack is available at a starting U.S. MSRP of $54,995, delivering the most horsepower under $55,000 (MSRP excludes tax, title and destination fees)

The all-new SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger is the Detroit News 2025 Vehicle of the Year.

The 550-horsepower, twin turbo SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack captured the top spot in a field of 59 cars tested, winning Detroit News Vehicle of the Year honors for its standard all-wheel drive, fun performance, head-turning heritage-inspired design and "the world's most powerful 'hot hatch' interior space."

"Rebirth of drivetrain choice" was also recognized, with the new Charger multi-energy lineup offering both internal combustion and all-electric options. The Detroit News also praised the Charger's "strong value, particularly when matched against European performance sedans costing $10,000 more."

"We here at The Detroit News are biased toward value, style, innovation and performance. And we choose our Vehicle of the Year accordingly," said Detroit News auto columnist Henry Payne. "The hatchback Charger is not only gorgeous (channeling the 1968 Charger OG) but utilitarian. Affordable? The SIXPACK-powered Charger lineup debuts at $52K (including destination), but it goes spec-for-spec against a BMW 540i XDrive that costs 10 grand more. We'd take the Dodge in a heartbeat."

"The all-new Charger was built to deliver the bold muscle car looks and heart-pounding performance Dodge fans demand, and this prestigious recognition is another marker that we nailed it," said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. "With the new Charger lineup, you get the ultimate freedom: choose your powertrain and experience a muscle car that looks, feels, sounds, and drives like a true Dodge  whether you go all-in on internal combustion or embrace electrified power."

The award-winning SIXPACK-powered 2026 Dodge Charger is shipping to dealers now. For more information on the Dodge brand multi-energy lineup, visit Dodge.com.

Dodge

For 111 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge, America's performance brand, shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of its segments.

The new, next-generation Dodge Charger multi-energy lineup is led by the 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack  the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car. For 2026, the all-new 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo SIXPACK H.O. engine, expands the Charger lineup, powered by the most powerful Hurricane engine in production.

Dodge also keeps its foot on the pedal as a pure performance brand with the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful gas engine SUV ever, and best-in-class standard performance in the compact-utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge//SRT and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
The US president is mentioned multiple times in the new batch of declassified documents regarding the convicted pedophile

The United States Department of Justice released new documents related to the case of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein late Monday night. In the new batch, accessible here, there are around 11,000 files, including emails, photos, court documents, and multiple references to President Donald Trump, who was practically absent from the first declassification last Friday. Also noteworthy is an image of a fake passport belonging to the financier. It is Austrian, and in it he calls himself Marius Robert.

Pending a detailed examination of the entire set  which, once again, is heavily redacted  one item stands out: an email sent by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York on January 7, 2020. It is titled Epstein Flight Records. It can be read here and states: For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case.

Maxwell refers to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins closest friend, who was sentenced in 2020 to 20 years in prison and is serving her sentence in a minimum-security prison in Texas. She was found guilty of complicity in Epsteins sex-trafficking network involving hundreds of underage victims.

File 468: the photo of Trump that the Department of Justice published, then deleted, and finally republished from the Epstein files.

That email also specifies that Trump is listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four flights on which Maxwell was also present. It further notes that he traveled with several members of his family: Marla Maples, his second wife; their daughter, Tiffany; and Eric, from Trumps first marriage.

One of those records states that on a flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only listed passengers. In another flight, the two friends are accompanied by a 20-year-old woman whose identity has been redacted. There are two additional flights listing women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.

The end of friendship

Trump and Epstein were friends for about 15 years. Their relationship ended, according to the president of the United States, in 2004, after  again according to his account  he expelled Epstein from his club-residence Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, because the financier behaved like a creep toward some employees. Over the years, it has never been possible to prove that Trump participated in Epsteins crimes or that he had knowledge of them. The latest papers released by the Department of Justice do not prove anything in that regard either.

This is the third set of case documents made public, following those released on Friday and a smaller batch on Saturday. They were first published Monday afternoon, only to disappear without explanation from the website where the government is required to post them under a law passed by an overwhelming majority of Congress. Finally, the 11,000 documents  nearly 30,000 pages in total  reappeared a few hours later. This was yet another sign of the chaos that has been governing the Department of Justices actions in recent days.

Among the new papers, another document also stands out: it shows that in 2021 a subpoena was sent to Mar-a-Lago  apparently at the FBIs request  seeking documents related to the Maxwell case. The Washington Post, for its part, reported that the FBI collected leads about Trump attending parties with Epstein in the early 2000s. The documents do not reveal whether any follow-up investigations were carried out or whether any of those tips were corroborated.

At around 7:30 a.m., the Department of Justice posted a message on its X account with a warning: Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election [which was won by Democrat Joe Biden]. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility [] Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims."

On Monday, during a press appearance at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said that last weeks publication of thousands of photographs of the Epstein papers risked implicating highly respected people with no connection to the financiers crimes. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 in what the medical examiner ruled was a suicide. The press specifically asked the Republican about the compromising images of former president Bill Clinton, which were the real focus of that first declassification. Trump described their release as terrible.

A woman holding a sign calling for the declassification of Epstein's papers before the U.S. Congress on November 18. Foto: Annabelle Gordon (REUTERS)

I dont like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I dont like the pictures of other people being shown  I think its a terrible thing, Trump said. I think Bill Clintons a big boy, he can handle it, but you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago and theyre highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.

Trump added that Epstein was all over Palm Beach, the exclusive Florida town where the convicted pedophile owned a home and where Mar-a-Lago is located.

Clinton, who  like Trump  has never been charged with any crime, sent a message on Monday through his representative, Angel Urena. We call on President Trump to direct Attorney General [Pam] Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning, or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton. In his statement, Urena also accused the Department of Justice of protecting someone in its handling of the Epstein document release. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection, he said.

By releasing a vast number of documents, Bondi is complying with the obligation imposed on her by Congress under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. That law gave her 30 days to do so (a deadline that expired last Friday) and required the disclosure of all the papers in the possession of the Department of Justice. The initial partial release did not meet that requirement.

And criticism has not come only from Clinton, who appears in about 25 images (in a hot tub with a young woman whose face is obscured, or in a swimming pool with Maxwell and another woman, also with her face obscured). Victims have spoken in recent days of a cover-up, because the papers contain extensive redactions  more than 500 pages in the first batch.

Bondi, who spent months refusing to release the files, was authorized by law to make those redactions in order to protect victims, although politicians from both parties who passed the law accuse her of going too far and of failing to meet the transparency requirement.

The publication and subsequent removal of the only photo showing Trump in that first set  depicting him accompanied by four women  also sparked controversy. A day later, the Department of Justice reposted it on the microsite created specifically for the release of materials from the Epstein and Maxwell cases.

Last weekend, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche estimated that the Department of Justice holds close to one million pages in total, which it will release, he warned, in the coming weeks. It is not possible to determine the percentage of documents that have already been made public, which in any case add to the various partial declassifications of recent years.

Blanche also reported that a team of 200 officials reviewing and redacting the documents identified 1,200 Epstein victims  a higher number than previously reported.

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BOCA RATON, Fla., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- We are devastated to learn that the U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search and rescue operation for Brandon, and his uncle, Randy. While we are heartbroken, we respect and support Brandon's family's request that volunteer search efforts come to an end due to the dangers involved.

There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our sadness. Brandon was not only an exceptional attorney, but a remarkable human being whose kindness, integrity, and character left a lasting mark on our Firm; he is deeply missed.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Brandon's family and his loved ones as they endure this unimaginable loss. We are grateful to the State and Federal agencies, as well as the volunteers, for their dedication and commitment to the search, and we thank them for their tireless efforts.

Brandon will always be part of the Shiner Law Group family. We will continue to honor his memory, his friendship, and the positive impact he had on all of us.

David I. Shiner, Esq.

7800 Congress Ave. First Floor

Boca Raton, Florida 33487

SOURCE Shiner Law Group
The contemporary, 327-room hotel and apartments offer vibrant style and comfort in the heart of Suzhou's Xiangcheng District

CHICAGO, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announces the opening of KYLN Hotel Suzhou under the JdV by Hyatt brand. Located in the Xiangcheng District of Suzhou, China and in close proximity to world-renowned heritage sites and the scenic Yangcheng Lake, the hotel is the true reflection of the city's lively neighborhoods -- inviting guests and locals alike to connect, live in the moment and celebrate the joy of life. In Suzhou, tradition and modernity intersect, weaving together stories of ancient Imperial Kiln Brick craftsmanship, an electric urban vibe, and natural attractions into one destination.

Hotel Lobby

KYLN Hotel Suzhou blends traditional and modern influences throughout the hotel rooms and apartments, reflecting the city's rich cultural heritage and innovation. Situated within the Chun Shen Li Commercial Center in the Xiangcheng District, the hotel is designed for business, leisure, and extended stays, where guestrooms offer a harmonious and comfortable retreat. Dedicated to thoughtful hospitality for all, KYLN Hotel Suzhou is pet-friendly, welcoming both guests and their four-legged companions.

"We are delighted to introduce KYLN Hotel Suzhou, a hotel that captures time-honored traditions and the dynamic spirit of the city. Nestled amid the urban life of Suzhou, it is a place where our guests can unwind, connect, and be inspired in a space designed for comfort and creativity," said Eric Gong, General Manager, KYLN Hotel Suzhou.

Timeless Guestrooms and Apartments

KYLN Hotel Suzhou features 327 guest rooms, suites, and apartments designed as "homes for modern creators." Each space reflects a harmonious fusion of softness, warmth, and artisanal craftsmanship, where every detail is thoughtfully curated to evoke the spirit of Suzhou's makers  highlighting their dedication, precision, and creativity. Inspired by the city's Imperial Kiln Brick heritage, the design integrates raw, natural materials such as clay and wood, creating an ambiance that feels both grounded and inspiring.

Designed by the internationally acclaimed HBA, the hotel's interiors reinterpret traditional craftsmanship through a modern lens, blending science, art, and the human touch. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of Suzhou's skyline, while flexible layouts and eco-friendly materials embody a refined balance between comfort, functionality, and emotional resonance  offering guests a serene retreat where creativity and modern living meet.

Culinary Experiences

KYLN Hotel Suzhou showcases a medley of traditional and modern flavors across three dining venues serving both classic Chinese and international cuisines. CHROMA Chinese Restaurant, open daily for lunch and dinner only, specializes in Boat Cuisine, using seasonal ingredients to reimagine the dishes and flavors once served along Jiangnan's waterways. J Noodle Bar serves noodle dishes, Suzhou-style dim sum, and tea-infused cocktails in a lively setting, daily. Open daily for breakfast and all-day a la carte dining, Cai Lian 1090 utilizes premium, seasonal ingredients in its wide selection of Chinese and international dishes, served in a design-forward space inspired by the city's aesthetic.

Wellness & Health Facilities

The hotel's leisure and fitness facilities are designed for rejuvenation and holistic health. The Yuan Fitness Center is fully equipped with the Johnson brand's cardio and strength training equipment, providing guests with an urban escape to connect with the mind and body. The Cheng Fitness Center offers the ultimate wellness retreat with a Pilates studio and multi-use spaces for private training classes. Both centers are filled with natural light and comfortable furnishings, providing a tranquil environment for guests.

Meetings, Events, and Weddings

Supported by professional event planning and culinary teams that work closely with guests to perfect every detail, from decorations to gourmet menus, KYLN Hotel Suzhou offers 7,534 square feet (700 square meters) of conference space, a ballroom, and five multipurpose rooms.

World of Hyatt Gives Members More Reasons to Stay Somewhere New

In celebration of the JdV by Hyatt brand's continued growth in Asia, World of Hyatt is providing members with even more ways to be rewarded with the opportunity to earn 500 Bonus Points for qualifying nights at KYLN Hotel Suzhou from December 23, 2025 to March 31, 2026  part of World of Hyatt's new hotel member offer. Additional participating hotels and their offer stay periods can be found at New Hotels Bonus Offer | World of Hyatt. No registration is required, and members can earn on top of other offers. Terms apply.

For more information or to book a reservation, please visit www.hyatt.com/jdv-by-hyatt/en-US/suzjd-kyln-hotel-suzhou

The term "Hyatt" is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

About JdV by Hyatt

The JdV by Hyatt brand offers a collection of independent hotels that exhibit personality and joy. True to its namesake, joie de vivre, the properties are vibrant reflections of their surroundings, inviting guests to embrace discovery in their travels. Enjoy World of Hyatt benefits with eligible stays at JdV by Hyatt hotels  discover more here.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose  to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2025, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 82 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Luxury Portfolio, including Park Hyatt, Alila, Miraval, Impression by Secrets, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt; the Lifestyle Portfolio, including Andaz, Thompson Hotels, The Standard, Dream Hotels, The StandardX, Breathless Resorts & Spas, JdV by Hyatt, Bunkhouse Hotels, and Me and All Hotels; the Inclusive Collection, including Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Sunscape Resorts & Spas, Alua Hotels & Resorts, and Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts; the Classics Portfolio, including Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Destination by Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Vacation Club, and Hyatt; and the Essentials Portfolio, including Caption by Hyatt, Unscripted by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios, Hyatt Select, and UrCove. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

SOURCE KYLN Hotel Suzhou, part of JdV by Hyatt
ENSCHEDE, Netherlands, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- THE.Hosting , an international provider of high-performance VPS and dedicated servers, is summarizing the results of a successful 2025 and announcing its strategic development plans for 2026. Over the past year, the company has strengthened its position as one of the leading players in the server infrastructure market by significantly expanding both its service portfolio and global footprint.

Highlights from the 2025 Yearly Summary

The published summary details several milestones achieved during the year, including product launches, infrastructure expansion, and service innovation.

Among the developments outlined is the introduction of the Ferrum VPS plan, priced at 1 per month. The plan, which includes KVM virtualization, 1 GB of RAM, and a 15 GB NVMe drive, was designed to make entry-level hosting more accessible to startups and early-stage projects. The company reported strong initial demand following its launch, with adoption across multiple regions.

This year demonstrated strong demand for THE.Hosting's approach to hosting services. Beyond providing virtual servers, the company delivers a reliable foundation that supports clients' long-term business needs.

The summary also references the launch of a free three-day test period for dedicated servers, allowing customers to evaluate hardware performance prior to committing to a purchase. In addition, THE.Hosting introduced a Server Marketplace featuring preinstalled software configurations, enabling faster deployment of servers with platforms such as WordPress, Docker, Kubernetes, ISPmanager, cPanel, and DirectAdmin.

Infrastructure and Geographic Development

As outlined in the yearly summary, in 2025, THE.Hosting became the first provider on the market to introduce a free 3-day test drive for dedicated servers. This initiative allows customers to evaluate the performance and reliability of dedicated servers before making a purchase decision.

The initiative reflects THE.Hosting's confidence in the quality of its hardware, offering customers the opportunity to test dedicated servers with no obligations before committing to a purchase.

Another major innovation was the launch of the Server Marketplace with preinstalled software. Customers can now deploy ready-to-use servers with preinstalled WordPress, Docker, Kubernetes, or control panels such as ISPmanager, cPanel, or DirectAdmin in just a few minutes. This solution significantly simplifies migration processes and the launch of new projects.

In 2025, THE.Hosting expanded its geographical presence to more than 50 locations worldwide. The company opened new data centers in Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and other strategically important regions. All servers are equipped with network ports of up to 10 Gbps, ensuring maximum performance for demanding workloads.

The expansion reflects THE.Hosting's commitment to making high-quality hosting accessible in a wide range of regions, including emerging and underserved markets, while continuing to invest in infrastructure beyond traditional locations.

Outlook for 2026

Alongside the publication of its 2025 summary, THE.Hosting also outlined its development roadmap for 2026. Planned initiatives include the launch of GPU-powered VPS servers for workloads such as machine learning and rendering, the introduction of a load balancer for traffic management, and an interactive configurator allowing customers to tailor server plans.

Additional priorities include more flexible billing options, further geographic expansion across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and the development of specialized products for corporate and enterprise clients, including managed hosting services and solutions with defined service-level agreements.

Building on the progress achieved in 2025, the company plans to expand its geographic reach and product portfolio in 2026, while also evolving its approach to cloud services. The strategy focuses on positioning THE.Hosting as a long-term technology partner for businesses of all sizes.

About THE.Hosting

THE.Hosting is an international hosting provider specializing in high-performance VPS and dedicated servers. The company serves customers worldwide, offering KVM-based server solutions with guaranteed resources, 10 Gbps network ports, and 24/7 technical support. THE.Hosting's core values are transparency, reliability, and fair pricing with no hidden fees.

Contact Information

THE.Hosting Press Office

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://the.hosting

Telegram: https://t.me/thehosting

Contact

THE.Hosting Press Office

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2851258/THE_Hosting_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2851259/THE_Hosting.jpg

SOURCE THE.Hosting
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VSP Vision announced today it has completed the acquisition of Marcolin, a global leader in eyewear design, manufacturing, and distribution, from PAI Partners and other minority shareholders.

Marcolin

"The acquisition of Marcolin marks another important milestone in our 70-year history of providing VSP members, clients, network doctors, owned retail locations and key customers with more value and choice," said VSP Vision President and CEO Michael Guyette. "Marcolin's portfolio of globally renowned brands, manufacturing expertise, and geographic presence greatly complement Marchon Eyewear's brand portfolio and capabilities, further strengthening our ability to meet evolving customer needs throughout the world."

Both Marcolin and Marchon will continue to operate as they do today.

Marcolin's portfolio of luxury and lifestyle brands include Tom Ford, Zegna, Christian Louboutin, ic! berlin, Max Mara, Guess, and many more. Founded in Northern Italy in 1961, Marcolin distributes its eyewear collections in more than 125 countries.

CapM Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor, and Latham & Watkins acted as the legal advisor to the shareholders of Marcolin. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Chiomenti acted as legal advisors to VSP.

About VSP Vision

At VSP Vision, our purpose is to empower human potential through sight. As the first national not-for-profit vision benefits company, this is what drives everything we do. For 70 years, VSP has been a leader in health-focused vision care. Every day, the people that power our complementary businesses across vision benefits, eye care services, eyewear solutions, and practice solutions, work together to create a world where everyone can bring their best vision to life. That means providing affordable access to eye care and eyewear for millions of members through a network of more than 42,000 doctors. It also means expanding access to vision care to those disadvantaged by income, distance, or disaster through VSP Vision Eyes of Hope. To date, more than 4.3 million people in need have received access to no-cost eye care and eyewear through one of our Eyes of Hope programs. Learn more about how we're reinvesting in greater vision, health, and opportunities for all at vspvision.com.

About Marcolin

Marcolin is among the global leading groups in eyewear founded in 1961 in the heart of the Veneto district, Italy. It stands out for the unique ability to combine craftsmanship with advanced technologies through the constant pursuit of excellence and continuous innovation. The portfolio includes house brands (WEB EYEWEAR, ic! berlin), as well as licensed brands: TOM FORD, Guess, adidas Sport, adidas Originals, Christian Louboutin, Max Mara, Zegna, GCDS, MAX&Co., MCM, Pucci, BMW, K-Way, Kenneth Cole, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, rag & bone, Timberland, GANT, Harley-Davidson, Marciano and Skechers. Through its own direct network and global partners, Marcolin distributes its products in more than 125 countries.

Media Contact

[email protected]

916.947.4663

SOURCE VSP Vision
NANJING, China, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Jiangsunow.

Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8zn10Ke1xs&t=5s

"Sculpting Thoughts" Global Youth Sculpture Cyber Program Speed Speed

A unique digital art initiative is bridging ancient civilizations and engaging a new generation.

Following the permanent installation of renowned Chinese sculptor Wu Weishan's work, Divine EncounterDialogue between Confucius and Socrates, at the foot of Athens' Acropolis in 2021, a new chapter in cultural exchange has begun. The "Sculpting Thoughts" Global Youth Sculpture Cyber Program (https://www.jiangsunow.com/gnlm/) is calling on young artists worldwide to submit digital sculptures exploring the theme of dialogue between civilizations, with responses already flowing in from across Europe.

The program extends a physical dialogue into the digital realm. Christos GIKAS, President of the Greek-Chinese Association of Cultural & Economic Relations, reflected on the original sculpture's impact, noting the ongoing conversation it represents between Eastern and Western thought. Building on this, the new cyber program aims to harness digital tools to gather contemporary interpretations from global youth on how diverse civilizations can thrive together.

Reactions from the cultural community in Greece have been positive. Ms. Victoria ZYGOUROU, Director of the Athens Municipal Art Gallery, commended China's progress in integrating digital technology with art.

The project sparks a debate on art in the age of technology. While some, like Riccardo Caldura, Director of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, emphasize the irreplaceable essence of physical form and space in sculpture, others see technology as a powerful new conduit. Wu Weishan himself views tools like 3D printing as aids to, rather than replacements for, creative inspiration, offering a fresh mode of artistic expression.

Spearheaded by the JiangsuNow International Communication Center (JICC) under the Xinhua Daily Media Group, the "Sculpting Thoughts" international cultural exchange project encompasses a documentary, an overseas exhibition, and this digital co-creation plan. It represents a conscious effort by media to act as a "new connector" in the digital age, creating a shared space for cross-cultural dialogue. As digital submissions converge from around the world, the program demonstrates how technology can dissolve geographical barriers, proving that civilizations, like water, find their way to converge, and dialogue, like light, illuminates mutual understanding.

SOURCE Jiangsunow
About this content 

About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Oliver Haill

Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup News Service, Gracenote... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's plantation sector is expected to face a mixed outlook heading into 2026. While firms such as Nomura Research and CGS International see structural demand drivers lifting prices and earnings, TA Securities remains cautious, citing softer export demand and margin pressures from higher supply.

Nomura Research said in its recent report that it is positive on Malaysia's plantation sector heading into 2026.

According to the research house, the longer-term outlook for palm oil remains positive due to increased demand from emerging markets, its increased use as a biofuel in Indonesia, stagnant growth in palm oil hectarage and weak stock/usage of major oils.

Besides, in 2026, Nomura expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to rise about 2 percent year-on-year to 4,400 ringgit (1,079 U.S. dollars) per ton, as it believes Indonesia is on track to expand its biodiesel mandate to B50 from the second half of 2026.

"We are also concerned about weaker production in Indonesia due to the government's ongoing seizure of plantation land that is deemed to be illegal," it said.

While downstream margins were weak in 2025, it sees them improving year-on-year in 2026 due to increasing demand for oleochemicals and refined products.

Meanwhile, CGS International expects strong earnings growth for Malaysia's plantation sector in 2026-2027.

According to the research house, this will be supported by structural changes on the back of rising biodiesel demand, tightening global vegetable oil exports, slower palm oil supply growth, and long-term supply risks from land issues in Indonesia, potentially reducing production from the second half of 2026 onwards and supporting CPO prices.

Ta Securities, however, maintained its neutral view for Malaysia's plantation sector.

"Looking ahead to 2026, we expect CPO prices to moderate, averaging around 4,000 ringgit per ton (-4.8 percent year-on-year)," it noted.

According to the research house, the easing price outlook is underpinned by rising global production, softer export demand and intensifying competition from alternative edible oils as supply recovers in sunflower- and soybean-producing regions.

"While production growth should support overall yields, the softer price environment would likely keep upstream margins contained, especially for producers with higher cost structures," said the research house. (1 ringgit equals 0.25 U.S. dollars) 
About this content 

About Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Stephen Gunnion

Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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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
United Nations, Dec 23 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is very concerned about the violence in Bangladesh and minorities there should feel safe, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"All Bangladeshis need to feel safe", the spokesperson said when asked about the violence against minorities in that country and the recent lynching of Hindus.

"We're very concerned about the violence we've seen in Bangladesh", he said.

"Whether it's in Bangladesh or any of the countries, that people who don't belong to the, quote, unquote, majority need to feel safe", he added, referring to minorities.

About the regime headed by Muhammad Yunus, he said, "We're confident that the government will do what it can to keep every single Bangladeshi safe".

Following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader who had been the spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha, after he was attacked earlier this month, minorities in Bangladesh have been hit with violence.

Violence has been simmering since the outburst after the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year, and it was reignited with deadly force in the last two weeks.

Hindus unconnected to politics were lynched in recent days because of their religion.

The recent outbreak of violence has roused concern.

Last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for calm and an end to violence.

"Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all", he said.

With elections scheduled for February, he said an environment in which all can participate safely and peacefully in public life was essential.

Meanwhile in Washington on Monday, two members of the House of Representatives strongly condemned the violence against Hindus and the media.

Raja Krishnamoorthi said, "I am appalled by the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man in Bangladesh -- an act of violence amid a period of dangerous instability and unrest".

Suhas Subramanyam, who was "deeply troubled" by the lynching of Das, noted, "Since the recent change in government, accounts of attacks against Hindu and other minority communities have increased, including on homes and temples".

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Dec 23 : After more than one-and-a-half month of door-to-door Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Madhya Pradesh, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will release the draft electoral roll of voters for the state on Tuesday.

The official sources in the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) in Madhya Pradesh told IANS that, preliminary assessment suggesting that the names of nearly 41.8 lakh voters, that is, about 7.2 per cent of the electorate, are likely to be deleted from the SIR.

According to official sources, preliminary data show that, of the 41.8 lakh names flagged, 8.4 lakh voters were found dead, another 8.4 lakh were marked absent, 22.5 lakh had shifted to other locations and 2.5 lakh were registered at multiple addresses.

In Bhopal, where there are 21.25 lakh registered voters, about 4.3 lakh names -- 20.23 per cent are likely to be dropped in the draft electoral rolls.

While in Indore, with 28.67 lakh voters, saw 4.4 lakh names flagged; Gwalior may lose 2.5 lakh names of its 16.49 lakh electorate; and Jabalpur could lose 2.4 lakh names from 19.25 lakh.

However, all these numbers are a just assessment, and the exact number of voters deleted would be known only after the final electoral draft is published by the ECI on Tuesday, an official added.

The ECI has extended the schedule of the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in five states: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, against December 11.

More than 65,000 BLOs (Booth Level Officers) were tasked with conducting a door-to-door visit for verification of voters from November 4, while more than 6.65 crore voters were enrolled in 2023 in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh has a total of 230 Assembly seats and 29 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across the 55 districts, divided into 10 divisions such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Chambal, Narmadapuram, Rewa, Sagar, Shahdol, and Ujjain.

More than 65,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) visited households across cities, towns and villages to verify voter details since November 4, the SIR excercise had begun in the state.

Notably, during the entire SIR excercise, the principal opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh kept opposing the ECI's steps and criticised it levelling political allegations.

On Monday, a delegation of state Congress workers visited the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Bhopal, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise.
Chennai, Dec 23 : Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, recently appointed as the Bharatiya Janata Party's election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, is set to formally initiate alliance negotiations with the AIADMK and other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners during a one-day visit to Chennai on Tuesday.

Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, recently appointed as the Bharatiya Janata Partyas election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, is set to formally initiate alliance negotiations with the AIADMK and other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners during a one-day visit to Chennai on Tuesday.

The visit marks the beginning of the BJPas seat-sharing and coalition-building exercise ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

According to BJP sources, Goyal will begin his engagements with a series of internal consultations at Kamalalayam, the partyas state headquarters. He is likely to meet senior leaders and members of the BJPas core committee to take stock of organisational preparedness and outline the partyas broader electoral strategy.

Discussions are likely to focus on booth-level consolidation, campaign planning, and mechanisms to ensure better coordination among alliance partners.

Following the internal review, Goyal will proceed to a closed-door meeting with NDA constituents at a hotel in MRC Nagar.

Sources indicate that the meeting is aimed at initiating formal dialogue on alliance structures, with seat-sharing arrangements and coalition dynamics expected to be key agenda items. Significantly, Goyal is also likely to meet AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami at the same venue.

This would be the first formal high-level interaction between the two leaders since Goyal assumed charge of the BJPas Tamil Nadu campaign. The meeting is expected to set the tone for future negotiations between the BJP and the AIADMK, which are seen as central to the NDAas prospects in the state.

Palaniswamias arrival in Chennai from Salem on Monday has added momentum to speculation surrounding the alliance talks.

While neither party has officially confirmed the meeting, BJP insiders said informal and backchannel consultations have been ongoing for several weeks, indicating a gradual warming of ties.

Later in the day, Goyal is scheduled to call on Governor R.N. Ravi at Raj Bhavan. The meeting is expected to include a discussion on key administrative and political developments in Tamil Nadu.

Senior BJP leaders said the decision of the party high command to entrust Goyal with the Tamil Nadu mandate underscores its intention to put together a cohesive and expansive NDA well ahead of the election cycle. Goyal is expected to return to New Delhi in the evening after completing his engagements in the city.
Tirunelveli, Dec 23 : The Porunai Archaeological Museum, inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at Reddiarpatti in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, on December 20, will be open to the public from Tuesday.

Conceived as a major cultural and educational landmark for southern Tamil Nadu, the museum is expected to offer visitors an immersive insight into the regionas rich archaeological legacy.

Developed for Rs 67.25 crore, the museum is spread over 13 acres and showcases artefacts excavated from prominent ancient Tamil civilisation sites such as Sivagalai, Adichanallur, Thulukkarpatti and Korkai. These sites are considered crucial to understanding early settlement patterns, maritime activity, trade networks and burial practices associated with the Tamirabarani river basin.

An introductory gallery at the museum features portraits and visual depictions of historically significant locations, providing visitors with a broader cultural and historical context. Apart from its exhibition galleries, the museum complex includes an amphitheatre, access roads to the different blocks, a water pool, a decorative fountain with colourful lighting and an open hall designed to enhance the overall visitor experience.

The museum will remain open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A major highlight of the facility is the specially designed 5D and 7D virtual reality theatre, aimed at making art and history more accessible, engaging and interactive. Through immersive visual effects, visitors can experience simulations such as sailing on a boat along the banks of the Tamirabarani River and exploring archaeological marvels associated with ancient Tamil civilisation.

There is keen interest among the public and history enthusiasts, many of whom are eager to see how the museum has been established and how antique objects and archaeological findings are presented using modern technology. To facilitate easy access for visitors, the Tirunelveli district administration has arranged dedicated bus services with the support of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.

From Monday to Saturday, 11 buses will operate daily from the Tirunelveli Junction Periyar Bus Stand to the museum, passing through Vannarpettai, Palayamkottai Bus Stand and Tirunelveli New Bus Stand. On public holidays, four additional bus services will be operated.

Welcoming the new facility, C. Santhalingam, a Madurai-based retired archaeologist and founder of the Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research, said the Porunai Archaeological Museum would help bring archaeological history alive for students in the southern region.

He added that the museum would also generate employment opportunities for history graduates and contribute to tourism and economic development in the area.

Currently, Tamil Nadu has around 40 museums under the archaeology and tourism departments, and the Porunai museum would be a significant addition to the stateas cultural infrastructure.
ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Houthi group have agreed to a new swap involving nearly 3,000 detainees in total, including seven Saudis and 23 Sudanese nationals, officials from both sides said on Tuesday.

Abdul Qader al-Murtada, head of the Houthis' committee for prisoner affairs, said on social media platform X that the deal includes the release of 1,700 Houthi detainees in exchange for 1,200 government-affiliated detainees, as well as seven Saudi nationals and 23 Sudanese nationals held by the Houthis.

A Yemeni government official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the agreement includes the case of Mohammed Qahtan, a senior Islah party figure abducted by the Houthis 10 years ago in the capital Sanaa. He refused to provide further details on Qahtan's condition.

The deal followed a 12-day meeting held in the Sultanate of Oman, according to Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, who welcomed the agreement as "a positive and meaningful step that will hopefully ease the suffering of detainees and their families across Yemen."

Yemen has been gripped by conflict since late 2014 when Houthi militants seized control of the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year in support of the internationally recognized government.

A UN-mediated truce between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, brokered in April 2022, lasted six months before expiring. However, both sides have largely maintained a "de facto ceasefire" since then.

The last major UN-mediated detainees swap between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group took place in 2023, with around 900 detainees released. 
Chennai, Dec 23 : To cater to the expected surge in passenger movement ahead of Christmas, the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) has announced the operation of 900 special bus services from Chennai to various parts of Tamil Nadu over the next two days.

The transport authorities expect a sharp rise in travel from Chennai and other major cities, as people head to their hometowns and religious destinations to celebrate the festival. In view of the increased demand, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has decided to operate special buses in addition to its regular services to ensure smooth travel for passengers.

According to officials, the majority of the special services will be operated from the Kilambakkam Integrated Bus Terminus, which handles long-distance services from southern Chennai.

From Kilambakkam, 255 special buses will be operated on Wednesday, while 525 buses will be run on Thursday, connecting Chennai with various parts of the state. The special services will cater to high-demand routes such as Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchirappalli, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.

These destinations typically witness heavy passenger movement during festival seasons, especially from officegoers and students travelling back to their native places. In addition, special buses will also operate from Chennai and Coimbatore to destinations, including Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru.

A total of 91 special buses have been scheduled on these routes over the two days. Another 20 special buses will be operated from Madhavaram in North Chennai to further ease passenger congestion.

Officials said that based on demand, special return services will also be operated on Sunday from various parts of Tamil Nadu to Chennai and Bengaluru, facilitating the return of passengers after the Christmas holidays.

Passengers have been advised to plan their travel in advance and use official booking platforms to avoid last-minute inconvenience. The transport corporations said the additional services are aimed at ensuring safe, comfortable and timely travel during the festive season.
Washington, Dec 23 : US President Donald Trump has said that South Korea's Hanwha will work with the US Navy for the construction of new frigate warships as he announced plans to build a new "Trump-class" of battleships.

The remarks come as South Korea has sought to deepen shipbuilding cooperation with the United States through its key shipbuilders, including Hanwha Ocean Co, reports Yonhap news agency.

"Last week, the Navy announced a brand new class of frigate and they're going to be working with South Korean company Hanwha," Trump said in a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.

On Friday, the U.S. Navy announced a plan to introduce the new class of combat ships designed to be smaller and more agile to complement larger, multi-mission warships.

Trump described Hanwha as a "good company," noting its recent decision to invest in Philadelphia naval shipyard, apparently referring to the company's Philly Shipyard.

In August, Hanwha Group announced it would invest US$5 billion into the shipyard as part of South Korea's $150 billion commitment for U.S. shipbuilding cooperation under a broader trade agreement with the Trump administration.

During the press conference, Trump announced the U.S. Navy will build two new powerful battleships as part of an envisioned "Golden Fleet."

In August, Hanwha Group, South Korea's chemicals-to-shipbuilding conglomerate, said it will invest 7 trillion won (US$5 billion) in its shipyard in the United States, following President Lee Jae Myung's recent summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The investment aims to significantly boost production capacity at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia and support bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding under the initiative dubbed "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA), the group said.

Hanwha unveiled the plan Tuesday (U.S. time) during a ceremony at the shipyard attended by President Lee for the christening of the State of Maine, a National Security Multi-mission Vessel (NSMV) built for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD).
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to former PM and Bharat Ratna awardee Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, stating that a grateful nation can never forget his immense contribution to nation-building, particularly in the fields of agriculture, rural development and social justice.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Prime Minister shared a video message remembering the legacy of the former Prime Minister. "Respectful tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary. He dedicated his life to the welfare of the underprivileged sections of society, as well as to the progress of agriculture and the prosperity of farmers. A grateful nation can never forget his contribution to nation-building," PM Modi wrote.

In the video message, the Prime Minister highlighted Chaudhary Charan Singh's unwavering commitment to farmers, especially small and marginal cultivators.

PM Modi said that Charan Singh worked tirelessly for the welfare of small farmers and ensured that their concerns were brought to the centre of national policy-making. He added that the country would always remember his efforts to strengthen rural India and empower the agricultural community.

He further said that the present government draws inspiration from the ideals and vision of Chaudhary Charan Singh. He noted that several steps taken by the current government to boost small-scale farming and empower farmers are rooted in the principles laid down by the former Prime Minister.

Emphasising inclusive growth, PM Modi said that strengthening agriculture remains central to building a strong and self-reliant India.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, also paid tribute to Chaudhary Charan Singh on the occasion. In a post on X, he said, "Tributes to former Prime Minister and great farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary. He dedicated his entire life to the empowerment of farmers, rural India, and social justice. His visionary contributions to agricultural reform and public welfare will always be a source of inspiration for the nation."

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, also remembered the former Prime Minister and extended greetings on Kisan Diwas, which is observed on December 23 to mark Charan Singh's birth anniversary.

"Humble tribute to former Prime Minister, 'Bharat Ratna' Chaudhary Charan Singh ji, who dedicated his life to the upliftment of villages, poor and deprived people and welfare of farmers, on his birth anniversary! Heartiest greetings to the people of Ladakh and the farmers who feed us on Kisan Diwas," he said.

Chaudhary Charan Singh was born in 1902 at Noorpur in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh in a middle-class peasant family. His early life and background shaped his deep understanding of rural issues and the challenges faced by farmers. He completed his graduation in science in 1923 and went on to earn a postgraduate degree from Agra University in 1925. Trained in law, he initially set up his legal practice in Ghaziabad before shifting to Meerut in 1929. It was during this period that he joined the Indian National Congress and began his political journey.

He was first elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1937 from the Chhaprauli constituency. He went on to represent the constituency multiple times in 1946, 1952, 1962 and 1967. In 1946, he became Parliamentary Secretary in the government led by Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, where he handled several important departments, including Revenue, Medical and Public Health, Justice and Information.

In June 1951, Charan Singh was appointed as a Cabinet Minister in the Uttar Pradesh government and was given charge of the Justice and Information departments. In 1954, he took over as Minister for Revenue and Agriculture in the Cabinet of Dr Sampurnanand. By the time he resigned in April 1959, he was handling the Departments of Revenue and Transport.

In the ministry led by C.B. Gupta, Charan Singh served as Minister for Home and Agriculture in 1960. He later served as Minister for Agriculture and Forests between 1962 and 1963 in the government headed by Sucheta Kripalani. In 1965, he relinquished the Agriculture portfolio and assumed charge of the Local Self-Government department in 1966.

Following the split in the Congress party, Charan Singh became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second time in February 1970 with the support of the Congress. However, President's Rule was imposed in the state on October 2, 1970.

Known for his administrative discipline and integrity, Charan Singh earned a reputation as a strict administrator who did not tolerate inefficiency, nepotism or corruption. A gifted parliamentarian and a pragmatist, he was admired for his eloquence and strong convictions.

Chaudhary Charan Singh was the chief architect of land reforms in Uttar Pradesh. He played a key role in the formulation of the Debt Redemption Bill of 1939, which provided significant relief to rural debtors. He also initiated measures to drastically reduce the salaries and privileges of ministers in the state. As Chief Minister, he was instrumental in enacting the Land Holding Act of 1960, aimed at lowering land ceiling limits to ensure equitable distribution.

A staunch believer in social justice, Charan Singh drew his strength from the confidence and support of millions of peasants. He led a simple life and spent his leisure time reading and writing. He authored several influential books and pamphlets, including 'Abolition of Zamindari', 'Co-operative Farming X-rayed', 'India's Poverty and Its Solution', 'Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers', and 'Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum', which continue to shape discourse on agrarian reforms in India.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Brussels, Dec 23 : The Council of the European Union (EU) renewed its sweeping economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, even as Europe moves to seek direct contact with Moscow amid US-led talks with Ukraine and Russia.

The Russia-targeted sanctions, first imposed in 2014, were significantly expanded after February 2022. According to the Council, the measures cover trade, finance, energy, technology, and dual-use goods, as well as industry, transport, and luxury goods, among others.

Beyond the economic sanctions, now extended until July 31, 2026, the EU also adopted additional punitive measures recently. Last week alone, the bloc approved sanctions against individuals and entities accused of supporting Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers, as well as separate sanctions targeting alleged Russian hybrid operations. It also imposed bans on an additional 41 Russian vessels allegedly linked to the shadow fleet.

Meanwhile, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. At a summit last week, the European Council approved a 90 billion-euro (about $105.4 billion) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.

European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU needs to ensure that "Ukraine is in the best condition to negotiate a peace agreement."

These moves highlight Europe's emphasis on pressure, while also exposing anxiety about being sidelined in negotiations to end the conflict.

A US-drafted peace plan for Russia and Ukraine that leaked to the media last month stoked concern in Europe and Ukraine, with critics saying it tilted heavily toward Russia and raised fears that US President Donald Trump's administration could pressure Ukraine into major concessions.

Since then, European and Ukrainian negotiators have held talks with Trump's envoys to try to insert their own provisions into the draft, though the precise terms of the current version remain undisclosed.

On Sunday, three days of talks on the Ukraine crisis concluded, featuring separate meetings between the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and European representatives in Florida and Miami. US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff described the meetings as "productive and constructive."

Russia, however, offered a more critical assessment. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Ukraine and its European partners were obstructing progress.

"It's a fact: every time our dialogue with the US starts to take a positive turn, Kyiv and its European curators take extraordinary emergency measures to hamper it, to deform it, to steer these efforts off track," Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Russia's TASS news agency.

Even so, Europe, or at least some European countries, is seeking a more direct channel to Russia rather than leaving negotiations solely in US hands, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Russia's TASS news agency.

Following the EU summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc must be prepared for dialogue with Russia if current efforts fail to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Macron stated that he was ready to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again. He had a phone call with Putin in July.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said Putin is willing to engage in dialogue with Macron, according to Russia's RIA Novosti.

Welcoming the Kremlin's response, the French presidency said, "We will decide in the coming days on the best way to proceed." It added that any discussion with Russia would be conducted "in full transparency" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
United Nations, Dec 23 : Drought is affecting an estimated more than 4.6 million people in Somalia, around a quarter of the population, a UN spokesperson said.

UN partners indicate that at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices soar, food becomes increasingly scarce, livestock die, and livelihoods collapse, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing on Monday.

He said education has also been severely affected, with more than 75,000 students forced to drop out of school nationwide.

Dujarric noted that the upcoming dry season between January and March in the country is expected to make drought conditions worse, with increased water scarcity and higher livestock mortality anticipated, potentially intensifying food insecurity in many parts of the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods and to prevent avoidable loss of life. They warn that the next four months will be critical, as the next rainy season is not expected until April 2026, said the spokesperson.

Dujarric said the UN Central Emergency Response Fund allocated $10 million at the end of November, but substantially more support is urgently needed.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the drought emergency follows the poor performance of the two main rainy seasons and is compounded by funding shortfalls for assistance, further worsening Somalia's already dire humanitarian situation.

The Somali authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods, and preventable loss of lives, the OCHA said in its latest report released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The coming four months, the authorities warn, will be decisive because the next rains are not expected until April 2026.

The OCHA said that the upcoming dry season from January to March next year is expected to further exacerbate already observed drought conditions, water scarcity, abnormal livestock migration, and increased livestock deaths are likely, thereby intensifying acute food insecurity in many parts of Somalia.

The UN agency said humanitarians are mobilising responses, including mapping supply stocks, visiting field locations to assess the severity of the situation, and reviewing available resources for early action in response to the situation, despite being significantly constrained by severe funding shortfalls.
Los Angeles, Dec 23 : Hollywood star Tom Holland has wrapped up filming for his upcoming movie "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who heaped praise on the actor.

Los Angeles, Dec 23 (IANS) Hollywood star Tom Holland has wrapped up filming for his upcoming movie "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who heaped praise on the actor.

Cretton took to Instagram, where he revealed that he and the actor, 29, have completed filming on his fourth Spider-Man movie, which the director referred to as "the biggest, most rewarding film I've ever been a part of."

After Cretton thanked his wife and children for their support during the movie's production, he also thanked the movie's "amazing cast, for breathing so much life into these beloved characters and moving us every day," and "our unbelievable crew, who worked tirelessly with unmatched creativity and craftsmanship, who made me laugh so hard my stomach never stopped hurting."

"I love you all so much and can't wait for the world to see your stunning work on the big screen," Cretton wrote in the caption to his post, which showed a photo of him and Holland with flowers wrapped around Holland's neck and a second photo featuring the movie's crew.

"And of course, to @tomholland2013, for your kind, generous leadership on and off screen, for your relentless work ethic, your fearless performances, and for your friendship," the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director added.

"That's a wrap on Spider-Man: Brand New Day!"

Holland began filming scenes for Brand New Day on location in Glasgow, Scotland in August.

The actor shared videos from the set taken during his first day of filming at the time; the production also briefly paused filming in September after Holland sustained a mild concussion during filming on Friday, Sept. 19, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (He was seen back in the Spider-Man suit and filming again), reports people.com.

Holland referenced his concussion as he recapped an event he held with The Brothers Trust, the charity he runs with his three brothers in an Instagram post on he shared Sept. 27, noting that while he left the event early, he was "feeling better and on the mend."

Holland stars in the Spider-Man franchise with his real-life fiancee Zendaya, whom he became engaged to around the holidays in 2024.
Bengaluru, Dec 23 : The Karnataka Lokayukta was on Tuesday carrying out simultaneous raids on the residences and offices of several government officials across multiple districts of Karnataka, following allegations of corruption and amassing of properties disproportionate to their income.

The coordinated operation was conducted in Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Karwar and Raichur districts. Search operations are underway at bungalows, houses and offices linked to the officials.

In the Bagalkote district, Lokayukta officials raided the residences of the Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). Searches were conducted at his houses located in Bagalkote town and at Nargund in neighbouring Gadag district. In the same district, the residence of an Assistant Director in the Agriculture Department at Bagewadi was also searched.

In the Karwar district, Lokayukta officials conducted a raid at the residence of the Chief Executive Officer at Siddapur. Officials examined documents and records during the search.

In Raichur, Lokayukta teams carried out inspections at the residence of a retired woman Assistant Engineer.

Officials said the raids were part of an ongoing investigation into corruption-related allegations. Further details regarding the seizures and findings are awaited as the search operations continue.

It can be recalled that Karnataka Lokayukta sleuths conducted raids at 10 locations across the state on November 25, targeting government officers accused of amassing disproportionate assets beyond their known source of income. The raids are being carried out in Mandya, Bidar, Mysuru, Dharwad, Haveri, Bengaluru, Shivamogga and Davanagere districts.

On November 7, the Karnataka Lokayukta conducted surprise raids across six Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Bengaluru following several complaints from the public. The raided locations included Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar, Jayanagar, Yelahanka, Kasturinagar and KR Puram and uncovered large-scale irregularities.

Karnataka Lokayukta also conducted raids against 12 officials and seized Rs 381 crore in the disproportionate assets case. The searches were carried out on October 14, across 48 locations, including residences, offices, and properties belonging to the officers and their relatives.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Haseen Mastan Mirza, who recently made headlines advocating for justice in a case involving alleged forced marriage and rape, stated that as the daughter of the late underworld don Haji Mastan, she experienced sexual abuse from her ex-husband.

She has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking justice in a case involving alleged sexual assault, forced marriage and illegal grabbing of her property.

In an interview with IANS, Haseen alleged that her maternal uncle's son, Naseer Hussain, attempted to sexually assault her and later forced her into marriage when she was just 12 years old in 1996.

She clarified that the ordeal she has endured has no connection with her identity as Haji Mastan's daughter during his lifetime and began only after his death.

Stating that she was a minor at the time of the alleged crimes, Haseen claimed she was raped, subjected to sustained mental and physical abuse and deprived of her property after her identity was concealed.

Haseen said the crimes against her were driven by greed and her father's wealth.

"If I hadn't been born as the daughter of Haji Mastan, I wouldn't have faced these challenges. The culprits saw money. My father died, and they thought that they could get all our money. The reason behind all this, the rape and forced marriage, is money. Even my ex-husband told me that he had raped me because I am Haji Mastan's daughter," she told IANS.

At the same time, she stressed that she does not want her father's name to be tarnished.

"However, my father had gained a lot of blessings during his lifetime; he had helped a lot of people. I do not want his name to be tainted. He was a very nice man, I am proud to be his daughter, and I am only fighting this case because of him," Haseen said.

"I made a request to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that the laws should be made so strict that these criminals, who are committing crimes openly, feel fear. That was my main demand... I was raped, attempts were made to kill me, my unborn child was killed, I was forcibly married off, and then after all this, I was abandoned on the streets to die; I had no money, nothing," Haseen Mirza told IANS.

She said she has been fighting the case since 2013, but was unable to pursue it consistently due to financial constraints. Haseen also alleged that she received no support from the police during this period.

"Police never helped it. If it had helped me, my mother had been with me, and I would have received justice," she said, adding that intervention by Prime Minister Modi could ensure the case is not sidelined.

"If PM Modi helps with this case, no one will be able to sideline this case," she added.

Recalling a traumatic episode from her teenage years, Haseen said, "When I had a miscarriage at the age of 14 years, my aunt had called the police and tried sending me to a juvenile home... Police came to our home and got to know that I am just 14 years of age, but they still did not help me."

She further revealed that the prolonged distress pushed her to attempt suicide in 2010 after her divorce.

Dismissing speculation about entering politics, she said she has no such ambitions.

"I know many people in politics, but I do not want to get into it. I do not understand politics. I want the politicians, whoever is in power, like now it's the BJP, to do their work diligently," she added.

Haseen said that she supports UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's bulldozer action and said, "I even posted on X about it, I want him to come to Mumbai and carry out bulldozer action at my bungalow, where the criminals are sitting. Whatever happened to me, my ex-husband raped me. CM Yogi orders the encounter of people like this. Victims get justice under his rule."

Haseen also disclosed that she was invited to participate in the reality show Bigg Boss but declined the offer due to concerns about her mental health.

Her appeal follows a video she shared on Instagram last week, in which she spoke about her long struggle for justice and once again urged Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah to intervene, claiming she has been denied justice for years.

In the video, she praised the Prime Minister's decision to ban triple talaq, while appealing for stricter laws to ensure swift justice in cases like hers, alleging that religious law was being misused within Islam.

She said the manner in which the triple talaq bill was passed reflected the support and blessings of women, who, according to her, felt relieved after the end of what she described as an unjust practice.
Seoul, Dec 23 : The Hanbit-Nano, South Korea's first commercial orbital rocket, crashed shortly afterward due to an abnormality in the vehicle, its operator Innospace said.

The company noted that the rocket blasted off from the Alcantara Space Center at 10:13 p.m. Monday (local time) in Brazil, Yonhap news agency reported.

However, the vehicle fell to the ground 30 seconds after liftoff, said Innospace.

The rocket crashed within a ground safety zone, with no casualties or additional damage reported, it added.

Flames were observed immediately after liftoff during a YouTube livestream of the launch, which was suspended shortly afterward.

Earlier in the day, the rocket launch was being pushed back due to unfavourable weather conditions at the launch site in Brazil.

The rocket was carrying a payload that included five satellites set to be deployed into a 300-kilometer low orbit.

If successful, Innospace would have become the first private South Korean company to place a customer satellite into orbit.

The two-stage vehicle employed a 25-tonne thrust hybrid engine that powered the first stage, while the second stage was backed by a liquid methane and oxygen engine.

The launch had been postponed three times since the company's original date of November 22.

It was postponed twice last week due to a defect in avionics electronics and then due to an issue with a fuel tank.

Earlier in September, the South Korean space launch startup signed a $5.8 million contract with Media Broadcasting Satellite (MBS), a German satellite communications company, to provide launch services, Yonhap had reported.

Under the agreement, Innospace will carry out two launch missions using the company's Hanbit launch vehicle to deploy MBS satellites into low Earth orbit between 2026 and 2029.

In a separate deal, Innospace also named MBS as its exclusive launch service and marketing agent in Germany, a move aimed at bolstering the South Korean firm's presence in the European space market.

MBS will hold exclusive rights to distribute and market launch services based on Innospace's Hanbit vehicle to satellite customers in Germany.
Chennai, Dec 23 : A crucial meeting of district secretaries of the AIADMK Volunteers Rights Recovery Association will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Vepery, Chennai, under the leadership of senior leader Panruti Ramachandran, with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) expected to make an important political announcement.

With only a few months left for the state Assembly elections, the meeting has assumed significance amid growing speculation over OPS' future political alignment.

The meeting comes shortly after OPS renamed the AIADMK Volunteers Rights Recovery Committee as the AIADMK Volunteers Rights Recovery Association, a move widely seen as part of organisational consolidation ahead of the polls.

Party sources said the deliberations could offer clarity on OPS' strategy, including his stance on alliances and the broader question of AIADMK unity.

OPS had recently announced his exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), citing dissatisfaction over the way he was treated in the BJP.

His resentment reportedly stemmed from an incident during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu, when the OPS' request for a meeting was not accommodated.

Soon after, OPS declared that he was being politically sidelined within the NDA and chose to withdraw from the alliance.

Despite quitting the NDA, OPS has not yet announced a new alliance.

In a development that reignited political speculation, he recently travelled to New Delhi along with his son at the invitation of the BJP. During the visit, OPS met Union Home Minister Amit Shah for around 20 minutes and is learnt to have also held discussions with other BJP leaders.

Addressing reporters later, OPS said the meeting with Amit Shah was a courtesy call and that the discussion focused on the prevailing political situation in Tamil Nadu.

However, political circles suggest that the BJP is keen on bringing OPS back into the NDA.

According to sources, OPS has placed a firm condition for any return - reunification of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Sources said OPS clearly conveyed to Amit Shah that he would not rejoin the NDA until the AIADMK merger process is completed.

As anticipation builds ahead of the meeting in Chennai, observers believe the decisions emerging from the district secretaries' meet could shape the political course of OPS in the run-up to the elections.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Drought is affecting an estimated more than 4.6 million people in Somalia, around a quarter of the population, a UN spokesperson said Monday.

UN partners indicate that at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices soar, food becomes increasingly scarce, livestock die, and livelihoods collapse, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing.

He said education has also been severely affected, with more than 75,000 students forced to drop out of school nationwide.

Dujarric noted that the upcoming dry season between January and March in the country is expected to make drought conditions worse, with increased water scarcity and higher livestock mortality anticipated, potentially intensifying food insecurity in many parts of the country.

Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods and to prevent avoidable loss of life. They warn that the next four months will be critical, as the next rainy season is not expected until April 2026, said the spokesperson.

The UN and its humanitarian partners are mobilized to support assessments, map available supply stocks, and coordinate emergency responses across water, food, nutrition, health and shelter sectors, he said.

Dujarric said the UN Central Emergency Response Fund allocated 10 million U.S. dollars at the end of November, but substantially more support is urgently needed. 
Mumbai, Dec 23 : The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Tuesday attacked Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde over his claim that Maharashtra local body polls have finally settled the debate over the "real" Shiv Sena.

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Tuesday attacked Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde over his claim that Maharashtra local body polls have finally settled the debate over the "real" Shiv Sena.

In a scathing editorial in the party's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', the Thackeray camp claimed, "The liars say, 'Our Shiv Sena is real!' But what is real and what is fake - the common people of the state recognise this. Those who dedicated their victory to Modi-Shah's feet, the symbol 'Shiv Sena' does not suit those thieves. These same Modi-Shah stole the bow and arrow and handed it over to eight traitors in Maharashtra. The theft of Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and local body elections has taken the form of 'yours, mine, theirs'. The picture ahead will be different - we have no doubt about this."

According to the editorial, Eknath Shinde has claimed credit for the work shown by the real Shiv Sena people. This is a hollow credit. His party's claim of solid work in Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and now local body elections is hollow. "Originally, the name 'Shiv Sena' and the symbol bow and arrow were obtained through Amit Shah's pressure. The merit of the bow and arrow is significant, and Balasaheb Thackeray, the Shiv Sena chief, had established the 'bow and arrow' in every household. These 'merits' have been stolen and the real Shiv Sena is being talked about," said the editorial.

It further stated that the dispute between Shiv Sena and the bow and arrow is still pending in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has given six months' time for the Election Commission to make a decision. "Dates are not being set there, but after 40 MLAs crossed over to the other side and the decision was made according to law and constitution, Shiv Sena and bow and arrow are encouraging a decision on whose symbol it is!" the editorial said.

The Thackeray camp said that despite the electoral successes of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, legal disputes regarding the party's "real" status and official symbols remain unresolved. It said, "The Supreme Court has scheduled a final hearing for January 21, 2026, to address the symbol dispute between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions. A similar hearing for the NCP symbol dispute is set for January 22, 2026. The year ends with political parties shifting focus toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, which are slated for January 15." The editorial has even questioned the timing of the hearing in the court.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena alleged, "The results of local body elections are bought and sold through auction. There is no integrity or transparency found anywhere in these results. The ruling party has acquired the art of buying the machinery and voters, and people like Amit Shah kindly make them win elections by stealing the Shiv Sena and bow and arrow. As Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis vows to transform the face of the state following these results, the opposition remains defiant. They describe the current political state as one of 'looting and deception' and express confidence that the political picture in Maharashtra will shift in the future," said the editorial.
Chennai, Dec 23 : Thrilled with the way director Suresh Rajakumari had made the police drama 'Sirai', which is scheduled to hit screens on December 25 this year, the producer of the film, S S Lalit Kumar, has now presented the director a brand new car even before the film's release!

The film, which has come in for praise from film critics and industry experts for whom special shows were held before its release on December 25, features actors Vikram Prabhu and L K Akshay Kumar in the lead.

The car was presented to the mother of the director at a pre-release event organised by the makers of the film. Ace director Vetrimaaran, who had mentored director Suresh Rajakumari, presented the key to the car to the director's mother in the presence of several celebrities and mediapersons.

A trailer released by the makers begins with Vikram Prabhu, a cop whose duties include escorting prisoners to courts and bringing them back to prisons, being assigned the task of escorting a prisoner called Abdul Rauf (played by newcomer L K Akshay) to the Sivagangai court.

Vikram Prabhu, accompanied by two other policemen, takes the prisoner in his custody and the group begins its journey to the court.

The trailer shows the prisoner pleading with Vikram Prabhu, not to handcuff him while taking him from the bus stand to the court. However, the cops refuse to oblige saying prisoners, who commit murders, will be handcuffed and dragged through the streets. "You must have thought about all this before committing a murder," they tell him.

The trailer then shows that the prisoner, Abdul, is in this position because of his girlfriend, who herself has a difficult time at home. Abdul escapes from the custody of the policemen. What makes matters worse is that he has escaped with one of their rifles. The cops will now have to either catch Abdul or spend their lives behind bars...

The story of the film, inspired by real life incidents, is by director Tamizh, best known for having directed the critically acclaimed film 'Taanakaran'. Tamizh is believed to have come up with this story based on a personal experience.

Director Suresh Rajakumari, the co-director of well known director Vetrimaran, has written and directed this film.

Vikram Prabhu plays the lead in this film and actress Anantha plays his pair in the film, which will also mark the debut of producer SS Lalit Kumar's son, L K Akshay Kumar, as an actor. Actress Anishma plays Akshay Kumar's pair in the film.

Sources say producer S S Lalit Kumar has spared no expense for this big budget film, which boasts of an exceptional technical team.

The film has music by well known music director Justin Prabhakaran. Cinematography for the film is by Madesh Manickam. Editing for the film is by one of the best in the business, Philomin Raj. Stunts have been choreographed by Prabhu. The film has Arun K and Manikandan as its two executive producers.

Shooting for the film took place at various places including Chennai, Sivagangai and Vellore.

--IANS

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Washington, Dec 23 : The United States and India must conclude a long-pending trade agreement to unlock deeper economic integration and reinforce business confidence on both sides, Atul Keshap, President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), said following a recent visit to India.

Keshap said he travelled to India with USIBC Chair Ed Knight to hear directly from Indian leaders and businesses about their views on America, trade negotiations and investment flows.

"We wanted to hear from Indian voices about their perspectives on America and on the trade deal and on business," he said, describing the visit as "very inspiring."

He said Indian interlocutors conveyed that negotiations with Washington had been conducted diligently over multiple rounds.

"What we heard is that from the Indian perspective, they have offered the United States an excellent proposal, and they're hoping that the United States will conclude the trade negotiations and that we will have a trade agreement," he said.

While declining to comment on the details of the talks, Keshap said the business community was united in its expectations.

"We emphatically want a trade deal. We want it to happen as soon as possible. We want it to be ambitious," he said, adding that it should serve as "the foundation for even further integration of the American and Indian economies."

Addressing US tariffs on Indian exports, Keshap said India had worked to diversify its export markets to reduce the impact.

He noted that India's merchandise exports to the United States had nevertheless grown in 2025.

"This is an element of the ongoing negotiation where both sides are trying to figure out where that final tariff number might end up," he said.

He said uncertainty around tariffs underscored why businesses wanted an agreement.

"It will create a psychological signal that's extremely important in both directions of greater confidence," he said, noting that investment decisions were continuing even amid negotiations.

Keshap pointed to major US investment announcements in India in sectors such as data centres and artificial intelligence.

"The US and India, as the leading democracies on Earth, ought to be working with each other to develop these frontier technologies," he said.

He said a deal reducing tariffs would benefit producers and exporters in both countries. "Lower tariffs among friends is the best possible outcome," he said, adding that innovative proposals from India could expand market access for American exporters.

Keshap said agreeing would help accelerate progress toward the shared goal of $500 billion in bilateral trade in goods and services. "Shared prosperity is what we're all about," he said.

The US-India trade talks are taking place against a backdrop of expanding strategic cooperation in defence, supply chains and technology.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown steadily over the past decade, with US companies increasingly viewing India as a long-term investment destination.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : India's mutual fund industry's assets under management (AUM) may surpass Rs 300 trillion by 2035, fuelled by digital adoption, rising participation from Gen Z, women, and households in smaller towns, as well as the shift toward longaterm investing through SIPs, a report showed on Tuesday.

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) India's mutual fund industry's assets under management (AUM) may surpass Rs 300 trillion by 2035, fuelled by digital adoption, rising participation from Gen Z, women, and households in smaller towns, as well as the shift toward longterm investing through SIPs, a report showed on Tuesday.

The Indian mutual fund industry witnessed a remarkable expansion in 2025, with AUM climbing to Rs 81 trillion in November 2025, up from Rs 68 trillion in November 2024  registering a year-on-year growth of 18.69 per cent and nearly tripling over the past five years posting a CAGR of 21.91 per cent.

Sustained net inflows, strong market performance, and deepening retail participation, aided by digitisation and financialisation of savings, have contributed to the steady surge in AUM, said ICRA Analytics in its report.

As of May 2025, the industry's AUM had surpassed Rs 70 trillion-mark, and within next six months, the same crossed the Rs. 80 trillion-mark, despite global uncertainties.

Given this trajectory, market participants are of the opinion that India is wellpositioned to cross the Rs.100 trillion threshold within the next few years, if current inflow trends and market performance persist.

"Beyond Rs. 100 trillion, the longterm outlook points to even more transformative growth. The geopolitical situation and global uncertainties notwithstanding, the domestic mutual fund industry has showcased resilience backed by a sense of optimism regarding the growth prospects of the Indian economy," said Ashwini Kumar, Senior Vice President and Head Market Data, ICRA Analytics.

The AUM of open-ended equity funds quadrupled over 5-year period from Rs. 9 trillion in November 2020 to Rs. 36 trillion in November 2025.

On a year-on-year basis, the same went up 17.45 per cent from Rs. 30 trillion in November 2024.

"Flexicap funds tend to show strong YoY growth because of a combination of strategic flexibility, diversified exposure, and favourable market conditions. The flexi cap fund category is closely followed by multi-cap fund and large and mid cap fund categories, which were up by 24.78 per cent and 22.78 per cent YoY," Kumar said.

The corpus of debt funds too went up 14.82 per cent YoY from Rs. 17 trillion in November 2024 to Rs. 19 trillion in November 2025.

In the equity fund performance space, the small cap funds witnessed maximum growth over 5- and 10-year tenures, reporting a CAGR of 24.91 per cent and 16.70 per cent, respectively (as on November 30).

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have emerged as one of the strongest and most reliable engines of growth for the Indian mutual fund industry.

By November 2025, SIP AUM had reached Rs. 16.53 trillion, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the mutual fund industry's total AUM, highlighting their pivotal role in boosting longterm asset accumulation.

"The burgeoning middle class and rising financial literacy is prompting more and more people to resort to financial planning so as to accrue savings, particularly through the SIP route," Kumar said.

IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 23 : The Kerala government has issued orders to file an appeal in the High Court challenging the trial court verdict in the actress assault case, in which actor Dileep and three others were acquitted.

The decision follows the acceptance of recommendations made by the State Police Chief (DGP) and the Special Public Prosecutor, with the government granting formal approval on Tuesday.

According to the DGP and the Special Prosecutor, the trial court had rejected crucial digital evidence on what were described as flimsy and purely technical grounds.

The government is of the view that the evidence was not subjected to a proper legal appreciation and that serious errors were committed in the assessment of key materials placed before the court.

These lapses, both legal and technical in nature, will be specifically challenged in the appeal.

The appeal will be filed against the judgment of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, which acquitted Dileep, the eighth accused, along with three others, while convicting the prime accused, Pulsar Suni and five co-accused.

The six convicts were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the brutal abduction and sexual assault of the actress.

The trial court held that the prosecution failed to conclusively establish the charge of criminal conspiracy, leading to the acquittal of Dileep and the other accused.

However, the prosecution and the investigation team have maintained that they possess strong circumstantial and documentary evidence linking the accused to the conspiracy.

They have expressed confidence that these aspects can be effectively established before the High Court. Official sources indicated that the decision to expedite the appeal process was taken shortly after the survivor met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The government is understood to have taken serious note of the concerns raised by the survivor during the meeting, particularly regarding the rejection of key evidence and the broader implications of the verdict.

The state plans to file the appeal soon after the High Court reopens following the Christmas vacation. Given the gravity of the crime and its wider social implications, especially concerning womenas safety and the criminal justice system, the government has decided to pursue all available legal remedies to challenge the acquittal.

The appeal, officials said, will underline the need for a comprehensive reappraisal of the evidence and seek judicial intervention to correct what the state believes are substantial errors in the trial courtas judgment.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Congress' Lok Sabha member Imran Masood on Tuesday strongly batted for party general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a potential Prime Ministerial candidate, drawing a comparison between her and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Masood made the remarks while responding to criticism from the BJP targeting Priyanka Gandhi for allegedly not speaking out strongly enough against violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

He said Priyanka Gandhi possessed the same resolve and capacity to counter anti-India narratives in the South Asian nation as her grandmother Indira Gandhi had demonstrated in her handling of Pakistan.

Speaking to IANS, Masood said, "Priyanka Gandhi had raised her voice foremost last time when violence took place in Bangladesh. Make Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister first, and then see how she responds, just like Indira Gandhi. Just like Indira Gandhi broke Pakistan into two places, Priyanka Gandhi will carry out such a treatment that the country (Bangladesh) would not be able to become a hub of anti-India narratives."

When asked about the role Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi would play if Priyanka Gandhi were to become Prime Minister, Masood offered an indirect response, stressing the ideological and political unity between the siblings.

"Rahul Gandhi will also do the same thing; Rahul and Priyanka are not different, they are like two eyes of one face. They are the grandchildren of Indira Gandhi. You can't see them differently," he added.

The Congress has traditionally projected Rahul Gandhi as its principal face for the Prime Minister's post, and Masood's remarks come amid ongoing political debate over leadership and strategy within the opposition.

Earlier, in the absence of her brother, who is currently in Germany attending an event organised by the Indian Overseas Congress, Priyanka Gandhi, a first-time MP, assumed a leading role for the party in the Lok Sabha.

She quickly made her presence felt, with her sharp attack on the government during the Vande Mataram debate gaining widespread attention and going viral.

As opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha to protest against the VB-G RAM G Bill, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi was seen at the forefront of the demonstration.

Holding a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi, she led the march within the Parliament premises, raising slogans opposing the Bill.

Despite Rahul Gandhi's absence from Parliament, Congress drew significant attention for its aggressive protest against the legislation, both inside Parliament and outside, with Priyanka Gandhi emerging as a prominent face of the party's resistance during the proceedings.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath speaks in the Vidhan Bhawan during the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, in Lucknow on Monday, December 22, 2025.. Image Source: IANS Video Grab

December 23 : Lucknow: During a special Assembly discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held Congress and Muhammad Ali Jinnah responsible for India's cultural divisions and the eventual partition.

He stated that the compromise on Vande Mataram was not out of respect for religious sentiments, but the first and most dangerous experiment in Congress's appeasement politics, which fueled separatism.

The Chief Minister noted that while Jinnah was in Congress, Vande Mataram faced no opposition. After leaving Congress, he used the national song as a political tool for the Muslim League, deliberately giving it a communal angle; the song remained the same, only the agenda changed.

CM Yogi said, On October 15, 1937, Jinnah raised slogans against Vande Mataram in Lucknow, even as Pandit Nehru led Congress. Nehru's subsequent letter to Subhas Chandra Bose on October 20, 1937, admitted that the issue was to appease Muslims. On October 26, 1937, Congress truncated parts of the song under the guise of harmony, sacrificing national consciousness.

He added, Despite protests by patriots, Congress prioritized vote-bank politics over the nation. By March 17, 1938, Jinnah demanded the song's complete alteration, and Congress did not resist. This set the stage for growing separatism and the first compromise on cultural symbols, ultimately contributing to India's partition.

CM Yogi emphasized that opposition to Vande Mataram was political, not religious. He highlighted that from 1896 to 1922, Congress sessions featured the song without controversy, with support from leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

The Chief Minister further explained that Mohammad Ali Jauhar first opposed the song in 1923 during the Khilafat movement, not on religious grounds but for political motivations. While Jauhar left the stage, Congress's subsequent appeasement became policy. By 1937, only two verses of the song were allowed in Congress sessions, even then, not mandatory, a national surrender, according to CM Yogi.

He also pointed out that the truncated version recognized by the Constituent Assembly in 1950 reflected this legacy of appeasement. Vande Mataram is more than a song; it is the soul of India.

He added, From the 1905 Bengal Partition movement to the freedom struggle, it inspired morning processions, Satyagrahas, and the final moments of revolutionaries. Rabindranath Tagore called it the soul of India, Aurobindo Ghosh called it a mantra, and it featured on the first tricolor hoisted abroad by Madam Bhikaji Cama. Madan Lal Dhingra's last words were also Vande Mataram.

CM Yogi stressed that compromising on the song was an attack on India's national identity. Even today, divisive forces attempt to weaken the nation's spirit.

He concluded that Vande Mataram is a pledge to honor, protect, and strengthen the motherland, urging all to learn from past appeasements. He called on everyone to revisit Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's Anand Math and celebrate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram as a commitment to India's future.
Colombo, Dec 23 : Highlighting Sri Lanka's importance under India's Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Tuesday stated it was natural for India to step forward at the time of crisis in the island nation following Cyclone Ditwah.

He recalled New Delhi's support to Colombo during its earlier economic turmoil.

The EAM called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake earlier in the day and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming India's role as a first responder and committing a reconstruction package of US$450 million to Sri Lanka.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath in Colombo, EAM said, "I am here as special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and carrying a message for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The President was kind enough to receive me this morning, and we had a detailed discussion on the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The letter from Prime Minister Modi that I handed over builds on our first responder role and commits a reconstruction package of US $ 450 million to Sri Lanka."

"Our talks centred around how expeditiously this commitment can be delivered. As your closest neighbour and in line with our Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, it was only natural that India would step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis. We have done so when you were going through economic difficulties as well," he added.

EAM Jaishankar highlighted that India's relief and assistance mission under Operation Sagar Bandhu commenced on the very day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall.

"Our aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and another ship, INS Udaygiri, were present at Colombo and delivered relief materials and thereafter also deployed helicopters. Thereafter, a number of MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force were active for a period of more than two weeks in Sri Lanka. An 80-member National Disaster Response Force contingent arrived simultaneously and conducted rescue and relief operations," EAM detailed.

"The Indian Army set up a field hospital with 85 medical personnel near Kandy, giving emergency care to more than 8000 people. Two modular BHISHM emergency care units were also airlifted to Sri Lanka and utilised," he added.

Given the scale of the damage, EAM said, restoring connectivity was clearly an immediate priority, an issue discussed between President Dissanayake and PM Modi during their recent telephonic conversation.

"Overall operation, Sagar Bandu delivered over 1100 tons of relief material, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing and water purification kits. About 14.5 tons of medicines and medical equipment were also provided. Yet another 60 tons of equipment was brought to Sri Lanka to assist the relief operations," he said.

Recognising the urgency of rebuilding, EAM said that Prime Minister Modi directed Indian authorities to engage closely with the Sri Lankan government to address their priorities.

Detailing India's support, he said, "The assistance package that we have proposed is worth US$ 450 which includes $ 350 million in concessional lines of credit, and $100 million of grants. This package is being finalised in close consultation with the government of Sri Lanka. Our assistance will cover sectors worst affected by the cyclone."

"I can assure you that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before, and I'm sure that Sri Lanka will once again demonstrate its great resilience in recovering from this adversity," EAM Jaishankar noted.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Dec 23 : With the situation in Bangladesh going from bad to worse, Intelligence agencies have learnt that there is a deliberate attempt by the ISI to provoke India. The plan is to provoke India into attacking Bangladesh, so that it garners international attention, agencies have learnt.

The ISI-backed elements are provoking people, stating that India is protecting ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, while backing her party, the Awami League. The August 2024 uprising managed to create an anti-Hasina wave across the country, and this is being taken advantage of by the ISI.

Following her ouster, she fled to India and remained in New Delhi since then. Following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government and the subsequent takeover by Muhammad Yunus as caretaker of the interim government, chaos ensued throughout the country. Street violence has become a daily routine apart from the persecution of the minority community.

An official stated that there is a significant amount of anti-India sentiment that the ISI has managed to cultivate over the past year. However, the systematic persecution of the minority community, especially the Hindus, is a clear attempt to provoke India. In the last couple of days, disturbing visuals of a Hindu man being lynched have been in circulation.

ISI-backed handles are deliberately making these clips go viral in India so that it provokes the general public. The aim is to provoke the Indian public to such an extent that they put pressure on the government to act militarily against Bangladesh. The other intention is make India look like the aggressor in the international community, an official said.

An official says that Indiaas intention is not to be the aggressor. However, it will do everything it can to protect its integrity and sovereignty. Moreover, the ISI is well aware that any such action could derail the February 2026 elections. This is what the ISI and Jamaat-e-Islami have been planning, as they want the elections to be postponed or cancelled. If this were to take place, they would run the country the way they like with their proxy Muhammad Yunus, another official said.

In addition to the lynching incidents, two student leaders have been shot in a span of a week. Osman Hadi and Motaleb Sikder, both top student leaders, were shot, and this has led to an increase in violence. The Bangladesh agencies have accused some Awami League members of shooting the two student leaders. This is being used as a tool against Sheikh Hasina and her party.

The message that is being put out is that India is sheltering the leader of a party that is responsible for the killings of Bangladeshi leaders. The ISI is trying to fuel anger against India so that the people in Bangladesh carry out more violence and develop a deep hatred for India. It is similar to what the ISI created in Pakistan, an Intelligence Bureau official said.

Experts say that New Delhi has a lot on its plate to deal with, where the Bangladesh situation is concerned. India has maintained that it wants good ties with its neighbours. With the Awami League out of the picture owing to the electoral ban, India has been reaching out to the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). The BNP is marginally ahead of the Jamaat, where votes are concerned, and has decided not to align with the Jamaat as it had done in the past.

The ISI and Jamaat will do everything to delay the elections, so that the BNP stays out of the picture. The larger intention is to keep the BNP at bay so that it does not share good ties with India. Any government that is friendly with India is detrimental to Pakistan, and this is something that it would try to avoid at any cost, another official said.
Berlin, Dec 23 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for India is fundamentally flawed and will fail, while alleging that the country has effectively handed over its production base to China.

Delivering a speech at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, on the theme 'Politics Is The Art Of Listening', Gandhi said there was a deep ideological clash over the idea of India itself.

"A lot of us do not agree with his ideology, we do not agree with the vision of India that he has, we think that the vision will fail, and it has tremendous problems and creates massive tension in India, will make Indian people fight with each other, and so we will fight it. And it's a clash between two visions of India," Gandhi said while addressing the gathering.

He further claimed that India's manufacturing sector had weakened significantly under the BJP-led government at the Centre, stating that the share of manufacturing in GDP had fallen from 17 per cent to 12 per cent during its tenure.

Gandhi criticised what he described as the outsourcing of production to China, arguing that such a trend has severely constrained job creation and poses long-term risks to democratic stability.

"To an extent, India has handed over production to the Chinese. If you look at the world in the 40s and 60s, you see that America dominated the production and then later, Germany, Italy, Japan and Korea dominated it. And today, China is dominating it," he said.

Explaining the implications, Gandhi added, "What that means is that it is very difficult to give a large number of people employment. A country like India, the US or even Germany cannot give its people employment based on services. You have to have manufacturing and production units, and we have handed it all over to the Chinese."

He also reflected on the global debate around democracy and production, saying, "In this transition, how do democracies produce? China has proven that you can produce in a non-democratic environment. We have to prove that you can actually produce in a democratic environment."

Gandhi stressed that manufacturing, micro, small and medium enterprises and agriculture remain central to generating large-scale employment in India.

He called for reforms in the Goods and Services Tax regime and industrial policy to strengthen domestic production.

The Congress leader also reiterated his criticism of demonetisation, stating that it dealt a severe blow to small businesses, and linked the policy to the broader decline in manufacturing's contribution to the country's GDP.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Five policemen were killed on Tuesday when unknown militants opened fire on a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police sources said.

The incident happened at about 8:45 a.m. local time (0345 GMT) when assailants began firing on the vehicle in Karak district, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Police returned fire immediately, triggering a gun battle that continued for around an hour.

All five police personnel on board the vehicle were killed during the exchange of fire, the sources said.

After the attack, the militants also set the police vehicle on fire before fleeing the scene, the sources added.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. 
Dhaka, Dec 23 : Bangladesh's police have arrested a woman in connection with the shooting of a National Citizen Party (NCP) leader, local media reported on Tuesday, citing an official.

The victim, Mohammad Motaleb Sikder, the Khulna divisional chief of the NCP and a central organiser of NCP Sramik Shakti, was shot on Monday at a house near Gazi Medical College Hospital in the Sonadanga area of Khulna city.

This incident came just days after radical Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on December 12 by assailants in Dhaka.

Confirming the arrest, Taimur Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Detective Division (DB) of Khulna Metropolitan, said that the woman was taken into custody from the Sadar Police Station area of the city on Monday night.

The woman has been identified as Tanima, also known as Tanvi, though the police did not release further details about her identity.

Citing multiple local sources, leading Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo reported that Tanima serves as the joint member secretary of the Khulna district branch of NCP's youth wing, Jubo Shakti.

Reports suggest that Sikder was shot at Tanima's rented house in the Sonadanga area of Khulna on Monday. He was rescued by the locals and taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in an injured condition.

KMCH Superintendent Md Akhtaruzzaman said that Sikder is currently out of danger

"The bullet hit the left side near his ear and exited without entering the head. His scalp was injured, but he is now stable and out of danger," said the doctor.

Meanwhile, police said they are initially treating the shooting as a "domestic dispute" after investigations found that the shooting took place inside a rented house in the Sonadanga area.

Sikder first told police that assailants on a motorcycle shot him on the street and fled. However, investigators later confirmed that the attack took place inside the house.

Khulna Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (South) Mohammad Tajul Islam said, "When we arrived at the building called Mukta House, we found blood stains in various places. Upon entering the house, we saw that there were drugs scattered there - foreign liquor bottles, yaba consumption equipment and a bullet shell were also recovered. We have confirmed that the shooting incident occurred due to an internal dispute among the people present there. We are verifying who was involved and who used to travel there."

Bangladesh has been gripped by escalating violence and a degrading law and order situation under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
Phnom Penh, Dec 23 : Thai military forces continued to use artillery and tank-mounted machine guns to fire at multiple targets in Cambodian territory as of Tuesday morning, a Cambodian defence spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The civilian death toll in Cambodia has increased to 21, as border conflict with Thailand has entered its 17th day, Defence Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. General Maly Socheata said.

"The Thai military had attacked locations where Cambodian civilians resided, resulting in 21 civilian deaths, including one infant, and injuries to 83 others as of 6 pm on December 22," she said at a press briefing.

The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has reignited since December 7, and both sides have accused the other of initiating the attack, Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the latest figures released by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, the conflict has so far forced about 545,000 Cambodians to flee their homes for safe shelters.

The Foreign Ministers of Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, who held a 'special meeting' in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur on Monday to address the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand, have urged both countries to exercise restraint and take immediate steps for the cessation of all forms of hostilities.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to ASEAN unity and solidarity as well as ASEAN Centrality in ensuring regional peace, security, stability and prosperity, in accordance with the ASEAN Charter. The participants of the meeting voiced serious concerns about the continued tensions and hostilities, which have caused significant casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure, and displacement of people on both sides of the border, according to the statement released by the ASEAN Chair.

The members urged Thailand and Cambodia to ensure that civilians residing in the affected border areas are able to return, without obstruction and in safety and dignity, to their homes and normal livelihoods as they existed prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

The statement said, "The Meeting urged Cambodia and Thailand to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps towards the cessation of all forms of hostilities. The Meeting called on both countries to restore mutual trust and confidence, and to return to dialogue, including through bilateral mechanisms as well as making use of the good offices of the ASEAN Chair, revive cooperation on humanitarian demining and implement military de-escalation along their shared border under the observation of the AOT, and to uphold the principles of international law, peaceful co-existence, and multilateral cooperation in the pursuit of a peaceful and durable resolution to the situation."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Actress Ameesha Patel has revealed the reason she turned down a role in Akshaye Khanna's debut film "Himalay Putra." Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) Actress Ameesha Patel has revealed the reason she turned down a role in Akshaye Khanna's debut film "Himalay Putra."

Speaking exclusively to IANS, the 'Gadar' actress shared insights into the decision that came despite Vinod Khanna personally reaching out to her parents. Ameesha explained that when she was offered a role in "Himalay Putra," Vinod Khanna personally approached her parents to get her on board. However, at that time, she was studying in the United States and was completely focused on academics.

The actress revealed that at the time, she had little interest in films and was more focused on her studies and love for books. Therefore, she and her family decided to decline the offer.

Reflecting on the past, Ameesha Patel shared, "Well, Vinod Khanna uncle had offered me his debut film, Himalay Putra to my parents. And I was studying in America; I was too young. And I had no interest in films at that time. I was very academic and I was interested in books. I was very, very interested only in studying. So, we rejected that film. But, destiny. Later, I did two films with him. I did a film with his brother Rahul, his cousin brother Karan and Vinod uncle."

Speaking about Akshaye Khanna's recent success with "Dhurandhar," the 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai' actress emphasized that his rise to fame should not be seen as an overnight phenomenon. Ameesha Patel noted that his current success is the result of 30 years of consistent hard work and dedication, which has now earned him widespread recognition and acclaim across the nation.

"And, I am very happy for him. People say that he became a sensation overnight. This is not overnight, this is the hard work of 30 years, which has become a national rage today. So, I am so happy for him."

Ameesha Patel and Akshaye Khanna have worked together in movies like, "Humraaz," and "Aap Ki Khatir."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Ottawa, Dec 23 : Canadian Conservative Party MP Shuv Majumdar strongly condemned the brutal mob lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district, saying the incident underscored that forces of hatred and extremism remain unchecked across the South Asian nation.

Taking to X, Majumdar said, "Another dark chapter is unfolding in Bangladesh, unleashing the familiar pain of generational trauma. The brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das -- a young Hindu factory worker beaten to death by a mob, his body desecrated and set ablaze from a tree -- over alleged blasphemy reminds us that the forces of hatred and extremism have not been contained."

"This horrific act in Mymensingh echoes the anarchy and atrocities that descended more than fifty years ago," he said.

The Canadian MP asserted that religious minorities in Bangladesh -- Bengali Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and others -- continue to face targeted violence "deeply reminiscent of past pogroms".

He cited reports of thousands of incidents since the political upheaval of August 2024 in Bangladesh, with hundreds persisting into 2025, including attacks on homes, businesses, temples, and places of worship; murders, sexual assaults, abductions, and forced displacements.

Majumdar further said that although the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has condemned individual acts and announced arrests, the pattern of persecution persists, fueled by radical elements emboldened in the vacuum of stable governance.

He stated that all Bangladeshi Bengalis deserve equal protection, citizenship, and freedom from oppression, whether from corrupt authorities of the past or the chaos of rampaging extremist mobs in current times.

Majumdar called for an immediate end to the pogroms against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and all minorities, and for accountability from the Yunus government.

"We must advocate tirelessly for human rights, religious freedom, and accountability, no matter how uncomfortable it makes those who excuse extremism under the guise of political change, those in the media that fail to reflect reality, and those at the United Nations, too obsessed with equivalencies to call out violence and religious extremism," he noted.

Meanwhile, condemning the incident, New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar also warned of what she described as a troubling pattern of violence and persecution targeting religious minorities in the country.

In a statement, Rajkumar said she was "deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence against Bangladesh's Hindu minority", citing the killing of Das as the most recent and brutal example.

"The horrific mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das underscores a troubling pattern of violence against Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh," Rajkumar said. "We must stand together -- from Queens to across the globe -- for human rights, justice, and religious freedom."
Bengaluru, Dec 23 : The BJP held a silent protest in front of the Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner's office on Tuesday against the controversial Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill. The party's delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister through the city Deputy Commissioner, opposing the proposed legislation.

The BJP leaders and party workers held placards and posters condemning the Bill during the protest.

In the memorandum, the BJP stated that the proposed legislation is unconstitutional and infringes upon the fundamental rights of citizens. It alleged that the Bill violates Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and accused the Congress-led government of curtailing rights enshrined in the Constitution.

The party claimed that the Bill could be misused as a tool to silence those who speak against the government. It alleged that the definitions provided under the legislation are vague and could lead to criticism of the government, public debate, satire, and even speaking the truth being treated as hate speech. The memorandum questioned the government's intent, alleging that the Bill seeks to create fear and muzzle public voices.

The BJP further alleged that the proposed law would damage the basic fabric of democracy and stifle democratic society by granting excessive and authoritarian powers to the police and the government. It also objected to provisions denying bail for certain offences, questioning the need for such a law.

Raising concerns over the preventive measures mentioned in the Bill, the party said that the police and officials could act on the assumption of a potential crime, which could be used to suppress protests and social movements. The memorandum warned that social activists, journalists and proactive social media users could be targeted under the law.

Demanding that the legislation not be implemented, the BJP said the Bill would harm the media and suppress the voice of the people.

"To protect the fundamental rights of citizens is our duty. This law takes away people's rights. The Congress-led government is attempting to impose restrictions on the opposition and the media. The government is trying to control political parties, organisations and Kannada organisations. To create awareness on this issue, we staged the protest and submitted the memorandum," the BJP said.

Amid stiff opposition, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on December 19 passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, making the state the first in the country to bring in a dedicated legislation to curb hate speech and hate crimes.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Bollywood actress Ananya Panday recently opened up about one of the most memorable moments of her life.

In her latest post, she talked about a special experience she had with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. Ananya highlighted the excitement and honor of spending time with the veteran actor. On Tuesday, the 'Student of the Year 2' actress posted a video from her appearance on the popular game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati 17."

In the video, Big B was seen praising Ananya Panday's performance in "Kesari Chapter 2." The actor said, "I told her that the movie had many famous actors; Everyone did a great job. While working with such legendary actors, Ananya performed her role very well. Her dialogues were limited, but the way she expressed through her eyes We are all in the same profession; we are informed three months earlier, let it be about our roles, dialogues, and everything else."

Amitabh added, "When it is time for the shoot, it should make our audience realise the importance of the situation or a particular scene. It should be realistic and should be delivered with ease. It is quite a tremendous task. That's where an actor will turn legendary. I felt that when I watched you."

Sharing the video, Ananya wrote in the caption, "The biggest moment of any actors life I will cherish your words forever Amit Ji." (sic)

During a lighthearted moment, Ananya called Bachchan a "drip," using the Gen Z term for someone stylish and cool. The comment quickly grabbed the megastar's attention, and he playfully responded with its traditional meaning. "Drip to me means water falling from the ceiling," he said, sparking laughter.

A few days ago, Ananya Panday and Kartik Aaryan visited on the sets of "Kaun Banega Crorepati 17." The actors were on the show to promote their upcoming romantic comedy, "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Colombo, Dec 23 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on Tuesday and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

During this, both leaders also inaugurated a 120-foot dual carriageway Bailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province -- an area severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The 110-tonne bridge was airlifted from India and installed as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu.

EAM Jaishankar also announced a reconstruction package of $450 million to Sri Lanka, covering rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged and support for the health and education sectors.

"Pleased to call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today. Conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah," the EAM posted on X.

"Building on our First Responder activity under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India will commit to a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka covering: Rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity; Construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged; Support for health and education sectors, in particular, those that have been damaged by the cyclone; Agriculture, including to address possible shortages in the short and medium term; Better disaster response and preparedness," he added.

EAM Jaishankar further said that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka, building on the civilisational ties, Neighbourhood First and Vision MAHASAGAR.

The External Affairs Minister arrived in Colombo on Monday to a warm welcome by Sri Lankan Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe.

His visit to Sri Lanka underscores India's Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28, as the First Responder in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, to provide urgent Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka.

Last week, India delivered relief supplies to various regions of flood-hit Sri Lanka, reflecting its steadfast commitment to assisting the neighbouring nation in times of crisis during Operation Sagar Bandhu.

On December 18, India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, visited the Kolonnawa suburb of Colombo and the Bhaktivedanta Children's Home 'Gokulam' in Wattala - areas that have been severely affected by floods in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.

As part of India's continued assistance to the island nation, High Commissioner Jha distributed assistance kits among families in Kolonnawa in coordination with All Ceylon Sufi Spiritual Association and among children of 'Gokulam' at the ISKCON Temple in Colombo, where they have been relocated.

Earlier, on December 14, an Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft arrived in Sri Lanka, delivering 10 tonnes of medicines and 15 tonnes of dry rations, while also facilitating the return of the Indian Army Field Hospital team, which had been set up in Mahiyanganaya, near Kandy, following the successful completion of its humanitarian mission.

"Efforts to restore critical road connectivity are progressing steadily. Preparatory activities are underway at bridge sites in Chilaw and Kilinochchi, with the damaged Kilinochchi Bridge fully cleared and ready for the installation of a Bailey Bridge, facilitating smoother movement and improved access in the region," the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka said in a statement.
Srinagar, Dec 23 : The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday slammed the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their alleged silence on killings of minorities in Bangladesh.

BJP J&K spokesperson, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, expressed grave concern and anguish over the escalating violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

Reacting to the horrific reports of brutal killings and lynchings of Hindus and other minorities, Bhat questioned the conspicuous silence of regional leaders like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Drawing a chilling parallel between the current crisis and the dark days of 1990 Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat said that the horrific visuals coming out of Bangladesh are a haunting reminder of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide. The pattern is identical, Bhat remarked.

"What we saw in Kashmir in 1990, the targeted killings, the atmosphere of fear, and the forced exodus of minorities are being replayed in Bangladesh today. It is a planned conspiracy to ethnically cleanse the land of its minority population. My heart bleeds because I see the same pain in the eyes of Bangladeshi Hindus that I saw in the eyes of my Kashmiri Pandit brothers decades ago. It is a tragedy that while the World has moved to 2025, the mentality of extremists remains stuck in the brutal past," he said.

Raising questions over the silence of the Kashmiri leaders, he said, "Those who remained silent then are remaining silent now, proving that they have learned nothing from history. It is deeply disheartening to see that those who claim to be the champions of human rights and 'bhaichara' (brotherhood) in Jammu & Kashmir are today tight-lipped. When any minor incident occurs in India, leaders like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are the first to tweet and lecture the nation on secularism. But today, when our Hindu brothers and sisters are being dragged out and murdered in Bangladesh, where is their conscience? Why has their 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' gone into hiding?"

Bhat said that Islam teaches protection, not silence. "The Prophet of Islam (Peace Be Upon Him) always advocated for the protection of the weak and showed immense grace even to those who wronged him. A true follower of the faith cannot stand by and watch such inhumanity. By remaining silent, these regional parties are proving that their sympathy is selective and purely driven by vote-bank politics," he said.

The BJP spokesperson has appealed to the Central government to take even more stringent measures on the international stage. "The safety of Hindus, and other minorities in Bangladesh, is not just an internal matter of another country; it is a matter of civilisational responsibility. If the interim government there cannot protect its citizens, the Government of India must intervene decisively. While relocating millions is a massive logistical and economic challenge, India has always been a natural home for the persecuted. Our priority must be to ensure they are safe where they are, but if the situation becomes untenable, India will not shut its doors on its own people," he said.

He further said that the world must hold the perpetrators accountable so that no one is forced to leave their ancestral home due to fear.

The BJP spokesperson called upon the people of India to unite beyond party lines. "Secularism cannot be a one-way street and the time has come for every political voice in J&K to condemn the atrocities in Bangladesh in no uncertain terms," he said.
December 23 : Lucknow: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state government has accorded high priority to tourism, art, culture and the development of religious sites in the supplementary budget.

Presenting the budget in the Legislative Assembly today, the Finance Minister proposed an allocation of 1 crore for the Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board and 5 crore for the development of tourism-related facilities. In addition, a provision of 10 crore has been proposed to accelerate development works at Shri Soron, Shri Kalki Dham and other pilgrimage centres.

The budget also includes a proposal of 5 crore for the purchase of musical instruments to support folk artists, along with 3.44 crore for the restoration of the State Archaeology Directorates Chhatar Manzil in Lucknow.

The supplementary budget further proposes 10 lakh for the extensive promotion of eco-tourism and 1 crore for the Eco Tourism Development Board to develop natural sites, forest areas and rural tourism facilities across the state. A requirement of 5 crore has also been placed for tourism-related works, passenger amenities and institutional development under various schemes. Notably, 10 crore has been earmarked for strengthening tourism infrastructure at major religious destinations, including Shri Soron Teerth in Kasganj and Shri Kalki Dham in the Sambhal region.

This funding will be used to upgrade roads, lighting, information centres, toilets, drinking water and other essential facilities in pilgrimage areas. Additionally, a provision of 10 crore has been proposed for the development of helipad facilities at district and block headquarters.

Supplementary demands have also been made to promote art and culture in the state. These include 5 crore for supporting folk artists and purchasing musical instruments, along with a symbolic provision of 1 lakh for the maintenance of public Ramlila sites. A demand of 1 lakh has been placed for the conservation and curation of state museums, while 3.44 crore has been proposed for the restoration of the State Archaeology Directorates Chhatar Manzil in Lucknow.

An additional symbolic provision of 1 lakh has been sought for the construction of a building for the establishment of Sanjeevani Secondary School.

Collectively, these initiatives are expected to give fresh momentum to tourism and eco-tourism in the state, generate employment opportunities and strengthen the local economy.
Bidar, Dec 23 : BJP leader Basavraj Bommai on Tuesday took a potshot at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that the latter speaks during his visits abroad as his words have no value in India.

Bommai made the remark while speaking to the media in Karnataka's Bidar.

Responding to a question about Gandhi travelling abroad and speaking against India, Bommai said it has become the Congress leader's habit to speak against India's constitutional institutions and democracy.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi seeks the support of foreign organisations to protect himself from corruption cases.

Bommai further alleged that the Congress has "killed Mahatma Gandhi not once, but many times". He said the Congress party invokes Mahatma Gandhi's name only for political gain and speaks about him out of fear of losing relevance.

Responding to a question on the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the MGNREGS, Bommai said Mahatma Gandhi wanted the Congress party be dissolved. "However, Jawaharlal Nehru did not dissolve it, and Gandhi was assassinated the very next day. By imposing the Emergency, Gandhi was killed once again. By repeatedly acting against Gandhian ideals, the Congress has killed Gandhi many times," the BJP MP alleged.

Bommai further accused the Congress of committing a "grave sin" by trying to separate Mahatma Gandhi from Lord Ram.

"Ram and Gandhi are not separate. Gandhi's soul constantly invoked Lord Ram. Mahatma Gandhi, who spoke about Ram and upheld the idea of Ram Rajya, had Ram embedded in his soul. The Congress uses Gandhias name for political benefit and speaks this way out of fear of losing it," he said.

On Monday, AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot said the Union government was "destroying" the economic security of rural India by changing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Notably, the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) is aimed at enhancing the statutory wage employment guarantee to 125 days per financial year for rural households.
ABUJA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian police said on Tuesday that they have launched a search-and-rescue operation for at least 28 travelers kidnapped by gunmen in the central Nigeria's Plateau State on Sunday night.

Alabo Alfred, police spokesperson in Plateau, told Xinhua by phone that security forces, working alongside other agencies, have begun coordinated efforts to rescue the victims of the attack, which occurred near the Zak community in Wase Local Government Area.

"We are working to bring everyone back safely. We are also searching for the kidnappers and will bring them to justice," Alfred said.

The victims, including women and children, were reportedly traveling to an Islamic event in the Sabon Layi community when their vehicle was intercepted.

Local media quoted residents as saying the whereabouts of the abducted group remain unknown, adding that two princes and a religious leader leading the delegation were among those taken. 
Kolkata, Dec 23 : A seven-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and raped in Howrah district's Domjur area, police said on Tuesday.

Kolkata, Dec 23 (IANS) A seven-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and raped in Howrah districtas Domjur area, police said on Tuesday.

The incident sparked outrage among locals, leading to protests and vandalism. Police forces rushed to control the situation. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed in the area. The main accused is absconding. However, no written complaint has been filed so far.

According to the police, the incident took place in Raghabhpur, an area under the Domjur police station, on Monday evening. Road construction work is underway in the area under the initiative of the local panchayat. This has led to an increase in workers from outside.

Local residents alleged that a worker involved in the road construction work first molested a minor girl and then took her to an under-construction building and raped her.

A resident told media persons, "The minor girl's uncle called me at 8 p.m. last night. He told me that such an incident had occurred. The child was molested and then raped. There are multiple complaints against the worker who committed this crime."

Locals also raised complaints about the police's response. They claimed that the family members were hesitant to call the police. But we came and called the police. Even then, the police took a long time to arrive, they said.

By the time the police arrived, the situation was out of control. The enraged crowd became furious and started a protest. The angry mob vandalised four small Matador vans and a motorcycle.

According to police, no written complaint has been filed yet. However, based on the verbal complaints of the local residents, the police are searching for the accused. He has not yet been apprehended. It is also known that the child may undergo a medical examination.

"The family needs to lodge a formal complaint against the accused. Still, we have started a search for the accused person. The situation is under control right now," said a senior officer of Howrah Rural district police.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 23 : Kerala has reported a fresh outbreak of avian influenza, with the highly contagious viral disease confirmed in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, triggering emergency containment measures by multiple government departments.

What has shaken the farmers and others equally is the fact that this has occurred at the peak season of Christmas, as it's during this period that sales of poultry peak, with farmers stocking more than the usual.

The confirmation came after samples sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal tested positive for the virus.

In Alappuzha district, the infection has been detected across wards in eight panchayats - Nedumudi, Cheruthana, Karuvatta, Karthikappally, Ambalappuzha South, Punnapra South, Thakazhi and Purakkad.

While poultry birds were affected in Nedumudi, ducks were found infected in the remaining locations, reflecting the vulnerability of the region's duck-rearing belt, a critical livelihood source for many farmers.

Kottayam district has also reported avian influenza in four wards, Kuruppanthara, Manjoor, Kallupuraykkal and Velur.

The disease was confirmed in quails and chickens, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance and biosecurity protocols in the district.

Following the laboratory confirmation, the State government activated standard operating procedures for avian influenza outbreaks.

Culling of birds within a one-kilometre radius of infected premises has started, along with scientific disposal of carcasses and disinfection of farms and surrounding areas.

A surveillance zone extending up to 10 kilometres has been declared around the affected locations, with strict restrictions imposed on the movement, sale and transport of poultry, eggs and related products.

Officials said coordination is underway between the animal husbandry, health, revenue and local self-government departments to ensure swift containment and prevent the spread of the virus to new areas.

Veterinary rapid response teams have been deployed, and door-to-door inspections are being carried out in vulnerable pockets.

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a viral infection that primarily affects birds.

While human transmission is rare, health authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid handling sick or dead birds, and immediately report unusual bird deaths to the Animal Husbandry Department.

The Health Department has maintained that there is no cause for panic but stressed that strict adherence to safety protocols is essential to contain the outbreak and protect both public health and livelihoods.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Anil Kapoor, on Tuesday, took to social media to celebrate the 100th birthday of his father Surinder Kapoor.

The actor paid a heartfelt tribute to the man who played a pivotal role in shaping his iconic films "Mr. India" and "Woh 7 din." Reflecting on his father's guidance and influence, Anil credited him for the success and vision behind one of Bollywood's most beloved movies. The 'Welcome' actor also highlighted the lasting impact of his father's support on his career.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Anil Kapoor posted a series of unseen and black and white images, celebrating his father's legacy. For the caption, he wrote, "Celebrating 100 years of my father today. He was the reason I first dreamed of becoming a leading man, simply hoping he would one day see me as a star, a successful actor making films under his banner."

"Woh 7 din and MR India wouldn't have seen the light of the day without his good will and guidance, His simplicity, honesty, and quiet belief shaped every step of my journey. I feel his absense deeply, but his dreams and lessons live on with me every day... Happy Birthday Papa! You were, are and always will be my guiding star..." (sic)

The throwback images capture cherished moments of Anil Kapoor's father, Surinder Kapoor, in the film industry. The late producer could be seen posing with his son, as well as with iconic stars like Sridevi, Parveen Babi, Shashi Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, and several other legends of Bollywood.

For the unversed, Surinder Kapoor was a renowned Indian film producer known for his contributions to Bollywood. In addition to producing numerous films, he also served as the President of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India from 1995 to 2001. He passed away on 24 September 2011 due to a heart attack.
December 23 : Neemrana (Rajasthan): In a significant step towards shaping the proposed Japanese Industrial City in Uttar Pradesh, a high-level delegation of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) on Monday undertook a study visit to the Japanese Industrial Park developed by the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) at Neemrana, Rajasthan.

The objective of the visit was to understand the experiences of the Neemrana model, widely regarded as the countrys most successful Japanese industrial cluster, and to explore ways to replicate these best practices in the YEIDA region.

During the meeting, RIICO officials made a comprehensive presentation on the entire development journey of the Neemrana Japanese Industrial Park, including its planning process and operational framework. They explained how land allotment, zoning, infrastructure and utility services were developed in line with the specific requirements of Japanese investors.

The officials also highlighted special incentive policies, administrative facilitation mechanisms and the investor-friendly ecosystem created to support Japanese companies.

In-depth discussions were held on key aspects such as the logistics requirements of Japanese firms, availability of basic amenities like electricity and water, smooth supply chains and a stable policy environment. YEIDA officials emphasized incorporating these learnings into the master plan of the proposed Japanese Industrial City in Uttar Pradesh.

After the technical sessions, the YEIDA delegation also carried out a site inspection of the Neemrana Japanese Industrial Park and directly observed the existing infrastructure, road network and utility management systems.

On the occasion, YEIDA Chief Executive Officer R.K. Singh said that the experiences shared by the Rajasthan government and RIICO would be extremely useful for YEIDA. He stated that based on these insights related to land planning, specialized infrastructure and investor-friendly systems, a world-class Japanese Industrial City would be developed in the YEIDA region, further strengthening Uttar Pradeshs position on the global investment map.

He further informed that YEIDAs development strategy is focused on cluster-based industrial growth, with multimodal connectivity being integrated with industrial zones through the Noida International Airport (Jewar).

At the conclusion of the visit, the YEIDA delegation expressed gratitude to RIICO and the Government of Rajasthan, describing the visit as a strong example of inter-state cooperation that will give a new direction to the countrys industrial development.

The delegation was led by YEIDA Chief Executive Officer R.K. Singh and included Additional Chief Executive Officer Shailendra Kumar Bhatia, senior officials and representatives from EPCMD-India. RIICO was represented in the meeting by DGM Sanjay Bagaria.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Bangladesh is in the process of formalising a military deal with Pakistan, which is similar to the lines that Islamabad signed with Saudi Arabia.

Since Muhammad Yunus was appointed caretaker of the interim government in Bangladesh, ties between the two countries have plummeted to new depths. Dhaka has consistently tried moving away from India and inched closer towards Islamabad, even if it meant that the ISI used Bangladesh as a breeding ground for radicals and terrorists.

Indian agencies are keeping a close watch on the developments as Bangladesh and Pakistan get ready to formalise a military deal. An official explained that if the deal goes through, the military cooperation between the two countries would end up becoming a formal institutional pact.

This would mean that the two countries would conduct joint military exercises and also share Intelligence. Pakistan even suggested nuclear capabilities would be available, but the Saudi officials have been ambiguous in their response.

Officials say that Pakistan may make similar exceptions to Bangladesh, and there is every chance that Dhaka may take this offer. This is a worrying aspect in terms of security for India.

There has been a marked shift in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina was ousted following a massive uprising last August last year. The two countries are now working on a Mutual Defence Agreement, and a joint mechanism has been established to finalise the draft.

Officials say that the two countries are looking to finalise the agreement before the conduct of the February elections. Even the Bangladesh Army is keen on this agreement and has been making a major push in this direction. Once this agreement is finalised, both countries will engage more in military-to-military engagement with each other. Both nations would also agree upon strategic coordination.

Over the last eight months, multiple rounds of talks have been held between top military officials of both countries. Bangladesh and Pakistan both feel that the agreement should be similar to the one signed between Saudi Arabia and Islamabad.

Officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force of both countries frequented each other's countries multiple times. The Bangladesh Army, in particular, is keen on going ahead with this deal, officials tracking the developments said. Currently, there are several military memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in place that cover training, professional exchanges, and capacity-building measures.

While at first it was decided that the final draft would be prepared and the final agreement would be signed after the Bangladesh elections, however, there appears to be a change of plan. For the ISI, Yunus or Jamaat-e-Islami must remain at the helm. The situation would be tricky if there is a Bangladesh National Party (BNP) came to power post the elections. The BNP has been inclining more towards India in recent months. There is every chance of the deal not going through if the BNP wins the elections, and India can exert influence.

Another official says that this explains the constant need to incite violence in Bangladesh so that the elections are postponed. This would give both nations ample time to go ahead with the deal. Currently, the opinion polls suggest a narrow lead for the BNP in the elections over the Jamaat. Both countries would analyse the election trends before proceeding any further. However, the information that the Indian agencies have suggests that both Dhaka and Islamabad would want to finalise this deal before the elections take place.
Colombo, Dec 23 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on Tuesday and assured India's steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka's rebuilding following Cyclone Ditwah.

In a statement shared on X, EAM Jaishankar wrote, "Good to meet Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya of Sri Lanka in Colombo today. Assured India's steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka's rebuilding post Cyclone Ditwah. The reconstruction package offered by India is a reflection of the deep bonding between our two nations."

Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

EAM Jaishankar also announced a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka, covering rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged and support for the health and education sectors. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath was present during the meeting.

"Pleased to call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today. Conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah," the EAM posted on X.

"Building on our First Responder activity under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India will commit to a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka covering: Rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity; Construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged; Support for health and education sectors, in particular, those that have been damaged by the cyclone; Agriculture, including to address possible shortages in the short and medium term; Better disaster response and preparedness," he added.

During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar and Vijitha Herath inaugurated a 120-foot dual carriageway Bailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province -- an area severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

"Jointly inaugurated with FM HM Vijitha Herath in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a 120-foot dual carriageway Bailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province, one of the areas severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The 110 tonnes bridge was airlifted from India and installed as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

The External Affairs Minister arrived in Colombo on Monday to a warm welcome by Sri Lankan Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe.

His visit to Sri Lanka underscores India's Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28, as the First Responder in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, to provide urgent Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Political reactions poured in on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's remarks praising the Nitish Kumar government's work on infrastructure in Bihar, with BJP MLA Ram Kadam saying these echo a broader national sentiment.

The BJP projected Tharoor's comments as an endorsement of the NDA's governance in Bihar.

Speaking to IANS, Kadam said, "Shashi Tharoor is a leader known for speaking his mind strongly and eloquently. This is not just his personal opinion, it reflects the sentiment of the entire country."

Kadam also took a swipe at the RJD's past rule, alleging that governance during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure was marked by corruption and neglect, while Bihar was now "gradually becoming part of the mainstream of development" under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the present state government.

JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar defended Tharoor's observations, calling them a reflection of the state's development.

"Shashi Tharoor attended an international literature festival and shared his views after arriving in Patna. He spoke about the changes in Bihar, from roads and electricity to Nalanda. At Nalanda University, students from 22 countries are studying, so they can clearly see the development there," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Masood launched a scathing attack on party colleague Tharoor, questioning his political positioning and remarking that he has become "directionally confused".

Speaking to IANS, Masood said, "Shashi Tharoor has become directionally confused. He is in Congress yet praises the Prime Minister and talks about the Bihar model. But in Bihar, democracy was subverted by splitting 67 lakh votes. You have to do politics in Kerala; you have to become the Chief Minister there. BJP is not in Kerala. He is so confused that sometimes he says one thing, sometimes he says something else," Masood said.

The reactions followed Tharoor's praise for Bihar's infrastructure during his visit to the state to attend the first Nalanda Literary Festival at the revived Nalanda University.

"No question that the infrastructure is so much better than I had heard before. The roads are better. People are out on the streets even late at night, which was not always the case in the past. So far, the electricity seems to work, the water, everything else," Tharoor said.
Chennai, Dec 23 : Sri Lankan naval personnel on Tuesday arrested at least 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu's coastal belt on charges of allegedly poaching in international waters, once again highlighting the persistent tensions faced by Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait region.

Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Sri Lankan naval personnel on Tuesday arrested at least 12 fishermen from Tamil Naduas coastal belt on charges of allegedly poaching in international waters, once again highlighting the persistent tensions faced by Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait region.

According to officials of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, the fishermen hailed from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district. The fishermen were reportedly engaged in fishing activities in the waters between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar when they were intercepted by a surveillance unit of the Sri Lankan Navy.

Fisheries department officials said the Sri Lankan naval patrol apprehended the fishermen and escorted them, along with their mechanised trawler, to a naval port in Sri Lanka for further legal proceedings.

The arrested fishermen have been accused of crossing the maritime boundary and fishing illegally in Sri Lankan waters, a charge that Indian fishermen frequently dispute, citing the narrow and contested nature of the fishing zone.

On Monday (December 22), around 450 fishing tokens were issued to fishermen operating from the Rameswaram fishing jetty, indicating a large-scale fishing operation in the region ahead of the Christmas and New Year period.

Officials revealed that the seized trawler belonged to Jothibas, a fisherman from Manthoppu in Thangachimadam. Though the vessel was reportedly not formally registered with the authorities, it had obtained a fishing token, raising questions about regulatory lapses.

Among the 12 arrested fishermen are Prabhat (28), James Heiton (29), and Antony (32), all of whom are said to be the sole breadwinners for their families.

News of their arrest has triggered anxiety among fishing communities across Rameswaram and neighbouring coastal villages. Local fishermen expressed deep concern over the recurring arrests and the impounding of boats, which they say severely affects their livelihoods.

They have appealed to both the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government to intervene diplomatically and secure the early release of the arrested fishermen and the confiscated trawler.

Meanwhile, fishermenas associations in the region are expected to convene an emergency meeting later on Tuesday to deliberate on the incident and decide on the next course of action, including possible protests and appeals for sustained government intervention.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy's pioneering stitched sailing vessel that revives India's ancient shipbuilding and seafaring traditions, will undertake her maiden overseas voyage on December 29, an official said on Tuesday.

The vessel will be flagged off from Porbandar, Gujarat, for Muscat, Oman, symbolically retracing the historic maritime routes that connected India with the wider Indian Ocean world for millennia, said the official in a statement.

Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, who is believed to have sailed from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, the ship embodies India's historic role as a maritime nation.

A statement issued by the Indian Navy said that INSV Kaundinya is inspired by depictions of ancient Indian ships and constructed entirely using traditional stitched-plank techniques.

It represents a rare convergence of history, craftsmanship and modern naval expertise. Unlike contemporary vessels, her wooden planks are stitched together using coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resins, reflecting a shipbuilding tradition once prevalent along Indiaas coasts and across the Indian Ocean.

This technology enabled Indian mariners to undertake long-distance voyages to West Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia long before the advent of modern navigation and metallurgy, said the statement.

The project was undertaken through a tripartite MoU between the Ministry of Culture and the Navy as part of India's efforts to rediscover and revive indigenous knowledge systems.

Built by traditional artisans under the guidance of master shipwright Babu Sankaran and supported by extensive research, design and testing by the Indian Navy and academic institutions, the vessel is fully seaworthy and capable of oceanic navigation.

The Indian Navy formally inducted and named the Ancient Stitched ship as INSV Kaundinya on May 21 at a ceremonial event held at Naval Base, Karwar.

Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presided over the event as the Chief Guest, marking the culmination of an extraordinary project that celebrates India's rich shipbuilding heritage.

INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship, based on a 5th century CE ship depicted in the paintings of Ajanta Caves.
Srinagar, Dec 23 : The fast track court in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Tuesday awarded 12 years rigorous imprisonment to the accused in a child sexual abuse case.

Officials said that the fast-track court dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSA) in Srinagar has sentenced a man to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor boy aged around five and a half years.

The court held that the statutory minimum punishment would adequately meet the ends of justice in the case.

The sentence was pronounced by Presiding Officer Umi Kulsoom while deciding the quantum of punishment arising out of FIR No. 45/2018 registered at Police Station Harwan.

The court observed that criminal jurisprudence in India is not solely retributive and requires a careful assessment of both aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

"The convict, identified as Nazir Ahmad Doyi son of Gami Doyi, a resident of Fakir Gujri, Harwan, Srinagar, was earlier found guilty of aggravated penetrative sexual assault under Sections 5(m) and 5(n) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, along with Section 377 of the Ranbir Penal Code," it said.

While delivering the sentence, the court noted that the victim was very young at the time of the incident and, during trial, was unable to recall specific details of the assault, describing it only in general terms.

The court said it had examined the nature of evidence, the age of the victim, and the long-term impact such crimes have on children.

The defence pleaded for leniency, arguing that the offence pertained to 2018 and that enhanced punishments introduced later could not be applied retrospectively.

The court also took note of the convict's socio-economic background, observing that he belonged to a poor family, worked as a daily wager, and was the sole earning member supporting his wife and four minor children.

The prosecution, on the other hand, sought strict punishment, emphasising that the victim was below 12 years of age and that offences against children leave lasting psychological scars. The court reiterated that the POCSO Act mandates minimum sentences which cannot be reduced by judicial discretion.

After considering all aspects, the court concluded that awarding the minimum prescribed punishment was appropriate.

Accordingly, the convict was sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment under the POCSO Act and 10 years of simple imprisonment under Section 377 RPC, with both sentences to run concurrently.

"The period already spent in custody will be set off under the law. In addition, the court directed payment of Rs 7 lakh as compensation to the victim, holding that the amount would aid in rehabilitation and address the mental and physical trauma suffered by the child.

The District Legal Services Authority Srinagar was directed to ensure the immediate release of the compensation.

The convict was remanded to Central Jail Srinagar to serve the remaining sentence, and copies of the order were directed to be provided to him free of cost and forwarded to jail authorities for compliance, officials said.

The POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) is India's crucial law to shield children (under 18) from sexual assault, harassment, and pornography.

Under the act, special courts with child-friendly procedures for reporting and trial have been created focussed on swift justice and child safety and notably, it is gender-neutral for victims and perpetrators.

Key aspects include defining child pornography, penalising pornography viewing, and making abetment an offence, with punishments enhanced by the 2019 amendments for serious cases.
DHAKA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Bangladeshi government Monday signed loan agreements totalling 688 million U.S. dollars to upgrade a 35-kilometer railway line in the country's southeastern region.

The Manila-based lender said the project aims to establish seamless connectivity along Bangladesh's Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar corridor, significantly boosting regional transport efficiency and economic growth.

Bangladesh's Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, and ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective sides at a ceremony in Dhaka.

"The project will enhance the resilience, reliability, and efficiency of rail services between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, facilitating a crucial shift from road to rail transport," said Jeong.

As a component of the Trans-Asia Railway network, ADB said the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar corridor currently accommodates 32 percent of passenger traffic and 55 percent of freight, underscoring the importance of enhanced rail infrastructure for economic integration, optimizing logistics, and driving development in Bangladesh's southeastern region and beyond. 
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday clarified that the Supreme Court has not granted any relaxation for mining in the Aravalli range, strongly refuting rumours and misinformation being circulated about the ecologically sensitive region.

Speaking to IANS, Yadav said, "The Supreme Court has given no relaxation on Aravalli mining. It has recognised the Ministry's Green Aravalli Project and assigned responsibility to our ICFRE institution that no new mining will be allowed until a comprehensive management plan is prepared. These rumours are false, and the public now knows the truth."

The minister explained that the Supreme Court's directives focus on stopping illegal mining and ensuring sustainable, scientific management of the Aravalli hills and the broader range. "Under this plan, the Aravalli hills and the Aravalli range will be identified, their eco-sensitivity assessed, and only then can mining be considered," he said.

Asked whether the government's approach is a new departure from past practices, Minister Yadav noted that the apex court had formed a joint committee with the Forest Survey of India, the Geological Survey of India, and the Central Empowered Committee to address illegal mining. "This committee submitted its report to the Supreme Court," he said, emphasising that the current measures are guided by science and judicial oversight.

Minister Yadav also recalled the Supreme Court's 2018 observations highlighting environmental damage. In 2018, the Supreme Court said 31 hills had completely vanished due to mining. "That is precisely why a management plan will be prepared for every district," he said, underlining the government's commitment to ecological protection.

Refuting claims that certain areas like Chittorgarh and Madhopur were being excluded from the new plan, the minister asserted, "All parts of the Aravallis will be included. No area is being excluded."

He further addressed allegations of foreign funding or NGO involvement behind the spread of misinformation. "Those who want to lie will do so by choice. But they are not succeeding. The public now knows the truth," he said.

Minister Yadav reiterated that the government remains fully committed to protecting the Aravallis. "All necessary steps will be taken to protect them. The Supreme Court has delivered its judgment, and we are implementing it in letter and spirit to curb illegal mining, preserve biodiversity, and safeguard one of India's most critical ecological zones," he said.
Dhar, Dec 23 : Union Health Minister and BJP President J.P. Nadda laid the foundation stone and performed the Bhoomi Pujan for Madhya Pradesh's first medical college in the tribal-dominated Dhar district on Tuesday, marking a milestone for healthcare access in underserved areas.

The college, established under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is one of four such initiatives in the state, with similar projects planned for Betul, Katni, and Satna.

Addressing the gathering, Nadda questioned previous governments' contributions to tribal welfare, asking, "Tribal communities consistently supported the Congress party for a long time, helping it come to power for decades. Yet, has Congress ever delivered a medical college or a proper highway for them?"

He highlighted this as Indiaas first medical college in Dhar based on private partnership, aimed at delivering affordable, high-quality healthcare to common citizens.

Nadda praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's transformative health policy, shifting focus to preventive and promotive healthcare alongside curative measures.

He noted the establishment of over 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs nationwide for holistic wellness.

The government monitors the health of pregnant women and children up to age 16 via the UBIN Portal, tracking 2.5 crore mothers and children monthly, with alerts for delayed vaccinations.

Policies mandate at least five antenatal check-ups for mothers (eight in special cases), pushing institutional deliveries to 89 per cent. This has significantly reduced the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which dropped to around 97 per 100,000 live births in recent estimates.

On non-communicable diseases, Nadda said over 40 crore people have been screened for hypertension (with 6.8 crore diagnosed) and diabetes (4.6 crore on medication from age 30). Additionally, 34 crore screenings for oral cancer identified two lakh cases for treatment. Tuberculosis incidence has declined sharply, with India achieving a 21 per cent reduction since 2015 -- far outperforming the global 12 per cent.

Nationally, medical colleges have doubled from 387 in 2014 to approximately 780-829, increasing MBBS seats from 51,000 to over 1.29 lakh, with plans for 75,000 more by 2029.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced that the Swami Vivekanand Foundation received 25 acres of land at Rs one for the Dhar college, which will develop facilities and provide services akin to government hospitals.

Nadda also performed Bhoomi Pujan in Betul the same day, with openings expected soon in Katni and Satna.
Kolkata, Dec 23 : Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday directed BJP legislators to focus fully on their respective Assembly constituencies from the New Year, beginning next week.

He also instructed that if any party legislator from the districts needs to visit Kolkata for official work, they should attempt to arrive in the state capital in the morning and return to their constituencies the same evening after completing their tasks.

"He has directed that in case any party legislator from the district has to come to Kolkata for some reason, he or she should try to reach Kolkata by morning and go back to their respective constituencies by the same evening after completing the work in the state capital," said a party legislator.

Adhikari visited the Assembly on Tuesday afternoon and interacted with BJP legislators present on the premises. During the interaction, he emphasised that legislators should concentrate entirely on their respective constituencies instead of spending unnecessary time in Kolkata.

The Leader of the Opposition also offered guidance on the routine to be followed during the forthcoming winter session of the Assembly, scheduled for January, followed by the interim Budget session in February next year.

"For legislators from Assembly constituencies that are within daily commuting distance from Kolkata, they should reach Kolkata in the morning, attend the session, and then return to their constituencies in the evening. The only exceptions should be made for legislators from constituencies that are far away from Kolkata, especially in North Bengal, from where daily commuting will not be possible," a BJP legislator said, quoting Adhikari.

Another BJP legislator highlighted Adhikari's own example in this regard.

"Despite his busy schedule as the Leader of the Opposition, where he has to move across the state and also lead our legislative team during Assembly sessions, he does not neglect his own constituency of Nandigram in East Midnapore district. He always manages time from his extremely busy schedule to interact with the people of Nandigram. Time management is something that needs to be learnt from him," the legislator said.

At present, the BJP has 65 legislators in the West Bengal Assembly. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Adhikari was elected from the Nandigram constituency, defeating West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress candidate Mamata Banerjee by a margin of less than 2,000 votes.

Subsequently, Mamata Banerjee won the by-election from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in south Kolkata and continued as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term.
Kolkata, Dec 23 : Kolkata Police have registered a suo motu case against a section of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for allegedly attempting to forcibly enter the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, obstructing on-duty police personnel, and damaging government property during a protest in central Kolkata.

Sources at Lalbazar (Kolkata police headquarters) said on Tuesday that the case has been registered at Hare Street Police Station under multiple sections of the law. CCTV footage from the protest site has been collected, and an investigation is underway.

The incident occurred on Monday when a group of BLOs staged a demonstration outside the CEO's office. Police alleged that some protesters attempted to breach security by climbing over barricades. When police intervened to control the situation, a scuffle broke out. One person has been detained in connection with the incident, while three police personnel sustained injuries, sources said.

The protesting BLOs claimed that frequent changes to the Election Commission's application since the publication of the draft electoral roll have led to confusion and mental stress among officials at the booth level.

They further alleged that while multiple directives are being issued, adequate explanations are not being provided by the Commission. According to them, errors found in the draft voter list have also caused concern among citizens.

On Monday, representatives of the BLO Rights Protection Committee had gone to the CEO's office seeking an appointment with the Chief Electoral Officer. The alleged refusal to meet them escalated tensions, following which protesters attempted to break through police barricades, leading to the confrontation.

"A suo motu case has been registered for obstructing police duty, damaging government property, and disturbing law and order. Further action will be taken after examining CCTV footage," a senior Kolkata Police officer said.

Notably, the BLO Rights Protection Committee has been holding a sit-in protest outside the CEO's office for several days over their demands.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 23 : Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly V. D. Satheesan on Tuesday alleged that two senior IPS officers in the state are deliberately obstructing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case.

Satheesan claimed that the SIT investigation, which was expected to make decisive progress, has reached a standstill.

According to him, the stagnation is not due to lack of evidence or procedural hurdles, but "active interference" by senior police officials.

"For some time now, the SIT probe has hit a dead end. Two senior IPS officers are doing everything possible to sabotage the investigation," he alleged.

The Opposition leader said the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had exercised restraint so far in the larger public interest but warned that patience was wearing thin.

"At this moment, I want to caution these officers to desist from such actions. If they do not mend their ways, we will be forced to publicly name them," Satheesan said, underlining that the issue was no longer an internal administrative matter but one of public accountability.

Satheesan accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of shielding influential figures and failing to ensure an independent and credible investigation into the alleged gold smuggling and theft linked to Sabarimala offerings.

He reiterated the Opposition's long-standing charge that the case has serious ramifications, involving lapses at multiple levels, and demanded that the probe be allowed to proceed without pressure or manipulation.

The case has been politically sensitive, with the Opposition repeatedly alleging systemic failure and deliberate attempts to derail the investigation.

Satheesan said the "government's silence in the face of serious allegations against senior police officers only deepened public suspicion".

"If the government has nothing to hide, it should ensure that the SIT functions freely and transparently," he said.

The Opposition leader made it clear that the UDF would intensify its campaign if the investigation continued to stagnate.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : As Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reiterated his allegations of "vote chori" during his Germany visit, the BJP and the Shiv Sena reacted sharply, saying that the statements were part of a larger conspiracy.

The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi's statements reflect a pattern he repeatedly follows during his foreign visits.

During his visit to Germany, Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for India was fundamentally flawed and destined to fail. He also alleged that India has effectively ceded its manufacturing and production base to China.

The Congress leader launched a fierce attack on the ruling party, repeating his charge of "vote chori" and claiming that the country is witnessing a "full-scale assault on the institutional framework".

Reacting strongly to Gandhi's remarks, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari told IANS, "The country starts laughing sarcastically the moment it hears Rahul Gandhi's name. Many of his statements cause great distress to the people of the country. In my view, Rahul Gandhi's situation is like making holes in the very plate from which one eats. When someone goes abroad and speaks ill of India, serious questions arise about their commitment to the country. Either he is doing this under some conspiracy, or he is doing it out of ignorance and foolishness."

BJP National Spokesperson Shazia Ilmi also came down heavily on the Congress leader.

Speaking to IANS, she said, "How shameful it is that our LoP Rahul Gandhi is praising China and admiring it, when he is the same person who once called the Indian economy a 'dead economy'. What could be more shameful than this? This is not a coincidence, it is a pattern."

She further alleged a larger international link behind Rahul Gandhi's foreign engagements.

"Since 2014, Rahul Gandhi has gone on 247 foreign trips. Some are described as personal, but there is an entire George Soros ecosystem involved. George Soros has openly stated that Prime Minister Modi should be removed from power, which amounts to an attack on the country's democratic process. Rahul Gandhi meets people connected to this ecosystem and supports such individuals," Ilmi claimed.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also criticised Gandhi's remarks, saying that raising domestic issues on foreign soil was inappropriate.

"You are free to raise your voice as loudly as you want on India's internal matters within the country, that is your democratic right. But you should not go on foreign soil and make anti-India statements," Nirupam told IANS.

BJP national spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam said Rahul Gandhi resorts to such tactics after electoral setbacks.

"Whenever he faces a crushing defeat, like in Bihar, the country knows the reason behind it. The BJP works dedicatedly for the people, staying among them. In contrast, Congress workers are loyal only to the Gandhi family, not the public. To hide defeats and malign India, he goes abroad spreading lies," he told IANS.

The Congress, however, strongly defended Rahul Gandhi and rejected the BJP's criticism, asserting that the issues raised by him are evident to the world.

Congress leader Pawan Khera, speaking to IANS, said that there was nothing objectionable in Rahul Gandhi's remarks. "Isn't the whole world seeing what is happening here? Everyone knows what is going on. Our ideological differences with the BJP are not hidden from anyone. We highlight them on every platform," he said.

Khera further added, "We are talking about how China has taken over the entire manufacturing sector, directly affecting India's unemployed youth. Is raising this issue wrong? Why does the BJP get agitated when we discuss the challenges faced by India's unemployed youth? We will continue to raise their voices."
New Delhi, Dec 23 : On the eve of National Consumer Day 2025, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said on Tuesday that its consumer redressal portal e-Jagriti has improved case resolution with over 1.35 lakh complaint filings, more than 1.31 lakh case disposals, and over 2.81 lakh users.

Till mid-November, at least 1,400 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) were among the users of the portal, launched on January 1, 2025, said an official statement.

The Ministry said a total of 466 complaints were filed by Non-Resident Indians from countries including the United States (146), the United Kingdom (52), the UAE (47), Canada (39), Australia (26), and Germany (18).

Highlighting the preparation for the National Consumer Day celebrations on Wednesday, the statement said this yearas theme is "Efficient and Speedy Disposal through Digital Justice".

The events will feature a series of launches, recognitions, and announcements aimed at strengthening consumer protection, awareness, and institutional capacity, it said.

The programme will highlight progress in digital grievance redressal, quality assurance, legal metrology, and consumer awareness, while fostering collaboration among key institutions.

Highlighting the gains from e-Jagriti, the Ministry said that the consumer redressal portal has improved case resolution, as 10 states and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) recorded over 100 per cent disposal.

The National Consumer Helpline now resolves over 12 lakh complaints annually with support from 1,169 partners, it said.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, represents a significant reform in the safeguarding of consumer interests in India. Enacted on July 20, 2020, it supersedes the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 and introduces a more contemporary framework for dispute resolution and marketplace accountability.

The Act establishes a three-tier adjudicatory structure for consumer dispute resolution: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (District Forum), the first tier, located at the district court, adjudicates complaints involving deficiency in service and quality claims up to Rs 50 lakh.

State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (State Commission), the second-tier, state-level body, deals with complaints exceeding Rs 50 lakh and up to Rs 2 crore.

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (National Commission), the apex tier operating at the national level, addresses complaints involving complaints above Rs 2 crore.

The Ministry also supports a Consumer Welfare Fund that aims to support initiatives that protect consumer interests and strengthen the consumer movement across the nation.

Financial assistance is extended to states and union territories for the establishment of a Consumer Welfare Corpus Fund, with contributions structured on a 75:25 ratio, and on a 90:10 ratio for Special Category States and designated Union Territories, said the statement.

Activities related to consumer awareness are funded through the interest accrued on this corpus. During the financial year 2024-25 (as of December 31, 2024), an amount of Rs 38.68 crore has been released to the states/UTs, said the statement.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : As BJP National President J.P. Nadda alleged internal collusion within the Congress party in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Maoist attack, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Tuesday said the charge was extremely serious and must be backed by concrete evidence.

Reacting sharply to Nadda's statement, Jha said that merely making political allegations was not acceptable, especially when the BJP is in power at both the Centre and in Chhattisgarh. He stressed that if the claim was true, the government must place all relevant evidence in the public domain.

This comes after J.P. Nadda made the allegation while addressing the 'Janadesh Parab' programme marking two years of the Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh. His remarks provoked strong reactions from Congress leaders, including former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Addressing a large gathering at the Khokhra Police Ground in Janjgir-Champa district, Nadda claimed that the movement details of senior Congress leaders were leaked from within the party, which enabled Maoists to carry out the deadly ambush.

The union minister alleged that the Congress had a history of proximity to extremist elements and asserted that the present 'double-engine' BJP government was committed to eradicating Maoism from the state by March 2026.

Speaking to IANS, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said, "This is a very serious allegation. You are saying Congress people killed Congress people. You are part of the government; if this is true, then present the evidence. Do not just make a political statement and move on."

He further said that selective questioning was unfair and added that similar scrutiny should be applied to other incidents as well.

"Then I will also ask a series of questions, like what happened in Pahalgam? What happened in Pulwama? Did we know anything about it? These are also serious incidents that deserve answers," Jha said.

The Jhiram Ghati attack remains one of the deadliest Maoist assaults in the country's political history. On May 25, 2013, Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders during the party's 'Parivartan Rally' in the Jhiram valley of Chhattisgarh, ahead of the Assembly elections. At least 32 people were killed in the attack, including then state Congress president Nand Kumar Patel, former Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma and former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla.

Reacting to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks made in Germany that "China has shown the world the direction of production", Jha defended the statement and questioned the backlash over it.

"Why is there such an uproar just because Rahul Gandhi said this? Is it not a reality? Shouldn't the Leader of the Opposition, or any political leader, be concerned about why things that were possible in our country are now moving to China?" he told IANS.

He said the issue should be seen as an opportunity for introspection.

"This question should be taken as a creative opportunity for us. I think by evening, there will be a debate, labelling it as a pro-China statement. Sometimes, ignoring implicit realities is an indication of foolishness," Jha added.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 23 : In a major development, 22 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation, including 10 women, laid down their arms before the Odisha Police in Malkangiri district on Tuesday.

All the Left-Wing Extremists (LWE), belonging to the Chhattisgarh cadre, surrendered before the Odisha Police in the presence of Director General of Police (DGP), Odisha, YB Khurania, during a special programme.

The surrendered Maoist cadres carried a combined reward of around Rs 1.48 crore, according to the Malkangiri Police sources.

The cadres also surrendered nine firearms, comprising one AK-47 rifle, two INSAS rifles, one SLR rifle, three .303 rifles, and two single-shot rifles.

The surrendered Maoists include 19 members of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), two cadres of the Andhraa"Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), and one member of the Gadchiroli Area Committee.

In an official statement, the Odisha Police said the surrendered cadres renounced violence, severed all links with extremist activities, and chose to join the mainstream, expressing faith in the democratic process.

Speaking to media persons, DGP Khurania highlighted the 'Revised Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme', recently announced by the state government.

He said Maoists active in various areas have been urged to abandon violence and join the mainstream.

Khurania added that the government would provide all necessary assistance for the rehabilitation of the surrendering extremists.

"Our Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme is the best in the country, making all necessary arrangements for the rehabilitation of Maoists. As a successful outcome of this scheme, 22 Maoists, including one Divisional Committee Member, six Area Committee Members, and 15 CPI (Maoist) party members, surrendered in Malkangiri today," Khurania said.

He expressed hope that other extremists still active in the state would also lay down their arms and shun violence.

The Odisha DGP also praised various wings of the Odisha Police and the Central Armed Police Force for their efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism in the state.

He further informed that around 60 to 70 ultras are currently active in Odisha, and added that the state police have made all arrangements to prevent the entry of Maoists from neighbouring states into Odisha.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : As BJP National President J.P. Nadda alleged the involvement of some Congress leaders in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Maoist attack, the party's media in-charge, Pawan Khera, questioned the timing of the "childish claims" made by the Union Health Minister.

This comes as Nadda claimed that some Congress insiders were involved in the 2013 Maoist attack, in which several state party leaders were killed.

Reacting to the claim, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday said the allegation was serious and must be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking to IANS, Khera questioned the timing and intent behind Nadda's remarks.

"Raman Singh's government was in power at that time. Does this mean that his government failed? If you had such information, why did you remain silent for eleven or twelve years? Who are you trying to protect or hide now?" he asked.

Khera asserted that the matter could not be brushed aside with what he termed "childish claims" and demanded accountability.

"This must be investigated. What does J.P. Nadda know, and why was he silent all these years? He must be questioned. Such statements cannot go unchallenged, and we will ensure that accountability is fixed," he said.

CPI General Secretary D. Raja also reacted to Nadda's statement, calling for clarity and transparency.

"JP Nadda should explain which Congress leaders he is referring to. In response, the Congress party will also have to issue a clear statement. Whether what Nadda is saying is politically motivated or based on facts must be clarified before the people," Raja said.

Referring to the broader situation in Chhattisgarh, Raja said several developments were unfolding in the state. He mentioned the 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' slogan given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the launch of Operation Kagar, under which several Maoists were killed in encounters.

"At the same time, there have been allegations that innocent people were also attacked. In such a situation, J.P. Nadda should refrain from making politically motivated statements. If he has evidence, the BJP should place it before the public, and the Congress party should respond accordingly," Raja told IANS.

Nadda made the claim during the 'Janadesh Parab', celebrating two years of the Vishnu Deo Sai government.

Addressing a large gathering at Khokhra Police Ground in Janjgir-Champa, Nadda on Monday claimed movement details of Congress leaders were leaked from within the party, enabling the ambush that killed leaders like Nand Kumar Patel and Mahendra Karma.

He accused Congress of historical proximity to extremists while asserting the current "double-engine" government would eradicate Maoism by March 2026.

On May 25, 2013, an ambush targeted a convoy of Congress leaders during the party's 'Parivartan Rally' ahead of the Assembly elections in the Jhiram valley.

Maoists killed 32 people, including then-state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, former Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma, and former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel would never fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip or from Syria, and vowed to establish new settlements in Gaza.

Speaking at a public ceremony in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, Katz said Israel would establish in northern Gaza Nahal settlement groups, military-backed settlement nuclei from which larger civilian settlements are developed. He said the move would take place "in the right way, at the right time," without specifying a date.

Katz said the new settlements would be built "in place of" settlements evacuated as part of Israel's 2005 withdrawal from the coastal enclave, known as the disengagement plan.

"We are deep inside Gaza and will never leave all of Gaza -- there will be no such thing," Katz said.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, Israel has continued near-daily attacks in Gaza and the demolition of buildings in areas where its troops remain deployed.

Speaking of Israeli plans in Syria, Katz dismissed U.S.-brokered diplomatic efforts to reach an arrangement between Israel and Syria. "We don't trust anyone ... no agreement," he said. "We will not withdraw even by a millimeter in Syria."

Israel moved into the buffer zone in southwestern Syria in December 2024 and later took control of the peak of Mount Hermon. 
Bengaluru, Dec 23 : Amid the leadership tussle in the Karnataka Congress, former minister and MLA K.N. Rajanna has written a detailed letter to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, seeking an opportunity to clarify his recent statement on the alleged "vote fraud" issue, which led to his removal from the state Cabinet.

Bengaluru, Dec 23 (IANS) Amid the leadership tussle in the Karnataka Congress, former minister and MLA K.N. Rajanna has written a detailed letter to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, seeking an opportunity to clarify his recent statement on the alleged "vote fraud" issue, which led to his removal from the state Cabinet.

He has also sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi.

Rajanna, a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has requested action against those who, he alleged, misrepresented his remarks to the party leadership, resulting in his unceremonious exit from the Cabinet.

It may be recalled that Rajanna had openly challenged Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and demanded the creation of more Deputy Chief Minister posts. He had also sought Shivakumar's replacement as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.

In his letter, Rajanna stated, "The purpose of writing this letter is to place before you the truth of the statement I made and to humbly request that action be taken against those who have misrepresented my words and wrongly brought the matter to your attention. I kindly request an appointment at your convenience to personally meet and discuss these matters in detail."

According to sources, Rajanna, who was dropped from the Cabinet, has been sending letters at regular intervals to the party's national leadership. In his latest communication to Rahul Gandhi, he has provided a clarification on his statement by referring to both the questions posed by the media and the answers he had given. The letter runs into eight pages.

In the letter, Rajanna stated that he had placed before Rahul Gandhi the truth behind his statement and explained how it was allegedly distorted. In addition to that, he has also praised CM Siddaramaiah in the letter.

He urged the Congress leadership to take action against those who presented incorrect information about him and misled the party high command. He also requested an opportunity to explain the issue in person and sought permission to visit Delhi to hold direct discussions.

Referring to the recent Lok Sabha elections, Rajanna claimed that if Booth Level Agents (BLAs) had functioned effectively, the Congress could have won an additional eight to ten seats in Karnataka and another 30 to 40 seats in other states. He further claimed that under such circumstances, Narendra Modi would not have become the Prime Minister.

Rajanna asserted that he had served as a minister for two years without any allegations of corruption. Highlighting his contributions, he said he introduced reservations in the cooperative sector and ensured reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, which benefited nearly one lakh workers across the state.

He also stated that as the party in-charge for Hassan district, he worked towards securing the party's victory in the Old Mysuru region.

Emphasising his loyalty to the Congress leadership, Rajanna said he has remained committed to the Nehru family. He further noted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whom he described as an AHINDA leader, the Congress came to power in 2013 and 2023, and that the Chief Minister continues to work for the welfare of SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and the poor.

Rajanna said the purpose of the letter was to ensure action against those who misrepresented his intentions and to seek an opportunity to discuss the matter in detail with Rahul Gandhi.

Praising CM Siddaramaiah, he stated, "In recent times, under the leadership of Ahinda leader Sri Siddaramaiah ji, the Congress Party came to power in Karnataka in both 2013 and 2023. Siddaramaiah ji has worked tirelessly to deliver justice to the poor and marginalised across all communities-SC, ST, OBC, minorities, and other weaker sections."

Congress leaders had earlier submitted a complaint to the Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala over Minister Rajanna's statements against the party regarding election fraud.

Rajanna was sacked on August 11, following his remark contradicting the stand of Rahul Gandhi over voter fraud. Even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had put in all efforts to save him, the high command had directed CM Siddaramaiah to forward the resignation of the Governor without delay.

Rajanna, while commenting on the voter fraud, stated that such malpractice happened during Congress rule in Karnataka, and the issue should have been addressed much earlier.

The development is likely to stir a major controversy in the state.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in collaboration with the ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, has successfully coordinated the return of wanted fugitive Ritik Bajaj from the UAE on Tuesday, officials said.

The subject Ritik Bajaj (Red Notice Control No. A-14700/10-2025) is wanted by Delhi Police for the offence related to smuggling and supply of narcotic substances.

"Subject fled from India and was geo-located in UAE with efforts of NCB-New Delhi," the CBI said in its press note.

The agency added that it got the red notice published against Ritik Bajaj through INTERPOL on October 9, at the request of the Delhi Police.

"CBI coordinated with NCB Bangkok and got information about travel movement of the subject towards UAE. Thereafter, CBI coordinated with NCB Abu Dhabi to locate the subject," it said.

Notably, a team of Delhi Police visited the UAE to bring back the subject and arrived in India on Tuesday.

The CBI, as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, coordinates with all Law Enforcement Agencies in India through BHARATPOL for assistance via INTERPOL channels.

Notably, more than 150 wanted criminals have been returned to India in the last few years through coordination via INTERPOL channels.

Earlier in September this year, the CBI, in collaboration with Haryana Police, MEA and MHA, successfully coordinated the return of wanted fugitive Mainpal Dhilla alias Sonu Kumar.

Mainpal Dhilla alias Mainpal Badli alias Sonu Kumar is a notorious criminal wanted by Haryana Police in a number of cases.

He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of murder, attempt to murder, illegal use of firearms and criminal conspiracy on March 29, 2013, in a case- FIR No. 276 dated September 26, 2007, registered at Police Station Sadar Bahadurgarh.

He was also previously convicted in two more cases. While he was serving a jail sentence, he was released on six weeks' parole from Hisar Central jail on July 17, 2018.

"He was to return to jail by August 29, 2018, but he did not report back to jail and absconded," the agency said in its press release earlier.

According to the CBI, it got the Red Notice published against Mainpal Dhilla through INTERPOL on November 11, 2024, at the request of Haryana Police.

CBI contacted NCB Bangkok for the location of the subject, which revealed his travel movement from Thailand to Cambodia.
Kolkata, Dec 23 : In the Hanskhali gang-rape and murder case from Nadia district, a Ranaghat Sub-Divisional Court on Tuesday sentenced three convicts, including the son of a Trinamool Congress leader, to life imprisonment. The leader himself received a five-year prison term.

The verdict follows Mondayas conviction of nine people in connection with the case. The victim's family members broke down upon hearing the verdict.

Besides Sohail (Braj) Gayali, the son of a Trinamool leader, two other convicted individuals, Prabhakar Poddar and Ranjit Mallick, were sentenced to life imprisonment. All three faced charges of gang rape.

Sohail's father, Trinamool leader Samarendra Gayali, along with Dipto Gayali and another person, were sentenced to five years of imprisonment for destroying evidence.

Neighbour Anshuman Bagchi was accused of intimidating the victim's family, forcing them to take the minor's body to the crematorium, and participating in a conspiracy. He was convicted by the court on Monday and sentenced to three years of imprisonment on Tuesday.

The two minor defendants were granted bail by the court, but they are prohibited from engaging in any criminal activity for the next year. At the same time, the two minors have been each fined Rs 50,000.

A gang rape complaint was filed on April 10, 2022, in the Hanskhali police station area of aaNadia's Ranaghat police district. It was reported that a minor girl, invited to a birthday party of the son of a local Trinamool Panchayat member on April 5, was gang-raped.

The Panchayat member's son and several of his friends were accused of committing the gang rape. Furthermore, the victim was allegedly left bleeding in front of her house. After her death, her body was quickly cremated to destroy evidence. This incident caused a huge uproar across the state.

However, regarding the Hanskhali incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said, "I heard the girl had an affair! Would you call this rape?"

The victim's family, however, alleged that the minor girl was lured to the birthday party. The girl died the next day due to excessive bleeding. The victim's parents filed a written complaint at the Hanskhali police station. Later, they filed a case in the High Court, alleging police inaction.

The High Court then handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court also directed the police to provide adequate security to the victim's family. Following this, the CBI submitted a charge sheet. In that case, the Ranaghat Sub-divisional Court convicted nine people.

Regarding the verdict, the defence lawyer, Raja Dhar, said, aThe accused were not subjected to potency tests. There are multiple inconsistencies in the CBI investigation. We will appeal in the higher court."
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The data centre installed capacity in India is projected to grow from about 1.5 gigawatts currently to nearly 14 gigawatts by 2035, at an annual growth rate between 20-24 per cent, a report showed on Tuesday.

The growth in data centre industry mirrors the growth trajectory of the digital economy which already contributes $402 billion or 11.74 per cent of the GDP (FY 2022-23) and is expected to account for around 20 per cent of national income, surpassing agriculture and manufacturing by FY 2029-30, said the PwC India report.

India's data centres form the core of the country's digital economy, underpinning everything from e-governance and fintech to media streaming, e-commerce and advanced AI workloads.

According to Vinish Bawa, Partner and Leader, Telecom and Data Centres, PwC India, "We are seeing a clear inflection point in India's data centre market. There is firmly in place an ecosystem of growing demand as a consequence of widespread adoption of cloud, data localisation, and emergence of AI".

What is needed to underpin the next phase is a stable and future-proof legislative and tax framework that accommodates the significant capital intensity and tech that modern data centres require. The opportunity is there for India to convert digital scale to sustainable global competitive advantage, Bawa mentioned.

The dara centre expansion is backed by several investment commitments from domestic and global operators, real estate developers and infrastructure investors over the next decade.

Also, a majority of all the existing capacity is concentrated in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata, mainly due to proximity to customers, reliable power supply, undersea cable connectivity and hyperscaler investments.

But, at the same time, tier 2 cities are also fast catching up as hubs for edge data centres, the report found.

"The economic value that can be unlocked from the data economy can only be fully realised when data centres themselves are part of the data economy. Central and State Governments have proactively developed and enabled frameworks for driving new investments after providing predictability and certainty and through comprehensive, end-to-end tax guidance," said Kunj Vaidya Partner, Tax PwC India, said.
Chennai, Dec 23 : Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Tuesday that Tamil Nadu continues to record steady gains in agricultural production due to sustained policy initiatives undertaken by the DMK government, even as he criticised the BJP-led Union government for what he described as "anti-farmer" policies.

Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Tuesday that Tamil Nadu continues to record steady gains in agricultural production due to sustained policy initiatives undertaken by the DMK government, even as he criticised the BJP-led Union government for what he described as "anti-farmer" policies.

In a statement issued on the occasion of National Farmers' Day, observed on December 23, Stalin extended greetings to farmers, describing them as the backbone of society and a global force in the fight against hunger.

He said the Dravidian model of governance had placed agriculture at the centre of development planning, resulting in tangible improvements in farm output and rural livelihoods.

Listing key initiatives, the Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu was among the few States to present a separate agriculture budget, apart from organising agriculture business festivals and exhibitions to link farmers with markets.

He cited the launch of the 'Uzhavan' mobile application, which provides farmers with real-time information, and the Kalaignar All-Village Integrated Agricultural Development Programme aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure.

Free electricity connections for farmers were also highlighted as a major support measure.

"These consistent efforts of the Dravidian model government have enabled Tamil Nadu to continue achieving growth in agricultural production," Stalin said, adding that the government remained committed to improving farmers' incomes and quality of life.

At the same time, he accused the BJP-led Union government of neglecting farmer welfare. Referring to the alleged weakening of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said such actions directly affected agricultural labourers and rural households.

The Chief Minister announced that protests would be held on Tuesday against what he termed anti-farmer decisions of the Centre.

Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary and leader of the opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, also issued a statement marking National Farmers' Day.

Extending greetings to farmers, he described them as the "providers of the world" whose tireless labour, closely tied to soil and nature, forms the foundation of the nation's economy and people's lives.

Palaniswami said ensuring the welfare, safety and future of farmers was essential for the country's progress.

He called upon all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to improving the lives of farmers and strengthening agriculture, which he said remained central to national development.

The statements from the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK underline how farmer welfare continues to remain a key political and policy focus in Tamil Nadu, particularly as the state moves closer to the 2026 Assembly elections.
Jaipur, Dec 23 : Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Tuesday addressed a large farmers' conference in Merta, Nagaur in Rajasthan, where he reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to protecting farmers' dignity and interests.

"I will never allow the honour, self-respect, or the pride of farmers to be diminished," Chouhan said, adding that the Central government is bringing a new Seed Law and Pesticide Act to curb the sale of fake seeds and spurious agricultural inputs.

Referring to Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, Chouhan said in a lighter vein, "We are Mama (uncle), and he is Baba (elder). He was saying we have to leave soon, but once we come, we don't leave for a lifetime."

Addressing the gathering, Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said that veteran leader Nathuram Mirdha was fondly called "Baba," and now people call him Baba as well.

"Today, Mama has also come here. It is my responsibility to get the work done through Mama," he remarked, drawing applause from the crowd.

At the conference, benefits and development projects worth over Rs 3,200 crore were announced for farmers.

According to officials, over Rs 2,000 crore has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Rs 1,200 crore will be transferred directly to farmers' accounts under state schemes, and 31,600 farmers will receive Rs 200 crore under agriculture and horticulture schemes.

Around five lakh farmers will get Rs 700 crore as agricultural input subsidies, 18,500 beneficiaries will receive Rs 100 crore under PM Awas Yojana (Rural), and 4.5 lakh livestock farmers will benefit from Rs 200 crore under the Chief Minister Milk Production Support Scheme.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma presented a plough to Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Union Minister lifted it and greeted the farmers, a gesture symbolising respect for agriculture and farming communities.

Notably, Khinvsar MLA Revantram Danga was absent from the stage. Danga was recently caught on camera in a sting operation, allegedly demanding a 40 per cent commission for a project.

Following the expose on December 14, the BJP issued him a notice seeking an explanation. The matter has since been referred to the party's ethics committee, with a final decision still pending.

Addressing the gathering, CM Sharma took a swipe at the Congress, saying, "Congress is protesting against vote theft, but it is their actions that amount to stealing votes. They have cheated the public. Even when they form alliances, they fall short - do we steal votes there too?"

The farmers' conference witnessed a large turnout, including significant participation by women, as leaders from the Centre and the state highlighted welfare schemes, governance reforms, and their vision for strengthening Rajasthan's agricultural sector.
Kolkata, Dec 23 : Protests over the murder of Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh spilled into West Bengal's Kolkata on Tuesday after policemen clashed with members of the Hindu Jagran Manch outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh, officials said.

Tensions flared during a demonstration outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Beck Bagan area of Kolkata as police resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesters who broke barricades and tried to reach the Embassy office of Bangladesh.

More than 20 protesters were injured and over a dozen were detained by the police.

The protest caused traffic congestion in the area.

Later, the situation was brought under control.

Security outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission was heightened and additional policemen have been deployed.

Recently, Dipu Chandra Das was allegedly beaten to death in Mymensingh of Bangladesh and his body was tied to a tree and set on fire.

Following the incident, protests against the horrific act have erupted in various parts of India, including West Bengal.

On Tuesday, a large number of people gathered for a march towards the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, called by several Sangh Parivar organisations, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Hindu Jagran Manch and Bangiya Hindu Jagaran.

They marched towards the Beck Bagan area.

However, the police stopped the protesters before they could reach the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission.

Several barricades were put up as part of security arrangements.

The police repeatedly announced that the gathering outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission was illegal.

The police also requested the protesters to move away from the barricades. However, the protesters said that their demonstration would continue until they were allowed to submit a memorandum to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner.

When the police stopped the protesters, the Beck Bagan area turned into a battleground.

Protesters clashed with the police repeatedly and broke barricades as well as tried to force their entry towards the diplomatic office.

The police resorted to cane charge to disperse the enraged mob.

It is alleged that more than 20 people were injured by police batons. Later, many protesters were dragged and forced into police vans. Some protesters were even seen climbing onto the roofs of the police vans to mark their protest.

"We have come here to submit a memorandum to the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh. We are here to mark our protest. But police used batons on us. About 21 people have been injured. They have been taken to different hospitals for treatment. Several people have been detained by the police. In Bengal, Hindus don't have the right to protest against the atrocious on fellow Hindus," a member of Bangiya Hindu Jagaran said.

As the situation in Beck Bagan escalated, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders also arrived at the spot.

Tamoghna Ghosh, the North Kolkata district BJP President, was also present.

He claimed that BJP workers were there to protest against the police cane charge and to stand in solidarity with the Hindu organisations over the gruesome attack on Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh.
Gandhinagar, Dec 23 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called upon senior police officers to further strengthen the bridge of trust between the police and the public, asserting that public confidence is the most effective "intelligence bureau" for crime control.

He emphasised that citizens should face no difficulty in approaching the police and that people-centric policing must reach even the grassroots and rural levels.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day state-level Crime Conference in Gandhinagar, held in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.

Senior officers, including the State Police Chief, Additional Directors General of Police, IGPs, Range IGs and District Superintendents of Police, are participating in the conference.

Highlighting Gujarat's peaceful law-and-order situation, CM Patel said the state's safety and security have laid the foundation for its emergence as a national role model for development.

He noted that global companies and industries are drawn to Gujarat due to its stable and secure environment, and credited this achievement to the vigilance, dedication and sense of duty of the state police force.

Addressing emerging challenges, the Chief Minister said that while the Gujarat Police is increasingly leveraging technology for crime prevention and detection, criminals are also misusing advanced tools.

He underlined the need for heightened vigilance and greater adoption of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, to counter cybercrime and tech-enabled offences.

He also offered guidance on coastal security and urged uniform implementation of people-centric policing systems across the state.

CM Patel further stressed the importance of a humane approach towards drug-addicted youth, advocating rehabilitation through compassion, counselling and guidance rather than relying solely on punitive action.

He expressed hope that the conference would lead to constructive, result-oriented deliberations aimed at strengthening public safety.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the Gujarat Police have delivered outstanding performance not only in maintaining law and order, but also in crime detection, prevention and community outreach.

He lauded the force for decisive action against anti-social elements, effective crackdowns on cybercrime, and sustained efforts to address social issues. Sanghavi urged officers at all levels - from junior IPS officers to senior leadership - to keep an open mind and actively embrace new subjects and best practices presented during the conference.

He noted that the inclusion of DCP- and SP-level officers from cities and districts was intended to promote meaningful idea-sharing, encourage innovative use of technology and facilitate mutual learning across the force. Chief Secretary M.K. Das described crime conferences as highly significant forums for the state.

He said the deliberations would also focus on ensuring that key outcomes of the recent DGa"IG Conference, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are effectively communicated and implemented at the field level.

Issues such as border and coastal security, investigation, operations, and crime prevention are on the agenda, Sanghavi said.
Chennai, Dec 23 : Union Minister and Tamil Nadu BJP election in-charge Piyush Goyal on Tuesday expressed strong confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure a decisive victory in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, asserting that the alliance would defeat what he described as the "corruption-ridden" DMK-led front.

Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Union Minister and Tamil Nadu BJP election in-charge Piyush Goyal on Tuesday expressed strong confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure a decisive victory in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, asserting that the alliance would defeat what he described as the "corruption-ridden" DMK-led front.

Highlighting the BJP's political agenda, Piyush Goyal said development and employment generation remained the party's core priorities.

"We aim to ensure that development reaches the people. Development and jobs are the main objectives of the BJP," he said.

He added that the NDA would approach the 2026 elections with confidence under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, and with Edappadi Palaniswami leading the alliance in Tamil Nadu, we will face the elections with confidence," Goyal said.

Reiterating his optimism, the Union Minister said the NDA would emerge victorious with a strong mandate.

"In the coming elections, the National Democratic Alliance will win with a big majority. We will defeat the corrupt DMK alliance and work towards a developed and prosperous Tamil Nadu," he added.

Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai earlier in the day as part of the BJP's efforts to step up preparations for the upcoming Assembly polls.

He began his visit with a review meeting at the BJP's State headquarters in Thyagaraya Nagar, where he held discussions with senior party functionaries on Assembly election preparations, ground realities, organisational strength, and the NDA's electoral prospects in Tamil Nadu.

Later in the day, Goyal held a high-level meeting with Edappadi K. Palaniswami, General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, at a city hotel.

The two leaders reportedly discussed seat-sharing arrangements and the broader alliance strategy for nearly one and a half hours. The meeting is seen as a crucial step in strengthening coordination between the BJP and the AIADMK ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Addressing reporters, Goyal said he was happy to be in Chennai and expressed satisfaction over meeting Palaniswami.

"I am glad to meet my friend and brother Edappadi Palaniswami. The discussions went very well. We spoke in detail about jointly facing the 2026 Assembly elections and also discussed governance-related issues," he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 : Bangladesh's interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is currently under severe criticism for having failed to maintain law and order, leaving the country at the risk of another military takeover of its day-to-day administration.

Dhaka is no stranger to Army involvement in governance with several takeovers and attempted coups marking its history, adding up to more than a dozen, since the country attained Independence from Pakistan's repression in 1971.

In August 1975, the architect of Bangladesh's freedom movement, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family was assassinated in a military coup that toppled the founding government and triggered years of instability.

Mujibur Rahman's daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- survived the assassination, being in Europe at that time. This was followed by tumultuous times that witnessed a series of coups and countera'coups for the next two years.

There were multiple assassinations and power shifts, culminating in Lieutenant General Ziaur Rahman's consolidation of power.

Lieutenant General Rahman, known as President Zia, founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in September 1978, which was later led by his wife Begum Khaleda Zia after his assassination by a group of military personnel on May 30, 1981.

Khaleda Zia, the country's first woman Prime Minister, remains critical in a hospital, while her son, Tarique Rahman is expected to return home after 17 years of self-imposed exile in Britain.

BNP's Acting Chairperson Khaleda Zia is considered a frontrunner in the February 2026 general elections in Bangladesh.

Following Lieutenant General Ziaur Rahman's assassination, General Hussain Muhammad Ershad seized power in a bloodless coup in March 1982 and ruled until mass protests forced his resignation in 1990.

General Ershad, died of old age in 2019. He is considered among the most controversial but also consequential political leaders in Bangladesh, often referred to as "the dictator".

Many of those he considered against him ended up assassinated or jailed for life.

Between 1996-2011, there were reports of several coup attempts and alleged plots, but none produced longa'term military rule.

On the current situation, a recent report on "Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship" from the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs has addressed this issue.

The report, submitted in the just-concluded Winter Session of Lok Sabha, noted "that the situation in Bangladesh will not descend into chaos and anarchy due to some very strong fundamental characters of Bangladeshi society and polity".

It said that "Bangladeshi identity is not solely religious, it has a strong cultural and linguistic Bengali identity. Secondly, Bangladesh has a mass-based political parties with a tradition of old democratic or semi-democratic politics". And thirdly, "Bangladesh Army is not the Pakistan Army and has refused to fire on its own people".

However, of late, Pakistan has extended its footprints in Bangladesh, including the Army where the ISI Commander Muhammad Asim Malik was in Dhaka a few months ago.

Additionally, there have been threats of capturing the "Seven Sister" states in India's Northeast.

Therefore, Islamabad's hand at further destabilising Bangladesh can not be ruled out.

The current state of affairs and the failure of the Yunus-led administration in containing violence have been criticised internally by various student leaders involved in the August 2024 Uprising, and prominent politicians.

Former BNP Minister, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, has termed the situation as "mobocracy" after an attack on the India's Consulate in Chattogram amidst nationwide violence.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that deterioration of law-and-order situation was due to failure of the interim government in Bangladesh.

The interim administration's failure in addressing security aspects ahead of the crucial general election and a nationwide referendum had led to reports of likely Army interference.

The Intera'Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate of Bangladesh has protested what it called a "spate of baseless and unfounded reports" of a possible coup and breakdown in the Army's command chain.

The ISPR, earlier, has affirmed that the Bangladesh Army remains "strong, united, and fully committed to its constitutional duties".

The official denial was seen as being aimed at domestic and international audiences to counter narratives of instability.

Amid the developments, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman called up his Indian counterpart General Upendra Dwivedi recently and has assured him the security of all Indian assets.
JUBA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 13th batch of the Chinese medical team to South Sudan on Tuesday provided Christmas gifts to vulnerable South Sudanese children at an orphanage in Juba, the country's capital.

Robert Bida Samson, executive director of the Confident Children out of Conflict (CCC), a charitable organization, commended the Chinese medical team for their commitment and support spanning a decade toward vulnerable children.

"We are grateful to the Chinese people for their tremendous support. It has been their consistent and tremendous support that puts a smile on these children," Bida said.

The Chinese medical team, together with a visiting delegation from east China's Anhui Province, provided cooking oil, snacks, and medicine to children at the orphanage.

Established in 2007, CCC accommodates about 62 children who have been abandoned or orphaned, as well as survivors of revenge attacks, early child marriage, and gender-based violence.

"It has been a long journey for us, and we are grateful that we are instilling hope in children who had already lost hope," Bida said, adding that the routine visits by Chinese medical teams have transformed the lives of these children.

Zhang Erqing, head of the team, said that the gifts offered to the children are a symbol of the enduring friendship they have with South Sudanese children.

"We come here regularly to check on these children's health because their health is very important. You can see that most of the children are healthy, and whenever they develop medical complications, we are always ready to provide them with medication and treatment," Zhang said. 
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The government has reaffirmed its commitment to integrate surveillance and strengthen labs to combat influenza, said the Health Ministry on Tuesday.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), organised a two-day influenza Chintan Shivir from December 22-23 in New Delhi.

The Shivir provided a structured platform for deliberations to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms ahead of the upcoming influenza season.

"The deliberations reiterated that influenza preparedness must be supported through effective inter-sectoral convergence, with further strengthening of surveillance, laboratory capacity, and clinical preparedness for early detection and timely response to seasonal and zoonotic influenza outbreaks," the Ministry said.

A key outcome of the Chintan Shivir was the development of a structured influenza preparedness checklist intended to guide the centre, states, and districts in preparedness planning.

The checklist works across four key domains, including surveillance, early warning, and risk assessment; laboratory systems strengthening; hospital preparedness and clinical response; and One Health coordination and risk communication, and community engagement (RCCE).

The deliberations reaffirmed India's commitment to coordinated national action to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to influenza and other respiratory viral threats.

"The Chintan Shivir concluded with a consensus on adopting a whole-of-Government and One Health approach to address seasonal and zoonotic influenza. Ministries agreed to strengthen integrated surveillance across human, animal, and wildlife sectors; enhance laboratory and genomic capacities; ensure timely data sharing; and align sectoral action plans with the national pandemic preparedness framework," the Ministry said.

The Chintan Shivir witnessed participation from around 100 eminent representatives from multiple ministries, including health, animal husbandry, agriculture, and environment, along with premier research institutions, state governments, and international partners -- furthering the One Health and whole-of-Government approach.
Chandigarh, Dec 23 : Punjab Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Border Range, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), have recovered 12 kg heroin from near Daleke village in Lopoke in Amritsar district, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Tuesday.

The DGP added that during routine patrolling of identified vulnerable points, information was received regarding the presence of a drone in agricultural fields in the area of Daleke.

Acting promptly on the input, joint teams from the ANTF under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh carried out a systematic search of the suspected location, he said, adding that as a result of the coordinated effort a consignment of heroin was recovered from the fields.

The total weight of the recovered contraband, including packaging material, was found to be 12.050 kg.

Sharing more details, Superintendent of Police (ANTF) Gurpreet Singh said preliminary investigation is underway to trace linkages in the case using technical evidence and human intelligence.

Suspects, who were supposed to retrieve the consignment, have been identified and raids are being conducted to nab them, he added.

Earlier this month, the BSF seized more than 6.6 kg of heroin, 429 grams of opium, and a DJI Air-3 drone carrying pistol parts.

It had said that following a suspected aerial movement, the BSF troops conducted an extensive search near Daoke village in Amritsar district, leading to the recovery of two      . , with illuminating sticks and metal loops attached.

Acting on precise Intelligence, another operation near Mahawa village had resulted in the     .

Additionally, a joint operation with the Punjab Police in Tarn Taran had led to the successful recovery of a     .

These high-impact operations speak highly of BSF's steadfast commitment and robust capabilities in thwarting aerial and ground-based smuggling attempts along the International border.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 23 : The Kerala government on Tuesday suspended Jail Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M.K. Vinod Kumar, who is facing a vigilance case over allegations of bribery and the accumulation of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The suspension comes four days after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) submitted a detailed report against the senior prison official, amid mounting criticism over the delay in initiating disciplinary action.

The VACB booked Vinod Kumar on December 17 for allegedly accepting bribes from prisoners in exchange for granting parole and extending parole periods. A parallel probe was also launched into allegations that he had amassed disproportionate assets.

After examining the vigilance report, the government decided to place him under suspension, which will remain in force until the completion of the investigation. The move assumes significance as Vinod Kumar has only about four months of service left before retirement.

The delay in taking action had drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, which accused the government of shielding the officer. The government had attributed the delay to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanas absence from the State.

CM Vijayan returned from Chennai on Tuesday morning, examined the file, and approved the suspension shortly thereafter, officials said.

According to the VACB, the DIG allegedly accepted bribes to arrange parole and provide special facilities to convicted prisoners. The probe found that money was collected to extend undue favours to several high-profile inmates, including those accused in the TP Chandrasekharan murder case.

The vigilance investigation also revealed that a retired officer of Viyyur Central Prison allegedly acted as Vinod Kumaras agent, collecting bribes on his behalf. Payments were reportedly routed through this intermediary to avoid direct links to the DIG.

Apart from favours extended to prisoners, Vinod Kumar is also accused of collecting money from prison officials in connection with transfers and postings. Officials said these findings emerged from a confidential vigilance inquiry conducted over several months.

With the suspension now in place, investigations into both the bribery allegations and the disproportionate assets case will continue. The case has once again put the spotlight on corruption within the prison administration, raising serious questions about oversight and accountability in the system.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : India erupted in protest on Tuesday over the brutal killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker in Bangladesh's Mymensingh and over unbridled atrocities on the minorities under Muhammad Yunus' regime.

From Delhi to Kolkata to Bhopal to Hyderabad, a wave of public anger and wrath spilled onto the streets as Hindu outfits hit the streets denouncing the targeted attack on Hindu minorities in the neighbouring nation.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered in large numbers outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and other missions in Bengal and other states, to register their protest over the Islamist mob mercilessly beating Dipu Chandra Das to death last week.

The 25-year-old Hindu man, who worked in a garment factory in Bangladesh, was dragged on the streets, brutally thrashed to death by a frenzied mob and then his lifeless body was set ablaze after being it to a tree. He was accused of blasphemy by a co-worker, following which the murderous mob, comprising radicals and extremist elements, barged into the factory, dragged him to the streets and killed him ruthlessly.

In Delhi, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Bangladesh High Commission, raised slogans and decried the brutality and bestiality inflicted on Dipu Das. Waving saffron flags and chanting slogans against the Yunus regime, they marched towards the diplomatic enclave, toppled barricades and demanded justice for Dipu Das.

Several protestors waved banners and placards and also burnt the effigies of Bangladesh's interim chief Muhammad Yunus.

"Hindus are being oppressed in Bangladesh, and even in our country, Hindus are being selectively targeted and killed. Our sisters and daughters are being attacked. Our Sanatan Dharma teaches us to live and let live; we do not kill anyone," said a protestor, while being picked up by the police.

Security personnel had a tough time containing the massive stir, as the latter demanded punishment for Dipu's killers and accountability from the Bangladesh regime, which they claimed was hand in glove with the perpetrators.

In West Bengal, hundreds of people from various Hindu outfits assembled outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission to lodge their protest against the barbaric act.

Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Hindu Jagaran Manch and Bangiya Hindu Jagaran marched towards the mission in the Beck Bagan area of Kolkata, leading to an open confrontation with the police.

They insisted on submitting a memorandum to the Deputy High Commission, while the police stopped them from moving ahead.

The protesters insisted on continuing their demonstration, but the police refused to entertain their plea. Tension flared up in the area as police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed the Mamata dispensation, accusing it of suppressing the people's anger and stopping the Sanatan supporters from protesting.

"We strongly condemn and denounce the brutal action taken by the state government and police against the peaceful protests by Hindu organisations in West Bengal today. It seems that if Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh is carrying out targeted violence against Hindus, then Trinamool Congress government is carrying out targeted actions against Hindus," he said.

In Madhya Pradesh, the VHP members took out a march against the oppression of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and demanded that the Yunus government act against the mob that killed Dipu Das, mercilessly and ruthlessly.

Taking out 'Virodh Aakrosh Prashan' through Bhopal streets, they also thrashed an effigy representing 'jihadi forces' and set it on fire.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Dogra community members hit the streets against atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. They garlanded Muhammad Yunus' poster with shoes and shouted slogans against it.

In Telangana, members of VHP and other Hindu outfits staged a protest against targeted attacks and persecution of minorities and demanded that Dipu Das' killers be identified and brought to book swiftly.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The government on Tuesday advised India Post to adopt a proactive and strategic approach to business growth, including reaching out to businesses and entities contributing high GST.

Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, also advocated establishing dedicated marketing executive teams in every circle to monitor leads, conversions, and revenue daily, and called on circle heads to leverage regional strengths a" aligned with local geography, industry presence, and business potential a" to implement customised growth strategies.

In a review meeting, part of the quarterly monitoring framework laid down by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Dr Pemmasani also directed that all performance metrics a" mail and parcel operations, savings, and insurance a" must balance public welfare and financial prudence.

The reviews aim to identify issues early, enable quick course corrections, and ensure India Post consistently meets its service and performance goals.

Covering all 24 postal circles, the discussions focused on operational efficiency, financial inclusion, logistics expansion, and tech-driven reforms aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modias vision of Viksit Bharat.

Highlighting India Postas unmatched network, the Minister of State called for optimal utilisation of resources to strengthen delivery services and expand savings and insurance coverage, supporting the nationas logistics needs.

The minister commended Karnataka Circle for strong grassroots performance and successful acquisition of new customers and markets.

He also lauded the Northeastern Circle for opening 1.54 lakh new savings accounts, mobilizing Rs 276 crore under PLI/RPLI, and implementing structured MSME outreach. The Minister of State said that serving over 1.4 billion citizens through the postal network is both a responsibility and an opportunity, emphasising that efficient services, digital integrity, and financial prudence are central to making India Post a self-reliant, future-ready institution.
Colombo, Dec 23 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met leaders of the Indian origin Tamil community in Colombo on Tuesday during his visit to the island nation.

"Met in Colombo the leaders of the Indian Origin Tamil community. They shared their assessment of the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Highlighted our proposed reconstruction package," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

EAM Jaishankar also interacted with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders in Colombo and underlined India's commitment towards reconstruction and rehabilitation of island nation after Cyclone Ditwah.

In a post on X, he wrote, "Interacted with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders this afternoon. Underlined our commitment and efforts towards post Ditwah reconstruction and rehabilitation."

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka's Leader of the Opposition and opposition coalition Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sajith Premadasa called on visiting EAM Jaishankar in Colombo on Tuesday, thanking India for the support it extended to the island nation in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

"In difficult times, true neighbours always come forward. Thank you Dr S Jaishankar for India's support to Sri Lanka when it mattered most. May we always choose to stand together as the best of neighbours," Premadasa posted on X after the meeting.

EAM Jaishankar also appreciated the meeting with the Leader of Opposition of Sri Lanka, highlighting that they both discussed India's proposed reconstruction package in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

"Appreciate the meeting with Sajith Premadasa, Leader of Opposition of Sri Lanka in Colombo today. Discussed India's proposed reconstruction package in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah," he posted on X.

EAM Jaishankar also met members of the Indian Business community based in Sri Lanka. In a statement on X, he stated, "Nice to interact with members of the Indian Business community based in Sri Lanka. Applaud their contributions towards providing relief during Cyclone Ditwah."

In his meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha and Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe on Tuesday, EAM Jaishankar reiterating India's full support to the island nation's recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

"Delighted to meet Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath along with Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha and Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe this afternoon," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

"Reiterated Indiaas full support to Sri Lankaas recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. Discussed the implementation of reconstruction package offered and further relief measures," he added.

EAM Jaishankar held a meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo and assured India's steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka's rebuilding following Cyclone Ditwah.

He also called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

EAM Jaishankar also announced a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka, covering rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged and support for the health and education sectors. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath was present during the meeting.

"Pleased to call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today. Conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah," the EAM posted on X.

"Building on our First Responder activity under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India will commit to a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka covering: Rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity; Construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged; Support for health and education sectors, in particular, those that have been damaged by the cyclone; Agriculture, including to address possible shortages in the short and medium term; Better disaster response and preparedness," he added.

During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar and Vijitha Herath inaugurated a 120-foot dual carriageway Bailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province -- an area severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

"Jointly inaugurated with FM HM Vijitha Herath in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a 120-foot dual carriageway Bailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province, one of the areas severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The 110 tonnes bridge was airlifted from India and installed as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.
Patna, Dec 23 : A sub-inspector posted in Siwan district was arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 on Tuesday by the Bihar Vigilance Department as part of its ongoing anti-corruption drive.

The arrested officer has been identified as Kanhaiya Kumar Singh, who was posted at the Siswan police station.

The case is linked to a land dispute incident reported on December 18, during which a fight broke out between two parties.

A case was registered at Siswan police station as Case No. 309, and its investigation was assigned to SI Kanhaiya Kumar Singh.

According to the complaint, the investigating officer demanded a bribe of Rs 40,000 from Sunil Kumar in exchange for removing the name of Sunil's sister from the case diary.

When Sunil Kumar refused to pay, the officer allegedly threatened to falsely implicate him in the case.

Disturbed by the pressure and threats, Sunil Kumar approached the Vigilance Department in Patna and lodged a formal complaint.

After receiving the complaint, the Vigilance Department conducted a confidential verification, which confirmed the allegations.

Subsequently, Vigilance Case No. 170/25 was registered, and a special team was constituted.

The operation was led by Vigilance DSP Viplav Kumar, and a detailed strategy was prepared.

The exchange of the bribe money was fixed at Bablu Tea Stall, Maharana Chowk, under the Siswan police station area.

As soon as SI Kanhaiya Kumar Singh accepted the Rs 40,000 bribe from the complainant, the Vigilance team, already stationed nearby, caught him red-handed. The bribe amount was recovered on the spot.

"The accused sub-inspector was apprehended immediately after accepting the bribe money. The amount has been recovered," said Viplav Kumar, DSP, Vigilance Department.

Following the arrest, the accused officer was taken to Patna for intensive interrogation.

Sources say that Vigilance officials are also investigating whether the officer was involved in similar corruption cases earlier and whether any middlemen or other police personnel were involved.

The Vigilance Department has reiterated that its drive against corruption will continue unabated.

Officials have made it clear that no government servant accepting bribes will be spared, regardless of rank or position.

The incident has created a stir within the Siwan police department.
Jalandhar, Dec 23 : A Special Court (PMLA) in Punjab sentenced a cross-border drug trafficker to three years' rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000, an ED official said on Tuesday.

Jalandhar, Dec 23 (IANS) A Special Court (PMLA) in Punjab sentenced a cross-border drug trafficker to three yearsa rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000, an ED official said on Tuesday.

Athar Sayeed was convicted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, by Special Judge (PMLA), Jalandhar, on Monday, the official said.

The Special Court also ordered the confiscation of Rs 17 lakh proceeds of crime (PoC) detected by the probe agency.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, initiated an investigation into the matter based on an FIR registered by the Punjab Police under various sections of the NDPS Act, 1985, against Athar Sayeed and others for cross-border drug trafficking.

The ED investigation revealed that Athar Sayeed was involved in cross-border heroin trafficking and thereby generated Proceeds of Crime (POC).

He was involved in the smuggling of heroin and the subsequent sale of the contraband and collection of drug money.

Earlier, searches were conducted at two locations on April 1, 2016, under the provisions of PMLA, 2002.

Further, movable properties worth Rs 17 Lakh, consisting of cash seized from Athar Sayeed, had been attached in the case vide Provisional Attachment Order dated March 21, 2018.

The Special Judge (PMLA), Jalandhar, said in his sentencing order that if Athar Sayeed defaults in the payment of the Rs 10,000 fine, he will have to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for three months.

In a separate ED probe related to Uttar Pradesh, a Special Court (PMLA) in Lucknow has taken cognizance of a charge sheet filed by the federal agencyas Lucknow Zonal Office seeking confiscation of properties worth Rs 45.92 lakh and conviction of the accused persons, Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, Louise Khurshid, wife of Congress leader Salman Khurshid, and Mohammad Athar involved in the offence of money laundering.

The probe agency said that the accused were involved in the misuse of government funds in the distribution of artificial limbs and equipment by the trust for their personal gains.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Giving conditional relief to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended the life sentence awarded to him in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

A Division Bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar granted bail to Sengar during the pendency of his appeal challenging the conviction.

The Justice Prasad-led Bench ordered Sengaras release on a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh with three sureties of the like amount.

The Delhi High Court directed that Sengar will not come within a five-kilometre radius of the victimas residence and shall remain in Delhi for the duration of the bail. It clarified that any violation of the conditions would lead to cancellation of bail.

Sengar has also been directed to report to the local police station every week, not to threaten or influence the survivor or her mother, and to deposit his passport with the trial court.

Suspending the sentence until disposal of the appeal, the Justice Prasad-led Bench directed that Sengaras criminal appeal and connected application be listed before the appropriate roster Bench on January 15, 2026, subject to the orders of the Chief Justice, who is the master of the roster.

Despite the grant of bail in the rape case, Sengar is unlikely to walk out of jail as he is serving a separate 10-year sentence in cases linked to the death of the survivoras father in 2018.

In December 2019, the trial court convicted Sengar of raping a minor girl and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life, while also imposing a fine of Rs 25 lakh.

The Unnao rape survivor, a minor at the time of the incident, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by Sengar in June 2017. The trial started in August 2019 after the Supreme Court transferred all five cases related to the incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

The apex court had directed that the trial be conducted on a day-to-day basis and completed within 45 days.

Following his conviction, Sengar was expelled from the BJP and disqualified as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 : The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will give investors more confidence as both the countries access each other's market to gain across the spectrum, Ved Jain, economist and former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), said on Tuesday.

By securing improved market access for Indian goods, expanding opportunities in services and mobility, and deepening collaboration in agriculture, investment and emerging sectors, the Agreement delivers tangible and wide-ranging benefits across the economy.

"Naturally, when two countries like India and New Zealand enter into a free trade agreement, providing each other with greater access, and the leadership of both countries is committed to economic development, investors gain more confidence. They feel positive about the Indian economy as well as the New Zealand economy," Jain told IANS.

The FTA eliminates duty on 100 per cent of Indian exports, along with a $20 billion investment commitment over 15 years to strengthen long-term economic and strategic cooperation.

India has offered market access in 70.03 per cent of the tariff lines while keeping 29.97 per cent tariff lines in exclusion. Certain products are kept in exclusion such as Dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese etc.), animal products (other than sheep meat), vegetable products (onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds etc.), sugar, artificial honey, Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, Arms and Ammunition, Gems and Jewellery, Copper and Articles (Cathodes, Cartridges, Rods, Bars, Coils etc.), Aluminium and articles thereof (Ingots, billets, wire bars), among others.

Former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Dr Shikha Darbari, told IANS that reduced tariffs in the New Zealand market will increase demand for Indian products and help domestic industries strengthen their presence globally. "The agreement is also likely to generate employment across these sectors, providing a positive push to the Indian economy," she noted.

She said that the long-term trade agreement, valued at around $20 billion, aims to double bilateral trade between India and New Zealand over the next five years. "This reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's global economic vision and the growing confidence of international investors in India," Dr Darbari added.
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China urges Ukraine to immediately correct its mistakes, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Tuesday, noting that China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks that a new round of sanctions would soon be imposed on Russian entities and individuals assisting Russia, including nationals of other countries such as China.

Lin emphasized that China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that violate international law and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.

On China's role in the ongoing efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Lin said that since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has maintained close communication with all relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, and has remained committed to promoting a ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities, as well as advancing peace talks.

"The efforts China has made are evident to the international community," the spokesperson said.

He stressed that China supports all efforts conducive to peace and will continue to play a constructive role in this regard. 
Bhubaneswar, Dec 23 : Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Tuesday said the long-pending Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh will be resolved amicably.

The committee, constituted to address the long-pending dispute, held its first meeting on Tuesday, which was attended by the Chief Secretary, the Development Commissioner, and both Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs). All members of the committee were present, while senior leader Jayanarayana Mishra joined the meeting virtually.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the committee was briefed in detail on the Odisha government's stand as well as the position of the Chhattisgarh government on the inter-state river water dispute.

"It was decided that the issue will be resolved through negotiations in an amicable manner, and Odisha's interests will be fully safeguarded," Singh Deo said.

The high-level committee has been tasked with evolving a comprehensive and strategic approach to protect Odisha's rights over the Mahanadi River waters while seeking a mutually acceptable resolution with Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, senior BJD leader Niranjan Pujari, who is also a member of the high-level committee, demanded that the committee convene an all-party meeting, inviting all stakeholders related to the issue, and share details of the decisions the government intends to take for an amicable resolution of the dispute.

He further claimed that, so far, all river disputes across India have been resolved only through courts.

Pujari said the previous BJD government had fought the case strongly before the tribunal in the past and, therefore, the party has demanded that Odisha's representation in the tribunal be further strengthened.

Congress leader Sofia Firdous, member of the High-Level Committee on the Mahanadi Water Dispute, told IANS that when the interests of a state are involved, it is essential for representatives across party lines to come together and work collectively. She added that the first meeting provided an opportunity to understand the stance of different stakeholders, including the scientific assessment of the issue, the reports involved, and the position taken before the tribunal where the dispute is currently under consideration.

According to her, the meeting helped develop a working understanding, based on which further steps will be taken in the coming days.

Firdous also emphasised that any decision on the dispute must be logical, evidence-based, and aimed at protecting public interest.

"The focus should always be on safeguarding the rights of the people of Odisha and ensuring a fair and sustainable resolution," she added.
Betul, Dec 23 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Tuesday that the state government has agreed to rename the town of Multai in Betul district to its historical name "Multapi".

A tribal Museum will also be opened in Betul. The tribal museum will be constructed in Betul to preserve and showcase the region's rich cultural heritage, Yadav said.

The announcement was made during the inauguration ceremony of a new medical college in the district under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, attended by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda. The Chief Minister said that upon receiving a formal proposal from the local administration and leadership, the state government will forward it to the Central government for approval.

Historically, Multaia"a tehsil headquarters in Betul districta"was known as "Multapi" because the Tapti River originates from there. Local MLA Chandrashekhar Deshmukh has already submitted a proposal, noting that the name change would restore the town's original identity and promote religious tourism.

Yadav also unveiled several development initiatives for the Multai area, including a jaggery (gud) manufacturing cluster, Kosmi Industrial Area, a wooden cluster, a Mahi Industrial Cluster, community hospitals, community centres, and other infrastructure projects.

He performed the Bhoomi Pujan for investment proposals worth Rs 373 crore. The event featured the foundation stone-laying for the new medical college in Betul, aimed at enhancing healthcare in the tribal-dominated region.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted significant national health achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He pointed out that over 40 crore people have been screened for hypertension, with 6.8 crore now receiving medication, alongside screenings for diabetes (4.6 crore on treatment) and oral cancer (34 crore screened, identifying 2 lakh cases).

Tuberculosis incidence has dropped by 21 per cent since 2015, surpassing the global average reduction of 12 per cent. Nadda emphasised improvements in maternal health, with policies ensuring at least five (or eight in special cases) antenatal check-ups and 89 per cent institutional deliveries, reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio to around 97 per 100,000 live births.

Under Ayushman Bharat, Rs 5 lakh health coverage is provided to 60 crore people. Nationally, medical colleges have doubled from 387 in 2014 to approximately 780-829, with MBBS seats rising from 51,000 to over 1.29 lakh, and plans to add 75,000 more by 2029, along with increased postgraduate seats.

Madhya Pradesh is set to get 14 new medical colleges, with the Betul facility expected to be fully operational in four years.

Yadav reiterated the government's commitment to welfare schemes for the poor, women, and tribal communities, guided by PM Modi's vision.

The new medical college is projected to significantly improve healthcare access in the region.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind on Tuesday strongly criticised comments made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, in which he suggested that Muslims should worship the sun, rivers and trees, saying the remarks reflected a serious misunderstanding of Islam and India's pluralistic ethos.

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind on Tuesday strongly criticised comments made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, in which he suggested that Muslims should worship the sun, rivers and trees, saying the remarks reflected a serious misunderstanding of Islam and Indiaas pluralistic ethos.

Jamiat president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani said Hindus and Muslims have lived together in India for centuries, and that the core principles of Islam are well known to any educated person.

He stressed that Islam is founded on the belief in Tawhid, or the oneness of God, and worship of God alone, adding that even a minor deviation from this belief places a person outside the fold of the faith.

Expressing regret over the statement, Maulana Madani said senior RSS functionaries appeared to show little seriousness in understanding Islamic beliefs.

He underlined that while Islam encourages love for nature and protection of the environment, this should not be confused with worship. Asking Muslims to worship natural elements, he said, demonstrated an inability to distinguish between what is revered and what is worshipped in different faith traditions.

The Jamiat chief said such remarks raise questions about the RSSas capacity to provide national guidance, or indicate an unwillingness to engage responsibly with Indiaas diverse social and religious reality.

He added that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has consistently worked for communal harmony, dialogue and mutual respect, and has made efforts in the past to address misconceptions about Islam among RSS leaders and other Hindutva-oriented groups.

Referring to earlier interactions, he recalled that dialogues were held with former RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan and others, and said the organisation remains open to sincere and meaningful dialogue even today.

However, he expressed concern over what he described as a growing tendency among some RSS leaders to adopt provocative and exclusionary positions.

Maulana Madani reiterated Jamiatas view that the foundation of Indian nationhood lies in the shared homeland, with all citizens constituting one nation irrespective of religion.

Citing B.R. Ambedkar, he said Indiaas unity rests on constitutional values, pluralism and mutual respect.
Patna, Dec 23 : BJP National Working President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, calling them part-time politicians.

Addressing a large gathering during his felicitation ceremony at Miller High School Ground in Patna, Nabin urged BJP workers to avoid part-time politics and asserted that BJP leaders and workers believe in full-time commitment.

"BJP members do full-time politics. We should not do part-time politics like Rahul Gandhi," Nabin said.

Launching a direct attack on the Congress leader, Nabin said that Rahul Gandhi repeatedly disrespects national institutions and the country itself.

"When Rahul Gandhi is in the country, he abuses the Constitution and the Election Commission. When he goes abroad, he abuses the country. Such people should be punished," Nabin said.

Without naming RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the BJP leader took an indirect swipe at him, accusing him of lacking seriousness toward legislative responsibilities.

"There is a leader in Bihar who also does part-time politics. When the Assembly is in session, he leaves," Nabin said.

Calling the present time a "time of change," Nabin urged BJP workers in Bihar to step forward and dedicate themselves to the development of Bihar and the nation.

He emphasised that party workers must actively work to take government schemes to the grassroots.

"There is no shortcut in politics. One has to work continuously with a long-term vision," he said.

Nitin Nabin said that Patna and Bihar hold a special place in his heart, irrespective of where he is posted.

"Wherever I may be, Patna and the people of Bihar live in my heart. I cannot forget the love of the people of Bankipur and the respect given by party workers," he said.

Tuesday marked Nitin Nabin's first visit to Patna after becoming the BJP's National Working President.

He received a grand welcome, and the Bihar BJP organised a large felicitation ceremony in his honour at Miller School Ground.

Addressing the event, Nabin expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying they had shown immense faith in Bihar.

Highlighting the BJP's organisational culture, Nabin said the party empowers even grassroots workers.

"This is the beauty of the BJP. Even a booth-level worker, when entrusted with national responsibility, begins working with the same dedication as the national leadership," he said.

Referring to recent local body elections, Nabin said the BJP continues to register victories wherever elections are held.

"The winning streak that began in Bihar will now extend to West Bengal and Kerala. The saffron flag will fly everywhere," he asserted.

He concluded by urging BJP workers to work harder to live up to the trust placed in them by the people of Bihar.

"To honour that trust, we must work even harder and ensure that government schemes reach the last person," Nabin said.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Bollywood actress Bhagyashree, on Tuesday, took to her social media to express gratitude for her "Banaras trip" and also share her experience.

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) Bollywood actress Bhagyashree, on Tuesday, took to her social media to express gratitude for her "Banaras trip" and also share her experience.

Sharing a beautiful picture of herself from the trip, Bhagyashree wrote, ""Banaras was an experience that was so fulfilling. The darshan, the boat ride on the Ganges, the overwhelming peace within."

The image shared by Bhagyashree featured the actress standing by the ghats of Banaras, captured from behind in a serene moment. In the background, the sacred Ganges can be seen flowing, with boats, steps of the ghats, and temples also visible under the sky.

On Monday, Bhagyshree had taken to her social media to give her fans a sneak peek into the local delicacies and indulgence.

Bhagyashree highlighted that any visit to Banaras is incomplete without sampling malaiyo and called it a must-try delicacy. Her husband, Himalaya Dasani, was also seen accompanying her.

Sharing her photos on her social media account, she wrote, "Benaras street food! Malaiyo nahi khaya toh kya khaya! Tandoori chai kullad mein aur chaat ka maaza galliyon mein. Benarasi paan ka photo le nahi payi Lekin ab sochkar uski yaad zaruri aayi. #streetfood #varanasi #benaras #malaiyo #foodstagram." (sic)

Earlier, Bhagyashree had also shared glimpses of herself seated on a boat, sailing along the river Ganga, and also introduced the oarsman who made her boat ride at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Kashi a memorable experience.
Hyderabad, Dec 23 : Telangana State Commission for Women on Tuesday issued summons to the film actor Sivaji over his alleged derogatory comments on women.

The actor has been directed to appear before the Commission at 11 a.m. on December 27.

The Commission registered a suo motu case against the actor for his alleged derogatory comments on women made at the 'Dhandora' movie event on Monday

The Commission said that the statement appears to be derogatory to women in general and more particularly the women of Telangana.

"Having found the prima facie you have made such a statement deliberately with an intention to defame women in the society, the commission has taken suo-moto cognisance and accordingly decided to conduct an enquiry under section 16 (1) (b) of the Telangana Women's Commission Act-1998," the Commission secretary said.

The Commission directed Sivaji to appear before it personally, along with all the relevant material or documents, if any, about the issue and thereby co-operate with the inquiry.

During a promotional event for his upcoming movie 'Dhandora', Shivaji sparked controversy with his remarks regarding women's clothing.

The actor remarked that women look most beautiful in traditional attire and that a woman's beauty is enhanced by wearing a saree.

Sivaji said that while people might compliment the look on one's face, they might secretly judge or curse the individual for not wearing more modest clothing.

Meanwhile, following criticism from various quarters over his remarks, the actor on Tuesday apologised for the words he used. He said in a video statement that while trying to say something good, he used a couple of unparliamentary words.

Sivaji said his comments were not about all women. He clarified that he only said that if the actresses dress cautiously while going out, they may not face any problems.

"It was not intended to insult anyone, but two unparliamentary words have been uttered for which I sincerely apologise," he said.

The actor stated that he has immense respect for women. He said as women are being looked down on in society today, he wanted to emphasise that such an opportunity should be given.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : Jaipur will witness an unprecedented display of India's military strength on January 15, 2026, as the Army Day Parade is set to be held on public roads for the first time, on the lines of the Republic Day parade.

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Jaipur will witness an unprecedented display of Indiaas military strength on January 15, 2026, as the Army Day Parade is set to be held on public roads for the first time, on the lines of the Republic Day parade. A

The event will prominently showcase the success and firepower of Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Army after the Pahalgam terror attack, in which Pakistanas Chinese-origin weapons reportedly failed against Indian strikes.

The parade, to be organised by the South Western Command, will feature soldiers and weapon systems that played a key role in Operation Sindoor.

Newly raised formations such as the Bhairav Battalion are expected to make their debut march-past, while advanced systems like Shaktibaan and Divyastra may also be showcased.

Regiments including Assam Regiment, Artillery, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Madras Regiment, Scouts, and NCC cadets will participate.

A major aerial highlight will include flypasts by Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, Apache attack helicopters, along with Rudra and Chetak helicopters.

On the ground, the Armyas muscle power will be on full display with T-90 Bhishma, MBT Arjun, BMP-2, Smerch and Grad multi-barrel rocket launchers, K-9 Vajra, Dhanush, and the M-777 ultra-light howitzer, known for destroying terror infrastructure.

Air defence systems that neutralised Pakistani attacks during Operation Sindoor, including MRSAM, Akash missile system, and Shilka, will also be part of the grand show.

A special tableau highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor is being prepared, along with demonstrations of counter-UAS systems, robotic mules, and Army dog squads.

The parade will also include components from the Air Force and Navy. Army bands will perform indigenous tunes, with the Nepal Army band joining for the second consecutive year.

Decorated soldiers, including Vir Chakra, Param Vir Chakra, and Ashok Chakra awardees, will march together.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modias suggestion to host military events outside Delhi, Jaipur was chosen as the venue.

The parade will be held on Sitapura Road, covering a 1.5-km stretch, with special three-layer seating for around 25,000 spectators, marking a historic first for Army Day celebrations.
Bengaluru, Dec 23 : The 17th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) will be held here from January 29 to February 6, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday after chairing a preparatory meeting for the event.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said that senior actor, director and producer Prakash Raj has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the 17th International Film Festival.

The inauguration ceremony of the festival will be held on the grand steps in front of the Vidhana Soudha.

He said the theme of this year's film festival will focus on women empowerment.

Film screenings will be held across 11 screens at Cinepolis in Lulu Mall at Bengaluru's Rajajinagar.

The Chief Minister added that the submission process for films in the Asian, Indian and Kannada competitive sections has begun and has received a good response.

More than 110 films have already been submitted in these three categories, and the last date for submission is December 31, 2025.

In addition to Lulu Mall, film screenings will also be organised at Dr. Rajkumar Bhavan (also known as Kalavidara Sangha) in Chamarajpet and Suchitra Film Society theatres in Banashankari.

Overall, more than 200 films from over 60 countries, including Kannada and Indian films, will be screened during the festival, with more than 400 film shows scheduled.

Films that have participated in and won awards at the prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes (France), Berlin (Germany), Venice (Italy), Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic), Locarno (Switzerland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Busan (South Korea) and Toronto (Canada) will be showcased at the festival.

Films shortlisted for this year's Academy Awards (Oscars) from various countries will also be screened.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that international cultural organisations, including the Polish Cultural Centre in New Delhi; Goethe-Institut a" Max Mueller Bhavan in Bengaluru; Alliance FranAaise a" French Institute; and the Royal Thailand Consulate are contributing their countries' best films for the festival.

A special retrospective of selected films by renowned Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda will be organised in collaboration with the Polish Cultural Centre to mark his birth centenary.

In addition, a special film series documenting the history of African cinema will be presented in collaboration with Alliance FranAaise Bengaluru and the French Institute in India.

To accommodate a larger number of registered delegates, a special stage will be set up at the main festival venue for film academic programmes.

"A photo exhibition highlighting milestones of the Kannada film industry, which has a cinematic history spanning 91 years, will also be organised at the venue," CM Siddaramaiah said.

For the 2025a"26 financial year, the Karnataka government has allocated Rs 7 crore for organising the 17th International Film Festival.

The Chief Minister said that awards for the best films and Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented during the valedictory ceremony.

Film Academy President Sadhu Kokila, Information Department Secretary B.B. Kaveri, Commissioner Hemanth Nimbalkar, Additional Chief Secretary Anjum Parvez, Finance Department Principal Secretary Ritesh Kumar Singh, along with academy members, organising committee members and office-bearers of the Film Chamber of Commerce, were present at the preparatory meeting.
Agartala, Dec 23 : A day after the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission (AHC) in Agartala announced the indefinite suspension of visa and consular services, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an ally of the ruling BJP in Tripura, on Tuesday warned that it would not allow the reopening of the diplomatic mission until attacks and atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh are stopped.

In a notification issued, the First Secretary and Head of Commission of the Bangladesh AHC in Agartala, S. M. Almas Hossain, said that "due to unavoidable circumstances, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala will remain closed from December 23 until further notice."

However, the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati, which has jurisdiction over Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, continues to function normally.

TMP supremo and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, in a video message on Tuesday, said that his party would not allow the reopening of the AHC in Agartala unless attacks and atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh are halted.

He also said that activists of various organisations have staged protests in front of the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh.

In a post on X, Debbarma claimed credit for the shutdown of operations at the Agartala mission, stating: "Our protest in front of the high commission and ultimatum has finally paid off. Bangladesh High Commission has shut down its operation in Agartala. What should have been done by others has been done by the Tipra Motha Party and YTF."

Several organisations and political parties in Tripura have condemned the alleged lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Das, a garment factory worker, in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, accusing the interim government there of failing to curb atrocities against religious minorities.

The youth wing of the TMP had last week staged protest demonstrations near the Bangladesh AHC in Agartala, condemning alleged remarks by leaders of the neighbouring country concerning India's Northeastern region.

Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) President Suraj Debbarma, who led the protests on December 19, alleged that National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and other leaders have been making "baseless and anti-India" statements and encouraging hostile activities against India.

He further claimed that protests have been held in front of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh, during which "anti-India" slogans were raised.

Suraj Debbarma alleged that Hasnat Abdullah had claimed that Bangladesh would capture India's 'Seven Sisters' and the Siliguri Corridor.

The Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the 'Chicken's Neck', connects Northeast India with the rest of the country through West Bengal.

The seven Northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura  are collectively known as the "seven sisters".

Suraj Debbarma said that some Bangladeshi leaders had forgotten India's contribution and sacrifices during the 1971 Liberation War that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

He warned that if such statements continued, TMP supporters could raise historical issues, including claims related to areas such as Cox's Bazar, while highlighting the presence of minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Meanwhile, another senior TMP leader said that the erstwhile 'Chakla Roshnabad' was a zamindari of the former princely state of Tripura, which once included plain areas of the present-day Noakhali and Sylhet districts of Bangladesh.

A senior Tripura police official said that security in and around the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala has been further strengthened since August last year.

"A huge contingent of the CRPF and Tripura State Rifles has been deployed to provide security to the officials and the diplomatic mission," the official added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 : Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday presented to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal a Coffee Table Book titled "Delhi Legislative Assembly presents Shatabdi-Yatra, Veer Vithalbhai Patel," dedicated to Vithalbhai Patel, the first Indian elected Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday presented to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal a Coffee Table Book titled "Delhi Legislative Assembly presents Shatabdi-Yatra, Veer Vithalbhai Patel," dedicated to Vithalbhai Patel, the first Indian elected Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.

The book is a significant historical document chronicling India's parliamentary journey from 1925 to 2025 and pays tribute to Vitthalbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, who laid the foundations of India's modern parliamentary traditions.

During the interaction, the Minister informed that development projects worth approximately Rs 72,000 crore are currently underway in Delhi, and several new initiatives are also in the pipeline for the National Capital.

Manohar Lal apprised the Speaker that the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will soon improve connectivity from Panipat to Karnal.

He also informed that multiple initiatives are being planned and implemented to further enhance and expand the Delhi Metro network, aimed at improving urban mobility and regional connectivity.

Speaking about the publication, Gupta stated that the Coffee Table Book encapsulates a century-long journey of India's legislative and democratic transformation.

The volume brings together rare archival photographs, historic documents, and defining moments that have shaped Indian democracy since the early 20th century.

A key highlight of the book is its detailed documentation of the 2025 All India Speakers' Conference, organised to commemorate 100 years of Vithalbhai Patel's election as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly, a historic milestone in India's parliamentary history.

The Speaker apprised the Union Minister about the various initiatives undertaken by the Delhi Legislative Assembly, including the full operationalisation of the Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) within the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, making Delhi arguably the first State Assembly in the country to implement a comprehensive real-time audit monitoring portal, said an official statement.

He also briefed the Minister on transformative initiatives such as NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application), through which the Assembly has become a fully digital and paperless House, the successful conversion of the Assembly into a completely solar-powered green legislature, and the ongoing efforts to develop the Delhi Legislative Assembly as a Heritage Site, which will preserve its democratic legacy and open its historic premises to the public.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and the Union Government towards strengthening democratic institutions, accelerating infrastructure development, and promoting sustainable and transparent governance.

The interaction underscored the importance of cooperative federalism in advancing Delhi's legislative, developmental, and heritage-centric initiatives, said the statement.
HONG KONG, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's spending on research and development (R&D) rose 8.4 percent year on year in 2024 amid its sci-tech push, local data showed on Tuesday.

Total R&D expenditure stood at 35.772 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 4.599 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, according to a report released by the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

The ratio of R&D expenditure to gross domestic product increased from 1.11 percent in 2023 to 1.13 percent in 2024, while the number of R&D personnel hit 47,210, up from 43,403 in 2023, the data showed.

The HKSAR government has rolled out a raft of measures to foster a local ecosystem of sci-tech innovation that encourages research, application and industrial use. 
Kolkata, Dec 23 : The family members of Hargobindo Das and his son Chandan Das, the father and the son killed in Murshidabad riots in April this year, will approach the Calcutta High Court seeking death penalty for the 13 convicts in the case who were sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday by the Jangipur sub-divisional court in the same district of West Bengal.

The decision was taken by the family members of the deceased father and son after they had a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, soon after the sub-divisional court pronounced life imprisonment for the 13 individuals convicted in the case.

The Leader of the Opposition had assured the family members of all necessary cooperation in carrying forward the legal battle at the Calcutta High Court.

The deceased father and son were residents of Jafrabad village under the Samserganj Police Station in Jangipur Police District in Murshidabad district.

They were killed during their attempts to resist the rioters amid a communal riot-like situation that broke out in pockets of the district in April this year during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The sub-divisional court, while convicting the 13 accused in the case, said that the reasons of the murder were not prompted by any political motive but out of personal vendetta.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had claimed that the observation of the judge had exposed the fact that the murders were attempts to mislead the people and deflect responsibility in the name of opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Earlier this year, the family members of the deceased father and the son rejected the compensation offer from the Trinamool Congress-led state government.

However, they accepted the compensation offered to them by the Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

In April this year, the Calcutta High Court, while directing the formation of the Special Investigation Team to investigate the Murshidabad riots, also ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) there.

A division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury also said that the measures taken by the West Bengal government to control communal unrest were inadequate, and had the CAPF been deployed earlier, the situation would not have been so "grave" and "volatile".
Johannesburg, Dec 23 : The term "G20" was the most frequently used word in South Africa in 2025, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) said on Tuesday.

PanSALB - an organisation mandated to promote multilingualism, develop and preserve South Africa's 12 official languages, and protect language rights - said it worked with a media research company to analyse frequency data and discovered that "G20" featured prominently in the "reputable print, broadcast and online media."

The selection process involved shortlisting candidates based on authentic language usage. "G20" emerged as the most dominant keyword largely due to South Africa's role as the G20 presidency in 2025 and its hosting of the G20 Leaders' Summit, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The terms "Government of National Unity" and "Tariffs" ranked second and third, respectively, reflecting key political developments, international engagements and socioeconomic debates that shaped the country during the year, the agency added.

South Africa recently hosted the 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit where world leaders reached a broad consensus on disaster resilience, debt sustainability, just energy transitions and critical minerals as they adopted the G20 South Africa Summit's Leaders' Declaration.

The announcement of the declaration's adoption was made at the opening of the summit, the first ever held in Africa. The declaration warns that increasingly frequent and intense disasters and shocks are undermining development and overstretching response systems. Leaders said they "hinder progress towards sustainable development and strain both national capabilities and the international system's ability to respond."

They called for integrated, people-centered approaches and highlighted the need for "strengthened disaster resilience and response," particularly for vulnerable small island developing states and least developed countries.

Energy access and transition also featured prominently. The declaration underscores stark inequalities, noting that "over 600 million Africans have no access to electricity."

The leaders support efforts to triple global renewable capacity and double energy-efficiency improvements by 2030, and emphasized the urgency of mobilizing scaled-up investment and facilitating low-cost financing for developing countries in line with national circumstances. They also highlighted the importance of voluntary technology transfer "on mutually agreed terms."

On critical minerals, the G20 endorsed a Critical Minerals Framework, describing it as a voluntary guide for "sustainable, transparent, stable and resilient critical minerals value chains that underpin industrialization and sustainable development."
Islamabad, Dec 23 : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan and PTI workers held a sit-in at Factory Naka in Rawalpindi on Tuesday as they were stopped from moving towards Adiala Jail to meet incarcerated former PM, local media reported.

Over the past several weeks, Imran Khan's family, PTI members and lawyers have not been allowed to meet him in prison, resulting in party leaders holding sit-ins outside the prison every Tuesday and Thursday, as the court has mandated these two days for meeting PTI founder, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported.

A PTI livestream showed PTI supporters marching towards the prison on Adiala Road before being stopped outside a riot fence. As the PTI supporters gathered near the prison complex on Tuesday, Aleema Khan said that Imran Khan was being kept in "solitary confinement", stressing that the "government had become so fearful of Imranas message that they had resorted to breaking the law" in a reference to the police presence at the site.

Speaking to reporters, Aleema Khan said that the authorities have kept Imran Khan in prison as they are afraid of him. Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said that PTI's struggle is a national one for democracy and judicial independence. He termed cases against Imran Khan "false" and punishments "unlawful and wrong."

In a video shared by PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on X, Aleema Khan said, "Spray the water, fire the bullets, we are sitting here for our rights. Imran Khan's imprisonment and isolation are not acceptable to us."

Imran Khan, who has been in prison since August 23, is serving a 14-year jail sentence at the Adiala jail in a A190 million corruption case and faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act linked to the protests of May 9, 2023. Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi is also serving a seven-year sentence in A190 million corruption case.

Last week, Imran Khan issued a call for nationwide protest and announced his intention to challenge the court's decision in the Toshakhana-II case in the Islamabad High Court, Dawn reported.

His statement on Saturday came after a Pakistani court sentenced Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison in connection with the Toshakhana -II case.

The Toshakhana-2 corruption case involves the purchase of an expensive jewellery set, gifted to Imran Khand by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021, at a nominal price.

The verdict was pronounced by Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)'s special court during proceedings conducted at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where Imran Khan is imprisoned.

Under the ruling, Imran Khan was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison, receiving 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, and seven years under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kolkata, Dec 23 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Tuesday, criticised the police action against protesters from the Hindu Jagran Manch on Tuesday during a demonstration in front of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata over the murder of Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh, and claimed that the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was hiding behind her "thug police force" and steering such action against democratic protests by Hindus in the state.

"Mamata Banerjee must stop hiding behind her thug police force. The barbaric assault on Hindu protesters outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata today, where women and the elderly were trapped behind barricades, lathi-charged, manhandled, beaten until they bled, and dragged through the streets is a calculated act of state-sponsored hooliganism aimed at silencing voices demanding justice for persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh," claimed BJP's Information Technology Cell Chief and the party's central observer for West Bengal Amit Malviya, soon after the police actions against the protesters in which more than 20 people were injured and over a dozen were detained by the police.

According to BJP leader Malviya, the protests, led by Hindus, were sparked by the horrific murder of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das, who was charred to death in Bangladesh's Mymensingh on December 20, 2025, amid baseless blasphemy allegations.

"Yet Mamata's police turned a peaceful demonstration into a bloodbath, acting like TMC's hired goons," Malviya added.

He also said that while in Bangladesh, radical mobs mercilessly hunt and slaughter Hindus, in West Bengal the state government itself, through its police force, unleashes brutality on Hindus daring to protest.

"This is part of a dangerous pattern in which her (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's) police serve as instruments of despotism, mirroring Bangladesh-style brutality that spills Hindu blood to appease radicals. The BJP stands firmly with Bengal's Hindus as their true defender, committed to protecting their rights, dignity, and safety," Malviya added.
Brasilia/New Delhi, Dec 23 : President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, could visit India early next year, top sources indicated to IANS on Tuesday.

The visit, which could materialise at the end of January or early February 2026, is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between India and Brazil.

It is expected that India and Brazil will solidify ties in key areas such as trade, investment, defence cooperation, energy, agriculture, and technology during the proposed visit.

"Both sides may also explore ways to deepen their strategic partnership. India and Brazil are close partners on international platforms like BRICS and the G20, and global economic issues, development concerns, and cooperation among developing nations are also expected to be on the agenda. However, an official confirmation of the visit is still awaited," a top official indicated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Brazilian President on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa's Johannesburg last month, highlighting the continuous momentum in India-Brazil ties.

"It is always a delight to meet President Lula. India and Brazil will continue to work closely to boost trade and cultural linkages for the benefit of our people," PM Modi posted on X along with photographs of him with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Prime Minister Modi and President Lula have repeatedly reaffirmed the momentum generated during PM Modias visit to Brazil earlier this year while underscoring the shared commitment to deepen the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership.

Both leaders had met in BrasAlia during PM Modi's State Visit to the country in July which took place following his participation in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil had also conferred its highest honour, the 'Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross', on Prime Minister Modi during his State Visit to the country. The award was the 26th global honour for PM Modi.

During the landmark visit, India and Brazil had agreed on a comprehensive framework to expand cooperation across key sectors, including trade, technology, energy, defence, agriculture, health, and people-to-people ties.

As they work on taking bilateral partnership to new heights, both leaders have emphasised on having a "people-centric" approach to position India and Brazil as anchors of cooperation within the Global South.

India and Brazil play influential roles in multilateral platforms such as BRICS, G20, and the UN with the strategic alignment carrying implications beyond bilateral ties, touching on global governance, climate action, and equitable development.

President Lula, who has long championed South-South solidarity, has expressed interest in leveraging Brazilas agricultural and technological strengths to support mutual growth. India, meanwhile, sees Brazil as a key partner in diversifying energy sources, enhancing defence collaboration, and promoting inclusive health initiatives.
Colombo, Dec 23 : Around 374,000 Sri Lankan workers are located in areas affected by floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, a preliminary employment assessment released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday.

The ILO said potential earnings losses in the affected districts could reach about 48 million US dollars per month. Informal and low-wage workers are particularly vulnerable, as many lack access to adequate social protection and shock-absorbing safety nets, it said, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The organisation also noted that agriculture and related activities, including plantations and fisheries, have been severely hit. Up to 23 per cent of rice-cultivating land has been affected by the floods, and the country's world-famous tea industry was estimated to suffer output losses as high as 35 per cent.

In the short term, the ILO called for measures to sustain livelihoods, such as providing emergency cash assistance and rolling out relief-related work opportunities such as debris removal and infrastructure reconstruction, with wages sufficient to meet workers' household needs.

The organisation also urged support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through grants and subsidies to help repair equipment, restart operations, and retain workers.

On December 16, Sri Lanka reopened most government and government-approved private schools following school closures due to Cyclone Ditwah, a senior official said.

According to Ministry of Education Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa, 9,929 of the country's 10,076 schools reopened, while 147 schools in three provinces remain closed due to ongoing emergency conditions. These schools are in the Uva, Central, and North Western provinces, which were most affected by Cyclone Ditwah, he said.

To support students in disaster-affected areas, the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the Sri Lanka Railway Department will provide free transport services for schoolchildren for the remainder of the year.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has prohibited third-term examinations for students in Classes 6 to 10 for the 2025 academic year.

The second phase of the third school term in Sri Lanka was initially scheduled to begin on December 8. However, the Ministry of Education postponed the reopening of schools due to the disaster situation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Tuesday organized a comprehensive study and interaction programme for 19 visiting officers of the Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) at its headquarters in the national capital, aimed at strengthening professional cooperation and bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries.

The visiting delegation, comprising officers undergoing the Officersa Course in Nepal, is on a 10-day study tour to India as part of the fourth semester of their training programme.

The Nepal APF is the sole paramilitary force of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, entrusted with responsibilities including internal security, VIP protection and safeguarding vital installations.

The interaction programme was chaired by Vijay Prakash, IPS, Additional Director General (Headquarters), CISF, and held at the CISF Headquarters conference hall.

In the opening address, Vinay Kajla, Deputy Inspector General (Training), briefed the visiting officers on the mandate, role and operational framework of CISF, which is responsible for providing security to critical infrastructure across the country.

A detailed presentation followed, highlighting CISFas operational deployment, administrative structure and welfare initiatives for its personnel.

The officers were also apprised of the forceas preparedness to counter emerging security threats, with a special focus on drone-related challenges.

CISF officials showcased initiatives such as the establishment of Drone Training Schools at the National Industrial Security Academy in Hyderabad and the Regional Training Centre in Bhilai.

During an interactive session, the Nepal APF officers sought clarifications on CISFas posting policies, internal procedures and professional security consultancy services.

Senior CISF officers explained that the force provides consultancy support to private, government and semi-government institutions on a nominal charge to strengthen security mechanisms at vital installations.

In his concluding remarks, Shambhu Subedi, Deputy Inspector General, Nepal Armed Police Force, expressed gratitude to the Government of India and CISF for their warm hospitality and valuable professional insights.

He noted that the interaction would significantly enhance the professionalism and operational understanding of APF officers, and also briefed participants on training programmes conducted in Nepal.

A memento was presented to the visiting officers. Following the interaction, the delegation undertook a field visit to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

The programme is being conducted under the guidance of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) to further deepen institutional cooperation between the two forces.
Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec 23 : The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands has published the Draft Electoral Roll as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, marking a significant step toward ensuring a clean and inclusive voter list ahead of future elections.

The initiative, aligned with the Election Commission of India's (ECI) guidelines, aims to maximise voter participation and eliminate ineligible entries with full transparency.

The enumeration phase, conducted from November 4 to December 18, 2025, saw overwhelming engagement, with over 2,46,390 electors submitting their Enumeration Forms (EF) out of a total 3,10,404 listed as of October 27, 2025 - a participation rate of 79.38 per cent.

The Chief Electoral Officer, L Kumar, said that this success stems from coordinated efforts involving District Election Officers (DEOs), one Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), 12 Assistant EROs (AEROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across 411 polling booths.

Political parties played a key role, appointing 678 Booth Level Agents (BLAs), up from 435 at the start, to assist in the process. Awareness campaigns, multiple meetings with parties, and regular updates ensured no eligible voter was left behind. BLOs made at least three home visits, while BLAs could file up to 50 forms daily. Special initiatives included camps at polling booths, help desks at the CEO, DEO, and AERO offices, and deployment of 189 volunteers plus 132 additional staff, supported by Anganwadi and ASHA workers.

Remote areas posed challenges, but solutions like providing internet hotspots for digitisation and special boats for BLOs in isolated islands ensured completion.

Early achievers among BLOs were felicitated, with 48 recognised at district and tehsil levels. Capacity building through training and video tutorials maintained high standards.

A focus on young electors encourages those turning 18 by January 1, 2026, to apply via Form-6.

Booth-wise lists of deceased, shifted, or duplicate electors were shared with BLAs for verification. Special assistance was extended to senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and vulnerable groups.

The draft roll excludes 64,014 names due to uncollectable forms: 9,191 deceased, 51,906 shifted/absent, and 2,917 multiple enrollments. Tehsil-wise statistics show South Andaman District with the highest exclusions (51,801), reducing its roll from 2,05,127 to 1,53,326. North & Middle Andaman dropped to 71,268 from 79,985, and Nicobar to 21,796 from 25,292.

Genuine electors can reclaim inclusion during the claims and objections period from December 23, 2025, to January 22, 2026. No deletions occur without notice and a speaking order; appeals can be filed to the District Magistrate or CEO under the RP Act, 1950.

The notice phase runs until February 14, 2026, with final publication on February 21, 2026.

Lists are available on the CEO's website (ceoandaman.nic.in) and at local offices. Kumar reiterated ECI's commitment: "No eligible elector is left out, and no ineligible name remains."

This SIR, with a qualifying date of January 1, 2026, underscores transparency and inclusivity in the archipelago's electoral process.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : Shiv Sena chief leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday led a scathing attack on Shiv Sena UBT, saying that for them, who were in power for 25 years, Mumbai was a hen that laid golden eggs.

He further took a swipe at the opposition, stating that those involved in the 'Khichdi' scam, fake Covid centres, and body bag scams during the pandemic should look within themselves before hurling taunts at others.

Shinde was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised for the newly elected Municipal Council Presidents of Shiv Sena.

He noted that the Municipal Council results prove Shiv Sena has expanded from 'Chanda to Banda' (across the length and breadth of Maharashtra). Thanking the voters for their faith in the 'Bow and Arrow' symbol, he said,

"Shiv Sena had the highest strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections. Our performance in the Assembly elections was also superior compared to other parties. Now, winning a higher number of seats despite contesting fewer ones is another testament to our excellent strike rate," he noted.

Shinde highlighted that Shiv Sena Council Presidents were elected even in constituencies where the party does not have an MLA.

"Currently, 62 Shiv Sena Council Presidents have been elected, and we expect this number to reach 70. Notably, 33 of our 'Ladki Bahins' (beloved sisters) have been elected to these posts," he added.

Targeting the opposition, Shinde said that UBT and the MVA had conceded defeat even before the council elections and left their workers in the lurch.

"The people of Maharashtra have ensured that those who stayed home (during their tenure) are now sent home permanently. The number of Shiv Sena Council Presidents alone is higher than the combined strength of all three MVA parties. Our bond with the common man is unbreakable, and it is impossible to defeat Shiv Sena," he asserted.

He expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would emerge victorious in the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections as well.

Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Minister, Shinde said, "I answered the opposition's allegations through my work. The state witnessed two and a half years of relentless service, which resulted in the Mahayuti winning 232 seats in the Assembly. Despite opposition to the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme, I kept my word. Being recognised as the 'beloved brother' to crores of sisters is my greatest identity."

Recalling the success of the 'Government at Your Doorstep' (Shasan Aaplya Dari) initiative, which benefited 5.5 crore citizens, Deputy CM Shinde announced a new campaign.

"To mark the birth centenary of Balasaheb Thackeray, the Health Department will launch the 'Health at Your Doorstep' (Arogya Aaplya Dari) initiative," he said.
Quetta, Dec 23 : Several Baloch families on Tuesday staged a protest in Balochistan's Kech district against the enforced disappearance of four members of the same family by Pakistani forces.

According to the human rights body, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the victims - two women and two men - identified as Fareed Ijaz, Mujahid Dilwash, Hani Dilwash, and Hair-Nisa Wahid were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani agencies.

The rights body stated that their families have taken to the streets of Tejaban village in Kech, demanding the safe return of their loved ones.

"Their protest is peaceful, yet their voices are being ignored, and no clear information has been given about where the missing family members are being held. The families say they will not end their protest until all four are safely recovered. They are calling on the people of Tejaban and nearby areas to stand with them and speak out against enforced disappearances, a practice that has torn apart countless families across Balochistan," the BYC posted on X.

Condemning the enforced disappearances, the BYC expressed solidarity with the affected families. Alongside this protest, BYC has also begun a 5-day campaign focusing on the growing disappearance of Baloch women, aiming to raise awareness and demand accountability from those responsible.

"We urge human rights groups, humanitarian organisations, and all people of conscience not to remain silent and to take action against enforced disappearances in Balochistan," it stated.

Highlighting the growing atrocities in Balochistan, the Baloch Women Forum (BWF) on Tuesday said that over the last few months, Pakistan has gradually worked to shape a psyche of normalisation around the abduction of Baloch women, which it described as a deliberate attempt to hurt the societal sentiments.

"It is deliberate in a sense that the state institutions want to go against state and international laws, treaties and conventions on human rights, particularly, women's rights, by victimizing Baloch women of their basic rights, including the very right to free and impartial trial  just like the Baloch men are suffering from  and want no mass reaction on ground to ensure global funds are not frozen for violating its international commitments," the BWF noted.

The forum called for immediate international interventions on the severe nature of crimes against the Baloch women on urgent and humanitarian bases.
Actresses stage a folk performance for passengers on the platform at Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 22, 2025. Train K7041, the first northeast folk culture-themed train operated this winter, departed from Harbin Railway Station and headed for Mohe City on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Actresses stage a folk performance for passengers on the platform at Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 22, 2025. Train K7041, the first northeast folk culture-themed train operated this winter, departed from Harbin Railway Station and headed for Mohe City on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

This photo taken on Dec. 22, 2025 shows a sleeping compartment of Train K7041 at Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Train K7041, the first northeast folk culture-themed train operated this winter, departed from Harbin Railway Station and headed for Mohe City on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

A passenger is seen on Train K7041 at Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 22, 2025. Train K7041, the first northeast folk culture-themed train operated this winter, departed from Harbin Railway Station and headed for Mohe City on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Passengers walk past Train K7041 at Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 22, 2025. Train K7041, the first northeast folk culture-themed train operated this winter, departed from Harbin Railway Station and headed for Mohe City on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Song)
Guwahati, Dec 23 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday sounded a strong warning over what he termed the serious demographic impact of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, cautioning that Assam could face grave political and territorial consequences if the trend is not checked.

Speaking to reporters after attending an official programme, Sarma said the issue of demographic change has remained a major concern for him over the past five years.

He claimed that people of Bangladeshi origin currently constitute around 40 per cent of Assam's population and warned that any further increase could put the state in a highly vulnerable position.

"In Assam, around 40 per cent of the population is of Bangladeshi origin. If this increases by another 10 per cent, Assam will automatically be included. That is why I have been raising this issue continuously for the last five years," the Chief Minister said, responding to questions on recent developments in Bangladesh.

Sarma's remarks came against the backdrop of a controversial statement made earlier this month by Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of Bangladesh's newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP).

Abdullah had reportedly stated that Dhaka should "isolate" India's northeastern states and extend support to separatist elements in the region if India attempted to destabilise Bangladesh.

The NCP leader had also described India's northeastern region as geographically "vulnerable", citing its dependence on the narrow Siliguri Corridor, commonly referred to as the 'Chicken's Neck', which connects the Northeast to the rest of the country.

Reacting sharply to such statements, Sarma reiterated that unchecked illegal immigration poses serious risks not only to Assam's demographic balance but also to national security, political stability and the constitutional integrity of the Northeast.

He said demographic change driven by illegal infiltration has long-term implications and must be addressed with urgency.

The Chief Minister further stressed the need for strict and sustained measures to protect Assam's territorial integrity and safeguard the rights and identity of indigenous communities.

He said the state government remains committed to working closely with the Centre to ensure border security and prevent any threat to Assam's future.

Sarma added that vigilance and decisive action are essential to ensure peace, stability and unity in the region amid evolving regional and geopolitical challenges.

--IANS

tdr/dan
New Delhi, Dec 23 : A social media post by Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser in Bangladesh's interim government, expressing helplessness over the violent attacks on media offices has raised concern over the safety and security of the country's common citizens.

"If influential persons of the government are helpless, where will people go?" asked an article in Bangladesh's leading Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo on Tuesday.

On December 19, taking to his official Facebook account, Shafiqul Alam said, "Last night, I received frantic, tear-choked calls for help from my journalist friends at The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. To all my friends, I am deeply sorry that I failed you. I made scores of calls to the right people, trying to mobilise help, but it did not arrive in time."

Incidentally, the media houses in Dhaka came under attack on the night of December 18 from a violent mob.

"The employees of these media offices were manhandled, and the marauding mob vandalised the office and set it on fire," Alam added.

"I finally went to sleep at 5 a.m., knowing that all the journalists trapped inside The Daily Star had been rescued and were safe. By then, however, the two newspapers had already witnessed and endured one of the country's worst mob attacks and arsons on media outlets," the Press Secretary in a Facebook post said.

"I do not know what words could console you. All I can say is that as a former journalist I am sorry. I wish I could dig up a great piece of earth and bury myself in shame," he concluded.

In response to this, one Facebook user tersely attributed the attacks on media offices in Bangladesh to the State's failure.

Another user wrote: "Mob action happened under your interim government's watch. How do you answer that? Do not cower behind a wall and hide for the government's inability to secure safety."

Another Facebook user said, "Absolutely disappointing, bhai! You people didn't take proper steps earlier what should have been done. Now face the consequences!"

Against Press Secretary Alam's claim of calling "the right people, trying to mobilise help, but it did not arrive in time", Prothom Alo had said a day after the attack that anticipating an attack, it had sought security "by contacting senior levels of the government, various law enforcement agencies, and other relevant authorities".

The media outlet's office was vandalised "before they (help) could arrive".

The statement issued by Prothom Alo added, "Anxious journalists and staff on duty were forced to leave the premises to save their lives. Law enforcement and fire service personnel later arrived and brought the situation under control."

In her column on Tuesday, media contributor Nishat Sultana wondered, "if an influential and responsible representative of the government, who is at the centre of everyone's attention, can express his helplessness on social media in this way".

She pointed out that since the beginning, "the interim government has repeatedly failed to curb crime and control the state of emergency. That is why we have seen that the evil forces that take the law into their own hands have won time and again".

She has compared the law-and-order situation under the current interim government in Bangladesh against that of the arrival of law enforcement agencies towards the end of a movie, where they are heard saying, "Don't take the law into your own hands".

She rued, "But in the current reality, we don't see that happening. Security agencies largely remain behind the curtain. In their absence, people are taking the law into their own hands and doing whatever they please", and alleged, "People are brutally burning others alive, beating them up, smashing their heads with stones, or stripping them naked in public."
Washington, Dec 23 : The Trump Administration on Tuesday announced sweeping changes to the H-1B work visa selection process, replacing the long-standing random lottery with a weighted system that prioritises higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers.

The move, Department of Homeland Security said, is aimed at better protecting the wages, working conditions, and job opportunities of American workers, while strengthening the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program.

"The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser said.

"The new weighted selection will better serve Congress' intent for the H-1B program and strengthen America's competitiveness by incentivising American employers to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers," he said.

Under the new regulation, H-1B visas will no longer be awarded through a purely random draw, as has been the practice over the past two decades. Instead, registrations will be ranked and selected through a weighted process that increases the probability that visas go to higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign nationals, while still allowing employers to petition for workers across all wage levels, DHS said in a media release.

The change is intended to curb what they described as systemic abuse of the lottery system, in which some employers allegedly flooded the registration pool with lower-skilled, lower-wage applications, crowding out higher-value petitions and disadvantaging American workers, it said.

The annual number of H-1B visas remains capped at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for applicants holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. The new weighted selection rule will apply beginning with the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap registration season, it said, adding that the final rule will take effect on February 27.

DHS said the reform is a key step in aligning the H-1B program more closely with congressional intent, while addressing long-standing concerns raised by labour advocates and policymakers about wage suppression and misuse of the visa category.

Officials stressed that the rule does not eliminate access to the H-1B program for employers offering lower wages, but shifts the balance toward petitions that reflect higher skill levels and compensation.

The change is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to overhaul the H-1B system, which has been a flashpoint in U.S. immigration and labour policy debates for years.

"It is another crucial step to strengthen the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program," DHS said, pointing to other recent measures aimed at discouraging misuse of the visa category.

Among those measures is a Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility, a move the administration says is designed to ensure that employers turn to foreign labour only when they genuinely need highly skilled workers.

"As part of the Trump Administration's commitment to H-1B reform, we will continue to demand more from both employers and aliens so as not to undercut American workers and to put America first," Tragesser said.

The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in speciality occupations that typically require at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent expertise. The program is heavily used by the technology sector and has significant implications for skilled professionals from countries such as India.

For years, critics of the lottery-based system have argued that it failed to distinguish between high-value and low-value petitions, encouraging gaming of the system and eroding public confidence in the program.

Supporters of reform have said changes such as weighted selection are necessary to restore credibility to the H-1B program, even as business groups have warned that overly restrictive policies could hurt innovation and competitiveness in the U.S. economy.

The H-1B program has long been central to U.S. efforts to attract global talent, while also remaining one of the most politically contentious legal immigration pathways.
Hyderabad, Dec 23 : The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to upload all Government Orders (GOs), circulars, rules and notifications on its official website.

Single-judge bench took serious note that most of the GOs have not been uploaded on the official website.

Justice Surepalli Nanda observed that citizens have an unquestionable right to access government decisions and policies that affect public life.

The judge directed officials to strictly adhere to the guidelines prescribed in GO 4 of April 10, 2017, which mandates comprehensive online publication of all official documents for public access.

The judge observed that transparency in governance is not a choice but a fundamental requirement of democracy.

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Errolla Srinivas, former chairman of Telangana SC/ST Commission.

The petitioner argued that the government intentionally and deliberately failed to upload the GOs, thus depriving citizens of their right to know and creating an environment ripe for corruption.

The petitioner's counsel submitted to the court the data obtained under the Right to Information Act.

In reply to an RTI query by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA T. Harish Rao, the Information Technology Electronics and Communications Department informed that out of 19,064 GOs issued between December 7, 2023 and January 26, 2025, only 3,290 GOs are available in the public domain.

As many as 15,774 GOs are not available in the public domain, reveals the RTI reply.

Meanwhile, reacting to the High Court order, Harish Rao said that it is a slap in the face of the so-called people's government.

In a post on 'X', the former minister told Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, that it's not enough to call yourself a "people's government". "You should reveal what you are secretly doing behind the veil of these dark government orders," he said.

Harish Rao stated that the drama being enacted by the Congress government, which came to power claiming to provide people's rule, by concealing these GOs, has been exposed through the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court by senior BRS leader, Errolla Srinivas, based on an RTI response.
Bengaluru, Dec 23 : The Special Court for MLAs and MPs in Bengaluru, on Tuesday, dismissed the bail petition filed by former Karnataka Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Byrathi Basavaraj in connection with the murder of a rowdy-sheeter.

Basavaraj has been named as the fifth accused in the case following which the BJP MLA's arrest has become imminent.

Senior counsel Ashok Naik, appearing for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said that despite being aware of the Karnataka High Court's order, the accused MLA had been absconding since December 18.

He added that in a murder case, there is no requirement to issue a notice to the accused.

"The accused persons, including MLA Basavaraj, conspired and carried out the murder. Primary accused, Jagadish, was in contact with MLA Byrathi Basavaraj. Records have been submitted to show that the prime accused and MLA Basavaraj had travelled together to the Kumbh Mela. MLA Basavaraj had a dispute with the deceased over the temple land. Byrathi Basavaraj is involved in the real estate business, but is not visibly active," Naik said.

Referring to the Avalahalli land issue, the counsel said that Basavaraj had filed a complaint against the deceased.

He added that the MLA's close aides were involved in the land dispute with the victim.

"The primary accused allegedly informed MLA Basavaraj about the murder incident and then fled abroad, which has been established through the tower location data," he said.

Ashok Naik also contended that the accused BJP MLA had helped the prime accused escape abroad.

"Call records are available to show that MLA Basavaraj instructed the other accused to surrender," he said.

The CID counsel also placed technical evidence before the court, including Call Detail Records (CDRs) and tower location data, in support of these claims.

Opposing the CID's arguments, counsel for MLA Byrathi Basavaraj submitted that five months and 10 days had passed since the incident.

"The investigating agency remained silent for five months and is now seeking custodial interrogation," he said.

He added that a charge sheet had already been filed against 18 accused persons, of whom seven to eight were strangers directly involved in the murder, yet MLA Basavaraj had been named as the fifth accused.

He also said that after the case was transferred to the CID, no summons were issued to MLA Basavaraj.

"Without being served summons, how could he participate in the investigation? There is no material to establish his involvement other than the inclusion of his name in the FIR," the counsel added.

Saying that MLA Basavaraj was ready to cooperate with the investigation, the defence counsel said the BJP MLA would appear for questioning whenever required.

MLA Basavaraj while responding to the alleged charges had said that he had no connection with the case.

He represents the K.R. Puram Assembly constituency in Bengaluru.

He was once a close aide of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah before joining the BJP.

Basavaraj has been booked on murder charges and named as the fifth accused in connection with the killing of Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva, who was hacked to death outside his residence in July 2025.

The FIR was filed by the victim's mother, Vijayalaxmi, at the Bharatinagar Police Station in Bengaluru.
Jaipur, Dec 23 : Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that Union Minister Bhupender Yadav's statement about allowing only 0.19 per cent new mining in the Aravalli region is destructive.

He said the Union government is using "number juggling" to harm Rajasthan's environment and federal structure.

Gehlot said the claim that mining will be limited to just 0.19 per cent is meant to mislead the public.

"Illegal mining carried out under the cover of legal mining cannot be controlled by any government," he said.

Though Bhupender Yadav has given no response to the question regarding weakening the CEC and attempts to start mines by changing the Sariska Protected Area in just three days.

Gehlot said, "The government claims that only 0.19 per cent of the total 1.44 lakh sq km area will be used for mining. But the truth is that this area includes not just hills, but the entire land area of 34 districts, including cities, villages, farms and plains, which has been labelled as the Aravalli area. The actual Aravalli hill range is not so vast. Mining will take place only on hills," he said.

While 0.19 per cent sounds small when compared to the area of 34 districts, on the ground, it will lead to massive destruction, said Gehlot.

Gehlot said that 0.19 per cent means 273.6 sq km, or around 68,000 acres.

"If small mining leases of one hectare (2.5 acres) each are allotted, 27,200 mines will be legally sanctioned. The impact of mining is not limited to the mine itself. Roads, dumping yards, crushers and dust will destroy lakhs of acres of fertile land, agriculture and the entire environment around it," he added.

Further, Gehlot said the two amendments to the MMDR Act are an attack on state autonomy and part of a plan to destroy the Aravallis.

"MMDR Amendment 2021 says that if a state fails to auction a mineral block on time, the Centre can do it instead. This amounts to forcibly taking control over states' natural resources. Even if a state does not agree to mining in the Aravallis, the Centre can still allow it. MMDR Amendment 2023 says that under the pretext of 'critical minerals', states have lost the right to auction minerals like lithium, copper and zinc. In the Aravallis, copper and zinc are found deep underground," he said.

He said that now, private companies will be given exploration licences, allowing large-scale digging in the Aravallis.

Gehlot said that by changing definitions of minor and major minerals, altering protected area boundaries, weakening the CEC, and creating a model like the Sariska protected area change within just three days, preparations are being made to destroy the Aravallis.

"Our assertion remains the same; this is not about 0.19 per cent, but a conspiracy to destroy 90 per cent of the Aravallis. We will not allow Rajasthan's environment, agriculture and the future of coming generations to be sacrificed for corporate profits. The government must clearly state whether it wants to protect the Aravallis or sell them," he said.
Agartala, Dec 23 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the present BJP-led government has accorded top priority to infrastructure development and has significantly increased budgetary allocations to accelerate the state's growth and build a "New Tripura".

Agartala, Dec 23 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the present BJP-led government has accorded top priority to infrastructure development and has significantly increased budgetary allocations to accelerate the state's growth and build a "New Tripura".

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of some projects in Khowai district, the Chief Minister said infrastructure development is the backbone of overall progress and should rise above political considerations.

"The government is working to build a better and New Tripura. There is no alternative to development, and no politics is needed for development," Saha said.

Referring to inclusive governance, he said he had recently announced that public representatives should be invited to government programmes irrespective of their political affiliation.

The Chief Minister also said that he recently held discussions with Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia and has been entrusted with the responsibility of chairing the High-Level Task Force for the development of the entire Northeastern region, also known as 'Ashtalakshi'.

"One by one, Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states are being given this responsibility. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taught us that work and development are paramount," he said.

Highlighting the government's financial commitment, Saha said the state budget has increased from around Rs 27,000 crore last year (2024-25) to Rs 32,000 crore in the 2025-26 financial year, with a substantial portion earmarked for infrastructure.

Citing investment momentum, he said that during the recent Investors' Summit in New Delhi, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, investment proposals worth Rs 30,000 crore were received, of which around Rs 15,000 crore pertained to Tripura alone due to the prevailing peace and stability in the state.

The Chief Minister said that on Tuesday alone, 11 projects were inaugurated and foundation stones for two projects were laid, involving an estimated cost of about Rs 113 crore.

Reiterating the government's commitment to combating substance abuse, he said drug de-addiction centres are being set up in all districts as promised.

Saha also highlighted improvements in the health sector, noting that the number of MBBS seats in the state has increased to 400, while Agartala Government Dental College now has 63 seats.

He said bed capacity at government-run GB Hospital has nearly doubled, and foundation stones for a Critical Care Block, a Communicable Disease Centre, and two special wards were laid recently.

Chief Whip of the Tripura Assembly Kalyani Saha Roy, MLAs Pinaki Das Chowdhury and Nirmal Biswas, Khowai Zilla Parishad President Aparna Singha Roy, Health Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, Khowai District Magistrate Rajat Pant, Superintendent of Police Ranaditya Das, and other officials and public representatives were present at the event.

--IANS

sc/dan
Bengaluru, Dec 23 : A 39-year-old woman working as an assistant manager with the Union Bank of India was shot dead allegedly by her husband on Tuesday in the Magadi Road area of Karnataka's Bengaluru, police said.

The accused later surrendered before the Magadi Road police and confessed to the crime.

The victim has been identified as Bhuvaneshwari, the wife of Balamurugan.

The victim was working at the Union Bank of India's Basaveshwaranagar branch, and was residing in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar along with her two children.

The accused, Balamurugan, 40, is a software engineer formerly employed with Capgemini at Bengaluru's Whitefield.

The couple got married in 2011 and had been living separately for the past one-and-a-half years following marital discord.

According to the police, the accused suspected his wife of having an extramarital affair, which led to frequent disputes.

Bhuvaneshwari had been seeking legal separation, to which the accused was allegedly not agreeable.

Nearly six months ago, the victim moved away from Whitefield along with her children, and the accused was unaware of their whereabouts.

Police said the accused traced her residence four months ago and shifted to Cholurpalya, under KP Agrahara limits.

Nearly a week ago, the accused reportedly received a legal divorce notice from his wife.

On Tuesday evening, between 6:30 and 7 p.m., the accused allegedly waited for his wife Bhuvaneshwari as she was returning home from her office after an evening walk.

The accused reportedly shot her wife with a pistol at close range.

She sustained severe bullet injuries and was rushed to Shanbagh Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

Following the incident, the accused walked into the Magadi Road police station, confessed to the crime, and surrendered himself.

A case has been registered at the Magadi Road police station under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police have taken the accused into custody and further investigation is underway.

More details are awaited regarding the incident.
Jaipur, Dec 23 : Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra on Tuesday launched a attack on the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state, alleging a well-planned conspiracy to plunder the Aravalli mountain range.

Addressing the media at the state Congress headquarters in Jaipur, Dotasra claimed that the country's natural resources are being "systematically looted" and accused the BJP of completing its plan to open the Aravallis to the mining mafia. He alleged that the report submitted by the Central government to the Supreme Court was prepared under pressure and reflected the BJP's intent to destroy the Aravalli range, which he described as the lifeline of Rajasthan.

Dotasra warned that nearly 90 per cent of the Aravalli range could be destroyed, with vast stretches handed over to mining interests. He further alleged that the BJP deliberately appointed leaders from Alwar to key positions to facilitate this agenda, citing Bhupender Yadav, MP from Alwar, being made Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Sanjay Sharma's appointment as Rajasthan's Forest Minister.

"An inexperienced person has been given power in the state so that he cannot exercise independent judgment and instead complies with arbitrary decisions taken by the Centre," Dotasra said.

Referring to the BJP's election manifesto, he accused the party of promising a "green corridor" to protect the Aravallis but instead turning the region into an "illegal mining corridor." Drawing a parallel with the electoral bonds controversy, Dotasra claimed that mining leases would now be used to extract donations from mafias and favoured industrialists. He pointed out that Rajasthan already has the highest number of mining leases in the country and questioned the attempt to alter the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) area of Sariska, which the Supreme Court blocked.

"The Supreme Court did not allow that attempt to succeed. That conspiracy received a strong slap, and now a new conspiracy is underway," he said.

Dotasra expressed concern that in Rajasthan, the Chief Minister also holds the Mining and Home portfolios, while the Union Environment Minister is also from Rajasthan. "All of them have conspired together. BJP leaders are moving towards destroying the Aravalli range, which is not just a symbol of faith but also the ecological lifeline of the state," he alleged.

He also criticised BJP leaders Arun Chaturvedi and Rajendra Rathore for issuing statements on the issue instead of the Mining Minister. Dotasra accused Chaturvedi, chairman of the Rajasthan Finance Commission, of acting like a BJP spokesperson despite heading an autonomous constitutional body. "There should never be political interference in such institutions," he said.

Accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, Dotasra said the party seeks votes in the name of Sanatan Dharma while allowing mining in areas that house historic religious and cultural sites. He listed several shrines located in the Aravalli range, including Parshuram Mahadev (Pali), Harshnath (Sikar), Pandupole Hanuman Temple and Neelkanth Mahadev (Alwar), Galta and Khole Ke Hanumanji (Jaipur), Eklingji and Rishabhdev (Udaipur), Lohargal (Jhunjhunu), Delwara, Achalgarh, and Kumbhalgarh.

"These temples are our centres of faith and worship. Destroying their geographical and ecological surroundings is being done purely for money," Dotasra alleged, adding that the BJP "uses money to topple governments and seize power."

He reiterated that Congress would continue to oppose any move that threatens the Aravalli range and demanded full transparency and accountability from both the Central and state governments.
Guwahati, Dec 23 : Violent unrest in Assam's West Karbi Anglong district has claimed the lives of two individuals, prompting a massive security response and high-level monitoring by the state government as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives, calling the incident "deeply painful." Guwahati, Dec 23 (IANS) Violent unrest in Assam's West Karbi Anglong district has claimed the lives of two individuals, prompting a massive security response and high-level monitoring by the state government as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives, calling the incident "deeply painful."

The situation remains tense with fresh incidents of arson reported on Tuesday, as authorities scramble to restore normalcy.

The violence erupted in Kheroni Bazaar on Monday when protesters, agitating for the eviction of alleged encroachers from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands, clashed with police.

The demonstrators, who have been on a hunger strike for 12 days, reportedly torched around 15 shops, attacked the local police station, and set ablaze the residence of Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

Police opened fire to disperse the crowd, injuring at least four people, including three protesters and one policeman.

Officials said the immediate trigger was a police attempt to remove the protesters from the area, which escalated into stone-pelting and widespread arson.

The agitators, representing various political and social organisations, allege that the encroachers, mostly from Bihar, have illegally occupied reserved grazing lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

In response, Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, who is camping in the violence-hit zone, appealed for calm and cooperation.

He confirmed that additional security forces have been deployed across sensitive locations and that senior officers are engaging with community leaders to defuse tensions through dialogue.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives, calling the incident "deeply painful."

He assured that the state government stands firmly with the affected families and will provide all necessary assistance.

Sarma announced that more security personnel will be deployed in the Kheroni area from Wednesday and emphasised that the administration is in constant touch with stakeholders to restore peace.

"We want to hold a peaceful dialogue and resolve the underlying issues. I appeal to everyone to maintain calm and not spread rumours," Sarma said, reiterating the government's commitment to law and order and the safety of public and private property.

The Chief Minister also urged all sections of society to cooperate, stating that peace and stability are essential for the region's development.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel's civil aviation recorded a recovery in 2025, according to an annual report issued by the Israel Airports Authority on Tuesday.

The report estimated approximately 18.4 million passengers traveled through Ben Gurion International Airport on international flights this year, a 33 percent increase compared to 2024, with the figure expected to reach 22 million in 2026.

Aircraft movements also rose, with about 134,000 flights recorded, up 32 percent from the previous year.

International airlines gradually resumed operations after suspending flights during Israel's multi-front conflict, with 60 foreign carriers resuming services in the country.

The most popular destinations for travelers from Israel included Greece, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Cyprus.

Israeli airlines continued to dominate the market, as El Al, Arkia, and Israir together carried 58 percent of all passengers. Hungary-based low-cost carrier Wizz Air was the leading foreign airline.

Passenger traffic also increased at Haifa Airport in the north, where the new Israeli airline Air Haifa began operating about a year ago, and at Ramon Airport near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat.

At the Taba border crossing with Egypt, passenger numbers rose by 56 percent to 960,000.

The two crossings between Israel and Jordan saw a 43 percent year-on-year increase in total, while traffic at the Israel-Jordan-controlled crossing between the West Bank and Jordan saw a 6 percent decrease. 
Jaipur, Dec 23 : Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra on Tuesday expressed concern over recent developments related to the Aravalli mountain range, suggesting that mining activities could expand significantly if current plans proceed.

Speaking at the state Congress headquarters in Jaipur, Dotasra said the report submitted by the Central government to the Supreme Court appeared to reflect growing pressure to allow mining in the Aravallis, which he described as an ecological lifeline for Rajasthan. He cautioned that nearly 90 per cent of the range could be affected, with large areas potentially opened to mining interests.

Dotasra noted that leaders from Alwar had been appointed to key positions, including Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma, and suggested this was part of a broader policy approach. He added that the stateas Mining and Home portfolios are also held by the Chief Minister, while the Union Environment Minister is from Rajasthan, which he said underscores the importance of coordinated decision-making.

Referring to the BJPas election manifesto, Dotasra said the party had promised to create a green corridor to protect the Aravallis, but he believes the current trajectory risks turning the region into a mining corridor. He also drew a parallel with earlier debates around electoral bonds, suggesting that mining leases could become a source of funding for industrial interests.

He pointed out that Rajasthan already has the highest number of mining leases in the country and questioned attempts to alter the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) area of Sariska, which the Supreme Court did not allow.

Dotasra highlighted the cultural and religious significance of the Aravalli range, listing several shrines located there, including Parshuram Mahadev (Pali), Harshnath (Sikar), Pandupole Hanuman Temple and Neelkanth Mahadev (Alwar), Galta and Khole Ke Hanumanji (Jaipur), Eklingji and Rishabhdev (Udaipur), Lohargal (Jhunjhunu), Delwara, Achalgarh, and Kumbhalgarh. He said preserving the ecological surroundings of these sites is important for both faith and heritage.

He also commented on statements made by BJP leaders Arun Chaturvedi and Rajendra Rathore, noting that such discussions should ideally come from the Mining Minister. Dotasra said institutions like the Rajasthan Finance Commission, chaired by Chaturvedi, should remain free from political influence.

The Congress leader reiterated that his party will continue to raise questions about the future of the Aravalli range and called for transparency and accountability from both the Central and state governments.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Agartala, Dec 23 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP) over the latter's reported statement that the BJP would not be allowed to operate in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Saha asserted that no force can stop the BJP from holding programmes and working for Janajati (tribal) people in tribal areas.

Addressing a party programme at Baijal Bari under Khowai district, the Chief Minister said politics based on blackmail and threats would no longer work in Tripura.

"No one can stop us from holding party programmes or working for the people. Blackmail and threat politics will not work anymore," Saha said, alleging that attempts were made to obstruct the programme organised for Janajati women.

Emphasising the BJP's leadership and discipline, he said, "Our guardians are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. We want dialogue and peace and do not want unrest. Law and order will be maintained strictly through constitutional means. BJP never believes in unruliness."

Drawing a comparison with external pressure tactics, the Chief Minister referred to 'Operation Sindoor' and said, "Pakistan used to blackmail by threatening nuclear attacks. Similarly, another party is now trying to blackmail by saying CPI (M) will enter, and everyone knows how the BJP came to power in 2018, he said.

"First it was Tipraland, then Greater Tipraland, and now One Northeast. Anyone can raise demands, but it must be done through a democratic process," the Chief Minister said, referring to the demands of the tribal based party TMP.

Saha said Prime Minister Modi has directed all governments to work for the welfare of women, youth, farmers and the poor, and the Tripura government is following the same path.

"We want to build a New Tripura together, but some people are not following the basic rules of alliance politics, while we are maintaining them. The Prime Minister has been running the country with alliance partners, and such behaviour is never seen there," he said.

Questioning the statement of the TMP that the BJP would not be allowed in TTAADC areas, the Chief Minister said such remarks would not be tolerated.

"How can anyone say the BJP will not be allowed in TTAADC? We have come here to serve the people and will continue to do so. In recent years, our government has allocated Rs 126 crore to the Ramchandraghat Assembly constituency. People will eventually reject those who spread confusion," he said.

The Chief Minister said the BJP formed the government in Tripura with the alliance of the IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) in 2018 and returned to power again in 2023 with a renewed mandate. IPFT is also a tribal based party.

On the tribal Kokborok language script issue, Saha accused opposition parties of hypocrisy, saying that earlier committees had discussed multiple script options, but no concrete decision was taken during their tenure.

"The Syamacharan Tripura Committee in 1990 mentioned the Roman script as an option. The Pabitra Sarkar Committee in 2004 said no script was suggested. Why were they silent then? Now they speak selectively and try to impose the Roman script forcefully, which will harm the Janajati culture. They are provoking people and running politics through confusion," he alleged.

The Chief Minister also strongly criticised the CPI (M), accusing it of unleashing widespread violence during its rule in the state.

"We do not want murder, rape and violence in New Tripura. CPIM carried out massive violence in Tripura during its tenure. The people have rejected that culture," he said.

BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, state party general secretary Bipin Debbarma, secretary Devid Debbarma, BJP Mahila Morcha President Mimi Majumder and other party leaders and public representatives were present at the programme.

Since 2021, the TMP has been governing the 30-member politically significant TTAADC, which covers two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area and is home to over 12.16 lakh people, about 84 per cent of whom are tribals. The vital elections to the TTAADC are expected to be held early next year.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 24 : Rajasthan BJP spokespersons Ramlal Sharma and Kailash Verma strongly criticised the misleading statements and confusion being spread by Congress leaders Govind Singh Dotasra and Pratap Singh Khachariyawas on the issue of mining in the Aravalli range.

Addressing a press conference at the state BJP office on Tuesday, Ramlal Sharma said that it has been a long-standing practice of the Congress to mislead the public through appeasement politics.

He said that Congress leaders had earlier attempted to confuse people on issues such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and are now spreading misinformation regarding mining in the Aravalli region.

Sharma assured the people of Rajasthan that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bhajan Lal sharma-led BJP government, not a single stone of the Aravalli range will be harmed.

He clarified that the intention of both the state and Central governments is to clearly define the Aravalli protected area and impose a complete ban on illegal mining.

"Until a comprehensive plan is prepared based on the new definition, no new mining leases will be issued."

He said that the Congress government defined the Aravalli range in 2002, during which the highest number of mining leases were issued.

"The Congress also introduced the 100-metre rule, under which mining continued for years. In contrast, the proposed 2025 rules will reserve areas within 500 metres of the Aravalli range, even if they fall below the earlier 100-metre limit," he added.

This, BJP leader Sharma said, clearly proves that mining activities will be significantly reduced under the new rules.

He accused the Congress of attempting to hide its own failures while making baseless allegations against the BJP-led Rajasthan government.

He said the Congress is making claims of illegal mining without facts and challenged the Congress leaders to name even one environmental conservation or tree-plantation campaign launched by their party.

He highlighted the BJP initiatives such as the "Ek Ped Maa ke Naam" campaign and plantation drives covering 750 acres.

He also said that the BJP-led state government has taken strict action against illegal mining over the past two years.

"During this period, 20,526 cases were registered, Rs 211.26 crore was recovered as fines, 2,228 FIRs were filed, 1,175 people were arrested, and 19,744 vehicles and machines were seized."

"In the Aravalli region alone, 10,966 cases were registered, Rs 136.78 crore was recovered, 1,002 FIRs were filed, 10,616 vehicles were seized, and 300 arrests were made."

State BJP Spokesperson Kailash Verma said that Congress leaders lack even a basic understanding of the definition of the Aravalli Hills.

He noted that the matter is sub-judice and that both the Chief Minister Sharma and the State Forest and Environment Minister Sanjay Sharma have said that the Aravalli range will not be harmed.

"Despite this, Congress leaders continue to spread misinformation for political gain."

Verma also criticised Congress leaders for their language and remarks, saying that the use of terms such as "organised gang" reflects a decline in political decorum.

He accused Congress leaders of politicising issues merely to remain in the public eye.

Responding to Congress' criticism over the renaming of the MNREGA scheme, Verma said that while the BJP named it after Lord Ram, the Congress has a history of naming schemes after one political family.

He cited examples such as renaming Ayushman Bharat as Chiranjeevi, Annapurna as Indira Rasoi, Chief Minister Jal Swavalamban Yojana as Rajiv Gandhi Jal Swavalamban, and Deendayal Teerth Yojana as Teerth Darshan.

He concluded by assuring the people of Rajasthan that the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led state government is fully committed to environmental protection and that the Aravalli Hills are completely safe.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Lauradate's research shows that users are increasingly engaging in lighthearted, playful digital communication, reflecting a shift in online interaction trends.

GIBRALTAR, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Lauradate encourages users to engage without pressure. The emerging communication style supports this approach. Participants are experimenting with playful questions, shared anecdotes, and casual expressions of interest. These exchanges allow users to explore personality and values in a relaxed setting, laying the foundation for deeper connections over time.

The emphasis on emotional comfort aligns with findings from studies, which highlight that active social media engagement that generates perceived social support can help improve overall wellbeing through feelings of connection and support online. Lauradate's observations suggest that people increasingly value these experiences when seeking companionship or friendship online.

Patterns of lighthearted communication appear across geographic regions, suggesting a universal appeal. Users from diverse backgrounds are embracing humor, curiosity, and playful interaction as tools for understanding each other. Lauradate's data indicate that while core values remain important, the tone of initial conversations is shifting toward casual and approachable.

As digital interactions evolve, platforms like Lauradate continue to monitor and learn from these patterns. Lighthearted communication is not just a passing trend; it reflects a broader desire for authenticity and human connection in the online world. Observing these behaviors helps Lauradate understand how people form relationships today and how they wish to interact in digital spaces.

About Lauradate

Lauradate is an online dating platform that connects people across the globe. It emphasizes trust, meaningful conversations, and shared values. Lauradate offers a safe and supportive space where emotional bonds can develop naturally. The platform is designed for individuals who seek genuine connections beyond local dating circles, focusing on emotional depth and authentic interaction.

Media Contact

James Chadbourne, Lauradate, 1 14844578296, [email protected], https://lauradate.com/

SOURCE Lauradate
Diane Roback will step down as SVP and childrens book editor at Publishers Weekly on March 2, 2026, transitioning to an editor-at-large role. Roback has headed PWs childrens book coverage since 1986, when she was named childrens book editor by then PW editor-in-chief John Baker. Roback took over the role from Jean F. Mercier, with whom Roback had worked with on various childrens features.

Diane is an absolute legend. Her contributions to PW and the industry are immeasurable, said PW editorial director Jonathan Segura. Im thrilled shes staying on board as editor-at-large, and also that shes put together such an amazing team.

During her 40 years at the publication, Roback broke new ground in the coverage of childrens books not only at PW, but in wider media circles. In 1988, she inaugurated the first national childrens bestseller list. She also set up a childrens reviews department that relied on a group of freelance reviewers in the same way that adult books were reviewed at the magazine. When the need for an online vehicle to cover the childrens book market emerged, Roback launched the weekly newsletter Childrens Bookshelf in 2005, with the newsletter moving to twice a week in 2012. Childrens Bookshelf now has 47,000 subscribers.

PWs coverage of the childrens book market grew steadily as the industry itself experienced rapid growth, emerging from something that was considered a step-child to a publishers adult program to a major category in its own right.

Dianes coverage helped validate childrens publishing as a real business, said Barbara Marcus, a longtime publishing executive who worked at Scholastic and retired earlier this year as president and publisher of Random House Childrens Books. She gave a voice to all those who worked in childrens books and helped establish the category as an important part of publishing. And while Robacks coverage of childrens books carries great influence, we always knew she would be fair, Marcus added.

Roback plans to work at PW two days a week beginning in March. When she assumes her new role, Emma Kantor, currently senior editor for childrens books, will become PWs childrens news editor, overseeing childrens news and feature coverage on the web and in print. In addition, Amanda Bruns will become associate reviews director for childrens and will continue to manage the day-to-day of the childrens reviews operation. Kantor will report to news director Kerensa Cadenas, and Bruns will report to reviews director David Adams.

Publishers Weekly has a long tradition of supporting childrens books, going back to our editor Frederic Melcher launching the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and cofounding Childrens Book Week, and its been a great privilege to play a part in that history, Roback said. Its also been a privilege to have a front-row seat to watch the inspiring growth of the childrens book field over the past 40 years.
This year was a tumultuous one for book publishing, as it was for many American industries. The business spent much of 2025 bracing for the impact that new Trump administration tariffs would have on the publishing and printing sectors, and while some costs did indeed rise, for the most part, books escaped the worst of the hikes, as most were excluded from the new levies.

The White House, however, still caused plenty of chaos with an array of actions and executive orders that resulted in funding cuts and the downsizing at a number of organizations that provide support for the broader book community. Among the moves made by the administration were the firing of Carla Hayden as librarian of Congress, the dismissal of Shira Perlmutter as U.S. register of copyrights, an all-out attack on the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an overhaul of the National Endowment for the Arts (including the cancelation of all literary arts grants and creative writing fellowships) and National Endowment for the Humanities, and the downsizing, with an eye toward eliminating, the Department of Education.

Nearly all of these actions led to lawsuits, which resulted in some victories, including in the case of IMLS where federal grants were eventually restored, while Perlmutter held on to her job, at least for the time being, thanks to a court ruling in her favor.

Distribution pressures

The uncertainty caused by Washington plus higher overall costs and distribution disruptions wreaked havoc on traditional publishing business models in 2025, particularly for independent publishers. The year started out with the extremely messy Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Diamond Comic Distribution, which dragged on for months before executives moved to liqudate the company in mid-December. The entire process forced many graphic novel and comics publishers to find new distributors, while also costing them tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid invoices.

Distribution took another hit late in 2025 when the largest independent distributor of Spanish-language books, Lectorum, announced it was winding down its business and held a closeout sale in early December.

The continuing consolidation among wholesalers and distributors was a key factor in indie publishers combining in a bid to create economies of scale. The most aggressive move was the creation of the Stable Book Group, which brought together six publishers in February. Later in the year, Stable partnered with Hachette Book Group to form Stable Distribution, a new distribution company targeting independent publishers. The service is scheduled to launch in spring 2026.

B&T collapses

The biggest blow to the distribution and wholesaling businessand the most impactful development for the entire publishing business in 2025came in the fall when Baker & Taylors owner, Aman Kochar, began closing down the countrys largest library wholesaler after a sale to ReaderLink fell through. The proposed sale of B&T raised concerns among publishers due in large part to the provision that called for ReaderLink to acquire only B&Ts assets, leaving the liabilities with B&T. That provision made publishers wary about how much of the money B&T owed them that they would receive. (HarperCollins wrote off $13 million due to the B&T collapse.)

It was also eventually revealed that B&T was under pressure from its banks on some of its loans and in the midst of a still ongoing lawsuit with OCLC. Though Kochar looked frantically for a white knight, none emerged and in October he began shutting down the business with a target date for all of its operations to be closed by early January. (Lakeside Book Company acquired B&Ts distribution arm in November.)

The B&T collapse set off a scramble by librarians to find an alternative to buy the books and other materials it acquired from B&T. Ingram Content Group quickly announced it was expanding its library wholesaling operation and was followed by a host of other companies who said they had their own expansion plans, including Follett Content, Bookazine, Mackin, Barnes & Noble, and, to a few raised eyebrows, Amazon.

ReaderLink was also involved in another major industry story when it was revealed in February that it would stop distributing mass market paperbacks by the end of 2025. The decision was prompted by the growing reluctance of mass merchandisers, which account for the majority of mass market paperback sales, to continue to carry the format. The mass market format has been declining in sales and popularity for years and the ReaderLink decision will result in the format becoming even harder for readers to find.

Book bans, AI still loom large

While 2025 brought new issues, book banning and attacks on the freedom to read continued. Opponents of book banning had a mixed track record in 2025 in various court cases. In Penguin Random House v. Gibson, a court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs who challenged a law compelling schools to immediately remove any books from school libraries that parents objected to. Free speech advocates, however, suffered a blow in Texas when the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a district courts preliminary injunction and dismissed free speech claims in Little v. Llano County.

How the growing influence of AI may impact publishing was another source of ongoing industry concern in 2025. Authors and publishers scored a major victory in a copyright infringement class action lawsuit brought against Anthropic, in which the AI giant agreed to pay $1.5 billion to authors over its use of pirated books to train its large language models. More rulings in copyright cases, including a recent class action lawsuit filed by authors against OpenAI, are likely to be made next year.

Despite the turmoil, some publishers pointed to a bright spot: sales held up fairly well. Through December 14, Circana BookScan reported that unit sales were up 1.2% over 2024 while the Association of American Publishers StatShot program put total sales up 0.4% in the first 10 months of the year over 2024 at the 1,324 companies that report their sales to the organization.
Helsinki-based Get Lost has announced the alpha launch of BookID, an AI-powered manuscript analysis tool designed to help authors and publishers position their work in the market with insights that have traditionally been available only to traditional publishers.

The tool analyzes uploaded manuscripts using what Get Lost calls a "purpose-built fiction taxonomy with hundreds of analytically defined sub-genres." BookID generates reports that include "emotional pattern analysis, audience personas, recommendations for market positioning, and BISAC category guidance."

"Our tool shifts the balance of power back to the writers," said cofounder Steve El-Sharawy. "For me, the most exciting part of using this technology is enabling writers maximum creative freedom."

Get Lost was founded by Cramer, El-Sharawy, Nick Moreno, and Eero Jyske, a team with experience in television, mobile games, data-driven creative production, AI, and audience psychology. Cramer said the company has trained the system on literary fiction across multiple subgenres, from romance to Dan Brown-style thrillers.

The company said all manuscript analysis is handled on its own offline hardware, and manuscripts are not used to train external AI models.

"We work with local models," James Cramer, cofounder of Get Lost, told PW. "We don't work with ChatGPT. We don't work with Claude. Everything is stored on our own hardware."

The company, which is initially working with self-published writers, said marketing remains the number one challenge for independent authors despite self-publishing growing at more than three times the pace of traditional publishing.

In 2023, more than 2.6 million books were self-published, and indie authors captured over 40 percent of global ebook sales, nearly $9 billion, according to Cramer's research.

"Our goal as a team is simply to get more people to discover and read more books they love," Cramer continued. "One of the major hurdles to achieving that goal is an industry-wide data drought. BookID is our first step towards fixing that."

Cramer said the company's longer-term vision includes taking best-practices from mobile gaming development, a field in which Cramer previously worked, and translating those to the publishing industry. These include creating automated marketing campaigns and broader testing of marketing materials, a practice Cramer called "burst campaigns" to identify the best-performing promotional materials before committing to a larger marketing spend.
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thai military forces continued to use artillery and tank-mounted machine guns to fire at multiple targets in Cambodian territory as of Tuesday morning, a Cambodian defense spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The civilian death toll in Cambodia has increased to 21, as border conflict with Thailand has entered its 17th day, Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said.

"The Thai military had attacked locations where Cambodian civilians resided, resulting in 21 civilian deaths, including one infant, and injuries to 83 others as of 6 p.m. on Dec. 22," she said at a press briefing.

The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has reignited since Dec. 7, and both sides accused the other of initiating the attack.

According to the latest figures released by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, the conflict has so far forced about 545,000 Cambodians to flee their homes for safe shelters. 


Instagram / Haley Ferguson



The Bachelor alum Haley Ferguson has announced she and husband Oula Palve are expecting their second child together.


Getting into precision shooting isnt cheap, and it seems the farther out your target is, the more money itll cost you. What started out as an idea for a budget bolt gun to reach past a kilometer turned into a bit of a lesson on the cost of precision. Then again, weve reviewed long-range rigs priced well north of $10,000. By comparison, a rifle/glass combo that taps out below $5K is a highly reasonable package for someone who wants to shoot four figures without spending five.

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Parts List

The Sendero is generally regarded as a medium-weight contour with a lot of versatility, whether youre hunting, competing, or simply shooting group therapy for personal amusement. We chose to leave the included thread protector on the end of the 5/824 threaded barrel, but we like having the option to add a muzzle device or suppressor of our choice. With an MSRP below $1,200, this is a fantastic barrel/action combo for a no-nonsense bolt rifle that gets you slinging lead past the thousand-yard line without spending down-payment-on-a-house money from a name-brand custom shop.

The gunsmith shop at Diamondback Tactical in Tucson, Arizona, took our barreled Solus core and wrapped it up in an ESS chassis system by MDT. There are some bells and whistles you wont get with the ESS, like built-in ARCA or a full-length top rail for clip-on thermal/NV units. But what you do get is a straightforward chassis with a hard focus on ergonomics. There is a built-in thumb rest above the pistol grip, and a flat section of forend forward of the magazine well ideal for resting on a bag or barricade.

This area is plenty comfortable to hold in the event you care to try an offhand shot  though were not sure why you would unless trying to win a bet. We also appreciate the small touches that MDT has built into this chassis, such as an ambidextrous mag release that can be easily actuated by your trigger finger.

We also like that the frame accepts AR-15 pistol grips. While this may offend some precision purists, those who have spent countless hours perfecting their carbine builds will appreciate the ability to replicate their handhold of choice onto a precision build. A matching set of QD sling swivel pockets on both sides of the forend  and multiple locations on the stock  allow sling configurations that are southpaw friendly.

We deliberately didnt add a can or brake to this build, but if we decide in the future to hang something off the muzzle, 5/824 threads give us plenty of options.

The ESS comes with their fixed SRS buttstock standard, but we added in their XTN folding adapter for easier transport. The SRS aligns with what has become industry standard for modern precision rifle stocks  skeletonized with adjustability for both length of pull and comb height. Finally, we added MDTs Oryx bipod. The Oryx is, again, not the most bougie bipod out there. But, for general use, its inexpensive and more than sturdy enough to support this particular configuration.

When it comes to building long-range rigs, glass choice is just as important as any other part, and can oftentimes run as much  if not more  than other major components. Such was the case with our selection: the Vortex Viper PST II 5-25x. The Viper fills into the upper third of Vortexs riflescope offerings, striking an excellent balance of budget versus quality.

This first focal plane scope features Vortexs own EBR-7C MOA reticle, with corresponding  MOA turrets. While MOA may not be the first choice for die-hard long-range aficionados, the EBR-7C offers a great Christmas tree-style reticle that may be more accessible to those who are already used to measuring in yards. We mounted the Viper PST in a Primary Arms PLX one-piece scope mount that we happened to have laying in the parts bin.

Since the Solus is a Remington 700 pattern action, we had access to a full range of compatible triggers for that action. We chose the Timney Hit, a model specifically designed for long-range shooting and competition-based 700-pattern builds.

The M-LOK handguard allows us to add an ARCA rail if were feeling sporty.

The Hit can be adjusted from a 2-pound pull all the way down to 8 ounces. While wed never care to measure a trigger press in ounces, at the 2-pound mark its light and crisp with almost no play whatsoever. Its available with a curved or straight shoe. We chose the latter.

The end result is a complete long-range rig including optic, bipod, and match grade trigger for less than $5,000. Given how easy it is to spend double that price on a rifle alone, sans scope or accessories, were incredibly happy with the result of the smart-shopping endeavor.
'We operate in an economy that is structurally positioned for long-term growth. As market levels rise over time, our AUM grows in line.'

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff

India is a market where scalable businesses with lower margins and higher volumes create enduring value, says Nimesh Shah, managing director and chief executive officer, ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company.

In an e-mail interaction with Abhishek Kumar/Business Standard -- amid the asset manager's Rs 10,603 crore IPO -- Shah said growing volumes will continue to support profitability.

As a listed company, how will you ensure shareholder pressure for earnings does not conflict with investor interests and risk management?

The Indian mutual fund industry has been built on a strong regulatory foundation that ensures transparency and a pure-play product for investors.

One of its greatest strengths is how the Securities and Exchange Board of India has aligned the interests of investors, distributors and asset managers.

An AMC grows only by creating value for its unitholders.

When we stay aligned to investor interest, they stay invested longer and allocate more, which naturally drives revenues.

Risk management has been central to our journey as we scaled across equity, hybrid, debt, passive, portfolio management services and other alternative strategies.

We have built processes designed for scale and resilience, which is why we often describe ourselves as a risk management company that manages money.

These processes do not change because we are listed. Listing does not alter our investment philosophy, fiduciary duty or risk culture.

In the MF space, you have over 140 schemes across equity, hybrid, debt and passive. Is the bouquet complete or are there more possibilities?

We operate across every major segment of the asset management business. Our 143 schemes span active funds, passives, exchange-traded funds, thematic and diversified equity strategies, hybrid funds, fixed income, liquid funds and a fast-growing alternative platform.

This breadth allows us to meet diverse investor needs across market cycles, and it reflects in the scale we manage.

As of September 2025, our active MF market share stood at 13.3 per cent, and we are the largest AMC in equity-oriented and hybrid schemes.

With Sebi introducing a new framework for specialised investment funds (SIFs), we will also be launching products under that regime.

Given the growing size of your equity and hybrid schemes and telescopic pricing, how do you plan to sustain high profit growth?

Telescopic pricing is the order of the day. Increase in volume compensates for the fall in margins.

India is a market where scalable businesses with lower margins and higher volumes create enduring value.

Through our competitive pricing, we build trust, strengthen competitiveness and support sustainable profitability.

Our financial performance reflects this: operating profit before tax was Rs 3,236 crore in FY25 and Rs 1,933 crore in the first half of FY26.

Even with stable operating margins of 0.36 per cent in FY25 and 0.37 per cent in H1 FY26, profit growth has remained strong because this is fundamentally a volume-driven business.

With the number of players increasing rapidly, is market share dilution inevitable? Is it a concern?

While the number of AMCs has increased, market share over the long term tends to consolidate around players with consistent performance and long-term track records.

Our own experience reflects this. Take our hybrid suite: As of September 2025, we had the largest equity-oriented hybrid quarterly average AUM in the industry at Rs 1.9 trillion with a 25.8 per cent market share.

This position has been maintained across March 2023, March 2024, March 2025 and September 2025 -- showing that even as the industry expands, we have continued to strengthen our standing.

What are the growth plans at the AMC level? Are you looking at new areas?

We operate in an economy that is structurally positioned for long-term growth. As market levels rise over time, our AUM grows in line.

A second engine of growth is systematic transactions franchise, which provides steady, long term growth.

Our fund performance has been strong, with 90 percent of our equity funds beating benchmarks. We have also expanded our alternates business (comprising PMS, AIFs and offshore advisory services) real estate, and private strategies which have grown sharply and remain a strategic priority.

Together, our MF, alternates and advisory platforms position us well for the next phase of growth.

MF industry growth has decelerated this year, especially in net equity inflows and new investor additions. What caused the slowdown and when do you see growth picking up?

Taken together, FY25 and the first half of FY26 show that both mutual fund and alternate flows remain broadly aligned with the trajectory of recent years.

Industry equity and equity-oriented QAAUM reached Rs 41.8 trillion by September 2025 versus Rs 36.29 trillion in FY25, indicating healthy expansion.

Systematic flows, equity inflows and hybrid flows remain strong on a cumulative basis.

Short-term variations are natural in any market-linked business, but the underlying drivers remain intact.

Financialisation continues, digitisation, investor participation is widening and awareness is improving.

These structural forces reinforce our confidence in the long-term growth story.

You believe operating profit after tax (OPAT) is the most appropriate profitability metric for the industry. Why?

Investors often focus only on PAT, but PAT can be influenced by the size of a company's investments. A larger balance sheet will naturally generate higher investment income even if the core business is not strong.

Operating profit is therefore a more relevant measure. OPAT reflects only the profitability derived from investment-management fees and provides a clearer view of the operating performance, which is driven by the scale and composition of assets.

ICICI Prudential AMC accounted for roughly 20 percent of the industry's operating profit in FY25, making it the largest profit pool among Indian asset managers.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
Emcure Pharmaceuticals on Monday said it saw Poviztra, its newly launched semaglutide brand, as a long-term opportunity in Indias fast-evolving obesity and cardiometabolic therapy market, even as price competition in the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) segment intensified.

IMAGE: Satish Mehta, CEO and managing director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals. Photograph: Courtesy, Emcure Pharmaceuticals

This comes days after Novo Nordisk cut prices of its imported weight-loss drug Wegovy, narrowing the gap with locally marketed alternatives ahead of the expiry of the semaglutide patent next year.

Poviztra, which Emcure exclusively distributes and commercialises in India in partnership with Novo Nordisk, is priced at Rs 8,790 per month as a starter dose (once a week for four weeks).

This is about 19 per cent lower than Wegovys 0.25 mg price of Rs 10,850, according to the company.

Emcure said the pricing strategy reflected its intent to expand its reach across India rather than pursue a narrow, metro-centric play.

Our goal is to take this product to all parts of India, keeping affordability and accessibility in mind, said Satish Mehta, chief executive officer and managing director, stressing that Poviztra was the innovator molecule, not a biosimilar or generic, backed by more than a decade of global clinical and real-world evidence.

The company views obesity treatment as a structural, long-term opportunity.

This is not access play just on volumes. Obesity is a big problem and a growing one.

"Estimates suggest this could become a billion-dollar market in India by 2030, Mehta added.

Emcure described its arrangement with Novo Nordisk as a long-term partnership.

There are no immediate plans for local manufacturing or fill-finish (when drug products are put into a container) in India, with the current focus on building the brand and expanding reach.

On supply constraints, the company said Novo Nordisk had taken steps globally to address capacity.

India is an important market for Novo in metabolic and obesity care.

"Capacity planning has been reckoned on in the launch strategy, said Vikas Thapar, president, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, declining to share details on imports.

With Eli Lillys Mounjaro gaining traction and Novos own Wegovy and Ozempic present in the market, Emcure said its differentiation lay in distribution depth and therapeutic reach, rather than just price.

The firm plans to deploy over 1,000 persons for Poviztra from its 5,000-plus domestic sales force, with a focus on cardiology, womens health and internal medicine, alongside endocrinology.

There is room for multiple brands. Even today, the market is barely scratching the surface, Thapar said, noting that Emcures strength in Tier-II and Tier-III cities was a key reason Novo chose it as a local partner.

Emcure expects demand for GLP-1 therapies to extend beyond large urban centres, driven by rising awareness and social media.

This will not remain a product for just metros.

"With education and awareness, we expect an uptake even in smaller cities, Mehta said.

To support this, Emcure has launched a consumer-awareness initiative under the Winning Over Obesity platform, alongside doctor-education programmes.

While acknowledging price erosion as generics enter post-patent expiry, Emcure says innovator-backed brands with strong clinical data will continue to command trust.
The fierce battles of Galwan, Rezang La, Gurung Hill, and Walong taught the PLA a hard lesson: Fighting the Indian Army would never be easy or inexpensive.

IMAGE: Indian soldiers in a bunker in the forward areas of NEFA in 1962, a region known today as Arunachal Pradesh. Photograph: Photo Division-DPR-MOD

EARLIER: Lessons India Taught China In The 1962 War

Out of the three principal axes of the Chinese advance during the conflict, the only victory achieved by the People's Liberation Army with relative ease was along the Tawang axis.

It was a direct consequence of political interference and excessive media glare, to the extent that details of upcoming operations were published before their execution.

On the remaining two axes, in Aksai Chin and Walong, the Indian Army fought battles to the last man and the last round, forcing the PLA to pay a heavy price for their advance.

One clear lesson the PLA learnt in 1962 was that wherever the Indian Army fought, the cost of advance would be prohibitive.

A book written by a PLA officer who served in the Western sector, obtained by Professor B R Deepak of Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1991, before it was banned by China, offers rare testimony to this fact.

The PLA officer admitted, 'From the very outset of the war, the Indian Army's firepower was exceptionally intense. After two hours of fierce combat, although the Chinese forces managed to capture Galwan Valley, the cost was devastating. A total of 874 Chinese soldiers perished on the icy terrain of this river valley. It was only in the early 1980s that the remains of over 800 soldiers were finally recovered from the frozen snow.'

The defenders of the Galwan post showed extraordinary resolve. Even when faced with certain death, they did not surrender.

This exceptional resistance imposed caution on the Chinese command, slowing the progress of their operations. When the PLA turned its attention to the remaining Indian posts in the Galwan Valley, they found that every post, though isolated and with limited defensive potential, stood firm.

The story was the same everywhere. Surrounded by overwhelming numbers, the Indian defenders refused to surrender.

The stand at Rezang La

The battle of Rezang La was even more catastrophic for the PLA. Despite being virtually cut off, without artillery support, and attacked from three directions, the defenders fought with unmatched courage.

Out of 120 men, 114 went down fighting. Five were wounded and taken prisoner, and the company commander had sent one soldier back to report the situation.

When that lone survivor informed his superior that more than one thousand Chinese soldiers had been killed, he was threatened with court-martial for exaggeration.

The truth became clear only when troops later returned to recover the bodies.

Every Indian soldier's body bore, on average, thirty-five bullet wounds.

Of the one thousand mortar rounds held, only six remained unfired. The Chinese had to launch eight successive human-wave assaults to capture the position, losing an estimated 1,300 soldiers in the process.

The exact number of Chinese casualties will never be known, for the PLA has never acknowledged the scale of its losses, maintaining instead that 1962 was a 'big victory at a small price'.

Photograph: Claude Arpi

Gurung Hill and the Chushul sector

The situation was no easier for the PLA at Gurung Hill, which they attacked simultaneously with Rezang La.

Despite repeated attempts, they failed to capture the Gurung Hill complex and had to withdraw after suffering heavy casualties.

Only after Rezang La fell did the Indian brigade commander decide to redeploy troops from Gurung Hill and its neighbouring posts at Muggar Hill, Spangur, and Tokung to higher defensive positions west of Chushul, in keeping with the overall plan to safeguard Leh.

The battles in the Chushul sector, at Rezang La and Gurung Hill, must have left a deep impression on the Chinese command.

The PLA lost an estimated 2,500 soldiers in the Ladakh sector alone. While India rightly honours its soldiers for their courage, it is also worth recognising that the PLA soldiers displayed remarkable endurance, continuing to attack despite being wiped out in successive waves.

Whether this was driven by a sense of nationalist duty or the coercive discipline of the Communist regime remains a subject worthy of study.

IMAGE: Chushul Village. Photograph: Claude Arpi

Walong: The Tiger's Mouth

The greatest challenge for the PLA, however, came at a location they least expected -- the Walong sector.

The Chinese offensive began on October 21, 1962, but repeated assaults were repelled by determined Indian resistance.

At Namti, where Lieutenant Bikram and the troops of 6 KUMAON initially held the defences, the battlefield turned into a slaughter ground for the PLA, forcing them to halt and take a tactical pause by October 28.

Reinforcements were rushed in, and several command changes were made. General Ding Cheng, commander of the 54th Army and a veteran of the Long March, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Chinese civil war, was given direct operational control.

The 54th Army, stationed in Tibet since 1959 after the Tibetan uprising, was deployed almost in its entirety against one Indian brigade.

During this lull, the Indian Army also reorganised its defences. Brigadier N C Rawlley, Mahavir Chakra, who took command on October 31, 1962, made his intent unmistakably clear to his troops.

'There will be no withdrawal from this place,' he said. 'Everybody must get this straight.'

His words set the tone for one of the fiercest battles of the entire conflict.

The defences at Walong were so formidable that the Chinese nicknamed the position the 'Tiger's Mouth'.

In the ensuing fighting, the PLA suffered approximately 4,000 casualties. A village elder from Kaho, near the Line of Actual Control, recalled that mule trains carrying Chinese dead and wounded stretched for nearly four kilometres between Namti and Karoti.

Despite repulsing multiple Chinese assaults, the Indian brigade was finally ordered to withdraw to Yapak on 16 November 1962, as defences became untenable under overwhelming numerical pressure.

Yet, by then, the point had been made. The PLA had realised that advancing against determined Indian defenders meant paying an unendurable cost in men and morale.

IMAGE: Indian Army personnel collect supplies and parachutes from the dropping zone during the 1962 ar. Photograph: Photo Division-DPR-MOD

A lesson that endures

The fierce battles of Galwan, Rezang La, Gurung Hill, and Walong taught the PLA a hard lesson: Fighting the Indian Army would never be easy or inexpensive.

This understanding has guided Chinese caution along the border ever since.

In later years, the Indian Army reinforced that lesson repeatedly, through the confrontations of Nathu La and Cho La in 1967, Sumdorong Chu in 1987, and again in more recent standoffs at Depsang, Doklam, and Galwan.

It was for this reason that General K V Krishna Rao later remarked that he did not consider 1962 a military debacle for the Indian Army; it was rather a political one.

The need for a balanced narrative

Sino-Indian relations today are once again following a familiar pattern, oscillating between cooperation and confrontation.

What has changed, however, is the global stature of both nations. India is no longer a young republic struggling to find its footing but an established regional power with international partnerships and strategic depth.

In this environment, the importance of presenting a balanced and timely narrative of every incident along the Line of Actual Control cannot be overstated.

The Government of India has done well in recent years to project a clear and factual account of incidents such as Doklam and Galwan.

As we advance, we must remain alert to the regional and global influences that may seek to exploit Sino-Indian differences for their own benefit.

The story of 1962 should therefore not be remembered primarily as one of defeat, but as a reminder of the courage, tenacity, and professionalism that compelled a far larger and better-prepared adversary to halt and reconsider, after being given an unmistakably bloody nose.

With inputs from Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) who compiled the official history of the conflict.

Dr Kumar is a Research Scholar who has extensively researched the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict and the Cold War dynamics.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Two persons were killed and at least 45 others, including 38 police personnel, injured as fresh violence erupted in Assam's trouble-torn Karbi Anglong district, after two groups of protesters clashed, prompting security forces to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells to disperse them, officials said.

IMAGE: Flames billow out from an area following violent protests over the demand for evictions of illegal encroachers from the Village Grazing Reserve and Professional Grazing Reserve lands in the hilly district, in Karbi Anglong, Assam, December 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

The body of a 25-year-old specially abled youth, Suresh Dey, was recovered from a building that was set ablaze by the agitators while another person, identified as Athik Timung, was killed during the clash, a police officer said.

The protesters have been demanding eviction of encroachers from tribal belts.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he was deeply pained over the deaths in the unrest.

"I am closely monitoring the situation in West Karbi Anglong. It is deeply painful that two persons lost their lives during today's unrest," he said in a post on X.

Additional security forces will be deployed in Kherani area on Wednesday to maintain peace, he said.

IMAGE: Security personnel attempt to control the situation following violent protests. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

"We are in constant touch with all concerned to restore normalcy and resolve issues through dialogue. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The government will stand with all affected families and provide all necessary support," Sarma said.

DGP Harmeet Singh told reporters that he had held talks with the protesters, and they promised to not indulge in any kind of violence.

"They are, however, hurling bombs, shooting arrows and burning down shops... 38 police personnel, including IPS officers, were injured in the violence. A stone hit my shoulder, too," Singh said.

He warned that the police will be forced to take stern action if the agitators take the law in their hands.

The DGP also appealed to all sections of the society to explain to the 'misguided youth' that violence cannot solve any problem, and the CM has said that he will hold discussions with them to address their grievances.

IMAGE: Protesters confront security personnel. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Despite prohibitory orders in force, a large number of people, including women and children whose shops were burnt by a mob on Monday, came out to protest against the violence, while the agitators demanding eviction of encroachers from the tribal belt also gathered in the Kheroni market area.

The security forces deployed in the area tried to pacify them, but suddenly stone pelting began from both sides, injuring several protesters, police personnel and media persons, a senior officer said.

As the situation spiralled out of control, the police lathicharged and fired tear gas shells to disperse both groups of protesters, he said.

IMAGE: Charred remains of houses. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

The agitators had earlier torched two motorcycles in Kheroni area.

Sarma had earlier in the day said the "situation in Karbi Anglong was very sensitive".

"Senior minister Ranoj Pegu is present in the district. I believe that the matter will be resolved soon," he said on the sidelines of a programme.

Meanwhile, internet services in both Karbi Anglong and West Anglong districts were temporarily suspended on Tuesday for maintaining peace and tranquility, and to prevent any deterioration of the present situation.

The protesters had earlier on Tuesday called off their hunger strike to press for their demand for evicting encroachers from tribal belts, following talks with Pegu.

The agitators, belonging to several political and social organisations, had been on a hunger strike for the last 15 days, demanding the eviction of illegal settlers, who mostly hail from Bihar, from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands in the two districts.

They withdrew their hunger strike following assurances from the government that tripartite talks will be held on the issue soon.

On Monday, four people were injured in police firing on protesters who went on a rampage, setting ablaze the residence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang and around 15 shops in Kheroni Bazaar.

The agitators also attempted to attack the police station in Kheroni, but it was foiled by the security forces.

Prohibitory orders were subsequently imposed in Karbi Anglong and neighbouring West Karbi Anglong. Night curfew was also imposed in Karbi Anglong, with restrictions on the movement of any person or groups and private vehicles throughout the district from 5 pm to 6 am.

'A section of the people are angry that the encroachers are settling on PGR and VGR land. There was an attempt to evict them last year, but a petition was filed in the Gauhati High Court, which passed an interim order staying the eviction process,' Pegu said.

The chief minister had said on Monday night that rumours began circulating that three protesters, who were on hunger strike, had been arrested, which fuelled the agitation.

"No one was arrested, but they were taken for treatment to Guwahati as their health deteriorated," Sarma had said.

The police allegedly tried to remove the protesters forcibly in Kheroni area of Karbi Anglong, following which a clash ensued.
National Democratic Alliance constituents in Tamil Nadu--the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday initiated preliminary talks ahead of the 2026 assembly polls in the state, with saffron party leader Piyush Goyal holding talks with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami in Chennai.

IMAGE: BJP election incharge for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Piyush Goyal, during a courtesy meeting with Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (third from left), Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran, and other Tamil Nadu BJP and AIADMK leaders, in Chennai, December 23, 2025. Photograph: @MenonArvindBJPX/ANI Photo

Speaking to reporters after the discussions, Goyal said he discussed with Palaniswami, the plans for the coming months to prepare for the polls, due by March-April 2026.

Palaniswami said Tuesday's talks focused on working out strategies to "defeat the anti-people DMK government" in the state.

The discussions did not revolve around seat-sharing, BJP TN chief Nainar Nagenthran later said.

Goyal said: "We had good discussions about strengthening our political work together and fighting the 2026 Assembly election together as the NDA family under the leadership and guidance of PM Modi."

Exuding confidence that the NDA will have a "sweeping victory" in next year's poll, the Union Commerce minister added that the NDA partners would strive to meet the aspirations of the people, especially their demand for progress.

"Tamil Nadu has suffered under the corrupt regime of the DMK. It is important for people of TN to get good governance, a government which is development-focused and provides for a better future for our Tamil brothers and sisters, which is the commitment of the NDA, PM Modi and our leader Palaniswami," he said.

The AIADMK general secretary said that during the "initial talks", both AIADMK and the BJP resolved to ensure an overwhelming victory at the hustings.

"People of the state are agitated over the DMK regime... our alliance parties will work together and throw out the DMK," Palaniswami, TN Leader of Opposition, said.

Goyal was accompanied by the BJP co-in charge for the state and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The party's state chief Nagenthran, TN in-charge Dr P Sudhakar Reddy, and Union Minister L Murugan were among those who participated in the meeting.

Apart from Palaniswami, the AIADMK was represented by its senior leaders K P Munusamy, S P Velumani, and P Thangamani.

Nagenthran said discussions on seat-sharing with the AIADMK or wooing back O Panneerselvam and T T V Dhinakaran, who parted ways with the NDA, did not come up during the meeting of the leaders today.

"We didn't talk about seat-sharing. Our initial talks were on the prevailing political situation. We are ready for the poll," he told reporters at the Coimbatore airport.

To a question, Nagenthran replied that the issue of bringing back Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran, both expelled AIADMK leaders, to the NDA combine did not arise during Goyal's meeting with the core committee members.

Earlier, Goyal and Meghwal discussed the current political situation and alliance during a meeting of the BJP core committee members at party headquarters, Kamalalayam.

Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader said the PMK and actor Vijayakanth-founded DMDK were likely to join the NDA.

Rival PMK factions are led by Dr S Ramadoss and his son Dr Anbumani.

The BJP leader indicated that the party is likely to demand 45 seats from AIADMK.

Further, the possible impact of actor-politician Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in the polls also came up during the discussion between Goyal and Palaniswami, the leader added.

Elections to the 234-member TN Assembly are due next year.

Meanwhile, Goyal, in a post on 'X', said on his meeting with the BJP leaders: "as the state gears to elect its next government, our karyakartas, who have toiled at the grassroots to raise the voices of the common people, will work with renewed vigour under the leadership of state BJP President @NainarBJP ji, to strengthen the message of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas Aur Sabka Prayas' envisioned by PM @NarendraModi ji."

Later in the evening, he called on Governor RN Ravi and held "a productive discussion on Tamil Nadu's commerce and industrial landscape, with a focus on empowering small and medium enterprises and investment growth.
PARIS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday joined European partners in expressing "full solidarity" over the Greenland issue, after U.S. President Donald Trump recently reiterated his call to take over the Danish autonomous territory.

"Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark stands as its guarantor. I join my voice to that of Europeans in expressing our full solidarity," Macron said on social media platform X.

"In Nuuk, I reaffirmed France's unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland," said Macron, referring to his visit to Greenland in June.

On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland.

"We have to have it (Greenland) and he (Landry) wanted to lead the charge," Trump has said.

Trump's appointment of the envoy to Greenland has sparked strong diplomatic reactions in Greenland, Denmark and the European Union (EU).

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Monday in a joint statement that they expect respect for their "joint territorial integrity" from the U.S. side.

"We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. You cannot annex other countries. Not even with an argument about international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. should not take over Greenland," the statement said.

"Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union," EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told a press conference Monday, adding that the bloc's stance is grounded in a long-standing position on the issue.

Sweden on Monday reiterated its support for Denmark on the Greenland issue.

"Sweden stands wholeheartedly behind its neighbour ... will always stand up for international law," Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said, adding that "the obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is a fundamental principle of international law."

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel on Tuesday expressed support for Denmark on the Greenland issue on X, saying it is up to Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning Greenland.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, was granted home rule in 1979. In 2009, Denmark passed the Act on Greenland Self-Government, expanding the island's authority over its domestic affairs. However, Denmark retains authority over Greenland's foreign, defense and security policy, according to information on the website of the Prime Minister's Office of Denmark. 
Bangladesh's media is facing a difficult time and the freedom of expression has been overtaken by concerns over journalists' "right to stay alive", editors of several leading Bangladeshi newspapers have said.

IMAGE: A group of people set fire to the Prothom Alo newspaper office in Karwan Bazar, following the death of stent leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photograph: Mehedi Hasan/Reuters

The remarks came on Monday in the wake of mobs vandalising and setting ablaze the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star newspapers in Dhaka on Thursday night, trapping several journalists and staff inside for hours as police and fire services were initially prevented from reaching the spot.

"Freedom of expression is no longer the main issue. Now it is about the right to stay alive," Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam said at a press conference attended by senior politicians, business leaders and media owners.

The media in Bangladesh is facing a fight for survival, he said.

Anam said the attacks were aimed at killing journalists and staff rather than being acts of protest against specific newspapers.

Otherwise, the mob would have told journalists to leave before setting the buildings on fire, he said.

Instead, 26-27 media workers were trapped on the rooftop of The Daily Star building while the fire brigade was not allowed to reach them, Anam said.

He also cited social media messages allegedly calling for journalists of the two dailies to be hunted down and killed at their homes.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) defended its delayed intervention, saying immediate action could have worsened the situation.

"The reason we could not go into action there was to ensure that no human life was lost,

DMP Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam told reporters.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has said nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the attacks on the offices of the two newspapers and cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, following the death of radical right-wing youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

The newspapers were accused by the attackers of "serving the interests" of India and the deposed prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

A staunch India critic, 32-year-old Hadi was a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising that ousted Hasina's Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.

The 32-year-old Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday last week. Hadi was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.

While the interim government condemned the attacks, it described the perpetrators as fringe elements, drawing criticism from rights groups and journalists who said authorities failed to prevent the violence despite appeals for protection.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the most dominant force in the recently-held municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in Maharashtra, securing the highest number of seats in five out of the state's six administrative divisions, accounting for 30 to 50 percent of the seats in most regions.

IMAGE: BJP workers celebrate party's victory in local body polls in Maharashtra. Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 2,431 seats, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena 1,025, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 966, according to the data released by the State Election Commission (SEC).

The three parties are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Among the opposition parties, the Congress won 824 seats, while its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies - NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), won 256 and 244 seats, respectively.

The only exception was the Konkan division, where the Shiv Sena, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, outperformed the BJP. Of the 647 seats decided in Konkan, the Shinde-led Sena won 229 seats, or about 35.4 per cent, while the BJP followed with 192 seats, translating to nearly 29.7 per cent.

This made Konkan the sole division in which the BJP did not finish at the top.

Ajit Pawar's NCP could win 88 seats there.

In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, the BJP retained the lead but faced stiff competition from its Mahayuti ally, the NCP.

The BJP won 355 of the 1,244 seats, or around 28.5 percent, while the NCP secured 301 seats, about 24.2 percent, narrowing the gap considerably. The Shiv Sena finished third with 153 seats, and the Congress slipped to fourth place in this division, winning 147 seats.

The BJP's strongest showing came in the Nagpur division, where it secured 615 of the 1,234 seats, amounting to nearly 49.8 percent of the total - the highest divisional share for the party across the state.

Interestingly, the Congress emerged as the runner-up here with 321 seats, or roughly 26 per cent, marking one of its relatively better performances. NCP and Shiv Sena could win 63 and 56 seats, respectively, in the Nagpur division.

A similar pattern was observed in the Amravati division, where the BJP led with 381 of the 1,121 seats (approximately 34 percent), while the Congress came second with 226 seats (approximately 20.2 percent). The Shiv Sena (141) and the NCP (76) trailed behind, highlighting a bipolar contest favouring the BJP and the Congress in this region.

In the Nashik division, the BJP again topped the chart with 471 of 1,224 seats, approximately 38.5 percent, followed by the Shiv Sena with 269 seats, or nearly 22 percent. The NCP (147) finished third, while the Congress (54) lagged further behind with just over four per cent per cent of the seats.

The Pune division saw the BJP win 417 of the 1,381 seats, approximately 30.2 percent, maintaining its lead, while the NCP remained a strong challenger with 291 seats, approximately 21.1 percent. Notably, unrecognised parties and independents together accounted for a significant share of seats in Pune, underlining the continued influence of local factors in civic elections.

Campaign dynamics also played a role in shaping the outcome. Leaders and cadres of the ruling Mahayuti - comprising the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the NCP held numerous rallies across divisions, with senior leaders actively canvassing.

In contrast, the campaigns of the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena-UBT were largely decentralised, with most electioneering driven by local leaders rather than high-profile state-level figures.

As many as 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats went to the polls on December 2 and 20. The counting took place on December 21.

Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Mumbai civic body, will be held on January 15, and he results will be declared the next day.
A Delhi court on Tuesday ordered the framing of charges for criminal conspiracy and corruption against Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram and six others in connection with the Chinese visa scam case, saying there was a prima facie case against them.

IMAGE: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram arrives at Rouse Avenue Court, in New Delhi, December 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

The court, however, discharged one accused, Chetan Shrivastava, saying there was no evidence against him.

In October 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation had filed a charge sheet against Karti Chidambaram and others in connection with alleged bribery in facilitating visas of Chinese nationals for a power company, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), in 2011, when his father, P Chidambaram, was the Union home minister.

Besides Karti Chidambaram, the Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga, the CBI had named his alleged close associate and chartered accountant, S Bhaskararaman, Talawandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL), a subsidiary of Vedanta, and Mumbai-based Bell Tools, through which bribes were allegedly routed.

In a 98-page order, special judge Dig Vinay Singh underlined that at the stage of framing charges, a mini-trial was not required, and the court had to only consider whether the material collected by the investigating agency reflected a strong suspicion or a prima facie case against the accused persons.

"At this stage of framing the charge, the approver's statement must be accepted without questioning its authenticity, as that will be examined during trial. The material presented by the prosecution must be accepted at face value at this stage," the court said.

It said that no doubt the evidence of an accomplice was of tainted character and very weak, but the court could accept it as substantive evidence and enquire, provided it was materially corroborated.

Noting the allegations against Karti Chidambaram, the court said that the approver approached him in Chennai to obtain 800 additional Project Visas for TSPL, believing he had contacts in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) because of his father.

It noted that the approver allegedly met Karti Chidambaram and S Bhaskaraman in Karti's Chennai office in June 2011 to discuss the visa requirements, following which Karti Chidambaram instructed the approver to discuss the necessary details with Bhaskaraman.

The court said that, according to the allegations, Bhaskaraman subsequently demanded and obtained a bribe, and after a bribe of Rs 50 lakh was paid, the approver even called Karti Chidambaram to thank him, following which he affirmed that the payment had been received.

It noted that Chidambaram had allegedly received through emails a copy of the request letter sent by TSPL to the MHA, an attachment containing the request letter for visa reuse submitted by the approver, and the MHA approval letter for the re-use of visas.

These emails were sent or forwarded by his chartered accountant, the court said, noting the allegations.

It said, "The above-mentioned facts of Accused 2 (Karti Chidambaram) meeting the approver in the presence of Accused 1 (Bhaskaraman) at Chennai, and telling the approver to explain his requirement, followed by the subsequent demand and payment and telephonic conversations regarding receipt of amount, as well as exchange of crucial documents, are cited (by the CBI) as demonstrating a meeting of minds to achieve a common objective."

The court said that the conspiracy between both was evident, and the law did not require a conspirator to interact with every other conspirator.

It said that the recovery of the money from Chidambaram was not necessary at the present stage, nor was there any requirement to trace the alleged bribe amount.

"The defence arguments, including the claim that Accused 2 (Karti Chidambaram) did not read the emails, or that there is no substantiated proof of the alleged meeting in Chennai or the telephonic call, do not help his case, as the strong suspicion is supported by the approver's statements and the case against him is not based solely on email confirmation," the court said.

It said that other issues raised by the defence, including a lack of prior appointments, tickets, vouchers, location data, or the ability to collect call detail records (CDRs), had to be considered during the trial.

"The approver's statement makes it clear that accused 2 guided the approver to accused 1 to disclose his requirement and details, and thereafter, accused 1 demanded and received the bribe. The material establishes a strong suspicion against accused 2; therefore, his prayer for discharge is rejected," the court said.

It said "prima facie" there was sufficient material to frame charges against Karti Chidambaram for the substantive offence under IPC Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and under Sections 8 (taking gratification, in order, by corrupt or illegal means, to influence a public servant) and 9 (taking gratification, for exercise of personal influence with public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.

It also ordered framing similar charges against Bhaskararaman along with IPC Section 204 (destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence) for the alleged deletion of emails containing incriminating evidence.

The court also directed that charges be framed for the offence of criminal conspiracy and under PC Act provisions against TSPL, M/s Bell Tools Ltd, Viral Mehta, Anup Agarwal and Mansoor Siddiqi.

It, however, discharged the eighth accused, Chetan Shrivastava, saying there was no evidence to prove that he was involved in the conspiracy.

The court trashed the argument of the defence claiming absence of grave suspicion, saying, "It is not a case where the material suggests mere suspicion. Instead, it suggests grave suspicion about the conspiracy and the commission of an offence."

The court also said that it was not necessary for each conspirator to communicate with all others, nor was each conspirator required to know every detail of the scheme or to participate in every stage.

It said, "What is essential is that they agree on the design or purpose of the conspiracy."

Also rejecting the argument that there was no motive in the case, the court said, "Motive must be inferred from surrounding circumstances in a specific case, especially considering the context at the time the offence was committed, as in the present case."

"Direct evidence of motive is hard to obtain. The accused persons, particularly those from TSPL, only knew the driving force and motive for offering a bribe."

The court, however, said that the penal offences of cheating, forgery for cheating, using as genuine a forged document as genuine, and falsification of accounts were not made out in the case.

The CBI had filed the charge sheet after two years of probe into its FIR registered in 2022, where it had alleged that the Punjab-based TSPL was setting up a 1980 MW thermal power plant and the work was outsourced to Chinese company Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (SEPCO).

The project was running behind schedule, and the company was allegedly facing the prospect of a penalty.

The CBI FIR, which contained findings of the investigating officer who undertook the preliminary inquiry, alleged that an executive of TSPL approached Karti Chidambaram through his "close associate/front man" Bhaskararaman.

"They devised a back-door way to defeat the purpose of the ceiling (maximum of project visas permissible to the company's plant) by granting permission to re-use 263 project visas allotted to the said Chinese company's officials," the agency had said after the registration of FIR and searches.

Project visas were a special type of visa introduced in 2010 for the power and steel sector, for which detailed guidelines were issued during P Chidambaram's tenure as home minister, but there was no provision for the re-issue of project visas, the FIR had alleged.

A TSPL executive allegedly submitted a letter to the home ministry on July 30, 2011, seeking approval to reuse the project visas allotted to his company, which was approved within a month and the permission was issued, the FIR had alleged.

"On August 17, 2011, the executive, on being directed by Bhaskararaman, sent a copy of the above letter dated July 30, 2011 to him through e-mail which was forwarded to Karti... Bhakaskararaman after discussion with P Chidambaram, the then home minister, demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 50 lakh for ensuring the approval," the FIR had alleged.

The FIR also alleged that the payment of the said bribe was routed from TSP to Karti Chidambaram and Bhaskararaman through Mumbai-based Bell Tools Ltd with payments camouflaged under two invoices raised for consultancy and out-of-pocket expenses for Chinese visas-related work.

The TSPL executive had later thanked Karti Chidambaram and Bhaskararaman on emai, it alleged.

Payment against the invoices was made by TSPL to Bell Tools Limited through cheque and then the said amount was paid in cash to Bhaskararaman, it had alleged.
The court asked the state government, forest department and Kaziranga National Park authorities to place on record the steps taken so far to control illegal fishing and to explain how such activities can be effectively prevented in future.

IMAGE: Vendors display a variety of fish for sale on the occasion of Uruka as a part of the Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) Festival, at the Paruwa market in Tezpur, January 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Taking serious note of large-scale community fishing inside the Kaziranga National Park during the Magh Bihu celebrations in mid-January, the Gauhati high court has directed the Assam government and the Kaziranga authorities to strictly enforce prohibitory orders to curb illegal fishing in the protected area.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury passed the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by environmental activist Rohit Choudhury.

Observing that continued fishing activities inside the park amount to grave legal violations, the court said protection of Kaziranga is imperative to prevent breaches of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, constitutional obligations under Article 48A, as well as India's international commitments.

'In any view of the matter, the protection of such site is necessary... We, therefore, deem it necessary to direct that necessary prohibitory orders must be enforced,' the bench said in its order.

The court also asked the state government, forest department and Kaziranga National Park authorities to place on record the steps taken so far to control illegal fishing and to explain how such activities can be effectively prevented in future.

It termed the issue as one requiring 'immediate attention'.

The bench further directed the respondents to file an affidavit by the next date detailing measures taken to prevent illegal fishing in the park during the first and second weeks of January.

The PIL highlighted that every year during Magh Bihu, celebrated on January 13 and 14, large numbers of people enter Kaziranga's protected water bodies to engage in traditional fishing practices.

Advocate A Phukan, appearing for the petitioner, argued that this recurring activity is in flagrant violation of wildlife laws and has a cascading impact on the park's fragile ecosystem.

Responding to the allegations, D Gogoi, standing counsel for the forest department, submitted that the authorities are aware of the problem and that prohibitory orders are issued regularly to prevent illegal fishing.

However, he said enforcement becomes difficult due to the large number of people congregating in the area during the festival with religious fervour.

Environmentalists have expressed deep concern over the issue, warning that unchecked fishing during the breeding season disrupts aquatic life and food chains critical to the survival of several species.

Conservationists say such activities threaten Kaziranga's biodiversity, including the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, several species of migratory birds and around 42 species of fish, and could irreversibly damage the ecological balance of the park.

They have repeatedly urged the authorities to strengthen enforcement, increase patrolling and engage local communities through awareness programmes to prevent violations during festive periods.

Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has also been designated an Important Bird Area.

The matter will be taken up again after the respondents submit their affidavit.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
India on Tuesday called in Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and sought a thorough probe into killing of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi amid sharp downturn in ties between the two countries.

IMAGE: KMen 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 on December 20, 2025. Photograph: Kazi Salahuddin/Reuters

New Delhi's move came hours after Indian envoy to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, was summoned to the foreign ministry to lodge a protest against "regrettable incidents" outside the Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi.

There have been protests outside the Bangladesh high commission against the recent lynching of a Hindu worker in the strife-torn neighbouring country.

At the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Hamidullah was told that Bangladesh should carry out a proper investigation into the killing of Hadi, people familiar with the matter said.

India's call for a detailed probe into Hadi's killing came as unsubstantiated allegations about an Indian hand in his death triggered anti-India sentiment in that country.

There have been protests outside Indian missions in Bangladesh following Hadi's death.

Last week, a group of angry protesters tried to storm India's assistant high commission in Chittagong. India subsequently suspended its visa services in the mission.

Following summoning of the Indian envoy, the Bangladesh foreign ministry said it conveyed its "grave concern" to the envoy over "regrettable incidents outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh high commission and residence in New Delhi" on December 20, and acts of vandalism at the Bangladesh visa centre in Siliguri on December 22.

"Bangladesh also expressed deep concern over violent protests staged outside the premises of the different diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India," it said.

Bangladesh has witnessed a fresh wave of unrest following the death of Hadi last week. Hadi was a prominent face in the anti-government protests that forced the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Amid the fresh protests, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was killed in Bangladesh's Mymensingh.

India last Wednesday too summoned Bangladesh envoy Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.

India's action followed after certain extremist elements announced plans to hold protests around the Indian high commission in Dhaka.

In a statement, the MEA had said that India "completely rejects the false narrative" sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh.

"It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents," it had said.
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma to convey its "grave concern" over the security of its missions in India.

IMAGE: Security officials stand guard outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi following violent protests in Bangladesh . Photograph: ANI Photo

Foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam summoned the Indian envoy to the foreign office.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said that Verma was conveyed Dhaka's "grave concern over the regrettable incidents" outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and residence in New Delhi on December 20, 2025, and the "acts of vandalism at" its Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 by "different extremist elements."

"Bangladesh also expressed deep concern over violent protests staged outside the premises of the different Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh in India, the statement said.

The statement said Bangladesh condemns such acts against diplomatic establishments, "which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance."

It urged India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents and take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure the safety and security of Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and related facilities in the country.

The Indian envoy was summoned a day after Bangladesh suspended visa and consular services in New Delhi, Siliguri and Agartala. Foreign ministry officials said the suspension would remain in effect until further notice.

It was the second time in the past 10 days that Verma was summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs.

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said that India's cooperation was sought to prevent the attackers who assaulted Inquilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi from fleeing to India, the local media reported.

Bangladesh requested that if the accused manages to enter Indian territory, they be immediately arrested and extradited to Bangladesh.

On December 17, India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah, citing security concerns around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

India's action followed after certain extremist elements announced plans to hold protests around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

The MEA said that India "completely rejects the false narrative" sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh.

"It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents," it said shortly after summoning Hamidullah.

On Thursday, a group of angry protesters tried to storm India's assistant high commission in Chittagong. India subsequently suspended its visa services at the mission.

Bangladesh has witnessed a fresh wave of unrest following the death of student leader Hadi last week. Hadi was a prominent face in the anti-government protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina's government.

Some of the protesters last week also trained their anger against India.

Amid the fresh protests, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was killed in Bangladesh's Mymensingh.
Holding saffron flags and shouting slogans against the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, hundreds of supporters of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal broke barricades and clashed with police near the fortified Bangladesh High Commission on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal protest over the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, near the Bangladesh High Commission, in New Delhi. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

Several barricades lay in disarray as police struggled to contain the surge.

The high security area witnessed a beefed-up police presence in the morning ahead of the protest announced by the Hindu right against the lynching of a Hindu man in the strife-torn neighbouring nation.

The area had been secured with seven layers of barricades and a reinforced presence of police and paramilitary.

An officer said a 1,500-strong police force was deployed ahead of the demonstration.

He said police managed to hold the protesters about 800 metres from the high commission.

IMAGE: Hundreds of Hindu outfit activists gather near the Bangladesh High Commission. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

DTC buses were parked as an obstacle to thwart the protesters' bid to reach the high commission.

A sea of banners and placards bobbed in the air, reading denunciatory messages against the Bangladesh government.

A placard read: "Hindu rakt ki ek ek boond ka hisaab chahiye (Each drop of blood of a Hindu must be accounted for)."

IMAGE: Police struggle to control the Hindu outufits' members. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh.

According to the police, Das was first beaten by a mob outside the factory and then hanged from a tree. The crowd left the body by the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway and later set it on fire.

"A Hindu man was brutally assaulted and killed. We request the government to take strict action against those who are behind the killing. We also demand that the Bangladesh police take strict action against those who are behind the killing," a protester said.

Another said, "We in India consider every community as our brothers and sisters. Every Hindu in every country must be treated in the same way."

IMAGE: Delhi Police personnel detain a protestor. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

Angry protesters accused the Bangladesh authorities of failing to protect minorities and demanded strong diplomatic steps by India to ensure the safety of Hindus living in the neighbouring country.

"What can one do when the people in Bangladesh are keeping a jihadi mentality. Every single worker of VHP and Bajrang Dal stands in support of Hindu families in Bangladesh. We will cross all the barriers and will protest in front of the Bangladesh High Commission," a protester told PTI, as slogan shouting reached a crescendo.

Several protesters claimed that the agitation would not be limited to a single day and warned of a ratcheting up if their demands were not addressed.

IMAGE: Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal shout slogans during the protest. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

Sumit Kashyap, a demonstrator, called for Hinu unity.

"Hindu Ekta is important. Several Bangladeshis are staying in the national capital illegally. Not even a single person has ever been harmed. Every Indian loves peace and stays peacefully. But people in Bangladesh are killing our brothers now," he said.

Satish Gupta said they were protesting against the "terrorist mentality."

"We are aware that many Bangladeshi people are hiding in our country, working in different households. Has even a single person faced any problem? We will never tolerate torture against any Indian in Bangladesh," he said.

Protesters were seen chanting the Hanuman Chalisa and raising religious slogans.

IMAGE: Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal shout slogans. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

Police repeatedly appealed to them to maintain calm and not attempt to breach the barricades.

Minor scuffles broke out as demonstrators pushed against the police cordon.

A VHP leader said, "We demand proper protection of every single Hindu, compensation to the Hindu families, and proper rehabilitation for those families who were openly looted."

He asserted that the protest was peaceful and lawful.

"Every single VHP and Bajrang Dal worker is protesting peacefully. We will obey the permission rules given by the government. Not even a single VHP or Bajrang Dal worker will disobey the government's permission," he said.
A village panchayat in Rajasthan's Jalore district has prohibited daughters-in-law and young women from 15 villages from using phones with cameras starting January 26.

Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Additionally, taking a phone to public functions or a neighbour's house will also be banned. Instead, they will only be allowed to use keypad phones instead of smartphones.

This decision was made during a meeting of the Chaudhary community held on Sunday in Gazipur village, Jalore district, chaired by Sujnaram Chaudhary, the president of the 14 pattis (subdivisions).

Speaking to PTI, Chaudhary said that Panch Himmtaram announced the decision.

According to Himmtaram, after discussions among panch members and community members, it was decided that daughters-in-law and young women would exclusively use keypad phones for calling.

School-going girls who need mobile phones for their studies may use them only at home. They are not allowed to take mobile phones to weddings, social events, or even to a neighbour's house, Chaudhary further explained, Chaudhary mentioned further.

In response to the opposition regarding the panchayat's decision, Chaudhary clarified that this measure was taken because children often use the mobile phones of women in their households, which may negatively affect their eyesight. He noted that some women give their phones to children to keep them distracted, allowing them to focus on their daily chores.
United States President Donald Trump has repeated his claim of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict and asserted that Islamabad's leadership credited him for saving millions of lives.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump addresses a press conference at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters

"We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India. And the head of Pakistan, a highly respected General, he's a Field Marshal and also the Prime Minister of Pakistan, said President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more...," Trump said Monday.

He made these remarks at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, flanked by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"You know, eight planes were shot down. That war was starting to rage, and he actually said the other day that President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more. So we solved all these wars. The only one I haven't solved yet is Russia, Ukraine," he said.

Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire after a "long night" of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim over 60 times that he "helped settle" the tensions between the two neighbours.

New Delhi has consistently denied any third-party intervention.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
The long-awaited announcement of an alliance between the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the January 15 civic elections in Mumbai could take place on Wednesday, Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray in conversation with MNS supremo Raj Thackeray at Balasaheb Thackeray memorial, Chhatrapati Shivaji Park to commemorate the 13th death anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, in Mumbai, November 17, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

"There will be a press conference (by Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray)," the Rajya Sabha MP said here, without providing more details.

Earlier in the day, he shared a picture of the two cousins with the caption "tomorrow at 12 pm".

Alliance talks between the two parties for the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have been going on for quite some time.

Raut also told reporters that besides the BMC, the two parties are in talks for tie-ups in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira Bhayander, Nashik and Pune municipal corporations. Local units have already concluded talks in the civic bodies other than Mumbai, he added.

Asked about a possible alliance between the NCP and NCP-SP in Pune, Raut said, "We will express our opinion if there is a discussion with us on this issue. We will have a discussion with NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar."

The NCP led by deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is in the camp of those "who trample upon the Constitution," and he has no right to be in the BJP-led ruling coalition `Mahayuti' (if he was going to form an alliance with the opposition NCP (SP) in Pune), Raut said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will contest together in Pune, and talks were underway with the Congress in Nashik, Pune and Mira Bhayander, he said.

Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam claimed that an alliance between the Thackeray cousins will not make much difference.

"There will be no impact on the outcome of the BMC elections even if the Thackeray cousins come together....I believe Mumbai-kars have made up their mind to support the BJP-led Mahayuti, and the mayor will be elected from among our corporators only," Satam added.

The elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Asia's largest civic body, as well as other 28 municipal corporations in Maharashtra will take place on January 15, and results will be declared the next day.

Sanjay Shirsat, a minister and leader of the Shiv Sena headed by deputy CM Eknath Shinde, said the Sena-UBT's tie-up with the MNS is a desperate attempt to secure power.

"There will be no impact....Mahayuti will win power in Mumbai. This alliance will not last long," Shirsat said.
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to set up a dedicated special tribunal handling insurrection cases, caused by former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol's botched martial law imposition last December.

The bill was passed through the National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party-proposed bill mandated the establishment of at least two benches each in the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court for the insurrection cases.

It also demanded the appointment of at least two judges in the Seoul Central District Court responsible for reviewing whether to issue warrants for search, seizure, arrest and detention relevant to the investigation of the insurrection cases.

The special benches will be set up at the district court level, but the current first trial bench will continue to handle Yoon's insurrection case, as it has already been in progress.

The main opposition People Power Party opposed it, calling it an attempt to seize control of the judiciary. 
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over the violence in Bangladesh, including the lynching of a Hindu man in the country.

IMAGE: A group of people set fire to The Daily Star newspaper office building following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka on December 19, 2025. Photograph: Abdul Goni/Reuters

"Yes, we're very concerned about the violence that we've seen in Bangladesh," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing on Monday.

He was responding to a question on the Secretary-General's response to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and especially the lynchings of Hindus in the last few days.

"Whether it's in Bangladesh or any other country, people who don't belong to the majority' need to feel safe, and all Bangladeshis need to feel safe. And we're confident that the Government will do what it can to keep every single Bangladeshi safe, Dujarric said.

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 last week.

Two more persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with Das's lynching. With the latest arrests, 12 people have been held for their alleged involvement in the murder, The Daily Star newspaper reported, quoting police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sources.

Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has said he was deeply troubled by the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a 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.

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.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday suspended the jail term of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is serving life imprisonment in the 2017 Unnao rape case, while imposing several conditions.

IMAGE: File image of Unnao rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Tis Hazari court, in New Delhi, August 19, 2019. Photograph: ANI Photo

A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar directed Sengar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh with three sureties of the like amount.

The high court also directed him not to come within a 5 km radius of the victim's residence in Delhi and not to threaten her or her mother.

"Violation of any of the conditions would lead to cancellation of bail," the court said.

Sengar's sentence has been suspended by the high court till the pendency of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence in the rape case. He has challenged a December 2019 trial court verdict in the rape case.

While pronouncing the verdict, the bench said the three sureties must be the residents of Delhi and also directed Sengar to stay in the national capital during the pendency of his appeal. He should remain available for completing the remaining part of the sentence if found guilty.

He was also asked by the high court to deposit his passport with the trial court and to report to the local police station every Monday at 10 am.

The high court listed his appeal before the roster bench on January 16, 2026, subject to orders of the chief justice.

Sengar kidnapped the minor and raped her in 2017.

The rape case and other connected cases were transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1, 2019.

Sengar's appeal against his conviction in the case of the custodial death of the survivor's father is also pending, where he has sought suspension of sentence on the ground that he has already spent a substantial time in jail.

He was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the custodial death case.
US Vice President J D Vance has lashed out at commentators for remarks against his Indian-origin wife Second Lady Usha Vance.

IMAGE: US Vice President J D Vance, second lady Usha Vance arrive at Ben Gurion airport in Lod Israel, on October 21, 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Pool via Reuters

Vance's remarks came in response to comments by right-wing podcaster Nick Fuentes, who used an ethnic slur to describe Usha and had referred to the Vice President as a "race traitor" on one of his livestreams.

"Let me be clear: anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat shit. That's my official policy as vice president of the United States," Vance said.

"And my attitude towards anybody, again, who is calling for judging people based on their ethnic heritage, whether they're Jewish or white or anything else, it's disgusting. We shouldn't be doing it," he said in an interview to UnHerd over the weekend.

Antisemitism, and all forms of ethnic hatred, have no place in the conservative movement. Whether you are attacking somebody because they're white or because they are black or because they're Jewish, I think it's disgusting, he said.

Fuentes, in one of his livestreams, said, "And now they're all in favour of a fat, race mixer who's married to a jeet, who named his son Vivek ... and that's your guy?"

"Your guy is literally a fat, gay race traitor who married a jeet..." he said, using a racial slur for Indians.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for president in 2024 and who is now running for governor of Ohio in 2026, had called out Fuentes for his racist remarks against Usha.

"If like Mr Fuentes.you publicly call Usha Vance a jeet, then you have no place in the conservative movement, period. The point isn't to clutch pearls, but to prevent the gradual legitimisation of this un-American animus," Ramaswamy had said.

Vance also hit back at Jen Psaki, the former Biden White House press secretary who is now a host on MS NOW.

(To) think the little Manchurian candidate, JD Vance wants to be president more than anything else. I always wonder what's going on in the mind of his wife. Are you OK? Please blink four times. Come over here, we'll save you. And that he's willing to do anything to get there," Psaki had said on the show.

Usha and JD Vance, who met while attending Yale Law School, have three kids - Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.

Usha is a litigator and has also clerked for Chief Justice John G Roberts of the US Supreme Court and Judge Brett Kavanaugh, then of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

She also has a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a master's degree from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

Her parents Krish Chilukuri and Lakshmi Chilukuri emigrated from India to the US in the late 1970s.

Krish Chilukuri is a lecturer in Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering, San Diego State University, according to the university website.

Lakshmi Chilukuri is a teaching professor at the Department of Molecular Biology and Provost, Sixth College at University of California, San Diego.
HANOI, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's golden population period is expected to end in 2036, giving way to an era of population aging and super-aging, according to a population forecast released by the National Statistics Office on Tuesday.

The golden population period is defined as a stage in which every two people of working age, ranging from 15 to 64, support one dependent person aged under 15 or aged 65 and above, the office said.

Over the 50-year period from 2024 to 2074, Vietnam's population is projected to grow by 2.5 percent under a low-fertility scenario, in which the average number of children per woman is 1.45, by 12.7 percent under a medium-fertility scenario with 1.85 children per woman, and by 17 percent under a high-fertility scenario with 2.01 children per woman.

Under the three scenarios, the country's population is expected to reach 103.9 million, 114.2 million and 118.5 million, respectively. 
Molly Gray has served as the Executive Director of the Vermont Afghan Alliance since April 2023. Previously, she served as Lt. Governor of Vermont from 2021 - 2023. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Five concepts from several universities, public research organisations and the tech industry have been shortlisted for the New Zealand governments new AI research platform.

The research platform will be overseen by the Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT)  a recently announced Public Research Organisation  with up to $70 million in government funding over seven years.

At the same time as announcing the concepts selected to establish the platform, Science Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti also revealed the inaugural board for the Institute, saying Steve OConnor will serve as establishment chair for its first six months.

The five concepts selected are:

The Aotearoa Agentic AI Platform  led by the University of Auckland and focused on next-generation AI assistants aligned with New Zealand values.

The Aotearoa Creative AI Research Institute  led by Weta FX with the aim to position New Zealand at the forefront of AI research for the creative sector.

The Aotearoa Institute for Autonomous Intelligence  led by Earth Sciences New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington to develop AI and autonomous systems for aerospace, marine and primary industries.

The BioAI Platform  led by the Bioeconomy Science Institute, using AI to drive productivity and export growth across agriculture, aquaculture and forestry.

The Physical AI for Real-World Systems, combining strengths from the University of Waikato and University of Canterbury to deliver AI that works in complex outdoor and industrial environments.

Each of the five shortlisted concepts will receive $250,000 to develop a detailed proposal for further assessment. The final platform is expected to be confirmed in the first half of 2026, with funding from July 2026. Applications for the platform opened in October.

The five concepts selected offered a strong mix of sector leadership and applications, Reti said.

Their selection is an exciting first step to significantly lift our AI capabilities, fast-track commercialisation and create new opportunities for New Zealanders.

The AI research platform will accelerate AI innovation, strengthen global and domestic partnerships, and drive the growth of high-tech businesses that boost the economy, Reti said.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on December 29, the agenda centers on Iran -- with a twist.

Israel is laser-focused on Irans ballistic missile program, which it views as the most urgent existential threat after the US-Israeli strikes severely damaged Iran's nuclear infrastructure during a 12-day aerial campaign in June.

This shift highlights a growing US-Israel divergence. Trump has repeatedly described Iran's nuclear threat as "obliterated," crediting wartime bombings of sites in Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz. Israel agrees the program is set back by a year or two.

However, it warns that missiles -- which Iran is working to amass -- could soon overwhelm defenses, as demonstrated when 36 out of 550 missiles struck Israeli soil in June, causing widespread damage.

Missiles As 'Immediate' Priority

Israeli officials, speaking to NBC News and Axios, describe Iran's missile ramp-up as "more pressing" than its nuclear program.

Israel says the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has carried out drills and has warned Washington that Tehran might use the exercises as cover for surprise attacks.

This comes amid contradictory reports in Iran over whether missile tests are actually taking place. Iranian media, including the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency, reported on December 22 that the armed forces were conducting drills, with users on social media sharing videos and footage of contrails in the skies over central and western Iran. However, the state broadcaster swiftly denied the reports, citing an unnamed "informed source" who insisted the contrails were from "highaltitude aircraft" and claimed that no exercises were underway.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief Eyal Zamir hinted at readiness for new strikes against Iran "wherever required," prioritizing production lines that Israel fears could churn out 3,000 missiles annually.

Netanyahu plans to present Trump with strike options -- Israeli-led, joint, or US-backed -- arguing missiles enable proxy wars via Hezbollah and Houthis while shielding Irans nuclear revival.

Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Israel is pressing the United States to reclassify missiles as weapons of mass destruction.

Israel is trying to shift this view, using the recent war's experience to convince the United States that Iran's missile capabilities are as existentially threatening as its nuclear ones, Nadimi said.

He noted US reluctance, viewing nukes as the core danger, now degraded, but added, From Israel's standpoint, these should count as weapons of mass destruction for its people.

Nadimi warned that total missile destruction could force a doctrinal pivot in Tehran.

If Israel fully destroys Iran's offensive missile capabilities... it would either have to surrender or make a fundamental doctrinal shift, he said, adding that Iran's technical path to nuclear warheads remains feasible in a secure lab using 90-percent enriched uranium stocks.

Irans Missile Red Line

Iran has long maintained that its missile program is non-negotiable, asserting it is purely defensive. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei reiterated this on December 22:

The defensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been designed with the aim of deterring aggressors from any thought of attacking Iran. Under no circumstances are they a matter that can be discussed or negotiated.

Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, noted that while the United States and Israel may want different things from Iran, they converge on one point: Iran is weakened now, so it's time to extract more concessions.

Iran has capped the range of its missiles at 2,000 kilometers, though in recent months it has hinted it could increase the limit if it deems necessary. Azizi said the United States and Israel want Iran to reduce the range of its missiles -- a non-starter for Tehran.

Even in the unlikely scenario of an agreement on Irans missile program, he noted that Washington is aware enforcement would be difficult, given the absence of any international monitoring body or safeguards regime for missile programs.

Against this backdrop, Azizi argued that missiles serve as pressure leverage:

First, to make Iran fully abandon [uranium] enrichment on its soil; second, to secure concessions on arms transfers to groups such as Hezbollah or the Houthis.

Iranian Media Gleeful Yet Concerned

Israeli rhetoric around Irans missile program has been met with a mixture of delight and alarm in Iranian media.

Highlighting Irans pace in replenishing its missile arsenal following the June war, the IRGC-affiliated newspaper Javan said Israel was terrified of Irans ability to launch hundreds of missiles in a potential conflict. The same sentiment was echoed by other hard-line outlets, such as Mehr news agency.

But others have urged caution. Bultan News argued that Netanyahu was exaggerating Irans ability to restore its missile stockpile to justify an attack. It added that Tehran must take the rhetoric seriously.

Every piece of news or report that is published can be part of a larger puzzle. Distinguishing which news is real and which is psychological warfare is not easy. But making that effort is a national security necessity, it argued.

Hannah Kaviani and Reza Jamali of RFE/RLs Radio Farda contributed to this report.
Russia carried out a series of overnight air attacks on Kyiv and key energy infrastructure targets as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Ukrainians to prepare for the possibility of Christmas day strikes.

Ukrainian air defense officials said Russian troops were carrying out a combined attack using cruise missiles and strike drones on December 23, with a large-scale air raid alert declared across the country.

Zelenskyy stated that Russia launched over 650 drones and more than 30 missiles in the overnight attack on Ukraine.

"An attack carried out essentially in the midst of negotiations aimed at ending this war. Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing. And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia," he added.

Zelenskyy warned that Russia was likely to intensify attacks over the holiday period. Ukraine now officially marks Christmas on December 25, aligning with Western traditions, though many Orthodox Christians continue to observe it on January 7, as in Russia.

"We understand that precisely on these days they may  this is in their nature  carry out massive strikes on Christmas," Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.

As a result of the attack on Kyiv, a five-story building was damaged, with four people were injured, including a teenage girl who was hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.

One person was killed and three others, including a child, were injured as a result of Russian attacks on the Kyiv region, the Ukraine Emergency Service reported on December 23.

According to local authorities, a person was killed in the western Ukrainian region of Khmelnytsky, while a child was killed and five others were injured in the northwestern Zhytomyr region as a result of Russian attacks.

"Air defense units are countering the aerial threat over the capital," Kyiv's military administration said. It urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear was issued.

Russia's Defense Ministry issued a statement on December 23, confirming the launch of a "massive strike" on Ukraine using the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and long-range strike drones "against enterprises of Ukraine's military-industrial complex and energy facilities that support their operations."

Overnight, Russian forces conducted another drone attack on Ukraine's northern Sumy region, hitting civilian infrastructure and causing power outages, according to regional authorities.

Separately, authorities in the Black Sea port of Odesa reported a second drone attack in less than 24 hours late on December 22, damaging port infrastructure and a civilian vessel.

"Russia is attacking our energy infrastructure again," the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said.

"As a result, emergency power cuts have been introduced in several regions of Ukraine."

Romania's Defense Ministry reported that Russian drones attacked Ukrainian ports near the Romanian border overnight, triggering alerts in the municipalities of Tulcea and Galati.

However, the ministry stated that there were no airspace violations.

No Breakthrough In Talks, Says Russia

In his December 23 statement, Zelenskyy said his negotiating team had delivered a detailed report on their meetings with the American team.

"They worked productively with envoys of President Trump, and several draft documents have now been prepared," he said.

"In particular, these include documents on security guarantees for Ukraine, on recovery, and on a basic framework for ending this war," Zelenskyy added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the RussiaUS talks in Miami were not a breakthrough but part of a working process.

He noted that the goal was to hear the American position after talks with Europeans and Ukrainians, and to see how it aligns with the spirit of the Anchorage meeting, referring to the August summit between US and Russian leaders in Alaska.

Zelenskyy On Ukraine's Security Guarantees

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine's security guarantees should include several pillars: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine  an army of 800,000  which requires funding," "membership in the European Union" for economic and military security, and a Coalition of the Willing of 30 countries to ensure security "in the air, on land, and at sea."

Additionally, legally binding US security guarantees approved by Congress that would include long-term commitments and a deterrence package defining how Ukraine's army is equipped and supported.

Meanwhile, European Commission announced it had disbursed an additional 2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) in financial assistance to Ukraine "to support the country's finances and public administration."

The commission said this is the sixth regular payment under the Ukraine Facility, the bloc's key instrument for supporting Ukraine's recovery, reforms and path towards EU membership.

"Ukraine is delivering real reforms at remarkable speed despite Russia's aggression. Through the Ukraine Facility, the EU is driving reforms that bring Ukraine closer to the EU while supporting critical needs, including winter energy security," European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said, according to a statement released by the commission.

Meanwhile, in Russia, an overnight Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at an industrial facility in the southern Stavropol region, local authorities said on December 23.

In the Russia's Krasnodar region, the fire resulting from the drone attacks on the fuel oil supply pipeline at the Black Sea port of Taman has been completely extinguished, the regional authorities reported.

Ukraine has regularly hit the Krasnodar region, targeting energy assets that Kyiv says fund and fuel the Kremlin's war effort.

With reporting from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, and dpa
As mass overnight Russian air attacks on Kyiv reportedly targeted the city area with more than 650 drones and 38 missiles, the Ukrainian military said it shot the vast majority down. At least three died in strikes across Ukraine, according to the office of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and witnesses recorded Shahed drones hitting civilian structures in Kyiv and nearby areas.
HANGZHOU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- As winter chill spreads across the Northern Hemisphere, demand for down jackets surges. Unknown to many consumers, the cozy coats they zip up likely trace their origins to Pinghu, a temperate county-level city in east China that experiences little snowfall.

Situated in Zhejiang Province, Pinghu is home to a modest population of just over 700,000 yet annually produces more than 200 million down jackets. The city dominates China's women's down jacket market, accounting for 80 percent of the country's production.

With over 2,000 merchants and a supply chain that employs more than 100,000 people in production, design and logistics, Pinghu has evolved from a garment processing base into a thriving hub for the "down economy."

In the 1980s, leveraging its proximity to the economic powerhouses of Shanghai and Hangzhou, Pinghu became a hub for garment processing. For decades, it served domestic and international brands, earning a global reputation where "one in every 100 garments worldwide was made in Pinghu."

However, the traditional original equipment manufacturer model eventually hit a bottleneck. Rising labor costs and escalating raw material prices began to squeeze profit margins, leading to a noticeable decline in orders.

The turning point arrived in 2014, when local merchants noticed that down jackets were outperforming other garment categories in both sales and profitability. Guided by local government support and market forces, over 1,000 manufacturers pivoted their operations. They integrated production lines and focused exclusively on the high-value down jacket segment, cementing a specialized industrial cluster.

Today, logistics fees for the market alone exceed 1 billion yuan (approximately 141.8 million U.S. dollars) annually, underscoring the immense volume of goods flowing through the city.

For years, Pinghu attracted buyers with "extreme cost-performance." However, local entrepreneurs soon recognized that price wars were not a sustainable long-term strategy. To ascend the value chain, the city had to transition from pure "manufacturing" to fostering "creation."

"Original design directly affects market competitiveness," said a local industry representative.

To facilitate this transformation, Pinghu has made substantial investments in branding and design. The city has engaged over 1,400 designers to establish a high-end fashion ecosystem that protects intellectual property rights and encourages innovative styles, positioning design as a key growth driver.

As the industry expanded rapidly, concerns emerged regarding product quality consistency. To safeguard the sector's health and maintain consumer trust, Pinghu has pioneered a transparent quality control system.

Collaborating with 17 organizations across seven provinces and municipalities, Pinghu has released a white paper on the quality grading of down jackets, classifying products based on five core indicators including down content and fluffiness.

"We have filled the gap in national standards for fine grading," said Hu Guohua, head of the city's down jacket industry quality promotion center.

Now, premium jackets feature tags with QR codes that enable consumers to verify the "invisible engineering" inside their coats.

Looking ahead, Pinghu is intensifying its focus on the "Fashion Pinghu" regional brand initiative. By establishing intellectual property protection centers and launching industry revitalization plans, the city is committed to upgrading its pillar industry to ensure it remains a strong force in the global down jacket market. 
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Taoiseach has his head in the sand over a united Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald has said, as she said there was no pressure on the UK Government to engage constructively on a border poll.

In an interview with the Press Association, Ms McDonald said the clause around a border poll was the beating heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

It states that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may order a border poll if it appears likely that a majority would vote for a united Ireland, but the circumstances for such an assessment have not been specified.

Asked if the lack of clearer parameters in the wording was a mistake, Ms McDonald said: I think it was one of these sort of constructive solutions, workarounds.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

She added that she was aware that the decision would be made by the Prime Minister rather than the Northern Ireland Secretary.

And whilst Dublin is passive and whilst you have a Taoiseach with their head buried in the sand, theres no incentive  much less any pressure  on London to look constructively and to respond to the reality and the need for referendums.

She added: I think the Brits saying Oh, well, you know, well know when or were not saying  I dont think thats a sustainable position.

Ms McDonald said the only responsible position was to prepare for referendums.

She particularly criticised Taoiseach Micheal Martin as he called on him to prepare a green paper on Irish unity.

He has to become an enabler of this conversation. I mean, for the love of God, it should be a no-brainer that Irelands national interest is served by ending partition. You dont have to be some kind of economic guru to figure that out.

In the Borderland podcast produced by BBC Northern Ireland this year, former Sinn Fein Executive minister Michelle Gildernew referred to the six counties as a shithole.

Asked how this language could be used in convincing people to support a united Ireland, Ms McDonald distanced herself from the remarks: It certainly wouldnt be what I would say. Those six counties are six fantastic, beautiful Ulster counties.

However, she said partition had failed the whole island economically, socially and politically.

While those elected to the Assembly and Executive do their very best, Ms McDonald said they do so with one hand tied behind their back due to underfunding from the UK Government.

But you have other instances where there is real economic damage and real cost of having two of everything systemically on one small island.

Theres a cost attached to that, and theres no point in us pulling our punches and pretending that thats not the case. Partition is a problem, not just for the North. Its a problem for the whole island.

The UK and Irish Governments have hailed a reset in relations as precipitating progress on other Northern Ireland-related matters, such as reforms to dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.

However, the Sinn Fein leader said she feared this may amount to lip service as she said the Irish Government cannot blink on the matter.

Ireland took an interstate case over legacy legislation brought in by the previous Conservative Government, and indicated it will not drop the action until the reforms are passed.

Ms McDonald: We had big promises from Keir Starmer and from the Labour Party in advance of the election. I think they have resiled from the clarity of that position and yes, that worries me.

And we know that for lots and lots of people  victims, survivors, on all sides, including victims of the IRA  will tell you that far from these things being legacy or in the past, its still very much in the present with them.

We cant undo what has been done, you cant rewrite history. But what we can do is ensure that the mechanisms deployed are about the search for truth, that theyre about closure, in as much as you can bring closure.

And that they are not mechanisms to actually obscure what happened or to, for the purposes of the British state, to actually hide what actually happened, what their war in Ireland was actually about.

Ms McDonald said there are recent examples of victims questioning the bona fides of the British government.

Dublin still has their interstate case  and I think we need to be very, very clear. Either London will get this right or they will get it wrong, and if they get it wrong, the government in Dublin cannot blink.
GAZA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- At just 17, Nagham Mishmish was abruptly pushed from adolescence into adulthood after losing both her parents in an Israeli airstrike during the latest war in the Gaza Strip.

Overnight, she became the sole caregiver and provider for her five younger siblings.

Inside a tent pitched amid the rubble of their former home in al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Nagham cradles her two-year-old brother Hassan, her voice barely above a whisper as she speaks of the life she now must navigate.

"Before the war, I was just their sister," she told Xinhua. "Now, I have to be both a mother and a father. It is a heavy responsibility, but I have no other choice."

Rising before dawn each day, Nagham prepares meals for her siblings before they head to makeshift classes held in nearby tents.

When they return, she helps them with their lessons, trying to compensate for the absence of their mother, who once oversaw every detail of the family's daily life.

"I was supposed to be in the 11th grade," the girl murmured, her face lacking the bright, carefree joy typical for someone at her age. "Instead of studying for my own future, I now have to focus on taking care of my siblings. My mother used to do that, and now I am forced to replace her."

The war, Nagham added, not only took her parents but also what remained of her childhood. "I miss the days of living a normal life, going out with friends, and thinking about myself," she said. "Now, I cook, clean, and figure out how to provide for my brothers and sisters."

Like other war-made orphans across the Gaza Strip, Nagham's household is burdened by profound financial hardship, compounded by widespread devastation and the absence of a steady income.

"Sometimes my siblings ask for simple things, like shoes or clothes, and I cannot provide them," she said. "It makes me feel helpless and adds even more pressure on me."

A similar story unfolds in northern Gaza. Thirteen-year-old Rahaf Bader lost her father in an Israeli bombing, while her mother later died of cancer after being unable to travel outside Gaza for medical treatment due to restrictions.

Rahaf now lives with her three sisters in a tent in Jabalia refugee camp, after all of them were injured in an earlier strike.

"I should be at school," she told Xinhua, struggling to hold back tears. "But instead, I cook, wash clothes, and take care of my sisters."

Once aspiring to become a doctor, Rahaf said her dreams have been eclipsed by the harsh demands of daily survival. "All I think about now is how to protect my sisters and make up for the loss of our parents," she said. "The responsibility placed on me is beyond my strength, but it cannot be put off."

Nagham and Rahaf are among tens of thousands of children who lost one parent or both during the Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. According to the Hamas-run media office in Gaza, the war has resulted in the deaths of around 12,500 women, including approximately 9,000 mothers, and 22,400 fathers, raising the number of orphans in Gaza to 57,000.

Maysaa Abu al-Ata, a Palestinian psychologist, told Xinhua that the psychological toll of the war has been profound, especially among orphaned children.

"They are experiencing complex trauma that combines the pain of loss with responsibilities far beyond their age," al-Ata noted.

"The absence of parents deprives children of their basic sense of security," she said. "When children suppress their own emotions to care for others, the psychological damage may emerge later in life." 
Gordon Deegan

A judge has imposed a six-year prison term on a father for the grotesque sexual assault of his then 14-year-old daughter at their Co Clare home.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed the six-year prison term with the last six months suspended on the 42-year-old after he sexually assaulted his daughter in her bedroom after he had been drinking downstairs to excess while watching on TV an Arsenal v Manchester Utd Premier League tie on January 22nd 2023.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Berkeley said that an aggravating factor in the case was the significant breach of trust as the relationship between the two was father and daughter, and there is no greater breach which occurs in such a familial relationship.

Judge Berkeley said that the age disparity between the two was also an aggravating factor, as the accused was in his 40s and his daughter was 14 at the time and was going through changes in her body, a significant time of development.

Judge Berkeley said that the sexual assault upstairs in the family home in Co Clare was a very serious violation of trust and the nature of abuse committed, which included digital penetration, was grotesque.

Judge Berkeley stated that during the sexual assault, the man french-kissed his daughter and asked her, Did you like that?

Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey), said that the girl told her father to go away, but he kept on doing it.

Judge Berkeley said that the sexual assault was in the 'mid-range' of sexual assault offences.

Judge Berkeley said that the man, who cannot be identified in order to protect the identity of the complainant in the case, pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault against his daughter between January and April 2023, and a jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts at the end of a three-day trial in November.

Judge Berkeley said that the complainant in the case came across as a very quiet girl during the trial.

The teenager, now aged 17 and currently studying at secondary school, declined to provide a victim impact statement for the sentencing hearing.

At the sentencing hearing, counsel, Rebecca Treacy BL (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) for the accused, said that her client doesnt accept the jurys verdict and confirmed that a letter written by the accused, handed into court, doesnt show any remorse.

Judge Berkeley said that during the January 22nd to April 2023 period, the accused sexually assaulted his daughter on a regular basis, but the first incident on January 22nd was by far the most serious.

Investigating the Garda in the case, Garda Nadine Keane said that the complainant disclosed the sexual assaults to a best friend at school.

School authorities were informed shortly after, who in turn notified TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency.

Garda Keane said that the accused agreed to leave the family home as part of a Safety Plan after TUSLA presented him with the allegations. The man resided at a Limerick address after leaving the family home.

Ms Comerford said that the accused denied all allegations and gave the impression of a very good relationship with his daughter.

She said that the accused said that he kissed all his children on the lips when saying goodnight to them; that the allegations were lies, and he accidentally hit his daughter's breast, and he apologised for that.

Ms Treacy said that there was no evidence of force or coercion used in the assaults and that the timeframe was relatively short.

The man has 15 previous convictions. Judge Berkeley backdated the sentence to November when she first remanded the man in custody after the jury verdict.

Judge Berkeley said that the man is now also on the Sex Offenders Register.

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.
Olivia Kelleher

An Indian man who died after his car went into the river as he made his way home from work in heavy rain in Co Cork has received a fond farewell following a phenomenal outpouring of compassion and love, his visitation has heard.

Prayers were said for Joice Thomas (34) at Ronaynes Funeral Home in Fermoy, Co Cork on Tuesday afternoon prior to his last journey to his homeland for his funeral and burial.

The father of two died following an accident on the R628 Conna Road on Friday evening as he made his way home having completed a shift as a kitchen assistant at a nursing home in Leamlara.

Mr Thomas was pronounced dead on Saturday after his car was taken from the water. A passerby had spotted the cat submerged in the water.

He lived on Main Street in Ballynoe, Co Cork with his wife Ruby Kuriakose, their four-month-old son Jacques and their two-year-old daughter Jacqueline. Ms Kuriakose works as a nurse.

His Grace Bishop Abraham Mar Stephanos, Diocesan Metropolitan in the Indian Orthodox Church, told mourners who gathered this afternoon that the community in Ireland and India had come together to assist the family of Mr Thomas at their time of great need.

His Eminence Stephanos said that people of diverse identities had joined forces following this tragic event.

We participate together especially in this season of the joy of the Feast of the Nativity. It is absolutely incomprehensible and unacceptable for anyone with a sensitive heart to accept the reality of the passing away of a young man.

But we see the spirit of the real love overflowing among all of us. For the past more than 48 hours I get to listen to stories of how people can come together at a time of a loss and in the face of a tragedy.

The media and social media  everything revolves around bad news. But we see here how human compassion works together. This is one of the greatest example that love prevails in the world. Goodness sustains in the world. Exemplary leadership, compassion and love has been shown.

Over 102,000 has been raised for the family of the deceased and to pay for the repatriation of the body to his native Kambammettu in Kerala in India.

His Eminence Stephanos said that outpouring of love from various faiths and communities was a source of comfort to all those who mourned.

The sadness of the family of Joice Thomas cannot be compensated by the money or anything that we reflect on now.

"But having said that the love being shown right at this moment and in the past two days is phenomenal. It gives us hope that the power of love sustains. This is something that Christ told us.

Mr Thomas is survived by his wife Ruby and their children, his parents and a sister.

He will also be much missed by his extended family, loyal friends in Ireland and India, work colleagues and his kind neighbours.

A mass of solidarity was also held at Ballynoe parish Church this morning in support of the family and friends of Mr Thomas.

Donations can be made to the Go Fund page at https://gofund.me/18a0b472b
Bozeman - The U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) established a national Jan. 15, 2026, batching deadline for the first funding round of key conservation programs. This national batching date ensures producers have a clear, consistent timeline for participating in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). This includes NRCS new Regenerative Pilot Program, which provides targeted Farmer First assistance through EQIP and CSP.

The NRCS team continues its commitment to Montanas producers  advancing conservation, strengthening service delivery, and keeping our promise to the farmers, ranchers, and foresters who feed and fuel our nation, said NRCS State Conservationist Gayle Barry.

NRCS programs are continuous sign-up programs, but due to the government shutdown, the agency is implementing an initial national batching period to ensure producers have access to funding and support.

Updated NRCS Program Timelines

All NRCS conservation programs remain continuous sign-up.

Farmers and ranchers have until Jan. 15, 2026, to apply for the first batching period.

National and State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) will follow later in the year.

PL-566 and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) opportunities remain open for sponsors based on available funding.

Programs with a Jan. 15, 2026, batching period deadline include:

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

New NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program (EQIP & CSP)

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects already selected for implementation with producers

For more information, please visit nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center.
Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) is proud to announce the 4th annual Minnow Tank business competition, offering $10,000 in cash awards to rural entrepreneurs across northeastern Montana. The contest supports both startups and existing small businesses looking to grow, turning strong ideas into sustainable operations.

Minnow Tank isnt just a competition; its a proven community investment model. Over the past three years, more than 60 individuals have applied, with over 75% of past finalists still operating their businesses today. Thats over $40,000 awarded directly to business owners in northeastern Montana. All donations go straight to award recipients.

Minnow Tank isnt about putting on a show; its about providing real capital to real businesses that are building something in rural Montana, said Quincy Walter, GNDC Small Business Advisor. Weve seen that when entrepreneurs have access to both planning tools and funding, theyre more likely to launch and stay in business, and the Minnow Tank success rate backs that up.

2026 Minnow Tank Key Dates:

Business Plan Submission Deadline: March 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. - Online submission only. Drop-off applications or mailed-in applications for the 2026 competition will not be accepted.

Finalist Announcement: March 24, 2026

Live Finale Event: April 30, 2026  Glasgow, MT

Awards: Two $5,000 cash prizes  one for a startup, one for an expanding business

Eligibility:

Applicants must be 18 years or older. The competition is not open to nonprofits. Business plans must be submitted via the GNDC Minnow Tank Page by March 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. MST. See the event website for complete competition rules.

Free Business Plan Writing Workshops  Open to All

To support Minnow Tank applicants and other entrepreneurs in the region, GNDC and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are hosting a free workshop series in seven communities this January. These trainings are open to any individual interested in learning how to write a business plan, even if they do not intend to compete in the Minnow Tank competition.

Each workshop will walk participants through the full structure of a business plancovering key areas like financial projections, marketing, and operationswhile also showing how a well-written plan can improve funding opportunities, strategic clarity, and long-term sustainability.

Attendees will also receive free access to LivePlan, GNDCs online business plan software tool that simplifies planning and helps elevate the professionalism of each plan.

Strong business plans lead to better funding, better decisions, and more stability, said Walter. This class is designed to give business owners the tools they need to be taken seriously by lenders, partners, and customers.

Class Schedule  Business Plan Writing Workshops

Glasgow: Jan. 6, 9-11 a.m., Cottonwood Inn, 54250, US-2,

Wolf Point: Jan. 6, 2-4 p.m., Great Northern Development Corporation, 233 Cascade St.

Sidney: Jan. 7, 2-4 p.m., Richland County Extension Office, 1499 N. Central Ave.

Jordan: Jan. 8, 9-11 a.m., Garfield County Bank, 444 Main St.

Circle: Jan. 8, 2-4 p.m., Circle Cinema, 313 Main St.

Scobey: Jan. 9, 9-11 a.m., Farver Farms Event Center, 608 Main St.

Plentywood: Jan. 9, 1-3 p.m., Sheridan County Courthouse Jubilee Room, 224 S. Main St.

All trainings are free and open to the public. Registration is required; you may register at gndc.org.

Entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to work one-on-one with Quincy Walter, SBDC Business Advisor at GNDC.

Advising is 100% free and confidential, available to anyone in the region seeking help building or refining a business plan.

Community partners and local businesses are invited to sponsor Minnow Tank. All funds raised go directly to awardees.

For more information on becoming a sponsor, contact GNDC at [email protected].
Rau School District was one of three Montana school districts that were awarded matching grant funds totaling $23,610 by the Producer Partnership, Livingston, MT.

Awards represent matching grant funds with a two-year lead gift from AMB West Foundation, along with additional funders.

"The matching freezer grant program was initiated to help school districts across Montana who do not have adequate freezer storage space to store cull animal donations from local farmers and ranchers. Cull animal donations are processed into top-quality protein at no charge by the Producer Partnership. We are honored that AMB West Foundation and other generous funders work with us to provide matching grant funds for school districts to purchase freezers to store donated protein for their school meal programs. We are excited about this two-year grant making program and the positive impact it will make in bringing local protein to the lunchroom in schools across the state," said Matt Pierson, Producer Partnership founder and president.

With these funds, Rau School will replace their aging chest freezers with an upright reach-in freezer, making it easier to see what is on-hand and save time.

"We are super excited because our kitchen and storage is very small. We are using chest freezers and that is challenging because myself and Angie Handford (Rau School co-food director) are short-statured, and it's hard getting things out of these chest freezers," explained Kari Jones, Rau School co-food director. "A new freezer will be easier on us."

Jones and Handford, along with the rest of Rau School would like to thank the Producer Partnership for the funding that will make day-to-day life in the kitchen a whole lot easier.

The Producer Partnership is the first 501c3 non-profit, USDA federally inspected meat processing facility in the country. The organization was founded during Covid in the spring of 2020 as a way for neighbors to help neighbors, their mission being to end hunger in Montana. The non-profit partners with livestock producers statewide and processes livestock into top-quality protein at no cost. That protein is then donated to schools, food banks, senior centers and other non-profit organizations to help those in need.

Dixon School District and Ennis School District were also awarded a portion of the matching grant funds. The Producer Partnership has donated nearly 350,000 pounds of Montana-raised animal protein to Montana Food Bank Network and other charities, as well as schools across the Big Sky State since it was formed in 2020. To learn more about the Producer Partnership or to donate livestock, visit https://www.producerpartnership.com/.
For those who are looking for community interaction, interested in learning an old-fashioned skill, or just simply looking for a way to offset those winter blues, join McKenzie County Heritage Park & North Dakota Oil Museum, 904 2nd Ave. SW, Watford City, for another season of Wintering Well: Slow Down & Savor. Classes begin Jan. 2, 2026, and will continue the first Friday of each month through the winter, 5-7 p.m. CT..

The holiday season is a time where many remember and honor past traditions, though it can also be a time where the usual business of life gets ramped up. In this modern word, we are heavily inundated with outside pressures that tell us to "keep busy and work harder". Technology can be a constant pull, drawing us away from quiet connection.

But, for many of the people who settled and lived in this region before us, life, the holidays and winter in general carried a different feeling altogether. The winter season was often a time that was looked forward to and folks seemed more willing to go along with nature rather than struggling against it. Winter is a time of rest and renewal. A time for life to slow, and strength and energy to be gathered for spring, summer and fall. With the cold winter outside their doors, people were content to sit by the fire, catch up with friends and family, and engage in pastimes that were both fun and functional.

These Hygge style Wintering Well evenings offer an opportunity to slow down and savor this time of year. Bring a crocheting, knitting or embroidery project or start a new one. Even if you have no experience with these skills, bring a crochet hook and some yarn and other participants can help you get started. In addition to learning new skills and practicing existing ones, there is good conversation to share, new relationships to foster and snacks will be served.

These classes are intended for adults, but tweens who want to learn are welcome to come along with their parents. There is no charge to join, but donations are always welcome.

Take a step back from technology and busy schedules to reconnect with the old-fashioned life at these cozy, creative sessions, and Winter Well this season.

For more information, visit McKenzie County Heritage Park & North Dakota Oil Museum's Facebook page or call them at 701-842-6434.
RIVERDALE, ND - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha Districts Garrison Project has released the 2025-2026 winter access policy for Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon.

This year, there will be 116 areas and points of entry to Lake Sakakawea and 20 areas and points of entry to Lake Audubon. They are a combination of boat ramps, shoreline access sites and freeways located in limited development areas. Some points will be foot traffic only due to terrain. Entry points, defined in the policy, are available for the period of the calendar year in which Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon freeze over through March 15, 2026, or until the lake becomes free of ice.

The Corps of Engineers maintains an interactive web application that displays all currently approved ice access locations and their status. Users can access this data by visiting https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e7b8ba79472b485a8c4d291579a4edbe from any computer or smart phone, or by downloading the ESRI application on a mobile device. Search Lake Sakakawea Ice Access to locate ice access within the ESRI application.

Lewis and Clark Magnum Point and Hofflund Bay Wildlife Management Area are open since muzzle loader season ended Dec. 15.

Driving on the ice is not recommended at any time. Extreme caution should be used when recreating on the ice as any winter activity performed on the ice can be hazardous. Thin ice or open water may exist near springs and pressure ridges throughout the winter.

Anglers are required to use only licensed, motorized vehicles and existing authorized public roads for entering and leaving ice fishing access areas. Some public roads may be closed by snow drifting and will not be plowed open. In these instances, operating a motor vehicle off-road to obtain access is not allowed. Additionally, the public is reminded that lake access is for ice fishing purposes only. Restrictions are in place to preclude the public from using the ice to cross the reservoir.

All Title 36 Regulations apply to the Ice Fishing Access Sites. North Dakota Game and Fish Wildlife Management Area regulations apply within all WMAs located on federal lands around the reservoir. Additionally, North Dakota Game and Fish have specific regulations pertaining to the use of ice fishing spear houses within the state of North Dakota and the spread of aquatic nuisance species. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rules and regulations apply to all access points on Lake Audubon located within the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encourages anglers to have fun, but also follow the Always, know before you go. motto. Before accessing any body of water, check in with nearby bait shops, outfitters, game wardens or public land managers who may be valuable sources for ice condition updates.

Additional information can be found on the Lake Sakakawea website at https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dam-and-Lake-Projects/Missouri-River-Dams/Garrison/ or by following the Garrison Project and Lake Sakakawea Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/USACEGarrison.

Questions can be directed to the following offices:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Riverdale Office: 701-654-7761

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Williston Office: 701-713-9000

North Dakota Game & Fish, Riverdale office: 701-654-7475

North Dakota Game & Fish, Williston office: 701-774-4320

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters: 701-442-5474
The award highlighted his role in shaping contemporary Hindi literature and inspiring generations of writers. File Photo.

Shukla was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India, in 2024.

Vinod Kumar Shukla, Jnanpith Award-Winning Hindi Writer, Passes Away at 89



A Jnanpith Award recipient and one of Indias most respected literary figures, renowned Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla died on Tuesday evening at the age of 89, his family told news agency PTI. Shukla passed away due to age-related ailments after being hospitalised for breathing difficulties, marking a profound loss for modern Hindi literature.

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On December 2, Shukla was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur after experiencing respiratory distress. His deteriorating health drew attention in recent months, with earlier hospital care in a private facility in October before he was discharged upon initial improvement.

He was born in Rajnandgaon in present-day Chhattisgarh. Shukla emerged as a singular voice in Hindi writing, known for his minimalist, surreal prose and simple yet deeply evocative poetry. His work blended restraint with radical imagination, earning admiration across Indias literary circles.

Naukar Ki Kameez, Khilega To Dekhenge, his poetry collection Lagbhag Jai Hind, and Ek Chuppi Jagah were among his most acclaimed creations. These works showcased his ability to illuminate the human condition with subtlety and insight, making complex emotional landscapes accessible through deceptively simple language.

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Shukla was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India, in 2024. He became the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive this prestigious recognition for outstanding contribution to Indian literature. The award highlighted his role in shaping contemporary Hindi literature and inspiring generations of writers.

Shukla is survived by his wife, son Shashwat, and a daughter. His familys announcement and reflections from peers underscore the deep respect he commanded in literary communities nationwide.

As tributes pour in, India mourns a luminary whose work will continue to resonate with readers and writers alike, affirming his place as a timeless voice in Hindi letters.

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Source: Hindustan Times
BJP's Anju Bhargava hitting visually impaired Christian woman over conversion goes viral

As the Christmas celebration continues, similar incidents are surfacing.

Anju Bhargava, BJP District Vice President Anju Bhargava mistreating a visually impaired Christian woman in in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur during a Christian event, has gone viral on social media platforms.

In the video, the visually impaired Christian woman can be seen seated on a chair next to a child, when the BJPs Anju Bhargava gets physical by grabbing the seated womans face with force.

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Fact-Checker and co-founder Alt News, Mohammad Zubair in a post on his X account, wrote , Anju Bhargava, along with members of the Hindu Raksha Dal, entered a church and began misbehaving, accusing those present of religious conversion.

According to an India Today report, Anju Bhargava, along with workers of several Hindu organizations, alleged religious conversions.

The Christmas event was held in the community hall behind Hawabagh Church, with the BJP leader and the Hindu organisations claiming the religious site did not have permission for the same, the India Today report added.

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As the Christmas celebration continues, similar incidents are surfacing.

(For more news apart from BJP's Anju Bhargava hitting visually impaired Christian woman over conversion goes viral," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Former Ambassador Of India To Bangladesh Calls Situation In Bangladesh Very Volatile

Yesterday, their Home Advisor said that they have no information that the person has gone to India, Veena Sikri added.

Former Ambassador of India to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, on Tuesday, called the situation in Bangladesh very volatile, citing late youth leader Osman Hadis influence on the people there.

Veena Sikri, speaking to news agency ANI, said, "The situation within Bangladesh is very volatile because we know that Osman Hadi, the person who heads the Inqilab Manch, was shot at, and he died.

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But now there's a huge difference of opinion between this Inqilab Manch and their supporters and the Yunus regime, she added.

Speaking about Indias alleged involvement in the death of Hadi, she said, Immediately after Osman Hadi was shot at, the Bangladesh Foreign Office called our High Commissioner in Dhaka, saying that India is involved and that the person has escaped to India. We protested vigorously. But now the Bangladesh government is forced to recognise that India is not involved.

Yesterday, their Home Advisor said that they have no information that the person has gone to India, Veena Sikri added.

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The former ambassador of India to Bangladesh also said that now, Inqilab March is very angry with the Yunus regime and saying they might withdraw support and call upon them to resign, and so on. So that volatility is building up in Bangladesh..."

Meanwhile, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla, while speaking to the news agency, demanded strong action from the centre on the issue of minorities in Bangladesh.

He stated that despite the Congress party raising the issue in the parliament, the ruling party is not taking strong measures.

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Calling the matter serious, Shukla said, Bangladesh, which used to be so close to us, is now drifting away. This also raises questions about our foreign policy  what kind of foreign policy is it that we have no allies in the world?

Bangladesh is our neighbouring country; we had such good relations, and we played a major role in its liberation. Now, people there are turning against us, and Hindus are being harassed in such a way. I think this is very wrong, and the government should take some strong steps in this matter..." he added.

(For more news apart from Former Ambassador Of India To Bangladesh Calls Situation In Bangladesh Very Volatile," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his call to take over Greenland, which triggered strong objections from Greenland, Denmark and the European Union.

"We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

The claim contrasted with his administration's earlier remarks, which cited a combination of national security concerns, Arctic strategy, and the potential of critical minerals and natural resources as drivers of U.S. interest.

On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland.

"We have to have it (Greenland) and he (Landry) wanted to lead the charge," Trump said.

In response, Landry said on X that the special envoy position would be "a volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S."

"They say Denmark owns it. Denmark has spent no money and has no military protection," Trump said.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, was granted home rule in 1979. In 2009, Denmark passed the Act on Greenland Self-Government, expanding the island's authority over its domestic affairs. However, Denmark retains authority over Greenland's foreign, defense and security policy, according to information on the website of the Prime Minister's Office of Denmark.

Trump's appointment of the envoy to Greenland has sparked strong diplomatic reactions in Greenland, Denmark and the European Union.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Monday that he would summon U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery over the appointment.

"I am very upset about this appointment of a special envoy. And I am particularly upset about the envoy's statements, which we find completely unacceptable," Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster TV 2.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Monday in a joint statement that they expect respect for their "joint territorial integrity" from the U.S. side.

"We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. You cannot annex other countries. Not even with an argument about international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. should not take over Greenland," the statement said.

"Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union (EU)," EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told a press conference Monday, adding that the bloc's stance is grounded in a long-standing position on the issue. 
Hyderabad: Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad, Others, hold protests against atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh

He stated that the government of India should take strict action for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Hyderabad News: Members of Vishva Hindu Parishad, along with other Hindu organisations, on Tuesday held a protest in Kothapet, Hyderabad, against attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

Shashidhar, VHP's National spokesperson, speaking to news agency ANI, said," Atrocities are being done against Hindus in Bangladesh.

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He stated that the government of India should take strict action for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh.

The spokesperson also issued a warning, saying, Bangladesh infiltrators and Rohingyas in large numbers are living in Bhagya Nagar. If the state government doesn't take any action, then VHP will announce an action."

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#WATCH | Siliguri, West Bengal | Hindu Jagran Manch & Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) jointly staged a protest in front of the Bangladesh Visa Application Centre over atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, on 22nd December pic.twitter.com/FWRm8sNocm  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

Laxman Bansal, President, North Bengal Region, VHP, speaking to ANI, said," Hindu Jagran Manch & Vishwa Hindu Parishad today protested against the killing of Dipu Chandra Das (in Bangladesh). Why is it that where ever Hindus are in a minority, they are being attacked?... We have urged Bangladesh Visa Application Centre officials to keep the centre closed."

Additionally, Hindu Jagran Manch & Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) jointly staged a protest in front of the Bangladesh Visa Application Centre in Siliguri, Bangladesh, over atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, on 22nd December, ANI reported.

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Meanwhile, heavy security has been deployed near the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, in view of a protest announced by Vishva Hindu Parishad against the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das.

Members of the Sarbo Bharatiya Hindi Bangali Sangathan, VHP, and the Bajrang Dal also held a protest against the atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh and the brutal mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, near Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Metro Station.

Protest by hindu organisations are also being held in Madhya Pradesh's Bhoptal.

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Fresh violence erupted in Bangladesh following the death of a youth leader, who was shot by an unidentified person and died a week later in Singapore during treatment.

Following the shooting, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was mob lynched over alleged blasphemy, reportedly on 18 December, indicating the hatred towards minorities in Bangladesh. Bangladeshs interim government had condemned the crime, saying there is no space for such crimes.

Yesterday, Hindu organizations and other minority groups staged a protest in Dhaka, calling Dipu "innocent", and claiming that he had issues with colleagues, which led to the mob lynching and not blasphemy.

(With inputs from ANI)

(For more news apart from Hyderabad: VHP Warns of Action if Govt Fails to Act Against Alleged Bangladesh Infiltrators, Rohingyas," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The CDS highlighted that such technologies are reshaping the character of conflict, making future battlegrounds faster, more interconnected, and technologically complex. File Photo.

Gen Chauhan described modern warfare as being on the verge of a third revolution in military affairs.

India Must Be Ready for Short and Long-Term Wars, Says CDS Gen Anil Chauhan

On Monday, while addressing an audience at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said that India should be prepared to confront both short-duration, high-intensity conflicts as well as long-duration territorial wars to safeguard its national security. The top military official emphasised that evolving security threats demand holistic preparedness across the conflict spectrum, according to defence sources.

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Gen Chauhan noted that India must be capable of deterring terrorism through swift, high-intensity operations, citing examples such as Operation Sindoor, while also being ready for protracted, land-centric conflicts arising from unresolved territorial disputes with its neighbours. He clarified that although he did not name specific countries, Indias challenges stem from adversaries with significant military capabilities, warning that deterrence thresholds must not be breached.

Gen Chauhan described modern warfare as being on the verge of a third revolution in military affairs, which he termed asconvergence warfare. This paradigm reflects the increasing influence of diverse technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, edge computing, hypersonics, advanced materials, and robotics, on how wars are fought. The CDS highlighted that such technologies are reshaping the character of conflict, making future battlegrounds faster, more interconnected, and technologically complex.

Gen Chauhan said that one of the major implications of this transformation is that multi-domain operations, where actions in one domain footprint (land, air, sea, cyber or space) have immediate effects on others, will transition from being an option to a necessity for effective military response. He highlighted how Operation Sindoor, a brief but decisive campaign lasting around four days, demonstrated the importance of coordinating capabilities across domains with tempo and precision.

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According to defence experts, for successful implementation of such operations, the CDS underscored the need for multi-domain capabilities and extensive coordination among the Army, Navy, and Air Force and also across cyber, space, and cognitive warfare wings. He suggested that this integrated approach will be central to Indias defence readiness in an era of rapid geopolitical change.

Source: Hindustan Times
Aviation sources said earlier this month, IndiGo faced major disruption that led to the cancellation of thousands of flights nationwide, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded and triggering regulatory scrutiny.File Photo.

The cancellations come amid ongoing operational challenges for the country's largest airline.

IndiGo Cancels 50+ Flights Across India: Chandigarh and Amritsar Among Affected Airports

On Tuesday, IndiGo cancelled around 50 domestic flights across several Indian airports, including Chandigarh, Amritsar, Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi, Pune, Indore and Patna, according to the airlines official flight status on its website. The airline has not publicly disclosed an official reason for the cancellations.

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The cancellations come amid ongoing operational challenges for the countrys largest airline. Aviation sources said earlier this month, IndiGo faced major disruption that led to the cancellation of thousands of flights nationwide, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded and triggering regulatory scrutiny. In response to the earlier disruption, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) constituted a four-member investigation panel to examine the airlines manpower planning, pilot rostering systems, and its preparedness to implement recently updated duty and rest norms for pilots. The panel has already summoned and questioned IndiGos Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidre Porqueras, and its report is expected this week, DGCA officials confirmed.

Industry sources said that under its winter schedule, the airline was initially permitted to operate 15,014 flights per week (about 2,144 flights per day) on domestic routes, a 6 per cent increase over the previous summer season. However, after the earlier cancellations, which at one point reached 1,600 flights in a single day, the government reduced IndiGos schedule by 10 per cent, limiting it to no more than 1,930 daily flights (excluding international and cargo services).

Industry officials have linked the disruptions to a combination of crew shortages, pilot scheduling issues, and compliance with new aviation norms, although IndiGo has not publicly confirmed these as the causes behind the latest round of cancellations. The airline continues to update its flight status through official channels, advising affected passengers to check before travelling.

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Aviation analysts observed that the repeated cancellations have reignited concerns over operational stability at IndiGo and the robustness of airline scheduling practices ahead of the peak holiday season.

Source: The Tribune




Kerala Mob Lynching: Mortal remains of migrant worker being taken to Chhattisgarh; 5 arrested

The CM has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the bereaved family, the CMO's office said.

Kerala Mob Lynching: The mortal remains of Chhattisgarh migrant worker Ramnarayan Baghel are being taken to his home state from Kerala's Thrissur today, the ANI reported.

Kerala Minister K Rajan told ANI that the cabinet will decide on providing assistance to the family of Ram Narayanan from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

The family has demanded a sum of not less than Rs 10 lakhs. The cabinet will also decide on this, K Rajan said.

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A special investigation team has been formed in the case. So far, five people have been arrested. It was reported that there was a racial slur. The investigation team has to authentically confirm that he was attacked on the pretext of being a Bangladeshi, the minister added.

An inquiry will be conducted into the attack on the SC/ST community, he said, while adding that the chief secretary has been entrusted with the task of taking action as per the directions of the Supreme Court in 2023, regarding the attack on the communities.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has expressed deep sorrow and condolences, calling the incident unfortunate and inhuman, involving the killing of a Chhattisgarh migrant worker, Ramnarayan Baghel, a resident of village Karhi, Hasoud tehsil, Sakti district, in Keralas Palakkad district.

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The CM has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the bereaved family, the CMOs office said.

It added that the Chhattisgarh government has made arrangements to immediately send the family members of the deceased to

Kerala, and to bring Ramnarayan Baghels mortal remains to his native village with due respect.

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Vishnu Deo Sai has urged the Kerala government to ensure the strictest legal action against all those involved in this heinous crime, so that such inhuman incidents are not repeated in the future.

(For more news apart from Kerala Mob Lynching: Mortal remains of migrant worker being taken to Chhattisgarh; 5 arrested," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Punjab DGP shares year-long performance data: nearly 40,000 arrests, 416 criminal modules busted

In a major crackdown on organised crime, 416 criminal modules were busted, leading to the arrest of 992 gangsters.

Punjab Police News: Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Gaurav Yadav, on Tuesday, in a statement, said that in 2025, the Punjab Police maintained peace and harmony across the state and successfully resolved all reported terror-related incidents.

The DGP also shared year-long performance data highlighting the work undertaken by the Punjab Police.

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According to the data, nearly 40,000 arrests were made and 30,000 FIRs were registered under Yudh Nashiyan Virudh (War Against Drugs), a Punjab government initiative aimed at eradicating the drug menace from the state. During this period, over 2,000 kilograms of heroin were recovered.

The NDPS conviction rate in the state stands at 88 percent, the highest in the country. The Safe Punjab Helpline also crossed 10,000 FIRs, which the DGP described as a key milestone.

Further, PAIS 2.0 has introduced voice analysis to strengthen investigations.

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In a major crackdown on organised crime, 416 criminal modules were busted, leading to the arrest of 992 gangsters.

The data also showed a significant reduction in major crimes, with murder down by 8.7 percent, kidnapping and abduction by 10.6 percent, snatching by 19.6 percent, and theft by 34.3 percent.

"Rs. 80 crores lien in cyber fraud out of Rs. 418.29 crores  4th highest in India," the DGP wrote in a post on X.

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(For more news apart from Punjab DGP shares year-long performance data: nearly 40,000 arrests, 416 criminal modules busted," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The Chief Minister recalled major elements of Singh's reformist legacy, including his role in land reforms, abolition of the zamindari system, and introduction of laws focused on safeguarding farmers from exploitation by middlemen. File Photo.

His leadership throughout his political career was marked by advocacy for agrarian rights and policies aimed at uplifting rural India.

National Farmers Day: UP CM Pays Tribute to Chaudhary Charan Singh on 123rd Birth Anniversary



On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his 123rd birth anniversary, a day also observed as National Farmers Day (Kisan Diwas). He paid the tribute at the statue of the late leader in Lucknow, where the Chief Minister highlighted Singhs lifelong commitment to agrarian welfare, rural development, and social justice.

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The minister addressed those gathered at the Kisan Samman Diwas programme and noted that the Bharat Ratna awardee devoted his life to the advancement of Indias villages and farming community. He asserted that India cannot prosper unless its farmers prosper, reflecting Singhs deeply held belief in rural empowerment.

The Chief Minister recalled major elements of Singhs reformist legacy, including his role in land reforms, abolition of the zamindari system, and introduction of laws focused on safeguarding farmers from exploitation by middlemen. He also emphasised Singhs contributions toward tax relief for small and marginal farmers, the exemption of fertilisers from sales tax, and early steps toward establishing financial support structures like NABARD.

Charan Singh was born in Noorpur, Meerut, in 1902 and rose from a grassroots background to serve as Indias fifth Prime Minister from July 1979 to January 1980 and earlier as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. His leadership throughout his political career was marked by advocacy for agrarian rights and policies aimed at uplifting rural India.

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Adityanath also participated in several programmes that underscored ongoing government support for farmers. He distributed keys to tractors under various welfare schemes and flagged off vehicles intended to bolster agricultural productivity. An official statement said the Chief Minister inaugurated the plot allotment process for the Chaudhary Charan Singh Seed Park in Atari, Lucknow, as part of efforts to enhance seed quality and supply.

Adityanath, highlighting recent progress in the state, said Uttar Pradesh has paid significantly higher sugarcane dues to farmers in recent years and has raised procurement prices for sugarcane, reflecting a continued focus on improving farmer incomes and agricultural outcomes.

Source: Hindustan Times
Indo-Bangla relations: Tensions between India and Bangladesh are increasing

India says that Dr. Yunus has been using anti-India propaganda as a shield to hide the failures of his government.

Indo-Bangla relations: Tensions between India and Bangladesh are increasing instead of decreasing. On Monday, the Bangladesh government rejected the Indian explanation that the protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday was based on 25-30 people and that neither the High Commission suffered any damage nor its staff were disturbed. Calling the Indian side wrong, Bangladeshs Foreign Affairs Advisor (Interim Foreign Minister) Towhid Hossain threatened that if Indias stance did not improve, Bangladesh would start taking steps like downgrading diplomatic relations with India. He also said that India has been alleging that its High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, has been receiving death threats, but no evidence has been provided in this regard so far.

On the other hand, instead of making any comments in this regard, Pranay Verma thought it better to inspect the Indian Visa Centre in Dhaka on Monday and meet the medical visa aspirants. He told the media on this occasion that apart from Dhaka, Indian Visa Centres in Khulna, Rajashahi, and Sylhet are also functioning as usual, while the Visa Centre in Chittagong (new name: Chittagong) is still closed due to stone pelting on Friday. According to the High Commissioner, the Visa Centres are giving medical visas to Bangladeshi nationals ona priority basis, and the normal routine is being followed for tourist or business visas. Although the purpose of the exercise with Mr. Verma was to instill a sense of confidence among the staff of the visa centres in the wake of the Chittagong attack, some Bangladeshi circles described it as a symbol of Indian arrogance and claimed that Prannoy Verma tried to show that he does not care about threats and is more benevolent towards the common people than the Bangladesh government. Such influence or propaganda is becoming the reason for misunderstandings and deterioration in Bangladesh-India relations.

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There is no dearth of serious elements in Bangladesh or India to bring these relations back on track. It is strange that in the international arena, such elements are not being given an opportunity to speak their minds, nor is a major section of the electronic and print media ready to listen to such things. This sad situation was mentioned by the Bangladeshi English newspaper Daily Star in its editorial on Monday. According to this editorial, just as the interim government of Bangladesh has kneeled before mob rule, similarly the Indian media and rulers have been reluctant to raise their heads before mob rhetoric and thinking. Such tendencies must be stopped.

The head of the interim government of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has often accused India of misusing every small or big attack on the Hindu community to propagate that the Hindu community is not safe in Bangladesh. Such propaganda is the main reason for the bilateral decline.

On the other hand, India says that Dr. Yunus has been using anti-India propaganda as a shield to hide the failures of his government. He should give up this tendency and focus on improving the situation in Bangladesh. Amidst such accusations, it is clear that while the Indian government should reduce its interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh government should also take into account Indian sensitivities. This newspaper had suggested to the rulers of both countries two days ago to exercise restraint and tolerance. This suggestion is as important now as ever. The grievances that the Modi government has against the interim government of Bangladesh can be discussed with that government in a low tone. Similarly, the Bangladesh government should be strict with the anti-India mobs. The effort should be to ensure that the general elections in Bangladesh on February 12th are held without any hindrance. This is not only good for Bangladesh, but also good for India.
Journalist Anmol Kaur Receives UK Bhangra Award in West Bromwich

Anmol Kaur described the award as a proud milestone and thanked legendary organiser Bobby Bola and his team.

The twelfth annual UK Bhangra Awards were organised on Saturday, 20 December 2025, at The Conference Suite in West Bromwich, United Kingdom. The event is a unique celebration of music, dance, culture, and unity, and is widely considered one of the biggest bhangra events.

Awards were presented across several prestigious categories aimed at recognising, appreciating, and inspiring the diversity of talent within the industry.

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The UK Bhangra Awards, organised by legendary promoter Bobby Bola, have been celebrating excellence in music, media, arts, and culture for over 12 years. Widely regarded as a benchmark of credibility and prestige, the awards honour individuals who make exceptional contributions while promoting South Asian heritage and British Asian excellence.

During the event, renowned television journalist Anmol Kaur was awarded the UK Bhangra Award for her outstanding contribution to television journalism at one of the most prestigious South Asian award ceremonies in the United Kingdom.

Expressing her gratitude, Anmol Kaur described the award as a proud milestone and thanked legendary organiser Bobby Bola and his team, along with the communities whose stories continue to inspire her work.

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We thank legendary event organiser Bobby Bola, accompanied by his Culture Unite team, for their tireless dedication to promoting Punjabi music, dance, culture, and unity among all communities, a statement read.

(For more news apart from Ludhiana Hospital Accused of Negligence After Body Handed Over to Wrong Family," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A symposium focused on the study of a compilation of excerpts from discourses on civil affairs work by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi's discourses have injected strong impetus into the promotion of high-quality development of civil affairs undertakings in the new era, State Councilor Shen Yiqin said at the meeting.

Stressing that civil affairs work concerns people's livelihoods, Shen urged a focus on implementing a proactive national strategy in response to population aging, and on improving the levels of social assistance, social welfare, social affairs management and social governance. 

State Councilor Shen Yiqin speaks at a symposium focused on the study of a compilation of excerpts from discourses on civil affairs work by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
December 23, 2025

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 23.12.2025, 13:55

Resignation. Romanian Minister of Education and Research Daniel David announced on Monday evening that he had resigned from the position he had held for exactly one year. He said that the reason for his resignation was simple and that there was no need to construct hidden scenarios around it. I never aimed for a political career, but I temporarily accepted the public office of minister to help the country and our education and research system in the crisis situations they were going through. Now, major reforms in education are being implemented and there are no longer any risks related to salaries and scholarships in education. It is only fair that the budget for 2026 should be drawn up by the minister who will administer it, David added. According to the local press, he had become one of the most unpopular members of the current four-party cabinet, which is pro-European. The start of the school year in Romania was marked by protests from teachers dissatisfied with the changes contained in the package of measures to reduce the budget deficit, for which the government assumed responsibility in Parliament. On September 8, some schools in the country did not hold classes, and teachers refused to participate in celebrations, dissatisfied with the fact that they have more hours to teach, there are more students in classes, while they receive less money. The teachers were joined by students. They disagree with the austerity measures adopted this year, which have led to a reduction in scholarship funds and the elimination of certain discounts on local and rail transport.

Justice. A working group created specifically by the Bucharest government to amend the Justice Laws is gathering today to analyze the problems in the system and identify legislative ways to correct them. Subsequently, the proposals could be promoted and adopted by the executive, but only if they have the support of the governing coalition, explained Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. The meeting at the government takes place after President Nicusor Dan held extensive consultations on Monday with some of the magistrates who reported problems in the justice system.

Drones. During the night, new drone attacks were carried out by Russian invasion forces on Ukrainian port infrastructure near the border with Romania, but no unauthorized incursions into national airspace were reported, the Ministry of National Defense in Bucharest said this morning. At 1:10 a.m., Romanian radar systems detected two aerial targets in the Ukrainian airspace, moving in the direction of Reni  Chilia. Fifteen minutes later, residents in the north of Tulcea County and the south-east of Galati County were warned via RO-Alert. The radars then detected another group of drones moving towards the port of Reni, and shortly afterwards explosions were reported on Ukrainian territory. The state of alert ended at 2:15 a.m.



Investigation. DIICOT (The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism) has opened a criminal case to investigate the cyberattack on the National Administration of Romanian Waters. On Sunday, the National Cyber Security Directorate was notified of an attack on several workstations and servers and 10 of the 11 water basin administrations in the country. Unknown perpetrators accessed the institutions systems, resulting in the encryption of data on the attacked devices and servers. The hackers sent a ransom note, demanding to be contacted within seven days. Approximately 1,000 systems were compromised, but operational technologies were not affected, so Romanian Waters is currently operating normally, and all hydrotechnical constructions are safe.

Mini-holidays. Approximately 23,000 employees of the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI)  police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, SMURD rescuers, and border police  will be on duty every day during the Christmas mini-holiday, MAI spokesperson Monica Dajbog has stated today. Every day, an average of 2,000 traffic police officers will monitor roads that are usually congested during such periods in order to ease traffic flow and provide support to drivers. They will use approximately 400 radar devices to detect drivers who pose a danger to other road users. Dajbog mentioned that the police will continue their efforts to prevent and combat illegal trade in dangerous pyrotechnic articles during this period. At the approximately 10,000 public events organized during this period, which could be attended by nearly one million people, police and gendarmes will be mobilized to prevent acts that could affect the safety of citizens. To support citizens spending their mini-vacation in the mountains, approximately 170 mountain gendarmes will be on standby to intervene on a daily basis. Also during the Christmas mini-holiday, approximately 3,300 border police officers will be mobilized to protect the borders, prevent cross-border crime, and ensure smooth control at the external border. (MI)
December 23, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

December 23, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 23.12.2025, 20:00

RESIGNATION The Romanian minister of education and research Daniel David announced on Monday evening that he resigned from the position he had held for exactly one year. He said he stepped down for a simple reason, and there was no need to look for ulterior motives to his decision. I never aimed for a career in politics, but I temporarily accepted the public dignity of minister to help the country and our education-research system in the crisis situations they have gone through. Major reforms in education are implemented now, and there are no more risks related to salaries and grants in education, he said. It is only fair for the 2026 budget to be made by the minister who will manage it, David added. According to Romanian media, he had become one of the most unpopular members of the current pro-European 4-party Cabinet. The start of the school year in Romania was marked by protests by teachers, unhappy with the changes included in the set of measures aimed to reduce the budget deficit, for which the government took responsibility in Parliament. On September 8, classes were not held in some schools in the country, and teachers refused to participate in opening ceremonies, dissatisfied with the fact that they had more classes to teach, with more students in each class, while they received less money. The teachers protests were joined by students, who opposed the austerity measures implemented this year, which led to a cut in the scholarship fund and the scrapping of discounts on local and rail transport.

JUDICIARY The first meeting of the Committee for the review of legislation regulating the judiciary was held at the Governments head offices in Bucharest on Tuesday. Attending the event, PM Ilie Bolojan stressed the importance of institutional dialogue and cooperation with representatives of the judiciary and civil society. He said the purpose of these meetings was to identify legislative aspects that can be improved, while also pointing out that justice must be regarded as a public service benefitting citizens. According to a news release, the topics addressed at the meeting included the procedures for appointing the heads of courts and prosecutors offices, the procedures for delegating and seconding magistrates, ways to change the membership of judge panels, as well as the powers in investigating corruption within the judiciary. The meeting at the Government takes place after on Monday president Nicusor Dan had extensive consultations with some of the magistrates who reported problems in the judiciary.

GOVERNMENT The two new ministers nominated by Save Romania Union for the defence and economy ministries, Radu Miruta and Irineu Darau, respectively, were sworn in on Tuesday. Last Friday, the two were validated for these positions by the partys political committee. Ionut Mosteanu previously resigned as defence minister over controversial media reports regarding his education.

DRONES Fresh Russian drone attacks were reported last night on Ukrainian port infrastructure near the Romanian border, but no unauthorised intrusions into national airspace were reported, the defence ministry announced on Tuesday morning. Romanian radar systems detected at 1:10 am 2 moving targets in Ukrainian space, moving in the Reni  Chilia direction. A quarter of an hour later, residents in northern Tulcea County and southeastern Galati County were warned via the RO-Alert system. The radars then detected another group of drones moving in the direction of Reni seaport, and explosions were reported on Ukrainian territory shortly after. The alert ended at 2:15 am.

CYBER ATTACK The Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Offences has initiated a criminal investigation concerning the cyber-attack targetting Romanias National Waters Agency. On Sunday the National Cyber Security Directorate was notified of an attack on several workstations and servers and on 10 out of the countrys 11 water basin agencies. Unknown perpetrators accessed the institutions computer systems and encrypted data on the attacked devices and servers. The hackers sent a ransom note, requesting to be contacted within seven days. Approximately 1,000 systems were compromised, but operational technology was not affected, so the institutions activity is currently taking place under normal parameters, and the hydrotechnical infrastructure is safe.

AWARD The Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu national award was presented this year to Pat Johnson, a personality with over 30 years of experience in promoting human rights and equal opportunity and in fighting anti-Semitism and discrimination. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Romanian foreign ministry. The award is granted every year to organisations or personalities that have carried out projects recognised by the scientific community or by relevant national and international organisations, in the fields of education and research, fighting xenophobia, radicalisation and hate speech, the foreign ministry said. (AMP)
Romanian President discusses with magistrates

President Nicusor Dan met with magistrates to discuss irregularities in the justice system.

Photo: presidency.ro

Leyla Cheamil, 23.12.2025, 14:00

The Romanian head of state, Nicusor Dan, discussed, in Bucharest, with several magistrates the problems facing the justice system, after the recent presentation of some dysfunctions in a journalistic documentary. The investigation shows, among other things, that those tried in major corruption cases and found guilty in the first instance were definitively acquitted, after the trials lasted several years. Most of the magistrates present at the meeting with the president called for the urgent change of the justice laws, because, they say, the legislative amendments of 2022 would have allowed the creation of an oligarchic system that would have favored groups of interests. They also accused interference by the heads of courts and prosecutors offices and disciplinary investigations started without real reasons.

The consultations began with a group of 11 former or current magistrates, who agreed to speak publicly about the irregularities in the judiciary, as they see them recently reported in the documentary. After the meeting, the president continued discussions with another 40 magistrates, who requested the meeting to be private. Among the issues raised by the magistrates were the need for the urgent amendment of the justice laws adopted in 2022, the existence of what they called an oligarchic system at the top of the system, especially at the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Superior Council of Magistracy, and the close relationship of some magistrates with political actors.

Other irregularities reported concern abuses by the Judicial Inspection against inconvenient magistrates, the way in which secondments and delegations are made, as well as the pressure exerted by the National Anticorruption Directorate leadership on some prosecutors. Prosecutor Laura Derius confirmed the problems revealed in the journalistic documentary regarding the change of judicial panels in the corruption case of a former sector mayor of Bucharest, and also the way in which those in the Anticorruption Directorate leadership control the activity of prosecutors.

In turn, Prosecutor Bogdan Pirlog said that gangs from within the system have joined hands with gangs from outside the system and have managed to bring the judicial system to a state of clinical death. He explained how a majority established at the level of the Judges Section of the Superior Council of Magistracy has managed to control the entire judicial system and there are serious irregularities in the way cases are distributed in the courts. Judge Dragos Calin stated that the problems in the judiciary derive from the laws that were adopted in 2022, and the only solution to remedy this situation is their rapid amendment in Parliament. At the end of the first round of consultations, President Nicusor Dan announced that it was a useful debate, so that the general public could understand the working conditions of magistrates. He added that the discussions would continue. (LS)
Romanian Studies in Pakistan

The Romanian Studies Program has been inaugurated in Pakistan.

Photo: Romanian Studies inaugurated in Pakistan (photo Embassy of Romania in Pakistan)

Radio Romania International, 23.12.2025, 12:27

The Embassy of Romania in Pakistan and the Romanian Language Institute, jointly with the National University of Modern Languages have inaugurated the Romanian Studies Program in Pakistan, an academic premiere. The inauguration ceremony took place on December 23, 2025, at NUML Islamabad, in the presence of Romanias Ambassador in Pakistan, PhD Dan Stoenescu and of the Rector of NUML, Maj. Gen. Shahid Mahmood Kayani. Attending were also PhD Oana Ursache, Romanian language lecturer, and PhD Huma Hayat Khan, Director of the National and International Relations Office.

The event marks an academic premiere, the introduction of the study of Romanian language and literature as well as of Romanian cultural studies in Pakistans leading multilingual academic environment. By becoming the first university in Pakistan to offer Romanian language courses, NUML reconfirms its role as a space where languages do not only coexist but actively engage in a cultural dialogue, responding to a growing global interest in cultural depth, intellectual diversity and the humanities.

Developed in partnership with the Romanian Language Institute and supported by the Romanian Embassy in Pakistan, the program goes beyond the framework of a simple language course. It creates an interdisciplinary academic space that integrates linguistic training, literature, translation, history and cultural studies, positioning Romania into a broader European and South Asian intellectual dialogue. Students are invited not only to learn Romanian, but also to explore a cultural landscape shaped by history, memory, creativity and resilience.

Ambassador Dan Stoenescu has expressed his appreciation to the Romanian Language Institute, the Romanian Cultural Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania for their continued support and commitment to carry out this significant project.

The Romanian Embassy has donated a collection of books to NUML, including volumes in Romanian and English on Romanian culture, history, civilization, art and literature. The donation has been made with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute and of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, further strengthening the academic foundations of the NUML Department of Romanian Studies.

The Romanian Studies Program will be coordinated by PhD Oana Ursache, specializing in comparative literature, culturology as well as Hispanic, Oriental, pre-Columbian and Arabic literatures. Boasting an extensive academic experience in Romania, Spain and the USA, PhD Ursache has chosen NUML Islamabad to establish a new Center of Romanian Studies, further enhancing the universitys academic profile.

The introduction of Romanian language courses is set to strengthen bilateral relations and foster deeper cultural and academic understanding between Romania and Pakistan. With Pakistans population approaching a quarter of a billion inhabitants, the initiative represents a unique opportunity to expand academic cooperation and promote cultural diplomacy
Alphabet, parent company to Google has agreed to acquire Intersect, a data center and energy developer, for $4.75 billion in an all-cash deal as it accelerates efforts to expand infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence.

The acquisition is aimed at strengthening Google's access to power for its rapidly growing network of data centers, which are critical to supporting AI workloads.

Intersect, a privately held San Francisco-based company, develops and operates data centers and energy plants. The two companies already had a working relationship, with Google investing in Intersect last December and collaborating on the construction of computing facilities.

Under the agreement, Google will acquire certain Intersect employees, data center projects, and multiple gigawatts of energy capacity.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said the deal would help the company expand capacity more efficiently and align new power generation with rising data center demand, while also rethinking energy solutions to support U.S. innovation.

Intersect will continue to operate independently and retain its existing data centers in Texas and California that serve other customers.

The acquisition stands out in an industry where major tech firms typically rely on complex financing structures rather than outright purchases.

Google said the deal will help speed up its $40 billion investment in AI infrastructure in Haskell, Texas, through 2027.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Jim Beam, a bourbon manufacturer, has revealed plans to stop production at one of its Kentucky distilleries for a minimum of a year, highlighting the increasing difficulties the American whiskey market is facing.

The company announced that it will stop producing bourbon at its Clermont, Kentucky, facility starting in 2026 in order to deal with declining demand and persistent uncertainty related to international tariffs.

According to Jim Beam, the company will be able to invest in improvements at the Clermont distillery thanks to the temporary shutdown. Production will continue at the company's larger distillery in Boston, Kentucky, while bottling operations, warehouses, and the James B. Beam Distilling Co. restaurant and visitor center will stay open.

In order to decide whether layoffs or workforce reductions will be required, the company also stated that it is in talks with the site's union.

The action is taken as bourbon producers struggle with long-term planning issues. Companies must make production decisions years in advance because Jim Beam's flagship bourbon needs to age for at least four years.

Trade disputes, such as tariffs and a sharp drop in shipments to Canada, have also affected exports.

Americans are drinking less than they have in decades, despite record inventory levels roughly 16 million barrels are aging in Kentucky putting pressure on a sector that supports the state's with over $2.2 billion and 23,000 jobs.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Import prices from Germany and revised GDP data from Spain are the top economic news due on Tuesday.

At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's import price data. Economists expect import prices to grow 0.2 percent month-on-month in November, the same rate as in October.

In the meantime, producer price figures are due from Sweden.

At 3.00 am ET, Spain's INE publishes revised GDP data for the third quarter. The flash estimate showed that economic growth eased to 0.6 percent sequentially from 0.8 percent in the second quarter. The statistical office is expected to confirm the estimate released on October 29.

At 4.00 am ET, unemployment data is due from Poland. Economists forecast the jobless rate to rise marginally to 5.7 percent in November from 5.6 percent in October.

At 5.00 am ET, Italy's statistical office will release non-EU trade data.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The Justice Department has sued the District of Columbia, alleging that the District government and its Metropolitan Police Department unconstitutionally banned semi-automatic firearms.

The District of Columbia's gun laws require anyone seeking to own a gun to register it with D.C. Metro Police. However, the D.C. Code provides a broad registration ban on numerous firearms, including the AR-15 and other fast-loading guns.

The Justice Department alleges that the ban is an unconstitutional incursion into the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking to own protected firearms for lawful purposes.

MPD's current pattern and practice of refusing to register protected firearms is forcing residents to sue to protect their rights and to risk facing wrongful arrest for lawfully possessing protected firearms, it says.

"Washington, DC's ban on some of America's most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment  living in our nation's capital should not preclude law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

In 2003, a special policeman named Richard Heller in the nation's capital sued Washington, D.C. because the laws at the time prevented him from owning a handgun and keeping it in his home for self-defense. In a landmark decision in 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment does protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own a semi-automatic weapon in their homes for lawful purposes, such as self-defense.

"Unfortunately, law-abiding citizens throughout our nation's capital are facing wrongful arrests due to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws, the Justice Department said in a press release.

Washington D.C. is ruled by Democrats, though ultimate oversight of the district rests with the U.S. Congress, where Republican lawmakers have historically blocked D.C.'s efforts

to enact gun control measures.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
President Donald Trump has announced plans to build a new class of heavily armed amphibious naval battleships named after himself, as part of a new "golden fleet" of advanced warships.

"As commander in chief, it's my great honor to announce that I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand-new, very large  largest we've ever built  battleships," Trump announced from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, Monday.

Trump, who made the announcement with posters of renderings of the proposed battleships at sea in the background, named the new series as 'Trump-class of ships'.

The golden fleet is currently in the design phase, with construction of the first battleship, the USS Defiant, targeted for the early 2030s.

The president noted that the Navy aims to have a fleet of 20 to 25 ships eventually.

Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

"The future Trump-class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world's oceans," Phelan said, adding that he wanted to thank the president for his vision to make the future battleship a game-changing capability for the U.S. Navy.

Phelan also compared the future Trump-class battleships to the former Iowa-class battleships, which were a cornerstone of the Navy's warship fleet for much of the 20th century.

"The Iowa was designed to go on the attack with the biggest guns, and that's exactly what will define the Trump-class battleships: offensive firepower from the biggest guns of our era," Phelan said.

"This ship isn't just to swat the arrows; it is going to reach out and kill the archers," he added.

During his remarks, Hegseth said that strengthening the Navy's fleet ties directly to the War Department's key goals of restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence.

"American strength is back on the world stage, and the announcement of the golden fleet anchored by new battleships  the biggest and most lethal ever  accomplishes all three of those things and marks a generational commitment to American sea power across the entire department," Hegseth said.

During the announcement, Trump made clear that the new battleships are intended to be constructed entirely in the U.S. by American citizens.

"The construction will create thousands of American jobs. We're going to have the jobs be created," he said.

Along with standard guns and missiles, the new battleships will be equipped with hypersonic weapons, electronic rail guns and high-powered laser-based weaponry, Trump said.

He added that the Navy will take the lead in the ships' design, while partnering with the U.S. defense industrial base.

The last time the Navy used battleships in combat was in 1991 during the first Gulf War, when the now-decommissioned Iowa-class battleships USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin provided naval gunfire support against Iraqi targets along the coast of Kuwait.

Monday's announcement of the Trump-class battleships comes on the heels of the Navy's December 19 announcement that the FF(X), a new class of frigates, will replace the Navy's recently cancelled Constellation-class frigate program.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BEIRUT, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army said on Tuesday that a soldier was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle a day earlier in southern Lebanon.

"On Dec. 22, First Sergeant Ali Abdallah of the Support Brigade-Anti-Tank Regiment was killed as a result of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle he was inside on the Quneitra-Maamariyeh-Sidon road," the army said in a statement.

A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that two Hezbollah members were also killed during the airstrike.

In a later statement regarding the incident, the Lebanese army denied claims of any cooperative ties between itself and Hezbollah.

A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered by the United States and France, has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are to remove Hezbollah "threats," and has maintained the presence of its forces at five main points in the Lebanese border area. 
The European Commission has successfully relocated a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine, completing its largest-ever coordinated logistical operation to date.

This unprecedented transfer restores critical energy capacity and directly reinforces Ukraine's national grid following sustained Russian attacks on its infrastructure. The equipment has been crucial to completing emergency repairs in several parts of the country where energy infrastructure was severely damaged. It is capable of supplying power to approximately one million Ukrainians, according to the European Commission.

The complex operation, carried out over 11 months, involved 149 shipments totaling 2,399 tons of equipment. Among these, 40 were oversized shipments, including exceptionally heavy transformers and stators weighing around 172 tons each. The support of the Polish Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves was instrumental in ensuring the complex transport of these components.

This landmark operation is part of the European Union's comprehensive response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, coordinated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

So far, EU support for Ukraine's energy sector has helped meet the needs of an estimated 9 million people, including the delivery of 9,500 power generators and 7,200 transformers via the Mechanism.

In total, the Commission has allocated more than 1,2 billion euros for humanitarian aid programs in Ukraine, and delivered more than 160,000 tons of aid.

All 27 EU countries together with 6 participating states (Norway, Turkey, North Macedonia, Iceland, Serbia and Moldova), have offered in-kind assistance to Ukraine through the UCPM. The EU has also coordinated the medical evacuation of more than 4,700 Ukrainian patients who were injured in Russian attacks to hospitals in 22 countries for specialized treatment.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A senior Amazon executive has revealed that the company has blocked more than 1,800 job applications believed to be linked to North Korean agents attempting to infiltrate the US tech workforce.

According to Amazon's chief security officer, Stephen Schmidt, the individuals were applying for remote IT roles using stolen or fabricated identities.

In a LinkedIn post, Schmidt said the suspected operatives aimed to secure employment, earn salaries, and funnel the income back to North Korea to help fund the regime's weapons programs.

He warned that the issue is likely widespread across the sector, particularly in the United States, where remote work has expanded hiring opportunities.

Amazon has recorded nearly a one-third increase in suspected North Korean job applications over the past year. Schmidt noted that these workers often rely on so-called "laptop farms," where computers physically located in the US are remotely operated from abroad to disguise their true location.

The company uses a mix of artificial intelligence tools and human review to screen applicants, but Schmidt cautioned that fraud tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. These include hijacking dormant LinkedIn accounts and impersonating real software engineers to appear legitimate.

US authorities have also highlighted the threat. The Department of Justice recently uncovered dozens of illegal laptop farms and prosecuted individuals who helped North Korean IT workers secure jobs, generating millions of dollars in illicit revenue for Pyongyang.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday urged the United States to cease its erroneous actions concerning the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) decision to add foreign-made drones and key components to its "Covered List."

A ministry spokesperson said that China firmly opposes the move and urges the U.S. side to revoke the relevant measures immediately.

The "Covered List," which was updated on Monday, identifies communication equipment and services deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States, or the safety and security of the U.S. people.

The addition to the list means new models of foreign-made drones and critical components are prohibited from receiving FCC authorization, effectively banning their import and sale in the United States.

The Chinese spokesperson said that disregarding the normal commercial exchange and trade activities between Chinese and U.S. enterprises as well as the strong appeals from the industries of both countries, the U.S. side has repeatedly generalized the concept of national security and abused state power to suppress companies from other countries, including Chinese firms.

"Such actions represent typical market distortion and unilateral bullying practices," the spokesperson said.

The ministry noted that if the U.S. side insists on going about the matter the wrong way, China will be resolute in taking necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. 
by Xinhua writers Zhang Yuanpei, Luo Jiang and Xu Yushen

SANYA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- While many parts of China are reeling from bitter cold in December, Sanya, a coastal city in south China's Hainan Province, remains warm as soybean breeding enters a busy season.

Tian Zhixi, chief scientist of the soybean seed innovation team at Yazhouwan National Laboratory in Sanya, has been shuttling between trial fields and laboratories, hoping to increase and stabilize soybean yields.

"China's soybean yield per unit area still lags behind countries such as the United States and Brazil, and we are working hard to catch up," Tian said.

Tian and his team are now developing new soybean varieties with higher and more stable yields tailored to the distinct conditions of China's major soybean-producing regions.

China has sustained nearly 20 percent of the world's population utilizing just 9 percent of the world's arable land, and quality seeds, the agricultural "chips," are central to that achievement. As an ideal location for scientific breeding, Nanfan breeding base in Hainan has witnessed the birth of many improved varieties.

"Nanfan" refers to the practice of using the warm southern climate to grow multiple generations of seed per year, thereby shortening the breeding cycle. Since the 1950s, researchers from across China have traveled to places such as Sanya, Lingshui and Ledong in Hainan to conduct seed breeding work, as these areas are around 18 degrees north of the equator.

"Most areas in China can grow only one season of soybean crops a year. Growing an extra one or two seasons in Hainan drastically accelerated the breeding process," Tian said.

To stabilize desired traits after soybean hybridization, it typically requires seven to eight generations of propagation and selection. Tian's team has already begun multi-location soybean planting trials combining multiple desirable traits across more than a dozen provinces.

Tian and his team have now developed more than ten high-yield, high-quality soybean varieties. One notable success came in September in Dongying, east China's Shandong Province. On formerly salt-crusted coastal fields, the new salt-tolerant variety "Guochuangdou 78" produced a record 369.15 kilograms per mu (about 5,537.25 kg per hectare), the highest yield ever recorded for salt-tolerant soybean in China.

Since 2021, China has been implementing a seed industry vitalization drive to strengthen seed breeding through joint research and to ensure self-sufficiency in seed sources. Today, more than 95 percent of crop varieties planted in China are independently bred. In 2024, for the first time, China's seed export volume exceeded its import volume.

During the rollout of the seed industry vitalization campaign, Nanfan has become ever more prominent. Hainan is building a Nanfan "Silicon Valley," and top research institutes and leading seed companies have established bases here, spurring a wave of cutting-edge breeding technologies and accelerating the development of new varieties.

At Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, China's first electron accelerator dedicated to agricultural mutagenesis breeding is now in operation.

Xu Dechun, chief engineer of the electron accelerator mutagenesis breeding laboratory at Sanya, said the facility has processed roughly 600,000 seeds and seedlings for nearly 200 institutions nationwide, creating a batch of early-maturing, high-yielding, and high-quality new germplasm resources.

The Nanfan "Silicon Valley" has attracted more than 3,100 enterprises in the seed industry. Last year, Hainan's Nanfan seed industry output value exceeded 18 billion yuan (2.6 billion U.S. dollars).

In 2021, China National Seed Group moved its headquarters to Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City in Sanya. Through collaboration with research teams, the group has filed 28 patents, applied for 12 plant variety rights, and had 14 field crop varieties approved.

"Ensuring food security must rely on scientific and technological progress and innovation," said Qian Qian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy director of the Yazhouwan National Laboratory. "The Nanfan 'Silicon Valley' will continue to support the high-quality development of the seed industry in the future." 
Using camera traps, ornithologists have photographed a previously unknown species of jewel-babbler in the forested karst of the Southern Fold Mountains in Papua New Guinea.

The newly-identified species belongs to Ptilorrhoa, a small bird genus within the family Cinclosomatidae.

Commonly known as jewel-babblers, these birds are endemic to New Guinea.

The jewel-babblers are a group of ground-dwelling, insectivorous passerines endemic to New Guinea and a few satellite land-bridge islands, said Australian Museum Research Institute ornithologist Iain Woxvold and colleagues.

Plump and short-winged, they have a black mask, white throat or cheek patch and soft plumage that in most species is patterned in blue and/or chestnut.

They are vocal but shy birds of the forest interior, more often heard than seen.

Four species are currently recognized, three of which occupy most of New Guinea but segregate by altitude: the blue jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa caerulescens) in the lowlands, the chestnut-backed jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa castanonota) in the hills and lower mountains, and the spotted jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa leucosticta) in montane forest.

The fourth species, the brown-headed jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa geislerorum), occurs in two widely separated areas  in the hills and lowlands of northeast Papua New Guinea and a recently discovered population (presumed to be this species) far to the west on Yapen Island.

In 2017, Dr. Woxvold and his colleague, Leo Legra of Lihir Gold Limited, established a biennial camera trap monitoring study of ground-dwelling birds and mammals on Iagifu Ridge (uri [mount] urrissia in the local Fasu language), a forested limestone anticline located at the southeastern end of the Agogo Range in Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

In their image collection, they observed a distinctive, undescribed form of jewel-babbler.

Over a period of more than 1,800 camera days, 10 images of the bird were obtained in three sequences (trigger events) taken on two cameras that were separated by c. 600 m and an unsealed access road, they said.

In November 2018, we spent 8 days mist-netting and searching for the bird without reward.

Camera trap monitoring was repeated in 2019, 2021 and 2024.

Overall, 94 photographs (22 sequences) and seven 30-s videos (four sequences) involving at least three to six birds were taken on 11 cameras covering an area of 16 ha.

The examination of museum specimens and field photographic material confirmed that the birds the authors photographed are distinct from all other known Ptilorrhoa forms.

Based on these findings, we propose that the birds photographed on Iagifu Ridge represent a new species, which we name: the hooded jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa urrissia), they said.

Ptilorrhoa urrissia appears to be permanently resident on Iagifu Ridge, birds having been photographed in each of 10 consecutive months (June-March) over a period of 7 years.

The total number of the new species detected over the period of sampling is probably fewer than 10 birds.

Jewel-babblers are normally observed as single birds, pairs or in small family parties of three or four, the researchers said.

Available data indicate a similar pattern of social organization in Ptilorrhoa urrissia: duos were regularly photographed together and most records (all but three sequences of a single male) were collected from a 7-ha area and potentially involve a sedentary pair plus one offspring in each of two breeding events.

We speculate that Iagifu Ridge may support part of a highly fragmented population that occupies isolated low mountains that do not support Ptilorrhoa leucosticta of higher elevations, they added.

Potentially suitable sites may be restricted to the area between Mt Bosavi and Mt Karimui in southern Papua New Guinea.

No song clearly attributable to any Ptilorrhoa other than Ptilorrhoa castanonota has been heard on Iagifu Ridge by the team.

The new species appears to be less vocal than Ptilorrhoa caerulescens and Ptilorrhoa castanonota and behaviorally closer to Ptilorrhoa leucosticta in this respect.

Jewel-babblers on Iagifu Ridge face a variety of threats, the scientists said.

Native predators confirmed present include at least three marsupials  the New Guinea quoll (Dasyurus albopunctatus), the Woolleys three-striped dasyure (Myoictis leucura) and one or more Murexia species  plus several avian predators including the Papuan eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae), the gray-headed goshawk (Tachyspiza poliocephala) and the greater sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa), each of which takes prey from the ground and may consume adult birds or their young.

Alien predators pose an additional and potentially serious threat, particularly to ground-nesting species such as jewel-babblers.

Domestic cats (Felis catus) were camera trapped on Iagifu Ridge on three occasions in 2021 and 2024.

Dogs (Canis familiaris) are also regularly detected at the site, either in the company of hunters or as free-roaming individuals and small packs.

Finally, climate change poses a serious threat to tropical montane birds, particularly those with low dispersal ability that lack access to higher elevations such as Ptilorrhoa urrissia at Iagifu Ridge.

A paper about the discovery was published on November 26, 2025 in the journal Ibis.

_____

Iain A. Woxvold et al. A new species of jewel-babbler (Cinclosomatidae: Ptilorrhoa) from the Southern Fold Mountains of Papua New Guinea. Ibis, published online November 26, 2025; doi: 10.1111/ibi.70016
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mexico will further explore its water sources to meet its delivery obligations to the United States without harming local agriculture, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.

In line with a recent agreement with the United States, Mexico made its first water delivery to its northern neighbor by tapping the reservoirs in the northern part of the country while minimizing the impact on Mexican farmers, Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference.

The agreement to deliver 249.163 billion cubic meters of water starting from Dec. 15 was reached after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Mexico for failing to meet its water delivery obligations.

"We worked with all the governors and sought a plan that would have minimal impact on farmers throughout the country, particularly in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas," Sheinbaum said.

Authorities plan to resume a project proposed several years ago to build a pipeline to transport treated water from Nuevo Leon to Tamaulipas, to guarantee water for agricultural irrigation, regardless of rainfall, she said.

Mexico's government recently reaffirmed its commitment to the 1944 Water Treaty, also known as the Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, and to bilateral cooperation in the management of resources in the Rio Grande basin. 
DAMASCUS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Monday ordered a halt to attacks against positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo, as clashes had left civilians dead and triggered fresh displacement in parts of the northern city, according to official statements.

The Syrian defense authorities said the army's general command issued instructions to stop targeting SDF fire sources after a number of them were "neutralized," adding that efforts were made to narrow the scope of fighting and push clashes away from residential areas.

In a statement, the authorities said the army acted within its responsibility to protect civilians and defend them, stressing that it did not seek to alter lines of control and limited its actions to responding to incoming fire.

The move came after a sharp escalation earlier in the day. Syria's interior authorities said a child and his mother were killed, and 15 other civilians, most of them women and children, were wounded in Aleppo as a result of what was described as indiscriminate shelling and sniper fire by SDF forces.

The wounded were transferred to al-Razi Hospital and Aleppo University Hospital for treatment, the authorities said, adding that al-Razi Hospital itself came under direct shelling while casualties were arriving, forcing medical staff to continue providing emergency care under difficult conditions.

The emergency and disaster management authorities said two members of the Syrian Civil Defense were wounded by direct gunfire while carrying out their duties near al-Shihan roundabout in Aleppo. An ambulance vehicle was also targeted while transporting personnel.

The Syrian Civil Defense separately reported fires breaking out in the Jamiliyah and Sheikh Taha neighborhoods due to shelling and gunfire, noting that teams were deployed to extinguish the blazes despite ongoing security risks.

State news agency SANA reported that dozens of families fled their homes and moved toward the western parts of Aleppo to escape the violence, amid continued fear of further escalation.

Interior authorities spokesman Noureddin al-Baba said the clashes were not the first attempt to undermine the March 10 agreement between Damascus and the SDF. He accused SDF forces of withdrawing from joint checkpoints and opening fire on Syrian army positions, adding that what he described as a foreign-linked faction within the SDF was fueling tensions and targeting densely populated neighborhoods, including medical facilities.

The SDF, in a separate statement, gave a different account, saying two of its internal security members were wounded in what it described as an attack by factions linked to Syria's defense authorities on a checkpoint at al-Shihan roundabout. The SDF accused Damascus of being responsible for the escalation, stating that civilian injuries were caused by shelling and tank fire.

Despite the army's decision to halt fire, reports indicated that tensions remain high, with security forces reinforcing their presence in affected neighborhoods.

The fighting underscores the fragility of security in Aleppo and the challenges facing the implementation of the March agreement between Damascus and the SDF, which aims to integrate forces and stabilize northeastern Syria but has repeatedly come under strain amid flare-ups on the ground. 
A Palestinian inspects sheep injured during an attack by Israeli settlers in the town of as-Samu in the Hebron governorate in the southern West Bank, on Dec. 23, 2025. Israeli police said on Tuesday they had arrested five Israelis suspected of attacking a Palestinian family in the West Bank town, injuring a mother and her three children.

The suspects are among at least six people seen in CCTV footage from the family's home. In the video circulating on social media, the assailants are seen beating sheep and damaging property during an overnight raid. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police said on Tuesday they had arrested five Israelis suspected of attacking a Palestinian family in a West Bank town, injuring a mother and her three children.

The suspects are among at least six people seen in CCTV footage from the family's home in the town of as-Samu in the Hebron governorate in the southern West Bank. In the video circulating on social media, the assailants are seen beating sheep and damaging property during an overnight raid.

Family members were taken to the hospital after suffering pepper spray inhalation and other injuries, Israeli police said in a statement.

Israel's Ynet news site reported some sheep were killed and others mutilated.

Israeli daily Ha'aretz said the same family was attacked last month when masked settlers abused lambs, killed several of them and caused damage to the house.

Palestinians in the West Bank have faced intensified Israeli military raids as well as a rise in settler attacks since October 2023.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 7,500 raids by Israeli forces into Palestinian towns and villages have been recorded in the West Bank since the beginning of 2025, a 37 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. Over 1,700 settler attacks, an average of five per day, were also documented so far this year, leading to casualties, forced displacement and property damage in more than 270 communities across the West Bank. More than 200 Palestinians, including children, were killed in the attacks. 

A Palestinian inspects sheep injured during an attack by Israeli settlers in the town of as-Samu in the Hebron governorate in the southern West Bank, on Dec. 23, 2025. Israeli police said on Tuesday they had arrested five Israelis suspected of attacking a Palestinian family in the West Bank town, injuring a mother and her three children.

The suspects are among at least six people seen in CCTV footage from the family's home. In the video circulating on social media, the assailants are seen beating sheep and damaging property during an overnight raid. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)
* China's high-speed rail network has further expanded with several new lines opening.

* The network has facilitated public travel and injected new momentum into high-quality development.

* It not only expands the travel radius and mobility but also helps facilitate economic development.

YINCHUAN, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- As the year draws to a close, China's high-speed rail network has further expanded with several new lines opening, which have facilitated public travel and injected new momentum into high-quality development along the routes.

At around 10 a.m. Tuesday, the D4667 bullet train departed from Inner Mongolia's Baotou City to Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China. This journey along the new line significantly reduces travel time between the two cities, cutting it from over six hours to just about 2.5 hours.

Onboard the train that runs as fast as 250 km per hour, passengers raised their phones to capture the historic moment. "Enjoying Baotou steamed buns in the morning and admiring Ningxia's vast desert landscape at noon has become a reality," said Liu Yu, a Baotou resident who secured a ticket for the inaugural trip.

A staff member checks the first train of the Baotou-Yinchuan high-speed railway at Baotou Railway Station in Baotou, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Dec. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

With an investment of 54.63 billion yuan (7.75 billion U.S. dollars), the 519-km line is a major section of the high-speed railway linking Beijing and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, filling the last missing link in northwest China's high-speed rail network.

A day earlier, two high-speed rail lines in Guangdong Province began operations, significantly compressing the travel time within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. On Dec. 5, the opening of a new line in south China's border region of Guangxi added a new transport route between China and ASEAN countries.

The Xi'an-Yan'an line in Shaanxi Province and the Hangzhou-Quzhou line in Zhejiang Province are also set to open soon, enhancing connectivity in the revolutionary heartland in northern Shaanxi as well as in the Yangtze River Delta region.

With the opening of these high-speed rail lines by year-end, China's high-speed rail mileage is expected to exceed 50,000 km.

An aerial drone photo shows a bullet train running on a bridge along the Hangzhou-Quzhou high-speed railway in east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Since launching its high-speed rail service in 2008, China has built the world's largest high-speed railway network, accounting for over 70 percent of the world's total. Up to 10,000 bullet trains carry as many as 16 million passengers every day, with bullet trains having transported over 22.9 billion passengers by the end of 2024.

According to "China High-Speed Rail," a book compiled by the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., the average railway travel time between the 31 provincial-level capitals in the Chinese mainland decreased by nearly 50 percent in 2024 compared to 2012. "Touring China by high-speed rail" has become a trendy travel option for passengers from both home and abroad.

A staff member (C) interacts with passengers aboard the D4667 bullet train on Dec. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

Kanyanat In-Aim, a Thai student at Ningxia University, toured Xi'an via high-speed rail during the summer break.

The 20-year-old said shorter travel time and reasonable ticket fare make high-speed trains the first choice for students like her.

"It's more affordable than flying, with frequent schedules, greater flexibility and minimal delays," she said, adding that she has planned a winter trip to Baotou with friends on the new high-speed rail to enjoy local food and Mongolian culture.

The sprawling high-speed rail network not only expands the travel radius and mobility but also helps facilitate economic development.

A bullet train runs on a bridge along the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang high-speed railway in south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 22, 2025. (Photo by Wei Jie/Xinhua)

Cities along the Baotou-Yinchuan line have formed a tourism alliance to attract tourists, with destinations like Zhongwei promoting desert stargazing resources. Local specialties, ranging from wine and goji berries to melon and lamb, are reaching national markets faster via high-speed railway transportation.

"We have long anticipated this and are fully prepared," said Ma Shandan, a tourism official from Zhongwei, known for its desert resort of Shapotou on the bank of the Yellow River. "The growing number of tourists will boost our vision of becoming an international tourism destination."

According to national plans, by 2035, China's high-speed rail network will reach 70,000 km, comprising eight main vertical lines linking the north and south and eight horizontal lines connecting the east and west. Once completed, the network will cover major cities, city clusters, and key economic zones nationwide. (Video reporters: Lyu Qiuping, Peng Yuan, Lu Ying, Liang Aiping, Lin Juan, Fu Ruixia, Tian Jianchuan, Wang Ruiping, Mao Xin and Liang Shun; video editors: Zhang Yichi and Mu Xuyao) 
Sarah Wheeler Keenan, Ph.D., and South Dakota Mines associate professor of geology and geological engineering, will spend next month at the Taita Taveta University in Voi, Kenya, helping the institution design and launch one of the country's only underground geology programs.

Keenan will travel to Africa after being selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program award.

Keenan first discovered the Fulbright Specialist opportunity while in Suriname in the spring of 2024. Keenan, along with Laurie Anderson, Ph.D., Mines vice president of research, and Rudrajit Mitra, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mining Engineering and Management, traveled to the South American country with the South Dakota National Guard as part of its State Partnership Program.

After learning about the program during a visit to the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, she applied to join the roster, an intensive process that ultimately led to her selection as the Kenyan university's top candidate in August.

This is a huge honor, Keenan said. To be selected to represent my university and my country abroad is pretty incredible.

During her time in Kenya, Keenan will work closely with faculty and staff at Taita Taveta University to create a comprehensive geology curriculum tailored to the regions workforce needs. Although the university currently offers degrees in mining and agriculture, leaders identified a growing demand for graduates trained in geology with a strong ecological foundation, especially in a region where mining and agriculture drive the local economy.

The university is located near Voi, situated between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, one of the most biodiverse regions in East Africa.

Keenans work will include designing the full undergraduate geology curriculum; surveying local industries in mining, agriculture, and related fields to determine the skills employers need most; integrating those findings with the universitys resources to build a modern, workforce-ready academic program; supporting efforts to establish a long-term partnership between Mines and Taita Taveta University, including the development of a new Memorandum of Understanding to encourage future collaboration in teaching, research, and faculty exchange.

Taita Taveta University asked not only for curriculum support but also for help forging a sustainable partnership with a U.S. institution, Keenan said. Im excited to continue working with them as they implement the program and expand opportunities for students.

The goal is to launch the new geology program by fall 2026, making it only the second of its kind in Kenya.

Keenans Fulbright Specialist term will conclude in 2027, after which she may apply again for future projects.

Keenan joins more than 400 U.S. citizens each year who share their expertise abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program. Participants are selected for their exceptional academic and professional achievements, demonstrated leadership and potential to build long-term international partnerships.

The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange initiative, operating in more than 160 countries worldwide. More than 400,000 scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals have participated since its inception. Fulbright alumni include 60 Nobel Prize recipients, 88 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 39 heads of state or government.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office at 202-632-6452 or ECA-Press@state.gov.
European Metals Holdings released an updated definitive feasibility study for its Cinovec lithium project in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, confirming its status as a long-life, battery-grade lithium carbonate producer, while reflecting changes required by the Australian Securities Exchange reducing the formal mine plan to 23 years.

The AIM-traded company said the update followed discussions with the ASX, which did not permit inclusion of the final four years of the original 27-year production schedule.

As a result, the pre-tax net present value at an 8% discount rate for Cinovec was reduced to $1.455bn from $1.712bn, while the pre-tax internal rate of return had edged down to 14.8% from 15.3%.

European Metals said it remained confident that inferred resources underpinning years 24 to 27 would be converted to indicated resources through further infill drilling, adding that it was working with consultants to revise the mine plan in a JORC-compliant manner to restore the full 27-year schedule in a future DFS update.

Based on the first 23 years of production and a flat lithium carbonate price assumption of $26,000 per tonne, the updated DFS confirmed steady-state output of 37,500 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium carbonate, equivalent to around 5.2% of projected EU demand in 2030 and sufficient to supply up to 1.3 million 60kWh electric vehicle batteries annually.

Life-of-mine C1 costs were estimated at $12,621 per tonne, with all-in sustaining costs of $13,879 per tonne.

The project was underpinned by a JORC-compliant resource of 747.54 million tonnes at 0.19% lithium, equivalent to 7.45 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, and a JORC reserve of 54.4 million tonnes at 0.27% lithium.

Initial capital expenditure was estimated at $1.72bn, including contingency and net of approved grants, with sustaining capital expenditure of $498m over the life of the mine.

European Metals highlighted significant government backing for Cinovec, including approval for up to 360m in grants from the Czech government and a further $36m from the EU Just Transition Fund.

Completion of the DFS would allow the group to advance project financing discussions, continue engagement with EU stakeholders on additional grant and debt support, and progress advanced offtake negotiations, the board said.

Cinovec, which hosts Europes largest hard-rock lithium resource, is fully located within the Czech Republic and sits within 200 to 350 kilometres of multiple operating, under-construction or planned EU gigafactories.

At 1554 GMT, shares in European Metals Holdings were down 12.5% at 17.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The Italian competition authority said on Tuesday that it has fined Ryanair 255.7m for abuse of a dominant position.

The regulator said that between April 2023 and "at least" April 2025, the budget airline put in place "an elaborate strategy" which affected the ability of online and traditional travel agencies to buy Ryanair flights on ryanair.com.

"In particular, the companys strategy blocked, hindered or made such purchases more difficult and/or economically or technically burdensome when combined with flights operated by other carriers and/or other tourism and insurance services," it said.

An investigation by the ICA found that at the end of 2022, Ryanair began to explore ways to hinder travel agencies.

At first, the airline rolled out facial recognition procedures on its website aimed at users who purchased their ticket through a travel agency. At the end of 2023, when the authoritys investigation was underway, Ryanair totally or intermittently blocked booking attempts by travel agencies on its website.

The third phase of the airlines strategy, in early 2024, saw Ryanair impose partnership agreements on OTAs and Travel Agent Direct accounts on traditional agencies, containing terms that restricted agencies from offering Ryanair flights in combination with other services.

"To persuade agencies to partner up, Ryanair periodically blocked bookings and launched an aggressive communication campaign against non-signatory OTAs, labelling them pirate OTAs," it said.

The ICA said Ryanairs conduct weakened competition from agencies, both directly and indirectly, and in turn reduced the quality and range of tourism services available to consumers.

Ryanair said in a statement that it will "immediately appeal" the "legally flawed" ruling by the ICA.

Chief executive Michael OLeary said: "If todays legally unsound AGCM Ruling and fine is not appealed, then the AGCM proposes to set itself above the Milan Courts in making competition decisions. Ryanair has fought for many years for transparent pricing, and our approved OTA agreements (which have been agreed by almost every large OTA, with the notable exception of one Spanish OTA, who continues to overcharge its customers for flights and ancillary services) are manifestly and clearly pro-consumer.

"When Ryanair first started in 1985, 20% of ticket revenues were wasted paying travel agents 10% commissions, and GDS systems 10% commissions, in an industry with high fares, but profit margins of less than 1%. The internet and the ryanair.com website have enabled Ryanair to distribute directly to consumers, and Ryanair has passed on these 20% cost savings in the form of the lowest air fares in Italy and Europe. Todays AGCM ruling is both legally unsound, and it contradicts the Precedent Milan Court Ruling of January 2024, which declared that Ryanairs direct distribution model undoubtedly benefits consumers."

O'Leary said the ruling was "an affront" to consumer protection and competition law.

"Ryanair has grown rapidly in Italy - and in many other markets across Europe - by always offering the lowest air fares in every single market in which we operate," said O'Leary. "This legally baseless AGCM Ruling, and its absurd 256m fine, undermines consumer protection and competition law, and it will be overturned on appeal."
Shares in Denmarks Novo Nordisk surged on Tuesday after the US Food and Drug Administration approved the pill form of its Wegovy weight loss drug.

The Wegovy pill - the first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist therapy approved for weight management - is expected to be launched in the US in early January.

Chief executive Mike Doustdar said: "The pill is here. With today's approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection.

"As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight loss journey. No other current oral GLP-1 treatment can match the weight loss delivered by the Wegovy pill, and we are very excited for what this will mean for patients in the US."

Novo Nordisk said it submitted oral semaglutide 25 mg once-daily for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities in the second half of this year.

At 0930 GMT, the shares were up 7.5% at DKK326.15.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "The weight-loss drug market started out as a fairly even race between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, but in recent times Lilly has streaked ahead of its Danish counterpart as Novo has been beset by disappointing trial results and operational misfires.

"So news that the US drug regulator has approved a daily pill version of Novos Wegovy treatment has given the company a head start in the next big contest of bringing an oral obesity treatment to market.

"This is a significant breakthrough given the reluctance of some people to use the existing injectable option and it could help the company win back market share from Lilly. Novo expects to be ready for a full launch in January.

"It wont have this market to itself for long, as Eli Lillys own pill looks set to receive regulatory approval in the near future after positive results from its latest trial. However, this is a boost for new Novo boss Mike Doustdar as he looks to revive the companys fortunes."
Professional and personal issues occupy British private detective Charles Lenox in Charles Finch's stylish The Hidden City, set in 1879.

As he heals from being stabbed during a recent investigation in the U.S., Lenox is drawn into a cold case involving Mrs. Huggins, his beloved former housekeeper. She relates that the previous owner of her home, a chemist with a nasty reputation, was murdered seven years earlier, and she fears the killer has returned. A stranger has been sleeping on her front stairs, and scratches at her keyhole indicate that someone attempted to break into her house. The case takes Lenox to London's backstreets, brothels, and drug dens, where opiates are dispensed.

Meanwhile, Lenox and his wife, Lady Jane, open their home to Angela, the daughter of his recently deceased cousin Jasper, who lived in India. Accompanying Angela without advance notice is Sari, an Indian girl who was taken in by Jasper; she and Angela grew up together. Lenox and Lady Jane don't hesitate to welcome both girls, though they are concerned that society may not be accepting of brown-skinned Sari. Lenox also worries about Lady Jane's safety when she joins a women's suffrage protest and threatening notes arrive afterward.

Finch (The Woman in the Water) alternates between Lenox's work and home life. Rather than link the two through a series of coincidences, Finch's purposeful separation of the business and the personal makes for a stronger story, which thoughtfully explores issues as he moves through different parts of society.

The Hidden City, Finch's 15th installment in his Charles Lenox series, moves at a brisk clip, led by an intelligent, compassionate detective. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer
MANILA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Five suspected rebels were killed in a clash with Philippine government forces on Tuesday in Camarines Sur province in Luzon island, the Philippine army said.

In a social media post, the army said that the five New People's Army (NPA) insurgents died from fighting. The military said it is still going after the rebels.

The clash came just five days after two soldiers were killed and three others were wounded when anti-personnel landmines allegedly planted by NPA fighters exploded during security operations in a mountainous village in Camarines Sur province on Friday.

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.

According to the military, the NPA's current strength is estimated at around 1,000 fighters -- far below its peak of roughly 25,000 in the mid-1980s. 
Erecto, a rapidly growing digital healthcare platform in India, is gaining nationwide recognition for providing Best Homeopathic Sexologist with PLISSIT approach to sexual wellness consultations in India. With a strong focus on privacy, convenience, and patient-centric care, Erecto is positioning itself as one of the most trusted medical platforms, particularly in sensitive health categories such as male sexual problems.

Operating under the philosophy Similia Similibus Curentur that is like cures like, Dr. Sharma addresses some of the bigger challenges in sexual healthcare through Homeopathy. Erecto enables users to consult qualified doctors anonymously through secure appointments, ensuring stigma-free access to treatment.

Easy Access to the Best Homeopathic Sexologists in India

Erecto allows patients to search and book consultations with doctors across states, districts, and cities, making specialised healthcare more accessible nationwide. The platform has earned notable visibility for offering consultations with some of the best homeopathic sexologists, ayurvedic sexologists, and general sexologists in India, catering to the growing demand for natural and long-term treatment solutions.

Patients seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low libido, infertility, azoospermia, and other male sexual health issues can connect with experienced specialists from the comfort of their homes. Beyond sexual wellness, Erecto also provides consultations for kidney and gall bladder stones, PCOD, fibroids, cysts, IBS, hair fall, acne, and warts, positioning itself as a multi-speciality digital healthcare ecosystem.

Strong Patient Outcomes and Clinical Track Record

According to published platform data, Erecto has served over 65,000 patients globally since its inception and reports a 98% patient satisfaction rate. The platform highlights more than 1,200 successful weight loss cases, 720 renal stone recoveries, 600 IBS treatments, and 100+ infertility success cases in the year 2023, underscoring its experience in managing both lifestyle and chronic conditions.

Innovation in Telehealth and Cross-Border Care

Erecto has also expanded its services to include cross-border medicine delivery and international online consultations, allowing patients worldwide to access Indian medical expertise. In recognition of its digital innovation, the platform received the Innovation in Telehealth Excellence Award 2023, reinforcing its growing influence in Indias digital healthcare transformation.

Experienced Medical Leadership

The platforms medical team includes seasoned professionals across alternative and modern medicine.

Dr. Madhuri Chaurasia , CEO and Chief Nutritionist, oversees clinical strategy and wellness programs.

, CEO and Chief Nutritionist, oversees clinical strategy and wellness programs. Dr. Ravindra Sharma , BHMS, MD (Homeopathy), widely regarded as one of the best homeopathic sexologists in India , brings over 52 years of experience in treating erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, infertility, low libido, phimosis and psychosexual disorders.

, BHMS, MD (Homeopathy), widely regarded as one of the , brings over in treating erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, infertility, low libido, phimosis and psychosexual disorders. Dr. Vinod Gupta , an Ayurvedic expert specialising in mens health and urology.

, an Ayurvedic expert specialising in mens health and urology. Dr. Abhishek Kumar, MBBS, known for his work in reproductive healthcare.

Dr. Ravindra remains a key clinical pillar of the platform, offering walk-in, audio, and video consultations. Medications are delivered within two to three working days, and select states offer a one-time fee model with lifetime consultation access, further enhancing patient convenience.

Raising Awareness Through Educational Content

Erecto also focuses on sexual health awareness through educational blogs that discuss topics such as natural ways to boost stamina, homeopathic treatment for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation recovery stories, and natural sexual wellness solutions. These articles aim to reduce stigma and encourage timely medical consultation.

Growing Presence in Indias Digital Healthcare Space

With its registered office in Kolkata and structured customer support channels including phone and email, Erecto continues to expand its footprint across India. As digital healthcare adoption accelerates, Erecto is emerging as a trusted platform that combines medical expertise, patient privacy, and discreet technology to address some of the most sensitive yet critical health concerns.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New Yorkers in the five boroughs and Long Island will still need to subsidize the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipelines construction despite new legislation signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

On December 19, Hochul shut down the 100-foot rule, which funded gas pipeline expansions through ratepayer-funded subsidies, according to the New York State Senate.

The NESE pipeline, approved in November by state agencies, will be paid for by New Yorkers within New York City and Long Island via a 3.5% increase to National Grid bills despite this new legislation.

The pipeline will feature a 17.4-mile underwater segment through the Raritan and Lower New York bays, passing Staten Islands shores.

National Grid was not thrilled by the change in legislation.

We are disappointed that the 100foot rule has been repealed. 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," said a National Grid spokesperson.

We encourage the administration and the legislature to use this one-year window to adopt practical protections for customers such as carveouts for income-eligible customers and for oiltogas conversionsso families have affordable access to cleaner, firm, reliable heat, the spokesperson added.

National Grid is a steadfast supporter of the pipeline, however, pointing to the possibility for $2.5 billion in energy savings for New Yorks downstate residents, like Staten Islanders, over the next 15 years, a spokesperson said previously.

National Grid touted the news that 96 organizations, representing 1.7 million people, signed on in approval for the pipeline.

But then you have 130 elected officials from across the state voicing their own issues with the project in a letter penned to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

This is in addition to a slew of environmental groups and others working to raise awareness about the potential environmental impact of the pipeline.

Food & Water Watchs New York State Director Laura Shindell said the following of the dismantling of the 100-foot rule: Governor Hochul has finally done the right thing, but only after a litany of horrific climate decisions this year. Her signature on this important legislation will not overshadow the shame of her approval of the 3.2 billion dollar Williams NESE fracked gas pipeline in NYC, nor overshadow the permits she granted to build a Bitcoin-mining fracked gas power plant in the Finger Lakes. It is simultaneously necessary, and woefully inadequate for New Yorkers health, climate, and wallets.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A New York nurses union voted Monday to authorize strikes at a dozen different hospitals, including West Brightons Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC).

Members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) at the 12 hospitals voted overwhelmingly, 97% according to the union, to authorize strikes should contract negotiations fail by the deals end-of-year expirations.

Lisa Yeno, a member of the unions negotiating executive committee at RUMC, said nurses main concern at the local hospital is a lack of security, which she said can often leave her and her colleagues at risk of becoming victims of violence.

Weve had some incidents in the recent past of nurses getting assaulted and in pretty significant situations where nurses have been significantly injured, Yeno, a 25-year veteran of the hospital, said. Were asking for some more increased security and metal detectors, weapons detectors and panic buttons, because weve seen an increase in workplace violence, especially in places like the emergency room and [psychiatric] units.

A November 2024 incident saw a 24-year-old patient punch and pull the hair of 23-year-old nurse whom she was treating. Ultimately, Supreme Court Judge Alexander Jeong found the alleged perpetrator unfit to stand trial.

In another high-profile 2024 incident, a 19-year-old man allegedly assaulted two nurses along with other hospital staff during a March visit to the RUMC emergency room that year.

Other RUMC nurse concerns include the hospitals staffing shortfalls that can leave colleagues attending to more patients than they can effectively handle, and reductions to their healthcare benefits, Yeno said, adding that talks with hospital management had been ongoing since October.

RUMC spokesperson Alexander Lutz said talks remain ongoing but declined to comment on specifics of the negotiations. He said that safety is a top priority for everyone at the hospital.

Incidents of violence toward medical staff do occur in hospitals across New York City on occasion and RUMC is unfortunately not immune to these challenges. We are committed to providing a secure environment where our staff can focus on delivering exceptional care to our patients, he said. RUMC maintains a highly trained security team, works closely with the NYPD for immediate support when needed, and has long utilized security detectors at all key entry points, among other precautionary and preventive measures we have in place.

Yeno, a resident of Grasmere, said her unions negotiating team at the hospital has a decent working relationship working relationship with the hospitals administration, but that time is running out to get a deal done.

A strike would mean the hospital would need to hire outside nurses to meet its staffing needs while the labor action is ongoing.

Im hoping that in these next few days, they (hospital administrators) will come to make us a counter proposal, but with that being said, if it doesnt happen, we did take this strike vote, she said. Nobody wants to do that. Nobody wants to strike, but its a type of maneuver we need to do now, because were not getting any headway.

The other hospitals around the city where NYSNA members authorized strike actions are BronxCare Health System, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Interfaith Medical Center / One Brooklyn Health, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center / One Brooklyn Health, Maimonides Medical Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center.

Staff at many of those hospitals are experiencing the same kind of concerns seen at RUMC, but many are also facing stagnant wages while seeing inflated executive pay, and unclear futures as artificial intelligence tangles its way into the healthcare industry, according to the nurses.

Union President Nancy Hagans, a Ward Hill resident, called on the hospitals leadership teams to work with nurses to avoid strikes around the city.

We became nurses because we care about our patients deeply and do not take striking lightly. It is always a last resort. But its shameful that instead of trying to protect care and settle a fair contract, hospitals are dragging their feet and making proposals that would seriously erode care in this city, she said. They should be trying to work with frontline nurses right now, not fighting against us. Its shameful that they would try to hold healthcare coverage hostage for the nurses who care for this citys communities.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Leslie Paul Gertner, 101, a long-time Staten Islander known as the Mayor of New Dorp, died on Dec. 19. Born in Manhattan on Sept. 12, 1924, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a radar specialist. Mr. Gertner worked for the A&P company for 50 years, meeting his wife Inez while at the New Dorp store. They were married from 1951 until her death in 2005. He was an avid card player and active in several local organizations. Read the full obituary on SILive

Thomas Crane, an NYPD officer, died on Dec. 24, 1975 at the age of 66. He graduated from the Police Academy in 1939 and his first assignment was at the Worlds Fair. Read the full obituary on SILive

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from Legacy.com. It was reviewed and edited by Advance/SILive.com staff.
As the Trump administration implements sweeping national security and immigration policy changes, two Caribbean countries have been added to the growing list of travel restrictions.

In a Dec. 16 proclamation from The White House, President Donald Trump announced Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are joining the list.

The ban will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, under the Presidential Proclamation 10998 titled, Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.

According to the presidential proclamation, the U.S. is imposing partial travel restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica over concerns about their citizenship-by-investment programs.

The programs allow foreign nationals to gain citizenship and a passport from Antigua and Barbuda or Dominica if they make qualifying financial contributions, such as a donation to a government fund or an approved real estate investment.

The proclamation says the CBI programs can make it harder for U.S. officials to properly vet visa applicants, because their passports often provide limited background information.

These concerns were cited as factors that could detrimentally affect the interests of the United States if left unaddressed.

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica with CBI passports arent automatically barred from travel, but the U.S. applies partial restrictions when they apply for visas.

What does the ban mean?

The ban does not prevent U.S. citizens from visiting these Caribbean countries or cancel tourism to these areas. And it also does not block all foreign nationals from entering the U.S.

The restrictions only limit some travel into the U.S by citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

The move will primarily affect Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica citizens traveling to the U.S with certain types of visas. Tourists and exchange students are most likely affected.

Under the ban:
This statement is in response to Governor Hochuls veto of A8662A/S8432:

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce thanks Governor (Kathy) Hochul for protecting the interests of small business owners across New York state by vetoing the LLC Transparency Act. The governor helped thousands of local businesses by blocking imposition of the overly broad and punitive regulatory framework.

Business owners need support to thrive in todays economy, not yet another layer of regulation. The SICC looks forward to further partnership with Governor Hochul to develop solutions to foster economic growth and community vitality.

(Linda Baran is president of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City residents awoke to snow in some parts of the city and rain in others during Tuesdays wet morning commute.

While the snow might be a pleasant sight for those dreaming of a white Christmas, this weather event is not anticipated to result in a lasting winter wonderland.

As of 7 a.m. some very light snow has found its way to Staten Island, coating some front lawns and fields.

Obviously we are dealing with a little bit of a wintry start across the city and the metro this morning, Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told the Advance/SILive.com on Tuesday morning.

Given that temperatures are just above freezing, you know, were not dealing with immediate, widespread, icy conditions on those untreated surfaces. That said, I do expect that there will be some slick spots developing on anything thats untreated as the snow continues to fall over the next couple of hours, he added.

Snow falls on Howard Avenue on Grymes Hill on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

Although snow has fallen in some areas, others have received rain. Eventually, Ramunni forecasts that the weather event will become all rain in the late morning or early afternoon.

Staten Island is expected to receive a coating of snow. However, accumulation amounts could reach half an inch, Ramunni said.

Areas north and west of Staten Island could receive up to an inch of snow.

Once the snow transitions to rain, Ramunni anticipates a dreary rest of the day.

As temperatures remain above freezing, light rain and patchy drizzle will continue before clearing out in the late afternoon or evening hours.

Temperatures Tuesday evening will fall into the mid-30s after reaching a forecast high around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) directly administered by the central government to better serve the overall work of the Party and the country and contribute more to Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction conveyed at a meeting of heads of central SOEs held here on Monday and Tuesday.

While affirming their pivotal role in the economy, Xi said central SOEs should serve high-quality economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihoods, further deepen reform, and effectively prevent and defuse risks.

Central SOEs should enhance their core competitiveness and work to build world-class enterprises, Xi said, calling on them to stay rooted in the real economy and strive to achieve breakthroughs in key and core technologies.

He also underscored the importance of upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership over central SOEs, improving institutional frameworks, tightening supervision, and resolutely combating corruption.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), central SOEs must provide strong support for advancing major infrastructure projects, and accelerate the upgrading of traditional infrastructure with digital and intelligent technologies, Li said.

He urged central SOEs to develop emerging and future industries in line with their core functions and businesses, while ensuring stable energy and resource supplies. Li called on them to strengthen applied basic research and play an active role in serving major national strategies.

Li also emphasized the need to further deepen reforms of state capital and SOEs, adding that heads of central SOEs should fulfill their duties with a more proactive and enterprising spirit.

The meeting was chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, with State Councilor Wu Zhenglong in attendance. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends a meeting of heads of central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China. An important instruction by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was conveyed at the meeting, which was held here on Monday and Tuesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
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BusinessThe economyTrump's America Opinion Trump has set America up to be the biggest loser in the energy race

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard December 23, 2025  7:15pm 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

Energy is suddenly becoming much cheaper in the UK and Europe, rapidly narrowing the gap in industrial competitiveness with America and rescuing households with a windfall stimulus as we enter 2026. The January futures contract for wholesale gas has been almost halved since the last northern winter to 27.39 ($48.50) a megawatt hour. The contract is even lower for January 2027, and lower yet for early 2028 and 2029 as traders anticipate the gathering global glut of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Donald Trumps America is going to lose the energy race on two fronts. Bloomberg Brent crude oil has fallen to the lower end of its historic trading range in real terms. This is unlikely to change as Saudi Arabia floods the market to regain lost global share, and as the US over-drills in a fast-changing world that no longer wants as much crude as Big Oil likes to tell itself. The International Energy Agency estimates that global oil supply will rise by 5.7 million barrels a day over this year and next, while demand will rise by 1.6 million. The structural overhang is colossal. It will be even larger if Vladimir Putin is let back into polite society.

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The net effect of the twin gluts in gas and oil is a relief package worth $US1.2 trillion ($1.8 trillion) a year for countries that import energy, and a commensurate loss in rents for OPEC, Qatar, the US, Canada or Norway. Related Article Updated

Mergers & acquisitions Huge conflict of interest: Trumps $600 million windfall after nuclear deal Most of Americas shale gas output has been trapped inside the country  and even within regions of the US  since the fracking revolution reached scale in the early 2010s. The wholesale cost of gas in Europe in mid-2022 was seven times higher than the Henry Hub price enjoyed by the booming petrochemical belt from Texas to Louisiana, or the Chicago region drawing on the Appalachian Marcellus and Utica basins. Today it is 2 times higher. The gap will narrow further as the US opens new export terminals for LNG, doubling total capacity by 2029. By then terminal capacity will have risen tenfold in a decade.

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Donald Trump has made much of Americas new role as the worlds biggest exporter of LNG, and has been actively forcing the pace. He should be careful what he wishes for. The Henry Hub price of gas in the US has risen by 50 per cent to $US4.11 since August, enough to cause the first stirrings of a cost-of-living revolt. Soaring utility bills played a large role in last months elections in Virginia and New Jersey. It does not take much of a rise to cause pain because American households use twice as much energy on average as Europeans. It is well understood that Americas energy infrastructure is so badly integrated that gas already costs just as much today in New England, New York or the Pacific North West as it does in Britain. The world has been flooded with oil and its predicted to get worse. Bloomberg As a loose rule of thumb, it costs $1.5 British thermal units (MMBtu) to ship LNG from the Gulf of Mexico to the Dragon terminal in Wales. The current gap  $US4 in Texas versus $US9 in Western Europe  will close as a mechanical effect of pure price arbitrage. Americas exorbitant energy privilege is on borrowed time. It is one reason why I am more bullish than most on the cyclical recovery in the UK and Europe over the next three years: another is rearmament. It forces a budget rotation from destructive welfare to the disciplinary social compact of the military, with all kinds of industrial and technological spin-offs.

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Falling gas prices give Britain a window to sort out its chronic energy problems. If Labour had sense, it would switch the load of levies on electricity bills to gas bills, raising the percentage gradually each year to give people time to adapt. It is a policy absurdity that a government committed to slashing CO2 emissions and electrifying everything should preside over a warped incentive structure that favours fossil fuels, and actively deters people from switching to heat pumps, electric vehicles or induction cookers powered from what will soon be 80 per cent home-made clean energy. The International Energy Agency estimates that global oil supply will rise by 5.7 million barrels a day over this year and next, while demand will rise by 1.6 million. The structural overhang is colossal. It is a chance to end our roller-coaster reliance on the spot price for gas. Baroness Worthington, an energy specialist, has co-written a plea for sanity in Energy Flux entitled UK-Norway Gas Trade: Time for a New Deal? Few are aware that British consumers have been transferring far greater sums to Norways sovereign wealth fund than they ever have to Putin or Trumps frackers. Norway covered almost half of the UKs entire gas consumption last year.

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While the pipeline contracts may be long-term, the price is mostly linked to the spot market on a merchant basis. Norways state-owned driller Equinor has a gas lifting cost near $US2 MMBtu in large fields such as Troll  some of the cheapest gas in the world  but earned an average sales price of $US13.5 in 2024. The rents have been eye-watering. But now Norway has to face the painful phase of the gas cycle. It is the perfect moment for the centre-left governments of London and Oslo to thrash out a long-term accord in their mutual interest, locking in stable prices until at least the late 2030s. The US is now the biggest exporter of LNG, on ships such as the Aristidis I tanker, pictured docked in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bloomberg In my view, the UK should take advantage of cheaper gas to slow the switch to clean power until the grid has caught up with the roll-out of wind power and until the interconnectors from Scotland to England are ready. That means using our gas-fired plants as de facto peakers for longer to buttress renewables and to get us through winter doldrums. In a sense, China has done us a favour. It is covering so much of the North China Plain and Xinjiang with wind turbines and solar panels that it is eating into global gas demand.

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Chinas solar kits are now so cheap  you can buy a 1kw panel for 100 in Asia  that Pakistan has imported 32 gigawatts over the past two years as farmers and factories abandon the grid and generate their own power. Pakistan has cancelled the purchase of 21 LNG cargoes planned for 2026 and 2027. Related Article Trump's White House He has confidence in what I tell him: The billionaire who has Trumps ear China itself has not imported a single cargo from the US since February and has little inclination ever to do so again: it is moving as fast as possible to end reliance on seaborne energy supplies, deemed vulnerable to a US naval blockade. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis says Chinas imports of LNG have fallen 16 per cent this year, but imports have also fallen by 13 per cent in Thailand and 8 per cent in India  partly because of coal switching. Japan will be the next shoe to drop as it fires up more mothballed nuclear reactors. Trumps America is going to lose in two ways. Its industrial energy advantage will largely disappear and its fossil fuel export revenues will be worth far less than the White House seems to think.

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For those of us in Europe, it is a blessed relief. We can lick our wounds after the violent gas shock of the past four years and reduce our dependency before the next fossil cycle does its worst. We can finally have an intelligent debate about which parts of net zero make us richer and safer, and which parts make us poorer and more vulnerable  and if you think the answer to that debate is obvious, you are probably wrong. The Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureTV & radioLunch with How to win Hard Quiz  and other secrets from Tom Gleeson Cassidy Knowlton December 23, 2025  11:30am 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

The first time I met Tom Gleeson, I thought I was going to pass out. I was a contestant on his wildly successful quiz show, Hard Quiz (expert subject: 1996 Broadway musical Rent), and I was not what youd call a TV natural. My hands and feet went numb and my vision tunnelled as the hot lights held me in their glare and Gleeson began his trademark cutting banter. Today we are both far more relaxed, meeting for lunch at light-filled Carlton Italian restaurant Scopri. Hes swapped his signature blue suit (the tie changes each season) for a navy T-shirt, and Im reasonably confident Ill remain conscious throughout. Tom Gleeson knows what his Hard Quiz subject would be. Justin McManus Gleeson doesnt meet his contestants before the cameras roll, so that anything good can be used in the show. I used to go and say hi to the contestants in season one, Gleeson says. Because it was a complete unknown, Id go and say to them, Hi, how are you? Im going to give you shit. You can give it to me back, and Id sort of explain it all. But what I found was, when I did that, the contestants just didnt really talk. I realised they were kind of holding it in. And then I realised that they were deliberately keeping each others subject secret, right? Which, again, wasnt part of the show. We never told people to do that, but that became a thing. And what we realised was, oh, these people just really want to win. Giving people shit and getting it back is a good description of Hard Quiz, consistently one of the ABCs best-rating shows and at times the most-watched quiz show in Australia. Contestants are asked about their expert subject and some general knowledge questions, while copping a roasting from Gleeson and each other.

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They also try to give as good as they get with the host  but as contestants are normal people and Gleeson is a professional comedian who has never done anything else, its not exactly a fair fight. Related Article Opinion

Film & TV production Craving that big brass mug? Heres how to become the next Hard Quiz champion Cassidy Knowlton Deputy news director, The Age The evil truth is, I could bury everyone every day of the week, but I dont because sometimes when they get a clap, Im like, just step back. They hit a boundary, let them enjoy that, says Gleeson. Imagine if I ground every contestant right down into the ground, every single one, and never let them have a win. That wouldnt be fun. A resident of the rural town of Romsey (population: 4934, as of the 2021 census) northwest of Melbourne, Gleeson is in the city today because he had a show last night. Hes chosen Scopri because its owned by his Romsey neighbours Alison Foley and Anthony Scutella, who comes over to say hello before we order. Theyre friends of mine, Gleeson says, introducing Scutella. So this is an inside job. Im getting you to pay my friend for me to eat.

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Its all on Channel Nine, which is probably a dirty word for you, I tell the long-term ABC host, who now also has a show on Ten. Zucchini risotto with spanner crab at Scopri Justin McManus No, no, its fine. I like Channel Nine, he rejoins. Its like Channel Seven with a sense of humour. As its on Nines expense account, we decide on two courses, starters and mains. Gleeson orders oysters and the risotto of the day, which turns out to be a vibrantly green zucchini base with spanner crab. I opt for scallops to start and spaghetti alle vongole, but when our starters arrive we decide to swap an oyster for a scallop, so no one has food envy. He has just filmed his second season of Hard Quiz Kids and rolled straight into filming season 11 of the normal show. I described it to the executive producer as being like, Ive been training in sand, like a horse running on sand, and finally, I get to gallop on a straight, and it was so much easier.

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He likes the kids version, but he says it can be difficult to get his pint-sized contestants to be quiet when they need to be and to understand the rules of the game. The results are more chaotic  and often fun. I enjoy watching the kids show in some respects more after its finished, and Im untethered from the frustration of recording them, he says. Not that his own kids  or their friends  are likely to ever be contestants. None of them watch TV. Once, one kid was excited because he went into my office and he saw that there was a microphone there, which I use for radio interviews and stuff. He said [to my son], I reckon your dads actually a YouTuber! What a crushing disappointment to learn Gleeson actually hosts a broadcast TV show. Spaghetti alle vongole at Scopri Justin McManus The national broadcaster is currently searching for contestants for season 12, and Gleeson says he has absolutely no intention of winding down. The Gold Logie winner loves hosting the quiz he invented, as well as Tens Taskmaster and his own live shows. Im 51, and the things I have in place are quite extraordinary, he says. Im not coasting. Im not taking any of it for granted. I know what it is. Ive played small rooms, Ive done shows that no one cared about, a half-filled venue because no one gave a shit about what I was doing. So to me, to be touring around Australia to sold-out big theatres, and people are like looking at me like, what have you got to say? Its a privilege I just like to abuse constantly. Thats the fun part, everyones finally turning up.

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When he was putting together his current live show a few months ago, his management suggested the Sydney Opera House in early January. Although he likes to keep his summer holidays free, he decided to listen to the argument that he was about to sell a lot of tickets. At that point there was no show, but I knew that those shows were going to sell out, and Id have to have something to say when I got there. And theres something like unbelievably thrilling about that, that youre sitting at home in June, and going, Ive got to do the Opera House in January. I dont know what Im going to be saying, but by the time I get there its going to be pretty cool, but I dont know what it is yet. That never ceases to be fascinating.  As if to underscore that he can absolutely sell out a huge theatre with no show yet written, our server appears with a fresh glass of white wine for Gleeson, explaining that it has been sent by a fan who recognised him across the restaurant. Hard Quiz on the ABC Is one of the most watched quiz shows in Australia. ABC Is this a setup? I ask him. No, he says  and this kind of thing happens all the time. Fans approach him in the street or send over drinks if they see him in a restaurant, and often they are former contestants on Hard Quiz.

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Whenever I see a contestant, Im always happy to chat to them as long as they want to because its like returning the favour, Gleeson says. They come to [live comedy] shows, I see them in the front row. He gives a thumbs up and the grin of an overawed fan. Hi! Im Jack Russells! The bill. If you want to be one of those smiling up from the front row of his live gig having already faced a grilling over your expert subject (and you cant have Jack Russells, or any other topic that has already been covered), Gleeson has some advice: Choose your topic carefully. If you want to win, narrow is good. Sometimes, if you really, really, really love your subject, you might actually be blinded to the things that other people do or dont know about it. So you can get too into your own thing. Steal. You can get five from five and not make the final round. You can get one right in the expert round and still win. Its a  I hate to say it  its a socialist structure. It evens people out. So you cant go on there and just answer your subject. I reckon every single winner has at least stolen one. Youre probably going to have to steal one. Youre probably going to have to steal two. Toms Round is the great equaliser. My round is multiple choice, so thats completely scattering the pigeons. Be fast on the buzzer in the Peoples Round. Its a speed test. People buzz in just before, and then get the answer. If you make it to the final round, show off a little. The joy of getting to the final round is you kind of get to relax because, youre like, I now have all the time in the world. Theres something quite nice about that. Also, one of my favourite parts of the show is at that stage, often thats when you actually get to see a window into just how deep their knowledge is. Theyve got time to explain things. If Gleeson himself were a contestant on Hard Quiz, what would his expert subject be? Trigonometry. He was very good at maths in school, and he thinks it wouldnt take much to get back to fighting fit. I think Id win, and Id do no banter, he says. I know how to wreck the host.

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Sounds like intriguing TV, but the ABC might have a fight on its hands if it ever decided to do a special episode with Gleeson as a contestant. Why? Gleeson grins. Im not sure anyones capable of doing it but me. Tom Gleesons Out of Touch is on at the Sydney Opera House on January 6, Perths Regal Theatre January 30-31, Melbournes Regent Theatre April 9-19 and Brisbanes QPAC Concert Hall June 26. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
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Eating outFood Young-gun Snug chefs open fancy Coorparoo deli selling fancy sangers Also, smoothies, matcha, St Ali coffee, and a terrific range of fresh produce and dry goods. Matt Shea December 23, 2025 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Operator opens venue in neighbourhood. Its successful. Soon enough, whether by their own ambition or the grace of a landlord who recognises a good thing, theyre opening a second venue in the same complex, maybe a third. Its a familiar tale. In Brisbanes inner south, Anna Brobjer and Tim Glasson followed La Bodega with Olli Italiano, and Ashley-Maree Kent followed Roman Trattoria with Bar Rocco. Janes Deli opened in Coorparoo in mid-December. Markus Ravik Now, over the hill on Chatsworth Road, young-gun chefs Leaham Claydon and Jianne Jeoung are leveraging the wild success of their cafe and wine bar Snug to unveil Janes Deli next door in a refurbished space previously home to California Native. This was very impulsive, Jeoung says.

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Impulsive because Claydon and Jeoung were already taking over the tenancy directly next door (the back half of California Native) after discovering it had a pizza oven; that project, a bistro called Bar Coopers, will open in the new year. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Related Article This ugly-delicious Happy Boy classic is one of Brisbanes best dishes But beyond stocking some of their favourite goods and produce, Janes was an excuse to address a few common requests at Snug: iced matcha, sandwiches, express filter coffee, that king of thing. It was also a way to establish their jurisdiction on the cluster of tenancies on the corner of Chatsworth and Eva Street. Snug occupies the front end of the old California Native premises on Chatsworth Road. Markus Ravik

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We thought it would be odd to have a third tenant next door, Jeoung says. And for us, it was a matter of knowing what the suburb needed  we thought we might as well add to the community, add something different, Claydon says. Its a beautiful little space, decked out in timber benches and service areas, and fetching olive green walls. At the door is a spacious checkout counter, while the sandwich and coffee station sits in the back corner. Out back is a spacious shady courtyard with a few tables for those who want to eat in. The range of dry goods available is both impressive and practical. Markus Ravik Stainless steel shelves line the venue, stocked with pantry staples, and theres a fridge with fancy cheeses and small goods.

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Its an impressive but practical spread of goods: shortcut bacon and boneless ham from Paddock to Plate, salami with prosciutto and pistachio from Borgo Salumi, Brets crisps from France, Mama Lius vegan chilli oil, a selection of Fancy Hanks seasoning and Antonellas passata. Theres also plenty of fresh produce and a fridge of fancy cheeses and smallgoods. Markus Ravik There were some select products we wanted to stock and its a matter of finding who supplies them, and then you enter into this wonderland, where you find all these other great products, Jeoung says. The sandwiches and smoothies, though, are far from an afterthought. A back counter serves up coffee and sandwiches. Markus Ravik

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For sangers, the current menu includes Hainanese chicken with a spring onion and ginger sauce, cucumber and chilli crisp; mortadella with provolone, wood-fired broccoli, romesco and salsa verde; a hot-honey cheese toastie with caramelised onions; and a vegetarian bagel made with a Greek-style fava spread, roasted capsicum, red onion, capers, feta and oregano. The smoothie menu features strawberry, banana and mango; mango, pineapple, banana and apple; and kale, cucumber, kiwi, spinach, banana and coconut. Janes Deli is open daily 7am-6pm. Markus Ravik Away from the smoothies, theres coffee by St Ali and the aforementioned iced matcha. Its been a steady week since opening [in med-December], rather than busy, I think just because a lot of people go away in this area for Christmas, but the response so far from locals has been great, Claydon says.

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Open daily 7am-6pm 321 Chatsworth Road, Coorparoo instagram.com/janesdeli.bne

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For subscribers Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-at-large at Broadsheet Brisbane, and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, the Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, among many others.
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NationalBondi shooting Opinion Ive seen jihadist training camps on the island visited by the Bondi shooters. The memory will never leave me Irris Makler Journalist December 24, 2025  5:00am

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Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, has white beaches, turquoise waters, and a lush tropical hinterland. It could be up there among places vying for the Queensland tourism slogan; Beautiful one day, perfect the next. Except that tourism and indeed the islands economy have been gutted by a decades-long Muslim insurgency, which is estimated to have cost more than 120,000 lives since 1990. The island has a Muslim population as high as 20 per cent in some areas. Rival Islamist militant groups have carried out bombings, kidnappings and even beheadings, fighting with each other and the Philippine military, climaxing in a months-long showdown with the army in 2017. Soldiers being deployed to the front line of Islamic militant-held areas in 2017. Getty Images But despite various battles and peace processes, the insurgents have never been vanquished entirely. This is the reason there is so much focus on Bondi gunmen Sajid and Naveed Akrams choice of Davao City in Mindanao for a month-long visit this November, two weeks before the Bondi shooting.

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I was one of a handful of Australian journalists who visited the militant training camps in Mindanao at their height in the 1990s, on a reporting trip with my colleague Catherine McGrath for the ABCs Foreign Correspondent program. We were on the island to interview rebel leader Nur Misuari, a Muslim academic who had set up the main insurgent group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1972. It had a separatist agenda for the islands Muslims, based on a more secular vision, reminiscent of Muhammad Ali Jinnahs original ambitions for Pakistan. By the time we were there in 1996, following nearly 25 years of the MNLF campaign, Manila was ready to set up an autonomous Muslim region on the island, the first official Muslim area in a Catholic country. Nur Misuari was ready to come in from the cold to run for governor. The insurgency was broader than just the MNLF, of course. It was split into a variety of groups, most of them increasingly Islamist  and extremist. The largest and most well-known was the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Note the almost identical names. Perhaps the most infamous of the militant groups was Abu Sayyaf, formed in 1991 after its founder Abdurajak Janjalani met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1980s. By 2014, Abu Sayyaf was pledging allegiance to ISIS. It was tense in Cotobato City ahead of the vote in 1996. The streets were empty at night. No one went out after dark without an urgent reason. The MNLF gave us personal security as we drove about town, an armed guard for protection and to keep an eye on what we were filming. Then the MILF agreed that we could visit Camp Abu Bakr, their main militant training camp and headquarters. We drove north, up into the hills to a vast primitive jungle camp. Camp Abu Bakr was carved out of about 100 square kilometres of rainforest. Most buildings were of wood and bamboo. It was powered by a solar energy system. There was a weapons factory.

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We saw hundreds of people, including women and children. There were jihadists from all over the world, including some Afghans, and locals who had been to Afghanistan. I didnt comprehend the significance of that back then, but within five years, post-9/11, I was reporting from Afghanistan myself and the connections became clearer. No filming! shouted teenagers, their eyes shielded by sunglasses on a cloudy day, AK-47s slung over their shoulders. Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in 2017. Getty Images I have a jumble of memories. My strongest impression was how wary and fearful everyone we encountered was. It was the first place in the Philippines where no one smiled, not even children. The other thing thats stayed with me was that camp Abu Bakr had its own prisons. They were no more than holes dug into the earth, where a number of men were shut in together beneath a bamboo gate, with slats for air. It all felt very Heart of Darkness. I also remember that our local fixer, a journalist called Alvin, had great jihadist contacts because he had been kidnapped himself. He said it was frightening because it was an Abu Sayyaf group, but once theyd let him go, his abductors were somehow transformed into sources, and he now called them to confirm details on new kidnappings or bombings.

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Once I made it out, it was good for me, he said philosophically. Four years later, in the year 2000, the Philippine military hit Camp Abu Bakr with airstrikes followed by a ground offensive. It was brutal  and successful. The Philippine military took the camp over and the militants fled further into the hills, forming into splinter groups based in smaller camps. Its reported that some of the Jemaah Islamiyah militants who carried out the 2002 Bali bombing trained on Mindanao. Later, IS established a presence there too. The Philippine government declared a state of emergency in 2017 taking on IS in a protracted five-month battle in the town of Marawi, not far from Davao City, where the Bondi gunmen stayed. What were Sajid and Naveed Akram doing for a month in Davao City? Training with IS for their rampage  according to security sources. Or booking into a hotel and staying there, according to hotel staff and Philippine officials keen to downplay the current role of militant groups in Mindanao.

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Either way, Davao City isnt really a tourist hotspot  and the GV Hotel where Sajid and Naveed Akram washed up, paying cash week by week, is not a luxury destination. But it is practical if youre on a job. Seven kilometres from the airport. Free Wi-fi. Cheap. Seven days in a twin room will set you back approximately AUD $160. There are still rooms available for this Christmas week. A view of the GV Hotel in Davao city, Philippines, where Sajid and Naveed Akram stayed in November. Getty Images More details are emerging from CCTV footage and phone records, including evidence that the gunmens phones might have pinged in the town of Mlang, three hours drive from Davao City. If true, this contradicts staff accounts that the gunmen spent their days inside the hotel, or only left for an hour a day. At this stage, it would be naive to conclude the Bondi gunmens stay in Davao City had nothing to do with the islands most dangerous export  its militants and militant ideology, as well as weapons expertise. Irris Makler was a foreign correspondent for more than two decades. She reported from Mindanao in 1996 and visited the militant training camps on the island.

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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

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NationalNSWCrime Ghosts of Christmas past: December 24, the date of some of Sydneys most memorable scandals Kate McClymont Updated December 24, 2025  4:42pm ,first published December 24, 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

Twas the night before Christmas, and while, as the traditional story goes, nothing is supposedly stirring, it is on Christmas Eve that some of the nations most memorable scandals occurred. Apart from Sydneys 1945 ham heist, in which 126 large hams were stolen from the Metropolitan Ice and Cold Storage Company in Pyrmont, the 1993 fire in a printing press sparked one of the nations most notorious business scandals. A decade later, a remarkable Christmas Eve bank heist occurred in which $150 million was stolen despite the robbers never setting foot in the bank. Rene Rivkin with Graham Richardson. Peter Wilmoth For 18 months, the members of Tony Vincents criminal network had been the subject of a joint investigation by the NSW Crime Commission and the NSW police, who suspected the group was involved in drugs and money-laundering. On December 24, 2003, police were conducting surveillance on the Lady Janes strip club in Sydneys CBD, the criminal headquarters of underworld boss Teflon Tony Vincent. They were surprised to see some top-notch crime figures rushing to attend a late-night meeting. Phone chatter intercepted by police revealed thered been some trouble with transfers. Police thought they were referring to a drug importation.

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One of those summoned to the strip club meeting was Mr Pink, the code name used by Dallas Fitzgerald, the son of the late notorious bikie boss Felix Lyle. Earlier that day, Vincent and Fitzgerald had orchestrated the nations most audacious bank heist. The pair had used a Telstra technician to hack into a specific phone line at J.P. Morgan bank, where they used an insider to authorise the transfer of $150 million into bank accounts in Switzerland, Greece, and two in Hong Kong. Dallas Fitzgerald, aka "Mr Pink", was jailed for his role in one of the country's most audacious bank heists. Kate Geraghty At the Laiki Bank in Athens, a bank manager was astonished to see $71.9 million suddenly deposited into the personal bank account of Georgios Stylianou, a man of very modest means. Were you expecting such a sum of money? the bank manager asked. Stylianou declared he most certainly was. Apologetic, the bank manager explained that the funds could not be cleared because a Ltd appeared beside Stylianous account name. Stylianou would need to get J. P. Morgan to remit the funds to the correct account, minus the offending Ltd. After hanging up, the bank manager took the added precaution of sending a fax through to J. P. Morgan, double-checking that such a vast sum was really meant for Stylianou.

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Meanwhile, a panic-stricken Stylianou was overheard by the police on the phone to Vincent at Lady Janes, informing him of the three-letter debacle which could bring them all undone. Any residual Christmas cheer among J. P. Morgan staff swiftly evaporated when they returned to work on Monday, December 29. There was the fax from Laiki Bank querying the multimillion-dollar deposit into Stylianous account. To their horror, bank staff discovered that account 28966, containing super funds for federal public servants, had $150 million missing. After a two-year investigation, in August 2005, the federal police swooped. But for the three-letter slip-up, they may have got away with it. Youd think theyd won Lotto It was just after 11pm on December 24, 1993, when a blaze broke out at a modest printing plant in Silverwater in Sydneys west.

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The mere name of the printing company  Offset Alpine  would later become inextricably linked with scandal after scandal. Firstly, it was revealed that the company had hit the jackpot, having just taken out a $53 million insurance policy for the replacement of the old printing presses, which were destroyed in the fire. Offset Alpine was later linked to a murder and mysterious Swiss bank accounts and would ruin the reputations of several high-profile figures, including the late trio of powerbroker Graham Richardson, crooked stockbroker Rene Rivkin, and media consigliere Trevor Kennedy. Media consigliere Trevor Kennedy. Rob Homer On the night of the fire, there was jubilation across the Parramatta River in the Hunters Hill mansion of corrupt state Labor MP Eddie Obeid. Obeids son Paul, 25, was playing poker with two of his brothers and a group of mates when he received a call about the huge blaze at his company Offset Alpines printing presses at Silverwater.

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One of the other poker players recalled his astonishment at the reaction of the Obeid boys. Youd think theyd won Lotto, he said. In many ways, they had. News of the insurance windfall sent the share price skyrocketing. Eddie Obeid pictured in 1983 when he was in charge of the Arabic-language El Telegraph newspaper. Fairfax In 1992, Obeid, who owned Arabic paper El Telegraph, had been offered media mogul Kerry Packers redundant printing press. The offer had come via Obeids patron, then-federal Labor frontbencher Graham Richardson, who enjoyed such close connections to Packer that as communications minister he was known as Minister for Channel Nine. The Heralds late political commentator Alan Ramsey once offered the brutal assessment of Richardsons role, installing some of the more depressing political spivs and nonentities into various levels of well-paid government office over the years.

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Out of the horses mouth One of those was Obeid, who has twice been jailed for misconduct in public office. Several Labor figures were adamant that Obeid paid Richardson for getting him a seat in the NSW upper house in 1991. One said the $80,000 figure is out of the horses mouth, referring to Richardson. Related Article Crime Long lunches, Swiss bank accounts and a kangaroo scrotum: My decades pursuing Graham Richardson With Obeid unable to stump up the $15 million purchase price, Richos other good mate, Rivkin, bought the printing company, with Obeid retaining a 25 per cent stake plus a secret payment of $50,000 per year for his advice. His son, Paul, was installed as a director. At the time of the fire, Richardsons own political career was hurtling towards annihilation. In 1992, Richo had to step aside from his ministry after he was accused of using his position to help a relative who was facing jail in the Marshall Islands over a migration scam.

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At the time of the fire, Richo had clawed his way back into favour, although then-prime minister Paul Keating had given him the health rather than the communications portfolio. So when Richo inexplicably resigned from the federal parliament in March 1994, citing that at the age of 44, he had health issues and was looking for a refresh, his announcement was met with astonishment. In his customary acerbic fashion, Ramsey noted Richardsons resignation was met by an absurd media frenzy which overlooked that Richo was a political thug. Rene Rivkin and Graham Richardson. Nick Moir Ramsey noted the irony of Richardsons resignation occurring on National Wool Day. Richardson has been pulling the wool over peoples eyes for years, he said of the astute if self-serving fixer.

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A cushioned outcome The reality of Richos situation was that he had received inside information that he was about to be caught up in a sex scandal. In August 1993, hed accepted the services of two Gold Coast sex workers allegedly provided to Richardson by restaurateur Nick Karlos and his former business partner Bob Burgess in exchange for Richardson making favourable representations to a US defence contractor on Burgess behalf. Within days of Burgess giving evidence in camera to the Queensland Criminal Justice Commission, Richo offered his resignation to Keating, no doubt to avoid calls for his resignation when the inevitable avalanche of bad publicity hit, which occurred some weeks later. But there was a cushioned outcome for Richo in the form of Packer, who paid him $400,000 to be a political commentator, columnist and a backroom lobbyist. There was also his secret shareholding in Offset Alpine, which remained undisclosed for a decade. There was a sense of unease about the Christmas Eve fire at Offset Alpines printing press. Initial police reports could not determine the cause of the fire. One suggested cause was smouldering leftovers from a staff party, but that had finished by 4.30pm.

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Years later, a fire investigator, who asked not to be named, told the authors of He Who Must be Obeid that he had done his own inspection of the Silverwater fire on December 28. In the Lebanese community, Obeid was nicknamed Sparky due to his misfortunes with fires. Before Offset Alpine, his printing presses had burnt down twice, hed had two fires in his homes, and there was a thwarted arson attempt in 1993 at The Bellevue, Obeids financially struggling function centre at Bankstown. The tobacconist downstairs called police when he discovered petrol dripping through his ceiling from the function centre above. Related Article CBD So what, no pipis? Mourners left hungry at Graham Richardsons wake On that occasion, Obeid suggested the culprit was a disgruntled beauty queen who had missed out on the Miss Lebanon title, which had been held at premises the previous night. The fire investigator had good reason to be suspicious, having investigated the fire at Obeids printing press in Marrickville the previous year. On October 6, 1992, only days before Obeid and Rivkin finalised their acquisition of Offset Alpine from Packer, Obeid had suffered a fire at his Marrickville printing plant. One of the staff claimed to have emptied an ashtray in a rubbish bin and then gone off to lunch.

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Here was the same fire inspector a year later, looking at the charred remains of yet another fire which had links to Obeid. He noted that the fire had started in three different places, which is bloody unusual because fires dont behave like that. I noted that there appeared to be a principal seat beside the main drive of the very old British printing press, plus two smaller seats at intervals along the length of the press. So there were three separate charred areas. That is virtually impossible, he recalled. On the same day the fire expert was inspecting the damage at the Silverwater plant, the Australian Stock Exchange was notified that Offset Alpine Printing Limited has suffered a major fire at its Silverwater printing site. But there was good news: The company had recently taken out a large insurance policy which provided for the company to replace its old equipment, valued at a mere $3 million, with state-of-the-art printing presses, as well as coverage for loss of business. Offset Alpine will ultimately be a stronger and more profitable company than before the fire, said the notice.

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That was an understatement. Having paid $15 million to buy Offset from Packers Cons Press only a year earlier, the Rivkin consortium was to receive $53.2 million from the insurers. By the end of January 1994, the share price had almost doubled. With Packers company signed up as a major client, even Packer was later to quip that it was a very good fire. As Neil Chenoweth was later to report in The Australian Financial Review, December 1994 was the high point of Rivkins secret scheme to distribute the profits of the insurance payout, which were paid to Offset Alpine in July 1994. What no one knew was that nearly half of Offset Alpines shares  a block now worth more than $26 million  were held in secret Swiss accounts that Rivkin operated at Bank Leumi le-Israel and EBC Zurich for himself, Richardson and others. Related Article Letters Glowing eulogies for Richo disappoint Labor faithful On December 6, 1994, Richardson faxed handwritten instructions to send a million dollars from his Swiss account to a mysterious account in Beirut. The Herald would later reveal that the account was connected to Eddie Obeid, with the million dollars believed to be his share of the insurance payout. Six months later, on June 6, 1995, Rivkin and his chauffeur, Gordon Wood, were questioned by ASIC about the ownership of the almost 40 per cent of Offset Alpine shares held in Swiss bank accounts. The following night Woods fiancee, Caroline Byrne, was alleged to have been thrown to her death at the notorious suicide spot at The Gap.

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The temperature had just edged past freezing point on January 8, 2001, as Richardson hurried along Diana Strasse, in Zurichs financial district, to withdraw cash from one of the Swiss bank accounts ASIC had been interested in. The account, which was a subaccount of Rivkins at Bank Leumi, contained millions of dollars from the secret dealings in Offset Alpine. The Labor Party powerbroker had no idea that he and his close friends, Rivkin and Kennedy, were about to become roadkill in one of the biggest scandals in Swiss banking  one that would ruin their lives. Four days earlier, the bank had discovered that Ernst Imfeld, their personal banker, had stolen millions of dollars from his clients, including Rivkin and Kennedy. As if that were not bad enough, two years later, in October 2003, the Financial Review revealed that Rivkin had admitted in sworn testimony to Swiss authorities that the Offset shares frozen by ASIC were owned by himself, Richardson and Kennedy. The public scandal led to Kennedy resigning from his board positions. Both he and Richardson were pursued by the Australian Tax Office for their failure to pay millions of dollars in taxes. They ended up settling.

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Rivkin, who had been convicted of insider trading in April 2003, died in disgrace in 2005. In December 2008, a jury convicted Wood of murdering his fiancee, with the prosecutor attributing relationship problems along with the fact that she knew too much about the alleged involvement of Woods boss, Rivkin, in the affairs of the Offset Alpine printing company. He was acquitted just over three years later, when the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashed Woods conviction, attacking the prosecution case and strongly criticising the man who delivered it, the Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC. The three-judge appeal panel, led by Justice Peter McClellan, found there was not enough evidence to prove anyone murdered Byrne. After Wood was acquitted of Byrnes murder, he went back for his hat, suing the State of NSW for malicious prosecution. He lost and was hit with almost a million dollars in legal costs. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

CLARIFICATION This story has been updated with additional details about the acquittal of Gordon Wood, and the lack of evidence that anyone murdered Caroline Byrne.
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, speaks at a meeting with NPC deputies who are sitting in on the 19th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, on Tuesday called on his fellow legislators to faithfully perform their statutory duties, and to properly exercise their democratic rights.

Zhao, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with NPC deputies who are sitting in on the ongoing session of the NPC Standing Committee.

Zhao urged the NPC deputies to earnestly study and implement the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference, with the aim of gaining an accurate understanding of the CPC Central Committee's analysis of the current situation, as well as its decisions and plans.

Noting that the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) is approaching a successful conclusion, Zhao lauded the NPC Standing Committee's endeavors in fulfilling its duties in accordance with the law, in improving the country's legal system, and in making its oversight more targeted and effective over the past year.

NPC deputies have maintained close ties with the public, conducted in-depth research, and heard and conveyed opinions and suggestions from the public, thus contributing to the high-quality development of the work of people's congresses, Zhao noted.

He also stressed the importance of making thorough preparations for the fourth annual session of the 14th NPC. 
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Updated NationalNSWBondi shooting Police to ramp up presence over New Years as gun, protest laws come into effect Angus Thomson Updated December 24, 2025  1:59pm ,first published December 24, 2025  7:01am 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

Heavily armed police will patrol major events in Sydney over the Christmas and New Year period as NSW Premier Chris Minns vows to protect community safety and clamp down on hate speech in response to the Bondi terror attack. Laws tightening gun ownership and placing restrictions on protests passed NSW parliament after a lengthy and heated debate that extended into the early hours of Christmas Eve. NSW Premier Chris Minns and Attorney-General Michael Daley greet a police guard at NSW Parliament on Wednesday. Louie Douvis The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 passed the NSW upper house around 3am on Wednesday morning with an amendment from the Greens banning someone from owning a gun if they have been investigated for terrorism-related offences, or live with someone who has been investigated for such offences. The bill was formally passed into law in a brief sitting of the lower house later on Wednesday morning.

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Speaking after the legislation passed, Minns committed to making new laws in the new year aimed at confronting hate speech and extremist views in the community. This isnt the end of change, he said. Sydney and NSW has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity last Sunday, [and] we know its our responsibility to do everything we can to keep the people of NSW safe. Police at Bondi Pavilion at the memorial for shooting victims in the days after the attack. James Brickwood Sydney residents can expect to see more police with heavy firearms on the streets over the summer period, Minns said. It might be not what youd commonly see with police officers in the street, but  were not going to make any apologies for that, he said. We will give them whatever resources they need in this heightened period.

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Asked if the new laws will be used immediately to restrict public gatherings following the Bondi attack, Minns said it was a decision for the NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. I believe in the circumstances that that should happen, but Im going to leave it up to him to make that call today, he said. Those laws may be tested if Israeli President Isaac Herzog is met with pro-Palestine protests during a planned visit to Australia following the Bondi attack, but Minns said he hoped they would not be needed. Theres an essential decency there that I hope kicks in. I do believe that most Australians feel that way, he said. Minns said the protest laws only apply to the time around when a terror event is declared and would not affect events such as Invasion Day rallies usually held on the Australia Day holiday.

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The legislation passed this week has three key pillars: creating an offence for displaying terrorist symbols such as the IS flag; significant restrictions on firearm possession; and allowing the police commissioner to prevent protests occurring for up to three months after a terrorism incident. Under the new laws, most license holders will be able to own a maximum of four guns. Farmers and recreational shooters will be able to own up to 10 guns. Those limits will come into effect from Wednesday, Minns said, but gun owners will not be required to hand back their firearms until the governments buyback scheme is operating next year. The bill was opposed by the Nationals, and faced the threat of a filibuster from Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs Robert Borsak and Mark Banasiak. Mark Banasiak, an MP from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party speaks during an emergency sitting of NSW parliament on Tuesday. News Corp Australia After beginning on Tuesday with an acknowledgement that debate would reach into the early hours of Christmas Eve, the Legislative Council debated 181 proposed amendments to the bill before it eventually passed at 2.51am.

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Despite making the final amendment, Greens MPs abstained from voting. The bill passed 18 votes to eight with the support of Liberal MPs. The bill encountered opposition from within Minns own ranks, with Labor MP Anthony DAdam describing attempts to restrict certain protest chants as a fools errand. Government MPs hugged and shook hands as the Legislative Assembly formally adopted the legislation. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor Australians unite in backing gun reform Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens was the only representative on the opposition benches as Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley thanked Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, whose electorate of Vaucluse represents the Bondi area.

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She has shown true leadership, both in her community and in this house, in assisting us to achieve this result, Catley said. In a statement, Sloane said the Liberals supported the bill in the interests of community safety but said the legislation was rushed through without properly consulting the community. That is not best-practice lawmaking, she said. Minns said on Tuesday he was confident the laws would withstand any legal challenge from activists concerned the laws restrict citizens rights to gather and demand change. Catley said the government would boost funding to the NSW firearms registry to enable a crackdown. NSW will also go halves with the Commonwealth to fund the buyback of firearms in the state. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalNSWCourts Top Minns staffer wins court bid to strike down century-old law Michaela Whitbourn Updated December 23, 2025  2:57pm ,first published December 23, 2025  10:58am 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

Premier Chris Minns chief of staff has won a historic court bid to strike down 124-year-old laws in NSW that compelled witnesses, including political staffers, to appear before parliamentary inquiries. The NSW Court of Appeal ruling on Friday has significant consequences for future inquiries. NSW Premier Chris Minns (left) and his chief of staff, James Cullen, who is challenging a century-old law in court. Aresna Villanueva, Janie Barrett, Sam Mooy Without a legislative change, potentially modelled on laws in other states, parliamentary inquiries in NSW have no valid power to compel witnesses to appear before them and give evidence. James Cullen, Minns chief of staff since the Labor premier was opposition leader, sought a declaration that NSW laws requiring the Supreme Court to issue warrants in some cases for the arrest of witnesses who refused to appear at parliamentary inquiries were constitutionally invalid.

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NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley took the unusual step of intervening in the proceedings in support of Cullens position. Laws struck down In a joint judgment on Friday, the court  Chief Justice Andrew Bell and justices Mark Leeming and Stephen Free  declared the laws were invalid. Cullen said in a statement that the decision was a comprehensive win for democracy and the integrity of the courts. Cullen was among five advisers from the offices of Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley who fronted an inquiry this year into whether race-hate laws were rushed through parliament after the discovery of an explosive-laden caravan in Dural in January. The staffers had been threatened with arrest if they failed to appear.

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Cullen was unwilling to appear before a separate upper house inquiry that is considering how confidential draft minutes from a parliamentary committee examining the proposed sale of Rosehill Racecourse were leaked to the media last year. MPs cannot be compelled Members of parliament are not covered by the laws, meaning Minns cannot be compelled to give evidence. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley took the unusual step of intervening in the proceedings in support of Cullens position. Sam Mooy Cullen has previously said there are important reasons why ministerial staff should not be compelled to appear before parliamentary committees, on the basis that it is ministers, rather than their staff, who are accountable to the parliament in a Westminster parliamentary democracy.

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No warrant was issued for Cullens arrest, and the court ruling means there is no basis for a warrant being issued in the future. What the laws say The NSW Parliamentary Evidence Act 1901 says witnesses other than members of parliament may be summoned to appear before parliamentary inquiries. If the witness fails to attend and give evidence, it says the presiding officer of the relevant house of parliament may provide a certificate to the NSW Supreme Court if they are satisfied that failure is without just cause or reasonable excuse. On the basis of that certificate, the law says the court shall issue a warrant for the persons arrest. The court found these provisions were unconstitutional and therefore invalid.

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In submissions filed in court, Daleys barristers, led by Craig Lenehan, SC  who has now been appointed a Federal Court judge  said the laws do not provide a sufficiently independent and impartial role for the court in issuing the warrant. Related Article Courts Former Labor MP Craig Thomson jailed over migration and COVID scams That was because, in their submission, the provisions contain no express words that would suggest that the judge called upon to issue a warrant is permitted to inquire into the underlying veracity of the facts set out in the certificate provided by the presiding officer. A judge is asked to issue a warrant effectively on the instructions of the presiding officer, without hearing from the person affected, and without exercising any independent discretion, they said. On that basis, they said the provisions confer a function on the Supreme Court that substantially impairs its institutional integrity, and that this is unconstitutional.

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Courts independence fettered The court agreed with this submission. It said in its written decision that the laws did not allow the relevant judge to bring independence, impartiality and fair-mindedness to bear on a meaningful decision-making process. Instead the regime draws upon the perception of those qualities so as to lend an appearance of judicial authority to a decision which has in substance already been made by [the presiding officer]. To exploit the reputation for independence in this way, without the actuality of independence, is to impair the institutional integrity of the court substantially. The court said that [it] may be accepted that it is desirable if indeed not essential  that both parliamentary chambers have broad powers to call for persons to appear, if necessary by force, to assist them in carrying out their important functions, which include the accountability of government.

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But it said NSW was unique in adopting a process for at least most of its committees of involving the Supreme Court when coercion is required. Related Article Courts Dramatic escalation in bitter feud between judge and top prosecutor In no other Australian jurisdiction is a judge of any court involved. Instead, jurisdictions have enacted legislation which either confers power directly on the chamber or one of its members to compel attendance. It said the result of its decision was that there is, at present, no valid coercive power to compel attendance before a chamber or committee of the NSW parliament, aside from one narrow exception relating to the dormant parliamentary standing committee on public works. The chair or deputy chair of that committee has direct powers to issue a warrant.

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Laws in critical need of review UNSW law Professor Gabrielle Appleby, research director at the Centre for Public Integrity, authored a discussion paper for a current parliamentary inquiry into the provisions of the NSW Parliamentary Evidence Act. She said the decision made clear that the laws were in critical need of review and modernisation. The legislative council must have an appropriate power to compel witnesses if it is to fulfil its constitutional role of holding the government to account, Appleby said. The Court of Appeal has underlined the importance of completing work that the [upper house] privileges committee already had under way prior to this case arising to update the legislation and make sure it is fit for purpose.

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Applebys issues paper, published in March last year, pointed to the issue that emerged in the Cullen litigation. She noted that the legislation provided that the Supreme Court shall issue the warrant, but the courts have been reluctant to remove discretion from judges, particularly where this might involve incursions into their independence and integrity. Bret Walker, SC, led a team acting for the upper house president Ben Franklin, who is the presiding officer who would have sought the warrant in this case. A spokesperson for Franklin said: We are currently reviewing the Court of Appeals judgment in detail and will consider all options available to us. Walker and barristers Thomas Wood and Frances Leitch said in written submissions that judicial officers have long been involved in issuing warrants of various kinds, including for listening devices. They urged the court to reject the constitutional attack on the laws.

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Cullens barristers, Brendan Lim, SC, and Jackson Wherrett, said in separate submissions that Cullen has been summoned to appear before the inquiry to answer questions about the premiers knowledge of the disclosure [of the draft minutes] and whether Mr Cullen himself was responsible for the disclosure. They argued that the Supreme Court, in issuing a warrant for the arrest of an unwilling witness, is required to act as the cipher of the parliamentary officer who seeks the warrant rather than acting independently. The provisions are therefore incompatible with the institutional integrity of the Supreme Court and are invalid. The inquiry is examining how draft minutes that revealed the Rosehill parliamentary committee considered referring Minns to the Independent Commission Against Corruption were leaked to the media. Ultimately, committee members resolved to refer the report itself, rather than the premier, to the corruption watchdog. The ICAC decided not to pursue the matter. It said in a statement in December last year that its assessment panel had unanimously determined that the information provided does not indicate a reasonable likelihood of involving corrupt conduct. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalQueenslandHigh school Review of exam mix-up finds fault in authoritys website, memos to teachers Julius Dennis December 23, 2025  6:20pm 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 perfect storm of breakdowns within the education system led to students at nine Queensland schools learning about the wrong Roman emperor in their Year 12 studies, a report has found. Students at seven state schools and two non-state schools were taught about Augustus instead of Julius Caesar this year, with many of the 140 students finding out about the mix-up just days before their final ancient history exam in October. However, every student affected passed the subject, a government spokesperson said, with more than 40 per cent receiving an A grade. The students should have been taught about Augustus. Adobe Stock A panel assembled by the Queensland government released their report on Tuesday, finding a mixture of communication breakdowns at the schools and the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) led to the issue.

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The report said memos about the change of subject were sent to all Queensland schools in 2023 and 2024 and the principals of the nine schools involved acknowledged they were received. Related Article Schools Two Caesars, two memos and the colossal mistake that upended Queenslands exam season In some schools, personnel changes and ineffective handovers led to a knowledge gap. In other cases, teachers assumed the test would be on Augustus because that was the subject for the previous five years, and they did not expect it to change in the final year of the syllabus. This, together with the retention of the mock examinations and resources on Augustus, and the absence of Julius Caesar resources on the QCAA website, amplified a confirmation bias that Augustus was the external examination topic in 2025, the panel wrote. A spokesperson for one of the schools named in the report, St Teresas Catholic College on the Sunshine Coast, told this masthead in October that it had caught the problem earlier, and its students had been learning about Julius Caesar during the semester of the exam.

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Many schools admitted their quality assurance and supervision processes were not followed, leading to the oversight. Related Article High school Revealed: The final exam that blindsided 140 year 12 students The investigation found the QCAA did not mitigate the potential for the problem, with school staff complaining the messaging did not match the importance of the subject change. One issue identified was that teachers could not sign up for subject-specific memos from the QCAA, so some ignored the memos altogether. The QCAA website was also found wanting, with school staff complaining that it lacked a single page where all necessary information for a subject could be found.

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Both QCAA and school personnel from both the affected and non-affected schools made consistent and constant references to the usability of the QCAA website, the report said. All affected schools told the panel they believed if schools had to register for the assessment ahead of time, as is done for English and some other subjects, the problem would have been avoided. The panel found the QCAA could have played a stronger role, and suggested a validation or registration process that would occur in the year before and the year of the exam thereby reducing the risk that staff transitions create a knowledge gap in the school. On Tuesday, Langbroek said he had told the QCAA, the Non-State School Accreditation Board, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and the Department of Education to ensure lessons are learned from this unacceptable error, to ensure history never repeats itself. He highlighted changes to the QCAA board made in November, which he said brought fresh skills needed following the ancient history saga.

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Union leaders Cresta Richardson and Terry Burke were both dumped from the board, replaced with Rockhampton principal Leesa Jeffcoat and hotelier and former Advance Australia lobbyist James Power. Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.
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NationalQueenslandRoad safety Woman dies after being struck by own car in shopping centre car park Catherine Strohfeldt Updated December 24, 2025  11:59am ,first published December 24, 2025  9:52am 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 77-year-old woman died after she was hit by her own car in a shopping centre car park two days before Christmas on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane. Emergency services were called to the car park of a Woolworths shopping centre on Poinciana Avenue in Tewantin  about 10 kilometres inland from Noosa Heads  shortly before 4pm on Tuesday. Police said the womans Volkswagen T-Cross rolled backwards, hitting her. RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane. Catherine Strohfeldt Paramedics treated the Tewantin local in the car park for significant head injuries, but she died at the scene.

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On Wednesday, officers were preparing a report for the coroner, and were yet to determine exactly why the car struck the 77-year-old. Responding to a question about motorist safety, RACQ head of public policy Michael Kane said drivers turning on their car before beginning to drive for any reason, such as to switch on air-conditioning, to wind down windows or to engage entertainment units, needed to treat their own car as a hazard alongside others on the road. Its so important that your car is always safe, and that is that the handbrake is on, and youre in park when you are getting out of your car, he said. Following a fatal motorbike crash in Narangba on Tuesday night, the 2025 road toll has jumped to 302  on par with 2024, a 15-year-high.

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Kane said the number of fatal traffic accidents in Queensland had climbed steadily since 2020. But until 2019, the number of deaths on Queensland roads had been falling, he said. That year, the state recorded a record low of 220 road fatalities. Loading If we had continued the pre-COVID trend, we would now be seeing figures closer to 200 deaths, not consecutive years over 300, Kane said.

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Police said the womans death on Tuesday would not be added to the road toll because she was struck on private property owned by the shopping centre. Kane cautioned drivers to remain on high alert in car parks, as customers flocked to stores for last-minute present shopping and sales. Car parks at Christmastime can be one of the most frustrating places in the world, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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A woman has been charged with five offences after allegedly threatening a rideshare driver with a knife and forcing them to drive her 40 kilometres.

Police said the woman, a 33-year-old from Sunshine Coast suburb Birtinya, entered the rideshare on Kingsford Smith Drive in Hamilton shortly after midday on December 17.

She then allegedly pulled a knife, forcing the driver to take her about 40 kilometres to Masters Avenue in Victoria Point.

The jetty on Coochiemudlo Island, a small Moreton Bay island where a woman was arrested on Wednesday.

Officers said the driver was not physically harmed.
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NationalVictoriaEducation Every student, every course: Search our database of first-round university offers Craig Butt and Nicole Precel December 23, 2025  2:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

The wait is over for tens of thousands of Victorian school-leavers, as 47,170 offers of places in university, TAFE and private college courses for 2026 land in inboxes on Tuesday afternoon. You can search your name in the table below to see any first-round Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) course offers. This is not an exhaustive list of all first-round offers, as some students declined to have this information published. There are 1801 courses offered through the VTAC application at 35 tertiary institutions in Victoria. Another 225 courses at 12 institutions are available through VTAC CourseSearch. For VCE graduates who missed out on a first-round offer on Tuesday, VTAC will release its second round of offers on January 13. A handful of courses, including medicine at Monash University, dont make offers until the January round.

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There are also 906 courses that dont require an ATAR, including 591 without prerequisites, which provides plenty of pathways for students without an ATAR. The hardest courses to get into this year based on ranking are biomedicine/dental surgery and science/dental surgery at the University of Melbourne in Parkville, with an ATAR requirement of 99.85. The minimum selection rank is a students ATAR plus any additional adjustments, such as special consideration, they have been awarded. Course selection ranks usually hold steady from year to year but can shift based on popularity.

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Science at the University of Melbourne was a tougher to get into this year, with a minimum selection rank of 91, up from 89 last year. Commerce held steady at the University of Melbourne at 92, while 85 is the score needed to get into arts at the University of Melbourne, down two points from 2024. The ranking is for first-round offers. Most courses lower their requirements for second-round offers. There are 46 courses offered that require an ATAR of between 95 and 99.95, while there are 173 courses that require a minimum selection rank of 60 to 64.95. Deadlines to accept, defer or reject first-round offers will vary between different universities and are included in the enrolment instructions students receive.

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Students can change their preferences through VTAC until 8pm on Tuesday if they want to be considered for different courses in January. For Auburn High School student Mai Lilly Roberts, an early offer to study fashion marketing at the Australian College of the Arts (Collarts) has her feeling at ease. What happens now If you receive an offer notification from VTAC, you will receive a separate email from the university, TAFE institute or independent tertiary college with instructions on how to accept the offer and enrol for the course. Accept the offer you have received before the deadline in the enrolment instructions. If you plan to take a gap year, check with the institution to make sure you can defer your course offer. Ensure your preferences are still what you want and if you need to, make adjustments to your preferences by 8pm on Tuesday (December 23). If you are hoping for a higher preference offer, check your VTAC account from 2pm on January 13. If you didnt receive an offer, check your preferences and ensure youve met all requirements. A limited number of courses do not make December offers. If you are unsure, reach out to the institution offering the course to confirm. If your course did not participate in the December round, dont remove it from your list of preferences. Consider adding extra courses to your preferences list to increase your chance of getting an offer in the next round. Contact institutions offering the courses you are interested in to see if they can recommend any pathway courses which can help you reach your goals. The 17-year-old from Camberwell said she had loved fashion since before she could speak and felt the small campuses and one-on-one nature of the course suited her best. When I was little, I was obsessed with buying clothes and putting them in my room and styling them, she said.

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Ben Kaldas (left) wants to study music, Mai Lilly Roberts wants to study fashion marketing and Em Eaton is aiming for photography at the Australian College of the Arts. Wayne Taylor Merndas Ben Kaldas, 18, who received a conditional offer from the Australian College of the Arts to study music performance, said he never truly belonged in high school. He was feeling slightly nervous about receiving a formal offer on Tuesday. The Plenty Valley Christian College graduate said when he heard Beyonces father had done a master class at the college, he knew it was going to be the place for him. Ben Kaldas is looking forward to study music performance at Collarts. Wayne Taylor

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I came from a very conservative school and so, you know, kids like me are very  not seen there. Ive always stood out, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, but I think it was very nice to feel the warmth of a crowd when I went into Collarts, he said. Kaldas who mainly sings pop but also jazz and R&B, said he auditioned on his birthday for the arts college, which has campuses in Fitzroy and Collingwood. It was very special. I think music is super uniting. I cant wait to build connection and belong, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaSuperannuation Family have $50m in property frozen as part of missing super scandal Sarah Danckert Updated December 26, 2025  4:13pm ,first published December 23, 2025  7:50pm 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 family of a wealthy Melbourne entrepreneur have had a near $50 million portfolio of properties frozen by a court as part of a missing superannuation scandal. Liquidators to the Shield Master Fund are suing Robert Filippini  the son of Christmas lights fanatics Tony and Matilda Filippini  alleging Robert, his wife Dimitra and their children Antonio and Matilda received many millions from the collapsed superannuation fund. A Ferrari 296 GTB in full flight. A car of the same make and model owned by a Filippini family member has been frozen by the Federal Court. The liquidators allege Robert received $158 million of the funds money to build property projects without proper contracts being in place or him being a licensed builder at the time. About $108 million of that money was then transferred by Robert into various bank accounts held by Dimitra and their children, in 2023 and 2024, liquidators allege.

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Earlier this year, the Federal Court slapped freezing orders over Robert and Dimitra Filippinis assets up to the value of $158 million as the liquidators prepare to argue the money should be repaid because it was improperly transferred out of the fund. Robert Filippini representing his security company in a social media post. Instagram The family is now appealing the freezing orders arguing they have been inappropriately applied by the court. The Shield Master Fund collapsed amid an investigation by the corporate watchdog into allegations the fund had been mismanaged and had spent large sums of peoples superannuation savings on inappropriate investments and on large payments to promoters of the fund. At the time of its collapse, Shield had nearly 6000 clients who had together moved $500 million of their superannuation into the fund.

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There is no suggestion that Dimitra Filippini or the couples children had any involvement in the management of the fund, just that they received money from Robert Filippini, who in turn had been paid large sums by the funds operator, Paul Chiodo. This included large sums of investor money being transferred to Robert Filippini for a no-budget renovation of Chiodos own $10 million inner-city pad. Related Article Exclusive

Investigations The Dubai connection that laid the seeds for a $1b superannuation disaster The freezing orders allow the court to be assured that the assets of the Filippinis are preserved while the case is before the courts. If the liquidators are unsuccessful in their case, the freezing orders will be lifted and the Filippinis will have the right to sell any of the properties. The freezing orders do not apply to the home of Tony and Matilde Filippini that was once strung with more than 100,000 Christmas lights each year. There is no suggestion Tony and Matilde were involved in their sons legal issues. Instead, the orders cover a large portfolio of family property that includes a $15 million apartment in inner-city Melbourne and a newly built five-storey home in Toorak with a rooftop pool and a basement gymnasium estimated to be worth more than $10 million.

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The familys portfolio also includes several shops in busy retail strips around the city which are also subject to the freezing orders. Fifteen vehicles belonging to family members  including four Lamborghinis, two Ferraris, a Maserati and a Jaguar  are also frozen by the court orders. The familys appeal comes after Robert Filippini unsuccessfully asked the court to stay the case brought against him and his family by liquidators, telling the court that he expected to be charged with criminal offences as part of the corporate watchdogs investigation into the collapse of the fund. Despite that claim, Robert Filippini is not currently subject to any formal action by the corporate watchdog relating to the Shield Master Fund. Nor are any members of his family. Robert Filippini has also long maintained he has been unfairly targeted by the liquidators and the corporate watchdog, insisting that the money he received was for legitimate building projects, and the paperwork delays were caused by the fund and not by him.

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Related Article White collar crime Do what you want, LOL: Boss of collapsed super fund says record keeping was inadequate He also attempted to save the fund via a rescue package, known as a deed of company arrangement, that was rejected by creditors and administrators. Robert Filippini also told the court that he made the transfers into his family members bank accounts without consulting them first. Dimitra Filippini and her children left Australia on a holiday in May 2025 and had told the court they would return in July, but are now not expected to return until May 2026. Robert has remained in Australia. The court has heard the family transferred $7.7 million from their Australian bank accounts into overseas bank accounts between January and July this year.

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The familys appeal will be heard early next year. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

CORRECTION An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Roberts parents Tony (Antonio) and Matilde Filippini as parties to the case. The story has been updated to reflect that it is Robert and Dimitras similarly named children who are parties to the court proceedings.
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A European tourist has fled Melbourne and returned home after he was bashed and robbed by a group of youths at St Kilda Pier.

The 34-year-old Norwegian man was visiting St Kilda pier on Thursday last week when he was approached by a large group of people aged in their late teens to early 20s, police allege.

Video posted on social media shows the man, in a pink polo shirt and long pants, being chased by a swarm of agitated youths. When he broke into a run, the group chased him down and allegedly assaulted him.

The man suffered a broken arm and his mobile phone was stolen and thrown into the bay by one of the alleged attackers.
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NationalWAWeather WA, get set for a sweltering Christmas morning with 110-year-old record set to tumble Maddi Cross Hamish Hastie and December 23, 2025  1:23pm 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

You might want to direct Santa to your freezer for some icy poles instead of leaving milk and cookies out this Christmas Eve because Christmas morning will be an absolute sizzler in Perth. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a 110-year Christmas morning record to tumble on Thursday. Christmas Day is set to be a scorcher. Erin Jonasson BoM forecaster Jonathon Howe told Radio 6PR Christmas Day would be a scorcher with the maximum temperature predicted to reach 41 degrees. He said it will likely be the warmest Christmas Day in Perth since 2001 and also the warmest Christmas morning with the overnight minimum expected to stay above 26 degrees.

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That will challenge the current record set back in 1915 when Perth only dropped to 25.9 degrees, he said. So at this stage, we are pretty much forecasting a record warm morning, and the temperatures rising up above 40 degrees, itll be very much above average for Christmas Day. By 9am it will be about 35 degrees and by lunchtime, we are expecting temperatures to be sitting around that 40-degree mark. The hottest ever overnight temperature in Perth was 29.3 degrees recorded twice in February 1898 and February 1933. Howe said inland suburbs would cop the heat worse than their coastal counterparts.

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Were expecting 43 degrees from Midland and Armadale, a little bit cooler if youre on the beach with Joondalup, Cottesloe and also Fremantle all looking at around 38 or 39 degrees. It will be a very, very hot day. Howe said heatwave conditions were travelling south down the state this week. Were already seeing severe heatwave conditions across parts of North West coast and are now extending down into the South West of the state, including for Perth, he said. The heatwave warning for Perth starts on Tuesday and will last until Christmas Day.

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He said conditions would ease from Boxing Day when the mercury is predicted to dip down to 27 degrees before it warms up into the 30s again on the weekend. Very classic summer conditions in Perth, but Christmas day is going to be an absolute scorcher, he said. With 6PR

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Christmas Hamish Hastie is WAtoday's state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism. or email. Connect via X
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalCrime Man charged over swastika swords to be deported as Labor drafts tougher laws Natassia Chrysanthos December 24, 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

A British national who has been charged with displaying Nazi symbols has had his Australian visa cancelled and faces deportation to the United Kingdom as the Albanese government starts drafting tougher laws on hate speech after the Bondi terror attack. The man, 43, was charged with four breaches of the criminal code this month after federal police seized swastika-bearing swords from his Queensland home and determined he had used social media to promote pro-Nazi ideology and violence against the Jewish community. Loading He is due to face court over the charges in January, but government sources said his visa had been cancelled and he had been moved to immigration detention in Brisbane. He can leave Australia voluntarily  as South African national Matthew Gruter did last month, when his visa was cancelled after appearing at a neo-Nazi rally outside NSW Parliament  or be deported to the UK. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said: He came here to hate  he doesnt get to stay.

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It is the latest example of Burkes increasingly tough approach to visa cancellations as the government clamps down on hate speech in the name of social cohesion. The minister has made a point of cancelling visas when theres evidence the person is inciting discord in the community. Related Article Analysis

Bondi shooting Two years have flipped the script on free speech. Now Australia is in new territory But in the aftermath of this months Bondi terror attack, Burke said he will make it easier for the department to cancel visas of people who have a history of engaging in hate speech, vilification or displaying hate symbols. Thats on top of stronger laws on hate speech  new federal offences that criminalise hate preaching and vilification based on race or racial supremacy  and hate symbols. Burke said the hate symbols offences the government enacted in the previous parliament have not resulted in the number of charges that we had hoped.

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The Australian Federal Police came back to me with recommendations that I then forwarded some weeks ago, only a couple of weeks ago, to the attorney-general, he said. Effectively, we will be making it easier for the Australian Federal Police to successfully bring charges against those who use and display hate symbols. Well also be making changes to the Customs Act so that, as well as it being unlawful for them to be held in Australia, it is easier for them to be intercepted at the border if theyre seen there. The British national whose visa was cancelled this month was charged under existing laws. The AFP announced it had charged him on December 8 after a week-long enforcement blitz targeting far-right paraphernalia and other illegal symbols, which also led to charges against a 25-year-old Sydney man and 21-year-old Brisbane man. The British man is alleged to have used two X accounts to display the Nazi swastika and espouse a pro-Nazi ideology with a specific hatred of the Jewish community, and to advocate for violence towards this community, police said earlier this month. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is working on changes that facilitate more charges, and visa cancellations, around hate speech and hate symbols. Alex Ellinghausen

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The AFP also executed a search warrant at his house in Caboolture, north of Brisbane, and seized several weapons, including swords emblazoned with swastika symbology, axes and knives. He was charged with three counts of displaying prohibited Nazi symbols and one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence. Related Article Exclusive

Extremism Neo-Nazis chilling threats as government investigates homeschooling network Burke on Tuesday said the government was looking at both the method and the motivation behind the Bondi terror attack as it fast-tracked policies that will take a harder line on guns as well as hate speech. On guns, Burke said a senior group of officials from the home affairs, attorney-general, police and justice portfolios had met on Monday with state and territory premiers departments, to start implementing gun control measures agreed to by national cabinet after the Bondi massacre. Well now be drafting instructions for the Commonwealth components of legislative changes. Some of those drafting instructions will be issued tomorrow. Others will be immediately after Christmas, he said.

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The Hate Crimes Database and the National Firearms Register are both being accelerated to be able to provide the best possible information both to the public generally and to the authorities that issue gun licences. The first stage of a new hate crimes database  which was announced by national cabinet in January after antisemitic attacks last summer  will be launched on Wednesday, providing national information about people charged with offences under hate crimes legislation through the Australian Insitute of Criminologys website. Related Article Updated

Extremism Time to go home: Neo-Nazi who rallied outside NSW Parliament has his visa cancelled On hate speech, Burke said leadership in the Jewish community was being consulted on new draft laws. People should be in no doubt about where the target is as this drafting is done, he said. We want to make sure that those hate preachers who have managed to keep themselves just on the legal side of Australian law  will become criminal.

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As part of this, radical organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir and neo-Nazi groups will be listed under a new regime that stops them from operating in Australia. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
MOSCOW, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday labeled an Associated Press (AP) report on embassy evacuation in Venezuela a "lie" on its official Telegram channel.

The denial referred to a Monday AP report that quoted a European intelligence representative as saying that Russia had begun evacuating staff and their family members from its embassy in Venezuela.

The report noted that more than a dozen vehicles with diplomatic license plates were parked in front of the Russian Embassy in Venezuela early Monday. However, no people were seen entering or leaving the building. By midday, all the cars had left.

An unnamed AP source linked this to Russia's growing concern over the situation in Venezuela.

Russian and Venezuelan foreign ministers on Monday voiced grave concern over "increasing escalatory actions" by Washington in the Caribbean Sea. During a phone conversation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's comprehensive support and solidarity with the leadership and people of Venezuela under the current circumstances. 
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Exclusive WorldAsiaBondi shooting No one lives there: How a remote village became entangled in Bondi terror Zach Hope December 23, 2025  7:37pm 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

Dungoan: In a village a few hours drive from the Philippine city of Davao, leader Patutin Ali Sagadan Jr is trying to make sense of how his community of rice, banana and coconut farmers became entangled in a terror investigation stretching all the way to Sydney. It is here in Dungoan, one of 37 sub-villages attached to the town of Mlang, in Cotabato province, that Filipino investigators believe a phone may have been used just weeks ago by the father or son accused of murdering 15 people in a Bondi Beach park. The town of Mlang, which has been linked to the accused Bondi Beach shooter and his father. Zach Hope I was shocked at that report, Sagadan, the village chief, says from his office. If there were any foreigners here, it would usually get to me immediately. Until Thursday last week, when a police officer knocked on his door, Sagadan wasnt even aware of what had unfolded in Sydney on December 14.

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By Friday, Filipino police, army and intelligence personnel had swarmed his village to hunt for clues. As far as Sagadan knows, they found little of value. They went to the area where they thought the [phone] signal was coming from, he says. But its an open area. No one lives there. Sagadan took this masthead to the same field where investigators led him a week earlier. It is about the size of a soccer pitch, populated by a half a dozen cows and bordered by a channel, palm trees and a road. They told me the [digital] information was not always accurate, he says. It could have been that they [one or both of the accused] were passing the area and made a call or sent a message and it was picked up here.

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None of [the village leaders] have monitored the presence of those two people. Those two people are Bondi Beach shooter Sajid Akram, who was killed by police, and his accused son, Naveed. Naveed and Sajid Akram allegedly training in Australia for the Bondi terror attack. Australian authorities and newly released court documents suggest the attack at Bondi was inspired by Islamic State ideology. So it is deeply unsettling for Filipinos and their government that the men spent almost all of November on the southern island of Mindanao, where Islamic militant groups have historically been active. In 2016, Daulah Islamiyah was behind a bombing in Davao City that killed 15 people. The group was also responsible for torching a passenger bus in Mlang that killed at least three people in 2021.

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That same year, Philippine authorities launched clearing operations against the militants, killing DI leader Salahuddin Hassan. Until then, militant strongholds had been only about 10 kilometres from Dungoan, Sagadan says. Manila insists militant groups in Mindanao have been severely degraded, and Sagadan agrees. But he says traces may linger. The town of Mlang, in the Philippines. Zach Hope Since 2022, there have been reports of sightings in [neighbouring province] Maguindanao, he says. But its very hard to pinpoint their location because they are always on the run. What the Akrams got up to in Mindanao remains a mystery. Staff at the Davao City hotel where they stayed between November 1 and November 28 said the pair left the $24 room for only one or two hours a day.

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WorldEuropeAnimal rights Boiling live crabs, lobsters to be banned in UK animal rights crackdown Patrick Galbraith December 23, 2025  3:45pm 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

London: Boiling live crabs and lobsters is to be banned as part of an animal rights crackdown in the United Kingdom. In its long-awaited animal welfare strategy published on Monday, the government said live boiling is not an acceptable killing method and pledged to publish guidance on approved practices. The British government will ban the boiling of live lobsters and other seafood. AFR The move comes after laws introduced under the previous government in 2022 determined that decapods, which include crabs, lobsters and crayfish, and cephalopods, such as squid and octopuses, were sentient and could feel pain. The ban forms part of a wider overhaul by Labour that will also end trail-hunting and potentially prohibit the use of cages for chickens and crates for pigs.

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Critics have accused the government of going to war on the countryside with the changes after it hit farmers with an inheritance tax raid that will come into force from April. Under the policy, farms worth more than 1 million ($2 million) will be taxed at 20 per cent. Related Article Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Animal cruelty Can crabs and lobsters feel pain and joy? British government says yes Restaurateurs and the seafood industry criticised the plans, accusing the government of burdening businesses with more red tape at a time of rising wages and other costs. James Chiavarini, who owns restaurants Il Portico and La Palombe in the London suburb of Kensington, said: I think its the aim of this government to remove us from our sense of place and purpose in the world and thats what a lot of food tradition stands for. Other methods of dispatching shellfish include electrocution or freezing to stun them before boiling them.

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Chiavarini said: Electrocution is a ridiculous thing. What are we supposed to do  shove them in a plug socket? Honestly, what restaurant is going to actually electrocute the lobsters before boiling them? Industry experts said banning live boiling could lead to a surge in frozen seafood being imported. Loading Shellfish Association of Great Britain chief executive David Jarrad said: If somebodys wanting to buy a live crab or lobster, theyre not going to pay for it if its already dead. In practice, there is an inherent advantage to the whole supply chain to look after the product to your best ability without causing crustaceans stress so that we can get top prices for them. Our concern in the UK is that if restaurants and hotels do not wish to buy stunning equipment, which costs around 3500, they will just import frozen seafood from abroad.

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John Loag of JPL shellfish, which exports lobsters and crabs from Scotland, said the government just hasnt got a clue. The shellfish business is already ridiculously tough. This is one of the last things you want to be thinking about, he said. Related Article Restaurant news How to handle live lobster humanely this Christmas Weve got rising costs, rising wages, everything is just getting harder and harder. This is certainly not an industry Id be looking to get into if I hadnt been in it for 30-odd years already. Greater respect for shellfish Labour has also pledged to look at improving the welfare of shellfish throughout the supply chain. The welfare strategy pledges to improve conditions for prawns as well as squid and octopus.

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Animal welfare charity Crustacean Compassion, which has lobbied the government to ban boiling, welcomed the news, and said it meant shellfish would be given greater respect. We wholeheartedly welcome the governments intentions to ban the live boiling of conscious crustaceans and address other areas of welfare compromise, chief executive Ben Sturgeon said. Recognising the sentience of crabs, lobsters and other decapod crustaceans, and banning inhumane practices like live boiling, is a vital step forward for animal welfare. According to a YouGov poll in February, 65 per cent of adults are opposed to shellfish being dropped into boiling water. The poll was commissioned by Crustacean Compassion and 2223 adults were surveyed. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the farming advocacy group Countryside Alliance, said: Labours animal welfare strategy seems to be driven more by the agenda of animal rights activists than it does by actually improving animal welfare.

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Related Article The Swiss consider the lobster  it feels pain, they decide  but not everyone agrees The government separately faces a backlash from some animal rights activists after failing to ban imports from overseas fur farms as part of the animal rights overhaul. It has also failed to follow through on a manifesto commitment to ban hunting trophies, such as leopard pelts and stuffed lion heads, from being imported into Britain from abroad. The Telegraph, London Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldEuropeGreenland We have to have it: Trump enrages Denmark with Greenland envoy surprise Steve Holland December 23, 2025  11:51am 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

Palm Beach: President Donald Trump says the United States needs Greenland for its national security, adding that a special envoy he appointed to the Arctic island would lead the charge. Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy, drawing renewed criticism from a stunned Denmark and Greenland over Washingtons interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island. US President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Monday. AP Trump has advocated for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the US, citing its strategic importance and mineral resources. Landry, who took office as governor in January 2024, publicly supports the idea. We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals ... If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need it for national security. We have to have it, Trump told reporters in Florida.

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He added that he wanted Landry  whom he described as a dealmaker-type guy  to lead the charge. [Greenland] have a very small population, and I dont know  they say Denmark, but Denmark has spent no money. They have no military protection, Trump said. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (left) and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen this year. AP They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something, with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, Im sure. So well have to work it all out. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlands Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen earlier said in a joint statement that the US could not take over Greenland.

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You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security, they said. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. Landry, in a post on X, thanked Trump: Its an honour to serve ... in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US. This in no way affects my position as governor of Louisiana! Trump has named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland. Bloomberg The Trump administration put further pressure on Copenhagen on Monday, when it suspended leases for five large offshore wind projects being built off the east coast of the US, including two being developed by Denmarks state-controlled Orsted. Greenland, a former Danish colony with a population of about 57,000, has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains heavily reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies.

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Its strategic position between Europe and North America makes it a key site for the US ballistic missile defence system, while its mineral wealth has heightened US interest in reducing reliance on Chinese exports. Trump called repeatedly during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term for US jurisdiction over Greenland, and has not ruled out military force to take it. In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a remote American military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of under-investing there. A statue of the Danish missionary Hans Egede, founder of the city of Nuuk, overlooking the Greenland capital. Bloomberg After the US president appointed Landry on the weekend, Greenlands Nielsen commented on Facebook: We have woken up again to a new announcement from the US president. This may sound big, but it does not change anything for us. We decide our own future. We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law.

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Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he would summon US ambassador Kenneth Howery, who had pledged mutual respect during a recent visit to Greenland. Related Article Denmark Denmark hauls in US envoy over covert plot to woo Greenland for Trump I am deeply angered by the appointment and the statement, which I find totally unacceptable, Rasmussen told local television. Out of nowhere, there is now a special US presidential representative, who, according to himself, is tasked with taking over Greenland. This is, of course, completely unacceptable. Denmark, a member of the European Union and NATO, has sought to repair strained ties with Greenland over the past year, while also trying to ease tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic defence.

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This month, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service said in an annual report that the US was using its economic power to assert its will and threaten military force against friend and foe alike. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Arctic security was a key priority for the bloc and one on which it seeks to work with allies and partners. She also said that territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. We stand in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland, she wrote on social media. Reuters, 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.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Small donations from across St. Maarten raised a total of US$5,601.47 to support relief efforts in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island on October 28, 2025, through a public fundraising initiative led by the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation St. Maarten.

From November 1 to December 11, 2025, Tzu Chi volunteers collected donations in supermarkets, on streets, and in public areas, encouraging residents to give according to their means. The funds were used directly and transparently to support official relief efforts in coordination with the Jamaica Consulate in St. Maarten.

The donations enabled the purchase of two pallets of essential food supplies valued at US $4,540, including 210 bags of brown rice weighing 10 pounds each, 204 bottles of cooking oil measuring 32 ounces each, 400 packs of pasta weighing 500 grams each, and 420 packs of dried beans. In addition to food assistance, volunteers provided manpower to help the Jamaica Consulate sort and pack donated clothing for shipment.

Funds were also used to cover the full shipping cost of a relief container carrying donated items to Jamaica, with US $2,926.38 paid directly to ensure timely delivery.

Although the container has already been shipped, Tzu Chi St. Maarten said relief efforts are continuing as families in severely affected areas of Jamaica, particularly those connected to Jamaican volunteers in St. Maarten, are still facing housing damage, food shortages, and the loss of basic household items.

Tzu Chi St. Maarten continues to engage the community as additional needs are identified. The Foundation said even modest contributions can make a meaningful difference. Tzu Chi connects compassion with action, shared a volunteer. When many people give a little, together we can accomplish something truly meaningful.

The foundation expressed gratitude to the public, volunteers, and partners whose support made the relief effort possible, noting that what began as small donations resulted in food supplies, shipped aid, and support for families rebuilding their lives in Jamaica.
Waymo restarts robotaxis after power outage paralyzed fleet



San Francisco, United States, Dec 22 (AFP) Dec 22, 2025



Waymo announced Monday that it had relaunched its robotaxi service in San Francisco after parts of its fleet became paralyzed at intersections during a massive power outage over the weekend.

The subsidiary of Google-parent Alphabet had to suspend operations Saturday evening when a fire at an electrical station left about a third of the city without power.

Waymo's white Jaguars, equipped with cameras and sensors, have become a familiar sight on San Francisco streets.

With traffic lights out, many of the self-driving vehicles froze at intersections, creating major traffic jams. Videos on social media showed clusters of the confused autonomous cars stuck at crossroads.

"We resumed ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday," a Waymo spokesperson said in an email to AFP on Monday.

The company said its cars are programmed to treat non-functioning traffic lights as stop signs, but the scale of the outage caused vehicles to remain stopped longer than usual.

Waymo then decided to temporarily suspend service for safety reasons.

The breakdown immediately drew mockery from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology claims to operate independently of infrastructure, navigating with only cameras and artificial intelligence that adapts in real time -- though vehicles still require a driver present.

Waymo has favored a more cautious and expensive approach, relying on multiple onboard sensors and complete mapping of areas where its fleets operate.

The outage occurred amid Waymo's rapid expansion.

The company plans to exceed 15 million rides in 2025, up from 4 million in 2024.

Its service, available in 10 US cities by early 2026, aims to expand to about 20 metropolitan areas within a year, including London.

But competition is intensifying. Chinese rivals are conducting international testing, and Uber announced in October its intention to launch robotaxis in San Francisco by late 2026.

Meanwhile, Amazon's Zoox subsidiary is also increasing public testing of its autonomous shuttles in the city.

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Press Release from Business Wire: IQM Quantum Computers



(AFP) Dec 23, 2025



SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSW) - IQM Quantum Computers, the global leader in deployed, on-premises computers, and Telefonica, a global telecommunications provider, have joined forces to sign a purchase agreement with the Galician Supercomputing Center (CESGA) to install two full-stack quantum computers in Spain.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223742835/en/

Spain's CESGA selects IQM and Telefonica to deploy advanced quantum computing infrastructure



Under the agreement, IQM will deliver and install a 54-qubit IQM Radiance, designed for integration into high-performance computing centres, together with a 5-qubit IQM Spark system dedicated to education. The systems are scheduled for delivery by June 2026.

The deployment will expand CESGA's advanced computing capabilities and strengthen its role as a key national and European research infrastructure.

The systems will be used by the scientific community and made accessible to leading companies across multiple industrial and research sectors, enabling experimentation with hybrid workflows that combine quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.

This will be the first installation of IQM quantum computers in Spain, positioning CESGA alongside leading European centres such as the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) and Julich in Germany, CSC in Finland, and CINECA in Italy, which are integrating quantum systems into national HPC environments.

The systems will be complemented by a new supercomputer, the Finisterrae IV, which will provide additional computing power to meet needs in artificial intelligence, among others, and a data storage system that will make it possible to permanently house large amounts of data and provide more advanced data services.

"Delivering production-grade quantum infrastructure into real HPC environments is central to IQM's mission," said Sylwia Barthel de Weydenthal, Chief Commercial Officer of IQM Quantum Computers. "By deploying our systems at CESGA, we are supporting the development of a practical quantum ecosystem in Spain and enabling researchers and industry users to begin meaningful experimentation with hybrid quantum-classical computing."

"Quantum computing will become an important pillar of future digital infrastructure," said Sergio Sanchez, CTIO Telefonica Espana. "Through this collaboration with IQM and CESGA, Telefonica is helping bring advanced computing capabilities closer to researchers and enterprises, while supporting Spain's position in next-generation technologies."

About IQM Quantum Computers

IQM Quantum Computers is a global leader in the deployment of superconducting quantum computing systems, delivering full-stack, on-premises quantum infrastructure designed to integrate into advanced computing environments. IQM works with high-performance computing centers, research institutions, universities, and enterprises, providing access to both quantum hardware and software. Headquartered in Finland, IQM employs more than 300 people and operates globally, with teams in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. For more information, visit www.meetiqm.com.

About Telefonica:

Telefonica is one of the world's leading telecommunications service providers. The company offers fixed and mobile connectivity as well as a wide range of digital services for residential and business customers. With over 350 million customers, Telefonica operates in Europe and Latin America. Telefonica is listed on the Spanish stock market, New York and Lima.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223742835/en/









Contact

Media contact:[email protected] +358 50 479 0845www.meetiqm.com







 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Press Release from Business Wire: Rajant Corporation



(AFP) Dec 23, 2025



MALVERN, Dec 23, 2025 (BSW) - Rajant Corporation , the exclusive provider of peer to peer, private Kinetic Mesh(R) networks consisting of BreadCrumb(R) wireless nodes powered by InstaMesh(R) routing, today announced the successful completion of a subterranean communications trial during NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps' (ARRC) primary exercise of the year, Ex AVENGER TRIAD 25, which was conducted in October-November 2025.

During the exercise, Rajant provided the communications equipment that delivered robust underground bandwidth in a retired mine in England. The Rajant network operated as a transport-agnostic, multi-bearer networking overlay that unified disparate communication technologies into a single resilient transport fabric, integrating cleanly with existing network transports and mission systems. ARRC users and the British Army's 22 Signal Regiment recognized the utility of the approach and identified avenues to exploit the capability further, most notably a wireless subterranean headquarters concept, while also noting that additional exploration of use cases will unlock even more value.

This application continues to demonstrate the flexibility of Rajant Kinetic Mesh networks. The same technology utilized to establish subterranean connectivity is also used across ground and air assets providing seamless and unified connectivity across all domains.

"In RF-challenged underground environments, Rajant's Kinetic Mesh(R) technology delivers decisive connectivity by enabling BreadCrumb(R) nodes to sustain robust links under mobility and multipath conditions. Seamless make-before-break handoffs ensure uninterrupted operations, while InstaMesh(R) dynamically routes around interference at the packet level," said Ed Preston, President of Military & Government Markets at Rajant Corporation. "This capability provides commanders with resilient networking options available today, not years from now. With self-healing links, the network moves at the speed of the maneuver."

Exercise feedback also highlighted that the presence of a Rajant engineer was "hugely helpful" in exploring full utility and ensuring success, while acknowledging that the equipment itself is quickly configurable and easily installed. Users were impressed with the ease of use instructions and the robustness of the equipment itself. "In the most denied environment, the network stayed alive; and helped us deliver decision advantage underground." - said ARRC HQ management.

Prior to the field trial, Rajant hosted ARRC staff for a demonstration and discovery session at their facility in the NORCAT mine in Sudbury, Ontario. The NORCAT facility is a world leading underground center for mine related training, testing, and equipment development. New technologies that have been proven here before are now commercially available on the open market.

The results underscore Rajant's value as a resilient, truly agnostic "any/any" transport layer for congested, complex terrain. Kinetic Mesh(R) scales node by node with no single point of failure, and Rajant's multi transceiver radios create redundant links across multiple frequencies / channels to mitigate interference, congestion, and jamming, capabilities particularly relevant to subterranean C4I.

For more information, visit: www.rajant.com

About Rajant Corporation

Rajant Corporation is the intelligent edge network technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh(R) networking, BreadCrumb(R) wireless nodes, InstaMesh(R) networking software and Cowbell distributed computing platform. With Rajant, customers can rapidly deploy highly adaptable and scalable edge network solutions that leverage the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. With successful deployments in more than 80 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, energy, manufacturing and logistics, municipalities, agriculture, and more, Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and X.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223173967/en/









Contact

MEDIAAndy Kowalik[email protected]







 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
Press Release from Business Wire: SLB



(AFP) Dec 23, 2025



HOUSTON, Dec 23, 2025 (BSW) - Global technology company SLB (NYSE: SLB) has been awarded a five-year contract by Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields. This award is part of a broader multi-billion contract, supporting one of the largest unconventional gas development programs globally.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223074948/en/

The contract encompasses advanced stimulation, well intervention, frac automation, and digital solutions, which are important to unlocking the potential of Saudi Arabia's unconventional gas resources.



The contract encompasses advanced stimulation, well intervention, frac automation, and digital solutions, which are important to unlocking the potential of Saudi Arabia's unconventional gas resources - a cornerstone of the Kingdom's strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and support the global energy transition.

"This agreement is an important step forward in Aramco's efforts to diversify its energy portfolio in line with Vision 2030 and energy transition goals," said Steve Gassen, executive vice president, Geographies, SLB. "With world-class technology, deep local expertise, and a proven track record in safety and service quality, SLB is well positioned to deliver tailored solutions that could help redefine operational performance in the development of Saudi Arabia's unconventional resources."

These solutions provide the tools to work toward new performance benchmarks in unconventional gas development.

About SLB

SLB (NYSE: SLB) is a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition. Find out more at slb.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws - that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as "expect," "may," "can," "estimate," "intend," "anticipate," "will," "potential," "projected" and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as forecasts or expectations regarding the deployment of, or anticipated benefits of, SLB's new technologies and partnerships; statements about goals, plans and projections with respect to sustainability and environmental matters; forecasts or expectations regarding energy transition and global climate change; and improvements in operating procedures and technology. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inability to achieve net-negative carbon emissions goals; the inability to recognize intended benefits of SLB's strategies, initiatives or partnerships; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change; the timing or receipt of regulatory approvals and permits; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in SLB's most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and SLB disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.







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Two killed after Mexican Navy plane crashes off US coast



Mexico City, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



At least two people were killed after a Mexican Navy aircraft crashed in waters off the US state of Texas while carrying out a medical transfer, the navy said Monday.

Eight people were traveling aboard the aircraft, which was on a humanitarian mission, the Mexican Navy Secretariat said in a statement.

Four people were rescued alive and two were killed, with efforts ongoing in coordination with the US Coast Guard to rescue two more people who were inside the crashed aircraft, the statement added.

The accident occurred as the aircraft was approaching Galveston, Texas.

The specialized medical transport mission was coordinated with a Mexican foundation that cares for children with severe burns.

According to the flight tracking website Flight Radar, the plane took off from Merida in Mexico's Yucatan state at 18:46 GMT and was last recorded at 21:01 GMT over Galveston Bay, near Scholes International Airport.
ALMATY, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday called on all sides involved in the Ukraine crisis to demonstrate patience, flexibility and professionalism, and continue pursuing a peace formula.

Tokayev made the remarks while holding a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the day, during which they exchanged views on the bilateral agenda and the Ukraine crisis, according to the official website of the Kazakh president.

He noted the complexity of resolving the crisis, emphasizing that the territorial issue remains central and requires compromises from all sides, taking into account the real situation on the ground.

Tokayev said that although Kazakhstan does not seek to act as a mediator in the Ukraine crisis, it is ready to offer a venue for negotiations if necessary. 
Myanmar's long march of military rule



Yangon, Myanmar, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Myanmar's military has ruled the country for most of its post-independence history, presenting itself as the only force capable of guarding the fractious Southeast Asian nation from rupture and ruin.

A decade-long democratic thaw saw martial rulers loosen their grip and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi lead, before a junta snatched back power in a 2021 coup triggering a ferocious civil war.

The military has organised elections starting Sunday but the vote is being shunned at home and abroad, and the generals have pledged to preserve their role in politics.

Here is a brief history of military rule in Myanmar:



- Founding force -



Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, won its independence in 1948 as Britain dissolved its empire after World War II.

The autonomy struggle was led by Aung San, the father of Aung San Suu Kyi. He first fought with the invading Japanese to oust Britain, before swapping sides as the tide of war changed and currying favour with London for the cause of independence.

The fledgling democracy had a thriving press and cinema scene, and promising economic potential as the world's leading rice exporter.

But as the civilian government battled rebellions and internal divisions, it handed power to the military in 1958 for a two-year caretaker spell.



- 'Bamboo curtain' -



Elections followed, but the voluntary relinquishing of power had emboldened the military to make a takeover by force in 1962.

Aung San's wartime comrade Ne Win, who had taken the helm of the armed forces after the leader's assassination in murky circumstances, swooped in in a putsch he justified as protection against Myanmar's disintegration.

He later said the military "took over power against its cherished beliefs", promising to "transfer power to the people in due course".

But he ruled for 26 years, enforcing a nominally socialist one-party state that pulled a "bamboo curtain" around Myanmar making it a hermit nation, crashing the economy and crushing dissent.



- Protests, coup, protests -



Massive student-led pro-democracy protests that began on August 8, 1988 forced Ne Win to step down.

But a rebranded leadership swiftly staged a fresh coup, crushing demonstrations in a bloody crackdown that saw more than 3,000 people killed and many more spirited away to prison.

Than Shwe became the top general, facing his own uprising in 2007 when the "Saffron Revolution" led by robed monks took up the pro-democracy mantle.

He, too, used military might to quell the resistance.

The 1988 protests were a proving ground for activists, some still challenging military rule today. At the forefront was Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 during one of many stints in detention.



- Military makes the rules -



Than Shwe retired in 2011, handing power to a civilian government, which was however led by an ex-general and reined in by a military-drafted constitution privileging the armed forces with a central role in parliament and cabinet.

Critics initially dismissed it as military rule wearing a civilian sash, but president Thein Sein proved a cautious reformist.

He released Suu Kyi, who surged to electoral victory in 2015 and assumed a leadership position carved out to sidestep military-drafted rules that barred her from the presidency.

The democratic figurehead opened the country up, often sparring with military chief Min Aung Hlaing.



- Civil war -



Her second landslide in 2020 polls proved a step too far, and Min Aung Hlaing snatched back power, making unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud, re-jailing Suu Kyi and dissolving her party.

The coup triggered a full-blown civil war as long-active ethnic minority armies were joined on the battlefield by pro-democracy partisans.

The junta is touting the upcoming phased elections as a step towards reconciliation.

But Suu Kyi remains under junta lock and key, generals are managing the vote, rebels are set to block it from territory they control, and international monitors have dismissed it as a pretext for continuing military rule.

Results are expected around the end of January 2026.
Min Aung Hlaing: Myanmar's military ruler overseeing election



Yangon, Myanmar, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Myanmar's top general Min Aung Hlaing was months from retirement when he made a dictatorial about-face nearly five years ago, deposing the democratic government and promoting himself to leader.

The bespectacled and diminutive officer became military chief in 2011, as Myanmar broke with its history of iron-fisted martial rule and began its latest experiment with democracy.

The 69-year-old soldier spent a decade jostling with civilian leaders before overturning them in a coup, jailing Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering a vicious civil war that is still ongoing.

He is now presiding over a poll due to start Sunday, promising it will return peace and democracy despite scepticism at home and abroad.



- General non grata -



Min Aung Hlaing was born in Dawei city in Myanmar's elongated southern reach, studying at university before enrolling into officer training school -- albeit on his third attempt.

He rose through the ranks, burnishing his credentials by leading a campaign battling an ethnic rebel insurrection around crucial trade crossings with China.

His predecessor Than Shwe directly ruled Myanmar for nearly two decades, but it was Min Aung Hlaing's rare fate to be a top general under civilian command.

A military-drafted constitution still gave him a central role in politics, though, with a quarter of parliamentary seats and essential cabinet positions reserved for his officers.

Before the coup, Min Aung Hlaing was already persona non grata in many countries for commanding a 2017 military crackdown on the Rohingya minority that drove around 750,000 people into Bangladesh.

He was banned from Facebook for stoking hate speech, heavily sanctioned, and the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor is seeking his arrest for crimes against humanity.

Min Aung Hlaing has said military operations were justified to root out insurgents and steadfastly denies allegations of human rights abuses.

He also embarked on an ambitious and expensive programme to outfit the army with modern equipment, sourcing weapons and hardware from China, Russia and Israel.

Every March 27 he oversees a parade of troops and materiel in the capital Naypyidaw for Armed Forces Day, standing on an open-top jeep and festooned with his many military and civilian awards.

His official title in state media is "State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing".

But as his nomenclature has become longer, the number of soldiers assembled for inspection has shrunk each year with embattled forces deployed to frontlines elsewhere.



- Reinforced rule -



In 2021 Min Aung Hlaing was about to turn 65 -- mandatory military retirement age at the time -- when he toppled Suu Kyi's democratically elected government and jailed her.

He claimed her National League for Democracy party had swept a landslide electoral victory over pro-military parties by means of voter fraud.

Analysts at the time said he was probably anxious about the military's waning power.

Security forces crushed pro-democracy protests, but activists quit the cities to fight as guerrillas alongside ethnic rebels -- including those Min Aung Hlaing battled earlier in his career.

There is no official death toll for Myanmar's civil war and estimates vary widely.

According to non-profit organisation Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), which tallies media reports of violence, 90,000 have been killed on all sides since the coup.

That number almost certainly includes conscripts the military has begun forcibly recruiting to bolster its ranks.

Min Aung Hlaing ruled by fiat as military chief over four years of emergency rule after the coup.

He ended the state of emergency this summer and handed back power to the president's office -- which he also occupies.

Many analysts, democracy monitors and Myanmar citizens believe the election is most likely to see a power transfer from Min Aung Hlaing to himself.
Cambodia asks Thailand to move border talks to Malaysia



Phnom Penh, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Cambodia has asked Thailand to hold bilateral talks in the neutral venue of Kuala Lumpur, according to a letter seen by AFP on Tuesday, with the nations set to negotiate truce terms after two weeks of deadly border clashes.

Bangkok's defence chief on Tuesday sought to assuage any fears on the Cambodian side about the meeting taking place in Thailand, and the Thai foreign ministry said the venue was still being discussed.

The nations' long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier truce, killing more than 40 people and displacing over 900,000 on both sides, officials said.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Monday announced a parley with Cambodia after a meeting in the Malaysian capital with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Cambodia is also a member.

Sihasak told reporters the discussion would be held Wednesday in Thailand's Chanthaburi within the framework of an existing bilateral border committee.

But in a letter dated Monday to his Thai counterpart Nattaphon Narkphanit, Cambodian defence minister Tea Seiha requested the meeting be held in Kuala Lumpur.

"For a security reason due to the ongoing fighting along the border, this meeting should be held in a safe and neutral venue," Tea Seiha wrote in the letter, which AFP obtained on Tuesday and confirmed with the ministry.

Malaysia, the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, had agreed to host the talks in its capital, he added.



- 'It is safe' -



Thai foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura told reporters in Bangkok that the meeting venue was "being discussed right now".

"The talks will last over two days, with technical groups first," he said Tuesday.

Thai defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit suggested the meeting was set to go ahead on Wednesday in Thailand, but also sought to allay any concerns from his Cambodian counterpart.

"The meeting will be held in Chanthaburi... where there's barely any fighting. It is safe," Nattaphon told reporters before a cabinet meeting.

He said the last meeting of the joint General Border Committee was held in Cambodia's Koh Kong province, so it was Thailand's turn to host, adding that there was nothing to fear as Thais could separate military and diplomatic matters.

"I would like to tell Cambodia to trust us on safety," Nattaphon said, adding it would be held near the border with Cambodia.

But the defence minister also said Thai forces would keep fighting as long as Cambodia did, and combat that stretches along nearly the entirety of the border has so far only calmed in parts of two provinces.

Cambodia said Thailand launched air strikes on its territory on Monday, shortly after Bangkok announced the two nations had agreed to hold the bilateral talks.

Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata told reporters that combat was ongoing Tuesday morning.

The ministry said in a statement that Thai forces shelled the Cambodian border city of Poipet.



- 'Pretty good shape' -



Each side has blamed the other for instigating the fresh fighting and traded accusations of attacks on civilians, after five days of clashes in July killed dozens.

The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a truce to end that round of fighting, but the ceasefire was short-lived.

In October, US President Donald Trump backed a follow-on joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, touting new trade deals after they agreed in Kuala Lumpur to prolong their truce.

But Thailand suspended the agreement the following month.

Trump on Monday referred again to the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand as one of the eight wars he had "solved" around the world.

"Thailand is starting to shape up. You know, they started with Cambodia, they started up again," he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

"But I think... we have that in pretty good shape, to have that stopped."
Wagner stronghold in CAR holds the line despite Kremlin shakeup



Libreville, Gabon, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



A mural depicting Vladimir Putin and fatigue-clad Russian paramilitary fighters has appeared in the Central African Republic ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections as the country seeks to recover from decades of violence.

The Russian embassy in Bangui called the work of a local artist that also features President Faustin-Archange Touadera and CAR military officers "a sign of our common victory over chaos and instability".

The colourful mural in the bustling capital could be seen as a comment on the importance of the Russian military presence for the government of 68-year-old Touadera, tipped to be re-elected in the polls on Sunday.

The resource-rich former French colony remains the last bastion of paramilitary group Wagner, which has established itself as one of the CAR government's main security partners in exchange for lucrative contracts to mine gold and diamonds.

Sergei Eledinov, a retired Russian military officer and expert on African security, said Wagner forces had helped improve security in the CAR.

"The CAR was, in fact, the only successful positive case," Eledinov told AFP, referring to Russia's military presence in Africa.

"The security situation has improved, stability has been achieved, roads have become safer, there are fewer attacks," said the Senegal-based founder of Convoy Africa, a consultancy which advises Russian and foreign companies.

"It would not be true to say that everyone is happy. But if we talk about the process as a whole, then of course the situation is improving."

After Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash in 2023 following a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, the Russian defence ministry has sought to replace Wagner in Africa and coordinate security operations through an umbrella group known as the Africa Corps.

But unlike in countries such as Mali where the Africa Corps took over, Russian private military contractors in the CAR have not come under control of the defence ministry.



- Improved security -



"They have failed to convince Touadera to give up Wagner in the CAR," a European military source told AFP, referring to Russian authorities.

Wagner has been paid in mining concessions, which the source said suited Touadera well. "If he accepts the Africa Corps, he has to pay in cash," the source added.

Deployed in 2018 at the request of Touadera to strengthen a ramshackle military, Wagner's fighters have played a key role in ensuring stability in the struggling strategically-located country whose resources also include uranium and timber. While pockets of violence remain, particularly in the east and northwest, the Russians have helped drive armed groups out of major cities.

Wagner was instrumental in 2020 when Touadera was last re-elected in a vote marred by allegations of fraud and an uprising by six rebel groups. The attempt to overthrow the government was pushed back thanks to the intervention of the Rwandan army and the Russian mercenaries.

The Russians have also worked to ensure security in the runup to the Sunday polls.

The Officers' Union for International Security (OUIS), which US officials describe as a Wagner front company in the CAR, has sought to present itself as a responsible security partner and has regularly published Telegram posts about everything from assisting local residents to disarming militants.

Half of Russian contractors serving in the country have fought in Ukraine, including Dmitry Podolsky, Touadera's security adviser, who has lost both legs and an arm.

While Moscow has sought to play up the popularity of the mercenaries, human rights campaigners and the opposition have accused them of committing widespread rights abuses in the country. The Russian embassy in Bangui did not respond to a request for comment.



- 'Tensions' -



Last month, Touadera said talks with Moscow over Russia's military presence were underway but denied he was under pressure to switch to the Africa Corps.

"Why do you speak of pressure?" he told France 24 television, pointing to "friendship and brotherhood" between the two countries.

Touadera declined to provide details of the talks. "That would be discourteous towards the Russian Federation," he said.

Analysts said that Wagner's departure would pose a problem for the CAR government.

"Wagner is better established there, with solid economic activities and a security record that is perceived as positive," said Charles Bouessel, an analyst with the International Crisis Group. "The authorities fear that the Africa Corps will be less proactive militarily, as we have seen in Mali."

Paul Crescent Beninga, executive director of the Central African Centre for Geopolitical Research and Analysis, said the mooted handover between Wagner and the Africa Corps "has created tensions".

"But we hope for a smooth resolution," he added.

Eledinov said he did not believe that Moscow would rush to dismantle a structure that has proved "successful".

"I think that in the near future, they are unlikely to break it up."
Lebanese soldier among those killed in Monday Israeli strike: army



Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



A Lebanese soldier was among three people killed in an Israeli air strike on a car in the country's south, the army said Tuesday, denying Israeli claims that he was also a Hezbollah operative.

Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group, which it accuses of rearming.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Monday's strike on a vehicle was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10 kilometres (six miles) from the southern coastal city of Sidon and "killed three people who were inside".

The Lebanese army said on Tuesday that Sergeant Major Ali Abdullah had been killed the previous day "in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a car he was in" near the city of Sidon.

The Israeli army said it had killed three Hezbollah operatives in the strike, adding in a statement on Tuesday that "one of the terrorists eliminated during the strike simultaneously served in the Lebanese intelligence unit".

A Lebanese army official told AFP it was "not true" that the soldier was a Hezbollah member, calling Israel's claim "a pretext" to justify the attack.

Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south.

The Lebanese army plans to complete the group's disarmament south of the Litani River -- about 30 kilometres from the border with Israel -- by year's end.

The latest strike came after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives on Friday took part in a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee for a second time, after holding their first direct talks in decades earlier this month.

The committee comprises representatives from Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

More than 340 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.
Israel defence minister vows to stay in Gaza, establish outposts



Jerusalem, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday vowed Israel will remain in Gaza and pledged to establish outposts in the north of the Palestinian territory, according to a video of a speech published by Israeli media.

His remarks, reported across Israeli media, come as a fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds in Gaza.

Mediators are pressing for the implementation of the next phases of the truce, which would involve an Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Speaking at an event in the Israeli settlement of Beit El in the occupied West Bank, Katz said: "We are deep inside Gaza, and we will never leave Gaza -- there will be no such thing."

"We are there to protect, to prevent what happened (from happening again)," he added, according to a video published by Israeli news site Ynet.

Katz also vowed to establish outposts in the north of Gaza in place of settlements that had been evacuated during Israel's unilateral disengagement from the territory in 2005.

"When the time comes, God willing, we will establish in northern Gaza, Nahal outposts in place of the communities that were uprooted," Katz said, referring to military-agricultural settlements set up by Israeli soldiers.

"We will do this in the right way and at the appropriate time."

Katz's remarks were slammed by former minister and chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who accused the government of "acting against the broad national consensus, during a critical period for Israel's national security."

"While the government votes with one hand in favour of the Trump plan, with the other hand it sells fables about isolated settlement nuclei in the (Gaza) Strip," he wrote on X, referring to the Gaza peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump.

The next phases of Trump's plan would involve an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of an interim authority to govern the territory in place of Hamas and the deployment of an international stabilisation force.

It also envisages the demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas, which the group has refused.

On Thursday, several Israelis entered the Gaza Strip in defiance of army orders and held a symbolic flag-raising ceremony to call for the reoccupation and resettlement of the Palestinian territory.

yif-acc/jd/ser
Wagner stronghold in CAR holds the line despite Kremlin shakeup



Libreville, Gabon, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



A mural depicting Vladimir Putin and fatigue-clad Russian paramilitary fighters has appeared in the Central African Republic ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections as the country seeks to recover from decades of violence.

The Russian embassy in Bangui called the work of a local artist that also features President Faustin-Archange Touadera and CAR military officers "a sign of our common victory over chaos and instability".

The colourful mural in the bustling capital could be seen as a comment on the importance of the Russian military presence for the government of 68-year-old Touadera, tipped to be re-elected in the polls on Sunday.

The resource-rich former French colony remains the last bastion of paramilitary group Wagner, which has established itself as one of the CAR government's main security partners in exchange for lucrative contracts to mine gold and diamonds.

"For the first time in the long history of armed conflict, Central Africans have the opportunity to stop fearing for their lives," Alexander Ivanov, the head of CAR-based Russian military contractors -- who is under EU and US sanctions -- told AFP in written comments.

Sergei Eledinov, a retired Russian military officer and expert on African security, said Wagner forces had helped improve security in the CAR.

"The CAR was, in fact, the only successful positive case," Eledinov told AFP, referring to Russia's military presence in Africa.

"The security situation has improved, stability has been achieved, roads have become safer, there are fewer attacks," said the Senegal-based founder of Convoy Africa, a consultancy which advises Russian and foreign companies.

"It would not be true to say that everyone is happy. But if we talk about the process as a whole, then of course the situation is improving."

After Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash in 2023 following a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, the Russian defence ministry has sought to replace Wagner in Africa and coordinate security operations through an umbrella group known as the Africa Corps.

But unlike in countries such as Mali where the Africa Corps took over, Russian private military contractors in the CAR have not come under control of the defence ministry.



- Improved security -



"They have failed to convince Touadera to give up Wagner in the CAR," a European military source told AFP, referring to Russian authorities.

Wagner has been paid in mining concessions, which the source said suited Touadera well. "If he accepts the Africa Corps, he has to pay in cash," the source added.

Deployed in 2018 at the request of Touadera to strengthen a ramshackle military, Wagner's fighters have played a key role in ensuring stability in the struggling strategically-located country whose resources also include uranium and timber.

While pockets of violence remain, particularly in the east and northwest, the Russians have helped drive armed groups out of major cities.

Wagner was instrumental in 2020 when Touadera was last re-elected in a vote marred by allegations of fraud and an uprising by six rebel groups. The attempt to overthrow the government was pushed back thanks to the intervention of the Rwandan army and the Russian mercenaries.

The Russians have also worked to ensure security in the runup to the Sunday polls.

Ivanov, head of the Officers' Union for International Security (OUIS), said the Russian contractors took any threats to the elections "extremely seriously" given the experience of the 2020 polls.

"At the moment, everything points to the possibility of peaceful and safe elections," he said, adding they were ready to "repel any provocations".

Ivanov has been sanctioned by the European Union and the United States as the head of the OUIS, an entity EU and US officials describe as a Wagner front company in the CAR.

The group has sought to present itself as a responsible security partner and has regularly published Telegram posts about everything from assisting local residents to disarming militants.

Half of Russian contractors serving in the country have fought in Ukraine, including Dmitry Podolsky, Touadera's security adviser, who lost both legs and an arm.

While Moscow has sought to play up the popularity of the mercenaries, human rights campaigners and the opposition have accused them of committing widespread rights abuses in the country.



- 'Tensions' -



Last month, Touadera said talks with Moscow over Russia's military presence were underway but denied he was under pressure to switch to the Africa Corps.

"Why do you speak of pressure?" he told France 24 television, pointing to "friendship and brotherhood" between the two countries.

Touadera declined to provide details of the talks. "That would be discourteous towards the Russian Federation," he said.

Analysts said that Wagner's departure would pose a problem for the CAR government.

"Wagner is better established there, with solid economic activities and a security record that is perceived as positive," said Charles Bouessel, an analyst with the International Crisis Group. "The authorities fear that the Africa Corps will be less proactive militarily, as we have seen in Mali."

Paul Crescent Beninga, executive director of the Central African Centre for Geopolitical Research and Analysis, said the mooted handover between Wagner and the Africa Corps "has created tensions".

"But we hope for a smooth resolution," he added.

Eledinov said he did not believe that Moscow would rush to dismantle a structure that has proved "successful".

"I think that in the near future, they are unlikely to break it up."
Israel defence minister vows to establish outposts in Gaza



Jerusalem, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed on Tuesday that Israel would remain in Gaza and pledged to establish outposts there, but his office swiftly downplayed the remarks made at a settlement in the occupied West Bank.

In comments reported across Israeli media, Katz said Israel "will never leave" the devastated Palestinian territory.

His remarks come as mediators are pressing for the implementation of the next phases of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, which would involve an Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for the truce stated that "Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza."

Speaking at an event in the Israeli settlement of Beit El in the West Bank, Katz said: "We are deep inside Gaza, and we will never leave Gaza -- there will be no such thing."

"We are there to protect, to prevent what happened" from happening again, he added, according to a video published by Israeli news site Ynet.

Katz also vowed to establish outposts in the north of Gaza in place of settlements that had been evacuated during Israel's unilateral disengagement from the territory in 2005.

"When the time comes, God willing, we will establish in northern Gaza, Nahal outposts in place of the communities that were uprooted," Katz said, referring to military-agricultural settlements set up by Israeli soldiers.

"We will do this in the right way and at the appropriate time."

But in a statement issued shortly after, Katz's office downplayed the remarks and said they "were made solely in a security context".

"The government has no intention of establishing settlements in the Gaza Strip," it added.

The next phases of Trump's plan would involve an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of an interim authority to govern the territory in place of Hamas and the deployment of an international stabilisation force.

It also envisages the demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas, which the group has refused.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP that Katz's comments were a "clear and blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement".

Katz's comments were also slammed by former Israeli minister and army chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who accused the government of "acting against the broad national consensus, during a critical period for Israel's national security".

On Thursday, several Israelis entered the Gaza Strip in defiance of army orders and held a symbolic flag-raising ceremony to call for the reoccupation and resettlement of the territory.

yif-glp-acc/jd/ser
Russian paramilitaries in CAR say take election threat 'extremely seriously'



Paris, France, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Russian private military contractors in the Central African Republic told AFP they took any threats to the upcoming elections in the volatile country "extremely seriously" and were ready to "repel any provocations".

The resource-rich former French colony is the last bastion of paramilitary group Wagner, which has established itself as one of the CAR government's main security partners in exchange for lucrative contracts to mine gold and diamonds.

Alexander Ivanov, head of Russian private contractors in the CAR, agreed to answer AFP's questions on the upcoming elections and current situation in the country.

Ivanov is under EU and US sanctions as the head of the Officers' Union for International Security (OUIS), an entity EU and US officials describe as a Wagner front company in the CAR.

Human rights campaigners have accused Wagner mercenaries of committing rights abuses including torture and killings in several countries, including in the CAR.

Ivanov claims his organisation has no links to Wagner but says the OUIS employs "highly experienced" Wagner fighters. He insisted that his organisation was "not PMC Wagner".

Ivanov said his group worked to ensure the elections on Sunday were conducted in "a peaceful and secure manner".

"Given the experience of previous elections, Russian specialists are taking this task extremely seriously and are preparing to repel any provocations," Ivanov told AFP in written comments received late Monday.

"At the moment, everything points to the possibility of peaceful and safe elections," he said.

"On the other hand, there are still small areas in the CAR -- mainly along the border -- where militants continue to operate, so the Central African defence and security forces, together with Russian military specialists, are on high alert."

On Sunday, the CAR will hold presidential, legislative, regional and local elections, capping a period of relative calm after years of instability and violence. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, 68, is expected to be re-elected.

Deployed at the request of Touadera to strengthen a ramshackle military, Wagner fighters have played a key role in ensuring stability in the strategically-located country.

Wagner was instrumental in 2020 when Touadera was last re-elected in a vote marred by allegations of fraud and an uprising by six rebel groups. The attempt to overthrow the government was pushed back due to the intervention of the Rwandan army and the Russian contractors.



- 'Wish them success' -



Ivanov declined to comment on talks with the Russian defence ministry, which has sought to replace Wagner in Africa following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in 2023.

Russia has put pressure on Bangui to swap the paramilitary fighters for the Africa Corps to coordinate its security operations on the continent.

"I cannot comment on the actions of the Africa Corps, but I would like to wish them success in ensuring peace for all those who need their help," Ivanov said.

He said ties between the two countries were "excellent".

"For the first time in the long history of armed conflict, Central Africans have the opportunity to stop fearing for their lives," Ivanov added.

In addition to training the army, the Russians have been helping disarm rebels, he said.

"Over the past year it has been possible to disarm about 2,000 militants," Ivanov said.

He said the group had received "letters of gratitude" from residents of towns including Batangafo and Boda and requests to help build hospitals or repair bridges.

The West has eyed new windows of opportunity in the CAR after Prigozhin's death. In late 2023, the US private security company Bancroft Global Development said it was in talks with the CAR government.

Ivanov said Russian contractors stand apart because they do not rely "on an abundance of heavy machinery and bureaucratic red tape, as is customary among American military specialists".

"The events of 2020 clearly showed that delay and sluggishness can cost a country dearly in times of crisis."
Lebanese soldier among those killed in Monday Israeli strike



Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



Lebanon's army said Tuesday a soldier was among those killed in an Israeli strike a day earlier and flatly denied the Israeli military's accusation that he was a Hezbollah operative.

Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group, which it accuses of rearming.

The Lebanese army said Sergeant Major Ali Abdullah had been killed on Monday "in an Israeli air strike that targeted a car he was in" near the southern city of Sidon.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency had said the strike killed three people.

The Israeli army said it had killed three Hezbollah operatives, adding in a statement Tuesday that "one of the terrorists eliminated during the strike simultaneously served in the Lebanese intelligence unit".

A Lebanese army official told AFP it was "not true" that the soldier was a Hezbollah member, calling Israel's claim "a pretext" to justify the attack.

The Lebanese military said in a statement that it "categorically denies" what it called "false and misleading information concerning the affiliation and loyalty of some military personnel" published by an "enemy" website.

Soldiers' loyalty to the army and to Lebanon "remains steadfast and firm", it added.

Lebanese Defence Minister Michel Menassa said reports alleging "the relationship of members of the military institution with political parties" and other bodies were "false and a malicious attack on the army".



- 'One sole loyalty' -



Lebanese army personnel "have one sole loyalty, which is to their homeland", he said in a statement.

"Calling into question the loyalty of members of the institution serves the enemies of Lebanon," he added.

Under heavy US pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south.

The army plans to complete the group's disarmament south of the Litani River -- about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border with Israel -- by year's end.

Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal told a military meeting on Tuesday "the army is in the process of finishing the first phase of its plan", and is carrying out the careful evaluation, study and planning "for the subsequent phases".

The latest strike came after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives on Friday took part in a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee for a second time, after holding their first direct talks in decades earlier this month.

The committee comprises representatives from Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

More than 340 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.
Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Dec. 23, 2025. The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to renew the authorization of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for another year, until Dec. 31, 2026. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to renew the authorization of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for another year, until Dec. 31, 2026.

Resolution 2809, which was adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, also reaffirms AUSSOM's tasks, as set out in Resolution 2767 of December 2024, which authorized AUSSOM for an initial period of 12 months.

Resolution 2809 authorizes the member states of the African Union to continue to deploy up to 11,826 uniformed personnel, including 680 police personnel, to AUSSOM during the authorized period.

The resolution emphasizes that additional support to AUSSOM and the Somali security forces is necessary to enable Somalia to bolster its fight against Al-Shabaab and improve peace and security in the country and the region. It urges traditional and new donors to support the mission by providing the necessary funding to enable the full implementation of its mandate. 
Libya's top military chief killed in plane crash in Turkey



Ankara, Dec 23 (AFP) Dec 23, 2025



The head of Libya's armed forces and four other passengers died on Tuesday when their business jet crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, officials in Turkey's capital and Tripoli said.

The wreckage of their Falcon 50 aircraft was located by Turkish security personnel in the Haymana district near Ankara, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said on his Facebook page: "It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army's chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad."

Al-Haddad earlier Tuesday held talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and was returning to Tripoli.

Yerlikaya said on X that al-Haddad's jet took off from Ankara's Esenboga airport at 1710 GMT, and "contact was lost" 42 minutes later.

The aircraft issued an emergency landing notification near Haymana -- 74 kilometres (45 miles) from Ankara -- but contact could not be reestablished, the minister said.

Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the Ankara chief prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incident.

Several Turkish media outlets broadcast images showing the sky lit up by an explosion not far from the location where the aircraft sent a signal.

Turkey has close ties with the UN-backed government in Tripoli, to which it provides economic and military support.

Walid Ellafi, Libyan minister of state for communication and political affairs, told local television channel Libya al-Ahrar that the Turkish government informed his government of the incident.

"We received a call from the Turkish authorities immediately after the incident, reporting that contact with the aircraft had been lost," the minister said.

"All contact with the aircraft was lost about half an hour after takeoff from Ankara airport due to a technical problem," he said.

"We are awaiting the conclusions of the Turkish investigation, and it appears that the plane crashed."

The minister said the others on the aircraft were al-Haddad's advisor, Mohammed Al-Assawi, as well as Major General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, Major General Mohammed Jumaa, and their escort, Mohammed Al-Mahjoub.

burs-fo/rmb/gv
Our request to Ofcom for changes to the news commitments in our licences, which they propose to accept, ensures the delivery of newsgathering and coverage right across Scotland on a sustainable basis for the company, and sees the expansion of our digital news service in response to changing news consumption.
The charge states he walked her to a childrens play area in the park, where he touched her sexually, before taking her to an area of bushes where he pulled down her lower clothes, seized hold of her legs and raped her. She was then subjected to an oral rape.
The structure is inspired by the legend of Ghillie Dhu, a mythical being once thought to inhabit woodland near Loch a Druing in the Highlands, and who is said to have guided a little girl to safety when she got lost while out foraging.
LONDON, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was arrested Tuesday in central London following her participation in a demonstration in support of Palestine Action hunger strikers.

City of London police said it has arrested a woman under the Terrorism Act for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organization.

Video circulated by the Prisoners for Palestine protest group shows Thunberg holding a sign reading, "I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide," outside the London offices of Aspen Insurance, which the group claimed to be insurers for Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems.

Images and video clips also showed supporters sprayed red paint and hunger strikers blockade the company's entrance.

The campaigner was deported by Israel in June after she and 11 other activists were detained by Israeli forces while attempting to breach the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip aboard an aid boat.

In July, Members of Parliament voted to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group after its members broke into Royal Air Force Brize Norton in June. 
The Earth is seen in the background as Starlink communications satellites are deployed from the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket. The image was provided by SpaceX after a 2023 mission. SpaceX

Two NATO-nation intelligence services suspect Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon to target Elon Musks Starlink constellation with destructive orbiting clouds of shrapnel with the aim of reining in the Western space superiority that has helped Ukraine on the battlefield.

Intelligence findings seen by the Associated Press say the so-called zone-effect weapon would seek to flood Starlink orbits with hundreds of thousands of high-density pellets, potentially disabling multiple satellites at once and risking catastrophic collateral damage to other orbiting systems.

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Analysts who havent seen the findings say they doubt such a weapon could work without causing uncontrollable chaos in space for companies and countries, including Russia and its ally China, that rely on thousands of orbiting satellites for communications, defense and other vital needs.

Such repercussions, including risks to its own space systems, could steer Moscow away from deploying or using such a weapon, analysts said.

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I dont buy it. Like, I really dont, said Victoria Samson, a space-security specialist at the Secure World Foundation who leads the Colorado-based nongovernmental organizations annual study of anti-satellite systems. I would be very surprised, frankly, if they were to do something like that.

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But the commander of the Canadian militarys Space Division, Brig. Gen. Christopher Horner, said such Russian work cannot be ruled out in light of previous U.S. allegations that Russia also has been pursuing an indiscriminate nuclear, space-based weapon.

I cant say Ive been briefed on that type of system. But its not implausible, he said. If the reporting on the nuclear weapons system is accurate and that theyre willing to develop that and willing to go to that end, well it wouldnt strike me as shocking that something just short of that, but equally damaging, is within their wheelhouse of development.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt respond to messages seeking comment. Russia has previously called for United Nations efforts to stop the orbital deployment of weapons and President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear space weapons.

Multiple targets

The intelligence findings were shown to the AP on condition that the services involved were not identified. The news organization was not able to independently verify the findings conclusions.

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The U.S. Space Force didnt respond to e-mailed questions. The French militarys Space Command said in a statement that it could not comment on the findings but said, We can inform you that Russia has, in recent years, been multiplying irresponsible, dangerous, and even hostile actions in space.

Russia views Starlink in particular as a grave threat, the findings indicate. The thousands of low-orbiting satellites have been pivotal for Ukraines survival against Russias full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year.

Starlinks high-speed internet service is used by Ukrainian forces for battlefield communications, weapons targeting and other roles and by civilians and government officials where Russian strikes have affected communications.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off in November 2023 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This view is from Merritt Island, Fla. The rocket was carrying 23 Starlink satellites. Intelligence suggests the Elon Musk-led company is being targeted by Russia. Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today

As its most profitable business, Starlink is also key to Texas-based SpaceX, which operates the company. It did not respond to a request for comment.

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Russian officials repeatedly have warned that commercial satellites serving Ukraines military could be legitimate targets. This month, Russia said it has fielded a new ground-based missile system, the S-500, which is capable of hitting low-orbit targets.

Unlike a missile that Russia tested in 2021 to destroy a defunct Cold War-era satellite, the new weapon in development would target multiple Starlinks at once, with pellets possibly released by yet-to-be launched formations of small satellites, the intelligence findings say.

Canadas Horner said it is hard to see how clouds of pellets could be corralled to only strike Starlink and that debris from such an attack could get out of control in a hurry.

You blow up a box full of BBs, he said. Doing that would blanket an entire orbital regime and take out every Starlink satellite and every other satellite thats in a similar regime. And I think thats the part that is incredibly troubling.

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Experimental system?

The findings seen by the AP didnt say when Russia might be capable of deploying such a system nor detail whether it has been tested or how far along research is believed to be.

The system is in active development and information about the timing of an expected deployment is too sensitive to share, according to an official familiar with the findings and other related intelligence that the AP did not see. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the nonpublic findings.

Such Russian research could be simply experimental, Samson said.

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I wouldnt put it past some scientists  to build out something like this because its an interesting thought experiment and they think, you know, Maybe at some point we can get our government to pay for it,  she said.

Samson suggested the specter of a supposed new Russian threat may also be an effort to elicit an international response.

Oftentimes people pushing these ideas are doing it because they want the U.S. side to build something like that or  to justify increased spending on counterspace capabilities or using it for a more hawkish approach on Russia, she said.

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Im not saying that this is whats happening with this, Samson added. But it has been known to happen that people take these crazy arguments and use them.

Difficult to detect

The intelligence findings say the pellets would be so small  just millimeters across  that they would evade detection by ground- and space-based systems that scan for space objects, making it hard to pin blame for any attack on Moscow.

Clayton Swope, who specializes in space security and weaponry at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based security and policy think tank, said that if the pellets are not trackable, that complicates things but people would figure it out.

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The exterior of a Starlink manufacturing facility, a subsidiary of Elon Musks SpaceX, is seen in September 2024 in Bastrop. Christopher Lee/San Antonio Express-News file photo

If satellites start winking out with damage, I guess you could put two and two together, he said.

Exactly how much destruction tiny pellets could do isnt clear. In November, a suspected impact by a small piece of debris was sufficient to damage a Chinese spacecraft that was meant to bring three astronauts back to Earth.

Most damage would probably be done to the solar panels because theyre probably the most fragile part of satellites, Swope said. Thatd be enough, though, to damage a satellite and probably bring it offline.

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Weapon of fear

After such an attack, pellets and debris would over time fall back toward Earth, possibly damaging other orbiting systems on their way down, analysts say.

Starlinks orbits are about 340 miles above the planet. Chinas Tiangong space station and the International Space Station operate at lower orbits, so both would face risks, according to Swope.

The space chaos that such a weapon could cause might enable Moscow to threaten its adversaries without actually having to use it, Swope said.

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It definitely feels like a weapon of fear, looking for some kind of deterrence or something, he said.

Samson said the drawbacks of an indiscriminate pellet-weapon could steer Russia off such a path.

Theyve invested a huge amount of time and money and human power into being, you know, a space power, she said.

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Senate Bill 2420, set to take effect Jan. 1, would require app stores to verify users ages and limit access for those under 18, a mandate that tech groups and students are challenging in federal court. Patrick Semansky/Associated Press file photo

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Texas law that would require app stores to verify users ages and impose restrictions on those under 18.

Saying the law likely violates free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted an injunction Tuesday against Senate Bill 2420, known as the App Store Accountability Act. It was to have taken effect Jan. 1. His decision came after a hearing Dec. 16 in Austin.

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U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman speaks to the San Antonio Express-News editorial board in late 2015. San Antonio Express-News file photo

The act is akin to a law that would require every bookstore to verify the age of every customer at the door and, for minors, require parental consent before the child or teen could enter and again when they try to purchase a book, Pitman wrote.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said hed appeal the ruling.

The request for injunction stemmed from two lawsuits filed in October challenging the act. The suits  filed by the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, along with two Texas teens  argue the laws content-based restrictions violate free speech rights and pose privacy and safety risks.

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It would require app stores to ensure users are over 18 or obtain parental consent before allowing them to download or purchase an app. The law, which has exceptions for emergency service and test-prep apps, would also require new users to submit a government-issued ID to verify their ages and secure parental or guardian consent for minors to create an account.

Tech companies like Apple Inc. and Google parent Alphabet Inc. objected to the law, calling it a violation of privacy and security and saying it would impact all apps, including those dedicated to weather, news or sports.

When Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 2420 in May, he said it would help protect children who are trapped by predators into situations beyond their control.

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Its passage came shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of another Texas law requiring pornography websites to verify that users are over the age of 18 either by uploading a government-issued ID or through a third-party age-verification system.

Pitman said he granted the injunction because the laws content-based restrictions require the highest level of judicial review to determine whether the act violates the First Amendment.

In doing so, he sided with the Computer & Communications Industry Association and the student plaintiffs, agreeing that the content-based nature of the law poses threats to freedom of speech.

Brian Willen, an attorney for the industry association, said in last weeks hearing that what he referred to as the boa constrictor statute was unconstitutional because it imposes wildly overbroad limits on app stores, which he said function like shopping malls or libraries. He argued that SB 2420, unlike the law aimed at pornography sites, lacks wording that limits its reach to unprotected speech.

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This order stops the Texas App Store Accountability Act from taking effect in order to preserve the First Amendment rights of app stores, app developers, parents and younger internet users, Stephanie Joyce, the associations senior vice president and chief of staff, said in a statement Tuesday. It also protects parents inviolate right to use their own judgment in safeguarding their children online using the myriad tools our members provide

Pitmans 20-page order closely tracked some language in the students lawsuit.

Just as the government could not compel a bookstore to screen patrons and stop minors from purchasing any book without parental approval, the state cannot ban minors from downloading digital content through app stores or within apps without parental consent, their suit says.

The state, however, argued last week that the law was formed to safeguard the mental health and well-being of Texas children and that the law was purposely vague and all encompassing to avoid the content-based, strict scrutiny arguments.

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Paxtons office did not respond to a request for comment on the ruling but later filed a notice of appeal.

Pitman said that while the law is more likely than not unconstitutional, he sees the importance of safeguarding children from the mental health ramifications of smartphones and other mobile devices.

Many parents, educators, researchers and mental health professionals have sounded the alarm that children are spending too much time on their phones, scrolling social media or playing games that are often designed to encourage prolonged use, instead of interacting in real life, he wrote.

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Pitman, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, previously granted temporary injunctions in a pair of challenges to another Texas age-restriction law. That law, the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act, or SCOPE, requires social media companies to put in place various protections for users under 18. In those injunctions, which the state has since appealed, Pitman said the law restricts overly broad categories that could extend into advocacy conversations and blocks the democratic exchange of views online.
NXP Semiconductors, a Dutch chipmaker, is reportedly planning to sell its longtime Austin campus amid a workforce reduction.

A Dutch chipmaker is planning to sell its Austin campus, long home to its U.S. headquarters, amid a workforce reduction of undisclosed size.

NXP Semiconductors NV plans to market the 155-acre campus in southwest Austin, according to unidentified sources cited by the Austin Business Journal.

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NXP moved to the campus  which houses some of the companys corporate, research and development and manufacturing operations  in 2015 after it acquired Freescale Semiconductor, a Motorola spinoff.

The news comes after former NXP employees posted on social media that the company had laid off some of its workforce.

As of Monday, NXP had not filed notice with the Texas Workforce Commission, but the company said earlier this month it had commenced a focused reduction of roles in Austin that fell below the threshold triggering the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

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The company declined to specify how many roles had been cut.

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Along with its headquarters at 6501 W. William Cannon Drive, NXP has a roughly 960,000-square-foot facility in East Austin at 3949 Ed Bluestein Blvd. The company once had about 4,000 employees between the two campuses, although several rounds of layoffs have occurred since that figure was reported.

NXP is reportedly looking for new office spaces as it transitions from its Oak Hill campus. In a statement to the Austin Business Journal, the company said it is exploring options for a new office space driven by the need to modernize and create a vibrant environment that enhances how we work and engage.

Neither NXP Semiconductors nor its brokers responded to multiple calls and emails seeking comment.

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The headquarters sale marks a sharp turnaround from a few years ago, when NXP planned expansions at its two Austin campuses, aided in part by $291 million in incentives approved by Austin City Council. That agreement was terminated earlier this year.
Smokey Mos BBQ off I-35 in Round Rock, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Smokey Mos BBQ is denying allegations of unsanitary practices made in a lawsuit filed in November by a former employee, calling the claims unsubstantiated.

The 55-page lawsuit, filed Nov. 10 in Williamson County by former employee John Wantz, alleges that Smokey Mos BBQ ignored months of warnings about rodent activity at multiple locations. Wantz, who worked in IT, also alleged the company retaliated against him when he escalated his concerns. The lawsuit primarily targets two Smokey Mos locations  one in Liberty Hill and another at 1601 S. Interstate 35 in Round Rock.

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A spokesperson for Smokey Mos told the American-Statesman that the claims are contradictory to documented facts, and motivated by personal grievances.

Smokey Mos provided the Statesman with invoices from Ecolab, a pest control company. Reports from July, August, September and October state there was no rodent activity during the companys monthly inspections, but they repeatedly flagged structural issues that could allow pests to enter and noted sanitation concerns  observations that mirror Williamson County health inspection reports from October and November.

A July Ecolab report cited a gap beneath a rear door, while reports from August, September and October noted standing water on the kitchen floor and floor drains in need of cleaning.

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In the most recent Ecolab report provided, dated Oct. 2, inspectors also noted a gap in a kitchen ceiling tile and recommended Smokey Mos seal it to prevent pest entry or harborage. That report came after a routine county health inspection on Sept. 8, during which an inspector similarly recommended sealing doorway gaps and ensuring the restaurants rear door remained closed during operating hours.

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However, a mid-October visit by Williamson County health officials documented findings beyond those noted in earlier inspections. According to that report, staff removed a rat from the restaurants lobby on Oct. 7. The inspector also found rodent droppings beneath the customer drink station, under a hand-washing sink near the managers office and on the floor near a back food-preparation station. No live rodents were observed, but the inspector advised staff to remove the droppings, clean and sanitize affected areas and continue sealing gaps.

A follow-up inspection on Nov. 7 reported similar conditions. The inspector again observed gaps in rear doorways and small amount of rodent droppings near the oven area, as well as open snap traps in back preparation areas, according to the report.

Smokey Mos said that between October and November, it stopped using Ecolab and began working with a pest control company contracted by the building owner. The company shared with the Statesman the text of an email from Prater Pest Solutions dated Nov. 13, which stated there were no new rodent catches in the false ceiling and no new activity or catches in the living space of the kitchen, food prep or front of the house areas.

The sanitation was very good and I did not find any food debris or sanitation deficiencies, company owner Greg Prater wrote in the email.

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Smokey Mo's provided the Statesman with invoices from two work orders from Prater in November. Both are labeled as "follow up inspections," with the Nov. 13 report echoing the text of Prater's email from the same day. The Nov. 29 report states the inspector "prepositioned [sic] traps and cameras locations since there was no motion from cameras or catches."

The restaurant chain also disputed Wantzs allegation that he witnessed an overnight extermination operation at the Round Rock location on Oct. 19. A spokesperson said the work was a ceiling replacement project, not an extermination. Wantz has claimed construction workers told him more than 150 rats were killed and about 30 live rodents escaped. Smokey Mos provided the Statesman with a statement from Leo Velarde, CEO of Silo Development Group, which said, in part, we wouldnt even know how to exterminate one rat, much less 150, and added that workers found nothing out of the ordinary.

Smokey Mos also rejected Wantzs claim that he is owed mileage reimbursement. The company said Wantz agreed to a contract consulting role after he was terminated from his full-time position in August, and that the consulting contract explicitly excluded mileage reimbursement.

In the lawsuit, Wantz alleged his reassignment from a full-time role was retaliatory. The company disputes that claim, saying Wantz was terminated for lack of performance and later resigned from his consulting role.

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According to emails provided by Smokey Mos, Wantz and company president Craig Haley later disputed how much money Wantz was owed. Wantz claimed Haley promised reimbursement and alleged the denial was retaliation for raising concerns about rodents. Haley, in turn, wrote that Wantzs accusations were inaccurate and said he believed Wantz was attempting to coerce the company into paying him.

Once again, we are not negotiating this. You take the $5,000 or you will receive nothing today or in the future, Haley wrote in one email. A spokesperson for Smokey Mos said final payment for Wantzs consulting work was wired on Nov. 5, with mileage denied per contract terms.

Smokey Mos strictly abided by the terms of the contract with Wantz, the company said in a statement. Claims of retaliation are completely erroneous.

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In response to a November report by the Statesman, the restaurant also clarified that while nearly 500 turkeys were prepared at the Round Rock location, that amount represented roughly 20% of the chains total of 2,200 Thanksgiving turkeys.
Hays County sheriff's office Austin American Statesman

An arrest has been made in a drive-by shooting that seriously injured a homeowner in Kyle last month, Hays County officials said.

Authorities say Abraham Herrera, who was already in custody in connection with a separate drive-by shooting in Martindale, is now accused of the Nov. 3 shooting in Kyle after Texas Rangers analyzed digital evidence and ballistic testing tied shell casings from the shooting to an AR-style rifle seized from him.

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Deputies were called to the 500 block of Santa Fe Run in Kyle during the early morning hours Nov. 3 after reports of gunfire. Investigators said the homeowner was asleep inside the residence when multiple rounds were fired into the house, seriously injuring the victim. Shell casings were later recovered from the roadway outside the home.

Nine days later, on Nov. 12, Herrera was arrested in an unrelated shooting investigation, during which deputies seized an AR-style, authorities said.

Investigators say they were later alerted on Dec. 1 to a similar drive-by shooting in Martindale that occured the weekend after Thanksgiving. Herrera was identified as a suspect in that case and was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, authorities said.

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Digital evidence provided by the Texas Rangers helped link Herrera to both shootings, according to authorities. A warrant issued by the Rangers led to Herreras arrest by the Hays County Sheriffs Office on Friday, authorities said.

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Investigators later confirmed that shell casings recovered from the Kyle shooting matched the AR-style rifle previously seized from Herrera, authorities said.

On Tuesday, Herrera was formally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a first-degree felony. He remains in custody at the Hays County Jail, with bail set at $250,000 for the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge, according to court records.

The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Martindale Police Department, the Texas Rangers, the Austin Police Department and the Hays County Sheriffs Office.
Louisa Sizemore is grateful to the team at Texas Children's Hospital in Austin who performed a fetal blood transfusion when she was 28 weeks pregnant with Adelaide. Nicole Villalpando/American-Statesman

Louisa Sizemore knew something was wrong with her preschool son, Darwin, when his cheeks turned bright red. It looked like he had been slapped in the face, a tell-tale sign of fifth disease.

The disease, caused by parvovirus B19, is common in preschoolers. Most adults have been exposed at some point. It is usually not serious, and the cheek rash and flu-like symptoms typically go away in a few days. It's called fifth disease because it was once the fifth condition listed in a series of childhood viruses with rash as a symptom.

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A call to Sizemore's pediatrician's office confirmed her suspicion. While her son was cleared to go to school once he was fever-free, Sizemore was told the virus is really only dangerous for someone who is pregnant and exposed to the virus.

Sizemore, who lives in New Braunfels, was then pregnant with her daughter, Adelaide. Unlike most adults, Sizemore had not had fifth disease as a child and did not have any antibodies of the disease to protect her from infection.

Her obstetrician began looking for signs that her baby was in danger, such as fluid buildup or reduced blood flow to the brain or the baby was becoming anemic. Fifth disease can cause miscarriages, still births and organ problems in babies.

Louisa Sizemore is grateful for her daughter Adelaide's life after they were both exposed to fifth disease during the pregnancy. Provided by Louisa Sizemore

Sizemore's routine blood test came back with a low platelet count. Immediately Sizemore was referred to maternal fetal interventionist Dr. Cara Buskmiller at Texas Children's Hospital in Austin. The hospital, which opened in February 2024, has been building a fetal medicine program.

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It has started doing fetal blood transfusions, fetal surgeries and fetal surgeries during delivery. Some of the surgeries, like putting a shunt into a blocked bladder of a fetus, means the baby will survive because the lungs now have room to grow. That condition is no longer fatal at birth.

"We are returning people to normal," said Dr. Matias Bruzoni, director of pediatric surgery at the hospital.

In January, it intends to begin doing fetal spina bifida surgeries to repair the hole in the spine before birth to preserve the nerve function, improving the odds that some children will be able to walk.

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Fetal surgery "is one of the most advanced technologies we offer in this hospital," said Dr. Jeffrey Shilt, the president of Texas Children's Austin hospital.

Dr. Matias Bruzoni, Dr. Cara Buskmiller and Dr. Daxa Patel demonstrate at Texas Children's Hospital in Austin how they will perform a fetal spina bifida surgery using a model uterus. Nicole Villalpando/American-Statesman

Fifth disease had now made Sizemore's baby anemic. Buskmiller and the team would need to do a fetal blood transfusion. "They were able to explain everything in a way I could understand," Sizemore said.

At the time, Sizemore was 28 weeks pregnant. The team decided to do two days of giving steroids to improve the baby's lung function in case the transfusion was not successful, or if there were complications and they needed to delivery the baby early.

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Sizemore said she realized how serious it was when she saw how many people were in the operating room. Using ultrasound and cameras to guide them, a needle is inserted into the mother's abdomen until it reaches the uterus, makes its way through the placenta and then into the baby. The mother usually has local anesthesia and the baby is given some anesthesia and both are monitored throughout the procedure.

"It went beautifully," Sizemore said. She remembers feeling "relief and gratitude" after the procedure successfully treated the anemia.

Today, Adelaide  nicknamed Lulu by her brother  is a healthy 7-month-old. "She's an absolute delight," Sizemore said.

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Travelers wait for an elevator while the adjacent lift is marked out-of-service in the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Frances Thompson thought she was just heading down to catch an Uber.

Instead, she and her husband spent about 30 minutes trapped in an elevator at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport one August night earlier this year  until the Austin Fire Department pulled them out.

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Travelers wait for an elevator in the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman A sign points travelers to the elevators in the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Only one of two elevators is open in the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman An out-of-service elevator in the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Their flight from Chicago had just landed, and they were riding an elevator in the airports rental car facility when it abruptly stopped. None of the buttons worked.

It just didn't go anywhere, Thompson said. My husband probably pressed the alarm button 1,000 times. He was really irate, kind of wigging out.

With no response coming, Thompson called 911.

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While it was a first-time experience for the Thompsons, such an occurrence is far from rare. In fact, the airport is by far the place you are most likely to get trapped in an elevator in Austin.

Thats according to a new American-Statesman analysis of Austin Fire Department records, which examined all incidents where the department reported code 353 Removal of victim(s) from stalled elevator between Jan. 1, 2022 and Aug. 31, 2025. (The Statesman chose not to examine earlier data because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and other human movement.)

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A traveler heads into the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

The analysis found the top 10 places with the highest number of elevator rescues are  like the airport  all high-traffic facilities where elevators work overtime: hotels, hospitals and dense campus-area apartment towers.

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But the airport was the worst by far with 182 elevator incidents since 2022 about one per week on average. The most common rescue location was the rental car facility building, the same one where Thompson got stuck.

As a 24/7 facility that welcomes more than 20 million customers a year and thousands of employees each day, elevator service interruption is to be expected, airport spokesperson Kimmie Hey said in a written statement.

Hey also noted the city isn't responsible for maintaining the elevators in the rental car facility; that would be the building tenant, but she did not identify the tenant or respond to a follow-up question by deadline asking for a name.

Coming in at number two on the list was St. David's Medical Center on 32nd Street where firefighters responded to 56 elevator emergencies. CEO Todd Stewart said the hospital is actively addressing the issue, having replaced eight out of 10 elevator bays since 2023 as part of a project that will wrap up next year.

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"[W]e remain committed to ensuring our infrastructure meets the high-volume needs of our medical center," he said in a written statement.

Here's the full Top 10 list of places in Austin with the most elevator rescues in recent years:

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, multiple addresses St. David's Medical Center, 919 E. 32nd St. Callaway House, 505 W. 22nd St. JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. Villas on Rio, 2111 Rio Grande St. The Standard at Austin, 715 W. 23rd St. Ascension Seton Medical Center, 1201 W. 38th St. Union on 24th, 701 W. 24th St. Aloft Austin Downtown, 109 E. 7th St. Yugo Austin Waterloo, 2400 Seton Ave.

An out-of-service elevator in the rental car parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dec. 17, 2025. The airport is the location of the most elevator rescues in Austin since 2022, with the parking garage elevators accounting for a large proportion. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Five of the top 10 are high-rise apartment buildings in West Campus, an area dense with students and new construction. Four of those buildings were completed within the last four years.

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Callaway House, which opened in 2013, is the oldest of the group and came in at number three on the list.

At times, elevator service interruptions may occur when elevators are unintentionally overloaded, triggering built-in safety features that result in temporary shutdowns, a Callaway spokesperson said. When this happens, we work promptly with licensed service technicians and the local fire department to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.

Isabella Luna, a spokesperson for The Standard, another West Campus high-rise on the list that opened in 2022, said the property takes "elevator-related incidents very seriously" and is currently "conducting a comprehensive evaluation of recent incidents and working closely with our service providers to identify any additional improvements."

The JW Marriott Austin, which also recently topped the Statesman's top alcohol sellers list, had the most elevator rescues of any hotel in the city.

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"We strive to achieve zero incidents, and when an incident does occur, the majority are brief and resolved quickly," said Mike Banas, spokesperson for White Lodging, the company that manages the hotel.

The top offenders list came as no surprise to Allyn Ann Campbell, vice president for Central Texas at elevator service company Metro Elevator, who noted that places with heavy, constant elevator use are more likely to experience problems.

In an airport, for instance, those elevators get banged up pretty good, Campbell said. Their usage is a little bit more wear and tear than you would see in a class A office building.

Campbell said there are a ton of different reasons elevators stall but that deferred preventative maintenance is the most common.

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Shutdowns occur with small issues  and potentially large ones  but mostly when small issues go unaddressed over time, she said, noting that preventative maintenance should be handled by licensed technicians rather than building staff.

Other common causes of elevator outages include power fluctuations, heat and humidity, normal wear and tear and passenger behavior such as overloading, according to Campbell. When elevator systems detect something abnormal, she said they stop.

Campbells latter point is a big contributing factor to elevator stoppages at the Austin airport, according to Hey.

These interruptions are frustrating to affected employees or travelers, but they are caused by sensitive safety triggers that stop the cab for a multitude of reasons rather than allowing it to operate under sub-optimal conditions, she said in her statement.

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The reasons dont matter much to Thompson, who says her trust in the airport elevators is gone.

My husband and I have a pact now: Well never, ever, ever take those elevators, Thompson said.

Editors note: The American-Statesman reached out to every business on the list to request comment. Responses from the five that replied by deadline are included below.
Senate Bill 2420, set to take effect Jan. 1, would require app stores to verify users ages and limit access for those under 18, a mandate that tech groups and students are challenging in federal court. Patrick Semansky/Associated Press file photo

A federal judge has blocked a new Texas law aimed at shielding minors from inappropriate online content from taking effect as scheduled on Jan. 1, ruling that it likely violates First Amendment free speech rights.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said in a 20-page ruling that the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which filed a lawsuit against the legislation enacted this year, is likely to succeed at trial. But Pitman also made clear that the intent of the legislation, Senate Bill 2420, was sound.

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"(T)he Court recognizes the broad support for protecting children when they use apps," Pitman wrote. "But the means to achieve that end must

be consistent with the First Amendment."

Under SB 2024, app stores would be required to verify users' age before they can create an account. It also says that minors' account must be affiliated with a parents account and that a parent must consent before a minor can download or make purchases through the use of an app.
Members of the Texas Supreme Court are joined by members of the Texas Senate as they watch a session of the 89th Legislative Session on the first day, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

Two would-be candidates for the Texas Supreme Court have been denied access to the Republican primary ballot after separate courts on Monday upheld the state GOP's decision to reject their applications because they lacked the required petition signatures.

The rulings pave the way for Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock and Justice Brett Busby to run unopposed in the March 3 election.

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Former Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith had filed to challenge Blacklock and David Rogers, a member of the city council in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville, had planned to oppose Busby.

READ MORE: James Talarico seeks to carve out Democratic edge in South Texas

Under state GOP rules, candidates for the Supreme Court must submit at least 50 valid signatures from qualified voters from each of the state's 15 appeals court districts. The party ruled that neither candidate had met that standard in at least some of the districts.

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The pair filed separate lawsuits challenging the state party's authority to determine how candidates gain access to the primary ballot.

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The Texas Supreme Court shot down Smith's challenge, saying his arguments were "threadbare" and that had he not waited until the final day for filing his candidacy, he might have been able to satisfy the party's requirements for ballot access. Neither Blacklock nor Busby participated in the ruling, which was unsigned.

In the other case, state District Judge Amy Clark Meachum of Travis County last week temporarily paused the party's decision denying Rogers' request for access to the primary ballot, but on Monday affirmed the GOP's right to set its own rules on such matters.

The Supreme Court's ruling was another in a series of political setbacks over the past two decades for Smith. In 2002, Smith won a special election to fill out the final two years of a vacated seat on the high court, defeating an establishment Republican in the primary who had been appointed by then-Gov. Rick Perry.

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Two years later, Smith was defeated in the primary. He lost a comeback bid in 2006. A decade later, he came in third in a four-candidate GOP primary field for a seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Li Yaohong, the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, speaks during the celebration marking the 15th anniversary of the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Dec. 23, 2025. The hospital, also known as Lekma Hospital, on Tuesday marked the 15th anniversary of its establishment here.(Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The China-Ghana Friendship Hospital, also known as Lekma Hospital,on Tuesday marked the 15th anniversary of its establishment in Accra,the capital of Ghana.

Li Yaohong, the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, lauded the hospital for its imprints on Ghana's healthcare landscape, growing from a general healthcare facility into a regional medical center with strong multidisciplinary capabilities.

Li noted that the Chinese embassy is working closely with the government of Ghana to upgrade the hospital's facilities and equipment to an advanced level consistent with leading hospitals in the country.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold our shared commitment to building a global community of healthcare for all, deepening cooperation, and promoting shared development," he pledged.

Robert Amesiya, acting regional director of Health Services, said,"The impact of the hospital and the Chinese medical teams on the lives of the people in the catchment area is worth celebrating."

He noted that the hospital is strategically located and takes care of over 100,000 patients, which makes it a very important health facility for Ghana. 

Robert Amesiya, acting regional director of Health Services, speaks during the celebration marking the 15th anniversary of the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Dec. 23, 2025. The hospital, also known as Lekma Hospital, on Tuesday marked the 15th anniversary of its establishment here.(Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

A nurse conducts a medical checkup for a baby at the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Dec. 23, 2025. The hospital, also known as Lekma Hospital, on Tuesday marked the 15th anniversary of its establishment here.(Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
Afghan refugees gather to talk about problems they encounter that affect their ability to work, live and stay in the United States at the Afghan Community Centern San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. Marvin Pfeiffer/San Antonio Express-News

Welcoming Afghan refugees used to be a rare point of unity for Republicans and Democrats.

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But in the aftermath of a deadly shooting last month, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and his GOP challenger, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, are abandoning their past support for resettling Afghan nationals, many of whom helped the U.S. in its longstanding war against the Taliban.

Cornyn, a Republican who once touted his work on a 2021 law that smoothed out the vetting process for Afghan allies seeking special visas, has since deleted his offices press release celebrating the effort.

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Hunt, who when asked about visas in 2024 told NOTUS that we should be loyal back to all of the Afghans who were loyal to us, recently introduced legislation to shutter a visa program for Afghans who worked for U.S. forces.

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The shifting positions come as the two men are vying with Attorney General Ken Paxton for an endorsement from President Donald Trump, who has recently made the Afghan community a top target in his bid to crack down on immigration.

Republicans have been divided over how to respond to an attack last month in Washington D.C. that left one West Virginia National Guard member dead and another in critical condition. The man accused of carrying out the attack is an Afghan refugee who previously served in a CIA-backed paramilitary unit in Afghanistan.

Trump has lashed out at Afghans and frozen all pending immigration benefit requests, including for visas, green cards, work permits and citizenship. He also ordered the federal government to review green cards issued during the Biden administration.

But others, including the George W. Bush Presidential Center and Rep. Michael McCaul, have urged officials not to turn their backs on Afghans, saying they are in danger at home because of their work with U.S. forces.

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The credo in the military is No man left behind, and we promised them that we will protect them, McCaul said in a video with Navy veteran Shawn VanDiver, head of refugee advocacy group AfghanEvac, on Dec. 11. Yet we failed in that duty.

Shifting positions

Cornyn co-sponsored a 2021 law, known as the HOPE for Afghan SIVs Act, which allowed evacuees to complete the medical exam required to obtain a special immigrant visa in the U.S. instead of in Afghanistan, where access to clinics was limited, dangerous, and costly. Applying for an SIV is the first step on the pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who worked for the U.S. government, a process which Congress created in 2008.

After all the crucial assistance Afghan translators gave our servicemen and women during the War on Terror, its important that we make sure these heroes are able to efficiently immigrate to the United States to start a new life, Cornyn said in a press release at the time. The HOPE for Afghan SIVs Act will remove one hurdle that prevents them from quickly escaping the dangers they face in Afghanistan due to their service to our troops.

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Hunt, a Houston Republican and Army veteran who joined Congress in 2023, said he supported efforts to bring allies to the U.S. Speaking to NOTUS last year about a bipartisan effort to increase special visas for Afghan allies by 12,000, he said, However many people were loyal to us and helped us, we should be loyal back to them.

I dont know what that number is, but that needs to be the number, he added.

Since the recent attack, Hunt has laid blame on Cornyn, saying the HOPE Act paved the way for policies that allowed Afghan evacuees to enter the country and gave way to the shooting. He also filed legislation that would terminate the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, cancel pending applications, mandate security reassessment of current visa holders and provide for removal of individuals found ineligible or a threat to national security.

John Cornyn worked with President Joe Biden to get his bill, the HOPE Act, signed into law in 2021, which let 50,000 unvetted Afghans into America, Hunt said. Five years later, a Muslim terrorist entered this country with a Cornyn visa and murdered a National Guardswoman.

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The accused gunman, however, entered the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration initiative, and was then granted asylum during the Trump administration, according to reports from CBS and the New York Times. Theres no evidence that he was granted a special immigrant visa. National Public Radio reported he had an active application underway.

Hunt was not yet a Congressman when lawmakers voted on Cornyns HOPE Act.

Cornyn recently deleted the press release about the legislation from his website, a move his office declined to explain on the record to Hearst Newspapers. In response to questions about Hunts attacks, a spokesperson for Cornyn pointed Hearst to the senators recent comments supporting Trumps immigration freeze and denying that Congress had any responsibility for letting Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the alleged gunman, into the country.

This shooter was not admitted to the United States as a result of any legislation that Congress passed or any of us voted for. It was solely done by the Biden administration and by the Department of Homeland Security, during his administration, he said on the Senate floor Dec. 3.

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While he didnt respond to Hearsts questions, Cornyn told Politico last week that he doesnt have any confidence in the SIV program because of vetting issues.

Last week, Cornyn sent a letter to Marco Rubio, the national security adviser, echoing concerns he raised a year ago about the vetting process for Afghans and urging the administration to reassess the systems used during the 2021 evacuation. The letter cited inspector general reports that found gaps in biometric screening and warned that federal agencies had not adequately tracked evacuees later flagged for potential security concerns. The senators called on the administration to identify such individuals and to pursue their removal to Afghanistan or third countries.

On the campaign trail, hes gone after Hunt and Paxton on the issue.

On Dec. 8, Cornyn's campaign published a video advertisement falsely claiming that Hunt said there should be no limit to incoming Afghan refugees and saying that Ken Paxtons office sent millions to groups helping them stay.

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A spokesperson for Cornyns campaign, Matt Mackowiak, pointed Hearst to the $48,000 in funds that the Texas Attorney Generals Office paid to the Tahirih Justice Center while the nonprofit was running its Afghan Asylum Project in 2021 and 2022. The organization, which serves women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, received more than $250,000 in total from the OAG from 2016 through 2022, records from the state Comptroller show. That year, Paxton halted the grants and began investigating the group to determine whether it was supporting illegal immigration.

Paxtons campaign did not respond to Hearsts request for comment by our deadline.

While the campaigns traded barbs in past weeks, some immigrants who worked for U.S. forces told Hearst they cant afford to wait any longer for clarity on pending green card applications, as their four years of temporary legal status have made it difficult to find and sustain work.

Refugee advocates and immigration experts also caution that Afghan evacuees were subject to multiple layers of screening and warn against conflating a single crime with an entire population. Many have pushed back against the idea that further vetting could have prevented the Nov. 27 attack.

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"This violent act does not reflect the Afghan community, which continues to contribute across the United States and undergoes some of the most extensive vetting of any immigrant population," nonprofit group AfghanEvac said in a statement to NPR.
Military personnel in uniform, with the Texas National Guard patch on, are seen at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Elwood, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. Erin Hooley/Associated Press

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected President Donald Trumps request to deploy the Texas National Guard to Chicago, siding with officials from the city and Illinois who argued the show of force was an unprecedented intrusion on state rights.

In a 6-3 order, a coalition of liberal and conservative justices found that protests at an immigration facility in Chicago did not justify the extraordinary use of military power to enforce domestic statutes. The decision upholds the rulings of two lower courts.

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The Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois, the unsigned majority opinion said.

Three conservative justicesSamuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented. Alito and Thomas argued the Court should have deferred to Trumps judgment that the National Guard was necessary, and said their colleagues discounted evidence of violence against federal agents. Gorsuch wrote a separate, two-page dissent stating the majority overreached in its opinion.

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Whatever one may think about the current administrations enforcement of the immigration laws or the way ICE has conducted its operations, the protection of federal officers from potentially lethal attacks should not be thwarted, Alito wrote.

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The decision marks a major blow to the Trump administration, which had sought to activate 300 Illinois National Guard members and 400 Texas National Guard members to guard an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in the Chicago suburb despite objections from state and local officials who said no emergency existed to justify the troops presence.

Texas soldiers deployed to the city in October. But their activity was largely restricted by the legal battle, and they were sent home before Thanksgiving.

Lawyers for the federal government had argued that ICE agents faced ongoing and intolerable risks to (their) lives and safety without the National Guards presence and that the resistance from protesters systematically interferes with their ability to enforce federal law. They also said that the courts do not have the authority to second-guess the presidents decision to call up the National Guard.

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The governor of Illinois and the mayor of Chicago, both Democrats, countered that the unnecessary deployment infringed on state sovereignty and threatened to escalate tensions and undermine the ordinary law enforcement activities of state and local entities.

They also argued that the extraordinary conditions that legally justify deploying the military domestically had not occurred.

In mobilizing the guard, Trump cited Title 10, a section of U.S. code that allows the National Guard to be federalized when there is danger of rebellion or foreign invasion, or if federal law cannot be enforced otherwise. While some protestors tried to block vehicles from entering and exiting the ICE facility, lawyers wrote, they had never succeeded in shutting it down.

The State seeks to protect its sovereignty, retain control over local policing, and protect the basic structure of American federalism from unprecedented intrusion, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who filed the lawsuit on Illinois behalf, wrote.

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Two lower courts had previously ruled in Illinois favor, temporarily blocking the deployment while allowing the Guard to remain federalized. U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, ruled that the Trump administrations claims about protesters activities were unreliable and said the deployment likely violated the state and citys Constitutional rights. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals then upheld the ruling in an unsigned emergency order.

The National Guard is composed mostly of part-time troops who hold civilian jobs. The Texas National Guard remained in Chicago from Oct. 7 through mid-November in the first instance in modern memory of a state sending its National Guard troops into another state without that governors consent. The move drew criticism, praise and ridicule alike, particularly after several Texas troops were sent home from Illinois for failing to meet standards of physical fitness. The deployment cost the federal goverment millions of dollars.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been a cheerleader for the deployment.

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The law clearly allows the President to deploy Guard to prevent interference with enforcing federal law, Abbott wrote in an Oct. 20 social media postt, claiming that interference with that duty has been deadly.
Walter Moreau, left, Executive Director of Foundation Communities, and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett speak at Foundation Communities Prosper Center South on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, encouraging people to sign up for Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage during open enrollment, which begins Saturday. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Americans who receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are bracing for steep premium spikes because of Republicans' decision not to extend subsidies. But the effects may not be as dramatic in Texas, thanks to a four-year-old state law that gives the state's insurance department more control over pricing.

Public health experts say the little-known state law has resulted in lower premiums on some of the Texas plans sold on Healthcare.gov and could help people maintain their health insurance at close to what they're spending now.

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READ MORE: Why this South Texas Republican could be key to vote on extending ACA subsidies

For instance, in Harris County, a 40-year-old single adult earning $37,500 a year who is enrolled in a mid-level silver plan is set to see the premium more than double to $252 a month next year after tax credits have been applied. But they have the option to switch to a gold plan with better coverage for just $164 per month, or a bronze plan with a higher deductible and lower-cost sharing for $37 a month, according to analysis by the non-profit Texas 2036.

"Sticker prices get the headlines but the prices people pay are staying relatively stable," said Alec Mendoza, a policy advisor at Texas 2036. "There are zero or low cost plans for a lot of Texans."

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Early data suggests Texas customers could already be figuring out how to maintain an affordable plan.

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According to data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 17% more Texans signed up for Affordable Care Act plans this year through the first month of enrollment, which began Nov. 1. That's compared to an increase of 7% nationwide, according to analysis by the health news service Becker's Hospital Review.

Still, with most enrollees typically waiting until December or even January to sign up for health insurance, it's unclear if the jump in Texas enrollment is just a blip, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president of health policy at the to the public health non-profit KFF. And it's not clear to what degree people are signing up for or switching to bronze plans, with higher deductibles, in order to keep their premiums low.

"What will really matter is if people actually pay their first month's premiums to make their coverage effective, particularly people who auto renew," Levitt said. "We won't know for a while how many people still have coverage."

Public health advocates are warning that Republicans' decision to let what are known as enhanced premium tax credits expire this year will lead many families to opt out of health insurance, assuming it's too expensive.

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Those enhanced credits were created during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase assistance to low-income families while also providing a subsidy to working-class families who had not qualified for assistance when the original Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. Their expiration will result in the average enrollee's premium increasing 114% from last year, according to KFF.

However, the Texas Legislature's decision to take control of the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace in 2021, as many states had already done but Texas Republicans long resisted, allowed state officials to keep premiums on many plans down through a strategy known as "silver loading."

In essence, state officials allowed insurance companies to raise the cost of mid-level silver plans, knowing the size of enhanced premium tax credit would increase in kind to keep consumers' costs level. But in exchange they forced insurance companies to keep down prices on bronze and gold plans  increasing federal funding for healthcare at no additional cost to the state.

Texas 2036 estimates more than 75% of the almost 4 million Texans enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans could stay insured for a relatively small increase in premiums by using a gold or bronze plan.

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Still, those opting to switch from silver to bronze plans are likely to see higher out-of pocket costs for medical treatment - even if their monthly premiums go down. And people earning over 400% of the federal poverty level  or $128,600 for a family of four  are stuck with higher costs no matter what they do, with the system no longer subsidizing health insurance for anyone in that income bracket.
TEHRAN, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations and important regional and international developments.

In a phone call, the two sides agreed to continue consultations to strengthen bilateral relations, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

They also vowed to coordinate on regional and international issues to help ensure stability and security in the Middle East, the statement added.

Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said his country and Egypt had agreed to hold a new round of bilateral political consultations soon.

Iran and Egypt severed diplomatic relations in 1980 following Iran's Islamic Revolution and Egypt's peace treaty with Israel the previous year. In recent years, both sides have signaled willingness to improve ties. 
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TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- As right-wing forces gain momentum in Japanese politics and military deployments accelerate, Japan faces a real danger of a resurgence of militarism rooted in its modern expansionist logic under the pretext of a "survival-threatening situation," warned Yasukatsu Matsushima, a professor at Ryukoku University in Japan.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Matsushima, who has long studied Ryukyu-related issues, noted that the Japanese government's continued refusal to recognize the Ryukyu people as an indigenous people is closely tied to its current security policies and military deployments. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clearly stipulates that military activities are prohibited on the land or territory of indigenous peoples. However, in reality, about 70 percent of U.S. military bases in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa, with ongoing base expansion projects.

Matsushima pointed out that once the Ryukyu people are officially recognized as an indigenous people, Japan's existing military strategy and security layout would be difficult to sustain.

Against this backdrop, Matsushima extended his perspective to recent shifts in Japanese politics. He said that the current Sanae Takaichi administration, while strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance, is working to build a "military-industrial complex" centered on the defense industry, advancing military deployments under the premise of a so-called "Taiwan contingency."

"By constantly exaggerating military threats, Japan's defense budget keeps rising, while arms manufacturers become the direct beneficiaries," Matsushima said.

According to Matsushima, Takaichi had repeatedly expressed her intention to promote the defense industry even before becoming prime minister. "By manufacturing the risk of war, the military-industrial sector is allowed to expand continuously," he said, adding that such thinking is not new but rather an extension of Japan's modern expansionist mindset.

Reflecting on history, Matsushima said that during Japan's outward expansion in the 19th century, the government repeatedly invoked arguments related to a "survival-threatening situation" to legitimize acts of aggression. "Japan's invasion of Taiwan in 1874 and its annexation of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879 were both carried out under this logic," he added.

Matsushima also warned that with the growth of right-wing political parties and an overall rightward shift in political discourse in Japan, some research institutions and scholars, influenced by research funding and policy orientation, have begun providing so-called "academic endorsement" for government security policies.

"For a long time, some Japanese scholars have justified imperialist behavior. This phenomenon existed before the war and has not disappeared to this day," he said.

Matsushima has long focused his research on Ryukyu history, ethnic identity and the structure of the modern Japanese state. Due to his critical stance, Matsushima has also faced sustained pressure from right-wing forces in Japan.

He revealed that he often receives harassing phone calls and malicious faxes, and that some people have even demanded that his university stop his research.

"More people must stand up and point out how dangerous the goals pursued by the current Takaichi government truly are," Matsushima said, calling for efforts at both the academic and societal levels to prevent history from repeating itself. 
December 23, 2025: Russia has occupied 20 percent of Georgias territory since the 2008 invasion. Tiny Georgia, with a population of four million, continues the slow process of gaining NATO membership despite Russian threats and NATO reluctance to gain a member in the distant, from Europe, Caucasus. Georgia sees NATO membership as the key to its future survival. Russia is expected to revive its 2008 war with Georgia when it has extricated itself from the mess it made when it invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Now Russia is seeking to subdue, or even conquer, Georgia economically. This is a side effect of the Ukraine War. A million or more men have fled Russia to avoid getting mobilized into the army and sent to Ukraine. Over 100,000 Russians fled to Georgia, where most people back Ukraine. Most of these Russians want to do business in Georgia and invest in existing operations or start new businesses. The problem with that is that most of these new businesses do most of their business with Russians in Georgia or back in Russia.

Even the tourism businesses have been taken over by Russians. Georgians are annoyed by Russian companies that provide tours of Georgia rarely use Russian-speaking Georgian tour guides but employ Russian ones. These guides never mention the 2008 Russian invasion and continued occupation of one fifth of Georgian territory, or the continued animosity between Georgia and Russia.

What irks the Georgians the most is that Russian investors and entrepreneurs are starting to dominate the Georgian economy. Many Georgians suspect that this is a deliberate or accidental Russian plan to dominate Georgia and bring this tiny Caucasus nation back into the Russian World. The reality is that Georgia is still trying to join NATO and backs Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.

In 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine to prevent it from joining NATO. That has not worked out well for Russia. The question is whether Russia will invade Georgia, in the Caucasus, for continuing its efforts to join NATO. Georgia was working on NATO membership since 1994, long before Ukraine considered it. The Georgians want nothing to do with Russia, which invaded Georgia in 2008 but did not get far. Technically, Georgia and Russia are still at war. That complicates, but does not rule out, gaining NATO membership.

The Caucasus is south of Russia and north of Turkey. Another Caucasus state, oil-rich Azerbaijan, has close ties with Russia. Although Russia has a military assistance treaty with Armenia, Russian officials recently pointed out that the treaty does not cover the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area, which Azerbaijan conquered after Russia would not send troops to help the Armenians. Russia has several defense-related agreements with Armenia. The first is the 2002 CSTO/Collective Security Treaty Organization that included Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. All these nations were once components of the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991. The CSTO restored some of the economic and military relationships these nations had before 1991. Georgia deliberately avoided CSTO.

Russia considers both Armenia and Azerbaijan essential buffer states. This is what Russia calls the near abroad and considers those relationships sacrosanct. The Russian paranoia over NATO is mainly about near-abroad nations in Eastern Europe joining or wanting to join NATO. That was not a problem with Armenia, which wanted protection from Turkey, plus Azerbaijan fears of Iranian aggression. Russia did not appreciate Turkey getting involved with the near-abroad states. Russia was diplomatic about the unwelcome Turkish presence and the Turks knew that being in Azerbaijan was seen as a rare victory over ancient foe Russia.

Both Azerbaijan and Armenia were formerly part of the Soviet Union and are quite different even though they were neighbors. Azerbaijan is majority Moslem while Armenia is Christian. Along with the smaller Georgia, these two are the only two nations in the Caucasus that are majority Christian. For over a thousand years Armenians and Georgians resisted efforts by Moslem neighbors to make them Moslem. Russia played a key role in preventing that and considers itself the protector of Armenia.

Georgia, unlike Armenia, wants nothing to do with Russia but Russia wants Georgia to be more submissive to Russia. Thats another reason for Georgia to seek NATO membership. Armenia wants good relationships with both Russia and NATO. This annoys Russia, which does not make a big deal out of it as long as Armenia does not defy its Russian patron. In light of that, Armenia backed away from early efforts to join NATO and returned to the Russian dominated CSTO.

Russia seems oblivious of how much its smaller neighbors fear being attacked by and absorbed into Russia. Thats what Russia is trying to do in Ukraine and has been at it since 2014 when Russia seized Crimea and parts of two eastern Ukrainian provinces. Georgia considers itself another potential victim of annexation by Russia. NATO was created to protect members from Russian aggression, which is what Georgia wants and needs to remain an independent and sovereign state.
President Donald Trump arrives at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., for a news conference on Dec. 22, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP)



The Navy plans to bring back its heavily armed class of warship known as battleships, and it will arm them with the most modern weaponry, including nuclear missiles, President Donald Trump announced Monday.

The president promised the new class of ship would be 100 times more powerful than the Iowa-class battleships that fought during World War II and were last used by the Navy in the 1990s. Trump promised the new ships would be outfitted with an array of technology still under development, including hypersonic weapons, electric rail guns and high-powered lasers. And they will be capable of firing nuclear-armed cruise missiles, he said.

Battleships are the largest, sturdiest and most heavily armed vessel built specifically for naval combat, Trump said Monday from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world ever built.

Trump said he would be involved in planning and designing the ships and announced he would meet with top weapons builders next week at Mar-a-Lago to encourage them to build new facilities and produce weapons  including ships  more expeditiously.

The Navy intends to initially build two Trump-class battleships and name the first the USS Defiant, Navy Secretary John Phelan said. Naming the ships for Trump comes after the Air Forces decision earlier this year to label its next-generation fighter jet the F-47, shunning normal naming conventions to give its forthcoming sixth-generation fighter a nod to the 47th president.

Phelan said he hoped to see the new ships commissioned in about 2 years.

Ultimately, the Navy plans to build 20 to 25 Trump-class battleships, the president said. It was not clear Monday how much the new class would cost.

Trump has long called for the Navy to bring back the battleship and criticized some modern Navy ship designs. He said the new ships would anchor his Golden Fleet, which he has said would include more and larger ships, uncrewed ships and a new class of aircraft carrier bigger than the 100,000-ton USS Gerald Ford, which is the largest military vessel ever built.

Unlike the term warship, which refers generally to any class of Navy vessel, battleship has historically described a particular design  a large, up-armored vessel with some of the largest cannons available to the Navy, according to the sea service.

The Navy commissioned its first three battleships in 1895 and ultimately built 59 battleships, the service said. Its last active battleship, the USS Missouri, was decommissioned in 1992.

The Missouri  a 58,000-ton Iowa-class battleship  was one of four Navy battleships active in the 1990s. It was the Navys final battleship built before it was commissioned in 1944 and sent to the Western Pacific to support combat operations during World War II and again during the Korean War. It was decommissioned in 1955 and made a tourist attraction in Bremerton, Wash., before it was recommissioned in 1986. The Missouri supported combat operations during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 before its final decommissioning. Americas last battleship was then sent to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where it has served as a memorial since 1998. A newer U.S. Navy vessel  a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine  now carries the name USS Missouri.

The new Trump-class battleship is expected to weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tons and be made of steel, the president said.

Phelan said Trump has pushed him to develop a new battleship design since before he agreed to take the Navy secretary job. He said that combatant commanders and the Navys top brass agreed it was something that Navy desperately needs.

The future Trump-class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the worlds oceans, Phelan said. The Iowa [class battleship] was designed to go on the attack with the biggest guns, and thats exactly what will define the Trump-class battleships  offensive firepower from the biggest guns of our era.

This ship isnt just going to swat the arrows. It is going to reach out and kill the archers.
Wrap a raw oyster, sliced pork and kimchi inside napa cabbage at Oyster Island near Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)



Its oyster season on the Korean Peninsula, where the popular shellfish are both a winter staple and an affordable delicacy.

South Korea is the worlds third-largest oyster exporter after France and China, according to the countrys Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. While oysters are often considered a luxury item elsewhere, they are widely available and reasonably priced throughout South Korea during the winter months.

One seasonal destination near Camp Humphreys is Oyster Island, a restaurant that opens only during oyster season, typically from November through January. This eatery specializes exclusively in oyster-based dishes and sources fresh oysters daily from Tongyeong, a southern coastal city that produces about 70% of the nations oysters.

Oyster Island's oyster and pork platter for two includes napa cabbage leaves for wraps, raw oysters, oyster pancakes, thinly sliced boiled pork, seaweed, dried seasoned radish and oyster kimchi. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)



A popular menu item is the oyster and pork platter for two, priced at 22,000 won (about $15) per person. The large platter features napa cabbage leaves for wraps and comes with raw oysters, oyster pancakes, thinly sliced boiled pork, seaweed, dried seasoned radish and oyster kimchi.

Side dishes such as fishcake, dried seasoned peppers, miso soup and assorted kimchi accompany the meal.

Oyster Island near Camp Humphreys, South Korea, opens only during oyster season, typically from November through January. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Oyster Island near Camp Humphreys, South Korea, opens only during oyster season, typically from November through January. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)



Diners assemble wraps by placing pork, oysters and kimchi inside the cabbage leaves. The oysters can also be eaten on their own, dipped in red pepper paste or the restaurants house-made soy sauce.

From the first bite, it was easy to understand why oyster season is so highly anticipated here. These oysters tasted exceptionally fresh. Their texture was firm yet delicate, and paired with kimchi, crisp cabbage and other ingredients, each wrap felt balanced and comforting.

Rice topped with cooked oysters, dried seaweed and flying fish roe, served in a heated ceramic bowl and finished with sesame oil and soy sauce from Oyster Island near Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)



The meal concludes with a bowl of rice topped with cooked oysters, dried seaweed and flying fish roe, served in a heated ceramic bowl and finished with sesame oil and soy sauce.

Beyond the platter, Oyster Islands menu features a wide range of oyster dishes, including fried oysters, oyster rice, oyster pancakes, oyster rice cake soup and oyster ramen.

Information displayed at the restaurant notes that oysters are rich in vitamins and minerals and are commonly believed in Korea to promote skin health and help prevent illnesses such as osteoporosis.

A poster outside Oyster Island advertises various oyster-based dishes, including oyster pancakes and the pork-oyster platter. (Yoojin Lee/Stars and Stripes)



Oyster Island

Location: Hapjeong-dong 905-7, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Prices: The popular oyster and pork platter for two costs about $15 per person.

Dress: Casual

Directions: A 20-minute drive from the Millet Gate at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

Information: 031-651-5582; parking available.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro joins a rally marking the anniversary of the 19th-century Battle of Santa Ines in Caracas on Dec. 10, 2025. (Cristian Hernandez/AP)



WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a new warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the U.S. Coast Guard steps up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Republican administrations escalating pressure campaign on the government in Caracas.

Trump was surrounded by his top national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as he suggested that he remains ready to further escalate his four-month pressure campaign on the Maduro government, which began with the stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal drugs from the South American nation but has developed into something more amorphous.

If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hell ever be able to play tough, Trump said of Maduro as he took a break from his Florida holiday vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.

Trump levied his latest threat as the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday continued for a second day to chase a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration describes as part of a dark fleet Venezuela is using to evade U.S. sanctions. The tanker, according to the White House, is flying under a false flag and is under a U.S. judicial seizure order.

Its moving along and well end up getting it, Trump said.

It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that U.S. officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, also part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. That ship was registered in Panama.

Trump, after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly said that Maduros days in power are numbered.

Last week, Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, said in a Monday appearance on Fox & Friends that the targeting of tankers is intended to send a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.

Russian diplomats evacuate families from Caracas

Meanwhile, Russias Foreign Ministry started evacuating the families of diplomats from Venezuela, according to a European intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The official told the Associated Press the evacuations include women and children and began on Friday, adding that Russian Foreign Ministry officials are assessing the situation in Venezuela in very grim tones. The ministry said in an X posting that it was not evacuating the embassy but did not address queries about whether it was evacuating the families of diplomats.

Venezuelas Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Monday said he spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who he said expressed Russias support for Venezuela against Trumps declared blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.

We reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government, Gil said in a statement.

The scene on a Venezuelan beach near a refinery

While U.S. forces targeted the vessels in international waters over the weekend, a tanker thats considered part of the shadow fleet was spotted moving between Venezuelan refineries, including one about three hours west of the capital, Caracas.

The tanker remained at the refinery in El Palito through Sunday, when families went to the towns beach to relax with children now on break from school.

Music played on loudspeakers as people swam and surfed with the tanker in the background. Families and groups of teenagers enjoyed themselves, but Manuel Salazar, who has parked cars at the beach for more than three decades, noticed differences from years past, when the countrys oil-dependent economy was in better shape and the energy industry produced at least double the current 1 million barrels per day.

Up to nine or 10 tankers would wait out there in the bay. One would leave, another would come in, Salazar, 68, said. Now, look, one.

The tanker in El Palito has been identified by Transparencia Venezuela, an independent watchdog promoting government accountability, to be part of the shadow fleet.

Area residents on Sunday recalled when tankers would sound their horns at midnight New Years Eve, while some would even send up fireworks to celebrate the holiday.

Before, during vacations, theyd have barbecues; now all you see is bread with bologna, Salazar said of Venezuelan families spending the holiday at the beach next to the refinery. Things are expensive. Food prices keep going up and up every day.

Venezuelas ruling party-controlled National Assembly on Monday gave initial approval to a measure that would criminalize a broad range of activities that could be linked to the seizure of oil tankers.

Lawmaker Giuseppe Alessandrello, who introduced the bill, said people could be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years for promoting, requesting, supporting, financing or participating in acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

The Defense Department, under Trumps orders, continues its campaign of attacks on smaller vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that it alleges are carrying drugs to the United States and beyond.

At least 104 people have been killed in 28 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

Garcia Cano reported from El Palito, Venezuela, and Burrows reported from London.
The menu items offered on the Patriot Express, such as chicken teriyaki over rice, chicken karaage, bulgogi and salmon penne, shown here Dec. 10, 2025, are made fresh daily at the central flight kitchen at Yokota Air Base, Japan. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)



YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  In a spotless kitchen on this airlift hub in western Tokyo, cooks are quietly reinventing how American service members eat across Japans main island.

For the past year, a pilot program run by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service has been producing frozen, bento-style meals at Yokota  designed to travel far beyond the reach of traditional fresh-food delivery  to remote bases where a hot meal has long been difficult to come by.

The Yokota central flight kitchen turns out between 600 and 800 frozen meals each week. Offerings include chicken teriyaki over rice, karaage, bulgogi, salmon penne and ham-and-cheese burritos, according to Andrew Defelice, general manager at Yokotas exchange.

The effort relies on blast-chilling, a food preservation method that rapidly cools freshly cooked meals to pass safely through the bacterial danger zone in about 90 minutes. Once sealed, boxed and shipped through the exchanges distribution system, the meals can be stored for weeks and reheated in minutes, AAFES said.

Getting fresh, ready-to-go meals for service members at Misawa Air Base has long been a logistical challenge, Julie Mitchell, vice president of marketing and customer engagement for AAFES, told Stars and Stripes by email Nov. 19.

Misawa, in northern Honshu, is roughly a 10-hour drive from Yokota. Traditional bento meals can be refrigerated for no more than 72 hours, making delivery impractical. Smaller installations, including Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Yokohama North Dock and Sagami General Depot, often lack the storage capacity for fresh food altogether.

Those constraints pushed Yokotas airline catering team  a group of 18 employees  to look for alternatives. The idea took shape after Shunichi Kobayashi, the flight kitchens manager, attended food conventions in Tokyo and learned about blast-chilling technology widely used in Japans commercial catering industry.

The original Yokota flight kitchen orange chicken, alongside its blast-chilled version, are on display for comparison at Yokota Air Base central flight kitchen, Dec. 10, 2025. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)

Blast-chilled bento boxes are ready to be packed and shipped from the central flight kitchen, Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 10, 2025. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)



What followed was more than a year of planning, according to Defelice. The program required coordination with AAFES food safety officers and inspections by U.S. Army veterinarians, who are also food safety experts that inspect food manufacturing facilities that supply the Department of Defense, according to Public Health Command-Pacific.

Yokotas central flight kitchen was built in 1960 to support the Patriot Express, charter flights contracted by the Air Force Air Mobility Command to carry Depart of Defense personnel and their families on official moves and travel.

In November 2024, we got the green light and then we started executing, DeFelice said during a Dec. 10 tour of the flight kitchen. We had to do several tests, making samples in different conditions, so this was all made from scratch.

The pilot began modestly, offering five frozen meal options at Misawa, he said. Early sales hovered around 100 meals per month. Within months, he said, that number more than doubled. Demand is expected to rise further during large military exercises, when dining options can be limited.

The programs next priority is solidifying its brand image and introducing more commercial packaging for the frozen bento meals targeted for late 2026, DeFelice said.

As the program expanded, freezer-equipped vending machines were installed at Sagami Depot, Camp Fuji and Yokohama North Dock, and most recently at Yokotas 374th Security Forces Squadron and Medical Group, allowing troops to purchase microwaveable meals around the clock.

Service members across mainland Japan have 24/7 missions but dont always have access to fresh food, Mitchell said. These meals provide 24/7 convenience.
Air Force Lt. Cols. Richard Blaisdell and Dean Hess with Korean children evacuated during Operation Kiddy Car in December 1950 in an undated photo. (U.S. Air Force)



OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  U.S. Air Force chaplains at two sites in South Korea recently marked the 75th anniversary of a humanitarian airlift that saved hundreds of children at a critical moment in the Korean War.

Operation Kiddy Car began Dec. 20, 1950, as Chinese and North Korean forces advanced toward Seoul, forcing United Nations troops to withdraw, leaving hundreds of orphaned children without a safe way out of the city.

Nearly 1,000 children were flown to safety at Jeju Island aboard 16 Air Force transport planes thanks to the operation organized and led by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Russell Blaisdell, according to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force website.

Ceremonies at Osan Air Base on Dec. 17 and at South Koreas Gwangju ChoonHyun Babies Home Memorial on Thursday recognized the operations historical significance and the Air Forces humanitarian role.

In a short speech at Gwangju, Kyung-Ae Lim provided a personal perspective, shifting focus from official history to a child affected by the war.

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Russell Blaisdell, left, and Staff Sgt. Merle "Mike" Strang in an undated photo. (U.S. Air Force)

An undated photo of Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Russell Blaisdell. (5th Air Force)



My name is Kyung-Ae Lim, and I stand before you as one who was once a Korean War orphan, Lim said in the frigid air at the Gwangju memorial.

Lim was 10 years old when Blaisdell helped her evacuate, an experience she said changed her life. Lim spoke for about five minutes next to a statue of Blaisdell.

We were transferred by U.S. C-54 cargo planes to Jeju Island, Lim said. Even now, 75 years later, the memories of those days remain vivid in my heart.

The Skymaster aircraft eventually carried about 955 children and several dozen caregivers to Jeju Island, in what historians consider a rare example of a chaplain-led humanitarian evacuation during active combat.

Blaisdell saved many orphans from near certain death by collecting them from the streets with the help of Staff Sgt. Merle Mike Strang and Korean social workers, according to the museum. Blaisdell found shelter and medical care for the children, while he and Lt. Col. Dean Hess arranged contributions of food, money and clothing.

Pacific Air Forces Command Chaplain (Col.) James Hendrick escorts Kyung-Ae Lim, a survivor of Operation Kiddy Car, at a ceremony commemorating the operation at Gwangju ChoonHyun Babies Home Memorial, Gwangju, South Korea, on Dec. 18, 2025. (Alejandro Carresquel/Stars and Stripes)

Kyung-Ae Lim, an orphan rescued during Operation Kiddy Car, gives her remarks aside a statue of Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Russell Blaisdell during the 75th Commemoration of Operation Kiddy Car at Gwangju, South Korea, on Dec. 18, 2025. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)



Lim said that after arriving on Jeju, the children were sheltered by U.S. and Korean caretakers, and that Blaisdell remained a constant presence during a time marked by fear, displacement and uncertainty.

We may be from different countries, but I sincerely thank Chaplain Blaisdell for taking care of us with Gods love, Lim said. I sincerely thank Chaplain Blaisdell for giving me a second chance at life.

During an interview the day prior to the Osan ceremony, Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Nathan Smith of the 51st Fighter Wing said the event was meant to help service members understand their history and recognize how individual actions can make a difference in a crisis.

With no direct orders and little time, Blaisdell and Strang arranged trucks, moved the children to Kimpo Airfield and worked with air crews who stayed behind despite growing danger, according to the Air Force museum.

An orphan walks into one of the C-54 planes used by the U.S. Air Forces to evacuate nearly 1,000 Korean children from Seoul to Jeju Island in December 1950. (U.S. Air Force)

From left, religious affairs career field manager U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Tabitha Harris, Air Force Chief of Chaplains Maj. Gen. Trent Davis, 51st Fighter Wing commander Col. Ryan Ley and wing Chaplain (Maj.) Matt Henry. unveil a commemorative display at Osan Chapel during the 75th Commemoration of Operation Kiddy Car, at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 17, 2025. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)



What made Operation Kiddy Car remarkable was that a chaplain and an enlisted religious affairs airman stepped beyond their formal duties to alleviate suffering, showing how humanity and ethics must remain central even during war, Smith said.

Wing Chaplain (Maj.) Matt Henry during the same interview said the operation showed how one decision by a small team eventually involved a wide range of Air Force personnel.

This story belongs to the entire Air Force, Henry said. It shows how airpower can be used not only for combat, but also for rescue, protection and the preservation of life under extreme pressure.

Stars and Stripes reporter Seth Robson contributed to this report.
U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Anjani Sinha, center, cuts a ribbon at USO Singapore at Sembawang Naval Installation, Singapore, Dec. 19, 2025. Left of Sinha is Scott Maskery, the USO Indo-Pacific regional vice president, and to the right of Sinha is Capt. Silas Bouyer, commander of Singapore Area Coordinator. (USO)



The United Service Organizations recently opened a new location, in Singapore, where overseas service members can find a slice of home and a place to relax.

The USO cut the ribbon Friday to its new center at Sembawang Naval Installation, according to information posted the same day on the Defense Video Information Distribution System.

It is with great pleasure that we gather today to celebrate the opening of the new USO Singapore, our first ever brick-and-mortar presence and a space dedicated to supporting our service members and their families stationed and deployed to this strategically important part of the Indo-Pacific, said Scott Maskery, the USO Indo-Pacific regional vice president, during his opening remarks.

Service members and their families were invited to enjoy cake and drinks and to inspect the new facility, which will provide access to movies, games, books and computers.

Maskery, in a video of the opening ceremony provided by the USO, said the organization identified the need for a Singapore USO after the Aug. 21, 2017, collision of the USS John S McCain and the Liberian-flagged tanker Alnic MC.

The incident in the Singapore Strait left 10 sailors dead and 48 injured.

After the collision, the USO provided expeditionary support to the naval base at Singapore and to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean by means of USO Care packages and USO2GO kits, Maskery said.

Since then, our commitment to the area has only grown, he said.

Service members and their families enjoy refreshments during the official opening of USO Singapore at Sembawang Naval Installation, Singapore, Dec. 19, 2025. (USO)



USO Care Packages provide toiletries and snacks to individual service members. USO2GO kits send everything from electronics to gaming equipment, as well as toiletries, snacks and other necessities to remote or austere locations, according to the USO California website.

We are thrilled to welcome our service members and their families to this new home away from home and we look forward to many meaningful moments here in the years to come, Maskery said during the ceremony.

The USO was created under President Franklin Roosevelt just prior to World War II to unite several service associations, according to the USO website. It now operates 250 locations worldwide that offer continued support to service members.

Being stationed far from family and friends is challenging, Navy Capt. Silas Bouyer, commander of Singapore Area Coordinator, said by email via the USO marketing team on Friday.

The area coordinator provides logistical and quality of life services for the U.S. military at the naval installation.

In addition to the psychological benefits, the USO center will offer free WiFi, computer access, American food and volunteer opportunities for service members and their families.

The USO center actively combats isolation by offering a sense of community, familiar comforts, and opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences. This reduces feelings of loneliness and helps service members maintain a positive mental outlook, Bouyer said.
An advanced medium-range air-to-air missile is launched from an F/A-18F Super Hornet during a test in this undated photo. The State Department on Monday gave initial approval to the sale of hundreds of similar missiles to Denmark to bolster its defense capabilities, the agency said. (RTX/Courtesy photo)



The United States cleared a potential sale of over $900 million in medium-range missiles to Denmark, an announcement that comes as President Donald Trump renews a push to take control of the countrys autonomous territory of Greenland.

The State Department on Monday gave its backing to the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment for an estimated $951 million.

Noting Denmarks status as a NATO ally, the agency said the pending deal will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. The sale still needs final congressional approval.

Denmark has requested to buy 236 missiles and other gear to boost its capability to meet current and future threats, the statement said.

The announcement coincided with a decision by Trump to appoint Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, a move that has riled Denmark, which said it will summon U.S. Ambassador Kenneth A. Howery over the matter.

An advanced medium-range air-to-air missile is fired at the Andoya Space Center in Norway in this undated photo. Denmark on Monday received initial U.S. approval for a roughly $950 million sale of such missiles to Denmark. (RTX/Courtesy photo)



In a post Monday on X, Landry told Trump he is serving in the position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlands Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement Monday that there are no legitimate grounds for the United States to annex the territory.

Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland, their statement said.

In 2009, the territory approved a referendum granting it autonomy in all matters except defense, security and foreign policy.

Greenland was ruled directly by Denmark from the early 18th century until home rule began on the island in 1979.

Trump has insisted that the vast island is essential to U.S. national security interests.

If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place, Trump told reporters on Monday. We need it for national security. We have to have it.

The U.S. military has long had a presence in Greenland, dating back to the 1940s.

During the Cold War, the military had more than 10,000 troops on the territory, which today hosts Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base.

Today, the nuclear armed long-range bombers that were part of the original Cold War force are gone. But a ballistic missile early warning mission carries on with about 200 active-duty U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel.
TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- In response to a series of sexual violence cases involving U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly has adopted a formal opinion calling on the Japanese government to take effective measures to prevent such incidents.

Monday's opinion noted that following a December 2023 case in which a U.S. soldier stationed in Okinawa kidnapped and raped a Japanese minor, the governments of Japan and the United States confirmed they would implement measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

However, sexual violence by the U.S. military has continued to occur in Okinawa since then, the opinion said, noting that the number of criminal cases involving U.S. military personnel in Okinawa reached a 20-year high in 2025, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of disciplinary reforms and preventive measures within the U.S. military.

The assembly urged the Japanese government to take concrete and effective actions, including a fundamental revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, to prevent the recurrence of such crimes.

Kyodo News reported on Monday that multiple cases of sexual violence involving U.S. military personnel have been reported in Okinawa since June last year, prompting the prefectural assembly to pass several resolutions protesting to the U.S. military.

Public broadcaster NHK previously reported that from January to the end of September this year, a total of 77 criminal cases involving U.S. soldiers, civilian employees, and their family members stationed in Okinawa were recorded, surpassing last year's total of 73 cases and marking the highest figure in two decades. Among these, violent crimes accounted for the largest share, with 16 cases reported. 
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is asking a federal watchdog to investigate how pending cuts to insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act will impact veterans and their families. Blumenthal said the Department of Veterans Affairs is not prepared to handle an influx of veterans whove lost their insurance after ACA subsidies end on Dec. 31. He is shown at a rally in October to protest VA workforce reductions. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Several Democratic senators urged an independent watchdog to investigate how the looming expiration of health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act will impact hundreds of thousands of veterans and their family members.

Twenty-eight lawmakers sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office demanding an in-depth look at projected health insurance premium increases after enhanced ACA tax credits end on Dec. 31.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, of New York, the Senate minority leader, led the letter-writing campaign.

They are asking the GAO to investigate how an end to tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, combined with new Medicaid restrictions and reductions at the Department of Veterans Affairs, will affect veterans and their families.

Health premiums are set to spike after Jan. 1 for 24 million Americans, including veterans and their dependents enrolled in discounted health insurance plans through the ACA marketplace. People apply for health insurance and manage their plans through an online portal at www.healthcare.gov.

Coupled with Medicare and Medicaid cuts  which go into effect next year  Americans, including millions of veterans and veteran family members, are bracing for higher costs and a looming health care crisis, the senators wrote in a letter to GAO comptroller Gene L. Dodaro dated Dec. 18.

The lawmakers  26 Democrats and two independents  blamed their Republican counterparts for blocking efforts in Congress to renew the tax credits, which have reduced out-of-pocket costs for qualifying individuals and families since 2021.

Individuals enrolled in the ACA program access health insurance with lower costs based on their annual income and household size, among other factors. The program has become increasingly popular, with the number of enrollees more than doubling in five years.

We write to request you review how these widespread cuts to health care access for all Americans will also impact veterans, and their families and to what extent VA will be able to support an influx of veterans relying on the Department for health care more than ever before, according to the letter.

A family of four with a household income of $45,000 currently has no annual premium but will be charged $1,607 a year when the subsidies expire, according to the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center.

Veterans and our families are facing a two-headed attack on our ability to access quality care, said Army veteran Jose Vasquez, who leads Common Defense, a nonprofit organization that advocates for veterans.

The VA system we earned through our service is under relentless political pressure to outsource and privatize. At the same time, the civilian health care market were often pushed into is collapsing beneath us, Vasquez said.

The higher premiums will force some veterans who used ACA subsidies for private plans to turn to the VA health system, he said.

But Vasquez said the VA system is burdened by growing caseloads amid a workforce reduction of tens of thousands of employees.

President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in North Carolina on Friday, warned supporters that Democrats are willing to shut down the government again over their efforts to renew ACA subsidies.

Partisan differences over extending ACA tax credits led to a 43-day federal government shutdown that ended in mid-November.

Trump also discussed his own plan to meet with health insurance executives to negotiate lower insurance prices for Americans.

So rather than just saying, Were not going to deal, maybe theyll give us a deal by cutting prices by 50, and maybe this makes sense, Trump said.

Congress is on winter recess, with members returning to their home districts, and not expected to reconvene until after Jan. 1.

In addition to Blumenthal and Schumer, the letter to the GAO comptroller was signed by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md.; Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J.; Sen. Angus King, I-Maine; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M.; Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Singapore police said they expect large crowds along Orchard Road, the city-state's main shopping district, on Christmas Eve and will tighten security measures, including deploying additional officers, conducting security checks and closing some metro entrances and roads.

Police officers, auxiliary police officers and security officers will be deployed from Wednesday evening to manage crowds in the area, with barricades and directional signage put in place, the Singapore Police Force said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Based on previous years' experience, a roughly 1.2-kilometer stretch of Orchard Road typically becomes a focal point for large crowds on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, local media reported.

Police will conduct enhanced patrols, and security personnel may carry out checks on bags and personal items, the statement said. Authorities have also released details of roads that will be closed to all vehicular traffic.

Certain entrances and exits at Orchard Road's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station may be closed if necessary to regulate crowd flow. Members of the public were advised to use the nearby Somerset MRT station or other public transport options.

Police encouraged the public to check an online real-time map for updates on crowd levels and area closures before heading to the district. 
Regina Sotorrio Malaga Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 15:45 | Updated 15:53h. Share

Velez-Malaga on the eastern Costa del Sol is securing itself a place on Spain's electronic dance music (EDM) map. The Weekend Beach festival in Torre del Mar, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2025, is now set to be joined by one of the country's biggest EDM events, which for the first time is coming to the Costa del Sol. Dreambeach Festival is leaving Almeria, where it started 12 years ago, to open a new stage at the fairground in Velez-Malaga, next to El Ingenio shopping centre, on 31 July and 1 August.

It will be called Dreambeach Costa del Sol and organisers say, "Dreambeach is committed to a format that breaks with its traditional programme and will develop a line-up where the most powerful projects of the electronic scene will be a new attraction together with the most outstanding artists of the national and international scene".

Last year, in a location close to Almeria (El Toyo-Retamar), Will Smith and Nathy Peluso shared the line-up with Amelie Lens, Steve Angello and Steve Aoki, among many others. Up to 90,000 people gathered in 2025 for the event, which in some of its previous years of up to four days has exceeded 130,000 attendees. In Velez-Malaga, there will be only two days of live music, with four independent stages and "spectacular structures".

Organisers also promise that "the most important global brands on the circuit will take over the festival, hand in hand with the most powerful artists both nationally and internationally and continue to support the local circuit".

Dreambeach Costa del Sol will be located just a few metres away from its sister festival, Weekend Beach (from 9 to 11 July in Torre del Mar), both promoted by the Granada-based company Producciones Toro.
Chus Heredia Malaga Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 15:56 Share

We bid farewell to 2025 with a bonus gift for the reservoirs in Malaga province. The latest rains have provided enough water for Malaga city to last for two months. Furthermore, all indications are that the stored volume will continue to rise, not only due to runoff, but also because rain is forecast to continue uninterrupted until Sunday.

As a result, the seven reservoirs in Malaga province were storing 286 million cubic metres of water as of 5pm on Monday, eight million more than the previous week. This is the first notable increase thus far this hydrological year, which began on 1 October. In just a single day, there was an increase of two million cubic metres.

Numbers per reservoir system

The Guadalteba holds the most water - over 80 million cubic metres. In the same system, the Gualhorce has 45 and the Conde is holding 30. All three have recorded increases of well over one million cubic metres apiece. They now have enough water for more than three years of peace of mind for the Costa del Sol capital. That is without adding the reserves of El Limonero (11 million cubic metres) and Casasola with another eight. These are the defensive dams designed to regulate the flow of the Guadalmedina and Campanillas rivers respectively. As if those were not enough, Malaga city also has 21 active wells (16 in the Aljaima-Fahala system in Cartama town and five in the Lower Guadalhorce in Malaga city itself).

286 million cubic metres are now stored in the province's seven reservoirs. They are at 47.5% of their total capacity, which is 115 million cubic metres more than this time last year.

Pending projects

On the western Costa del Sol, the reservoir at La Concepcion has 36 million cubic metres, gaining over one million cubic metres more just this past week. Due to its small size, together with Marbella's desalination plant, the Fuengirola and Guadalmansa (Estepona) wells and the local water resources of some municipalities, it only guarantees supplies for one year. Until there's a second desalination plant (the preliminary design project is currently out for tender) or the Gibralmedina dam is built (the project has been drafted, but is awaiting final permits and funding), this time buffer cannot be extended.

In the Axarquia area, severely affected by the last drought, La Vinuela reservoir now holds 72 million cubic metres. It has gained two million cubic metres more in a single week, the most of any reservoir. This is enough volume to supply the urban needs of the area for three years.

The province's surface reservoirs are at 47.5% capacity, totalling 115 million cubic metres more than at this time last year.
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 17:13 Share

The Port of Malaga has achieved a new record in the import of new cars arriving directly from the manufacturers and destined for dealerships across Spain and Portugal. Last Friday witnessed the arrival of the 100,000th car for 2025, a Dacia model. This milestone was celebrated with the participation of Port Authority officials and representatives from the shipping and logistics companies involved in these operations.

This news reflects the sustained growth in new vehicle traffic, including those that arrive by ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) as well as by container ships. It highlights the leading role played by the port's facilities in the all-important automotive sector. The year is expected to close, with numbers for the final ten days still pending, some 16% up on 2024's total.

Quays 7 and 9 have handled the majority of this activity throughout the year, serving various shipping lines and connecting with international markets, including those close to home (Morocco) and far, far away (China). "This reinforces the port's role as a strategic hub for the import, export and transit of automobiles", stated a Port Authority spokesperson.

Three Chinese vehicle brands - BYD, Omoda and Jaecoo - have now joined the manufacturers already using Malaga, primarily Renault-Dacia and Ford

Furthermore, the Port Authority stresses that the positive results achieved have been possible thanks to the involvement and coordination of all stakeholders in the logistics chain, including port operators, shipping agents, shipping lines, freight forwarders, carriers and port services. Also, thanks to the confidence shown by the manufacturers, who continue to place their trust in Malaga for their shipments via the Iberian peninsula.

Following this record figure, the Port of Malaga has set its sights on consolidating and further boosting the growth of new car imports traffic in the coming years, reinforcing its position as a leading logistics platform.

Cars are filling the quays

The truth is that Malaga is experiencing a boom in this segment of the logistics market and the growth of these operations in recent months is such that the spaces set aside for them, mainly Quay 9 and the surrounding area, have become too small and cannot cope.

To alleviate this situation and allow these goods to continue arriving, the Port Authority has temporarily authorised operators to park newly-arrived cars on quays 4 and 5. At the same time, both the Port Authority and the companies are searching for storage sites with sufficient capacity and good access from the coast to the inland part of the province.

In addition to the car brands already operating via Malaga, primarily Renault-Dacia from its factory in Tangiers (Morocco) to Spain and Ford, three Chinese brands have recently been added: BYD, Omoda and Jaecoo. So, it is hardly surprising that, by September, the number of vehicle arrivals had almost equalled the total for all of 2024: 83,725 compared to 86,466, with the whole of the final quarter still to go.

This great jump has two main reasons, according to sources in the port logistics sector: firstly, the sharp rise in demand for new cars from individuals and businesses in Spain and Portugal, which is leading dealerships to place more orders with the factory. Secondly, in the case of Malaga, the main operator, Noatum, has taken over the management of shipping routes for the Chinese automobile manufacturer Chery, which owns the Omoda and Jaecoo brands, as well as already managing those for BYD. The cars remain there for a maximum of four to five days before being delivered to dealerships and end buyers.
Pilar Martinez Malaga Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 18:16 Share

Tourism on the Costa del Sol is consolidating its growth in 2025, a year in which Alianza Hotelera, a group that brings together 16 hotel chains and ranks fifth in the Spanish tourism sector, points to Malaga city as the second most popular hotel destination in Spain this year, with an annual average room occupancy rate of 83.8%. Fuerteventura leads the way with 86.2% of its rooms taken.

In the latest market report compiled by this group using both its own data and verified industry sources, it indicates that hotels in Malaga city will end the year with a hotel occupancy rate seven points above the national average, which will stand at 76.7%, half a point higher than the previous year. The report also highlights Alicante, with an 83.2% occupancy rate, despite experiencing a 0.6% year-on-year decrease, as well as Valencia, with 81.3%, and the Canary Islands as a whole at 81.8%. According to Javier Tausia, president of Alianza Hotelera, these occupancy figures reflect a market that continues to show strength, but also a degree of stabilisation, a levelling out. "We've come from several years of very strong growth. In 2025 we see occupancy consolidating at high levels, but with clear signs of maturity in some destinations", he notes.

Furthermore, this study flags Marbella as the Spanish destination with the highest price per room (ADR, average daily room rate). Specifically, it places the average cost at 381.97 euros, representing an 11.5% increase compared to 2024. The price paid in Marbella's hotels is double the national average rate of 170 euros. Following Marbella is the Balearic Islands at 228.43 euros, a 9% increase, and Barcelona at 193.52 euros, although the Catalan capital has experienced a slight decline of 0.6%.

381 euros is the average hotel room rate in Marbella, double the national average.

The report notes that the largest increases in the ADR were recorded in Zaragoza (up 10%, Mallorca (+ 9.2%) and Granada (+7.3%). Gallardo stresses that price growth is neither uniform nor to be presumed: "the increase in ADR is not solely due to demand, but to a more refined product management, segmentation and each destination's capacity to generate added value".

As for hotel profitability (the RevPar rate), this group predicts that "2025 will close with a general improvement overall, with adjustments in some markets". The average RevPAR in Spain will close 2025 at 130.29 euros, six points higher than the previous year. In this case, Marbella is once again the second most profitable Spanish destination, with a 12.4% increase. Zaragoza is next, with an increase of 13.4%, followed by Benidorm and Tenerife, with increases of 10.1%, and then Granada, approaching 10% growth.

In contrast to these upturns, the report also notes that not all destinations have fared so well. It mentions declines in Valencia (-5.2%), Cordoba (down 2.3%) and Barcelona (-0.9%). Tausia believes these figures demonstrate the need for strategic adjustments in certain markets. "RevPAR is the indicator that best summarises the reality of the business. Where it falls, it is necessary to analyse whether the problem lies in price, occupancy or the value proposition," he explains.

For his part, Fernando Gallardo, secretary-general of Alianza Hotelera, takes stock of the year, stating that "these figures confirm a favourable evolution of the sector, although with significant regional variations. The overall performance is positive, but each destination responds to very different dynamics. That is why it's crucial to analyse the data in detail and avoid simplistic interpretations of the market."
VIENTIANE, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Disaster risk reduction has been integrated into Lao's socio-economic development plans and supported by legal frameworks, according to a report of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare on Tuesday.

The government called on state agencies, civil society, development partners, and the public to protect natural resources, comply with disaster-related laws, and prepare for extreme weather events, the report said.

In the coming years, disaster management efforts will focus on strengthening local, district, and provincial capacities to improve skills, information sharing, and early warning systems, it added.

On the occasion of Laos' National Disaster Management Day on Monday, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Phoxay Sayasone highlighted the country's efforts to improve disaster prevention, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery, while also acknowledging challenges such as limited human resources, budget constraints, and a lack of modern technology.

"Laos has suffered frequent and severe flooding in recent years caused by tropical storms, resulting in loss of life, harm to people's livelihoods, damage to infrastructure, and a negative impact on the economy," said Phoxay. 
C. P. S. Madrid Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 16:55 Share

The Bank of Spain is to make an upward revision of its growth forecast for the Spanish economy for 2026. This estimate that stood at 1.8% in September has since become outdated, following the latest data that points to the resilience of the Spanish economy and its labour market .

This was confirmed on Friday by the governor of the Bank of Spain, Jose Luis Escriva, who noted that the Bank's monitoring process had already raised Spain's GDP growth forecast for 2025 by two tenths of a percentage point, to 2.6% and had kept its projections for 2026 and 2027 unchanged at 1.8% and 1.7% respectively.

The institution will thus align itself with other international organisations that have already updated their economic outlook for Spain, such as the IMF, the European Commission and the OECD. All have better expectations for the national economy, placing their growth forecasts in the region of 2.9%, in line with the one used by the Spanish government.

This Tuesday, 23 December, the Bank of Spain will publish its final quarterly report of 2025, which may also include some reference to the housing market and the affordability crisis generated by the lack of supply and the upward trajectory of property prices.

During an interview with RTVE on Spanish TV, Escriva stated that tackling this issue requires "coordination and a unified effort" from all three levels of government involved. "Housing is a local, regional and statewide responsibility to varying degrees and it's essential that these levels converge," he stressed.

As recent reports from the Bank of Spain have shown, an increase in the supply of housing must be encouraged, especially affordable housing for low-income and lower-middle-income groups, where the problem "is most acute".

Escriva believes that, at the same rate at which homes are being created in Spain and the population is increasing, it is necessary to ensure that the supply follows this increase in demand, "because the gap that has opened up in recent years is significant". The Bank itself estimates a housing shortage in Spain of around 700,000 homes by 2025.
E. Martinez Madrid Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 18:11 Share

There has been a major setback for Spanish energy giant Iberdrola in the United States, one of its most severe to date. The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will suspend "with immediate effect" the lease agreements for "all" large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the United States "due to national security risks identified by the war department in recent classified reports". In other words, the US government is halting Iberdrola's Vineyard Wind I project, its largest offshore wind farm in the country with a total installed capacity of 806 MW, representing a 2.7-billion-euro investment for the company.

In addition to this wind farm, which was already operational, the order involves halting four other projects under construction, citing national security concerns. The Trump administration alleges that wind turbines interfere with signals picked up by its radars, affecting national security, and therefore demands their immediate stoppage.

Back in September, the US president attacked this technology by halting the permit process for Iberdrola's offshore wind farms in Massachusetts (New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2). "This action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of relevant adversary technologies and vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects near population centres along the East Coast. The Trump administration will always prioritise the safety and security of the American people," argued Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a statement.

According to these reports from the US, the movement of the turbines' enormous blades and reflector towers generates "radar interference known as distortion". "These distortions obscure the targets monitored by the US government and generate false targets in the vicinity of the projects," stated Burgum.
Oksana Korol remembers her parents telling her how they took oral exams in college. Professors would give them a problem to solve. They had 10 minutes to think it through then explain their answer and reasoning.

That is completely AI-proof, said Korol, a biology professor at Onondaga Community College.

Korol, like countless other professors in Central New York, has had to change the way she teaches her class and assesses students learning due to the ballooning use of generative artificial intelligence. Many, like her, are relying on those old-school techniques to AI-proof their tests and papers.

As AI continues to push itself into our everyday lives, it has created a culture of do or die for higher education. Professors have to either adapt their classes or risk students using AI to avoid thinking through tough assignments. Universities can offer courses teaching students to think critically about AI or assume young minds already know how to ask tough questions.

If higher education as a whole does not adapt, it could be left behind as students embrace AI in their studies.

At the three largest educational institutions in Syracuse  Syracuse University, Le Moyne College and Onondaga Community College  many professors are returning to pre-technology assessments while students use AI to study in futuristic ways.

OCC and SU student handbooks outline how using AI to complete entire assignments and papers is considered plagiarism or academic misconduct. Le Moyne College does not have a college-wide AI policy, although Provost Jim Hannan said the institution is starting the process to create guidance.

Without uniform guidance from school leadership, its often up to professors to figure out how to handle AI. Some professors spend free time teaching themselves how to wield AI in a productive manner. Others side-eye the technology.

All of them, however, must understand how it impacts their students learning.

We have to learn how to use (AI) first. That arms race is exhausting and overwhelming when our workloads, admittedly, are already pretty heavy, said OCC professor Michelle Malinovsky

In-class assessments make a return

When a student uses an AI prompt generator to write a research paper, there are signs the student didnt do it themselves. Malinovsky said older AI versions used the same rhetoric model. Le Moyne English professor Ann Ryan said a students paper may be too clean.

Coulter Library is a popular study spot for students at Onondaga Community College. Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com

There is no true way to prove a student used AI, unless the student accidentally leaves their prompt in the paper or admits to it, said SU Chief Digital Officer Jeff Rubin.

While there are AI detection software, most dont work, Rubin and Malinovsky said. For that reason, SU and OCC do not recommend using the programs.

Its incredibly inaccurate. Its always reactionary and it causes a huge issue in terms of equity and bias, Malinovsky said.

SU, Le Moyne and OCC either encourage or require professors to decide how they want students to use AI. They each have three similar pre-made policies professors can put into their syllabuses.

The policies state that AI cannot be used under any circumstance, students can use limited AI or AI can be used freely within reason.

Its a first step of allowing faculty to think about the use and letting students know how an individual faculty member plans to allow or not allow on assessment in the classroom, said Rubin.

With the traditional research paper becoming harder to assign, many professors are flipping the classroom. For example, Ryan has students writing in class and brainstorming with classmates.

Im workshopping papers in class as students are writing them. Traditionally in a literature class youd say, You got a 12 page paper due in three weeks, Ryan said. So what were doing is were writing papers in class.

Malinovsky, who teaches English and is also a librarian, said she has implemented similar practices. She encourages students to send pictures of handwritten assignments.

(AI) challenges professors to rethink the assessment. Perhaps if theyre worried about AI use, then bring some of that assessment back into the classroom, Rubin said.

Professors have also started to make work more reflective. For Ryans class, students had to add a one-to-two page coda on how what they learned in class impacted them to their final paper. They then shared that reflection with the class.

Learning assessments appear to be returning to traditional, in-person techniques. Korol said she has done away with online exams and implemented more in-class tests.

I think that were back to the blue books and were maybe going back to the oral exams, Korol at OCC said.

Even with the potential for misuse, AI can be a powerful tool if harnessed correctly. While assessments embrace older techniques, study strategies are flying forward.

Multiple professors said they see students upload class slides or paste class notes into a chatbot and ask it to create study tools like a practice quiz or study questions. Anthropic, the creator of AI bot Claude, analyzed student chats and found they also use it to troubleshoot coding problems or synthesize complex information.

Le Moyne College recently bought 20 Syracuse homes near its campus for $4.1 million. The college says the purchase will help ensure the homes remain available to its students who want to live in off-campus housing. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com)

Korol has gone one step farther and created a prototype AI tutor, where she uploads questions for students to answer. The AI tutor knows not just the correct answer but the important ideas behind it, meaning students can express the answers in different ways.

The tutor has been specifically told not to give out the answer, and instead its been told to keep asking leading questions. And if you read through this conversation, you will see that the hints are getting more and more transparent as we go along, Korol said.

Korol has not yet used the tutor with students but is trying to figure out how to deploy the app for campus-wide use.

Teaching about AI

SU is taking AI education one step further: it has begun offering classes and a minor about the impact of AI. Beginning this past fall, the Maxwell School of Public Affairs will offer the AI Policy minor. Classes include programming and public policy analysis.

The idea is not to teach students how to create or use AI, but rather to think critically about its real world applications, said program director Johannes Himmelreich.

AI is going to have significant social impact. This will create policy challenges that require an understanding of the technology as well as the policy analysis skills, Himmelreich said.

FILE - ChatGPT history by a teenager is seen at a coffee shop in Russellville, Ark., on July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Katie Adkins, File) AP

Malinovsky described generative AI as the wild west. There are no specific federal regulations on AI, with regulators instead relying on a patchwork of laws. On Dec. 11, President Donald Trump put out an executive order blocking states from creating their own regulations.

Himmelreich wants students to be able to tackle topics such as how to grow AI without destroying the environment, how AI could impact warfare or if AI could be conscious enough to deserve rights.

The idea of a minor exploring AI has been under discussion since 2020, a couple years before the public explosion of generative AI.

ChatGPT wasnt a technological surprise at all. I mean, Ive been in demos that OpenAI gave for the older models that werent a chat interface. And the difference is that OpenAI changed its policy around how accessible they want the technology to be, Himmelreich said.

Thinking critically about AI is a core part of Milton Santiagos Generative AI Filmmaking class. He launched the three-credit course this past fall, teaching students how to use generative AI in filmmaking while also discussing its impact.

We can intercept a lot of the ethical and moral questions that surround these tools currently, which actually I think is probably the biggest benefit of the class, Santiago said. Students do have to wrestle with questions of where does creativity begin and end? What does authorship actually look like? Is the environmental impact as this technology stands today worth using the tools?

Teaching about AI is not only happening in classes or studies surrounding the topic. Malinovsky said she talks about AI a lot in her English classes. To help her students better understand why they need to do their own work, she sometimes has students do the work themselves then ask an AI chatbot to do the work. Then the students compare and discuss.

As generative AI continues to develop, faculty are learning how to use it along with students. Some, like Ryan, are skeptical of its application and try to avoid it while others, like Santiago, spend hours figuring out the best application for students.

This has shaken up what education does in a way that other technologies havent, Hannan said.

Correction: The Maxwell AI Policy minor began fall 2025 not fall 2026.
Theres nothing quite like an early morning, or late night, at a greasy spoon diner. And according to a new national list, some of the very best are right here in Upstate New York.

The Phoenicia Diner in Phoenicia, the Historic Village Diner in Red Hook and the Eveready Diner in Hyde Park all landed on Huckberrys list of Americas 25 best diners. The clothing retailer praised each spot for delivering classic comfort food alongside a heavy dose of nostalgia.

Heres what makes each one stand out.

Phoenicia Diner, 5681 NY-28, Phoenicia, NY Catskill Region. Michael Greenlar | NYUp.com Michael Greenlar | NYUp.com

Phoenicia Diner

5681 State Route 28, Phoenicia

If youre headed to the Catskills, a stop at the Phoenicia Diner is practically mandatory. Built in 1962 and relocated to the tiny town of Phoenicia, population about 300, in the 1980s, the diner still oozes mid-century charm.

The Phoenicia has earned praise from The New York Times and has appeared in movies and television, most recently as the fictional Pips Bar and Grille in Apple TV+s hit series Severance. Huckberry recommends fueling up here before a hike with an order of the diners home fries, known locally as Phoenician potatoes.

1927 Village Diner in Red Hook, NY. Listed on National Register of Historic Places. Richard Berkowitz | Getty Images Richard Berkowitz | Getty Images

The Historic Village Diner

7550 N Broadway, Red Hook

From the 1920s through the 1950s, the Silk City Diners division of the Paterson Vehicle Co. produced prefabricated diners that popped up across the country. Several still exist in Upstate New York, from a rescue in the Finger Lakes, a 1940s restoration in the Southern Tier, and a ramen house in Albany, but the Historic Village Diner in Red Hook just might be among the oldest.

Dating back to the 1920s, the diner was designed to resemble a railroad dining car. Its cozy interior and vintage details pair perfectly with a menu full of classic comfort food, making it a favorite stop in the Hudson Valley.

Eveready Diner in Hyde Park, N.Y. Joseph Sohm | Getty Images Joseph Sohm | Getty Images

Everready Diner

4184 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park

With shiny silver chrome, this 1950s-style diner has a menu as big as its reputation. Eveready earned national fame when it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri in the Season 1 Local Legends episode. On the Food Network show, Fieri highlighted the diners scratch-made pancake batter and house-baked bread. Huckberry reminds diners to save room for one of Everreadys six pie flavors.
By Chris Gelardi and Jessy Edwards | New York Focus

This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Ernastiaze Moore knew the name of the state prison guard who he alleges sexually assaulted him on two separate occasions at Sullivan Correctional Facility, where he was incarcerated. He remembered the dates of the abuse and the rooms where the attacks took place. His lawyers obtained video of one of the assaults and internal prison reports of both incidents.

His case seemed like exactly the type that the Adult Survivors Act was created for. The 2022 state law temporarily allowed sexual assault victims to bring civil suits against their alleged abusers outside of the typical statute of limitations, which would have required Moore to begin filing within 90 days.

In November 2023, Moores lawyers filed his lawsuit. But a judge dismissed his case before it could get off the ground. The reason: The complaint misstated the year the alleged abuse took place.

Moores lawyers were taken aback. The errors were mere typos, they said. A guard had made the same mistake in two of the state prison agencys internal reports about the incidents, miswriting the date of one as January 2022, rather than 2023. The attorneys asked the judge to let them amend the complaint, a common practice in lawsuits, but the state, represented by the office of Attorney General Letitia James, argued (in a filing that misspelled the judges name) that the typos created a jurisdictional defect. Court of Claims Judge Catherine Schaewe agreed.

Hundreds more lawsuits alleging sexual assault by staff from New Yorks Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, or DOCCS, may soon face the same fate as Moores. The states lawyers plan to ask judges to dismiss up to 500 prison sexual assault cases filed under the Adult Survivors Act, New York Focus and Hell Gate have learned.

The maneuver would be rooted in the strict filing requirements of the Court of Claims, which hears civil cases against the state. In other civil courts  like the states supreme courts, where hundreds of women have filed Adult Survivors Act suits against New York City over sexual abuse by Rikers Island jail staff  claimants can initiate cases by providing limited details. But in cases filed against New York state, judges have ruled that they need to share more information at the outset.

Lawmakers say they didnt intend for filing requirements to stymie Adult Survivors Act claims. I am very concerned by reports that hundreds of Adult Survivors Act cases alleging sexual abuse in state prisons may be subject to dismissal on mere technicalities, said state Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the laws lead sponsor.

Hoylman-Sigal introduced a bill earlier this year that would exempt cases filed under the act from the strict requirements. For survivors of sexual abuse, recalling exact details of these traumatic moments can be difficult, particularly for those whose abuse occurred decades ago, a memo accompanying the bill said. The bill passed the Senate but did not make it to the Assembly floor.

There is an urgent need to amend the Court of Claims law, said Konstantin Yelisavetskiy, a managing attorney at the law firm Slater Slater Schulman, which represents over 1,200 people alleging prison abuse under the Adult Survivors Act.

Without this change, hundreds of abuse survivors risk being denied the day in court that the ASA was designed to guarantee them, he said.

To date, New York Focus and Hell Gate have located two cases where the state has asked a court to dismiss prison Adult Survivors Act claims based on the strict filing criteria. In the first case, Moores, the judge agreed with an assistant attorney generals argument that even typos in the original complaint can render a case dismissable, even while acknowledging that absolute exactness is not required for the state to be able to investigate the claims.

A prison guard looks at a handcuffed Ernastiaze Moore after he is allegedly sexually assaulted. Screenshot from DOCCS video

Moores lawsuit alleged that an officer shoved his finger in Moores anus during a violent strip search in which no contraband was found, then, six months later, beat him in the shower and inserted an object in his rectum. In video of the strip search, first reported by The New York Times, Moore can be heard screaming that officers are punching and sexually assaulting him. The footage shows blood on the walls and on Moores swollen face, and an officer discarding Moores bloodstained underwear.

Moores lawyers are appealing the decision. They argue that the 1930s law and court decisions that established the modern Court of Claims and its filing requirements were never meant to create such a roadblock.

The second dismissal motion, which state lawyers filed in a case brought by a formerly incarcerated woman, has yet to be decided. The woman alleges that throughout 1990 and 1991, two guards and a civilian employee at Groveland Correctional Facility orally and vaginally raped her hundreds of times. The claim includes the last names of one of the officers and the civilian employee, and doesnt include the name of the second officer.

Assistant Attorney General Margaret Jones has argued that the court must dismiss the case because the womans claim did not offer discrete dates of when the hundreds of alleged assaults took place, because the physical descriptions of the men were too vague, and because DOCCS couldnt locate records of the employees she named. In addition to last names, the claim described the prison employees roles, shift times, physical traits, and in one case, a description of a mole on the employees penis.

The two dismissal motions are the first of hundreds that the state plans to file. During an October 15 conference with court officials and lawyers involved in prison Adult Survivors Act cases, attorneys for DOCCS said that the state was planning to ask courts to throw out 500 cases based on the filing requirements, according to Yelisavetskiy and Anna Kull, a partner at the law firm Levy Konigsberg, which represents about 400 claimants in prison Adult Survivors Act cases.

Asked to confirm the planned dismissal motions, the state Office of the Attorney General said that these matters are under review.

Cases brought under the Adult Survivors Act can be emotionally painful and difficult, a spokesperson for Attorney General James said in a statement. As the states attorney, our office has a legal responsibility to represent state agencies, and we work to fulfill that obligation while also supporting survivors rights. Every survivor of sexual assault deserves access to justice, and we are committed to ensuring that they are heard and respected.

A DOCCS spokesperson said the agency does not comment on active litigation and had no comment on the typo dismissal.

When signing the bill, Governor Kathy Hochul hailed the Adult Survivors Act as an important step in empowering survivors across New York. She may not have realized that many of the resulting claims would be against the state itself: Over half of the 3,000 cases filed under the law ended up alleging sexual abuse by staff in the states prisons, with those claimants suing New York for over $30 billion in damages, according to a New York Focus and Hell Gate analysis. (Civil cases often settle for far less than the amount claimants originally sue for.)

Advocates have long decried rampant and underreported sexual abuse in New York prisons. A recent nationwide federal Department of Justice study found that two of the states womens facilities have the highest and third highest reported rates of sexual victimization among the 177 prisons surveyed.

The Court of Claims law dictates that when filing a case, claimants must state the time when, place where, and nature of the wrong that took place. Courts have strictly interpreted that requirement. In a consequential decision earlier this year, the Court of Appeals, New Yorks highest court, ordered the Court of Claims to dismiss a case filed under the Child Victims Act, a 2019 law that paused statutes of limitations in the same way the Adult Survivors Act did, but for child sexual abuse lawsuits. The claimant didnt know the names of the state employees who allegedly abused him and could only offer a four-year window during which the alleged abuse occurred  a level of detail that would likely fly in other courts, but which the Court of Appeals ruled didnt satisfy Court of Claims filing requirements. The case set the bar for how to apply the strict requirements to the thousands of old cases filed under the two laws.

There are so many stumbling blocks for litigants, especially incarcerated individuals, that it makes it almost impossible for them to successfully bring claims in the Court of Claims, said Cassandra Rohme, chair of the civil rights division at Liakas Law and one of Moores attorneys.

Advocates for survivors say the trauma of being sexually assaulted makes it unreasonable to ask people to recall the exact details of the abuse, especially in years- or decades-old cases. Prison cases are especially difficult, as incarcerated people often dont know the names of all of the officers and staff who oversee them and need to access prison records to obtain those details. A New York Focus and Hell Gate analysis of the roughly 1,600 prison Adult Survivors Act claims shows that most of the alleged abuse took place in the 2000s and 2010s, but some instances go as far back as the 1970s.

The State is escaping liability precisely because these survivors were traumatized and the abuse happened long ago, the very circumstances the Legislature sought to remedy, Kull said in a statement. DOCCS, she added, is weaponizing the filing requirements to do exactly what the revival statute was enacted to prevent: slam the courthouse doors on traumatized prison-rape survivors.

In its opinion on the Child Victims Act case, the states top court suggested that the legislature should have thought of such difficulties when opening windows for old sex abuse claims. The [Child Victims Act] lacks any indication, let alone a clear expression, that the Legislature intended to exempt CVA claims from filing criteria, the court wrote.

Hoylman-Sigal said that decision was fundamentally misguided and contrary to the clear intent of the Child Victims Act, as well as the Adult Survivors Act, which was to allow survivors to have their day in court. Hoylman-Sigal also sponsored the Child Victims Act.

The ASA should not be construed to require victims of sexual abuse in state prisons to remember the exact details of an assault decades later, he said. Nor should cases be dismissed on technicalities so little as a typo in a pleading.

The top court wrote that the time, place, and other details in Court of Claims abuse complaints need to be specific enough for the state to promptly investigate the claim and determine its liability. That leaves room for interpretation, and its unclear how judges might wield the standard when the state begins to file more motions to dismiss.

In a statement, state Senator Julia Salazar, who leads the Senates corrections committee, called the potential dismissals an extreme injustice.

Instead of burying these issues in legal technicalities, the State should address the crisis directly, compensate individuals who were subjected to sexual abuse while incarcerated, and work urgently on all reforms necessary to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, Salazar said.

Chris Bragg contributed reporting. Elsie Carson-Holt, Celia Young and Paige Oamek contributed research.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A rupture in a major distribution line is jeopardizing water supplies for tens of thousands of people in six towns east of Syracuse.

Since Saturday, officials have urged businesses and residents to conserve water in DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Sullivan, Lenox and Lincoln. That includes Onondaga County Water Authority users in villages in those towns, too.

Officials issued a mandatory conservation notice on Monday, directing residents and businesses to reduce non-essential water usage. Without those efforts, users in the six towns could lose water service in about five or six days.

How is that going in your home or business? Are you seeing lower water pressure? Out of water completely? Sending workers home or buying up supplies?

Please share your stories with us. You can either fill out this form, use the form below, or email citynews@syracuse.com.

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The water issues were caused by a rupture over the weekend in a massive concrete pipe operated by the Onondaga County Water Authority.

That pipe typically moves millions of gallons of water each day to 27,000 customer accounts in the towns of DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Sullivan, Lenox and Lincoln.

A complicated repair job at the site of the rupture in Cicero could take until early January, OCWA Director Jeff Brown has said. Its the first major problem for the pipe since it was built in the 1960s.

In the meantime, county officials have been trying to solve a math problem.

The ruptured pipe typically carried about 5 million gallons a day of Lake Ontario water to the six towns.

Central New Yorks Water Authority is urging customers in several Onondaga and Madison County communities to conserve water after a major break in a transmission main, officials said Saturday. Central New Yorks Water Authority

A series of makeshift solutions  getting water from the cities of Syracuse and Oneida, plus drawing more than usual from Otisco Lake  is bringing in 3.5 million to 4 million gallons.

That leaves a gap of 1 million to 1.5 million gallons, or 20-30% of the typical daily demand for water.

The biggest water consumer in the six towns is the pharmaceutical company Lotte Biologics, near East Syracuse. Lotte uses an average of 210,000 gallons per day, according to OCWAs 2024 annual report.

A typical household uses 370 gallons on average per day, according to OCWA data.

OCWA has issued the following restrictions for the six towns:
Syracuse, N.Y.  If residents and businesses in six Central New York towns affected by a water pipe rupture keep using water as normal, some could run out of drinking water in less than a week and some businesses could be temporarily shut down, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said today.

McMahon said the Onondaga County Water Authority can provide about five to six days of water at current usage in the six towns, but it could take two weeks to repair the pipe.

That means both businesses and people in the towns, including DeWitt, Manlius and Pompey, need to conserve now, he said.

We have to do better or else we have serious challenges ahead, McMahon said at a news conference late this afternoon. To be crystal clear, if the amount of gallons per day do not change out of this service area, there will be days where there will likely not be water.

Residents in the area have started receiving public safety alerts on their phones that read: OCWA has announced a major water break that requires a mandatory water conservation order.

OCWA Executive Director Jeff Brown said the water authority is monitoring usage after issuing an alert Saturday that a 42-inch diameter pipe burst and water reserves for the six towns quickly fell.

He said the next steps in conservation guidance and orders will be dictated by how people and businesses react in the coming days.

The next several days will be very, very telling, Brown said. Are we getting the level of water conservation that we need to keep everybody in water, or are people continuing to operate as normal? That will be really the tipping point.

OCWA has already told car washes to shut down for now. McMahon said the county could use its emergency powers to temporarily close water-using businesses such as restaurants and coffee shops.

McMahon said the county is preparing for the possibility that water could run out. The county has secured sufficient drinking water for the affected area, he said.

OCWA announced over the weekend that the transmission main ruptured in Cicero and would need to be replaced. That pipe carried about 5 million gallons a day of Lake Ontario water to the six towns.

Those towns are DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Sullivan, Lenox and Lincoln.

The Onondaga County Water Authority has issued mandatory conservatoin measures in six towns in Onondaga and Madison County communities to conserve water after a major break in a transmission main on Saturday. Central New Yorks Water Authority

The agency is scrambling to repair the ruptured concrete pipe that delivers water to 27,000 customer accounts in those towns. The complicated repair could take two weeks, Brown said. Its the first major problem for that section of pipe since it was built in the 1960s.

Right now, water is being supplied to those areas from a storage facility in Cicero that has about 10 million gallons of water, or about 20% of its normal capacity. OCWA is pumping extra water into those tanks from other sources, but not fast enough to keep up with the usual demand.

To keep refilling the tanks, OCWA is getting water from the cities of Oneida and Syracuse, and Otisco Lake. DeWitt is getting its water right now from Syracuse. Oneida is supplying Canastota.

All of those measures are delivering a combined 3.5 million to 4 million gallons a day to a pair of enclosed tanks in Cicero, Brown said.

That leaves a 1 million to 1.5 million gallon gap  and theres where the conservation effort and water users come in.

All the water has been treated and is safe to drink, McMahon said, although some users may see some discoloration in their tap water.

Brown said OCWA has contacted the largest users in the area and they are taking steps to ease the burden on the agency.

Theyve been very willing to work with us, going to other facilities outside of the impacted area, whether its getting water from the city of Syracuse, changing their operations or other options, Brown said. We are cautiously optimistic that those are going to allow us to continue on the path to keeping everybody in water.

The biggest water user in the six towns is pharmaceutical firm Lotte Biologics, near East Syracuse. Lotte uses an average of 210,000 gallons per day, according to OCWAs 2024 annual report.

In an emailed statement, Lotte said it has implemented actions to reduce water consumption, but gave no details.

A typical household uses 370 gallons on average per day, according to OCWAs data.

Replacing the section of pipe that ruptured could take two weeks largely because the soil is soaked and unstable from recent rain and snow melt, Brown said. Contractors first have to erect a wall of steel sheeting to make it safe for workers.

But the big job, he said, is pumping out all of that groundwater and stabilizing the site before connecting the new section of pipe, which will be about 120 feet long.

Believe it or not, the repair itself is relatively straightforward compared to the other things that we have to do to get the site ready, Brown said.

New York state is sending several tankers that can carry potable water, according to a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul. One 6,700-gallon water tanker is being deployed to Onondaga County, and three 500-gallon tankers are being sent to Madison County.

How is this water shortage affecting you? Have you been notified to close your business or send workers home? How is your water pressure? Please share your experiences with us at citynews@syracuse.com.

OCWA has issued the following restrictions for the six towns:

As an alternative, use laundry facilities in unaffected parts of the OCWA system (western and northern Onondaga County).

Adjusting all water-using appliances to use the minimum amount of water.

Running the dishwasher and washing machine at full load. If you wash dishes by hand, use a bucket or container with soapy water and only use the faucet for quick rinsing of scrubbed dishes.

Taking 5-minute showers and shallower baths. Turn off the shower while soaping; turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, etc.

Reducing the number of toilet flushes per day. Each flush uses about 5 to 7 gallons.

Using sink and tub stoppers to avoid wasting water.

Keeping a bottle of chilled drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the water till it gets cold.

Eliminating use of water for ornamental purposes, including but not limited to fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools.

Reusing water when possible.

Commercial Customers: Limiting non-essential work practices that involve water usage and utilizing additional water conservation measures such as having employees work from home.

Car Washes: Pausing all wash services until mandatory conservation is lifted and full water service is restored.

Staff writer Mark Weiner contributed to this story.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- A new Syracuse Common Council will decide next year if a company should be allowed to build a large-scale battery storage facility in a South Side neighborhood.

Members of the council decided Monday during a study session to hold the issue until next year, on the legal advice of Joe Barry, the citys first assistant corporation counsel.

Barry said his office will research and then provide the council with legal options in the new year.

Troy-based New Leaf Energy argued earlier this month before the Common Councils Economic Development Committee that the city should grant it a special-use permit. That would allow the company to build the battery energy storage systems at 426 E. Brighton Ave.

The systems charge up at night using power from the grid when demand for electricity is lowest. Then, the company gets paid to feed that power back to the grid during the daytime, when demand is highest. The batteries would store enough electricity to serve 6,000 to 7,000 households.

But some residents, the citys fire chief and a common councilor have expressed concerns, especially about potential fires.

At a meeting earlier in December, fire Chief Michael Monds said the plans do not meet his standards for fire safety.

The projects senior project developer, Terrence Nolan, said a fire is highly unlikely.

But if there is a fire, its left to burn itself out. The batteries are stored inside a metal box. Water is used to stop the fire from spreading, but the water cant reach the flames inside the box.

That means firefighters would have to monitor the fire and make sure it doesnt spread to other structures.

A battery storage site in Warwick in Orange County caught fire Friday, according to the Albany Times Union. The paper reports the fire at the Convergent battery storage site has burned for at least three days and that Warwick Village Mayor Michael Newhard said the fire was caused by water in the storage system.

Monds said the design for the 20,000-square-foot system situate it too closely to the neighboring structures around it.

A sign at 426 E. Brighton Ave. describes a proposed battery storage facility at the site. syracuse.com

Councilor Pat Hogan proposed in a study session last week that the city create a moratorium on issuing permits for this type of project. He said the New Leaf proposal isnt the only one thats come up in the city.

He said a moratorium would give Monds time to establish some sort of procedure that we can follow with these types of projects. Hogan also proposed holding a public hearing before making a decision on the permit.

Councilor Corey Williams said he was opposed to a moratorium.

Williams will still be on the council next year, but Hogan wont be.

I think we can handle it procedurally within the council and within our current operations, Williams said.

Williams said with that strategy, the councilors can reject bad plans and accept good ones, as more proposals are expected to roll in.

New York officials authorized a new round of financial incentives to encourage the development of the battery systems. The incentives aim to increase the reliability of the electric grid as demand for energy in New York ramps up with the growth of data centers and advanced manufacturing.

The lithium-ion battery facilities are billed as environmentally friendly because they could reduce the need to generate energy with natural gas and oil to meet peak demand.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Tens of thousands of residents in six Central New York towns face days of low water pressure and, in some cases, a loss of water service if a plea for conservation doesnt work, an official said today.

The Onondaga County Water Authority says residents and businesses of those towns must slash their water use while the authority repairs a major transmission line break. The agency today issued mandatory restrictions, including shutting down car washes and urging other businesses to use less water and send workers home.

OCWAs top official said water supplies should last, though if the community conservation effort doesnt work over the next two weeks, some taps could dry up.

Nobody should run out of water, said Jeff Brown, executive director of the authority. What we are going to have a problem with, however, is if people do not conserve water, and some of the efforts to modify our operations are not successful, then (losing water) is a possibility.

That would only affect a small number of users, Brown told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Monday afternoon.

READ MORE: McMahon: If residents of 6 CNY towns dont conserve water, we have serious challenges

The authority is urging large water consumers in those towns to decrease their consumption, though it didnt single out any type of business other than car washes to stop operations.

A leading engineer at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry told syracuse.com that its possible some residents will lose water.

Already by Monday afternoon, low water pressure was becoming an issue in some areas, Brown said.

We are starting to hear some reports of low pressure, but nothing of such significance that people cannot carry on their daily activities, or businesses are unable to run, he said.

Minoa Village Mayor William Brazill said his water pressure was down Monday morning.

Its very serious, the mayor said. We really do need to conserve. My concern is that people dont take this seriously because they have water, so they feel comfortable.

The Onondaga County Water Authority has issued mandatory conservatoin measures in six towns in Onondaga and Madison County communities to conserve water after a major break in a transmission main on Saturday. Central New Yorks Water Authority

The agency is scrambling to repair a weekend rupture to the concrete pipe that delivers water to 27,000 customer accounts in the towns of DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Sullivan, Lenox and Lincoln. The complicated repair could take two weeks, Brown said.

The busted pipeline, 42 inches in diameter, provides about 5 million gallons a day to the affected towns. Now that supply is dry.

To fill in that massive gap, Brown said, the agency has pulled in water from several other areas. Its drawing extra water from Otisco Lake with temporary pumps; bringing water from Skaneateles Lake via the city of Syracuses system; and buying water from the city of Oneida, which has a reservoir in the hills of Oneida County.

All of those measures are delivering a combined 3.5 million to 4 million gallons a day to a pair of enclosed tanks in Cicero, Brown said.

That leaves a 1 million to 1.5 million gap -- and theres where the conservation effort and water users come in.

All of these things together alone are not going to be sufficient, Brown said. We are still needing the help of our customers through water conservation.

Theres a real chance that some users could run out of water if the current shortfall continues, said Stephen Shaw, an engineering professor at SUNY ESF.

I think there is some risk involved, legitimately, of not having water, said Shaw, who chairs the colleges Department of Environmental Resources Engineering. Its not just like a distribution line on a residential street that only affects that street. Its a major district transmission line that is supplying water to whole towns.

The biggest water user in the six towns is pharmaceutical firm Lotte Biologics, in East Syracuse. Lotte did not return messages seeking comment.

Lotte uses an average of 210,000 gallons per day, according to OCWAs 2024 annual report.

In an emailed statement, Lotte said it has implemented actions to reduce water consumption, but gave no details.

A typical household uses 370 gallons on average per day.

Brown said OCWA has been in touch with the biggest water consumers in the affected area and they have all agreed to cut back their water use.

The water OCWA is pumping in from other sources is going into a pair of covered tanks in Cicero with a combined capacity of 50 million gallons. Theyre only 25% full now, Brown said, and dropping slowly because OCWAs inputs arent equaling the demand.

We are pumping more out of it than is going back into it, he said.

OCWAs larger transmission mains (30 and larger) are all made from reinforced concrete pipe. Courtesy OCWA

The 42-inch-diameter pipe carries Lake Ontario water from a pump station in Clay to eastern Onondaga County and western Madison County. The break, near Northern Boulevard and East Taft Road, led the water authority to issue a conservation alert Saturday.

Fixing the pipe is the easy part, Brown said Monday. What could take days, he said, is pumping out groundwater from the rupture site.

The restrictions also include hard-to-enforce provisions like limiting showers to five minutes and reducing the number of toilet flushes per day. (See a full list of restrictions below.)

How is this water shortage affecting you? Have you been notified to close your business or send workers home? How is your water pressure? Please share your experiences with us at citynews@syracuse.com.
On Dec. 3, a 10-month-old Great Pyrenees pup got stranded on the ice in the middle of a pond off Fairchild Road in the town of Remsen.

Oneida County Sheriffs were first on the scene and requested assistance from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police for an ice water rescue.

A member of DECs Flood Incident Response Team, along with members of Barneveld Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team and Holland Patent Fire Department, broke through the ice utilizing a boat and webbing.

In the event the fluffy white pooch, whose name is Archie, didnt come to them on command, rescuers also carried a special piece of equipment: a chunk of delicious sharp cheddar cheese.

The plan worked, and after a few attempts, rescuers successfully enticed Archie aboard an inflatable boat and floated him safely to shore.

The following reports are excerpted from DEC:

ECOs ticketed a person (on left in blue coat) for harassing two Long Island waterfowl hunters on Nov. 30. NYS DEC

Two waterfowl hunters were harassed on DEC property in Brookhaven on Nov. 30. ECOs and Suffolk County Police conducted a waterfowl hunting compliance check on the hunters and found no violations. The hunters showed police a video of someone yelling at them and throwing their decoys. The person in the video returned to the location and, in view of the ECOs, again began yelling at the hunters. ECOs issued the person tickets for interfering with the lawful taking of fish or game and failure to obey a DEC sign.

A 29-year-old hunter fell approximately 15 feet from his tree stand in Salem on Nov. 24. He was not wearing a safety harness. Local fire department personnel put the victim in a neck brace but had difficulty getting him to a utility terrain vehicle due to the hilly and wooded terrain. An ECO directed the packaging of the injured hunter in a litter and helped carry him a half mile out of the woods to a landing zone where he was airlifted to Burlington Medical Center.

ECOs recently ticketed several anglers in Lower Manhattan for keeping undersized fish, along with other violations. NYS DEC

Several anglers in Lower Manhattan unlawfully hid numerous undersized fish in locations around Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park on Nov. 20. Two undercover ECOs patrolling the area alerted uniformed officers who then issued six tickets for keeping undersized fish, along with other violations.

On Nov. 16, a hunter reported finding a freshly killed antlerless deer in a Greenwich field where no one else had permission to hunt. An ECO watched the deer for several hours without anyone retrieving it. The next day, the deer was gone. The ECO tracked the animal back to a Greenwich residence and interviewed several members of the same family over a two-week period, including one 20-year-old man who claimed the deer was roadkill that he picked up. The ECO confiscated a rifle from the home that he believed was used to illegally kill the deer. On Dec. 4, the man was arrested and charged with felony criminal contempt, criminal possession of a weapon, submitting a false written statement, and child endangerment, illegal take of an antlerless deer, and hunting without a license. The deer was donated to a venison donation program.

An ECO holds an unlicensed juvenile crocodile and dwarf caiman that Yonkers police discovered while conducting an arrest for unrelated charges on Dec. 10. NYS DEC

Yonkers police discovered two reptilesa juvenile crocodile and dwarf caimanwhile conducting an arrest for unrelated charges on Dec. 10. The reptiles were placed in a properly licensed facility and ECOs issued multiple tickets to the owner for illegally possessing reptiles without the required permit

An ECO found this stray dog on Orchard Beach in Bronx County and took it to a shelter where it's now awaiting adoption. NYS DEC

On December 6, two ECOs doing fishing compliance patrols in New York City found a stray dog without tags on Orchard Beach in Bronx County. They managed to get the dog on a leash and take it to the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter, which confirmed the animal was not microchipped and likely abandoned. A volunteer-based no-kill pet rescue in Harrison took the dog in, where he is currently available for adoption under the name Hooch.
COLOMBO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka Police will roll out an island-wide security and traffic management operation during the Christmas and New Year period in order to ensure public safety amid increased travel and large public gatherings, the country's Police Headquarters said.

Police headquarters said the measures will be in force throughout Christmas Eve and extend into the early hours of the New Year in 2026. The Inspector General of Police has instructed senior police officers at both provincial and local levels to implement a coordinated security framework alongside a structured traffic control plan during the festive period.

The police said the arrangements are aimed at supporting the safe movement of people into and within major urban centers, where higher volumes of travel are expected for religious observances, shopping, and seasonal events.

Tourist-frequented areas such as hotels, shopping malls, and other popular destinations will also be monitored closely to ensure safety throughout the holiday period, police said. 
A suspected serial killer has been charged with a third murder in Upstate New York.

WIVB reports Richard Fox, 62, of Buffalo, is accused of killing 32-year-old Crystal Curthoys, of Lockport, in Niagara Falls. Fox allegedly killed Curthoys in January 2023; human remains identified as Curthoys were found in March 2025 at a Niagara Falls home where Fox previously lived.

According to WKBW, Fox appeared in Niagara County Court on Monday, where he was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge.

Fox was arrested in January 2025 for the murder of two other women, Marquita Mull and Cassandra Watson. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in September and was sentenced last month to 40 years to life in prison.

Watson was strangled to death in 2003 or 2004 in Buffalo when she was about 40 years old, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. Her skeletal remains were found by a hiker in 2021 in the Chautauqua County town of Portland, near where Fox grew up. Investigators said Fox was in a relationship with Watson at the time of her disappearance and the victim was not reported missing to law enforcement.

Mull, 50, was killed nearly two decades later in June 2021 at another location in Buffalo, according to Erie County D.A. Michael J. Keane. She was reported missing by her family and her body was found in September 2021 during the excavation of Watsons skeletal remains near the Chautauqua Rails to Trails hiking path, about 50 miles southwest of Buffalo.

Curthoys body was found boarded up under basement stairs in a home where Fox once lived on Orleans Avenue in Niagara Falls. The remains were discovered during an investigation into Fox after he was charged with the murders of Watson and Mull.

According to WIVB, Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone said in November he believes that Fox is a serial killer. Two or three homicides in the Western New York county remain unsolved.

I do believe that there is other victims, Quattrone told the Buffalo TV station. Were hopeful that Richard Fox will hopefully try to ease his conscience a little bit and give us some more information.

WIVB reports Fox was also previously convicted of two sex crimes. In 1993, he was convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl and served 18 months to three years in prison. In 2005, he was convicted of raping a 42-year-old Buffalo woman and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Fox, who is currently being held at Niagara County jail, is scheduled to return to court Jan. 5.
West Palm Beach  President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a new warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the U.S. Coast Guard steps up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Republican administrations escalating pressure campaign on the government in Caracas.

Trump was surrounded by his top national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as he suggested that he remains ready to further escalate his four-month pressure campaign on the Maduro government, which began with the stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal drugs from the South American nation but has developed into something more amorphous.

If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hell ever be able to play tough, Trump said of Maduro as he took a break from his Florida holiday vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.

Trump levied his latest threat as the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday continued for a second day to chase a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration describes as part of a dark fleet Venezuela is using to evade U.S. sanctions. The tanker, according to the White House, is flying under a false flag and is under a U.S. judicial seizure order.

Its moving along and well end up getting it, Trump said.

It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that U.S. officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, also part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. That ship was registered in Panama.

Trump, after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly said that Maduros days in power are numbered.

Last week, Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, said in a Monday appearance on Fox & Friends that the targeting of tankers is intended to send a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.

Russian diplomats evacuate families from Caracas

Meanwhile, Russias Foreign Ministry started evacuating the families of diplomats from Venezuela, according to a European intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The official told The Associated Press the evacuations include women and children and began on Friday, adding that Russian Foreign Ministry officials are assessing the situation in Venezuela in very grim tones. The ministry said in an X posting that it was not evacuating the embassy but did not address queries about whether it was evacuating the families of diplomats.

Venezuelas Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Monday said he spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who he said expressed Russias support for Venezuela against Trumps declared blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.

We reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government, Gil said in a statement.

The scene on a Venezuelan beach near a refinery

While U.S. forces targeted the vessels in international waters over the weekend, a tanker thats considered part of the shadow fleet was spotted moving between Venezuelan refineries, including one about three hours west of the capital, Caracas.

The tanker remained at the refinery in El Palito through Sunday, when families went to the towns beach to relax with children now on break from school.

Music played on loudspeakers as people swam and surfed with the tanker in the background. Families and groups of teenagers enjoyed themselves, but Manuel Salazar, who has parked cars at the beach for more than three decades, noticed differences from years past, when the countrys oil-dependent economy was in better shape and the energy industry produced at least double the current 1 million barrels per day.

Up to nine or 10 tankers would wait out there in the bay. One would leave, another would come in, Salazar, 68, said. Now, look, one.

The tanker in El Palito has been identified by Transparencia Venezuela, an independent watchdog promoting government accountability, to be part of the shadow fleet.

Area residents on Sunday recalled when tankers would sound their horns at midnight New Years Eve, while some would even send up fireworks to celebrate the holiday.

Before, during vacations, theyd have barbecues; now all you see is bread with bologna, Salazar said of Venezuelan families spending the holiday at the beach next to the refinery. Things are expensive. Food prices keep going up and up every day.

Venezuelas ruling party-controlled National Assembly on Monday gave initial approval to a measure that would criminalize a broad range of activities that could be linked to the seizure of oil tankers.

Lawmaker Giuseppe Alessandrello, who introduced the bill, said people could be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years for promoting, requesting, supporting, financing or participating in acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

The Defense Department, under Trumps orders, continues its campaign of attacks on smaller vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that it alleges are carrying drugs to the United States and beyond.

At least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.
BANGKOK, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura stated on Tuesday that Thailand appreciates China's role in facilitating the de-escalation of tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

Addressing a press briefing on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation the same day, Nikorndej said Thailand appreciated China's engagement and its role in de-escalating the confrontation between Thailand and Cambodia, and commended China for upholding an objective and impartial position.

The spokesperson also briefed the press on Thailand's participation in the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on Monday. He reaffirmed that Thailand remains committed to resolving the issue through bilateral frameworks, stressing that any sustainable solution must be driven directly by Thailand and Cambodia.

A meeting of the General Border Committee is scheduled on Wednesday in Thailand, where military representatives from both countries will conduct consultations on ceasefire arrangements. 
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At the end of a year thats felt a little lacking in glad tidings, at least theres no shortage of Christmas movies to escape into. Whether youre running back the entire Home Alone saga, revisiting one of the many, many iterations of A Christmas Carol or simply relaxing with a formulaic rom-com about a woman with a Big City job falling for a charming small-town Christmas tree salesman, you could easily watch festive films back-to-back all December and still have plenty of movies to spare.

If, however, youve reached the point where the sight of yet another real-life Santa is enough to have you reaching for the off switch, there are still plenty of darker, stranger alternatives on offer. Beyond the perennial debate about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie (Macaulay Culkin says no), there are plenty of other great movies ripe for a rewatch, thanks to a latent Yuletide theme or just because splattering the walls with blood is their idea of putting up the decorations.

Here are five underrated dark comedies and festive horrors worth enjoying this Christmas:

1. In Bruges (2008)

open image in gallery Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell in Martin McDonagh's In Bruges ( Universal Pictures )

Almost a decade before the Oscar-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, writer-director Martin McDonagh made his feature directorial debut with this sublime tale about a pair of hitmen hiding out in the lovely Belgian city of Bruges. The hilarious, sweary dialogue is endlessly quotable, as Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrells Ken and Ray potter around the fairytale town like an Irish update of The Odd Couple.

But is it a Christmas movie? Of course it is! Not only does the holiday provide the setting, with Ray lamenting of one of his victims that theres a Christmas tree somewhere in London with a bunch of presents underneath it thatll never be opened, but the whole story is deeply infused with religious themes. Its no accident that Ken and Ray go to visit a church said to contain a vial of birthday boy Jesus Christs blood. This is ultimately a film about transgression, forgiveness and the possibility of redemption. What could be more Christmassy than that?

2. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

open image in gallery Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr in Shane Blacks Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang ( Warner Bros )

Robert Downey Jr famously made his comeback from Hollywood exile in this highly enjoyable comic take on a hardboiled detective neo-noir, starring opposite the late, great Val Kilmer and a memorably Santa suit-clad Michelle Monaghan. The film was the directorial debut of Shane Black, a blockbuster screenwriter with a penchant for setting films, including Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Iron Man 3, during the holidays.

Speaking to Empire in 2022, Black traced his obsession back to watching Christmas-set Seventies spy thriller Three Days of the Condor as a child, recalling: It struck a spark, to take a holiday and make it not just a backdrop but a character itself. As for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, he added: Christmas helped a lot. The idea of this lonely guy in a brand new city at Christmas, wandering... Its a bizarre, ironic take on Christmas in LA.

3. Krampus (2015)

open image in gallery The shadow of Krampus in Krampus ( Universal Pictures )

Horror-comedy Krampus sets itself up as a conventional Christmas delight. The film opens with Bing Crosby crooning Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas while families squabble over toys in supermarkets and sweet-looking grandmothers bake cookies in front of A Christmas Carol. Its only after a forbidding storm gathers and the power goes out that things take a turn for the mythologically terrifying.

A great cast led by Adam Scott and Toni Collette makes this a likeable watch, as their family does battle with adorable but deadly CGI gingerbread men and a truly horrifying child-eating Jack in the Box. The film also features an endearing animated sequence explaining the origin of Krampus, the shadow of St Nicholas, who comes not to reward, but to punish. A good reminder to make sure youre nice, rather than naughty, this year.

4. Trading Places (1983)

open image in gallery Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in Trading Places ( Paramount Pictures )

Christmas, huh? spits Dan Aykroyds Louis in this screwball rags-to-riches and riches-to-rags comedy. Ill give him a Christmas present hell never forget! Thats shortly before he turns up drunk to the company holiday party dressed in a disheveled Santa suit, shoveling beef into his pockets, attempting to plant drugs on Murphys character, Billy Ray, and waving a gun around. Despite this, director John Landis has revealed he never meant Trading Places to be seen as a movie for the holidays. The image of Dan Aykroyd as a reprobate, drunken, suicidal Santa is indelible, and we wanted to make it seem like Christmas, he told Forbes in 2020. But it was not my intention to make it a Christmas movie.

Whether Landis intended it or not, the film has become an annual tradition for many. In Italy, the film is regularly aired on Christmas Eve, and it isnt hard to see why. Beyond the holiday setting, theres more than a touch of Dickens A Christmas Carol to the way Aykroyds character is forced to learn whats really important in life by being shown an alternate reality, even if in this story its because hes the victim of an elaborate wager between his wealthy bosses. Not everything about the film has aged well: Murphys character uses the same homophobic slur that gets Fairytale of New York in trouble, and another scene features Aykroyd disguised as a Jamaican in Blackface. Beyond that, however, the film remains a consistently hilarious and quotable festive treat and a welcome reminder of the talent that made Murphy the biggest comedy star of the era.

5. Terrifier 3 (2024)

open image in gallery David Howard Thornton in Terrifier 3 ( Dark Age Cinema )

Even if you really want to shake up your Christmas movie list this year, a word of warning: Do not, under any circumstances, show Terrifier 3 to small children. It may feature mute serial killer Art the Clown dressed up as Santa Claus, but this unrelentingly gory slasher sequel is definitely not fun for all the family (just wait until you find out how Art got hold of Santas beard).

For those who are prepared to dive into the bloody mess this December, you may be wondering whether you need to have seen the first two Terrifiers. While it might be helpful to know a little of the fantastical backstory, particularly that Art was decapitated by our hero Sienna at the end of Terrifier 2, frankly, the whole thing operates under the sort of nightmare demon logic that you just have to go along with. One things for sure: Youll never look at snow angels the same way again.
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James Cameron has called out Amy Poehlers ignorant joke about him at the Golden Globes, saying it went too far.

The Titanic director, whose new Avatar sequel is in cinemas now, was mocked by Poehler at the 2013 ceremony, when the filmmakers ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow was nominated for Zero Dark Thirty.

Poehler, addressing the controversy surrounding Zero Dark Thirtys torture scenes, quipped: When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron.

Cameron, who was married to Bigelow from 1989 to 1991, does not reflect on the joke positively, and in a new interview, said he was also left disappointed that his Hollywood peers found it funny.

Amy Poehlers remark was an ignorant dig at an event which is supposed to be a celebration of cinema and filmmakers, not a roast, the 71-year-old told The New York Times.

Im pretty thick-skinned and happy to be the butt of a good-natured joke, but that went too far. The fact that people found it funny shows exactly what they think of me, even though they have no idea who I am or how I work.

The Independent has contacted Poehler for comment.

Poehlers joke alluded to Camerons reputation for being an exacting perfectionist. Titanic star Kate Winslet once claimed Cameron had "a temper like you wouldn't believe", while Avatars lead Sam Worthington said if a mobile phone went off, on set, he'd nail it to the wall with a nailgun.

Cameron himself has commented on his reputation, telling The Independent in 2013: "Would I nail a cellphone to the wall with a nailgun? Absolutely, if it went off in the middle of a take, but it doesn't mean I would be emotionally enraged. I would do it in a calculated theatrical way. But when the story gets told later, it sounds like somebody whos constantly off at the deep end."

He also said that people would not continue to work with him if he were as bad as is reported. "The reality is passion for the work  the reality is that I have people who are very loyal to me and come back project after project, so I can't be that bad."

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open image in gallery James Camerons new film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is in cinemas now ( Getty Images for 20th Century St )

Winslet is one such actor, having returned to work with Cameron on Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash.

However, Cameron did admit he used to play up to the "image of what a filmmaker was supposed to be", stating: I think when you couple that with the short temper that I had because of the short budgets that I had in my earlier productions, he might have been difficult.

But he said his character has "evolved" and there's no room for that kind of behaviour.

In 2009, Cameron and Bigelow were both in contention for Best Director Oscars for Avatar and The Hurt Locker, with Cameron telling The New York Times he was a little concerned the meta-narrative about their marriage would take away from Bigelows credibility as a filmmaker.

It started to turn into a conversation that wasnt about her film, and that bothered both of us, he said, but added that, when Bigelow eventually won, he was the first one on his feet applauding.

open image in gallery Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron were married from 1989 to 1991 ( Getty Images )

Three of Camerons films  Titanic, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water  are among the top five highest-grossing films of all time. Avengers: Endgame and animated Chinese film Ne Zha 2 round out the list.

Cameron has been married to Suzy Amis Cameron since 2000.
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Christopher Nolan fans have been left excited after a full trailer for The Odyssey teased a genuinely creepy reveal of the Cyclops.

The directors forthcoming historical epic  an adaptation of Homers epic Greek poem  will be released in July 2026, and a new full look at the film has been released online.

Matt Damon is shown in the trailer as Odysseus, king of Ithaca, as he journeys home in full Spartan warrior armour after the Trojan War, with Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway also seen as characters Telemachus and Penelope.

But its the tease of Polyphemus  the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa  thats causing most excitement. Midway through the trailer, Odysseus is shown looking up in terror as the shadow of a giant character enters the cave hes in with his soldiers.

The fact that were about to see a Cyclops in a Christopher Nolan movie is actually INSANE, one person wrote, with another stating: Totally giving me Jason & The Argonauts vibes and I love it. Almost looks like they might be using forced perspective for the effect.

Others highlighted that the moment looks genuinely creepy, with one person commenting on X/Twitter: I already know this guy is gonna be scary as hell in the movie.

The scene was shot in Nestor Cave and Voidokilia Beach in Greece. To heighten the effect of the creature, it has been reported that Nolan, known for shunning CGI, built a mechanical anthropomorphic puppet.

Its strongly suspected that Bill Irwin, the actor who did the voice and puppetry for the robotic TARS in Interstellar, will play Polyphemus.

'The Odyssey' trailer teases Cyclops reveal ( Universal Pictures )

Damon has said making The Odyssey was the best experience of his career, and called the film massively entertaining.

Addressing Odysseuss epic journey in the film, the actor stated: If youre going to have an existential crisis as you pass the Sirens and youre lashed to a mast, its there. If it says youre running for your life from a Cyclops, youre going to run for your life. Chris doesnt hide the ball.

The Odyssey will be Nolans first film since Oppenheimer, a film that dominated the 2024 awards season, winning seven Oscars, seven Baftas, five Golden Globes and numerous other high-profile awards.

It will be the third time Damon has worked with Nolan after Interstellar and Oppenheimer.
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Former child actor Shaun Weiss, who starred as Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks film franchise, is calling on fans to help him locate former Nickelodeon star Tylor Chase after his appearance in a recent viral video worried fans.

Chase, 36, was spotted on the streets of Riverside, California, appearing disheveled and unhoused. In several clips filmed by fans, he confirmed that he was on the Nickelodeon series Neds Declassified School Survival Guide.

According to TMZ, the Riverside police said that they are familiar with Chase, and interact with him at least once a week, offering him mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and temporary housing, which he continually declines.

The Independent has contacted Riverside police for additional information.

As the former actors circumstances left fans alarmed, Weiss addressed the situation in a video posted Monday to Instagram. I have received many messages about [Tylor Chase], he said. I reached out to some friends of mine, and we have a bed for him at a detox, and we have a place for him to go and get long-term treatment.

'Mighty Ducks' star Shaun Weiss is looking to help fellow former Nickelodeon child actor Tylor Chase after he appeared to be living on the streets in a recent viral video ( shaunweiss/Instagram )

He added: All we need to do now is find him. Im not in Los Angeles, or I would go look for him myself.

We hear that hes on La Sierra at Riverside. I dont really know where that is, but if anyone can go and get a face-to-face with Tylor, please DM me so we can get him some help in time for the holiday.

Weiss, 47, has struggled with drug addiction and has been open about his road to recovery. When I started getting this kind of support from people and I started doing better, it became a thing where I didnt want to let anybody down, he said on an April episode of the Pod Meets World podcast.

Neds Declassified star Devon Werkheiser has also spoken out about his co-stars situation, telling TMZ that Tylor was a sensitive, sweet, and kind kid. It is heartbreaking to see him this way.

I havent seen Tylor in almost 20 years since the show ended, he added, acknowledging: Anyone who has dealt with severe addiction and deep mental health issues knows its an unbelievably challenging situation if they dont want help.

Werkheiser, who led the classic teen sitcom from 2004 to 2007, expressed his hope that people would stop filming and uploading videos of Chase online for views.

My only hope is that from this exposure, someone with real understanding and resources can step in, get Tylor into treatment, and help him get back on track. We all want a happy ending, he said.
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Saturday Night Live scribe Jimmy Fowlie is seeking the publics help in locating his younger sister, who has been missing since late November.

Christina Lynn Downer, 38, was last heard from in late November, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. She is 38 years old, 5-foot-1, and 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Fowlie, 40, shared his sisters missing persons poster Monday on Instagram.

My sister has been missing and we are worried that she isnt safe, he wrote in the caption. Her married name is Downer but she may go by Christina Fowlie. Please share this so that if anyone has seen her, they can give any information to the police. The phone number is 213 996 1800 and her case number is 25237639. She was last seen in LA. thank you.

Alongside her missing persons poster, Fowlie included a string of recent photos of his sister, including a selfie of the two of them inside what appears to be a casino.

'SNL' scribe Jimmy Fowlie (right) is asking for the public's help to find his younger sister, Christina (left) ( jimmyfowlie/Instagram )

Fowlie has been writing for NBCs long-running sketch series since 2022. His most popular sketch includes the viral Domingo skit, originally titled Domingo: Bridesmaid Speech, performed by Ariana Grande last year.

He is also an actor, known for appearances in the popular five-season sitcom Search Party, starring Alia Shawkat, The Other Two, Good Girls, The Goldbergs and 2 Broke Girls. He last starred in FXs recently canceled comedy series English Teacher.

Before joining SNL, Fowlie created and starred in the two-season web comedy series Go-Go Boy Interrupted, a queer YouTube show adapted from a Groundlings sketch comedy act of the same name.

Meanwhile, ahead of Saturdays episode of SNL, longtime cast member Bowen Yang announced his exit. His final episode was hosted by his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande and featured Cher as the musical guest.

I loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. 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, Yang said on Instagram following the episode.

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Im grateful for every minute of my time there. 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.
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The creator of the hit BBC series The Night Manager has said it was really tricky working with Hugh Laurie on the first series, as the actor really wanted to play Tom Hiddlestons lead character.

The Night Manager, adapted from John le Carres 1993 novel, won Golden Globes for both Laurie and Hiddleston when it debuted in 2016, and a second season will finally arrive in the New Year.

Speaking at an event at Londons Blackheath Concert Halls, screenwriter David Farr explained that House actor Laurie had previously tried to option the novel and envisioned himself as soldier-turned-spy Jonathan Pine.

open image in gallery Laurie won a Golden Globe for his star turn as arms dealer Richard Roper ( Getty )

When Farr finally got the project off the ground, though, Hiddleston was signed up for the leading role while Laurie was cast as arms dealer Richard Roper.

I was suddenly doing the television show and had written the first episode, and everyone liked it and Tom Hiddleston had signed up [as Pine], Farr explained, as reported by MailOnline.

But then Hugh became really tricky, because he had such fixed ideas and none of his notes were about his character [Roper]  they were all about Toms character  and I was like, Give me a break.

Farr continued: Were fine now. I think if Id been more mature, I could have dealt with it better. Hugh is a lovely man, very passionate. Hes not in the sequel that much, except in flashback.

The Independent has contacted Lauries representative for comment.

The Night Managers six-part first season was a hit with critics and won Golden Globes for a number of its cast, including Hiddleston and Laurie, who took home the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor accolades, respectively.

open image in gallery Hiddleston will return in series two ( BBC )

Olivia Colman, who played MI6 intelligence officer Angela Burr, also won Best Actress, while at the TV Baftas, Tom Hollander was named Best Supporting Actor for his star turn as Major Lance Corky Corkoran, Ropers second in command.

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Le Carre, who died 2020, never penned a sequel to his novel  but his sons previously told Vanity Fair that Farr came up with the idea for the second season in a dream, the night before Le Carres death.

When a lot of writers pass, their estates contain all kinds of strict rules. Thou shalt not change this, or that, Simon Cornwell said. And my dads letter said, You know what I stand for, respect what I stand for, but only you can figure out where to go next. And that is sort of the invitation.

open image in gallery Hiddleston, Camila Morrone and Diego Calva pictured in the new season ( BBC )

In a recent interview with The Independent, Alistair Petrie, who will reprise his role as Ropers associate Sandy Langbourne in series two, said: Im gonna hazard a guess, I think [le Carre] would be very proud of the new one. But, obviously, there was no novel to base it on, so its a really hard thing to pull off.

Also returning are Colman, Michael Nardone as another of Ropers associates and Noah Jupe as his son, Daniel Roper. Indira Varma (Obsession), Paul Chahidi (Wicked Little Letters) and Hayley Squires (Adult Material) will also star.

Two new characters, Roxana Bolanos and Teddy Dos Santos, will be played by Daisy Jones and the Six star Camilla Morrone and Narcos: Mexico actor Diego Calva.
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Preparing a festive feast at home presents a unique culinary Everest, even for the most seasoned cooks. Unlike the specialised roles within a professional restaurant kitchen, the home chef is tasked with single-handedly orchestrating an entire multi-course meal.

This demanding scenario underscores the paramount importance of precise timing, a point highlighted by acclaimed TV chef Rick Stein.

"When youre cooking at home, you have to do everything," Stein observes, "therefore your timing has to be really good. In a restaurant kitchen youre doing four or five things really, and nothing else, also theyre all part of the same course."

Stein, whose inaugural festive cookbook, Rick Steins Christmas, has recently been released, aims to demystify this complex process. He offers practical strategies to manage extensive preparations "to do it all painlessly."

His core advice centres on the power of forward planning: "Dont leave everything until Christmas morning, there are many, many things that you think need to be done at the last minute  they really dont."

His new collection of recipes, designed to be prepared over the fortnight leading up to Christmas, spans from elegant canapes  such as mini brioche toasts with whipped feta, fresh figs, and pickled walnuts  to sophisticated starters like Jerusalem artichoke soup with crispy bacon.

For show-stopping desserts, he suggests a semifreddo cheesecake with clementine and Campari syrup, or a classic Black Forest trifle. And, in true Stein fashion, seafood features prominently.

open image in gallery Rick Stein and his wife, Sass ( James Murphy/PA )

Here, the celebrated chef shares his essential tips for ensuring the main Christmas meal is a resounding success.

The Bird

For Stein, the traditional turkey or goose remains paramount. "I think Christmas is special in that it is about celebrating the same things or every year," he explains.

"I really quite like the repetitiveness because it only comes around once a year. So turkey or goose with all the trimmings is what its all about. I would feel like Id sort of let people down if it was just roast beef, even if it was absolutely wonderful roast beef."

While his book does offer alternatives like venison bacon and prune shortcrust pie or glazed bone-in Christmas ham, the bird holds a special place.

The most common error with turkey, he notes, is "overcooking it. Its just a big chicken really. The biggest mistake is getting too nervous and overcooking it. People worry theyre going to get food poisoning if its undercooked, which is very, very unlikely."

His solution is simple: "Buy yourself a [oven] temperature probe to make sure you dont overcook it. I think the safe temperature for a turkey is something like 70 degrees. Once you start going over that, you get this problem with dry meat." He also suggests wrapping the bird in buttered muslin, but stresses that the ultimate goal is "really about not cooking it too long."

open image in gallery Rick Stein and his wife, Sass and son, Jack ( (James Murphy/PA) )

Gravy

Steins advice for gravy often surprises people: "Dont make your gravy at the last minute."

He advocates for preparing a rich stock the day before using giblets from a free-range turkey or goose, supplemented with chicken stock.

"I start with a little bit of duck fat and put a bit of flour in (I dont like a lot of flour in my gravy). I cook that out, then make the gravy, because then I can absolutely make sure its quite intensely flavoured."

On Christmas Day, with the gravy already made, he simply deglazes the roasting tray with some of the prepared gravy to capture all the rich pan juices.

Roast Potatoes

For Stein, roast potatoes are as crucial as the gravy. The secret lies in the parboiling: "I go for seven minutes in lightly salted water," he advises.

"Seven minutes is enough if youre using Maris Piper or King Edward, to make them a bit crumbly on the outside." After draining, he shakes them vigorously in the pan or colander to roughen the edges, then sprinkles them with polenta or semolina for extra crispiness.

He often parboils them the day before, leaving them out rather than refrigerating, and always uses goose or duck fat for cooking. "But the secret, I think, is having a fairly firm potato and not in any way elastic. Its got to have a sort of brittleness but not too brittle."

Stuffing Choices

Stein prefers to cook stuffing separately rather than inside the bird. For goose, he opts for a sage and onion stuffing, explaining, "because goose is so rich, you want something quite bland to serve with it." With turkey, which has a milder flavour, he suggests a chestnut or sausage meat stuffing, as "it can take a bit more flavour in the stuffing."

Brussel Sprouts

Perhaps surprisingly, Stein admits to cutting corners with sprouts: "I have cut corners by buying pre-peeled from a supermarket." He even conducted a blind taste test one year and found no discernible difference. Eschewing the classic chestnut and bacon combination, he prefers sprouts served simply.

"Its not a sort of purity," he clarifies. "Its the balance of the whole meal. If you put stuff with every veg, theyre just fighting against each other."

Rick Steins Christmas: Recipes, Memories & Stories for the Festive Season, published in hardback by BBC Books, is available now, priced 28. Photography by James Murphy.
MOSCOW, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia has taken control of the settlement of Prylipka in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Andriivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region within the last 24 hours, according to the country's defense ministry.

The ministry said Russian forces also launched a large-scale strike against Ukrainian military-industrial sites and energy infrastructure in retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on civilian facilities inside Russia.

"The objectives of the strike have been fully achieved. All designated targets have been neutralized," the ministry said. 
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A mother who thought she would not live to see another Christmas after being diagnosed with mouth cancer is celebrating being cancer-free.

Clare Davis-Eaton, 51, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, found a lump on her neck the size of a frozen pea in December 2015 and, after further tests, she was diagnosed with metastatic base of tongue cancer, which spread to her lymph nodes in March 2016.

The community support officer underwent a horrendous six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment before she went into remission in November 2016  saying it felt like Christmas had come early.

Then Clare found another lump on her neck in June 2019 and was informed three months later that the cancer had returned to her lymph nodes, which were later removed during an operation.

She began more chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but was unsure whether she would make it to Christmas  opting to put up her tree in October that year instead.

open image in gallery Clare was first diagnosed with cancer in March 2016 ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Clare remained determined and positive to pull through, and, in August 2024, on her 50th birthday, she was given the news that she was officially cancer-free.

Clare said her family, including her son, Dominic, 31; her daughter, Georgia, 29; her mother, Helene, 69; and her grandmother, Eunice, 97; played a massive part in her cancer journey, and she also credited Macmillan Cancer Support for keeping her afloat.

Im so appreciative to be able to have Christmas with my family because, in 2019, I didnt think I was going to see it, Clare said.

Going through cancer twice has taken me back to the meaning of Christmas and what Christmas is all about.

Its not the presents under the tree, its who is around it.

You cant buy happiness, you cant buy your health  those gifts are priceless.

open image in gallery Clare had an operation to remove the affected lymph nodes ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Clare was first diagnosed with base of tongue cancer in 2016 after finding a lump the size of a frozen pea on her neck.

She went to the doctors in December 2015 and was referred for further tests, including a biopsy, in January and February 2016.

Upon being told its cancer on March 11 2016, Clare said it broke her whole world.

Clare said the cancer was also metastatic, and it had spread to her lymph nodes at the time of her diagnosis.

She started a six-week daily course of radiotherapy, Monday to Friday, accompanied by one day of chemotherapy throughout  describing the process as horrendous.

It wasnt just scary for me, it was scary for my kids, she said.

It takes everything out of you, the chemo made me feel sick, I was drained.

open image in gallery Clare was told she is officially cancer-free in August 2024 ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Clare finished her last round of treatment on June 15 2016, and went into remission on November 23 2016, saying it felt like Christmas had come early.

It wasnt an easy journey and I had to keep going back for more checks  but it was amazing, I felt on top of the world, she said.

She added her feeding tube, which she used throughout her treatment, was removed just before Christmas that year, and her ability to eat and swallow had not yet returned.

Christmas wasnt the same  I couldnt eat meat, I couldnt do the dinners, I had no finances to do Christmas because of all the knock-on effects, she said.

But it showed me that Christmas is about the people you share it with, not what presents youre opening.

In June 2019, Clare said she was feeling knackered all the time and she discovered another lump on her neck.

After seeing her doctor and explaining her symptoms, Clare was referred for further scans and tests for about three months, and she was informed the cancer had returned to her lymph nodes in September 2019.

open image in gallery Clare tried to remain 'positive' during her second round of treatment ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Clare then underwent an operation to remove the affected lymph nodes on the right side of her neck.

Unfortunately, the procedure did not remove all the cancer cells, Clare said, but she added her oncologist pushed for her to receive further treatment.

They dont normally do a second round of radiotherapy on the same place, so I was so privileged, she said.

When weighing up her treatment options, Clare said she was told there was a 20 per cent chance the radiotherapy treatment could kill her.

I asked what would happen if I didnt undergo any treatment and I was told, six months, Clare said.

I didnt want the rest of that sentence  it could have been six months until I started to feel unwell  but I just said, where do I sign?'

Clare said she felt so poorly and so bad during her second round of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, which lasted another six weeks.

open image in gallery Clare said Christmas 'is about the people you share it with' ( Collect/PA Real Life )

At the time, I felt like I couldnt do it, I was just ready to give up, she said.

I didnt think I was going to see that Christmas, to be totally honest.

If I saw it, I felt it would be my last.

She added that she put up her Christmas tree in October that year.

It was a real fancy one that snowed from the top  we had a real daft day playing Christmas music full blast and watching movies, she said.

Clare said she tried to remain positive and she was hospitalised for the last three-and-a-half weeks of her treatment.

I was determined to fight and get home for Christmas no matter what, she said.

Clare finished her treatment on December 9 2019, and she rang the bell in hospital to mark the occasion  but she said her treatment side-effects peaked all over Christmas.

open image in gallery Clare has a newfound appreciation for life ( Collect/PA Real Life )

On Clares 50th birthday, on August 23 2024, she was told she was officially cancer-free.

It was a present no one could buy, she said.

After spending eight years fighting, in one way or another, it was a very bizarre feeling.

Clare now lives with some side effects from her treatment, and she struggles to swallow food, she can have choking risks, and she cant enjoy flavours.

I dont mind having side effects; theyre my free gifts because Im here to have them, she said.

She added that she continues to receive mental health support, as she said her cancer journey has affected every step of her life.

Cancer isnt just a physical illness, its a mental illness as well, she said.

Main symptoms of mouth cancer NHS Symptoms of mouth cancer can affect any part of your mouth, including the gums, tongue, inside the cheeks, or lips. Symptoms can include: a mouth ulcer in your mouth that lasts more than 3 weeks

a red or white patch inside your mouth

a lump inside your mouth or on your lip

pain inside your mouth

difficulty swallowing

difficulty speaking or a hoarse (croaky) voice

a lump in your neck or throat

losing weight without trying

It does have positives in that it brings life appreciation  I now know tomorrow isnt a given, its a privilege.

Due to her health, Clare said she had to leave her job as a community support officer for those with learning disabilities, where she worked for 10 years.

She said she misses the job massively, but she equally enjoys working at a local pub.

She also now volunteers for Macmillan Cancer Support, and she praised the charity for the help and advice they provided to her throughout both diagnoses.

Macmillan came into my life when I was at my lowest, they kept me afloat and theyre still in my life now, she said.

They were also there for my family and no one was forgotten about  what they do is amazing and I just cant say enough about them.

Macmillan is there to provide essential support to people living with cancer across the UK through its Support Line (0808 808 00 00), chat service, online community and Macmillan centres.

For more information and support, visit: community.macmillan.org.uk
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A Florida dad has been arrested and charged with stealing 400 pounds of avocados from a farm, allegedly to pay for his childrens Christmas presents.

Edel Perez, 29, was seen dressed all in black taking the fruits from the farm in the Redland area of South Florida, owned by Grove Services Incorporated, in the early hours of Monday.

A Miami-Dade police arrest report, obtained by WPLG, said Perez told officers he knew he was taking something that did not belong to him. However, he has no employment and two kids and was planning to sell the avocados on the street to buy his children Christmas presents, the report stated.

Edel Perez, 29, was seen dressed all in black taking the fruits from the farm in the Redland area of south Florida, owned by Grove Services Incorporated, in the early hours of Monday ( Miami Dade Police Department )

Deputies observed Perez taking from the farm through a whole cut in its fence. After following him to his Mercedes-Benz, they allege they found multiple black bags filled with avocados in his car and more in the trunk.

Police estimated the bags contained around 400 pounds of fruit, which was worth about $800 in total, according to the arrest report.

Perez was charged with third-degree grand theft and trespassing on an agricultural site.

As of Monday afternoon, he was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.
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The US has banned the import and sale of all new drones built by Chinas DJI due to national security concerns.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added DJI, Autel, and other foreign-made drones and components to its Covered List, blocking any new products from being released.

DJI is the worlds biggest drone maker, holding an 80 per cent market share in the US for its consumer drones.

The ban marks a significant escalation in Washington's efforts to curb Chinese drones, following the Commerce Department's September announcement of plans to restrict such imports.

The FCC designation does not prohibit the import, sale or use of any existing device models the telecom regulator previously authorised, and does not impact any previously purchased drones, the FCC said. It added that consumers can continue to use any drones they previously purchased legally.

DJI said it was disappointed by the FCC decision to add foreign-made drones to the Covered List.

"While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination," the company said following the ruling.

Earlier this month, DJI said that drone programs operated by law enforcement and emergency response agencies in the US will be at immediate risk if they no longer have access to the most cost effective and efficient drone technology available."

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said on Tuesday that China opposed the US setting up "discriminatory" lists, calling it an "overly broad interpretation of the concept of national security."

He urged Washington to "correct its wrong practices" and provide a fair environment for Chinese companies.

The FCC said it received the results of a White House-convened, executive-branch interagency review of the risks of foreign drones on Sunday, which found that imported drones and components pose security risks "given the threats from unauthorised surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, supply chain vulnerabilities, and other potential threats to the homeland."

The review said the Pentagon could make future determinations that specific drones or classes of drone do not pose risks and remove them from the restrictions.

In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to reduce US reliance on Chinese drone companies.

Sebastian Gorka, senior director of counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said the FCC ruling was an America First action from the president.

Drones are a large part of Americas future security, he wrote in a post to X. They must be made in the USA.

Additional reporting from agencies.
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Yahoo! and Yahoo! Mail both left users frustrated Monday afternoon with outages reported at both ahead of the holiday season.

Outages on spiked shortly after 12:00 p.m. on Monday, according to DownDetector, a site that tracks online interruptions around the world.

Yahoo, headquartered in California, serves around one billion global users everyday, according to the company.

We are currently aware of technical difficulties affecting mail access for some users, Yahoo said in a Monday statement. Our team is actively investigating the cause, and we will provide further updates as they become available. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience.

A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

Yahoo and Yahoo Mail users reported outages on Monday afternoon, according to DownDetector. ( AFP via Getty Images )

A number of social media users voiced their frustration with the outages on other social media sites, with one writing I cant access any of my mail!

I'm one of the thousands, wrote another. Not happy!

Its the latest in a string of internet issues that have disrupted users over the past few weeks. On December 5, Cloudflare briefly went down, taking many popular sites offline, including X, Substack and Canva.

Visitors to a series of sites were met with a 500 internet server error warning, The Independent previously reported.

Two-and-a-half weeks earlier, much of the internet went down after another technical problem hit Cloudflare - which is a company that hosts a variety of websites.

Cloudflare is aware of, and investigating an issue which potentially impacts multiple customers, the company said at the time. Further detail will be provided as more information becomes available.

Other notable outages in 2025 include major disruptions to YouTube in October and Whatsapp in February.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday renewed its sweeping economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, even as Europe moves to seek direct contact with Moscow amid U.S.-led talks with Ukraine and Russia.

The Russia-targeted sanctions, first imposed in 2014, were significantly expanded after February 2022. According to the Council, the measures cover trade, finance, energy, technology, and dual-use goods, as well as industry, transport, and luxury goods, among others.

Beyond the economic sanctions, now extended until July 31, 2026, the EU also adopted additional punitive measures recently. Last week alone, the bloc approved sanctions against individuals and entities accused of supporting Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, as well as separate sanctions targeting alleged Russian hybrid operations. It also imposed bans on an additional 41 Russian vessels allegedly linked to the shadow fleet.

Meanwhile, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. At a summit last week, the European Council approved a 90 billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S.-dollar) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.

European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU needs to ensure that "Ukraine is in the best condition to negotiate a peace agreement."

These moves highlight Europe's emphasis on pressure, while also exposing anxiety about being sidelined in negotiations to end the conflict.

A U.S.-drafted peace plan for Russia and Ukraine that leaked to the media last month stoked concern in Europe and Ukraine, with critics saying it tilted heavily toward Russia and raised fears that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration could pressure Ukraine into major concessions.

Since then, European and Ukrainian negotiators have held talks with Trump's envoys to try to insert their own provisions into the draft, though the precise terms of the current version remain undisclosed.

On Sunday, three days of talks on the Ukraine crisis concluded, featuring separate meetings between the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and European representatives in Florida and Miami. U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff described the meetings as "productive and constructive."

Russia, however, offered a more critical assessment. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Ukraine and its European partners were obstructing progress. "It's a fact: every time our dialogue with the U.S. starts to take a positive turn, Kiev and its European curators take extraordinary emergency measures to hamper it, to deform it, to steer these efforts off track," Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Russia's TASS news agency.

Even so, Europe, or at least some European countries, is seeking a more direct channel to Russia rather than leaving negotiations solely in U.S. hands.

Following the EU summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc must be prepared for dialogue with Russia if current efforts fail to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Macron stated that he was ready to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again. He had a phone call with Putin in July.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said Putin is willing to engage in dialogue with Macron, according to Russia's RIA Novosti.

Welcoming the Kremlin's response, the French presidency said, "We will decide in the coming days on the best way to proceed." It added that any discussion with Russia would be conducted "in full transparency" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies. 
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BusinessMarketsOil Opinion Loss of Russian, Venezuelan oil a drop in ocean for worlds crude glut Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist December 23, 2025  12:40pm

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Oil prices are hovering around their lowest point for the year despite the unexpectedly severe impact of US sanctions on Russias oil exports and its blockade of tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. Brent crude, which traded below $US59 ($88) a barrel last week before reports of progress in Ukrainian peace talks lifted prices above $US60 a barrel, is still trading at less than $US62 a barrel despite a rising volume of stranded Russian oil. An Iranian oil tanker at anchor near a refinery in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, before the US began targeting similar vessels. AP With the Trump administration seizing two sanctioned tankers off the Venezuelan coast and chasing a third, Venezuelas oil exports are shrinking. Where, earlier this year, it was exporting more than a million barrels a day, exports are now down to less than 800,000 barrels and falling as tankers steer clear of its coast. The impact of what analysts think could be the withdrawal of about 500,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan oil, as a result of the US chokehold, is less significant for the market and oil price than whats happening to Russias exports. (Venezuelan oil represented only about one per cent of global supply even at its peak this year.)

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Russias exports have been hit hard by the US sanctions on its two major oil companies in late October, and the fear of being subjected to financial sanctions is chilling Indian and Chinese importation of Russias oil and driving the prices of its flagship Urals oil to its lowest levels since the pandemic. Related Article Blood Oil The British expat tracking Russias shadow fleet from his Singapore deck Urals shipped from the Baltic ports traded below $US35 a barrel last Friday, while that shipped from the Black Sea was priced just above $US33 a barrel. Russias government had budgeted for an oil price of $US69 a barrel this year. Its oil revenue needs a price above $US40 a barrel to cover oil-related expenditures. With oil revenues previously roughly matching its military expenditures, any material loss of oil income has implications for Moscows ability to maintain funding for the war in Ukraine. Russias oil producers costs range from about $US15 a barrel to $US40 a barrel but, at current prices, it is unlikely that any producer would be finding it profitable. They, and Russia, are now producing for cash, not profit.

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Ukraine is helping to reduce supply with its intensified targeting of Russian production infrastructure, refineries and tankers. With Indian refiners, in particular, leery of buying Russian oil, theres a lot of oil now floating around the world in tankers, looking for a market. Related Article Venezuela crisis Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers into Venezuela According to trade intelligence firm Kpler, theres currently about 1.3 billion barrels of oil on water  the most since the pandemic  and the amount of oil stored on tankers for more than 120 days is, at 51 million barrels, the most since mid-2023. Seaborne Russian oil in transit and searching for buyers last week accounted for about 155 million barrels, or more than 50 per cent more than was the case at the start of this year. That oil will eventually find buyers, but at what price?

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Despite the effective reduction in Russian supply, and some initial impact on supply from the US actions against Venezuela, the overall market is still being driven by an excess of supply over demand. This is thanks to the OPEC+ cartel bringing back significant volumes this year that had previously been taken from the market as the cartel tried to put a floor under the price. Related Article Russia-Ukraine war Australians have paid $2 billion to help fund Putins bloody war. Heres what that can buy The International Energy Agency now estimates that there will be a surplus supply of about 3.85 million barrels a day next year. Its the oil glut that is blunting the impact of reduced Russian and Venezuelan demand and allows US President Donald Trump to ramp up the pressure on Venezuelas Maduro government without any concern that it will drive up prices. Trump has used Venezuelas probably non-existent role in the fentanyl trade as the pretext for his probably unlawful destruction of Venezuelan boats (which may, or may not, be carrying drugs other than fentanyl that are destined for eventual delivery to markets other than the US) and for his blockade of Venezuelan ports. Theres a lot of oil floating around the world in tankers looking for a market.

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In reality, the administration is trying to force regime change in Venezuela and to get its hands on Venezuelas proven oil reserves, the worlds largest. Oil generates about 95 per cent of Venezuelas export revenues. Related Article Updated

World markets ASX closes higher after Santa rally; CBA repays $68m to customers Trump has said the blockade will continue until such time as they return to the United States all of the oil, land, and other assets that they stole from us. American companies dominated the oil industry in the country, which produced more than 3.2 million barrels a day in the early 2000s, before Hugo Chavezs government nationalised their operations. While the industry has been severely degraded and its output has plummeted since all the US companies other than Chevron were forced out and the US sanctions impacted its reliance on US technology, the Trump administration obviously believes it could be regenerated under US ownership and control. Increased production from Venezuela and a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine that unlocks the Russian supply now drifting aimlessly in international waters would presumably drive global oil prices down further.

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That would have the presumably unintended effect of undermining the economics of shale oil production in the US, which is currently at record levels but being challenged by the low prices. Breakeven prices for US onshore producers range from $US35 to $US40 a barrel for the most efficient producers in the most productive basins to $US60 a barrel or more for others. If prices remain at current levels through 2026 and beyond, as the IEA expects, US production volumes will fall and domestic prices may well rise despite the global glut. The West Texas Intermediate price is below $US59 a barrel at present. A flood of Venezuelan oil into the US  the US, mainly thanks to Chevron, imports about 160,000 barrels a day from Venezuela  could eventually threaten to further undermine the economics of the industry that has powered the US into its relatively recent role as the worlds largest oil producer, although it would take years to rebuild the industrys infrastructure, capabilities and production volumes. In a different environment, whats happening to the Russian and Venezuelan oil exports would have shaken the oil market and driven prices up.

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The oil glut generated by OPEC+s conclusion that its rationing of production was causing more harm than good for its members (some of whom werent complying anyway) has, however, overwhelmed their impact on the market. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureMoviesFilm Alan Bennetts celebration of the healing power of music and art Richard Jinman December 23, 2025  4:00pm 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

In March 2020, a day before the UKs first COVID lockdown, an envelope was pushed through the letterbox at Nicholas Hytners north London home. It contained the outline for a play or film  the author was unsure which  set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Ramsden in 1916. The 50 hand-typed pages described how the towns choral society was having to recruit teenage boys for a performance of Elgars The Dream of Gerontius because most of its older men were fighting on the Western Front. The manuscript came with a cover note addressed to Hytner, a director probably best known in the UK for his transformational 12-year stint as the head of Londons National Theatre. Scrappier than usual though at least its typed, though by me so its probably in parts incomprehensible, wrote the playwright Alan Bennett. Im also not sure if manuscripts can be infectious. Roger Allam (left foreground), Mark Addy and Alun Armstrong in The Choral. AP Hytner has directed three successful films based on Bennett plays: The Madness of King George, The History Boys and The Lady in the Van. Indeed, he has described his working relationship with the 91-year-old English writer as the great constant of my creative life. As a result, he knew a second-hand envelope shoved through the letterbox was simply Bennetts preferred way of sharing new work. Alans getting older, so I suspect his partner, Rupert, delivered it, explains Hytner, 69, when we meet at a hotel in central London. Hes never bothered with a laptop; he still writes everything on a manual typewriter. When he has diaries to publish, Dinah Wood, his editor at Faber, will be down on the floor in his front room sorting through stuff hes written and stuffed in drawers.

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Related Article Film Ive got nothing left to hide: Brendan Fraser on his extraordinary third act Over time, the contents of the envelope evolved into The Choral, Hytners fourth big-screen collaboration with the playwright, screenwriter, author and actor. The film stars Ralph Fiennes as Henry Guthrie, a brilliant musician recruited to knock Ramsdens amateur singers into shape. Guthrie, who is gay, an atheist and a Germanophile who likes to quote Goethe in public, is a controversial appointment, to say the least. Hytner, who first directed Fiennes in a 1991 production of King Lear, says the actor was always keen to play the choirmaster. The part sang to him and he really liked the idea of being involved in something that Alan had written, he says. In the wake of his Oscar-nominated role in the papal drama Conclave, Fiennes presence also lends The Choral some serious star power, although Hytner seems equivocal when I mention it. If you work as one of Ralphs colleagues in British theatre, hes just one of us, he says. Hes the most direct, dedicated person youll ever meet. He just happens to have this parallel existence as a movie star. Ralph Fiennes (left) and Nicholas Hytner on the set of The Choral. AP At first glance, The Choral might be mistaken for one of those rather manipulative period dramas about the north of England; the kind where stoic men and women overcome hardship through the transcendent power of art. Hytner points out that Bennett, who was born in Leeds in 1934, would never fall prey to such tropes. Alan isnt sentimental, hes melancholy, he says. He acknowledges that human relations are fraught with difficulties and as we get older, people start to retreat into their own personal enclave. So there was never much risk of sentimentality.

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Although it is never shown directly, the war casts a long shadow over The Choral. Mill owner Bernard Duxbury (played by Roger Allam) has lost his son to the fighting and his wife is consumed by grief. Mark Addy, another British TV stalwart, plays a photographer who snaps portraits of newly conscripted young men unaware of the horrors awaiting them. In one of the films most heart-wrenching scenes, Guthrie, whose clandestine lover is a seaman on a German battleship, is forced to listen to the choirs jubilant rendition of Land of Hope and Glory when they learn that the enemy vessel has been sunk in the Battle of Jutland with the loss of 839 lives. Devastated, but forced to conceal his feelings, Guthrie later exclaims, F---ing war. The vicars want it. The women want it. The idiots getting killed, they want it. Who do you turn to? Amara Okereke as Mary, whose expressive voice becomes integral to the choir. AP Hytner believes the film provides an answer to Guthries anguished question: one turns to art. The film doesnt have a message  its not that kind of film  but the people in the choir find that making music together gives them some meaning as individuals and as a community. I found that very moving. Music is essential to Hytner, who has directed many operas and dance works. Listening to music and making music [he sang in choirs at school in Manchester] have been absolutely central parts of my life, he says. If the clock was ticking for me, it would be music that I would turn to even before theatre, to be honest.

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He concedes it is difficult to imagine a group of contemporary teenagers being electrified by Elgars oratorio about the journey of a pious mans soul to Purgatory. Theres no point being nostalgic or reactionary about this, he says. You cant recreate the conditions of 1916 when people were members of church choirs and if you didnt learn piano you had no music. Related Article Film This story of family, art and legacy is already tipped to win the best film Oscar He also agrees that high art, through no fault of its own, has been removed from the spectrum of possibility for so many kids. But he argues that the young people in The Choral experience the same feelings as the members of a community choir or a hip-hop group on a TV talent show. They know the power of music  its ability to connect people and articulate inchoate feelings. When it previewed at The Toronto International Film Festival in September, the film was described as having a History Boys kind of energy. Hytner, who directed the stage and film versions of Bennetts story about a group of grammar school boys and Hector, their eccentric teacher, acknowledges the parallels. The History Boys was a showcase for a group of little-known young actors, some of whom (James Corden, Dominic Cooper and Samuel Barnett, for example) went on to have major careers. The Choral is also stacked with fresh, largely unfamiliar faces. They include Oliver Briscombe, a Yorkshire native whose performance as the naive 17-year-old postman Lofty is his first professional role. Loftys cocky best friend Ellis is played by Taylor Uttley, whose main claim to fame is a recurring role on the British radio soap The Archers. In a pivotal scene, Lofty bemoans the fact he has never been in love, tasted champagne or seen the sea. Ellis reminds his friend about a visit to the seaside town of Morecambe. Aye, says Lofty sadly. But the sea wasnt in that day.

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Says Hytner, I find it incredibly moving that a writer [Bennett] who is now in his early 90s is still sympathetic and super-insightful about the primal urges that young people have. With the clock ticking on their lives, they [the young members of the Ramsden choir] want to connect, they want to have sex, and theres something joyful and life-enhancing about that. I ask Hytner if he ever worries he might have received his last envelope from Bennett. After all, the playwright has said hes surprised to have made it into his 10th decade after a battle with colon cancer in 1997. The important thing is that he doesnt, replies Hytner. As far as hes concerned, theres a whole pile of used envelopes left to fill. Theres going to be a big surprise next year. It wont involve me, but it will show categorically that hes still at it. The Choral is in cinemas from January 1. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
A couple of years ago, he was just another struggling indie musician. Now Jesse Welles has blown up around the world. How did it happen?

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Jesse Welles cant pinpoint the precise moment when he went from low-profile struggling musician to one of the hottest country-folk properties on the planet. But he has a rough idea. I think it was February 2024, he says. That was when I decided I was going to make tunes all the time and just throw them up on my cell phone and put them on social media, and do topical songs about things that interest me, and say things that I really mean, he says. With a slew of protest songs such as War Isnt Murder, Join ICE and United Health (released a week after the assassination of the private health insurers CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024), Welles retooled approach rapidly found him a global audience. But the motivation for the change of approach came from close to home. My old man had a heart attack, and I think that had something to do with it, he says. He lived. But I just thought, I dont have long, and the clock is ticking, so I got into a big hurry about things. The momentum that change of direction created has garnered Welles a hefty following on social media  2 million followers on Instagram, almost 26 million likes on TikTok, over 100 million views on YouTube  and guest slots with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. An equal opportunity social commentator, hes also been a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience (where his left-leaning humanist views rubbed uncomfortably against Rogans right-leaning conspiracies). Now, it will carry him all the way to Australia for his first shows here in January, and to the Grammys the following month, where he is nominated for four awards (best folk album for Under The Powerlines (April 24  September 24), best Americana album for Middle, best American roots song for Middle, and best Americana performance for Horses).

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Welles was, in fact, originally scheduled to play at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne on the night of the Grammys; the Australian tour dates have now been rescheduled so he can attend the ceremony, and perhaps collect one or more of those famous gramophone-shaped statuettes. Welles, 33, has been recording and releasing music since 2012, under the names Jeh Sea Wells (Wells is how his surname is spelled on his birth certificate), and with the bands Welles, Dead Indian and Cosmic American. He moved from his native Arkansas to Nashville a decade ago, and began releasing records in a steady stream that has picked up pace in recent times. Discogs records eight albums, all non-label releases, between 2012 and 2018; the indie-label Welles band release Red Trees and White Noise (a grunge-tinged rock album, with a big dash of Nirvana) came out in 2018, and Wikipedia records another four releases under that moniker up to 2023. Since 2024, hes become even more prolific, with eight album releases to his name. The big difference now is that people are paying attention. As far as making tunes goes, I have just always made a couple of songs a week, says Welles, chatting from his home in Arkansas for his only Australian interview ahead of this tour. And if you do that for like 10 years, and then finally people start digging it, well, then youre primed and ready to go. But he says hes not using his newfound profile to clear the cupboards of old material. Ive got albums and albums worth of stuff from back in the day, but I dont want to listen to it, and I certainly dont want to put it out or anything like that because the only thing that interests me is the song I made yesterday, and then Im on to the next thing, he says.

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That said, Welles wouldnt object if some of his tunes did stand the test of time. Its just that right now, hes more focused on pumping them out than curating a nominal best-of release. I feel like youre a very fortunate person if youre able to grow tired of a song that everybody else loves to hear, he says. Think of someone like Sheryl Crow, shes playing things from a long time ago and almost every time she gets up they want to hear that song, but she seems to still do it with such joy, and I think thats probably because shes tapped into [a sense of], boy, have I had good fortune to make people happy with this tune. I would love for that to happen, he says. I like playing my tunes, but as far as being proud of any tune or anything like that, not yet. Being proud of it, you have to kind of stop and think about it, and I just dont want to. Now is not the time. I like playing my tunes, but as far as being proud of any tune or anything like that, not yet. Now is not the time. Flooding the market with material isnt necessarily good business  or at least not good traditional business. But its the way Welles works, for now at least. Theres been no promise on quality, theres no satisfaction guaranteed on any of it, he says, smiling impishly. As many songs as people remember, that many again have fallen through the cracks. I just think its important to put out every single tune that you do as you do it, or else youll never know what people like. If you get too myopic or precious with songs, or really any kind of art, you could clog yourself up. This is just how I work, and maybe next year Ill put out one album, and Ill be really honed in on it. But I really dont like the sound of that.

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Related Article Live music This band just scored an ARIA No.1. This week, theyre busking for loose change Music has always been a fact of life for Welles. He grew up in a working-class household, but everyone in it had a sideline creative pursuit. His was the guitar, and then songwriting and singing. In fact, he even owes his marriage to wife Kara to the instrument, in a roundabout way. We met when I was 14, and her guitar teacher had just skipped town, he says. We were both in junior high, and she was like, will you give me some guitar lessons?. And of course, everything I showed her she already knew. I couldnt really show her anything. I couldnt really impress her. But we were fast friends, and  well, we eventually got married. Theyve been married six years, and moved to Nashville together in 2014, for a shot at the music business as most people understand it. If the goal was to have fun and make friends, then I was very successful, he says of the seven years he spent in the country music capital of the world (though he was playing something much closer to indie rock). If it was to be in a touring band  and that was the goal for me  I was very successful. I really enjoyed Nashville. I think I just missed nature, though, which I didnt really realise until we were a little ways into the pandemic. I had gone back to Arkansas to visit for Thanksgiving or something, and I was driving through the mountains, and I was just kind of overcome with this sense of, Oh, I gotta get back out in the woods; this is what has been missing. And so I asked my wife if shed be keen to come back to Arkansas and she said yeah. And by the end of 2021, we were here again.

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Most of Welles videos  typically shot on a phone, in portrait mode  feature him singing and playing guitar alone in the woods, or maybe beside a railway line. Jeans, check or denim shirt, shaggy hair, sometimes with harmonica too. It screams Americana, home-made, authentic. Jess and Kara Welles in Nashville in September. Getty Images for Americana Music Association In some ways, hes emerged from the same milieu  poor, white-trash America  that gave birth to JD Vance, though their world views could hardly be more diametrically opposed. And the success of this politicised incarnation of Welles arguably owes much to the rise of Donald Trump and the need for a voice that speaks for working-class people who aspire to something more than mere personal gain. Take the song thats done most to put him on the map, War Isnt Murder, on which he sings: War isnt murder, theres money at stake,

Girl, even Kushner agrees its good real estate

War isnt murder, ask Netanyahu

Hes got a song for that and a bomb for you. Not everything he produces is political, of course. Alongside the critiques of late-stage capitalism, there are amusing ditties about insects and cows and birds and friends. I try to have 50 per cent research and 50 per cent whimsy, he says of his approach. Ill do some topical tunes, Ill do some research on things that interest me  because youre really just seeing a reflection of my interests in song  and then whimsy, things that interest me. Sometimes we get a little metaphysical, sometimes I turn into a weird wizard, but then other times Im talking about health insurance. I contain multiple dudes.

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Letters NationalVictoriaLetters Enough righteous anger, please December 23, 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

Christmas convoy. Vintage Cathy Wilcox To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. LETTERS Need reason, perspective

Reading The Age letters column, it is hard not to be struck by the difference in tone between the political commentariat and the majority of your correspondents.

The commentariat is full of righteous anger, shouting and finger pointing, such as reports of the leader of the opposition attacking the foreign minister  to what purpose one wonders.

In contrast, many correspondents have pointed out the problem with such righteous anger. It prevents us from hearing any voice but our own.

It is time to abandon visceral responses and listen to the voice of reason, as forensically presented by John Coyne (Quick fixes wont make us safer, 22/12).

Until then, we will not be able to put the Bondi massacre in its true perspective, and see both the 15 innocent victims killed in Bondi and the thousands of innocents killed in Gaza.

Mike Sanderson, Drouin Ley demeans office

At this time of immense tragedy, shock and grief we expect our leaders and opposition to stand together as one in solidarity and unity. To help us as a nation to feel connected and as one in our devastation and sorrow. Instead, we have a barrage of attack and blame from many in the conservative side of politics and some in the media fuelling anger, which threatens our increasingly fragile social cohesion.

Much of it is unfair, unwarranted and is becoming deeply personal with this latest attack by Sussan Ley on Penny Wong. It is unedifying and embarrassing to see Ley demean her position as the leader of the opposition.

Playing into hands of those who wish to further divide us at this time is reprehensible. Our community needs, expects and deserves much better.

Anne Moorhouse, Inverloch

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Too much too soon

The contribution by John Coyne (22/12) sounded a usefully cautious note about responses to the horrific events at Bondi. The understandable desire for action following such an event and the perceived political imperative to respond quickly with new laws or security measures entails significant risks.

These include ineffective approaches and unintended consequences such as restrictions that impinge on the civil liberties of the wider population or amplifying existing divisions within our community.

A more thorough consideration of the circumstances leading up to this tragedy and of the evidence regarding effective responses will take more time but may ultimately deliver better outcomes for all.

Brendan OHanlon, West Brunswick Attacking victims

Letter writers continue to link the Bondi massacre to events in Gaza (23/12). The linkage of Australian Jews to the Israeli governments reaction to the horrific Hamas attacks is unfair and smacks of collective blame. It suggests somehow some Australian citizens brought Bondi on themselves and are responsible for their own massacre. They didnt, and they arent.

Mourn the deaths in Gaza (and in the Hamas attack that started them), be angry with Israeli government policy, but dont link that to Jewish Australian citizens.

Louise Kloot, Doncaster History repeats

In 1968, at age 20, I was conscripted into the Army to fight in the war in Vietnam. During that time, the anti-war movement rose to prominence. Young men returned from that war, to find a large section of society had turned against not only the government that sent them there, but against us soldiers as well.

We were spurned, spat on, had red paint thrown our way. As one of these soldiers, I asked my wife and close friends never to mention that I had once served in the Vietnam war.

Now, Jews are spurned, spat on, have red paint thrown over their homes and synagogues, and have been slaughtered by radical Islamic extremists. My Jewish friends are asking their loved ones not to talk openly of their religious beliefs.

Such a sad case of history repeating itself.

David Hay, Greensborough AND ANOTHER THING Bondi attack

Can we please stop politicising this tragedy?

Hans Paas, Castlemaine

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Quick fixes wont make us safer, John Coyne (Opinion, 22/12). At last, the voice of reason.

Denise Deerson, Bulleen Our gun laws distinguish us from America  a difference worth its weight in lives.

Steve Melzer, Hughesdale

Why cant state and federal governments combine resources to resolve strategies to address the problems that caused and resulted in the Bondi tragedy? Legislation should then be streamlined to remove any confusion.

Lindsay Donahoo, Wattle Glen Sussan Leys comment about not seeing Penny Wong shed a tear says more about her than it does Wong. Ley should stop politicising the Bondi terror attack. This is a time for political parties to work together to promote peace and unity.

Lisa Bishop, Macleod What is a royal commission going to achieve? Or am I missing something?

Carole Ruta, Benalla

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Furthermore

Marnus Labuschagne and David Pocock  two outstanding team players and fine examples. Thank you, South Africa.

Lyn Beaumont, Bentleigh Have all the letter writers gone on holidays or has The Age run out of space?

Greg Lee, Red Hill The opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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More than 47,000 students received an offer through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre on Tuesday to study at a university or college in Victoria.

You can use our interactive database below to search for courses or universities, or to filter the data based on the selection rank range.

The minimum selection rank is a students ATAR plus any additional adjustments, such as special consideration, that they have been awarded.

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NationalVictoriaVictoria Police conduct Idiotic, cruel, boneheaded: Judge slams police over sleep-deprived inmates Cameron Houston December 24, 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

Victoria Police has been slammed over its cruel and boneheaded practice of waking inmates every hour in regional holding cells to monitor their welfare, with a judge saying the severe sleep deprivation was akin to torture. The Supreme Court judge warned the idiotic policy and the intransigence of Victoria Police could force trials in regional Victoria to be permanently moved to Melbourne, which would place further strain on the states judiciary. Justice Michael Croucher. Justice Michael Croucher examined the practice while overseeing a murder trial for three accused in Shepparton and said the police just should stop. The court heard inmates awaiting cases in regional centres are roused every hour by police officers as part of welfare checks, usually with a torch but sometimes by being asked to speak or stand.

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It is idiotic. It is cruel. It is boneheaded. It just should not be happening. Sleep deprivation is a well-known form of torture, Croucher said in a withering judgment published on December 16. Those who are responsible for making these policies (or for commanding others to enforce them) really need their heads read. They should think again. But Victoria Police has defended the practice, saying it is based on findings from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and several Coroners Court inquiries. Victoria Police has strict policies in place to ensure the safe management of people in police custody, a spokeswoman said. These processes take into account prisoner welfare and are regularly reviewed to ensure police are supporting the human rights of any detained person. As this matter is currently before the court, we will not be making further comment at this time.

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Croucher ordered that the trial of Kylie Stott, 40, Dimitri DElio, 27, and Danny Clarke, 41, on murder, kidnapping and arson charges be shifted to Melbourne, where remand conditions are better. He found that the trio would be at risk of falling asleep in the dock and incapable of following court proceedings or giving proper instructions to their lawyers because of their tiredness if the trial remained in Shepparton. Murder victim Charlie Ganders body was found in a burnt-out car near Shepparton. Instagram These people are on trial for murder, the most serious crime in the criminal calendar, as well as kidnapping and arson. It is unthinkable in todays world, to me at least, that police would engage in such behaviour all dressed up in the name of welfare, Croucher said. He said that while the policy, which was enforced across the state, appeared to be Victoria Polices response to coronial findings into deaths in custody, those cases involved circumstances nothing like the situation that obtains here.

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If it is truly aimed at welfare, it is a complete and utter overreaction, Croucher said. There is no evidence that they are suffering mental or physical illness of the type that would require that sort of monitoring. They are classified as low a risk as the scale of classification allows, even by Victoria Police. Croucher urged police to rethink their approach, saying those responsible for the policy need their heads read. The consequence will be that, if this practice is going on throughout the regions ... then it is the end of criminal trials of any substantial duration in those regional courts when the accused are in custody, he said. Here, in Shepparton, we have this relatively new, massive, purposebuilt building, and there are similar buildings in other regional centres, and, yet, if this practice continues, they are not to be used for such trials. What a waste. What a disgrace. Victoria Police should hang their heads in shame. It is disgraceful.

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Croucher finished his judgment by sardonically commending the force for refusing to review or revise its policy. The location on Loch Garry Road, where Ganders body was found. Elisabeth Moss Well done, you, Victoria Police. Well done. On December 10, DElio was found guilty of murder, kidnapping and arson, Stott was found guilty of kidnapping and manslaughter, and Clarke was convicted of kidnapping. Last week, Clarke was sentenced to four years in prison, with a minimum sentence of two years and four months, over his role in the death of teenager Charlie Gander.

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The trio were accused of kidnapping Gander on Christmas Eve 2022 from a holiday park in Shepparton and murdering him before dumping his body in a car and setting it on fire. The court heard the group believed Gander had implicated a friend of theirs to police in a crime. DElio and Stott are to be sentenced on February 9. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaEducation Private school cleaner fired for stealing Christmas presents off teachers desks Nicole Precel December 23, 2025  5:29pm 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

At least one cleaner at an exclusive private school in inner Melbourne has been fired for allegedly stealing teachers Christmas presents off their desks. GJK Facility Services chief executive Elias Stamas said staff had been stood down with pay from St Michaels Grammar School in St Kilda pending an investigation. GJK Facility Services has sacked staff for allegedly stealing gifts at St Michaels Grammar School in St Kilda. Post the conclusion of that investigation, which substantiated the claims, the staff were terminated under serious misconduct, Stamas said. A gift card was offered to the party who had items taken. We didnt want anyone to be disadvantaged. Its just good process.

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Stamas couldnt confirm how many cleaners were involved or what was taken. Related Article Exclusive

Private schools Private schools hike fees by thousands of dollars GJK employs more than 3000 people across Australia who go to work each day supporting the communities we serve, he said. He said it was unfortunate the incident occurred and it didnt reflect the companys standards or values. We apologise to the individual affected and have taken appropriate action following the completion of our investigation. We remain committed to delivering high-quality services and to making a positive contribution to our people, our customers and the broader community, he said.

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A parent at the school, who contacted The Age anonymously, said they were disgusted and appalled. Stealing Christmas presents right off the teachers desks, they said. Related Article Private schools Teacher resigns over demeaning descriptions of kids at top private school The development comes three months after a teacher left their job at St Michaels Grammar after a document was sent around demeaning individual children as bogan, ratty and anime eyes. Principal Gerard Houlihan apologised to parents after the cast list for The Addams Family school musical was produced with comments about some of the performers, including racial descriptors. Houlihan told parents after that scandal that the teachers actions were contrary to the schools values and that they were inappropriate and unacceptable remarks.

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Fees at St Michaels Grammar School, which has an early learning centre, junior and senior school, have increased by 6.1 per cent to $43,428 for year 12 students in 2026. The GJK cleaning company has been running for nearly 40 years across Australia, and earned tens of millions of dollars maintaining public housing towers between 2007 and 2019. The company was issued three $500 fines in 2015 for breaching its contractual obligations, which included removing hard rubbish, shopping trolleys and graffiti, as well as scrubbing common areas. The Age contacted St Michaels Grammar School for comment but did not receive a response before deadline. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaLocal council This is how much your council rates will go up next year Lachlan Abbott December 23, 2025  4:18pm 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

Council rates will not increase by more than 2.75 per cent next financial year under the state governments new cap, further tightening the screws on municipal budgets as costs mount. Local Government Minister Nick Staikos decision to cap the increase at that figure, gazetted on Monday, was based on the forecast consumer price index and was spruiked as a measure to ease cost-of-living pressures. Local Government Minister Nick Staikos. Eddie Jim However, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) criticised the reduction from the 3 per cent cap this financial year, arguing it still did not accurately reflect rising council expenses. The peak body for Victorian councils wants the Allan government to adopt a specialised local government cost index, as Victoria is the only state without one.

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Using Treasury forecasts of CPI growth to inform the rate cap simply doesnt work, said MAV president Jennifer Anderson. Its not a true reflection of the increased costs our sector faces in construction, materials and services. Inflation also greatly exceeded forecasts after the pandemic hit, meaning the main source of council revenue  rates  has failed to keep up with broader price rises. The MAV has warned council infrastructure like roads will deteriorate, and essential services like kindergartens will be shuttered unless rate capping is reformed.

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An unexpected inflation spike in November has also called into question CPI forecasts for the coming year. Related Article Local council Councils pitch flexible rates to tackle alarming funding woes However, a state government press release on Tuesday said the new rate cap eased cost-of-living pressures on families and still allowed councils to provide adequate services. The rates cap has made a real difference to household budgets, Staikos said. The average annual rate cap has been 2.3 per cent since the system was introduced in 2016. In the decade prior, the state government said council rates were increasing by an average of 6 per cent annually.

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Councils have also received revised guidelines for waste management charges, clarifying that the rates should not exceed the costs incurred by council for kerbside services. Staikos said this would make council waste charges more accurate and consistent across Victoria. Rate caps in Victoria since they were introduced in 2016 2016-2017: 2.5 per cent

2017-2018: 2 per cent

2018-2019: 2.25 per cent

2019-2020: 2.5 per cent

2020-2021: 2 per cent

2021-2022: 1.5 per cent

2022-2023: 1.75 per cent

2023-2024: 3.5 per cent

2024-2025: 2.75 per cent

2025-2026: 3 per cent

2025-2026: 2.75 per cent  (announced on December 23, 2025) Tanya Tescher, secretary of the Victorian Ratepayers and Residents Association, worried councils would likely raise rates to the maximum allowed under the 2.75 per cent cap. She feared many would then seek extra revenue via other higher charges, such as parking fees.

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We would always like to see low increases to rates, especially at this time when people are doing it hard with the cost of living, she said. However, we also understand that councils have to provide services for their ratepayers. It is especially important that councils do not waste money on extravagant items, which we have seen done in some council areas. Tescher pointed to Bayside Council as evidence it was possible to freeze rates. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalBondi shooting Former royal commissioner says federal inquiry must be held into Bondi shooting Nick Newling December 23, 2025  4:00pm 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

A former NSW royal commissioner has urged the Albanese government to hold a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack, saying only an inquiry of that scope could address the many factors, including growing antisemitism, that led to the tragedy. Despite arguments from the federal government that antisemitism would be addressed through a review into intelligence and policing services alongside new legislation, James Wood, who led the 1995 NSW royal commission into the states police service, said the Albanese government could easily act alongside a national commission. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra this week. Alex Ellinghausen Wood also rejected the notion that an inquiry would delay government action, as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Albanese had failed to grasp the enormity of the national problem. I dont see any reason why a royal commission cant work alongside specific inquiries by particular agencies, Wood said. The problem is not one which can simply be answered by new laws or new criminal offences, or indeed by extra resources. It goes beyond that.

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Bondi shooting As recriminations in Canberra grow, Chris Minns has what Anthony Albanese wants One has to see where antisemitism had its origin in Australia. Is it homegrown? Is it imported from overseas? Where are the failings in educating people about the dangers of antisemitism? And why has it suddenly emerged just recently? Addressing a press conference in Canberra on Tuesday following the 10th meeting of the National Security Committee since the December 14 shooting, Albanese doubled down on earlier statements rejecting calls for a commission. There was no royal commission called by the Howard government after Port Arthur. There was no royal commission called by the Abbott government after the Lindt [Cafe] siege, Albanese told journalists at Parliament House. There hasnt been a royal commission held recently that has not had an extension of time. We know who the perpetrators are here  We know what the motivation is, that they are motivated by the evil ideology of ISIS and a perversion of Islam, Albanese said.

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Alongside hate speech reforms and changes to gun laws, the federal government has announced a review into federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson, and offered the co-operation of both the government and federal agencies with the NSW commission. James Wood pictured at the time of his landmark royal commission into the NSW police force. Ben Rushton The Richardson review will enable action to take place. It will report, as I have said, before April. That review can feed into any royal commission that is established in NSW, Albanese said. Ley said Albaneses reasons for resisting a commission do not stand up. Drawing comparisons with Port Arthur or the Lindt Cafe fundamentally misunderstands what has happened. This was not an isolated act of violence. It was the culmination of years of unchecked antisemitism and extremist warnings ignored on his watch, Ley said.

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That failure of understanding explains the failure of leadership. The prime minister still does not grasp the scale, the cause or the national consequence of this attack. Despite his support for a federal commission, Wood said the NSW royal commission would be effective if additional commitments were offered from the Albanese government. If they refuse to do it point-blank, then a state one will be certainly better than nothing. But the state one should have an assurance from the federal government that relevant agencies, departments, immigration and so on, will co-operate, Wood said. Woods calls to the government were echoed in an open-letter signed by 139 former judges and senior barristers which said a federal commission must be established, describing its powers as uniquely placed within Australian inquiries to address antisemitism. Without a federal remit, any inquiry risks producing findings that are necessarily partial and that do not fully reflect the scale, complexity, or interconnected nature of the problem, the letter read.

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There have been 15 federal royal commissions held in the last 25 years, with an average duration of 652 days. The longest running was the review of institutional responses to child sexual abuse, which took almost five years  1799 days  for its final report to be delivered. Commissions that focused on social issues such as violence and neglect suffered by people with disability, or institutional responses to defence and veteran suicides were the next longest running, taking 1639 and 1159 days respectively. Related Article Bondi shooting Albanese stares down backbencher, opposition demands for royal commission While Wood agreed that commissions can take time, particularly in their setup, he said there was no reason governments and agencies could not respond before a commissions work was completed. A royal commission for this area can actually release interim reports if it becomes apparent that theres something which should be addressed, which hasnt been addressed, Wood said.

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Jewish Labor MPs have been split in their responses to a possible commission. Former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said after being involved in 10 commissions that it was not whats needed now. However, backbencher Mike Freelander said earlier this week that a federal inquiry should be held. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Updated PoliticsFederalBondi shooting PM announces special honours list for Bondi heroes, Israeli president to visit Australia Nick Newling Updated December 24, 2025  11:47am ,first published December 23, 2025  8:27pm 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 invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia after the Bondi terrorist attack, as the governor-general prepares a special honours list to recognise the heroes of the December 14 shooting that claimed 15 innocent lives. The leaders spoke on the phone on Tuesday, nine days after the shooting at Bondi Beach which targeted a Hanukkah festival, with both leaders discussing their shock at the attack and offering their condolences to the families of the victims. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Alex Ellinghausen It is understood that Herzog spoke to the importance of taking all legal measures to combat antisemitism, extremism and terror in Australia. The news of Herzogs invitation came before a Wednesday press conference in which Albanese announced an honours list for the heroes of the Bondi shooting would be drafted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. It will replicate previous lists made to honour those involved in tragedies such as the Bali bombings.

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This would recognise those individuals nominated and recommended for a bravery or a meritorious award in response to the Bondi terrorist attack, Albanese told journalists in Canberra. The attack did show us the worst of humanity, hatred, antisemitism, violence. It also showed us the best of humanity, extraordinary acts of bravery and courage, acts of kindness for fellow Australians. The prime minister said the awards would follow a public nomination process and recipients would be announced next year. Albanese spoke with NSW Premier Chris Minns this morning to discuss the nomination of police officers from the state. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said a wave of antisemitism was plaguing Australian society. Getty Images Albanese said he had a very constructive discussion with Herzog on Tuesday. Ive met him personally a number of times before, and I will certainly be welcoming him here and meeting with him when he is here, he said.

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Speaking from Jerusalem a week after the attack, Herzog said to Jewish Australians: The people of Israel are with you. Despite thousands of miles between us, we feel your pain, we see your courage under fire, we share your sense of abandonment, shock, and horror. Here in Jerusalem, we heard your hearts break, and felt our own hearts steeped with grief. We send our sincerest condolences to all those grieving their loved ones, and our warmest wishes for the speedy recovery of all those wounded. Albanese confirmed that he had not spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the attacks. Shortly after the shooting, Netanyahu laid blame for the attacks on Albanese and Labors response to antisemitism since October 7, 2023, and for the governments recognition of a Palestinian state earlier this year. Related Article Bondi shooting Former royal commissioner says federal inquiry must be held into Bondi shooting Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia. You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country. You took no action. You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today, Netanyahu said at the time.

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Speaking on Wednesday, Albanese said: I dont think this is a time for any partisan politics. Weve invited president Herzog, which is entirely appropriate for the head of state, to visit. President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, said he was grateful the government had extended the invitation, saying it shows Australia stands with its Jewish citizens and Australia states with Israel against terrorism and hatred. President Herzogs presence will bring comfort to those who are grieving and reassurance to a community living with fear. It will also honour the victims and the courage shown on the day, Leibler said in a statement. The federal government is preparing legislation to bolster hate speech laws and reform the countrys gun ownership system in response to the attack. Labor has rejected calls from the opposition and members of the Jewish community for a federal royal commission into the attacks and antisemitism in Australia, but will hold a review into the workings of police and intelligence agencies. 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 Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
After such an almighty dump we crowd the chairlift like kids let loose in a sweet shop  squealing, whooping and clacking our ski poles together. Its hard to explain the feeling of skiing powder to anyone who hasnt sunk into a fresh stash. It is pure, unfiltered joy; like gliding on silk or floating through clouds  the same kind of rush that hooks surfers and keeps them chasing the next perfect wave.

I am in Canada for a year on a working holiday visa, serving soggy muffins and charred cookies to unsuspecting skiers and snowboarders at an on-mountain cafe. The biggest perk of the job is that it is ski-in, ski-out, so on mornings when there is fresh snow, we are among the first to carve our tracks down the slope, straight after the lift operators and ski patrollers.

It is nothing short of a Christmas miracle. After a snow season that began with all the enthusiasm of a half-deflated snowman, we wake up on Christmas morning to find more than a metre of snow has fallen overnight. Peering out the window from the bunk bed in my apartment at Whistler Blackcomb, the surrounding Douglas firs are blanketed in white, with large flakes continuing to drift down. Outside, jubilant Australians are turning the staff car park into an impromptu winter playground, flinging snowballs in every direction.

But for a bunch unaccustomed to snow this deep, the euphoria doesnt take long to unravel into carnage. We cant see where the groomed run ends, and the moment any of us stray beyond it, we immediately come a cropper. One girl does exactly that, losing both skis in a powdery explosion so complete it takes five of us digging for 10 minutes to find them. After that incident, I buy pink ribbons to attach to my skis to avoid the same fate in future.

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That day, one of my housemates buys roast chickens so we can enjoy a proper Christmas dinner. But first we decide to stop for a quick post-work drink at the Longhorn Saloon at the base of the lifts in Whistler Village, which is twinkling with fairy lights and looking suitably magical. But our collective mood is so buoyant that one drink soon becomes several jugs of beer, and serves of nachos. Im not sure where they come from, but my photos from that night show my friends smiling wildly, with red and green gift bows stuck to their heads, while I don a Santa hat.

As we wait at the bus stop for the run to staff housing, another of my housemates runs into two familiar faces from home, who have arrived in Whistler on Christmas night with no pre-booked accommodation. He offers our couch for the night, and our group swells to eight. We step out into the staff car park, carrying our skis over our shoulders, to find it lined with vehicles still covered with snow.

By the time we finally make it home, we practically tear into the chooks straight from the bag, before squeezing into the lounge room beside our makeshift Christmas tree  a fir branch sticking out of a snowboard boot with a single string of lights  to exchange gifts.

It isnt exactly the Christmas that we plan, but the present we receive from Mother Nature is far more extraordinary than anything Santa could ever deliver.
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Reviews & adviceAir travel Opinion I had a fear of flying. Then my daughter moved half a world away

Charlotte Moore December 24, 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

Every parent dreads their child deciding to move to another country. But when my 25-year-old daughter Delphi swapped Britain for Melbourne earlier this year  cheerful, penniless but determined to make a life out there  I did my best to encourage her. After shed found a flat, a job, and told us she was super happy, I realised Australia was now her home (hopefully for just a few years), and if I wanted to see her, a 22-hour flight was inevitable. I had to face up to the phobia that has plagued me for 30 years. Flying terrifies me. Research shows around 25 per cent of people have some fear of flying. Getty In the sky, my heart races, my legs twitch, I cant stop talking, I need to rush to the loo and spend most of the time trying to work out how much it would cost to get home by land and sea (although Im not that keen on boats either).

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Im not alone. Research shows that about 25 per cent of people have at least some fear of flying, while about one in 10 people have a full-on phobia. Loss of control, fear of having a panic attack and claustrophobia are all common reasons why people dont step on a flight. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Ive had to fly for work a lot. Sadly this has only made things worse. Being on the red-eye all by myself in the middle of the night with the sound of the rattling wings, a silent cabin and the inevitable turbulence, sends me into a frenzy of panic. With everyone snoring around me, I feel like the only mad woman in the air. Since COVID Ive avoided long-haul flying completely. British Airways Flying With Confidence course involves taking participants on a short flight. So with a flight to Australia pending (but not quite booked), I needed help. I entered British Airways Flying with Confidence course, which claims a 98 per cent success rate. The course is divided into three main sessions: a presentation by British Airways pilots in the morning, a talk by a psychologist in the afternoon, before the dramatic conclusion: an actual flight on a BA aircraft. I headed to Heathrow with a sense of dread. The first thing that struck me was the huge number of other people  I was amazed my problem is so common, and that so many are willing to give up the substantial sum of 399 ($807), and an entire Saturday, to fix it.

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As we milled around drinking tea and coffee, I met Leila, a high-powered 35-year-old executive who used to happily fly to and from Texas every month until one day, over Ohio, she had a panic attack. Shed never had one before and was so floored by the whole experience that she dreads every business trip shes forced to take. Now pregnant, she was on the course to make sure she doesnt pass down her fear to her child. I understand, rationally, why I shouldnt be scared  but then the panic sets in and there is nothing I can do to stop it, she confided. The fear of fear Its often described as an exaggerated form of your bodys natural response to danger, but unless you have experienced a full-blown panic attack its difficult to explain how truly horrible they are. They come out of the blue, often for no apparent reason, but once youve had one its easy to build up a phobia about having another. Dr Simon Petrie, a chartered clinical psychologist and our therapist for the second half of the course, explained that fear of fear  or a metaphobia  is common when it comes to flying. Indeed when he asked all of my fellow scaredy cats what theyre most worried about, listing heights, open spaces, suffocation, loss of control and fear of fear, the majority raised their hands at the last option.

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The solution, he said, is to calm down your frightened brain. Easy for you to say, I thought. But before we could get into the nitty gritty of psychological brain training, we spent the morning meeting the pilots and learning more about how planes work. Now I have to admit that physics was never my strong point and the idea of sitting in a lecture theatre learning about aeronautical engineering made me feel extremely tired. To the rescue was Captain Nigel, Captain Niven and their coterie of jolly cabin crew. Nigel was warm and funny as he guided us through the mechanics of flying. I was somehow gripped by all the facts, learning how much paint goes on a double-decker Airbus A380 (two tonnes), how much a full tank of fuel weighs (300 tonnes), and that, apparently, babies love turbulence. Most reassuring was discovering how microscopically controlled the airline industry is. We pilots are very, very boring, explained Nigel. No matter what the airline is, we fly our plane in exactly the same way. I was also thrilled to discover that a commercial aircraft flying at 35,000ft can glide for up to 100 miles in the (extremely unlikely) event that all the engines fail. Calm also descended as they told us about the 100,000 successful flights a day and the 1.2 million people who spend time in the air  and return to ground safely  on any one given day. I thought about all those people choosing their cabin meals and pulling on their in-flight socks, excited about impending adventures on the other side of the world.

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At lunch I chatted to more fellow participants. Charlie, 25, from Hammersmith, revealed that he had never flown before, and that his sisters had enrolled him on the course for his birthday because they just want to be able to go on holiday with me. A bumpy ride Related Article Opinion

Travel tips A bang, a flash: Ill never forget being struck by lightning mid-flight The Secret Pilot Airline pilot The problem for most of us, it seems, is turbulence. Indeed, a number of articles published in the past year claim, thanks to climate change, flights are getting bumpier. In July, scientists from the University of Reading found that the chance of severe turbulence had risen by 55 per cent since 1979. The authors of the study warned that it could double or even triple by 2050. These sorts of news stories fuel an anxious brain like mine. The key, Dr Simon Petrie explained, is to manage unhelpful thoughts. His afternoon session began with a breathing exercise. It was so relaxing that the twitchy Gen Z sitting next to me actually started to snore. Dr Petrie told us to approach a flight with a plan. To calm a frightened brain you need to distract it and focus on the coping tools, he said. Most importantly, remember this mantra: Whenever Im anxious, theres always something I can do to reduce my symptoms.

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The chief coping tool is to breathe and squeeze because, he explained, breathing slowly will control the flow of hormones racing around your body. And a brief muscle squeeze will focus your mind. This method sounded ridiculously simple but requires concentration, and when we tried it in the lecture theatre it really did seem to work. Up in the air Finally came the flight itself. As we trooped through customs at Heathrow (yes, they still make you do all this) and discussed what we had learnt on the day, most seemed excited to see whether the coping tactics would actually work in the air. Those who had never flown before appeared thrilled at the prospect of actually going through with it. I spoke to one 60-something gentleman from Nottingham who gave me the impression that his wife (in Venice at the time, on holiday with girlfriends) might ditch him if he doesnt start travelling the world with her. But when we actually took our seats my fellow passengers suddenly seemed terrified. As Captain Nigel flew the plane, Niven gave us a running commentary, describing every rumble, shudder and rattle as we ascended. It was incredibly reassuring. The flight lasted a little over 20 minutes but seemed over in a flash.

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Air travel Why youll never hear a pilot use the word plunge The Secret Pilot Airline pilot I tried the breath and squeeze method when things got bumpy going through the clouds  and it worked. Unlike every other time Ive flown, panic did not rise. By the time we touched the ground I felt utterly wiped out by all that concentration, but delighted that the course really has seemed to have made a difference. As we exited the plane I bumped into an exhilarated 40-something, who was almost in tears. I havent flown since my honeymoon in Ibiza was cut short after 9/11, she said. We were all so traumatised by that day that I became terrified of flying. After this, I can finally finish the honeymoon! Its an emotional moment for everyone, and all I could think was: Delphi, Ill see you in Melbourne very soon. Some names have been changed. The Telegraph, London

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WorldEuropeCrime Father of three faces court over drugging, sexually assaulting ex-wife with five other men Patrick Sawer December 24, 2025  7:43am 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 former UK Conservative councillor has been remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of drugging and sexually assaulting his former wife with five other men over a 13-year period. Philip Young, 49, appeared at Swindon magistrates court, west of London, on Tuesday charged with 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy his ex-wife, Joanne Young, 48. Philip Young, 49, has been accused of drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period. Prosecutors allege Young, alongside five other men who have also been charged, assaulted his wife while she was drugged. Joanne Young can be named as the alleged victim because she has waived her right to anonymity, which would automatically apply in such cases. Wiltshire Police said that, in an unusual move, she had asked to be identified as the alleged victim.

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Related Article Crime Husband and other men repeatedly drugged, raped woman over 13 years, prosecutors say Philip Young, who was wearing a black zipped sweatshirt with black trousers and a short greying beard, was remanded in custody to appear at Swindon Crown Court on January 23. He stood cross-armed as he confirmed his name, date of birth and address. Asked by Martin Clarke, the chairman of the bench, whether he wished to indicate a plea, Young shook his head and said: No. Clarke told him: Your cases are indictable so they can only ever be heard in the crown court, therefore we are going to send these matters to the crown court.

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There was no application for bail. Young, a father of three, was also charged with possessing 230 indecent images of children. Of these, 139 were category A, deemed the worst. He is alleged to have been found with three prohibited images and 82 extreme images, and faces one charge over each for four types, namely rape, animals, death and gore. A court sketch of Philip Young, right, at Swindon Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He is charged with 56 offences including multiple counts of rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy his former spouse, Joanne Young. Illustration: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire A court sketch of, left to right, Norman Macksoni, Conner Sanderson Doyle, Richard Wilkins, Mohammed Hassan and Dean Hamilton. Illustration: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire The former local politician, formerly from the upmarket Ash Brake area of Swindon, who now lives in Enfield, north London, was also charged with breaching Section 1 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 on at least 500 occasions. He also faces 13 charges of voyeurism specific to videos and voyeurism on at least 200 other occasions.

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Youngs co-accused  all British men  appeared before the same court a few hours later. Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, was charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images. Macksoni, who wore a dark grey suit with black shirt and tie, indicated he would plead not guilty. Norman Macksoni arriving at court. He has been charged with rape and possession of extreme images. AP Dean Hamilton, 47, of Compton Dundon, Somerset, faces one charge of rape and sexual assault by penetration, and two of sexual touching. Hamilton, who had grey shaven hair and wore a white sweatshirt and light grey combat trousers, also indicated he would plead not guilty. Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Crofton Road, Swindon, is charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching. Doyle, wearing a white jumper and his hair in a long black ponytail, did not indicate a plea.

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Richard Wilkins, 61, of Toothill, Swindon, is accused of one count of rape and sexual touching. Wilkins, who was shaven headed and wore a waterproof hooded coat, did not indicate a plea. Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Torun Way, Swindon, is charged with sexual touching. Hassan, who wore a black hooded jacket, gave no indication of a plea. Dean Hamilton faces one charge of rape and sexual assault by penetration, and two of sexual touching. AP All five men were bailed to attend Swindon Crown Court on January 23, on condition they surrendered their passports and did not go near Joanne Youngs home address or attempt to contact her in any way. Clarke warned the men to make no contact, direct or indirect, with her, either via letter at her home address, on social media or in person. Its for your benefit. If youre caught there you are back inside, he told them. You get it wrong and youre back here and youll face an entirely different situation.

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All five men nodded their heads when asked if they understood the bail conditions. James Foster, a CPS specialist prosecutor, said: Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. Conner Sanderson Doyle is charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching. AP We have worked closely with Wiltshire Police as they carried out their investigation. Wiltshire Police Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith described it as a complex and extensive investigation. He added: The victim in this case, Joanne, has taken the decision to waive her automatic legal right to anonymity.

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She has been supported by specially trained officers from the beginning of the process and she has made the decision following multiple discussions with officers and support services. Young was the cabinet member for regeneration at Swindon borough council between January 2007 and May 2010, and oversaw the 800m ($1.6 billion) redevelopment of the towns centre. Richard Wilkins is accused of rape and sexual touching. AP In 2010, he said he was stepping down to spend more time with family. Six months earlier, Young described how he helped deliver his and his then-wifes third child at home, minutes before paramedics could arrive.

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He told the Swindon Advertiser: We didnt have time to ring an ambulance beforehand. It didnt cross my mind. It was happening and that was it. Related Article Updated

Crime Ex-husband found guilty in mass rape trial, sentenced to 20 years in prison It was almost common sense really. It was almost trying to be quite matter of fact and give Jo confidence. Id be lying if I said I wasnt nervous. The main thing was communication, to talk her through what was happening and her to tell me what she was feeling. His ex-wife said at the time: I cant complain, he caught the baby so thats good.

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More recently, Young was chief operating officer at the Salesforce consultancy Pracedo. He joined the business in June 2023 with 17 years experience in the ecosystem running his own partner consultancy, according to a now removed biography on the company website. It added: In his past, Phil has run many global rollouts with blue-chip international organisations with a focus on increasing ROI (return on investment) through high adoption at launch. Young previously worked on projects for household names including Aston Martin, Unilever and BP. His most recent posts on LinkedIn show him holding a trophy at an industry awards ceremony. He graduated with a business studies degree from the University of Westminster in 1998 and previously went to school in Bishops Stortford.

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BUCHAREST, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Romania's new defence and economy ministers were sworn in on Tuesday at a ceremony, the Presidential Administration said.

Radu Miruta assumed office as minister of national defence, while Irineu Darau was appointed minister of economy, digitalisation, entrepreneurship and tourism in Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's cabinet. President Nicusor Dan signed the appointment decrees earlier in the day.

The prime minister attended the swearing-in ceremony, and both ministers had been validated last Friday by the Save Romania Union (USR), a member of the governing coalition.

Miruta, who will also serve as deputy prime minister, had been acting defence minister since Nov. 28, after President Dan accepted the resignation of his predecessor, Ionut Mosteanu. 
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WorldEuropeTerror charges Terrorists plotted to kill Jews in deadliest attack in UK history Sam Tobin and Andy Bruce December 24, 2025  9:58am 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: Two men were found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired gun rampage against the Jewish community in England, a planned attack investigators say demonstrates the resurgent risk posed by the militant group. Police and prosecutors said Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, who went on trial a week after an unrelated deadly attack on a synagogue in the north-west city of Manchester in October, were Islamist extremists who wanted to use automatic firearms to kill as many Jewish people as they could. Walid Saadaoui, left, and Amar Hussein were found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired attack targeting the Jewish community in England. Greater Manchester Police Had their plans come to fruition, it would have resulted in one of, if not the, deadliest terrorist attack in UK history, said assistant chief constable Robert Potts, who is in charge of counter-terrorism policing in north-west England. Their convictions on Tuesday come little more than a week after the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydneys Bondi Beach in which 15 people were killed.

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It was clear throughout this trial that the scale of the offenders hatred towards our Jewish community knew no bounds, Greater Manchester Police chief constable Stephen Watson said after the verdicts were handed down, The Guardian reported. Related Article Exclusive

Bondi shooting No one lives there: How a remote village became entangled in Bondi terror All too recently in Sydney, and of course here in Manchester in October  the very week before this trial began  we have felt the devastation of terrorism directed toward our Jewish community. A terrorist attack upon our Jewish friends and neighbours is an attack on us all and is an affront to all decent people in our country. Islamic State said the Bondi attack was a source of pride. Although the jihadist group did not claim responsibility, its response has heightened fears of an increase in violent Islamist extremism.

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While not posing the same threat as a decade ago, when Islamic State controlled vast areas of Iraq and Syria, European security officials caution that it and affiliated al-Qaeda groups are once again looking to export violence abroad, radicalising would-be attackers online. Related Article Updated

Crime Two dead in terror attack at Manchester synagogue, suspect shot dead You can see signs of some of those terrorism threats starting to grow again and starting to escalate, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said last week. British prosecutors told jurors that Saadaoui and Hussein had embraced the views of Islamic State and were prepared to risk their own lives in order to become martyrs. Saadaoui had arranged for two assault rifles, an automatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Britain through the port of Dover when he was arrested in May 2024, prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu said.

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He added that Saadaoui planned to obtain two more rifles, another pistol and collect at least 900 rounds. Unbeknown to him, a man known as Farouk he was trying to get the weapons from was an undercover operative, which police said meant his plan never came close to being put into operation. Related Article Bondi shooting Intolerable: UK police crack down on hate after Bondi massacre Sandhu said the assault rifles Saadaoui wanted were similar to those used in a 2015 Islamist militant attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris that killed 130 people. He added that Saadaoui hero-worshipped Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who co-ordinated that attack. Saadaoui said in a message to Farouk, whom he thought was a fellow militant, that the Paris attack was the biggest operation after that of Osama [bin Laden] , an apparent reference to the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States. Based on Walids communications and interactions with the undercover operative, and some of the things he said, that made it very clear that he regarded a less sophisticated attack with less lethal weaponry as not being good enough, Potts said.

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Because, in effect, it was his role and his duty to kill as many Jewish people as he could, and that wasnt going to be achieved via the use of a knife or, for example, potentially a vehicle as a weapon. Both Saadaoui and Hussein had pleaded not guilty, and Saadaoui said that he had played along with the plot out of fear for his life. Hussein did not give evidence and barely attended his trial after he angrily shouted from the dock on the first day How many babies?  an apparent reference to Israels war in Gaza. They were convicted at Preston Crown Court on a single charge of preparing terrorist acts. Walid Saadaouis brother Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism, but prosecutors said he had been reluctant to join the attack.

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The foiled plot is the latest in Britain and elsewhere inspired by Islamic State, which emerged in Iraq and Syria a decade ago and quickly created a caliphate, declaring its rule over all Muslims and largely displacing al-Qaeda. At the height of its power from 2014-17, Islamic State held swathes of the two countries, ruling over millions of people and imposing a strict, brutal interpretation of Islamic sharia law. Its fighters also carried out or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world, which were often claimed by Islamic State even without any actual connection. The SITE Intelligence Group said in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack that Islamic State had encouraged Muslims to take action elsewhere, particularly singling out Belgium. A European intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Islamic State was flooding social media with propaganda, and while this impacted only a handful of people, it meant there were more terrorism investigations than last year.

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Ken McCallum, head of Britains domestic spy agency MI5, said in October that his service and the police had thwarted 19 late-stage attack plots since the start of 2020, and intervened to counter many hundreds of other terrorism threats. Terrorism breeds in squalid corners of the internet where poisonous ideologies, of whatever sort, meet volatile, often chaotic individual lives, McCallum said. 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.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his call to take over Greenland, which triggered strong objections from Denmark and the European Union.

"We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. "They say Denmark owns it. Denmark has spent no money and has no military protection," Trump said.

Denmark is legally responsible for Greenland's defence and maintains military capabilities related to the island.

On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland.

"We have to have it (Greenland) and he (Landry) wanted to lead the charge," Trump said. 
BSNL Chhattisgarh circle warns public againstfake recruitment pamphlets on social media

Staff Reporter:

BHARAT Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Chhattisgarh Circle has strong ly refuted misleading and false prop aganda related to recruitment for BSNL tower maintenance that is being cir culated through pamphlets and posts on social media platforms. According to BSNL Chhattisgarh Circle office, Raipur, it has come to notice that some unidentified indi viduals are spreading a poster claim ing immediate direct recruitment for boys and girls for BSNL tower main tenance work. The pamphlet mentions recruitment of trained and untrained candidates in the age group of 18 to 40 years and asks interested persons to contact through WhatsApp on mobile numbers 9125121598 and 7355756855. BSNL Chhattisgarh Circle has clar ified that it has not issued any such pamphlet and no recruitment process of this nature is currently underway.

The organisation has categorically stat ed that no individual, agency or pri vate organisation has been authorised by BSNL for recruitment related to tow er maintenance or any other work in the Chhattisgarh Circle.Officials said that such false and mis leading propaganda is being spread by unknown persons and is an attempt to tarnish the image of BSNL. The pub lic has been cautioned that BSNL has no connection whatsoever with the contents of the circulated pamphlet and the claims made in it are completely false. BSNL Chhattisgarh Circle has fur ther clarified that it will not be respon sible for any financial loss, fraud or inconvenience suffered by any indi vidual or citizen due to reliance on such fake recruitment advertisements. People responding to these pamphlets risk being cheated by fraudsters pos ing as recruiters.

The general public has been advised to remain vigilant and not to trust recruitment-related information cir culated through unofficial sources such as social media, WhatsApp messages or unverified pamphlets. BSNL has reiterated that all official recruitment notifications, if any, are published only through authorised government chan nels, official websites and recognised newspapers. BSNL Chhattisgarh Circle has appealed to citizens to report such misleading content to the concerned authorities and avoid sharing or for warding unverified information.
Cabinet approves Rs 2,508 crorefor Barwah-Dhamnod four-lane road

By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla:

ON MONDAY, the Council of Ministers has given their con sent to several crucial issues including formation of commit tees at district level, Vrindavan Schemes next leg, Bhopal met ropolitan region, underground Indore Metro, Barwah road widening and Aanganwadi schemes. Briefing media about the meeting, Public works Department Minister, Rakesh Singh informed that Union Minister Amit Shah will lay foun dation stone of several develop ment projects at Gwalior and Rewa. The event will be part of Abhyudaya Madhya Pradesh (the 70th Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day celebration).

Long pending demand of for mation of several important committees at districts e.g. Rogi Kalyan Samiti, Jila Vikas Salahkar Samiti etc. has been addressed in this meeting and decided to expedite their formation process. Ground breaking ceremony of Medical College at Betul will be take place on Tuesday. The col lege will be developed on Public Private Partnership. Another important decision on It has granted administrative approval of Rs 2,508 crore 21 lakh for the upgradation and widening of the Barwah-Dhamnod 4-lane road with pavements (length 62.795 km) under the Hybrid Annuity Model, including land acquisi tion. A meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, was held at the secretariat building.

The project will include the construction of 10 bypasses, 5 major bridges, 23 medium bridges, 12 VUP/SVUPs, 7 major junctions, and 56 medium junctions. 40 per cent of the con struction cost will be borne by the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation from the State Highway Fund, including GST, under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The remaining 60 per cent will be provided through the state budget in the form of six-month ly annuities over a period of 15 years during the operational phase. The Council approved the continuation of schemes and programs under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for the next 5 years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31, in accordance with the criteria approved by the Government of India and the period determined by the 16th Finance Commission.

This scheme includes the Anganwadi Services Scheme (Supplementary Nutrition Programme, pre-school educa tion, Anganwadi building con struction including Saksham Anganwadi), Poshan Abhiyan, scheme for adolescent girls, training of Anganwadi workers, etc. This scheme is implement ed in 97,882 Anganwadi centres under 453 Child Development Projects in all 55 districts of the State.
CBS News 60 Minutes holds off on airing critical piece on Trump deportation policy





Pulling it only hours before airtime

WASHINGTON :

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) News 60 Minutes on Sunday didnt air a planned story on Trump administration deportations of immigrants to El Salvador, pulling it only hours before airtime at the direction of new Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. The story, where correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi spoke to deportees who had been sent to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison, was held because Weiss sought to add perspective from the Trump administration, according to people at the network.

In an email sent to some colleagues and reported by multiple media outlets, Alfonsi said shed learned on Saturday that Weiss had decided not to air it. She said her story was factually correct and cleared by CBS attorneys and news standards officials. In my view, pulling it now -- after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.

The shift, publicly announced two hours before the broadcast aired, is sure to increase scrutiny on Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website who was installed at the top of CBS News this fall when its parent company, Paramount, was bought out. President Donald Trump has been sharply critical of 60 Minutes. He sued the network last fall over its interview with election opponent Kamala Harris, which was settled this summer, and recently complained about the shows interview with former ally turned foe Marjorie Taylor Greene. Weiss told The New York Times in a statement: My job is to make sure that all the stories we publish are the best they can be. Holding stories that arent ready for whatever reason  that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices  happens every day in every newsroom. She said she looked forward to airing Alfonsis piece when its ready.
Cops crackdown on drunk driving: 131 checkpoints in city till Dec 31





CP Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal adressing a press conference. Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy (left) and DCP Lohit Matani (right) also were present.

Staff Reporter

With 131 checkpoints across the city, the City Police have launched a special campaign to strictly control drunk driving and rash driving ahead of New Year celebrations. The special action will be carried out from December 22 to December 31 under Operation U-Turn, Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal announced at a press conference on Monday. Every year, a large number of people visit pubs, bars, hotels, and party spots on December 31 which lead to a rise in drunk driving cases. Such incidents not only endanger the lives of drivers but also put pedestrians and other road users at serious risk. Keeping this in mind, the police have decided to intensify checks across the city to ensure public safety.

131 checkpoints at key spots

Under this special campaign, 131 checkpoints have been set up at key locations in Nagpur. Traffic police teams will check vehicles daily from evening hours till 2 am. Special attention will be given to drivers suspected of consuming alcohol. Breathalyzer machines have been provided at every checkpoint to test drivers on the spot. The police will also take strict action against other traffic violations. These include not wearing helmets, riding triple-seat on two-wheelers, wrong-side driving, overspeeding and rash driving, especially by youths. The CP warned that no leniency will be shown to violators during this period.

Operation U-Turn has already been implemented in Nagpur since July, but the drive has been strengthened ahead of New year celebrations due to the expected increase in crowds and late-night traffic. Police to create awareness at pubs, bars ALONG with enforcement, the police have also planned awareness campaigns. Teams will visit malls, pubs, bars, and crowded public places to spread awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. Citizens will be appealed to use cabs, designated drivers, or public transport after consuming alcohol.

Heavy security arrangements have also been made across the city for December 31. Police presence has been increased at popular spots such as malls, Futala Lake, and other crowded areas. Special monitoring will be done in Sadar, Dharampeth, and Shankar Nagar, where large crowds are expected. Women police squads TO ENSURE womens safety, women police squads have been deployed in crowded areas. These teams will work in plain clothes to prevent harassment and take immediate action if any untoward incident occurs.The Social Security Branch and teams from various police stations will assist in maintaining law and order. The police have also instructed officials to keep a close watch on hotels and pubs to prevent fights, disorderly behavior, and other incidents. Strict action will be taken against anyone found violating the law. The Nagpur Police have appealed to citizens to cooperate and celebrate the New Year responsibly. They have urged people to avoid drunk driving and follow traffic rules so that everyone can welcome the New Year safely. Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, DCP Traffic Lohit Matani were present in the press conference.
Doctor punches patient in IGMC-Shimla





SHIMLA :

A JUNIOR resident doctor allegedly assaulted a patient, throwing multiple punches, following an argument at a prominent hospital here on Monday, sparking a protest with the victims relatives demanding that he be handed over to them after a video of the shocking incident appeared on social media. As outrage mounted, Dr Rahul Rao, Medical Superintendent of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), said a committee has been constituted to probe the incident following the directions of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The doctor, Raghav Narula, who is a contractual employee, has been suspended, pending the inquiry, while the family of the victim has also filed a police complaint, officials said. The video, which was shot by a person who was present in the ward, showed the doctor punching the patient, Arjun Singh, who was lying on the bed, in the face. The patient is seen resisting by kicking, while two other persons try to restrain both of them. Singh, a resident of Kupvi in Shimla, suffered a nose injury in the incident. Tensions flared up as hundreds of people, including the relatives and friends of the victim, along with other patients held a protest in the hospital premises, demanding the arrest of the doctor.

The protesters barged into the hospital and tried to go to the room where the doctor was kept, demanding that the hospital authorities hand him over. However, the situation was controlled by police personnel who were present there. Later, speaking to media persons, Singh said that he suffers from pulmonary issues and had visited the hospital for a bronchoscopy. He said that following the test, he started to feel shortness of breath and was advised by the hospital staff to take rest. He said that after this, he went to the pulmonary medicine ward and lay down on a vacant bed to take rest. However, after a few minutes, 2 doctors approached him and started to misbehave with him, after which he urged them to be respectful. He claimed that this agitated the doctor, who went on to assault him. I was feeling breathless and was lying on an empty bed requesting a nurse for oxygen, when the doctor came and started asking for reports and misbehaved and lost his cool in 30 seconds. I am not satisfied with the suspension; the doctor should be terminated, Singh said.
facilities, ok -- but ...





UNION Health Minister Mr. Jagat Prasad Nadda is right when he asserts that young Indian doctors had freedom to go abroad, but could not accuse the country of not having appropriate medical facilities. For, over the past some years, India has created good enough medical infrastructure so that young doctors could avail of the facilities right in their own country -- since they have no reason to complain on that count. However, what the country lacks is a proper showcasing of the reasonably good medical infrastructure that the country has built over the past some years. Falling short on that count, India has been losing quite many young medical aspirants to courses in foreign countries. It is time the nation made a concerted bid to change the situation favourably by propagating the nations achievements in the field of medical infrastructure and related facilities.

If that is done effectively, countless numbers of young medical aspirants would choose to stay on in India and not travel to other countries for basic or basic-plus medical education. The biggest difficulty in this regard is that India has really not tried its best to propagate what it has and what it can provide to young aspirants -- not just in the medical field, but also in several other fields. There may be a couple of reasons for this reluctance on the part of the Government and on the part of the leaders of the larger society to tell to the common people what the country has and what and how it offers to young generations -- and that how inexpensive medical education in India is as against the medical education in most other countries.

In the absence of such an awareness, countless numbers of young Indians travel to different countries for their basic or basic-plus medical education at huge cost. Another issue that dominates the scene is the higher degree of difficulty for young people to get admissions in medical institutions in the country -- governmental or private. In comparison, admissions to foreign universities appear easier -- and are available if the candidates are willing to pay hefty fees (that most Indian families make for by selling their family assets and taking expensive loans). In the past twenty-odd years, countries like Russia and China have attracted literally countless thousands of young Indians in their medical institutions -- in addition to more or less similar conditions prevailing in several western countries. The issue, thus, assumes complex dimensions, and creates genuine concerns in India.

When the honourable Union Health Minister makes a specific appeal to young Indians that they cannot accuse the country of not having adequate medical education facilities, it becomes his natural duty to take firmer steps to bring to the societys notice what the country offers in that regard. It is also essential for the Government to set stricter rules for medical admissions so that the merit of the young aspirant is tested fully and the person is given admission to medical colleges only when he or she fully deserves it. This issue also brings us to another serious issue of quality of medical services in the country -- which is also closely related to the quality of medical education available in the country. In the Government sector, things are still okay to a large extent. In private medical institutions, a similar claim cannot be made -- since a lot of compromises are made to accommodate students who have the capacity to pay fees but may not have the adequate merit to suit the field. The ill-effect of this issue is often seen in the society. Complaints about wrong diagnosis or wrong medication are on the rise all the time -- thanks to the casualness with which the issue of medical education appears to be handled by the authorities. The practical realities on the ground, thus, make it imperative for the larger society to re-examine the issue of medical education in totality -- and then take corrective steps.
High drama at Upper Lake:Mentally unstable man rescuedfrom 50-feet Arch Bridge





Staff Reporter :

PANICgripped commuters at the iconic Arch Bridge on Monday afternoon when a mentally unstable man climbed nearly 50 feet up the structure, threaten ing to jump into the Upper Lake. The swift intervention of the Talaiya Police and the Bhopal Municipal Corporations (BMC) rescue squad prevented a poten tial tragedy. The incident occurred around midday when the man, who was semi-clothed, scaled the high arch of the bridge. As he began shouting and ges turing to jump, a large crowd gathered, leading to traffic con gestion and alarm among passers-by. Dial-112 was imme diately alerted, following which teams from the Talaiya police station and BMC divers reached the spot

.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, Talaiya Station House Officer (SHO) Deepak Dhariya spearheaded the rescue efforts. To mitigate any risk, BMC divers were deployed in the lake with rescue boats directly beneath the arch. After nearly an hour of care ful negotiation and tactical manoeuvring, the rescue team managed to secure the man and bring him down safely. The suc cessful operation was met with a sigh of relief from both the administration and the onlook ers. Initial inquiries revealed that the man is mentally distressed and is frequently seen begging in the Kamala Park area.

.

Due to his unstable condition, the police were unable to gather coherent information regarding his iden tity or the reason behind his actions. Our primary objective was to ensure the individuals safety without causing him any injury. The co-ordinated effort between the police and the municipal res cue team was instrumental in resolving the crisis peacefully, said SHO Dhariya. The man is currently under police supervi sion, and efforts are underway to locate his family
Man held forsexually exploitingwoman on pretext of marriage





Staff Reporter:

THEMP Nagar police have arrested a man for allegedly sexually exploiting a 26 year-old woman after promising to marry her. Acting swiftly on the victims complaint, the police managed to apprehend the accused within just twelve hours of registering the case. According to police sources, the 26-year-old victim, a resident of Raisen district currently living in Bhopal, filed a written com plaint against a man identiied as Surendra Thakur. The victim alleged that Thakur lured her into a relationship with the promise of marriage and exploit ed her physically over several months.

The situation escalated when the woman pressured the accused to fulfill his promise and finalise the marriage. Thakur reportedly refused to marry her and abandoned her, prompting the victim to seek legal intervention. Taking the sensitivity of the matter into account, the MP Nagar police registered a case under relevant sections of the law.

Under the leader ship of the Station House Officer (SHO), a special team was formed to track the suspect. Using technical surveillance and local intelligence, the team successfully tracked Thakurs location. In a co-ordinated operation, the police cordoned off the area and arrested the accused just two hours after the FIR was lodged.
MPTransco honoured with national Power Line TransTech India Award





Staff Reporter:

MADHYA Pradesh has achieved another major milestone in the field of power transmission. Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (MP Transco) has been honoured with the prestigious national Power Line TransTech India Award for recording the lowest transmis sion loss in the Western Region. Congratulating the officers and employees of MP Transco on this achievement, the State Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar said that this award is a result of the States robust transmission system, technical efficiency, and continuous improvement efforts. He emphasised that ensuring unin terrupted power supply with minimum transmission losses remains a top priority of the State Government. On behalf of MP Transco, Executive Engineer Lokesh Dwivedi received the award at this prestigious platform, which is recognised by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

The award has been instituted by the international power-sec tor magazine Power Line, with the objective of encouraging outstanding performance by power utilities in Indias trans mission sector. For the award, utilities were selected based on data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), and official reports of various State power companies. The evaluation cri teria included key parameters such as increase in line length, enhancement of transforma tion capacity, improved financial performance, and lowest transmission losses.

The award was presented dur ing the TransTech India2025 Conference, held at Yashobhoomi India International Convention and Expo Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi. This conference is a major national platform recognised by the Ministry of Power, bringing together policymakers, regula tory bodies, developers, manu facturers and EPC contractors. More than 2,500 representatives from transmission utilities across the country participated in the event.
New face of Lashkar: Talha Saeed as boss, grooming white-collar and child recruits





NEW DELHI :

THE Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, was hit hard during Operation Sindoor. Since the operation that was carried out to avenge the Pahalgam attacks, the Lashkar-e-Taiba has tried several times to bounce back, but has not been entirely successful. The outfit has decided to infuse fresh blood and go back to the basics. The first visible change is in the leadership, with most operations today headed by Talha Saeed, the son of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed. While Hafiz Saeed is kept in the loop relating to all activities, it is Talha who is calling the shots, an Intelligence Bureau official said. Talha has fresh ideas for the outfit and has instructed his men to recruit educated persons only. Intelligence agencies have learnt that Talha is more interested in having white-collar cadres in bigger numbers when compared to the conventional mujahideens.

If one looks at the latest recruitments that the Lashkar-e-Taiba has made in recent months, it becomes clear that Talha is chasing the educated lot. The target audience comprises doctors, engineers and teachers. The outfit now feels that there is a need to have educated cadres, as they bring with them knowledge and can also provide fresher ideas. Under Talha Saeed, the power of social media is also being used on a very large scale. He feels that propaganda is a very important tool, and hence the social media must be used heavily to spread the same. Under Hafiz Saeed, there were several dedicated terrorists. However, not all of them were in the outfit for the sake of ideology. Many went along for the money, and this is something that Talha does not want. He wants the terrorists he recruits to be ideologically charged and feels that they must be part of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba only if they believe in the cause. Experts say that if Talha can achieve what he wishes, then the Lashkar-e-Tayiba will only get more dangerous. He is looking at white-collar terrorists, and this itself is a dangerous precedent.

Over the years, outfits such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have leaned more towards the educated lot. Under Talha Saeed, several camps have been set up and the emphasis is more on the online classes. After Operation Sindoor, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba has deliberately avoided having classes in the open. It has moved to the online module largely as it wants to avoid detection by the Indian Armed Forces. In the process of rebuilding a strong terrorist group, Talha also places heavy emphasis on politics. He is strengthening the cadre who are part of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), the political outfit of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Talha is of the firm view that they should remain politically strong too, so that there is acceptance by the public. Moreover, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba had hidden behind a strong political outfit, while continuing with its terror acts, officials say. Talha also believes that the recruitment of adults alone is not enough. He has ensured that multiple classes are introduced to bring in children as well. The plan is to recruit young boys and girls and then radicalise them at a very young age.

For the children, the classes mainly emphasise the Quran for a couple of years. The next step involves radicalisation, following which they would be recruited into the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. In the next phase, the same persons would be imparted arms training and then made battle-ready. Those who are brought in at a very young age would be examined following their training programme. Not all of them will be inducted into the terror network. Based on their skill set, some would be taken into the political outfit. The Lashkar-e-Tayiba is also creating several student wings so that they could infiltrate universities, similar to the lines of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, officials say. Another official said that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba is looking to rebrand itself, and Talha Saeed is in for a long haul, whereby he manages to change the terror landscape in a very big way.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said that shipping Mexican oil to Cuba was carried out in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and humanitarianism.

The energy and financial collaboration between the two countries is transparent and legitimate, and deeply rooted in their bilateral history, she stressed during a morning press conference.

The Mexican president made the remarks despite repeated criticism from the U.S. government, which has asked Mexico to reconsider its relationship with Cuba.

"First, we are doing this within a legal framework as a sovereign country, and second, we are continuing a series of support measures that our country has historically provided Cuba," she said.

Sheinbaum added that she asked state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos to submit a report on oil shipments to the Caribbean nation during her administration, noting the measure is lawful and conforms to the "humanitarian" principles that guide her government's policies.

The oil agreements between Mexico and Cuba date back decades and have endured despite changes in the Mexican government, she said. 
Sweeping victory for Mahayuti in MC, NP polls





Team Hitavada:

BHARATIYA Janata Party led Mahayuti registered grand vic tory in Municipal Council (MC) and Nagar Panchayat (NP) elections in Nagpur district. Of the 27 MCs and NPs, the Mahayuti stood victorious in 24 local bodies with BJP winning in 22 and Shiv Sena (Shinde) in two places. The most sensational fight was witnessed in Kamptee MC where, in a nail-biting finish, the BJPs candidate Ajay Agrawal won by marginal lead. This is the first time that BJP won the Kamptee Municipal Council President elections. BJP won at 12 Nagar Panchayats and 10 MCs, Congress and Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) one each while Shiv Sena won one MC and one NP. Congress could win one seat of Mohpa while GGP succeeded in winning the president election at Butibori Municipal Council. Shiv Sena (Shinde) stood victorious at Parseoni and Ramtek while Peasant and Workers Party clinched Katol Municipal Council President post. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, The overwhelming suc cess of the BJP was a victory of the (party) workers. This is a victory of our workers.

Thank you to the people who supported the BJP by maintaining faith in its development-oriented working style. The 22 MCs and NPs where BJPs candidates won President elections include MCs: Wanadongri, Saoner, Kamptee, Mowad, Umred, Wadi, Narkhed, Khapa, Kalmeshwar-Bramhni, Digdoh (Devi) Nagar Panchayats: Kanhan-Pipri, Mahadula, Mouda, Bhiwapur, Bahadura, Kandri Kanhan, Bidgaon-Tarodi (Khurd), Besa-Pipla, Nildoh, Yerkheda, Kondhali and Godhani Railway. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described it as the major victory for BJP-led BJP workers celebrating after declaration of results, on Sunday. Mahayuti. Nagpur is the only district in Maharashtra where maximum MCs and NPs-27-went to polls. The two MCs Hingna and Kuhi did not have elections as their term has not yet ended. A senior BJP leader while talking to The Hitavada about a week ago predicted that BJP would win in 22.

According to him, the BJP could have won Katol too had the planning been done properly. Opposition failed to know peoples pulse REPLYING to a question, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made it clear, Vote chori was never an issue. I dont under stand why Opposition keeps taking up it. I feel they failed to understand the peoples pulse. They must try to know what people want. In my any campaign speech, I did not criticise any per son or organisation. They too should talk about the work they have done or whatever they want to do. Our victory is peoples mandate. Opposition failed to know peoples pulse REPLYING to a question, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made it clear, Vote chori was never an issue. I dont understand why Opposition keeps taking up it. I feel they failed to under stand the peoples pulse. They must try to know what people want. In my any campaign speech, I did not criticise any per son or organisation. They too should talk about the work they have done or whatever they want to do. Our victory is peoples mandate.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that it would be "smart" for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down as tension escalates between the two leaders.

"Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, when asked whether the goal was to force Maduro to leave power.

"If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough," he added.

Trump also confirmed that the United States had been pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker over the weekend.

Multiple U.S. media outlets reported Sunday that the U.S. Coast Guard "is in active pursuit" of the oil tanker Bella 1 in international waters off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was en route to Venezuela to load cargo.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the tanker had fled into the Atlantic Ocean. If intercepted, it would mark the third oil tanker successfully seized by the United States off Venezuela in less than two weeks.

Last week, Trump ordered a "full and total blockade" of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, declaring Maduro's government a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

The Pentagon has deployed around a dozen warships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, a major aircraft carrier, and about 15,000 troops to the Caribbean Sea, which shares a significant amount of coastline with Venezuela. The region has not seen such a massive U.S. military presence for at least three decades.

In a phone interview with NBC News last week, Trump said that he did not rule out the possibility of a war with the oil-rich South American nation.

Venezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin America, condemning the interception of oil tankers as "piracy."

Maduro, without directly referring to Trump's words, emphasized that every leader should focus on the domestic matters of their own nation.

"If I speak to him again, I will tell him: each country should mind its own internal affairs," Maduro said on Monday in a televised address. 
Teradata Corporation (NYSE:TDC  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the fourteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $29.1111.

Several research analysts recently commented on TDC shares. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Teradata from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Teradata in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Citizens Jmp upgraded shares of Teradata from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $42.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, November 10th. Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Teradata in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Teradata from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Teradata

Teradata Trading Up 0.7%

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Teradata in the 2nd quarter worth about $466,000. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its stake in Teradata by 21.6% in the second quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 1,966,309 shares of the technology companys stock worth $43,868,000 after purchasing an additional 349,439 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its holdings in Teradata by 2,172.3% in the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,108,665 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $24,731,000 after buying an additional 1,059,875 shares during the last quarter. LSV Asset Management raised its stake in Teradata by 21.4% during the second quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,929,495 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $43,047,000 after buying an additional 340,496 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC bought a new position in Teradata during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,317,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.31% of the companys stock.

Shares of TDC opened at $30.94 on Thursday. Teradata has a twelve month low of $18.43 and a twelve month high of $33.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $26.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $23.34.

Teradata (NYSE:TDC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The technology company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $416.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $406.30 million. Teradata had a return on equity of 83.22% and a net margin of 7.15%.The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.69 earnings per share. Teradata has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.530-0.570 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 2.380-2.420 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Teradata will post 1.31 earnings per share for the current year.

About Teradata

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Teradata Corporation is a global provider of enterprise analytics and data management solutions designed to help organizations unlock value from their data assets. The company offers both cloud-based and on-premises platforms that support data warehousing, big data analytics, and machine learning. Through its flagship analytics ecosystem, Teradata enables businesses to integrate, analyze, and manage large volumes of structured and unstructured data at scale.

Central to Teradatas product suite is the Teradata Vantage analytics platform, which unifies diverse data types across multiple environmentsincluding public and private cloudsinto a single, coherent architecture.

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Orchid Island Capital (NYSE:ORC  Get Free Report) and Angel Oak Mortgage REIT (NYSE:AOMR  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Orchid Island Capital and Angel Oak Mortgage REITs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Orchid Island Capital $241.58 million 5.47 $37.66 million $0.49 15.05 Angel Oak Mortgage REIT $110.43 million 1.97 $28.75 million $0.71 12.31

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Orchid Island Capital has higher revenue and earnings than Angel Oak Mortgage REIT. Angel Oak Mortgage REIT is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Orchid Island Capital, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

32.7% of Orchid Island Capital shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.2% of Angel Oak Mortgage REIT shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Orchid Island Capital shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Angel Oak Mortgage REIT shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility & Risk

Orchid Island Capital has a beta of 1.66, indicating that its stock price is 66% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Angel Oak Mortgage REIT has a beta of 1.36, indicating that its stock price is 36% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Orchid Island Capital and Angel Oak Mortgage REITs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Orchid Island Capital N/A 6.69% 0.79% Angel Oak Mortgage REIT 12.93% 6.42% 0.63%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Orchid Island Capital and Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Orchid Island Capital 1 3 0 0 1.75 Angel Oak Mortgage REIT 0 3 4 0 2.57

Orchid Island Capital currently has a consensus price target of $7.50, suggesting a potential upside of 1.69%. Angel Oak Mortgage REIT has a consensus price target of $11.45, suggesting a potential upside of 31.01%. Given Angel Oak Mortgage REITs stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Angel Oak Mortgage REIT is more favorable than Orchid Island Capital.

Dividends

Orchid Island Capital pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 19.5%. Angel Oak Mortgage REIT pays an annual dividend of $1.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.6%. Orchid Island Capital pays out 293.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Angel Oak Mortgage REIT pays out 180.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Orchid Island Capital has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Orchid Island Capital is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Summary

Orchid Island Capital beats Angel Oak Mortgage REIT on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Orchid Island Capital

(Get Free Report)

Orchid Island Capital, Inc., a specialty finance company, invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) in the United States. The companys RMBS is backed by single-family residential mortgage loans, referred as Agency RMBS. Its portfolio includes traditional pass-through Agency RMBS, such as mortgage pass through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations; and structured Agency RMBS comprising interest only securities, inverse interest only securities, and principal only securities. The company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for the United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, it would not be subject to corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that is distributed to stockholders, if it annually distributes dividends equal to at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. Orchid Island Capital, Inc. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida.

About Angel Oak Mortgage REIT

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Angel Oak Mortgage REIT, Inc., a real estate finance company, focuses on acquiring and investing in first lien non- qualified mortgage loans and other mortgage-related assets in the United States mortgage market. It offers investment securities; residential mortgage loans; and commercial mortgage loans. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. It generally would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR  Get Free Report) fell 3.2% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $8.10 and last traded at $8.1350. 29,783,496 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 25% from the average session volume of 39,479,391 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.40.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Archer Aviation from $10.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC cut their price objective on shares of Archer Aviation from $13.00 to $10.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of Archer Aviation in a report on Monday, November 24th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price target on Archer Aviation from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Archer Aviation in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $12.14.

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Archer Aviation Stock Down 3.2%

The firms fifty day simple moving average is $9.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $9.83. The company has a current ratio of 18.19, a quick ratio of 18.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market capitalization of $5.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.46 and a beta of 3.10.

Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($0.20) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.20). Sell-side analysts anticipate that Archer Aviation Inc. will post -1.32 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Archer Aviation

In other news, CTO Thomas Paul Muniz sold 90,648 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.49, for a total value of $678,953.52. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer directly owned 1,397,129 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,464,496.21. This represents a 6.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Priya Gupta sold 5,479 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.49, for a total value of $41,037.71. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 161,523 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,209,807.27. The trade was a 3.28% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 182,635 shares of company stock valued at $1,367,936 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 7.65% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Archer Aviation

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust grew its stake in Archer Aviation by 45.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust now owns 3,136 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 986 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 45.7% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 3,524 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 1,106 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Archer Aviation by 2.5% during the third quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 46,262 shares of the companys stock worth $443,000 after buying an additional 1,107 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division increased its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 0.7% during the second quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 169,345 shares of the companys stock worth $1,837,000 after buying an additional 1,211 shares during the period. Finally, HighPoint Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 3.6% during the third quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 35,919 shares of the companys stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 1,237 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.34% of the companys stock.

Archer Aviation Company Profile

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Archer Aviation, Inc (NYSE: ACHR) is a California-based aerospace company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to serve as sustainable urban air mobility solutions. Founded in 2018 by Adam Goldstein and Brett Adcock, Archer focuses on the design, development and certification of zero-emissions air taxis aimed at reducing traffic congestion in densely populated metropolitan areas. The companys flagship prototypes, Maker and Midnight, have been engineered to deliver quiet, efficient short-haul flights with ranges of up to 100 miles per charge.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Archer operates a manufacturing facility in nearby Santa Cruz County and maintains research partnerships with automotive and energy companies, including a collaboration with Stellantis to integrate advanced battery systems.

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BlackBerry (NYSE:BB  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at TD Securities to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $4.50 price objective on shares of BlackBerry in a research report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of BlackBerry in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research cut BlackBerry from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on BlackBerry from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, September 26th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a $4.60 price objective on shares of BlackBerry in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $5.10.

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BlackBerry Trading Up 4.6%

BB opened at $3.95 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 2.20 and a quick ratio of 2.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 131.54 and a beta of 1.41. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $4.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $4.21. BlackBerry has a 12 month low of $2.80 and a 12 month high of $6.24.

BlackBerry (NYSE:BB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 18th. The company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $141.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $137.54 million. BlackBerry had a return on equity of 8.10% and a net margin of 4.02%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.02 earnings per share. BlackBerry has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.140-0.160 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.030-0.050 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that BlackBerry will post -0.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at BlackBerry

In related news, CEO John Joseph Giamatteo sold 28,343 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.62, for a total transaction of $130,944.66. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 568,164 shares in the company, valued at $2,624,917.68. This trade represents a 4.75% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Mattias Eriksson sold 5,914 shares of BlackBerry stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.62, for a total value of $27,322.68. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 291,340 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,345,990.80. This trade represents a 1.99% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 88,565 shares of company stock valued at $423,706 in the last three months. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of BlackBerry

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BB. Voya Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in BlackBerry during the 1st quarter worth $95,166,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of BlackBerry by 1,390.6% during the second quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 15,589,886 shares of the companys stock worth $71,397,000 after buying an additional 14,544,005 shares during the period. Hood River Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackBerry during the second quarter worth about $52,441,000. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in shares of BlackBerry by 21,832.6% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 8,860,764 shares of the companys stock worth $40,582,000 after buying an additional 8,820,364 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in BlackBerry by 183.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,604,205 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,087,000 after acquiring an additional 2,980,732 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.48% of the companys stock.

BlackBerry Company Profile

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BlackBerry Limited, formerly known as Research In Motion (RIM), is a Canadian enterprise software and cybersecurity company based in Waterloo, Ontario. Since its founding in 1984, the firm has evolved from a pioneer in mobile devices into a specialist in secure communications, endpoint management, and embedded systems software. BlackBerrys core mission today centers on delivering security-first solutions that protect critical data and infrastructure across diverse industries.

At the heart of BlackBerrys offerings is the BlackBerry Spark platform, which combines unified endpoint management (UEM), secure communications, and artificial intelligencedriven threat detection into a single framework.

Further Reading

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Cadence Bank (NYSE:CADE  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $44.26 and last traded at $44.0350, with a volume of 29109 shares. The stock had previously closed at $44.19.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on CADE shares. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Cadence Bank from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Cadence Bank in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Stephens lowered shares of Cadence Bank from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Cadence Bank from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $41.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Cadence Bank from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, September 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $42.33.

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Cadence Bank Price Performance

The firms fifty day moving average price is $39.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.76. The stock has a market cap of $8.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.96 and a beta of 0.96.

Cadence Bank (NYSE:CADE  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 20th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $517.24 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $523.60 million. Cadence Bank had a return on equity of 9.97% and a net margin of 18.15%.During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.73 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Cadence Bank will post 2.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Cadence Bank Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $0.275 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Cadence Banks dividend payout ratio is 39.86%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in CADE. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Cadence Bank in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Cadence Bank in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new position in shares of Cadence Bank in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Community Bank N.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Cadence Bank during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Cadence Bank during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. 84.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Cadence Bank Company Profile

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Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) is a regional commercial bank that offers a full suite of financial services to individuals, businesses and government entities. Through its network of branches and digital platforms, the bank provides deposit accounts, treasury management solutions, commercial and industrial lending, equipment finance, residential and consumer mortgages, and wealth management services. Cadence Bank serves a mix of small and mid-size companies as well as retail customers in its core markets.

The institution traces its heritage to Cadence Bancorporation, which was established in 1987 in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Further Reading

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Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL  Get Free Report)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $197.06, but opened at $202.20. Charles River Laboratories International shares last traded at $201.77, with a volume of 2,396 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on CRL. Morgan Stanley set a $185.00 price objective on shares of Charles River Laboratories International in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Robert W. Baird upgraded Charles River Laboratories International from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the stock from $178.00 to $199.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Charles River Laboratories International from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $142.00 to $195.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Charles River Laboratories International from $205.00 to $197.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Charles River Laboratories International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $225.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles River Laboratories International has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $195.93.

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Charles River Laboratories International Stock Down 0.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.99 billion, a P/E ratio of -129.82, a PEG ratio of 6.96 and a beta of 1.63. The firms fifty day moving average price is $180.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $166.13.

Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The medical research company reported $2.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.32 by $0.11. Charles River Laboratories International had a positive return on equity of 15.78% and a negative net margin of 2.07%.The business had revenue of $1 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $990.43 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.59 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. will post 9.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 93.5% during the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 178 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Cromwell Holdings LLC lifted its stake in Charles River Laboratories International by 542.9% during the second quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 180 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International in the second quarter worth about $29,000. Rothschild Investment LLC increased its position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 82.4% in the third quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 186 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International in the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 98.91% of the companys stock.

Charles River Laboratories International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc is a leading provider of research models and preclinical and clinical support services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The companys core offerings include discovery, safety assessment, toxicology, and pathology services, as well as supply of laboratory animals and related diagnostics. Services extend across in vivo and in vitro testing, biologics testing, and support for advanced therapies, helping clients accelerate drug development from early discovery through regulatory submission.

Founded in 1947 in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Charles River has grown through strategic investments and acquisitions to establish a broad portfolio of capabilities.

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Middle Island Resources Limited (ASX:MDI  Get Free Report) insider Daniel Raihani bought 4,331,104 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 18th. The stock was bought at an average cost of A$0.03 per share, with a total value of A$125,602.02.

Daniel Raihani also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, December 18th, Daniel Raihani acquired 2,000,000 shares of Middle Island Resources stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of A$0.03 per share, with a total value of A$56,000.00.

On Tuesday, November 11th, Daniel Raihani acquired 668,896 shares of Middle Island Resources stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of A$0.03 per share, for a total transaction of A$22,742.46.

Middle Island Resources Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.10 million, a P/E ratio of -1.97 and a beta of 0.27.

About Middle Island Resources

Middle Island Resources Limited engages in the identification, acquisition, and exploration of mineral assets in Australia. It explores for copper and gold. The company holds a 100% interest in the Barkly project that comprises 16 exploration licenses covering an area of approximately 6,918 square kilometers located in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory. Middle Island Resources Limited was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in West Perth, Australia.

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MEXICO CITY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed after a Mexican navy aircraft crashed near Galveston off the Texas coast on Monday, while carrying out a medical transfer mission, according to the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy.

The secretariat said that there were eight people on board, of whom five were killed and two others rescued, adding that the search for the remaining one is ongoing.

The plane was on a humanitarian medical transfer mission in collaboration with a Mexican foundation when the crash occurred as it approached Galveston for landing, said the statement.

The secretariat added that it will cooperate with relevant departments to investigate and determine the cause of the crash. 
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the twenty-six analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $197.5455.

Several research firms recently weighed in on DLR. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Digital Realty Trust from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Moffett Nathanson lifted their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $166.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Monday, December 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday. They issued a buy rating and a $188.00 target price for the company. Finally, Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a report on Friday, October 24th.

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Insider Transactions at Digital Realty Trust

Institutional Trading of Digital Realty Trust

In other Digital Realty Trust news, Director Mary Hogan Preusse sold 4,166 shares of Digital Realty Trust 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,857 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $498,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 3.0% in the second quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,043 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $356,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA raised its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 0.4% in the third quarter. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA now owns 14,335 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,478,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Digital Realty Trust by 1.3% during the first quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,766 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $683,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Finally, Telos Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 0.8% during the second quarter. Telos Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,089 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,410,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.71% of the companys stock.

Digital Realty Trust Trading Up 2.2%

Digital Realty Trust stock opened at $153.35 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $52.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.87 and a beta of 1.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $163.54 and a 200-day moving average of $169.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 2.02. Digital Realty Trust has a one year low of $129.95 and a one year high of $187.74.

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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter. Digital Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.41% and a net margin of 23.67%. On average, equities analysts expect that Digital Realty Trust will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is 126.10%.

About Digital Realty Trust

(Get 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.

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Enghouse Systems (TSE:ENGH) reported fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 results marked by stable revenue, a high proportion of recurring revenue, and margin support from cost initiatives, while management emphasized disciplined capital allocation and a cautious view of near-term organic growth amid customer uncertainty around AI and broader macro factors.

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Financial results and balance sheet

Chief Financial Officer Rob Medved said fourth-quarter revenue was CAD 124.5 million, down slightly from CAD 125.7 million in the prior-year period. For the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2025, revenue totaled CAD 498.9 million, compared with CAD 502.5 million in fiscal 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 was CAD 33.7 million, representing a 27% margin. For the full year, adjusted EBITDA was CAD 127.6 million, for a 25.6% margin. Net income was CAD 21.1 million in the quarter and CAD 73.7 million for the year, or CAD 1.34 per diluted share.

Medved also highlighted Enghouses liquidity, stating the company ended the year with CAD 269.1 million in cash and no external debt.

Recurring revenuedefined on the call as SaaS and maintenancerepresented over 69% of total revenue in both Q4 and the full fiscal year, which management said provided predictability and helped buffer market volatility.

Segment performance: AMG growth and IMG transition

Enghouses Asset Management Group (AMG), which includes the transportation business, was described as a standout in fiscal 2025. AMG revenue rose to CAD 55.7 million in Q4, up 9.3% from CAD 51.0 million a year earlier, and was nearly in line with Q3s CAD 56.0 million. For the year, AMG revenue increased more than 10% to CAD 213.1 million.

Management attributed AMG growth largely to the 2025 acquisitions of Margento and Trafi, which Medved said expanded Enghouses offerings with mobility-as-a-service platforms, transit fare collection, and account-based ticketing. He said the transportation portfolio now covers e-ticketing and automated fare collection, fleet routing, and MaaS platforms.

In the Interactive Management Group (IMG), Q4 revenue was CAD 68.8 million, compared with CAD 74.7 million in the prior-year quarter and CAD 69.6 million in Q3. For the full year, IMG revenue totaled CAD 285.8 million. Medved said the year-over-year decline reflected expected churn in maintenance and SaaS streams as Enghouse continues transitioning toward SaaS-based licensing models.

Management pointed to the acquisition of Aculab as a positive for IMG, citing additions including communications and AI-driven technologies such as voice and face biometrics and media processing.

Cost actions and margin outlook

Medved said a proactive approach to cost management helped support performance, particularly in Q4. He noted restructuring and cost-cutting initiatives in the second half of the year, including streamlining operations, aligning costs with revenue, and reducing operating expenses, especially in areas affected by acquisition integration and market shifts. He said the benefit began to show in Q4 through improvements in adjusted EBITDA and net income, and he expects efficiency gains to continue into fiscal 2026.

In Q&A, management was asked whether margins could rise above the 27% delivered in Q4 without additional M&A. Management responded Yes. When asked whether a previously referenced CAD 2.0 million to CAD 2.5 million restructuring benefit was fully reflected in Q4, management said No. Management added that some restructuring effects were reflected in Q4, but that in certain countries notice periods and procedures delay actions, and some expenses were not even in Q4. They also said the company continues to reassess areas for potential further reductions, particularly in IMG, to match costs to revenue.

Capital deployment: acquisitions, buybacks, and dividend

Shortly after year-end, Enghouse acquired the telecommunications division of Sixbell, which Medved said expands its presence in Latin America. On the call, CEO Steve Sadler described Sixbell as a small acquisition in an area where Enghouse already operates in South America. He said integration began in early November and is ongoing, and management expects it to add a little bit to revenue and contribute to EBITDA consistent with return expectations.

Medved said Enghouse returned CAD 61.8 million through dividends in 2025, a 16% increase over the prior year, and repurchased CAD 14.7 million of shares. The board approved an eligible quarterly dividend of CAD 0.30 per share, payable Feb. 27, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Feb. 13, 2026.

Sadler also emphasized continued share repurchases under the normal course issuer bid and said the company intends to continue its acquisition strategy. He said Enghouse is seeing substantial acquisition opportunities and indicated plans to increase the acquisition team to expand its focus on capital deployment.

When asked about dividend growth expectations for 2026, Sadler said decisions are made by the board and are typically considered around the AGM in March. He added that his view would be to increase the dividend very slightly and allocate more capital to buybacks and acquisitions, describing the current stock price as a reasonable investment and noting an uncertain environment that could worsen in general even if not necessarily for Enghouse.

AI strategy and the Lifesize go-to-market reset

A recurring theme in managements commentary was customer uncertainty around AI and difficulty monetizing it. Sadler said many customers are struggling to implement AI effectively to improve their return on investment, and that Enghouse is setting up dedicated AI professional services groups across IMG and AMG, focused on practical implementation using a small language model (SLM) concept. He described it as a new area Enghouse is entering, building on internal work that has improved efficiency over time.

In response to questions about AI-related acquisitions, Sadler said AI acquisitions could be considered, but added that Enghouse has struggled to find targets that make money, arguing that many companies cannot monetize AI investments. He said Enghouse believes it can monetize its own expertise through professional services, starting in January, and highlighted that the Aculab leader teaches AI at a university in the U.K.

Sadler also addressed the Lifesize solution, saying it had just been revamped and that the company plans to begin taking it to market around Jan. 1. He said Enghouse had to eliminate some third-party products that made costs too high, referencing the expense of major cloud and AI infrastructure providers, and said the changes were made to avoid selling into the market at unprofitable cost levels.

Looking ahead, Sadler characterized fiscal 2026 as likely a good stable year, with limited emphasis on internal growth in tough markets, paired with a greater focus on acquisition-driven growth and continued disciplined cost management.

About Enghouse Systems (TSE:ENGH)

Enghouse Systems Ltd is a Canada-based provider of software and services to a variety of end markets. The firms operations are organized in two segments namely, the Interactive Management Group and the Asset Management Group. The firm has operations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, Israel, Croatia, Denmark, Norway, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia etc.

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Georgina Energy (LON:GEX  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 8.3% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2.71 and last traded at GBX 2.71. 118,623 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average session volume of 1,587,588 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.95.

Georgina Energy Stock Down 8.3%

The firm has a 50 day moving average of GBX 4.15. The firm has a market capitalization of 3.45 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.07.

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Georgina Energy (LON:GEX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 27th. The company reported GBX (1.08) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter.

About Georgina Energy

Georgina Energy is a Helium & Hydrogen development and production company, based in Australia.

Georgina Energy aims to become a leading player in the global energy market and is focused on establishing itself among the top producers of helium and hydrogen worldwide. With a strategic approach and leveraging the experienced management teams expertise, Georgina Energy aims to capitalize on opportunities in these critical energy sectors.

The projects benefit from established infrastructure and a reliable supply chain, offering significant resource potential through low-risk, cost-effective drilling projects.

Georgina Energy has two principal onshore interests held through its wholly owned Australian subsidiary, Westmarket O&G.

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Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (NYSEARCA:ASEA  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 1.7% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $18.80 and last traded at $18.80. 49,578 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 73% from the average session volume of 28,686 shares. The stock had previously closed at $18.48.

Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF Stock Up 1.7%

The stocks 50-day moving average price is $17.96 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.31. The company has a market cap of $72.00 million, a P/E ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 0.58.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Barry Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 12.4% during the second quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLC now owns 99,579 shares of the companys stock worth $1,659,000 after purchasing an additional 10,948 shares during the last quarter. Boothe Investment Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 1.3% in the third quarter. Boothe Investment Group Inc. now owns 730,872 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,494,000 after buying an additional 9,700 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 17.4% during the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 54,716 shares of the companys stock worth $892,000 after buying an additional 8,096 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 116,914 shares of the companys stock worth $1,907,000 after acquiring an additional 3,634 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 90.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 7,463 shares of the companys stock worth $122,000 after acquiring an additional 3,548 shares during the last quarter.

Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF Company Profile

The Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (ASEA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE\u002FASEAN 40 INDEX index. The fund tracks a market-cap weighted and -selected index of the 40 largest and most liquid stocks from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. ASEA was launched on Feb 17, 2011 and is managed by Global X.

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Goelzer Investment Management Inc. reduced its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report) by 51.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,118 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,599 shares during the quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $534,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Denver PWM LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Denver PWM LLC now owns 29,189 shares of the companys stock worth $2,437,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the period. Rothschild Investment LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.4% during the second quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 2,830 shares of the companys stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. First Bank & Trust boosted its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 0.6% during the third quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 21,171 shares of the companys stock worth $1,848,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Cypress Wealth Services LLC boosted its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.2% during the second quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 10,498 shares of the companys stock worth $876,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Allium Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.5% in the second quarter. Allium Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,006 shares of the companys stock worth $251,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 27.8%

Shares of IEFA stock opened at $89.17 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $152.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.18 and a beta of 0.84. The firms 50 day moving average is $88.36 and its 200 day moving average is $86.03. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12 month low of $66.95 and a 12 month high of $87.36.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile

The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report).

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HBK Sorce Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 8.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 73,771 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,954 shares during the period. HBK Sorce Advisory LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $11,117,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.6% in the third quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management now owns 394,819 shares of the companys stock worth $60,664,000 after purchasing an additional 6,339 shares during the period. LongView Wealth Management grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 7.0% during the third quarter. LongView Wealth Management now owns 6,306 shares of the companys stock worth $969,000 after buying an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Arvest Investments Inc. increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Arvest Investments Inc. now owns 10,118 shares of the companys stock worth $1,555,000 after acquiring an additional 486 shares during the last quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 50,325 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,732,000 after acquiring an additional 2,025 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 60.1% during the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 162,752 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,007,000 after acquiring an additional 61,082 shares during the last quarter. 65.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Procter & Gamble

In other news, CEO Jennifer L. Davis sold 3,227 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.23, for a total transaction of $491,246.21. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 61,764 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,402,333.72. This represents a 4.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 725 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.57, for a total transaction of $108,438.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 979 shares in the company, valued at approximately $146,429.03. The trade was a 42.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 30,308 shares of company stock worth $4,611,852 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $179.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $173.00 to $170.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $157.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Raymond James Financial cut 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. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Procter & Gamble from $153.00 to $151.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $171.38.

View Our Latest Stock Report on PG

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of Procter & Gamble stock opened at $142.70 on Tuesday. 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 52-week low of $138.14 and a 52-week high of $179.99. The company has a fifty day moving average of $147.22 and a 200-day moving average of $153.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $333.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.86 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 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 company 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 earned $1.93 EPS. The firms revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.100 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 24th were paid a $1.0568 dividend. This represents a $4.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 24th. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is 61.75%.

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.

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Air China (OTCMKTS:AIRYY  Get Free Report) and Bristow Group (NYSE:VTOL  Get Free Report) are both transportation companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, dividends, earnings, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Volatility & Risk

Air China has a beta of -0.09, suggesting that its share price is 109% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Bristow Group has a beta of 1.42, suggesting that its share price is 42% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Air China and Bristow Groups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Air China $23.19 billion 0.65 -$32.35 million $0.02 904.50 Bristow Group $1.42 billion 0.75 $94.80 million $4.78 7.67

Bristow Group has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Air China. Bristow Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Air China, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Air China and Bristow Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Air China 0 0 0 0 0.00 Bristow Group 0 0 1 0 3.00

Insider & Institutional Ownership

93.3% of Bristow Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 13.4% of Bristow Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Air China and Bristow Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Air China 0.19% 0.79% 0.09% Bristow Group 9.71% 14.83% 6.43%

Summary

Bristow Group beats Air China on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Air China

(Get Free Report)

Air China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides air passenger, air cargo, and airline-related services in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, China, and internationally. The company operates in Airline Operations and Other Operations segments. It provides aircraft engineering and airport ground handling services. The company is also involved in the import and export trading activities; and provision of cabin, airline catering, air ticketing, human resources, aircraft overhaul and maintenance, and financial services. Air China Limited was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

About Bristow Group

(Get Free Report)

Bristow Group Inc. provides vertical flight solutions. The company primarily offers aviation services to integrated, national, and independent offshore energy companies and government agencies. It also provides personnel transportation, search and rescue, medevac, ad hoc helicopter, fixed wing transportation, unmanned systems, and ad-hoc helicopter services, as well as logistical and maintenance support, training services, and flight and maintenance crews. The company has a fleet of aircrafts. It has customers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dutch Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, India, Ireland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad, the United Kingdom, and United States. Bristow Group Inc. is based in Houston, Texas.

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Hellenic Telecom Organization SA (OTCMKTS:HLTOY  Get Free Report) traded down 1.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $9.76 and last traded at $9.76. 1,685 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 2% from the average session volume of 1,650 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.8715.

Hellenic Telecom Organization Stock Performance

The firms fifty day simple moving average is $9.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.55. The company has a market capitalization of $8.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.49 and a beta of 0.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.59 and a quick ratio of 0.57.

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Hellenic Telecom Organization (OTCMKTS:HLTOY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $910.48 million. Hellenic Telecom Organization had a net margin of 15.62% and a return on equity of 26.32%.

About Hellenic Telecom Organization

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTCMKTS: HLTOY), also known as OTE Group, is the primary provider of telecommunications and digital services in Greece. The company offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that includes fixed-line telephony, mobile communications under the COSMOTE brand, broadband internet access via fiber and ADSL networks, and pay-TV services through its COSMOTE TV platform. In addition, OTE Group delivers enterprise-focused ICT offerings such as cloud computing, data center operations, cybersecurity, managed network services and system integration.

Established in 1949 as Greeces state telecommunications monopoly, OTE Group began a gradual privatization process in the late 1990s, which culminated in a majority stake acquisition by Deutsche Telekom.

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Hexagon AB Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:HXGBY  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 851,563 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 245% from the previous sessions volume of 246,633 shares.The stock last traded at $11.6950 and had previously closed at $11.59.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on HXGBY shares. Pareto Securities downgraded shares of Hexagon from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Hexagon in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Hexagon from a hold rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Hexagon Trading Up 0.9%

Hexagon Company Profile

The stock has a market cap of $31.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.98, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 1.42. The firms fifty day moving average price is $11.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

(Get Free Report)

Hexagon AB (publ) is a Sweden-based global provider of digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. The company develops measurement instruments, software and data analytics platforms that enable customers to capture, process and visualize information about physical assets, infrastructure and environments. Hexagons offerings are designed to improve productivity and quality in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, surveying, agriculture, mining, public safety and utilities.

The companys hardware portfolio includes positioning and dimensioning sensors, laser scanners, GNSS receivers and total stations used for surveying and geospatial data acquisition.

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Shares of Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HTH  Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Hold from the five ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $34.00.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on HTH shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Hilltop in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Stephens increased their price objective on shares of Hilltop from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Hilltop from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th.

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View Our Latest Analysis on HTH

Insider Transactions at Hilltop

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Hilltop news, CAO Keith E. Bornemann sold 2,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.00, for a total value of $77,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 8,692 shares in the company, valued at $304,220. This represents a 20.20% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . 29.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Hilltop in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Hilltop by 584.7% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,075 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 918 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Hilltop by 141.8% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,400 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 821 shares during the last quarter. Danske Bank A S purchased a new stake in shares of Hilltop in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Hilltop by 42.7% during the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,334 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.13% of the companys stock.

Hilltop Trading Down 0.3%

NYSE:HTH opened at $34.60 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $33.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.65. Hilltop has a 12 month low of $26.67 and a 12 month high of $36.13. The firm has a market cap of $2.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.78 and a beta of 0.94.

Hilltop (NYSE:HTH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.25. Hilltop had a return on equity of 7.18% and a net margin of 9.86%.The firm had revenue of $330.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $309.68 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.46 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Hilltop will post 1.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Hilltop Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 21st. Investors of record on Friday, November 7th were given a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 7th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Hilltops dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.69%.

Hilltop Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Hilltop Holdings, Inc (NYSE: HTH) is a Dallas, Texasbased financial holding company offering commercial banking, mortgage lending and capital markets services through its three primary subsidiaries: PlainsCapital Corporation, PrimeLending and HilltopSecurities. PlainsCapital provides deposit, lending and treasury management solutions to small and mid-sized businesses, professionals and individuals. PrimeLending specializes in home purchase and refinance loans, serving retail, wholesale and correspondent channels.

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JOBYs chart over the past year shows sharp repricing as investors recalibrate expectations around urban air mobility. The stock carved out a 52-week low at $4.96 in April, before momentum flipped decisively higher, driving shares to an August peak of $20.95. That rally cooled in the months that followed, with JOBY giving back roughly a third from its highs, yet the bigger picture remains constructive. From its floor, the stock is still up 186.7%, with strong 74.91% year-to-date (YTD), highlighting sustained investor interest.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, Joby Aviation is building the backbone of next-generation urban air travel. The company designs and manufactures eVTOLs to deliver quiet, fast, and sustainable air transportation. Jobys vertically integrated model spans aircraft engineering, flight testing, pilot training, manufacturing, and regulatory certification. With plans for app-based aerial ridesharing services, Joby is positioning air taxis as everyday mobility. The company has a market capitalization of almost $13 billion.

The market has noticed, with JOBY shares climbing nearly 5% on Dec. 18. Even with some ups and downs, the stock is up by double digits in 2025. With momentum like this, investors may want to buckle in.

That is where Joby Aviation (JOBY) fits in. The company is building electric air taxis designed for commercial passenger service, aiming to stitch air travel directly into everyday urban transportation. And it is not just about aircraft anymore  it is about infrastructure. Joby recently announced a partnership with Metropolis Technologies to develop 25 vertiports across North America, tapping into an existing network of parking and mobility hubs to accelerate deployment without reinventing the wheel.

Air taxis are quietly moving from science fiction to city skylines. Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts are edging closer to commercial reality as regulators, cities, and capital line up behind urban air mobility. The idea is simple but powerful  short hops over traffic-clogged streets, cleaner, faster, and far more efficient than todays ground-bound commute.

Story Continues

From a technical perspective, JOBY appears to be taking a breather after a strong upward move, rather than showing signs of a sustained decline. Trading volume surged notably during the June-August breakout, validating the rally from single digits to above $20 and signaling strong institutional participation. Since then, volume has moderated, a typical sign of consolidation as early buyers digest gains, and new investors wait for clearer direction.

Meanwhile, the 14-day RSI, which pushed into overbought territory during the October run toward $19.98, has since cooled and now stands at 47.33 This level reflects neutral momentum, reducing the risk of a sharp near-term correction while leaving room for another leg higher. The MACD oscillator is strengthening again, signaling a gradual shift back toward positive momentum. The MACD line crossed above the signal line, and the histogram has flipped positive, indicating improving bullish momentum beneath the surface despite sideways price action.

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Joby Aviation Posted Mixed Q3 Results

Joby reported mixed third-quarter 2025 results on Nov. 5, with losses widening versus last year and missing expectations, even as revenue finally gained traction, signaling early progress despite the financial strain.

The company posted a loss of $0.48 per share, more than double the $0.21 loss recorded a year ago, reflecting the rising cost of turning a vision into a certified, manufacturable aircraft. Yet beneath the red ink, the narrative was more nuanced. Quarterly revenue surged to $22.6 million, a dramatic leap from just $0.03 million in the year-ago quarter, largely driven by the August acquisition of Blades passenger business. That deal brought real-world operations into Jobys ecosystem, transporting roughly 40,000 passengers during the quarter, most notably Ryder Cup fans who traded two-and-a-half-hour drives for 12-minute flights.

Total operating expenses climbed 30.3% year-over-year (YOY), led by an 18.2% increase in research and development and a 14.5% jump in selling, general, and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA came in at a loss of -$132.8 million, reflecting heavy investment in aircraft development, certification, manufacturing readiness, and integration costs tied to Blade.

Crucially, Joby ensured it had the balance sheet to sustain this phase. Cash and cash equivalents stood at $208.4 million at quarter-end, and in October the company completed an underwritten equity offering that raised approximately $576 million in net proceeds. Management expects that capital to fund certification milestones, manufacturing scale-up, and preparations for commercial launch.

Strategically, Joby continued to expand its ecosystem. The company deepened its partnership with Uber, integrating Blade services into the Uber app and quietly positioning itself in front of millions of daily users ahead of its own commercial launch. Operationally, Joby logged more than 600 flights in 2025, completed its first point-to-point flight between Marina and Monterey, and demonstrated regular scheduled operations in Osaka during World Expo 2025, exposing its aircraft to hundreds of thousands of spectators.

For 2025, management expects to generate cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at the upper end of the $500 million to $540 million range.

Jobys Vertiport Push Through the Metropolis Partnership

Vertiports are the backbone of the eVTOL revolution. They are the landing, takeoff, and passenger-handling hubs that make short urban flights feasible, safe, and seamless. Without them, even the most advanced air taxis remain theoretical. Joby is tackling this head-on.

Joby is no longer talking about the future in abstract terms, but laying down the physical groundwork. The partnership with Metropolis Technologies marks a decisive step forward, focused squarely on scale and speed. Through this deal, Joby plans to develop 25 vertiport sites across North America, strategically selected from Metropolis vast portfolio of more than 4,200 parking locations and aviation service sites across 350 airports.

Instead of building from scratch, Joby is plugging into existing, high-traffic mobility hubs. Metropolis will bring its AI-driven computer vision, biometrics, and baggage-handling capabilities to streamline passenger flow and meet safety and regulatory standards. The collaboration also extends to Blades urban air mobility routes, starting in New York, where baggage services remove a major friction point. It is a practical, infrastructure-first approach that accelerates commercialization.

What Do Analysts Think About Joby Aviation Stock?

Wall Street remains cautious on Joby Aviations path to profitability. Analysts expect losses to deepen in the near term, with the current quarters loss per share widening 5.3% YOY to -$0.20. For the full fiscal year, losses are projected to expand 7.6% annually to -$0.85 per share. Looking ahead, however, expectations turn slightly more constructive, with losses projected to narrow by 11.8% to -$0.75 per share next year.

Wall Street analysts are cautious on JOBY, giving a consensus Hold rating overall. Of the 11 analysts covering the stock, one analyst has a Moderate Buy rating, seven analysts are on the sidelines with a Hold, and the remaining three have a Strong Sell rating.

JOBYs rally this year has pushed the stock above the consensus price target of $12.14, but the Street-high price target of $22 indicates 54.7% potential upside from here.

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On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal 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
HWG Holdings LP cut its position in Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW  Free Report) by 23.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 31,197 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 9,789 shares during the period. Curtiss-Wright accounts for approximately 4.3% of HWG Holdings LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. HWG Holdings LP owned about 0.08% of Curtiss-Wright worth $16,938,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA bought a new position in Curtiss-Wright in the second quarter worth approximately $270,731,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Curtiss-Wright in the 2nd quarter worth $241,537,000. Munro Partners acquired a new stake in Curtiss-Wright in the 2nd quarter valued at $78,000,000. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Curtiss-Wright by 45.8% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 388,493 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $189,468,000 after purchasing an additional 122,048 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in Curtiss-Wright by 14.4% during the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 789,378 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $385,651,000 after buying an additional 99,643 shares during the last quarter. 82.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on CW shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a report on Monday, December 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Curtiss-Wright from $587.00 to $584.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and issued a $625.00 target price on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Curtiss-Wright from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, December 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $660.00 price objective on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $585.50.

Curtiss-Wright Stock Up 2.3%

CW stock opened at $567.46 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $20.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $559.53 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $517.09. Curtiss-Wright Corporation has a 1-year low of $266.88 and a 1-year high of $612.28.

Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The aerospace company reported $3.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $869.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $869.03 million. Curtiss-Wright had a return on equity of 18.82% and a net margin of 13.78%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.89 EPS. Analysts expect that Curtiss-Wright Corporation will post 12.32 EPS for the current year.

Curtiss-Wright Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. Curtiss-Wrights dividend payout ratio is currently 7.82%.

Curtiss-Wright Profile

(Free Report)

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) is a diversified, global engineering company that designs, manufactures and services highly engineered products and integrated systems for the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Its offerings span a range of electromechanical, motion control and flow control technologies, including flight control and actuation systems, sensors and avionics components, pumps and valves, power conversion and heat exchangers, and platform integration solutions for marine and ground systems.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM  Free Report) by 4.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 146,976 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 6,814 shares during the quarter. International Business Machines makes up 0.4% of Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $41,471,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IBM. Norges Bank bought a new position in International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter valued at $2,011,122,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 2.1% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 95,051,475 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $28,019,274,000 after buying an additional 1,913,708 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in International Business Machines by 27,928.2% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,903,116 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $561,001,000 after buying an additional 1,896,326 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its holdings in International Business Machines by 6.5% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 8,636,725 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,147,608,000 after acquiring an additional 524,633 shares during the period. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new position in International Business Machines during the second quarter worth about $133,771,000. Institutional investors own 58.96% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

IBM has been the subject of several research reports. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of International Business Machines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $295.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. UBS Group restated a sell rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on International Business Machines from $300.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on International Business Machines from $280.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $293.38.

International Business Machines Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:IBM opened at $302.97 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $301.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $280.02. International Business Machines Corporation has a 52 week low of $214.50 and a 52 week high of $324.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $283.20 billion, a PE ratio of 36.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.69.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The technology company reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.45 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $16.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.10 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 12.09% and a return on equity of 37.76%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.30 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current year.

International Business Machines Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were given a dividend of $1.68 per share. This represents a $6.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. International Business Machiness payout ratio is presently 80.38%.

About International Business Machines

(Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM.

IBMs principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development.

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General Motors (NYSE: GM) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

12/18/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at Wedbush from $75.00 to $95.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

12/16/2025  General Motors was given a new $90.00 price target on by analysts at Mizuho.

12/15/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at UBS Group AG from $85.00 to $97.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/15/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at UBS Group AG from $85.00 to $97.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/12/2025  General Motors had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Cowen Inc.

12/9/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $81.00 to $93.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/9/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $46.00 to $48.00. They now have an underweight rating on the stock.

12/8/2025  General Motors was upgraded by analysts at Morgan Stanley from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating. They now have a $90.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $54.00.

11/24/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at Evercore ISI from $68.00 to $74.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

11/8/2025  General Motors was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating.

10/25/2025  General Motors was downgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c) rating.

10/25/2025  General Motors was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating.

10/24/2025  General Motors had its price target raised by analysts at Tigress Financial from $88.00 to $92.00. They now have a strong-buy rating on the stock.

10/24/2025  General Motors was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating.

General Motors Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. General Motorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.07%.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Christopher Hatto sold 23,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.01, for a total transaction of $1,427,634.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 12,007 shares in the company, valued at $732,547.07. The trade was a 66.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, President Mark L. Reuss sold 260,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.45, for a total value of $17,316,870.00. Following the transaction, the president directly owned 98,006 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,512,498.70. The trade was a 72.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 1,230,771 shares of company stock valued at $75,792,751 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that designs, builds and sells cars, trucks, crossovers and electric vehicles, and provides related parts and services. Founded in 1908, GM has long been one of the worlds largest automakers and has evolved into a multi-brand company whose primary marques include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick. Beyond vehicle manufacturing, GMs operations encompass vehicle financing, connected services and advanced mobility initiatives.

GM develops and markets a broad portfolio of products and technologies, including internal-combustion and battery-electric vehicles, vehicle components and on-board connectivity services.

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Ironwood Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN  Free Report) by 5.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,178,679 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 65,452 shares during the period. Invesco Senior Loan ETF makes up about 11.2% of Ironwood Wealth Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Ironwood Wealth Management Inc. owned approximately 0.37% of Invesco Senior Loan ETF worth $24,505,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bain Capital Credit LP grew its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 28.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bain Capital Credit LP now owns 3,561,802 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $74,513,000 after acquiring an additional 784,368 shares during the period. Asset Allocation Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 32.5% during the third quarter. Asset Allocation Strategies LLC now owns 111,217 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,328,000 after purchasing an additional 27,261 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 11.5% in the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 21,384 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $447,000 after purchasing an additional 2,204 shares during the period. DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 4.8% in the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 16,655 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 769 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 130,180 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,723,000 after purchasing an additional 5,575 shares during the period.

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Invesco Senior Loan ETF Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF stock opened at $20.94 on Tuesday. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a fifty-two week low of $20.02 and a fifty-two week high of $21.15. The company has a fifty day moving average of $20.92 and a 200 day moving average of $20.92.

About Invesco Senior Loan ETF

The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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High Probability Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Free Report) by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 318,438 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,422 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF accounts for approximately 11.2% of High Probability Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position. High Probability Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.44% of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF worth $81,663,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MTUM. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 262.2% in the 2nd quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 163 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $46,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 45.0% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 216 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Hilltop National Bank acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 109.0% during the second quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 255 shares of the companys stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Price Performance

MTUM stock opened at $253.41 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $250.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $245.87. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $168.49 and a 12 month high of $240.99. The company has a market cap of $18.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.67 and a beta of 1.02.

iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years. MTUM was launched on Apr 16, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Jabil (NYSE:JBL) reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results that exceeded managements expectations, citing strength in Intelligent Infrastructure and continued execution across its diversified portfolio. In prepared remarks, Chief Financial Officer Greg Hebard said revenue, core operating income, core margins and core earnings per share all came in strong, while Chief Executive Officer Mike Dastoor said momentum in the business is now expected to continue through fiscal 2026 and into fiscal 2027.

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Quarterly results top guidance range

For the first quarter, Jabil posted net revenue of $8.3 billion, which Hebard said was at the high end of the companys guidance range. Core operating income was $454 million, resulting in a 5.5% core operating margin. On a GAAP basis, operating income was $283 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.35. Core diluted EPS came in at $2.85, at the upper end of the companys guidance range.

Regulated Industries: Revenue of $3.1 billion , up 4% year-over-year, with core operating margin of 5.8% (up 110 basis points).

Revenue of , up year-over-year, with core operating margin of (up basis points). Intelligent Infrastructure: Revenue of $3.9 billion , ahead of expectations, with core operating margin of 5.2% (up 40 basis points).

Revenue of , ahead of expectations, with core operating margin of (up basis points). Connected Living and Digital Commerce: Revenue of $1.4 billion, ahead of expectations, with core operating margin of 5.5%.

Hebard highlighted segment-level performance:

Hebard attributed the Intelligent Infrastructure upside primarily to Cloud and Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) strength, including execution ramping a second hyperscale customer in Mexico and results from data center power operations in Memphis. He also cited stronger networking demand for next-generation liquid-cooled platforms, currently supported in India. In Connected Living and Digital Commerce, he pointed to broad-based strength in automation, robotics, and retail warehouse programs.

Cash flow, leverage, and buybacks

Jabil reported inventory days of 70, or 57 days net of customer inventory deposits, which Hebard said was consistent with its targeted range of 55 to 60 days. Cash flow from operations was $323 million, net capital expenditures were $51 million, and adjusted free cash flow was $272 million.

The company reiterated it remains on track to deliver $1.3 billion in adjusted free cash flow for the full year. Jabil ended the quarter with net debt to core EBITDA of 1.2x and cash balances of $1.6 billion. During the quarter, the company repurchased $300 million of shares under its existing authorization.

Second-quarter outlook includes Hanley Energy contribution

For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Jabil guided to total revenue of $7.5 billion to $8.0 billion. Core operating income is expected to be $375 million to $435 million, while GAAP operating income is expected to be $312 million to $382 million. The company projected core diluted EPS of $2.27 to $2.67 and GAAP diluted EPS of $1.70 to $2.19.

Segment revenue expectations for Q2 include:

Regulated Industries: $2.78 billion , up 2% year-over-year, with continued healthcare growth and a disciplined outlook for Automotive and Renewables.

, up year-over-year, with continued healthcare growth and a disciplined outlook for Automotive and Renewables. Intelligent Infrastructure: $3.76 billion , up 42% year-over-year, supported by demand across cloud, DCI, data center power, networking, liquid cooling, and Capital Equipment.

, up year-over-year, supported by demand across cloud, DCI, data center power, networking, liquid cooling, and Capital Equipment. Connected Living and Digital Commerce: $1.21 billion, down 10%, reflecting planned program attrition and customer pruning, partially offset by warehouse and retail automation growth.

Hebard said Q2 guidance assumes a modest contribution from the previously announced Hanley Energy acquisition, which the company expects to close in January. Jabil expects second-quarter net interest expense of approximately $69 million and full-year interest expense of approximately $270 million, reflecting anticipated acquisition-related borrowings and refinancing of senior notes maturing in April. The companys core tax rate assumption for Q2 and the full year is 21%.

Full-year guidance raised on broad-based momentum, led by AI

Dastoor said Jabils improved outlook is broad-based, with all three segments contributing and Intelligent Infrastructure leading. The company raised its fiscal 2026 expectations for revenue, core margins, and core EPS. Jabil now expects fiscal 2026 revenue of approximately $32.4 billion, up $1.1 billion from its prior outlook, and core operating margins of roughly 5.7%, up 10 basis points from its earlier view. Core delivered EPS is now expected to be $11.55, an increase of $0.55, while adjusted free cash flow is still expected to be more than $1.3 billion.

Within Intelligent Infrastructure, Dastoor said the company is raising its outlook by approximately $900 million, driven by Cloud and DCI and networking. He said Cloud and DCI is now expected to reach $9.8 billion for fiscal 2026, including approximately $200 million associated with the Hanley Energy acquisition, which management expects to close in January. Dastoor described Hanley as strengthening Jabils capabilities in modular power distribution and energy systems for next-generation data centers, expanding beyond compute into power, energy management, and infrastructure services.

Jabil also raised its AI-related revenue expectation for fiscal 2026 to approximately $12.1 billion, representing about 35% year-over-year growth, up from 25% originally expected in September. Dastoor said the companys approach of delivering integrated systems combining compute, networking, power distribution, and advanced cooling helps shorten deployment timelines and reduce customer costs. He added that retrofitting of East Coast rack and server factories to accommodate liquid cooling is slightly ahead of schedule.

Q&A: hyperscalers, margins, healthcare, and capacity

In the question-and-answer session, management provided additional context on the raised outlook. Dastoor said the second hyperscaler upside is tied to AI storage racks built in Mexico and that second-hyperscaler revenue is now roughly in the billion-dollar range, compared to an earlier reference of $750 million. He said Jabil is also in discussions with additional hyperscalers, though those opportunities are not included in current numbers.

On margins, Dastoor attributed the fiscal 2026 core operating margin increase to better mix, improved capacity utilization (moving closer to the 80% range from the mid-70% range), and SG&A leverage. He declined to provide fiscal 2027 margin guidance, but said he feels better about the path to 6% operating margins than he has in the past, citing pipeline strength and leverage opportunities, including a full-year impact from Hanley.

On healthcare, Dastoor described the business as solid with a healthy pipeline and visibility into program ramps across drug delivery and chronic disease management. He said Croatia is going really well, and noted the GLP-1 space carries higher margins, though he said good returns from Croatia are expected around 2027, potentially in the second half. He also said Jabil continues to evaluate healthcare deals focused on adding capabilities, including discussions spanning business development and M&A.

Management also addressed capacity planning for cloud and AI programs, pointing to surplus capacity in Mexico, a mix of existing and new capacity in India, upcoming capacity in North Carolina, and potential expansion in Memphis. Dastoor said these plans do not change the companys capital spending framework, reiterating a CapEx outlook of 1.5% to 2% of revenue for fiscal 2026.

About Jabil (NYSE:JBL)

Jabil Inc (NYSE: JBL) is a global manufacturing solutions provider specializing in electronic manufacturing services (EMS) and diversified products across a wide range of industries. The company partners with original equipment manufacturers to deliver design engineering, supply chain management, precision manufacturing, and aftermarket services. Jabils expertise spans sectors such as healthcare, automotive, clean technology, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and packaging, enabling it to support both high-volume production and complex, mission-critical applications.

Founded in 1966 by William E.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of KT (NYSE:KT  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Saturday morning.

KT has been the subject of several other research reports. Zacks Research lowered shares of KT from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of KT in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, KT presently has an average rating of Hold.

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KT Stock Down 0.1%

Institutional Trading of KT

Shares of NYSE:KT opened at $18.59 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $18.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.28, a PEG ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 0.67. KT has a 1 year low of $15.49 and a 1 year high of $21.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.24.

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of KT. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of KT by 57.4% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,988,160 shares of the technology companys stock worth $35,190,000 after buying an additional 725,164 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in KT by 4,148.2% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 530,817 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,401,000 after acquiring an additional 518,322 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in shares of KT by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,612,820 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $187,954,000 after acquiring an additional 388,592 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in shares of KT by 107.9% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 242,212 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,290,000 after purchasing an additional 125,702 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of KT by 39.8% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 280,713 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,474,000 after purchasing an additional 79,891 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.86% of the companys stock.

About KT

(Get Free Report)

KT Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange as an American depositary receipt under the symbol KT, is a major telecommunications and information technology provider headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea. The companys services span traditional fixed-line voice communication, high-speed broadband internet access and mobile cellular networks. Leveraging an extensive fiber-optic and wireless infrastructure, KT delivers voice, data and multimedia solutions to both consumer and enterprise customers.

KT has been at the forefront of technological innovation in its home market, launching South Koreas first commercial 5G network and expanding its offerings to include Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, cloud computing services and cybersecurity solutions.

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Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC lessened its position in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 35.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,334 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 1,863 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $822,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. PFW Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Accenture by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. PFW Advisors LLC now owns 7,786 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,920,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in shares of Accenture by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,436 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $4,793,000 after buying an additional 1,848 shares during the last quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Accenture by 4.8% during the third quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,500 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $370,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. TOWER TRUST & INVESTMENT Co raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 3.3% during the third quarter. TOWER TRUST & INVESTMENT Co now owns 2,815 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $694,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marion Wealth Management lifted its stake in Accenture by 8.9% in the third quarter. Marion Wealth Management now owns 13,546 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $3,341,000 after acquiring an additional 1,106 shares during the period. 75.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 5,917 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.62, for a total value of $1,459,250.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 8,599 shares in the company, valued at $2,120,685.38. The trade was a 40.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Manish Sharma sold 6,902 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.01, for a total value of $1,725,569.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,860 shares in the company, valued at $465,018.60. This trade represents a 78.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 33,319 shares of company stock worth $8,335,225. 0.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Rothschild & Co Redburn upped their price objective on shares of Accenture from $250.00 to $255.00 in a report on Friday, September 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $300.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Accenture from $355.00 to $315.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th. One equities 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 issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $298.29.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ACN

Accenture Price Performance

ACN stock opened at $270.65 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 1.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $178.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.37, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.26. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $253.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $263.02. Accenture PLC has a 52-week low of $229.40 and a 52-week high of $398.35.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 18th. The information technology services provider reported $3.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by $0.21. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.65% and a net margin of 10.76%.The company had revenue of $18.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.51 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.59 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.520-13.900 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors 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 yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 13th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is 53.88%.

Accenture Profile

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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.

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Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 97.97 and last traded at GBX 97.54, with a volume of 388728656 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 97.08.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on LLOY shares. Shore Capital reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a GBX 84 target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 100 to GBX 110 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 105 price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 84 to GBX 97 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an outperform rating and set a GBX 93 price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lloyds Banking Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 98.50.

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Lloyds Banking Group Stock Up 0.5%

The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 91.12 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 83.84. The stock has a market capitalization of 57.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.23.

Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 11th. The financial services provider reported GBX 6.30 EPS for the quarter. Lloyds Banking Group had a net margin of 16.66% and a return on equity of 11.22%. On average, research analysts forecast that Lloyds Banking Group plc will post 7.3199528 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Lloyds Banking Group

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We are the largest UK retail and commercial financial services provider with over 25 million customers and a presence in nearly every community.

The Groups main business activities are retail and commercial banking, general insurance and long-term savings, provided through the largest branch network and digital bank in the UK, with well recognised brands including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows.

Our shares are quoted on the London and New York stock exchanges and we are one of the largest companies in the FTSE 100 index.

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Shares of Nelnet, Inc. (NYSE:NNI  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $140.87 and last traded at $139.5740, with a volume of 88303 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $138.59.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Nelnet from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 15th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Nelnet from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Nelnet in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nelnet has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $135.00.

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Nelnet Stock Up 0.7%

The firms fifty day simple moving average is $130.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $126.19. The company has a current ratio of 28.98, a quick ratio of 28.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The company has a market cap of $5.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.73 and a beta of 0.83.

Nelnet (NYSE:NNI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $1.43. The business had revenue of $427.76 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $372.00 million. Nelnet had a net margin of 18.96% and a return on equity of 12.58%. Sell-side analysts predict that Nelnet, Inc. will post 4.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Nelnet Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This is an increase from Nelnets previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Nelnets dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.09%.

Insider Transactions at Nelnet

In other Nelnet news, Director Deun Jona M. Van sold 400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.95, for a total value of $51,580.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 704 shares in the company, valued at $90,780.80. This represents a 36.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 50.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of NNI. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Nelnet by 0.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,546,041 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $193,843,000 after acquiring an additional 4,819 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Nelnet by 0.4% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 383,849 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $46,499,000 after buying an additional 1,443 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in shares of Nelnet by 66.4% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 191,826 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $24,051,000 after acquiring an additional 76,534 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of Nelnet by 7.5% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 185,029 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $23,199,000 after acquiring an additional 12,941 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in Nelnet by 28.9% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 184,316 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $23,110,000 after purchasing an additional 41,302 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.51% of the companys stock.

Nelnet Company Profile

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Nelnet, Inc (NYSE: NNI) is a diversified education services company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Originally established as the National Education Loan Network by Michael S. Dunlap, the company has grown into a prominent provider of student loan servicing and education finance solutions in the United States.

At the core of Nelnets business is student loan servicing, where it administers and manages federal and private education loans on behalf of borrowers and lending partners.

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President Donald Trump promised to use tariff revenue to send most Americans $2,000 checks.

He also announced in his primetime White House address that all military members will receive $1,776 bonuses, suggesting revenue from tariffs would pay for it. But a Pentagon official confirmed that Defense Department funding is covering the $2.6 billion price tag for the so-called "Warrior Dividends," per USA TODAY.

So, who is getting the $2,000 stimulus checks? And what about the "warrior dividend"? Where is the money coming from? Here's what to know.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025.

Are we getting $2,000 tariff dividend checks?

That is unknown at this time. Trump has discussed dividend rebate since July, saying revenue from tariffs, which the president began instituting in March and April, could lead to "a little rebate, but the big thing we want to do is pay down debt."

In November, Trump said tariff dividend checks would be issued "probably in the middle of next year," amounting to "thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income."

But the plan could be cost-prohibitive and there may not be as much tariff revenue as expected, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group. Over the next decade, Trumps tariffs will raise $2.1 trillion in revenue, but that dips to $1.6 trillion after accounting for foreign retaliation and other negative economic effects.

President Donald Trump promised to use tariff revenue to send most Americans $2,000 checks.

What would need to happen to get a $2,000 tariff dividend check?

Any form of stimulus payment issued by the U.S. government would have to be approved by Congress.

Who will get the $2,000 dividend check?

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Nov. 12 that Trump is considering stimulus checks for families earning $100,000 or less.

When will the $2,000 checks be sent out?

Trump continues to say tariff dividend checks would be sent out in 2026.

While talking to reporters in the Oval Office on Nov. 17, Trump said "individuals of moderate income" could expect dividends "probably in the middle of next year," USA TODAY reported.

No official date has been announced.

What is the 'warrior dividend'? Where is the money coming from?

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled a $1,776 tax free bonus for 1.4 million service members called the "warrior dividend."

While Trump suggested the $2.6 billion was coming from tariffs in his announcement, the Department of War's news release states the checks are being funded by Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Pentagon to pay for the bonuses from $2.9 billion in military housing funds that Congress appropriated in the law approved last summer, USA TODAY reported.
OFG Bancorp (NYSE:OFG  Get Free Report) Director Jesus Nestor De sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.31, for a total transaction of $84,620.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 22,690 shares of the companys stock, valued at $960,013.90. This trade represents a 8.10% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

OFG Bancorp Stock Down 0.0%

NYSE OFG traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $42.28. 193,051 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 304,163. The company has a market cap of $1.86 billion, a PE ratio of 9.61 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. OFG Bancorp has a 52 week low of $33.15 and a 52 week high of $46.11. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $40.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.36.

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OFG Bancorp (NYSE:OFG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.16. OFG Bancorp had a return on equity of 15.18% and a net margin of 22.26%.The firm had revenue of $186.18 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $186.71 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.00 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that OFG Bancorp will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current year.

OFG Bancorp Dividend Announcement

Hedge Funds Weigh In On OFG Bancorp

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. OFG Bancorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.27%.

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in OFG. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of OFG Bancorp during the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of OFG Bancorp during the third quarter worth about $53,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in OFG Bancorp by 250.0% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,533 shares of the banks stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 1,095 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in OFG Bancorp in the second quarter valued at about $97,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in OFG Bancorp in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $162,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.73% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on OFG. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of OFG Bancorp from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of OFG Bancorp from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. UBS Group set a $50.00 price objective on OFG Bancorp in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of OFG Bancorp from $48.00 to $43.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on OFG Bancorp from $51.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $47.17.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on OFG

About OFG Bancorp

(Get Free Report)

OFG Bancorp, through its principal subsidiary Oriental Bank, is a financial holding company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The company provides a wide range of banking services, including commercial and consumer deposit accounts, small business loans, corporate lending, treasury management, and cash management solutions. Its consumer offerings encompass personal checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and electronic banking platforms designed to serve retail customers across its markets.

In addition to traditional banking products, OFG Bancorp offers mortgage origination and servicing, as well as wealth management and trust services for highnetworth individuals and institutional clients.

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OFI Invest Asset Management lowered its stake in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP  Free Report) by 2.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 172,434 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 3,814 shares during the quarter. OFI Invest Asset Managements holdings in American Express were worth $57,276,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bath Savings Trust Co raised its stake in American Express by 1.1% during the third quarter. Bath Savings Trust Co now owns 2,922 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $971,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of American Express by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,220 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,402,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of American Express by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,191 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $384,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. DLK Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 3.8% in the second quarter. DLK Investment Management LLC now owns 869 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $277,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its position in American Express by 5.3% during the third quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 634 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $211,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the period. 84.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on AXP. Morgan Stanley set a $370.00 price objective on American Express in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. HSBC set a $295.00 price target on shares of American Express and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $330.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of American Express in a research note on Monday, December 8th. They issued a peer perform rating on the stock. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of American Express from $371.00 to $394.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $335.55.

Insider Activity at American Express

In other news, insider Denise Pickett sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.73, for a total transaction of $1,753,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,709,739.98. This represents a 39.29% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CMO Elizabeth Rutledge sold 50,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.21, for a total transaction of $18,010,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer owned 85,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,825,691.17. This trade represents a 36.88% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 57,515 shares of company stock valued at $20,658,509. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

American Express Trading Up 1.2%

NYSE AXP opened at $380.85 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $262.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.56, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.14. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $361.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $332.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. American Express Company has a 52 week low of $220.43 and a 52 week high of $387.49.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported ($11.85) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. American Express had a return on equity of 33.41% and a net margin of 14.97%.The firm had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter. Equities research analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Express Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. American Expresss payout ratio is 22.01%.

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and cobrand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.

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OFI Invest Asset Management boosted its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET  Free Report) by 2.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 406,879 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 9,166 shares during the period. OFI Invest Asset Management owned 0.06% of MetLife worth $33,515,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Quaker Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 198.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 333 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares during the last quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in MetLife during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. GFG Capital LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the second quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Abound Wealth Management boosted its holdings in MetLife by 652.3% in the second quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 489 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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MetLife Stock Down 0.2%

MET stock opened at $81.38 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $53.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.76. MetLife, Inc. has a 12 month low of $65.21 and a 12 month high of $88.09. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $78.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $78.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.18 and a quick ratio of 0.18.

MetLife Announces Dividend

MetLife ( NYSE:MET Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $12.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.64 billion. MetLife had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 21.00%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.95 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 4th were issued a dividend of $0.5675 per share. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 4th. MetLifes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 42.75%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of MetLife from $93.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley set a $101.00 price objective on shares of MetLife and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on MetLife from $96.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $95.55.

Read Our Latest Analysis on MET

About MetLife

(Free Report)

MetLife, Inc is a global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs. Headquartered in New York City, the company offers a range of risk protection and retirement solutions to individuals, employers and institutional clients. Its core businesses include life insurance, group benefits, retirement products such as annuities, and supplemental health products including dental and disability coverage.

In addition to traditional life and group insurance, MetLife provides workplace benefits and voluntary products distributed through employer-sponsored programs.

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Shares of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the nineteen research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $149.5625.

OSK has been the topic of several research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Oshkosh from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Oshkosh from $171.00 to $158.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Oshkosh from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Oshkosh from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Oshkosh in a research note on Thursday.

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View Our Latest Analysis on Oshkosh

Oshkosh Stock Up 0.4%

Oshkosh stock opened at $130.91 on Thursday. Oshkosh has a fifty-two week low of $76.82 and a fifty-two week high of $144.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.98. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $128.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $128.33. The stock has a market cap of $8.28 billion, a PE ratio of 12.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.41.

Oshkosh (NYSE:OSK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $3.20 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.12 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $2.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.84 billion. Oshkosh had a net margin of 6.43% and a return on equity of 16.60%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.93 EPS. Oshkosh has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.500-11.000 EPS. Research analysts predict that Oshkosh will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Oshkosh Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.6%. Oshkoshs dividend payout ratio is 19.90%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Oshkosh

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Oshkosh during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in Oshkosh by 471.1% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 217 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the period. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its position in shares of Oshkosh by 3,014.3% during the third quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 218 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Oshkosh in the third quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. grew its position in shares of Oshkosh by 69.1% in the second quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 279 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.36% of the companys stock.

Oshkosh Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty trucks, military vehicles and access equipment. The companys offerings span critical end markets, including defense, fire and emergency services, commercial construction and industrial sectors. By combining engineering expertise with advanced technologies, Oshkosh delivers solutions that enhance mobility, safety and productivity for its customers.

Founded in 1917 and headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the company has evolved from producing heavy-duty dump trucks to a diversified portfolio of products and services.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET  Free Report) by 602.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,858 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 17,032 shares during the quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in Arista Networks were worth $2,894,000 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 stock. Bare Financial Services Inc raised its position in Arista Networks by 2,118.2% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 244 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 56.7% in the 3rd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 199 shares of the technology companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Saudi Central Bank bought a new position in shares of Arista Networks during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. REAP Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 108.0% during the 2nd quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 337 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, eCIO Inc. bought a new stake in Arista Networks in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. 82.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Arista Networks from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Piper Sandler reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $145.00 target price (up previously from $143.00) on shares of Arista Networks in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. 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. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $183.00 price objective (up from $179.00) on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane upgraded Arista Networks from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $172.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 25th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Arista Networks has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $163.56.

Arista Networks Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of ANET opened at $130.50 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $164.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.62, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.41. Arista Networks, Inc. has a twelve month low of $59.43 and a twelve month high of $164.94. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $135.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.43.

Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The technology company reported $0.75 earnings per share 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 company had revenue of $2.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.40 earnings per share. Arista Networkss revenue for the quarter was up 27.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Arista Networks, Inc. will post 2.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Arista Networks

In related news, Director Charles H. Giancarlo sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.09, for a total value of $1,024,720.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 25,784 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,302,672.56. This represents a 23.68% 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 link. Also, CEO Jayshree Ullal sold 24,042 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.55, for a total value of $2,994,431.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 9,917 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,235,162.35. This trade represents a 70.80% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 216,464 shares of company stock valued at $28,598,588. Insiders own 3.54% of the companys stock.

Arista Networks Profile

(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.

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PCCW Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PCCWY  Get Free Report)s share price traded up 4.7% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $7.5350 and last traded at $7.5350. 378 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average session volume of 1,916 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.1984.

PCCW Stock Performance

The companys fifty day simple moving average is $7.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.57.

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About PCCW

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PCCW Limited (OTCMKTS:PCCWY) is a Hong Kongbased technology and telecommunications company offering a broad array of connectivity, media and IT solutions. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the group traces its roots to the early 2000s restructuring of the local fixed-line incumbent and has since diversified into broadband, mobile and digital media services under various subsidiaries.

The companys consumer and enterprise businesses encompass fixed-line telephone, broadband internet access, mobile services and pay-TV.

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Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Saturday.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. TD Cowen raised their price target on Phillips 66 from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Zacks Research cut shares of Phillips 66 from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Phillips 66 from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $160.00 price target on shares of Phillips 66 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $132.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $148.35.

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View Our Latest Research Report on Phillips 66

Phillips 66 Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of PSX stock opened at $129.06 on Friday. Phillips 66 has a 1 year low of $91.01 and a 1 year high of $144.96. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $135.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $130.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.26, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 0.92.

Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The oil and gas company reported $2.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.38. Phillips 66 had a return on equity of 5.53% and a net margin of 1.12%.The company had revenue of $33.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $32.29 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.04 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Phillips 66 will post 6.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Phillips 66 Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio is 131.15%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Brian Mandell sold 25,500 shares of Phillips 66 stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.04, for a total value of $3,571,020.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 56,838 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,959,593.52. This trade represents a 30.97% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Kevin J. Mitchell sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total value of $4,140,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 89,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,388,398. This represents a 25.05% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 86,093 shares of company stock valued at $11,933,256 over the last ninety days. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Phillips 66

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PSX. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Phillips 66 in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 62.1% during the second quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 214 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Webster Bank N. A. increased its holdings in Phillips 66 by 58.8% in the 2nd quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 270 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Pinpoint Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Phillips 66 in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 76.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Phillips 66 Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is an independent energy manufacturing and logistics company engaged primarily in refining, midstream transportation, marketing and chemicals. The company processes crude oil into transportation fuels, lubricants and other petroleum products, operates pipeline and storage infrastructure, and participates in petrochemical production through strategic investments. Phillips 66 serves commercial, industrial and retail customers and positions its operations across the value chain of the downstream energy sector.

The companys principal activities include refining crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and feedstocks for petrochemical production; operating midstream assets such as pipelines, terminals and fractionators that move and store crude oil and natural gas liquids; and marketing and distributing fuels and lubricants through wholesale and retail channels.

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Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O  Get Free Report)s share price was down 1.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $55.86 and last traded at $55.9060. Approximately 6,801,034 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 21% from the average daily volume of 5,643,565 shares. The stock had previously closed at $56.67.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on O. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Realty Income in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. They set an in-line rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating and issued a $61.00 price objective on shares of Realty Income in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Realty Income from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Realty Income from $63.00 to $60.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Realty Income from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.00.

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Realty Income Trading Down 1.3%

The company has a fifty day moving average of $57.76 and a 200-day moving average of $58.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $51.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.76, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.80.

Realty Income (NYSE:O  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.01. Realty Income had a net margin of 17.17% and a return on equity of 2.45%. The company had revenue of $1.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.05 EPS. Realty Incomes quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. Realty Income has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.250-4.270 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Realty Income Corporation will post 4.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Realty Income Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.8%. This is a boost from Realty Incomes previous monthly dividend of $0.27. Realty Incomes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 299.07%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Realty Income

In other news, Director Mary Hogan Preusse sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.43, for a total value of $664,730.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 19,211 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,160,920.73. The trade was a 36.41% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Realty Income

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in O. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Realty Income by 1.1% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 61,732,956 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,556,436,000 after purchasing an additional 676,697 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont increased its stake in Realty Income by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 262,700 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $15,134,000 after buying an additional 6,885 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Realty Income by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 584,845 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $33,927,000 after buying an additional 18,397 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in Realty Income by 13.1% in the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,669,031 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $153,763,000 after buying an additional 309,902 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MAI Capital Management boosted its position in Realty Income by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 221,233 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $12,834,000 after buying an additional 13,555 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.81% of the companys stock.

Realty Income Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, owns and manages commercial properties subject primarily to long-term net lease agreements. The companys business model focuses on generating predictable, contractual rental income by leasing properties to tenants under agreements that typically place responsibility for taxes, insurance and maintenance on the tenant. Realty Income is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and markets itself as a reliable income-oriented REIT.

Realty Incomes portfolio is concentrated in single-tenant, retail and service-oriented properties such as drugstores, convenience stores, dollar and discount retailers, restaurants, and other essential-service businesses.

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American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

12/11/2025  American Eagle Outfitters is now covered by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.. They set a neutral rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock.

12/11/2025  American Eagle Outfitters is now covered by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.. They set a neutral rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters was given a new $23.00 price target on by analysts at Morgan Stanley.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at UBS Group AG from $22.00 to $31.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $18.00 to $23.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters was given a new $23.00 price target on by analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its hold rating reaffirmed by analysts at Cowen Inc.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at Barclays PLC from $14.00 to $20.00. They now have an underweight rating on the stock.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at Bank of America Corporation from $11.00 to $18.00. They now have an underperform rating on the stock.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters was upgraded by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an underweight rating to a neutral rating. They now have a $20.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $14.00.

12/3/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at Telsey Advisory Group from $18.00 to $25.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock.

11/25/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its market perform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Telsey Advisory Group. They now have a $18.00 price target on the stock.

11/19/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at UBS Group AG from $21.50 to $22.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

11/11/2025  American Eagle Outfitters had its price target raised by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $15.00 to $18.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

10/24/2025  American Eagle Outfitters was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating.

American Eagle Outfitters Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, January 9th will be issued a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. American Eagle Outfitterss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.10%.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Cary D. Mcmillan sold 2,945 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.95, for a total transaction of $49,917.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jennifer M. Foyle sold 243,047 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.30, for a total transaction of $5,906,042.10. Following the sale, the insider owned 191,751 shares in the company, valued at $4,659,549.30. This trade represents a 55.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 8.70% of the companys stock.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc (NYSE: AEO) is a leading American specialty retailer offering apparel, accessories and personal care products for men and women. The companys flagship brand, American Eagle, focuses on casualwear including denim, tops, outerwear and accessories targeted primarily at teens and young adults. In addition to its core apparel lines, the company operates the Aerie brand of intimates, loungewear and swimwear, which has gained recognition for its body-positive marketing and inclusive sizing.

American Eagle Outfitters conducts business through a combination of over 900 brick-and-mortar stores in North America and Greater China, complemented by a growing e-commerce platform that serves customers around the globe.

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Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (OTCMKTS:RBGLY  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 1,202,850 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 258% from the previous sessions volume of 335,676 shares.The stock last traded at $16.1570 and had previously closed at $16.22.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on RBGLY shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley cut Reckitt Benckiser Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Barclays raised shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy.

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Reckitt Benckiser Group Price Performance

Reckitt Benckiser Group Company Profile

The company has a 50-day moving average price of $15.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.37.

(Get Free Report)

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc is a multinational consumer goods company that develops, manufactures and markets health, hygiene and home products. Its portfolio spans over-the-counter medicines and health products, personal and sexual wellness, surface and laundry cleaning, and household care. The company owns a number of well-known global brands across these categories, including Lysol and Dettol in disinfectants and hygiene, Durex in sexual wellness, Nurofen in analgesics, and Finish in dishwashing products.

The firm has its corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom and sells products in markets around the world, serving consumers across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

Further Reading

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Key Points

Russia invaded Ukraine almost four years ago.

The conflict has made European nations realize they need to ramp up their defense spending.

These three European defense companies could be a strong part of your portfolio.

10 stocks we like better than BAE Systems 

Investors looking for something outside the artificial intelligence (AI) craze may want to consider hopping across the Atlantic Ocean for a closer look at the European defense industry. Developments there have created a powerful secular trend that could continue for some time, and investors should consider putting their money behind the trend.

February 2026 will mark the four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is considered part of Eastern Europe. This escalation of a conflict into outright war has understandably changed the attitude many European countries have had toward maintaining their own military capabilities.

Members of NATO, Europe's main military alliance, have a collective agreement to defend each other in the event of an attack. As such, they are supposed to commit a percentage of their gross domestic product (GDP) toward defense spending.

But maybe because of an overreliance on the U.S. military, or the fact that Europe has been mostly peaceful for years, that agreement has been loosely enforced. Now, spending is increasing to as much as 5% of GDP for each of NATO's 32 members. The Ukraine war is a big reason defense spending is increasing in Europe.

Here are three suggestions for defense stocks that could grow for years to come.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall (OTC: RNMBY) (OTC: RNMB.F) is based in Germany, which is the largest economy in Europe (with a GDP of $2.5 trillion). A confluence of factors favors investing in Rheinmetall, which has already been significantly impacted by the Ukraine conflict. Its stock has jumped more than 12 times in value since Russia invaded Ukraine, but it still has plenty of upside. Analysts project annual sales growth above 30% for at least the next couple of years, and annual earnings to jump around 50% over this period.

Rheinmetall has already become the largest defense firm in Europe, with an $81.5 trillion market capitalization, but it can continue its growth path. Germany is boosting public spending to help support its economy, which is struggling because it is focused on exporting vehicles, machinery, and electrical equipment, a tough go with higher tariffs, trade wars, and Chinese competition. Germany is also situated very close to Russia and is increasing its NATO spending targets. All these represent more tailwinds for Rheinmetall.
A number of research firms have changed their ratings and price targets for Schneider National (NYSE: SNDR):

12/16/2025  Schneider National had its price target raised by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $25.00 to $29.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

12/15/2025  Schneider National had its hold (c) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/3/2025  Schneider National was upgraded by analysts at Raymond James Financial, Inc. from a market perform rating to an outperform rating. They now have a $28.00 price target on the stock.

12/1/2025  Schneider National had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/25/2025  Schneider National had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/19/2025  Schneider National had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/13/2025  Schneider National had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/3/2025  Schneider National had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $25.00 to $23.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

10/31/2025  Schneider National was given a new $21.00 price target on by analysts at National Bankshares, Inc..

10/31/2025  Schneider National had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $28.00 to $27.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

10/31/2025  Schneider National had its price target lowered by analysts at Evercore ISI from $22.00 to $21.00. They now have an in-line rating on the stock.

10/31/2025  Schneider National had its price target lowered by analysts at TD Cowen from $25.00 to $23.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

Schneider National Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be issued a $0.095 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 12th. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Schneider Nationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.38%.

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Schneider National, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics services in North America. The company offers a full spectrum of solutions, including truckload transportation, intermodal services and dedicated logistics. Through these offerings, Schneider supports the movement of goods ranging from dry van freight to refrigerated and flatbed shipments, while also providing customized supply chain management and warehousing capabilities.

Founded in 1935 by Al Schneider as a single-truck operation in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the company has grown into one of the industrys most recognized carriers.

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Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $70.75 and last traded at $70.2350, with a volume of 888844 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $68.76.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SQM has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Citigroup lowered shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from a buy rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $51.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Friday, December 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $63.00 price objective (up previously from $45.00) on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. UBS Group set a $79.00 target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Itau BBA Securities initiated coverage on Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a report on Thursday, September 4th. They issued an outperform rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.75.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on SQM

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $20.06 billion, a PE ratio of 38.38 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 2.82 and a quick ratio of 1.88. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $55.56 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.69.

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). Sociedad Quimica y Minera had a return on equity of 9.79% and a net margin of 12.12%.The business had revenue of $1.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.46 EPS. Sociedad Quimica y Mineras revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. will post -1.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Sociedad Quimica y Minera

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SQM. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC bought a new position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the second quarter worth approximately $67,759,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the 2nd quarter worth $32,432,000. RWC Asset Management LLP increased its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 369.9% in the third quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 1,113,807 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $47,871,000 after acquiring an additional 876,754 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 81.9% during the third quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 1,911,668 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $82,163,000 after acquiring an additional 860,984 shares during the last quarter. Finally, RWC Asset Advisors US LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 112.4% during the third quarter. RWC Asset Advisors US LLC now owns 1,232,662 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $52,980,000 after purchasing an additional 652,257 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 12.41% of the companys stock.

About Sociedad Quimica y Minera

(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.

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Squarepoint Ops LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (NYSE:BNS  Free Report) (TSE:BNS) by 62.8% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 15,881 shares of the banks stock after selling 26,825 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLCs holdings in Bank of Nova Scotia were worth $878,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cypress Capital Management LLC WY acquired a new position in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of Nova Scotia in the 2nd quarter valued at $55,000. MAI Capital Management increased its holdings in Bank of Nova Scotia by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 1,211 shares of the banks stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Bank of Nova Scotia in the first quarter valued at about $69,000. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia by 15.8% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,084 shares of the banks stock worth $115,000 after purchasing an additional 285 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.13% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on Bank of Nova Scotia in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Bank of Nova Scotia from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, August 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from $86.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $97.00.

Bank of Nova Scotia Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE:BNS opened at $72.98 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $90.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.13. Bank of Nova Scotia has a one year low of $44.09 and a one year high of $73.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.04. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $67.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $61.90.

Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS  Get Free Report) (TSE:BNS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 2nd. The bank reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.06. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 12.10% and a net margin of 10.60%.The company had revenue of $6.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.85 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.57 EPS. Bank of Nova Scotias revenue for the quarter was up 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 4.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of Nova Scotia Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 6th will be issued a $1.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 6th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.0%. Bank of Nova Scotias dividend payout ratio is currently 78.61%.

Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of Nova Scotia, commonly known as Scotiabank, is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company founded in 1832 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It is one of Canadas largest banks and provides a broad range of financial services to retail, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. The bank combines a domestic Canadian franchise with an extensive international presence to serve customers across multiple markets.

Scotiabanks core activities include personal and commercial banking, wealth management, corporate and investment banking, capital markets, and global transaction banking.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BNS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (NYSE:BNS  Free Report) (TSE:BNS).

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Stellantis (NYSE:STLA  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Saturday morning.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Stellantis in a report on Monday, September 8th. They set a neutral rating and a $10.10 target price on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of Stellantis from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Stellantis in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Stellantis in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised shares of Stellantis from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $11.20 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Stellantis currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $11.75.

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Stellantis Stock Down 3.9%

STLA opened at $11.09 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.09. Stellantis has a fifty-two week low of $8.39 and a fifty-two week high of $14.28.

Stellantis (NYSE:STLA  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported ($0.91) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by ($1.32). The business had revenue of $87.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $87.94 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that Stellantis will post 2.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in Stellantis by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 32,949 shares of the companys stock valued at $306,000 after buying an additional 1,186 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Stellantis by 2.1% during the second quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 59,263 shares of the companys stock worth $594,000 after purchasing an additional 1,193 shares during the last quarter. Straightline Group LLC boosted its holdings in Stellantis by 5.0% during the second quarter. Straightline Group LLC now owns 28,248 shares of the companys stock worth $283,000 after purchasing an additional 1,352 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its position in Stellantis by 2.0% in the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 83,148 shares of the companys stock valued at $834,000 after purchasing an additional 1,599 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Stellantis by 10.2% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 19,258 shares of the companys stock valued at $180,000 after buying an additional 1,780 shares during the last quarter. 59.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Stellantis Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Stellantis N.V. is a global automotive manufacturer formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Groupe PSA, a transaction completed in January 2021. The company designs, manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and related powertrains under a large number of well-known brands, including (but not limited to) Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall. Stellantis also provides parts, accessories, service operations and branded aftersales support through legacy networks such as Mopar and regional dealer ecosystems.

In addition to vehicle manufacturing, Stellantis operates mobility- and software-related businesses and financial services.

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Strathcona Resources Ltd. (TSE:SCR  Get Free Report) shares dropped 24.7% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as C$29.21 and last traded at C$29.47. Approximately 113,715 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 43% from the average daily volume of 79,259 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$39.16.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on SCR. Natl Bk Canada cut Strathcona Resources from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. National Bankshares lowered their price target on shares of Strathcona Resources from C$38.00 to C$36.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Strathcona Resources from C$36.00 to C$40.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Strathcona Resources from C$34.00 to C$38.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, TD Securities raised their price target on Strathcona Resources from C$35.00 to C$36.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$36.86.

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Strathcona Resources Stock Performance

Strathcona Resources Dividend Announcement

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.06, a quick ratio of 11.09 and a current ratio of 0.53. The stock has a market cap of C$6.36 billion, a PE ratio of 5.80, a PEG ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 2.61. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$39.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$36.43.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. Strathcona Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.68%.

About Strathcona Resources

(Get Free Report)

Strathcona Resources Ltd. is a Canada-based oil and gas producers with operations focused on thermal oil, enhanced oil recovery and liquids-rich natural gas. The Company has three operations, including Lloydminster Heavy Oil, Cold Lake Thermal Oil and Montney. The Lloydminster Heavy Oil segment has multiple large oil-in-place reservoirs with existing and expanding enhanced oil recovery (EOR) opportunities primarily located in southwest Saskatchewan. Its Saskatchewan thermal properties rely on the same steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processes as its Cold Lake Thermal properties.

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W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB  Get Free Report) major shareholder Sumitomo Insurance Co Mitsui purchased 202,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $70.26 per share, for a total transaction of $14,192,520.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider directly owned 49,211,938 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,457,630,763.88. This represents a 0.41% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at 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.

W.R. Berkley Stock Up 1.1%

W.R. Berkley stock traded up $0.76 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $70.13. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,250,017 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,573,696. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.73, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $73.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.62. W.R. Berkley Corporation has a 52-week low of $55.97 and a 52-week high of $78.96.

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W.R. Berkley (NYSE:WRB  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 20th. The insurance provider reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.03. W.R. Berkley had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 18.86%. The business had revenue of $3.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.93 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that W.R. Berkley Corporation will post 4.33 EPS for the current year.

W.R. Berkley Announces Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On W.R. Berkley

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be given a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. W.R. Berkleys payout ratio is 7.56%.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WRB. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of W.R. Berkley in the 3rd quarter valued at $682,816,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in W.R. Berkley during the second quarter worth approximately $367,921,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of W.R. Berkley by 6,503.1% in the second quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,561,230 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $188,174,000 after buying an additional 2,601,230 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of W.R. Berkley by 33.4% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,892,799 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $374,886,000 after buying an additional 1,224,363 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP raised its stake in shares of W.R. Berkley by 4,198.9% during the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 777,201 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $55,306,000 after acquiring an additional 759,122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.82% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on WRB shares. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $87.00 price objective on shares of W.R. Berkley in a research report on Friday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets cut W.R. Berkley from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $64.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $75.00 target price on W.R. Berkley in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $78.00 target price on W.R. Berkley in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $66.00 price target on shares of W.R. Berkley and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, W.R. Berkley presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.93.

Read Our Latest Report on W.R. Berkley

About W.R. Berkley

(Get Free Report)

W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is a publicly traded insurance holding company that underwrites and sells commercial property and casualty insurance, specialty insurance products, and reinsurance. Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, the company operates a portfolio of underwriting businesses that focus on niche and specialty commercial risks, offering coverage tailored to industries such as transportation, construction, professional services and other commercial lines.

The companys product mix includes primary and excess casualty, property, professional liability, environmental and other specialty lines, together with treaty and facultative reinsurance solutions.

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Shares of Taseko Mines Limited (LON:TKO  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 419.90 and last traded at GBX 415, with a volume of 12408 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 407.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on Taseko Mines from GBX 330 to GBX 390 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Taseko Mines presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 390.

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Taseko Mines Trading Up 2.0%

About Taseko Mines

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 348.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 284.61. The company has a market capitalization of 1.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -21.84 and a beta of 1.92.

(Get Free Report)

Taseko Mines is a dynamic and growing mining company focused on the operation and development of copper mines in North America.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Taseko operates the state-of-the-art Gibraltar Mine (100% owned), the second largest copper mine in Canada, with a nearly 700-person workforce producing an average of 140 million pounds of copper and 2.5 million pounds of molybdenum per year.

In addition to the Yellowhead copper project and the Aley niobium project, Taseko is also advancing the Florence Copper project in Arizona  a near-term copper producer with an unparalleled energy, water and GHG profile per unit of production.

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Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TECK  Get Free Report) (TSE:TECK) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $46.49 and last traded at $46.6350, with a volume of 897626 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $45.17.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on TECK. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a $46.00 target price on shares of Teck Resources in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Teck Resources in a report on Friday, October 10th. UBS Group raised shares of Teck Resources from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Benchmark restated a buy rating on shares of Teck Resources in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded shares of Teck Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research 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 issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Teck Resources has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.71.

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Teck Resources Trading Up 3.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 2.78 and a quick ratio of 2.08. The firm has a market cap of $22.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.83. The firms fifty day moving average is $42.80 and its 200-day moving average is $39.38.

Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK  Get Free Report) (TSE:TECK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.16. Teck Resources had a return on equity of 4.14% and a net margin of 11.93%.The company had revenue of $2.43 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.93 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.60 EPS. The firms revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Teck Resources Ltd will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Teck Resources Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be issued a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This is a positive change from Teck Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. Teck Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 20.22%.

Institutional Trading of Teck Resources

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Teck Resources during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Teck Resources by 72.4% during the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 836 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 351 shares during the last quarter. SouthState Bank Corp bought a new position in shares of Teck Resources in the third quarter valued at $50,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Teck Resources during the second quarter valued at about $49,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in shares of Teck Resources by 102.5% during the second quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,320 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 668 shares in the last quarter. 78.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Teck Resources Company Profile

(Get 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.

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UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, Intuitive Surgical, Hims & Hers Health, Novartis, Tempus AI, and McKesson are the seven Healthcare stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Healthcare stocks are shares of companies whose primary business involves medical products and services  including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, hospitals and clinics, diagnostics, and health insurers. Investors buy these stocks to gain exposure to the healthcare sector, which is often seen as relatively defensive and driven by long-term trends like demographics, technological innovation, and regulatory and reimbursement policies. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Healthcare stocks within the last several days.

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UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally. The company offers the da Vinci Surgical System that enables complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach; and Ion endoluminal system, which extends its commercial offerings beyond surgery into diagnostic procedures enabling minimally invasive biopsies in the lung.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ISRG

Hims & Hers Health (HIMS)

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. operates a telehealth consultation platform. It connects consumers to healthcare professionals, enabling them to access medical care for mental health, sexual health, dermatology and primary care. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Read Our Latest Research Report on HIMS

Novartis (NVS)

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

Read Our Latest Research Report on NVS

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.

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McKesson (MCK)

McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products.

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Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) by 3.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 99,530 shares of the railroad operators stock after purchasing an additional 3,432 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises about 1.0% of Trust Co. of Vermonts portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in Union Pacific were worth $23,526,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.7% during the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,398,715 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,472,217,000 after buying an additional 46,436 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 5,105,784 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,206,191,000 after buying an additional 86,292 shares during the period. Amundi increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,134,236,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,626,200 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,092,893,000 after purchasing an additional 452,788 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $234.66 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84. The firm has a market cap of $139.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.99. The businesss fifty day moving average is $227.02 and its 200-day moving average is $226.45.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. Union Pacifics revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.75 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.90%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna reaffirmed a positive rating and set a $272.00 target price (up previously from $257.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, September 25th. Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. UBS Group set a $253.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Loop Capital upgraded Union Pacific from a sell rating to a hold rating and boosted their price target for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 price objective on Union Pacific and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $260.33.

Read Our Latest Analysis on UNP

About Union Pacific

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western twothirds of the United States.

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Dozens of couples hired Beattie Development to build their dream retirement home in Cape Coral, a waterfront wonderland in Florida, only to see construction stall for years. Now, their dreams have become nightmares  unfinished homes, lost money and a whole lot of stress.

Kristen and Matt Kramer signed a contract with Paul Beattie of Beattie Development in 2021, sold their home in Colorado and moved into a rental while they waited  and waited.

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Everything that we read online was good. Everything that we heard, word of mouth, was good. He had all these awards. He was president of this association and that association, Kristen Kramer told Newsweek. (1)

Homebuyers were told that building delays were related to Hurricane Ian, which struck the state in September 2022. But, by 2024, Beattie Development had gone into liquidation after accumulating more than $11.5 million in debt. Dozens of customers lost money  in some cases, their life savings. (1)

The Florida-based home builder is accused of taking money for unfinished homes and currently faces dozens of lawsuits. But thats cold comfort for many of the builders clients. The Kramers, for example, had to come up with an additional $300,000  on top of what theyd already paid  to finish their home, which was only 60% completed. (1)

Many frustrated customers have already filed proof of claim, hoping to get some of their money back, according to Wink News. (2)

Courtney Dellinger-Porter told Newsweek that Beattie Development left her home incomplete and uninhabitable, describing the experience as a four-year nightmare filled with empty promises, repeated delays and, ultimately, financial loss.

Understanding homeowner protections

From April 1, 2026 through April 1, 2030, Florida is expected to add an average of 305,953 net new residents per year, or about 838 a day, which is fueling a construction boom  and attracting both legitimate builders and opportunistic contractors. (3)

At the same time, Florida homeowners have fewer legal protections than they did a decade ago. These weakened consumer protections have left many homeowners vulnerable  particularly retirees who cant easily restart financially if a project collapses. And theres often little recourse when builders abandon a project.
Trust Co. of Vermont grew its holdings in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 80,136 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,023 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in Accenture were worth $19,762,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ACN. Investors Research Corp boosted its stake in shares of Accenture by 73.8% in the 3rd quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 106 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. RMG Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 146.0% in the 3rd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 123 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Accenture during the third quarter worth $32,000. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Accenture in the first quarter valued at $42,000. 75.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on ACN. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Accenture from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday. Mizuho dropped their price target on Accenture from $348.00 to $309.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They issued an equal weight rating and a $251.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Accenture in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $298.29.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Accenture news, insider Manish Sharma sold 6,902 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.01, for a total value of $1,725,569.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryoji Sekido sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.47, for a total value of $623,675.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,390 shares in the company, valued at $346,763.30. This trade represents a 64.27% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 33,319 shares of company stock worth $8,335,225. 0.02% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Accenture Stock Performance

NYSE ACN opened at $270.65 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $178.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.37, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.26. The businesss 50 day moving average is $253.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $263.02. Accenture PLC has a 12-month low of $229.40 and a 12-month high of $398.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The information technology services provider reported $3.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by $0.21. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.65% and a net margin of 10.76%.The firm had revenue of $18.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.59 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.520-13.900 EPS. Research analysts expect that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 EPS for the current year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 13th. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Accentures payout ratio is currently 53.88%.

Accenture 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.

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Vodafone Group Public Limited (LON:VOD  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 97.30 and last traded at GBX 96.96, with a volume of 70959586 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 96.04.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and set a GBX 72 price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research note on Friday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Vodafone Group Public from GBX 62 to GBX 71 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public from GBX 135 to GBX 140 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Citigroup raised their price objective on Vodafone Group Public from GBX 75 to GBX 85 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their target price on Vodafone Group Public from GBX 80 to GBX 82 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vodafone Group Public has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 90.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on VOD

Vodafone Group Public Trading Up 1.0%

Insider Activity

The firm has a market capitalization of 23.03 billion, a PE ratio of -5.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.88. The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 91.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 86.09.

In related news, insider Anne-Francoise Nesmes purchased 20,911 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 95 per share, for a total transaction of 19,865.45. 0.43% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Vodafone Group Public Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company.

We serve over 355 million mobile and broadband customers, operating networks in 15 countries with investments in a further five and partners in over 40 more. Our undersea cables transport around a sixth of the worlds internet traffic, and we are developing a new direct-to-mobile satellite communications service to connect areas without coverage. Vodafone runs one of the worlds largest IoT platforms, with 215 million IoT connections globally, and we provide financial services to around 92 million customers across seven African countries  managing more transactions than any other provider.

From the seabed to the stars, Vodafones purpose is to keep everyone connected.

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com follow us on X at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.

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Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:HMN  Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Sunday.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Horace Mann Educators in a report on Friday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $46.75.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on HMN

Horace Mann Educators Stock Up 0.3%

HMN stock opened at $46.66 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.90 billion, a PE ratio of 11.81 and a beta of 0.08. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $45.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.30. Horace Mann Educators has a fifty-two week low of $36.20 and a fifty-two week high of $48.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:HMN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 3rd. The insurance provider reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $330.60 million for the quarter. Horace Mann Educators had a net margin of 9.79% and a return on equity of 15.69%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Horace Mann Educators will post 3.87 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Horace Mann Educators

In related news, CEO Marita Zuraitis sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.35, for a total transaction of $226,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 283,788 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,869,785.80. This trade represents a 1.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Beverley J. Mcclure sold 1,082 shares of Horace Mann Educators stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.40, for a total transaction of $49,122.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 16,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $759,678.20. This trade represents a 6.07% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 20,398 shares of company stock worth $921,348. Company insiders own 3.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Horace Mann Educators

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Horace Mann Educators during the third quarter worth $29,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Horace Mann Educators by 49.7% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 699 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 232 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Horace Mann Educators by 222.3% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 909 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 627 shares during the period. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Horace Mann Educators during the second quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Horace Mann Educators by 33.0% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,201 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 298 shares during the period. 99.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Horace Mann Educators

(Get Free Report)

Horace Mann Educators Corporation, based in Springfield, Illinois, specializes in insurance and retirement solutions tailored to educators and school employees across the United States. Founded in 1945, the company partners with public school districts to deliver property and casualty insurance productsincluding auto, home and liability coveragethrough a network of dedicated local agents. Its targeted approach focuses on understanding the unique needs and schedules of teachers, administrators and other school staff, distinguishing its services within the broader insurance market.

In addition to property and casualty offerings, Horace Mann provides life and disability insurance, annuities and retirement plan products designed to help educators plan for financial security beyond their teaching careers.

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Wedge Capital Management L L P NC reduced its position in shares of Enersys (NYSE:ENS  Free Report) by 16.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,686 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 7,763 shares during the quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NCs holdings in Enersys were worth $4,483,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Enersys by 535.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 38,591 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,534,000 after acquiring an additional 32,521 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its stake in shares of Enersys by 6.7% in the first quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 16,912 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,548,000 after purchasing an additional 1,066 shares during the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S purchased a new position in Enersys during the 1st quarter valued at about $127,000. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Enersys during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,411,000. Finally, Aristides Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Enersys in the first quarter worth $256,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.93% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ENS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research raised shares of Enersys from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 10th. BTIG Research raised shares of Enersys from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Enersys from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Enersys in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Enersys in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have given a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $126.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Enersys

In related news, insider Chad C. Uplinger sold 6,702 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.46, for a total transaction of $1,015,084.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 23,713 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,591,570.98. This trade represents a 22.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.91% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Enersys Price Performance

ENS stock opened at $148.89 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.73 and a current ratio of 2.77. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $135.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $110.86. Enersys has a 52-week low of $76.57 and a 52-week high of $152.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.41, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.10.

Enersys (NYSE:ENS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The industrial products company reported $2.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.36 by $0.20. Enersys had a return on equity of 22.48% and a net margin of 9.05%.The company had revenue of $951.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $890.27 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.12 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Enersys has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.710-2.81 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Enersys will post 9.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Enersys Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be issued a $0.2625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 12th. This represents a $1.05 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Enersyss payout ratio is 12.28%.

Enersys Company Profile

(Free Report)

Enersys, headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, is a global leader in stored energy solutions, specializing in manufacturing and distributing industrial batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, and related accessories. The company serves a diverse range of end markets, including telecommunications, data centers, medical, aerospace, defense, electric vehicle motive power, and utility outcomes. Its products are engineered to deliver critical reserve power and motive power applications across key infrastructure and industrial sectors.

The companys product portfolio encompasses lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion energy storage systems, chargers, inverters, power management software, and a broad array of battery accessories.

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Progressive (NYSE:PGR  Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $242.00 to $247.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an equal weight rating on the insurance providers stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price target would suggest a potential upside of 8.51% from the companys previous close.

PGR has been the subject of several other reports. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Progressive from $350.00 to $348.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded Progressive from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, November 17th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Progressive from $271.00 to $257.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 20th. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Progressive from $268.00 to $261.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Progressive from $276.00 to $245.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $264.98.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Progressive

Progressive Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of PGR traded up $0.27 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $227.63. 40,977 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,262,240. Progressive has a 52 week low of $199.90 and a 52 week high of $292.99. The companys 50 day moving average is $222.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.17. The company has a market capitalization of $133.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.47, a PEG ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Progressive (NYSE:PGR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The insurance provider reported $4.45 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.04 by ($0.59). The firm had revenue of $21.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.64 billion. Progressive had a return on equity of 33.88% and a net margin of 12.57%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.58 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Progressive will post 14.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Progressive

In related news, CFO John P. Sauerland sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $228.48, for a total value of $1,142,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 223,024 shares in the company, valued at approximately $50,956,523.52. The trade was a 2.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Steven Broz sold 1,345 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.29, for a total transaction of $307,050.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 27,698 shares in the company, valued at $6,323,176.42. This trade represents a 4.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 9,034 shares of company stock valued at $2,047,481 in the last ninety days. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Progressive

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rise Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 7.4% during the first quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 521 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $147,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Progressive by 13.4% during the second quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 338 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC raised its holdings in shares of Progressive by 4.2% during the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,053 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $281,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc increased its holdings in shares of Progressive by 20.8% during the second quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 256 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $68,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Maia Wealth LLC boosted its position in Progressive by 5.4% in the second quarter. Maia Wealth LLC now owns 857 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.34% of the companys stock.

About Progressive

(Get Free Report)

Progressive Corporation is a large U.S.-based property and casualty insurer that primarily underwrites personal auto insurance along with a broad suite of related products. Its offerings include coverage for private passenger automobiles, commercial auto fleets, motorcycles, boats and recreational vehicles, as well as homeowners, renters, umbrella and other specialty P&C products. Progressive also provides claims handling, risk management and related services to individual and commercial policyholders.

The company distributes its products through a mix of direct channelsonline and by phoneand an extensive independent agent network.

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Texas Permanent School Fund Corp trimmed its stake in shares of Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY  Free Report) by 30.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 60,099 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 26,131 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in Weyerhaeuser were worth $1,544,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Weyerhaeuser by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 114,318,728 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,936,848,000 after purchasing an additional 542,912 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 0.9% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,865,696 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $818,630,000 after purchasing an additional 271,832 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Weyerhaeuser during the 2nd quarter worth $600,502,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,909,790 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $509,460,000 after buying an additional 340,948 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 86.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,550,466 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $348,111,000 after buying an additional 6,284,982 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.99% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on WY shares. CIBC restated an outperform rating on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a report on Friday, December 12th. Bank of America reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $26.00 price target (down from $29.00) on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Weyerhaeuser from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 13th. DA Davidson cut their price objective on Weyerhaeuser from $35.00 to $31.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on Weyerhaeuser from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.88.

Insider Transactions at Weyerhaeuser

In related news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis acquired 4,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $23.61 per share, for a total transaction of $106,245.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 25,978 shares in the company, valued at approximately $613,340.58. The trade was a 20.95% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Devin W. Stockfish sold 90,162 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.33, for a total transaction of $2,103,479.46. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,024,861 shares in the company, valued at $23,910,007.13. This represents a 8.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Weyerhaeuser Stock Performance

NYSE:WY opened at $23.72 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $17.10 billion, a PE ratio of 52.70, a P/E/G ratio of 122.96 and a beta of 1.08. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.64. Weyerhaeuser Company has a 1-year low of $21.16 and a 1-year high of $31.66.

Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.07) by $0.13. Weyerhaeuser had a net margin of 4.68% and a return on equity of 3.04%. The firm had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.71 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.05 EPS. Weyerhaeusers revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Weyerhaeuser Company will post 0.78 EPS for the current year.

Weyerhaeuser Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. Weyerhaeusers dividend payout ratio is presently 186.67%.

About Weyerhaeuser

(Free Report)

Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) is a leading integrated forest products company whose core businesses are timberland ownership and forest products manufacturing. The company owns and manages large tracts of timberland and harvests, processes and sells wood and wood-derived products used primarily in residential and industrial construction. Its manufacturing operations produce a range of building materials, including lumber, engineered wood products and wood panels, alongside fiber-based products that serve multiple commercial applications.

Founded in 1900 by Frederick Weyerhaeuser and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the company has a long history in the North American forest products industry.

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Yousif Capital Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 3.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 144,384 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 5,675 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLCs holdings in Prologis were worth $16,535,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Activest Wealth Management increased its holdings in Prologis by 637.1% during the first quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 258 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the period. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Prologis during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Saudi Central Bank purchased a new position in shares of Prologis in the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Prologis in the 2nd quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Prologis in the 2nd quarter worth $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.50% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Prologis news, Director Cristina Gabriela Bita sold 621 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.60, for a total transaction of $79,239.60. Following the sale, the director owned 8,208 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,047,340.80. The trade was a 7.03% 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. In the last quarter, insiders sold 1,621 shares of company stock worth $198,655. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Prologis Stock Up 0.3%

PLD stock opened at $127.58 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $118.50 billion, a PE ratio of 37.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 1.39. Prologis, Inc. has a 52 week low of $85.35 and a 52 week high of $131.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $125.99 and a 200 day moving average of $115.56.

Prologis (NYSE:PLD  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Prologis had a net margin of 36.71% and a return on equity of 5.55%. The business had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter. Sell-side analysts forecast that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Prologis Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th will be given a dividend of $1.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 16th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Prologiss payout ratio is currently 117.78%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on PLD. BMO Capital Markets raised Prologis from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $119.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 20th. UBS Group set a $138.00 price target on shares of Prologis in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Prologis from $127.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Prologis from $120.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Prologis from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $126.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Prologis

Prologis Company Profile

(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.

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ  Free Report) (TSE:CNQ)  Investment analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q4 2025 earnings per share estimates for Canadian Natural Resources in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, December 22nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the oil and gas producer will post earnings of $0.56 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $0.55. Zacks Research currently has a Hold rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Canadian Natural Resources current full-year earnings is $2.45 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Canadian Natural Resources Q1 2026 earnings at $0.50 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.52 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.04 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.67 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.47 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.49 EPS.

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A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on CNQ. Desjardins cut shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Canadian Natural Resources to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $62.00 target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research report on Wednesday, September 24th. TD Securities reiterated a buy rating on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $62.00.

Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CNQ opened at $32.34 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.35 billion, a PE ratio of 14.31 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $32.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $31.90. Canadian Natural Resources has a twelve month low of $24.65 and a twelve month high of $35.12.

Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.08. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 14.90%.The company had revenue of $6.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.97 EPS.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Canadian Natural Resources

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNQ. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its position in Canadian Natural Resources by 309.1% during the second quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 896 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the last quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC purchased a new position in Canadian Natural Resources in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. 74.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be issued a $0.5875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 12th. This is an increase from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $2.35 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.3%. Canadian Natural Resourcess payout ratio is currently 74.34%.

More Canadian Natural Resources News

Here are the key news stories impacting Canadian Natural Resources this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple nearterm and fullyear EPS estimates for CNQ (Q4 2025 to Q2 2027 and FY2026/FY2027). The increases are small but consistent (e.g., FY2027 to $2.49 from $2.45; various quarterly bumps), signaling slightly stronger earnings expectations into 202627 which supports valuation and dividend coverage. MarketBeat CNQ

Zacks Research raised multiple nearterm and fullyear EPS estimates for CNQ (Q4 2025 to Q2 2027 and FY2026/FY2027). The increases are small but consistent (e.g., FY2027 to $2.49 from $2.45; various quarterly bumps), signaling slightly stronger earnings expectations into 202627 which supports valuation and dividend coverage. Positive Sentiment: AmericanBankingNews highlights Zacks bullish outlook on CNQs FY2025 earnings  another positive narrative point that can attract income and value investors focused on beaten estimates and reliable cash flow. Zacks Research Has Bullish Outlook for CNQ FY2025 Earnings

AmericanBankingNews highlights Zacks bullish outlook on CNQs FY2025 earnings  another positive narrative point that can attract income and value investors focused on beaten estimates and reliable cash flow. Positive Sentiment: CNQ appears in a TFSA dividend stock roundup (toptier dividend picks), reinforcing investor interest from incomefocused retail flows  this can support demand for the shares from dividend investors. TFSA: 3 Top-Tier Dividend Stocks

CNQ appears in a TFSA dividend stock roundup (toptier dividend picks), reinforcing investor interest from incomefocused retail flows  this can support demand for the shares from dividend investors. Neutral Sentiment: Despite the estimate upgrades, Zacks kept a Hold rating on CNQ. That tempers the impact: upgrades are modest and the consensus fullyear estimate still sits near prior levels ($2.45 consensus), so immediate reratings or large inflows are not guaranteed. MarketBeat CNQ

Despite the estimate upgrades, Zacks kept a Hold rating on CNQ. That tempers the impact: upgrades are modest and the consensus fullyear estimate still sits near prior levels ($2.45 consensus), so immediate reratings or large inflows are not guaranteed. Neutral Sentiment: Zacks commentary comparing CNQ to BTE frames CNQ as a steady, lowervolatility choice versus peers with faster momentum; this positions CNQ for defensive/ income allocations but may reduce appeal for traders chasing outsized growth. BTE or CNQ? Canadas Oil Investors Weigh 2026 Trade

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is a Calgary-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Established in the early 1970s and publicly listed in Canada and the United States, the company is principally engaged in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its asset base spans conventional and unconventional reservoirs and includes oil sands mining and in-situ thermal projects, midstream processing and upgrading capacity, and related field operations.

The companys operations are concentrated in Western Canada, where it develops heavy crude, bitumen from oil sands and conventional light crude and natural gas resources.

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AI startups promise to automate everything from your inbox to your Christmas shopping.

But talk to the people actually putting money into the sector and their restraint is revealing. Despite the flood of new tools, most investors stick to a small handful they find genuinely useful.

We asked AI investors which products they use day to day. The list was shorter than the hype would suggest.

Escaping meeting hell

Transcription products were around long before chatbots took off, and it is no wonder they are still a mainstay for investors. By one estimate, about half of office workers spend more than five hours a week in meetings, rising to more than 15 hours for the top 9%.

One tool I cant live without is Granola for note-taking, said Payton Dobbs, a partner at Hoxton Ventures. It helps keep me straight, summarizing the important points you need and leaving out the things you dont.

Founded in 2023, Granola plays in the same space as companies like Otter, which has been around for about a decade and boasts more than 25 million users. It lets users manually take notes while an AI assistant makes additions and reorganizes the notes as they go.

Inaki Berenguer, managing partner of LifeX Ventures, added: At a high level it (Granola) is just another call transcription and summarization tool, he said. But in practice its far more accurate than anything else Ive tried. It captures the nuance of conversations in a way that actually works.

Research helpers and thought partners

Large language models like ChatGPT and Anthropics Claude are now ubiquitous across the industry. That is no different for investors  but whats revealing is how deliberately they describe using them.

When investors talk about AI agents, they tend to emphasize how limited they still are. We use LLMs and associated tools and agents for doing deep research, alongside simple AI agents for automating tasks like web scraping and updates, said Mikael Johnsson, co-founder of Oxx, a Stockholm- and London-based software investor.

Model choice, meanwhile, is far from interchangeable. Cecilia Ma, an investment manager at Norrsken VC, said it depends on how complex the task is. From Claude and ChatGPT for general information to Specter and Harmonic for sourcing, she said. For deep research and complex tasks I leverage Claude or Strawberry.

Specter and Harmonic are data platforms used by investors to find and keep track of early-stage companies, while Strawberry is a newer product aimed at more demanding research tasks.

And others use large language models for brainstorming. Lexi Novitske, a general partner at Africa-focused growth fund Norrsken22, said she uses Claude and ChatGPT as a thought partner on new sectors.
I think the general [headcount] trend in the banking industry over the last decade is stable to slightly declining. I dont see that changing anytime soon, Pim Hilbers, a managing director working with banking and talent at BCG, tells Fortune. That doesnt mean that everybody just stays in their job for life. I think we see a lot more mobility than we saw in the past.

Despite Wall Street making headlines for its relentless string of layoffs this year, headcounts across banking and finance have actually been relatively steady.

While AI isnt capable of replacing bankers and consultants just yet, there could be trouble on the horizon for marketers and accountants, experts tell Fortune. And elite business degrees are still worth their while; the vast majority of top MBA students are still locking in job offers soon after graduation. But prospects are dwindling, and banking headcounts could stagnate for years as AI drives a massive productivity boom.

AI is often a scapegoat for things, because its easier to blame AI than it is to blame softening consumer demand, or uncertainty because of tariffs, or maybe poor HR strategy the past few years in terms of overhiring coming out of COVID, he continues, adding that theres a lot less political risk than blaming the presidents tariffs.

If theres a large company that might say, Well, were not planning to hire as much because of AI, or maybe Were letting people go because of AI, I think theres a little bit of smoke and mirrors there, Robert Seamans, director of New York University Sterns Center for the Future of Management, tells Fortune.

People have rightfully raised eyebrows as banks trim their workforces and funnel billions into AI capabilities. Businesses have already deployed the software in their operations, using monikers for AI tools like Socrates, performing hours worth of junior-level analyst tasks in just seconds. Simultaneously, a report from Citigroup has found that 54% of financial jobs have a high potential for automationmore than any other sector. But experts agree that AI-related layoffs have been insignificant, so far. This years flow of banking headcount reductions are a result of pandemic-era overhiring and economic uncertainty.

In a letter to shareholders last year, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon delivered an uncomfortable truth : AI may reduce certain job categories or roles, predicting labor ramifications similar to the printing press, steam engine, electricity, and internet. The tech became the primary suspect as JPMorgan , Goldman Sachs , and Morgan Stanely issued several rounds of layoffs in 2025. But experts tell Fortune that an AI-fueled finance job takeover is largely smoke and mirrors. At least for now.

Story Continues

So far, Americas largest financial institutions havent been making deep workforce cuts. Bank of America employed just four fewer workers at the end of the third quarter this year, compared to 2024. In that same time period, JPMorgan saw its headcount climb by 2,000 employees, and more than a third of the new staffers were brought onto corporate operations. Even Goldman Sachs, which implemented multiple rounds of layoffs this year, employed 48,300 this Septemberaround 1,800 staffers higher than the year before.

Banks arent ready to shed staffers just yet. Experts tell Fortune theyre pulling back on headcount growth for as long as possible, leaning on AI efficiency gains until theyre forced to add more humans to payroll. They predict this sluggish period of hiring could last for years.

Many of the banks I talked to will say, Look, I want to get the productivity so that I dont have to hire the next 100 people to put on another billion dollars of loans. Thats probably [what] the majority of thinking is: I just wont have to hire for 24 months, because I can get the productivity, Mike Abbott, industry group lead for Accentures banking and capital markets, tells Fortune.

As attrition flows through, you dont have to hire as many, but then eventually you hit a point where youre going to have to hire again.

Top MBA students are still succeedingbut job offers are declining

MBA graduates are already feeling the hiring tremors in lieu of strong employment rates. Around 92% of the class of 2025 from Columbia Business School received job offers, as did 86% of this years NYU Stern MBA graduates. Last year, 93% of Wharton students reported receiving work opportunities, and at Duke, 85% nailed down an offer letter.

However, professors at these top business schools caution that the statistics arent a reflection of all MBA programs. Columbia and NYU Stern, for example, are nestled in the epicenter of U.S. finance: New York City. Additionally, these elite universities have more resources to skill students and boost their market value. Columbia Business School associate professor of business Daniel Keum tells Fortune that Python is an almost required class for all MBA pupils at the university.

And while MBA job offer rates remain high, take a peek under the hood, and the prospects arent as plentiful. Job placement outcomes at every single one of Americas magnificent seven elite MBA programsincluding Northwestern, MIT, Stanford, and Harvardhave declined since 2021, according to a Bloomberg analysis. In 2021, only 4% of Harvards MBA students received no job offer within three months of graduation; by 2024, that figure swelled to 15%. MIT saw a similar change, with its share of offer-less graduates climbing from 4.1% to 14.9% in a matter of three years.

The finance roles that are still safeand the ones most at risk

As AI has evolved to take on the grunt workpreparing slideshow presentations, synthesizing client data, and balancing checkbooksits been feared that all junior-level analysts would soon get the boot. But not all jobs in the financial industry rely on the same core skills, and experts tell Fortune there are a few endangered roles in the era of AI disruption.

Surprisingly, the entry-level financial workers paying their dues and tediously crafting bespoke PowerPoint presentations wont be the first ones out the door. Keum tells Fortune that consulting and banking jobs resist automation quite robustly. He explains that their job tasks have little margin for error, as clients will not tolerate even the smallest mistake. Plus, every business deal is different; no two acquisitions are exactly alike, making it difficult to automate human critical thinking needed for the job.

Banking consulting [is] actually not doing too bad. Think about compliance issues where that 1% mistake is not tolerated. It cannot be accepted, Keum says. Thats why a lot of analyst jobs at McKinsey and Bain are automated, but its still extremely human intensive.

Simultaneously, Abbott predicts an industrywide surge in tech hiring. Around 76% of banks expect to increase their tech headcount because of agentic AI, according to Accenture data shared with Fortune. But human staffers in a few vulnerable roles might see the adverse effect of AIs gains. Its estimated that 73% of working time spent by U.S. banking employees has high potential to be impacted by generative AI, according to a 2024 Accenture report, improving the productivity of early AI-adopters by 22% to 30% over the next three years. Keum sees accounting and marketing roles being hit the hardest.

Accountants are not doing well, Keum told Fortune. For accounting, it was, Lets make sure that your numbers are correct based on physical receipts inputted. Now, AI can do that very wellTheyre hiring a lot less. So only the extremely senior people survive.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
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Maybe  but only if both major parties commit in law

No  the current system gives needed flexibility

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Key Takeaways

Analysts at Bank of America and Jefferies said theyre still bullish on semiconductor stocks heading into 2026.

AI stocks have pulled back lately amid worries about an AI bubble, but the analysts said semiconductor shares are likely to keep benefiting from spending on data centers.

AI stocks have had a tough time lately. Some analysts say they're sticking by their favorite chip stocks anyway.

AI is "still the place to be" heading into 2026, with chip stocks among the best ways to play the AI boom, Bank of America analysts told clients in a note last week, anticipating growing sales as cloud-computing giants continue to buy up hardware to build out data centers.

While shares of many of the bank's top large-cap picks for 2026 have taken hits in recent weeks during a broader pullback in tech, they remain leaders in a space that has already seen substantial gains this year, far outperforming the S&P 500. Many of them also overlap with semiconductor stocks highlighted by Jefferies analysts, who said they're "sticking with AI into 2026."

Why This Is Significant

Worries about an AI bubble have weighed on the tech sector in recent weeks, though some stocks have fared better than others. Jefferies and Bank of America suggested they see some of this year's biggest beneficiaries still being winners next year.

While shares of AI chip leader Nvidia (NVDA) have slipped over 12% from their October highs, they're still up more than 30% this year through Friday's close, as demand for its most advanced chips sent sales to new records.

Bank of America analysts said they see Nvidia's torrid growth continuing next year, pointing to a strong pipeline of new products. They called Nvidia a top large-cap pick for 2026, along with custom AI chipmaker Broadcom (AVGO), Lam Research (LRCX), KLA (KLAC), Analog Devices (ADI), and Cadence Design Systems (CDNS).

Jefferies also highlighted Nvidia, Broadcom, Lam Research, and KLA in a note last week, along with semiconductor manufacturing equipment company Applied Materials (AMAT) and inspection equipment provider Camtek (CAMT).

Jefferies said Broadcom remains its top AI pick after replacing Nvidia earlier this year. "We havent given up on [Nvidia] given the technology moat and valuation," Jefferies said, but suggested Broadcom could have more room to rise based on expected growth in its custom chip business.

Jefferies said longtime Broadcom customer Google's recent decision to sell its custom chips to third parties such as Meta (META) and Anthropic could represent a "greenfield opportunity" for Broadcom, along with a growing number of custom chip customers that could include Apple (AAPL).
The United States liquor industry has faced problems on multiple fronts. First, Americans just aren't drinking as much as they used to.

"The percentage of U.S. adults who say they consume alcohol has fallen to 54%, the lowest by one percentage point in Gallups nearly 90-year trend. This coincides with a growing belief among Americans that moderate alcohol consumption is bad for ones health, now the majority view for the first time," Gallup reported.

Gallup has tracked Americans drinking behavior since 1939 and their views of the health implications of moderate drinking since 2001.

"From 1997 to 2023, at least 60% of Americans reported drinking alcohol. The figure fell to 62% in 2023 and to 58% in 2024, before reaching 54% today. Prior to the most recent poll, the rate has been under 60% fewer than 10 times, including 58% in the initial 1939 poll and a one-time low of 55% recorded in 1958," the studies showed.

In addition, President Donald Trump's tariffs have led to a large drop in liquor exports to some countries.

"Following a banner year for U.S. distilled spirits exports in 2024, exports of American spirits fell 9% year-over-year in the second quarter, driven by ongoing trade tensions," according to a new report released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

DISCUS CEO Chris Swonger said U.S. spirits exports to Canada plummeted 85%, falling below $10 million in the second quarter of 2025. U.S. spirits sales in Canada also declined 68% in April 2025.

"U.S. spirits exports experienced notable declines across all key international markets. Exports to the EU  the U.S. spirits industrys largest market  fell 12% to $290.3 million, while exports to the UK dropped 29% to $26.9 million and those to Japan decreased 23% to $21.4 million," according to the report.

Those dual problems have led to multiple bankruptcies in the U.S. liquor space, and now, A.M. Scott Distillery, which offers a collection that includes our vodkas, two gins, and three bourbons, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

A.M. Scott Distillery files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

A.M. Scott Distillery has struggled in recent months as its founder has faced legal problems.

"Troy businessman Anthony Michael Scott, owner of A.M. Scott Distillery, and former owner of The Mayflower, is facing felony charges in Mercer County. Scott, 44, of Troy, was indicted on two felonies after a Mercer County grand jury handed up the decision on March 20 in the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas. A warrant was then issued for his arrest," Miami Valley Today reported.
CAJUN BOY AND LONG AGO CHRISTMAS

When youre poor, really poor, Christmas can be a very sad time, especially for a youngster. My childhood Christmas were spent in extreme poverty. If you ask me about my fondest memories of Christmas, without hesitation I will say it was midnight mass at beautiful old St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church which I attended with my Grandmother.

The church sits up on a knoll near the bank of the Vermilion River in the Acadian town of Abbeville. With its high ceiling and rows of massive stained glass windows on both sides, it always seemed to me to be the Christian foundation of the township and surrounding area. It is the church I was baptized in, where I made my first communion and attended mass regularly. The service always left me with a sense of hope.

A statue of Father Antoine Megret stands next to the church he founded in 1847. He named the town after Abbeville that sits on the banks of the Somme River in France, his homeland. He had modeled the village after the French original with two squares and a park in the middle of town with massive 300-year-old live oaks.

In the fall of 1853 a plague of yellow fever swept south Louisiana; smallpox and cholera were all epidemic in the middle 1800s. Father Megret attended the sick and buried the dead until he contracted the disease himself. He was the last to die in the epidemic on Dec. 5, 1883.

Abbeville is a unique town. When I was a boy, the town buildings were not very old. A fire had completely destroyed the downtown in 1907. The Palms Sanitarium was massive and even the governor, Newton C. Blanchard, was there for the dedication; also the archbishop and the mayor of New Orleans. What also stands out in my mind is the Bank of Abbeville, also built after the fire. The brick two-story building facing the church is the citys architectural centerpiece with its distinctive twin tower design. All my Cajun folks are buried at St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery including my mom, who died Sept. 2, 2004. If you ever get a chance to visit my Cajun town please do.

I went around the horn to get back to my Christmases, but the church, the town and especially the midnight masses are really the best thoughts that have been my companions down this highway. The beautiful mass was said in Latin by Father Edmund Duall, the gospel in French and English. The large choir sang so beautifully.

We were probably the poorest people in the area. My father had flown the coop before I could talk. It was during the Depression and most people were poor. Our clothes were made from feed sacks, but that didnt keep us from attending the old traditional Catholic services.

Imagine a solitary tree limb and decorations of paper chain, colored with crayons, cut and pasted with flour paste, draped about that branch leaning in the corner against the wall. That was our usual holiday tree. As I recall we never had but one real Christmas tree. The teacher gave it to me after it was used at school, two days before Christmas. We proudly decorated it.

I had very few gifts, maybe a handmade toy, but mostly something usefulsocks and so forth. Once I got a new pair of shoes that I think an uncle brought for me. Through necessity or habit we took Christmas in stride. Strangely enough, I dont recall even feeling sorry for myself.

As I grew older, times got better. As I worked, we still didnt have much, but we had more to eat. Recalling those days in that little Cajun town and the bleak Christmases makes me thankful for todays good fortune. I have a very special place in my heart for the poor and unfortunate. This time of year is difficult and scarring to poor kids who dont have much of a Christmas celebration.

So many poor children are happy at Christmas with the slightest, even discarded gifts. As I review my childhood, maybe it is in that, with the exception of insufficient food, that I was indeed fortunate. Even though I didnt have material things, I hold something more valuable: the warm, wonderful feeling of family and that joyous midnight mass at that old historical church. My ghost of Christmas past, even though hurtful, was really a blessing.

Many years have gone by since those childhood days. The material things would have long been gone. What I got from attending that old church, a poor boy in that Cajun town, gave me much more than any material gifts or fancy clothes could. I learned in that life to be appreciative, compassionate and that life is what you make it. You can rise above if youre willing to work for it.

Over the years Phyl and I put together the best Christmases we could afford for our children. We never splurged on ourselves but we took care of each other throughout the years. Ive reached the age of 91 and Phyl will be 90 in September. Weve had a great life and wonderful family.

Next week, on New Years Eve, Dec. 31, we will be married 71 years. We raised our three and two others and now have five grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild on the way. Even though we dont get to see them as much as wed like, they are always in our thoughts.

Most will never know my background as a depression baby and the trip that took me down this lifes highway. Its been a great ride with Phyl at my side. I wonder what memories our children have of their childhood Christmas? I hope yours are all good. From Phyl and I and our family, have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
For the first time in several years, Democrats will be running for the Orange County state senate and state representative seats in 2026. However, no Democrats will be running for any of the county offices open for election.

Orange County has called a joint primary election for March 3 with Republicans and Democrats holding their primaries at the same site. Earlier this year, the Orange County Republican Party announced that on March 3, they would have separate voting sites from the Democrats and would hand-count paper ballots rather than use the Orange County Elections Administration voting machines.

However, the Republican changed that decision and the county elections administration will oversee early voting and Primary Election Day voting for both parties having the same sites. Voters can cast a ballot in only one party primary.

Orange Countys will have openings in the Texas House of Representatives District 21 and Texas Senate District 3 because the incumbents are not running. Former House Speaker Dade Phelan, 49 of Beaumont, announced he would not run, and State Senator Robert Nichols, 80, of Jacksonville, announced he was retiring after 20 years in the position.

State Senate District 3, which includes 16 East Texas counties including Orange, Jasper, Newton, and part of Jefferson, has Republicans State Representative Trent Ashby of Lufkin and Rhonda Ward of Nacogdoches, a real estate appraiser will be facing each other in the primary. Bobby Tillman of East Texas is the lone Democratic candidate, which means he will be facing the winner of the primary in the 2026 November general election. Tillmans biography says he spent 40 years in the commercial flooring business and has spent 15 years raising beef cattle.

For Phelans District 21 State Representative seat, Dr. Ray Callas, a Beaumont anesthesiologist and veteran, is unopposed in the Republican primary. He has been endorsed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

District 21 includes all of Orange and Jasper counties, plus most of Jefferson County. The Democratic candidate is Jacqueline Jacky Hernandez, a small business owner from Beaumont.

Orange Countys U.S. House of Representatives district has been changed every 10 years with new census data for decades. It is now in Congressional District 14 with incumbent Republican Randy Weber running again. In the Republican primary, he is being challenged by Jessica Forgy, who lives on the border of Brazoria and Galveston counties, and is currently running a small poultry farm. Previously, she worked in the health care industry.

Three candidates will be running in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 14. The candidate include Thurman Bill Bartie, a native of Port Arthur and graduate of Lamar University who has served as Port Arthur mayor and as a Jefferson County justice of the peace. Also running are Richard Davis, a 12-year Army veteran and longtime owner of a Comprehensive Business Services franchise with bookkeeping, tax, and accounting services. Also running is Konstantinos Vogiatzis, of Brazoria County, a certified public accountant whose clients include major energy companies on the Gulf Coast.

In the local races, first-term Orange County Republican Chair Cheryl Warren accused her opponent of being part of a coup attempt to overthrow her.

Patrick Rainey (Republican?) informed me he was running against me in a text before he ever attended a meeting. None of these people running have attended meetings, They (sic) have no clue of how the part runs. This is Conservatives Vs Republicans (& some Democrats). Ultimately God is in control and he will decide, she wrote in a statement to the Record Newspapers.

Orange County has no Democrats running for local offices. The Republican races with challengers are for County Commissioner Precinct 2 with incumbent Chris Sowell facing Colleen Owens.

Also, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 with incumbent Joy Dubose-Simonton facing Jesse Thibodeaux and Jeremiah Braneff, plus Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 with incumbent Rodney Price running against Walter Low.

Early voting for the March 3 primary races will begin Tuesday, February 17.
Changing population dynamics Reality check

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Fact number 1 : The incursion from across the border is a reality which no one can deny, least of all the people who are indigenous to the land. Fact number 2 : The group of people to be affected first and the most due to the unchecked intrusion from across the border has been the Nagas. Again a reality which none can deny. Fact number 3 : The Free Movement Regime has not been abolished in totality. The reality is that some measures have been introduced to regulate the cross border movement. It was not so long back that The Sangai Express had carried more than one contribution from a young Naga researcher who took the trouble of working out how the number of Naga MLAs in the State Assembly has come down while the number of Kuki-Chin-Zo MLAs has seen a gradual increase down the years. In the first Electoral College (1952 to 1957), out of 30 MLAs in Manipur, there were 7 Naga MLAs, 1 Kuki MLA and 1 Paite MLA. In the Manipur Territorial Council of 1957 to 1962, out of 10 tribal MLAs, there were 8 Naga MLAs, 1 Paite MLA and 1 Thadou Kuki MLA while in the first Manipur Legislative Assembly of 1972-73 out of 60 MLAs, 13 were Naga MLAs, while only 6 represented the Kuki-Chin community. In the second Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Naga representation declined while the number of Kuki-Chin MLAs increased to 7 and one Kom MLA and in the 1980 to 1985 Assembly, the number of Naga MLAs decreased to 10 while the number of Kuki-Chin MLAs shot up to 9, wrote the young Naga researcher. The gradual spike in the number of Kuki-Chin MLAs down the years is a reflection of the increasing number of the Kuki-Chin population and in yet another article the same young Naga researcher had pointed out how the number of Kuki-Chin villages in Kang-pokpi has seen a sharp increase down the years. Increase in the number of villages can mean only one or two things and that is the spike in the number of population and the chieftainship culture of the Kuki-Chin community wherein the anointed son of a village chief can go ahead and establish a new village. The incursion into Reserved and Protected Forests down the decades is a pointer to this culture of founding new villages, with each village having just a few number of households. A fact which was ostensibly clear during a trek through the jungles of south east Manipur, which a group of journalists undertook in 2005 to meet an important rebel leader. This is apart from the poppy fields that had sprung up on the hills back then. The trek through the jungles was later brought out in the form of a book by one of the journalists later.

It is against this reality that the decision of the Government of India to fence the Indo-Myanmar border should be seen, understood and appreciated. True, the Nagas as a community are not known to migrate and establish new settlements. Their contact with each other, across the present day international border, goes back thousands of years and they do share filial ties with each other. This much is clear, but border fencing does not exactly prohibit contacts, as the FMR is still there though it now comes with its list of rules and regulations. All done with an objective to regulate cross border movement and ultimately such a move will work to the benefits of either side. Regulating cross border movement is a measure that will help preserve the sanctity of the indigenous people of the land and this is a point which should be acknowledged by those spearheading the opposition to the border fencing and the move to regulate the FMR. It is with a reason why there is widespread support to the call to enforce the National Register of Citizens. The need to identify illegal immigrants and the need to regulate the inflow of people from across the border is something which is felt by all the indigenous groups of people and this is where it becomes important to appreciate the overwhelming need to fence the border and regulate the movement of people from across the border via the new regulations put into the Free Movement Regime. A point which should not be overlooked.
Its been quite a year for Apple (AAPL). The company reported record revenue on the back of strong iPhone sales. Its Services business continued its impressive growth, hitting $109.2 billion in sales. And its market capitalization topped $4 trillion, joining Nvidia (NVDA) as just the second company to reach the milestone.

But the company is also contending with major changes amid its executive ranks. COO Jeff Williams retired  he was previously considered the top choice to take up the mantle of CEO after Tim Cook eventually steps down.

Head of government affairs Lisa Jackson and general counsel Kate Adams are retiring in late January and late 2026, respectively.

And then there's AI chief John Giannandrea and design vice president Alan Dye. Giannandrea is retiring and turning Apple's AI efforts over to Amar Subramanya, who previously worked on AI initiatives at Google (GOOGL, GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT).

Dye, meanwhile, left Apple to lead Meta (META) Reality Labs' new design studio.

All of this comes as Cook is reportedly preparing senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus to take over as CEO when he departs.

It all adds up to an Apple in flux as it transforms itself for a post-Cook era. According to the Financial Times, Cook could step down as soon as early 2026. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, meanwhile, said theres still no firm timeline for when Cook will leave his post.

Regardless of exact timing, Apple will eventually have to say goodbye to Cook, and 2025 helped the company set itself up for its biggest change in years.

Cook is steering a $4 trillion behemoth

Cook, who joined Apple in 1998, took over as CEO 14 years ago following the death of founder Steve Jobs. Jobs turned around an ailing Apple when he returned to the company in 1997 after being fired in 1985. He subsequently released a string of groundbreaking products, including the iPod and iPhone, which continues to bring in the majority of Apple's revenue.

Apple CEO Tim Cook holds an iPhone 17 during event at Apple headquarters on Sept. 9, 2025, in Cupertino, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)  Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Cook has carried that success forward during his time at the company's helm, overseeing the debut of the Apple Watch and AirPods, as well as the explosion of Apple's Services business. He has also pushed Apple to use its own chips in its products, giving the company more control over the design and functionality of its devices.

That, coupled with Cook's deft abilities as a negotiator, helped Apple weather a series of crises, including showdowns with the US Department of Justice, the COVID-19 pandemic, and President Trump's ongoing trade war with China. Trump eventually exempted smartphones and certain other tech products from his tariffs on Chinese goods.


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Every year, millions of deceased people become victims of financial and economic crimes called ghost identity theft. In the United States, more than 2.5 million people have their identities stolen fraudulently every year, with nearly 8,00,000 of those identities being used to obtain fraudulent credit lines, phone contracts, and benefits, all through identity theft. Additionally, a five-month pilot programme instituted by the US Treasury, which cross-checked payments with the national Death Master File, avoided or recovered US$31 million in improper payments, ultimately expecting to recover $215 million in costs over three years.

The UIDAI in India has already deactivated more than 1.4 crore (14 million) Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals to prevent the exploitation of stolen identities and plans to deactivate an additional two crore (20 million) Aadhaar numbers by the end of the year. These experiences of each of these deceased individuals extend the underlying issue of restoring payment accountability to include other crimes, including benefits fraud, credit scams, forged estate transfers, and prepaid funerals. In Connecticut, for example, a prepaid funeral fund fraud resulted in a loss of $81,300.

Beyond direct fraud, privacy breaches compound the risks. Digital accounts, social media profiles, and medical or financial records of deceased persons often remain accessible, creating opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit sensitive data. Large-scale data leaks impacting both living and deceased have exposed billions of records globally, and mismatches in death records further fuel wrongful disbursements. With the US Death Master File containing over 142 million records, even minor inaccuracies can result in millions of dollars in fraud. Together, these trends show the scale of ghost identity crimes and post-mortem privacy violations, underscoring the urgent need for stronger data-matching systems, legal safeguards, and public awareness.

Indian experience

Following the tragic death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, there was a media frenzy that changed the definition of public scrutiny. The media sensationalised and analysed the death, and aired every minute detail of his personal life. It made social media a virtual autopsy table, and television a judiciary to decide the guilt or innocence of anyone close to him. It was profoundly sad to see the story of a young talent dying prematurely being displayed publicly and intruded upon unprecedentedly, which raised an important question: Does privacy die with the person?

Posthumous privacy explores the concept of granting the deceased the right to choose their own privacy even after death, a growing concern that remains largely unaddressed. Due to the nature and requirements of their profession, celebrities often walk a fine line between their private lives and public exposure. In this digital age, the issue of posthumous privacy for celebrities is under intense scrutiny, as digital society both glorifies and grieves the loss of public figures. However, the law remains silent on how to manage their image, data, and personal dignity.

Although the Supreme Court in the Puttuswamy case (2017) recognised privacy as a fundamental right that respects ones human dignity, its scope was explicitly confined to living humans, creating a normative gap in the existing law. In the absence of any codified posthumous protection right, these actions not only breach their residual identity and dignity but also question and undermine the independence of their legal heirs and estates. The growing digital supremacy leading AI to make faces and voices necessitates re-evaluating the legality of posthumous privacy, which would navigate their estate, families and fans, a legal terrain to resolve the question of controlling and licensing their identity even after death, especially in India, where technology and AI are outpacing the regulatory standards.

Challenges

In the protection of posthumous privacy, the following challenges exist. First, the absence of statutes and doctrines almost everywhere means that privacy rights end with the death of the holder. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, excludes deceased individuals, leaving a crucial regulatory gap. The Indian Judiciary in the Puttuswamy case recognised privacy as a part of Article 21; however, it limited its scope to living persons without recognising post-mortem privacy.

Second, in the absence of a legal framework, it becomes easier for individuals to exploit these assets for their own commercial gain without obtaining the consent of their family, which compounds the privacy problem in India by not extending laws related to right of publicity post-death.

Although courts have recognised the publicity right under Article 21 and tort law (ICC Development v. Arvee Enterprises, (2003), its posthumous application remains untouched.

Third, the TV Networks Regulation Act of 1995, which often leads to collapsing the ethical boundaries of the media, are being justified on the rhetoric of public interest. For instance, the death of the Bollywood star Sridevi in 2018 flooded the press with graphics of her final moments, which had largely been criticised for being insensitive, invasive, and violating her dignity.

Fourth, in this digital era, the protection of national privacy remains porous. For example, the leaked WhatsApp messages of late actor Jiah Khan started being circulated digitally even years after her death, every time her case resurfaces in the media.

Learning from international best practices

In the case of the French Code Civil, allowing heirs to sue for violating the dignity of the deceased, as well as some states in the United States, such as California, grant posthumous publicity rights for a period of 70 years under the California Celebrities Rights Act of 1984. India may modify its Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, to ensure posthumous privacy rights for a fixed period.

Further, Article 21, which ensures the protection of ones right to life and dignity, should be extended to include the privacy and dignity of the deceased, as was even provided in the case of Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan v. Union of India (2002). Again, the media shall prohibit the intrusive reporting of death images and autopsy reports, thereby safeguarding posthumous privacy and dignity. Again, the court should adopt a proportionality test to help determine the conflict between public interest and posthumous privacy.

With the applicability of this test, the court can decide which one to prioritise over the other. Due to the borderless nature of digital content, countries should collaborate and enact a global framework for digital governance. Social media platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and X should allow their users globally to set their data preferences for use after their death.

The road ahead

The failure to recognise posthumous privacy raises concerns about the limited rights of privacy and the dignity of an individual. These concerns could be intensified in the case of celebrities and public figures whose identities often contain commercial value, and the absence of legal protection would compromise and exploit their privacy and dignity.

A dedicated framework for the protection of posthumous privacy must be enacted to provide it with statutory recognition, establish ethical guidelines for the media, ensure judicial supervision, and foster global cooperation. Such a framework would ensure that a part of Article 21, including the rights to privacy and dignity, is not extinguished upon death; instead, it persists as a legal claim to ensure ones dignity remains protected in life and thereafter.

Harshit Singh is a Research Officer at Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar, and Pradiptarathi Panda is an Assistant Professor at IIM Raipur.
As Ather Energy looks to spike its prices starting January 2026, some potential customers are feeling the burn while others are rushing to cash in on year-end deals. On Monday, the Bengaluru-based EV maker announced that it will increase the prices of all its electric scooters from January 1, 2026, citing a rise in global input costs.

In its company statement, Ather says exshowroom prices will go up by up to Rs 3,000 across models, as the company faces higher bills for raw materials, imported electronic components and adverse foreign exchange movements.

I was planning to get a new 450 next summer. I can rush into it in December just because of the price hike, but I am not happy, said Jaipur-based IT firm fresher Mohit G. Students and young professionals have been the target crowd for the increasing sales of Athers 450 series of electric scooters.

Ather has yet to disclose citywise or modelwise revised prices, but clarified that the increase will apply across its scooter portfolio.

To cushion the landing, Ather doubled down on its ongoing Electric December promotion, now in its third year. As per the company, the promotion offers benefits of up to Rs 20,000 in select cities, including instant credit card EMI discounts, cash incentives and a complimentary Eight70 extended battery warranty that stretches coverage to eight years on select models.

States away from Jaipur, in Kochi, 32-year-old Joseph M. is ecstatic. I have been planning for a Rizta and waiting for Christmas! Joseph, a day trader by profession, said that he understood the companys rationale behind the price hike, given the recent rupee depreciation.

Ather stated that the hike was a response to raw material, forex and key electronics components prices rising globally, a trend that has affected most auto and electronics manufacturers over the past year. The new prices will be effective on all purchases invoiced on or after January 1, 2026, it noted.

Last week, Ather Energy announced its foray into the insurance space by setting up a new wholly owned subsidiary to sell and service policies for its growing base of electric scooter customers. The new arm will offer and facilitate insurance policies in the capacity of Corporate Agent, meaning it will distribute insurance products on behalf of registered insurers rather than underwriting them itself.

This came a month after the Indian EV major announced the launch of its family scooter Rizta in Sri Lanka at the Colombo Motor Show 2025. Ather entered the Sri Lankan market last year in December. Since entering Sri Lanka last year, it has quickly become a growing market for us, Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy Limited, then said.

In the September 2025 quarter (Q2 FY2026), Ather had a 17.4 per cent market share in India after it sold 65,595 units, up 67 per cent year-on-year during the three-month period.
When the Comptroller and Auditor General tabled its audit of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) in Parliament on December 18, it did so without spectacle. There were no allegations of corruption, no dramatic losses to provoke outrage, no ready villains. The report passed almost unnoticed. Yet, read carefully, it offers a sobering account of how welfare schemes in India can survive politically while quietly faltering administratively.

Launched in 2003, ECHS was conceived as a moral assurance. After years of service, ex-servicemen and their families would not be left to navigate the uncertainties of civilian healthcare. Treatment would be comprehensive, cashless and capless, delivered through a nationwide network of polyclinics, service hospitals, government facilities and empanelled private hospitals. Over time, the scheme expanded with the growing number of veterans and came to symbolise the state's continuing obligation to those who had served it.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

What the audit makes clear, however, is that the scheme's ambition has steadily outpaced its administrative capacity.

One of the most persistent problems flagged by the CAG is uneven access. While ECHS formally spans the country, its actual reach varies sharply by region. In many areas, beneficiaries are compelled to travel long distances for referral treatment because empanelled hospitals are few or unevenly distributed. Even within the same regional centres, access can be skewed, leaving some pockets well served and others effectively excluded. The ministry has taken steps to simplify empanelment and expand the hospital network, but the audit underlines a deeper truth: a national welfare scheme cannot function reliably when access depends on geography.

Manpower shortages compound the problem. Despite a steady increase in the number of ex-servicemen, the categorisation of polyclinics, which determines their staffing levels, has not been revised since the scheme's inception. Authorised manpower at central offices, regional centres and polyclinics has remained largely unchanged for over two decades. Shortages were further aggravated when staff were diverted away from clinics to administrative offices. Recent approvals for additional manpower acknowledge the issue, but they also reveal how long the system has been operating on an outdated blueprint.

Infrastructure failures follow a familiar pattern. The audit documents shortages of medicines supplied by service hospitals, deficiencies in medical equipment, and the continued use of ambulances well beyond their economic life. Mobile Medical Units struggled to operate effectively. At the same time, capital budgets remained underutilised despite the availability of land to construct permanent polyclinic buildings. The contradiction is striking: resources were available, but execution lagged. Corrective approvals have now been issued, yet the audit suggests that delay, not scarcity-was the real obstacle.

The most damaging weakness, however, lies in financial management. Persistent shortfalls in allocations under Medical Treatment Related Expenditure led to recurring carried-forward liabilities year after year. Payments to hospitals were delayed, reimbursements to beneficiaries stalled, and private hospitals quietly opted out of the scheme. Veterans bore the consequenceseither by paying out of pocket or discovering, often at the point of care, that coverage did not guarantee treatment.

A cashless healthcare scheme that regularly forces beneficiaries to advance money is not merely inefficient; it undermines the scheme's central promise. The ministry's proposal for a one-time infusion of funds to reduce liabilities is a necessary step. But the audit's message is unmistakable: predictable expenses were treated as annual contingencies, eroding trust along the way.

Beyond finance and infrastructure, the report flags softer but consequential gaps in oversight. Verification of emergency admissions remains inconsistent. Kiosks meant to ease processes at empanelled hospitals are unevenly installed. Station ECHS Vigilance Teams, designed to provide local oversight, function irregularly across the country. Individually, these appear procedural. Collectively, they determine whether a system learns from its failures or merely records them.

Read as a whole, the audit does not describe a scheme in crisis. It describes one worn down by neglectexpanded without redesign, digitised without integration, and corrected through piecemeal measures rather than structural reform. The ministry's responses show intent, but they also confirm how long these gaps were allowed to persist.

What gives the ECHS audit wider significance is how familiar its contours feel. Schemes grow, beneficiary numbers rise, but administrative frameworks remain frozen. Technology is layered on without rethinking workflows. Accountability weakens as complexity increases. In this sense, ECHS is not an exception but a mirror held up to India's welfare state.

The report does not ask moral questions outright. It does not need to. They hover between the lines: If the state struggles to deliver timely healthcare to those who once served it in uniform, what does that say about its ability to care for everyone else?

The absence of a scandal made this audit easy to overlook. That would be a mistake. Because what the CAG has documentedquietly and meticulouslyis not just the story of one scheme, but a warning about what happens when governance begins to rely on endurance instead of reform.
Pakistan is likely to sell 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft to the Libyan National Army (LNA) under a $4 billion defence dealone of Pakistans largest-ever weapons sales.

According to a Reuters report, the deal was finalised during a recent meeting between Pakistans military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA, Saddam Khalifa Haftar. Pakistan has been pitching the Chinese co-developed JF-17 as a lower-cost multi-role fighter and has positioned itself as a weapons supplier able to offer aircraft, training, and maintenance outside Western supply chains.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

The deal comes despite a United Nations embargo on weapons transfers and related military assistance without explicit UN Security Council approval.

While there has been no official statement from Pakistans foreign ministry, defence ministry, or military, Reuters accessed a copy of the deal, which showed that it involved 16 JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft. A few Pakistani officials confirmed that the list was correct.

Reuters quoted a Pakistani official as saying that the deal included the sale of equipment for land, sea, and air, spread over two-and-a-half years. The source confirmed to the news agency that the sale would also include the JF-17 fighter jets.

ALSO READ: Americas National Security Strategy 2025: How NSS places India in a messy but opportune position

A few days ago, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, had said that Pakistan affirmed its commitment to strengthening defence ties with Libya during a meeting between Field Marshal Munir and LNA officials. Both sides underscored the importance of collaboration in training, capacity building, and counterterrorism domains, the ISPR statement said, adding that the discussions involved steps to enhance bilateral defence and military-to-military cooperation.

We announce the launch of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan, Haftar said in remarks broadcast on Sunday by Al-Hadath television.

Reuters quoted Pakistani officials as saying that the deal had not violated any UN weapons embargo.
Russia's fifth-generation stealth fighter Su-57 completed its maiden flight powered by a new-generation engine.

State-owned aerospace company United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said flight tests of the Izdeliye 177 engine began as part of the Su-57 aircraft system in cooperation with the United Engine Corporation, a subsidiary of the state-run Rostec group.

"Specialists from the United Aircraft Corporation and the United Engine Corporation have begun flight testing the Izdeliye 177 engine as part of the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft system," the company said in a release.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

The advanced Izdeliye 177 engine, which is developed specifically for the fifth-generation fighter, is designed to deliver increased thrust and improved flight performance of the Su-57.

Rostec said the Izdeliye 177 engine will enhance the aircraft's flight performance and facilitate further development.

Media reports suggest that the engine offers a maximum afterburner thrust of 16,000 kgf (about 157 kN), with improved fuel efficiency, extended service life, and reduced weight. It enables supercruise capability without afterburner, enhancing the Su-57's range, maneuverability, and stealth performance.

Test pilot Roman Kondratyev flew the jet, which proceeded as planned, and the new engine performed reliably, the UAC statement said.

The Su-57 is designed to carry out a wide range of combat missions, including engagement of air, ground, and maritime targets. It is capable of operating round the clock, in adverse weather and under electronic warfare conditions, while its low observability is intended to reduce vulnerability to modern air defence systems. Russia has claimed the Su-57 to be the only combat-proven fifth-generation fighter, citing its operational use in Syria and Ukraine.

UAC said it is ramping up production of the Su-57 to increase deliveries to the Russian military and for export customers.

Russia has actively pitched the Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter to India, offering full technology transfer. The proposal had gained momentum ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi early this month. However, India has shown a tepid response to the Russian offer so far.
The US will soon have the largest, deadliest, most versatile, and best-looking nuclear-capable warship anywhere in the worlds oceansand these will be named after US President Donald Trump.

The new Trump-class battleships will replace the US Navy's earlier plans to develop a new class of destroyer, the DDG(X).

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

The US President announced on Monday that, as part of the efforts to expand the US naval buildup, the US would commission a new series of Navy "battleships" as part of a revamped "Golden Fleet", and that these would be named after himself, breaking away from the tradition of naming battleship classes after US states.

The expansion of the US Navy is expected to have both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships. This new class of American-designed, 30,000- to 40,000-ton large surface combatants is currently in the design phase, with construction of the first battleship, the USS Defiant, targeted for the early 2030s.

The programme will begin with two vessels and is expected to increase to between 20 and 25 warships. The first vessels in this class, according to Trump, will be operational in less than three years.

ALSO READ: Americas National Security Strategy 2025: How NSS places India in a messy but opportune position

The US president claimed the Trump-class battleships would be capable of carrying hypersonic weapons that would be extremely lethal.

We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of battleships to be produced in the years to come, the US president said.

"These have been under design consideration for a long time, and it started with me in my first term, because I said, 'Why arent we doing battleships like we used to?'"

Navy Secretary John Phelan said the upcoming vessel, dubbed the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest, and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the worlds oceans.

Phelan said the new class of battleship is something the Navy "desperately needs." Comparing the future Trump-class battleships to the former Iowa-class battleships, he said, "The Iowa was designed to go on the attack with the biggest guns, and that's exactly what will define the Trump-class battleships: offensive firepower from the biggest guns of our era."

According to him, the Trump-class warship "isn't just to swat the arrows; it is going to reach out and kill the archers."
A Hindi web series titled UP 77, based on the life of gangster Vikas Dubey, who was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police in 2020, has run into legal trouble after the Delhi High Court issued notice to the makers on a plea against its release. The series was scheduled to be released on December 25 on the Waves OTT platform.

Vikas Dubey is a gangster who is the main accused in the murder of eight policemen in Kanpur. He had surrendered in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and was being transported from Ujjain to Kanpur when the vehicle carrying him overturned. He allegedly attempted to steal the gun from a police official. The police official who accompanied him fired back, resulting in his death. The government had formed a three-member inquiry panel, but the police officials were not charged after the commission found "no material evidence" to rebut the police version of the encounter.

This incident, however, had raised numerous questions.

What Richa Dubey argues

The petition was filed against the makers by Dubey's wife, Richa Dubey. She claimed that the show depicts biographical depictions and personal events that violate the privacy, dignity, and reputation of her family. It has been produced about her and her deceased husbands private and marital life, without her consent. She argued that the depiction of the series was fictionalised, exaggerated, and sensational, aimed solely at commercial gain.

Richa argues that their sons are still undergoing emotional, social, and psychological consequences of their father's death. They have taken a conscious decision to live away from public glare. However, she argued that the series will permanently damage her dignity and subject her and her sons to public ridicule, and also reopen the past trauma, and may endanger her social standing and safety.

Justice Sachin Datta sought a response from the Union Government, the OTT platform, and the maker of the web show. The matter will be heard tomorrow.
For decades, a diagnosis of azoospermia, the complete absence of sperm in semen, was considered a biological dead end for men hoping to become fathers. In medical textbooks, it is often translated into a single, devastating conclusion that biological parenthood would be impossible.

But advances in reproductive medicine are quietly dismantling that assumption.

A recent case from Maharashtra underscores just how dramatically the fertility landscape has changed. A couple, married for nearly a decade, went on to conceive not once but twice, despite the male partner being diagnosed with severe azoospermia. Their journey is not just a personal victory, but a window into how assisted reproductive technologies are redefining male infertility in India.

Male infertility accounts for nearly 4050 per cent of infertility cases globally, yet it remains far less discussed than female reproductive challenges. Azoospermia, affecting roughly 1 per cent of all men and up to 15 per cent of infertile men, is among the most severe forms.

In many cases, sperm production occurs inside the testes but does not reach the semen due to blockages or hormonal dysfunctions. For years, this distinction mattered little to patients because treatment options were limited.

For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH

Today, that gap between production and ejaculation is precisely where medical innovation steps in. Procedures such as Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) have transformed the prognosis for men with severe infertility. TESE allows doctors to retrieve viable sperm directly from testicular tissue, while ICSI enables fertilisation using a single sperm injected into an egg under a microscope.

These techniques are no longer experimental. They are now routinely offered at advanced fertility centres across India, particularly in urban hubs, and success rates have steadily improved over the last decade.

In this case, viable sperm retrieved through TESE were used to fertilise eggs via ICSI. Multiple embryos were created and preserved through cryopreservation, allowing the couple to plan pregnancies years apart without repeating the entire treatment cycle.

One of the quiet revolutions in fertility care is embryo freezing. It reduces physical strain, lowers costs over time, and gives couples flexibility, especially women who may not wish to undergo repeated hormonal stimulation.

Clinicians tell THE WEEK that frozen embryo transfers today offer success rates comparable to, and in some cases better than, fresh transfers. "For couples facing emotionally and financially demanding fertility journeys, this can be the difference between one chance and several," says a leading gynaecologist and ART expert based in Mumbai.

Stories like these also highlight a deeper issue, that of the persistent stigma around male infertility. In India, infertility is still overwhelmingly framed as a 'womens issue', even when medical evidence points elsewhere. Men often delay testing, and couples lose precious years before reaching appropriate care.

Public health experts argue that awareness is equally crucial, just as is technology. Early diagnosis, timely referral, and open conversations could significantly reduce the emotional toll of infertility.

What this case ultimately demonstrates is not a miracle, but momentum. With the right diagnosis, counselling, and access to advanced reproductive care, conditions once labelled irreversible are increasingly manageable. For couples navigating infertility, especially where male factors are involved, the message is clear that a diagnosis is no longer a full stop. Sometimes, its just the beginning of a longer, more hopeful sentence.
For decades, surgery has relied on flat screens, static scans and repeated glances away from the operating table.

That paradigm is now beginning to shift, with spatial computing technologies like Vision Pro FX making their way into Indian operating rooms.

According to Dr Pradeep Rao, director, urology at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai, the technology marks a significant leap in how surgeons visualise anatomy and make intraoperative decisions.

The entry of spatial computing into the operating room marks a major leap forward, says Dr Rao. By blending digital information into the surgeons field of view, Vision Pro FX helps doctors visualise data in real time without losing focus on the patient.

One of the biggest advantages of Vision Pro FX is its ability to generate real-time 3D visualisations of organs, blood vessels and tumours. Surgeons can examine complex anatomical structures before and even during procedures, reducing reliance on mental reconstruction from two-dimensional scans.

It allows surgeons to examine 3D models of organs and blood vessels, helping them understand complex structures more clearly and reducing guesswork, Dr Rao explains.

For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH

This is particularly relevant in specialties such as urology, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and orthopaedics, where millimetre-level precision can determine outcomes.

Another shift is the move away from physical interaction with monitors, keyboards or paper records inside the operating theatre. Vision Pro FX allows hands-free access to scans, lab reports and surgical checklists, helping surgeons maintain sterility while staying informed.

Surgeons can view scans or reports without turning away from the patient or touching external screens, says Dr Rao. This supports better focus and helps maintain sterility in the operating room.

Beyond live procedures, the technology is increasingly being used for pre-surgical planning and simulation. Using patient-specific data, surgeons can rehearse complex procedures in a virtual environment before stepping into the OT.

This is especially useful in complex cases where accuracy is critical, Dr Rao notes. Being able to rehearse a procedure beforehand can significantly improve surgical confidence and outcomes.

Vision Pro FX is also changing how young doctors learn. Instead of watching surgeries on distant screens, trainees can observe procedures from an immersive, surgeon-level perspective, while senior doctors guide them in real time. Junior doctors gain a deeper understanding compared to traditional video feeds, and senior surgeons can guide them more effectively, experts tell THE WEEK.

With multiple data streams integrated into a single visual interface, the operating room itself becomes more streamlined.

Doctors believe that this can have downstream benefits for patients as well. Improved focus and coordination in the OT can translate into shorter recovery times and a reduced risk of complications, says a practicing neurosurgeon from Wockhardt hospital in Mumbai.

While still in its early adoption phase, spatial computing is increasingly being viewed as a natural progression in surgical care rather than a futuristic add-on. Vision Pro FX is transforming the operating theatre into a smarter, safer and more connected space, Dr Rao says. It has the potential to significantly improve precision and surgical outcomes.

As Indian hospitals invest in advanced surgical technologies, tools like Vision Pro FX could signal a broader shift, one where surgeons no longer work around screens, but within an integrated digital environment built around the patient.
ArcelorMittal has unveiled three new renewable energy projects with a combined nominal solar and wind capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) in India, representing an total expenditure of about $900m.

The first project is a 36 megawatt (MW) solar plant in Amaravati, Maharashtra, expected to cut roughly 0.04 million tonnes (mt) of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) per year with completion targeted in the first half (H1) of 2027.

In Bikaner, Rajasthan, the company plans to build a 400MW solar facility coupled with 500MWh of battery storage, aiming to reduce CO 2 emissions by around 0.65mt annually. This projects completion is slated for H1 2028.

A third project in Bachau, Gujarat, will comprise 250MW of wind facility, 300MW of solar facility, and 300 megawatt hour (MWh) of integrated battery storage. This project is expected to avoid about 0.9mt of CO 2 each year. It is also due for completion in H1 2028.

Once operational, these projects will add 1GW to ArcelorMittals nominal renewable capacity in India, raising its total in the country to 2GW and its global portfolio to 3.3GW.

The electricity generated from all the projects will power AMNS India, ArcelorMittals 60/40 joint venture (JV) with Nippon Steel.

ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal said: With these new projects, we are doubling our renewable energy capacity in India, providing a secure supply of clean energy to our Indian steelmaking operations and strengthening our global footprint in clean power.

Our approach is to invest in projects that are sustainable, economically sound, and aligned with our ambition to make a meaningful contribution to the energy transition. These investments show how climate responsibility and business performance can go hand in hand.

Together with the initial 1GW renewables project in India, which began supplying clean power to AMNS India earlier this year, the combined annual CO 2 reductions from all projects are expected to reach 4mt.

ArcelorMittal is also advancing renewable energy developments in Brazil and Argentina through JV partnerships.

When fully operational, the companys projects in India, Brazil, and Argentina will collectively provide 3.3GW of power generation capacity.

"ArcelorMittal announces $900m renewable energy projects in India" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Congress leader Rahul Gandhis speech at the Hertie School in Berlin has drawn a sharp retort from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused him of uniting anti-India forces abroad.

In his speech, Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged that the BJP was proposing the "elimination of the Constitution" and vowed to create a system of opposition resistance that would succeed in removing the party from power.

Hitting back, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Rahul and the Congress want "chaos and unrest in Indian democracy."

From fighting the Indian state to threatening anarchy... Rahul Gandhi's Congress, with his ideological patron George Soros, wants chaos and unrest in Indian democracy, Bhandari said in a post on X.

Rahul Gandhi says-" We think people will fight with each other, we think India will fail"



Can a man who loves Bharat want India to fail?



Rahul Gandhi in Germany says he thinks:



- People will fight each other

-India will fail

- Unrest will happen



From Fighting Indian state, pic.twitter.com/1Fg6n2pgNT  Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) December 23, 2025

He further accused the Raebareli MP of going abroad and uniting anti-India forces.

Congress hates Indian democracy. Congress hates Bharat's progress. Rahul Gandhi's Congress wants anarchy! said Bhandari.

BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla tore into Gandhi, calling him the "leader of propaganda, 'paryatan' (tourism), 'palayan' (migration)," adding that he has "perfected the art of insulting the country."

Poonawalla alleged that Gandhi has an agenda to "meet anti-India Soros' agents".

"Once again, Rahul Gandhi has proven that he is not the Leader of the Opposition, but a Leader of Propaganda, Leader of 'Paryatan,' and Leader of 'Palayan.' He makes allegations and runs away. Rahul Gandhi has perfected the art of insulting our country, he told ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi | On statements made by Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Germany, BJP leader Shahzad Poonawalla says, "Once again Rahul Gandhi has proven that he is not the Leader of Opposition but a Leader of Propaganda, Leader of 'Paryatan', and Leader of 'Palayan'. pic.twitter.com/QSL6f7uOyy  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

Union Minister of State and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje lashed out at Gandhi, calling him "an anti-India leader."

"Rahul Gandhi is not the Leader of the Opposition but an anti-India leader who goes abroad and speaks against the nation. What does he aim to gain by doing this? He still behaves like a child, not a leader," Karandlaje said.

Earlier, in his speech, Gandhi said the BJP had launched a full-scale assault and captured the institutional framework of the country, using it as a tool to build political power.

"What the BJP is proposing, essentially, is the elimination of the Constitution. The elimination of the idea of equality between states, the elimination of the idea of equality between languages and religions, and the elimination of the central core of the Constitution, which is that every individual has the same value," he said.

The Congress has shared an hour-long video of his speech on X.
Calling on young lawyers to look beyond courtroom victories, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday urged graduating law students to see themselves as nation-builders entrusted with strengthening Indias constitutional foundations and not merely as case-builders focused on winning disputes.

Delivering the convocation address at the Seventh Convocation Ceremony of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, the Chief Justice said the legal profession occupies a pivotal role at a time when India is modernising faster than its institutions can comfortably adapt. A case-builder concerns himself with the dispute of the day. A nation-builder is concerned with what todays dispute does to tomorrows society, he said, underlining the broader responsibility of lawyers in a constitutional democracy.

Describing the Constitution as an unfinished blueprint rather than a static monument, the Chief Justice observed that while courts interpret the law and institutions give it structure, it is young professionals who ultimately give constitutional values life through daily practice. Each generation, he said, inherits the Republic with the responsibility to shape what it becomes next.

The Chief Justice noted that contemporary legal disputes increasingly defy traditional categories, with contracts involving algorithms, property extending to digital assets, families spanning multiple jurisdictions, and environmental cases becoming races against time. In such a scenario, he said, lawyers are expected not only to argue cases but also to interpret social consequences, advise responsibly, innovate solutions, and humanise the law.

Emphasising that judicial reform cannot be driven from the Bench alone, the Chief Justice said that ideas such as mediation, court modernisation, and a unified judicial policy would remain theoretical unless carried forward by the younger generation. Words spoken from the Bench acquire meaning only when young minds convert them into action, he said, adding that students represent the judiciarys most valuable human resource.

Drawing a clear ethical distinction, the Chief Justice warned against reducing legal practice to technical compliance. A nation-builder asks what kind of system is being strengthened by the way a case is won, he said, cautioning that procedural success without fairness risks eroding legitimacy and public trust in the justice system.

Outlining what he described as the foundations of a meaningful legal career, the Chief Justice identified three guiding pillars: integrity, compassion, and curiosity.

Integrity, he said, is not just a personal virtue but the institutional backbone of the justice system. He cautioned young lawyers about early-career moments when ethical shortcuts may appear procedurally permissible but morally unsettling. Such decisions, he said, shape not only individual reputations but also the credibility of the legal system itself. Cunning may bring applause for a season, but integrity earns credibility for a lifetime, he observed.

On compassion, the Chief Justice stressed that empathy is not antithetical to law but often essential to its proper functioning. Recalling experiences from both the Bar and the Bench, he said rigid adherence to procedure can sometimes prolong suffering, while timely sensitivity can preserve dignity without compromising principle. The law exists for people, not paperwork, he said, adding that unseen acts of fairness are what sustain faith in justice.

The third pillar, curiosity, was described as critical in a rapidly changing world where law increasingly intersects with technology, science, and public policy. Legal education, he said, must be viewed as a foundation rather than a finish line, warning that lawyers who stop learning quickly become irrelevant. He urged students to master technology while ensuring that human judgment remains central to justice delivery.



In a lighter moment, the Chief Justice reflected on campus life at RGNUL, recalling student rituals and informal traditions that form the emotional core of legal education. Such memories, he said, serve as reminders that law is ultimately a human enterprise rooted in lived experience.



Concluding his address, the Chief Justice urged graduates to build careers anchored in integrity, compassion, and curiosity, so that future generations may inherit a stronger and more trustworthy legal system.
Following a complaint from the Kerala State Lotteries authorities, Kerala Police have arrested a 43-year-old man, Benny Thomas, for allegedly running a private lottery to fund his wifes cancer treatment and clear mounting debts.

Benny, a Gulf returnee, had fallen into a debt crisis after multiple business ventures failed. He initially went to Saudi Arabia as a driver and worked there for 35 years. In 2015, he started a spare parts shop in Riyadh and also invested in farming back home in Kerala, planning to take up full-time farming after returning. To finance these ventures, he reportedly took loans worth Rs 55 lakh.

However, the Covid-19 lockdown disrupted his business and premium payments. By the time restrictions eased, Bennys sponsor in Saudi Arabia had died, and his son took over. Just as things appeared to stabilise, the new sponsor cut off contact. Unable to locate him or renew his visa and documents, Benny was forced to shut down his business. Around the same time, his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

As treatment began, debts mounted rapidly. In a desperate attempt to raise funds, Benny tried to sell his house and land, but the sale did not materialise. Meanwhile, his bank started proceedings to attach the property. In a last-ditch effort to clear liabilities before the bank took possession, Benny explored alternative ways to raise moneyleading to the idea of a coupon-based lottery system.

Kerala, a lottery-obsessed southern state, has a government monopoly on lotteries. The state runs seven official daily lotteries, with the budget estimate for lottery revenue in 202526 pegged at Rs 14,121.14 crore.

As part of the alleged private lottery, Benny printed 10,000 coupons priced at Rs 1,500 each. He announced his 3,300 sq.ft house and 26 cents of land as the first prize. A used Thar was listed as the second prize, a used Maruti Celerio as the third, and a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle as the fourth prize. Coupon sales reportedly began in March, with the draw initially scheduled for May 25. Benny had assured buyers that if the property was sold independently, their money would be refunded.

When he failed to sell enough coupons, the draw was postponed. After selling around 80 per cent of the coupons, Benny decided to hold the draw on December 20 at the parish hall of a nearby church.

However, on December 19, acting on a complaint from the Kannur District Lottery Office, police searched Bennys house and seized prize coupons bearing serial numbers from 001 to 10,000, along with the counterfoils stored in a cardboard box. Benny was arrested and charged under Section 297 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with the operation or maintenance of unauthorised lottery offices. The offence carries a punishment of up to six months imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Police also invoked Sections 4(c) and 7(3) of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998. Section 4(c) states that the sale of lottery tickets by unauthorised individuals who are not recognised agents of the State is illegal, while Section 7(3) prescribes penaltiesincluding rigorous imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or bothfor unauthorised lottery agents.
Hundreds of activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on Tuesday, following the killing of a Hindu man in the neighboring country.

Security has been beefed up outside the embassy, with three layers of barricades in place. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed to maintain order.

Reports said police struggled to keep the demonstrators at bay as they attempted to climb over barricades while denouncing the Bangladesh government with slogans, raised banners, and placards.

#WATCH | Delhi | Protest by members of Vishva Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations continues near the Bangladesh High Commission over the atrocities against Hindus and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh



A protester says," Hindus are being killed there." pic.twitter.com/pZ8RYdPpYB  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

Police also placed a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus across the road ahead of the barricades and issued repeated warnings against creating a law and order situation.

The protesters demanded accountability from Bangladeshi authorities, with some calling for justice and the protection of minorities. They chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," "Yunus Sarkar Hosh Mein Aao," and "Hindu Hatya Band Karo."

VIDEO | Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) holds protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission to condemn the reported incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/0balnWVDte  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2025

Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu factory worker, was lynched and burned to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in Baluka, Mymensingh, on December 19, sparking widespread protests and condemnation.

On Monday, Bangladesh expressed grave concern over attacks on its diplomatic missions in India, summoning the Indian High Commissioner to protest incidents in New Delhi and Siliguri. Dhaka also suspended visa services at its high commission in New Delhi and its mission in Tripura amid mounting tensions between the two countries.

India, however, dismissed allegations of inadequate security, stating that the New Delhi protest was brief and posed no significant threat.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP, accusing it of capturing the country's institutional framework to build political power.

Speaking at the Hertie School in Berlin, he also alleged that the BJP was proposing the "elimination of the Constitution," which grants equal rights to all.

"What the BJP is proposing, essentially, is the elimination of the Constitution. The elimination of the idea of equality between states, the elimination of the idea of equality between languages and religions, and the elimination of the central core of the Constitution, which is that every individual has the same value," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

Watch: Shri @RahulGandhi speaks at the Hertie School - 'Politics is the art of listening' | Berlin, Germany. https://t.co/304NdurE0R  Congress (@INCIndia) December 22, 2025

Alleging that the Centre had "weaponized" the investigating agencies, the Congress leader claimed a quid pro quo, in which businessmen in India financially support the BJP rather than opposition parties.

"There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, the ED, and the CBI have been weaponized. The ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against people who oppose them," the MP said.

"If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. The BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the Opposition has," he added.

Gandhi, however, vowed to create a system of opposition resistance that would succeed in removing the BJP from power.

"We will deal with it, and we will create a methoda system of opposition resistance that will succeed. But we are not fighting the BJP. You have to understand that we are fighting their capture of the Indian institutional structure," he said.
After the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) concluded in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released draft electoral rolls. As expected, lakhs of names were removed from each of the state, raising concerns among many voters.

In Madhya Pradesh, 42 lakh names were removed while in Chhattisgarh, 27 lakh were deleted. In Kerala, 22 lakh names were omitted.

The Election Commission of India completed the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Madhya Pradesh from 4 November to 18 December 2025, with over 5.31 crore electors submitting enumeration forms. pic.twitter.com/cV3TAzMjCr  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2025

Around 5.31 crore voters submitted their enumeration forms in Madhya Pradesh. Around 8.46 lakh were deceased voters while 31.5 lakh had moved out or were untraceable. Another 2.77 lakh voters had multiple registrations.

In Chhattisgarh, 1.84 lakh voters submitted enumeration forms. Deceased voters amounted to 6.4 lakh while 19.1 lakh had moved out or were not traceable. Around 1.8 lakh registered at multiple locations.

Kerala saw submission of 2.54 lakh enumeration forms. Around 6.5 lakh voters were deceased while 14.61 lakh moved out of were untraceable. More than 1.36 lakh voters had enrolled at multiple locations.

How to check your name in the list and to raise complaint to ECI?

Voters can access the draft electoral roll from ECINET mobile app and voters.eci.gov.in website.

Those who have their names removed from the draft electoral roll can submit a Form 6 and an affidavit to re-enroll. Citizens who are abroad should submit Form 6A.

Complaints will be considered till January 22. The forms can be downloaded form the ECI website or accessed from Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

During the hearing, voters with complaints can appeal to the District Collector within 15 days. They can also approach the Chief Electoral Officer within 30 days.
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to the former BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidynathan Shankar suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment.

The High Court directed Sengar not to go within a 5 km radius of the victim's house and not to threaten her or her mother.

The court also directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh with three sureties of the same amount.

"Violation of any condition would lead to cancellation of bail," the court said.

2017 Unnao rape case | Delhi High Court suspends the sentence of former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The High Court has directed that Sengar will not enter the 5-kilometre area where the victim resides in Delhi.  ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2025

The suspension of the sentence will remain in effect during the pending appeal in the case. Sengar will also be required to surrender his passport and report to the police station every Monday.

The Unnao rape case

BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was accused of rape in 2017 by a minor girl in Unnao.

The victim attempted suicide outside the chief minister's house after she was denied justice.

There was national outrage when it was reported that the victim's father died in police custody and that she was also involved in a suspicious car accident.

The rape case and the related cases were transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the direction of the Supreme Court on August 1, 2019.

The former MLA was convicted of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25 lakh. He was also found guilty of orchestrating the death of the victim's father.

Sengars appeal in the case of the custodial death of the survivors father is also pending. He sought a suspension of the sentence on the ground that he has already spent a substantial time in jail.
A fast-track court in Uttar Pradesh rejected the state government's plea to withdraw charges against the accused in 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq mob lynching case. The court also ordered to expedite the trial in the case by conducting hearings daily.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge's court in Surajpur rejected the Uttar Pradesh government's plea seeking withdrawal of charges against the accused in the 2015 lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri. The court reportedly called the state government's application "baseless".

Yusuf Saifi, counsel for Akhlaq's family, said, "The court has rejected the state government's application to withdraw all charges against the accused in the Akhlaq lynching case and ordered fast-tracking of the trial with daily hearings," PTI reported. The court will next hear the matter on January 6.

Mohammad Akhlaq, a resident of Bisahda village in Greater Noida, was killed in September 2015 after a mob attacked him at his residence over rumours that he had beef during Eid that year and also stored it in his house.

Citing "maintenance of social harmony", the Yogi Adityanath government moved the court seeking permission to withdraw the case against all the accused. The application was filed by the assistant district government advocate (criminal) following directions from the state government and the joint director of prosecution, PTI reported.

Uttar Pradesh police arrested 18, including three minors, in connection with the lynching. One of the accused passed away in 2016, while the remaining 14 accused are currently out on bail, Live Law reported.
Ushering in the New Year may not be as pleasant for some voters in West Bengal with more than 10 lakh hearing notices being issued and 22 lakh more remaining in the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Out of the 7.66 crore electorate, 7.08 crore voters have been included in the SIR draft list released on December 16. Around 32 lakh voters, who will now get hearing notices, will have to produce one of the 11 relevant identity documents to prove their citizenship status or progeny links to the 2002 SIR list. Around 58 lakh names have been left out of the draft voter list.

Mamata Banerjee has raised serious concerns over the ongoing SIR Phase 2 in West Bengal, accusing the Election Commission of acting under BJP's influence. With discrepancies in the voter lists and many voters missing from her own constituency, the West Bengal Chief Minister is pic.twitter.com/L6CjtgjTnx  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) December 23, 2025

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders led by minister Chandrima Bhattacharjee met West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal on Tuesday to address issues related to voter names left out of the draft voter list. Problems of the common man have to be solved. Mere lip service will not help. Instructions need to be given to solve these, said Chandrima Bhattacharjee.

Concerns of TMC include:

1. Voters with logical discrepancies like spelling mistakes on enumeration forms should not get notices.

2. If progeny links to the 2002 SIR list have been accepted by the EC, why should voters furnish progeny related documents?

3. If 11 documents are accepted by EC, why should Aadhar card not be accepted the 12th document it was accepted during the Bihar SIR exercise as per Supreme Court(SC) instructions? TMC says all the 11 documents are proof of identity and not citizenship.

4. Hearing centres are 30-40km away in villages which is impractical for people and instead should be conducted in government offices like gram panchayats, municipalities and borough offices which are closer for people.

5. Election Commission (EC) says door-to-door voting will be conducted for senior citizens, but there are no specific instructions as yet. Also, many who are not 65 years old but are unable to move due to health reasons. Why is EC not treating everyone as senior citizens and keeping hearing centres close by for their benefit?

6. District officials and BLOs have to conduct verifications, which creates undue additional pressure on BLOs, while senior officials are not taking the onus.

7. Guardians of overseas voters have filled the enumeration forms on the latters behalf. How can those living overseas come for the hearing suddenly? In that case those guardians should be allowed to go for hearing with clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in place.

8. How did EC decide that Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) pre-election baseline survey should be conducted in 81 out of 294 assembly constituencies by a private agency? Why are these constituencies being singled out?

9. Public should not be harassed. Who will provide money for voters to travel long distances to hearing locations? We will take stricter measures if people are harassed.

10. Many voters who are alive have been mapped as dead in the draft SIR list which is derogatory.

11. Voters who have not shifted constituencies but have been marked as shifted.

12. SOPs for migrants workers in other states who are unable to come for hearing and risk losing their daily livelihood

13. List of new voters filling up form 6, 7 and 8 should be revealed

At least 1.36 crore enumeration forms have discrepancies with spelling mistakes of their progeny links or their own names, which can be corrected with the help of Booth Level Officers (BLO). Hearing will take place in District Magistrates (DM), Block Development Office (BDO), Sub-Divisional Office (SDO), government schools and colleges. However, exam schedules of students will not be affected.

Officials including Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO) are being trained for the hearing while micro observers will also be present during these sessions. New voters are also submitting their forms which the EC is also working to include in the final voter list before the 2026 Assembly elections. The second phase of SIR has to conclude before February 2026 when the final SIR list will be published.
At least one person died on Sunday night (local time) after a major collision between two cruise ships on Egypt's Nile River.

The collision took place between the Royal Beau Rivage, a deluxe river boat, and the Opera, a regular river boat, nearly 2km away from the Esna Locka lock and dam system on the Nile River that regulates water levels in the stretch between Aswan and Luxor.

According to a local media report, the Opera, capable of carrying nearly 200 passengers, had just crossed the Esna Lock in its journey from Aswan to Luxor.

When it was nearly 2km away from the Lock, it approached the Royal Beau Rivage, which houses 71 cabins and is capable of carrying more than 140 passengers.

Denise Ruggeri si stava preparando per andare a cena quando, allimprovviso, un impatto violentissimo con un battello ha sfondato la prua della Royal Beau Rivage, una delle navi da crociera che solcano le acque del Nilo. La collisione e stata devastante: la donna, 47 anni, pic.twitter.com/aej31lfe8u  Repubblica (@repubblica) December 22, 2025

The collision took place because the captain of the Royal Beau Rivage allegedly made a sudden, sharp turn to one side as it approached the Opera from the opposite sideviolating Egypt's river rule, as per which vessels (such as the Opera) travelling in the direction of the water currents are to be given priority.

It was this sudden turn that allegedly caused the "extremely violent" crash, leading to Denise Ruggeri, a 47-year-old Italian tourist aboard the Royal Beau Rivage, falling down in her room and sustaining a serious lung injury. Though she was rushed to a hospital in Esna, she did not survive, as per a Daily Mail report.

Three cabins of the Royal Beau Rivage have also been destroyed, while the Opera has suffered damage to its bow.

Passengers on both vesselsmostly touristswere soon evacuated, with the remainder of their journeys to take place on land.

While the incident temporarily suspended river traffic on the Nile, vessels resumed movement the next day. The captain of the Royal Beau Rivage has also been suspended, with an investigation launched to further probe possible maritime violations.
ArcelorMittal has unveiled three new renewable energy projects with a combined nominal solar and wind capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) in India, representing an total expenditure of about $900m.

The first project is a 36 megawatt (MW) solar plant in Amaravati, Maharashtra, expected to cut roughly 0.04 million tonnes (mt) of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) per year with completion targeted in the first half (H1) of 2027.

In Bikaner, Rajasthan, the company plans to build a 400MW solar facility coupled with 500MWh of battery storage, aiming to reduce CO 2 emissions by around 0.65mt annually. This projects completion is slated for H1 2028.

A third project in Bachau, Gujarat, will comprise 250MW of wind facility, 300MW of solar facility, and 300 megawatt hour (MWh) of integrated battery storage. This project is expected to avoid about 0.9mt of CO 2 each year. It is also due for completion in H1 2028.

Once operational, these projects will add 1GW to ArcelorMittals nominal renewable capacity in India, raising its total in the country to 2GW and its global portfolio to 3.3GW.

The electricity generated from all the projects will power AMNS India, ArcelorMittals 60/40 joint venture (JV) with Nippon Steel.

ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal said: With these new projects, we are doubling our renewable energy capacity in India, providing a secure supply of clean energy to our Indian steelmaking operations and strengthening our global footprint in clean power.

Our approach is to invest in projects that are sustainable, economically sound, and aligned with our ambition to make a meaningful contribution to the energy transition. These investments show how climate responsibility and business performance can go hand in hand.

Together with the initial 1GW renewables project in India, which began supplying clean power to AMNS India earlier this year, the combined annual CO 2 reductions from all projects are expected to reach 4mt.

ArcelorMittal is also advancing renewable energy developments in Brazil and Argentina through JV partnerships.

When fully operational, the companys projects in India, Brazil, and Argentina will collectively provide 3.3GW of power generation capacity.

"ArcelorMittal announces $900m renewable energy projects in India" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand.




After a sudden eruption of clashes in Aleppo that threatened to unravel Syrias already fragile transition, the army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces agreed to de-escalate late last night. The Syrian defence ministry issued a general order instructing its troops to halt fire and stop targeting SDF positions, while the SDF asked its fighters to cease responding to attacks, openly referring to ongoing de-escalation contacts taking place behind the scenes to contain the crisis. The speed with which both sides moved towards a ceasefire underlined how precarious Syrias current security arrangements have become, with both sides scrambling to rescue a faltering political agreement.

The clashes, described by independent analysts as the worst seen in the area this year, were concentrated in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods of Aleppo. These districts are predominantly Kurdish and occupy a sensitive position within one of Syrias most important cities. Even as control over Aleppo shifted repeatedly during the war, these areas remained under Kurdish control. Before the latest violence, security there was maintained through joint checkpoints staffed by both SDF and government troops. Fighting between these forces, therefore, signalled a complete breakdown in local trust and coordination.

Residents spoke of terrifying scenes as heavy artillery, mortars and tank fire struck residential streets. The scale of the bombardment prompted the Aleppo governor to announce the temporary shutdown of schools, universities and government offices in the city. Reports suggested that at least three people died and more than thirty were wounded during a single day of fighting.

The responsibility for the clashes was hotly contested. The Syrian government accused the SDF of launching sudden attacks on army positions and shelling residential areas. The SDF strongly denied these claims, insisting that government troops initiated the violence by firing tanks and artillery into Kurdish neighbourhoods and attacking one of their checkpoints.

The immediate backdrop to the clashes was a high-level visit to Damascus by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin earlier that day. Their presence signalled renewed Turkish pressure on the Syrian authorities to enforce the integration of the SDF into the national army.

Ankara views the SDF as a serious national security threat because of its links to the Kurdistan Workers Party and has made Syrian stability conditional on neutralising the Kurdish force.

At the heart of the crisis lies a looming deadline attached to an agreement signed on March 10 between the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the SDF. Under the deal, the SDF was to integrate into the Syrian army by the end of the year, leaving about a week when the fighting erupted. While both sides formally accepted the principle of integration, they remain deadlocked over how it should be carried out.

The SDF, which served as the United States main partner in the fight against the Islamic State, retains significant leverage. It controls much of Syrias oil production, large wheat reserves and detention facilities holding thousands of Islamic State fighters. The SDF units prefer to stay together, preserving their command structure and the autonomy they gained during the war. Turkey and Damascus fear that it would create a state within a state. They insist that SDF fighters be dispersed among different units in the army, which would effectively dismantle the Kurdish command structure.

The diplomatic atmosphere has been further poisoned by mutual accusations. During his visit, Fidan said the SDF had no real intention of honouring the agreement. He also sought to add a geopolitical dimension by accusing the SDF of coordinating with Israel, an allegation designed to undermine Kurdish legitimacy in the wider Arab region. The SDF, for its part, fears that disarming without firm guarantees would leave it exposed to the same government forces it now confronts.

The Aleppo violence has become a critical stress test for the post-Assad transition and for President al-Sharaas leadership. The clashes exposed the limits of his authority, with critics describing him as a sovereign in name only who struggles to control the diverse factions operating under the state banner.

For the SDF, the stakes are existential. Turkey has openly warned that failure to meet the integration deadline could trigger military action and says preparations are in place if diplomacy collapses. A Turkish incursion would almost certainly derail the peace process and risk drawing in other actors, including the US, which continues to back the SDF.

Fighting in a densely populated and ethnically mixed city such as Aleppo also raises the danger of sectarian escalation. If violence takes on a communal dimension, it could quickly spiral beyond control, echoing the chaos seen in other regions earlier in the transition.
Bangladesh's interim government head, Muhammad Yunus, on Monday reiterated his commitment to hold general elections on February 12, despite rising tensions in the country following the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

The nation is eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights, which were stolen by the autocratic regime, Yunus told US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, during a telephonic conversation.

In a post on X, Yunuss office said the conversation, which lasted around half an hour, focused on trade and tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the US, the upcoming election, the country's democratic transition, and the murder of Hadi.

Election Will Be Held on Time, Chief Adviser Tells US Special Envoy



DHAKA, December 22: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday reiterated his commitment to holding general elections on February 12.



"The nation is eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights which  Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) December 22, 2025

According to the post, Gor, who is also the US Ambassador-designate to India, congratulated Yunus for his leadership during the recent tariff negotiations. The US had reduced reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi goods to 20 percent following the discussions.

Yunus also reportedly told the US envoy that supporters of the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, were attempting to disrupt the electoral process and incite violence.

Hasina has been living in exile in India ever since she was removed from office following massive youth-led agitations in Bangladesh.

"The Chief Adviser noted that supporters of the ousted autocratic regime were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process, and that their fugitive leader was inciting violence. However, he said the Interim Government was 'fully prepared' to deal with any challenges," the post on X said.

"We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair, and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable," Yunus said.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the call.
Bangladesh is bracing for the return of Tarique Rahman, an anti-India leader who flies home after a 17-year exile. This marks a significant milestone in the poll-bound country as the arrival of Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP, could alter political equations in the country.

Tarique Rahman is the son of former Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Rahmans arrival also comes as his mother, chairperson of the BNP, is virtually out of mainstream politics due to her waning health. He has been leading the party in exile due to legal troubles, which include conviction by courts during the Sheikh Hasina government on multiple charges, including corruption, bribery, money laundering, illegal acquisition of wealth, and grenade attacks.

However, since the fall of the Hasina government, the legal hurdles before Rahman have been cleared, paving the way for his comeback. Though it was expected that he would return home in November, Rahman is said to have delayed his trip by over a month due to security issues plaguing the country.

Anti-India stance

Tarique Rahman is said to be vehemently anti-India and has vocalised his stance on several issues concerning foreign policy and the Teesta water-sharing agreement. Interestingly, Rahman is also not in favour of adopting a close relationship with Pakistan either. Not Dilli, not Pindi, nor any other country. Bangladesh first," he said in May months after the fall of Hasina. His arrival also comes at a crucial time when radical Islamic groups are triggering chaos in the country.

Future

Bangladesh had two main parties: Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party. With the Awami League banned from taking part in elections, the route has been cleared for the return of the BNP. However, radical parties are attempting to delay the elections, hoping to reduce the BNP's support base and allow themselves to flourish.

If the BNP wins, Tariq could become Prime Minister, especially since he has been trying to portray himself and his party as the biggest advocates for the restoration of democracy. He has already outlined his campaign and announced programs to be implemented if he wins the election. At a recent party event, he said that "only democracy can lead the country out of this crisis, and it is the responsibility of every BNP worker to strengthen the foundations of democracy."
Bangladesh is reportedly reshuffling important positions in the advisory council of the Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, right ahead of its upcoming elections.

Sources who spoke to tabloid daily Manabzamin confirmed that the changes will be announced on Tuesday.

The report said the current Home Affairs Advisor, Lt. J. Ob. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury may be replaced by the current Security Advisor, Dr. Khalilur Rahman.

The sources claimed the changes are being made following the killing of the Inqilab Manch spokesperson, Sharif Osman Hadi. There has been a growing demand, from groups like the Inquilab Manch, for the resignation of the Home Affairs advisor due to the council's failure to arrest people involved in the incident.

Right after the interim government took power, following the deposition of former leader Shiekh Hasina, Brigadier General (retd.) Sakhawat Hossain was given the responsibility of Home Affairs Advisor. He was removed from the position after he made comments on the Awami League.

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury will continue to serve as the Minister of Agriculture.

The special assistant to the Chief Adviser Khoda Bakhsh Chowdry will also be relieved of his duties, according to reports.

The killing of Hadi has led to a law and order crisis in the country. A mob set fire to two left-leaning media houses, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, and also targetted cultural organisations.

Some high-ranking police officers will also be reshuffled just ahead of the elections.

The police were under scrutiny for their failure to prevent some of the mob incidents, including the lynching of the minority man Dipu Das Chandra in Mymensingh.

Top police positions like the commissioners of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) will be subject to reshuffling.

Police officials have reported that the number of citizens who are breaking the law have increased, leading to a number of violent incidents. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam told Ajker Patrika said that the law and order crisis could be normalised by force alone.

The country is currently going through a major unrest following the death of Hadi. Motaleb Sikder, the divisional leader of the National Workers' Party (NCP) affiliate organization in Khulna, was shot in the head on Monday.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus ordered the immediate arrest of those involved in criminal activities and the murder of Osman Hadi at a high-level meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna last Sunday
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday visited Sri Lanka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoy and met with Sri Lankan leadership. Jaishankar announced $450 million as a reconstruction package to the island nation and assured India's steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka's rebuilding post-Cyclone Ditwah.

The external affairs minister is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka to hold talks with the Sri Lankan leadership and assess the situation in the country post-Cyclone Ditwah. His visit underscores India's Neighbourhood First Policy in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu, which was launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

"As your closest neighbour and in line with our Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, it was only natural that India step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis. We have done so when you were going through economic difficulties as well. In the case of Cyclone Ditwah, you would appreciate that India has also been a strong advocate of cooperative disaster response. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was a notable initiative that we led in that regard," Jaishankar informed the media after meeting President Dissanayake.

Stating that he had a cordial meeting with President Dissanayake, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said, "The letter from Prime Minister Modi that I handed over builds on our First Responder role and commits a reconstruction package of $450 million to Sri Lanka. Our talks centred around how expeditiously this commitment can be delivered."

The assistance package proposed by India includes $350 million in concessional Lines of Credit and $100 million in grants. This package is being finalised in close consultations with the government of Sri Lanka.

Indias relief and assistance mission - Operation Sagar Bandhu - commenced immediately after Cyclone Ditwah wreaked havoc and made landfall. India's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and another ship, INS Udaygiri, were present at Colombo and delivered relief material. India also deployed helicopters - including Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force, which were active for a period of more than two weeks in Sri Lanka.

An 80-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) contingent arrived simultaneously and conducted rescue and relief operations. The Indian Army set up a field hospital with 85 medical personnel near Kandy, giving emergency care to more than 8,000 people. Two modular BHISHM emergency care units were also airlifted to Sri Lanka and utilised.

Given the scale of damage, restoring connectivity was clearly an immediate priority in Sri Lanka, which was discussed during Dissanayake's telephonic conversation with Modi after the deluge swept over 20 districts in the country. A large number of Army engineers erected a Bailey bridge transported by C-17 aircraft at Killinochchi. "One more Bailey bridge at Chilaw is currently under construction. Overall, Operation Sagar Bandhu delivered over 1,100 tons of relief material, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing and water purification kits. About 14.5 tons of medicines and medical equipment were also provided. Yet another 60 tons of equipment was brought to Sri Lanka to assist the relief operations," Jaishankar noted.

Recognising the urgency of rebuilding, Jaishankar said that India decided to engage with the Sri Lankan government to address their priorities. India's assistance will cover sectors worst affected by the cyclone, including rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity; support for the construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged; support for health and education systems, in particular, those that have been damaged by the cyclone; agriculture, including to address possible shortages in the short and medium term and working towards better disaster response and preparedness.

"We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on the people of Sri Lanka must be done in the quickest time possible. We are discussing an effective coordination mechanism for the earliest possible delivery," Jaishankar said.

He also assured that India will ensure tourism traffic to Sri Lanka, as it is heavily dependent on income from the sector.
A letter, purportedly written by a convicted child sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to fellow child predator Larry Nassar, seems to hint that President Donald Trump shared their love of young, nubile girls. The letter was included in the thousands of additional files released by the Justice Department on Tuesday.

The letter was sent on Aug. 13, 2019, according to Huff Post.

In the letter, Epstein seemed to have hinted that he committed suicide, stating he took the short route home. Dear L.N, As you know by now, I have taken the short route home, wrote Epstein. Good luck! We shared one thingour love & caring for young ladies and the hope theyd reach their full potential. Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls, Epstein said.

When a young beauty walked by, he loved to grab snatch, whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system. Life is unfair, Jeffrey seemed to hint.

Nassar was a former doctor for the US women's national gymnastics team who was arrested and charged in 2016 with sexually assaulting at least 265 young women and girls over multiple decades under the guise of medical treatment. He is currently serving his sentence, which includes 60 years for possession of child pornography, an additional 40 to 175 years for sexual assault, and 40 to 125 years for three more counts of the same.

Meanwhile, another revelation concerning Trump included an email from the assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York, who claimed Trump flew on Jeffrey Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported.

He cited flight records they had received the day prior. The email was included in the latest batch of Epstein files the Justice Department made public on Tuesday.

The email stated that Trump was a passenger on Epsteins plane Lolita Express for at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996. These include at least four flights on which Epsteins accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, was also present.

On one of the flights, the only passengers present were Trump, Epstein, and an unnamed 20-year-old. On two other flights, two of the passengers, respectively, were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case, the email states.
Russia has urged Bangladesh to ease tensions with India as soon as possible, emphasising that stable relations between the two neighbours are crucial for regional stability.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin, also urged Dhaka to remember New Delhi's pivotal role in the country's independence in 1971.

"The sooner you reduce the tension... the better. Because, historically, since 1971, when Bangladesh gained independence, it was mostly because of Indian help. And Russia also supported this. Together, India, Bangladesh, and Russia have worked shoulder to shoulder," Khozin said.

Russia Urges Bangladesh To Reduce Tensions With India: 'The Sooner, The Better'



Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin added that neighbouring countries should be guided by mutual trust and confidence.



 @sidhant pic.twitter.com/nzMoSxmDHt  RT_India (@RT_India_news) December 22, 2025

Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have deteriorated significantly since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year following a massive country-wide student protest. Hasina has been living in exile in India ever since her removal from office.

Although Bangladesh is set to conduct a general election in February under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, the country recently witnessed a fresh wave of protests following the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

The Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died at a Singapore hospital on Thursday, days after he was shot in the head.

The protests and violence escalated further with the killing of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh last week.

The brutal lynching of our brave Hindu Brother; Dipu Chandra Das, by a fanatic mob in Mymensingh; Bangladesh, over baseless blasphemy allegations, is a stark reminder of the escalating genocide against Hindus in that country.

Today, I along with thousands in Kolkata marched to pic.twitter.com/qsqkzBZdBB  Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) December 22, 2025

The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents against minority communities in the country after the ouster of Hasina last year.
US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) reiterated a claim he has made more than 20 times since the end of an 88-hour India-Pakistan conflict in May: that he played a big role in stopping it.

New Delhi has often rejected these claims, saying that the stoppage of India-Pakistan hostilities was a bilateral decision involving the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs), and sought by Pakistan.

"I have solved 8 wars. Thailand is starting to shape up with Cambodia, but I think we have it in pretty good shape ... We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India," he told reporters during a press interaction at the White House.

#WATCH | Washington DC | US President Donald Trump says, "... There is tremendous hatred between President Putin and President Zelenskyy... I have solved 8 wars. Thailand is starting to shape up with Cambodia, but I think we have it in pretty good shape... We stopped a potential pic.twitter.com/rJhCCNk9cH  ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2025

"8 planes were shot down," he added, also claiming that Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif had praised him for saving "ten million lives, maybe more".

India, on the other hand, has maintained that its Operation Sindoora series of precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistanwas launched in response to the devastating Pahalgam attack of April 22, which led to the deaths of 26 civilians.

The 88-hour conflict that followed Operation Sindoor saw both sides engaged in cross-border attacks till May 10, when Pakistan's DGMO reportedly requested that the hostilities be ceased.

Trump also said in the press interaction that Thailand was "starting to shape up" with Cambodia, referring to another of the eight nations he allegedly brought peace to. The clashes between the two nations restarted in December after months of a fragile peace since July this year.

"The only war I haven't solved yet is Russia-Ukraine," he lamented, noting that there was "tremendous hatred" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A number of firms have modified their ratings and price targets on shares of Dine Brands Global (NYSE: DIN) recently:

12/15/2025  Dine Brands Global had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/9/2025  Dine Brands Global had its hold (c-) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/3/2025  Dine Brands Global was upgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating.

12/3/2025  Dine Brands Global was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a strong sell rating to a hold rating.

11/6/2025  Dine Brands Global had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $29.00 to $26.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock.

11/4/2025  Dine Brands Global was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a hold rating to a strong sell rating.

10/28/2025  Dine Brands Global was upgraded by analysts at Mizuho to a hold rating.

10/27/2025  Dine Brands Global is now covered by analysts at Mizuho. They set a neutral rating and a $28.00 price target on the stock.

Dine Brands Global Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 23rd will be issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 23rd. Dine Brands Globals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.07%.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Howard M. Berk purchased 4,082 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $24.50 per share, for a total transaction of $100,009.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 41,947 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,027,701.50. This trade represents a 10.78% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Richard J. Dahl purchased 3,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $27.47 per share, with a total value of $98,892.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 3,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $98,892. This trade represents a ? increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders acquired 8,332 shares of company stock worth $220,455. 4.56% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Dine Brands Global, Inc is a leading franchisor and operator of full?service restaurants in the casual dining and breakfast segments. The companys primary brands include IHOP, known for its wide variety of breakfast offerings and pancakes, and Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar, a casual dining concept featuring a range of American entrees, appetizers and cocktails. Through its franchise model, Dine Brands works with independent restaurant owners to develop, market and support both domestic and international locations.

The origins of Dine Brands Global date back to the founding of the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in 1958 in California.

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Enersys (NYSE:ENS  Get Free Report) and JNS (OTCMKTS:JNSH  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Volatility and Risk

Enersys has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, JNS has a beta of 1.16, indicating that its stock price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Enersys and JNS, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Enersys 0 0 5 1 3.17 JNS 0 0 0 0 0.00

Valuation & Earnings

Enersys presently has a consensus target price of $126.00, suggesting a potential downside of 15.37%. Given Enersys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Enersys is more favorable than JNS.

This table compares Enersys and JNSs top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Enersys $3.62 billion 1.52 $363.73 million $8.55 17.41 JNS N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Enersys has higher revenue and earnings than JNS.

Profitability

This table compares Enersys and JNSs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Enersys 9.05% 22.48% 10.42% JNS N/A N/A N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

94.9% of Enersys shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.9% of Enersys shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Enersys beats JNS on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Enersys

(Get Free Report)

EnerSys engages in the provision of stored energy solutions for industrial applications worldwide. It operates in four segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, Specialty, and New Ventures. The Energy Systems segment offers uninterruptible power systems (UPS) applications for computer and computer-controlled systems, as well as telecommunications systems; switchgear and electrical control systems used in industrial facilities and electric utilities, large-scale energy storage, and energy pipelines; integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, data center, and renewable and industrial customers; and thermally managed cabinets and enclosures for electronic equipment and batteries. The Motive Power segment provides power solutions for electric industrial forklifts used in manufacturing, warehousing, and other material handling applications, as well as automated guided vehicles, mining equipment, and diesel locomotive starting and other rail equipment. The Specialty offers batteries for starting, lighting, and ignition applications in automotive and over-the-road trucks; and energy solutions for satellites, spacecraft, commercial aircraft, military land vehicles, aircraft, submarines, ships, and other tactical vehicles, as well as medical devices and equipment. The New Venture segment provides energy storage and management systems for demand charge reduction, utility back-up power, and dynamic fast charging for electric vehicles. The company also offers battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories, and outdoor cabinet enclosures, as well as related after-market and customer-support services for industrial batteries. It sells its products through a network of distributors, independent representatives, and internal sales forces. The company was formerly known as Yuasa, Inc. and changed its name to EnerSys in January 2001. EnerSys was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania.

About JNS

(Get Free Report)

JNS Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electrical design build construction services contractor in the United States. The company is based in Wheeling, Illinois.

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The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) is one of the best hydrogen stocks to buy right now. On December 5, Argus upgraded The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) stock to Buy from Hold.

Argus Upgrades AES (AES) to Buy as Data Center Demand Grows

Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash

Independently of the analyst action, on December 5, The AES Corporations Board declared a $0.17595 per share quarterly dividend on common stock. All shareholders on the books as of January 30, 2026, will receive the payment. The payment amount hasnt changed since the company implemented an increase in Q1 2025.

Separately, on November 11, Jefferies upgraded AES stock from Underperform to Hold and lifted the price target to $13 from $12. The change gives more credit to data center opportunities at AESs regulated utilities in Indiana and Ohio, including renewable-powered land developments. Jefferies noted that it now values both utilities at the average electric group P/E multiple to reflect expected acceleration and longer-term growth from data center opportunities. The firm views $13 per share as a reasonable floor for shares based on reported enterprise value.

Jefferies noted that AES Indiana is finalizing significant deals, while AES Ohio has signed agreements for over 2.1 GW of data centers. There is also additional potential opportunities in the 6 GW+ range. The firm sees these as part of AESs growth strategy, though it characterized them as more of a one-time benefit rather than recurring.

The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) is an American energy company focused on developing, owning, and operating renewable energy projects, including one of the largest green hydrogen facilities in the United States. The companys main products in the hydrogen sector are green hydrogen produced through electrolysis powered by wind and solar energy.

While we acknowledge the potential of AES 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.

READ NEXT: 11 Best Affordable AI Stocks to Buy Now and 15 Best Biotech Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW  Get Free Report) Director Frank Slootman sold 200,000 shares of Snowflake stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.83, for a total value of $44,366,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 50,329 shares in the company, valued at $11,164,482.07. This represents a 79.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Frank Slootman also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, December 16th, Frank Slootman sold 7,728 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.45, for a total value of $1,641,813.60.

On Tuesday, December 9th, Frank Slootman sold 1,993 shares of Snowflake stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.31, for a total transaction of $445,056.83.

Snowflake Stock Up 1.8%

Snowflake stock traded up $4.07 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $226.53. 2,771,219 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,241,403. The stock has a market cap of $77.52 billion, a P/E ratio of -56.07 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $247.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $227.93. Snowflake Inc. has a 1-year low of $120.10 and a 1-year high of $280.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Snowflake ( NYSE:SNOW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 3rd. The company reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $1.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.18 billion. Snowflake had a negative return on equity of 45.91% and a negative net margin of 30.76%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 28.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.20 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Snowflake Inc. will post -2.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several brokerages have issued reports on SNOW. JMP Securities increased their target price on Snowflake from $283.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Snowflake in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and issued a $280.00 target price on shares of Snowflake in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their target price on shares of Snowflake from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Snowflake in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $275.32.

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Snowflake News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Snowflake this week:

Positive Sentiment: Raymond James initiated coverage with an Outperform rating, providing fresh buy-side institutional interest that can support the stock. Article Title

Raymond James initiated coverage with an Outperform rating, providing fresh buy-side institutional interest that can support the stock. Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank remains bullish and recently raised its price target (noting resilient product revenue and long-term growth), reinforcing sell?side support despite some near?term metric misses. Article Title

Scotiabank remains bullish and recently raised its price target (noting resilient product revenue and long-term growth), reinforcing sell?side support despite some near?term metric misses. Positive Sentiment: Accenture and Snowflake announced a partnership to drive enterprise reinvention with AI and data, a commercial tie?up that can help accelerate enterprise adoption and usage-based consumption. Article Title

Accenture and Snowflake announced a partnership to drive enterprise reinvention with AI and data, a commercial tie?up that can help accelerate enterprise adoption and usage-based consumption. Positive Sentiment: A bullish Seeking Alpha piece highlights a large addressable market (potentially >$350B) and high retention metrics, arguing Snowflakes usage?based model and AI tailwinds justify a premium growth multiple. Article Title

A bullish Seeking Alpha piece highlights a large addressable market (potentially >$350B) and high retention metrics, arguing Snowflakes usage?based model and AI tailwinds justify a premium growth multiple. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary is mixed in tone: several outlets summarize reiterated Buys and varied price targets (TD Cowen, Raymond James items), keeping analyst signals supportive but heterogeneous. Article Title

Analyst commentary is mixed in tone: several outlets summarize reiterated Buys and varied price targets (TD Cowen, Raymond James items), keeping analyst signals supportive but heterogeneous. Neutral Sentiment: Two non?market articles (a CNBC piece on executive social media and a general science feature about literal snowflakes) are being circulated but have limited direct impact on Snowflakes fundamentals. Article Title Article Title

Two non?market articles (a CNBC piece on executive social media and a general science feature about literal snowflakes) are being circulated but have limited direct impact on Snowflakes fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Director Frank Slootman sold 200,000 shares (~$44.4M at ~$221.83), reducing his stake by ~80%  a large, disclosed insider sale that can raise short?term caution among investors despite normal liquidity or diversification reasons. SEC filing: SEC Filing

Director Frank Slootman sold 200,000 shares (~$44.4M at ~$221.83), reducing his stake by ~80%  a large, disclosed insider sale that can raise short?term caution among investors despite normal liquidity or diversification reasons. SEC filing: Negative Sentiment: CAO Emily Ho sold 586 shares (~$130k), a relatively small transaction but another insider sale disclosed the same day. SEC filing: SEC Filing

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Snowflake

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd bought a new stake in Snowflake during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $6,845,000. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC bought a new stake in Snowflake during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,900,134,000. Bank of Hawaii purchased a new stake in Snowflake in the first quarter worth about $1,019,000. Goldstream Capital Management Ltd purchased a new position in Snowflake in the second quarter worth about $3,801,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Snowflake by 81.6% during the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 20,141 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,507,000 after acquiring an additional 9,052 shares during the period. 65.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Snowflake Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Snowflake Inc is a cloud-native data platform company that provides a suite of services for storing, processing and analyzing large volumes of data. Its core offering, often described as the Snowflake Data Cloud, combines data warehousing, data lake and data sharing capabilities in a single managed service delivered across major public cloud providers. The platform is designed to support analytics, data engineering, data science and application workloads with a focus on scalability, concurrency and simplified administration.

Key products and capabilities include a multi-cluster, shared-data architecture that separates compute from storage; continuous data ingestion and streaming; support for structured and semi-structured data formats; tools for data governance, security and compliance; and developer frameworks for building data applications.

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NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NYSE:NXRT  Get Free Report) Director Brian Mitts sold 8,452 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.05, for a total transaction of $237,078.60. Following the sale, the director owned 52,448 shares in the company, valued at $1,471,166.40. This represents a 13.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Brian Mitts also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, December 18th, Brian Mitts sold 24,296 shares of NexPoint Residential Trust stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.85, for a total transaction of $700,939.60.

On Friday, October 31st, Brian Mitts sold 5,000 shares of NexPoint Residential Trust stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.52, for a total value of $152,600.00.

NexPoint Residential Trust Stock Up 2.8%

NexPoint Residential Trust stock traded up $0.79 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $29.04. The company had a trading volume of 270,970 shares, compared to its average volume of 158,355. NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $27.69 and a fifty-two week high of $43.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.55, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $736.53 million, a P/E ratio of -15.13 and a beta of 1.17. The firms fifty day moving average is $30.69 and its 200-day moving average is $32.20.

NexPoint Residential Trust Increases Dividend

NexPoint Residential Trust ( NYSE:NXRT Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The financial services provider reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.01. NexPoint Residential Trust had a negative net margin of 19.23% and a negative return on equity of 13.32%. The business had revenue of $62.83 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $63.04 million. NexPoint Residential Trust has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.750-2.750 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. will post 2.86 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be given a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. This is an increase from NexPoint Residential Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. NexPoint Residential Trusts payout ratio is currently -110.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen raised NexPoint Residential Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Zacks Research downgraded shares of NexPoint Residential Trust from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of NexPoint Residential Trust in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of NexPoint Residential Trust from $34.00 to $31.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, NexPoint Residential Trust currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $40.13.

Get Our Latest Report on NexPoint Residential Trust

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 4.9% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 8,546 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $285,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Capital Square LLC increased its position in NexPoint Residential Trust by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Square LLC now owns 15,831 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $540,000 after buying an additional 429 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 3.8% during the second quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 13,248 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $441,000 after buying an additional 488 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 10.8% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,472 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $176,000 after buying an additional 535 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aberdeen Group plc boosted its position in shares of NexPoint Residential Trust by 9.4% in the second quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 6,639 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $221,000 after acquiring an additional 571 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.61% of the companys stock.

About NexPoint Residential Trust

(Get Free Report)

NexPoint Residential Trust is a real estate investment trust focused on the acquisition, leasing and management of single?family rental homes across the United States. The company targets suburban and Sun Belt markets with favorable demographic trends, seeking to build a diversified portfolio of standalone residences that serve the growing demand for quality rental housing. By concentrating on professionally managed homes rather than multi?family apartments, NexPoint Residential Trust aims to offer tenants the benefits of privacy and space, while generating predictable rental income for investors.

The firms investment strategy combines direct acquisitions of built single?family homes with selective joint ventures and partnerships to optimize scale and geographic diversification.

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Savers Value Village, Inc. (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) COO Jubran Tanious sold 57,706 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.21, for a total transaction of $531,472.26. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 99,712 shares in the company, valued at $918,347.52. This trade represents a 36.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Savers Value Village Trading Up 1.3%

NYSE:SVV traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $9.23. The company had a trading volume of 779,802 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,044,971. Savers Value Village, Inc. has a 52 week low of $6.48 and a 52 week high of $13.89. The company has a market capitalization of $1.44 billion, a PE ratio of -921.58 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $9.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

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Savers Value Village (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 15th. The company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter. Savers Value Village had a positive return on equity of 9.18% and a negative net margin of 0.11%.The company had revenue of $394.80 million during the quarter. On average, equities research analysts predict that Savers Value Village, Inc. will post 0.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Savers Value Village

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SVV. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd lifted its stake in Savers Value Village by 281.8% during the third quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,909 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,409 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its stake in Savers Value Village by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 33,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $442,000 after acquiring an additional 2,218 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Savers Value Village by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 39,781 shares of the companys stock valued at $406,000 after buying an additional 2,224 shares during the period. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its position in Savers Value Village by 2.4% in the third quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 137,424 shares of the companys stock worth $1,821,000 after acquiring an additional 3,248 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of Savers Value Village by 26.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 17,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $233,000 after acquiring an additional 3,707 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.78% of the companys stock.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on SVV. Wall Street Zen lowered Savers Value Village from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. BTIG Research began coverage on shares of Savers Value Village in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $18.00 target price for the company. UBS Group upped their price objective on Savers Value Village from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d) rating on shares of Savers Value Village in a report on Monday, December 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Savers Value Village currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $13.67.

View Our Latest Analysis on SVV

About Savers Value Village

(Get Free Report)

Savers Value Village, Inc (NYSE: SVV) is a publicly traded thrift retailer that operates a network of donation-based retail stores. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the company specializes in selling second-hand apparel, footwear, household items, accessories and other pre-owned goods. Through its retail stores, SVV offers value-conscious shoppers the opportunity to purchase quality, gently used merchandise at affordable prices.

At the heart of the companys model is a partnership network with more than 500 nonprofit organizations across North America.

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Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for AutoNation (NYSE: AN):

12/15/2025  AutoNation had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/8/2025  AutoNation had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

12/8/2025  AutoNation had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $225.00 to $233.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

12/1/2025  AutoNation had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/25/2025  AutoNation had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/24/2025  AutoNation had its price target raised by analysts at Evercore ISI from $240.00 to $300.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

11/19/2025  AutoNation had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/13/2025  AutoNation had its buy (b) rating reaffirmed by analysts at Weiss Ratings.

11/11/2025  AutoNation is now covered by analysts at Barclays PLC. They set an overweight rating and a $250.00 price target on the stock.

11/11/2025  AutoNation is now covered by analysts at Barclays PLC. They set an overweight rating and a $250.00 price target on the stock.

11/5/2025  AutoNation had its price target raised by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $230.00 to $235.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

11/5/2025  AutoNation had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $220.00 to $225.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

10/30/2025  AutoNation had its price target raised by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $265.00 to $280.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

10/24/2025  AutoNation was upgraded by analysts at Weiss Ratings from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating.

AutoNation, Inc is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating a network of franchised new vehicle dealerships, pre-owned vehicle superstores and collision-repair centers. The company offers a comprehensive range of automotive products and services, including the sale of new cars and light trucks from leading manufacturers, certified pre-owned vehicles and a wide selection of used models. In addition to retail vehicle sales, AutoNation provides financing, insurance and extended service contracts through its in-house financial services division, as well as genuine and aftermarket parts, factory-recommended maintenance and collision-repair services.

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, AutoNation was founded in 1996 by entrepreneur H.

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Ambac Financial Group (NYSE:AMBC  Get Free Report) and First Acceptance (OTCMKTS:FACO  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability and risk.

Risk & Volatility

Ambac Financial Group has a beta of 0.96, indicating that its stock price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Acceptance has a beta of 0.13, indicating that its stock price is 87% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Insider and Institutional Ownership

84.5% of Ambac Financial Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of First Acceptance shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.2% of Ambac Financial Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.5% of First Acceptance shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ambac Financial Group -215.40% -3.50% -0.49% First Acceptance 5.47% 16.58% 3.97%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Ambac Financial Group and First Acceptances net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Ambac Financial Group and First Acceptance, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ambac Financial Group 1 0 1 0 2.00 First Acceptance 0 0 0 0 0.00

Ambac Financial Group presently has a consensus price target of $15.00, suggesting a potential upside of 65.93%. Given Ambac Financial Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ambac Financial Group is more favorable than First Acceptance.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Ambac Financial Group and First Acceptances revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ambac Financial Group $249.54 million 1.59 -$556.45 million ($15.34) -0.59 First Acceptance $559.43 million 0.27 $26.29 million $0.77 5.26

First Acceptance has higher revenue and earnings than Ambac Financial Group. Ambac Financial Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Acceptance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

First Acceptance beats Ambac Financial Group on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ambac Financial Group

(Get Free Report)

Ambac Financial Group, Inc. operates as a financial services holding company. It operates three businesses: Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance, Insurance Distribution, and Legacy Financial Guarantee (LFG) Insurance. The Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance business provides specialty property and casualty program insurance with a focus commercial and personal liability risks. The Insurance Distribution business includes the specialty property and casualty insurance distribution business, which includes managing general agents and underwriters, insurance wholesalers, brokers, and other distribution businesses. The LFG Insurance business offers financial guarantee insurance policies that provide an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee, which protects the holder of a debt obligation against non-payment when due of the principal and interest on the obligations guaranteed. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

About First Acceptance

(Get Free Report)

First Acceptance Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer, servicer, and underwriter of non-standard personal automobile insurance and related products in the United States. It issues non-standard automobile insurance policies to individuals based on their inability or unwillingness to obtain insurance coverage from standard carriers due to various factors, including their payment preference, failure to maintain continuous insurance coverage, or driving record. The company also underwrites auto and motorcycle insurance products; and renters, homeowners, commercial, pet, life, travel, outdoor vehicle, and hospital indemnity insurance products. In addition, it provides TeleMed, a subscription service that offers access to doctor for consulting, diagnosing, and prescribing medication for non-emergency illness. The company primarily distributes its products through its retail locations, as well as through call center and internet. As of December 31, 2021, it leased and operated 338 retail locations, and a call center. First Acceptance Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Spire Global (NYSE:SPIR) executives emphasized expanding government and commercial demand, a growing contracted backlog, and increasing satellite manufacturing capacity, while acknowledging that third-quarter results were pressured by revenue timing shifts tied largely to government-related delays.

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Management highlights contract momentum and capacity expansion

CEO Theresa Condor said Spire closed the third quarter following sizable commercial and government contract wins, including triple-digit growth on multiple repeat contract awards in weather and security. Spire operates a constellation of more than 100 payloads and said its antennas cover every spot on Earth roughly every 12 minutes, serving hundreds of customers across 45 countries.

Condor pointed to a 2025 manufacturing ramp-up as evidence the company can scale: satellite manufacturing throughput doubled year-over-year while headcount remained flat. She said on-orbit data production is expected to increase tenfold for RF geolocation products and threefold for daily radio occultation (RO) profiles. Spire also installed a satellite manufacturing facility in Germany that management said could provide backup resilience and additional capacity of up to 100 satellites per year once fully qualified and operational in the first quarter.

Condor also said Spire selected KPMG as its new audit partner and expressed confidence that the company is positioned to operate as a regular reporting public company going forward.

Weather business supported by NOAA and European demand

Spire highlighted several weather-related contract wins and renewals. Condor said Spire secured its largest radio occultation contract from NOAA in September, describing it as three times the size of the prior year in annual sounding volume and featuring more than a 40% improvement in price per sounding versus historical benchmarks. Spire also won a NOAA contract for ocean surface winds derived from its GNSS-R data for operational forecasting missions.

In Europe, Condor said demand remained robust, citing a renewal of Spires radio occultation agreement with EUMETSAT, a GNSS-R data sale to the European Space Agency, and a sale to a leading European weather agency aimed at improving forecast accuracy. She said Spire expects a deeper partnership with NOAA in 2026, supported by ongoing discussions about commercial providers role in satellite-based observations and a stated policy direction toward more commercial partnerships.

Spire also discussed the planned launch of a microwave sounding satellite next month, which Condor said addresses a multi-billion-dollar global atmospheric sounding need. She noted microwave soundings are used widely in forecasting models and said concerns about legacy instrument retirements, data-sharing changes, and delays in new instruments are opening the door to private sector participation.

Security and space services: awards, pipeline, and European defense budgets

Condor described heightened defense-related interest across the U.S. and Europe, including growing attention to RF-based intelligence. She cited an expanded partnership with Deloitte involving satellite clusters equipped with Deloittes Silent Shield Cyber Defense Suite. While revenue recognition extends beyond 2025, she said satellite manufacturing, deployment, and backlog conversion are proceeding exactly as planned, and that the Deloitte-related work contributes to deferred revenue backlog of more than $200 million.

Spire also said it was selected as an awardee on the U.S. Missile Defense Agencys multi-award Uncertain contract vehicle, which has a shared ceiling of $151 billion. Management said the award positions Spire to compete for task orders over the next decade. During Q&A, executives said they did not have details on which work areas Spire was selected for and were not prepared to estimate what portion of the contract vehicle could be applicable to the company.

In Europe, Condor highlighted Germanys announced EUR 7 billion per year space defense budget over the next five years and noted Spires manufacturing footprint in Munich. She also cited the European Space Agency Ministerial Councils EUR 22 billion in new subscriptions for the next three years, including EUR 5 billion from Germany. Condor said European defense urgency for commercial partnerships has increased compared to a year ago and that Spires pipeline includes multi-year sovereign programs as well as requests for immediate data delivery using installed capacity.

Third-quarter financials reflect timing shifts and divestiture impact

CFO Alison Engel said the third quarter showed strong bookings and growing backlog, but revenue was affected by government delays. GAAP revenue was $12.7 million, and Engel said the year-over-year decline was primarily due to the absence of approximately $11.5 million of maritime revenue in the third quarter of 2024. Spire sold its maritime business at the end of April 2025, and Engel said that business contributed about $40 million of revenue in the prior 12 months.

Engel also cited approximately $6 million to $8 million of revenue that shifted out of the quarter due to:

Milestone-based revenue recognition timing on an existing multi-year contract, which reduced third-quarter revenue by approximately $4 million to $5 million. Engel said the revenue remains fully contracted and is expected to be recognized in 2026 as milestones are delivered.

on an existing multi-year contract, which reduced third-quarter revenue by approximately $4 million to $5 million. Engel said the revenue remains fully contracted and is expected to be recognized in 2026 as milestones are delivered. Uncertainty around a NASA Earth observation data contract renewal, along with deferrals of smaller short-duration opportunities. Management said Spire has delivered the NASA contract for several years with high customer satisfaction, but it was not yet signed.

Non-GAAP operating loss was $13.9 million versus $6.1 million in the year-ago quarter, and adjusted EBITDA was negative $11.8 million versus negative $3.1 million. Engel said the changes were primarily driven by the timing of revenue recognized rather than a higher cost structure. Excluding the maritime business and certain one-time expenses, she said operating expenses were down year-over-year and sequentially.

Spire used $20.4 million of free cash flow in the quarter and ended with $96.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Engel attributed cash usage to revenue timing effects, working capital dynamics tied to manufacturing, and elevated legal and professional fees. In Q&A, management said it remained debt-free and expected to finish the year with a strong cash balance, while noting ongoing timing mismatches between collections and execution and continued legal spending.

Guidance and outlook: 2026 growth target tied to RPO and delayed revenue

For full-year 2025, Spire guided revenue to $70.5 million to $72.5 million, implying fourth-quarter revenue of about $14.8 million to $16.8 million. Engel said that through Nov. 30, the company had already recognized approximately $10.5 million to $11.5 million of fourth-quarter revenue. Spire also guided to a full-year non-GAAP operating loss of negative $54.7 million to negative $53.8 million and adjusted EBITDA of negative $42.2 million to negative $41.3 million. Non-GAAP loss per share was guided to negative $1.98 to negative $1.95, assuming a basic weighted average share count of roughly 30.9 million.

Engel said remaining performance obligations were over $200 millionmore than three times trailing 12-month revenueand Spire expects about $70 million of that amount to be recognized as revenue in 2026. She said more than $10 million of revenue moved into 2026 due to government delays, including the shutdown, but stressed the programs remain funded and underway.

Based on those factors, Spire said it expects greater than 30% revenue growth in 2026 for the business remaining after the maritime divestiture, and plans to provide more comprehensive 2026 guidance on its March earnings call. Management also said it is completing its 2026 budget with a focus on reaching adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flow breakeven to positive by no later than Q4 2026, and indicated preliminary planning reflects lower expected capital spending next year.

On an SEC subpoena referenced during Q&A, management said it is continuing to work through the process and did not provide additional detail.

About Spire Global (NYSE:SPIR)

Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR) is a space-to-cloud data and analytics company that operates a constellation of low Earth orbit nanosatellites to collect radio occultation, maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS), and aviation tracking data. By leveraging proprietary satellite hardware and ground infrastructure, Spire captures precise, near-real-time observations of Earths atmosphere, oceans, and surface traffic to power downstream analytics for weather forecasting, fleet optimization, and safety monitoring.

The companys core offerings include weather and climate intelligence derived from GPS radio occultation, which enhances numerical weather prediction models; maritime domain awareness services that track vessel movements and supply chain dynamics; and aviation analytics that monitor air traffic for efficiency and security applications.

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Commonwealth Business Bank (OTCMKTS:CBBI  Get Free Report)s share price rose 2.6% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $11.04 and last traded at $11.04. Approximately 319 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 98% from the average daily volume of 14,717 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.76.

Commonwealth Business Bank Stock Up 2.6%

The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $10.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.71.

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Commonwealth Business Bank (OTCMKTS:CBBI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $17.58 million during the quarter.

Commonwealth Business Bank Company Profile

CBB Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Commonwealth Business Bank that provides various commercial banking products and services to individuals and businesses in the United States. It offers checking, savings, money market, and certification of deposit accounts; SBA lending; business lines of credit; business term loans; business and commercial property loans; construction loans; and credit cards. The company also provides treasury management, and mobile and online banking services, as well as title and escrow services.

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PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund (NYSEARCA:MINT  Get Free Report) shares shot up 0% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $100.58 and last traded at $100.57. 1,621,039 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 17% from the average session volume of 1,381,501 shares. The stock had previously closed at $100.56.

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund Stock Up 0.0%

The business has a 50 day moving average of $100.49 and a 200 day moving average of $100.46.

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Institutional Trading of PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 31,246,850 shares of the companys stock worth $3,146,245,000 after purchasing an additional 2,959,588 shares in the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management raised its holdings in PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund by 25,423.5% in the third quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 333,337 shares of the companys stock worth $33,564,000 after buying an additional 332,031 shares during the last quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in shares of PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund in the second quarter worth approximately $13,998,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund by 69.2% during the third quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 336,359 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,868,000 after buying an additional 137,554 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings in shares of PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund by 131.6% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 165,922 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,681,000 after buying an additional 94,279 shares during the last quarter.

About PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Exchange-Traded Fund

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (the Fund), formerly PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks maximum current income, consistent with preservation of capital and daily liquidity. The Fund focuses on short maturity fixed income instruments. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 65% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of fixed income instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by forwards.

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TC Energy Corporation (NYSE:TRP  Free Report) (TSE:TRP)  Stock analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of TC Energy in a research note issued on Thursday, December 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the pipeline company will earn $0.73 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $0.72. The consensus estimate for TC Energys current full-year earnings is $2.63 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for TC Energys Q2 2026 earnings at $0.56 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.69 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.54 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.71 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.59 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.56 EPS.

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TC Energy (NYSE:TRP  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The pipeline company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.56. The business had revenue of $1.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion. TC Energy had a net margin of 23.86% and a return on equity of 10.61%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.03 EPS.

TRP has been the topic of a number of other research reports. BMO Capital Markets upgraded TC Energy from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. TD Securities reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of TC Energy in a report on Friday, October 17th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of TC Energy in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Weiss Ratings raised TC Energy from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of TC Energy in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $84.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on TRP

TC Energy Trading Up 1.0%

Shares of TRP stock opened at $54.92 on Monday. TC Energy has a 12-month low of $43.51 and a 12-month high of $55.37. The company has a market capitalization of $57.16 billion, a PE ratio of 23.67 and a beta of 0.70. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $52.98 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $51.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in TC Energy by 2.0% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,821,474 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $2,545,777,000 after purchasing an additional 914,168 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in shares of TC Energy by 2.5% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 41,977,582 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $2,282,469,000 after buying an additional 1,041,864 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in TC Energy by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 20,986,748 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $1,025,220,000 after buying an additional 1,178,190 shares during the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc boosted its position in TC Energy by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 19,624,247 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,067,246,000 after buying an additional 550,066 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in TC Energy by 2,565.1% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 16,306,187 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $769,815,000 after acquiring an additional 15,694,336 shares during the last quarter. 83.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

TC Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. This is a positive change from TC Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. TC Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 106.47%.

About TC Energy

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TC Energy (NYSE: TRP) is a North American energy infrastructure company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Formerly known as TransCanada, the company rebranded as TC Energy to reflect its broad presence across Canada, the United States and Mexico. TC Energy develops, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy infrastructure assets that play a central role in the transportation and delivery of energy across the continent.

The companys principal businesses include long?distance natural gas transmission, liquids (crude oil) pipelines, natural gas storage and power generation.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of DNOW (NYSE:DNOW  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report published on Saturday morning.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna upgraded DNOW from a neutral rating to a positive rating and set a $16.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, November 21st. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of DNOW in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. KeyCorp set a $19.00 target price on shares of DNOW in a research note on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and set a $18.00 price target on shares of DNOW in a report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of DNOW from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $17.67.

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Read Our Latest Report on DNOW

DNOW Stock Performance

Shares of DNOW opened at $13.52 on Friday. DNOW has a fifty-two week low of $12.01 and a fifty-two week high of $18.45. The firm has a market cap of $1.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.54 and a beta of 0.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $13.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.67.

DNOW (NYSE:DNOW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The oil and gas company reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $634.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $637.13 million. DNOW had a net margin of 3.91% and a return on equity of 9.35%. The firms revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.21 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that DNOW will post 0.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On DNOW

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DNOW. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of DNOW by 1.5% during the second quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 61,228 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $908,000 after buying an additional 909 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in DNOW by 14.7% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 7,299 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $111,000 after acquiring an additional 937 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank boosted its position in DNOW by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 31,215 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $476,000 after acquiring an additional 1,040 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of DNOW by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 82,817 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,263,000 after acquiring an additional 1,392 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of DNOW by 190.5% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,423 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 1,589 shares in the last quarter. 97.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About DNOW

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DistributionNOW (NYSE: DNOW) is a global distributor of energy and industrial products, serving a broad range of end-markets including oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, and industrial manufacturing. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company provides solutions across the life cycle of energy and industrial assets, with an emphasis on safety, reliability and operational efficiency.

The companys core product portfolio includes piping systems and related components (such as valves, fittings, flanges and gaskets), instrumentation, electrical and automation equipment, fasteners, industrial safety supplies, chemicals and composite products.

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Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is included among the Best Stocks for a Dividend Achievers List.

Bank of America Trims Altria (MO) Target While Keeping Buy Rating

On December 19, Bank of America analyst Lisa Lewandowski lowered the firms price target on Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) to $64 from $66. She kept a Buy rating on the shares. Looking toward 2026, Lewandowski said the biggest open issue for consumer staples remains consumption growth. Valuations across the sector remain uneven. In her year-ahead note, she added that there feels little to get them off the sidelines in 26 until fundamentals signal a greater turning of the tide.

For Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), fundamentals have held up better than volumes might suggest. Cigarette shipments continue to decline, and the company has been able to raise prices enough to offset much of the volume pressure. Tobacco users tend to be sticky. Some trade down to cheaper brands, but many stay with what they know and absorb the higher cost. That dynamic has helped keep revenue and earnings relatively stable.

The dividend remains the core of the investment case. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)s payout is large and consistent, which naturally raises questions when volumes fall. If price increases ever stop covering the gap, pressure would build. For now, that risk appears contained. Cash flow remains solid, and earnings still support the payout. The company targets a payout ratio of about 80% of adjusted earnings per share. Adjusted EPS removes one-time items and gives a clearer view of recurring operating performance. That framework provides some flexibility, even in a slow-growth environment.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) has a portfolio of well-known tobacco brands, including Marlboro, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, Skoal, and Virginia Slims.

While we acknowledge the potential of MO 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: 12 Best Long Term US Stocks to Buy Now and 13 Top Tech Stocks Paying Consistent Dividends.

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Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Belden (NYSE:BDC  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Saturday.

BDC has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Belden in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Belden from $149.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $140.00.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BDC

Belden Stock Performance

NYSE BDC opened at $118.99 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.14 and a beta of 1.19. The businesss 50 day moving average is $116.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.30. Belden has a 12-month low of $83.18 and a 12-month high of $133.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03.

Belden (NYSE:BDC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.07. Belden had a return on equity of 23.95% and a net margin of 8.57%.The firm had revenue of $698.22 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $679.61 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.70 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Belden has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.900-2.000 EPS. Research analysts expect that Belden will post 7.07 EPS for the current year.

Belden Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 11th. Beldens dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.55%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Jonathan C. Klein sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total value of $372,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,353 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,037,359.07. The trade was a 26.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Hiran Bhadra sold 1,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total value of $192,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 26,119 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,134,280. This trade represents a 5.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 11,154 shares of company stock valued at $1,371,050 over the last quarter. 1.48% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Belden

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BDC. Lindenwold Advisors INC purchased a new stake in Belden in the 3rd quarter valued at about $357,000. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Belden in the third quarter worth approximately $217,000. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Belden in the 3rd quarter valued at $222,000. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Belden during the 3rd quarter worth $508,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd raised its position in shares of Belden by 12,950.0% in the 3rd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 261 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 259 shares during the period. 98.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Belden Company Profile

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Belden, formerly Belden Inc (NYSE:BDC), was a global provider of signal transmission solutions for demanding applications. The company produced a wide range of copper and fiber optic cables, connectors, patch panels, cable assemblies, and surge protection devices. Its portfolio extended into networking and security hardware, including managed switches, industrial routers, and software tools for remote monitoring and network management.

Founded in 1902 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden built its reputation on delivering high?performance, reliable products for harsh environments.

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Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Saturday morning.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Koninklijke Philips to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. They set a sector perform rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold.

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Koninklijke Philips Stock Up 0.6%

NYSE:PHG opened at $26.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Koninklijke Philips has a 1-year low of $21.48 and a 1-year high of $29.54. The company has a 50-day moving average of $27.71 and a 200 day moving average of $26.66. The firm has a market cap of $25.83 billion, a PE ratio of 134.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.79.

Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The technology company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.37. The firm had revenue of $5.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.30 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a net margin of 1.07% and a return on equity of 12.14%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Koninklijke Philips

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in Koninklijke Philips by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 29,306 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $703,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 11,592 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $316,000 after acquiring an additional 439 shares during the period. Kitching Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Kitching Partners LLC now owns 11,259 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $270,000 after acquiring an additional 457 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its stake in Koninklijke Philips by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 11,357 shares of the technology companys stock worth $310,000 after acquiring an additional 478 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Affirmative Financial Network lifted its position in Koninklijke Philips by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 11,418 shares of the technology companys stock worth $311,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the period. 13.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Koninklijke Philips

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Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE: PHG), commonly known as Philips, is a Dutch multinational company focused on health technology. Founded in Eindhoven in 1891, the company evolved from a diversified electronics manufacturer into a specialist in healthcare products, systems and services. Philips is legally registered in the Netherlands and operates globally, supplying equipment and solutions to hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers and consumers across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Philips principal activities center on medical technologies and personal health.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of BBB Foods (NYSE:TBBB  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Saturday.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on TBBB. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on BBB Foods from $30.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d+) rating on shares of BBB Foods in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Zacks Research upgraded BBB Foods from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on BBB Foods from $35.50 to $39.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $35.80.

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BBB Foods Stock Performance

TBBB opened at $35.19 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. The company has a market cap of $4.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -41.89 and a beta of -0.16. BBB Foods has a 52-week low of $23.00 and a 52-week high of $35.38. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $30.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.55.

BBB Foods (NYSE:TBBB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The company reported ($0.66) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.43) by ($0.23). BBB Foods had a negative return on equity of 44.56% and a negative net margin of 2.61%.The company had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.06 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that BBB Foods will post 0.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BBB Foods

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in BBB Foods by 104.5% in the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 22,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $600,000 after buying an additional 11,500 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of BBB Foods during the 1st quarter valued at about $416,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of BBB Foods by 73.2% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,634,417 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,606,000 after acquiring an additional 690,560 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BBB Foods in the first quarter valued at about $2,284,000. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC acquired a new stake in BBB Foods during the first quarter worth about $1,870,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.42% of the companys stock.

BBB Foods Company Profile

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BBB Foods Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates a chain of grocery retail stores in Mexico. It offers household cleaning, personal hyenine, cosmetics and beauty, pharmacy, and general merchandise products, as well as jellies and desserts, foods and drinks, pet supplies, coffee, tea, chocolates, breads, dry and frozen foods, snacks and sweets, and toilet papers and napkins. The company also provides branded, private label, and spot products. It serves low-to-middle income households through online channels.

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Air Liquide (OTCMKTS:AIQUY  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on AIQUY shares. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded Air Liquide from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Air Liquide in a report on Wednesday, October 29th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Air Liquide

Air Liquide Price Performance

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Air Liquide by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 70,948 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,931,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its position in Air Liquide by 49.3% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,556 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp increased its position in Air Liquide by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 17,545 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $667,000 after buying an additional 547 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Air Liquide by 15.3% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,822 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $324,000 after buying an additional 1,039 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its holdings in Air Liquide by 1,692.0% in the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 1,344 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 1,269 shares in the last quarter. 0.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AIQUY opened at $37.55 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.61. Air Liquide has a 12 month low of $31.68 and a 12 month high of $43.12. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $38.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $40.18.

About Air Liquide

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Air Liquide is a Paris?headquartered multinational that develops, manufactures and supplies industrial and medical gases, related equipment and services. Founded in 1902, the company has grown into a major global supplier of gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and a wide range of specialty gases used across industrial, healthcare and research applications.

Its core activities include on?site gas production, bulk and packaged gas distribution (cylinders and cryogenic deliveries), installation and maintenance of gas handling and storage equipment, and engineering for large industrial gas projects.

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Shares of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the twenty-three brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, fifteen have assigned a buy recommendation and three have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $184.1765.

RTX has been the subject of several recent research reports. Robert W. Baird set a $203.00 price target on RTX in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. BNP Paribas upgraded RTX to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating and issued a $190.00 target price on shares of RTX in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage on shares of RTX in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $210.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of RTX from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on RTX

RTX Stock Performance

NYSE:RTX opened at $185.70 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a market capitalization of $248.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $173.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $161.02. RTX has a twelve month low of $112.27 and a twelve month high of $185.87.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.29. RTX had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 13.28%. The business had revenue of $22.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.45 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. RTX has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.100-6.200 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that RTX will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

RTX Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were issued a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. RTXs payout ratio is 55.85%.

Insider Buying and Selling at RTX

In other news, EVP Neil G. Mitchill, Jr. sold 4,849 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.15, for a total transaction of $873,547.35. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 59,556 shares in the company, valued at $10,729,013.40. This trade represents a 7.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On RTX

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BNP Paribas acquired a new position in shares of RTX during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. PFS Partners LLC increased its position in RTX by 101.1% during the second quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 177 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA purchased a new position in RTX during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. acquired a new position in shares of RTX in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of RTX in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. 86.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

RTX Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

RTX (NYSE: RTX) is a U.S.-based aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures and services advanced systems for commercial, military and governmental customers worldwide. The company was created through the 2020 combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation and later adopted the RTX name, positioning itself as a diversified provider across the aerospace and defense value chain.

RTXs operations span a broad set of capabilities. Its commercial aerospace businesses include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines and Collins Aerospace systems, which supply propulsion, avionics, aerostructures, interiors and integrated aircraft systems.

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Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $165.00.

ONTO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $115.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of Onto Innovation in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $130.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Onto Innovation from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Onto Innovation in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th.

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Check Out Our Latest Report on Onto Innovation

Onto Innovation Trading Up 1.8%

ONTO opened at $159.11 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.95, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.48. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $140.78 and a 200-day moving average price of $119.64. Onto Innovation has a 12-month low of $85.88 and a 12-month high of $228.42.

Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The semiconductor company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.03. Onto Innovation had a return on equity of 13.11% and a net margin of 17.46%.The firm had revenue of $218.19 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $220.23 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.34 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Onto Innovation has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.180-1.330 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Onto Innovation will post 6.26 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Onto Innovation

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ONTO. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Onto Innovation by 1,217.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,398,995 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $180,778,000 after purchasing an additional 1,292,772 shares during the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Onto Innovation by 650.4% during the 2nd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 1,098,860 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $110,908,000 after purchasing an additional 952,419 shares during the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 4,494.6% in the third quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 868,607 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $111,974,000 after purchasing an additional 849,702 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd boosted its position in shares of Onto Innovation by 1,510.2% during the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 901,180 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $90,956,000 after buying an additional 845,213 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in Onto Innovation in the 2nd quarter worth about $71,961,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.35% of the companys stock.

About Onto Innovation

(Get Free Report)

Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) is a global supplier of advanced process control and inspection systems for semiconductor and electronics manufacturers. The companys solutions span metrology, inspection, defect review and lithography mask repair, helping customers optimize yield, reduce costs and improve device performance. By integrating high-resolution optical and e-beam tools with sophisticated software analytics, Onto Innovation enables wafer, mask and advanced packaging producers to maintain tight process control across leading-edge nodes and specialty applications.

Key products include high-throughput wafer metrology systems, optical and e-beam defect inspection platforms, mask inspection and repair tools, and data-driven software for yield management and process optimization.

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Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG  Free Report) by 52.3% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 50,237 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after purchasing an additional 17,242 shares during the quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc.s holdings in PPG Industries were worth $5,706,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in PPG. Walnut Level Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of PPG Industries by 46.8% in the 2nd quarter. Walnut Level Capital LLC now owns 62,754 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $7,138,000 after buying an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in PPG Industries by 8,828.7% in the second quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,393 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $955,000 after acquiring an additional 8,299 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in PPG Industries by 2.9% in the second quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 125,616 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $14,289,000 after purchasing an additional 3,551 shares during the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of PPG Industries by 17.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 526,269 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $59,863,000 after purchasing an additional 78,022 shares during the period. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of PPG Industries during the 1st quarter valued at about $884,000. Institutional investors own 81.86% of the companys stock.

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PPG Industries Price Performance

NYSE:PPG opened at $103.38 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $99.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $106.66. PPG Industries, Inc. has a 52 week low of $90.24 and a 52 week high of $124.74. The stock has a market cap of $23.20 billion, a PE ratio of 23.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

PPG Industries Dividend Announcement

PPG Industries ( NYSE:PPG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.06 billion. PPG Industries had a return on equity of 23.61% and a net margin of 6.35%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.13 earnings per share. PPG Industries has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.600-7.700 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that PPG Industries, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were issued a $0.71 dividend. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. PPG Industriess payout ratio is 64.40%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of PPG Industries from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $129.00 to $123.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on PPG Industries from $112.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 21st. Berenberg Bank lowered their target price on PPG Industries from $131.00 to $110.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on PPG Industries from $131.00 to $129.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, PPG Industries has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $122.54.

View Our Latest Report on PPG Industries

PPG Industries Profile

(Free Report)

PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings and specialty materials that serves industrial, transportation, consumer and construction markets. Founded in 1883 as the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, PPG has evolved from its origins in glass manufacturing into a diversified coatings and materials company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company develops and manufactures a broad array of products used to protect and enhance surfaces, from consumer paints to highly engineered coatings for demanding industrial applications.

PPGs product portfolio includes architectural and decorative paints, automotive original equipment and refinish coatings, industrial coatings for machinery and equipment, protective and marine coatings, aerospace and defense coatings, and packaging coatings and materials.

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Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its stake in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IMTM  Free Report) by 55.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 138,446 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 49,259 shares during the quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF were worth $6,326,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 4.9% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 18,821,987 shares of the companys stock valued at $859,977,000 after purchasing an additional 876,618 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 3.7% during the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 18,286,649 shares of the companys stock worth $828,751,000 after purchasing an additional 660,650 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 22.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 1,469,111 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,124,000 after purchasing an additional 270,053 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $11,429,000. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $9,389,000.

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iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF Stock Performance

IMTM stock opened at $47.99 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.46 billion, a PE ratio of 17.95 and a beta of 0.81. The firms 50 day moving average price is $47.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.75. iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF has a one year low of $35.35 and a one year high of $49.63.

iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF (IMTM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World ex USA Momentum index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks from developed countries, ex-US. The momentum-selected stocks are weighted by market cap and momentum. IMTM was launched on Jan 13, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Dole (NYSE:DOLE  Get Free Report) is one of 38 public companies in the AGRI OPERATIONS industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Dole to similar businesses based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability and risk.

Dividends

Dole pays an annual dividend of $0.34 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Dole pays out 226.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, AGRI OPERATIONS companies pay a dividend yield of 3.4% and pay out -99.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Dole has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Dole lags its rivals as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

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Profitability

This table compares Dole and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Dole 0.17% 7.98% 2.56% Dole Competitors -292.89% -84.06% -18.61%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Risk and Volatility

46.3% of shares of all AGRI OPERATIONS companies are held by institutional investors. 12.7% of shares of all AGRI OPERATIONS companies are held 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.

Dole has a beta of 0.64, suggesting that its share price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Doles rivals have a beta of 0.80, suggesting that their average share price is 20% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Dole and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Dole 0 2 0 0 2.00 Dole Competitors 438 815 1024 38 2.29

Dole presently has a consensus price target of $16.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5.09%. As a group, AGRI OPERATIONS companies have a potential upside of 40.30%. Given Doles rivals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Dole has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Dole and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Dole $8.48 billion $125.51 million 101.50 Dole Competitors $5.04 billion $103.84 million 3.72

Dole has higher revenue and earnings than its rivals. Dole is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Dole rivals beat Dole on 9 of the 15 factors compared.

Dole Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dole Food Company, Inc. (Dole) is a producer, marketer and distributor of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. The Company is a producer of bananas and pineapples, and packaged fruit products, packaged salads and fresh-packed vegetables. The Company has three business segments: fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and packaged foods. The fresh fruit segment contains operating divisions that produce and market fresh fruit to wholesale, retail and institutional customers worldwide. The fresh vegetables segment produces and markets fresh-packed and value-added vegetables and salads to wholesale, retail and institutional customers, primarily in North America and Europe. The packaged foods segment contains several operating divisions that produce and market packaged foods, including fruit, juices, frozen fruit and healthy snack foods. In November 2013, Dole Food Company, Inc announced that an investor group acquired the remaining 60.43% interest in the Company.

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Red Door Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 28.0% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 47,181 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,332 shares during the quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $5,320,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Eagle Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Exxon Mobil by 15.3% during the first quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC now owns 2,836 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $337,000 after buying an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 27.8% in the 1st quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 14,036 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,670,000 after acquiring an additional 3,051 shares during the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 30.8% during the 1st quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 13,785 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,639,000 after acquiring an additional 3,244 shares during the period. Bank of Hawaii boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Hawaii now owns 50,243 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,975,000 after acquiring an additional 1,186 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Widmann Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 16.9% in the first quarter. Widmann Financial Services Inc. now owns 33,026 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,928,000 after purchasing an additional 4,769 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on XOM. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $126.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $141.00 to $144.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price target on Exxon Mobil from $128.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and thirteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Exxon Mobil currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $129.45.

Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil

In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total transaction of $351,570.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 28,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,349,758.96. This represents a 9.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Exxon Mobil Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE XOM opened at $118.21 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The businesss 50 day moving average is $116.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $112.89. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 52-week low of $97.80 and a 52-week high of $120.81. The firm has a market cap of $498.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.18, a PEG ratio of 7.36 and a beta of 0.38.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 8.99%.The business had revenue of $57.55 billion during the quarter. Research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were given a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. This is an increase from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 59.88%.

More Exxon Mobil News

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

Positive Sentiment: Oil-price rebound lifts energy stocks  Oil jumped after tensions around Venezuelan oil exports and related military actions raised short-term supply concerns, providing an immediate tailwind for integrated oil names like Exxon. Read More.

Oil-price rebound lifts energy stocks  Oil jumped after tensions around Venezuelan oil exports and related military actions raised short-term supply concerns, providing an immediate tailwind for integrated oil names like Exxon. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Accelerated exploration in Trinidad  ExxonMobil says it will launch an offshore seismic survey in Trinidad & Tobago as soon as February 2026, signaling an earlier-than-expected push on upstream resource appraisal that could support longer-term production growth. Read More.

Accelerated exploration in Trinidad  ExxonMobil says it will launch an offshore seismic survey in Trinidad & Tobago as soon as February 2026, signaling an earlier-than-expected push on upstream resource appraisal that could support longer-term production growth. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Permian operations cited as a resiliency driver  Analysts highlight Exxons low-cost Permian footprint as a source of margin resilience if prices soften, reinforcing investor confidence in cash flow stability. Read More.

Permian operations cited as a resiliency driver  Analysts highlight Exxons low-cost Permian footprint as a source of margin resilience if prices soften, reinforcing investor confidence in cash flow stability. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Bullish investor write-ups increase interest  Multiple bullish pieces (Seeking Alpha calls and other buy-themed commentary) are circulating, which can amplify buying interest among retail and sentiment-driven traders. Read More. Read More.

Bullish investor write-ups increase interest  Multiple bullish pieces (Seeking Alpha calls and other buy-themed commentary) are circulating, which can amplify buying interest among retail and sentiment-driven traders. Read More. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Recent performance and trending interest noted  Coverage noting that XOM has outpaced the market and is a trending ticker may attract attention but doesnt by itself change fundamentals. Read More. / Read More.

Exxon Mobil Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.

Further Reading

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A side-by-side image of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and famed short-seller Michael Burry. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images; Jim Spellman/WireImage

Michael Burry has called out Nvidia for pushing its "power hungry" AI microchips over alternatives.

The "Big Short" investor warned the US will lose the AI race to China if it banks on Nvidia's chips.

Burry has questioned the longevity of Nvidia's chips, its "give-and-take deals," and compensation.

More from Yahoo Scout What are AI-tuned ASICs and why does Burry favor them? How has Nvidia responded to Burry's previous criticisms? What specific issues does Burry have with Nvidia's business practices? What are AI-tuned ASICs and why does Burry prefer them?

Michael Burry says Nvidia is pushing the idea that building graphics chips that consume more and more power is the best path to advancing AI  and the result could be the US losing the AI race to China.

"Exactly and sadly," Burry wrote on X late Saturday, responding to another user's comment that called Nvidia the "gangster of the AI neighborhood" as it has "shut down any narrative that even hints at reducing GPU demand."

In another post over the weekend, Burry shared a chart showing China has more than double America's electric generation capacity, and is expanding its energy infrastructure at a much faster rate.

Nvidia has framed AI innovation as "just figuring out how to power and to cool bigger, hotter silicon," Burry said. But China's huge lead in building out power sources means companies in the US are "plowing capital into a race it is structurally positioned to lose."

Burry said the US needs to shift its focus from developing more and more "power hungry" chips toward advancing "AI-tuned ASICs"  application-specific integrated circuits that are designed to do a particular task quickly and efficiently.

But he said Nvidia has a "death grip on development" thanks to its deals with many key players in the AI industry.

Nvidia did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Business Insider about Burry's posts.

Nvidia vs Burry

Nvidia stock has surged more than 12-fold since the start of 2023, making it the world's most valuable public company, with a market capitalization of $4.4 trillion.

The chipmaker raked in about $148 billion of revenue and $77 billion of net income in the first nine months of this year. "Blackwell sales are off the charts, and cloud GPUs are sold out," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in the third-quarter earnings release.
OFI Invest Asset Management raised its stake in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 965,724 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 111,178 shares during the quarter. OFI Invest Asset Managements holdings in Bank of America were worth $49,822,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quaker Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Bank of America by 246.5% during the second quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 523 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 880 shares in the last quarter. Nova Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 75.2% during the second quarter. Nova Wealth Management Inc. now owns 529 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the last quarter. Steph & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 224.3% in the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 548 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. RMG Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 585.4% during the 2nd quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 610 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 521 shares in the last quarter. 70.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Key Stores Impacting Bank of America

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week:

Positive Sentiment: CEO Brian Moynihan said AI is increasingly boosting U.S. economic growth and that the consumer is in pretty good shape, comments that support a stronger macro outlook and potential growth in transactional, investment banking and wealth-management revenue. Article Title

CEO Brian Moynihan said AI is increasingly boosting U.S. economic growth and that the consumer is in pretty good shape, comments that support a stronger macro outlook and potential growth in transactional, investment banking and wealth-management revenue. Positive Sentiment: Bank of America announced a $10 million zero-interest capital commitment to CDFIs supporting L.A. wildfire recovery  a reputation- and community-focused move that can support local lending relationships and franchise goodwill. Article Title

Bank of America announced a $10 million zero-interest capital commitment to CDFIs supporting L.A. wildfire recovery  a reputation- and community-focused move that can support local lending relationships and franchise goodwill. Positive Sentiment: Rocket Companies extended a key Bank of America facility, indicating ongoing corporate lending/servicing activity and client engagement that supports fee and credit businesses. Article Title

Rocket Companies extended a key Bank of America facility, indicating ongoing corporate lending/servicing activity and client engagement that supports fee and credit businesses. Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage activity and upgrades in the market have lifted sentiment around big-bank names, contributing to upward pressure on BAC shares. (Market report on an analyst upgrade referenced.) Article Title

Analyst coverage activity and upgrades in the market have lifted sentiment around big-bank names, contributing to upward pressure on BAC shares. (Market report on an analyst upgrade referenced.) Neutral Sentiment: Bank of America Securities continues active research coverage (e.g., ratings on CRISPR, ArcBest, Vail Resorts)  reinforces the firms research franchise but has limited direct impact on BAC equity fundamentals. Article Title

Bank of America Securities continues active research coverage (e.g., ratings on CRISPR, ArcBest, Vail Resorts)  reinforces the firms research franchise but has limited direct impact on BAC equity fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Moynihan also said the Fed will have room to cut rates next year  a policy path that could compress net interest margins for large banks if cuts occur, representing a potential headwind to BACs core profitability. Article Title

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Bank of America from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Bank of America from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Bank of America from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Phillip Securities raised their price target on Bank of America from $50.00 to $56.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Twenty-three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $58.59.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Bank of America

Bank of America Stock Up 1.0%

Bank of America stock opened at $55.81 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $53.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. The company has a market cap of $407.56 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21 and a beta of 1.30. Bank of America Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $33.06 and a fifty-two week high of $56.11.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $5.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27.05 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.76% and a net margin of 15.70%.The companys revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.81 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 EPS for the current year.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 30.52%.

Bank of America Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets.

Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels.

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OFI Invest Asset Management boosted its holdings in Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) by 187.4% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 694,199 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 452,617 shares during the quarter. OFI Invest Asset Managements holdings in Capital One Financial were worth $147,573,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 588,668.3% in the second quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC now owns 117,447,497 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $24,988,129,000 after purchasing an additional 117,427,549 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Capital One Financial by 74.8% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 56,380,913 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,995,603,000 after buying an additional 24,129,990 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Capital One Financial by 63.4% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,780,128 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,910,500,000 after buying an additional 10,776,843 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Capital One Financial by 64.1% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,008,841 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,970,628,000 after buying an additional 5,474,328 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in Capital One Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,701,511,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.84% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Capital One Financial

In related news, insider Celia Karam sold 2,936 shares of Capital One Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $218.15, for a total value of $640,488.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 63,433 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,837,908.95. This trade represents a 4.42% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Neal Blinde sold 43,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $221.83, for a total transaction of $9,583,056.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 73,020 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,198,026.60. This trade represents a 37.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 280,218 shares of company stock worth $62,395,804 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.26% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Capital One Financial from $257.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Capital One Financial from $266.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Capital One Financial from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Capital One Financial from $275.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Capital One Financial in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Capital One Financial currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $265.25.

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Capital One Financial Stock Up 1.3%

Capital One Financial stock opened at $246.91 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $221.70 and a 200-day moving average price of $217.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Capital One Financial Corporation has a twelve month low of $143.22 and a twelve month high of $247.25. The company has a market capitalization of $156.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 104.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.16.

Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The financial services provider reported $5.95 EPS for the quarter. Capital One Financial had a net margin of 2.24% and a return on equity of 10.94%. The company had revenue of $15.46 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts predict that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 EPS for the current year.

Capital One Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were given a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from Capital One Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. Capital One Financials payout ratio is currently 135.02%.

Capital One Financial Company Profile

(Free Report)

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) is a diversified bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The companys core businesses include credit card lending, consumer and commercial banking, and auto finance. Capital One issues a wide range of credit card products for consumers and small businesses, and it operates deposit and digital banking services aimed at retail customers and small to midsize enterprises.

Products and services include credit and charge cards, checking and savings accounts (including the online-focused Capital One 360 platform), auto loans, and commercial lending solutions.

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Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA trimmed its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO  Free Report) by 15.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 77,686 shares of the companys stock after selling 13,799 shares during the period. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PAs holdings in Diageo were worth $7,414,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Savant Capital LLC bought a new stake in Diageo during the second quarter valued at $310,000. Philip James Wealth Mangement LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 81.8% in the 2nd quarter. Philip James Wealth Mangement LLC now owns 33,107 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,338,000 after buying an additional 14,895 shares during the period. Martin Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Diageo by 225.8% during the 2nd quarter. Martin Capital Partners LLC now owns 32,525 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,280,000 after buying an additional 22,542 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its stake in Diageo by 42.2% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 99,998 shares of the companys stock worth $10,099,000 after acquiring an additional 29,674 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in Diageo by 353.7% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 717,740 shares of the companys stock worth $72,377,000 after acquiring an additional 559,547 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on DEO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Friday, November 28th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Diageo from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Finally, UBS Group restated a neutral rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $119.00.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $86.79 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $85.13 and a 52 week high of $127.90. The companys 50 day moving average price is $92.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $99.67.

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.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LON:RR  Get Free Report) insider Tufan Erginbilgic sold 4,986 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,164, for a total value of 58,037.04.

Tufan Erginbilgic also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, November 28th, Tufan Erginbilgic sold 6,128 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,065, for a total transaction of 65,263.20.

On Monday, October 27th, Tufan Erginbilgic sold 7,433 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,133, for a total transaction of 84,215.89.

On Monday, September 29th, Tufan Erginbilgic sold 6,811 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,190, for a total transaction of 81,050.90.

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Stock Performance

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock opened at GBX 1,155 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is GBX 1,109.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 1,062. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a 1 year low of GBX 196.45 and a 1 year high of GBX 537.20. The company has a market capitalization of 99.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.82.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup raised their price target on Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from GBX 641 to GBX 1,101 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, August 29th. Berenberg Bank raised Rolls-Royce Holdings plc to a hold rating and increased their target price for the stock from GBX 240 to GBX 1,080 in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Friday, September 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 1,161.50.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for air, sea, and land in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services. The Defence segment is involved in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of military aero engines, naval engines, and submarine nuclear power plants, as well as offers aftermarket services.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. boosted its stake in CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS  Free Report) by 1,822.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 64,811 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after acquiring an additional 61,440 shares during the period. CVS Health accounts for approximately 0.9% of Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in CVS Health were worth $4,886,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CVS. Avion Wealth boosted its stake in shares of CVS Health by 99.0% during the 2nd quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 380 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. bought a new stake in CVS Health during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc grew its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 119.8% during the 1st quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 455 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the period. Front Row Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of CVS Health by 436.5% in the 2nd quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC now owns 456 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of CVS Health by 78.3% in the 2nd quarter. Roxbury Financial LLC now owns 460 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the period. 80.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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CVS Health Stock Up 0.8%

Shares of CVS Health stock opened at $78.37 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $79.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $72.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.49 billion, a PE ratio of 206.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.48. CVS Health Corporation has a 52-week low of $43.56 and a 52-week high of $85.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.83.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CVS Health ( NYSE:CVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.24. CVS Health had a net margin of 0.12% and a return on equity of 11.45%. The company had revenue of $102.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $98.85 billion. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.09 earnings per share. CVS Health has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.550-6.650 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that CVS Health Corporation will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Mizuho increased their price objective on CVS Health from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on shares of CVS Health from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of CVS Health in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of CVS Health from $87.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $94.67.

Get Our Latest Analysis on CVS Health

CVS Health Profile

(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, over?the?counter products, clinical services and health insurance offerings. Its operating model combines retail pharmacy locations and in?store clinics with broader pharmacy and health plan capabilities.

Key business activities include CVS Pharmacy retail operations, MinuteClinic walk?in medical clinics and HealthHUB locations that offer expanded clinical services.

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Trust Co. of Vermont increased its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 3.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 47,994 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,378 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific makes up 1.0% of Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings, making the stock its 24th largest position. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $23,278,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 33,789,164 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $13,700,154,000 after acquiring an additional 309,207 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the second quarter worth $2,264,615,000. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 11.3% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,897,546 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,985,759,000 after purchasing an additional 498,238 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 3,029,044 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,426,316,000 after buying an additional 168,197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 2.6% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,000,562 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,216,612,000 after buying an additional 74,971 shares during the last quarter. 89.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Performance

NYSE TMO opened at $575.85 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 1-year low of $385.46 and a 1-year high of $610.97. The company has a market cap of $216.35 billion, a PE ratio of 33.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.21 and a beta of 0.90. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $570.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $499.31.

Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The medical research company reported $5.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.50 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $11.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.90 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 15.02% and a return on equity of 16.97%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.28 EPS. Thermo Fisher Scientific has set its FY 2025 guidance at 22.600-22.860 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Thursday, November 6th that authorizes the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the medical research company to purchase up to 2.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is 9.94%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $566.10, for a total transaction of $4,104,225.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 113,762 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $64,400,668.20. The trade was a 5.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, COO Michel Lagarde sold 22,046 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $563.56, for a total transaction of $12,424,243.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 84,117 shares in the company, valued at $47,404,976.52. The trade was a 20.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 149,271 shares of company stock worth $86,507,282. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on TMO shares. Citigroup raised shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $580.00 to $660.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. TD Cowen upped their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $612.00 to $654.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. UBS Group raised their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $635.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Redburn Partners set a $580.00 target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Thermo Fisher Scientific presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $616.60.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TMO

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, software, and services that support research, clinical, and industrial laboratories. The company supplies analytical instruments and laboratory equipment, life sciences reagents and kits, specialty diagnostics, and a broad range of consumables used by researchers, clinicians, and manufacturers. Its offerings also include laboratory information management and data-analysis software, as well as service solutions such as instrument maintenance, validation, and logistics that help customers run complex workflows efficiently.

Thermo Fisher operates through multiple business areas that broadly cover life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services, including contract development and manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

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Kirr Marbach & Co. LLC IN grew its holdings in APi Group Corporation (NYSE:APG  Free Report) by 50.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 275,280 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 92,075 shares during the quarter. APi Group comprises 1.7% of Kirr Marbach & Co. LLC INs investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Kirr Marbach & Co. LLC INs holdings in APi Group were worth $9,461,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of APi Group by 16.3% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 16,674 shares of the companys stock worth $596,000 after buying an additional 2,335 shares during the period. Cresset Asset Management LLC grew its position in APi Group by 3.6% during the first quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 10,693 shares of the companys stock worth $382,000 after buying an additional 374 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its stake in APi Group by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 211,376 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,559,000 after purchasing an additional 4,906 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in APi Group by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,338,675 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,871,000 after acquiring an additional 51,932 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in APi Group during the 1st quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.62% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at APi Group

In other news, Director Martin E. Franklin sold 340,000 shares of APi Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.09, for a total transaction of $12,270,600.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 18,968,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $684,583,631.10. The trade was a 1.76% 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 this hyperlink. Insiders sold 900,000 shares of company stock worth $32,342,000 in the last three months. 17.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $45.00 price target (up previously from $43.00) on shares of APi Group in a report on Monday, December 8th. Zacks Research downgraded APi Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. CJS Securities raised APi Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of APi Group in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of APi Group from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $38.81.

Read Our Latest Analysis on APi Group

APi Group Stock Up 1.5%

Shares of NYSE:APG opened at $39.45 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $16.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 107.58 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a 50 day moving average of $37.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.45. APi Group Corporation has a 52-week low of $20.50 and a 52-week high of $40.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84.

APi Group (NYSE:APG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.02. APi Group had a net margin of 3.44% and a return on equity of 21.86%. The business had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.01 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.51 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that APi Group Corporation will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

APi Group Company Profile

(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.

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Trust Co. of Vermont grew its position in shares of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI  Free Report) by 11.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,056 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,596 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in Cummins were worth $6,359,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cummins during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Cummins during the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. CNB Bank purchased a new position in Cummins in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Flaharty Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cummins in the first quarter worth $47,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new position in shares of Cummins in the first quarter worth $50,000. 83.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on CMI shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Cummins in a report on Monday, December 15th. Barclays reissued a positive rating on shares of Cummins in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Cummins in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. They issued an overweight rating and a $599.00 price target for the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Cummins from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Cummins from $400.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Thirteen 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, Cummins currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $492.75.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Brett Michael Merritt sold 1,450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $489.32, for a total transaction of $709,514.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,536,485.72. This trade represents a 13.52% 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, CFO Mark Andrew Smith sold 13,110 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $470.66, for a total transaction of $6,170,352.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 31,582 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,864,384.12. This trade represents a 29.33% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 27,330 shares of company stock valued at $12,649,764. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Cummins Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CMI opened at $519.57 on Tuesday. Cummins Inc. has a 12 month low of $260.02 and a 12 month high of $526.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.77 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The companys fifty day moving average price is $469.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $408.85.

Cummins (NYSE:CMI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $5.59 earnings per share (EPS) 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 company had revenue of $8.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.86 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were paid a $2.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. This represents a $8.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.5%. Cumminss 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.

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Shikiar Asset Management Inc. reduced its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 30,664 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 3,758 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing makes up about 2.2% of Shikiar Asset Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Shikiar Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $8,564,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC lifted its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 16,500.0% in the 1st quarter. New Vernon Capital Holdings II LLC now owns 6,707,064 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,113,373,000 after purchasing an additional 6,666,660 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 26.7% during the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,046,792 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,728,478,000 after acquiring an additional 2,537,760 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 31.5% during the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 8,864,014 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,471,426,000 after buying an additional 2,121,758 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. lifted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 43.2% in the 2nd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 6,650,983 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,506,389,000 after acquiring an additional 2,006,745 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 109.5% during the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,526,160 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $798,640,000 after buying an additional 1,842,951 shares in the last quarter. 16.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of TSM opened at $293.02 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.52 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.05, a PEG ratio of 0.99 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 businesss fifty day moving average is $292.32 and its 200-day moving average is $260.91. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 52-week low of $134.25 and a 52-week high of $313.98.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $32.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $951.89 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 34.34% and a net margin of 43.72%.The businesss revenue was up 40.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.94 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a $0.9678 dividend. This represents a $3.87 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is 25.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TSM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Itau BBA Securities assumed coverage on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, December 14th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $360.00 target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Monday, October 27th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $355.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TSM

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile

(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.

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SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property Fund (ASX:SLF  Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Tuesday, December 23rd, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Investors of record on Sunday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of 0.168 per share on Sunday, March 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 119.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 29th. This is a 140.0% increase from SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property Funds previous interim dividend of $0.07.

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property Fund Price Performance

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property Fund Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysiaand Bermuda. As of September 30, 2020, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of C$1,186 billion.

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In June, self-made billionaire Mark Cuban lit up X with a series of posts that didn't call for sweeping legislation, but something simpler: accountability. "When a large employer pays so little that their full-time employees qualify for Medicaid, or any public assistance, we the taxpayers are effectively subsidizing that big company. That's wrong," he wrote.

Cuban wasn't pitching policy reformhe was drawing a line between capitalism and corporate freeloading. "The best way to reduce the cost of Medicaid is to name and shame big employers that pay their full time employees so little, they qualify for Medicaid," he said.

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Someone tried to drag him into a political label. Cuban pushed back. "When did you stop understanding how capitalism and free markets work? I didn't mention a word about policy change. If I knew which companies are costing taxpayers money, so they can make more money, I would stop doing business with them. That's capitalism."

It's not the first time Cuban has called out bloated systems. He launched Cost Plus Drugs in 2022 to lower prescription prices by cutting out the middlemen. He's argued for transparency, not government handouts, and he's applying the same thinking here: if companies pay workers so little that public programs have to close the gap, that's not a free marketit's a subsidy disguised as payroll.

The companies weren't named in Cuban's post, but Grok, xAI's assistant, listed several that often show up in Medicaid enrollment data: Walmart, McDonald's, Amazon, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walgreens, CVS, and Uber. These are some of the most recognizable employers in the country, and in many states, they also happen to be the top sources of workers relying on Medicaid and SNAP.

Trending: GM-Backed EnergyX Is Solving the Lithium Supply Crisis  Invest Before They Scale Global Production

This isn't just a one-off. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Walmart and McDonald's were among the biggest employers of Medicaid recipients in multiple states as of 2020. Newer state-level data shows Amazon now leads in Nevada. In other states, Walmart, Publix, and McDonald's remain on the list. The common theme? Workers clocking in full-time hours but still qualifying for public aid.
Precedent Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 652.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,175 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 16,627 shares during the quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $2,978,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Berkshire Hathaway Inc grew its holdings in Chevron by 2.9% during the second quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 122,064,792 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $17,478,458,000 after purchasing an additional 3,454,258 shares during the period. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC raised its stake in shares of Chevron by 652,139.5% in the second quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC now owns 83,714,936 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $13,214,757,000 after buying an additional 83,702,101 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Chevron by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 34,772,753 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,979,255,000 after buying an additional 1,342,723 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 20,826,805 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,982,190,000 after acquiring an additional 378,936 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Chevron during the 2nd quarter worth $2,721,477,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.42% of the companys stock.

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Trending Headlines about Chevron

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Insider Activity

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

In related news, Director John B. Hess sold 275,000 shares of the 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 owned 1,128,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $170,052,783.75. This trade represents a 19.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Several research firms have commented on CVX. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of 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 shares of Chevron from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Chevron from $160.00 to $158.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Chevron in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Chevron in a report on Monday, December 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $166.00.

View Our Latest Report on CVX

Chevron Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of Chevron stock opened at $149.85 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $152.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $152.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Chevron Corporation has a 12-month low of $132.04 and a 12-month high of $168.96. The company has a market cap of $301.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.08, a PEG ratio of 8.78 and a beta of 0.68.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.14. Chevron had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 8.74%. The business had revenue of $48.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $46.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.48 EPS. Chevrons revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were issued a $1.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.6%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is presently 96.20%.

Chevron Company Profile

(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.

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Enpro Inc. (NYSE:NPO  Free Report)  Equities researchers at Sidoti Csr reduced their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Enpro in a note issued to investors on Monday, December 22nd. Sidoti Csr analyst S. Ferazani now expects that the industrial products company will earn $2.08 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.10. The consensus estimate for Enpros current full-year earnings is $7.38 per share. Sidoti Csr also issued estimates for Enpros Q2 2026 earnings at $2.23 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.26 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.21 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.52 EPS and Q2 2027 earnings at $2.70 EPS.

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Enpro (NYSE:NPO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The industrial products company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.93 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $286.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $276.57 million. Enpro had a return on equity of 10.77% and a net margin of 7.81%.Enpro has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.750-8.050 EPS.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Enpro in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Enpro from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on Enpro from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Enpro from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $245.00.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Enpro

Enpro Stock Performance

NPO stock opened at $219.05 on Tuesday. Enpro has a 1 year low of $133.50 and a 1 year high of $248.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.82, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a current ratio of 2.44. The stocks fifty day moving average is $220.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $214.91.

Enpro Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 3rd were issued a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 3rd. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Enpros dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.47%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Enpro

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Voya Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Enpro by 21.5% in the 1st quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 18,414 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,979,000 after acquiring an additional 3,261 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC acquired a new position in shares of Enpro in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,124,000. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its stake in Enpro by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 6,184 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,185,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its holdings in Enpro by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 341,565 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $65,427,000 after buying an additional 2,801 shares during the period. Finally, Bahl & Gaynor Inc. raised its holdings in Enpro by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 35,092 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,722,000 after buying an additional 999 shares during the period. 98.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Enpro Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Enpro Group, Inc (NYSE: NPO) is a global industrial technology company specializing in engineered products designed to perform in critical and harsh environments. The companys product portfolio spans proprietary bearing materials and surface enhancement technologies, high-performance sealing solutions, and fluid handling components. Enpros offerings are tailored for markets such as semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, energy, chemical processing, life sciences and general industrial applications.

Formed in December 2002 as a spin-off from the aerospace and defense supplier Goodrich Corporation, Enpro has grown through a combination of targeted acquisitions and focused organic investment in research and development.

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HWG Holdings LP grew its position in Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD  Free Report) by 108.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 38,223 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 19,906 shares during the quarter. HWG Holdings LPs holdings in Enterprise Products Partners were worth $1,195,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in Enterprise Products Partners in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Enterprise Products Partners during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Enterprise Products Partners during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Enterprise Products Partners in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Enterprise Products Partners during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. 26.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

EPD has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Enterprise Products Partners from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a report on Monday, December 1st. UBS Group reissued a buy rating on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $32.00 price target on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.64.

Enterprise Products Partners Price Performance

Shares of EPD opened at $32.10 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $69.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.58. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has a fifty-two week low of $27.77 and a fifty-two week high of $34.53. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.88.

Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by ($0.07). Enterprise Products Partners had a return on equity of 19.40% and a net margin of 10.92%.The company had revenue of $12.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.83 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.65 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Enterprise Products Partners L.P. will post 2.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Enterprise Products Partners Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Friday, October 31st were given a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 31st. Enterprise Products Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 82.26%.

Enterprise Products Partners announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the oil and gas producer to buy up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

About Enterprise Products Partners

(Free Report)

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) is a Houston-based master limited partnership that provides midstream energy services across North America. The company owns and operates an extensive network of pipelines, storage facilities, processing plants and export terminals that transport and handle natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and refined and petrochemical products. Its core activities include gathering and transportation, fractionation of NGLs, natural gas processing, crude oil and condensate pipelines, and marine and terminal services that enable domestic distribution and exports.

Enterprise serves a diverse set of customers including producers, refiners, petrochemical companies, marketers and end users.

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Voya Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV  Free Report) by 34.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 53,597 shares of the companys stock after selling 28,446 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Elevance Health were worth $17,318,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in ELV. Stillwater Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Elevance Health during the third quarter worth about $306,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A increased its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 69.1% during the 3rd quarter. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A now owns 2,887 shares of the companys stock valued at $933,000 after acquiring an additional 1,180 shares during the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital raised its stake in Elevance Health by 13.2% during the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 1,540 shares of the companys stock worth $551,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 57,191 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,480,000 after buying an additional 1,965 shares during the period. Finally, Balefire LLC raised its position in shares of Elevance Health by 30.3% in the 3rd quarter. Balefire LLC now owns 1,798 shares of the companys stock worth $581,000 after buying an additional 418 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.24% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on ELV. UBS Group dropped their price target on Elevance Health from $435.00 to $425.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Elevance Health from $384.00 to $394.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $359.00 to $352.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Elevance Health from $412.00 to $403.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Elevance Health in a report on Monday, December 15th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $396.21.

Elevance Health Stock Performance

NYSE:ELV opened at $344.46 on Tuesday. Elevance Health, Inc. has a 1-year low of $273.71 and a 1-year high of $458.75. The stock has a market cap of $76.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.08, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $334.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $330.35.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 16.17% and a net margin of 2.84%.The firm had revenue of $50.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $49.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.37 EPS. Elevance Healths quarterly revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Elevance Health, Inc. will post 33.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Elevance Health Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $1.71 per share. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. Elevance Healths dividend payout ratio is 27.96%.

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.

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Voya Investment Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR  Free Report) by 16.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 94,071 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 18,975 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC owned about 0.14% of AptarGroup worth $12,574,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in AptarGroup during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Simplex Trading LLC boosted its stake in shares of AptarGroup by 107.4% in the first quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 224 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in shares of AptarGroup by 281.9% during the first quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 317 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. increased its position in shares of AptarGroup by 164.8% during the second quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 331 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new position in AptarGroup in the 2nd quarter valued at $74,000. 88.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. William Blair cut shares of AptarGroup from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. KeyCorp initiated coverage on AptarGroup in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. They set an overweight rating and a $220.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on AptarGroup from $152.00 to $133.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on AptarGroup from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of AptarGroup in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $168.60.

Insider Buying and Selling at AptarGroup

In related news, CAO Daniel Ackerman sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.23, for a total transaction of $1,818,450.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 29,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,589,256.61. This represents a 33.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.68% of the companys stock.

AptarGroup Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of ATR opened at $122.83 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $122.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $136.91. AptarGroup, Inc. has a 12-month low of $103.23 and a 12-month high of $164.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The firm has a market cap of $8.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.50.

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.57 by $0.05. AptarGroup had a net margin of 11.45% and a return on equity of 15.32%. The business had revenue of $961.13 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $950.55 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.49 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. AptarGroup has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.200-1.28 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that AptarGroup, Inc. will post 5.57 earnings per share for the current year.

AptarGroup Profile

(Free Report)

AptarGroup, Inc is a global provider of advanced dispensing, sealing and protection solutions for consumer and pharmaceutical markets. The company designs and manufactures a broad portfolio of products that enable the controlled delivery of liquids, gels, powders and aerosols. Its customer base spans beauty and personal care, home care, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors, where innovation in packaging and drug?delivery devices drives brand differentiation and regulatory compliance.

In the consumer markets, AptarGroup offers pumps, actuators, valves, closures and specialized bottles engineered for precision, convenience and sustainability.

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Voya Investment Management LLC cut its holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG  Free Report) by 14.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 62,949 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 10,217 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC owned 0.18% of The Hanover Insurance Group worth $11,433,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 57.5% during the first quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 21,332 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,708,000 after purchasing an additional 7,790 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its holdings in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 819.0% during the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 386 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 344 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $888,000. Ieq Capital LLC grew its holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group by 19.0% in the 1st quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 15,154 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,636,000 after buying an additional 2,423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp boosted its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 192.9% during the 1st quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp now owns 8,200 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,426,000 after acquiring an additional 5,400 shares during the last quarter. 86.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

THG has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in a report on Monday, November 24th. They set a sector perform rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on The Hanover Insurance Group from $198.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $199.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Denise Lowsley sold 1,619 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $181.47, for a total transaction of $293,799.93. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,511 shares in the company, valued at approximately $637,141.17. The trade was a 31.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.

The Hanover Insurance Group Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE:THG opened at $185.78 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $179.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $174.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $145.17 and a 12-month high of $188.18. The firm has a market cap of $6.61 billion, a PE ratio of 10.74 and a beta of 0.33.

The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The insurance provider reported $5.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.79 by $1.30. The Hanover Insurance Group had a return on equity of 21.73% and a net margin of 9.71%.The company had revenue of $1.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.72 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.05 EPS. The Hanover Insurance Groups revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 14.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Hanover Insurance Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be given a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 12th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. This is a boost from The Hanover Insurance Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The Hanover Insurance Groups payout ratio is currently 21.98%.

The Hanover Insurance Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc (NYSE: THG) is a property and casualty insurance company that provides a range of commercial and personal insurance products. Through its subsidiary companies, Hanover offers coverage for businesses of all sizes, including workers compensation, general liability, commercial auto, and professional liability. On the personal lines side, the company underwrites homeowners, personal auto, flood, and umbrella policies designed to meet the needs of individuals and families.

In addition to its core commercial and personal insurance offerings, Hanover maintains a specialty arm that focuses on niche markets through tailored product solutions.

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Wedge Capital Management L L P NC trimmed its position in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE  Free Report) by 13.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 75,584 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,222 shares during the quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC owned about 0.12% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $4,430,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 34.3% in the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 845 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the second quarter valued at about $53,000. Costello Asset Management INC increased its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 334.3% in the second quarter. Costello Asset Management INC now owns 1,290 shares of the companys stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 993 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 43.6% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,624 shares of the companys stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ransom Advisory Ltd boosted its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 800.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ransom Advisory Ltd now owns 1,800 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600 shares during the period. 96.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a research report on Monday, October 27th. They set an equal weight rating and a $58.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, NorthWestern Energy Group currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.20.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NYSE:NWE opened at $63.94 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.93 billion, a PE ratio of 17.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $50.46 and a 12-month high of $69.23. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $64.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.12.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.04. NorthWestern Energy Group had a return on equity of 7.40% and a net margin of 14.81%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.65 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. NorthWestern Energy Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 74.79%.

About NorthWestern Energy Group

(Free Report)

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE: NWE) is a regulated energy utility company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The company delivers electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers across a service territory that spans Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, NorthWestern Corporation, it operates a diversified portfolio of generation assets, including thermal, hydroelectric and renewable facilities, as well as an extensive network of transmission and distribution lines.

NorthWestern Energys primary business activities encompass the delivery, transmission and sale of electric and natural gas services.

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Wedge Capital Management L L P NC reduced its stake in shares of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP  Free Report) by 26.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 193,973 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 70,075 shares during the period. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC owned about 0.20% of Helmerich & Payne worth $4,285,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Helmerich & Payne by 2,433.8% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,647 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,582 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Helmerich & Payne by 29.2% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,092 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 925 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Helmerich & Payne in the 2nd quarter valued at about $64,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Helmerich & Payne by 27.4% during the second quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 4,940 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 1,063 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new position in Helmerich & Payne during the first quarter worth about $81,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.05% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Helmerich & Payne

In other Helmerich & Payne news, Director Hans Helmerich sold 75,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.12, for a total value of $2,109,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 496,735 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,968,188.20. The trade was a 13.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 4.51% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on HP. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Helmerich & Payne from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, November 23rd. Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Helmerich & Payne in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Helmerich & Payne from $29.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Helmerich & Payne from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Piper Sandler upgraded Helmerich & Payne from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $21.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Thursday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $31.20.

View Our Latest Report on HP

Helmerich & Payne Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of HP stock opened at $28.25 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.78 billion, a PE ratio of -16.92 and a beta of 0.56. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. has a 52-week low of $14.65 and a 52-week high of $37.30. The businesss fifty day moving average is $26.99 and its 200 day moving average is $21.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.80.

Helmerich & Payne (NYSE:HP  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 17th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by ($0.27). Helmerich & Payne had a positive return on equity of 3.21% and a negative net margin of 4.37%.The business had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $972.79 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.76 earnings per share. Helmerich & Paynes revenue was up 45.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Helmerich & Payne, Inc. will post 2.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Helmerich & Payne Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. Helmerich & Paynes payout ratio is presently -59.88%.

Helmerich & Payne Company Profile

(Free Report)

Helmerich & Payne, Inc is a leading provider of contract drilling services to the oil and gas industry, specializing primarily in onshore drilling operations. The company designs, engineers and operates a fleet of advanced drilling rigs, including its proprietary FlexRigs, which are engineered for high efficiency, safety and rapid mobilization. Alongside core drilling services, Helmerich & Payne offers well intervention, workover and coiled tubing services, positioning itself as a comprehensive drilling solutions partner for exploration and production companies worldwide.

Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Helmerich & Payne has grown through innovation and strategic expansion to serve diverse hydrocarbon basins.

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Wedge Capital Management L L P NC reduced its holdings in F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB  Free Report) by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 218,354 shares of the banks stock after selling 44,627 shares during the period. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC owned approximately 0.06% of F.N.B. worth $3,518,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of F.N.B. by 22.8% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 3,802 shares of the banks stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 706 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in F.N.B. by 5.6% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 15,096 shares of the banks stock worth $243,000 after buying an additional 807 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its stake in F.N.B. by 2.1% during the first quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 55,509 shares of the banks stock worth $747,000 after buying an additional 1,121 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC grew its holdings in F.N.B. by 82.2% in the 1st quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 3,295 shares of the banks stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 1,487 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in shares of F.N.B. by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 87,304 shares of the banks stock worth $1,273,000 after acquiring an additional 1,514 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.25% of the companys stock.

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F.N.B. Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE FNB opened at $17.84 on Tuesday. F.N.B. Corporation has a 52-week low of $10.88 and a 52-week high of $17.93. The businesss 50 day moving average is $16.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.83. The firm has a market cap of $6.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.83, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

F.N.B. Announces Dividend

F.N.B. ( NYSE:FNB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 20th. The bank reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter. F.N.B. had a return on equity of 8.22% and a net margin of 19.23%.The business had revenue of $419.30 million during the quarter. Research analysts predict that F.N.B. Corporation will post 1.45 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. F.N.B.s dividend payout ratio is currently 34.53%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on FNB shares. DA Davidson cut shares of F.N.B. from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of F.N.B. from $18.00 to $18.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of F.N.B. in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. They set an overweight rating and a $19.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of F.N.B. in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $19.00.

Read Our Latest Report on F.N.B.

Insider Activity at F.N.B.

In related news, insider Gary L. Guerrieri sold 15,000 shares of F.N.B. stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.67, for a total value of $265,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 279,883 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,945,532.61. The trade was a 5.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider James L. Dutey sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.75, for a total transaction of $670,000.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 49,936 shares in the company, valued at approximately $836,428. This trade represents a 44.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 1.37% of the companys stock.

F.N.B. Company Profile

(Free Report)

F.N.B. Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through its principal subsidiary, FNB Bank, the company provides a broad range of commercial and consumer financial services. Founded in 1864 as the First National Bank of Pennsylvania, F.N.B. has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to become a regional banking franchise.

The companys main business activities include traditional deposit-taking and lending services, such as checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and consumer and commercial loans.

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Westwind Capital lessened its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL  Free Report) by 42.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 27,136 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 19,659 shares during the period. Tyler Technologies accounts for about 3.0% of Westwind Capitals portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Westwind Capital owned about 0.06% of Tyler Technologies worth $14,196,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Tyler Technologies by 14.8% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 552 shares of the technology companys stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Tyler Technologies by 2.3% during the first quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 9,026 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,248,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the period. Allstate Corp lifted its position in Tyler Technologies by 2.3% during the first quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 1,267 shares of the technology companys stock worth $737,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC grew its stake in Tyler Technologies by 281.7% during the first quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 1,084 shares of the technology companys stock worth $630,000 after buying an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Tyler Technologies by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,165 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $677,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. 93.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Tyler Technologies Stock Up 1.6%

Shares of TYL stock opened at $465.33 on Tuesday. Tyler Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $445.64 and a twelve month high of $661.31. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $473.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $529.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.72, a P/E/G ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.91.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Tyler Technologies ( NYSE:TYL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $2.97 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.09. Tyler Technologies had a return on equity of 10.57% and a net margin of 13.72%.The firm had revenue of $595.88 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $594.34 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.52 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Tyler Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.300-11.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Tyler Technologies, Inc. will post 8.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on TYL. Cowen started coverage on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Friday, December 12th. They set a buy rating for the company. Robert W. Baird set a $660.00 target price on Tyler Technologies in a report on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Tyler Technologies in a research report on Friday, December 12th. They set a buy rating and a $650.00 price objective for the company. Finally, UBS Group reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $649.31.

View Our Latest Research Report on Tyler Technologies

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Tyler Technologies news, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $448.51, for a total value of $448,510.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 17,148 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,691,049.48. This represents a 5.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $458.73, for a total transaction of $229,365.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,172 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,455,091.56. The trade was a 13.62% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 3,500 shares of company stock worth $1,605,605 over the last three months. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Tyler Technologies Profile

(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.

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Healthcare didn't become confusing overnight. It got there slowly, buried under paperwork, billing codes, and middlemen most patients never asked for. That frustration is what Mark Cuban, the self-made billionaire and longtime Shark Tank investor, decided to unpack on his own  without being asked.

In January, Cuban returned to his personal site, Blog Maverick, after a long stretch of silence. "I haven't published anything on here in a long, long time.. Thought it would be fun to start up again," he wrote. He said the post was meant to be informal and exploratory. "I wanted to give some stream of consciousness thoughts on how I think we can fix' the economics of healthcare.. Hopefully I make a lot of folks think and make a lot of folks in the industry think harder."

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From there, Cuban went straight to what he sees as the core problem. "Healthcare is a very simple industry made complicated," he wrote, arguing that the complexity isn't driven by better care but by the pursuit of margin dollars.

When Cuban asked what healthcare should look like, his answer was intentionally retro. "Hypothetically, it should look like 1955," he wrote. "Patients go to providers for care. Providers provide that care. Patients get a bill and if they can afford it, they pay that bill. That's it."

In his view, everything else is secondary. "The ONLY question in healthcare should be How should care for people who can't afford to pay for their care be paid?'" he wrote. The rest, he suggested, is noise layered onto a transaction that used to be straightforward.

Trending: GM-Backed EnergyX Is Solving the Lithium Supply Crisis  Invest Before They Scale Global Production

Cuban also took aim at how pricing gets obscured. He criticized bundled charges, markups on basic supplies, and contracts so complex they hide real costs. Publishing prices alone doesn't solve it, he argued, when "everyone bundles and upcodes and plays games."

Insurance companies, he wrote, are a major source of that distortion. Managing and administering payments alone can add 20% to 30% in overhead, before accounting for fraud and overbilling. "That's real money," Cuban said, especially in a system he estimates costs about $5 trillion a year.
Welch Group LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,986,914 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 78,141 shares during the quarter. Pfizer comprises approximately 2.0% of Welch Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Welch Group LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $50,627,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Curio Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 36,600.0% in the 2nd quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 1,101 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,098 shares in the last quarter. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Pfizer during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new position in Pfizer in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the subject of several research reports. Scotiabank assumed coverage on Pfizer in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They set a sector outperform rating and a $30.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. HSBC restated a buy rating and set a $29.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $26.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.06.

Pfizer Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of PFE stock opened at $25.23 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $143.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.67 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $25.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $24.86. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $20.92 and a twelve month high of $27.69.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $16.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations 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. Research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a $0.43 dividend. 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 payout ratio is presently 100.00%.

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.

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Westhaven Gold Corp. (CVE:WHN  Get Free Report) shares were up 51.5% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.27 and last traded at C$0.25. Approximately 5,120,824 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 1,872% from the average daily volume of 259,677 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.17.

Westhaven Gold News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Westhaven Gold this week:

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Positive Sentiment: Westhaven signed a definitive earn?in with Dundee Corporation that can bring up to C$85 million to advance its Spences Bridge gold projects  the deal funds exploration and staged investment that could materially de?risk the assets and accelerate drill programs and resource growth. Westhaven Secures Up to C$85 Million Dundee Earn-In to Advance Spences Bridge Gold Projects

Westhaven signed a definitive earn?in with Dundee Corporation that can bring up to C$85 million to advance its Spences Bridge gold projects  the deal funds exploration and staged investment that could materially de?risk the assets and accelerate drill programs and resource growth. Neutral Sentiment: Westhaven was featured in a Stocks in play roundup, bringing increased visibility and short?term trading interest which can amplify volume and volatility but does not change fundamentals. Stocks in play: Westhaven Gold Corp.

Westhaven was featured in a Stocks in play roundup, bringing increased visibility and short?term trading interest which can amplify volume and volatility but does not change fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Financial metrics remain a concern: a very low reported current ratio (~0.07) signals limited near?term liquidity and the company is unprofitable (negative P/E), which raises dilution risk if additional capital is required beyond the earn?in structure. Investors should monitor financing terms, milestone dilution and operating cash burn.

Westhaven Gold Stock Performance

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$0.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.17. The firm has a market capitalization of C$61.34 million, a PE ratio of -25.00 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.07 and a quick ratio of 1.03.

About Westhaven Gold

Westhaven Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. The company was formerly known as Westhaven Ventures Inc and changed its name to Westhaven Gold Corp. in June 2020. Westhaven Gold Corp. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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MetLife (NYSE:MET  Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $94.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the financial services providers stock. Wells Fargo & Companys target price indicates a potential upside of 15.69% from the companys current price.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of MetLife in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Morgan Stanley set a $101.00 price target on MetLife and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Piper Sandler downgraded MetLife from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $84.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of MetLife to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, MetLife has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.73.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on MetLife

MetLife Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of MET stock traded down $0.10 on Tuesday, hitting $81.26. The stock had a trading volume of 53,401 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,431,109. The business has a 50 day moving average of $78.52 and a 200 day moving average of $78.90. MetLife has a 12-month low of $65.21 and a 12-month high of $88.09. The stock has a market cap of $53.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.18 and a quick ratio of 0.18.

MetLife (NYSE:MET  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $12.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.64 billion. MetLife had a return on equity of 21.00% and a net margin of 5.30%.The firms revenue was down 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.95 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that MetLife will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of MetLife

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MET. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of MetLife by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,585 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $295,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Trustmark Bank Trust Department increased its position in shares of MetLife by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Trustmark Bank Trust Department now owns 2,870 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in MetLife by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,192 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $263,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in MetLife by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,790 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $230,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in MetLife by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 7,040 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $580,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the period. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

MetLife Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

MetLife, Inc is a global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs. Headquartered in New York City, the company offers a range of risk protection and retirement solutions to individuals, employers and institutional clients. Its core businesses include life insurance, group benefits, retirement products such as annuities, and supplemental health products including dental and disability coverage.

In addition to traditional life and group insurance, MetLife provides workplace benefits and voluntary products distributed through employer-sponsored programs.

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Shares of Northpointe Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:NPB  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday after Piper Sandler raised their price target on the stock from $19.50 to $20.00. The stock had previously closed at $17.00, but opened at $17.51. Piper Sandler currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Northpointe Bancshares shares last traded at $17.5150, with a volume of 1,498 shares.

NPB has been the subject of several other reports. Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on Northpointe Bancshares in a research report on Thursday, August 28th. They set a neutral rating and a $19.25 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Northpointe Bancshares in a report on Monday, December 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $19.08.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Northpointe Bancshares

Northpointe Bancshares Stock Performance

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Northpointe Bancshares by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,841,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $65,617,000 after purchasing an additional 95,953 shares in the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lifted its stake in shares of Northpointe Bancshares by 122.0% in the second quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 1,694,728 shares of the companys stock worth $23,235,000 after buying an additional 931,240 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Northpointe Bancshares by 84.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,063,156 shares of the companys stock worth $18,159,000 after acquiring an additional 485,525 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Northpointe Bancshares during the 1st quarter valued at about $9,908,000. Finally, Jacobs Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Northpointe Bancshares in the first quarter valued at approximately $8,998,000.

The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. The firm has a market cap of $601.99 million and a PE ratio of 11.16. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $16.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $16.21.

Northpointe Bancshares (NYSE:NPB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $64.36 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $62.17 million. Northpointe Bancshares had a net margin of 16.09% and a return on equity of 12.43%.

Northpointe Bancshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th were given a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 15th. This represents a $0.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Northpointe Bancsharess dividend payout ratio is currently 6.37%.

About Northpointe Bancshares

(Get Free Report)

Northpointe Bancshares, Inc is the bank holding company for Northpointe Bank, an FDIC-insured community bank based in Michigan. The company offers a full range of commercial and consumer banking solutions, serving retail, small business and corporate clients through both a physical branch network and digital platforms.

Northpointe Banks product suite includes interest-bearing checking and savings accounts, money market and certificate of deposit offerings, as well as residential mortgage lending, home equity financing and unsecured consumer loans.

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PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF  Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading on Tuesday. Stock investors bought 3,462 call options on the company. This is an increase of 121% compared to the typical volume of 1,568 call options.

Insider Transactions at PBF Energy

In other PBF Energy news, CAO Steven John Andriola sold 2,579 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.19, for a total value of $67,544.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 17,414 shares in the company, valued at $456,072.66. This represents a 12.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Thomas J. Nimbley sold 250,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.51, for a total transaction of $8,627,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 790,716 shares in the company, valued at $27,287,609.16. This trade represents a 24.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 509,624 shares of company stock valued at $18,260,965. Corporate insiders own 6.70% of the companys stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On PBF Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PBF. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of PBF Energy by 147.4% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,772,258 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $83,639,000 after buying an additional 1,651,516 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in PBF Energy by 230.7% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,085,060 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $45,183,000 after acquiring an additional 1,454,500 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in PBF Energy by 2,198.8% in the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,212,368 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $36,577,000 after purchasing an additional 1,159,628 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of PBF Energy during the second quarter valued at about $24,599,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in shares of PBF Energy by 276.2% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,028,799 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $22,294,000 after buying an additional 755,310 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.29% of the companys stock.

PBF Energy Stock Up 1.2%

PBF Energy stock traded up $0.32 on Tuesday, hitting $26.44. 353,239 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,140,172. PBF Energy has a 1 year low of $13.61 and a 1 year high of $41.47. The firm has a market cap of $3.06 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.71 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $33.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.29.

PBF Energy (NYSE:PBF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.52) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.69) by $0.17. PBF Energy had a negative return on equity of 15.88% and a negative net margin of 1.78%.The firm had revenue of $7.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($1.50) EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that PBF Energy will post -1.12 earnings per share for the current year.

PBF Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.2%. PBF Energys payout ratio is currently -23.66%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on PBF. Bank of America raised their price target on PBF Energy from $16.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Cowen restated a sell rating on shares of PBF Energy in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Tudor Pickering cut shares of PBF Energy from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of PBF Energy from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of PBF Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and nine have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $29.38.

Check Out Our Latest Report on PBF Energy

PBF Energy Company Profile

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PBF Energy, Inc is an independent petroleum refiner organized in 2008 and headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2012 under the ticker symbol PBF. Since its formation, PBF Energy has grown through acquisitions and operational optimization, positioning itself as a leading supplier of refined petroleum products in the United States.

The company owns and operates five refineries located along the U.S. Gulf Coast, East Coast and in the Pacific Northwest, with a combined crude oil processing capacity of approximately 900,000 barrels per day.

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Getty Realty (NYSE:GTY  Get Free Report) and First Industrial Realty Trust (NYSE:FR  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, risk, dividends and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Getty Realty and First Industrial Realty Trust, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Getty Realty 0 3 3 0 2.50 First Industrial Realty Trust 0 7 5 0 2.42

Getty Realty currently has a consensus target price of $31.80, suggesting a potential upside of 13.77%. First Industrial Realty Trust has a consensus target price of $57.85, suggesting a potential upside of 0.58%. Given Getty Realtys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Getty Realty is more favorable than First Industrial Realty Trust.

Dividends

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Getty Realty pays an annual dividend of $1.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.7%. First Industrial Realty Trust pays an annual dividend of $1.78 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Getty Realty pays out 146.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. First Industrial Realty Trust pays out 99.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Getty Realty has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and First Industrial Realty Trust has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years.

85.1% of Getty Realty shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.9% of First Industrial Realty Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.8% of Getty Realty shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of First Industrial Realty Trust shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Getty Realty and First Industrial Realty Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Getty Realty 34.76% 7.60% 3.72% First Industrial Realty Trust 33.18% 8.65% 4.38%

Volatility and Risk

Getty Realty has a beta of 0.84, meaning that its stock price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Industrial Realty Trust has a beta of 1.13, meaning that its stock price is 13% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Getty Realty and First Industrial Realty Trusts gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Getty Realty $203.39 million 7.93 $71.06 million $1.28 21.84 First Industrial Realty Trust $669.64 million 11.37 $287.55 million $1.79 32.13

First Industrial Realty Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Getty Realty. Getty Realty is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Industrial Realty Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

First Industrial Realty Trust beats Getty Realty on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Getty Realty

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Getty Realty Corp. is a publicly traded, net lease REIT specializing in the acquisition, financing and development of convenience, automotive and other single tenant retail real estate. As of December 31, 2023, the Companys portfolio included 1,093 freestanding properties located in 40 states across the United States and Washington, D.C.

About First Industrial Realty Trust

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First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FR) is a leading U.S.-only owner, operator, developer and acquirer of logistics properties. Through our fully integrated operating and investing platform, we provide high quality facilities and industry-leading customer service to multinational corporations and regional firms that are essential for their supply chains. Our portfolio and new investments are concentrated in 15 target MSAs with an emphasis on supply-constrained, coastally oriented markets. In total, we own and have under development approximately 68.5 million square feet of industrial space as of December 31, 2023.

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Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (NYSE:ECO  Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $33.66, but opened at $32.34. Okeanis Eco Tankers shares last traded at $32.3140, with a volume of 80,434 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ECO has been the subject of several research reports. Zacks Research raised Okeanis Eco Tankers from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. B. Riley upped their price target on Okeanis Eco Tankers from $35.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers in a report on Monday, December 15th. Clarkson Capital upgraded Okeanis Eco Tankers to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $37.00.

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Okeanis Eco Tankers Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. The company has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a PE ratio of 13.68 and a beta of -0.01. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $34.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.96.

Okeanis Eco Tankers (NYSE:ECO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.48. Okeanis Eco Tankers had a return on equity of 18.05% and a net margin of 21.92%.The business had revenue of $90.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $51.29 million. Analysts predict that Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. will post 1.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Okeanis Eco Tankers Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.75 per share. This is an increase from Okeanis Eco Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 2nd. Okeanis Eco Tankerss dividend payout ratio is presently 125.52%.

Institutional Trading of Okeanis Eco Tankers

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ECO. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers by 108.2% during the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 420,789 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,144,000 after purchasing an additional 218,717 shares in the last quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Okeanis Eco Tankers by 210.9% during the first quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 122,529 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,906,000 after buying an additional 83,122 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in Okeanis Eco Tankers by 56.8% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 150,568 shares of the companys stock worth $3,328,000 after buying an additional 54,528 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in Okeanis Eco Tankers by 517.5% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 58,678 shares of the companys stock worth $1,718,000 after acquiring an additional 49,176 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Militia Capital Partners LP bought a new position in Okeanis Eco Tankers in the 3rd quarter worth about $1,024,000.

About Okeanis Eco Tankers

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Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. is a Marshall Islandsincorporated, publicly traded shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of eco-design product tankers. The company made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ECO in May 2019 following an initial public offering. It focuses on the acquisition of newbuilding medium-range (MR) and long-range (LR) product tankers designed to deliver enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

As of its public listing, Okeanis Eco Tankers fleet comprises twelve eco-efficient vessels built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in South Korea.

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Ping An Insurance Co. of China Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PNGAY  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $17.00 and last traded at $16.91, with a volume of 4330 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.85.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Zacks Research raised shares of Ping An Insurance Co. of China from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Strong Buy.

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Read Our Latest Report on Ping An Insurance Co. of China

Ping An Insurance Co. of China Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $154.15 billion, a PE ratio of 7.95 and a beta of 0.26. The firms 50-day moving average is $15.04 and its 200 day moving average is $14.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.48.

Ping An Insurance Co. of China (OTCMKTS:PNGAY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter. Ping An Insurance Co. of China had a return on equity of 10.48% and a net margin of 11.89%.The company had revenue of $49.63 billion during the quarter. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Ping An Insurance Co. of China Ltd. will post 2.12 EPS for the current year.

Ping An Insurance Co. of China Company Profile

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Ping An Insurance Company of China, Ltd., commonly known as Ping An, is a diversified financial services conglomerate headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Founded in 1988 as one of the countrys first joint-stock insurance companies, Ping An has developed broad capabilities across life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and annuity products. The company serves individual and corporate customers with a range of protection and savings products, including life policies, auto and property coverage, commercial insurance solutions and retirement-oriented offerings.

Beyond traditional insurance underwriting, Ping An operates an integrated financial services platform that includes retail and corporate banking, asset and wealth management, securities brokerage and investment services.

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Hut 8, Tempus AI, BigBear.ai, Upstart, SoundHound AI, Fluence Energy, and SentinelOne are the seven Artificial Intelligence stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Artificial intelligence stocks are shares of companies whose core business or a substantial portion of revenue comes from developing, supplying, or deploying AI technologies  including pure-play AI developers, chipmakers for AI workloads, cloud and software providers with AI services, and firms using AI to transform their offerings. For investors, these stocks offer thematic exposure to the growth and disruption driven by AI but often carry higher volatility, rapid technological and competitive change, and company-specific execution risk. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Artificial Intelligence stocks within the last several days.

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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.

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

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.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BBAI

Upstart (UPST)

Upstart Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform in the United States. Its platform includes personal loans, automotive retail and refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, and small dollar loans that connects consumer demand for loans to its to bank and credit unions.

Read Our Latest Research Report on UPST

SoundHound AI (SOUN)

SoundHound AI, Inc. develops independent voice artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enables businesses across automotive, TV, and IoT, and to customer service industries to deliver high-quality conversational experiences to their customers. Its products include Houndify platform that offers a suite of Houndify tools to help brands build conversational voice assistants, such as Application Programming Interfaces (API) for text and voice queries, support for custom commands, extensive library of content domains, inclusive software development kit platforms, collaboration capabilities, diagnostic tools, and built-in analytics; SoundHound Chat AI that integrates with knowledge domains, pulling real-time data like weather, sports, stocks, flight status, and restaurants; and SoundHound Smart Answering is built to offer customer establishments custom AI-powered voice assistant.

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Fluence Energy (FLNC)

Fluence Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, offers energy storage products and solution, services, and artificial intelligence enabled software-as-a-service products for renewables and storage applications in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company sells energy storage products with integrated hardware, software, and digital intelligence.

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SentinelOne (S)

SentinelOne, Inc. operates as a cybersecurity provider in the United States and internationally. Its Singularity Platform delivers an artificial intelligence-powered autonomous threat prevention, detection, and response capabilities across an organization's endpoints, cloud workloads, and identify credentials, which enables seamless and autonomous protection against a spectrum of cyber threats.

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Further Reading
Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:CX  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $11.85 and last traded at $11.8250, with a volume of 575568 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $11.78.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CX has been the topic of several research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Cemex in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays increased their price objective on Cemex from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Bank of America upgraded Cemex from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $10.00 to $10.80 in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Cemex from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Cemex from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $8.10 to $10.50 in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Cemex presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.14.

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Cemex Stock Up 0.6%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.18 billion, a PE ratio of 12.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.61.

Cemex (NYSE:CX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The construction company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $226.73 million. Cemex had a net margin of 8.62% and a return on equity of 6.85%. Analysts forecast that Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. will post 0.69 EPS for the current year.

Cemex Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be given a dividend of $0.0224 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.09 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Cemexs dividend payout ratio is currently 9.68%.

Institutional Trading of Cemex

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Cemex by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,908,186 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $21,925,000 after buying an additional 44,684 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in Cemex by 4.6% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,785,660 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $10,018,000 after acquiring an additional 77,898 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Cemex by 62.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,564,602 shares of the construction companys stock worth $8,777,000 after purchasing an additional 603,513 shares during the period. Compound Planning Inc. increased its position in shares of Cemex by 35.4% during the first quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 26,568 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $149,000 after buying an additional 6,944 shares during the period. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Cemex in the first quarter worth about $7,954,000. 82.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Cemex

(Get Free Report)

Cemex (NYSE: CX) is a global building materials company headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico. The company produces, distributes and sells cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates, as well as related building materials, to construction markets in more than 50 countries. Cemexs product portfolio also includes asphalt and mortar mixes, waste-derived fuels and other complementary construction solutions, supported by a network of production facilities, distribution centers and logistics operations.

Founded in 1906 as Cementos Hidalgo, the company adopted the Cemex name in 1976 following a series of domestic mergers and expansions.

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Mark Zuckerbergs decision to cut off funding to the proimmigration group FWD.us marks a sharp turn away from the high-profile social advocacy that once defined his philanthropy, even as MacKenzie Scott is emerging as the eras most aggressive backer of equity- and DEI-driven causes.

The split shows a broader divergence in tech philanthropy: one billionaire channeling resources into science and AI infrastructure, the other pouring unrestricted billions into institutions serving communities historically excluded from power and wealth.

For more than a decade, FWD.us was a marquee example of Zuckerbergs attempt to fuse Silicon Valley muscle with Washington policy, pushing immigration and criminal justice reform from the political center.

But in 2025, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) quietly stopped funding FWD.usits first year without support from Zuckerberg; his wife, Priscilla Chan; or their philanthropyformally ending a relationship that began with a 2013 launch oped and hundreds of millions of dollars in backing, Business Insider reports.

The winddown was years in the making: By late 2022, CZI had already begun pivoting away from social advocacy, providing foundational funding meant to give FWD.us runway before the partnership ended, and in April 2025, the break was formalized. The timing now reads less like a slow fade than a strategic alignment with Zuckerbergs rightward political recalibration in the Trump era, as Meta relaxed content rules criticized by conservatives, while the company and its CEO leaned into the new administration.

Zuckerberg bets on science and AI

CZIs new pitch sounds less like a traditional foundation and more like a research lab: Its leadership talks about GPUs, not gala dinners. In November, Zuckerberg and Chan announced that CZI would concentrate on science and AI, doubling down on the Biohub network of biology labs it has funded since 2016 and recruiting researchers with the promise of massive compute power rather than more office space.

Where early CZI grants were scattered across immigration, criminal justice, and education policy, the current strategy funnels capital into building infrastructuredata, tools, and modelsthat scientists can use for decades. The bet is that by underwriting AIenabled biomedical discovery and related fields, CZI can claim longhorizon, systemlevel impact without the political volatility that accompanies hotbutton social debates like border policy or policing.

MacKenzie Scotts DEI commitment

MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is moving in the opposite direction, embracing the very equity agendas many corporations and campuses are backing away from under political pressure. In 2025 alone, she announced roughly $7.1 billion in donationsbringing her total giving since 2019 to more than $26 billionwith a heavy tilt toward historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, Native scholarship providers, and organizations serving lowincome and underrepresented students.
Shares of Koninklijke KPN NV (OTCMKTS:KKPNY  Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 1,427,681 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 172% from the previous sessions volume of 524,279 shares.The stock last traded at $4.72 and had previously closed at $4.65.

Koninklijke KPN Stock Performance

The firms 50-day simple moving average is $4.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.68.

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About Koninklijke KPN

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Koninklijke KPN N.V. (KPN) is a Dutch telecommunications and information-communications-technology (ICT) company that provides a broad range of connectivity and digital services. Its core activities include fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband internet, and television services for residential customers, alongside managed network, cloud, security and unified communications solutions for business and public-sector clients. KPN operates and maintains network infrastructure such as fiber and mobile networks, data centers, and platforms for Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity services.

The companys primary market is the Netherlands, where it serves households, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporates and government organizations.

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Matador Resources (NYSE: MTDR) recently received a number of ratings updates from brokerages and research firms:

12/19/2025  Matador Resources had its overweight rating reaffirmed by analysts at KeyCorp.

12/18/2025  Matador Resources had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at BMO Capital Markets.

12/12/2025  Matador Resources had its price target raised by analysts at UBS Group AG from $46.00 to $50.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock.

12/12/2025  Matador Resources had its price target raised by analysts at Mizuho from $67.00 to $70.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock.

12/8/2025  Matador Resources is now covered by analysts at Citigroup Inc.. They set a buy rating and a $53.00 price target on the stock.

11/3/2025  Matador Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at Bank of America Corporation from $55.00 to $50.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock.

10/24/2025  Matador Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $71.00 to $61.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

10/24/2025  Matador Resources had its price target lowered by analysts at KeyCorp from $61.00 to $52.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock.

Matador Resources Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 5th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a $0.375 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. This is an increase from Matador Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Matador Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.96%.

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Insider Activity

In other Matador Resources news, Director Susan M. Ward bought 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 3rd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $39.04 per share, for a total transaction of $195,200.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 14,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $582,593.92. This represents a 50.39% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joseph Wm Foran purchased 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $38.14 per share, for a total transaction of $38,140.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 23,867 shares in the company, valued at $910,287.38. This trade represents a 4.37% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders bought a total of 37,346 shares of company stock valued at $1,463,396 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 5.80% of the companys stock.

Matador Resources Company is an independent energy firm primarily engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas. The company focuses on upstream operations, utilizing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques to unlock hydrocarbons from key reservoirs. Its asset base includes both operated and non?operated positions, with a particular emphasis on the Permian Basin, one of the most prolific oil-producing regions in North America.

Matadors core operations are concentrated in the Delaware Basin segment of the Permian Basin, where it holds substantial acreage in both Reeves and Culberson counties in West Texas and Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico.

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KBC Group SA (OTCMKTS:KBCSY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $65.87 and last traded at $65.87, with a volume of 8174 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $65.73.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on KBCSY shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of KBC Group in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Barclays lowered shares of KBC Group from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating on shares of KBC Group in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of KBC Group in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of KBC Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold.

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KBC Group Trading Up 0.2%

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $61.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $57.48. The firm has a market cap of $55.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.15, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.54.

KBC Group (OTCMKTS:KBCSY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.06. KBC Group had a return on equity of 13.96% and a net margin of 15.91%.The company had revenue of $3.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.54 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that KBC Group SA will post 4.28 EPS for the current year.

About KBC Group

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KBC Group is a Belgian bank-insurance group headquartered in Brussels that combines retail and commercial banking with life and non-life insurance, asset management, leasing and related financial services. The company operates an integrated bank-insurance model designed to serve both individual consumers and corporate clients, offering deposit accounts, lending and mortgage products, payment and treasury services, pension and protection insurance, investment solutions and wealth management.

The groups banking activities include retail and private banking, corporate and commercial banking, and specialized finance such as leasing and factoring.

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The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$101.33 and last traded at C$101.04, with a volume of 998068 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$100.40.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on BNS. TD Securities raised their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$93.00 to C$99.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$78.00 to C$88.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. Raymond James Financial set a C$108.00 target price on Bank of Nova Scotia and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Desjardins increased their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$100.00 to C$104.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$98.00 to C$100.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$93.85.

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Bank of Nova Scotia Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of C$125.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.35. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$94.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$85.75.

Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 2nd. The bank reported C$1.93 EPS for the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia had a net margin of 17.68% and a return on equity of 9.64%. The company had revenue of C$9.77 billion during the quarter. As a group, analysts predict that The Bank of Nova Scotia will post 7.1286267 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of Nova Scotia Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th were issued a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 7th. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. Bank of Nova Scotias dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 76.19%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of Nova Scotia

In other news, insider Julie Walsh sold 3,716 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$100.62, for a total value of C$373,903.92. Following the sale, the insider owned 1,430 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$143,886.60. This represents a 72.21% decrease in their position. Insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock.

About Bank of Nova Scotia

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Bank of Nova Scotia is a global financial services provider. The bank has five business segments: Canadian banking, international banking, global wealth management, global banking and markets, and other. It offers a range of advice, products, and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. The banks international operations span numerous countries and are more concentrated in Central and South America.

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Ethernity Networks Ltd. (LON:ENET  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 0.01 and last traded at GBX 0.01, with a volume of 242303875 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.01.

Ethernity Networks Price Performance

The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 0.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 0.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.00. The stock has a market capitalization of 50,000.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.01 and a beta of 0.58.

Ethernity Networks Company Profile

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Ethernity Networks Ltd. provides technology solutions for telecom, mobile, security, and data center markets in Asia, Europe, Israel, and the United States. The company develops and delivers data processing technology and solutions for carrier Ethernet switching. It provides ENET flow processors for telco/cloud network; ACE-NIC40 SmartNIC, an open flow enabled software acceleration NIC; ACE-NIC50 SmartNIC, which offers 10/25G Ethernet connectivity and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) acceleration; and ACE-NIC100 SmartNIC that provides flexible 10/25/40/100G Ethernet connectivity and programmable FPGA acceleration.

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Shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) (NYSE:ELP  Get Free Report) rose 4.6% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $9.82 and last traded at $9.8150. Approximately 274,910 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 9% from the average daily volume of 252,146 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.38.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated 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, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL)

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $9.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 81.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.56 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a current ratio of 1.43.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) (NYSE:ELP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.04 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $972.33 million. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) had a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 7.77%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Companhia Paranaense de Energia will post 0.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 24th will be paid a $0.5732 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 24th. Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL)s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 208.33%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL)

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ELP. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC now owns 27,625 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $271,000 after purchasing an additional 1,434 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its holdings in Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 14.9% during the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 15,509 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $142,000 after buying an additional 2,016 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 16.1% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 18,923 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $173,000 after buying an additional 2,621 shares during the period. Ethic Inc. grew its position in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 39,022 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 2,676 shares during the period. Finally, Wealthstream Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) by 29.8% in the 2nd quarter. Wealthstream Advisors Inc. now owns 13,590 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $124,000 after acquiring an additional 3,119 shares during the last quarter. 3.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL)

(Get Free Report)

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) is a leading integrated electric utility based in the state of Parana, Brazil. Established in 1954 and headquartered in Curitiba, COPEL operates across the full value chain of the power sector, including generation, transmission, distribution and commercialization of electricity. The companys operations are organized to serve residential, commercial, industrial and rural customers, making COPEL one of the primary energy providers in southern Brazil.

In its generation portfolio, COPEL leverages a diverse mix of hydroelectric, thermal and renewable resources.

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BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is set to close 2025 as a top-tier force in the US financial landscape. The fund achieved a rare feat in asset management by raising billions of dollars while losing money for its investors.

Data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence confirms that IBIT secured the sixth spot on the US ETF leaderboard by net inflows.

Institutional Dip Buying Drives $25 Billion into IBIT Despite Negative Returns

The fund attracted $25.4 billion in fresh capital throughout the year, outpacing traditional heavyweights such as the Invesco QQQ Trust and the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD).

This capital flood occurred despite a stark divergence in asset performance.

While gold surged nearly 65% in 2025driven by central bank buying and geopolitical hedgingIBIT posted a year-to-date loss of 9.59%.

The funds performance suffered as Bitcoin retreated approximately 30% from its October record high of $126,173, trading near $88,000.

Typically, negative returns trigger capital flight.

However, IBITs ability to attract $25 billion during a correction signals a fundamental shift in investor behavior. It shows that institutional allocators are systematically buying the dip rather than panic-selling volatility.

Considering this, Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas characterized the inflows as a definitive bullish signal for the asset's long-term trajectory.

"IBIT is the only ETF on the 2025 Flow Leaderboard with a negative return for the year," Balchunas stated.

Meanwhile, James Thorne, Chief Market Strategist at Wellington-Altus, argues that these flows validate the "financialization" of Bitcoin.

According to him, the digital asset now behaves less like a speculative tech stock and more like a mature macro commodity.
The city college is moving out local progressives.

The cover story: Building risk. Reality: Kangaroos don't wanna mess with the Missouri GOP Super-Majority cutting their funding for giving shelter to their greatest critics. The all-risk and little reward setup doesn't seem worth it as part of the UM system.

And so . . . Here's the aftermath as public radio desperately searches for new housing and there's no room for them in this blogger's basement . . .

"The university has been monitoring the safety of the building on 48th Street and Troost Avenue for several years. Several organizations, including KCUR and Classical KC, must be out by Jan. 31.



"The University of Missouri-Kansas City informed staff Monday that the building that houses KCUR  Kansas Citys NPR station  may soon be 'uninhabitable.' Classical KC, the organizations classical music service, will also have to move.



"KCUR, some Kansas City Repertory Theatre offices and the KC STEM Alliance must vacate the building at 4825 Troost Ave. by Jan. 31.



"The announcement stunned KCUR staff. KCUR General Manager Sarah Morris said a move will be difficult."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
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Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the Parnassus Core Equity Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The S&P 500 Index surged in the third quarter, driven by investor optimism that grew on expectations of monetary easing, strong consumer demand, and solid corporate earnings. The Fund (Investor Shares) returned 2.57% (net of fees) in the quarter, trailing the S&P 500 Indexs 8.12% return. YTD, the fund returned 9.89% compared to 14.83% for the index. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Parnassus Core Equity Fund highlighted stocks such as Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX). Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) manufactures and markets medical devices that operate in the MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The one-month return of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) was -4.86%, and its shares gained 5.89% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 22, 2025, Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) stock closed at $96.43 per share, with a market capitalization of $142.952 billion.

Parnassus Core Equity Fund stated the following regarding Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"We made only a few substantial moves in the quarter. In the Health Care sector, we trimmed Eli Lilly and Stryker, using the proceeds to initiate a position in Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX), an innovative medical device maker with significant growth drivers. Boston Scientifics first-mover advantage, robust clinical data and deep relationships with physicians allow it to maintain dominant market share and outgrow competitors, with additional growth drivers like Watchman and Farapulseto help it expand rapidly in underpenetrated markets. Management, led by CEO Mike Mahoney, has transformed the company through disciplined R&D and M&A, driving organic sales growth and margin expansion. With consistent execution, expanding margins and global demand tailwinds, Boston Scientific is well positioned for durable growth."

Was Jim Cramer Right About Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX)?

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 102 hedge fund portfolios held Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) at the end of the third quarter, compared to 100 in the previous quarter. Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) announced that its consolidated revenue for the third quarter of 2025 reached $5.065 billion, indicating a 20.3% growth compared to Q3 2024. While we acknowledge the potential of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The commission investigating the causes of the AZAL plane crash will continue to work for some time, AZAL Vice President Ilham Amirov said at the presentation of a postage stamp commemorating J2-8243 flight, Trend reports.

According to him, the State Commission of Kazakhstan regarding the accident is currently continuing its work to investigate and analyze the incident.

He noted that after any incident, the preliminary report is drawn up by the commission within a month and submitted to all aviation agencies.

"The preliminary report was also submitted to Azerbaijan at the end of January 2024. The text of the report reflects the facts that occurred and also includes the results of reading and analysis of the so-called 'black box' device located on board the aircraft and recording objective parameters.

At the next stage, it was determined that serious malfunctions occurred in the aircraft's navigation systems. The main reason for this was the measures taken by the Russian Air Defense Forces to combat drones around Grozny Airport that day.

As a result, the flight crew faced a number of problems in the air. Moreover, unfavorable weather conditions made the situation even more difficult," the vice president explained.

He pointed out that the first thing that stands out is irresponsibility.

"If the Russian Air Defense Forces were fighting drones around Grozny Airport, they shouldn't have accepted our aircraft," Amirov added.

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Azerbaijan evaluates oil exports to Portugal in 11M2025

During the first eleven months of 2025, Azerbaijan sent 803,400 metric tons of oil and petroleum products to Portugal, with a total value of $430.7 million. When compared to the same time last year, this is a decline of $200.5 million, or 31.8%. During that time, Portugal was the sixth largest importer of oil and petroleum products from Azerbaijan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 22. Georgias Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday, Trend reports.

"Your Excellency,

On behalf of the Government of Georgia and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday. On this remarkable day, allow me to express my profound respect to you. I would like to note that under your leadership, Azerbaijan has made significant strides.

Georgia and Azerbaijan are bound together by historical ties of friendship and unbreakable strategic partnership, which contribute to ensuring stability and prosperity in the region. I firmly believe that through our joint efforts, the existing relations between our countries will further deepen and strengthen.

Dear Mr. President, availing myself of this opportunity, I once again express my deep respect to you, and wish you robust health, prosperity, and success in your responsible activities, and the friendly people of Azerbaijan peace and progress," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The second meeting of the Heads of Government / Vice Presidents of the Organization of Turkic States member countries will be held in Baku next year, Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum being held in Baku, Trend reports.

According to him, one of the important elements of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye is the coordination of activities within international and regional organizations.

"I would like to especially note our fruitful cooperation in the OTS.

During the first meeting of the Heads of Government/Vice Presidents of the OTS member states in Bishkek in September, we discussed, among other issues, the prospects for cooperation in priority economic areas such as trade, investments, transport, energy, and agriculture," the prime minister emphasized.

"I would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention that the second meeting of the Heads of Government/Vice Presidents in the newly established format will be hosted by Azerbaijan in 2026.

In addition, the dialogue at the ministerial level in the fields of industry, science, technology, and innovation within the framework of the OTS is being consistently strengthened. The first meeting was held in Istanbul in 2024, and the second meeting was held in Baku in 2025.

At the same time, the establishment of the Turkish Investment Fund is of strategic importance in terms of supporting joint investment initiatives within the region and expanding financial instruments," Asadov noted.

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Photo: Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The Azerbaijani Parliament sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on his birthday, Trend reports.

The Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, made this proposal at today's plenary session of the Parliament.

The proposal was accepted with applause.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations and warm wishes on the occasion of your birthday.

In Kazakhstan, you are recognized and respected as an outstanding statesman of our time, and as an experienced and capable politician of global stature.

Your many years of dedicated state service are rightly associated with a period of historic achievements for Azerbaijan, the strengthening of its sovereignty, the growth of its international authority, and dynamic socio-economic development.

Under your strong and wise leadership, fraternal Azerbaijan, following a strategic course, will continue its confident progress on the path of sustainable growth and advancement.

I greatly value your enormous personal contribution to strengthening Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations of strategic partnership and alliance, and I attach particular importance to their comprehensive reinforcement in the spirit of centuries-old friendship and mutual support.

I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will give new impetus to the further development of multifaceted interstate ties and elevate relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to a qualitatively new level.

I wish you, dear Ilham Heydar oglu, inexhaustible energy, family well-being, and continued success in your responsible state activities as well as prosperity and welfare to the fraternal people of Azerbaijan," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the Karkijahan settlement of the city of Khankendi on December 23, Trend reports.

Elchin Yusubov, the President's Special Representative in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, updated the head of state on the ongoing development work in the settlement.

Renovation works began in May this year. The settlement currently comprises 33 apartment buildings and 1,037 individual houses, of which 247 are uninhabitable and 790 are partially habitable. Plans include the repair of 40 houses by the end of this year and 280 houses in 2026. To date, renovation works have been completed in 30 houses. In the first phase, 30 families, comprising 115 residents, have returned to their ancestral homes after temporary displacement in other cities and districts.

A number of social infrastructure projects have also been implemented. In the individual housing area, water, electricity, and gas lines were inspected, 2 kilometers of underground optical cable and 510 meters of power lines were installed, street lighting was ensured, and internal roads were asphalted. Additionally, major repairs were carried out at the 60-seat No. 1 nursery-kindergarten and the secondary school designed for 624 students.

President Ilham Aliyev had previously visited the settlement on October 15, 2023.

Located at an altitude of 1,130 meters above sea level and covering a total area of 234 hectares, Karkijahan is a settlement within the administrative boundaries of the city of Khankendi. In the 1960s, the nationalist Armenian leadership of the former autonomous oblast removed the settlements name from the official list of populated areas and incorporated it into the city of Khankendi. Occupied in late 1991, Karkijahan was burned by Armenian forces in 1992. Before the occupation, 355 families, totaling 1,796 Azerbaijanis, lived in the settlement. Currently, 674 families, comprising 2,531 residents, are registered. The settlement was liberated from occupation in 2023 as a result of the anti-terror operation carried out by the Azerbaijani Army.
Photo: State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

''Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

I congratulate You on Your birthday.

Thanks to Your efforts, the Republic of Azerbaijan has achieved tangible results in strengthening statehood and improving the socio-economic well-being of the population.

I hope for the further deepening of bilateral ties, including through the All-Russian political party "United Russia" and the "New Azerbaijan" Party, in the interests of the peoples of our countries.

I wish You, dear Ilham Heydarovich, good health, happiness, and all the very best,'' the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"Excellency,

It is a source of great happiness for me and our people to offer our heartiest felicitations to Your Excellency on your birthday. May Allah Almighty grant you good health and many more of such happy occasions.

As I look back at the year that passed, I draw great satisfaction from the positive trajectory of our bilateral relations, which were cemented even further, by my visits to your beautiful country this year, in February and May for bilateral meetings and thereafter, in July for the 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi, as well as in November for the glorious Victory Day Parade in Baku.

With each visit, my admiration for Azerbaijan's beauty and diverse landscape, has enhanced, as has my love for your friendly and hospitable brotherly people.

Our cooperation in the economic domain is also progressing well, and we are now finalizing the modalities of the USD 2 billion investment by Azerbaijan in Pakistan. This development will transform the lives of our peoples, while ensuring mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

You may also recall, Excellency, that you had arranged for my visit to the Asan Khidmat Center in Baku. Since then, our two sides have been working together to establish the "Pakistan Asan Khidmat" (PAK) Center in Islamabad, for provision of innovative and citizen-centric solutions in public service delivery, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and institutional integrity. After months of focused work, the Pakistan Asan Khidmat Centre will be ready by 10th January, 2026 and will be inaugurated.

The newly established Asan Khidmat Center will demonstrate to the world, beyond any doubt, that our two peoples are benefitting in every sphere of life, including by efficient and modern public service delivery.

I pray for Your Excellency's continued good health and happiness, as well as for the progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of Azerbaijan.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the letter reads.
Key Points

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Azerbaijans Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova met with a delegation led by Turkiyes Vice President Cevdet Ylmaz during his visit to Azerbaijan for the 12th session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, the parliamentary press service told Trend.

The meeting highlighted the growing strength of bilateral relations across economic, trade, education, tourism, and parliamentary sectors, reflecting the enduring principle of One nation, two states set by National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Gafarova emphasized that personal ties and close contacts between the heads of state remain a key factor in deepening allied relations.

She congratulated Turkiye on being chosen as the host of COP31 and assured that Azerbaijan continues to support its brother country.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the existing close cooperation and mutual support across all sectors, noting the significance of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in uniting the Turkic world. The discussion also recognized the importance of inter-parliamentary relations and the role of friendship groups within parliaments in fostering state-to-state collaboration.

The Turkish Vice President thanked Azerbaijan for its efforts in supporting Turkiyes hosting of COP31 and highlighted that Turkiye would draw on Azerbaijans experience in organizing this major international event. The leaders discussed the regional and global significance of joint mega-projects, including the strategic importance of the Zangezur corridor, which will become a main line of the Middle Corridor.

The meeting also covered the progress in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting that signing a peace agreement would ensure regional stability. Other issues of mutual interest were also exchanged during the talks.

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Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the newly constructed building for the Faculty of Business and Economics at Garabagh University in the city of Khankendi on December 23, Trend reports.

The head of state was briefed on the facilities available in the new building.

The Faculty of Business and Economics is a key academic unit focused on creating a modern learning environment. Currently, it employs 20 faculty, administrative, and technical staff, and a total of 505 students are enrolled at the bachelors level in seven specialties: economics, finance, accounting, management, public and municipal administration, international trade and logistics, and tourism organization.

The faculty prioritizes the development of new academic content, the application of modern teaching methods, the enhancement of practical skills, innovative management, and result-oriented scientific research.

The new educational building includes 40 auditoriums, computer laboratories, a library, reading and assembly halls, meeting rooms, administrative offices, and faculty rooms. Designed and constructed according to modern university standards, the building incorporates principles of sustainable development, inclusivity, and efficient resource use. Its spacious, modern infrastructure facilitates effective educational, research, and administrative activities.

These facilities will strengthen the facultys scientific and pedagogical potential, enhance students knowledge and skills, train highly qualified specialists in economics and business to meet the evolving labor market demands, and expand scientific-research and innovation activities.

The commissioning of the new building is an important step in developing a modern campus at Garabagh University and contributes to establishing a high-level higher education ecosystem in Garabagh and East Zangezur.

During 20242025, President Ilham Aliyev visited Garabagh University to review ongoing work and participated in the opening ceremonies of the university, student dormitory, clinic building, and the educational corpus of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Currently, Garabagh University enrolls 2,154 students across 27 specialties within six faculties.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of the 110/35/10 kV Khankendi-1 substation, operated by Azerenerji OJSC, in the city of Khankendi on December 23, Trend reports.

Chairman of the Board of Azerenerji Baba Rzayev briefed the head of state on the completed works at the facility.

In accordance with the directives of President Ilham Aliyev to establish a reliable electricity infrastructure in the liberated territories, a modern closed-type 110/35/10 kV substation meeting urban grid standards has been constructed in Khankendi. To connect Khankendi city and surrounding areas to the national power system, an 11-kilometer high-voltage transmission line was laid from Shusha, including 1.8 kilometers of underground cable installed across complex mountainous and forested terrain. This facility is the first closed-type 110 kV substation in the liberated regions, with all equipment, including transformers, installed indoors.

The substation is equipped with a modern microprocessor-based Digital Control Center operating on the Micro-SCADA system, developed by specialists of Azerenerji and applied here for the first time. The system enables real-time monitoring, control, and event recording of high-voltage lines and equipment. The substation will ensure a reliable and uninterrupted power supply to Khankendi city, as well as the Aghdara, Khojaly, and Khojavend districts.

President Ilham Aliyev was also informed about innovative technologies used in the creation of an approximately 1,000-kilometer ring-type power supply network across Karabakh and East Zangezur. Over the past five years, Azerenerji has built around 1,000 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines interconnected through 12 newly constructed substations, forming a dual-circuit 330/110 kV ring system. This effort included the construction of the Jabrayil Energy Hub and the comprehensive reconstruction of the Imishli, Aghjabadi, and Ganja substations. This constitutes the largest modernization of the regions power system in its history, ensuring automatic load redistribution and uninterrupted electricity supply in the event of any malfunction.

Another pioneering initiative is the introduction of Digital Monitoring and Analysis Systems for substations and overhead transmission lines, initially implemented in Karabakh and East Zangezur and planned for nationwide deployment. State-of-the-art digital equipment has been acquired, and young Azerbaijani engineers have undergone specialized training abroad. The system uses high-resolution cameras and thermal imagers mounted on vehicles and drones to collect and analyze data, while laser technologies allow for the detection of distances, overheating, and technical defects not visible to the naked eye.

President Ilham Aliyev was further briefed on major projects implemented by Azerenerji within the framework of the Green Energy Transition. Construction of the countrys largest 500 kV Navahi substation has been completed. New 330 kV and 220 kV substations in Jabrayil and Sangachal, respectively, have been commissioned to integrate the Shafag Solar Power Plant and electrify the Sangachal terminal. Battery Energy Storage Systems  the largest by capacity in the CIS  are currently under construction at the Absheron and Aghdash substations. To enable the integration of 2 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity and enhance grid stability, Wide Area Monitoring and Wide Area Control systems are being introduced.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of an office furniture and furniture accessories production facility owned by Accurate Az LLC in Ballija village of the Khojaly district on December 23, Trend reports.

Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Ilkin Abushov, founder of Accurate Az LLC, briefed the head of state on the facilitys operations.

The facility is equipped with advanced technologies and equipment from Turkiye, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, China, and Japan. The enterprise is expected to produce 240,000 units of office furniture of 20 different types and four million furniture accessories annually. Of the total output, 60 percent will be exported, while 40 percent will be supplied to the domestic market. All stages of office furniture production - from raw materials to finished products - will be carried out at the facility. The total value of the project amounts to 20 million manats. A preferential loan of 7 million manats was provided for its implementation by the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy. The facility has also benefited from concessions and incentives applied to entrepreneurs operating in the liberated territories.

The launch of the enterprise is expected to contribute to the development of the furniture production sector in Garabagh, to the expansion of local production and export potential, and to increased employment in the liberated territories. Currently, 80 permanent jobs have been created, with plans to establish up to 450 permanent jobs in subsequent stages.

Ensuring sustainable settlement in the liberated territories, stimulating private initiative, attracting investment, and creating a favorable business environment have been defined as key strategic priorities of the state. To this end, legal entities and individuals operating in these territories are exempt from profit, income, property, land, and simplified taxes for a period of 10 years starting from January 1, 2023. In addition, equipment, technological devices, installations, raw materials, and materials imported by residents of these territories for economic activities are exempt from VAT and customs duties for the same period. These measures are aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, advancing industrial development, strengthening the economy, and increasing employment opportunities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Greeces newly appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan, Maria Papakonstantinou, on December 23, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

Ambassador Papakonstantinu presented a copy of her credentials to Minister Bayramov, who congratulated her on the appointment and wished her success in her diplomatic work.

During the meeting, the officials discussed the current state of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Greece, as well as regional and international issues. They highlighted that contacts and discussions between the heads of state and government form the foundation of bilateral relations and stimulate further collaboration.

The importance of regular political dialogue, including consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, was emphasized. Opportunities for cooperation were explored across multiple sectors, including the economy, trade, investment, traditional and renewable energy, transport and transit, shipping, agriculture, tourism, and culture. Strengthening the Joint Commission on economic, industrial, and technological cooperation between Azerbaijan and Greece was also noted as a priority.

The officials stressed the significance of collaboration based on mutual trust and respect for each others legitimate interests within international and regional formats. Minister Bayramov briefed the ambassador on the post-conflict situation in the region, new realities, and the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process.

Ambassador Papakonstantinou thanked the minister and expressed her commitment to supporting the development of Azerbaijan-Greece relations throughout her tenure.

The meeting also included discussions on other issues of mutual interest.

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Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Today, the Great Return Program is the most successfully implemented return program on a global scale, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with residents of the Karkijahan settlement in the city of Khankendi, Trend reports.

All former displaced persons are gradually returning to their ancestral lands, including today to the settlement of Karkijahan. This return process continues, the head of state emphasized.

You lived for many years in challenging circumstances, enduring both physical and emotional hardship. Now this has come to an end. After 34 years, you are returning to your native Karkijahan. This is a great happiness both for you and for our entire people, President Ilham Aliyev added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the production facility of Saloglu Garabagh LLC in Aghdam Industrial Park on December 23, Trend reports.

Tajeddin Mustafayev, founder of Saloglu Garabagh LLC, briefed the head of state on the plans for the new facility.

The enterprise will be established on a one-hectare site within the Aghdam Industrial Park. The project envisages the construction of a factory for the production of furniture, including various types of living room and bedroom sets, as well as upholstered and metal furniture accessories. Production will utilize technologies from Turkiye, Germany, and China. The factorys annual production capacity is projected at 4,000 furniture sets and 6,000 metal furniture accessories. The products will meet domestic market demand and will also be exported. The total investment value of the project is 8 million manats. A preferential loan is expected to be provided by the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy for the establishment of the facility. The enterprise will benefit from all tax and customs incentives granted to residents of the industrial park. The project is expected to create 50 permanent jobs.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a metal electric pole production facility owned by Construction LLC in Aghdam Industrial Park on December 23, Trend reports.

Nurlan Abbasov, founder of Construction LLC, briefed the head of state on the facilitys operations.

Located on a 1-hectare site within the Industrial Park, the facility operates using Chinese technology. Its annual production capacity is 7,200 tons of metal electric poles, which will serve both domestic demand and export markets. The investment volume of the facility is 2.96 million manats, with a guaranteed loan of 1.2 million manats provided by the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy. The facility currently employs 32 people and benefits from all tax and customs concessions granted to residents of the Industrial Park. During the import of equipment, technological devices, and installations, VAT and customs duty concessions worth approximately 443,000 manats were applied.

Established by a 2021 decree, Aghdam Industrial Park covers 190 hectares and aims to revive the liberated territories, develop Garabaghs industrial potential, support entrepreneurship, and increase employment in the production sector. Key activities in the Industrial Park include the production of construction materials, packaging of agricultural products, processing of fruit and vegetable preserves, meat and dairy production, feed and fertilizer production, provision of services, and the organization of cold storage facilities.

The government has created a favorable investment environment to support entrepreneurial activity. Residency status has been granted to 32 business entities with a total investment exceeding 312 million manats, while 5 entrepreneurs have been granted non-residency status. Investors have already contributed 142 million manats to the Industrial Park, creating nearly 970 permanent jobs, the majority of which are held by residents of Aghdam and surrounding districts. Products worth 945 million manats have been produced by Industrial Park residents, including 39.5 million manats worth of exports.
Photo: Official website of the King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

It gives me much pleasure to extend to you my most sincere felicitations and best wishes on the anniversary of Your Excellency's birthday.

Please accept my best wishes for your personal health and happiness," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. A phone conversation was held between Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and the newly elected Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Khaled El-Enany, today, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

The minister congratulated El-Enany on his election as Director-General of UNESCO and wished him success in his activities.

The parties highly appreciated the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNESCO and expressed their readiness to further develop these relations in the future. The role of Azerbaijan in the field of multilateral diplomacy and intercultural dialogue was emphasized. In this context, the initiatives of our country and plans for UNESCO were discussed.

The importance of the efforts of the UNESCO Director-General to elevate trust in the organization and not politicize its activities was emphasized.

The minister also briefed on the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), the Baku process, and the World Forum for Intercultural Dialogue to be held in Baku in 2026, and invited the Director-General to participate in these events.

Bayramov then provided the other party with detailed information about the historic Washington meeting and the work done in the post-conflict period.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest.

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Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. On December 23, Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, made a phone call to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The President of Iran congratulated the head of our state on his upcoming birthday, wishing him new successes in his presidential activities and good health.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

Masoud Pezeshkian fondly recalled his visits to Azerbaijan and the discussions held with the Azerbaijani leader.

During the phone conversation, the parties exchanged views on contacts planned for 2026 and the future development of Azerbaijan-Iran friendly relations.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. On December 23, participants of the international conference Protecting Children in the Digital Environment: Modern Tools and International Cooperation, visited the Heydar Aliyev Center, Trend reports.

Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of IDEA Public Union, accompanied the guests during their visit to the My Seas, My Oceans exhibition, which calls attention to the urgent need for preserving the worlds water resources.

Organized on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and IDEA, the exhibition features works by contemporary artists reflecting a range of global challenges  from pollution and overfishing to the loss of biodiversity. In these artworks, water is portrayed as a source of life, renewal, and imagination.

Painters, sculptors, multimedia artists, and multidisciplinary creators address themes such as water conservation, climate change, sustainability, and marine biodiversity, using their artistic expressions to advocate for the protection of our seas, oceans, and shared future.

Following the exhibition tour, Leyla Aliyeva held a bilateral meeting with Zahra Pezeshkian, Head of the Iranian Delegation and daughter of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During the event, the guests presented Leyla Aliyeva with a gift, and she, in turn, reciprocated by presenting gifts to the attendees.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The memory of the AZAL plane crash victims will live on forever thanks to a postage stamp dedicated to J2-8243 flight, Chairman of Azerpost LLC Isi Mustafayev said at the presentation of a postage stamp commemorating J2-8243 flight, Trend reports.

According to him, thanks to the dedication of AZAL employees, pilots, and flight attendants, the loss of life during the plane crash was minimal.

He noted that thanks to this postage stamp, the memory of the victims of the incident will live on forever.

"Azerpost will use the opportunity to work with the Universal Postal Union to spread this stamp throughout the world over the next four years," Musatafayev added.

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered in the state register under number 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), crashed in the Republic of Kazakhstan near Aktau Airport while performing regular flight J2-8243 from Baku (Republic of Azerbaijan) to Grozny (Russian Federation). Two crew members (the captain and co-pilot), the senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers were lost in the crash.

The preliminary report published by the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan confirms the following facts:

1. The Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered under the number 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), operating a regular flight J2-8243 from Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russian Federation, has been in a fully operational condition since the start of the flight on the route to Grozny. in good condition for flights. These data on the airworthiness of the aircraft, including the operation of its control systems, were confirmed using FDR data.

2. Both engines of the aircraft were operating without technical problems until the moment of the accident. This information is also confirmed by FDR data.

3. During the flight in the airspace of the Russian Federation, including over Grozny Airport, the aircraft lost GPS signals.

4. Due to adverse weather conditions over Grozny, the aircraft was unable to make a second approach for landing, after which the captain decided to return to Baku. After this decision was made over Grozny, two external sounds were recorded on the CVR at 24-second intervals.

5. A comparison of CVR and FDR data showed that 4 seconds after the first external sound, the third hydraulic system failed, 6 seconds later the first hydraulic system failed, and 21 seconds later the second hydraulic system failed;

6. Numerous blunt and penetrating damages to the fuselage were found and recorded in photographs and video recordings. This damage was found in the rear of the fuselage, the vast majority of which was on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, as well as the left wing and left engine.

7. Information was provided that the damage found in the aircraft fuselage was caused by external objects. The preliminary report does not contain any information indicating that the aircraft collided with birds.

8. Foreign objects not belonging to the aircraft, found in the blind damage to the fuselage, were removed; their photographs are presented to the public in the preliminary report. To accurately determine the origin of the foreign objects found, additional examinations are planned in the future.

9. At 05:13:32, the aircraft's main control systems failed; at 05:21:42, the liaison officer reported to Grozny that Operation Carpet was underway.

10. No information indicating an oxygen cylinder explosion has been provided.

Under the requirements of the ICAO Chicago Convention, a final report on the causes of the crash must be prepared within one year of the incident, following the preliminary report.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. An international conference on "Protecting children in the digital environment: Modern tools and international cooperation" has started in Baku, organized by the Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women and Children's Issues, Trend reports.

The conference aims to bring together official representatives of partner countries, discuss problems and challenges related to the protection of children's rights in the digital environment, including artificial intelligence.

At the same time, it is necessary to organize an exchange of experience in the field of protecting children from harmful information, and strengthen the opportunities for global and regional cooperation in this direction.

The head of the Iranian delegation, Zahra Pezeshkian, as well as officials from Turkiye, Morocco, Qatar, and Northern Cyprus, and high-level representatives of international organizations (the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and the Advisor to the Director General of ICESCO) will deliver speeches at the conference.

Will be updated

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Protecting children's rights in the digital space stands as a global challenge, Zahra Pezeshkian, head of the Iranian delegation, said at an international conference on "Protecting children in the digital environment: Modern tools and international cooperation", Trend reports.

The international event that has started in Baku, organized by the Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women, and Children's Issues.

"It's possible to use practical training and protective tools in this area, thus creating conditions for parents to monitor their children's use of the digital environment, and in legal terms, I would propose additional protocols on digital rights to the conventions on children's rights," she noted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. No child should be left without protection in the era of digital transformation, said Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs, Trend reports.

Speaking at the international conference titled "Protecting children in the digital environment: Modern tools and international cooperation, held in Baku under the organization of the committee, Muradova stressed that an uncontrolled and irresponsible digital environment poses serious risks to children.

The protection of children in the digital environment has become one of the key issues on the global agenda, and strengthening cooperation in this field is essential. Within the framework of the law on protecting children from harmful information adopted in Azerbaijan in 2018, effective coordination among state bodies has been established, she said.

Muradova articulated that analogous legislative initiatives in various jurisdictions illustrate the presence of shared legal paradigms and avenues for synergistic collaboration in this domain.



Highlighting her global expertise, she stressed that enhancing parental digital safety consciousness and fostering a secure familial ecosystem significantly contribute to safeguarding children in the online sphere.

According to research, 72% of children use the internet daily, which significantly increases the risk of exposure to harmful information. That is why international cooperation to protect children in the digital environment must be strengthened. In the era of digital transformation, no child should be left unprotected, Muradova added.

An international conference titled "Protecting Children in the Digital Environment: Modern Tools and International Cooperation" has commenced in Baku, organized by the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children's Affairs. The event gathers officials from partner countries to tackle challenges in safeguarding children's rights in the digital realm, with a focus on artificial intelligence. Key topics include sharing experiences in protecting children from harmful content and enhancing global cooperation. Speakers include officials from Iran, Turkiye, Morocco, Qatar, and Northern Cyprus, as well as senior representatives from international organizations like the UN and ICESCO.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The State of Qatar attaches great importance to the protection of children and families, especially in the face of the growing challenges of the digital world, based on the principles of the country's Islamic Sharia law and the deeply rooted moral and national values of society, Sheikha bint Jassim Al Thani, Deputy Secretary for Family Affairs at the Ministry of Social Development and Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs, said, Trend reports.

She made the remark at the international conference "Protecting children in the digital environment: Modern tools and international cooperation" organized by the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children in Baku.

According to her, the Constitution of Qatar clearly states that the family is the foundation of society and that caring for children and protecting them from exploitation is a constitutional duty of the state:

"In this regard, several legislative acts have been adopted to protect the safety and privacy of children when using the Internet. Some of these laws are: Law No. 14 of 2014 on cybercrimes, this law protects children from exploitation and neglect and punishes crimes committed against children on the internet.

Law No. 13 of 2016 on the protection of personal data, this law prohibits the collection of information about children without parental consent."

Qatar's legislation contains detailed provisions on crimes in the field of digital technology, which once again confirms the state's commitment to protecting children's rights and ensuring family safety, she noted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, the umbrella organization uniting hundreds of civil society institutions, has issued an Open Letter condemning the U.S.-based Lemkin Institutes (Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention) call to release ethnic Armenian individuals accused of war crimes, including Ruben Vardanyan, Trend reports.

The letter criticizes the Lemkin Institute for attempting to undermine peace efforts in the South Caucasus, including initiatives led by former U.S. President Donald Trump. It highlights that the institute, under the management of figures like Lucy Mirzoyan, promotes divisive ethnic and religious agendas and aligns with revanchist groups in Armenia, threatening the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Open Letter notes that the institute, named after Raphael Lemkin, has faced criticism even from Lemkins own family for misuse of his name, and its positions have been repeatedly questioned by Armenian institutions such as the Zoryan Institute. The Azerbaijan National NGO Forum emphasized that the Lemkin Institutes call to release individuals accused of war crimes, while ignoring mass atrocities like the Khojaly genocide, contradicts its stated mission.

The forum implored the Lemkin Institute to engage in responsible discourse and extend a formal apology to the Azerbaijani public. The institute has not responded to the claims outlined in the letter.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Azerbaijans Ministry of Health seniors held a meeting with Carlos Enrique Valdes de la Concepcion, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Cuba to Azerbaijan, to discuss bilateral cooperation in healthcare, the ministry told Trend.

The meeting highlighted satisfaction with the development of Azerbaijan-Cuba relations and emphasized close collaboration between the two countries in multiple areas, particularly in healthcare.

It was noted that the arrival of a team of Cuban specialists in Azerbaijan in 2020, as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, further strengthened bilateral relations.

The importance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba, signed during a 2023 visit to Cuba, was also emphasized. The MoU supports the advancement of healthcare development, medical science, and collaborative programs.

The sides also exchanged views on other topics of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. A media training on the topic of "New Peace Architecture in the South Caucasus, Regional Diplomacy, and Media Literacy" was jointly organized by the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan on December 23, Trend reports.

The current year (2025) has been a landmark year for both Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus region, marked by the initialing of the "Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Bilateral Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia" and the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures, reflecting the success of a peace process initiated by Azerbaijan.

The training aimed to enhance the professional and analytical skills of media representatives regarding these developments and their international political significance.

Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the AIR Center Board, emphasized in his opening speech that media trainings on foreign policy have been organized for the third consecutive year, highlighting their importance in raising journalists awareness and ensuring the countrys national interests are accurately and objectively represented internationally.

In the first part of the session, Aykhan Hajizada, Head of the MFA's Press Service, spoke on "August 8: Initialing of the Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Treaty in Washington and Next Steps Towards Ensuring Peace in the South Caucasus." Javid Valiyev from the AIR Center Board addressed "Azerbaijan-Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Relations: Within the Framework of the Ongoing Peace Process with Armenia," while Shahin Shahyarov, Head of the MFA's Analysis and Strategic Studies Department, discussed "The Role of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the New Geopolitical Situation Formed in the South Caucasus and Relations with Neighboring States."

The second part featured Vasif Huseynov, Head of the AIR Center Department, who provided insights on "A New Stage in Azerbaijan-US and Azerbaijan-France Relations after the Washington Meeting: Reassessment of the EU's Role in the South Caucasus," and Sultan Zahidov, Senior Advisor at AIR Center, who discussed "Asian Direction in Azerbaijan's Foreign Policy: Prospects for Cooperation within the C6, ACGEM, and Other Formats."

Participants posed multiple questions, and the session concluded with 19 media representatives receiving certificates of completion.

The AIR Center, a government-established think tank in Baku, has been studying international and regional affairs since 2019. Its main areas of focus are Azerbaijan's foreign policy, security in the South Caucasus (particularly issues related to the aftermath of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict), and economic integration. The center's goals include offering strategic analysis and policy recommendations and bringing attention to Azerbaijan's participation in international forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and Middle Corridor development initiatives.

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Dec 22 (Reuters) - U.S. defense contractor CACI International (CACI) will acquire space technology provider ARKA Group from funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities for $2.6 billion, expanding its footprint in national security and space-based intelligence.

The all-cash deal, announced on Monday, comes amid surging demand for defense and intelligence contracts, driven by rising geopolitical tensions, increased military spending by the United States and its allies, and greater investment in space, cyber and advanced surveillance capabilities.

More from Yahoo Scout What capabilities will ARKA add to CACI's portfolio? When will the CACI-ARKA transaction be completed? What market trends are driving defense acquisition activity? Why is CACI acquiring ARKA Group for $2.6 billion?

The acquisition will add ARKA's space-based sensor systems and software, which support national security missions, including work for the intelligence community and the U.S. Space Force, to CACI's space portfolio. ARKA provides technology used to process and analyze data for military and defense customers.

CACI Chief Executive John Mengucci said the deal would bolster the company's ability to drive long-term growth in free cash flow.

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The transaction, likely to close in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, is expected to generate a tax benefit with a present value of about $225 million, CACI said.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The open court hearing in the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of ArmeniaArayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasian, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and othersaccused of war crimes, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, including planning and waging an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, illegal seizure of power, unlawful retention of authority, and numerous other offenses committed as a result of Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijanresumed on December 23, Trend reports.

The session was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev and reserve judge Gunel Samadova.

Each of the accused was provided with interpreters in their preferred language and defense attorneys, ensuring full compliance with procedural rights.

The hearing was attended by the accused, their defense lawyers, some victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as prosecutors representing the state prosecution.

Presiding judge Zeynal Aghayev stated that the court proceedings continue with final statements from the accused.

During the hearing, defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan continued his final statement.

He voiced his opposing views regarding the accusations and statements made by the prosecution and victims concerning the April 2016 battles, mercenaries, and other issues.

Defendant Mnatsakanyan stated that he was accused of planning the April battles but claimed this was not true. He alleged that all events during the April battles took place within the so-called regimes defense regions and divisions and that the fighting was managed by them.

Speaking about damage to civilian objects during the April battles, the defendant claimed that civilian facilities were not deliberately targeted and that military objectives were aimed at instead. He stated that the weapons of the so-called defense army (the largest formation of the Armenian armed forcesed.) were obtained from the Armenian armed forces.

Former artillery brigade commander Mnatsakanyan also addressed accusations related to damage to forests and the destruction of monuments as a result of artillery strikes. He rejected these accusations, stating that monuments could have been damaged by other weapons as well.

In addition to artillery, these weapons were also used: tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, mortars, hand grenades, etc., he said.

The defendant said he did not participate in the Tunnel and Bashlibel incidents (the Tunnel and Bashlibel massacresed.), noting that he was undergoing treatment due to an injury at the time and was receiving physiotherapy.

At that time, the artillery of the central defense region was still newly forming, he added.

The court proceedings will resume on December 25.

Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian stateincluding the aforementioned criminal associationon the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others.

The following individualsArayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayanare being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 23. Kazakhstans oil refining sector under JSC NC KazMunayGas (KMG) is preparing for record production levels in 2025, Trend reports via KMG.

This was announced by Askhat Khassenov, Chairman of the Management Board (CEO) of KazMunayGas (KMG), during a cluster meeting on production activities.

The chairman highlighted plans to raise refining volumes to 18.16 million tons, with significant growth in diesel and motor gasoline output.

Khassenov emphasized that improved operational efficiency will allow refineries to increase the yield of light petroleum products to 78% and reach a refining depth of 90%, ensuring a stable domestic fuel supply and supporting the countrys energy security.

Meanwhile, KMG's oil and gas condensate production increased by 10% from January through September 2025 compared to the same period of 2025, reaching 19.843 million tons. However, transportation volumes decreased by 1.1% to 62.503 million tons, while hydrocarbon processing at Kazakhstan and Romanian refineries grew by 11.7% to 15.770 million tons.
Photo: Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 23. Uzbekistan will keep its key tax rates unchanged in 2026, Trend reports via the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The decision was announced during the 12th plenary session of the Senate, where lawmakers reviewed the law "On the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2026."

Under the approved framework, the value-added tax (VAT) rate will remain at 12%, while the standard corporate income tax rate is set at 15%. The personal income tax rate will also stay at 12%. The property tax for legal entities is maintained at 1.5%, the land tax on agricultural land at 0.95%, and the social tax at 12%, with a higher rate of 25% applying to budget-funded organizations. The turnover tax rate will remain at 4%.

The Tax Code also includes measures aimed at strengthening the continuity of the VAT system, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and ensuring the efficient and sustainable use of water resources.

In addition, to ease the administrative burden on taxpayers, a unified penalty mechanism will be introduced: In instances where multiple tax submissions are delayed within a singular calendar month, a singular financial sanction will be levied rather than an aggregation of penalties.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a 100-million-euro loan to Turk Ekonomi Bankas (TEB) to support green investments in Turkiye, Trend reports via the EBRD.

The financing is provided under the EBRD's Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF II) and will be used for on-lending to sub-borrowers investing in green economy projects.

This deal marks the first green transaction in the long-standing partnership between TEB and the EBRD. It also aligns with the EBRD's strategic objective of supporting the transformation of the financial sector to achieve a sustainable, low-carbon economy. GEFF programs aim to expand financial opportunities for climate investments, support the provision of financing through local partner banks, and help businesses improve energy efficiency, deploy renewable energy, and reduce carbon emissions.

TEB has approximately 440 branches and 8,000 employees in Turkiye and provides banking services to retail, commercial, and corporate clients, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.

The EBRD is a key investor in Turkiye: since 2009, the bank has committed over 23 billion euro through 500 trade finance projects and programs, primarily in the private sector.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The forthcoming Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the EU and Tajikistan is expected to significantly improve the countrys investment climate and deepen bilateral relations, a European Commission spokesperson told Trend.

"The EU places high value on its partnership with Tajikistan. Our relationship is set to deepen further with the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). Negotiations concluded last year, and we now look forward to its signature," the representative noted.

The EPCA is expected to provide a comprehensive framework for cooperation in areas such as economic development, education, energy, climate action, digital technologies, and the rule of law. It is designed to attract investment, expand trade, support job creation, and improve standards in areas including public administration and agriculture. It will also create formal structures for dialogue to help Tajikistan advance its development priorities.

"For the EU, the EPCA reflects our long-term commitment to Central Asia and to Tajikistan in particular. A predictable and transparent business environment is essential for attracting European investors, fostering innovation, and enabling sustainable growth. The EPCA will play a key role in strengthening these conditions and supporting mutually beneficial economic cooperation," the spokesperson concluded.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 23. Uzbekneftegas plans to develop a unified development strategy that will integrate all areas of the companys operations, along with a detailed implementation program, Trend reports via the company.

The announcement was made during a meeting attended by Abdugani Sanginov, Chairman of the Board of JSC Uzbekneftegas, where discussions centered on outlining both the short-term and long-term development strategy for Uzbekistans oil and gas sector.

To ensure sustained growth, enhance operational efficiency, and implement reforms focused on value creation, the company has identified key strategic priorities. These priorities are designed not only to guide the sectors development but also to ensure the timely and effective execution of objectives set forth by the countrys leadership.

In its upstream operations, Uzbekneftegas intends to move away from the practice of prioritizing output volumes and instead adopt a value-based, profitability-driven approach. The economic efficiency and profitability of each field will become the primary performance metrics.

As part of this shift, the company stressed the importance of cost optimization, with plans for a 20% reduction in the cost and regulatory standards for activities such as project design, geophysical surveys, geological exploration, and drilling.

Expenditure on geological exploration and drilling will be reassessed, focusing on cost efficiency and capitalization strategies that aim to improve overall operational effectiveness.

A key focus will be placed on the deep processing of natural gas. Notably, the expansion of the gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant is expected to significantly increase the production of high-margin finished products, reduce imports, and bolster the countrys export capabilities.

To ensure full financial transparency, Uzbekneftegas will introduce International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), conduct an inventory of its procurement system, and take steps to limit the use of direct contracts.

The company also plans to significantly reduce its debt burden through more effective credit management, debt optimization, and the development of a financial model for 2026, which is expected to strengthen its financial stability.

Following the meeting, it was noted that the implementation of these measures will contribute to the sustainable development of Uzbekistans oil and gas sector and support the transformation of JSC Uzbekneftegas into a modern, efficient, and competitive company. To ensure the execution of these objectives, the company announced the launch of an updated 100-day action plan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. About 20 Turkish companies are implementing nearly 50 projects in the liberated areas of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum held in Baku, Trend reports.

"We are actively promoting the attraction of private investment to support the measures arising from the First State Program on the Great Return in our liberated territories. In particular, the attraction of foreign capital continues for the renovation of existing infrastructure and the construction of new ones to effectively use the green energy potential of the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions," he explained.

The prime minister noted that Turkish companies are actively involved in the implementation of projects in the liberated territories.

"The cost of these projects is about $ 5 billion.

At the same time, all favorable conditions have been created for doing business in the special economic zones of our country. I would like to specially mention the Alat Free Economic Zone, which offers attractive conditions for investors.

A number of Turkish companies are already operating in the mentioned special economic zones. We see good prospects for cooperation in investment here. Therefore, we invite Turkish companies to be more active," he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye is further strengthened through large-scale projects in the energy sector, Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum being held in Baku, Trend reports.

The prime minister emphasized that this cooperation makes a significant contribution to the energy security not only of the two countries, but also of the region as a whole.

"Strategic projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and TANAP have ensured the reliable and sustainable export of Azerbaijani energy resources to European markets.

A few days later, on December 31, it will be five years since the start of commercial gas transportation to Europe through the TAP pipeline, which forms the last link of the Southern Gas Corridor.

Over the past five years, the number of countries to which Azerbaijan exports gas has increased to 14, 10 of which are European countries.

With our joint efforts, we started gas transportation to Syria in August. This is the first time that Azerbaijani gas is being transported to the Middle East region through the territory of Turkiye," he added.

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Iran targets higher output from South Pars gas field Phase 11

The South Pars gas field, shared between Iran and Qatar, holds 51 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves, with 36 trillion considered producible. Iran's share is 14 trillion cubic meters of gas and 18 billion barrels of gas condensate. The Iranian section comprises 24 development phases launched since 2002, producing approximately 700 million cubic meters of gas daily, contributing to 33% of Irans total gas output, and has attracted $90 billion in investment. While foreign companies managed the Qatari segment, Total and CNPCI withdrew from phase 11 due to US sanctions, leaving Iranian Petropars in charge.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 23. Uzbekistan and Jordan have identified specific tasks aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of measures set out in their bilateral agenda for 2026, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhromjon Aloyev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Uzbekistan Demieh Haddad.

During the discussions, the sides engaged in a thorough exchange of perspectives on the current status and prospects of UzbekistanJordan relations. Specifically, they reviewed the key accomplishments of 2025 across various domains, including politics, trade and economics, investment, culture and humanitarian affairs, tourism, and education.

The meeting emphasized the critical importance of consistently implementing agreements reached at the highest levels and highlighted the need to further deepen cooperation in mutually beneficial areas by fully leveraging existing opportunities.

Meanwhile, in August of this year, a delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov, conducted a series of official meetings in Jordan. One of the key outcomes of these talks was the agreement to draft a preferential trade agreement, signaling the commencement of a new phase in the development of bilateral economic relations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Azerbaijan and Turkiye aim to achieve $15 billion trade target set by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum being held in Baku, Trend reports.

"When we look at our bilateral trade turnover, we see that last year our trade with Azerbaijan reached $8 billion. This is a very significant indicator," the official pointed out.

He noted that there is a possibility of a certain decrease this year, which is mainly due to changes in oil prices and other temporary factors.

"However, we believe that this decline will be temporary. Our goal is to reach the $15 billion trade target set by our president. We sincerely believe that we will achieve this together with our business community.

The results achieved in the field of investments are satisfactory. Today, direct investments from Turkiye to Azerbaijan have approached $18 billion, and investments from Azerbaijan to Turkiye have approached $21 billion. In total, an investment volume of $39 billion has been formed, which is very significant.

We want this volume to increase further. Such forums serve precisely this purpose. Because there is a direct connection between investments and trade. The rise in mutual investments will make our trade relations more solid and stable.

Taking this opportunity, we invite Turkish investors to Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani investors to Turkiye. We recommend implementing joint projects not only in mutual, but also in third countries," the vice president emphasized.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The Post Bank of Iran must take bold steps in the field of new technologies and reformulate its mission, Irans Minister of Communications and Information Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi said, Trend reports.

Speaking at an event marking the 30th anniversary of Post Banks operations on December 22, Hashemi noted that the banks formation within the structure of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology reflects a well-grounded strategy focused on rural areas and small businesses.

He stressed that the development of communications infrastructure in villages under the universal communications social services plan has created new expectations, while the provision of modern banking services is well aligned with the digital environment.

The Iranian minister also pointed out that Post Bank has gained a new competitive advantage within the countrys banking system by offering a unique service experience even in the most remote villages.

According to him, if users and small entrepreneurs in rural areas are able to access the full range of the banks services in a proper manner, Post Bank can secure a distinct position within Irans banking system.

The Post Bank of Iran is a state-owned bank operating in the fields of financial and banking services as well as the digital economy across cities and rural areas of the country. The bank currently operates thousands of branches and banking kiosks nationwide.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The opening of the Zangezur corridor will significantly boost trade between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, Omer Bolat, Turkish minister of trade, told Trend on the sidelines of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum.

The minister pointed out that several key economic measures have been rolled out to meet the strategic goals established between the two countries.

"Within this framework, certain measures have been taken; more than 110 specific measures have been identified, and a detailed action plan has been prepared. Thanks to these measures, we will successfully achieve the set goals, the $15 billion trade target.

At the same time, the Turkiye-Azerbaijan Preferential Trade Agreement (TTA) is being actively implemented, which makes a significant contribution to increasing bilateral trade. In order to promote investments, we successfully organized the second Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum.

The most important thing is that with the opening of the Zangezur corridor, our trade will increase rapidly. This corridor will not only increase the turnover of goods and services but will also expand the opportunities for economic cooperation in the region. We believe that economic relations between the two countries will reach the highest level in our history," the minister emphasized.

Today, the 2nd AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum has commenced in Baku with the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Turkiyes Ministry of Trade and is co-organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Turkish-Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists Public Union (TUIB). Over 500 delegates from both countrieshigh-ranking politicians, government officials, businesses, and community membersattend the event.



The forum is crucial to Azerbaijan-Turkiye economic integration, corporate interaction, and investment potential.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The Zangezur corridor holds strategic importance between Asia and Europe, Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu said at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum held in Baku today, Trend reports.

"Our trade with the Organization of Turkic States and Asia can exceed $100 billion in total in a very short time. Azerbaijan has a unique path and position in this economic architecture," he noted.

He also articulated the prospects of emergent avenues spanning from the Caspian Sea to China.

"We can resolve difficulties and conjunctural structural uncertainties experienced on the main transport routes in the Middle Corridor, which runs through the Caspian Sea to China, only with a secure transit from the nearby geography.

The Middle Corridor is not just a political choice but also 2,000 km more efficient than the northern corridor. At the same time, it significantly reduces the time of transportation between China and Europe. In this regard, it is of critical importance in terms of both political and economic efficiency and productivity," the deputy minister explained.

Additionally, Tuzcu emphasized the criticality of optimizing the operational efficacy of infrastructure networks like the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

"Improving freight distribution requires work on both the Middle Corridor and rail lines. Traveling by this route will make it possible to reach Baku from the Caspian Sea and then on to Europe via Turkiye.

Moreover, the Zangezur corridor also increases the effectiveness of the Middle Corridor line not only with existing connections but also with stronger and complementary features. The Zangezur corridor, which is a natural and complementary extension of the Middle Corridor, is of great importance for the entire region. This corridor is of strategic importance not only between Azerbaijan and Turkiye but also between Asia and Europe," the official added.

Today, the 2nd AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum has commenced in Baku with the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Turkiyes Ministry of Trade and is co-organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Turkish-Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists Public Union (TUIB). Over 500 delegates from both countrieshigh-ranking politicians, government officials, businesses, and community membersattend the event.



The forum is crucial to Azerbaijan-Turkiye economic integration, corporate interaction, and investment potential.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The Zangezur Corridor is expected to serve as a bridge for the region, former Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Klc told Trend on the sidelines of the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum in Baku.

He emphasized that once the Zangezur Corridor is opened, a major transport route will become operational in the region.

This corridor will play the role of a bridge for the region. When the Zangezur Corridor is opened, relations between Turkiye and the Turkic world, including Nakhchivan and other regions of Azerbaijan, will become much closer. For this reason, this project is of great importance, Klc said.

The former ambassador also articulated insights regarding the economic and geopolitical dynamics between Azerbaijan and Turkiye.

Turkiye-Azerbaijan relations are developing and strengthening day by day, and we are very pleased about this. Special and close relations exist between the two brotherly countries, and everyone needs to support these ties.

Todays forum was a clear example of this. Both Vice President of the Republic of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz and Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov delivered speeches, and the meeting was very productive. Additionally, a trade target of $15 billion was discussed during the forum. Both sides are taking the necessary steps to achieve this goal. I believe, without any doubt, that this target will be fully realized in the near future, Kilic added.

Today, the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum has commenced in Baku with the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Turkiyes Ministry of Trade and is co-organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Turkish-Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists Public Union (TUIB). Over 500 delegates from both countrieshigh-ranking politicians, government officials, businesses, and community membersattend the event.



The forum is crucial to Azerbaijan-Turkiye economic integration, corporate interaction, and investment potential.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The International Carriers Association plans to establish a joint Ro-Ro company in Azerbaijan, Alper Ozel, chairperson of the executive committee of the Association of International Transporters (UND), told Trend on the sidelines of the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum in Baku.

He highlighted that the association aims to expand collaborations with several countries, including Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

We are in talks with the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) on a new project. If a memorandum is signed with ASCO, it will strengthen our position, as our goal is to invest in Ro-Ro operations here. In the first phase, four Ro-Ro vessels are planned by 2027, and the project will continue through 2048, ultimately covering 24 vessels in total, Ozel said.

The chairperson added that the project is also significant for Turkiye, with plans to establish a joint company, tentatively named Caspian Roro Shipping Company. The new company will operate in Azerbaijan and maintain offices in Turkiye.

We must plan proactively to be fully prepared. On the Azerbaijani side, discussions with ASCO are actively underway. Our primary goal is to establish a joint Ro-Ro company, and while the companys name and office locations are still to be finalized, the focus remains on creating a strong, collaborative enterprise, Ozel concluded.

Today, the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum has commenced in Baku with the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Turkiyes Ministry of Trade and is co-organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Turkish-Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists Public Union (TUIB). Over 500 delegates from both countrieshigh-ranking politicians, government officials, businesses, and community membersattend the event.



The forum is crucial to Azerbaijan-Turkiye economic integration, corporate interaction, and investment potential.

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Iran boosts non-oil exports to Russia in 8M2025

Irans non-oil exports to Russia rose to around $760 million and 2 million tons during the first eight months of the Iranian year, marking double-digit growth in both value and volume.

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DELTA, BC, Dec. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - On October 31, 2025, CBSA Border Services Officers in Metro Vancouver Marine Operations intercepted over 26 kg of cocaine from a marine shipment at the Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility (TCEF).

CBSA officers seize 26.2 kg of cocaine from a marine shipment originating in Colombia. (CNW Group/Canada Border Services Agency)

With the support of CBSA's Detector Dog Service, border services officers at TCEF conducted a thorough search and detected 23 bricks hidden in the ceiling of a shipping container declared to be carrying boxes of frozen fruit. A total of 26.2 kg of cocaine was seized from the container that originated in Colombia.

The drugs were transferred to the RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region, Drugs and Organized Crime for further investigation.

Quotes

"Drug cartels are constantly testing our borders and our ability to protect them. The people who work at CBSA are our first line of defence against these criminals and the drugs they want to bring into Canada. This seizure shows just how hard CBSA works to keep our borders secure and our communities safe."

- The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

"This successful seizure is a direct result of the vigilance and dedication of the CBSA officers who keep our country safe. We are proud of the strong partnership with the RCMP as we continue to fight against organized crime and protect our communities."

- Nina Patel, Regional Director General, Pacific Region

"We commend our partners at the CBSA for this seizure. RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region is committed to pursuing and dismantling drug trafficking networks wherever they operate. Cross-border cooperation remains essential to combatting organized crime, and this reflects our continued commitment to working together."

- Stephen Lee, Acting Regional Commander, RCMP Federal Policing, Pacific Region

Quick facts
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 23. Uzbekistan and Iraq discussed the simplification of logistics and customs procedures for entering the Iraqi market, as well as the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers, Trend reports via the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

These issues were discussed during a meeting held as part of a working visit by the Uzbek delegation to Baghdad with Gassan Hamid, Iraqs Deputy Minister of Trade for Economic Affairs.

The discussions were attended by Shokhrukh Gulamov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan; Davron Vakhabov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan; and Ayubkhon Yunusov, Uzbekistan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iraq.

The participants also reached an agreement on the active engagement of entrepreneurs from both nations in the 49th Baghdad International Fair, which is set to take place in Baghdad from February 1 to 7. This event is anticipated to open new avenues for Uzbek companies to secure contracts, collaborate on joint projects, and tap into previously unexplored markets.

In the wake of the meeting, the sides committed to sustaining regular dialogues focused on expanding trade relations, fostering a more favorable business environment, and ensuring tangible outcomes.

Iraq, with a population of approximately 46 million and an estimated annual import demand of $53 billion, presents a significant and promising market for Uzbekistan. The country annually imports textiles, carpets, and leather products worth approximately $3 billion, food products and construction materials valued at $4 billion, and electrical equipment worth nearly $3 billion. Furthermore, Iraq's furniture market is valued at around $1.2 billion, while pharmaceutical imports amount to approximately $2 billion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum was held in Baku, Trend reports.

The event was organised with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Trade of Turkiye, as well as jointly by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Public Union of Turkish-Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists (TUIB).

The event was attended by officials from both countries, as well as representatives of public and private institutions, business associations, and chambers of commerce.

The forum also featured panel discussions on the development of interregional trade, energy transition, sustainable development and infrastructure projects, the expansion of bilateral business ties, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Azerbaijans Prime Minister Ali Asadov opened the forum, highlighting it as a key platform for fostering dialogue between the government and business sectors, discussing new projects, and enhancing business cooperation.

"I hope that the discussions to be held within the framework of the forum will pave the way for concrete investment initiatives and long-term cooperation projects.

Yesterday, my esteemed brother Cevdet Yilmaz and I very successfully held the 12th meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission. We discussed the current issues on the agenda of our trade and economic relations, and reviewed the prospects for cooperation in areas of mutual priority.

Today, we have come together to meet with representatives of the business circles of both countries. We hope that today's meeting will be useful for our business communities and will give impetus to the implementation of new concrete joint investment initiatives by our countries," the prime minister emphasized.

Turkiyes Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz emphasized the growth of bilateral trade, noting that last year Azerbaijan-Turkiye trade reached approximately $8 billion. "This is a very significant indicator," the official pointed out.

He noted that there is a possibility of a certain decrease this year, which is mainly due to changes in oil prices and other temporary factors.

"However, we believe that this decline will be temporary. Our goal is to reach the $15 billion trade target set by our president. We sincerely believe that we will achieve this together with our business community.

The results achieved in the field of investments are satisfactory. Today, direct investments from Turkiye to Azerbaijan have approached $18 billion, and investments from Azerbaijan to Turkiye have approached $21 billion. In total, an investment volume of $39 billion has been formed, which is very significant.

We want this volume to increase further. Such forums serve precisely this purpose. Because there is a direct connection between investments and trade. The rise in mutual investments will make our trade relations more solid and stable.

Taking this opportunity, we invite Turkish investors to Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani investors to Turkiye. We recommend implementing joint projects not only in mutual, but also in third countries," the vice president emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Samed Bashirli underscored the strategic advantages provided by Azerbaijans growing transport and transit capabilities, regional and global projects that we have initiated and participated in, including the logistics potential provided by the Middle Corridor and other projects, open up additional opportunities for our mutually beneficial partnership with Turkiye. Strengthening the Middle Corridor with digital solutions and trade facilitation measures expands transit opportunities for both our countries and the region.

He also emphasized that the Baku International Sea Trade Port, whose capacity will reach 25 million tons per year in the coming years, nine international airports, the largest cargo airline in the region, and other factors have turned Azerbaijan into an international transport hub.

"In the future, the Zangezur corridor will contribute to the expansion of transit opportunities for international transportation," he said.

Turkeys Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, noted that bilateral trade has grown from $2.4 billion to $8 billion since the early 2000s.

The remarkable level of relations between Turkiye and Azerbaijan since Azerbaijan regained its independence, along with the countrys impressive achievements, fills us all with pride and satisfaction.

Economic ties between Turkiye and Azerbaijan have advanced significantly, particularly in the energy sector. Strategic projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, TANAP, and TAP have been successfully realized. Meanwhile, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has provided a major infrastructure boost to our bilateral cooperation. Rapid growth is also evident in the trade sector, the minister emphasized.

Bolat highlighted that since the late 2000s, trade turnover between Turkiye and Azerbaijan has surged from $2.4 billion to $8 billion, more than tripling over the period.

We are pleased that Turkiye has risen to second place in Azerbaijans exports and ranks third in Azerbaijans imports.

Our aim should be to achieve first place in mutual trade. Azerbaijan occupies a strategically vital junction, providing access to the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the wider Turkic world. Through energy pipelines and the soon-to-be-completed Zangezur Corridor, Turkiye will gain faster access to Central Asia and the Far East. The Central Corridor, running through both Azerbaijan and Turkiye, will accelerate global trade and stimulate production, investment, and commerce across the region, he added.

Deputy Minister Mustafa Tuzcu highlighted the potential of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) and Asia-related trade to exceed $100 billion in total in a very short time. "Azerbaijan has a unique path and position in this economic architecture," he said.

He also articulated the prospects of emergent avenues spanning from the Caspian Sea to China.

"We can resolve difficulties and conjunctural structural uncertainties experienced on the main transport routes in the Middle Corridor, which runs through the Caspian Sea to China, only with a secure transit from the nearby geography.

The Middle Corridor is not just a political choice but also 2,000 km more efficient than the northern corridor. At the same time, it significantly reduces the time of transportation between China and Europe. In this regard, it is of critical importance in terms of both political and economic efficiency and productivity," the deputy minister explained.

Additionally, Tuzcu emphasized the criticality of optimizing the operational efficacy of infrastructure networks like the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

"Improving freight distribution requires work on both the Middle Corridor and rail lines. Traveling by this route will make it possible to reach Baku from the Caspian Sea and then on to Europe via Turkiye.

Moreover, the Zangezur corridor also increases the effectiveness of the Middle Corridor line not only with existing connections but also with stronger and complementary features. The Zangezur corridor, which is a natural and complementary extension of the Middle Corridor, is of great importance for the entire region. This corridor is of strategic importance not only between Azerbaijan and Turkiye but also between Asia and Europe," the official added.

Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummetov noted that the Digital Logistics Platform, under development for two years, will be operational by the end of next year.

He recalled that the platform had been prepared for two years.

"Today, the platform itself is almost ready. From the beginning of next year, we will gradually launch the platform until the end of the year.

This platform connects more than 30 state institutions, covering both import and export regimes, and well as obtaining all types of licenses and certificates. Today, we have completed or are about to complete integrations with more than 13 state institutions," the official underlined.

The first Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum was held in December 2023.

10:01

The 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum is being held in Baku, Trend reports.

The event is organized with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Trade of Turkiye, as well as jointly by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Public Union of Turkish-Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists (TUIB).

The event is expected to be attended by officials from both countries, as well as representatives of public and private institutions, business associations, and chambers of commerce.

The forum will also feature panel discussions on the development of interregional trade, energy transition, sustainable development and infrastructure projects, the expansion of bilateral business ties, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The first Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum was held in December 2023.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 23. Uzbekistan and Georgia discussed key issues related to rail freight transportation and the development of transit cooperation along the UzbekistanGeorgiaBlack Sea route, Trend reports via Temiryulkargo.

These issues were reviewed during a meeting between representatives of JSC Temiryulkargo and the Georgian consortium Poti New Terminals (PNTC).

The parties emphasized that new infrastructure projects being implemented at the Port of Poti are of strategic importance for ensuring the efficient delivery of Central Asian cargoes to European markets.

Following the meeting, the sides agreed to continue dialogue aimed at developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of transport and logistics.

Over the past five years, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Georgia has increased 3.5 times, with a notable growth of nearly 50 % recorded in 2024 alone, underscoring the strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Azerbaijan and Turkiye target ranking first in mutual trade, Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat said at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum being held in Baku, Trend reports.

According to him, since the late 2000s, trade turnover between the countries has increased from $2.4 billion to $8 billion.

"The fact that Turkiye-Azerbaijan relations have reached such a high level since Azerbaijan regained its independence and the great achievements made by Azerbaijan make us all happy and proud.

Turkiye-Azerbaijan economic relations have made great progress, especially in the energy sector. Strategic projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, TANAP, and TAP have been successfully implemented. At the same time, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project has made a significant infrastructure contribution to our relations. Similarly, rapid development is observed in the trade sector.

We are pleased to note that Turkiye has risen to second place in Azerbaijan's exports. Turkiye is third in Azerbaijan's imports.

Our goal should be to rise to first place in mutual trade because Azerbaijan has an important strategic junction position in terms of access to both the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and especially the states of the Turkic world. Through energy lines and the Zangezur corridor, which we hope will be completed soon, Turkiye will have faster access to Central Asia and the Far East.

At the same time, the Middle Corridor will create an accelerating effect on world trade by passing through Azerbaijan and Turkiye, and will lead to the revival of trade, production, and investment in the countries and cities of the region," he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. A free trade agreement between Turkiye and Azerbaijan may be signed, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat told reporters at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum in Baku, Trend reports.

''The preferential trade agreement that came into force in 2021 and the additional protocol that will take effect in 2024 have had a positive impact on trade. Technical teams from both countries are currently analyzing and assessing the impact of the free trade agreement.

The official position is that, when the time comes, it will be possible to sign a free trade agreement between Turkiye and Azerbaijan as well," Omer Bolat said

He stressed that economic cooperation between Turkiye and Azerbaijan continues at a high level, as do political and diplomatic relations. The parties are actively working to deepen economic ties and bring mutual trade turnover to $15 billion.

Omer Bolat stated that both countries are already acting from a common position in political, social, and diplomatic terms, and that the alliance is yielding concrete results in the economic sphere as well:

Guidelines are also being developed for entrepreneurs, industrialists, importers, and exporters, who are the real implementers of economic cooperation.

According to official data, there are currently about 7,000 Turkish companies operating in Azerbaijan, and the total investment of these companies amounts to $18 billion. At the same time, about 3,000 Azerbaijani companies operate in Turkiye, and their investments amount to $21 billion. Both sides are interested in increasing mutual investments, and any problems that arise are resolved promptly.
Azerbaijan discloses snapshot of crude oil import from Iraq

Azerbaijan imported 439,700 tons of bitumen-derived crude oil and related products from Iraq between June and October 2025, valued at $163,000. The average cost of one ton of oil imported from Iraq was $370,

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov met with US Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan Amy Carlon, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry, Trend reports.

According to the information, issues related to the development of Azerbaijani-American energy cooperation at a new stage were discussed. In this context, the results of the energy minister's visit to the US were reviewed.

The parties exchanged views on the energy section of the Strategic Partnership Charter, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) initiative, cooperation on energy projects, and other priority areas. Particular attention was paid to the prospects for expanding cooperation with American companies in the energy sector, creating a mechanism for regular dialogue in the energy sphere, and developing a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation, the statement says.

On August 8, following a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a Joint Declaration. During the meeting, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint appeal to the current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to close the OSCE Minsk Process.

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New-car registrations for BYD models, a reflection of sales, surged to 16,158 units in November from 4,821 a year earlier. - ina fassbender/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Chinese auto giant BYD posted a more than threefold jump in European sales last month, continuing to outpace both domestic and foreign rivals.

New-car registrations for BYD models, a reflection of sales, surged to 16,158 units in November from 4,821 a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, an industry body also known as ACEA. When including the U.K., Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, sales more than tripled to 21,133 vehicles.

Most Read from The Wall Street Journal

ACEA began including BYD in its July data, showing a steady stream of European sales growth for the Chinese group ever since. BYD has been outpacing both domestic carmakers like Volkswagen and U.S. rivals such as Elon Musks Tesla in the continent in terms of monthly sales growth, but not when it comes to the total number of vehicles sold.

BYD sold 159,869 vehicles in Europe between January and November compared with Volkswagens 3,263,542 and Teslas 203,382, according to ACEA data. Still, BYDs growth rate of 276%, far better than Volkswagens 4.6% growth and Teslas 28% slump, shows that drivers in the continent are increasingly embracing its lineup of electric and hybrid vehicles.

In contrast, Tesla registrations in the EU fell more than 34% on year in November alone to 12,130 units. When including the U.K., Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, sales fell nearly 12% to 22,801.

Tesla has had several months of disappointing sales in Europe as it faces stiff competition. The company also had to contend with the fallout from Musks involvement with the Trump administration that came to an end a few months ago.

The EV market in the EU improved in November, according to ACEA data. Sales of battery-electric vehicles grew 44% on year. Registrations of hybrid-electric cars increased 4.2%, while plug-in-hybrid models grew more than 38%.

ACEA said EU passenger-car registrations increased 2.1% in November to 887,491 vehicles, with sales up 2.5% in Germany, but down 0.3% in France and flat in Italy.

Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 23. The Kazakh Government has approved the unified Isker Aymak program to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Trend reports via the government.

The initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship and stimulate economic growth in rural areas and smaller towns.

During a Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the Isker Aymak programme was thoroughly reviewed. Officials emphasized its relevance in addressing the unique needs of businesses, especially those located in rural and less urbanized regions.

"The programme marks a shift from merely distributing subsidies to a model that emphasizes shared regional responsibility. Our objective goes beyond simply issuing loans; we seek to establish sustainable production systems and drive tangible growth in output," the Prime Minister explained.

The Ministry of Finance has been entrusted with securing the necessary funding for the programme, which will also involve co-financing from local budgets. Regional authorities have been tasked with swiftly identifying priority sectors, tailored to the specific needs of each district, to allocate first-level subsidies covering 70% of the budget.

In discussing the initiative, Bektenov highlighted the critical importance of providing SMEs with access to production infrastructure and offering preferential rental options for facilities. Additionally, he underscored the need for developing region-specific support programmes to further enhance SME growth.

Almaty citys experience was cited as a successful example. This year, 25.5 billion (more than $49 million) from the local budget was allocated to SME development, stimulating priority sectors beyond general state support measures. Among other effective practices are the development of small industrial parks and preferential loans of up to 6% per annum.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 23. Kyrgyzstan and Qatar discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda across various areas of cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers.

The discussion took place during a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobaev, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Bishkek Ali Jaber Mohammed Al Ghufran Al Marri.

During the meeting, the parties underscored the significance of hosting the second session of the Kyrgyz-Qatari Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation in Bishkek in 2026. The discussions also emphasized the importance of facilitating high-level visits between the two nations.

Minister Torobaev conveyed Kyrgyzstans commitment to offering comprehensive support for Qatari investors in pursuing mutually beneficial projects within the country.

In response, Ambassador Al Marri expressed gratitude for the warm reception extended by the Kyrgyz side, reaffirmed Qatars support for the implementation of previously agreed-upon initiatives, and emphasized his countrys strong interest in advancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 23. Kyrgyzstan reviews the sixth package of de-bureaucratization measures, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers.

The issue was raised at the 6th meeting of the Interagency Commission on Debureaucratization of the Civil Service System under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev.

During the meeting, interim results of the Commissions activities were summarized, and a report, along with presentation materials, was delivered by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Justice, and Director of the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives (NISI), Ayaz Baetov.

Furthermore, it was noted that since the signing of the relevant Decree by the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, significant progress has been achieved in the area of de-bureaucratization. The Interagency Commission was established in March 2025, while the first package of measures-comprising 36 regulatory legal acts and 10 systemic directives already been approved in February. Over the course of eight months, six such packages of decisions have been adopted, which, through hundreds of departmental decisions and draft regulatory acts at various levels, have helped ease administrative and bureaucratic pressure across many processes.

The meeting highlighted successful progress in optimizing administrative barriers, including a comprehensive analysis of regulatory legal acts and active involvement of representatives of the business community in discussions and the revision of administrative procedures.

Proposals forming the sixth package of de-bureaucratization measures were also presented during the meeting.

In particular, the Ministry of Digital Development and the National Statistical Committee developed a data-driven government concept aimed at introducing decision-making practices based on data analysis. The Ministry of Economy proposed the implementation of the zero-plus and "zero bureaucracy" principles in the provision of public services, conducted an analysis of tax deductions with a view to transitioning to a targeted approach and automated calculation through the "Tunduk" system, proposed the introduction of a preventive consulting system for businesses, and is implementing a reform of taxation for online trade.

Furthermore, a task was set to study the feasibility of reallocating compensation for medicines in favor of pregnant women and children under the age of six.

Relevant agencies were also recommended to expand the functional capabilities of ELQR QR payments, including enabling cash-out operations through ATMs.

These and many other initiatives and proposals submitted by government bodies were consolidated into the sixth package of debureaucratization measures and approved by members of the Interagency Commission. The implementation of this package is aimed at further reducing excessive administrative procedures, eliminating duplicative requirements, expanding the use of digital solutions, and enhancing the citizen- and business-oriented focus of public administration.

Summing up the meeting, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev noted that the sixth package of measures marks a transition from isolated changes to a systemic transformation of public administration processes. He emphasized that the key priority at the next stage will be the practical implementation of the adopted decisions, strict oversight of their execution, and the achievement of concrete, measurable results.

Following the meeting, responsible government bodies were given relevant instructions to implement the sixth package of measures within the established timeframes, with an emphasis on the personal accountability of agency heads for final outcomes.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 24. The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord has declared three days of national mourning following the death of Libya's Chief of General Staff, Mohammed al-Haddad, in a plane crash in Turkiye, Trend reports.

Mourning will be observed across the country.

The aircraft was carrying Colonel General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces, along with his five-member delegation. The crew included two pilots and one flight attendant.

Flights at Ankaras Esenboga Airport were temporarily suspended following the incident.

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The Ankara General Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the crash of a Falcon 50 aircraft that departed from Esenboga Airport, carrying passengers including the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces, Colonel General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Trend reports.

The statement was made by Turkish Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc.

The aircraft was carrying Colonel General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces, along with his five-member delegation. The crew included two pilots and one flight attendant.

Flights at Ankaras Esenboga Airport were temporarily suspended following the incident.

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Libyan Government of National Accord Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah confirmed that Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, along with members of the military delegation accompanying him, were killed in a plane crash in Turkiye, Trend reports.

The confirmation was made in an official statement by the Prime Minister.

The aircraft was carrying Colonel General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces, along with his five-member delegation. The crew included two pilots and one flight attendant.

Flights at Ankaras Esenboga Airport were temporarily suspended following the incident.

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00:12

The wreckage of a Dassault Falcon 50 business jet that crashed in Ankara has been recovered, Trend reports.

The aircraft was carrying Colonel General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces, along with his five-member delegation. The crew included two pilots and one flight attendant.

Flights at Ankaras Esenboga Airport were temporarily suspended following the incident.

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23:28

A Dassault Falcon 50 business jet carrying the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces crashed in Ankara, Trend reports.

The aircraft was transporting Colonel General Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad along with his five-member delegation. The crew consisted of two pilots and one flight attendant.

Earlier on the same day, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad reportedly held a meeting with Turkiyes Minister of National Defense, Yasar Guler.

Following the incident, flights at Ankaras Esenboga Airport were temporarily suspended.
Beauty brand Coty has named Markus Strobel as executive chairman of the board and interim CEO.

The appointment will take effect on 1 January 2026.

Strobel arrives at Coty after more than three decades at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he most recently headed the companys global skin and personal care division as president.

Over his 33-year tenure, he held a series of senior posts across beauty & grooming, spanning fine fragrance, hair care and grooming.

At P&G, Strobel oversaw category and organisational changes within P&G Beauty and was involved in the repositioning of SK-II as a prestige skincare label in Asia.

His remit also extended to overseeing prestige fragrance licences including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Hugo Boss.

In these roles, he led work on innovation, product supply, marketing, go-to-market strategies and operating capabilities across markets such as North America, Greater China, Japan, Korea and Europe.

In his upcoming position as executive chairman and interim CEO, Strobel will steer Coty while the company conducts a strategic review of its Consumer Beauty division, backed by the board.

Commenting on his appointment, Strobel said: I am delighted to join Coty at this important juncture. Building on Cotys strong foundations, I see tremendous potential to accelerate growth, strengthen our position in prestige and mass beauty, and deliver sustainable value for shareholders, partners, and consumers worldwide.

The appointment follows the planned departures of Peter Harf, who will retire from Cotys board after more than 30 years, and Sue Nabi, who will step down as CEO after five years.

During Nabis tenure, Coty introduced several new fragrances, including Burberry Goddess, and reduced its financial net leverage to around 3x.

Coty is a beauty company founded in Paris in 1904, offering fragrance, cosmetics, and skin and body care brands sold in more than 120 countries.

Earlier this week, Coty agreed to dispose of its remaining 25.8% stake in professional haircare group Wella to investment funds and accounts managed by US investment firm KKR.

"Coty appoints Markus Strobel as executive chairman and interim CEO " was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Swedish customs released the Russian ship Adler, which was under sanctions and inspected by customs officials over the weekend.

This was reported by Reuters, according to Ukrinform.

The prosecutor has decided not to open an investigation into suspected violation of sanctions. The ship has therefore been allowed to go on its way, a customs service representative said.

LSEG tracking data showed that the ship is again moving north along the west coast of Sweden.

In addition to being on the EU sanctions list, the Adler and its owners, M Leasing LLC, are also subject to US sanctions on suspicion of involvement in arms trafficking, according to the OpenSanctions database of sanctioned companies and individuals.

The Swedish Customs Service refused to disclose what cargo the Adler was carrying when it left St. Petersburg on December 15 for an unknown destination.

As reported by Ukrinform, Swedish customs officials said on Sunday that authorities had detained the Russian cargo ship Adler, which anchored in Swedish waters near the town of Hoganas in southwestern Sweden on Friday after experiencing engine problems.

The day before, representatives of the Swedish Customs Service and Coast Guard conducted an inspection on board the Adler.

Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
The European Commission has successfully carried out one of its largest coordinated logistics operations to date, delivering a full set of equipment for a thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine.

That is according to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

"The complex operation, which lasted 11 months, involved 149 equipment deliveries with a total weight of 2,399 tonnes. Of these, 40 were oversized shipments, including extremely heavy transformers and stators weighing about 172 tonnes each. Support from the Polish Government Agency for Strategic Reserves played an important role in ensuring the complex transportation of these components," the statement said.

The equipment provided helped carry out emergency repairs in several regions of Ukraine where energy infrastructure had been significantly damaged by Russian strikes.

"We are extremely grateful to our partners in Lithuania, Poland, and the entire European community for helping us obtain this critically needed equipment. It has helped restore vital energy capacities and strengthen the resilience of Ukraine's energy system, which, unfortunately, continues to be subjected to targeted Russian attacks," Acting Minister of Energy Artem Nekrasov said.

This logistics operation is part of the EU's comprehensive response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, coordinated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). To date, overall EU support for Ukraine's energy sector has helped millions of people, including the delivery of 9,500 generators and 7,200 transformers via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the ministry said.

As reported, the European Commission has allocated more than EUR 1.2 billion for humanitarian aid programs in Ukraine and has delivered over 160,000 tonnes of assistance overall.

Photo: pexels
Gaza's Project Sunrise: Cat out of the bag

Gaza's Project Sunrise right from the beginning was to get Gaza free of Palestinians, so that it could be redeveloped as a riviera or a Singapore in the desert, leading on AI and modern tech

The proverbialcat is indeedout of the bag, after a hiatus of more than two years, following the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. The details of the allegedProject Sunrise was shared by the Wall Street Journal, over the weekend. The proposal is to rebuild the war-torn Gaza into a high-tech, luxurious coastal destination over the next two decades and it has been pitched to possible donorand investor countries.

Apparently, the project, costing $112 billion over the first 10 years, was developed by a team led by US President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff over the past 45 days, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.

Initially, the US would commit to anchor the programme by providing $60 billion, while envisioning Gaza being able to self-fund parts of the proposal as it gets underway, according to the report.

The PowerPoint slides running to 32 pages, have been labelled sensitive but unclassified and detailing a four-stage vision to clear the rubble, rebuild the Gaza Strip, and take Gazans out of poverty, and has been shown to wealthy Gulf countries, Turkey, and Egypt, the WSJ reported.

Meanwhile, the US State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs on Sunday (21 December) came down heavily on news reports claiming that the US would pay for more than half of the Trump administration's $112 billion plan to rebuild war-torn Gaza.

"This is fake news. Nowhere in the plan does it say the US will pay $60 billion," the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs posted on X, rubbishing the report.

Apparently, earlier this year, Trump floated an idea for the US to take over and rebuild the Gaza Strip to create the Riviera of the Middle East, while Palestinian residents were permanently relocated. His announcement in February was rebuked by several countries but was welcomed by Israels government. Trump has since walked back the provision for Gazans to be permanently removed.

The plan involves clearing the rubble, unexploded bombs, and Hamas tunnels while temporary shelter and medical centresare to be established for Gazans  though the report doesnot specify exactly where they would live during this reconstruction, according to the WSJ.

Then, the construction of permanent residences, public facilities and infrastructure would begin, the report says.After essential work is completed, the construction of luxury penthouse residences, as part of the glitzy riviera, as well as high-tech rail transport, would begin, according to the report.

One of the slides seen by the Journal is titled New Rafah, with the plan envisioning the city as a seat of governance for the Gaza Strip. They would live in a city with more than 100,000 housing units, 200 or more schools, and more than 75 medical facilities and 180 mosques and cultural centres, the WSJ reported.

Apparently, the reported plan requires, in bold and in red, that Hamas demilitarise and decommission all weapons and tunnels, a demand that Hamas has so far rejected.

Both Israel and the US have insisted that Hamas must disarm before Gaza can be rehabilitated. Trump officials told the Journal that the plan could get underway within two months, if security conditions permit.

The plan has received mixed opinions among US officials, with some sceptical that Hamas will relinquish its weapons, thereby allowing the grand project to be implemented, or even if potential donor nations would fund the proposal, according to the Journal. On the other hand, some other think it is the most detailed and optimistic plan yet for Gazas potential future, the report says.

The report comes as Witkoff was set to meet on Friday last in Miami with senior Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish officials to discuss phase two of the Gaza ceasefire.The four countries believe that both Israel and Hamas are dragging their feet to avoid implementing the deals second phase, and are eager to decide on a joint approach for getting both sides to move forward, according to the report.

Under the second stage, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to govern the territory instead of Hamas, and an international stabilisation force is to be deployed.

But progress in moving to that phase of the agreement has so far been slow, while the ceasefire remains fragile with both sides alleging violations. Israel killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in Gaza last weekend, a move that reportedly sparked Trump to warn of jeopardising the truce.So far, Hamas has released all of the hostages, except for the body of police Master Sergeant Ran Gvili.

The Trump administration is now keen to proceed to the difficult second stage, with the provision for Hamas to lay down its weapons being a particular sticking point.The third phase includes the reconstruction of the vast areas of Gaza levelled during the war, which was triggered by Hamass October 2023 attack on southern Israel.

However, the manner in which the vast stretch of Gaza and other locations in Palestine were destroyed by the Israeli forces over the past two years, in spite of international condemnations, and now as the details of redeveloping the Gaza Strip emerges, it sets one to wonder whether or not the whole charade was aimed at just getting the area cleared of its rightful and lawful owners and perhaps Hamas and its benefactor were also part of this larger plan?

The plan right from the beginning was to get Gaza free of Palestinians, so that it could be redeveloped as a riviera or a Singapore in the desert, leading on AI and modern tech.Sounds rather lofty charity but totally uncalled for.

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Tom and Ann Hill thought they were just doing what their bank told them to do.

But as the Florida couple shared with News4JAX, those instructions allegedly came from a fraudster who managed to bilk the couple out of their life savings (1).

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In January 2024, the Hills were targeted by a sophisticated impersonation scam that resulted in $42,000 being taken out of their bank account. Two years later, the couple is still fighting to get that money back from their bank, JPM Chase, which recently denied their claim and closed the case.

Since the Hills are in their 70s and live on a fixed income, their story serves as a cautionary tale for older Americans who are often targeted by these elaborate schemes.

How the scam unfolded

The ordeal began when Ann received a text message to confirm a wire transfer nearly two years ago. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), texting is a common tactic that scammers often use to make initial contact with their targets (2).

As Ann shared with News4JAX, she did not reply to the text and instead decided to call the phone number on the back of her debit card to speak directly with a JPM Chase representative. Knowing better than to reply to a random text message, Ann took a safer route of investigation that consumer advocates often recommend.

But that, unfortunately, wasnt enough to protect the Hills from this scam. After her call with the JPM Chase rep had ended, the Hills received a call from someone else claiming to be from the bank. That supposed JPM Chase rep was reportedly the scammer who had sent the initial text message that got this ordeal started. Investigators say the caller had spoofed JPM Chases real phone number, making the call appear to be legitimate on caller ID.

According to News4JAXs review of the police report, The Hillss bank account was flagged on January 18, 2024, and should have been suspended. A portion of the police report notes that Ann advised that she inquired about the text, and was told the account would be suspended. But later that day, $22,000 was transferred out of the Hillss bank account, with another $20,000 transfer occurring the next day on January 19, 2024.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and Goodman Group have agreed to establish a partnership focused on developing data centres across Europe, with a planned investment totalling A$14bn ($9.3bn).

The two entities will each contribute equally to the Goodman European Data Centre Development Partnership (GEDCDP).

An initial capital commitment of A$3.9bn will support the development of data centre projects in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris.

The GEDCDP is said to represent CPPs first dedicated data centre partnership in Europe and enables it to expand its presence in the digital infrastructure sector.

The planned portfolio consists of four projects, delivering a combined primary power capacity of 435MW and 282MW of IT load, with locations identified as PAR01 and PAR02 in Paris, FRA02 in Frankfurt, and AMS01 in Amsterdam.

Each site has secured power connections, relevant planning permits and progressed infrastructure works.

Construction across these sites is scheduled to begin by 30 June 2026.

CPP Investments real assets global head and senior managing director Max Biagosch said: We are pleased to expand our longstanding partnership with Goodman Group and establish a strong European foothold in the data centre sector across key Tier 1 markets, aligned with our global data centre strategy.

By combining Goodmans extensive development capabilities and powered landbank, with our global expertise in digital infrastructure investments, this partnership allows us to capitalise on a compelling growth opportunity for the long-term benefit of CPP contributors and beneficiaries.

Since 2009, CPP Investments and Goodman Group have collaborated on multiple projects in regions including Australia, Asia, The Americas, and Europe.

The GEDCDP follows similar initiatives, including the Goodman Hong Kong Data Centre Partnership and other data centre ventures in Japan and Europe.

Completion of the transaction will occur in stages, with all phases expected to conclude by March 2026, subject to closing conditions.

Goodman Group CEO Greg Goodman said: A portfolio of this size and quality  located in Europes Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, and Paris (FLAP) markets  is rare. These powered locations are highly sought after to meet the rapidly growing requirement for cloud computing and AI adoption, particularly when they offer speed to market and delivery certainty.

The quality and scale of this partnership make it ideal for our long-term relationship with CPP Investments. Were pleased to be investing alongside them for their entry into the European data centre market.
Brown University has placed its police chief on administrative leave following the December 13 campus shooting that killed two students and wounded nine others, as federal authorities launch an investigation into potential security violations and new details emerge about warning signs that may have been missed.

Leadership Change Amid Crisis

Rodney Chatman, who served as both chief of police and Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management, has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, the university confirmed. Former Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements will serve as interim vice president for public safety as the institution grapples with the aftermath of the deadliest incident in its history.

The leadership change comes as the U.S. Department of Education announced it will investigate whether Brown violated the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, which requires institutions receiving federal student aid to meet certain campus safety and security requirements. The investigation will examine security reports, audits, dispatch logs, and emergency notification procedures.

A Tragedy Foretold?

New revelations raise troubling questions about whether the December 13 shooting could have been prevented. A custodian told The Boston Globe that he saw the shooter casing the building weeks before the attack and flagged the suspicious person to a security guard.

Security infrastructure gaps have also emerged. Interior cameras do not cover the room where the shooting took place or the surrounding hallways, forcing investigators to rely heavily on residential neighborhood footage to track the gunman's movements.

The security concerns weren't new. In August, the union representing Brown's 10 campus police sergeants issued a vote of no confidence in Chatman, signaling tensions within the department months before the tragedy.

The Victims: Bright Futures Cut Short

The shooting claimed the lives of two promising students during final exam week, just days before winter break.

Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was vice president of Brown's College Republicans and a devoted member of the Catholic community. Hundreds gathered in Birmingham, Alabama to remember her, with a professor noting she was known on campus as "Ellabama". Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth described her as a devoted Christian and committed conservative who represented the very best of Alabama.

Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Virginia by way of Uzbekistan, was a double major in biochemistry and neuroscience who dreamed of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon. At age 7, he was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, a condition requiring immediate brain surgery. That experience with a surgeon in New York inspired his life goal of helping children with neurological issues.

Umurzokov attended Saturday's economics review session despite not being an economics student himselfhe was accompanying a friend. In his last text to classmate Vanessa Finder, he included a photo of the lecture hall and joked about being dragged to the session. Hours later, he was dead.

His sister Rukhsora Umurzokova, 22, who had texted with him the day before, said they had made plans for her to pick him up from a train station for winter break. His parents were traveling to Saudi Arabia for a Muslim pilgrimage when the shooting occurred, learning of their son's death while on the plane.

At Midlothian High School in Virginia, Umurzokov had taken a record-breaking 18 Advanced Placement classes and volunteered to tutor newly-arrived immigrants. Friends described him as insanely smart with a dry, sarcastic humor and a kind heart.

Nine other students were wounded in the attack, all transported to Rhode Island Hospital. One victim had a shrapnel injury and was discharged after a few hours, two more were discharged on December 16 and 17, and the other six remained hospitalized as of December 18 but were in stable condition.

The Manhunt and Investigation

Shortly after 4 p.m. EST on December 13, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente shot 11 people in the Brown University School of Engineering's Barus and Holley Building in Room 166, where a 21-year-old teaching assistant was leading an optional review session for a final exam in economics. The building was unlocked, and it remains unknown exactly how Valente entered, though authorities said he moved through areas with limited surveillance cameras.

The ensuing manhunt stretched across multiple states and involved local, state, and federal law enforcement. On December 18, with an arrest warrant in hand, police went to a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, and found 48-year-old Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente dead inside. Officials said he had taken his own life.

A Reddit post became a key breakthrough in the case. An anonymous witness had posted details about seeing the suspect walking near Brown before the shooting, describing a gray Nissan with Florida platespossibly a rentalthat the suspect was driving. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said the tip "blew this case wide open."

The investigation revealed that Valente had been casing the area hours before the attack. Authorities discovered video footage showing the individual suspected of carrying out the shooting had been in the College Hill neighborhood around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, more than five hours before the shooting.

A witness identified only as John described encountering Valente twice that dayfirst in a bathroom inside the Barus Holley building about two hours before the shooting, and later near the Rhode Island Historical Society. John described Valente's clothing as flimsy, poor quality, and inappropriate for the weather, and noted he was wearing a face mask covering the entire lower half of his face.

Connection to MIT Professor's Murder

Valente is also the suspected gunman in the death of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts, who was fatally shot on Monday night, December 15, in the foyer of his apartment buildingjust two days after the Brown shooting.

Ballistic evidence shows Valente was responsible for both shootings, with DNA evidence also matching him to the Brown University shooting. The shell casings found at each crime scene were not fired from the same gun, but both firearms were found with Valente's body in New Hampshire.

Valente and Loureiro attended the same academic program between 1995 and 2000 at a university in Portugal. Authorities believe Loureiro was an intended target, suggesting a possible motive rooted in their shared academic past.

The Gunman's Background

Neves Valente was enrolled at Brown as a graduate student from Fall 2000 to Spring 2001 in the Ph.D. physics program, but he had no active affiliation with Brown and had not been affiliated with the University since 2003, when he formally withdrew.

Valente arrived in the United States in August 2000 as a graduate student at Brown under an F-1 visa reserved for international students. After his studies, he should have returned home under visa requirements, but in May 2017, Valente received a diversity immigrant visa from the U.S., becoming a legal permanent resident.

During his time at Brown, Valente was enrolled only in physics classes and likely spent time in Barus & Holley, where the shooting occurred and where most physics courses take place.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that DHS would be pausing the diversity lottery program immediately, stating that the suspect should never have been allowed in the country.

Campus Response and Federal Scrutiny

The shooting has exposed significant vulnerabilities in Brown's security infrastructure. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley noted that authorities had to appeal to the public for help partly because the location where students were shot had limited security camera coverage, and the school's network of cameras couldn't follow the suspect into the surrounding neighborhood.

The federal Clery Act investigation will examine whether Brown properly reported campus crime statistics, maintained adequate security measures, and issued timely warnings to the community. Violations can result in substantial fines and loss of federal funding.

In the immediate aftermath, Brown canceled almost all remaining in-person exams for the fall semester and delayed admission notifications for prospective students by up to 48 hours. The university established a Student Access and Support Center providing crisis intervention, financial aid, spiritual care, and counseling services.

President Christina Paxson has faced criticism for the university's response. In the aftermath of the shooting, the university saw harmful doxxing activity directed toward several students, faculty and staff, and had to work aggressively to combat disinformation in online media.

A Community in Mourning

Memorials sprang up across campus as the Brown and Providence communities grappled with shock and grief. The tragedy occurred on December 13the 13th anniversary of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootingadding painful resonance to the loss.

Anti-gun violence nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise released a statement: "Our hearts are with Brown University as this tragic story unfolds. We cannot allow this to keep happening."

The shooting has reignited debates about gun violence on college campuses. According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 391 mass shootings and 13,929 shooting deaths nationwide in 2025, with at least 75 school shootings this year alone.

U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick called Umurzokov's death tragic, extending sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fellow students. Vice President JD Vance offered condolences for the loss of the brilliant young man who dreamed of being a surgeon.

Cook's Alabama church pastor described her as incredibly grounded, generous, faithful, and a bright light. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote, "There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents."

Moving Forward

With the suspect now identified and deceased, Brown faces the difficult task of implementing reforms while supporting a traumatized community. The placement of Chief Chatman on administrative leave signals the university's acknowledgment that systemic changes are needed.

The federal investigation will determine whether Brown's security measures met legal standards, but for many in the community, the central question remains: Could this tragedy have been prevented?

As one Brown student told NBC10 Boston, "It is truly devastating that someone this young, with so much potential, who was so loved by the community, could be killed in the way that he was."

The university announced plans for memorial services after winter break to honor Cook and Umurzokov. In a letter to the community, President Paxson wrote: "These were two young people whose amazing promise was extinguished too soon. Before releasing their names, it was important that we give their families some space to grieve, but now it is important that we never forget them."

For the families of Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, no investigation or policy change can restore what was losttwo young lives full of promise, ended in an act of senseless violence just days before they would have returned home for the holidays.
The University of Alabama's new School of Leadership and Policy has received its first major endowment, a $500,000 gift from longtime benefactor Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. that will establish the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. Endowed Professorship in Leadership and Policy.

The gift, pending approval by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees in February, will help the school attract and retain nationally recognized scholars and experts in public policy and leadership as it prepares to welcome its first students in fall 2027.

A Vision for Civic Excellence

The School of Leadership and Policy will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in public policy and leadership starting fall 2027, with an interdisciplinary, practice-oriented education that will prepare students to engage in civic life and government by focusing on foundational principles shaping laws and discourse.

Through internships and community projects, students will encounter diverse viewpoints and organizations, gaining the skills needed to tackle complex challenges and develop effective solutions in the public sphere.

For Culverhouse, the school's mission resonated deeply with his commitment to developing future leaders who can serve Alabama and the nation. His support was inspired by the school's promise to prepare students to become effective leaders, policymakers, and public servants, as well as the leadership displayed by former Senator Richard Shelby and Senator Katie Britt, both University of Alabama alumni.

"This has the promise of changing the world for the better," Culverhouse said. "It's an honor to invest in the future of the School and have the first endowed giftit won't be the last."

A Milestone in Generosity

The endowed professorship marks a significant milestone for Culverhouse and his wife, Eliza: their charitable giving to the University of Alabama has now surpassed $20 million over nearly 13 years. Their philanthropy has touched multiple areas of campus, making them exemplars of sustained commitment to higher education.

"Hugh and his wife, Eliza, are an incredible example of generosity," said a university spokesperson. "For their philanthropy to the University to cross the $20 million mark, and for it to have touched so many areas of campus, is truly remarkable."

The Culverhouse family's name is perhaps most visible through the Culverhouse College of Business, one of the university's premier academic units that has benefited significantly from their support over the years.

Building Faculty Excellence from the Start

The $500,000 endowment comes at a critical juncture for the School of Leadership and Policy. As a brand-new academic unit, the school faces the challenge of building its reputation and attracting top-tier faculty who can establish rigorous programs and mentor the first generation of students.

Endowed professorships are among the most powerful tools universities have to recruit and retain exceptional scholars. The positions provide competitive salaries, research support, and the prestige that draws accomplished academics to new programs. For a school launching in 2027, having an endowed professorship secured two years in advance signals institutional commitment and financial stability to prospective faculty members.

The Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. Endowed Professorship in Leadership and Policy will generate ongoing funding in perpetuity, with the principal amount invested and the annual returns used to support the professor's salary, research, and professional development.

The Rising Tide of UA Philanthropy

Culverhouse's latest gift comes during a period of unprecedented philanthropic momentum at the University of Alabama. The Rising Tide 2.0 Capital Campaign has galvanized thousands of alumni and supporters, leading to the creation of more than 1,100 new scholarship and program support endowments.

The success of the campaign recently prompted the university to increase the minimum gift required to establish an endowment for scholarships and support funds from $25,000 to $50,000, effective October 1, 2025. The change aims to maximize the impact of endowments and provide more substantial support to students, better aligning administrative costs with the scale of funding.

Other major gifts in recent months demonstrate the university's fundraising strength:

$35 million from alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. to name the College of Arts and Sciences

from alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. to name the College of Arts and Sciences $5 million from the family of the late Robert James "Jim" Kelly for the Culverhouse College of Business' student leadership initiative

from the family of the late Robert James "Jim" Kelly for the Culverhouse College of Business' student leadership initiative $5 million from alumni Rance M. and Angie L. Sanders to establish the Rance M. Sanders Real Estate Program, including a new undergraduate major

A Model for Civic Education

The School of Leadership and Policy arrives at a moment when civic education and public service face significant challenges nationwide. Declining trust in institutions, polarization in public discourse, and concerns about civic literacy have prompted calls for renewed emphasis on leadership education grounded in foundational principles.

The school's interdisciplinary approachcombining political science, ethics, history, economics, and practical governanceaims to produce graduates who can navigate complexity, engage respectfully across differences, and contribute meaningfully to democratic institutions.

By emphasizing hands-on experience through internships and community engagement, the curriculum will give students real-world exposure to policymaking processes and leadership challenges. This practice-oriented model reflects growing recognition that effective public servants need both theoretical knowledge and applied skills.

Alabama's Leadership Legacy

The University of Alabama has a distinguished history of producing leaders in public service, with alumni serving in Congress, state legislatures, gubernatorial offices, and federal agencies. Former Senator Richard Shelby, who represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, and current Senator Katie Britt, the first woman elected to represent Alabama in the Senate, exemplify the university's tradition of preparing leaders for national service.

The new School of Leadership and Policy will formalize and expand this legacy, creating a dedicated academic home for students passionate about public service and providing structured pathways into careers in government, policy analysis, nonprofit leadership, and civic engagement.

Looking Ahead

With its first endowed professorship secured and plans progressing for the fall 2027 launch, the School of Leadership and Policy is building the foundation for long-term success. University officials anticipate additional philanthropic support as the school's vision becomes more concrete and early faculty hires establish its academic direction.

As Culverhouse noted, his endowed gift won't be the last. For a school designed to prepare the next generation of leaders and policymakers, attracting multiple endowed positions will be essential to competing with established programs at peer institutions and achieving excellence from the outset.

The University of Alabama, as the state's flagship institution, continues to drive economic growth and educational opportunity across Alabama and beyond. With over 200 degree programs and more than 30 research centers, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry, and knowledge while maintaining its commitment to student success.

For Hugh and Eliza Culverhouse, their investment in the School of Leadership and Policy represents faith in the university's ability to shape leaders who will, as Hugh put it, "change the world for the better"a vision aligned with Alabama's motto: "We will lead."
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
The Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces on Monday ordered their fighters to cease fire following deadly clashes that came as Turkey's top diplomat urged the Kurds to integrate into the Syrian army.

At least three people were killed in the clashes, which came ahead of a deadline for implementing a March 10 agreement between Damascus and the Kurds to integrate the SDF -- which controls vast swathes of Syria's oil-rich northeast -- into the state.

State news agency SANA cited the defence ministry as saying that the Syrian army's general staff had issued "an order to stop targeting the sources of fire".

The US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) meanwhile said they had "issued directives to our forces to cease responding to attacks".

The two sides had earlier traded blame over who started the clashes.

State news agency SANA said on Monday that "two civilians were killed and eight others were wounded in SDF shelling on districts of Aleppo", a city that has witnessed heightened tensions and a previous bout of violence between the two sides in October.

The SDF said a woman was killed and 17 civilians wounded on its side by "rocket and tank shelling carried out by Damascus government factions on the Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods in Aleppo".

Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh have remained under the control of Kurdish units linked to the SDF and the Kurds' domestic security forces, despite a disengagement agreement reached in April with Syria's new Islamist authorities.

Syria's interior ministry said Kurdish forces attacked government personnel at joint checkpoints in the two Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods.

The SDF instead accused "factions affiliated with the interim government" of carrying out an attack on a checkpoint.

The defence ministry denied attacking SDF positions, while the Kurdish-led force denied targeting Aleppo neighbourhoods.

In October, Syria announced a comprehensive ceasefire with Kurdish forces following deadly clashes in the districts.

Under the March deal between Damascus and the SDF, the Kurds' civil and military institutions should be integrated into the central government by year end, but differences have held up the deal's implementation despite international pressure.

- 'Stability' -

In Damascus, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a presidency statement said.

Turkey and Syria have developed close ties since the toppling of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last year and Ankara, a key supporter of the new authorities, sees the presence of Kurdish forces on its border with Syria as a security threat.

"It is important that the SDF be integrated into the Syrian administration through dialogue and reconciliation, in a transparent manner, and that it no longer acts as an obstacle to Syria's territorial integrity and long-term stability," Fidan told a press conference with Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani.

Fidan claimed the Kurds "do not intend to make much progress" on implementing the March deal.

Shaibani said authorities had received an SDF response to a Syrian defence ministry proposal on integrating the Kurdish-led forces.

Damascus is studying "this response and how it responds to the national interest in achieving the integration and achieving a single unified Syrian territory", he said.

Last week, a Kurdish official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Damascus's proposal included splitting the Kurdish-led forces into three divisions and a number of brigades, including one for women.

The forces would be deployed under SDF commanders in areas of Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria, the official said.

It was Damascus's first written proposal since the March deal, the official added, noting "international and regional efforts" to finalise the agreement by year end.

Turkey shares a 900-kilometre (550-mile) border with Syria, and has launched successive offensives to push the SDF from its frontier.

Fidan said "Syria's stability means Turkey's stability".

Shaibani said the talks also addressed "combating terrorism and preventing" a resurgence of the Islamic State jihadist group.

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Realty Income is a real estate investment trust (REIT). REITs must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income as dividends, so the more successful ones tend to have quite high dividend yields.

Data sources: Yahoo! Finance and YCharts. EPS = earnings per share. *Funds from operations (FFO) is a key financial metric for REITs, providing a better gauge than earnings of a REIT's profitability and ability to pay dividends. Data as of Dec. 22, 2025.

A second reason lower interest rates are beneficial for certain types of dividend stocks -- such as utility stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs) -- relates to lower borrowing costs. Utilities and many REITs typically borrow a substantial amount of money. Servicing their debt is less costly when interest rates are lower.

Lower interest rates are not favorable for investors in fixed-income investments, such as government bonds. So when rates drop, some of these investors will seek stocks that pay dividends. The increased demand for these dividend payers typically boosts their share prices.

Interest rates are declining, and economists predict a couple of more interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2026. The Fed has cut interest rates six times since September 2024, with the last quarter-point (0.25%) cut occurring earlier this month.

As a group, dividend-paying stocks appear poised to perform well in 2026. There are two main reasons for this prediction, both of which stem from the recent decline and expected continued decline in interest rates.

Both companies are highly stable and of high quality, making them good fits for investors with a long-term focus.

Shares of NextEra Energy, the country's largest electric utility, are a great investment for investors seeking a lower-risk stock that pays a dividend while also offering solid capital appreciation potential.

Realty Income, a REIT, is an excellent choice for investors who are most concerned about dependable current income, as its dividend yield is 5.72%.

Story Continues

Realty Income stock is an excellent choice for investors primarily concerned with dependable current income. The current dividend yield is juicy at 5.72%. Moreover, the company pays its dividend monthly, a plus for some investors. The company has a strong long-term track record of dividend payments and increases. It has declared 666 consecutive monthly dividends and has increased its dividend for over 30 years in a row.

Realty Income was founded in 1969 -- and went public in 1994 -- making it one of the most established and largest publicly traded REITs. It leases freestanding properties to single-occupancy tenants, primarily commercial and industrial, using long-term, triple-net leases (tenants pay the major variable expenses).

The company's 15,500-property portfolio is diversified by geography, tenant industry type, and individual tenant, which lowers its risk level. Most of its properties are located in the United States, although it expanded to the U.K. and several other European countries several years ago.

Realty Income focuses on tenants that can perform well in various economic climates and are at least somewhat insulated from competition from online retailers, such as Amazon. Many of its tenants provide services or sell non-discretionary items, such as convenience stores, quick-service restaurants, and fitness businesses. Its three largest tenants are 7-Eleven (3.3% of total portfolio annualized contractual rent), Dollar General, and Walgreens.

NextEra Energy: An electric utility and renewable energy powerhouse

NextEra Energy stock is an ideal stock for investors seeking a lower-risk investment that pays a decent dividend -- now yielding 2.83% -- while also offering solid capital appreciation potential.

NextEra operates Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the U.S. Florida's population has been growing faster than the country's over the past several decades, making FPL's service territory highly attractive.

Another of NextEra's main competitive advantages is that it's the world's largest producer of renewable energy from the sun and wind. This feature should become increasingly beneficial to the company over time.

More recently, the incredible demand for artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities has become a catalyst for growth in the electric utilities industry, including for NextEra Energy. This is because AI data centers use enormous amounts of power.

NextEra's dividend should be considered very secure. The company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, making it a very dependable dividend grower. At its 2025 investor conference earlier this month, management reaffirmed its plan to raise its dividend by 10% through 2026 (off a 2024 base), followed by a targeted 6% annual increase in 2027 and 2028 (off a 2026 base).

Should you invest $1,000 in NextEra Energy right now?

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Beth McKenna has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, NextEra Energy, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Dividend Stocks Are Poised to Perform Well in 2026 -- Here Are 2 of the Best Dividend Stocks to Buy Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Entergy Arkansas, the utility that provides electricity to about 735,000 customers in 63 counties in that state, announced a plan to add about 2.6 GW of new power generation capacity, in part by converting old coal-fired units to burn natural gas. It also is renewing the operating license for the 1.8-GW Arkansas Nuclear One power plant, the state's only nuclear power station, with plans to invest in new equipment that would increase the facility's output. The new generation includes solar power and battery energy storage. The utility announced its "Next Generation Arkansas" plan on December 18, noting the strategy is designed around "strengthening reliability, expanding energy supply, driving economic growth and keeping power affordable for all customers." Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas president and CEO, said, Next Generation Arkansas is about preparing our state for whats ahead. By strengthening the grid, adding new generation and modernizing how we deliver power, were making the system more reliable and more affordable while also building a system that enables unprecedented growth over the long term. These investments help prevent outages, support new jobs and ensure that Arkansas families and businesses continue to benefit from low, predictable electricity costs as our state grows. Landreaux added, Our 2,800 Entergy employees in Arkansas and I understand that this is some of the most important work of our careers, and we feel it personally because were Arkansans too. Were proud to help deliver better power, more jobs and a brighter future for our fellow Arkansans.

New Gas-Fired Generation

The company said it would build the Ironwood Power Station, a new 450-MW natural gas-fired facility, in Hot Spring County, with commercial operation expected in 2028. It also will build the new 750-MW Jefferson Power Station in Jefferson County, expected to come online in 2029. The utility said it would add 600 MW of solar power, along with 350 MW of battery energy storage, at the Arkansas Cypress facility in Jefferson County. Commercial operation of that installation is expected in 2028. The company also said it would invest in upgrades at existing natural gas-fired power plants that would increase generation capacity by more than 150 MW. Unit 1 at the Arkansas Nuclear One power plant began commercial operation in 1974; Unit 2 at the site came online in 1980. Nuclear power plants are granted 40-year operational licenses with 20-year renewals, and with the planned renewal announced by the utility earlier this month, the units will operate until 2054 and 2058, respectively, according to the company. Utility officials earlier in December said Entergy, the parent of Entergy Arkansas, is evaluating new nuclear power options beyond its fleet of five reactors at four locations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Those reactors in total have about 5 GW of power generation capacity.
Rome airport to welcome two million passengers over Christmas holidays.

Rome's Fiumicino airport, known officially as Leonardo da Vinci, has exceeded a new record of 50 million passengers in a year for the first time.

The award-winning airport is set to close 2025 with more than 51 million passengers, an increase of four per cent on the previous year, equivalent to an additional two million visitors compared to 2024.

Fiumicino also expects to welcome a total of two million travellers over the Christmas holidays, between 22 December and 7 January, in addition to the 180,000 expected at Rome's second, smaller airport at Ciampino.

Rome airport management company, Aeroporti di Roma (AdR), credited the surge in passenger numbers at Fiumicino to a number of factors including long-haul flights and a network of 240 destinations.

The milestone is "the result of operational planning, a long-term industrial vision, consistent investments, and the work of a great team of people who, every day, contribute to consolidating Rome Fiumicino's position as a global hub," Marco Troncone, CEO of AdR, said in a statement.

Earlier this year Fiumicino was included among the Skytrax World's Top 10 Airports ranking for the first time, climbing four places from 12th place last year to eighth in 2025.

Fiumicino was also rated Best Airport in Europe with more than 40 million passengers for the eighth year in a row.

Photo credit: Mairhlu / Shutterstock.com.
In the early nineties, over 400 Waterford Crystal employees were misinformed about their future pension entitlements and were resultingly left without a pension.

The workers claim that they were offered only one pension option at the time  the return of their pension contributions.

They were entitled to receive three options contained on an option form.

The workers assert that none of the more than 400 employees were ever offered these forms, and that no evidence of the forms existence has been proven in the decades since.

In new developments this week, former Crystal workers have received a letter from the Department of Social Protection outlining the government's position.

Meanwhile, Minister Mary Butler has said that an official parliamentary answer she received on the matter in 2017 was incorrect.

The Letter

The new letter from the Department of Social Protection states that the government have never stated that workers signed the forms.

There has never been any instance on the States part that such forms were signed," it reads.

This statement has prompted renewed scrutiny of a parliamentary answer, which was made by former Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty, in 2017.

Her statement, which was in response to a parliamentary question from Mary Butler, said: Former workers who left the service of Waterford Crystal in the early 1990s received their full pension entitlements.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, former Crystal worker Walter Croke said that this statement should be corrected on official Dail records, and that it was contradictory to the statements contained within the recent letter.

We feel the official Dail record should be corrected to reflect the fact that none of the Ministers have ever seen signed option forms and they have never been able to produce them. What was said by then government Minister Regina Doherty contradicts the letter.

"She said in 2017 that the workers had been given the option forms, and now we have this letter saying there were no forms signed."

Speaking on Deise Today last week, Minister Mary Butler said that the answer provided by Regina Doherty in 2017 was in fact incorrect.

Regina Doherty, who was the Minister at the time, said the workers were offered their options, and they werent.

Attorney General

The recently circulated letter further states that the Attorney General advised the government that there was no basis on which the State could be obliged to compensate the former workers.

It further states: The matter is concluded from the perspective of the Department of Social Protection.

Minister Mary Butler said that the Attorney Generals ruling will further complicate the saga.

I dont want to be delivering difficult news, but its difficult to see where we go politically now, she said.

The workers' fight for their pensions continues.

More on this story is available HERE
Labour councillor and Mayor of Waterford City & County Council Seamus Ryan blasted conditions on the Inner Ring Road at a recent metropolitan council meeting.

Mayor Ryan described the .5km stretch from the Inner Ring Road to the Folly as breaking up pretty bad and bemoaned the lack of progress on an issue raised three or four months ago.

He labelled an Active Travel Scheme proposal that could see a 2km two-way bike lane installed on one side of the road from the Inner Ring Road to the Passage Road as disastrous.

A screenshot shows the proposed two-way cycle lane proposed on the Inner Ring Road.

Why would we have cycle lanes going on the wrong side of the road? That, to me, just does not make any traffic sense, Mayor Ryan said.

It's going to be unsafe for cyclists, it's going to be unsafe for motorists, and it's going to be unsafe for pedestrians.

The councils road planning department said they have agreed to review the Active Travel Scheme, with funding earmarked for the Inner Ring Roads resurfacing in 2026.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

We 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. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model .

How far off is Discovery Silver Corp. ( TSE:DSV ) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

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 (2.8%) 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 7.1%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$263m (1 + 2.8%)  (7.1% 2.8%) = US$6.1b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$6.1b ( 1 + 7.1%)10= US$3.1b

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 US$4.6b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$9.1, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. 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.

TSX:DSV Discounted Cash Flow December 23rd 2025

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. 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 Discovery Silver 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 1.043. 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Discovery Silver

SWOT Analysis for Discovery Silver

Strength

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Canadian market.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for DSV.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Discovery Silver, we've put together three fundamental items you should assess:

Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Discovery Silver (including 1 which can't be ignored) . Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for DSV's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Canadian 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.
995,000 people visited Waterford for Winterval 2025, according to mobile phone data provided to Waterford City and County Council via a third-party network provider.

The figures were recorded up to December 15, with footfall figures from the final days of the festival yet to be compiled.

Winterval Festival Director Trevor Darmody paid tribute to Waterford City.

As Winterval 2025 comes to an end, these figures are something everyone in Waterford can be proud of. Almost a million people were in the city before we even count the final days, Mr Darmody said.

It shows the power of Winterval to bring people together, support local businesses and create unforgettable Christmas experiences. I want to thank our team, our partners, our volunteers and the public for making this year so special.

I want to sincerely thank our sponsors for their continued belief in Winterval, along with Waterford City and County Council for their ongoing support.

Huge credit is due to the event organisers, performers, traders and everyone who participates, as well as the volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure the festival runs smoothly. Winterval is a true team effort, and that spirit is felt right across the city.

Winterval 2025 also helped to raise funds for Tintean Housing Association, a support service for women and families who have been made homeless.
Two court reports in this week's edition of Waterford News & Star provide chilling insight into the insidious nature of domestic violence and coercive control.

The first case is horrific - involving the murder of eight-year-old Malika Al Katib in her home by her father. Mohammed Al Shaker Al Tamimi will serve a life sentence for the brutal stabbing that took the life of his beautiful, kind, innocent daughter. The evidence documented abusive behaviour by Al Tamimi, culminating in the horrific crime that unfolded on December 1, 2024.

Malika Al Katib

Malika's mother's testimony, of what she and her daughter were subjected to, was brave and powerful. Our deepest sympathies go out to Aisha and her family.

In the second case involving coercive control, the woman involved came forward after a family member became aware of abusive messages on her phone. Her family intervened in full support of her, which led to the woman revealing the horrific nightmare she had been subjected to.

Thankfully, the judicial system supported her from there on - she succeeded in obtaining a five-year safety order from the District Court, and the case proceeded.

The defendant pleaded guilty to six charges at Waterford Circuit Court, including counts of coercive control, assault, criminal damage and theft, and threatening to distribute imagery taken without consent. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

The nature of the evidence was again harrowing. The man began exhibiting controlling behaviour a couple of months into the relationship, messaging the woman thousands of abusive messages. In those messages, he threatened to murder her and to rape her, including rape with a knife.

He photographed her while she was taking a shower, without her knowledge, and threatened to disseminate this if she ever left him. The abuse became physical when he strangled her and assaulted her after she told him she was leaving him.

A concerning aspect revealed through the Probation Report was that the defendant was prone to minimisation and contradiction, still apportioning blame to the woman. Judge Eugene O'Kelly said the defendant's abuse had made her a "prisoner in her own life".

The woman's bravery in coming forward to the gardai is to be applauded - many more victims of coercive control remain in the shadows. The nature of this horrific criminal behaviour is, by its nature, stealthy, and incredibly dangerous.

It is rare that cases of coercive control come before the courts. Thanks to the support of Coimisiun na Mean - the Media Commission, under the Court Reporting Scheme which was introduced earlier this year, the Waterford News & Star, and other regional newspapers, are able to cover a broader selection of court stories.

The result of justice being not just served, but seen to be served, is incredibly impactful. It gives voice to victims, far beyond the walls of the courthouse on Catherine Street. It will potentially save lives.

Thanks to our readers and advertisers

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Waterford News & Star readers and advertisers for your support during 2025 - you play a crucial role in supporting regional journalism, which is fundamental to local democracy in action.

Wishing you a peaceful and happy Christmas.

Nollaig shona daoibh go leir.
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BusinessMarketsBillionaires Billionaire pardoned by Trump is back in the spotlight Olga Kharif and Annie Massa December 24, 2025  3:32am 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

Changpeng Zhao has unfinished business. The billionaire co-founder of Binance has stepped back into the spotlight, praising President Donald Trumps crypto stance at every turn, and signalling enthusiasm for the US market where the firm he helped create is now weighing a comeback. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao was pardoned by Trump in October after serving prison time for failing to stop criminals from using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism. Washington Post Recently pardoned by Trump, Zhao holds no official role at the crypto exchange any longer, but remains an influential voice. Zhao has cast the US as central to the industrys future  and therefore, implicitly, to Binances. The firm has been exploring ways to reboot its American affiliate, Binance.US, including a potential recapitalisation that could reduce Zhaos majority stake, according to people familiar with the matter. His role as a controlling investor has been a major hurdle for expanding in key states, they said. The discussions remain fluid.

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Related Article Crime Trump pardons billionaire owner of Australias largest beef producer It is my full intention to help make America the capital of crypto, Zhao said at Binance Blockchain Week earlier this month, calling it an emerging land for us. Binance recently announced that Yi He  another co-founder, who is Zhaos domestic partner and the mother of three of his children  was promoted to co-CEO alongside Richard Teng. During her appearance at the Binance event, she said Zhao had retired, though he was front and centre for much of it. Ramping up meaningfully in the US would mean navigating dozens of state licensing regimes or betting on a still-hypothetical federal framework. The plea agreement Zhao reached in 2023 for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance bars him from formal or informal involvement in the companys operations. Binances global entity also pleaded guilty to federal charges and agreed to pay billions in fines. Whether, or to what extent, Zhaos October pardon affects the restrictions laid out in the plea deal has not been definitively resolved, though the political backdrop in Washington has shifted.

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We cannot comment on hypothetical storylines, a Binance spokesperson said. None of these speculative scenarios reflect accurate facts. Zhao, He and Teng didnt return requests for comment. Tearful departure Since US agencies charged Zhao and Binance two years ago, Binance.US has lost significant ground. At the Binance event in the first week of December, Zhao recalled the firm having 35 per cent market share at one point, a figure that has effectively dropped to zero. Binance has also been getting closer to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by Trump family members. AP When I stepped down as Binance CEO I actually cried, Zhao said at the Binance event. It took me a little bit to get over it.

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A number of states have revoked its licences while others, like New York, never granted one in the first place. Some supporters argue the marketstructure bill under consideration could, if enacted, create a federal licensing regime that would change the calculus for firms like Binance. But the legislation has stalled amid political disagreements, and its prospects remain uncertain. If Binance were to buy some or all of Zhaos stake, it could install new leadership, pursue business strategies to boost growth and lean on political relationships in Washington, said the people, who were not authorised to speak publicly about the companys plans. Related Article Cryptocurrencies A disgrace: Crypto rebels controversial comeback after Trump pardon There is some urgency for Binance to make decisions. The pleasant regulatory mood of today could evaporate if Democrats gain more power in mid-term elections next year, or retake the White House later on. Some think the tide has already begun to turn. Washington lobbyists had initially predicted the market-structure bill would pass by year-end, but now theyre not sure it will get through at all. Compromise text that can be reached that satisfies both parties political interests, as well as the traditional finance and crypto industries will be challenging, said Chris Hayes, a partner at Thorn Run Partners, a government-relations firm in Washington. He still thinks the bill has a strong chance of passing.

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Separately, Binance has been pursuing a closer relationship with the worlds largest asset manager, BlackRock, according to sources. Its another sign that the crypto firm wants to deepen relationships with established US financial players. BlackRock has a tokenised money-market fund that institutions can use to back trades on Binance. The two have discussed deepening their financial ties, including additional products and potential revenue-sharing arrangements, according to people familiar with the matter. Binance wants to deepen relationships with established US financial players. Bloomberg A BlackRock spokesperson declined to comment. Binance has also been getting closer to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by Trump family members. Some of those moves preceded Zhaos pardon and emphasise how Binance is repositioning itself in a more welcoming political landscape.

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CEO shuffling Binance positioned the promotion of Yi He, Zhaos partner, as a sign of stability. She has become the public face of Binance in recent months, headlining events, steering strategy and reviving Binances growth narrative. Her visibility, at minimum, complicates efforts to demonstrate distance from Zhao, who still has a $US36 billion ($54 billion) fortune from his controlling stake in the company, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Yi Hes elevation has also raised questions among some observers about the balance of power between her and Teng. A longtime former regulator, Teng was instrumental to Binances outreach to governments since his appointment to the CEO role two years ago, when the company was reeling from criminal charges and Zhaos departure. Now that crisis has largely ended. When Binance revs up its US push, many believe it will be aggressive. The company has historically won market share by charging zero or much lower fees than competitors. Rivals like Coinbase have reason to worry the strategy could reappear.

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Related Article Cryptocurrencies What I did was wrong: 33-year-old crypto mogul pleads guilty over $61 billion collapse But its ascent cant happen overnight. At the moment, Binance.US is not allowed to operate in more than a dozen states and US territories, according to its website, including some crucial ones, like New York. It would be a big challenge for them to get money-transmitter licences, especially in Democratic states, said Lee Reiners, a lecturing fellow at Duke University who specialises in financial law and policy. Clearly those states will be less welcoming to those overtures and have legitimate concerns. Bloomberg The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

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BusinessThe economyTrump's America Opinion Trump has set America up to be the biggest loser in the energy race

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard December 23, 2025  4:15pm 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

Energy is suddenly becoming much cheaper in the UK and Europe, rapidly narrowing the gap in industrial competitiveness with America and rescuing households with a windfall stimulus as we enter 2026. The January futures contract for wholesale gas has been almost halved since the last northern winter to 27.39 ($48.50) a megawatt hour. The contract is even lower for January 2027, and lower yet for early 2028 and 2029 as traders anticipate the gathering global glut of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Donald Trumps America is going to lose the energy race on two fronts. Bloomberg Brent crude oil has fallen to the lower end of its historic trading range in real terms. This is unlikely to change as Saudi Arabia floods the market to regain lost global share, and as the US over-drills in a fast-changing world that no longer wants as much crude as Big Oil likes to tell itself. The International Energy Agency estimates that global oil supply will rise by 5.7 million barrels a day over this year and next, while demand will rise by 1.6 million. The structural overhang is colossal. It will be even larger if Vladimir Putin is let back into polite society.

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The net effect of the twin gluts in gas and oil is a relief package worth $US1.2 trillion ($1.8 trillion) a year for countries that import energy, and a commensurate loss in rents for OPEC, Qatar, the US, Canada or Norway. Related Article Updated

Mergers & acquisitions Huge conflict of interest: Trumps $600 million windfall after nuclear deal Most of Americas shale gas output has been trapped inside the country  and even within regions of the US  since the fracking revolution reached scale in the early 2010s. The wholesale cost of gas in Europe in mid-2022 was seven times higher than the Henry Hub price enjoyed by the booming petrochemical belt from Texas to Louisiana, or the Chicago region drawing on the Appalachian Marcellus and Utica basins. Today it is 2 times higher. The gap will narrow further as the US opens new export terminals for LNG, doubling total capacity by 2029. By then terminal capacity will have risen tenfold in a decade.

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Donald Trump has made much of Americas new role as the worlds biggest exporter of LNG, and has been actively forcing the pace. He should be careful what he wishes for. The Henry Hub price of gas in the US has risen by 50 per cent to $US4.11 since August, enough to cause the first stirrings of a cost-of-living revolt. Soaring utility bills played a large role in last months elections in Virginia and New Jersey. It does not take much of a rise to cause pain because American households use twice as much energy on average as Europeans. It is well understood that Americas energy infrastructure is so badly integrated that gas already costs just as much today in New England, New York or the Pacific North West as it does in Britain. The world has been flooded with oil and its predicted to get worse. Bloomberg As a loose rule of thumb, it costs $1.5 British thermal units (MMBtu) to ship LNG from the Gulf of Mexico to the Dragon terminal in Wales. The current gap  $US4 in Texas versus $US9 in Western Europe  will close as a mechanical effect of pure price arbitrage. Americas exorbitant energy privilege is on borrowed time. It is one reason why I am more bullish than most on the cyclical recovery in the UK and Europe over the next three years: another is rearmament. It forces a budget rotation from destructive welfare to the disciplinary social compact of the military, with all kinds of industrial and technological spin-offs.

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Falling gas prices give Britain a window to sort out its chronic energy problems. If Labour had sense, it would switch the load of levies on electricity bills to gas bills, raising the percentage gradually each year to give people time to adapt. It is a policy absurdity that a government committed to slashing CO2 emissions and electrifying everything should preside over a warped incentive structure that favours fossil fuels, and actively deters people from switching to heat pumps, electric vehicles or induction cookers powered from what will soon be 80 per cent home-made clean energy. The International Energy Agency estimates that global oil supply will rise by 5.7 million barrels a day over this year and next, while demand will rise by 1.6 million. The structural overhang is colossal. It is a chance to end our roller-coaster reliance on the spot price for gas. Baroness Worthington, an energy specialist, has co-written a plea for sanity in Energy Flux entitled UK-Norway Gas Trade: Time for a New Deal? Few are aware that British consumers have been transferring far greater sums to Norways sovereign wealth fund than they ever have to Putin or Trumps frackers. Norway covered almost half of the UKs entire gas consumption last year.

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While the pipeline contracts may be long-term, the price is mostly linked to the spot market on a merchant basis. Norways state-owned driller Equinor has a gas lifting cost near $US2 MMBtu in large fields such as Troll  some of the cheapest gas in the world  but earned an average sales price of $US13.5 in 2024. The rents have been eye-watering. But now Norway has to face the painful phase of the gas cycle. It is the perfect moment for the centre-left governments of London and Oslo to thrash out a long-term accord in their mutual interest, locking in stable prices until at least the late 2030s. The US is now the biggest exporter of LNG, on ships such as the Aristidis I tanker, pictured docked in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bloomberg In my view, the UK should take advantage of cheaper gas to slow the switch to clean power until the grid has caught up with the roll-out of wind power and until the interconnectors from Scotland to England are ready. That means using our gas-fired plants as de facto peakers for longer to buttress renewables and to get us through winter doldrums. In a sense, China has done us a favour. It is covering so much of the North China Plain and Xinjiang with wind turbines and solar panels that it is eating into global gas demand.

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Chinas solar kits are now so cheap  you can buy a 1kw panel for 100 in Asia  that Pakistan has imported 32 gigawatts over the past two years as farmers and factories abandon the grid and generate their own power. Pakistan has cancelled the purchase of 21 LNG cargoes planned for 2026 and 2027. Related Article Trump's White House He has confidence in what I tell him: The billionaire who has Trumps ear China itself has not imported a single cargo from the US since February and has little inclination ever to do so again: it is moving as fast as possible to end reliance on seaborne energy supplies, deemed vulnerable to a US naval blockade. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis says Chinas imports of LNG have fallen 16 per cent this year, but imports have also fallen by 13 per cent in Thailand and 8 per cent in India  partly because of coal switching. Japan will be the next shoe to drop as it fires up more mothballed nuclear reactors. Trumps America is going to lose in two ways. Its industrial energy advantage will largely disappear and its fossil fuel export revenues will be worth far less than the White House seems to think.

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For those of us in Europe, it is a blessed relief. We can lick our wounds after the violent gas shock of the past four years and reduce our dependency before the next fossil cycle does its worst. We can finally have an intelligent debate about which parts of net zero make us richer and safer, and which parts make us poorer and more vulnerable  and if you think the answer to that debate is obvious, you are probably wrong. The Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
What to stream this week: (from top left) Haha, You Clowns; Younger; Born to Be Wild; The New Years; Amadeus; and Irish Blood.

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This weeks picks include a new take on the bitter rivalry between composers Mozart and Salieri, the tale of two cubs in a family-friendly wildlife doco and Clueless Alicia Silverstone leads an Irish dramedy. Amadeus  (Binge) Genius cuts both ways in this earthy British period drama. The brilliance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Will Sharpe), the prodigious composer who was the Lennon and the McCartney of the late 18th century, is a wellspring of revelation and inspiration. But for Mozarts lesser peer, Antonio Salieri (Paul Bettany), the blow-ins gifts create only agony and uncertainty. As with Timothee Chalamets Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, genius demands cruel, cold sacrifice. Will Sharpe as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus. Like the previous Amadeus, the Milos Forman movie that won Best Picture at the 1984 Academy Awards, this limited series was adapted from Peter Shaffers 1979 play. Shaffer invented the rivalry between the two composers, but its mix of jealousy and longing feels authentic and contemporary. The blithely arrogant Mozart is a source of private torment to the established Salieri, culminating in the formers controversial death. Editor's pick 

Review It may be darkly violent, but Fallout is a slow-blooming buddy comedy at heart The tone is saucy, not stuffy. Party-boy Wolfgang has a few sharpeners before his 1781 Vienna debut for Emperor Joseph II (Rory Kinnear), while Salieri references an opera he released; the British cast use their natural tones, avoiding Central European accents. Creator Joe Barton, fresh from the bloody espionage follies of Netflixs Black Doves, mixes black comedy and high anguish. He also carves out Mozarts wife, Constanze (Gabrielle Creevy), as a necessary alternate voice.

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With Mozarts historic opening nights as punctuation, complete with Salieris crushed but compelled face in the audience, the story has some familiar musical biopic traits. Its a rise and fall tale with Mozart fulsomely indulging his appetites in public and blowing his money while defying the royal court, much to the consternation of his martinet father and former manager, Leopold (Jonathan Aris). Its very much different century, same setbacks. Paul Bettany as Mozarts bitter rival Antonio Salieri. Sharpe has always been very good at impishness with a tormented underbelly, but the crucial role in Amadeus is that of Salieri. Bettany captures a villain whose machinations stem from heartbreak and disbelief: the look on Salieris face when he first sees an original Mozart composition, a perfect first draft in comparison to his stoic revisions, is brutal. Its no wonder the pious Salieri renounces God  defrock me, Amadeus. Bettany finds the depths, operatic and organic, of Salieris struggles, whether in the moment or as a bitter old man still trying to attach his forgotten name to Mozarts growing posthumous legacy. The more you listened, the more the layers presented themselves, Salieri says of an early Mozart commission, and its the same watching this telling of Amadeus. Genius is a good time that ultimately spares no one. Cheetah cubs in Born To Be Wild. Born To Be Wild  (Apple TV) This is the time of year when a family-friendly nature documentary can come in particularly handy, and Apple TV delivers with this six-part series about endangered young animals being prepared by their keepers and carers to return to the wild. Narrated with extra warmth by actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington), the show is optimistic and endearing. The high-definition close-ups of tender faces provide hope even as the plummeting numbers quoted put these various species on endangered lists.

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Related Article Streaming The biggest moments in TV: Everything that had us talking in 2025 Starting with Sagalee, an orphaned moon bear cub in north-east India, Born To Be Wild follows the rehabilitation and nurturing overseen by dedicated human staff. About 35 minutes long, the episodes are succinct, but capture a process that, in the case of sibling cheetah cubs Kabo and Khumo, will take two years. You can see the warmth in their eyes, the pairs keeper notes, and that intimate connection is what director Tom Berton-Humphreys strives for. Whether its a motley crew of ring-tailed lemurs in Madagascar that have to learn how to work together to survive in the wild or a shy elephant calf that has to become assertive, the narratives provide challenges, a measure of risk (mostly surmounted), and well-composed access that eventually captures the success of these various programs. In other words, respect to the nature reserve springbok that is Kabo and Khumos first successful hunt. Iria del Rio and Francesco Carril in The New Years. The New Years  (Mubi) A global streaming platform that curates new and historical titles from across world cinema, Mubi moves into series with this 10-episode drama from Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Opening in 2016, the episodes are set on consecutive New Years Eves and chart the complicated relationship between Ana (Iria del Rio) and Oscar (Francesco Carril). If the format sounds gimmicky, the show has an unforced emotional authenticity and a strong, tactile connection between the leads. The nights are not always overtly eventful, but as they accumulate, The New Years impresses. Haha, You Clowns.

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Haha, You Clowns  (HBO Max) This big-hearted, oddly specific comedy might be the most idiosyncratic addition HBO Max has made to its adult animation catalogue. Created by Joe Cappa, the show is about newly widowed television weatherman Tom Campbell (voiced by Cappa), who along with his three teenage sons (all voiced by Cappa), is trying to deal with their grief. The Campbells are big, beefy men with kind hearts and sweet rituals  this could be a 1980s sitcom  but theyre drawn with a muted colour palette and flattened features that take a little getting used to. Alicia Silverstone in Irish Blood. Irish Blood  (Stan*) Alicia Silverstone found teenage fame with Clueless in 1995, but in the decades since, she has never truly clicked as the lead in a series. That changes with her holding-it-all-together performance in this expatriate mystery, in which Silverstone plays Fiona Fox, an American lawyer who returns to Ireland to meet her absent father and instead finds his complicated past and a possible new life for herself. An inherited briefcase of curious objects provides a weekly case for Fiona to crack, so you have a thriller, a cosy procedural and  hot gym owner ahoy!  a budding romance co-existing. In Younger, Sutton Foster plays a woman who lies about her age to get back into the workforce. Stan

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Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the Parnassus Core Equity Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The S&P 500 Index surged in the third quarter, driven by investor optimism that grew on expectations of monetary easing, strong consumer demand, and solid corporate earnings. The Fund (Investor Shares) returned 2.57% (net of fees) in the quarter, trailing the S&P 500 Indexs 8.12% return. YTD, the fund returned 9.89% compared to 14.83% for the index. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Parnassus Core Equity Fund highlighted stocks such as Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO). Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) offers life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, laboratory products, and biopharma services. The one-month return of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) was -3.69%, and its shares gained 8.83% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 22, 2025, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) stock closed at $575.70 per share, with a market capitalization of $216.3 billion.

Parnassus Core Equity Fund stated the following regarding Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO), a global provider of pharmaceutical research instruments and services, recovered from being oversold earlier in the year, aided by favorable financial results and guidance that exceeded muted expectations."

Thermo Fisher Scientifics (TMO) Dividend: Steady Payouts in a Growing Market

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) is in 26th position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 121 hedge fund portfolios held Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) at the end of the third quarter, up from 117 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) and shared the list of best S&P 500 stocks to buy. In Q3 2025, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) was a solid performance contributor to Harding Loevner Global Equity Strategy. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
Peter Adrian, President of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), speaks in an interview with the German Press Agency. Carsten Koall/dpa

Germany risks long-term economic decline unless structural reforms are implemented swiftly, the head of the country's main chamber of commerce warned, citing weak growth, falling investment and rising job losses.

"If we don't address the structural challenges and implement the right reforms, we have little chance of achieving sustainable and strong growth in Germany again," Peter Adrian, president of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), told dpa.

"If we continue as we are, if the economy continues to stagnate or economic growth remains so subdued, then we will fall behind internationally."

Adrian also warned that prolonged weakness in Europe's biggest economy was reducing the federal government's fiscal "room for manoeuvre."

"That's why we must now unequivocally and consistently send all signals in favour of economic growth," Adrian said.

Germany's economy contracted in 2023 and 2024, while growth is forecast to be minimal this year and no meaningful recovery is expected in 2026.

Job losses and weak investment

"In industry alone, we have lost another 170,000 jobs in just one year," said Adrian. "Capital investment has fallen back to the level of 2015. This means we have lost a decade in terms of investment."

Investment activity is a key indicator of business confidence and expectations for future growth, he added, and those "expectations for the future are extremely poor."

According to Adrian, Germany's investment environment is no longer internationally competitive. He pointed to the basic materials industry, which is struggling with high energy costs, as well as the automotive and supplier sectors.

Mechanical engineering, another core pillar of German industry, is being hit by weak industrial investment, trade policy uncertainty and global disruptions, including the prospect of higher US tariffs.

High labour costs in Germany are placing an additional burden on companies, Adrian said.

Pressure on governing coalition

Commenting on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's promise to deliver far-reaching reforms to the economy and social welfare system, Adrian said the governing coalition seems to want to drive change but is plagued by internal resistance.

"Often, one of the coalition partners opposes something. For us, it would be desirable for those responsible to pull together now and work on serious reforms. After all, everyone should have a shared interest in getting the economy moving forward again," said the DIHK president.

He urged the government to bring forward a planned corporate tax cut scheduled for 2028 and to reduce electricity taxes for all users to the European minimum level.
Ghana has legalized cryptocurrency trading after passing the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025.

The Bank of Ghana confirmed that the law is in force. Crypto activity is no longer a legal gray area, and individuals and firms can trade without fear of arrest.

The bill sets a single rule set for digital assets. The goal is control, not a ban and now, the central bank has complete authority over the sector.

What Changes for the Market

Before this law, crypto use was widespread but unregulated. That gap exposed users to fraud and made enforcement difficult. The new framework ends that uncertainty.

As per local reports, all virtual asset firms must now seek approval. Licensing, monitoring, and compliance are mandatory. Operators that fail to meet standards can be sanctioned or shut down.

The central bank says this structure targets fraud, money laundering, and misuse of customer funds. Consumer protection is the core focus.

The announcement was made on December 19 in Accra, Ghanas capital. Officials said that the move was a result of the lessons from the 2022 financial crisis, when weak oversight led to large losses and damaged trust.

Alongside the crypto law, amendments to the Bank of Ghana Act have also been introduced. The intent is to avoid another systemic shock while allowing controlled growth for digital assets in the country.

Impact on Adoption and Capital

Crypto use in Ghana did not start with this law. Hundreds of thousands of users were already active, mainly through exchanges and wallets operating without formal approval.

Regulation now clears the way for legal businesses to enter. International exchanges and fintech firms had stayed out due to legal risk. That barrier is removed.

Officials expect this to bring jobs, tax revenue, and capital. Youth-led fintech activity is a priority, especially for payments and remittances.

The Bank of Ghana will roll out licensing rules and supervision in phases during 2026. Existing operators must register and comply to continue operating.

While crypto is allowed, risk-taking without rules is not. The market is open, but it will be watched closely, revealed Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama.

Read original story Ghana Approves Bill Legalizing Cryptocurrency by Parth Dubey at Coinspeaker.com
Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Thunder possible. Low 43F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Three in four multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in mainland China have maintained or increased their investments in 2025, according to a recent KPMG survey, despite Washington stepping up efforts to decouple from Beijing and its allies following suit.

The survey published on Monday, polling 137 senior executives from global companies operating in the world's second-largest economy between June and September, revealed that only 1 per cent reported preparing to exit the market. About 20 per cent said they may reduce investment, while the rest had yet to decide.

Companies planning to expand said they would pursue greenfield investment, mergers and acquisitions or joint ventures to deepen their China presence.

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"We have seen a significant increase in mergers and acquisitions activities among MNCs in China over the past six months," said Mark Harrison, partner and co-head of multinational clients at KPMG in China.

MNCs were acquiring companies in high-performing sectors such as electric vehicles, medical technology, biotechnology, water technology, advanced materials and robotics to tap into global business potential, he said.

The industrial manufacturing and automotive sectors are high on the growth list of multinational corporations. Photo: Xinhua alt=The industrial manufacturing and automotive sectors are high on the growth list of multinational corporations. Photo: Xinhua>

"In consumer-facing sectors, amid fierce local competition and challenging market dynamics, MNCs are pursuing vertical integration by acquiring distributors, agents and original equipment manufacturers to better understand and serve Chinese consumers," Harrison added.

About 60 per cent said they had shifted focus from growth to profitability on the mainland, while 83 per cent had localised business aspects, particularly manufacturing, supply chain, research and development.

MNCs expressed greater confidence in the Chinese economy than in the global economy, both in the short and medium term. Only 27 per cent of respondents reported at least moderate confidence in global economic growth in 2025, compared to 64 per cent who expressed at least moderate confidence in China's economic prospects over the next three to five years.

By sector, MNCs expressed the highest confidence in China's economic growth prospects over the next three to five years in life sciences and healthcare at 70 per cent, followed by industrial manufacturing, consumer and retail and automotive sectors.
A Swinford man with an extensive criminal history has been jailed for assaulting two members of An Garda Siochana, including spitting into one gardas mouth.

Paul Howley, aged 39, of 22 Brabazon Heights, Swinford, appeared before Castlebar District Court last Thursday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of assault causing harm.

The court heard that the offences occurred on August 26, 2025, while Howley was being arrested and conveyed to court in relation to a separate public order matter.

Gda Sgt Conor McShane outlined that while in custody, Howley became violent and kicked Gda John Garrett in the hand, causing injury and forcing the garda off duty for a week.

Howley was later being transferred from Castlebar Courthouse to the local garda station when he spat at Gda Sgt Conor Drury, striking him in the mouth. Sgt Drury was taken to Mayo University Hospital (MUH) for screening for HIV and other blood-borne viruses and subsequently received a clear result, but he still has to attend a final appointment in the new year.

In a victim impact statement, Gda Sgt Drury described feeling degraded and humiliated by the assault, stating it involved a full mouthful of saliva that had congealed in Howleys mouth. The incident had impacted his confidence and made him more cautious in carrying out his duties. It occurred in a public place and was captured on CCTV and witnessed by a taxi driver, whom he thanked for intervening and restoring his faith in the community.

Gda Sgt Drury said he was off work for a month while undergoing medical tests and described the experience as deeply distressing.

Judge Sandra Murphy described the assaults, particularly the spitting incident, as appalling and among the most serious cases to come before the District Court.

She said interference with gardai carrying out their duties strikes at the heart of the administration of justice and noted that the harm extended beyond physical injury to the psychological impact on the injured gardai and their colleagues.

The court was told that Howley has approximately 40 previous convictions, including one for threatening to kill or cause serious harm, and that the offences were committed while he was on bail.

Taking aggravating factors into account, and noting the absence of a written or in-court apology, Judge Murphy imposed a five-month prison sentence for the assault on Gda Sgt Drury, suspending the final month on strict probation conditions. These include engagement with addiction counselling and community mental health services.

A further three-month prison sentence was imposed for the assault on Gda Garrett, to run consecutively to the other term.

Howley is currently in custody, but Judge Murphy refused to back-date the sentence, stating it was inappropriate given the time spent on bail.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of a heartwarming and uplifting club established to help cancer survivors.

For the past decade, the Graine Mhaol Mayo Dragon Boat Club have been a familiar sight on Lough Lannagh in Castlebar.

The club is named after the infamous pirate queen Grainne Mhaol who hailed from Mayo. The unique spelling of Graine is in memory of a friend called Aine, who passed away from breast cancer.

The club boasts two 42-foot, 20-person boats with a drummer setting a pace on the bow. The paddling action helps prevent and alleviate the symptoms of lymphedema, a condition caused by removal or damage to lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment.

Breast cancer survivor Louise Killeen founded the dragon boat club to provide an exercise outlet for other recovering women.

The idea came out of the Rocks n Roses choir we had for cancer survivors. I was aware that while we were fulfilling a social and emotional need there was need for something physical as well.

A girl I know in Cork told me about how she had joined a dragon boat club. Like myself she had breast cancer as well. I said right that sounds like something we could do in Lough Lannagh, Louise recalled.

Within a month, Louise had sourced a boat and a few months later a second boat arrived at Lough Lannagh.

The benefits of the club go well beyond physical fitness.

For me personally, the mental side of it is equally as important as the physical and getting fit. The whole cancer journey, you have surgery and treatments, but they dont really look at the mental side of things and the impact it has on your mental health. Thats why the dragon boat is really good. Once you are out there on that water you just forget everything. You just have to focus on the now and be very present because you dont want to end up in the water!

You are focused on what you are doing right now. All your worries and cares are put out of your head because you cant be dealing with them at the same time. Its really good from a psychological point of view and youre with like-minded people as well, said Louise.

She said the club is a safe and welcoming space for everybody.

The breast cancer girls find it just so good, because they are in a safe space. They can ask someone if they are in bother over something related to their journey.

Its for all levels and abilities you dont have to be of a certain fitness to take it up. You can be someone who has never left the couch and you can step onto a boat.

There is a boat for every ability so its very inclusive. The girls feel so welcome and they can just chat. I have seen girls who have come and are maybe s little nervous and by their second and third time they are hugging and kissing everybody else!

Everyone just seems to gel quickly and its like they have known each other all their lives. A few have gone off on holidays together and would never have known each other before.

She said the Dragon Boat is something that people can take personal ownership of while also feeling part of something very special.

You are meeting up with people you can relate to. It just becomes a whole different part of their lives as well. Its something that their family arent involved in, their other friends arent a part of, and it gives them their own little safe space. You can forget what you have been through. Just for that time you can put it out of your head. Its really empowering, and makes people feel better, stronger, and more positive.

The club has doubled in size since its inception and attracts members from all over the county.

Originally a breast cancer survivors club, the club now welcomes friends and family of cancer survivors, beginners or experienced paddlers, any person over the age of 18 years.

A good few Ukrainian people have joined as well as people who may have had addiction or mental health difficulties, Louise stated.

The club takes to the water twice a week. They were rocked by storm damage last winter but are bouncing back.

Louise overcame breast cancer more than 20 years ago and was determined to give back to those who face a similar battle.

It was a journey of discovery and made me a better person. Thats only my personal experience. It taught me to be a better person and taught me how I can help other people. Thats all I really have tried to do since.

Louise also established a business providing wigs to women who lost their hair through cancer treatment.

Its not about the wigs that I sell, its about helping people on their journey, she explained. People come to you really raw. They have been bombarded with information and there is only so much you can take in. I try and help them work it out and go through it with them. Thats what cancer has given me. You are not the person you were before cancer but you can be a better person after cancer. Thats my motto anyway.
Hong Kong is putting gold at the centre of its push to become a global commodities trading hub, with officials prioritising plans for an international gold trading centre alongside a broader strategy to expand the city's role in physical trade, derivatives and logistics.

The government's newly formed Commodity Strategy Committee held its first meeting on Monday under Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, as Hong Kong looked to build out a commodities ecosystem that would generate new growth beyond traditional finance.

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu told a mainland media outlet that developing an international gold trading centre would be a priority.

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Hong Kong planned to establish a gold central clearing system and a gold industry association next year, and to deepen cooperation with the Shanghai Gold Exchange to expand its influence in international gold pricing, Hui said.

Hui also outlined a proposed "Hong Kong import - Shenzhen refining - overseas re-export" model aimed at attracting overseas gold refiners, adding that some firms were already exploring the establishment of refineries in the city.

Chan told Monday's committee meeting, meanwhile, that "Hong Kong had enormous potential to develop its commodities market", citing the free flow of capital, goods and information under "one country, two systems".

A stronger commodities market, he said, would enable the city to contribute to national and global development while creating "new and diversified opportunities" for Hong Kong's own growth.

Chan noted that China - one of the world's largest consumers and trading markets for commodities - was accelerating high-quality development while advancing its carbon goals and channelling investment into green industries, trends that were reshaping demand for energy, metals and other raw materials.

The Commodity Strategy Committee was formed after the chief executive's policy address in September, which outlined plans to develop Hong Kong's commodity trading ecosystem. The committee aims to bring together leaders from finance, commerce, shipping, logistics and professional services to study trends in global commodity markets and advise on policy.

The Strategic Committee on Commodities, chaired by the Financial Secretary, Paul Chan. Photo: Handout alt=The Strategic Committee on Commodities, chaired by the Financial Secretary, Paul Chan. Photo: Handout>
The past year has been a tumultuous one for anyone trying to keep current with the state of student loans, marked by legal challenges, court rulings and a processing backlog in the millions. And December 31, 2025 is marking an unexpected deadline for action for a group of student loan borrowers qualified for loan forgiveness to act, or theyll end up on the hook for thousands.

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Early December marked the end of the road for the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, a Biden-era student loan program under which debt repayments were linked to borrower income. The plan has been tied up in court after legal challenges filed by a group of red states last year. (1) SAVE qualified borrowers for loan forgiveness after a certain number of years of repayment, but while the legal battle ground on, loan forgiveness for SAVE borrowers was also blocked. (2)

The proposed joint settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Education and the State of Missouri announced on December 9 spelled out the end of the program. (3) The seven million borrowers enrolled in SAVE and the almost half a million who have applied to join SAVE will have to select and apply to a different repayment plan.

Currently, plans include the Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plans. However, ICR and PAYE will be phased out by July of 2028, which is also the sunset timeline for SAVE.

Income-driven repayment tax bomb

A separate, but intersecting, development concerns the changing tax status of forgiven loans. Loan forgiveness for borrowers on income-driven repayment (IDR) programs was made exempt from taxation under the Covid-era stimulus package American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, until the end of 2025. (4) This tax break hasn't been extended, meaning that starting on January 1, 2026, discharged loan balances will be construed as income and taxed as such.

In a letter sent to Secretary of the Treasury and acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent from a group of Democrat senators in November, the current administration was exhorted to protect working class families by using existing administrative authorities. (5) These include the insolvency exclusion, the scholarship exclusion and the general welfare exclusion to defuse the approaching IDR tax bomb.
UK-based independent oil and gas company Harbour Energy has agreed to acquire LLOG Exploration Company from LLOG Holdings in a transaction valued at $3.2bn (2.38bn).

The deal includes $2.7bn in cash and $500m in Harbours voting ordinary shares.

This move marks Harbours entry into the US Gulf of Mexico and complements the companys operations in Norway, the UK, Argentina, and Mexico.

Harbour said the deal will provide a significant presence in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico, an offshore region with established infrastructure and supplier networks.

The transaction will also improve the supply chain across Harbours portfolio, including its projects in Mexico.

It is expected to close in late Q1 2026, subject to standard closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Upon completion, LLOG will hold about 11% of Harbours voting ordinary shares, with existing Harbour shareholders holding the remaining 89%.

The deal also includes a lock-up period of one year, applicable for 70% of the new shares issued to LLOG.

Harbour CEO Linda Z Cook said: With LLOG, we found the right combination of high-quality assets and a talented team, providing a strong strategic and cultural fit with our company.

The transaction positions us as a leading player in a region with well-established infrastructure, a supportive fiscal and regulatory environment and opportunities for additional growth.

The oil-weighted, deepwater LLOG portfolio enhances our production profile, provides significant operational control, extends reserve life and improves our margins.

In addition, the LLOG organisation brings decades-long experience in the Gulf of America with a successful track record, creating a solid foundation for Harbour in the area.

LLOG operates more than 80 leases, primarily in the Mississippi Canyon and Keathley Canyon, along with a pipeline of drilling opportunities, including up to eight wells planned for 2026 and 2027.

Its portfolio includes assets such as Who Dat in Mississippi Canyon, along with Buckskin and Leon-Castile in Keathley Canyon, all of which are operated by LLOG.

These assets have a reported production of 34,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), with operating costs of $12 per barrel of oil equivalent and a combined federal and state tax rate of approximately 23%.

The companys assets have a 2P (proven and probable) reserves life of 22 years, and production is projected to nearly double by 2028, supported by its position in the Lower Tertiary Wilcox play.

Harbour said that the deal would increase its 2P reserves by 271 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe), a 22% rise, and extend its reserves' life from seven to eight years.
Samsung-owned Harman has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the ZF Groups Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business, which comprises automotive compute solutions, smart cameras, radars and ADAS software functions. The transaction is valued at 1.5 billion.

With the integration of ZF ADAS, Harman says its central automotive platform will be better set up to power the in-car safety, intelligence and experiences of an increasingly software-defined vehicle (SDV) era.

It says the key benefits are:

An acceleration of Harmans experience-driven roadmap by unifying safety, comfort, perception, intelligence and in-cabin systems into one platform for OEMs.

Future-oriented ADAS: ZFs ADAS capabilities deepen Harmans ability to deliver intelligent, connected, safety-driven in-vehicle experiences.

Unlocking value for OEMs. Harman maintains the integration supports faster innovation cycles, reduced system complexity and a unified computing foundation that allows automakers to deliver smarter, safer and more human-centric vehicles at scale.

As automakers accelerate towards software-defined vehicles (SDV), Harman says this approach enables experiences that seamlessly connect safety and assisted driving functions with comfort, connectivity, and in-vehicle intelligence. Moreover, Harman says the acquisition secures strategic inroads in the ADAS and central compute platforms markets, reinforcing a foundation that anchors and advances its role in the fast-growing SDV market.

It will also allow the integration of ZFs ADAS capabilities with Harman's flagship Digital Cockpit offerings within a centralised compute design.

The industry is at an inflection point where safety, intelligence, and in-cabin experience must come together through a unified computing architecture, said Christian Sobottka, Chief Executive Officer and President, Automotive Division, Harman. With this agreement, we take a strategic step to expand our portfolio with complementary ADAS capabilities that unlock a new class of cross-domain experiences ranging from perception-informed audio cues to more personalised, situation-aware driving. Combined with Harmans long-standing automotive expertise and supported by Samsungs broader technology leadership, this positions us to help OEMs design the next generation of intelligent, empathetic, and connected vehicles.

With Harman, we have found the ideal partner to fully unlock the growth and innovation potential of our ADAS business, said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of ZF Group. At the same time, this deal makes an important contribution to reducing our companys debt and allows us to focus our resources on the core technologies in which ZF is a global leader.
HCLSoftware, the software business unit of India-based IT company HCLTech, has announced two separate deals to acquire Jaspersoft and Wobby to grow its Actian data and AI division.

A business unit of Cloud Software Group, Jaspersoft specialises in embedded analytics and reporting solutions.

The acquisition aims to strengthen Actian by broadening its data management capabilities and expanding its developer community.

Jaspersofts platform is used for creating reports, dashboards, and visualisations, with adoption among organisations operating in government, banking and financial services sectors.

According to HCLSoftware, the acquisition is expected to be completed within six months of the contract signing.

HCLSoftware data and AI division portfolio general manager and Actian CEO Marc Potter said: As GenAI adoption accelerates, our customers want business intelligence solutions that can deliver consistent analytics and reports and offer flexibility to fully own the analytics experience.

With Jaspersoft, Actian will provide seamless AI-powered embedded analytics with strong architectural flexibility, allowing high-volume pixel-perfect reports and interactive dashboards to be seamlessly integrated into customer-facing applications, driving scalable self-service business intelligence.

HCLSoftwares other acquisition, Wobby, is a Belgian startup focused on offering AI-powered data analyst agents for data warehouses.

HCLTech noted this addition will allow customers to query complex datasets through natural language and efficiently receive analytical insights.

Wobby's product leverages a proprietary semantic layer and agentic architecture to interpret business context and automate data workflows, supporting the knowledge graph functions of Actians Data Intelligence Platform.

The Wobby acquisition is expected to be complete by February 2026.

Wobby CEO and co-founder Amra Dorjbayar said: Wobby is reinventing how teams do business intelligence by building AI agents that not only answer questions but also are evolving toward proactive analytics by sharing automated insights.

Combining Wobbys capabilities with the Actian Data Intelligence platform will offer customers a differentiated approach to data management.

"HCLSoftware to buy Jaspersoft and Wobby for Actian division growth" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




Swedens ruling right-wing coalition government is advancing a series of laws and proposals that collectively mark a historic assault on the countrys long-standing protections for democratic rights.

Swedusg police on armed patrol in Malmo, Sweden, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Martin Meissner]

One of the most significant measures is the proposal to lower the criminal age of responsibility from 15 to 13 years oldmaking Sweden an outlier not only in Europe but even compared to most US states. The reform would allow 13- and 14-year-old children to be prosecuted and incarcerated for certain serious crimes. The UN and UNICEF recommend 14 as a minimum age for criminal responsibility.

Although the bill has not yet been brought to a final vote in the Riksdag (Swedish parliament), it is widely expected to pass. The coalition relies on the Sweden Democratsa far-right party with origins in the neo-Nazi milieu of the 1980swhose support would guarantee a parliamentary majority for the measure. If adopted, the new age threshold is planned to come into force in the summer of next year.

In addition to this measure, several other proposals are currently moving through the legislative processcirculated for consultation and now advancing toward a parliamentary voteeach representing a significant expansion of state power. These include:

The ability to expel non-citizens without a criminal conviction, permitting the police and Migration Agency to recommend deportation if an individual is deemed to have links to organised crime.

The creation of new high-security juvenile prison units for children aged 13 to 17, designed to accommodate the lowered age of criminal responsibility.

The introduction of so-called visitation zones, comparable to US-style stop-and-search areas, which would allow police to establish zones in which searches may be conducted without individualised suspicion.

The use of anonymous witnesses in gang cases, a measure that sharply reduces a defendants ability to confront or scrutinise their accusers.

A major expansion of police access to encrypted digital communications, including broader wiretapping powers and potential real-time access to encrypted messaging. This initiative began under the previous Social Democratic government but is being taken further by the current coalition.

The major expansion of state repression in Sweden is unfolding against the backdrop of a lurch to the right across Europe. The ruling class of every political stripe is reshaping society around three interconnected priorities: (1) escalating the continents direct confrontation with Russia; (2) imposing sweeping austerity measures to finance rapid military rearmament amid deepening economic pressures; and (3) advancing its increasingly hardline, anti-immigrant Fortress Europe regime through the systematic promotion of the far right and the erection of authoritarian state structures.

Germany has normalised military operations in urban areas through large-scale domestic manoeuvres and is pursuing legal changes that blur the line between internal policing and external war, enabling army deployment against civilians in special threat situations. The EUs Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 is accelerating rearmament, militarising infrastructure, and preparing industry and society for a war economy. Alongside this, governments are expanding censorship and punitive measures against dissent: the EU has sanctioned journalists, national authorities have intensified surveillance and communications controls, and courts have issued strike bans to discipline workers essential to wartime logistics. In Britain, hundreds of peaceful anti-war protesters have been arrested, police powers to ban demonstrations are expanding, and counter-terror laws are being used to detain political figures.

Sweden, historically, has stood out within Europe for its exceptionally strong protections for free expression and democratic rights. It was the first country in the world to abolish censorship and adopt a freedom-of-information law in 1766, and its constitutional framework has long guaranteed broad press freedom, open access to government records, and a wide latitude for public assembly. These traditionsrooted most recently in the major struggles of the Swedish working class in the early twentieth century, which forced through democratic reforms and expanded political rightshave long been under attack by governments of the right and left as Sweden has been transformed into an outpost of imperialist warmongering against Russia.

In 2010, it was a Swedish public prosecutor with close ties to the Social Democrats who helped initiate the politically motivated witch-hunt of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by seizing on bogus allegations of rape. The Swedish states persecution of Assange continued after the Social Democrats returned to power in 2014. As part of its accession to NATO, Stockholm deepened its collaboration with the authoritarian Turkish government in the name of combatting terrorism. Earlier this year, Swedish journalist Joachim Medin was held for seven weeks in prison in Turkey under conditions that strongly suggested Stockholms complicity in his targeting.

The right-wing coalition argues that lowering the age of criminal responsibility will reduce gang-related crime. In reality, the sharp escalation in violence over recent decades is bound up with a dramatic increase in social inequality, which is inseparable from the systematic destruction of public services, widespread privatisations, and sweeping tax cuts for the wealthy and big business implemented by successive governments.

Since the mid-to-late 2010s, criminal networks have become increasingly unstable and fragmented. Cocaine consumptionespecially among the upper and upper-middle classes in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmohas surged over the past decade and a half, creating a lucrative market that fuels competition. Much of the violence arises from small, rapidly formed groups fighting over distribution routes and debts, with poor and often immigrant youth recruited as expendable couriers, lookouts and triggermen.

The proposal to lower the criminal age faces unusually strong opposition from Swedens own state institutions and legal establishment. During the consultation process, a majority of agenciesincluding the National Police Authority, the Public Prosecutors Office and the Prison and Probation Servicewarned that incarcerating 13- and 14-year-olds would be ineffective and likely counterproductive. Police argued that gangs would simply recruit even younger children; child-rights groups such as BRIS condemned the measure as violating international norms and exposing vulnerable minors to long-term harm. Experts within the governments own review process noted that early incarceration increases the likelihood of reoffending and undermines rehabilitation. Despite this near-unanimous professional opposition, the government has pressed ahead, emboldened by a right-wing media climate fixated on law and order.

Since Sweden applied for NATO membership in 2022, the domestic political climate has shifted sharply in a militarist, warmongering direction, narrowing the space for open debate on foreign policy. Peace advocates and anti-NATO voices report being marginalised or portrayed as naive or pro-Russian, a sentiment echoed by figures such as Anna Sundstrom of the Olof Palme Center, who noted that simply arguing for diplomacy now risks being dismissed as serving Russian interests. In December 2023, the government abolished a state peace fund that had financed peace organisations since the 1920s, signalling a declining tolerance for organised anti-war activism.

These developments have been accompanied by a significant expansion of surveillance powers under the rubric of countering foreign influence, particularly Russian interference. Sakerhetspolisen (Sapo)the Swedish intelligence agencyhas repeatedly warned since 2022 that Russia, China and Iran are adopting more aggressive tactics in Sweden, and has expelled multiple Russian diplomats on espionage grounds. Security officials now emphasise the risk of domestic groupsranging from extremist milieus to anti-government activistsbeing used as proxies in disinformation campaigns, prompting broader scrutiny of civil society.

In January 2023, the Riksdag adopted a new foreign espionage law that criminalises publishing or disclosing secret information that could harm Swedens relations with international partners such as NATO, with penalties of up to four years in prison. Media organisations warned that the law could chill reporting on Swedens cooperation with NATO by allowing foreign partners sensitivitiessuch as Turkeysto determine what may be safely published.

Swedens integration into NATO has unfolded in tandem with a rapid militarisation of its security policy. Swedens current defence plan foresees a 64 percent increase in military spending between 2022 and 2028, lifting the annual budget to around $12 billion by the end of the period. Within weeks of announcing this trajectory, Stockholm approved its largest military aid package for Ukraine to date$287 million in a single tranche, more than all previous Swedish aid combined. Defence Minister Pal Jonson has described stepping up economic and military support for Ukraine, including more advanced weapons systems, as his first priority. Swedens arms industry is being positioned as a clear beneficiary: Saab, which produces the Carl Gustaf anti-tank weapon and Gripen fighter jets, has reported double-digit earnings growth and characterises the current rearmament cycle as a multiple-year growth opportunity lasting at least to 2030.

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson speaks to the media after a ceremony marking the integration of the Swedish Mechanized Infantry Battalion into the NATO Multinational Brigade at the Adazi military base, Latvia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. [AP Photo/Roman Koksarov]

At the same time, NATO integration has coincided with a growing role for the military in domestic security. Swedish personnel are now embedded in NATOs Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre in Tallinn and its Strategic Communications Centre in Riga, while the re-established Psychological Defence Agency coordinates information-warfare cooperation and threat assessments alongside NATO partners. Domestically, the government has begun dismantling longstanding barriers between civilian policing and the armed forces. Following a surge in gang shootings and bombings in 2023, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson summoned the National Police Commissioner and the Supreme Commander to plan how the armed forces could assist police operations. Although Swedish law has historically barred military deployment for ordinary law enforcement except in counterterrorism cases, the government has signalled its intention to broaden these powers. A parliamentary majority has already indicated support for military assistance against organised crime, and a government commission is now examining how to integrate the police and armed forces under a revived total defence framework.

Collectively, these changes are inseparable from the political realignment that brought Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to office in October 2022. The Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals govern only thanks to the parliamentary support of the Sweden Democrats, a party with roots in the neo-Nazi milieu of the 1980s and now the second-largest force in the Riksdag. Through the Tido Agreement, the Sweden Democrats secured influence across all ministries. However, none of this would have been possible without the reactionary policies of the Social Democrats left coalition, including the Left Party. This ex-Stalinist formation repeatedly justified its alliance with the pro-austerity, pro-war Social Democrats with the need to stop the far right.

The rightward lurch of official Swedish politics is part of the transformation of the entire Nordic region into a northern front in preparations for war with Russia. Finland, now a NATO member with a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia, is conducting large-scale exercises such as Lively Sentry 2025 with around 6,500 troops and 900 vehicles, explicitly designed to integrate lessons from the Ukraine war. Nordic governments together have already provided more than 20 billion in aid to Kiev, and Stockholm has agreed a multi-year deal to supply Saab Gripen fighter jets to the Ukrainian air force.
Once again United States Postal Service (USPS) workers across the country are being overwhelmed during the peak holiday season. This is the direct product of years of cuts and the so-called modernization drive aimed at making the Post Office profitable by reducing the workforce and shrinking the physical footprint of postal operations.

These conditions will not only continue but worsen until we organize independently to reverse job losses and fight for adequate hiring so that we can do our jobs safely and properly.

Photographs and videos circulating online show distribution facilities so overwhelmed with packages that stacks are spilling into walkways. A local news report from Louisville, Kentucky showed bins crowded into walkways, while customers complained of lengthy delays in receiving their mail.

Local TV station WDRB report on the backup at Louisville Post Office

The worst conditions, however, appear to be at the Postal Distribution Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Photographs shared with the USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee by workers show interior aisles totally blocked by packages. Several photos show piles obstructing fire exits, creating a serious and unacceptable safety hazard.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. In 1911, nearly 150 workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire because management locked the doors to the building. How many people would die if a fire broke out in this facility, only to find the emergency exits blocked?

Boxes piled up at Alabama postal facility blocking emergency exits. [Photo by Alabama postal worker]

Workers at the Huntsville facility told the Rank-and-File Committee that they are being forced into mandatory overtime, working up to 14 hours a day. They report that grievances have been filed repeatedly, but the union has done nothing. Some workers have tried to call the American Postal Workers Unions main office, only to find that the new president has not returned their calls.

Management is surging workers from other facilities to help clear the backlog. According to one worker familiar with the area, USPS is offering to pay for hotels and provide a per diem for anyone willing to travel. But workers report that conditions in many of the other facilities are hardly any better.

Workers say conditions are extremely dangerous. One worker told the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee that 25 injuries have occurred at the Huntsville facility since December 1. We have not been able to independently verify this figure. However, even outside of peak season, these facilities are unsafe.

Boxes piled up at Alabama postal facility blocking emergency exits. [Photo by Alabama postal worker]

The Rank-and-File Committee has launched an investigation into conditions after the deaths last month of two co-workers, Nick Acker in Allen Park, Michigan, and Russell Scruggs Jr. in Palmetto, Georgia. Acker died after falling into a mail-sorting machine during maintenance, and his body was not found for eight hours. Scruggs died after falling and hitting his head. Palmetto workers point to a lack of basic safety training and the apparent blocking of cell phone signals by management, which delayed emergency care.

The delays now occurring at these facilities are only the tip of the iceberg. They have become commonplace over the last several years, following the introduction of the Delivering for America scheme under former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Two years ago, the Rank-and-File Committee warned that the program seeks to transform the USPS from a public service, which used to pay decent wages and pensions, into an entity beholden to shareholder profits, with a super-exploited, Amazon-style workforce.

This misnamed program has led to massive, weeks-long delays across the country. Prominent examples include the Richmond, Virginia S&DC during the 2023 holiday season, where time-sensitive cancer screening results and other critical mail were delayed for weeks. In the Houston area, during the same period, delays lasted for months, with officials cynically blaming absenteeism, the weather and equipment failure.

Workers report that facilities are being overwhelmed by Amazon packages in particular, with the Post Office functioning as a virtual last-mile delivery contractor in large parts of the country. Workers say management routinely prioritizes the delivery of Amazon packages over other forms of mail, in violation of the USPSs legally mandated Universal Service Obligation.

Boxes piled up at Alabama postal facility. [Photo by Alabama postal worker]

As soon as the Palmetto Regional Processing and Distribution Center opened in early 2024, it was instantly hit by delays, as trucks were seen lined up for hours. This was the first major new facility opened under the Delivering for America program and was touted as the future of the Post Office. That said more than management intended. Including Russell Scruggs, the facility has seen three workplace deaths in the past year and a half. Workers also report two suicides.

The new Postmaster General, David Steiner, is a former board member of FedEx. Whether or not he still plans to sell off some or all of the USPS, Steiner has continued to subordinate public service to the profit motive. He has boasted that the US Postal Service eliminated 12 million work hours this year and aims to eliminate another 12 million next year. During the peak season, USPS hired only 14,000 seasonal workers, far below historical norms.

In other words, fewer and fewer workers are being forced to do more and more work. The result will not only be more lost and delayed mail, but more injuries and more deaths.

Union officials have refused to do anything to defend postal workers. APWU President Jonathan Smith recently posted a seasons greetings video that might as well have come from management or HR. He did not mention a single issue workers are facing and instead patronizingly told us that we are important.

Holiday Message from APWU President Jonathan Smith

The union apparatus refuses to carry out even the most limited form of representation. Worse, it actively collaborates with management against workers who speak out. This was shown in a recent and horrific experience reported by the WSWS, in which an Illinois postal worker was sexually harassed, threatened with violence and ultimately fired.

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee reiterates our demand for adequate staffing. To serve the public, postal workers must be able to do our jobs safely and without exhausting and dangerous overwork.

We demand workers control over staffing levels, as well as control over safety and working conditions and enforceable measures to prevent harassment and abuse.

These demands can be enforced in the same way workers have always won gains: through mass, coordinated action. They will never be taken up by the union bureaucrats and can only be fought for by workers ourselves.

This is why we have formed the Postal Worker Rank-and-File Committee. We call on postal workers to found local committees at post offices and distribution centers across the country, made up of trusted rank-and-file workers and excluding management stool pigeons. The committee will help establish lines of communication and develop a common strategy.

Our lives are more important than their profits. Join the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee today to begin fighting back.
Demonstrators gather outside the parliament during a general strike to protest against a new labour package announced by the right-wing coalition government, in Lisbon, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. [AP Photo/Armando Franca]

A mass one-day strike brought Portugal to a standstill on December 11. Participation reached over 90 percent in some sectors, such as healthcare and education, and the strike completely shut down Portugals largest industrial firm, Autoeuropa. More than 70 percent of youth supported the mobilization. This first nationwide strike to take place in 12 years brought tens of thousands of workers onto the streets in large demonstrations, notably in Lisbon and Porto.

The strike was carried out against a package of social and labor reforms put forward by the right-wing government of the Democratic Alliance, a right-wing coalition currently led by Luis Montenegro and made up of the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD), the Democratic and Social CenterPeoples Party (CDS-PP) and the Monarchist Peoples Party (PPM). It was called by the CGTP-IN, a trade union linked to the Communist Party, and the UGT, the union close to the big business Socialist Party (PS).

The reforms make more than 100 changes to the Labor Code, brutally rolling back Portuguese workers labor conditions. They make it easier to dismiss workers, use temporary contracts, deregulate working hours and limit leaves (for example, breastfeeding leave). The reforms also expand minimum service requirements during strikes, making it easier for either the government or employers to impose them. The government has also launched a process of so-called State Reform, which aims to slash spending on public services.

With these attacks on fundamental social rights, including the right to strike, the Portuguese bourgeoisie aims to massively increase its profits, cut its public sector debt (now at 98 percent of GDP) and free up spending for war. It aims to guarantee an increase in military spending as a percentage of GDP as demanded by the NATO alliance to the 5 percent level committed to by 2035, up from the current 1.5 percent.

This strike exposed both the readiness of workers to fight the government and its reactionary policies and the hostility of the union bureaucracies to taking any further action. CGTP-IN and the UGT treated this strike merely as a way to blow off steam and deceive workers by opening negotiations with the government. But there is nothing to negotiate with a government that seeks to impoverish the workers and scrap their rights in order to wage war.

The UGT declared that the trade unions are willing to negotiate as long as the fundamental rights of workers are respected. After the strike, the only measure announced by CGTP-IN through its General Secretary Tiago Oliveira was to launch a nationwide signature-gathering campaign rejecting this labor package, to be submitted to the prime minister.

The union bureaucracies accept that profits squeezed out of workers are to be used to prepare for imperialist war. They are not proposing any further struggles nor seeking any fighting unity with workers elsewhere in Europe, as in Belgium and Italy, who carried out similar strikes in recent weeks. They make no criticism of successive Portuguese governments collaboration with NATO nor of their plans for increased military spending.

In their role of holding back struggles and demobilizing workers, the trade unions also receive key support both from the Stalinist PCP and from the pseudo-left grouped around the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda).

The Stalinists praise the union bureaucrats and laud their unity, while not only failing to raise any kind of criticism of them. For PCP General Secretary Paulo Raimundo, the path forward is not combating imperialism or capitalism but rather the path toward a just, developed, and sovereign Portugal involves  complying with the Constitution of the Republic and giving material form to the rights it enshrines. That is, supporting the very structures that the bourgeoisie uses to exploit Portuguese workers.

The Left Bloc (BE) advocates that it and the PCP ally with the PS. Its new leader, Jose Manuel Pureza, recently stated: I believe that the Socialist Party, like all left-wing political forces, has a responsibility: It must respond to the living conditions of people who suffer hardships and deprivation daily.  The challenge has been posed; each one will do what they believe is best. I hope it will be possible. Frankly, I will do everything necessary to make it possible, working to strengthen the left and change politics.

Pureza argues the best Portuguese workers can hope for is that the BE and PCP will renew the gerigonca alliance they formed with the PS, supporting a minority PS government on every critical question. This is despite the fact that the PS, when in government in 2019, sent the army to break a nationwide truckers strike. For the BE, this alliance was wonderful.

The motion on which Pureza was elected BE leader at its November congress shamelessly stated: Between 2015 and 2019, the Left Bloc fulfilled its mandate: It overthrew Passos Coelho and contributed to improving the living conditions of the population. It added, without explaining what mistakes it had made, that In 2025, the defeat of the Left Bloc was the worst among the left-wing parties. The Bloc lost the trust of part of its electoral base, which can be explained by the effect of the shift to the right, but also by its own mistakes.

The BE did not make mistakes, it pursued a deliberate policy of subordinating the workers to the bourgeoisie. After the gerigonca formally ended in 2019, both the BE and PCP kept supporting the PS government until 2021, when, amid a wave of strikes against falling living standards, they suddenly voted against the 2022 budget, bringing down the PS government.

What the BE called the PS improvement in living conditions was in fact enshrining austerity measures imposed by the European Union (EU) after 2008cutting public services, enforcing some of Europes lowest wage levels, driving up housing prices and addressing the pandemic based on the principle of profits over lives. This created the conditions for the rise of the far-right Chega party and for the BE to lose 18 parliamentary seats from 2019 to 2025, leaving it with only one seat.

As the WSWS noted regarding Mamdani and the DSA in its analysis of the Mamdani-Trump pact, Pureza and the Left Bloc represent privileged sectors of the upper middle class who are firmly opposed to a fundamental redistribution of wealth. They are not, and never have been, independent of the oligarchy or the state apparatus.

This role becomes even clearer with the BEs election of Pureza as party leader. He presents himself as a proud Catholic and maintains a close personal friendship with Cardinal D. Tolentino de Mendonca. He is also one of the promoters of DIALOP, a platform for dialogue between Christians and so-called Marxists. This initiative received direct support from Pope Francis, who granted the delegation an audience at the Vatican and called DIALOP a beautiful program promoting the common good.

Pureza also maintained an important relationship with Pope Francis, who turned a blind eye during the Argentine dictatorship and whose last decision before dying was to give his blessing to the government of Donald Trump.

The election of Pureza and the practicing Catholic character he prides himself on seek only to reaffirm his position before the upper middle class, which in this crisis is turning to the right to maintain its privileges and against the working class.

Fighting for socialism and combating capitalism, imperialism and war means breaking with the national union bureaucracies and with parties like the BE and PCP that serve the ruling class. It is necessary to build rank-and-file organizations of struggle within the working class in Portugal and across Europe to mobilize it in struggle, together with a revolutionary political leadership affiliated to the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI).
Since its launch on December 12, Socialism AI has provided thousands of users throughout the world with access to the revolutionary perspective of Marxism, drawing from more than 175 years of historical material and nearly three decades of WSWS coverage.

This feature highlights selected questions and answers from Socialism AIconcise, clear and politically insightful responses to some of the most pressing issues of our time. If you come across an answer that you think should be featured in a future installment, use the form at the bottom of this article to submit it for consideration.

Elon Musk speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Question: Musk is currently estimated to be worth $749 billion. What could the resources monopolized by this one individual do to improve conditions for the vast majority of the population?

Answer:

What $749 billion concentrated in one hand could do for the many

Elon Musks personal fortunenow estimated at about $749 billion after the Delaware court rulingmakes plain the grotesque priorities of a social order where the products of collective labor are sequestered as private fortune. To understand the political meaning of that sum, we must compare it to concrete social needs and to the material capacity of modern society when organized for human need rather than private profit.

Material comparison and concrete possibilities

$749 billion is larger than the GDP of many medium-sized nations and, as the WSWS has noted, represents wealth leaps that dwarf the needs of millions who go without healthcare, housing and food. See the reporting on Musks surge in wealth and the scale of inequality it represents (Musks wealth surges to $750 billion).

That sum could fully fund major social programs. For example, rough-scale comparisons show that the resources concentrated in the hands of a single billionaire could be redirected to transform millions of lives.

Concrete, immediate programs this could fund include:

Eradicate homelessness and build affordable housing: Evidence-based Housing First programs and large-scale public building projects can house hundreds of thousands to millions. For example, a sustained public housing investment of $100200 billion (onetime or over a few years) would fund large numbers of new affordable homes, renovate public housing and create construction jobs.

Fund universal healthcare access and reduce medical debt: A onetime transfer of $100200 billion could drastically reduce medical indebtedness and immediately expand access to care by financing clinics, community health centers and critical capital needs. An endowment producing ~$37 billion/year could sustain expanded public health services, prevention, and chronic care programs.

Cancel student debt and massively expand free education: Student debt in the US is nearly two trillion dollars, but $749 billion could be used to cancel a large share (or finance the conversion of private student loans into public grants). A $100 billion targeted program could substantially reduce debt burdens for millions and fund tuitionfree public college expansions at state level when matched with public funds.

The social mechanism that would deliver these gains

Under capitalism, such resources are not disbursed by moral persuasion but by class power. The WSWS analysis repeatedly emphasizes that the courts, parties and state institutions enforce the oligarchys property rights (Delaware court decision; case for expropriation). To use wealth like Musks to meet social needs would require the expropriation of the oligarchy and the conversion of key economic assets into public, democratically controlled resourcesthe banks, major corporations and strategic industries.

Class implications

The existence of such concentrated wealth is not a neutral anomaly but a structural feature of late capitalism: financialization, speculative bubbles and oligarchic rule concentrate claims on wealth while working class incomes stagnate (World Inequality and US oligarchy reporting; Oxfam and US data). Redirecting billions from private pockets into social use would slash the material basis of oligarchic power and relieve working class precaritythereby shifting the balance in the class struggle.

Revolutionary tasks and strategy

Immediate reliefdebt cancellation, housing construction, universal healthcarecan only be secured democratically on a mass scale. That requires:

Building independent working-class organizations: rank-and-file committees in workplaces, cross-sector networks and international coordination (the IWARFC model advanced by the WSWS).

A political program that centers expropriation and public ownership of the commanding heights of the economy, with democratic workers control of planning and distribution (case for expropriation).

A relentless fight against the institutions that defend oligarchycourts, parties and union bureaucraciesthat present themselves as neutral but function to preserve private property.

What workers can do now

Reforms within capitalism will be fought and reversed; the decisive path is political independence and organization. The SEP and the ICFI are organizing to build that independent working class movement. If you want to connect your outrage and local organizing to a political program for expropriation, democratic planning and international working class unity, join and build the movement: https://www.wsws.org/en/special/pages/sep/us/join.html

The moral point is plain: the wastage of productive resources in private hoarding is a political choice, not a natural fact. The technical and productive capacity exists to abolish hunger, homelessness, and unpaid medical needwhat is missing is democratic control of those resources and a working class political power capable of seizing them. Only through independent mass struggle and expropriation of the financial oligarchy can sums like $749 billion be transformed from instruments of parasitism into tools for human emancipation.

Ask more questions at SocialismAI.com.
One of the US Coast Guard helicopters preparing to seize the Centuries, a tanker loaded with Venezuelan oil, in international waters bound for China. December 20, 2025 [Photo: @Sec_Noem]

The US Coast Guard seized an oil tanker bound for China off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday, in the second tanker seizure in two weeks, as Washington escalates a naval blockade aimed at overthrowing the Venezuelan government.

As with the US killing spree that has killed 104 people in attacks on civilian boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific (the latter near Colombia and Ecuador), the seizure of the oil tankers has no basis in international law. It is an act of piracy on the high seas, and the imposition of a blockade against Venezuela constitutes an act of aggressive wara crime under international law.

The latest seizure has escalated the US conflict with China, making clear that Washingtons renewed drive to dominate Latin America is not a retreat from the US conflict with Russia and China but part of a plan to create a resource base in the Western Hemisphere for global military conflict.

The vessel seized on Saturday, the Centuries, was carrying Venezuelan crude oil purchased by a Chinese trading company. On December 10, US forces seized the Skipper, a very large crude carrier headed toward Cuba. A third tanker, the Bella 1, refused to submit to boarding on Sunday and fled into the Atlantic Ocean, broadcasting over 75 distress signals as US forces pursued it in international waters.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denounced the seizures as a serious violation of international law at a Monday press briefing in Beijing, adding that China opposes all unilateral bullying. China is the largest importer of Venezuelan oil.

The Trump administration has deployed around a dozen warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Fordthe worlds largest warshipand approximately 15,000 troops to the Caribbean area. The region has not seen such a massive US military presence in at least three decades. The economic consequences of the blockade are already severe. Cuba, which depends on Venezuelan oil, is facing the loss of a key economic lifeline and is facing widespread hunger, rolling blackouts, and medical shortages.

Asked Monday whether his goal was to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power, Trump replied: I think itd be smart for him to do that. He added: If he plays tough, itll be the last time hes ever able to play tough.

The effective blockade of Venezuela is inseparable from the broader US campaign to establish dominance over Latin America as a power base for conflict with China. The National Security Strategy published by the White House last month announces a Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, explicitly aiming to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and deny China the ability to own or control strategically vital assets in our Hemisphere. The document effectively asserts US ownership over two continentspresented as our hemispherewhose resources Washington intends to seize as a power base for confrontation with Russia and China.

Latin Americas strategic importance to Washingtons preparations for conflict with China centers on the regions vast reserves of critical minerals. Latin America possesses more than half of the worlds lithium, a material essential for advanced weapons systems, electric vehicles and electronics. China currently controls up to 90 percent of global processing capacity for rare earth elements, giving Beijing significant leverage that US strategists are desperate to break.

The US campaign against Venezuela comes amid US threats to annex the Panama Canal, which the Trump administration has presented as a critical global chokepoint that China must be prevented from accessing.

As part of the drive to seize control of our hemisphere, Trump has also demanded that Greenland, a territory of US NATO ally Denmark, become part of the United States. On Sunday, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland. Over the weekend, Landry said in a post on X that he would seek to make Greenland a part of the U.S.

On Monday, Trump announced plans to build a new Trump Class of battleships as part of a Golden Fleet. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and renderings of the proposed warships, Trump declared that each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world, ever built. He claimed the ships would be the fastest, the biggest and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built, armed with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and laser systems. The first vessel would be named USS Defiant. Trump said he approved construction of two ships immediately, with plans for 20 to 25 total.

The Democratic Party has offered no opposition to Trumps campaign of military aggression against Venezuela. Last week, the Democratic congressional leadership joined Republicans in passing the largest military budget in US history. The $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act received the votes of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar.
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Latin America

Argentina mass protests against Labor Reform law

On January 18, tens of thousands of workers marched and rallied in Buenos Aires, across from the Casa Rosada federal government house, denouncing the Labor Reform legislation that among other things, replaces permanent jobs with zero hour and part-time contracts and makes it easier to fire workers. The legislation leaves at the discretion of employers overtime pay, sick pay, vacations and paternity and maternity rights. In short, the Labor Reform proposal eliminates labor rights won through decades of workers struggles. Similar protests took place across the country.

Additionally, the workers demand immediate wage-negotiations and an end to budget cuts aimed at reducing the number of public employees across the country by 10 percent.

The protest brought together union and non-union members from every section of the working class as well as supporters of Peronist politicians and the pseudo-left. As part of the demonstrations, workers went on a general protest strike beginning at noon (the Buenos Aires protest began at 1 p.m.)

In response, and in an attempt to disarm the working class, the Milei administration has declared a 45-day Truce, postponing a discussion, by the legislature, on the Labor Reform law until February 10.

Despite this outpouring of opposition, the bureaucratic leaderships of two main trade union federations (CGT and CTA) refuse to mobilize their membership in any serious fight against the Milei administration.

Bolivian miners and truckers stage protest strike over elimination of fuel subsidies

In response to the elimination of fuel subsidies by newly installed right-wing Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, the National Federation of Mining Cooperatives of Bolivia (Fencomin) led a massive nationwide mobilization December 23 through the streets of La Paz against steep gasoline price increases. From the early morning, thousands of workers from departments such as Potosi gathered in La Ceja of El Alto and marched toward the seat of government. Leaders of the miners union demanded the immediate annulment of the measures and the opening of dialogue with the administration.

It followed a December 19 action by truckers in the cities of La Paz and El Alto, who blocked strategic intersections demanding that the government reverse a decree (Supreme Decree 5503) that, in addition to other economic measures, eliminates fuel subsidies that have been in place for two decades.

Ending the subsidies on gasoline and diesel fuels resulted in an immediate increase in price, 86 percent for gasoline and 162 percent for diesel.

Truckers also protested in the southwestern city of Potosi.

National protests in Honduras over electoral fraud

On Wednesday, December 17, demonstrators surrounded Honduras government house in downtown Tegucigalpa, the nations capital, denouncing the electoral coup that took place on November 30. The rally, led by the Liberty and Re-foundation Party (LIBRE), and backed by workers and youth organizations, was called in defense of democracy and constitutional rights. The demonstrators are questioning the latest recount, and many are demanding new elections.

LIBREs presidential candidate, Rixi Moncada, addressed the rally to call for the annulment of the election, calling it the most crooked in Honduras history. Moncada blamed organized crime, Honduras oligarchic ten families and sections of the military for the tainted elections.

Hondurass outgoing president, Xiomara Castro (also from the LIBRE party), has denounced the electoral process and the role of the Trump administration in involving itself in the electoral count and manipulating the elections by pardoning and releasing from prison convicted drug czar and former president Juan Orlando Hernandez, in order to engineer a military coup and install Trumps favored candidate, right-winger Nasry Asfura of the National Party.

Uruguay public employees protest unpaid wages

On Friday, December 19, scores of public employees, represented by SUTIGA (Sindicato unico de trabajadores de instituciones gremiales y afines) rallied in Montevideos Plaza Goes, demanding payment for wages in arrears (500 workers are owed four months wages), for contingent workers in the public welfare sectors employed by the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES).

The protest took place outside a MIDES so-called community debate event on homelessness.

The mostly young workers, some of whom face homelessness themselves, denounced, with drums and signs both MIDES attacks on their wages and its hypocrisy in dealing with the conditions faced by homeless workers across Uruguay.

Two months ago, SUTIGA contingent workers raised the same issues in a one-day strike. Despite government assurances, most of them are still waiting for their checks; the money does not come, while politicians are lining their pockets, declared a protester.

United States

Colorado ski patrol workers authorize strike as talks deadlock

Management at Colorados Telluride Mountain ski resort and its ski patrollers are stalemated over negotiations for a new contract covering over 70 members of the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association. Workers are demanding at least a $30 an hour base wage to bring their contract in line with that of patrollers at other ski resorts and make up for past losses.

Contract talks broke off December 6 and ski patrollers have voted unanimously for a strike. Ski patrollers also want a health insurance stipend for those workers who do not receive health insurance through the resort.

Union president Graham Hoffman stated in November that the signs and indications that weve gotten in just the last week-and-a-half or two weeks, it really doesnt seem like the company is preparing to offer us a contract thats going to secure the votes necessary to ratify.

A statement by resort management declared the unions request not feasible. They went on to issue a posting for replacement workers with a pay range of $24.50 to $37.50 per hour. The union responded that Telluride is paying replacement workers at a higher pay rate than is currently offered to our highly trained and skilled patrol.

Educators in suburban, Minneapolis-St. Paul school district vote 98.5 percent to strike as health insurance costs skyrocket

The union representing 3,000 educators in Minnesotas Anoka-Hennepin School District announced December 20 its members voted by a 98.5 percent margin to grant strike authorization. The union, Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota, through a social media post, declared unaffordable health insurance costs and non-competitive pay fueled the strike vote.

Union president John Wolhaupter told KARE 11 News, We experienced a 22 percent increase in our premiums, which right now, since we havent settled our contract, our members are facing the full brunt of those costs. Teachers are now paying $1,000 a month for health insurance.

The Anoka-Hennepin district board has indicated it will convoke a special board meeting December 22 to plan contingencies in the event of a strike. The union has not issued a strike notice up to this point.

The district is the largest in Minnesota and comprises a belt covering the northern and western suburbs of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan region. Unions representing Minneapolis and St. Paul teachers settled their contracts apart from the Anoka-Hennepin district. But up to this point, only 39 percent of school districts in Minnesota have been able to settle their contracts, as schools face budget shortfalls.

Canada

Winnipeg, Manitoba meat processors set to vote on contract

Workers at Lagimodiere plant in Winnipeg, Canada [Photo: Maple Leaf Foods media]

More than 1,800 meat processing workers at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba will vote on a new contract in the first week of the coming new year. The workers, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), process fresh pork into ham and bacon products. They voted on November 15 by 98 percent to authorize a strike after management presented a miserable contract offer during negotiations.

Management proposed only a $2.75 an hour wage increase spread out over a seven-year deal. They also demanded the conversion of a defined-benefit pension plan into an inferior defined-contributions plan and rebuffed worker demands for paid sick leave. Most workers, many of whom are new Canadians from India, the Philippines, China and Latin America, currently earn just 50 cents per hour over the provincial minimum wage rate of $16 per hour.

However, just days after workers had authorized strike action in mid-November, management and union officials announced that a tentative contract had been reached. But instead of presenting the contents of the proposed agreement to the workers and organizing a timely ratification vote, the union announced that a ratification vote would only take place more than six weeks later with workers not receiving information on the tentative contract until shortly before the ratification vote.
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CBS executive Bari Weiss [Photo: CBS News]

Only three hours before it was set to be broadcast Sunday night, a 60 Minutes report on the CECOT torture prison in El Salvador, used by the Trump administration to detain migrants from Venezuela, was blocked by the new pro-Trump executive in charge of CBS News, Bari Weiss.

This act of blatant censorship outraged the staff of the long-running program. The reporter who narrated the segment and interviewed survivors of the torture, Sharyn Alfonsi, sent out an internal memo Sunday blasting the decision as corporate censorship and a betrayal of sources who had risked their lives to testify about conditions in the prison.

A bootleg copy of the program segment has been made available by a Canadian journalist, though it and other versions posted were subsequently taken down, evidently by YouTube, which is owned by Google. The content makes clear why it was pulled, as it demonstrates the direct responsibility of the US government for the torture of prisoners, including regular violent beatings, sexual assault and brutal conditions.

Most of the immigrants had no criminal record and were not gang members, despite the incessant slanders from Trump, Stephen Miller and other fascists in the White House.

CECOT was the location where the Department of Homeland Security, in violation of a court order, sent more than 200 detained migrants, most of them Venezuelan, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland construction worker married to a US citizen and father to three US citizen children. Garcia was returned to the United States under court order and was released last week, pending further efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport him.

The leaked version of the 60 Minutes segment is devastating. The courage of the men who testified is remarkable, as is the compassion of the students and human rights advocates who helped them, and the determination of Alfonsi and her team of journalists to bring this information to the public. The segment exposes the blatant lying and inhuman callousness of the Trump administration, particularly Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who traveled to El Salvador soon after the Venezuelans were imprisoned there to make television appearances on the supposed success of Trumps anti-migrant policy.

In her internal email protesting the decision to cancel the 60 Minutes broadcast, later leaked to the media, Alfonsi wrote, In my view, pulling it now after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.

She particularly objected to the insistence by Weiss that the segment on CECOT must include an on-camera response from Stephen Miller or another top Trump administration spokesman on the deportation campaign. (Weiss actually supplied Millers contact details to the 60 Minutes team). Alfonsi pointed out that the network had sought interviews with the White House, Department of Homeland Security and State Department, only to be rebuffed.

Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story, she wrote. If the administrations refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a kill switch for any reporting they find inconvenient.  Government silence is a statement, not a VETO

If the standard for airing a story is that the government must agree to be interviewed, then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast. We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state.

Weiss gave only the lamest justification to network staff after killing the broadcast, claiming it was only a delay to do more reporting, and promising the story would eventually run on 60 Minutes. In a newsroom call at 9 a.m. Mondayleaked to other media outlets and then released by CBSWeiss claimed that there was nothing new in the segment compared to reporting several months ago by the New York Times.

This is an outright lie, since the 60 Minutes segment incorporates the findings of a Human Rights Watch report issued in November, which extensively documented torture at CECOT. Both the testimony of the former prisoners, and the evidence uncovered by a student team of human rights researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are new and important.

Weiss did not explain why the network had been promoting the segment on Friday, after five separate reviews by corporate lawyers and executives, only to abruptly cancel it and run a different segment in its place. But it is clear that the story was killed after the Trump White House reacted with hostility to the announcement Friday of the impending broadcast.

Although the exact details of the censorship order are not yet known, the new owner of CBS, David Ellison, is the son of mega-billionaire Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle and a heavy backer of Trump. The Ellisons installed Weiss as editor-in-chief in October, in large measure to ensure a right-wing, pro-Trump and pro-Israel slant to the network. They also purchased Weisss stridently Zionist internet publication, The Free Press, for $150 million, a staggering sum for her, but pocket change for Ellison, whose fortune is estimated at $238 billion, making him the fifth-richest oligarch on the planet.

One of Weisss first major actions as editor-in-chief was to host an hour-long broadcast Town Hall in which she fawned over Erika Kirk, CEO of the fascist Turning Point USA organization, and widow of Charlie Kirk, the groups founder, who was assassinated in September.

The suppression of the 60 Minutes broadcast on CECOT thus represents the intersection of the main reactionary tendencies in American social and political life: the rise of the financial oligarchy, which comprises the social basis of the Trump administration; the attack on democratic rights, in the form of outright censorship of the media by the corporate overlords; the anything goes violent repression against immigrants; and the cultivation of outright fascists by the corporate elite and the capitalist state.

This anti-immigrant rampage has been entirely bipartisan. Trump and Democrat Joe Biden both subcontracted some of the dirtiest anti-immigrant work to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose police-state regime built the CECOT prison in 2022 as part of a US-supported anti-gang campaign. Over the five years from 2020 through 2024the last year of Trumps first term and the four years of the Biden administrationthe US government supplied nearly $1 billion in aid to the tiny country, largely focused on preventing Salvadoran immigration to the United States.

While the censorship of 60 Minutes is particularly glaring, the corporate media is more and more directly subordinated to the social and financial interests of various oligarchs. Of the five major broadcast and cable networks, two are run by ultra-right billionaires, Ellison and Murdoch, and three by giant corporations, Disney, Comcast and Time-Warner. There will be further concentration of ownership once the contest is resolved over control of Time-Warner, which owns CNN. Netflix made the initial winning takeover bid, but is now being challenged by Paramount, the media vehicle of the Ellisons.

At the same time, Murdoch and fellow oligarch Jeff Bezos own two of the three most influential daily newspapers, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. The New York Times, the house organ of the Democratic Party, is also a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, but still owned by the Sulzberger family, who are only centi-millionaires.

The domination of giant corporations and the billionaire families who control them is the fundamental source of the attacks on democratic rights faced by the entire working class. As the WSWS has emphasized, the return to power of Trump and the ongoing effort to establish a fascist dictatorship in America means that the political forms of rule are being brought into line with the underlying social reality. It is impossible to maintain even the pretense of democracy in a society riven by such massive economic and social inequality.

The censorship of 60 Minutes underscores the critical importance of the working class gaining access to the information needed to develop a clear understanding of the capitalist crisis and the dangers that it poses. In this, the role of the World Socialist Web Site is critical. The socialist press develops through the tireless exposure of the capitalist system and the struggle to educate workers and young people in the lessons of history, science and the class struggle. It is the spearhead of the struggle to build a mass revolutionary party of the working class, based on a socialist and internationalist program.

Through its latest initiative, Socialism AI, the WSWS and the International Committee of the Fourth International seek to give access to the theoretical heritage of the Marxist-Trotskyist movement to the ever-wider layers of workers and youth who are looking for a genuine socialist alternative to poverty, dictatorship and war.
US military forces seize the Skipper, a Venezuelan oil tanker in international water in the Caribbean. December 10, 2025 [Photo: @AGPamBondi]

As the Trump administration accelerates war preparations against Venezuela, the response of Spanish imperialism has been extraordinarily muted.

US imperialism is engaged in acts of naked criminality. Air strikes off the Venezuelan coast have killed over 100 people in deliberate attempts to destabilise the country, forcibly change its government and grab its oil and other resources.

These provocations have escalated in recent weeks. The US has seized two Venezuelan oil tankers, imposed a de facto naval blockade on the countrys energy exports and assembled its largest regional military presence since the 1962 Cuban Crisis, with around 15,000 personnel, 11 warships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, alongside destroyers, amphibious assault ships, cruisers, fighter jets and armed drones. This massive buildup leaves no doubt that the US is preparing for war.

Yet Madrid has largely withdrawn from public comment, even though the Venezuela question has for decades occupied a central place in Spanish politics.

Madrids last official statement dates back a month. On November 22 at the G20 summit, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was asked about Venezuela. Without naming Washington, Sanchez said that Madrid defends open spaces for dialogue with the Venezuelan government and calls for respect for international law.

This distanced Spain from the Trump administrations flagrantly illegal preparations for war. However, Sanchez promptly added that the Venezuelan regime is in his view illegitimate: We do not recognise President Maduro as a president who has enjoyed the majority support of the Venezuelan people in the most recent elections.

This formulation allows Madrid to fall in line if Trump provokes a war.

Indicating its own concerns over the implications of Trumps actions, El Pais, a newspaper closely aligned with the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE)-Sumar government, has failed to unleash its customary barrage of editorials and columns demanding regime change in Venezuela under the banner of human rights.

Spains leading bourgeois opposition party, the right-wing Popular Party (PP), has openly backed the Venezuelan right-wing figure Maria Corina Machado, long a central instrument of US regime change efforts, who recently received the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that has repeatedly been bestowed on mass murderers and architects of imperialist war.

Machado attacked Sanchezs G20 remarks, declaring in Oslo that while she was grateful for the support from the Spanish people to Venezuelan exiles, the Spanish government itself had failed to act. History will judge, she said, as the people of Venezuela are already doing today what has been lacking.

Leading figures of the PP rapidly embraced Machados criticisms of Sanchez. However, despite their close political ties to the Venezuelan right and far-right opposition, much of which is headquartered in Madrid, the PP has so far not endorsed Trumps war threats. PP leader Nunez Feijoo limited himself to a tweet, declaring, We will always stand with Venezuelan democrats. They deserve an immediate, peaceful and orderly transition.

The PP, the PSOE and the PSOEs pseudo-left backers in Sumar and Podemos are thoroughly pro-war parties that for decades have backed and participated in US-led imperialist interventionsfrom Eastern Europe and the Middle East to North and Sub-Saharan Africa. They supported illegal invasions, NATO bombardments, proxy wars and neo-colonial occupations that have left millions dead and entire societies devastated.

Moreover, the Spanish ruling class has in the past not shied away from efforts to overthrow the Venezuelan government. The PP government played an active role in the US-backed coup attempt against Hugo Chavez in April 2002 and has traditionally favoured an aggressive approach to regime change. The PSOE pursued the same objective through diplomatic pressure and by promoting right-wing oppositionists who have repeatedly organised violent campaigns aimed at overthrowing the Venezuelan government.

At critical moments, even these tactical differences have collapsed. Under a PSOE-Podemos (2019-2023) government, Spain placed itself at the forefront of the regime change operation by recognising Juan Guaido as president in January 2019, following his self-proclamation and public endorsement by Trump. Sanchez personally intervened to promote the coup, telephoning Guaido and touring Latin America to rally support.

Since this operation failed, Guaido has faded into political insignificance, retiring comfortably in Miami. What remains is the exposure of the PSOE role in spearheading an imperialist operation with the backing of Podemos, whose leaders had previously maintained close ties to the Chavez regime in the 2000s.

The heavily circumscribed response of Madrid is motivated by concerns that war with Venezuela will undermine the interests of Spanish imperialism and a recognition that this is the explicit aim of the Trump administration.

Trumps latest US National Security Strategy makes explicit that US foreign policy aims to preserve US global dominance. Latin America is singled out for renewed subjugation under a Trump-style corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, directed not only against China and Russia but also against rival European powers, including Spain.

In 2015, around 100 Spanish companies operated in Venezuela. Spain was the second largest European investor after the Netherlands, with direct investments exceeding 20 billion. While this position has suffered due to US sanctions against Venezuela and the ensuing economic crisis, Spanish capital still seeks asset preservation and future access.

Spains core interest remains oil. In 2023, Venezuela exported about $4 billion of crude globally, with roughly 8.8 percent going to Spain. Spanish imports rose from around 1.4 million tonnes in 2023 to about 1.7 million tonnes by mid-2024, largely tied to Spanish energy giant Repsols debt recovery arrangement with Venezuelas state-owned oil company PDVSA. Repsol is owed around $1.65 billion and has sought US authorisation to recover hundreds of millions of euros worth of oil under sanctions exemptions.

Outside oil, Spanish bank BBVAs loan book expanded sharply in nominal terms in 2024, growing by around 60 percent year on year to the equivalent of $375 million. Telefonica has invested hundreds of millions in telecommunications infrastructure.

More broadly, Spain fears that a US-led war, even one targeting a regime that Madrid has long sought to topple, endangers its wider economic and strategic position across the region.

Spanish exports to Latin America have averaged around 1.3 billion per month between 2014 and 2024, reaching a record 2.19 billion in June 2023. This region is critical to Spanish exporters seeking to offset stagnation in European and US markets.

Spain is also one of the largest foreign investors in Latin America. Spanish foreign direct investment stock in the region is estimated at around 160 billion, nearly 30 percent of Spains total outward investment, concentrated in key economies, such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. At the same time, Latin American investment in Spain has risen sharply, reaching roughly 66 billion, or about 9.4 percent of total foreign investment, with particularly strong inflows from Mexico.

Spanish imperialism is too weak to openly oppose Trumps war plans and its studied silence is in part maintained in the hope that, should war erupt, Spain will be granted a seat at the negotiating table and a share, however diminished, of the postwar settlement.

Yet even this cautious manoeuvring has drawn criticism from sections of the US ruling elite. A Wall Street Journal opinion column titled Spains Government Cozies Up to Maduro denounced Sanchez, declaring, Madrid could help free Venezuelans, but the ruling Socialists will have none of it. It is a warning that Washington may tolerate no deviation from its line.

Underlying Madrids hesitancy is an even deeper fear of a conflict with US imperialism. A war in Venezuela would unleash mass resistance by the working class, not only across Latin America but within Spain itself. Spain is home to more than 4 million migrants born in South America. Spanish and South American workers also share a long history of solidarity in struggle against US-backed regimes, from Spains Francoite dictatorship to brutal military juntas across Latin America. This makes the prospect of imperialist war with Venezuela explosive on both sides of the Atlantic.

The decisive question raised by Trumps escalation of war on Venezuela is not how the Spanish ruling class will react but how the working class must respond.

Workers in Spain, Venezuela, the US and across Europe have no interest in imperialist war. Madrids cynical manoeuvring only underscores that opposition to war cannot come from any faction of the bourgeoisie or its pseudo-left accomplices. It must be forged independently by the working class in a common struggle against imperialism, based on an international socialist programme to put an end to war, exploitation and the capitalist system that produces them.
"HKIC has so far invested in over 150 projects, leveraging more than HK$6 of private capital for every Hong Kong dollar it has invested," Chan said. "Many projects involve cutting-edge technologies and carry strategic importance, such as supporting Hong Kong-designed and developed RISC-V chips, applications of embodied artificial intelligence, and the expansion of Hong Kong's electric vehicle-charging technology to overseas markets."

HKIC earned HK$2.34 billion in investment income last year, according to its first annual report released earlier this month.

A partnership with HKIC is a very important endorsement, according to Stephen Shum, left, chief operations officer of Soy-Sky Farm Tech Company, and Lin Yiwei, head of BioMap's Hong Kong Innohub. Photo: Enoch Yiu alt=A partnership with HKIC is a very important endorsement, according to Stephen Shum, left, chief operations officer of Soy-Sky Farm Tech Company, and Lin Yiwei, head of BioMap's Hong Kong Innohub. Photo: Enoch Yiu>

"One of its key priorities is to channel market capital into high-potential, nascent-stage industries, and attract innovative enterprises to Hong Kong to help build the related ecosystem and industries," Chan told the Post.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said HKIC had a dual mandate: to generate reasonable returns and enhance the long-term competitiveness and economic vitality of Hong Kong.

It managed HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) in funds and invested in more than 150 projects as of October, with 62 per cent of deployed capital going to mainland China and 34 per cent to Hong Kong. Of the projects, 71 per cent were in hi-tech, 13 per cent in biotech and 11 per cent in renewables and green technology.

The HKIC, first announced in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's 2022 policy address, was set up to use the government's reserves to boost the city's economy.

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.

"I have told some of my staff that they will not have Christmas holidays as they need to focus on closing numerous ongoing deals," Chang said.

"After partnering with the HKIC, the number of deals we are working on this year has tripled compared to last year," said David Chang, founder and CEO of leading VC firm MindWorks. He added that 2025 was one of the busiest years for the firm since its establishment 11 years ago.

The success of the government's Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) in establishing an ecosystem for start-ups to raise funds has put a damper on the Christmas plans for employees of some local venture capital (VC) firms.

Story Continues

HKIC's first partnership was with home-grown artificial intelligence unicorn SmartMore, which committed to using Hong Kong as a development base and making it the first choice of venue if it goes public.

SmartMore said HKIC had helped it establish links with local university research teams and with companies in the Greater Bay Area, while also providing opportunities for young talent.

"HKIC is establishing an ecosystem for the innovative industry in Hong Kong," SmartMore told the Post. "It not only provides funding for start-ups but also emphasises establishing a network in the same industry."

HKIC's second partnership, finalised in June last year, was with Beijing-based BioMap - a biotech firm launched by Chinese internet giant Baidu's founder Robin Li Yanhong - to establish a BioMap InnoHub accelerator to support more than 50 early-stage research projects in life sciences.

"The partnership between HKIC and BioMap is a very important endorsement for our company, which helped us get funding from other investors," said Lin Yiwei, head of BioMap's Hong Kong Innohub.

HKIC's network was also important for BioMap, Lin said, as it enabled the company to establish research projects in three universities in Hong Kong, while also helping to promote its AI foundation tools for drug discovery to overseas companies.

But Lin said the high cost of living in Hong Kong was a problem for start-ups trying to attract talent.

"We found it difficult to attract the talent we need to work in Hong Kong because the rent and the cost of living are so high," Lin said. "We would like to see the government provide [affordable housing] to make it easier for talent to live in Hong Kong. Talent is important for the city to develop its innovation industry."

"We found it difficult to attract the talent we need to work in Hong Kong because the rent and the cost of living are so high," BioMap's Lin Yiwei said. Photo: Handout alt="We found it difficult to attract the talent we need to work in Hong Kong because the rent and the cost of living are so high," BioMap's Lin Yiwei said. Photo: Handout>

Jerry Chang, managing director of executive search firm Barons & Co, shared the view.

"Hong Kong's rent and living costs are very expensive by international standards, which discourages start-up talent from relocating here because their income may not be enough," Chang said. "Remuneration for these talent is much higher in mainland China and the US, where markets are much bigger and more competitive."

He said there were also more job opportunities in those two markets, with the US hosting the Magnificent Seven tech firms, while China had big players like Baidu, Alibaba Group Holding, Tencent Holdings and the "six little dragons".

Chang said the government may also want to consider having more local training programmes aligned with international standards to develop local talent.

HKIC has also brought start-ups together to collaborate. Through its networking activities, BioMap met another investee, Soy-Sky Farm Tech Company, a Hong Kong-based agricultural start-up focused on developing drought-resistant and salt-tolerant varieties of soybeans. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to combine BioMap's AI technology and Soy-Sky's research.

"The HKIC investment is an endorsement giving us confidence to partner with other investees without the need to do due diligence again," said Stephen Shum, chief operations officer of Soy-Sky. "We found at least two well-known Hong Kong companies that became early co-investors of Soy-Sky."

HKIC's investment has effectively turned Soy-Sky into a government-backed company, which Shum said was important when pitching its agriculture technology to Belt and Road countries.

HKIC has also strengthened Hong Kong's VC market. MindWorks' Chang recalled struggling to raise funds in Singapore in his firm's early days because it was not well known there. By contrast, Singaporean VC firms could raise funds easily thanks to government support for local VCs and start-ups dating back two decades.

HKIC has been compared with Singapore's Temasek, but Chang said the two were different because the Singapore sovereign was focused on making profits while HKIC looked for projects to promote Hong Kong's innovative industries.

MindWorks has co-invested with HKIC on a number of projects, which has encouraged greater investments in its funds and the broader GBA ecosystem.

"Teaming up with HKIC also makes it easier to negotiate investment deals," Chang said. "MindWorks is a homegrown venture capital firm, and we share the same mission with HKIC, which extends beyond seeking financial returns; our mission is also to foster and establish a robust ecosystem for the innovative industries in the Greater Bay Area."

Chang said HKIC not only helped VC firms raise funds and find investment targets, but also played a role in attracting talent to innovative industries in Hong Kong, which has lagged behind other markets in this regard.

He pointed to Israel's Yozma programme, launched in 1993, which was a dedicated investment arm to support start-ups. The initiative eventually led to about 280 VC firms being set up in the country. Similarly, Singapore began actively supporting its VC ecosystem in the early 2000s and now boasts about 400 VC firms.

Hong Kong currently has around 100 VC firms, and Chang anticipates the number to grow significantly in the coming years with government support.

"Being a second- or third-mover is not necessarily disadvantageous, as Hong Kong can learn from the mistakes of others," Chang said.

The start-up investment market experienced a severe downturn during the pandemic and had only rebounded over the past two years, according to Chang. "I believe the sector is now entering a spring-like phase of growth, making this the perfect time for the HKIC to establish a robust ecosystem for the innovative industries in our city."

Chang believes AI, logistics, and longevity would be key growth drivers for Hong Kong's investment ecosystem in the coming years.

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.
Republican politicians, far-right media personalities, Trump administration officials, Holocaust deniers and other white supremacists attended the AmericaFest conference held in Phoenix, Arizona, December 18-21. The gathering was the first major conference organized by Turning Point Action following the September 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA.

Erika Kirk greets Vice President JD Vance during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix. [AP Photo/Jon Cherry]

The roster of speakers at AmericaFest underscored its role as an organizing hub for the Trump administration and the Republican Party. Participants included Donald Trump Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson, border czar Tom Homan, Republican fixer Roger Stone, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, alongside numerous Trump loyalists and right-wing operatives.

As support for the Trump administration continues to decline due to its pro-billionaire, anti-immigrant and anti-working-class policies, the conference was marked by infighting among speakers over the future direction of the Republican Party and the Make America Great Again movement, once the increasingly deranged Donald Trump exits the White House.

In his speech, Zionist Ben Shapiro, founder of the Daily Wire, attacked Candace Owens, his former employee, and those he claimed refused to condemn her truly vicious attacks, including fellow AmericaFest speakers Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Megyn Kelly. Owens has asserted, without presenting any evidence, that Kirk was assassinated in an operation orchestrated by the French Foreign Legion and Israelis because Kirk offered tepid criticism of the Zionist state and its ongoing US-backed genocide.

Seeking to position himself as Trumps political heir and unite reactionaries of all stripes behind his campaign, Vice President JD Vance was given the headline speaking slot on the final day of the conference, following the public endorsement he received from Erika Kirk as the Republican Partys 2028 presidential nominee.

In a rebuke to Shapiro, Vances address centered on the consolidation of the Republican Party with the most reactionary, racist and fascistic forces in American politics, advanced under the unstated but unmistakable banner of No Enemies to the Right.

Rejecting any purity tests within the MAGA movement, Vance declared that political unity must be maintained regardless of fascist, racist or antisemitic views.

President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests, Vance told the crowd. He says Make America Great Again because every American is invited.

Invoking the death of Charlie Kirk, Vance warned against internal criticism of the far right:

I didnt bring a list of conservatives to denounce or deplatform and I dont really care.  The best way to honor Charlie is that none of us here should be doing something after Charlies death that he refused to do in life. He invited all of us here for a reason.

Vance repeatedly described Trump and Turning Point USA as builders, insisting that winning requires teamwork and that he was honored to be on Turning Points team. The purpose of this team is to serve as an umbrella organization among youth and college student Republicans, for the benefit of Christian nationalists, neo-Nazis, conspiracy theorists and open white supremacists.

Vances appeal for fascist unity is not new. After revelations earlier this year that Young Republican leaders in multiple states participated in months-long group chats filled with admiration for Adolf Hitler and racist bile, Vance posted on X that he would refuse to join the pearl clutching, declining to condemn the fascistic views expressed.

In his speech, Vance appealed directly to white supremacists and gloated about the rollback of diversity programs, declaring, In the United States of America you dont have to apologize for being white anymore.

In line with the anti-science agenda of the Trump administration and following an earlier appearance by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Vance boasted that the US military was now welcoming patriots instead of firing them for refusing to accept an unlawful vaccine mandate.

Using Kirks death to justify expanded state repression, Vance declared his support for the Trump administrations ongoing campaign against all left-wing and anti-capitalist political opposition:

To honor Charlie, but to also honor all of you, we are working to end the scourge of left-wing violence in the United States of America. We are going after the far-left crime networks, but we are also going after the monsters that fund them. We dont just want to go after the antifa member who threw a brick at an ICE agent. We want to know who bought the brick and we are going to prosecute them too.

Vance then explicitly called for eliminating Senate filibuster rules to accelerate prosecutions:

Do you want more prosecutions? he asked, to cheers. Donald Trump and I have a list of judges and prosecutors to enact justice, so join us in the fight against the stupid Senate rules that stand in their way.

As support for Trumps mass deportation operation continues to erode, Vance urged the audience to enlist directly in the immigration Gestapo:

So go to ICE.gov/join because we are building an army of patriots and we need good people who care about the country to help us secure the border and do it even faster.

Next to vendors selling hats in support of the failed coup of January 6, 2021, Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents established recruiting booths.

Continuing Trumps racist attacks on Somalis, Vance sneered, Democrats are not sending their best. Omar Fateh was Ilhan Omars candidate for mayor of Mogadishu. Wait, I mean Minneapolis.

Appealing to the antisemitic layers in attendance, Vance accused the left of seeking to poison your kids with hormone therapy and put toxins in your water supply, while denouncing rogue district judges and the [George] Soros DAs who cheer on as their cities burn.

He repeated the core claims of the Great Replacement Theory, a fascist conspiracy theory that has motivated mass shootings in the US and internationally:

They hire the illegals they bring in to take your jobs. They censor you. They bring in millions of voters because they know they cant win the argument with the people who are already here.

The reactionary content of Vice President JD Vances appeal for unity was underscored by the presence at AmericaFest of Myron Gaines, a Holocaust denier and open supporter of neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes. Gaines, pictured below with fellow neo-Nazi Jack Posobiec, wore a hooded sweatshirt to the event featuring the Cookie Monster muppet and the phrase Letem cook, a reference to Fuentes claim that it would be impossible for the fictional character to cook 6 million cookies in an oven.

Myron Gaines (left) and Jack Posobiec (center) at AmericaFest 2025 in Arizona, December 20, 2025.

In his speech, Posobiec threatened violence against leftists and Marxists: We are up against radical Marxist domestic terrorism, and they are going to keep shooting us until they are stopped.

While Gaines was not afforded a speaking spot like Posobiec, his presence at the event illustrated the real meaning of Vances denunciation of purity tests. Terrified of a mass movement in the working class that, infused with socialist consciousness, will expropriate their ill-gotten wealth and abolish their immigration Gestapo, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and the rest of the fascist financial oligarchy that bankrolls Vance and other capitalist politicians are resurrecting and promoting fascism.

The ideological glue of Vance and the Republicans proposed American Reich is Christian nationalism. In a blatant falsification of American history, Vance declared, the only thing that has truly served as an anchor of the United States of America is that we have been and by the grace of God we always will be a Christian nation.

The United States was never founded as a Christian nation. The Constitution makes no reference to God, establishes no state religion, and explicitly prohibits religious tests for public office. The First Amendment bars Congress from establishing religion altogether.

This separation was not accidental. It reflected the Enlightenment foundations of the American Revolution, which rejected divine right, clerical authority and religious establishment in favor of reason, law and popular sovereignty. Leading figures of the founding generation were openly hostile to clerical rule and orthodox Christian doctrine. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, rejected the divinity of Christ and compiled his own edited version of the Gospels, stripping out miracles, the resurrection, and any claim of Jesuss supernatural status in order to emphasize moral teachings alone.

The position of the early American state was stated unambiguously in the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified unanimously by the US Senate in 1797, which declared that the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.

Vances invocation of a mythical Christian nation serves as ideological cover for authoritarian rule, the erosion of democratic rights, and the fusion of state power with religious reaction. It is a central component of the broader fascistic program advanced at AmericaFest and Turning Point as a whole, which seeks to replace constitutional principles with a techno-fascist dictatorship.

The ability of Vance and the Republican right to mount these attacks on American history is inseparable from the pernicious role played by the Democratic Party and its upper-middle class constituency. For decades, the Democrats have abandoned any defense of historical truth or democratic principles, replacing them with race, sex and gender-based identity politics aimed at dividing the working class and blocking the development of a socialist movement rooted in a shared history of class struggle.

The spearhead of this campaign was the New York Times 1619 Project, which advanced the reactionary claim that the American Revolution was fought to preserve slavery and that white supremacy is the foundational force of American history. This narrative systematically erased the Enlightenment origins of the Revolution of 1776 and denied its progressive content, including its challenge to monarchy, aristocracy and religious authority, articulated in the immortal declaration that all are created equal and deserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Leading historians and the World Socialist Web Site exposed and debunked the 1619 Project as a falsification of history that substitutes racial essentialism for materialist analysis and serves the political interests of the Democratic Party and the ruling class. By portraying American history as nothing but an unbroken continuum of racial oppression, the Democrats have ceded the terrain of history itself to the far right, allowing figures like Vance to posture as defenders of a mythical national past while advancing blood and soil conceptions.

The task confronting the working class is not the embrace of nationalist myths or racialist falsifications, but the reclamation of its own revolutionary history and the development of an independent, conscious socialist movement.
This lecture, delivered by Don Knowland, an attorney for Alan Gelfand, covers the trial of the Gelfand case in March of 1983 and the unsuccessful suit by the Socialist Workers Party to impose the costs of litigation on Gelfand and his lawyers. It was given to the 2025 Summer School of the Socialist Equality Party (US) on the history of the Security and the Fourth International investigation. Parts one and two of the lecture The Gelfand Case: 1978-1982 are here and here. The lecture The Gelfand Case: Depositions and the fight against summary judgement is here.

John Burton has exhaustively covered the details of the first three years of the Gelfand case. I will focus on the year 1983 going forward and my role as an attorney in it.

First, a bit of background on how I got involved in the Gelfand case.

I had known Comrade John for some time when he began to work on the Gelfand case, so I began to hear about the case from him and follow it.

I had read the Workers League party newspaper, the Bulletin, periodically as an undergraduate student and during law school, and I had read a fair amount of Marxist literature, including Trotskys History of the Russian Revolution, so the case immediately interested me.

After serving as a law clerk for a year for a federal judge in the same downtown Los Angeles courthouse where the Gelfand case was later tried, I had been a practicing lawyer for a little over two years. My first work on the case was reviewing drafts of Gelfands summary judgment opposition in 1982. In the course of that work I learned about the evidence and legal foundation for the case.

Later, I also contributed to and reviewed Gelfands compelling 80-page trial brief, which was filed February 25, 1983.

I sat and assisted at counsel table during the trial. But John Burton mostly, and Robin Moest, a partner in his law firm, secondarily, handled the trial testimony and argument.

Judge Mariana Pfaelzer held the final pretrial conference in the case on January 31, 1983. A combined joint pretrial conference statement of all the parties, which Pfaelzer signed off on, stated what each party claimed were to be the issues to be resolved at trial.

The two main issues set forth by Gelfand in his PTC statement were:

(1) Whether police or intelligence agencies of the United States may lawfully place agents or informants in leadership positions within an otherwise autonomous political party and use them to manipulate the party and its membership; and

(2) Whether an individual expelled from the political party of his choice at the instance of United States government agents, or as a result of their activities within the SWP, was entitled to appropriate equitable and injunctive relief based on the First Amendment right to political association.

As for the SWP defendants, the sole issue they tendered was:

Whether the First Amendment prohibits the courts from inquiring into and/or overriding decisions of a voluntary political association, engaged in First Amendment activities, regarding the associations internal functioning and political positions.

The SWP here was necessarily stating outright that a court could not interfere with the operations of government agents at a leadership level in a political party.

The US government put the sole issue to be adjudicated as:

Whether, as sought by Gelfand, the court could enjoin the government from the use of agents or informants to conduct investigative and data-gathering activities within the SWP.

Here the government was saying that the court could not interfere with government spies in the SWP, at least to the extent of investigative activity by such agents.

Contrary to the SWPs position, Judge Pfaelzer was forced to recognize at the pretrial conference that if Gelfand could present sufficient evidence to show that he was expelled by government agents, he could prevail in the lawsuit.

The legal burden Gelfand faced to prevail was to show his claims were true by a preponderance of the evidence.

That is, if Gelfand could show, if only by a margin of 50.1 percent, that the evidence supported his allegations that the SWPs leaders were government agents, he would be entitled to a judgment in his favor.

Shortly after the pretrial conference, on February 25, 1983, Gelfand filed his trial brief. The brief is included as document 5 of Volume 2 of The Gelfand Case.

Desperate to avoid a public trial, the SWP defendants then brought yet another motion to dismiss the case before Pfaelzer, and at the same time petitioned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for an extraordinary writ to prohibit a trial. Both efforts failed.

The SWP even filed a motion to recuse Judge Pfaelzer, on the flimsy basis that she had been on the Los Angeles Police Commission during time frames when the police department had infiltrated local SWP branches, including Gelfands branch, and thus she could not be objective or impartial. Another federal judge reviewed and denied the SWPs motion as baseless, and inferred, correctly, that this was nothing more than an effort on the part of the SWP to postpone trial.

The SWPs weekly paper, The Militant, had not covered the case for over three years. Suddenly it was plastered with headlines about an attack on the bill of rights and an attempt to disrupt the SWP, rather than what it was in reality, an attempt to identify high-level government agents in the party.

Shortly before the trial commenced, the court ordered the SWP to turn over to Gelfand the letter dated June 8, 1976 from Hansens longtime close friend Vaughan T. OBrien. (See The Gelfand Case, Volume 2, Document 4).

That letter dispositively confirmed the testimony of OBrien given at his prior deposition that Louis Budenzs friend Pearl Kluger, at around the time of the publication of Budenzs books, and the time of the SWPs Control Commission as to Sylvia Franklin, had told OBrien that Budenz had said that your friend Joseph Hansen worked with the GPU.

This letter was particularly damning, given that Budenz had also been the source of Franklins exposure as a GPU agent.

The letter was otherwise fantastical, in that it spun a preposterous and hackneyed yarn about Trotsky sending Hansen to the CP headquarters in New York City to pose as a disenchanted young man who sought $25,000 for turning over the manuscript of Trotskys Life of Stalin.

Gelfands February 25 trial brief masterfully wove together the historical and political threads of the case. It explained the reluctance of the SWP to publicize the murderous exploits of Mark Zborowski. The lives of Zborowski, Sylvia Franklin, and Joseph Hansen were woven from the same fiber.

As the trial brief explained, each held the posts most coveted by the GPU. In Paris, Zborowski, alias Etienne, served as secretary to Trotskys son Leon Sedov, assiduously carrying out his political duties while, unbeknownst to Sedov, providing the GPU with the information it used in February 1938 to murder the young revolutionist in a Paris medical clinic. In New York, Sylvia Franklin functioned as James P. Cannons girl Friday, transforming her secretarial desk into a listening post for Stalin. And, in Coyoacan, Mexico, Joseph Hansen performed secretarial duties on behalf of Leon Trotsky.

Within a week after the pretrial conference, Pfaelzer told Gelfands lawyers that she had received and reviewed both the 1954 and the 1958 transcripts of Sylvia Franklins grand jury testimony, and that she would soon release them. But as of the commencement of trial on March 2, 1983, she had not released them.

The trial lasted six days. Deposition testimony was introduced into evidence. The live witnesses were:

* Jack Barnes

Jack Barnes in 1988

* Barness hatchet man, Larry Seigle

Larry Seigle in the late 1970s

* Alan Gelfand

Alan Gelfand, with Harold Robins, the captain of Trotsky's guard, in Los Angeles in early 1983.

* Jean Brust, who joined the SWP in the late 1930s, as an expert witness for Gelfand as to SWP policies regarding communications with the Soviet secret police and what the SWP called agent-baiting. Gelfand originally had sought Cliff Slaughter to testify as an expert witness, but Slaughter chose not to testify.

* Two LAPD undercover officers in Gelfands SWP branch (Gibby and Parisi), who testified that after Gelfand had raised his concerns in the branch in what appeared to be the customary fashion, he was threatened and silenced by the branch leadership.

Apart from Alan Gelfand himself, Jack Barnes plainly was the most important live witness. His testimony was markedly evasive, if not self-contradictory.

Despite (1) all the deposition testimony to the contrary, including that of former SWP political committee members who said they would have been, but were not, advised about Hansens meeting with the GPU, his visits to the US consulate in Mexico City, and his visits with the FBI in New York City, and (2) the absence of any documentation supporting his testimony, Barnes nevertheless insisted that the SWP leadership had been informed of this activity at that time.

Barnes testified that he talked to Hansen once or twice in 1975 about these matters, when Hansen was putting together Healys Big Lie, but they did not get into detail about the subject. Barnes conceded that Hansen had said he had met with the State Department, and was trying to follow up on that.

According to Barnes testimony, Hansen had said that the main task was to try to bring Natalia Trotsky to the United States and that he hoped to get a little bit of information about who assassinated Trotsky. Barnes continued:

But Trotskys widow finally decided not to try to come to the United States... It was clear there was going to be no information forthcoming from the FBI or anybody else that would help us spot Trotskys killer, and that was the end of the affair.

Barnes initially testified that Hansen had told him about a single meeting at the SWP office between Hansen, maybe James Cannon, and an FBI agent. He had learned of this meeting with the FBI from either Hansen or Cannon.

But Barnes then conceded that Hansen had met with FBI agent Sackett in the FBI office in New York City at least a couple of times, unaccompanied by other SWP personnel . Given the deposition of Morrow and others, Barnes was forced to concede that the political committee did not know about this at the time, only Cannon.

Barnes testified further that no other members of the SWP political committee in 1981 other than himself were fully informed about Hansens contacts with the GPU and FBI.

Barnes was then examined about the Sylvia Franklin matter.

The following exchange with John Burton occurred:

Q: Now, was it your opinion at the time you received [Gelfands letter] that there was no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Sylvia Franklin was an agent of the GPU? A: All the evidence is just the opposite. Her whole comportment not only when she was in the movement but everything that's happened since she left indicates that she is exactly what she was: a loyal, hard-working, and model member of our movement. Q: That is still your opinion today? A: Well, my opinion today is she is one of my heroes after the harassment and what shes been through in the last couple of years. I would even feel more strongly about her, her character, than I did then.

The examination continued:

Q: Now, was Sylvia Franklin the subject of an SWP Control Commission investigation? A: No. Sylvia Franklin was not the subject of an SWP Control Commission. Sylvia Caldwell was invited to an SWP Control Commission hearing to discuss the fact of the Shachtmanites were spreading this rumor. The Control Commission had their hearing and then they passed a motion saying, one, that there is zero evidence that there is anything connected with this rumor that could be true, and, number two, which of course is the key of why they met, to request of the Shachtmanites to cease spreading this rumor because of that. Q: Are there any records of this Control Commission? A: I think the reports were oral.

No objective, unbiased trier of fact could have accepted this testimony as true.

Larry Seigles testimony was even more absurd than that of Barnes. He didnt know whether Hansen had met with the special agent in charge of the New York City office of the FBI in 1940, and he did not care. He never even asked Barnes about it, apparently even after Gelfands lawsuit was filed.

Seigles logic in substance was that anything that appeared in Healys Big Lie was, by definition a lie, because Hansen had said so. Hansen, the head of the SWP, was, like the pope, seemingly infallible and could not sin.

Seigle adopted similar tautological logic as to Max Shachtmans warning at SWP headquarters in 1947 that Sylvia Franklin was a GPU agent.

When confronted with the deposition testimony of Albert Glotzer in the Gelfand case, who had accompanied Shachtman when he visited the SWP to inform them that Franklin was an agent, for Seigle that charge was by definition false, because it came from the FBI. In other words, for Seigle, any information that originated with the government or the FBI was a lie.

Jean Brust testified that no one in the party would talk to the GPU in the 1930s and 1940s. She stressed that:

These people were the police arm of the Stalinist bureaucracy that had murdered our co-thinkers around the world. They had murdered the leaders of our party, of the Left Opposition to the Communist Party, Rudolf Klement, Erwin Wolf, Leon Sedov. They had murdered Ignace Reiss. They had stolen the archives of Trotsky. They murdered thousands of oppositionists in the Soviet Union.

Brust testified that reports of agent penetration of the party were handled with the utmost seriousness, and without criticism of such concerns as agent baiting. Her testimony completely debunked the SWPs trial position.

Only after Gelfands counsel stated that he had no further witnesses after Barnes and rested his case did Pfaelzer release the transcripts of Franklins 1954 and 1958 testimony before the New York grand jury.

This maneuver amounted to manipulation of basic court procedures, and the gutting of elemental tenets of justice at the highest level.

Neither the SWP nor the US government put on a defense, so Gelfand could not examine the defendants witnesses as to these transcripts.

Barnes was thus able to give a virtual paean to Franklin as one of [his] heroes without facing cross-examination on it, widely considered the most potent weapon in a lawyers arsenal for uncovering truth.

Franklin had invoked the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in the 1954 grand jury transcript.

But the 1958 grand jury transcript contained testimony which confirmed virtually every detail of Budenzs prior affidavit.

She described her GPU contactsan older man named Jack, alias Dr. Gregory Rabinowitz, that Budenz had introduced her to, and Sam, who was Jack Soble, and a slim man, Dr. Robert Soblen. She also described the material that she would provide to them from the SWP office:

Well, I remember I used to type upit was mostly during the faction fights and the political committee meetings, who was fighting with who, and then if there was correspondence from Leon Trotsky that I saw, I would try to remember what was in the letters and write that all out, whos going with who and that kind of thing, personal things like that, I remember, how much money they hadI knew, you know, bank balances and stuff like that.

In sum, the unassailable evidence assembled in the course of pretrial discovery and presented at trial, in conjunction with the Franklin grand jury transcripts, proved every key allegation Gelfand put forth:

Hansen had met with the GPU, and then lied about these meetings when asked by the International Committee to explain them.

Hansen had met with State Department intelligence personnel in the US consulate in Mexico City on multiple occasions, and then met with the FBI in New York City, without the knowledge of the SWP leadership.

Sylvia Franklin (a.k.a. Callen, Caldwell, Doxsee) was, in fact, a GPU agent sent to penetrate the Socialist Workers Party.

Hansen had lied about Sylvia Franklin in order to discredit Louis Budenz, because the latter had secretly named Hansen as a GPU agent.

Barnes had withheld information about Hansens contacts with the FBI from Gelfand and the SWP membership; and he and Seigle had deliberately covered up for Hansen and Franklin, knowing that the questions asked by Gelfand had not been answered.

They had done so because they were themselves the heirs of the apparatus infiltrated into the SWP by the GPU to assassinate Trotsky, and then delivered by Hansen into the arms of US imperialism.

Gelfand had been silenced, expelled from the SWP, and then denied his right to appeal, in order to prevent the exposure of the cover-up of the connections of the defendants to the FBI and American intelligence agencies.

There existed no politically plausible explanation for the sudden influx of students from Carleton College and their rapid elevation into the leadership of the SWP except that they too are government agents.

Not a single fact presented by Gelfand in relation to Hansen, Franklin, and his treatment at the hands of the SWP defendants was even seriously challenged, let alone disproved at trial. Of the many exhibits Gelfand offered into evidence, not a single one was shown to be inauthentic.

Yet in closing arguments, and in orally announcing her ruling thereafter, Pfaelzer insisted that Gelfand had not proven his case even if Hansen and Franklin had been GPU agents , because the SWP defendants could have had blind faith in their bona fides despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary.

During closing argument, Pfaelzer had the following exchange with John Burton:

MP: Now lets just assume that [the defendants] covered up. May I derive from that conclusion that they are agents of the CIA or the FBI or any other governmental agency? I said to you: There are two equally persuasive inferences. One is that they [Barnes and Seigle et. al.] were, taking all this on blind faith, and they may not have been; it may not have been desirable for them to do that. But it certainly is possible that they did exactly that, that they were loyal to Hansen and Caldwell and they assumed that all of these charges were false. That is an equally persuasive inference to be drawn from this set of facts, even giving Mr. Gelfand all the best of it. 

Two inferences that can be drawn from this record. And that means you don't preponderate.

JB: Yes. Mr. Barnes knew that this was a conscious cover-up on the part of Mr. Hansen. He wasnt just going along lackadaisically. He was working with Mr. Hansen. Every time Mr. Gelfands correspondence came in hed shoot it over to Mr. Hansen. He had private discussions with Mr. Hansen. He worked with Mr. Hansen. How are we going to keep the lid on this thing? We cant answer these questions. Mr. Gelfand said in his letters, I know why you are not answering my questions. You dont have answers to them. MP: I ask you again: Does that show that Mr. Barnes is an agent of the FBI, the CIA, or any other governmental agency? JB: It certainly does. It does without any qualification, when evaluated in the context of the history of this movement. MP: What you have just said then will prove that he is an agent of the FBI, the CIA, or a governmental agency? And incidentally, which is it? Is it the FBI, the CIA, or is it the United States Navy? JB: That precise fact we are unable to establish when the informers privilege was upheld by this Court. We have to go from inference on these activities on these people to establish that they are agents of the United States.

Had Hansen been an FBI agent, in response to Gelfands discovery requests the government could have admitted that, without revealing government intelligence sources and methods, which is the usual state mantra for avoiding such disclosures. Yet the government declined to do that, even though Hansen was deceased, because such disclosure would undress Barnes and his adjutants as government agents.

A subsequently declassified June 1982 memo from the CIAs general counsel to CIA Director William J. Casey showed major interest in the Gelfand case. The memo insisted on invoking the agencys statutory exemption from any requirements to disclose names or functions of CIA personnel.

It is likely that when the government lawyers made their 1982 in camera submission to Pfaelzer in her chambers without Gelfands lawyers present in response to Gelfands attempt to discover such matter, Pfaelzer was informed that the current leaders of the SWP were, in fact, US government agents. If so, that gave her all the more reason to grant the governments motion that this not be disclosed.

Pfaelzers statement in closing argument at trial that Gelfand had to prove not only that Barnes & Co. were government agents, but which agency or agencies they operated out of , imposed a burden she well knew she had rendered impossible given her rulings on Gelfands discovery requests.

Pfaelzer also voiced on more than one occasion a half-veiled charge that the Workers League and the WRP were behind the lawsuit and its funding. I personally suspected that the government may have provided Pfaelzer with information on both parties when it made its in camera disclosures to her, that is, a disclosure in chambers that excluded Gelfand.

Pfaelzers reference to the United States Navy was notably curious, if not strange. In 1940, US international intelligence gathering was principally assigned to Naval Intelligence, not to the domestic F.B.I. (the CIA not having been formed), which is a fact that was not addressed in the case.

At a post-trial hearing on March 21, 1983 (see The Gelfand Case, Volume 2, document 5), Pfaelzer orally announced her ruling in favor of the Central Intelligence Agency, the FBI, the US attorney general, and the Socialist Workers Party and its leaders, whose interests had all been aligned against Gelfand.

Pfaelzer orally stated that her findings would be that the individual SWP defendants were not government agents, that Gelfand was not expelled for threatening to expose connections between the SWP defendants and the government, but rather because his conduct violated the concepts of the party. In that regard, she emphasized his filing of an amicus brief in the SWPs purported case against the government.

But in truth, the ruling was a wholesale violation of all the historical precepts of the party, as against Stalinism and the Soviet Union, which had not yet fallen, and American imperialism.

While it was not, Pfaelzer said, unreasonable for Gelfand to raise appropriate questions about Joseph Hansen and Sylvia Franklin, for her that was fairly irrelevant.

Moreover, she said, it was possible that everything that he said was true and they negligently didnt look into it sufficiently, or they felt that it was wrong to take a second look at it. Even if they were incorrect in what they did, that does not show they were agents of the United States government, or any other government, or any other political party.

In sum, for Pfaelzer, the factual essence of the casethat Barnes and other SWP leaders deliberately covered up for Joseph Hansens connections with the FBI and the GPU, as well as for Franklins role as a Stalinist agent inside the SWPwas either ignored or declared irrelevant.

In grasping at these findings, Pfaelzer trampled on and hollowed out the time-honored jurisprudential preponderance of evidence standard of proof.

The judges reasoningthat Gelfand could not meet the preponderance standard simply because it is possible that the SWP leaders lied merely to avoid embarrassment, and that the inconsistency between their conduct and their claimed principles is irrelevantis not correct as a statement of law governing fact-finding and inference in civil litigation.

Under the American legal system, the central task for the trier of fact (the judge or jury) is to weigh all of the evidenceincluding the credibility of witnesses, the plausibility of explanations offered, and the significance of circumstantial evidencein order to determine whether the plaintiffs version is more likely than not, that is, supported by the preponderance of the evidence.

The factfinder is to assess not only direct evidence, but also the consistency (or lack thereof) between a partys actions and their claimed motives, as well as the broader context, to draw reasonable inferences about intent and truthfulness.

Thus, in order to prevail it was not necessary for Gelfand to prove that every possible innocent explanation for the defendants conduct was excluded; rather, he had to show that his explanationnamely, that the leaders repeated cover-up and lying was evidence of their being agentswas more probable than alternative explanations, taking into account the totality of evidence and context.

The existence of other possible or hypothetical motives for the defendants conduct (such as embarrassment) would not defeat Gelfands case unless, after reviewing all evidence, it could be shown that the alternative was more likely than Gelfands theory, which it was not by a long shot.

By insisting that context is meaningless, and that no adverse inference could be drawn from conduct fundamentally inconsistent with the SWPs avowed and historical tenets, Pfaelzer wrongly restricted how circumstantial evidence and the political context should be considered.

Context, pattern of conduct, and consistency with claimed values are all valid considerations in civil fact-finding. As a matter of law, such evidence in the Gelfand trial was highly relevant to the evaluation of witness credibility, and to the question of whether cover-up and deceit reflect innocent motives, or were more likely to conceal culpability.

Therefore, Pfaelzers position was legally incorrect. The preponderance standard does not require certainty or the elimination of every innocent explanation; it only requires that, after considering the context and all evidence, the plaintiffs theory is the more probable one.

In sum, by ignoring political history and context, and refusing to allow inferences from inconsistent behavior on the part of the SWP, Pfaelzer undermined the fact-finders core function and misapplied the law governing civil proof.

On Pfaelzers invitation, on April 28, 1983 the SWP filed a motion seeking an unspecified sum in excess of $400,000 in fees and litigation costs against both Gelfand and his attorneys.

This reactionary motion threatened to establish a legal precedent that would bankrupt civil rights litigants and their attorneys whenever a court ruled against them.

The fees could only be awarded under the applicable law if Gelfands claims were frivolous, unreasonable or without foundation, that is, if no reasonable person could believe his claims after hearing the evidence.

The SWP sought to justify a fee award against Gelfand on that basis, and under the exceptional doctrine that courts have inherent power to award fees to punish litigants and lawyers who knowingly bring frivolous cases for ulterior purposes, in bad faith.

Because John Burton individually and his law firm Fisher & Moest were, along with Alan Gelfand, a target of the SWPs post-trial motion to recover its attorneys fees, I played a larger role in opposing that motion. I drafted the opposition to the motion on behalf of Alan.

Gelfands brief opposing attorneys fees is attached as Document 1 to Chapter 8 of The Gelfand Case, Volume 2. It clearly established that the SWP had not shown, and could not show, that Gelfands case was frivolous and brought in bad faith.

When we argued the fees motion before Pfaelzer, in October 1983, a more seasoned and well-known lawyer, Charles Rosenberg, handled it for Alan Gelfand.

John Burtons law firm, Fisher & Moest, brought in James Brosnahan, a very prominent San Francisco civil and criminal litigator, to represent it as to the attorneys fees motion.

At the hearing on the fees, both Brosnahan and Rosenberg insisted that the inferences Gelfand drew were far from frivolous, were plausible, and were far from brought in bad faith.

Pfaelzer seemed particularly annoyed that such powerful arguments against an award of attorneys fees were made in the briefs opposing the motion, and by these seasoned and prominent lawyers.

After the fees motion was argued, Pfaelzer took the matter under submission.

For five-and-one-half years, Pfaelzer refused to rule on the fees motion, knowing that an order granting it would most likely be reversed on appeal. Finally, the fees motion was withdrawn by the SWP after it received a minor financial settlement from Fisher & Moests malpractice insurance carrier. In the final analysis, Pfaelzers failure to grant the fees motion as to Alan Gelfand was the equivalent of a denial of it.

Further reflecting her difficulty in wrestling with the strength of Gelfands case, almost six years had passed before Pfaelzer finally entered her Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, on August 15, 1989. There Pfaelzer ruled in favor of the SWP on every question, ignoring the overwhelming evidence Gelfand had presented to substantiate his charges.

Gelfand then filed a detailed motion asking Pfaelzer to amend her findings, which was heard on November 13, 1989.

In a highly unusual 30-minute conference in her private chambers, Pfaelzer proposed to withdraw her findings against Gelfand if he withdrew his lawsuit. She urged Gelfand and the SWP to settle the case quietly amongst themselves, by agreeing to withdraw her findings in exchange for a promise by Gelfand not to appeal.

Pfaelzers maneuvering plainly was meant to stave off an appeal of her flawed rulings during trial: her denying Gelfand access to the government files on its agents in the SWP leadership, her withholding of the Sylvia Franklin transcript until after Gelfand had concluded questioning witnesses, and her overall refusal to consider the powerful evidence Gelfand provided that showed he was expelled by government agents.

The trial record itself revealed the shaky and completely unprincipled character of Pfaelzers findings.

As to the ultimate issues, the overwhelming strength of Gelfands evidence clearly established that:

(1) Gelfands versions of Hansens undisclosed operations with the GPU, and later with the FBI, were in fact true;

(2) Sylvia Franklin had admitted under oath that she was a GPU agent planted in the SWP;

(3) Hansen and Barnes were forced to defend Franklin in order to shield Hansens GPU and FBI past; and

(4) As an FBI asset, Hansen recruited Barnes and his Carleton College lieutenants as state agents.

Moreover, Gelfand proved that:

(5) Hansen lied about it when called upon by the IC to explain his meeting with the GPU; and Healys Big Lie was itself the big lie;

(6) Hansen met with Robert McGregor and Shaw at the US Consulate in Mexico City in 1940 without authorization by the SWP, turned over confidential party documents, and sought to meet with state agents with impunity; and

(7) Gelfand was silenced, expelled from the SWP and then denied his right to appeal in order to cover up the FBI connections of Hansen and the Carleton defendants.

In the final analysis, the maneuvers of the bourgeois judge to shield the state from these disclosures were all for naught.

In sum, it was irrefutably established in the Gelfand trial that the central leadership of the anti-Trotskyist SWP was dominated by agents of US imperialism. This takeover of the party by the government was the outcome of a conspiracy against the Fourth International, the World Party of Socialist Revolution, on the part of both Stalinism, which was destined to restore capitalism in the USSR, and the American capitalist state.

Also established by the Gelfand case was the high degree of political vigilance that is necessary in matters relating to party security, contrary to the Pabloite attempts to minimize its importance.

There can be no doubt that the Gelfand case was a historic achievement. It was a monumental victory for the International Committee and the working class, dealing a heavy blow to the agent-ridden SWP, to the Pabloites and to the US government and its spy apparatus.

This is not a part of my formal report, but I wanted to close it out with a brief anecdote.

Sometime not too long after the trial I went with Comrade North to the National Archives in Washington D.C. to do some additional digging around.

This being long before computerization, we were in an area with the usual library wood file cabinets with alphabetic index cards.

We were told by a worker there that an area a few feet away was off limits, so not to research there.

At some point I nevertheless walked over and quickly searched for Joseph Hansen. I immediately saw a card that referenced a 1963 or 1964 Hansen report on Sri Lanka.

The card did not say it was a report to the SWP or other political entity.

So I immediately concluded that this was a report to the CIA or the State Department. Otherwise, why was it in a classified area?

Anyway, the worker came by right at that time and told me to leave the area, so I could not pursue it further.

This was not proof positive, but to me it strengthened what I had already concluded in working on the Gelfand case: that Gelfand had proven his case many times over.
Police in eastern China's Zhejiang province have detained Yu Faxiang, the chairman of Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park, as authorities investigate alleged mismanagement following defaults on multibillion-yuan wealth products issued by a firm under his control.

It is the latest crackdown on mainland China's shadow banking system, continuing years of government efforts to clean up the sector.

Police have imposed "criminal compulsory measures" against Yu and were conducting a probe into his alleged wrongdoings, Haichang, mainland China's largest marine theme park operator, said in an exchange filing on Tuesday, adding that it had been notified by Yu's family about the matter.

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 development comes just six months after Sunriver Holding Group, which is controlled by the billionaire, spent HK$2.3 billion (US$295.7 million) to buy a 39 per cent stake in Haichang.

Yu Faxiang, the chairman of Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park, has been arrested on the mainland. Photo: Xinhua alt=Yu Faxiang, the chairman of Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park, has been arrested on the mainland. Photo: Xinhua>

Sunriver Holding also has two Shanghai-listed subsidiaries - Sunriver Culture Tourism and Anhui Gourgen Traffic Construction. Both companies released statements confirming Yu's detention.

Earlier this month, a redemption crisis affected thousands of investors who bought wealth management products linked to a real estate project operated by Sunriver Holding.

On December 7, the three listed firms said in exchange filings that there had been delays in the repayment of the wealth management products, and said Yu would bear the related liabilities.

Shares of Haichang, which owns Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, slumped 6.3 per cent to HK$0.45 on Tuesday morning. Sunriver Culture shed 2.8 per cent to 5.91 yuan and Gourgen Traffic lost 4.6 per cent to 7.60 yuan.

Wealth management products, a big part of China's shadow banking system, are targeted at depositors with an appetite for low risks, with the funds from these products typically invested in fixed-income and money market instruments.

A large portion of the products was sold via peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms on the mainland.

Data from Zhejin Asset Operation, a P2P platform, showed about 10 billion yuan of borrowings by Sunriver Holding had matured this month.
Wall Street broker Benchmark said bitcoin miner Hut 8 (HUT) is using last weeks River Bend announcement to cement a shift from a crypto-first power owner into an institutional-grade digital infrastructure platform.

Analyst Mark Palmer said the structure, counterparties and cash-flow quality separate HUT's deal from the wave of recent AI data center agreements. He reiterated his buy rating on the stock and lifted his price target to $85 from $77, suggesting 93% upside from Friday's close of $44.12. Shares are higher by 2.8% premarket to $45.34.

Last Wednesday, Hut 8 signed a $7 billion, 15-year AI data center lease with Fluidstack for its RIver Bend data center in Louisiana. Shares gained as much as 20% following the news.

"The transaction combined superior deal economics relative to peer deals, long-dated, investment-grade-backstopped cash flows, and multiple layers of embedded expansion optionality across three counterparties," Palmer said.

Palmer's sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) valuation includes the River Bend lease value, potential future expansion capacity under a right of first offer granted to Fluidstack, Hut 8s stake in American Bitcoin Corp. (ABTC), and the bitcoin held on its balance sheet as of Sept. 30.

Palmer said a key point is timing. Management didnt rush to monetize power assets early in the AI infrastructure land grab, waiting instead for a configuration that met internal return hurdles and strategic criteria.

He flagged the 15-year payment backstop from Google (GOOG) as a meaningful de-risking feature that, in his view, lowers counterparty risk while allowing Hut 8 to keep full economic ownership without warrants or equity sweeteners that have shown up in other deals.

The report noted that three five-year renewal options could lift total contract value to about $17.7 billion.

Benchmark said it values the initial 245 megawatt (MW) River Bend tranche at roughly $7.6 billion, reflecting contracted cash flows and the scarcity value of AI-ready power supported by an investment-grade backstop.

Rival broker Cantor Fitzgerald last week raised its Hut 8 price target to $72 from $64, while Canaccord raised its target to $62 from $54.

Read more: Hut 8 price target boosted at Cantor and Canaccord after Google-backed AI deal
From Megan The Stallion to Venus Williams to Rihanna and beyond, this year Black womens love stories took center stage.

2025 was the year Black women were loved out loud.

And yeswe mean that with our full chest. Was the year itself a dumpster fire? Without question. Political turmoil. Layoffs. Economic anxiety. A timeline littered with chaos and celebrity breakups that made doomscrolling feel like a contact sport. But if you zoomed outif you really paid attentionanother story was unfolding alongside the mess. Across industries, platforms, red carpets, and even reality TV, Black women were being loved loudly, publicly, and without apology.

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It started early. Winnie Harlow kicked off 2025 by getting engaged to Kyle Kuzma, who whisked her away to a tropical island and proposed in a moment that felt ripped from a glossy romance film. Megan Thee Stallion stepped out with Klay Thompson on sweet, goofy, unmistakably mutual young-love energy. Sheryl Lee Ralph renewed her vows during a gorgeously elegant ceremony. Rihanna welcomed a baby girl with a visibly gushing, proudly doting A$AP Rocky. Chilli stayed all smiles alongside boyfriend Matthew Lawrence as they prepared to embark on hosting a reality dating series togethergrown, grounded, and glowing.

By fall, headlines were reading All the Black It Girls Are In Love.

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams expanded the conversation entirely, debuting her first public queer relationship and reminding everyone that Black womens love stories are expansive, fluid, and ever-evolving. The year also came full circle for Venus Williamsbeginning with news of her engagement and closing with her marriage to Italian film producer Andrea Preti. Prince Harry popped up on Meghan Markles Netflix holiday special just long enough to share a kiss. Even reality TVhistorically a hostile environment for Black womens romantic dignitygave us seasons that ended with women walking away coupled, chosen, and smiling (even if a few of those romances later fizzled you know how it goes).

This year simply hit differently.

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For centuries, Black women have been framed as undesirable, unlovable, or perpetually unlucky in love. To watch that narrative get disrupted again and againthrough rings, baecations, new boos, and partners proud to show upfelt radical. And because there was so much of it, were rounding up the moments that defined the year Black women were cherished, and finally seen in real time.

Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good attend the Special Screening of Magazine Dreams at The London Hotel on March 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

Who put a ring on it?

In addition to Winnie Harlows headline-making engagement, wedding bells rang steadily all year long. R&B star and actress Coco Jones entered her fiancee era. Venus Williamswhose engagement news kicked off the yearclosed it by officially marrying Italian film producer Andrea Preti. Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors tied the knot after a whirlwind coupling. Zendaya and Tom Holland also confirmed their engagementmuch to the delight of fans of her style. Ryan Destiny and Keith Powers made it official. Serayah and Joey Bada$$ welcomed a child together and announced their engagement this summer. Monaleo and Stunna 4 Vegas leaned all the way in with a pink-themed wedding streamed live that felt joyful, maximalist, and unapologetically them

Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre attend the One Battle After Another London Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on September 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

New boos, no stress

New love didnt always come with mayhem this yearand that alone felt noteworthy. Cardi B stepping out with Stefon Diggs all year has been bold, visible, and fun. Even amid controversy, they managed to blossom publicly as a couple, heads held high. Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson brought gleeful, mutual sweet, goofy chemistry that didnt need explaining. Teyana Taylor going official with Aaron Pierre set the internet ablaze. Angel Reese has been heart-eyeing it up courtside for Wendell Carter Jr., as Aja Wilson has been doing the same for Bam Adebayo. And after enduring a few very public heartbreaks by multiple menincluding the father of her childPorsha Williams revealed she has found something new and is dating Patrice Sway McKinney, expanding the conversation around Black womens love stories once again.

Ollie Sutherland and AD Smith attend Netflix Summer Break at Santa Monica Pier on July 17, 2025 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Netflix)

Reality TVs real love

Against all odds, even reality TV surprised us. Black women left their shows partnered, smiling, and intact. Love Island USA season six stars Serena and Kordell continued turning heads with their couple style and major moves together. Summer also introduced a whole new crop of Islanders to swoon over, including Nicolandria (Nick and Olandria), who have only ascended since leaving the villafront row at major fashion shows and gracing magazine covers together. Their fellow Islanders, Chelley and Ace, didnt last long outside the villa, but their arc was sincere while it lasted.

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And then there was Love Is Blind meets Perfect Match: AD Smith and Ollie Sutherlandwho didnt even originate on the same franchisefound each other, fell in love, announced they are expecting their first child together, and tied the knot all with a palpable sense of joy and softness.

Sheryl Lee Ralph and Vincent J. Hughes attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)

The soft life

Some of the loudest love stories werent newthey were sustained. Simone Biles continued glowing in married life. Ciara Wilson leaned fully into partnership and motherhood, even defending her cornball, family-man husband with pride. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky remained united as they grew their family. Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson celebrated 45 years together. Sheryl Lee Ralph renewed her vows with husband Vincent Hughes during an epic summer soiree. Rapper Eve reflected on building a peaceful life abroad in France with her husband.

Married or partnered, newly chosen or deeply rooted, Black women werent chasing love in 2025they were standing in it.

More must-reads:
Anthony Geary's husband Claudio Gama is speaking out for the first time since his death on Sunday, Dec. 14.

The General Hospital star died at the age of 78 due to complications from a scheduled medical procedure he underwent three days earlier in the Netherlands, according to TVInsider.

On Instagram Monday, Dec. 22, Gama paid tribute to his late husband following his memorial service.

"Greetings to all from Amsterdam. Today we said our last goodbyes to Tony. He is now resting up where the stars shine bright," Gama wrote. "He will always be missed. His love, his life, his art, speaks for itself. Me, Max, and the family would like to thank all of Tonys friends and colleagues for the wonderful support and respect you have shown Tony."

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"To all of Tonys fans, thank you so much for the wonderful words of support and condolences," he continued. "He always told me everything he did as an actor, as an artist, was for his fans. Without your love and support he would have never reached the heights he did in his career. Acting was his passion as was dancing, singing, drink cola, payday candy bars and cats. He loved his country and his second home of Amsterdam. Thank you all.

RELATED: Former Co-Stars Rob Reiner and Anthony Geary Died on the Same Day: Inside Their 1 TV Episode Together

Gama previously confirmed Gearys death to TV Insider on Monday, Dec. 15.

It was a shock for me and our families and our friends, he said in a statement at the time. For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband.

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Gama first met Geary in February 1995, and the couple married in February 2019. After Geary retired from acting, the couple moved to the Netherlands, where Geary had owned a home for years.

Geary was best known for his role as Luke Spencer on General Hospital from 1978 to 1984 and 1993 onwards. He retired from his series regular position on the show in 2015 and made his final appearance on the soap opera in May 2017.

The 1981 General Hospital episode where Luke Spencer marries Genie Francis's Laura Webber is the most-watched episode in soap opera history, drawing in 30 million viewers at the time of its airing.

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This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a year of silence between the two legal teams, new statements from both Blake Livelys and Justin Baldonis attorneys are giving an updated look at where their long-running case stands. The two actors, who worked together on It Ends With Us, have been locked in a highly public legal battle. Now, their lawyers are speaking publicly about the past year and what comes next.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldonis lawyers are finally talking about the case, claims report

A new report by PEOPLE says Blake Livelys attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, have shared their view on how the past year has unfolded. They said Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department last year after what she claims were unsafe or uncomfortable experiences during the production of It Ends With Us. According to her team, she wanted to take action not only for herself but also for others who they say faced similar issues.

Hudson and Gottlieb say the months since have been difficult, describing what they claim were attempts to discredit the actress through lawsuits and online criticism. They allege the pushback was a billionaire-financed attempt to bury her, her family and her businesses.

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Still, attorneys say the 38-year-old has continued forward and is preparing for her case to head to trial in May, where she plans to address the concerns she raised.

Meanwhile, Justin Baldonis attorney, Bryan Freedman, also released a statement, acknowledging how exhausting the past year has been for his client. He said Baldoni is deeply grateful for the support and kind words he has received and believes that the truth will ultimately prevail as the case moves ahead.

Freedman also encouraged people to focus on kindness during the holiday season and to support those dealing with difficult situations.

The case escalated last December, when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation. The latter has denied all allegations and responded with a counterclaim seeking damages, though a federal judge dismissed that countersuit in June. Meanwhile, Lively is currently seeking $160 million in damages, and both sides appear to be preparing for a lengthy trial.

The post Blake Lively and Justin Baldonis Lawyers Have Finally Spoken After a Year  Report appeared first on Reality Tea.
NEED TO KNOW

Miss Universe 1963 Ieda Maria Vargas died at age 80 on Monday, Dec. 22, per a statement shared to her official Instagram page

Vargas  who would have turned 81 on Dec. 31  made history as the first contestant from Brazil to win the coveted international crown

Both the Brazilian national pageant and the Miss Universe Organization have spoken out to honor Vargas' trailblazing legacy

Former Miss Universe Ieda Maria Vargas has died at 80. In 1963, she made history as the first Brazilian contestant to win the international pageant.



Per an official statement released on Vargas' official Instagram page, the pageant queen died on Monday, Dec. 22. She would have celebrated her 81st birthday nine days later on Dec. 31.

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"At this moment of immense pain, we thank all the manifestations of affection, respect and solidarity received. Ieda was a woman of light, who marked the history and lives of many people, leaving a legacy of love, joy, and inspiration," the caption read, as translated into English.

Maria Vargas/Instagram Ieda Maria Vargas in April 2023. Ieda Maria Vargas in April 2023.

Details about Vargas' cause and manner of death have yet to be confirmed. Her daughter, Fernanda Vargas, commented on the announcement post to share some meaningful words about the 1963 titleholder.

"My partner, wonderful mother, fought like a warrior   I love you," Fernanda said in Portuguese, adding on her own Instagram Stories, "Thank you for giving me the honor of living all this time by your side."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Brazilian pageant organization also confirmed the news on social media, sharing a photo of the former titleholder on Monday, and honoring her legacy in the caption. The national institution remembered her win as more than "just historic," but also crucial to shaping the coveted Miss Universe title.

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"Ieda opened ways when there were no references yet. In 1963, she put Brazil at the center of the world and showed that our women had voice, presence and power to go beyond the stage," the official Miss Universe Brazil Instagram wrote in Portuguese. "She changed perspectives, inspired generations, and helped build what we know today as Miss Universe."

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) took to the comments of the post to extend "its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all who were touched by the life of Ieda Maria Vargas, Miss Universe 1963."

Punctuating the heartfelt note with a heart and dove emoji, the international pageant added, "May her legacy continue to inspire generations to come." The MUO also shared footage of her win and crowning in a commemorative post on X.

Read the original article on People
Todd Chrisleys son Kyle Chrisleys mugshot has been released two days after he was booked on domestic violence, intoxication and a slew of other charges.

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee made Kyles mugshot public on Monday, December 22, while confirming more details about his arrest over the weekend.

In the photo obtained by Us Weekly, Kyle, 34, is making a stern face as he looks at the camera. His dirty blond hair is disheveled and he has a scruffy beard. A bit of a green vest can also be seen in the photo.

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Along with the mugshot, Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh issued a press release on Monday, confirming that multiple charges were filed against a husband accused of assaulting three deputies responding to a domestic assault call that transpired on Saturday, December 20.

Rutherford County Adult Detention Center via Getty Images

Kyle has since been charged with three counts of felony retaliation for past actions, three counts of felony assault on first responders as well as misdemeanor domestic assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to police.

News broke on Sunday, December 21, that Todds eldest son  whom he shares with ex-wife Teresa Terry  was arrested one day prior in Tennessee.

According to Mondays press release, deputies responded to a call on Saturday made by Kyles wife, who claimed he was being belligerent and walking down the middle of the road as she followed him in her vehicle. (Kyle married Ashleigh Nelson in 2021.)

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Kyle Chrisley Arrested 2 Months After Dad Todd and Stepmom Julie Chrisley Began Serving Their Prison Sentences: Details

Once the police arrived on scene, they attempted to speak with Kyle, but according to sergeant Brady Greene, the former reality star became immediately aggressive.

Kyle then allegedly charged at deputies and began to throw punches and assault deputies.

He was taken into custody after a physical altercation and deployment of OC Spray, per the officer. Three deputies reportedly suffered injuries during the altercation.

Kyle, meanwhile, was released on $88,5000 bond and has a hearing set for January 27.

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Todd Chrisley Reveals Eldest Son Kyle Visited Him in Prison: State of Shock

Following his arrest, Us Weekly reached out to Kyle for comment.

As Chrisley Knows Best fans know, this is not Kyles first run-in with the law, as he has a history of arrests dating back to 2013. At the time, Kyles dad and stepmom, Julie Chrisley, received joint custody of his daughter, Chloe, now 13, after he was arrested for assault. Todd, 56, and Julie, 52, received full custody of Chloe in 2016.

In 2019, Kyle was hospitalized following an attempted suicide. Through the darkness, Kyle found a shining light in Nelson, whom he began dating that same year.

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Chrisley Knows Best Alum Kyle Chrisleys Ups and Downs Through the Years: Arrests, Hospitalization and More

Two years after the pair tied the knot, Kyle was back in the headlines. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault in March 2023. Kyle was later released on bond and before a trial, prosecutors dismissed the charges.

In August, Kyle filed a $1.7 million lawsuit against Rutherford County and two sheriffs deputies over a September 2024 aggravated assault arrest.

In the documents, both Kyle and his wife claimed that he was falsely arrested at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 2024 following an altercation with a disgruntled mechanic who they claimed was angry over a payment dispute, showed up uninvited, kicked at their doors, threatened violence and used his car as a weapon by ramming their SUV and nearly running Kyle over in front of multiple neighbors.

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If you or anyone you know is facing substance abuse issues, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free and confidential information 24/7.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Dec 23 (Reuters) - South Korean satellite launch company Innospace on Monday launched the first commercial rocket from Brazil's Alcantara Space Center, a milestone for the firm and Brazilian aerospace ambitions that ended with a crash.

The HANBIT-Nano vehicle lifted off at 10:13 p.m. Brazil time (0113 GMT), five days later than originally scheduled.

Just two minutes after the launch, a live feed within the official livestream showed a message noting an "anomaly" was experienced during the flight. The livestream ended immediately afterward.

According to Brazil's air force, the rocket began its vertical trajectory as planned, but an issue prompted a crash into the ground. Officials and firefighters were sent to analyse the wreckage and the collision area, the air force added in a statement.

Innospace has not provided further information about the launch and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The firm's South Korea-listed shares fell about 24% in midday trading after the crash, the biggest intraday decline since August.

The launch was delayed from Wednesday after an anomaly in a cooling unit component of the first-stage oxidizer feed system during final inspections, and again on Friday for a few hours due to unfavourable weather conditions.

In a previous statement, Innospace said it replaced the component on the launch pad, allowing the Spaceward mission to proceed within its December 16-22 launch window. It was launching eight registered cargoes, including five small satellites, for undisclosed customers.

The Brazilian air force and space agency offered operational support for the launch in coordination with key agencies.

In March 2023, Innospace had launched its test vehicle HANBIT-TLV from the same facility in northeast Brazil to verify the performance of its 150 kN hybrid rocket engine.

(Reporting by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Jamie Freed)
President Donald Trumps concealer-covered hand is back in time for the holidays.

Trump, 79, was spotted with the now familiar mismatched makeup slathered over his right hand on Monday as he announced new self-branded battleships at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the creation of the Trump-class battleship in a statement to the media at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate on Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. / Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

While the caked-on concealer is similar to the bronzer the president smears on his face, it clearly does not match the natural skin tone of his hand.

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Trump has used cosmetics to disguise persistent bruising on his right hand, which the White House has repeatedly claimed is a result of handshaking.

The makeup on President Trumps hand, as it appeared on Dec. 22, 2025. / Getty

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt supplied a familiar statement to the Daily Beast.

President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history, she said. His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day.

Leavitt has been using the exact same quote since February, as the bruising continues to be evident. She has also pointed out that Trump takes aspirin as part of his health regimen.

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Earlier this month, Trump spent an entire week sporting bandages on his right hand, while still using his beloved concealer.

The Daily Beasts Farrah Tomazin asked Leavitt to clear up the mystery of the dressing, after speculation that the president may have been receiving intravenous medical infusions through his hand.

As for the bandage on his hand, weve also given you an explanation for that in the past, Leavitt said on Dec. 11.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the creation of the Trump-class battleship at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Dec. 22, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

The president is literally constantly shaking hands. The Oval Office is like Grand Central Terminal. He is meeting with more people than any of you even know about on a daily basis. Hes also on a daily aspirin regimen, which is something his physical examinations have said in the past as well can contribute to that bruising that you see.

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Despite his two annual medical exams this year, the bruising has been a fixture on Trumps right hand as far back as February, when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Makeup covers a bruise on the back of Trumps hand at the White House on Feb. 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

When meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in August, Trump let the bruise get some air, opting for the raw dog approach by skipping concealer.

As recently as Dec. 15, an ultra-thick coating of makeup covered the presidents hand during a presentation of the Mexican Defense Medal in the Oval Office.

President Donald Trumps hand as it appeared during a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office on Dec. 15, 2025. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

A bruise is visible on the back of President Trumps right hand during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the Oval Office on Aug. 25, 2025. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Trump has grown increasingly irritated by questions about his health.

As well as his badly bruised, poorly concealed, and briefly bandaged hand, the president has been spotted seemingly nodding off several times in Cabinet meetings.

President Donald Trump wears adhesive bandages on the back of his troublesome hand during a meeting of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

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In a furious Truth Social post earlier this month, the president claimed speculation about his health is tantamount to treason.

After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe its seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Trump barked.
Theresa Rowley and Sean Rooney both wondered whether the idea was too crazy.

We were aware that it was a wild situation for us both to be in, Rowley said. I was excited, but I was apprehensive.

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Despite the nerves, Rowley, 33, an actress and comedian, decided to take the leap and book a plane ticket from Dallas to Ireland to meet Rooney for the first time. She hoped the sparks they felt through their screens would translate into real life.

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As she walked off the plane following a nine-hour red-eye flight in July, I was terrified, she said.

After all, she was traveling to a country she had never been to, to spend a week with a man she had never met.

Rooney was nervous, too, as he waited for Rowley to exit the baggage claim.

Theres always that thought in your mind of, like, How is this going to go? said Rooney, 35, a musician. He lives in the heart of the Midlands region of Ireland.

Rooney had reached out to Rowley on Instagram a few months earlier to tell her he found her both funny and beautiful.

I dont know what possessed me, but one day I watched one of her videos, and I was laughing and thought she looked very attractive, Rooney said. I thought she was so entertaining and smart and witty, and I just thought Id like to see what this person is like.

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In his message, I tried to be as un-creepy as possible, he added.

He didnt think Rowley would even see the message. She has more than 307,000 followers on Instagram.

I was just sending it into the ether, Rooney said of the message he sent in March.

But to Rooneys shock, Rowley opened the message - and replied. Something about it, about him, stood out.

It was a little bit different than the normal message I was receiving, Rowley said. I clicked on him, and he is very attractive, and hes a musician. I was like, Okay, this is a real person with an interesting vibe.

It was really fun to get that interaction going, Rooney said.

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And so began weeks of flirty banter over Instagram. Then they exchanged phone numbers and switched to texting. Soon enough, they were having daily FaceTime calls for four hours or more.

I felt more understood by him than I ever had before, and it was very intriguing to me, Rowley said.

So when Rooney invited her to visit him in Ireland, she took some time to think about it. Then decided to go.

Ireland is the land of enchantment, Rowley said, noting that she has Irish roots. I thought it would be cool to just go and explore it.

Her friend Luis Escalante offered to join her on the trip, as he was also interested in seeing the country. She said she was glad to have Escalante there in case she didnt click with Rooney - or worse. He was her backup safety plan.

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He was like a built-in safety buddy, Rowley said of Escalante. Hes just always down for an adventure.

Her family, though, was not convinced that flying to Ireland for a first date was a good idea.

My parents were like, Theresa, this is insane, Rowley said.

Rooney had an idea to FaceTime with Rowleys mother before the trip to quell her nerves about the situation. It worked.

When they first embraced at the airport, both she and Rooney were a little jittery. It took some time to warm up, but before long, they said, spending time together felt natural. Rowleys friend mostly toured on his own during the trip.

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Sean really helped me get comfortable, Rowley said, adding that she booked her own accommodations. He was very welcoming and kind.

By the end of the week, Rowley and Rooney were officially a couple.

I was already falling in love, and that trip solidified the feelings for me, she said.

Rowley decided to post a video about their intercontinental love story on Instagram.

She didnt expect it would get much of a reaction, but within 12 hours of posting, her video had a million views. People were captivated.

You realize by posting this youve invited us all to the wedding, right?? one person commented.

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Whens the wedding? Im getting yall an air fryer, another person wrote.

People really jumped ahead, Rooney quipped.

Many commenters wrote that the story was movie material.

This felt like a romantic comedy, someone commented.

Hallmark has entered the chat, another chimed in.

Rowley and Rooney were stunned by the response - but upon reflection, they understood why people were so charmed by their romance.

The world is a pretty frightening place at the minute; theres a lot of negativity, especially online, Rooney said. This is a break from that, and something that is very human and wholesome and sort of sweet, like, Hey look - nice stuff happens.

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Rowley booked another trip to Ireland in August, a month after her first one. Irelands marketing organization, Tourism Ireland, saw her viral Instagram video and offered to fund a portion of her next trip.

It was amazing; it was jam-packed with activities and travel, Rowley said.

A few months later, Rooney visited Rowley in Dallas for Thanksgiving, and to be her date for her cousins wedding. Rooney had been to the United States twice before.

He wore a green suit to the wedding, which was very Irish of him, Rowley said. My immediate family was so happy to see me in a happy relationship.  They were all enthralled by him.

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Rowley plans to head back to Ireland after Christmas for another trip. Although they are still in the early stages of their relationship, she said she is considering moving there one day if things continue to progress.

Ive toyed with the idea, she said. Its been fast and furious but also feels like its been a long time.

The couple hope their story reminds others that love can appear when you least expect it - and that its worth giving it a chance when it does. But if you fly across the world to meet someone, just be sure to bring a safety buddy with you.

If you remain openhearted, the universe often will reward you for that, Rowley said. Dont allow yourself to give up hope.

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While the film "Sentimental Value" tells the story of complicated relationships in one family, director Joachim Trier said that couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to dynamics behind the screen.

The Danish-Norwegian filmmaker assembled quite the group for his latest film, which is gaining awards buzz. In addition to his frequent collaborator Renate Reinsve, "Sentimental Value" stars Stellan Skarsgard, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning.

"Traveling around with them at the moment, meeting with audiences, it's wonderful," the Academy Award nominee told The Desert Sun. "We have a great sense of trust between us."

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Trier's latest film follows sisters Nora (Reinsve) and Agnes (Ibsdotter Lilleaas) as they reconnect with their estranged father, Gustav (Skarsgard), a once-celebrated director eager to reclaim his former glory. When Gustav offers Nora the lead role in his long-awaited comeback film, she refuses, only to learn that he has later given the part to a rising Hollywood star (Fanning). As shooting begins, old wounds resurface, and the presence of the American star forces the family to confront their fragile family dynamics.

From left, Joachim Trier, Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard attend the "Sentimental Value" Red Carpet during the 63rd New York Film Festival in September.

It appears that this small but mighty group of multi-cultural actors has taken Hollywood by storm as the film has received several Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations and has been selected as Norway's official submission to the Academy Awards' best international feature film category. The director will present his cast with the International Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. This is the first time this award has been presented to an ensemble.

"I look very much forward to coming back and celebrating with my friends, the actors. I'm so pleased and grateful that they're being honored," Trier said about the honor. "The irony, of course, is I'll be leaving a very, very snowy Norway ... I look forward to that."

The director spoke with The Desert Sun ahead of the Film Awards about his latest film, how he relates to his characters and more.

Does Trier relate to Skarsgard's director character?

It's easy to wonder if Trier and his character Gustav, a celebrated director looking to get back into his craft, share many similarities. Through Trier's six feature films, he's shown audiences he's not afraid to tackle deeply emotional and human topics, such as depression and growing pains, and from what audiences get to see in "Sentimental Value," Gustav appears to too.

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However, Trier said he initially felt very different from the character because he perceived him from the point of view of the sisters, who have largely felt abandoned by him.

Stellan Skarsgard, left, and Renate Reinsve in "Sentimental Value."

"But as you write and develop and start working with Stellan Skarsgard, who is wonderful, you try to find the humanity of the character, and I realized that, of course, there are some traits," the director explained. "Like maybe Gustav doesn't know either quite why he makes the films he makes, but they're expressions of some unconscious inner struggle, yearning, something. That at least I can identity with, that I have to kind of discover the films along the way."

Trier co-wrote the screenplay with his longtime collaborator Eskil Vogt, saying they've "never disagreed" about the films they made in the past (some of their work includes "The Worst Person in the World," "Oslo, August 31st" and "Reprise"). For "Sentimental Value," they focused on "all this stuff in families that we don't have language for, all this stuff that we feel."

"All families have an aspect of that, even though this family is particularly troubled, I think we can all find that," he said. Looking at his own family, Trier, who has two siblings, said they have often "laughingly talked about how different we perceive things that happened or our parents."

Trier on his 'Sentimental Value' cast: 'They're each incredible'

At the heart of "Sentimental Value" is its core cast that brings to life so many complex feelings and dynamics between them all. Nora and Gustav are not able to communicate with each other, which drives a wedge between them that only gets worse after she rejects his film and he casts young starlet Rachel Kemp in the role. In the middle of it all is Agnes, who is the glue holding the family together.

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"They're each incredible. They all play their part in making this film, but they all came with their heart, their history," Trier said. "They really went to a risky place to try to achieve something life-like, and I really appreciate that with them."

The cast of "Sentimental Value," from left, Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass, Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard.

The roles of Nora and Gustav were written specifically for Reinsve and Skarsgard, the filmmaker said, while the other actors came to the project through the casting process. When it comes to his characters, Trier said he focuses a lot on behaviors and creating roles that are "open for interpretation, but very specific at the same time." But, often times, the person who eventually gets a part plays a big role in determining a character.

That happened when Lilleaas joined the film, and Trier said he and Vogt realized they had an opportunity to change Agnes' role in the film.

"We thought that character on the page would be jovial, avoiding through humor," he explained. "But actually because she has sincere groundedness, we could use that, and then the dynamic is still the same but the character is slightly different than expected but exactly specific enough for us to be engaged with her."

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Trier also praised his editor, Olivier Bugge Coutte, whom he has worked with on every film, as someone who is "incredibly good at seeing performance." He has told actors, "if they ever win a big award, they also have to thank the editor."

Returning to Palm Springs

Trier said he has visited Palm Springs once before and that he was in awe at what he saw.

"I remember walking around taking pictures because it felt like a part of America I'd only seen in movies," he said. In particular, the architecture of the desert "fascinates me," he added.

It's not hard to believe that he appreciates architecture as much of "Sentimental Value" takes place in Nora and Agnes' family home and focuses on its history. Who knows, maybe another stroll around the desert will lead to Trier's next filming location.

If you go

What: "Sentimental Value" screening at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

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When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7

Where: Annenberg Theater, 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs

How much: $20

More info: https://psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder/sentimental-value

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Sentimental Value cast to be honored in Palm Springs
Those who know me well or catch me in candor know that I can slip into Tacoma malaise.

I wallow at 7 p.m. when I havent yet decided where to eat dinner and remember that everywhere I want to go closes in an hour. The posh part of me laments the scarcity of chic spaces where I can sit at the bar, maybe have a martini while nibbling on thoughtful fare that isnt fried from a freezer bag or that wont consume an uncomfortable chunk of my budget. Then, on a dreary Saturday night, I drive again to the culinary wonderland that is Lakewoods South Tacoma Way to fill my cup, so to speak, with hot soup and cold Korean lager. Only after sitting down in the buzzing, bright dining room do I realize Cho Dang Tofu doesnt have a liquor license. Thats not a reason to leave, so we order. The banchan arrives, with the bonus of a little fried croaker. Then the server rolls over with sizzling sundubu, bibimbap, kalbi and rice. No beer? No big. Regret? Never.

Its in these moments  and in the many conversations (planned and spontaneous) I am so privileged to have every day with the people (owners, workers, patrons) who bring them to life  that I sigh in satisfaction.

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This list is by no means comprehensive, but might it present as a snapshot of the dishes and places that inspired me when I felt down in 2025, that kept me coming back or otherwise haunted my thoughts  from salads to fries, beef tongue to a glass bottle of local milk. I hope it might inspire you, too.

Burger Seoul has expanded its menu since moving to its Division Ave. storefront in Tacoma. The saeuji (shrimp patty) is literally packed with shrimp, panko-breaded and fried to crispy perfection. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Saeuji at Burger Seoul

1701 Division Ave., Tacoma, instagram.com/BURGERSEOUL

Owner Young La leveled up with his new storefront on the cusp of Sixth Ave and Hilltop, where a bigger, brand-new kitchen has translated to more winners from the now-iconic Korean fusion restaurant. Especially if you can share a burger with a friend, get this panko-breaded shrimp patty, literally jam-packed with fresh shrimp  a better decision than downing a whole platter of cocktail shrimp. With crisp lettuce, tangy tartar and toasted buns, its another Seoul signature.

Kamei Sushi operated in West Seattle for 20 years before moving to Parkland. Its now one of the best Japanese restaurants in the Tacoma area. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Sushi, katsu & more at Kamei Sushi

10435 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, 253-301-2484, kameisushi.com

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I have implored anyone who would listen this year that they should be going to Parkland for their sushi and katsu. The family behind Kamei operated a popular restaurant in West Seattle for two decades but were uprooted (with several years notice) by new development. As their daughter had already relocated to Tacoma, so did the patriarch and matriarch, who have quietly been continuing their traditions on Pacific Highway just north of Route 512. Their presentation and execution  of nigiri, sashimi and maki, as well as starters like the crispy-skin salmon salad and grilled hamachi kama  elucidates that they once served a different audience.

Chef German Espitia and the kitchen crew at Welcome Restaurant in Ruston make empanadas, arepas and more in-house.

Empanadas, arepas, frijoles at Welcome Restaurant

5105 N. Pearl St., Ruston, 253-375-4049, welcomerestaurantandbarwa.com

The restaurant name foretells the sweet hospitality at this Ruston restaurant, but the brothy, beefy frijoles will also bring you back. As will the homemade arepas, stuffed like a pita pocket with juicy birria, crunchy chicharron or chicken in an unexpected cream sauce, and the handmade empanadas fresh from the fryer. Whether you snack on the patacones or not, request a side of the slightly warm, textural hogao to dip whatevers on your plate. Owner Paty Pinedo with her husband German Espitia and friend, Juan Aguedelo, also offer an impressive lineup of Latin American brews, from Colombia to Costa Rica, and a delightfully tart mojito.

Proof rules. Owner Chris Keil showcases his talent behind the bar with house cocktails like (from left) the 50/50 session martini, a coconut-washed gimlet, and Woman in the Dunes with beeswax and apple blossom-washed Japanese whisky.

Everything at Proof

2312 N. 30th St., Tacoma, prooftacoma.com

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Chris Keil might be the only person in the Tacoma area who could pull off a cocktail bar inside of an Anthem Coffee. Five nights a week, thats precisely what he and his team do in Old Town, and the results handily deliver my favorite new haunt. Where most boulevardiers leave you breathless for the negroni you didnt order, Proofs defies the odds with chocolate-washed bourbon, a coffee-infused bitter red and the spiced fruit of Punt e Mes. I love that the menu splits intoxicating sippers with session options, as in the ultra-cold 50/50 freezer martini with Japanese gin, blanc vermouth (instead of dry) and Topo Chico. With a teeny kitchen, chef Meghan McLean works wonders into house focaccia, a BLT, flaky Hot Pockets and confident roughage that says, Yes, you can make friends with salad.

The Adeni coffee and chai at Sanaa Cafe is best enjoyed on-site, presented in a glass carafe with petite cups.

Yemeni coffee & Adeni chai at Sanaa Cafe

2505 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253-625-7499, instagram.com/sanaacafe.tacoma

Let Sanaa Cafe defeat your qualms about traversing the frustrating traffic havoc that is South 38th Street at I-5. While standard espresso drinks are also brewed here, stay in-house for a signature Yemeni coffee or Adeni chai, laced with cardamom and other spices eased by evaporated milk  request less if you prefer lightly sweet  served in traditional glassware on a decorative metal tray. Owner Adam Saleh worked with a California-based company to bring this Yemeni cafe concept to Tacoma, and it has quickly become a haven for many in the local Muslim community as well as a diverse crowd of caffeine seekers. I accidentally consumed several sugar-drenched sweets and a whole pot of coffee alone one day and was, gleefully, hyped.

Lucky Silver Tavern on South Tacoma Way serves stiff drinks, cold beer and great food, especially the hand-cut fries dusted with Taekyung and furikake. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Hand-cut fries at Lucky Silver Tavern

2605 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-472-0360, theluckysilver.com

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Lucky Silver has operated in the bend of South Tacoma Way since 1966, but in 2023 new owners breathed fresh, modern life into the space  without yielding its dive-bar appeal. The food (and the bar itself) might be the best-kept secret in Tacoma. Ive become addicted, in a sense, to the hand-cut fries: a sturdy, starched jacket dusted generously with Taekyung chili spice and furikake, enveloping a pillowy interior potato. Order a whole basket or pair with your chicken katsu sando and, of course, cold beer and perhaps a game of pool. Ample screens also make this tavern a prime choice for the next game.

The Valley on Puyallup Avenue, just outside downtown Tacoma, serves serious smashburgers. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Double smashburger at The Valley

1206 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma, 253-248-4265, thevalleytacoma.com

Despite my adventure to every burger shack in the county, there was one bar burger that has kept a hold on me. The Valley, with Peterson Bros. affiliation, might be known for its sandwiches, but chef Mike Parker and his team have leaned into smashburgers. The classic double is a pristine specimen: diced white onion, chopped lettuce, house sauce, so very melted cheddar, two still-wet patties on a brioche bun. This thing stays together like a little burger baby. I dont know what that means, but it sounds right.

At the hidden hideaway of Da Tiki Hut, find Hawaiian plate lunches and excellent tiki cocktails. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Cocktails & plate lunch at Da Tiki Hut

4427 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-625-7690, datikihut.com

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The fast-food counter situation that greets you at Da Tiki Hut belies the world on the other side of the door: a decked-out tiki getaway with dark walkways and bright booths, which leads to another little room with the actual bar. The drinks are serious  and seriously affordable for the way theyll knock you out. Sip a tall, bright yellow Three Dots and a Dash, a perfect painkiller or the Halekulani (served up) with bourbon. Refuel with paper plates dripping with Kalua pork, chicken katsu, lumpia and mac salad. Repeat. Relax. Youre on island time.

Mt. Rainier Creamery in Buckley is both a local dairy and meat market plus coffee shop with delectable soft-serve. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Milk, cream & soft-serve at Mt. Rainier Creamery

287 Route 410, Buckley, mountrainiercreamery.com

Will travel for  milk? Haylee and Ryan Mensonides operate a dairy farm in Enumclaw, but in an honorable effort to bring us all closer to our food sources, their drive-thru Buckley market sells their products alongside other farmers meat and eggs. I dont think I knew what milk was until pouring a glass from their glass bottle (returnable deposit required, or continue swapping for more milk)  and I have never in my non-baby life been a milk drinker. I usually only put a teaspoon in my coffee, but consider me a convert. And the cream! Its otherworldly, but physically from just down the road. The shop also slings coffee and silky soft-serve year-round.

Not Bad, as they say, is pretty good. The plat de charcuterie features housemade beef tongue, chicken liver mousse, pork rillettes and pate, served with French butter, sel de gris and baguette.

Plat de charcuterie at Not Bad

1102 A St. (Courthouse Square basement), Tacoma, 253-327-1905, notbadtacoma.com

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Chef Dave Cooper is the real deal  not only for his obvious talent and formidable resume in kitchens from Chicago to Seattle but also for his genuine, down-home desire to run a Parisian sandwich shop. I and my fellow offal friends (who do exist in Tacoma, it turns out) found utter plaisir in the house charcuterie plate at Not Bad, from the decadent chicken liver mousse and delicate pork rillette to the beef-tongue cold-cut. I have envisioned this basement space at Courthouse Square, next to the Post Office loading dock, as befitting of a wine-bar by night, and so, to find myself slathering high-fat French butter and organ meat on a baguette while passively watching a film (monthly-ish, on Saturdays) made at least some parts of 2025 feel, well, pretty good.

Cho Dang Tofu stands out in a sea of Korean restaurants, where sundubu sizzles (here shown with dumplings) alongside KBBQ and bibimbap. (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

Kalbi, bibimbap & sundubu at Cho Dang Tofu

9701 South Tacoma Way, 253-682-1968, chodangtofu.menu11.com

I have been partial to Ho Soon Yi in Lakewoods wonderland of outstanding Korean restaurants, but Cho Dang Tofu might have stolen my heart this year. I still wish I could wash it down with a cold Cass, but my partner and I basically stopped talking when the bubbling bowl of tofu soup arrived  spicy, rejuvenating, soul-searching stuff. Scraping rice off the iron-hot bottom of the other dolsot, dressed with lightly sauteed mushrooms, mung beans and seaweed salad, in between toothsome tears of deeply flavored kalbi, we gladly drank hot tea. Bellies full, we capped our evening off with an iced black-sesame Einspanner (espresso with whipped cream foam) from neighbor and fellow Lakewood treasure, One Day Cafe.
Telemarketing calls are an unyielding annoyance of the modern world- constantly irritating you and refusing to ever stop, no matter how hard you wish they would. They'll even call on you birthday, holidays, and everything in between. Although telemarketers are only doing their job, the calls can be more than just a nuisancethey can interrupt your daily life and breach your privacy.

Telemarketing has existed since the 1950s, proving that telemarketers have perfected the art of being disruptive and persistent enough to make a sale. Ignoring them isn't always the most effective solution; you will still see and hear your phone ringing. Be kind, even as you try to filter the calls aimed at getting a sale from you; there's usually a real human on the other end of the line who's just trying to make a living.

Fortunately for you, there are several effective strategies you can take advantage of to minimize these intrusive interruptions. Here are 12 ways to get rid of pesky telemarketers and reclaim your peace of mind.

1. Ask Telemarketers Not to Call You

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

One of the simplest ways to reduce telemarketing calls is to request that they stop calling directly. When you receive a call, inform the telemarketer that you do not wish to receive further calls from their company. According to FTC regulations, legitimate telemarketing companies are required to honor such requests.

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While this method may not eliminate all calls, it can significantly reduce the amount you receive from specific companies. Its a straightforward approach that can provide immediate relief, especially from the most persistent callers.

2. Block Anonymous Calls

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

Many telemarketers use anonymous or withheld numbers to bypass your phone's caller ID feature. By blocking anonymous callers, you can prevent them from reaching you in the first place. Most modern smartphones have built-in features or settings that allow you to block calls from unknown or private numbers.

This method is particularly effective because it stops the calls before they even ring on your end. However, some legitimate callers such as doctors or businesses might also use anonymous numbers, so weigh the pros and cons before enabling this feature.

3. List Your Number with the FTCs Do Not Call List

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a National Do Not Call Registry where you can list your phone number to opt out of telemarketing calls. This free service is available to all consumers in the United States and can significantly reduce the number of unsolicited calls you receive.

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To register, visit the FTCs website and follow the instructions. Once your number is listed, it can take up to 31 days for telemarketers to register and update their records without your number.

4. Report Numbers That Do Not Obey FTC Rules

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

If you are registered with the Do Not Call List and still receive telemarketing calls, it is important to report these numbers to the FTC. Reporting helps the commission track down violators and potentially take action against them.

You can file a complaint on the FTCs website, providing details about the call and the number that contacted you. This helps protect you and aids in the broader effort to crack down on illegal telemarketing practices.

5. Block Each Number When They Call

Image Credit: wisely at Deposit Photos.

Most smartphones and phone carriers offer features that allow you to block specific numbers. You can add that number to your block list whenever you receive an unwanted call. Over time, this can build up a robust defense against repeat offenders.

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While this approach requires some effort and diligence, it can effectively reduce the frequency of calls from persistent telemarketers. Remember, consistency pays off, and your block list will eventually prevent many unwanted calls.

6. Let Your Carrier Screen Calls for You

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

Many phone carriers offer call screening services to help identify and block telemarketing calls before reaching you. These services often include features such as automatic spam detection, caller ID, and call blocking based on known spam databases.

Contact your carrier to learn more about the call screening options that are available to you. Incorporating these services can add an extra layer of protection, saving you time and frustration.

7. Use Blocking Apps

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Numerous apps specialize in blocking spam and telemarketing calls. Apps like Truecaller use advanced algorithms and community reports to identify and block unwanted calls.

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Installing one or more of these apps can provide real-time protection and updates, adapting to new telemarketing tactics and numbers as they arise. These apps often come with additional features like identifying unknown callers and managing your block list more efficiently.

8. Hang Up Immediately

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

When you realize youre on the line with a telemarketer, dont waste time engagingsimply hang up immediately. Many telemarketers rely on your engagement to keep you on the call and potentially gather more information from you.

By hanging up right away, you make it clear that youre not interested and dont intend to waste your time. This can discourage further attempts from the same caller, as theyll realize theyre unlikely to get through to you.

9. Give the Phone to the Kids

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

If youre in a playful mood and want to have a bit of fun at the telemarketers expense, hand the phone over to your kids. Letting children engage with the caller can quickly discourage them from continuing the conversation.

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While this may not be a conventional method, its a lighthearted way to deal with an otherwise frustrating situation. Plus, it can provide a few moments of amusement for both you and your children.

10. Pick Up and Say Nothing

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Another tactic is to answer the call but remain silent. Many telemarketing systems use automated dialing and rely on voice recognition to determine if someone has answered. By staying silent, you can confuse the system and cause the call to disconnect.

Over time, this method can reduce the number of calls you receive from automated systems, as they may flag your number as unresponsive. Its a passive yet effective way to handle unwanted calls.

11. Avoid Giving Out Your Number

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

One proactive approach to preventing telemarketing calls is to be cautious about sharing your phone number. Only provide your number to trusted sources and consider using alternatives like email for less essential communications.

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Be wary of entering your phone number on websites, online forms, or when signing up for services. Reducing the number of people and entities that have your phone number can decrease the likelihood of it ending up on telemarketers' call lists.

12. Use a Virtual Phone Number

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

A virtual phone number is another strategy for keeping your primary phone number private. You can use a virtual number for online registrations, business interactions, or subscriptions, and redirect any calls to your main line or screen them separately.

Many services offer virtual phone numbers for a small fee. This way, your primary number remains private while the virtual number can handle potential telemarketing calls. If the virtual number receives too many unwanted calls, you can easily change or dispose of it without affecting your primary contact number.

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If you're planning an epic road trip through Canada to experience some of its breathtaking National Parks and want to find the best hikes to escape the busy city life, then a visit to the beautiful province of Alberta should be on your bucket list. Canada is known for sprawling landscapes that boast magnificent fresh water lakes, endless hiking opportunities, and outdoor adventures. Alberta is home to the Bald Hills Trail in the Maligne Valley located in Jasper National Park, which offers hikers panoramic Rocky Mountain views as far as the eye can see from the summit.

Just a short 30-mile drive from Jasper, Alberta along Maligne Lake Road, the beginning of the Bald Hills trailhead can be reached in less than an hour. As you make your drive down the scenic road, you'll be in awe of the amount of Lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce lining the entire route, as the surrounding mountains shyly poke their grey peaks from above the trees. Along the route, you'll also drive along the shoreline of Medicine Lake, which disappears in the fall and winter due to its unique drainage system.

Hikers will be happy to know that there's a large parking lot (with toilets) at the end of Maligne Lake Road, which just so happens to be the beginning of the Bald Hills trailhead. The views out onto Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in Canada's Rocky Mountains, when you arrive are unforgettable, especially on a cloudless, sunny day, when the blue sky really makes the lake shine bright. You may even get lucky and spot some shy and elusive moose close to the trailhead before you start your Bald Hills hike.

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Read more: The 40 Most Mysterious Places In The Whole Entire World

Beautiful views await you at the summit of Bald Hills Trail

Large mountain and walking trail with two people hiking - Petr Kahanek/Shutterstock

Bald Hills is a perfect day-hike to conquer. At only nine miles round-trip and considered easy to moderate in difficulty to start, it does eventually have an elevation gain of over 2,500-feet. The start of the trail will be seemingly flat before transitioning to an uphill forested path that stretches for almost four miles of the route. The hike takes you along a gravel road that tends to be muddy during the last half mile of the trail, before the lookout point just preceding the cutoff, then turns into a more difficult and steeper albeit more interesting portion of the trail.

For the most impressive views of Lake Maligne, hikers opt to take the left option of Lovate Scouts branch, one of two options for the Bald Hills trail. The left will test your endurance with a more difficult scramble up, however the route is much shorter whereas on the right, the trail is easier, but longer in distance. Upon reaching the end of the fire road, the scenery opens up to outstanding views of the Queen Elizabeth Mountain Range.

Bald Hills can be completed in four to six hours, and can be done anytime of year, however the best time to hit the trail is between June and September due to favorable temperatures. The sun will be strong in peak summertime, and since the fire road is exposed with no shade, it's advisable to bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water to keep hydrated, as there are no refill stations. Don't forget to pack snacks to enjoy the stunning views of Lake Maligne and the snowcapped peaks, justifying why Canada is a must-visit destination for avid hikers.

Other helpful things to know when hiking Bald Hills Trail

Panoramic snowcapped mountain view with lake - Jana Troupova/Shutterstock

As with any hiking trail, you'll want to make sure you don't require any special permits before heading out. Thankfully, the Bald Hills trail doesn't require hikers to obtain a permit, however you'll need to pay an entry fee for Jasper National Park, which can be done online in advance, at the park gate, or in person at the Jasper Visitor Center.

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Whether you're doing a simple hike, or attempting a harder route, it's always best to know your physical limits, be prepared for changing weather conditions, and tell others where you are heading. Alberta is in bear country, and Bald Hills Trail is no stranger to grizzly and black bear sightings. To stay safe, hike with others, stay vigilant, make noise, carry a can of bear spray, and ensure smaller children are always supervised.

Hikers that have completed the Bald Hills Trail have also mentioned on the AllTrails website, that bringing walking poles with them was a significant help during the hike, especially for stability in the windy open areas at the top. If you do choose to head on the trail during the winter months, snow can accumulate at higher altitudes much faster, and wearing layers, crampons, or spiked hiking shoes are advised as well by past hikers.

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.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  2026 is right around the corner. Here in the Land of Enchantment, theres a variety of ways to ring in the new year.

Take a look at some celebrations across New Mexico below.

Celebrate New Years Eve on the main street of Nob Hill with a chile drop. 10 p.m. to 1 p.m. on NYE



Families are invited to the Albuquerque Museum for a late morning, early afternoon celebration. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on NYE



The National Hispanic Cultural Center Journal Theatre presents an opera performance to ring in the new year. 2:30 p.m. on NYE



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Take the family to Explora on New Years Eve for a celebration featuring museum activities and a balloon drop. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on NYE



New Mexicos Winter Wonderland at EXPO NM is ringing in the new year with a celebration including lights, luminarias, food trucks and more. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on NYE



Join Jordan Jonas for an evening of macabre magic at the Painted Lady. 8p.m. to 9 p.m. on NYE



Santa Fe Annual Holiday Plaza Lighting 2024. (KRQE)

Gather for the annual plaza lighting in Santa Fe. 8 p.m. to midnight on NYE



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Hop aboard the Sky Railway for a New Years celebration with champagne and live music. 7:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.



Grab your skates and hit the ice at the Los Alamos County Ice Rink. 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on NYE



Las Cruces is holding the annual chile drop in the heart of downtown. 8 p.m. to midnight on NYE



Celebrate the new year with a torchlight parade and fireworks at Taos Ski Valley. Parade begins at 6 p.m.



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.
Rapper Drake may have famously sung the lines, You only live once. Thats the mottoYOLO. But Cristina Grossu Biffle lived that mantra every day.

It was clear in the many hats she wore. Realtor and Mooresville agency owner. Thrift shopper. Humanitarian. Bahamas lover. Event planner. Philanthropist. Travel agent. Giver. Mother. Wife.

And if the titles arent enough, just ask her friends.

Emergency landing. Someone on Greg Biffle plane texted family member, NTSB says

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She wasnt going to waste any time, and she wasnt going to let you waste it either, said Cornelius businesswoman Shandy Ray. She wouldnt take no for an answer. She wouldnt let you give her excuses on why you couldnt go on that trip or to that event, you were going.

Almost (like) she knew the life clock was ticking fast.

Grossu, 35, was one of the seven people who died in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport last week, along with her husband, NASCAR star Greg Biffle, their two children, Craig Wadsworth, and Dennis and Jack Dutton. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the crash.

In remembrance posts on social media, the YOLO slogan was sewn throughout, along with the promise to never say no. Because what happens when there is no tomorrow?

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If I had a dollar for every time Cristina told me over the years YOLO, you only get one life, lifes too short, do it, get going, one person wrote. May we all live like we are on borrowed timeto the fullest with so much love.

From left, Shandy Ray and Cristina Grossu. Ray and Grossu met in 2019 and Ray said the pair became great friends. Grossu and her husband, NASCAR star Greg Biffle, died in a plane crash last week, along with their two children and three others at Statesville Regional Airport. (Courtesy of Shandy Ray.)

Ray said the same in her Instagram post.

Tomorrow will be one week since I saw you for the last time. We talked about saving the bottles of Caymus that night and opened the Bonanza instead. Now I wish we would have opened the Caymus, Ray posted on Sunday. Thank you for being you. Im going to miss you but I will see you again, this is not where it ends. Rest in paradise, Biffle family. P.S. Open the Caymus.

Who was Cristina Grossu?

One of the main hats worn by Grossu was as real estate agent. She became a broker in 2012 and was licensed in the Carolinas, Florida, Virginia and Washington D.C.

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In August, Grossu started her own real estate company, Leisurely Real Estate. The first line of her about page reads, A people person with a strong desire to help others

The sentence continues along the lines of her real estate prowess. A 30 Under 30 Award recipient from The National Association of REALTOR. Numerous rising star awards. And over 300 sales and purchases.

But that strong desire to help others and the I promise to answer your call extended far beyond real estate, Grossu noted at the end of her biography.

Cristina had a way of being fully present, intentional and deeply attentive in a world that often isnt, Ray said. She was the kind of friend that showed up no matter how busy her own life was. She was the most selfless person I ever knew, and was always pushing you to be the best version of yourself that you could be.

Cristina Grossu with her husband, NASCAR star Greg Biffle. The pair, along with their two children and three others died in a plane crash Statesville Regional Airport last week. (Courtesy of Shandy Ray)

In between real estate sales, Grossu started My Replica Ring, a company that creates copies of wedding rings using photos of the wedding bands. It was a way for people to wear their wedding rings without the fear of losing the real thing.

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Grossu wrote a childrens book about financial literacy, Learning to Earn with Romanza Madge, introducing the world to a ballerina trying to earn money to keep her hobby going.

Outside of her multiple businesses, Grossu took girls trips to Miami or the Bahamas, where the Biffles were married on New Years Eve 2022. She was the type of friend who would tell restaurant workers it was someones birthday for the cake and embarrassing song, according to her Instagram posts.

Grossu was a bit of a daredevil. She got behind the wheel once for a Mothers Day Grand Prix event at Freedom Factory, Cleetus McFarlands racetrack. McFarland is a part-time driver, full-time Youtube star and friend of Greg Biffle.

And she participated several times in the NASCAR Hall of Fame Foundations Over the Edge Event, where people rappel 10 stories down the Embassy Suites Charlotte Uptown building. The rappellers raise money for youth education services.

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Grossu also took numerous trips to Western North Carolina, providing aid to those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The Biffles took their private helicopter to deliver supplies.

And when her husband needed more support in the air, Grossu handled deliveries and runs on the ground, according to Realtor News. She was awarded the 2024 Canopy Housing Foundations Humanitarian Award for her efforts.

Grossu expressed interest in doing the same thing for those in the Caribbean effected by Hurricane Melissa.

Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCARs top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte. (Courtesy of Lake Norman Humane)

And before her death, Grossu sent out over 2,000 letters from Santa to children in need.

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She also sent out a family Christmas card, according to social media posts, with a note that read: We hope that you are able to slow down and enjoy the magic and joy this season has to offer.

Cristina Grossu embraced life

Ray met Grossu in 2019 when Ray started dating her husband, Matt. The Rays own Impact Foam Solutions in Cornelius, which manufactures foam inserts that increase driver safety in motorsports. Matt Ray worked with Greg Biffle.

In February at the Daytona 500, Ray said it would have been seven years since shes known Grossu. Definitely not long enough, Ray said.

On the surface, the couple will be missed at Daytona because the Biffles had the party boat. Ray said the pair would park their yacht, Checkered Past at The Chart House, and it served as home base for the weeks activities.

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But deeper than that, its the pairs presence that will really be missed. Mainly because, if you were in their presence, they chose you to be there, according to a post from Grossu.

In a Sept. 19 post the image reads, Today is borrowed time. Spend it wisely.

In the caption, Grossu writes Lifes too short to spend it stuck in a cycle you dont love  At the end of the day, your time, energy, and love are your greatest currency. Spend them wisely. Prioritize moments with people who matter. Create memories that make your soul smile.

Although their time together was short, Ray said Grossu was a constant presence. And as Grossu put it, she was always a call away.

She lived life to the absolute fullest, Ray said. Embracing every single day as it could be her last up until the day that was her last.
Key Takeaways

A wines price reflects years of upfront investment, from planting and vine maturity to aging time, often long before producers see any return. These extended timelines help explain why higher-end wines carry more overhead than budget bottles.

Vineyard choices  including grape variety, yield, region, and farming methods  are major cost drivers, with grape prices varying widely by appellation and prestige. Lower yields and hand-farmed sites tend to raise both quality and per-bottle cost.

Post-harvest decisions, such as aging time, use of new oak, and packaging materials, significantly affect final price, while consumer perception also plays a role in how wine is priced and experienced.

To produce a bottle of wine is a long and expensive process. The price to do that, of course, is passed on in some portion typically to the consumer, but the hows and whys of the final cost often seem inexplicable.

But wine production, and pricing, is not shrouded entirely in mystery. There are variables that help to understand the decisions that can impact the final cost of a wine.

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To start, consider a wines beginnings. If a vintner starts from scratch, it can take a year or two to prepare land for planting, then another four to five years to get the first fruit suitable for wine. From that point, add another six months, and up to five years or more, for aging between harvest and a wines release.

Producers often sink hundreds of thousands of dollars (and potentially many millions) into a project that may take well more than a decade to even see a dime of return on their investment.

So, how does the wines shelf price reflect that investment? Wine is marketed broadly as romance. The sign that welcomes visitors to the Napa Valley includes the Robert Louis Sevenson quote that includes wine is bottled poetry. Increasingly, however, and especially amid challenging market conditions, what its sold for is a carefully weighed calculation.

Michele Rossetti / Getty Images

The grapes of math

If wine is bottled poetry, grapes are the letters that must be plucked, gathered, and transformed into transcendence. The level of pampering that those grapes receive, as well as their location, often determines the kind of poem theyll write.

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It all starts in the vineyard, says Adam Casto, head winemaker at Ehlers Estate in Napa. Decisions you make around yield go a long way to determining the price of the wine, and the quality.

Most healthy vineyards produce between two and 10 tons of grapes per acre, which can depend on the grape variety and goal for the final wine. One ton of grapes equates generally to about 63 cases of wine, or 756 bottles.

When you reduce the yield, you improve the concentration of flavors and, therefore, the quality, says Casto. But it significantly increases the cost to drop fruit.

Dropping fruit is the manual removal of some grape clusters. This allows the remaining grapes to gain concentration and yield more intense wines.

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Related: 32 Best Value Wines Under $25 for the Holidays, Picked by Wine Pros

A wines price also depends on the types of grapes selected and where they are grown. The grape that California is most closely associated with is Cabernet Sauvignon, but the price that vintners pay for that Cabernet is often dependent on the region or appellation where its grown.

According to Dan Petroski, founder-winemaker at Yountville-based Massican, to make a $15 bottle of California Cabernet, youd need to pay around $1,000 per ton, which will be the equivalent of about $1.60 a bottle, just for the grapes.

Good luck with that, by the way. According to the most recent 2024 California Grape Crush report, the average price for one ton of Cabernet was $2,162.29. The average price for Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the states toniest wine neighborhood, Napa, was $8,969.99. And thats just the average, says Petroski.

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Winemakers that seek a famous, meticulously farmed vineyard to put on their label will have to spend around $10,000 per ton, or the equivalent of $16 [per bottle] just for the grapes.

Less famous grape choices come at a discount. Prices for White Riesling and Malbec in California start at around $200 per ton, according to the 2024 Crush Report.

cribea / Getty Images

Farming choices and location

A vineyards location and how its farmed also contribute to a wines cost at retail. Prices for an acre of vineyard land in Napa start around $525,000 for prime locations, while an acre in Fresno starts at $25,000.

Location and farming practices play a big role in determining price, says Laura Barrett, winemaker at Clif Family Winery in St. Helena. Is it the Central Valley, where crops are large and vineyard operations are mechanized? Or is the Napa Valley  or more specifically, a prized AVA within the Napa Valley  where viticulture is done by hand and vineyards may naturally produce significantly lower yields?

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Additionally, the choice to farm organically, or to work with older, lower-yielding vineyards, will dramatically increase costs, says Eduardo Jordan, chief winemaker and technical director for Miguel Torres Chile, which manages its estate vineyards organically.

Organic production has higher costs than conventional management due to higher labor costs because theres more hand work and increase in costs for organic fertilizer, says Jordan.

But its not that simple, he says. Prices on organic wines can vary due to other considerations.

Miguel Torres offers a range of prices in its portfolio, from the $15 Miguel Torres Chile Andica to the $100 Miguel Torres Chile Escalera de Empedrado. The latter, says Jordan, showcases the most demanding viticulture and winemaking techniques, produced from extremely limited, high-altitude vineyards, that require lower production and more work in the vineyard.

Jeremy Walker / Getty Images

Aging vessels and method

Time and materials cost money. How long a wine lingers between harvest and bottle, as well as the vessel used to mature it, will help determine how much it costs you.

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Our rose of Grenache is $28, and our single-vineyard Cabernets are $120, says Ben Kaehler, general manager at The Walls Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington. With the rose, we aim for moderate alcohol and minimal color. To achieve this, we farm as we would any other vine, but target a higher crop load and harvest earlier.

In the winery, we treat the early-harvested Grenache like we would a white wine, he says. Its not necessarily easier, but its a much faster process. We use concrete eggs and stainless steel vessels, and we avoid new oak. This is partly a stylistic choice, but it also significantly reduces cost.

Related: What's the Difference Between French and American Oak in Wine?

By comparison, the single-vineyard reds spend more than 20 months in oak. New French oak barrels start around $800 apiece and go up from there. Stainless steel tanks and concrete eggs can last a lifetime, whereas barrels age out after five years. And the wine doesnt just sit there.

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That extended time requires ongoing attention, says Kaehler. Every month a wine stays in barrel, it becomes more expensive.

The longer that wines are in the cellar, says Casto, the more they will cost.

Even if youre working with just stainless steel tanks, time in tank is money, says Casto. Youve got to pay for the energy to cold soak and ferment the grapes. And you only have a certain number of tanks, so if youre not flipping the tank and putting in other grapes, youre incurring overhead.

One way to flip the tank faster, says Casto, is to allow the grapes to ferment warmer and faster by doing more pumpovers earlier in the process, and draining and pressing the juice more aggressively.

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If youre aiming for a lower price, youre going to just drain and press once and youre going to press the ever-living crap out of those skins to collect every last drop you can, he says. Chances are, theyll also add concentrate to ramp up the flavor.

sergeyryzhov / Getty Images

Packaging decisions

Ask anyone whos gone to Target to pick up a pair of socks and left having spent more than $200 on a random assortment of bits and bobs  little things add up fast. A wine bottle may seem fairly streamlined, but every element, from the bottle itself to the ink on the cork, costs the producer, and then you.

Technical corks like DIAM may be $0.20 a piece, while natural corks are $1 or more, says Petroski. And label choices can add up, too. Digital print versus offset will be $0.20 to $0.40 a label. Glass can be anywhere from $0.50 to more than $1.50 a bottle.

Kaehler estimates that packaging can account for as much as 30% of a wines total cost.

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Related: How the Latest Wine Tariffs Could Crush the Wine Industry

Pricing according to projected perception

In the end, savvy winemakers know how much each bottle of wine costs to make with surprising accuracy. But despite the meticulous math behind it all, the decision behind how much to charge often feels like a Rorschach test of the consumers mind.

Study after study finds what may seem obvious: that quality is generally associated with higher prices. One recent report from wine market analysis specialist Vinetur found that non-experts rely on extrinsic cues like price, label, packaging, and region to form a judgment.

A higher price doesnt have just a psychological effect, it has a physiological one, too. A Caltech wine study used fMRI scans to show that price dramatically alters taste perception. It found that steep price tags activate the brains pleasure center more intensely.

But almost everyone has room in their cellar  or, more realistically, cabinet  for a porch pounder. They are often easy-drinking and accessible whites or roses from lesser-known regions. But not always.

Try as we might to crack the code of what makes a reasonably priced, high-quality wine, theres still a lot of mystery, poetry, and romance in every bottle. Its why we keep coming back for more.



Read the original article on Food & Wine
Chinese premier calls for further efforts to draft outline of 15th Five-Year Plan

Xinhua) 08:09, December 23, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over a State Council leading-group meeting on the formulation of the draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 22, 2025. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for further efforts to formulate a draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development.

Li, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks on Monday while presiding over a State Council leading-group meeting on the formulation of the draft outline.

Noting that solid foundations for the formulation of the draft outline have been laid, Li said the next step is to concentrate efforts to refine and improve the draft with the utmost care.

Efforts should be made to better leverage the guiding role of the plan, and set targets, arrange policies and plan projects with the aim of promoting high-quality economic growth, achieving an appropriate increase in economic output, Li said.

He also stressed the importance of developing new quality productive forces, making breakthroughs in the advancement of sci-tech innovation, accelerating the cultivation of new growth drivers, and improving and upgrading China's economic structure.

More efforts should go into planning major projects and platforms that can drive overall development, which would accumulate new growth drivers, foster competitiveness for future development, and provide support for the expansion of domestic demand and the continuity of stable economic operations, Li added.

He emphasized the necessity of combining policy support with reform and innovation, focusing on the removal of bottlenecks, planning new policies and measures thoroughly, and ensuring the new policy mix will deliver greater outcomes.

The premier also called for solid work in responding to social concerns, the launch of a number of major policies and projects that benefit the people, and the cultivation of new economic growth drivers alongside the enhancement of the people's well-being.

Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting. Also present at the meeting were He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Liu Guozhong, Wang Xiaohong and Wu Zhenglong.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the Parnassus Core Equity Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The S&P 500 Index surged in the third quarter, driven by investor optimism that grew on expectations of monetary easing, strong consumer demand, and solid corporate earnings. The Fund (Investor Shares) returned 2.57% (net of fees) in the quarter, trailing the S&P 500 Indexs 8.12% return. YTD, the fund returned 9.89% compared to 14.83% for the index. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Parnassus Core Equity Fund highlighted stocks such as Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE). Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) is a financial services company that offers market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities. The one-month return of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) was 3.52%, and its shares gained 7.30% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 22, 2025, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) stock closed at $161.45 per share, with a market capitalization of $92.06 billion.

Parnassus Core Equity Fund stated the following regarding Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), the operator of the New York Stock Exchange, saw its shares fall as investors rotated out of defensive, lower-beta stocks that had benefited from investor enthusiasm earlier in the year. The companys fundamentals remain stable, in our view."

Equinix Stock (EQIX) Partners With Energy Firms to Power Global Data Centers

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 82 hedge fund portfolios held Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) at the end of the third quarter, compared to 84 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) 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 Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) and shared the list of best financial sector dividend stocks to buy. In its Q3 2025 investor letter, Sands Capital Select Growth Strategy also cited the same reason for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.s (NYSE:ICE) decline in the quarter. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.




The richly textured canvases created by artist Mia Eriksson are infused with the bold colors and dramatic, gestural strokes that underpin most of her abstract paintings. Working from her home studio in Avon, the Swedish-born artist employs acrylics, oils and charcoal to produce tactile works imbued with natural scenes of light that magnifies their intensity.

Yet Eriksson reaches well beyond the traditional materials of the trade to embrace unexpected organic elements such as bark, beach sand and coffee grounds to create abstractions that mirror nature's "perfect imperfections," the artist said. The confluence of natural material also reflects her upbringing in Steneby, a rural community outside of Gothenburg in Sweden blessed with lakes, wildflower meadows and ancient rock formations, she said.

"Peeling Wall of Us," a mixed media painting on canvas by artist Mia Eriksson, was scraped and burned with a heat gun to mirror an abandoned wall transformed by time and nature, Eriksson said. (Courtesy of Mia Ericksson)





"It's the connection to the forests and meadows that I was raised with that still shapes my perspective," said Eriksson, a former fashion model who spent much of the 1980s and 90s posing for luxury brands like Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel. And while her lifestyle in fashion still informs her world view, her proximity to unspoiled nature as a child impacts the intricate layers and unseen patterns rooted in her artwork, she said.

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"I learned to appreciate the wonders of my environment even as a child," the 63-year-old artist explains. "That deep connection to nature still influences just about every aspect of my life, including my art."

Her life in fashion began as a teenager in Sweden where a move to Stockholm to study acting led to her first modeling jobs. Discovered by an international talent agency in France, her career soon included photoshoots in Paris and other European capitals for some of the biggest fashion houses in the world. That success landed her in the U.S. where she signed with two of the country's top modeling agencies; Ford Models in New York and Nina Blanchard Agency in Los Angeles.

After 14 years working in front of the camera modeling under the name Miriam Eriksson, she eventually settled full-time in New York where she met her husband, Bob Bernarduci, and left modeling to begin life as a wife and mother. Though they mostly raised their two kids in the city, the couple moved to Connecticut when the pandemic hit in search of more space and a calmer existence, Eriksson said.

Artist Mia Ericksson in her studio in Avon. (Courtesy of Bob Bernarduci)





"I've lived two lives-one as a fashion model showing only the surface of me, and now as an artist where I can reveal what's inside," she explains.

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Settling in Avon allowed Eriksson to reengage with her passion for painting. It's an interest she's had since her days living and working in Paris where she was exposed to world-class museums and galleries. It's also where she fell in love with abstract expressionism, an art movement known for its large-scale, emotionally charged works, often featuring non-representational imagery.

A self-taught artist, she's been creating abstract works and collages for more than a decade. In recent years she's transitioned from producing smaller works of thick, painterly surfaces in the couple's basement to expanding her studio space at her home in order to create large-scale, luminous pieces that incorporate tactile organic elements.

"Rose Bush," an abstract painting by artist Mia Eriksson. (Courtesy of Mia Ericksson)





"Peeling Wall of Us" employs layered red, white, and blue paint with a subtle wash of green beneath the surface. It was scraped and burned with a heat gun to reveal the raw details of a process meant to mirror an abandoned wall transformed by time and nature, Eriksson said.

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"Introspection," created with acrylic, beach sand and coffee grounds, has soft, blonde brush strokes that the artist said reflects her inner thoughts and the quiet, ongoing process of self-reflection. And "Lavendel," or lavender in Swedish, is made of acrylic, sand and coffee grounds and inspired by the wildflowers Eriksson said she gathered as a young girl growing up on the family's farm in Steneby.

" Her works are complex and strong, but they're also delicate and accessible at the same time," said Craig Connolly, owner of Alofft Gallery in Litchfield. Alofft is one of several art locations in the state showcasing Eriksson's work this spring, including the studios at Macaire + Kristoph in Cornwall. Other shows are being planned for the summer, Eriksson said. "Her transition to larger works really allows her to produce artwork that represents her true means of artistic expression," Connolly adds.

Mia Eriksson's "Patina" is an abstract made of acrylic on canvas. The artist works with a variety of mixed media, including oil paints, charcoal and wood stains. (Courtesy of Mia Ericksson)





Eriksson's work is also being embraced by interior designers who are integrating her natural scenes of light, space and color into their projects.

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"Clients really gravitate to her use of bold colors and deep, vibrant compositions," said interior designer Kerri-Lee Mayland, an Avon-based spatial planner who creates contemporary interiors for clients across the state and New England. "Sometimes her pieces would inspire me to create a design around the colors and textures."

Inspiring ideas through visual language is how Eriksson said she views her artwork. Free flowing while also inviting surprises, she wants her paintings to conjure emotions as it unfolds in front of viewers.

"I want my art to offer rewards and revelations for anyone who sees it," she said. "And hopefully the closer you look, the more rewarding it becomes."

This article originally published at Former model and CT artist channels nature and Swedish childhood in her art.
Whether you're rolling out the gingerbread or pushing Hershey's Kisses into peanut butter blossoms, the smell of fresh cookies will be wafting out of kitchens around Atlanta this year.

But for those who want to save a little time  or pass off a professional's cookies as their own  Atlanta bakeries have you covered.

Here are Yelp's top 10 recommended shops to buy Christmas cookies this holiday season in the metro area.

Yelp's top 10 recommended Christmas cookie stops

Heidi's Heavenly Cookies: Alpharetta Cookie Creations of Atlanta: Buckhead Mrs. Dahlby's Decorated Cookies: Marietta Sweet as Heaven Goodies: Vinings Five Daughters Bakery: Old Fourth Ward Alon's Bakery and Market: Morningside/Lenox Park McEntyre's Bakery: Smyrna Henri's Bakery and Deli: Buckhead International Bakery: Woodland Hills Ali's Cookies Emory: Emory Village

Georgia's favorite cookies

According to Google's 2025 most searched Christmas cookie recipes, Georgia stands out from the southeast in their cookie tastes.

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Recipes for peanut butter balls were top of the search for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and South Caroline.

But in Georgia, more people searched for spritz cookies, a buttery, shortbread-like cookie with German roots.

Georgians also searched for star cookie cutter shapes more often than other parts of the southeast that searched for ornament shapes or Christmas tree cut-outs.

Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Todays Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here's where to get Christmas cookies around Atlanta this year
Gorgeous beaches, warm water, and delicious seafood are absolutely essential when planning a beach trip to Mexico. Safety is a high priority, as well. You will find all of these things  plus a few extra surprises  in the remote village of Yelapa.

When you look at a map, Yelapa does not look that remote. The small fishing village sits on the same bay, Bahia de Banderas, as Puerto Vallarta, one of the most popular destinations in the country. The resort-filled city and Yelapa are only separated by 15 miles. But driving from Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is not advised. It would take nearly three hours on a road that is really only used for large deliveries. The local residents do not even regularly navigate this route.

So the best way to reach one of Mexico's underrated tourist destinations is definitely by water. You can book a day trip, which will give you a few hours to explore Yelapa's beaches before returning to Puerto Vallarta. Or you can ride the water taxi (one way about $19 or round-trip for about $30). The boat departs from the Playa Los Muertos Pier. After a 50-minute trip, it arrives in a small cove that is situated between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Yelapa is very secluded. No wonder the little beach town is considered one of the safest places in the whole country.

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Read more: The 40 Most Mysterious Places In The Whole Entire World

Enjoy the stunning beach in Yelapa

the beach in Yelapa along the Bahia de Banderas in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico - Isabellaphotography/Shutterstock

The Sierra Madre is covered with a dense green jungle. Both the Tuito River and a small tributary flow down the mountains, through the golden sand, and into the turquoise water of the Pacific Ocean here. So Yelapa's name, which means "where two rivers meet the sea," is quite fitting. It is also quite beautiful.

Playa Yelapa, the main beach in the village, is just steps from the pier. The long beach is lined with palm trees and thatched-roof buildings. Some small boats bob in the water. Others, as well as sun loungers, dot the sand. While gentle waves break along the shore. Picturesque is an understatement. Besides lounging in the sun, there are many water-based activities along the beach. You can go snorkeling as soon as you enter the water. Keep an eye out for rainbow runners and roosterfish. Yelapa Tours rents jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards. Or, with Garcia Charters, you can go fishing for dorado and sailfish or snorkeling in the nearby Marieta Islands.

When you eventually get hungry, you do not have to go very far. Cafe Bahia, near the town pier, serves breakfast all day. Sirena Morena offers ceviches, tacos, and margaritas just steps from the water. You can also just wait for the "pie lady" to walk across the beach. For more than 20 years, Chelly Rodriguez has been baking 10 types of pie, including chocolate and coconut, which she sells for 30 pesos (less than $2) a slice.

Hike to the waterfalls in Yelapa

hike to a waterfall in Yelapa along the Bahia de Banderas in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico - Nailotl/Shutterstock

The other thing you must do in Yelapa is hike to the two waterfalls. There are signs, saying "Cascada" or "Waterfall," though they confusingly do not distinguish the direction in which they are heading. The first waterfall, Cascada de Yelapa, is close to the beach. You walk through the village, on an out-and-back trail that is less than a mile long, to reach the 150-foot waterfall.

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The second trail follows the river into the jungle. It is mostly flat, except for some large rocks at the end. The longer, almost five-mile (round-trip), trail crosses a suspension bridge, goes through the water, and passes some small restaurants along the way. You will probably see lots of butterflies and iguanas as you hike. Eventually, you will be able to hear the waterfall before you can see it. Plus, there is a good chance that you will have it all to yourself. Both waterfalls have large pools beneath them, so be sure to wear your bathing suit to cool off. Just like at the beach, there is no rush in Yelapa.

When your time in Yelapa comes to an end, you will return to the pier to catch the ferry back to Puerto Vallarta. From there, you can either head farther south to visit Playa Mayto for another relaxing crowd-free beach vacation or stop in Bucerias, Puerto Vallarta's dazzling destination dupe, on your way back to the airport. This part of Mexico is filled with coastal gems.

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Orient Express hasnt even set sail yet, but that hasnt stopped it from rolling out ambitious plans for the future.

The Accor brand has just announced a new collection of itineraries for 2027, with yachts Corinthian and Olympian set to cover new territory in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

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The 722-foot Corinthian, a.k.a. the worlds largest sailing yacht, will take to the seas in June 2026 for an initial season of cruising through the Med and the Caribbean, including routes of the Cote dAzur, the Italian Riviera, and the Adriatic. It will be joined by its 721-foot sistership, Olympian, in 2027, with both vessels taking guests on new voyages through Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia.

Orient Express Sailing Yacht Paros

One Med adventure runs from Piraeus, Greece, across the Aegean and the Sporades to Istanbul, Turkey; another kicks off in Valletta, Malta, winds through the Ionian Sea before finishing up in Piraeus. As for the U.K., the first trip begins on the Thames in London, then follows the south coast of England to Torquay and Cowes, before heading to Saint-Malo and Honfleur in France. The second starts in London, then traces Britains eastern coastline to Edinburgh, Scotland, before heading further north to Norway and Denmark. The third actually begins in Copenhagen, Denmark, follows the Norwegian Coast to the North Sea, then continues to Scotland and London.

As with previous journeys, each new route will capitalize on favourable winds to reduce environmental impact. Both ships are equipped with a SolidSail propulsion system that includes three masts with a total sail surface area of nearly 50,000 square feet. Designed by Chantiers de lAtlantique, the innovative setup enables the masts to be tilted and rotated to maximize the wind, thereby reducing fuel consumption, lowering operating costs, cutting emissions, and increasing efficiency.

Orient Express Sailing Yacht Istanbul

Guests will travel in the lap of luxury, too: Designed by Orient Express artistic director Maxime dAngeac, the interiors of Corinthian and Olympian reflect the golden age of rail travel and ocean cruising in chic, contemporary decor. Each yacht offers up only 54 suites with private terraces and/or panoramic windows. The vessels also feature restaurants by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alleno and spas by Guerlain, meaning guests can relax and recharge after their curated cultural encounters.

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When it comes to getting lost in quaint small towns in Europe, you can count on travel expert Rick Steves to steer you in the right direction. While the Czech Republic is undoubtedly one of the world's most visited countries to add to your bucket list, with Prague even being one of Steves' son's favorite vibrant budget-friendly cities, leaving the city behind is the best way to explore some true gems. The town of Cesky Krumlov is sure to evoke wonderment as you make your way through its narrow cobblestone streets that Steves says feels "lost in a time warp."

Nestled among the rolling Southern Bohemia hillsides with a population hovering around 13,000 (with only 300 living in the Old Town itself), Cesky Krumlov is just shy of a two-hour drive by car, or an approximate three-hour bus ride from Prague, and feels as though you've entered into a living postcard from the moment you arrive. In a blog post written by Steves, he speaks of the stunning countryside that Cesky Krumlov is situated in, which made for not only a strategic location for many ethnic groups over time, such as Celtic, German, and Slavic, but for unforgettable photo opportunities of the colorful architecture within the town itself.

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During my visit to Cesky Krumlov not too long ago, as a first time visitor, it was easy to see why it's considered such a draw for tourists, about two million a year to be exact. Its charming alleys, inviting cafes, and impressive architecture kept me in awe the entire time. In Steves' blog post, he mentions a similar feeling. "With its simple beauty and wonderfully medieval feel, Cesky Krumlov is the quaint, small-town Europe that many people dream of experiencing."

Read more: The Biggest Tourist Traps In Europe, According To Rick Steves

A majestic castle offering impressive views fills Cesky Krumlov with fairy-tale charm

A multi-colored tower on a steep hill - Tosh Bene/Static Media

As you enter Cesky Krumlov, you'll be greeted with grandiose views of the 13th-century Cesky Krumlov Castle. Initially founded by the Vitkovci family, then rebuilt in a Renaissance style during the 16th century by the powerful Rosenberg family, who were known for their love of lavish living and the arts. As you make your way through the castle courtyard, the impressively painted walls surround you before you make your way up to the Cloak Bridge, providing visitors one of the most outstanding views of Cesky Krumlov at no cost. A one-hour guided tour of the castle interior can be booked, which also showcases the traditional classicism designed Baroque Theater.

Somewhat controversially, Cesky Krumlov's castle is the only known castle in the world to have had a bear moat. Located between the first and second courtyard, a glimpse down over the bridge will show you large brown bears below. Bears were allegedly kept as a powerful status symbol and a warning to invaders. Nowadays, it's said that the current bears were rescued from poachers, however as of 2030, the bears will be removed after nearly centuries of the tradition.

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For just over $2, head up the Castle Tower. Dominating the skyline, the colorful 162-step Renaissance Castle Tower can be seen from almost every corner of the picturesque town. The stunning tower looks like a tall-tiered birthday cake, and is another viewpoint to get breathtaking 360-degree views of the winding streets below, the surrounded landscapes, and the horseshoe bend of the Vltava River that circles around Cesky Krumlov. During the day, Cesky Krumlov can become quite busy, so it's best to be an early bird to beat the crowds.

Beautiful architecture and cobblestone streets will transport you back in time

A charming European cobblestone street - Tosh Bene/Static Media

Recently named one of the top 10 European cultural towns for 2026, Cesky Krumlov's UNESCO-listed heritage and charm is recognized among not only tourists, but also European Best Destinations. A walk through Cesky Krumlov's streets showcase ivy-clad buildings in Renaissance and Baroque architecture. A leisurely walk along the Vltava River, or stopping for a coffee or pastry in one of many riverside cafes, are some of the simple pleasures found in Cesky Krumlov.

Another building apart from the castle that's noticeable from around town is the St. Vitus Cathedral. Built in the 15th century, the Gothic structure is a standout, making for dramatic photos as it towers over the small streets below. After a hot and hearty Czech lunch at Krcma Satlava, or a cold Pilsner Urquell at the Gypsy Pub, which Steves mentions has live Roma music that's "always crowd-pleasing and fiery," head over to the main square, Svornosti Square, where colorful ornate buildings are lined side-by-side, and the Plague column with a statue of the Holy Virgin with eight saints stands in the center. A stay in Svornosti Square's Hotel OLDINN for about $100 per night guarantees you empty streets in the morning or evening once the day-trippers head back to Prague.

Cesky Krumlov is home to a lot of unique shops selling everything from homemade liquors, soap, magnets, and much more. For a unique gift, head to the Vintage Motorcycle Museum. Home to vintage motorcycles from BMW, Harley Davidson, and Czech brands, such as Jawa, the museum also houses an art gallery upstairs, where you can purchase a one-of-a-kind painting. If you start feeling peckish from exploring, there's also a restaurant on-site as well.

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Some of the best places to visit in Thailand include ornate temples, bustling cities, jaw-dropping national parks, and sandy beaches. A trip to The Land of Smiles isn't complete without exploring some of the smaller and lesser-known yet stunning Thai islands off the coast of Phuket. As such, the scenic white sands of Banana Beach offer a relaxing getaway for tourists looking for seclusion.

Located just a short 15-minute boat ride away off the western coast of Phuket, Banana Beach on Coral Island (Koh Hae or Koh He to locals) makes for the perfect destination to include in your relaxing couples beach vacation. Banana Beach seems to be off the radar for most other tourists staying on Phuket, making it a tropical gem and a great option to stop flocking to Southeast Asia's over-touristed hot spots. This small, intimate, and isolated beach stretches approximately 650 feet in length. It is embraced by lush greenery and turquoise water, which captivates visitors as they approach the island from the water.

Reaching Banana Beach is uncomplicated, and companies such as Get Your Guide and Banana Beach Koh Hey offer many different tours ranging from half-day trips to full-day excursions, as well as lunch. Organizing a more localized and budget-conscious trip to Banana Beach can be done in 30 minutes via long-tail boat, with trips departing Phuket from Rawaii Pier or Chalong Pier. As you approach the beach from the crystal clear water and get a glimpse of its soft white sand and palm trees, it's easy to see why Banana Beach was recently awarded the title of the best beach in Asia according to Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards.

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Read more: The 40 Most Mysterious Places In The Whole Entire World

Enjoy a mix of white sand relaxation and turquoise water exploration

A tropical beach scene with someone parasailing - nuttavut sammongkol/Shutterstock

Travelers looking to get away from the bustling streets and beaches of Phuket will be treated to a fair share of relaxation, as well as water activities, while visiting Banana Beach. Thanks to social media, most of the hidden gems in Thailand don't stay hidden for too long. During the dry season, from November through April, Banana Beach can see an influx of tourists, with travelers looking to enjoy its banana-shaped beach and seclusion.

Reviewers have rated the beach highly and have commented praising its beauty. One Tripadvisor user states that they "Would definitely recommend doing this day trip ... The water was beautiful. Plenty of sea life to look at and the snorkelling spots were amazing. Plenty of food with an amazing buffet lunch." Another person on Tripadvisor also spoke fondly of Banana Beach: "Comparing vacation boat and beach tours, this was my match in heaven ... If you [want] just ONE beach to get away from it all, this ONE is the tour to book. Koh Hey Banana Beach."

One look at the photos of Banana Beach online and the beauty of the tiny tropical island is as clear as its water. You can enjoy colorful coral reefs while snorkeling or kayaking, but if you'd rather laze on soft white sand while gazing at the sea and watching hornbills fly overhead, you can do that, too. Sometimes the best thing to do on an island is nothing at all. Thrill seekers can get a dose of adrenaline by parasailing or hopping on a banana boat as speedboats whisk you across the water's surface.

Helpful tips to know before you visit Banana Beach

A tropical beach from above surrounded by greenery - lemaret pierrick/Shutterstock

While Banana Beach offers visitors a restaurant, washrooms, and other amenities, there are a few helpful tips to keep in mind before heading to this idyllic island. For one, bring extra Baht to cover additional costs, such as an entrance fee, which ranges from $5 to $15, and goes toward maintaining the island. Other additional costs can include food, umbrellas, beach chairs, and any water activities you wish to participate in. With no ATMs on the island, it's crucial to carry cash.

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To save on costs, day-trippers could pack a lunch if they opted out of a tour that includes a meal. Although there are restaurants along the beach, the reviews don't seem to be favorable in regard to quality and cost, so it may be best to bring your own snacks. When tropical temperatures rise, make a stop at Lady Coco's ice cream stand for a ton of flavors to keep you cool. Alternatively, not a far walk away on Kahung Beach, you'll come across the Coral Beach Club, which seems to have better and cheaper food options.

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The Talk, in parenting circles, is generally defined as an uncomfortable conversation with your children about sex.

But there is another talk. It happens later, and its just as hard.

Aging parents fret and procrastinate over sitting down with their adult children to talk about money  and power of attorney, and medical directives, and all the other issues that arise toward the end of life.

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AARP offers a book titled The Other Talk: A Guide to Talking With Your Adult Children About the Rest of Your Life. The topic popped up again in the December-January issue of AARP The Magazine, wherein a Gen X couple explains Why We Told Our Kids All About Our Money.

Weve adapted our own discussion about ''the talk," with commentary from experts at AARP, Trust & Will and Northwestern Mutual.

A stocking with 20 dollar bills hangs on a Christmas tree in this photo illustration taken on December 16, 2024.

Why have The Talk

There are plenty of good reasons to tell your adult children about your finances, estate plan and end-of-life wishes, experts say.

If you dont, your children may waste precious time chasing down your accounts and assets when you are incapacitated or dead. They may have no idea what bills you owe, what cash youve stowed or what plans you might have for that investment property or stash of jewelry.

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Youre saving months, and thousands of dollars, by doing a little talking, said Craig Parker, assistant general counsel at Trust & Will.

For the kids: How do you have "the Talk" with your parents?

Many older adults lose their ability to sign checks, make online payments and dispute bills long before they die. If you dont walk your children through your finances now, you risk leaving them unable to help you later.

As a parent, one of the nicest things that you can do for your children is to reduce the number of puzzles and surprises that they have to deal with either when youre in the hospital or after youre gone, said George Mannes, executive editor at AARP The Magazine.

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Talking through your affairs with your adult children reduces anxiety and worry for the next generation, said David Hamilton, a financial adviser at Hamilton Wealth-Northwestern Mutual.

Not having The Talk can seed conflict. When youre incapacitated, your children may bicker over where you wanted to live or how far you wanted to go in prolonging your life.

In the probate and estate planning worlds, Parker said, most of the litigation is from families that dont talk.

Understanding estate planning terms and documents can help ensure the best interests of your loved ones are protected now and the future.

When to have The Talk

Many Americans want to talk to their children about estate planning, research suggests, but fewer follow through.

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A 2024 survey of high-wealth boomers by RBC Wealth Management found that 89% thought it was important to talk to heirs about inheritance, but only 39% had actually done it.

The best time to have The Talk, experts say, is as soon as theyre ready. And adult children are probably ready.

Once they are adults, sooner is better than later, Mannes said.

If not all of your children are adults, you can provide broad outlines of your plans to a younger child, Mannes said.

And dont assume a single conversation will cover everything. Hamilton recommends having these conversations continually, rather than a one-and-done.

How to have The Talk

The best approach for broaching money, incapacity and death with your children is to tell it straight but with sensitivity, experts say.

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Your adult children need this information. But they probably dont want to hear about your decline and demise any more than you want to talk about it.

Make sure that you are handling it with empathy, because it can be an uncomfortable conversation, Hamilton said.

A little reassurance might help. Consider opening with, Hey guys, were not planning to go anywhere for a very long time, but we do want you to be ready for when that day comes, Hamilton said.

You dont have to go into every clinical detail in your end-of-life plan. Your adult children may not be ready to hear whether youd like to be kept alive with a breathing machine or feeding tube. But you can tell them where to find those directives when the time comes.

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My gut feeling would be tell your children as much as you think they can handle, Mannes said.

Understanding estate planning terms and documents can help ensure the best interests of your loved ones are protected now and the future.

What to cover in The Talk

The Talk is not just about what you have. Its also about why you have it.

Its really not a discussion about death as much as it is really a discussion about your values, and making clear what your values are, Parker said.

As you lay out your assets and accounts, explain why you have them. Tell your children why you hung onto that investment property and whether your retirement savings is more or less than youd hoped.

You should also plan to cover some specifics:

Estate plan

Your estate plan dictates what happens to your assets when you die and who manages your affairs in an emergency while you are alive.

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As part of that plan, its helpful to create a file, on paper or in a computer, that helps loved ones find and access your accounts, including account numbers, passwords and PINs.

Will or trust

These documents instruct how to distribute your assets when you die. A trust bypasses probate court, which administers wills.

Power of attorney

Power of attorney lets someone else make decisions and access records on your behalf, especially regarding health care and finance.

Advance directives

These instructions lay out what health care you do or dont want when you are incapacitated. A living will or health care power of attorney form typically includes advance directives.

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Its just as important, experts say, to tell your adult children who you have named as legal agent, trustee of your trust or executor of your will. Also tell them why.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When and how to talk to your kids about estate planning, wealth, wills
This autumn, two young alpinists from the UK and Ireland achieved a remarkable new route on a 6,000'er, Aikache Chhok, in Pakistan's Karakoram range.

James Price and George Ponsonby connected through the Young Alpinists Group, a mentorship program for emerging climbers. They teamed up after a group trip to Scotland, where members pitched expedition ideas. During the trip, they elected to go with Price's proposal for a climb in Pakistan.

Price had been dealing with a painful ankle tendon injury and even planned to climb in a ski boot for support. However, the issue eased at base camp. Ponsonby spent the summer as a commercial salmon fisher in Alaska, putting in long hours that built strength but left no time for climbing-specific training. With modest ambitions, they packed food for five days and fuel for seven, arriving without a fixed objective or detailed photos of potential lines.

Route topo provided by the expedition team. Photo: Ponsonby/Price

Choosing the line

After exploring valleys near the Batura Wall, they settled on a striking ridge on the Northwest Face of Aikache Chhok, a 6,000m+ peak in the Hachindar Massif. An Italian team first climbed the mountain in 1983 from the southeast.

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Price and Ponsonby targeted a new 3,000m line from the north. On October 13, they began with good progress: up a main gully, into a side gully, then mixed pitches up to M5/M6, linking snowfields toward the ridge. They ended the day three pitches short, feeling optimistic about their five-day timeline.

Setbacks

Day two changed everything, with only three pitches gained through aid climbing on loose, overhanging rock around M7/A2+. The cold, shady north face felt reminiscent of famous European walls. They continued up mixed terrain beside the ridge, avoiding sections too technical for alpine boots, and bivouacked under a rock step.

Efforts to traverse ice ramps in order to bypass another rock band led to dead ends, forcing a low-point bivouac. In camp, they tried to make custard, but it turned into an inedible mess. Bummed, this was the closest they came to retreating, but they opted for one more push.

The next day involved relentless ice climbing, eight full rope-length pitches up to AI5 on rock-hard glacial ice, breaking screws and chipping picks, ending in darkness back on the ridge.

James Price at the overhanging rocky outcrop. Photo: George Ponsonby

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Exhaustion deepened on the following days. Facing nearly 1,000m of slabby black ice interspersed with poor rock, they invented the "Karakoram flop": simul-climbing until calves and toes burned unbearably, then clipping directly to an axe, fully relaxing (even letting the pack pull backward), before placing the next screw. Bivouacs were basic, in crevasses or under overhangs, with food running low and feet battered.

Final push

Day seven brought more simul-climbing on snow, an overhanging ice step, and steep black ice to a ridge between a mini-summit and the main one. Brief sunshine gave way to a whiteout and deep snow, prolonging the summit ridge traverse. The mist cleared just enough to reveal a corniced summit two pitches ahead. Too drained to climb further in poor visibility, they pitched their small tent and shivered through the night, focused on keeping extremities warm.

On day eight, they shared their final energy bar, and clear weather allowed them to breach the cornice and summit. They hurried down without confirming the exact height, though a Garmin read 6,663m one pitch below. (Other sources put the peaks height at a modest 6,595m.)

Difficult mixed terrain. Photo: Ponsonby/Price

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They descended over unseen terrain because persistent clouds had obscured views from Base Camp. It involved rappels off V-threads, complex glacier crossings, passes over seracs, and quick moves under threat. They bivouacked again around 5,000m, comforted by headlamp signals from below, before reaching base camp on October 21. The climb took nine days total, and they finished slimmer, but without frostbite.

Local shepherds and hunters offered them generous hospitality, lending huts, sharing chai, milk, butter, and food, while watching progress through binoculars and flashing lights at night. This support made the massive face feel less isolating.

They named their new route Secrets, Shepherds, Sex, and Serendipity after a humorous screenplay the pair crafted while waiting out bad weather at base camp. They graded the climb M7 AI5 A2+.

It was the second overall ascent of Aikache Chhok.
Tunnels are used to carry traffic through some of the most extreme terrain on the planet and they help ease journeys with reduced travel time.

While most tunnels offer a short underground burst of driving, some are much longer. Here are the worlds 10 longest road tunnels that use cutting edge technology to make their construction possible and to keep drivers alert while passing through their extended subterranean length.

Ryfylke Tunnel, Norway  8.98 miles (14.46km)

Ryfylke Tunnel, Norway  8.98 miles (14.46km)

The Ryfylke Tunnel is the longest undersea road tunnel in the world at present and stretches some 8.98 miles between Stavanger and Ryfylke. Norway developed the Ryfylke Tunnel to reduce reliance on ferries. It is now part of its Rogfast project to connect several islands with undersea tunnels, and this means Ryfylke is likely to relinquish its title as this building work continues.

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Opened in 2019, the Ryfylke Tunnel took seven years to build and a toll is charged to help recoup the cost of construction.

By the time the Ryfylke Tunnel started operating, it had cost 6.4 billion Norwegian Kroner (460 million) to complete. Electric cars are subject to a 50% discounted toll charge.

Descending to 285-metres under the sea at its deepest, the Ryfylke Tunnel consists of two separate tubes to carry traffic in opposite directions. Each tube has two lanes and the tunnel is capable of carrying up 10,000 vehicles per day.

Zigana Tunnel, Turkiye  8.99 miles (14.48km)

Zigana Tunnel, Turkiye  8.99 miles (14.48km)

Close to the northern coast of Turkiye, the Zigana Tunnel runs through rugged mountain rock to bypass the Zigana Pass that becomes blocked by snow in the winter.

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Work started on the Zigana Tunnel in 2016 and it was finished in 2023. It is Turkiyes longest road tunnel at 8.99 miles long and it reduces the journey via the exposed Zigana Pass by five miles. It also cuts the journey time in summer months by around 20 minutes.

Consisting of two separate tunnels to keep traffic flows apart, the Zigana Tunnel was built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. This system adapts to the rock as excavation continues and uses a spray-on concrete to create the walls.

There are 16 laybys in each of the tunnels tubes, as well as six ventilation shafts. It was also built with 40 connecting tunnels between the pair of tubes, plus nine transformer rooms to house the Zigana Tunnels electric power.

Muzhailing Tunnel, China  9.46 miles (15.22km)

Muzhailing Tunnel, China  9.46 miles (15.22km)

A great many challenges faced the designers and builders of the Muzhailing Tunnel in Chinas Gansu Province. For starters, its built at high altitude and also in an area of active seismic activity, which means its prone to earthquakes.

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Although not ideal conditions for creating one of the worlds longest road tunnels, the build used a technology called NPR anchor cabling. This secures the structure into the surrounding rock and allows the tunnel to withstand deformation as the ground moves.

In common with most modern road tunnels, the Muzhailing Tunnel consists of two separate tubes, each carrying the stream of traffic in the opposite direction to the other.

Construction work on this tunnel started in 2016 and reached its finish in 2024, with further complications to the build caused by the thin air at its high altitude and its effect on the workers.

Now complete, the Muzhailing Tunnel is widely studied by tunnelling experts for the way it deals with such difficult terrain.

Tiantaishan Tunnel, China  9.67 miles (15.56)

Tiantaishan Tunnel, China  9.67 miles (15.56)

It cost 2.75 billion Chinese Yuan (300 million) to complete the Tiantaishan Tunnel, which is something of a bargain in the world of road tunnels. Started in 2016, the Tiantaishan Tunnel was finished and working by 2021, which is again something of a record when it comes to build time.

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All of this is even more impressive when you consider the high altitude of the tunnel and the bitterly cold weather in Shaanxi Province in northwest China.

Tiantaishan Tunnel, China  9.67 miles (15.56)

Tiantaishan Tunnel, China  9.67 miles (15.56)

When construction started in November 2016, there were 2000 workers spending their shifts underground in the Qinling Mountains. They also lived there for the duration of the build work.

As part of the construction of the Tiantaishan Tunnel, a new smart lighting system was developed that delivers a more natural light inside its depths. This set-up also provides different light patterns and designs on the tunnels walls to ward off boredom as drivers traverse its 9.67-mile length in either of the three-lane tunnel tubes.

Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland  10.46 miles (16.84km)

Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland  10.46 miles (16.84km)

Previously the longest road tunnel in the world, the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland has slipped down the ranking as new projects have overtaken for length. However, the Gotthard has been in operation for much longer than any other in the top 10 as it opened in 1980.

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Work started on the Gotthard Road Tunnel in 1970 and it carries traffic to a maximum height if 1175-metres (3855-feet), which is higher than Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) in Wales.

Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland  10.46 miles (16.84km)

Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland  10.46 miles (16.84km)

It takes around 13 minutes to drive through the Gotthard Road Tunnel as the 80kmh speed limit is strictly enforced. There is also a toll charge to pay for using the tunnel and its capable of carrying up to 24,000 vehicles per day.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel is unusual in modern road tunnelling for using a single tube to carry both directions of traffic. In 2016, 57% of the Swiss population voted in favour of building a second Gotthard road tunnel in a referendum.

Jinpingshan Tunnel, China  10.90 miles (17.54km)

Jinpingshan Tunnel, China  10.90 miles (17.54km)

While all of the other road tunnels in the top 10 are open to the public, the Jinpingshan Tunnel restricts what traffic can use it. This is because the tunnel was built to provide access to the Jinping Dam, which is the worlds highest dam, and access between this and another hydropower dam.

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The Jinpingshan Tunnel runs through an area noted for its geological activity in south-west China. This is partly why access to the tunnel is limited, and also because of security surrounding the hydroelectric complex at the dam.

Jinpingshan Tunnel, China  10.90 miles (17.54km)

Jinpingshan Tunnel, China  10.90 miles (17.54km)

At its deepest point, the Jinpingshan Tunnel runs 2375-metres beneath the earths surface, and more than half of the tunnels entire length sits at more than 1500-metres deep.

It took five years to build the Jinpingshan Tunnel and, at the time, was the longest tunnel made with a blind heading. This is where each end of the tunnel is started simultaneously and meet in the middle. Total cost of Jinpingshan Tunnel came to 1.3 billion Chinese Yuan (146 million).

Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China  11.21 miles (18.04km)

Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China  11.21 miles (18.04km)

The Zhongnanshan Tunnel is not far from the Tiantaishan Tunnel but outdoes its near neighbour in overall length and how deep it travels under the Earths surface. With a maximum depth of 1640-metres, the Zhongnanshan Tunnel is among the deepest in the world.

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Despite this, it still took only five years to complete the tunnel. Work started in 2002 on the Zhongnanshan Tunnel, and it was the longest tunnel in Asia when it opened to traffic in 2007.

Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China  11.21 miles (18.04km)

Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China  11.21 miles (18.04km)

It cost around 3.2 billion Chinese Yuan (350 million) to complete the Zhongnanshan Tunnel. This makes it one of the most expensive road tunnels to date in China. Three ventilation shafts provide fresh air to each of the two tunnels, and each tube carries traffic in the opposite direction to the other, so the streams are never together.

Along its 11.21-mile length, there are different coloured lights and patterns projected onto the tunnels roof, and artificial plants to provide stimulation for drivers and prevent fatigue.

Yamate Tunnel, Japan  11.3 miles (18.20km)

Yamate Tunnel, Japan  11.3 miles (18.20km)

The Yamate Tunnel in Tokyo, Japan is like Londons Blackwall Tunnel but on a grand scale. Where the Blackwall Tunnel is a mere three quarters of a mile long and is as close as 1.7-metres from the riverbed, the Yamate Tunnel runs to 11.3 miles and passes as much as 30-metres beneath the Japanese capital citys population.

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The Yamate Tunnel still holds the honour of being the longest urban tunnel in the world.

Yamate Tunnel, Japan  11.3 miles (18.20km)

Yamate Tunnel, Japan  11.3 miles (18.20km)

It took 15 years for the Yamate Tunnel to be completed, with delays due to objections from residents and environmental concerns. However, the tunnel was given the go-ahead as it would ease traffic on Yamate Street that runs above the tunnel.

Both of the 11-metre diameter tubes that form the Yamate Tunnel have emergency telephones positioned every 100-metres along their length. There is also a sophisticated filtration system to remove particulate emissions from the air extracted from the tunnels.

WestConnex, Australia  13.67 miles (22.0km)

WestConnex, Australia  13.67 miles (22.0km)

The WestConnex Tunnel was finished in November 2023 and is part of a plan to ease congestion in the city of Sydney. To date, the tunnel is the largest road infrastructure project ever undertaken in Australia and the 13.67-mile tunnel is part of a longer overall 20.5-mile stretch of traffic-reducing motorway.

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This will eventually link Sydneys suburbs, airport, north shore, and city centre. The land above the WestConnex Tunnel has mostly been given over to parks, playgrounds, and open space for the citys inhabitants to relax.

WestConnex, Australia  13.67 miles (22.0km)

WestConnex, Australia  13.67 miles (22.0km)

The WestConnex Tunnel is the longest underground stretch of public road in Australia, and its thought to have cost A$10 billion (5.1 billion).

This figure set a new record for transport spending by the New South Wales Government, and its estimated the fully completed project will come in at A$45 billion (23.1 billion). However, the government also states the tunnel contributes to A$22 billion (11.3 billion) in savings due to reduced travel time and journey reliability.

Lrdal Tunnel, Norway  15.23 miles (24.51km)

Lrdal Tunnel, Norway  15.23 miles (24.51km)

Topping the longest road tunnels in the world is the Lrdal Tunnel in Norway. This 15.23-mile underground construction was started in 1995 and opened to the public in 2000. It took some 20 years to agree to the construction of the tunnel, which cost 1.1 billion Norwegian Kroner (85 million) to complete, which represents great value in the world of roads tunnelling.

It was so much cheaper to build than most tunnels as the nature of the rock means the tunnel doesnt need to be lined  and nor does it have to be made earthquake proof as they no not occur with any severity in Norway. The tunnel connects Lrdal and Aurland and consists of two tubes, each carrying traffic in a single direction for safety.

Lrdal Tunnel, Norway  15.23 miles (24.51km)

Lrdal Tunnel, Norway  15.23 miles (24.51km)

While its the longest road tunnel in the world, the Lrdal Tunnel is also one of the most lightly used. On a typical day, it carries around 2050 vehicles, which is largely due to its remote location 180 miles to the northwest of Oslo.

To alleviate the monotony of driving through the worlds longest road tunnel  which is also straight throughout - this Norwegian project is divided into four sections, each separated by a large cave with parking areas. The caves have blue and yellow lighting to give the feel of a Norwegian sunrise, which is thought to give drivers brains a boost when they are tired. Police cameras have also been installed to combat speeding.

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Griffin PD says three suspects aged 15, 17 and 19 were arrested after an 18-year-old man was shot and killed when the four tried to rob somebody.

Jesse White, 18, was shot and pronounced dead at Spalding Regional Hospital on Saturday despite life-saving efforts.

Griffin police responded to the hospital after being told that White had been taken there with a gunshot wound.

An investigation by the Griffin Police Criminal Investigations Division revealed that White and three associates had arranged to meet someone for a purchase. Police said during this encounter, the four attempted to rob the person, at which point White pulled out a gun, which accidentally discharged, hitting him.

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Griffin PD said those involved were identified as Tavares Ray, 17; Adrion Barkley, 19; and a 15-year-old male. Ray faces multiple charges including reckless conduct, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, obstruction, fleeing or attempting to elude, hit and run, criminal trespass, robbery, possession of marijuana and possession of Schedule IV narcotics. Barkley has been charged with similar offenses, including robbery and firearm possession.

The 15-year-old male, whose name wasnt disclosed, is being charged as an adult and faces several charges similar to Ray and Barkley, along with possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18.

The investigation continues and authorities are proceeding with charges against those they said were involved.

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Banco Itau Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile, Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BANCO ITAU CHILE (SSE:ITAUCL) reports that, within groups regional strategy, Itau Colombia S.A. is advancing into a new stage of its strategic adjustment process initiated in previous years, aimed at strengthening its focus on Wholesale Banking (Itau Corporate) - which encompasses businesses with legal entities in Colombia and Panama - its subsidiaries Itau Comisionista de Bolsa and Itau Fiduciaria, and Treasury.

As part of this stage, Itau Colombia S.A. and Banco Itau Panama entered into an agreement for the transfer of certain assets and liabilities of the bank related to its retail banking business in Colombia and Panama to Banco de Bogota S.A. and Banco de Bogota Panama. This transaction was duly disclosed to the market and to the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia. Complementarily, Itau Colombia will continue to offer Itau Miami products, focused on its private banking business.

Through this agreement, Itau Colombia S.A. will transfer a portfolio of approximately 267 thousand clients, representing close to COP$6.5 trillion in consumer and mortgage loans and approximately COP$4.1 trillion in deposits.

The value of the transaction will be determined at closing, based on the book value of the assets and liabilities subject to the transfer.

The completion and closing of the transaction are subject to the approval of the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia and to the fulfillment of the customary conditions applicable to this type of transaction.

Throughout the entire process and transition period, Itau Colombia will continue operating normally, ensuring the quality and security of its products, services and channels, and acting with responsibility and transparency toward its employees, clients and suppliers.

In the context of the implementation of this transaction, it is expected that relevant costs associated with its execution will be incurred. These costs will be estimated and duly disclosed at the time of closing.

Within this strategy, the Itau Group confirms its commitment to Colombia and its long-term vision of permanence in the country, which is reflected, among other aspects, in the decision of Itau Colombia to convene a Shareholders Meeting to evaluate a capital increase of up to US$100 million, aimed at strengthening its competitiveness and supporting the next stage of the banks growth, subject to the corresponding regulatory approvals.

This agreement represents a relevant stage within a strategic adjustment process that Itau has been developing in Colombia for several years. It is a decision consistent with the Groups focus on strengthening those segments where we have a differentiated value proposition, regional experience, and a clear long-term vocation in the markets where we operate. Colombia is a strategic market for the consolidation and projection of the Itau Groups regional platform, said Andre Gailey, CEO of Itau Chile.
An investigation into reports of animal cruelty at a Gwinnett County home led to arrest warrants for two women.

According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, Christine Abbott and Donna Slavin are accused of abusing dozens of animals.

In September, the Gwinnett County Animal Control Department asked police to help investigate after 25 dogs were found in dire straits at a home on Britt Drive.

Many of the dogs were confined to small cages containing feces and urine, police said. They were also under weight and malnourished.

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Officers also found multiple sets of canine remains, bagged, in three refrigerators at the home as well.

Based on the investigation, police issued warrants for the arrests of Abbott and Slavin on Dec. 8.

The women face 12 felony warrants for cruelty to animals and 14 misdemeanor warrants for cruelty to animals.

Police said the women were found and taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon.

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The 2025 New Jersey bear hunt has officially concluded after a dozen bears were killed in the extended second segment, state officials said.

There were 12 bears killed in the four-day span from Dec. 17-20, seven of which were in Sussex County and five in Morris County, according to data from the Division of Fish and Wildlife. In total, 99 bears were killed in the extension and the originally scheduled hunt from Dec. 8-13.

The state reported 467 bears harvested throughout the 2025 hunt after 368 were killed during Segment A in October. The figure is just shy of the 473 recorded in 2024, when there was no extension to Segment B in October.

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In 2023, there were 493 bears killed across the three sessions. The total included 25 harvested in the Segment B extension, more than twice the number reported this year.

The number of bears killed this year marks the fewest for a full bear hunt since 410 were recorded across three sessions in 2020. The hunt did not feature an October session in 2022 and was not held at all in 2021.

The extension took place two of the past three years because the cumulative harvest rate, calculated by dividing the number of bears killed by the estimated total population, did not reach 20% by the end of Segment B.

The 2025 rate finished just below the threshold at 19.3%. That figure is less than the 2024 rate of 24.6%, which was reached without the extension, but above the 2023 rate of 19%.

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The New Jersey bear hunt has been a constant source of debate between wildlife officials, who tout the practice as necessary to control the animal's population, and activists who believe the practice should be outlawed.

Then-Gov. Chris Christie allowed the annual hunt to begin in 2010. Gov. Phil Murphy canceled the hunt in 2021, fulfilling a promise he made during his initial governor campaign, but New Jersey's Fish and Game Council declared an emergency that reinstated the practice in December 2022.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ bear hunt 2025 finishes with 467 animals killed
Three escaped inmates from Georgia were arrested in South Florida early Tuesday morning, FBI Miami announced in a news release.

Naod Yohannes, 25, Stevenson Charles, 24 and Yusuf Minor, 31, escaped from a DeKalb County, Ga., jail on Monday.

The trio was arrested without incident in Broward County, Fla., early Tuesday morning, the FBI said. They are currently in federal custody and face federal charges related to the alleged kidnapping of a ride-share driver during their escape.

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The inmates were able to compromise a portion of a cell inside the DeKalb County Jail to make their escape, DeKalb County Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins said during a Tuesday news conference. He didnt provide more specifics because jailers dont want other inmates to know the facilitys weaknesses.

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Prior to their escape, the fugitives faced the following charges:

Charles is charged with murder and armed robbery.

Minor is charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Yohannes is charged with simple assault, arson and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution.

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Multiple law enforcement agencies joined forces in the investigation, including the Miami Dade Sheriffs Office, the Broward County Sheriffs Office, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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These agencies are working together as part of the South Florida Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force to address the recent escape and subsequent charges, the news release said.

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As Senate Majority Leader John Thune rushed to advance a new funding package this month, he faced a familiar roadblock: a trio of conservatives from his conferences right flank.

Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Mike Lee of Utah banded together as they sought to advance key conservative priorities, including an end to spending earmarks  holding out for weeks as Thune strained to keep the 2026 funding process on track and avoid another costly government shutdown on Jan. 30.

The tensions between the fiscal hawks, who want to drastically slash spending, and more pragmatic corners of the Senate GOP, including members of leadership and the Appropriations Committee, are nothing new. But these hard-liners have now found a larger pool of allies as the conferences center of gravity slowly shifts right. They also have new perches of authority that give each a powerful megaphone.

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Thune ultimately wore the three Republicans down with some outside assistance from President Donald Trump, cutting deals to win their consent to advance the proposed trillion-dollar minibus funding package. Ultimately, it was Democratic objections that prevented the Senate from acting in the final legislative days of 2025.

But Lee, Johnson and Scott are unapologetic about using their power amid the growing perception among some of their colleagues that they are frequent thorns in Thunes side.

We're actually trying to do important things, Johnson said in an interview. No matter what I would have done, Democrats would have held out until the very last minute, too. So, I mean, sorry about your frustrations, colleagues.

Since January, the trio has chosen to exert their leverage during key moments where GOP leaders have sought party unity. As Thune worked to advance the partys sprawling domestic policy bill over the summer, the three Republicans haggled repeatedly over the measures parameters  including during a procedural vote that was left open for hours as they negotiated. Last month, they briefly withheld support for the bill that ultimately ended the 43-day government shutdown, huddling with Thune before ultimately voting in favor.

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Publicly, their colleagues are respectful and note that every senator has a right to use the legislative tools available to advance their own agenda.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), an appropriator and Thune ally, noted that Johnson, Scott and Lee reflect a bigger share of the caucus that is decidedly conservative, while folks on the other end of the caucus also use their leverage from time to time.

That's just how it works, Hoeven said.

But behind the scenes, the hardball tactics have rankled Republican senators. As the spending standoff dragged on in recent weeks, some privately urged Thune to call the fiscal hawks bluff by putting the spending package on the floor, essentially daring Johnson or others to publicly object.

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Hes going to keep doing it until they call his hand, one GOP senator said about Johnson, adding that Thune risked being miserable unless he asserted himself.

A second GOP senator, who was also granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal conference dynamics, added that the trio has been more emboldened this year than under prior GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The senator said thats due to Thunes looser leadership style and his determination to move funding bills individually rather than simply banking on a single omnibus deal.

We havent done an appropriations process in a long time, the senator added.

Those tensions have played out quietly behind the scenes in GOP lunches, with the conservative trio at times sparring with Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and other members of the government funding panel who want to revise spending levels enacted under former President Joe Biden.

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But the two GOP senators agreed that they did not think Lee, Scott and Johnson would be engaging in their current tactics were McConnell still in charge, or even under Collins predecessor as Appropriations chair, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).

Shelby would have taken away every one of their projects, the first GOP senator said.

The shift in leadership style was by design. The same GOP senators kvetched that McConnell was too centralized, with Scott unsuccessfully challenging him in 2022. In his bid to take over as Republican leader two years later, Thune pledged to shift power back to individual senators and committee chairs  and the three conservative malcontents, once dismissed as outliers, are now more difficult to ignore.

Scott leads the Senate GOPs Steering Committee, holding weekly meetings with the conservative-oriented group as well as hosting a weekly lunch for the larger conference. Lee chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, one of several one-time rebels who received gavels in January. And Johnson  long been willing to be a squeaky wheel  leads the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panels investigative subcommittee in addition to having seats on the powerful Finance and Budget committees.

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At the same time, the Senate GOP conference has undergone a subtle transformation in recent election cycles, inching toward the right as the most pragmatic Republican dealmakers are replaced by senators more closely aligned with the MAGA movement  giving Scott, Johnson and Lee a growing set of allies.

Thune has been dealing with the hard-liners one step at a time. Gaining their approval for the recent funding package, for instance, required promising several amendment votes as well as a path forward for a pet Johnson priority  a bill that would exempt some federal employees from furloughs during government shutdowns.

He has more patience than any three of the rest of us do, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) added that Thune wants to the maximum degree possible to make sure that people in his conference are heard and respected  even if, she said, he has a lot of frogs that keep hopping around.

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Asked about his message to the holdouts, Thune pitched the funding package as being in everybodys best interest and better than the alternatives  a new shutdown, another short-term stopgap or a mammoth omnibus loathed by conservatives. Thune also helped facilitate a potential path toward enactment for Johnsons shutdown bill, connecting him with Speaker Mike Johnson.

I think you always have to keep the perspective in this job  that the most important vote isnt the last vote, its the next vote, Thune said about his broader approach to leadership this past year.

The conservative trio is looking ahead to the next fight, as well. Even after Scott cut a deal to advance the funding bill, he rekindled the earmarks fight, accusing Democrats in an X post of packing the latest appropriations package with taxpayer-funded earmarks and trying to undermine Pres. Trumps agenda.

Republicans, Scott said, must stand strong.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the year Sen. Rick Scott challenged Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader. It was 2022.
A federal grand jury indicted six alleged members and associates of a Chicago street gang for participating in a criminal organization that murdered rivals, committed armed robberies and carjackings and violently protected their perceived territory on the South Side of Chicago, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois said in a news release Monday.

The indictment alleges that members of the Faceworld street gang engaged in numerous acts of violence, including 13 murders and numerous attempted murders, assaults, armed robberies and carjackings in Chicago, the release said.

The violence included shootings at passengers on a CTA bus and at mourners attending the funeral of a rival gang member allegedly killed by Faceworld members.

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The July 2020 shooting sent people running for cover. At least 15 people were wounded when gunmen inside a black Chevy Malibu opened fire on a crowd gathered for a funeral near 79th and Carpenter streets.

"I remember being out there after it happened and seeing casings all over the street and the sidewalk. I said, 'this is like a war zone,'" said Father Michael Pfleger, with St. Sabina Church.

Pfleger offered a $15,000 reward after the shooting.

"If there's not consequences, there's no reason to feel like you're going to get caught. Then people continue to do it," Pfleger said. "Cowards are the ones that spray crowds and shoot at crowds... And if I remember right, there were children out there at the time, with the adults."

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The indictment also charges one of the defendants with the 2019 murders of 18-year-old Brittani Rice and 19-year-old Senobia Brantley, who both worked at Walmart and were sitting in a vehicle after work near 77th and Eggleston.

A man was also wounded in that shooting.

The defendants and other Faceworld members and associates used threats and intimidation to prevent victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement, the charges allege.

Faceworld members allegedly promoted the gang on social media, posting comments, photos and videos to proclaim membership, taunt rivals and boast about murders and other acts of violence, the release said.

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The defendants and other Faceworld members and associates also trafficked cocaine and heroin in Chicago and Iowa, the indictment states.

"It's right in the sweet spot of what the U.S. Attorney's Office does. It's a classic RICO gang conspiracy. They've done them for years, and this fits right in the mold," ABC7 Chicago chief legal analyst Gil Soffer said. "It's a long-running criminal gang with a lot of murders to their name, and you can tell that by the charges."

The indictment was unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Chicago residents Dontae Harper, 28; Tyrone Foy, 31; Tyjuan Tapplar, 25; Robert Lee Thomas, 22; Davion Harris, 28; and Deavean Mcclure, 26 have been charged with racketeering conspiracy.

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Three are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering.

Three were arraigned Friday.

All six are currently in custody.

Racketeering conspiracy generally carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, but a life sentence is possible.

Harper, Foy and Tapplar face a maximum of the death penalty if convicted of certain murders charged in the indictment.

This is a developing story; check back with ABC7 Chicago for updates.

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A 60 Minutes report yanked by Bari Weiss about the horrific treatment of detainees deported from the U.S. to a prison in El Salvador has leaked online after appearing on a Canadian TV app. Canadas Global News aired the 60 Minutes episode without the segment on television, as did CBS, but the networks Global TV app mistakenly uploaded the wrong episode to its streaming app.

Footage of the nearly 14-minute segment circulated on social media despite being pulled from the CBS News schedule about three hours before airtime on Sunday. In the segment, reviewed by Variety, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed a man forcibly removed from the U.S. and sent to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison by the Trump administration, despite having no criminal record.

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There was blood everywhere, screams, people crying, people who couldnt take it and were urinating and vomiting on themselves, said Luis Munoz Pinto, a college student in Venezuela who sought asylum in the U.S. He said he spent six months detained by customs, waiting for a decision on his asylum case, before he was deported.

Four guards grabbed me, and they beat me until I bled, until the point of agony. They knocked our faces against the wall. That was when they broke one of my teeth, Pinto added.

CBS News has not yet commented on the leak.

On Monday morning, the networks editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, told staffers she axed the report on Saturday because it wasnt ready, although 60 Minutes correspondents felt it was not an editorial decision but a political one. According to The New York Times, Weiss suggested numerous changes to the segment and wanted it to feature an interview with Stephen Miller or another senior Trump administration official. She said the piece was centered on information that had already been reported by the Times, and we simply need to do more.

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Alfonsi said she already requested comment from the Department of Homeland Security, the White House and the State Department. In a leaked email to her CBS colleagues on Sunday, Alfonsi wrote, Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.

The last-minute decision to pull a 60 Minutes segment critical of the Trump administration comes after repeated complaints by the president about unfair treatment by the David Ellison-owned network. On Dec. 16, Trump wrote on Truth Social, For those people that think I am close with the new owners of CBS, please understand that 60 Minutes has treated me far worse since the so-called takeover, than they have ever treated me before. If they are friends, Id hate to see my enemies! A week before that, Trump blasted 60 Minutes for its interview with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom he called a very poorly prepared Traitor, and said of parent company Paramount: THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE OLD OWNERSHIP.

Ellisons Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, attempting to convince shareholders to reject WBDs agreed upon deal with Netflix, which is set to acquire the Warner Bros. studios operations and HBO Max. Trump previously asserted that he would be involved in approving the M&A deal, which would require sign-offs from regulators including the U.S. Justice Department and FTC.

Earlier this year, Ellisons Skydance Media acquired Paramount Global in an $8 billion deal. A few months later, Ellison announced a deal reportedly worth $150 million to acquire Weiss independent media outlet The Free Press, appointing Weiss as CBS News head of editorial. Those moves were seen as an attempt to improve CBS News standing with Trump and the MAGA movement. Since then, Weiss has moderated a town hall with Erika Kirk, the CEO of right-wing advocacy group Turning Point USA and the widow of Charlie Kirk, and promised future events with guests like JD Vance and Sam Altman.

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Lorenza Inman Jr. has been charged with the murder of Frezja Baker, following a long criminal history that includes three prior assaults and a shooting. Inman, 38, is currently being held without bond due to the danger he poses to the public.

Inman has a criminal history that dates back to 2005, having been convicted of more than 10 crimes over the years, according to the Charlotte Observer.

He was previously sentenced to 13 to 17 years in prison but had his conviction overturned in December 2020. In March 2021, after a plea deal, he was released from prison only to be charged with assault less than five months later.

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ALSO READ: Man charged with murder in death of missing Charlotte mother

Inman was convicted in a February 2019 trial for attempted first-degree murder and other charges related to a shooting that occurred in April 2017. He was accused of following the victim, Sharrieff Pope, to a shopping center and shooting him multiple times.

However, the conviction was overturned by the states appeals court in December 2020 due to errors in allowing certain evidence during the trial.

Following the appeals courts decision, Inman secured a plea deal in March 2021 for assault and gun possession charges.

This arrangement allowed prosecutors to drop charges related to attempted robbery and discharging a firearm in city limits, leading to his release days later.

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Just four months post-release, in July 2021, Inman was charged again for an assault on a female, including an incident where he punched a woman in the face. The charges were dropped shortly after by the victim, who declared the encounter was a misunderstanding.

In October 2021, as a result of previous incidents, Inman took Alford pleas to charges of intimidating a witness and habitual misdemeanor assault.

He was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation, with a warning of potential jail time if he failed to comply with the terms. His probation included participation in an abuser treatment program due to his history of domestic violence.

ALSO READ: Judge denies bond for accused killer of Charlotte woman

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On Dec. 11, 2021, Inman was charged with the murder of Baker, who he shot in the head and left in a car. Following this incident, he fled to southeastern North Carolina.

Due to this violent history, court judges ordered him to be held without bond, citing that he poses a significant danger to the public, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Judge Roy Wiggins ordered that Inman remain in custody without bond on Dec. 15, stating the severity of the current charges and his prior record make him a threat to society. Further proceedings regarding Inmans case are expected to follow, with his next court appearances still pending.

VIDEO: Man accused of killing Charlotte mother has history of domestic violence
Dec. 22AIKEN  An Aiken man has been arrested by the Aiken Department of Public Safety after allegedly threatening to kill someone if he did not receive $100.

On Dec. 20, law enforcement officers responded to the 400 block of Edgefield Avenue for a disturbance involving a man who was carrying a hammer and asking for money.

Officers made contact with a 32-year-old male victim on the scene who stated that the man, identified as Jeremiah Dillard, 47, threatened him with a hammer and was also possibly carrying a firearm.

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When officers attempted to approach Dillard, reports say he began walking away and refused to acknowledge them.

Dillard reportedly began to run. Officers pursued him and observed him throw an item into a nearby wooded area.

Reports say that Dillard was apprehended after he ran into the wooded area and became tangled in foliage.

After a search of the area, police found a Glock pistol containing 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The victim told officers that he was part of a work crew renovating the structure on Edgefield Avenue and that Dillard had approached the worksite with a hammer and stated that if he did not get $100 he would kill somebody.

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The victim also stated that Dillard lifted his clothing slightly to reveal the grip of a black handgun stuck in his waistband while making these threats, according to reports.

Dillard was found to be prohibited from possessing firearms due to a conviction in 2020 for possession of more than 1 gram of meth or cocaine base. This conviction carried more than one year in prison as a possible sentence and makes Dillard prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Dillard was taken into custody on charges of armed robbery, resisting arrest, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain crimes and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

He is currently booked at the Aiken County detention center.
Georgias historic racketeering case in connection with opposition to the police training center known as Cop City is still hanging over the heads of 61 defendants, drawing into focus the states continuing possession of hundreds of cellphones, laptops and personal items.

The states case is believed to be the largest ever leveled against a protest or social movement using Rico, a law created to go after the mafia and usually associated with organized crime but here deployed against a largely environmental and criminal justice-focused movement.

Opposition to the $109m police training center, which opened this spring, has come from a wide range of local and national organizations and protesters, and is centered on concerns around police militarization and clearing forests in an era of climate crisis. Atlanta police have said the center is needed for world-class training and to attract new officers.

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A Fulton county judge recent missed a deadline on 8 December set by state law, after he failed to put into writing his oral decision from three months earlier, which dismissed the states felony criminal conspiracy case on procedural grounds.

Now in its third year, that means the case remains unresolved and the government continues holding on to huge amounts of personal property seized from the 61 defendants, from diaries to cellphones to pants. The situation makes plain the governments ability to seize property in its effort to prosecute dissent, at a time when the current administration is attempting to label antifa a terrorist group.

The state of affairs is a natural consequence of the overreach by the state, who cast such a wide net since the beginning, said Devin Franklin, senior movement policy counsel at the Southern Center for Human Rights, an Atlanta-based organization that obtained attorneys for many of the cases defendants.

Fulton county superior court judge Kevin Farmer announced his decision to dismiss the charges based on procedural grounds in a September hearing. The decision should have been put in writing within 90 days according to state law  a requirement most judges arent able to keep in a county with tens of thousands of felony cases and that is impossible to enforce, several attorneys for the defendants told the Guardian.

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The state attorney general, Chris Carr, announced at the time that his office would appeal the decision once its in writing. The attorney general will continue the fight against domestic terrorists and violent criminals who want to destroy life and property, Carrs office said in a statement at the time. Carr is running for governor of Georgia in next years race.

But as long as the prosecution continues, the state can hold on to an enormous amount of personal possessions seized as evidence.

The most stunning example may come from someone whos not even a defendant in the case: Manuel Paez Teran, or Tortuguita, who state troopers shot and killed in January 2023, while the activist was camping in a forested park near the Cop City site.

Paez Terans mother, Belkis, told the Guardian the state continues to hold on to most of Tortuguitas diary, as well as their cellphone and laptop. Paez Teran wrote a message on their cellphone minutes before the troopers shot and killed them, leaving 57 bullet wounds in their body. A state district attorney ruled months later that the killing was objectively reasonable, in part because it asserts that Paez Teran shot first. Their last message was Help, Belkis said. I would like to have that [message].

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The state has other items of personal importance to her, like a briefcase she bought for her son in Panama, where she lives  all because the state says these items are needed for their racketeering case.

The state also maintains possession of at least 100 devices  including cellphones and laptops, as well as nine hard drives, 10 USB sticks, three tablets and dozens of boxes containing diaries, health records, bail fund records, letters and many other personal items, the Guardian has learned.

Another noteworthy example of the states continuing possession of seized property comes from Marlon Kautz, Savannah Patterson and Adele MacLean, three defendants who make up the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, one of nearly 100 similar organizations across the country that help arrested protesters with bail, legal defense and related needs. The group is at the center of the states case; its three members are mentioned more than 120 times in the states 2023, 109-page indictment.

The state withdrew money-laundering charges against the fund contained in the Rico indictment in September, 2024, but the racketeering charges remained until Judge Farmers September decision. The funds three members told the Guardian they were missing such personal items as photos on a cellphone of Pattersons grandmother, who died while the prosecution has continued, a diary containing a year or twos worth of some of [Pattersons] most intimate thoughts and a 2016 letter from MacLean to a therapist detailing her feelings about sexuality.

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On a practical level, the fund has also been affected by the states possession of dozens of receipts needed for the organization to get money returned that was paid for bonds, said Kautz. The fund has had to hire someone to sort out the issue.

The fund also engages in other projects such as corresponding with prisoners from across the south-east US; hundreds of letters from prisoners were also seized and have never been answered. We were never able to respond, said Patterson. Its heartbreaking.

Xavier de Janon, attorney for defendant Jamie Marsicano, described trying to sort through the states evidence last year. Although nothing of Marsicanos had been seized, in a Rico case, all evidence can be used against everyone, so De Janon went to Carrs office and spent two, eight-hour days sorting through more than 50 boxes of items.

There were backpacks, zines, lube, condoms, batteries, IDs, phones, banners, personal papers, letters, De Janon said. Tragically, the second day, they brought out the stuff from Tortuguitas murder: bloody clothes, their diary, backpack and tent  which still smelled like death. I had to step out.

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The sheer amount of digital evidence in the case has been a subject of ongoing controversy, with defense attorneys having to sort through what the deputy attorney general, John Fowler, said at one point was 14 terabytes of evidence  the equivalent of more than 3m photos.

In the digital age, the portion of those terabytes coming from cellphones and computers can be sorted through and copied  and the devices can be returned, several attorneys said. Additionally, the digital information seized from each defendant has been shared with the dozens of defense attorneys via the discovery process  including statutorily and constitutionally protected health information  a massive invasion of privacy, said Elizabeth Taxel, a clinical professor at the University of Georgia school of law.

But the state continues to hold on to everything from hard drives to letters. I dont know if its laziness or intentional, but there is an air of repression to the states handling of the issue, said Lauren Regan, executive director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center, an environmental and social justice legal organization. Regan also represents one of the defendants.

Its like: Weve got you under our thumb, she said.

Jason Sheffield, another defense attorney in the case, said the states behavior shows the power of seizure  the power the government has, knowing you will have to fight about it until potentially years later. The misuse of that power is what we all fear.
J2 Metals has signed a three-year option agreement to acquire the Sierra Plata silver-antimony project from Impact Silver.

The project is a 2,200-hectare (ha) land package in the Zacualpan District near Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico and borders the mining concessions held by Grupo Mexico and Impact Silver.

Sierra Plata encompasses several former silver-producing mines and is viewed as highly prospective for antimony, a strategic metal in global supply chains.

The property contains five historic silver mines, including El Salto and El Sabino, along with several smaller past workings.

Additional historic mines and workings lie immediately outside the project area, with lithological trends and structures continuing into the Sierra Plata claims.

The projects key advantages include strong potential for silver and antimony and ready access to Impacts technical expertise and regional drilling infrastructure.

J2 Metals CEO Thomas Lamb said: We are delighted to have struck this exciting deal with Impact on the Sierra Plata Project, a large and highly prospective land package within a historic silver district.

Under Mexican mining regulations, certain concessions require regular investment, and Sierra Plata lies outside Impacts current production focus, creating a compelling opportunity for J2 to advance the project.

Under the terms of the transaction, J2 will issue Impact with subscription receipts having an aggregate deemed value of C$250,000 ($181,074) within three business days of receiving TSX Venture Exchange approval.

These receipts will automatically convert into J2 common shares on the date falling four months after 19 December 2025 or the effective date.

The terms also stipulate that J2 must carry out qualifying work on the project by the first, second and third anniversary of the effective date, along with issuing common shares or cash.

J2 may fast-track its acquisition of 100% of Sierra Plata by completing the payments and making an additional C$500,000 payment to Impact, through a mix of cash and J2 shares in proportions chosen by Impact.

Impact will retain a 1.5% net smelter returns (NSR) royalty on all minerals produced from the Sierra Plata project.

J2 will have the right to buy back 50% of the NSR (reducing it to 0.75%) for C$1,500,000, exercisable at any time before or after commercial production begins.

"J2 Metals to acquire Sierra Plata silver antimony project in Mexico" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




A man was shot and seriously injured Tuesday morning during an armed robbery at a Southwest Side bank, Chicago fire officials said.

CFD said the incident took place about 10 a.m. at a Chase Bank in the 4300-block of South Archer Avenue in Brighton Park.

The man is an armored truck security guard, CFD said.

Chicago police said a male suspect approached the Brinks truck driver while he was standing outside the bank and pulled out a gun.

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SEE ALSO: 1 dead, 1 wounded in shooting on CTA train in Loop, Chicago police say

Chicago fire officials said the man was shot in both legs, and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.

No one else was injured.

The suspect drove away in a silver vehicle, heading south on Troy Street, then east on 44th Street.

He also allegedly took the security guard's gun.

No one is in custody.

Area One detectives are investigating.

Police remained on the scene behind the bank around noon.

The FBI said they responded to the robbery, as well.

Jesus Recendiz happened to be looking out of his window to check the weather and says he saw the suspect go between shooting the victim and loading bags in a car.

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"The guy puts in one shot. He goes to the car, puts in one bag, two bags, comes back and puts in the other shot," Recendiz said.

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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals claims in a court filing that one of Iowas most prolific violators of the Animal Welfare Act hasnt ceased operations with the loss of his license. (Photo by Getty Images)

Animal-welfare advocates say that while one of Iowas biggest puppy-mill operators is no longer licensed, he is still selling dogs and has ramped up the illegal practice of puppy laundering.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals claims in a court filing that one of Iowas most prolific violators of the Animal Welfare Act, Steve Kruse of West Point, hasnt ceased operations with the loss of his license, but has actually expanded the illegal activities intended to facilitate the sale of puppies and dogs.

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In September 2024, the ASPCA filed a seven-count civil complaint against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that polices animal breeders and brokers at the national level.

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The ASPCA alleged the USDA has knowingly allowed illegal activity to occur through its issuance of licenses to Kruse and two of his associates, Brian Lichirie and Wuanita Swedlund, and by failing to revoke any of their licenses.

The case centers on the USDAs alleged failure to act in response to its own written findings that Kruse has used Lichirie and Swedlund to engage in puppy laundering  the practice of routing dogs to retailers through intermediary breeders, allowing Kruses dogs to be sold even in states that restrict the sale of animals originating from kennels owned by repeat violators.

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Aside from a USDA motion to dismiss the lawsuit, there was very little activity in the case until Oct. 8, 2025, when U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb noted that so much time had passed that Kruses three-year USDA license had expired. The judge asked the USDA and the ASPCA to each submit briefs as to whether the expiration of Kruses license rendered any part of the case moot.

It appears that Mr. Kruse continues to engage in regulated activities, despite the cancellation of his license, and continues his scheme to launder puppies.

 ASPCA, in a civil lawsuit against the USDA

In its filing, the USDA recently suggested the five claims concerning enforcement against Lichirie and Swedlund remained live, while the two counts specific to Kruse were moot and should be dismissed. Without a license, the USDA argued, there is no issue of enforcement the court can address.

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Last week, the ASPCA filed its own brief, contending all seven counts should proceed, arguing the USDA did not offer any indication that they had conducted an inquiry or investigation as to whether Mr. Kruse continues to participate in the venture even without his license, still owns the land on which the kennels operate, or otherwise maintains involvement in the ongoing enterprise.

The ASPCA alleges that while Kruse is no longer licensed, its investigation suggests he remains actively involved in regulated activity under the Animal Welfare Act, despite the cancellation of his license.

Steve Kruses Stonehenge Kennels in West Point, Iowa, has been repeatedly cited for failure to provide adequate veterinary care, and the USDA suspended Kruses license in 2023. The dog pictured here is one of those that federal inspectors alleged was in need of veterinary care. (Aerial photo courtesy of Bailing Out Benji. Inset photo taken by USDA inspector, courtesy of Bailing Out Benji)

The APCA notes that days after Kruses license was canceled in August 2025, the USDA approved Christine A. Snakenberg for a license to do business at the same West Point address where Kruse has for years operated a large-scale kennel.

The USDAs pre-license inspection report for Snakenberg indicates there were 142 adult dogs on the property when the inspector visited and the federal agency agreed to grant her a license.

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Kruse still owns that property, the ASPCA says, and Snakenberg, who is not a co-owner, owns a single family, owner-occupied home 19 miles away in Danville.

In addition, the ASPCA says, an Illinois Bureau of Animal Welfare inspection report dated Nov. 26, 2025, shows that Kruse himself continues to supply dogs to Ray Duckmanton, an Illinois-licensed breeder doing business as Racore Inc.

These records demonstrate that Mr. Kruse has not ceased his unlawful activities, the ASPCA argues. It appears that Mr. Kruse continues to engage in regulated activities, despite the cancellation of his license, and continues his scheme to launder puppies through his associates in violation of the Animal Welfare Act  including through Snakenberg, who the USDA has licensed to conduct regulated activities on Mr. Kruses property.

In its brief to the court, the ASPCA alleges that the USDA has historically failed to act even when its own inspectors have confirmed that a previously licensed individual is still engaged in breeding or brokering. The organization adds that the USDA, in its brief to the court, has not argued that the alleged illegal activity has halted and has instated stated only that Kruse is no longer licensed.

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There is nothing preventing Mr. Kruse from reapplying, and nothing suggesting that the agency would not re license him if he did, the ASPCA argues. Thus, it is entirely likely, and expected, that the wrongful behavior by the defendants will continue.

The ASPCA claims the USDA wrote to Kruse nine years ago, in 2016, to inform him that federal law required him, Lichirie and Swedlund to operate under a single license. When Kruse failed to take corrective action, the ASPCA claims, the USDA continued to renew his license and never took any steps to revoke the licenses of either Lichirie or Swedlund.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a court order that would force the USDA to void all current licenses issued to Kruse and his associates.

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The new MAGA-curious boss at CBS News lectured her angry staffers in a call Monday morning after pulling a 60 Minutes report at the eleventh hour.

Bari Weiss defended her intervention in a segment detailing the alleged abuse of Venezuelan men deported by Donald Trump to an El Salvador megaprison during an editorial call with staffers.

The editor-in-chief, who sources say appeared visibly frustrated over leaks, said she held the story because it wasnt ready, according to a leaked transcript of the meeting.

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The only newsroom Im interested in running is one in which we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters with respect, and, crucially, where we assume the best intent of our colleagues. Anything else is absolutely unacceptable, she said, according to CNN.

The story presented very powerful testimony of abuse at CECOT, but that story has already been reported on by places like The Times, Weiss said. The public already knows Venezuelans have been subjected to horrific treatment in this prison, she added, alleging that the team needed to do more.

And this is 60 Minutes, she went on. We need to be able to make every effort to get the principals [sic] on the record and on camera. To me, our viewers come first, not a listing schedule or anything else, and that is my north star, and I hope its the north star of every person in this newsroom.

Weiss left the New York Times to start his own publication after publicly denouncing its so-called woke culture. / Leigh Vogel / Getty Images for Uber, X and The

But Weiss account paints a different picture from how some staffers viewed the decision. Several employees slammed the move as blatant censorshipand an effort to appease the Trump administration.

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In a leaked memo to the 60 Minutes team, veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi blasted Weiss for sidelining the segment for political reasons.

Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices, Alfonsi wrote. It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it nowafter every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.

Alfonsi added that requests for comment had been sent to the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and the State Department, but went unanswered, which she referred to as a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Weiss suggested booking a 60 Minutes interview with Stephen Miller, the architect of Trumps deportation policy, to balance the CECOT segment, and even forwarded Millers contact information to the reporting team.

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This is just the latest in a string of controversies for CBS News as it attempts to remake its image following Weiss contentious appointment as editor-in-chief. Her promotion was orchestrated by Trump-friendly CBS CEO David Ellison, in what many saw as a concession to the White House as he pursues a deal to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, a company that owns Hollywood studios, CNN, HBO, HGTV, and a vast movie and TV back catalog.

The Daily Beast has reached out to a CBS spokesperson for comment.
Ector Countys new courthouse should begin taking shape following the county commissioners court approval of a design and layout for the $250 million facility.

Commissioners approved a design that calls for the facility to be C-shaped and five stories. The plan will move central holding to the lower level, which will free up space on the first floor and higher floors. The plan will allow for up to six courtrooms per floor.

The five-parcel site will include a new library, courthouse, parking garage and U.S. Postal office, Civic Plaza and additional parking. It will also include a basement with secure parking for judges and a holding area for inmates and a sally port.

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Zoning for the buildings will change, as the buildings within the development will be zoned central business from light commercial.

The new courthouse is planned for 200 N. Texas Ave., which is the site of the current post office.

The current courthouse was built in 1938. The county website states the new courthouse is expected to be complete by 2029.

This artists rendering shows a new design for the new Ector County Courthouse approved by Ector County Commissioners. (Courtesy Rendering)

In October, commissioners were presented three preliminary plans for the courthouse. Two were five stories with one being six.

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Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett said in a prior interview it is the countys goal to go vertical with the project in early 2026.

Phase 1 demolition commenced this week, starting with the removal of a tire shop to make way for the new parking garage and new U.S. Post Office. A news release called it a significant milestone towards the construction of the new Ector County Courthouse, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2029. The new Civic Park is slated for completion in 2030.

The current Post Office facility in downtown Odessa will remain operational until the new parking structure is completed. The parking structure, located east of the current Post Office on Texas Ave., includes a new U.S. Post Office on the first floor.

This artists rendering shows a new design for the new Ector County Courthouse approved by Ector County Commissioners. (Courtesy Rendering)

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The Commissioners Court selected and voted on the preferred design for the new courthouse, determining the overall look and architectural style of the future courthouse. As the planning phase wraps up, the decision is a milestone for the project, as the Design-Build team prepares to enter the design phases, bringing the development one step closer to construction.

On Jan. 27, the County is hosting an open house, offering the public a chance to learn about the design of the new building, ask any questions, and provide feedback.

The open house is scheduled 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Joe Zant Community Room at Odessa College.

For more information about the new Ector County Courthouse, please visit its website at newectorcourthouse.com.

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The new facility will feature modern technology, enhanced security measures, and expanded spaces. According to County Judge Fawcett the courthouse is designed to meet the needs of Ector County for decades.

The post Work begins on courthouse in 2026 appeared first on Odessa American.
The search for a California woman who vanished in the ocean after possibly being attacked by a shark has been suspended.

The U.S. Coast Guard, in a news release on Monday, Dec. 22, identified the woman who disappeared while swimming in Monterey Bay as Erica Fox, 55, of Monterey County.

Officials and family said Fox disappeared while swimming with more than a dozen people on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 21.

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Emergency crews responded to Lovers Point in Pacific Grove for reports of a missing swimmer just after noon. The coastal city is about 115 miles south of San Francisco.

Police said two witnesses told officials the missing swimmer may have encountered a shark while swimming offshore.

"We believe a shark was involved," Pacific Grove Police Cmdr. Brian Anderson confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

A red no swimming flag stands on a NYC beach where a swimmer was attacked by a shark near Queens on August 10, 2023.

Crews searched 84 nautical miles for swimmer

According to a joint statement from the Coast Guard, City of Pacific Grove, and City of Monterey, the search ended on Monday after 15 hours and more than 84 square nautical miles.

"The Coast Guard extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones affected by this incident," said Capt. Jordan Baldueza, a commander for the agency based in San Francisco.

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Although coordinated search operations have concluded, Anderson said detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Fox's disappearance.

"We remain committed to determining what happened and following every available lead," Anderson said.

Shark bites surfer in California, marks 3rd attack in state this year

Missing swimmer Erica Fox a triathlete from Pebble Beach

The victim's father, James Fox, told NBC News his daughter was a triathlete from nearby Pebble Beach who swam with friends in Monterey Bay each weekend.

The group entered the water as usual and a witness on the shoreline reported seeing a large splash" when the woman disappeared, police previously reported, which caused the other swimmers to return to shore "out of concern it may have been a shark attack. Everyone in the group returned safely except the missing swimmer."

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Im in shock, and Im kind of numbed by all this, because it was just out of the blue, her father told the outlet. Erica was doing something yesterday that she really loved.

He said his daughter, who had been married for 30 years, was "kind, empathetic and disciplined."

Lovers Point Beach and nearby swimming spots closed

Lovers Point Beach, as well as McAbee and San Carlos Beaches in Monterey, remained closed as a precautionary measure through Tuesday, Dec. 23, officials said.

Down under: At this far-off destination, you can pet exotic animals minutes after landing

How many people are attacked by sharks each year?

According to data from the International Shark Attack File, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the world averages 65 documented shark attacks each year.

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On average, six fatal attacks are reported annually, the data shows.

Last year, 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Search ends for missing swimmer Erica Fox last seen near Monterey, CA
Betty Reid Soskin, a fount of history who was the National Park Service's oldest ranger when she retired a few years ago, has died at the age of 104.

Soskin, whose family confirmed her death on Dec. 21 in a Facebook post, had spent more than a dozen years sharing her stories as a park ranger at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, intent on filling missing chapters of the U.S. narrative that only someone like her could know. They did not share her cause of death.

Born in Detroit in 1921, Soskin was the great-granddaughter of a former Louisiana slave, according to No Time to Waste: The Urgent Message of Betty Reid Soskin, a documentary about her life produced in association with the Rosie the Riveter Trust.

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Soskin's Cajun-Creole family moved to California six years later, where she grew up in Richmond and worked as a file clerk in a segregated shipyard union hall supporting U.S. efforts in World War II. Decades of discrimination would steel her character and resolve.

As a child of what she called the service workers generation  i.e. bellhops, laborers, Pullman porters and domestic servants  Soskin was well aware of racism and its effects. Her gig as a union clerk, she said, represented a step up, the equivalent of someone in more modern times being the first in their family to go to college.

I wasnt making beds in a hotel or taking care of white peoples children, she said in No Time to Waste.

According to the National Park Trust, Soskin was one of the nations first Black record store owners. She worked with the Black Panthers in Californias East Bay Valley and would ultimately pen a memoir, produce spoken-word recordings and write songs reflecting her emotional highs and lows  the latter as a way of maintaining her sanity, she said.

Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest full-time National Park Service ranger in the United States, poses for a portrait in her home in Richmond, California, a day before her 100th birthday on September 21, 2021. Soskin worked at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, leading tours and answering questions about how Black women like herself supported the U.S. war effort despite the challenges of racism. Soskin worked as a file clerk for Boilermakers A-36, a segregated union hall in Richmond, during the war.

Maintaining hope wasn't always easy, she said, but she succeeded more than not, buoyed by the throngs who took to American streets during the Black Lives Matter movement demonstrations of 2020.

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There are others out there working on the same thing, she told USA TODAY in July 2020. And one of us will someday make it. The people in the streets are now multiracial and thats different. That means that the question is no longer there for me as a Black person. It now involves everyone.

In 2015, Soskin was invited to attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the White House Ellipse, where she introduced President Barack Obama. Meeting the Obamas, she said, was the high point of my life.

In 2007, by then in her mid-80s, Soskin became a National Park ranger, schooling visitors on Black womens contributions to the WWII effort in the face of discrimination.

I feel like I have lived my life fully," she said. "I dont have any regrets. I dont have anything that I feel I left undone. I feel like Ive had my life and Ive lived every minute of it.

Contributing: Autumn Schoolman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Betty Reid Soskin: Nation's oldest park ranger dies at 104
New Jersey is set to become the latest state to ban cellphone use during school hours.

Both the state Senate and General Assembly voted to pass the bill on Monday.

Under the bill, the state Department of Education would develop guidelines to help local school districts create their own policies for public school students who use internet-enabled devices during the school day.

The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy, who previously said he supports the ban.

During his State of the State Address in January, Murphy said phones in school "are fueling a rise in cyberbullying. And they are making it incredibly difficult for our kids, not only to learn, but to retain the substance of what they learn."
JAB Insurance has agreed to acquire the Life and Pensions business (ULP) from Utmost Group, for an undisclosed sum.

ULPs activities centre on the UK bulk purchase annuity (BPA) sector along with maintaining its existing policies.

Since entering this market in late 2024, the business has completed 11 full buy-ins with a combined value of 311m. These transactions have contributed to building a BPA franchise.

Under the agreement, JAB Insurance will take control of more than 5bn in assets as well as 175 employees currently working for ULP.

ULP currently provides services to approximately 290,000 pensioners.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be finalised during the first half of 2026.

JAB Insurance is part of JAB Holding Companys insurance division. Its other interests include Prosperity Life Group and Family Life, an insurer based in Texas that holds licences in 49 US states.

JAB Insurance executive chairman Anant Bhalla said: We look forward to welcoming the Utmost Life & Pensions business and all its policyholders into the JAB Insurance family.

This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to enter the most attractive global insurance markets where we can bring our permanent capital alongside differentiated capabilities across the value chain. ULP provides a strong foothold in the UK market, which fits nicely with JAB Insurances long-term investment horizon.

Utmost Group has indicated that this transaction is intended to allow the company to focus on its wealth solutions business.

The funds from the sale are intended for the repayment of bank debt used for the Lombard International acquisition.

Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate needs, according to Utmost Group.

Utmost Life and Pensions CEO Andrew Stoker said: I am pleased to continue leading the Utmost Life & Pensions business with the backing and support of JAB Insurance.

With JAB Insurances permanent capital and its broader ecosystem around balance sheet management expertise, we will be able to provide a truly differentiated value proposition for pension scheme trustees and members.

"JAB Insurance to buy Life and Pensions business of Utmost Group " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




A Boston nightclub has issued a statement after a woman collapsed on Saturday night.

Angelica Morales says her, her sister and friends were out celebrating her birthday when she started falling.

My sister was falling, so I grabbed her so her head wouldnt hit the floor, and then I just started panicking, said Morales.

Morales and her friends tried to get the DJ to stop the music while her sister lay unconscious on the dance floor.

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She says the DJ did turn the music off for a minute or two, but then turned it back on as they scrambled to get help for Anastacia.

Praying for a miracle: Family demands answers after woman collapses at Boston nightclub

Anastacia, whos 27, is a mom of two with a six-month-old baby girl and 9-year-old son, she is currently on life support at Tufts Medical Center.

We are deeply saddened by the medical emergency that occurred at our club early Sunday morning, ICON management said. Our staff responded immediately and called emergency services while an off-duty EMT rendered first aid. Police and medical personnel arrived on scene, and the individual was transported to the hospital, where they later passed away."

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ICON Management says they are cooperating with law enforcement and city officials.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the individuals family and loved ones, the statement concluded.

An investigation into the incident is on going.

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.

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R: AP Photo

The Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump could not deploy National Guard troops to Chicago in 6-3 decision released on Tuesday.

To call the Guard into active federal service under 12406(3), the President must be unable with the regular military to execute the laws of the United States. Because the statute requires an assessment of the militarys ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from execut[ing] the laws except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.,' wrote Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson in their majority opinion. So before the President can federalize the Guard under 12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be unable with those forces to perform that function.

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The Government has not carried its burden to show that 12406(3) permits the President to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois. We need not and do not address the reviewability of findings made by the President under 12406(3) or any other statute, it concluded.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred in judgment, while Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

In a November Truth Social Post, Trump declared that The Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Chicago, once considered our Nations BEST, now has a more than 28% vacancy factor, and is ready to call it quits unless something is done about the murder and crime, which is prevalent throughout the City. CALL IN THE TROOPS, FAST, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! The administration also cited a need to protect federal personnel and property around Chicago.

The post Supreme Court Wont Let Trump Send Troops to Chicago first appeared on Mediaite.
Brown University Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Rodney Chatman speaks at a press conference on the Brown University shooting investigation on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at the Providence Public Safety Complex. Far left Brown Provost J. Doyle III and Gov. Dan McKee look on. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Brown Universitys head of public safety is now on administrative leave as the Ivy League school undergoes two outside reviews of its security practices and its response to the Dec. 13 mass shooting that killed two students and injured nine others.

University President Christina H. Paxson wrote in a message to the Brown community Monday that Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Rodney Chatman would be on leave effective immediately.

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Hugh T. Clements, a former Providence police chief, will assume daily oversight of campus policing and serve as the interim vice president for public safety. Paxson noted that Clements will report directly to her.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education also announced Monday that it will conduct its own review of Browns security practices, with the feds interested in the universitys potential violations of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, which allows universities compliant with security standards to receive financial aid money.

The Corporation of Brown University, the governing committee of the school, will approve the external organizations who will ultimately carry out an After-Action Review and a separate Comprehensive Campus Safety and Security Assessment, Paxson wrote.

A thorough After-Action Review is an essential part of any recovery and response following a mass casualty event like the one that has devastated our campus, Paxson wrote. A review like this is standardThese reviews must be both thorough and comprehensive, and the University is committed to sharing key outcomes of both reviews with our community and the public.

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The After-Action Review will look back at the Dec. 13 shooting and examine how Brown responded before, after, and during the event. This review will look at Browns emergency response and its coordination with law enforcement in the days that followed the violence that took place in the Barus and Holley building.

Still, Paxson noted, The response of Browns Public Safety officers to the Dec. 13 shooting has been praised by the other law enforcement agencies that assisted Brown on that terrible day. There is no question about the bravery, dedication and commitment of Browns Public Safety officers in their rapid response to the scene of the shooting. Our officers were first on the scene mere minutes after the shooting, and their actions saved lives.

The Comprehensive Campus Safety and Security Assessment will more thoroughly scrutinize Browns current safety and security policies, from procedures and staffing to technology and training. Building access, camera coverage, and other security infrastructure will be included as part of this review.

I understand the gravity of the concerns about safety that follow a tragedy of the magnitude that Brown has suffered, Paxson wrote. I want to assure you of Browns deep commitment to take every possible action to increase the safety and security of our campus, with the goal of protecting our community from future harm.

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The school will also set up a rapid response team to focus on immediate measures ahead of students return to campus for the spring semester, which begins on Jan. 21, according to the Brown website. Paxson wrote that full university operations will resume on Jan. 6. Winter session courses began Monday and will run through Jan. 20.

Paxsons letter noted that going forward, the universitys Office of the Registrar website will require Brown credentials to access information on classroom and exam locations.

The more immediate security measures will include increased police patrols and presence, expedited conversions of buildings with key-based access to card-based access, the installation of additional security cameras (including at Barus and Holley), and an expansion of on-campus panic alarms.

A news release from the Education Department cited concerns that campus surveillance and security system may not have been up to appropriate standards, allowing the suspect to flee while the university seemed unable to provide helpful information about the profile of the alleged assassin.

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The feds said Brown must submit information  including annual security reports, crime and dispatch logs, and records of emergency notifications  to the departments Office of Federal Student Aid by Jan. 30, 2026.

After two students were horrifically murdered at Brown University when a shooter opened fire in a campus building, the Department is initiating a review of Brown to determine if it has upheld its obligation under the law to vigilantly maintain campus security, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement Monday.

Of the nine students with gunshot injuries hospitalized after the shooting, all but two had been discharged from Rhode Island Hospital as of Monday evening, Paxson wrote.

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Brown University placed its chief of police on leave Monday as officials grapple with the discovery that the gunman in the deadly Dec. 13 mass shooting went on to kill an MIT professor in Massachusetts just two days later.

Rodney Chatman, the universitys vice president for public safety and emergency management and chief of its police force, was placed on administrative leave effective Monday, Brown University President Christina Paxson announced in a letter to the school community.

Former Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements will serve as interim for these positions, assuming day-to-day leadership of the universitys police department and reporting directly to Paxson, according to the letter.

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Clements previously served as the director of the federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for the U.S. Department of Justice, Paxson wrote. He also worked as a visiting fellow at Brown for nearly five years beginning in 2018.

I understand the gravity of the concerns about safety that follow a tragedy of the magnitude that Brown has suffered, Paxson wrote in the letter. I want to assure you of Browns deep commitment to take every possible action to increase the safety and security of our campus, with the goal of protecting our community from future harm.

Also on Monday, U.S. Education Department officials announced the opening of an investigation into Browns overall security, as well as its emergency response to the mass shooting. If the university is found to have broken federal law mandating minimum safety and security standards for campuses, it could lose government-funded student aid.

How Brown plans to improve campus security

The change in leadership over security at Brown University was announced Monday along with three other initiatives meant to increase safety at the institution.

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Firstly, Brown has tasked a rapid response team with implementing new, immediate safety and security measures, according to the letter. Its goal is to secure the campus prior to the start of the spring semester. The university also plans to increase the number and visibility of security personnel, surveillance cameras and panic alarms across campus as quickly as possible.

Secondly, Brown is now set to commission an external After-Action Review of the Dec. 13 mass shooting that will be overseen by Clements, according to the letter. This will include a complete assessment and evaluation of campus safety in the period leading up to the tragedy, the preparedness and response on the date of the shooting, and the emergency management response in the aftermath.

Thirdly, the university plans to complete a comprehensive assessment of its campus safety and security, according to the letter. This will entail a review of Browns existing safety policies and procedures, as well as an analysis of building perimeters, access points, surveillance cameras and other related infrastructure.

Barus and Holley, the engineering and physics building in which sophomore Ella Cook and first-year student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov were killed, will be of particular focus as Brown reviews and improves its security, Paxson wrote.

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Both reviews will be governed by a committee made up of members of the Corporation of Brown University  the institutions governing body, according to the letter. It is unclear how external reviewers will be identified and considered, but the committee will be tasked approving the selected organizations and the scope of their inquiry.

The University is committed to sharing key outcomes of both reviews with its community and the public, the letter reads.

The stakes keep rising for Brown

Paxsons letter comes less than a week after police found the gunman responsible for the mass shooting  48-year-old Portugese national Claudio Neves Valente  dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Despite capturing his image on several surveillance cameras, investigators struggled to identify the former Brown doctoral physics student as a suspect for days after the shooting.

In searching for Neves Valente, police connected him to the shooting of MIT physics professor Nuno Loureiro at his Brookline apartment complex. Loureiro, who is also from Portugal and crossed paths with Neves Valente in decades past, was killed two days after 11 students were struck by gunfire at Brown.

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While investigating the mass shooting, police also discovered that a custodian at the university had warned a security guard of a suspicious man on campus weeks before the attack. The suspicious man was later discovered to be Neves Valente.

Additionally, Brown students and staff have reported that the universitys emergency notification system was delayed in alerting them to the shooter on Dec. 13, federal officials claimed in their investigation announcement on Monday.

As of Monday morning, five of the nine students who were injured by gunfire on Dec. 13 remained in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, officials said. The four other victims had been discharged.

As we work to heal and recover, our primary focus is to nurture a thriving campus by attending to the psychological and social health of all members of our community while we also demonstrate that Brown is still Brown  a safe, inclusive, caring community of talented students and scholars and dedicated staff," Paxson wrote.

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But this work begins with taking all steps to ensure that our campus is a safe place to work, live and learn. We are unwavering in this commitment.

Brown University Shooting, Dec. 13, 2025

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Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The police chief at Brown University has been placed on leave following the mass shooting that happened there last week, killing two and wounding nine.

The announcement on Tuesday came on the same day that the Department of Education announced it would investigate the school for Clery Act violations.

The Jeanne Clery Act, passed in 1990, requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline policies and procedures to improve campus safety.

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Rodney Chatman, Brown's police chief and vice president for public safety, was put on leave effective immediately, the university's president announced in a statement.

Former Providence police chief Hugh T. Clements will serve as interim chief.

President Christina Paxson said Brown will commission a review of campus safety and the response to the Dec. 13 attack. A former graduate student, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, is the alleged shooter. He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"A review like this is standard," Paxson said. Chatman was hired in 2021 and has worked in campus safety at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Utah.

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Paxson also said there will be more security cameras installed on campus, including at the Barus & Holley engineering building, which is where the shooting happened. Police struggled with finding the shooter after the attack because of a lack of usable surveillance video, CBS News reported.

"Students deserve to feel safe at school, and every university across this nation must protect their students and be equipped with adequate resources to aid law enforcement," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. "The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students' safety and following security procedures as required under federal law."

Paxson said the university "will initiate an external comprehensive Campus Safety and Security Assessment of the Brown campus, including College Hill and the Jewelry District, to review Brown's current safety and security policies, procedures, infrastructure and training. This work will be supported by an on-site physical security assessment of the perimeter of buildings, access points, cameras and technology, and other infrastructure conditions, and will build on the work underway to enhance security immediately."
Brown University Chief of Police Rodney Chatman has been put on administrative leave following the shooting at the Ivy League institution on Dec. 13, during which two people were killed with many more injured.

Chatman, who served as the vice president for public safety and emergency management, was relieved of his duties following an announcement by the universitys president on Monday.

A thorough After-Action Review is an essential part of any recovery and response following a mass casualty event like the one that has devastated our campus. A review like this is standard, Brown President Christina Paxson said via press release.

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She also emphasized key security measures to be implemented immediately, based on lessons learned, and identified areas for improvement after the tragedy, including enhanced camera coverage and increased physical safety staffing.

The news of Chatmans leave of absence shed light on his past positions, including his time as the former University of Utah police chief. At the end of 2020, Chatman was also put on administrative leave, and his tenure ultimately ended at the Utah campus in 2021. According to the Deseret News, Chatman was placed on leave after accusations that he had impersonated a peace officer by beginning work without certification from Utahs Peace Officer Standards and Training board.

The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office ultimately found no sufficient evidence to charge Chatman. In June of 2021, he left the campus indefinitely, per KUER; however, his LinkedIn profile claims he worked at the University of Utah till 2023.

Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, R-Ogden, who is chair of Utahs School Security Task Force, called Chatman totally unqualified, alleging he misrepresented his experience and was not properly certified, on KUTVs podcast, Take 2.

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In a press release from the Department of Education, Secretary Linda McMahon said Brown University is under a program review to ensure the campus complies with specific campus safety and security requirements as a condition for receiving federal student aid.

After two students were horrifically murdered at Brown University when a shooter opened fire in a campus building, the Department is initiating a review of Brown to determine if it has upheld its obligation under the law to vigilantly maintain campus security, McMahon said. Students deserve to feel safe at school, and every university across this nation must protect their students and be equipped with adequate resources to aid law enforcement. The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students safety and following security procedures as required under federal law.
NEED TO KNOW

Tatyana Remley was convicted in a plot to hire a hitman to kill her estranged husband, Mark Remley

Authorities said the investigation began after a suspicious house fire at the couples California property

Remley died on Dec. 18, 2025, from a gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner said

A California equestrian who was convicted in a plot to have her estranged husband killed has died by suicide, the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office confirmed to PEOPLE.

Tatyana Remley died on Dec. 18, 2025, from a gunshot wound to the head. Her death was ruled a suicide, the medical examiner said.

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Remley was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving her estranged husband, Mark Remley. NBC San Diego reported in December 2023 that Remley pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and was sentenced to three years and eight months in state prison.

Tatyana Remley/Facebook

PEOPLE previously reported that she was arrested in 2023 after allegedly meeting with an undercover officer and offering to pay for her estranged husbands killing.

The investigation began after a house fire at the couples ranch property in Del Mar, an unincorporated area of San Diego County north of the city, according to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department.

Deputies said an arson unit was called to the scene and that Remley was initially arrested that day for alleged firearms-related offenses after officers said they found three firearms and ammunition in her possession.

Tatyana Remley/Facebook

The following day, the sheriffs department said investigators opened a murder-for-hire investigation after receiving information that Remley was attempting to hire someone to kill her estranged husband.

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She provided detailed information on how she wanted her husband killed and his body disposed of, the sheriffs department alleged in a statement. Authorities also claimed that Remley brought firearms and U.S. currency as a down payment for the killing.

According to The Coast News, Mark Remley told the outlet that his wife had offered a mutual friend $2 million to kill him. The friend declined and alerted police, prompting a sting operation, the outlet reported. Remley later met with an undercover officer at a local Starbucks, according to The Coast News.

In divorce papers, Remley said she and a friend were present at the property at the time of the fire but claimed she did not know how it started, The Coast News reported. Her husband, however, told the outlet that he believed the fire was intentionally set after he allegedly discovered she was trying to have him killed.

The Remleys married in 2011, then separated and reconciled multiple times over the years, according to The Coast News.

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Remley was charged with arson in connection with the house fire and was arraigned on Sept. 11, per a criminal complaint shared with PEOPLE by the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. She was scheduled to return to court on March 3, 2026, per the office.

PEOPLE was unable to reach an attorney for Remley or her estranged husband for comment at press time.

Read the original article on People
When Amaris Roman cradled her infant daughter in the backseat of her car, she never imagined motherhood would begin without a home.

We were living out of the car and hopping from house to house, said Roman, 34, who at the time was fleeing an abusive relationship. I had just had my daughter  she was just months old  and we were barely hanging on.

December 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, is recognized as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. The day honors people who have died while experiencing homelessness, raises awareness of housing insecurity, and encourages donations to local shelters and outreach organizations.

National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day 2025

Pastor Myung Sun Han of the United Methodist Church at New Brunswick led a group of about 30 community leaders, parishioners and community members who have experienced homelessness in a program honoring the 230 people who have died in Middlesex County over the past 15 years while homeless.

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The program began with attendees gathering in a circle outside the church, allowing them to experience the cold of the night faced by the unhoused people they were honoring. As the names of individuals who died were read aloud, each person holding a paper cutout angel bearing a name lit their candle, until the circle was fully dotted with candlelight.

This is the longest night of the year, when darkness reaches its maximum, said Han. So intentionally, we light a candle for the most vulnerable brothers and sisters in our community. Theologically, its very meaningful to hold a service of light on the longest night.

The outdoor tribute was followed by a program of music, poetry and moments of reflection.

According to Melissa Bellamy, division head of the Middlesex County Division of Housing, the countys permanent housing program has a strong track record, with 96% of people remaining housed two to three years after leaving shelters.

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Bellamy noted that ending homelessness requires both coordinated effort and advocacy. She also warned that recent federal policy changes threaten automatic funding renewals, creating uncertainty for agencies and the people they serve.

We dont just say we like to end homelessness, she said. That actually takes a lot of work, commitment and groups who decide to work together. These are people who are often forgotten about, people nobody wants to advocate forWe need more people advocating for people like Amaris, people like the 230 names we shared, because they all deserve to have a good life.

On a single night in January 2024, an estimated 771,480 people experienced homelessness nationwidethe highest total recorded since federal tracking began. New Jersey reported roughly 13,700 people experiencing homelessness, the most in over a decade, while Middlesex County identified 622 unhoused residents, according to HUD data and local counts compiled by Coming Home of Middlesex County.

In New Brunswick, local reporting based on the same count identified about 182 people experiencing homelessness, with more than a third living in unsheltered conditions, underscoring the issues impact at the community level.

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On National Homeless Persons Memorial Day, we pause to honor the lives of our neighbors who passed away without the safety and stability that every person deserves, said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. Their loss is a solemn reminder of the urgent work before us and the critical need for support services across Middlesex County.

National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day 2025

For Michaela Macaulay, service isnt an obligationits a lifelong practice rooted in faith, family, and decades of human services work.

A longtime member of the church and a regular volunteer at events honoring people who died while unhoused, Macaulay said showing up is simply part of who she is.

I dont come just because this is my church  I come because I care, Macaulay said. Sometimes people who are unhoused dont even need food first. They need to be seen. They need that human touch. We cant just think about ourselves all the time  we have to think about them, because they need us.

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As the church doors closed, across the street a woman sat on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette, her walker and a few small bags close at hand. She declined to be photographed but offered her first name, Darlene. She said she did not believe she was worth interviewing. She spoke of the cold, of having no transportation to reach a shelter, and said she expected to spend the night on the street. The temperature had fallen below freezing.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A 40-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for sex crimes against a child, the Cherokee County District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Michael Clay Downey, 40, of Canton, was found guilty of nine charges during a jury trial in November, including two counts of rape, two counts of incest, three counts of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of child molestation.

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Canton was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, followed by a second life sentence and an additional 70 years.

The sentencing took place on Dec. 22.

The investigation was initiated in September 2024 after a child under 12 reported multiple incidents of sexual abuse, which were committed by Downey in a home in Canton, officials said.

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During the sentencing hearing, the defense recommended a minimum sentence of 25 years, while the prosecution sought the maximum allowable sentence.

Assistant District Attorney David Bailey, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the severity of Downeys actions, stating, The facts of this case are nothing short of atrocious and no sentence can undo the harm that was done. This defendant raped an innocent 11-year-old child, who will live with the impact of his actions for the rest of her life.

Judge Shannon Wallace issued Downeys sentence in accordance with the prosecutions recommendation, underscoring the courts commitment to protecting children from sexual abuse.

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway commented, This sentence reflects the seriousness of these horrific crimes and our offices unwavering commitment to protecting children. It sends a clear message that those who sexually abuse children will face the harshest consequences allowed by law.

The Cherokee Sheriffs Office has pledged to continue working alongside the District Attorneys office to ensure justice for victims of sexual abuse.

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Jack in the Box has wrapped up the divestment of its quick service restaurant brand Del Taco Holdings to Yadav Enterprises in a deal valued at about $119m.

Del Taco has now formally begun operating under the ownership of Yadav Enterprises as part of the latters franchise portfolio.

The definitive agreement for the deal was signed in October this year.

Yadav Enterprises CEO Anil Yadav said: For more than five decades, Del Taco has been a beloved restaurant chain supported by loyal guests who have fuelled a special and unique culture that continues to set the brand apart.

Our recent acquisition of the Del Taco brand aligns perfectly with our long-term growth vision, and we are excited to support the next Del Taco evolution, while honouring the amazing legacy that has defined the brand for more than a half-century.

The chain, founded in 1964, offers a mix of Mexicaninspired and American dishes and runs more than 600 outlets across 17 US states.

The company will continue to be based at its existing headquarters in Lake Forest, California.

Jack in the Box said the sale represents progress in its Jack on Track programme, aimed at improving its balance sheet and moving further towards an asset-light operating structure.

On completion of the deal, Jack in the Box received roughly $109m in cash and a $10m 21day promissory note, bearing interest at 8% per annum.

The note is fully guaranteed by Yadav Enterprises founder and CEO Anil Yadav.

The final deal value may change based on postcompletion working capital calculations and other standard closing adjustments.

Jack in the Box CEO Lance Tucker said: Our sale of Del Taco represents meaningful progress in simplifying our business model and reducing our debt.

We remain committed to elevating the Jack in the Box brand and improving operational performance to drive sustainable, long-term growth and create value for our shareholders. We appreciate the Yadav teams partnership during this transition and wish the Del Taco brand well in their next chapter.

Yadav Enterprises now adds Del Taco to a portfolio that includes over 300 franchised restaurants across the country.

The group is already the largest franchisee for Jack in the Box, Dennys and TGI Fridays.

It also acts as franchisor for Taco Cabana and Nick The Greek.

BofA Securities was the sole financial adviser to Jack in the Box on the deal, with Sullivan & Cromwell providing legal advice.

On the buyers side, Yadav Enterprises was represented by its general counsel, Steven M. Kries, and received advisory support from Baker Tilly.
December 24 feels like a holiday to many, with its half-empty offices and the rush of a last-minute shopping crowd. Its status as an official holiday, however, isn't the same as Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve often becomes a day off for federal employees when the president issues a temporary order, like Trump did this year when he declared Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 federal holidays in 2025. Unfortunately, that still leaves the rest of us at the mercy of our workplace's goodwill.

Christmas falls on a Thursday this year and Americans are eyeing a long weekend to follow. But who gets Christmas Eve off? And will your errands be interrupted by extra closures those days? Here's what to know.

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Trump ordered 2 new federal holidays: Will you get paid days off?

2024: Barbie MiniLand, Bluey 3-in-1 Airplane, Magna-Tiles, Mr. Beast Lab Mutators 2021: Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, Bluey Ultimate Caravan Adventures Camper Playset or Toniebox Starter Set 2019: Baby Shark (license for everything), L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Disco or Paw Patrol Super Mighty Pups Lookout Tower 2018: Fingerlings 2016: Hatchimals 2015: Star Wars BB-8 droid 2014: Frozen dolls, Pieface game or Rainbow Loom 2012: Wii U 2009: Silly Bandz or Zhu Zhu Pets 2006: Nintendo Wii 2005: Webkinz 2004: Puppy Surprise or Dancing Dora the Explorer 2003: Robosapien 2002: Beyblade 2000: Razor scooter What was your favorite Christmas toy? These are some of the most popular over the years. 1 of 15 2024: Barbie MiniLand, Bluey 3-in-1 Airplane, Magna-Tiles, Mr. Beast Lab Mutators

Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday?

While Christmas Eve has been declared a federal holiday in 2025, it is not a permanent addition to the holiday schedule.

To designate a day as a federal holiday in perpetuity, legislation must pass through Congress and be signed into law by the president. This was last done when Juneteenth was added in 2021 under the Biden administration.

It's not entirely uncommon for presidents to issue temporary holiday orders, especially around the winter celebrations. In 2014, President Barack Obama declared Dec. 26, which landed on a Friday  the same as it does this year  a federal holiday. Trump did the same for Christmas Eve during his first term in 2019 and 2020.

Christmas Eve, while widely recognized as a holiday, isn't on the federal schedule.

Who gets Christmas Eve off?

Unfortunately, Trump's order doesn't mean most Americans will get Christmas Eve off.

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Many workplaces outside of government offices follow the federal holiday schedule when giving workers paid time off. Because Dec. 24 has not been added to the federal schedule permanently, however, people who did not already have Christmas Eve off are not likely to reap the benefits.

Only federal agencies will be closed on those days. Some employees may still have to report to work, at the discretion of agency leaders, according to Trump's order. Private businesses can decide to give their employees time off, but they are not obligated to by law.

Will banks, stores, post offices be closed on Christmas Eve?

While federal government offices may close their doors the days before Christmas this year, locations like banks, post offices and private retailers will largely remain open.

U.S. Postal Service post offices will be open for retail transactions on Dec. 24 and mail will be delivered that day. Offices will be closed and mail will not be delivered on Christmas Day.

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According to the Federal Reserve, banks will follow the typical schedule of being open for business on Dec. 24 and closed on Christmas Day.

Major private retailers, such as Target, Walmart and Costco, are by and large following the traditional rule of only closing on Christmas, Dec. 25. Target stores will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. They will reopen for normal hours on Friday, Dec. 26. Similarly, Walmart stores, Costco and other private businesses will be closed on Christmas Day only.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday? What to know after Trump's order
Millions of holiday commuters in Southern California will continue to find the average price of gas at under $4.45 per gallon.

In San Bernardino County, the average gasoline price has dropped to $4.14, a decrease of 7.8 cents per gallon compared to last week, according to GasBuddy.

The Auto Club projects an all-time record number of 10.2 million Southern Californians will travel at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday travel period.

Prices in San Bernardino County are 41.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 7.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

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The cheapest station in San Bernardino County was priced at $3.47 on Sunday, while the most expensive was $5.39, a difference of $1.92 per gallon.

Victor Valley gas prices

At just under $3.90 per gallon on Monday, the most affordable gas stations in Victorville include the ARCO at 13660 Bear Valley Road, Circle K at 14511 Palmdale Road and G & M at 12080 Amargosa Road.

In Hesperia, commuters can find gas at under $3.80 at Pilot at 8701 Highway 18, Walmart at 13385 Main Street and Fastrip at 17223 Main Street.

At just under $3.80 per gallon, some of the most affordable gas stations in Apple Valley include HD Fuels on Highway 18, 7-Eleven at 21718 Bear Valley Road and Circle K at 18465 Highway 18.

Millions of holiday commuters in Southern California will continue to find the average price of gas at under $4.45 per gallon. In San Bernardino County, the average gasoline price has dropped to $4.14 just before Christmas Day.

The average price for gas is $4.11 in Riverside County. $4.40 in Los Angeles and $4.30 in Orange County.

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December 2020 was the last time the average price of gas was under $3.12 in San Bernardino County before Christmas Day.

National gas prices

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 5.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.79 on Sunday.

The national average is down 26.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 21.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy.

For a fourth straight week, the national average price of gasoline has declined, as conditions remain ripe for some of the lowest seasonal gas prices in five years, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

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De Haan added that oil prices continue to struggle amid rising U.S., Canadian, and OPEC+ oil production, while refinery output remains near some of the highest seasonal levels in years factors that are likely to keep gas prices under pressure over the weeks ahead.

Were continuing to see some gas prices below $2 per gallon in the nations cheapest states, now at more than 125 gas stations, De Haan said, Diesel prices have also seen some relief, though inventories remain tight, keeping the national average higher than a year ago.

The Auto Club projects an all-time record number of 10.2 million Southern Californians will travel at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday travel period.

Auto Club

The Auto Club projects an all-time record number of 10.2 million Southern Californians will travel at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday travel period. This years forecast is a 2.8% increase over 2024, surpassing last years volume of 9.9 million Southern California travelers.

Nearly 8 million Americans, including 945,000 Southern Californians, are expected to flya 2.3% increase over 2024 nationally and an increase of 1.7% locally, according to the Auto Club.

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Southern Californians will primarily travel to popular driving-distance destinations such as San Diego, Las Vegas, Anaheim, the Central Coast, and national parks in California and Arizona.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Here are the cheapest holiday gas prices in the California High Desert
A Clay County School Board member is vowing to fight back after facing calls for his resignation.

Board member Robert Alvero (District 2) spurred controversy after posting a video over the weekend in which he stated 80 percent of his experience with African Americans have been rude, nasty, and problematic.

Alveros newly-hired attorney now argues any retaliation against Alvero would violate his clients free speech rights.

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That attorney, Anthony Sabatini, said Alvero did not intend to generalize, but was instead speaking on his own personal life experiences.

I dont think the comments are so-called racist in any way. I think that what were seeing is the reemergence of woke-ism and politically correct culture, Sabatini said.

Sabatini has vowed to sue the school board and Florida Department of Education if Alvero faces any repercussions as a result of his comments.

He also said Alvero will be declining the Education Commissioners request for him to appear before the Florida Board of Education during its next meeting in January.

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Sabatini argued the only elected leader with the power to punish Alvero is the Governor, but that power is limited to situations where an elected official has been charged with a crime or in cases of, malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties.

Very specific reasons, none of which apply here, Sabatini said.

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And while Sabatini noted Alvero has significantly stronger First Amendment protections in terms of his role as an elected official, hes also vowed to sue Alveros two employers should they take any action against him.

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Action News Jax has confirmed the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Florida State Guard have already launched investigations into Alvero over his comments, and JFRD has gone as far as putting him on administrative duty.

If they have issues with his comments they can criticize his comments, they can engage in dialogue with him, but if theyre seeking to use the power of the state to punish him theyre gonna lose, Sabatini said.

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In light of Alvero retaining legal counsel, we reached back out to Clay County School Board Chair Erin Skipper (District 1) for comment.

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She referred us back to the statement she released Sunday, in which she advised Alvero to consider resigning.

The remarks do not reflect the values of our school district and are unacceptable, Skipper wrote.

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An interfaith group of men and women of the cloth led a Christmas week vigil at the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark on Monday, asking ICE and its private contractor to respect the god-given value of every human being, regardless of immigration status.

We believe that mass incarceration is not justice, said the Rev. Chet Penza, a retired pastor with the United Methodist Church of Hackettstown. And what it serves to do is deny the sacred worth of every individual.

Penza was among clergymen and women from different faiths and parts of the state who prayed side-by-side beneath a hand-held cross, called together by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America 10 days after detainee Jean Wilson Brutus, 41, died on Dec. 12, after being placed in Delaney Hall that day.

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ICE did not disclose the cause of Brutus death in its announcement last week, and spokespeople for the agency did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the case.

A regional spokesperson for ICEs Newark office acknowledged receiving a request for comment on the vigil, but did not immediately provide one on Monday.

A spokesperson for the GEO Group, which owns and operates Delaney Hall under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE, did not respond.

Mondays vigil was led by the Rev. Erich Kussman of the St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Trenton. Kussman addressed a dozen reporters and about as many immigrants rights advocates gathered on the sidewalk and in the right-hand traffic lane of Doremus Avenue in an industrial corner of Newark where Delaney Hall is located, as 18-wheelers rumbled by only feet away, some honking in support of the gathering.

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Were here to do a Christmas Vigil with a lot of prayers, because we believe prayers can change hearts, can change minds, can change souls, said Kussman, noting that he himself was an immigrant from Germany, albeit with dual citizenship.

The Rev. Robin Curras, an interim pastor at a Presbyterian church New Jersey that she declined to name, said before the vigil that, Jesus told us to love everyone and treat everyone with dignity.

Curras said the baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph fled persecution in Judea, and that the family hadnt been granted a visa or asylum status by their new land.

Jesus had to flee to Egypt with his parents as a baby, fleeing political persecution, Curras said. Jesus is very clear that were supposed to be hospitable to the stranger in Matthew 25, and to love everyone, to pray for enemies. And this notion of rounding up everyone is anathema to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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In addition to praying for well being of detainees and their families, the pastors said they also pray that God provides guidance for President Donald Trump, his homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, whose department includes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, and federal agents and GEO Group security guards who carry out orders issued by their superiors.

Theyre created in Gods image like everybody, Penza said.

The Rev. Annie Allen of the Rutherford Congregational United Church of Christ said the guards and agents in particular should be forgiven for taking part in the immigrants mass incarceration.

The people who have been hired here are primarily African American people from this community who really have very little options of employment, said Allen.

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A counter-demonstrator was outside Delaney Hall just before the vigil, a man who held an American flag as he removed signs fixed by immigrants rights advocates to the orange plastic Jersey barriers that separate the facilitys driveway from the sidewalk along Doremus Avenue. He declined to give his name or say what, if any, group he was affiliated with.

Parishioner Saija Autrand of the First Congregational Church of Montclair followed her pastor to Delaney Hall on Monday.

Autrand carried a sign reading, Seeking Asylum is not a crime that bore the image of a haloed Latino child, mother and father meant to evoke Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Visitors to Delaney Hall often include mothers and young children there to see a detained father.

We pray for the people whove been taken away from their families and for justice to be done, said Autrand, 70, a graphic artist who lives in Verona. What would Jesus do, right?

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CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig on Monday said former President Bill Clinton cant hide from the photos released last week by the Justice Department  which show him swimming with an unidentified woman and convicted child *** trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Clinton appeared in numerous images alongside Maxwell and her late former accomplice Jeffrey Epstein, whose suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal *** trafficking charges fueled theories of a client list, raising questions about Clinton.

Politics: Trump Grinches Up In His Annual Hate-Filled Christmas Message

However, what the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected, wrote Angel Urena, a spokesman for Clinton, on social media Monday. We do not know whom, what or why.

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He continued, But we do know this: We need no such protection.

Honig appeared later on CNNs The Source to discuss the confident response. He reacted bluntly when asked if the Justice Department is capable of immediately releasing any remaining images of Clinton they might have  as the statement Monday demanded.

Im not about to vouch for DOJs competency at this point, but I did find the statement from the Clinton camp to be fairly unconvincing, Honig told guest host Kasie Hunt. I mean, OK, if they want to see other documents come out, fine.

Politics: Indiana Republican Blasts 'Snowflakes' Upset With His AI Santa Beatdown

He continued, I want to see what those documents are going to say about the photographs we all saw of Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell and a woman whose identity is blacked out in a pool at night. I mean, what is Bill Clinton going to say about that?

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Epstein died behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal *** trafficking charges. His death, which was ruled a suicide, and his known ties to powerful people fueled theories of a client list. Trump later began decrying the Epstein case as a Democratic hoax.

The DOJ was ultimately compelled last month by Congress to make all of its Epstein records public within 30 days as a result of the new Epstein Files Transparency Act, leading to a fraction being released in recent days that included the images of Clinton.

Weve all seen the photograph of Bill Clinton in a hot tub with, again, a woman whose identity was blacked out and saying, Well, DOJ is covering, suggesting [the] DOJ is covering for Trump, Honig said Monday. Maybe. Maybe not. We dont know that for sure.

He continued, But I dont find that at all even beginning to address the many serious questions that have risen around Bill Clinton. Theres no evidence, specifically, that he committed a crime  but he cant hide from whats in those photos.

Politics: DOJ Slammed For Childish Response To Question About 'Fake' Epstein Letter

When asked how much plausible deniability Clinton might have regarding potential knowledge of Epstein and Maxwells crimes at the time that the photos were taken, Honig noted this is exactly the problem with the manner in which the files are being released.

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We dont know exactly [when] they were taken, said Honig. Very importantly, we dont know where they were taken, and the timing is so important here, Kasie, because to me, theres a really key cutoff that happens in 2007, 2008.

Honig noted that Epstein was being federally prosecuted in Florida at the time for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, only to receive a ridiculously, inexcusably soft plea deal with the help of then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, who later became Trumps labor secretary.

Epstein was sentenced to 18 months, but was allowed to go to work six days per week, for up to 12 hours a day, and was released five months early in 2009. Honig said in conclusion that it thus makes a very serious difference when exactly the Clinton photos were taken.

He told Hunt, So people who are still cavorting with Jeffrey Epstein after that [criminal charge and conviction], after 2007, 2008, I think have a very different set of questions to answer than people who cut him off before 2007, 2008.

Related...

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The Coast Guard ended its search for two missing boaters, Randall Spivey, aged 57, and Brandon Billmaier, aged 33, at sunset on Monday. The search spanned around 6,700 square miles as crews continued efforts to find the men who went missing during a fishing trip.

The hunt for the two boaters began after a family member reported them missing around 9 p.m. on Friday. The men had departed for a fishing trip about 100 miles offshore and were expected back at sunset.

The Coast Guard and partner agency crews conducted searches by air and sea, covering an area roughly the size of Connecticut. During the search, weather conditions included winds of around 10 mph and seas reaching three feet.

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A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater found the mens vessel drifting about 70 miles west of Fort Myers around midnight on Saturday. They sent a rescue swimmer to cut off the engines and secure the boat for safety. The vessel was then returned to Station Fort Myers Beach for further examination.

Search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Lt. Amy Harrison, stated, The Coast Guard diligently searched with our pilots, boat forces, cutter crews and numerous partners. She affirmed that the search area was extensive and the coordination involved was significant.

Capt. Corrie Sergent, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, addressed the decision to suspend the search: There is no harder decision than suspending a search. I am incredibly grateful for the crews, partners and volunteers across this community who executed this massive search with the utmost professionalism, persistence and compassion.

The FBI is now leading the investigation into the whereabouts of the missing boaters.

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Local immigrant-owned business owners say heightened immigration enforcement activity has driven customers away, threatening their livelihoods during what is typically a busy holiday sales season.

A meeting Dec. 23 at the Somali-owned Global Mall on Morse Road brought together Somali, Hispanic, Haitian and Arab business and community leaders who say that fears tied to increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in Columbus has sharply reduced foot traffic as customers avoid public spaces and businesses.

More: Columbus businesses pivot to keep customers home during ICE presence

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"This store used to be very full, and today these business owners say they havent seen anyone," said Kawther Musa, director of the Ohio Somali Book Fair and a local health care provider. "We want to show people they dont have to fear, and we want to show the city of Columbus and state leaders how ICE has affected local businesses. Theres a huge problem happening."

Columbus saw a surge in masked immigration officers taking people into custody last week. ICE said in a Dec. 20 news release it launched "Operation Buckeye" on Dec. 16, targeting "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens." ICE included names and photographs of 10 men arrested in Ohio, "including during this week's enforcement."

Global Mall, which opened in 2007 as a hub for Somali entrepreneurs, is home to dozens of small businesses and serves as a cultural and economic hotspot for the Northland area. Several owners said the slowdown ICE created has left them struggling to pay rent, utilities, taxes and employees due to dwindling daily sales.

Beyond lost revenue, speakers emphasized the broader ripple effect on families. Many business owners support relatives both locally and abroad, they said, meaning reduced income can affect housing stability, food security and children's well-being.

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More: ICE confirms 'Operation Buckeye' underway in Columbus. Here's what we know

Mohamed Ali, an engineer and Somali community activist, said fear has been compounded by a lack of trust between enforcement agencies and immigrant communities. While officials have said ICE activity is not intended to target law-abiding residents, Ali said that messaging has not translated into a sense of safety.

Christian Espinoza, a board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Columbus, which represents more than 100 Hispanic-owned businesses, said misinformation has worsened anxiety.

"We want to hold gatherings like this so people know their rights," Espinoza said. "We have to share the right information. There's so much misinformation."

Local immigrant-owned business leaders gathered Dec. 23 at Global Mall on Morse Road in Columbus to discuss a lack of customer activity due to ICE presence.

Nicole Espinoza, owner of La Patrona Multiservices, said fear has affected both customers and staff. She said her secretary chose not to come to work while ICE activity was reported nearby.

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"Its so sad to see everyone hiding and afraid, especially during the holidays," she said. "People are being targeted, and it's destroying businesses."

While the gathering did not formally request emergency assistance, organizers said the absence of direct economic support, from relief funds to clearer public guidance, remains a major gap. Community leaders called for continued dialogue and concrete action, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond immigration to the citys broader economic health.

"This is not one community's issue, Musa said. It affects all of Columbus."

(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)

Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus immigrant business owners say ICE hurting livelihoods
One person was taken into custody after authorities conducted a search warrant at a Greenville home Monday night, according to a social media post from the police department.

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The investigation took place in the 200 block of 12th Street.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The department initially asked the community to avoid the area if possible due to a barricaded person.

Authorities have since taken a male into custody without further incident.

News Center 7 has reached out to the Greenville Police Department for more information on this investigation.

We will continue to follow this story.

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The Community Foundation of the Ozarks presented grants totaling $120,000 to 11 agencies  including three serving Jasper County  through its Welcoming Communities program.

The program supports projects that bring awareness to issues of access and inclusion while improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented people in central and southern Missouri.

Jasper County recipients of the grants include the BLASIANetwork, which received $4,738 to support Courageous Leaders. The program is in partnership with You Belong and expands inclusive educational programs for underserved youth and families in Joplin.

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BLASIANetwork  Building Leaders, Achieving Sustainability, Innovation, Accountability Network  was established in 2014. It is also known as the Building Leaders Network. You Belong in Joplin is a work group of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

The group also received a $3,000 grant in October to support Courageous Conversations, a series of community-led forums in Joplin that provide a safe space to hold meaningful conversations around challenging but necessary topics, according to the announcement.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Missouri received $10,500 to support Opening Doors: Building Belonging for Every Youth, a program to foster accessibility, inclusion and belonging for underserved youths in the Joplin area.

The Webb City School District received $5,000 to support Unified Cardinals, a program that promotes kindness, inclusion and relationships among all students at Webb City Junior High School.

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A community is built by people who feel a sense of belonging  and that community is more vibrant when we extend that belonging to all people, said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, in a statement. We are proud to help these agencies ensure that more people feel included and empowered in our region.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is the regions largest public charitable foundation serving donors, nonprofit partners and 55 regional affiliate foundations  including the Carthage Community Foundation, Joplin Regional Community Foundation and Sarcoxie Community Foundation.
ASHEVILLE - The North Carolina Department of Transportation has started right of way acquisition for the "North Section" of the Interstate 26 Connector project, the most expensive section of the most expensive project for which the department has ever awarded a contract. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, according to a Dec. 22 NCDOT news release.

The milestone comes after years of delays and a recent burst of progress as the department's efforts to build a median-divided freeway only accessible by interchanges with multiple river crossings and across approximately seven miles of Asheville's highways. The project includes six sections: AA, AB, AC, B, C and D.

The North Section includes section B, which spans from Haywood Road, up Interstate 240 East and across the French Broad River. Also included is section D, which includes improvements for Riverside Drive.

An aerial rendering of the I-26 Connector project.

Section B, which features multiple freeway bridges across the French Broad and the widening of I-26 to six lanes north of Haywood Road to Patton Avenue, is estimated to cost over $1.4 billion, according to the NCDOT's 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Plan, or STIP. Section D is estimated to cost over $51 million.

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The full I-26 Connector project is estimated to cost over $2.1 billion, according to the STIP, though section C, which includes improvements to Interstate 40 interchanges with Smokey Park Highway, I-26/I-240 and Brevard Road, is not currently funded. It will be reprioritized for funding in the state's next STIP, according to the NCDOT's I-26 webpage.

The right-of-way process for the North Section includes $193 million in funding to purchase land from property owners in Section B and D, according to a Dec. 22 news release from the NCDOT. Right-of-way purchases for the North Section will include portions of "approximately 170" parcels, with an estimated 80 relocations, according to the news release. It will include 32 residential relocations and 45 non-residential relocations, including businesses and rental properties. Estimates may be adjusted, the department said.

Impacted property owners will be contacted by a right-of-way agent with American Acquisition Group, according to the NCDOT. The agent will review project plans, explain impacts and gather information for the appraisal process. After an appraiser visits the property, the agent will present a written offer for the property. Owners and tenants who must relocate will receive relocation assistance information and time to consider their options, according to the NCDOT.

The interchange of I-26 and I-240 in Asheville is seen here Oct. 15, 2024. The $1.3 billion N.C. Department of Transportation I-26 Connector project will design a median-divided freeway, accessible only by interchanges, which will connect I-26 in southwest Asheville to U.S. 19/23/70 throughout northwest Asheville.

The design-build contract for the North Section of the I-26 project was awarded in June 2024 with anticipated completion in fall 2031. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, according to the NCDOT.

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The final estimated cost of the I-26 Connector is below the estimated $4.3 billion for NCDOT's proposed project to widen Interstate 77 from the South Carolina state line to Interstate 277 and Brookshire Freeway, according to the STIP. That project, which is currently in the planning and design process, has not yet begun construction. Right-of-way is expected to begin for that project in 2029.

More: UNCA champion, former NC House Rep. Wilma Sherrill has died

More: Asheville's Biltmore Estate to be set for 2nd Hallmark Christmas movie

This story will be updated.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com or message will_hofmann.01 on Signal.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: I-26 connector in Asheville to begin construction in 2026
Lantmannen has struck a deal to acquire Italian frozen bread manufacturer Panificio San Francesco.

The Swedish co-op is to snap up the business for an undisclosed sum through its Copenhagen-based baking subsidiary Lantmannen Unibake.

Panificio San Francesco is owned by private-equity firm ITAGO through its investment fund NEIP III SICAF, which holds a majority stake in the business. Private shareholders own the remaining minority shareholdings.

In a statement, Lantmannen said the move showed its "commitment to reinforcing its position in an attractive market".

It added the acquisition offers "commercial and innovation opportunities that will be considered following the completion of the transaction".

Set up in 2006, Panificio San Francesco makes pre-baked and frozen bread products for retail in the Italian market.

It also manages an industrial plant in the Codevilla municipality, south of Milan. According to its website, the business employs 80 people and has 26,000 tons of annual capacity across two production lines.

We continue to strengthen and expand Lantmannens existing businesses through strategic acquisitions in attractive markets," Magnus Kagevik, the group president and CEO of Lantmannen, said.

"The agreement in Italy reflects our ambition to build a strong platform for long-term growth and supports our goal of further strengthening our position in the European bakery market."

The transaction is expected to be completed "at a later date" and is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, Lantmannen said.

In a separate statement, Domenico Tonussi, managing partner at ITAGO, said the deal "represents the natural progression of a solid and coherent industrial growth path and is aimed at supporting a new phase of development".

In September, Lantmannen acquired Boboli Benelux, a Dutch manufacturer of savoury baked products.

At the time, Lantmannen Unibake said the deal would serve as a cornerstone in its expansion in the savoury sector.

Earlier in May, Lantmannen also announced a cash injection of around Skr700m (then $73m) in a new production facility in Orebro, Sweden, to support its bread business.

Lantmannen Unibake's products are sold in over 60 markets globally, with its brands including Schulstad, Pastridor and Hatting. The group employs around 6,000 people.

"Lantmannen to snap up Italys Panificio San Francesco" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




Project consultancy firm Carter Hones Associates has provided progress update on the Gran Melia hotel at Port de La Mer in Jumeirah, Dubai.

Construction of the five-star upper luxury hotel remains on schedule with completion expected by the end of 2026.

The company confirmed the recent completion of the hotels mock-up room, allowing the project to proceed to interior finishes and procurement of furnishings and equipment as outlined in the programme.

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The hotel is being developed by ASB Investment and has a total investment exceeding Dh1bn ($272.23m). It will be managed by Melia Hotels International under its Gran Melia brand, as per a release posted on Zawya.

Designed by MOMA International Design, the resort consists of two basement levels, a ground floor, four upper floors, podium, and a roof level, covering a total built-up area of 91,097m.

The property will offer 366 rooms and suites with direct access to the beach.

Carter Hones Associates began work on the project in September 2022, initially focusing on design management and advisory services in partnership with MOMA.

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In February 2023, its responsibilities expanded to include overall project and commercial management through quantity surveying, tender coordination and onsite support to ensure alignment between design objectives and construction while monitoring costs throughout delivery.

International consultants involved in the development include Lagranja for interior design; SEED Consulting Engineers for mechanical, electrical and plumbing; John R Harris & Partners as structural consultant; Dutco Construction as main contractor; Al Shirawi Contracting for mechanical and electrical works; and Istana-Furniture for interior fit-out.

Carter Hones Associates project director Andrew Snelling said: Our embedded team is working closely with all stakeholders to keep the project moving forward in a controlled and coordinated way.

From deep basement levels through to MEP execution, our focus remains on maintaining quality, programme certainty and commercial value as the build progresses.

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Upon completion, facilities at the Gran Melia Hotel will include a restaurant, lobby cafe, meeting spaces, retail units, ballroom, landscaped areas, four main pools plus 31 private suite pools, fitness centre, spa and rooftop terrace.

Planned amenities also include five restaurants such as Zuma Beach House and Novikov alongside retail and leisure options.

The hotel is situated on reclaimed land within the Port de La Mer master plan led by developer Meraas.

MOMA International Design partner and director Monica Merhebi said: This project requires detailed coordination at every stage. Carter Hones Associates has remained embedded throughout, ensuring cost planning, design alignment and site execution stay on track as construction advances.

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"Construction of Gran Melia hotel on track to complete by 2026 end" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Attorneys for Elwood Jones say a Dec. 22 announcement by Hamilton County's coroner that shed doubt on key evidence that led to his decades-old murder case being dismissed was entirely wrong.

In a news release, Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco said a lab report from the time of Rhoda Nathan's 1994 killing at a Blue Ash hotel showed that Nathan did not have hepatitis B.

If true, the lab report's finding would have contradicted the autopsy report, which said Nathan was positive for the virus. Attorneys for Jones had cited the autopsy report as they fought his conviction and death sentence, saying that if he had violently beaten Nathan he also would have contracted the virus.

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Jones tested negative for hepatitis B.

The Hamilton County judge, who in 2022 overturned Jones' conviction partly based on Jones' negative hepatitis test, said the test result made the prosecution's theory "scientifically implausible."

Attorneys for Jones say they believe Sammarco was looking at the wrong lab report  Jones' negative test result.

"It's an embarrassment that the elected coroner would release a statement like that," said one of Jones' attorneys, Jay Clark.

2 test results

There were two hepatitis B tests: one for Nathan and one the following week for Jones, according to documents provided by Jones' attorneys. Both are from the same lab in California. Neither report includes Nathan's or Jones' name, although there are numbers and other information that point to each.

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The case surrounded the Sept. 3, 1994, beating death of Nathan, a New Jersey woman who was killed in her Blue Ash hotel room after coming to the region for a bar mitzvah.

An autopsy was performed that day. Her blood was submitted to the California lab for testing, which was completed Sept. 8, 1994. That lab's report says the result for hepatitis B was "positive."

Lab report, completed Sept. 8, 1994, that according to Elwood Jones' attorneys shows Rhoda Nathan's positive hepatitis B test result.

The ID number on the report corresponds to the number on Nathan's county death record. And a second number on the report is the same as the autopsy number listed in coroner's office documents.

Jones' attorneys say that after receiving the positive test for Nathan, investigators decided to test Jones' blood.

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A second lab report, from the same lab in California, was received by the coroner's office on Sept. 16, 1994. Again, there is no patient name, but Jones' attorneys say the report's ID number  which is also on a handwritten note attached to the report's first page that also says "Elwood H. Jones Jr."  show that it is Jones' hepatitis B test result.

Lab report, completed Sept. 16, 1994, that according to Elwood Jones' attorneys shows Elwood Jones negative hepatitis B test result.

Clark said that throughout the many years of litigation, there has never been any dispute from prosecutors about Nathan's positive test or Jones' negative test.

Jones spent nearly three decades in prison for Nathan's killing before his conviction was thrown out and the case against him began to unravel.

Coroner says she saw only 1 test result

Sammarco told The Enquirer that that she has examined her office's entire file on Nathan, and "the only hepatitis result in the case file shows a negative result."

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She added that there is no document in the file like the one released by Jones' attorneys, which is labeled as being completed Sept. 8 and includes Nathan's autopsy number.

The timing of Sammarco's news release was unusual. It came more than a week after Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced the dismissal. And it has no impact on Jones because the case has been dismissed with prejudice, and he can't be charged again.

Sammarco said she started looking into the case after the prosecutor's office contacted her on Dec. 9 asking if any DNA from the case was available. Then, after receiving additional inquiries from media outlets, according to Sammarco, she and her team started reviewing all the documents related to Nathan's killing.

Pillich's office declined to comment.

1994 beating death

Jones, now 73, was accused of beating Nathan to death in the suburban Cincinnati hotel room in 1994 as she prepared to attend a family friend's bar mitzvah.

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Prosecutors said Jones used his job as a hotel employee to steal items from the rooms of guests. When Jones unexpectedly found Nathan in her hotel room, they said, he struck her with his fist and hand-held radio until she was dead.

Prosecutors built their case around circumstantial and forensic evidence that they said proved Jones murdered Nathan. That evidence included bruises on Nathan that they said matched Jones radio, and an infected wound on Jones hand that an expert testified likely came from striking someone in the mouth.

Jones' case received widespread attention after The Enquirer's Accused podcast reexamined it and the evidence against him.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elwood Jones' attorneys say coroner used wrong report for announcement
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) fired back at Vice President Vance on Sunday for suggesting her street girl persona was fake and for taking a jab at her nails during a speech at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest.

Vance insulted Crockett while listing Democratic candidates he deemed unimpressive.

And Jasmine Crockett. Oh, Jasmine Crockett, Vance said, to booing from the audience.

The record speaks for itself. She wants to be a senator, though her street girl persona is about as real as her nails.

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In a response posted on the social platform X, Crockett nodded to President Trumps pressure campaign against his first-term vice president, Mike Pence, to help overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Imagine commenting on someones nails while at the same time ignoring that the only reason you got your political dream job was because your boss incited a violent mob who wanted to hang your predecessor for, oh I dont know, honoring his oath to the Constitution?! Crockett said, referring to the mob of Trump supporters who erected a gallows and chanted Hang Mike Pence outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

How about you stop worrying about me, until we are on the Senate floor together & work to stop your boss from bankrupting our country while engaging in the largest corruption scheme weve ever seen?! added Crockett, who recently launched a Senate bid in Texas.

The remarks come after Vance closed out the final day of Turning Point USAs AmericaFest convention, urging conservatives to unite against the left rather than focusing on intraparty feuds.

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He blasted Democrats for floating California liberal candidates for president in 2028, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and former Vice President Harris, who is a former U.S. senator for California and a former attorney general in the state.

And in the meantime, what are the Democrats offering you, in the meantime? I got to say, ladies and gentlemen, they are not sending their best, Vance said Sunday, pointing to a candidate for mayor in Minneapolis and a candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine.

He proceeded to attack Crockett, whose entry into the Senate race has been welcomed by the Republican candidates locked in a fierce primary battle.

Crockett last week said that voters in the red state who regret voting for Trump are welcome in her campaign.

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According to a poll released last week, Crockett is leading state Rep. James Talarico by 8 percentage points in the Democratic primary.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Crumbl is famous for its bubble-gum pink boxes and weekly rotating menu of delicious cookies. While some fans are annoyed at the chain for sometimes upcharging its desserts and for remaining closed on Sundays, a much more serious  but mostly forgotten  scandal saw those involved fined a total of $57,854 in penalties.

In 2022, a Department of Labor investigation uncovered two serious child labor law violations that had occurred at 11 independently owned Crumbl franchise locations across six states, with the majority of the 46 victims based in Utah or California. Most of the minors affected by the violations were just 14 or 15 years old. The first violation was that these minors were permitted to operate potentially hazardous machinery. Federal law states that employees must be a minimum of 18 years old to operate certain types of machinery, which at Crumbl includes dough mixers and ovens. The second violation was that minors were permitted to work illegally long hours. Child labor laws dictate that no minor is allowed to work past 7 p.m., work more than eight hours a day, or work more than 40 hours a week.

Following the scandal, Crumbl issued a statement to TODAY.com apologizing for the violations and claiming that it would "take appropriate action to ensure that all of [its] franchisees are fully compliant with the law." A glance at the Crumbl career website revealed that all applicants must be at least 16 years old to apply. It is unclear whether this policy was in place prior to the scandal or implemented retrospectively.

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Read more: The 20 Wildest, Weirdest And Most Delicious Recipes Of The Year

What's the future for Crumbl?

A variety of Crumbl cookies. - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Despite Crumbl's previous scandal, business appears to be booming. The chain boasts over 1,000 locations across the U.S. as of December 2025, and plans to open up a new headquarters location in 2026.

It is not just stateside that Crumbl is enjoying success, either. The brand currently has over 20 locations in Canada, which also feature an exclusive dirty soda that has yet to hit the U.S. market  although Crumbl consistently introduces new menu items. International expansion is also on the horizon. Co-founder Jason McGowan has expressed interest in opening stores in both the United Kingdom and Mexico. Another country likely to see a Crumbl store in the near future is Australia, following a scandal that  luckily  did not involve the chain itself. In 2024, Sydney-based fans of the viral cookie were resold stale, imported cookies from an unauthorized popup. The stunt became an international sensation, and shortly afterward, Crumbl took to Instagram to announce that it would be coming to Australia soon.

In 2025, the company opened just under 100 new locations across the U.S. and Canada, a figure slightly higher than its 2024 growth but still much lower than its expansion between 2021 and 2023. Additionally, Rhonda Bromley, VP of PR for Crumbl, disclosed to Food Republic that the company's "median net profit increased approximately 95% year over year compared to the 2023 FDD"  but that may be inflated by the top performers, with the bottom performers falling far behind. Taken together, these trends suggest that while the brand continues to enjoy success and pursue global expansion, its long-term trajectory remains open to interpretation rather than clearly defined.

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A man who served more than 20 years in the Utah State Prison for murder but maintained his innocence the entire time  and has already been paroled  may soon have his 2001 conviction thrown out.

On Monday, the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office filed a petition to have Adrian Whitfield Gordons murder conviction vacated based on a recommendation by the offices Conviction Integrity Unit.

District Attorney Sim Gill says a second man was identified in 2001 as a possible suspect and actually arrested on unrelated warrants by police. But the police report for his arrest was logged under a different case number than the homicide. None of that information was disclosed to the prosecution nor defense, Gill said.

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After the district attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed the lack of disclosure, the decision was made to request that Gordons murder conviction be vacated for several reasons, including the lead detectives failure to follow up on a potential suspect or explain why he was eliminated as a suspect.

This is not a declaration of innocence by the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office, but rather a declaration that the conviction that sent Mr. Gordon to prison lacked integrity, the office stated Monday.

On Sept. 29, 2001, Gordon was accused of beating 50-year-old Lee Lundskog to death outside a 7-Eleven store, 1285 N. Redwood Road. Gordon was charged with murder on Oct. 4, 2001 and found guilty on Dec. 20, 2001 after a three-day bench trial. He was sentenced to a term of five years to life in the Utah State Prison.

The murder prosecution of Adrian Gordon, from the date of the murder to the time of his conviction, took less than three months  82 days, to be exact. This timeline is not only unusual but is unheard of for a case of this nature and with such immense consequences for not only the person charged, but the family members of the person killed and the community as a whole. This timeline, while surprising at first glance, is even more troubling when considering the problematic treatment of the case, leading the DAs office to request vacation of Mr. Gordons conviction, the petition to vacate states.

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Despite the conviction and doing the time, Gordon, now 44, says he did not commit the crime.

Store surveillance video confirmed Gordon had been at that 7-Eleven earlier on the day of the killing. So when he heard that detectives were looking for him, he said he contacted them and agreed to be questioned because he says he didnt do anything.

I thought I was going home when I went to the police station. I aint never been out since, Gordon said in an interview with KSL in 2015.

While in prison, he took his appeals all the way to the Utah Supreme Court, with backing from the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. However, all of those appeals were denied.

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In 2022, he went before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, again maintaining his innocence. He was granted parole in 2024.

But in 2021, before he was released, Gordons attorney from the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center contacted the district attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit.

Mr. Gordons attorney argued that her clients conviction lacked integrity due to the fact that, among other things, the lead detective failed to investigate or to even disclose that another individual had been identified as the person who murdered Mr. Lundskog, the district attorneys office said Monday.

The motion to vacate the sentence further states, The information presented by counsel raised a legitimate question as to whether Mr. Gordon was the person who committed the murder, and at the very least presented questions as to whether his conviction lacked integrity.

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The most significant factor for the state in vacating Mr. Gordons conviction is the failure of law enforcement to provide potentially exculpatory evidence to the prosecution and defense prior to Mr. Gordons trial, the petition continues.

The petition to vacate will now be reviewed by a judge who will either sign it or deny it. Gill says if the murder conviction is thrown out, his team will get together and decide what evidence they still have 24 years after Lundskogs death and whether to refile the case. He declined to answer questions about whether Gordon is still considered a suspect or if investigators have since questioned the second man, noting these were all issues that his prosecution team will discuss.

We started the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Offices Conviction Integrity Unit because of cases like Mr. Gordons. Though there was not a clear finding of innocence, there was a clear determination that Mr. Gordon was not given a fair chance at trial. If, as prosecutors, we find evidence that a conviction lacks integrity, we have an ethical and moral obligation to vacate that conviction, or the justice that our system promises will lack integrity as well, Gill said.

Jennifer Springer, Gordons attorney and managing attorney for the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, issued a statement Monday afternoon expressing appreciation for Gills decision.

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We are grateful for this first step toward justice for Mr. Gordon and hope the case will be fully resolved soon, Springer stated. Because there has not been a final decision made by the district attorneys office on whether to retry Mr. Gordon, we cannot provide any further comment at this time.

Meanwhile, Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd, who was not chief when Gordon was arrested, also issued a brief statement.

We have a vested interest in ensuring justice is served in every case we investigate. Given the latest findings in this case, we will review the evidence, and work closely with the district attorneys office and other partners to determine the next steps forward, Redd state.

Contributing: Garna Mejia, KSL-TV
A strengthening storm off the West Coast is bringing another atmospheric river, delivering heavy rain across much of California through Christmas Day, potentially causing life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

Heavy rain will create a significant risk to lives and property in some areas. Feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada may not only close some roads but also leave people stranded.

AccuWeather.com

Multiple inches of rain will continue to fall over a few hours' time across California's mountainsides and urban areas. Those in the coastal regions of Southern California will receive multiple months' worth of rain in a span of one to three days.

AccuWeather.com

"The downtown Los Angeles area is projected to receive 4-8 inches of rain through this week alone, which is two to three times the entire December historical average rainfall of 2.48 inches," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

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Some of the west- and southwest-facing mountain slopes of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California will receive up to a foot of rain, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 16 inches, leading to tremendous and rapid runoff.

The heavy rain expected across Northern, Central and Southern California for much of this week could turn small streams into dangerous rivers, send fast-moving water across roads and even wash out some highways. As the ground becomes saturated, the risk of mudslides increases significantly.

AccuWeather.com

"The fast-moving runoff can pick up rocks, mud, ash and debris, quickly turning into a debris flow that can race downhill with little warning, taking out homes, vehicles and roads along the way," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.

Debris flows may be most common in recent wildfire burn scar locations, including the January Palisades and Eaton wildfires.

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Downpours will reach the high and low deserts in California and part of the Great Basin in the southwestern United States through Friday.

AccuWeather.com

Heavy snow to create dangerous travel in Sierra Nevada

"Feet of snow will pile up on the Sierra Nevada this week with many of the ridges and peaks in the region picking up 8-12 feet of snow and some places perhaps picking up 15 feet," Rayno said.

Snow will reach lower elevations in the Sierra Nevada this week, potentially dropping to 5,000 feet on Christmas.

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"At Donner Pass, California, along the heavily-traveled Interstate 80, from 2-4 feet of snow is forecast through Christmas Day and into Friday," Roys said.

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Some roads, including Interstate 80, may be closed temporarily.

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The snow will be a boon for the ski resorts and a future source of water during spring runoff, but with prolonged and heavy snowfall, some people traveling to and from the resorts may become stranded.

Airline delays anticipated

"Air travel through major hubs, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, California, could face delays due to strong winds, reduced visibility and runway flooding," Roys said.

Substantial flight delays and cancellations are possible.

AccuWeather.com

High winds could cut power

Wind gusts are another threat from this storm, which can break tree limbs and lead to power outages.

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Some of the strongest wind gusts of 60-80 mph will occur in the Sierra Nevada, the northern and central coasts of California and around Mount Shasta into Thursday evening and night before diminishing. The AccuWeather Local StormMax of 130 mph is most likely in the mountains.

With this potent system, some local thunderstorm activity can't be ruled out, with the potential for hail and possibly a couple of tornadoes or waterspouts.

Still damp to end the week

Later in the week, from Friday to Saturday, the storm's intensity will begin to ease, but cold air will remain and moisture will linger.

AccuWeather.com

By the end of the week, snow may fall on the passes in Southern California along I-5 and I-15, resulting in slippery travel.

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.
The Green Bay City Council on Dec. 16 greenlit a developer's agreement for a subdivision in the Red Smith neighborhood, one of the largest in the city's history, as well as a rezoning of the historic Day Street Mill property owned by Georgia-Pacific.

The proposals were passed with no discussion on the subdivision and with some context given by city staff on the Day Street Mill. They are some of the first and largest manifestations of Green Bay's vision for its next quarter century of development and its new zoning laws.

Red Smith subdivision moves forward

The year began with resident backlash against a subdivision of single-family homes, apartments, and commercial real estate planned for the Red Smith neighborhood. The developer's agreement approved on Dec. 16 allows the Kosmoski family to move forward with building public infrastructure for the subdivision whose 168 acres are a touch smaller than the whole of downtown Green Bay and one of the largest subdivisions ever proposed in the city.

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The developer's agreement dictated that a water pressure reducing valve and erosion control plan must be completed by Oct. 30, barring events out of the developer's control. The plans must be approved by the public works director before their implementation. Green Bay Water determined the valve is necessary to "regulate water main pressures for future development" and will be inserted into the existing water main network at the intersection of Scottwood and East Circle drives, according to a memo from Vierbicher to Kos Management.

The language appeared to address concerns from Red Smith neighbors who had been upset over the subdivision's inclusion of apartments in the largely single-family neighborhood. They raised questions on the development's effects on their neighborhood's water pressure and had argued the subdivision went against the city's comprehensive plan at the time. The number of apartments were capped at 160 under an amendment in April by council member Jennifer Grant whose district includes the subdivision.

The Kosmoski family had requested to build the subdivision with some specifications that required it to get two layers of approval under the city's previous zoning laws. A subsidiary of the Kosmoski family asked the city's Plan Commission in March for permission to build some single-family lots with skinnier widths than the 75-foot minimums of single-family homes and let more land be buildable for homes, driveways, sheds, and the like. Such construction preferences are automatically allowed with the city's new zoning laws passed earlier in December.

A compromise over the Day Street Mill

The city's vision for the next quarter century of development imagined the entirety of the Day Street Mill site, 500 Day St., for downtown use.

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That vision was scaled back in a new zoning ordinance presented Dec. 16 by Cheryl Renier-Wigg, the city's community and economic development director, as a compromise to competing city and business interests. All land south of Day Street will be rezoned exclusively for downtown purposes. Land north of Day Street will remain for use by general industry. The two kinds of land uses would be separated by a 150-foot buffer of light industrial use.

The rezoning plan, ending an almost year-long exchange between Georgia-Pacific and the city, updated a prior proposal that would've allowed for some light industrial use on the land north of Day Street, and deviated from an initial recommendation to not allow for any future industry.

The City Council in January had approved a Plan Commission recommendation that the entirety of the Day Street Mill site be rezoned for downtown use after Georgia-Pacific put the historic property up for sale in December 2024. The proposal did not move on to a second, final approval at several subsequent meetings at the request of Georgia-Pacific asking for time to talk with potential buyers.

City Council members had talked of the site's attractiveness with its long stretches of waterfront property as an opportunity for future commercial, downtown development. Georgia-Pacific and business leaders were concerned that rezoning to downtown use would dampen interest from buyers and asked the city to pump the brakes on its enthusiasm.

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McDonald Companies, which owns swaths of land by the mouth of the Fox River, announced its intent to buy the mill property in April. Georgia-Pacific again asked that the City Council not rezone the property without more discussion with the two companies. Talks continued through the summer, with McDonald Companies, under the name Scout Development GB, signing a memorandum of understanding that showed its desire "to kind of work on this together, to compromise, to figure out a way we could redevelop this parcel and meet the needs of all parties involved," said Cheryl Renier-Wigg, the city's director of community and economic development.

The memorandum originally outlined a proposal that the entire mill site be rezoned for downtown use with land north of Day Street that would've allowed for some light industrial uses.

Council member Alyssa Proffitt, whose district includes the property, said the rezoning would allow time for McDonald Companies to potentially come forward with a planned unit development that further specifies plans for the site. It was her understanding that Georgia-Pacific would still own the property until June.

Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. He also writes a weekly column answering reader questions about Green Bay. Contact and send him questions at 920-834-4250 or jlin@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Day Street Mill property, Red Smith subdivision OK'd under new zoning law
If youre a Jacksonville native, you remember where you were Dec. 23, 1989 -- when the most recorded snowfall occurred in the area.

The final total? Several inches in some areas, and to date, it remains the only White Christmas in Northeast Florida history.

Of course, there were no smartphones in the 20th century, but high-quality home movie cameras were available. In recent years, a few Floridians have uploaded the footage they captured to YouTube:

Jacksonville

Lake City

Panama City

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So hows the weather for Christmas this year? The First Alert Weather Team says mid-to-upper 70s are expected for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with abundant sunshine.

PHOTOS: 1989 snow in Jacksonville

Shawn Gorman says he was 5 at the time of the 1989 snow (He's in the light blue jacket.)

Melissa Giammarco Longmire

Chance Rutherford says he's the child raising a high five in the front.

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Viewer Christina shared a picture of her and her dad in the snow

Share your photos and videos from the 1989 snowstorm by uploading them below:
Larry Ellison said he would provide an irrevocable personal guarantee for the entire equity of Paramounts offer - Toru Yamanaka/AFP or licensors

The billionaire founder of Oracle has agreed to provide a personal guarantee of $40bn (31bn) in an effort to revive Paramounts hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

Larry Ellison, an ally of Donald Trump and one of the worlds richest men, said he would provide an irrevocable personal guarantee for the entire equity of Paramounts $108bn offer.

Paramount, led by Mr Ellisons son, David, is attempting to disrupt Netflixs agreed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which owns film franchises such as Harry Potter.

However, the Hollywood giant rejected Paramounts $30-per-share offer last week, saying the company had constantly misled shareholders about the structure of its bid.

The board of Warner Bros cited concerns that the offer, backed by three Gulf states, was guaranteed by the Ellison family trust rather than by Mr Ellison himself. It described the trust as unknown and opaque.

In addition to pledging a personal guarantee, Paramount confirmed that the Ellison trust owned 1.16 billion Oracle shares, worth roughly $228bn.

In a revised proposal published on Monday, the company also agreed not to revoke the trust or adversely transfer any of its assets during the sale process.

David Ellison, chairman and chief executive of Paramount, said: Paramount has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to acquiring WBD. Our $30-per-share, fully financed, all-cash offer was on Dec 4 and continues to be the superior option to maximise value for WBD shareholders.

Because of our commitment to investment and growth, our acquisition will be superior for all WBD stakeholders, as a catalyst for greater content production, greater theatrical output and more consumer choice.

We expect the board of directors of WBD to take the necessary steps to secure this value-enhancing transaction and preserve and strengthen an iconic Hollywood treasure for the future.

Warner Bros. has been plunged into a fiercely competitive bidding war after agreeing to an $83bn takeover by Netflix earlier this month. Under the terms of the deal, Warner Bros. will first spin off its traditional networks division, which includes CNN.

The takeover is expected to face a lengthy regulatory scrutiny, given that it will combine two of the largest streaming services in the US  Netflix and HBO Max.

It has also raised concerns among cinemas and filmmakers that Netflix could release fewer films in cinemas, a claim the streaming giant has denied.

Nevertheless, Warner Bros. has insisted the Netflix deal is superior, saying it was backed by a public company with a market value of more than $400bn and an investment-grade balance sheet.
Its official: December was the deadliest month for immigrants in ICE custody since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

This year was already the deadliest for those in ICE custody since 2004. In December, that trend continued, with seven immigrants dying in ICE detention, including four that died within a four day span, according to death notices published by ICE. Three of the deceased were held at facilities in Texas before they died. Four of the deceased died within four days of each other.

Francisco Gaspar-Andres, a 48-year-old man from Guatemala died on December 3, after being held at Camp East Montana in Texas since September. In his notice, ICE noted that although his cause of death is pending, medical staff attributed it to natural liver and kidney failure. The new detention facility at Fort Bliss has reportedly already violated dozens of federal standards for immigrant detention since welcoming detainees in August.

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Pete Sumalo Montejo, a 72-year-old Filipino man who was previously convicted of child sexual abuse, died on December 5 at the Montgomery Processing Center in Texas. ICE reported that Montejo had suffered a number of illnesses throughout his time in custody: In June he was admitted for shortness of breath and hypoxia, and between July and November he was hospitalized several times for illnesses such as anemia and septic shock resulting from pneumonia.

Shiraz Fatehali Sachwani, a 48 year-old man from Pakistan, died on December 6, after being held at Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, since June. He was admitted to the hospital in November after experiencing low oxygen levels and tachycardia.

Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian man detained at Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, died on December 12 from suspected natural causes. Immigrants held at Delaney Hall previously said that they were starved.

Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, a 46-year-old Eritrean man, died in ICE custody December 14 at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. Abdulkadirs sudden death is reportedly the second to occur at that facility this year, and is currently being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police and the Clearfield County coroner.

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Delvin Francisco Rodriguez, a 39-year-old man from Nicaragua was pronounced dead on December 14, just one day after he was scheduled to be deported. He was discovered unresponsive and without a pulse at the Adams County Detention Center in Colorado on December 4, removed to a medical facility, and declared dead 10 days later.

Nenko Stanev Gantchev, a 56-year-old man from Bulgaria, died in ICE custody December 15 at the North Lake Processing Center in Michigan. While ICE wrote that they suspected he died of natural causes, his cause of death is under investigation.

ICEs webpage dedicated to Detainee Death Reporting lists only 15 deaths in 2025not including any from this month. However, at least 20 immigrants had already died in ICE custody as of October, according to NPR.

ICE is required to publish information about an in-custody death within 30 days.
After recent reports of new focus cities and a realigned strategy, Delta Airlines will suspend two domestic routes that serviced thousands of passengers. According to Simply Flying, Delta will no longer fly between Atlanta and Santa Barbara, California; and The Points Guy reports that a route between Salt Lake City, Utah and Fairbanks, Alaska also got the axe.

The route changes were verified by checking schedules that airlines submit to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, and confirmed by the airline. Delta's route between Atlanta and Santa Barbara has only been in service since June 2024 and, according to The Points Guy, was part of a "leisure-focused" expansion rather than a route for business travelers. The flight was originally scheduled to operate through the end of 2026. Now, the last flight will land in California on January 19, 2026, with the final route back to Georgia happening on January 20.

Delta Airline's flight route between Salt Lake City and Fairbanks was a seasonal run that operated during the summer months. It was available in summer 2025 and was expected to resume in 2026, but Delta has instead canceled the route. Passengers who favor Delta and want to get to Fairbanks will be able to fly out of Seattle year-round and Minneapolis during the summer.

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Both routes were likely canceled because there simply wasn't enough demand from travelers. Between July 2023 and June 2024, U.S. Department of Transportation data indicates that only 11,800 people flew round-trip from Atlanta to Santa Barbara. Edhat Santa Barbara reported that the Salt Lake City to Fairbanks route also suffered from a lack of interested fliers.

Read more: 5 Things WD-40 Should Never Be Used On

Other canceled routes

A Spirit Airlines jet in the air with a blue sky all around - Boarding1now/Getty Images

2025 has been a memorable year to fly for a variety of reasons. REAL ID became mandatory for domestic flights in May, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated a record-breaking 5.2 billion passengers, the first time that number has exceeded five billion! It's also notable for other canceled routes. Delta doesn't stand alone in route changes. Airlines regularly adjust or cancel routes based on a variety of factors, including changes in traveler preference and demand, supply chain disruptions that can increase the cost of certain routes, and even instability in certain parts of the world that means it's no longer safe to travel there.

By October 2025, Spirit Airlines confirmed it was halting a whopping 40 routes after the airline entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, though it also added new routes this year as well. In January 2026, Delta will discontinue service from New York's JFK Airport to Brussels. American Airlines discontinued service between Dallas, Texas and Eugene, Oregon. Friction with Mexico led to the cancellation of several routes from Mexico City in the U.S.

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Of course, many airlines also added new routes. The merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines added new daily and non-stop flights between several cities, and American Airlines is expanded internationally, adding more flights to Australia and London, England. As a record-breaking year comes to a close, even travelers who plan ahead and book well in advance should expect some changes and, in some cases, headaches

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
Clockwise from top left, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and California Attorney General Rob Bonta speak to reporters about a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its attempts to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at a virtual press conference on Dec. 22, 2025. (Screenshot from Zoom)

The Democratic attorneys general of 21 states and Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration for its attempts to defund the Obama-era federal agency created to protect Americans from consumer fraud and discriminatory lending.

After the U.S. mortgage market crashed in 2008 and millions of Americans lost their jobs, savings, retirements and homes, Congress in 2010 established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to become the countrys first financial regulatory agency with a goal to protect consumers. The agency has since returned more than $21 billion improperly taken from more than 205 million Americans, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.

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Acting director Russell T. Vought has attempted to terminate the agencys operations by firing hundreds of staff, denying states access to the agencys resources and requesting $0 to fund the agencys operations, according to the complaint.

The coalition of states, led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, is asking the court to prevent the Trump administration from requesting $0 in funds for its operations and to order it to request money from the Federal Reserve to fulfill its duties as required by the law.

Rayfield filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Eugene.

This is the same agency that stopped Wells Fargo when they were taking advantage of consumers without their consent and opening millions of accounts without consent, Rayfield told reporters at a virtual press conference Monday afternoon. This is the same agency that stopped Navient from taking advantage of student loan borrowers. This is the same agency that protects people who have credit cards, payday lending and mortgages. This is the agency thats looking out on behalf of all of us.

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The coalition argues defunding the agency will have devastating impacts on consumers and disrupt states consumer protection abilities, which rely on consumer complaints and data from the agency.

In 2024, the federal bureau received 3 million consumer complaints, of which 8,800 were from Oregonians. That year, companies provided more than $700,000 in direct relief to Oregon consumers after those consumers made complaints through the bureaus portal.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the lawsuit is his 48th lawsuit against the Trump administration this term, a surge from the 11 lawsuits he was a part of during the two years he served as attorney general during Trumps first term.

My standard hasnt changed, he said. The behavior of this administration has changed. Theyre lawless again and again. Theyre bullying. Theyre reckless. Theyre dangerous.

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The states involved in the lawsuit with Oregon include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

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One of the most controversial transportation projects in North Jersey will now be altered to reduce the number of proposed vehicle lanes and add ramps to access Port Liberty Bayonne  a decision Gov. Phil Murphy announced in the waning days of his last term in office.

The projects are known as the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension Improvements Program, a multi-phase, $10.7 billion program to reconstruct an 8.1-mile stretch of elevated highway and bridges between Newark, Bayonne and Jersey City leading to the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.

For years, the project has been criticized by local leaders and environmental advocates, who say it will increase pollutants when the money could be better spent on mass transit.

Story continues below photo gallery.

Advocates of the projects, largely led by those in organized labor whose members will get paid to work on the lengthy and complicated construction, say it provides good union jobs, will help reduce traffic to the ports and is necessary because the current infrastructure needs replacement.

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The communities adjacent to the Turnpike Extension are growing quickly and our ports are taking on a higher and higher volume of cargo and work, Murphy said in the statement announcing the changes, which hit inboxes at 5:05 p.m. on the Friday before Christmas.

After considerable review, we have reenvisioned the projects within the broader program and found a way to make this great investment even better for our residents, infrastructure and economy, Murphy said.

Mixed reactions to new plan

A coalition of groups that oppose the program said the timing of the announcement was no accident and were skeptical of the new plans.

We would be the first to cheer a true victory stopping the widening of the Turnpike Extension  but Friday nights announcement does not fundamentally alter the project, will potentially make traffic worse, and raises more questions than answers, said a statement by the coalition, which includes EmpowerNJ, Turnpike Trap, Hudson County Complete Streets and Bike JC.

The Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension Improvements Program is a multi-phase, $10.7 billion project to reconstruct an 8.1-mile stretch of elevated highway and bridges between Newark, Bayonne and Jersey City to the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. The orange section is Project 1, to replace the Newark Bay Bridge. The blue section is the area between 14C and the end of the Extension at Jersey Avenue. The pink section initially called for adding one lane in each direction there. Now there will be no lanes added.

Greg Lalevee, business manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, said he doesnt expect the changes to have a big impact on his members.

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The New Jersey Turnpike Authority feels "as if they found a better way to get trucks out of the port faster, which is good, Lalavee said. Its just a change in how they were looking at allocating resources and how they might be able to move things efficiently.

Four lanes, not six, and ramps to the ports

The changes Murphy announced affect only certain sections of the program, leaving others intact.

The stretch of highway from Interchange 14A to 14C  a north-south corridor between the Bayonne-Jersey City border and the Holland Tunnel  was originally going to be rebuilt with six lanes, three in each direction. Instead, the new plan calls for it to be rebuilt with four lanes, two in each direction, which is the current configuration.

That change will result in a reduction of $500 million in project costs, the Turnpike Authority estimates.

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The money will go toward a new project, called Project 2A, which includes building new ramps at Interchange 14A to access Port Liberty Bayonne and reduce the number of trucks mixing with local traffic.

Any unused money will go toward other projects in Hudson and Essex counties, like the Western Spur, Harry Laderman Bridge, and Bayview Avenue Bridge at Interchange 14B.

The first phase of the program is the $6.2 billion Newark Bay Bridge that connects Newark and Bayonne. The bridge is 69 years old and has four lanes, two in each direction.

A rendering of the proposed new eight-lane Newark Bay Bridge that would replace the existing four-lane bridge between Newark and Bayonne.

It is being rebuilt as a twin-span structure with eight lanes, four in each direction. One four-span crossing will be built first, and all traffic will move there. Then the old bridge will be knocked down and the second span will be built in its place.

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That project remains unchanged. The first contracts to be awarded will be for two trestles, which are platforms that will be built in Newark Bay and used for construction. They will be awarded in early 2026, with construction starting in the spring.

Why now?

The central question looming is why are these changes  to the largest project in the history of the Turnpike Authority, which has undergone years of planning  surfacing now?

Planning for the projects dates back to at least 2020, when a needs assessment and alternative study report was published by Jacobs Engineering. Concerns, questions and critiques have been raised repeatedly for at least three years, especially when the cost estimate jumped in 2023 to $10.7 billion from $4.7 billion.

I dont have an answer for you as to the timing now, said James Carone, executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. But he said authority officials and consultants began revisiting the program about a year ago. The driving factor for the change, Carone said, is the expansion of the ports and because a third of the traffic to and from the Turnpike Extension is going to Bayonne.

Newark Bay Bridge connects Newark and Bayonne across the Newark Bay. Photo taken in Bayonne, NJ on Thursday Oct. 26, 2023.

Asked whether the revisions were sparked by Murphy, Carone said no, it was all internal. The Turnpike Authoritys board was notified within the last few months, he added.

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These things take time," Carone said. "It isnt a rash decision, but again, as we see from our consultants and as we see things building up in that area, we just felt as though this was a better use of our time, of our money and our efforts.

Murphy's press office declined to comment on why his administration made the changes so late into his second term.

Lingering questions and concerns

Asked why the turnpike is moving ahead with doubling the lanes on the Newark Bay Bridge after eliminating the lane expansion of the portion after Interchange 14A, Turnpike Authority spokesman Tom Feeney said those lanes are needed to meet the purpose and need presented in the project application to federal authorities.

The purpose, he said, is to get sufficient capacity, to get traffic, among other places, into and out of Bayonne, to get to the ports, Bayonne and Jersey City. So that was necessary to meet that purpose and need.

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The narrowing of turnpike lanes heading east from the expanded Newark Bay Bridge could increase traffic, said the statement issued by the coalition of advocates against the project.

Doubling the capacity of the bridge "now makes even less sense," the statement said. "Four lanes of eastbound bridge traffic will now perpetually merge into two lanes at Exit 14A causing monumental and continual traffic jams, leading to the very thing NJTA is supposedly working to reduce  traffic congestion, the statement said.

A joint statement from Katie Brennan and Ravi Bhalla, who were elected in November to join the state Assembly representing Hoboken and Jersey City, called the projects "fundamentally flawed" and want to see the Newark Bay Bridge lanes reduced.

Raj Mukherji, a state senator who represents the same district Brennan and Bhalla will represent, said, "The reconfiguration of the plan to abandon the widening beyond the Bayonne exit is a welcome change that underscores this administrations respect for urban communities and their ability to balance competing interests."

Mukherji's comments were included in the announcement from Murphy.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Turnpike project gets altered, but critics are skeptical
A fake video purporting to show Jeffrey Epstein taking his own life inside a prison cell made the rounds on social media after it was spotted in the Justice Departments massive file dump.

A grainy 12-second clip shows a white-haired man in an orange prison jumpsuit kneeling on the floor of a prison cell while seemingly trying to choke himself. The video was timestamped 4:29 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2019, just two hours before Epstein was found dead with a noose around his neck at the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in New York.

But the clip has been on YouTube since 2020, with the original poster indicating in the caption that they created the video by playing around with rendering 3D graphics. An administration official also confirmed to The New York Post that the clip is bogus. It has since been taken down from the DOJ website.

Authorities said Jeffrey Epstein took his own life in prison in 2019. / Patrick McMullan / Patrick McMullan via Getty Image

Social media sleuths pieced together the massive trove of Epstein files released on Friday to get to the bottom of where the video came from.

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The video appears to have come from a letter written to investigators by an individual seeking to confirm its veracity.

Dear investigators, Came across a purported video of Epsteins suicide (leaked by anonymous source), the person wrote, attaching a link to the YouTube video. Is this real???

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

Epsteins death while awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges has long been at the center of controversy and conspiracy.

In July, the DOJ further fueled wild speculation when it released nearly 11 hours of CCTV footage from the Metropolitan Correctional Facility on the day of Epsteins death to support the claim that he took his own life.

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The supposedly full and unedited footage, however, was missing an entire minute from 11:59 p.m. to 12 a.m. Attorney General Pam Bondi explained that it was caused by a system reset every night. A forensic analysis by WIRED magazine later found that the missing minute actually lasted 2 minutes and 53 seconds.

Two months later, the sought-after minute appeared in another bulk drop, debunking Bondis claims. The clip showed very little apart from guards working near Epsteins cell.

President Donald Trump, a longtime Epstein pal, continued to distance himself from the convicted sex offender on Monday by claiming that everybody was friendly with this guy.

He was around. He was all over Palm Beach and other places, he told reporters. I actually threw him out of Mar-a-Lago.
VAUGHNSVILLE  A community fundraising effort is underway to assist a Vaughnsville family affected by a recent traffic mishap.

Jonathan Font was seriously injured Dec. 18 when he was pinned between two vehicles while attempting to jump-start a car. The incident happened at approximately 10:15 p.m. on Hardin County Road 15, just north of state Route 309.

Now a fundraising effort has been started by Nate Conn, a family friend.

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A page has been set up at GiveSendGo.com/fontfamily for donations. All proceeds will go directly to the Font family. As of noon Monday, it had raised $2,990 of its goal of $10,000.

Im trying to get the most blessing for this family at Christmas, Conn said in a letter to The Lima News. The family didnt ask for this charity campaign, I volunteered, seeing a great need. At the hospital yesterday, Jonathan mentioned so many people around the Lima area are reaching out to him that he hasnt talked to in many years and wondering how to help.

Conn said the Font family lost two vehicles in the accident and are in great need ot reliable transportation and income lost as Jonathan recovers from his injuries.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Font, 46, was attempting to jump-start a 2005 Toyota Camry in the northbound lane of county Road 15. His wife Brittany was in a 2010 Dodge Caravan parked in front of and facing the disabled vehicle, while Jonathan Font attempted to attach the jumper cables.

At that point, a vehicle traveling northbound on County Road 15 struck the rear of the Font vehicles. Jonathan suffered a broken right leg as a result of the accident.
Nearly 40 animals were rescued from a well-known breeder in Mifflinburg, Union County due to concerns about their care.

The Pennsylvania SPCA says its team removed dogs, cats, and even goats from the property on Old Turnpike Road last Thursday.

The Department of Agriculture says that while inspecting the property, several animals were found suffering from untreated medical conditions.

They are now undergoing treatment until new homes are found.

Charges against the breeder have not yet been announced.
A Duke University Hospital nurse is being accused of sexually assaulting a third patient.

The incident took place back in May of this year, according to court documents.

Jomil Uy Tugado, 39, of Durham was already facing charges including sexual battery, sexual acts by a government or private institution employee, and sexual contact or penetration under the guise of medical treatment, according to documents obtained by ABC11.

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University police allege he assaulted two female patients while they were incapacitated, with one incident occurring in May and the other earlier this month.

Tugado's nursing license was suspended last week, according to state records. Also as of last week, Eyewitness News learned he was placed on administrative leave at the hospital on Dec. 7th.

Duke Health officials sent ABC11 the following statement on the newest allegations:

"We are aware of additional charges and are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their ongoing investigation. We remain committed to supporting those who have been impacted."

SEE ALSO: 3rd victim comes forward after NC nurse charged with sexually assaulting patients in recovery room


Duncan City Council members heard the findings on the 2024 audit and financial statements during a routine meeting Dec. 9.

The report was presented by Jake Winkler Arledge and Associates CPA. He said this was the first year for the engagement.

Winkler said the audit is performed to determine if the financial statements are reasonably stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

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Im pleased to report that you have an unmodified opinion in that respect, he said. We believe the financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with GAP.

Winkler said there was a change in relation to the implementation of Governmental Accounting Standards Board  GASB 101.

As the accounting standards changed, Winkler said there is a different requirement to calculated compensated absences and incorporate sick pay into the calculation.

That was retrospectively applied, which required a restatement, he said. Every city is getting a restatement on this. So it's not something that's just a problem with Duncan. It's everybody, and it's not even a problem.

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Winkler said its a change of standards.

He also noted there are no audit adjustments.

Have no past audit adjustments to report, he said.

Winkler moved onto the single audit report.

This is in relation to the way that you spend your federal money, he said. You qualified for what we call a single audit under the uniform guidance. You have no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses to report, no compliance issues to report. This is another clean report report.

Winkler said the first report is the yellow book report and the second report is the firms opinion.

They're clean reports, no issues to report, he said.

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Winkler said the Clean Water State Revolving Fund 66458 grant was audited.

Unmodified opinions on everything, he said.

Winkler presented an overall summary in the post-audit. He said there were no difficulties encountered with the audit.

There is no other audit findings or issues, he said.

Winkler noted the Citys engagement with Crawford to assist in preparing the financial reporting.

We essentially are auditing the finished work that they do, Winkler said. I will compliment them as well because they do a fantastic job. Clean opinions are not easy to come by, especially across the board, and especially without any control deficiencies or findings.

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In public comment, Frank Burch, a Duncan resident, asked the auditors how many government entities they work with and what percentage.

Winkler said out of the top 30 cities in Oklahoma, the firm works with about 33%.

I think overall our governmental practice, especially municipal practice, is probably 25-30% of our overall engagements out of 100, Winkler said.

Burch said hes attended multiple city council meetings and watched the finances over the last several years.

We've had ups and downs with our financial records and all that, Burch said. I just really want to say that it's really exciting to see where we're at with our financial reporting and that everything seems to be  so keep it up.

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The board approved the 2024 audit and financial statements with Jake Winkler Arledge and Associates CPA with a 4-0 vote.

The next Duncan City Council meeting will convene at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Duncan Council Chambers, located inside the Duncan Police Department.
Vice President JD Vance had a fiery response to attacks against his wife lobbed by white nationalist Nick Fuentes and former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki, cursing out the pair during an interview published Sunday.

Let me be clear, Vance told UnHerds Sohrab Ahmari. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat sh---. Thats my official policy as vice president of the United States.

Fuentes, a white nationalist whose followers are referred to as Groypers, attacked both JD and Usha Vance, who is of Indian descent and is Hindu, on his podcast last month while criticizing the MAGA movement.

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And now theyre all in favor of a fat, race mixer whos married to a jeet, who named his son Vivek ... and thats your guy? Your guy is literally a fat, gay race traitor who married a jeet ... Fuentes said, using a racial slur for Indians.

During an appearance on the liberal Ive Had It podcast, Psaki said JD Vance wants to be president more than anything else.

I always wonder whats going on in the mid of his wife, Psaki said. Like, are you OK? Please blink four times. Come over here. Well save you.

Before his response on Sunday, the vice president was accused of holding back on responding to Fuentes because of the white nationalists influence with a base Vance will need should he run for president in 2028.

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Vance downplayed Fuentes appeal.

I think that Nick Fuentes, his influence within Donald Trumps administration, and within a whole host of institutions on the Right, is vastly overstated, and frankly, its overstated by people who want to avoid having a foreign-policy conversation about Americas relationship with Israel, Vance said.

Read the original article on al.com.
In Floridas coastal city of Port St. Lucie, tucked between Miami and Orlando, homeowner association tensions are boiling over into real violence.

Police say 62-year-old Paul Maraio shot and killed two neighbors, 54-year-old Mark Douglas Golden and 75-year-old David Walter Gasik, before barricading himself inside their home (1). He later turned the gun on himself and died from his injuries.

Must Read

Police Chief Leo Niemczyk called it the breaking point of a long and bitter HOA feud. Records show the association had been trying to evict Maraio, though Niemczyk added the conflict grew out of clashing political views.

Events this extreme remain rare, but experts warn disputes within HOA communities are becoming more frequent and volatile. And its prompting lawmakers to take action.

Rising tensions in HOA communities

Eric Perez, an HOA attorney with Perez Mayoral Law in Coral Gables, confirmed with WPTV West Palm Beach that hes seeing an increase in these conflicts.

"Unfortunately, it happens a lot more often than one would think," he said.

Now, state lawmakers are weighing proposals that would give communities the power to dissolve their homeowners associations altogether, which raises another question: has the HOA experiment finally run its course?

"You know, temperatures are sometimes at an all-time high when there's an ongoing dispute and people may unfortunately take to physical violence," Perez said.

Part of the tension comes from the structure of HOAs themselves (2). They offer order through enforcing rules, maintaining common areas and taking on repairs that individual homeowners might want to avoid.

But the trade-off is control. Associations can restrict everything from paint colors to landscaping to home modifications. Those are limits that often fuel the very conflicts theyre meant to prevent.

A study from Onyx Capital Management illustrated there are more than 373,000 HOA communities across the U.S. Thats up 10% from 2024, with Florida accounting for nearly half of them.

In Port St. Lucie, police records show the disputes between Maraio and his neighbors had been escalating for more than a year. The HOA issued him an eviction notice in October for being a disruptive resident. Golden, the HOAs treasurer, had previously requested two separate trespass orders against Maraio; one in 2024 and another in 2025. These came after reporting harassment and a throat-slashing gesture. In September, he alleged that Maraio was watching him and his partner through binoculars.
Leesburg Police said they were still trying to locate two persons of interest connected to the death of an 18-year-old in a community park.

Detectives said James Fenderson and DYuntre Wright, both 17, have information about the shooting of Juan Gomez, who was killed inside his mothers vehicle on December 14.

Police have not said what the information is, nor have they indicated if they believe either was among the three people witnesses said got out of the car, took some bags and fled after the shot rang out.

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I just feel so useless, Gomezs mother, Valerie Long, said. I just want to get a phone call. I want to know that things are progressing.

WFTV messaged Wrights mother and Fendersons attorney, who is representing him for a prior gun-related case, to see if they knew where the two teens were. Neither responded.

Fendersons bail bondsman called back, but once he realized he was speaking to a reporter, he hung up.

Its not clear how police arrived at eithers name as a person of interest. They have not answered questions about whether anyone else has been questioned about the case, only saying no one was in custody. Officers said more updates would come after Fenderson and Wright come forward.

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Somebody knows where they are, Long said. Do the right thing. We need justice. I cant eat, I cant sleep, I will not stop until justice is served.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Editors Note: The initial release on Ruth Watts incorrectly listed her residence as being in Lorain, Ohio. The Champaign County Communications Center says she is from Urbana.

UPDATE: (9:10 p.m.)

The Champagin County Communications Center has canceled the Endangered Missing Adult Alert.

INITIAL REPORT:

An Endangered Missing Adult Alert has been issued for a Champaign County woman.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Ruth Watts, 70, was last seen walking away from her home on E. Court Street in Urbana around 6:30 a.m. She has not returned, according to the Champaign County Communications Center.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Watts is 56 and weighs approximately 140 lbs. She has brown hair and green eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black coat with a hood, black shorts, and a yellow or red top. Shes not believed to be wearing shoes.

If you see Watts or know anything about her whereabouts, call 911 or the Champaign County Communications Center at (937) 653-3409.

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People examining documents released by the Department of Justice in the Jeffrey Epstein case discovered that some of the file redaction can be undone with Photoshop techniques, or by simply highlighting text to paste into a word processing file.

Un-redacted text from these documents began circulating through social media on Monday evening. An exhibit in a civil case in the Virgin Islands against Darren K Indyke and Richard D Kahn, two executors of Epsteins estate, contains redacted allegations explaining how Epstein and his associates had facilitated the sexual abuse of children. The exhibit was the second amended complaint in the state case against Indyke and Kahn.

In section 85, the redacted portion states: Between September 2015 and June 2019, Indyke signed (FAC) for over $400,000 made payable to young female models and actresses, including a former Russian model who received over $380,000 through monthly payments of $8,333 made over a period of more than three and a half years until the middle of 2019.

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Prosecutors in the Virgin Islands settled its civil sex-trafficking case against Epsteins estate, Indyke and Kahn in 2022 for $105m, plus one half of the proceeds from the sale of Little St James, the island on which Epstein resided and on which many of his crimes occurred. The justice department press release announcing the settlement did not include an admission of liability.

Indyke, an attorney who represented Epstein for decades, has not been criminally indicted by federal authorities. He was hired by the Parlatore Law Group in 2022, before the justice department settled the Epstein case. That firm represents the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and previously represented Donald Trump in his defense against charges stemming from the discovery of classified government documents stored at Trumps Florida estate. Calls and email seeking comment from Indyke and the Parlatore Law Group have not yet been returned.

Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epsteins criminal activities and any wrongdoing.

Other sections further allege how Epsteins enterprise concealed crimes.

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Defendants also attempted to conceal their criminal sex trafficking and abuse, conduct by paying large sums of money to participant-witnesses, including by paying for their attorneys fees and case costs in litigation related to this conduct, reads one redacted passage.

Epstein also threatened harm to victims and helped release damaging stories about them to damage their credibility when they tried to go public with their stories of being trafficked and sexually abused. Epstein also instructed one or more Epstein Enterprise participant-witnesses to destroy evidence relevant to ongoing court proceedings involving Defendants criminal sex trafficking and abuse conduct.

Redactions of sections 184 through 192 of the document describe property taxes paid by companies incorporated by Epstein on properties that were not on the balance sheet for those firms.

For instance, Cypresss Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2018 did not reflect any assets other than cash of $18,824. Further, Cypress reported only $301 in expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018, despite it paying $106,394.60 in Santa Fe property taxes on November 6, 2018, reads one redacted passage.

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Similarly, in 2017, Cypress reported as its only asset cash in the amount of $29,736 and expenses of $150, despite it paying $55,770.41 and $113,679.56 in Santa Fe property taxes during 2017.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law last month permits the Department of Justice to withhold certain information such as the personal information of victims and materials that would jeopardize an active federal investigation.

It was unclear how property material complies with the redaction standard under the law. An inquiry to the Department of Justice has not yet been answered.
This story was updated to include additional information.

The first known victim of Jeffrey Epstein was 13 years old when she met the sex offender at a well-known Michigan arts school near Traverse City, according to a lawsuit filed in 2020 and released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of the Epstein files.

The victim, a Florida resident, was a student in the voice program at an Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp when she was first approached by Epstein and his aide and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell while sitting alone on a bench between classes in summer 1994, according to the recently released DOJ file.

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Epstein and Maxwell approached the girl, probed her at length about her background, and asked for her mothers phone number, according to the DOJ document of the lawsuit. After the girl returned home to Florida, Epstein called the victims home and told her mother he mentors young kids and provides scholarships.

Epstein attended the schools music camp in 1967 and later donated money for a scholarship and rental lodge, according to a 2019 Free Press article citing the Daily Beast. After Epsteins conviction, the school stopped communication with him and removed his name from all donor recognition.

According to a Dec. 20 statement from Interlochen, Epstein was a donor to the camp from 1990 to 2003.

Interlochen has a "wide range of measures in place to ensure a safe, supportive environment for all students," the statement said. The camp reviewed its records after Epstein's 2008 conviction and his 2019 arrest and didn't find any complaints involving Epstein.

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"In keeping with our commitment to child welfare and to candor with our community, we have issued prior public statements about Epsteins connection to Interlochen and cooperated with prosecutors and several inquiries by the media," the Interlochen statement said. "And we encourage anyone who may have been impacted by sexual abuse, by Epstein, or any member of the Interlochen community, to report their experience and seek assistance."

What does the lawsuit say?

After meeting the girl at Interlochen, Epstein and Maxwell attempted to groom and mentor her. They spent several months taking her to the movies, shopping and lounging around Epsteins estate. After "nearly every" visit, Epstein sent the girl home with two or three $100 bills for her mother, according to the lawsuit released with the files on Friday, Dec. 19.

While these visits made Doe extremely uncomfortable, Epstein and Maxwell made her feel she could not refuse them, according to the document, which uses "Jane Doe" and "Doe" to refer to the victim.

The lawsuit also says Epstein took the girl to Mar-a-Lago and introduced her to Donald Trump as a 14-year-old.

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Epstein elbowed Trump playfully, asking him, referring to Doe, This is a good one, right? Trump smiled and nodded in agreement, the lawsuit said. They both chuckled, and Doe felt uncomfortable, but, at the time, was too young to understand why.

According to the lawsuit, the sexual abuse escalated over the next few years. The lawsuit details sexual abuse and rape by Epstein at his properties.

In 1996, Epstein moved the victim from Florida to New York City when she was 16 and a few months later co-signed a lease for her mother's apartment, according to the lawsuit.

In 1999, the victim moved to Los Angeles to start a career and "finally felt like she could escape Epstein's abuse and stopped returning his frequent calls where he would threaten and berate her for not appreciating him," according to the lawsuit.

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"Despite Doe's physical escape from Epstein and Maxwell, the years of abuse and exploitation perpetrated against her by them cause her immeasurable pain and suffering every day," according to the lawsuit.

Panish Shea & Boyle LLP of Los Angeles filed the lawsuit against Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn in their capacities as executors of the estate of Jeffrey Epstein and individual Ghislaine Maxwell. It was filed on Jan. 17, 2020.

The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in 2021. The victim received money from the Epstein Victims' Compensation Program.

Does Michigan show up in the Epstein files?

Interlochen is not the only Michigan connection in the Epstein files. On Dec. 23, the DOJ released a 2019 letter appearing to be from Epstein sent to Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing young athletes on the U.S. Olympic team and at Michigan State University.

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"Dear L. N. the letter began. As you know by now, I have taken the 'short route' home. Good luck! We shared one thing ... our love & 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. Life is unfair. Yours J. Epstein

According to a DOJ post X post on Tuesday afternoon, the letter's handwriting does not appear to match Epstein's, the letter was postmarked three days after Epstein's death out of Virginia when he was jailed in New York and the letter did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.

"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. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law," according to the X post.

The latest batch of material included dozens of video clips and other documents with many redactions. The Justice Department said on social media that documents include "untrue and sensationalist claims" against Trump before the 2020 election.

The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.



Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be  U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) December 23, 2025

USA TODAY contributed to this reporting.

Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Epstein files show first known victim was found at Michigan arts camp
What do Jeffrey Epstein, Larry Nassar, and Donald Trump all have in common?

Buried in the latest trove of documents released by the Justice Department Monday, a postcard addressed to L.N. or Larry Nassar, the former U.S. gymnastics team doctor convicted of sexually abusing scores of women and girls, mentioned Trump by nameand more.

As you know by now, I have taken the short route home, Epstein wrote in the alleged letter, appearing to reference his later death by suicide. Good luck! We shared one thing our love and caring for young ladies and the hope theyd reach their full potential. Our president also 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. Life is unfair, he continued, signing off J. Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein's letter to Larry Nassar (Department of Justice)

The government also released an image of the envelope, which was addressed from Epstein to inmate Nassar, and was postmarked August 13, 2019, three days after Epstein died at the Metropolitan Correction Center in New York City. The letter, marked as return to sender, was addressed to Nassar at USP Arizona, where the high-profile pedophile had been held before he was transferred in 2018.

Return to Sender envelope (Department of Justice)

Likely recognizing the harm that this letters authenticity would inflict on the president, the Department of Justice quickly announced

Tuesday morning that they would investigate its legitimacy. Less than two hours later they declared the FBI has concluded the note is a FAKE , citing the handwriting, postmark date, and an incorrect return address format for inmates. However, the DOJ did not choose to publish the results of the handwriting analysis originally obtained in July 2020, when establishing its authenticity would have been pertinent to a potential wrongful death suit based upon Epsteins in-custody death.

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It had previously been reported that Epstein attempted to reach out to Nassar, but that his letter had been returned. The governments documents suggest that the letter was first discovered weeks later in September 2019, and was submitted for a handwriting analysis in July 2020. Its not clear what the results of the writing test were.

The latest batch of documents released by the Department of Justice mention Trumps name hundreds of times. One 2020 email sent by a federal prosecutor asserted that Trump had flown on Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).

The previous batch of documents published Friday were heavily criticized for being incomplete. While the government made sweeping redactions to entire pages of documents, it apparently failed to redact the names of multiple survivors.

This story has been updated.
If you're down to the wire on Christmas shopping, or find yourself in need of a large, pre-made platter to expand your menu last minute, you might be wondering whether Costco is an option.

The Eugene-Springfield area only has one Costco at 2828 Chad Drive and you can be sure its parking lot will be full in the days leading up to Christmas.

Whether you find yourself in need of a crowd-size bag of chips, a gift for a surprise guest, or are just a busy procrastinator, here's what to know about Costco's holiday hours.

Is the Eugene Costco open on Christmas Eve?

The Eugene Costco is open on Christmas Eve. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Is the Eugene Costco open on Christmas Day?

The Eugene Costco will be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Is the Eugene Costco open on New Year's Eve?

The Eugene Costco is open on New Year's Eve, just in case your TV stops working right before the Ducks play in the Orange Bowl. Eugene's Costco hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 31.

Is the Eugene Costco open on New Year's Day?

The Eugene Costco will be closed on New Year's Day. It will reopen Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. for executive members and 10 a.m. for all other members.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene Costco holiday hours
Former University of Florida President Ben Sasse says he has been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer and that he is "gonna die."

"This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, Ill cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die," he posted on X from his verified account at 10:12 a.m. on Dec. 23.

Friends-



This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, Ill cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.



Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; its a death sentence.  Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) December 23, 2025

"Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; its a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too  we all do," Sasse said in his 665-word post. "... Ill have more to say. Im not going down without a fight."

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The Sun has reached out to Sasse for comment. UF interim President Dr. Donald Landry and Board of Trustees chair Mori Hosseini issued a joint statement later on Dec. 23.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Gator Nation, we extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to President Sasse, his wife Melissa and their lovely children," the statement says.

We were shocked and saddened by the news of President Sasses illness. This was staggering news. And yet, true to his character, Bens first instinct is to give comfort and reassurance to those of us who have known and admired him."

The @SUS_Florida members of the Florida Board of Governors are devastated about the news of @BenSasses diagnosis. We pray for Ben, Melissa and their incredible children, and our thoughts are with the @UF Board of Trustees and the Gator nation as we all rally around the Sasse https://t.co/NrB344WAi1  Alan Levine (@alevine014) December 23, 2025

Sasse became 13th UF president in 2022

A former Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska, Sasse left the U.S. Senate to become UF's 13th president in 2022. Despite some UF community opposition and a vote of no confidence from the UF Faculty Senate, he was unanimously voted in by UF's board of trustees in November 2022.

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He was formally inaugurated as the university's 13th president in November 2023. Just two months before his inauguration, UF was named the No. 1 public university in the country in a report from The Wall Street Journal.

University of Florida President Ben Sasse speaks during the University of Florida graduation at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Friday, May 3, 2024.

UF News: UF to spend $2.7B on construction; Landry to seek permanent presidency

During his inaugural address, Sasse pledged to make practical majors even more practical, refine the core curriculum, vigorously defend tenure as a critical tool for UF and increase transparency and accountability at the university.

I wasnt looking for some university presidency, in general, he said at his inauguration. Instead, I was persuaded. I was pursued and moved  telling me that this was not just a place, but a cause that I needed to join.

Sasse stepped down from presidency after wife's illness

Sasse, 53, abruptly resigned in July 2024 due to his wife's epilepsy diagnosis. "I need to step back and rebuild more stable household systems for a time," he said at the time.

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Among the more controversial moments of Sasse's tenure occurred during an April 2024 pro-Palestinian demonstration on UF's Plaza of the Americas. Nine protesters were arrested April 29 and charged with various crimes, including failure to obey police, resisting arrest without violence, wearing a hood or mask on public property, trespassing and felony battery.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a May 8 visit to campus thanked the university for its swift action and its ability to "maintain order," unlike at other universities around the country.

Following his resignation, Sasse remained at UF as a professor in the university's Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education, its school for classical liberal arts education.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady recently accepted a job as professor and director of the Hamilton School. His first day is Jan. 1.

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(This story was updated to add new information.)

 This story has information previously reported in The Sun.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ben Sasse of University of Florida has stage four pancreatic cancer
WASHINGTON (AP)  EDITORS NOTE  This is an exclusive excerpt adapted from Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th by Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick. The book, which will be published on Jan. 6, 2026, draws on personal interviews by the author, testimony, court documents and other public sources to compile a definitive account of the hours leading up to, during, and just after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Jalonick documents the chain of events on Jan. 6, 2021, as told by the rioters who were loyal to President Donald Trump, the police who fought them, the lawmakers who fled the violence, and the staff, workers and journalists who were there that day, including Jalonick herself. The rioters were echoing Trumps false claims of a stolen election, even as all 50 states had certified the vote and courts had ruled against Trump or dismissed dozens of lawsuits brought by his campaign.

This excerpt begins in the 4 p.m. hour on Jan. 6, at the height of the fighting that day outside the building. Hundreds of rioters had already breached several entrances and forced lawmakers to flee both the House and Senate, stopping the certification of Democrat Joe Bidens victory. But an even larger group of people had broken through a long police line and were now aiming at the central golden doors that sit at the center of the Capitols West Front, set back in a narrow tunnel that the president walks through on Inauguration Day.

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Separately, not far from the tunnel, Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick had been sprayed directly in the face by a rioter. He had predicted the night before in a text to his brother Ken that hell may break loose tomorrow.

Note: The text messages in this excerpt have been edited for language.

___

Ken Sicknick hadnt yet replied to his brother Brians text from the night before that had predicted violence. So he typed a message to Brian that afternoon as he watched live reports of the clashes at the Capitol. Good luck, man, Ken wrote. Capitol protests are on the news.

An hour and a half later, at 4:15 p.m., Brian replied: Tell me about it. Were f-. Talk later. I was pepper sprayed at least twice.

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___

Ken Sicknick, brother of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick: I knew it was a protest. I didnt realize how bad it was.

___

As afternoon approached evening, police were starting to secure some of the entrances that had been breached. But hundreds of rioters were still fighting to get into the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the main entrance to the inaugural stage from the basement level of the Capitol. Police officers had used the space just inside as a triage area all afternoon.

Earlier, after several police lines had broken outside, the rioters had streamed into the tunnel so quickly that it created a bottleneck. The National Guard had still not arrived, and for the officers who had already been fighting for hours, it had become a ferocious last stand.

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___

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: The rioters were vicious and relentless. We found ourselves in a violent battle in a desperate attempt to prevent a breach of the Capitol by the entrance near the inauguration stage.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: The fighting in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel was nothing short of brutal. Here I observed approximately 30 police officers standing shoulder to shoulder, maybe four or five abreast, using the weight of their own bodies to hold back the onslaught of violent attackers. Many of these officers were injured, bleeding and fatigued. But they continued to hold the line.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: A few people rushed the front of the line, and then that kind of instigated the rest of them to follow suit. At that point, it was just complete hand-to-hand combat, but very little space to maneuver.

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Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: The hallway is approximately 10 feet wide. Officers shoulder to shoulder lined up by rows, and the demonstrators were trying to push in, and we were trying to push back. Initially, were just pushing and they were yelling, One, two, three, push. And we were doing the same thing. We were pushing back. But then it escalated into full fighting.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Theres a couple dozen of us in there against, you know, the thousands and thousands outside, and we just held it as long as we could. It was a brutal fight.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: They were extremely physical. I dont think anybody was talking at that point. It was just physical, people hitting each other, punching, people with poles, metal poles.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: The tunnel is a narrow and long hallway. It is not the sort of space where anyone would want to be pulled into hand-to-hand combat with an angry mob.

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Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: Every about five to 10 minutes, they would switch and then we would end up fighting a new batch of fresh bodies. That just continued on.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: It was guys in their 50s, guys in their 30s, guys in their 20s. Not that many really young people, but mostly just like real adults.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: It was a battle of inches, with one side pushing the other a few and then the other side regaining their ground.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: What we were subjected to that day was like something from a medieval battlefield.

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Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Someone handed me a pitchfork at one point. It made its way all the way up the stairs. I dont remember if it was a civilian or an officer, but they said, I dont want this being used against you guys.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Even during this intense contest of wills, they continued to try to convert us to their cult. One man shouted: We just want to make our voices heard! And I think you feel the same! I really think you feel the same! All while another man attempts to batter us with a stolen shield.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: I just heard the dumbest things ever, like Were not here to hurt you; just let us through. While theyre doing all that craziness.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: Many of the officers fighting alongside me were calling for shields, because their shields had been stripped from them by the rioters. I was one of the few officers left with a shield, so I spent the majority of the time at the front of the line.

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Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: At some point, one of the demonstrators was trying to pull me outside. And luckily I held on to the metal rail.

___

A rioter grabbed Detective Nguyens gas mask and pulled it out, while a second rioter directly sprayed his exposed face. The first rioter then let go of the mask, snapping it back in place and trapping the gas inside.

___

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I was choking under the mask, and I also got knocked down at the same time. And so at that point, I was choking, and I was trying to get up. I (was) panicking.

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Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: At some point during the fighting, I was dragged from the line of officers into the crowd. I heard someone scream, I got one! as I was swarmed by a violent mob.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: In my attempt to assist two MPD officers, I grabbed one officer by the back of the collar and pulled him back to our police line. When I tried to help the second officer, I fell on top of some police shields on the ground that were slippery because of the pepper and bear spray. Rioters started to pull me by my leg, by my shield, and by my gear straps on my left shoulder. My survival instincts kicked in and I started kicking and punching as I tried in vain to get the MPD officers attention behind and above me. But they could not help me because they were also being attacked.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: The two sides were at a stalemate at a metal door frame that sat in the middle of the hallway. At the front line, I inserted myself so that the frame was at my back in an effort to give myself something to brace against and provide additional strength when pushing forward. Unfortunately, soon after I secured this position, the momentum shifted and we lost the ground that got me there. On my left was a man with a clear riot shield stolen during the assault. He slammed it against me and, with the weight of all the bodies pushing behind him, trapped me. My arms were pinned and effectively useless, trapped against either the shield on my left or the door frame on my right. With my posture granting me no functional strength or freedom of movement, I was effectively defenseless and gradually sustaining injury from the increasing pressure of the mob.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: They ripped off my badge. They grabbed my radio. They seized the ammunition that was secured to my body. They began to beat me with their fists and with what felt like hard metal objects. At one point I came face-to-face with an attacker who repeatedly lunged for me and attempted to remove my firearm. I heard chanting from some in the crowd, Get his gun and Kill him with his own gun. I was aware enough to recognize I was at risk of being stripped of, and killed with, my own firearm. I was electrocuted again and again and again with a Taser. Im sure I was screaming, but I dont think I could even hear my own voice.

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Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Directly in front of me, a man seized the opportunity of my vulnerability. He grabbed the front of my gas mask and used it to beat my head against the door. He switched to pulling it off my head, the straps stretching against my skull and straining my neck. He never uttered any words I recognized but opted instead for guttural screams. I swear I remember him foaming at the mouth. He also put his cellphone in his mouth so that he had both hands free to assault me. Eventually he succeeded in stripping away my gas mask, and a new rush of exposure to CS gas and OC spray hit me.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: My body camera captured the violence of the crowd directed toward me during those very frightening moments. The portions of the video Ive seen remain extremely painful for me to watch. During those moments, I remember thinking that there was a very good chance that I would be torn apart or be shot to death with my own weapon. I thought of my four daughters, who might lose their dad.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: The mob of terrorists were coordinating their efforts now, shouting Heave! Ho! as they synchronized pushing their weight forward, crushing me further against the metal door frame. The man in front of me grabbed my baton that I still held in my hands, and in my current state I was unable to retain my weapon. He bashed me in the head and face with it, rupturing my lip and adding additional injury to my skull.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Its just the weight of our crowd pushing against the weight of their crowd. Smoke grenades are going off  like, maybe someone lit a smoke bomb and threw it at us; I dont know what the hell happened. But Im looking around, and I see one of my sergeants, and hes got his mask on, but I can see his eyes, and he looks like hes about ready to pass out. And I hear someone yell, Does anybody need a break? And Im like, Get him out of here!

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: It was a prolonged and desperate struggle. I vividly heard officers screaming in agony and pain just an arms length from me.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: It hurt a great deal. Combined with everything else that was going on, it made it difficult to breathe.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: A bunch of bodies were pushed up right against me, and it sealed my gas mask against my cheek. And I was having a hard time breathing. So I started peeling it off, and then I was exposed, and no sooner had I done that than I was hit with a big old stream of pepper spray from one of our own super-soakers that they stole from us. I see this arc of fluid, and it hits me right in the face. Ive seen my body camera from that day, and you just hear a guttural scream.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: At this point, I knew that I couldnt sustain much more damage and remain upright. At best I would collapse and be a liability to my colleagues, at worst be dragged out into the crowd and lynched. Unable to move or otherwise signal the officers behind me that I needed to fall back, I did the only thing I could still do and screamed for help.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: I too was being crushed by the rioters. I could feel myself losing oxygen and recall thinking to myself, this is how Im going to die, trampled defending this entrance.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I thought, thats where Im going to die. And in my head I was thinking about my family at that point before anything else.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: During the assault, I thought about using my firearm on my attackers. But I knew that if I did that, I would quickly be overwhelmed. And that, in their minds, it would provide them with the justification for killing me. So instead, I decided to appeal to any humanity they might have. I said as loud as I could manage, Ive got kids. Thankfully, some in the crowd stepped in and assisted me. Those few individuals protected me from the crowd and inched me toward the Capitol until my fellow officers could rescue me.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: When you get amped up like that, sometimes it takes a slap in the face to wake you up to where the hell you are and what youve just done. And I think Fanone yelling that he had kids kind of shook some of the people out of it.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Thankfully, my voice was heard over the cacophony of yells and the blaring alarm. The officer closest to me was able to extricate me from my position, and another helped me fall back to the building again.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I was telling myself, if you want to see your family again, you need to gather yourself. And luckily, you know, I gathered myself and (broke) that seal. And with the help of my colleagues behind me, they pulled me up.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Im yelling, Hey, Im out of service, I cant do this anymore! Like, literally, Im disabled. So one of my partners grabs me and just escorts me back through the crowd, and we find one of those decon stations.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: I finally was able to hit a rioter who was grabbing me with my baton and able to stand. I then continued to fend off new attackers as they kept rotating after attacking us.

___

Officer Brian Sicknick found medical help and seemed to recover after the rioter had sprayed him with chemicals on the West Front. At 8:21 p.m., he sent his brother Ken another text: F-. I smell like BO, weed, OC spray and CS gas.

Shortly after sending the text, as he returned to a division office in the basement of the Capitol, Sicknick started slurring his words while talking to fellow officers and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was put on life support.

___

Inspector Thomas Loyd, U.S. Capitol Police: Officer Brian Sicknick faithfully served the United States Capitol Police for 13 years. He fought valiantly for several hours on January 6. He died suddenly at 8:30 p.m., while returning to the office in the United States Capitol Building. His body survived an additional day because his fellow officers worked so hard to keep him alive so his family could say goodbye in person on January 7.

___

Excerpted from STORM AT THE CAPITOL: An Oral History of January 6th by Mary Clare Jalonick, copyright (copyright)2026 by Mary Clare Jalonick. Used with permission of PublicAffairs, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Phase 1 demolition commenced this week, starting with the removal of a tire shop to make way for the new parking garage and new U.S. Post Office. This marks a significant milestone towards the construction of the new Ector County Courthouse, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2029. The new Civic Park is slated for completion in 2030, a news release said.

The current Post Office facility in downtown Odessa will remain operational until the new parking structure is completed. The parking structure, located east of the current Post Office on Texas Avenue, includes a new U.S. Post Office on the first floor.

In other exciting news, after months of planning, review, and public discussion, the Commissioners Court selected and voted on the preferred design for the new courthouse, determining the overall look and architectural style of the future courthouse. As the planning phase wraps up, the decision marks a major milestone for the project, as the Design-Build team prepares to enter the design phases, bringing the long-anticipated development one step closer to construction after months of careful preparation and consideration, the release said.

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The County is hosting an open house, offering the public to learn about the design of the new building, ask any questions, and provide feedback.

The open house will take place on January, 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Joe Zant Community Room at Odessa College.

For more information about the new Ector County Courthouse, please visit its official website at newectorcourthouse.com.

Where will the new courthouse be located?

* The new Ector County Courthouse will be built on the site of the current downtown post office at 200 North Texas Avenue in Odessa.

What can Ector County residents expect from the new courthouse?

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* The new facility will feature modern technology, enhanced security measures, and expanded space to better serve the public. According to County Judge Dustin Fawcett, the courthouse is designed to meet the needs of Ector County for decades.

The post Exciting new developments for new courthouse project appeared first on Odessa American.
This animal sighting in South Africa is giving researchers hope for the future.

A trail camera captured an incredible photo of a local leopard, and it marked "the first confirmed sighting in 170 years," according to Time Out Cape Town.

The camera, which was set up in West Coast National Park, caught the curious creature peering into the lens and pacing about.

"The discovery is the result of years of collaboration between the Landmark Leopard and Predator Project, South African National Parks, the University of the Western Cape, Saldanha Bay Municipality, and multiple private landowners aimed at monitoring and protecting the species," per Time Out. "They are all working to restore wildlife corridors between Cape Town and the Berg River."

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Trail cameras are just one of many invaluable tools conservationists use to assess and protect endangered species.

Over 47,000 species are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the rapidly changing climate is accelerating risks.

Habitat loss, often caused by human activities such as deforestation and urbanization, is the leading driver of extinction. More frequent and severe extreme weather events such as heat waves, cold snaps, floods, and more are also squeezing species.

To support endangered animals, conservationists are doing their best to protect, preserve, and restore natural habitats.

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Seeing this leopard isn't just good luck; it's tangible proof that conservation efforts are paying off.

"The return of the leopard to West Coast National Park underscores the success of long-term conservation partnerships and highlights the importance of continued collaboration to ensure that this remarkable recovery endures," the park stated, per Briefly. "This result is worthy of celebration."

Other countries are celebrating their own conservation successes, too. Trail cameras have caught red pandas returning to rural Nepal, the only bison herd left in Thailand, and a brown bear along the Belarus border.

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National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that the Trump administration expects the US Supreme Court to rule in its favor in a case that challenges the legality of President Trump's tariffs.

The court's decision could not only invalidate most of the tariffs but possibly force the government to issue refunds of up to $100 billion, which Hassett told Face the Nation would create major administrative problems.

Hassett also said he thinks the $2,000 tariff rebate checks President Trump has floated seem much more likely to happen. "In the summer, I wasnt so sure that there was space for a check like that, but now Im pretty sure that there is," he said, adding he expects the president to bring a formal proposal to Congress in the new year.

Meanwhile, Trump announced a $1,776 "warrior dividend" payment to nearly 1.5 million US service members in an address last week.

Trump did not say how the program would be enacted or funded. But even before the "warrior dividend," Trump had floated at least nine different plans for how revenue from his tariffs could be spent, according to an analysis from Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul.

In addition to the $2,000 tariff dividend checks, the promises included paying for the tax cuts that Republicans instituted over the summer.

But after lifting some tariffs on items like coffee, oranges, and cocoa, monthly tariff revenues dropped, from $31.35 billion received in October to $30.76 billion last month. That marks the first decrease since Trump began implementing the duties.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

What else to know about Trump's tariffs:

The US government announced on Tuesday that it plans to put tariffs on China's semiconductor industry, placing new duties on chips from Beijing from June 2027, though that delay is considered a signal that the Trump administration is looking to continue rebuilding ties with Beijing amid a broader trade truce.

US companies looking to increase cash flow are hedging their bets on the Supreme Court case against President Trump's tariffs by selling their rights to collect government refunds of taxes to outside investors.

Several US companies, such as Costco (COST), have filed lawsuits and claims to the US government for tariff refunds in the belief that Trump's tariffs will be struck down by the US Supreme Court. If the courts rule against Trump's tariffs, the president may be forced to repay billions of dollars in collected revenue from imports.

The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada and the US will launch formal discussions to review their free trade agreement in mid-January. But discussions on key sectors were unlikely, with Carney saying the issue would be covered in a planned review of the United States-Canada-Mexico (USMCA) trade pact next year.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER

183 updates
A federal judge on Dec. 22 ruled that the Trump administration must provide court hearings or facilitate the return of Venezuelan immigrants who were deported to El Salvador's notorious megaprison over alleged ties to criminal gangs.

In the ruling, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said the federal government denied due process to a group of Venezuelan immigrants who were deported earlier this year to an infamous anti-terrorism prison, called CECOT. The maximum-security facility is known for its harsh conditions and has served as a symbol in President Donald Trump's controversial immigration crackdown.

In March, the Trump administration deported more than 200 migrants to CECOT. For 137 of them, the federal government justified the move under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, alleging that the men were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

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"By granting the Motion, this Court is declaring that Plaintiffs should not have been removed in the manner that they were, with virtually no notice and no opportunity to contest the bases of their removal, in clear contravention of their due-process rights," Boasberg wrote in the opinion.

The immigrants are entitled to return to court to contest their deportation, the judge said. The Trump administration must submit a plan to allow for their return within two weeks, Boasberg ruled.

The ruling is the latest development in a monthslong legal saga, in which federal courts have released various decisions on the Trump administrations interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act. Some federal judges have ruled against Trump's use of the law to deport Venezuelans.

In May, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled the U.S. can use the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members.

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Graphics: Inside CECOT, El Salvador's notorious prison, where inmates never see the light of day

Over 200 immigrants sent back to Venezuela in prisoner swap

More than 200 immigrants were deported from the United States to El Salvador on March 15, officials previously said. The federal government sent several planeloads of men to CECOT after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to fast-track the deportation of accused gang members without going through standard immigration procedures.

The deportations immediately drew criticism from human rights groups and sparked a legal battle with the Trump administration over allegations that due process was not followed.

In July, a group of immigrants was released back to Venezuela as part of a coordinated prisoner exchange, with 10 Americans held in Venezuela returned to the United States, officials said.

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Venezuela's government said 252 Venezuelans held in El Salvador had been freed. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the arrival of two airplanes.

At the time, Venezuela's government said the men would receive a full medical before being released to go home. The government noted that only seven of the men had a serious criminal record.

CECOT agreement: Trump administration's $4.7M contract for El Salvador prison revealed

What is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798?

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was part of the Alien and Sedition Acts, was established under former President John Adams as the United States faced war with France. The act was designed to allow the president to authorize the relocation, arrest, or deportation of any man older than 14 years old who hailed from a country at war with the U.S.

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Three other Alien and Sedition Acts expired at the beginning of the 19th century, but the Alien Enemies Act did not, and it became part of the U.S. Code.

The act was passed to supplement the Alien Friends Act, which allowed the president to deport any non-citizen who was determined to be "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States."

Contributing: Kinsey Crowley and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US must give due process to deported Venezuelans: Federal judge
Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The federal government is suing Washington, D.C., to ease its gun-ownership laws, which are the strictest in the nation.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the suit Monday in federal court seeking to declare the laws unconstitutional and prevent the District from enforcing them. The laws ban most semiautomatic rifles and other firearms from being registered with the police department. This makes any possession of those guns illegal. AK-47s and AR-15s are among those that are illegal. Those owning those guns can face misdemeanor charges and fines.

The action "underscores our ironclad commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "Washington, D.C.'s ban on some of America's most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment -- living in our nation's capital should not preclude law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms."

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The suit cites District of Columbia v. Heller, which was decided by the Supreme Court in 2008. Before Heller, the District made it illegal to carry unregistered firearms but it also banned the registration of handguns. The Heller decision said that people can have guns in their homes for self-defense.

After Heller, the District updated its gun laws and included a registry and training requirements. But it still makes assault rifles impossible to register.

The suit filed by the Justice Department argues the merit of the law.

"D.C.'s current semi-automatic firearms prohibition that bans many commonly used pistols, rifles or shotguns is based on little more than cosmetics, appearance, or the ability to attach accessories, and fails to take into account whether the prohibited weapon is 'in common use today' or that law-abiding citizens may use these weapons for lawful purposes protected by the Second Amendment. Therefore, the District's restrictions lack legal basis," the filing said.

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D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday, reported by the Washington Post, that the District would "vigorously defend our right to make decisions that keep our city safe."

"Gun violence destroys families, upends communities, and threatens our collective sense of safety. MPD has saved lives by taking illegal guns off our streets -- efforts that have been praised by our federal partners," Bowser said. "It is irresponsible to take any steps that would lead to more, and deadlier, guns in our communities, especially semi-automatic rifles like AR-15s."

Lawyers from Everytown Law, a gun safety organization, said the city's gun bans are legal.

"The legal consensus is clear: assault weapon bans are constitutional. Since the Supreme Court's rulings in Bruen and Rahimi, federal courts have repeatedly affirmed that these laws are consistent with the Second Amendment," Bill Taylor, deputy director of Second Amendment litigation at Everytown Law, said in a statement. "Assault weapons are designed for mass devastation, and we look forward to supporting D.C. as it defends this critical common-sense safety measure."

District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told prosecutors in August not to enforce felony charges for the city's ban on openly carrying rifles and shotguns in public or the city's ban on magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.
A female serial killer has admitted in open court to killing four men by intentionally causing them to overdose on fentanyl, Us Weekly has learned.

Rebecca Auborn, 36, was indicted in October 2023 for the intentional and ultimately fatal overdoses of four men as well as the attempted overdose of a fifth man.

Initially, Auborn was facing 28 total charges, including four counts each of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and trafficking in drugs, and five counts each of aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and corrupting another with drugs. She was also charged with prostitution offenses.

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However, prosecutors ended up offering Auborn a plea deal, agreeing to drop 23 of the criminal charges if she accepted. She pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault.

Auborn, according to a statement from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, first tried using fentanyl to cause a man's overdose death on December 13, 2022, but failed. Little more than a month later, on January 15, 2023, Auborn succeeded in killing 30-year-old Joseph Crumpler.

Then, months later, on April 1, 2023, Robert Snoke, 54, fatally overdosed on fentanyl, and Auborn stole his car and credit cards. While 64-year-old Wayne Akin was declared dead on April 17, he died from a fentanyl overdose on April 13, 2023. On June 17, 2023, Guy Renda, Jr., 42, became Auborn's fourth and final victim.

Authorities allege Auborn stole $2,000 worth of tools from one of the victims.

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Auborn entered the guilty pleas on Friday, December 19, and will be sentenced on February 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, established under Yosts Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, first received information about a woman meeting up with men for sex throughout northeast Columbus, and then dosing them, all so she could walk off with their personal belongings.

The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Forces investigation of Auborn included any reported overdoses that happened between December 2022 and August 2023 in the area around Interstate 71, State Route 161, Cleveland Avenue, and East 17th Avenue in north Columbus.

Several Months Later, Ohio Husband Austen Medek Charged With Murder After Wife Michaelas Death

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The pleas, according to Yost, "closes a tough case. An overwhelming amount of convincing evidence and an airtight investigation conducted by BCI and Columbus Police left no doubt that a conviction was forthcoming. When law enforcement works together, theres hope for families to secure justice.

Auborn was ruled competent to stand trial back in February, after the court observed her demeanor during proceedings. A written evaluation also permitted the case to move forward.

Relatives of Akin have spoken to NBC News and said it is unclear whether he was actually a customer of Auborns. Akin's daughter, Christyn Akin-Crockett, has been critical of local police, claiming an initial lack of interest in pursuing leads confirming the man's death was suspicious.

Akin-Crockett told NBC News she heard from a tipster that a woman named becka had killed four people, including Akin, in April 2023. She said she tried providing that information to the Columbus Division of Police but was dismissed and told to patient for toxicology test results.

By definition, a serial killer is any person who kills three or more people on purpose over time in separate incidents.
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Police were called to an apartment on Mathews Road last Tuesday for a burglary where firearms, valuables and important documents were reported stolen.

Boardman police were called to an apartment in the 1900 block of Mathews Road shortly before 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16 after a resident said someone had burglarized the home.

The tenant told police that after returning to the apartment around 8 p.m., the door had been kicked in and the place ransacked. A safe containing two firearms was reported stolen, along with car titles, birth certificates, social security cards, and other valuables. Reports state a jewelry box had also been stolen.

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Police spoke to another tenant in the building who said they heard a lot of banging noises coming from the involved unit just over an hour before, but figured they were just moving out and didnt realize a crime was happening, the report states.

The witness told police that two men dressed in black exited the front door shortly after.

The tenant of the burglarized apartment said a man had previously walked into the apartment, seemingly by accident, and then left, but did not recall an exact date. The tenants had also recently hosted friends and relatives, but did not suspect they had anything to do with the burglary.

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 WKBN.com.
By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Florida's Catholic bishops are calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to halt immigration enforcement activities until after the Christmas holidays.

"Such a pause would show a decent regard for the humanity of these families. Now is not the time to be callous toward the suffering caused by immigration enforcement," the bishops wrote on Monday to Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

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In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said on Tuesday, "President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And hes keeping that promise."

A spokesperson for DeSantis did not immediately comment.

Trump has carried out an aggressive immigration campaign over the last year, apprehending and deporting migrants who he says are dangerous criminals.

His administration has also rescinded policy that limited immigration arrests near sensitive locations, including churches, hospitals and schools, and deployed federal agents across the U.S. to ramp up such arrests.

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While the administration insists it is targeting criminals, government data shows that it has been arresting more people who have not been charged with any crimes beyond their alleged immigration violations than previous administrations.

Despite signs the public is questioning the crackdown, the administration is planning to expand it in the new year.

The appeal by the Florida bishops comes more than a month after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a rare condemnation of the Trump administration immigration crackdown and advocated for "meaningful immigration reform." And in October Pope Leo decried mistreatment of immigrants.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington. Editing by Donna Bryson and Alistair Bell)
Florida lawmakers have filed bills to kill the little yellow registration decals on license plates. What does the governor think about this?

Good job Tom  get it done! Gov. Ron DeSantis posted Sunday, Dec. 21, on X.

He was responding to Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes, the sponsor of House bill HB 841. Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Homestead, filed a Senate version of the bill, SB 982.

Fabricio credited Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez for the idea.

Good job Tom  get it done! https://t.co/z1gqKczNgu  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 21, 2025

"I filed HB 841 with @SenatorAMR to eliminate Floridas outdated yellow registration decals," Fabricio posted on X. "They fade, get stolen & cost millions. Lets cut red tape, fight fraud & save money."

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As Fernandez suggested, the bills call for registration renewals to be recorded electronically. All references to validation stickers for vehicle registration would be removed from Florida statutes.

Here's what to know.

Florida registration decals could go away under a proposal from a Miami tax official.

What happens if the Florida Motor Vehicle Registration Renewal bills pass?

You will no longer receive yellow registration validation stickers to put on your license plate. Law enforcement wishing to verify your registration will do so electronically.

Will I still need to renew my vehicle registration?

Yes. Nothing about the renewal process or deadlines would change, other than the sticker.

Killing the decal would generate "an estimated savings of million dollars each year for residents of Miami-Dade County alone, by reducing production, mailing, and replacement costs," Fernandez said in his initial proposal, although he did not provide a breakdown. The move also would provide more security, he said, as the current system is open to sticker theft and counterfeiting.

Do you think it's a good idea?

Let us know what you think.

Have any other states stopped using registration stickers?

Some states such as New York, Texas, and the District of Columbia moved to windshield or window decals in recent years to thwart people who were peeling them off license plates and stealing them.

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Pennsylvania stopped issuing stickers in 2003. Connecticut switched to windshield stickers in 2006 and dropped them entirely in 2010. New Jersey hasn't required registration stickers since 2004.

Why does Florida have license plate registration decals?

For years in Florida if you renewed your license, you got a whole new metal license plate with embossed dates. To save costs, the state switched to renewal decals starting with the 1976 plate, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The Florida decals changed color every year for decades, making it simpler for law enforcement to see from a distance which vehicles hadn't been renewed, but by the 2000s all the stickers were yellow with black text.

Is it illegal to have a license plate frame in Florida?

Floridians are already dealing with another new license plate law that went into effect a few months ago. As of Oct. 1, anything that obstructs your license plate is illegal in Florida.

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The law was intended to ban tinted covers, devices specifically intended to obscure identification by law enforcement by flipping, blurring or hiding the plate, and other methods of concealment. But questions arose over whether it also banned license plate frames, which are in widespread use across the state.

After some occasionally vague reassurance from various Florida law enforcement agencies, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) on Monday, Dec. 15, issued a clarification.

According to a memo sent to all Florida law enforcement agencies and posted on social media, the FLHSMV just wants to clearly see:

The alpha numeric plate identifier

The decal located in the top right hand corner of the license plate

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"The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles does not consider the information on the bottom of the plate to be a primary feature of the plate," the agency said. "A plate frame that impinges on the information at the top of the plate is permissible, as long as law enforcement is able to identify the state that issued the plate."

When would the new Florida registration decal law take effect?

If passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by DeSantis, it would begin July 1, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida yellow stickers on license plates may stop being required
A former Bethlehem police officer was sentenced Monday after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a middle school student.

Costas Alestas will spend 10 to 20 years in state prison.

Alestas was assigned as a school resource officer at East Hills Middle School when police began investigating in 2024.

The sex assaults of the 14-year-old girl took place on and off school grounds, investigators said.

They also found inappropriate videos of an 11-year-old student, taken without her knowledge, on Alestas' cell phone.


The culture wars against diversity, equity and inclusion that landed a suburban Cincinnati district in news headlines in recent years have seemingly come to an end. But not without one final contested move by school board members outspokenly at odds with one another.

The remaining members of the controversial "Four For Forest Hills" group elected in 2021 on an anti-critical race theory platform, Sara Jonas and Bob Bibb, led the charge in a Dec. 17 board meeting in extending Superintendent Larry Hook's contract. Hook, who has previously expressed similar views on critical race theory, was selected for the role in 2022 and signed a contract through July 31, 2026.

In a 3-2 vote, the Forest Hills school board approved a one-year contract extension, employing Hook through July 31, 2027, on a salary north of $190,000. Should the new board decide to terminate him before then, the district has to provide a buyout of six months worth of salary and benefits.

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The agreement is what some members believe to be a compromise from a three- or five-year contract, the standard length for a superintendent role.

Mark Bell, the self-described swing vote, said during the meeting the contract would give the new board "a chance over a 12-month period to evaluate the superintendent and determine whether or not that is the superintendent they want moving forward."

But those who voted against it, current vice president Wendy Strickler and Jason Simmons, consider it a final political dig by Jonas, Bibb and Bell  all of whom have terms ending on Dec. 31. The superintendent's current contract required the board to make a decision by March 1, 2026, regarding Hook's employment.

Was superintendent contract vote a political move?

The timing of the contract vote during the final board meeting of 2025 was an ongoing point of contention among board members. During public comment, incoming member Jeremy Ward described the move as being added to the agenda "in the 11th hour" with "no chance for meaningful public commentary."

(Left to right) Mark Bell, Sara Jonas, Jason Simmons, Bob Bibb and Wendy Strickler conduct their final Forest Hills school board meeting of 2025.

Strickler and Simmons, slated to serve on the board through 2027, voiced a similar sentiment.

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"It continues the notion that this is a politicized body. We're not setting the new board up for success, we're not interested in what's best for the district," Simmons told The Enquirer.

Jonas, Bibb and Bell's actions, Simmons said, send the message, "We want to preserve the guy that we hired because we hired him and we're right."

Strickler and Simmons backed a different version of the contract that would have enabled the new board to part ways with Hook as early as Aug. 1, 2026, with a smaller, 60-day buyout.

"What that would do is it would give the new board that was just recently elected more flexibility to work with Larry, more flexibility with Larry to make a decision at the end of this school year whether the work that we're all doing is aligned with the vision of Forest Hills as opposed to (saddling) the board and Larry to 18 months," Strickler said at Wednesday's meeting.

Superintendent Larry Hook listens to another board member speak on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, during the Forest Hills Board of Education meeting at Mercer Elementary School in Cincinnati.

Other district residents, like Kevin Misiak, say the superintendent contract extension prevents the new board from making too many changes too quickly.

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"Hiring a superintendent is not a short process," Misiak said. "If this decision had not been made tonight, no doubt in the first or second meeting the (new board) would have fired Larry on the spot. The district would have descended into chaos."

Could leadership transition mean end of culture wars in Forest Hills?

Jonas, Bibb and Bill's departure from the board is the finale of a years-long saga of polarizing decisions, including banning a high school's Diversity Day, painting over a mural that promoted diversity and adopting an anti-critical race theory resolution that culminated in a federal lawsuit.

A person at the forefront of several of those decisions, Jonas summarized her efforts in a farewell speech at the Dec. 17 meeting.

"I was outraged by the CARE Team, the districts Diversity Equity Belonging and Inclusion program, and the 'white guilt' poetry lesson my second-grader had to sit through during virtual learning. I made the commitment to make every attempt to correct the misdirection of education," said Jonas, whose children no longer attend Forest Hills.

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"Not every decision or vote was easy, far from it. There were many times when I had to stand firm in my research and beliefs, even when it wasnt popular to some," she said.

Members of the Forest Hills Schools District community clap during public comments in support of Diversity Day, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Nagel Middle School in Anderson Township, Ohio.

Forest Hills parent and Honesty for Ohio Education organizer Natalie Hastings said the three members' final vote to extend Hook's contract falls in line with the political agenda maintained during their board tenure.

"I'm unsurprised that this board would make a decision that is counter to what the majority of our community had communicated that they want, whether that's been at the ballot box in '23 or '25 ... Or all the letters and mail that was sent when Superintendent Hook decided to have the mural painted over," Hastings said.

The community appears to have signaled its intent to ditch the drama at the most recent school board election. Bell came up short in landing one of the three board seats while candidates who promoted making school board meetings boring again, Ward, Jeff Nye and Erin Walczewski, were elected.

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At public comment Dec. 17, Ward said the biggest feedback he heard on the campaign trail was "the desire to get politics out of the decision-making of the school board, across all party lines."

For other residents, like Denise Mayer, Bibb and Jonas' tenure was marked by resilience and professionalism in the face of community pushback.

"Their tenure reflects thoughtful leadership, principled decision-making and steadfast commitment to students and families. They did so while facing doxing, harassment and threats to themselves and more importantly to their families," Mayer said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Controversial board members depart Forest Hills with final tense vote
A former Hudson school teacher has been sentenced to spend 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes.

Court records show that Madison Bergmann, now 26, of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, will spend six years on extended supervision after her release from prison. She pleaded guilty in September to one count of child enticement and two counts of sexual misconduct, after being charged by prosecutors in spring 2024.

Several charges were dropped as part of the plea deal, including for first-degree sexual assault of a child and using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.

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A former 5th-grade teacher at River Crest Elementary School, Bergmann was found to have been texting a child "almost daily," with the teacher then confronted by the victim's parents, who showed printouts detailing multiple encounters between the two that allegedly happened during the school lunch hour and after class.

St. Croix County Jail (St. Croix County Jail)

The criminal complaint said Bergmann told the child in handwritten notes found in her purse how much she liked them "touching" her and "making out" with her.

One of the notes from Bergmann read: "One of my cousins is in the 5th grade, and I cant imagine a man talking to her how we talk. I know we have a special relationship, and I do love you more than anyone in the world, but I have to be the adult here and stop."

It was reported at the time she was charged that Bergmann had gotten engaged gotten engaged the year prior and was due to be married in 2024.

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Bergmann broke down in tears during the sentencing, telling the court: "I want to make it absolutely clear that I take full accountability for every boundary that was crossed," per KARE 11.

This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Dec 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the WI News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who also served as University of Florida president, announced on Tuesday he has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.

"This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I'll cut to the chase," Sasse, 53, said on social media platform X. "Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die."

Sasse, a Christian conservative, represented Nebraska in the U.S. Senate from 2015 to 2023, where he became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump.

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He was one of only seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump on a charge of inciting insurrection during a January 6, 2021, speech to supporters just before hundreds of them stormed the U.S. Capitol. A year earlier, Sasse had joined nearly all Republicans in voting to acquit Trump in the president's first impeachment trial.

Sasse, who has degrees from Harvard College, St. John's College and Yale University, left the Senate to become president of the University of Florida in February 2023. He stepped down last year after his wife, Melissa, was diagnosed with epilepsy.

"Im not going down without a fight," Sasse said in his social media post on Tuesday.

"One sub-part of Gods grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more. Death and dying arent the same  the process of dying is still something to be lived."

(Reporting by David Morgan in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
A fugitive who is accused of assaulting a seven-year-old boy was arrested by SWAT units in East Pittsburgh on Monday.

The Allegheny County Police Department said they received information that Ryan Gainer, 45, was staying in a tent in the woods near Ridge Avenue in East Pittsburgh.

SWAT units were conducting surveillance in the area when they saw Gainer leaving a house on the 500 block of Ridge Avenue. They chased him onto Electric Avenue after he took off, police say. He was arrested shortly after.

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Gainer is wanted in connection with the assault of a 7-year-old boy that happened on Oct. 15 in Turtle Creek. The Eastern Mon Valley Regional Police Department investigated that incident after the boy was found with a black eye and injuries to his legs, back and arms. He was taken to UPMC Childrens Hospital.

Police filed a warrant for Gainer in connection with that incident on Nov. 11

Gainer was also wanted by the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Department for aggravated assault after a separate incident where officers received multiple calls about a disturbance on the 500 block of Ridge Avenue on Sept. 1.

Police said a slew of teams have aided in the investigation into Gainer, including: the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Eastern Mon Valley Regional Police and the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force.

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that American manufacturing has been in a decline since the 1990s. The story has been updated to clarify that hiring in American manufacturing has declined since the 1990s. Originally moved Dec. 21.

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In a cavernous 19th-century textile mill building in Fall River, Massachusetts, expert artisans stitch together thick leather motorcycle jackets worn by celebrities and racing stars. Across town in a bright factory, highly skilled needleworkers oversee the application of a gold threaded crest onto a 600-count Egyptian cotton sham for a social club in India.

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Down the road, in another gleaming modern factory, a 30-year textile veteran monitors one of his companys four high-tech German looms as it weaves a 40-foot alpaca, silk and merino rug bound for a Manhattan townhouse. Occasionally, he pauses the loom to hand-insert contrasting weft yarns - a key design feature created by the firms French artist-in-residence, Sylvie Johnson.

Fall River, once called Spindle City after the number of spools that fed its thousands of textile looms, is undergoing a manufacturing renaissance that leverages its industrial heritage. But as community leaders and entrepreneurs collaborate to rebuild their manufacturing base, they face challenges that illuminate both the promise and the peril in the effort to re-shore Americas lost industries.

Hiring in American manufacturing has been steadily declining after the United States lowered barriers to offshoring in Mexico, Canada, and Central America in the 1990s, and later China. While Fall Rivers population peaked in 1920 at about 120,000 people, the citys fate mirrored that of the rest of the U.S.s factory towns. By 2017, the city lost three major textile employers - Duro Industries, Globe Manufacturing, and most importantly, Quaker Fabrics, once the citys biggest employer with some 2,400 people on its payroll and one of the worlds largest producers of jacquard upholstery fabric. The company moved operations to Asia in 2006.

Fall River became a cautionary tale: a onetime textile hub gutted by globalization, its mills shuttered and its workers displaced. By 2023, about 20 percent of Fall Rivers 93,000 residents were living below the poverty level, twice the number than in 1990. But behind the mills imposing brick and limestone facades, a revival is underway. Companies here arent trying to compete with Asia on cost; theyre justifying their higher price-point by achieving the kind of quality you only get with a skilled workforce. The gamble is if the world still wants - and will pay for - the best from the United States.

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The quality craftsmanship and high-tech production represent a strategic positioning against global competition, yet, until last year, one critical element was missing: how to recruit the next generation to keep looms, logistics and marketing humming. Employers here say their biggest challenge isnt foreign competition but convincing young people that manufacturing is a career at all, let alone one worth showing up to every day. The future of Fall River, and perhaps of U.S. manufacturing itself, will hinge on whether craft can bridge that generational divide.

At Matouk, a third-generation luxury linen company, the design of linens and towels is deliberately craft-focused, enhanced by 21st-century cutting, stitching and dyeing machinery. Were really a great blend of artisans manufacturing products in a very traditional way because theres really no other way to manufacture those products and make sure they meet our quality standards, said Milton Goncalves, 54, Matouks chief operating officer.

Theyre also bringing in technological advancements like Matouks two continuous quilting machines and multi-ply fabric cutters that slice through seven inches of fabric with remarkable precision. Goncalves walks over to one corner of the factory to point out their new TwineX4, a digital thread-dyer the size of a commercial refrigerator. The machine dyes thread to exacting color specifications without using water. Goncalves estimates that Matouk has saved 20,000 liters of water this year using the machine, the result of a years-long collaboration with Twine Solutions, Matouk and Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, partially funded by a state-level grant.

But despite the technological advancements, one of the biggest challenges facing Fall Rivers comeback is finding workers to fill the factories.

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Fall River native Patti Rego was an unlikely champion of the citys manufacturing revival. Both of her parents worked in the mills - her father until retirement, her mother until the jobs disappeared. They clocked in from seven to three. It was just a different way of life here, Rego says. For her family, and for so many first-generation Portuguese immigrants, the mills had been both a livelihood and a limit. But factory work wasnt a career to aspire to. A good job, her mother told her, was working in a bank.

Rego believed it. She left Fall River for New York, got a degree from FIT, then pursued a publishing career. But the mills never left her. As a teenager, shed spent a summer pressing garments and digitizing patterns in her aunts factory, watching how Talbots dresses with lace and bibs came together piece by piece. I got to see how things were made, and I learned an appreciation for the craft, she recalls. That sense of pride in the work - the camaraderie on the floor, the artistry that hid behind the sweatshop label - stuck with her.

Two decades later, Rego, 47, reconnected with her hometown. While she marveled at the artisanal approach to manufacturing, she also began to see the cultural chasm between employers and the citys youth, most of whom had never set foot in a mill or knew how many types of factory roles exist - including design and digitizing jobs. Theres a million things you could do, she said.

During the pandemic, Rego, who previously worked at Fall Rivers tourism agency and now works in communications at a local community foundation, connected with Judi Vigna, 58, founder of Specialized Career Guidance, who suggested they collaborate on building a pipeline from the local high school to manufacturers. The idea was simple: Introduce students who didnt have post-high school plans to the opportunities all around them.

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Funded by state and federal grants, their pilot program onboarded six manufacturers who made motorcycle gear, bed sheets, linens and other textiles in 2024. From day one, 45 students selected for the pilot began touring factories in their city and seeing the range of jobs available. Jessica Stephens, principal of Durfee High School, said it has been powerful to show students something that they didnt know could be for them.

After a month of skill development workshops, 26 participants applied for the nine 80-hour internships available. And this past summer, five recent Durfee High School grads who went through the internship program landed full-time jobs at the same factories, including in marketing and manufacturing.

The results extend beyond just job placement. The program gave me the opportunity to be a part of something that I otherwise wouldnt be able to while still in school, said Hyde Farias, a student who joined Accurate Services, a family-owned apparel design and manufacturing company.

By gaining exposure [to manufacturing], young people believe that they belong there, that theyre wanted there, that their skills and what they bring to the world is valuable, Stephens explains. The educators see manufacturing as a hedge against technological displacement.

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The citys manufacturing innovation isnt about robots or AI. Its about young people discovering that manufacturing offers viable positions in careers that have living wages, and they can stay right here in Fall River instead of leaving the area, said Andrew Woodard, the Durfee pilot program director. Fall Rivers story reflects a national conversation about manufacturings role in the U.S.s economic future.

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A Cherokee County man was charged with three counts of sexually exploiting children after investigators found abuse materials on his cellphone.

According to the Cherokee County District Attorneys Office, Christopher Grauso faces three counts of sexual exploitation of children stemming from an investigation by the Cherokee Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations Sexual Exploitation Unit.

The District Attorneys Office said Grauso was the subject of a search warrant on Dec. 19 at his home in Ball Ground.

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When officers reviewed his cellphone, they found child sexual abuse materials and he was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

On Dec. 20, Grauso posted a $24,000 bond and was released, according to the DAs office.

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A 68-year-old Savannah man is dead after crashing the pickup truck he was driving Monday on Interstate 95. The crash happened at about 7:49 p.m. south of U.S. Highway 1.

The driver was traveling southbound at mile marker 298 in the inside lane when he traveled off of the roadway for unknown reasons, a Florida Highway Patrol news release states. The truck entered the tree line striking multiple trees before stopping, the news release states.

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Germany has deported a convicted criminal to Syria for the first time since civil war broke out in the country nearly 15 years ago, the Interior Ministry in Berlin said.

The Syrian was handed over to authorities in Damascus on Tuesday morning, the ministry said, adding that he had been serving prison time for aggravated robbery, assault and extortion.

Earlier on Tuesday, an Afghan man convicted of intentional bodily harm was also deported, marking the second such deportation within one week, according to the ministry.

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"Deportations to Syria and Afghanistan must be possible. Our society has a legitimate interest in ensuring that criminals leave our country," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, vowing "checks, consistency and a clear stance" on migration.

Germany halted direct deportations to Syria after war erupted in 2011 following the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests by the regime of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad.

After al-Assad was ousted by a rebel alliance late last year, calls grew in Germany for Syrian refugees to return home. But the then centre-left government cautioned that it was too early to determine whether conditions in Syria were safe.

The conservative-led government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which took office in May, has since adopted a more hard-line stance on migration, pledging to resume deportations to Syria and Afghanistan starting with convicted criminals.

Syrian lived in Germany for 10 years

The 37-year-old man deported to Syria on Tuesday had previously been based in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen, city officials said.

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He entered Germany in 2015 and received a residence permit, which was repeatedly extended, but the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees later repealed the man's protection status, the city said.

This, on top of the man's criminal offences, led local authorities to reject a further extension of his residence permit and ask him to leave the country or else face deportation to Syria, but he never complied with the request, Gelsenkirchen officials said.

In the end, he was deported on a commercial flight on Tuesday, dpa has learned.

The 35-year-old Afghan man deported on the same day was previously based in Bavaria.

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It comes after a 28-year-old Afghan man was deported to Kabul on December 17 on a commercial flight.

New government paves way for deportations

Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, Germany has deported groups of Afghan nationals twice, with assistance from Qatar. A first flight took off in August 2024, under the government of chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Following months of talks, German government officials have now reached agreements with Syria's new government as well as Afghanistan's Taliban regime to facilitate deportations of convicted criminals and individuals deemed a security risk on a regular basis, according to the ministry.

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It comes after Merz said in November that he would personally lobby Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for a swift resumption of deportations to Syria.

"The civil war in Syria is over. There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, which means we can begin repatriation," he said on November 3.

He later clarified that Germany "will not deport" those politically or religiously persecuted.

During a visit to Damascus in late October, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, a member of Merz's conservatives, expressed horror at the destruction that was still visible in the city nearly one year after the fall of al-Assad.

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"It is barely possible for people to live here with dignity," the minister said during a visit to the Harasta suburb, which was largely destroyed during the war. "In the near future, [Syrian refugees] can not return," Wadephul said.

His comments triggered backlash from within his own conservative bloc, which has long been pushing for deportations to resume.




Tamale season in San Antonio is serious business. So serious, in fact, that one popular spot in the Alamo City hires security to help manage the inevitably long lines throughout the holiday months.

A TikTok posted by Arianna Esquivel on Sunday, December 21, shows a uniformed Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy outside Delia's on San Antonio's Northwest Side. In the video, the deputy lays out some ground rules for folks lining up outside, telling them that the restaurant will only be open for pre-order pick-up, except for extra tamales being sold to the general public "on a very limited basis."

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"That being said, there is no guarantee on ... what you will get," he said. "You are standing here at your own risk. There is a chance you may or may not get tamales."

It seems that the deputy's presence was a precaution rather than a reaction to any incident at the restaurant. A spokesperson for the Bexar County Sheriff's Office told MySA in an email that "the deputy was working off-duty employment, contracted and paid by the restaurant, to provide security due to an increased number of customers during the holiday season."

Esquivel captioned the video, which racked up more than 13,000 views in less than a day, "We gotta do things better next year! Things were very crazy at Delia's this season." In a DM, Esquivel told MySA she waited in line for about four hours. She said she had not preordered, "but the truth is, even if you did preorder, you still had to wait in line to pickup/pay, and Delia's was still messing up orders even though people ordered ahead of time."

She's not the first to notice the security presence. In a post from November on the r/sanantonio subreddit, one local made their first visit to Delia's (a chain from the RGV) this season and was shocked by the wait times and the guards.

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"I called in my order yesterday for pickup today. The lady said she only had 3:00 and 5:00 [p.m.] pickups left. That was my first hint this would not going to be a normal carryout experience," user free-advice wrote. When it came time to pick up the order, the user was surprised there were security guards at the restaurant, writing, "You thought we were going to do serious tamale business without guarded security? This place had several security guards/cops standing around keeping things in order."

Continuing, free-advice said, "I went inside and got in line. There was another security guard/cop inside (good guy, friendly) and I was like, 'yo this is nuts, security guards for tamales what is going on here?' He was like, 'lol I know, come back at Christmas that line of cars will be miles long!'"

Suffice to say, pulling off a stress-free tamale season order is not for the weak. MySA reached out to Delia's for comment via email and by phone, but did not hear back at the time of publication.

This article originally published at 'Gotta do things better': Popular San Antonio tamale spot is turning heads.
From left, the four candidates for the 2026 South Dakota Republican nomination for governor: U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Gov. Larry Rhoden, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, and state House Speaker Jon Hansen. (South Dakota Searchlight images)

The number of preventable prison deaths in South Dakota should spark serious responses, candidates for the states top elected post say.

Eight people have died of suspected or confirmed overdose deaths in South Dakotas prisons in 2025, outpacing neighboring states. Most are believed to be linked to a synthetic drug commonly called K2, which typically comes into correctional settings on pieces of paper that have been soaked with the drug and dried out for smoking.

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The prisons have also tallied five deaths listed as suicides this year, and 24 total inmate deaths  higher numbers for the state than any year in recent memory.

South Dakotas prison overdose problem

This story is part of a series examining a spate of prison overdose deaths in South Dakota, including the causes and potential solutions.

Read the series >

Gov. Larry Rhoden, who recently hired Nick Lamb to succeed former Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko, said he trusts the prison system to turn things around, citing new camera purchases for the Sioux Falls penitentiary campus and the purchase of two new body scanners meant to detect drugs hidden in body cavities.

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Theres a backlog on body scanners, but Rhoden said he talked to his predecessor as governor, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, about speeding up their delivery to South Dakota.

I believe we will still get them yet this winter, Rhoden said during a press conference on a new womens prison, now under construction in Rapid City.

He told reporters that he couldnt offer much more on the states response to the overdoses.

I cant talk about any deaths that are currently under pending or active investigation, Rhoden said. And I also cant talk about a lot of the security initiatives or changes we may be making, because that will jeopardize our operations. But we are looking at a lot of changes.

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Rhoden declined a request for an interview to talk in more detail about the issue. Spokeswoman Josie Harms said Rhodens comments in Rapid City cover the bases of what the administration can say.

Primary candidates say more should be done

Rhodens Republican primary opponents in the 2026 governor race arent sure thats enough.

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, said in an interview an overdose death count well above the national average is a cause for alarm, and that scanning pieces of paper for contamination isnt enough.

Hed like to see the prisons patrol more closely to catch drones he says might be dropping drugs into prison yards. Hed also like to see more random searches of cells, better screening of staff members and daily sweeps of the prison yard to make sure drugs havent been planted or dropped there before inmates leave their cells each day.

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Youre never going to have perfection, so the fact that there have been problems is not as much a concern to me as the fact that there is no plan to fix them, Johnson said. There doesnt appear to be any leadership.

Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden also decried the situation as evidence of a lack of leadership. If elected, he said, hed move for more collaboration with law enforcement investigators.

If we cant even keep drugs out of our prisons, how on earth are we supposed to keep them off the streets and keep our kids safe? Doeden said in an interview with South Dakota Searchlight.

Johnson and Doeden both talked about bolstering chemical dependency treatment as important steps, too.

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Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids is speaker of the House in the state Legislature and a Republican candidate for governor. Hansen issued a statement on the overdose situation that read, in part, that the buck stops with the governor  who cant seem to get his house in order.

This dysfunction affects far more people than just the inmates within, he wrote. Repeated prisoner deaths like this opens us up to huge lawsuits, breeds a culture of prison disorder and violence, and makes it harder and harder to recruit and keep good corrections officers.

Independent candidate weighs in

Allison Renville of Sioux Falls, whos running for governor as an independent, volunteers at the penitentiary, working with a group of Native American inmates.

Renville said the Rhoden administration needs to find out who is causing these casualties, either inmate or staff, before more lives are lost.

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But Renville sees other problems that need solving if the prison system expects to draw inmates out of cycles of drug use.

Working to address the substance abuse and its underlying problems like depression, suicidal ideation and poverty will help people prone to predatory practices like K2 distribution, Renville said.

Renville cited a shortage of space in chemical dependency treatment, a lack of options for activities and inmate lockdowns as factors contributing to drug use.

Robert Arnold, a college student whos declared his intention to seek the South Dakota Democratic Partys nomination for governor, did not respond to messages seeking comment on the prison overdoses.

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LONDON (AP)  Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London on Tuesday while supporting pro-Palestinian activists who are staging a hunger strike to protest their imprisonment while awaiting trial on charges related to a series of earlier demonstrations.

The protest group Prisoners for Palestine shared a video showing the 22-year-old Swede holding a sign supporting the hunger strikers and their organization, known as Palestine Action. The British government earlier this year banned Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.

The protests were part of a larger demonstration in which two other activists sprayed red paint in front of an insurance company in the City of London, the area of central London known as the hub of Britains financial services industry. Prisoners for Palestine says they targeted the insurer because it supports the Israel-linked defense firm Elbit Systems.

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City of London police said a man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. A third woman was later arrested on suspicion of supporting a banned organization. British police generally do not identify suspects by their names prior to their being charged.

Eight Palestine Action members have staged a hunger strike to protest their detention without bail as they await trial on a variety of charges related to earlier protests around the country.

The first two prisoners to join the protest have now been on hunger strike for 52 days and are at a critical stage, where death is a real possibility, Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement.

The British government has so far refused to intervene in the judicial process, saying questions about bail and detention are matters for the courts to decide.

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In February 2024, Thunberg was acquitted by a court in London of refusing to follow a police order to leave a protest blocking the entrance to a major oil and gas industry conference.

She has repeatedly been fined in Sweden and the U.K. for civil disobedience in connection with protests.
President Trump plans on ringing in the New Year by garnishing the wages of over 5 million student debtors currently in default on their loans, The Washington Post first reported.

Starting January 7, the Department of Education plans to withhold a portion of the wages of around 1,000 defaulted borrowers. The number will gradually increase within the following months.

By law, the Education Department must inform those in default at least 30 days before garnishing their wages. The department can take up to 15 percent of a student loan holders after-tax income to pay off their debts from collegeyet another example of President Trump working against the issue of affordability he centered so much of his campaign around. Over 42 million people have student loans, and the number of people defaulting on them is expected to double very soon, highlighting the absurd price of college education in America, even as its value seems to be declining.
The Dubai royals investment approach through Inma Emirates Holdings demonstrates how patient capital and technology transfer can generate measurable social impact across emerging markets

By Exec Edge Editorial Staff

The language of impact investing has evolved from philanthropic experiment to financial orthodoxy over the past decade, but the practice remains uneven. While Silicon Valley funds tout ESG metrics and Wall Street banks launch sustainability divisions, the actual work of building community capacity in emerging markets requires something more fundamental: patient capital, institutional knowledge transfer, and investment horizons measured in decades rather than quarters.

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoums approach through Inma Emirates Holdings offers a case study in this longer-term model. The Dubai-based investment vehicle has engaged with 35 initiatives spanning more than 15 countries.

This approach aligns with a broader Gulf trend toward bilateral engagement rather than channeling investments through multilateral organizations. Unlike Western development institutions that often operate through intermediaries, direct partnerships enable swifter project execution and deeper relationship building. The Gulf states geographic proximity and shared cultural and religious frameworks with many emerging markets  particularly across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East  facilitate trust and understanding that transcends transactional engagement.

This South-South collaboration model offers an alternative to traditional development paradigms, where solutions emerge from shared experiences of rapid modernization rather than being prescribed by distant institutions.

The strategy extends beyond capital deployment to establishing local presence and building indigenous capacity. By creating offices in partner countries, hiring local talent, and developing supply chains within communities, these investments generate economic returns that remain where theyre most needed. This localization approach transforms what might otherwise be extractive relationships into genuine partnerships, where technology transfer, skills development, and institutional knowledge become permanent community assets rather than temporary interventions.

The portfolios geographic footprint reflects strategic choices about where capital can generate multiplier effects. These are markets where foundational infrastructure gaps constrain economic participation, where a single power plant enables hundreds of small businesses, and where digital identity systems bring millions into the formal economy.
MARSHFIELD  The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released Nov. 11 statutorily required school and district accountability report cards for the 2024-25 school year.

The accountability reports show data on four priority areas: achievement, growth, target group outcomes and on-track to graduation. The reports account for prior year data and are weighted based on a districts number of economically disadvantaged students in accordance with the state statutes requirements.

The districts receive a score between zero and 100 based on how they meet each priority area. The score is then broken into five categories: fails to meet expectations, meets few expectations, meets expectations, exceeds expectations and significantly exceeds expectations.

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DPI reformed the report card scoring system in various ways earlier in 2025 that eliminated the ability to compare overall scores and achievement scores year-to-year but other measures such as graduation, attendance, absenteeism and growth are comparable.

Heres how the School District of Marshfield and its schools performed last year.

School District of Marshfield 'meets expectations'

The district continued to meet expectations by scoring 70.6 in 2024-25 on a scale that is not comparable to previous years.

Marshfield schools outpaced the statewide scores on almost every metric. In achievement, Marshfield scored a 70.1 in ELA compared to the states 63.9 and Marshfield scored 72.2 in math compared to the states 65.6.

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In on track to graduation, Marshfield held solid margins in chronic absenteeism (90.2 to 80.2), graduation (94.3 to 91.9), third-grade English Language Arts (73.9 to 64.7) and eighth-grade math (81.6 to 69.3).

The districts report weighs growth slightly more than the other priority areas and the district met or fell short of statewide results in that category. The district scored 66.6 for growth in math and 56.5 for growth in ELA, which compare to a statewide score of 66 in both categories.

Of the districts seven buildings that received ratings, five exceeded expectations and two met expectations.

How did Marshfield High School score?

Marshfield High School scored 66.7 on its individual report card, which qualified it for the "meets expectations" category.

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The high schools score is weighted toward achievement and target group outcomes, which means it slightly devalues the growth and on-track-to-graduation categories where it nearly meets or exceeds the statewide average.

Marshfields high school both matched and fell short of statewide average scores for growth. Students scored 54.6 on their growth in ELA compared to their statewide peers, who scored 66, and students scored 66 for their growth in math scores compared to the statewide score of 66.

Target group outcomes are unique to each school or district receiving a report card, therefore do not have a statewide comparison. The high school scored 55.6 on its overall score for these students outcomes, which accounts for achievement, growth, absenteeism and graduation rate of the schools lowest-performing students.

The high school outperformed state averages on on-track-to-graduation scores, including chronic absenteeism (91.6 to 75.4) and graduation rate (94.2 to 91.9).

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The school also posted strong numbers in achievement with ELA scores slightly ahead of the statewide score (66.1 to 62.1) and math (62.2 to 60).

How did the middle school score?

Marshfield Middle School scored 72.2 overall and exceeded statewide scores in most categories, qualifying it for the "exceeds expectations" category.

Students performed better on achievement in ELA (72.2 to 65.2) and math (80.4 to 68.4) compared to their statewide peers.

In on-track-to-graduation categories, middle school students outperformed the state in chronic absenteeism (85.7 to 80.7) and in attendance (94.7 to 92.9). The students lagged their statewide peers in growth of ELA scores (50.8 to 66) but exceeded in growth in math scores (67.9 to 66).

How about the elementary schools?

Of the districts five elementary schools, Washington scored the highest overall (79.3) while Madison scored the lowest (63.3).

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Madison (57.3%) and Lincoln (58.7%) have the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students while about 33% of the three other schools population qualify for this category. The schools with a higher proportion of these students had growth weigh more on their overall score.

Heres how elementary schools scored and the category they qualified for:

Washington  79.3, exceeds expectations

Grant  78.2, exceeds expectations

Nasonville  74.1, exceeds expectations

Lincoln  71 exceeds expectations

Madison  63.3, meets expectations

How did neighboring districts score overall?

School District of Auburndale scored 63.8, Stratford School District scored 78.3, Spencer Public Schools scored 66.8, Pittsville School District scored 73.5, School District of Loyal scored 61.9 and the Granton Area School District scored 59.6.

What does each priority area mean?

Achievement refers to students level of knowledge and skills attained compared to state academic standards.

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Growth is the pace at which students improve knowledge and skills year to year.

Target group outcomes are the outcomes of students who score the lowest on standardized tests. Outcomes include achievement, growth, chronic absenteeism, and graduation.

On track to graduation refers to the rate at which students are achieving academic milestones. The tracked milestones include chronic absenteeism rate, graduation rate, third-grade ELA scores and eighth-grade mathematics scores.

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: Here's how Marshfield schools performed in 2024-25 on DPI report cards
More than a dozen staffers left the Heritage Foundation and joined Advancing American Freedom (AAF), founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, in the latest shake-up for the embattled organization that has become the center of an ideological civil war over the conservative movements post-Trump future.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts announced the exodus internally in an all-staff email late Sunday, and AAF announced the addition on Monday  nearly doubling the size of the 4-year-old organization. The departures include most of the staff from Heritages legal and economic centers, Roberts said in the email.

We wish them well, though the manner of their departures speaks volumes, Roberts said in the email obtained by The Hill.

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It is another major blow for Heritage as it struggles to contain the fallout from a massive internal blowup that was sparked by Roberts defending Tucker Carlson for interviewing antisemitic commentator Nick Fuentes, which Roberts later apologized for.

But staff discontent had been growing long before that October video as Roberts led Heritage in a Trumpier and more populist direction, embracing more noninterventionist foreign policy and warming up to tariffs that it previously opposed.

The 13 staff moves are headlined by John Malcolm, who was vice president of the Institute for Constitutional Government and director of Heritages Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies; Richard Stern, who was acting director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget; and Kevin Dayaratna, who was director of Heritages Center for Data Analysis and chief statistician.

Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III said in a statement that AAF will now be the home for the new Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law, headed by Malcolm. Stern will lead the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at AAF, and Dayaratna will lead the Center for Statistical Modeling & Scientific Analysis at AAF.

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Andy Olivastro, chief advancement officer at Heritage Foundation, said in a statement that the organization fired two staff members, Malcolm and Jessica Reinsch, last week for conduct inconsistent with Heritages mission and standards, mentioning fiduciary duty and intellectual property removal.

Heritage has always welcomed debate, but alignment on mission and loyalty to the institution are non-negotiable. A handful of staff chose a different pathsome through disruption, others through disloyalty, Olivastro said.

For AAF, that staff discontent at Heritage turned into a major, sudden expansion opportunity. Talks to absorb the Meese legal center team started several weeks ago, AAF President Tim Chapman said.

The AAF board approved the plans on the condition it raised at least 60 percent of a $15 million fundraising goal, enough to fund the new project for $5 million a year for three years. After approaching a small number of donors, AAF raised $12 million in just two weeks.

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With the additions, the four-and-a-half-year-old think tank is doubling in size with the staff additions, and is already working to expand its downtown Washington, D.C. office space. More staff additions are expected.

This is a reorganization of the conservative movement, Chapman said. People are voting with their feet as to where they think they are best suited to be, and these scholars who have come over from Heritage feel the best place for them to be in order to be principled conservatives and continue to do the work that theyve been doing, is AAF.

Other Heritage-to-AAF staff moves include Amy Swearer, a senior legal fellow who had told Roberts at a leaked all-staff meeting in November that she did not have confidence in his leadership; senior research fellow Rachel Greszler, who also doubted Robertss leadership in that meeting and said Heritages policy positions are decided in closed-door meetings  often in utter disregard to the policy experts.

AAF is honored to welcome these principled conservative scholars to the team, Pence said in a statement. They bring a wealth of experience, a love of country, and a deep commitment to the Constitution and Conservative Movement that will further the cause of liberty.

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The staff departures come after two Heritage Foundation board members  Shane McCullar and Abby Spencer Moffat  resigned last week, with McCullar saying the board was unwilling to confront the lapses in judgment that have harmed its credibility and Moffat saying the organization had drifted from the principles that once defined its leadership. A third board member, Robert P. George, had resigned from Heritage a month prior.

Roberts said in the email to staff that E.J. Antoni, who Trump had nominated to be commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, will be acting director of the Heritage Foundations Center for Data Analysis and Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies.

Donald Trump Jr., for his part, panned the Heritage-to-AFF staff shift.

I think its great news for Heritage that a bunch of Trump-hating RINOs are leaving. Anyone who would want to go work for Mike Pences globalist never-Trump organization isnt MAGA and definitely doesnt put America First! Trump Jr. said in a post on the social platform X.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Vice President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is expanding his nonprofit thanks to a mass exodus from the Heritage Foundation, putting on public display the growing chasm between populist right-wing influencers and traditional conservatives.

Pence's Washington, D.C.-based think tank, Advancing American Freedom, announced the hires of more than a dozen Heritage Foundation staffers Dec. 22, including three of its top leaders.

The departures represent the latest bout of turmoil facing the Heritage Foundation, a long-established right-leaning think tank that spearheaded Project 2025, a policy guidebook for President Donald Trump's administration. Foundation President Kevin Roberts faced criticism from conservatives and staffers after he defended former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's interview with the white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes.

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"Their attempt to cancel [Carlson] will fail," Roberts said in an Oct. 30 video posted to X. "I disagree with and even abhor things that Nick Fuentes says, but canceling him is not the answer either."

There has been speculation that @Heritage is distancing itself from @TuckerCarlson over the past 24 hours.



I want to put that to rest right nowhere are my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/F8bcxBIqKI  Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) October 30, 2025

In one high-profile departure, Josh Blackman, the editor of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, published a letter he sent to Roberts on Dec. 21 that explained his resignation.

Roberts' comments not only "gave aid and comfort to the rising tide of antisemitism on the right," Blackman wrote, but have alienated regular contributors to the guide and "weakened the ability of the storied Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies to promote the rule of law." (That center and six of its staffers also moved to Advancing American Freedom, under a slightly new name.)

"Heritage came to a crashing halt after your infamous video," Blackman wrote, addressing Roberts. "I am not alone in recognizing how you wounded Heritage's moral standing."

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On social media, observers speculated more resignations would come. On Dec. 22, AAF said John Malcom, the vice president of Heritage's Institute for Constitutional Government; Richard Stern, acting director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies; and Kevin Dayaratna, director of the Center for Data Analysis would also join its staff.

AAF raised tens of millions of dollars specifically to make these hires, plainly seeking to establish itself as the "rising organization" for conservatives, the statement said. AAF president Tim Chapman told NPR the group raised $13 million in two weeks after learning of staffers' interest in leaving Heritage.

"AAF is honored to welcome these principled conservative scholars to the team," Pence wrote in a statement. "They bring a wealth of experience, a love of country, and a deep commitment to the Constitution and Conservative Movement that will further the cause of liberty.

Pence is seen as a martyr among traditional conservatives and a traitor among the far-right for certifying the 2020 election, against Trump's wishes.

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Contact IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Heritage Foundation staffers flee to Mike Pence organization
Over the last year, Tehran transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah to provide its force rehabilitation due to downsizing as a consequence of the war with Israel.

Hezbollah presented complaints regarding a supposed lack of money transferring from Iran to the terrorist group, KAN reported on Monday.

In the last few months, senior Hezbollah figures and the Iranian Quds Force have been discussing how much funding resources Tehran would allocate to Hezbollah this year.

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Hezbollah has asked for $2 billion, double the amount Iran was planning to provide to the terror group, KAN reported.

During 2024, Tehran transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah to provide its force rehabilitation due to downsizing as a consequence of the war with Israel.

Even though the war scenario provoked a financial balance shift in Lebanon, Hezbollah's active members continue to receive monthly salaries considered high in Lebanese standards.

Supporters of an Iraqi armed faction hold flags of Lebanon's Hezbollah and a portrait of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (C) during a protest in Baghdad on December 5, 2025. (credit: Murtadha RIDHA / AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Hezbollah's continuous weapons purchase, ground brigades, salaries, manpower, recruitment, and training not being economically affected, the terror group remains unsatisfied.

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Because the war with Israel resulted in high losses and downs regarding weaponry accumulated over two decades in a short period of time, Hezbollah has demanded more funding from Iran because rebuilding those capabilities requires enormous financial resources, KAN reported.

Last financial movements from Iran

Iran has funnelled about one billion dollars to Hezbollah over the past five months through smuggling routes in northern Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, despite an unprecedented domestic water crisis, rolling blackouts, and heavy air pollution.

The regime remains in complete denial after the war and is prioritizing regional proxies over basic services.

As a result, he said, billions in funding flowing to terrorist groups are not invested in water, electricity, or pollution mitigation. At the same time, ordinary Iranians carry a heavy burden without organized opposition leadership to challenge the regime.
This winter is bound to mean lots of snow, at least according to the Farmers Almanac. In fact, this week North Jersey is expected to get snow Tuesday and Friday. If youre elderly, disabled, pressed for time or just not feeling up to it, you may opt to hire a contractor or local neighborhood teenagers to shovel your driveway and the rest of your property.

But what happens when one of them gets injured? Are you on the hook for their medical bills and other damages?

The answer is complicated, legal experts say.

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Typically, a homeowner has a duty to maintain a property thats free of hazardous conditions, said Craig Aronow, a co-founding partner at RAM Law, based in Manalapan.

Story continues below photo gallery.

That includes ice and snow, he said. As the residential homeowner, you have a reasonable amount of time after the storm ends to remove snow and ice.

State law doesnt require the property owner to remove snow and ice until after the storm ends. But a local ordinance might give you up to 12 hours after the end of the storm to clear the snow and ice, Aronow said.

Property liability carve-out

There is one carve-out for property liability. If you hire someone to fix a problem, like snow removal, and that snow causes an injury, theres a sort of carve-out in the law that you cannot sue, said Norberto Garcia, a personal injury attorney at the Chatham law firm BlumeForte.

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If I hire a roofer to fix my roof and he falls off my roof, he cant sue me. He knows thats an inherent danger, said Garcia, president-elect of the New Jersey Bar Association, a professional organization that regulates the legal profession in New Jersey.

Richard Lozada, of Ridgefield Park, smokes a cigar and shovels snow out of his driveway in Ridgefield Park on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024.

But if a homeowner interjects themself by giving instructions or providing equipment, then they would face legal liability, said Craig Hubert, a personal injury attorney with the Lawrenceville law firm Szaferman Lakind.

Lets say the homeowner gave tools to the electrician, to test the wires, and removed the socket from the wall and has the wires dangling. That homeowner is participating somewhat, Hubert said in a phone interview. That could create a problem.

In the case of snow removal, legal liability for the homeowner could come from providing their own snowblower or snow shovel to a teen removing the snow, Hubert said.

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If the person doesnt have the familiarity with it, youre creating exposure to yourself, he said. If the snowblower is damaged in any way and has a guard [missing] and this kids sticking his hand in trying to remove the snow, [or] the shovel that youve been using for all of those years, its got some kind of crack down the middle and it breaks and the shovelhead flies up and hits his brother and creates a huge scar  those are the things that I would think about.

Hiring a local teen or a professional contractor

Hiring a neighborhood teen if you know them or their parents could be OK, as you may be more familiar with their level of knowledge on snow removal, Hubert said.

You might know a kid from church, synagogue, youth group  you know more about them and know to ask them, and if not, maybe their parents, he said. Your analysis of the situation should include knowledge of the child and the type of work youre asking to be done.

The foot or more of snow that typically ends up in Hunterdon, Warren and Sussex counties after a winter storm might be too much for that particular kid, but their older sibling might be able to handle it, Hubert said.

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On the other hand, a professional snow removal company, like a landscaping company, would be more savvy about problems such as injury, either to an employee of that company or to someone who visits the property afterward  like an Amazon delivery driver or mail carrier, said Aronow.

A resident shovels the front walk of his house in Sussex during the first snow of the season on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.

If the snow removal company "causes an injury to somebody or someone on the property and you get sued, they are obligated to defend you, he said.

If you have a kid come and do their driveway and they dont salt or properly remove the ice and somebody on your driveway slips and falls, youre ultimately going to be responsible, Aronow continued.

Play it safe with homeowner's insurance

To be on the safe side, homeowners should ask about the insurance coverage of the snow removal contractor, as well as proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance to protect their employees, Gary La Spisa, vice president of the Insurance Council of New Jersey, said in an email.

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Without that insurance, an injured party like a high school student or adult neighbor might go after the property owner if theyre injured, La Spisa said.

In New Jersey, homeowners' insurance covers legal costs for homeowners to defend themselves in court against personal injury claims on their property, and if they're found legally responsible for that person's injuries, according to the state's Division of Banking and Insurance.

It also covers the medical bills of a person injured on the homeowner's property.

Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.

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Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100; Facebook and Instagram

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: If you hire someone to shovel snow and they get hurt, who's liable?
Historians who have spent decades studying the life of Joseph Smith Jr.  born 220 years ago on Dec. 23, 1805  report that the deeper one is willing to study, the more clarity arises about the kind of man Joseph Smith actually was.

Were living in a generation of people for whom research means making a quick search on the internet, says Richard E. Turley Jr., lead author on an extensive upcoming biography about Joseph Smith.

Much of that social media or YouTube content about religious matters, including the life and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith, has a distinctly antagonistic motivation, he says. Yet when it comes to sacred events, Turley notes that only the ones tuned into the real dynamics of the situation, religiously and spiritually, would comprehend the entirety of an event.

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In the meantime, sophisticated sounding narratives may draw the ear of many, based on a selective gathering of evidence that validates pre-existent hostility. This happens often enough that it has become a whole scholarly focus.

Character assassination as a field of study

Joseph Smith is certainly not alone in facing character attacks during his life, and after his death. Prominent people throughout history have often faced such rhetorical onslaughts, especially when they threaten established, entrenched interests.

Academic interest in character attacks was revived this last decade by the 2014 publication of Character Assassination Throughout the Ages and the 2020 Routledge Handbook of Character Assassination and Reputation Management.

The scholars involved, hailing from George Mason University, the University of Amsterdam and the University of Baltimore, frame character assassination as a deliberate attempt to undermine credibility or public support, particularly in arenas of intense competition (politics, business, religion).

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One of the most influential political theorists of the 20th century, the late Hannah Arendt, argued that misrepresentation and vilification are often intentionally leveraged in hostile discourse to strip opponents of legitimacy.

Such delegitimization has been studied across disciplines as a process of withdrawing legitimacy from an institution, actor, or practice by undermining its moral, legal, or social standing.

A recent 2024 publication by British researchers explores in detail the core components of character assassination attacks that draw on any dubious-looking fragment of a persons life. To achieve reputational damage, they observe that such attacks seek to prompt a negative emotional response from the public towards the target.

No chance to defend oneself

If serious accusations are directed at someone today, scholar Susan Easton Black points out this person would have a chance to offer a defense in a courtroom or other public forum.

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By contrast, the figures of the past, theyre not here to defend themselves, and yet we feel like were in a position where we can judge them, says Claire Margaret Haynie, part of the team working on the new Joseph Smith biography.

They have no ability to speak for themselves other than the fragments that we have from their lives, she says. And I just think thats so deeply unfair.

Among this select group of historians who have studied the entirety of Joseph Smiths life, more are speaking up forcefully about his integrity and character as a husband, father and religious leader  while encouraging more critical thinking about cynical, sweeping claims made online.

Quantity of evidence

A clear evaluation of any person or event historically depends on looking at the totality of the evidence, Turley says.

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That means you cant just take one thing that may be historical and say that it represents the whole. If you dont take the totality, youre only going to get a little tiny glimpse of a portion of something.

Earlier in her training as a historian, Claire Haynie recalled writing about another historical figure where she had an unsettling moment realizing, my goodness, if my story of my life was being told based on a couple of journal entries here, a couple of newspaper articles there, and somebody was trying to get a clear picture of who I was  they wouldnt get it.

Thats something that we forget in 2025, Haynie told the Deseret News. The past is gone. All that we have are fragments of it.

This is why historians often talk about the importance of corroborating something with multiple sources, rather than just one. On that basis, Haynie says, Historians are trying their best to gather those fragments and put together this idea of who a person was.

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If someone was going to tell the story of her own life, Haynie adds, shed want that to be done by somebody who was close to me, not just for a period of time, but who persisted with me  who knew the full arc of my life.

In the context of Joseph Smiths history, she suggests that means listening more closely to people like Lucy Mack Smith and Brigham Young, rather than individuals like Ezra Booth or John C. Bennett who interacted with Joseph for only a few years.

Quality of evidence

When it comes to historical sources, Turley agrees, You cant just count them. You have to weigh them. Some sources are better than others. So you cant just say, Well, I found 10 pieces that I like, and Im going with that, you have to say, well  how good are they?

For instance, how close the source was to a person, place, time and experience is crucial, Turley says  compared with an account coming from a person who heard it from a friend, who heard it from (another) friend.

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This is important, Turley says, because in the vacuum where scant historical evidence exists, salacious claims have sometimes carried more weight, despite having a clear agenda behind them.

Evaluation of historical evidence therefore needs to include a persons feelings towards someone else, Turley emphasizes. From an anthropological stance, the goal is to learn how a people perceives the world and their belief systems, he says. But if someone immediately brought a skepticism of everything that they say, youll never comprehend what theyre doing.

The heart behind the words

Often, if someone is antagonistic towards another, they dont see the totality, Turley says. They see the antagonistic side of things.

Depending on ones vantage point, Turley notes that observers could reach very different conclusions about even prominent biblical accounts, such as the miracle on the Sea of Galilee, in which Jesus Christ walked on water and the Apostle Peter was asked to join him.

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Rather than reporting what actually happened, some observers of this event, the historian suggests, may only comprehend it was a dark and stormy night, while others might say future church president proves he cant swim.

Just as historians try to guard against their own bias overly influencing the story they are telling, Matthew C. Godfrey, managing historian of The Joseph Smith Papers, emphasizes the importance of bringing the same attention to the biases of characters in history, in the stories they tell. Theres a lot of depictions of Joseph from people who wanted to depict him in an unfavorable way, and so they did.

For instance, Godfrey highlights the motivation behind Ezra Booths letters to the Ohio Star about Joseph Smith in 1831: The whole reason why Ezra is writing these letters is to try to make people believe that Josephs not a prophet. Thats the bias that he comes from.

Likewise, he says, its very clear that John C. Bennett is depicting a distorted picture of plural marriage, which is something the historian notes this antagonist didnt necessarily know everything about. Yet again, the intent behind Bennetts public commentaries was solely to try to make people believe that Joseph is not a good person, and that hes not a prophet.

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Others who knew Joseph Smith well in the same period, like John M. Bernhisel, stated that the numerous ridiculous and scandalous reports in circulation respecting him, have not the least foundation in truth.

In evaluating the quality of Josephs own witness to his life, Ronald O. Barney, former associate editor with the Joseph Smith Papers, notes that over the course of his life, Joseph Smith was, perhaps surprisingly, freely open about his human limitations. Instead of being fearful that he might be exposed, as would a pretender, he readily acknowledged his weakness.

Barney cites reproofs Joseph Smith had received from the Lord that were shared for all to see  noting that he easily could have eliminated the reprimands that would eventually be published.

Read more, not less

Turley refers to the famous couplet, A little learning is a dangerous thing where Alexander Pope goes on to encourage people to drink deep of the spring of knowledge, and not merely taste it  cautioning that shallow draughts intoxicate the brain.

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The solution, according to Pope, is to drink more deeply. Turley says, only when you become sober again will you be able to see things correctly  before adding: We live in a world of intoxicated people who think that they know.

After a lifetime of study of Joseph Smith, Susan Easton Black acknowledges not all of her questions have been answered. But most of them have. Even amid lots of questions, she now feels grateful that she never threw out my testimony or my willingness to serve at the ward or any level. With more study, she said her testimony that Joseph Smith is a prophet has only been reinforced year after year.

She adds, You dont gain anything by tearing someone else down. Its not a win for anyone, the person you talk about or what it does to your character.

Truth edifies, and truth from any source edifies, Black concludes. If youre reading things that pull someones characters down, it doesnt edify you or the one that wrote it.

As one of this select group of historians who has studied Joseph Smiths life extensively, Claire Haynie concludes, I truly believe that he was a deeply good person, and that he was trying very honestly and sincerely to do what the Lord asked of him.
A homeless teen, holding a sign Only 19, alone on the street, asks for help in Manhattan in New York City. A report from the Covenant House and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley finds that schools and agencies could do more to intervene when youth struggle at home. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Twenty-year-old Mikayla Foreman knows her experience is meaningful. Dealing with homelessness since 18 and currently living in a shelter, Foreman has managed to continue her academic journey, studying for exams this month in hopes of attaining a nursing degree.

But Foreman believes there were intervention points that couldve prevented her from experiencing homelessness in the first place.

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If someone in school had understood what I was going through, things couldve been very different, she said in an interview with Stateline.

As more cities impose bans, fines or jail time for adults living on the streets, young people who have been homeless say they face unique problems that could have been addressed earlier. Through more than 400 interviews and survey responses, young people across the country recently told researchers how earlier guidance and intervention might have made a difference for them. The research suggests the country is missing its biggest opportunity to prevent youth homelessness  by intervening well before a young person reaches a shelter and years before they are chronically homeless.

The report, from Covenant House and the University of California, Berkeley, finds that the pathways into youth homelessness are different from those of adults experiencing temporary or chronic homelessness. A young person coming out to their family, or becoming pregnant, or experiencing untreated trauma can create conflicts that push them into homelessness. A lot of that doesnt show up in current data.

If someone in school had understood what I was going through, things couldve been very different.

 Mikayla Foreman, 20

The survey responses offer the nations schools and social services agencies the chance to get ahead of youth homelessness, researchers say, not only by intervening earlier, but also by pinpointing and responding to the diversity of needs among teenagers and young adults who might be close to losing their housing.

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Advocates say there are multiple intervention points  in school, in child welfare organizations and inside family dynamics  where the worst outcomes can be avoided. States such as California, Florida, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington have explored some of those intervention points in policies that range from guaranteed income pilot programs to youth-specific rental assistance and campus housing protections.

Hawaii has made its youth drop-in and crisis-diversion program permanent, and Oregon and Washington have expanded rental assistance and education-centered supports for vulnerable youth. Florida now requires colleges to prioritize housing for homeless and foster students.

With young people, we have opportunities to intervene much further upstream  in schools, in families, in child welfare  before anyone has to spend a single night on the streets. Thats simply not the case with older adults, said David Howard, former senior vice president for Covenant House and a co-author of the new research, in an interview with Stateline.

Even at 18, 20 or 24 [years old], young people are still developing, Howard said. Their vulnerabilities look very different from middle-aged adults, and the support systems they need are different too.

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One of the key points of intervention for potentially homeless youth is school. Public schools across the country have increasingly reported more homeless students since the COVID-19 pandemic.

And homelessness has many various regional factors outside of individual circumstances, such as climate-driven homelessness. More than 5,100 students in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina became homeless as a result of hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

Homelessness is multifaceted and lots of us slip through the cracks because the system isnt designed for our reality, said Foreman, a former Covenant House resident who helped conduct the new research.

Foremans insights and lived experience were included in the study, which showed that youth homelessness rarely begins with an eviction or job loss  frequent causes of homelessness among adults.

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The top three reasons that young people experience homelessness for the first time, according to respondents, were being kicked out of their family homes, running away, and leaving an unsafe living situation such as one affected by domestic violence. Other instigators included being unable to afford housing, aging out of foster care, being kicked out of or running away from foster care, and moving away from gang violence.

However, respondents also had suggestions for ways government, schools and the community could help or prevent youth homelessness. They suggested youth-specific housing options, identifying and helping at-risk youth in health care settings, providing direct cash assistance and offering conflict resolution support within families.

Among the most common suggestions was to offer services that create long-lasting connections for young people.

Strong relationships with non-parental adults, including mentors, teachers, service providers, and elders, were identified as especially important when family connections were strained or absent, the report said.

The surveys and interviews also demonstrated that young people want mental health care tailored to their personal experience, said Benjamin Parry, a lead researcher on the report, speaking during a September webinar hosted by Point Source Youth, a nonprofit that works to end youth homelessness.

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The research breaks out responses from a few specific groups  Indigenous, Latino, immigrant, LGBTQ+ people of color and pregnant or parenting youth  to understand their distinct needs, said Parry, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeleys School of Public Health. Theres so much nuance and specificity within these different groups.

Indigenous youth, for example, often are dealing with the effects of intergenerational trauma and alcoholism that have been projected onto them, Parry said. Those young people have far different needs than pregnant or parenting youth, he noted.

They are like, I dont know where my next paychecks going to come from, I dont know how to put food in my babys stomach, I dont have a support network or someone to go to for this advice, he said. That specificity is exactly why we need to understand this better and do better to tailor our approaches and responses.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee called on the Justice Department's internal watchdog to investigate new revelations that Jeffrey Epstein was first reported to the FBI for alleged sex crimes in 1996, a decade before an official FBI investigation was opened.

"For survivors like Maria Farmer, her family, and all the people Jeffrey Epstein abused in the decades that followed this unanswered complaint, this was not merely a missed investigative opportunityit was a profound betrayal by their own government," Rep. Robert Garcia, of California, wrote on Tuesday, Dec. 23, in a letter addressed to William Blier, the Justice Department's acting inspector general.

Garcia's request comes after a 1996 complaint filed by Maria Farmer, an Epstein accuser, was made public as part of the Justice Department's massive release of new documents in the Epstein case. In the complaint, Farmer accused Epstein of stealing pictures she took of her 12 and 16-year-old sisters and threatening to burn her house down if she told anyone about them.

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An FBI investigation would not be opened into Epstein's alleged grooming and trafficking of young girls for another decade.

(L-R) Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton and Diana Ross in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. (L-R) Ghislaine Maxwell and Mick Jagger in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. (L-R) Mick Jagger, an unidentified woman and Bill Clinton in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. (L-R) Richard Branson and Jefferey Epstein in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. Jefferey Epstein in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. Jefferey Epstein in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. Bill Clinton with an unidentified woman in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. A book titled "Massage for Dummies" is seen in this image released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from the Jefferey Epstein files. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. Sarah Ferguson, at the time Britain's Duchess of York, is seen in this image released by the Department of Justice as part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context. What do the Epstein files show? See photos released by DOJ 1 of 9 (L-R) Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton and Diana Ross in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context.

"Despite these harrowing allegations, the FBI failed to pursue a thorough investigation at the time and even failed to provide Ms. Farmer with any meaningful follow-up to her complaint for a full decade," Garcia wrote.

Farmer's name is redacted in the complaint, but when it was recently released as part of a tranche of files related to the case, she quickly identified herself as the person who filed it.

More: Jeffrey Epstein survivor 'redeemed' by release of her 1996 FBI complaint

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"Complainant stated that she is a professional artist and took pictures of her sisters 12 and 16 years for her own personal artwork," the complaint states. "Epstein stole the photos and is believed to have sold the pictures to potential buyers."

Epstein at the time requested [redacted] to take pictures of young girls at swimming pools. Epstein is now threatening [redacted] that if she tells anyone about the photos he will burn her house down.

Epstein stole nudes of Farmer's sisters, she alleges

Farmer worked for Epstein as an art scout, according to a lawsuit she filed against the government. During a trip to Epstein's Ohio residence in 1996, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his yearslong paramour who was sentenced to two decades in prison for abusing young girls, sexually assaulted her, she alleged in the lawsuit.

Farmer had taken nude or semi-nude pictures of her two sisters for a graduate art school class, according to Jennifer Freeman, her lawyer. During a visit to one of Epstein's homes in Ohio, she found a lockbox containing the pictures had been forced open and they were missing, according to a lawsuit Farmer filed.

Annie Farmer, the sister of Maria Farmer, who filed a complaint against Epstein with the FBI in 1996.

After Farmer filed the complaint, the FBI did not open an investigation into Epstein for another decade. That investigation was shut down in 2007, and Epstein was granted a non-prosecution agreement the next year.

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One of Farmer's sisters, Annie Farmer, was one of the four women who testified against Maxwell in her 2021 trial.

Farmer said on Dec. 19 that the release of the 1996 complaint was a "moment for which I have waited three decades, over half of my life."

"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 in a statement.

"When my FBI reports are finally made available, I am hopeful that I will be able to pick up where I left off at age 26."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Garcia demands investigation into 1996 FBI Epstein complaint
Abdullah and the others were killed in a drone strike against a car near the coastal Lebanese city of Sidon on Monday.

The IDF said on Tuesday that it had killed Ali Abdullah who had served simultaneously in Lebanese army intelligence and in Hezbollah, along with two other Hezbollah operatives.

Abdullah and the others were killed in a drone strike against a car near the coastal Lebanese city of Sidon on Monday.

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The Jerusalem Post has confirmed that the military did not know that Abdullah was in Lebanese army intelligence before killing him, only learning this fact afterward.

The Lebanese defense ministry said suggestions that army personnel were tied to political or armed groups were false, and Defense Minister Michel Menassa said such reports amounted to a malicious attack on the institution.

It was unclear whether killing a Lebanese intelligence official would have negative diplomatic consequences or whether Lebanon would try to downplay the issue if it accepted Israels narrative.

IDF strike on Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon. December 23, 2025. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

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All of this takes place ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus meeting with US President Donald Trump on December 29 to discuss many issues, including how far the parties will go in pressuring the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, and what limits Trump will put on Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

IDF notes terrorists were targeted for efforts to reestablish in Sidon area

The IDFs statement said the Hezbollah terrorists were targeted due to their efforts to advance attacks against the IDF and their attempts to help rearm Hezbollah infrastructure in the Sidon area.

Further, the IDF said that one of the other two Hezbollah fighters was involved in its Sidon atrea air defenses.

In the past, there were multiple Lebanese army intelligence officials caught working with Hezbollah, but this was the first known recent case in which Israel killed such an official.

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This past January, Britains The Times reported citing intelligence sources, and The Jerusalem Post independently confirmed that a Lebanese army chief leaked military secrets to Hezbollah.

The head of military intelligence for southern Lebanon, Suhil Bahij Gharb, reportedly handed Hezbollah classified and sensitive information while in a room run by the US, France, and the UN interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a source claimed.

Publicizing such a revelation at the time highlighted Israels case of concerns about the Lebanese army-Hezbollah connection.

Although the Mossad according to its mission is responsible for most Israeli intelligence collection and counter-intelligence worldwide, it is public knowledge dating back to the 1982 First Lebanon War that IDF intelligence and the Shin Bet are more heavily involved in Lebanon than in other foreign countries.

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Despite Gharbs alleged willingness to provide the terror group information, the source claimed Gharb had been placed responsible for peacekeeping.

Gharb, according to a report seen by The Times, is only one of dozens of military officials who had allegedly leaked information to Hezbollah back in January. His presence in the security room was reportedly prompted by senior Hezbollah commander Wafiq Safa, who insisted on his presence.

The information granted to Hezbollah has reportedly given them advance notice of Israeli searches  allowing the terrorists to relocate personnel and weapons.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Organized crime and illicit economies emerged in 2025 as major drivers worsening deforestation across the Amazon, despite partial gains in environmental enforcement in some countries in the region.

Recent reports by environmental groups and regional research centers say illegal gold mining, indiscriminate logging, drug trafficking and irregular expansion of cattle ranching are causing large-scale forest loss and progressive landscape degradation.

These activities also facilitate money laundering and the convergence of illicit, informal and formal economies, particularly in remote areas with weak state presence.

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Roughly the size of the United States, the Amazon spans nine Latin American countries: Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname. About 60% lies in Brazil, followed by Peru with 9.9%, Colombia with 6.7% and Venezuela with 6.3%.

A report by the Fundacion para la Conservacion y el Desarrollo Sostenible and the Instituto Igarape found at least 17 armed groups operating across 69% of the northwestern Amazon, the region with the highest number of socioenvironmental conflicts worldwide.

Groups cited include Comando Vermelho in Brazil, the National Liberation Army in Colombia, Los Choneros in Ecuador and Tren de Aragua in Venezuela.

The report warns that forest loss no longer reflects only local or subsistence dynamics, but is increasingly driven by criminal networks that control land, resources and routes, using deforestation to consolidate territorial and economic power across large swaths of the Amazon biome.

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For gold mining, the report identified 4,472 illegal mining sites across the Amazon, with a heavy concentration in Venezuela, which hosts 32% of those enclaves despite accounting for just 5.6% of Amazon territory. Brazil recorded 2,576 sites, 95% of which remain active.

The operations are linked to mercury pollution of waterways, river destruction and illegal occupation of Indigenous lands, particularly in remote and border areas.

A study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development highlighted the impact of gold mining in Peru's Amazon region of Madre de Dios, where the activity can explain about one-third of regional deforestation, with districts where mining covers more than 10% of the land area.

At the national level, however, forest conversion to mining accounts for just 2% of Peru's net tree cover loss since 1985, underscoring a highly concentrated but severe local impact.

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According to the Monitoring of the Amazon Andes Program, gold mining in Peru's Amazon has expanded sharply in recent years, closely tracking international gold prices.

Record prices per ounce in 2025 spurred new deforestation fronts across nine regions and the invasion of waterways for mining activity. By mid-2025, mining-related deforestation exceeded 139,000 hectares, with Madre de Dios accounting for 97.5% of the total.

The OECD also found a statistically significant relationship between the new presence of coca cultivation and increased deforestation in some Peruvian Amazon districts, as well as a similar link with the emergence of illegal or irregular logging based on official alerts.

Coca crops were present in 148 districts and suspected illegal logging in 48 districts, pointing to the broad territorial reach of activities tied to criminal networks.

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The FCDS and Instituto Igarape report further argues that Amazon deforestation is not primarily driven by small farmers or local communities but by large landholders and companies operating amid weak state oversight.

These actors use land grabbing, irregular occupation of public areas and ostensibly legal activities such as ranching and mining to expand the extractive frontier and consolidate control over vast territories.

The pattern reveals a gray zone between legal and illegal activity in which revenues from illicit economies can be laundered through formal supply chains.

Converting forest into pasture or mining fronts not only facilitates land appropriation but also concentrates economic and territorial power, displacing Indigenous communities and weakening governance mechanisms that have historically helped protect the forest.

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The violence linked to these dynamics has made the Amazon the world's deadliest region for environmental defenders, accounting for 66% of all such killings globally in 2023, the report said.

An analysis by Amazon Watch and the Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indigenas de la Cuenca Amazonica said deforestation tied to illegal activity is undermining the forest's ability to recover and maintain its climate functions.

The damage is compounded by intentional fires used to clear and occupy land, while gold mining adds lasting degradation through mercury contamination of rivers and soils that extends beyond mined areas.

If these pressures persist, the report warned, the Amazon could cease acting as a carbon sink and become a net source of emissions, with direct consequences for the global climate.

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In a summary released by the Red Amazonica de Informacion Socioambiental Georreferenciada, more than 217.4 million acres -- an area larger than the entire state of Texas -- were deforested across the Amazon between 1985 and 2023, along with sharp increases in land use for mining, up 1,063%, agriculture, up 598%, and cattle ranching, up 298%.

Amid the bleak outlook, two positive developments emerged.

Brazil's space agency, the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, said data from its PRODES system showed Amazon deforestation fell 11% in 2025, the lowest area in 11 years and the third smallest on record.

Most of the forest loss detected this year fell under what authorities classify as progressive degradation, including selective logging and burning.

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In Colombia, the Instituto de Hidrologia, Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales reported declines in early deforestation alerts in the Colombian Amazon compared with 2024. Forest loss in the first quarter fell to 27,052 hectares, down 33% from a year earlier, while alerts in the second quarter dropped 16% year over year.

These figures are positive considering that nationwide deforestation in Colombia surged in key areas such as the Amazon, where forest loss rose 74% in 2024, with more than double the number of acres lost compared with 2023.
Warner Bros. logo displayed on the water tower at Warner Bros. (Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Paramount has submitted its latest offer in its quest to own Warner Bros. Discovery, but one of WBDs major investors isnt having it.

A representative for Harris Associates, Warner Bros. fifth-largest shareholder, warned against the latest bid from David Ellisons Paramount, saying that it still did not represent the best possible deal on the pending WBD transaction. Harris, as of the end of September, owns about 4% of WBD shares with 96 million shares in total.

The changes in Paramounts new offer were necessary, but not sufficient, Harris Oakmark portfolio manager and Director of U.S. Research Alex Fitch told Reuters on Tuesday. We see the two deals as a toss-up, and there is a cost to changing paths. If Paramount is serious about winning, theyre going to need to provide a greater incentive.

On Monday, David Ellison came back to the bargaining table with a revised offer that includes a personal guarantee by father Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle and second-richest man in the world. The new terms also include an agreement by Paramount to not revoke Davids trust, more flexible financial terms and a higher $5.8 billion break-up fee that matches Netflixs offer.

We expect the board of directors of WBD to take the necessary steps to secure this value-enhancing transaction and preserve and strengthen an iconic Hollywood treasure for the future, David Ellison said.

Its the kind of amendment that top shareholders at WBD seemed open to. As recently as Dec. 18, Fitch had told Reuters that he and other shareholders were willing to hear out a revised Paramount bid as things heated up in the race for WBD ownership. At the time, Fitch noted that Netflixs $82.7 billion deal for WBs studio and streaming assets is superior on deal terms but comparable on value with Paramounts offer for the entire company.

The good news is that the concerns on deal terms seem entirely addressable, Fitch added at the time. If Paramount decides to come forward with superior financial consideration and properly addresses the issues with deal terms, we would be very open to a revised Paramount offer. The ball is in their court.

The revisions, it seems, were still not good enough for Fitch, who has suggested that an even better offer is yet possible from Paramount. Only time will tell if Paramount can make such an offer in a fast-changing situation  one where Netflix executives are embarking on a studio tour for the cameras while Paramount is lodged in yet another 60 Minutes quagmire.

The updated offer from Paramount doesnt change the fact that WBDs executives prefer Netflix, said Ross Benes, an analyst for eMarketer. The new offer does make Paramounts case more compelling to the board and shareholders. But WBD executives will keep fighting to maintain the Netflix deal as long as they can. This battle will be prolonged.

The post Major WBD Shareholder Calls Amended Paramount Bid Not Sufficient appeared first on TheWrap.
The University of Oklahoma graduate assistant who gave a student a failing grade on an anti-transgender paper will no longer be teaching at the university, officials said Monday.

Graduate teaching assistant Mel Curth, who is trans, was placed on administrative leave a few weeks ago after giving student Samantha Fulnecky a zero on her psychology paper. The paper described transgender people as demonic and asserted that gender roles are Biblically ordained.

Fulnecky claimed the grade was retaliation for her religious views, but Curth said the zero was based on academic criteria. Curth wrote that the essay does not answer the questions for this assignment, contradicts itself, heavily uses personal ideology over empirical evidence in a scientific class, and is at times offensive. Curth also noted that portraying a marginalized group as demonic is highly offensive and urged the student to use empirical sources rather than doctrinal statements when critiquing course material.

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The university posted a statement to social media Monday saying the graduate assistant was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper and will no longer have instructional duties. It did not name either Curth or Fulnecky, but their names have been disclosed elsewhere.

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The statement said the university had investigated the students claim of religious discrimination but would not release the findings. The university had already decided on her appeal of her grade and removed the paper from her total point value for her class, so there was no academic harm to her, the statement noted.

The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its facultys rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and it students right to receive an education that is free from a lecturers impermissible evaluative standards, the statement continued. We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.

Related: From Riley Gaines to OU, conservatives are making their failures everyone else's problem

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The schools chapter of the American Association of University Professors thought little of the universitys statement. Essentially, nothing is new here, a spokesperson for the chapter said in a statement to TV station KFOR. OU claims without providing any supporting or specific reasons why Mel Curth was removed. They have claimed in the past in press releases that this was due to supposed and disturbing claims of religious discrimination that clash with academic freedom. Is it now? Instead, they hide behind vague statements and essentially assertions of trust us. At this point, they need to show us and not tell us. And once again, OU is making an employment decision public, which is inflaming the situation.

The university has placed a second instructor on leave after, according to school officials, she told students they would be excused from class to attend a protest in favor of Curth. Student newspaper OU Nightly identified Kelli Alvarez as the instructor for the course, which is English composition.

Kalib Magana, president of the University of Oklahomas Turning Point USA chapter, asked whether counterprotesters would also receive excused absences. Alvarez replied that a counterprotest must be organized. None was, but several conservative students made their views known at the pro-Curth demonstration. Magana filed a complaint against Alvarez with the university. Turning Point USA is a right-wing student organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

Related: Texas college students report increase in harassment, mistreatment amid academic LGBTQ+ crackdown

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There has been controversy over issues of gender identity at other universities in conservative states. Melissa McCoul, a professor at Texas A&M, was fired in September after a student complained about McCouls discussion of the topic. In November, the Texas A&M Board of Regents barred faculty from discussing race or gender ideology in the 12 universities it oversees.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Instructor who gave U of Oklahoma student a zero on anti-trans paper removed from teaching
The Trump administration on Monday ordered a halt to five offshore wind projects currently being built in the United States, a major new attack on a power-generating industry even as voters fret about climbing electricity prices.

The Interior Department announced it is pausing all leases for large-scale offshore wind projects that are currently under construction, effective immediately. It lands as the Trump administration is facing political heat from skyrocketing energy costs in part from the growth of data centers and artificial intelligence. Residential retail electricity rates rose roughly 7 percent in September from a year prior, according to monthly tracking by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The pauses affect the Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind 1 projects stretching from Virginia to New England, initiatives that together would generate enough electricity to power almost 2.7 million homes.

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Interior cited national security risks that were identified by the Department of Defense in "recently completed classified reports." The department said the pause will give the administration time to work with leaseholders and states to assess the possibility of mitigating the risks.

"The Trump administration has paused the construction of all large-scale offshore wind projects because our number one priority is to put America First and protect the national security of the American people," said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson.

The move represents a new escalation for the Trump administration, which has repeatedly sought to halt the offshore wind sector that was a focus of the Biden administration. Trump has called wind turbines a "disgrace" and "a scam," and has said his administration would not approve any projects.

Just weeks ago, people familiar with the administrations thinking had told POLITICO that White House and Interior Department staff were discussing a compromise that would allow the five projects to finish construction. Such a plan would still have allowed the administration to revoke permits for other Biden-era projects whose construction has yet to begin. But Monday's announcement seemed to put an end to that discussion.

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Instead, the administration has said it will bring down energy costs by undoing Biden administration regulations and embracing baseload power sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear power.

The action Monday puts two projects in the crosshairs that had previously faced the administration's opposition. The Empire Wind project off the coast of New York was already halted in April by the administration, as was the Revolution Wind project that was blocked in August.

Those pauses caused widespread angst among developers and offshore wind supporters. A separate judge this month also called the administration's halt of permits for offshore wind projects illegal.

Both pauses were ultimately lifted  one after Trump claimed to strike a deal with New York and the other after a federal judge intervened. David Schoetz, a spokesperson for Empire Winds developer Equinor, said the company is evaluating the order and seeking further information from the federal government.

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One of the projects halted Monday is already generating electricity. Half of the 62 turbines at Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts were producing power as of the end of September. It wasnt immediately clear whether the stoppage would lead to a shut-down of the turbines already in operation.

Neither Interior nor Vineyard Wind, a joint venture of Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, immediately provided comment on the pause and impact to operational turbines.

ISO New England, the regional grid operator, has said it is counting on Vineyard Winds power this winter. It previously expressed concerns when Interior halted Revolution Wind in August, saying the stoppage raised reliability risks to New England.

Dominion Energy, which is developing the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, said in a statement that stopping the project for any length of time will threaten grid reliability for some of the nations most important war fighting, AI, and civilian assets. The project  which is located about 23 miles from Virginia Beach  has the support of key Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans.

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Virginia needs every electron we can get as our demand for electricity doubles, the company said in a statement. These electrons will power the data centers that will win the AI race, support our war fighters, and build the nuclear warships needed to maintain our maritime supremacy. Virginias grid needs addition of electrons, not subtraction.

Dominion added that it stands ready to do what is necessary to get these vital electrons flowing as quickly as possible. The company has said the project is expected to deliver first power to the grid early next year.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum touted the administrations action on Monday as aimed at protecting the American people.

Todays action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers," he said in a statement.

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Burgum followed up in a post on X, calling wind expensive, unreliable, heavily subsidized. @POTUS is bringing common sense back to energy policy & putting security FIRST!, he wrote.

Democrats and offshore wind supporters say that the administrations efforts to halt offshore wind will only further increase rising prices.

At a time of soaring energy costs, this latest decision from DOI is a backwards step that will drive energy bills even higher, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said the pause threatened to leave workers jobless over the holidays while failing to address national security.

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"We're finally about to get over the finish line and the arbitrarily throughout that this is somehow affecting national security" Hochul told reporters during a press conference on Monday. "I have a real question about their definition of what national security is all about."

Timothy Fox, the managing director of ClearView Energy Partners, said that offshore wind project developers are more likely to try to find resolution with the administration than cancel the projects, which are close to completion  but an open-ended pause creates enormous cost risks.

Among the projects, we think the Administration is most likely to let Dominions CVOW project resume, as the facility would serve the power-hungry Virginia and PJM region, he said in an email, referring to the regional grid operator.

Interior on Monday cited radar interference  which it called clutter"  as a concern caused by offshore wind projects. The administration has previously pointed to national security concerns for wind projects, but proponents argue those concerns are overblown and ignore ways to mitigate radar interference.

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The department pointed to a 2024 report on Monday that stated that radars threshold for false alarm detection can be increased to reduce some clutter, but it said "an increased detection threshold" could cause radar to miss targets.

Kirk Lippold, a military analyst who was serving as commander the USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda suicide bombers in 2000, said that the permits for the offshore wind projects were awarded following years of review by state and federal agencies.

Ironically, these projects will actually benefit our national security by diversifying Americas energy supplies, providing much-needed reliable power for the grid, and helping our economy, Lippold said.

Offshore wind opponents on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, celebrated the news.

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National security cannot be sacrificed in pursuit of expensive, untested energy experiments that put both the Eastern Shore and the nation at risk, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) said in a post on X.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), another offshore wind opponent, called the pause the right move on Monday. National security always comes first, he said in a social media post.

Katelyn Cordero contributed to this report.
Iranian official Ali Asghar Tahmasebi reportedly emphasized the importance of developing Central Asia via "economic diplomacy."

New reports in Iranian media indicate that Tehran continues to push its outreach policy toward Central Asia countries. Articles indicate outreach toward Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

A new report at the pro-government Tehran Times notes that the governor-general of [Irans] Golestan province, in northeast Iran, expressed hope that holding exhibitions will pave the way for a great leap in the level of economic cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan. This report goes on to note that the official, Ali Asghar Tahmasebi emphasized the importance of developing the region. Economic diplomacy is one method.

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A new exhibition aims to expand the export of Iranian technical and engineering services and offers a structured platform for companies seeking to enter or deepen their presence in Turkmenistans growing market, the report added.

Tehran Times went on to say that by bringing together major Iranian exporting firms and project developers, the event is expected to facilitate contract negotiations, technical partnerships and regional cooperation in large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. It also creates a direct channel for Iranian companies to gain access to oil and gas opportunities, petrochemical developments and broader international tenders in Turkmenistan.

Furthermore, in late May, Iran and Turkmenistan signed a commercial roadmap aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $3 billion.

The flags of Iran and Turkmenistan (illustrative) (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Iran and Tajikistan agree on social welfare cooperation

In another sign of the trend, Iran and Tajikistan have agreed to draft a joint roadmap in the fields of social welfare and social empowerment, head of Irans State Welfare Organization said on Tuesday, Irans government media IRNA reported. Javad Hosseini, the head of State Welfare Organization, made the announcement during a visit to Dushanbe, where he met with Mohiuddin Khairullahzadeh, Tajikistans deputy minister of health.

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Alireza Haghighian, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Tajikistan, also welcomed the specialized approach and extensive capacities of Irans State Welfare Organization. Haghighian announced the full readiness of the Iranian embassy to provide any necessary cooperation, facilitate communications, and help expand interactions between Irans State Welfare Organization and relevant institutions and agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan, the report noted.

Lastly, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Iran Ontalap Onalbayev has said expansion of ties with Iran is a top foreign policy priority of his country. IRNA reported that he was speaking at an event called the IranKazakhstan Night, held on Monday at Tehrans Niavaran Palace. Onalbayev said that signing cultural memoranda of understanding strengthens cooperation between the two countries. He added that Kazakhstan pays special attention to expanding cooperation in the cultural, economic, and humanitarian fields. The deep and strong connections between Iran and Kazakhstan, as two ancient civilizations in trade, science, and literature, reflect the historical role of the two countries as a bridge between East and West, IRNA noted. Reza Salehi Amiri, Irans Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, also attended the event. The event featured a book and photo exhibition, as well as a nomadic yurt, symbolizing the rich culture and traditions of Central Asian peoples, IRNA said.

New reports in Iranian media indicate that Tehran continues to push its outreach policy toward Central Asia countries. Articles indicate outreach toward Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

A new report at the pro-government Tehran Times notes that the governor-general of [Irans] Golestan province, in northeast Iran, expressed hope that holding exhibitions will pave the way for a great leap in the level of economic cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan. This report goes on to note that the official, Ali Asghar Tahmasebi emphasized the importance of developing the region. Economic diplomacy is one method. A new exhibition aims to expand the export of Iranian technical and engineering services and offers a structured platform for companies seeking to enter or deepen their presence in Turkmenistans growing market, the report added.

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Tehran Times went on to say that by bringing together major Iranian exporting firms and project developers, the event is expected to facilitate contract negotiations, technical partnerships and regional cooperation in large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. It also creates a direct channel for Iranian companies to gain access to oil and gas opportunities, petrochemical developments and broader international tenders in Turkmenistan. Furthermore, in late May, Iran and Turkmenistan signed a commercial roadmap aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $3 billion.

In another sign of the trend, Iran and Tajikistan have agreed to draft a joint roadmap in the fields of social welfare and social empowerment, head of Irans State Welfare Organization said on Tuesday, Irans government media IRNA reported. Javad Hosseini, the head of State Welfare Organization, made the announcement during a visit to Dushanbe, where he met with Mohiuddin Khairullahzadeh, Tajikistans deputy minister of health.

Alireza Haghighian, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Tajikistan, also welcomed the specialized approach and extensive capacities of Irans State Welfare Organization. Haghighian announced the full readiness of the Iranian embassy to provide any necessary cooperation, facilitate communications, and help expand interactions between Irans State Welfare Organization and relevant institutions and agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan, the report noted.

Lastly, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Iran Ontalap Onalbayev has said expansion of ties with Iran is a top foreign policy priority of his country. IRNA reported that he was speaking at an event called the IranKazakhstan Night, held on Monday at Tehrans Niavaran Palace. Onalbayev said that signing cultural memoranda of understanding strengthens cooperation between the two countries.

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He added that Kazakhstan pays special attention to expanding cooperation in the cultural, economic, and humanitarian fields. The deep and strong connections between Iran and Kazakhstan, as two ancient civilizations in trade, science, and literature, reflect the historical role of the two countries as a bridge between East and West, IRNA noted.

Reza Salehi Amiri, Irans Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, also attended the event. The event featured a book and photo exhibition, as well as a nomadic yurt, symbolizing the rich culture and traditions of Central Asian peoples, IRNA said.
The ministry reported that 4,000 to 4,500 megawatts of power have been lost from the electrical system due to the halt in Iranian gas supplies.

Iraqs supply of gas from Iran has been halted, the electricity ministry said on Tuesday, adding that the stoppage was due to the shutdown of some generating units and load shedding at others.

The ministry reported that 4,000 to 4,500 megawatts of power have been lost from the electrical system due to the halt in Iranian gas supplies.

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"The Iranian side sent a telegram informing the Ministry of Electricity of the complete cessation of gas supplies due to unforeseen circumstances," the statement added.

Iran supplies between a third and 40% of Iraq's gas and power needs.

Trump applies 'maximum pressure' on Iran

In March, US President Donald Trump's administration rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq, which struggles with chronic power shortages, to pay Iran for electricity. The move was part of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran.

A model of a B-2 bomber is visible on the Resolute desk as President Donald Trump speaks before signing executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Earlier on Tuesday, a senior US State Department official confirmed to Walla that Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign will involve only diplomatic and economic measures, with no military action planned at this time.

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Irans destabilizing behavior threatens the national interests of the United States, and therefore President Trump has reinstated a policy of maximum pressure, aimed at ending Irans nuclear threat, curbing its ballistic missile program, and blocking its support for terrorist organizations, the official said.

In other words, the US administration is seeking to tighten the noose around Tehran through sanctions, international isolation, and diplomatic pressure rather than by opening a new military front that could drag the region into broader escalation.

Idan Kweller contributed to this report.
The Italian anti-trust authority imposed a fine of 256 million ($300 million) on the Irish airline Ryanair on Tuesday over its dealing with travel agencies.

The competition regulator accuses of the company of abusing its dominant market position in connection with the booking of flights by third-party providers, such as travel agencies, from April 2023 to April 2025.

Ryanair immediately announced that it would appeal the decision.

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An investigation revealed that Ryanair began exploring ways to hinder travel agencies and block them from making bookings at the end of 2022, the competition regulator wrote in a statement.

These measures were said to have been implemented from April 2023 onwards. The airline "exploited its significant market power" in doing so, the authority said.

For instance, Ryanair allegedly used technical means to prevent its own flights from being combined with flights from other carriers, and blocked insurance policies by third-party providers.

In April 2025, Ryanair restored aspects of its booking system, allowing what the regulator said could permit "effective competition" if properly implemented.

Ryanair described the decision as "bizarre." The airline cites a Milan court ruling that it claims confirms its business model, and said it "looked forward to successfully overturning this legally flawed ruling and its absurd 256 million fine in the courts."
By Mrinmay Dey

Dec 22 (Reuters) - A Baltimore jury ordered Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries to pay over $1.5 billion to a woman who claimed decades of exposure to asbestos in the companys talc-based products caused her peritoneal mesothelioma, a form of cancer.

Jurors in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, on Monday found the company, two of its subsidiaries and spinoff Kenvue liable for failing to warn plaintiff Cherie Craft that its baby powder contained asbestos.

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Johnson & Johnson said it will appeal the jurys decision, which the plaintiff's law firm said was the largest-ever sum awarded against J&J for a single plaintiff.

The award to Craft, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2024, includes $59.84 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages of $1 billion against J&J and $500 million against Pecos River Talc - a J&J subsidiary, according to court documents. The case follows a California jury decision earlier in December that awarded $40 million to two women who said the company's baby powder was to blame for their ovarian cancer.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs. It is most often linked to asbestos exposure. While there is no cure, treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and palliative care can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Cherie Craft runs a non-profit where she pours her life into helping others. Her cancer was preventable. She used Johnsons Baby Powder every day of her life until she was diagnosed with cancer, said Jessica Dean, a partner at Dean Omar Branham Shirley, which represented Craft. J&J refused to accept any responsibility and fought at every turn.

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Johnson & Johnson called the ruling egregious and patently unconstitutional. We will immediately appeal this verdict, Erik Haas, J&Js worldwide vice president of litigation, said in a statement, arguing the decision resulted from gross errors by the trial court and was squarely at odds with most talc cases in which the company has prevailed.

Haas reiterated J&Js position that its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos, citing decades of studies. These lawsuits are predicated on junk science, he said.

The company faces lawsuits from more than 67,000 plaintiffs who say they were diagnosed with cancer after using its baby powder and other talc products, a claim J&J has consistently denied. It has previously sought to resolve the litigation through a proposed bankruptcy settlement that would allocate billions of dollars to claimants, but those efforts have been rejected by courts.

J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020 and globally in 2023, switching to cornstarch-based alternatives.

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The Maryland verdict adds to a series of large awards against J&J in talc cases, though many have been reduced or overturned on appeal. The company has set aside billions for litigation costs and settlements as it continues to fight claims in courts across the country.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
In 2015, NASA celebrated the Hubble Space Telescopes 25th year in orbit by releasing one of its most stunning images to datea colorful star cluster in the constellation Carina known as Westerlund 2. However, a lot can change in a decade. In January 2023, the HSTs observational capabilities were overtaken when the powerful James Webb Space Telescope imaged the same star cluster. While the HST is still a powerful piece of equipment, the European Space Agency decided to showcase its heirs technological leaps by closing out 2025 with a new, even more detailed glimpse at Westerlund 2.

The billowing, vibrantly visualized formation located 20,000 light-years from Earth were imaged using the JWSTs Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) and its Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). Westerlund 2 is estimated to stretch between 6 and 13 light-years across, and features some of the galaxys hottest, brightest, and most massive stars. To fully appreciate the difference between what HST and JWST can see of the cosmos, the ESA also uploaded a slider tool to allow viewers to shift between both images of Westerlund 2. While all of the brightest stars are apparent in 2015s glimpse, the newer look reveals hundreds of additional, dimmer stars in the background.

Westerlund 2s young stellar objects are ejecting powerful waves of radiation in all directions, twisting and entangling the large, surrounding gaseous clouds. Although the closer, bright stars immediately stand out from their companions, hundreds of tiny points of light reveal some of their younger siblings. Around them, the thicker plumes of red and orange gas also intermingle with the thinner blue and pink threads to depict a dynamic and highly active stellar nursery.

The JWSTs latest look at Westerlund 2 is more than simply a pretty picture. The data also includes the nebulas total population of brown dwarf stars, some of which are as small as 10 times the mass of Jupiter. Astronomers can now begin studying how these stellar objects surrounding discs form over time, as well as how planets arrive in such huge star clusters.
Independent power producer Matrix Renewables has entered into a comprehensive engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with Tesla to build, design and commission a standalone battery energy storage system (BESS), located in Eccles, Scotland.

The 500 megawatt (MW)/2 hour (1 gigawatt hour (GWh)) BESS project is designed to directly advance UKs Net Zero 2050 goal and the Clean Power 2035 objective.

Situated on major transmission routes between Scotland and England, the Eccles BESS is intended to deliver essential grid flexibility and support higher levels of renewable integration.

All planning requirements have been met, and the project has received full approval to begin construction.

Tesla energy vice president Mike Snyder said: We are excited to support Matrix Renewables with their entry into the UK, bringing Teslas track record in the market together with Matrix Renewables expertise and vision.

We highly value the partnership with their team and look forward to executing this landmark project together.

The project is backed by an advisory team, with Enertis Applus+ leading technical due diligence, GHD serving as the technical advisor, and Black & Veatch acting as the owners engineer.

Collectively, these partners are expected to ensure the highest technical and delivery standards across the projects entire lifecycle, stated Matrix Renewables.

This project represents Matrix Renewables first standalone BESS project in the UK market.

It also marks Matrixs foray into the UK and stands among its largest energy storage developments in Europe and worldwide so far.

Matrix Renewables Europe & Latam managing director Sergio Arbelaez said: We are delivering infrastructure at the scale required to support the UKs transition to a clean, secure, and resilient power system.

This installation demonstrates our ability to execute complex, utility-scale storage projects through strong partnerships and a long-term strategic vision.

The company is expanding UK portfolio, aiming to add up to 3GW of capacity across renewable generation, energy storage, and emerging technologies over the next several years.

In April this year, Matrix Renewables and rPlus Energies commissioned Pleasant Valley Solar 1, a solar power generation facility in Ada County in the US state of Idaho.

"Matrix Renewables signs EPC contract with Tesla for BESS project in Scotland" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




NEED TO KNOW

A federal prosecutor said that the FBI seized 3,500 nude photos from Jeffrey Epstein's homes in New York and the Virgin Islands

The prosecutor made the claim in a 2020 email released by the Justice Department along with several other files related to the Epstein investigation

The release of the materials follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act

An email sent by a federal prosecutor reveals that the FBI seized 3,500 nude photos from Jeffrey Epstein's homes in New York City and the Virgin Islands.

The email was among materials related to the Epstein investigation released by the Department of Justice.

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In the email, which was sent in October 2020, more than a year after Epstein's death, an assistant U.S. Attorney  whose name was redacted  wrote that "production of 40,000 images" was being prepared by the IT department.

According to the federal prosecutor, "the FBI seized approximately 3,500 nude images and 40,000 non-nude images during the New York and Virgin Islands searches."

On Nov. 19, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act to compel the Justice Department to release the files related to the Epstein investigations, though with significant exceptions and redactions. Trump had previously opposed the legislation.

However, the bill does not mandate full disclosure. Congress permits the DOJ to withhold classified material, information that could identify victims, or content that may interfere with an active federal investigation.

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Among the released images are photos of Epstein, a convicted sex offender, with what appear to be children.

The Justice Department said the files released "contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump."

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 images previously released include appearances by prominent figures, such as former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson and Kevin Spacey. None has been accused of criminal activity. The photos were released without context, and several faces have been redacted. Trump was pictured with Epstein in one of at least 16 photos that were taken down from the DOJ website and eventually put back up after backlash.

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Though Trump initially opposed the bill's passage, he changed his tune after it was clear that enough House Republicans would vote yes for the measure to pass.

The information contained in the files is separate material from what was found in emails sent by Epstein that referenced several high-profile individuals, which Epsteins estate turned over to Congress.

Trump's name appears multiple times in the emails, many of which were released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. In them, Epstein questioned the president's mental state and implied he "knew about the girls."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of pushing a "hoax" in a statement to PEOPLE following the release of the emails.

Read the original article on People
NEED TO KNOW

The Department of Justice now says a note addressed to Larry Nassar, signed by a "J. Epstein," which appears to claim that President Donald Trump loved "young, nubile girls," is fake

The note was postmarked three days after Jeffrey Epstein's death and appeared to reference his intention to die by suicide

The letter reads, "As you know by now, I have taken the 'short route home"

The White House referred PEOPLE to the DOJ's statement that the letter was fake, as well as an earlier statement that called claims made against Trump in the Epstein files unfounded and false

Editors note: The Department of Justice said in a post on X on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 3:27 p.m., that a letter released with the Epstein files purporting to be from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE. This article has been updated to reflect the statement.

The Department of Justice said in a statement that a purported 2019 letter signed by "J. Epstein" and addressed to Larry Nassar that appeared to claim Donald Trump loved "young, nubile girls" is fake.

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The handwritten note was postmarked on Aug. 13, 2019, three days after Jeffrey Epstein was found dead by suicide in his cell. The note, addressed to "L.N.," seems to reference Epstein's intention to die by suicide.

In an X post on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 3:27 p.m., the DOJ wrote: "The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE. The fake letter was received by the jail, and flagged for the FBI at the time. The FBI made this conclusion based on the following facts:



"-The writing does not appear to match Jeffrey Epsteins.



"-The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein's death out of Northern Virginia, when he was jailed in New York.



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"-The return address did not list the jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.



"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. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law."

Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty; JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty; Andrew Harnik/Getty

The note in question, released by the DOJ Tuesday in a trove of files on Epstein's case, reads, "As you know by now, I have taken the 'short route' home."

It adds: "Good luck! We share one thing  our love & caring for young ladies at the hope theyd reach their full potential."

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By the time of Epstein's death, which was during Trump's first term as president, Nassar had already been sentenced to decades in prison after his conviction for criminal sexual conduct. It is not clear if the two had any prior connection.

Though the purported note does not mention Trump by name, it does appear to reference him, as he was president at the time of Epstein's death.

"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls," the note reads. "When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system. Life is unfair. Yours, J. Epstein."

PEOPLE initially published its story on the note on Dec. 23, 11:30 a.m. When reached for comment, the White House initially referred PEOPLE to a post on X from the Justice Department, which claimed that some of the newly released Epstein files "contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump."

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"To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false," the post reads. "And if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already."

Following publication, the DOJ put out a follow-up tweet saying the agency "is currently looking into the validity of this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar." The DOJ noted the postmark is for Virginia, rather than New York, and that the return address misstates the name of the Metropolitan Correctional Center where Epstein was housed and doesn't include his inmate number. Later, DOJ put out its statement saying that the FBI had confirmed this alleged letter is fake.

The Justice Department has released thousands of files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender since Dec. 19, as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress and signed by Trump, though some documents have been heavily redacted.

Some photos show Epstein with individuals who appear to be children. Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein, also appears in several images.

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Other photos include a number of high-profile figures, such as former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson and Kevin Spacey, none of whom are accused of criminal wrongdoing. The images were released without context and have several faces redacted.

Trump was also pictured with Epstein in one of more than a dozen photos that were taken down from the official website and eventually put back up following backlash.

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 information contained in the files is separate from the thousands of documents given to the House Oversight Committee by Epstein's estate.



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Trump's name appears multiple times in the emails, including when Epstein questioned the president's mental state and implied he "knew about the girls."



Read the original article on People
A New Jersey police chief is being held on $25,000 bail after pleading not guilty to kidnapping and domestic assault and battery charges stemming from an alleged attack in a Boston hotel room.

Prosecutors say Carmen Veneziano was on vacation in Boston in September when he allegedly attacked a woman during an argument inside a Back Bay hotel room.

Veneziano appeared in a Boston courtroom on Monday, where he entered a not guilty plea.

Veneziano serves as police chief in Totowa, a town located about 20 miles northwest of New York City. He has been suspended without pay from his department

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Authorities have not released additional details about the victim or the circumstances leading up to the alleged attack.

Veneziano was indicted last week and detained on Friday.

An investigation is ongoing.

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A New Jersey town suspended its chief of police after he was arrested in connection to a domestic violence charge in Boston.

Mayor John Coiro of Totowa announced Sunday that Police Chief Carmen Veneziano was suspended over felony charges tied to an incident that occurred in Massachusetts in September. Coiro called the charges against the officer serious in nature.

Veneziano was transferred to the Bergen County Jail following a Friday extradition hearing and appeared in a Massachusetts court Monday where he pleaded not guilty, according to NJ.com.

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Prosecutors said the 47-year-old suspect assaulted and restrained a woman he was dating in a Boston hotel room after theyd attended a Sept. 14 Yankees game against the Red Sox. Hes accused of headbutting the victim, dragging her by her legs and stopping her from leaving the room.

Hotel security called Boston police, but no arrest was made at the time. The accuser reportedly called Beantown cops days after the incident to discuss what had transpired. That led to an indictment last week.

An attorney for Veneziano told NJ.com his his clients accuser is an ex-girlfriend who was extremely intoxicated when she got into a verbal dispute with the New Jersey top cop. He also called the allegations meritless.

Coiro said Venezianos suspension is without pay. The officer reportedly earns $260,780 annually.

The mayor acknowledged Veneziano is seen by some as a pillar in that community and said supporters made the trip to Boston to support Totowas police chief.
NEWARK, New Jersey  More than six months after a chaotic visit to a New Jersey immigrant detention center that resulted in federal assault charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver, she and her colleagues returned to the facility to advocate for its closure.

McIver, along with Reps. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), toured Delaney Hall on Tuesday for another oversight visit. That came days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old from Haiti who was detained at Delaney Hall, died a day after the agency took him into custody.

The visit was the first for McIver since May, when she, along with Menendez and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), sought to conduct an oversight visit that turned into a high-profile scrum: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested and McIver was charged with assaulting law enforcement officers. Barakas charge was dismissed, while McIvers case has yet to go to trial; she has pleaded not guilty and accused the Trump administration of political intimidation.

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McIver  a first-term member of Congress whose district encompasses Newark  told reporters Tuesday that she was the one who was assaulted and that the facility should be shut down. She added that being back at Delaney Hall was traumatic but that she will continue to show up to call out what is happening in this facility.

We're going to continue to say that this facility should not be open, McIver said. When we left out of there, a detainee told us, This is not the America that we dreamed of.

As the first immigration detention center to be opened under the second Trump administration, Delaney Hall has had a prominent role in the local and national debate over immigration policy. Democrats have been outspoken against the facility, which is run by the private prison company GEO Group, and calls to shut it down have intensified after the recent detainee death.

The GEO Group has a $1 billion contract with the federal government to hold up to 1,000 detainees in the location. Menendez described the facility as nearing capacity  claiming there are currently 952 detainees there without commensurate staff. He told reporters that a detainee described the facility as a slaughterhouse.

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Menendez added that detainees they met with are not receiving adequate medical attention and the food situation continues to be horrible. Concerns have emerged about improper conditions at the facility, and earlier this year four detainees escaped amid unrest.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that claims the facility was understaffed are false, adding that detainees at all facilities are given health screenings in the first 12 hours of visiting, a subsequent check-up and 24-hour emergency care.

ICE is regularly audited and inspected by external agencies to ensure that all ICE facilities comply with performance-based national detention standards, McLaughlin said. This is the best healthcare that many aliens have received in their entire lives.

After Tuesdays visit, Menendez also said that the lawmakers asked questions about what happened to Brutus and were told that theres an investigation underway. ICE last week said that Brutus died from suspected natural causes.

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It should enrage every American that we've allowed this administration to take advantage of a broken immigration system  and that's what they are doing, for profit, Menendez said.

Clarke, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, expressed concern about four reported deaths in ICE facilities in the past week alone, a record number since this administration took power.

It is an insult to call this incident isolated, Clarke said.

McLaughlin earlier this week pushed back on Democrats assertion that this is the deadliest year in ICE detention since the early 2000s, writing on X that there has been NO spike in deaths and as bed space has rapidly expanded, we have maintained higher standard of care than most prisons that hold U.S. citizens.

Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, whose administration begins in just a few weeks, said in a statement after the report of Brutus death that she has long opposed  and continue[s] to oppose  the use of Delaney Hall and similar for-profit detention centers because they do not make us safer.
Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the heads of the churches in Jerusalem have emphasized the Christian message of hope at Christmas in a joint message published on Tuesday.

The group includes the patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox, the

Armenian and the Latin churches of Jerusalem, along with the

Custos of the Holy Land who represents the Roman Catholic Franciscan Custody, and the archbishops of the Coptic Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches.

Although a ceasefire in Gaza has enabled many communities to celebrate the festival more publicly again, the leaders urged caution.

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In their joint Christmas message, they referred to the prophet Jeremiah, who warned against those who speak of "peace, peace" when there is no peace.

"Despite a declared cessation of hostilities, hundreds have continued to be killed or suffer grievous injury," the statement says.

"Many more have experienced violent assaults against themselves, their properties, and their freedoms  not only in the Holy Land, but also in neighbouring countries."

The church leaders reaffirmed their "solidarity with all those who are suffering and downcast."

At the same time, they called on "Christians and others of goodwill around the world" not to slacken in their prayers and efforts for a true and just peace in the homeland of Jesus Christ  "and, indeed, throughout the Earth."

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Christians are celebrating Christmas in the Holy Land for the first time since the end of the Gaza war. A large Christmas tree stands in front of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem again this year.

On Wednesday, after the traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, Midnight Mass will also be celebrated there. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism expects around 40,000 Christian pilgrims at Christmas.

The Latin Patriarch, the highest representative of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, recently visited the largely destroyed Gaza Strip.
Israel ignoring lessons from Hamas's invasion from Gaza  IDF lookouts still stationed too close to border  Lack of coordination between Shin Bet, IDF, Israel Police regarding West Bank checkpoints

Without major changes, Israel is failing to protect Jerusalem from the ongoing threat of an October 7-style invasion from east Jerusalem and surrounding areas, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said in a report on Tuesday.

Englman said that the various political and security authorities who are responsible for security for Israeli residents in Jerusalem have mostly ignored the lessons of Hamas's invasion from Gaza, essentially taking the position that such an invasion could never happen in Jerusalem.

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According to Englman, "There is a scary narrative in which Palestinians can enter Israeli territory without any oversight or inspection, carrying potential danger for Israeli residents."

"The diplomatic-security cabinet has not held a hearing about the status of whether its decisions have been implemented in over 20 years," he wrote,

Next, the report said, "The location of the forward command centers, even after October 7, 2023, when those [IDF] lookouts who served directly on the border were murdered and kidnapped  could place the Jerusalem Corridor lookouts in [similar] danger," to being overwhelmed, murdered, and kidnapped like their Gaza-border counterparts.

Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 7, 2023. (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

Pressed by The Jerusalem Post about the fact that there is more space for moving lookouts backward from the Gaza border than in the case of Jerusalem, where Israeli and Palestinian areas are much more crunched together, a comptroller source noted that the technology used by the lookouts can be used from a distance.

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There are broader deficiencies in command and control as well as in operational readiness, stated the report.

Further, the report explained that the deficiencies and gaps it has noted have a substantial negative influence on security, diplomatic goals, and the economy.

"The deficiencies in the report are so problematic that they should be causing the political-security leadership to lose sleep," warned Englman.

Listing off all those responsible, he said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Police Chief Daniel Levi, Shin Bet Director David Zini, IDF Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the Jerusalem and Border Police commanders, and the National Security Council, "must fix these deficiencies immediately."

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There was a greater focus on Katz as the senior defense figure as well as the NSC, which Gil Reich just took over from Tzahi Hanegbi in October.

Palestinians use a rope to climb over the separation barrier from the al-Ram village into the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, December 23, 2025 (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)

Over a third of east Jerusalem, West Bank borders lack protective walls

Moreover, the report noted that 61% of the border between Israeli Jerusalem neighborhoods and parts of east Jerusalem and the West Bank have a fence and obstacles, while the other 39% does not.

This 39% is split into an 11-kilometer spot, a six-kilometer spot, a 250-meter spot, and dozens of additional kilometers in two other spots.

The comptroller sent a draft to those covered in the report this past February, with the IDF and the police responding in April and May.

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After the report was closed, Englman noted that there was a terror attack at Ramot on September 8 killing six Israelis, and wounding around 10.

Hammering the message home of the danger of West Bank Palestinians using vulnerabilities in the Jerusalem area to cross through, the terrorists came from villages in the Ramallah area and used exactly those Jerusalem security gap areas.

In addition, the report noted that there is a large gap between the number of illegal crossings the IDF lookouts and the police border patrols are recording.

The comptroller said that the police should have taken over more of the checkpoints from the IDF years ago, since they are better trained for activities like inspection and enforcing law and order.

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However, the police have plenty of problems as well.

Only two police commanders out of 16 who manage the checkpoints that divide Israelis in Jerusalem from east Jerusalem and other West Bank areas, where police have already taken over, have permanent status at their checkpoints.

The other police checkpoint managers are regularly rotating, reducing the effectiveness and experience level of those commanders with the unique dilemmas presented at such checkpoints.

In multiple prior reports and prior government decisions, at least four checkpoints were also supposed to move from police management to being managed by the Defense Ministry.

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The report said that for years this transfer has been frozen, with no explanation given as to why.

Further, the report said that the ministry has claimed that it would need an additional NIS 1.1 billion to take over the said checkpoints from the police, none of which has been allocated.

The Shin Bet, noted the report, should be giving guidance to the police regarding the inspection process at checkpoints.

This guidance could not only catch more potential threats by using superior inspection techniques and technology, but could also make the process faster, alleviating the frustration and humiliation for the overwhelming majority of innocent Palestinians who suffer daily from abnormally long delays to cross into and out of Israel.

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For example, the comptroller said that it takes an average of 80 minutes for an individual Palestinian to cross through an IDF checkpoint on foot, while it takes 56 minutes to cross through the same checkpoint by car.

The comptroller accused the Shin Bet of failing to take responsibility, but also accused the cabinet and the National Security Council of failing to raise the issue with the Shin Bet to give the agency clear updated orders.

The comptroller noted that there were 27 deadly terror attacks in 2023, including 10 gunfire attacks, 412 attacks with Molotov cocktails, 98 improvised explosive attacks, and 1,031 rock-throwing incidents.

In November of this year alone, the Shin Bet said there were 232 rock-throwing incidents, 45 Molotov cocktail incidents, 24 improvised explosive incidents, and 60 thwarted substantial violence incidents. There were only two "successful" terror incidents, but that number can vary wildly, with there having been nine in September.

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The IDF and Defense Ministry responded, affirming the report's conclusion that the police currently hold primary responsibility.

Moreover, the defense establishment stated that it provides technological solutions to assist the police wherever necessary, and does take responsibility in narrow areas where it is officially responsible.

Next, the IDF said that there are always multiple police representatives present at its IDF Central Command situational assessments meetings, to be prepared for any potential security incident.

Further, the IDF placed responsibility on the political echelon for failing to order completion of the border fence around the Jerusalem area and for failing to allocate funding for building such additional fencing.

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However, defense sources said that should the political echelon approve completing the fence and the necessary funding, it is prepared to do so.

More specifically, the IDF said that its Central Command has moved more aggressively to end Palestinian crossings into Israel in the Batir and Beit Iksa area.

In addition, defense sources said it has modified various undefined aspects of its operation, learning lessons from October 7.

Curiously, the IDF said that it had also moved some lookout posts, but not others, without clarifying the reason for either decision.

Neither the police nor Shin Bet has issued a response.
According to the IDF, soldiers and police forces followed a report that "several Israeli civilians had slaughtered livestock and vandalized Palestinian property.

Jewish settlers beat and slaughter animals from a Palestinian family, from which its members were also assaulted, in the West Bank on Monday, Army Radio reported.

According to the IDF, soldiers and police forces attended to a call from the Samua area, following a report that "several Israeli civilians had slaughtered livestock and vandalized property on a Palestinian plot of land."

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The IDF registered three Palestinians injured during the incident, who were evacuated for medical treatment.

"Upon the arrival of the forces, no suspects were located in the area. Security forces are currently continuing searches at the site," IDF reported.

Settler violence in the West Bank rises

On Sunday, attorney Omer Nahmani, head of the Returning with Wisdom NGO and former spokesman for Democratic Union chairman Yair Golan, sent a letter on Sunday to Shin Bet chief David Zini, urging the Shin Bet to act after three Jews linked with the Hilltop Youth movement allegedly attacked a pregnant Arab woman in Jaffa.

An attorney has urged the Shin Bet to act after three Jewish hilltop youth allegedly attacked a pregnant Arab woman in Jaffa, warning that settler violence is being shifted from the West Bank into Israels cities. (credit: screenshot/section 27a copyright act)

In the letter, the attorney warned that settler violence is being shifted from the West Bank into Israels cities.

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The letter followed an incident in which a woman was allegedly attacked while sitting in her car with her five-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter. According to the family, three Jewish youths sprayed pepper spray into the vehicle, shouted threats and obscenities, and fled. The woman was evacuated to Wolfson Medical Center in light condition.

On December 16, an Israeli settler shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian in Tuqu' after the funeral of another teenager, the town's mayor said.

"Today...Several youths were gathered by the main street when a settler shot 16-year-old Muheeb Jibril in the head," Tuqu' Mayor Mohammed al-Badan told Reuters by telephone.

Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have increased sharply, with the UN reporting the highest number of attacks on record in October.

Hodaya Ran, Reuters, and The Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
Somewhere along the six-hour horseback ride from Nauvoo to Carthage, Ill., where Joseph Smith was martyred in 1844, he shared with his small group of travel companions a foreboding that he would soon be killed. But, he said, I am calm as a summers morning; I have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward all men.

Thats how Joseph Smith  the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  described his own conscience, days before being fatally attacked by a 150200-person mob.

But in the years since Joseph Smiths death, another kind of mob has grown, comprised of those aiming to sully his reputation.

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Born 220 years ago on Dec. 23, 1805, Joseph Smith spoke openly about a visitation from God the Father and Jesus Christ.

After being visited by the angel Moroni, another heavenly messenger, in September of 1823, Joseph Smith said he was warned three separate times that his name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.

Matthew C. Godfrey, managing historian of The Joseph Smith Papers, says that since he was a teenager, Joseph Smith was accused of being an impostor and a charlatan and trying to pull one over on people.

But when you read his papers, his journals, letters that he wrote, his discourses, Godfrey adds, he doesnt come across like that to me. He comes across as someone who is sincere, who believes hes been called of God, and he cares very deeply about the Latter-day Saints and about their welfare.

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He wanted them to be happy, and he wanted them to know how to access the Saviors Atonement. That was his lifes work, to help people do that.

Joseph and Emma Smith Mansion House front room in Nauvoo on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

There is a cloud of witnesses of people attesting to exactly this  people who knew Joseph Smith, interacted with him directly and heard his teachings. These people who knew him best, described a good man whom they trusted.

A most remarkable and wonderful man

Womens rights advocate and journalist Emmeline B. Wells defended Joseph Smiths character when people demeaned him, according to Cherry Bushman Silver, coeditor of The Diaries of Emmeline B. Wells. When some at national suffrage meetings scorned Wells because of her commitment to Smiths teachings, the future Relief Society president said, The women of the world who deride the name and who defame the character of Joseph Smith should take a little time to look up on his advanced ideas of womanhood.

His gentle, chivalrous and reverential manner towards all women was a distinguishing trait in the character of this most remarkable and wonderful man, she continued. One could not meet him even casually without feeling the potent influence of the atmosphere that enveloped him, as entirely different from other men of the same period.

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Joseph Smith was scorned after speaking about not only seeing angels, but also the Father and Son. Richard E. Turley Jr., lead author on an extensive upcoming biography about Joseph Smith, tells Deseret News that there would have been benefit to him in his sociocultural setting, to have either denied what had happened or to say he was mistaken.

The fact that Smith didnt deny it  and couldnt deny it  is a reflection of the mans integrity, said Turley. That kind of integrity is difficult for people to have in todays society, you watch a lot of people who are raised with certain moral scruples, who sometimes readily, sometimes hesitatingly give them up for social acceptance.

Joseph Smith did not do that.

A plain, sensible, strong-minded man

Wells recalled stepping ashore as a 16-year-old girl arriving in Nauvoo and seeing one person who towered away and above all the others around him, with bearing so entirely different from any one I had ever seen.

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Upon shaking his hand, Wells recalls being profoundly affected: The one thought that filled my soul was, I have seen the Prophet of God. She added, this testimony has never left me  It is as vivid today as ever it was. For many years, I felt it too sacred an experience even to mention.

While such witnesses among believers may be easy to write off, Godfrey notes that most dispassionate observers of Joseph Smith (people who didnt have any reason to depict him favorably or unfavorably) also found Joseph Smith to be sincere as well.

He cites journalist Matthew Davis, who heard the prophet teach and met him in Washington, D.C., at the time that Joseph Smith was back there seeking redress for the Missouri persecutions. In an 1840 letter to his wife back in Pennsylvania, Davis describes Joseph Smith as a plain, sensible, strong-minded man who spoke in a manner to leave an impression that he is sincere, with no levity  no fanaticism  no want of dignity in his deportment.

Davis added that his encounter had changed his view of early Latter-day Saints, whom he called an injured and much abused people.

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Jonah Randolph Ball likewise wrote to a friend after arriving in Nauvoo that he found Joseph Smith easy and assuming in conversation. I found no sycophancy, he said, adding that Joseph Smith was who the Latter-day Saints represent him to be  asserting that the stories about him are false  this I tell you as the truth of a friend and brother.

Ronald O. Barney, former associate editor with the Joseph Smith Papers, refers to dissimulation as defining someone who was a pretender  a person who was actually not what he represented himself to be. He then cited a letter from John M. Bernhisel, who had lodged with Joseph and Emma Smith for the last nine months of the Prophets life, where he described Joseph Smith as honest, frank and as free from dissimulation as any man to be found.

Gentle charities of Joseph Smith

In this same letter from Bernhisel appealing to Illinois Gov. Thomas Ford for his support, he emphasized the gentle charities of Joseph Smiths family life as the tender and affectionate husband and parent, the warm and sympathizing friend.

Historian Nathan N. Waite, who has contributed to the Joseph Smith Papers Project, highlights an entry in the Prophets journal on the evening of Feb. 8, 1832, where the record states he took his 6-year-old son and went out. With Frederic to slide on the ice.

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The late Truman Madsen, a student of the Prophets life, once wrote of his marriage to Emma: the certainty of the record is this simple: Joseph Smith loved her with his whole soul.

Historian Mary Jane Woodger notes how often Joseph addressed Emma as Dear and Affectionate Wife, My dear Emma, and My dear and beloved companion.

In a world where appearances often obscure ugly realities, its not always so easy to tell the kind of person someone is. How people act in day-to-day relationships with family, neighbors and even strangers, is a pretty good sign.
A man on probation after pleading guilty to DUI in July and testing positive for meth Nov. 12 was denied a motion for release on bond. He ended up pleading to the violation and received a sentence to serve.

Last Tuesday, Robert Lloyd Hardwick, 41, asked Criminal Court Judge Shawn Fry for release from jail on a reasonable bond.

Defense attorney Jonathan Hamby argued consideration should be given because Hardwick surrendered to authorities Dec. 3 after learning a probation violation warrant had been issued for his arrest.

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In addition, Hardwick is an eight-year resident of Cumberland County, he is employed in the construction business, had three people in the courtroom willing to testify on Hardwicks behalf and in the past has never failed to appear in court on 14 occasions since his July 26, 2023, arrest.

Most importantly, Hamby told the court, he has a 2-month old son with whom he would like to spend the holidays.

I think he is a good candidate for bond, said Hamby.

Assistant District Attorney Philip Hatch countered the state has concern over the safety of the community in light of Hardwicks blood/alcohol test coming back at .37% when arrested. Tennessee considers .08 too intoxicated to drive.

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Its a double-edge sword, I fear, Judge Fry noted. I understand he wants to be home for Christmas  your child relies on you. If that doesnt motivate you, nothing I can do will.

Fry then denied the bond motion.

After conferring with his attorney, Hardwick then pleaded guilty to violating conditions of his probation and is to serve 60 days in jail at 75% with credit for 14 days already served.

In other cases on the docket, the following took place:

Probation

Shadayda Storm Farris, probation violation hearing continued to Jan. 6.

William Michael Lance, pleaded guilty to a probation violation and was given credit for time served and completion of a recovery treatment program. He was placed back on probation with Aug. 13 date set for tracking.

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Clarence David Lamance, probation violation hearing continued to Jan. 6 with Recovery Court application pending.

Tara Ashley Lockard, probation violation warrant dismissed.

Summer Lee Williams, Public Defenders Office appointed to represent Williams. A motion to dismissed two probation violation warrants based on failure to meet the law requiring the warrants be signed before a judge. It is expected a new warrant will be issued.
Mercedes-Benz has agreed a $149.67m settlement with a coalition of US states, drawing a line under a protracted investigation into alleged manipulation of diesel emissions tests.

The multistate probe examined claims that the German carmaker installed software in hundreds of thousands of diesel vehicles that altered emissions performance during regulatory testing.

Mercedes software allegedly allowed significantly higher pollution during normal driving.

The investigation was led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and eight other state attorneys general.

James said: Todays settlement holds Mercedes accountable, delivers millions of dollars to protect New Yorks environment, and ensures that this company never again deceives the public about its emissions.

The investigation was launched in 2020, following the conclusion of a related federal inquiry.

Serving on a nine-state executive committee, the involved offices examined in excess of 350,000 documents and conducted interviews with a large number of witnesses.

Investigators found that Mercedes marketed the affected diesel models as environmentally friendly, using descriptions such as clean, green and ultra-low emissions, and claiming to offer the worlds cleanest diesel automobiles.

The company promoted the vehicles supposed ability to convert pollutants into pure, earth-friendly Nitrogen and water.

The coalition states said the vehicles instead released far more pollution than permitted and did not perform as represented or certified.

Mercedes sold more than 200,000 diesel cars in the US that contained the implicated software from 2008 to 2017, with more than 19,000 of those vehicles registered in New York alone.

Under the settlement terms, the carmaker is required to pay $120m upfront to the coalition of states, of which $13.53m is earmarked for New York.

A further $29.67m in fines has been set aside conditionally and will be cut by $750 for every affected vehicle that Mercedes either brings into compliance with an authorised emissions repair, withdraws from sale, or repurchases.

The settlement also obliges Mercedes to pay $2,000 to qualifying owners and lessees whose vehicles undergo an Approved Emissions Modification.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said: This multi-state settlement not only ensures accountability for bad actors using illegal emissions-cheating devices, it also importantly delivers more than $13.5m to New York to reduce harmful emissions and help eligible consumers pay for costly vehicle repairs.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration must give legal due process to Venezuelan migrants flown to a notorious prison in El Salvador, either by providing court hearings or returning them to the U.S.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the government to come up with a plan within two weeks for the men, who have since been returned to Venezuela in a prisoner swap.

Plaintiffs should not have been removed in the manner that they were, with virtually no notice and no opportunity to contest the bases of their removal, in clear contravention of their due-process rights, Boasberg wrote.

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Its the latest development in a case that's been a legal flashpoint in the administrations sweeping crackdown on immigration. It started in March, after Trump invoked an 18th century wartime law to send Venezuelan migrants accused of being gang members to a mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.

Two planeloads of men were flown to the prison, despite a verbal order from Boasberg for the aircraft to turn around. Boasberg subsequently started a contempt investigation, though the dramatic battle between the judicial and executive branches has been paused by an appeals court.

The administration has denied violating his order. The White House did not have immediate comment on Monday's ruling.

More than 200 migrants were released back to Venezuela in a prisoner swap with the U.S. in July.

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The ruling from Boasberg, who was appointed to the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, opens a path for them to challenge the allegation that theyre members of the Tren de Aragua gang and subject to removal under the Alien Enemies Act.

This critical ruling makes clear that the Trump administration cannot simply spirit people off to a notorious foreign prison with zero due process and simply walk away. There are consequences, said ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who represents the migrants.
WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A document making a crude reference to Donald Trump  purportedly written by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar, who is serving a life sentence for abusing hundreds of girls  is fake, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday, hours after releasing it to the public.

"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. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law," the department said in a statement.

Last month, Congress passed  and Trump signed  a law requiring the Justice Department to make its Epstein files public. The large batch of documents released on Monday follows disclosures late last week, with more expected.

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The agency said the FBI concluded that the writing does not appear to match Epstein's and that it was postmarked three days after Epstein's death out of Northern Virginia. Epstein at the time of his death was incarcerated in a New York jail. It also did not include his inmate number as required for outgoing mail.

The card features an image of a couple holding hands across a table and says in a handwritten note that "our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls." It was part of some 30,000 pages of documents released to the public on Tuesday.

There have been no allegations in the Justice Department disclosures of Epstein's files that Trump committed any crime.

The supposed Epstein card also includes the message: "As you know by now, I have taken the 'short route' home," a possible allusion to suicide. Epstein was found dead in his cell on August 10, 2019. The Justice Department has said that he killed himself.

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One of Nassar's former lawyers, Shannon Smith, declined to comment. Another former lawyer, Matthew Newburg, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The government obtained the handwritten card when it was returned to the federal detention center in New York as undeliverable after Epstein, an American financier with connections to prominent figures, had died in what authorities ruled a suicide.

The Associated Press reported in 2023 that a card had been returned to the New York jail addressed from Epstein to Nassar. It was found in the jail's mail room after Epstein died. It was unclear if the two men had any previous relationship.

Nassar, who served as Olympic gymnasts team doctor for 18 years, was sentenced in 2017 to 60 years in federal prison for possessing child sex abuse material, and in 2018 received two Michigan sentences totaling up to 300 years for molesting gymnasts under his care.

(Reporting by Brad Heath; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Craig Timberg and Howard Goller)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  While the Kansas City Chiefs planned move to Kansas for a $3 billion stadium and surrounding district was celebrated at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka Monday, the announcement was viewed differently at City Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said conversations with the team extended to as recently as late last week. He said negotiating partners Jackson County and Missouri submitted a very responsible financial offer of taxpayer support that was surpassed thus far by an even more robust public financing package in Kansas.

Timeline: How the Kansas City Chiefs crossed the state line to Kansas

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Business decisions are a reality, and we all understand that, but Arrowhead Stadium is moreits family, tradition, and a part of Kansas City we will never leave, Lucas said.

Lucas said he got the calls Monday from Chiefs President Mark Donovan and Kelly informing him of the teams plans to leave Arrowhead at the end of its lease in 2030.

Today is a setback as a Kansas Citian, a former Chiefs season ticket holder, and a lifelong Chiefs fan. Today is a loss for the communities of East Kansas City, Independence, Raytown, and some of our favorite places en route to the stadiums like LCs Barbecue. Today is a loss for the Arrowhead tradition that so many of us in the Chiefs Kingdom hold dear, Lucas said as he delivered prepared remarks an hour after the Chiefs announcement.

Lucas admitted he wished things had gone differently when then County Executive Frank White was leading stadium discussions and didnt support a sales tax entension that was ultimately voted down by Jackson County voters in April of 2024.

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He said he thought Missouri and local leaders had a very responsible financial offer and remain committed to ensuring Arrowhead Stadium, Missouri, Jackson County, and Kansas City remain an option should the deal fall through.

Throughout this process in 2023, 2024 and immediately after the election we have visited with these teams non-stop. We have made sure that they know we will work, and do all that we can do to make sure that they stay. Its just unfortunate that myself and the City Council cant create STAR Bonds, Lucas said.

Where will the Chiefs practice facility, stadium be located?

That leads to the question will the Kansas City Royals be next to go across the state line as the team weighs opportunities in Overland Park?

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Lucas acknowledged the Kansas/Missouri border war that had a years-long truce is very much on again.

I think we are seeing ourselves in a hyper competitive moment with local jurisdictions with our neighbors with border communities, I think that is incredibly regrettable long term for Kansas City. But I think we will have to live with and in and we will compete like hell for the best businesses in Kansas City for every entity that might be in this area or beyond, Lucas said.

Lucas said he still believes Missouri is in a good spot in continuing negotiations with the Royals but reiterated a previous stance not to negotiate terms of any agreement in public.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Millions of Americans will travel across the country this holiday season, and Arizona is no exception.

With rainfall in the forecast and busy crowds expected at the airports, here's what to know about traveling to and from Phoenix this holiday week.

Southern California is bracing for heavy rainfall throughout the week, and meteorologists at the National Weather Service are warning those traveling from Phoenix toward the Sunshine State to be prepared.

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Popular destinations in the region, like San Diego and Los Angeles, will be under a flood watch from Tuesday, Dec. 23, through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

Officials are warning travelers to stay vigilant of flash floods, especially around washes, creeks or wildfire burn scars.

Plan ahead and check the local weather offices wherever you're planning on visiting and where you're coming from. If you're going to Southern California, look for the local office in that area, said Ted Whittock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

Make sure you have some way of receiving alerts on your phone if theres a flash flood warning, so as youre traveling, you can get those alerts in real time, said Whittock.

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The heavy rainfall will likely impact California airports near the coast, according to Whittock.

Rainfall expected on Christmas Day in Phoenix

Arizona wont get the heavy rainfall expected in California, but the weather system will bring precipitation to areas of the Phoenix Metro throughout the week.

Those in the Valley can expect measurable rainfall and the potential for thunderstorms through Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

The rain also has the potential to impact travelers flying in and out of Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport.

How to make your holiday air travel easier

Airline passengers should check their flight status with their airline leading up to their departure. Those traveling domestically are encouraged to arrive at the airport two hours before departure, and those traveling internationally, should arrive three hours early.

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For those parking at the airport, lots fill up quickly and reservations can be made in advance at skyharbor.com/parking.

Travelers can also book a reservation at the airport's security checkpoints through PHX RESERVE, a free program available in both terminals.

Passengers should also review TSAs What Can I Bring? page for guidance on what items are allowed through security.

Anyone in need of special assistance or caregivers can also request a Compassion Cacti lanyard, which signals to airport staff that people may need extra time or help, or a volunteer navigation guide for the airport.

At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, we strongly encourage passengers and those picking up and dropping off passengers to plan ahead, check out the skyharbor.com website ahead of time, and practice patience through this busy time of year, said Jon Brodsky, a spokesperson for the airport.

How to track flight cancellations out of Sky Harbor Airport

Dozens of flight delays and cancellations have already been reported through Dec. 23, according to Sky Harbors website.

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As of 5 p.m. Dec. 22, there were five cancelled flights and 65 delayed flights at Sky Harbor, the website stated.

For real-time updates on airport conditions, roadway alerts and other important information during the holiday travel period, travelers can follow @PHXSkyHarbor on X for the latest updates.

Can I bring my wrapped gift to the airport?

Airport officials discourage bringing wrapped gifts to the airport or placing them inside luggage, because it is possible they may be unwrapped during security screening.

If passengers need a wrapped gift upon landing, officials suggest bringing a folded gift bag and tissue paper with you for easy wrapping at the destination.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about Phoenix holiday travel this week
Dec. 23BLACKDUCK  In August 2022, the

Kitchigami Regional Library System

received a $18,782 donation from the estate of Darlene Bower for the

Blackduck Community Library.

The funds have been held by KRLS since.

Now, Blackduck Branch Manager Kelly Hanks has requested that the funds be released to the city of Blackduck to purchase new shelving to go along with recent renovations.

The renovations, which Blackduck City Administrator Christina Regas announced during a July 17

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Beltrami County Board

meeting, were paid for through various funding sources at a cost of roughly $350,000.

Blackduck used KRLS capital funds, an approved local sales tax and a $200,000

Minnesota Department of Education

grant to fund the renovations. The grant was specifically awarded to be used on multi-use public spaces and is reimbursable.

Renovations converted an underused office space and a restroom into a multi-purpose space with new technology, a new layout and a family restroom. Now, the city will be able to add new shelving to go along with the new renovations with the donated funds from 2022.

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The release of the funds was approved during the Thursday, Dec. 18, KRLS Board meeting.

The KRLS board meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the KRLS regional headquarters in Pine River.
Police are searching for a driver who allegedly struck a landscaper and fled the scene in Wall Township, New Jersey.

Investigators say the driver was travelling west on Ocean Road when it struck a commercial lawn mower, ejecting the operator on Dec. 8.

The vehicle then fled west toward Samuel Drive without stopping.

The operator of the lawn mower, 34, was treated for a concussion among other injuries as a result of the crash.

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The suspect vehicle is described as a 2018-2023 Subaru Crosstrek with a distinct light blue and gray hue.

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Will Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio run against each other in the 2028 Republican primary? Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said Monday he does not see it happening.

Lawler told host Kasie Hunt on CNNs The Arena that frankly, I think its more likely that youll have a Vance-Rubio ticket than anything else. The New York Republican stopped short of throwing his full support behind Vance, but he said the vice president has a leg up on the competition and would be a formidable candidate if he decides to run.

Its going to be a robust 2028 cycle, Lawler added. I know many of the players involved and considering it, and like and respect many of them. But of course, its always healthy to have debate and discussion.

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Vance has not said whether he will seek the presidency but has left the door open to a run. Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of Charlie Kirk, endorsed the vice president on Thursday.

We are going to get my husbands friend, JD Vance, elected as 48 in the most resounding way possible, Erika Kirk said at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest conference in Phoenix.

Polling reflects Vances edge, as the vice president garners more than 45 percent of the vote among potential GOP contenders, according to Race to the White Houses national polling average. Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Donald Trump Jr. and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley round out the top five at 10.9 percent, 9.4 percent, 8.6 percent and 4.2 percent support, respectively.

Politico also reported last month that Rubio would back Vance if the latter decided to run. Vance told the New York Post in October that the secretary of State is his best friend in the Trump administration.

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But Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), citing the administrations protectionist trade policies, suggested to ABC News on Sunday that Vance is not his preferred candidate for president in 2028.

Lawler, a moderate, said Monday that while he disagrees with the vice president on some issues, he is one of the smartest and most articulate members of the GOP. He also said a match-up between Vance and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) would be a debate for all ages.

Last week, Ocasio-Cortez highlighted a poll that showed her leading Vance with 51 percent support to his 49 percent in a 2028 presidential match-up.

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.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer's badge is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court in New York City on June 10, 2025. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Two Democratic members of Congress from Michigan are calling for a thorough federal investigation into the death of a man who died while detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In a letter sent Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) said Nenko Gantchevs Dec. 15 death at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, is part of a deeply troubling pattern of deaths in ICE custody.

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They noted that ICE has reported at least 30 detainee deaths this year  the highest total since 2004  including Gantchevs, which was the fourth reported detainee death in a four-day period in December.

Gantchev, a Bulgarian national arrested by ICE on Sept. 23 and held pending removal proceedings, was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead at about 9:54 p.m., according to ICE.

The agency has described the cause as suspected natural causes while the official cause remains under investigation.

In their letter, the lawmakers outlined specific questions they wanted answers to, including whether ICE conducted all required medical screening, care and supervision of Gantchev; whether staff followed required procedures after finding him unresponsive; and whether complaints about his treatment or conditions at North Lake were logged and addressed.

Demonstrators denouncing the opening of the North Lake Correctional Facility, an immigrant detention center in Baldwin, Michigan. July 4, 2025 | Photo by Leah Craig/Michigan Advance

They also asked for details on current staffing, medical screening policies, and conditions at the facility, which reopened this year and has seen rapid population growth.

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Since reopening in June of this year, reports indicate that North Lakes detainee population has swelled in recent months due to escalated immigration enforcement activities under this Administration, Stevens and Scholten wrote, adding that the detainee population growth at the facility has coincided with complaints of inhumane conditions and inadequate medical care.

We all believe in a secure border, but securing our border does not require abandoning our commitment to the rule of law and protecting and honoring human dignity, the lawmakers concluded, requesting a preliminary response from DHS and ICE by Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, to ensure justice for those who have died in custody already, and safety of those currently detained.

The GEO Group, a federally contracted private company, operates the North Lake facility which shut down in 2022 before reopening in June of this year under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract.

The facility, which has drawn numerous protests from activists, is now the largest ICE detention center in the Midwest and one of the largest in the nation.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Since taking office, Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken two different approaches when a member of Congress or the Florida Legislature resigns or dies.

Sometimes he acts speedily to call a special election to fill the vacancy and get a replacement in office quickly, especially if its a district in which voters are likely to elect a Republican.

In other cases he takes his time, waiting weeks to schedule elections, with dates far in the future, more commonly when the vacancy is in a Democratic district.

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State law leaves the timing  when to announce special elections and when to hold special primaries and general elections  up to DeSantis. State Sen. Tina Polsky, a Broward-Palm Beach county Democrat, and state Rep. Michael Gottlieb, a Broward Democrat, are sponsoring legislation that would require governors to act more quickly, setting timetables for various scenarios.

A Florida governor can fill many vacancies on his own, including members of the Florida Cabinet, county commissioners and school board members. But he doesnt have the authority to pick replacements for the legislative branch.

For federal offices, the governor can appoint a replacement senator to fill in until the next election. (Thats how Ashley Moody became the appointed senator when U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio resigned to become secretary of state.) U.S. House vacancies must be filled by voters.

Under DeSantis unexplained delays, lasting far longer than under previous Republican governors, sometimes mean residents of vacated lawmakers districts go without representation for months.

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Its terrible that we cant count on special elections in a timely manner, said state Sen. Tina Polsky, a Broward-Palm Beach county Democrat. The result, she said, is sometimes theres no representation for certain people.

The decisions are widely believed to be political. It shouldnt be dependent on politics or what the seat looks like, Polsky said.

The governors office didnt respond to a request for comment about the Polsky-Gottlieb legislation or about how DeSantis goes about deciding when special elections will be held.

In 2021, in response to questions about a delay in setting election dates  and the assertion that his actions were aimed at keeping Democratic seats vacant  his press secretary at the time said simply that he has fulfilled his constitutional and statutory duties.

No representation

A DeSantis delay in setting special election dates means a Palm Beach County district in the state House of Representatives will be unrepresented in Tallahassee for the entire 2026 legislative session.

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An unusual feature of the current example is it involves Republican-leaning District 87, home to 115,600 active registered voters  including the states most prominent Republican, President Donald Trump whose official residence is his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.

The vacancy didnt come as a surprise; it came about because DeSantis appointed the previous representative to a new job. Former state Rep. Mike Caruso resigned from the District 87 seat on Aug. 18 when DeSantis appointed him clerk of the circuit court and comptroller of Palm Beach County.

DeSantis set the special primary election in District 87 for Jan. 13 with the special general election to determine who takes the seat set for March 24  11 days after the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn its 2026 session.

Even though the vacancy occurred on Aug. 18, DeSantis didnt announce the dates for the primary and general election to replace Caruso until Oct. 24  70 days after Caruso resigned to take the gubernatorial appointment.

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DeSantis acts quickly to set special elections when he chooses. On July 21, Blaise Ingoglia resigned from the Florida Senate because DeSantis named him as the states new chief financial officer.

On July 22, the day after Ingoglia resigned to take the new office, DeSantis set the dates for special primary and general elections to fill the vacancy.

On the same day DeSantis set the dates for the special primary and general elections in another Palm Beach County district after the July 18 death of state Rep. Joe Casello.

That quick setting of dates for the special election stood out because Casello was a Democrat who represented a largely Democratic district. Voters picked Democrat Rob Long to fill the remainder of Casellos term in the Dec. 9 special election.

Democratic districts

Often he waits longer to call special elections in Democratic districts than in Republican areas.

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When longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings died on April 6, 2021, DeSantis waited 30 days to set election dates. He then set the special primary for Nov. 2 and a general election for Jan. 11.

As a result, the seat remained empty for more than nine months after Hastings death.

The district was so Democratic, that voters were all but certain to elect a Democrat.

Delaying the special election for the Hastings vacancy meant Democrats had one less seat in Washington, D.C., making it harder for then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to pass her partys priorities in the House.

By contrast, when President-elect Donald Trump announced in November last year he was elevating then-U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz to senior jobs in the administration, DeSantis set what the state said was the soonest possible election dates. (Gaetzs nomination ultimately was withdrawn, but he didnt attempt to undo his resignation.)

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DeSantis set the special primary elections for Jan. 28 and the general elections on April 1.

The Waltz district was unrepresented for 10 weeks, and the Gaetz seat for 20 weeks. The speedy special elections in districts where Republican victories were virtually guaranteed made it easier for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to pass the Republican agenda.

DeSantis has often delayed setting special elections in Democratic state legislative districts.

Unlike the closely divided Congress, Republicans have such a commanding majority over Democrats in the state Legislature that a vacancy is unlikely to affect the outcome on major issues. Not having a representative means there isnt someone to advocate for funding projects in the district.

Break with past

Data compiled in 2021 by the Harvard Election Law Clinic, which filed a lawsuit that year seeking to compel him to set election dates, showed DeSantis was keeping vacancies open far longer than his three predecessors, all of whom were Republican governors.

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For 69 special elections set to fill vacancies, dating to 1999 and spanning DeSantis and former Govs. Rick Scott, Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush, the dates were usually set much more quickly. And the elections themselves were held more quickly.

No other governor in the previous 20 years had waited as long to set elections or scheduled them so long after the vacancies occurred.

After Hastings died, DeSantis kept the seat vacant for 280 days. The previous five special congressional elections took place an average of 154 days after the vacancy occurred, Harvard Election Law Clinic research showed. Thats more than four months shorter on average.

In another instance, on Oct. 27, 2021, DeSantis set primary and general special election dates for three Broward and Palm Beach county seats in the state Legislature. The seats had been vacated when the lawmakers who held those jobs all submitted irrevocable resignations in July so they could qualify as candidates to fill the vacancy caused by Hastings death.

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DeSantis waited 91 days to set two of the special elections and 92 days for the other.

And under his timetable, the general elections were held months later: 223 or 224 days after the vacancies arose.

Lawsuits

Theres another pattern. When DeSantis delays setting special elections he has repeatedly been sued by Democratic candidates or their supporters asking a judge to order the governor to perform his election-setting duties.

When those lawsuits are filed, DeSantis often responds by moving quickly to set election dates  avoiding the prospect of a court ordering him to act.

 In state House District 87 in Palm Beach County, he announced the election dates 17 days after a lawsuit was filed by a Democratic candidate Emily Gregorys campaign seeking a court order compelling him to act.

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 In the congressional district that had been represented by Hastings, he acted five days after a lawsuit was filed.

 In the 2021 case in which the Harvard Election Law Clinic filed a lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs in the Broward and Palm Beach counties state Senate and House districts, DeSantis acted 12 days after the case was filed.

Legislation

Polskys Senate Bill 460 and Gottliebs House Bill 597 would require, rather than simply authorize, the governor to call special primary and general elections. The measures, which would go into effect July 1, would also require the governor to set the primary and election dates within 14 days after the vacancy occurs in most cases.

If the governor doesnt act, voters could ask a circuit judge to set the election dates.

It wouldnt impose the same time limits on every vacancy. If, for example, a state legislative vacancy occurred in December when the legislative session is scheduled to run from Jan. 13 through March 13, the seat could be held open until the regular August primary and November general election, Polsky said.

If there was enough time to conduct elections before a legislative session, the process would be expedited.

Similar legislation in 2022 didnt advance. Even if the 2026 version were to pass the House and Senate, it faces a big obstacle. It would then go to DeSantis, who could veto it.

Its going to be tough to get enacted, Polsky said, especially because the person who has to sign the bill is the one who caused these problems.

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By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Two senior Democratic lawmakers on Monday asked the U.S. Commerce Department to disclose details and any approvals of ongoing license reviews for potential sales to Chinese firms of Nvidia's second-most powerful AI chips.

President Donald Trump this month said he would allow sales of Nvidia's H200 chips to China, with the U.S. government collecting a 25% fee. Trump said the sales would help keep U.S. firms ahead of Chinese chipmakers by cutting demand for Chinese chips.

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U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Gregory Meeks in a letter asked the Commerce Department to disclose all license applications for the H200 chips for Chinese companies and disclose any approved licenses within 48 hours of the approval date. The lawmakers also want a briefing on the issue before approvals are issued, including "an assessment of the military potential of the chips approved for export and the reaction of allies and partners to the decision to export these chips," according to the letter, which was seen by Reuters.

Warren earlier this month called on Congress to compel Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to testify before lawmakers, and said Trump's decision to allow H200 sales to Chinese companies "risks turbo-charging China's bid for technological and military dominance and undermining U.S. economic and national security."

The Commerce Department and Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump's announcement represented a major policy shift from the Biden administration, which banned advanced AI chip sales to China due to national security concerns. Last week, Reuters reported that the Commerce Department has launched a review that could result in the first shipments of H200 chips to China.

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Warren and Meeks also want to see the text of any government-to-government agreement the Trump administration signed to allow the shipments as well as the Commerce Department's "assessment of the performance of the most advanced chips (China) is producing indigenously, as well as how many chips (China) has the capacity to produce."

Reuters, citing sources, reported earlier on Monday that Nvidia told Chinese clients that the company aims to start shipping the H200 chips to China before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February. Reuters reported that Nvidia plans to fulfill initial orders from existing stock, with shipments expected to total 5,000 to 10,000 chip modules - equivalent to about 40,000 to 80,000 H200 AI chips.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Franklin Paul and Paul Simao)
MHA, the UK member of Baker Tilly International, has agreed to acquire Moore Stephens and Moore Stephens Consulting, collectively known as MS UAE.

MHA anticipates paying total consideration of 7.4m ($9.8m) under the terms of the agreement.

The acquisition is intended to support MHAs aim of broadening its international reach by targeting selected cross-border growth opportunities.

MS UAE was founded in 1999 and delivers audit, tax, and advisory services to clients in sectors including financial services, manufacturing, real estate, construction, logistics, oil and gas, trading groups and various government agencies.

The firms headquarters are in Dubai with additional offices in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Global Market, Sharjah, Jebel Ali Free Zone and Hamriyah Free Zone.

It is authorised to deliver professional services throughout all major free zones in the UAE.

Both Moore Stephens entities will transition to the MHA brand after the transaction.

MS UAE is headed by managing partner Farad Lakdawala and includes a total of three partners.

These partners are expected to continue with MHA once the deal concludes.

MS UAE workforce stands at 95 employees with projected revenue for the year ending 31 December 2025 estimated at 6.5m.

If completed as planned, the transaction is anticipated to be earnings enhancing within the first full financial year post-completion.

MHA will provide further updates when the acquisition process concludes.

MHA CEO Rakesh Shaunak said: "Strategic M&A continues to be a key enabler of our growth aspirations.

Following the acquisition of BTSEE, the intended acquisition of MS UAE is another step forward in building a larger organisation and an international platform that enhances client service, strengthens our sector capabilities and creates opportunities for our people.

MS UAE is a high-quality, well-established practice with strong cultural alignment, and we look forward to updating the market as we progress toward completion."

"MHA signs agreement to acquire MS UAE for $9.8m" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




The South Dakota State Penitentiary, pictured on March 27, 2024. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Jordan Ward isnt one of the eight men killed by an overdose in a South Dakota prison in 2025, but a lawsuit filed this year over his 2022 death in custody offers insight into how drugs sometimes make their way into the hands of inmates.

The case also points to the impact of losing a loved one inside an institution obligated to protect their well-being as they pay their societal debt.

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An overdose of the synthetic opioid fentanyl killed the 30-year-old Ward in his state penitentiary cell on Aug. 4, 2022.

The lawsuit filed this August by Wards father in the U.S. District Court of South Dakota alleges that the state Department of Corrections had multiple opportunities to prevent the young mans death.

South Dakotas prison overdose problem

This story is part of a series examining a spate of prison overdose deaths in South Dakota, including the causes and potential solutions.

Read the series >

The first, court documents allege, came when another inmates family arrived at the penitentiary for an in-person visit. The complaint says that inmates children had been given drugs by people whod conspired with associates of a third inmate  Wards cellmate  to pass them along during a visit.

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The children were not searched, the lawsuit says, nor were they properly restricted from physical contact with their father in the manner outlined by Department of Corrections visitation policy. The father allegedly wasnt searched before returning to the prison, either.

The inmates children provided the fentanyl, the lawsuit says.

The drugs passed from the inmate who collected them at the visit, the complaint alleges, to Wards cellmate.

On the night of his death, the lawsuit says, Ward was facing the wall and didnt respond to commands given by a female correctional officer checking cells. The officer allegedly ordered Wards cellmate to put Ward into bed, but walked away before that happened. The cellmate tried to help Ward, but Ward was much larger. The cellmate struggled and Ward fell, the lawsuit says, and inmates in the vicinity began to yell for help about a potential overdose.

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It took 20 minutes for the officer to return, the lawsuit says, and it took her another 10 minutes after coming back to bring a nurse, who did not have Narcan, an opioid overdose antidote. A third individual eventually brought Narcan, according to the lawsuit, but it was too late.

The lawsuit alleges that the state was negligent by failing to follow its policies on searching visitors before visits and inmates after them, in failing to respond properly when Ward was unresponsive, for the pace of the medical response when his cellmate called for help, and for what the complaint described as a systematic failure to offer support and protection to an inmate known to struggle with addiction.

The states prison apparatus permitted, tolerated, and was deliberately indifferent, the complaint says, to the negligence by DOC officers towards individuals in DOC custody who suffer from mental illness and/or face a known risk of relapse.

Wards father, Robert Ward, is seeking monetary damages for burial costs, and punitive damages  monetary awards meant to punish a negligent actor for their behavior  for the loss of his son.

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Less than two months before Jordan Wards passing, the lawsuit says, his stepmother Janine had died from a long-term illness.

Despite being in custody, Jordan was a constant source of support for Robert after Janine Ward passed, the lawsuit says. Jordan was Robert Wards best friend.

The Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment on the case, but denied the allegations of wrongdoing in its legal response to the Ward complaint.

The case is working its way through the pretrial process. No trial date has been set.

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Flash flooding from a powerful storm claimed at least one life in California's Shasta County on Sunday, reported the New York Times.

Redding, home to some 94,000 residents and situated about 150 miles from Sacramento, saw the worst of the damage. Some areas within Shasta County were drenched with close to six inches of precipitation.

"A significant amount of rain fell in a short period, overwhelming infrastructure and contributing to flooding across the city," the City of Redding said in a statement Monday.

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Mayor Mike Littau announced the death in a post online. Workers repaired flood damage Monday and braced for a second storm forecast for Tuesday. Electricity came back on, and Pilgrim Congregational Church began serving as a shelter for displaced residents.

By Monday, the weather system had shifted southward. Sacramento and the Bay Area expected between 0.5 and 2 inches of rain. Meteorologist Scott Rowe, who works with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said mountain areas and the Sierra Nevada mountains could see an additional 3 to 4 inches before Tuesday ends.

A flood watch stretches across Central California until Friday. Rowe said cars sat underwater, and emergency teams pulled people from flooded areas.

For Jan Bodine, 56, the flooding came fast. She was in her living room when water surged through a rear entrance at her Redding house.

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Sixty minutes later, water had reached every room. Gifts she had bought for the holidays and most of her wardrobe were ruined. Flood coverage is not something she carries, she says, as the cost is too high.

Relina Fisher, 32, works as an ultrasound technician. She cut her hospital shift short Sunday, racing home ahead of the rising water. When she pulled up, her garage was already flooded. Then her phone rang: the hospital needed her back to cover an on-call rotation.

"I do feel a little trapped. I feel like I abandoned my job," Fisher said. She noted that no one else at the facility could perform ultrasounds until she could return.

Storms like this one are nothing new, but many scientists agree that human-caused temperature spikes are making such events fiercer and more destructive. A hotter atmosphere stores more water vapor, allowing storms to release heavier downpours in shorter timeframes. That pattern played out in Redding.

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California has experienced multiple major floods over the past few years, and researchers say this trend will persist as temperatures climb.

There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself before the next storm hits.

Store important paperwork in sealed, waterproof bags. Map out your evacuation options ahead of time. And look into flood coverage, whether or not your property sits in an official flood zone.

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.
A small Mexican navy plane on a medical mission crashed Monday near Galveston, Texas, killing at least six people, including a 2-year-old, officials said.

Two people were taken to the hospital, the U.S. Coast Guard said earlier. There was no immediate word on their condition. One passenger, a 27-year-old, was uninjured, the Coast Guard said. It was unclear if that person was one of the two who had been taken to the hospital. One person who had been missing was found dead Tuesday, the Mexican navy said.

The Mexican navy said the plane, a twin turboprop Beech King Air 350i, had been carrying eight people: four navy officers and four civilians. In addition to the 2-year-old, the victims included his doctor and the four members of the Mexican navy.

Emergency personnel rush a victim of a small plane crash to an awaiting ambulance near Galveston, Texas, on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. / Credit: Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)

The plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that provides emergency transports to children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children's hospital in Galveston.

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The foundation said in a post on social media, "We express our deepest solidarity with the families in light of these events. We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns."

The crash took place Monday around 3:17 p.m. local time near the base of a causeway near Galveston, along the Texas coast about 50 miles southeast of Houston. Flight tracking data shows the plane took off from Merida International Airport in Merida, Mexico. It crossed the Gulf and swung around to approach the Galveston airport before disappearing from radar while over Galveston Bay.

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives about a mile from the crash site, said he jumped in his boat with his 11-year-old son to see if he could help. He said he picked up two police officers who directed him through thick fog.

"We just saw a crushed ball of aluminum," Decker told CBS News. "It appeared to me that there would be no way that anybody could be alive inside of the wreckage because it was almost fully submerged too."

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Decker jumped in the water and found a badly injured woman, a nurse named Miriam Mancilla, trapped beneath chairs and other debris. Dramatic cell phone video shows him moving debris out of the way to help free her.

"I couldn't believe. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in," he said. "And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life."

"She was in a dire situation," Decker told CBS News.

He said he also pulled out a man sitting in front of her who had already died. He described both of them as dressed in civilian clothes.

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Asked how he felt about people calling him a hero, Decker told CBS News, "I just think I was the right guy to be there at the right time. That I'm comfortable with the water and God put me there at the right time to save that woman."

The cause of the crash is under investigation. It wasn't immediately clear if weather was a factor. However, the area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

He said that at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility.

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Shukr was reported as missing a week ago following an alleged "intelligence-based entrapment operation," according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Lebanon believes former senior security officer Ahmad Shukr, who is suspected of having been involved in the disappearance ofIAF officer Ron Arad, has been kidnapped by Israel, London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Tuesday. It cited a prominent Lebanese judicial source.

Shukr was reported as missing a week ago following an alleged intelligence-based entrapment operation, the report said.

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The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) declined to respond to a Jerusalem Post request for comment and referred the issue to the IDF. The Mossad also declined to respond to a request for comment.

Missing for 39 years

Arad was captured on October 16, 1986, after a bomb his plane dropped caused damage to the aircraft, forcing him and the planes pilot to bail out. The pilot was saved, but Arad was taken by the Lebanese Shiite group Amal and later transferred to Iranian forces.

Missing IAF navigator Ron Arad in captivity after his jet went down in Lebanon in 1986 (credit: AFP PHOTO)

Arad sent three letters from captivity, and two photos of him were released. Israel lost track of Arad in 1988.

There have been several Israeli operations to get more information about his fate, including the capture of Hezbollah members and an offer of a $10 million reward.

A joint report in 2016 by the Mossad and the IDF determined that Arad had likely died in 1988.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
A city hall can put up a Christmas tree  but it helps to have a Santa on display too.

First Amendment experts are mixed about whether cities and local governments can have holiday displays that are rooted in religion.

The U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion. That's the simple part. The case law around holiday displays is much more complicated.

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There are a multiplicity of Supreme Court opinions on whether religious displays related to holidays, like nativity scenes or menorahs, violate the Establishment Clause. But the Supreme Court's take on this is always changing, according to Benjamin Marcus, a religious freedom fellow at the Freedom Forum.

"I would say it seems very clear that religious displays on public property are allowed even under changing religious freedom jurisprudence," Marcus said. "But has the changing religious freedom jurisprudence changed anything about what additional symbols must be present in order to make a nativity scene on public property constitutional?"

Supreme Court rulings from the 1980s determined that including figures that aren't religious, like Santa Claus or reindeer, while also having a nativity scene was permissible.

More: How first Thanksgiving coincided with first step toward religious freedom

Mere religious symbolism? Not unconstitutional

Ryan Bangert with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) said Supreme Court decisions have shown that mere religious symbolism is not unconstitutional. It would be entirely constitutional having a standalone religious display, so long as the display is recognized as historical for the holiday and that there's no evidence of official coercion or pressure from the government on the religious beliefs to its citizens.

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"I think, in some people's eyes, the mere fact that the government placed a religiously themed display on public property itself would constitute coercion of pressure," said Bangert, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and special counsel to the president at ADF.

But the Supreme Court has not yet fleshed out a decision on the line between endorsing a religion and pressuring a religion onto someone.

The complexity behind holiday displays at and in local government buildings stems from the intersection of different areas of law, Marcus said. This includes putting up holiday displays in the first place, or opening forums for religious groups to put a display in a public building.

When putting displays in public areas, a government can allow a private group to sponsor and put up displays on government property, like in a park or city hall, since this falls under the First Amendment's protection for freedom of speech. But it must allow it in an equal footing, said Brennen VanderVeen, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's program counsel for public advocacy.

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That means that the government can't treat a display differently because of its religious message.

A holiday display that was once set up in the Florida Capitol rotunda by The Satanic Temple.

Florida Capitol once became flashpoint for holiday displays

A little over a decade ago, the Florida Capitol became a flashpoint for the debate over the boundaries of free expression and religious displays.

In 2013, The Satanic Temple  a group that uses Satan as a symbol to advocate for secularism and churchstate separation  proposed putting up a cardboard diorama in the Capitol rotunda depicting an angel falling into hell. State officials, however, rejected the display as grossly offensive, according to Florida Politics, a decision that nearly triggered a First Amendment lawsuit.

The diorama was approved for the rotunda the following year, but a Tallahassee woman who identified herself as a devout Catholic was arrested by Capitol Police after attempting to remove it. She was charged with criminal mischief, although prosecutors later dropped the case.

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In other years, the rotunda had a six-foot Festivus pole made from empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans, to commemorate Festivus, the fictional holiday introduced in a 1997 episode of "Seinfeld." It satirizes traditional celebrations through rituals such as the "airing of grievances" and "feats of strength."

More recently, The Satanic Temple of Iowa was supposed to throw a holiday celebration last December  exactly one year after a statue depicting the pagan idol Baphomet was destroyed in the display at the State Capitol building in Des Moines. The state decided to cancel the event.

"The First Amendment means the government cannot prioritize privately sponsored Christmas or Hanukkah decorations over a Baphomet statue simply because government officials favor Christmas or Hanukkah (or Christianity or Judaism)," VanderVeen said in an email. "And of course, the reverse is also true."

Chaz Stevens from Deerfield Beach talks to the media next to his Festivus pole made out of beer cans in the rotunda of the Florida Capitol, December 11, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida. Stevens display was intended to counter the religious Christian Nativity manger also on display. Based on an episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld, Festivus has become a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 to represent the antithesis of the commercialism of the Christmas season.

This story contains previously published material, including from USA TODAY. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Is it legal to allow religious holiday displays in public buildings?
To the editor: In light of our autocrat-in-chiefs name change of the Kennedy Center, I would implore Gianandrea Noseda, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, and Francesca Zambello, artistic director of the Washington National Opera, to vociferously denounce this move and assert the need for artistic institutions to balk at the interference of political whims ( Kennedy Center board votes unanimously to rename venue Trump Kennedy Center, Dec. 18).

I had the opportunity to work with both of these individuals in my capacity as a member of the music staff of the Los Angeles Opera; they commanded respect for their superior craft and appeared to be people of integrity.

If Congress remains recumbent in their duty to monitor oversight, we need those with the appropriate platform to take a stand.

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Mark Robson, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: The current occupant of the White House is determined to leave his mark on everything. From his revamp of the People's House into essentially a mirror image of Mar-a-Lago to putting his name on a peace institute whose board and staff he gutted, it never ends. Now, the Kennedy Center will be adding his name to the venue. And did anyone doubt that Trumps name would come first?

Plus, we still have the Arc de Trump to look forward to. And think of additional naming possibilities in the coming years  maybe the Trump-Lincoln Memorial?

The name change that would probably make the most sense would be the building that houses the Supreme Court, especially since the conservative justices have not been able to find any limits to his executive powers.

Janet Cerswell, Rancho Cucamonga

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Question: We purchased our new Peoria home from a major homebuilder six years ago. The stucco is rapidly deteriorating, and our home looks terrible. When we contacted our homebuilder to fix the defective stucco, the homebuilder representative said that our home only had a two-year warranty. Is that the law?

Answer: No. Under Arizona law, ARS 12-552, a homebuilder furnishes an eight-year implied warranty of proper construction to the buyer of a new home. Thus, your homebuilder may have to replace the defective stucco for the entire home.

Note: Under English common law, a builder of a cottage or a castle had the obligation forever to repair defective construction. That was the law in Arizona until the Arizona Court of Appeals required a homebuilder to replace defective stucco twelve years after the home was built. The Arizona Legislature then passed ARS 12-552, limiting the homebuilder's liability for defective construction to eight years.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What Arizona law says about warranty on construction of new home
Las Crucens were captivated by a number of local news topics in 2025, from public safety to the weather.

Sun-News readers again and again navigated to local stories on violent crime, a mass shooting and the start of Donald Trump's second presidency.

These are the most read stories published by the Las Cruces Sun-News in 2025.

Young Park mass shooting results in three deaths

The four teens charged in a mass shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces in March 2025 remain in jail after being indicted by a grand jury and denied bail for the crime that District Attorney Fernando Macias said he intends to see punished with adult sanctions.

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Nathan Rivas, Josiah Ontiveros, Gustavo Dominguez and Tomas Rivas are all charged each with one count of first-degree murder to which they pleaded not guilty in an April 2025 arraignment. The boys allegedly opened fire in the park's parking lot after a dispute with other boys at an unsanctioned car meet. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 16-year-old Andrew Madrid, Dominick Estrada, 18, and Jason Gomez, 17.

Witness statements to investigators following the shooting, indicate that Tomas Rivas shot one of the victims in the body and head, and then fired into the crowd of about 200 people gathered in the park, according to the criminal complaint against Rivas. Fifteen other people were injured in the shooting. Law enforcement recovered multiple firearms during the investigation. About 40-60 casings from four handguns were collected as evidence.

In the wake of the shooting, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story has advocated for stronger laws to address violent juvenile crime, especially those that involve firearms. "We have to come together to find solutions and ensure accountability for violent juvenile crime," Story said in March 2025.

President Donald Trump second term policies impact to New Mexico

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. In the months since his inauguration, New Mexico has felt the impact of his administration in ways both subtle and brutal.

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Las Crucens gathered for "No Kings" protests in June and October to protest Trump's policies - of which immigration, tariffs, pubic land management, and government jobs were among the most impactful to southern New Mexico.

The Trump administration moved to trim federal spending by cutting federal workforce across the country, offering first buyouts in several agencies and departments, as part of the Department of Government Efficiency's strategy led by billionaire Elon Musk. A federal shutdown followed, resulting in the furlough of hundreds of federal workers in New Mexico.

Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had New Mexico businesses lamenting the increased cost of business, including coffee roasters who said that an import tax would severely damage their bottom line.

A rally supporting the protection of national monuments was held at the base of Tortugas Mountain (A Mountain) on June 7th hosted by Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks.

Advocates for public land decried Trump's move to open thousands of acres of public lands in the state to development, including Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Most recently, Trump nominated former New Mexico Congressman and state Republican chair Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management.

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Trump's Stargate Project, a consortium of private investors in AI data centers, resulted in the creation of Project Jupiter in Dona Ana County. Project Jupiter will house a data center in Santa Teresa after the Dona Ana County Commission approved a $165 billion industrial revenue bond issuance.

A bipartisan delegation of New Mexico lawmakers attended a tour of the Otero County Processing Center on Aug. 25, 2025.

International students at New Mexico State University saw their visas in peril under Trump's immigration polices. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hinted at banning federal ICE detention facilities in the state, after the administration stepped up its detention and deportation efforts.

2025 sees two officer convictions for on-duty shootings, two additional civilian deaths

Brad Lunsford, a former Las Cruces Police officer, petitioned the courts to reverse a February conviction of voluntary manslaughter with a firearms enhancement in the death of Presley C. Eze Jr. District Judge James Foy considered three motions made by Lunsford's attorney, Matthew Chandler, for a new trial, and granted two motions. No date has been set for a new trial. Lunsford shot Eze at a gas station on the 2600 block of South Valley Drive while on duty and responding to a report of theft at the location on Aug. 2, 2022.

A hearing to consider a motion for a new trial for former Las Cruces police officer Brad Lunsford was held Sept. 19 in the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.

In October, former Las Cruces Police officer Felipe Hernandez was found guilty by a jury of voluntary manslaughter with a firearms enhancement in the death of Teresa Gomez. The jury declined to convict on a greater charge of second-degree murder. Hernandez shot and killed Gomez in her vehicle as she started to drive away from him during an encounter at an apartment complex along Burley Court on Oct. 3, 2023. The City of Las Cruces settled a civil wrongful death lawsuit with Gomez's family for $20 million in 2024.

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In 2025, La Cruces Police Department reported the shooting of four civilians by officer, two of which resulted in death.

More: Three police shootings in 2025: What to know about Las Cruces incidents

In March Gabriel Padilla, 19, was shot once in the lower back by an officer responding to reports of an armed man on Main St. In May Josiah Perrault, 18, was shot and killed on Walnut St. That officers name was not made public. In July, Dominic Gage Martinez was shot at during a domestic dispute, though not injured. The officer's name was not made public. In October, 50-year-old Philip Adrian Mullin was shot and killed in the parking lot of Chili's Grill and Bar on Telshor Drive after reports he threatened customers with a knife and hammer. The name of that officer was not made public.

The Officer-Involved Incident Task Force investigates all officer-involved shootings. In February, OIR Group - and independent contractor hired by the City of Las Cruces - reported it found the Las Cruces Police Department's was appropriately investigating allegations of misconduct. "Our sense is that these investigations are thorough and fair and that the department is taking this process seriously and doing a good job," OIR representative Stephen Connolly said to the Las Cruces City Council.

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More: Dona Ana County faces wrongful death lawsuit over fatal shooting of Jose Guzman

Las Cruces judge, wife arrested in case linked to Venezuelan drug gang

Jose "Joel" Cano was barred from ever holding a public office again after allegations he and his wife housed and helped hide evidence against teen suspected of involvement with a Venezuelan drug gang.

The New Mexico Supreme Court barred Cano in April, following his resignation as Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge in March. That resignation followed the arrest of Cristhian Ortega-Lopez at the Cano's home in Las Cruces.

Homeland Security Investigation began investigating Ortega-Lopez in January, and suspected he was a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Ortega-Lopez was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition. In October Ortega-Lopez, pleaded guilty to the charges.

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Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in April and charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence, respectively. A trial for the Canos has not yet been scheduled.

Gun violence leads lawmakers list of priorities, fails in legislative session

New Mexico Senator Crystal Brantley called the Legislature's failure to reform crime laws a missed opportunity to protect New Mexicans, in a March editorial. She and other lawmakers expressed shock at the mass shooting in Las Cruces that left 15 injured and three teens dead, and lamented the Democrat led Legislature's inaction. During that same session Las Cruces Police chief Jeremy Story asked the Legislature to look at reforming the state's competency, bail and juvenile justice laws.

More: Data: Gun sales down in New Mexico

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham considered briefly calling a special session to act on proposed pubic safety legislation. In October a special session convened but failed to include a slate of Republican recommended bills on public safety, including the "juvenile crime crisis."

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The governor did, however, authorize in April the New Mexico National Guard to help Albuquerque police the city in the midst of a "fentanyl epidemic and rising violent juvenile crime." Las Cruces, Story said at the time, was not experiencing the same level of crime and should not expect to see deployment of guardsmen to the city.

Source New Mexico reported that three out of four days see a New Mexico youth arrested with a firearm.

New Mexico Legislature will reconvene in January 2026 to address a slate of budget proposals.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: These 5 stories captured Las Crucens attention in 2025.
PARIS (AP)  A freight lift rose up on its crane Tuesday toward the Louvre Museum  but this time it wasnt jewel thieves. It was workers installing security bars on the window used to break into the Paris landmarks Apollo Gallery in Octobers stunning heist.

The worlds most-visited museum is slowly coming to terms with security failings exposed by the theft, while investigators hunt for missing crown jewels worth $102 million.

With the Louvre closed Tuesday, maintenance workers in security helmets and high-visibility vests mounted a freight lift to a second-floor balcony to secure new metal bars outside a now-infamous window.

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The sight mirrored what happened Oct. 19, when a team of thieves posing as workers used a similar lift, then sliced through the window to enter the gallery. They grabbed tiaras, emerald earrings, a sapphire necklace and other treasures, and eight minutes later they were gone.

All four suspected thieves have been arrested and charged. But the jewels havent been found.

Samuel Lasnel of maintenance lift company Grima-Nacelles said he and his crew arrived before dawn Tuesday to carry out the high-profile window-securing operation.

We have already worked at the Louvre  on the interior, on the exterior, inside and outside the pyramid  weve been here several times, he told The Associated Press. The Louvre knows us well.

The Louvre didnt publicly comment about Tuesdays security operation.
This decline is largely attributed to Mothercare's store closures in the Middle East and its planned exit from its partnership with Boots in the UK. On a like-for-like basis, retail sales decreased by 6%.

The company operated from 344 stores worldwide during the period, down from 440 the year before, with total store square spare falling to 858,000 square ft from 1.1m sq ft previously.

Online retail sales for the period rose slightly to account for 11% of total retail sales, compared to 10% in the first half of the previous fiscal year.

Mothercare expects to maintain a generally cash-neutral position over the next 12 months, with anticipated growth in retail sales and income surpassing FY26 levels, especially in Turkiye and India.

Highlights of Mothercares H1 results

The UK-based mum-and-baby clothing retailer's revenue plunged 45% to 11.6m - the result of the ne dof the group's five-year exclusive partnership with Boots.

The company's adjusted EBITDA fell to 0.8m from 1.7m in the previous year. It reported an adjusted loss from operations of 0.5m, compared to a 1.1m profit in the prior period.

The adjusted loss before taxation improved slightly to 1.1m from a 1.4m loss reported last year.

Net debt was reduced to just 5.8m by the end of the half, around a third of the 17.1m reported last year.

Mothercare chairman Clive Whiley said: Mothercare is making good progress against our strategic priorities. After the strategic and operational challenges of the last few years, our performance in the first half shows that Mothercare has been stabilised as a smaller and cash generative business with greatly reduced debt. Our new partnerships with Reliance in South Asia and Ebebek in Turkiye are now bearing fruit, underlining the intrinsic value of and opportunity for our brand.

South Asia and Turkiye partnerships drive future growth

Mothercare has made notable progress in its joint venture with Reliance Brands, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, for the South Asian market. This venture, valued at approximately 30m, grants Reliance Brands perpetual rights to use the Mothercare brand in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Despite receiving lower revenues than before, Reliance Brands aims to increase retail sales to roughly 300m within five years, supported by plans to open 50 new stores in 2026.

In Turkiye, Mothercare has entered a licensing agreement with Ebebek Magazaclk, granting exclusive rights to use the Mothercare brand for a decade.

Ebebek Magazaclk operates close to 280 stores and has recently expanded into the UK. This agreement also allows Mothercare to purchase and rebrand products sourced by Ebebek Magazaclk for sale outside Turkiye.
A new solution to student homelessness: A parking lot where students can sleep safely in their cars

When Edgar Rosales Jr. uses the word home, the second-year college student with a linebackers build isnt referring to the house he plans to buy after becoming a nurse or getting a job in public health. Rather, the student at Californias Long Beach City College is talking about the parking lot he slept in every night for more than a year. With Oprah-esque enthusiasm, Rosales calls the other students who use LBCCs Safe Parking Program his roommates or neighbors.

Between 8 and 10:30 p.m., those neighbors drive onto the lot, where staff park during the day. Nearby showers open at 6 a.m. Sleeping in a car may not sound like a step up, but for Rosales  who dropped out of a Compton high school more than 20 years ago to become a truck driver  being handed a key fob to a bathroom stocked with toilet paper and hand soap was life-altering. He kept the plastic tab on his key ring, even though he was supposed to place it in a drop box each morning, because the sight of it brought comfort; the sense of it between his fingers, hard and slick, felt like peace.

When Rosales and his sons mother called it off again in the fall of 2024, just after hed finished a GED program and enrolled at LBCC, he stayed with his brother for a week or so. But he didnt want to be a burden. So one day after work at the trucking company  hed gone part-time since enrolling, though hed still regularly clock 40 hours a week  he circled the block in his beat-up sedan and parked on the side of the road, near some RVs and an encampment. The scariest part of sleeping in his car was the noises, Rosales told The Hechinger Report: I heard a dog barking or I heard somebody running around or you see cop lights going down the street. You see people looking in your car. He couldnt sleep, let alone focus. Without the ability to bathe regularly, he began to avoid people to spare them the smell. The car became his sanctuary, but also, a prison. As he put it, It starts messing with your mental health.



First, Rosales dropped a class. A few weeks later, he told his LBCC peer navigator he couldnt do it anymore and needed her help to withdraw. Instead, she got Rosales signed up for the colleges Safe Parking Program, and everything flipped on its head. With the LBCC lots outlets and WiFi, the back seat of his car morphed into a study carrel. Campus security was there to watch over him, not threaten him like the police had, telling him to move along or issuing a citation that cost him a days pay. For the first time in a month, Rosales said, I could just sleep with my eyes closed the whole night.

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Forty-eight percent of college students experience housing insecurity, meaning challenges that prevent them from having a safe, affordable, and consistent place to live, suggests the most recent Student Basic Needs Survey Report from the Hope Center at Temple University. That number rises to 60% for Black students, 67% for students who are parenting and 72% for former foster youth. The problem also tends to be worse for veterans and those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have been labeled undocumented, said Sara Abelson, an assistant professor and the Hope Centers senior director of education and training. Fourteen percent of the nearly 75,000 students surveyed experienced homelessness, the most severe form of housing insecurity. Other analyses produce similar estimates.

Of course, rates differ by institution. The Hope Center found that housing insecurity at two-year schools, like LBCC, was about 10 percentage points higher than at their four-year counterparts. A similar gap divides institutions that serve high proportions of students classified as racial and ethnic minorities from those that dont. Geography also matters: Its much easier to find a rental unit in Wilmington, North Carolina, for example, than in Portland, Oregon. And yet, the problem is a national one, said Jillian Sitjar, director of higher education for the nonprofit SchoolHouse Connection, affecting both rural and urban areas and not just a California thing. Thats partly because of a national housing supply shortage and the fact that eligibility rules for affordable housing programs often exclude students; and its partly because the cost of college has risen nationwide as both government investment in higher education and the purchasing power of financial aid have fallen over the decades. The second Trump administrations threatened and actual changes to Pell Grants, the largest federal student aid program, havent helped, nor have its cuts to the social safety net generally and erosion of laws meant to ensure equitable access to housing.

For years, colleges have primarily referred students experiencing homelessness to shelters, nonprofits and other external organizations, but theres kind of a shift thats happening, Sitjar said: Institutions are starting to look internally, being like, OK, we need to do more. LBCCs Safe Parking Program is one of the most visible of a new crop of programs addressing student housing insecurity by giving students unorthodox places to sleep: cars, hotels, napping pods, homes of alumni and even an assisted living facility. What sets these stopgap efforts apart from longer-term strategies  such as initiatives to reduce rents, build housing (including out of shipping containers), rapidly rehouse students, cover housing gaps (like summer and holidays) and provide students with more financial aid  is that theyre designed to be flawed. College administrators know full well that Band-Aid programs are insufficient, that theyre catching blood rather than addressing the source of the bleeding. And yet, while long-term projects are underway, whats woefully inadequate can be quite a bit better than nothing.

An oversize sink sure was for Mike Munoz. Decades before earning his doctorate and becoming the president of LBCC, Munoz was a community college student who worked in a mall as the assistant manager of a portrait studio. After coming out as gay, he couldnt go home, and then the family lost their house to foreclosure so there wasnt a home to go back to, he said. Many nights, hed crash on friends couches, but in the week leading up to payday, he couldnt afford the gas to get there from work. Feeling hopeless, Munoz would find a parking spot near the mall and spend the night in his car, dealing with the exact same stressors Rosales would endure years later. In the morning, hed take a sponge bath in the oversize sink that the studio used to develop film. His No. 1 concern, after survival, he says, was keeping anyone from finding out about his homelessness, especially on campus.

Mike Munoz stands for a portrait in front of a tiled wall, wearing an LBCC tshirt with a rainbow logo underneath a sportcoat. He is a first-generation college student who now serves as superintendent and president of Long Beach City College and works to support students from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds. - James Bernal for The Hechinger Report



President Munoz  who is warm like Rosales yet more self-contained, often listening so intently as to become motionless  said the Safe Parking Program is about more than providing physical safety for students who sleep in their vehicles. Munoz wants these students to feel safe bringing their full selves to college, in a way he didnt until transferring to a four-year school and moving into student housing. The mental load that I was carrying, I was able to set that down, he said, and I was able to then really focus that energy  on classes, on who he wanted to be. Thats Munozs answer to those who say emergency housing is a distraction, ancillary to the mission of a college.

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Indeed, research suggests that asking a student to thrive in college without a reliable place to sleep is no more reasonable than asking them to ace a test without access to books or lectures. Multiple studies find that housing insecurity is associated with significantly lower grades and well-being. Lacking a stable housing arrangement has also been shown to negatively affect class attendance, full-time enrollment and the odds of getting a degree. Whats more, a 2024 survey found that housing-insecure students rely more on risky credit services like payday loans and auto-title loans. This Gordian knot of need and peril, which often also includes child care obligations and food insecurity, makes it hard to prove that emergency housing alone will improve students lives. But Rashida Crutchfield, a professor of social work and executive director of the Center for Equitable Higher Education at California State University, Long Beach, said, Its one of those obviously moments that if you house students, they do better.

When a pandemic-era survey revealed at least 70 LBCC students were living in their cars, Munoz asked the colleges board to support him in implementing a safe parking program. They agreed something had to be done, but issues like legal liability concerned some LBCC staff. Additional worries included the cost and that it would mean less money for longer-term solutions, the risk of sending a message that its OK for students to have to sleep in their cars, and the sky is falling kind of stuff  visions of drugs, sex, trash, urine. But Munoz pressed, and in 2021 the school piloted a program with 13 students and a startup budget of $200,000 from pandemic relief funds. That money covered private overnight security and paid for the nonprofit Safe Parking LA to train LBCC staff and help develop an application, liability waiver and more. The schools facilities team installed security cameras, scheduled more cleaning and figured out how best to handle the extra opening and closing of the lots gates.

Similar efforts sprang up during the pandemic but later shuttered. For example, a collaboration in Oakland between Laney College and West Side Missionary Baptist Church wound down as did the safe lot program near the University of Washingtons Seattle campus. The funding isnt there anymore, explained Marguerita Lightfoot, a professor at OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. Yet still to this day, she said of sleeping in cars, There are students who are doing that at every institution.

Knowing that, LBCC was determined to keep the Safe Parking Program running even after the federal tap ran dry. The school moved the program from its original location to the lot Rosales would call home, which has a clear line of sight from the campus security office. One extra campus security position replaced the private company, cutting LBCCs overall spend in half. In other words, Munoz made it work.

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Other schools have swung different hammers at the same nail. Some colleges and universities with dorms maintain in-and-out rooms, beds set aside for short-term, emergency use, the way Roosevelt University in Chicago and Fort Lewis College in Colorado do. But Sitjar says a lot of red tape and considerable expense make in-and-out rooms uncommon. For specific student populations, some schools offer year-round housing, like West Chester Universitys Promise Program for former foster youth and qualifying students without housing and a similar program at San Diego State University. But during the summer, its really, really, really hard for institutions to try to keep those rooms set aside, Sitjar said, since they otherwise generate revenue via summer camps, reunions and more, and during the academic year mean room-and-board money.

And community colleges  which educate the majority of American college students  mostly dont have dorms that allow for this option. A few have teamed up with four-year institutions to house students at a discounted rate. In New Jersey, Rider University hosts students from Mercer County Community College. Through a pilot program launched in 2019, Massachusetts reimburses four-year campuses for the cost of keeping dorm beds available for community college students experiencing homelessness. A review of the program, through which eight colleges and universities have hosted students, found that 72% of participants showed academic improvement and even more experienced improved mental health.

Other types of partnerships also put roofs over students heads in short order. Cape Cod Community College works with a local health center to get students into hotel rooms on days the temperature falls below 32 degrees. And Norco College in Southern California is just one of dozens that contracts directly with a hotel. Religious organizations help too, such as Depaul USA in Philadelphia, which houses college students experiencing homelessness in a converted convent. Around 400 miles south, in Wake County, North Carolina, HOST is a nonprofit that began with members of the NC State University community inviting students to move into their homes. And New York Citys LaGuardia Community College partners with Airbnb to house students short term, with the company reimbursing hosts.

A particularly unusual partnership resulted when Winona Health, a health care system in Minnesota, acquired a nursing home that had a mansion sitting on the same parcel of land. The century-old building, Watkins Manor, wasnt ideal for assisted living, so in 2021 Winona invited students from nearby colleges to move in for a very low monthly rent plus volunteer hours. Students help senior citizens do things like troubleshoot tech, go shopping and participate in therapeutic recreation programs. The residents love it, the students love it, said Linda Atkinson, the administrator who oversees the program. While students dont need to experience housing insecurity to apply, the program has provided emergency housing for those who have been kicked out of a parents home, experienced domestic violence and more.

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Some schools combine these solutions, inching toward more comprehensive support. At California State University, Sacramento, the CARES program maintains four beds in on-campus dorms for immediate use. It also partners with the Hampton Inn and offers rent subsidies, eviction-avoidance grants (a utility bill here, a late fee there) and move-in support grants (think security deposits), among others. Additionally, the program has helped connect students with members of local churches willing to open their homes. Understanding that some students dont have cars, LBCC too offers much more than the Safe Parking Program. As Crutchfield put it, Different people have lots of different needs, and we have to have a buffet of options.

At Howard Community College in Maryland, one smorgasbord item is a place to nap. President Daria Willis doesnt have anywhere to put a shelter for housing-insecure students, as Harvard, UCLA and the University of Southern California have done. We are pretty much landlocked, she explained, Ive got a hospital on my left side, and Ive got neighborhoods on the right, back, and front side of the campus. But she wanted to do something to help the exhausted students she walked by on the way to her office morning after morning. Students who worked night shifts, parented young kids or didnt have a place to sleep at night were curled into chairs and draped over benches. In a pilot program, the school bought five chairs, known as sleeping pods, designed for rest. After Willis posted a picture on social media of herself relaxing in one, it exploded, she said: Students were in them every single moment of the day, often needing to be asked to leave when buildings closed at 11:30 p.m. So the school bought more sleeping pods. And more again.

No one, though, believes napping facilities and parking lots are really the answer.

Rosales has leg issues and a bad back. Im a big guy, he said as he folded himself into the back seat of his car in an origami-like series of steps in early September. The WiFi on the lot is spotty, one bathroom for more than a dozen people often means a line, theres no fridge to store leftovers or microwave to reheat them, and Safe Parking Program users arent able to sleep in or get to bed early. Last semester, when he took a class that didnt get out until 10 p.m., Rosales had to move as fast as his busted knees would carry him to make the cutoff at 10:30. And he was still homeless. Hed go to a restaurant, spending dollars he couldnt spare and eating too much just to feel like a normal person, Rosales said. Hed say hello to everybody and strike up a conversation with his server, to try to be normal for a minute.

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Yet despite its limitations, the Safe Parking Program let Rosales breathe, relax, continue on, he said. And the lot offered a chance to build community. He began encouraging new arrivals to connect: Trust me, well help you, Rosales would say. And they do often require help like that. Even when campus resources exist, two-thirds of students in need lack awareness about available supports, the Hope Center researchers concluded. Stigma is part of the problem. As Rosales put it, Were scared that were going to get judged or someones going to give us pity or give us a look  like, Oh, there goes the homeless one. He didnt even tell his family about his homelessness. In fact, Rosales peer navigator was the first to know  and he only had one of those to turn to because of LBCCs surveys and targeted outreach.

Recently, Rosales organized a free breakfast to connect his roommates and neighbors with campus resources and each other. He felt terrible that he still couldnt do much for the son hed barely seen since moving out, especially after being laid off by the trucking company on Christmas Eve. But gathering participants in the Safe Parking Program, helping them  now he could add value to someone. And he felt valued by LBCC, having been given comprehensive support and case management meant to find an on-ramp to stable housing, as well as money for car repairs. (Each year, between $23,000 and $115,000 from the LBCC Foundation  which swelled after a $30 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist formerly married to Jeff Bezos  goes to students for vehicle registration, insurance, repairs and daytime parking permits.) Rosales felt like he mattered at LBCC, even after bringing his whole self to campus, just as Munoz had hoped.

At some point in the nations history, homelessness on college campuses was nonexistent, a rounding error when it did occur, because students had to have wealth behind them to access higher education. As efforts to democratize admissions and attendance (like the GI Bill) have borne fruit, more of those who are facing these issues are getting to institutions, said Abelson, the Hope Centers senior director of education and training, combining with housing and funding shortages to create need that has largely gone under the radar and unrecognized. Efforts to equalize opportunity have been insufficient, and yet, theyve made it possible for someone like Munoz to graduate and then rise through the ranks. Theyve made it possible for his days of rationing gas and sink-bathing to open an institutions eyes to the need for a net to catch students who are slipping off its ivory tower, and for Munoz to push to create one, even if it must be stitched together from imperfect materials.

But the reality is that the majority of schools have massive holes in their nets, or to return to Crutchfields metaphor, they dont offer any of these emergency housing dishes, let alone the whole spread. For the most part, colleges and universities still just create a list of resources and refer students out, suggesting they try their luck with local shelters and Craigslist. Its inadequate. Our shelter systems are overtaxed, Crutchfield said, theres just not enough capacity. And even when there is, students dont see shelter systems as for them, she said. In some ways, theyre right: Shelter rules, including the need to queue up and turn lights off when theres homework still to be done, often clash with students needs.

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If I fall down and Im bleeding, definitely get me medical attention, get me a Band-Aid, Crutchfield said. But if the road is broken, and thats why people keep falling down, you have to deal with the road. So yes to safe parking, she said, but also, What are we going to do next?

In addition to building housing, participating in rapid rehousing models and advocating for financial aid that covers the true cost of college, some schools have hired homeless liaisons, staff members dedicated to assisting students experiencing homelessness. According to SchoolHouse Connection, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland and Tennessee require schools to establish these roles. Maine encourages doing so, and California, Minnesota and Washington even set aside funds that can be used to pay for them. The impact appears to be significant. In Washington, 22 out of 25 community colleges surveyed said they provide some sort of emergency housing. Sitjar said, For institutions and states that have these individuals, that have these roles, were then seeing those colleges make the really unique solutions of addressing housing.

Edgar Rosales Jr. displays the keys to his new home where he will go after spending three years in the Safe Parking Program. - James Bernal for The Hechinger Report



She pointed to bipartisan federal legislation, two bills that are expected to be reintroduced this session, that would require homeless liaisons as well as force colleges to develop plans for housing during academic breaks, do a better job of identifying students struggling with homelessness and more. One of the bills would update the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program to allow full-time students to live in LIHTC housing if theyve experienced homelessness within the last seven years. Abelson said the Hope Center and others support this reform as well as similar efforts aimed at reducing the many barriers that students face to accessing [government] benefits.

These days, Rosales still eats his feelings sometimes, he said, but its slowly getting better because I see a therapist every two weeks through the school. When LBCC told him in September that hed been offered housing through a rapid rehousing program called Jovenes  a two-bedroom, two-bath to be shared with three roommates  Rosales began to cry, from relief but also from fear. I never thought I was going to get out of here, he said of the Safe Parking Program. This is my home, this is where I live, this is where Ive been  holidays, weekends, a birthday. He finds comfort in knowing that the lot is always an option, as it is for the dozens of LBCC students living on the brink who have signed up for the program just in case. But he doesnt sleep there anymore. Im not going back, Rosales said, and for the first time, he believes in his ability to make that happen. He can feel in his truck-weary bones that hell graduate, that hell get that house hes been dreaming about: Im moving ahead.

This story was produced by The Hechinger Report and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Lutheran Social Services officials announced on Dec. 22 that the City of Sioux Falls will no longer fund the Multi-Cultural Center, effective Dec. 31.

LSS has been operating the Multi-Cultural Center (MCC), since 2022, and the city has been funding the independent nonprofit, housed inside the Coliseum on Main Avenue, since its inception nearly 30 years ago. They paid $146,000 in 2025 to the MCC.

LSS CEO Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen says the sudden end of funding creates significant uncertainty for MCC, a community gathering space that has supported all cultural backgrounds through youth programs, workforce development, interpreter services, parenting education, medical training and swimming lessons.

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MCC also hosts the citys well-known Festival of Cultures every year, a free summer event that brings together every cross-section of the community, Kiesow-Knudson says, to enjoy live music, dancing, traditional food, educational tents from cultures worldwide and kids activities.

Last summer, the 28th annual Festival of Cultures was held at Levitt at the Falls. CEO Nancy Halverson said earlier this year that the event brought in over 3,000 attendees for eight musical performances throughout the day, including headliner Espiral7, and a Parade of Flags for the day-long, family-friendly event.

Unless a donor comes forward to support the program in the long-term, Kiesow-Knudson says the Festival of Cultures is equally at risk.

More: Hundreds statewide experience two cultural traditions for Lakota Music Project.

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The Multi-Cultural Center strives to create a safe and accepting community where people of all cultural backgrounds are seen, heard and celebrated, Kiesow-Knudson says. Building a sense of belonging is more important than ever.

Hard decisions are ahead, she said.

The City of Sioux Falls officials could not be reached for immediate comment.

Check back for more on this developing story.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Funding cuts put Multi-Cultural Center, Festival of Cultures at risk
The year saw the end of several notable businesses, from the long-loved Tommy's Famous Burgers to the troubled Executive Inn. Here's a look at what happened to these 40 places that were locked out, shut down or left town in 2025.

The A-J has been tracking openings, closings and business announcements since Jan. 1, 2025 and giving monthly reports. The information found here uses that data.

Look back: From BBQ to factories, here's a look at 46 Lubbock places that closed in 2024

1102 Bubble Tea & Coffee closes after 1 year and is quickly replaced

A Spooky Cookie Halloween drink is held in front of a sign at 1102 Bubble Tea & Coffee, 5815 82nd St., Unit 150, as seen on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

What happened: The trendy drink stop first opened on Oct. 19, 2024, but closed around a year later. A sign on the door alerted potential customers to the closure about a month before a new business opened in its place. The location is now SN Banh Mi - Vietnamese Sandwich & More.

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When: Mid-October.

Where: 5815 82nd St., Unit 150.

Abbott's Frozen Custard freezes after 1 year

What happened: The custard shop first opened in September 2024, but appeared to lose traction shortly after its first anniversary.

When: Early December.

Where: 11112 Slide Road.

Allsup's Express closed a location in growing convenience store boom

What happened: Employees were relocated after the store closed just short of 3 years of business. Though an exact reason was not given, Lubbock has seen a boom in convenience store growth, led largely be Toot'n Totum's Lubbock or Bust campaign.

When: Late April.

Where: 1113 University Ave.

Bone Daddy's locked out of restaurant

What happened: In May, Bone Daddy's was locked out of its location by the building owners. The company still lists the location on its website and Google has it listed as temporarily closed. However, it has had no social media presence since April and calls have not gone through since July 1.

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When: Early May.

Where: 3008 West Loop 289.

Cafe J closes ahead of bulldozing for student housing

Cafe J in the Godbold building, located on 2605 19th St., as seen on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: In March 2025, the city council gave the final approval for a proposed 584-bed student housing development. While the council's vote was unanimous, the community was notably divided after three months of debate. In the end, the developers got what they wanted, and will tear down the Godbold building that houses Cafe J. The housing development is expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029.

When: Dec. 14.

Where: 2605 19th St.

Why Godbold was important: Save the Godbold movement fails as developers tear down historic Lubbock landmark

Carlito's Way Foods Puerto Rican Cuisine closes for move

What happened: The owner closed the truck before moving to Florida.

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When: Feb. 15.

Where: Mobile food truck.

Cinemark Southwest Lubbock Movies 16 and XD draws the curtain on Lubbock

Cinemark closed one of its Lubbock locations in 2025.

What happened: A reason was not given for the closure.

When: Feb. 9.

Where: 5721 58th St.

Colbert's General Store closes after 13 months in downtown landmark

Chuck Colbert will open a general store within Metro Tower Lofts, 1220 Broadway.

What happened: This general store inside Metro Tower aimed to add a new space to downtown. After 13 months, it closed. The shop had struggled to gain foot traffic prior to closing.

When: June 28.

Where: 1220 Broadway, Suite 110.

Initial report: History revived: Lubbock's Metro Tower reveals plans for big city feel in landmark

Copper Caboose restaurant closes location, claims pending expansion

Copper Caboose, located at 5609 Villa Drive, as seen on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: After 24 years of serving Mexican and American cuisine, the owners announced the Ave. Q location would close immediately. In the announcement, it also hinted at a "new location on the horizon." The announcement also directed customers to visit the other location, 50th Street Caboose, 5027 50th St.

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When: Sept. 2.

Where: 5609 Villa Drive.

Shut down: Copper Caboose Lubbock closes with little notice, claims new location in the works

Costa Vida among first restaurants to close in 2025

What happened: A reason was not given for the closure, however it was among the first restaurants to close in the year. Several other restaurant chains and franchises fell after, including a Taco Villa and a Starbucks.

When: Jan. 15.

Where: 4410 114th St., #200.

Curby's Express Market shuts down in Lubbock, claims new locations to come

Fresh pizza sits on the counter inside Curby's Oct. 21, at 7200 W McCormick Rd. in Amarillo. The store also serves flavored teas and lattes, along with salads and desserts, among other items.

What happened: Curby's was a Lubbock-born convenience store known for colorful drinks before giving a same-day closure notice via social media. The business claimed new locations would be coming soon at the time, but the upcoming locations tab has since been removed from the website. This leaves only one location - 7200 W. McCormick Road in Amarillo. Company comments on the new Facebook page do not indicate a return to Lubbock.

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When: July 22.

Where: 1903 Milwaukee Ave.

In Amarillo: Curbys Amarillo celebrates opening with freebies, chance to win free drinks for a year

CVS Pharmacy shuts down 50th Street location

CVS, located on 3402 50th St., as seen on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: Letters went around Oct. 6 to alert customers that the store would be closing within the month. Employees were transferred to one of the other nine locations across the city. While a reason was not giving in the letter, the company announced hundreds of locations would close starting in 2021.

When: Oct. 21.

Where: 3402 50th St.

Initial report: 1 Lubbock CVS Pharmacy is closing. Here's when, what to know.

Executive Inn issues evictions, shuts down due to high crime rates

Lubbock police investigate a shooting Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 at the Executive Inn in central Lubbock.

What happened: People staying at Executive Inn received 3-day eviction notices that claimed the city wanted the place vacated due to recent "overdoses, shootings and robberies." The Lubbock Police Department later clarified that the city had sought the owners' compliance to cease criminal activity, but did not demand this action. However, the department did say it supports the decision.

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When: Oct. 7.

Where: 4401 Ave. Q.

Initial report: Lubbock Executive Inn to close, evict tenants due to high crime rates. Here's what to know

Hawaii Fluid Art ends after 3 years

What happened: After opening in December 2022, the interactive fluid art shop offered classes, private events and offsite events.

When: Dec. 13.

Where: 2910 W. Loop 289, Suite 605.

Hillside Lounge and Cafe / Willi C's Breakfast House and Lounge closes restaurant

What happened: A reason was not given for the closure of this family-owned soul food restaurant. It soon became Willi C's Breakfast House & Lounge, which seemed to have closed in October.

When: Jan. 5., Willi C's closed in October.

Where: 2510 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Home Treasure Gallery closed without formal announcement

What happened: The store lasted about three years and closed without notice.

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When: April.

Where: 5102 A 60th St.

Los Victor's Mexican Food closes, quickly replaced by southern restaurant

Los Victor's Mexican Food, 4928 50th St., as seen on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

What happened: While a reason was not posted, the restaurant appeared to struggle gaining traffic for months prior to closing. Four months later, Sam's Southern Eatery officially returned to Lubbock in the former Los Victor's.

When: Early May.

Where: 4928 50th St., now a Sam's Southern Eatery.

Lucky Dollar ends retail store after nearly 3 years

People attend a ribbon cutting for Lucky Dollar, 4408 50th St., on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. Tina, Anthony and Asher Garza hold the scissors while Chamber Ambassadors Misty Mullins and Thea Long hold the ribbon. Others in attendance include staff, family, friends and Lubbock Chamber Ambassadors.

What happened: The owners of this retail store decided to close the location.

When: June 18.

Where: 4408 50th St.

Mountain Hideaway Outdoor Outfitters closes after 33 years

What happened: The shop that outfitted adventurers since 1992 announced closing sales via social media on Dec. 18. The owners, in the post, stated "the winds have changed."

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When: A date had not been announced, but closing sales started on Dec. 18.

Where: 4816 50th St.

Adventure ends: Mountain Hideaway Lubbock store to close after 33 years

On The Border Mexican Grill and Cantina closes amid bankruptcy filing

On The Border, located on 6709 Slide Road, as seen on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: The closure happened around the same time the company filed for bankruptcy.

When: Feb. 8.

Where: 6709 Slide Road.

Party City shuts down after Chapter 11 bankruptcy

What happened: The company filed, again, for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a December 2024 report. After months of closing sales, it shut down.

When: Mid-March.

Where: 6038 Marsha Sharp Freeway West, #100.

Pei Wei ends 18 years in Lubbock

What happened: No reason was given for the closure. It was one of the first to close in 2025, along with several other long-lived restaurants.

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When: Early January.

Where: 4210 82nd St., #230.

Play Street Museum quietly closes children's space

What happened: The owners decided to close the museum, which held exhibits, toys and hosted crafting events.

When: Nov. 16.

Where: 10609 Slide Road #400

Retro Riley's ends physical store due to low foot traffic, continues as online shop

KK's Corner Mall features local businesses in their 40,000 sq. feet space, Friday, Jan.12, 2024.

What happened: This shop, now exclusively online, sold rockabilly clothing and merchandise at KK's Corner Mall. Owner Nickie Riley attributed the closure to a lack of in-person business.

When: Jan. 31.

Where: Inside of KK's Corner Mall, 6409 Indiana Ave.

River Rose Boutique ends Lubbock operation, continues in New Braunfels

What happened: The Lubbock location closed after the owners decided to continue with their sole storefront in New Braunfels.

When: Sept. 21.

Where: 2110 Broadway.

Rusty Taco closes after 2 years

Rusty Taco plans to open in the Canyon West shopping center, as seen on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

What happened: Rusty Taco opened in 2023, but by December 2025, the restaurant was empty.

When: December.

Where: 6030 Marsha Sharp Freeway W., #200.

Salt by Angie closes after 4 months as chef-owner shifts focus

What happened: Chef Angie Ragan posted on social media on July 7, stating "I need to step back, regroup, and get stronger for whats next." The post hinted that Ragan will keep catering and competing in cooking contests.

When: July 7.

Where: The Historic Kress Building, 1109 Broadway.

Sprinkles Cupcakes ends bakery, ATMs after less than 2 years

Sprinkles Cupcakes will open in Lubbock at 8004 Quaker Ave. on Nov. 9, 2023.

What happened: A reason was not given for the short-lived bakery and cupcake ATMs. The location now serves as Field House Deli, a Plainview favorite that opened the Lubbock location in May.

When: Jan. 11.

Where: 8004 Quaker Ave., Suite C.

Starbucks closes location in Lubbock due to 'transformation strategy' with little notice

A sign informs customers the Starbucks at 6005 Slide Road will close, as seen on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: A message to employees, issued Wednesday, stated that 1% of stores would close across the brand, a move that follows CEO Brian Niccol's Back to Starbucks transformation strategy, according to USA TODAY. While locations were not listed by the company, paper signs appeared on affected locations. One of those was Lubbock's newest, which opened in early March 2024.

When: Sept. 28.

Where: 6005 Slide Road.

More: Starbucks to close 1 Lubbock location, here's what we know

Sub-Zero Bites & Sips closes shop, location now serves barbecue

What happened: The owners decided to pursue new opportunities. The location is now Tommy Bob's Snak Shak, a barbecue drive-thru that also sells snacks.

When: Jan. 27.

Where: 3334 66th St.

Taco Villa closes one of 10 locations, possibly due to 19th Street construction issues

What happened: Taco Villa shut down without a stated reason, though the company still has nine locations throughout Lubbock. However, the closure does come amidst years of road construction on 19th Street, which TxDOT officials told the Avalanche-Journal had been delayed.

When: Mid-June.

Where: 2243 19th St.

The Co-Op Public House quietly closes without notice

The Co-Op Public House, located at 4637 50th St., as seen on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened:

When: Mid-August.

Where: 4637 50th St., Suite #300.

Tommy's Famous Burgers retires after 47 years

Tommy's Famous Burgers suddenly shut down over the weekend after 47 years of operations, as seen on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: A paper taped on the door stated the restaurant was closing due to retirement, with a billboard in front of the restaurant reading "Now RVING."

When: Late September.

Where: 117 University Ave.

More: Longtime North Lubbock burger restaurant shuts down after 47 years

West Texas Printing Center ends operations

What happened: The printing press operated by West Texas Printing Center  which has produced publications including the Avalanche-Journal, Amarillo Globe-News and newspapers in Abilene, Wichita Falls and San Angelo among others  closed as printing was shifted to other locations.

When: Sept. 7

Where: 710 Ave. J.

More: Printing at Lubbock Avalanche-Journal moving out of state, delivery to continue

Wienerschnitzel with plane table to become El Pollo Loco

A plane-shaped table at Wiernerschnitzel, 7102 Quaker Ave., will soon take off to a new location in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: Palmetto Assets, LLC, owns several Wienerschnitzel locations across Lubbock. The company decided to close this location, known for its airplane table, and replace it with the first El Pollo Loco restaurant in 2026. The iconic table will also live on in the Wienerschnitzel at 6319 82nd St., after the table is renovated in 2026.

When: Dec. 7.

Where: 7102 Quaker Ave.

What happened? Airplane table at Lubbock Wienerschnitzel to move after closure

Wilshire Place Senior Living closes due to 'unattainable business model'

What happened: This senior living facility shut down its Erskine Street location due to issues relicensing and becoming an unattainable business model.

When: July 10.

Where: 6410 Erskine St.

Wing Shack and Tap House taps out after less than 2 years

What happened: The wings restaurant, owned by the former owner of La Bella Pizza, opened in June 2023. An explanation was not given for the closure.

When: Feb. 10.

Where: 5412 Slide Road, Suite 100.

Wood's Boot City ends 47 years due to 'uncertain economy'

Wood's Boot City, located on 6645 19th St., as seen on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.

What happened: After 47 years of business, the boot shop closed its doors at the Lubbock location, though it will live on in Colorado City. The closure was first announced in April, with the owners stating, "the challenges of an uncertain economy and the struggles of small family businesses have made it impossible for us to continue."

When: June 28.

Where: 6645 19th St.

Did we miss one? Let us know by emailing Alana Edgin at aedgin@lubbockonline.com. Please include the business name, address, and day it closed.

Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock shops, restaurants closed include Tommy's Famous Burgers
Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, began the celebration of its centenary slightly early on Tuesday.

The first aircraft with special livery commemorating the landmark has landed in Frankfurt. A new Boeing 787-9 is painted with an oversized crane - the airline's logo - along with the years 1926 | 2026 on its fuselage.

The aircraft is one of six planes Lufthansa plans to decorate in anniversary colours to commemorate the airline's origins a century ago.

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The anniversary Dreamliner is to be used for its first scheduled flights in a few weeks, Lufthansa said. The anniversary fleet is expected to be complete in the autumn of 2026.

January 6 marks the 100th anniversary of the original "Deutsche Luft Hansa Aktiengesellschaft" in 1926.

Lufthansa intends to celebrate the centenary more formally in April, reflecting the date of the airline's first official flight on April 6, 1926.

Although today's Lufthansa Group has no legal ties to its Nazi-era predecessor, the company points to its early history as part of its aviation and technical heritage.

It was not until April 1955, almost 10 years after the end of the World War II, that the first scheduled flights under the name Lufthansa resumed.
A CNN NewsNight guest called out commentator Scott Jennings during a tense exchange about the state of the MAGA movement.

Mondays panel discussed the aftermath of last weeks Turning Point USA event, where Ben Shapiro criticized Tucker Carlson for conducting interviews with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and for refusing to condemn Candace Owens for peddling conspiracy theories about TPUSA founder Charlie Kirks assassination. Owens, who previously worked for Shapiro at The Daily Wire, has claimed that the Israeli government was involved in the murder.

Carlson spoke moments later and offered a rebuttal. The next night, Steve Bannon spoke at the conference and likewise ripped Shapiro, as did Megyn Kelly. Vice President JD Vance also spoke at the event, where he told the crowd, You dont have to apologize for being white anymore.

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On CNN NewsNight, Republican strategist Tim Parrish said there is no room for anti-Semitism and other forms og bigotry in the GOP and that Vance has adequately condemned such attacks, including his remarks about leaked Young Republican group chats that contained all manner of racial slurs and comments about Jews and gas chambers.

Vance told the group chat members to grow up, but he also criticized the pearl clutching by those who harshly condemned the messages and said that kids do stupid things.

You guys are mischaracterizing the statements that the vice president made, Parrish said. He absolutely came out and condemned and said that there is no place for any comments like that in the Republican Party.

Adam Mockler of MeidasTouch rejected the claim.

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JD Vance said hes gonna warn his kids so some scumbag doesnt leak a group chat in a similar way, Mockler replied. He was implying the person who leaked the group chat was a scumbag. JD Vance has had the farthest thing from moral clarity this entire time.

Mockler then pivoted to Paul Ingrassia, who was appointed by President Donald Trump to be the acting general counsel of the U.S. General Services Administration. Leaked text messages from Ingrassia show that he said he has a Nazi streak and made racist remarks.

Here is Mocklers exchange with Parrish and Jennings:

MOCKLER: And listen, do you know who Paul Ingrassia is? PARRISH: Sure. MOCKLER: Do you know who Paul Ingrassia is? JENNINGS: Yeah, weve debated it. MOCKLER: Do you know what ok, so do you know what Paul Ingrassia said? JENNINGS: Yeah, weve debated it. MOCKLER: That he has a Nazi streak. Oh, youve debated it. But has Trump fired him, or is he still a part of the administration? JENNINGS: I dont know where he is right now. MOCKLER: Hes a part of the administration. And you know that. Youre lying right now. You know that he is a part of the administration. He is still there. And he said he has a Nazi streak. So you can sit there and play coy, but you are not having the clarity that you are talking about right now. Do you condemn Paul Ingrassia? JENNINGS: I certainly condemn anything MOCKLER: Should Trump fire Paul Ingrassia? JENNINGS: approximating having a Nazi streak.

Two days after Ingrassias texts were made public, Jennings said he agreed with the administrations decision to withdraw Ingrassias nomination as head of the Office of Special Counsel. However, Trump appointed Ingrassia as acting general counsel at the General Services Administration three weeks later.

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Hours before his appearance on NewsNight, Jennings said Vance will ultimately need to distance himself from conservatives who are trafficking in hate.

Watch above via CNN.

The post Youre Lying Right Now: CNNs Scott Jennings Gets Cornered by Guest About Trump Official Who Claimed Nazi Streak first appeared on Mediaite.
Police arrested 63-year-old Terryl Lamar Vann on December 17 after a woman was found shot at the Lindsey Terrace Apartments in Jacksonville.

Officers say they found a woman in her 30s with a gunshot wound to her face near a gold-colored car in the parking lot.

She was rushed to Orange Park Medical Center and was in critical but stable condition.

According to the police report, the victim told officers that her boyfriend, Terryl Vann, was the one who shot her.

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Officers surrounded Vanns apartment in building 8 and detained him. Inside, police found a handgun, BB guns, marijuana, and blood throughout the apartment.

Vann, a convicted felon, told detectives he didnt shoot his girlfriend and claimed she arrived already injured. However, he could not explain the blood in his home or the presence of a handgun.

JSO says the victim and Vann have a history of domestic issues, including past reports of dating violence and an expired restraining order.

Vann faces charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to JSO.

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A man has been indicted on charges in connection with alleged bomb threats against New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

Tristan A. Anderson, 22, of Hooksett, was indicted by a Merrimack County grand jury on charges including attempted harm to government officials, attempted throwing or placing of explosives, and threats to government officials, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella.

Anderson was previously arrested by the New Hampshire State Police in September and charged by criminal complaints.

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The Union Leader reported that Anderson sent Snapchat messages to his roommate about threats aimed at Ayotte.

Im going to target the NH Mayor Kelly ayott, one message allegedly read. With my weapon of mass destruction.

He has been held in custody on preventative detention since his arrest.

Anderson is due in Merrimack County Superior Court for a conference on Thursday, Jan. 8.

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Police in southern Germany have arrested a suspected supporter of the Islamic State terrorist militia.

The 20-year-old is accused of recruiting members or supporters for a terrorist organization abroad, the Lower Franconia Police Headquarters and the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office said on Tuesday.

There are no indications of concrete plans for attacks or specific threats posed by the suspect. He was remanded in custody last Friday.

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According to reports, the young man, who has German and Syrian citizenship, was arrested last Thursday in the Bavarian district of Kitzingen.

After extensive investigations, suspicions were confirmed that the 20-year-old had actively recruited members and supporters for the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization via a messaging service.

The suspect is also alleged to have called on others to take the oath of allegiance.

Another person, whose gender has not been disclosed, is said to have actually sworn this IS oath of allegiance to the 20-year-old. No further details were initially disclosed.
Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield will be sworn in at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at the Detroit Opera House, marking the official beginning of the next chapter for Michigan's largest city.

During the ceremony, Sheffield will become Detroit's first-ever woman mayor. The event will also see recently elected Detroit City Council members, police commissioners and City Clerk Janice Winfrey sworn in.

It will feature performances from Detroit's poet laureate Jessica Care Moore, the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences, Gospel star Kierra Sheard and Detroit Opera House soloist Brianna J. Robinson, according to a news release from Sheffield's transition team.

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The ceremony is open to the public.

"The people of this city have been with me every step of the way. This isnt just my momentthis is Detroit's moment and my administration will be the peoples administration," Sheffield said in a statement.

More: Criminal probe targets toxic dirt; Detroit could face $8M cleanup

Sheffield replaces Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running to serve as Michigan's next governor after leading the Motor City for 12 years. Duggan endorsed her ahead of the city's general election, in which she handily defeated Triumph Church pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. When Sheffield was first elected to City Council in 2013, she became the youngest member ever to serve on the body. She eventually ascended to City Council president.

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Available on a first-come, first-served basis, tickets for the swearing-in ceremony can be secured online at the Detroit Opera's website: detroitopera.org. Sheffield's transition website includes additional information on the event at risehigherdetroit.com/investiture.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mary Sheffield to be sworn in at Detroit Opera House on Jan. 9
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 are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model .

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Motorpoint Group Plc ( LON:MOTR ) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

The UK1.90 analyst price target for MOTR is 29% less than our estimate of fair value

Story Continues

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. 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 (3.0%) 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%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK23m (1 + 3.0%)  (10% 3.0%) = UK325m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK325m ( 1 + 10%)10= UK122m

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 UK212m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK1.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 49% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

LSE:MOTR Discounted Cash Flow December 23rd 2025

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. 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 Motorpoint 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%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.428. 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.

See our latest analysis for Motorpoint Group

SWOT Analysis for Motorpoint Group

Strength

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Specialty Retail market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for 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. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Motorpoint Group, there are three relevant items you should further examine:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for Motorpoint Group you should be aware of. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for MOTR's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. 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!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the LSE 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.
Ghislaine Maxwell tried to set Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor up with some fun girls when he was in Peru to represent the late Queen, emails suggest.

The claim that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor wanted a tour guide to help him do some two-legged sight seeing in the South American country has emerged as part of the latest tranche of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The documents heap further embarrassment on the former prince  something the Palace might have hoped would end when he was stripped of his official titles in October.

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They reveal that he was wanted for questioning by the FBI about his friendship with not one but two millionaire sex offenders, and will reignite questions about whether Maxwell procured girls for him.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor leaves the Royal Lodge at Windsor on Monday - Shutterstock

In the latest batch of more than 10,000 documents, released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), the term Prince Andrew appears more than 100 times.

There are also mentions of HRH and the Invisible Man, an email moniker he was believed to be using.

As the Royal family prepares to meet at Sandringham without Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for this years Christmas festivities, he will again face questions over his links to the world of sex-trafficking.

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The documents contain a series of emails between Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking, and the Invisible Man  Mr Mountbatten-Windsor  who signs off A.

The email address used by the Invisible Man is linked to the former Duke of York in Epsteins contact book.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor speaks to a Peruvian firefighter on his trip to the South American country in 2002 - Getty Images

In the emails, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor discussed how devastated he was by the death of his valet and how he was off track because not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN [Royal Navy] and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me.

In July 2001, a month before the exchange took place, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor ended his Royal Navy career after 22 years in service.

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In one email, Maxwell forwarded a request for an individual to act as the former princes tour guide in Lima during his March 2002 trip there.

He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines. He can ride but it is not his favourite sport, ie pass on the horses, Maxwell wrote in the forwarded email.

Some sight seeing, some two-legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy. I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.

He does not want to read about any trip in the papers whom or what he saw. Call me if you have any questions  otherwise you can expect a very English-sounding gentleman on the phone to call up and say hi.

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b'

The Peru Emails 1

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In his response to Maxwell, dated March 3 2002, Andrew said: Got it I will ring him today if I can. Love you A xxx.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, then a working member of the Royal family, undertook an official visit to Peru to mark the 50th anniversary of his mother Queen Elizabeth IIs reign.

He attended a ceremony at a British school in Lima on March 12 and visited a fire station on March 8, according to photo agencies who were covering his overseas trip.

In other exchanges, the Invisible Man referred to being up at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family and asked Maxwell whether she had found him some new inappropriate friends in Los Angeles.

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Later that day Maxwell emailed: So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends Kisses Gx.

He replied that he was distraught.

But the emails could be the tip of the iceberg, given the documents also reveal that the FBI demanded Andrew be interviewed over his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.

b'

The Peru Emails 2

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The documents also reveal for the first time that the FBI had demanded that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor answer questions over his relationship with Peter Nygard, the fashion tycoon who has been accused of multiple rapes including a girl as young as 14. Nygard has been convicted of sexually assaulting four women aged between 16 and 28.

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It has been reported that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor took his family to visit Nygards Bahamas estate in 2000, before the Canadian was convicted of sex offences.

US prosecutors wanted to know about any visits Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had made to Nygards properties and asked whether he saw any girls under the age of 18 there.

American officials also demanded to know about the nature of his relationships with Nygard, Epstein and Maxwell, and whether any money changed hands between them.

The details of the questions investigators wanted to ask were revealed in the DoJs request for mutual legal assistance from the UK, which US prosecutors have claimed the British authorities ignored.

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It is understood that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was never interviewed in relation to the FBI probes. He has consistently denied all wrongdoing.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with Peter Nygard in the Bahamas in 2000. Nygard was found guilty of multiple sexual assaults on women

American police and prosecutors asked for all the communications Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had relating to women that Epstein or Maxwell arranged for him to meet, details of any massages, and details of any legal action taken against any of them.

The FBI also called for him to hand over details of any sexual encounters and/or romantic relationships involving Prince Andrew and any female he met through Maxwell and/or Epstein and any details he had relating to Maxwell and recruiting, enticing, transporting or trafficking minors.

The agency also wanted to question the eighth in line to the throne on whether he knew anything about the destruction of evidence, the obstruction of investigations, or other efforts to conceal criminal activity by Epstein, Maxwell, or their associates.

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The request for assistance sent by the DoJ in April 2020 says that the US had evidence which suggested that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor knew that Maxwell, his long-term friend, was procuring girls for Epstein and his friends and that he had engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epsteins victims.

The 22-page letter confirmed that the FBI was carrying out two investigations about which it believed Mr Mountbatten-Windsor might have information.

It said that the agency was investigating Nygard for involvement in an international sex-trafficking ring victimising adult women and minor girls at locations including the US and the millionaires Bahamas estate, known as Nygard Cay.

The investigation has revealed that, on at least one occasion, Prince Andrew travelled to Nygard Cay in the Bahamas, a location where Nygard is believed to have trafficked minor and adult female victims, the DoJ revealed.

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The investigators wanted to know any dates on which Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had visited Nygard at his homes in the Bahamas, California or New York and who had travelled with him, including family members.

British police were also asked to ask whether Prince Andrew observed any females who appeared to be, or stated that they were, under the age of 18 years old, and the names of any of those females.

Nygard, 84, was sentenced to 11 years for sexually assaulting four women in Toronto from the late 1980s to 2005. Civil proceedings that allege Nygard raped girls as young as 14 have been put on hold while criminal investigations against him continue. He has previously denied all allegations.

In relation to Epstein, the US authorities said they believed that Mr Mountbatten Windsor might have been a witness to and/or participant in certain events of relevance in their investigation into the sexual abuse of minor girls during the period of approximately 1994 through 2005.

The request explained: For example, one victim has alleged that Maxwell introduced her to Prince Andrew who, according to this victim, was present for certain of the victims interactions with Epstein and Maxwell.

Additionally, documentary evidence uncovered during the course of this investigation has revealed information suggesting that Prince Andrew had knowledge that Maxwell recruited females to engage in sex acts with Epstein and other men.

Finally, there is evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epsteins victims.

Nygards Bahamas estate, known as Nygard Cay, which US documents said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor visited

In 2015, allegations were first made public that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had sex with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, three times, in London, New York and on the disgraced financiers private Caribbean island.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied Giuffres allegations and a civil claim brought by her in the US was settled out of court with no admission of guilt.

But as the scandal refused to disappear, he was stripped of his royal titles in October and he will be evicted from his residence Royal Lodge next year.

In Giuffres posthumous memoi, the Epstein victim claimed the former prince had regarded sleeping with her when she was 17 as his birthright.

The infamous photograph that appears to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with his hand around Giuffres waist also features in the latest tranche of the Epstein Files.

Epstein allegedly took it in 1999 at Maxwells Belgravia home.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with his accuser Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell - AFP

The 2020 FBI request confirmed that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was not presently a target of either investigation and that the agency had not, to date, gathered evidence that he has committed any crime under US law.

The letter stated: With regard to the interview, US authorities request to conduct a voluntary interview of Prince Andrew and request the assistance of UK authorities in arranging for such an interview.

In the event that the witness declines to participate in a voluntary interview, US authorities request that UK authorities conduct a compelled interview of the witness under oath.

It is understood that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was never interviewed as part of either investigation.

The files also reveal the back and forth between Andrews lawyers and New York prosecutors in 2020, after Geoffrey Berman, former US attorney, accused Andrew of seeking to falsely portray himself as eager to help their inquiry into Epstein.

Mr Berman said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had declined to schedule an interview.

Gary Bloxsome, who was representing Andrew at the time, said publicity battles did not serve the interests of justice and that his client was withdrawing his cooperation.

We cannot advise the Duke to speak to prosecutors who cannot be trusted to deal with him fairly nor to treat what he says or does confidentially, he wrote.

He has reluctantly accepted our advice that, in those circumstances, there is no purpose to be served in continuing to try to assist further.

Just two months later, prosecutors filed the official request for mutual legal assistance to try and force Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to talk.

Mr Berman later claimed in his memoir that, in previous cases, requests for legal assistance had worked both ways.

But that was not what happened with Prince Andrew, he wrote. We got absolutely nowhere. Were they protecting him? I presume someone was.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing and has been contacted for comment.
NEW YORK  Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is expected Tuesday to name Lillian Bonsignore, the FDNYs former emergency services chief, as the Fire Departments next commissioner, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Mamdani, who is taking office Jan. 1, was expected to officially unveil the appointment at a news conference in Queens on Tuesday afternoon.

Bonsignore retired from the FDNY in 2022 after a 31-year career in the department. During her time in FDNY, Bonsignore was in the FDNYs EMS unit, which is separate from the firefighting division and oversees the departments paramedics and emergency medical techs.

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When she retired, Bonsignore was the FDNYs chief of EMS operations, having served in that role during the COVID pandemic. She was the highest-ranking uniformed female in FDNY at the time and the first female to achieve a 4-star rank in the history of FDNY.

Some FDNY sources said there could be concern around the fact that Bonsignore doesnt have firefighter experience.

The selection of Bonsignore comes after the last FDNY commissioner, Robert Tucker, defiantly submitted his resignation immediately after Mamdanis Nov. 4 election win, saying he could not continue serving in the role under the new mayor due to their sharply different views on Israels war in Gaza. Tucker, who is Jewish and was appointed FDNY commisioner by Mayor Eric Adams last year, served his last day this past Friday.

In a thinly veiled shot at Mamdani, Adams, who is leaving office Dec. 31, announced shortly before Mamdanis press conference that he would later Tuesday swear in acting FDNY Commissioner Mark Guerra as the permanent head of the department. That swearing-in was expected to happen at Gracie Mansion.

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As Mamdani continues to fill out his Cabinet, some observers are getting antsy about his selection of a schools chancellor.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Mamdani has considered keeping current Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos in charge of the nations largest public school system. Others under consideration for the top job include Meisha Porter, a former schools chancellor under ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio, Kamar Samuels, a public school superintendent in Manhattan, and Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, a former principal of the Bronx Academy of Letters, sources said.

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday morning said he would move forward with the alternate budget passed by Chicago City Council on Saturday.

Johnson said he would not sign the budget, but it will still take effect five business days after the vote, his spokesperson said.

Johnson said he would not cause a city shutdown.

By allowing the alternative budget to become law without his signature, he's attempted to have it both ways, calling the budget a win, while also continuing to denounce parts of it as immoral.

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Johnson convened a large group of supporters to City Hall to celebrate a budget he denounced as late as Saturday.

"We added the largest TIF surplus in the history of this city to go to our schools, our parks, our libraries. We protected youth employment. We added the smart tax to support mental health," he said.

David Greising, president and CEO of the Better Government Association joined ABC7 to talk about the city's budget.

Johnson continued to blast a provision that would allow the city to collect millions of dollars of debt Chicagoans owe for things like city ambulance payments, utility bills and red-light cameras.

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"It is immoral to send debt collectors after working people at a time when Donald Trump is attacking poor people," he said.

He also signed two executive orders Tuesday, including one on the sale of city debt.

The first order prohibits the sale of city-administered medical debt owed by individuals to private entities and sets clear standards for transparent and stable debt collection practices by both the city and private third parties, the mayor's office said.

"How we choose to manage our fiscal obligations reflects who we are as a city," Johnson said. "I've been clear from the beginning of this debate that I will not allow the sale of debt to lead to the use of predatory and immoral tactics against the people of Chicago. This Order affirms that the City will manage this debt in a manner that protects dignity of our residents, advances equity, and preserves public trust in our city government."

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The other concerns police overtime.

The order seeks to reign in police overtime spending, establishing a framework which sets clear guidelines and procedures for authorizing overtime spending which exceeds the cap set in annual appropriations ordinances, the mayor's office said.

"This executive order brings added discipline and accountability to the overtime process which has been long overdue," Johnson said in a statement. "By creating a structure that emphasizes fiscal discipline and modernized workforce practices, we're protecting the mental health and well-being of our officers and ensuring the people of Chicago can trust that taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly and transparently."

The budget was approved over the mayor's opposition on Saturday. A coalition of 30 aldermen voted to pass a 2026 spending plan that, among other things, legalizes video gaming terminals as a way to bring in money to close the existing budget deficit. But even on Tuesday, both sides agreed changes will need to be made.

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"What was passed was a balanced budget. It was an imperfect one. We will continue to work with him to try to make it a better budget," 34th Ward Ald. Bill Conway said.

Speaking out after the mayor's press conference, three of the aldermen who voted for the budget said they fully support instituting guardrails to prevent predatory debt collection, but insisted the corporate head tax will continue to be dead on arrival.

"Chicago is open for business. We are pro-business. We want business to come here," 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack said.

But even as that argument continues, even the mayor's allies Tuesday acknowledged a veto this close to the Dec. 31 deadline to pass a balanced budget was simply not feasible.

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"The prospects of shutting down government when the next Council wouldn't have been till Jan. 21, it would have left us three weeks without services," 25th Ward Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez said.

Some alders Tuesday said the mayor read the tea leaves, once even members of his own progressive wing made it clear they would not vote against a veto override if it meant shutting down Chicago's city government.

The $16.6 billion dollar budget will go into effect Monday.


The Michigan Department of Transportation recently announced the recipients of the 10th annual Local Grade Crossing Surface Program, which includes the Monroe County Road Commission.

The program offers 60% funding for projects that improve highway railroad crossing surfaces.

"Transportation safety is a high priority for MDOT, and these projects will provide safe, smooth surfaces when completed," said Peter Anastor, Office of Rail director at MDOT.

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The Monroe County project will be helmed by Canadian National and replace the tracks at the Laplaisance Road railroad crossing. This segment of the road has an average daily traffic volume of over 10,000 cars and was resurfaced during the 2025 construction season. The project is estimated to cost $50,000.

The Michigan Department of Transportation recently announced the recipients of the 10th annual Local Grade Crossing Surface Program, which includes a Monroe County project to replace the tracks at the Laplaisance Road railroad crossing.

"(This project will) kind of helpfully fill in that last, final gap of the rough crossing there, and make it from Dunbar to I-75, all the pavement there ... should be in pretty good condition after this," said Matthew Snell, Monroe County's highway engineer.

The project is set to begin sometime between April and October and, according to Snell, may take two weeks. The road commission acts as a facilitator to ensure a smooth transition of the money from MDOT to Canadian National.

 Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County receives MDOT funding for railroad crossing repair
Air traffic controllers lost communication for about 10 minutes with a small Mexican Navy plane carrying a young medical patient and seven others before it crashed off the Texas coast in thick fog, killing at least six people, Mexico's government said Tuesday.

The plane was working with a nonprofit group transporting Mexican children with severe burns to a hospital in Galveston, near Houston, when the plane crashed Monday afternoon. Authorities believed the plane had landed, but the flight had lost contact with air controllers, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday in her morning briefing.

Teams found the dead bodies of five people and pulled two survivors from the plane's wreckage, then set off on a daylong search in the waters near Galveston for 29-year-old Navy Lieutenant Luis Enrique Castillo. Castillo's family back in their rural town in southern Mexico were left scrambling for answers, hoping for the best for their missing son.

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We don't know what to do," his father Eduardo Castillo said Tuesday. All we can do is wait. We cant go to the United States, we have no visa."

The search came to an end Tuesday night when search teams found Castillo's body. American authorities are investigating the the cause, but the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it could take a week or more to recover the aircraft.

What happened is very tragic, Sheinbaum said in her morning press briefing, noting that sailors were among the dead.

Plane was too low as it descended

As the twin turboprop Beech King Air 350i approached Sholes International Airport in Galveston, radar shows it was far too low, said Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration crash investigator.

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A navigation system for the runway where the plane was supposed to land had been out of service for about a week, Guzzetti said. The system sends signals to the airplane cockpit that helps pilots navigate in the kind of bad weather that had enveloped the area. The fog was so thick that meteorologists estimated only about a half-mile of visibility.

The pilot should have aborted the landing if the runway wasn't visible at an altitude of 205 feet (62.5 meters), climbing back up before trying again or looking for another airport entirely, Guzzetti said.

Guzzetti said the reported radar track shows that the pilot was descending rapidly below 200 feet (61 meters), a full 2 miles (3 kilometers) away from the runway.

Maybe there was some sort of mechanical malfunction," he said. But just looking at the recorded flight track and comparing it with the weather and the airport equipment outage, seems to me that this landing approach should never have occurred.

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Witness describes crash scene

The plane crashed in a bay near the base of the causeway connecting Galveston Island to the mainland. The popular beach destination is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Houston.

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives near the crash site, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help. He picked up two police officers who guided him through the thick fog to the nearly submerged plane. Decker jumped into the water and found a badly injured woman trapped beneath chairs and other debris.

She had maybe 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of air gap to breathe in," he said. "And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life.

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He said he also pulled out a man seated in front of her who had already died.

Family left reeling

Eduardo Castillo gathered with the rest of his family and friends Tuesday afternoon in their small community of El Pantano in the sweltering southern Mexican state of Veracruz.

The father, who worked long hours as a carpenter to give his son the opportunities he never had, was desperately refreshing his phone every few minutes, looking for any news of their missing son. Mexico's Marines, he noted, had provided few other details than a call saying their son was missing.

Framed pictures of Luis Enrique Castillo and his many diplomas coated a wall of their home. He and his wife were expecting a baby due in three months.

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On Tuesday night, Castillo heard his phone ring and answered, hearing the words he had dreaded. His son was dead.

Now he's never going to meet his unborn child, Eduard Castillo said as his family hugged and sobbed around him.

Investigators dig into the cause

A spokesperson for the NTSB said in an email that investigators will review maintenance records, weather forecasts and air traffic control communications. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

Guzzetti said the investigation also will likely look into how serious the young patient's medical condition was and how motivated the pilot was to land.

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There have been previous accidents in the air medical community where pilots try to push their luck in order to save the patient, he said.

The aircraft had a very, very proven design, said aviation safety expert John Cox. He said its the latest version of a series that has been in use since the 1960s and would have been outfitted with all the modern electronics, avionics and equipment.

Plane was helping with medical mission

Mexico's Navy said the plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation.

The charity was founded after a mother died trying to save her kids from a fire. One child died, while another survived after receiving treatment at Shriners Children's Texas in Galveston. Over 23 years, the foundation has helped transfer more than 2,000 patients to that hospital and other medical facilities with burn expertise, according to the charity's website.

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In a social media post, the foundation offered condolences to the families of the crash victims.

Shriners Childrens Texas said in a statement that it learned of the crash with profound sadness but wasn't able to provide any information about the child's condition.

Crash comes amid focus on aviation safety

This latest crash comes amid a year of intense scrutiny on aviation safety after a string of high-profile crashes and the flight disruptions during the government shutdown driven by the shortage of air traffic controllers.

The January midair collision between an Army helicopter and an airliner near Washington, D.C., was followed by the crash of a medical transport plane in Philadelphia. This falls fiery UPS plane crash only added to the concerns. Still, the total number of crashes in 2025 was actually down a bit from last year, and experts say flying remains safe overall.

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Marquez reported from El Pantano and Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Hallie Golden contributed to this report.
A 2-year-old child was among at least five people killed when a Mexican Navy aircraft carrying medical patients crashed into Galveston Bay while attempting to land, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

The small twin-engine turboprop plane went down on Monday just west of the Galveston Causeway at about 3:15 p.m. as it approached Scholes International Airport, according to the Coast Guard and Galveston County officials.

Eight people were on board: four Mexican Navy crew members and four civilians.

Two people were rescued alive and hospitalized in undisclosed conditions, while one person remained missing and was presumed dead Monday night. The Coast Guard said a call reporting the crash was received around 3:17 p.m.

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Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said the aircraft had been transporting a burn patient.

Mexicos Navy said the flight was part of a medical mission coordinated with the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that helps transport children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Childrens Hospital in Galveston.

In an update released Monday night, the Mexican Navy identified the deceased as Navy personnel Lieutenant Junior Grade Victor Rafael Perez Hernandez, Lieutenant Junior Grade Juan Ivan Zaragoza Flores, and Seaman Guadalupe Flores Barranco, along with civilian patient Federico Efrain Ramirez Cruz and Dr. Juan Alfonso Adame Gonzalez. Lieutenant Junio Grade Luis Enrique Castillo Terrones was listed as missing and presumed deceased.

The survivors were identified as Julia Aracelis Cruz Vera, a patient companion, and Nurse Miriam de Jesus Rosas Mancilla.

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Sky Decker, who lives near the crash site, told CNN he entered the water to help rescue a woman trapped inside the wreckage before dive teams arrived.

Everyone was just waiting for divers to arrive. And I thought if theres a woman alive in that plane, shes not going to be alive for long, Decker said. It was critical to get her out of there.

The woman was surviving by breathing on a pocket of air that was only about 3 inches from the ceiling of the plane, Decker said, adding that he later reentered the wreckage and recovered a man who had already died.

Radio transmissions from first responders captured the urgency of the rescue, including requests for tools to cut into the aircraft and reports of CPR being performed. One responder reported the rescued woman had a compound fracture to her right leg.

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Authorities said visibility was poor at the time of the crash. Billy Howell, who works at Galveston Bait and Tackle, told KTRK that there was literally zero visibility, noting that dense sea fog can quickly form near the island.

As the sea fog goes and the wind blows and changes directions, the fog does get a lot more dense, Howell said.

The aircraft departed from Merida, the capital of Mexicos Yucatan state, according to flight tracking data. Mexicos Navy said the plane experienced an incident during its approach but did not provide details.

Dive teams, a crime scene unit, drones, and patrol boats worked at the scene into Monday night, authorities said. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were assisting with the investigation. An NTSB spokesperson said the agency was aware of this accident and are gathering information about it, the Associated Press reported.

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Mexicos Navy said it was coordinating with the Mexican Consulate in Houston and extended its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.

The Michou and Mau Foundation also expressed sympathy, saying in a statement, We express our deepest solidarity with the families in light of these events. We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.

Shriners Childrens Texas confirmed that a pediatric burn patient was being transported to Galveston, but said the hospital had not admitted the child and deferred further inquiries to the Mexican Navy.

Officials asked the public to avoid the area as recovery and investigative efforts continued.
A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a medical patient and seven others has crashed off the southern coast of the United States, killing at least five people.

In a statement on Monday, Mexicos Navy said that four of the people on board were Navy officers, and four were civilians, including a child.

Two people survived the crash, while one person remains missing, it said.

The Mexican Marine Corps said in a statement that it is sending its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.

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US coastguard Petty Officer Luke Baker told The Associated Press news agency that at least five on board had died, but he did not identify which passengers.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The statement from Mexicos Navy said the plane had an accident during its approach to Galveston, but did not elaborate.

According to the flight tracking website Flight Radar, the plane took off from Merida in Mexicos Yucatan state at 18:46 GMT, and was last recorded at 21:01 GMT over Galveston Bay, along the coast of Texas, near Scholes International airport.

Mexicos Navy said the plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which provides emergency transport to children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Childrens Hospital in Galveston, according to the nonprofits website.

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Teams from the US Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived at the scene of the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on the social platform X.

A spokesperson from NTSB said they are aware of this accident and are gathering information about it.

The Galveston County Sheriffs Office said that officials from its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol were responding to the crash.

It was not immediately clear if the weather was a factor.

The area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a US National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that at about 2:30pm (20:30 GMT) on Monday, fog came in that had about a half-mile (0.8km) visibility.
New Mexico AG Raul Torrez announced on Dec. 22, 2025 that the state had joined a coalition of AGs suing the Trump administration over its attempts to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced this week the state had joined a coalition of nearly two dozen state attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over defunding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

CFPB, the suit argues, has helped the AGs since its inception in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, in their zealous advocacy for and protection of consumers in their respective

jurisdictions and has returned $21 billion improperly taken from over 205 million Americans, a news release states.

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However, CFPB Acting Director Russel Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is attempting to completely defund the agency by refusing to request any funding from the Federal Reserve, the news release continues, which will virtually guarantee the agency runs out of money in January 2026.

The AGs argue that defunding the CFPB will have devastating impacts on consumers and on states consumer protection capabilities, given their reliance CFPB data, as well as the consumer complaints received by the agency.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is one of the most effective tools we have to hold powerful financial institutions accountable and to put money back in the pockets of working families, Torrez said in a statement. Attempting to defund CFPB is not just recklessit is unlawful, and it would leave millions of consumers without a critical line of defense against fraud, abuse, and predatory practices. New Mexico families deserve a federal government that enforces the law and protects consumers, not one that undermines the very agencies created to do that work.

The AGs lawsuit argue not seeking funding for CFPB is both unlawful and unconstitutional, because the agency will be unable to provide its legally obligated information to states without funding. Moreover, not funding the CFPB, they say, violates the separation of powers principle, given that Congress created the agency.

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The AG coalition seeks a court order requiring CFPB to request funding through the Federal Reserve, as established.

The other states in the suit include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.  The Friday night before Christmas would seem an inopportune time to schedule a political rally.

Yet there was President Donald Trump, holding forth in eastern North Carolina for an hour and a half, touting his record and making an early push for Michael Whatley, his handpicked candidate for a critical open Senate seat.

Trump's approval ratings have been dropping nationally and he's enmeshed in sagas far removed from the financial burdens that have left many Americans unnerved, including the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and the renaming of the Kennedy Center. But as has largely been the case with other Republican leaders, Whatley has Velcroed himself to president, who remains largely popular with rank-and-file GOP voters.

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"Donald Trump right now is the most transformational president in our lifetime," Whatley said, when Trump invited him on stage.

"And President Trump, my pledge to you is this: When I win this seat ... I'm going to be a conservative champion for North Carolina and I'm going to be an ally to our great president."

Trump personally recruited Whatley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, to enter the race and sorely needs him to hang on to retiring Sen. Thom Tillis' seat for the GOP next November.

If Democrats can flip it, theyll have taken a giant step toward erasing the GOPs four-seat advantage in the Senate for the back half of Trumps term.

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Maine, Michigan and Georgia are the other three battleground races that are considered toss-ups in the 2026 elections. Democrats' path to the Senate majority involves winning all four toss-ups, plus two more states that Trump won by double digits last year. So if Democrats fail to pick up North Carolina, their chance of capturing the Senate all but vanishes, analysts say.

Aware of the stakes, Trump phoned Whatley unexpectedly after Tillis' announcement this summer with not so much a request as a command.

"The president called and said, 'With Sen. Tillis not running, here's the deal. You're going to run, you're going to win and you're going to do great. So, congratulations,'" Whatley recalled in an interview.

That won't be easy. In former Gov. Roy Cooper, Democrats have fielded "the best Senate candidate they've had in decades  someone proven to get Trump voters," said Jessica Taylor, an editor at the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, which handicaps elections.

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Cooper, the Democrats likely nominee, won races for governor in 2016 and 2020 even as Trump carried North Carolina at the presidential level in both elections.

We know that Roy Cooper is formidable. He came out of office as a relatively popular governor, unscathed from what a typical politician, Democratic politician, would experience, said a Republican operative involved in Senate races, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. The operative noted Cooper did not face well-funded opponents in his previous races, and that would not be the case next year.

North Carolina Republicans said they recognize that Whatley, who has run both the national and state Republican Party apparatus but has never held elective office, will have a tough road ahead.

Its going to be a fight, acknowledged Kyle Kirby, Republican Party chairman for Mecklenburg County, which is one of the largest in the state and leans Democratic.

Some trouble for Whatley on the right

Both parties expect that the race could shatter spending records for a Senate contest, with Whatley estimating that the total could reach $800 million by Election Day. Cooper has already raised more than $10.9 million as of Sept. 30, while Whatley's collected nearly $1.4 million, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

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Whatley has at least one high-profile friend positioned to make him better known: His former co-chair at the Republican National Committee, Lara Trump, who is married to the president's son, Eric. She hosts a show on Fox News called My View.

Were definitely planning on a My View episode with Michael Whatley on, Lara Trump told NBC News in an interview.

He spent a lot of time on TV over the course of the 2024 election, she added. I do think people will remember his name and face. Maybe they need a refresher or a reminder. Maybe my show can help with that.

Even with Trump's endorsement, Whatley is facing some unwanted competition for the Republican nomination. One challenger is Michele Morrow, who ousted the incumbent in a GOP primary race for state superintendent of public instruction last year before losing in the general election.

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What's more, some Republicans say they are underwhelmed by Whatley's appearance on the ballot.

Last week, at a Tacky Christmas Sweater Party in Charlotte hosted by a local Young Republicans group, some guests said theyd prefer to see Lara Trump, a North Carolina native, run instead.

Michael Whatley is an awful candidate, said Sean Conway, 30, who lives in Charlotte, eating a slice of pizza at a table with other Young Republicans. I dont know why Trump endorsed Whatley so early; it was a mistake.

Sitting across from him was a 35-year-old who declined to give his name. The chances of beating a guy like Cooper are astronomically low, the man said in an interview.

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Steve Bannon, who was a senior White House adviser in Trumps first term, said on his podcast that Whatley is not MAGA and one of the reasons hes running so poorly in North Carolina if you talk to the MAGA folks down there, theyre just not enthusiastic about it.

Don Brown, another Republican running for the GOP Senate nomination, said in an interview that the Trump rally last week was an unmistakeable clue that Whatley is proving to be a tough sell.

Read the tea leaves, Brown said. Why would you have to bring him [Trump] in this early unless youre seeing [poll] numbers that concern them?

Others said that the president's blessing testifies to Whatley's credentials.

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"I don't expect Michael to distance himself in any way from this president," Lara Trump said. "He never has. I don't believe he ever will. He knows that the president has the right formula to make sure we get things moving in the right direction."

She praised Whatley's managerial skills. When the pair took charge of the RNC last year, she said, frankly, it was a mess.

There was a lot to clean up. A lot of heavy lifting to do in a short amount of time and it was in large part because of Michaels leadership and his understanding of how to get things done in an effective way that served to really cut the fat out of the RNC.

As for her own political future, she left open the prospect of running for office in North Carolina some day.

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For me right now, I live in Florida with my family, she said. This is the place were going to be for the foreseeable future.

At the right time and if Im in North Carolina that would be a great opportunity, she added. But currently, if Im not in it I think Michael is the next best person.

Trump's North Carolina staying power

With Trumps approval ratings sinking, Democrats strategy might seem clear-cut: Tie Whatley to the struggling president. But thats not the Cooper campaigns approach.

Trump has proved a resilient force in North Carolina, one Democratic strategist said. It's the only battleground state Trump has won all three times hes been on the ballot, most recently by 3 percentage points. Whats more, Republicans have virtually wiped out a voter registration advantage that Democrats have held in North Carolina for years. (Independents have grown in numbers and now constitute a plurality of registered voters.)

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Making Trump the face of the anti-Whatley campaign is a losing bet, people close to the Cooper campaign said. For the last decade, a string of North Carolina Democrats have tried to tarnish Trump, with little to show for the effort, they said.

Morgan Jackson, a Cooper campaign adviser, described Whatley as a wholly owned creation of Donald Trump who rotates around in Trumps orbit all day.

That said, the Cooper campaign is talking less about Trump than about the cost of living and what they see as Whatleys insider status. The idea is to avoid antagonizing Trump supporters and instead paint Whatley as a creature of Washington who has lost touch with everyday North Carolinians, Democratic strategists said.

Trump has a certain amount of Teflon to him that doesnt extend to other Republican candidates, Jackson said. Voters dont give other candidates the same pass they give Trump. They get judged on their positions and what they say way more harshly.

Youll see our campaign talk about issues that voters are concerned about and focus laser-like on affordability and how to reduce costs.

Cooper's campaign did not make him available for comment for this story.

Whatley worked as a lobbyist for over a decade between stints in government and as a party leader.

Lobbying disclosure documents show the Consumer Energy Alliance, an advocacy group tied to Whatleys firm, was one of his major clients.

The groups members including some of the largest oil and gas companies, such as ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell USA.

During his time as a lobbyist and as an executive vice president of the Consumer Energy Alliance, Whatley advocated for offshore drilling and supported the Keystone XL pipeline. Whatley served as vice president of Consumer Energy Alliance until 2019, when he became chairman of the North Carolina GOP.

In an interview in Raleigh, Whatley played up his North Carolina roots. As state Republican chair he said he made a point to visit all 100 counties in North Carolina each year, as the odometer on his 2015 GMC Sierra attests. He has logged 380,000 miles.

He also defended his record as a businessman.

I spent 15 years working in the energy industry and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how you buy affordable, reliable electricity, which we desperately need in North Carolina, Whatley said.

Wearing a button-down shirt, jacket and cowboy boots, he said, In terms of defending a record of fighting for rational, balanced energy policies, Im actually fairly proud of that.

Any Republican senator walking the halls of the U.S. Capitol gets questions from the media about Trumps steady stream of controversial statements.

Last week, after the actor and director Rob Reiner was murdered, Trump politicized the episode, posting about Reiners anti-Trump views. Whatley declined to weigh in.

I dont have any comment on that, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A high-profile robotics expert thinks Elon Musk's AI ambitions are a pipe dream, according to Fortune.

Rodney Brooks was the co-founder of iRobot, the creator of the home robot vacuum Roomba. He recently wrote that it will be practically impossible for robots to fulfill the same roles as people, despite Tesla's stated goal of having robots do so with its product, Optimus.

"In my opinion, believing that this will happen any time within decades is pure fantasy thinking," wrote Brooks on his personal blog. "But many are predicting that it will happen in as soon as two years, and the more conservative 'hypenotists' believe it will have significant economic impact within five years."

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One major bottleneck, according to Brooks, is the wide difference in touch sensitivity between humans and current robots. The difference in dexterity, he argues, also makes a steep challenge for humanoid robots trying to fill human shoes. As one might expect from the former Chief Technical Officer behind Roomba, he still sees a use for specialized robots in a wide range of form factors.

Despite all of his prognostications, Brooks' iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December.

While AI offers many benefits  like robots that can cook and clean for us  the downsides are significant as well. Even the prospect of mainstream robot laborers has serious economic implications, and the problems don't end there.

These robots are powered by artificial intelligence models that require vast amounts of energy to build. That energy produces atmospheric pollution when it's generated by coal, oil, or gas. Early indications show that the explosion of AI in all of its forms, robotic, text, imagery, and video, has a significant impact on pollution.

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In addition to Tesla's challenges with Optimus so far, it's also dealt with struggling sales numbers in 2025 and legal battles over its self-driving cars.

Regardless of the technical feasibility of human-shaped robots, Brooks was particularly cynical about the investment environment around this burgeoning industry and made bold predictions about its future.

"A lot of money will have disappeared, spent on trying to squeeze performance, any performance, from today's humanoid robots," he said in his blog. "But those robots will be long gone and mostly conveniently forgotten."

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.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, MSB Global Group Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.16

MSB Global Group Berhad's RM0.085 share price signals that it might be 48% undervalued

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of MSB Global Group Berhad (KLSE:MSB) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit.

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. 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.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM6.81m RM6.46m RM6.30m RM6.26m RM6.30m RM6.40m RM6.55m RM6.72m RM6.92m RM7.14m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -8.90% Est @ -5.12% Est @ -2.47% Est @ -0.62% Est @ 0.68% Est @ 1.59% Est @ 2.23% Est @ 2.67% Est @ 2.98% Est @ 3.20% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 9.1% RM6.2 RM5.4 RM4.9 RM4.4 RM4.1 RM3.8 RM3.6 RM3.4 RM3.2 RM3.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM42m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. 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 3.7%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.1%.
The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center will host its second annual High School Mentorship Program Kickoff Event on Jan. 12.

The program is expanding for the 2026 cohort to include a new career pathway in school psychology, in addition to speech-language pathology. The inaugural mentorship program began with a kickoff event in January 2025.

A second High School Mentorship Program Kickoff Event is set for Jan. 12 as the program expands to include school psychology. An inaugural event was held in January 2025 when Mid-Ohio ESC launched its speech language pathology mentorship program.

The mentorship program was developed by a team including mentorship coordinator Kevin Fourman, central Ohio school psychology consultant, Kylie Dennison-Rebon, MOESC school psychology lead Julia Pilla and central Ohio speech-language pathology consultant Johanna Gilland.

Shadowing professionals part of program

Students in the 2026 cohort will have the opportunity to shadow experienced professionals in either speech-language pathology or school psychology, gaining exposure to their day-to-day roles. They will also be connected with local higher education institutions to understand the academic pathway from high school through graduate school, including a tour of a collegiate program.

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Throughout the program, students will explore communication disorders, intervention strategies and clinical practice while investigating student mental health, academic support, behavioral interventions and assessment.

High school students interested in participating in the 2026 mentorship program can apply by contacting Fourman at fourman.kevin@moesc.net by Jan. 5.

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 Mansfield News Journal: MOESC mentorship kickoff set for Jan. 12
A cell at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. (Courtesy of South Dakota Department of Corrections)

Paul Cooper remembers when the crank radios showed up in Leavenworth.

By then, hed done time in South Dakotas state prisons, where inmates used electrical outlets to light up and smoke bits of paper soaked with synthetic drugs commonly known as K2 or spice.

Things were different at the federal prison in Kansas.

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The cells didnt have outlets, Cooper said. The best way to spark a fire for a drug fix was to pull batteries from electronics, like alarm clocks or radios, and reverse engineer heat by connecting the batteries positive and negative ends with wire, aluminum foil or a gum wrapper.

South Dakotas prison overdose problem

This story is part of a series examining a spate of prison overdose deaths in South Dakota, including the causes and potential solutions.

Read the series >

To quash drug use, Cooper told South Dakota Searchlight, federal prison officials brought in solar-powered alarm clocks and crank-powered radios.

None of that works, Cooper said. Youre talking about the most innovative people in the world. All you did when you gave these guys crank radios in the federal prison system was give them a rechargeable lighter.

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The anecdote highlights an intractable challenge of prison management: Any security measure meant to tamp down drug use must contend with a highly motivated group of inmates, many of whom arrive in prison as addicts, whose desire to get high or make money selling drugs is durable enough to hold up under the weight of institutional pressure.

In interviews with South Dakota Searchlight, a former prison warden, a former corrections secretary and a county sheriff who oversees a jail all agreed that policing narcotics inside their institutions is a challenge that never ends.

South Dakotas had a particularly challenging year. The state has logged eight suspected or confirmed overdose deaths in 2025 inside its state prisons, a figure that leapfrogs the annual tally for any calendar year in recent memory. The count also outpaces surrounding states, even those with larger prison populations.

Cooper cant imagine a prison system free of drugs. But he can picture one with fewer overdose deaths.

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If South Dakota wants to improve things inside the walls, he said, the state should pour its time and treasure into addiction treatment.

If you take away the addicts, he said, the dealers have no drugs to sell.

What are you supposed to do in the meantime?

Cooper is sober today. He runs a restaurant in southwest Sioux Falls and is serving out the remainder of his supervised release term. But he also spends a lot of time thinking about the safety of the inmates he used to call neighbors.

In April, he testified at a meeting of a state task force wrestling with the decision to build a new mens prison. Lawmakers and the governor ultimately chose to approve the project, but Cooper said drug treatment and job training would serve the state better than a new building.

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When Cooper offered his testimony, most of 2025s prison overdoses  seven suspected or confirmed as K2-related, one from methamphetamine  hadnt happened yet.

Former state prison inmates Steven Harrison, right, and Ryan Vanden Hoek talk about security and drug overdoses on Nov. 24, 2025. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Some of the dead are people Cooper knew and, he said, needed support to stay clean and turn their lives around.

Cooper got support from his older brother, Ryan Vanden Hoek, whos also a former South Dakota prisoner. Vanden Hoek and another former inmate named Steve Harrison now host a Sioux Falls-based podcast called Unconfined Conversations. Its meant to encourage inmates and parolees to do right by themselves and others, but also to educate the public on what works and doesnt in South Dakotas prisons.

Vanden Hoek sees the availability of chemical dependency treatment as a major shortfall. Inmates rarely get a shot at treatment until near the end of their prison term, he said.

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Its hard to expect somebody to make great personal changes when all you have for treatment is six to eight weeks in the last two years of your sentence, Vanden Hoek said. What are you supposed to do in the meantime?

Department of Corrections spokesman Michael Winder said in an email that theres no policy forcing inmates to wait. But he also wrote that treatment slots are subject to available space in a program.

During a presentation to the prison task force in April, Behavioral Health Chief Justin Elkins displayed a slide on substance abuse treatment that illustrated the systems crunch for space.

The basic gist from this page, Elkins said, is that theres over 700 individual offenders in Sioux Falls who are waiting for substance use disorder treatment.

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That figure represents about half the Sioux Falls inmate population.

Youve got just a bunch of hurt guys here

Sam Lint, whos serving a life sentence in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, would like to see more rehabilitation and peer support groups, more classes in general and more mental health programming specifically.

Lint said he and his fellow inmates often spend years dulling childhood trauma with drugs before they get to prison.

Theres an urge, theres been nothing introduced to us to intervene, so you just use the maladaptive coping skills you used as a child, Lint said. Youve got just a bunch of hurt guys here, and the prison keeps hurting our families more and more, taking away our stuff and putting up barriers to communication.

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Some of what Lint calls barriers came during efforts to limit drug trafficking in prison, but he said such moves can also fuel addictive behaviors. Things like the temporary shutdown of texting in the spring of 2024, limits on the number of calls inmates can make in a day and the loss of in-person visits at the penitentiary since Fathers Day have worsened inmates sense of isolation, he said.

Hes also grown frustrated with the number of unit-wide lockdowns prisoners have experienced over the past few years.

One lockdown in 2024 lasted more than a month. During lockdowns, inmates are confined to their cells, including during meals and times when they might have in-person coursework or programming.

You have guys who are making the conscious choice every day to get up, stay sober, go to class, go to work, go to church, go to groups, to just keep their head down and do their thing, Lint said. And then one day you wake up and the door doesnt open because youre getting punished for somebody elses behavior.

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Between the frustration, boredom and underlying addictions, Lint said there are plenty of people wholl say yes to K2, overdose risk be damned.

Were a prison full of all-day weed smokers who dont have access to weed, right? Lint said. So yeah, people know the risks and roll the dice.

Winder, the Department of Corrections spokesman, said in an email that it does not track the number of lockdowns in its facilities.

Drug use responses

Harrison, one of the ex-inmate podcasters, said correctional policies that have changed in the past decade or so can encourage drug use.

When Harrison got to prison more than two decades ago, people caught getting high would go into a cell designed for disciplinary segregation. So would those found to have helped them get drugs. If prison staff or volunteers were involved, he said, theyd also face consequences.

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Nearer to the end of his term, Harrison said, things got lax. Since his departure, he said, he keeps hearing from friends inside that things have gotten even less strict.

Word has spread, Harrison said.

When youve got somebody whos struggling, somebody whos addicted and what have you, they start to talk amongst themselves, Harrison said. They tell other people, Hey, theyre not locking people up for smoking. It perpetuates the usage.

Vanden Hoek suspects thats because a spike in prison violence has made it more difficult to keep space for drug users and dealers in disciplinary cells.

The states most recent annual statistical report says prison assaults on staff spiked to a five-year high in fiscal year 2025, with 142. Twenty-two of those assaults caused serious injuries. Inmate-on-inmate fights between males were at a five year high, as well, at 447. Of those, 49 caused serious injuries.

Winder said the agency would not specify how many disciplinary or isolation cells are available. He said those caught using or suspected of using drugs are placed on restrictive housing status, meaning theyre confined to their cells for 22 hours a day.

Restrictive housing, Winder wrote, is a condition of confinement, not a physical location.

Former inmate Paul Cooper speaks at a Project Prison Reset meeting on April 29, 2025, in Springfield, South Dakota. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

But Lint, the current inmate, said 22 hours of lockup is a common condition for people who dont have jobs on the inside, regardless of drug infractions. He said there are fewer than 50 isolation cells overall in Sioux Falls, and that a portion of them are reserved for inmates in protective custody.

Gov. Larry Rhoden, during a recent press conference about a new womens prison currently under construction in Rapid City, said he is confident in new Department of Corrections leader Nick Lamb.

He pointed to scanners the prison system purchased to scan for drugs hidden in body cavities. Hes also targeted rehabilitation programming, pledging $1.5 million from a fund he controls to support a diesel mechanic training program on the penitentiary campus and appointing a 30-member rehabilitation task force to study ways to reduce repeat offenses and improve programming.

At a recent task force meeting, Lamb said hes visited all of the states prisons and held listening sessions with staff members. Soon, he said, he intends to do the same with inmates.

Im going to be happy to listen to their concerns, especially with programming, what interests they have, and what they think will benefit them, Lamb said.

Mentorship encouraged

The value of mentorship is something Vanden Hoek, Cooper, Harrison and Lint all see as key to turning things around. Long-term inmates whove figured things out ought to be encouraged to guide young people, they say, even if those long-timers are in prison for serious crimes.

Former Department of Corrections Secretary Denny Kaemingk hired an ex-inmate named Michael Standing Soldier to work with the most hardened prisoners about a decade ago. At the time, Kaemingk said Standing Soldier, a former troublemaker who came to prison with a long-term sentence for a violent crime, could relate to people in a similar predicament.

Standing Soldier has since died, but Vanden Hoek and Harrison each remember him as a force for good at the penitentiary.

Willingness to meet inmates where theyre at and respond to their needs as individuals are pillars of what Vanden Hoek calls moral leadership.

Group punishments and lockdowns are signs of its absence, he argued, and he sees the overdose deaths as an outgrowth of that.

When there are things like empathy and kindness and morality on behalf of the administration, where they simply want to do whats best for everybody, you arent going to see things like this happening, he said.

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On Monday, ICE announced that more than 1,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested during an operation in memory of murdered nursing student Laken Riley.

ICE says that during the two-week Operation Angels Honor, 1,030 were arrested under the Laken Riley Act.

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We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice. I am so proud of what our brave men and women of ICE have done to remove these criminals from Americas streets, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

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The Laken Riley Act requires federal officials to detain illegal immigrants accused of a crime, including theft.

Among those arrested during Operation Angels Honor were people accused of rape, child sex crimes, child abuse, torture, attempted murder and more.

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Riley was murdered while out for a jog on the University of Georgia campus in February 2024.

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Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national in the country illegally, was found guilty of killing her later the same year and was sentenced to life in prison.

Many Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, became very outspoken about Rileys death, particularly when debating immigration policy leading up to the 2024 presidential election.

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A bill that would expand family leave protections to businesses in New Jersey with as few as 15 workers was passed by lawmakers, but before its headed to Gov. Phil Murphys desk, the Assembly has to sign off on changes made by the Senate.

Under the current state law, workers are promised job-protected family leave  the ability to take time off to care for a sick relative or a new baby while collecting 85% of their earnings and returning to their job at the end  if their employers have 30 employees or more.

The bill, S3451, would expand the benefit to smaller employers cleared the state Assembly last year and advanced out of a state Senate committee last week. It was approved by the full state Senate in a 24-12 vote on Monday.

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The original proposal lowered the threshold for job-protected family leave from 30 employees to five employees. But lawmakers in the Senate amended the bill to 15 employees after criticism from business lobbyists.

State law allows everyone up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a new child or an ill family member. But those who work at businesses of under 30 employees are not guaranteed to return to their job after the leave is over.

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association, the states largest lobbying group for private businesses, opposes the bill.

Few states extend family leave protections to businesses with such a small threshold, said NJBIA lobbyist Chris Emigholz.

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In other words, New Jersey would be placing its smallest employers into a narrow national category  an outlier beyond most states we directly compete with for jobs and investment, Emigholz said.

New Jersey Citizen Action, which supports expanding the law, said the changes were long overdue.

No one should be prevented from accessing the paid leave benefits that they are contributing to and entitled to. We passed paid family leave 17 years ago and it took us 10 years to improve it  it should not take another decade to get this right, said Yarrow Willman-Cole, a director for the organization.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is urging continued support for Ukraine as 2025 comes to a close, warning that Europe would face growing security risks if its resolve wavers.

To prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from attempting an attack on a NATO member, Ukraine must remain strong, Rutte said in a recent interview with dpa.

He also stressed the need for NATO members to increase defence spending, in line with commitments agreed at the alliance's summit in The Hague in June.

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"If we do those two things, we are strong enough to defend ourselves, and Putin will never try," Rutte said, referring to a potential Russian attack on the alliance.

The former Dutch prime minister said rearmament needs to happen quickly. Depending on intelligence assessments, the security situation could otherwise become dangerous as early as 2027, he said.

Rutte pointed to Russia's military spending as evidence of the threat posed by Putin, saying Moscow is now devoting more than 40% of its state budget to defence.

He added that the war in Ukraine had shown Putin's willingness to accept heavy losses, citing estimates that around 1.1 million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded.
A New Jersey man has admitted to fatally stabbing his fiancee hours after he shared a video that showed him down on one knee, proposing to her at a nightclub.

Jose Melo, 53, pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of Naket Jadix Trinidad Maldonado, according to a statement released by the Union County Prosecutors Office on Monday.

Maldonado, 31, was found dead the morning of Dec. 30, 2024, inside the home the couple shared on Florida Street in Elizabeth. Few other details have been provided.

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The night before, Melo shared a clip on social media that showed him presenting a ring to Maldonado, apparently popping the question while the song Casate Conmigo (Marry Me) by Silvestre Dangond and Nicky Jam plays in the background.

I love you baby, he captioned the video, which was later corroborated by several local news outlets.

Maldonado  known by loved ones as Naky  was a mother, who left behind two daughters, according to a GoFundMe set up in wake of her death.

Naky was senselessly taken from us on December 30 in an act of evil, the page reads. This horrible act by someone she trusted left her two children without either parent and with very little options for their future.

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Melo had previously been charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses, for which he could have faced up to life in prison. However, in an agreement with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty last week to the lower charge of aggravated manslaughter.

Melo is slated to return to court in March for sentencing. Prosecutors said they plan to request a sentence of 28 years in New Jersey State Prison, with a requirement that he serves 85% before hes eligible for parole.
The bill would expand family leave benefits to workers at companies with as few as 15 workers. Business groups are opposed. (Photo by Getty Images)

Senate lawmakers approved legislation that would expand family leave and temporary disability benefits to workers at smaller companies in a party-line vote Monday.

The legislation, approved in a 24-12 vote, would allow workers at firms with as few as 15 employees to take job-protected paid family leave.

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This bill would ensure that the vast majority of New Jersey workers are entitled to family leave protections, whether they work for a huge corporation or a small business, said bill sponsor Sen. Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester).

Existing New Jersey law permits workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to bond with new children or care for a sick or injured loved one. Workers on family leave can earn up to 85% of their weekly pay, to a cap of $1,081 per week in 2025, or $1,119 in 2026.

To be eligible under current law, an employee must have worked at a given employer for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,000 hours in the preceding 12 months.

The bill would halve both those qualifications, requiring workers to be with their employer for at least six months and cutting the hours requirement to 500.

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Its time we close the gap and guarantee that those working at smaller businesses, which more frequently include low-wage, part-time, and caregiving workers, have the same protections as those working at larger companies, said bill sponsor Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex).

The benefits are funded by a 0.28% payroll tax on worker income, to a wage cap of $138,200.

Existing law bars employers from retaliating against workers for using family leave benefits. Text added by the bill would clarify that workers are entitled to be restored to their previous position or one with equivalent pay, benefits, and seniority upon returning from family leave.

It would also explicitly allow workers to use family leave, temporary disability benefits, and earned sick leave in the order of their choosing.

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Business groups had opposed the bill, warning that expanding family leave eligibility could make New Jersey small businesses less competitive.

Chris Emigholz, chief government affairs officer for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, in a letter to Senators last week noted only seven states offered job protections to workers at firms with as few as 15 employees.

In other words, New Jersey would be placing its smallest employers into a narrow national category  an outlier beyond most states we directly compete with for jobs and investment, he said in the letter.

The Assembly earlier this year approved a version of the bill that would extend the benefits to workers at businesses with as few as five employees.

Intoxicating hemp ban

Lawmakers in both chambers on Monday approved in bipartisan votes legislation that would require retailers to phase out the sale of certain intoxicating hemp products ahead of new federal regulations that become effective next November.

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The new regulations, approved as part of the spending bill that ended the federal government shutdown last month, would ban hemp products with a total THC concentration of more than 0.4%. THC is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana.

The state measure, which awaits the governors signature, would allow New Jersey retailers to continue selling products that would be barred by the bill or federal regulations until April 13, 2026.

After that date, intoxicating hemp beverages would be limited to no more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving, or 10 milligrams per container, and other hemp products would be limited to a 0.3% THC concentration.

It would also impose a $3.75-per-gallon excise tax on the wholesale sale of intoxicating hemp beverages, effective April 13.

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The movement comes more than a year after Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that criminalized the sale of intoxicating hemp products to people below the age of 21.

By acting now, we can close gaps in oversight, reduce confusion for businesses and regulators, and ensure these products are safe, transparent, and kept out of the hands of children, protecting New Jersey families and public health, said bill sponsor Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark).

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A bill recently passed by the state Senate aims to strengthen social services at county colleges, with the goal of removing barriers to education for low-income learners.

The legislation (S-4010), sponsored by Sens. Andrew Zwicker and Joe Cryan, would require the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, in collaboration with each county college, to address gaps in meeting the basic needs of low-income students. The council, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, would provide students with information on available social services and enrollment procedures.

"This legislation aims to ensure that every student has a chance at success no matter their socioeconomic status, said Zwicker, who represents parts of Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset and Hunterdon counties, in a news release. " By expanding access to social services on campus, we are working to remove some of the common obstacles that students face and make it easier for them to focus on completing their education."

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The council could foster partnerships between county colleges, state agencies, county boards of social services, and nonprofit organizations to boost student enrollment in social services and, where feasible, establish direct services on campuses.

More: Jen Davenport will fight Trump. What about these NJ dragons? | Opinion

Cryan, who represents Union County, added, "Community colleges serve some of the hardest-working students in our state, many of whom are balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities on top of their studies. By connecting these students with the social services they need on campus, we are improving their well-being and helping them to graduate so they can build a better future for themselves and their families."

The bill would also require the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to collaborate with the council to better equip community college staff to assist students with applications for SNAP, TANF, childcare subsidies, and other benefits.

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County colleges and local workforce development boards would also be required to partner with workforce training providers, economic development organizations, and nonprofits to identify unemployed and underemployed residents who could benefit from enrollment.

The bill passed in the Senate with unanimous support, receiving a 37-0 vote.

Email: bwadlow@MyCentralJersey.com

This story was created by reporter Brad Wadlow, bwadlow@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.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Senate passes bill to expand social services at county colleges
Vice President JD Vance gave a stark outlook on the reality of the Russia-Ukraine war, saying he doesnt have confidence there will be a peaceful solution to the gruesome conflict reaching its fourth year.

We're going to keep on trying to negotiate. And I think that weve made progress, but sitting here today, I wouldnt say with confidence that were going to get to a peaceful resolution, the vice president said in an UnHerd interview published Monday.

I think theres a good chance we will, I think theres a good chance we wont.

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The remark is one of the most pessimistic assessments of the peace prospects to date from a high-ranking U.S. official, far more sober than some others in the administration. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Fridayhe sees the solution being a ways off,President Donald Trump and peace envoy Steve Witkoff  who has been leading the talks  have expressed more optimism.

Witkoff, coming out of his talks with the Ukrainians and Russians this weekend in Miami, called both meetings constructive and productive without offering concrete breakthroughs in the talks. He stressed that negotiations will continue, and that Russia and Ukraine are committed to achieving peace.

Vances comments come less than a week after two American officials, briefing reporters, said they felt really good about the progress theyd made. Trump, one week ago, said, were closer now than we have been, ever.

But the thorniest issues have never been resolved, including who will control the Donbas region. Vance pointed to other issues stalling negotiations such as control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the fate of ethnic Russians in Ukraine and the ethnic Ukrainians in Russia-controlled areas, and how reconstruction would be carried out throughout Ukraine to rebuild the war-torn country.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to put the 15 percent of the Donbas that Ukrainians still control under a free economic zone not controlled by either side, but Russia has maintained that it desires to take all of the remaining territory.

The Ukrainians see Russian control of Donbas as a major security problem, Vance said, but argued the Ukrainian military would likely lose the territory regardless if the fighting persists.

So that territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations  that terrible territorial concession, I should say, Vance added, signifying that he views the area as a likely concession for Ukraine in the long run.

Losing the remaining part of the Donbas region would be a hit for Ukraine, which has been defending it throughout the war. The area has strategic weapons set up to protect the rest of Ukraine from Russian invasion.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has been firm in his maximalist requirements of solving the root causes of the war, with requirements including Ukraine never joining NATO, elections in Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy and having Russian as a protected language within Ukraine.

Zelenskyys primary focus is getting robust security guarantees from the West to protect Ukraine in the event of another Russian offensive. The U.S. has offered Ukraine Article-5 like guarantees that are in the NATO charter, but the Kremlin has said it would not accept Western troops within Ukraine as a part of the peace deal.

The White House pointed to Witkoffs latest remarks about the productive meetings as the latest development in the talks. Vances team did not give further remarks than he gave in the interview.


Japans Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Groups consolidated subsidiary MUFG Bank has signed an investment agreement with Indias non-banking financial company (NBFC) Shriram Finance to subscribe to a preferential allotment of 20% equity shares in Shriram Finance.

The total investment, valued at around Rs396.2bn (about $4.3bn), is subject to regulatory approval.

The investment agreement was reached between MUFG Bank, Shriram Finance, and its major shareholders, Shriram Ownership Trust and Shriram Capital Private Limited.

Following completion, Shriram Finance will become an equity method affiliate of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group as well as MUFG Bank.

MUFG said that it plans the appoint two directors to the NBFCs board.

MUFG Bank has also signed a memorandum of understanding regarding a strategic collaboration with Shriram Finance. The proposed alliance aims to expedite Shriram Finances growth via partnerships.

Established in 1979, Shriram Finance claims to be the second largest retail NBFC in India by loan balance, with a nationwide network of nearly 3,200 branches, mainly in rural and semi-urban regions.

The company focuses on commercial and passenger vehicle loans, with a strong presence in the used vehicle loan segment.

MUFG Banks presence in India dates back to 1894, with its predecessor, Yokohama Specie Bank, opening a branch in Mumbai.

Currently, MUFG Bank operates in six locations across India, offering a range of banking services to corporate clients, including loans, deposits, and foreign exchange.

By offering growth capital to the NBFC, MUFG aims to assist in driving expansion in new commercial vehicles and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) segments, while improving funding capacity and profitability through enhanced creditworthiness.

Via the proposed alliance, MUFG and Shriram Finance intend to bring together MUFGs client network and services with Shriram Finances regional reach and established customer base. The collaboration is expected to support the development of Indias road transport infrastructure and logistics sector, while also contributing to progress in financial inclusion.

In May 2025, MUFG and MUFG Bank signed a multi-year partnership with Sakana AI to integrate AI into the banks operations.

"MUFG Bank to acquire 20% stake in Indias Shriram Finance for $4.3bn" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




For Hoosiers looking ahead to future travel plans, there are several new flights out of Indianapolis come 2026.

The Indianapolis International Airport had a big 2025, launching three new international flights, hitting record-breaking passenger numbers and recording the airport's busiest travel day for outbound travelers on Oct. 9.

In another sign of its growth, the airport will welcome several new nonstop flights in 2026.

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So far, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air have announced new destinations, including one route to a Mexican city previously unserved in the Indianapolis market.

See new flights coming to Indy in the new year.

Southwest adds spring, summer break destinations

Southwest Airlines will launch new seasonal nonstop flights to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airline's Cabo flight will operate March 5 to April 6 during the spring break travel period while the San Juan route will run during the summer months.

Cabo is the second city in Mexico serviced by seasonal routes out of the Indianapolis International Airport, while the new San Juan flight is the one nonstop option to Puerto Rico.San Juan is one of the top three most traveled to destinations that Indianapolis currently does not serve, Marsha Wurster, Indianapolis Airport Authority senior director of commercial enterprise, said when the flight was announced.

Cabo San Lucas

Start date: March 5, 2026

A Southwest Airlines plane is de-iced at a gate Thursday, March 6, 2025 at the Indianapolis International Airport. This is the first day the airline flies nonstop to Nashville, TN. The day was linked to the unveiling of the 2025 Indy 500 ticket with two-time winner Josef Newgarden who is a Nashville native. He and IMS President, INDYCAR President Doug Boles flew on that first flight after the unveiling for an Indy 500 fan event.

End date: April 6, 2026

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Frequency: Once weekly on Saturdays to and from Cabo, seasonal

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Start date: June 6, 2026

End date: Aug. 1, 2026

Frequency: Once weekly on Saturdays to and from San Juan, seasonal

53 routes, 10 million passengers: How the IND airport hits records, captures the hearts of travelers

Frontier to launch four domestic routes

Frontier Airlines, a budget airline based in Denver, has the bulk of the new flights out of Indianapolis in 2026. The carrier will launch four nonstop flights, including one permanent route and three seasonal offerings.

Starting in March, Frontier will fly round-trip from Indianapolis to Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Myers, Florida. Each flight will operate from two to four times a week, as follows.

Fort Lauderdale

Start date: March 6, 2026

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Frequency: Three times a week, year-round

Las Vegas

Start date: March 24, 2026

Frequency: Three times a week, limited-time

Phoenix

Start date: March 24, 2026

Frequency: Four times a week, limited-time

Fort Myers, Florida

Start date: March 27, 2026

Frequency: Two times a week, limited-time

Allegiant to fly seasonally to Hollywood-Burbank

Budget airline Allegiant Air announced a new round-trip route from Indianapolis to the Los Angeles area via Hollywood Burbank Airport.

The new flight marks the airport's only nonstop option to the Hollywood-Burbank airport and will run seasonally from May 22 to August 17. Flights operate twice weekly both ways on Mondays and Fridays.

Alysa Guffey writes business, health and development stories for IndyStar. Have a story tip? Contact her at amguffey@usatodayco.com or on X: @AlysaGuffeyNews.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: New flights from Indianapolis in 2026 including Southwest, Frontier
Nutex Health has opened its 26th micro hospital, Archview ER & Hospital, in St. Louis, Missouri, US.

Situated at 1320 N. Jefferson Ave, Archview ER & Hospital provides 24/7, round-the-year care.

The 16,000ft2 facility includes three inpatient suites and 15 emergency room beds.

The hospital is equipped with a full-service laboratory and advanced imaging technology such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and X-ray, with same-day scheduling and quick turnaround on results.

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Nutex Health, headquartered in Houston, US, operates two divisions: Hospital and Population Health Management.

The Hospital Division develops and operates outpatient departments, micro-hospitals, and specialty hospitals, now totalling 26 facilities in 12 US states.

The Population Health Management Division runs provider networks, including Independent Physician Associations, and delivers management, administrative, and support services to physician groups and affiliated hospitals.

Archview ER & Hospital chief nursing officer Karen Johnson said: We're truly excited to open our doors and begin serving the community we care so deeply about. This hospital was built with our neighbours in mind. It's more than a facility, it's a place for healing, support, and connection, and we're honoured to be part of this next chapter for our community.

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Nutex Health chairman and CEO Tom Vo said: We are proud to expand our healthcare footprint with Archview ER & Hospital, our very first location in the great state of Missouri.

Strategically positioned in North St. Louis, this state-of-the-art facility offers a truly unique settingfeaturing direct views of the iconic Gateway Arch and neighbouring the cutting-edge National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency campus. This location symbolises innovation, accessibility, and our commitment to delivering exceptional care to the community.

Last year in August, Nutex Health opened Post Falls ER & Hospital at 497 S Beck Road, Post Falls, in the US state of Idaho.

"Nutex Health opens micro hospital in St. Louis, US" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.




PLATTSBURGH  Robert Smullen, one of two Republicans so far to announce their candidacy for the NY-21 election next year, made a stop in Plattsburgh last week.

There are 15 counties in the district, so Im doing a swing across all of the northern areas before Christmas to make sure that I get my name into the forefront of peoples minds before Christmas Day, Smullen said during a visit to McSweeneys Red Hots on Route 3.

Weve had over 55 endorsements since the start of the campaign. We raised over $500,000, and thats really good news because it shows the support is building around the entire district.

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Smullen, of Gloversville in Fulton County, is running on a platform of lowering taxes, defending freedoms, rebuilding the economy and always putting Upstate first.

Smullen, the assemblyman for New Yorks 118th district since 2018, announced his candidacy for the congressional seat in November after current Republican Representative Elise Stefanik said she would be running for governor instead.

Stefanik has since dropped out of the governors race and will not seek another term in Congress, she announced Friday.

EXPECTED PRIMARIES

Smullen and Amsterdam Republican Anthony Constantino are the only two Republicans vying for the NY-21 seat so far.

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On the Democratic side, its slightly more crowded with Blake Gendebien, Dylan Hewitt, Stuart Amoriell and Maylon Haller stepping forward to run so far.

If this stands, primary elections are expected for both major parties next June, and Smullen is confident he can win.

Im the only Trump-appointed Conservative in the race, and Ive got the best record. Ive been not only in the State Assembly, but Ive served in the Marine Corps for 24 years  three combat tours in Afghanistan, he said.

Im happy to put my record up against anyone and run to win.

As an assemblymember, Smullen said he served as chairman of the Republican Conference, co-chair of the Assembly Sportsmens Caucus and authored the Assembly Republican Rural Initiative, a blueprint to strengthen New Yorks rural communities.

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Smullen was also elected by his peers as chairman of the Assembly Republican Review Committee and is a national board member of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

When he announced, Smullen acknowledged it was certainly always possible he would have a primary challenger for the open seat next year. However, a primary would be a change of pace for him.

During his four terms in the assembly, Smullen said he has faced a challenger in just one race  his first in 2018 in the primary and then in the general election. Since then, he has been unopposed in each race.

He said this must mean he is doing something right among Republican, Democratic and Independent voters and expects that to continue, should he get elected to Congress.

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My goal is to represent all of the people in the 21st Congressional District, Smullen said. Ive got a great track record of doing that in the 118th Assembly District.

He said his time in the Marine Corps also helped his ability to work across the aisle when necessary.

I think that the military is the number one institution of national unity in the United States, he said. People come from all over the country. They join the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Space Force, the Coast Guard, and then they serve the Constitution of the United States against all enemies: foreign and domestic. They swear an oath to the Constitution, but the mission brings them all together, and they work to take that common mission and make it happen.

Thats the same sort of servant leadership attitude that I want to bring to Congress. What Ive done in the assembly is to be a servant leader for the people, to do whats very best for them.

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Smullen said he planned on visiting local businesses, residents and other Republicans during his stop in Plattsburgh last Friday.

Im very glad to be out here today (Dec. 19) and in Plattsburgh, being able to ask for and earn peoples endorsements and their votes in this race, he said. Its a great thing. Its Democracy in America.
Part of a major road will be closed due to a special event in Montgomery County on Tuesday.

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The Dayton Police Department wrote in a social media post that State Route 4 southbound will be closed to traffic from 7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight.

This is part of Operation Santas Sleigh, where public safety vehicles will have their emergency lights activated in a procession that will travel through many communities to help spread cheer, said Dayton Police.

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Multiple police agencies will also participate in Operation Santas Sleigh.

The Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Association posted on social media that Light Ohio Blue organizes the event. This will take place in nine different cities in Ohio.

It will travel through Dayton, Moraine, West Carrollton, Miamisburg, Miami Township, Centerville, Kettering, and Oakwood.

The procession will end at Dayton Childrens Hospital on State Route 4.

Over 200 emergency vehicles will participate in the caravan with their emergency lights activated.

Visit this website for more information.

On Tuesday December 23, 2025 State Route 4 southbound will be closed to traffic from approximately 7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. while emergency vehicles are stopped in front of Children's Medical Center as part of Operation Santa's Sleigh. pic.twitter.com/Qm677dxmOm  Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) December 22, 2025

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To fight invasive quagga mussels, Utah officials inspected over 288,000 boats in 2025, Hoodline reported.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Utah Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the National Park Service in a joint initiative to inspect and decontaminate thousands of boats visiting the state's bodies of water. Across 288,554 boat inspections, the officials performed 6,509 decontaminations, with the infested Lake Powell area accounting for 1,886 of them, or more than a quarter.

"The dip tanks continue to be invaluable in improving efficiency for our decontaminations of complex boats," said Lt. Bruce Johnson of the Utah DNR Law Enforcement Aquatic Invasive Species Statewide Operations, per Hoodline.

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Invasive species like the quagga mussel and the Eurasian watermilfoil are a major problem as they spread across the U.S. and other regions. While they are innocent enough in their home environments, they thrive a little too well in new areas, eating up resources and crowding out other species. This can lead to major environmental and economic damage, and even the extinction of the existing species in the area, while also destroying the beautiful natural environments that people travel to visit.

In the case of quagga mussels, the damage to human properties is often direct: They clog water lines and create a stinky mess that costs money to clean up.

Johnson highlighted the importance of following regulations to keep Utah's waters clear of this hazard. "Make sure to plan ahead for next year and be sure to take the mandatory education course, pay the required fees, and display the necessary decals on your watercraft, so you can be ready for another great boating season next year," he said, per Hoodline.

In particular, boat owners should be aware that in cold weather, it takes thirty days dry and out of the water to decontaminate a boat that has been exposed to quagga mussels and other invasive species. You can also follow a more active decontamination procedure to shorten the wait time.

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.

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An Ohio officer who was injured last week after another officers gun accidentally fired during a training exercise has been released from the hospital.

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As previously reported by News Center 7, the incident involved two officers with the Westerville Division of Police.

It happened during a break at a Delaware Tactical Unit training exercise, according to our news partner WBNS in Columbus.

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The wounded officer has been identified as Curtis Myers.

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Officers previously told WBNS that another officers gun accidentally discharged once. It hit Myers in his hand and thigh.

Medics transported him to Mount Carmel East Hospital.

Myers was released on Saturday and is back home recovering, WBNS said.

He has been with the department for about five years.

The officer who fired the gun has been placed on leave, which is standard for this type of incident, WBNS-10 reported.

The incident is under review by the Delaware County Sheriffs Office, and the Westerville Division of Police also started a review.

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An Ohio representative filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump and his administration, saying they violated the law by renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty filed the lawsuit on Dec. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The filing comes days after members of the Kennedy Center board, of which Beatty is a member, voted to rename the center and add Trump's name.

"In scenes more reminiscent of authoritarian regimes than the American republic - the sitting President and his handpicked loyalists renamed this storied center," the lawsuit says. "This is a flagrant violation of the rule of law, and it flies in the face of our constitutional order."

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Beatty is asking the federal court to step in and find the renaming of the center unlawful, and to issue an order requiring the new signage already placed on the building to have Trump's name removed.

The lawsuit says Congress intended the arts center, which was named after President John F. Kennedy in the months following his November 1963 assassination, to be a "living memorial" and a "crown jewel of the arts for all Americans, irrespective of party."

Beatty, a Democrat representing Ohio's 3rd Congressional District, is an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board. Following the Dec. 18 vote, Beatty posted in a video to Bluesky that she was repeatedly muted and prevented from speaking during the board's meeting. Beatty said the description of the board's vote to change the center's name as unanimous was inaccurate.

Beatty describes the meeting in the lawsuit, saying it was a "thinly-veiled sham." The meeting, according to the lawsuit, was held at the home of one of Trump's supporters, Andrea Wynn, whose husband had been placed on the board by Trump. No notice was given that the name change would be considered during the meeting, the lawsuit says.

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"The proceedings were mere window dressing for a predetermined decision," the lawsuit says. "That Defendants had already procured matching signage for the Kennedy Centers front portico in advance and prearranged for workmen to arrive the day following the Board meeting indicates that Defendants had planned to rename the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump, and nothing would or could change their minds."

In addition to Trump, the lawsuit names Richard Grenell, the President of the Kennedy Center, and the other members of the center's board. Those members include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"Under our constitutional system, only Congress can modify a statute, and Congress must do so by enacting a new statute. Congress has not changed the Kennedy Centers name. Instead, Defendants are willfully flouting the law to satisfy Defendant Trumps vanity."

The Kennedy Center did not respond for comment before the time of publication.

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Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com or on Bluesky at @bethanybruner.dispatch.com.

.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio congresswoman sues Trump over Kennedy Center renaming
NEED TO KNOW

Rebecca Auborn pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault on Dec. 19, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office

Auborn was indicted in October 2023 and charged with four overdoses and robberies that occurred between January and June of that year

One man survived an attempted overdose in December 2022

An Ohio "serial killer" pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault on Friday, Dec. 19.

Rebecca Auborn of Columbus, Ohio, entered her plea in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, according to court records seen by PEOPLE. Auborn, 36, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2026, according to a press release from the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

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Todays plea closes a tough case," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a press release. "An overwhelming amount of convincing evidence and an airtight investigation conducted by BCI and Columbus Police left no doubt that a conviction was forthcoming. When law enforcement works together, theres hope for families to secure justice."

Auborn was meeting men for sex in northeast Columbus, Ohio, then dosing them with drugs with the intent to rob them, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, established under Yosts Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, found.

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.

Investigators were able to connect Auborn with four overdoses and robberies that occurred between January and June 2023. One man also survived an attempted overdose in connection with Auborn in December 2022, according to the Attorney Generals Office.



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Officials previously named the victims as Wayne Akin, 64; Robert Snoke, 54; Joseph Crumpler, 30; and Guy Renda Jr., 42, according to NBC News.

"I've spent two years preparing for the worst, and now it's almost over. The grieving process can finally begin," a family member of Akin's told NBC News in a text.



In 2023, Yost described Auborn as a "serial killer."

"For me, if youve got somebody that has a series of killings that are separated in time, theyre a serial killer," Yost told The Dispatch at the time. "We have the same MO here. Could there be arguments about whether that fits? Pick your definition, and it fits, or it doesn't."

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The case was investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Columbus Division of Police. The Franklin County Prosecutors Office is prosecuting the case, per the D.A.'s press release.

Auborn was indicted on the charges in 2023 and faces up to 69 years to life in prison, NBC News reported.



Read the original article on People
The University of Oklahoma has removed a teaching assistant who gave a student an F grade on a psychology paper which sparked outrage from conservatives and prompted claims of religious discrimination.

Based on an examination of the graduate teaching assistant's prior grading standards and patterns, as well as the graduate teaching assistant's own statements related to this matter, it was determined that the graduate teaching assistant was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper, the University said in a Monday statement.

The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the University.

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It comes after Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at the university, reported her psychology instructor Mel Curth after receiving the grade and claimed she received zero points out of 25 for my beliefs and using freedom of speech, and especially for my religious beliefs."

The assignment was to write a 650-word essay reacting to a psychology article about the effect of gender norms on middle school students and their impact on mental health.

The University of Oklahoma has removed a teaching assistant who gave a student an F grade on a psychology paper which sparked outrage from conservatives and prompted claims of religious discrimination. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at the University of Oklahoma, filed a discrimination complaint after she received a failing grade on a psychology essay. (Turning Point USA OU)

Fulneckys complaint was promoted by the universitys chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September. The group posted Fulneckys essay and Curths response online and blasted the educator, who uses she/they pronouns, writing: We should not be letting mentally ill professors around students.

That post drew quick reactions online with people taking sides - some defending the professor and calling the paper poor. While others defended Fulnecky.

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In Curths feedback, Curth had said Fulnecky was entitled to her own beliefs, but that the psychology article was based on years of psychological research and evidence, not just society pushing lies.

In its Monday statement, the university said that Fulneckys two claims, one appealing the grade and the other formally complaining of illegal religious discrimination, had been resolved.

As already announced, the grade appeal was decided in favor of the student, removing the assignment completely from the student's total point value of the class, resulting in no academic harm to the student, UO said. The claim for discrimination has been investigated and concluded. The University does not release findings from such investigations.

The university added the provost, the University's highest ranking academic officer and the academic dean, reviewed the full facts of the matter, before their decision.

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The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty's rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students' right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer's impermissible evaluative standards, the statement read.

In its statement Monday, the university said that Fulneckys two claims, one appealing the grade and the other formally complaining of illegal religious discrimination, had been resolved. (Getty Images)

We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think. The University will continue to review best practices to ensure that its instructors have the comprehensive training necessary to objectively assess their students' work without limiting their ability to teach, inspire, and elevate our next generation.

In her original essay, Fulnecky repeatedly cited the Bible and emphasized her right to free speech, stating she believes eliminating gender in our society would be detrimental, as it pulls us farther from God's original plan for humans.

Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth, she wrote.

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However, many online agreed with Curths assessment of the essay, criticizing her writing ability, lack of sources and digression from the instructions. Her paper was absolutely embarrassing. She failed to follow directions, didnt meet the word count and didnt cite a single source, one user wrote on X.

Another instructor for the course, Megan Waldron, said she concurred with Curths F grade, saying Fulneckys essay should not be considered as a completion of the assignment.

The Independent has contacted the University of Oklahoma for further comment on Curths dismissal as an instructor.
By Andrew Hay

Dec 23 (Reuters) - The University of Oklahoma has stripped a graduate student of teaching duties after the teaching assistant gave a zero grade to a student who cited the Bible and her personal religious beliefs in an essay on gender in which she said the idea of more than two genders was "demonic."

In a statement on Monday, the University of Oklahoma said it determined the graduate teaching assistant was "arbitrary" in grading the essay and would no longer have instructional duties.

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Brittany Stewart, a lawyer for the teaching assistant, Mel Curth, said in a statement her client denied the grading decision was arbitrary and was considering appealing the university's decision. The student, Samantha Fulnecky, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think," the university said in its statement.

Fulnecky's case gained national attention after the university's chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative student group, published her essay and Curth's comments online, and Fulnecky complained of religious persecution to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.

It is similar to conflicts at other U.S. universities over how lecturers talk about gender and religion, with both sides saying they are trying to protect free speech and academic freedom.

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Fulnecky was enrolled in a psychology course in November when she submitted the essay on an article about gender stereotypes and peer relations among middle-school students.

Fulnecky wrote that students teasing one another as a way to enforce gender norms was not necessarily a problem, as God made males and females differently for a purpose. Curth gave the essay a score of zero out of 25, saying it failed to meet assignment criteria and relied heavily on personal and religious ideology rather than empirical material. Curth, who identifies as transgender, said parts of the essay were "offensive."

Fulnecky submitted a grade appeal to the university and a complaint alleging religious discrimination. The university removed the zero on the essay from Fulneckys final grade in the course.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico; editing by Donna Bryson and Rod Nickel)
A plan by President Donald Trump to launch Trump accounts for children born from 2025 through 2028 with $1,000 from the government has drawn support from Americans and also from billionaires, helping to fund them. However, the world's richest man has taken the opposite stance; Elon Musk is not only refusing to donate but is actively urging other wealthy individuals to withhold their support.

Here's a look at how easily Musk could underwrite the entire initiative if he chose to.

Trump Accounts Get Billionaire Backers

Billionaire Michael Dell and his wife recently pledged $6.25 billion to help fund accounts for 25 million U.S. children aged 10 and under who were born before the Trump accounts started. Together, children aged 10 and under and those born in the next four years will be eligible to open an account kick-started with some funding to grow over time.

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Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio announced he will match the $250 donations from the Dells for children in Connecticut, with an estimated 300,000 children eligible in Dalio's home state.

I personally appreciate the Trump administrations launch of the Trump accounts, appreciate the Dells for piling on with their support, and appreciate both of them for allowing Dalio Philanthropies and others to join in, Dalio tweeted Wednesday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced more details of the Trump Accounts on Wednesday. Bessent launched a 50 State Challenge to inspire billionaires in every state to partner on the Trump accounts.

We are inviting every philanthropist in every state across the country to partner with us in building generational wealth for Americas children through Trump accounts, Bessent said.

Musk, who is the worlds richest person and the first person to be worth more than $600 billion, likely wont be joining the 50 State Challenge or donating to Trump accounts.

It is certainly a nice gesture of the Dells, but there will be no poverty in the future and so no need to save money. There will be universal high income, Musk tweeted in response to one of Dalios posts on Wednesday.

Trending: Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth  Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP Pro

How Much Could Musk Help

As the world's richest person, Musk could choose to help support the Trump accounts or to help support the additional accounts for kids already born like Dell and Dalio.
Dec. 22GRAND FORKS  Over a month after the end of the government shutdown and the reinstatement of funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, some local food banks and food pantries say their services are seeing more stable traffic, though a need for those services still persists in the community.

According to Susie Novak Boelter, executive director of North Country Food Bank in East Grand Forks, the food bank is still seeing a lot of traffic because of the holidays, but there isn't as much fear and uncertainty as there was during the shutdown, when people were concerned about the future of SNAP. Funding for SNAP was paused on Nov. 1 during the shutdown and eventually reinstated after the government reopened on Nov. 12.

"We're still seeing significant need, lots of visits, lots of people coming to agency partners; those types of things haven't dipped way low or anything," she said. "But we haven't seen that fear piece that was there when the shutdown was happening."

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Mickey Munson, executive director of St. Joseph's Social Care, said after the organization's food pantry saw an approximately 60% increase in traffic around the time that SNAP benefits were expected to end, those numbers now have mostly plateaued.

"We're still busy  probably busier than we would normally be  but definitely plateaued from the end of October, beginning of November," he said.

Though SNAP benefits have been restored, there have still been some changes to the program that could theoretically have an impact on local food pantries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Dec. 10 approved North Dakota's application for a food restriction waiver to ban certain items from being purchased with SNAP funds, including soft drinks; energy drinks; candy and confections, including edible cake decorations and chewing gum; baking ingredients like marshmallows and chocolate chips; nuts coated in chocolate or candy, including trail mix with candy pieces; and some cereal bars and energy bars.

According to a press release from Gov. Kelly Armstrong's office, these changes are expected to take effect by September 2026.

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Novak Boelter said some items like soda or candy do pass through North Country's partner agencies on occasion, but mostly their partner food pantries carry healthy items, so she doesn't anticipate the food restriction will affect those partners very much in terms of increased traffic.

"We have some of that available to agency partners, and people do order it and have it as treats and stuff, but we try to focus on food that has healthy qualities and benefits," she said.

Munson also said St. Joseph's food pantry is mostly stocked with healthy food and doesn't think it will see much of an impact from the restrictions.

Another change, one implemented before the government shutdown,

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was eligibility for certain nonresidents and undocumented immigrants.

Before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 was signed in July, certain groups including refugees, some Afghan and Ukrainian nationals granted parole into the country, American Indians born abroad and victims of severe trafficking and certain family members, along with others, would have been immediately eligible for SNAP benefits. With the bill's signing, those groups are now either only eligible if they are lawful permanent residents, or they are not eligible at all.

Muson said right now it's hard to judge what the impact of that change will be on local food pantries.

"I don't think anybody can put a pin on how it's going to affect the general population," he said.

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Novak Boelter added that while she doesn't know if those changes will have an impact on North Country's service area, she does know that any changes to SNAP and its recipients will mean more people turning to their local food shelves and food pantries, which will require more food in the system.

"If less people get SNAP benefits, we know that's going to have an impact on our emergency feeding system," she said.

No matter what the impacts may be on local food pantries from changes to SNAP benefits and funding, according to Munson, the effects of the government shutdown did demonstrate the lengths that many community members were willing to go to support those local organizations, like through food and cash donations.

"The overall consensus is the community really stepped up at a point when we needed them the most," he said. "The community jumped in to help meet the demand, and without them, it would have been tougher for many of the food pantries to sustain the need."
According to an Odessa Police Department news release, an auto burglary occurred recently in the 1700 block of N County Rd. W, where the suspect stole the victims purse and approximately $2,000 worth of electronics. The suspect then used the victims credit card at the Kent Kwik located at 601 N County Rd. W.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect shown in the surveillance footage is encouraged to contact Detective A. Reyes at 432-335-5706 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS and reference Case #25-9001094.

The post OPD investigating auto burglary, credit card abuse appeared first on Odessa American.
A central Florida family had their car towed after paying to park in downtown Orlando. City of Orlando surveillance video shows the car was towed before the time expired on their parking receipt.

Kim Quillinan spoke to Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal about it because she wants other people in the community to be aware of the issue.

I would hate for this to happen to other people, she said.

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Do you have a consumer complaint or need help from Jeff Deal and Action 9? Click the banner below to submit a tip.

Kim Quillinan and her husband John attended the Tate McRae concert at the Kia Center in September. The Lake County couple enjoyed the concert, but knew they had to watch the clock because of their parking time limit.

Kim said, We were almost at the lot, and there was a tow truck coming out of the parking lot, and Im like, That looks like my car.

The surveillance video shows a tow truck from NRJ Towing going through the intersection of Garland and Livingston with the familys Chevrolet Bolt attached. The tow truck appeared to run a red light. A moment later the video shows John chasing after the truck while waving his arms.

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Kim Quillinan said, I got my keys out of my pocket, and I pressed the button, and the lights turned on. And Im like, That is my car!

Shortly after her husband chased the tow truck on foot to try to get it to stop, Kim called 911.

Shes heard on the 911 call recording saying, Somebody just stole my car.

A few hours earlier the Quillinans swiped a credit card at a private parking lot at the intersection of Garland and Livingston and paid $10. Their ticket showed parking was good until 10pm that night. Having the car towed was extremely frustrating since they even left the concert early knowing they had to get back to their car by 10pm. They initially believed it was right at 10pm when they saw their car already being towed from the lot.

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But a closer look at the surveillance video reveals the time stamp at 21:56:30 after the tow truck with their car was already through the intersection. Thats 9:56pm, a few minutes before their parking session was set to expire.

When Orlando police officers arrived on scene, the Quillinans both expressed frustration.

The body camera footage from the Orlando Police Department shows John Quillinan said, The guy took off with the car and wouldnt stop. Our car.

A little while later one of the responding officers said, But the vehicle isnt stolen. It was towed. It was being towed, thats what it was. It wasnt stolen.

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John replied, Well, it was stolen by taking the car.

Under Florida law, a person commits theft if they deprive the other person of their property, even temporarily.

WFTV Legal Analyst Bill Sheaffer said, A towing company that tows before they are lawfully entitled to may be charged with a misdemeanor, criminally, up to a third-degree felony.

Sheaffer said the law is clear even if law enforcement tends to push the cases off as a civil matter instead.

When the Quillinans arrived at the impound lot for NRJ Towing, pleading their case didnt go well there either.

Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal asked, When you explained to them that they towed it early, what was their response?

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Kim Quillinan answered, They didnt care. So sad, too bad.

NRJ Towing charged them $139 to get the car back. They claim the towing company didnt provide them with a receipt. That would also violate Florida law, which requires tow companies to provide a detailed receipt with the name of the company or person who did the towing whether requested or not.

When Action 9 went to NRJ Towing for answers, the team saw a woman waiting for her car for more than two hours before a worker arrived to return her car. Florida law requires tow companies to provide cars within an hour of being requested.

Jeff Deal said to the worker who showed up, She got here 1:45pm. Its after 3:45pm.

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The NRJ Towing worker replied, Ive been trying to do as best possible, okay, to get down here. I mean, Im not. Im not the only one running this show.

When Deal tried to ask him about Kim and John Quillinans tow, he said he didnt know anything about it, and then his demeanor changed. He shoved the Action 9 photographer.

Outta my way, he said.

Jeff Deal said, Hey, do not touch him.

The NRJ Towing worker said, I dont give a (expletive).

He then slapped the microphone out of Deals hand and onto the ground.

Jeff Deal again said, Do not touch him.

The worker responded, Get the (expletive) outta my way is what you gotta do mother(expletive).

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The Quillinans now question why any parking lot owner would contract with NRJ Towing and hope the city will take a closer look at how it enforces tow company rules.

Kim Quillinan said, It was really traumatizing, you know? It was. It was traumatizing.

When Action 9 reached out to the parking lot owner, he was extremely friendly and agreed to reimburse the Quillinans for their towing bill even though it wasnt his fault. He told Action 9 he hasnt received very many complaints about NRJ Towing.

The Orlando Police Department said during the initial response, there wasnt sufficient evidence to show there was a crime but if the family has new information or evidence, they encourage them to report it.

The Quillinans plan to follow up by filing a police report with the new evidence.
Colleton County residents and other opponents of a $6 billion data center project packed the auditorium of the county civic center in Walterboro, South Carolina, on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, voicing their concerns and seeking more information on the project that's in the early phase of development. (Screenshot of Colleton County government livestream)

Information is emerging about the massive data center that is proposed near Green Pond in Colleton County by Eagle Rock Partners.

The project got its first public airing in a zoning meeting Dec. 18. This Colleton proposal has significant implications for policies that must be enacted to protect the public interest throughout our state as data centers proliferate like wildfire.

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Defense of the project by Ken Loeber of Eagle Rock has been unconvincing.

As reported by Jessica Holdman in the SC Daily Gazette on Dec. 19, Loeber told the SC Daily Gazette he estimates the center will need 1,000 megawatts of electricity. That would take up nearly all of Santee Coopers share of a 2,200-megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant that the state-owned utility company is seeking to build, in partnership with Virginia-headquartered Dominion Energy, in nearby Canadys.

Meanwhile, Dylan Nolan at Fitsnews reported on Dec. 19 that Loeber also said that The simple fact is your [energy] rates are not going up due to this project.

He appears to base that claim on his statement that those [energy infrastructure projects] are projects that are being done regardless of whether we come to Colleton County or not.

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But why are they planned? It has been conceded by utilities that the rapid development of massive energy demands by data centers underlies much of the pressure to increase generating capacity.

Santee Cooper officials have placed the number at about 70% of the expansion at Canadys.

Loebers figures would place that percentage even higher, at more than 80% for this single project. This is not a case of more efficient use of existing capacity.

Utilities are planning to build specifically to meet data center needs.

The numbers in this case are daunting. Canadys is expected to cost $5 billion, of which $2.5 billion will be assigned to Santee Cooper. Pipeline extensions are expected to add at least $430 million to this total.

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Unless the General Assembly acts quickly and decisively to demand that data centers pay in full for construction of the generating and transmission capacity that they will use, residential and small business ratepayers will be forced to absorb too much of that cost.

Santee Cooper, to its great credit, has established a large user rate that would help to mitigate this.

However, secondary distributors of Santee Cooper energy, like the co-op serving the proposed project area, are not obligated to do the same. Thus, data center builders can waltz in after a generating plant is underway and claim their right to be served, receiving much of the output at rates lower than those charged to residential and small business users.

Of course, if Eagle Rock is planning to assume Santee Coopers share of costs for building generation and transmission capacity in proportion to their planned use of that energy, none of this would be problematic.

Loeber conspicuously did not offer that clarification, and he surely would have if that was planned.

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Instead, he offered comments that appear to be designed to evade that responsibility.

Hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians must pay their energy bills and then decide whether they can afford their medicine and their food.

Often the answer is only one of those, or neither.

All of us must pay energy bills or live in the dark and the cold.

Who will benefit from our payments, given current law and practices? Immensely wealthy corporations like Amazon and Google.

What Loeber is effectively saying is that our paying for much of the energy expansion that his company would need is already planned, and if his company doesnt swoop in and take advantage of us, others will.

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I dont think I am alone in finding this small and unsatisfactory consolation. This is only one of the many reasons that the Eagle Rock data center proposal should die a rapid death.

However, it should be of major concern to small business and residential ratepayers and to public officials in Colleton County and at the Statehouse, both for this data center proposal and those that will come in the future.
Dec. 22Sandy Sonju has been surrounded by veterans her entire life.

Her dad served in the Korean War, and his brothers were World War II veterans. Two of her nine siblings served, along with aunts, uncles and cousins. Even her two children are in the National Guard.

"As far as you can reach, I've got family members who are veterans," she said.

Growing up in Cut Bank, Montana, Sonju watched her father, injured in service, struggle to navigate the maze of government paperwork to obtain veterans' benefits.

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After filing his claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, her father received notice that he had been denied certain benefits due to errors in his paperwork. Living in a small, rural city, he'd had to drive three hours south to Helena in the winter for doctor's appointments.

"That was pretty hard on the family," Sonju said. "Him and my mom would just be scratching their heads at the dinner table, trying to figure out how to do all of this."

Now, Sonju is providing veterans the professional assistance that her father didn't have.

For nearly three years, Sonju has served as a Veterans of Foreign Wars Accredited Service Officer with the Montana Department of Military Affairs, helping veterans navigate the complicated procedure of filing claims to receive government benefits.

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"It's not a career. It's more of a purpose and a passion," Sonju said. "It really feels like all roads led here."

But before she was helping veterans, Sonju embarked on various career paths, the first of which was the Army.

"I'd like to say it was because of my patriotic duty, but it was to help pay for college," she said.

When Sonju turned 20 years old in basic training, her senior drill sergeant made her do push-ups over a Snickers bar he placed on the ground as a "birthday present." Then he ate it in front of her.

"At least I got to smell it," she laughed.

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Sonju served in Karlsruhe, Germany, for three years as a military police officer. And then her rank changed "from Specialist Four to mom" after having her son.

While her ex-husband kept serving in the military, Sonju was caring for her family.

"[I'm] very proud of my experience as a support system, almost as much as I am proud of my veteran status," she said. "I didn't go deploy anywhere; it was peace time. I always feel like I didn't serve the way I should have as a veteran, but I wanted to make up for that as the family support."

After leaving the military, Sonju found work as a teacher and later as a recruiter, licensor and trainer for foster parents. Although she enjoyed continuing to support her community in those roles, finding work with the Veterans of Foreign Wars was a blessing, Sonju said.

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"I know how much support veterans need in filing claims and finding an advocate. So when I applied for the job, it almost to me felt like I should be paying them for the honor of doing this," she said.

Sonju works out of the local office off U.S. 93 North but visits Libby, Troy and Eureka several times a month to assist veterans in more rural areas where support is scarcer. The other local officers also travel to surrounding communities.

"No veteran is left behind, is what we're trying to get to," she said. "We try to reach every little nook and corner."

The three other Veteran Service Officers, office supervisor and regional supervisor each serve around four veterans per day. Sonju encouraged clients to call ahead to schedule an appointment.

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The outreach she does outside of Kalispell, however, is conducted on a walk-in basis, which often brings in heavy foot traffic. Sonju has assisted as many as 28 veterans in just one afternoon in Libby.

"It's not uncommon for our office to deal with over 250 to 300 claims a month," she said.

The volume is no surprise, considering Montana ranks among the top states in the country for veterans per capita.

As of September 2023, there were about 85,000 veterans in the state, of those roughly 47% were over the age of 65. Around 32% were between 40 and 65 years old, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Sonju aims to help veterans receive the most benefits they can qualify for by helping craft a fully developed claim before sending it through the government system.

"The biggest thing we do is that we help veterans file disability claims, and we also provide resources for where they can go to get the help if we can't provide it," she said.

Because her job is accredited through the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Montana Veterans Affairs Division, American Legion and trained through Veterans of Affairs, "we have a lot of resources that most people that are filing the claim don't have," Sonju said.

Being able to effectively help veterans receive benefits takes an adept understanding of case law, medical reports and research. Sonju must also keep aware of any new or changing legislation.

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"It's important because sometimes a veteran will say something, just an offhand remark, and your radar will pick up, like, I know a certain benefit that you're qualified for that you didn't know about," she said.

Because the complicated process can be frustrating, Sonju said many veterans come into the office on the defensive and may have trouble admitting ailments, so it's important to approach issues with understanding.

"We're taught from day one, rub some dirt in it and move on. It's a matter of being able to understand and kind of get them to the place where they can talk about their insecurities," Sonju said.

Since taking the job in 2023, Sonju's love for learning how to navigate government law and procedures has not faded.

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"I was thinking when I was in my 20s and 30s that at 60, I would be on the way down, but I still feel like I'm on the up," she said.

Despite leaving the Army years ago, Sonju continues to feel a sense of camaraderie among the veterans she assists.

"The reason that I do is baseline is because it's a way of paying back my dad. But there is also the intrinsic reward of helping someone who may not know what help they needed," she said.

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].
Pennsylvania will receive $6.6 million from a $149 million settlement with Mercedes-Benz USA after the manufacturer was found to have violated state laws related to emissions testing.

The settlement, announced by Attorney General Dave Sunday in partnership with a coalition of 50 attorneys general, comes after Mercedes-Benz allegedly equipped more than 200,000 diesel vehicles with defeat devices from 2008 to 2016. These devices falsely ensured that the cars met emissions standards during testing, while actual operations showed emissions far exceeding legal limits.

More than 10,500 of the affected vehicles were sold or registered in Pennsylvania, compounding the impact on local air quality. Attorney General Sunday highlighted the severity of the actions, stating, This luxury-vehicle manufacturer cut corners to make their products more attractive to consumers, while blatantly lying about the vehicles achieving emissions standards.

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The settlement requires Mercedes-Benz USA to pay $120 million to the states when the settlement takes effect. In addition, up to $29,673,750 could be waived if the company successfully implements a comprehensive consumer relief program.

As part of the consumer relief program, Mercedes will pay $2,000 to each impacted vehicle owner. Currently, approximately 39,565 vehicles remain unaddressed with regard to emissions issues as of Aug. 1, 2021, necessitating installation of approved emission modification software.

Following this settlement, Mercedes must also comply with new reporting requirements and reform its business practices to avoid misleading marketing. The company is barred from further engagement in unfair practices relating to the sale of diesel vehicles.

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UPDATE 12/23/2025 - Pennsylvania State Police say a girl who was reported missing out of Westmoreland County has been found and is safe.

Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the publics help in finding a missing girl from Westmoreland County.

On Monday, at around 9:30 p.m. troopers said Kia Schuler had been reported missing.

She was last seen on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the area of Harrison Avenue in Latrobe. Troopers did not provide an exact age.

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Schuler is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs around 160 pounds.

Anyone with information on her location is asked to call 911.

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A Philadelphia family is turning heartbreak into hope this holiday season, honoring their son who was killed by a drunk driver.

Kaylah Smith and Orlando Velez are delivering toys, winter clothes, and Walmart gift cards to several families this week. The effort is in memory of their 8-year-old son, Javier "Javi" Velez, who was killed in Absecon, New Jersey, in 2023.

READ MORE | NJ man who drove drunk at 107 mph before crash that killed sleeping child sentenced to prison

"I'm doing this because it's another way to keep Javi's name alive, Javi's name said. It's a way to see his face. It's a way to remember who he was, what happened to him," Smith said.

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Police said Javi was sleeping in a parked car during a fishing trip with his father when a drunk driver veered off the road and slammed into the vehicle, killing the boy.

Edward Johnston, 25, was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this year for aggravated manslaughter.

Smith said the donations were made possible through support from friends, family and social media. Among the recipients was Liz Gross, a mother of two who lost her home in a fire in September.

"Being a mom with two kids and like the holidays and everything else it's really incredible she's able to help," Gross said.

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Instead of Santa, Velez dressed as the Grinch - Javi's favorite character - to deliver the gifts. The couple is also advocating for "Javi's Law," a proposed New Jersey bill that would require drunk drivers involved in deadly crashes to be jailed immediately.

"Javi's killer got to go home that night after he killed Javi. They knew he killed Javi, and they still let him go free. He remained free for an entire year. With Javi's Law, that won't be able to happen ever again," Smith said.

For now, Smith said, giving joy to others is a part of how they cope with their loss.

"Christmas is not the same for us anymore, so we don't really have much joy for Christmas," she said. "We just try to give other people joy - the joy that we can't find anymore."

The family plans to continue giving on Tuesday. Smith estimates they'll help 16-18 families in all.
Dec. 23FAIRMONT  The search for a new president of Pierpont Community and Technical College has officially begun.

Pierpont wants to have a new president in place by April 2026, the school announced.

Applications for the national search closed Monday, Pierpont officials said, with interviews for semi-finalists and then the finalists tentatively set for this coming February and March.

In recent years the school that is a sister institution to Fairmont State University has expanded its degree offerings while also increasing its presence in the community.

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With avionics becoming a burgeoning industry across north-central West Virginia, the school has capitalized on the spinoff job trend  with a popular aviation technology program that puts certificated professionals to work on the engines and electronic systems that keep planes aloft.

Leading up to Thanksgiving, Pierpont's culinary students worked with the Union Rescue Mission in Fairmont, preparing holiday meals for the city's needy.

Anthony Hinton, who chairs Pierpont's presidential search committee, touched on the latter as he discussed what the school might be looking for now, in terms of academic and community motivation among the field of applicants.

The search committee includes faculty members, classified and non-classified staff employees, and students, along with business leaders and others from the Fairmont community.

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"We are committed to conducting a thorough and transparent process to ensure Pierpont's next leader strengthens our mission and partnerships across the region, " he said.

Pierpont has been without a permanent leader since March. That was after Milan Hayward stepped down after two years on the job.

The school then named school provost Michael Wade as interim president. Wade, a licensed medical laboratory scientist, is also a tenured professor in Pierpont's medical laboratory technology program.

Hayward's hiring, meanwhile, came after a two-year search that also saw the appointment of two interim presidents during the vacancy.

During that period, state lawmakers were also pushing for a bill that would have merged the university and community collegebut they later pulled back in that effort.
The Maryville developer of the former Inn of the Cumberlands property has again changed plans from housing to retail and storage.

The site plan was unanimously approved by members of the Crossville Regional Planning Commission during the regular December meeting held Thursday.

The new plans call for a combination of two retail facilities fronting Hwy. 70 W. (Sparta Hwy.) and a number of climate-controlled storage units. Plans call for 15-20 parking spaces.

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There will be no traffic light installed because a 2021 traffic study conducted by the Tennessee Department of Transportation does not warrant installation of the traffic control device. Because of that decision, the city of Crossville cannot obtain a permit to install a red light.

Approval for the site plan is contingent of the developer securing the required TDOT driveway entrance and stormwater permits.

City planners voted uanimously to retain the same slate of officers for the 2026 year. Retained in their respective offices are Mayor R.J. Crawford serving as chairman; Kevin Poore as vice chairman; and Rob Harrison as secratary.

In other business, planners approved the following:

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Lantana Road annexation of .5 acres at the request of the property owner for the purpose of securing sewer service when it becomes available later next year. The extension will require boring under Lantana Road to deliver sewer services on the south side of the road. The recommendation is now forwarded to the city council.

Approved property owners request for annexation of a parcel on Canary Drive for the purpose of securing sewer services.

Approved a second request from a different property owner on Canary Drive of .38 acres for the purpose of acquiring water and sewer services.

Approved an annexation request of a parcel on Woodlawn Road at the request of the property owner. The annexation will require a 270-foot line extension to be paid by the property owner and now goes to city council for approval.

All of these requests go the city council now for consideration.
Laman Ismayilova



In Ashgabat, a presentation ceremony has been held for the book "The Jewel of Wisdom" by Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, translated into Azerbaijani by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Azernews reports.

The event, attended by Turkmenistan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mehri Bashimova, featured a speech by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Qismet Gozalov.

The ambassador emphasized that delivering Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's "The Jewel of Wisdom" to Azerbaijani readers is of special importance in terms of promoting this valuable work. He noted that the publication of the book in Azerbaijani also makes a significant contribution to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between the two nations.

The ambassador highlighted that the work provides Azerbaijani readers with a broad and comprehensive understanding of the Turkmen people's history, their rich spiritual values, and the development of science, education, and culture in Turkmenistan.

At the same time, "The Jewel of Wisdom" reflects the shared spiritual values, historical roots, and traditions of brotherhood between the two peoples. Its translation into Azerbaijani breathes new life into literary and cultural cooperation and further reinforces the spiritual bridge that already exists among Turkic nations.

Touching upon bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Ambassador Gozalov stressed that the brotherly and strategic partnership between the two countries has made significant progress and, in 2025, was further strengthened by the political will of the national leaders.

He added that these relations continue to expand on the basis of mutual trust and friendship.
Nestle has sold its 40% stake in the Herta charcuterie business to Casa Tarradellas, giving full control to the Spanish food company.

The Swiss food giant formed a partnership with Barcelona-based Casa Tarradellas in 2019 when the KitKat maker divested 60% of Herta to the group.

In a brief statement today (23 December), Nestle said the joint venture has come to an end. The financial terms for the sales of the remaining stake were not disclosed.

As well as charcuterie marketed in Europe, the venture also included the Herta dough business in France and Belgium.

When the partnership was established in 2019, the Herta charcuterie and dough business had generated sales of 667m ($785.4m today) the previous year.

Nestle does not, however, break down sales for its joint-venture businesses, with no mention of Herta, Casa Tarradellas or Spanish revenues in the companys 2024 annual report.

Nevertheless, the worlds largest food company operates ten factories in Spain spread across the range of its portfolio: prepared foods and cooking aids; confectionery; pet food; milk products and ice cream; health and nutrition; water, and powdered and liquid beverages.

Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil, who was only assigned to the job in September, revealed in October that he would be reviewing the groups portfolio.

We must have a winning portfolio. Ill be looking at everything in a rational way. Where we arent performing, I will act and act with urgency, Navratil said in his first results presentation since taking the helm.

I look at assessing business on four key questions: Is this a growth category? Is the returns profile attractive? Are we positioned to win? And are we actually winning?

Across most of the portfolio, the answer to these questions is yes  although we are not yet winning as much as we need to. But if our assessment concludes that one or the other business does not meet the criteria I described, we will act, whether that means fixing, partnering or selling.

As Navratil presented Nestles third-quarter results in October, he also announced 16,000 job cuts.

The reductions will be implemented over the next two years  12,000 white-collar workers across the group, and 4,000 in manufacturing and within the supply chain.

He did pledge to retain a focus on the so-called six big bets introduced by his predecessor Laurent Freixe, who departed under a cloud the previous month after just a year at the helm.

Navratil also pointed to market-share losses he planned to address, along with an emphasis on rigorously prioritising growth opportunities.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers banded together ahead of this years holiday season to warn consumers about travel scams.

The United States Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) issued a warning earlier this month to holiday travelers. The cohort of Republican and Democratic lawmakers said that the public faces fraudulent travel sites seeking to obtain consumers personal and/or banking information, as well as hidden costs and bookings that dont live up to what was promised.

There are holiday travel scams that involve a swindler reaching out under the guise of a travel company or an airlines customer service. Travelers may also encounter ads and sponsored search results that lead to phony companies hoping to scam them. Moreover, fake flight notifications from scammers may appear to come from major airlines.

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These scams often involve scammers creating fake travel sites or impersonating airlines or hotels to elicit a fraudulent payment or steal someones identity, detailed the alert. Scammers are trying to trick people into paying for trips or lodging that are nonexistent, have exorbitant hidden fees, or are of a far lower quality than advertised.

The lawmakers behind the warning are JEC Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-NH), JEC Chairman David Schweikert (R-AZ), JEC Vice Chairman Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Senior House Democrat Don Beyer (D-VA).

What Is There To Know About Staying Safe From Holiday Travel Scams?

The best way to stay safe from scammers is to keep your personal information as private as possible. Though it may be common sense to some, its worth noting that you should never share your personal or banking details with disreputable travel companies and agents. Its critical to research a company, travel agent, and/or host before assigning them responsibility for your travel and accommodations. Always double-check that youre entering your personal details on a reputable website, not a counterfeit one. Avoid booking through third-party sites. Also, travelers should practice cybersecurity in airports.

Criminal enterprises across the world are using cyberspace to prey on American consumers, and unfortunately, they target the holidays as an opportune time to steal your hard-earned money, said JEC Chairman Schweikert. This holiday season, as millions of Americans, including seniors, take to the internet to purchase gifts, make travel plans, and send online payments, please be vigilant. Dont click on links you dont know or visit third-party sites that obscure who is handling your money. And ensure (that) when you are making purchases, you are using a reputable site preferably run by the airline, hotel, or other known companies.

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Those who feel theyve been scammed are encouraged to notify their local law enforcement and/or report the incident at reportfraud.ftc.gov.







The post Please Be Vigilant: Lawmakers Issue Consumer Warning Against Scams This Holiday Travel Season appeared first on Travel Noire.
An investigation is underway after a woman was struck and killed by a vehicle in a New Hampshire city on Monday night, authorities said.

Officers responding to a report of a crash involving a pedestrian in the area of 1741 South Willow Street in Manchester just after 5:30 p.m. found a 65-year-old woman suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to the Manchester Police Department.

The woman, whose name hasnt been released, was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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The driver of a Mazda CX-9 involved in the crash, a 52-year-old woman from Nashua, wasnt hurt.

Police didnt say if charges would be filed against the driver.

Anyone with information on the crash is urged to contact the police departments traffic unit at 603-668-8711.

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Investing.com -- A private jet carrying Libyan Army Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad has lost radio contact after taking off from Ankara Esenboga Airport, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported Tuesday.

Radar contact with the aircraft was severed shortly after it departed from the Turkish capital. In response to the incident, Turkish authorities have closed Ankaras airspace to flights.

Flight tracking websites confirm that flights are currently being diverted from the airport as officials respond to the situation.

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Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the loss of contact later on Tuesday.

The aircraft departed at 1710 GMT and radio contact was lost at 1752 GMT, according to Yerlikayas statement on X. The flight had requested an emergency landing while flying over the Haymana district of Ankara, but authorities were unable to establish further contact after this request. The jet carrying Libyas military chief of staff and four others lost radio contact after taking off from Ankara en route to Tripoli.

Yerlikaya also later said that the authorities have found wreckage of the crashed jet. Al-Haddad serves as the chief of staff for Libyas armed forces. Libyas Prime Minister late on Tuesday confirmed that Al-Haddad died in the crash.

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Private jet carrying Libyan Army Chief loses contact over Ankara

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More than 20% of the positions in the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health are unfilled. At Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, the vacancy rate is 31%. (Photo: Getty Images)

Northern Nevadas state-run behavioral health system is heavily reliant on contracted workers as it continues to struggle to fill its vacant positions, lawmakers were told last week.

Managers from the state Department of Human Services appeared before the Interim Finance Committee to request the transfer of $1.8 million from its personnel budget line, which covers employee salaries, to its professional services budget line, which covers people working under contracts.

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Julie Lindesmith, the manager for Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, told lawmakers the agency has been unable to fill vacancies for licensed professionals.

NNAMHS overall employee vacancy rate is 31%, which theyve brought down from 36% two years ago. However, the vacancy rate for psychiatric nurse positions is 50%, and the vacancy rate for licensed clinical social workers is 55%.

We have been making great successes in recruiting, said Lindesmith. In fact, we even had a psychiatrist come over from contract to a state position. However, it is still difficult to hire psychiatric nurses and licensed clinical social workers.

As a result, contracted positions are needed to maintain required staffing ratios.

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The money transferred by IFC is expected to cover contracted workers until February. NNAMHS is expected to have to appear before the legislative money committee again in April, as it is projecting a budget shortfall. But Lindesmith told lawmakers the agency is attempting to find budget savings.

No internal wage study has been conducted to compare the states salary and benefits to other employers within the industry, according to Lindesmith. Recruitment efforts have included community outreach events and mailing flyers to everybody on the states licensure list.

Contract workers earn a higher hourly wage but do not receive employee benefits. Lindesmith said many only work one or two days a week for the state. Some who do work 40 hours prefer a schedule (like working four 10-hour shifts) that the state cannot offer due to its collective bargaining agreement.

The Department of Human Services currently has an overall vacancy rate around 15%, according to its website.

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Within the department, the Division of Child and Family Services has the highest vacancy rate: 24%. The Division of Public and Behavioral Health, which includes NNAMHS, has a vacancy rate of 21%. The Division of Social Services has the lowest vacancy rate: 9.7%.

Over half of the vacancies across the department are in positions related to medical, health, social services or rehabilitation. Along with psychiatric nurses, mental health technicians, mental health counselors, family services specialists and social workers are listed as the positions with the highest vacancies.

The State of Nevada has been working to lower its employee vacancy rate across all departments and has seen success. Gov. Joe Lombardo announced lowering the vacancy rate as a priority when he took office in 2023 and quickly issued several executive orders aimed at reducing barriers to state employment. Retention bonuses were also awarded to employees that year.

In March 2025, The Nevada Independent reported the states total vacancy rate had been cut in half. But vacancy rates within some departments, including the Nevada Department of Corrections and Department of Human Services, have remained stubbornly high.
Davante Lewis speaks at a candidates' forum in Lutcher held Sept. 21, 2022, for the District 3 seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

State troopers issued a summons Saturday night to Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis for driving while intoxicated, a charge he said Monday he plans to contest, WAFB-TV reported.

A report from Louisiana State Police indicates Lewis was pulled over in West Baton Rouge Parish for driving without headlights. He was issued a court summons for first-offense DWI and headlights required. Both are misdemeanor charges that did not require troopers to arrest or jail Lewis. The West Baton Rouge jail does not accept bookings for first-offense DWI, according to State Police.

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Lewis issued the following statement Monday regarding his arrest:

This weekend, I was stopped by law enforcement for a headlight related issue. I cooperated fully and the situation was resolved promptly. While I was ultimately issued a DWI summons, I will be working with lawyers to contest the charge. Out of respect for the process and those involved, I will defer to them for further comment on this matter at this time.

I have great respect for the men and women who serve our community in law enforcement, and I believe everyone, myself included, is accountable to the law. I appreciate the professionalism shown during the encounter. I also take my responsibilities to the press and the public seriously.

I understand the gravity of the situation why our communities concerned. As I always have, I plan to remain accountable through both my words and my actions, not just through my words. My hope is that our focus remains on the consistent, good work we have accomplished advocating for Louisianas citizens.
Dec. 22RATON  A woman accused of permitting and at times participating in sexually abusing one of her children for several years with her partner was released from police custody last week on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.Amber Seay, 34, originally faced over two dozen charges tied to the alleged abuse and for fleeing with her two children last May to Joplin, Missouri, where she and her husband were arrested and the children were taken into protective custody. Seay will be required to wear a GPS monitor, must stay in either New Mexico or Georgia and avoid contact with her partner, 49-year-old William Street, and the children while her case is processed. Seay's release comes after she signed a plea agreement in principle on Nov. 20 with the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office, which had initially filed a motion to detain the 34-year-old without bond until trial.The agreement requires Seay to plead guilty to three second-degree felonies that carry a 27-year sentence with a 15-year open sentencing cap, according to the District Attorney's Office. In exchange, Seay agreed to cooperate in the prosecution of Street. In a phone interview on Monday, DA Marcus Montoya said a formal, contractual agreement with the defendant is still pending. Local officers in Joplin arrested Street in early November on a bench warrant charging him with 33 felony counts, including child rape, child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and bribery of a witness. Both cases originated on May 15, when one of Seay's children called 911 to report she had been sexually abused for roughly six years at the family's home in Raton. According to arrest warrant affidavits, the juvenile told responding officers that Street had raped her, sometimes in Seay's presence, though the couple denied the abuse claims when speaking with law enforcement. Officers contacted the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, which dispatched a case worker, who allowed Seay to remain at the home with the children so long as Street left immediately.

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Seay told police Street was fleeing the state on May 20 and then herself fled New Mexico with her two children before CYFD could arrange a forensic interview with the child who said she had been abused. Maralyn Beck, founder and executive director of New Mexico Child First Network, told the Journal last month that CYFD should have removed the child from Seay's custody immediately after the abuse was reported to police. By state law, she said CYFD can remove children from parents' custody for 72 hours if they have reason to believe they are in danger.In a statement last month, CYFD Communications Director Jake Thompson said "the system" failed the child who reported she had been abused, but added that "no safety plan, no matter how carefully constructed, can work when parents lie and violate the terms meant to protect their own children." John Miller is the northern New Mexico correspondent for the Journal. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.
For Mahendra Mick Patel, 2025 will always be the year his life turned upside down.

What began as an errand for his elderly mother in March devolved into an attempted kidnapping accusation, forcing the 57-year-old father to abandon his real estate business and leaving his family desperate to find a way to clear his name.

Instead of getting ready for a summer filled with family vacations and celebrations, he sat inside a Georgia jail cell and racked his brain: How could what he perceived to be an innocent exchange between two strangers at a Walmart store turn into felony charges?

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Patels prior run-ins with the law paled in comparison to the monthslong upheaval he was about to experience  now he was swept into the ranks of Americans who say they were wrongfully accused of a crime.

From a Walmart aisle to a jail cell in days

It was mid-March when Patel ventured off after dinner to a Walmart store in Cobb County, just northwest of Atlanta. As he walked the aisles, he spotted a woman riding a motorized cart and thought she could help him find some Tylenol.

And so she did.

The woman, Caroline Miller, 26, sat on the cart with her 2-year-old son on her lap, and an older child was sitting on the carts footwell. As the two adults engaged in conversation, the scooter clipped a store display and Patel noticed the toddler looked like he was about to fall  off the scooter and his mothers lap.

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What happened next left Patel and Miller with a different understanding of the interaction.

Shoppers walk outside of the Walmart store in Kennesaw, Georgia, where Mahendra Mick Patel was shopping in March of this year. - Austin Steele/CNN

Patel said he reached out to make sure the boy wouldnt fall. Meanwhile, Miller claimed the man grabbed her son out of her lap when she raised her hand to point in the direction of the Tylenol.

Im like, No, no  what are you doing? He pulled him, Miller told CNN affiliate WSB in March. I pulled him back. Were tug-of-warring.

CNN has made multiple attempts to speak with Miller. When reached by phone, her father declined to comment.

Patel, a retired engineer and father of two, left the store within a few minutes after paying for the Tylenol. He didnt give the encounter a second thought until three days later when he was handcuffed on the side of a Georgia highway.

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He had been charged with criminal attempt to commit kidnapping, simple assault and simple battery.

They (police officers) said we have a warrant against you, and thats it, they took me to jail, Patel said.

His time behind bars depleted his body and tested his strength

For 47 days, Patel endured legal proceedings, a lack of nutrition and violent threats while being held without bond in jail, he said.

Patel went from being his own boss and a board member of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to serving children to spending his days and nights at the Cobb County Jail among people accused or convicted of violent crimes.

His body quickly felt the strain of his new surroundings. First, he didnt have medication to treat his hypertension for several days and later, he lost at least 17 pounds because he would only eat milk, rice, beans and peanut butter due to a lack of vegetarian options.

The Cobb County Adult Detention Center in Marietta, Georgia, on December 17, where Mahendra Mick Patel was held for more than 40 days. - Austin Steele/CNN

With his wife out of town on work, his two adult daughters living states away and his non-English-speaking elderly mother at home unaware he was behind bars, no family members visited.

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Detention wasnt new to him. He had been in prison once before and worked to rebuild his life after.

In 2013, Patel pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges after he used his IT connections from his time as an engineer in a plot to influence the bidding process for a computer project with the Atlanta Public School system. He was also arrested on suspicion of DUI two decades ago, court records show.

Serving six months in federal prison in connection with the conspiracy charges, Patel said, was a completely sobering experience and led him to focus on slowly expanding his real estate business, rather than chasing the next big thing in life.

This time was so different.

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It felt like a one-way ticket to jail with no promise of ever getting out, and the environment during confinement was marred by a constant barrage of threats to his life, which almost broke him.

Some detainees threatened to beat him in the showers and others demanded money in exchange for their protection while in jail, Patel said. Afraid for his wellbeing, he said he contemplated asking for protective custody, and other inmates told him hed sometimes wake up at night screaming get off me!

From hundreds of miles away in Texas, Patels best friend of nearly 45 years wouldnt let him give up on himself and warned him of the impact solitary confinement could have on him.

I told him, dont do it, you will go crazy, his friend, Hasmukh Patel, said of the phone calls they shared during that time.

Mahendra Mick Patel shows a copy of the Bhagvad Gita he read while he was in jail. - Austin Steele/CNN

Patel filled his days and weeks with meditation, reading religious texts like the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduisms most important texts. He even attended Bible study with other inmates, hoping it would help him refocus his mind while he maintained his innocence.

How surveillance video became his get-out-of-jail card

In early May, nearly two months after he was detained, Patel held onto the hope a compilation of security footage from the Walmart store would debunk the accusation keeping him behind bars.

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Theres no tug-of-war. Its  a split second, his attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, said at the time. Theres definitely no battery, no assault, nothing like that at all.

In the audio-less and somewhat grainy footage, presented by Merchant at a bond hearing, Patel is seen entering the store and eventually encountering Miller, who was riding the cart.

While Patels back obscures part of what is happening, the video shows they were turning into an aisle when the cart clipped the corner of a display. Then, Patel briefly takes something into his arms and lifts, but Miller appears to reach back. Quickly after, the child can be seen on her lap while Patel takes a few steps away. Miller gestures somewhere in the distance, and Patel walks off camera in that direction.

About six minutes later, the video shows Patel paying for his purchase and walking out of the store after pausing to speak with an employee for more than 20 seconds.

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When the security footage was made public, the scrutiny Patel felt turned into support. That day in court, he was released on a $10,000 bond and more than 90,000 people had signed a petition declaring his innocence.

Three more months had passed when Patels legal battle came to a screeching halt in August as prosecutors entered a motion to dismiss his case, effectively dropping the charges, court records show.

Imagine (if) there was no camera in this Walmart  no proof, Patel said. What would happen to my life, literally  attempted kidnapping carries lifetime prison (sentence), 25 years  my kids would never, my wife would never see me again.

Acworth Police cruisers are seen in Acworth, Georgia, on December 17, 2025. - Austin Steele/CNN

Reflecting on the case, Merchant previously told CNN she credited Patels release solely to the Walmart surveillance footage and warned about hasty police work.

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Our system needs to be aware that innocent people are falsely accused on a daily basis and without police willing to investigate before rushing to judgement, judges willing to release people on bond while awaiting an investigation, and prosecutors willing to provide transparency with evidence, this will continue to happen, the attorney continued.

CNN has reached out to Acworth Police for comment on the dismissal of the case.

We talk about innocent until proven guilty all the timeI dont believe that, Patel said. I dont believe for a second if you tell me that, because once you get accused, not even convicted, your life turns upside down.

The relentless grip of public scrutiny goes on

Patel and his family were able to rest easily when the charges were dropped, but damage had already been done. The accusation had prompted many people to condemn him, including his own South Asian community, and the memory would linger.

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While in jail, his family was just lost from the burden of facing community members and strangers. Patels niece took her fathers car keys and urged him to avoid public spaces because she was afraid someone with ill intentions would mistake the brothers, which routinely happened.

Another of Patels brothers, who lives in Mississippi, was bombarded with calls from people in the tight-knit South Asian community who were curious about the incident.

The negative public attention to his name left a mark on his business and charitable work. His tenants stopped paying rent, Patel said, and a community organization cut ties with him by terminating his membership and removing him from its board of directors.

Mahendra Mick Patel says the negative attention he received has left a stain on his reputation and created anxiety for his loved ones. - Austin Steele/CNN

Cameras are seen outside of the Walmart store in Kennesaw, Georgia, that Mahendra Mick Patel visited seeking Tylenol for his mother. - Austin Steele/CNN

Our life is dramatically changed, he said reflecting months after his release. We were living a quiet life with the familyI never was online  and now everybody knows me.

My record is always going to be on (the) internet, even though the court is going to expunge all my records, he said.

Over the summer, as his case was still pending in court, Patel attended the weddings, engagements and reunions of several relatives and friends. But those occasions of joy and celebration were partly spoiled by constant questions and stares.

Those reminders have let up, Patel said, but still persist. When he is approached by people, Patel said he keeps the conversation short and encourages them to form their own opinion by searching for his case on Google.

I dont really care what people judge me for, he said. I dont live my life that way anyway.

And while no amount of money can make up for what he went through, Patel has decided to take legal action, seeking $25 million in damages from the City of Acworth for alleged libel, slander, negligence, false imprisonment, emotional distress and more, according to an ante litem notice sent to the city in September outlining his intent to sue.

Under Georgia code, such notice must be filed prior to filing a lawsuit.

In the notice, Patel claims the Acworth Police Department pushed for a quick indictment, preventing him from challenging the accusations early and leading to an indictment based on limited evidence. Those actions delayed his ability to get a bond and ultimately kept him in custody longer, according to the notice.

Cars drive through downtown Acworth, Georgia, on December 17, 2025. - Austin Steele/CNN

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood and the citys Board of Aldermen reviewed the notice in September and voted to deny any and all liability related to Patels claim, an attorney on behalf of city officials said in a letter sent to Patels attorney. In a statement to CNN, Allegood declined to comment on the case due to potential for litigation and shared the letter from the city.

When Patel reflects on his actions that night at Walmart, its nearly impossible to separate his choices from his identity and cultural background. His South Asian heritage, deeply rooted in values and religious teachings, centers in the belief that caring for others strengthens community bonds.

I wont say I changed my behavior, he said. I would be careful. But knowing me, who I am, I help people.

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(Gilberto Tadday/TED)

A leaked memo sent Sunday to senior producers shows CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss arguing that the completed 60 Minutes segment she pulled this weeks show, covering Trump administration deportations, required more context and balance and was not broadcast-ready.

The segment, which focused on the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvadors high-security CECOT prison, was pulled shortly before broadcast. The decision led to immediate resistance inside the newsroom.

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In the memo, acquired by Axios, Weiss argued the report did not sufficiently reflect the administrations position or legal reasoning, and said the segment paints an incongruent picture after journalists failed to robustly secure on-the-record responses from senior Trump officials.

In a pointed internal email, also leaked, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who crafted the report, pushed back on that point and argued that government silence is a statement, not a VETO.

Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story, she wrote.

Weisss critique, however, went a little further.

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At present, we do not present the administrations argument for why it sent 252 Venezuelans to CECOT, the editor-in-chief wrote.

She questioned whether the segment relied too heavily on limited soundbites, adding: What we have is Karoline Leavitts soundbite claiming they are evildoers in America (rapists, murderers, etc.). But isnt there much more to ask in light of the torture that we are revealing? Weiss urged producers to intensify efforts to obtain comment from figures such as border czar Tom Homan and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller.

We need to do a better job of explaining the legal rationale by which the administration detained and deported these 252 Venezuelans to CECOT, she said, stressing that the issue went beyond a simplistic reading of the Alien Enemies Act.

Theres a genuine debate here, she added, calling for competing legal interpretations to be presented side-by-side.

Read Weisss full memo below:

Hi all, Im writing with specific guidance on what Id like for us to do to advance the CECOT story. I know youd all like to see this run as soon as possible; I feel the same way. But if we run the piece as is, wed be doing our viewers a disservice. Last month many outlets, most notably The New York Times, exposed the horrific conditions at CECOT. Our story presents more of these powerful testimoniesand putting those accounts into the public record is valuable in and of itself. But if were going to run another story about a topic that has by now been much-covered we need to advance it. Among the ways to do so: does anyone in the administration or anyone prominent who defended the use of the Alien Enemies Act now regret it in light of what these Venezuelans endured at CECOT? Thats a question Id like to see asked and answered.

At present, we do not present the administrations argument for why it sent 252 Venezuelans to CECOT. What we have is Karoline Leavitts soundbite claiming they are evildoers in America (rapists, murderers, etc.). But isnt there much more to ask in light of the torture that we are revealing? Tom Homan and Stephen Miller dont tend to be shy. I realize weve emailed the DHS spox, but we need to push much harder to get these principals on the record.

The data we present paints an incongruent picture. Of the 252 Venezuelans sent to CECOT, we say nearly half have no criminal histories. In other words, more than half do have criminal histories. We should spend a beat explaining this. We then say that only 8 of the 252 have been sentenced in America for violent offenses. But what about charged? My point is that we should include as much as we can possibly know and understand about these individuals.

Secretary Noems trip to CECOT. We report that she took pictures and video there with MS-13 gang members, not TdA members, with no comment from her or her staff about what her goal on that trip was, or what she saw there, or if she had or has concerns about the treatment of detainees like the ones in our piece. I also think that the ensuing analysis from the Berkeley students is strange. The pictures are alarming; we should include them. But what does the analysis add?

We need to do a better job of explaining the legal rationale by which the administration detained and deported these 252 Venezuelans to CECOT. Its not as simple as Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act and being able to deport them immediately. And that isnt the administrations argument. The admin has argued in court that detainees are due judicial reviewand we should explain this, with a voice arguing that Trump is exceeding his authority under the relevant statute, and another arguing that hes operating within the bounds of his authority. Theres a genuine debate here. If we cut down Kristi Noem analysis wed have the time. My general view here is that we do our viewers the best service by presenting them with the full context they need to assess the story. In other words, I believe we need to do more reporting here. I am eager and available to help. I tracked down cell numbers for Homan and Miller and sent those along. Please let me know how I can support you. Yours, Bari



The post READ: Bari Weiss Laid Out Specific Issues with 60 Minutes CECOT Report in Leaked Memo Before Yanking Segment first appeared on Mediaite.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026, 2:15 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 54-year-old Green Bay man accused of stalking a 17-year-old girl was in court on January 23 for a hearing, which was listed as a status conference.

Court records show Dennis Johnson appeared while in custody, still without an attorney, as the present bond continued.

Johnson has a status conference on February 3 at 2 p.m.

Johnson is set for another status conference on Jan

UPDATE: Green Bay man charged with stalking teen appears in court

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2025, 2:17 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 54-year-old Green Bay man accused of stalking a 17-year-old girl was in court on December 18 as he waived the time limits to a preliminary hearing.

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Court records show Dennis Johnson appeared while in custody at the Wisconsin Resource Center without an attorney, as he doesnt have one listed for him in the court records.

Johnson is set for another status conference on January 23 at 2 p.m.

UPDATE: Green Bay man charged with stalking teen appears in court

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025, 1:22 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 53-year-old Green Bay man accused of stalking a 17-year-old girl was back in court Wednesday for a status conference.

Court records show Dennis Johnson appeared while in custody at the Wisconsin Resource Center, with his attorney, Peter Heyne, present on his behalf.

Click here for more news, weather, and sports

Johnsons bond was continued, and another status conference has been scheduled for Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.

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Local 5 News will continue to follow this case as it moves through the court system.

UPDATE: Green Bay man accused of stalking teen requests new counsel during hearing, initial attorney withdraws

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025, 5:51 p.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  The 53-year-old Green Bay man charged with multiple felonies for allegedly stalking a 17-year-old girl was in court on Wednesday for a status conference.

Court records show that Dennis Johnson was in court while in custody at the Wisconsin Resource Center, with his attorney, Brianna Zawada, in court on his behalf.

While the present bond continued, Johnson wished to find new representation, as his attorney withdrew from the case.

An additional status conference has been set for 2 p.m. on September 17.

UPDATE: Green Bay man accused of stalking teen appears in court

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025, 5:45 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 53-year-old Green Bay man facing multiple felonies related to stalking a 17-year-old girl appeared in court Friday for a status conference.

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Court records show Dennis Johnson appeared as scheduled, and a preliminary hearing has been set for June 4, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Johnsons bond was continued.

Local 5 News will continue to follow this case as it progresses through the court system.

UPDATE: Green Bay man accused of stalking teen appears in court

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025, 2:15 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 53-year-old Green Bay man facing multiple felonies related to stalking a 17-year-old girl appeared in court for a status conference on Friday.

Court records show that Dennis Johnson had his status conference, and the court has scheduled a preliminary hearing on May 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

Johnsons bond was continued.

Local 5 News will continue to follow this case and provide updates as it progresses through the court system.

UPDATE: Green Bay man accused of stalking teen appears in court

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025, 2:15 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 53-year-old Green Bay man facing multiple felonies related to allegedly stalking a 17-year-old girl appeared in court for a status conference on Friday.

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Court records show that Dennis Johnson has another status conference scheduled for May 9 at 8:30 a.m.

Johnson faces one count of stalking a victim under the age of 18, two counts of exposing a child to harmful material, and two misdemeanor drug charges.

No further details were provided.

UPDATE: Green Bay registered sex offender charged with stalking teen has status conference, another scheduled

January 2, 2025  11:16 a.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  The 52-year-old Green Bay man who has been charged with stalking a 17-year-old girl and allegedly leaving notes on her car, had a status conference recently.

According to court records, Dennis Johnson appeared in custody via Zoom for a status conference on December 27 and had his present bond of $100,000 continued.

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Concerning & unacceptable: Fond du Lac officers investigating shooting between multiple vehicles on New Years Eve

Johnson is facing multiple charges in relation to the alleged stalking of a 17-year-old girl, including two felony charges of Expose Child to Harmful Material.

An additional status conference has been scheduled for March 7, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Original story: Registered sex offender in Green Bay charged with stalking 17-year-old, leaving sexual notes on her car

November 19, 2024  4:17 p.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A man from Green Bay had his cash bond set at $100,000 after being charged with stalking a 17-year-old girl and leaving sexual notes on her car.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 52-year-old Dennis Johnson is facing multiple charges in relation to the alleged stalking of a 17-year-old girl. On October 26, an officer with the Green Bay Police Department was sent to a residence for a reported incident that was sexual in nature.

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The complaint says that a 17-year-old girl received a letter from a stranger that was on her car. The letter was reportedly sexual in nature and was accompanied by a sexual book. The letter addressed the victim as Cheesehead.

Wisconsin reaches $1M settlement with Roundys over pricing and labeling violations

The victim and witnesses said that no one they know calls her Cheesehead.

On November 10, an officer was sent to the same residence for another report of a stalking incident. A plastic bag was found on the hood of the victims car.

Security cameras were set up after the initial incident and authorities reviewed the footage. A middle-aged man was seen placing the bag on the car around 2:20 a.m.

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The bag contained another book that was deemed sexual in nature and a handwritten note of the same genre. The note also reportedly asked for a loan of $6,000-$10,000.

Authorities later did a search through Wisconsins Sex Offender Registry and found Dennis Johnson who matched the description of the person seen on the footage. The complaint says that in 1994, Johnson was in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old when he was 22 years old.

An officer contacted Johnson and searched his residence. A metallic pipe that was believed to be consistent with a pipe used for drug use.

Johnson reportedly told authorities that he saw the victim mowing the law about two or three years ago. The complaint says that he was sexually attracted to her and thought she was 18 years old.

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He admitted to leaving the notes and books so the victim could write her own book. The complaint says that Johnson said he asked for money because he was about to run out of it and be kicked out of his residence.

Fire devastates popular frozen custard restaurant in Wisconsin; no injuries reported

In the complaint, it mentions that the family of the victim has been living in fear since the first incident.

Johnson is charged with:

Stalking  Victim under age 18, repeater Felony Up to six years in prison (Can be increased by four years due to being a repeater)

Exposing a Child to Harmful Material, repeater Felony Up to three and a half years in prison (Can be increased by four years due to being a repeater)

Exposing a Child to Harmful Material, repeater Felony Up to three and a half years in prison (Can be increased by four years due to being a repeater)

Possession of THC, repeater Misdemeanor Up to six months in prison (Can be increased by two years due to being a repeater)

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, repeater Misdemeanor Up to 30 days in prison (Can be increased by two years due to being a repeater)



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Court records show that Johnson was in court on November 15 for his initial appearance. He had his cash bond set at $100,000. He is due back in court on December 27 for a status conference.

Three kilograms of cocaine and an estimated $300k worth of drugs found after traffic stop in Wisconsin, one arrested

No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this story as the case progresses.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) struck a cautious tone during its earnings conference call, pushing stock lower in premarket trading Friday as investors weighed a solid second-quarter performance against a softer near-term outlook and rising margin pressures.

Nike reported second-quarter revenue of $12.43 billion, topping estimates, while earnings per share came in at 53 cents, well above the 38-cent consensus. Nike Brand revenue edged up 1% to $12.1 billion.

Strength in wholesale helped offset ongoing channel shifts, with wholesale revenue rising 8% to $7.5 billion, while Nike Direct sales declined 8% to $4.6 billion, as the company continued to rebalance its marketplace.

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Weaker Outlook And Margin Headwinds

Guidance dominated investor focus. CFO Matt Friend said third-quarter revenue is expected to decline in the low single digits, with gross margin projected to fall by 175 to 225 basis points.

Friend also highlighted the impact of reciprocal tariffs, which are expected to create a $1.5 billion annualized headwind and pressure margins by more than 300 basis points, noting that corrective actions will take time to materialize.

China Pressures Persist, North America Improves

China remained a significant drag, with Greater China revenue down 16% and digital sales plunging 36% amid weaker demand and heavy promotions.

CEO Elliott Hill described China as "a longer road to a healthier business," acknowledging that the recovery is progressing more slowly than anticipated. In contrast, North America showed momentum, with regional revenue up 9%.

See Also: Earn While You Scroll: The Deloitte-Ranked #1 Software Company Growing 32,481% Is Opening Its $0.50/Share Round to Accredited Investors.

Analyst Revisions And Stock Reaction

Following the call, analysts lowered price forecasts while maintaining ratings. Bank of America Securities' Lorraine Hutchinson reiterated a Buy rating, cutting her forecast to $73 from $84.

Piper Sandler's Anna Andreeva maintained an Overweight rating and reduced her forecast to $75 from $84.

Telsey Advisory Group's Cristina Fernandez reiterated a Market Perform rating with a $72 target, down from $75, while Needham's Tom Nikic kept a Buy rating and lowered his forecast to $68 from $78.

Nike shares closed Thursday at $65.63, slid after hours, and continued falling ahead of Friday's open.
In October, an American flag with a swastika was seen in Rep. Dave Taylor's office, prompting an investigation. Two months later, what have Capitol Police found out?

Nothing they would share with The Enquirer.

Taylor, a Republican whose district includes Clermont and other southern Ohio counties, condemned the "vile symbol" in an emailed statement on Oct. 15, and said he immediately called for a "thorough" investigation alongside Capitol Police.

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The Enquirer asked Capitol Police for an update on that investigation on Dec. 2. In an email, a spokesperson said police could not discuss "any potential investigations" for "safety reasons."

The Enquirer pointed out that the investigation is ongoing, not potential, according to Rep. Taylor, and asked whether the probe is still open. Capitol Police did not respond.

Rebecca Thompson, Taylor's spokesperson, said in an email on Dec. 5 that their office had no new updates on the matter.

What happened?

A screenshot from a video call with one of Rep. Taylor's staffers was posted on X by left-leaning Ohio politics blogger D.J. Byrnes. Behind the staffer hung a small American flag, altered to include the Nazi symbol.

A friend in DC had a Zoom call with Congressman Dave Taylors office today



Taylors legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, had what can only be described as an American swastika flag prominently displayed in his background. pic.twitter.com/zFn3QowS0c  The Rooster (@rooster_ohio) October 15, 2025

Taylor condemned the "vile and deeply inappropriate symbol." In an email, he said none of his employees would "knowingly display such a despicable image," and the flag was taken down as soon as the swastika was discovered.

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Taylor called the incident a "ruse," and said an unidentified group or person distributed the flags to other Republican lawmakers. Utah U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy told reporters his office received a small American flag modified to look like a swastika earlier this year.

In his October statements, Taylor said he also asked the Committee on House Administration to investigate the flags. The Enquirer emailed a spokesperson for the committee, but did not receive a response prior to publication.

What happened to Taylor's staffer in the photo?

Byrnes' social media post identified the staffer in the photo as Angelo Elia, Taylor's legislative correspondent.

Taylor's spokesperson did not answer The Enquirer's question about whether Elia is still employed.

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According to his LinkedIn, Elia has worked for Taylor since January, when the Ohio congressman took office. He previously worked as a political consultant for different firms, including a Youngstown group that supports Ohio Democrats.

This is not consistent with the person who I knew," Anthony Stratis, the former managing partner for Blue Phoenix Strategies, told The Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio. Its heartbreaking. Im very progressive. It took a minute for me to comprehend that this is the same person who was fighting for a womans right to choose and fighting for higher wages for the middle class.

Elia worked for Blue Phoenix Strategies from 2022 to 2023, his LinkedIn shows, and then for a bipartisan government relations firm in Washington, D.C.

Who is Rep. Dave Taylor?

Taylor won a crowded Republican primary in 2024 and went on to succeed former Rep. Brad Wenstrup to represent Ohio's 2nd Congressional District.

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Raised in Amelia, Ohio, Taylor also runs his family's concrete company, Sardinia Ready Mix.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Questions remain after swastika flag seen in congressman's office
Getty Images

This story was originally published by Public News Service.

As Michigan grapples with an ongoing teacher shortage, a new report says the state is also falling short when it comes to building a diverse educator workforce.

According to EdTrust-Midwest, just over 11% of Michigan teachers are people of color, even though nearly 40% of the states students are non-white.

The study finds about one in 10 Michigan students attends a school with no teachers of color at all, a gap Charlotte Pierce  senior policy analyst at EdTrust-Midwest  said can affect academic outcomes and long-term workforce readiness.

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Strong and diverse teacher workforces have been linked to quantitative improvements in test scores, said Pierce, fewer absences and suspensions, higher graduation and college enrollment rates, and an increased trust between students and teachers.

The report offers a roadmap to strengthen Michigans teacher pipeline, such as earlier recruitment and retention efforts. Pierce said state leaders are receptive and open to taking action.

Pierce also pointed out that the lack of diversity isnt tied to a single failure point, but to barriers that build over time.

What we really want to frame this as is a pipeline issue, said Pierce. So its not one single point where were losing all of our teachers, but rather, were not getting as much diversity of interest in the teaching profession and that could be for a number of reasons, including low pay.

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Researchers say barriers like cost, lack of support during student teaching, and poor early career conditions continue to limit who enters and stays in the profession. Pierce emphasized that representation in the classroom can shape how students see their own futures.

When students arent seeing diversity at the front of their classrooms, said Pierce, its hard to inspire the next generation, if they cant see themselves in that profession.
Shortly after Carnival Corporation announced plans to transform the port of Ensenada, Mexico with exciting new experiences for visitors, Royal Caribbean revealed a similar project to revitalize a popular cruise port in the Caribbean.

Both projects will benefit the local economy and improve the cruise port experience for visitors arriving to the destination, no matter which cruise line brings them there. While Royal Caribbean is in the midst of rapidly expanding its portfolio of exclusive destinations that are only available to its passengers, the company also partners with local governments and port operators to upgrade cruise port facilities for the benefit of all visitors and local residents.

With its newest agreement, Royal Caribbean is investing in a port thats visited regularly by a variety of cruise lines in a destination beloved for its gorgeous Caribbean beaches, stunning views, and lively culture.

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St. Thomas is one of the most loved Caribbean cruise destinations. Photo credit: elvirkins / Shutterstock.com (Photo credit: elvirkins / Shutterstock.com)

Royal Caribbean is investing in St. Thomas

On Dec. 17, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, Royal Caribbean Group, and Cruise Terminals International signed a landmark agreement to redevelop the Crown Bay District at the port of St. Thomas into a new, mixed-use destination for residents and visitors. A collaboration between the public and private sectors, the agreement represents a major investment in tourism and economic growth in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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The project is designed to refresh the waterfront area, turning Crown Bay Center into a modern hub for tourism with enhanced commercial, recreational, and cultural areas. The redevelopment will support the local economy through the creation of new jobs during the construction phase and ongoing operations, new entrepreneurial opportunities for local businesses, and improved opportunities for local taxi drivers and tour operators.

Related: Royal Caribbean cancels select Caribbean cruises for 2026

"This initiative represents the future of tourism in the U.S. Virgin Islands. To remain competitive in the rapidly changing global tourism sector, we must continue to innovate and invest in experiences that meet modern travelers' expectations while benefiting our local community. The redevelopment of the Crown Bay District aims to achieve this goal. It will enhance our current standing and lay the groundwork for the next generation of economic growth, opportunities, and destination development, said Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe.

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

St. Thomas port redevelopment will elevate cruise passenger experience

St. Thomas is already a popular destination among cruise vacationers and enhancing the port experience will ensure that St. Thomas remains a leading cruise port in the Caribbean. Cruise passengers can expect new activities and cultural experiences, new food and beverage and retail offerings, and an improved arrival experience at the port.

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Royal Caribbean Group proudly supports the revitalization of the Crown Bay District. By providing elevated experiences for our guests while also paying respect to the local culture and delivering significant economic benefits to the community, we can collectively usher in a new future for U.S. Virgin Islands, said Melissa Morales, Royal Caribbeans senior director of destination development for the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe.

The Crown Bay District redevelopment project is valued at more than $200 million. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, and will be phased to minimize impact to cruise and retail operations.

Related: You can visit 2 new beach clubs on Royal Caribbean cruises in 2026

(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 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
At least three people were killed in Ukraine by the latest barrage of Russian missiles and drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

In the Zhytomyr region, west of the capital Kiev, a 4-year-old child was killed when a drone struck a residential building, Zelensky said in a post on social media.

A woman was killed in the greater Kiev region in a Russian drone attack, while another person died in the western Khmelnytskyi region, he added.

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Zelensky said Russia launched about 650 drones and more than three dozen missiles in the attacks. Ukrainian air defences intercepted many of the projectiles, but some strikes hit their targets, he said.

He called the attacks "an extremely clear signal about Russia's priorities" and noted they come ahead of Christmas, "when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe."

Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not stop the killing, despite multiple rounds of diplomacy to secure a ceasefire, and urged the international community to increase pressure on Moscow.

Air raid alerts were issued across Ukraine early Tuesday.

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In the capital Kiev, at least three people were injured, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Debris from a downed drone fell onto a residential building, shattering windows, he said in a message on Telegram.

In the Zhytomyr region, west of Kiev, authorities said six people were injured in Russian airstrikes, including two children.

Russian attacks once again focused primarily on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Officials reported fresh power outages in several regions.

The situation for many residents has deteriorated due to the freezing temperatures, with electricity and heating disruptions compounding existing hardships.

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Moscow has intensified strikes during the winter months in an apparent effort to increase pressure on Ukraine to accept Russian terms in ongoing talks aimed at ending the war.

Negotiations involving Ukrainian and US officials on one side and Russian and US officials on the other have so far failed to produce any breakthrough toward a ceasefire.
Dec. 23SCRANTON  Convicted killer and drug pusher Patrick Raymond Russin benefited from a hand-written dispositional sheet in 2003.

Russin, 55, of Dallas, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to seven years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 50 grams of methamphetamine. Russin pled guilty to the charge on May 2

, 2025,

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related to a federal grand jury indictment against him and three other men in April 2024, alleging drug trafficking in Luzerne County.

Federal prosecutors sought an enhanced prison sentence of a decade in prison for Russin based on his previous conviction of robbery in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in 2003.

To support the enhanced sentence for Russin, federal prosecutors filed a sentencing memorandum that referenced Russin's 2003 guilty plea to robbery in Luzerne County Court as a "serious violent offense."

However, a clerical error was discovered in Russin's handwritten dispositional sheet that involved Russin's guilty plea to two counts of third-degree murder, two counts of robbery, and two counts of abuse of corpse.

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Russin pled guilty in Luzerne County to his role in the shotgun slayings of Adeiye Keiler and Frank James at a Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township, residence where Hugo Selenski lived in May 2003.

Selenski was acquitted by a jury in the killing of Keiler, and a mistrial was declared for James' slaying. The jury did, however, convict Selenski of abusing the bodies of Keiler and James, who were burned in a pit.

In their effort for a decade in prison for Russin on the federal drug charge, federal prosecutors mistook Russin's guilty plea to robbery as a certain classification of robbery in their sentencing memorandum, only to discover a clerical error was made from Russin's hand-written dispositional sheet produced during Russin's guilty plea in Luzerne County Court on Nov. 6, 2003.

Federal prosecutors attempted to correct the clerical error but were rejected by Mariani in a 35-page opinion filed Nov. 17.

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"The government misinterpreted a docket sheet and chose the wrong subsection of the (robbery) statute of conviction to include in (Russin's) the indictment and information," Judge Mariani wrote, ruling, "(Russin) is not subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years."

Along with being sentenced to seven years in federal prison, Judge Mariani ordered Russin to serve four years of supervised release.

In a related case, Russin faces charges of resisting arrest, ethnic intimidation, and institutional vandalism for an incident inside the Dallas Township Police Department on April 11, 2024.

Police in Dallas Township apprehended Russin on the federal arrest warrant as he allegedly struggled with officers and damaged a garage door, according to court records.
The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division has raised $1,859,595 in donations for its Red Kettle Campaign, nearing 81% of its $2,303,000 fundraising goal as Christmas Eve approaches.

With only hours left in the campaign, donations collected through this initiative provide essential services across 28 counties, including food assistance, rent and utility help, seasonal support, youth empowerment and spiritual programs. In Allegheny County alone, the organization has generated $374,703, which is more than 71% of the countys $527,000 goal.

Several local Salvation Army centers have reported a decline in donations year-over-year, highlighting the urgent need for increased community support. The centers in Allegheny Valley (Brackenridge), Greensburg and North Boroughs (Pittsburgh) are particularly affected and require additional contributions to sustain critical programs and services for vulnerable populations.

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As Major Marcus Jugenheimer, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania, stated, As we enter the final hours of this critical fundraiser, we would like to take a moment to thank all of our supporters and volunteers for their incredible generosity. Your time and treasures make a big difference. He emphasized the importance of continued donations to provide a safety net for the communitys most vulnerable residents throughout the coming year.

The Salvation Army is encouraging the public to make one final push in donations before the campaign concludes.

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Large shares of Americas closest allies view the United States as unreliable, disruptive, and increasingly negative on the world stage, according to new international polling.

The data, released by Politico and polling firm Public First, shows that pluralities in Germany and France, and a majority in Canada, now see the United States as a negative global force. Views are more mixed in the United Kingdom, though skepticism remains widespread. The results capture growing unease with President Donald Trumps foreign policy agenda.

In Canada, 56 percent of respondents said the United States is a negative force globally, compared with just 26 percent who described it as positive. In Germany, 40 percent viewed the United States negatively, while 29 percent said it was a positive force, and the remainder reported neutral views.

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France showed a similar split, with 40 percent calling the United States a negative force and 34 percent saying it was positive. In the United Kingdom, 35 percent said the United States is a negative force, while 41 percent viewed it positively.

Across all four countries, near-majorities also said the United States tends to create problems for other countries rather than solve them. That view was strongest in Canada, where 63 percent said the United States creates problems.

In Germany, 52 percent agreed. In France, 47 percent said the United States creates problems, compared with 29 percent who said it solves them. In the United Kingdom, 46 percent said the United States creates problems, while 35 percent said it solves them.

Canada, whose Prime Minister Mark Carney is pictured, had the most negative view of Trump's America. / EVAN VUCCI / Evan Vucci/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

When asked whether the United States supports or challenges its allies, Canada again stood out as the most critical. Sixty percent of Canadians said the United States challenges its allies.

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In Germany, 46 percent said the same, compared with 29 percent who said the United States supports allies.

In France, 45 percent said the United States challenges allies and 33 percent said it supports them.

The United Kingdom was the most evenly divided, with 41 percent saying the United States challenges allies and 40 percent saying it supports them.

The findings come as Trump has upended long-standing alliances through trade disputes, sharp rhetoric toward allied governments, and shifts in military posture.

In a recent Politico interview, Trump described Europe as a decaying group of nations led by weak people. At the same time, his National Security Strategy argued the continent had lost its national identities and self-confidence.

The U.K. had a, perhaps surprisingly, favorable view of Trump's America. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pictured with Trump. / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on European criticism, saying the transatlantic alliance remains grounded in shared values. 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, Rubio said at a briefing.

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Matthew Kroenig, vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said the polling likely reflects elite skepticism filtering down to voters.

Public opinion in democracies often reflects elite opinion, he said. What youre probably seeing there is that you do have politicians in these countries expressing skepticism about the United States and about the Trump administration, and thats being reflected in the public opinion polling.

The Politico Poll was conducted from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9 among 10,510 adults in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, and the results were weighted for age, gender, and geography.
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Senior Geoscientist Michael Howley, who manages the New Hampshire groundwater level monitoring program, lowers a measuring device into a well on Dec. 22. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Life-sustaining groundwater isnt so far beneath our shoes, but knowledge about it, and the underground world it flows through, can feel far away.

In some cases, we know more about distant star systems than we know about the interior of our own planet, said Mike Howley, a senior geoscientist with the New Hampshire Geological Survey, within the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

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Howley oversees the dozens of monitoring wells in the New Hampshire Geological Surveys groundwater monitoring network. Data from the network is used at both the state and federal level, including to inform the National Weather Services U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought data from the monitor is shared widely and used to understand the extent of drought in different regions across the country. Its collection starts at wells like those Howley oversees, where automated instruments and human observers alike access vast and little-understood groundwater networks.

Mike Howley inspects the elements of an automated water level measuring device at a groundwater well in Concord on Dec. 22. The device measures the level of groundwater in the soil, and the temperature. Groundwater typically retains heat well into winter, and then is slow to warm up again in summer, Howley said. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)

On the chilly morning of Monday, Dec. 22, Howley was in the field, conducting a quarterly checkup on two of those monitoring wells at a state forest trailhead in Concord. This is a regular appointment for Howley: While automated stations can be checked once a quarter, the state also maintains multiple wells that cant fit automatic instruments and must be checked manually once per month.

A monitoring station visit entails a water-level check to compare and verify the data logged by the computer. To reach water far below the ground, Howley unspools what appears to be a long tape measure capped with a metal probe. Two lengths of wire run down the tape; when the probe touches water, it completes a circuit, igniting a red light on the spool and sounding an alarm to alert the measurer that the tape has reached water.

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Howley measures the depth of each well twice, taking notes throughout. Precision and consistency create the kind of data that can be shared and used far and wide, including by federal agencies, he said.

On Dec. 22, Howley also removed one of the automated water level trackers for maintenance. The small computers log the water level every hour, and upload their data every midnight, contributing to a fine-grained dataset that can reveal both short- and long-term trends in groundwater fluctuation.

One of the challenges Howley faces is the need to relocate a well when new development or evolving land use threaten its current location. Doing so requires finding a new location nearby, often on state land, then operating the new and old monitoring wells side-by-side for at least a year. Overlapping data is necessary to put measurements from the new well in context with those from the old well, so that the data  sometimes stretching back decades  isnt cut off by the move, Howley said. Groundwater can behave differently from location to location, so comparing a years worth of measurements can help place measurements from two wells in conversation with one another.

Mike Howley, senior geoscientist with the New Hampshire Geological Survey and manager of the states groundwater monitoring network, lowers a measurement device into a bedrock well on Monday, Dec. 22. Manual measurements help verify the data collected by automated instruments. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Finding dependable, safe locations to site wells is kind of a game of whack-a-mole, Howley said. Were trying to preserve these long-term monitoring locations in an ever-changing world.

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Howley likes his work, even on days like Dec. 22, when the instruments computers were sending error messages that they were too cold to upload their data while Howley was reeling in wet measuring tapes and taking off his gloves to note measurements despite the 20-degree weather.

I thoroughly enjoy it, he said.

To Howley, the work is essential. When droughts like this years set in, public attention turns to groundwater with some urgency, he noted. But, Howley said, its important to pay attention to the state of the natural resource at all times, not only during a crisis.

He and other scientists are seeking more information about how groundwater responds to weather events and climatic shifts, with effects ranging from droughts and drinking water uncertainty to flooding. Measurements like those taken at the departments monitoring wells are crucial for building such understanding, said Howley.

If we, as a society, want to know how much water is available, we have to monitor, Howley said.
The search for the two men who disappeared from a boat in the middle of the Gulf has now become a FBI missing persons investigation.

After four days missing and three full days of searching, Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, were not found by the numerous volunteers who assisted the U.S. Coast Guard's search mission by both sea and air.

The search radius covered approximately 6,700 square miles, which is about the size of the state of Connecticut.

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Volunteers from all over the Southwest United States joined the search mission, starting on Saturday (Dec. 20) and continuing through Monday, Dec. 22.

The United Cajun Navy, a volunteer-led nonprofit that specializes in life-saving rescue operations, also deployed an aircraft 100 miles west of Naples on Monday around 11 a.m.

The Coast Guard ultimately decided to suspend its active search efforts after carefully considering all the factors making this case, said Capt. Corrie Sergent, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg in a press release by the USCG.

There is no harder decision than suspending a search. I am incredibly grateful for the crews, partners, and volunteers across this community who executed this massive search with the utmost professionalism, persistence, and compassion. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Spivey and Mr. Billmaier during this extremely difficult time, Sergent said.

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The FBI has now taken the case, classified as a missing person case, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Missing boaters in Gulf: timeline

Spivey and Billmaier embarked on a fishing trip early morning on Friday, Dec. 19. They were supposed to come back that same evening but by 7:30, neither of their wives had heard back from them.

This prompted a call to the Coast Guard, and at 11 p.m., a helicopter had been deployed in search of the men.

Just over two hours later, the families were notified that Spivey and Billmaier's boat was found a 42-foot Freeman boat named "Unstopp-A-Bull" about 70 miles off the coast of Naples. The engine was still running.

However, the men were nowhere to be found.

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There were two life jackets missing from the boat, which made family members think Spivey and Billmaier could be wearing them.

The search efforts continued into the weekend as volunteers across Florida and surrounding states provided support.

By Monday night, Dec. 22, the Coast Guard was compelled to halt its search.

"While this is heartbreaking, Brandon and Randy would never want anyone else to put their life in danger, and we know they would want this decision to be respected," Deborah Billmaier, wife of Brandon Billmaier, wrote in a Facebook post on Monday night.

Who were they?

Spivey was a prominent Fort Myers personal injury attorney. He is the founder of Spivey Law Firm, where his wife Tricia Spivey is also a personal injury lawyer.

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He's an amazing, amazing man and he's dedicated his life to helping other people as an attorney and helping them in their time of need. And that's why it's so touching that many people are now stepping up to find him, Tricia Spivey told The News-Press on Saturday, Dec. 20.

She said that Spivey and his nephew loved to fish, and her husband had been fishing for over 30 years.

One poster on Facebook, Andrew Abel, recalled Randy" as a "dear friend and mentor."

"I will truly never forget how he was there for me whenever I needed and without asking. Randy would drop everything he was doing to help. Always. Randy championed his family and friends and I'm forever grateful that he championed me and has allowed me to be a part of his family too," Abel wrote on Monday night.

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Another poster, Cristina M. Puccio, wrote "Randy has been a beacon of kindness and warmth in my life for many years, and I feel truly fortunate to have known him."

Like his uncle, Billmaier was also a personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton with the Shiner Law Group.

A statement by Shiner Law Group says: "On behalf of everyone at Shiner Law Group, we are deeply saddened by the disappearance of Brandon and his uncle, Randy. Brandon is a valued member of our firm and someone we care about tremendously, both as a colleague and as our friend. Brandon is an exceptional person and a great lawyer, and we are heartbroken."

Fort Myers attorney Randy Spivey, left, and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier have gone missing off the coast of Naples during a Dec. 19 fishing trip.

Billmaier grew up in Michigan and is a graduate of the University of Toledo. Beyond fishing, he likes to play pickleball and travel.

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Billmaier also got married last year. Traveling is something that the couple did a lot of together. On social media, Deborah Billmaier shared that they've travelled to more than 30 countries.

"Brandon is my best friend, my husband and my greatest love. Every day he showed me what true, unconditional love looks like. We had so many dreams and plans, and I am forever grateful for the five most beautiful years we shared together," Deborah Billmaier wrote on her social media accounts.

One commenter, Megan Schlett, said: "Brandon was supposed to be the Best Man in our wedding, and he will forever hold that title. There is no one more worthy of that for Sebastian. Brandon was a like a brother to Sebastian and we all love Brandon deeply."

Another commenter, Donna Antonelli, wrote: "Brandon was humble, genuine, sweet, always had a positive attitude and would always help a fellow attorney. He was a true gentlemen which is so very rare these days. He will be missed by me tremendously."

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Tayeba Hussein is a breaking news reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her at thussein@usatodayco.com.

Please support Southwest Florida community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Disappearance of Florida boaters prompts federal investigation by FBI
By Maggie Fick, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Bhanvi Satija

LONDON/COPENHAGEN, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk secured U.S. regulatory approval for its weight-loss pill, giving the Danish drugmaker a shot at reclaiming ground lost to rival Eli Lilly.

Booming sales of Wegovy powered the firm to become Europe's most valuable listed company, but it has lost over $400 billion in market capitalisation since the middle of 2024 as competition from Lilly and copycat rivals intensified.

The pill approval, which came late on Monday, could spur a much-needed rebound for Novo after a bruising year of sliding shares, profit warnings and slowing Wegovy sales.

Novo is aiming to turn around its fortunes under new CEO Mike Doustdar, who took the helm in August, and has since announced 9,000 job cuts globally to reduce costs and refocus the firm.

Here are some of the challenges facing Novo as it looks to bolster sales and fend off rivals:

WEGOVY VS ZEPBOUND

Eli Lilly's rival drug Zepbound has overtaken Novo's Wegovy in terms of prescriptions in the key U.S. market this year. With Wegovy, Novo was first-to-market with a highly effective obesity treatment, which was approved in the U.S. in 2021. Lilly launched Zepbound in late 2023.

LOSING GROUND

Novo's share price has fallen steeply versus rivals over the last year.

VALUE PREMIUM SLIPPING

That has brought the company's price-earnings ratio back in line with peers. It had previously commanded a wide premium.

RISING COSTS

The drugmaker's costs have risen as it spent billions to expand manufacturing and sales capacity.

NO LONGER TOP DOG

Novo, valued at $650 billion in June last year, has shed more than half of its value since. Its latest market capitalisation is above $240 billion, including both listed and unlisted stock.



(Reporting by Maggie Fick, Bhanvi Satija and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen;Editing by Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan)
Search and rescue operations continued the morning of Monday, Dec. 22 for a missing 55-year-old woman swimming off a popular beach in Pacific Grove after a reported shark sighting the day before.

Around 12 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, the Pacific Grove Police Department and Monterey Fire Department responded to a report of a missing swimmer off Lovers Point, according to a joint Statement from the City of Pacific Grove, City of Monterey and U.S. Coast Guard.

"Two witnesses indicated the swimmer may have encountered a shark while swimming offshore near Lovers Point," the release states.

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Emergency response teams began conducting a search and rescue mission with support from the United States Coast Guard, Monterey County Sheriffs Office, and California State Parks, but by 8 p.m. local time, the swimmer was still not sighted.

The multi-agency response was supported by aircraft, boats, drones and divers.

As of 2 p.m. on Monday, the swimmer had not been located.

KSBW and Monterey County Weekly identified the swimmer as Erica Fox, a co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers swimming group.

"Search and rescue operations continued this morning and will be winding down today," said Commander Brian Anderson of the Pacific Grove Police Department. "However, the missing persons investigation will continue, and we are ready to respond if any new information comes forward."

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Lovers Point is in Pacific Grove, a coastal city near Monterey about 115 miles south of San Francisco.

Officials continued to search for a missing swimmer on Monday morning, Dec. 22, 2025 following a reported shark sighting off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove in Northern California that closed several beaches.

Missing boater: Search for lawyer, nephew expands in Florida after boat found empty

'A human body in its mouth'

On Sunday, Anderson told KSBW-TV, the missing swimmer was swimming "with a regular group that meets in the area every Sunday."

The group entered the water as usual and a witness on the shoreline reported seeing a large splash" when the woman disappeared, police told the outlet, which caused the other swimmers to return to shore "out of concern it may have been a shark attack. Everyone in the group returned safely except the missing swimmer."

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U.S. Coast Guard Officer Christopher Sappey reported that one witness described seeing a frightening encounter between a person in the water and a shark.

"The person who reported the shark sighting claimed they saw a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth," Sappey told SF Gate. "They then witnessed the shark submerge below the waterline without resurfacing."

Anderson confirmed to the Salinas Californian on Monday that "based on witness statements we believe a shark was involved."

Lovers Point Beach and nearby swimming spots closed

Lovers Point Beach, as well as McAbee and San Carlos Beaches in Monterey, will remain closed as a precautionary measure through Tuesday, Dec. 23, officials with both cities announced.

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A beach advisory, a notice posted on social media reads, will remain in place for the following locations:

Asilomar State Beach

Monterey Municipal Beach

Del Monte Beach

Monterey State Beach

Shark bites surfer in California: Marks 3rd attack in state this year

"We would just like to remind the public that we share our waters with wildlife and to swim with a friend and be aware of your surroundings," said Anderson.

The Red Triangle

Lovers Point, a popular swimming and wading spot in Pacific Grove, draws beachgoers year-round with its turquoise waters.

The location is also part of the Red Triangle, a stretch of ocean in Northern California that has one of the highest concentrations of great white sharks in the world.

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Since 1993, there have been six fatalities in California attributed to white sharks.

As of Monday, Dec. 22, there had been three shark attacks on a person reported in California this year.

None resulted in a fatality, according to reports.

According to data from the International Shark Attack File, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the world averages 65 documented shark attacks each year.

Last year, 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swimmer missing after shark spotted in California, beaches closed
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, eager to make good on a fanciful campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine within twenty-four hours of taking officeor even soonerhas encountered a conundrum. To wit: Wars dont end unless all sides agree, and Ukraine and its allies cant agree with Putin on what the post-war world should look likewhich, by the way, is why theres a war in the first place. The presidents latest, and perhaps last, hope is that Ukraine might agree to an unjust ceasefire in which it would surrender land and people to Russia in return for security guarantees needed to prevent a future Russian re-invasion. But guarantees from Western powers with waning credibility are not going to work. What counts are not promises, but real action of the kind to which Western governments seem to be allergic.

Kyiv is told that NATO-like, Article 5style, and even platinum security guarantees are on the table, to ensure that the United States and its European allies would never allow a repetition of 2022. The Ukrainians have good reasons to be skeptical.

It has long seemed that the main obstacle to a war-ending bargain was the fact that any sufficiently strong Western guarantees, which would be enough for Ukraine to trade for the fortified cities of Donetsk, would also be unacceptable to Russia. The Kremlin, after all, seeks to end the war on terms that will leave Ukraine vulnerable to future Russian aggression or subversiona demand Putin repeated last week in his annual televised press conference.

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At the risk of also repeating ourselves: Theres never been a better time to be a Bulwark+ member. Try 30 days free.

There is a kernel of truth behind the search for acceptable security guarantees for Ukraine: The only way Ukraine can survive in the long term if Putins demands are met is if other countries are willing to defend Ukrainian sovereignty. Putin demands Ukraine make itself almost indefensible by ceding land and people, limiting the size of its military, and curtailing its ability to join alliances. But its hard to imagine any Western guarantees that would be worth exchanging for such concessions. Even if Ukraine were allowed to join NATO, does anyone believe that the United States would send its military to defend Ukraine in the case of a future Russian attack?

If anything, Americas current European allies are wondering whether NATO itself is a sufficient deterrent against Russian of their own territory, never mind of Ukraines. As Mark Galeotti, a Russia scholar at University College London, pointed out, the wording of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty is quite noncommittal. In the event of an attack on one of the allies, each of them . . . will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary. Speaking to Fox Business in September about possible Russian incursions into NATO territory, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent suggested Europeans should not be complacent: The one thing I can tell you is the U.S. is not going to get involved with troops or any of that. We will sell the Europeans weapons. There might be Republicans in Congress committed to the alliance, but the new National Security Strategy makes it clear that, from now on, deterring Russia is a job for Europe, not the United States.

Alas, promises made to Ukraine by leaders overseeing Europes undernourished militaries are not worth much more than those coming from the Trump administration. The latter appears open to making promises it has no intention of keeping; the former appears open to making promises it has no capability to keep. It may be better to retire the talk of guarantees altogether, rather than to risk extending a set of false promises to Ukraine. False promises are likely to provoke Russian opportunism and aggression, as with Russias deliberate attacks on NATO airspace. Russias testing of the guarantees would create a dilemma for Ukraines allies: Allow the promises to be exposed as hollow or risk a direct confrontation with Russia.

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A credible, well-designed security guarantee works as a deterrent, reducing the risk of future confrontation. For promises made by the United States or Europe to Ukraine to pass the muster, they would have to be backed by real actione.g., willingness to deploy Western (though not necessarily American) military assets in Ukraine, as well as troops along a future line of contact, with the mandate to repel future Russian attacks. Whether such a deterrent would be acceptable to Russia is immaterial for now because no Western leader dares to seriously contemplate it.

A willingness to inflict pain on Russia now would also signal credibility. One obvious test, which the EU just failed, was whether Europeans could summon the courage to use 200 billion of Russian sovereign assets, currently immobilized in Europe, to help Ukraine. Although the European Council decided to extend a 90 billion, no-interest loan to Kyiv, which will just about cover its financial needs in 2026 and 2027, the EU will do so by its own borrowing, not by leveraging the Russian assets as originally planned. The stated reason is the potential legal risk to Belgium and other countries where the assets are located. Unsurprisingly, there are also reports that the Trump administration pressured European governments not to touch the Russian money, which the administration considered a bargaining chip in the negotiations pursued by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Whatever the exact reasons, the message to Kyiv is abundantly clear. If EU countries cannot agree even to take on a hypothetical, and limited, financial risk, how can they be trusted to come to Ukraines defense in more meaningful ways in the future?

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The Kremlin is able to read these displays of weakness. Strikingly, Europes leaders failed to act on the question of Russian sovereign assets just one day after Vladimir Putin had called them little pigs and reiterated his commitment to unconditionally liberating [Russias] historical landson the battlefield or through diplomacy.

The muddled thinking about guarantees for Ukraine reflects the broader failure of strategic thinking in the West. It did not start with Trump, but it has certainly been compounded by his misreading of the war as a dispute over territory, rather than as an effort to annihilate Ukraine as an independent country and undo the end of the Cold War. Unless the collective West can show that it is serious about stopping Russia, that effort may well succeed.

Yes, Ukrainians are brave and fully understand the importance of the cause that they are fighting for. Everything suggests that they are willing and ready to continue in their fight on their own, if need be. But they are also human and may be susceptible, in the depth of a dark, cold winter and in the midst of Russias genocidal tactics, to accept an oppressive, tenuous peace, well-aware that it would be a prelude to Russian aggression and interference to come.

If that happens, let us not delude ourselves into thinking that this outcome is somehow a product of clever diplomacy and well-crafted guarantees. It would instead be a product of Ukrainian desperation and Western betrayaland Ukrainians, Europeans, and American alike would end up paying a hefty price in not-too-distant future.

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Seven Schuylkill County municipalities have received state grants for local projects, state legislators have announced.

The grants, which total almost $900,000, came from Local Share Account funds awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Towns and neighborhoods in all corners of our region will benefit from this funding, State Sen. Dave Argall said in a statement about the grants.

Regardless of the municipality, there is always a pressing need to maintain and upgrade local infrastructure and ensure that essential work vehicles are available, State Rep. Dane Watro said in a statement. This funding, made possible through gaming revenues, is vital because it empowers our local governments to invest in critical improvements without placing additional financial burdens on taxpayers.

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In Schuylkill, the following projects that received funding are:

* East Union Township  $250,000 to construct a new township building and public works garage.

* Kline Township  $73,309 to purchase a 2025 Ford police interceptor vehicle.

* Mahanoy Township  $94,000 to purchase a new mini-excavator and trailer.

* McAdoo  $49,978 to renovate the sidewalks at the McAdoo Fire Company.

* Ringtown  $271,000 to improve the boroughs wastewater treatment plant.

* Shenandoah  $83,608 to purchase a track loader for site development, grounds maintenance, snow removal and trails and forest management.

* North Union Township  $70,408 for improvements to the Twin County Joint Municipal Authority wastewater treatment and collection system that serves North Union and Black Creek townships.

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Local Share Account funds are generated by the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which provides for distributing gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects of public interest within Pennsylvania.

The authority administers Pennsylvanias economic stimulus packages and is an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Political leaders are calling for accountability and potential reform after PG&E's widespread weekend power outage left large parts of San Francisco in the dark, reigniting political debate over the state's largest utility.

PG&E said the outage stemmed from a fire at a Mission District substation, though the company acknowledged it does not yet know what caused it.

The company said it inspected the Mission-area substation on Dec. 5 and completed maintenance there in October.

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Asked by ABC7 News whether any red flags emerged during those inspections or how the outage could have been prevented, Singh said PG&E did not identify any warning signs beforehand.

RELATED: Power expected to be fully restored in SF by Tuesday at 6 a.m., PG&E says

The outage has also become a flashpoint in the 2026 governor's race, with Democratic candidate Tom Steyer using the moment to renew his push for utility reform.

"If there's a worst time for the electricity grid to go down, it's the big holiday weekend," Steyer said in an interview with ABC7 News.

He argues PG&E - which is the primary utility company for San Francisco - lacks incentive to improve service because it operates "as a monopoly."

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"Monopolies don't work. They provide the worst service at the highest price," he said. Look here we are, and it's an absolutely perfect example."

RELATED: Impacted by the SF power outage? Here's how to file a claim with PG&E

Steyer wrote to the California Public Utilities Commission last Monday urging regulators to prioritize reliability over profits.

He argued the state's current utility model prioritizes shareholder returns over basic service, calling on the CPUC to rebalance its oversight toward reliability, resilience and consumer protection.

Steyer wrote that repeated outages - particularly those affecting dense urban areas and small businesses - undermine public trust and expose vulnerabilities in California's centralized energy system.

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As for what breaking up a utility monopoly would look like, Steyer did not lay out a specific blueprint but said any changes would be gradual.

RELATED: SF Sunset businesses rally after 40-hour PG&E outage coincides with winter solstice celebration

"It's going to be a series of steps," he said. "We'll do it really deliberately. It's not going to be something that we're going to do recklessly."

The billionaire added that if elected he'd work toward longer-term reforms, including accelerating investment in distributed and community-based energy systems.

The CPUC said it is conducting a staff investigation into the outage.

PG&E also said it has hired a third-party investigator to determine what happened and why.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
President Donald Trumps first year back in office shattered any remaining illusions among European leaders that he can be managed or controlled.

His open hostility toward the European Union has strained a transatlantic alliance thats endured since World War II and deepened rifts between Europes national leaders and within the bloc, imperiling its ability to respond to Trumps threats and taunts with the kind of unity and strength he respects.

Thats left Ukraines fate hanging in the balance heading into 2026, not to mention unanswered existential questions about European security at a moment when many fear Russian President Vladimir Putins territorial aims extend further westward beyond Ukraine.

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But in many ways, Europe has survived the roller coaster  for now.

The Europeans cannot afford to cut ties and to hand in the divorce papers because they are still too dependent, especially when it comes to security and an American military commitment to defending Europe, said Jana Puglierin, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

But, she continued, the efforts by leaders to maintain solid ties with the U.S. based on short- term interests do not mean the past year hasnt clarified that the long-term interests are, for the moment, no longer aligned.

We need to be pretty clear-eyed, she said. In the old days, there was a clear mainstream understanding of the old transatlantic relationship enshrined by the Western values and norms and principles, the rules based international order. And now I think we see a competing project emerging.

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The administration is clear-eyed, too, heading into the new year.

It sees a continent losing its values and identity, beholden to liberal ideals that are doing far more to imperil European security than any missive from the White House. The act of a friend, the White House argues  as it pushes Europe to spend more on its own defense, restrict immigration and end the war in Ukraine  is to set it straight.

President Trump has great relationships with many European leaders, but he never shies away from delivering hard truths," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said. "The devastating impacts of unchecked migration, and those migrants inability to assimilate, are not just a concern for President Trump, but for Europeans themselves, who have increasingly noted immigration as one of their top concerns. These open border policies have led to widespread examples of violence, spikes in crime, and more, with detrimental impacts on the fiscal sustainability of social safety net programs.

After a blistering start to the year with Vice President JD Vance lecturing Europe over free speech in Munich and then tag-teaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside Trump in the Oval Office, Europeans have adjusted to Trumps worldview  a shift, as Romanias Nicusor Dan described it, from a moral way of doing things to a very pragmatic and economical way of doing things  and succeeded at bringing the White House back into the fold on several fronts.

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The EUs submission on trade, accepting a new tariff of 15 percent, limited the short-term economic damage. NATO appeased Trump with its pledge to boost defense spending by 5 percent over the next decade, cemented at its June summit  thanks largely to allowing existing, non-defense spending to count for 1.5 percent of that new total.

Instead of abandoning Ukraine, Trump agreed in July to provide additional defense aid for its war with Russia as long as Europe pays for it. And Europeans have been able to withstand Trumps August meeting with Putin in Alaska and the administrations announcement of a 28-point peace plan crafted in secret with the Kremlin, which they have worked with the U.S. and Ukraine to revise.

In an interview with POLITICO earlier this month, Trump blasted European leaders as weak, asserting that they dont know what to do about immigration in particular. He questioned whether European leaders should continue to be allies, saying that it depends on their policies and that he wouldnt hesitate to intervene in European elections to back far-right parties challenging the very coalitions and leaders hes currently working with.

That coincided with the issuing of a new National Security Strategy that called for cultivating resistance to European centrism thats committing civilizational suicide and expressed disdain for the European Union, which the administration labeled as adverse to U.S. economic interests.

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Constanze Stelzenmuller, a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, called the Europe sections of the new NSS a game changer for leaders across the Atlantic that has permanently changed long-term strategy with the U.S.

It shouldn't be underestimated how much of a shock it was for European leaders and publics to read the Europe chapter of the National Security Strategy and to see put in writing that this administration thinks of Europe, or European political centrists, as unreliable allies and is taking such an adversarial one against them, she said. For 2026, we need to buckle up and plan for the worst on all counts. We have obvious vulnerabilities, and those are going to be exploited.

Trump is also ending the year by reminding Europe of his brazen desire, outlined in his first term and again shortly before his second inauguration, to seize control of Greenland from Denmark, a reliable NATO ally whose per capita defense spending is among the highest of all member nations. On Saturday, he appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, a job that Landry said would focus on efforts to make Greenland a part of the U.S.

This is shattering for a lot of the countries who thought that there was nothing safer than their bilateral relationship with the United States, Stelzenmuller said.

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While openly threatening Denmark, the administration has worked to drive a wedge into the European Union by suggesting that countries would get better trade deals by splitting from the 27-nation bloc and engaging with the White House bilaterally.

At the end of the year, the fundamental question facing the Europeans is whether they think tactical victories are enough to win the strategic war, which is to maintain the transatlantic alliance thats stood for eight decades, said Ivo Daalder, a U.S. ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who earlier this month declared the Pax Americana to be dead, seemed open to the possibility, saying last week that its become quite obvious that Trump cannot relate to the EU and that at least there are individual member states, including Germany first and foremost, of course, with which such cooperation can continue.

Merz led a failed push in Brussels last week for the EU to repurpose $200 billion in seized Russian assets in a loan to Ukraine when Belgium, Italy and others balked. But he ultimately succeeded with a back-up plan of sorts, as the EU approved a $90 billion loan for Ukraine aimed at sustaining its military on the battlefield for two more years. Three Trump-aligned leaders in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic opted out of the loan but did not block its passage.

While Trump quietly opposed the EU effort to shore up Ukraines war chest, Europeans have mostly supported his diplomatic efforts to end the war, pushing for stronger security guarantees to ensure Ukraine survives long-term. Finnish President Alexander Stubb appeared Sunday on Fox News to declare that Trumps efforts have helped advance the talks closer [to a peace deal] than at any time of this war, a comment seemingly aimed at the proverbial audience of one and only loosely grounded in what most European leaders actually believe.
Dramatic surveillance video shows the moment a Sherman Oaks mother slammed her Mercedes-Benz into a burglary crew's getaway car.

The burglary attempt happened Saturday afternoon at a home on the 4400 block of Mammoth Avenue.

The mother, who did not want to be identified, said she ran out for coffee and left her three young children and their grandmother at the home.

She barely made it down the street when the grandmother called screaming and told her burglars were on the property. Screams coming from the home scared off the would-be thieves.

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Meanwhile, the mother made an abrupt U-turn in her Mercedes and quickly drove home, arriving just in time to ram the suspects' parked sedan before they could enter it.

Video shows the Mercedes hit the side of the sedan and jump the curb. Three suspects could be seen running from the area after the collision.

Tire tracks at the scene show where the luxury SUV careened across the street before slamming into a neighbor's wall.

Los Angeles police searched the suspects' car and found a wallet with a driver's license, a red crowbar and a walkie talkie tuned to the LAPD's radio scanner.

As of late Monday, no one is in custody.




Cells at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. (Courtesy of South Dakota Department of Corrections)

No state that borders South Dakota has publicly confirmed a lethal overdose in a state prison in 2025.

South Dakota has reported eight.

Most of the suspected or confirmed overdose deaths are thought to be tied to a synthetic drug known as K2, which typically arrives in prisons on sheets of paper soaked with the chemical and dried out for smoking.

South Dakotas prison overdose problem

This story is part of a series examining a spate of prison overdose deaths in South Dakota, including the causes and potential solutions.

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Read the series >

Thats how the drug has appeared in South Dakotas prisons in each of the three K2 overdoses that have drawn criminal charges so far this year through the office of Attorney General Marty Jackley, who said Friday that another set of charges are pending for a similar case.

South Dakotas outsized prison death count extends beyond overdoses, and more than half the deaths have been preventable. With 25 total in-custody deaths for the year, the state outpaces every neighbor but Iowa, which has logged 29 deaths for an inmate population more than twice the size of South Dakotas.

Death certificates for four of the South Dakota inmates list suicide as the manner of death. Another suspected suicide remains under investigation.

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Most of the information released publicly on the overdose deaths has come from Jackleys office. The state Department of Corrections has offered few details.

The department declined to offer responses to several security related inquiries from South Dakota Searchlight in recent weeks. The agency has also declined requests for an interview with former Iowa prison administrator Nick Lamb, who began his work as corrections secretary for South Dakota in mid-November after the resignation of his predecessor, Kellie Wasko.

Changing formulations, changing dangers

Lamb told the Corrections Commission earlier this month that South Dakota is no different from other states in terms of its struggle with K2.

Three correctional officers at Anamosa State Penitentiary in Iowa were reportedly treated for exposure to K2-coated paper a few months ago.

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Denny Kaemingk, a former corrections secretary for South Dakota who now serves as a consultant for a security company, said he hears horror stories about K2 from prison officials all over the U.S.

Kaemingk said hes confident in Lamb, based on the new secretarys years of service in multiple states.

Hes a fixer, said Kaemingk, who was on the team of people who interviewed Lamb for the job of corrections secretary. He sees problems and sets out to solve them. Thats what we saw that he did in Illinois, Iowa and New Mexico.

Inmate overdose deaths, 2025

Feb. 6: Anthony Richards, 20, state penitentiary (K2)

May 15: Jason Garreau, 39, state penitentiary (methamphetamine)

May 18: Joshua Arrow, 24, Jameson Annex of the state penitentiary (K2)

July 10: Nicholas Skorka, 42, state penitentiary (K2)

Sept. 23: Kaleb Lukkes, 25, state penitentiary (K2)*

Nov. 7: Travis Long Fox, 33, state penitentiary (K2)

Nov. 17: Timothy Tyree, 46, Mike Durfee State Prison (K2)

Nov. 27: Larry Thomas Dukes Franklin, 37, state penitentiary (K2)*

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* suspected cause, pending toxicology results

The company for which Kaemingk acts as a consultant, RaySecur, sells a scanner thats designed to detect the presence of any foreign substances on paper.

In some regions, Kaemingk said, jailers and prison officials put the scanner on a cart and wheel it from cell to cell to check papers in inmates possession.

South Dakota has two of the scanning units, Kaemingk said, though the Department of Corrections declined to confirm as much, or to offer any other details on its drug mitigation efforts.

Technologies like scanners need to be able to detect any kind of substance, Kaemingk said, not specific chemicals, because synthetic drugs are frequently reformulated on the molecular level as state legislators vote to add chemicals to their list of banned substances.

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The revamps have created a more potent product with more severe side effects.

The recipe today might not be the recipe six months from now, said Kaemingk, who called the difference between the K2 he saw as secretary and whats now circulating the difference between night and day.

DOC changes, concerns about staff

Former Corrections Secretary Wasko told reporters over the summer that friends and family members of inmates had been involved in some of the prison drug trafficking thats taken place over the past few years.

At a July press conference, in response to a question from South Dakota Searchlight, she said that a March 2024 shutdown of tablet-based inmate communications was tied to drugs.

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We had offenders who were conducting nefarious illicit drug transactions through messaging, Wasko said, marking the first public explanation for an incident that inspired two bouts of unrest and led to charges for 11 prisoners.

The Department of Corrections hasnt allowed in-person visits in Sioux Falls since Fathers Day, in part in response to concerns about visitors passing drugs.

Four more people died of suspected drug use after the change.

You can only blame so many things on contact visits, said Doug Weber, a former South Dakota penitentiary warden.

In addition to smuggling in body cavities  something thats a particular concern in work release facilities  Weber said that people could throw drugs over walls, drop them from drones, try to smuggle things in with the help of volunteers or medical staff, or try to take advantage of daily food service deliveries.

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Threats to family members or peoples careers might be used to convince those who come and go from the prison to play along with drug smuggling.

Theres definitely extortion stuff that goes on, Weber said.

Weber was critical of former Secretary Waskos approach to security, particularly the frequent use of lockdowns, which he said can exacerbate security issues by frustrating inmates if they happen too often or last too long.

During his tenure, he said, there were daily cell sweeps for drugs, and officers worked to identify and target the inmates involved in trafficking.

More than one of 2025s overdose deaths have allegedly involved collusion between prison staff members and inmates. Jackley first announced indictments for drug trafficking this summer. His office charged a former correctional officer, a 22-year-old named Carson DeYoung, with supplying K2 in September, and announced charges against another inmate and a former prison medical aid named Natalie Krause on Friday.

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Jackley said hes been in conversations with Secretary Lamb about potential security upgrades in the states prisons, and that Lamb is open to working with us.

Hed also like to see lawmakers stiffen the penalty for collusion between inmates and state employees. This year, lawmakers passed a bill to make it a misdemeanor for supervisors to look the other way when they see unethical or illegal behavior. Jackley wanted felony penalties.

This year, he said, hes working with lawmakers on a bill that could attach a possible 50-year prison term to anyone involved with distributing drugs that result in an in-custody overdose.

The details might change, Jackley said, but this is where the conversation has been going.

Security measures

The smuggling of K2 on sheets of paper changed the mail policies in South Dakotas prisons years ago. Instead of being delivered, the letters are scanned and sent to inmates on prison-issued tablets.

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Kaemingk and Weber both said that inmates are always looking for new ways to beat the system. Some will swallow balloons filled with dope, Weber said, and just wait a few days to retrieve it from the toilet.

Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead runs a jail that churns through 18,000 bookings a year in Sioux Falls. That dynamic  short-term jail stays versus the longer-term sentences served by prison inmates  and the jails lack of outdoor areas make it more difficult for drugs to get in, he said, but that doesnt mean the jail catches everything.

The jail doesnt have a scanner for paper, Milstead said, but it does scan inmate mail instead of handing it to inmates. It also has a body scanner, similar to an airport security scanner, used to search anyone whos booked.

Gov. Larry Rhoden, during a recent press conference, said the state has ordered two such scanners for the penitentiary. Lamb told the states Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force that the state is working on security changes at the prison and mentioned scanners, but said he cannot go into details.

Its not unusual to find drugs stashed in a body cavity at booking time, according to Milstead.

Youd be surprised at how many people carry it there regularly, he said.

But the scanners dont necessarily catch everything, and inmates never stop looking for new opportunities to smuggle in contraband.

Weve got people who spend every minute of every day, Milstead said, trying to find the most creative ways to get illegal drugs in.

South Dakota prison deaths compared to other states

Twenty-five state prison inmates have died, including eight by confirmed or suspected drug overdoses, this year in South Dakota. The state has about 3,900 prisoners.

The death numbers stand out in the region:

Twelve inmates have died in Nebraska state prison custody, according to the agencys news release archive. No release mentions overdose as a cause. Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Dayne Urbanovsky did not reply to calls or emails about overdoses. Nebraskas prison population stands at around 5,900.

Fourteen people have died in Minnesota state prison custody this year. None died of an overdose, from K2 or any other drug, spokeswoman Shannon Loehrke said. Minnesota has around 8,000 state prison inmates.

North Dakota , with a prison population of around 2,200, has had no inmate deaths this year, according to corrections spokeswoman Kayli Richards.

Wyoming , with a state inmate population of just over 2,000, has had eight in-custody deaths this year, none of which were suspicious or narcotic related, spokeswoman Stephanie Dack said.

There are 3,400 people in prison in Montana . Sixteen inmates have died in 2025, according to the states Mortality in Corrections online dashboard. The cause of some deaths remains under investigation, but no 2025 death is listed as accidental, the category spokeswoman Carolynn Stocker said could include a drug overdose.

Iowa corrections spokesman Zach Carlyle did not return calls or emails on the subject of deaths in custody. His prison systems news release archive shows 29 deaths in custody for 2025. None of the news releases mentions causes of death. The majority list hospice, palliative care or an outside health care facility as the location of death. Iowa is home to around 8,500 inmates

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Want to start 2026 off with a walk in the great outdoors? You can participate in America's State Parks' First Day Hikes at various Louisiana locations.

Americas State Parks is an alliance of state park systems in all 50 states, according to a news release from Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser's office. The hikes will be either on New Year's Day or Jan. 2.

"I encourage everyone to kick off the new year by stepping outside and exploring one of Louisianas incredible state parks or historic sites," Nungesser said in the release. "First Day Hikes are a great way to get moving, enjoy our beautiful landscapes and experience the unique history and culture found across our park system."

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All those who participate will receive free admission to their respective parks.

Here are the hikes around Louisiana:

Audubon State Historic Site in St. Francisville, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 2. Meeting at museum visitor center. Walk 1.25 miles on an improved trail or 0.17 miles on an ADA trail. Minimum age for children is 4.

Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1. Meet at entrance station.

Bogue Chitto State Park in Franklinton, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1.

Chemin-A-Haut State Park in Bastrop, 8 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Jan. 1. Meet at entrance station.

Cypremort Point State Park in Cypremort Point, starting at 8 a.m. Jan. 2. Meet at entrance station.

Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1. Hike is 2.5 miles along an elevated boardwalk.

Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, starting at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1. Meet at visitors center for a 2.25 mile ranger-guided hike. One action trackchair is available for reservation.

Fort Jesup State Historic Site in Many, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 2. Meet at museum visitor center for a half-mile ranger-guided hike. Hike is appropriate for those ages 4 and up, but parts are not accessible to mobility devices.

Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site in Pineville starting at 11 a.m. (nature focus) and 1 p.m. (history focus) Jan. 2. Meet at park museum for one-mile, ranger-guided hike.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site in Natchitoches, starting at 9 a.m. Jan. 2. Meet at park museum for one-mile, ranger-guided hike.

Grand Isle State Park in Grand Isle, Jan. 1 at a starting time to be announced later. Meet at middle bathhouse for a one-mile, ranger-guided hike on the beach. One balloon wheelchair will be available.

Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham starting at 8 a.m. Jan. 1 and 2. The all-day events include a half-mile piney woods trail and an 0.8-mile track chair trail. One track chair is available, and leash pets are welcome.

Lake Bistineau State Park in Doyline, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1. Meeting at park pavilion 1 or 2 for a .25-mile hike on the Discovery Trail or a 1.2-mile hike on Pintail Loop.

Lake Bruin State Park in St. Joseph, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1.

Lake Claiborne State Park in Homer, starting at 8 a.m. Jan. 1. Meet in the meeting room parking lot for a one-mile, ranger-guided hike. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Lake D'Arbonne State Park in Farmerville, from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 1.

Lake Fausse Pointe State Park in St. Martinville, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 2.

Louisiana State Arboretum/Chicot State Park in Ville Platte, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 2.

Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site in St. Martinville, starting at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 2. Meeting at visitor center porch for one-mile, ranger-guided hike. Minimum age for children is 6.

Mansfield State Historic Site in Mansfield, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 2. Meeting at visitor center for one-mile hike.

North Toledo Bend State Park in Zwolle, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 1. One action track chair available for reservation.

Palmetto Island State Park in Vermilion Parish, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 1. Meeting at Pavilion 1 for a two-mile, ranger-guided hike. A shorter hike for those with children or pets also will be available.

Port Hudson State Historic Site in Jackson, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 2. Meet at museum visitor center for two-mile, ranger-guided hike. The hike is not ADA-accessible.

Poverty Point Reservoir State Park in Delhi, starting at 11 a.m. Jan. 1. Meet at visitor center for 1.5-mile hike. The trail could be muddy and is on unpaved natural terrain with inclines, so it is not accessible to mobility devices.

Poverty Point World Heritage Site in Pioneer, Jan. 2 and 3, starting at 10 a.m. Meeting at museum for 2.6-mile, ranger-guided hike. Leashed dogs are allowed. There is no ADA accessibility in some trail areas.

Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 2 at the picnic pavilion. The 0.75-mile hike is guided by a ranger and is appropriate for those ages 4 and older. However, the terrain is not accessible for mobility devices.

Rosedown State Historic Site in St. Francisville, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 2. Meet at gift shop for a one-mile, ranger-guided hike.

Saint Bernard State Park in Braithwaite, Jan. 2. Meet at trail head in day-use area for a 0.9 mile hike.

Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, starting at 9 a.m. Jan. 1.

South Toledo Bend State Park in Anacoco, starting at 9 a.m. Jan. 1.

Tickfaw State Park in Springfield, starting at noon Jan. 2. Meet at nature center for a half-mile, ranger-guided hike. Strollers and wagons are not recommended because of gravel. Dogs are welcome but must be on a short leash.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Piineville historic site among those open for First Day Hikes
Twenty-one state and district attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought on Monday, opposing his moves to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Vought, who is also serving as acting director of the CFPB, has been trying to dismantle the consumer watchdog since February. His efforts  including attempts to fire 90 percent of the agencys staff  have been put on hold by a district court ruling. Vought has also argued in court that it would be illegal for him to request funding from the Federal Reserve, the CFPBs main source of funding, when the U.S. central bank is not running a profit. The bureau is expected to run out of funds sometime in the next month.

The lawsuit, filed in the federal district court of Oregon, argues that Voughts refusal to request funding is unlawful. It also alleges that Voughts efforts to shutter the agency clash with the CFPBs statutory duty to cooperate with states to respond to consumers issues. The CFPB maintains a database of consumer complaints, and it coordinates with state and district attorneys general to take enforcement actions against financial institutions found in violation of its rules. In 2024, the database led to $93 million in restitutions for consumers, according to the bureau.

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My office and attorneys general across the country rely on the CFPB for consumer complaints and other data to get justice for consumers, said New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the state attorneys general that brought the suit. The administrations actions are a handout to those who drive up costs by cheating hardworking Americans.

The CFPB, OMB, and White House did not respond to requests for comment.

James is joined by the attorneys general in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia  all Democrats.

In August, a 3-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals cleared the way for the Trump administration and Vought to push ahead with their efforts to shut down the bureau, but put in place a stay until a higher court weighed in. Last week, the D.C. Court of Appeals agreed to hear the case en banc, a rare move which implies that many of the judges on the 11-person bench took issue with the lower courts ruling. The case will be heard in late February.

Since the start of that suit, the Federal Reserve board has returned to profitability  undermining one of the administrations main arguments. A number of current and former members of Congress and multiple former members of the Federal Reserve have filed amicus briefs pointing out the change.
Networks Northwest has published a new study analyzing the region's hybrid and remote workforce.

The Northwest Michigan Hybrid and Remote Worker Study, supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is based on an online survey with nearly 800 respondents, focus groups and national data. According to a community announcement, the study provides insights into the preferences, demographics and challenges of hybrid and remote workers in the 10-county northwest lower Michigan region.

The Northwest Michigan Hybrid and Remote Worker Study confirms the continuing trend of teleworking in the region.

The study was supported by partnerships with the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Traverse Connect, Alliance for Economic Success, Manistee Chamber of Commerce and 20Fathoms. These organizations plan to use the findings to target talent attraction efforts, support local businesses with talent retention and offer networking opportunities for the remote workforce.

More people working remotely

The study confirms the continuing trend of teleworking in the region. An estimated 23.32% of workers in northwest Michigan teleworked at some level in 2024. This is part of a broader national and regional movement toward more people teleworking, though often for fewer hours per week, with hybrid work becoming the most common form.

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Our region  though continuing to feel the strain of national labor shortages  is successfully attracting a larger working age population, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance President and CEO Payton Heins said in the announcement. Employers offering flexible work options, as highlighted in this study, are a key driver, enabling the workforce to balance family needs while embracing the region's unmatched outdoor and community amenities.

The study makes several recommendations for stakeholders, including encouraging employers to offer hybrid work options and organizations to offer meetups and co-working spaces.

The full report is available on the Networks Northwest website at nwm.org/remotework.

This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@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 https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northwest Michigan seeing rise in hybrid and remote jobs, study shows
LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk's (NVO) newly approved weight-loss pill version of Wegovy will be a test case for the fast-growing cash-paying consumer market, with plans for the first highly effective oral treatment to go straight to US self-pay channels in early January.

The pill was granted US Food and Drug Administration approval on Monday, a boost for Danish drugmaker Novo as it looks to claw back ground lost to US rival Eli Lilly (LLY).

A key part of making it a success will be attracting cash-paying consumers, a stark shift from a business model where drug pricing is managed through health insurance plans, which has dominated for decades.

Under a deal with the Trump administration in November, Novo and Lilly agreed to sell starter doses of their weightloss pills, if approved, for $149 a month to US Medicare and Medicaid patients and cash-paying customers who cannot get insurance coverage for the medications.

"We have a self-pay offer from day one for US patients," David Moore, Novo's executive vice president for U.Soperations, told Reuters in an interview ahead of the pill's approval.

Novo plans to launch the Wegovy pill on multiple channels - including retail pharmacies such as CVS (CVS) and Walmart (WMT), online platforms like GoodRx and telehealth partners including Ro and WeightWatchers - so people can start treatment without waiting for insurance coverage, he said.

Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

The share of US Wegovy prescriptions - until now injectable versions - via self-pay channels has jumped from about 5% to double digits this year, Moore said.

NEW STRATEGY FOR A DRUG LAUNCH

The focus on cash-paying consumers aims to revive Novo's slowing sales growth and turbocharge the next stage of expansion for the wider market. Novo has lost hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalisation since mid-2024 amid rising competition.

"We've never launched this way before," Moore said.

In the past, "the mindset was more traditional  the product is available, you wait for insurers to cover it, and it's at the retail pharmacy," he said.

Novo is facing intensifying competition from Lilly's rival obesity drug Zepbound, known outside the US as Mounjaro, and pressure from cheaper unapproved compounded versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the Wegovy injection and pill.

An injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lillys weight loss drug. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid  REUTERS / Reuters

Lilly is awaiting US approval for its weight-loss pill, which could come as early as March.

Novo hopes the once-daily oral dose of Wegovy could be a turning point in attracting people who were not motivated to start treatment with GLP1 injections.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its immigration crackdown, a significant defeat for the president's efforts to send troops to U.S. cities.

The justices declined the Republican administrations emergency request to overturn a ruling by U.S. District Judge April Perry that had blocked the deployment of troops. An appeals court also had refused to step in. The Supreme Court took more than two months to act.

Three justices  Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch  publicly dissented.

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The high court order is not a final ruling but it could affect other lawsuits challenging President Donald Trumps attempts to deploy the military in other Democratic-led cities.

At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois, the high court majority wrote.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said he agreed with the decision to keep the Chicago deployment blocked, but would have left the president more latitude to deploy troops in possible future scenarios.

The outcome is a rare Supreme Court setback for Trump, who had won repeated victories in emergency appeals since he took office again in January. The conservative-dominated court has allowed Trump to ban transgender people from the military, claw back billions of dollars of congressionally approved federal spending, move aggressively against immigrants and fire the Senate-confirmed leaders of independent federal agencies.

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Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker applauded Tuesdays decision as a win for the state and country.

American cities, suburbs, and communities should not have to faced masked federal agents asking for their papers, judging them for how they look or sound, and living in fear that the President can deploy the military to their streets, he said.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, on the other hand, said the president had activated the National Guard to protect federal personnel and property from violent rioters.

Nothing in todays ruling detracts from that core agenda. The Administration will continue working day in and day out to safeguard the American public, she said.

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Alito and Thomas said in their dissent that the court had no basis to reject Trump's contention that the administration needed the troops to enforce immigration laws. Gorsuch said he would have narrowly sided with the government based on the declarations of federal law enforcement officials.

The administration had initially sought the order to allow the deployment of troops from Illinois and Texas, but the Texas contingent of about 200 National Guard troops was later sent home from Chicago.

The Trump administration has argued that the troops are needed to protect federal personnel and property from violent resistance against the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

But Perry wrote that she found no substantial evidence that a danger of rebellion is brewing in Illinois and no reason to believe the protests there had gotten in the way of Trumps immigration crackdown.

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Perry had initially blocked the deployment for two weeks. But in October, she extended the order indefinitely while the Supreme Court reviewed the case.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in the west Chicago suburb of Broadview has been the site of tense protests, where federal agents have previously used tear gas and other chemical agents on protesters and journalists.

Last month, authorities arrested 21 protesters and said four officers were injured outside the Broadview facility. Local authorities made the arrests.

The Illinois case is just one of several legal battles over National Guard deployments.

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District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing to halt the deployments of more than 2,000 guardsmen in the nations capital. Forty-five states have entered filings in federal court in that case, with 23 supporting the administrations actions and 22 supporting the attorney generals lawsuit.

More than 2,200 troops from several Republican-led states remain in Washington, although the crime emergency Trump declared in August ended a month later.

A federal judge in Oregon has permanently blocked the deployment of National Guard troops there, and all 200 troops from California were being sent home from Oregon, an official said.

A state court in Tennessee ruled in favor of Democratic officials who sued to stop the ongoing Guard deployment in Memphis, which Trump has called a replica of his crackdown on Washington, D.C.

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In California, a judge in September said deployment in the Los Angeles area was illegal. By that point, just 300 of the thousands of troops sent there remained, and the judge did not order them to leave.

The Trump administration has appealed the California and Oregon rulings to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

___

Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this story.
Washington  The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a bid by the Trump administration to deploy National Guard members to the Chicago area while a legal challenge moves forward, delivering a setback to President Trump in his effort to use federalized troops in Illinois to ensure enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The high court left untouched a judge's decision blocking the government from putting National Guard members on the streets of Chicago and surrounding areas. The Trump administration had urged the Supreme Court to allow the extraordinary move to deploy the troops over the objection of Illinois' Democratic governor, arguing that federal courts cannot second-guess the president's decision to call the National Guard into federal service.

But the Supreme Court declined the administration's request to freeze that order in a decision that appears to be 6-3. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

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In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court found that "at least in this posture" the Trump administration has not met its burden to show that Title 10, the law Mr. Trump invoked, permits him to federalize the National Guard "in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois."

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement calling the ruling "a big win for Illinois and American democracy." Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the Supreme Court for "rebuking President Trump's attempts to militarize and demonize our city."

The White House said nothing in the high court's ruling detracts from the president's agenda.

"The president promised the American people he would work tirelessly to enforce our immigration laws and protect federal personnel from violent rioters," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said. "He activated the National Guard to protect federal law enforcement officers, and to ensure rioters did not destroy federal buildings and property. Nothing in today's ruling detracts from that core agenda. The administration will continue working day in and day out to safeguard the American public."

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Mr. Trump has brought state-run National Guards under federal control in several U.S. cities as his administration has ramped up immigration enforcement operations. Mr. Trump has so far moved to deploy National Guard units in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Memphis, Portland and Chicago to protect federal property and personnel, and he has threatened to send troops to other major cities, including Baltimore and San Francisco.

Two West Virginia National Guard members who were sent to Washington, D.C., were shot in an ambush-style attack near the White House last month. One of the victims died and the other was severely wounded.

As for Illinois, the president issued a memo in early October claiming that federal facilities in the state "have come under coordinated assault by violent groups intent on obstructing federal law enforcement activities," which he said hindered the execution of U.S. immigration laws.

The directive came after the processing center for immigrant detainees in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago, saw a rise in protests following the launch of an immigration enforcement campaign called Operation Midway Blitz in early September.

Members of the Texas National Guard walk around the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, Illinois, Oct. 7, 2025. / Credit: Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images (Chicago Tribune)

In response, Mr. Trump authorized the federalization of the Illinois National Guard under Title 10. The law allows the president to call into federal service members of a state's Guard when he cannot execute U.S. laws with the "regular forces" or when there is a "rebellion or danger of a rebellion" against the government.

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Roughly 300 troops from the Illinois National Guard prepared to mobilize. Federalized members of the Texas and California National Guards also arrived in Illinois in early October but have since left the state.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker objected to the president's move, arguing that there was no public safety need that required the deployment of National Guard troops. The state of Illinois and city of Chicago then sued the Trump administration, arguing Mr. Trump's federalization of the National Guard is illegal. They sought a temporary order barring the government from mobilizing and sending troops to the Chicago area.

U.S. District Judge April Perry sided with Illinois officials and issued a temporary order blocking the Trump administration from ordering the federalization and deployment of the National Guard within Illinois. In her October decision, she called information from Department of Homeland Security officials about events in Illinois "unreliable."

"There has been no showing that the civil power has failed," Perry wrote. "The agitators who have violated the law by attacking federal authorities have been arrested. The courts are open, and the marshals are ready to see that any sentences of imprisonment are carried out. Resort to the military to execute the laws is not called for."

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A unanimous panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit then allowed the Guard members to remain under federal service, but upheld the portion of Perry's order forbidding them from being sent out to the Chicago area.

In their decision, the 7th Circuit judges found that the Trump administration failed to satisfy the conditions for invoking Title 10 to call the National Guard into federal service in Illinois.

"Political opposition is not rebellion," the 7th Circuit judges wrote. "A protest does not become a rebellion merely because the protestors advocate for myriad legal or policy changes, are well organized, call for significant changes to the structure of the U.S. government, use civil disobedience as a form of protest, or exercise their Second Amendment right to carry firearms as the law currently allows."

The 7th Circuit also found there is "insufficient evidence" that the demonstrations in Illinois have hampered the ability of federal officers to enforce immigration laws.

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"Federal facilities, including the processing facility in Broadview, have remained open despite regular demonstrations against the administration's immigration policies," the judges said. "And though federal officers have encountered sporadic disruptions, they have been quickly contained by local, state, and federal authorities."

In seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court, the Trump administration argued that courts cannot review the president's decision to call up the National Guard.

"A federal district court lacks not only the authority but also the competence to wrest control of the military chain of command from the Commander in Chief and to adjudicate whether the Governor of Illinois, rather than the President, should be in ultimate command of particular Guardsmen after the President has called them into federal service," Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in a filing.

Sauer also argued violence and threats of violence have impeded immigration enforcement operations and forced the Department of Homeland Security to divert resources away from law enforcement activities to protect federal buildings and officers.

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"The National Guard's deployment would protect lives and federal property, deter acts of violence, free up resources for actual law enforcement, and assist federal law enforcement in carrying out their duties effectively," he said.

Illinois officials, meanwhile, argued that state and local law enforcement have effectively handled the protests outside the Broadview facility. They warned that allowing National Guard troops onto the streets in the Chicago area could spark confrontations.

"[T]he unnecessary deployment of military troops, untrained for local policing, will escalate tensions and undermine the ordinary law enforcement activities of state and local entities, which would need to divert resources to maintain safety and order," they wrote in a filing.

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in mid-October, but the high court sought additional information from government lawyers and Illinois officials about whether the term "regular forces" refers to the U.S. military.

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The Supreme Court's majority concluded that the phrase "regular forces" likely means the military, so Title 10 likely applies only where the military can legally execute the laws. Those circumstances are "exceptional," the high court said in its order, since the military is forbidden under a law called the Posse Comitatus Act from engaging in domestic law enforcement, except when authorized by Congress or the Constitution.

"So before the President can federalize the Guard under [Title 10], he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be 'unable' with those forces to perform that function," the court said. "At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois."

Beyond Illinois, Mr. Trump's use of the National Guard in Los Angeles and Portland has set off legal challenges brought by officials in those states. Two trial court judges in California and Oregon initially blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard units to areas of those states. But separate three-judge panels on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued decisions allowing the Trump administration to deploy members of the California National Guard within Los Angeles and the Oregon National Guard in Portland while the legal proceedings continued.

The full 9th Circuit declined to reconsider the panel's decision as to the California National Guard. A district judge in December then again blocked the Trump administration's deployment, and that order has been appealed.

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But as to Oregon, a federal judge held a three-day trial and issued a ruling last month finding that the president did not have a lawful basis to federalize the National Guard. She permanently blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland. The Justice Department appealed the decision to the 9th Circuit, and the chief judge for the appeals court allowed the Oregon Guard troops to remain under federal control while proceedings move forward.

While the 9th and 7th Circuits have split on whether Mr. Trump can send National Guard troops into cities, they agree that courts can review the president's use of Title 10 to call the units into federal service.

In Washington, D.C., a federal judge ruled last month that his National Guard deployment there violates federal law. The judge paused her decision for 21 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal.

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WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court wont let President Donald Trump deploy National Guard troops in Chicago for now, the first time the high court has weighed in on the presidents efforts to use the military to enforce immigration laws and fight crime in cities led by Democrats.

In a rare loss for Trump at the high court, the justices on Dec. 23 kept in place a hold that a lower court placed on the use of troops while litigation over the administrations actions continues.

In an unsigned opinion, the courts majority said the Trump administration failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois.

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And the president cant rely on inherent constitutional authority, the majority said. Three of the courts six conservatives  Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch  dissented.

"Whatever one may think about the current administrations enforcement of the immigration laws or the way ICE has conducted its operations, the protection of federal officers from potentially lethal attacks should not be thwarted," Alito wrote in a dissent joined by Thomas. Gorsuch said he agreed with parts of Alito's dissent.

In a separate opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh  one of the three justices appointed by Trump  said he would have ruled against the administration but on narrower grounds than the majority ruled.

The National Guard, which typically operates under the control of governors, can be called into federal service by the president only under certain circumstances. The Trump administration contends two of those circumstances are present in Chicago  a rebellion against the government and an inability to execute laws with the regular forces.

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The administration said "regular forces" refers not to the full-time professional military, but to civilian law enforcement personnel, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

But the Supreme Court disagreed, saying that Trump must be unable to execute the laws using the regular military before he can deploy the National Guard.

And the military can probably only be involved in "exceptional" circumstances, the court said.

The justices in dissent faulted the court for deciding the administrations appeal based on the regular forces issue, which city and state officials had not relied on until asked by the Supreme Court to address that issue.

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"Instead of abiding by the standard rule on party presentation, the Court took it upon itself to raise the question whether the parties understanding of 'regular forces' was correct," Alito wrote.

In an Oct. 9 ruling, U.S. District Judge April Perry said "regular forces" refers to the standing military, which Trump didn't use first, so he can't send in the National Guard.

Texas National Guard troops walk through the Joliet Army Reserve Training Center, after President Donald Trump ordered increased federal law enforcement presence to assist in crime prevention, in Elwood, Illinois, Oct. 7, 2025. Two hundred Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, a Pentagon official said Tuesday, ahead of a planned deployment in Chicago that is strongly opposed by local Democratic officials. The troops were sent as part of a mission to protect "federal functions, personnel, and property," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the Guardsmen have been mobilized for "an initial period of 60 days." The planned deployment of troops from Texas has infuriated Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who said they "should stay the hell out of Illinois." Members of the Texas National Guard stand guard at an army reserve training facility on Oct. 07, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. The Trump administration has been threatening for more than a month to send the guard to Illinois to address Chicago's crime problem and to support ICE and CBP during Operation Midway Blitz. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been outspoken in his opposition to the move, accusing the president of using the guardsmen as political pawns. A woman protests the arrival of Texas Army National Guard troops across the street from the Army Reserve Training Center in Elmwood, Illinois, after being deployed as part of the federal response to ongoing immigration enforcement operations, on Oct. 7, 2025. Members of the Texas National Guard are seen at the Elwood Army Reserve Training Center on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. Temporary housing units are set up as members of the Texas National Guard arrive at the Elwood Army Reserve Training Center on Oct.7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. Members of the Texas National Guard stand guard at an army reserve training facility on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. T Members of the Texas National Guard arrive at an army reserve training facility on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. Temporary housing units are set up as members of the Texas National Guard arrive at the Elwood Army Reserve Training Center on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. Members of the Texas National Guard carry rifles and riot shields at an army reserve training facility on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. Members of the Texas National Guard are seen at the Elwood Army Reserve Training Center on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. A Texas Army National Guard troops stands guard at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elmwood, Illinois, after being deployed as part of the federal response to ongoing immigration enforcement operations. Members of the Texas National Guard stand guard at an army reserve training facility on Oct. 7, 2025 in Elwood, Illinois. National Guard members arrive in Illinois despite governor, Chicago mayor objections 1 of 12 Texas National Guard troops walk through the Joliet Army Reserve Training Center, after President Donald Trump ordered increased federal law enforcement presence to assist in crime prevention, in Elwood, Illinois, Oct. 7, 2025. Two hundred Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, a Pentagon official said Tuesday, ahead of a planned deployment in Chicago that is strongly opposed by local Democratic officials. The troops were sent as part of a mission to protect "federal functions, personnel, and property," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the Guardsmen have been mobilized for "an initial period of 60 days." The planned deployment of troops from Texas has infuriated Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who said they "should stay the hell out of Illinois."

Perry also questioned the Justice Departments description of the protests that the administration said warranted some military intervention.

While the Court does not doubt that there have been acts of vandalism, civil disobedience, and even assaults on federal agents, she wrote, the Court cannot conclude that Defendants declarations are reliable.

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The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the district judge, though it used a different analysis.

But the DOJ told the Supreme Court that its up to the president  not courts  to decide whether state-based military forces are needed. And even if judges can review a presidents deployment decision, Trump made the right call, they argued.

The situation in Chicago, the DOJ wrote, has become unsustainably dangerous for federal agents, who now risk their lives to carry out basic law enforcement functions.

Throngs of protesters march along Michigan Avenue to East Wacker Drive along the Chicago River across from Trump International Hotel & Tower to protest ICE and the arrival of the Texas National Guard in Chicago on Wednesday October 8, 2025.

Chicago is not the first city where Trump has attempted to deploy guardsmen, but its the first case challenging their deployment to reach the Supreme Court.

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Officials in California and Oregon sued to stop deployments in their states, as did officials in Memphis and Washington.

State and local officials argue that federalizing the troops is an unconstitutional infringement on state power.

The extremely limited circumstances under which the federal government can call up the militia over a state's objection do not exist in Illinois, and I am pleased that the streets of Illinois will remain free of armed National Guard members as our litigation continues in the courts, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said after the Supreme Courts decision.

The Chicago area has been at the center of the administrations sweeping immigration crackdown, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz. Protests have erupted in response, often in front of an ICE facility in the suburb of Broadview.

National Guard members walk at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Broadview facility in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 9, 2025.

Trump federalized about 300 members of the Illinois National Guard and about 400 from the Texas National Guard.

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Raoul told the Supreme Court that state and local law enforcement officers have handled the isolated protest activities, some of which he said are protected under the First Amendment.

And a group of former high-ranking military leaders said in a filing supporting Illinois that federalizing the National Guard should be a last resort to avoid the politicization of the military, which inevitably erodes public trust, hurts recruitment, and undermines morale.

Peaceful protests of government actions are constitutionally protected speech deserving of the highest protection, they wrote, not intimidation by the military.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court won't let Trump deploy National Guard in Chicago
A man arrested in Switzerland over an alleged plot to carry out arson and explosive attacks on freight transport in Germany has been brought before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe.

The judge remanded the man in custody on suspicion of spying for Russia, Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said on Tuesday.

According to earlier statements by the authorities, the accused and two accomplices are alleged to have agreed to carry out arson and bomb attacks on freight transport in Germany on behalf of several individuals believed to have been commissioned by Russia.

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The Ukrainian nationals were to "work together from Germany to send packages containing explosive or incendiary devices to recipients in Ukraine, which would ignite during transport."

One of them is said to have posted two test parcels in Cologne at the end of March. Investigators said the order was given by the man who is now being brought before the court in Karlsruhe.

He had been arrested in the Swiss canton of Thurgau in mid-May. From there, he was transferred to Germany on Tuesday.

The two accomplices, who were also arrested in May, were brought before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice months ago and have both been remanded in custody.

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German intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned in recent months of potential sabotage and espionage linked to Russia.

In 2024, an air freight package containing an incendiary device caught fire at a logistics centre in Leipzig shortly before being loaded onto a flight, setting a freight container ablaze while still on the ground.
The filtration system at the Back River wastewater treatment plant, operated by Baltimore City, in Baltimore County. (File photo by Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters)

For the second time in 2 1/2 years, a 13-member task force will meet to discuss the future of Baltimores water and sewer system  and the possibility of a new governance structure.

Baltimore City currently controls much of the systems infrastructure, including its water and wastewater treatment plants, and Baltimore County relies on the system, and contributes a share of the costs to maintain it. A few other local jurisdictions use the system to smaller degrees.

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A new structure could give the counties more say in how the system is managed.

The future of Baltimores water system affects so much of the metropolitan area, its important that we employ a regional approach when tackling this issue, said Baltimore Comptroller Bill Henry (D), the chair of the new task force. Having chaired the previous regional water taskforce, I know how much progress has been made and I also know how much work still needs to be done.

Water task force members:

Chair Bill Henry , comptroller, Baltimore City

Vice Chair Del. Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County)

Antoinette Ryan Johnson , president, City Union of Baltimore

Patrick Moran , president, AFSCME Council 3

Kishia L. Powell , general manager/CEO, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Water

Kelly Baxter , water/wastewater treatment practice leader, Mott MacDonald

Matthew Garbark , director, Baltimore City Department of Public Works

Matthew Carpenter , deputy director, Baltimore County Office of Budget & Finance

Michael Swygert , chief, Metropolitan District Financing and Petitions, Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation

Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City)

Karen Henry , director, Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works

Adam Ortiz , deputy secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment

Karen Dettmer, director of water resources U.S., Ramboll

Recent events  including customer billing issues and severe breakdowns at the citys sewage treatment facilities along the Patapsco and Back rivers  spurred a new round of conversations about a more regionalized water system. The existing cost-sharing structure dates back to 1972, when the city had close to 900,000 residents and the counties were considerably smaller. Now, the situation is reversed: The city had 585,708 residents in the 2020 Census, compared to the countys 854,535.

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This work group gives us the chance to modernize a system that has served the region for decades, but no longer reflects the needs of our communities, said Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier in a statement.

The first attempt at a task force, in September 2023, sputtered out after officials determined there were too many unanswered questions about the financial impacts of regionalizing the system, including on the citys books. But that task force only had until January 2024 to issue a report. State lawmakers passed legislation that gives the new task force until June 30, 2027, to come up with recommendations for the system.

Many of the new task force members are returning players. Besides Henry returning as chair, Del. Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County) is returning, this time as vice chair. The group again includes union leaders, city and county officials. This time, the Maryland Department of the Environment will be represented by Deputy Secretary Adam Ortiz. A retired MDE secretary served on the previous task force.

Anne Arundel County will have a representative this time in Karen Henry, director of the countys department of public works. Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) is also a new addition. The private sector will also have a role, with two of the 13 members hailing from engineering firms Mott MacDonald and Ramboll.

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By working together across Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and the State, we can tackle the big challenges that affect the families who rely on safe, reliable water every day, wrote MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain in a news release.

The task force will convene for the first time on Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at Baltimores City Hall.

47 lawsuits for the 47th president

Maryland joined 20 other states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit Monday filed to block Trump administration attempts to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, established 15 years ago to fight consumer fraud and discriminatory lending practices.

It is the 47th lawsuit against administration policies that Maryland Attorney General Anthony Browns (D) office has either led or signed on to since President Donald Trump was inaugurated to a second term on Jan. 20.

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The Trump administrations attempt to completely defund the CFPB is both illegal and dangerous for Maryland families, Brown said in a statement Monday. Were suing to stop this unlawful defunding scheme that violates the separation of powers and will leave Marylanders more vulnerable to financial exploitation.

According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon, the states claim the administrations push to not seek funding for CFPB unlawfully shuts down the agency that was approved by Congress in 2010 under former President Barack Obama (D).

Trump named Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought the acting director of CFPB on Feb. 7. The next day, according to the suit, Vought sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell requesting $0 to fund bureau operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Two days after that, Vought emailed bureau staff to stand down from performing any work task. Over the next several days, he moved to fire more than 1,400 employees. Without action, its all but certain the CFPB will run out funding completely in January 2026, the lawsuit says.

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The suit says the bureau has returned more than $21 million that was taken improperly from more than 205 million Americans. It also said the bureaus 2024 consumer response annual report showed it received more than 3 million complaints totaling about $90 million in monetary relief. About 83,000 of those complaints came from Maryland with $1.7 million awarded to consumers, Brown said

Besides Maryland and the District, others signed on to the suit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Like Brown, other Democratic attorneys general have joined dozens of lawsuits against the White House. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told the Oregon Capital Chronicle, a Maryland Matters sister publication, that this lawsuit is his 48th.

My standard hasnt changed, Weiser said. The behavior of this administration has changed. Theyre lawless again and again. Theyre bullying. Theyre reckless. Theyre dangerous.

Christmas came early

Thats not only the most hackneyed lead on any holiday feature story, its also true for federal, and now, state workers.

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Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced Monday that state government offices will be closed on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, in addition to the Christmas holiday, and that state workers will be able to take liberal leave on Friday, Dec. 26. Under the declaration, December 24 will be treated like any other state employee holiday.

Declaring Christmas Eve as a State holiday is a small way to show our gratitude to Marylands dedicated public servants, Moore said in a statement released by his office. May all Marylanders across the state cherish meaningful holiday time with their friends, family, and loved ones.

President Donald Trump last week announced that federal agencies would be closed on Wednesday and Friday both, with the usual exceptions for essential and emergency workers.
A Georgia teenager is facing a pit crews worth of charges after hitting a police vehicle during a street race.

The Cobb County Police Department said the incident happened early on Tuesday, when officers with the DUI Task Force saw a gray Dodge Charger racing another car.

When officers tried to do a traffic stop, both vehicles sped off.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Soon after, the same Charger was seen by another officer.

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Police said during that encounter, the Charger made intentional contact with a marked patrol unit from CCP and the drive again drove away.

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The driver, who was later identified as 18-year-old Michael Coley, turned himself in.

Coleys car was impounded. Police said neither Coley nor any officers sustained any significant injuries.

Police said Coley was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing, speeding and reckless driving.

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According to jail records, Coley faces a total of 10 charges, multiple of which are felonies.

Those charges are:

2 counts fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer for a felony offense

Aggravated assault on an officer

Interfering with government property

Headlights required

Racing on highway or streets

Reckless driving

2 counts of violating a traffic control device

Speeding

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A Texas man was accused of stealing more than $1,700 worth of brisket from multiple grocery stores

Police say the alleged thefts span several Central Texas cities over one weekend

Details of the arrest gained widespread attention after being shared online by authorities

A Texas man was accused of allegedly stealing more than $1,700 worth of brisket from grocery stores across Central Texas during a weekend-long spree. Police said the case drew widespread attention after authorities shared details of the arrest on social media.

Armando Salazar, 51, of Baytown, was arrested on Dec. 6 and charged with theft under $2,500 with two or more previous convictions, according to police. He is currently being held on a $2,500 bond.

Buda Police/Facebook The stolen brisket The stolen brisket

Authorities say Salazar allegedly targeted multiple stores over the course of a single weekend. Police report that the thefts include brisket taken from H-E-B and Walmart locations in Buda, along with stores in Manor and Austin.

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As officers began connecting the incidents, the case took on an unusual profile. The Buda Police Department later referred to the investigation as the Brisket Caper in a Facebook post that quickly spread online.

In the post, police noted that the alleged thefts occurred while the city was hosting seasonal events. On Saturday, December 6th, while many of us were enjoying Budafest activities, Mr. Salazar decided not to partake in our wonderful food vendors on Main Street and in City Park, the department wrote.

Instead, authorities said Salazar focused on grocery stores selling high-value cuts of meat. Police alleged that he stole over $1,700 worth of brisket from H-E-B (Buda), Walmart Buda, and stores in Manor and Austin.

After identifying a pattern, Buda officers alerted neighboring departments about the suspected spree. That coordination led Kyle Police Department officers to locate Salazar inside their local H-E-B.

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Police believed he was attempting to steal meat again when officers found him in the store. In their post, the department joked that he was likely trying to continue to purloin the sirloin.

The lighthearted phrasing helped propel the post beyond a routine arrest announcement.  Brisket Caper Caught!  the department captioned the update shared on Facebook.

Once we notified the Kyle Police Department about The Brisket Caper, he was located by KPD officers at their HEB, the post stated.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The department concluded the message with hashtags highlighting cooperation and service, including #teamworkmakesthedreamwork and #servicebeforeself.

Salazar was booked on charges with theft under $2,500 with two or more prior theft convictions, with bond set at $2,500, per the Buda Police Department records.

Read the original article on People
More than 400,000 Russian soldiers are estimated to have been killed or wounded in 2025, according to a British defence intelligence update on Ukraine.

In October 2025, defence intelligence put the overall number of Russian casualties throughout the full-scale war at 1,118,000, higher than the entire size of its army before the full-scale invasion.

Russia has thrown men into meat-grinder assaults to seize land in eastern Ukraine inch by inch.

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The casualty rate has been particularly high in this years effort to take the key hub of Pokrovsk, which has still not entirely fallen.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued firing long-range weapons on Kyiv and other cities.

On Tuesday morning, Russia bombarded Ukraine with a large-scale drone and missile attack following the assassination of one of its generals in Moscow. At least three people have been killed.

This month, The Economist estimated that Russia could have lost 1 per cent of its pre-war male population of fighting age in Ukraine since fighting broke out.

Russian soldiers have been forced into meat grinder assault unequipped and have been picked off by drones

Russia has kept specific figures of its military losses closely guarded. By summer 2025, they were thought to be around 15 times greater than those sustained in the Soviet Unions decade-long war in Afghanistan.

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Moscow is accused of using inflated financial incentives, including one-time signing-on bonuses which can amount to several times the average annual salary, to draw men from poorer regions and republics to sign on as contract soldiers in order to distance the war from the urban elite.

At least three people were killed in a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine early on Tuesday, the day after Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov, the head of the operational training directorate of the Russian armed forces general staff, was killed in a car bomb in Moscow, and amid the latest round of peace talks.

A huge Russian strike involving more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraines western regions, causing widespread power outages.

Since October, Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukraines energy grid, reportedly pushing it to the brink of collapse.

A Russian defence ministry image of a missile hit in Vilcha, Ukraine, from a Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bomber - Reuters

A four-year-old was among the dead after a drone struck a residential building in the Zhytomyr region, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, said on Tuesday.

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Another person was killed in Khmelnytskyi, in western Ukraine, and a third outside Kyiv, where local officials said at least five others were wounded.

Poland said it mobilised aircraft as a preventative measure during the attacks, which took place near its border. Its operational command said on X: Fighter jets were scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems were put on heightened readiness.

Mr Zelensky said Russia had targeted at least 13 regions as Ukrainians prepared to celebrate Christmas with their families, adding that the attack showed Vladimir Putin was not serious about peace talks.

Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing, Mr Zelensky wrote on X. And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia. Now is the time to respond.As negotiators from Kyiv and Moscow flew home after three days of meetings in Miami trying to resolve the war, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine and the US had agreed to quite decent security guarantees.

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He said everything possible had been done to resolve outstanding issues and his country was very close to a real result. He also confirmed that a separate bilateral document on security guarantees between Ukraine and the US had been drafted by his and Donald Trumps negotiators.

The Ukrainian leader said: And all this looks quite decent today. But this is still the work of our military. It is important that this is the work of both ours and the United States of America.

The talks in Miami, hosted by Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps special envoy, formed part of a broader diplomatic push. Senior representatives from Ukraine and Russia, alongside Kyivs European allies, took part in parallel discussions over several days.

An apartment building in Kyiv damaged by Russian drone strikes - Thomas Peter/Reuters

Mr Zelensky added: Everything possible that we should have done for the first drafts is already there. There are 20 points of the plan. Not everything is perfect there, but this plan is there.

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Mr Trump offered a more cautious assessment of the negotiations late on Monday, saying they were going okay.

The talks followed Washingtons presentation last month of a 28-point peace proposal that was widely criticised in Kyiv and European capitals as favouring Moscow. That document has since been revised after Ukrainian and European input, although officials have declined to publish its contents.

In statements posted on X, Mr Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, Ukraines chief negotiator, said the Ukrainian delegation had held a series of productive and constructive meetings with American and European counterparts.

Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks showed Vladimir Putin was not serious about peace talks - Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty

According to the statements, a bilateral US-Ukraine session focused on aligning positions on four documents: a 20-point plan, a multilateral security guarantee framework, a US-specific security guarantee for Ukraine, and an economic and prosperity plan.

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Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps, the statements said, without confirming whether further meetings had been scheduled.

National security advisers from several of Ukraines European allies joined the talks, with the aim of coordinating a shared strategic approach between Kyiv, Washington and Europe.

Russia was represented separately by Kirill Dmitriev, who met members of the US delegation, including Mr Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Using very similar wording, Mr Witkoff said his discussions with Mr Dmitriev had been productive and constructive.

The Kremlin has already signalled opposition to revisions of the American-led plan, describing them as unacceptable. Mr Dmitriev was expected to brief Moscow on the updated proposals, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said.

Russias Kirill Dmitriev and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, seen earlier this month, attended the Florida summit - Reuters

Responding to remarks by JD Vance in an interview on Monday that there had been a breakthrough because talks were now being held openly, Mr Peskov hit back late on Monday that he did not understand what the vice-president meant.

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He said: It is unlikely that such a complex problem can be addressed in a public format. On the other hand, perhaps with time we will receive some clarification.

On the front line of the conflict, Ukraines 7th Air Assault Corps said the situation around the town of Siversk was extremely difficult as Russian forces intensified attempts to cross the Donets river.

The corps said units of the 81st Airmobile Brigade were holding their positions and destroying Russian boats attempting river crossings from nearby woodland.

Overnight on Monday, Ukrainian drones hit the Stavrolen petrochemical plant in Russias Stavropol Krai, according to reports.

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Photographs and footage posted on social media showed flames at the plant, which is linked to drone production and components for Russian military equipment.

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Key Points

NuScale Power is aiming to establish a business model centered on small-scale, modular nuclear reactors.

The company has yet to finalize its first sale or build a reactor.

The stock has been highly volatile.

10 stocks we like better than NuScale Power 

Wall Street has a tendency to swing between being overly optimistic about an investment idea and overly pessimistic. The shift can be dramatic and swift, and the recent 55% or so price decline in NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) is just one of many examples. Is the massive drawdown in NuScale Power's stock an opportunity or a warning? Here's what you need to know.

The smartest investors understand Mr. Market

Mr. Market was the invention of Benjamin Graham, one of the investors who helped train Warren Buffett. According to Graham, as an investor, Mr. Market is your business partner. Some days, Mr. Market is exuberant and will pay almost any price for half of the business you share. Other days, Mr. Market is despondent and will sell you his share of the business at a bargain price.

Image source: Getty Images.

Most days, Mr. Market falls somewhere between the two extremes. However, as an investor, it is your job to understand Mr. Market's mood and take advantage of it when you can. Essentially, Graham was laying the early groundwork for what later became known as behavioral finance. There are actually two pieces to consider in this story, however, and they will help you decide whether NuScale Power is the smartest investment you can make right now.

Be careful with your own emotions

The first part of NuScale Power that you need to understand is the company. It is a money-losing start-up attempting to build a business around a new and untested technology. Only the most aggressive investors should even consider such an investment. For a risk-averse investor, it would likely be a mistake to own NuScale Power at this point in its existence.

That said, NuScale Power has an attractive story. The new technology the company is looking to introduce is small-scale modular nuclear reactors. Such reactors, if ever built, would be a big step forward for nuclear power. They would be constructed in a factory, with the goal of making them cheaper and quicker to produce. Their size would make them easier to place where needed, and ideally, they would be safer than traditional site-build reactors.

If NuScale Power can build the business it hopes to, there could be significant opportunities ahead for investors. In fact, the company already has a potential first customer. RoPower, a Romanian utility, is examining a plan for a power plant that would use six NuScale Power reactors. NuScale Power is currently generating revenue by acting as a consultant in RoPower's approval process.
A Triangle town will soon be losing a movie theater.

B&B Theatres is closing its Morrisville location early next year. The announcement came in a news release from Casto, owner of Park West Village, the shopping center where the movie theater is located.

Looking ahead, zoning has been approved for a mixed-use development at Park West Village, according to the news release. Casto will announce redevelopment details as they become available.

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The theater opened in 2021 and was B&B Theatres first North Carolina location. Located at 3400 Village Market Place, it is the only remaining B&B Theatres location in the state, according to the companys website.

B&B Theatres at Park West Village has been a place where families gathered, friends met, and memories were made, Brock Bagby, president of B&B Theaters, said in the news release. As we prepare to close this location, we want to thank the community and Casto for years of support and invite everyone to come visit one last time during this special time of year.

Sunday, Jan. 4 will be the theaters last day. Anyone with a gift card should redeem it before the theaters final day, according to the news release.

B&B Theatres will close its only North Carolina location, in Morrisville, in January 2026. (Kristen Johnson/The News & Observer)

There is one other movie theater in Morrisville, AMC Park Place 16 at 9525 Chapel Hill Road, in the Park Place shopping center.

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After the Morrisville location closes, B&B Theatres will have cinemas in 14 states. The News & Observer has reached out to B&B Theatres for additional comment.

B&B Theatres is not the first movie theater in Wake County to close in recent years. In 2024, Regal closed its Beaver Creek theater in Apex.

Park West Village redevelopment

The potential for the theater to close has been public information for years. B&B Theatres was one of a handful of Park West Village businesses that would have been demolished for redevelopment, The N&O reported in 2023.

Bad Daddys Burger Bar and the bygone Which Wich were the other two businesses that would be demolished. Which Wich has since closed its Park West Village location, but Bad Daddys is still open.

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A representative for the burger restaurant previously told The N&O that the company had every intention of staying in that area.

The N&O has reached out to Bad Daddys for comment.

Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team

Questions about life in North Carolina? Or have a tip or story idea youd like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

You can submit your question by filling out this form.

A new restaurant is coming to Raleighs Crabtree mall. When it will open

Acclaimed chef opens new Indian restaurant in the Triangle. Where to find it
Tens of thousands of documents that appeared to be from the Epstein files were briefly posted on the Justice Departments website Monday before disappearing without explanation.

The documents reviewed by POLITICO were available to download through a Justice.gov link early Monday afternoon and remained available for several hours. The link was not visible on the Justice Departments website where officials have been posting documents from the files it is required to disclose under a law passed by Congress last month. But the URL corresponded with an anticipated eighth dataset of documents that officials were expected to release.

That dataset appeared to be next in the sequence of documents that the Justice Department began releasing on Friday pertaining to the decades-long investigation and prosecution of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell for a sprawling sex trafficking operation.

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Justice Department spokespeople didnt respond to POLITICOs requests for comment on the new documents. The material included tens of thousands of government documents and emails, as well as several dozen videos from the Bureau of Prisons.

The materials describe 2008 negotiations between the Justice Department and lawyers for Epstein as he attempted to settle claims that he trafficked girls. They include internal 2019 deliberations by the Justice Department and federal prosecutors in New York as they neared criminal charges against Epstein over his trafficking ring.

The records show prosecutors attempts to trace Epsteins vast financial empire and far-flung properties, his ties to prominent financial industry executives and records of investigators efforts to track the movements of Epstein and Maxwell. They also catalogue the internal deliberations of Justice Department officials  whose identities are largely redacted  as they dealt with the internal demands and pressures from superiors related to the Epstein probe.

And they show how prosecutors pivoted from the shock of Epsteins 2019 suicide in jail while he awaited trial to pursuing his co-conspirators.

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Members of Congress who demanded the release of the Epstein files  and helped overwhelmingly pass a law this year requiring the Trump administration to publicly disclose them  have accused the Justice Department of breaking the law by failing to release the complete set by a Dec. 19 deadline. DOJ has vowed to release the documents on a rolling basis over the next few weeks. The documents posted and then removed from the DOJ website Monday paint the clearest picture yet of prosecutors efforts to amass evidence against Epstein.

After Epsteins August 2019 death, prosecutors produced a seven-page memo on co-conspirators they might consider charging and followed that with an 86-page update in December, according to the files. They also produced a 13-page memo of corporate prosecutions they might pursue and a 26-page memo regarding another target prosecutors considered pursuing.

Only references to the memos  not the documents themselves  appeared in the tranche temporarily published Monday. If eventually made public, the memos could show the calculations prosecutors made about whether to charge people associated with the sex-trafficking operation.

Prosecutors ultimately charged only Epstein and Maxwell.
PROVIDENCE, RI  The Trump administration has opened an investigation into security protocols on Brown University's campus after a Dec. 13 mass shooting that killed two students and injured nine others.

The investigation is looking into what happened on campus before and after the shooting for potential violations of federal law by the university.

"After the horrific shooting on its campus, the Department of ED is reviewing Brown University to determine if it upheld its safety & security requirements under the law," wrote Education Secretary Linda McMahon on the social media platform X. "The Trump Admin will fight to ensure recipients of federal funding are protecting students' safety."

People stop to leave flowers on the Hope St. side of Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. People stop to leave flowers on the Hope St. side of Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025.= A note on one of the many bouquets of flowers at a memorial outside the Van Wickle gates of Brown University along Prospect St. has the names of the two victims of the mass shooting. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Barus & Holley, the school's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Bouquets of flowers at a memorial outside the Van Wickle gates of Brown University along Prospect St. has the names of the two victims of the mass shooting. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. People stop to leave flowers on the Hope St. side of Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. People stop to leave flowers on the Hope St. side of Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Bouquets of flowers at a memorial outside the Van Wickle gates of Brown University along Prospect St. has the names of the two victims of the mass shooting. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Providence police heading along Waterman Ave near Brown campus. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. A long-time Providence native works her way through campus to leave flowers outside the Van Wickle gates of Brown University. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Bouquets of flowers at a memorial outside the Van Wickle gates of Brown University along Prospect St. has the names of the two victims of the mass shooting. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. A note on one of the many bouquets of flowers at a memorial outside the Van Wickle gates of Brown University along Prospect St. has the names of the two victims of the mass shooting. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. People stop to leave flowers on the Hope St. side of Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025. Memorials placed at Brown University in aftermath of mass shooting 1 of 14 People stop to leave flowers on the Hope St. side of Barus & Holley, Brownl's engineering and physics building. Aftermath of the Brown University shooting in Providence, RI on Dec 15, 2025.

What is the Trump administration investigating at Brown University?

More specifically, the U.S. Department of Education announced that its Office of Federal Student Aid "will investigate if Brown violated Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, otherwise known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), which requires institutions of higher education to meet certain campus safety and security-related requirements as a condition of receiving federal student aid."

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Continuing, the statement posted by the Department of Education said:

"In the hours after the shooting, public reporting appeared to show that Browns campus surveillance and security system may not have been up to appropriate standards, allowing the suspect to flee while the university seemed unable to provide helpful information about the profile of the alleged assassin."

'Few security cameras': Trump criticizes Brown University after shooting citing

"Additionally, many Brown students and staff reported that the universitys emergency notifications about the active shooter were delayed, raising significant concerns about their safety alert system. If true, these shortcomings constitute serious breaches of Browns responsibilities under federal law," the statement continued.

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The Education Department has ordered Brown to submit extensive records by January 30, including crime logs, annual security reports and internal protocols relating to emergency notifications and active shooter response.

The news comes as Brown University announced it had put its head of public safety, Rodney Chatman, on leave while an external after-action review of the shooting is conducted. Former Providence police chief Hugh Clements has been tapped to lead Brown's police department in the interim.

'Deeply committed' to campus safety

President Donald Trump had previously criticized the university in a Truth Social post for having so few Security Cameras.

Brown's president, Christina Paxson, has said her institution is deeply committed to campus safety and security. She has said one of her university's two emergency notification systems sent text messages and emails to 20,000 individuals after the shooting. She has also said that a second siren system was not set off for fear it would prompt people to rush for safety into the building where the shooting occurred.

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'Bright light' and 'role model.' Brown University victims remembered

Paxson also said the campus has 1,200 security cameras. Officials said the attack occurred in an older part of a facility that had few or no cameras.

The investigation comes almost a week after the suspected shooter, who was also accused of killing an MIT professor in the Boston area, was found dead.

The suspect, identified as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, entered a building used for Brown's engineering and physics programs on December 13 and fired at least 44 rounds from his 9 mm pistol, killing two students and wounding nine, according to police in Providence, Rhode Island.

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He was found dead in a storage rental facility in Salem, New Hampshire, after a five-day manhunt.

Contributing: Ryan Patrick Jones, Reuters.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Brown under investigation by Trump administration after mass shooting
The Education Department on Monday launched an investigation into Brown Universitys response to the shooting on campus that killed two students.

The agencys Office of Federal Student Aid is investigating the Ivy League school over whether it violated the Clery Act, a federal education law that requires institutions to disclose information about crimes on or near campus and send out timely alerts or risk losing access to federal student aid. The Education Department also said it requires institutions to meet campus safety and security-related requirements.

The Trump administration probe is the latest action against Brown, which reached a $50 million deal with the federal government in July to restore hundreds of millions in frozen federal funding after facing probes over the treatment of Jewish students on campus and the use of race in admissions.

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Two people were killed and nine were wounded in the mass shooting Dec. 13 on Browns campus. Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown student suspected of the shooting, was found dead last Thursday.

President Donald Trump has already seemingly blamed Brown for the lengthy hunt for the shooter, saying it was a school problem and not on federal investigators.

The agency is alleging that Browns surveillance and security system may not have been up to appropriate standards, allowing the suspect to flee while the university seemed unable to provide helpful information about the profile of the alleged assassin, according to a press release.

Students and staff also allegedly reported that the universitys emergency notifications about the shooting were delayed.

Students deserve to feel safe at school, and every university across this nation must protect their students and be equipped with adequate resources to aid law enforcement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students safety and following security procedures as required under federal law.

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Browns response: Brown President Christina Paxson, in a letter to the campus, said the university has a rapid response team that is prioritizing immediate safety and security measures during the winter break and ahead of the spring semester. This includes boosting police and safety officer presence, adding more security cameras and panic alarms and launching security reviews for high profile events. The School of Engineering and Department of Physics complex where the shooting occurred will continue to be fully closed for now.

Additionally, the school is commissioning two external reviews of the incident, including a complete assessment and evaluation of campus safety in the period leading up to the tragedy, the preparedness and response on the date of the shooting, and the emergency management response in the aftermath.

The results of the reviews will be shared with the public.

I have written and spoken to hundreds of students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni since the tragic events of Dec. 13. Paxson wrote. The concerns our community has about safety and security are real. And I share them.

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The school previously has affirmed that it has an expansive network of security cameras, with more than 1,200 cameras installed across campus buildings and spaces in both interior and exterior locations and that the schools primary emergency notification system reached about 20,000 people minutes after Browns Department of Public Safety was notified about shots fired on our campus.

Browns security cameras do not extend to every hallway, classroom, laboratory and office across the 250+ buildings on campus, Brown spokesperson Brian Clark said in a statement last week. For security reasons, it is not prudent to share where cameras are and are not relative to individual buildings and locations.

Documents the Education Department wants: The Trump administration is demanding Brown submit documents from the past five years about campus safety by Jan. 30.

Documents they are requesting include the 2024 and 2025 Annual Security Reports, and an audit trail showing all incidents of crimes and arrests during 2021-2024. Additionally, the agency wants dispatch logs and daily crime logs from calendar years 2021-2025; a list of all timely warnings and emergency notifications issued during that same time period; a copy of Browns policies and procedures about emergency responses; and any assessments of Browns campus safety policies and practices conducted since 2020.
President Donald Trumps administration cant seem to stop naming things after him.

Trump, along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan, announced the construction of two new Navy ships on Monday that theyve dubbed Trump Class battleships.

News: Turning Point Attendees Share Their Least Favorite Trump Cabinet Member  And It's Not Even Close

The future Trump Class battleship, the USS Defiant, will be the largest, deadliest, and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the worlds oceans, Phelan said.

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Renderings of ships were displayed at the event and emblazoned with the terms Trump Class and USS Defiant.

A concept rendering of the proposed Trump Class USS Defiant is displayed during an announcement of the U.S. Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative on Monday. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks after President Donald Trump announced the creation of the Trump Class battleship. Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images

The administration plans to start by building two vessels, with a long-term goal of manufacturing 20 to 25, Trump said. Theyll be equipped with hypersonic weapons, missiles, guns and lasers.

Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world ever built, Trump said.

Theyll be 100 times more powerful than past ships, he claimed, and some of the most lethal.

Trump said the two vessels will be equipped with hypersonic weapons, missiles, guns and lasers. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images

According to an April 2025 post from the Government Accountability Office, the Navy has long struggled with delays when it comes to the construction of battleships.

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Trump claimed that the boats will be manufactured domestically, and hell be meeting with defense contractors next week to discuss faster production schedules for building military equipment.

Politics: Trump, Hegseth Host Multimillion-Dollar Meeting Of Top Staff That Could Have Been An Email

Were building them here, we have great Navy yards, Trump said, while adding that he anticipates high demand for robots and workers in the process.

He noted, too, that artificial intelligence would be a big factor in the ships design, though it was not immediately clear what he meant.

Hegseth stressed that the new battleships were part of a golden fleet intended to send a message about U.S. military strength and deter potential enemies from questioning it.

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He also cited strikes on alleged drug boats, which have faced scrutiny for a lack of transparency from the administration, while touting the Pentagons achievements.

News: ICE Shooting In Maryland Leaves 2 Injured

The boats join the Trump-Kennedy Center, Trump Institute of Peace, and Trump Gold Card as just a couple of the institutions or items that the presidents administration and allies have put Trumps name on.

The U.S. Navy will lead the design of these ships, along with me because Im a very aesthetic person, Trump said.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump announced Monday that the U.S. Navy will begin building two large battleships to "revive the American shipbuilding industry, and inspire fear in America's enemies."

Trump announced the "new Golden Fleet" from Florida with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, flanked by images of the vessel named the USS Defiant.

The "Trump class" battleships will be manufactured in the United States to replace an "old and tired and obsolete" U.S fleet, according to the White House.

Navy's new class of Large Surface Combatants: THE BATTLESHIP. The most lethal surface combatant ever constructed. pic.twitter.com/7AH5G4IJj5 The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 22, 2025

"These have been under design consideration for a long time and it started with me in my first term, because I said 'why aren't we doing battleships like we used to?' These are the best in the world," Trump told reporters. "They will be the fastest, the biggest and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built."

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"They'll help maintain American military supremacy, revive the American shipbuilding industry and inspire fear in America's enemies all over the world," the president added.

The Navy will build two battleships, followed by eight more. Trump said there could be as many as 20 or 25. They will be made entirely of steel, weighing between 30 and 40 tons, with Artificial Intelligence playing a large role in how they run.

"The battleships are going to be armed with guns and missiles at the highest level. They'll also have hypersonic weapons, state-of-the-art electric rail guns and even the high-powered lasers you've been starting to read about," Trump added. "They'll also carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles that are currently under development."

Trump plans to meet with defense contractors next week in Florida to discuss production schedules and new shipbuilding plants that he said will add thousands of jobs. The president said the Navy will lead the design with his assistance, because he's a "very aesthetic person."

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Hegseth called the new battleships an "investment in peace through strength."

"We're rebuilding the military. President Trump did it once. He's doing it again with historic investments today in shipbuilding and reestablishing deterrents," added Hegseth.

"This is American industrial power returning," said Rubio. "This is the ability once again to rebuild industry in the United States. This is generational in change, not just in terms of applying American war power and increasing our ability to protect the seas, but because the U.S. Navy is the biggest source of peace in the world."
The Trump administration is deploying 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans ahead of the New Year, launching another federal deployment in the city at the same time that an immigration crackdown led by Border Patrol is underway.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday that Guard members, as they have in other deployments in large cities, will be tasked with supporting federal law enforcement partners, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Parnell added that the National Guard troops will be deployed through February.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, praised President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for coordinating the deployment and predicted the Guard's presence would have a positive impact.

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Its going to help us further crack down on the violence here in the city of New Orleans and elsewhere around Louisiana, Landry said in an appearance on the Fox News' The Will Cain Show. "And so a big shoutout to both of them.

Critics have argued a National Guard deployment is unwarranted and could cause fear in the community, and they point out that New Orleans has actually seen a decrease in violent crime rates.

The deployment of the National Guard to the Democrat-led city comes as Border Patrol agents have been carrying out an immigration crackdown since the beginning of the month. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents have arrested several hundred people during the first couple weeks of what is expected to be a months-long operation that has a goal of 5,000 arrests.

Back in September, Landry asked Trump to send a 1,000 federally funded troops to Louisiana cities, citing concerns about crime. Landry has praised Trump for sending troops to other cities, including Washington and Memphis, Tennessee.

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The president has also taken a shine to Landry. Trump on Sunday announced he was appointing the governor to serve as his special envoy to Greenland, the strategic, vast, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that Trump has said the U.S. needs to take over.

New Orleans has been on pace for much of the year to have its lowest number of murders in decades, according to preliminary data from the citys police department. There have been 97 homicides in 2025 as of Nov. 1, including 14 revelers who were killed on New Years Day during a truck attack on Bourbon Street.

A U.S. Army veteran driving a pickup truck that bore the flag of the Islamic State group wrought carnage on New Orleans raucous New Years celebration as he steered around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police.

There were 124 homicides last year and 193 in 2023, according to city figures. Armed robberies, aggravated assaults, carjackings, shootings and property crimes have also trended downward.

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New Orleans is no stranger to having National Guard members in the city. In January, 100 Guard members were sent to the city to help with security measures following the New Years Day truck attack. Guard members were also present for major events in the city this year, including the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

___ Associated Press reporter Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.
PALM BEACH  President Donald Trump said his administration is embarking on the construction of a "golden fleet" of naval war vessels, led by two new battleships.

The first of the pair of "Trump class" battleships will be called the USS Defiant. Then, Trump said, another eight of the battleships will be built followed by another 10 to 15 more.

"We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of battleships," the president said in remarks from Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach estate, on Dec. 22. "Once completed, these new 30,000- to 40,000-ton vessels will be the flagships of the American naval fleet."

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The president did not reveal the cost of each new battleship, but said they will at least be partially funded by $26 billion allocated by a defense spending bill passed by Congress this month.

The president said he would meet in Palm Beach next week with industry leaders to work on production schedules. In response to a question, he expressed frustration with delays and cost overruns in previous naval shipbuilding, especially the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.

Trump said the first battleship will take about 30 months to construct and will be 100 times more powerful than the World War II-era battleships. The vessels, the first battleships built in decades, will carry sea-born nuclear cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons in addition to guns, and they will rely on artificial intelligence.

Battleships served as the standard bearers of the U.S. Navy until the end of the 20th century. Weaponry technology and naval air power ultimately made the battleships obsolete.

US President Donald Trump walks to his SUV as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in Palm Beach, Florida early morning on December 20, 2025. President Trump is in Florida to spend the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago estate. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

The largest battleships built by the United States happened during World War II.

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That fleet was led by the USS Iowa, New Jersey and Wisconsin in addition to the Missouri, on whose decks the Japanese government surrendered in September 1945, ending the war. Under the Reagan administration, the World War II battleships were retrofitted and returned to the high seas.

The president also noted the United States has 15 nuclear submarines under construction, as well as three more aircraft carriers as well as smaller vessels such as frigates.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: President unveils Trump class battleship building plan from Mar-a-Lago
Donald Trump has broken his silence on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, complaining that people who innocently met the convicted paedophile could have their reputations destroyed.

In his first comments since the justice department began releasing the materials on Friday, the US president on Monday expressed sympathy for prominent Democrats who have come under renewed scrutiny over their associations with Epstein.

I like Bill Clinton, Trump said of the former president, who featured prominently in the first batch of photos. Ive always gotten along with Bill Clinton; Ive been nice to him, hes been nice to me  I hate to see photos come out of him but this is what the Democrats  mostly Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans  are asking for, so theyre giving their photos of me too.

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Trump, who had a long association with Epstein and for much of this year resisted the release of the files, was speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Everybody was friendly with this guy, he claimed. But no, I dont like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I dont like the pictures of other people being shown  I think its a terrible thing.

Related: Schumer to ask Senate to back legal action over partial Epstein files release

I think Bill Clintons a big boy, he can handle it, but you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago and theyre highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.

Trump added that 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 a reputation of somebody.

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He cited the example of Larry Summers, a Harvard professor and Democratic former treasury secretary who announced in November that he would be stepping back from public life after email exchanges with Epstein came to light.

Trump, who has tried to dismiss the Epstein files as hoax, also tried to cast them as a distraction from his own partys achievements. What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican party has.

Like, for instance, today were building the biggest ships in the world, most powerful ships in world, and theyre asking me questions about Jeffrey Epstein. I thought that was finished.

In fact there is no end in sight. The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), passed nearly unanimously by Congress and signed into law by Trump, mandated the complete release of the Epstein files by Friday of last week. But the justice department has released only one batch of documents so far, prompting an outcry from survivors and members of Congress.

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On Monday, Clintons spokesperson, Angel Urena, issued a statement urging the justice department to release any remaining materials that refer to Clinton in any way, including photographs. Someone or something is being protected, Urena said. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this. We need no such protection.

Urena said there is widespread suspicion the department was using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice.

Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in what was ruled a suicide.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he has spoken to U.S. oil companies about what happens after regime change in Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro seized power in 2024, claiming victory in the countrys presidential elections, which the U.S. has officially condemned.

The U.S. Coast Guard is currently pursuing a third oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela after having intercepted two others, and continues to bomb small vessels for allegedly carrying drugs to the United States. In a recent Vanity Fair interview, chief of staff Susie Wiles suggested Trump was, in fact, pursuing regime change, despite his never explicitly saying so himself.

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At a Mar-a-Lago press conference Monday to announce a new Trump Class of battleships, a reporter asked, if Trump had spoken to American oil companies that have had their assets seized about what a post-Maduro regime would mean for them?

Yeah, I have. All the big ones, yeah, Trump answered before moving on to the next question.

Trump has repeatedly shifted his reasoning for going after Venezuela, but has never officially confirmed he wanted regime change.

Drugs have been offered as a reason but so has ownership of oil fields formerly owned by U.S. companies, The Week reported. American officials say that multiple rationales have been discussed during internal administration discussions, but Congress has largely been left out of the loop.

Watch the clip above via NewsNation.

The post Trump Confirms He Has Talked to U.S. Oil Companies About What Happens After Regime Change In Venezuela first appeared on Mediaite.
The Nutriment Company (TNC) has acquired Zoo Factory, a Polish distributor of premium pet treats and pet food.

The companies did not disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Zoo Factory has been active for more than 25 years and produces and distributes around 250 pet-care items.

Its range includes products under the Hilton and Animals brands, alongside a private-label business.

It is Sweden-based TNCs tenth acquisition this year and comes shortly after the purchase of Dutch pet treat manufacturer Antos, which was announced last week. Founded more than 30 years ago, Antos operates a logistics facility in the Netherlands, which TNC plans to use as a strategic hub for the Benelux market.

The acquisition of Zoo Factory gives TNC its first foothold in the Polish pet food market.

Anders Kristiansen, the CEO of TNC, said: Entering Poland is a major milestone for us - and a powerful way to close an exceptional year of growth.

Together, we are well positioned to build a leading role in one of Europes most dynamic pet markets.

In a statement issued yesterday (22 December), TNC said it expects the deal to support the expansion of its products into pet supply chains, independent retailers and new omnichannel sales routes.

The company added Zoo Factorys strong position in the grocery sector creates immediate scalability for its entire product portfolio.

Under the terms of the deal, Zoo Factorys existing management will remain in place. Managing director Sawomir Musur and purchasing director Beata Bonalska will continue to lead the company.

The initial stage of integration will concentrate on rolling out TNCs wider product range, starting with supplements.

The company said within the first monthcustomers will be able to access its best-selling supplement products.

TNC took over French fresh pet-food company Easy-Barf in October.

In July, the business snapped up UK-based cat-food supplier Purrform, adding a new dimension of species-specific expertise to its brand portfolio.

TNCs other acquisitions earlier in the year included the purchase of Graf Barf, a German private-label pet-food business and Bulmer Pet Foods.

"Nutriment enters Poland with Zoo Factory takeover" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




WASHINGTON (AP)  George Conway, a former conservative lawyer who has become one of President Donald Trumps most outspoken critics, is taking steps toward a run for Congress in an open New York City seat.

Conway filed paperwork Monday to run as a Democrat in New Yorks 12th Congressional District, though he has not made an official announcement and his campaign did not respond to a request for comment. If he enters the race, Conway would be the latest high-profile contender in an increasingly crowded primary to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler in the Manhattan-based district.

Conway initially supported Trump early in his first term. At the time, he was married to pollster and strategist Kellyanne Conway, who served as a senior presidential adviser in the White House.

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George Conway later emerged as one of the presidents fiercest critics, condemning Trump's actions on social media and cable news with an intensity that often mirrored his wifes public defense of him.

Conway later helped found the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. The Conways announced their divorce in early 2023.

John F. Kennedys grandson Jack Schlossberg announced in November that he was seeking to succeed Nadler. Micah Lasher, a former Nadler aide and current New York state lawmaker, has also entered the Democratic primary.

The district stretches from Union Square to the northern edge of Central Park, encompassing the wealthy Upper East Side and Upper West Side.
A straw poll taken at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest has singled out one member of President Donald Trumps Cabinet as by far the least popular with Republicans.

The event, held in Phoenix over the weekend, was the first since the murder of the organizations co-founder, the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

We wanted to get a real read on where the base is at after Charlies assassination, and a few things really jump off the page, Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet told Fox News Digital on Monday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi conducts a news conference at the Department of Justice. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

The results were bad news for Attorney General Pam Bondi, with only 32.9 percent of those polled at the event saying they strongly agree with her performance.

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By comparison, AmericaFest attendees voted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as the cabinet member doing the best job (83.3 percent), closely followed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (80.8 percent), and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (78.6 percent).

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy had the lowest disapproval rating, just 0.5 percent.

Bondi was the only member of Trumps Cabinet to have negative ratings in the double digits. A combined 29 percent said they either somewhat or strongly disapproved of her work.

Bondi, 60, has angered MAGA loyalists this year by constantly fumbling the release of the Epstein files.

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After drip-feeding some heavily redacted documents, with the latest batch arriving on Friday, a statement by 19 of Jeffrey Epsteins victims called out Bondi and her department, stating, We are told that there are hundreds and thousands of pages of documents still unreleased. These are clear-cut violations of an unambiguous law.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Department of Justice for comment.

The poll asked their support base to rank their priorities, with winning next years midterms a clear winner at 63.9 percent.

Defunding woke universities was only voted as an issue by 1.1 percent, while the base was least interested in ending the war in Ukraine, which came last.

Erika Kirk interviews surprise guest Nicki Minaj on the final day of Turning Point USA's annual AmericaFest conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. / Caylo Seals / Getty Images

89.5 percent of voters also said they would support a moratorium on new immigration into the U.S.

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The poll also saw the vice president blitz the choice of who Turning Point USA supporters would like to see succeed Trump in 2028.

JD Vance won the 2028 nomination straw poll by more than Donald Trump won the 2024 one we did two years ago, Charlie Kirk Show producer Blake Neff wrote on X.

Vice President JD Vance speaks on the final day of Turning Point USA's annual AmericaFest conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 21, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. / Caylo Seals / Getty Images

Vance, who has regularly attended Turning Point events and spoken about his faith, scored 84.2 percent of the vote. Rubio took just 4.8 percent while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earned a measly 2.9 percent. Donald Trump Jr. scored even less, with just 1.8 percent of the vote.

88.3 percent of poll respondents self-identified as Republicans and 94.7 percent identified as conservatives.

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Kolvet said the Turning Point movement is all-in for Vance as the next Republican leader.

During the event on Sunday, Vance was cautious to fully condemn the rise of racism and antisemitism in the Republican Party.

The VP said conservatives should welcome everyone as long as they love America. He also said he was against using purity tests to work out who might be excluded from the religious movement over their beliefs, after questions arose over divisive figures such as Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens.

I didnt bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform, Vance said during his closing speech on Sunday.

Donald Trump Jr. speaks on the final day of Turning Point USAs annual AmericaFest conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. / Caylo Seals / Getty Images

We dont care if youre white or Black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between, he said of Turning Points entry policy.

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We have far more important work to do than canceling each other, he said.

Vance was more vocal about the Trump administrations policies to end diversity and inclusion, telling the audience, In the United States of America, you dont have to apologize for being white anymore.
President Donald Trump has taken jabs at offshore wind all year. On Monday, he threw a haymaker that threatens to knock the U.S. industry to the mat.

The presidents decision to pause construction of five offshore wind projects capable of powering nearly 2.7 million homes along the East Coast marked an escalation of a yearlong effort to shut down the industry, jolting the political debate surrounding rising electricity prices.

In New England, the regional grid operator warned the stoppage could send power prices soaring and threaten the reliability of its six-state electric system. In Virginia, the utility building the countrys largest coastal wind project said the pause hinders its ability to keep up with rising electricity consumption from data centers. And on Capitol Hill, the order threatened to stymie a long-debated bipartisan energy permitting bill winding its way through Congress. Senate Democrats said Monday they were halting negotiations over the bill in response to the stoppage.

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Rising electricity prices have emerged as a growing political problem for Trumps party and as a campaign theme for Democrats hoping to claw back control of Congress next year. And Trumps newest move jeopardizes major new power sources that were already on their way to completion.

It is coming at a time when the main topic is affordability, affordability. This is running contrary to that in my opinion, said Tim Ennis, a power market analyst at GridStatus, a website that tracks wholesale electricity markets. If you want to make the argument that these projects are too expensive and we shouldnt build more, thats one thing. But these projects are in the water.

Mondays action also complicates life for Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who personally lobbied Trump in May to save one of the five wind projects in question.

Trump campaigned on a pledge to stop offshore wind development for his second term and immediately set about fulfilling the promise with a Day 1 executive order calling for a review of offshore wind permits. Federal agencies have since proposed pulling permits for projects yet to start construction, launched national security investigations into imported turbine components and even tried unsuccessfully to block two projects under construction.

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Mondays order goes beyond that. The Interior Department said it was issuing an immediate pause to the five projects, citing classified reports from the Department of Defense on wind turbines impact to military radar. Two companies that received the order, Dominion Energy and rsted, described it as a 90-day pause. The order halts work at Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind near Virginia Beach; Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind off New York state; and Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind off New England.

In an appearance on Fox News, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum intimated that the Pentagons findings were based on recent drone warfare observed in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He said federal officials were working with the companies to see if theres a way to actually mitigate this.

The White House was more explicit that Trump simply doesnt want wind.

President Trump has been clear: wind energy is the scam of the century, said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, repeating a favorite administration talking point. For years, Americans have been forced to pay billions more for the least reliable sources of energy.

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The move came as the five projects continue to advance. Coastal Virginia, which is two-thirds complete, began installing turbines over the weekend, according to a spokesperson for Dominion Energy, the utility building it. In New England, Vineyard Wind is already sending electricity to the power grid. The region has repeatedly set new records for wind generation since its developer said half of the turbines were exporting power at the end of September.

The pause garnered praise from offshore wind opponents, who called the effort overdue. Some even urged the administration to go further.

Ted Hadzi-Antich, a senior attorney with the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, said the next step is for the government to order removal of equipment installed during construction of at least one of the five projects to bring the area back to a pristine, fishable habitat for the benefit of all Americans.

But offshore wind supporters called the charges bogus.

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I was involved in developing 3 of these 5 projects for the last 10 years. I can tell you the Department of Defense was vigorous and thorough in examining any potential threat to national security, including potential radar interference, wrote Julia Bovey, a former offshore wind executive who worked on Empire Wind, Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind.

She added: In fact, when opponents tried to use the threat of radar interference as an excuse to block the projects, top military officials said, If wind turbines could hinder the US Navy from protecting our county, weve got a much bigger problem on our hands.

The order thrusts offshore wind to the forefront of political discussions over electricity prices and permitting reform. Democrats won gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia last month on a pledge to tame rising power prices. Trump administration officials have indicated they are sensitive to the issue. In a recent interview with POLITICO, Energy Secretary Chris Wright laid out administration policies that he said would soon push prices down.

But analysts said the construction pause threatens to exacerbate the issue. Electricity prices for reserve power spiked in an auction held last week by the PJM Interconnection, the organization that operates a 13-state grid stretching from Virginia to Illinois.

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The rising prices are a blaring alarm signaling the need for new power plants to be built to meet mounting electricity demand, Ennis said. Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, a 176-turbine project being built by Dominion, was supposed to relieve that pressure by injecting 2,600 megawatts of electricity directly into Virginia, which is home to the worlds largest concentration of data centers.

Jeffrey Shields, a PJM spokesperson, said in an email that the project would provide substantial power to enhance the reliability and affordability of the system.

We hope for a speedy security review that will allow PJM to integrate this and other new projects into the PJM generation fleet as soon as possible, he added.

The Virginia project also had the support of key Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans, who narrowly won reelection last year during a campaign where offshore wind featured prominently.

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Kiggans said she had been working with the Interior Department and outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin for months to safeguard the Virginia project. Halting the project at this stage, she said in a Monday statement, would be disastrous for energy security, the local economy and military readiness. A spokesperson for Youngkin did not respond to a request for comment.

Neil Chatterjee, a Republican who served as the chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during Trumps first term, wrote in a LinkedIn post that the decision sets a terrible precedent at a time when we need every available electron.

I find this to be incredibly reckless, he wrote. How are we going to support all the data centers? I was critical of the Biden administration for targeting fossil fuels. I am critical of this administration for targeting clean energy. Now more than ever we need it all.

In New England, state officials and the regional grid operator said the pause would hamper attempts to improve reliability and reduce costs of the natural gas-dependent power system.

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Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey pledged to stand up against this unlawful action by the Trump Administration. She noted that 572 megawatts, or about 70 percent of Vineyard Winds 800-megawatt capacity, is now operational.

Vineyard Wind was due to be followed next year by Revolution Wind, a 704-megawatt project serving Connecticut and Rhode Island. Officials from both states charged the Trump administration with seeking to circumvent a court order that overturned an attempt to stop work on Revolution Wind earlier this year. The project is slated to begin sending power to the two states next year.

This appears to be a second, even more lawless and erratic stop work order, reviving the Trump Administrations prior failed attempt to halt construction of Revolution Wind, Democratic Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said.

The two projects had been expected to relieve pressure on New Englands limited natural gas pipeline network, which can get squeezed in the winter months when demand for power and heating surges, said ISO New England, which operates the regions six-state electric grid. It noted that both projects are included in its near-term and long-term planning forecasts needed to help meet electricity demand.

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While ISO-NE forecasts enough generation capacity is available for the current season, canceling or delaying these projects will increase costs and risks to reliability in our region, the grid operator said in a statement. Beyond increasing risk to reliability, delays of new generating resources also will adversely affect New Englands economy and industrial growth, including potential future data centers.

The Trump administrations actions also cast a shadow on legislative efforts to craft a bipartisan permitting overhaul package.

Just last week House lawmakers advanced legislation on the topic, but only after inserting language backed by conservatives that would enable the Trump administration to maintain its attempts to shut down offshore wind projects.

The provision immediately raised the stakes for negotiations in the Senate, where Republicans need to win over a handful of Democratic votes to secure passage of the bill.

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Trumps actions make that job even harder, Hill watchers said.

Senate Democrats have little incentive to vote for legislation they view as unacceptable when the political winds on affordability are at their backs heading into next years midterms, said Chris Moyer, the president of Echo Communications Advisors, a public affairs firm focused on climate and clean energy.

The sentiment was bolstered Monday when two lead Senate Democrats halted negotiations over the administrations actions.

The illegal attacks on fully permitted renewable energy projects must be reversed if there is to be any chance that permitting talks resume, said Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a joint statement. There is no path to permitting reform if this administration refuses to follow the law.
Donald Trump has announced plans for the US navy to build a new generation of warships  known as Trump-class.

The ships will be bigger, faster and a hundred times more powerful than any previous US-built warship, the president said on Monday. The project will begin with construction of two such battleships and eventually be expanded to 20 to 25 new vessels.

John Phelan, the navy secretary, added: Our adversaries will know, when the Trump-class USS Defiant appears on the horizon, American victory at sea is inevitable.

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Past battleship classes were typically named after US states.

Here are todays stories:

Schumer to ask Senate to back legal action over partial Epstein files release

The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, announced on Monday he will introduce a resolution directing the Senate to take legal action against the justice department over its incomplete release of files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Read the full story

Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say

The Trump administration has quietly recalled nearly 30 ambassadors and other senior overseas diplomats as the Trump administration plans to promote appointees loyal to the new administration to higher levels of the state department, according to diplomatic sources.

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The recall of the ambassadors or heads of mission, which were confirmed by several current and former senior diplomats, was unusual for targeting career foreign service officers heading embassies overseas who are generally left in place after a change in administration because they strive to be apolitical.

Read the full story

Outrage after CBS pulls 60 Minutes segment on El Salvadors Cecot prison

CBS News was dealing with internal and external uproar on Monday after it pulled at the last minute an investigation for its flagship 60 Minutes show into the harsh prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration deported hundreds of Venezuelans from the US earlier this year.

Read the full story

Trump officials halt offshore windfarm projects

The Trump administration has said it is immediately pausing all leases for offshore windfarms already under construction, in the heaviest blow yet to an industry that the administration has relentlessly targeted throughout the year.

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Trumps Department of the Interior said that it was halting the building of five wind projects due to national security risks. The department said it would work with the US Department of Defense to mitigate the risk of the wind turbine towers creating radar interference called clutter that could in some way hamper the US military.

Read the full story

Number of people in ICE detention hits record high, data shows

The number of people in immigration detention in the US has hit an all-time high according to data published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The data, which comes out every two weeks, shows that as of 14 December 2025, ICE held more than 68,400 people.

This many people in immigration detention is a new record, breaking the previous high set at the beginning of December.

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Read the full story

US justice department halts funding for human-trafficking survivors

More than 100 organizations that support victims of human trafficking have lost funding since October, leaving thousands of survivors at risk, a Guardian investigation has found. Anti-trafficking advocates say the US Department of Justices failure to spend nearly $90m appropriated by Congress is impeding law-enforcement investigations and exposing survivors to homelessness and the risk of deportation, jail time or re-exploitation.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened on 21 December 2025.
President Donald Trump escalated his beef with The New York Times early Tuesday, calling it a TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! and a security threat that must be stopped in a wee-hours rant on Truth Social.

The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation, he began. Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Thank you for you [sic] attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DJT.

Politics: Trump Threatens To Sue New York Times For 'Unpatriotic' Reporting, Gets Feisty Response

A Times report that his energy was dwindling last month prompted the president to call one of the articles reporters ugly and the newspaper the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE back then as well.

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Its not entirely clear what set off Trump, whos in Florida, but the recentpossibilities in the newspaper are many.

On Monday, Trump also accused the newspaper of downplaying his plan to lower prescription drug costs.

The New York Times had a story about it, a small story, way in the back of the paper, he said, per The Daily Beast. Its the single biggest thing to happen with respect to drugs probably in 50 years.

Earlier this month, the paper sued Trumps Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over new press restrictions.

Trump turbocharged his feud with The New York Times in another after-hours meltdown on Truth Social. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
President Donald Trump announced new "Trump-class" ships for the US Navy Golden Fleet.

Trump said that up to 25 ships will be built, with construction set to start immediately.

The Navy said these ships will feature a railgun, high-powered lasers, and nuclear cruise missiles.

President Donald Trump on Monday shared details about new additions to what he's calling the US Navy's "Golden Fleet"  two large flagships heavily armed with cutting-edge technology.

The "Trump-class" ships, which the president described as "battleships," were announced Monday afternoon at a press conference alongside Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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The first of these vessels will be called the USS Defiant, Phelan said. Posters of the warship were on display at the press conference held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

The warship would be one of the Navy's largest: It's supposed to be 880 feet long and displace 35,000 tons of water, with a crew of up to 850. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, by comparison, is 505 feet long and displaces about 10,000 tons.

The concept of the battleship goes back to the early 20th Century, when militaries projected naval power with heavily armed capital ships. They largely fell out of favor with the rise of missiles and aircraft, but Trump said they'll now return with "100 times the force and power."

What's supposed to be on the 'Trump-class' ship

The new vessel's announced capabilities are highly ambitious, as much of its planned weaponry is still thought to be in testing and has not yet been confirmed as operationally fielded by the Navy.

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They include a 32-megajoule railgun on the ship's bow for firing a high-velocity projectile, which relies on its kinetic force to devastate a target instead of an explosive warhead. The ship is meant to feature two other five-inch guns that fire high-velocity projectiles.

The Navy said the ship will also be armed with a 12-cell launcher for Conventional Prompt Strike missiles, which are hypersonic missiles that use boost glide technology to attack long-range targets at extreme speeds.

Such weapons are difficult to intercept because they can maneuver deftly at over five times the speed of sound, and include the famous missile that China unnerved US officials by testing in 2017.

The US is not officially known to have these in its arsenal, but has been actively developing them.

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Another significant armament for the new ship is the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear, or SLCM-N. It's a Congress-approved program, still in development, that's meant to give the US a modern way to launch tactical nukes from the sea.

Tactical nukes have a much smaller, but still severe, yield compared to the city-destroying strategic nuclear weapons on American submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

In his Monday announcement, Trump acknowledged that the SLCM-N is still "currently under development."

But he said the cruise missiles would be "instituted pretty quickly," without providing an exact timeframe.

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The new ship is also supposed to field two types of lasers. The Navy said the first type will be either two 600-kilowatt or 300-kilowatt lasers, which use intense heat to destroy targets and are still believed to be in testing.

The second is the ODIN, a low-powered laser designed to disrupt or blind targeting systems on incoming threats. Four of these are planned for the new ship.

Additionally, it's designed to feature a 32-cell vertical-launch system, two counter-drone systems, four 30mm guns, and two rolling airframe missile launchers for air defense.

A fleet of 20 to 25 battleships

Trump said on Monday that the new ship's design would be led by the Navy, but also feature his aesthetic input.

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The president said that eventually 20 to 25 of the "Trump-class" ships will be made, and construction will start "immediately."

He lamented the US lagging behind the rest of the world in shipbuilding capacity, which China has been rapidly expanding in recent years.

"We're desperately in need of ships, and I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin construction of two large battleships," Trump said. "We used to build the Iowa, the Missouri, the Alabama. These will be 100 times the force and power. Each one of these will be the largest battleships built in the history of our country."

Phelan, Secretary of the Navy, described the new capital ships as a major capability alongside the Ford and Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, which each displace around 100,000 tons.

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"Now, when a conflict arises, you're going to ask us two questions: where is the carrier, and where is the battleship?" Phelan said in a statement from the Navy.

The Navy separately announced on Friday that it would build a new frigate, based on the Coast Guard's Legend-class cutter, as part of Trump's "Golden Fleet." It is intended to replace the new Constellation-class frigate, which was canceled in November.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Donald Trumps latest salvo against offshore wind threatens the reliability of New Yorks electric grid  and undermines Gov. Kathy Hochuls all-of-the-above pivot on energy.

Trump announced a pause Monday on five offshore wind projects already under construction, including two with contracts to supply New York. That includes one Hochul negotiated with Trump to salvage earlier this year, in what administration officials portrayed as a deal to win approval of a natural gas pipeline.

New Yorks Democratic governor has maintained a working relationship with the Republican president, taking a less confrontational tack than some of her colleagues. But that approach has sparked outrage from environmentalists  and the latest development further stoked their ire.

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Hochul told reporters Monday that shed spoken with Trump recently about some of her priorities including nuclear energy and a new Hudson River rail tunnel, but she said the action on offshore wind didnt come up.

We sure didn't see this broadside attack coming, Hochul said. It's just another attack on a place like New York that is working so hard to have an all the above approach so I can keep the lights on.

The two New York projects impacted, Empire Wind I and Sunrise Wind, would create more than 1,700 megawatts  enough to supply more than 1 million homes  to the downstate region which is facing reliability concerns. Delays or outright cancellations could exacerbate forecasted shortfalls in electricity as demand for energy increases amid the rapid proliferation of energy-sucking AI data centers and electrification of homes and buildings.

The federal action puts Hochul, who is steering a pivot on New Yorks energy policy, in more of a bind as she seeks to prioritize reliability and affordability. The governor is facing a tough reelection battle next year, including a left-flank primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.

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Trump also on Monday endorsed Hochuls likely Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who opposes offshore wind.

When Trump lifted a stop work order on Empire Wind I earlier this year, the governor took credit for negotiating with the White House to get the project back online.

She cracked the door to considering gas pipelines, although she denied any explicit deal with the president. White House officials said Hochul caved on pipelines as part of the offshore wind restart.

Since then, Hochuls administration in November issued a key state permit for a Williams Co. pipeline into New York City that had previously been rejected over environmental concerns. Environmental advocates and progressive lawmakers slammed the governors decision  and Trumps latest action on offshore wind added fuel to their outrage.

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She did not stand up. She rolled over, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program. This should really cause her to really second guess negotiating with this [administration]. This is permitting terrorism by the Trump administration.

Hochul should consider revoking the recently issued Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline permit, said Rich Schrader, a board member with anti-gas group Frack Action and longtime environmental advocate.

The latest federal pause on offshore wind also comes just days after Williams Co. filed for federal approval of the Constitution Pipeline, another gas project that would cross New York and require Hochuls sign-off.

There's an enormous amount of antipathy to that pipeline, Schrader said. So there's another potential battle there, and something else that Hochul could lose unless she kills this quickly.

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Williams Co. withdrew a state application for Constitution when it got approval for the New York City project, but company officials said they were still pursuing the project.

The White House blasted offshore wind in justifying the presidents action.

For years, President Trump has been clear: wind energy is the scam of the century, said spokesperson Taylor Rogers. Instead of building oil and gas pipelines for reliable and affordable energy, Joe Bidens administration spent billions of dollars to fund large-scale offshore wind projects in the name of the Green New Scam.

Empire Wind I and Sunrise are both actively under construction. The states grid operator has been hesitant to rely on those projects coming online in 2027 as scheduled in its reliability planning.

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The New York Independent System Operator will include the impacts of the change to these projects in an upcoming short term reliability assessment, expected in April next year, spokesperson Kevin Lanahan said in a statement.

An all-of-the-above approach is necessary to add much-needed generation to the New York grid, Lanahan said.

The states utility regulator has also directed Con Ed to fill a forecast reliability shortfall in New York City starting in 2030.

Hochul and state officials have said the New York City pipeline is also needed to ensure the reliability of the gas system downstate. Theyve also highlighted studies backed by pipeline supporters that show lower electricity costs if the project is built, based on more availability and lower fuel costs for natural gas plants.

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National Grid gas customers downstate would pay more for the pipeline, although they might see offsets to the costs if the utility closes gas injection sites. National Grid is currently relying on trucked-in fuel at those sites to meet demand on the coldest winter days.

The offshore wind projects would receive subsidies from utility ratepayers statewide to support the states renewable energy efforts, raising bills about $2 per month on average once they begin operating.

But the projects are also forecast to insulate ratepayers from volatile increases in fossil fuel prices and lower costs during the coldest months, according to industry-backed research.

We should be looking at all different sources of energy and diversifying our fuel mix, because, that'll help in terms of affordability, reliability, resilience of the grid, and it's imperative that a major part of that diversity is renewables, said Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, a business group that backed the New York City pipeline and supports the offshore wind industry.

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Cohen said Hochul should not revoke permits for the pipeline in response to Trumps actions.

This shouldn't be tit-for-tat type of situation, he said. This is way too serious for our economy and for our future to be devolving into petty back and forth.

Some environmental advocates expect additional legal action from the offshore wind industry to try and salvage the projects. Democratic Sen. Liz Krueger said at a Monday press conference that shed contact the New York attorney generals office about challenging the latest pause.

Mondays presidential action came after a federal judge overturned an executive order halting permitting for wind projects.

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The courts already struck this down once; they're going to strike it down again, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. So this is another delay that adds, sadly, to the cost of offshore wind and to the public's confusion.

Mona Zhang contributed to this report.


By Courtney Rozen

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Roughly 25,000 people have expressed interest in joining the Trump administration's cadre of engineers known as Tech Force, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday, as the U.S. government looks to install staff with artificial intelligence expertise in federal roles.

The Trump administration will use that list to recruit software and data engineers, in addition to other tech roles, said Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, in a post on X. Reuters could not independently verify the 25,000 figure.

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The interested candidates will compete for 1,000 spots in the first Tech Force cohort. The recruits will spend two years working on technology projects inside federal agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Justice, among other government offices, Kupor said previously.

The hiring initiative is part of the Trump administration's AI agenda. Previous U.S. presidents have launched similar initiatives to bring tech talent into government, including former President Joe Biden.

President Donald Trump, in the first months of his second term, focused on eliminating government jobs, with exceptions for positions his administration said were necessary to maintain "national security." Tech Force is a departure from the downsizing campaign.

(Reporting by Courtney RozenEditing by Rod Nickel)
By Sam Tobin and Andy Bruce

LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Two men were found guilty on Tuesday of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired gun rampage against the Jewish community in England, a planned attack investigators say demonstrates the resurgent risk posed by the militant group.

Police and prosecutors said Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, who went on trial a week after an unrelated deadly attack on a synagogue in the nearby northwest city of Manchester in October, were Islamic extremists who wanted to use automatic firearms to kill as many Jews as they could.

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Had their plans come to fruition, it would have resulted in "one of, if not the, deadliest terrorist attack in UK history", said Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts, in charge of Counter-Terrorism Policing in northwest England.

Their convictions come little more than a week after a mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach in which 15 people were killed.

Islamic State said the Australian attacks were a "source of pride". Although the jihadist group did not claim responsibility, its response has heightened fears of an increase in violent Islamist extremism.

While not posing the same threat of a decade ago when Islamic State controlled vast areas of Iraq and Syria, European security officials caution that IS and affiliated al Qaeda groups are once again looking to export violence abroad, radicalising would-be attackers online.

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"You can see signs of some of those terrorism threats starting to grow again and starting to escalate," British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said last week.

TWO MEN PREPARED TO BECOME MARTYRS

British prosecutors told jurors that Saadaoui and Hussein had "embraced the views" of Islamic State and were prepared to risk their own lives in order to become "martyrs".

Saadaoui had arranged for two assault rifles, an automatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Britain through the port of Dover when he was arrested in May 2024, prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu said.

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He added that Saadaoui planned to obtain two more rifles, another pistol and collect at least 900 rounds. Unbeknown to him, a man known as "Farouk" he was trying to get the weapons from was an undercover operative, which police said meant his plan never came close to being put into operation.

Sandhu said the assault rifles Saadaoui wanted were similar to those used in a 2015 Islamist militant attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris that killed 130 people. He added that Saadaoui "hero-worshipped" Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who coordinated that attack.

Saadaoui said in a message to "Farouk", whom he thought was a fellow militant, that the Paris attack was "the biggest operation after that of Osama (bin Laden)", an apparent reference to the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States.

"Based on Walid's communications and interactions with the undercover operative, and some of the things he said, that made it very clear that he regarded a less sophisticated attack with less lethal weaponry as not being good enough," Potts said.

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"Because, in effect, it was his role and his duty to kill as many Jewish people as he could, and that wasn't going to be achieved via the use of a knife or, for example, potentially a vehicle as a weapon."

Both Saadaoui and Hussein had pleaded not guilty and Saadaoui said that he had played along with the plot out of fear for his life.

Hussein did not give evidence and barely attended his trial after he angrily shouted from the dock on the first day "how many babies?" in an apparent reference to Israel's war in Gaza.

They were convicted in Preston Crown Court on a single charge of preparing terrorist acts.

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Walid Saadaoui's brother Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism but prosectors said he had been reluctant to join the attack.

ISLAMIC STATE THREAT GROWING

The foiled plot is the latest in Britain and elsewhere inspired by Islamic State, which emerged in Iraq and Syria a decade ago and quickly created a "caliphate", declaring its rule over all Muslims and largely displacing al Qaeda.

At the height of its power from 2014-17, Islamic State held swathes of the two countries, ruling over millions of people and imposing a strict, brutal interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

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Its fighters also carried out or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world, which were often claimed by Islamic State even without any actual connection.

The SITE Intelligence Group said in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack in Australia that IS had encouraged Muslims to take action elsewhere, particularly singling out Belgium.

A European intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said IS was flooding social media with propaganda and while this impacted only a handful of people, it meant there were more terrorism investigations than last year.

Ken McCallum, head of Britain's domestic spy agency MI5, said in October that his service and the police had thwarted 19 late-stage attack plots since the start of 2020, and intervened to counter many hundreds of other terrorism threats.

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"Terrorism breeds in squalid corners of the internet where poisonous ideologies, of whatever sort, meet volatile, often chaotic individual lives," McCallum said.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin in London and Andy Bruce in Manchester; writing by Michael Holden; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Nvidias CEO Jensen Huang has gone from the bottom to becoming a multi-billionaire, but that doesnt mean hes above doing the little tasks.

The 62-year-old CEO of the worlds most valuable company said his humble roots as a dishwasher have, in fact, helped him learn to spurn no task.

You cant show me a task that is beneath me, he said in an interview with Stanfords graduate school of business, which recently resurfaced on X.

Even in his most humble of jobs, the worlds ninth-richest man never shied away from the dirty work.

I cleaned a lot of toilets. Ive cleaned more toilets than all of you combined, and some of them you just cant unsee, he said.

If someone approaches Huang with a call for help, he said he tries to at least contribute. That way, at least, the person with the problem can see a new way of thinking about the problem, he added.

If you send me something and you want my input on it, and I can be of service to you, and in my review of it, share with you how I reason through it, Ive made a contribution to you, Huang said. Ive made it possible for you to see how I reason through something, and by reasoning, as you know, how someone reasons through something empowers you.

These values have been fundamental to Huangs leadership style and are partly why he is worth $161.8 billion, according to Forbes. Born in Taiwan, Huang moved to the U.S. at age 9 without his parents. As a teenager, he took a job as a dishwasher at Dennys.

It was actually at Dennys where Nvidia, Huangs future company, got its start, according to the Nvidia website.

Years after he worked at the chain as a dishwasher, the Stanford graduate met with his future cofounders, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, to discuss the idea of a chip that would make 3D graphics possible on a PC. This idea sparked what would later become Nvidia, a chip empire that is now worth $4.5 trillion.

It wasnt easy at first, according to Huang. When he presented the idea to his boss at LSI Logic, Wilfred Corrigan, he called it one of the worst elevator pitches hes ever heard.

Still, Corrigan convinced Don Valentine, the founder of Sequoia Capital, to hear the pitch because of Huangs strong work ethic.

Elon Musk, who actually played a role in Nvidias origin story, commented on the resurfaced Huang interview this week.

This is the way, Musk wrote on X. When Nvidia introduced its first AI supercomputer, Musk was apparently the only one who reached out, saying he had a a nonprofit AI lab in need of such a product. Despite Huangs skepticism that a nonprofit would buy a $300,000 computer, he personally delivered it to San Francisco to what he later realized was the OpenAI team behind ChatGPT. Musk left OpenAI in 2018.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The U.S. military announced Monday night that a strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed one "narco-terrorist."

U.S. Southern Command said on X that military personnel conducted a lethal strike at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths direction on a vessel "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes" that was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations."

The Defense Department has repeatedly said targeted vessels are carrying narcotics to the United States.

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The United States has conducted more than two dozen strikes against alleged drug boats, killing over 100 people in the Pacific and Caribbean since September, according to the Pentagon.

Speaking to reporters Monday, President Donald Trump would not specify what his end game in the region was, but he issued a warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"He could do whatever he wants, its all right, whatever he wants to do," Trump said. "If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hes ever able to play tough."

Asked whether the ultimate goal was to force Maduro from power, Trump said: Thats up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that.

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Trump extended his warning to Venezuelas neighbors, saying Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a leftist who has drawn Trumps ire after he loudly opposed the boat strikes, was no friend of the United States.

Hes very bad, very bad guy, and hes got to watch his a--, Trump said.

We love the Colombian people. I love the Colombian people. Theyre great people, energetic, smart, great. But their new leader is a troublemaker, and he better watch it, he added.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
KAMPALA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Uganda's government has restricted imports of Starlink satellite internet equipment weeks before a national election at which the opposition fears the government will again impose an internet blackout.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, will seek to extend his rule in the East African nation to nearly half a century in the January 15 vote, which pits him against pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43, for the second time.

During the 2021 election, the government cut off internet access for days. Wine, who came a distant second to Museveni at the last vote, rejected the results and said he lost because of rigging, which Museveni denies.

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The restrictions on bringing Starlink devices into Uganda first came to light in a leaked tax agency memo dated December 19 that circulated on social media.

A spokesperson for the Uganda Revenue Authority later confirmed the memo was genuine.

The memo said any imports of "Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components" now needed to be cleared by the head of the military, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni's son.

The revenue authority tried to downplay the new restrictions, saying many countries seek to control imports of communication technology.

Elon Musk's Starlink does not have a licence to operate in Uganda yet, though many Ugandans have been bringing in Starlink devices and using them anyway.

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Opposition leader Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, called the restrictions on Starlink imports ridiculous in a post on X.

"If they're not planning ... electoral fraud, why are they so scared of people accessing (the internet) during the electoral process," Wine wrote.

A former rebel, Museveni has been credited with stabilising Uganda, promoting economic growth and combating HIV/AIDS, while critics have accused his government of suppressing opponents, committing human rights abuses and engaging in corruption.

Museveni and his government have amended the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, allowing him to remain in office.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema;Editing by Alexander Winning and Philippa Fletcher)
As the year approaches its end, the European Union and its 27 member states look back at a turbulent 12 months of geopolitics and policymaking. From the war in Ukraine to strained trans-Atlantic relations, some major challenges driving the debates appear to be here to stay.

The stakes heading into 2026 are high. The war in Ukraine continues to grind on, the EU is navigating an unprecedented phase in its relationship with the United States, the bloc is struggling to shore up economic growth, and rapid technological change is adding further pressure.

At the same time, the prospect of a wider confrontation with Russia has sharpened calls for European rearmament, pushing defence spending higher and shifting priorities away from the green transition.

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The EU is also seeking to continue its drive to simplify its regulation for the benefit of competitiveness. Critics, however, fear groundbreaking EU initiatives  such as on climate and digital regulation  may recede further to the background amid pressure from member states and across the Atlantic.

Ukraine: EU agrees financing as peace talks drag on

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in mid-December that Russia was preparing to wage a new year of war on his country in 2026, after his counterpart Vladimir Putin said Moscow would certainly achieve its objectives.

Moscows troops have been steadily advancing at the eastern front, with Putin on Friday hailing the Russian armys territorial gains  and threatening more in the coming weeks.

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EU leaders last Thursday agreed to provide Ukraine with 90 billion ($106 billion) for the years 2026 and 2027 to finance its defence against Russia. Without new funding, Ukraine was at risk of running a deficit of 45 to 50 billion next year and of having to scale back its military production, European Council President Antonio Costa said.

The EU has long been sidelined in talks with Russia to end the war, with US President Donald Trump coordinating efforts to get Kiev and Moscow to the table. Washington last month stunned Ukraine and its European allies by presenting a 28-point plan to end the war widely seen as caving in to the Kremlins key demands, which has since been redrafted following Ukraine and Europes involvement.

However, the prospect of direct talks between Europe and Russia has now come into view.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview published on Sunday by state news agency RIA Novosti.

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The French presidency as a consequence welcomed that Putin was ready to speak with Macron, after the French leader said Europe should reach out to Russia again over ending the war rather than leaving the US alone to take the lead.

The Kremlin on Sunday however denied that three-way talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States were on the cards, as Russian, Ukrainian and European diplomats were in Miami for separate talks with the US.

The EU  and especially members on the eastern flank, such as Poland  is also expecting further tests to its resilience to hybrid pressure, including disinformation, cyberattacks and potential acts of sabotage.

Western security services blame Russia for a spate of drone flights, acts of sabotage, cyberattacks and online disinformation campaigns in Europe, which have escalated since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Germanys domestic spy chief warned in early December that Russia could step up sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns next year when the EUs top economy, a strong backer of Ukraine, holds several regional elections.

Germany next year holds five regional elections, including in the ex-communist east, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party hopes to gain more support yet again.

No trade, no gain

The EUs trade relations with major partners have also shifted this year, as links with the United States, China, and the prospect of a trade deal with countries in South America remain key sticking points.

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2026 forecast: If current projections hold, global trade in 2025 will exceed $35 trillion, the United Nations has said. This marks an increase of around $2.2 trillion  roughly 7%  compared to 2024, it said in its final update of the year.

But the outlook for 2026 is more subdued, the United Nations said in early December. In November, the European Commission also said the eurozone economy will grow less than expected next year, as risks from international trade and geopolitical tensions weigh on the single currency area.

Since returning to office in January, US President Trump has slapped several waves of new tariffs on imports entering the United States. His administration has imposed a baseline tariff of 10% on all countries since April, with much higher rates for some economies.

Aimed at averting an all-out trade war, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump in July reached a deal that imposes 15% tariffs for most EU exports, including cars, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals or lumber.

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The commission forecast the single currency area to grow by 1.2% in 2026, down from a previous forecast of 1.4%. For the entire 27-country EU, Brussels expects growth of 1.4% in 2026, slightly lower than the 1.5% predicted in May.

The EUs data is based on the implementation of the tariffs as agreed. The commission said the eurozone economy was more resilient this year despite the turmoil caused by Trumps tariffs.

Eurozone family expands: The Eurozone will welcome a new member. On January 1, Bulgaria will join the single currency area, marking a major milestone in its EU integration, despite some domestic opposition.

The self-proclaimed only patriotic party in Bulgaria Vazrazhdane has organised protests against adopting the Euro, arguing that it would undermine national sovereignty and harm living standards. A commission spokesman however said that Bulgarias eurozone accession decisions are final and cannot be reversed before January 1.

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In mid-December, Bulgarias government led by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov resigned amid public anger over its economic policies and perceived failure to tackle widespread corruption  ushering in a period of prolonged political instability days before the nation gets a new currency.

EU-China trade: Trade tensions between China and the EU have been growing for several years.

In 2023, Brussels launched an investigation against electric cars manufactured in China, accusing Beijing of helping the industry with excessive state subsidies. Beijing subsequently responded with its own investigations and tariffs on imports from the EU, including spirits, pork and dairy products.

The trade clash intensified on Monday as China slapped provisional import tariffs of 21.9% to 42.7% on certain European dairy products, according to a statement of Chinas Ministry of Commerce.

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China accuses the EU of significantly subsidising its dairy industry. Imports from Europe had noticeably harmed Chinese producers, the ministry said. The investigation into dairy products is to continue until a final decision is made, it said.

Cracking down on the small parcel wave: The EU on its part also seeks to tackle a flood of small parcels from China ordered via the likes of Shein and Temu. Last year, 4.6 billion small retail packages entered the European Union  more than 145 per second  with 91% originating in China, and their numbers are expected to keep rising.

European retailers argue they face unfair competition from overseas platforms, such as AliExpress, Shein and Temu, which they claim do not always comply with the EUs stringent rules on products.

Earlier this month, EU finance ministers agreed to impose a 3 duty on low-value imports into the bloc. The levy will be introduced on a temporary basis starting July 1 next year, staying in place until the bloc can settle on a permanent solution for taxing such imports.

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The European Commission in May also proposed a small package handling fee worth 2. EU member states have yet to agree on the actual amount of that fee, but hope it will be applicable from late 2026.

EU-Mercosur, 25 years and counting: The EU last week said the signing of a trade deal between the EU and four Mercosur countries  Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay  will be postponed to January, after farmers staged a show of force against the pact outside an EU leaders summit in Brussels.

At the same time, firm opposition from France and setbacks from Italy and other member states stalled the agreement.

The EU-Mercosur deal would create the worlds biggest free-trade area and help the 27-nation bloc to export more vehicles, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America at a time of global trade tensions.

AI boost and big tech battle

In view of the EUs drive to slash red tape in the name of competitiveness, a key question for next year is whether the EUs efforts to deregulate will help the bloc keep pace with technological powerhouses  in particular on rising technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

After three years of breakneck growth and soaring valuations, the AI industry enters 2026 with some of the euphoria giving way to tough questions. Money is pouring into AI, with spending expected to reach more than $2 trillion worldwide in 2026, according to the consulting firm Gartner.

The EU raced to pass its sweeping AI law that entered into force last year, but dozens of Europes biggest companies, including Airbus and Mercedes-Benz, called for a pause on aspects they said risked stifling innovation.

Meanwhile, the EUs clash with big tech giants also rages on as Brussels rethinks its pioneering digital rulebooks. The landmark EU tech rules have faced powerful pushback from the US administration under Trump  but also from businesses and other governments.

Brussels denies bowing to outside pressure, but it has vowed to make businesses lives easier in the 27-nation bloc and has unveiled proposals to change its rules on data protection and delay parts of the AI law.

After cheering the so-called Brussels effect whereby EU laws were seen as influencing jurisdictions around the world, rights defenders increasingly fear the EU is withdrawing from its role as Big Techs watchdog.
Violence is on the rise in war-torn Myanmar ahead of planned "military-controlled" elections in the country later this week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned on Tuesday.

"The military authorities in Myanmar must stop using brutal violence to compel people to vote, and stop arresting people for expressing any dissenting views," Volker Turk said in a statement.

Civilians are also facing threats from armed rebel groups opposing the election set to take place on Sunday, Turk said.

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Myanmar has been mired in violence and chaos since a military coup in February 2021 that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

UN special rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has described the election as neither free nor fair.

Three youths were sentenced to prison terms of 42 to 49 years after attempting to put up election posters near the port city of Yangon, Turk reported.

A director, an actor and a comedian were sentenced to several years in prison for criticizing an election propaganda film made by the junta, according to the UN.

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People displaced by fighting were threatened and told to return to their villages and cast their votes, Turk said.

Rebel groups have also been resorting to violence, with nine female teachers temporarily abducted on their way to an election campaign event and told not to take part in the vote.
The University of Oklahoma removed the instructor involved in a controversy over First Amendment rights after giving a failing grade to a student who cited her religious beliefs in an essay about gender rights.

"The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the university," the University of Oklahoma said in a statement on Monday, Dec. 22. It added that the university determined the instructor "was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper."

In November, Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at the university, told The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, that a psychology course instructor gave her a zero on a 650-word essay assignment in response to an article about how people are perceived based on societal gender expectations.

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Fulnecky cited the Bible and her religious beliefs in the essay. The instructor, Mel Curth, wrote in an online grading system that parts of the essay were offensive.

The situation received national attention and sparked student-led protests at the university after Fulnecky alleged her First Amendment rights were violated.

Brittany Stewart, Curth's attorney, told The Oklahoman in a statement that the university notified her of the investigation's findings.

"Ms. Curth continues to deny that she engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student's work, and is considering all of her legal remedies, including appealing this decision by the university," the statement said.

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More: College essay on gender puts focus on religious freedom. Here's why

Conservatives gathered in Arizona for Turning Points annual AmericaFest conference this week. The four-day event marks Turning Points first conference since its co-founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed by an assassins bullet. See the most memorable images inside the event at Phoenix Convention Center. Charlie Kirks microphone is illuminated on stage during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. People watch from the crowd during AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendee pray with Pastor John Amanchukwu (out of frame) as he leads the daily prayer at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. A man wears a t-shirt with an image of US President Donald Trump as attendees arrive at the main hall for Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Erika Kirk arrives on stage during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendees pray during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendees pose in front of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle, during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. An attendee cries before CEO of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk takes the stage during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. Dec 18, 2025; Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.; People watch from the crowd during America Fest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendees pose for photos at the entrance to Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Attendees react as CEO of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk takes the stage during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. An attendee holds a flag during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendees listen to US conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro during Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. People watch from the crowd during AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. British comedian and actor Russel Brand kneels as he speaks on stage at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Attendees wait for the beginning of the conferences at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Attendees in US flag blazers pose as they wait for the beginning of the conferences at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Attendees walk past a banner reading "woke can't win" as they wait for the start of Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. A woman holds a US flag as attendees wait for the start of Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. An attendee wears shoes with US flags at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Attendees stand below an image of a statue of Abraham Lincoln as they wait for the start of Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Attendees arrive during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendees stand below a photo of Erika Kirk and US President Donald Trump a they wait for the start of Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. A vendor sells art from Bible scenes while the next booth advertises National Rifle Association (NRA) membership during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. A vendor sells sequined jackets during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025 People sit outside the entrance during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025 A cardboard cutout of U.S. President Donald Trump wearing a cowboy hat stands at the American Conservation Coalition booth during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025 U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement representatives set up a booth during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025 A podcast tapes an episode during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025 A vendor sets up a clothing shop during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025 Attendees arrive during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. Attendees celebrate during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025. People watch from the crowd during AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. People watch from the crowd during AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. People watch from the crowd during AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. A timeline of events is seen on the wall as attendees wait for the start of the conferences at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025. Russell Brand takes the stage during AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 18, 2025. Turning Point AmericaFest 2025 attracts thousands of GOP faithful 1 of 39 Conservatives gathered in Arizona for Turning Points annual AmericaFest conference this week. The four-day event marks Turning Points first conference since its co-founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed by an assassins bullet. See the most memorable images inside the event at Phoenix Convention Center.

University says it has completed discrimination investigation

A crowd gathers at the University of Oklahoma's administration building on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 to chant and show their signs during a protest and march supporting the graduate assistant that graded Samantha Fulnecky's essay.

Fulnecky filed a complaint of religious discrimination and a grade appeal with the university regarding the essay. In early December, OU ruled in her favor on the grade appeal, saying the essay would not count toward her final grade.

The university's Dec. 22 statement said it had completed its investigation into the discrimination claim, but the school did not release its findings.

"The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its facultys rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students right to receive an education that is free from a lecturers impermissible evaluative standards," the university said in the statement. "We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think."

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Curth was originally placed on administrative leave while the university investigated the issue.

What is the essay controversy about?

OU student Samantha Fulnecky, with her Bible, in the Oklahoma Memorial Union on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.

In her essay, Fulnecky argued that traditional gender roles should not be considered stereotypes.

She cited the Bible to support her stance that eliminating gender in society would be "detrimental" because that would put people "farther from God's original plan for humans."

Curth said in her grading of the essay that Fulnecky failed to use empirical evidence, calling parts of her essay offensive.

"To call an entire group of people 'demonic' is highly offensive, especially a minoritized population," Curth wrote on a grading platform.

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Fulnecky told The Oklahoman she believed she had failed because she cited the Bible.

"To be what I think is clearly discriminated against for my beliefs and using freedom of speech, and especially for my religious beliefs, I think that's just absurd," Fulnecky said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: University of Oklahoma removes instructor following essay controversy
If you're setting out to fly somewhere for the holidays this year, you probably want to know how your airline is likely to perform.

I'm sorry to say, we can't really tell you. In general, during the holidays (or really, any time of year), weather is the biggest factor in airline delays. If it's a quiet week for weather, you're likely going to have a smooth trip. But if a major storm blows across the country, it could lead to travel headaches  especially if it heavily impacts one of your airline's hubs.

Still, you may be curious about how airlines did during the holidays last year. While the winter of 2024-25 was generally cold and snowy, the peak holiday travel period itself was fairly quiet, and as such, airlines performed pretty well.

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2 critical questions you need to ask when flight is canceled, delayed

A snowstorm in the Northeast kicked off the holiday travel season on Dec. 20-21, and another blizzard hit the central U.S. on Jan. 5-6.

Both storms affected travel, and here's how the major U.S. airlines performed between Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and Monday, Jan. 5, 2025, according to Cirium, an aviation data analytics company:

American Airlines canceled 1.83% of flights, and 25.73% of flights were delayed 15 minutes or more

Delta Air Lines canceled 0.59% of flights, and 22.38% of flights were delayed 15 minutes or more

Southwest Airlines canceled 1.00% of flights, and 29.60% of flights were delayed 15 minutes or more

United Airlines canceled 1.49% of flights, and 24.23% of flights were delayed by 15 minutes or more

Alaska Airlines canceled 1.02% of flights, and 23.63% of flights were delayed by 15 minutes or more

JetBlue canceled 1.19% of flights, and 40.07% of flights were delayed by 15 minutes or more

Spirit Airlines canceled 0.38% of flights, and 28.16% of flights were delayed by 15 minutes or more

Frontier Airlines canceled 0.87% of flights, and 32.07% of flights were delayed by 15 minutes or more

What's one way to feel happier? Go on a trip.



According to G Adventures' recently released Happiness List 2026, 89% of the 8,000 adults intending to travel in 2026 across the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand agree that purpose-driven travel contributes to their long-term happiness. Those trips offer a sense of wonder along with a chance to decompress and find connection.



Here are 10 travel experiences that G Adventures' travelers said made them feel happiest: Panama's San Blas Islands are ideal for unplugging while enjoying turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Travelers can stay in Indigenous-owned accommodations, including traditional huts, and explore the archipelago by boat. Witnessing a solar eclipse is one way to experience wonder. G Adventures offers five trips for the Aug. 2027 eclipse, including an exclusive viewing party in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Travelers can dive into Guatemala's history and culture, from learning how to make beloved local dishes to exploring the ancient ruins of Tikal. Exploring the wild, remote landscapes in the Arctic aboard an expedition cruise can leave travelers with a newfound appreciation for Mother Nature. Imagine having a close encounter with Africa's wildlife while also supporting ethical travel and conservation. G Adventures offers a trip to Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, where travelers can see Victoria Falls, track elephants and cruise rivers looking for hippos. Sail down Sri Lanka's South Coast on a seven-day trip on a 54-foot catamaran for the chance to swim at remote beaches, explore fishing villages and more. Ecuador offers much more than being a gateway to the Galapagos. Travelers can go chocolate tasting, learn more about Indigenous culture and explore the wild jungle. Rather than falling into the typical tourist traps, travelers can try to live like a local and go off the beaten path. On G Adventures' East Iceland trip, guests go to a remote hamlet, enjoy geothermal pools and hike coastal trails. The Stans  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan  offer a rich history steeped in the Silk Road trade along with stunning nature, like Kaindy Lake's otherworldly sunken forest. Moldova may not be on everyone's radar, but this underrated Eastern European destination is perfect for foodies. Travelers can sip wine, taste local cuisine and visit spots like an eco-friendly cheese factory. 10 destinations where travelers feel happiest 1 of 10 What's one way to feel happier? Go on a trip.



According to G Adventures' recently released Happiness List 2026, 89% of the 8,000 adults intending to travel in 2026 across the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand agree that purpose-driven travel contributes to their long-term happiness. Those trips offer a sense of wonder along with a chance to decompress and find connection.



Here are 10 travel experiences that G Adventures' travelers said made them feel happiest: Panama's San Blas Islands are ideal for unplugging while enjoying turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Travelers can stay in Indigenous-owned accommodations, including traditional huts, and explore the archipelago by boat.

What you're entitled to if your flight is canceled or delayed

If your flight is canceled for any reason and you choose not to fly on alternative flights offered by your airline, you're entitled to a full refund of your ticket even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.

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If your flight is delayed, it gets a little more complicated. Airlines are only responsible for providing you with vouchers or other accommodations if the delay is seen by regulators as "controllable," or something that is caused by the airline itself, like a staffing or mechanical issue. Weather or air traffic control-related delays keep airlines off the hook.

Each airline has its own policies for exactly what they'll offer, and the Department of Transportation has a dashboard to help travelers keep track.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Holiday flight delays: How major US airlines really stacked up
The US is canceling thousands of asylum claims by citing deportation agreements with safe third countries, CBS News reported, one of several new approaches the Trump administration is adopting to curtail immigration.

The legal end-around, which the government said is to curb asylum fraud, risks undercutting legitimate claims from those fleeing persecution, lawyers warned.

President Donald Trump is changing the ways in which people are targeted and deported, The New York Times wrote: His adviser Stephen Miller is spearheading an offensive against birthright citizenship by arguing that even the children of immigrants are prone to criminality.

Meanwhile, ICE is working with the White House to pump out viral raid videos that promote its mass deportation strategy, The Washington Post reported.
President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. is still actively pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela, but that he's confident the vessel will be seized.

"It's moving along and well end up getting it," Trump said while unveiling a new class of battleships from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. "Yeah, we're actually pursuing it. Can you imagine? Yeah, because it came from the wrong location. It came out of Venezuela, and it was sanctioned."

The U.S. Coast Guard over the weekend was "in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuelas illegal sanctions evasion," an official told ABC News.

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"It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order," the official said at the time.

The tanker, named Bella 1, was not filled with cargo and en route to get oil when U.S. authorities attempted to board it, an official told ABC News on Monday.

Trump said the United States will keep the oil and ships after seizing sanctioned tankers.

"We're keeping it. We're keeping the ships also," he said.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump takes questions from journalists after announcing the US Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, December 22, 2025.

On President Nicholas Maduro, Trump said it would be "smart" for him to step down when asked if the administration's ultimate goal in Venezuela is to force him from power.

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"Well, I think it probably would. I can't tell him. That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that. But again, we're going to find out," Trump said. Though the president also warned, "if he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough."

The Bella 1 tanker fled into the Atlantic Ocean and was not flying a legitimate national flag, giving the Coast Guard the jurisdiction to attempt to seize it.

These details were first reported by the New York Times.

The action came after the U.S. Coast Guard seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday, just ten days after the seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker.

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US seized another ship in the Caribbean, Noem says

Unlike that first vessel seized, the tanker seized Saturday is not on any sanctions list maintained by the U.S., EU, U.K. or U.N., according to Kpler, a data firm that tracks transportation and logistics networks.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Saturday's operation in a post on social media, saying that the Coast Guard "apprehended" the tanker with support from the Department of Defense in a pre-dawn action. She said the tanker had last made port 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," Noem said in the post. "We will find you, and we will stop you."

@Sec_Noem - PHOTO: In a screen grab from a video released by Secretary Kristi Noem, the US Coast Guard apprehends an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela, on Dec. 20, 2025.

Last week, President Trump threatened to impose what he called "a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers" traveling to and from Venezuela  a move that could devastate the Venezuelan economy, since oil exports are the lifeblood of Maduro's regime.

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In response to Trump's announcement, Maduro said Venezuela would continue to trade oil and that Trumps "intention" is regime change.

"This will just not happen, never, never, never  Venezuela will never be a colony of anything or anyone, never," Maduro said.

The U.S. has amassed the largest military presence in the Caribbean in decades, including the worlds largest aircraft carrier.

The Pentagon also has so far struck 28 alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing at least 100 people, without providing any public evidence that the boats were carrying illegal drugs or identifying those killed.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Department of Homeland Security has dropped its plan to deport a Chinese national who entered the country illegally, two rights activists said Monday, after his plight raised public concerns that the man, if deported, would be punished by Beijing for helping expose human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region.

Rayhan Asat, a human rights lawyer who assisted in the case, said Guan Heng's lawyer received a letter from DHS stating its decision to withdraw its request to send Guan to Uganda. Asat said she now expects Guans asylum case to proceed smoothly and favorably.

Zhou Fengsuo, executive director of the advocacy group Human Rights in China, also confirmed the administration's decision not to deport Guan. We're really happy, Zhou said.

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The Department of Homeland Security didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's database lists Guan, 38, as a detainee.

His legal team is working to secure his release from an ICE detention facility in New York on bond, both Zhou and Asat said.

Guan in 2020 secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, which activists say have been used to lock up as many as 1 million members of ethnic minorities in the region, especially the Uyghurs. Beijing has denied allegations of rights abuses and says it has run vocational training programs to help local residents learn employable skills while rooting out radical thoughts.

Knowing he could not release the video footage while in China, Guan left the mainland in 2021 for Hong Kong and then flew to Ecuador, which at the time did not require visas for Chinese nationals. He then traveled to the Bahamas, where he bought a small inflatable boat and an outboard motor before setting off for Florida, according to the nongovernmental organization Human Rights in China.

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After nearly 23 hours at sea, Guan reached the coastline of Florida, according to the group, and his video footage of the detention facilities was released on YouTube, providing further evidence of rights abuse in Xinjiang, the rights group said.

But Guan was soon doxxed, and his family back in China was summoned by state security authorities, the group said.

Guan sought asylum and moved to a small town outside Albany, New York, where he tried to live a quieter life, the group said, until he was detained by ICE agents in August.

Public support for Guan, including in Congress, has swelled in recent weeks after Zhous group publicized his case. Before Guan appeared in court earlier this month, U.S. lawmakers called for providing him with a safe haven.

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Guan Heng put himself at risk to document concentration camps in Xinjiang, part of the CCPs genocide against Uyghurs, the congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission wrote on X.com, referring to the Chinese Communist Party by its acronym. Now in the United States, he faces deportation to China, where he would likely be persecuted. He should be given every opportunity to stay in a place of refuge.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, urging her to release Guan and approve his asylum request.

The U.S. has a moral responsibility to stand up for victims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, as well as the brave individuals who take immense personal risks to expose these abuses to the world, Krishnamoorthi wrote.
One of Hong Kong's oldest lenders is stepping up its push into digital finance, teaming up with newly listed digital asset exchange HashKey Exchange to launch a co-branded credit card in the first half of next year.

Shanghai Commercial Bank (SCB), which marked its 75th anniversary this year, will partner with HashKey Exchange to issue a Visa credit card exclusively for investors trading on the digital asset platform, according to chief executive Wallace Lam Wing-ted.

HashKey, one of 11 licensed virtual asset trading platforms in Hong Kong, raised HK$1.6 billion (US$206 million) in the city's first crypto-native initial public offering and was listed on December 17.

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 credit card will be the first of its kind in Asia under a partnership between a traditional lender and a digital trading platform," Lam said in an exclusive interview.

Shanghai Commercial Bank has more than 40 branches in the city, and offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Photo: Roy Issa alt=Shanghai Commercial Bank has more than 40 branches in the city, and offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Photo: Roy Issa>

Lam said the credit card would mark only the first phase of the collaboration, with SCB and HashKey planning to explore additional products, services and risk-management frameworks that bridge traditional finance and digital assets.

The partnership forms part of SCB's broader digital transformation strategy as it looks to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving banking landscape.

The lender, which mainly serves wealthy families and mainland Chinese companies, plans to invest HK$1.6 billion over the next five years to upgrade its digital capabilities, Lam said.

The bank joins a host of traditional lenders such as HSBC, Bank of East Asia and Bank of China (Hong Kong) that have invested massively into digital transformation. This comes as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) launched a five-year fintech strategy in November, urging banking and finance firms to deploy artificial intelligence and blockchain to strengthen the city's position as a leading fintech hub.

SCB would deploy the investment gradually between 2026 and 2030, starting with the introduction of a revamped mobile app in the first half of next year, Lam said. It will be followed by upgrades to other digital platforms and fintech capabilities for corporate and wealth management clients.
U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lillys oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review.

Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

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In recent years, Novo Nordisks injectable Wegovy and Lillys Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.

The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said.

About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots.

Theres an entire demographic that can benefit from the pills, said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a Massachusetts General Hospital obesity expert. For me, its not just about who gets it across the finish line first. Its about having these options available to patients.

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The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That's the same ingredient in injectables Wegovy and Ozempic and in Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.

In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6% of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2% loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. Thats nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15%.

Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined the Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he said.

If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didnt realize it, Mertens said.

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Participants in a clinical trial who took the highest dose of Lillys orforglipron lost 11.2% of their total body weight on average over nearly 17 months, compared with a 2.1% loss in those who took a placebo.

Both pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lillys Zepbound, or tirzepatide, which targets two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and led to a 21% average weight loss.

All the GLP-1 drugs, oral or injectable, have similar side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.

Both daily pills promise convenience, but the Wegovy pill must be taken with a sip of water in the morning on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute break before eating or drinking.

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Thats because Novo Nordisk had to design the pill in a way that prevented the drug from being broken down in the stomach before it could be absorbed by the bloodstream. The drugmaker added an ingredient that protects the medication for about 30 minutes in the gut and makes it easier to take effect.

By contrast, Lillys orforglipron has no dosing restrictions. That drug is being considered under the FDAs new priority voucher program aimed at cutting drug approval times. A decision is expected by spring.

Producing pills is generally cheaper than making drugs delivered via injections, so the cost for the new oral medications could be lower. The Trump administration earlier this year said officials had worked with drugmakers to negotiate lower prices for the GLP-1 drugs, which can cost upwards of $1,000 a month.

The company said the starting dose would be available for $149 per month from some providers. Additional information on cost will be available in January.

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Its not clear whether daily pills or weekly injections will be preferred by patients. Although some patients dislike needles, others don't seem to mind the weekly injections, obesity experts said. Mertens turned to injectable Zepbound when he regained weight after the end of the Wegovy pill clinical trial.

He said he liked the discipline of the daily pill.

It was a little bit of an intentional routine and a reminder of today Im taking this so that I know my choices are going to be affected for the day, he said.

Dr. Angela Fitch, an obesity expert and chief medical officer of knownwell, a health care company, said whatever the format, the biggest benefit will be in making weight-loss medications more widely accessible and affordable.

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Its all about the price, she said. Just give me a drug at $100 a month that is relatively effective.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
By Andrew Chung and Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Tuesday to let Donald Trump send National Guard troops to the Chicago area as the Republican president expands the use of the military for domestic purposes in a growing number of Democratic-led jurisdictions, a policy critics call an effort to punish adversaries and stifle dissent.

The justices let stand for now a judges order blocking the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops in a legal challenge brought by Illinois officials and local leaders. The U.S. Justice Department had sought to allow the deployment while the case proceeds.

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"At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois," the court's majority held in an unsigned order.

The order said the president's authority to take federal control of National Guard troops likely only applies in "exceptional" circumstances.

Three conservatives on the court said they dissented from the order: Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement that Trump "promised the American people he would work tirelessly to enforce our immigration laws and protect federal personnel from violent rioters" and that "(n)othing in todays ruling detracts from that core agenda."

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the ruling "an important step in curbing the Trump Administration's consistent abuse of power and slowing Trumps march toward authoritarianism."

HIGH COURT RULING A RARE SETBACK FOR TRUMP

It was a rare setback for Trump's administration at the high court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority and has frequently backed his broad assertions of presidential authority since his return to the White House.

The National Guard serves as state-based militia forces that answer to state governors except when called into federal service by the president.

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Trump ordered troops to Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city, and to Portland, Oregon, following his earlier deployments to Los Angeles, Memphis and Washington, D.C.

The case has been characterized by starkly different portrayals of the protests against Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement in and around Chicago.

Trump and his allies have described Democratic-led cities as lawless, crime-ravaged and plagued with vast, violent protests.

His administration has said troops are needed to protect federal property and personnel at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility that has become a flashpoint for Chicago activists opposed to Trump's immigration crackdown.

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Democratic mayors and governors, along with other Trump critics, have said these claims are a false account of the situation and a pretext for sending troops, accusing Trump of abusing his power.

FEDERAL JUDGES SKEPTICAL OF ADMINISTRATION'S VIEW

Federal judges have expressed skepticism over the administration's dire view of protests that local law enforcement officials have called limited in size, largely peaceful and manageable by their own forces - far from the "war zone" conditions described by Trump.

Trump has relied on a law that lets a president deploy state National Guard troops to suppress a rebellion, repel an invasion or if he is "unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States."

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Illinois and Chicago sued after the administration federalized 300 Illinois National Guard troops and also ordered Texas National Guard troops into the state, calling the actions unlawful. Officials have since announced the administration was sending home hundreds of National Guard troops who were dispatched to Portland from California, and to Chicago from Texas.

Chicago-based U.S. District Judge April Perry temporarily blocked the move on October 9, finding that the claims of violence during protests at an immigration facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, Illinois, where a small group of demonstrators had gathered daily for weeks, were unreliable.

Perry, an appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden, found that there was no evidence of rebellion or that the law was not being enforced, faulting officials for "equating protests with riots and a lack of appreciation for the wide spectrum that exists between citizens who are observing, questioning and criticizing their government, and those who are obstructing, assaulting or doing violence."

A National Guard deployment would "only add fuel to the fire," Perry said.

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A three-judge panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift Perry's order blocking the deployment, concluding that "the facts do not justify the president's actions in Illinois." Two of the three judges were appointed by Republican presidents, including one by Trump.

The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the assessment by local officials of the protests was "implausibly rosy," and that federal agents "have been forced to operate under the constant threat of mob violence."

Lawyers for Illinois and Chicago told the justices that the local protests have "never hindered the continued operation" of the Broadview facility, and that state and local authorities have responded to every request for assistance and contained any sporadic disruption.

Officials from Portland and Oregon are pursuing a separate legal challenge to Trump's planned deployment to that city. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, permanently blocked that deployment in a November 7 ruling. The administration has appealed that ruling.

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The Supreme Court in October asked the administration as well as Illinois and Chicago to provide written arguments over how to interpret the words "regular forces" in the law at issue in the case.

In an October 10 written ruling, Perry said that historical sources indicate that "regular forces" means only members regularly enlisted in the military, including the Army and Navy, as opposed to the National Guard.

Trump's administration "made no attempt to rely on the regular forces before resorting to federalization of the National Guard," Perry said, adding that there are other limits on the use of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.

The administration repeatedly has sought the Supreme Court's intervention to allow implementation of Trump policies impeded by lower courts. The Supreme Court has sided with the administration in almost every case that it has been called upon to review since Trump returned to the presidency in January.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung, Jan Wolfe, John Kruzel, Nate Raymond and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Will Dunham and Howard Goller)
PHOENIX  Vice President JD Vance hasn't formally announced that he will seek to succeed President Donald Trump, but a key piece of the grassroots wing of the MAGA coalition is beginning to line up behind him nearly three years ahead of the 2028 election.

Not only did Vance win an endorsement from Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of the organization's slain co-founder, Charlie Kirk, on Thursday night, but a straw poll of attendees at its AmericaFest conference showed Vance taking 84%, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 5% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 3%.

Erika Kirk at AmericaFest on Thursday. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

Kirk onstage Thursday. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

Those results broadly reflect the sentiments AmericaFest attendees expressed in more than a dozen interviews last week at the four-day conference in Arizona, and they suggest Vance, who is also a favorite of some of the political right's wealthiest tech-sector barons, is finding early success in holding together disparate segments of Trump's base at a fractious moment for other conservative luminaries.

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Renee Harrison, a first-time AmericaFest participant who retired from a career arranging financing for longtime corporate customers at Microsoft, said her pick in the 2028 Republican primaries is "definitely JD."

"Because he has the balls and he comes from a real background," Harrison, 64, of Star, Idaho, said of Vance, a former senator from Ohio and author of a bestselling memoir about growing up in hardscrabble Appalachia. "He says it how it is."

A raised hand in prayer Sunday. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA, founded in 2012 to engage young activists, provided crucial support for Trump's 2024 campaign, and the organization's ranks are growing, according to Erika Kirk.

It now claims more than 1 million members and more than 1,400 college campus chapters, she said in opening remarks at the conference Thursday night. But it is also attracting older voters from Trump's coalition, particularly in the wake of Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination.

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Wendy Leighton-Floyd, 56, said she is "probably leaning in Vance's direction" as she walked around AmericaFest with her 22-year-old daughter, Liberty Granger.

An eventgoer wears a top and pants with Erika and Charlie Kirk on them. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

"Honestly, I wish Trump could just be king forever and pass it down to the next one and then eventually Barron [Trump]. I dont believe in having kings, but if we could, I think hes done a lot, and I think he speaks out," said Leighton-Floyd, of Kansas City, Missouri. "I think hes probably priming JD Vance, because Ive noticed that hes getting more outward-spoken about things and not holding it in."

Granger, like many of the younger voters at the conference, was less sure about her candidate than the quality she seeks in a Republican nominee.

"Whoevers for America  if theyre for America, if they are for the people and for our rights and keeping our rights established and not taking anything from us," she said of the kind of candidate she wants, adding that Vance falls into that category.

AmericaFest attendees lowering their heads in prayer. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

Sophia Caniglia, a student at Abilene Christian University in Texas, said she and her family decided to forgo Christmas presents this year to attend AmericaFest together on VIP tickets. She hasn't locked down a favorite for 2028, the first year she will be eligible to cast a presidential vote, but she said she is likely to be with Vance  if that's what her parents want.

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"Ill probably be voting for JD Vance," said Caniglia, who wore a ball cap with a gigantic "47" logo on it  representing the number of Trump's current presidency. "I think the countrys going in the right direction. Whatever candidate my family thinks would help the country move forward."

None of the conference attendees who spoke to NBC News said they were opposed to Vance, who is widely expected to run as the young No. 2 to a term-limited president. The last sitting vice president to run for president, Democrat Kamala Harris, lost to Trump last year after she took the reins of the Democratic campaign from President Joe Biden, who dropped out midway through the race under heavy pressure from his party.

An eventgoer Thursday. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

The last Republican vice president to run for president at the tail end of his term, George H.W. Bush, won a contested 1988 primary campaign and the presidency, and many Republicans foresee Vance trying to follow the same path.

"It seems pretty evident that Vance more than likely will throw his hat in the ring," said Philip Ormand, 31, a software engineer from Tucson, Arizona. "If JD Vance were to run, hes certainly someone Id be willing to support."

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Despite the general warmth for Vance, some attendees weren't yet ready to lock down their votes so early in the process, and others named candidates they might prefer.

Patches for sale in the exhibit hall. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

Vance would be a "great option" but might already be "too divisive" to bring the country together, said Taylor Winston, 37, an entrepreneur from Nashville, Tennessee. He hopes Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican from Kentucky, will be the GOP's pick.

Massie, who has butted heads with Trump over a series of issues, including Massie's push to force the Justice Department to release its files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, is seeking re-election to his House seat in 2026. Trump allies are trying to unseat him in next year's primary.

"Everything he votes on has truly been 'America First,'" Winston said of Massie. "I dont know if he will run, but someone like that who has a track record of putting America first and going potentially against the grain is someone I think we need to refresh everything  because this country is so divided."

An attendee sports a yarmulke with Trump's face. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

Attendees sing the national anthem. (Mark Peterson for NBC News) (Mark Peterson for NBC News)

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Vice President JD Vance posted glossy photos of his personal training session with Navy SEALsbut the beachside stunt immediately drew mockery and accusations of political tone-deafness.

The 41-year-old former Marine, who served in Iraq before entering politics, had joined the Navys special-operations community for an early-morning workout at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California, a longtime hub for SEAL selection and training.

From the official @VP account, Vance shared images on Monday of himself sprinting along the surf, hauling a log with helmeted operators whose faces were blurred, scrambling up a cargo net, and riding in a small boat punching through the waves.

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Vice President Vance trains with @USNavy Seals at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the caption read. On his personal account, Vance gushed that he had just finished PT with the Navy SEALs for 90 minutes.

JD Vance posted a photo of himself climbing a rope wall with Navy SEALs. / X

He added, They took it easy on me and I still feel like I got hit by a freight train. So grateful to all of our warriors who keep us safe and keep the highest standards anywhere in the world!

Critics were unimpressed. Nice cosplay as a Navy SEAL, one user wrote, adding: Leadership isnt about photo ops, its about fixing the mess at home.

Other critics photoshopped the infamous meme of Vance with a cartoonishly puffy face onto the soldiers he was working out with, using GI Jello as a punchline.

Online jokers immediately jumped on JD Vance's Navy SEAL session. / X

Another commenter sneered that it was a desperate photo op for a Vice President who cares more about his military aesthetic than actually governing.

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Digital strategist Mike Nellis jabbed: Cool, manbut when youre done cosplaying, can you and your boss do something about housing and grocery prices? Thanks.

And Democratic strategist Christopher Hale wrote on X, Its the middle of the workday. While Americans are grinding to make Christmas work, the vice president is burning taxpayer dollars pretending to be a Navy SEAL.

JD Vance posted a photo of him chatting to Navy SEALs. / X

Vances made-for-camera workout follows a Trumpian trend of the presidents inner circle engaging in theatrics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, 45, marked the D-Day anniversary and his birthday in June by leading a filmed PT session with troops on Omaha Beach before delivering a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery, a spectacle that also drew scrutiny as self-promotion.

Kristi Noem's detractors have taken to calling her 'ICE Barbie.' / Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has repeatedly been mocked as ICE Barbie for using federal law enforcement as props in a string of stylized photo ops, from tactical-gear raids to glossy fitness clips.

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This is also not the first time Vance has tried to curry favor with the military. Ahead of Thanksgiving, he delivered a comedy skit to troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The Daily Beast has contacted the vice presidents office for comment.
The Tacoma Police Department says it has impounded a vehicle of interest that they believe was involved in a deadly crash that killed a trooper with the Washington State Patrol.

Photo Courtesy: Tacoma PD

Photo Courtesy: Tacoma PD

The department says it spent the last 24 hours searching for the dark-colored pickup truck. They have not shared any further details about where they found it or who it belongs to.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting was killed on Friday night while responding to a crash on SR-509. She was hit by a car on the on-ramp from Port of Tacoma Road.

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The initial impact caused the trooper to be thrown into the right travel lane. A short time later, a second vehicle, the dark-colored pickup truck, hit her and kept going.

The crash happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Police ask that anyone who witnessed it, observed the vehicle of interest, or may have dash-camera footage from southbound SR-509 in the area of Port of Tacoma Road from that night to contact investigators.

Tips can be directed to the Tacoma Police Department through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuelas parliament on Tuesday approved a measure that criminalizes a broad range of activities that can hinder navigation and commerce in the South American country, such as the seizure of oil tankers.

The bill  introduced, debated and approved within two days in the National Assembly  follows this month's seizures by U.S. forces of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters. The seizures are the latest strategy in U.S. President Donald Trump's four-month pressure campaign on Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro.

The tankers are part of what the Trump administration has said is a fleet Venezuela uses to evade U.S. economic sanctions.

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The unicameral assembly, which is controlled by Venezuela's ruling party, did not publish drafts on Tuesday nor the final version of the measure. But as read on the floor, the bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

Venezuela's political opposition, including Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado, has expressed support for Trump's Venezuela policy, including the seizure of tankers. Machado and Trump have both repeatedly said that Maduro's days in power are numbered.

The bill, which now awaits Maduros signature, also instructs the executive branch to come up with incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that officials said was part of the fleet moving sanctioned cargo. With assistance from the U.S. Navy, it seized a rogue tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10. That ship was registered in Panama.

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Trump, after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. He later demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of the blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Venezuela, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz on Tuesday stressed that sanctioned oil tankers operate as the primary economic lifeline for Maduro and his illegitimate regime.

Maduros ability to sell Venezuelas oil enables his fraudulent claim to power and his narco-terrorist activities, Waltz said. The United States will impose and enforce sanctions to the maximum extent to deprive Maduro of the resources he uses to fund Cartel de los Soles.

Maduro was indicted in 2020 on narcoterrorism charges in the U.S. and accused of leading the Cartel de los Soles, which the Trump administration designated as a foreign terrorist organization last month. But the entity is not a cartel per se.

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Venezuelans began using the term Cartel de los Soles in the 1990s to refer to high-ranking military officers who had grown rich from drug-running. As corruption expanded nationwide, its use loosely expanded to police and government officials as well as activities like illegal mining and fuel trafficking.

At Tuesday's meeting, Venezuelas U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada accused the U.S. of acting outside international law and its own domestic laws, by demanding that Venezuelans vacate the country and hand it over to the Trump administration, including all its oil fields.

What right does the United States government have to appropriate, to date, almost 4 million barrels of Venezuelan oil? Moncada asked, referring to the cargo of the two seized tankers. This alleged naval blockade is essentially a military act aimed at laying siege to the Venezuelan nation, degrading its economic and military apparatus, weakening its social and political cohesion, and causing internal chaos to facilitate aggression by external forces.

Many countries expressed concern about violations of international maritime law and adhering to the United Nations Charter, which requires all 193 member nations to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every other country. The United States actions were supported by a few countries, including Panama and Argentina.

___

Associated Press writer Edith Lederer in New York contributed to this report.
While neither side wants war, both Jerusalem and Tehran suspect each other of being ready to suddenly launch a surprise attack.

Neither Israel nor Iran wants war at the moment, nor do either of them want war for the foreseeable future.

Based on that common interest, one might think war between the sides is unlikely. That assumption would be false.

While neither side wants war, both suspect the other of being ready to launch a surprise attack.

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Furthermore, both sides are unwilling to compromise on each others demands, which would greatly reduce the possibility of war.

The situation has deteriorated to the extent that, if one side thinks it is being fooled by the other, it may preemptively strike to avoid a war that, quite simply, isnt going to happen. In essence, they are striking at a phantom - a possibility that never existed in the first place.

Iranian missiles are displayed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran, November 12, 2025 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

How did the situation get so unstable?

Iran and Israel were in a decades-long shadow war until April 2024.

In April 2024, Iran launched 110 ballistic missiles, 170 drones, and over 30 cruise missiles at Israel, all in one night.

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That permanently changed the relationship between the two sides.

The Islamic Republic attacked again on October 2024 with over 180 ballistic missiles.

For its part, Israel counterattacked them both times.

And then, at a moment of vital negotiations between the US and Iran, the IDF launched its surprise attack on Iran.

'Vicious cycle of alarmism'

From that point onwards, the Islamic Republic has become paranoid of another surprise attack. And understandably so, given how deadly the Israeli attack was for its national power and top commanders.

In response, Iran launched over 550 missiles and over 1,000 drones at Israel. But it wont stop there. Iran aims to build enough ballistic missiles so that it will regain the 50% it lost six months ago. Then, from there, it seeks to surpass its pre-war 2,500 missile total, such that it can overwhelm Israels missile shield.

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No one really expects Iran to attack now, when it lacks sufficient missiles.

But might that make it more desirable for Israel to attack sooner?

And if Israel might attack sooner, then should Tehran attack sooner, even if it is not ready?

This returns both sides to the vicious circle of alarmism, which could lead to an unwanted war.

This exact strand of paranoia almost led the world to a nuclear holocaust during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. And, in 2014, it led to a 50-day war between Hamas and the IDF that neither side wanted nor was ready for.

Of course, Hamas did want, and Iran does want, to eventually destroy Israel.

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But that does not mean that it is smart to get into a war when Israel is neither ready nor recovered. We as a people are not mentally prepared for another war, nor do we wish to watch scores of missiles yet again shatter into our Arrow interceptors.

Israeli officials have been stating their readiness to strike Iran to try to deter it from rebuilding its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

And if Iran keeps building up its ballistic missile volume, Israel may again need to attack, whether thats in three months, six months, or a few years.

In the meantime, however, Israeli officials are now concerned that they may have intimidated Iran too aggressively, and are hoping that a recalibration can avoid an early war.
The Washington Post has started a new year-end tradition: naming its State of the Year.

On Tuesday, the Posts editorial board named its first State of the Year and highlighted a few other states that stood out throughout 2025.

The winner isnt necessarily the best place in the country to live freely or start a business. Instead, it is the state that did the most to improve or otherwise acted in a way worthy of emulation, according to The Washington Post.

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In naming its State of the Year, the Post acknowledged that the process is inherently subjective and there are multiple states this year that could make a strong case.

The Washington Posts first State of the Year: Indiana

One of the main reasons why Indiana was named State of the Year is that it resisted federal pressure to redraw redistricting maps.

Twenty-one principled conservatives in the state Senate resisted four months of intense threats, from primary challenges to federal funding cuts, and never caved to demands from the Trump White House and Gov. Mike Braun (R) to redraw the congressional map, according to The Post.

The editorial board described this as an act of political courage that has emboldened others.

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Indiana also made major strides on policy.

Around two-thirds of homeowners will pay less in property taxes in 2026 thanks to an overhaul in funding formulas. The state actually cut its spending  not just its rate of growth  while managing to also increase education funding.

The state also made a change that will allow any student to access a state scholarship to attend a private school of their familys choice. Indianas Legislature also got rid of zoning barriers that made it difficult to start charter schools.

This creates competition that makes all schools better, per the Post.

New Hampshire was also highlighted as a State of the Year finalist

The Washington Post also highlighted how New Hampshire improved throughout 2025 and specifically emphasized the impressive leadership of Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

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2025 was Ayottes first year leading the state, which remains a stronghold of strong local control, limited government and low taxes.

New Hampshire took major steps to ease a housing crisis: It rolled back zoning and permitting requirements, encouraged mixed-use housing developments and streamlined the construction of accessory dwelling units.

The state also became the 18th state to have a universal private school choice program like Indiana.

Ayotte is following the formula for strong governance, but New Hampshire started from a strong baseline, according to the Post.

While naming its State of the Year, the Posts editorial board also praised the actions of three other states: Mississippi for improving its reading scores, Colorado for continuing to enact reforms that will expand the supply of housing, and Ohio for enacting a law that will transition the state to a flat income tax next year.

The Post highlights Californias improvements despite being one of the worst governed states in America

While praising states such as Indiana and New Hampshire, the Post also called out California for being one of the worst governed states in America.

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Democratic supermajorities in the legislature are keen to imitate European regulators, the Posts editorial board wrote. The Golden State has become the poster child for Americas inability to build, thanks to a toxic mix of radical environmentalists and strong unions.

The Washington Post did note that while California continues to be one of the most overtaxed states in the country, it did make a number of improvements this year.

The Post highlighted the actions of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who wanted to demonstrate hes not captive to the far left by embracing the abundance agenda thats hot right now among pro-growth Democrats.

Newsom issued a number of executive orders to speed up recovery after Januarys wildfires. He also worked to exempt most urban housing projects from an extensive environmental review process and changed local zoning rules to allow dense housing near public transit stations. The governor also funded new transmission lines and supported nuclear power.

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On the education side of things, California finally embraced phonics, helping more kids not fall behind, according to the Post.

On all this, execution will matter more than orders, the editorial board wrote.

According to the Post, the biggest strike against the state is that it joined the national redistricting battle by passing a referendum to abandon its independently drawn maps in order to try and pick up five more seats for Democrats in the House.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) is warning the public to double-check before donating so the money doesnt end up going to scammers.

The department says someone is trying to mimic the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundations Venmo account, just days after a trooper was killed in the line of duty.

We are all beyond heartbroken, Megan King told KIRO 7 News. Shes the Executive Director of the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation. To take advantage of that and take the money away from where it should be going and the families that need it, its unbelievable, its disgusting.

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On Friday, Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting was hit and killed by a vehicle in Tacoma while responding to a crash.

King said that scammers are trying to take advantage of the surge of generosity stemming from Trooper Gutings loss, creating fake Venmo accounts with small variations, hoping people will click on the wrong one.

Theyre varied just slightly, she told KIRO 7. Theres an additional letter or an additional dash or a space in the name so it could easily be misconstrued for our Venmo.

The correct account is @WSP-MemorialFoundation. If it is your first time donating, it will ask you for four digits, which are 4411.

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You can also donate at www.wspmf.org. Scoll to the bottom of the page. Right underneath Trooper Gutings photo, there is an area on the right that has a link and a QR code, which will direct you right to the donation options.

Guting was the 34th trooper to be killed in the line of duty in WSPs 105-year history. She was 29 years old and graduated from the academy a little over a year ago.

Tacoma police are now searching for a vehicle of interest in her death. Theyre looking for a dark pickup truck, possibly black in color. It is believed to be either a Chevrolet Avalanche (four-door) or a Cadillac Escalade EXT-style pickup (four-door). The vehicle may have tinted windows, chrome door handles, and chrome running boards. No license plate information is available.

Police ask that anyone who witnessed the collision, observed the vehicle of interest, or may have dash-camera footage from southbound SR-509 in the area of Port of Tacoma Road around 7:207:30 p.m. on Friday, contact investigators.

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This second vehicle - its dark, its rainy, theres a lot going on in that area - also struck the trooper, Shelbie Boyd with Tacoma police told KIRO 7. We really want to talk to that person to kind of put this puzzle together completely.

Anyone with information on the truck or its driver to reach out to Crimestoppers at 1 (800) 222-TIPS. A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to the drivers arrest.

Being able to help the state patrol with investigating this case is really important to us, Boyd said. It is important to the troopers, to the community, to the family that we get it right.
Dec. 23 (UPI) -- California wildlife officials attempted to lure a bear out from underneath an Altadena man's home -- but ended up catching the wrong bruin.

Ken Johnson discovered in November that the animal that had been frequenting his property since at least April was a bear that had moved into the crawlspace under his house, so he turned to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for help.

CDFW officials said the state's bears like to find a comfortable place to create their dens around this time of year.

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"Unfortunately, it sounds like this is what that bear has potentially found under the homeowner's house in the crawlspace," CDFW representative Cort Klopping told CBS Los Angeles. "It's unfortunate. We want to see the bears in the woods, not in people's homes."

CDFW biologists set a metal crate trap on Johnson's property and baited it with the scents of caramel and cherry. Officials were initially elated when a bear was snared in the trap Dec. 16, but they soon discovered they had the wrong bear.

Instead of the animal living in Johnson's crawlspace, the trap had ensnared a bear that had simply wandered onto the property, while the crawlspace squatter remained in its den.

The captured bear was relocated to a more suitable habitat.

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The trespassing bruin, known as Yellow 2120, remains underneath Johnson's home, officials said.

Johnson said he has been playing loud sounds -- including recordings of barking dogs -- in the hopes of drawing the bear out from its hiding spot, but so far nothing has worked.
By Ross Kerber and Dawn Kopecki

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance's latest offer to buy Warner Bros Discovery is still not good enough for prominent shareholder Harris Oakmark, the investor told Reuters on Monday.

Warner Bros' fifth largest shareholder, owning 96 million shares or about 4% of shares as of the end of September, said it would hold out for more from the Ellison family-controlled Paramount.

"The changes in Paramounts new offer were necessary, but not sufficient," Harris Oakmark portfolio manager and Director of U.S. Research Alex Fitch said in an email to Reuters. "We see the two deals as a toss-up, and there is a cost to changing paths. If Paramount is serious about winning, theyre going to need to provide a greater incentive."

Paramount on Monday amended its $108.4 billion hostile bid for the storied Hollywood studio to bolster its financing.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whose son David owns Paramount, is now personally guaranteeing $40.4 billion of the bid to secure Warner Bros, which owns HBO Max and controls the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Superman franchises.

Questions about the financing, much of which was held in a revocable trust, had some Warner Bros investors unsure whether they would accept the offer.

Paramount also increased the fee it will pay to $5.8 billion from $5 billion if regulators don't approve the deal, to match a competing offer from Netflix , although it didn't raise its $30-a-share bid.

'TOP SHELF MEDIA ASSETS'

Warner Bros investors now have until January 21, extended from January 8, to accept or reject the so-called tender offer.

The board of Warner Bros unanimously recommended on Wednesday that shareholders reject Paramount's earlier bid in favor of Netflix's offer, saying the financing didn't provide a "full backstop".

Even though Netflix's cash offer of $23.25 a share is lower, the board said its bid was superior because the financing was more secure and it includes $4.50 in shares of Netflix common stock as well as whatever Warner Bros can get when it spins out Discovery Global as part of the deal.

The bidding war speaks to the quality of Warner Bros assets, said Yussef Gheriani, chief investment officer of Chicago investment firm IHT Wealth Management, which owns 16,000 shares of Warner Bros, 6,500 shares of Netflix and 60,000 of Paramount.

"Its really rare to get an opportunity to add top shelf media assets to your portfolio," he said, adding that he'll likely follow the board's advice on the sale. "They know the business inside out and have a better grasp of the nuances associated with the deal than we do."
Morgan Geyser, one of two Wisconsin girls charged with attempted homicide more than 11 years ago in the Slender Man case, was ordered back into state psychiatric care Dec. 23 after a Waukesha County judge revoked her conditional release following her escape from a group home.

Geyser will not challenge the decision, according to a Dec. 16 letter sent to the court from Geyer's attorney Tony Cotton.

More: Timeline: Major events in Morgan Geyser's Slender Man stabbing case

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On Nov. 22, Geyser cut off her GPS monitoring bracelet and fled her Madison group home.

The next day, police found her with a friend in Posen, Illinois, sleeping near a truck stop. Geyser was arrested and extradited to Wisconsin. She was initially held in the Waukesha County Jail before being transferred back to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh.

Geyser was granted conditional release on January 9, 2025. It was Geyser's fourth petition for conditional release since she was sentenced to in 2018 to a 40-year commitment to a state mental health institution.

After several delays that reflected apparent concerns on her release, she finally landed in a Madison group home in September.

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In 2014, Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier lured their classmate Payton Leutner into the woods in Waukesha and stabbed her 19 times, leaving her for dead.

Leutner was later found by a bicyclist and taken to a hospital, where she survived the attack.

Both girls later admitted to the stabbing, telling investigators they believed it was necessary to appease Slender Man.

Geyser and Weier were both found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in 2017 and sentenced to mental confinement, Weier for 25 years, and Geyser for 40 years.

Weier was granted conditional release in 2021.

This story was updated to clarify that Morgan Geyser was charged with attempted homicide and found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and sentenced to mental confinement.

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Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Slender Man defendant Morgan Geyser ordered back to psychiatric care
Waymo is suing the California city of Santa Monica after being ordered to shut down two charging stations for its driverless cars due to complaints from neighbors.

The beeping noises and flashing lights from the two charging ports, which continued through the night, have kept some residents awake since they were installed around a year ago, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Resident frustration built up to such a point that neighbors began blocking the paths of the autonomous vehicles as they arrived to charge and put cones and other obstructions around the area to stop them from getting there.

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The practice is called stacking the Waymos, according to The Times, resulting in employees at the charging stations calling the police several times.

No arrests have been made and Waymo unsuccessfully filed a temporary restraining order against one resident after repeated attempts to block the cars.

REINO UNIDO WAYMO (AP)

The company claimed in a lawsuit, filed last week in Los Angeles and obtained by the outlet, the activity at the two spots, which operate 24 hours a day, do not constitute a public nuisance, adding: Waymo faces imminent and irreparable harm to its operations, employees, and customers.

The city was aware that the Voltera charging facilities would be operational constantly in order to maintain its fleet and had still approved the permits for the stations.

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Last month, Santa Monica officials ordered Waymo and Voltera to stop overnight operations, claiming that the issues caused by the lights and noise constituted a public nuisance.

Waymo and Voltera representatives reached out to the city in late November in an attempt to compromise and come to an agreement on the situation, which reportedly included looking for ways to reduce noise and lights from the stations.

This included initiating a software update that would change the vehicles path to the charging stations. But after a meeting on December 15 with the city, no agreement was reached, the lawsuit stated.

In addition, Waymo said it worked in consultation with regulators to address neighbors feedback and effectively reduce noise when complaints first began. The Independent understands that the city acknowledged in a September 9, 2025 communication that complaints from residents regarding noise have subsided.

NACIMIENTO EN VEHICULO AUTONOMO (AP)

We are disappointed that the City has chosen an adversarial path over a collaborative one, a spokesperson for Waymo told The Independent in a statement. The Citys position has been to insist that no actions taken or proposed by Waymo would satisfy the complaining neighbors and therefore must be deemed insufficient.

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The statement added: The City of Santa Monicas recent actions are inconsistent with its stated goal of attracting investment.

At a time when the City faces a serious fiscal crisis, officials are choosing to obstruct properly permitted investment rather than fostering a ready for business environment.

Waymo announced in June that its service would be expanded to 120 square miles in Los Angeles County, with vehicles operating in Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake and Hollywood.

Since launching in Santa Monica, the company claims that more than a million trips have been made in the city, including 50,000 in November alone.

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The [charging] site has enabled Waymo to provide a safe, sustainable and accessible transportation option to city residents, Waymo said in the statement

The Independent has contacted the City of Santa Monica for a comment.
Waymo is facing a double hit in California. Over the weekend, a massive power outage in San Francisco left the companys self-driving fleet stalled at darkened intersections, hazard lights blinking as traffic snarled across the city. The gridlock forced Waymo to suspend service until power was restored, raising fresh questions about the resilience of autonomous vehicles during emergencies.

Just as the Bay Area mess cleared, legal trouble surfaced down south. A lawsuit filed in Santa Monica accuses Waymo of failing to address safety concerns tied to its expansion plans, adding courtroom drama to a week already dominated by operational headaches.

Here's what to know about Waymo's no good, very bad week in the Golden State.

San Francisco: Lights out, cars stalled

Over the weekend, a massive power outage plunged parts of San Francisco into darkness, knocking out traffic signals and leaving Waymos fleet of roughly 1,000 robotaxis stranded at intersections. Videos flooded social media showing hazard-light-blinking Waymos frozen mid-street, turning futuristic tech into immovable obstacles. Tow trucks worked overnight to clear the gridlock, and city officials pressed Waymo to suspend service until the chaos subsided.

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Waymo confirmed the pause, citing safety protocols: its vehicles treat dead signals as four-way stops, but the sheer scale of the outage led to prolonged standstills. No injuries or collisions were reported, but the optics were brutal for a company that touts resilience in emergencies.

Adding fuel to the fire, Elon Musk took to X with a pointed jab: Teslas robotaxis, he claimed, kept rolling during the blackout. Our cars didnt stop running, Musk wrote, underscoring the rivalry in autonomous tech.

 SAN FRAN BLACKOUT  WAYMO FROZE, TESLA DROVE



Waymos robotaxis got a little too real last night - by completely shutting down when San Franciscos power outage knocked out traffic lights.



Meanwhile, Teslas on FSD? Kept rolling. No drama, no headlines - just handling chaos pic.twitter.com/8FinYpAOcB  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 21, 2025

The outage wasnt Waymos first controversy in the Bay Area. Earlier this year, one of its autonomous vehicles ran over a beloved neighborhood cat, sparking outrage among residents and fueling skepticism about the companys safety claims.

Southbound trouble: Santa Monica lawsuit

As crews restored power up north, Waymo faced fresh scrutiny down south. A lawsuit filed in Santa Monica alleges the company failed to address safety concerns tied to its expansion plans adequately.

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The city ordered Waymo to halt overnight charging at two facilities after residents complained about incessant beeping, bright lights, and 24-hour activity disrupting their sleep. Instead of complying, Waymo sued, arguing the order would cause irreparable harm to its operations.

Waymo is taking the city of Santa Monica to court after the city ordered the company to cease charging its autonomous vehicles at two facilities overnight, claiming the lights and beeping at the lots were a nuisance to residents. pic.twitter.com/mamRmVweWB  Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) December 23, 2025

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims the city approved permits for round-the-clock charging and that the company attempted mitigation measures  including software updates to reroute vehicles  but negotiations collapsed after a Dec. 15 meeting.

Tensions have escalated so much that some residents resorted to blocking driveways and stacking the Waymos with cones to create backups, prompting multiple police calls.

Where Waymo operates in California

Despite setbacks, Waymos footprint in California is significant:

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San Francisco Bay Area : Core ride-hailing zone since 2023, now extending to freeway service down the Peninsula and pickups at San Jose Mineta International Airport.

Los Angeles County : Active in Santa Monica and surrounding neighborhoods.

Future Plans: Service at San Francisco International Airport and expanded coverage in Southern California.

In Spite of setbacks, Waymo cleared to expand

Despite the recent gridlock in San Francisco and legal battles in Santa Monica, Waymos California ambitions remain intact. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has approved Waymo for driverless testing and deployment across multiple regions in the state. According to DMV records, Waymos operational footprint includes:

San Francisco Bay Area : Core ride-hailing zone, now expanding to freeway service and airport pickups.

Los Angeles County : Including Santa Monica and surrounding neighborhoods.

San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties : Covering major tech corridors.

Parts of Southern California: With plans to scale further.

This approval underscores regulators confidence in autonomous technologyeven as recent incidents raise questions about readiness during emergencies. Waymo says it will use lessons from the outage and lawsuit to strengthen resilience under even the most challenging conditions.

(The story was updated with new information.)

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Waymo SF blackout stalls robotaxis, Santa Monica lawsuit
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine talks with the press. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal / Republish photo only with original story.)

What a cop out. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he didnt want to sign another voter suppression bill into law before he signed a sweeping anti-voting measure into law last Friday.

Spoken like a true invertebrate.

Despite an outpouring of opposition from voting rights advocates, DeWine codified Ohio Senate Bill 293, a measure rushed through the legislature with only one hearing in the Ohio House that will change nearly every aspect of voting by mail, voter registration, and provisional ballot processing.

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Why? Coercion from Trump World and litigation threats from its personal law firm, aka the U.S. Justice Department, unless its voter restriction demands were met.

Never mind that states, not the president or his heavy-handed lobbyists, run elections in America. But the cowardly governor clutched his pearls and caved.

Then he came up with a pretext about a possible ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on mail ballot deadlines that could decide whether states can count postmarked absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day.

DeWine weighed the legally dubious arm-twisting of a historically corrupt regime and what-if judicial scenarios against the rights of tens of thousands of voters being disenfranchised to appease Trump  and chose excuse over principle. Again.

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Ohio Senate Bill 293 was fast-tracked (to dodge public scrutiny and input) from introduction to passage and the governors desk for one purpose: control.

It was designed and padded with last minute provisions to confuse and curb voter turnout, especially among Democratic-leaning demographics, in time to affect the 2026 midterms.

The trumped-up voting barriers DeWine reluctantly imposed on statewide voters, unsupported by objective data from Ohios own gold standard election administration, are a significant step backward for that system and voter rights.

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Yet, next year, thanks to Trump toadying opportunists in the Statehouse and an excuse-making governor, Ohio will needlessly take away the already whittled down four-day grace period it gave to voters whose absentee ballots were properly completed, postmarked on time, and mailed before the legal deadline.

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That post-election window offered 803,253 Ohioans, who voted by mail in the 2024 election, trust that their ballots would be counted if they arrived in the post-election window allotted  as some 9,500 ballots did last year.

But next year, under Ohio Senate Bill 293, those same U.S. citizens who were eligible to vote in Ohio and did so before the last presidential election could have their otherwise valid ballots tossed if they arrive after Election Day.

The law DeWine enacted effectively penalizes voters for postal deliveries that fail to meet sensible expectations.

The flimsy rationale for eliminating what was once uncontroversial  extra time to accommodate absentee voters for mail delays beyond their control  was Election Day is Election Day for a reason and Allowing ballots to be delivered days after the election does nothing but hurt the integrity and credibility of our elections.

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Such well-articulated profundities are standard fare from state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, the go-to fabulist committed to making voting as difficult as possible for Ohioans with baseless nonsense that defies logic and discards facts.

The Bowling Green Republicans thin reasoning masks a sinister mission to diminish voter power and citizen challenges to non-responsive government.

During the deliberately short-circuited legislative process to hurry Ohio Senate Bill 293 through the Ohio House and enactment in 2025, Gavarone folded in core components of another anti-voter bill of hers that had not passed the Senate.

It was a devious back door move to jam through key parts of S.B. 153 (Ohios copycat version of the federal SAVE Act stalled in Congress) that will make it harder for eligible Ohioans to vote, harder to collect petition signatures, and create huge bureaucratic and financial burdens on county boards of elections.

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What sailed out of the legislature in the waning hours of the lame duck session is worse than you think.

The bill that is now law also requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote or update your voter registrations (with birth certificates or passports that millions of voters dont have), shuts down online registration and voter registration drives, increases provisional voting exponentially, and creates potential invalidations for minor clerical errors (which risks large-scale disenfranchisement of voters), bans drop boxes, makes citizen initiatives much harder and more expensive to conduct (to undermine direct democracy rights in the state), and expands mass voter purges.

This is not about election security. This is about erecting obstacles to suppress participation. To disenfranchise countless eligible Ohio voters, particularly married women, young people, the poor, people of color, foreign-born Ohioans. Many in these groups already face disproportionate barriers to voting.

The additional roadblocks Gavarone copy and pasted into Ohio Senate Bill 293 could prevent some from exercising their fundamental right to cast a ballot entirely.

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This is democracy under aggressive assault in the state.

Mike DeWine could have vetoed S.B. 293 but said he didnt to avoid potential chaos in future elections that might happen with a possible Supreme Court ruling that could affect the state or not.

Instead of making it easier for eligible Ohio voters to freely and fairly participate in our democratic process with expanded access and accommodations, DeWine copped for excuses that allowed more hurdles to be erected for Ohioans who just want to cast a ballot, have it count and not lose their birthright to petition for government change under punitive rules drafted to derail grassroots campaigns.

More legacy rot for the go-along governor.

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Fire crews from multiple agencies worked for more than three hours Monday evening to contain a wildfire in the Bethany Salem community of Pickens County.

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Pickens County Fire and Rescue and Bethany Salem Fire Department were dispatched to a reported brush fire around 5:20 p.m. near Cut Off Road.

When crews arrived, they discovered a wildfire burning on steep terrain, prompting a request for assistance from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

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Officials say firefighters battled the flames as they spread across rugged land, ultimately charring three acres. The fire was contained at 8:45 p.m., though crews remained on scene to extinguish hot spots, according to officials.

No injuries were reported.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional horror villain known as Slender Man was ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital Tuesday after she escaped from her group home last month.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge K. Scott Wagner granted a state Department of Health Services request to revoke 23-year-old Morgan Geysers release privileges. Geyser told the judge through her attorney, Tony Cotton, last week that she would not fight revocation. Wagner then approved the request during a short hearing.

Cotton didn't immediately respond to an email message seeking comment.

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Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, to a Waukesha park in 2014. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier cheered her on. A passing bicyclist discovered Leutner, who barely survived. All three girls were 12 years old at the time.

Geyser and Weier later told investigators they attacked Leutner in hopes of impressing Slender Man enough that he would make them his servants and wouldn't hurt their families. Both of them were eventually committed to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute  Geyser for 40 years and Weier for 25 years.

Weier earned conditional release in 2021. Wagner granted Geyser conditional release this past September despite warnings from state Department of Health Services officials that she couldn't be trusted.

Geyser was placed in a Madison group home. Authorities say that on Nov. 22 she cut off her GPS monitor and fled the state with a 43-year-old companion. Police arrested both of them the next day at a truck stop outside Chicago, about 170 miles (274 kilometers) south of Madison.

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Geyser's companion told WKOW-TV that the two of them became friends at church and had been seeing each other daily for the last month. Geyser decided to escape because she was afraid the group home would no longer allow them to see each other, the companion said.

Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudsen in 2009 as a mysterious figure photo-edited into everyday images of children at play. He grew into a popular boogeyman, appearing in video games, online stories and a 2018 movie.
A 66-year-old woman died after she was run down by a Hummer H2 driven by a 19-year-old man in Manhattan Monday, cops said.

The victim was struck as the teen driver turned the vehicle off of W. 25th Street onto 8th Ave. heading north through Chelsea around 6:39 p.m., police said.

Medics rushed the victim to Bellevue Hospital, where she died, cops said.

The driver of the Hummer  an off-road SUV modeled after the Humvee, a military truck utilized by the U.S. Armed Forces  stayed at the scene.

There were no arrests.
A woman who is already accused of being part of an organized retail theft ring is now facing charges for another theft.

Atlanta police say Brittany Parks, 30, is accused of stealing more than $900 in childrens clothing from Neiman Marcus at Lenox Square just days before Christmas.

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Earlier this month, Channel 2s Michael Seiden reported on Parks being arrested with $24,000 worth of stolen Lululemon merchandise in her car.

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After her car was impounded, Parks reached out to police and told them that a cousin had dropped off the clothing earlier that morning. She admitted that she moved the items into her car and drove around with them, but never reported the theft or tried to return the merchandise.

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Seiden spoke with shoppers on Monday who say the thefts and crowds make them nervous.

If Im being honest with you, Im a little intimidated getting out into the crowds, shopper Emory Arnold said.

Its unclear if the Neiman Marcus theft is tied to a bigger operation.

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With pilot salaries differing dramatically by airline, location and hours flown, most averages posted in job salary round-ups fail to paint what can be a very different individual picture.

The average pilot flies 900 hours per year, according to Flying, while a captain of a large plane like the Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 earns the highest tiers on a scale that can reach $450 per hour.

As a result, a pilot who shared his American Airlines pay stub on the /Salary subforum of Reddit shocked the internet by what in his case ended up being more than $450,000 before the year was over.

User fso tee posted a screenshot of the pay stub on X (formerly Twitter). The pilot's exact salary for the month between Nov. 16 and Dec. 15 amounted to $361.04 per hour, $22,154.76 for the month, and $457,894.51 for the year to date.

This particular pilot flies the Boeing 737 plane, which can carry up to 210 passengers, and which American often uses for flights between U.S. coasts as well as different destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.

"Dude makes what I make in a month in a day": A quick breakdown of pilot salaries

"Dude makes what I make in a month in a day," one of the Reddit commenters wrote underneath a post that quickly went viral for what (to many) appears an absurdly large salary. People from various professions use the subreddit to share how much they earn and compare salaries across the same and different industries.

"Damn is a career change at 33 into this even possible?" wrote another.

Related: United Airlines flight attendant with two side gigs filed for bankruptcy

In reality, this type of salary is not particularly shocking in the aviation world, since it represents the top end of a career that most pilots will never reach in their lifetime.

The average pilot salary in the U.S. is $134,000, according to U.S. News & World Report. This is tempered by the mandatory retirement age of 65, as well as the high entry bar of becoming credentialed as a pilot for a commercial airline: 1,500 hours and applicant costs of up to $120,000.

Statistics released last year show that, as a result of pilots' resource-intensive career path, North American airlines are currently at least 12,000 pilots short of the number they would like to hire.

The U.S. Air Force is also 1,500 pilots short.

The pilot who posted his salary flies a Boeing 737.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

"Strong unions, rare skills, years of training and massive responsibility"

"The reaction here is embarrassing," another commenter wrote underneath the post. "A pilot makes nearly 500k and suddenly people are tripping over themselves to explain why they don't deserve what they earn. Pilots have strong unions, rare skills, years of training, and massive responsibility, and they collectively negotiated pay that reflects that."
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  Bolivian miners marched in downtown La Paz, the country's capital, and union-organized protesters took to the streets elsewhere on Monday, the first day of a strike over the government's scrapping of fuel subsidies that have been blamed for contributing to dollar shortages and economic turmoil.

The protests were called for by Bolivias Central Union of Workers but many trade groups, including transportation workers, did not join the rallies. Some union leaders said they would go along with the elimination of the subsidies, which had been in place for almost two decades.

Bolivia's centrist President Rodrigo Paz, who took office on Nov. 8, ended the fuel subsidy that previous left-wing governments had maintained for more than 20 years, keeping gas prices at $0.53 per liter. An emergency decree by Paz last week put the price of gasoline at around $1 per liter.

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The country is sick and must be healed, Paz said on Sunday in a town hall meeting that was broadcast on state television.

Every day, $10 million is spent on a subsidy that benefits smugglers who resell the subsidized fuel in Bolivia and abroad, Paz added.

Business groups in Bolivia have backed Pazs new economic measures, which are expected to ease dollar shortages and make it easier for companies to import goods and capital.

We knew that at some point the subsidies would end said Luis Paco, a union leader representing merchants in the city of El Alto. There were no negotiations over the new adjustments, but we knew this was inevitable.

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Bus drivers unions stayed away from Mondays protests after Bolivias government said they will be able to import auto parts duty-free. Paz has also mandated a 20% increase in the minimum wage.

Imports of gasoline and diesel  costing the government up to $3 billion a year  had depleted foreign currency reserves and worsened Bolivia's biggest economic crisis in four decades, following the decline of the nations natural gas exports.

But unions that have traditionally aligned with left-wing political leaders  including those representing miners and coca growers  went on strike on Monday, demanding that fuel subsidies be reinstated.

La Paz police sealed off access to the central square where the palace housing the government is located, to prevent demonstrators from entering.

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In the neighboring city of El Alto, local councils blocked some avenues. There were also road blocks on highways in six of the countrys nine regions, according to Bolivias highway administration agency.

We are in the streets in a struggle that will continue until that decree eliminating the subsidy is repealed, mining leader Andres Paye told reporters. This government approves regulations to favor business owners and punish the poor.

Unions aligned with former President Evo Morales, led a massive march in Cochabamba, the Andean countrys third-largest city, and blocked two major highways in the east of the country.

The bus drivers unions did not join the strike, after negotiating over the weekend with Paz's new government.

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We will continue to work, to serve the people said Lucio Gomez, a leader of a transport workers union.

Carlos Cordero, a political science professor in La Paz, said the union behind the strike was trying to show its strength ahead of next year's elections for governors and mayors. But the relatively low turnout on Monday showed that the union has been weakened, he said.

In many sectors of the country, there is a conviction that the adjustment was necessary Cordero said.
The endangered Mount Graham red squirrel on the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona is on the slow mend, with their numbers seemingly stabilizing a few years after crashing to an all-time low.

The latest numbers came out of the annual survey by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Coronado National Forest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to the report, the population size of the Mount Graham red squirrel now hovers at 232, whereas last years survey clocked an estimate of 234.

It's a good sign, said Bret Pasch, the director of the Mount Graham Biology Programs and a researcher in wildlife conservation and management at the University of Arizona.

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Even at a plateau, the trajectory of the rodent numbers is heartening, said the states department of Game and Fish, especially given that the past year has been a dry one for Arizonas Sky Island habitats, where the squirrels reside. According to the department, the area has seen little to no rain or snow in the wettest periods of the year, during winter and spring.

The Sky Islands are isolated habitats on mountaintops tall enough to sustain species used to cooler climes, before the era of global warming that drove them to seek refuge at higher elevations.

Now, the same creatures, including the Mount Graham red squirrel, have run out of altitude to climb. So they cling to their isolated sanctuaries in the mountains, their habitats separated by gulfs of deserts and grasslands in the lowlands too hot for their survival. Soaring over 7,000 feet above the Sonoran Desert, the Pinalenos are the last remaining stronghold for the Mount Graham red squirrels.

The warming climate is just the backdrop to a suite of immediate threats that the Mount Graham red squirrel is already grappling with. Specifically, the endangered squirrels are threatened by wildfires, insect infestations in their conifer habitats and competition with invasive Aberts squirrels. This years drought has also led to poor yields in pine cones on which the squirrels feed.

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Various conservation efforts in the past few years have sought to bring back the Mount Graham squirrel from the brink. And now, the latest report shows that these recovery programs seem to be paying off, though the long-term fate of the squirrels is still too soon to say.

It's such a long road, said Holly Hicks, the small mammal project coordinator at Arizona Game and Fish who was involved in the survey as well as species conservation in the last few years. I always try to take things day by day.

Fragile landscapes: How climate change may leave some Sky Island wildlife species in Arizona with no place to go

Squirrels are 'tiny warriors' with many admirers

Robin Silver stands among the burn scars from the 2017 Frye Fire. The fire ripped through habitat for the Mount Graham red squirrel and caused population to drop as low as 35.

The Mount Graham red squirrel is one of 25 subspecies of the American red squirrel  and the one whose existence is the most precarious, given that they live confined to the old-growth conifer forests found exclusively on sky islands.

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Thats what makes them a special part of Arizonas ecological fabric. I think of the mountain as a national historic landmark that reflects our deep history and the biodiversity of the region, said Pasch, with the furry, fiesty squirrel at the heart of it all.

The pocket-sized creature has an outsize fan base among scientists and conservation groups, thanks to their personality and charm.

They're sassy, Hicks said. "We all get so excited to get up on that mountain and do our surveys, and have them come down from the trees and bark and chatter at us.

Despite their adorable appearances, Mount Graham red squirrels are tiny warriors, and the last century hasnt been easy for the critters. In the 1950s, wildlife biologists thought that the species had gone extinct. But about a decade later, a few individuals were discovered, leading to their listing as a federally endangered species in 1987. At their heyday in the 1990s, Mount Graham red squirrel numbers peaked at 550.

A captive Mt. Graham red squirrels sits in an enclosure at the Phoenix Zoo, where it is part of a project to breed the imperiled species, with an eye toward returning some to the wild.

But it would have been too soon for wildlife groups to celebrate or slack off. In 2017, the lightning-triggered Frye Fire scorched nearly half of the squirrels home ground. From a tally of 252 squirrels the year before, the population size plummeted to a mere 35 individuals in the aftermath of the fire.

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A flurry of population rescue programs followed, including tree planting to restore burnt habitat and winter supplemental feeding for the silken survivors. Conservationists also turned to a breeding initiative at the Phoenix Zoo that has been ongoing since 2014 in hopes of reviving the population, though the effort has yet to produce any offspring until now.

Endangered species: Trail cameras capture Cinco, the 5th jaguar to cross into Arizona

New challenges for long-term survival

Still, the combined efforts proved effective. A year after the fire, the population doubled in size. In the intervening years, the population trend is still bucking upward, inching past the 100 mark in 2021 and staying clear ever since.

In part, that's because there haven't been any other major wildfires on the mountain since Frye, Pasch said.

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The subsequent improvement over the years can also be partially attributed to a new and more accurate method of measuring the squirrel population size. Scientists usually estimate the squirrel population by counting middens, the species winter caches of conifer seeds and other food. Previously, agencies would survey already known middens on designated plots, but now, scientists take care to uncover new middens and include them in the count.

As global temperatures continue to rise and Arizonas bouts with drought lengthen, Mount Graham red squirrels might face heightened challenges to their survival. Trees put out fewer seeds during warmer and drier seasons, which limits food availability for forest dwellers. Moreover, at higher temperatures, pine cones stored in middens, which act as a refrigerator, tend to spoil faster. Paschs research has shown that Mount Graham red squirrel populations tend to tank after anomalously warm years.

Yet, red squirrels also have a few tricks up their sleeves. After the Frye Fire, the Mount Graham survivors were quick to expand their footprint from their spruce fir forests and settle into other conifer trees such as white pine and Douglas fir. Pasch and his colleagues have observed red squirrels elsewhere adapt in the face of drought  instead of banking all their pinecones in one midden, these wily mammals can spread their stockpile across several middens all at once, preventing the catastrophic loss stemming from the folly of putting all eggs in one basket.

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According to Pasch, this diversified foraging strategy has allowed red squirrels in Mexico to thrive despite their habitats being squeezed by hotter, warmer climates.

Mount Grahams brethren are also known to hoard in both these centralized and the scattered manners  perhaps theyll put these tactics to good use as environmental conditions grow increasingly hostile.

For this reason, Hicks remains optimistic about the Mount Graham red squirrels future.

When we were first working on them, we thought of them as being fragile, she said. "To me, at least, especially after the Frye Fire, I find them to be much more resilient than we ever thought they could be.

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Shi En Kim covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to shien.kim@arizonarepublic.com.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Endangered Mount Graham red squirrel holds steady in annual census
Many veterans posts and legion halls havent been updated in years, and as a result, have limited appeal for younger veterans.

The Italian American War Veterans and American Legion Post in East Boston is bucking that trend.

This space had really fallen into disrepair. We needed to repoint all the bricks. There were leaks coming through the walls. It wasnt usable space for the community, said Dennis Magnasco, who was a staff sergeant in the US Army.

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It hasnt been easy to rejuvenate the facility.

Theres thousands and thousands of posts that already closed in the United States and in Massachusetts, explained Andrew Biggio, who was an infantry rifleman in the US Marine Corps.

One problem keeping these posts from thriving is the overall decline it the number of veterans.

The other is that they tend to cater to the interests of an older clientele.

A lot of veterans posts kind of became a place to sit and drink your sorrows away, said Magnasco.

These two East Boston veterans set out to change that.

For example, they now sponsor cornhole competitions.

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Were able to use it like a fun community event, putting teams together, having a little competition and camaraderie, said Magnasco.

The post has also sponsored Halloween parties and get togethers around Thanksgiving weekend.

Connecting with other veterans has changed my life, improved my life, said Magnasco.

The states Executive Office of Veteran Services awarded the post $140,000 to help shore up the buildings masonry.

Secretary Jon Santiago said this was much more than supplying funds for a construction project.

What weve learned over the past couple of years at our offices is that veterans who have PTSD, mental health issues, a whole host of issues. . . when they have peer opportunities to converse, to share their stories, their health outcomes improve.

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While focusing on a younger generation, the post also pays homage to the sacrifice of the veterans who came before them.

Were trying to start the Boston War Veterans Museum here, so people can come and have a drink, or have a soda, but also be able to stare at stuff on the walls that you dont see in any other bar of facility here in Boston, said Biggio.

The walls are adorned with a variety a uniforms, helmets, and weapons from earlier wars.

There is even a restored jeep from 1945 inside the building.

As the profile of veterans, and the community of East Boston, changes, these men hope this rejuvenated facility becomes a touchstone for the entire neighborhood.

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Biggio added, We want this place to be an authentic original place in East Boston. The veterans deserve it. The guys who left here and fought and died from East Boston deserve it. Those whose names are on rusty street signs deserve a walking museum memorial.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said he expected Russia to launch heavy attacks on his country over Christmas.

Speaking in Kiev in front of diplomats, Zelensky said it was in Russia's nature to carry out massive strikes at Christmas. He said the situation was difficult due to a lack of air defence systems.

Ukraine is officially observing Christmas on December 25 in line with Western practice, but many Ukrainian Christians continue to adhere to Orthodox traditions and celebrate Christmas on January 7, as in Russia.

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In his evening video address, Zelensky also said he expected his negotiating team to return to Ukraine on Tuesday after talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami, Florida. He said he wanted to hear details of the talks held in the US.

Witkoff had spoken of constructive negotiations after holding separate talks with the Ukrainian and Russian sides.
President Trump asserted early Tuesday that there is no going back on his plans to annex Greenland, doubling down on his insistence that the massive Danish territory must become part of the United States despite vehement opposition from Greenlands leaders and key European leaders.

The United States of America is the most powerful Country anywhere on the Globe, by far, Trump wrote on Truth Social. We are the only POWER that can ensure PEACE throughout the World.

He also shared an image of what appears to be a private text message sent by French President Emmanuel Macron, in which Macron expresses confusion over Trumps goals surrounding Greenland.

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On Tuesday, Macron warned about the implications of Trumps threats to annex Greenland one way or the other  including potentially by military force.

Were shifting to a world without rules  Where international law is trampled underfoot, and where the only law that seems to matter is that of the strongest, and imperial ambitions are resurfacing, he said during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The president has been vocal about his desire to annex Greenland since his first term in the White House. But he has become much more focused on achieving that goal in recent weeks and more willing to lash out at other nations that oppose his plan.

Trump's rhetoric on the issue softened considerably, however, after his arrival in Davos on Wednesday. Early in the day, he said he "won't use force" to acquire the territory. A few hours later, he backed off a threat to impose new tariffs on European countries that oppose his plans to annex Greenland, saying that he had "formed the framework" of a deal for the future of the Arctic with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

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Greenland is officially part of Denmark. Although the island was treated as a Danish colony for hundreds of years, its citizens have had authority over what happens within its borders since the late 1970s. That freedom includes the power to decide whether they want to remain a part of Denmark, join the U.S. or become an independent nation.

For their part, Greenlanders appear to have little interest in joining the U.S. voluntarily. Polls show that 85% of the islands citizens oppose the idea, and nearly half of them see Trumps interest in Greenland as a threat.

People protest against Trump's policy toward Greenland in front of the U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Greenland is not for sale. Greenland will not be owned by the United States. Greenland will not be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be a part of the United States, the territorys prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, wrote on Facebook late last week.

Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. needs Greenland for national security reasons. He has also made it clear that his desire to take over Greenland is, at least in part, personal.

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In a letter to Norways prime minister on Sunday, Trump wrote that he no longer felt an obligation toward peace after not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He also recently told the New York Times that acquiring the territory is psychologically important for me.

Whatever is truly motivating Trump, theres no question that Greenland is important. Though its economy and population are relatively tiny, Greenland is huge, strategically located and home to massive stores of key natural resources. Heres a rundown of why Greenland matters beyond Trumps personal interests.

For one thing, its huge

While many maps tend to exaggerate Greenlands size, its still massive  at 836,330 square miles, its more than three times the size of Texas.

A graphic showing the relative sizes of Greenland, Alaska, Texas, California and Montana in colored circles. (Flourish)

Its considered to be the worlds largest island and, on its own, would be the 12th-largest nation on Earth. It is also the least densely populated territory on the planet. More than 80% of its 56,000 residents occupy about a dozen towns along its coast; its vast, icy interior is essentially uninhabited.

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Adding Greenland would allow the U.S. to leapfrog Canada and become the second-largest country in the world  although it would still be a distant second to Russia.

Location, location, location

Not only is Greenland big, but its also in a highly strategic area. Key sea routes that connect Northern Europe to North America run along its coastline, making it a critical location for managing both international shipping and military power in the Arctic.

A map showing the island of Greenland surrounded by the Northwest passage to the west, the transpolar sea route to the east and the Arctic bridge route to the south. (OpenStreetMaps)

The fabled Northwest Passage to the northern edge of Canada and the Arctic Bridge route, which connects Scandinavia and Russia to North Americas East Coast, both hug Greenlands southern tip.

Greenland is also home to a U.S. military missile defense base located far north of the Arctic Circle, a prime position to monitor  or potentially intercept  any Russian rockets headed toward the American mainland.

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Because of climate change, which has made many areas of the Arctic impossible to navigate due to melting ice, Greenlands position will only become more important. Within the next 25 years, experts predict that enough ice will melt to open up the Transpolar Sea Route, a shipping lane that would cut straight across the North Pole and create a more efficient path between Asia and the Atlantic.

The U.S. and its allies are already jockeying with Russia and, to a certain extent, China, over control of this swiftly evolving area of the globe. Owning Greenland would give the United States an enormous advantage in this geopolitical tug-of-war.

Its changing

Like the sea ice that surrounds it, the ice that blankets Greenlands vast interior is also melting. Nearly 2,000 square miles worth of ice has disappeared from the islands surface over the past four decades. NASA refers to Greenland as a canary in a coal mine for climate change.

Greenlands melting ice is one of the biggest drivers of global sea level rise. Its also causing a key ocean current known as the great global ocean conveyor belt to slow down, which could have huge implications for weather around the world.

A chart showing Greenland's cumulative ice loss as increasing steadily from 2002 to 2025. (Flourish)

But where climate experts see reasons to worry about Greenlands ice melt, others see opportunity. Thats because Greenland is home to huge yet largely untapped stores of rare earth minerals needed to make a wide range of high-tech products  everything from smartphones and computers to fighter jets and green energy technologies.

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The United States used to be the worlds top producer of rare earth minerals. Today, that title goes to China. To counter Chinas dominance, U.S. leaders have moved to increase America's own mineral mining, while also working to open up foreign sources for the materials. Greenlands receding ice could set off a mineral gold rush, as large deposits of high-value minerals become accessible for the first time.

Greenland currently puts strict limits on mining within its territory and has banned oil and gas extraction entirely over environmental concerns. Full command of the island could give the United States the power to roll back those restrictions, make larger swaths of the island available for development and seize a larger share of the profits that result.

Many Greenlanders see a ramped-up mining industry as a key to their economic future, but even local support might not be enough to turn the dream of a mineral windfall into a reality. Foreigners have been coming to Greenland seeking to extract its riches for centuries, only to be turned away by its harsh terrain and brutal climate. Some experts believe that even with modern technology, tapping Greenlands mineral resources may be too difficult and expensive to make large-scale mining economically viable.
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Last week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan appealed to the Russian side with a request to fully restore the sections of the railway leading to Azerbaijan and Turkiye. He stated this at a briefing after the government meeting. Pashinyan appealed to the South Caucasus Railways with a request to urgently begin the full restoration of the railway from Yeraskh to Nakhchivan and Akhurik. The Armenian Prime Minister also said that he intends to contact his Russian partners regarding the restoration of part of the Ijevan-Gazakh railway.





SCR is a 100% subsidiary of Russian Railways OJSC, which manages the railways of Armenia on the basis of a concession agreement.





In October, Azerbaijan lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia through its territory, and recently a train of 22 tankers with Azerbaijani gasoline arrived in the neighboring country.





Yerevan is trying to respond adequately to Baku's goodwill and demonstrate that it is also ready to contribute to the opening of communications. These intentions are welcome, but they cannot replace the priority that the Zangezur Corridor is for Azerbaijan. Baku has already taken steps of goodwill, trying to encourage its neighbor to step up in this direction. It is the road through Meghri that is of primary importance for Azerbaijan as a transit route through Armenia to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and from there to Turkiye.





A WORD TO THE EXPERT





Rauf Agamirzaev, expert on transport and logistics:

"Yerevan made proposals to open these sites four years ago. There is nothing new here. However, the situation in the region has changed - an agreement was reached on the "Trump Route", Azerbaijan opened transit for Armenia. That is, through the efforts of our country, the issue of unblocking communications has broken the deadlock, and Armenia can no longer delay solving the tasks that fall to its lot. Pashinyan's request refers to the road that goes to Kars and the line that goes to Siadyariak. These roads, which Nikol Pashinyan is asking SCR to restore, will be implemented synchronously with TRIPP, that is, with the Zangezur Corridor project. The road that will allow us to connect the mainland of Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic will make it possible to simultaneously implement a project that will provide access from Yerevan to Meghri and Gafan. Another part of the issue is Armenia's exit through Gyumri to Kars. Armenia will also be able to access Julfa through Syadyariak, and from there to Iran. That is, after the opening of the Zangezur corridor and the Gyumri-Kars section, Armenia will have access to both Turkiye and Iran. In addition, through the railway network of Azerbaijan - to the port of Alat and further to the countries of Central Asia. All these projects are, in principle, quite acceptable on a budget. For example, the Gyumri-Kars and Yeraskh-Syadyariak sections will cost $16-17 million, the road through Zangezur will cost about $223 million, and the Razdan-Dilijan-Ijevan-Gazakh road will require $500 million to rebuild. The opening of communications will be carried out in stages. But TRIPP will remain the priority. The implementation of all other projects depends on how actively work will be carried out on this site. I think in 2026 we will see activity in all areas. Azerbaijan itself has been working since 2021. Next year, both railways and highways along the Goradiz-Agbend route will be put into operation. In November, a railway was laid from Ordubad towards Armenia, and it is planned to begin upgrading the existing railways of the autonomous republic. There is a positive dynamic that allows us to draw conclusions about how actively Azerbaijan is working to unblock the region and how ready it is to accept traffic. Azerbaijan cares about unblocking not in words, but in deeds. We hope that next year we will see the same activity from the Armenian side."

Recall that in August, Nikol Pashinyan announced Russia's possible participation in investments in the reconstruction of railway communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He expressed the opinion that Russian Railways may be interested in financing the repair of the Ijevan-Hrazdan and Ijevan-Gazakh road sections.





Pashinyan's insistence on this route is understandable. He is afraid to start the construction of the Zangezur corridor without any counterweight. The restoration of the Dilijan-Ijevan-Gazakh line can serve as a counterweight. This will allow him to show the public and the opposition that he is not "following Baku's decree," as he is accused of, but is implementing his "Crossroads of the World," according to which the road through Meghri will be built. This is a psychological moment, and Pashinyan wants to avoid diagnoses from "psychologists" in the person of his predecessors and their supporters.





That's understandable. However, TRIPP's priority for Azerbaijan remains unchanged. Yerevan should have realized this already when, after the opening of Azerbaijani transit for Armenia, Pashinyan offered Azerbaijan to use the existing Margara-Yeghegnadzor-Sisian-Goris highway running from the Turkish border. The suggestion was met with silence. This road exchange was unequal. Moreover, Baku expects Yerevan to be active in the direction of the Zangezur project. So far, in this matter, all the energy of the Armenian side is going into words.





A round table was recently organized in Washington as part of the "Trump's TRIPP Route" initiative. The event was organized by the American-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC). The event was attended by the ambassadors to the United States of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as high-ranking representatives of the U.S. government and business circles. Discussions focused on the importance of TRIPP for developing regional connectivity and strengthening the United States' sustainable economic presence along the Middle Corridor. The participants came to the unanimous conclusion that the road through Meghri is necessary and beneficial for everyone.





As we can see, the Azerbaijani side initiated the discussions again. Azerbaijan is trying to push for a solution to the issue in order to prevent it from going into the back burner. And he won't. The Armenian side should also be interested in this, because Azerbaijan cannot constantly make gifts without any certainty of prospects. And at the moment, the prospects are vague. Yes, an agreement was reached in Washington on August 8, but nothing has been done in four months towards the practical implementation of the project. Just discussions. Meanwhile, attempts are being made to promote other projects that are less "difficult" but uninteresting to the Azerbaijani side. If the Hrazdan-Dilijan-Ijevan-Gazakh road is more profitable for Armenia to connect with Russia than the Zangezur corridor, then it has no significance for us. If Armenia needs it, it can restore the problematic and unsuitable railway through Ijevan for serious traffic, but this will have nothing to do with the opening of regional communications. There won't be another gift.





As the Azerbaijani expert said, the implementation of projects within the framework of unblocking communications will proceed synchronously. And all processes will be synchronized depending on how things are going on TRIPP. If there is no practical progress in this direction, there will be no progress in other areas. It's a pretty simple formula. Simple and very fair, if we recall the history of the last thirty-five years.
Post Office has entered into a new five-year agreement with Cash Access UK for the continued operation of Banking Hubs across the country.

The agreement, which begins in January 2026, extends the collaboration with Cash Access UK.

Currently, Post Office maintains operations of 200 Banking Hubs and is set to play a vital role in reaching the target of 350 and support the governments target of establishing 350 Hubs by the conclusion of the current Parliament.

The Post Offices branch network, alongside 150 Banking Hubs operated in collaboration with Cash Access UK, is said to play a significant role in meeting the cash requirements of local High Streets.

These services allow individuals and small businesses to maintain access to cash without fees.

Post Office branches are said to offer extended opening hours compared to bank branches, with approximately 3,000 locations open during weekends.

According to Post Office, since January 2020, more than 760 million transactions have been completed by business and personal customers at its branches nationwide.

The organisation also highlighted data which showed a consistent annual increase in the total volume of business and personal deposits from 2020 through to the end of last year.

According to Post Office, several people and small businesses depend on daily access to cash, noting that its branches and Banking Hubs are increasingly serving as the primary location for everyday banking in many communities.

The contract is said to coincide with the launch of the Post Offices new Banking Framework agreement, which includes 30 of the largest banks and building societies in the UK.

These agreements are intended to ensure that local communities continue to have access to cash deposit and withdrawal services at various Post Office branches nationwide.

Post Office financial services director Ross Borkett was quoted by Fintech Finance as saying: Im delighted that this agreement renewal with Cash Access UK ensures our long-term commitment to work together as we and our postmasters continue to play an important role in delivering on the Governments commitment to have 350 operating Banking Hubs by the end of this Parliament.

Banking Hubs simply wouldnt exist without the Post Offices role in developing and operating them. Postmasters are at the heart of their local communities offering outstanding service and are the natural partner to operate Banking Hubs given their expertise when it comes to providing face-to-face everyday banking services.

"Post Office signs five-year deal with Cash Access UK for Banking Hubs operation" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.
By MEGAN HUGHES

[email protected]

BESSEMER.  After discussing the matter for the second month in a row, the Board of Education for the Bessemer Area Schools maintained its prior decision to opt out of the states 31aa funding unless major changes occur to the language before the Dec. 30 deadline.

The Michigan State School Aid Act provides money for support staff, screening tools and overall safety support on school grounds.

But in order to receive the funds, schools must waive attorney-client privilege and other rights during investigations regarding mass casualty events.

Superintendent...
By PAMELA JANSSON

[email protected]

BESSEMER  Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners have approved a plan to send a letter to the state Department of Natural Resources regarding perceived misuse of the Michigan Commercial Forest Program.

The action came during a Dec. 17 meeting after a presentation by Rod Ritter, a former forester from Wakefield.

The Michigan Commercial Forest Program is an agreement, he said. In exchange for promising sustainable, long-term forest management, landowners receive massive property tax deductions.

The problem is, he added, that the pr...
Michael Selig was sworn in Sunday as the 16th chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, taking control of the derivatives regulator as acting chair Caroline Pham departed after nearly four years at the agency.

Phams exit concludes a tenure marked by aggressive pro-crypto initiatives and regulatory modernization efforts that reshaped the CFTCs approach to digital asset oversight.

Selig, confirmed by the Senate on December 18, arrives at the CFTC after serving as chief counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commissions Crypto Task Force and senior advisor to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.

His appointment positions him to lead the agency through what he described as a unique moment of technological transformation and potential congressional action on digital asset legislation.

Source: X/@CarolineDPham

Phams Digital Asset Legacy Reshapes CFTC Operations

Phams final year as acting chair delivered multiple regulatory breakthroughs for crypto markets.

She launched the CFTCs Crypto Sprint in January, implementing recommendations from the Presidents Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and achieving milestones, including spot crypto trading on CFTC-registered futures exchanges and a digital asset markets pilot program that allows Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC as collateral.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead the CFTC during such a historic moment for market structure and innovation, Pham said in her departure statement.

I am incredibly proud of the CFTC and all its dedicated staff for their hard work and commitment this year to deliver on our pledge to get back to basics and regular order.

Her modernization drive extended beyond crypto policy. According to CFTC, the agency deployed its first automated market surveillance system, saving nearly $50 million in annualized costs, while restructuring operations to maximize efficiency.

Regulatory relief measures unlocked tens of billions in capital for market participants and launched pilot programs targeting energy market liquidity.

Most recently, Pham also granted no-action relief to four prediction market operators, Polymarket US, LedgerX, PredictIt, and Gemini Titan, easing enforcement pressure while requiring full collateralization and transaction transparency.

The move came during a surge in prediction market activity, with giants like Coinbase and Robinhood already preparing to enter the market.

Selig Pledges Innovation Focus as Agency Expands Oversight

Selig positioned his chairmanship as the start of a new chapter for the CFTC, emphasizing the agencys role in establishing regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies and products.
OKEMOS, Mich. - Francine (Balduc) Sorber, 62, lost her hard-fought battle with depression on Dec. 7, 2025, leaving a profound legacy of kindness, faith and quiet strength that touched everyone who knew her. She dedicated her life to serving her family, extensive network of friends, and community with deep, abiding love.

She was strong and gritty. Born the twelfth of 14 children in Ironwood, she dedicated herself to studies, supporting herself through college and earning her bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University. She ran a moving business out of the family playroom, taught night classes, and was a full-time mother to three small children. She moved from Ishpeming to Lansing in 1996 and built a robust community of friends while still nurturing earlier friendships and family relationships. She actively supported her husband and children in the pursuit of their careers, studies and dreams. And yet she always wanted to do more.

She was gentle. She loved children and they adored her. Her deepest joy came from time spent with family, especially her seven grandchildren, who each shared a special bond with her. She traveled relentlessly to be part of their regular lives, despite the thousands of miles separating them.

She was generous. She gave her time, treasure and talent wherever she saw a need. She had deep compassion for any person she saw struggling physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually, intuiting the suffering of others, even when it was not overt. Her hospitality left so many feeling like family in her home.

Despite her illness, Fran continued to give generously to the people she loved until the very end. Her faith was her compass, guiding her through both sunshine and storm. It taught her how to love without holding back, how to forgive without keeping score, and how to find light even in the darkest valleys.

Fran is survived by her husband, Brig; and her children, Alicia (Pedro) Gallegos, Jacob (Mikaela) Sorber, and Brycen (Bethany) Sorber. Also surviving are her seven grandchildren, Francine, Elin and Estelle Gallegos, Emerald and Cal Sorber, and Scarlett and Eliza Sorber. She is also survived by her siblings, Louie, Lois, Bobbie, Gale, Gary, Mike, Pat, Debbie, Denise, Diane, Ed and Ann Marie. She leaves behind her sister, champion and best friend, Diane (Balduc) Maki; and her dear friend, Mickey Ellsworth.

She is predeceased by her parents, Robert ("Bud") and Marianne (Skaja) Balduc; and her brother, Bill Balduc.

The family suggests honoring Fran's memory by contributing to Protect Life Michigan at protectlifemi.org or the East Jordan Shoe Club at shoeclub.org.

A Catholic funeral was held at St. Martha's Catholic Church in Okemos, Michigan, on Friday, Dec. 19 at noon.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that both China and Pakistan are united against India and sooner or later together they can attack the country. In such a situation, the question is whether the war is going to happen. Are both the neighbors about to wage war against India? Because till now the Prime Minister or the Defense Minister has not given any statement on this issue. Watch the big debate in Kasam Samvidhan Ki on this issue.
Today, Rajnath Singh has handed over many indigenously made weapons to the Indian Army to compete with China and Pakistan on the border. These include anti-personal landmines, landing infantry combat vehicles for operations in Pangong Lake and many such weapons, which till now India used to import from America, Britain and France. Through these weapons, from Ladakh to Rajasthan, the soldiers on the border will get help in surveillance.
Qualivian Investment Partners, an investment partnership focused on long-only public equities, released its Q3 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund outperformed the iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) by 69.2% and 61.3% on a gross and net basis, since inception through September 30, 2025. It also exceeded the S&P 500 by 32.7% and 26.1% respectively, on a gross and net basis. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Qualivian Investment Partners highlighted stocks such as Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO). Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) is a leading integrated risk assessment firm. The one-month return of Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) was 5.22%, and its shares gained 6.38% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 22, 2025, Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) stock closed at $509.65 per share, with a market capitalization of $91.642 billion.

Qualivian Investment Partners stated the following regarding Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Our bottom 3 contributors in the quarter were Brown and Brown, Watsco, and Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO). Moody's (MCO) reported a very strong quarter with adjusted EPS of $3.92, beating expectations by nearly 7%, and record total revenue of $2.01 billion, up 11% year-over-year. Management delivered an impressive 500 bp improvement in adjusted operating margins to 53%, largely on the strength of strong issuance activity across its higher margin Moody's Investor Service (MIS) segment."

Is Moodys Corporation (MCO) The Best Financial Sector Dividend Stock To Buy Right Now?

Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 87 hedge fund portfolios held Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) at the end of the third quarter, up from 82 in the previous quarter. In Q3 2025, Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) surpassed $2 billion quarterly revenue for the first time, which was up 11% from Q3 2024. While we acknowledge the potential of Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) 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 Moodys Corporation (NYSE:MCO) and shared the list of best financial sector dividend stocks to buy. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
Key Points

QuantumScape's batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety.

The company shipped its most recent B1 sample cells in the third quarter, marking a major milestone.

QuantumScape is refining its development process so it can manufacture its batteries at scale.

10 stocks we like better than QuantumScape 

QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) is at a pivotal inflection point, advancing from laboratory development to real-world testing and gearing up for mass production. In the third quarter, the company began shipping its next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery cells. It also recently signed a joint development agreement with a top 10 automaker worldwide.

The company's battery technology could be a major breakthrough for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, due to its higher energy density and faster charging capabilities. However, QuantumScape remains in its early stages and will face more hurdles before achieving positive cash flow.

If you're considering an investment in QuantumScape, here's what you should know first.

QuantumScape's recent breakthrough

The biggest stock-moving news for QuantumScape occurred in the third quarter, when it began shipping B1 samples of its QSE-5 cell. This is a significant step forward for QuantumScape and marks another milestone, checking off a key goal for 2025.

QuantumScape's batteries promise greater energy density, faster charging, and improved safety at scale compared to conventional lithium-ion cells. The company has been developing its Cobra separator process, a quicker, continuous manufacturing method that produces ultra-thin solid-state separators at scale.

The company uses code names for its various separator design processes that rely on precision sintering, in which ceramic precursor layers are heated to near-melting temperatures to induce controlled particle necking and densification. The process presents technical challenges, making it very delicate and time-consuming.

Its initial process, called Raptor, tripled throughput compared to the previous engineering line and served as the baseline for its B0 samples. While the process was successful, the time and costs were too high for large-scale production.

Image source: Getty Images.

The Cobra separator process is a significant step forward for QuantumScape, bringing it closer to production. This process refines sintering by optimizing energy transfer to the ceramic-metal interface. The process delivers a 25x increase in heat-treatment speed while efficiently utilizing factory space by increasing the output per square meter.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 23, 2025) - ReeXploration Inc. (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I0) ("ReeXploration" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful closing of its previously announced private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,000,000 (the "Financing"). This Financing will fund the next phase of exploration at the Company's Eureka Project located in Namibia's Erongo Mining District, the country's premier uranium corridor. ReeXploration will now focus on the drill program designed to test a newly identified and highly-prospective uranium target in early 2026.

The Financing comprised of 9,090,910 shares of the Company (each, a "Share") at $0.11 per Share. The Company paid Numus Capital Corp., a registered Exempt Market Dealer, a cash fee of $70,000 or 7% of proceeds raised and issued 636,363 compensation warrants entitling the agent to purchase that number of Shares at $0.11 per share for a period of 24 months from closing.

The engagement of Numus Capital Corp. and the Financing may constitute Related Party Transactions under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI-61-101"). The Company is relying upon an exemption for shareholder approval required under section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that any related party elements of such transactions would not exceed 25% of market capitalization of the Company.

All securities issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a hold period lasting four-months and one day from the closing.

About ReeXploration Inc.

ReeXploration (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I0) is a Canadian exploration company positioned to help meet surging global demand for secure, responsible supplies of critical minerals essential to the clean energy transition, advanced technologies and national defense. The Company's flagship Eureka Project in central Namibia pairs a technically proven rare earth foundation - supported by the production of a clean, Western-standard monazite concentrate - with a newly defined, high-priority uranium target located within one of the world's most established uranium corridors. Together, these commodities provide multi-path discovery potential aligned with accelerating global efforts to diversify critical mineral and nuclear fuel supply. Supported by a Namibia-based technical team and guided by global critical minerals experts, ReeXploration is advancing a disciplined, discovery-led strategy, building a credible, ESG-aligned platform positioned to benefit from the global race to diversify and secure responsible supply chains.
Russias Central Bank has acknowledged that crypto mining contributes to the rubles strength, though quantifying its exact impact remains difficult as much of the industry operates in gray areas.

Governor Elvira Nabiullina made the statement while responding to questions about the sectors influence on foreign exchange markets, according to a local report.

The acknowledgment comes as senior Kremlin officials push to formally classify mining as an export activity in Russias trade accounts, which further shows the sectors growing importance to the national economy despite regulatory uncertainties.

Governor Elvira Nabiullina. | Source: GFMAG

Mining Emerges as Informal Export Driver

Deputy Chief of Staff Maxim Oreshkin argued at the VTB Russia Calling! forum that crypto mining should be treated as an export activity because mined digital assets effectively flow abroad even without crossing physical borders.

He described the sector as a new export item that Russia doesnt value very well, citing the underestimation of mining-related financial flows as the reason for incorrect ruble exchange rate forecasts.

Industry figures estimate Russia produces tens of thousands of Bitcoins annually, with daily mining revenue reaching approximately 1 billion rubles.

The Industrial Mining Association reports Russia ranks second globally for mining, accounting for over 16% of the worlds hashrate in the summer months, though network halving reduced output from roughly 55,000 BTC in 2023 to around 35,000 BTC in 2024.

Nabiullina acknowledged minings currency market impact but emphasized context, stating that for mining, its probably difficult to quantify its impact right now, because a significant portion of it is still in the gray zone. But in any case, this mining didnt emerge this year, meaning the exchange rate appreciation cant be attributed to the fact that it has risen sharply.

Gray Market Operations Cost Billions Despite Legalization

Russia legalized crypto mining on November 1, 2024, requiring legal entities and entrepreneurs to register with the Federal Tax Service, while exempting individual miners who consume less than 6,000 kWh per month.

Corporate mining is taxed at 25%, while individuals pay progressive rates of 13-22%, with non-residents paying 30%.

Despite legalization efforts, illegal and quasi-legal mining continues costing Russia millions annually through stolen electricity and unpaid taxes.

Broadcaster Ren TV reported that fear of high taxes and electricity costs is driving many miners underground, with annual budget losses reaching billions of rubles as operators resort to meter manipulation, bribery, and secret agreements with utility workers.
By Heekyong Yang

SEOUL, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) announced on Tuesday a $1.8 billion deal to acquire Germany's ZF Friedrichshafen's autonomous driving technology unit to combine it with its audio business and offer next-generation in-car platforms.

Samsung said the 1.5 billion euro ($1.77 billion) deal will allow Harman to secure advanced driver assistance system-related technologies and products, including front-facing vehicle cameras and ADAS controllers, marking a full-scale entry into the fast-growing driver assistance market.

ADAS technologies use cameras and sensors to detect the surrounding environment, including lanes, the distance to vehicles ahead and pedestrians to assist safe driving.

The deal underscores Samsung's push to diversify beyond smartphones and memory chips by strengthening its exposure to vehicle electronics, as cars become increasingly software and sensor-driven.

Samsung said the market for ADAS and central vehicle controllers is expected to expand in size from 62.6 trillion won ($42.18 billion) in 2025 to 97.4 trillion won in 2030.

Analysts said Harman's audio business is already highly competitive, but the more important factor is the continued growth of the global telematics market.

"As advanced driver assistance systems are increasingly becoming the core technology underpinning telematics, the acquisition of an automotive electronics supplier focused on ADAS should be viewed positively," said Jeff Kim, head of research at KB Securities.

Samsung said the transaction is expected to close within 2026. The acquisition is Samsung's latest major deal this year, after it announced a 1.5 billion euro agreement to buy German cooling system maker FlaktGroup in May.

ZF Friedrichshafen, based in southwestern Germany, is one of the world's largest car parts suppliers, and last year reported revenues of more than 41 billion euros.

The unlisted group announced plans last year to eliminate up to 14,000 positions in Germany as the auto industry struggles with weak electric vehicle demand and global trade tensions. ZF also has a high debt burden from past acquisitions.

Germany's auto sector has shed about 55,000 jobs since 2023, according to German industry association VDA, with suppliers hit the hardest.

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Samsung Electronics has stepped up investment to secure future growth drivers, carrying out a string of sizable acquisitions this year ranging from air conditioning and heating systems to audio business and healthcare services.

($1 = 1,484.1500 won)
We feel now is a pretty good time to analyse Shield Therapeutics plc's (LON:STX) business as it appears the company may be on the cusp of a considerable accomplishment. Shield Therapeutics plc, a commercial stage specialty pharmaceutical company, focuses on development and commercialization of clinical-stage pharmaceuticals to treat unmet medical needs. The UK117m market-cap companys loss lessened since it announced a US$27m loss in the full financial year, compared to the latest trailing-twelve-month loss of US$21m, as it approaches breakeven. Many investors are wondering about the rate at which Shield Therapeutics will turn a profit, with the big question being when will the company breakeven? In this article, we will touch on the expectations for the company's growth and when analysts expect it to become profitable.

Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit.

Consensus from 3 of the British Pharmaceuticals analysts is that Shield Therapeutics is on the verge of breakeven. They anticipate the company to incur a final loss in 2026, before generating positive profits of US$21m in 2027. So, the company is predicted to breakeven approximately 2 years from now. In order to meet this breakeven date, we calculated the rate at which the company must grow year-on-year. It turns out an average annual growth rate of 98% is expected, which is extremely buoyant. If this rate turns out to be too aggressive, the company may become profitable much later than analysts predict.

AIM:STX Earnings Per Share Growth December 23rd 2025

Given this is a high-level overview, we wont go into details of Shield Therapeutics' upcoming projects, but, bear in mind that typically pharmaceuticals, depending on the stage of product development, have irregular periods of cash flow. So, a high growth rate is not out of the ordinary, particularly when a company is in a period of investment.

See our latest analysis for Shield Therapeutics

One thing we would like to bring into light with Shield Therapeutics is it currently has negative equity on its balance sheet. This can sometimes arise from accounting methods used to deal with accumulated losses from prior years, which are viewed as liabilities carried forward until it cancels out in the future. These losses tend to occur only on paper, however, in other cases it can be forewarning.

Next Steps:

This article is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis on Shield Therapeutics, so if you are interested in understanding the company at a deeper level, take a look at Shield Therapeutics' company page on Simply Wall St. We've also compiled a list of pertinent factors you should look at:
Soybeans are trading with gains of 5 to 6  cents across most front months on Monday morning. Futures extended the weakness on Friday, as most front months were down 2 to 3 cents. January closed out the week down 27  cents from the previous Friday. Open interest was down 7,435 contracts on Friday. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was 2 3/4 cents lower at $9.78 1/2. Soymeal futures were down 80 cents to $1.50, with January $4.90 lower last week. Soy Oil futures were down 2 to 21 points, as January was down 217 points wk/wk.

Export Sales data will be out this morning for the week of December 4, with analysts expecting 0.8-2 MMT of soybean sales. Meal sales are estimated in a range of 200,000-500,000 MT, with bean oil in a 5,000-25,000 MT range.

More News from Barchart

Commitment of Traders data showed managed money slashing 35,088 contracts from their net long in soybean futures and options as of the week ending on December 9. As of that Tuesday, they were net long 180,338 contracts.

AgRural estimates the Brazilian soybean crop at 180.4 MMT, up 1.9 MMT from their previous estimate. Chinas soybean imports in November totaled 5.85 MMT from Brazil and 1.78 MMT from Argentina, with the two counties accounting for 93.9% of the total for the month.

Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.49 1/4, down 3 cents, currently up 5 3/4 cents

Nearby Cash was $9.78 1/2, down 2 3/4 cents,

Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.59 1/2, down 2 1/2 cents, currently up 6 1/4 cents

May 26 Soybeans closed at $10.70 1/2, down 2 3/4 cents, currently up 6 1/2 cents

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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
Rubik Vardanyan's wife, Veronika Zonabend, seems to have forgotten that her husband is awaiting sentencing in Baku. Surprising? Only at first glance. Zonabend actually has a clear reason: the Vardanians assets in Armenia have slowly begun to be seized.





In her latest appeal, Zonabend complains that some looters have encroached on the sacred  referring to their projects in Dilijan. Business partners are going to court and withdrawing funds, while city authorities are reclaiming land. Yet Zonabends main concern isnt the projects themselves, but the $236 million that my husband and I invested there.





Of course, $236 million is a strong motivation to rush to defend ones sacred business. After all, her husband can wait.





Its ironic that Zonabend draws analogies with the destruction of shrines, considering that at this very moment, the real culprit, with horns, is sitting in Baku awaiting sentencing for his actual crimes.
Creates First Independent Tower Operator in the Baltics

TeleTower and Bite Group to Continue Strategic Partnership to Invest in Mobile Networks Across Lithuania and Latvia

LONDON & VILNIUS, Lithuania, December 23, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, and Bite Group ("Bite"), a leading telecom operator in the Baltics, today announced an agreement by which Stonepeak will acquire TeleTower, Bites towers business in Lithuania and Latvia. Bite is a portfolio company of Providence Equity Partners ("Providence"), a specialist private equity firm focused on growth-oriented media, communications, education and technology companies. The transaction will create the first fully independent tower company in the region and represents the beginning of a strategic partnership dedicated to investing in the Baltics mobile network and improving end-customer experience.

Established in 2009 within Bite, TeleTower operates a diversified portfolio of more than 2,500 tower and rooftop sites across Lithuania and Latvia, with strong presence in strategic locations in all major Lithuanian and Latvian cities. Following the completion of the transaction, TeleTower and Bite will enter into a long-term commercial agreement including commitments to roll out more than 1,200 additional sites to increase network density, provide improved connectivity to remote areas, and deliver 5G speeds to customers, as mobile data usage in the region continues to outpace Europe more broadly.

"Lithuania and Latvia represent attractive, nascent tower markets given the sustained high levels of mobile data usage and competitive landscape between mobile network operators within the region," said Nicolo Zanotto, Managing Director and Head of Digital Infrastructure, Europe at Stonepeak. "We believe TeleTower is poised for success given its diversified portfolio, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and first-mover advantage as the regions first independent tower company. We are excited to back TeleTower and look forward to working closely with Bite to support furthering their strategic objectives in both Lithuania and Latvia."

"At every stage of our development, we have aimed to deliver maximum value to our customers while enhancing mobile and fixed connectivity, as well as broadening our offering with Pay TV services," said Pranas Kuisys, the CEO at Bite. "Since we first partnered with Providence, we have invested more than 400 million in our infrastructure to achieve this goal by building out 4G and 5G networks and delivering high-speed connectivity. Welcoming investment from a global strategic investor such as Stonepeak, combined with our future strategic partnership with TeleTower, reflects our continued commitment to these objectives."
China's ByteDance, owner of TikTok, has seen its valuation surge to US$500 billion on the private market as it advances a survival plan in the US, up sharply from US$400 billion earlier this year, according to two sources.

With the deadline for a sell-or-ban law looming, TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi informed employees last week that the company had signed a binding agreement to divest its US entity into a joint venture controlled by American investors.

"Investors are happy about the deal's terms as ByteDance can continue to reap earnings from TikTok in the US," said one of the sources, who is directly involved in the matter.

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.

ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US$500 billion figure would mark a record for the short video and artificial intelligence giant. ByteDance's valuation previously approached US$400 billion in April 2021, when the company considered a public listing for Douyin, TikTok's Chinese sibling app, according to a Post report. Weeks later, the company said it had no immediate plans to go public.

ByteDance has signed a binding agreement to divest its US entity into a joint venture controlled by American investors. Photo: EPA alt=ByteDance has signed a binding agreement to divest its US entity into a joint venture controlled by American investors. Photo: EPA>

The valuation, which since then dropped, returned to US$400 billion in the second quarter this year as the company worked on the US deal and made progress in AI, the other source said. It rose further when a Chinese investment firm bought ByteDance shares at a valuation of US$480 billion, reflecting strong investor interest, Bloomberg reported in November.

The Beijing-based unicorn's valuation has followed a V-shaped trajectory in recent years amid political headwinds in the US and Europe. Both US President Donald Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have targeted TikTok over national security concerns, with the latest law requiring divestment by January 23, 2026.

ByteDance has opted to form a new US joint venture, named TikTok USDS Joint Venture, which will take effect a day before the deadline. A consortium of American and allied investors - including Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX - will hold 50 per cent of the entity, with each owning 15 per cent. Affiliates of existing ByteDance investors will hold 30.1 per cent, while ByteDance will retain 19.9 per cent.
As Gulf markets continue to rise, driven by increasing oil prices and the anticipation of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts, investors are closely monitoring opportunities in dividend stocks for stable income amid fluctuating economic conditions. In this dynamic environment, a good dividend stock is characterized by strong fundamentals and consistent payout history, making it an attractive choice for those seeking reliable returns in the Middle Eastern market.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The Middle East

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Yeni Gimat Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi (IBSE:YGGYO) 5.58%  Saudi Awwal Bank (SASE:1060) 6.15%  Riyad Bank (SASE:1010) 6.58%  National General Insurance (P.J.S.C.) (DFM:NGI) 7.75%  National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah (P.S.C.) (ADX:RAKBANK) 6.41%  Goltas Goller Bolgesi Cimento Sanayi ve Ticaret (IBSE:GOLTS) 3.53%  Emaar Properties PJSC (DFM:EMAAR) 7.02%  Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC (DFM:CBD) 5.30%  Arab National Bank (SASE:1080) 6.00%  Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik Anonim Sirketi (IBSE:ANHYT) 5.51% 

Click here to see the full list of 58 stocks from our Top Middle Eastern Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: R.A.K. Ceramics P.J.S.C. manufactures and sells a range of ceramic products across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and internationally with a market cap of AED2.54 billion.

Operations: R.A.K. Ceramics P.J.S.C. generates revenue primarily from Ceramic Products (AED3.26 billion), followed by Faucets (AED565.93 million), and Other Industrial segments (AED201.35 million).

Dividend Yield: 7.8%

R.A.K. Ceramics P.J.S.C. offers a dividend yield of 7.81%, placing it in the top 25% of AE market dividend payers, yet its dividend history is unstable and unreliable over the past decade with volatile payments. Despite this, current dividends are covered by earnings (83.7%) and cash flows (82.3%). The company trades at 9.9% below its estimated fair value but faces high debt levels, requiring careful consideration for long-term sustainability amidst recent modest earnings growth.

ADX:RAKCEC Dividend History as at Dec 2025

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Alinma Bank offers banking and investment services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a market capitalization of SAR61 billion.
Asset manager Janus Henderson Group has agreed to be acquired by Trian Fund Management and General Catalyst Group Management, in an all-cash transaction worth up to $7.4bn.

Trian currently holds 20.6% of Janus Hendersons outstanding shares and has maintained board representation since 2022, following its initial investment in 2020.

General Catalyst, which focuses on business transformation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), is partnering with Trian in this transaction.

Under the agreement, Janus Henderson shareholders, excluding those whose shares are already owned or controlled by Trian, will receive $49 per share in cash.

This price represents an 18% premium over the closing price of Janus Henderson shares on 24 October 2025, the last trading day before the initial Trian and General Catalyst proposal was made public.

The acquisition is anticipated to be completed in mid-2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, client consents, and the approval of Janus Henderson shareholders.

Upon closing the transaction, Janus will become a private company and continue to operate under its existing management team, led by CEO Ali Dibadj.

The company will retain its primary offices in London and Denver.

Janus Henderson CEO Ali Dibadj said: We are pleased with Trians and General Catalysts interest in partnering with us, which is a strong affirmation of our long-term strategy.

With this partnership with Trian and General Catalyst, we are confident that we will be able to further invest in our product offering, client services, technology, and talent to accelerate our growth and deliver differentiated insights, disciplined investment strategies, and world-class service to our clients.

This transaction is a testament to Janus Henderson employees globally who have executed on our strategy to Protect & Grow our core, Amplify our strengths, and Diversify where we have the right, putting our clients first  always.

After receiving the acquisition bid, Janus Hendersons board established a Special Committee comprising independent directors unrelated to Trian or General Catalyst.

The Special Committee evaluated the offer and unanimously recommended the transaction, following a comprehensive review.

Based on the Special Committee recommendation, Janus Hendersons board approved the transaction.

The transaction will be partly financed by investment vehicles managed by Trian and General Catalyst, with additional backing from a group of investors.

The investor group includes Qatar Investment Authority, Sun Hung Kai & Co., and MassMutual, among others. Trian and its affiliates will also roll over their existing shares.
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

Nelson Peltzs Trian Fund Management and General Catalyst agreed to buy asset manager Janus Henderson Group Plc for about $7.4 billion.

Shareholders will receive $49 a share in cash, up from $46 a share that the investors offered in October, according to a statement Monday. Trian already owns 20.6% of Janus Hendersons shares.

The move is the latest dramatic turn in Trians five-year investment in Janus Henderson, which saw the activist investor oust previous management while pushing the fund manager to stop bleeding clients following the troubled merger that created the firm in 2017. Trian first disclosed its investment in Janus Henderson in October 2020.

The buyer group also includes Qatar Investment Authority and Sun Hung Kai & Co.


Vinarchy, the Australian wine major, has signed a distribution deal for its Jacobs Creek brand in China.

The company has contracted ASC Fine Wines to represent the brand in the country from 1 January.

Jacobs Creek wines on sale in China span from the AU888 Series and Winemakers Selection, which are available at "accessible" price points through to the "premium" Chosen Rows and Barrel Selection.

Don St. Pierre, the co-chair and CEO of ASC Fine Wines, said: Welcoming Jacobs Creek into our portfolio is a strategic masterstroke and a fitting first chapter as we build momentum toward our 30th anniversary.

Partnering with Vinarchy allows us to leverage our combined strengths to serve the Chinese market with unmatched depth and excellence.

The Chinese wine distributors Australian portfolio already includes wines from De Bortoli, Leeuwin Estate, Yalumba and Henschke.

Jacobs Creek has previously been present in the Chinese market through imports handled by Pernod Ricard, the brand's former owner.

Vinarchy was created earlier this year through the combination of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricards wine operations in Australia, New Zealand and Spain. The business reports annual net sales of more than A$1.5bn ($1bn).

Nicholas Hall, general manager for north east Asia at Vinarchy, said: Under the renewed stewardship of the St. Pierre family, ASC is the ideal partner to write Jacobs Creeks next chapter here. Their deep consumer insights, nationwide network, and brand-building expertise are precisely what we need to deepen engagement and drive growth.

The deal follows a change in ASCs ownership earlier this year. In April, Suntory Holdings sold ASC Fine Wines back to its founding St. Pierre family.

Founded in 1996 by Don St. Pierre Jr. and his father, Don St. Pierre Sr., ASC Fine Wines has a distribution portfolio of more than 1,200 wine brands from more than 100 wineries worldwide.

Its sales network covers mainland China, Macau on the southern coast of the country and Hong Kong.

"Vinarchy strikes Jacobs Creek distribution deal in China" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




Warren Buffett is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Nati Harnik/AP

Berkshire Hathaway removed Kraft Heinz from the list of operating companies on its website.

Warren Buffett's company cut the food giant in April, the Wayback Machine shows.

Berkshire left Kraft's board and wrote down its 27% stake by $5 billion in the second quarter.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway removed Kraft Heinz from the list of operating companies on its website earlier this year, weeks before writing down its investment in the food and beverage giant and leaving its board of directors.

The famed investor's conglomerate took Kraft off its subsidiaries page in April, Business Insider determined using the Wayback Machine, a digital archive that stores snapshots of webpages on different dates.

Berkshire accounts for its roughly 27% stake in Kraft using the equity method, meaning Buffett and his colleagues recorded it at cost and periodically adjust its carrying value to reflect Berkshire's share of Kraft's profits and losses.

On May 19, Berkshire's two board representatives stepped down. Berkshire also said in its second-quarter earnings that it was recording a $5 billion impairment loss on its Kraft position, cutting its carrying value to match its fair value of $8.4 billion.

Buffett and his team said they had considered their "ability and intent" to remain invested until the fair value exceeded carrying value, the "magnitude and duration" of the decline in fair value, and Kraft's operating results and finances.

They also took into account the two board departures and the news that Kraft was evaluating potential strategic transactions, they said, and determined their unrealized loss on the holding was "other-than-temporary."

It's unclear whether Berkshire removed Kraft from its subsidiary list as part of a broader distancing from the investment. Kraft was an unusual entry in the first place, as the vast majority of businesses featured are wholly owned subsidiaries of Berkshire, such as Geico, See's Candies, NetJets, and Pampered Chef.

Berkshire Hathaway and Kraft Heinz did not respond to requests for comment.

Berkshire's Kraft Heinz saga

San Francisco is suing major food brands, accusing them of fueling a public health crisis with ultra-processed foods. Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images

Kraft announced in September that it would split into two businesses, with one focused on sauces, spreads, and seasonings such as Heinz and Philadelphia, and the other focusing on North American staples, including Kraft Singles and Lunchables.
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the most widely held stocks by hedge funds in 2025. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) announced on December 18 a significant milestone in the evolution of AI-powered commerce, reporting the successful completion of hundreds of secure, agent-initiated transactions in collaboration with partners across the ecosystem. Management stated that the breakthrough points towards 2025 being the final year where consumers shop and checkout alone, with AI agent-driven payments experiencing a rapid transition from experimentation to mainstream adoption.

Visa Inc. (V): Among Billionaire Mason Morfits Stock Picks with Highest Upside Potential

The acceleration is built on the companys launch of Visa Intelligent Commerce earlier in the year. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) reported that it is on track to deliver personalized and secure AI-enabled commerce to consumers by early 2026.

In another development, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) announced on December 17 a strategic collaboration with Akamai Technologies, Inc. to bring stronger user recognition, identity, and security controls to the developing domain of agentic commerce. Akamai Technologies, Inc. is a cloud computing and cybersecurity company that protects and powers businesses online.

Management further reported that the integration of Akamais edge-based behavioral intelligence, bot and abuse protection, and user recognition, with Visas Trusted Agent Protocol would result in the companies delivering the authentication, identity, and fraud controls necessary to allow merchants to welcome AI agents to their digital storefronts with commerce intent confidently.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) provides digital payment services. It offers credit cards, debit cards, prepaid products, global automated teller machines, and commercial payment solutions.

While we acknowledge the potential of V as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Key Points

Investors would've preferred to own Visa shares instead of an S&P 500 index fund in the past decade.

The company benefits from a durable growth tailwind as cashless transactions become more widely adopted.

10 stocks we like better than Visa 

Visa (NYSE: V) dominates the card payments industry. During fiscal 2025 (ended Sept. 30), it handled an unbelievable $16.7 trillion in payment volume. It has global reach, facilitating payments in more than 220 countries and territories. Most readers probably have a Visa-branded debit or credit card in their wallets right now.

With this kind of market dominance, it's not surprising to learn that shares have performed well. If you'd invested $1,000 in this top financial stock 10 years ago, here's how much you'd have today.

Image source: Visa.

Visa shares outpace the S&P 500

Over the past decade, shares of Visa have produced a total return of 385% (as of Dec. 22). Investors during this time would've seen a $1,000 initial capital outlay turn into $4,884 today.

That gain outpaces the S&P 500. The benchmark's total return during the same period was 302%.

Strong financial results lead the way

Visa collected $13.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2015, a figure that climbed 188% to $40 billion in fiscal 2025. Greater adoption of cashless payment methods has propelled growth, with Visa currently having 4.9 billion cards in use around the world.

Net income soared in the last 10 years. This is one of the most profitable businesses on Earth. Visa's net profit margin last year was a stellar 50%.

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Qabil Ashirov



Azerbaijan is actively encouraging private investment to support measures envisaged under the First State Program on the Great Return in its liberated territories, Prime Minister Ali Asadov said on Tuesday, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the Second AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum in Baku, Asadov noted that foreign capital continues to be attracted to modernize existing infrastructure and build new facilities, particularly to unlock the green energy potential of the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions.

He emphasized that Turkish companies are playing a significant role in reconstruction and development projects in the liberated areas.

Nearly 20 Turkish companies are currently implementing around 50 projects in the liberated territories, with a total value of approximately $5 billion, the prime minister said.

Asadov added that Azerbaijan has created a highly favorable business environment in its special economic zones, highlighting the Alat Free Economic Zone as offering particularly attractive conditions for investors. Several Turkish companies are already operating in the zone, and Azerbaijan sees strong prospects for expanding investment cooperation, he said, calling on Turkish businesses to become more actively involved.

The prime minister also pointed to the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, which passes through the territories of Azerbaijan and Turkiye and plays an increasingly vital role not only for the region but also for global trade and transport links.

He noted that reforms aimed at trade facilitation have accelerated the digitalization of the corridor, positively affecting cargo transportation and trade dynamics. As a result, freight volumes transported via the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan have increased by 90% over the past three years.

Asadov highlighted the historical significance of agreements reached in Washington in August on connecting mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The opening of the Zangazur Corridor, he said, will create new economic and transit opportunities for all regional countries while boosting the throughput capacity of the Middle Corridor.

He also underscored key transport infrastructure projects, including increasing the annual cargo capacity of the BakuTbilisiKars railway to 5 million tons in 2024 and the planned groundbreaking of the KarsNakhchivan railway this year, describing them as events of strategic importance for Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and the wider region.

Turning to energy cooperation, Asadov said the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye continues to deepen through large-scale energy projects that contribute significantly to regional energy security.

Projects such as BakuTbilisiCeyhan, BakuTbilisiErzurum, and TANAP have ensured the reliable and sustainable delivery of Azerbaijani energy resources to European markets, he said. The prime minister noted that five years have passed since commercial gas deliveries to Europe began via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the final segment of the Southern Gas Corridor.

During this period, the number of countries receiving Azerbaijani gas has risen to 14, including 10 European states, Asadov added. He also said that Azerbaijan recently began exporting gas to Syria via Turkiye, marking the first time Azerbaijani gas has reached the Middle East through Turkish territory.

Asadov further highlighted that SOCAR has invested $19 billion in Turkiye, making it the countrys largest foreign investor. Through these investments, SOCAR has implemented major strategic projects in oil refining, petrochemicals, and natural gas, and continues to expand its activities. He cited the signing of an agreement related to the acquisition of an 870-MW power plant in Turkiye as evidence of this expansion.

In addition, the prime minister said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in industry and technology has reached a new qualitative level in recent years. Joint efforts in experience-sharing, human capital development, and the application of advanced technologies are strengthening industrial capacity, particularly in metal processing, machine building, and other core industries.

He also singled out the defense industry, noting its rapid development in Azerbaijan and effective cooperation with Turkiye in this field. Collaboration in high technologies, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and innovation ecosystems is also being expanded through regional and multilateral platforms, contributing to the growth of the digital economy, the emergence of new business models, and the development of human capital.
Nazrin Abdul



Speaking to journalists at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum in Baku, Turkiyes Minister of Trade Omer Bolat highlighted the growing economic cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports.

Minister Bolat noted that both Turkiye and Azerbaijan are working diligently to reach the ambitious $15 billion trade target set by the two presidents. Trade is conducted by businessmen, industrialists, importers, and exporters. We are providing guidance and support to facilitate their efforts, he noted.

Referring to the 12th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, Bolat said, The 12th term agreement was signed yesterday with the participation of all ministers, including Turkiyes Deputy Prime Minister Cevdet Y?lmaz and Azerbaijans Prime Minister Ali Asadov. We have received our responsibilities and will work wholeheartedly in this regard. Our relations are excellent across all fields, and we aim to further increase mutual investments.

The minister also provided figures on bilateral investments: Currently, 7,000 Turkish companies operate in Azerbaijan with investments totaling $18 billion. Meanwhile, 3,000 Azerbaijani companies invest $21 billion in Turkiye. We work to resolve their challenges immediately, with close cooperation between ministers, presidents, and the private sector.

Minister Bolat highlighted the significance of the forum, noting, I attended the first forum two years ago during my first visit to Baku, which was a very positive experience. The forum is well-attended, featuring panels with private sector representatives, investment agencies, and deputy ministers who deliver speeches, answer questions, and foster dialogue.

On the question of whether the preferential trade agreement could evolve into a free trade agreement next year, Bolat responded: We have a preferential trade agreement that came into force in 2021, and we signed an additional protocol in 2024. The positive effects of these agreements are already visible in our trade and economic relations. Our aspiration is to establish a free trade agreement between Turkiye and Azerbaijan. The technical teams of both governments are currently discussing, analyzing impacts, and evaluating possibilities. We hope to achieve this in due course.

Recall that the Second AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum is being held in Baku with the joint support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Turkiyes Ministry of Trade, and is co-organised by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the TurkiyeAzerbaijan Businessmen and Industrialists Public Association (TU?B).

The forum brings together senior officials from both countries, as well as representatives of various state and private institutions, business associations, and chambers of commerce.

The First AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum was held in December 2023.
            

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GUEST OPINION: Every business is rushing to adopt AI. Productivity teams want faster workflows, developers want coding assistants, and executives want AI transformation on this years roadmap, not next years. However, as enthusiasm for AI spreads, so does a largely invisible expansion of your attack surface. This is what we call shadow AI.

If you think its the same as the old shadow IT problem with different branding, youre wrong. Shadow AI is faster, harder to detect, and far more entangled with your intellectual property and data flows than any consumer SaaS tool ever was.

In this blog, well look at the operational reality behind shadow AI, and how everyday employee behavior is adding to your exposure landscape, why conventional threat models dont account for it, and how to use continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) principles to see whats happening under the surface.

What is Shadow AI, Really?

Shadow AI is the use of AI tools (LLMs, code assistants, model-as-a-service platforms, data-labeling sites, browser extensions) that are not sanctioned, governed, or monitored by the security team.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Developers who paste internal code into a public LLM to explain this bug,

Analysts who upload production logs to an unvetted AI website to summarize these patterns,

Interns who connect a random AI plugin to your cloud storage because the onboarding checklist didnt explicitly say they shouldnt.

Shadow AI is not malicious in nature; in fact, the intent is almost always to improve productivity or convenience. Unfortunately, the impact is a major increase in unplanned data exposure, untracked model interactions, and blind spots across your attack surface.

Why Does Shadow AI Create New Exposure Blind Spots?

AI tools arent like regular apps. They dont just take in data: they can change it, remember it, learn from it, and sometimes keep it in ways you cant easily track or undo. This is why they create new blind spots in your security.

1. Your attack surface is expanding through human behavior, not infrastructure

Historically, exposures happened when new assets were added (think servers, applications, cloud tenants, or IoT devices). Shadow AI changes this because now the attack surface widens when an employee does something as simple as copying, pasting, or uploading content.

You can harden servers, but hardening human instinct isnt as easy.

2. Youre losing visibility into where your data is going

Most AI tools dont clearly explain how long they keep your data. Some retrain on what you enter, others store prompts forever for debugging, and a few (like the early DeepSeek models) had almost no limits at all.

That means your sensitive info could be copied, stored, reused for training, or even show up later to people it shouldnt.

Ask Samsung, whose internal code found its way into a public models responses after an engineer uploaded it. They banned AI instantly. Hardly the most strategic solution, and definitely not the last time youll see this happen.

3. Threat modeling struggles to account for model behavior

Traditional threat modeling treats tools as software. AI models are systems with:

Shifting capabilities

Unclear boundaries

Emergent behavior

Attack surfaces that evolve daily

LLMs can be fooled or misled. Weve seen it again and again, everything from promptleak attacks to cases where even toptier models like GPT5 can be coaxed into doing unsavory things they shouldnt.

If you cant predict model behavior, you cant fully predict your attack surface.

4. Exposure management becomes fragmented

Shadow AI bypasses:

Identity controls

DLP controls

SASE boundaries

Cloud logging

Sanctioned inference gateways

All that AI data exhaust ends up scattered across a slew of unsanctioned tools and locations. Your exposure assessments are, by default, incomplete because you cant protect what you cant see.

Why is Traditional Policy Not Enough?

Of course, you need an AI Acceptable Use Policy (AI AUP), but on its own, its not enough. Policy wont fix blind spots that happen due to behavior, not intention.

Employees bypass policy when:

They think the AI tools theyre allowed to use are too slow,

They perceive ITs restrictions as blockers to productivity,

They dont really understand the risks down the line.

Shadow AI is fundamentally a visibility problem. You cannot govern what you cannot detect.

How Can CTEM Help Detect, Assess, and Respond to Shadow AI?

Continuous threat exposure management offers you a practical way to anticipate and mitigate the risks of shadow AI before they escalate into major incidents. Yes, CTEM cannot eliminate unpredictability, but it provides a practical way to work with it.

Heres how:

1. Scoping: Map your real AI usage, not your expected usage

Shadow AI often surprises security teams because the perception of AI use does not align with employee reality.

Scoping means discovering:

The AI tools that are being used by employees

Where prompts and files are being sent

The browser extensions or plugins that are connecting to business systems

Importantly, whether any high-risk platforms (like unfiltered model playgrounds) are being actively used

Exposure visibility platforms already give you the telemetry for this. Tools that have shadow-AI-detection capabilities can pinpoint when workers access unapproved AI platforms, including emerging (and unsafe) models like DeepSeek.

Never think of this as trying to stifle innovation; rather, it is about understanding what is really happening and the potential dangers.

2. Discovery: Identify the assets, identities, and data flows involved

Shadow AI exposure is rarely isolated. Its connected to:

Cloud workloads

Source code repositories

Production logs

Identity systems

Collaboration platforms

The discovery phase maps out how these AI tools interact with your systems, users, and settings. In essence, it shows where attackers could get a foothold. Youre creating a clear picture of how and where shadow AI touches your environment.

3. Prioritization: Which shadow AI activities introduce real risk?

Not every use of an outside AI tool is dangerous, but some are potentially catastrophic.

Your prioritization needs to answer these questions:

Is sensitive or proprietary company information being pasted into unsanctioned LLMs?

Are AI prompts exposing credentials or keys?

Can plugins access source code without proper authorization?

Is an employee using a model that is notorious for unsafe outputs or bad guardrails?

Threat intelligence research is very helpful here. When new models enter the market (sometimes with zero safety layers at all), security teams need context quickly so they can categorize risk before it becomes a problem.

4. Validation: Test the risk, not just the policy violation

Validation means simulating the real impact:

Could the uploaded code reappear in a model output somewhere else?

Could prompt-leakage techniques extract sensitive data?

Could a model plugin open a path for lateral movement?

This is where exposure management differentiates itself from traditional vulnerability scanning. Remember, youre testing behavioral exposures, not software defects.

5. Mobilization: Enforce guardrails without crushing innovation

The final step is where most businesses face a challenge. They either blanket-ban all AI tools instantly (Samsungs move) or do nothing until an incident forces a frantic reactive scramble.

Instead, mobilization should look like:

Sanctioned AI tools with clear boundary controls

Inference gateways that strip away sensitive data before it reaches the model

Automatic alerts when people start to use unsafe models

Governance that updates as models evolve

Clear, jargon-free, understandable guidance for staff on what unsafe AI use really means

This is where an exposure-management mindset pays off: its unrealistic and unproductive to try stopping employees from using AI. Instead, try to prevent the exposures that start with well-intentioned, albeit unadvisable behavior.

Shadow AI is Now Part of Your Attack Surface, Whether Youre Ready Or Not

Shadow AI has changed from an occasional or unusual instance case to everyday behavior happening across all departments. Because it touches your sensitive data, your IP, and your identities directly, it must apply the same level of rigor that cloud, identity, and SaaS exposures do.

The companies that succeed here will be the ones that:

Treat shadow AI as an exposure-management challenge

Retain continuous visibility into real AI usage

Integrate threat intelligence on emerging models and behaviors

Apply CTEM principles to the full lifecycle of AI adoption

AI will change the way every business operates, while shadow AI will decide how many of them get breached along the way.

If you want to understand how exposure management can help your business get ahead of these risks, research from market leaders, threat intelligence.

Kirsten Doyle has been in the technology journalism and editing space for nearly 24 years, during which time she has developed a great love for all aspects of technology, as well as words themselves. Her experience spans B2B tech, with a lot of focus on cybersecurity, cloud, enterprise, digital transformation, and data centre. Her specialties are in news, thought leadership, features, white papers, and PR writing, and she is an experienced editor for both print and online publications. She is also a regular writer at Bora.
Australia

Anthony Albanese

The ban is an incredibly bold, life-affirming move. You can only imagine how hard tech companies fought against it. (Reddit has already filed a legal challenge to the new law.)

"I've always referred to this as the first domino, which is why they pushed back," said Julie Inman Grant , the country's e-safety minister.

Indeed. Denmark is poised to ban social media for kids under 15. Norway , too. French officials have recommended banning the platforms for kids under 15, and instituting a curfew for those between ages of 15 and 18. In the U.S. , many states are experimenting with bans, including California and New York targeting the "addictive" qualities of the platforms.

I can tell you from personal experience that all of these moves are long overdue.

Next month, my 15-year-old niece and I will celebrate the seventh anniversary of her arrival on my doorstep. I never expected to raise another child, especially not as a single mother during this stage of my life. We've managed  pretty spectacularly at times  to make a go of it.

But the biggest source of tension for us, bar none, has been her iPhone. We'd signed the pledge to "Wait Until 8th" for a smartphone. In 6th grade, while a lot of her friends had the latest smartphones, she used a Gabb, which looked like an iPhone but lacked Internet connectivity. She started eighth grade, got a smartphone, and that's when many of our troubles began.

There was the incessant scrolling. The real-time texting that allows no time for thoughtful response. The rage-baiting from "friends." The hysteria around breaking a Snapchat "streak" (a "gamified feature" designed to "encourage" daily engagement).

Her drop in situational awareness was equally alarming.

How many times have I asked her not to stare down at her phone when she is walking to and from the bus or crossing the street? How many times have I insisted she put the phone down when we are at the dinner table? That she leave it in her backpack during school hours? How many times have I just given up on hoping that the dopamine hit she gets from just opening her smartphone will ever be replaced by the joy of reading a book?

In September, after Charlie Kirk was murdered, I told her there was an awful video of the shooting. "Oh yeah," my niece said casually. "I saw it a bunch of times the day it happened. Everyone at school was watching it." (Her school, I might add, is part of the L.A. Unified School District , which banned cellphones this year. What a joke.)

This generation of children is unwittingly being used as lab rats for the effects of technology on the brain. We know from numerous studies that heavy social media use can lead to depression, anxiety, loneliness and suicidal ideation, and that the platforms depend on addicting kids with content tailored to their interests to keep them online. (Just as they do with adults.)

Please don't accuse me of succumbing to the same moral panic that has accompanied every technological innovation in history. (Violent video games cause mass shootings, rock music leads to oversexualization, etc.).

I am telling you, as someone who has stepchildren in their 50s, a daughter in her 30s and now a teenager at home, smartphones and social media have fundamentally altered childhood.

One day, we will look back at this period of unbridled social media use, free-for-all texting and never-ending screen time and wonder how we could have done this to our kids.

Despite protestations to the contrary, social media companies  Meta/ Facebook , Instagram, Snapchat , Roblox , TikTok, X, Discord, YouTube and Reddit  are craven when it comes to the safety of minors. You've probably read stories about how Silicon Valley techies don't let their own children use their products. There's a reason for that. The tech companies care only about growing their user numbers and increasing their profits. You simply cannot read things any other way.

Even the most cursory search turns up many thousands of lawsuits filed against social media companies by parents alleging the platforms have harmed their children. Snapchat and TikTok have been linked in studies to teen fentanyl deaths. Instagram has been shown to funnel teens toward content that promotes eating disorders and self-harm. A handful of parents have filed wrongful death lawsuits alleging that AI chatbots encouraged their children to take their own lives.

Last month, a Los Angeles County mother filed a lawsuit against Roblox (a gaming platform marketed as safe for children) and Discord, alleging her 12-year-old daughter met a sexual predator who posed as a lonely 15-year-old. The predator then persuaded the girl to send sexually explicit photos over Discord. "Her innocence has been snatched from her," says the lawsuit, "and her life will never be the same."

Restricting teens is going to be a super messy process. I understand why kids think the new rules "suck." Critics have raised concerns about free speech and about how these rules could drive teens to darker corners of the Internet.

And yes, of course, while parents bear some of the responsibility for out-of-control social media use of their kids, they can only do so much.

When Mark Zuckerberg coined the Facebook motto, "Move fast and break things," I don't think any of us ever realized that our children would be among the things he would break.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Robin Abcarian is a columnist at the Los Angeles Times.
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Sen. Ted Cruz sat down with a longtime ally in November at an office near D.C.'s Union Station to discuss the future of the Republican Party. Before long, the discussion touched on his own future.

His friend Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, told Cruz he believed that "Jew hatred and Israel bashing" were on the rise on the right - and that something had to be done about it. Cruz, who had begun a series of speeches decrying antisemitism in the GOP, told Klein he had been fielding requests from people urging him to run for president in 2028.

Cruz came across as someone "seriously" considering such a run, Klein recalled.

With the future of the party up for grabs in a Donald Trump-less 2028 primary race, Cruz has in recent months positioned himself as a loud voice for a more traditional, hawkish Republican foreign policy. He's also urging the GOP to rid itself of popular MAGA pundit Tucker Carlson, who he argues is injecting the "poison" of antisemitism into the movement with his broadsides against Israel. Carlson has rejected that characterization.

As he feuds with Carlson, Cruz is weighing a second presidential bid, according to a person close to the senator and another briefed on his thinking, who spoke like others on the condition of anonymity to disclose internal conversations. A White House run would be politically risky for Cruz, 55, putting him on course to collide with Vice President JD Vance, whom many Republicans expect to enter the 2028 race.

Friction is already evident behind the scenes: Cruz has criticized Vance, a close ally of Carlson, to Republican donors, according to two people familiar with the comments. The senator has warned that Vance's foreign policy views are dangerously isolationist, the people said. (Vance has been one of the GOP's most prominent skeptics of U.S. intervention abroad.)

The emerging rivalry shows how much the party has changed under Trump's leadership since Cruz arrived in the Senate in 2013. After rising to prominence as a rebel against the establishment, Cruz is now a vocal champion of some longtime orthodox GOP positions, as a new generation of conservatives is ascending with a different vision.

Some political observers are skeptical that another Cruz run would gain much traction. He can no longer run as an outsider, and he alienated some conservatives with his fight against Trump in the 2016 campaign. Still, Cruz has built name recognition and relationships with plenty of activists and donors across the country in recent years, and it's far from clear what will animate the base in the next GOP primary contest.

"Can Ted help craft or meld together the traditional Republican approach with the new reality of what the Republican Party is now?" asked Daron Shaw, a political science professor at the University of Texas who overlapped with Cruz as a staffer on George W. Bush's presidential campaign. "It's a heavy lift."

A couple of weeks before his chat with Klein, Cruz called Carlson "a coward" during a speech in Las Vegas before a group supporting Jewish conservatives, again denouncing the "poisonous lies" of antisemitism. He said they were "blessed" to have Trump, who "loves the Jewish people," in the White House.

"When Trump is not in the White House, what then?" he asked in his booming voice.

"Ted Cruz!" an audience member shouted.

The senator just smiled, then continued his speech.

 'All of us hate Ted Cruz'

Anyone considering a run for the GOP nomination in 2028 faces a big obstacle: Vance.

The 41-year-old vice president leads early polls and is seen as a loyal lieutenant to Trump, who maintains high support from the party base even as the president's approval ratings have plummeted.

But Trump has been noncommittal about endorsing his running mate as heir to his Make America Great Again movement, leaving an opening for an ambitious conservative with a different vision for the party.

"The Republicans will be fighting for their identity," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) said of the 2028 primary race. Greene, a close ally of Carlson who represents the populist and isolationist wing of the party, added: "There'll be Ted Cruz, I'm sure, running against JD Vance. All of us hate Ted Cruz."

Cruz has adapted to changes in his party over several decades in politics. Following a stretch in the establishment during Bush's 2000 campaign, he became solicitor general of Texas in 2003 and launched a Senate campaign in 2011 as a tea-party-infused change agent, defeating the lieutenant governor in the GOP primary.

"The best thing to happen to the Republican Party was to get its teeth kicked in in 2008," Cruz said during a 2012 campaign event with the libertarian Ron Paul.

When he arrived in Washington, Cruz picked fights over spending and President Barack Obama's health care law, sparking a government shutdown in 2013. Not everyone in his party liked his style. "If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody could convict you," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) joked at a 2016 press dinner.

Cruz brought his insurgent pitch into the 2016 presidential race, but Trump caught fire with an antiestablishment campaign that dramatically eclipsed the senator's. After bowing out of the GOP primaries as the last major Trump opponent standing, Cruz told delegates at the Republican National Convention that year to "vote your conscience," instead of throwing his support behind Trump, who had branded him as "Lyin' Ted." He returned to the Senate, where he is now chair of the Commerce Committee and has refashioned himself into a bipartisan dealmaker on aviation safety and other issues.

The Texas senator, who has called himself a "noninterventionist hawk" and has long been a vocal ally of Israel, argues that an anti-Israel foreign policy could embolden terrorists. And he is a defender of the benefits of traditional capitalism at a time when some in the "New Right" are calling for a more populist turn.

"Those who are anti-Israel quickly become anti-capitalist and anti-American," Cruz said in a brief interview about his decision to speak out against Carlson. "Tucker's obsession is unhealthy and dangerous."

By targeting Carlson and growing anti-Israel sentiment within the party, Cruz has hit upon a division within the GOP base that some believe could animate the 2028 primaries. Carlson is closely allied with Vance, a onetime Trump critic who is now an "America First" populist, embracing skepticism of some big-business interests and rejecting the U.S. foreign policy status quo.

Cruz is staking out positions against isolationism and antisemitism at a time when explicitly antisemitic figures such as the white-supremacist commentator Nick Fuentes are gaining an audience on the right.

Vance, by contrast, has rejected the suggestion that the right has a problem with antisemitism after Carlson hosted Fuentes for a friendly interview. (The vice president disavowed Fuentes months before the interview and has not explicitly weighed in on Carlson hosting him.)

It's "kind of slanderous to say that the Republican Party, the conservative movement, is extremely antisemitic," Vance said in a recent interview with NBC News. In a social media post last week, Vance criticized a news article claiming that antisemitism was rising among young people.

"I would say there's a difference between not liking Israel (or disagreeing with a given Israeli policy) and anti-semitism," he replied to one user.

Asked to respond to Vance's comment, Cruz said he is not in agreement with "people who are anti-Israel or people who are antisemitic."

"Every Hamas or Hezbollah or IRGC terrorist that Israel took out makes Americans safer," Cruz said, referencing militant groups in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran that the United States designates as terrorist organizations. "And those who don't see that are not acting in accordance with American national security interests."

 The feud

In early July, Cruz sat down in Washington with Israel's prime minister and delivered a dire warning. Over cigars at Blair House, Cruz told Benjamin Netanyahu that antisemitism on the right was rising to a level he had never seen before.

"No, Ted," Netanyahu responded, according to Cruz, who recounted the conversation in a speech. "That's Qatar, that's Iran, that's astroturf, that's paid for."

But Cruz said he was not placated. Replies to his social media posts were flooded with anti-Jewish bigotry from what looked to him like ordinary, real people. He began to fear that what he saw as antisemitism on the left was beginning to infect the right, he said.

In June, Cruz sat for an interview with Carlson that grew heated over the topic of Israel. Cruz suggested that Carlson criticizes Israel more than other countries because of bigotry toward Jews. Carlson said he has many Jewish friends who have the same questions as him, and he grilled Cruz with factual questions on the Middle East. In an uncharacteristic lapse, Cruz failed to identify the population of Iran. "You don't know the population of the country you seek to topple?" Carlson asked.

Since then, the two have savaged each other in increasingly personal terms. Carlson has called Cruz "vulgar and dumb and reckless" for connecting U.S. military support for Israel to a biblical responsibility to defend the Holy Land and God's chosen people. After Carlson hosted Fuentes on his podcast this fall, Cruz called on Republicans to repudiate the pundit.

Carlson "decided Jews are the source of all evil in the world," Cruz said in a recent podcast. The senator also posted a digitally altered, sexually suggestive photo of Carlson to critique his friendly stance toward Qatar, a U.S. ally with which Israel has clashed.

Since the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, internal battles about the future of the GOP have spilled into the open, many centering on the true meaning of "America First" as Trump spends time and political capital on Ukraine, Israel and Venezuela. Carlson criticized Trump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear sites in June and has warned the president against pursuing regime change in Venezuela, a goal Cruz shares.

"What Ted is trying to do is say, this is where our voters are," said one person close to the senator. "Trump and Ted are much more aligned on foreign policy than Trump and Tucker are."

Few Republicans have publicly rallied to Cruz's side.

"I can tell you, my colleagues, almost to a person, think what is happening is horrifying," Cruz said in one speech on Carlson. "But a great many of them are frightened because he has one hell of a big megaphone."

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said he "applauds" Cruz for speaking out against Carlson. But others declined to weigh in.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), a close Trump ally, said he believes the back-and-forth is personal. "Sometimes when you get embarrassed, you get mad, get your feelings hurt," he said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) said he is surprised but happy that Cruz has the "courage" to challenge such a powerful figure on the right. "To give Senator Cruz due credit, it requires some guts and gumption to stand up against Tucker Carlson," he said.

As Carlson and Cruz have attacked each other, Trump has declined to take sides, calling Carlson a "nice guy" and Cruz a "good friend" in recent months.

Carlson has said he thinks "antisemitism is immoral, and I am against it." He argues that the feud is just politics. "All [Cruz] wants is to be president. That's all he's ever wanted," Carlson said in an interview. "As a political matter, he somehow thinks that calling me a Nazi is going to get him the nomination because it's going to hurt JD Vance." (Cruz has not publicly used that word to describe Carlson.)

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana), who argued that Cruz damaged his credibility with conservatives after spurning Trump in 2016 but later recovered his standing, said that Cruz "always has an eye on running."

"Ted stakes out his position pretty well, and so were he to run, we know where he is," Zinke said.

So far, there are few signs that Cruz is gaining an advantage. Hal Lambert, a major GOP donor who helped organize a super PAC to support Cruz when he ran for president in 2016, said he thinks a 2028 bid would be tricky for the senator.

"If JD Vance is running, I'm going to be supporting JD Vance," Lambert said.

"I just don't understand what the platform would be," he said of Cruz's potential run. "The platform would be, 'I'm Ted, and that's JD'?"

(COMMENT, BELOW)




Insight

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Imagine that your child has been kidnapped and taken far away. That child is scared, and you can offer no comfort. You don't know if your child is being tortured, abused or militarized, but you know that someone is trying to turn your child into someone else entirely. It's a parent's worst nightmare.

Imagine that trauma and then scale it up thousands of times, and you have the reality that Ukraine is living with today.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been kidnapped from their families and communities, taken to Russia and Russian-held territories and forced into indoctrination camps, military training camps, the Russian adoption system and who knows where else.

Some have been tortured and sexually abused, while some have been forced to fight against Ukraine as child soldiers. At least two of these children, a 12-year-old girl named Misha and 16-year-old named Liza, ended up in a camp in North Korea.

These children are fed pro-Russian propaganda and forced to speak in Russian in a deliberate effort to deny their national identity. Their documents, histories and citizenship are being erased to wholly sever their ties to their families and nation. They are told lies about who they are and where they come from.

The facts are well documented, thanks to the Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which uses satellite imagery and open-source intelligence methods to track these crimes.

Some children were taken after their parents were killed in Russian strikes or by Russian troops or were separated from families in occupied areas. Others were taken from Ukrainian orphanages and foster care and put up for adoption in Russia after their identities were falsified. Children who resist this Russification are labeled extremists or terrorists.

Russia has, in fact, been stealing Ukrainian children since it invaded Crimea in 2014. This is a war crime that is on the rise across the globe. If Russian leader Vladimir Putin can continue to do so with impunity, we can only expect more children and families will face this terrible fate.

Russia has committed many gross human rights violations against the Ukrainian people in this war and continues to ruthlessly assault civilians and critical infrastructure. But its attack on Ukraine's children is particularly grotesque, as they are put through hell to stoke fear in Ukrainian society and used as tools in Russia's attempt to extinguish the Ukrainian nation.

Ukrainian authorities have officially confirmed 9,221 cases of abduction and are actively reviewing thousands more, but experts investigating these crimes believe at least 35,000 children have been stolen so far. This doesn't account for the 1.6 million Ukrainian children subjected to Russian "reprogramming" within Russian schools, camps and social institutions in occupied Ukraine, where children are taught to be ashamed of their Ukrainian roots.

HRL has so far identified at least 210 "reeducation" facilities, most managed by the Russian government and many that include military-style training. As HRL Executive Director Nathaniel Raymond testified, "Kids as young as 8 years old were dressed in gas masks and military uniforms, taught to assemble machine guns, and  in at least one instance  were taken to a camp where children assembled drones, rapid loaders for assault rifles and other devices for Russia's military use."

A Senate hearing on Dec. 3 detailed this large-scale and systemic abduction program, with powerful testimony from Ukraine's ambassador to the United States and experts from organizations working to bring these children home.

Just one day after the hearing, the Trump administration released its new national security strategy, which presented Putin's Russia in a very different light. Instead of calling out the threat Russia poses to stability and peace in Europe and beyond, this administration chastised Europe for viewing Russia as a threat.

President Donald Trump continues to blame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the lack of progress toward peace, while holding Russia, the only aggressor, wholly blameless. Trump has now formalized his warming relations with Russia and, in doing so, normalized Putin's crimes.

In an interview with Politico, Trump shared his expectation that Russia would inevitably prevail, saying that "at some point, size will win, generally." Just consider what it would mean for weaker countries, vulnerable populations, and, of course, children if we accept that premise.

The United States could play a positive role here instead, as Congress seems inclined to do. A bill introduced in December would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terror if it fails to return these kidnapped children, and another, the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, would provide ongoing support for investigation and accountability to address these crimes. Passing and implementing these laws could provide the information and pressure needed to end the nightmare these children are enduring.

Any agreement to end this war should require the unconditional return of all the children. If we pressure Ukraine to cede more territory, thousands will be trapped behind new borders with no hope of being returned.

If we do nothing but help rehabilitate Putin on the world stage, we are legitimizing Russia's mass child kidnapping and abuse. Is that really the role we want our country to play in the world?

____

Elizabeth Shackelford is a senior adviser with the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She is also a distinguished lecturer with the Dickey Center at Dartmouth College. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of"The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age."

Previously:

10/29/24 Russia's shadow war against the West is more dangerous than you think 02/20/24 Sudan falls apart while the world looks away 01/04/24 For a better foreign policy in 2024, let's be more like Taylor Swift 04/23/24 Turkey and the power of controlling the narrative 04/25/23 A bipartisan effort aims to stop arming human rights abusers like Saudi Arabia 02/27/23 Ukraine's outsized reliance on the US is a risk for the world 02/13/23 Is China really scarier than Zuckerberg? 02/28/22 If Putin doesn't fear Western sanctions, his cronies might

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Recently, a series of one-sided opinion pieces parading as journalism on the front pages of The Wall Street Journal have attempted to characterize armed citizens as reckless, murderous Americansyes murderous, one even used the headline: "Six Words Every Killer Should Know: 'I Feared for My Life, Officer'."

The latest piece is titled "The Innocent Bystanders Caught in Deadly Crossfire of Self-Defense Shootings." This article highlights four self-defense shootings in an attempt to draw the narrative that armed citizens are a big problem in America, but, as you'll see, on analysis even these four handpicked examples don't sell the author's anti-gun narrative.

First, of course, there is, perhaps, no part on the American stage more cherished (by so many millions) and more purposely mischaracterized (by many mainstream media outlets and the gun-control groups they front for) than the armed citizen. There is opportunity for so much mischaracterization because the true story about what armed citizens in America do for society is difficult to see firsthandconcealed carry, after all, is cloaked behind the jackets, pants and purses of more than 21 million permit holders (and by who knows how many in the 29 constitutional-carry states).

So, to understand what armed citizens do for society, we have to rely on statistics and surveys. Statistics, however, can sound like cold responses to emotional appeals, however wrongheaded the emotional "solutions" might be. 
I grew up hearing stories about my grandfather, Dr. Luis Torres Diaz, the way some children hear stories about national heroes. In our family, he was one of them. He was not a war hero or political figure but a quiet, thoughtful, and brilliant scientist. My grandfather was a chemist, a poet, a professor, a dean, a museum founder, a man whose life seemed to stretch across disciplines with an ease that still amazes me to this day. He literally shaped pharmacy education in Puerto Rico, preserved its history, and helped forge a unique culture. He wrote poetry that captured the emotional landscape of his generation and, significantly, he built institutions that still stand.

To me, he was a monumental person.

The shock of omission

Imagine my shock (my dismay even) when I was browsing the online World Book-style encyclopedia and saw that, among the names of people from Puerto Rico cited there, making pivotal contributions in the history of the island (some that I had never heard of), the name of my grandfather was missing. I thought that some of the people mentioned in the entry made valid contributions worthy of mention but, considering the breadth and depth of my grandfathers work, the absence comparatively didnt make sense. With no disregard intended, I felt that the legacies built by them did not compare to what my grandfather had accomplished in his lifetime and this made the omission personal and painful.

I stared at the screen for some time, feeling a mix of disbelief and indignation. How could someone who had done so much for the pharmaceutical educational institution, for the Puerto Rican culture, someone who had founded the first museum dedicated to the history of pharmacy on the island, be absent from the digital record?

It felt wrong. It felt unjust. And it felt personal. That feeling moved me to action. I realized that I was the right person to fight for his place in the public record. His students had retired. His colleagues had passed on. His books were aging on library shelves. His museum, though still standing, was no longer widely known outside academic circles.

Legacy doesnt preserve itself; it needs caretakers who value and protect it, like I aimed to do by adding my grandfather to Wikipedia.

The fight for recognition

I thought it would be simple; after all, his accomplishments were clear, documented, and significant. But Wikipedia is not built on emotion or family pride. It is built on citations, formatting, neutrality, and strict definitions of notability.

My first draft was rejected. Not because he wasnt notable, but because I hadnt yet learned how to speak Wikipedias language. I wrote with too much admiration, too much narrative, too much heart. I wrote like a grandson, not an encyclopedia editor. And so began a back-and-forth exchange that lasted over a year.

Every time an editor pushed back, I felt a twinge of frustration, not at them, but at the idea that I had to prove my grandfather mattered. It felt almost absurd. This was a man who served as the dean of the University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy for over 40 years, where he made significant contributions to the field. His dedication to pharmacy education led him to found the Museum of Pharmacy. As an accomplished author, he wrote foundational texts on the history of pharmacy in Puerto Rico and shared his poetic talents in respected literary outlets. Furthermore, he led major academic initiatives, including the Pan-American Congress on Pharmaceutical Education, underscoring his commitment to advancing pharmaceutical education worldwide.

Why was it proving so difficult to get his significance recognized and accepted?

Learning the language of Wikipedia

I rewrote sections, reorganized citations, and removed anything that sounded like admiration, despite admiration being the reason I was doing this. Learning to balance my pride with Wikipedias neutrality standards was essential to making the article acceptable and keeping the focus on his achievements.

And then, one morning, after yet another round of revisions, I refreshed the screen and saw it: Luis Torres Diaz: Wikipedia.

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There he was, recognized, documented, and visible to the world, a moment that made all the effort feel truly worthwhile and underscored the importance of giving recognition to those who deserve it.

Once again, I stared at the screen for some time, letting the moment sink in.

Victory and reflection

In all honesty, getting my grandfather on Wikipedia wasnt about vanity. It wasnt about elevating my family name. It was about correcting an omission, one that felt symbolic of how easily the contributions of Puerto Rican scholars, scientists, and cultural figures can be overlooked.

It was about ensuring that future students, researchers, and curious readers would not have to dig through archives to find him. They could search his name and discover the man he was.

It was about giving him the recognition he earned, recognition that others with far less impact had somehow already received. But most of all, it was about honoring him, giving him the recognition he earned, and feeling a part of his legacy.

My grandfather devoted his life to knowledge, education, the advancement of his profession, and the cultural life of Puerto Rico. He deserved to be remembered. He deserved to be found. He deserved to be part of the global record.

Now he is.

Francisco M. Torres is an interventional physiatrist specializing in diagnosing and treating patients with spine-related pain syndromes. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Pain Medicine and can be reached at Florida Spine Institute and Wellness.

Dr. Torres was born in Spain and grew up in Puerto Rico. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Dr. Torres performed his physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital in San Juan before completing a musculoskeletal fellowship at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. He served three years as a clinical instructor of medicine and assistant professor at LSU before joining Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater, Florida, where he is the medical director of the Wellness Program.

Dr. Torres is an interventional physiatrist specializing in diagnosing and treating patients with spine-related pain syndromes. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Pain Medicine. He is a prolific writer and primarily interested in preventative medicine. He works with all of his patients to promote overall wellness.
The frequency and severity of physician burnout have resulted in an epidemic that is impairing the American health care delivery system. Herbert Freudenberger coined the term burnout in 1977, referring to a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism, and a lack of personal accomplishment. He noted that burnout reduced health care workers ability to provide excellent patient care and adversely affected their well-being.

Physician burnout is rampant in the American health care system. It occurs in over 50 percent of physicians and in significant numbers of trainees. Recent attention to this issue may have improved access to mental health therapies, without, however, a substantial reduction in the adverse effects of burnout.

Nearly all of the 300 to 400 physician suicides seen annually in the U.S. are in some way related to the presence of physician burnout. This statistic amounts to one physician suicide per day. It has been compared to the downing of a Boeing 747 or the destruction of two medical school classes each year. The magnitude of the physician suicide epidemic is demonstrated in a more meaningful way by looking at the calculated annual frequency of physician suicide attempts.

Statistically relevant data concerning the frequency of suicide attempts is traditionally inaccurate and fraught with underreporting errors. However, the calculated physician suicide rate is both meaningful and alarming. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2021 that, in general, 35 suicide attempts were seen for every one completed suicide in the U.S. With 400 physician suicides, then 14,000 physician suicide attempts can be expected annually (400 completed suicides x 35 suicide attempts per completed suicide = 14,000 suicide attempts). With nearly 1 million U.S. physicians, then, 1.4 percent of all U.S. physicians are expected to attempt suicide annually (14,000 / 1 million = 1.4 percent).

Studies have suggested that physician suicide attempts are more lethal than those in other professional groups. The number of 1.4 percent of physicians who attempt suicide annually may then be a slight overstatement. Despite the uncertainty in the calculation, these numbers are alarming.

Many health care systems across the country have a stated goal of reducing burnout and its adverse effects. Wendy Awa and associates published a 2016 study that documented the success of burnout prevention in service professions. 80 percent of institutions that addressed burnout prevention reported a reduction in burnout frequency. Reduction of physician burnout and the resulting mental health effects begins with prevention strategies.

Many medical institutions have invested time and resources in strategies to reduce physician burnout. Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt University, the University of California, Irvine, and many other institutions have programs addressing this issue. In reviewing their mission statements, however, all are programs that make resources available for the prevention and treatment of burnout.

To significantly reduce the burden of physician burnout in our health care system, an institutional commitment to burnout prevention is required. This begins with medical school education. I propose that medical schools establish an ongoing educational program to address physician burnout. It is based on the premise that reducing physician burnout begins with medical school education. The theme of that education would state that, to be an excellent clinician, an individual must take excellent care of their own mental health.

I propose that an educational program be structured as an ongoing course throughout the clinical years of medical school. The title of this course would be upbeat, something like The Successful Medical Practice. Practicing community physicians should lead this instructional course. The curriculum would define the physician burnout problem, including the factors responsible for physician burnout, the incidence, the risk factors, and the results of burnout, namely the reduction in clinical success and deterioration of mental health and suicidal ideation. Preventing physician burnout would be emphasized, with attention to the prevalence of overwork, personal mental health, substance abuse, the use of mental health resources, and the improvement of the doctor-patient relationship.

Only through intensive medical school-based education, which requires institutional commitment, can the effects of physician burnout on physicians and the health care system be addressed.

William Lynes is a urologist and author of A Surgeons Knot.
Today I am a urologist, a cardiologist, a psychiatrist, a rheumatologist. But truly, I am a rural family medicine doctor in one of the most underserved counties in the country. And I am tired.

I do not pretend to have the depth of each specialist. What I have is necessity, a toolkit built on scarcity. Practicing medicine on an island, where specialists are rare, calendars are full for months, and visiting clinics are as fleeting as rainbows, means my boundaries dissolve. My role stretches, bends, sometimes nearly breaks, to fit whatever shape my community needs. Yet, insurance companies deny authorizations, not for medical reasons, but because I am not the specialist who is hours or islands away. In rural Hawaii, this punishment is sharper: Adjusting for cost of living, we receive the nations lowest physician wages, even as we shoulder some of its widest burdens.

Much of the national conversation about primary care shortages is numerically correct but conceptually misleading. Workforce planners count heads and calculate how many primary care physicians exist per 100,000 people. But those maps assume a primary care doctor in a city with specialists nearby is doing the same job as one who works where the nearest specialist requires hours of travel or months of waiting. On paper, the shortage looks the same; in reality, its not.

National projections show deficits in both primary and specialty care. The AAMC estimates that by 2036, well be short up to 40,400 primary care doctors, plus significant specialty shortages. Evidence shows what rural clinicians know: rural family physicians manage a broader range of diagnoses than their urban counterparts. Their scope expands because it must. When specialists are missing, primary care absorbs the work.

The American Board of Family Medicine shows the same pattern: Rural family doctors offer nearly every service measured because the alternative is no care. International research agrees, rural doctors provide a wider range of services because their communities cannot function otherwise.

Rural communities dont just have fewer physicians; their patients are older and sicker. They face longer travel times, more difficulty getting specialist appointments, and worse outcomes. When you care for a population that is older, sicker, and harder to refer, the burden multiplies.

This is why primary care shortage metrics mislead. An urban area and a rural area might each have 50 primary care physicians per 100,000 people. But the urban doctor can stabilize chest pain and refer, while a rural doctor often has to do the full cardiac workup. The urban doctor refers seizures to neurology; the rural doctor handles every specialty thrown into the void.

I treated uncontrolled pain for a bladder cancer patient waiting a month for urology. I managed wound complications for a patient whose surgeon was 150 miles away. I treated bipolar mania and managed lupus because no psychiatrist or rheumatologist was available. All this happened before the lunch I didnt have time to eat.

Workforce reports warn that shortages will worsen as physicians retire. Rural clinicians are asked to fill the void by expanding into areas that should have specialty backup. These shortages are invisible in official numbers but overwhelming in the exam room.

Describing a rural area as having a primary care shortage understates the situation. Its not one shortage; its many. Losing one rural doctor removes multiple specialties worth of care because those roles are already folded into primary care.

I recently read a report arguing rural primary care doctors are overcompensated. I felt a wave of indignation. We deserve more because we do more out of necessity.

Tomorrow Ill again step into the roles my community lacks: neurologist, otolaryngologist, and pulmonologist. Most importantly, Ill be there for my patients because abandoning them isnt an option.

And we are tired.

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Its time for policymakers and workforce leaders to tell the truth: rural primary care isnt a narrow job. Its the entire health care system concentrated in the hands of a few who are still standing. We persist not because we are unbreakable, but because our communities cannot afford for us to do less.

Esther Yu Smith is a family physician.
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Enrique discreetly shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He slightly lifts his heels, bends his knees, and sways his body. He has been standing for more than 10 hours without sitting, guarding the entrance of a self-service store in northern Mexico City. This is despite the fact that, since December 15, the so-called Chair Law has been fully enforceable nationwide.

Under the reform to the Federal Labor Law, Enrique should have access to a chair with a backrest and regulated rest periods. However, his reality is different. Theyve told us they havent modified the regulations, and thats why we dont have chairs. Just like that, the 59-year-old guard tells La Silla Rota.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) established that, after a 180-day transition period, all companies in the commercial, industrial, and service sectors must have adapted their facilities and internal regulations. The rule prohibits forcing workers to remain standing throughout their entire shift. But in the private security sector, the legal provision has collided with organizational culture and client demands.

The gap between the law and the job post

Enrique Gomez entered the security field two years ago after retiring and failing to find work in the real estate sector because of his age. Today, he works 72 hours a week12 hours a day, Monday through Saturdayfor a monthly salary of 10,000 pesos.

Its very exhausting. On top of that, we wear boots that arent flexible, so its even more tiring. I get home completely worn out, he says.

Despite the laws intent to prevent circulatory and muscular injuries, not a single chair has been provided at his workplace.

On the other side of the city, the story is no different. Roberto, a former police officer with diabetes who works as a guard in a shopping mall, is counting the days.

He says he will quit on December 20, after receiving his year-end bonus. This is because he earns only 4,200 pesos a month, has no benefits or Social Security, and certainly no chair to rest on, despite the new law.

There are coworkers whove been here for two years and dont have Social Security. They dont say anything out of fear. When there are meetings and someone raises their hand to talk about their rights, they get attacked, he says.

Its brutal, honestly. I know this chair thing is formal and legal, but here its not applied. Youre here out of necessity, but sometimes you feel like taking legal action so they pay the rights theyre supposed to pay like any company, because most of them dont, he complains.

Guards use buckets due to the lack of chairs

During a tour conducted by La Silla Rota, it was confirmed that few security workers have a chair in shopping malls and department stores.

As a result, workers resort to informal solutions. Some use upside-down paint buckets or lean against the edges of enclosed structures when supervisors are not present.

Its hard to comply because of client demands

Omar Romero Gutierrez, a private security entrepreneur and representative of the firm DAROMI, admits that compliance with the law does not depend exclusively on security agencies, but also on the conditions imposed by external clients.

There are services where it doesnt look good for the guards image to have a chair. Even though the law mandates it, they dont give the green light to carry it out, he explains in an interview.

Many times, store managers say they can sit, but that they should hide the stool behind the display window or take it to the stockroom. By the time the guard goes for the seat and comes back, minutes of surveillance are lost and the client complains, the businessman says.

Even when the provider company tries to supply high stools or folding chairs, clients often reject them, considering that they disrupt the establishments aesthetics.

Added to this resistance is a technical lack of knowledge about the law. Despite STPS statements, Romero Gutierrez says he is unclear about the legal consequences. The statement said that as of that date they could sit, but specific sanctions werent detailed. I dont know what the financial penalty would be, he admits.

Erik Lopez / La Silla Rota

A sector of 866,000 workers

Noncompliance with the Chair Law affects one of the countrys largest labor forces. According to figures from the Ministry of Economy, Mexico has 866,000 people working as guards and security personnel in establishments.

The average profile is a 44.8-year-old man who works 57.8 hours a week, exceeding the legal limit of 48 hours.

The sectors average monthly salary stands at 6,650 pesos, although there is a marked gender gap: men earn an average of 6,880 pesos, while womenwho make up 17.4% of the workforceearn only 5,560 pesos.

The states with the highest concentration of these workers are the State of Mexico (137,000 people), Mexico City (75,400), and Jalisco (58,800).

Likewise, the National Census of State Public Security (CNSPE) indicates that by 2024, Mexico had 6,362 private security companies, an increase of 2.01% compared to the previous year.

Despite this corporate growth, for workers like Enrique and Roberto, labor formality has yet to translate into the basic right to have a chair during their workday.

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Moroccos water reserves experienced a significant boost in late December, with dam stocks increasing by 237 million cubic meters between December 17 and 22. The national filling rate now stands at 33.6%, representing total reserves of 5.63 billion cubic meters across the countrys network of dams.

This recent surge marks a dramatic acceleration compared to earlier trends. Between November 10 and December 15, reserves had grown by just 105 million cubic meters, reaching 5.28 billion. The mid-December period saw an initial gain of 119 million cubic meters from December 15 to 17, followed by the more substantial increase in the final five-day period.

Individual dam performance varied considerably. Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah recorded the strongest volume increase, adding 62.1 million cubic meters to reach 777.5 million, pushing its filling rate from 73% to 79% of its 974.7 million cubic meter capacity. Al Wahda, Moroccos largest dam with 3.52 billion cubic meters capacity, gained 30.2 million cubic meters, maintaining a 42% filling rate with current reserves at 1.51 billion.

However, critical concerns remain for several strategic facilities. Al Massira, despite gaining 17.3 million cubic meters, remains critically low at just 3% capacity with only 90.8 million cubic meters stored against its 2.66 billion capacity. Oued El Makhazine showed positive momentum, increasing from 73% to 76% capacity.

Hydrologist Amine Benjelloun noted that while December rains provided temporary relief, the situation remains structurally deficient. With a national filling rate of 33.6%, the system remains under pressure, particularly for strategic dams like Al Massira, he explained. Only sustained rainfall over several months would restore durable equilibrium.
A Senegalese delegation arrived in Bissau on Sunday, 21 December, to call for the release of political opponents detained following Guinea-Bissaus coup on 26 November. The military had overthrown President Umaro Sissoco Embalo just before provisional election results were due, suspending the electoral process.

The junta appointed General Horta NTam to lead a one-year transitional government. Opposition candidate Fernando Dias, who claims victory, sought asylum at the Nigerian embassy, while other opposition leaders, including Domingos Simoes Pereira, were arrested. Embalo, initially detained, has since left the country.

Led by Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang, the Senegalese delegation met with detainees and Dias, urging their release and reaffirming Senegals support for a swift return to normalcy. A planned visit by ECOWAS military Chiefs did not occur, with local security citing unreadiness to receive the delegation.

ECOWAS had warned of targeted sanctions against those obstructing a return to civilian rule. Guinea-Bissau, located between Senegal and Guinea (Conakry), remains politically volatile, having experienced four coups and several attempted coups since independence in 1974.
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When a doctor can't find an interpreter, many now reach for Google Translate. It seems like a practical fix to a pressing problem. But a new study warns this quick solution may be putting refugee and migrant patients at serious riskexposing them to translation errors that could lead to misdiagnosis, wrong treatment or worse.

The study, led by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Limerickof which we were partexamined how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to bridge language gaps between doctors and patients. The findings reveal a troubling pattern: AI translation tools are increasingly replacing human interpreters in GP surgeries, even though none of these apps have been tested for patient safety.

Anyone who has tried to explain themselves across a language barrier knows how easily meaning can slip away. In everyday situationsfrom the nail salon to the car mechanicwe often manage with gestures, guesses and good humor. But health care is different.

Clear communication between a patient and their doctor must be accurate and safe. It is the cornerstone of good medical care, especially when symptoms, risks or treatment decisions are involved, and it allows patients to feel heard and to participate meaningfully in decisions about their own health.

When a patient and doctor do not speak the same language and rely instead on an AI translation app such as Google Translate, communication becomes less certain and more problematic. What appears to be a convenient solution may obscure important details at precisely the moment when clarity matters most.

The recognized standard for cross-cultural communication in health care is access to a trained interpreter. The role of an interpreter is to provide impartial support to both the patient and the doctor. However, interpreters are often inaccessible in practice, due to availability, time pressures and limited resources in general practice.

Consequently, doctors report that they increasingly turn to the device in their pockettheir phoneas a quick, improvised solution to bridge communication gaps during consultations. Google Translate is now being used as an interpreter substitute, despite not being designed for medical communication.

My colleagues and I examined international studies from 2017 to 2024 and found no evidence that an AI-powered tool can safely support the live, back-and-forth medical conversations needed in clinical consultations.

Errors create serious risks

In all the studies we reviewed, doctors relied on Google Translate, and they consistently raised concerns about its limitations. These included inaccurate translations, failure to recognize medical terminology and the inability to handle conversations that unfold over multiple turns.

The studies reported translation errors that risk misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment and, in some cases, serious harm. Worryingly, the research found no evidence that Google Translate has ever been tested for patient safety in general practice.

In other studies, Google Translate was shown to misinterpret key medical words and phrases. Terms such as congestion, drinking, feeding, gestation, vagina and other reproductive organs were sometimes mistranslated in certain languages.

It also misinterpreted pronouns, numbers and gender, and struggled with dialects or accents, leading to confusing or inaccurate substitutions. Alarmingly, researchers also reported "hallucinations"where the app produced fluent-sounding but entirely fabricated text.

Relying on Google Translate to support doctor-patient communication carries the risk of displacing human interpreters and creating an overdependence on AI tools that were not designed for medical interpretation. It also normalizes the use of AI apps that have not undergone the safety testing expected of health care technologies.

It is difficult to imagine any other area of medical practice where such an untested approach would be considered acceptable.

The study found that refugee and migrant advocates prefer human interpreters, particularly in maternal health care and mental health. Patients also raised concerns about consenting to the use of AI and about where their personal information might be stored and how it might be used.

To deliver safe health care to refugees and migrants, doctors should ensure that patients have access to trained interpreters, whether in person, by video, or by phone. Clear instructions for accessing these interpreters must be available in every health care setting so that staff can arrange support quickly and confidently.

The evidence shows that AI tools not specifically designed and tested for medical interpreting should no longer be used, as they cannot yet provide safe or reliable communication in clinical situations.

The Conversation asked Google to comment on the issues raised by this article but received no reply.

Clinical categories Family medicine

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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As Congress debates whether to extend the temporary federal subsidies that have helped millions of Americans buy health coverage, a crucial underlying reality is sometimes overlooked: Those subsidies are merely a band-aid covering the often unaffordable cost of health care.

California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and five other states have set caps on health care spending in a bid to rein in the intense financial pressure felt by many families, individuals, and employers who every year face increases in premiums, deductibles, and other health-related expenses.

Hospitals and other health care providers are citing Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump in July, as one more reason to challenge those limits.

The law is expected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over a decade, which mathematically should help the overall health care system meet the caps. But the law is also expected to increase the number of uninsured Americans, mostly Medicaid beneficiaries, by an estimated 10 million people.

Health care analysts predict hospitals and other providers will raise prices to cover the double whammy of lost Medicaid revenue and the cost of caring for an influx of newly uninsured patients.

Whether regulators in some states will allow providers to justify higher prices and exceed the spending caps is unclear. Only California and Oregon can penalize providers financially if they fail to meet targets.

"Are we going to say, 'That's OK'? Or are we going to say, 'Well, you exceeded the target. We're still going to penalize you for that?'" said Richard Pan, a former state lawmaker and a member of the California Office of Health Care Affordability's board. "That has not yet been decided."

The California Hospital Association, the industry's main state lobbying group, filed a lawsuit in October asking a state court to strike down the spending caps, which it argued fail to account for all the cost pressures hospitals face.

Those pressures, it said, include an aging, sicker population; the rising cost of labor; expensive advances in medical technology; large capital outlays on required seismic retrofitting; and changes in federal policy, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The hospital group's lawsuit also asserted that the state affordability office, by hastily imposing ill-considered cost-cutting targets, was undermining its other key mission of improving health care access, quality, and equity.

California's affordability office last year set a five-year target to cap statewide spending growth, starting at 3.5% in 2025 and declining to 3% by 2029. The annual caps apply to a wide range of health care entities, including hospitals, medical groups, insurers, and other payers.

Earlier this year, it imposed much lower spending growth capsstarting at 1.8% in 2026 and declining to 1.6% by 2029for seven "high-cost" hospitals.

"The spending caps set by politically appointed bureaucrats could force cuts that result in many Californians traveling farther for care, facing longer emergency room wait times, experiencing more overcrowding, and losing access to critical services," Carmela Coyle, the hospital association's president and CEO, said in an October press release.

The California attorney general's office, which will represent the affordability agency, has not yet filed a response to the hospital group's complaint and did not respond to a request for comment.

Hospitals' pushback

California is not the only state taking a close look at hospital prices, which are widely considered a primary driver of health care costs.

"States, armed with information that points to payments to hospitals as a driver of what is way beyond affordable commercial premiums, have begun to take increasingly targeted actions focused on commercial hospital prices," said Michael Bailit, founder of the Needham, Massachusetts-based consultancy Bailit Health, which has advised multiple states, including California, on ways to tame health care spending.

"It is not surprising that the hospital industry is going to oppose such state actions."

In its lawsuit, the California Hospital Association said the affordability office's own report showed that pharmaceutical and insurance companies are largely responsible for high costs.

Hospitals in some states with cost growth limits, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, have expressed objections similar to the ones raised in the California lawsuit.

They could follow their counterparts in California if their lawsuit succeeds, said Peter Lee, who led California's Affordable Care Act marketplace, Covered California, for over a decade and is now a senior scholar at Stanford Medicine's Clinical Excellence Research Center.

Lee said the work of California's affordability office and similar agencies in other states is just about the only systemwide effort being made to cut health care costs.

They are basically saying, "Look, health care is taking money away from education, it is taking money away from the environment, it is taking money away from everything in the public sector, and in the private sector it is taking money away from wages," he said. "We don't know how you, the health system, are going to do it, but it is your job not just to provide quality but to lower costs. Here's the target."

To be sure, achieving the cost savings that California and those other states are seeking is no easy lift. It will ultimately require persuading large, financially powerful players that compete fiercely for health care dollars to adopt a different mindset and begin cooperating to reduce costs instead. And that, in many cases, will mean lower revenue.

But the status quo, as many people know all too well, means continued financial pain for millions.

In early 2020, Estevan Rodriguez, a bartender at California's Monterey Beach Hotel, had surgery for a staph infection in his leg. The bill came to nearly $168,000. His insurance paid most of it, but he still owed $5,665, which took him two years to pay, more than $200 every month.

"It may not be a lot to some people, but it was a lot to me," Rodriguez said.

He said he dropped his Hulu subscription, switched to a lower-cost cellphone, and got cheaper car insurance. He started going to food banks rather than the grocery store, he said, and had a lot less time with his kids, because he was constantly working to pay off the hospital bill.

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, where Rodriguez had his surgery, is one of the seven hospitals identified by California's affordability office as high-cost. A study by the office attributed high hospital prices in Monterey County to a lack of market competition "rather than higher operating costs or superior quality of care."

The Monterey hospital referred a request for comment about its "high-cost" designation to the California Hospital Association. CHA spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea declined to comment beyond the language of the lawsuit and Coyle's press release statement.

Reduced competition

Health care analysts worry the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will reduce market competition even further by stressing already weak hospitals, leading some to shut services, merge with larger health systems, or close. One study estimates 338 rural hospitals are at risk of closing nationwide.

Less competition, in addition to fewer Medicaid dollars and an increase in uninsured patients, will only strengthen the incentive of health systems with the requisite market clout to raise their commercial prices, increasing premiums for employers and individuals.

"We think commercial prices will continue to increase as health care providers, and hospitals in particular, will seek to preserve or increase their revenue," said Rachel Block, a program officer at the Milbank Memorial Fund, a foundation that focuses on health equity.

That in turn could pose a challenge to state affordability regulators tasked with overseeing compliance with growth targets for health care spending.

California's affordability office is required to consider mitigating factors, including changes in federal and state laws. But some of its board members have expressed skepticism about letting hospitals offset Medicaid losses with higher commercial prices.

"There's a lot of talk about using HR 1 and other federal policies as an excuse to raise prices on commercial payers," Ian Lewis, an affordability office board member and policy director for UNITE HERE Local 2, a hospitality workers union in the Bay Area, said at the agency's July board meeting, referring to the One Big Beautiful Bill. "There's no more blood to be squeezed from this stone."

Key medical concepts MedicaidHospitals, Rural

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A new systematic evidence review finds that cannabis products that carry relatively high levels of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, may provide short-term improvements in pain and function.

However, the review found THC-based products led to an increased risk of common adverse symptoms like dizziness, sedation and nausea.

At the same time, the review found that recent randomized controlled trials involving products mainly or only containing cannabidiol, or CBD, which does not have psychoactive properties, demonstrated almost no improvement in managing pain.

"This may be surprising to people," said lead author Roger Chou, M.D., senior advisor for the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health & Science University.

"Conventional wisdom was that CBD was promising because it doesn't have euphoric effects like THC and it was thought to have medicinal properties. But, at least in our analysis, it didn't have an effect on pain."

The cannabis plant contains both THC and CBD. Both are believed to act on the body's endocannabinoid system, which modulates pain. Many U.S. states, including Oregon, have legalized cannabis for both recreational and medicinal use, and many people have turned to cannabis to treat conditions including pain, anxiety and sleep.

Key findings from the updated review

The review, an update to a living review first published in 2022, was conducted by researchers at OHSU and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers incorporated several additional short-term placebo-controlled randomized trials since the previous review. Both the original review and the new update found some evidence of pain relief for two prescribed products, dronabinol and nabilone, which are made of 100% THC or its analog.

Dronabinol and nabilone are FDA approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and one of them, dronabinol, is approved for HIV wasting syndrome.

The new review found that oral THC-only products slightly reduce pain severity.

Chou noted that the improvement in pain was relatively smallon the order of a half point to a point compared with a placebo on a 10-point pain scale.

"It's complicated because cannabis products are complicated," he said. "It's not like taking a standardized dose of ibuprofen, for example. Cannabis is derived from a plant and has multiple chemicals in addition to THC and CBD that may have additional properties depending on where it's grown, how it's cultivated and ultimately prepared for sale."

Medical community perspectives and next steps

The medical profession is equally divided on the benefits of medicinal use of cannabis: The American College of Physicians declined to recommend inhaled cannabis for non-cancer pain whereas a previous expert panel issued a soft recommendation for people with chronic cancer or non-cancer pain when standard treatments did not work.

Chou said the review's finding that CBD products failed to reduce pain will surprise many people.

"CBD-based products are widely available in dispensaries. Many people use these products and they think it helps," he said. "Our goal is to provide some scientific basis to help people make their decisions."

The researchers categorized cannabinoids by the ratio of THC to CBD (whether it was high, comparable or low); whether the product was synthetic (produced in a lab) or plant-based (as well as the degree of purification); and the administration method.

The data showed that oral THC-only products slightly reduced pain severity, but that across trials they were also linked to moderate-to-large increases in dizziness, sedation and nausea.

They concluded that more research is needed on long-term outcomes and other types of cannabis products; whether there are differences between THC-only products in effectiveness; and to better understand how results based on the products evaluated in the review apply to products that are available in dispensaries.

In addition to Chou, co-authors included Rongwei Fu, Ph.D., Azrah Y. Ahmed, B.A., and Benjamin J. Morasco, Ph.D.

Key medical concepts DronabinolCannabidiol
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Before giving birth to her second child, Heidi DiLorenzo was anxious. She worried about her blood pressure and the preeclampsia that prompted her to be hospitalized twice during the pregnancy. She worried that some terrible, unnamed harm would come to her 3-year-old daughter. She worried about her ability to love another baby as much as she loved her first.

But DiLorenzo, an attorney in Birmingham, Alabama, did not worry about taking Zoloft. She had used the medication to treat anxiety before she had her first child, and she continued it throughout that pregnancy and this latest one.

And since having her second daughter, in September, she credits an increased dosage with pulling her out of the "dark hole" of sadness she felt postpartum. "I wouldn't be as good of a mom to my girls if I didn't take it," DiLorenzo said. "I wouldn't have the energy."

She is among the estimated 20% of women in the U.S. who have depression or anxiety during or after pregnancy. Yet only half of those mothers receive adequate treatment, according to Kay Roussos-Ross, who runs the perinatal mood disorders program at the University of Florida. And just 5% take a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a class of medications commonly used to treat both conditions.

Now medical experts are concerned that a July panel discussion convened by the Food and Drug Administration could lead to more cases of untreated depression. Many of the 10 members of the panel expressed concern about the use of SSRIs, such as Zoloft, during pregnancy.

They included Josef Witt-Doerring, a psychiatrist who owns clinics aimed at helping people wean themselves off antidepressants, and Adam Urato, an OB-GYN who recently petitioned the FDA to put stronger warnings on SSRIs.

While the discussion did not represent any official FDA guidance, the panelistsin claims the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called "outlandish and unfounded"linked the drugs to increased risks of miscarriage, birth defects, and autism in children exposed to them in utero. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said its members were "alarmed by the unsubstantiated and inaccurate claims made by FDA panelists."

Antidepressants are a safe, "lifesaving" tool, given that mental health issues such as suicide and overdoses are the leading cause of maternal death in the country, ACOG President Steven Fleischman said in a statement on the group's website.

Christena Raines, a nurse practitioner who in 2011 helped found the nation's first inpatient perinatal psychiatric unit, in North Carolina, said SSRIs are "probably the most well-studied medicine in pregnancy." In long-term studies of children exposed to the drugs in utero, she said, researchers haven't seen problems.

It's too soon to know whether the panel discussion has affected prescribing ratesor whether those who are pregnant are avoiding the drugs more. But Raines, who teaches at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, said she's already fielding questions from patients. She said the misinformation the panelists spreadalong with President Donald Trump's distorted claims about taking Tylenol during pregnancyis making her job harder.

Dorothy DeGuzman is a family medicine physician who treats high-risk pregnancies in California. "There's already so much stigma around taking antidepressants in pregnancy," she said. "This will just add to the fear."

The panel

The July panel discussion was one of four the FDA has convened since May. In the past, the agency vetted members of advisory committees to avoid conflicts of interest. Yet these panels were chosen in private and the events were held with scant public notice. In a July investigative report by MedPage Today, researchers and consultants raised questions about the events' ethics and legality.

Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard did not directly answer when asked about the panelist selection process. She called the panel events "roundtable discussions" in which experts review the latest scientific evidence, evaluate potential health risks, and "explore safer alternatives."

The July panel appeared to be following an executive order Trump issued in February establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission and directing it to "assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" and other medications.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees the FDA, is a frequent critic of such drugs. He has claimed, without evidence, that they might be contributing to school shootings.

In opening remarks at the July panel discussion, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary also voiced concerns about the medications. "From a national standpoint, the more antidepressants we prescribe, the more depression there is," he said.

'Not a luxury'

The sole member of the panel, who was both a board-certified psychiatrist and an OB-GYNthe University of Florida's Roussos-Rossraised a different concern. "Research shows that in women who stop their medications in pregnancy, they are five times more likely to experience a relapse," she said.

Mothers with moderate to severe depression and anxiety during pregnancy are more likely to give birth early and have low-birth-weight infants, she added. If they don't receive treatment, she said, they are more likely to misuse drugs or alcohol and are at risk of suicide.

They can have trouble bonding with their babies, Roussos-Ross said, and those children are at higher risk for problems such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, or anxietydue to their mother's mental health challenges, not the SSRIs.

"I want to stress that treating mental illness in pregnancy is not a luxury," she told the panel. "It's a necessity."

Overall, about 19% of U.S. women in their 20s and 30s experience depression, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and roughly 10% take SSRIs. But studies show that half of women decide to stop taking antidepressants before or during their pregnancies.

One reason so few expectant mothers receive depression treatment, doctors say, is that they are already afraid to take any medications during pregnancy. The majority of DeGuzman's patients rely on Medicaid, the government health coverage for those with low incomes or disabilities. Half are Latina. She often prescribes SSRIs, she said, but her patients rarely take them.

The issue is especially urgent for Black and Latina mothers, who experience higher rates of depression and anxiety than white, non-Latina mothers but are less likely to receive adequate treatment. Many factors contribute to this disparity, including systemic racism, exposure to violence, misdiagnosis, and a lack of access to care.

Shanna Williams, a perinatal mental health therapist who treats African American mothers in Philadelphia, said many of her clients were already more likely to trust friends and family over their doctors when it comes to whether antidepressants are safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA panel is "one other voice that's saying you shouldn't do this," Williams said. "And that does not help."

Judite Blanc, who studies perinatal mental health in women of color, said universal child care and paid parental leave would help. "My research showed that the most important thing we can offer is social support," said Blanc, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "We need the village to step up."

Kellyn Haight experienced debilitating depression after she moved to the mountain town of Brevard, North Carolina. The former labor and delivery nurse had no childcare for her then-2-year-old daughter and no family or friends nearby as her husband was traveling for work.

Her doctor prescribed Prozacit didn't help. She called her husband to return home, but her insomnia just got worse. One morning, she begged him to end her suffering. He took her to the emergency room, and staffers sent her to the psychiatric unit of a local hospital.

She said she was stripped of her clothing and put in a locked room. "I felt like a creature, like an animal," said Haight, now 37. "One of my biggest fears is that happening again."

After she was released, Haight found a psychiatrist and started taking Zoloft. She built a community of friends and began to feel stable.

Now that her daughter is 5, she's trying to have another childand plans to keep taking Zoloft throughout the pregnancy. "I would rather be safe and present for my child," she said. "I'm OK with assuming the risk, because I know what the alternative looks like, and I'm not going there."

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Assistant Professor Benoit Malleret (left) and Dr. Hang Jing Wen (right) examining blood smears from Plasmodium coatneyi in the laboratory. Credit: NUS Medicine

Malaria continues to place a substantial burden on many emerging economies, contributing to significant loss of life, long-term disability, and economic disruption. According to the World Health Organization, the disease accounts for about 600,000 deaths each year, with the highest impact in low- and middle-income regions where access to prompt diagnosis and treatment remains limited.

Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous malaria parasite that infects humans and can cause severe malaria, including cerebral malaria, where infected red blood cells clog small blood vessels in the brain.

Infection can progress rapidly, leading to coma, brain swelling, and death if not treated promptly. Even in survivors, there can be persistent cognitive and motor impairment caused by the infection.

New research explores methylene blue

In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), together with international collaborators, examined whether methylene blue could mitigate brain injury during severe malaria, and whether a practical set of blood biomarkers could help clinicians identify cerebral malaria early and track how patients respond to treatment.

Assistant Professor Benoit Malleret, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Immunology Translational Research Program (TRP), NUS Medicine, said, "Cerebral malaria develops quickly and leads to severe consequences, but there remains a lack of practical diagnostic tools or targeted therapies.

"Our findings show that methylene blue can reverse many of the infection-induced molecular changes in the brain, which is encouraging for a compound that is already inexpensive and widely accessible."

Study methods and key findings

In the study, the researchers applied methylene blue intravenously in laboratory models with Plasmodium coatneyi after severe symptoms appeared. P. coatneyi closely resembles P. falciparum as it has extremely similar symptoms, and is widely used as a stand-in in laboratory and preclinical studies.

The team then analyzed which genes were switched on or off during infection. They used these data to identify patterns in the blood that reliably signaled when cerebral malaria was present.

They found that methylene blue was able to reset many of the abnormal genetic changes in the brainstem, the part of the brain most affected during cerebral malaria. It also reduced clear signs of brain injury, such as pigment deposits from infected red blood cells, small bleeds, and swelling.

Many gene activity changes caused by the infection returned close to normal, and the tissue samples showed improvements that matched the molecular results.

Discovery of a nine-gene blood signature

By comparing results across datasets, the researchers identified a nine-gene blood signature: MAG, IL1RN, LCN2, S100A8, S100A9, CD177, CHIT1, MMP9 and NFE2.

This set of genes consistently separated cerebral malaria from milder malaria and from healthy individuals. As the pattern appeared stable across both adults and children, it raises the possibility of developing a single, standardized blood test to help doctors diagnose cerebral malaria, assess its severity, and track patient recovery.

Several of these genes are linked to neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, suggesting that neutrophil-driven inflammation contributes to brain swelling and damage during the disease.

Asst Prof Malleret added, "The biomarker signature we identified was remarkably consistent. This suggests that a simple blood test could be developed to differentiate cerebral malaria from other severe conditions, enabling earlier intervention and clearer treatment decisions."

Implications for diagnosis and treatment

Another important finding was the improved understanding of immune processes involved in brain injury.

Neutrophils, which were not previously considered central to cerebral malaria, appeared repeatedly across the biomarker and immune-cell analyses. This provides new clues about how inflammation damages the bloodbrain barrier and how neurological symptoms arise.

While methylene blue showed encouraging effects, the researchers noted that timing may be key, as earlier treatment appeared more beneficial. Clinical trials will be needed to determine the best dosing, timing, and safety when used together with current antimalarial drugs. The nine biomarkers will also need to be tested in larger and more diverse patient groups, and translated into a practical, field-ready test.

The team ultimately hopes to develop a rapid, reliable blood test for cerebral malaria and to evaluate methylene blue as an affordable supportive treatment.

By clarifying how the brain becomes inflamed during malaria, the study lays the groundwork for better diagnostics, treatments, and patient monitoring in regions where the disease remains a major health concern.

Publication details Jing Wen Hang et al, Methylene blue treatment of fatal cerebral malaria and identification of potential blood biomarkers, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65552-y Journal information: Nature Communications

Clinical categories Infectious diseasesNeurology
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Health experts typically advise getting your COVID-19 and flu vaccine by the end of October. However, if you've missed that window, you can still get them well into the respiratory virus season and see a benefit.

Flu activity, particularly flu A, is on the rise across the U.S. this month, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Activity is still at "minimal" levels in Kentucky as of Dec. 13, though some neighboring states are seeing more cases.

"It is really not too late to get your shot," Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, an infectious disease specialist with UK HealthCare, recently told the Herald-Leader in an interview.

In fact, U.S. flu activity tends to peak between December and February.

Holiday gatherings around the end of the year make it a great time to get your vaccines, Van Sickels said.

If you have questions about vaccine timing, side effects and overall flu vaccine effectiveness, here's what to know.

Why winter and the holiday season is a good time to get your vaccines

For the COVID and flu vaccine, it only takes about a week to get some level of protection, Van Sickels said. A flu shot specifically is a good idea at any point during the winter season.

"If you are looking at optimal timing, and you plan holiday travel or getting together with others, this is a great time to get your flu shot if you haven't," Van Sickels said.

Everyone 6 months and older, with rare exceptions, should get a flu vaccine, public health guidance from the CDC states.

This year, the agency recommends COVID-19 vaccination for older adults, specifically those aged 65 and older, based on their risk factors for severe COVID-19. For younger people, vaccination is informed by whether they're at increased risk for complications from the virus.

Common at-risk conditions for severe COVID-19 include heart, lung, metabolic, kidney, immune and neurological problems. Pregnancy or recent pregnancy, along with obesity or sedentary lifestyles, are also risk factors.

Vaccine appointments are available at several pharmacies, such as Walgreens, CVS and Kroger.

How effective is the flu vaccine this year?

A recent study looking at flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere found the flu vaccine's effectiveness to be about 50% for clinic visits and hospital stays. Essentially, it cuts the rate of medical care for the flu in half, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

Along with lessening the burden on providers, certain groups at risk of getting seriously ill from the flu typically see a greater relative benefit when they get the vaccine. These groups include older adults, young children, pregnant people and individuals with weakened immune systems, among other vulnerable populations.

That said, if you're a young, otherwise healthy adult, you can still see a solid benefit from getting the shot. During seasons when flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, the vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with the flu by 40 to 60%, according to the CDC.

Even if you do get the flu, vaccination helps to reduce the severity of the illness.

"It definitely helps people when they do get sick with the flu. They end up less often being hospitalized, less often being very sick," Van Sickels said.

The alternative is going without protection, being out of commission for a week or more if you get it and spreading it to your family and friends.

Does the flu vaccine have side effects?

As explained by the CDC, a vaccine cannot cause the flu.

Flu shots are made in two ways:

Influenza vaccine viruses that have been killed and therefore cannot infect you.

Proteins from an influenza virus.

Nasal spray vaccines are made with weakened live influenza viruses that cannot make you sick.

After you receive a flu vaccine, you may experience side effects that are generally mild and brief, including:

Soreness, redness and/or swelling near where the shot was given

Headache

Fever

Muscle aches

Nausea

Fatigue

Nasal spray vaccine side effects can include:

Runny nose

Wheezing

Headache

Vomiting

Muscle aches

A low-grade fever

Cough (in adults)

Sore throat (in adults)

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Major complications occur in 7.0% of patients undergoing nephrectomy with a diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), according to a study published online Dec. 17 in Urology Practice.

Michael Waseer Bacchus, M.D., from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, and colleagues analyzed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2015 to 2022) to identify patients undergoing nephrectomy with a diagnosis of ADPKD to assess perioperative outcomes. The cohort included 823 patients (median age, 54 years).

The researchers found that preoperative hypertension, dialysis, and steroid use were common (79.3%, 49.2%, and 44.8%, respectively). In 7.0% of patients, major complications occurred. There were associations between minimally invasive surgery and lower major complication risk (odds ratio, 0.269), reduced length of stay (three versus six days), and decreased transfusion rates (7.8 versus 29.1%). Reduced risk was also seen in association with preoperative steroid use. Dialysis status and bilateral nephrectomy did not significantly predict risk. Four patients had 30-day mortality (0.5%).

"Major complications and death are rare after nephrectomy for ADPKD, despite the rate of preoperative dialysis and renal transplant in this population," the authors write.

More information Michael Waseer Bacchus et al, Perioperative Outcomes of Nephrectomy for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Urology Practice (2025). DOI: 10.1097/upj.0000000000000921

Clinical categories UrologyNephrology

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One of the biggest measles outbreaks of the past two decades is taking place less than 200 miles from Atlanta.

More than 130 people in South Carolina have contracted the infection in recent monthsalmost all of them children who were unvaccinated. Public health officials in the state said travel over the Thanksgiving holiday likely contributed to the spread. And with winter holiday travel approaching, experts said Georgia could see more measles cases as a result.

"Most of us, including viruses, are not contained by state lines," said Jodie Guest, the senior vice chair of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. "This is an incredibly transmissible virus. In our populations that are unvaccinated, we need to be very concerned."

Measles in Georgia

Georgia has seen 10 measles cases this year so far, which is high when looking at the number of measles cases in the U.S. since 2000. But Georgia's case number pales in comparison to the 800 cases in Texas and 100 or more cases in Arizona, New Mexico, South Carolina and Utah so far this year.

In the fall, public health officials contained a four-person outbreak at Georgia State University the same way they do any time there's a case of measles in the state, said Cherie L. Drenzek, the state epidemiologist. All hands on deck.

Even one case of measles is considered a public health emergency, she said. Efforts are made to identify anyone who was in contact with the measles case, including classmates or co-workers, those who shared waiting rooms or people eating at the same restaurant.

If any of those people are considered susceptible to measles, if they're unvaccinated or are at high risk, health officials prioritize them and offer a vaccination or an antibody treatment to prevent them from getting sick. Health officials might ask someone who's been exposed to quarantine or isolate, and they will monitor their health for 21 days.

The good news, Drenzek said, is that where vaccination rates are high, transmission is rare. U.S. cases are most often linked to travel. And outbreaks tend to happen when the virus gets ahead of public health measures and spreads quickly through groups of people who are unvaccinated.

The vaccination issue

Unvaccinated populations are particularly at risk. Someone who's contracted measles is contagious for up to four days before symptoms show, leaving a long time to unwittingly spread the virus. And of the nearly 2,000 U.S. cases reported this year, 93% of those who were infected were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vaccination rates in Georgia have been waning since measles was officially eradicated in the country in 2000. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 88% of Georgia kindergartners were fully vaccinated against measleswell below the 95% recommended to protect newborns and people who are unable to get a vaccine.

Being up to date on vaccinations is "the No. 1 thing you can do to protect yourself and your family," Matt Liman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, said.

The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is typically given in two doses: the first to infants between 12 and 15 months, and the second to kids between the ages of 4 and 6. For infants between 6 and 11 months who are traveling internationally or to somewhere with a measles outbreak, pediatricians might recommend an earlier dose.

Do you need to change travel plans?

If you're traveling somewhere with an active outbreak or hosting any family members from one of those areas, it would be a good idea to ask them if they've been contacted by public health officials about possible exposures, Guest said.

"We don't want anyone to be fearful, and certainly if you're vaccinated you are very, very unlikely to contract measles if you come in contact with anyone," she said. But if you're not vaccinated and you're planning to travel to Spartanburg County, where the South Carolina outbreak is concentrated? "I would be very cautious about that."

As with any travel, Drenzek and Liman recommend you make sure you're vaccinated ahead of time and defer travel if you're feeling sick.

"Don't hop on a plane if you have a 104-degree fever and a rash," Drenzek said. "The most important and effective prevention, which is easy to do, is to stay up to date on vaccinations."

2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
China urges opposition to Japanese official's remarks about possessing nuclear weapons

Xinhua) 08:10, December 23, 2025

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- China is shocked that a senior official from Japanese Prime Minister's Office brazenly claimed that Japan should have nuclear weapons, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday, urging the international community to be on high alert and firmly against such remarks.

The statements amount to a blatant challenge to the postwar international order and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability, and a U-turn from Japan's commitment to "peaceful development," Lin said at a regular news briefing, adding that it is not convincing at all to say the idea is a "personal view."

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary has declined to make clarifications on the remarks by the official who is close to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Japanese Defense Minister later said that they left open the possibility of Japan reviewing its non-nuclear principles in the future.

Lin pointed out that over the years, the Japanese right-wing forces have been advancing Japan's military buildup, and their remilitarization ambition is rather apparent. Former Japanese political leaders have claimed Japan is capable of manufacturing nuclear weapons. Japan has long been manufacturing and possessing plutonium stocks far beyond what is needed for civilian nuclear power programs. Japan is a non-nuclear-weapon state capable of producing weapon-level plutonium.

The latest statements by the senior official are examples of how Japanese right-wing forces are trying to "remilitarizing" and "rearming" Japan, Lin said.

"If Japan further pushes the envelope and continues to challenge international justice and test the bottom line of the international community, China's response will be a firm 'No'," he said.

Instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, clearly stipulate that Japan should be completely disarmed and not to maintain such industries as would enable her to re-arm for war.

As a non-nuclear-weapon state to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Japan must also fully abide by the provisions of "not receiving, manufacturing, acquiring or transferring nuclear weapons," Lin said.

"These are non-negotiable obligations under international law that Japan must fulfill and should not be used as bargaining chips for political gains," he added.

Japanese militarists waged a war of aggression and committed inhumane atrocities, creating the darkest page in human history.

"Despite its defeat in World War II, Japan has never been able to fully eliminate the scourge of militarism in the country. Some forces inside Japan have not only failed to reflect on Japan's history of aggression, but also been extremely unhappy about the postwar international arrangement," the spokesperson said.

"If the right-wing forces in Japan are left free to develop powerful offensive weapons, or even possess nuclear weapons, it will again bring disaster to the world," he warned.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Olympia Provisions has recalled about 1,930 pounds of ready-to-eat holiday sausage.

The recalled meat is wrapped and vacuum-sealed in 16-ounce clear pouches and labeled "OLYMPIA PROVISIONS UNCURED HOLIDAY KIELBASA."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the Class I recall on Dec. 19 due to possible metal or other fragments in the meat.

Consuming the recalled kielbasa may pose serious health risks to consumers.

The ready-to-eat sausages were manufactured on Oct. 14, 2025, and carry a "BEST IF USED BY" date of 02/19/26 printed on the side of the label.

Packages have the establishment number"EST. 39928"inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The contamination came to light after a consumer reached out to the Portland, Ore., company, which then notified FSIS. To date, there have been no confirmed reports of medical emergencies or injuries.

The recalled meat was distributed to retail shops in California, Oregon and Washington.

However, because the company sells its artisanal products through its website, the sausages were also shipped to online customers nationwide. This makes it crucial for anyone who purchased holiday meat through the internet to see whether it's part of the recall.

Safety inspectors are particularly worried about the product's long shelf life. Because the kielbasa is fully cooked and vacuum-sealed, it can be stored for months.

Federal officials expressed concern that many consumers might have the product sitting in their refrigerators or freezers, unaware of the potential hazard.

Consumers who find one of these packages in the home should discard the sausage immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Health officials urge anyone who believes they may have suffered an injury from consuming the meat to contact a health care provider.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Olympia Provisions' owner, Michelle Cairo, at michelle@olympiaprovisions.com.

More information For a full list of recalls and public health alerts, visit the FSIS Recalls and Public Health Alerts website.

Clinical categories Common illnesses & Prevention

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Health isn't what it used to benamely the absence of being sick.

Ask any teenager today what it means to them to be healthy, and you're likely to hear about the vast array of areas in their lives they are "working on."

This can include emotional health, esthetic health, fitness, nutrition, social health, financial health, social media health, mental health, spiritual health  the list goes on.

When I was a teenager in the 1980s, health wasn't something I or my friends thought about much. We took it for granted it was either something you had, or were unfortunate to have lost.

In contrast, today's young people view health as something they can "grow" and should already be working on. Health has become an investment. And, through a process of expansion I call "healthization," it has become an increasingly diverse one.

Beyond Dr. Google

In my recent research, I asked 235 young New Zealanders aged 1424 to talk about how they use digital technology as part of understanding their health. The results inform my recent book, Healthization: Turning Life into Health.

Some of the results were not unexpected: young people discussed googling their symptoms and self-diagnosing anything from a sore throat to a miscarriage.

They also talked about using online quizzes and a variety of websites and forums to ascertain their mental well-being, including self-diagnosing themselves with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

But at the same time as invoking the value of using "Dr. Google," they also talked about sophisticated strategies they use for determining what forms of online and offline knowledge are trustworthy.

They described how they triangulate online results, determine when to check with medical professionals, and frequently compare their understanding of health information with friends, siblings or parents.

Perhaps more unexpectedly, their definitions of what it means to be healthy were all-encompassing. So much so that for some there appeared to be almost no limit to the role that striving to be healthy plays in their lives.

Things that a generation ago were thought to be important but not necessarily part of being healthysuch as friendship, beauty, having a sense of community, dating, doing well in school, creating "down time" or moments of relaxationare now rolled into this expansive concept of health.

Not having these things is no longer seen as sad or due to misfortune, but as being actively detrimental to one's health.

Health's moral dimension

In a country often stereotyped for its rugged but sometimes cavalier "she'll be right" ethos, young people openly worry about their own and other people's physical health in ways strikingly at odds with previous generations.

There has been a lot written about the 21st-century focus on self-improvement. But young people also describe eagerly helping others in their health projects or "journeys," spending time googling mental health issues so they can help diagnose friends, or even taking their parents along on a run.

Indeed, mental and emotional health in particular are singled out as areas where young people see a generational role to promote greater transparency and social acceptance.

Health takes on a moral dimension as young people describe investing in their own and others' health as a means to achieve "a good life." In fact, not to work on one's health was often depicted as morally wrong.

Through the process of healthization, health has come to cover a much broader terrain than it did a generation or so ago. So, is it even achievable?

Or, given so many different components to healthfrom minding one's time on social media to drinking enough water, from working on establishing meaningful friendships to logging in with MapMyRunis it an illusion that no one can possibly fulfill?

While this might initially appear to be the case, the young people I interviewed suggest differently.

While some did indeed seem overwhelmed by the amount of necessary "work" on health that faces them, others noted the need for "balance" and pathways (sometimes multiple ones) toward enacting those aspects of health that appear most meaningful and achievable.

Finding real balance

In my book I suggest the turn towards such holistic views of health not only helps us acknowledge the wide variety of things that affect our well-being, but highlights how the mind and body are interrelatedhow our mental well-being can influence our physical health and vice versa.

The downside is that it can feel overwhelming and also draw attention away from other things we value and which we need or want to do. These may not necessarily be good for our health but are nonetheless socially meaningful.

That might include devoting time to caring for family members, for example, rather than working on our physical fitness. Or sacrificing our time or well-being to promote or protect a greater cause.

The trick, the book concludes, might be to adopt a point of view that embraces the merits of a broad view of health while also encouraging ourselves to look beyond it.

Just as young people are recognizing the importance of working on the self while also emphasizing the importance of their relationships with others, maybe we can all discover a better kind of "balance."

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

It was like a horror movie. The invisible polio virus would strike, leaving young children on crutches, in wheelchairs or in a dreaded "iron lung" ventilator. Each summer, the fear was so great that public pools and movie theaters closed. Parents canceled birthday parties, afraid their child might be the next victim. A U.S. president paralyzed by polio called for Americans to send dimes to the White House to support the nonprofit National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his lawyer, Basil O'Connor. Celebrities from Lucille Ball to Elvis were enlisted to promote this "March of Dimes," and mothers went door to door raising funds to conquer this dreaded disease.

Some of those funds went to 33-year-old scientist Jonas Salk and his team at the University of Pittsburgh, where they worked in a lab between a morgue and a darkroom to develop the world's first successful polio vaccine.

To prove it worked, the experimental vaccine was tested on Pittsburgh schoolchildren and then 1.8 million children from around the country as part of the largest medical field trial in history. On April 12, 1955, when the Salk polio vaccine was declared "safe and effective," church bells rang out, kids were let out of school, and headlines around the world celebrated the victory over polio.

When asked whether he was going to patent the vaccine, Salk told journalist Edward R. Murrow it belonged to the people and would be like "patenting the sun."

I first learned about this 20 years ago when my students and I filmed the 50th anniversary celebration of the Salk polio vaccine at the University of Pittsburgh. I had just started teaching after working in Los Angeles as a screenwriter and TV producer, and the footage became "The Shot Felt Round the World," a documentary that featured those we met that day.

The 'Pittsburgh polio pioneers'

Among the people we interviewed was Ethyl "Mickey" Bailey, who worked in the lab pipetting the deadly polio virus by mouth, and Julius Youngner, the lab's senior scientist who had worked on the Manhattan Project before coming to Pittsburgh. Within a decade, Youngner had worked on the scientific achievement that brought the most destruction, the atomic bomb, and one that did great good by sparing millions from the scourge of "[The Great Crippler]."

Three floors above the lab, Dr. Sidney Busis performed tracheotomies on 2-year-old iron lung patients, opening their windpipes so the ventilator could help them breathe. The fierce Dr. Jessie Wright, an innovator in the field of rehabilitation sciences, ran the polio ward, and she was also the medical director of the D.T. Watson Home for Crippled Children, where the Salk vaccine was first tested on humans. Polio victims like Jimmy Sarkett and Ron Flynn volunteered themselves as guinea pigs for a vaccine they knew would never benefit them.

Many "Pittsburgh polio pioneers," as they called the local children who were given Salk's still-experimental vaccine, in our documentary recalled getting the shot from Salk himself. Salk also gave it to his own children, including his eldest son, Peter, then 10 years old, who later worked with his father on trying to develop an AIDS vaccine.

While Jonas Salk became the most famous scientist in the world, his relationship with the University of Pittsburgh became complicated, and the administration rejected his plans for an institute. As a result, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies was built in 1963 on the coastline in La Jolla, California, where it fueled San Diego's biotech industry.

Near the end of his life, Salk would say sometimes he would run into people who didn't know what polio was, and he found that gratifying. But today the world is paying a high price for those who don't remember what life was like before these events and now question the value of vaccines. The polio virus may not be visible, but it is still with us.

The final mile to eradication

On Oct. 24, 2025, as the Salk vaccine turned 70, I was invited to screen the trailer for "The Shot Felt Round the World" at a World Polio Day event on Roosevelt Island in New York City, in a building next to the ruins of the Smallpox Hospitala legacy of the only human disease ever eradicated.

Those present included the executive director of UNICEF, the polio director from the Gates Foundation, the U.N. representative for Rotary International and government officials from around the world who spoke about the global coalition dedicated to eradicating this disease. Since the 1980s, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has put tremendous resources into taking polio from being endemic in 125 countries to now just in two: Pakistan and Afghanistan. This group, whom I like to call "The Avengers of Public Health," continue to work relentlessly to make the world polio-free.

My greatest fear is that when polio is finally defeated, the world won't recognize what an extraordinary achievement it is. In our film, Dr. Jonathan Salk, Jonas Salk's youngest son, recalls his father wondering whether the model that developed the polio vaccine could be used to conquer poverty and other social problems.

Many of the polio survivors we spoke to at the 50th anniversary are no longer with us. To ensure that future generations know this story, perhaps now is the time to launch a "March of Dimes" marketing technique to engage young people from around the world to help finish the job that began in the Salk lab in Pittsburgh.

One polio survivor who is still alive is "The Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola, who has spoken about contracting polio as a child. Imagine him being interviewed by his granddaughter Romy Mars, a TikTok influencer, and his daughter Sophia Coppola, the film director and actress. They could make a video that features cameos from actor and comedian Bill Murray, who played Franklin D. Roosevelt in a movie and whose sister had polio; and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is a polio survivor; and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose grandfather was crippled from polio. For such a cruel disease, polio has a strange way of bringing us together.

I pray that when we finally wipe polio off the planet, a feat the Global Polio Eradication Initiative targets for 2029, the whole world will celebrate and realize the power of pulling together to defeat a common enemy.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Cooper plasma fiasco:FDA, BMC open probe

Cooper plasma fiasco:FDA, BMC open probe

A Mumbai Mirror report on Monday highlighting how a huge consignment of plasma was being transported out of the civic-run Dr RN Cooper Hospital without proper authorisation has triggered parallel probes by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).With questions of plasma smuggling doing the rounds, BMC authorities have summoned the in-charge of the blood bank  operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)  to review the terms of the agreement after hospital authorities acknowledged that plasma consignments left the premises without municipal clearance or the administrations knowledge.We will also recheck all terms and conditions to understand whether they were operating under BMC norms or functioning independently without our oversight, the civic body said in a clarification.As the FDA prepares to examine whether transfers to Intas Pharmaceuticals in Gujarat violated the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Joint Commissioner (Drugs) Vijay Tanaji Jadhav confirmed that the Assistant Commissioner has been directed to verify approvals, transport conditions, and documentation related to the consignment sent to Intas Pharmaceuticals in Gujarat.Even if approval existed, procedures cannot be bypassed, Jadhav said. If documents were incomplete or absent, it would amount to a violation under the Act.The malpractice came to light when alert security guards on Saturday night intercepted a vehicle carrying a huge consignment of plasma  680 units of it in 19 boxes. Crucially, the vehicle was allowed to go after the hopsital Deans intervention, but since the transporters could not furnish a municipal out-pass, the guards filed a panchanama.Bharat Chaudhary, in charge of the Cooper Hospital blood bank, said the plasma was excess stock being sent to Intas under a PPP arrangement that has been in place for three years.We issued a gate pass on our own letterhead with full details, Chaudhary said. The blood bank does not belong to the BMC, so we cannot issue a BMC out-pass.He maintained that the transfer complied with regulatory norms and that blood banks across the country follow guidelines issued by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for plasma handling and movement.However, senior officials from NACO have categorically contradicted that claim, clarifying that blood transfusion services no longer fall under NACOs regulatory purview. Blood transfusion services were brought under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in 2021, a NACO official said. They are regulated by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the respective State Blood Transfusion Councils (SBTCs). The official added that while blood banks earlier followed NACO guidelines, those have since been replaced.Updated guidelines issued by NBTC and SBTC are currently in force, with revisions introduced around 2023, the official said. The official further added that NACOs role is strictly limited. NACO intervenes only after HIV is confirmed, handling confirmatory testing, treatment, and further management. Designated blood transfusion authorities manage blood transfusion services before HIV confirmation.Blood safety protocols, the official said, cover screening for multiple transfusion-transmitted infections such as hepatitis and malaria, and are not restricted to HIV alone.How long did this practice continue at Cooper without being red-flagged? According to the blood bank in-charge, the plasma movement was flagged for the first time only after private security at Cooper was replaced by BMC guards following an unrelated incident last month. This requirement never came up earlier, Chaudhary admitted.The BMC owns the hospital premises and is responsible for civic healthcare infrastructure. Plasma fractionation and inter-state transport are governed by NBTC and SBTC guidelines, which lay down conditions for storage, cold-chain maintenance, documentation, and authorised transport. The FDA is now examining whether these norms were adhered to in the Cooper case, said a senior BMC official.BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Dean of Dr R N Cooper Hospital Dr Devi Shetty did not respond to calls or messages till press time.BOX:BMC raises key questions in Cooper plasma caseAfter the Mirror report on Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a statement with specific emphasis on the questions raised with the blood bank operating under a PublicPrivate Partnership at Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital.The Dean of Cooper Hospital has sought a written explanation from the officer-in-charge of the blood bank to the following questions:1. Why was the Fresh Frozen Plasma dispatched without obtaining mandatory hospital security clearance or a valid gate pass?2. Under whose authority was the dispatch approved, and whether such authority is supported by written administrative sanction?3. What documents were relied upon to justify the dispatch, including contracts, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), permissions, transport approvals, and dispatch records?4. Whether hospital requirements and patient needs were assessed before releasing 680 units of FFP, and on what basis the stock was deemed surplus?5. Whether the dispatch complied with Cooper Hospitals internal protocols, and if so, what is the proof of such compliance?6. What corrective and preventive measures are proposed to ensure that no blood or blood components leave hospital premises in violation of security or administrative procedures in the future?While the written explanation has been sought within two working days, it is crucial to note that after the guards stopped the vehicle carrying the plasma on Saturday night, it was allowed to go reportedly after the Dean cleared its release.
Uddhav Thackerays plan to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is failing to materialise as Congress is seeking to stay out of the alliance, citing UBTs impending alliance with Raj Thackeray. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) is continuing talks with the Congress high command and sources close to the matter are still not ruling out the possibility of an alliance. The reason behind Congresss decision to contest solo is the approximately 50 Muslim and Dalit-dominated seats in Mumbai, where the party hopes to perform well.



A senior party leader explained that in addition to the seats it won last time, its focus is on the seats lost by a margin of fewer than 2,000 votes, totalling to 72 seats. There are at least 35-40 seats in Mumbai where Muslim voters will prove decisive in winning elections.



These include four in the Malad (West) Assembly constituency, one in Bandra West, two in Bandra East, two in Kalina Assembly constituency, one in Jogeshwari, three in Versova, two in Andheri West, one in Ghatkopar, five in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar, two in Chandivali, three in Anushakti Nagar, two in Kurla, three in Dharavi, two in Sion-Koliwada, one in Wadala, and three in Byculla.



The Congress is hoping for a positive turnout in these seats. However, the Samajwadi Party and AIMIM will make the contest interesting.



Further, the party has high hopes for a strong victory in the 17 seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) communities.



Congress is also seeking an alliance with Prakash Ambedkars party to foster Dalit-Muslim unity. Congress, currently led by Varsha Gaikwad, has strongly championed the issue of saving the Constitution since the Lok Sabha elections. These factors reportedly contribute to the party distancing itself from the Raj Thackeray-led MNS. The party has a total of three MLAs in Mumbai, two of whom are Muslim and one Dalit.



Efforts underway to



revive the organisation



Mumbai, the birthplace of the Congress party, once held 5 out of 6 Lok Sabha seats. However, after Gurudas Kamats presidency, the party never regained its dominance. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the party won only two seats in the alliance. The partys organisation is currently considered very weak in areas like North-East Mumbai and North Mumbai. We are prepared to contest the Mumbai elections with full force. We expect to perform better than expected. We are conducting a micro-review of each seat, said Ashraf Azmi, spokesperson, Mumbai Congress. The party is trying to revive the organisation by going solo, and eyeing the 2029 elections, says poll strategist Hitesh Jain.




Tuolumne County, CA  Tuolumne County workers will get an extra day to celebrate this Christmas holiday after an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

County leaders report that last week, President Trump issued an executive order extending the holiday weekend for this year only to Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24, 2025) and Friday, December 26, 2025. Also, Tuolumne Countys ordinance code includes any presidentially proclaimed federal holiday as a paid county holiday. The County shared, As a result, December 26, 2025, will be added as a County holiday for this year. Therefore, all Tuolumne County offices will be closed to the public December 24, 25, and 26, 2025. However, public safety offices will follow their normal schedule during this holiday.

The County of Tuolumne Offices provided this Christmas and New Year holiday schedule, with the following offices being closed for the updated County Holiday dates of 12/24-26 & 1/1:

Public Defender, Sheriff-Civil & Administration, Archives, Recorder (dates with reduced hours below), District Attorney, Recreation and All Library Branches, Human Resources, and County Counsel.

The following departments will be closed: Wednesday, 12/24, through Friday, 1/2:

County Administration, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Public Works, and Community Development (Building inspections will still happen 12/29-31).

The following offices will have reduced/modified hours as listed:

Assessor  Closed 12/22-26 and 1/1

Treasurer/Tax Collector  Closed 12/24-26 and 1/1

Probation Department and GEO Day Reporting  Closed 12/24-26 and 12/31-1/2

Work Release Program  Closed 12/22-27 and 12/31-1/2

Department of Social Services and Veteran Services  Closed 12/24-26 and 1/1-2

Public Health  Closed 12/24-26 and 1/1-2

Agricultural Commissioner/Air Pollution Control  Closed 12/24-1/1

County Clerk and Auditor-Controller  Closed 12/24-12/26 and 1/1 with Limited hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on 12/22 and 12/23

Behavioral Health Department  Closed 12/24-26 and 1/1, meaning routine and administrative services will not be available. However, Crisis Services will continue to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all holidays.

If you are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, you can receive immediate assistance:

Call our Crisis Line at 209-533-7000 for immediate phone/mobile services and support

or Access emergency care through the local emergency department

Emergency ServicesAvailable as usual, 24/7:
Sonora, CA  As millions of Americans are traveling this Christmas holiday, AAA forecasts a 2.2% increase this year, surpassing last years record of 119.7 million travelers.

Nationwide, 122.4 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during that period. AAA projects that California will see an increase of more than 445,000 compared with 2024s numbers, as more than 16.5 million people will travel that same distance over the 13-day year-end holiday period that started December 20 and ends January 1.

Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations, said Doug Johnson, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether its returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.

AAA provided this breakdown of year-end travelers by mode of transportation:
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a new warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the U.S. Coast Guard steps up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Republican administrations escalating pressure campaign on the government in Caracas.

Trump was surrounded by his top national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as he suggested that he remains ready to further escalate his four-month pressure campaign on the Maduro government, which began with the stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal drugs from the South American nation but has developed into something more amorphous.

If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hell ever be able to play tough, Trump said of Maduro as he took a break from his Florida holiday vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.

Trump levied his latest threat as the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday continued for a second day to chase a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration describes as part of a dark fleet Venezuela is using to evade U.S. sanctions. The tanker, according to the White House, is flying under a false flag and is under a U.S. judicial seizure order.

Its moving along and well end up getting it, Trump said.

It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that U.S. officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, also part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. That ship was registered in Panama.

Trump, after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly said that Maduros days in power are numbered.

Last week, Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, said in a Monday appearance on Fox & Friends that the targeting of tankers is intended to send a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.

Russian diplomats evacuate families from Caracas

Meanwhile, Russias Foreign Ministry started evacuating the families of diplomats from Venezuela, according to a European intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The official told The Associated Press the evacuations include women and children and began on Friday, adding that Russian Foreign Ministry officials are assessing the situation in Venezuela in very grim tones. The ministry said in an X posting that it was not evacuating the embassy but did not address queries about whether it was evacuating the families of diplomats.

Venezuelas Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Monday said he spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who he said expressed Russias support for Venezuela against Trumps declared blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.

We reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government, Gil said in a statement.

The scene on a Venezuelan beach near a refinery

While U.S. forces targeted the vessels in international waters over the weekend, a tanker thats considered part of the shadow fleet was spotted moving between Venezuelan refineries, including one about three hours west of the capital, Caracas.

The tanker remained at the refinery in El Palito through Sunday, when families went to the towns beach to relax with children now on break from school.

Music played on loudspeakers as people swam and surfed with the tanker in the background. Families and groups of teenagers enjoyed themselves, but Manuel Salazar, who has parked cars at the beach for more than three decades, noticed differences from years past, when the countrys oil-dependent economy was in better shape and the energy industry produced at least double the current 1 million barrels per day.

Up to nine or 10 tankers would wait out there in the bay. One would leave, another would come in, Salazar, 68, said. Now, look, one.

The tanker in El Palito has been identified by Transparencia Venezuela, an independent watchdog promoting government accountability, to be part of the shadow fleet.

Area residents on Sunday recalled when tankers would sound their horns at midnight New Years Eve, while some would even send up fireworks to celebrate the holiday.

Before, during vacations, theyd have barbecues; now all you see is bread with bologna, Salazar said of Venezuelan families spending the holiday at the beach next to the refinery. Things are expensive. Food prices keep going up and up every day.

Venezuelas ruling party-controlled National Assembly on Monday gave initial approval to a measure that would criminalize a broad range of activities that could be linked to the seizure of oil tankers.

Lawmaker Giuseppe Alessandrello, who introduced the bill, said people could be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years for promoting, requesting, supporting, financing or participating in acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

The Defense Department, under Trumps orders, continues its campaign of attacks on smaller vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that it alleges are carrying drugs to the United States and beyond.

At least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

___

Garcia Cano reported from El Palito, Venezuela, and Burrows reported from London.

By AAMER MADHANI, REGINA GARCIA CANO and EMMA BURROWS

Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP)  A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the corruption case of a former aide to New York governors after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked and couldnt reach a verdict on charges she sold her influence to China and profited from a medical equipment scheme during the pandemic.

The federal jury in Brooklyn was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case against Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu. The foreperson said the panel was deadlocked on all 19 counts.

Your honor, after extensive deliberations and re-deliberations the jury remains unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors positions are firmly held, the jury said in a note to U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan shortly after resuming deliberations Monday with an alternate juror taking the place of a juror who had to leave because of prior travel commitments.

Prosecutor Alexander Solomon told the judge that the government wants to retry the case as soon as possible.

Hus lawyer, Nicole Boeckmann, said, Chris Hu has been adamant that he is innocent on all counts and maintains this position.

The jurys inability to reach a unanimous verdict after their commitment to attentively sitting through and thoroughly weighing the evidence in a long, protracted trial such as this emphasizes the flawed theories upon which the government brought their final charges, Boeckmann said.

Accusations of acting as an agent for China

Sun was accused of using her state government position to subtly advance Beijings agenda in exchange for financial benefits worth millions of dollars. They say Sun also took kickbacks from Chinese companies to steer lucrative state contracts for face masks and other critical medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The case and nearly monthlong trial were part of a broader Justice Department effort to root out agents working clandestinely in the U.S. for the Chinese government as it seeks to influence U.S. politics and harass and threaten dissidents overseas.

Sun was charged with acting as an unregistered agent for China, visa fraud, money laundering and other counts. Hu was charged with money laundering, bank fraud and tax evasion. They were charged jointly with wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Sun, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, held numerous posts over a roughly 15-year career in state government, including as deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and deputy diversity officer under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats.

She was fired in 2023 after the Hochul administration said it discovered the misconduct.

Prosecutors allege betrayal in return for riches

During the trial, prosecutors said Sun took steps to align the states messaging with Chinese government priorities. They said emails and phone messages showed how she worked to prevent representatives of Taiwans government, which China does not recognize as sovereign, from interacting with the governors office.

In one instance, Sun even scuttled an invitation for Cuomo to meet Taiwans president while on a visit to the U.S.

Prosecutors said she also pushed to remove references in official statements that referenced the Uighurs, a persecuted Muslim minority group in China. They said Sun forged Hochuls signature on official letters so that Chinese officials could obtain visas to enter the country.

Sun bragged repeatedly to her handlers in the Chinese government about what a good asset she had been, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Solomon, in his closing arguments.

In return, she reaped millions of dollars in financial benefits, including helping turn her husbands fledgling business of exporting American lobsters to China into a lucrative enterprise.

Prosecutors say the couple also took steps to hide the ill-gotten gains, using a system of cash pickups, shell companies and payments through third parties and relatives  all laid out in detailed spreadsheets maintained by Hu.

They say the sudden riches allowed the couple to live lavishly, purchasing a multimillion-dollar home on Long Island, a $1.9 million condominium in Hawaii, a new Ferrari and other luxury cars. Sun and Hu also enjoyed other perks, including Nanjing-style salted ducks that were prepared by a Chinese officials personal chef, prosecutors said.

Linda Sun betrayed the state of New York to enrich herself, Solomon said. You saw it time and again, a clear pattern of corruption.

Suns lawyers cast her as a proud American and loyal public servant

Kenneth Abell, in his closing remarks, acknowledged that Sun carefully cultivated official relationships with Chinese consulate officials, but he also pointed to other instances when Sun met with and was even honored by the local Taiwanese community.

He argued that Suns decision to block an the invitation to meet the president of Taiwan was in keeping with past practice. No New York governor has ever met with the president of Taiwan.

She was just being careful, Abell said. It was not her place to push a policy on Taiwan.

Prosecutors, he added, didnt provide any evidence to their claim that Sun had forged Hochuls signature on visa documents for Chinese officials.

He also questioned why Chinese companies would even need to make bribes to win state contracts during the pandemic. After all, Abell argued, New York and other state were spending freely and quickly as they stockpiled critical medical supplies.

The story has huge holes in it, he said. The government is trying hard to fit the facts into its narrative.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo

By PHILIP MARCELO

Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP)  EDITORS NOTE  This is an exclusive excerpt adapted from Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th by Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick. The book, which will be published on Jan. 6, 2026, draws on personal interviews by the author, testimony, court documents and other public sources to compile a definitive account of the hours leading up to, during, and just after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Jalonick documents the chain of events on Jan. 6, 2021, as told by the rioters who were loyal to President Donald Trump, the police who fought them, the lawmakers who fled the violence, and the staff, workers and journalists who were there that day, including Jalonick herself. The rioters were echoing Trumps false claims of a stolen election, even as all 50 states had certified the vote and courts had ruled against Trump or dismissed dozens of lawsuits brought by his campaign.

This excerpt begins in the 4 p.m. hour on Jan. 6, at the height of the fighting that day outside the building. Hundreds of rioters had already breached several entrances and forced lawmakers to flee both the House and Senate, stopping the certification of Democrat Joe Bidens victory. But an even larger group of people had broken through a long police line and were now aiming at the central golden doors that sit at the center of the Capitols West Front, set back in a narrow tunnel that the president walks through on Inauguration Day.

Separately, not far from the tunnel, Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick had been sprayed directly in the face by a rioter. He had predicted the night before in a text to his brother Ken that hell may break loose tomorrow.

Note: The text messages in this excerpt have been edited for language.

___

Ken Sicknick hadnt yet replied to his brother Brians text from the night before that had predicted violence. So he typed a message to Brian that afternoon as he watched live reports of the clashes at the Capitol. Good luck, man, Ken wrote. Capitol protests are on the news.

An hour and a half later, at 4:15 p.m., Brian replied: Tell me about it. Were f-. Talk later. I was pepper sprayed at least twice.

___

Ken Sicknick, brother of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick: I knew it was a protest. I didnt realize how bad it was.

___

As afternoon approached evening, police were starting to secure some of the entrances that had been breached. But hundreds of rioters were still fighting to get into the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the main entrance to the inaugural stage from the basement level of the Capitol. Police officers had used the space just inside as a triage area all afternoon.

Earlier, after several police lines had broken outside, the rioters had streamed into the tunnel so quickly that it created a bottleneck. The National Guard had still not arrived, and for the officers who had already been fighting for hours, it had become a ferocious last stand.

___

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: The rioters were vicious and relentless. We found ourselves in a violent battle in a desperate attempt to prevent a breach of the Capitol by the entrance near the inauguration stage.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: The fighting in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel was nothing short of brutal. Here I observed approximately 30 police officers standing shoulder to shoulder, maybe four or five abreast, using the weight of their own bodies to hold back the onslaught of violent attackers. Many of these officers were injured, bleeding and fatigued. But they continued to hold the line.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: A few people rushed the front of the line, and then that kind of instigated the rest of them to follow suit. At that point, it was just complete hand-to-hand combat, but very little space to maneuver.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: The hallway is approximately 10 feet wide. Officers shoulder to shoulder lined up by rows, and the demonstrators were trying to push in, and we were trying to push back. Initially, were just pushing and they were yelling, One, two, three, push. And we were doing the same thing. We were pushing back. But then it escalated into full fighting.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Theres a couple dozen of us in there against, you know, the thousands and thousands outside, and we just held it as long as we could. It was a brutal fight.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: They were extremely physical. I dont think anybody was talking at that point. It was just physical, people hitting each other, punching, people with poles, metal poles.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: The tunnel is a narrow and long hallway. It is not the sort of space where anyone would want to be pulled into hand-to-hand combat with an angry mob.

Officer Abdulkadir Abdi, Metropolitan Police Department: Every about five to 10 minutes, they would switch and then we would end up fighting a new batch of fresh bodies. That just continued on.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: It was guys in their 50s, guys in their 30s, guys in their 20s. Not that many really young people, but mostly just like real adults.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: It was a battle of inches, with one side pushing the other a few and then the other side regaining their ground.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: What we were subjected to that day was like something from a medieval battlefield.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Someone handed me a pitchfork at one point. It made its way all the way up the stairs. I dont remember if it was a civilian or an officer, but they said, I dont want this being used against you guys.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Even during this intense contest of wills, they continued to try to convert us to their cult. One man shouted: We just want to make our voices heard! And I think you feel the same! I really think you feel the same! All while another man attempts to batter us with a stolen shield.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: I just heard the dumbest things ever, like Were not here to hurt you; just let us through. While theyre doing all that craziness.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: Many of the officers fighting alongside me were calling for shields, because their shields had been stripped from them by the rioters. I was one of the few officers left with a shield, so I spent the majority of the time at the front of the line.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: At some point, one of the demonstrators was trying to pull me outside. And luckily I held on to the metal rail.

___

A rioter grabbed Detective Nguyens gas mask and pulled it out, while a second rioter directly sprayed his exposed face. The first rioter then let go of the mask, snapping it back in place and trapping the gas inside.

___

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I was choking under the mask, and I also got knocked down at the same time. And so at that point, I was choking, and I was trying to get up. I (was) panicking.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: At some point during the fighting, I was dragged from the line of officers into the crowd. I heard someone scream, I got one! as I was swarmed by a violent mob.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: In my attempt to assist two MPD officers, I grabbed one officer by the back of the collar and pulled him back to our police line. When I tried to help the second officer, I fell on top of some police shields on the ground that were slippery because of the pepper and bear spray. Rioters started to pull me by my leg, by my shield, and by my gear straps on my left shoulder. My survival instincts kicked in and I started kicking and punching as I tried in vain to get the MPD officers attention behind and above me. But they could not help me because they were also being attacked.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: The two sides were at a stalemate at a metal door frame that sat in the middle of the hallway. At the front line, I inserted myself so that the frame was at my back in an effort to give myself something to brace against and provide additional strength when pushing forward. Unfortunately, soon after I secured this position, the momentum shifted and we lost the ground that got me there. On my left was a man with a clear riot shield stolen during the assault. He slammed it against me and, with the weight of all the bodies pushing behind him, trapped me. My arms were pinned and effectively useless, trapped against either the shield on my left or the door frame on my right. With my posture granting me no functional strength or freedom of movement, I was effectively defenseless and gradually sustaining injury from the increasing pressure of the mob.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: They ripped off my badge. They grabbed my radio. They seized the ammunition that was secured to my body. They began to beat me with their fists and with what felt like hard metal objects. At one point I came face-to-face with an attacker who repeatedly lunged for me and attempted to remove my firearm. I heard chanting from some in the crowd, Get his gun and Kill him with his own gun. I was aware enough to recognize I was at risk of being stripped of, and killed with, my own firearm. I was electrocuted again and again and again with a Taser. Im sure I was screaming, but I dont think I could even hear my own voice.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Directly in front of me, a man seized the opportunity of my vulnerability. He grabbed the front of my gas mask and used it to beat my head against the door. He switched to pulling it off my head, the straps stretching against my skull and straining my neck. He never uttered any words I recognized but opted instead for guttural screams. I swear I remember him foaming at the mouth. He also put his cellphone in his mouth so that he had both hands free to assault me. Eventually he succeeded in stripping away my gas mask, and a new rush of exposure to CS gas and OC spray hit me.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: My body camera captured the violence of the crowd directed toward me during those very frightening moments. The portions of the video Ive seen remain extremely painful for me to watch. During those moments, I remember thinking that there was a very good chance that I would be torn apart or be shot to death with my own weapon. I thought of my four daughters, who might lose their dad.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: The mob of terrorists were coordinating their efforts now, shouting Heave! Ho! as they synchronized pushing their weight forward, crushing me further against the metal door frame. The man in front of me grabbed my baton that I still held in my hands, and in my current state I was unable to retain my weapon. He bashed me in the head and face with it, rupturing my lip and adding additional injury to my skull.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Its just the weight of our crowd pushing against the weight of their crowd. Smoke grenades are going off  like, maybe someone lit a smoke bomb and threw it at us; I dont know what the hell happened. But Im looking around, and I see one of my sergeants, and hes got his mask on, but I can see his eyes, and he looks like hes about ready to pass out. And I hear someone yell, Does anybody need a break? And Im like, Get him out of here!

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: It was a prolonged and desperate struggle. I vividly heard officers screaming in agony and pain just an arms length from me.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: It hurt a great deal. Combined with everything else that was going on, it made it difficult to breathe.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: A bunch of bodies were pushed up right against me, and it sealed my gas mask against my cheek. And I was having a hard time breathing. So I started peeling it off, and then I was exposed, and no sooner had I done that than I was hit with a big old stream of pepper spray from one of our own super-soakers that they stole from us. I see this arc of fluid, and it hits me right in the face. Ive seen my body camera from that day, and you just hear a guttural scream.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: At this point, I knew that I couldnt sustain much more damage and remain upright. At best I would collapse and be a liability to my colleagues, at worst be dragged out into the crowd and lynched. Unable to move or otherwise signal the officers behind me that I needed to fall back, I did the only thing I could still do and screamed for help.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: I too was being crushed by the rioters. I could feel myself losing oxygen and recall thinking to myself, this is how Im going to die, trampled defending this entrance.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I thought, thats where Im going to die. And in my head I was thinking about my family at that point before anything else.

Officer Michael Fanone, Metropolitan Police Department: During the assault, I thought about using my firearm on my attackers. But I knew that if I did that, I would quickly be overwhelmed. And that, in their minds, it would provide them with the justification for killing me. So instead, I decided to appeal to any humanity they might have. I said as loud as I could manage, Ive got kids. Thankfully, some in the crowd stepped in and assisted me. Those few individuals protected me from the crowd and inched me toward the Capitol until my fellow officers could rescue me.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: When you get amped up like that, sometimes it takes a slap in the face to wake you up to where the hell you are and what youve just done. And I think Fanone yelling that he had kids kind of shook some of the people out of it.

Officer Daniel Hodges, Metropolitan Police Department: Thankfully, my voice was heard over the cacophony of yells and the blaring alarm. The officer closest to me was able to extricate me from my position, and another helped me fall back to the building again.

Detective Phuson Nguyen, Metropolitan Police Department: I was telling myself, if you want to see your family again, you need to gather yourself. And luckily, you know, I gathered myself and (broke) that seal. And with the help of my colleagues behind me, they pulled me up.

Officer Jesse Leasure, Metropolitan Police Department: Im yelling, Hey, Im out of service, I cant do this anymore! Like, literally, Im disabled. So one of my partners grabs me and just escorts me back through the crowd, and we find one of those decon stations.

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, U.S. Capitol Police: I finally was able to hit a rioter who was grabbing me with my baton and able to stand. I then continued to fend off new attackers as they kept rotating after attacking us.

___

Officer Brian Sicknick found medical help and seemed to recover after the rioter had sprayed him with chemicals on the West Front. At 8:21 p.m., he sent his brother Ken another text: F-. I smell like BO, weed, OC spray and CS gas.

Shortly after sending the text, as he returned to a division office in the basement of the Capitol, Sicknick started slurring his words while talking to fellow officers and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was put on life support.

___

Inspector Thomas Loyd, U.S. Capitol Police: Officer Brian Sicknick faithfully served the United States Capitol Police for 13 years. He fought valiantly for several hours on January 6. He died suddenly at 8:30 p.m., while returning to the office in the United States Capitol Building. His body survived an additional day because his fellow officers worked so hard to keep him alive so his family could say goodbye in person on January 7.

___

Excerpted from STORM AT THE CAPITOL: An Oral History of January 6th by Mary Clare Jalonick, copyright (copyright)2026 by Mary Clare Jalonick. Used with permission of PublicAffairs, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

By MARY CLARE JALONICK

Associated Press
Embu Senator Alexander Munyi Mundigi has pushed back against a decision by the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) to expel him over his role in campaigning for and supporting Leonard Muthende in the recently concluded Mbeere North Constituency by-election.

During the fiercely contested parliamentary race, Leonard Muthende of President William Rutos UDA won the seat after edging out DP candidate Newton Kariuki. Muthende secured 15,802 votes, narrowly beating Kariuki, who garnered 15,308 votes.

Following Kariukis defeat, DP wrote to Senator Munyi informing him of its intention to expel him for supporting and aligning himself with the policies of a rival party, UDA.

The party accused its only senator of gross misconduct and violating party rules, as well as Section 148 of the Political Parties Act.

You have continued to publicly support activities, positions and events associated with the Kenya Kwanza Coalition (KK), notwithstanding the Democratic Partys withdrawal from the coalition and contrary to party directives requiring all members to act in alignment with Democratic Party resolutions, reads a letter signed by Dr Haji.

The party further informed him that, under Article 8, Section b(iv) of the Democratic Party Constitution, a member may be deemed to have resigned or face disciplinary action if he or she forms or joins another party, campaigns for another political party, promotes the ideology, interests, or policies of another party contrary to the law or party policy, or acts against the aims, policies, and objectives of DP.

Through the same communication, the party directed Senator Mundigi to immediately stop all activities, endorsements, and public statements that contradict its official position.

In his response, Mundigi said that on March 12, 2025, party leader Justin Muturi politically exited the Kenya Kwanza coalition and that presumably the party ceased working with and under the memorandum of understanding entered into before the 2022 General Election at the formation of the coalition.

Mundigi, who serves as the DP deputy party leader, said he has consistently remitted Ksh10,000 to the party every month. He added that he and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku were the only elected leaders on a DP ticket who made the monthly contributions, alongside three Members of County Assembly.

He noted that Mr Ruku stopped remitting the contributions after his appointment to the Cabinet.

Mundigi said he will continue backing the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, of which DP remains a member.

The senator said the partys top decision-making organs have yet to meet or formally approve any move to exit the Kenya Kwanza coalition under President William Rutos leadership. He added that DP communicated the decision to remove him through his personal assistant while he was on official duty outside the country.

To avert his imminent removal from the party, Mundigi has sought the intervention of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

The party also gave him 72 hours to renounce his association with the Kenya Kwanza Coalition and reaffirm his loyalty and commitment to DP, on whose ticket he was elected during the August 2022 General Election. The party warned that failure to comply would trigger disciplinary action.

Through his lawyer, Mundigi said he had not violated any DP laws, arguing that the party remains part of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Subject to Articles 9 and 10 of the partys Constitution and by-laws, the top organs, namely the National Delegates Committee (NDC) and the National Governing Council, must meet and pass a resolution to formally exit a coalition government, in which the party is currently part of the larger Kenya Kwanza alliance, Senator Mundigi stated.
The government is taking action against the widespread illegal sale of erectile dysfunction medications, launching comprehensive enforcement measures to protect public health.

Health authorities have unveiled stringent controls targeting pharmacies and retailers who dispense prescription-only ED drugs, popularly known as blue pills, without proper medical authorization.

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni stated that these medications must remain strictly under prescription protocols and cannot be treated as over-the-counter products available for casual purchase.

Beyond their common use for erectile dysfunction, Muthoni noted that healthcare providers also prescribe these medications to manage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), underscoring their serious medical nature.

When taken with other medicines, especially nitrates or certain blood pressure and heart medicines, it can cause dangerous interactions and increase the risk of life-threatening events such as heart attack and stroke; patients should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use, Muthoni warned in a statement posted on X.

New Tracking System Targets Supply Chain

The ministry is implementing a robust monitoring framework that will compel wholesalers to document and report every sale of prescription medications to retail outlets, creating an auditable trail throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Health officials are simultaneously conducting surprise audits and comprehensive inspections of pharmacies nationwide, scrutinizing prescription records to verify proper dispensing practices and compliance with controlled substance regulations.

The government is also launching public awareness campaigns to educate Kenyans about the serious health risks associated with self-medicating with prescription-only drugs and the legal consequences of obtaining such medications without valid prescriptions.

This crackdown comes amid growing concerns about the unregulated availability of potent prescription medications in Kenyas retail pharmacy sector.
The Kenyan government has initiated a comprehensive audit of donor-funded projects worth Ksh2.17 trillion, raising alarm bells about initiatives that prioritize foreign suppliers interests over genuine local development needs.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi launched the sweeping review to identify low-value projects and address chronic funding gaps that leave taxpayers footing massive bills when initiatives stall due to missing counterpart contributions.

The National Treasury warns that many donor-funded projects have been designed primarily around donor agendas rather than Kenyas actual development priorities, creating a dangerous financial burden when the government struggles to meet its funding obligations.

234 Projects Face Collapse Without Ksh130 Billion Injection

Treasury officials have identified 234 at-risk projects valued at Ksh2.17 trillion that could grind to a halt unless the government urgently injects Ksh130 billion in counterpart funding, money that ultimately comes from Kenyan taxpayers.

In an interview with Business Daily, Mbadi exposed the fundamental flaw in Kenyas donor financing model, explaining that the current system serves suppliers rather than citizens.

It is because the donor funding we are getting in this country has to some extent relied on the suppliers. Its supplier-driven, not demand-driven. You find that some projects are initiated because some donors want to come in and put money, he revealed.

The Cabinet Secretary disclosed that government officials have been engaging donors through the Deputy Presidents office while systematically reviewing the entire project pipeline to weed out initiatives delivering minimal public benefit.

Counterpart Funding Gaps Burden Taxpayers With High Fees

Beyond identifying questionable projects, the review tackles persistent challenges in providing counterpart funding, which generates hefty commission fees that drain public resources.

We are reviewing all the portfolios that are there, the pipeline of portfolios. Its a meeting we have been having, and we have been engaging donors through the DPs office, Mbadi explained.

The Treasurys revelations align with recent findings from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), which last month flagged that Kenya manages 234 donor-funded projects worth Ksh2.17 trillion facing potential collapse without the Ksh130 billion counterpart funding injection.

The PBO breakdown shows Ksh1.92 trillion comes from loans and Ksh251 billion from grants, but both financing mechanisms require Kenya to provide matching funds before projects can advance.

Bureaucracy and Delays Compound Absorption Crisis

Kenya has previously experienced low absorption of donor funds due to bureaucratic hurdles, capacity constraints, and delays in counterpart funding. The risk of stalled or incomplete projects, especially those with significant public investment value and locally financed components, remains high, the PBO warned.

The budget watchdog further cautioned that this crisis poses severe risks to Kenyas development agenda, as domestically financed development spending will likely remain constrained by pending bills tied to these donor-funded initiatives.

This audit represents a pivotal moment in Kenyas development financing strategy, as the government attempts to reclaim control over projects that should serve national interests rather than external commercial agendas.

The outcome could reshape how Kenya negotiates future donor partnerships, potentially establishing new frameworks that prioritize local needs and sustainable financing models.
The government has successfully repatriated 119 Kenyans from illegal scam compounds in Myanmar following coordinated raids by local authorities and rebel groups, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs announced Monday.

In a press statement dated December 22, 2025, the department detailed ongoing rescue operations targeting Kenyans trapped in sophisticated criminal syndicates along remote border areas of Karen State, near the volatile Thailand-Myanmar frontier.

119 Kenyans have been successfully repatriated, following recent raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups, with efforts continuing for the remaining Kenyans amid complex regional dynamics, the statement confirmed.

198 Kenyans Still Stranded Across Three Countries

Despite the successful repatriation, 198 Kenyans remain stranded: 66 are detained in Thailands Immigration Detention Centre, 129 shelter in Myanmar facilities, and three reside in a Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Authorities reported that some initially refused cooperation, demanding government-funded airline tickets while spreading misinformation on social media.

The criminal scam compounds, run by transnational syndicates, served as hubs for online fraud while luring desperate workers with false promises of legitimate employment opportunities.

September Raids Expose Massive Fraud Operations

The September 2025 multi-agency raids led to arrests, asset seizures, targeted bombings, and demolitions, forcing syndicate operators to flee. Over 200 Kenyans were left in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while others made perilous crossings into Thailand seeking safety.

After receiving a verified list of 126 trapped Kenyans, the government, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok, implemented a series of measures. These included creating WhatsApp groups for next-of-kin updates, negotiating discounted fares with Kenya Airways, issuing Emergency Travel Documents, and arranging safe passage via the Thai-Myanmar 2nd Friendship Bridge. Ground transportation from shelters to airports was fully funded to ensure returnees reached evacuation flights safely.

Seven Pending Rebooking After Last-Minute Cancellations

Of the 126 scheduled for evacuation, seven remain pending rebooking due to last-minute cancellations disrupting travel arrangements. Upon arrival in Kenya, returnees undergo interviews with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Transnational Organised Crime Unit to aid prosecutions against trafficking networks. The departments counselling unit, in collaboration with stakeholders, provides essential psychosocial support to returnees and their families.

Government Warns Against Moral Hazard of Repeat Rescues

Officials highlighted troubling patterns among those seeking assistance, noting many had deliberately entered Thailand on tourist visas despite employment restrictions, bypassed previous evacuations, and knowingly returned to scam operations.

Government-funded rescues for those knowingly engaging in illegal scam activities risk moral hazard, undermining travel advisories, safe migration policies, and deterrence against transnational crime, the statement warned.

Authorities also cautioned that promises to convert tourist visas into work permits are a clear red flag and urged citizens to report rogue recruitment agents immediately.

The Government remains committed to the welfare of its citizens abroad while insisting on personal responsibility, adherence to the law and travel advisories at all times, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs concluded.
Kenyans living abroad are launching an ambitious campaign to secure direct parliamentary representation through 15 dedicated diaspora constituencies, arguing that their enormous economic contributions justify a voice in national lawmaking ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Despite channeling over Ksh780 billion in annual remittances, surpassing combined earnings from tourism, tea, coffee, and foreign investment, the diaspora remains excluded from Kenyas legislative process.

Their proposal calls for repealing sections of the Elections Act to create roughly 15 constituencies mapped to global regions, with each sending a Member of Parliament and a Senator under a bicameral framework. Representing over one million eligible voters, diaspora leaders insist that political inclusion is long overdue.

Were a Decisive Electoral Force Being Ignored

Kenyan diaspora commands over one million votes, a decisive electoral force whose engagement cannot be overlooked. Despite remitting US$4.95 billion (Sh637 billion) in 2024, we remain excluded from legislative decision-making, declared Kenyan Canadian Association (KCA) President Ephraim Mwaura.

Mwaura unveiled the Diaspora Bicameral Parliamentary Framework Proposal at Brampton City Hall during Kenyas 62nd Independence Day celebrations. The event was attended by President William Rutos Special Advisor Jaoko Oburu Odinga and Kenyas High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Carolyne Kamende.

Blockchain Voting and Global Constituencies

The framework proposes diaspora constituencies across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, paired with blockchain-based digital voting platforms modeled after successful systems in Estonia, Switzerland, and India.

Additional measures include expanding voter registration, streamlining ID and passport renewal, and linking diaspora savings to Kenyas Diaspora Bond programme to transform remittances into structured savings, credit facilities, and community development investments.

The diaspora is a transnational constituency. Bicameral parliamentary representation integrates our voices into Kenyas legislative process, while resources can be managed effectively through existing embassies, consulates, and the Department of Diaspora Affairs, Mwaura said.

Learning From International Models

The initiative draws inspiration from countries like France, Italy, Portugal, and Senegal, where citizens living abroad enjoy full legislative representation.

Mwaura pointed out that the 15 proposed constituencies would address pressing issues affecting Kenyans overseas, including dual citizenship, taxation, labor protections, investment security, consular services, and reintegration support. He urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to pilot secure digital voting systems in Canada, home to a large and geographically dispersed Kenyan population.

County 48 Symbolism Isnt Enough

Mwaura argued that genuine parliamentary representation, rather than symbolic gestures such as designating the diaspora County 48, provides the only meaningful path to inclusion. Kenyas diplomatic infrastructure including embassies, consulates, and the Department of Diaspora Affairs could handle administrative support without creating parallel governance structures.

With diaspora remittances now surpassing tourism, agriculture, and foreign direct investment, Mwaura said continued exclusion from national decision-making is economically and politically unsustainable.

Parliament must amend the Elections Act and empower IEBC to implement diaspora representation and digital voting systems, he insisted.

If adopted, the proposal could transform Kenyas electoral landscape, adding over one million voters to the 2027 election cycle. Diaspora advocates are now intensifying lobbying efforts across global Kenyan communities while awaiting consideration by parliamentary committees and the IEBC.
Kenyan employees should brace for noticeable changes on their February 2026 pay slips as the fourth phase of National Social Security Fund (NSSF) reforms takes effect, substantially increasing mandatory pension contributions.

Currently, workers contribute 6 percent of their pensionable pay, with employers matching the same amount, effectively doubling monthly retirement savings through this joint contribution model.

While the 6 percent rate remains unchanged, the reforms expand the earnings base subject to deductions, allowing employees to accumulate significantly larger retirement nest eggs over time.

Two-Tier System Raises Contribution Caps Again

The NSSF Act introduced a two-tier system, separating mandatory basic pension savings (Tier I) from higher-value contributions (Tier II). Employees may also contract out portions of Tier II contributions with Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) approval.

Earnings limits for both tiers have been raised annually since 2023, widening the contribution base and increasing retirement savings for more income levels.

From February 2026, Tier Is earnings cap will increase to Ksh9,000, while Tier II jumps to Ksh108,000, marking the fourth consecutive year of higher thresholds under the reformed pension framework.

How the New Limits Affect Your Paycheck

Under the new thresholds, Tier I will attract a 6 percent deduction of Ksh540 per month, while Tier II applies to earnings above the Tier I cap, up to Ksh108,000.

For instance, an employee earning Ksh100,000 monthly will contribute Ksh540 to Tier I, and Ksh5,460 to Tier II, totaling Ksh6,000 in monthly deductions, up from Ksh4,320, representing a Ksh1,680 increase.

When employers match contributions, total monthly retirement savings for such an employee will reach Ksh12,000, boosting long-term financial security while slightly reducing immediate take-home pay.

Top Earners Face Steepest Deductions

Higher-income employees will feel the reforms more sharply. Those earning Ksh200,000 or more will hit the Tier II ceiling, with Tier I contributions fixed at Ksh540 and Tier II calculated on Ksh99,000, resulting in a Ksh5,940 deduction.

This brings the total monthly contribution to Ksh6,480, and when matched by employers, total remittances to the Fund reach Ksh12,960 for top earners.

Who Escapes the 2026 Bite?

Employees earning below Ksh50,000 will not see any changes, while those above Ksh75,000 will experience higher deductions impacting their monthly budgets.

For top earners, the effective reduction in take-home pay is around Ksh1,512, partially offset by the fact that NSSF contributions are tax-deductible.

Private Pension Schemes Can Cushion the Impact

Workers enrolled in approved private pension schemes may limit the impact of higher deductions. Employers can, with RBA approval, reduce contributions to occupational schemes and redirect the funds to NSSF, minimizing the effect on disposable income.

The accelerated contributions have strengthened NSSFs financial standing, with total assets reaching Ksh558 billion by June 2025 and projected annual inflows exceeding Ksh100 billion after 2026 reforms fully take effect.

However, these pension reforms come at a challenging time for many Kenyans, as shrinking disposable incomes, stricter remittance deadlines, and penalties for late contributions put additional pressure on both employees and employers.
President William Ruto launched a spirited defense of his Bottom-Up Economic Agenda (BETA) on Monday, emphatically rejecting accusations that his signature economic framework amounts to nothing more than empty political rhetoric.

Speaking at the bustling Kimalel Goat Auction in Baringo on December 22, 2025, the President stressed that the identical economic blueprint that secured him over 7.2 million votes in 2022 is specifically engineered to catapult Kenya from third-world status into a first-world economy.

He forcefully dismissed mounting claims that he has abandoned BETA in favor of the controversial Singapore Dream narrative, a pivot critics allege was designed to dazzle voters with grandiose promises disconnected from his original campaign platform.

Go Read the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto

Bottom up is not a slogan; it was not empty talk; it was a plan, to lift Kenya from a third-world country to a first-world country. There are people saying that we have ditched our bottom-up economic agenda for first-world economic status. Let them go and read the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, Ruto declared defiantly.

The President pointed specifically to page 10 of the BETA Plan, insisting it explicitly articulates a comprehensive vision for elevating Kenyas economy to first-world standards  evidence, he argues, that the Singapore comparison has always been central to his agenda.

He also vigorously defended the recent Cabinet approval of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), confirming that it represents a core component of the roadmap toward the Singapore Dream and was embedded in his manifesto from day one, not hastily added as an afterthought.

Everything Was In Our Original Plan

According to President Ruto, every single initiative his administration is currently implementing derives directly from his original campaign manifesto, with no deviations or surprise additions along the way.

He reiterated that the Bottom-Up Economic Agenda, which served as his powerful rallying point during the hard-fought 2022 elections, remains fully synchronized with his ambitious vision of transforming Kenya into a Singapore-like economic powerhouse.

There is nothing that we are implementing that was not in our plan; there is nothing that we are implementing that was not part of the manifesto that we sold to the people of Kenya, and they voted for it. Page 10 of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto has the national infrastructure plan; we didnt parachute it from elsewhere  it was in the manifesto, he stated.

Critics Question Shift From Grassroots to Glamour

The Presidents robust defense comes amid intensifying criticism from political opponents and analysts who argue his messaging has shifted dramatically from grassroots empowerment rhetoric toward aspirational comparisons with Singapores world-class infrastructure and economic success.

Critics contend that while BETA initially resonated with ordinary Kenyans struggling with unemployment and high living costs, the Singapore Dream narrative feels disconnected from the immediate economic realities facing millions of citizens.
Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha made a striking public declaration of love and political partnership on Monday, formally introducing her husband, High Court advocate Benson Milimo, to Cherangany residents in Trans Nzoia County.

Addressing a lively crowd on December 22, 2025, at her Chebarus residence in Sitatunga ward during a Christmas donation event, Nakhumicha described Milimo as her unwavering pillar of support, fully endorsing her ambitious bid to become Trans Nzoia Governor in the 2027 elections. Milimo currently serves in the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly, bringing valuable political connections to the campaign.

Hes Given Me His Blessing to Lead This County

My husband is here with us. Before I came here, this place was deserted, but now it is always busy and full of guests from all corners of Trans. He has given me his blessing to be the third governor of this county, Nakhumicha told the residents.

In a lighthearted moment that thrilled the crowd, she playfully teased Milimo about expanding their family while tying personal aspirations to her political agenda.

From today onwards, I will be roasting some good groundnuts for him so that he can deliver good results. I want him to give me Mulongo and Mukhwana (twins). I will improve Chebarus Health Centre, and I want to be the first female governor to deliver there, she quipped, blending humor with her healthcare improvement plans.

Healthcare, Agriculture, and Education Top Her Agenda

Nakhumicha outlined her administrations key priorities, promising to transform healthcare infrastructure, revitalize agriculture, strengthen Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), and modernize Vocational Training Centres (VTCs).

I will make sure Kitale District Hospital is back up and running; I will modernize Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital by collaborating with the National Government and make sure agriculture is working, she pledged.

Husband Calls on Residents to Support Development-Conscious Wife

Benson Milimo expressed full support for his wifes gubernatorial ambitions, urging Trans Nzoia residents to back her transformative vision.

Mama Susan is development-conscious, and I know she has the capacity to transform Trans Nzoia to the next level. All we need from you is your prayers, advice, and votes come 2027, he appealed to the crowd.

Power Couple With Strong FORD Kenya Roots

Both Nakhumicha and Milimo are senior members of the FORD Kenya party, bringing deep political networks to their collaborative ambitions. In 2022, Milimo contested the Cherangany Constituency parliamentary seat, while Nakhumicha ran for the Trans Nzoia Woman Representative position.

Nakhumichas experience as a former Health Cabinet Secretary lends credibility to her healthcare promises, while her grassroots engagement strategy, demonstrated through the Christmas donation drive, underscores a campaign rooted in direct community connection.

The public introduction of her husband signals a strategic move to present a united political front, leveraging both their experience and partnership to build voter confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Individuals named Actassi typically exhibit a strong sense of community orientation and natural leadership qualities. They tend to be generous, resourceful, and deeply connected to their cultural roots, often serving as mediators who bring people together and facilitate collective decision-making. Their personality reflects the ocean's dual nature - capable of being both calm and nurturing, yet powerful and determined when necessary to protect what they value.



Actassi's are often drawn to careers or activities involving water, conservation, or community service. They possess an intuitive understanding of balance and flow, much like the tides they're named for, and demonstrate remarkable adaptability in changing circumstances. While they can be fiercely protective of their traditions and environment, they typically express this through education and collaboration rather than confrontation. Their strength lies in their ability to navigate complex social currents while maintaining their core values of sharing and stewardship.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Aethelwyne emerges from the rich tapestry of Anglo-Saxon England, where Christian and pre-Christian traditions intertwined. The name combines 'aethel' (noble) with 'wyne' (friend), creating a powerful compound that reflected both aristocratic status and the Christian virtue of friendship. During the Christianization of England, names like Aethelwyne represented the fusion of Germanic heroic ideals with Christian values, where nobility was redefined through service and spiritual friendship rather than mere birthright. The name's association with 'friend of the elves' connects to pre-Christian folklore, where elves were often seen as intermediaries between the natural and spiritual worlds, a concept that Christian missionaries sometimes adapted to represent angelic beings or spiritual companions. This dual heritage made Aethelwyne particularly significant in medieval Christian contexts, embodying both earthly nobility and spiritual friendship.



Throughout the Middle Ages, Aethelwyne remained a name of distinction, often borne by women in religious orders or noble households where Christian devotion was valued alongside family prestige. The name's persistence through the Norman Conquest demonstrates its deep roots in English Christian identity, as it continued to be used in monastic records and aristocratic lineages. In later centuries, while less common, it maintained its association with pious nobility and spiritual friendship, often chosen for daughters in families that valued both their Anglo-Saxon heritage and their Christian faith. The name's revival in modern times reflects continued interest in this unique blend of historical depth, spiritual meaning, and cultural heritage.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Aleigha is a modern variation of the Hebrew name Aliyah, which carries deep cultural and religious significance in Jewish tradition. The original Hebrew term 'aliyah' literally means 'ascent' or 'going up' and refers to the immigration of Jews to Israel, as well as the honor of being called up to read from the Torah during synagogue services. This name embodies the concept of spiritual elevation and physical return to the homeland, making it particularly meaningful in Jewish communities. Over time, the name has evolved through various spellings and adaptations while maintaining its core meaning of upward movement and spiritual growth. The modern spelling 'Aleigha' represents a creative adaptation that preserves the original essence while offering a contemporary phonetic appeal. In broader cultural contexts, the name has been embraced by diverse communities who appreciate its beautiful sound and uplifting meaning, transcending its specific religious origins to become a name symbolizing hope and progress across cultures.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Arcas occupies a central position in Greek cultural heritage as the mythological founder of Arcadia, one of the most ancient regions of Greece known for its pastoral ideal and connection to nature. His story represents the Greek understanding of human origins and the relationship between mortals and gods, particularly through his divine parentage as son of Zeus. The transformation of Arcas and his mother Callisto into constellations demonstrates the Greek practice of explaining natural phenomena through mythological narratives, while also exploring themes of family loyalty and eternal bonds. As the namesake and first ruler of Arcadia, he embodies the Greek ideal of living in harmony with nature while establishing civilized society, making him a symbol of both primal connection and cultural foundation.



The cultural impact of Arcas extends beyond mythology into geography, astronomy, and artistic representation throughout Western civilization. The region of Arcadia became synonymous with pastoral paradise in literature and art, influencing Renaissance and Romantic movements. His celestial representation as Ursa Minor provided practical navigation for ancient sailors while reinforcing mythological cosmology. The enduring legacy of Arcas in place names, artistic works, and astronomical references demonstrates how a single mythological figure can shape cultural concepts across millennia, from ancient Greek identity to modern ecological consciousness about humanity's relationship with the natural world.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Bidelia holds significant cultural importance as an Irish feminine name derived from Brighid, one of the most revered figures in Irish mythology and Christianity. Saint Brighid of Kildare, the patron saint of Ireland, was known for her protective nature, hospitality, and strength - qualities that became associated with the name Bidelia. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Bidelia emerged as a distinctive Irish name, particularly in Munster regions, representing both Catholic identity and connection to pre-Christian Celtic traditions. The name carries echoes of the triple goddess Brighid from Celtic mythology, who was associated with healing, poetry, and smithcraft, making Bidelia a name that bridges ancient pagan traditions with Christian Irish heritage.



The name Bidelia also reflects the social history of Ireland, particularly during periods of English domination when Irish names served as markers of cultural resistance. As an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name, Bidelia represents the adaptation and survival of Irish identity under external pressure. In family contexts, naming a daughter Bidelia often signaled connection to specific regional traditions and Catholic devotion, while also honoring the protective, strong female archetype that has been central to Irish culture across centuries of challenge and change.
Individuals named Bonifacio are often perceived as strong-willed, principled, and charismatic leaders with a deep sense of purpose. They tend to possess natural authority and the ability to inspire others, combined with a practical approach to problem-solving. Historically, many notable Bonifacios have demonstrated courage in facing challenges and a commitment to their beliefs, whether in religious, political, or social contexts. These individuals typically exhibit loyalty to their communities and causes, often taking on protective or mentoring roles. While they can be determined and sometimes stubborn in their convictions, they usually balance this strength with compassion and a genuine desire to help others.



The name suggests someone who is reliable in times of crisis and capable of making difficult decisions when necessary. Bonifacios often display a combination of idealism and pragmatismthey dream big but understand the practical steps needed to achieve their goals. They tend to be protective of those under their care and may assume leadership positions naturally. Their strong moral compass guides their actions, and they're often respected for their integrity. However, this same strength of character can sometimes manifest as inflexibility when they believe fundamental principles are at stake. Overall, the name conveys a sense of responsibility, courage, and benevolent leadership.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Brandubh holds significant cultural importance in Irish history and mythology. The name combines 'bran' (raven) and 'dubh' (black), creating a powerful symbolic name that appears in early medieval Irish annals and genealogies. In Celtic tradition, ravens were considered birds of prophecy and warfare, often associated with the Morrigan, the goddess of battle and sovereignty. The name was borne by several historical figures, most notably Brandubh mac Echach, the 6th-century King of Leinster who achieved legendary status for his military victories against the High King of Ireland.



The name's usage among royalty and warriors reflects its association with power, strategy, and mystical insight in early Irish society. Ravens were seen as messengers between worlds in Celtic cosmology, and the 'black raven' specifically symbolized both the ominous aspect of battle and the wisdom of the Otherworld. This dual nature made Brandubh an appropriate name for leaders who needed both martial prowess and strategic intelligence. The name's preservation in historical records demonstrates its importance in the genealogical traditions of prominent Irish families, particularly in Leinster where the Ui Dunlainge dynasty maintained the name across generations.
People named Catelyn are typically associated with a combination of strength, intelligence, and emotional depth. They often exhibit natural leadership qualities and a strong sense of responsibility toward others, particularly family members. The name suggests someone who is both practical and intuitive, able to assess situations accurately while maintaining compassion for those involved. Catelyns are frequently perceived as reliable and trustworthy individuals who value honesty and integrity in their relationships.



These individuals tend to be protective of their loved ones and principled in their actions, often serving as moral compasses in their social circles. They possess a blend of traditional values and modern adaptability, allowing them to navigate complex situations with both wisdom and flexibility. The name carries connotations of resilience and grace under pressure, suggesting someone who can face challenges with determination while maintaining their core values. Catelyns are often seen as pillars of strength in their communities, combining inner fortitude with outward warmth and approachability.
Individuals named Ceneward are typically characterized by strong protective instincts and moral courage. They possess a natural inclination toward leadership and responsibility, often taking on guardian roles in their personal and professional lives. These individuals tend to be principled and steadfast, with a deep sense of duty that guides their decisions. Their boldness is tempered by wisdom, making them strategic rather than reckless in their actions. Cenewards are often seen as pillars of their communities - reliable, honorable, and willing to stand up for what they believe is right.



This personality type combines traditional values with practical action, creating individuals who are both principled and effective in real-world situations. Their protective nature extends beyond physical safety to include emotional support and moral guidance for those in their care. Cenewards typically excel in positions where they can exercise both judgment and authority, often gravitating toward careers in law enforcement, military service, education, or religious leadership. They value stability and tradition but are not afraid to challenge injustice when they encounter it. Their strength lies in their ability to remain calm under pressure and make decisions based on both practical considerations and ethical principles.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Daileass is a distinctly Scottish name with deep roots in the Highland tradition of naming children after natural landmarks. The name specifically references waterfalls, which held significant spiritual and practical importance in Celtic culture. Waterfalls were seen as liminal spaces where the earthly and spiritual worlds met, and many Scottish clans believed waterfalls housed protective spirits. The name was traditionally given to boys born near notable waterfalls or during significant rainfall, symbolizing a connection to the land's natural power and the flowing continuity of clan heritage.



Historically, the name appears in clan records primarily in the Western Highlands and Islands, where Gaelic naming traditions remained strongest. During the 18th and 19th centuries, as many Scots emigrated, the name traveled to North America and Australia, often simplified to 'Dallas' while retaining its Scottish identity. In modern times, there's been a revival of interest in traditional Scottish names like Daileass as part of the broader Celtic cultural renaissance, with families seeking to preserve their heritage through meaningful naming practices.
Individuals named Dalila are commonly associated with a combination of delicate sensitivity and underlying strength. They often possess keen emotional intelligence, allowing them to navigate social situations with grace and understanding. Their thoughtful nature makes them excellent listeners and trusted advisors, while their creative tendencies often manifest in artistic pursuits or innovative problem-solving. Dalilas typically exhibit a balanced approach to life, combining intuition with practical wisdom. They tend to be resilient in facing challenges, using their inner strength to overcome obstacles while maintaining their gentle demeanor. Their personality often reflects the name's essence - appearing soft and approachable while containing depths of character and determination. This balance makes them adaptable to various situations and valued members of their communities, capable of both leading with compassion and following with loyalty.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Eadgyth is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that carries significant historical weight in English and Germanic Christian traditions. The name was particularly prominent among Anglo-Saxon royalty and nobility during the early medieval period, with several notable queens, saints, and abbesses bearing this name. Its Christian significance stems from the many religious women who carried the name while establishing convents, promoting Christianity, and being venerated as saints. The name represents a bridge between pre-Christian Germanic warrior culture and Christian values, embodying the concept of spiritual warfare and the battle for salvation.



During the 10th and 11th centuries, Eadgyth was a name of prestige and power, often given to women of high status who played crucial roles in both political alliances through marriage and religious foundations. The name's survival through various linguistic transformations demonstrates its enduring appeal and the lasting impact of Anglo-Saxon culture on English naming traditions. In Christian context, the name came to symbolize the spiritual battle against sin and the joyful struggle for salvation, making it particularly appropriate for women who dedicated their lives to religious service.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Ellena carries significant Christian cultural heritage through its connection to Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. According to Christian tradition, Saint Helena discovered the True Cross in Jerusalem during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the 4th century, making her one of the most important female saints in Christianity. The name's association with light and beauty reflects both its etymological roots and its spiritual significance in Christian symbolism, where light represents divine truth and enlightenment. Throughout European history, the name has been borne by numerous noblewomen and saints, maintaining its religious and aristocratic connections while evolving into modern variations like Ellena that preserve the original meaning while offering a distinctive spelling.



The name's Christian significance extends beyond Saint Helena to encompass broader themes of faith, devotion, and spiritual discovery. In many Christian communities, the name is chosen to honor the saint's legacy of religious dedication and her role in preserving important Christian relics. The name also appears in various Christian literary works and hymns, often symbolizing virtuous womanhood and spiritual illumination. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the name adapted to local languages and cultures while maintaining its core meaning and religious associations, creating a rich tapestry of variations that all point back to the original concept of 'light' and spiritual beauty.
People named Esra typically exhibit a distinctive blend of intellectual depth and practical wisdom that makes them natural leaders and trusted advisors. They often possess exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, coupled with the ability to see broader patterns and connections. This makes them excellent at synthesizing complex information and creating structured approaches to challenges. Their analytical nature is balanced by strong ethical convictions and a sense of responsibility toward their communities. Esras are often drawn to fields involving education, research, or spiritual guidance, where they can share knowledge and help others find direction. While they may appear reserved initially, they form deep, lasting relationships based on mutual respect and shared values. Their combination of traditional wisdom and modern adaptability allows them to navigate changing circumstances while maintaining core principles. This personality profile reflects the historical Ezra's role as both preserver of tradition and agent of reformsomeone who honors the past while thoughtfully shaping the future.
Women named Faeryn are often described as possessing an ethereal quality combined with strong spiritual depth. They tend to be imaginative, intuitive, and deeply connected to nature and the spiritual realm, often displaying a quiet wisdom that belies their years. Their fairy-inspired name lends them a sense of magic and wonder that they bring to their interactions and creative pursuits, while their Christian upbringing typically grounds them with strong moral principles and compassion.



In social settings, Faeryns are known for their gentle demeanor and ability to see beauty in ordinary things. They often serve as peacemakers and healers in their communities, using their intuitive understanding of others to provide comfort and guidance. While they may appear delicate, they possess an inner strength rooted in their faith that enables them to overcome challenges with grace. Their combination of mystical sensitivity and Christian values makes them uniquely equipped to bridge different perspectives and bring harmony to diverse groups.
Individuals bearing the name Ichabod often develop personality traits that reflect both the name's distinctive nature and its historical-literary associations. They tend to be intellectually curious and academically inclined, with many showing early interest in literature, history, or philosophical subjects. The name's uniqueness often fosters strong individuality and self-awareness, as Ichabods learn from childhood that they carry a name that stands out and invites questions about its origin and meaning. This can lead to either embracing their distinctiveness or developing a thoughtful, introspective nature as they contemplate the weight their name carries.



The biblical meaning 'the glory has departed' and the literary connection to Washington Irving's character create an interesting psychological dynamic. Many Ichabods display a nuanced understanding of transition and change, often showing resilience in adapting to new circumstances while maintaining respect for tradition. They may possess a dry wit or subtle humor, particularly about their unusual name, and often develop strong communication skills to explain and contextualize their identity. While some might initially feel burdened by the name's melancholic origins, most mature into appreciating its depth and historical significance, frequently becoming people who value substance over superficiality and who approach life with both intellectual rigor and emotional depth.
Individuals bearing the Jarvi surname are often perceived as having personality traits that reflect their name's natural origins. They tend to be calm and reflective, with a deep inner strength similar to the still depths of a lake. Like water, they can be adaptable and resilient, capable of navigating different situations with grace while maintaining their core identity. There's often a sense of mystery and depth to their character  they may not reveal everything at first glance, but possess substantial inner resources and wisdom.



Many with this name demonstrate strong connections to family traditions and cultural heritage, valuing stability and continuity. They often exhibit practical intelligence and a grounded approach to life's challenges, combined with an appreciation for nature and outdoor activities. Their emotional nature tends to be steady rather than volatile, though they can experience deep currents of feeling beneath their calm exterior. This combination of traits makes them reliable friends and family members who provide steady support during difficult times. They typically approach problems with thoughtful consideration rather than impulsive reactions, and their presence often has a calming effect on those around them, much like the peaceful atmosphere of a tranquil lakeside setting.
Cultural & Historical Significance

The name John holds profound cultural and historical significance across multiple civilizations and religious traditions. Originating from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious,' it gained prominence through John the Baptist in Christian tradition, who baptized Jesus and prepared the way for his ministry. This biblical connection established John as one of the most important names in Christian history, with numerous saints, popes, and religious figures bearing the name throughout centuries.



Beyond its religious roots, John became a cornerstone name in Western civilization, carried by kings, emperors, and leaders across Europe. In England alone, there were multiple King Johns, including the infamous King John who signed the Magna Carta. The name's versatility and strong biblical associations made it a default choice for generations, leading to its remarkable longevity and cross-cultural adoption. From Russian tsars to American presidents, the name John has maintained its prestige while adapting to local languages and customs, creating a rich tapestry of cultural connections that span continents and millennia.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Judeana carries deep cultural significance rooted in the ancient region of Judea, which was the heartland of Jewish civilization and the setting for many biblical narratives. The name evokes images of historical landscapes, spiritual heritage, and the enduring legacy of one of the world's oldest continuous cultures. As a feminine form, it represents a modern connection to this rich heritage while maintaining the geographical and historical weight of its origins.



The name also symbolizes resilience and cultural preservation, as Judea has been central to Jewish identity through centuries of diaspora and historical challenges. It connects bearers to traditions of faith, learning, and community that have characterized Jewish culture for millennia, while offering a distinctive feminine identity that honors this legacy without being overtly religious. This cultural significance makes Judeana a name that carries both historical depth and contemporary relevance.
Women named Keva are often perceived as compassionate, creative individuals with strong intuitive abilities. They typically exhibit a nurturing nature combined with intellectual curiosity, making them excellent caregivers, educators, or artists. Their personality often balances traditional values with modern perspectives, allowing them to adapt well to changing circumstances while maintaining core principles. This blend of characteristics makes Kevas particularly effective in roles requiring both empathy and analytical thinking.



Kevas are frequently described as having quiet strength and emotional intelligence, enabling them to form deep, meaningful relationships and provide thoughtful guidance to others. They tend to be determined yet gentle in their approach to challenges, demonstrating resilience without sacrificing their inherent kindness. Their name's meaning of 'beautiful child' often manifests in their ability to see and nurture the potential in others, combined with a youthful optimism that persists throughout their lives. This combination of traits typically results in individuals who are both grounded and inspirational to those around them.
Individuals named Kosmy are often perceived as having an innate sense of order and structure, reflecting the name's meaning of 'harmony' and 'universe.' They tend to be analytical thinkers who appreciate systems, patterns, and logical organization in both their personal and professional lives. This systematic approach often makes them excellent problem-solvers who can see the bigger picture while attending to important details. Their personality typically combines intellectual curiosity with practical wisdom, making them both philosophical and grounded.



Many Kosmys exhibit a calm, balanced demeanor and have a natural ability to mediate conflicts and bring harmony to chaotic situations. They often possess a deep appreciation for beauty, science, and the natural world, seeing connections where others might see only disparate elements. This cosmic perspective gives them a certain wisdom and patience, as they understand that everything follows natural rhythms and patterns. While they can be perfectionists at times, their ultimate goal is usually to create harmony and understanding in their relationships and environments, making them valued friends, partners, and colleagues who bring stability and insight to any situation.
Individuals named Mehitahelle typically exhibit a remarkable blend of spiritual depth and practical wisdom that makes them natural centers of stability in their communities. Their name's meaning of 'God's favor' often manifests in a personality characterized by grace under pressure and an ability to see the positive in challenging situations. These women tend to possess strong intuitive capabilities and emotional intelligence, allowing them to understand and support others with unusual perceptiveness. They often demonstrate natural leadership qualities, though they typically lead through inspiration and example rather than overt authority. Mehitahelles are frequently described as having a calming presence and the ability to bring peace to turbulent situations. Their spiritual nature is balanced by practical competence, making them effective at turning ideals into reality. While they may be reserved in unfamiliar settings, they reveal profound insight and warmth to those who earn their trust. The combination of their name's spiritual significance and their lived experience often results in individuals who embody the very concept of grace they're named forshowing kindness, compassion, and wisdom in their interactions with others.
Individuals named Nykko are often perceived as charismatic, determined, and innovative thinkers who combine traditional values with modern perspectives. They typically exhibit natural leadership qualities and a competitive spirit rooted in the name's 'victory' meaning, often excelling in situations that require strategic thinking and perseverance. Their connection to the name Nicholas suggests a inherent generosity and protective nature, particularly toward those in need, while the modern spelling indicates adaptability and willingness to challenge conventions.



Nykko's tend to be socially adept with an ability to connect with diverse groups of people, reflecting the 'people' component of the name's etymology. They often demonstrate creative problem-solving skills and are drawn to fields that allow them to make a positive impact on their communities. While they value achievement and success, they typically balance ambition with compassion, creating a personality profile that is both driven and empathetic. The name's contemporary spelling suggests individuals who are comfortable with innovation and change, often serving as bridges between traditional approaches and new ideas, making them effective in roles that require mediating between established systems and emerging possibilities.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Ozanna occupies a unique position in Arthurian lore as one of the more obscure but intriguing names from the Arthurian cycle. While not as prominent as Lancelot or Gawain, the name appears in various medieval texts, particularly in Welsh Arthurian traditions where it represents the complex web of Celtic mythology that underlies much of the Arthurian legend. The name's appearance in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and other medieval romances suggests it was part of the rich tapestry of knightly names that populated Arthur's court, representing the diverse cultural influences that shaped the Arthurian tradition.



In Welsh mythology and early Arthurian texts, names like Ozanna often carried deeper symbolic meanings related to nature, animals, or spiritual concepts, though the exact significance has been lost over time. The name's rarity in historical records makes it particularly fascinating to Arthurian scholars, as it represents the countless minor characters who populated the Arthurian world and contributed to its richness and complexity. Its preservation in medieval manuscripts indicates it held some importance in the oral traditions that preceded the written Arthurian cycles.
Cultural & Historical Significance

Rouvin is the Yiddish and Hebrew form of Reuben, derived from the biblical figure Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. In Jewish tradition, the name carries significant historical weight as Reuben was the founder of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The name's meaning 'behold a son' reflects the joy and importance of male offspring in ancient Hebrew society, particularly firstborn sons who held special status and inheritance rights.



Throughout Jewish diaspora communities, particularly in Eastern Europe, the name Rouvin became popular among Ashkenazi Jews as a way to maintain cultural and religious connections to biblical heritage while adapting to local linguistic patterns. The name represents continuity of Jewish identity and family lineage across generations, serving as a living link to ancestral traditions while evolving within different cultural contexts. Its persistence through centuries of Jewish history demonstrates the enduring power of biblical names in maintaining cultural cohesion.
The name Royall carries profound symbolic meanings that extend far beyond its literal translation of 'red.' In color symbolism, red represents life force, passion, courage, and vitalityqualities inherently associated with the name's bearers. The connection to red hair in Celtic tradition symbolizes uniqueness and standing out from the crowd, while the ruddy complexion suggests health, outdoor vitality, and connection to the earth. In broader symbolic terms, Royall represents the balance between tradition and innovation, reflecting the Scottish Enlightenment values of rational thought combined with respect for heritage. The name evokes images of autumn's transformative power, the enduring strength of Highland landscapes, and the fiery spirit of Celtic warriors and poets. Symbolically, it suggests someone who combines practical wisdom with creative vision, grounded stability with the courage to lead change. The aristocratic connotations, while subtle, point to natural leadership and responsibility rather than privilegesuggesting that true nobility comes from character and service rather than birthright. This rich symbolic tapestry makes Royall a name that speaks to depth of character, historical continuity, and individual distinction.
Individuals named Sherard are typically perceived as possessing strong leadership qualities, intellectual curiosity, and a natural sense of authority. They often demonstrate strategic thinking and analytical abilities, combined with a quiet confidence that inspires trust in others. The name suggests someone who is principled, reliable, and capable of handling significant responsibility with grace under pressure. Sherards are often seen as traditional yet innovativerespecting established systems while seeking improvements and new approaches.



Their inherent sense of 'valor' manifests not necessarily in physical bravery but in moral courage, persistence in facing challenges, and commitment to their principles even when facing opposition. They tend to be methodical in their decision-making and excel in fields requiring both technical expertise and interpersonal skills. While they may appear reserved initially, Sherards typically form deep, lasting relationships and are known for their loyalty and dependability. Their combination of intellectual rigor and ethical strength makes them particularly effective in leadership roles where both competence and character are essential.
Symbolically, Sruthan embodies the profound Celtic reverence for water as a source of life, wisdom, and transformation. The streaming water metaphor extends to multiple layers of meaning: it represents the continuous flow of cultural tradition from generation to generation, the stream of consciousness that fuels creative expression, and the emotional currents that shape human experience. In Celtic mythology, streams and rivers were often seen as boundary markers between worlds, making Sruthan a name that suggests the ability to navigate different realms of experience - the practical and the mystical, the historical and the contemporary.



The name also carries connotations of purification and renewal, as flowing water naturally cleanses and refreshes whatever it touches. This symbolic cleansing extends to intellectual and spiritual realms, suggesting that bearers of this name may have a talent for clarifying complex ideas or helping others achieve emotional catharsis. The persistent nature of streaming water, which gradually shapes landscapes over time, symbolizes the power of sustained creative effort and cultural continuity. In a broader sense, Sruthan represents the idea that true strength lies not in resistance but in adaptive persistence - the ability to maintain essential identity while flowing around obstacles, much like water finding its path to the sea.
Individuals named Twyford are often perceived as natural connectors and bridge-builders, possessing an innate ability to bring people together and facilitate understanding between different perspectives. Their personality typically reflects the name's watery origins - adaptable yet persistent, flowing around obstacles while maintaining direction toward their goals. They tend to be practical problem-solvers who excel in situations requiring mediation and the joining of disparate elements.



The dual nature suggested by 'two fords' often manifests as balanced individuals who can navigate between emotional and logical thinking, tradition and innovation, or individual needs and community welfare. This makes them particularly effective in leadership roles where multiple interests must be harmonized. Their connection to water symbolism also suggests depth of character, emotional intuition, and the ability to refresh and renew situations that have become stagnant or conflicted. They are often seen as steady anchors in turbulent times, much like reliable fords in changing river conditions.
Ekron Under Assyrian Rule

Overview of olive oil industrial zone, city wall and three-way entry gate at Tel Miqne From Sy Gitin. ( Ilan Stulman) Few sites have a more diverse archaeological repertoire than Ekron. Located on the Judean frontier, this Philistine city was subject to many cultural influences that shaped its history and people. Ekron was one of the five major Philistine capital cities often referred to as the Pentapolis.

Ekron's story is fascinating. In the Iron Age, it was the final of three Philistine cities that held the ark of the covenant. In the late eighth century BC, Ekron was controlled by Judean King Hezekiah, and then later dominated the trade of olive oil under the Assyrian Empire. Ekron's significant archaeological remains show that the Philistines were a well-known people for much longer than initially believed and that culturally they had a talent for adapting to the people around them.

Ekron, or what is Tel Miqne today, is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of Jerusalem, near Kibbutz Revadim, in the Judean lowlands. It was excavated over 14 seasons between 1981 and 1996 by archaeologists Prof. Seymour Gitin of the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research and the late Prof. Trude Dothan of Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Since 1996, the primary focus has been on publishing the many remarkable finds from this fascinating site.

Let's dig in.

Early Ekron--Migration of the Philistines

The biblical text records that during Israel's conquest of the Promised Land "Ekron, with its towns and its villages" was allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:12, 45) but later transferred to Dan (Joshua 19:40, 43).

In addition to the many later Iron Age discoveries, excavations revealed evidence of occupation from the Chalcolithic to Late Bronze Age, which was earlier than the excavators expected. Some of the earliest strata contain Canaanite remains with imported Mycenaean and Cypriot pottery, revealing far-reaching international trade before the 12th century BC (the Late Bronze Age). No fortifications surrounded the city at this time.

Then a stark change occurs: In the next layer, the pottery shifts from the imported pottery of the Late Bronze Age to locally produced Mycenaean pottery of Iron Age i. Local production of the pottery is evidenced by a number of kilns found in the city's southern industrial region.

This change marked the beginning of a foreign migration into the southern coastal region of the Levant at the start of the 12th century BC This change, and the destruction associated with the previous layer, reveal the main influx of the Philistines into the region. The transition takes place around the same time the Peleset Sea People (often associated with the Philistines) are first mentioned by Ramesses iii in the beginning of the 12th century BC Incidentally, a large portion of the animal bones found at Iron i Ekron were of pigs--common to all Philistine sites. Several pebbled hearths in the domestic area also reveal a Philistine presence, as this is a typical feature of Philistine culture.

The first layer of the clear Philistine occupation (Stratum vii) reveals that they inhabited all 50 acres of the tell, including the upper 10-acre acropolis at the northeast corner of the mound.

Analyzing the pottery finds from the site, Professor Dothan wrote that "the distinctly Mycenaean characteristics of this locally made pottery show the Sea People's strong inclination to re-create in Canaan--at least in their pottery--the home environment of the Aegean world they came from." The Aegean includes parts of Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Syria and Turkey. This parallels Amos 9:7, which says the Philistines came from "Caphtor," which is identified with the island of Crete; dna analysis on Philistine skeletons has also confirmed this.

As the Philistines migrated, they did not lose their connection with their homeland. The Aegean origin of the inhabitants of Ekron is corroborated by many of the finds around Tel Miqne.

Olive oil installation--composed of a crushing basin flanked by two presses. Opposite each press are perforated stone weights. From Sy Gitin. ( Ilan Stulman)

David's Destruction?

Following the period of the judges, Ekron and the other Philistine cities were subdued by the Israelites in the battle that resulted in the death of Goliath (1 Samuel 7:14). Although Israel successfully defeated the Philistines, the archaeological record suggests Israel didn't destroy or maintain a presence in the city. 1 Samuel 17 records that the Philistines came up against Israel during the reign of King Saul (late 11th century BC) but were defeated and driven back to Ekron and Shaaraim.

Like some of its neighboring cities, archaeological evidence shows that Ekron was completely destroyed between 1000 and 975 BC, either by Pharaoh Siamun of Egypt or the Israelites under King David. Professor Gitin believes we can confidently identify Ekron's destroyer: "No doubt the decline in the fortunes of Ekron was related to the ascendancy of David and his son Solomon and to the fact that Israel was now able to dominate the Philistines."

After this destruction, Ekron became greatly diminished in size and power. It shrunk from a 50-acre city to a 10-acre acropolis at the northeastern corner. This event marked the end of the Iron i city. It remained a small, relatively inconsequential settlement for the next 270 years.

Because the monochrome and bichrome Philistine wares and hearths disappear in the post-1000 BC layers of strata iii-ii, scholars believed this was evidence that the Philistine occupation of the southern coast ended. Many believed, at this point, the Philistines became lost to history. Professor Gitin disagrees.

In "Excavating Ekron," Gitin wrote, "As the archaeological evidence piled up ... it became clear that the Philistines continued to exist, although they had adopted features of other cultures" (emphasis added throughout). This is just another example of a pattern that Professor Gitin identified. The Philistine inhabitants of Ekron had a talent for what he calls acculturation and continuation: They adopted the characteristics of their subjugators.

"Between about 1000 BC and the late seventh century BC, the Philistines survived and sometimes thrived, absorbing cultural characteristics of their neighbors--the Israelites, the Phoenicians and, finally, the Assyrians," he wrote.

After roughly 270 years of relative obscurity, the city of Ekron flourished again under the Assyrians.

Ekron, Assyria and Hezekiah

To understand Ekron in the seventh century BC, it is important to consider it in the context of Assyria. Several societies or cultures collide in Ekron under the Assyrian Empire.

The Neo-Assyrian Empire started to invade the land of Israel in the latter half of the eighth century BC It conquered Samaria between 721 and 718 BC before setting its sights on Judah.

It appears Ekron was first sieged in 721 BC by Sargon ii, as shown on his wall reliefs at Khorsabad. A wall relief mentions Ekron by its Assyrian name, Amqarruna, and specifically speaks of the Palastu (Philistines) who lived there. The fact that the Assyrians mention the Philistines and their cities by name "indicates that the Philistines were still recognized as a distinct group with their own land and cities as late as the seventh century," wrote Gitin.

Toward the end of the eighth century BC, Ekron was sieged by another Assyrian king, Sennacherib. This too was documented. On his prism inscriptions, Sennacherib described the story of Padi, the Assyrian-installed ruler of Ekron who was put "into fetters of iron and given over to Hezekiah, the Jew" by the "officials, nobles and people of Ekron" when King Hezekiah conquered the city (2 Kings 18:8). Sennacherib then marched against Ekron on his campaign into Judah. "I drew near to Ekron and slew the governors and nobles who had rebelled," Sennacherib recorded.

Archaeology attests to this recorded history. A small occupation layer dated to around 700 BC shows that the long-abandoned lower city was used for a short period before the Assyrian hegemony associated with the final stratum. This is interesting, as it lines up with Hezekiah's occupation of Ekron described by the Assyrians.

More evidence of this was found in three storage jars in the upper acropolis that contained lmlk inscriptions, which means "belonging to the king." Such inscriptions are typical of the late eighth-century reign of Hezekiah. (For more information, see "'To the King' Seals Point to Hezekiah"). The presence of these jars provide additional proof that Hezekiah did, in fact, have some measure of control over Ekron.
Deccan Gold Mines has announced a strategic investment in a tungsten exploration project in Spain, marking the company's entry into a critical minerals asset in Europe amid tightening global supply conditions. The Bengaluru-and Mumbai-based company said it has acquired an initial stake in the Logrosan tungsten project in western Spain, with an option to increase its ownership to up to 75 per cent before production commences. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Deccan Gold Mines said the investment aligns with its long-term strategy to build a diversified international portfolio focused on minerals essential to modern industrial economies. Logrosan is an early-stage exploration asset located in a mineral-rich region with known occurrences of tungsten, tin, rare earth elements and gold. Deccan Gold said ongoing exploration and drilling could allow the conversion of existing mineralisation into defined mineral resources within one to two years, subject to technical studies and regulatory approvals. Spain has emerged as a strategic destination for critical minerals in Europe, supported by a favourable conditions, competitive operating costs, established infrastructure and proximity to industrial markets. The country also does not levy production-based mining royalties, a factor that has drawn growing interest as Europe seeks to secure diversified supply chains for strategic raw materials. Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral by major economies due to its use in defence, aerospace, cutting tools, electronics and high-temperature alloys. More than 80% of global tungsten supply is currently dominated by China, heightening concerns over supply security and increasing demand for alternative sources. "Our entry into the Logrosan tungsten project reflects Deccan Gold's long-term vision of building a globally relevant portfolio in minerals that are critical to modern economies," Managing Director Hanuma Prasad Modali said, according to a release. "Tungsten sits at the intersection of national security, advanced manufacturing and industrial resilience." Early exploration and limited drilling at Logrosan have produced encouraging results, including intersections of 3 metres at 0.42% tungsten trioxide (WO) and 8 metres at 0.32% WO. Isolated high-grade gold intercepts, including 1 metre at 96.2 grams per tonne, have also been reported. Deccan Gold said the broader region offers potential upside from associated gold and rare earth element targets, including the nearby Maria Gold Project. Maria is considered a prospective near-surface gold and antimony system, with historical work and recent sampling identifying gold anomalies. The company added that its technical expertise in gold exploration and resource evaluation is transferable to tungsten systems, given similarities in geological settings and mineralisation styles. Deccan Gold Mines holds exploration assets across India and overseas, including projects in Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan, Finland and Spain, and is positioning itself to benefit from rising global demand for critical minerals. (ANI)
A non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai. The MoU was signed by Rajat Kumar, Secretary (Commerce & Industries), Government of Chhattisgarh and Rajeev Kumar Singhal, Director (Business Development), GAIL (India) Limited.

As per the MoU, GAIL will undertake detailed techno-economic studies to set up a urea manufacturing plant of 12.7 Lacs Metric Ton (LMT), to be strategically located along GAIL's Mumbai-Nagpur-Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline (MNJPL) corridor.

Based on the techno-economic evaluation, an investment decision will be taken for setting up the fertiliser project by GAIL.

The Government of Chhattisgarh will provide facilitation across all stages of the project, including support for feasibility studies, identification and allocation of suitable land parcels, coordination with State and Central authorities, facilitation for statutory approvals and enabling infrastructure necessary for project implementation. (ANI)
Axis Bank launches Digital Merchant Cash Advance Loans for MSMEs. According to a release from Axis Bank, this new service provides unsecured loans to micro and small businesses across the country. These loans range from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. This is the first of its kind in the industry and focuses on the daily cash flow of a business. It is designed to help small merchants, like retail shops, get the money they need quickly for their daily work. The bank uses a fully digital process to decide who can get a loan. Instead of looking at traditional financial papers or old statements, the bank uses cash-flow intelligence and other digital data to check eligibility. This system allows merchants to get a credit decision in just a few minutes after they apply. Once the bank approves the loan, the money is sent to the merchant within a few days. The bank also provides current account services to these customers to make the entire process smooth from start to finish. The repayment system is built to help small shops manage their money without stress. Merchants do not have to pay large monthly amounts. Instead, the bank collects repayments through small everyday instalments. This means the payments are linked to the actual daily sales of the shop. This Everyday Instalment (EDI) model gives merchants more flexibility and helps them keep enough money in their business for daily needs. It ensures that the business stays stable while the loan is being paid back. Vijay Shetty, President and Head of the Commercial Banking Group at Axis Bank, said, "Digital Merchant Cash Advance Loans bring instant credit facility and current accounts together into one seamless, digital solution, supported by flexible daily repayments aligned to merchants' business needs." He also explained that the bank wants to use data to help more small businesses get the funds they require. He said, "By leveraging cash-flow-based underwriting, we aim to make timely funding more accessible for MSMEs." This new service helps businesses that often find it hard to get formal credit because they do not have property to give as a guarantee. It also assists those who may not have traditional financial records. Axis Bank aims to reach more small businesses across India by offering this fast and reliable way to get credit. Shetty added, "This launch is a significant step in advancing our data-driven lending and reinforcing our commitment to empower India's MSMEs with simple, fast and reliable credit." Merchants who are interested in the Merchant Cash Advance can visit their nearest Axis Bank branch or check the bank's website for more details. (ANI)
As part of the initiative, RBI will conduct open market operation (OMO) purchase auctions of Government of India securities worth Rs 2 lakh crore.

"The purchases will be carried out in four equal tranches of Rs 50,000 crore each, scheduled for December 29, 2025; January 5, 2026; January 12, 2026; and January 22, 2026," the RBI said.

In addition, the RBI will hold a USD/INR buy/sell swap auction of USD 10 billion with a tenor of three years on January 13, 2026, aimed at easing liquidity pressures and supporting orderly market conditions.

Further, RBI noted that detailed instructions for each of these operations will be issued separately.

It also reiterated that it will continue to closely monitor evolving liquidity and market conditions and take appropriate steps as required to ensure stability in the financial system.

The announcement underscores the central bank's continued reliance on OMOs to manage liquidity and maintain orderly conditions in government securities markets.

Earlier this month, RBI had announced to conduct two OMO purchase auctions of Government of India securities, each worth Rs 50,000 crore, on December 11 and December 18, bringing the total planned infusion through OMOs to Rs 1,00,000 crore.

Additionally, the RBI also said to undertake a USD/INR Buy/Sell Swap auction of USD 5 billion with a three-year tenor on December 16, 2025. (ANI)
The Ministry of Coal on Tuesday opened the bids for the 14th round of Commercial Coal Blocks' Auction, witnessing encouraging participation from industry stakeholders. Bids were received for 24 coal blocks out of the 41 blocks offered in this round, reflecting sustained industry interest in India's commercial coal mining framework, it said in a statement. Out of the 41 coal blocks offered in this round, bids were received for 24 blocks, with a total of 49 bids submitted. The bidding process was conducted through a transparent hybrid mechanism, wherein online bids were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of bidders. This was followed by the opening of sealed envelopes containing offline bid documents, also in the presence of bidders. The entire process was displayed live on screen to ensure complete transparency. A total of 11 companies participated in the auction, including five new entrants bidding for the first time under the commercial coal mining regime. The entry of new players highlights growing industry confidence in the policy framework and the expanding opportunities within India's coal sector. The Ministry of Coal stated that the bids will now be evaluated by a multi-disciplinary Technical Evaluation Committee. Bidders who are found technically qualified will be shortlisted for participation in the subsequent electronic auction, which will be conducted on the MSTC portal. The sustained response to commercial coal block auctions underscores the pivotal role of the coal sector in supporting industrial growth, strengthening energy security, and contributing to India's broader economic momentum as the country progresses towards becoming the world's third-largest economy. (ANI)
Armed Groups and Security Vacuums Block Assyrians' Return to the Nineveh Plains

North Iraq -- More than a decade after the Islamic State's assault on northern Iraq fractured the region's demographic landscape, the Christian communities of the Nineveh Plains remain largely displaced, unable to return to their ancestral homes due to the lingering dominance of irregular armed groups and a pervasive lack of security assurance.

According to a new report by Kurdistan24's correspondent Derman Ba'adri, over 11 years have passed since the jihadist group's offensive in 2014, yet a significant number of displaced Christians have not resettled in their places of origin.

The reluctance to return is driven primarily by a deep-seated feeling of instability and the continued control of local territories by various armed factions, which has prevented the restoration of normal civilian life in towns such as Hamdaniya and the sub-district of Alqosh in Shekhan District.

The ongoing displacement crisis highlights the gap between the military defeat of ISIS and the restoration of civil authority.

While major combat operations concluded years ago, the security architecture in the Nineveh Plains remains fragmented. Residents and activists describe a reality where the presence of "several different forces" creates an environment of uncertainty that makes the prospect of homecoming untenable for families now living in limbo.

Ramzi Isho, a displaced citizen who spoke to Kurdistan24 correspondent, articulated the collective despair of a community that once viewed their displacement as a temporary disruption.

"We thought it would be a month, 2 or 3 months, and we would return; but now we no longer have faith in returning," Isho said.

His testimony reflects a broader psychological shift among the displaced, who have moved from anticipating a quick return to accepting indefinite exile.

Isho noted that the violence has touched his community personally, stating, "Several of our relatives have also become victims of violence." This legacy of trauma, compounded by the current lack of state control, has eroded confidence in the guarantees offered by authorities.

Diana Botani, another displaced citizen interviewed for the report, emphasized the absence of safety guarantees.

"There is no complete assurance for returning," Botani stated. She pointed specifically to the militarization of the local landscape as the primary deterrent. "The presence of armed groups in the area has made people not feel stability. Citizens in those areas cannot visit their homes and properties with certainty due to the presence of several different forces."

The situation on the ground was corroborated by Amir Alqoshi, a Christian activist monitoring the region.

Alqoshi emphasized that the Christian-inhabited areas of the Nineveh Plains are effectively under the control of armed groups. Consequently, an unstable security situation continues to prevail, preventing the re-establishment of the minority community's footprint in the region.

The demographic impact of this prolonged instability has been severe.

Before the ISIS attack in 2014, the number of Christians in the Nineveh Plains, particularly in the eastern sector, exceeded 100,000 people. However, the conflict spurred a mass exodus, with approximately 70,000 Christians leaving the area in the wake of the violence.

Despite the passing of more than a decade, the rate of return remains modest relative to the scale of the displacement.

According to the latest statistics cited in the report, only about 30,000 families have returned to the area. This figure underscores the difficulty of reversing the demographic shifts caused by the 2014 conflict when security conditions remain unconducive to civilian life.

The structural nature of these barriers was highlighted by new investigations conducted in 2024 by international and local organizations.

These inquiries concluded that, despite the official end of the war against ISIS, the "complexity of security control" in the Nineveh Plains remains the single biggest obstacle to stabilization and return. The findings suggest that the proliferation of various security actors has created a jurisdictional and operational maze that deters civilians from reclaiming their lives.

In addition to the paramount security concerns, the Christian community is facing compounding economic challenges.

The financial situation, coupled with a lack of basic services and employment opportunities, is driving the displaced population further away. Rather than attempting to navigate the complex security environment of the Nineveh Plains, many Christians are opting for emigration.

Displaced families are increasingly turning toward European countries and the United States as viable alternatives to returning to their places of origin in Hamdaniya District and other parts of the Nineveh Plains.

The lack of economic prospects, when combined with the security vacuum, has made the difficult choice of leaving Iraq entirely more attractive than the risks associated with returning to a home controlled by armed militias.

As the years since the 2014 atrocities mount, the window for preserving the Christian presence in the Nineveh Plains appears to be narrowing.

With armed groups maintaining their grip on the territory and trust in the restoration of order diminishing, the temporary displacement of a historic community is increasingly hardening into a permanent demographic loss for the region.
The legendary Dharmendra passed away last month, weeks before the release of his film 'Ikkis', leaving a deep void among his family, fans, and well-wishers. As 'Ikkis' director Sriram Raghavan recalls, Dharmendra never got the chance to watch the film completed or the appreciation that his performance would have received; it won't be wrong to say that his absence will bring an added weight to 'Ikkis' - turning it into an emotional farewell to the icon. Speaking to ANI, Sriram Raghavan opened up about Dharmendra's association with the upcoming war biopic, which features Agastya Nanda in the lead as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. Recalling that Dharmendra was already unwell during the final dubbing sessions in October, Raghavan shared, "I met him in October. That time he was okay, but he was not too well. He did watch the first half and waited for the second half. I wanted him to see the film in its entirety. Somehow, that couldn't happen. He is not here to enjoy the work he had done, and people appreciate that. That is a regret we have." In a few recollections, the 'Badlapur' director revealed how Dharmendra used to write dialogues in Urdu before the shoot. "He's old school. He would write his dialogues in Urdu. And he would also write the core actor's dialogues. He was extremely well-prepared," he added. Producer Dinesh Vijan mentioned that Dharmendra's family is yet to watch 'Ikkis'. "I think they'll only cry. I just wish our kids could love us as much as they love him. It was heartbreaking to see them. But it was also beautiful. Because that's how you should love your father," Vijan told ANI. Veteran star Dharmendra passed away on November 24 in Mumbai, leaving the Deol family deeply affected. 'Ikkis', which marks Dharmendra's posthumous screen appearance, is set to release on January 1, 2026. Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan, 'Ikkis' is a war biopic based on Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice on a plea seeking a ban on the upcoming web series titled 'UP 77', which is reportedly based on the life of gangster Vikas Dubey. The petition was filed ahead of the series' scheduled release on December 25, 2025. The plea alleges that the series deals with sensitive events that are still under legal and public scrutiny. The matter was taken up by Justice Sachin Datta, who issued a notice to the Union government and the producers of the web series. The matter will be heard on Wednesday. The petition has been filed by Vikas Dubey's widow, Richa, under Article 226 of the Constitution. She is represented by Advocate Azra Khan. The petitioner has asked the court to halt the certification, release, streaming, promotion, and exhibition of the series, which is set to be released on the OTT platform Waves OTT. The plea alleges that no written, oral, or implied consent was ever sought or obtained from the petitioner for portraying identifiable characters, names, relationships, incidents, and private events connected with her and her family. It is claimed that the series sensationalises and fictionalises deeply private aspects of her life, including incidents within the marital home and events following her husband's death, resulting in a grave invasion of her privacy, dignity, and reputation, which are protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petition further states that the makers of the series have publicly promoted it as being "based on true events," "inspired by real incidents," and a "real-life story." Reference has been made to promotional clips and social media posts uploaded on the official Instagram handle of the OTT platform, which, according to the petitioner, unmistakably depict her deceased husband, his alleged activities and death, as well as her marital relationship, family life, and private interactions, without authorisation. Dubey was gunned down by the Uttar Pradesh Police in 2020 in an encounter killing, when as he allegedly tried to flee from their custody. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari on Monday stated that the discussion on the "150 years of Vande Mataram" in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly marked a historical day for the House. "Today is a historic day for the House. A discussion is taking place on Vande Mataram, which has a very significant history in our country's freedom struggle...Today, a very meaningful discussion on it has taken place in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. This in itself is a very historic day," Danish Azad Ansari said. Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that chanting Vande Mataram is like chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jay' while affirming that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country is moving forward and expressed confidence that in the coming times, everyone, be it "from the Hindu or Muslim community, will raise the slogan of Vande Mataram". "Reciting 'Vande Mataram' is like saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. Every patriot feels especially energised by raising this slogan. Under PM Modi's leadership, the country is moving forward. We are confident that in the coming times, everyone, be it Hindus or Muslims, will raise the slogan of Vande Mataram," Maurya told ANI. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak participated in the special discussion marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Participating in the debate, Pathak strongly criticised the Samajwadi Party, accusing it of practising appeasement politics and distancing itself from national values. Meanwhile, the 150th anniversary of India's National Song, Vande Mataram, was observed on November 7 this year. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, 'Vande Mataram' was first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875. Later, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee incorporated the hymn into his immortal novel 'Anandamath', published in 1882. It was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore. It has become an integral part of the nation's civilisational, political and cultural consciousness. (ANI)
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday criticised the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Aravalli Hills row, saying that they should urge the Supreme Court for the protection of biodiversity. Speaking to ANI, Sachin Pilot said, "We will have to urge the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, because the four governments in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are all BJP governments. The central government is also the BJP. So, when there are four engines working together, then they should urge the court to provide protection and ensure that the expansion of the desert stops, pollution stops, and our biodiversity is protected." The Congress leader cited ecological disturbances being caused by illegal mining, underlining that the Aravalli Hills provide protection to the entire NCR region. "Our entire ecology will be disturbed, and the Aravalli range provides protection to the entire NCR. If we allow illegal mining to continue, what will we leave behind for our future generations? On 26th, in Jaipur, the student union and all our colleagues are organising a march to seek support for protecting the Aravalli range," Pilot said. Taking a swipe at the BJP, he emphasised that the government has been negligent towards the Aravalli Hills issue and bears no responsibility whatsoever. He also said that the opposition is set to hold a march in Jaipur on December 26 to highlight the issue. "The government has been completely exposed on the Aravalli issue. The direction they are heading in makes it clear that they bear no responsibility toward our mountain range. If we destroy it, who will be held accountable?... The government is going to court and accepting things that lead to the end of the Aravalli--we oppose that. We will hold a march in Jaipur on December 26..." he said. Meanwhile, the Union Environment Ministry has also issued a detailed clarification, stating that no new mining leases will be allowed until a comprehensive study is undertaken, in line with the Supreme Court's November 20 order. The Supreme Court has directed the Environment Ministry to prepare a Mining Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli range before granting any new leases. With the definition now operational, the court has ordered that no fresh mining leases be issued until the MPSM is finalised, a move officials say acts as a preventive shield against immediate ecological damage. The Aravalli range is a 670-kilometre-long mountain range in the north-western part of India. The highest elevation of the range has been recorded at 1,722 metres. The hill starts near Delhi, passes through Haryana, Rajasthan, and ends in Gujarat. The highest peak of the range is known as Guru Shikhar, in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The Aravalli range is the oldest fold-mountain belt in India, dating back around 2 billion years. (ANI)
A doctor at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), Shimla, has been suspended indefinitely after a video showing him assaulting a patient inside a hospital ward went viral on social media. Acting swiftly, the state government and hospital administration also constituted a high-level inquiry committee and directed the doctor to report to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Shimla headquarters, until further orders. Speaking to ANI, Naresh Dashta, a relative of the patient, alleged that the incident involved their relative Arjun Pawar, a resident of Cheta village in the Kupi area of Chaupal. Dashta said Arjun Pawar had come to IGMC for an endoscopy procedure and was an IPD patient. "The doctor gave him a date for an endoscopy. After the procedure, he was told that he was facing chest-related issues and was advised to rest for two hours in the Pulmonary Department. When he went there and lay down on a vacant bed, hospital staff were fitting an oxygen mask," Dashta said. He alleged that a senior resident doctor named Raghav and another doctor in the Pulmonary Department behaved rudely with the patient. "They spoke badly to Arjun Pawar. He is a teacher and has never misbehaved with anyone. When he told the doctor that he had been referred there for rest, the doctor continued misbehaving. When Arjun Pawar requested him to speak politely, the doctor responded offensively," Dashta said. Referring to the viral video, Dashta added, "You have seen in the video how a patient on oxygen, who was bedridden, was beaten. Another doctor held his legs, and the patient started bleeding. This is nothing short of an attempt to murder. We demand that the police register an attempt-to-murder case against the doctor." He further claimed that complaints against the same doctor had earlier been made on the Chief Minister's Helpline. "Because of one such doctor, the entire IGMC is being defamed. There are many good doctors in IGMC who behave well, but such incidents bring shame to the institution and the state," Dashta said. Dashta also warned of protests if strict action was not taken. "We demanded his suspension within an hour. If the police do not arrest him today, we will stage a protest outside the SP office. We want a fair inquiry committee with public representatives included. The patient is currently stable and undergoing treatment, but investigations are still going on," he added. Meanwhile, Dr. Rahul Rao, Medical Superintendent, IGMC Shimla, told ANI that the incident occurred in the Pulmonary Medicine Department when a patient came for a bronchoscopy. "The patient had come for a bronchoscopy and was advised to rest for two hours after the procedure. He went to the ward. As per hospital protocol, only indoor admitted patients are allowed in the ward. During this time, there was an argument and some pushing between the senior resident doctor and the patient," Dr Rao said. He added that the matter was immediately brought to the notice of the Head of the Pulmonary Department, the Deputy Medical Superintendent, and other senior officials. "The government took cognisance of the issue and directed us to take immediate action. As per the orders of the Chief Minister and Health Minister, we submitted our report to the government," Dr Rao said. "Following government instructions, the doctor has been suspended, and his headquarters have been fixed at the Directorate of Medical Education, where he has been asked to report. A high-power committee has also been constituted to investigate the matter. We are conducting the inquiry in a fair and transparent manner, and no one will be protected," he added. Dr Rao further stated that the decision was taken within hours. "We came to know about the incident between 1:00 and 1:30 pm. A committee was formed, and by around 6:00 pm, the government issued directions. Within four hours, a decision was taken. We do not cover up any complaints and always act promptly on written complaints," he said. He also clarified that resident doctors had gathered briefly outside the A-Block but dispersed after appeals from hospital authorities. "This is a large hospital, and we need cooperation from everyone. We are making every effort to ensure better patient care and transparency," Dr Rao added. The high-level committee will now investigate the incident in detail, and further action will be taken based on its findings. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday emphasised the implementation of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and strengthening the multimodal corridors connecting the North Eastern region with the rest of India and neighbouring countries. According to CMO Tripura, he also stressed that the region should be developed as a gateway to the Bay of Bengal and ASEAN countries through integrated logistics hubs, freight rail, and integrated energy and digital infrastructure. CM Saha made these remarks during the third meeting of the High-Level Task Force for Infrastructure and Connectivity Development in the North Eastern States. Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia virtually chaired the meeting. In addition to the Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), senior officials from the DoNER Ministry and the North Eastern States, including Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, were present and participated in the discussions. According to CMO Tripura, Tripura Industries and Commerce Secretary Kiran Gitte, Planning Secretary L. T. Darlong, Industries and Commerce Director Dr. Deepak Kumar, and other senior officials attended the virtual meeting held in the conference hall of the Tripura Institution for Transformation office. During the meeting, Saha noted that states in the Northeastern region have significant growth and developmental potential. In this regard, the Northeastern states will need to work collectively to further develop their infrastructure and communication systems. The Chief Minister stated that it is necessary to take coordinated steps to address the challenges faced by the North Eastern states in road, rail, air, waterways, electricity, gas, and digital connectivity. He also presented a comprehensive outline of the Task Force's proposed strategy for developing infrastructure and communication systems in the North-Eastern states. He said this outline was prepared by considering the region's current infrastructure, identifying constraints, and keeping future requirements in mind. During the meeting, the Chief Minister laid special emphasis on identifying priority areas for the development of the North Eastern states, including regional infrastructure macro-grids, power, oil, natural gas, tourism, border trade space, etc., and presented the proposed outline for the development of these areas through the report. The Chief Minister expressed hope that, with the combined efforts of the North Eastern states and coordination between the Centre and the states, the development and improvement of connectivity in the North Eastern region will make it a gateway to South East Asia. In the meeting, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia highly appreciated CM Manik Saha and the state government for the extensive preparation, integrated planning, and foresight reflected in the Task Force's report. (ANI)
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, stating that targeted attacks are a "stain on humanity" and the mistreatment of Hindus in Bangladesh is concerning. On the unrest and atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, Giriraj Singh says, "This incident in Bangladesh is not a surprising event for the entire world. This is the reality there. First in Pakistan and now in Bangladesh, the persecution of Hindus is a huge stain on humanity. The whole world is heartbroken by this." On Monday, the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his "immediate and urgent intervention" to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian medical students currently stranded in Bangladesh amid the escalating anti-India sentiments in the neighbouring country. In the letter, the Indian Medical Student Body highlighted that the students and their families have been facing distressing and unsafe conditions, resulting in significant fear, anxiety, and emotional distress, emphasising that Indian students studying abroad rely on the Government of India for protection and support during crises. "On behalf of the All India Medical Students' Association (AIMSA), we respectfully seek your immediate and urgent intervention concerning the safety and well-being of Indian medical students currently stranded in Bangladesh. AIMSA has been receiving serious and distressing communications from students and their families regarding the unsafe and uncertain conditions under which these students are presently living," the letter read. "Their security remains vulnerable, leading to immense fear, anxiety, and emotional distress among the students as well as their families in India. Indian medical students pursue education overseas with deep trust in the Government of India and the assurance that the nation will stand firmly by them in times of crisis," it added. AIMSA further urged the Prime Minister to coordinate with the Minister of External Affairs and Indian missions in Bangladesh to ensure immediate safety and protection of all stranded Indian medical students, strengthen on-ground support and assistance through the Indian Embassy and related missions, and provide timely, clear, and transparent communication with the students and their families. The association also stressed the urgency of the situation and requested that the matter be treated as a top-priority emergency to safeguard the students' lives, dignity, and future. This appeal comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Indian students in Bangladesh, amid the increasing anti-India elements and slogans across the country, which were initiated by political or politically linked groups calling for the return of the former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted last year following the July Uprising, toppling her regime. The elements were also fuelled by the killing of Inquilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, who was a prominent figure in the 'July Uprising', who was shot in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. Sharif Osman Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw. On December 15, he was airlifted to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced treatment, but later succumbed to his injuries on December 18.Following his death, protests broke out in Dhaka, as the supporters of the Inquilab Moncho called for justice for their slain leader, with the Chief Adviser of the interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, announcing a national day of mourning on Saturday, December 20. Hadi was also being considered as a potential Dhaka-8 candidate for the February 2026 national election. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday remembered former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, paying tribute to his lifelong commitment to the welfare, dignity and empowerment of farmers. Extending greetings on National Farmers' Day, CM Dhami said Chaudhary Charan Singh dedicated his entire life to safeguarding the rights and interests of farmers and placing agriculture and rural development at the centre of national policymaking. "On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of the country, 'Bharat Ratna' Chaudhary Charan Singh ji, the empowered and fearless voice of farmers, countless salutations. Placing agriculture, rural India, and farmer dignity at the centre of policies and decisions, he struggled throughout his life for the rights, pride, and empowerment of the food providers," the Chief Minister said. CM Dhami also extended greetings to farmers across the country on the occasion of National Farmers' Day and reiterated the commitment of the Uttarakhand government towards farmer welfare. "Heartfelt greetings to all food providers and farmers on National Farmers' Day. Our government is committed and working towards the welfare, respect, and empowerment of farmers," he added. December 23 is observed as Kisan Diwas, or National Farmers' Day, across the country to recognise the invaluable contribution of farmers to India's social and economic fabric. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India, who is widely regarded as a champion of farmers' rights and rural upliftment. Along with CM Dhami, several political leaders across the country paid tribute to Chaudhary Charan Singh on the occasion. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also remembered the late Prime Minister, describing him as a leader who remained dedicated throughout his life to the welfare of farmers. Chauhan said Singh's ideas and principles continue to remain relevant in India's journey towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation. "On the birth anniversary of the messiah of farmers, former Prime Minister, 'Bharat Ratna' revered Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji, who remained dedicated throughout his life to the welfare of farmers, millions of salutations and heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all farmer brothers and sisters on National Farmers' Day! His thoughts will always remain relevant in the creation of a developed and self-reliant India. Your life dedicated to national upliftment and the welfare of farmers will forever inspire the countrymen for the well-being of the food providers and the development of rural areas. Repeated obeisance at the feet of revered Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji!" said Chauhan. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also paid tribute, highlighting Chaudhary Charan Singh's role in shaping India's agrarian policies and strengthening the rural economy. "Remembering former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary. He shaped India's agrarian policies and strengthened the rural economy. His commitment to justice, equality, and farmers' empowerment continues to inspire those who work for the nation's heartland," said DK Shivakumar. Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on December 23, 1902, and served as India's fifth Prime Minister from July 1979 to January 1980. He held several key portfolios during his political career, including Minister for Home and Agriculture in CB Gupta's ministry in 1960, and Minister for Agriculture and Forests in Sucheta Kripalani's ministry between 1962 and 1963. Among his notable contributions were the Redemption Bill of 1939, which played a significant role in providing relief to rural debtors, and the Land Holding Act of 1960, implemented during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, which aimed to reduce land ceilings uniformly across the state. (ANI)
Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the killing of a Chhattisgarh migrant worker, Ramnarayan Baghel, a resident of village Karhi, Hasoud tehsil, Sakti district, in Kerala's Palakkad district, said Chhattisgarh CMO. The Chief Minister said that violence against any innocent citizen is against the core values of a civilised society and is a blot on humanity. Terming the incident extremely painful, he said the Chhattisgarh government stands firmly with the victim's family with full sensitivity. The Chhattisgarh CMO said that CM Sai has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the bereaved family. According to the CMO, arrangements have also been made to send the deceased's family members to Kerala immediately. On the Chief Minister's instructions, all necessary arrangements have been ensured to bring Ramnarayan Baghel's mortal remains to his native village with due respect. The mortal remains will be brought to Chhattisgarh by air. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Kerala government to ensure the strictest legal action against all those involved in this heinous crime, so that such inhumane incidents are not repeated in the future. He said the Chhattisgarh government is fully committed to the safety, dignity, and justice of its citizens and will extend all possible assistance to the victim's family in this difficult time. On December 17, the Chhattisgarh migrant Ramnarayan Baghel was beaten to death by a mob after being mistaken for a Bangladeshi national in Kerala's Palakkad district. Following the incident, District Police Chief Ajit Kumar briefed the media on the arrests and said the investigation is ongoing. "A group of persons has assaulted one person from Chhattisgarh. With respect to that, one murder case has been registered, and five persons have been arrested. Five of the main accused have been arrested and remanded, and further investigation is ongoing in the case," Ajit Kumar told ANI. (ANI)
Bringing a long-running financial and criminal dispute to an end, the Supreme Court of India has disposed of the Sandesara matter after recording complete compliance with its earlier directions on deposit of funds and settlement with lender banks. The petitioners informed the Court that they had complied with the November 19 order by depositing a total sum of Rs 51,11,43,36,390.40, which also included an additional amount deposited as a measure of abundant caution. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioners along with advocate Hemant Shah, confirmed the compliance during the hearing. The Bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi noted that the Court's office report dated December 16 had verified the deposit and that the Additional Solicitor General had not disputed the same. In view of this, the Court directed the Registrar (Judicial Administration) to disburse Rs 5,100 crore to the consortium of lender banks on a proportionate basis, following due verification and transfer to their respective accounts. According to the legal team representing the Sandesara brothers, the original FIR pertained to alleged dues of about Rs 5,383 crore, whereas recoveries effected so far have touched approximately Rs 9,800 crore, nearly double the amount cited in the FIR With the consent of all parties, the Supreme Court also ordered a complete closure of criminal and enforcement action against the petitioners. It directed that all investigations and proceedings arising from the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, along with cases and attachments initiated by the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA, proceedings under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, SFIO inquiries, and matters relating to black money and income tax laws, shall stand quashed. Clarifying the scope of the closure, the Court said that a "quietus" had been reached in the matter and instructed all investigating agencies to formally communicate the closure of proceedings at every level, including to authorities at airports, through the Ministry of External Affairs. The Bench further accepted the submission that the excess amount deposited in excess of Rs 5,100 crore, lying with the Bank of Maharashtra's Supreme Court branch, along with accrued interest, be transferred to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. The funds are to be utilised for benevolent purposes at the Committee's discretion. In light of the affidavit filed by the petitioners and confirmation of compliance with its directions, the Supreme Court formally closed the proceedings by disposing of the miscellaneous application in full satisfaction of its earlier orders. The litigation originated in multiple writ petitions filed by the Sandesara brothers seeking the quashing of FIRs, ECIRs, prosecution complaints, attachments, and coercive proceedings under several statutes, including the PMLA, the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, the Companies Act, and the Black Money Act. (ANI)
Assyrian Patriarchs Mark Christmas With Calls for Faith and Peace Amid Armed Conflict

As conflicts continue to scar large parts of the Middle East and beyond, leading Christian patriarchs from the region used their Christmas messages this year to emphasize faith as a source of light, urging peace, reconciliation and renewed commitment to human dignity in a time of global upheaval.

From Antioch to Baghdad, church leaders framed the birth of Jesus Christ not as a distant historical memory, but as a living call to hope and moral responsibility in a world weighed down by war, displacement and political uncertainty.

In his Christmas message, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East, described the Nativity as a perpetual declaration of God's closeness to humanity. He said that the meaning of Christmas transcends circumstances, insisting that joy rooted in faith remains possible even amid fear and instability.

"The presence of Christ," he said, "has the power to transform fear into reassurance and despair into hope," underscoring the idea that spiritual resilience does not depend on external conditions.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II also reflected on the approaching 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, highlighting its central profession of faith that Christ is "Light from Light, true God from true God." He called on believers to open their hearts to that light and to become witnesses of peace within their homes and communities.

In Iraq, Cardinal Mor Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, delivered his Christmas message against the backdrop of persistent regional violence and what he described as a global erosion of ethical values. He emphasized that faith in God remains a fundamental source of hope in times marked by war and social fragmentation.

Addressing Iraq's domestic situation, Cardinal Sako called for the birth of a new political phase grounded in national responsibility, one capable of ending years of suffering and establishing genuine coexistence among the country's diverse communities.

He stressed that Christmas is not merely a commemoration of a past event, but an invitation to spiritual renewal and a renewed commitment to peace and love. He also appealed to leaders and followers of all religions to confront the roots of conflict and to work collectively toward a world defined by justice and human dignity.

Both messages concluded with prayers for victims of war, the displaced and the wounded, and with hopes that the coming year might bring healing, peace and renewed hope to the peoples of the region and the wider world.
BJP MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai slammed Rahul Gandhi's remarks during his visit to Germany, alleging that the Congress leader has made it a habit to criticise and degrade Indian institutions and democracy. The BJP MP also claimed that Rahul Gandhi's words carry no weight in India. "It has become a habit for Rahul Gandhi to criticise and degrade the institutions in India and Indian democracy. They want to take shelter under foreign agencies like Soros and others for all the corruption they have done. His word carries no weight in India, and this is why he goes abroad and speaks," Bommai told ANI. Earlier, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi levelled "vote theft" allegations against the Government of India, citing duplicate voters on the voter list. Addressing a lecture in Berlin, Germany, Gandhi claimed that the Congress won the Haryana Assembly elections in 2024 and that the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 were not fair." Lok Sabha LoP shared that their party did not receive a "response" from the Election Commission when they flagged the issue. Speaking at the Hertie School on "Politics Is The Art Of Listening", Rahul Gandhi said, "We have won elections in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh. We have been raising issues as far as the fairness of elections in India is concerned. I have done press conferences in India where we have clearly shown without a shadow of a doubt that we won the Haryana election and that we don't feel the Maharashtra elections were fair. There is a full-scale assault taking place on the institutional framework of our country. We asked direct questions to the Election Commission." "A Brazilian woman was there on the voting list 22 times in Haryana... We did not get a response. We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India," he added. Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the Centre has "weaponised" investigating agencies, suggesting a quid pro quo in which businessmen in India financially support the BJP rather than Opposition parties. He said, "There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against the people who oppose them. If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the Opposition has." Following Rahul Gandhi's remarks, several BJP leaders criticised the Congress leader. BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the party of harbouring an "anti-India" mindset and alleged that Rahul Gandhi travels abroad to forge alliances with forces hostile to India's democratic institutions and progress. Sharing a clip of the Congress leader's remarks on social media platform X, Bhandari wrote, "Can a man who loves Bharat want India to fail? Rahul Gandhi in Germany says he thinks: People will fight each other, India will fail, and Unrest will happen. From Fighting Indian state, to threatening Anarchy..." "Rahul Gandhi's Congress with his ideological patron George Soros wants Chaos, Unrest in Indian Democracy... Rahul goes abroad for uniting such Anti India forces..." Bhandari said. Union Minister of State and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje questioned the "aim" of the Lok Sabha leader for "speaking against the nation" and said that he "still behaves like a child. "Rahul Gandhi is not the Leader of Opposition but an anti-India leader who goes abroad and speaks against the nation. What does he aim to gain by doing this? He still behaves like a child, not a leader," Shobha Karandlaje said. Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday slammed the BJP-led Centre over the Aravalli Hills row, accusing it of trying to damage India's environment. He called it shameful that the Union Environment Minister defended the proposed destruction of the Aravalli Hills. In a post on X, Aaditya Thackeray wrote, "It's shameful to see the Environment Minister of the Union Government defend the proposed destruction of the Aravalli Hills! Firstly why lie about it at all after being exposed? Then even if it's a fraction of the Aravalli Hills, why open it up for Mining? Why is the bjp so determined to destroy every bit of India's ecology, just like they are destroying our social fabric?" https://x.com/AUThackeray/status/2003342531199918582?s=20 "Today it's the Aravalli Hills, tomorrow they will open up the Western Ghats or the Himalayas for mining! Truly inspiring to see the way Rajasthan has come out on the streets, as a whole, to defend the Aravalli Hills. The government must now double down on protection for our natural resources- but that hope, is not from the current regime!" the post reads. A day earlier, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, assured that mining is not allowed in the NCR region. He further noted that the issues related to the Green Aravalli have seen significant growth over the past few years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Statistically speaking, Yadav said that compared to 2014, when there were only 24 Ramsar sites in the country, now the number has climbed upto 96, underlining that Ramsar sites of Sultanpur, Bhindawas, Asola, Siliserh, and Sambhar in the Aravalli region were declared during the BJP government's tenure. "Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Green Aravalli Movement and issues related to Green Aravalli have been advanced in recent years. This is why, in 2014, there were only 24 Ramsar sites in this country; the number has now increased to 96, and among these, the Ramsar sites of Sultanpur, Bhindawas, Asola, Siliserh, and Sambhar in the Aravalli region were declared during our government's tenure..." he said. He also noted that the judgment regarding Aravalli Hills states protection, especially in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. "The judgment also stated that steps should be taken for the conservation of the Aravalli range, especially in the areas of Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, for its conservation and preservation..." Yadav said. The Supreme Court accepted the Centre's definition of the Aravalli hills, which states that "any hills in the range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to the strictures against mining." The apex court also accepted the recommendations for sustainable mining in the Aravalli Hills and the steps to be taken for preventing illegal mining. The Aravalli range is a 670-kilometre-long mountain range in northwestern India. The highest elevation of the range has been recorded at 1,722 metres. The hill starts near Delhi, passes through Haryana, Rajasthan, and ends in Gujarat. The highest peak of the range is known as Guru Shikhar, in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The Aravalli range is the oldest fold-mountain belt in India, dating back around 2 billion years. (ANI)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai for the first time after being appointed as the BJP's Election In-Charge for Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, marking the formal start of the party's intensified preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. He is accompanied by Co-Incharge and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Goyal was welcomed at the BJP Tamil Nadu state headquarters, Kamalalayam in T. Nagar, by senior party leaders, including Union Minister of State L. Murugan, BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran, former Telangana Governor and senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, and H. Raja. Soon after his arrival, a crucial meeting of the BJP's Tamil Nadu Core Committee got underway at Kamalalayam under the leadership of Piyush Goyal, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Nainar Nagenthran. Union Minister of State L. Murugan, central observer Arvind Menon, co-observer Sudhakar Reddy, Tamilisai Soundararajan, and other senior office-bearers are participating in the deliberations. Addressing the media at the party headquarters, Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed confidence and enthusiasm over the new appointments. "We are very happy that our in-charges, Piyush Goyal and Arjun Ram Meghwal, are coming. We are very much energised and enthusiastic. We are very happy that an experienced person and leader like Piyush ji is appointed as in-charge," she said. Recalling his earlier role, she added, "He was also in charge in 2019 when I was party President, and he was well-versed with Tamil Nadu politics. He was very friendly with the alliance partners. So we are very happy." Tamilisai further outlined the BJP's political objective in the state, saying, "When we want to plan our strategy, our main aim is to throw out the DMK. An anti-people government is run by the DMK chief minister, and anti-Hindu sentiments are projected by the DMK government. Our primary aim is to root out the DMK, and all the strategies to be formed to remove the DMK government, we will be a part of it." Sources said the core committee meeting is expected to focus on election preparedness, organisational strengthening, and alliance strategy. Discussions are also likely on seat-sharing arrangements with the AIADMK as part of the NDA. Following the meeting, Piyush Goyal and Arjun Ram Meghwal are expected to meet AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to hold talks on alliance coordination and seat-sharing. With major political parties in Tamil Nadu gearing up for the polls, both the BJP-led NDA and the ruling DMK-led front have begun early moves to finalise alliances and strategies ahead of the electoral battle. (ANI)
Targeting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the ongoing codeine-based cough syrup smuggling case, the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday installed hoardings outside its office in Lucknow, intensifying the political face-off between the opposition party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The hoardings juxtaposed the Samajwadi Party and the NDA. While the SP side redefined PDA as the "Paramedical and Medical Development Alliance," the NDA was labelled as the "National Drug Defaulter Mafia Alliance," clearly signalling the party's criticism of the ruling alliance. The move comes amid escalating political sparring between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party over the codeine-based cough syrup case, which has triggered widespread debate in the state's political circles. Earlier on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the issue in the state Assembly, asserting that no deaths have occurred in Uttar Pradesh due to the consumption of codeine-based cough syrup. He stated that the case is being dealt with stringently under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Providing details of the action taken so far, CM Yogi said that 79 cases have been registered, 225 accused have been identified, and 78 arrests have been made in connection with the matter. He further informed the House that raids have been conducted on 134 firms as part of the ongoing investigation. The Chief Minister further alleged that links to the Samajwadi Party may emerge as the investigation progresses. "No accused in this case will escape. And don't worry, when the time comes, preparations will also be made for bulldozer action. Don't complain then," he stated. Targeting Akhilesh Yadav indirectly, CM Yogi said, "...' Desh ke andar do namune hain' (There are two specimens in this country). One sits in Delhi and the other in Lucknow. When there is any discussion in the country, they immediately flee the country, and I think the same thing is happening with your 'Babua'. He will also leave the country again for a trip to England, and you people will keep shouting here." Earlier on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had said that several questions have now arisen regarding the Samajwadi Party, alleging that the party is facing deep frustration ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Maurya claimed that the Samajwadi Party's political ambitions have suffered a major setback and alleged that its leadership has lost public confidence. "Many questions now surround the Samajwadi Party. In 2027, they plan to return to Saifai, as they are completely frustrated," he said. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Saturday, at a press conference, addressed the Codeine syrup controversy, claiming that the racket originated from the Prime Minister's constituency. "...A state's Chief Minister lies, and those standing with him also lie. You can't imagine that an illegal cough syrup business is operating from the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency... And it's worth thousands of crores. This is an international issue...," Yadav said. He alleged that the racket was far bigger than projected and called for a bulldozer-style action against all "mafias", even if they belong to the Samajwadi Party, referring to everyone involved in the business as "Codeine Bhaiya". (ANI)
Congress senior leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday countered Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on the clarification on mining in the Aravalli range, raising more questions and doubts over the government's intentions. This development comes after Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav clarified that only 0.19% or 277 sq km of the 1.44 lakh sq km of the Aravalli hills will be allowed for mining. Jairam Ramesh said that still 0.19% of the land is also a "huge amount". He also questioned the total area of the range, suggesting it is "deceptive" and not measured accurately. In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh said, "The very recent 'clarifications' given by the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change on the Aravallis issue raise even more questions and doubts. The Minister says that only 0.19% of the 1.44 lakh sq kms of the Aravallis is presently under mining leases. This already amounts to 68,000 acres - which is a huge amount," he said. "However, the 1.44 lakh sq kms figure is deceptive - it spans the entire landmass of the 34 Aravalli districts identified by the Ministry in 4 states. This is the wrong denominator, since the denominator that should actually be used is the area within these districts, which is actually under the Aravallis. If the area under the Aravallis is used as a base, then 0.19% will turn out to be a very huge under-estimate," he added. Jairam Ramesh further questioned Bhupendra Yadav's clarification, suggesting that there's still no clarity about how much of these Aravalli areas will be excluded. "In 15 of the 34 districts for which data is verifiable, the area under the Aravallis is 33% of the entire landmass. There is no clarity whatsoever about how much of these Aravalli areas will be excluded under the new definition and made available for mining and other developments," he said. https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/2003328849837457456?s=20 "If local profiles are adopted as a baseline, as the Minister is suggesting, many 100+ metres high hills will get excluded from protective cover. With the revised definition most hilly tracts of the Aravallis in the Delhi NCR will get opened up for real estate development, adding to environmental stress," Jairam Ramesh added. Jairam Ramesh also slammed the centre for "redefining" the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, suggesting that the "fragmentation" can damage the Aravalli's ecological value. "The Minister, who is leading the move to redefine the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve to allow for mining, overlooks a fundamental concern that fragmentation of what is essentially an interconnected ecosystem will damage its ecological value. Such fragmentation elsewhere is already causing havoc," he said. "The Aravallis are part of our natural heritage and have great ecological value. They need substantial restoration and meaningful protection. Why is the Modi Govt hell bent on redefining them? To what end? For whose benefit? And why are the recommendations of a professional organisation like the Forest Survey of India being deliberately ignored and set aside?" he questioned the government. Amid the pushback, Bhupendra Yadav clarified that just 277.89 sq km, about 0.19 per cent, of the total Aravalli landscape is open to mining, and no new mining leases will be granted until a detailed scientific study is completed. "This definition related to the Aravalli hills is applicable only for mining purposes. It will be used solely in the context of mining. Mining is permitted only in 277.89 sq km out of the total 1,43,577 sq km of the Aravalli area," Yadav said. Yadav said mining activity in the Aravalli range would be allowed only in a very limited area, stressing that the mountain range continues to enjoy robust ecological protection. He also said that the apex court had appreciated the government's Green Aravalli movement. The Union Environment Ministry has also issued a detailed clarification, stating that no new mining leases will be allowed until a comprehensive study is undertaken, in line with the Supreme Court's November 20 order. The plan, to be prepared by ICFRE on the lines of the Saranda Forest model, will identify permissible mining zones, ecologically sensitive and conservation-critical areas where mining will be strictly prohibited, assess cumulative environmental impacts and ecological carrying capacity, and lay down detailed post-mining restoration and rehabilitation measures. Yadav also explained that hill's elevation of 100 metres also considers its entire spread of the base. The Aravalli range is not just a natural barrier but also a source of major rivers, including the Chambal and the Sabarmati, which support agriculture and livelihoods. Its destruction could alter regional rainfall patterns, impacting Rajasthan's climate. (ANI)
Ahead of the Uttarayan festival, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Ahmedabad Rural Police has cracked down on the illegal manufacture and sale of banned Chinese manja, seizing material worth 2.34 crore from multiple locations across Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Based on inputs gathered during an investigation by the Sanand Police Station, SOG teams conducted coordinated raids in Sanand, Bavla, Vadtaman, Koth, and Anand. During the operations, police recovered more than 52,000 reels of prohibited Chinese manja, along with vehicles, mobile phones, machinery and raw material used for its production. In Sanand, four accused were arrested with 39 boxes containing 1,872 reels of banned manja worth 7.48 lakh. In Bavla, police seized 3,864 spools valued at 12.91 lakh from a factory premises. Another major seizure was made near Vadtaman Chowkdi, where an Eicher vehicle transporting 2,400 spools worth 9.60 lakh was intercepted. Additional recoveries were made in Anand town, where 672 spools worth over 2 lakh were seized. Following these seizures, police traced the supply chain to Dadra and Nagar Haveli, where an illegally operating factory manufacturing synthetic Chinese manja was sealed by local police. From the unit, officials seized finished reels worth approximately 1.5 crore, along with machinery and raw materials valued at around 50 lakh. Separate cases have been registered at the relevant police stations under applicable legal provisions, and further investigation is underway to apprehend the absconding accused involved in the network, officials said. In another incident, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of the Gujarat Police conducted a raid on MalGodam Road near Mehsana Railway Station on November 19 and 20, 2025. The operation resulted in the seizure of 108.660 grams of methamphetamine drugs valued at 10,86,600. According to officials, the SMC team, led by PI G.R. Rabari and PSI V.K. Rathod, arrested three individuals: Ashok Bhakhararam Bishnoi, Jagdish Hariram Bishnoi, and Suresh Viraram Bishnoi, all residents of Jalore, Rajasthan. The accused were found to be in possession of the contraband and were operating a drug trafficking network. The SMC has registered a case under sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act. (ANI)
Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday took a swipe at Shashi Tharoor, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not exist in Kerala and advising him not to be confused, amid Tharoor's recent remarks in Bihar. Speaking to ANI, Imran Masood said, "He is eyeing Kerala and is in a hurry to go to Kerala. I want to tell Tharoor Sahab that the BJP does not exist in Kerala. Don't get disoriented." On Sunday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the Nalanda Literature Festival 2025. In an event held in Rajgir, Tharoor, along with Bihar governor Arif Mohammad, took part in the inauguration. Speaking to the media, the Congress MP described such festivals as an opportunity to promote the tradition of discussing literature and ideas. "Knowledge should not be limited to the classrooms, but also outside the university. The literature festival is an opportunity where we can carry forward this tradition by discussing literature and ideas," Tharoor told the media. Tharoor also opened up about the development of the state of Bihar in line with the legacy of the Nalanda University. "I have that the situation was not good. Nowadays, things are looking good. The essence of knowledge and heritage is still present. 20 years back, when our former President APJ Abdul Kalam spoke about reviving Nalanda, I wondered about its heritage. Now I have come to see the campus, to meet people and to interact with the students. It is a great matter of joy. Nalanda should be taken forward. There is no doubt about it. The government should extend full support," he said. Earlier in the day, Congress MP Imran Masood said that if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were made the Prime Minister, she would give a strong response like her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Speaking to ANI, Imran Masood said, "... Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is Priyanka Gandhi. She has Gandhi added behind her name. She is the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven't healed. Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate. You won't dare to do that." (ANI)
On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Chaudhary Charan Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday led the nation in paying tributes to the veteran leader, remembering his lifelong dedication to farmers, the rural economy and the underprivileged sections of society. In a post shared on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi paid homage to the former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, describing him as a towering statesman whose contributions to nation-building remain unforgettable. "Heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary." He dedicated his life to the welfare of the deprived sections of society as well as to the progress of agriculture and the prosperity of farmers. A grateful nation can never forget his contributions to nation-building," the Prime Minister wrote. The leaders highlighted that the former Prime Minister's vision shifted focus toward the welfare of the poor and the empowerment of the agricultural sector. Paying his respects, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda also highlighted the Bharat Ratna awardee's role in prioritising the rural economy and democracy. Reflecting on the former leader's bold governance and his stand against the Emergency, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I pay my respects to former Prime Minister, great farmer leader, Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary. Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji's life was dedicated to strengthening the agricultural sector, advancing farmers' welfare, and social service. He boldly worked to place farmers and farming at the centre of governance. He also played a significant role in overthrowing the Emergency and dictatorial rule." Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda also recalled Chaudhary Charan Singh's lifelong commitment to farmers and the poor, stating that his struggle to safeguard democracy continues to inspire generations. "On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh ji, who was always dedicated to the welfare of farmers, I pay my countless respects to him. Shri Chaudhary ji devoted his entire life to protecting the interests of the country's farmers, the poor, and the deprived, and to empowering them. His struggle to protect democracy during the Emergency and his efforts for farmers' welfare and agricultural development will continue to inspire us forever," Nadda said. Furthermore, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also remembered the late Prime Minister, describing him as a leader who remained dedicated throughout his life to the welfare of farmers. He said Singh's ideas and principles continue to remain relevant in India's journey towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation. "On the birth anniversary of the messiah of farmers, former Prime Minister, 'Bharat Ratna' revered Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji, who remained dedicated throughout his life to the welfare of farmers, millions of salutations and heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all farmer brothers and sisters on National Farmers' Day! His thoughts will always remain relevant in the creation of a developed and self-reliant India. Your life dedicated to national upliftment and the welfare of farmers will forever inspire the countrymen for the well-being of the food providers and the development of rural areas. Repeated obeisance at the feet of revered Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji!" said Chauhan. December 23 is observed as Kisan Diwas, or National Farmers' Day, across the country to recognise the invaluable contribution of farmers to India's social and economic fabric. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India, who is widely regarded as a champion of farmers' rights and rural upliftment. Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on December 23, 1902, and served as India's fifth Prime Minister from July 1979 to January 1980. He held several key portfolios during his political career, including Minister for Home and Agriculture in CB Gupta's ministry in 1960, and Minister for Agriculture and Forests in Sucheta Kripalani's ministry between 1962 and 1963. Among his notable contributions were the Redemption Bill of 1939, which played a significant role in providing relief to rural debtors, and the Land Holding Act of 1960, implemented during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, which aimed to reduce land ceilings uniformly across the state. (ANI)
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) protestors on Tuesday clashed with police and broke barricades outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, protesting the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth in Bangladesh. Heavy security was deployed near the Bangladesh High Commission to monitor and control the situation. The protestors demanded accountability from Bangladeshi authorities, with some calling for justice and protection of minorities. Protesters clashed with security forces outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, attempting to march towards the building. They broke through police barricades but were stopped by multi-layered security cordons comprising police and paramilitary staff, protesting the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh. Members of the Sarbo Bharatiya Hindi Bangali Sangathan, VHP, and Bajrang Dal participated in a protest near the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Metro Station, raising slogans about Bangladesh's Hindus and their security. Tensions rose when a massive crowd of demonstrators pushed the security barricades. Protestors were chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Yunus Sarkar Hosh me Aao", and "Hindu Hatiya Band Karo". One protestor cried out that Hindus are in danger and this country is Lord Ram's. "Hindus are being killed. This country belongs to Lord Ram. This country belongs to Lord Krishna. We don't kill anyone here, but the dignity of our sisters and daughters is in danger", he stated. The purpose of this protest is to push for action against the tragic mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das on December 18 over an alleged claim of blasphemy. Several protests are staged against the violence against minorities in Bangladesh across India. West Bengal Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee said the External Affairs Minister should address the issue. "Humanity is under attack. Both Hindus and Muslim are being killed. Don't bring religion into this. BJP wants to polarise the issue. We condemn the atrocities in Bangladesh. Priyanka Gandhi was right. The Foreign Minister should wake up," he said. Amid the heightened tensions, Bangladesh has suspended consular and visa services in New Delhi and Agartala due to security concerns following protests. The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the protests. Bangladesh on Tuesday expressed grave concern over attacks on its diplomatic missions in India, summoning the Indian High Commissioner to protest incidents in New Delhi and Siliguri, according to Bangladesh Foreign Ministry statement. "Bangladesh condemns such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance", it added. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned the violence, citing threats to diplomatic personnel and establishments, and urged India to ensure their safety and security. "The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and related facilities in India", the statement said. The incidents include vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on 22 December 2025 and a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December 2025. India has dismissed allegations of inadequate security, stating the New Delhi protest was brief and posed no threat. The row stems from the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, sparking international concern over minority safety. India on Sunday dismissed "misleading propaganda" in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi against the "horrendous killing" of Hindu youth, and said the protest was brief and posed no security threat. The 27-year-old Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. (ANI)
CPI(M) Kannur District Secretary KK Ragesh delivered a strong and controversial speech at Parade Town in Kannur, warning that Muslim League workers would not be able to come out of their homes if their party decides to retaliate. He said CPI(M) workers exercising restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. "If we decide to respond, League workers will not be able to step out of their houses," Ragesh warned during his address. The remarks have sparked criticism, with opposition parties accusing the CPI(M) leader of issuing open threats and escalating political tension in the district. Earlier, BJP leader V Muraleedharan accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala of attempting to deflect responsibility for the Palakkad mob lynching incident by blaming the BJP and the RSS, after the conclusion of state local body elections. Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan said, "The ruling Communist Party of Kerala is trying to put the blame for the mob lynching in Palakkad on the BJP and RSS. Kerala is a state ruled by the CPM. The incident happened at a place where CPM has an absolute majority." He pointed out that out of 21 seats in the local body concerned, the CPM holds 14, while the BJP has only one elected member. Referring to the incident, Muraleedharan said around 15 to 20 people gathered at the spot, during which a migrant labourer was killed. "Many CPM workers are involved in that, and the FIR will bring the details of that," he alleged, adding that a former gram panchayat member belonging to the Congress was also involved. The BJP leader demanded a fair investigation into the incident, calling for the state to book the responsible individuals and let the people decide who is to blame for the incident. (ANI)
Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Jogaram Patel stated on Tuesday that the state government is fully committed to safeguarding the Aravalli mountain range and ensuring that no environmental damage occurs. Addressing the political debate, the Minister clarified that the Union Environment Ministry has already explained that the central leadership has provided a complete explanation regarding the conservation of the range. He further dismissed the opposition's criticisms as baseless and an attempt to mislead the public. Jogaram Patel said, "We will not allow any damage to the Aravalli mountain range in any way. The Union Environment Minister has also explained this in detail. The Congress is spreading propaganda; the Congress will gain nothing from this." Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday warned that the ecological balance of the entire NCR region will fall if the new order on the Aravalli Hills is implemented. "If the new order on the Aravallis is implemented, the ecological balance of this entire region, several states, or half of Hindustan will be destroyed. The Aravalli mountain range protects Delhi, Haryana, and the agriculture of the entire region from sand from the Thar Desert. The Aravallis make a very significant contribution to maintaining this entire balance. If anyone even touches the Aravallis, they will be considered an enemy of this country, of this entire region," Khera told ANI. Congress leader Sachin Pilot also echoed the sentiment and said, "Our entire ecology will be disturbed, and the Aravalli range provides protection to the entire NCR. If we allow illegal mining to continue, what will we leave behind for our future generations? On the 26th, in Jaipur, the student union and all our colleagues are organising a march to seek support for protecting the Aravalli range." The Supreme Court has accepted the Centre's definition of the Aravalli hills, which states that "any hills in the range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to the strictures against mining." The apex court also accepted the recommendations for sustainable mining in the Aravalli Hills and the steps to be taken for preventing illegal mining. The Union Environment Ministry has also issued a detailed clarification, stating that no new mining leases will be allowed until a comprehensive study is undertaken, in line with the Supreme Court's November 20 order. Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Environment Ministry to prepare a Mining Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli range before granting any new leases. With the definition now operational, the court has ordered that no new mining leases be issued until the MPSM is finalised, a move officials say serves as a preventive measure against immediate ecological damage. The Aravalli range is a 670-kilometre-long mountain range in northwestern India. The highest elevation in the range is 1,722 metres. The hill starts near Delhi, passes through Haryana, Rajasthan, and ends in Gujarat. The highest peak of the range is known as Guru Shikhar, in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The Aravalli range is the oldest fold-mountain belt in India, dating back around 2 billion years. (ANI)
In its ongoing money laundering probe the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed that the grant-in-aid of Rs 71.50 lakh received by Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust was "not used for holding camps" as sanctioned by the Central government and it was "diverted" by former minister Salman Khurshid's wife Louise Khurshid and other accused for the interest of the trust and their personal gain. Besides Louise, the then project Director, ED has accused Pratyush Shukla, a representative of Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, and one Mohammad Athar, the then Secretary of the trust, for misusing the government's money. The agency made the revelation in a statement issued on Monday-- days after the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Lucknow took cognisance of its Prosecution Complaint (PC) on November 25, 2025. ED's Lucknow zonal office had filed a PC on August 11, 2025, seeking confiscation of properties worth Rs 45.92 lakh and conviction of the accused persons in the case. ED has accused Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, Louise Khurshid, and Mohammad Athar of their involvement in the offence of money laundering related to the misuse of government funds in the distribution of artificial limbs and equipment by the trust for their personal gains. "ED investigation revealed that the grant-in-aid of Rs 71.50 lakh received by the Trust was not used for holding camps as sanctioned by the Central government. The funds were instead allegedly diverted by Pratyush Shukla, Mohammad Athar, and Louise Khurshid for the interest of the Trust and their personal gain," reads the ED statement. ED had earlier provisionally attached 15 immovable properties worth Rs 29.51 lakh, in the form of agricultural land, in Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad, and Rs 16.41 lakh lying in the four bank accounts linked to the Trust. ED initiated an investigation on the basis of 17 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Economic Offences Wing against Pratyush Shukla and others. The Police have filed chargesheets in all 17 cases against Athar Farooqui, alias Mohammed Athar and Louise. (ANI)
Mumbai Police on Tuesday detained members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who were protesting against the recent mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man, and called for strict action against targeted atrocities in Bangladesh. The protestors demanded accountability from Bangladeshi authorities, with many calling for justice and protection of minorities. Protests were staged across India over the violence against minorities in Bangladesh. The purpose of the protest is to push for action against the tragic mob lynching and killing of Dipu Das on December 18 over an alleged claim of blasphemy. Further, the Police also detained members of the VHP and other Hindu organisations near the Bangladesh High Commission in the national capital. A swarm of demonstrators gathered near the Bangladesh High Commission to protest against the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. After the protesters clashed with the heavy security deployed at the scene, the situation became chaotic. They pushed the barricades and tried to enter the building. Police took action to control the angry crowd and detained the protesting members from the Hindu organisations. The crowd chanted "Jai Shree Ram" as the police put them inside a bus. Sentiments against the Bangladesh Interim government exploded as the figures of Muhammad Yunus and the country's flag were burned, and slogans against the Bangladesh government were heard all around. In a separate protest, members of Bangiyo Hindu Jagran and several other Hindu organisations also staged a protest near the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata. The protestors had planned to submit a deputation to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. However, the situation escalated after a large number of demonstrators gathered near the premises, leading to tensions in the area. Police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has suspended consular and visa services in New Delhi and Agartala due to security concerns following protests. The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the protests. Bangladesh also expressed grave concern over attacks on its diplomatic missions in India, summoning the Indian High Commissioner to protest incidents in New Delhi and Siliguri, according to a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry statement. "Bangladesh condemns such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance", it added. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned the violence, citing threats to diplomatic personnel and establishments, and urged India to ensure their safety and security. "The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and related facilities in India", the statement said. The incidents include vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22, 2025 and a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20, 2025. India has dismissed allegations of inadequate security, stating the New Delhi protest was brief and posed no threat. The row stems from the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, sparking international concern over minority safety. Earlier on Sunday, India dismissed "misleading propaganda" in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi against the "horrendous killing" of Hindu youth, and said the protest was brief and posed no security threat. The 27-year-old Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. (ANI)
After a chamber hearing, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued fresh directions in the plea filed by actor Celina Jaitly, seeking assistance for her brother, former Indian Army officer Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly (retd), who is detained in the United Arab Emirates. Justice Sachin Datta noted that, in compliance with earlier orders, Major Jaitly continues to receive consular access. During the hearing, Celina Jaitly requested that arrangements be made for the availability of a local lawyer or law firm to enable effective legal representation for her brother. Accepting the request, the Court directed that the Indian Consulate shall provide a list of locally accredited lawyers or law firms who can represent the detained person, should he choose to avail such services. The Court clarified that engagement of any lawyer or law firm would be subject to the detained person or his family bearing the costs, and this condition must be clearly communicated to him. Justice Datta further observed that if any lawyer or law firm is willing to waive professional charges, the same should also be conveyed to Major Jaitly, enabling him to make an informed choice. The Court added that the specific name of the lawyer or law firm must be communicated to him. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 22. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed the Centre, through the Ministry of External Affairs, to facilitate communication between Celina Jaitly and her brother, who has been detained in the UAE for over a year. Jaitly had approached the Court seeking effective legal assistance, along with regular updates on her brother's welfare and legal status. The Court had previously ordered the appointment of a nodal officer and directed that regular updates be shared with the family, while also ensuring continued consular access and facilitating communication between the detainee, his sister and his wife. (ANI)
Delhi police have arrested a man from Rajasthan for carrying out a sophisticated cyber fraud involving tampered QR codes, using artificial intelligence tools to divert digital payments. The arrest was made following a complaint in North Delhi, where two digital transactions amounting to Rs 1.40 lakh were deducted from a customer's bank account but never reached the intended shopkeeper. Speaking on the case, North Delhi DCP Raja Banthia said the cyber police registered an FIR after the discrepancy came to light and launched a detailed investigation. "Two transactions totalling Rs 140,000 occurred, but the payment didn't reach the shopkeeper despite being deducted from the customer's account," DCP Banthia said. He added that investigations traced the suspicious transactions to a bank account linked to the accused, who was later identified, located and arrested from Chaksu in Jaipur district, Rajasthan. During a search of the accused's residence, police recovered more than 100 tampered QR codes, pointing to a larger and well-planned fraud operation. Explaining the modus operandi, DCP Banthia said the accused would approach vendors online and ask them to share their QR codes for payment. "He would then use AI software to alter the information on the QR codes and send the modified versions back to the vendors via WhatsApp," the DCP Banthia stated. In several cases, the edited QR codes were automatically saved in the vendors' phone galleries, with the merchant's name changed while the QR code structure remained intact. When customers later made payments using these saved QR codes, the money was diverted to the accused's account instead of the rightful merchant. "This method formed the core of his fraud scheme, and we suspect there could be more victims involved," DCP Banthia added. He further said police suspect more victims may be involved and that the investigation will continue based on the seized devices and analysis of the accused's mobile phone and digital data. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called upon senior officers of the state police force to foster a robust environment that further strengthens the bridge of trust between the police and the public, ensuring that citizens face no difficulty in connecting with the police. CM Patel said that strong contact with the public and the public's trust in the police is our "I.B" for crime control. In this context, the Chief Minister said that the peace, safety, and security prevailing in Gujarat have enabled the state to earn pride as a role model of development. Additionally, global companies and industries choose Gujarat for trade and industry because of the state's peaceful and secure environment. He attributed this achievement to the vigilance, dedication, and sense of duty of the state police and congratulated the force on its exemplary service. The Chief Minister inaugurated the state-level Crime Conference in Gandhinagar in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. In this two-day conference, senior officers, including the State Police Chief, Additional Directors General of Police, IGPs, Range IGs, and District Superintendents of Police, are participating. CM Patel said the state-level Crime Conference was an initiative to provide fresh brainstorming and reflection on the welfare, safety, and security of the state's people. He added that the Gujarat Police is equipped with technology for crime prevention and control. However, criminals are also increasingly using technology. To effectively address this challenge, the Chief Minister said it is essential for the police force to remain vigilant and make greater use of advanced technologies. He also provided guidance at the meeting on the use of AI in the police force, coastal security, and best practices for preventing cybercrime. Gujarat CM further added that senior officers should ensure that people-centric policies and policing systems of the police force are implemented uniformly and reach even the grassroots and rural levels. He also expressed the expectation that the police should work towards rehabilitating youth addicted to drugs through compassion, counselling, and guidance rather than only punishment, and that this meeting should facilitate constructive and result-oriented deliberations in this direction. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that the Gujarat Police is delivering outstanding performance not only in maintaining law and order but also in crime detection and prevention, as well as community outreach across all areas. He congratulated the entire Gujarat Police team on their remarkable efforts to tackle social issues, act decisively against anti-social elements, and launch an effective crackdown on cybercriminals. During the two-day Crime Conference, he called on officers at all levels, from junior to senior IPS officers, to openly embrace new subjects and best practices presented. He added that when the idea of organising this national-level Crime Conference was conceived, special emphasis was placed on including DCP- and SP-level officers from all cities and districts. Sanghavi added that it would enable meaningful idea-sharing throughout the conference, promote the exchange of innovative technology applications, and facilitate mutual learning from new initiatives across various fields. (ANI)
Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday clarified his earlier remarks on Priyanka Gandhi, saying that the BJP has no work to do and asserted that both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are his leaders in the party. Speaking to ANI, Masood said the BJP was trying to create controversy out of his statement. He explained that he was responding to a specific question about Priyanka Gandhi and had framed his answer accordingly. "The BJP has nothing else to do. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are my leaders as well. I was asked a question about Priyanka Gandhi, and I gave a response centred on her, saying she is the next Indira Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are the eyes of Indira Gandhi," Masood said. Clarifying further, the Congress MP said his remarks were intended to highlight leadership qualities, not to undermine Rahul Gandhi. "I had only said that the condition of Hindus would not have been what it is today in Bangladesh, had Priyanka Gandhi been the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi is our most respected leader," he added. Earlier today, Congress MP Imran Masood said that if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were made the Prime Minister, she would give a strong response like her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was defending her remarks on rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI, Imran Masood said, "Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is Priyanka Gandhi. She has Gandhi added behind her name. She is the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven't healed. Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate. You won't dare to do that." Recently, 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. The 27-year-old Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail (suspension of sentence) to former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. He was convicted by a Delhi CBI court in a minor's rape case and was serving a life sentence. His appeal against the judgment is pending before the Delhi High Court. Division bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar suspended the sentence during the pendency of his appeal. He has been granted relief on the condition that he furnish a bail bond of Rs. 15 lakh. However, he will remain in custody as he has not yet been granted bail in the victim's father's custodial death matter. An appeal and application for suspension of sentence is pending before the High Court of Delhi. He was awarded a 10-year sentence in that case. While granting bail, the High Court has directed that Sengar will not go into the 5-kilometre area where the victim resides in Delhi. It is also directed that Sengar Shall remain in Delhi. He shall not contact the victim's family members. Senior advocate N Hariharan, alongwith Advocate SP M Tripathi, appeared for Kuldeep Singh Sengar. It was submitted that Kuldeep Singh Sengar is not a public servant. It was also submitted that the age of the victims is in dispute, as it is different in different documents. In this situation, the medical report on her age should be considered. On the other hand, Advocate Mehmood Pracha appeared for the victim. While opposing the bail plea, it was submitted that there was a threat to the life of the victim. Earlier, she was given security. However, it was withdrawn at a later stage. Her father was beaten during police custody, and he succumbed to the injury. In this case, Sengar was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. (ANI)
The Health Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Col (Retd) Dhaniram Shandil on Tuesday said there is an urgent need to frame and enforce strict guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs in hospitals) following the alleged assault of a patient by a doctor at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla. The victim's family has demanded that the case be registered under charges of attempted murder. Speaking to ANI, Shandil said the behaviour allegedly shown by the doctor was "completely unacceptable" and violated medical ethics as well as human values. He said the issue was discussed in detail during a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which was attended by senior health department officials, IGMC authorities and a delegation from the Chopal area. "What has been seen is not acceptable at all. It is neither allowed by medical norms nor by human values. A patient is already in pain and pressure and may be agitated. A doctor must have the patience and strength to handle such situations. We need very strict guidelines and SOPs as an institution. A detailed investigation is underway, and stringent action will be taken. There should be no doubt about that." Shandil said. The Health Minister said a decision on the matter would be taken after the investigation report is submitted, expected by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. He also referred to recent incidents of ragging and an internal sexual harassment inquiry at IGMC, stressing that strong institutional decisions were now necessary to prevent such incidents in the future. "IGMC is a very prestigious institution and has served people for many years. This isolated incident is unfortunate and painful. I personally assure the public that such behaviour will not be allowed to happen again in the state," Shandil added. Meanwhile, a delegation from the Chopal region met the Chief Minister, Health Minister and senior officials, reiterating their demand for strict legal action. The patient's relatives have sought inclusion of provisions related to the attempt to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the arrest of the accused doctors. "Our delegation met the Chief Minister and Health Minister. We demand that both doctors involved be terminated and that a Section related to the attempt to murder be added to the FIR. The Health Minister and Superintendent of Police have assured us of strict action. Law is equal for everyone, whether a doctor or anyone else," said Dashta. The Chief Minister has directed IGMC authorities to submit a detailed report on the incident by Wednesday evening. Police officials have said the matter is under investigation and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings. (ANI)
A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to one of the accused in the alleged paper leak case connected with recruitment examinations of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), observing that no further custodial interrogation was required and that the trial was likely to take considerable time. The order was passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, South-East District, Saket Courts. The accused, Dharmender, had been in judicial custody since September 25, 2025. Appearing for the accused, Advocate Yugant Sharma and Hardik Sharma contended that Dharmender had been falsely implicated in the case and was being projected as a "key person" responsible for leaking the question paper, without any substantive material to support such an allegation. The counsel argued that the investigation was complete, the chargesheet had already been filed, and no further custodial interrogation had been sought by the investigating agency. Counsel further submitted that although several candidates were allegedly caught with the leaked question paper, none of those students were either made accused or even meaningfully investigated, despite their identities being known to the investigating agency. It was argued that no effort had been made to trace the source of the alleged leak through the candidates themselves, which was essential to establish who actually leaked the paper. The lawyers of the accused said that the prosecution case rested entirely on presumptions and conjectures, based primarily on disclosure statements of co-accused persons, without any substantive or independent evidence linking Dharmender to the alleged leakage. Counsel submitted that the trial was bound to take a long time to conclude and that continued incarceration of the accused would be unjustified. Advocate Abhinav Jain also appeared along with Advocate Yugant Sharma. Opposing the bail plea, the prosecution and the Investigating Officer argued that the allegations were serious in nature and expressed apprehension that the accused might abscond if released on bail. After hearing both sides and perusing the record, the court noted that the investigating agency had not sought any further custodial interrogation of the accused. While acknowledging the gravity of the allegations, the court observed that the chargesheet had already been filed, the trial was likely to take a long time to conclude, and the accused had spent nearly three months in custody. The court held that continued incarceration would serve no fruitful purpose at this stage and accordingly allowed the bail application, clarifying that no opinion was being expressed on the merits of the case. Dharmender has been directed to be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount. The court has further directed him to appear on every date of hearing, not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses, and not to leave the country without prior permission of the court. The case pertains to an alleged paper leak in recruitment examinations conducted for the ITBP, relating to the written test for the post of constables in the central armed forces. During the investigation, the police arrested five persons associated with a Kolkata-based private company that had been awarded the contract to conduct the recruitment examinations. Among those arrested were three directors of the firm Indian Institute of Psychometry (IIP) Amitav Roy, Jaydeep Goswami and Subhendu Kumar Paul who were alleged to have evaded the police after a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy was registered against them. The company's consultant, Rohit Raj, and a printer, Dharmender Lal, were also taken into custody in connection with the alleged leak. According to the police, the complaint was filed by an ITBP Commandant, who stated that IIP had been outsourced to manage the entire examination process. As per the contractual terms, the firm was responsible for setting and printing the question papers, conducting the examination, scanning and packaging examination material, and ensuring complete confidentiality at every stage of the process. (ANI)
China urges Netherlands to revoke administrative order concerning Nexperia

Xinhua) 08:12, December 23, 2025

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce on Monday said the Dutch government should immediately revoke its administrative order concerning semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia, which is an overseas subsidiary of Chinese firm Wingtech.

A ministry spokesperson noted that the Nexperia issue was triggered by the Dutch government's inappropriate administrative intervention in corporate operations, and called for the administrative order to be revoked immediately.

The spokesperson urged the Dutch government to create favorable conditions for negotiations between the companies involved, and to help restore the security and stability of global semiconductor industrial and supply chains.

The Chinese government has already taken concrete measures to grant exemptions for compliant exports intended for civilian use, creating essential conditions for the stability and unimpeded flow of the semiconductor supply chain, the ministry said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BJP leader and former leader of the opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Amar Kumar Bauri, scathingly attacked and accused the JMM government of depriving Dalits of their rights for its own "political advantage". He alleged that the "Dalits" are being treated as second-class citizens in Jharkhand. Bauri warned that if the government doesn't consider giving the due rights of "Dalits", there would be massive protests and people from this community would hit the roads. During a press conference, BJP leader and former LoP Amar Kumar Bauri said that the current government under Hemant Soren has completed six years. He alleged that the government came to power on the promise to resolve water, land and forest issues. He also alleged that "the state of the Dalit community is worse than that of the tribals" under the current regime. Speaking to the media, he said, " The Hemant government has completed 6 years. The government came to power on the promise of water, land, and jungle (Jal Jungle Zameen). The state of Dalits is worse than that of the tribals in this government. Even the minister of the ruling government has sought the CM's attention on the Dalits' status. Yesterday, CM announced several schemes for tribal communities, which are very good. In this process, schemes for SC students and the community must be brought. Likewise, arrangements were made for IIT, IM, and similar educational programs for ST students. SC students should also get equal benefits. " The BJP leader accused the government of creating obstructions in the local body election process. He also alleged that the number of wards reserved for the SC category in the local body elections was reduced. Speaking to the media, he said, "The government is not letting the local body elections happen. Even a layer reservation was promised, but it was not being delivered. The number of wards reserved for the SC category in the local body elections was reduced." In the end, he alleged that the government is snatching away the rights of the "Scheduled Caste" people for their "own benefit". "The government is snatching away the rights of the SC category for its benefit.", he said. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari has criticised Rahul Gandhi over his allegations against the BJP government during his visit to Germany and alleged that the Congress leader "works to defame India abroad." "It is unfortunate that whenever the Congress party goes abroad, it points fingers at India's identity. The opposition's role should be to take the country forward, but Rahul Gandhi works to defame India abroad," Danish Azad Ansari said. Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, addressed a gathering at the Hertie School in Berlin during his Germany visit and accused the BJP of a "wholesale capture" of institutional frameworks, alleging the party has "weaponised" investigating agencies. "There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against the people who oppose them. If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power." Rahul Gandhi alleged. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan also slammed Rahul Gandhi's remarks. "Rahul Gandhi is parroting the nefarious and anarchic language of George Soros. His devious motive is to defame and destabilise India", he stated. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi is "Leader of Propaganda" and that his trips abroad are "Bharat Badnaam Yatra". (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the IB Centenary Endowment Lecture on the subject 'People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building Viksit Bharat' in New Delhi on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is a matter of pride that, after Independence, the IB has played a stellar role in providing security to the people of India and ensuring the unity and integrity of the Nation. The President said that the theme of this lecture, 'People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building Viksit Bharat,' is of immediate and long-term significance for our country. All institutions concerned, including IB, should spread awareness among our people that national security is the responsibility of every citizen.The President stated that community participation strengthens national security. "There are numerous examples of alert citizens helping professional forces with their input to avert security crises. An expanded meaning and strategy of national security places people at the centre. People need not be passive observers of what happens around them. They should become alert and active partners in the security of their own surroundings and also of regions beyond it. 'Jan Bhagidari' is the cornerstone of people-centric security." The President Murmu said that our civil police and internal security agencies must work with a spirit of service to the people. "This spirit of service will build trust among the people. This trust is a precondition of developing a people-centric national security strategy in which community participation will be a key element." The President said that India has been facing multi-dimensional security challenges and threats. Tensions in the border areas, terrorism and militancy, insurgency and communal radicalisation have been traditional areas of security concern. In recent years, cybercrimes have emerged as a substantial security threat. She underlined that the lack of security in any part of the country has an economic impact that goes beyond the affected area. Security is among the key drivers of economic investment and growth. Building 'Surakshit Bharat' is necessary for building 'Samriddh Bharat'. The President noted that left-wing extremism is close to total eradication. She stated that intensive action by forces and agencies engaged in the sphere of internal security has been a key element behind the near-eradication of left-wing extremism. She noted that a holistic approach was adopted to build community trust through several initiatives. Promoting socio-economic inclusion in tribal and remote areas has proved effective against the exploitation of the people by left-wing extremists and insurgent groups. The President added that social media has transformed the world of information and communication. "It has the potential for both creation and destruction. Protecting people from misinformation is a very challenging task. This task must be carried out continuously and very effectively. There is a need to create a community of active social media users who consistently present fact-based narratives in the national interest." (ANI)
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday participated in a Christmas Parade, which was held from Chanmari to Lammual in Aizawl, jointly organised by the Tourism Department and Mark Events. A large number of people gathered to witness the event. During the parade, the Venghnuai Church Brass Band performed melodious music, while the Mizoram Cosplay Organisation showcased creative, colourful, and distinctive costumes. Students from the Institute of Music & Fine Arts under the Art & Culture Department presented various traditional Mizo attire. The Mizoram Down Syndrome Association also took part in the parade. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, along with his family members, led the parade from Zarkawt Junction. State Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, along with departmental officials, was also present. Participants and members of the public walked through the No Vehicle Zone and assembled at Lammual, where the Christmas Carol Concert and the closing programme of Winter Festival 2025 were held. During the closing function, the Chief Minister extended his warm Christmas greetings and best wishes to the people of Mizoram, Mizos living across the world, and all people of India who celebrate the joyous festival of Christmas. A Best Costume Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 5,000, was instituted for the Christmas Parade. The award was won by Lalrinnunga and Rebek Lalremruati for their portrayal of Mary and Joseph. Earlier on December 16, CM Lalduhoma attended the State Credit Seminar 2026-27 organised by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mizoram Regional Office. It was held at the Assembly Conference Hall in Aizawl. The Chief Minister released the State Focus Paper 2026-27 and addressed the gathering. He mentioned that the Government has been implementing numerous developmental initiatives in collaboration with NABARD, which plays a crucial role as a catalyst for the State's development, according to the official statement. He noted that Mizoram has benefited significantly from NABARD-supported interventions. (ANI)
Hours after the former MLA Kuldeep Sengar was granted bail in the 2017 Unnao rape case, the victim, her mother, and women activist Yogitha Bhayana held a protest at India Gate on Tuesday. The victim, while sitting on the India Gate premises, alleged that bail was granted due to the upcoming 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. "I heard the judgment, and I felt very bad. I wanted to kill myself then and there, but I stopped after thinking about my family. Injustice has been done to us. Elections are coming, and he has been released on bail so that his wife can contest the polls. If such a rape accused will come out, how will we be safe?" the victim told ANI on Sengar's suspension of sentence. The victim also called for the bail to be cancelled, citing that she is scared after his bail order. She also expressed faith in the judiciary, saying that they will approach the Supreme Court, too. "Everyone has become unsafe. His bail should be cancelled, and he should be sent to jail. We will go to the Supreme Court. I have faith in the Supreme Court. We are scared that he has been released," he said. Delhi Police officials also removed the victim, her mother, and women's activist Yogita Bhayana from the site of the protest. Visuals from the area showed the family forcefully being carried to a bus, while they urged police to allow them to protest. Activist Yogitha Bhayana, also at the site of the protest, highlighted that the victim and her family have been alone in their ordeal, and questioned the grounds on which Sengar was given bail. "They have faced a lot of difficulties from the beginning... What has happened today that the accused was given bail?... Rapits are getting bail, and innocents are being kept in jail. No one is standing with them today. They are under threat after he has been released on bail," she told ANI. The victim's sister has also expressed opposition to the bail order, saying that her family, including her brother, are being threatened by men who are roaming around her house. "I'm not happy about this. He killed my uncle and then my father. Then this incident happened with my sister. He has been released, but we're still in danger. Who knows, now that they're out, they might kill my entire family. If they've released him, then they should put us in jail. At least our lives would be safe there. We would be alive," the victim's sister said. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail (suspension of sentence) to former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A Delhi CBI court convicted him in a minor's rape case, and he was serving a life sentence. His appeal against the judgment is pending before the Delhi High Court. Division bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar suspended the sentence during the pendency of his appeal. He has been granted relief on the condition that he furnish a bail bond of Rs. 15 lakh. However, he will remain in custody as he has not yet been granted bail in the victim's father's custodial death matter. An appeal and application for suspension of sentence is pending before the High Court of Delhi. He was sentenced to 10 years in that case. (ANI)
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan underscored the rapid transformation in modern warfare, describing it as faster, smarter, shorter in duration, and characterised by high tempo and instantaneous effects. According to CDS Gen. Chauhan, speaking at an IIT Bombay event, India has territorial disputes with both nations. It must be ready for short, intense conflicts like Operation Sindoor to deter terrorism. "Warfare in the new domains is faster and smarter. It's also shorter in duration, and the tempo of that warfare is very, very high. Decisions are compressed in time, and the effects of that war are felt almost instantly. This was clearly evident in Operation Sindoor, a war that lasted only about four days, resulting in a decisive victory. But all domains of warfare were used simultaneously with a great amount of tempo," he said while addressing a gathering. The CDS emphasised that multi-domain operations are no longer optional but a necessity, with actions in one domain immediately impacting others. "The question is, what kind of threats and challenges should India be prepared for? I think this should be based on two major facts. One is that both our adversaries, one is a nuclear weapon state and other is a nuclear armed state. We should not allow that level of deterrence to be breached," CDS Chauhan added. "We have territorial disputes with both of them. We should be prepared to fight short-duration, high-intensity conflicts to deter terrorism, something like Operation Sindoor. We should be prepared for a land-centric, long-duration conflict because we have land disputes, yet we try to avoid it. We must exploit new domains and create asymmetry with our weaker adversary and yet not allow these asymmetries to be exploited by other nations," he added. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. India inflicted heavy damage on the terror infrastructure located in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan. (ANI)
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday hailed the contributions of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while releasing the book "Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti," authored by Vasudev Devnani, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, at the Vice President's Enclave in New Delhi, according to a release from the Vice President's Secretariat. The Vice President congratulated Devnani for authoring the book and described it as a timely and significant contribution, especially as the nation commemorates the centenary birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Vice President said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not merely an individual but an institution in himself, whose life and leadership embodied an unwavering commitment to principles and values. Recalling his personal association with Vajpayee, the Vice President said that he had the privilege of learning from him as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas during his tenure as Prime Minister. He shared fond memories from the Jan Sangh days, including organising a large public meeting for Vajpayee in Coimbatore before the Emergency, an experience that left a deep and lasting impression on him, the release stated. Highlighting Vajpayee's contributions to nation-building, the Vice President said that his visionary leadership transformed India in multiple domains. Referring to the successful nuclear tests at Pokhran in May 1998 under Operation Shakti, he noted that = Vajpayee's decisive leadership demonstrated India's confidence and resolve on the global stage. He also recalled Atalji's inspiring slogan, "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan," which reflected his holistic vision for national strength. The Vice President also underlined Vajpayee's foresight in the creation of the states of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, driven by his deep understanding of regional aspirations and the need for decentralised and responsive governance. He noted that the establishment of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs further reflected Vajpayee's commitment to inclusive growth and justice for the most isolated. Sharing his own experience as Governor of Jharkhand two decades later, the Vice President said he could see firsthand the far-reaching impact of these visionary decisions. The Vice President said that Vajpayee always laid emphasis on good governance, which is why his birth anniversary is observed as Good Governance Day. He referred to landmark initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Golden Quadrilateral Project and reforms in the power sector, which laid strong foundations for India's development. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, Vasudev Devnani, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and author of the book, along with other dignitaries, were present at the event. (ANI)
Over 24.08 lakh electors were deleted from the voter lists in Kerala as the Election Commission of India (ECI) published the draft electoral roll on Tuesday after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state. According to the Election Commission, out of 2,78,50,855 electors, 2,54,42,352 electors have submitted their Enumeration Forms. The ECI attributed the deletion of names to people becoming electors in other States and Union Territories, to electors not found in existence, to electors who did not submit the form by December 18, and to electors who were unwilling to register for some reason. According to the poll body, deleted names include 6,49,885 (2.33 per cent) deceased vocters, 14,61,769 (5.25 per cent) shifted or absent voters and 1,36,029 (0.49 per cent) voters enrolled at multiple places. While the enumeration period ended on Tuesday, any person can file claims or objections for inclusion of eligible persons or deletion of ineligible names during the claims and objections period from December 23 to January 22, 2026. To ensure universal awareness and participation, during the enumeration period, CEOs, DEOs and EROs conducted extensive awareness campaigns and held multiple meetings with political parties to explain the process and share progress updates, ECI said in a press release. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) also conducted booth-level meetings with BLAs, who were permitted to file up to 50 Enumeration Forms per day to ensure their full involvement. BLOs carried out house-to-house visits to all electors whose names were in the rolls as on October 27 to distribute Enumeration Forms, followed by at least three visits for collection. BLAs and volunteers also made dedicated efforts to ensure that no eligible elector was missed, the press release said. Among the special initiatives taken by the poll body, BLOs were supported by local Anganwadi teachers, ELC Students/NCC/NSS, volunteers and BSW/MSW Students, Revenue Officials to ensure speedy and accurate execution of work; early completion of work was appreciated by felicitation of BLOs/Supervisors and EROs from at level/District Level; ECI held repeated trainings, doubt clearing sessions, video tutorials to train our BLOs ensured high level of mapping (93.06 per cent) of the collected forms. According to the release, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala held ''SIR Joyathon'', a motivational stress-relief campaign launched in late 2025 during the SIR exercise in Kerala. It aimed to support BLOs, election officials and volunteers managing the heavy workload of digitising voter enumeration forms. Districts started a series of Best BLO/Supervisors of the Day to motivate them. Experience sharing of BLOs who have completed 100 per cent digitisation was also promoted through social media. Led by the Chief Electoral Officer, the Night Out initiative involved senior officials joining Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to directly engage with people at the grassroots level of society, working without time constraints to ensure complete outreach. Conducted Kite Festival, Sand Art on behalf of SIR campaign, Visiting Unnathies, Conducting Votathon Ralli, Candle Light March, appreciating the efforts of BLOs by sending personalised postcards signed by the District Collector, A Day with BLO, etc were done as part of SIR promotion, press release said. Kerala identified places with poor or slow network in the initial days of SIR, so it started a community model for digitisation. BLOs in such places would sit together in a strong network area and digitise the EFs for speedy work. Special urban camps were organised in all wards of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the State to ensure complete coverage of urban electors. Eight meetings were held at the State Level with the political parties, 52 meetings were held at the District Level, and a total of 317 meetings were held at the Assembly Constituency Level. The final electoral roll for Kerala will be published on February 21, 2026. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has rejected the appeals of Shahid Yousuf, son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salauddin; Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali; separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah and several others. They had challenged the order of framing of charges in the different cases lodged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). One appeal, pertaining to an FIR of the Delhi Police, was also rejected. Two appeals were filed by Naga Insurgent Alemla Jamir and Masasasong Ao. The division bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain rejected the appeals after considering the submissions by the counsel for the appellants and the special public prosecutor for the NIA. The Delhi High Court said that the appeals are not maintainable. A preliminary objection is raised by the NIA that an appeal against an order framing charge is not maintainable under Section 21 of the NIA Act. The High Court observed, "An order framing charge, as against a final order, is an interlocutory order, as it does not decide any proceeding finally, and the term ' intermediate order' is a concept of revisional jurisdiction, which cannot be applied while interpreting the term 'appeal' both on facts and law." "In view of the aforesaid, all the present appeals, on the ground of maintainability, are dismissed," the division bench said in the judgment of December 23. The High Court said that an appeal is provided only from any judgment, sentence or order, not being an interlocutory order, to the division bench of the High Court, both on facts and on law. Thus, the Scheme of the Act is that for the scheduled offences covered by the NIA Act, the investigation as well as trial shall be speedy. A revision challenging any order is absolutely barred to enable the Court to hold proceedings expeditiously, the High Court said. The counsel for appellants submitted that as per Section 21 of the NIA Act, an appeal is maintainable against every order other than an interlocutory order. It is already settled by the Supreme Court that an order framing a charge is not an interlocutory order, but an intermediate order; thus, from a plain reading of the section, an appeal would be maintainable. On the other hand, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, special public prosecutors Rahul Tyagi, Akshai Malik, and advocate Khawar Saleem appeared for the NIA. They submitted that a plain reading cannot be given to Section 21 as the same would not serve the purpose of the NIA Act. It should rather be interpreted in a manner which fulfils the purpose of the rest of the sections along with the Act, and, thus, a purposeful interpretation needs to be given, the prosecution said. These appeals were filed by Shahid Yousuf, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Syed Ahmad Shakeel, Masarat Alam Bhat, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Javed Ali alias Javed, Abdur Rehman alias Dr. Brave, Mohd Waqar Lone, Rouf Ahmad Bhat, Mateen Ahmad Bhat, Haris Nisar Langoor, Manan Dar alias Manan, Hanan Gulzar Dar, Zamin Adil Bhat, Arsalan Feroze Ahenger and other accused persons. (ANI)
The protests erupted in several parts of the country after the mob lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh on Tuesday. Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy on December 18, and his body was subsequently set on fire, an incident that has reignited international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and pushed India-Bangladesh relations into renewed strain. In Delhi, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) protestors clashed with police and broke barricades outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi. Heavy security was deployed near the Bangladesh High Commission to monitor and control the situation. The protestors demanded accountability from Bangladeshi authorities, with some calling for justice and protection of minorities. Members of the Sarbo Bharatiya Hindi Bangali Sangathan, VHP, and Bajrang Dal participated in a protest near the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Metro Station, raising slogans about Bangladesh's Hindus and their security. Members of Bangiyo Hindu Jagran and several other Hindu organisations staged a protest on Tuesday near the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata over alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the recent mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das. According to the police, the protestors had planned to submit a deputation to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. However, the situation escalated after a large number of demonstrators gathered near the premises, leading to tensions in the area. To prevent a breach of law and order, police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd, officials said. In a separate protest, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were detained by police in Mumbai while they were demonstrating against the same issue. Meanwhile, several protests were staged against the violence against minorities in Bangladesh across India, including New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad. Amid mounting unease and widespread protests in India over the mob lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asserted that 40 per cent of the population in Assam consists of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and that if this percentage increases by another 10 per cent, the state will be automatically absorbed into Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI, Sarma said, "40 per cent of the population in Assam consists of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and if this percentage increases by another 10 per cent, Assam will be automatically absorbed into Bangladesh. I have been repeatedly saying this for the past five years." Sarma's remarks come in the backdrop of the brutal mob lynching of 27-year-old Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on December 18, which has triggered outrage across India and in Bangladesh, drawing sharp political reactions. Political leaders across the nation raised concerns over the incident and termed it a "shameful act". Condemning the killing, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari termed the incident a "shameful act" by the interim Yunus government in Bangladesh. "It's not only the murder of a Hindu in Bangladesh. We all saw via a viral video that the Bangladesh police handed over the Hindu man to huge protestors. It's rare, rare of the rare, that police hand over anyone to protestors from a police station. It's a shameful act by the Yunus government and a shameful example. The whole world and Hindus are protesting this incident," Adhikari said. He further added, "It's not only any Hindu organisation; many common people are protesting against this incident in Bangladesh. Today, Kolkata police lathi-charged on protestors. It proves there is no difference between Mamata Banerjee and Md Yunus." Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal alleged a larger conspiracy behind the unrest. "The events taking place in Bangladesh are the result of a conspiracy by Pakistan and some countries. Pakistan and some developed countries are troubled by India's happiness and prosperity. India will give a befitting reply to Pakistan's conspiracies," he said. Protests erupted across several Indian cities, including Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh and Agartala, with Hindu organisations staging demonstrations near Bangladeshi diplomatic missions. Reacting to the protest against unrest in Bangladesh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Spokesperson Vijay Shankar Tiwari said protests were erupting across the country. "There is widespread anger throughout the Hindu community, and protests are currently taking place in thousands of locations across the country. This is the anger of Hindus; that's why people are reaching the barricades. It's difficult to imagine what would have happened if this had involved another community. In Bangladesh, the way they are burning a living Hindu person, the anger is naturally inevitable. And not only that, but sisters and daughters are being subjected to atrocities; they are being raped, and their shops are being looted, so this anger is completely understandable," he added. Further, on the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh and the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, Bihar Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar said, "It is very tragic. The government there should take action. The government is not taking action, which has caused a lot of outrage in the Hindu community. It is the responsibility of the current government there to provide security to the people there." Meanwhile, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said the Indian government must take a firm diplomatic stand. "Priyanka Gandhi said that the brutal murder of Dipu Das in Bangladesh is unacceptable. The Indian government should take a stand. They should talk to Bangladesh. They should ensure the safety and security of the people," she said. In Kolkata, members of Bangiyo Hindu Jagran and other organisations protested near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, forcing police to resort to a lathi charge to maintain law and order. Similar demonstrations by the VHP were held in Mumbai and New Delhi, where protestors were detained after attempting to breach security barricades. In Hyderabad, VHP leaders warned of intensified protests, with spokesperson Shashidhar stating, "Atrocities are being done against Hindus in Bangladesh. The government of India should take strict action for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh." Amid escalating tensions, Bangladesh suspended consular and visa services in New Delhi and Agartala, citing security concerns. The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was also summoned by Dhaka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the protests. The killing of Dipu Chandra Das, who was allegedly beaten to death by a mob over blasphemy allegations and later set on fire, has once again placed the safety of minorities in Bangladesh under international scrutiny, further straining already fragile India-Bangladesh relations. Amid escalating tensions, Bangladesh has suspended consular and visa services in New Delhi and Agartala, citing security concerns. At the same time, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned by Dhaka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy on December 18, and his body was subsequently set on fire, an incident that has reignited international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and pushed India-Bangladesh relations into renewed strain. (ANI)
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday hailed the Free Trade Agreement with India, calling it an "excellent" deal amid potential gains for the country's exporters. In an X post, the New Zealand PM said the FTA reduces or eliminates tariffs on 95 per cent of its exports to India, which he stated will support farmers, manufacturers, and exporters. He said, "One of the most important parts of my job is getting out and hustling for New Zealand on the world stage. We've just concluded an excellent Free Trade Agreement with India - and it's a credit to the hard work and persistence of Todd 'Trade' McClay and our negotiating team. The FTA reduces or removes tariffs on 95 per cent of our exports to India. Based on NZ's growth in trade after other FTAs, the potential gain for our exporters and economy from this agreement is huge." "Trade already supports one in four New Zealand jobs, and this agreement strengthens that - backing our farmers, growers, manufacturers and exporters to compete on the world stage. If you're building something great here in New Zealand and want to sell it to the world, National is backing you every step of the way. Because when we trade with the world, we grow our economy at home. That means more jobs, more investment, and higher wages for Kiwis," Luxon said. https://x.com/chrisluxonmp/status/2003207943890829660?s=20 Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, as the two leaders jointly announced a landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. The leaders agreed that the FTA would serve as a catalyst for greater trade, investment, innovation and shared opportunities between both countries. In an X post, PM Modi wrote, "My friend PM Christopher Luxon and I had a very good conversation a short while ago following the conclusion of the landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Concluded in just nine months, this historic milestone reflects a strong political will and shared ambition to deepen economic ties between our two countries." The Free Trade Agreement includes zero duty on 100 per cent of goods exports upon entry into force; tariff elimination on 8,284 tariff lines, expanding market access for Indian products; and new growth avenues across IT-ITES, finance, education, tourism and audio-visual services. New Zealand has also committed to facilitating investments of USD 20 billion into India over the next fifteen years, thereby supporting manufacturing, infrastructure, services, innovation and employment under India's Make in India vision. (ANI)
Claiming that India and the West have "handed over" the production of goods to China, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Made in China goods have crippled job creation in democracies, fuelling political turbulence across India, the United States and Europe. Addressing an event at Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, Rahul Gandhi called for production in a democratic environment, arguing that democracy is required to sustain itself by producing goods. Gandhi said, "The West and to an extent India, have handed over production to the Chinese. China dominates production today, which means that it is difficult to give employment to a large number of people. Countries like India, the US and Germany cannot give their employment based on services. How do democracies produce in this transition? What are the models that are required, how do you think about production in a democratic environment, and what are the types of partnerships that India, the US and Europe can create for production? It will become very difficult for democracy to sustain itself if we are not able to produce." "A huge part of the turbulence that we are seeing in Europe, India and the US, polarisation of politics, is because we are not able to give our people jobs, which is because we said: China, you produce for the world," he added. Rahul Gandhi flagged Made in China goods selling in India, and said that New Delhi has "capability, cost structure and population" to produce goods but has not done it yet. "Everything that you see is made in China, and that, at least for a country like India, is a problem. We have the capability, cost structure and population to produce, but we have just not done it," he said. Further, the Congress leader said that US' hegemony is being challenged "effectively," claiming that Washington DC is "struggling internally." "We are in the middle of a socio-economic-political transition that is taking place. In India, we benefited greatly from the hegemony of the US from the 1990s till about 2014. We had tremendous advantages as we built a relationship, a partnership with them," Gandhi stated. "We lived in a unipolar world, where the US had its shortcomings and made mistakes, but it defined the rules and structure. For the first time, that hegemony is being challenged effectively. We are seeing a dramatic reduction in American power across the spectrum: militarily, economically, and financially. A challenge is being posed to the US dollar and the financial system. The US is struggling internally and almost walking away from its earlier position," the Congress leader added. Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany. His remarks come after he had claimed that manufacturing in India is declining. During his visit to the BMW World museum in Munich, Germany, on December 17, he said, "Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more - build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems, and create high-quality jobs at scale." However, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari refuted the Lok Sabha LoP's claim, calling it "fake news" against India's growth story. The BJP Spokesperson, in an X post, claimed 495 per cent growth in total electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years, with exports growing by 760 per cent, and a 14 times increase in the automobile manufacturing since 1991. (ANI)
United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday (local time) the new "Trump class" of Navy battleships into the "Golden Fleet" of the US Navy. Announcing the "largest ever battleships" in the world, Donald Trump said that the US will build a total of 20 to 25 of these ships, which will be 100 times the force as compared to the US' existing battleships. The US President said, "We are going into a Golden Fleet; we are building for the United States Navy. We desperately needed ships as some of them have become old, tired, and obsolete. As Commander in Chief, I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of the brand new, largest we have ever built battle ships. They will be 100 times the force, the power. These have been under design consideration for a long time, and started with me in my first term. These are the best in the world, the fastest, the biggest." He said that the battleships weighing between 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes will be the "most lethal" warships and will carry nuclear arms and guns along with missiles. "We haven't built a battleship since 1994. We used to build ships during World War II, but now we don't build ships anymore. These cutting-edge vessels will be some of the most lethal surface warfare ships. Each one will be the largest battleship in the history of the world. We are talking about ten, but we are going to start with two, and ultimately we think it will be between 20 to 25 of these. These battleships have many missiles but also guns, and in many ways, guns can do the trick at a tiny fraction of the cost," Trump said. He added, "Once completed, these new 30-40,000-tonne plus vessels will be the flagships of the American Naval Fleet. We have great navy yards, and we are negotiating with some companies which run those yards. The most sophisticated lasers on Earth will be on the battleships. They will also carry the nuclear arms and cruise missiles under development... They'll be AI-controlled... The US Navy will lead the design of the ships along with me." The announcement comes after the United States seized two tankers off the coast of Venezuela this month, and on Sunday (local time), they began pursuing what it described as a "dark fleet" vessel in international waters near Venezuela after the ship refused to stop and continued sailing, CNN reported. The vessel, identified as Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to load oil when US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board it. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reiterated his allegation that the BJP is "capturing" the country's institutional framework, terming it an "attack" on the democratic system. Addressing a gathering at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Centre has "weaponised" investigating agencies, suggesting a quid pro quo in which businessmen in India financially support the BJP rather than Opposition parties. He said, "There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against the people who oppose them. If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the Opposition has." He added that Congress will create a "system of resistance" against the capture of institutions. "There is an attack on the democratic system. We have to find ways to counter this. We will create a system of opposition resistance that will succeed. We are not fighting the BJP, but their capture of the Indian institutional structure," the Congress leader said. Addressing the fact that the INDIA bloc parties are in contest in state and local elections against each other, Gandhi stated that the alliance is united against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's ideology while having "tactical contests" against each other. He also accused the BJP of proposing to eliminate the Constitution and the idea of equality. "All the parties of the INDIA alliance don't agree with the basic ideology of RSS. We are united on that question, but we have tactical contests, and we will continue to have them. We are united in the Parliament, and we will contest the BJP on laws that we disagree with. It is a deeper battle than simply elections. We are fighting a battle for an alternate vision of India. BJP is proposing the elimination of the constitution and equality between states, languages, and religions," he said. Gandhi said that a large number of people do not support the vision of the Centre and the RSS and consider India to be "complex and diverse." "There are millions of people in India who have a completely different vision of the country than the government of India and the RSS. This has existed throughout history. Are you going to be ruled by the whims of one person, or are you going to be ruled by a conversation? There are people who think we should have a strong leader, and all this discussion is a waste of time, and then the other side says that India is too complex and diverse, speaks multiple languages and has too many ideas for one person to decide its future. India should be a conversation between its states," the Congress leader said. "A number of people in India support PM Modi. A lot of people do not agree with his ideology and the vision of India that he has. We think the vision will fail, and it has tremendous problems. It will create massive tensions in India and make the Indian people fight with each other. We will fight it. It is a clash between two visions in India," he added. Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany. Even earlier, the Congress MP has alleged an institutional capture by the RSS. During a discussion on electoral reforms in the Parliament, he had alleged that the ECI were "captured" by the RSS as part of its project to take over the country's institutions. (ANI)
China has encountered turbulence in recent years, especially since unleashing COVID-19. However, the year 2025 appeared to be a better one for Chairman Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Much of this can be put down to the world facing tumult, to which President Donald Trump contributed. Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, but he soon upset many allies with his invocation of tariffs on those far and near, and criticised European nations. Trump shamefully berated Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and at times seemed more interested in honoring Vladimir Putin. Despite his promises, he has also failed to slow down Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, Trump oftentimes seems only to be interested in making money from China, such as his shortsighted permission for Nvidia to sell H200 artificial intelligence computer chips. Whilst Trump was busy trampling on people's toes, Xi has been presenting himself as a responsible statesman, and China as a power for good in the world. Xi is targeting the so-called Global South, as he criticises the US for disrupting the international order, and proclaims itself as a champion of free trade, development assistance and international law. Yet those manoeuvres have belied the truth, as China continues its destabilising actions unabated. Nonetheless, with the rest of the world preoccupied by Trump's antics and a conflict in Gaza and Ukraine, China has been making hay. In its "2025 Annual Report to Congress", the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission noted, "General Secretary of the CCP Xi Jinping has persisted in challenging US global leadership and asserting China's position on the world stage..." Of course, Xi has been aided and abetted by Trump's erratic behaviour. Instead of pursuing an integrated, comprehensive campaign against China, Trump's relations have been characterised by missteps. The American report noted, "Beijing has continued its efforts to construct an alternative world order with itself at the centre - symbolised most powerfully in 2025 by images of the leaders of Russia, North Korea, Iran and about 20 other mostly authoritarian countries gathered behind Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing commemorating China's victory in World War Two." Indeed, the acme for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was its spectacular military parade in Tiananmen Square on 3 September 2025. The military showed a plethora of new equipment, including a bewildering array of missiles. Importantly, China is expanding its considerable inventory of nuclear warheads. It displayed no fewer than three types of ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles in the parade, as well as submarine-launched and air-launched nuclear-tipped missiles. Sam Roggeveen, Program Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute in Australia, assessed that 2025 was a year of major revelations: "In fact, I cannot recall a more dramatic year in my time as a PLA watcher." Apart from the gradual dissemination of more information about China's prototypical sixth-generation fighters, including a tailless one, Roggeveen highlighted these things. "There's so much to highlight: the commissioning of China's third aircraft carrier, the apparently excellent performance of Chinese weapons in Pakistan's aerial skirmish with India over Kashmir, evidence that China is building a military headquarters outside Beijing roughly ten times the size of the Pentagon, countless new combat drone designs, the 'invasion barges' for a Taiwan amphibious landing, the Beijing military parade, the launch of a new [Type 076] amphibious vessel for which there is no global equivalent, strong photographic indications of a fourth aircraft carrier under construction (nuclear-powered and perhaps the largest warship ever built), and...the first images of a new class of military transport aircraft. This list is not exhaustive." Roggeveen acknowledged that China still has capability gaps - such as anti-submarine warfare - and areas where it trails the US and Russia (e.g. in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft engines). However, "China is no longer an imitator or 'fast follower' in military technology. It is a leader." The PLA is a potent tool in the hands of the CCP, as made evident by its daily harassment of Taiwan via sea and aerial patrols. A Chinese task group also performed unprecedented naval gunnery in the Tasman Sea in February. While this action was not illegal, China intended to send a message to Australasia that it can go where it pleases. As the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission report pointed out: "While claiming to be a source of international stability, China has continued to threaten global security by undertaking gray-zone activities in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. China routinely engages in provocative military manoeuvres near Taiwan and in the South and East China Seas, and has sabotaged critical underseacommunications cables near Taiwan and in the Baltic Sea, and has escalated cyberattacks on the United States." Not only has China intensified aggressive actions and words against Taiwan, but it has done the same against Manila in the South China Sea and harassed Japan near the Senkaku Islands. Its gray zone tactics assert territorial sovereignty, and Beijing uses "lawfare" to back up its claims. The US commission's report also noted, "Beyond its own borders, Beijing has continued to stoke violence and instability by supplying dual-use goods to Russia and otherwise helping sustain its war against Ukraine, funding Iran and its terrorist proxies in the Middle East, and intensifying cyberattacks on the United States and countries around the world." The US government also accused China of providing North Korea with diplomatic cover and material support that advances its cyber and weapons programs. Taiwan clearly remains a flashpoint, with Beijing incensed by US approval of a massive USD 11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan that was announced on 17 December 2025. Lyle Morris, Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy and National Security at the US-based Asia Society Policy Institute's (ASPI) Centre for China Analysis, posited, "The year 2026 will be pivotal for Taiwan. With new leaders elected in Washington and Taipei in 2024, prospects for peace in the Taiwan Strait will likely hinge on the ever-changing political considerations of how to maintain the precarious status quo between China, Taiwan and the United States." Morris added, "In 2026, US President Donald Trump and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will each have to confront the challenge of maintaining the peace while balancing domestic considerations that may distract from this central goal. Meanwhile, as China's President Xi Jinping continues to pursue peaceful reunification between mainland China and Taiwan, there are indicators that China's population may be losing patience with nonmilitary approaches to achieving Xi's goal." China confidently threw its weight around beyond its shores in 2025, yet the CCP sought to intensify control at home too. The Commission's annual report explained: "China's efforts to undercut US credibility and advance its own interests overseas have also been supported by its approach to domestic governance. Over the past year, China has deepened its anti-corruption campaign with the aim of quashing internal dissent, forged ahead with its military modernisation efforts, and continued its longstanding efforts to control religious institutions it sees as fueling separatism and undermining party rule." The authors assessed, "Considered in the aggregate, these actions reflect Beijing's continued rapid preparations for the possibility of conflict and its systematic efforts to erode US deterrence across the military, economic, technological, cyber and diplomatic domains." Xi's priorities are exercising tight control over the CCP, ensuring national security and boosting technological self-reliance. He believes these are key for China's future prosperity. Xi values loyalty above all else, but that means Chinese leaders are not necessarily there because of talent. His underlings are afraid to put a foot wrong, so Xi's centralised system limits innovation and dynamism. Indeed, promotion of the elite depends primarily upon their alignment with Xi's policies. The CCP's top echelons have endured a strict anti-graft campaign, with record numbers of arrests and detentions. Naturally, there is tension between loyalty and governance, especially as a new generation of leaders - particularly those born in the 1970s - will rise to the fore at the 21st Party Congress in 2027-28. In an end-of-year assessment by ASPI, experts said, "In practice, Xi's policies have led to a decline in governance capability, as evidenced by economic sluggishness, mismanagement of public health crises, and the intensification of international relations." Elsewhere, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission stated, "China's economic system is under serious strain. High debt levels and eroding fiscal capacity have constrained Chinese officials' means to address the domestic slowdown without more serious structural reform, which remains unlikely for political reasons. The result is increasingly a two-speed economy, whereby broader economic growth remains under substantial pressure while priority areas for the party, such as advanced manufacturing, continue to see plentiful policy support and access to capital. Domestic consumption remains tepid amid mounting concerns over stagnant wages, unemployment, high household debt and a weak social safety net." Growth has slowed in the Chinese economy, local governments are heavily indebted, and the property sector remains fragile. The workforce is also shrinking as the birth rate remains low. Levels of business and consumer confidence have plummeted, international investment is waning, and the US has imposed export controls. Domestic consumption amounted to 41 per cent in 2023, far below the US's level of 69 per cent. That means China is still dependent on exports. ASPI noted, "Slumping investment returns, mounting bad debt and escalating trade tensions have pushed Beijing to renew its efforts to pivot toward consumption. The fundamental question is not whether consumption-led growth is economically desirable or a priority for China's leadership, but whether Beijing possesses the political resolve to accept the 2-3 per cent annual GDP growth that genuine rebalancing would require." This restructuring is important because a lack of consumer-led growth will mean social stability is increasingly difficult to maintain. Next year, China may either reinforce or abandon its consumption strategy, so this bears watching. Furthermore, inequality runs rampant in China, which is at odds with its touted socialist ideals. China has more billionaires than the US, though youth unemployment is at 20 per cent. ASPI highlighted three strategic tensions that define the evolving state-private sector relationship: openness versus control, dependence versus mistrust, and political will versus execution. There is thus a "golden goose" dilemma. Those entrepreneurs who generated China's technological boom cannot be trusted by the CCP, and the party is trying to rein them in so they do not accrue too much power. Despite these challenges, China's economy is more resilient and self-reliant now. China will release its 15th Five-Year Plan next year, covering the 2026-30 period. The 21st Party Congress is scheduled for 2027, and Xi will wish to present himself in the best light. This legitimacy is vital, since Xi has broken norms and set himself up to reign over China indefinitely. In April 2025, the USA and China experienced uncontrolled decoupling as tariffs were imposed by both sides. Afterwards, the two were able to negotiate a de-escalation to reach "strategic stability", as the US described it. That stability was threatened by a couple of flare-ups in 2025, and Xi forced Trump back to the negotiating table with his threat to constrict the flow of rare-earth elements. Rather than desperation, this showed Xi's confidence vis-a-vis Trump. Nonetheless, uncertainty is ever-present as Xi manages rolling tariff truces imposed by Trump. China also ostracised Japan late in 2025 after Beijing took exception to comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. While such moves play well at home, they do not garner plaudits overseas. Indeed, China has scored its own goals and damaged its image through its "wolf warrior" diplomacy, and global surveys generally show China is falling out of favour. Unlike the US's knee-jerk policies, China has a coordinated strategy to prepare itself for the possibility of potential conflict. Simultaneously, the Chinese government is seeking to erode US deterrence and harm the resilience of American security networks with allies. At the heart of Xi's thinking is that the East is rising and the West is declining. He believes China will eventually outpace the US and replace it as the world's preeminent power. Certainly, he made some progress towards this goal in 2025. (ANI)
Addressing a lecture in Berlin, Germany, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi again levelled "vote theft" allegations on the Government of India, pointing out the duplicate voters in the voter list. Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Congress won the Haryana Assembly elections in 2024 and the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 "were not fair." Lok Sabha LoP shared that their party did not receive a "response" from the Election Commission when they flagged the issue. Addressing the Hertie School on "Politics Is The Art Of Listening", Rahul Gandhi said, "We have won elections in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh. We have been raising issues as far as the fairness of elections in India is concerned. I have done press conferences in India where we have clearly shown without a shadow of a doubt that we won the Haryana election and that we don't feel the Maharashtra elections were fair. There is a full-scale assault taking place on the institutional framework of our country. We asked direct questions to the Election Commission." "A Brazilian woman was there on the voting list 22 times in Haryana... We did not get a response. We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India," he added. Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the Centre has "weaponised" investigating agencies, suggesting a quid pro quo in which businessmen in India financially support the BJP rather than Opposition parties. He said, "There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against the people who oppose them. If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the Opposition has." He added that Congress will create a "system of resistance" against the capture of institutions. "There is an attack on the democratic system. We have to find ways to counter this. We will create a system of opposition resistance that will succeed. We are not fighting the BJP, but their capture of the Indian institutional structure," the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany. The Lok Sabha LoP has been consistently levelling "vote theft" allegations on the Central Government, accusing them of "rigging" elections by voter list manipulation. (ANI)
President Donald Trump said that it would be a "smart" move for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power, as the United States continues to ramp up military and economic pressure on the South American nation. Responding to questions about whether his administration's current strategy is designed to force Maduro from office, Trump remained noncommittal about the specific endgame but was clear about his advice to the Venezuelan leader. "Well, I think it probably would," Trump said when asked if the goal was to force Maduro out. "Can't tell. That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that. Again, we're going to find out." "Look, Venezuela did terrible things to the United States," Trump said. "Hundreds of thousands of people, millions of people, into our open border. They sent their criminals, they sent their prisoners, they sent their drug dealers, they sent their mentally insane and incompetent people into our country, more than any other country." Trump noted that while other nations, including the Congo, had seen similar movements of people, he blamed the previous administration for the scale of the crisis at the US southern border. "We just let them come right in because we were run by a stupid president," Trump added. "But you don't have a stupid president anymore." While the White House has officially framed its increased Caribbean military presence as an anti-drug operation, these latest comments--coupled with the recent seizer two tankers off the coast of Venezuela this month, and on Sunday (local time), they began pursuing what it described as a "dark fleet" vessel in international waters near Venezuela after the ship refused to stop and continued sailing, CNN reported. The vessel, identified as Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to load oil when US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board it. According to US authorities, Bella 1 is under American sanctions for links to Iranian oil and is viewed as part of a "shadow fleet" used to transport crude from sanctioned countries. A judicial warrant had already been issued for the vessel's seizure. However, the Venezuelan government had labelled the move an "act of piracy" and a direct attempt by the United States to seize the country's energy resources and topple its leadership. (ANI)
Former Indian diplomat Anil Trigunayat has described the current situation in Bangladesh as "extremely delicate and dangerous," stressing the urgent need to protect minorities and restore law and order, while reacting to remarks made by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking about developments in the neighbouring country, Trigunayat said concerns about the safety of minorities and the overall security environment could not be ignored. He expressed hope that Bangladesh would see a return to democratic normalcy through transparent elections scheduled for February 12, leading to a smooth transition of power. "The situation in Bangladesh, whether about minorities or the overall law-and-order environment, is extremely delicate and dangerous... There is general hope that normal, transparent elections will be held on February 12th and that a smooth transition of power will follow. We have recently seen how a Hindu individual was lynched, and the government's own website lists the number of incidents against minorities... We want Bangladesh to stabilise. India stands with the people of Bangladesh. At the same time, minorities must be protected, " he said. Commenting on Sheikh Hasina's statement, the former diplomat added, "I am glad she expressed that view. The Bangladesh government must follow this guidance, as such rhetoric creates a dangerous mindset among the public and could have serious long-term repercussions if incidents arise from it. India has always supported the people of Bangladesh in keeping with our Neighbourhood First policy. The only expectation we have is that Bangladeshi territory, whose liberation India supported, will not be used against India's security interests and concerns. Statements emanating from certain quarters in Bangladesh are therefore utterly irresponsible and must not be encouraged." With Bangladesh grappling with unrest after a fresh spell of violence last week, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mounted a strong critique of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of empowering extremist elements, stoking anti-India sentiment and weakening democratic structures, developments she said endanger both domestic stability and regional security. In an email interview with ANI, addressing concerns over growing hostility towards India and the safety of Indian diplomats, Hasina alleged that recent tensions were deliberately engineered. "This hostility is being manufactured by extremists who the Yunus regime has emboldened," she said. Referring to incidents targeting Indian and domestic institutions, she added, "These are the same actors who marched on the Indian embassy and attacked our media offices, who attack minorities with impunity, and who forced my family and me to flee for our lives." (ANI)
Bangladesh on Tuesday expressed grave concern over attacks on its diplomatic missions in India, summoning the Indian High Commissioner to protest incidents in New Delhi and Siliguri, according to Bangladesh Foreign Ministry statement. "Bangladesh condemns such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance", it added. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned the violence, citing threats to diplomatic personnel and establishments, and urged India to ensure their safety and security. "The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and related facilities in India", the statement said. The incidents include vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on 22 December 2025 and a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December 2025. "The Government of Bangladesh expects the Government of India to immediately take appropriate steps in accordance with its international and diplomatic obligations to safeguard the dignity and security of diplomatic personnel and establishments", it said. Bangladesh has suspended visa operations in Delhi and Siliguri, citing security concerns, a foreign ministry official told ANI. "In Delhi, an incident occurred in which a group of people surrounded the Bangladesh High Commission. After this event, Bangladesh expressed concerns over security. As a result, no visas are currently being issued from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi," the official said. "In Siliguri, although Bangladesh does not have an official mission, visa processing was carried out through a private agency, VFS. However, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad reportedly vandalised the VFS office and issued threats. In response, the Bangladesh government has also suspended visa operations in Siliguri," he alleged. India has dismissed allegations of inadequate security, stating the New Delhi protest was brief and posed no threat. The row stems from the killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, sparking international concern over minority safety. India on Sunday dismissed "misleading propaganda" in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi against the "horrendous killing" of Hindu youth, and said the protest was brief and posed no security threat. The 27-year-old Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. (ANI)
Days after the US Justice Department released Epstein documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a survivor has said she feels mortified after discovering that her real name was made public, despite her choosing to remain anonymous as "Jane Doe", reported CNN. The survivor said her name appeared multiple times in the newly released Epstein files. She said her repeated efforts to get the Department of Justice (DOJ) to redact her identity have so far failed. According to CNN, Jane Doe's name is visible in several documents released by the DOJ on Friday. Jane Doe said that since the files became public, she has received unsolicited phone calls, adding to her trauma. She told CNN that she contacted DOJ officials over the weekend to flag that her personal details had not been redacted but the official acknowledged her message and said it would be forwarded to the team handling redactions. However, when she followed up again on Sunday, her name was still publicly accessible as of Monday afternoon. Jane Doe said she witnessed and suffered abuse by Epstein in 2009 and reported it to the FBI that same year. This was after Epstein had pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges in Florida and secured a controversial non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors. Under that deal, Epstein served just 13 months in prison and was allowed to leave jail daily under a work-release programme. Survivors have consistently alleged that Epstein continued abusing girls during this period. Jane Doe said she has been seeking access to her FBI file for several years and said the DOJ's failure to protect her identity has deeply shaken her trust in the system."The reason I feel so passionate is it's not just about me and what happened. I fear for the little girl who's calling the FBI right now and asking for help," she told CNN. "I am so afraid for her, because if I have to do all of this right now... I have no words. I just have no words. It hurts my heart. It haunts me to my core." Jane Doe is among more than a dozen Epstein survivors, along with family members of the late survivor Virginia Giuffre, who released a joint statement on Monday criticising the DOJ's handling of the file release. The statement flagged what it called "abnormal and extreme redactions" without explanation, victims' identities being left unredacted, causing "real and immediate harm", and the absence of financial records. Survivors also said it has been difficult or impossible to search for documents related to their own cases. Earlier, CNN had reported that several survivors were struggling to navigate the DOJ's online "Epstein Library" and were unable to locate material connected to their abuse. "There has been no communication with survivors or our representatives about what was withheld, why hundreds of thousands of documents were not released by the legal deadline, or how future disclosures will avoid exposing victims," the statement said. Responding to the criticism, DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said the department has been in contact with victims, their lawyers, and survivor groups. He said the DOJ and the Southern District of New York are undertaking a complex process to protect victims through redactions and encouraged survivors to raise concerns with officials. However, the release has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers across party lines. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna said the DOJ must stop shielding influential individuals who were never charged. He called for the release of FBI witness interviews that name other men allegedly linked to Epstein, along with emails seized from Epstein's computer. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, also accused the DOJ of failing to comply with the law. In one post on X, Massie said he was being blamed for a bill that President Donald Trump eventually signed, while powerful figures remained protected. He alleged that Attorney General Pam Bondi was actively redacting and withholding parts of the Epstein files that the DOJ is legally required to release. "Trump is blaming me for a bill he eventually signed, while defending his banker friends, Bill Clinton, and "innocent" visitors to rape island. Meanwhile Bondi is working fervently to redact, omit, and delete Epstein files she is legally required to release under our bill, he wrote in an X post. In another post, Massie said survivors deserve justice and argued that the DOJ's document release does not meet the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. He added, "The survivors deserve justice. The DOJ release does not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and does not provide what the survivors are guaranteed under the new law." (ANI)
Japan is preparing for a major overhaul of its foreign labour policies, balancing a desperate need for workers with growing public concern over immigration, Kyodo News reported. The government announced plans to cap the number of trainees under its upcoming "Employment for Skill Development" program at approximately 426,000 for its first two years, starting in fiscal 2027. The move comes as Japan reviews its broader foreign worker policies, including stricter measures against visa overstays, following instructions from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Public concern over the growing number of foreign nationals in the country has also influenced the review. At the same time, Japan is grappling with a chronic labour shortage caused by its ageing population. To address this, the government plans to scrap the long-criticised Technical Intern Training Program, which has often been accused of enabling cheap labour and human rights violations, and replace it with a new framework called the Employment for Skill Development program, as per Kyodo News. Under the new system, foreign workers will be encouraged to move to the Specified Skilled Worker status after three years of employment, allowing them to stay in Japan for longer periods. A rough draft of the plan, presented to a panel of experts on Tuesday, shows that Japan aims to accept up to about 805,000 people under the specified skilled worker programme through March 2029. This is slightly lower than the earlier target of 820,000 set in March 2024. The government said the reduced number is achievable by boosting productivity, including through greater use of digital technologies, according to Kyodo News. According to the draft, a total of around 1.23 million foreign workers would be accepted under both the existing and new systems combined. Prime Minister Takaichi's Cabinet is expected to approve the plan in January after further deliberations. The new training programme will cover 17 sectors, including agriculture and construction, compared with the 19 sectors currently included under the specified skilled worker system. Japan offers two types of visas under the specified skilled worker category. The first allows a total stay of up to five years, while the second can be renewed indefinitely, effectively offering a route to permanent residency. The first category is for workers with "considerable knowledge or experience," while the second applies to those with more advanced and "proficient skills," according to the government. In principle, only foreign nationals holding the Specified Skilled Worker I status will be subject to the proposed cap. As of the end of June, around 333,000 people held Specified Skilled Worker I status, while about 449,000 technical interns were working in Japan, according to data from the Immigration Services Agency. (ANI)
India and New Zealand on Monday announced the conclusion of a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a development expected to significantly deepen economic engagement and strengthen long-term cooperation between the two countries. Welcoming the agreement, Michael Fox, Head of Global Public Affairs at Zespri and former Chair of the India-New Zealand Business Council, said the deal signals a new era in the bilateral relationship and reflects a clear commitment from both sides to unlock new trade and partnership opportunities. "The agreement is hugely welcome and signals a new era in the relationship," Fox said during an interview with ANI, noting that the strong emphasis on mutual benefit would be central to the success of the partnership going forward. He added that the FTA is designed not only to enhance market access but also to create shared value for businesses and communities in both countries. Fox highlighted horticulture, particularly kiwifruit, as a key beneficiary of the agreement. Improved market access will allow Zespri to supply more high-quality, nutritious kiwifruit to India's growing base of health-conscious consumers, while investments to build high-value demand are expected to benefit Indian growers during their domestic production season. As part of the FTA, the Kiwifruit Action Plan (KAP) will be launched as a flagship initiative. Under the plan, the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Ltd (BSI) and the New Zealand kiwifruit industry will work alongside Indian kiwifruit growers in rural communities to support improved production practices and strengthen supply-chain performance. Fox described the initiative as a strong example of the mutual benefits embedded in the trade pact. Commenting on the broader geopolitical context, Fox said the successful conclusion of the agreement amid an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific environment underscores the importance of cooperation between like-minded partners. He noted that the FTA reinforces the value of the international rules-based system, providing clarity and certainty for businesses making decisions related to investment and market development. "This should be a real boost to business confidence," he said. Reflecting on his tenure as Chair of the India-New Zealand Business Council, Fox said the FTA provides a solid platform for expanding trade and investment ties at a time when countries are actively diversifying economic partnerships. He pointed to the complementary nature of the two economies, spanning primary industries such as horticulture, high-tech sectors like space, as well as services and people-to-people exchanges. With continued engagement from governments, businesses, and wider communities, Fox said the bilateral relationship is well-positioned to strengthen further in the years ahead. "If that investment continues, we will see stronger benefits over time," he added. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, as the two leaders jointly announced a landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. The leaders agreed that the FTA would serve as a catalyst for greater trade, investment, innovation, and shared opportunities between the two countries. The leaders also welcomed progress in other areas of bilateral cooperation, including defence, sports, education and people-to-people ties. With negotiations having been initiated during New Zealand PM Luxon's visit to India in March 2025, the two leaders agreed that the conclusion of the FTA in a record time of 9 months reflects the shared ambition and political will to further deepen ties between the two countries. The FTA would significantly deepen bilateral economic engagement, enhance market access, promote investment flows, strengthen strategic cooperation between the two countries, and also open up new opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, MSMEs, students and youth of both countries across various sectors. Christopher Luxon said in a post on X, "I've just spoken with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the conclusion of the NZ-India Free Trade Agreement. The FTA reduces or removes tariffs on 95% of our exports to India. It's forecast that NZ exports to India could increase $1.1B to $1.3B per year over the coming two decades. Boosting trade means more Kiwi jobs, higher wages and more opportunities for hard-working New Zealanders. The agreement builds on the strong friendship between our two countries. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and this gives Kiwi businesses access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers. Our Government is relentlessly focused on fixing the basics and building the future - with new trade deals like this helping to grow our economy so all Kiwis can get ahead." The agreement will significantly deepen cooperation across services, mobility, goods, investment and trade facilitation. As part of the deal, New Zealand has committed to invest USD 20 billion in India over a 15-year period, broadly on the lines of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) model. India, for its part, has offered market access to New Zealand in 106 services sectors and extended MFN treatment in 45 services sectors. In goods trade, India's simple average MFN tariff of 16.2 per cent will reduce to 13.18 per cent upon entry into force of the FTA, further to 10.30 per cent after five years, and to 9.06 per cent by the tenth year. Market access has been offered on 70.03 per cent of tariff lines, while 29.97 per cent have been excluded, largely covering sensitive sectors such as dairy, select animal and vegetable products, sugar, fats and oils, arms and ammunition, gems and jewellery, and copper and aluminium products. India-New Zealand economic engagement has shown steady momentum. Bilateral merchandise trade reached USD 1.3 billion in 2024-25, while total trade in goods and services stood at approximately USD 2.4 billion in 2024, with services trade alone reaching USD 1.24 billion. The India-New Zealand FTA is expected to enhance trade flows, improve regulatory certainty and strengthen long-term strategic and economic ties between the two countries. (ANI)
A group of nine legislators has addressed a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, requesting the inclusion of several Chinese tech companies in a department-maintained list for allegedly supporting the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as reported by The Epoch Times (TET). The letter, dated December 18, mentions that these nonmilitary tech companies are aiding in the "modernisation, internal security initiatives, and military projection capabilities" of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). In 2021, the National Defence Authorisation Act created a list to be kept by the Defence Department (now the War Department) identifying all Chinese military entities, aimed at preventing the U.S. government from accidentally supporting the military, surveillance, and intelligence functions of the CCP. Among the firms the lawmakers proposed is the artificial intelligence company DeepSeek, which, as per a report from the Jamestown Foundation, has defence contracts with the PLA and other Chinese organisations amounting to tens of millions of yuan, or millions of U.S. dollars. The signatories of the letter are Republican chairpersons from nine distinct committees in Congress, including Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Representatives John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), as mentioned in the TET report. The report indicates that a PLA procurement website has listed numerous procurement documents from April to October 2025, which specifically requested tools based on AI models developed by DeepSeek. The lawmakers further noted that DeepSeek is being integrated into Chinese policing and public security networks, where it is incorporated into video-surveillance systems to analyse faces, vehicles, and crowd dynamics, and utilized to compile case data, generate reports, and assist officers in the field in their decision-making, according to their letter. The lawmakers are also advocating for the reinstatement of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi on the list. In 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia overturned a previous listing of Xiaomi, citing a lack of adequate evidence regarding its connections to the Chinese military. They assert that Xiaomi plays a direct role in dual-use robotics for the manufacturing of defence materials and is also working alongside Chinese military medical research entities, as highlighted by the TET report. The letter recognised the department's earlier inclusion of the Chinese internet giant Tencent to the list of Chinese military firms in January 2025. They also commended the department for the recent proposals to include Alibaba, Baidu, and the battery producer BYD. Additional companies the lawmakers requested to be added to the list comprise WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics, WuXi XDC, GenScript Group, Tiandy Technologies, Unitree Robotics, Livox, LeiShen, RoboSense, CloudMinds, Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre, BOE Technology Group, Tianma Microelectronics, Hua Hong Semiconductor, Shennan Circuits Co. Ltd., Kingsemi Company Limited, and Gotion High-Tech, as emphasised by the TET report. (ANI)
Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine overnight on Monday, firing more than 650 drones and over 30 missiles across at least 13 regions, killing three people, including a four-year-old child, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in an X post. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2003378962714497042?s=20 In a strong statement on social media, Zelenskyy said the attacks primarily targeted Ukraine's energy system and civilian infrastructure, disrupting what he described as "the entire infrastructure of daily life". "As of now, air raid alerts remain in effect across most of Ukraine. At the same time, all necessary services are engaged in dealing with the aftermath of the strike. Tragically, lives were lost. In the Kyiv region, a woman was killed by a Russian drone. One person was pronounced dead in the Khmelnytskyi region. In the Zhytomyr region, a four-year-old child was killed after a Russian drone struck a residential building. My condolences to the families and loved ones, " Zelenskyy wrote. Zelenskyy said that while Ukrainian air defence systems managed to shoot down a large number of drones and missiles, several targets were still hit. "Repair crews and energy workers are already on the ground, working to ensure normal life for people, our cities, and our communities," he said, adding that detailed information from the Air Force would be released once all assessments were completed. Condemning the timing of the assault, Zelenskyy said the strike was carried out just days before Christmas, when families hoped to be safe at home. "An attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe," he said, calling it a clear sign of Russia's intentions. He also pointed out that the attack came during ongoing discussions aimed at ending the war, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of refusing to stop the violence. "This Russian strike sends an extremely clear signal about Russia's priorities. An attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe. An attack was carried out essentially in the midst of negotiations aimed at ending this war. Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing. And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia " "Now is the time to respond. Russia must be pushed toward peace and guaranteed security," he said. While major peace talks have recently taken place in Miami and Berlin, the situation on the ground remains highly volatile with significant escalations in both aerial warfare and territorial incursions. US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that Russia "remains fully committed to achieving peace" in Ukraine, as the United States concluded talks with the Russian delegation in Miami, Florida. In a statement on X, Witkoff said that Russia "highly values" the United States' efforts to resolve the conflict. The US envoy said, "Over the last two days in Florida, the Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive meetings with the American delegation to advance President Trump's peace plan on Ukraine. The American delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum." "Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine. Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security," the statement read. "Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine. Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security," the statement read. (ANI)
The International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday framed charges in a crimes against humanity case against 17 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over allegations of enforced disappearances during the Awami League's rule, Daily Star reported. It further reported that the three-member tribunal passed the order after reading out the four charges brought against the accused, who also include Hasina's former defence and security adviser Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique (retd) and 11 army officers. As per Daily Star, of the 17 accused, 10 former Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officers from the army were produced before the tribunal during the proceedings. Before framing the charges, the tribunal asked the accused present in the dock whether they pleaded guilty. All ten pleaded not guilty. One of them told the court they expected justice through the tribunal. According to Daily Star, the officers are Brig Gen Md Qamrul Hasan, Brig Gen Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brig Gen Md Mahbub Alam, Brig Gen Md Jahangir Alam, Col AKM Azad, Col Abdullah Al Momen, Col Md Sarwar Bin Kashem, Col Anowar Latif Khan, Lt Col Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Lt Col Md Saiful Islam Sumon. The report said that the Tribunal has fixed January 21 for the opening statements. Citing the prosecution, it said that 14 detainees were illegally confined and tortured at the TFI cell between 2016 and 2024. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh had last month convicted Sheikh Hasina and sentenced her to death, finding her guilty of "crimes against humanity" for her efforts to suppress the July 2024 anti-government protests. Sheikh Hasina has said that the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was not a judicial exercise but a political one, describing it as a "political assassination in judicial robes." In an interview with ANI, she said she was denied the right to defend herself and to appoint lawyers of her choice, alleging that the tribunal had been used to conduct a "witch hunt of the Awami League." Despite the allegations, Hasina said her trust in Bangladesh's constitutional framework remains intact. "Our constitutional tradition is strong, and when legitimate governance is restored and our judiciary regains its independence, justice will prevail," she said. Against this backdrop of legal action and recent violence, Hasina accused the interim administration headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of lacking democratic legitimacy and driving the country toward instability by weakening institutions and empowering extremist elements. She also questioned the credibility of elections scheduled for February, citing the continued ban on the Awami League. "An election without the Awami League is not an election, but a coronation," she said, alleging that Yunus is governing "without a single vote from the Bangladeshi people" while attempting to bar a party that has won nine national mandates. Hasina warned that voter participation historically collapses when people are denied the option to vote for their preferred party, leading to widespread disenfranchisement. Any administration formed under such circumstances, she said, would lack moral authority and squander an opportunity for genuine national reconciliation. The ICT verdict, she said, has also triggered demands for her extradition, which she dismissed as coming from "an increasingly desperate and adrift Yunus administration," while others recognise the proceedings as a politically driven "kangaroo tribunal." She expressed gratitude for India's continued hospitality and the support extended by political parties across India. Explaining her exit from Bangladesh, Hasina said she left to prevent further bloodshed and not because she feared accountability. Placing developments within a regional context, Hasina addressed the worsening of India-Bangladesh relations, including Dhaka's decision to summon the Indian envoy. She blamed the interim administration for issuing hostile statements against India, failing to protect religious minorities and allowing extremists to influence foreign policy. She underscored that India has been Bangladesh's most dependable partner for decades and said bilateral ties are deep-rooted and enduring, expressing confidence that relations would stabilise once legitimate governance is restored. Turning to rising anti-India sentiment and concerns over the safety of Indian diplomats, Hasina said the hostility is being driven by extremists emboldened under the Yunus regime. She alleged that these groups had attacked the Indian embassy, media organisations and minorities, and that Yunus had elevated such elements to positions of authority while releasing convicted terrorists. She said India's concerns over the safety of its personnel were justified, adding that a responsible government would safeguard diplomatic missions and prosecute those issuing threats, rather than shielding what she described as hooligans. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath and reiterated India's support to the nation in the face of havoc caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Jaishankar also held talks with Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha and Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe. In a post on X, he said, "Delighted to meet Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath along with Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour & Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha and Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe this afternoon. Reiterated India's full support to Sri Lanka's recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. Discussed the implementation of the reconstruction package offered and further relief measures." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003390675157737593?s=20 Jaishankar, along with Herath, jointly inaugurated the 20-foot dual-carriageway Bailey Bridge in Kilinochchi District. Jaishankar added that the 110-tonne bridge was airlifted from India as a part of Operation Sagar Bandhu. In a post on X, he said, "Jointly inaugurated with FM Vijitha Herath in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a 120-foot dual carriageway Bailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province, one of the areas severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The 110-tonne bridge was airlifted from India and installed as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003370957411643678?s=20 In his press statement during a meeting with Herath of Sri Lanka, Jaishankar said that India committed a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka. "I am here as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and carrying a message for President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. The President was kind enough to receive me this morning and we had a detailed discussion on the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The Letter from Prime Minister Modi that I handed over builds on our First Responder role and commits a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka. Our talks centred around how expeditiously this commitment can be delivered," he said. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with the Indian Business Community in Sri Lanka. Jaishankar applauded their contributions in providing relief during Cyclone Ditwah. In a post on X, he said, "Nice to interact with members of the Indian Business community based in Sri Lanka. Applaud their contributions towards providing relief during Cyclone Ditwah." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003409441962811607?s=20 Earlier in the day, in his press statement during meeting with Herath of Sri Lanka, Jaishankar said that India stepped up for helping the nation keeping in line with its Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies. "As your closest neighbour and in line with our Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, it was only natural that India step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis. We have done so when you were going through economic difficulties as well. In the case of Cyclone Ditwah, you would appreciate that India has also been a strong advocate of cooperative disaster response. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was a notable initiative that we led in that regard," he said. Jaishankar highlighted how India sent aid on the day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall, showing swift action. "India's relief and assistance mission - Operation Sagar Bandhu - commenced on the very day that Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. Our Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant and another ship INS Udayagiri were present at Colombo and delivered relief material and thereafter also deployed helicopters. Thereafter, a number of Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Airforce were active for a period of more than two weeks in Sri Lanka." He further highlighted the contributions of an 80-member NDRF team in providing assistance to affected families. "An 80-member National Disaster Response Force contingent arrived simultaneously and conducted rescue and relief operations. The Indian Army established a field hospital with 85 medical personnel near Kandy, providing emergency care to more than 8,000 people. Two modular BHISHM emergency care units were also air lifted to Sri Lanka and utilized," he said. (ANI)
Bangladeshi actor and activist Rokeya Prachy on Tuesday said that ordinary citizens in Bangladesh are not opposed to India and that anti-India sentiments are being deliberately stoked by fundamentalist groups for political gains. Speaking to ANI, Prachy, who is also a member of the Awami League, expressed concern about the current situation in Bangladesh and criticised the approach adopted by the interim Yunus government toward India, calling it "unwise" and harmful to the interests of the Bangladeshi people. Awami League is the political party of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "The common people of Bangladesh are not against India. Fundamentalists are trying to whip up anti-Indian sentiments," Prachy said, alleging that radical groups were attempting to provoke tensions by creating hostility against India. She claimed that organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizb ut-Tahrir and other extremist outfits were systematically fuelling an anti-India narrative. According to Prachy, the anti-India rhetoric benefits only those propagating it and does not serve the interests of Bangladesh or its people. "This anti-Indian rhetoric will only benefit those who are whipping it up. It is not for the benefit of Bangladeshi people," she said. She further alleged that violence targeting Indian interests in Bangladesh was part of a broader strategy by radical elements. Referring to attacks on Indian diplomatic premises, Prachy claimed that extremist groups were attempting to incite unrest and destabilise the country. Bangladesh faced a severe wave of political and communal unrest, which was triggered by the assassination of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. This sparked widespread anti-India protests and led to the mob lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh. Commenting on the recent violence following the death of Osman Hadi and the killing of another student activist, Prachy said she was "not surprised" by the developments. She alleged that the unrest was organised and facilitated by what she termed "mob groups" linked to the interim administration. Prachy further claimed that the release of several convicted Islamist extremists had emboldened radical elements, leading to mob violence against dissenters and minority groups. She alleged that intellectuals and political opponents critical of the interim government had been silenced amid the unrest. "The violence and protests are being used as a weapon to whip up anti-India sentiment and target religious minorities," Prachy said, adding that such developments pose serious risks to Bangladesh's stability and democratic process. (ANI)
Salih Hudayar, Foreign and Security Minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE), has welcomed Genocide Watch's recent alert titled "Genocide Emergency: Xinjiang, China 2025," while cautioning that certain terminology and framing used in the report risk reinforcing Beijing's narrative, as noted in his post on X. According to Hudayar, the use of the term "Xinjiang" without context obscures the historical and political reality of what he described as China's military occupation of East Turkistan. He stressed that "Xinjiang," meaning "new territory," is a colonial name imposed unilaterally by Beijing and erases East Turkistan's history as an independent country, which he said lies at the root of the ongoing genocide. Hudayar further challenged population figures referenced in international reporting. As cited in his post, he stated that East Turkistan is home to far more people than the commonly cited figure of 12 million. He pointed out that even Chinese government data places the region's total population at approximately 26 million, while listing around 12 million Uyghurs, figures he described as political undercounts. East Turkistani scholars and sources, he added, estimate that the Uyghur and broader Turkic population may have been closer to 45 million when China intensified its policies in 2014. Rejecting descriptions that frame the situation as an internal issue "inside China," Hudayar asserted that acts of genocide are being carried out in an occupied country. He stated that mass detention, forced labour, birth prevention, child transfers, religious and linguistic erasure, and demographic engineering are being used as tools of foreign occupation and colonisation to secure permanent Chinese control over East Turkistan. In his statement, Hudayar urged human rights organisations and governments to adopt more accurate language and analysis. He called for the consistent use of "East Turkistan" instead of "Xinjiang," or, where unavoidable, the phrasing "East Turkistan (what China calls 'Xinjiang')," alongside explicit acknowledgement of occupation and colonial domination. He also appealed for population figures to reflect both East Turkistani estimates and Beijing's own higher numbers, warning that lower figures unintentionally minimise the scale of the genocide. Additionally, Hudayar emphasised that lasting solutions require external self-determination, decolonisation, and the restoration of East Turkistan's independence, rather than reforms under continued Chinese rule. "Naming genocide is vital," Hudayar said, according to his post, adding that naming the country, the people, and the root cause, Chinese occupation and colonisation, is equally essential to preventing what he described as the completion of the genocide. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders. Jaishankar highlighted India's efforts in reconstruction post Cyclone Ditwah havoc. In a post on X, he said, "Interacted with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders this afternoon. Underlined our commitment and efforts towards post-Ditwah reconstruction and rehabilitation." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003436760483999851?s=20 Earlier in the day, during a press statement at a meeting with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar said India was prioritising the fastest delivery of aid to the country, given the damage caused by the cyclone. "We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on the people of Sri Lanka must be done in the quickest time possible. We are discussing an effective coordination mechanism for the earliest possible delivery," he said. To boost the economy, Jaishankar said India will continue to encourage tourist travel to Sri Lanka. "Let me also add that there are other ways by which India can and will be of support to Sri Lanka. You are a significant tourism economy and Minister, let me assure you that we will continue to encourage tourism traffic from India in that regard. Similarly, an increase in Foreign Direct Investment from India can also boost your economy at a critical time. Our discussions will therefore keep in mind promoting a deeper cooperative relationship between our two countries," he said. Jaishankar further recognised that India stood with Sri Lanka as it sought to rise from this challenging period. "Friends, we fully recognise that this is a very difficult period for Sri Lanka. Just as it was recovering from the economic crisis of 2022, this natural disaster has created new difficulties. We have seen in the past the strong resolve and strength among the people of Sri Lanka to overcome challenges and to march ahead. I can assure you that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before, and I am sure that Sri Lanka will once again demonstrate its great resilience in recovering from this adversity," he said. (ANI)
Should we be defending left-wing Europe from right-wing Russia? By Selwyn Duke

web posted December 22, 2025 While it was contrary to our Founders' warning to avoid entangling alliances and European wars, we certainly can understand why NATO was created in 1949. The USSR, which President Ronald Reagan would later rightly call an "evil empire," appeared a burgeoning force. Ensuring his post-WWII domination of Eastern Europe, Soviet despot Joseph Stalin saw to it that communist governments rose to power, by hook or by crook, in seven nations west of his own between 1945 and '48. And Stalin's armies became this domination's guarantor. The USSR was also attempting to spread its dark creed worldwide. In fact, Soviet defector Yuri Bezmenov estimated that 85 percent of the KGB's resources were devoted not to espionage, but subversion. So stopping this aggressive leftism was a priority. In contrast, Western Europe still shared much with the U.S. back then. Though its faith was waning, it was still Christendom, as opposed to the "atheistic communist" persecutors of the Church. It was, to use our provisional political terminology, a classic right-left dichotomy. (Note: The right-left model is a poor way of defining reality; it reflects the relativism pervading our time. Yet if I speak of being orthodox vs. heterodox, few will know what I'm talking about. So our common political lexicon must suffice for the moment.) But that time is long past. Approximately a generation and a half ago now, the Berlin Wall fell. The USSR is Russia again and, whatever its faults, the Bear is not spreading communism or any brand of leftism. In fact, the "union" now thus guilty is the EU. This brings us to certain questions: With NATO's raison d'etre, the Soviets, gone, why does it still exist? And given that our treaty obligations could draw into a (ultimately nuclear) war with the Kremlin, should we really be risking American blood defending left-wing Europe from right-wing Russia? It's not as if others haven't noted Western Europe's left-wing (read: tyrannical) shift. In February at the Munich Security Conference, Vice President J.D. Vance castigated the woke Europeans for trampling free speech. He said the greatest threat to the continent wasn't China or Russia, but "from within." Then, on December 19, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the Europeans that mass migration was threatening their culture's "erasure"and the NATO alliance. "You go to these NATO meetings, what they will tell you is  'our shared history, our shared legacy, our shared values, our shared priorities.' That's what they talk about as the reason for this alliance," Rubio told the Washington Examiner . Erase what's shared, however, "then you just have a straight-up defense agreement," Rubio explained. "That's all you have." Really, though, how much is still shared? Is a defense agreement already all we have? Let's examine our East-West ideological pole shift: European pseudo-elites have flooded their continent with millions of unassimilable foreigners, many Muslim, to the point that "no-go zones" now exist in their cities. When this is criticized, too, authorities may arrest people for anti-immigration/immigrant "hate speech." Epitomizing this mentality, Swedish multiculturalist Mona Sahlin, commenting on her land's Islamization in 2001, actual ly said that "the Swedes must be integrated into the new Sweden; the old Sweden is never coming back." Russia, however, explicitly denounced this agenda in a 2014 document titled "Foundations of the State Cultural Policy." It rejects "such principles as multiculturalism and tolerance," the Kremlin stated, and those "imposing alien values on society."

Along with many other Europeans, Finnish politician Paivi Rasanen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola have been charged with "hate speech" for espousing the biblical/authentically Christian view of homosexuality. Meanwhile, Russia has outlawed homosexual propaganda in media, films, books, advertising, online content, and public spaces.

In this vein, the EU has decreed that faux ("same-sex") "marriages" performed in any member state must be recognized by every member state. In contrast, a recent-years Russian constitutional amendment explicitly defines marriage as a man-woman union.

While the West is now thoroughly permeated by moral relativism/nihilismand derivatives such as cultural and religious relativismthe Kremlin has rejected it. For example, while criticizing the West in a 2013 keynote speech, Russian president Vladimir Putin said , "Policies are being pursued that place on the same level a multi-child family and a same-sex partnership, a faith in God and a belief in Satan. This is the path to degradation."

In Europe, Christian street preachers have been arrested and deference is shown to Islam. In Russia, though, a law acknowledges Orthodoxy's (Christianity's) "special role" in the country's history and culture. And Putin himself has warned about dispensing with "Christian values." The 180-degree turn is so profound that The Washington Times asked on this matter in a 2014 headline , "Who's 'godless' now?"

France became in 2024 the world's first country to make prenatal infanticide a constitutional right (New York State followed suit , too). Russia, though far from perfect on this issue, has moved to tighten abortion restrictions. Moreover, the Kremlin also encourages fecundity by paying women who have babies.

It once made news when Russia imprisoned 54 people in 2015 for "hate speech." In the EU today, perhaps tens of thousands are persecuted for hate speech every year. Britain leads the pack, with 12,000 arrests annually under its "Communications Act." So just as the Soviets did during the Cold War, today's Russian patriots might call the West "decadent"only, now they have a point. Of course, some (paging Bill O'Reilly) will scoff here, saying Putin is a thuggish demagogue who takes positions of convenience, not conviction. He's a bad man, fair enough. But I also consider UK prime minister Keir Starmer a bad man. In fact, few leaders have morals rising above those of a disbarred lawyer-turned used car salesman. It's also true that Putin's lofty words may be mere convenient posturing. Yet how many European leaders believe all the woke drivel they disgorge? And, frankly, I'd rather have a politician supporting the right things for the wrong reasons than the wrong things for the wrong reasons. All this said, however, the bottom line is that today's Russia is far more traditional than post-Christian Western Europe. So while Western officials will sometimes warn, most fancifully (ginning up support for Ukraine), that the Kremlin may soon invade the West, a question should be asked:

So what? What would be lost if, by some miracle, Russia ended up realizing Napoleon's dream and ruled Europe? Europeans wouldn't be able to have their "Pride" parades (illegal in Russia) with men marching mostly naked? The Sexual Devolution would be deep-sixed? The Russian flag would replace the rainbow one? Third World migration would be ended? Borders would matter again? Fecundity would be favored? Christianity would be elevated? Abortion would increasingly be anathema? Children wouldn't be told they could switch sexes at will? There's a reason UK paper The Telegraph boldly wrote last Wednesday that "[p]atriots should not fight for the British state." And given this, should Americans even think about fighting for the British stateand the rest of Europe? Should we shed American blood for a fallen continent, let alone risk nuclear war? The prophetic G.K. Chesterton wrote in 1926 that the "madness of tomorrow is not in Moscow, but much more in Manhattan"and now, we can add, in Brussels. Chesterton also noted that the "true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." But this raises a final question: Can we even hate what is in front of us nowforget loving what is behind uswithout, possibly, turning around? If the illegal migrants, sexual devolutionaries and Christophobic ne'er-do-wells want to fight to save decadent Europe, they can knock themselves out. As for yours truly, call me up when there's a proper Crusade intent on doing what Crusades do. Contact Selwyn Duke , follow him on X (formerly Twitter ), Truth Social , MeWe , Gettr , Tumblr , Instagram or Substack or log on to SelwynDuke.com . Home

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The foundation stone laying ceremony for a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) in Lumbini was jointly laid today by Gitanjali Brandon, Counsellor, Embassy of India in Kathmandu, and Bhupal Pokharel, Chairman, Dhurkot Rural Municipality, Gulmi, as per an official statement by the Indian Embassy in Nepal on Tuesday. The statement highlighted that the foundation stone was laid for the construction of Shree Ninyukharka Secondary School Building, Dhurkot Rural Municipality-3, Gulmi District. The School Building of Shree Ninyukharka Secondary School at Dhurkot Rural Municipality-3, is being built with Government of India's financial assistance of amount NRs.38 million. The new infrastructure will have a two-storeyed school building with class rooms and allied facilities including furniture. The project has been taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), and will be implemented through the Dhurkot Rural Municipality, Gulmi. The statement noted that Chairman, Dhurkot Rural Municipality, School Management and other stakeholders appreciated the developmental support being provided by the Government of India. Earlier in October, in a gesture underscoring the deep-rooted and enduring partnership between India and Nepal, the Government of India donated 81 school buses to various educational institutions across 48 districts of Nepal. In April, the foundation stone for the construction of Shree Panchayat Secondary School Building at Sundarharaicha Municipality, Morang, under Indian assistance. The foundation stone was laid jointly by Panchakarna Rai, Minister of Social Development, Koshi Province; Kedar Prasad Guragain, Mayor, Sundarharaicha Municipality, Morang; and Garima Nautiyal, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu. The school building of Shree Panchayat Secondary School is being built with the Government of India's financial assistance at a project cost of NRs 28.10 million under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation.' As close neighbours and development partners, India and Nepal engage in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation in various areas. The implementation of the HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in reinforcing the efforts of the Government of Nepal in achieving growth and development. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with the Indian origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka. The delegation shared their assessment of the havoc caused by Cyclone Ditwah. In a post on X, he said, "Met in Colombo the leaders of the Indian Origin Tamil community. They shared their assessment of the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Highlighted our proposed reconstruction package." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003439010962899407?s=20 Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders. He highlighted India's efforts in reconstruction post Cyclone Ditwah havoc. In a post on X, he said, "Interacted with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders this afternoon. Underlined our commitment and efforts towards post-Ditwah reconstruction and rehabilitation." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003436760483999851?s=20 Jaishankar also held talks with Sajith Premadasa, Leader of Opposition of Sri Lanka. The two discussed about the proposed reconstruction package to be given by India in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. In a post on X, he said, "Appreciate the meeting with Sajith Premadasa Leader of Opposition of Sri Lanka in Colombo today. Discussed India's proposed reconstruction package in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2003411278996664598?s=20 Earlier in the day, during a press statement at a meeting with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar said India was prioritising the fastest delivery of aid to the country, given the damage caused by the cyclone. "We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on the people of Sri Lanka must be done in the quickest time possible. We are discussing an effective coordination mechanism for the earliest possible delivery," he said. To boost the economy, Jaishankar said India will continue to encourage tourist travel to Sri Lanka. "Let me also add that there are other ways by which India can and will be of support to Sri Lanka. You are a significant tourism economy and Minister, let me assure you that we will continue to encourage tourism traffic from India in that regard. Similarly, an increase in Foreign Direct Investment from India can also boost your economy at a critical time. Our discussions will therefore keep in mind promoting a deeper cooperative relationship between our two countries," he said. (ANI)
The summons comes after widespread protests in Bangladesh and the brutal murder of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district.

To summon a High Commissioner means the host country's Foreign Ministry officially requests their presence to discuss serious diplomatic issues, protest a policy, or convey strong concerns, essentially a formal diplomatic reprimand or urgent consultation, common in Commonwealth nations where they act like ambassadors. It's a way to express displeasure, demand action (like improved security for their missions), or demand an explanation on matters like security breaches or political unrest.

Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old youth, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.

Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The Interim Government had condemned the incident earlier. Minority groups in Bangladesh have sought strong action against those guilty of killing Dipu Das.

In Kolkata, members of Bangiyo Hindu Jagran and several other Hindu organisations staged a protest on Tuesday near the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata over alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the recent mob lynching and killing of Dipu Chandra Das.

According to the police, the protestors had planned to submit a deputation to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. However, the situation escalated after a large number of demonstrators gathered near the premises, leading to tensions in the area. To prevent a breach of law and order, police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd, officials said.

In a separate protest, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were detained by police in Mumbai while they were demonstrating against the same issue.

Meanwhile, several protests were staged against the violence against minorities in Bangladesh across India, including New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad. (ANI)
Veena Sikri, Former Ambassador of India to Bangladesh, said that there is a huge difference of opinion between the Inqilab Moncho supporters and the Yunus regime. After Osman Hadi was shot at, Bangladesh alleged that the shooter escaped to India. After India said it was not the case, Inqilab Moncho threatened to withdraw their support from the Yunus regime, bringing the situation in the country to a boil, she said. Sikri told ANI, "The situation within Bangladesh is very volatile because we know that Osman Hadi, the person who heads the Inqilab Manch, was shot at, and he died. But now there's a huge difference of opinion between this Inqilab Manch and their supporters and the Yunus regime. Immediately after Osman Hadi was shot at, the Bangladesh Foreign Office called our High Commissioner in Dhaka, saying that India is involved and that the person has escaped to India. We protested vigorously. But now the Bangladesh government is forced to recognise that India is not involved." "Yesterday, their Home Advisor said that they have no information that the person has gone to India. Now, Inqilab Moncho is very angry with the Yunus regime and says they might withdraw support and call upon them to resign and so on. So that volatility is building up in Bangladesh," she added. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah. The summons comes after widespread protests in Bangladesh and the brutal murder of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district. To summon a High Commissioner means the host country's Foreign Ministry officially requests their presence to discuss serious diplomatic issues, protest a policy, or convey strong concerns, essentially a formal diplomatic reprimand or urgent consultation, common in Commonwealth nations where they act like ambassadors. It's a way to express displeasure, demand action (like improved security for their missions), or demand an explanation on matters like security breaches or political unrest. Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old youth, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. (ANI)
Sushant Sareen, Foreign Affairs Expert, said that Bangladesh is playing the Pakistani handbook, as it is now growing closer ties with the nation. Talking about the recent bedlam of protests and violence against the minorities, Sareen said that Bangladesh is now going back to its Pakistani roots. "Well, I think Bangladesh is rediscovering its Pakistani roots, because this is the Pakistani playbook that they are following. So, quite clearly, the regime in Bangladesh, which is an illegal, illegitimate regime, unelected, is now totally in the Pakistani pocket. It's quite clear that that is what is happening. For them to overreact to a small demonstration by 15-20 people who obviously felt very strongly about the cross-persecution of minorities, it's much worse, and the brutal killing which is taking place in Bangladesh," he said. Sareen further stated that the interim government of Bangladesh has overreacted to a protest, just as Pakistan has. "For them to overreact to a bunch of 15-20 people with some posters shouting some slogans and act as though some kind of an invasion of the High Commission has taken place. It's utterly ridiculous. It's absurd, this kind of an overreaction, but to be expected, because absurdity in Pakistan is the same thing, and Bangladesh, now rediscovering its East Pakistan roots, is going that line. So it's quite clear that is what is happening," he said. Sareen also pointed out reports of the Pakistani establishment directing Bangladesh on further steps to be taken. "There are also very disturbing reports coming in of, for example, some people are claiming that there are people from the Pakistani establishment who are sitting in government offices in Bangladesh and directing them what they should do and not do," he said. He further added that if Bangladesh provides boots to Pakistan in its territory, it will become a case of Bangladesh cutting its neck to spite India. "There are reports coming of Pakistan and Bangladesh trying to enter into some kind of a defence deal, which means that there could soon be Pakistani boots on the ground or some other kind of assistance being given to Bangladesh, and Bangladesh becomes an outpost to attack India. And if that were to happen, then all bets are off. It will be a classic case of Bangladesh cutting its, not just its nose, but its neck and two of its necks to spite India's face," he said. "And it's not going to go down well for what Bangladeshi, some elements in Bangladesh are trying to do. I would still imagine there are people of goodwill in Bangladesh, people who understand how important it is for both countries to have good relations. And we did have very good relations," he added. Sareen further said that it's ironic how Bangladesh is blaming India for interfering in their matters, while India just gave refuge to former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. Sareen added that India must begin rethinking how it will engage with Bangladesh. "This is the Pakistani mindset. Simple logic fails these people. I think that is where we are. It's not a very happy situation to have this kind of an atmosphere in a neighbouring country, but it is what it is. So I think India will need to start rethinking how it plans to deal with Bangladesh," he said. Sareen argued that India should undertake an action that serves as a lesson to the world. "A lot of people consider what India is doing or not doing as a strategic restraint, but I sometimes wonder whether it's restraint or it's strategic paralysis. And I think we need to do certain things, and it should serve as a lesson for India, even for other countries in the neighbourhood and the extended neighbourhood and the rest of the world," he said. Sareen said that India must have leverage and equities, as it cannot be at peace with a nation at all times. "That, this notion that we have that we will be living in peace with a particular country for all times to come. I think it's a fallacious notion. It needs to be re-examined. You need to have equities and leverage, very deep knowledge of every country, which is critical to India's interest, rather than be caught like a deer in headlights, which is what seems to have happened to some extent as far as India is concerned," he said. The comments came after the brutal killing of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh following widespread protests. (ANI)
India on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner, second time in a week, amid apparent strain in ties over the developments in the neighbouring country. The summons came amid protests in Bangladesh due to killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi and lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in two separate incidents. Dipu Das was killed in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district evoking widespread criticism and again raised questions over security of minorities in the country. Bangladesh's Education Adviser CR Abrar visited family of Dipu Das on behalf of the Interim Government and expressed sympathy while also giving assurance of support. The Office of the Chief Adviser also expressed its profound sorrow over the killing of Dipu Chandra Das and extended its deepest condolences to his family."On behalf of the government, Education Adviser Professor C R Abrar visited the bereaved family in Mymensingh on Tuesday to convey the government's sympathy and assurance of support during this difficult time," Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, said in a post on X. During the visit, the Education Adviser spoke with Rabilal Das, Dipu Chandra Das's father, among others. The Education Adviser reiterated that the killing was a heinous criminal act with no justification and no place in Bangladeshi society. Allegations, rumours, or differences of belief can never excuse violence, and no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands, he said. He also reaffirmed the Interim Government's unwavering commitment to the rule of law, assuring the family that the authorities would investigate all alleged offences and ensure justice through due process. The post said that law enforcement agencies have arrested 12 individuals in connection with the crime."Investigations are ongoing, and the Interim Government has directed that the case be pursued fully and without exception. Such acts of violence will be met with the full force of the law," the Adviser said.The post said that the government remains fully committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and equal protection of all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or background. "It calls upon all communities, institutions, and leaders to reject violence, resist attempts to create division or unrest, and uphold restraint, humanity, and respect for the law," the post said, noting that the views were conveyed to the family. On behalf of the Office of the Chief Adviser, Abrar confirmed that financial and welfare assistance would be provided to the family of Dipu Chandra Das and that the relevant authorities would remain in close contact with them in the coming period. The Adviser reiterated the Interim Government's resolve to protect all citizens and to ensure that justice is served.Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year old youth, was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, and his body was subsequently set on fire on December 18. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The lnterim Government had condemned the incident earlier. Minority groups in Bangladesh have sought strong action against those guilty of killing Dipu Das. Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh on Tuesday framed charges in a crimes against humanity case against 17 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over allegations of enforced disappearances during the Awami League's rule, Daily Star reported. It further reported that the three-member tribunal passed the order after reading out the four charges brought against the accused, who also include Hasina's former defence and security adviser Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique (retd) and 11 army officers. She had last month been awarded death sentence by ICT for "crimes against humanity". Sheikh Hasina said in an interview with ANI that the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was not a judicial exercise but a political one, describing it as a "political assassination in judicial robes." She said she was denied the right to defend herself and to appoint lawyers of her choice, alleging that the tribunal had been used to conduct a "witch hunt of the Awami League." Despite the allegations, Hasina said her trust in Bangladesh's constitutional framework remains intact. "Our constitutional tradition is strong, and when legitimate governance is restored and our judiciary regains its independence, justice will prevail," she said. Against this backdrop of legal action and recent violence, Hasina accused the interim administration headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of lacking democratic legitimacy and driving the country toward instability by weakening institutions and empowering extremist elements. She also questioned the credibility of elections scheduled for February, citing the continued ban on the Awami League. "An election without the Awami League is not an election, but a coronation," she said, alleging that Yunus is governing "without a single vote from the Bangladeshi people" while attempting to bar a party that has won nine national mandates. The ICT verdict, she said, has also triggered demands for her extradition, which she dismissed as coming from "an increasingly desperate and adrift Yunus administration," while others recognise the proceedings as a politically driven "kangaroo tribunal." She expressed gratitude for India's continued hospitality and the support extended by political parties across India. (ANI)
Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala, has temporarily suspended its visa service, a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official told ANI. Bangladesh has also temporarily suspended visa operations in Delhi and Siliguri. India on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah, second time in a week amid some strain in ties over developments in the neighbouring country. India on Sunday dismissed "misleading propaganda" in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi against the "horrendous killing" of Hindu youth, and said the protest was brief and posed no security threat. The Hindu youth was brutally killed in Mymensingh, again triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. "We have noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident. The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20 and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a media query. "There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. The police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes. Visual evidence of these events is available publicly for all to see. India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention," he added. The Spokesperson said India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh and reaffirmed India's commitment to international protocols, emphasising its obligation to protect foreign diplomats and their missions, ensuring "the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention". The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, in a notice on Monday, said that all consular and visa services have been temporarily suspended. "Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted," the Bangladesh High Commission's notice read. The development came after India suspended visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong following a security incident.The suspension followed reports of unrest and security concerns near the diplomatic mission last week. IVAC had clarified that the decision to resume services will depend on a thorough assessment of the local environment. (ANI)
The United States Department of Justice on Tuesday (local time) released 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, while noting that some of these documents contain "untrue" claims made against President Donald Trump. In an X post, the DOJ claimed that the documents against Donald Trump are "false" and would have been "weaponised" against him. "The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already. Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epstein's victims," the DOJ wrote on X. A 2021 subpoena to the Mar-a-Lago Club, founded by Trump in 1995, is also among the documents, as reported by CNN. The subpoena relates to a probe into Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The documents also include a letter signed by "J Epstein," which was sent to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar in the same month Epstein died by suicide in 2019. The letter, as reported by CNN, makes references to Trump without explicitly naming him. The letter contains the phrase "our president." However, the DOJ said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed that the letter is fake. DOJ noted that writing in the letter does not appear to match that of Epstein's, and the letter was postmarked three days after his death. DOJ wrote on X, "The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE. The fake letter was received by the jail and flagged for the FBI at the time. The FBI made this conclusion based on the following facts: The writing does not appear to match Jeffrey Epstein's. The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein's death, out of Northern Virginia, when he was jailed in New York. The return address did not list the jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail." "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. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law," the department said. The Epstein Files is a set of documents containing the names, photographs, letters and other dealings related to Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with the offence of sex trafficking of minors. (ANI)
The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday (local time) refused the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago over the objection of Illinois officials, amid doubt on the viability of such deployments in other cities, the New York Times reported. The preliminary order barred the Trump administration from directing a state-based military force to the Chicago area, where an immigration enforcement drive had triggered arrests and confrontations between residents and federal authorities. The court declined to grant the president wide-ranging discretion to deploy the military in American cities. The New York Times reported that at this stage in the case, the court said the Trump administration had not shown that the statute at issue "permits the president to federalise the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois." Three conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel A Alito Jr and Neil M Gorsuch, dissented. Donald Trump had earlier ordered the National Guard to Portland, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. Federal law allows the president to federalise the National Guard without the permission of state officials in certain circumstances, including in cases of "rebellion or danger of a rebellion" against the government or when law enforcement cannot execute US law. An appeals court in Washington had allowed troops to remain in the US' capital while litigation continues, citing the city's unique status as a federal district. Meanwhile, the Pentagon decided in November to withdraw several out-of-state soldiers from Illinois and Oregon, while keeping local troops activated. This comes in the backdrop of street protests against the National Guard and incidents of violence in Washington, including a targeted attack on November 26 in which two National Guard personnel were assaulted, leaving one dead and another critically injured. (ANI)
Kevin Costner is being sued for $400,000 for breach of contract.

Kevin Costner is being sued

The 70-year-old actor and various other people associated with his Western epic Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 are the subject of legal action from the Western Costume Leasing Company, who allege they entered an agreement to provide "valuable costumes" for the film but have not received agreed payments.

According to documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by People magazine, Kevin - who also wrote and directed the film - and his co-defendants racked up a bill of $134,256.82 and failed to pay multiple invoices.

The lawsuit alleged Horizon producers did "not dispute receipt of the costumes nor quality of them," and they were used in the film.

The company are seeking more than $350,000 in damages, including the $134,256.82 in unpaid costume rentals and $150,000 in economic damages. In addition, they also wants $200,000 in attorney's fees, $40,000 in accrued interest on the bills, $100,000 in punitive damages and "such further relief as the Court deems just and proper."

This isn't the first lawsuit to hit the production.

In May, stunt performer Devyn LaBella alleged she had been "the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner."

In her lawsuit, Devyn claimed she was asked by the director to "stand in" for lead actress Ella Hunt in a sexual assault scene "without proper notice, consent, preparation, or appropriate safeguard measures in place."

She alleged Ella had walked off set after refusing to do the scene.

In response, Kevin - who has put at least $38 million of his own money into the movie series - insisted the allegations were "absolutely false".

He wrote in a declaration to the court: Devyn's claims against me are absolutely false, and it is deeply disappointing to me that a woman who worked on our production would claim that I or any other member of my production team would make one of our own feel uncomfortable, let alone suffer the nightmare she has invented."

According to the actor's declaration, the scene was included the script and saw Devyn in "full costume" of bike shorts and ankle-length dress lying next to actor Roger Ivens in a covered wagon.

He insisted the scene only had Roger lift the hem of Devyn's dress before swinging a leg over her so that he ended up "on all fours over her".

The declaration insisted: "There was no nudity, simulated sex, simulated rape, physical contact, fighting, gyrating, or any physicality other than Devyns outer dress being pushed from her ankles to her knees.

"While Devyns outer dress may have bunched up around her knees (there was a lot of fabric), the dress was still below her waist and the pantaloons and petticoats underneath remained undisturbed."

The Yellowstone actor insisted the scene had been blocked ahead of time with the participation of the performer, who "understood what was to happen and consented to help.".

In the filing, Kevin - who directed, co-wrote, produced and starred in Horizon - included declarations from other members of the cast and crew to support his version of events.

And he alleged Devyn had texted a supervisor after filming and said: "Thank you for these wonderful weeks! I so appreciate you! I learned so much and thank you again. Im really happy it worked out the way it did too. Have a great rest of the shoot and yes talk soon!"
Libya will assume the presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), alongside chairing the Executive Bureau, starting from January 1, 2026, marking a renewed leadership role within the regional energy bloc.

The development was confirmed during the 115th meeting of the OAPEC Council of Ministers held on Sunday in Kuwait, attended by oil and energy ministers from member states. Libya was represented by the Minister of Oil and Gas in the Government of National Unity, Khalifa Abdulsadiq.

According to the governments official platform, Hakomitna, the Council congratulated Libya on its forthcoming presidency, describing the decision as a reflection of confidence in the countrys role within the organisation.

The Council also approved the appointment of Khaled Al-Otaibi as OAPEC Secretary-General for a three-year term beginning in March 2026, succeeding Jamal bin Issa Al-Loughani. Ministers praised Al-Loughanis tenure and expressed confidence in Al-Otaibis capacity to guide the organisation through a transitional phase and strengthen coordination among member states and technical bodies.

In addition, the meeting reaffirmed ongoing efforts to restructure and modernise OAPEC, including plans to launch a new identity under the name Arab Energy Organization, aligning the body more closely with global shifts in the energy sector. The Council further announced the winners of the 2024 OAPEC Award for Scientific Research in the field of new and renewable energy.
Moroccos government has approved a five percent minimum wage increase effective January 1, 2026, for non-agricultural sectors, establishing new legal remuneration thresholds businesses must observe. The Government Council approved the related decree this December, continuing multi-year wage enhancement dynamics.

According to the Employment Ministry, the minimum interprofessional guaranteed wage will have progressed 20 percent during the 2021-2026 period. In absolute terms, this evolution represents 3.11 dirhams increase per work hour, providing estimated monthly gross gains of 594 dirhams. Hourly minimum wages rise from 17.10 dirhams to 17.92 dirhams.

Agricultural sectors experience equivalent guaranteed minimum agricultural wage increases, though application delays until April 1, 2026, when daily rates reach 97.44 dirhams versus current 93 dirhams. This revaluation brings cumulative agricultural wage progression to 25 percent across the entire period, representing 20.74 dirhams daily gainsapproximately 539 additional monthly dirhams.

These adjustments conclude the second phase of tripartite social agreements signed April 29, 2024, between government, representative union organizations, and employer professional organizations including CGEM and Comader. The accord provided progressive legal minimum wage increases staggered temporally limiting economic impact and enterprise balance disruption while continuing 2019 social agreement foundations establishing gradual trajectories for modest income revalorization.

In 2021, non-agricultural minimum wages stood at 14.81 dirhams hourly while agricultural rates reached 76.70 dirhams daily. Successive decrees raised these thresholds progressivelyminimum wages reaching 15.55 dirhams in September 2022, 16.29 dirhams in September 2023, and 17.10 dirhams in January 2025, with agricultural wages following similar trajectories through 84.37 dirhams, 88.58 dirhams, and 93 dirhams daily by April 2025.

The planned 2026 increase closes a pre-programmed revaluation cycle. While constituting important social benchmarks for affected workers, no announcements address subsequent increase calendars. It establishes new legal reference thresholds enterprises must integrate into salary policies from January 2026, marking additional stages executing social commitments undertaken by the state and partners.
With abundant renewable resources and proximity to European markets, Morocco is uniquely positioned to become a global hub for green hydrogen and green hydrogen-based fuels, says a World Bank report.

Entitled Gateway to Green Energy: Moroccan Ports as Hubs for Hydrogen Fuel Development and Trade, the report says as countries are committed to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, green hydrogen

is projected to be in high demand and Morocco is well-placed to become a global supplier.

Green hydrogen will be especially critical in so-called hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy-duty transport, chemicals (including fertilizers), and heavy industries.

The green hydrogen economy and maritime transport depend on each other. Maritime transport which will need to run on green hydrogen-based fuels will also be mostly crucial in facilitating the development of the global green hydrogen trade.

As pipelines are either technically unfeasible or financially unviable, ships and ports will be the only options to link future low-cost production centers such as North Africa, Southern Africa, or Latin America with future high-demand consumption centers like Europe or East Asia. They will be needed for the import and export of large key components of any green hydrogen value chain, such as wind blades or electrolyzers, too.

With Morocco implementing the National Hydrogen Roadmap and releasing the recent Morocco Offer, highlighting the key role its ports can play in developing these new value chains, says the WB report

The North African Kingdom has abundant renewable energy resources and is strategically located on key maritime trade routes, says the WB, noting that this has attracted much private sector interest in Morocco as a producer and exporter of green hydrogen or derivatives such as green ammonia and methanol.

These fuels are touted as the leading fuels for decarbonizing shipping at large scale. Various international reports deem the solar and wind potential in Morocco to be among the best in the world, enabling the country to produce green hydrogen at a lower cost than many other countries.

According to the WB findings, Moroccan ports are key enablers of this transformation, serving international shipping, local industry, and export markets. Four Moroccan strategic ports, Tanger Med, Mohammedia, Jorf Lasfar, and a potential port near Tan-Tan, can significantly contribute to Moroccos emerging green hydrogen economy, says the report.

Based on a comprehensive scenario analysis, it identifies how each ports unique strengths can be combined to minimize costs and maximize synergies in the green hydrogen supply chain.

The most cost-effective configuration foresees hydrogen and derivatives produced and exported from Tan-Tan port, stored in salt caverns in Mohammedia, distributed to heavy industry in Jorf Lasfar, and bunkered at Tanger Med, underlines the report.
Scientists at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University are pioneering a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment that could transform how doctors combat the disease that claims nearly 10 million lives annually worldwide. The Optics & Photonics Center team at UM6P is developing plasmonic photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles to target and destroy cancer cells with precision.

Dr. Siham Refki, working alongside researcher Amina Badir under Prof. Zouheir Sekkats supervision, explains that the technique harnesses infrared light and nanotechnology to kill tumors without damaging healthy tissue. When gold nanoparticles are injected near cancer cells and exposed to infrared light, they heat up to 42-45C, eliminating cancerous cells while sparing surrounding tissue.

Golds unique properties make it ideal for this application. The metal remains stable and biocompatible in the body, unlike copper or silver which oxidize. Its electrons resonate with specific light wavelengths through localized surface plasmon resonance, efficiently converting light into therapeutic heat. Researchers can also modify golds surface to attach molecules that specifically target cancer cells.

The therapys shape matters significantly. While spherical gold nanoparticles are easier to produce, nanorods and nanostars absorb infrared light more effectively, making them superior for treatment. International trials have shown promise, with Nanospectra Biosciences achieving 94% tumor ablation rates in prostate cancer patients using gold nanoshells.

Despite encouraging results, challenges remain before widespread clinical adoption. Researchers must address long-term safety concerns, develop standardized large-scale production protocols, and manage costs associated with medical-grade gold nanoparticles. The UM6P team is exploring theranostic approaches that combine diagnosis and treatment, potentially enabling earlier cancer detection alongside targeted therapy.

Dr. Refki envisions a future where light-based treatments could replace aggressive chemotherapy and radiation, offering patients more personalized and gentler care.
In the early hours of Sunday, 21 December, a group of armed men attacked KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, 46 km west of Johannesburg, killing nine people and injuring at least ten others. Around 12 gunmen in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire on patrons and continued shooting randomly as they fled. Some victims were shot in nearby streets, including an e-hailing driver who had just dropped off a client.

Authorities said the attackers carried an AK-47 and several 9mm pistols, with some wearing balaclavas. The motive remains unknown, and a manhunt is underway by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.

This is the second mass shooting in South Africa within three weeks. Bekkersdal, surrounded by abandoned mine shafts, has a history of illicit mining, gang violence, and illegal firearms proliferation. South Africa recorded nearly 26,000 homicides in 2024, with firearms the leading cause of murder despite strict gun control laws.
Jack Black is one of Paul Rudd's "heroes".

Paul Rudd and Jack Black star in Anaconda

Paul, 56, jumped at the chance to star in the upcoming film Anaconda because it meant he could work with the 56-year-old actor again.

In a joint interview with the actors, Paul told People: "Every once in a while, something will happen where I'm afforded the opportunity to get to work with a hero of mine."

Turning to Jack, he added: "It happened on this one in the form of this old hunk of love."

Paul also praised Steve Zahn (Kenny Trent) and Thandiwe Newton (Claire Simons), his co-stars in the action-comedy movie, saying: "It's the people, really, right?"

Jack agreed: "It is the peeps. It's funny, because in this movie we are playing filmmakers, and so in a way we are playing ourselves. It was very close to home.

"These friends that are going out to make their dreams come true. And that's how I feel every time I go out to make a movie.

Anaconda sees best pals Ronald 'Griff' Griffen Jr. (Paul) and Doug McCallister (Jack) journey to the Amazon rainforest, South America, to reboot the 1997 titular movie - which originally starred Ice Cube (Danny Rich), Jennifer Lopez (Terri Flores) and Jon Voight (Paul Sarone).

However, their project is at risk when a huge, bloodthirsty anaconda starts hunting them down.

Paul and Jack briefly appeared opposite each other in the likes of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and as Beatles legends, the late John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, 83, respectively, in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

But Anaconda - which comes out on Thursday (25.12.25) - is the first time the duo have had lead roles, and Paul relished seeing Jack perform.

Paul said: "It really was the first time that I really got to see him in action  People are in awe, rightfully so, of him.

"And the greatest thing about all of that was, no matter who it was at whatever age - especially kids - Jack is such a good dude, that to see him interact with every single person was astounding."

Speaking to Jack, Paul added: "You gave everybody a bit of a Jack Black experience. It didn't matter what the time was or where you were. You're a very good person. Honest to God, it was inspiring to see."
Carlos-Manuel Vesga as Manousos

Samba Schutte as Koumba Diabate

Miriam Shor as Helen

Others

* Casting hired a South American casting director.* Vince really wanted to get, not just Mexico.* Casting met him in person over Christmas break and just sat and talked for an hour. "He is a very accomplished theater actor, and a wonderful human being, and really smart."* Samba self-taped his audition. Casting watched and got excited, butand casting had to help him with the tone.* Casting called him over Zoom and worked with and talked to him for so long that, after the fact, they misremembered and thought he had actually come to the office.* "I think it's an example of taking the time with talent, and bringing out the best in them with Vince's style."* Casting had never worked with Miriam before, but they all knew her work.* "The thing with Vince is actors, even at her level, have to go through the process, because he needs to hear the words... And luckily,."* Amaraa Sanjid, who plays Otgonbayar (Mongolian guy who defends Carol against Laxmi's hater energy), was a truck driver, but he also sang opera before he moved to the US.* Darinka Arones, who plays Kusimayu, was a big search. Vince wanted, which Darinka was studying at NYU.
In mid-August, Chevron dispatched the first two crude oil cargoes from Venezuela since the start of the year. The company had secured a sanction waiver from the Biden administration, but President Trump canceled thattemporarily. Since then, Chevron has had to contend with political uncertainty and, lately, the prospect of a hot war between the U.S. and Venezuela. But it is not leaving.

Chevron previously produced up to 240,000 barrels per day through its joint ventures with Venezuelas PDVSA. Indeed, looking further back, American oil companies were the dominant players in Venezuelas energy industry until about the 1970s, when the Venezuelan government nationalized the oil industry. More recently, Venezuelas late Hugo Chavez also nationalized oil assets, compensating the companies but insufficiently, as they argued and then sued. Now, Venezuela is on the hook for billions in compensation, and President Trump is claiming, They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it  they illegally took it.

Chevron also had oil assets nationalized under President Chavez. However, once it secured a waiver from Trumps sanctions, imposed on Caracas during his first term, this debt has reportedly started to shrink and has to date decreased substantially, according to one Venezuela oil researcher from Rice University in Austin. Francisco Monaldi, who was recently quoted with the statement by Fortune, said the precise amount that Caracas owes in compensation to Chevron was not public.

Related: Iraq Pulls the Plug on Iranian Gas

According to Chevron itself, it is helping Venezuela revive its oil industry, battered by both sanctions and years of underinvestment and mismanagement. When the second Trump administration granted it a sanction waiver once again, the company welcomed the decision but remained cautious. Chevron conducts its business globally in compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business, as well as the sanctions frameworks provided for by the U.S. government, including in Venezuela, the company said in a statement in July.

Rystad Energy forecast that Venezuela could boost the companys total oil production quite considerably. At some 250,000 barrels, the countrys potential contribution could add more than 10% of Chevrons total, which it could then use in its Gulf Coast refineries to replace a mix of Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. grades. A production boost in Venezuela led by Chevron would also narrow the differential between light and heavy crudes on the international market, Rystad said, and provide much-needed diversification in the heavy crude segment.

Meanwhile, Venezuelas crude output is declining. The International Energy Agency estimated production at 860,000 barrels per day in November, down sharply from more than 1 million bpd in both September and October. Further declines were expected in December following U.S. enforcement actions in Caribbean waters. However, this week Venezuelas Vie President Delcy Rodriguez said Venezuela had hit its oil production target of 1.2 million barrels despite the escalation in U.S. pressure on the countrys government and energy industry.

Chevron, meanwhile, is playing the long game in Venezuela, as stated by chief executive Mike Wirth. 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, he said at an investment conference in November, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. With an estimated 300 billion barrels in oil reserves, the country is certainly a prize worth enduring political upheaval and uncertainty, both in the United States and Venezuela.

To date, as President Trump declares a complete blockade on Venezuelan tankers, Chevron is the largest foreign investor in the country. It is the biggest contributor to Venezuelas oil production rebound since 2023, and even the government in Caracas likes things this way. Chevron has been present in Venezuela for 102 years, and I hope the company works here for another 100 years without problems, President Nicolas Maduro said in July.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Iraq on Tuesday announced a complete suspension of natural gas imports from Iran, a move the electricity ministry said immediately knocked between 4,000 and 4,500 megawatts off the national power grid.

On its face, the decision sounds dramatic. In practical terms, it is but the final step in a process that was already well underway. Iraqi officials have spent the past year declaring victory over fuel imports, first halting shipments of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene while pitching a broader narrative of energy self-sufficiency. Gas was the remainingand most politically sensitivepiece of that puzzle.

Iranian supplies had been covering roughly 30 to 40 percent of Iraqs power generation needs. Of course, those volumes had already been diminishing due to payment disputes, U.S. sanctions pressure, and Irans own domestic shortages. The complete suspension isnt the sudden cutoff that it appears. Baghdad is merely taking the next logical step in the breakup with Iran through partial import reductions and unreliable flows.

Washington has been steadily pushing Iraq to unwind its dependence on Tehran, and Baghdad has been eager to show compliance without triggering a full-blown electricity crisis. The fallback planburning locally produced alternative fuelsis not new, nor is it ideal. It keeps the lights on at a higher cost and with greater strain on infrastructure, but it buys political breathing room.

More importantly, this announcement fits into a much larger strategic shift. Western-backed energy projects are finally moving from paper to production. BPs $25 billion, five-field development in Kirkuk is now active, with a heavy emphasis on capturing associated gas that would otherwise be flared. TotalEnergies multi-billion-dollar integrated gas project in southern Iraq is designed to feed power plants directly, cutting Iran out of the loop altogether.

None of this means that Iraq has solved its power problem. Summer demand still dwarfs the countrys installed capacity, and gas capture takes time. Still, Baghdad wants to send the appropriate message, to Washington, to Tehran, and to investors, that Iranian gas is no longer a pillar of its energy system. Whether the grid can tolerate that ambition is the real test still ahead.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Swedens power giant Vattenfall announced on Tuesday it is applying for state aid for an investment in small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of a plan by industrial giants to bet on new nuclear power in the country.

Last month Swedens biggest industrial firms signed an agreement with Vattenfall to become shareholders in the power giants new company, Videberg Kraft AB, which plans to build SMRs in the country.

One of Europes top electric utilities, Vattenfall, created Videberg Kraft AB in April this year as a separate entity to be able to apply for government support.

Now the company and the industry organization, Industrikraft, plan joint investment and collaboration enabling the development of new nuclear power in Sweden.

Industrikraft, whose members include Volvo Group, Saab, Alfa Laval, and Hitachi Energy, will become a shareholder in Videberg Kraft with a 20-percent stake.

The government has previously announced that the state also intends to become a shareholder in the new company.

The Swedish government moved to phase out nuclear power completely in 1980, but that decision was reversed by Parliament in 2010. Five years later, four aging reactors were shut down. Six of 12 reactors remain in operation in Sweden today.

The country is now betting on SMRs to expand its nuclear fleet as Stockholm seeks to further reduce emissions with low-carbon 24/7 energy.

Sweden has tweaked its renewable energy policy, which had called for 100% renewable electricity by 2040, changing the terminology to 100% fossil-free electricity, paving the way for the construction of more nuclear power plants.

Now Videberg Krafts CEO Desiree Comstedt has submitted an application for financing and risk-sharing to the Swedish Government.

When an agreement between the state and Videberg Kraft has been reached, the government may initiate a formal state aid process with the European Commission, Vattenfall said.

Videberg Kraft is planning a project with either five BWRX-300 reactors from GE Vernova Hitachi or three reactors from Rolls-Royce SMR, which will provide a total nuclear power output of about 1,500 MW. There is currently an intensive evaluation process of the two remaining suppliers, and a decision on the final supplier is planned for 2026.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Oil loadings on tankers at Venezuelan ports have declined following the latest U.S. threat of tanker seizures, with most vessels traveling only between local ports, Reuters has reported.

The Trump administration has stepped up pressure on Venezuela by going after its sanctioned tankers, seizing two and pursuing one more over the past few days. One of these was empty and on the sanctioned vessels blacklistthe one that the U.S. forces seized this weekendbut the other was a non-sanctioned tanker loaded with crude that was en route to China, according to Reuters.

According to the BBC, the third vessel currently being pursued by the U.S. Coast Guard in international waters is the Bella 1, a very large crude carrier that was en route to Venezuela to load crude. According to U.S. officials, the vessel was not flying a valid national flag. The Bella 1 was sanctioned because of alleged ties between its owner and the Iranian government.

President Trump said on Monday that Were going to keep it, referring to the oil. Maybe well sell it, maybe well keep it, maybe well use it in the strategic reserve, the president also said, as quoted by CNBC. Were keeping the ships also.

Separately, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested the tanker seizures are a way to force Venezuelas president, Nicolas Maduro, out. Were not just interdicting these ships, but were also sending a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, Noem said in an interview on Fox News, as quoted by the New York Times. He needs to be gone.

Most of Venezuelas crude is being shipped on shadow-fleet tankers to China. The U.S. blockade is paralyzing this lifeline for Nicolas Maduros government in Caracas. At the same time, the Trump administration allows Venezuelan crude to flow to the U.S. Gulf Coast via shipments chartered by U.S. supermajor Chevron, which has a special license to operate in Venezuela and export to the U.S. part of the crude it pumps through its joint ventures there.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,

The December 14 attack on members of the Australian Jewish community celebrating Hannukah, which killed 15 people and injuring 42 others, prompted Oregon leaders to bolster security at events.

 Security was tightened as 500 people gathered at Pioneer Square in Portland to mark the beginning of the eight-day Jewish holiday and at similar menorah-lighting events throughout the state designed to dispel the darkness.

 Portland Police has added patrols around synagogues in December.

Portland, the City of tolerance, has become unsafe for many Jewish residents.

Last year, a Portland music venue was vandalized for having a Jewish musician and a local comedy club was vandalized for having a Jewish comedian.

Here was the comedy club protest.

Last year, Portland State University had the library takeover which came with signs to commit war against Jewish people (Intifada).

Portlanders conduct protests calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.

There was antisemitic calls at the ICE protest this year.

At the Portland tree lighting ceremony this year, one guest speaker wore the red triangle which is an antisemitic symbol and is banned in other countries.
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Divers examining the wreck. Credit: Christoph Gerigk/Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation

Beneath the shifting waters of Alexandria's eastern harbor, on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, lie the drowned remnants of a once-splendid cityports, palaces and temples swallowed by the sea. Submerged by earthquakes and a rising sea level, these lost monuments have become the focus of survey and excavations by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology, in conjunction with Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Much of our recent work has centered around Antirhodos Island, revealing a temple to the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis which was renovated by Cleopatra VII, and the Timoniuma palace built by her partner, the Roman general Mark Antony.

The shipwrecks from the Royal Port of Antirhodos tell the story of how Alexandria changed from a place emphasizing the great wealth and extravagance of the Ptolemaic dynasty to an economic powerhouse of the Roman world.

Our most recent excavations have revealed a shipwreck dating to the early Roman period. Buried beneath the sand were the remains of a thalamagos. This is a type of Nile yacht with a very colorful reputation in Roman literature as "party boats." But the discovery of such a vessel in a busy commercial harbor was unusual. We asked ourselves: were we thinking about this wreck in the right way?

Discovering the ship

The wrecks in the Royal Port were discovered through a new high-resolution sonar survey of the seabed. This produced enormous quantities of data that was fed into a machine learning algorithm trained to recognize the "signatures" of shipwrecks. The initial results were promising, with excavations on targets generated by the algorithm revealing a small boat and a 30m-long merchant ship.

Together with a similar merchant ship found in the early years of the project, these finds illustrate the commercialization of the Royal Port in the Roman period.

At the outset of the 2025 mission, we were confident the wreck was a merchant ship. But with each dive, new findings reshaped our understanding, gradually revealing a vessel unlike the one we thought we were investigating.

The wreck has many typical features of Roman Imperial shipbuilding, but the Greek graffiti carved into its planks suggests that it was built and repaired in Alexandria. And its shape is unlike the cargo vessels found elsewhere in the Royal Port. At around 28m long and 7m wide, the preserved remains indicated that we were working on a flat-bottomed boat with a relatively wide and boxy hull. The bow and stern were asymmetrical, giving sweeping curves to the extremities of the ship. But it lacked a mast step, suggesting that it was rowed. The wreck did not have the ideal shape or propulsion system of a seagoing freighter, making it something of a mystery.

In search of clues, we turned to the 500 or so fragments of Ptolemaic and Roman papyri (the material made from the pithy stem of a water plant that these civilizations used to write on) that document nautical subjects. About 200 of these name different types of river vessels, which were often referred to by the cargoes that they carried, from grain, wine and stone to manure and corpses.

One of the infrequently mentioned types of boat is the thalamagos or cabin boat. This kind of vessel is depicted on the Palestrina mosaic, a roughly contemporary landscape with the boat found in a temple outside Rome.

With its crescent shape and series of oars, the mosaic ship bears a striking similarity to the material remains from the Royal Port. While investigations into our wreck are just beginning, it seems that we have found a thalamegosone of the infamous "party boats" of the Nile.

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What happened on ancient party boats

The example on the Palestrina mosaic depicts a cabin boat being used to hunt hippopotami, a ritual associated with the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The link between this type of boat and royalty is heard in the philosopher Seneca's dismissal of them as "the plaything of kings."

While the Ptolemaic royal family did have Nile yachts, and even supersized versions of them, we can assume that vessels the size of ours would have been a common sight on the river. Indeed, the ancient geographer Strabo wrote about Alexandrians holding feasts aboard cabin boats in shady spots on the waterways around the city. He described them as part of the revelry and licentious behavior associated with the public festivals at the nearby town of Canopus.

These Roman authors, however, were likely playing up the culture of luxury and excess of their recently defeated enemy's court and the "degenerate" lifestyles of its people. To simply think about our thalamagos purely as a party boat would be to cherry pick racy Roman stories and fall for their propaganda.

The mundane detail of the administrative papyri reveals that thalamagoi were more than luxurious yachts. They could carry cargo and were also used to transport officials up and down the river. Consequently, the discovery of a cabin boat in a bustling commercial port is not entirely unexpected.

There is, however, another possibility. Our boat was found close to the temple of Isis and may even have been destroyed in the same seismic event that caused the collapse of this sanctuary. Was it a luxurious temple barge used during festivals such as the celebration of the Navigation of Isis?

This celebrated the "opening of the sea" following the winter season was one of the festivals that got Strabo so worked up about the behavior of its participants. It was actually a festival to ensure the protection of the grain fleet upon which Rome relied to feed its hungry urban population. Strabo chose to overemphasize aspects of the event to suit the anti-Ptolemaic prejudices of his Roman audience.

Detailed post-excavation analysis on this wreck is now underway. We want to understand exactly what our ship looked like and how it performed on the Nile. There is also more work to be done in the library with the ancient texts. What's for sure is that we're only just starting to get to know the secrets of this thalamagos.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Maryland officials have confirmed a second positive test for bird flu at a commercial poultry operation in Queen Anne's County, the 10th detection in the state in 2025, as public health experts warn the virus continues to pose a serious threat to animalsbut remains a low risk for most people.

State health and agriculture officials said the infected birds did not enter the food supply and the outbreak is considered contained. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to rate the overall public health risk as low, with no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread.

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that affects poultry, including chickens, ducks and turkeys, along with some wild bird species such as geese, shorebirds and raptors.

Placing the farm on quarantine

Dr. Jennifer Trout, a Maryland Department of Agriculture state veterinarian, told The Sun there was a positive test on Dec. 19 at an MDA lab in Salisbury, based on samples from Queen Anne's County. The site was immediately placed under quarantine and samples were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa for confirmation.

MDA is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to clean and disinfect the site "following strict biosecurity protocols."

"The birds were humanely euthanized on Saturday to prevent any further spread of disease. The situation is considered contained," Trout said. "The virus was most likely introduced by wild birds."

Trout said bird flu remains an ongoing risk to migratory wild birds in Maryland, especially during colder, wetter months when the virus is more active in the environment.

'The virus is here'

"This virus is here," said Meghan Davis, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a former dairy veterinarian. "It's been ongoing since 2022, which is highly unusual, and it has been absolutely catastrophic for animal health."

While most human cases in the U.S. have been mild, Davis said sporadic severe infectionsincluding hospitalizations and deathsremain a concern, particularly among people with close contact with birds or sick animals.

"So that's why you hear the CDC saying the risk is low," Davis said. "That's low for the general public, not necessarily for people with backyard poultry, those working in poultry or dairy operations, or anyone who has regular contact with wild birds."

There have been 71 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the United States, including two deaths. The most recent U.S. death involved an H5N5 strain, a form of bird flu distinct from the more common H5N1, and occurred in a person with underlying health conditions who had contact with birds, Davis said.

The Queen Anne's County case likely involves an H5N1 strain, though confirmatory testing is ongoing.

"If we're going to see it anywhere in Maryland, it's going to be on the Eastern Shore," Davis said, citing the region's concentration of poultry processing facilities.

Key concepts avian influenza

2025 Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Florida's first statewide black bear hunt in a decade is more than halfway over but state wildlife leaders have offered no information on its progress, not even a death count.

"Are we overkilling like in 2015?" asked Joe Humphrey, a Seminole County resident who described himself as a hunter at odds with the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's position that a bear harvest would not harm the once threatened species. "They don't want us to know."

Whatever its motivation, the DeSantis administration's approach to managing the hunt that stretches from December 628 is strikingly different from what was done a decade ago.

In addition to rebuffing or ignoring questions from the media and conservationists, it eliminated the check-in stations where hunters had to log their kills in 2015, which provided an opportunity to make sure hunt rules were being followed, but which also became hubs for protest.

This year hunters are simply supposed to inform FWC through an agency phone app if they bag a bear.

Chuck O'Neal, founder of the not-for-profit conservation group Speak Up For Wildlife, said Fish & Wildlife's lack of transparency reflects the "total arrogance" of the taxpayer-funded agency, its governor-appointed board and its disdain for public opposition to the killing it calls a harvest.

He called on FWC Executive Director Roger Young to halt the hunt.

"It's clear this hunt was all about providing a special opportunity for hunters," O'Neal said. "It was never about accountability or weighing both sides, realizing a great majority of Floridians were and are against this hunt."

But Chuck Echenique, a lifelong hunter and president of The Future of Hunting in Florida, defended the agency's silence.

"This frothing over the numbers is ridiculous," Echenique said in a text to the Orlando Sentinel. "First of all, no state agency publishes a live harvest update on limited quota hunts. When you have a set number of tags, you know that you cannot exceed the total number of bears for which you issued permits. Wasting man hours and resources to provide daily counts and updates is a waste of time and energy."

The 23-day bear hunt, the first in Florida since 2015 when 3,779 permitted hunters killed 304 bears in little more than two days, was limited to 172 permits across four hunting zones, including one in Central Florida where Fish & Wildlife set a harvest or kill limit of 18 bears.

Echenique, who did not win a bear-hunt permit, said he was part of a hunting party with permit-holders who harvested two bears.

He said he knew of another dozen other lawfully taken bears across bear management areas where hunting is allowed.

Groups opposing the hunt say as many as 50 of their supporters won bear permits to keep them from bona fide hunters.

Permits were awarded through a lottery which cost applicants $5 per entry. No entrant could win more than one bear tag.

O'Neal sent state wildlife leaders screenshots of social media posts suggesting some bears had been poached.

"Killed 2 today. Florida is awesome," one read. "Going back tomorrow to possibly get the momma and one more kid bearling!"

The Sentinel could not authenticate the post.

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"This hunt, which was sold to the public as a scientifically based, well-regulated, conservative hunt, has turned into a lawless free-for-all," O'Neal said in a phone interview. "The FWC has responded to us with inexcusable silence on these important issues."

Echenique, the Tampa-based hunting advocate, dismissed the social media posts boasting of poaching bears as hooey.

"So much bad information, innuendo and pot-stirring taking place. It's disgusting," he said in his text to the Sentinel. "Anyone who kills a bear without a tag (poaching) isn't going to report their harvest. Poachers are criminals and as hunters we despise them."

FWC rebuffed multiple Orlando Sentinel inquiries about the hunt, directing the newspaper to file public records requests, which it did.

The agency then failed to respond to those requests.

Thursday afternoon, an FWC spokesperson sent a short note to the newspaper: "We encourage the public to visit our bear hunt webpage, where they will find a lot of important and helpful information, such as FAQs, news releases, interviews and a newly added video featuring two of our SMEs."

The webpage has no information about the progress of the hunt.

The acronym "SMEs" likely means "subject matter expert" as the video features FWC's black bear expert Mike Orlando.

The Florida agency argued the harvest quota was set using sound science and data as a management tool like other states do.

But O'Neal said FWC has brought suspicion upon itself by eliminating the check-in stations.

In 2015, conservation groups and bear advocates opposing the hunt waited at the public stations and took notes.

"We knew right away in 2015 from firsthand, eyewitness accounts that it was turning into a slaughter," O'Neal recalled.

He said quick draw hunters harvested female bears with cubs and underweight yearlings which were supposed to be off-limits.

"Without those check stations, how do we know this hunt hasn't already gotten out of hand?" he said.

Key concepts bearsgame management

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Tilda Swinton is clueless when it comes to social media.

Tilda Swinton is not on social media

The 65-year-old actress has never been on the likes of Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok, and she much prefers talking to people in person.

Speaking at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V+A) in Kensington, London, Tilda is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper's Eden Confidential column as saying: "I am one of the last humans on the planet who has never had anything to do with social media.

"I dont really know how it operates. Posting? Honestly, I am that Luddite."

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe star worried that social media is taking over the lives of young people.

Tilda said: "One thing that makes me nervous about social media  I am fearful that young people edit their lives and edit their communication with other humans too much, and only put their best foot forward on their social media presence.

"When youre in actual communication with people, you cant [do that]. You might miss out on some really useful mess."

In 2019, Tilda said people are having to "wake up" to the idea that social media can be "toxic" for all generations.

She told BBC News: "It's a catching disease. It goes upwards.

"There are more people talking about the toxicity of social media, even people with 130 million people following them on Instagram, than people who are saying it's just all fluffy and fun, now.

"I think everybody's having to wake up to that."

Another benefit of having no social media presence is that Tilda can get on with other things in her life.

In an interview with Dazed in 2017, The Room Next Door actress - who primarily lives in Nairn, Scotland - said: "It leaves more space and time for collecting eggs and shooting the breeze and thinking about building a boat and all that good stuff.

"You can hear your own ears where I live. You can wake up and make a plot for your day and follow as much of it as you wish."
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As the summer holidays begin in Australia, parents may feel concerned their children will "forget how to spell their own names" during the long school break.

Or there may be worries about forgetting times tables, slipping reading levels and generally falling behind. Parents may wonder if it's better to maintain some kind of academic routine during the break.

The short answer: a light touch is plenty.

'Summer learning loss'

Researchers have studied the idea that school students have some degree of "summer learning loss" for more than 100 years.

But more recent research, such as a 2020 US study, suggests these effects are uneven (they apply more to some kids than others), and far less dramatic than the folklore implies.

Children also quickly regain lost ground once school routines resume.

More importantly, these traditional measuresrelying on test scorestell only part of the story.

Kids need a break

Just as adults need annual leave to reset, children also need extended downtime to support their well-being.

The summer holiday offers precisely this opportunity. The break allows children to recover from physical and mental fatigue built up over the school year, spend time with family, and explore interests that don't fit neatly into the curriculum at their own pace.

Learning beyond school

Long breaks allow for different types of learningfrom social to cultural, physical and emotional.

For younger children, learning to swim, or building on those skills, baking, building cubbies and traveling with family can all help their development. Research clearly shows how free play outdoors helps develop motor skills, resilience, creativity and independence.

For older kids and teenagers, a part-time job, volunteering, creative pursuits, organized sport or community activities such as parkrun, offer fantastic opportunities to build confidence, responsibility and real-world skills.

Keep some structure

Routine and structure are helpful for kids because they make sure they get enough rest and down time to enjoy the holidays. But this does not mean adhering to school routines.

To anchor the day, focus instead on predictable sleep patterns, reading before bed, or a quiet hour in the afternoon with no screens.

Subtle learning

For children who struggled academically during the school year, parents can offer subtle support without recreating the school environment.

But you don't have to make a big deal of it. Evidence suggests when children feel connected, calm and safe, they are more ready to learn when the new school year begins.

Think about leaving board games like Scrabble or puzzles on the kitchen table. The challenge is to add in an extra piece every time you walk past it. Or you can sing times tables in the car (there are playlists for this).

Also consider gentle exposure to everyday literacy and numeracy: reading menus, helping plan a budget for holiday activities, writing a shopping list and measuring ingredients while cooking.

A time for rest and connection

We can reframe the long summer holiday as a developmental gift rather than an academic threat.

Yes, some skills may get a little rusty, just as adults might forget a password after a few weeks away from work.

But what they gain in rest, connection and diverse forms of learning can be far more valuable in the long term.

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The coastline retreats by up to 7 metres each year, according to a government report.

Turquoise waves splash against the white sand beaches of the Bijagos archipelago, where locals fear rising sea levels will swallow their islands whole.

Off the Atlantic coast of tropical Guinea-Bissau, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to colonies of sea turtles, hippos, sharks, manatees, and nearly 850,000 migratory birds.

The archipelago hosts several sacred sites as well as artisanal fisheries relied upon by some 25,000 inhabitants.

Made up of 88 islands and isletsof which only about 20 are permanently inhabited - the archipelago stretches more than 10,000 square kilometers (3,850 square miles).

"Every year, we lose up to 2 meters of the beach," said Antonio Honoria Joao, administrative assistant and community organizer at Guinea-Bissau's Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Marine Areas (IBAP).

He was in Bubaque, one of the archipelago's most populated islands with nearly 5,000 inhabitants. Joao told AFP the island was "in danger."

Locals worry the sea could one day swallow their islands whole.

"Fifty years ago, the beach was very wide," he said, strolling along the sliver of remaining shoreline littered with wrecked canoes and collapsed sections of wall.

"Today, everything is overrun by water, and it keeps advancing."

'Once so far away'

Adriano Carlos Souarez has been running a seaside tourist camp since 2020. To protect the site from the onslaught of crashing waves, he has put together a towering 10-meter barrier made of tires.

But part of the building has already been damaged, and a giant kapok tree serving as a dike also risks being uprooted.

"When I bought this land, it was five or six meters from the sea. But the distance has shrunk," he said, adding he was scared to one day see his house collapse.

At a small market in Bubaque, 45-year-old Joia Mendes Cno recalled "it wasn't like this before," describing "a sea that was once so far away."

The coastline retreats by up to seven metres each year, causing mangrove loss and threatening both humans and animals.

The vegetable seller said she was saddened at the sight of "water advancing every day without being able to do anything."

According to a government report titled "Guinea-Bissau's Strategic Plan 2025", the coastline retreats by up to seven meters each year, causing mangrove loss and threatening both humans and animals.

Insufficient support

Climate change and rainwater runoff that triggers landslides are at the heart of the problem, IBAP's Joao said.

But he also condemned human factors such as the island's rampant urbanization and the dumping of waste on beaches, which weakens the coast against the rising sea.

While other sites are also affected, Joao said the scale varies island to island. Increased vegetation cover and rockier coasts have meant some islands are better protected than others.

In its heritage listing, UNESCO said there was a "strong likelihood that climate change will bring about changes in water circulation patterns, as well as significant changes in sea level and, consequently, potential risks of erosion and sedimentation."

The island of Bubaque is 'in danger', residents say.

The archipelago is made up of 88 islands and islets - of which only about 20 are permanently inhabited.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has long warned about rising ocean levels linked to global warming and the risks posed to residents of coastal areas, as well as the increased risk of biodiversity loss and the extinction of certain species.

IBAP is working to identify affected sites, plant trees, and raise awareness among local communities.

But the threat looms large, lamented a representative of the NGO on condition of anonymity.

"We receive support from some international organizations, but it is not enough," he said, calling on the government to invest more to ensure the islands survive.

 2025 AFP
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Members of the Artemis II closeout crew, from left, William Sattler; Tyler Sutherland; Michael Heinemann; Christian Warriner; Jenni Gibbons, Artemis II backup crew member; Bill Owens; Taylor Hose; and Andre Douglas, Artemis II backup crew member, pose for a photo with NASAs Vehicle Assembly Building behind them at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2025. Credit: NASA / Jim Ross

For most, getting into a car is a task that can be done without assistance. Yet for those whose destination is the moon, the process of getting inside and securedin this case, in NASA's Orion spacecraftrequires help. That's the role of the Artemis closeout crew.

Trained to support Artemis II and future moon missions, the five closeout crew members will be the last people to see NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen before their lunar journey.

The Artemis II closeout team consists of a lead, Taylor Hose; an astronaut support person, astronaut Andre Douglas; one technician specially trained on Orion crew survival system spacesuits, Bill Owens; and two Orion technicians, Christian Warriner and Ricky Ebaugh.

"We are responsible for getting the astronauts strapped in their spacecraft, getting all their connections attached to their spacesuits, and then we close the hatch and close out Orion for launch," says Hose.

Think of them like a pit crew for car races.

Closeout Crew lead Taylor Hose, second from left, talks with NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, second from right as he and closeout crewmembers Will Sattler, left, and Christian Warriner prepare for the arrival of Artemis II crewmembers NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; at the 275-foot level of the mobile launcher as they prepare to board their Orion spacecraft atop NASAs Space Launch System rocket during the Artemis II countdown demonstration test, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA Kennedy. Credit: NASA / Joel Kowsky

When the astronauts arrive on launch day at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the closeout crew will already be in place. First, the team will help the astronauts don their helmets and gloves before entering the Orion spacecraft.

Once inside, Owens and Douglas will assist each crew member with buckling upexcept instead of using just one seatbelt like in a car, the crew needs several more intricate connections. Each seat includes five straps to secure the astronauts inside the crew module and several additional connections to the environmental control and life support systems and communications system aboard.

After the astronauts are secured, the hatch technicians will begin closing the spacecraft hatch. Unlike a car door that easily opens and closes with the pull of a handle, Orion's hatch requires more effort to securely close.

"The hatch is pneumatically driven so we have to have air lines hooked up to it, and we need the help of the ground support system to close it," said Hose.

On launch day, it will take about four hours for the crew to get situated inside Orion and for the closeout process, including buttoning up both the crew module hatch and an exterior launch abort system hatch, to be complete. Even a single strand of hair inside the hatch doors could potentially pose issues with closing either hatch, so the process is carefully done.

"We have a lot of work to do with the seals alonegreasing, cleaning, taking the hatch cover offand then we get into crew module hatch closure," Hose said. "So after latching the hatch, we take window covers off, install thermal protection panels, and remove the purge barrier in between the vehicle and the ogive panels, which help protect the crew module during launch and ascent."

The team then closes the launch abort system hatch and finishes final preparations before launch. Following the abort system hatch closure, the closeout crew departs the launch pad but stays nearby in case they need to return for any reason.

"My life goal was to be an astronaut. To help send people to the moon for the first time since 1972 to not just go and visit, but this time to stay, I think that's everything. That's our first stepping stone of going to Mars and expanding into the solar system," explains Hose.

After launch, several team members will head to San Diego, to help with post-splashdown efforts once the mission concludes.

As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, the Artemis II test flight is the first crewed flight under NASA's Artemis campaign. It is another step toward new U.S.-crewed missions on the moon's surface that will help the agency prepare to send the first astronautsAmericansto Mars.

Provided by NASA
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In the last decade, the drive to understand who we are and where we've come from has been accelerated by DNA testing.

So far, around 40 million people worldwide have used direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) kits to learn more about their family history and cultural identity.

These kits are also often given as gifts, but many users are unprepared for the emotional toll of discovering the identities of unexpected parents, children and other relatives, let alone for the response they may receive if they make contact.

DNA testing comes with benefits, risks and limitations

The impact of these issues is especially profound for people who have experienced domestic or international adoption or been placed in an Out-Of-Home Care (OOHC), such as foster care, kinship care, permanent care or institutional care.

Because care records may be sparse, DNA testing with all of its benefits, risks and limitations is sometimes the only available route to understanding more about their family tree.

With funding from the Melbourne Social Equity Institute, our team of researchers worked with three community organizations to understand the needs of Australians from adoption or OOHC communities who use this technology.

This study, published in Adoption & Fostering, was the first of its kind in Australia and involved community groups VANISH, Open Place and ARMS (Victoria).

We conducted two surveysone for consumers and another for service providersand canvassed the opinions of those with an adoption or OOHC experience in Victoria.

The project also analyzed the terms and conditions of DTC databases and platforms to determine whether they were appropriate for people searching for family after experiencing adoption or out-of-home care.

We found that the outcomes and impacts for consumers of using this technology were often a double-edged sword.

Like opening Pandora's box, DTC-GT can bring both joy and turmoil. Some of the responses included:

"I found people I looked like, and sounded like me."

"For me, it gave me the factual answers, but it doesn't help or have you ready for the emotions I went through."

"I've been dealing with a whole range of emotionsanger, rejection, grief. I didn't realize how upset I'd be after getting my DNA results."

Calls for better guidance and support

Consumers also reported that the digital DNA marketplace was like navigating an ethical minefield of data ownership and privacy in the age of genetic information.

DNA companies' terms of service are complex, long, legalistic and sometimes unclear. Many people don't realize that when you tick a box to indicate your acceptance of "terms of service," "terms and conditions" and "privacy policies," you are entering into a legal contract.

The ownership of DNA samples and data also remains a problematic topic in Australian law.

Even though many people use DNA testing to find family after adoption or OOHC, the DNA companies almost never consider the needs of these people specifically. The same terms and conditions apply to people, whether they are testing for "fun" or searching for a parent.

While many companies providing DNA testing and genetic genealogy websites advise that people might receive unexpected results and unanticipated contact from relatives, they take no responsibility for the consequences and do not help people access support.

Best practice would suggest that there should be clearer information for people with an adoption or out-of-home care experience.

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This can include exposure of long-held secrets, tensions around who has the 'right to know," interpretations of health results and the potential strain on all parties.

There are calls for better guidance and support services for those embarking on this DNA journey, and for stronger oversight in the wild west of commercial DNA testing.

Some companies offer stronger privacy protections than others, saying they won't ever sell your data. But it's important to weigh up the risks and benefits of different platformsincluding cost, the size of the "family tree" database and privacy protections.

There are concerns about how companies store, share, and use genetic data, including selling it to third parties (like pharmaceutical companies and health insurers) or providing access to law enforcement, which may occur without explicit or fully understood consent.

Most companies allow you to set preferences to restrict your visibility and the possibility of others contacting you, but if you are concerned about privacy, consider using an email address or username that doesn't reveal your real name and use a web browser on a "Private" or "Incognito" setting.

Users should consider how they might both protect and share their personal information to suit their needs.

New resource for people undertaking consumer DNA testing

It is important to note that the situation in Victoria is set to become even more complex.

A recent amendment to the Victorian Adoption Act 1984, allows birth relatives to access identifying information about an adopted person, without the adopted person's consent.

This has the potential not only to increase the volume of applications to record-holder organizations but also to increase the desire for faster information through DTC-GT use.

Our study and the accompanying resource Making informed choices about using DNA aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, providing a roadmap for navigating the search for information and family in the digital age.

The guide is designed to support people who are using DTC-GTs, as well as policymakers, social workers and anyone touched by adoption or out-of-home care.

Our team's next steps will be to expand the study to support people who embark on their DNA journey outside of Victoria.

One survey participant told us:

"Because I have no information, and I was born in Vietnam but adopted via the Victorian adoption process, DNA is my best option."

You don't have to go it alone

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy, "highly recommends that adoptees, orphans, donor-conceived individuals and others with sensitive matters work with experienced search organizations prior to making contact with biological families."

There are organizations that can help people with an adoption and/or OOHC experience through the process of DNA testing to find family (details below).

Support services can talk to you about your concerns and provide advice.

Their staff may have experience interpreting DNA test results and contacting matches. Some organizations provide funding or subsidies to help cover the cost of DNA testing.

Even if you decide to begin the DNA testing journey by yourself, you can always seek support later if you need it.

The resource, Making informed choices about using DNA, can be accessed here.

More information Jeanette (Jenny) Conrick et al, The use and impacts of direct-to-consumer genetic testing for adults with an adoption or out-of-home care experience: A scoping review, Adoption & Fostering (2025). DOI: 10.1177/03085759251338318

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Credit: Uriel Venegas from Pexels

Luxury pet pampering packages at hotels, menus with dog-friendly roast dinners and 6,000 animal-friendly charter flights. Pet travel isn't just a trend, it's something of a transformation. This is the "pawprint economy"and it's booming.

Globally, the pet industry is projected to reach US$500 billion (375 billion) by 2030, with pet travel services alone expected to be valued at US$5.9 billion by 2034. In the UK, where 60% of households have petsincluding roughly 13.5 million dogsthat's a substantial market.

People travel with their pets for leisure, business, relocation and specialist care. And while some people even travel with horses, cats, birds or other small animals, it's dogs that dominate the leisure travel surge. For people who enjoy traveling with their pets, the benefits are real for both parties: strengthened bonds, shared experiences and opportunities to build skills and confidence.

But there's a growing gap between what the industry is offering and what people and pets need. As this market explodes, it's a good time to ask whether the travel industry is genuinely adapting or just coming up with superficial offerings.

While humans and dogs have traveled together for millennia, today's growth reflects something distinctly modern: pets are now family members. With 40% of people viewing their dog as their child and nearly half calling them their best friend, dogs occupy a central place in millions of UK homes.

During COVID restrictions, pet acquisition surged globally. Today nearly half of "pet parents" are first timers. The years since COVID emerged have seen an acceleration in the inclusion of pets in leisure life, from dog-friendly cafes to outdoor festivals, paddleboarding and holidays.

Even cost-of-living pressures haven't dampened this enthusiasm. While 34% of people who have pets have altered their pet-related behavior due to financial pressures (changing to a cheaper brand of pet food, for example), pet travel continues to grow. UK pet families take an average of two domestic holidays every year with their animals.

Here's where the disconnect emerges. While providers advertise "pawsecco" and pet spas, research has shown that people prioritize practical care over "extras."

Studies identify six key attributes that people are looking for: service design (pet-friendly room placement, shared dining), activity support (walking guides, bins), safety, pet-savvy staff, transparent policies with fair fees, and lastly, amenities. This is a low priority for travelers with pets, but often what providers focus on. Crucially, green spaces drive pet travel planning, boosting well-being for both human and animal. After all, this is the fundamental reason why people choose to travel with pets.

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Love me, love my pet

Yet many people with pets say they don't believe any accommodation is truly pet friendly, signaling a trust gap. Many properties advertise as "pet friendly" but impose restrictions, surprise fees or go no further than simply allowing pets to stay.

Part of the problem seems to be one-size-fits-all thinking. Research identifies three distinct segments of people traveling with dogs. There are those seeking basic, convenience-focused accommodation. Premium experience seekers are willing to pay for luxury. And activity-loving travelers prioritize outdoor adventures. A chihuahua on a city break has different needs to a labrador on a hiking trip, yet many providers offer generic packages that delight no one.

The evidence from both researchers and industry is clear: people will pay more to travel with their pets. For tourism providers, the opportunities are significant. For example, hotel pet fees in the UK can range from 15-40 daily or 20-75 per stay. Being viewed as pet friendly can drive repeat visits and brand loyalty for travel-related providers and dining outlets.

But there's one area where UK travelers seem to be less enthusiastic. When it comes to overseas travel, 54% are "very unlikely" to go abroad with their pet (compared to 37% globally). Only 7% actually have plans to do so. This hesitancy is probably driven by complicated, costly regulations and rules.

Eurostar bans pets on its trains and UK aviation regulations effectively prohibit pets in the cabin on inbound flights, with few airlines offering cabin options outbound. Most pets must fly as cargo in the hold, which often causes worry for their humans.

Brexit also ended the UK's access to the EU pet passport system, requiring expensive animal health certificates for each trip. A 2025 UK-EU agreement will eventually see the reinstatement of pet passports, however.

The UK dog travel market is heavily skewed towards domestic holidays, with travelers largely preferring coastal retreats and rural escapes, prioritizing walks and eating out. This presents clear opportunities for domestic providers to capture demand, and for travelers to choose more environmentally friendly, sustainable destinations closer to home.

The travel industry in the UK and beyond faces a choice: continue offering superficial "pet-friendly" experiences or genuinely adapt and ease the stress for travelers and their pets.

The evidence shows that pet-centric facilities, support with activities, and attentive service outweigh add-ons. Delivering this means providing transparent online information so travelers can assess facilities and policies confidently, designing spaces that genuinely welcome pets, and training staff to deliver a knowledgeable service.

The appetite for pet travel is overwhelming and the pawprint economy represents a huge business opportunity, if accommodation, travel and leisure providers are willing to prioritize genuine pet friendliness. After all, if the hospitality industry makes pets and their people happy, they will come back for morewith smiles and tails wagging.

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Every December, many shoppers plan to buy fewer things and choose more sustainable options. Yet as the month goes on, spending rises and fast fashion becomes hard to resist. Christmas has become a moment when good intentions collide with discounts and the emotional pull of seasonal fashion.

That contradiction became unusually visible when fashion giant Shein opened its first permanent shop inside the BHV department store in Paris in November. Crowds formed as shoppers tried to get in, while protesters stood outside holding signs and shouting "shame" over concerns about its ESG (environmental, social and governance) track record.

Shein has taken rapid turnaround times and low prices to a new level, taking it beyond fast fashion to "ultra-fast fashion."

Some other brands with retail space inside the department store announced they planned to withdraw in protest at Shein's presence. And the opening of new Shein stores across France has been delayed.

There was more controversy. The French government demanded controls, including age verification, on parts of Shein's online platform amid investigations into banned weapons and childlike sex dolls on its site, placing the company under more scrutiny.

When it was made aware of the products in November, a spokesman for Shein said the company was taking the issue "extremely seriously". It disabled the part of its site where third-party sellers list their products.

At the same time, shoppers entering the Paris store found higher prices than online, which added another layer to the debate over Shein's transparency and the wider environmental and labor concerns linked to fast fashion.

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What makes Christmas such a powerful moment for fast fashion is not only seasonal marketing but also the psychological dynamics that help consumers assuage their environmental guilt. Fast fashion already accounts for a significant share of online clothing sales in France, and Shein has become one of the largest retailers by volume, despite rising public criticism.

In the UK, sales of fast fashion have reached billions of pounds, with strong annual growth, suggesting that affordability eventually outweighs ethical concerns.

Research into consumer behavior shows that people often use moral excuses to justify questionable purchases, telling themselves that everyone else is doing the same or that the harm is distant and indirect. This softens the ethical tension long enough to make the purchase.

Beyond guilt reduction, fast fashion benefits from what marketing researchers describe as temporal discounting. This is when consumers focus on short-term enjoyment and price rather than longer-term environmental damage.

Shein's rapid production model turns digital trends into products within days, producing instant gratification. Future harms such as waste or emissions are psychologically distant at the moment of buying. These mechanisms help explain why fast fashion continues to flourish even as climate concerns grow.

In many ways, the Christmas rush exposes a wider conflict between consumers' ethical intentions and the realities of global retail. This paradox is not only personal. It also shapes how governments and the public respond to Shein's growing presence.

The protests outside the Paris store echo the tension across regulatory and societal institutions, where concerns about labor conditions and environmental impact collide with the influence of a company that has become central to contemporary fashion.

Why the Paris protests matter beyond ESG

It may be tempting to see the demonstrations in Paris simply as another reaction to environmental issues. Yet concerns around Shein were already part of the public debate long before the store opened. Fast fashion has relied for decades on outsourcing to cheaper manufacturing centers with limited worker protections.

Even after the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013 when 1,134 people (mainly garment workers), were killed in Bangladesh when their factory building collapsed, many European fast fashion companies continued to face criticism about their environmental violations across global supply chains.

What distinguishes the current controversy are not the ethical problems but the challenge Shein poses to the traditional balance of power in global fashion. For much of the past century, European companies dominated the industry and shaped international tastes.

Now Shein's algorithmically-driven and hyperresponsive model is disrupting that dominance. This speed fuels waste and environmental damage even as its low prices keep attracting millions of shoppers.

In this sense, for Shein, Paris becomes more than a retail location. Success in one of the world's fashion capitals would mark an important moment in Shein's global expansion and signal that it is no longer operating at the margins.

It would also test whether this new type of fashion giant can prove itself beyond its online audience, in the eyes of regulators, partner brands and in-store shoppers.

The pushback Shein faces in Paris points to a broader anxiety about who now holds influence in the fashion industry. A Chinese fast fashion giant has bypassed traditional European gatekeepers and challenged the established hierarchy of who shapes the industry's future.

In response to a 2024 report criticizing working conditions in some of the factories it uses, Shein said in a statement it was "actively working to improve our suppliers' practices, including ensuring that hours worked are voluntary and that workers are compensated fairly for what they do." And with regard to criticisms about its environmental impact, Shein has said its use of AI has now cut the amount of waste generated in its production processes.

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Map highlighting Southeast Asia's peatlands, which act like giant carbon storage areas but are at risk of deforestation and drainage. Credit: Adapted from Global Biogeochemical Cycles (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024gb008256

A new regional assessment shows that Southeast Asia is a major net source of greenhouse gases, with land-use change and rising fossil fuel use overwhelming natural carbon sinks, reservoirs that store carbon-containing chemical compounds for a long period.

A comprehensive assessment of Southeast Asia's greenhouse gas balance carried out by an international team of researchers led by Hiroshima University, shows that the region is a significant source of climate-warming gases. The leading causes are deforestation, damage to peatland, fires, and a rapid rise in fossil fuel use. The study, published in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles, highlights how difficult it will be for countries in the region to reach climate neutrality. It stresses the need for countries to work together as soon as possible.

The team measured all major sources and sinks of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide across Southeast Asia from 2000 to 2019. They found that natural ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, mangroves, and peatlands, continue to store and absorb large amounts of carbon. However, this natural absorption is not enough to offset human-driven emissions resulting from land-use change and burning of fossil fuels.

"Southeast Asia has some of the most carbon-rich forests and wetlands in the world, but the region is still adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than it removes," said Masayuki Kondo, associate professor at The IDEC Institute, the study's lead and corresponding author. "The primary reasons are continued deforestation and the drying and draining of peatlands. Fires and the fast-growing use of coal are making things even worse."

REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes 2 (RECCAP2) greenhouse gas (GHG) budget assessment framework for Southeast Asia. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes are indicated by brown, green, and blue arrows, respectively. All sources and sinks must be accounted for in the estimation. Credit: Adapted from Global Biogeochemical Cycles (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024gb008256

The study found that cutting down forests and converting them to other types of land released more greenhouse gases than any other activity during the 20-year study period. "Forests are trying to grow back, but they can't keep up with the rate at which land is being cleared," says Kondo. "If countries protect and restore forests, they will see immediate and meaningful climate benefits."

Fires, including extensive peat fires during El Nino dry years, were the next biggest contributor, and peat decomposition from drained peatlands also released large amounts of emissions.

The researchers also found a dramatic 48% rise in emissions from fossil fuels. Oil was the leading source of emissions in earlier years, but coal use began rising sharply after 2005 and surpassed oil emissions in 2018. Without substantial changes in energy policy, the study warns that coal could remain a major driver of future emissions.

"The jump in coal emissions is something we've never seen before in this region," said Kondo. "If all the planned coal plants are built, the power sector's emissions could increase even more, making it much harder for Southeast Asia to reach climate neutrality."

The study also notes that parts of the region still lack basic greenhouse gas monitoring systems, making it difficult to provide highly accurate estimates. More measurement sites, better models, and closer links between scientific data and national policy decisions will all be needed.

To help address this gap, the researchers have launched a new international network called the League of geophysical research eXcellences for tropical Asia, or LeXtra. The network aims to strengthen greenhouse gas monitoring, improve models, and support data sharing across Southeast Asia.

By clearly identifying where greenhouse gases come from and where they are absorbed, the study offers guidance for more effective climate strategies. "The biggest impact would come from reducing emissions from land-use change and fossil fuels," said Kondo. "Southeast Asia still has a chance to grow its economy while protecting the climate, but the window of opportunity is getting smaller."

Publication details Masayuki Kondo et al, The Greenhouse Gas Budget of Southeast Asia for 20002019 and Pathways Toward Climate Neutrality, Global Biogeochemical Cycles (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024gb008256 Journal information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

With plans to launch the massive Starship from Florida next year, SpaceX defended its commitment to airspace safety after a Wall Street Journal article claimed an explosive mission in early 2025 was a greater danger to some flights than previously reported.

The article published Saturday cited Federal Aviation Administration documents that stated debris from the Jan. 16 launch from SpaceX's Texas site Starbase, which led to the upper stage disintegrating on its flight path, threatened three airplane flights. The debris field could be seen from Florida, the Bahamas and several Caribbean islands as the broken-up spacecraft streaked across the sky.

The article says the incident forced a JetBlue flight to Puerto Rico to adjust its flight path into a holding pattern, while a private jet and an international Iberia Airlines flight were under fuel emergencies and ventured into the FAA's keep-out zones.

A similar Starship explosion occurred during a March launch attempt from Texas that shut down air traffic to several Florida airports, including Orlando International Airport.

SpaceX responded on social media calling the article misleading.

"The reporters were clearly spoon-fed incomplete and misleading information from detractors with ulterior motives," SpaceX posted on X. "At best, it shows a complete lack of understanding of the robust tools used by safety officials to manage airspace, which are well-defined, science-based, and have been highly effective at protecting public safety."

SpaceX is seeking two launch sites from Florida for operational missions that could fly up to 120 missions a year if approved.

The behemoth rocket is designed to be the first fully reusable rocket, with its Super Heavy booster stage making returns to the launch site shortly after launch and the upper stage potentially landing back at the launch site after at least one orbit of the Earth.

Space Force officials said they were preparing for the first Florida launches to come from the site currently under construction at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A as early as mid-2026. A second site with two launch towers at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37 would come online later.

SpaceX said The Wall Street Journal article was a disservice to the public, likening it to a false narrative "based on conjecture and unscientific analysis from anonymous sources."

"To be clear, for every Starship flight test, public safety has always been SpaceX's top priority. No aircraft have been put at risk and any events that generated vehicle debris were contained within pre-coordinated response areas developed by (Space Force) and implemented by the (FAA)," SpaceX stated.

Already the hazard areas for Starship launches are "conservatively broad," the company said.

"Any aircraft were appropriately routed in real-time around where debris was contained within the larger pre-coordinated hazard area," it stated. "SpaceX is committed to responsibly using airspace during launches and reentries, prioritizing public safety to protect people on the ground, at sea, and in the air."

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Safety aside, airspace closure potential and the disruption it could cause have been a major criticism after details were revealed in a pair of environmental impact statements for the KSC and Cape Canaveral launch sites.

Launch operations would close airspace over the Atlantic from 40 minutes to two hours, which could affect the Bahamas and Canada in addition to U.S. routes. That could affect 133 to 400 aircraft during peak travel periods and equates to as much as 8,800 commercial flights a year, although half the launches are expected to fall during overnight hours.

It's the return flights, though, that could cause bigger headaches for airports in Florida and elsewhere as the upper stage trajectory would be similar to how the Space Shuttle would come back for landings. The west-to-east path could shut down southbound U.S. as well as international air traffic headed for Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami. It could also affect airspace over Mexico, Central America and Cuba,

Landing approaches would prompt a minimum of 40 minutes and up to one hour of airspace closure, impacting 400 to 600 commercial aircraft during peak daily travel periods, which is from 8,800 to 13,200 per year.

Christopher Oswald, the senior vice president of safety and regulatory affairs for Airports Council InternationalNorth America, which represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada, raised the alarm on the potential delays in a filing for the KSC's Draft EIS.

His organization said the proposed limits on commercial operations could affect between 900,000 and 2.3 million passengers per year experiencing a collective delay of between 600,000 and 3.2 million hours.

"We calculate that the costs of delays and disruptions associated with the proposed Starship operations would range between $80 million and $350 million annually," he wrote.

But he was also concerned with existing safety guardrails in place for launches as space and air travel become more intertwined.

"We believe the safety and practicality of using air traffic control initiatives such as ground stops, use of miles-in-trail restrictions, dynamic reroutes, and other air traffic management techniques requires additional review and stakeholder engagement," he wrote.

SpaceX for now is working with much larger no-fly zones with Starship, which uses a less documented methane-based fuel mixture on launch. It expects those zones will shrink with a higher launch rate and the effect on airspace will diminish, similar to what it has seen with launch operations tied to its smaller Falcon 9 rockets.

"SpaceX will continue to ensure maximum public safety while also working to integrate Starship more efficiently into the airspace," it stated.

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Among the approximately 16,000 new species described every year, roughly 6,000 are insects. Pictured here is a lanternfly from India. Credit: John J. Wiens

About 300 years ago, Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus set out on a bold quest: to identify and name every living organism on Earth. Now celebrated as the father of modern taxonomy, he developed the binomial naming system and described more than 10,000 species of plants and animals. Since his time, scientists have continued to describe new species in the quest to uncover Earth's biodiversity.

According to a new University of Arizona-led study published in Science Advances, scientists are discovering species quicker than ever before, with more than 16,000 new species discovered each year. The trend shows no sign of slowing, and the team behind the new paper predicts that the biodiversity among certain groups, such as plants, fungi, arachnids, fishes and amphibians is richer than scientists originally thought.

"Some scientists have suggested that the pace of new species descriptions has slowed down and that this indicates that we are running out of new species to discover, but our results show the opposite," said John Wiens, a professor in the University of Arizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, in the College of Science, and senior author of the paper.

"In fact, we're finding new species at a faster rate than ever before."

The team analyzed the taxonomic histories of roughly 2 million species, spanning all groups of living organisms. Between 2015 and 2020the most recent period with comprehensive dataresearchers documented an average of more than 16,000 new species each year, including more than 10,000 animals (dominated by arthropods and insects), 2,500 plants and 2,000 fungi.

"Our good news is that this rate of new species discovery far outpaces the rate of species extinctions, which we calculated to about 10 per year," said Wiens, pointing to another study he led that published in October.

"These thousands of newly found species each year are not just microscopic organisms, but include insects, plants, fungi and even hundreds of new vertebrates."

The study shows that there may be more than 16,000 reptile species on Earth, of which only about 12,000 have been formally described, including this hump-nosed viper from India. Credit: John J. Wiens

More species than everand still more to come

Scientists are describing more species per year than at any point in history, Wiens and his co-authors found.

The team also analyzed the rates of new species appearing over time to project how many species will be discovered and described in the future. For example, they projected that there might be as many as 115,000 fish species and 41,000 amphibian species, even though there are only about 42,000 fish and 9,000 amphibian species described now. They also projected that the final number of plant species might be over a half million.

"As the famous ecologist Robert May said, if visiting aliens asked us how many species live on our planet, we would have no definitive answer," said Wiens. "Right now, we know of about 2.5 million species, but the true number may be in the tens or hundreds of millions or even the low billions."

For now, the scientists predict that the discovery rate of new living things will continue to increase. For example, scientists have currently identified around 1.1 million insect species, yet many scientists believe that the true number is somewhere around 6 million. In a previous paper, Wiens suggested it could even be in the ballpark of 20 million.

"Right now, most new species are identified by visible traits," said Wiens. "But as molecular tools improve, we will uncover even more cryptic speciesorganisms distinguishable only on a genetic level. This is especially promising for revealing more unique bacteria and fungi."

On average, more than 100 new reptile species are described each year. John Wiens photographed this helmeted lizard in Costa Rica. Credit: John J. Wiens

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Benefits to humanity

"Discovering new species is important because these species can't be protected until they're scientifically described," Wiens added. "Documentation is the first step in conservationwe can't safeguard a species from extinction if we don't know it exists."

Additionally, the discovery of new species contributes to finding new natural products for human benefit. Some examples of natural products include GLP-1 receptor agonists, increasingly popular weight-loss drugs inspired by a hormone found in Gila monsters.

Spider and snake venoms and many plants and fungi also contain natural products with potential medicinal applications, including treatments for pain and cancer.

Beyond medicine, many species have adaptations that can inspire human inventions, such as materials mimicking the "super-clinging" feet that allow geckos to climb up vertical surfaces.

"We're still just scratching the surface of what these species can do for humanity," Wiens said.

Going forward, the researchers plan to map where most new species are commonly found to identify geographic hotspots for undiscovered biodiversity. They are also interested in who is making the discoveries and are testing whether it has changed from predominantly European scientists to researchers documenting new species from their own countries.

"Even though Linnaeus' quest to identify species began 300 years ago, 15% of all known species have been discovered in just the past 20 years," Wiens said.

"So much remains unknown, and each new discovery brings us closer to understanding and protecting the incredible biodiversity of life on our planet."

Publication details Xin Li et al, The past and future of known biodiversity: Rates, patterns, and projections of new species over time, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adz3071 Journal information: Science Advances
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Mixtures of Percoll with Optiprep. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2515704122

Stripe patterns are commonly seen in naturefor instance, birds and fish move in coordinated flocks and schools, fingerprints form unique designs, and zebras can be identified by their distinctive stripes.

What influences such pattern formations has long been a source of mystery, but scientists from the University of Bristol and Saarland University in Germany, have shown the answer may lie withinin human red blood cells. Their findings could lead to better diagnostics for blood disorders.

Red blood cell stripes explained

The research, published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals the stripe patterns which appear when red blood cells are separated in a centrifuge are primarily caused by the cells' own attraction and adhesion to neighboring cells, contrary to previous belief.

Co-lead author Dr. Alexis Darras, Lecturer in Physics at the University of Bristol, said, "It was previously assumed these patterns occurred due to the irregular aging process and associated water loss of red blood cells during the red blood cell lifespan of around three months.

"But our study challenges this and confirms that the real cause is not water loss, it's cell aggregation. It's a remarkable discovery which could have far-reaching applications."

When red blood cells are centrifuged in a solution that gets gradually heavier from top to bottom, an irregular pattern appears: the cells gather in red 'stripes' from top to bottom, with white stripes in between where fewer red blood cells are found.

Dr. Darras explained, "Younger blood cells, which have just formed, contain more water; older cells contain less. Older cells therefore have a higher density because the remaining hemoglobin is heavier than water. So older cells settle at the bottom during centrifugation, while younger ones accumulate at the top as they are lower density and lighter."

How experiments revealed new insights

In experiments, the physicists mixed red blood cells into a medium of water, salts, and nanoparticles and centrifuged them.

Co-lead author Felix Maurer, a Ph.D. student at Saarland University said, "Like weather balloons in Earth's thinning atmosphere, red blood cells distribute so that each cell remains at an equilibrium heightthe point where its average density equals that of the surrounding medium."

Findings showed that stripe formation was driven by the sheer number of cells.

"The pattern only emerges through the interaction of very many cells. In our experiment, about one billion cells were in a single tube. When the number of cells was reduced, we observed completely different behavior," Felix added. "Without aggregation, i.e. cells sticking together, the cells distribute evenly, and no stripes form."

This means the typical stripe pattern is only formed due to many cells clustering in a confined space combined with the pull of gravity.

Implications for diagnostics and nature

These new insights could pave the way for new diagnostic approaches to blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia, where cells deform and their flow and clustering behavior changes.

Co-lead author Christian Wagner, Professor of Physics at Saarland University, said, "In sickle cell anemia, for example, a different stripe pattern appears and until now, no one could explain why."

Another part of the study addresses how patterns and structures arise in nature. To explore and ultimately explain this, the physicists created a mathematical model based on the so-called Dynamic Density Functional Theory, which is a way to predict how particles move and arrange themselves over time based on their interactions and the space around them.

Prof Wagner said, "A similar equation to the one we developed also describes zebra stripes, bird flocks, and fingerprints. In our case, short-range interactions between individual cells lead to a preferred stripe width and spacing.

"Bird flocks also exhibit collective behavior, forming patterns based on simple neighborhood rules. A similar idea applies to fingerprint formations. It's amazing to think that specific observations of blood cells in the lab help us better understand fundamental laws of nature."

Publication details Felix Maurer et al, Band pattern formation of erythrocytes in density gradients is due to competing aggregation and net buoyancy, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2515704122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Deals aimed at lowering drug prices in the United States could cause higher prices for new medicines in Switzerland, according to the head of Swiss drugmaker Roche.

The warning comes after Washington announced agreements with major pharmaceutical companies to cut prices for medicines sold to low-income Americans through the Medicaid program.

Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker said the US government wants wealthier countries to pay more for new drugs so that the cost of developing future treatments is shared more evenly.

He explained that while the deals are designed to help American patients, they may shift some of the financial pressure to countries like Switzerland, where average incomes are higher than in the United States.

According to EconomicTimes, under the agreements announced Friday, drugmakers, including Roche's US unit Genentech, will reduce prices on certain medicines sold through Medicaid.

The White House said the move would stop other countries from benefiting too much from US-funded drug innovation by using strict price controls. Instead, Washington wants richer nations to contribute more based on their economic strength.

Schinecker said the US could use a country's gross domestic product per person as a guide when setting future drug prices.

If a country's GDP per capita is higher than that of the United States, the expected price of new medicines would also be higher.

Because Switzerland ranks above the US by this measure, it could face higher prices for drugs launched in the future.

Roche CEO points to higher future drug prices in Switzerland after US deal https://t.co/Y941w74Orj https://t.co/Y941w74Orj  Reuters (@Reuters) December 20, 2025

US Pricing Rules May Push Up Swiss Medicine Costs

Schinecker stressed that people in Switzerland would not see immediate changes. Medicines already on the market would stay the same price.

However, new drugs introduced in the coming years could gradually become more expensive as this pricing system takes effect. Schinecker said the process would happen slowly, one product launch at a time.

Swiss lawmakers have raised concerns about what higher medicine prices could mean for patients and the healthcare system.

At the same time, the pharmaceutical industry plays a major role in Switzerland's economy, supporting jobs, exports, and tax income.

Schinecker warned that if Switzerland refuses to accept higher prices for new treatments, companies may delay bringing those medicines to the country.

Several nations, including Denmark, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland, are being used as reference countries for US drug pricing decisions, Reuters reported.

Roche is already in talks with these governments about how the changes could work in practice.

The pricing issue is also expected to come up in discussions between Switzerland and the United States as they work to formalize a deal reached last year to lower US tariffs on Swiss goods.

Originally published on vcpost.com
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When, on 10 February 2025, United States President Donald Trump signed the executive order suspending the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), companies previously involved in overseas corruption cases collectively gained around USD 39 billion. On average, on that day, each individual company that had been subject to investigations or sanctions under the FCPA increased its market capitalization by USD 160 million. One month later, the average gain per company had risen to approximately USD 6.5 billion.

Study examines investor reactions

The data come from a study published in the journal International Organization and authored by Lorenzo Crippa (University of Strathclyde), Edmund J. Malesky (Duke University) and Lucio Picci (University of Bologna). Using sophisticated statistical analysis methods, the scholars examined companies' market valuations before and after the suspension of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The aim was to understand how this decision by the US administration affected investor behavior.

"The reaction of investors suggests that the main deterrent to corruption is the risk of legal sanctions: once this threat is removed, companies already known for risky behavior in the area of corruption are perceived as more profitable," says Picci, professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Bologna.

"Over recent decades, the United States has played a crucial role in countering corruption practices at the international level: this abrupt change of course could now have serious consequences for the future of global anti-corruption institutions."

Background on the FCPA and its suspension

When the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act came into force in 1977, the United States became the first country in the world to adopt legislation designed to prevent international corruption: the law establishes that US individuals and companies may not bribe foreign officials to obtain or retain business relationships.

However, the law was suspended without prior notice on 10 February 2025 by an executive order signed by United States President Donald Trump. The scholars therefore took the opportunity to analyze how this shift in anti-corruption policy affected 261 companies listed on US stock exchanges that had previously been investigated or sanctioned for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The market performance of these companies was compared with that of 236 comparable firms that had never been subject to investigations for breaches of anti-corruption rules.

Market impact and investor interpretation

"President Trump justified his decision to suspend the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by arguing that the law represents an obstacle for US multinational companies compared with their competitors elsewhere in the world," explains Professor Picci.

"If this were true, however, all US multinationals should have benefited from the administration's decision; our data instead show that the suspension of the FCPA disproportionately benefited companies already involved in overseas corruption cases compared with those that have never been investigated."

On the day the executive order suspending the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was signed, 10 February, the researchers calculated an average increase of USD 160 million in the market capitalization of companies already involved in overseas corruption casesa figure comparable to the average fine imposed on companies previously convicted of violating the anti-corruption law.

On that day, the total gain for the companies considered amounted to approximately USD 39 billion, with individual multinationals previously involved in corruption cases recording increases in market capitalization in the order of billions of dollarsfigures that exceed the largest fines ever imposed for FCPA violations.

"Investors interpreted this decision by the US administration as a signal that investing in these companies had become less risky and more profitable in the short term," Picci confirms. "This led to significant increases in the market capitalization of companies that were more likely to become involved in investigations for violations of the anti-corruption law, generating substantial returns for investors."

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Potential global consequences

The scholars stress that the consequences of suspending this law do not stop at the US context, as they could prompt other countries to scale back their own efforts to combat international corruption.

Between 2000 and 2018, more than half of all anti-corruption legal cases involving companies worldwide were pursued by US authorities. A quarter of all cases were initiated by the United States against non-US companies. This strong enforcement action also encouraged other countries to strengthen and expand their own oversight activities. The risk now is that the shift in direction by the United States will lead to an overall reduction in global anti-corruption efforts.

"When there are stringent regulations and effective oversight, markets can be directed towards less risky and more socially beneficial investments," Picci comments. "But when regulations are suspended, this positive effect risks coming to a halt, because investors may no longer be discouraged from backing companies that do not comply with the rules."

More information Lorenzo Crippa et al, Making Bribery Profitable Again? The Market Effects of Suspending Accountability for Overseas Bribery, International Organization (2025). DOI: 10.1017/s0020818325100970
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As the UK government launches its violence against women and girls strategy, the situation it is seeking to remedy makes for hard reading.

One in eight women in England and Wales experienced sexual assault, domestic abuse or stalking between March 2024 and March 2025. Between June 2024 and June 2025, almost 200 rapes were recorded daily. More than 150 women are killed each year.

The picture is similar for young people too: 39% of teens aged 13 to 17 experience emotional or physical abuse in a relationship.

The strategy emphasizes prevention and early interventionstopping violence before it occurs, or before it worsens. It centers support for victims and accountability perpetrators.

The strategy is built off the back of a number of interventions that have already taken place. These include making sexually explicit deepfakes a criminal offense, laws on cyberflashing and the introduction of interventions of "honor" abuse.

The goal is to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. It's an ambitious target that requires action in multiple different areas. Below are four key points from the strategy and consideration as to why they've been included.

1. A major societal shift for men and boys

Significantly, the strategy envisages a whole-society approach to this problem. That means that it recognizes male violence as a public health crisis rooted in patriarchal norms and hegemonic masculinity.

Addressing this requires early socialization of boys, safe spaces for them to explore difficult issues and identity development and emotional literacy, which will shift the focus from blame to prevention and cultural change.

Attached to the strategy is an explanatory note that discusses men and boys as victims of violence and explores how this violence not only causes harm but also influences future behaviors and experiences.

One thing that isn't explicitly mentioned is the importance of safeguarding language when abuses and violence is experienced by boys. Ensuring terminology is inclusive, legally accurate and reflects all children and young people, not just girls, is important in this context.

An important part of the strategy is the idea that reducing violence against women and girls requires a fundamental shift in how society engages men and boys. It argues that focusing solely on survivors and those who cause harm is insufficient because the roots of this issue lie in deeply embedded gender norms that sustain patterns of inequality.

To dismantle these norms, men and boys must be seen not as potential risk factors but as key stakeholders in change. The note calls for education that equips boys and men to challenge inequitable attitudes and behaviors, fostering empathy, respect and healthy relationships.

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2. Starting early to prevent problem behavior

As part of a goal to disrupt harmful behavior before it begins, schools will get help to deliver education on misogyny and consent education. There are also plans to work with parents and caregivers, which include a 2026 public campaign to help them reinforce respectful relationships at home.

An online parent hub will offer guidance on media literacy and online safety and a new digital service under the best start in life strategy to provide trusted advice and connect families to local support. There will also be campaigns and awareness raising activities to generate a national public conversation around violence against women and girls.

Running parallel to this is a focus on supporting young men and boys in understanding these issues and giving them support when concerns are raised. This aspect of the strategy links strongly with the new guidance given to schools on relationships, sex and health that is due to become statutory in 2026.

3. A 'relentless pursuit of perpetrators'

A key term in the strategy is the "relentless pursuit of perpetrators". To ensure that justice for victims is swift and robust, domestic abuse specialists will be embedded into emergency services response teams and specialist rape and sexual offense teams will be introduced.

These changes reflect recommendations made by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse for stronger accountability and specialist expertise in responding to sexual abuse.

4. Support for survivors

For victims and survivors, there will be a push to address what is seen as an inconsistent approach. The intention is to meet their needs, not only via specialist services but also within the criminal justice system.

This means creating a more trauma-informed approach in courts and policing, improving communication and procedural fairness and embedding specialist training for justice professionals. Victims should experience consistent, respectful treatment wherever they seek help, whether through dedicated support services or during legal processes, so that justice feels accessible, safe and supportive.

The strategy recognizes that helping people move on with their lives after experiencing violence requires a joined-up approach, not just to the criminal justice element but to housing and health care. This again reflects recommendations made by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, which stressed that support needs to be ongoing (beyond the immediate situation) and tailored to individual needs, as requirements often change over time.

This strategy marks a significant step forward. Its whole-society, public health approach and focus on prevention, survivor support, cultural change and accountability are essential elements that are needed to reduce violence in all its forms.

Its success will depend on sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration and a commitment to embedding these principles and actions into everyday life. By addressing root causes, supporting survivors and engaging men and boys as partners in change, we can move closer to a future built on respect, equity and safety for all.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Another Most Wanted criminal group member tracked down in Cancun with hundreds of thousands in cash

Cancun, Q.R.  Authorities in Cancun have captured another criminal group member considered a most wanted. Jose Rafael N, alias El Dober, was arrested from his vehicle in the Cancun Hotel Zone Monday with nearly 300,000 in Mexican pesos and American cash.

Police said his vehicle was intercepted while he was driving on Kukulcan Boulevard in the Cancun Hotel Zone. During his detainment, police found narcotics, a loaded handgun and over 200,000 pesos and an additional $5,300 in American cash.

He was taken into custody with a second person, a woman police have identified as Valeria Teresita N and/or Arelia N. Both are facing drug and firearm charges.

The Quintana Roo State Attorney Generals Office reports that, as a result of an operation carried out in coordination with members of the Interinstitutional Group, they arrested two people and seized various pieces of evidence allegedly related to acts constituting the crime of drug dealing, authorities reported Monday.

The operation took place when the participating elements were carrying out prevention and surveillance patrols on Kukulcan Boulevard at kilometer 4.5, where a vehicle was intercepted in which the now detained people were traveling.

They have been identified as Jose Rafael N, alias El Dober and Valeria Teresita N and/or Arelia N.

During the operation, officers seized a green, dried plant material resembling marijuana, a white powder consistent with cocaine, and a semi-automatic handgun with loaded magazines.

They also seized 213,370 Mexican pesos and $5,300 US in cash, the equivalent of around 95,000 pesos, as well as a 2017 RAM 2500 pickup truck.

Police say Jose Rafael N, alias El Dober, is a priority target of the State Crime Atlas, a person considered a most wanted in Quintana Roo, belonging to a criminal group that generates violence in Cancun.

The detainees, along with the evidence seized and the vehicle, were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutors Office.

The State Attorney Generals Office reiterates its commitment to working in coordination with authorities at all levels of government to strengthen security actions and combat crimes that affect the peace of the citizenry.

Earlier this month, police in Cancun captured a cartel plaza boss that ran the northern and Riviera Maya part of the state. The man they captured oversaw arms and drug trafficking in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Lazaro Cardenas, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and even Tulum.

During his arrest, he was found in possession of narcotics, a loaded weapon, four cell phones and 300,000 pesos in cash.

Riviera Maya News serving Quintana Roo Mexico since 2014

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Isla Mujeres based Marina rescues Florida boat crew found stranded heading for Mexico

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  The Marina provided support to the crew of an American boat found stranded in Quintana Roo waters. The Mexican Navy, acting as Coast Guard, provided support to the crew of Carguito assisting in its towing to Isla Mujeres.

The tow was made after authorities received a call through the Fifth Naval Region, at which time personnel from the Isla Mujeres Naval Search, Rescue, and Maritime Surveillance Station (ENSAR), along with the ARM Alpheratz vessel, met the stranded boat.

The above operation was carried out after receiving a call from the United States Coast Guard requesting assistance in towing a boat named Carguito, originating from Florida, the Mexican Marina said in a statement.

The boat was en route to Mexico when it lost power and propulsion during its voyage, leaving it adrift with three crew members, also of U.S. origin, on board.

This posed a serious danger to navigational safety, as the vessel was located in a fishing area. Therefore, it was determined that towing assistance was necessary, they said.

Florida boat Carguito stalled at sea while heading for Mexico. December 20, 2025.

As a result, the Fifth Naval Region ordered the immediate deployment of an MLB Defender-class vessel, belonging to the Islas Mujeres Search and Rescue Station (ENSAR), as well as an interceptor patrol boat with specialized personnel on board, to evacuate and tow the yacht.

Once the International Health and Immigration authorities arrived at the port, they implemented the established procedure for foreign vessels. Medical personnel from the Isla Mujeres Naval Hospital provided initial medical care to the crew members, taking precautionary measures and registering them with the Isla Mujeres Port Authority.

In this way, the Mexican Navy, acting as the Coast Guard, continues working to ensure the safety of individuals and safeguard human life at sea, they reported.

The crew were medically evaluated and cleared by immigration. December 20, 2025.

Riviera Maya News serving Quintana Roo Mexico since 2014

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The word holiness is tossed around quite easily in Christian circles, but what does it mean as we go about our daily lives? One author has much to say on that score.

Dr. Michael Pakaluk, a philosopher and professor at the Catholic University of America, has written 11 books, but somehow this was the first to make it into my hands. Pakaluk is a bit of a legend in certain circles. He maintains a scholarly reputation as a thinker and writer, and his late wife Ruths cause for canonization was recently allowed to proceed by the Vatican. Pakaluks second wife, Dr. Catherine Pakaluk, is a noteworthy scholar of economics and family studies in her own right. Michael is also the father of 15 children, seven with Ruth and eight with Catherine.

Usually these kinds of biographical details are not particularly useful when reviewing a book, but in the case of The Shock of Holiness: Finding the Romance of Everyday Life, it is immensely helpful to have a sense of the personal life and habits of the author. The Shock of Holiness is a rhetorically balanced book. By that I mean each of the three elements of classical rhetoriclogos, or the demonstration of truth (usually through logic); pathos, or the stirring of the imagination and the emotions; and ethos, or the trustworthiness of the authorplays a role in the arguments and claims of the essays included here.

The book is a deeply moral one, in that it is calling us to a different and better way of life; with such books, it is natural to ask that our guide be an exemplar. In other words, when an author tells us we ought to consider changing our lives, we want to be confident he knows what he is talking about. Pakaluk, a devout Catholic whose main interest is in cultivating an awareness of the nearness of Christ despite, or through, tragedy and difficulty, has enough experience under his belt to command our attention and startle us out of whatever complacency weve fallen into. It is, however, deeply and unapologetically Catholic, which both deepens its insights and potentially narrows its audience.

Holiness on Earth?

Pakaluk takes as his definition of holiness the fairly common Catholic understanding as consecrated to God. He does not spell this out explicitly, but it is evident in the way he applies the word to various people, from actions to objects to moments. Holiness is, despite its centrality in the Christian faith, a tricky term; Scriptures applies it to God to describe his sublime and inimitable perfection (1 Samuel 2:2 says, There is no one holy like the Lord), but also to us, as when God says to the Israelites, Be holy, because I am holy, (a line from Leviticus that St. Peter later quotes in his first epistle). These seem like contradictions: How can we be called to holiness when only God is holy?

In fact, this is a microcosm of some of the disagreements between Catholics and Protestants about the nature of justification. Catholics are, broadly, more comfortable with the idea that Gods grace can make us and our deeds holy even here on earth (though holiness in creation is different from Gods holiness; whereas his holiness comes from his own nature, any holiness found in created things is a gift). Protestants, meanwhile, generally prefer to speak of grace as divine favor leading to spiritual fruit and to greater faith, while holiness is a characteristic belonging only to God and Christ and imputed to the believer, who becomes a called-out one (saint) for His service in the world. Because Pakaluk uses holiness with its Catholic connotation, Protestants may find the shock here to be more than they can stomach doctrinally.

Pakaluks essays are in the tradition of G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, meaning they are intellectual explorations of a topic, not the personal or confessional pieces we often encounter under the name essay. Though none of the pieces here achieves the gonzo brilliance of Chestertons A Piece of Chalk or I Begin with a Little Girls Hair, Pakaluk is comfortable in his genre and can offer a complete and often intriguing argument grounded in vivid real-world observations in just four or five pages (a task harder than it looks). His work is conscientiously outward-facing and does not dwell on the personal tragedies that have shaped his life. But occasionally his personal experience clearly guides his creative choices, as when he reflects on the epitaph of Saint Thomas More (composed by More himself); Pakaluk concludes with Mores own closing lines dedicated to his two wives, one of whom died quite young.

Holiness: Shocking or Ordinary?

Although each essay could stand alone as meaningful and self-contained, throughout the book there is an accumulation of symbols and themes that slowly reveals to us how each essay stands in relation to the others. There is a good deal of pleasure to be found in returning to an earlier essay after reading five or six others and seeing how the later pieces expand and deepen the earlier ones.

Pakaluk writes in the preface that he might have called them Essays in Re-Enchantment. I am thankful he did not. Although The Shock of Holiness speaks to many of the longings expressed by the re-enchantment crowd, his own work is considerably more serious than re-enchantment books tend to be. Pakaluk is not a social commentator or a Substacker or a journalist; he is a philosopher, trained in logic and reasoning. He uses words with a rare precision, and he has the philosophers knack of developing a language all his own, cultivating subtle and specific meanings that give his work a shimmering clarity not often found either inside or outside the academy.

For example, in the fourth essay, titled Do This in Remembrance of Me, Pakaluk offers us a bracing and philosophical close reading of Lukes account of the Last Supper, applying careful logic to the passage to demonstrate why he believes in the Catholic interpretation of Christs words of institution. Protestant readers may disagree, but they will have the fun of a rigorous disagreement, one in which they must puzzle out where they believe the logic of the argument falls apart, rather than debating a series of assertions to reject or accept along confessional lines.

Logic is only part of the rhetorical trinity we mentioned above. Indeed, in contemporary writing, it is the least common of the three, and the rigorous clarity of Pakaluks book is reason enough to read it. But Pakaluk does not rely entirely on argumentation. Each essay has a beating heart, if you will, whether the wrenching retelling of the murder of the Ulma family by the Germans for hiding Jewish families in Poland during WWII (essay 11, titled Yes) or a startling reimagining of Elizabeths joy at the Visitation (essay 22, titled A Shout-Out to Mary).

Here again, however, the differences between Catholic and Protestant conceptions of sanctification are notable. Pakaluk takes the Catholic Church seriously when she says that an individual shows evidence of holiness, of willing consecration to God, in his or her lifeeven when that raises difficult questions. In the essay How to Repay the Love of Christ, Pakaluk writes of

Blessed Henry Suso, who one day took a knife and cut out in letters upon his breast the name of his beloved Lord. And when thus bathed in blood, he went into the church, and, prostrating himself before the crucifix, he said, Behold, O Lord, Thou only Love of my soul, behold my desire, I would gladly have written Thee deeper within my heart; but this I cannot do.

This is, indeed, shocking. Susos actions are staggering and confounding; surely there is no reason to exalt such behavior! Pakaluk walks a difficult line here. The Catholic Church has pronounced Suso a Blessed (someone in whose life there is evidence of Gods grace to an unusual or miraculous degree). But clearly Susos path is not one everyone can followor should. Pakaluk acknowledges this, explaining that it would go against Gods calling on many of our lives. He uses the example of a surgeon. Surgeons ought not be out at all hours ministering to the poor and needy; they must have steady hands and clear minds, which come from good food and rest, in order to fulfill their callings. Pakaluk concludes by saying that the primary responsibilities of Christians are to pursue God through the sacramentshe names baptism and the Eucharist specificallyand warns that activism can be a distraction.

Even though Pakaluk pushes readers to focus on the ordinary means of gracebaptism, the Eucharist, prayer, and meditation on Scripturehe does not offer a full-throated condemnation of Susos choice of penance. Many Protestant readers (and some Catholics) will be bothered by this. I (a Catholic) do not understand the rigorous penances adopted by some Saints and Blesseds. I do not understand the relationship between the body and the soul in the pursuit of holiness. My own understanding, cultivated by studying a different strain of Catholic theology, is much more body-positive, to use a contemporary term.

Pakaluk (wisely) does not undertake to universalize the impulse behind Susos actions. Instead, he tries to orient readers toward Christ, reminding them that holiness comes from daily pious habits. That said, he would have done well to address the distinction between holiness and scrupulosity. He offers many examples throughout the book of individuals suffering through no choice of their own, as when he describes (vividly) the martyrdom of Saint Jean de Brebeuf; in these, it is much easier to discern grace at work.

Glimpses of a Wide, Strange World

I found the first essay, Moms at Mass, and Other Heroes, uninspiring when I first read it. It struck me as cheesy. But as I pressed deeper into Pakaluks vision of reality, the placement of the first essay began to reveal itself as wise. I realized that my reaction to the essay was evidence of a buried guilt. I, after all, am not a mom who takes her children to daily Mass. Nothing in Pakaluks essay indicated that all moms must do so; any shame I felt came from me, not the book. But as I read through the subsequent essays (which instinctively I liked much more)for example, In Praise of Holy Water and The Lord of Substancetheir philosophical and philological explorations of the Mass and the sacraments worked backward in my imagination, illuminating that first off-putting essay until I was able to grapple with it on its own terms, instead of through my own defensive lens.

Not every book is this confident and effective at teaching readers how to read it. Pakaluk recognizes that there is an art to assembling essay collections and has put as much thought into the sequence of the bookthe meta-argument, if you willas into the individual essays themselves.

Its refreshing in our age of self-identified anti-theory and anti-argument essay collections to find a book so confidently logical, in which the author establishes a series of premises and works forward from them throughout the collection. Pakaluk is, if not actually an axiomatic philosopher, working in the tradition of philosophical logicians like Spinoza, Leibniz, Wittgensteinand of course, Aristotle. But anyone who picks up this book should also remember they are entering a profoundly anti-modern realm of saints, miracles, strange penances, and brutal martyrdoms. Yet there is a simple elegance in The Shock of Holinesss structure and organization, a winning innocence in its faith that clear language, carefully applied, will bring readerseven readers who disagree with Pakaluks deeply personal Catholic convictionscloser to truth. These things make The Shock of Holiness a rare book, one whose words, images, and arguments kept returning to my mind long after I laid it down.
Alphabet-owned Waymo has restarted its driverless ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area after briefly shutting it down during a major power outage that caused widespread traffic problems across the city.

The service pause began Saturday evening after blackouts knocked out traffic lights and disrupted public transit in several neighborhoods.

The outages led to gridlock, with some Waymo vehicles stopping longer than usual at intersections where signals were not working, CNBC reported.

By Sunday afternoon, Waymo confirmed that rides had resumed once conditions improved and coordination with city officials was complete.

A Waymo spokesperson explained that the blackout created unusual challenges. With many traffic signals dark at the same time, roads became crowded and confusing.

Waymo's driver system is designed to treat broken signals as four-way stops, but the large number of outages meant cars had to be extra cautious.

This led some vehicles to pause in place while checking intersections, adding to congestion during the busiest hours.

@elonmusk Last Night Waymo halts service during massive San Francisco blackout after the self-driving vehicles got stuck, causing traffic jams... Tesla cars just fine. pic.twitter.com/1TMjNnUabJ  Mac Err (@MacErr03) December 21, 2025

Waymo Vehicles Stuck in Traffic After Power Outage

Videos shared online showed several Waymo cars stopped on city streets Saturday night. One San Francisco resident said he saw multiple driverless vehicles sitting still in traffic and appearing unsure how to move forward.

Human drivers were forced to wait or carefully drive around them as police and city workers tried to manage traffic flow.

The power outage began around early Saturday afternoon and peaked a few hours later, affecting about 130,000 customers, according to Pacific Gas and Electric.

The utility said a fire at one of its substations caused heavy damage, making repairs difficult.

By Sunday morning, power had been restored to most homes, though tens of thousands were still without electricity in parts of the city.

During the outage, city officials deployed police officers, firefighters, parking officers, and city ambassadors to help manage intersections and keep people safe.

Waymo said it worked closely with local leaders and decided to pause service as a precaution, Newsbyte reported.

riders were able to finish their trips before cars were returned to depots or safely pulled over.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Reuters: Reuters reported on Monday, citing a draft Pentagon report, that China is likely to have loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields. The Pentagon report also said that China has no desire for arms control talks. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this report?

Lin Jian: Im not familiar with what you cited as a U.S. draft report, but weve been hearing the same story told and retold by the U.S. to create pretext for speeding up the upgrade of U.S. nuclear power and disrupting global strategic stability. The international community needs to be soberly aware of that. The U.S., as a nuclear superpower sitting on the worlds biggest nuclear arsenal, must fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, further make drastic and substantive cut to its nuclear arsenal, and create conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to join the nuclear disarmament process. This should be a high priority for the U.S.

Just last month, the Chinese government released a white paper entitled Chinas Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the New Era with a full overview of Chinas nuclear policy and position on nuclear disarmament. China remains firmly committed to the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense. China keeps its nuclear strength at the minimum level required by national security and does not engage in any nuclear arms race with any country. China takes an active part in the review process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and meetings of the P5 (five nuclear-weapon states) mechanism, and maintains dialogue with various parties on nuclear disarmament.

AFP: Yesterday, the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia said that a Chinese national in Battambang Province was slightly injured by artillery fire. Does the Foreign Ministry have an update on this persons situation?

Lin Jian: Its learned that on December 22, a Chinese national suffered minor abrasion in the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia has reached out to the person and will provide consular protection and assistance within its duty.

In light of the ongoing security situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, we once again advise Chinese nationals not to travel there for the time being. We request the parties to the conflict to protect the safety, security and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals and companies.

Reuters: The Federal Communications Commission of the U.S. said on Monday it is adding Chinas DJI to a list of companies determined to pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security and will bar approvals of new types of drones for import or sale in the United States. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Lin Jian: China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security and making discriminatory lists to go after Chinese companies. The U.S. should stop its wrong practice and create a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.

Ukinform News Agency: Questions on the Russian-Ukrainian war issue. Now, active negotiations are underway on a peace plan to end the Russian-Ukrainian war. Is China participating and what role does it play in this peace process? And second question, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine will soon adopt a new package of sanctions against Russian entities and individuals who facilitate Russias aggression, which will include nationals of other countries, including China. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments?

Lin Jian: Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has maintained close communication with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, and stayed committed to a ceasefire and peace talks. Our efforts are there for all to see. China supports all efforts for peace and will continue to play a constructive role to that end.

On your second question, China opposes unilateral sanctions that violate international law and lack the authorization of the UN Security Council. We urge Ukraine to stop pursuing the wrong course at once. China will firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and nationals.

Shenzhen TV: Recently, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). Comments around the globe say this move is the latest demonstration of Chinas institutional opening up, and builds a bridge between the global market and the great domestic demand in China. The launch of the Hainan FTP will bring new opportunities for other countries, making it attractive within the Asia Pacific and for other regions as well. Whats your comment on this?

Lin Jian: From the establishment of Hainan special economic zone to the most recent launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port, Hainan has left a deep mark in the course of Chinas reform and opening-up. To develop the Hainan Free Trade Port to high standards is written into the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the CPC for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted at the fourth plenary session. We are convinced that Hainan FTP will become an important gateway of Chinas high-standard opening up.

In the face of growing uncertainties in global economy, Chinas response is to deliver its commitment of opening up with concrete actions, to fight protectionism with firm resolve, and promote an open world economy. Chinas negative list for foreign investment access has shrunk, restrictions of access for the manufacturing sector have been brought down to naught, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines has been granted to all LDCs that have diplomatic ties with China, and visa-free policy and visa-free transit have been upgraded. From January to November, China has established over 60,000 new foreign-invested companies, up by 16.9 percent year-on-year, and total trade volume of goods has exceeded RMB 41 trillion yuan, up by 3.6 percent year-on-year. China has continued to step up the width and depth of its opening up, to be a stronger magnet for foreign markets and to demonstrate the resilience and vitality in trade.

The recent Central Economic Work Conference has identified staying committed to opening up and promoting win-win cooperation in various areas as one of the major tasks for next year. China will open even wider and generate even more development opportunities. This will inject new momentum for global common prosperity.

Reuters: According to Korean media reports today, K-Pop agencies will hold a concert in Hong Kong in early 2026 which will be broadcast by Chinas Hunan TV. Could China confirm whether reports on these plans are accurate? Is China planning on allowing K-Pop concerts and content back into the mainland after a nearly decade-long hiatus?

Lin Jian: Im not aware of what you mentioned.
On December 22, 2025, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Jose Antonio Kast on his election as President of the Republic of Chile.

Xi Jinping noted that Chile is the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The two countries have consistently upheld mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, and shown mutual understanding and support on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. Practical cooperation across various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. China-Chile relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries. It is a broad consensus among all sectors of society in both countries to continue advancing the development of China-Chile relations. Xi Jinping said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Chile relations and is ready to work with President-elect Jose Antonio Kast to carry forward the traditional friendship and continuously take the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.
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Craig Copetas had one of the most colorful beats in journalism: He wrote about the illegal drug trade for High Times magazine. Dealers would search me out, asking me to go to Latin America to write adventure stories about them, he told me. Another time, a guy opened up a small suitcase to give Copetas a peek at what he was holding: $1.5 million in cash.

That show-and-tell happened in December 1977, in the District of Columbia. It was a big weekend for drugs in the nations capital. Everyone was coming to Washington, Copetas remembered. Smugglers, adventurers, scientists, musicians, lawyers, farmers, dealers, global leaders. And all of them were coming with some of the most rootin-tootin, scientifically produced cavalcade of recreational drugs you could imagine. And they were bringing it down in bulk.

The occasion was a weekend conference put on by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, more commonly known as NORML. For NORML and its allies, 1977 had been an amazing year. Mississippi, New York, and North Carolina all passed decriminalization laws. And the new man in the White House, President Jimmy Carter, was urging Congress to do the same thing on a national level.

Growing, smoking, and possessing marijuana was still illegal pretty much everywhere in the United States. But by 1977, more than half of Americans under 30 had tried pot. NORMLs liberal drug agenda was winning. And now it was time to revel in all that success.

The weekends most extravagant event was the NORML Christmas party, held in a town house near Dupont Circle. There was a rock band, strobe lights, and a juggler. Silver trays got passed from guest to guest, some loaded down with caviar and others with joints packed with hand-cultivated marijuana.

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The night was a crucial showcase for one man: Keith Stroup, the founder of NORML.

In 1977 he was 33 years old, and he answered to the nickname Mr. Marijuana. At the Christmas party, he strolled around in a blue velvet dinner jacket and burgundy bow tie, chatting up friends, colleagues, and potential funders under a haze of marijuana smoke. Part of the thrill of being there was it was so goddamn out in the open, he said.

Not long after 10 p.m., a guest showed up who demanded his full attention: Peter Bourne. He was the presidents top adviser on drug policy, and a man who could potentially change everything for Stroups movement.

Stroup was surprised and thrilled to see Bourne at the front door. The United States drug czar had turned up for a weed extravaganza. And he hadnt dropped by to narc on anyone or to shut the whole thing down.

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When it came to marijuana, Stroup and Bourne were on the same team. They believed both that Americas drug laws were horribly screwed up and that they were the people to fix them.

But that was before the NORML Christmas party. That night did end up changing everything for pot in America, but not in the way anyone expected.

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Last week, almost five decades later, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to hasten the reclassification of marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug. That move would put weed in the same tier as Tylenol with codeine, loosening restrictions on research into the drugs medical benefits. It will also be a step in the direction of full federal decriminalization or even legalization.

It all might have happened a long time ago if not for that Christmas party in 1977. The drug-fueled gathering turned out to be a turning point for Stroup and Bourne, for the Carter presidency, and for the future of marijuana.

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This story was adapted from an episode of the One Year podcast. Evan Chung was the lead producer. Madeline Ducharme was the assistant producer. Listen to the full version:

The first time Mr. Marijuana Keith Stroup took a hit from a joint, he wasnt sure hed gotten high. What he did know is that the pizza he ate that night tasted exceptionally good.

It was the 1960s, and Stroup was at Georgetown Law School, in Washington. Back then, his main concern was avoiding the Vietnam War. He thought about getting a psychiatrist to say that he was gay, which wouldve disqualified him from the armed forces, but his wife vetoed that idea. In the end, he steered clear of military service by getting a government job.

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Stroup worked for the National Commission on Product Safety. As a lawyer for the agency, he learned to do the sort of consumer advocacy made famous by Ralph Nader. In 1970 Stroup decided to put his own spin on that kind of work: He was going to lobby for marijuana smokers, just as Nader took up for consumers.

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At first, Stroups National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws got treated as a curiosity. But he was tireless and charismatic, and he knew what he wanted to achieve. His goal was to make weed legal everywhere in the U.S. In the meantime, he pushed for a smaller, more practical step: decriminalization.

The countrys harsh marijuana laws dated back to the early 20th century, when theyd been enacted to target Black and Mexican Americans. As the demographics of marijuana users changed, so did the drugs reputation. In 1969 Life magazine published photos of white professionals in cocktail attire toking up.

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If young, otherwise law-abiding, and essentially white people were going to start using this drug in greater numbers, people felt that they didnt want to then burden these individuals with a criminal record, said Emily Dufton, the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America.  You know, this person is probably going to go on to have a family and a white picket fence. And do we really want to destroy their future for a little bit of harmless fun? 

Still, harmless or not, marijuana was illegal. And if you got caught in the wrong place doing the wrong thing, the consequences could be extremely severe, with some people getting life sentences for marijuana-only crimes.

Plenty of Americans believed that small-time marijuana offenders werent really offenders at all. And so, under the right circumstances, the country mightve been on a path to decriminalization in the late 1960s and early 70s. But there was one very important person standing in the way.

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Richard Nixon saw marijuana as a tool of his enemies: liberals, young people, and Vietnam protesters. And in Nixons America, those enemies needed to be policed. In 1970 he signed the federal Controlled Substances Act, which put drugs into five different categories, or schedules. The most restrictive category, Schedule 1, was for drugs that were totally outlawed, even for medical use. Among them were heroin, LSD, and marijuana.

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Marijuanas placement in Schedule 1 had to be reviewed by a commission. Given that this group was stacked with Nixon appointees, the president thought it would rubber-stamp his anti-marijuana position. But when all those Nixon appointees weighed the evidence, they did something surprising: They said marijuana wasnt actually that bad. The commission recommended that both possession of marijuana for personal use and nonprofit distribution of small amounts of marijuana should be decriminalized.

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Nixon hated those recommendations, and so he decided to ignore them. He kept marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, which it still is today. (Trumps executive order finally looks poised to change that.)

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But Nixon wasnt all-powerful. Lawmakers across the country read the commissions report and found it persuasive. They began realizing that they had the capacity to change marijuana laws on the local level, and thats what began to happen, Dufton said.

Oregon was the first state to decriminalize marijuana, in 1973. By 1976, six more states had done it, and a bunch of others looked as if they were moving in that direction. But for American marijuana policy to get remade, the federal government would have to be on board. There would need to be a new voice in Washington, someone with liberal views who was savvy enough to wield real political power. Someone like future drug czar Peter Bourne.

Years before he showed up at that fateful Washington party, Peter Bourne served as a doctor in Vietnam. During his stint in the military, Bourne discovered that American soldiers were finding solace in heroin. When his tour of duty was over, the Englishman moved to California and saw the dark aftermath of the Summer of Love. In San Francisco in the late 1960s, he helped set up the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic. That exposed me to widespread drug use of all kinds, he told me.

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In the early 70s, Bourne moved to Atlanta to run a methadone clinic. He saw it as his chance to save lives. Our goal was to have a situation where no heroin addict could say, I want treatment, but theres nowhere I can go to get it,  he said.

Bourne and his clinic caught the attention of Georgias new governor, Jimmy Carter. Back then, Carter was an obscure figure, but Bourne believed in him. He was the first person to tell Carter that he should run for president.

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Carter and Bourne became extremely close. During the 1976 presidential campaign, the governor said that Bourne was about the closest friend I have in the world. When Bourne talked about drugs, Carter listened. And Bourne made his views very clear. More than anything else, people were dying in large numbers from heroin, he said, and you had 40 million people in the country using marijuana and nobody dying from it.

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Bourne believed that every dollar spent enforcing marijuana laws was a dollar taken away from work that really mattered. And he convinced Carter that he was right. During the 1976 campaign, Carter came out in favor of marijuana decriminalization. This was a big statementthe most liberal position on marijuana ever taken by a major-party presidential nominee.

While Carter didnt personally approve of pot, he was no Richard Nixon. He hung out with weed-loving musicians like Willie Nelson and the Allman Brothers, and he didnt think that everyone under 30 was plotting to destroy America.

Carters victory that fall marked a huge shift in U.S. politicsthe end of the Nixon era, and a fresh start after Watergate and Vietnam. And Bourne had lots of ideas about how he could help his closest friend. Bourne advocated for national health insurance, and he put together a plan to end world hunger. He also talked to Carter about sending rockets to Mars.

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All of that was outside Bournes purview. What he could do was change the countrys drug policy. Bournes official title was special assistant to the president for mental health and drug abuse. One of the people he met with was Keith Stroup. We had so much to gain by maintaining that relationship, with Peter being so close to the president himself and so powerful in terms of drug policy, Stroup said.

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When Stroup founded NORML, he struggled to get big players to take him seriously. Now, with Carter in the White House, he became a Washington insider. Stroup smoked weed with the presidents son Chip, and he bonded with administration officials. When the Allman Brothers were going to play a concert here in D.C., I would actually ride out to the concert with a group of White House people in a bus they had chartered, Stroup told me. Most of the time, we were smoking on the bus going out and smoking on the bus coming home.

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Stroup was a stoner who thought everyone in America should be free to enjoy the benefits of marijuana. Bourne was a doctor who thought that marijuana was trivial and the government should focus its resources on heroin. But from those different starting points, Mr. Marijuana and the drug czar ended up in the same place. In March 1977, Bourne told Congress that the administration will continue to discourage marijuana use, but we feel criminal penalties that brand otherwise law-abiding people for life are neither an effective nor an appropriate deterrent.

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At times, it sounded as if the White Houses talking points on marijuana had been written by Keith Stroup. And in 1977, that actually happened.

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One day, Stroup got a phone call from a junior White House speechwriter, who said that he was working on a presidential statement about marijuana policy. He asked Stroup if hed like to come by and help him draft it. And of course, I almost kill myself running to his place, Stroup said.

Stroups most aggressive pro-pot language got edited out of that statement. But a lot of his material remained intact, including these lines:

Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana in private for personal use.

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The biggest headline coming out of that statement was that Jimmy Carter endorsed decriminalizationthe first time a sitting president had ever done so. In some ways, it was just symbolic, because Carter wasnt proposing a specific bill. But coming from the president and his drug czar, that symbolism was important.

A fundamental shift in American marijuana policy felt tantalizingly close. Bourne believed that the administration was going to get progressive legislation passed in Congress. Stroup thought that within three or four or five years, we would have decriminalization passed in all states across the country.

But there was another movement getting started around that same timeone that Bourne and Stroup did not see coming. It was led by two moms from Georgia.

In 1976 Marsha Keith Schuchard and her husband hosted their daughters 13th birthday party. There were about 20 kids in her backyard. They asked if we could go upstairs, which we did, she said. And then my husband started seeing lights, like cigarette lights, going on all over.  And he went down to see what was happening, and it wasnt cigarettes. It was joints. It was booze. And it was quite a shock.

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Schuchard doesnt fit the stereotype of a drug warrior. She has a doctorate in English, and she identifies as a liberal Democrat. Living in Atlanta in the 60s and 70s, she fought for voting rights and school desegregation. But when Schuchard caught her daughter smoking pot, she found a new cause.

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Schuchard called herself a do-it-yourself drug-abuse professional. She believed that parents could fight back against drug culture by sharing tips and resources and creating a supportive and safe community.

They set uniform rules for all of their kids. They werent allowed to read High Times magazine. They had a curfew, said Dufton, who wrote about Schuchard in her book Grass Roots. And in the parents eyes, those rules seemed to work.

The neighborhood kids called them the Nosy Parents Association. By 1977, Schuchard had brought her nosiness nationwide, co-founding the Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education. What Schuchard was tapping into was that these were legitimate fears that a lot of people were having about their kids, but no one was speaking to it, Dufton said.

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Adolescent marijuana usage was on the rise in the mid-1970s, and pro-pot messages were everywhere. In magazines like High Times, Head, and Stone Age; on Saturday Night Live and in movies like The Groove Tube and Car Wash; and in Peter Toshs Legalize It and Neil Youngs Homegrown. And it was getting easier every day to find a shop that carried pipes and rolling papers.

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In Atlanta, Schuchards friend Sue Rusche had promised her kids shed buy them a Star Wars record. When they walked into the record store, what they found instead was a glass display case full of Star Warslike bongs. Rusche went to more stores, and found more kid-friendly products: a Frisbee that was also a hash pipe, and a book called Tots Who Toke. I know the power of advertising. I learned it in graphic design school, Rusche told me. And to think that people would target children was just inexplicable and abhorrent.

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The idea that pot was endangering impressionable, vulnerable children was a potent political message. In 1977 Schuchard and Rusche were starting to spread it. Whenever they spoke to parents groups, theyd bring along what they called the bong show. The first thing we did was show them what the paraphernalia looked like and suggest that they try to find it in their community, and they always did, Rusche said.

NORMLs Stroup had not accounted for any of this when he made his push for decriminalization. And when the parents from Atlanta started to get traction, he still didnt think they were a real threat.

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Their philosophy was: If its unsafe for kids, then you shouldnt legalize it. And of course, thats a stupid standard, Stroup said. If that was the standard, adults couldnt drive or fly airplanes or have sex. I thought because that premise was so wrongheaded that we didnt have to worry about them.

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It was always unlikely that Mr. Marijuana and the nosy parents would find common ground. But Schuchard thought she might have a chance to win over the drug czar.

She got an audience with Peter Bourne in December 1977, at a conference on drug abuse. She told him about middle schoolers smoking pot, and she pulled out a bag of marijuana publications that shed bought at a suburban shopping mall. Bourne listened to what she had to say and looked at what shed brought. And the drug czar was totally unmoved. Schuchard said that he was indifferent, rude, dismissive.

Bourne was similarly unimpressed. He told me that the parents didnt know anything about drug abuse and couldnt explain their position in any sort of public-health terms. When I asked Bourne if he thought it was legitimate to be concerned about 13-year-olds smoking marijuana, he said that it didnt bother him that muchthat when you compare it to more than 1,000 dying each month from heroin, its a misplacement of priorities.

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So thats where Stroup and Bourne were in December 1977: entrenched in their positions, confident in their success, and unafraid to antagonize their opponents. What they didnt realize was that they were about to make enemies with each other. And it would all start at the Christmas party.

NORMLs annual conference in D.C. featured seminars on marijuana and the law, marijuana and science, and marijuana and women. There were also plenty of opportunities to get a more practical education on the American drug scene.

Wherever we went that weekend, people were coming up to us and offering us drugs, remembered Craig Copetas of High Times magazine. It was like backstage at a Rolling Stones concert.

That weekend, Copetas shared a hotel suite with his friend Hunter S. Thompson. The way Patrick Anderson tells it in his book High in America, a conferencegoer sidled up to Thompson during a luncheon attended by roughly 300 people and passed the writer some cocaine. Copetas then held up a copy of the New York Times, which they used to shield themselves as they enjoyed the gift theyd just received.

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Oh, dear. The things we did in our youth, huh? Copetas told me when I asked about that moment. I will plead the Fifth Amendment on that. Although I will say I did hold up a New York Times.

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Later that same day, Dec. 10, 1977, Copetas and Thompson headed over to the big NORML Christmas party. The 600 attendees who had crammed themselves into a D.C. town house that evening were typical Washington creatures: political staffers, journalists, do-gooder nonprofit types. That night, they saw a rock band and strobe lights and a juggler and silver trays full of caviar and joints. They saw Keith Stroup, Mr. Marijuana, presiding over it all. Then they saw Peter Bourne, the White House drug czar, walk through the front door.

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Bourne got a heros welcomehugs and handshakes from marijuana lovers who appreciated everything hed done for their cause. For Stroup, Bourne was his guy on the inside, and it was important to keep him happy. So he paid close attention when a friend passed along a message. Those words, in Stroups memory: Peter says he wouldnt mind doing a line of coke.

My first reaction was: What? Did I heardid I hear you right?  Stroup said. His second reaction was to go looking for cocaine. The way Stroup tells it, he tracked down some coke, then asked Bourne to go upstairs to a private room.

Everyone in the house could see who was going up that stair. It was like a stage, Copetas told me. Stroup said, It was kind of almost incriminating to be seen walking up there.

Copetas declined to tell me exactly what happened next, because that was a private interlude as far as Im concerned and always will be. But Stroup didnt hold back. He said, We sat around and all did a few lines of coke and then, OK, better get back down and say hello to some more people. And Peter said, Yeah, I need to get going too. And we left.

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Copetas did say this, about the aftermath of that get-together: After I went back to sit down, Hunter looked at me and said, Jesus Christ, Craig, were all going to be indicted now. 

But Stroup was more excited than paranoid. Shit, snorting a line with the presidents drug czar? he said. This is not a bad thing in that it means that we have some secrets were now sharing. We have some intimate moments that we havent had before.

Word spread quickly inside the town house: Peter Bourne, the drug czar, had done cocaine.

When I asked Bourne what he remembered about the party, he said very littlethat it was just sort of the usual crowd, the strong Carter supporters.

He denied asking for cocaine that night. He told me that claim was so untrue.

I may have been stupid enough to go to the party, but I had no interest in doing cocaine, he said. I would have gone somewhere else if I had wanted to do that. There may have been cocaine there at some point, but I was not a participant.

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I asked Bourne if he used cocaine at all, outside the party.

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His answer: Ive never used cocaine. Have I? I dont think so. Because I was very careful never to use marijuana or go anywhere where I would smoke marijuana. So, you know, being that cautious, I dont know why in the world I would use cocaine.

The NORML Christmas party ended around 4 a.m., with something like a dozen people passed out around the town house. The political staffers, the journalists, and the do-gooder nonprofit types all went back home, and back to work. For the next few months, life in Washington carried on as usual. And then, very suddenly, everything blew up.

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The undoing of Peter Bourne began on a Friday afternoon in July 1978, when a young woman came to him and said she was having trouble sleeping. She asked Bourne if he could write her a prescription for sleeping pills.

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That woman worked for Bourne at the White House. And he could prescribe her medication since he was a licensed doctor. So that day he wrote her a prescription for Quaaludes.

Quaaludes were extremely popular in the 70s, as sleeping pills but also as an aphrodisiac. Bourne told the woman that hed give her a pseudonym for the Quaalude prescription so it wouldnt show up if she ever tried to get a security clearance. Its a regular practice if you have somebody who wants to keep their use of drugs confidential, he told me.

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The woman, Bournes aide, asked a friend to pick up her prescription. When that friend went to the drugstore, a pharmacy inspector happened to be there, doing routine rounds. The womans friend got arrested for attempting to obtain a controlled substance by the use of a false name. And when it came out that the drug czars name was on the prescription, the story was all over the national news.

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Bourne thought it would eventually blow over. But the day after the Quaalude story came out, investigative reporter Jack Anderson went on ABCs Good Morning America to deliver some new information: Three witnesses had seen the drug czar, Peter Bourne, snort cocaine at the NORML Christmas party.

Andersons report didnt name any of the three witnesses, but it did say they had provided complete and convincing details.

So whod spilled?

Like an idiot, Stroup told me, I somehow managed to take what was a confined scandal and find a way to put myself in the middle of it.

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Why did Stroup tell a reporter that Bourne had done coke? Bourne was the best ally hed ever had. Together, theyd been spreading the gospel of decriminalization across the country.

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But Stroup had become convinced that American marijuana smokers were in danger of being killed. And he thought the Carter administration, and Bourne, was complicit.

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The issue was an herbicide called paraquat. The Mexican government was spraying paraquat on poppy and marijuana fields, using helicopters provided by the United States. And so, the theory went, anyone who smoked pot imported from Mexico might be inhaling paraquat. I remember at the time there were articles saying that even a teaspoon of paraquat on your tongue and youd have an agonizing death. Its that strong, Stroup said.

Stroup told Bourne that all this needed to stopthat marijuana smokers were in grave danger. But Bourne didnt buy it.

I thought it was all bullshit, he said. We paid thousands of dollars to have it analyzed.  I mean, the paraquat thing was totally scientifically wrong.

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Theres not much clear evidence that paraquat ever harmed American marijuana smokers. But the chemical is extremely toxic, and Stroup was disgusted that Bourne thought that was no big deal.

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Stroup and Bourne had found common ground on decriminalization. But they were now on opposite sides of what Stroup considered an existential issue. Stroup had been able to look past that tension in 1977. But in the first few months of 1978, he began to view Bournes actions as unforgivable. At that point, it was like, Jesus Christ, Peter, if youre going to play life and death, dont forget, I got something over here too.

The something that Stroup had was his story about the NORML Christmas party. A bunch of reporters had seen Bourne at the party, and plenty of them had heard whispers about the drug czar doing coke. One of those journalists worked for Anderson. In the weeks after the party, that reporter pestered Stroup to confirm the cocaine rumors.

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Stroup initially refused, but now he changed his mind. He was ready to talk. And he gave up the names of two other witnesses.

He said that all of this was off the recordfor now. But five months later, after the Quaalude news broke, Stroup gave his blessing for the cocaine story to get aired, so long as his name was not attached. On July 21, 1978, on Good Morning America, the bomb Stroup planted finally went off.

When the news broke, Bourne told his colleagues at the White House that hed seen cocaine at the party but that he hadnt used it. That explanation was not enough to save the drug czars job. At a news conference, Jimmy Carter announced, Dr. Peter Bourne, out of consideration for my administration, has submitted his resignation this afternoon, which I have accepted with regret.

Bourne didnt leave the White House quietly. After he resigned, he told the New York Times that marijuana use was commonplace at the White House. He also said that a few of his colleagues did cocaine. A couple of days later, Carter sent a memo to the White House staff. I expect [everyone] to obey the law, the president said. You will obey it, or you will seek employment elsewhere.

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Stroup hadnt been named in the Good Morning America story that took down Bourne. But he did give a quote to the Washington Post and basically outed himself as the original source.

After that, Stroup got out of town, going to Las Vegas to hang out with his friend Willie Nelson and clear his head. By the time I got back to D.C., I realized two things, he said. That Peter had ended up being hurt more than he deserved, and  that my career with NORML almost certainly was coming to an end.

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Stroup had severed his connection to the White House, and hed done it recklessly: Any idiot should have recognized that even if I felt threatened about paraquat spraying or even if I was angry about something else, that didnt justify destroying that point of access to power.

The founder of NORML had also violated the drug users code: You dont snort and tell. Stroup issued an apology, but too much damage had been done. In December 1978, at NORMLs annual conference, he delivered his farewell speech as the groups executive director. A year earlier, that conference had been a nonstop celebration, and Stroup and Bourne had seemed indestructible. Now theyd both been disgraced, and their downfall had profound consequences for the pro-marijuana movement theyd been working to build.

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Before the Bourne scandal, a relaxed approach to marijuana had fit in perfectly with the Carter administrations priorities. Afterward, the White House pulled back from anything that might be perceived as soft on drugs. Bournes successor as drug czar declared that both he and the president adamantly oppose the use of marijuana, period.

For the parent activists from Atlanta, Bournes ouster was the opening they needed. In the early days of the Carter administration, Marsha Keith Schuchard had gotten iced out. Now she scored an invitation to the newly anti-marijuana White House, where she made her pitch about how weed was damaging kids.

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In 1979 the National Institute on Drug Abuse published a booklet researched and written by Schuchard. It was called Parents, Peers, and Pot. It told the story of her daughters smoke-filled 13th birthday party, and everything that came after. The booklet was full of alarming claims, including that marijuana might cause enlarged breasts in adolescent boys. Government scientists found Schuchards prose hyperbolic, but the public ate it up. After a million copies were ordered, they stopped printing it because they said we have too many orders, Schuchard said.

When Ronald and Nancy Reagan moved into the White House in 1981, the parent activists became even more influential. Schuchard said that when she told Nancy Reagan she was a liberal, the first lady responded that it was a nonpartisan movement and they were all in this together. I had to give her credit for that, Schuchard said.

Marijuana usage peaked in America in 1979, then fell in every age category in the 1980s. Decriminalization stopped cold. A few months before Bourne had resigned as the White House drug czar, Nebraska became the 11th state to decriminalize marijuana. No other states followed suit in the next two decades.

Peter Bourne is 86 now. When we spoke a few years ago, he was splitting his time between northern Virginia and a farm in Wales, where he and his wife were raising llamas. When I asked him if hed been the most progressive drug czar of all time, he said, Yes, by far.

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Seventeen years after Keith Stroup resigned, he got rehired as NORMLs executive director. Hes now the groups legal counsel. In his early 80s, Stroup finally sees the world hed always imagined beginning to take shape. In Virginia, where he lives, its legal for adults 21 and older to possess, consume, and grow small amounts of marijuana. At the end of our interview, he invited me to come over and light one up sometime.

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Stroup has said that ratting out Peter Bourne was the stupidest decision he ever made. He said the most recent time they ran into each other was more than 10 years ago, at a cocktail party. While they did stop and chat for a minute, neither of us tried to make a move to say, You want to get a beer sometime? Stroup told me. I think we both recognized that we had passed that point of no return a long time ago.

When I asked Bourne how much he blamed Stroup for his downfall, he stopped to consider the question for a brief moment. Then he answered: I suppose, quite a lot.

Bourne told me that back in the 1970s, he hadnt understood what Stroup was doingwhy hed been so outraged, paranoid, and hell-bent on destroying what had been a productive partnership. But now, he said, he thinks he gets what was going on. I dont think Im betraying confidences, but what I was unaware of then was that he had a serious cocaine problem, he said. I can see that he wasnt wielding good judgment.

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I dont doubt that cocaine had something to do with it, sure, Stroup told me. You get very ragged when youre doing cocaine. You get irritable, sometimes you get angry [about] things that wouldnt make you angry otherwise. The cocaine use was not helpful. I dont think I can use it as an excuse, but it probably did cause my responses to be exaggerated at times.

Stroup and Bourne will never agree about what happened in that private room at the NORML Christmas party. But here, theres something approaching consensus: Mr. Marijuana dropped a dime on the drug czar for doing cocaine because he himself was doing too much cocaine. And that is how the pro-pot movement of the 1970s went up in smoke.
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In something of a Christmas miracle, the MAGA coalition may finally be starting to break down.

The Heritage Foundation, which published the Project 2025 blueprint for this Trump term, just saw more than a dozen staff members defect for former Vice President Mike Pences Advancing American Freedom think tank; turncoats include the former leaders of Heritages data, economics, and legal teams. Among prominent MAGA leadersmostly elected officials, people who want to be elected officials, and podcastersthere is a growing divide over what one might assume should be an easily answered question: Should they welcome Nazis, avowed white supremacists, and unrepentant racists hurling slurs into the movement?

This is apparently quite the conundrum. Its also telling that the cleavage is coming now. After all, the movement Donald Trump built has long welcomed bigots and racists; Trump himself dined with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and enthusiastic antisemite Kanye West at Mar-a-Lago, although he later claimed to not know who Fuentes was. The people who have gotten into bed with the president, whether theyre D.C. think tank staffers or Jan. 6 hooligans, realized who they were cozying up with.

That some are starting to object and defect suggests that two things are happening at once. The first is that MAGA bigotry has gotten significantly broader, expanding beyond the groups the broader right believes are acceptable to malign (women, Black people, immigrants, Muslims) and coming for groups of which prominent MAGA leaders are a part (Jews, Indians, anyone whose ancestors didnt come over on the Mayflower). The second is that Trump himself is fading: Hes elderly and showing the typical signs of fatigue and cognitive decline. This is creating something of a vacuum in leadership. Vice President J.D. Vance is the clear MAGA heir apparent (or at least believes himself to be). But he wont take the throne unchallenged. Some of these contenders want to sit in the Oval Office, and there can be only one butt in the chair behind the Resolute Desk. Others want a different kind of Republican Party: Some strive to turn away from Trumpian populism and toward a tax-cutting pro-business agenda; others aim for a return to the politics of conservative Christianity, with a refocus on restricting abortion and LGBTQ+ rights; a few really may object to MAGAs blood-and-soil nationalist turn. But the coalition is currently fracturing for one reason: The leader is weak, and a successor is being chosen.

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The growing objections to MAGA racism can feel pretty rich coming from people who seemed just fine with many kinds of racism up until now. But its also true that MAGA racism has, like the famous First they came for poem, proved itself insatiable. Vance has been among the leading voices for the idea that there is a category of heritage Americans, a very-online term for people whose family ancestry supposedly gives them more of a claim to legitimate Americanness than anyone else: naturalized citizens, children of immigrants, someone whose grandparents immigrated after World War II. If your ancestors came over anytime after 1789, you are not a Grade A American, as one chart puts it. I think the people whose ancestors fought in the Civil War have a hell of a lot more claim over America than the people who say they dont belong, Vance has saidmarking those who chose to become American as having a less legitimate right to Americanness than those who fought to break up the country.

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This turn has alarmed many conservatives who, like most Americans, are not purely descended from Pilgrims. The elevation of unapologetically antisemitic rhetoric and the growing hatred of Jews among Gen Z conservatives seem to have also spooked some MAGA loyalists. A recent Manhattan Institute focus group of Gen Z conservatives found them praising Adolf Hitler as a great leader and understanding where he was coming from as far as wanting to improve the national state of Germany. One young man who also said that Jews are a force for evil explained: Im very prostrong executive, strong leader, strongman. I support national sovereignty, and Hitler was a nationalist. He was like, We have to take Germany back for Germans. And I feel like we should do that in America. A leaked chat among Young Republican leaders showed them joking about the Holocaust, calling Black people monkeys, and saying, I love Hitler. Young voters generally hold more antisemitic views than older ones, and young conservatives are, on average, the most antisemitic of all. This may be because young people are getting much of their political news from outrage-amplifying social media, as well as from influencers with popular podcasts, TikTok accounts, and YouTube and Discord channels, and many right-wing influencers have seen that racism, sexism, and antisemitism drive trafficwhich in turn drives fans to be even more bigoted and reactionary. Candace Owens recently went on an extended antisemitic tirade, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Fuentes have also entertained antisemitic conspiracy theories or flat-out blamed the Jews for various problems. And the Trump administration is putting people with long records of antisemitism into top positions.

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This seems to be an inflection point even for some notorious bigots and people who didnt mind when the president called Somalis garbage and compared immigrants with insects. Laura Loomer is one of the countrys most notorious Muslim-haters (she has called Islam a cancer and argued that Muslims should not be allowed to hold political office) and acted as if getting banned from Twitter for hate speech was as bad as being sent to the gulags. But now she is suddenly in favor of gatekeeping, enforcing basic standards, and moral clarity. Former presidential contender and current candidate for governor of Ohio Vivek Ramaswamy, who during his 2024 campaign claimed that our diversity is not our strength, compared prominent Black progressives with the Ku Klux Klan and asserted that he had never seen or met the boogeyman white supremacist in AmericaMaybe Ill meet a unicorn sooner, he added, and maybe those exist tooalso seems to have changed his tune. If you believe that Hitler was pretty fucking cool, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement, Ramaswamy recently said. If you call Usha Vance, the second lady of the United States of America, a jt, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement.

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J.D. Vance, whose Indian American wife Usha has been called racial slurs by right-wing racists, said that people who target her specifically can eat shit but that otherwise the GOP should be a big tent. When I say that Im going to fight alongside of you, I mean all of youeach and every one, the vice president said at Turning Point USAs recent AmericaFest. President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless self-defeating purity tests.

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As the Nazis vs. Say-No-to-Nazis fissures broke open at the Turning Point event, conservatives on all sides of the debate laid claim to the legacy of their martyred leader Charlie Kirk. Some argued that he was a free-speech fanatic who would have welcomed everyone to TPUSA events even if they were wearing a T-shirt bearing a pro-Holocaust meme (Let Em Cook). Others agreed with Loomers take, that people want to pretend like [Kirks] events were a free for all so they have an excuse to not call out the GOPs Nazi problem. Vance positioned himself on Team Let Em Cook. Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, seems to be with him: He caused major outcry after he defended Carlson having a very friendly interview with Holocaust denier Fuentes, in which Fuentes complained about the domination of organized Jewry and Carlson noted his belief that Christian Zionists have been seized by this brain virus.

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The former Heritage staffers who have decamped for the new organization seem to be on Team Moral Clarityor perhaps a team for which they dont have to play ball with Nazis or the kinds of people who would attend a Turning Point USA convention. (That the organization they flocked to belongs to Penceremember him? The guy the Jan. 6 rioters wanted to lynch on the White House lawn?only adds to the sense that this cleavage runs deep.) In a not-so-long-ago iteration of the Republican Party, those who spoke and acted like Loomer, Owens, and even Kirk were the riffraffpart of the base, sure, but inconvenient and merely dog-whistled at to encourage loyalty. Now, though, theyre leading the pack, and not only when it comes to MAGAs young pups.

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Its worth noting that in all of this, Trump is largely absent. Perhaps those closest to him see what average Americans do not: that his abilities, and with them his power, are waning. He turned the party into a cult of personality, in which the only ideology was to line up behind Donald Trump. The GOP rule Whatever Trump wants, Trump gets was so clear that the party stopped writing out policy platforms, instead issuing a one-page fealty pledge to its unquestioned leader. No one has the audacity to try to unseat him, or even to say that he wont be in charge forever. MAGA stalwarts still wear their Trump 2028 hats, make Trump-as-Jesus fan art, share the triumphant photo of him raising his fist after surviving an assassins bullet, and believe that his 2024 win was a political resurrection divinely ordained to save America. Maybe Trumpism will never die. But clearly those around him can smell decay.
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The good news about President Donald Trumps announcement of a new Trump-class battleship, based on his own vision of what a modern war vessel should look like, is that it will almost certainly never be built.

The bad news is that, over the next few years, the Navy will spend hundreds of millions of dollarsmaybe even a few billionpretending that its working on the project.

Nobody in the Navy has asked for a new battleship of this sorta behemoth weighing three times as much as the vessel it replaces (which itself is a very heavy ship), staffed by twice as many personnel (recruited from where?), and hoisting every type of weapon imaginable, including nuclear-armed cruise missiles, which, to the relief of every Navy commander, no U.S. surface vessel has carried since the end of the Cold War.

Quite apart from the megalomania of a president naming a warship after himself, the project contradicts a growing consensus among naval analysts for building and dispersing a larger number of smaller, less vulnerable ships. Given that the Chinese navy now has more ships than the U.S. Navy (370 vs. 294) and, more important, hundreds of anti-ship ballistic missiles, which can strike our ships from 900 miles away, the Trump-class battleship is simply wrongheaded for the modern era: It would heighten the U.S. Navys already-stressed vulnerabilities at sea.

In a news conference at Mar-a-Lago where the project was announced, Trumpstanding next to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubiosaid he would push the Navy to build the first of the new ships in two-and-a-half years, i.e., before his term is up. (He envisions building 20 to 25 of the ships in all.)

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Several retired Navy officers and weapons analysts (including two that I interviewed, who requested anonymity in order to avoid retribution) see this as a pipe dream. The newest Burke-class destroyer ships take about five years to buildand they are much smaller and based on existing designs. To design, construct, weaponize, and deploy a much larger ship based on an entirely new concept would likely take a decade.

The retired officer and naval analyst estimate the first of these ships would likely cost about $10 billion, four times that of the newest Burke destroyerand thats not counting the cost of the weapons onboard.

Those weapons are another problem. According to Trump and to subsequent information released by the Navy, much of it compiled by the private research group GlobalSecurity.org, the new ship would carry a lot of new, as-yet-unproven types of armaments, including hypersonic missiles, laser weapons, and an as-yet-undecided power source. Testing all these new weapons, and then integrating them all on one platform, is a very complex task.

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The retired admiral told me that the Navys most successful project in recent decades is the Aegis-class cruiser. Started in the late 1970s, it works well, and was efficiently built, because it put together existing elementsthe Navys best missiles, fire-control system, and air defensesall already-proven. The only new element was an air-defense radar.

By contrast, the much newer Zumwalt-class destroyer, contracted in 2002, tried to integrate lots of new technologies, and it was a disaster. The Navy had planned to build 32 of those ships, but, owing to various delays and cost overruns, ended up building just three.

The same is likely to happen with the Trump-class battleships, if any ever get built at all.

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Related From Slate This Newspaper Editorial Should Be Making Pentagon Leaders Sweat Read More

One other problem: The United States just doesnt have the shipbuilding capacity for this project. The retired admiral and the naval analyst told me the shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, is the only one capable of building a boat this big. Yet it is also where the next aircraft carrier is being built. Which vessel will get priority? There is neither the space nor the workforce to build both.

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Finally, it is unclear just what this ship is supposed to do. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said at Mar-a-Lago that the USS Defiantthe name of the first Trump-class shipwill inspire awe and reverence for the American flag whenever it pulls into a foreign port.

But what if it has to fight in a war? Ships mobilize as part of a battle group. Will the USS Defiant help protect the aircraft carrier, along with the various frigates, cruisers, and destroyers? Will it assist the aircraft carrier in projecting power against the enemy? Will it be the flagshipthe lead vesselin its own group? These arent small questions. The answers will shape the training of the ships crews and even, to some degree, its design.

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The announcement that the ship will also carry nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles came as a particular surprise. No U.S. surface vessel has carried nukes since the end of the Cold War. President George H.W. Bush ordered them removed back in 1991and not just for dovish reasons. Not only had the nukes made those ships a more tempting target, they were more trouble than they were worth, requiring specially trained crews and special security procedures. Those ships were also barred from entering the waters and ports of many U.S. allies. I was a defense reporter when Bush made this decision. Every Navy officer I knew heaved a huge sigh of relief. I doubt many of todays officers want to return to the old era.

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Trump has mulled none of this. He first raised the subject back on Sept. 30, in his address before hundreds of generals and admirals at Quantico, Virginia. In the middle of a rambling speech, touching on dozens of topics, he said:

I think we should maybe start thinking about battleships, by the way.  I used to watch Victory at Sea [a documentary about World War II naval battles]. I love Victory at Sea. I look at these admirals, its got to be your all-time fave, in black and white. When I look at those ships  man, nothing was going to stop.  They were 20 deep, and they were in a straight line, and there was nothing going to stop them.  They dont make [ships] that way anymore, but  Im sort of open to it.

In other words, even aside from its name, the Trump-class battleship is all about Trumphis fantasy-fed nostalgia, feeding his notion that, as the smartest man in the room on any and all subjects, he has the slightest idea how any of this works.

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He also likes the looks of this ship, claiming that he was involved in its design. Im a very aesthetic person, he said at the Mar-a-Lago press conference. He has always been impressed by looks; recall his tendency, especially in his first term, to pick Cabinet secretaries because they looked straight out of central casting. To him, everything is a show.

Back in his first term, Trump asked the top Navy admirals to come to the White House to talk about ships. A friend of one of those officers, now also a retired admiral, recalls being told that Trump put up pictures of various U.S. ships, criticizing them all as ugly. Then he put up a picture of, the Moskva, the flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet.

Now theres a good-looking ship! Trump exclaimed.

One of the admirals replied that it might look good, but it wouldnt last five minutes in a battle at sea. And in fact, the Ukrainian navy sank the Moskva in April 2022, just weeks after the start of that war.

The Trump-class USS Defiant might be good-looking, if it ever sees life on a shipyard. But if it steams into battle, it might meet the same fate as the Moskva.
A situation that has largely remained behind closed doors has taken another step into the public eye, as a personal dispute involving one of MMAs most recognizable champions continues to develop. With limited details available due to the private nature of the matter, the latest update suggests the situation has moved beyond public statements and into formal legal channels, drawing attention just days before the holiday season.

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesGary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

According to a new report from HOLA! by Ani Moro, Giorgina Uzcategui, the wife of Ilia Topuria, has filed a formal complaint with Spains National Police. The report states that Uzcategui appeared at police headquarters in Madrid on Monday, December 22, where she provided authorities with evidence related to alleged online harassment she says she has experienced in recent days. Her statement was taken by officers and later forwarded to the Civil Guard, the law-enforcement body with jurisdiction over the area in which she resides.

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The report notes that the police action follows weeks of heightened public attention surrounding the couples separation, a legal process that has reportedly been ongoing for several months. Through her legal representation, Uzcategui previously issued a statement emphasizing that the matter is part of a strictly private family legal proceeding involving a minor. The statement also explained that she would not be making public comments out of respect for the process and the privacy of those affected.

Topuria has also addressed the situation publicly in recent weeks, revealing that ongoing personal and legal pressures played a role in his decision to temporarily step away from competition. While he did not name Uzcategui directly, the UFC champion acknowledged that the circumstances had become difficult to manage, impacting both his personal life and professional focus.

The couple share a young daughter, born in 2024, and Topuria also has a son from a previous relationship. Because a minor is involved, much of the legal process remains confidential, and no rulings or formal charges related to the dispute have been made public.

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As outlined in the HOLA! report, the most recent filing represents a significant procedural development, formally involving law enforcement as the dispute continues to unfold. For now, the situation remains unresolved, with both parties navigating separate legal paths as the matter progresses behind the scenes.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates' offseason plans are beginning to take shape, and one name keeps surfacing as a potential game-changer: Kazuma Okamoto.

Nearly a month after first reports linked the Pirates to the Japanese star, new information indicates Pittsburgh's interest is far from casual.

Serious Interest from Pittsburgh

While details around Okamoto's MLB transition remain limited, the Pirates' continued engagement signals genuine intent. Pittsburgh is competing with teams like the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, both loosely connected to the slugging infielder.

But roster uncertainties cloud those rivals' pursuits. Boston's pursuit of Alex Bregman complicates its fit for Okamoto, while Toronto remains focused on Bo Bichette and other marquee bats.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team has held multiple virtual meetings with Okamoto as his 45-day posting window approaches its January 4 deadline.

That leaves the door open for Pittsburgh, though it would be premature to call them favorites. The Pirates have historically struggled to land high-profile international free agents, particularly from Japan, and their reputation for conservative spending remains a factor.

Recent Trades Show Win-Now Intent

The Pirates have already made moves this offseason, acquiring Brandon Lowe in a three-team trade and adding Jhostynxon Garcia from Boston. While these moves sacrificed rotation depth, GM Ben Cherington has openly stated the team is still seeking a "proven bat."

Okamoto, though untested in MLB, boasts an elite resume in Japan. With the Yomiuri Giants, he posted a .277/.361/.521 slash line with 248 home runs, establishing himself as one of NPB's most feared hitters.

Contract Cost Could Be a Major Hurdle

Recent behavior, however, suggests the Pirates may be more willing to spend. The team reportedly explored a massive offer for Kyle Schwarber and showed interest in Josh Naylor before he re-signed elsewhere.

Pittsburgh has also been active in trade discussions for Ketel Marte, signaling ownership may finally back roster upgrades with significant investment.

MLB Trade Rumors ranks Okamoto 19th among the top 50 free agents this offseason, projecting a four-year, $64 million deal. That would be the largest free-agent contract in Pirates history, eclipsing Francisco Liriano's $39 million deal from a decade ago.

How Okamoto Fits Pittsburgh

Defensively, Okamoto profiles as a solid, but not elite, third baseman. Offensively, he would provide an immediate upgrade to a Pirates lineup desperate for power. Signing him would also offer long-term stability, particularly with Lowe approaching free agency next winter.

Adding Okamoto would push Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, and Nick Yorke into middle-infield competition, ultimately deepening roster flexibility.

Originally published on sportsworldnews.com
Trot Insider has learned that multiple stakes winner and near double millionaire American History has been retired and will stand stud in 2026.

A winner of the Breeders Crown Open Pace in 2019 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, American History retires with $1,927,095 in career earnings and with a career mark of 1:47 at The Meadowlands taken during his three-year-old campaign. American History will stand at Burkie By The Bay Stable in Prince Edward Island in 2026.

A 51-time winner known for his speed and longevity, American History earned a sub-1:50 mark every year between his three-year-old and 10-year-old campaigns. At three, American History racked up major victories in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final and Tattersalls Pace at The Red Mile over then Tony Alagna stablemate, Stay Hungry. The son of American Ideal-Perfect Touch then went on to tack on stakes victories in the Bobby Quillen Memorial and Breeders Crown at age four.

In the years since, American History has become a staple in the overnight and Open ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, having spent time in the barns of Dave Menary, Ben Hollingsworth, and most recently, a return to the stable of Dale and Mackenzie Spence.

"American History was everything you wanted in a racehorse," said Dale Spence. "Speed, toughness, longevity, soundness -- he was the total package. He may have lost a step of two, but he is just about as good going into retirement at age 10 as he was as a four-year-old when he won the Breeders Crown."

This will be American History's second stint at stud, having bred a limited crop in New Jersey during the 2021 breeding season, resulting in New Jersey Sire Stakes winner Making History.

"He's danced a lot of dances," continued Spence. "You don't realize just how much power he had until you're not racing him and you're racing others. It gives you a different respect for him. He's a horse to be celebrated."

The introductory stud fee for American History in 2026 will be $2,000.

(Standardbred Canada)
A Japanese video game studio reportedly changed its hiring process and is sparking discussion about the move online. They needed to do this to fight generative AI misuse by asking candidates to draw in front of interviewers. This step aimed to confirm real skills after the studio hired "artists" whose skills had been inflated by AI-generated submissions.

AI continues to spread into creative work, blurring the distinct visual line between human art and machine output. While some studios have embraced AI tools, others continue to resist and work with real artists. The unnamed Japanese studio landed in the second group.

According to Japanese media, the company learned the hard way. After a few hires, managers noticed problems. New artists failed to contribute at expected levels. Eventually, the studio realized those employees had relied heavily on generative AI during hiring.

Japanese game studio turned to live drawing tests

A chief graphic designer spoke anonymously with Daily Shincho about the change. The designer described a new interview rule where applicants now had to draw something on the spot.

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"Many people claim that the images generated by the generative AI are their own creations, and we have had several cases where such people have been hired and ended up not being able to contribute to the company," the man, known anonymously as Mr. B, said. "As a result, we have changed our recruitment test style to have candidates actually draw pictures in front of us to assess their abilities."

"It is a lot of work for us as recruiters, and it feels like we've gone back in time, but it seems that there are several other companies that are doing the same thing."

Internal debate over AIs role in artistic media

Despite the stricter process, some managers pushed for a different approach. Instead, they suggested hiring AI specialists and leaning into generative tools directly.

Mr. B opposed that shift, although he admitted to using AI in the creative process as a "supplementary tool on the job."

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"However, I strongly believe that it is human creators who can create compelling characters and graphics from scratch," he told Daily Shincho.

He went on to explain the importance of hiring skilled artists who know what they are doing, even if they do use AI as a supplementary tool. "That's why I've been telling my superiors that we should hire talented people, but the company is steering towards generative AI. I'm worried about how much my advice is being understood."

The internet is chaoticbut well break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dots newsletter here.

This story was originally featured on The Daily Dot.
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Vantor's WorldView-3 satellite captured this photo of a doomed SpaceX Starlink satellite on Dec. 18, 2025. | Credit: Satellite image 2025 Vantor

We just got a great up-close look at a SpaceX Starlink satellite in orbit, thanks to Vantor's WorldView-3 spacecraft.

On Wednesday (Dec. 17), this particular Starlink suffered an anomaly that caused a loss of communication with the ground and an unscheduled venting of its propulsion tank. The satellite is now tumbling and headed down toward Earths atmosphere , where it will be incinerated in a matter of weeks, according to SpaceX.

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SpaceX asked Vantor (previously known as Maxar Intelligence) to image the stricken satellite, to get a better understanding of its condition. And Vantor delivered.

The company used its WorldView-3 Earth-observing satellite to image the Starlink spacecraft on Thursday (Dec. 18) from a distance of 150 miles (241 kilometers).

The photo, taken while the duo were flying over Alaska, features a resolution of 4.7 inches (12 centimeters), providing SpaceX with key information about the satellite.

"Our team took advantage of the advanced capabilities of our non-Earth imaging technology and recently expanded collection capacity to move quickly and provide SpaceX with confirmation that their satellite was mostly intact," Todd Surdey, Vantors executive vice president and general manager of enterprise and emerging products, said in a statement on Saturday (Dec. 20). "This rapid intelligence delivery enabled them to quickly assess possible damage to the spacecraft."

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There is apparently some damage: Data suggests that the satellite released a small number of debris objects as a result of the anomaly. But those pieces, and the satellite itself, shouldn't a present a problem to other spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO), according to SpaceX.

"We appreciate the rapid response by @vantortech to provide this imagery. Additional data suggest that there is a small number of trackable debris objects from the event, and we expect the satellite and debris to reenter and fully demise within weeks," Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink engineering at SpaceX, said in an X post on Saturday.

Starlink is by far the largest satellite constellation ever assembled. It currently consists of about 9,300 active spacecraft  about 65% of all the operational satellites in Earth orbit.
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China's new Qingzhou freighter is a lighter and possibly lower-cost alternative to its current Tianzhou cargo spacecraft. | Credit: CCTV

China is working toward the first launch of a next-generation, low-cost cargo spacecraft option for its Tiangong space station.

Qingzhou, meaning "Light Ship," is being developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS) as a smaller, lighter and potentially lower-cost complement to Chinas existing Tianzhou cargo spacecraft.

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China completed its Tiangong space station in 2022 and aims to keep it permanently occupied with crew for at least a decade. With plans to expand the orbital outpost beyond its current three-module, T-shaped configuration, China also wants new, agile solutions to keep Tiangong supplied.

The Qingzhou spacecraft passed a design review in June and entered the initial manufacturing phase, according to a recent China Central Television (CCTV) report.

The prototype measures roughly 10.8 feet (3.3 meters) in diameter, has a launch mass of about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms), and is capable of carrying up to 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of cargo to orbit. Its hybrid structure combines a pressurized module for crew supplies and sensitive instruments with an unpressurized aft section capable of carrying external payloads and space-exposure experiments.

"We have now conducted large-scale experiments and are currently loading and verifying the status of the remaining individual machines, as well as conducting final testing. The overall test results are quite good," Wu Huiying, deputy chief designer of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, told CCTV.

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Full engineering model production is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with construction expected to be completed by the end of that year. Its debut flight will follow based on the operational needs of the Tiangong station, according to Wu.

The first prototype was initially stated to fly on the debut launch of commercial rocket startup CAS Spaces Kinetica-2 . That plan now appears to have been altered, with CAS Space reported to be preparing for that very launch from Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert in the near future.
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Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab launched its 21st and final mission of the year over the weekend, sending a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit.

An Electron rocket carrying the QPS-SAR-15 satellite, nicknamed Sukunami-I, lifted off from Rocket Lab 's New Zealand site on Sunday (Dec. 21) at 1:36 a.m. EST (0636 GMT; 7:36 p.m. local time in New Zealand).

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The launch, which the company called "The Wisdom God Guides," went well: Electron's "kick stage" deployed Sukunami-I into a circular orbit 357 miles (575 kilometers) above Earth as planned.

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches "The Wisdom God Guides" mission for the Japanese company iQPS from New Zealand on Dec. 21, 2025. | Credit: Rocket Lab

Once it's up and running, the satellite will join the Earth-observing constellation operated by Japanese company iQPS. Its spacecraft view our planet using synthetic aperture radar, meaning they can peer through clouds and get good looks at night as well as during the day.

"The Wisdom God Guides" was Rocket Lab's sixth launch in 2025 for iQPS and its seventh for the company overall. And the Japanese company has booked an additional five Electron launches in 2026, according to Rocket Lab.

Sunday's flight was the last of the year for Rocket Lab. It has now launched 21 missions in 2025, adding to the company's single-year record. The previous high, set last year, was 16.

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All of this year's launches were successful. Eighteen were orbital launches with the 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) Electron. The other three involved HASTE, a modified, suborbital version of Electron designed to let customers test hypersonic technologies in the final frontier.

"Our new record of annual launches and the breadth of upcoming missions go to show how much of a global impact Electron continues to have on the space industry, and we're looking forward to another year of continued execution in 2026," Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said in an emailed statement on Sunday.

"In 2026, we're expanding Electrons global reach with more multi-launch constellation deployments, dedicated missions for domestic civil space and international space agencies in Japan and Europe, and both suborbital and orbital launches with defense applications for hypersonic technology and national security," he added.
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:

Sentinel-6B contains an array of instruments to continue to measure ocean height and gather other integral information about the global ocean. Credit: NASA/JPL

On November 16, 2025, the Sentinel-6B satellite launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California.

The mission is a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and several European partnersthe European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and the European Commission. Its objective is to continue collecting data to extend the ocean height record, which was started in 1992 with the U.S./French TOPEX/Poseidon satellite mission.

During the past three decades, NASA and its partners have operated a satellite in the same orbit, precisely tracking the height of the oceans across the globe, once every 10 days.

Sentinel-6B took to the skies almost five years to the day after its twin, Sentinel-6A, which launched November 20, 2020, also from VSFB, and was renamed Sentinel6 Michael Freilich, honoring the former head of NASA's Earth Science Division. Together, the two missions comprise the international Sentinel-6/JasonContinuity of Service (CS) mission, which will provide continuity with past missions from TOPEX/Poseidon through Jason-3. Sentinel-6B will continue to measure sea level to about one inch (2.5 cm), extend the record of atmospheric temperatures, and continue sea level observations through the end of the 2020s.

Sentinel-6B payload

The Sentinel-6B satellite carries several instruments to support the mission's science goals. A radar altimeter bounces signals off the ocean surface to determine the distance to the ocean. An advanced microwave radiometer (AMR) retrieves the amount of water vapor between the satellite and ocean, which affects the travel speed of radar pulses, providing a critical correction to the distance measured by the radar.

Other onboard instruments are used to precisely determine the satellite's position [e.g., Doppler orbitography by radiopositioning integrated on satellite (DORIS) and laser retroreflector array]. The height of the ocean surface can be calculated by combining the satellite's position with the distance to the ocean. In addition, S- and X-band antennas perform data downlinks, and a solar array supplies power.

Beyond these instruments, Sentinel-6B contains global navigation satellite system radio occultation (GNSS-RO) instrumentation that will aid with weather prediction. Observations made between the spacecraft instrument and other GNSS satellites as they disappear over Earth's limb, or horizon, will provide detailed information about variations in the layers of the atmosphere. This information will contribute to computer models that predict the weather and enhance forecasting capabilities.

Surface current estimates calculated using the Ocean Surface Current Analyses Real-time (OSCAR) global surface current databasewhich is made based on input from satellites that measure ocean height. Sentinel-6B will be the latest satellite to provide real-time data that are accurate enough for OSCAR to compute these currents. This will allow forecasters to accurately predict ocean currents and marine weather conditions globally, every single day. Credit: Severine Fournie, JPL

Measuring ocean height

Ocean height is a critical measurement because it provides a host of information about the movement of surface currents, transfer of energy around the planet, and an early warning system for large-scale climate phenomena, like El NinoSouthern Oscillation (ENSO). Satellites obtain this data using altimeters, which send a radar pulse to the ocean surface every second and measure the time it takes to return. Pairing these data with the satellite's precise location provides a measure of the height of the ocean water with an accuracy of within a few centimeters.

But the simplicity of the measurement belies the volumes of information that can be gleaned from the height of the oceans. As water moves from one place to another, it tilts the surface of the ocean, and by measuring this tilt the sea level satellites allow scientists to calculate ocean currents

Ocean height data obtained on September 8, 2025, from Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich for the Pacific Ocean, where blue shows lower than normal heights along the equator in the east associated with a mild to moderate La Nina event. Credit: NASA

Tracking the expansion and contraction of water in the ocean

Ocean height data also provide information about ocean water temperature. Since water expands as it warms, a warm patch of ocean measures several inches taller than a cold patch. Ocean height measurements thus can be used to reveal how the ocean stores and redistributes heat and energy, which are key drivers of Earth's climate.

By observing ocean heights, Sentinel-6B will help improve forecasters' ability to predict storm intensity and scientists' ability to track long-term trends in heat storage. Information on ocean height also outlines ocean currents, eddies, and tides, which helps scientists understand how heat, nutrients, carbon, and energy are transported around Earth. These observations are essential for understanding Earth's energy balance, ocean circulation, and the role of the ocean in shaping weather and climate patterns.

Using ocean height measurements to track ENSO

The movement of heat within the ocean is linked to weather and climate conditions across the globe. For reasons not completely understood, the waters of the Pacific Ocean experience a periodic fluctuation between warm and cool in the eastern tropical Pacific; this cycle is called ENSO.

During an El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean, unusually warm water (which is visible in the satellite data as higher than normal sea levels) builds up along the equator in the east. The pool of warm water shifts rainfall patterns across the United States and Canada. This change is telescoped around the globe, altering normal weather patterns. Conversely, La Nina events develop when cooler waters accumulate along the eastern Pacific (and hence, lower than normal sea levels).

In this way, the satellite observations of sea level help scientists and forecasters better see how the ocean is changing and the type of weather conditions to expect in the coming months.

Higher sea levels usually mean warmer waters, not just at the surface, but over a range of depths. This means that high sea levels can also herald rapidly intensifying storms. Meteorologists can use this information when tracking tropical storms that gain energy from warm patches of ocean water and intensify into hurricanesoften rapidly.

Monitoring ocean changes

Sentinel-6B can also monitor changes in sea level. Over 90% of the heat trapped by Earth is stored in the oceans. That heat warms the water, which takes up more space and accounts for about one-third of the observed global rise in sea level. The remainder is driven by melting glaciers and ice sheets, which add water to the oceans as well. The result is a long-term rise in sea level by more than 10 cm (4 in) since the early 1990s, when TOPEX/Poseidon was launched.

A record of global mean sea level change for the past three decades reveals an annual oscillation that reflects the natural movement of water between the ocean and the land, much like the heartbeat of the planet. The rate of rise is not steady. The change in sea level in the 1990s was less than half the rate of rise in the most recent decade.

This unbroken record of sea level change stands as a crowning achievement to the accuracy, stability, and consistency of a series of satellite missions across more than three decades. This approach remains one of the most successful international collaborations to study our ever-changing Earth from space, and the launch of Sentinel-6B will stretch the record to nearly 40 years.

With a vibrant international community of several hundred scientists and expert users, the discoveries made, and the value created by these observations will no doubt extend through 2030 and beyond. Although Sentinel-6B is nearly identical to its predecessor, a broad community of scientists, forecasters, operational users, and policymakers anxiously await its observations and the discoveries and utility they will bring through the remainder of this decade.
China makes steady gains in ecological conservation and green transition

Xinhua) 08:19, December 23, 2025

This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2025 shows the scenery of the Yamzbog Yumco Lake in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Jian)

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) --China has made solid progress in ecology and environment protection during its 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), marked by sustained improvements in many ways.

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 25, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall in Luanping County of Chengde, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Zhou Wanping/Xinhua)

Contributing a quarter of the world's new green areas since 2000, China's forest coverage rate has risen to 25.09 percent, underscoring steady advances in large-scale afforestation and ecological restoration programs. Meanwhile, the country's forest stock volume has reached 20.99 billion cubic meters, hitting the 2030 target ahead of schedule.

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 24, 2025 shows the autumn scenery in the Saihanba National Forest Park in Chengde City, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2024 shows a vehicle running in Shangganling stream forest park in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Forest rangers measure the diameter of a tree at the Changpoling Forest Farm in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Water quality has also seen notable improvement. In 2024, 90.4 percent of national surface water monitoring sections met good water quality standards, surpassing 90 percent for the first time.

An aerial photo taken on Sept. 9, 2025 shows a view of the Xiaonanhai wetland nature reserve in southwest China's Chongqing. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 3, 2025 shows a view of the Qiandao Lake in east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 16, 2025 shows local people sailing around an island while circling the lake by boat in Yanyuan County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Efforts to restore key ecosystems have also yielded results. China has rehabilitated more than 2.4 million mu (160,000 hectares) of abandoned mines, restored 820 kilometers of coastline, repaired 760,000 mu (about 50,667 hectares) of coastal wetlands during the period of time and has cumulatively treated 105 million mu (7 million hectares) of desertified land, strengthening its capacity to combat desertification and land degradation.

An aerial drone photo taken on June 30, 2025 shows people laying sand barriers at the site of a desertification control project in Zhongewei, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows the scenery of the Mianduhe national wetland park in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)

This photo taken on Dec. 20, 2025 shows swans at a wetland in Sanmenxia, central China's Henan Province. (Photo by Zhao Yongtao/Xinhua)

Chinese cities have reported steady progress in air quality. In 2024, in cities at and above the prefecture level, the average PM2.5 density, a key indicator of air pollution, dropped to 29.3 micrograms per cubic meter, down 16.3 percent from 2020. And the proportion of days with good air quality increased 2.4 percentage points from 2020 to 87.2 percent, reflecting continued efforts to curb pollution and promote cleaner production and lifestyles.

This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2025 shows the city view of Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 4, 2025 shows a city view in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 21, 2025 shows harvesters harvesting rice in a paddy field, with a high-speed train in the background, in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

China has also made rapid strides in green energy development. By the end of June 2025, the country's installed capacity of renewable energy had reached 2.159 billion kilowatts, further consolidating its position as a global leader in renewable power generation.

In parallel, China has established the world's largest carbon emissions trading market, a key institutional tool aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through market-based mechanisms and advancing the country's climate goals.

An aerial drone photo taken on July 28, 2025 shows a 1GW solar thermal and photovoltaic integrated project in Shanshan County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xu Zipeng/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 14, 2025 shows whooper swans at the Xiaosugan lake wetland with wind turbines in the background in Kazak Autonomous County of Aksay, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 13, 2025 shows an offshore photovoltaic project in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo by Zhou Guangxue/Xinhua)

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China advanced the implementation of major biodiversity conservation projects, effectively safeguarding 90 percent of terrestrial ecosystem types and 74 percent of key wild animal and plant populations.

This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2025 shows kiangs (Equus kiang) at the Changtang National Nature Reserve, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)

A drone photo shows black-necked cranes at Caohai National Nature Reserve in Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A ranger interacts with Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys in the Pingwu Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey popular science education base in Pingwu County, Mianyang City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will continue to accelerate the building of a Beautiful China, where humans and nature coexist in harmony.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Through TVING's original series "Dear X," Kim Yoo-jung has made her return to the small screen with an extraordinary transformation, plunging into the role of a villain for the first time in 11 years since the movie "Elegant Lies" in 2014.

The drama is a story about Baek Ah-jin, an actress at the pinnacle of Korean acting, who disguises her cruel real nature under a beautiful mask as she rises to the top, destroying everything in her wake.

It's described as a "destruction melo-suspense" that follows Baek Ah-jin's downfall and the twisted relationships surrounding her, including Yoon Jun-seo, played by Kim Young-dae, who chooses his own form of hell in order to protect her. Long before the series started airing, his casting alone drew attention.

Reflecting on the early response, Kim shared her thoughts about the reception to the teaser and series. "When the teaser was released, we didn't expect the positive response. More people than we expected watched the trailer, and the response was positive. We were a bit worried, but we hoped the original would receive the same response. After the release, we received so many positive comments and fans loved it, which was incredibly gratifying," she said.

In an interview with MK Sports, Kim said Baek Ah-jin is the kind of character that would make any actor feel their challenge and irresistible. About the preparation for the role, she mentioned, "I was very worried because Ah-jin was so strong in the original. I was worried about how to express her and how the audience would perceive a character with such evil as the main character. I discussed this a lot with the director early on to effectively portray that precarious line."

Kim also clarified that Baek Ah-jin was not supposed to be the character for whom viewers should root. She explained her approach, saying, "When I looked at the character of Ah-jin, even though I was playing her, I didn't want to root for her. I think I approached the piece while asking myself, 'Can I root for this child? Can I throw stones at this child?'"

According to the report from Naver, Kim saw the drama as greater documentation of empathy and growth. She explained that Baek Ah-jin's story was not about capturing the isolated moments of her life: "It's not just about showing a fragmented period of A-jin's life... I thought it was important to show her growth as well."

The series has also been praised for its intensive chemistry amongst Kim Yoo-jung, Kim Young-dae, and Kim Do-hoon. Kim mentioned that the atmosphere on set was comfortable and family-like, adding that her co-stars' sincerity helped offset Baek Ah-jin's inherently isolating nature.

Now marking 22 years since her debut, Kim said the journey feels meaningful. She reflected, "Sometimes, fans and family members tell me that I did well, am doing well, and will do well... hearing those words gives me strength, and I look back and try to go forward with those feelings."
A law enforcement operation coordinated by INTERPOL has led to the recovery of $3 million and the arrest of 574 suspects by authorities from 19 countries, amidst a continued crackdown on cybercrime networks in Africa.

The coordinated effort, named Operation Sentinel, took place between October 27 and November 27, 2025, and mainly focused on business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and ransomware on the continent.

Participating nations included Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Over the course of the initiative, more than 6,000 malicious links were taken down and six distinct ransomware variants were decrypted. The names of the ransomware families were not disclosed. The investigated incidents were linked to estimated financial losses exceeding $21 million, INTERPOL added.

Multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with a ransomware attack targeting an unnamed Ghanaian financial institution that encrypted 100 terabytes of data and stole about $120,000.

In addition, Ghanaian authorities took down a cyber fraud network operating across Ghana and Nigeria that defrauded more than 200 victims of over $400,000 using well-designed websites and mobile apps, which impersonated popular fast-food brands to collect payments for fake orders.

As part of the effort, 10 individuals were apprehended, 100 digital devices were seized, and 30 fraudulent servers were taken offline.

Law enforcement from Benin also dismantled 43 malicious domains and 4,318 social media accounts that were used to further extortion schemes and scams. The operation culminated in the arrest of 106 people.

"The scale and sophistication of cyber attacks across Africa are accelerating, especially against critical sectors like finance and energy," Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's director of cybercrime, said.

Operation Sentinel is part of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), which aims to enhance the capabilities of national law enforcement agencies in Africa and better disrupt cybercriminal activity in the region.

Ukrainian National Pleads Guilty to Nefilim Ransomware Attacks

The disclosure comes as a 35-year-old from Ukraine pleaded guilty in the U.S. to using Nefilim ransomware to attack companies in the country and elsewhere in his capacity as an affiliate. Artem Aleksandrovych Stryzhak was arrested in Spain in June 2024 and extradited to the U.S. earlier this April.

In September, the Justice Department (DoJ) charged another Ukrainian national, Volodymyr Viktorovich Tymoshchuk, for his role as the administrator of the LockerGoga, MegaCortex, and Nefilim ransomware operations between December 2018 and October 2021.

Tymoshchuk remains at large, although authorities have announced a $11 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Tymoshchuk is also on the most wanted lists of both the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the European Union (E.U.). Nefilim's victims span the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.

"In June 2021, Nefilim administrators gave Stryzhak access to the Nefilim ransomware code in exchange for 20 percent of his ransom proceeds," the DoJ said. "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."

Around July 2021, a Nefilim administrator is said to have encouraged Stryzhak to target companies in the U.S., Canada, and Australia with more than $200 million dollars in annual revenue. Nefilim operated under a double extortion model, pressurizing victims to pay up or risk getting their stolen data published on a publicly accessible data leaks site known as Corporate Leaks that was maintained by the administrators.

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. If found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Workforce shortages accelerate global demand for integrated facility management

By Savills analysts Tue, December 23, 2025 | 3:00 pm GMT+7

Labor shortages and rising expectations for operational performance are prompting many businesses to reassess traditional management models, write Savills Vietnam analysts.

Workers at a factory of NhaBe Garment Corporation (NBC). Photo courtesy of Nguoi lao dong (Laborer) newspaper.

Integrated Facility Management (IFM) is emerging as a strategic tool, not only optimizing costs but also ensuring consistency and scalability, particularly for businesses operating chain-wide portfolios.

Recently, Talentnet revealed that many manufacturers in Vietnam are facing an unprecedented labor shortage, particularly in technical and skilled roles.

Accordingly, 45% of FDI firms and 46% of domestic and JV companies cite a shortage of skilled labor as a major challenge; 65% of FDI businesses struggle to retain employees, and 39% have limited access to training programs.

This lack of qualified personnel, coupled with increasingly shifting workforce expectations, is pressuring operations, and companies report difficulties recruiting and a rising gap between operational demands and workforce capabilities.

IFM: A practical solution for businesses

With this model, businesses work with a single partner that has complete expertise and takes full responsibility for recruitment, training technical teams, and managing/overseeing service contractors, helping to ensure seamless operations, reducing administrative burdens, and enhancing long-term efficiency.

IFM is a comprehensive operating model that integrates hard and soft services under a unified management structure led by a dedicated manager. Technical services (MEP or mechanical-electrical-plumbing systems, fire safety, and energy management) are available alongside support services, including general services, security, cleaning, landscaping, and pest control.

According to Luca Vadala, national head of business development, IFM Services, Savills Vietnam, by consolidating multiple service streams into a single management framework, IFM helps reduce administrative overlap, improve operational efficiency, extend asset life cycles, and minimize downtime. In industrial parks and multi-tenant buildings, this integrated approach is critical to ensuring uninterrupted business operations for occupiers.

Luca Vadala, national head of business development, IFM Services, Savills Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.

The shift from in-house to outsourced models

Operational models across the facilities management (FM) sector are shifting. In-house FM holds 58% yet is a model in gradual decline as organizations reassess efficiency and workforce constraints.

In contrast, outsourced FM models, IFM included account for 42% and are expanding at a 7.8% CAGR, underscoring agrowing preference for professional, externally managed solutions.

IFM: Core business benefits

Single partner, unified control: Integrating hard and soft services under one contract simplifies management, reduces vendor overlaps, accelerates response times and ensures consistent service standards across assets.

Measurable cost efficiency: Clients typically achieve 8-15% OPEX (operational expenditure) savings through vendor consolidation, preventive maintenance, energy-efficiency programs, and SLA-driven performance management.

Strong EHS (environmental, health, and safety) and regulatory compliance: This is particularly critical for industrial parks and factories, where adherence to ISO standards, fire safety regulations,environmental audits and risk-mitigation protocols is non-negotiable.

Digital transparency and data-driven decisions: Through CAFM and P3 platforms, clients gain real-time visibility into incidents, inspections, maintenance schedules, work orders, utilities consumption and KPI performance, enabling proactive management and long-term optimization.
(TBTCO) - Nhung chuyen bien tich cuc mang tinh nen tang trong nam 2025 uoc ky vong tao be phong cho chu ky phuc hoi va tang truong cua thi truong bao hiem nhan tho tu nam 2026 tro i. Trao oi voi Bao Tai chinh - au tu, ong Bae Seung Jun - Tong Giam oc Shinhan Life Viet Nam chia se nhan inh ve trien vong thi truong cung nhu chien luoc phat trien cua doanh nghiep trong giai oan moi.
This holiday season, we revisit some of the highlights of the year.

We at Transitions are taking a break for the holidays. Look for new stories starting 5 January 2026.

Dancing on the Edge of the World

Estonias most Russian city tries to redefine itself as a meeting point between East and West, memory and transformation, silence and voice.

by Isabelle de Pommereau

Keeping Kherson Warm Under Fire

Boiler workers keep providing heat to a besieged island neighborhood, braving missile strikes, floods, and power cuts.

by Stanislav Ostrous

One Tree at a Time

Moldovas ambitious plan to restore its ravaged forests makes progress, yet much more needs to be done.

by Peter Yeung and Georgeta Carasiucenco

The War That the World Watched

How the media shaped the course of the 19921995 war in Bosnia.

by Tihomir Loza

Inventing Worlds from Fabric

Designer Nevena Ivanovic reimagines identity by stitching together Balkan memory and Japanese philosophy, proving that materials matter less than the stories told with them.

by Kaja Novak

Making the Invisible Visible

Citizen scientists armed with sensors and cameras are exposing toxic pollution in port cities and challenging institutions to act  the view from Albania, Italy, and the Netherlands.

by lavialibera, Pozitivi, and Momus

After the Mourning, Where Next for Serbia?

A year of protests hits a symbolic high with marches and peaceful demonstrations on the tragedys anniversary, but with the despised government more entrenched in power than ever.

by Camillo Cantarano

Angry Streets

What began as mourning for the victims of avoidable tragedies is turning into a mass anti-corruption movement led by young people across the Balkans.

by Boyko Vassilev

The War for Those Who Did Not Fight

Ukrainian civilian prisoners as a tool of Russian political blackmail.

by Stanislav Storozhenko

The Perils of Appeasement

The similarities between Czechoslovakia in 1938 and todays Ukraine are striking. But this time, the appeaser is the United States.

by Alfred Thomas

Tatiana Zelenskaya: Art and Activism

How an artist, game designer, and organizer from Kyrgyzstan uses her skills to challenge societal norms and fight for womens rights.

by Lamaria Washington

Bosnian Women Fight Back Against Culture of Violence

How dedicated volunteers are helping women seek protection from abusive partners.

by Una Cilic
If I asked you (the reader): do you think most people can be trusted? Would you answer yes o
Bruce Hornsby was the first artist to grace the Fox Tucson Theatre stage when the historic venue reopened on Dec. 31, 2005.

He returns 20 years to the day later for a special New Year's Eve concert marking the milestone anniversary.

"It's a big milestone and the Fox has grown a lot ... in that 20 years. We just wanted to mark it with a moment," said Fox Tucson Executive Director Bonnie Schock. "People look back fondly on that opening day and Bruce was willing and able."

Hornsby's "An Evening With" concert on New Year's Eve will be his fifth Fox Tucson show since that 2005 gala.

"I was just flattered and happy that they thought of it 20 years later, that they had a fond memory of it and wanted to do it again," Hornsby said early this week from home in chilly Williamsburg, Virginia.

New Year's Eve also happens to be Hornsby's wedding anniversary; Kathy, his bride of 42 years, will be in the Fox audience.

"She's one of my toughest critics, and she'll be sitting out there with raised eyebrows, going, 'What the hell are you doing?'," Hornsby joked.

"An Evening With" is the solo iteration of the legendary musician, who with his first band, The Range, got his big break with the 1986 debut album "The Way It Is."

Over the ensuing 40 years and 23 follow-up studio albums, Hornsby's musical evolution has played out in pop, jazz, rock and bluegrass.

His latest: crossover classical.

Hornsby released "Deep Sea Vents" in 2024, a collaboration with the New York chamber sextet yMusic.

"It was a COVID shutdown era record so basically, a record made in a remote fashion when no one could go anywhere," he explained of the project, released under the name BrhyM.

Hornsby penned the aquatic-themed lyrics to songs written by the ensemble's members, who play violin, trumpet, flute, clarinet, viola and cello. The album, released in March 2024, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Crossover Albums chart  the first-ever chart appearance for yMusic and the first time a Hornsby album topped a Billboard chart, although he has had nine Top 100 singles and a No. 1 hit with his career-defining song "The Way It Is."

"I finally found a Billboard chart I could be No. 1 on," Hornsby joked.

"Deep Sea Vents" checks Hornsby's classical music box years after he took a deep dive into modern classical in the early 2000s. He had been dropped by RCA after 18 years and rebounded onto Columbia Records, which, back then, allowed its artists to order anything from its catalogs.

"So I ordered 176 CDs, and a whole lot of it was dealing with modern classical music," said the 71-year-old Virginia native. "Schoenberg, Webern, Ives. Messiaen, the great French composer who would go into the forest and fields of France with score paper. He had perfect pitch and transcribed the musique d'oiseaux, the bird music of the forest, and turn it into piano pieces. Elliot Carter. Pierre Boulez. I just became immersed."

That music, modernist and minimalist, has informed much of Hornsby's recent writing, including on his 2019 solo album "Absolute Zero" and " 'Flicted" in 2022; yMusic, which has worked with everyone from indie folk band Bon Iver to Paul Simon and Ben Folds, had credits on both.

For "Deep Sea Vents," Hornsby left the music to yMusic, and he wrote the lyrics on songs with catchy titles including "The Wild Whaling Life," "Barber Booty" and "Platypus Wow."

"The music alone, they can get very harmonically adventurous," Hornsby said.

Hornsby and BrhyM played a few shows in California to promote the album, which he said was warmly received in the UK.

His Fox Tucson show will be classic Bruce Hornsby, his greatest hits and stories with plenty of name-dropping  his list of superstar collaborations includes filmmaker Spike Lee, folk rocker Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, R&B diva Chaka Khan and the Grateful Dead.

His set list is fluid and includes audience requests, sometimes shouted from the hall, other times scribbled on paper and tossed on stage.

"You know you have a good, hardcore audience when the stage is littered with 100 pieces of paper, or even 40 or 50, with requests," he said.

The song that will undoubtedly get the most attention is "The Way It Is," a song that Hornsby put on the shelf for a handful of years because he felt it wasn't resonating.

"But at the same time, it seems like 'The Way It Is' is sort of a song in the zeitgeist; it's kind of here to stay," he said. "It seems like it has had this amazing life as a hip hop go to, obviously Tupac Shakur's ('Changes') being the most well known. ... I've just come to feel that this song transcends just a song on a record; it's had this life, this post-hit life in a beautiful way that makes it special. ... It resides in hallow ground."

If you go What: "An Evening with Bruce Hornsby" When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Tickets: $58-$116 through foxtucson.com Fun facts about the Fox: Since it reopened on Dec. 31, 2005, the Fox Tucson Theatre has hosted 2,639 events, 1,223 of them concerts, for audiences that number more than 1.2 million people.
PHOENIX  Another of the 18 people indicted last year in Arizona's "fake electors'' case is off the legal hook.

A deal struck by Jim Lamon to voluntarily surrender some emails he received to the Attorney General's Office is resulting in all the charges being dropped against him. Richie Taylor, spokesman for the office, declined to say what is in the emails and who they are from.

"They are important to the state's case,'' he said. "That's all I can tell you.''

The Attorney General's Office already had the documents, which had been produced under a subpoena. But Taylor said that really didn't help. "We couldn't use that without Lamon's approval,'' he said.

Part of the reason, he said, is that there is no active case right now.

A trial judge tossed out the indictments against Lamon and the remaining defendants after ruling the grand jurors were not given all the information to which they were entitled. The AG's office is seeking Supreme Court review.

"So what this agreement allows us to do is get those emails now and use them for the case,'' Taylor said, assuming there is a case going forward.

There was also another legal issue.

Taylor said there was potential that some of the emails could be considered protected by attorney-client privilege.

"They were not usable to the state given the way that they were received,'' he said.

With the deal, and the documents being voluntarily surrendered, those legal issues go away.

The emails could prove of little use, however, unless the case gets back on track.

It's not just the ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sam Myers tossing the indictment that either needs to be reversed or if Attorney General Kris Mayes decides to convene a new grand jury.

There already is a separate preliminary ruling by Myers that the AG's office acted in violation of a state law that protects those who exercise their First Amendment rights from being pursued in criminal charges. If the case is resurrected in one way or another, that issue has to be resolved.

And there is a claim by Christina Bobb, another of the defendants, that Mayes should be disqualified from pursing the case based on an alleged financial link to a group that prepared a report for her on how to proceed with getting an indictment. There has been no hearing on that after Myers stayed the case.

All 18 original defendants were charged with conspiracy, forgery and fraud in connection with submission of the names of 11 Arizona Republicans to Congress after the 2020 election, falsely claiming Donald Trump had won the popular vote in Arizona and was entitled to the state's 11 electoral votes. Lamon was one of the signatories.

In addition to the 11, the other defendants were all linked to Trump, including attorneys and his chief of staff, who were accused of coming up with the scheme, not just in Arizona but in other states, to deny Joe Biden the 270 electoral votes he earned and to potentially allow Congress to decide who won the election.

Dennis Wilenchik, Lamon's attorney, said he was pleased with the deal. He pointed out that his client is the first to get out of the case without the same conditions that allowed others to do so.

Jenna Ellis, one of the attorneys for Trump, had the charges dropped after she agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

And Loraine Pellegrino, who also signed the document claiming to be a legally chosen elector, was placed on probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false instrument.

Wilenchik said the decision to give the emails to the state is no big deal, disputing Taylor's contention the documents "are important to the state's case.''

"We agreed to nothing,'' he said. "Producing documents they already had, or waiving objections to them, who wouldn't do that?''

Wilenchik also said there's nothing in any of the documents that could hurt any of the remaining defendants.

"And Jim wouldn't testify against anybody else here because he doesn't believe the case had any legs in the beginning,'' he said, calling his client "a great patriot who did nothing wrong.''
Airdate: 2025 Royal Variety Performance

Highlights this year include 400 performers joining forces for a Les Miserables finale, plus Jessie J, Stephen Fry, and Madness.

ABC screens the 2025 Royal Variety Performance which returns to the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by comedian, actor and presenter Jason Manford in the presence of members of the Royal Family.

Opera star Katherine Jenkins leads the National Anthem with a line-up including:

 A show-stopping finale from the multi-award winning musical Les Miserables, which will see 400 performers take to the stage including Michael Ball, Matt Lucas, Katy Secombe, Bradley Jaden and Killian Donnelly, along with the West End and Paris casts, plus amateur companies from all over the UK, to perform a phenomenal medley celebrating the shows 40th anniversary.

(Ed: Ill have to tune in just to see this!)

 An exclusive performance from the eagerly anticipated Paddington The Musical introduced by composer Tom Fletcher.

 Music from Jessie J, will perform a very personal song, Ill Never Know Why, and one of Britains most successful and best-loved bands, Madness, make their debut appearance, plus Grammy award-winning Laufey.

 National treasure Stephen Fry will also make a guest appearance, hot off the stage from the West End production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

 Therell be a spectacular, magical illusion from Britains Got Talent winner Harry Moulding plus the incomparable and award-winning impressionist cast from the hit BBC series Dead Ringers.

 Plus Sir Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and special guests will introduce an incredible one-off performance from the Live Aid musical Just For One Day.

Thursday 25 December at 7.40pm on ABC.
Harrison Ford to receive 2026 SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award

"To be acknowledged by my fellow actors means a great deal to me," says legendary actor.

Iconic actor Harrison Ford was recently named the 61st recipient of SAG-AFTRAs highest honor: the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award for his career and humanitarian accomplishments.

Ford will be honoured at The 32nd Annual Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA in March.

Given annually to an actor who fosters the finest ideals of the acting profession, it will join his other accolades including the Critics Choice Career Achievement Award (2024), Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille Award (2002), AFI Life Achievement Award (2000) and more.

SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said, Harrison Ford is a singular presence in American life; an actor whose iconic characters have shaped world culture. His career has been endlessly exciting, always returning to his love of acting. We are honored to celebrate a legend whose impact on our craft is indelible.

Harrison Ford said, I am deeply honored to be chosen as this years recipient of the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award. To be acknowledged by my fellow actors means a great deal to me. Ive spent most of my life on film sets, working alongside incredible actors and crews, and Ive always felt grateful to be part of this community.

The retitled Annual Actor Awards will screen in Australia on Netflix in early March.




A Birmingham pub is hosting a Hurricane Melissa fundraiser to 'give a little back' to Jamaica.

The Station pub in Kings Heath is known for weekly reggae nights, being the home of Jam Jah Mondays.

But a one-off event on Saturday (December 27), will raise donations for the Caribbean island.

READ MORE: 'Protect pubs this Christmas' says Birmingham landlord

READ MORE: Huge change in Birmingham German Market crime stats - here's what data shows

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Starting at 8pm, Jonnie Greaves & Birmingham United Sounds is hosting a fundraiser for Hurricane Melissa.

Tickets on the door require a minimum 5 donation to support those affected by the natural disaster.

- Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

On Instagram, Revolution Sound System posted: "We owe such a lot to Jamaica for music and culture, time to give a little back after the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa."

With a death toll of 45 people, the hurricane in October was the most powerful storm to hit the island in modern history.

Over 120,000 homes were affected by Hurricane Melissa and the United Nations estimate damages to be in the billions of pounds.

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Music on the night of the fundraiser is expected to be a mixture of reggae, dub and dancehall.

DJ's rewinding include Comrade T, Dani Dub Dub and Huw R-Conway.

The Station is located on 7 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7BB

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Meet Aditya Menon: The Quint Journo who declared he is a Muslim

Aditya Menon, The Quint Journalist, recently sparked a storm by declaring that he had converted to Islam when he was still a teenager, and is a practicing Muslim since the age of 20

[(L) Aditya Menon in conversation with Arfa Khanum Sherwani. (R) Umrah image shared on X by Aditya Menon.]

Aditya Menon, The Quint Journalist, recently sparked a storm by declaring that he had converted to Islam when he was still a teenager, and is a practicing Muslim since the age of 20.

Following Aditya Menons declaration about his conversion to Islam, not only the hard-core Hindutva lobby but also some Hindus who call themselves liberals became restless.

And, then we saw a swarm of hate filled social media posts and abuses against Menon whose fault  if it was indeed a fault, was to convert to Islam.

Trolls in Action

It all started with Aditya Menon taking to social media platform X to declare that he is a Muslim and visited Makkah al Mukarramah to perform Umrah.

I have been dreaming about this moment since over 20 years ago, when I began this journey. I always feared it may never happen. But Alhamdulillah it finally came true! Aditya Menon wrote in the social media post on November 25, 2025.

I don't have enough words to express how grateful I am to Allah for easing my path at every juncture, for helping me up every time I slip, healing me when I got hurt and for showering kindness in different forms much beyond what I deserve. May Allah forgive my sins and accept my Umrah, Menon wrote in the X post which was accompanied by a beautiful image of the Hly Kaaba and The Grand Mosque of Makkah al Mukarramah.

Menons X post sparked a huge outrage. He was not only abused but called gaddar - a traitor.

A traitor for converting to Islam??? Even Menon is not able to comprehend this attribute.

The haters were also angry over The Quint Journalist, especially for still remaining Aditya Menon, accusing him of deceiving and fooling the country by not changing his name after conversion.

Who is Aditya Menon?

Aditya Menon is a Journalist working for popular news portal The Quint. In his 15 years long journalism career, Aditya Menon has worked at India Today, Rajasthan Patrika and NDTV, and specialized in Indian politics, communal issues, elections, and minority community concerns.

Not much information is available about Menons parents as he keeps his personal life, including family background and place of birth, largely private.

But in a recent interview, he has called his parents practicing Hindus from a privileged background having a progressive mindset.

39-year-old Aditya Menons wife is a Muslim because of which some haters claimed he converted to Islam for the sake of marriage. Menon, however, said he converted to Islam long before his marriage.

Also, November 25, 2025 was not the first time when Aditya Menon had talked about his conversion to Islam.

I was not born a Muslim. But I'll die as one. I don't want my name and privilege of birth to save me, Menon wrote in a post on February 25, 2020.

Aditya Menons Journey to Islam

Unperturbed, Menon explained all the allegations leveled against him and abuses hurled on him.

Hate I got for this doesn't affect me at all. But I'll address some untruths being spread, Menon wrote in a series of X posts on November 28, 2025.

In the thread that followed, Menon replied in details to the claims that "You can't do Umrah with this name", "Muslims will never accept you", "You converted for marriage", "You hate Hinduism" and the likes.

Then two days ago he dwelled into more details about his journey to Islam while talking to Arfa Khanum Sherwani.

Talking to The Wire Journalist, Menon said he took Shahadah and became a Muslim at the age of 15 (in 2006-07), but started practicing Islam  offering prayers and observing fasts, at the age of 20.

This was when I was in college final year, he said.

He said he began thinking about religion when he was 12 or 13. But his interest in Islam was developed when he came across a story of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) about children.

I remember when I was 11, I asked my parents to purchase me a story of Prophet Muhammad for childrenThey agreed even though they are practicing Hindus, Menon said.

They got me the book and permitted me to read the story despite being practicing Hindus This shows their progressive mindset, he said.

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Menon said he used online sources to learn how to practice Islam, how to pray and fast.

But I was not properly able to follow the online information. Then I saw Nana Patekar offering Salah in Ghulam e Mustafa.

I watched the movie 3 to 4 times in order to learn how to offer Namaz, he said.

In reply to a question Menon said, I've received immense warmth and support from the Muslims. Not once did anyone say I'm not Muslim enough due to name/birth.

He said he offered prayers in many big and small mosques, and was never questioned or stopped.

About retaining his original name even after converting to Islam, Menon said it was because the name Aditya was given to him by his mother.

He also said there is no hard and fast rule that one must change their name after conversion. Citing many Western, Thai, and Indonesian converts who choose to keep their original names, he stated that it is not a necessity.

And the only reason I decided to retain my name was because it was given to me by my mother, he said.

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On December 22, the Investigation Police Agency of Khanh Hoa Province officially announced the prosecution of two individuals involved in the illegal transportation of more than 2.3 kilograms of gold across borders.

The two suspects are identified as Le Thi Thao A. (37 years old, Vietnamese-Korean dual citizen) and Nguyen Thi Ngoc N. (65 years old, from Ca Mau province).

Police serve prosecution notice to Nguyen Thi Ngoc N. Credit: N.X

During routine luggage screening at Cam Ranh airport in Khanh Hoa province, police discovered 24 pure gold bars and 32 used iPhones without any invoices or documentation.

Earlier, on the morning of December 8, the two women had boarded flight VJ839 from Incheon International Airport (South Korea) to Cam Ranh airport. While processing their transfer to Noi Bai airport, economic police in coordination with Cam Ranh airport security conducted an X-ray scan of their checked luggage.

Upon inspection, officers found 24 yellow-colored metal bars and 32 used iPhones inside Nguyen Thi Ngoc N.'s baggage. None of the phones had receipts or proof of origin.

During questioning, both women admitted that they had been hired by an unidentified woman to transport the goods. The agreed payment for the job was over 33 million VND (approximately USD 1,360).

An expert analysis later confirmed that all 24 bars were 99% pure gold, with a total weight of 2,325 grams-equivalent to around 620 taels.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover further details and connections in the case.

Xuan Ngoc
Speaking to students at Hanoi Law University on December 16, 2025, during the conference on Artificial Intelligence Society and the launch of the book Artificial Intelligence Society: 30 years of VietnamU.S. partnership, from Nha Trang to Boston, 19952025, Nguyen Anh Tuan-Chairman of the Boston Global Forum-delivered a speech unlike the usual tech-heavy inspiration talks.

Instead, he spoke slowly and thoughtfully, focusing on the Artificial Intelligence World Society (AIWS) model-a vision for a new kind of society that deeply integrates artificial intelligence in service of humanity, while ensuring AI remains ethically governed and aligned with human values.

He reviewed AIWSs 8-year journey, highlighting its milestones at global events: the G7 Summits (2018, 2019), the Club de Madrid leaders forums (20192021), collaborations with the United Nations (2019, 2021, 2022, 2025), the G20 Summit in India (2023), the White House Office of Science and Technology (2024), the AI Action Summit in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron (February 2025), and dialogues with Japanese leaders (20232025).

According to Tuan, AIWS offers a path for humanity to grow more ethical, creative, and compassionate in the face of AI disruption.

Nguyen Anh Tuan and Ambassador Vu Quang Minh in a discussion with students at Hanoi Law University

Thinking beyond limits

Throughout his dialogue with students, Nguyen Anh Tuan repeatedly touched on what he considers Vietnams biggest obstacle: self-limiting thinking.

Too many people, including youth, accept that Vietnam is forever a latecomer. So their goals remain modest-catching up, following, imitating-rather than leading or co-creating with the worlds most advanced societies.

This, he said, is the real barrier. Once a nation accepts its lower status, it resigns itself to being a buyer and user of other peoples ideas and technologies, rather than setting the questions, creating standards, or shaping a new society.

The problem is not a lack of technology, said Tuan, but whether we dare to ask big questions.

Without bold questions that resonate at a global scale, there can be no large-scale thinking. And without such thinking, even the most advanced technologies we import will only turn us into consumers-not creators-in the AI age.

Tuan was pleased to share the positive reactions of global AI strategists to the aspirations and vision expressed by General Secretary To Lam during a high-level roundtable in London on October 28, 2025. Speaking to experts from the UK, U.S., and beyond, To Lam affirmed that Vietnam is open and ready to welcome, test, and implement pioneering and disruptive ideas to generate new models, new values, and renewed hope for humanity in the AI era.

AI cannot replace ethical responsibility

In a recent interview with VietNamNet, Nguyen Anh Tuan emphasized that artificial intelligence must grow alongside human conscience.

Technology without ethics or social responsibility is dangerous-not because it is evil, but because it is cold and ruthlessly efficient, unaware of when to stop or whom it might harm.

AI may analyze faster and recommend more precisely than any human, but it is not accountable for its decisions. That responsibility remains with humans-the designers, operators, and users of the technology.

According to Tuan, any society that delegates decision-making to algorithms while retreating from ethical responsibility will inevitably pay the price. The central question of the AI era is not how powerful technology can become, but whether humans have the courage to define its limits.

Law: The essential line of defense

These arent just ideas Tuan raises at international forums-theyre questions he brings directly into classrooms at Hanoi Law University.

There, AI is not merely framed as a tool but as a legal dilemma: Who is responsible when technology makes decisions in place of humans?

No algorithm stands above the law, said Tuan. If AI is to be used in governance, justice, or social resource allocation, then the first questions must be: Where is the control mechanism? Who holds ultimate responsibility? How are human rights protected when decisions are made by machines in the name of objectivity?

He stressed that law is not an obstacle to innovation, but rather a vital safeguard for human dignity in the AI era. The deeper a society integrates technology, the stronger its legal foundations must be.

Leading with wisdom and compassion

A central thread in Nguyen Anh Tuans vision is his definition of leadership in the AI era.

Leaders today cannot simply be tech-savvy-they must be morally courageous. They must know when to say no when technology crosses humane boundaries.

They must answer the questions: Whom does this technology serve? Who benefits? And who gets left behind?

These are not technical questions-they are value choices. Innovation that only pursues efficiency and short-term growth risks leaving behind deep societal consequences that may be irreversible.

Education beyond skills

Speaking to students, Tuan devoted special attention to education-not in the narrow sense of tech training, but in nurturing humanistic foundations and creative capacity.

Creativity does not grow out of ignorance. To be truly creative, one must understand history, culture, philosophy, and the human values that have shaped civilization.

AI can assist with tasks and speed, but ideas, emotions, aspirations, and conscience cannot be programmed.

Education that focuses solely on skills, while neglecting humanistic foundations, may produce excellent engineers-but ones who lack awareness of what they are doing and why.

Time will not wait

From his global experience, Nguyen Anh Tuan believes that Vietnam is standing before a valuable, albeit narrow, window of opportunity.

As foundational technologies rewrite global dynamics, even a one- or two-year delay can mean falling behind for good.

But seizing this opportunity is not just about capital, infrastructure, or imported tech. It hinges on mindset, institutions, intellectual capital, and the values that guide decision-making.

Technology cannot save a society that abandons ethical standards.

Speed vs. direction

The consistent message in all of Nguyen Anh Tuans remarks is clear: In the AI era, speed matters-but direction matters more.

Technology can take humanity far. But without conscience, it can also lead us astray.

For Vietnam, the challenge is not merely to catch up with technology, but to step into the future with dignity-innovating without losing humanity, growing without sacrificing human dignity or the natural world.

This is not just a story about technology. It is a story about choices-choices each generation must make and be accountable for.

Tu Giang
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, 2025 was an exceptionally abnormal year of natural disasters in Vietnam, with extreme phenomena causing widespread destruction across the country.

On December 4, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien reported that updated data estimates the economic damage caused by natural disasters in 2025 at approximately USD 3.97 billion. The disasters also claimed the lives of or led to the disappearance of 419 people.

By the end of November 2025, there had been 21 storms and tropical depressions (15 storms and 6 depressions) in the East Sea, making 2025 the year with the highest number of such events since monitoring began in 1961. The previous record was 20 in 2017.

In addition to setting records in quantity, the storm season of 2025 was marked by highly unusual, extreme events. Notably, Storm No. 1 (Wutip) formed over the East Sea in June-a phenomenon not seen in over 40 years.

Storm No. 9 (Ragasa) reached intensity level 17 with gusts exceeding level 17, becoming the most powerful storm ever recorded in the East Sea.

Another unusual event occurred in late November when a tropical depression originating from Storm Senyar moved from the Indian Ocean into the Northwestern Pacific-an unprecedented westward path in meteorological history.

One of the most significant events of 2025 was the severe, widespread flooding, with peak water levels surpassing historical records on rivers throughout the North, Central, Central Highlands, and downstream Mekong Delta regions.

Meteorologists noted that never before had historic floods simultaneously occurred on 20 rivers in a single year. In the North, such floods were recorded on the Cau (Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh), Thuong (Bac Ninh), Chung (Lang Son), Bang Giang (Cao Bang), Lo (Tuyen Quang), Ngoi Hut, and Ngoi Thia (Lao Cai) rivers.

In Central Vietnam, floods were observed on the Ma, Buoi, and Yen Rivers (Thanh Hoa), the upper Ca River (Nghe An), Bo River (Hue), Vu GiaThu Bon Rivers (Da Nang), Ky Lo and Ba Rivers (Dak Lak), Dinh Ninh Hoa River (Khanh Hoa), and the Luy River (Lam Dong).

In the South, major flooding occurred on the lower Tien River (Vinh Long, Dong Thap) and the lower Hau River (An Giang, Can Tho).

The historic flood in Phu Yen (now the eastern part of Dak Lak) was part of a larger disaster in the CentralCentral Highlands region and surpassed the legendary 1993 flood levels on the Ba River basin.

Throughout the year, many storms followed fast-moving, intense, and irregular paths, causing severe loss of life and property.

According to the Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), storms impacted the Central region early on (storms No. 3 and 5) and later struck the North (storms No. 9 and 11). When three particularly strong storms (No. 5, 10, and 13) hit the Central region, the Prime Minister ordered the establishment of frontline command centers for urgent response.

Storm Bualoi (No. 10) was considered highly unusual in terms of speed, intensity, and prolonged landfall.

Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, stated that Bualoi moved at 3035 km/h-almost twice the average storm speed. It remained over land for more than 12 hours, from 1011 PM on September 28 to 10 AM on September 29, after making landfall between Nghe An and northern Quang Tri. This rare occurrence significantly increased its destructive impact.

The storms circulation brought heavy rain across the North and from Thanh Hoa to Hue, with some areas recording over 500mm.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a climate change and disaster expert, noted: Some houses were reduced to just foundations and broken walls after the storm. It will take people a long time to recover.

On September 29 alone, eight tornadoes formed within the storms circulation and edge, striking eight provinces and cities.

Storms No. 10 and 11 (Matmo) brought two rounds of heavy rain to Hanoi, flooding streets on September 30 and October 7. Later, from late October to early November, cold air combined with the circulation of Storm No. 13 (Kalmaegi) caused flooding of 0.50.8 meters on multiple central streets in Hanoi.

Heavy rains also caused major flooding in Thai Nguyen, where the water level at the Gia Bay station on the Cau River reached 29.9 meters at 5 AM on October 8-2.9 meters above alarm level 3 and 1.09 meters higher than the record level during Storm Yagi in 2024. This resulted in widespread inundation of neighborhoods and communes.

In Ho Chi Minh City, heavy rain combined with high tides caused deep flooding in many low-lying areas. According to Le Dinh Quyet of the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Station, tide levels at the Phu An station (Saigon River) reached 1.78 meters on the morning of November 6, surpassing the 2019 record (1.77 meters)-an extreme event, albeit within expected tidal cycles.

Most recently, from November 16 to 22, historic flooding in the South Central region caused severe damage and left many people in dire circumstances.

A striking feature of the 2025 floods was the rapid water rise, large amplitude, and slow drainage-unlike the slow floods of past years.

Meteorologists described the November 1521 floods in the South Central region as an extreme event that broke historical records. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), such rare events are nearly impossible to predict with precision.

This episode involved multiple simultaneous extreme weather phenomena, exacerbated by the Central regions steep, short rivers that accelerated water flow, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. High tides further hindered drainage.

Experts believe climate change is the root cause of these disasters. Global warming raises sea surface temperatures, fueling stronger storms.

In 2025, multiple strong cold air outbreaks coincided with storms or depressions, creating prolonged rainfall and increasing risks of floods, flash floods, and landslides-especially in Central and mountainous areas.

Many cities, particularly low-lying ones, still lack adequate drainage systems to cope with extreme rainfall. Rapid urbanization further reduced natural flood control, worsening disaster impacts.

Although early forecasting efforts improved, some abnormal phenomena remained unpredictable. Evacuation and relocation efforts were sometimes delayed, especially in remote areas.

Meanwhile, the management of reservoirs-especially hydropower dams-once again became a public concern amid repeated Central region floods.

Despite the harsh conditions, one of the most remarkable aspects of 2025 was the spirit of solidarity among the Vietnamese people.

Images of submerged homes, flooded roads, and cries for help from the North to the Central region moved the entire country. When the North suffered, the Central and South reached out; when the Central region flooded, people from the North and South rushed in to help. In adversity, the spirit of the good leaves protect the torn ones shone stronger than ever.

Across provinces, convoys loaded with rice, instant noodles, clean water, life jackets, and medicine-donated by individuals, organizations, and benefactors-quietly set off toward flood zones.

In the flood-prone commune of Hoa Thinh, Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen), 51-year-old Tran Cong Thanh from Phu Huu hamlet risked his life to row a boat and rescue over 40 people, bringing them to safety in a two-story house. He was awarded a certificate of merit by the provincial government.

During the November floods in Gia Lai, Major Nguyen Khac Thinh of the Border Guard Squadron 2 received a commendation from the Border Guard Command for his bravery. He and his team made eight trips into deep floodwaters, rescuing 55 people and providing food, water, and medicine to 75 isolated households.

Phung Ngoc Dong, a 37-year-old from Hon Ro 1, Nam Nha Trang Ward (Khanh Hoa), quickly organized nearly 100 locals, dozens of boats, and around 40 basket boats to carry out rescue operations when floodwaters surged in western Nha Trang.

At that time, residents and businesses in Lo Village, Phu Tho Street, Hoa Hiep Ward (Dak Lak) opened their homes to flood victims and rescue teams free of charge, directly donating and transporting essential supplies to severely flooded areas.

According to Hoang Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the abnormal storm activity and widespread, severe floods in 2025 in both Vietnam and around the world demonstrate a clear shift in traditional flood patterns. It reflects a growing trend of extreme, unpredictable weather due to climate change.

Experts emphasize that climate change continues to intensify the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

Bao Anh
CMC Telecom was honored with the Sustainable Governance in the Data Era Award at Vietnam ESG 2025

CMC Telecom was recognized with the Sustainable Governance in the Data Era Award in the Governance category at the Vietnam ESG 2025 Awards, organized by Dan Tri Newspaper. This prestigious accolade highlights pioneering enterprises that incorporate ESG (Environmental  Social  Governance) principles into long-term strategies, contributing to Vietnams broader goals of sustainable development.

The recognition reflects CMC Telecoms commitment to building a modern, transparent, and responsible governance model. It also underscores the vital role digital infrastructure enterprises play in shaping a safe, efficient, and sustainable digital economy.

Data center infrastructure and the environmental pillar (Environment - E)

With sustainability at the core of its digital infrastructure strategy, CMC Telecom invests in and operates a network of data centers aligned with international standards. These facilities emphasize energy efficiency, resource optimization, and minimizing environmental impact throughout the operational lifecycle.

With a strategic focus on sustainable digital infrastructure development, CMC Telecom invests in and operates its Data Center ecosystem in accordance with international standards

CMC Telecoms data centers are equipped with energy management systems compliant with ISO 50001:2018, ensuring systematic measurement, control, and optimization of energy consumption. Additionally, the company conducts greenhouse gas emissions reporting in accordance with ISO 14064-1:2018, enabling transparent and scientific carbon reduction efforts. This approach improves operational efficiency while helping customers reduce their own indirect emissions during digital transformation.

Significantly, CMC Telecom is the first company in Vietnam to earn the full set of Uptime Tier III certifications for Design, Construction, and Sustainable Operations. This achievement confirms its international-standard operational capabilities and pioneering role in developing secure, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly digital infrastructure - key elements of its long-term ESG vision.

Information security and the governance pillar (Governance - G)

In the digital age, governance is demonstrated through an organizations ability to protect and maintain the integrity of digital systems in a secure, transparent, and responsible manner.

CMC Telecom has developed a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem, including the CMC Cyber Security Platform (CCSP) and CMC Cyber Security Services (CCSS). These provide end-to-end services - from risk consulting and assessments to 24/7 monitoring and incident response. Operated by a Security Operations Center (SOC) and a team of internationally certified experts, these services empower organizations to manage digital risks and protect data assets proactively.

The company adheres to globally recognized governance standards, including:

- ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management

- ISO/IEC 27017 and ISO/IEC 27018 for cloud-specific data protection

- ISO/IEC 22301:2019 for Business Continuity Management

These certifications demonstrate CMC Telecoms capacity to ensure system availability, resilience, and operational stability amid disruption. They also reinforce customer and stakeholder trust - a crucial component of sustainable corporate governance in the digital economy.

Make in Vietnam cloud and the social pillar (Social - S)

On the social front, CMC Telecoms Make in Vietnam cloud platform provides enterprises, organizations, and public institutions with secure, flexible access to domestic cloud infrastructure that complies with Vietnams data sovereignty and legal standards.

By broadening access to digital resources, the CMC Cloud platform fosters inclusive digital transformation, narrows the digital divide, and contributes to the development of an equitable and sustainable digital society.

People as the foundation of sustainable governance

Beyond infrastructure and technology, CMC Telecom places people at the heart of its sustainability strategy. The company actively develops a team of digitally skilled professionals working in a creative, professional, and dynamic environment. This workforce - equipped with technical expertise and strong governance skills - is critical to realizing the companys long-term ESG goals.

Speaking at the Vietnam ESG Forum 2025, Pho Duc Kien, Vice President of CMC Technology Group, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of CMC Telecom, remarked: CMC Telecom believes that technology only truly has meaning when it is guided by good governance and social responsibility. ESG enables us to develop safe, efficient, and inclusive digital infrastructure, accompanying Vietnams sustainable growth.

CMC Telecoms recognition at Vietnam ESG 2025 further solidifies its role as a leader in sustainable digital governance - committed to building safe, responsible infrastructure for a thriving digital Vietnam.

Thuy Nga
At the Vietnam Smart City Award 2025 ceremony held on December 23, organized by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), Da Nang was honored in two categories: Smart City and Most Livable City.

The Most Livable City award was based on public voting across seven key criteria: governance, transportation, environment, infrastructure, startup ecosystem, security, and digital economy.

According to the organizers, Da Nang claimed an overwhelming victory with 163,984 votes out of more than 200,000 total submissions, accounting for nearly 70% of all votes. Hue and Quang Ninh followed with 65,379 and 21,120 votes, respectively.

The top five provinces and cities with the highest public votes across all award categories were Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Hue, and Nghe An.

In the main Smart City category, Da Nang received awards for excellence in smart governance and administration, green environment and sustainable development, and attractiveness for innovation and startups.

Throughout 2025, in addition to tourism and environmental efforts, Da Nang took pioneering steps in building infrastructure for semiconductor and AI industries, while also advancing plans for a regional financial center through various pilot programs and incentives to foster a digital economy.

This comprehensive approach reflects VINASAs new vision of a smart city in the modern era - not merely a clean and scenic urban center, but a hub for high-quality employment, global tech leaders, and regional innovation excellence.

Hanoi also made an impression by winning in the Smart Administration and Management category (Public Services). The capital city was praised for addressing one of the biggest challenges facing mega cities: citizen engagement.

By deploying a 24/7 AI call center and virtual assistant, along with the iHanoi digital citizen app, Hanoi has turned technology into a bridge that allows the government to hear, understand, and serve each citizen transparently and efficiently.

Launched in 2020 amid the implementation of Vietnams Smart Sustainable Urban Development Program (Project 950) for the 20182025 period, the Vietnam Smart City Awards have, over five years, tracked the evolving governance mindset of local governments.

From 2020 to 2022, the focus was on planning and building basic connectivity infrastructure. By 20232024, priorities shifted toward data management and intelligent operations centers (IOCs).

VINASA noted that Vietnamese cities are now entering a phase of substantial investment aimed at developing the digital economy and digital society at the local level.

Technology is being applied to directly tackle urban pain points such as traffic congestion, flooding, bureaucratic delays, and energy inefficiency.

In addition to the eight awards for cities, the association also recognized ten outstanding technology solutions, spotlighting the rise of green technology and AI security.

Du Lam
Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of HUBA, at the 2025 Green Business Awards in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang Hung

The green transformation among businesses in Ho Chi Minh City is deepening, with more companies making substantial investments in sustainable practices.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 Green Business Awards held on the evening of December 22, Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA), emphasized that the city's green business movement has become more robust, both in terms of awareness and investment.

He noted that in the past, green practices were often limited to end-stage treatments such as wastewater and waste management, or to the early stages with low-emission materials. Now, businesses are going further by integrating green principles throughout their production processes, focusing on circular economy models and adopting sustainable governance frameworks.

Previously, green transformation was mostly driven by export-oriented businesses under pressure from international consumers. But today, domestic companies are also becoming conscious of their image and committed to sustainable development for local consumers, he told VietNamNet.

According to the HUBA Chairman, businesses in HCMC seeking to invest in green transformation can now benefit from an incentive program under Resolution 09/2023 issued by the city's Peoples Council.

Under this resolution, businesses can access subsidized loans via the Ho Chi Minh City Finance and Investment State-Owned Company (HFIC), with up to 100% or 50% of interest covered depending on the project type. The subsidy period can last up to seven years from the date the project receives official approval and after the first loan disbursement from HFIC.

The level of interest support varies by project category. For instance, companies investing in rooftop solar power systems can receive 100% interest support. Those building green-certified logistics warehouses are eligible for 50% support.

The maximum loan for each green transition project is $8 million. All economic sectors are eligible, whether state-owned enterprises, private firms, or individual business households.

According to Hoa, there is no cap on the overall support fund. HFIC, which is coordinating the loan distribution, has established strategic partnerships with nine major commercial banks nationwide. This collaboration ensures a robust funding source to assist businesses not only in green transformation but also in digital transitionpart of HCMCs strong policy commitment.

From a business perspective, Vuong Ngoc Dung, Marketing Director of Saigon Cosmetic Corporation, said restructuring production around green, eco-safe, and transparent supply chains enables businesses to penetrate modern retail networks and expand into export markets.

Similarly, Nguyen Thi Thu, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at Anh Kim Food Manufacturing Joint Stock Company (AK Food), said that green transformation provides a foundation for enhancing production standards and product traceability. This makes it easier for companies to access demanding markets with strict requirements on food safety, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development.

The 2025 Green Business Awards was co-organized by Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper and HUBA under the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

According to the organizers, over 200 businesses registered for the award program, nearly double the number from 2024.

This year, 155 businesses met the programs criteria and were honored, including 77 manufacturing firms and 78 companies in commerce, services, and real estate.

PV
Hi, Im Thu Trang - a 22-year-old selling burial land.

Its a line that often stuns viewers scrolling through TikTok. But for Pham Hoang Thu Trang, a bright young woman from Hanoi, its both a personal introduction and a statement of purpose.

People are often surprised not only by the unusual, spiritual, and sensitive nature of her work, but also by her credentials: Trang is an honors graduate in International Business from the National Economics University, with an IELTS score of 7.5.

Many question her choice. With such qualifications, couldnt she find something better than selling burial plots? they ask.

But after a year in the profession, Trang is no longer fazed by such remarks.

Thu Trang has spent the past year working in cemetery real estate in Phu Tho. Photo: Chacly

Trang currently works as a sales executive for a cemetery park in Phu Tho Province (formerly under Hoa Binh), more than an hour outside Hanoi. Though the job is unrelated to her degree, she says her university education has been surprisingly useful.

Cemetery parks are a niche within the real estate sector. Its a resting place for the departed, but with modern design, meticulous planning, and services such as grave care, funeral organization, and reburial, she explained.

Instead of pitching apartments or villas, I introduce clients to plots in our memorial park - from individual graves to family plots and double burials.

Trang embraces her role and doesnt shy away from saying, I sell graves. Photo: Chacly

In the beginning, Trangs friends were confused. Most had never seen job postings in this field, let alone considered it a path for someone their age.

Trang admits she had no role models to learn from, except her direct supervisor. Determined to grow, she visited both traditional cemeteries and modern memorial parks to expand her understanding.

She also enrolled in various cross-disciplinary courses - from land laws and zoning to consumer behavior, Vietnamese funeral traditions, spiritual culture, and feng shui.

The biggest challenge wasnt external. It came from within. Much of this knowledge is foreign to young people, she said.

But the deeper I explored, the more I saw the value and humanity in what I do. Its a meaningful career with real potential - and far less competition than sectors like housing, banking, or insurance.

Trangs days are packed. She cold-calls clients, meets with partners, builds media campaigns, films and edits videos, and answers online inquiries. Every month, she also guides client groups on tours of the cemetery park.

One of the biggest hurdles is public perception. Many people consider discussions about death or burial unlucky. Others find it hard to trust that a young woman like Trang can advise on something so solemn.

So, Trang took a different approach - building a TikTok channel dedicated to cemetery-related knowledge and spiritual real estate.

She believes young people have a key advantage: energy, a growth mindset, and digital fluency that helps deliver sensitive topics in an engaging, accessible way. This, she hopes, will help shift outdated views.

I respond to every question - positive or negative. I try to explain clearly and respectfully, she said.

One of her TikTok videos on the job reached nearly 300,000 views.

Trang gives in-person tours of her companys cemetery park to help clients make informed choices.
The year 2025 marks one of the most extensive transformations in Vietnams administrative history, as the country embarked on a comprehensive restructuring of all levels of local government nationwide.

This reform goes beyond simply redrawing administrative boundaries or streamlining the state apparatus. It represents a strategic reallocation of economic space, a reassignment of power and responsibility, and a recalibration of how resources are distributed and combined for development.

On June 12, 2025, during its ninth session, the 15th National Assembly passed a resolution to restructure the provincial-level administrative units. As a result, the total number of provincial units has been reduced from 63 to 34-comprising 28 provinces and 6 centrally governed cities. Among them, 19 provinces and 4 cities were newly formed through mergers, while 11 remained unchanged.

At the district level, 696 administrative units ceased operation, including 2 cities under central authority-Thu Duc (Ho Chi Minh City) and Thuy Nguyen (Hai Phong); 85 provincial cities; 52 towns; 49 urban districts; and 508 rural districts.

The number of commune-level units was also significantly reduced-from 10,035 down to just 3,321, marking a 67% reduction. Hanoi witnessed the highest reduction rate at over 77%.

Starting July 1, 2025, all 34 provinces and cities officially transitioned to a new two-tier local government model-comprising only provincial and commune levels.

Following the restructuring, 146,800 public officials and workers have retired under new policies and regulations applied to streamline the administrative apparatus. The reform has helped reduce regular expenditures, enabling greater investment in social welfare and public services.

Vietnams new governance approach now pivots from administrative control to citizen service and developmental leadership.

Redrawing the national map - a strategic turning point

General Secretary To Lam described the restructuring decision as a "historic step" with strategic significance in the long-term effort to perfect Vietnams administrative and state governance model.

According to him, reorganizing the administrative map and launching a new two-tier system is essential in the context of globalization, digital transformation, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It offers an opportunity to shift leadership mindsets, modernize management methods, and accelerate the adoption of science and technology to improve national governance and public service.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh immediately called on all ministries, sectors, and localities to decisively implement the new two-tier model, stressing the need for determination, high effort, and discipline in execution.

Tangible improvements from the grassroots

General Secretary To Lam inspects the two-tier local government model in Hanoi on July 1, 2025. Photo: Nhu Y

The rollout of the two-tier system has already begun to yield clear results in terms of management, administration, and citizen and business service delivery.

All 34 provinces and cities have completed the organizational restructuring and leadership appointments for local Peoples Committees.

At the commune level, 3,321 units-including communes, wards, and special zones-have established public service entities to deliver multidisciplinary services in line with central guidance and local realities.

Public services go digital, efficiency rises

Between July 1 and November 30, the 34 newly restructured localities processed 21.8 million administrative records-an increase of 5.9 million from the previous month. Among these, 18.4 million records were submitted online, including 13.4 million at the commune level.

The rate of administrative records handled on time or ahead of schedule across provinces reached 92.78%.

In terms of infrastructure, 17,496 state-owned buildings and properties have been repurposed, while 9,056 others are in the process of being reallocated.

Challenges ahead, but momentum builds

Despite the significant progress, Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh acknowledged that the new governance model still faces considerable challenges.

There are currently 355 pending tasks awaiting implementation guidelines and 10 responsibilities requiring adjustments in jurisdiction.

The Government has tasked provincial and municipal leaders with promptly resolving all issues related to decentralization, delegation of authority, and jurisdictional clarity-setting a deadline for full resolution by the end of December.

Thanh Hue
On February 28, 2025, after reviewing the government's report on budgetary capacity in the context of administrative streamlining, the Politburo officially decided to waive tuition fees for all students enrolled in public education institutions from preschool through high school, effective from the 20252026 academic year.

Subsequently, on June 26, 2025, the National Assembly passed a resolution on tuition exemption and financial support for preschool children and general education students. The resolution stipulates full tuition exemption for students attending public schools. For those in non-public and private institutions, the government will provide partial financial support for those following the standard education curriculum.

On the morning of September 5, during the opening ceremony for the 20252026 academic year, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that one of the key priorities for the education sector is ensuring equal access, raising the nations educational baseline, and leaving no child behind.

He stressed the importance of prioritizing education in remote, border, island, and underprivileged regions, while also expanding investment in schools, school nutrition programs, teacher development, and digital infrastructure.

The General Secretary reaffirmed that the recent implementation of tuition waivers for all students from preschool to high school was a significant milestone. In some areas, local authorities have also begun providing free school lunches for students attending full-day programs.

According to him, education is not only a vehicle for knowledge transmission but also a foundation for character development, physical health, and emotional growth-helping shape a generation of talented, compassionate, and resilient individuals capable of leading the country in a new era.

Even before the official policy was enacted, the idea of free public education had already received widespread public support, particularly among parents.

Most respondents expressed joy and saw the move as a major step forward for Vietnams education system-providing equal learning opportunities for all children while easing the financial burden on families, especially those with low to middle incomes.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice President of the University of Education under Vietnam National University in Hanoi, shared that both as an education administrator and a parent, he sees the tuition waiver as a moment of great joy.

According to him, this decision reflects the Party and States forward-thinking vision and humanitarian values. It aligns with the global trend toward a knowledge-based economy and is a significant step in guaranteeing the fundamental right to education for all children.

This policy has long been a dream of the education sector, Dr. Nam said. Its an expression of deep understanding and practical care, easing financial pressure on families and encouraging more children to attend school. It will also help reduce dropout rates due to economic hardship.

He added that the move represents a strategic step toward universalizing general education and promoting equal access-ensuring that no child is left behind.

Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Educational Psychology and Sciences, also emphasized that the tuition-free policy not only relieves families-especially low- and middle-income households-of financial stress but also contributes to building a progressive and sustainable society.

This policy fosters an egalitarian educational system where all students-regardless of family income-have the opportunity to access quality education, Dr. Lam said.

In the long term, when tuition is no longer a concern, students will be able to focus more on learning and improve academic performance, helping reduce dropout rates linked to economic difficulties. This is a humanitarian and timely policy, aligned with the peoples aspirations as the country enters a new era of advancement.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam currently has around 23.2 million students (excluding those enrolled in vocational training and continuing education centers). This includes 4.8 million preschool children, 8.9 million primary school students, 6.5 million lower secondary students, and 3 million upper secondary students.

The proportion of students attending non-public schools remains below 10%, mostly concentrated in major urban areas. Based on Ministry estimates, the state budget will need to allocate approximately USD 1.23 billion annually to fully implement this tuition waiver policy.

Thanh Hung
Khanh, born in 2010, completed ninth grade this year and recently received confirmation of his perfect SAT score. Earlier, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Saint Joseph's Institution International in Singapore, where he will officially begin 10th grade in January 2026.

Perfect SAT score at 15

Dang Khanh scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT at age 15. Photo: Provided by family

Khanh had set a personal goal of completing the SAT before heading to Singapore, so he could focus fully on his new academic program there. As IELTS results are only valid for two years, he plans to take that exam in the summer of 11th grade.

He took his first SAT at the beginning of ninth grade, scoring 1470 without much preparation. Learning from the experience, Khanh dedicated himself to reaching at least 1550 after completing the school year.

Having studied the AP (Advanced Placement) curriculum at school, Khanh was already familiar with many of the SATs academic themes, easing his preparation.

However, he noted that unlike his natural approach to English - built on instinct and fluency - the SAT demanded precision and strict logic.

I had to go back and relearn foundational knowledge - from punctuation to grammar structure, Khanh explained. You cant rely on gut feeling with the SAT. You need to know the rules and apply them logically.

In the Reading and Writing section, Khanh found the "information synthesis" questions particularly tough, as they require analyzing multiple data sources and the author's reasoning in context. Fortunately, this question type appeared less frequently than expected in the December test.

Conversely, "Command of Evidence" questions - which ask test-takers to select evidence to support an authors claim - were more common and challenging.

Meanwhile, Words in Context - which involve identifying word meanings based on their usage - were among the easiest to tackle. If you have a strong vocabulary and know the strategy, theyre very manageable, Khanh shared.

In the Math section, Khanh found the questions mostly centered around basic concepts and application.

If you know the formulas and practice the tougher problems, its quite possible to score high, he said.

Time management, he emphasized, was a crucial factor in his performance. I always do the easier questions first to secure points, then go back to analyze the harder ones, he explained.

Discipline, practice, and passion

Khanh also received a high school scholarship in Singapore. Photo: Provided by family

After receiving his scholarship offer, Khanh dedicated over 10 hours a day to SAT prep for nearly a month leading up to the test.

I drilled practice tests over and over to eliminate careless mistakes, he said. Only when I was completely confident did I sit the real exam.

Even then, a perfect 1600 was beyond what he had dared to expect.

I thought for sure Id slip up somewhere, he admitted. So when I saw the score, I was overwhelmed.

A dream to return to Singapore

Khanh previously lived and studied in Singapore for two years during primary school while his father worked abroad. That early experience left a lasting impression, and he has long dreamed of returning.

I think studying abroad in high school helps build connections and sets up a clearer path for university later on, he said.

In addition to maintaining top grades, Khanh has actively participated in competitions such as the Vietnam Economics Olympiad, public speaking contests, and Model United Nations conferences. He believes these activities sharpened his public speaking and critical thinking skills - crucial for exams like the SAT.

A blend of academics, music, and global mindset

The student has won numerous piano awards. Photo: Provided by family
The ceremony recognizing the site as a World Cultural Heritage.

On December 20, the sacred and historic complex of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac was officially awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. This prestigious designation affirms the global significance of a uniquely Vietnamese cultural and spiritual heritage that has endured for centuries.

The ceremony was a moment of national pride, celebrating the fruits of years of persistent and coordinated efforts by the provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, and the city of Hai Phong. Together, these three localities transcended administrative boundaries to create Vietnams first inter-provincial heritage model, meeting UNESCOs rigorous international standards.

This spirit of unity enabled the creation of a comprehensive heritage dossier and demonstrated a shared commitment to preserving the Truc Lam Zen tradition as a unified cultural entity.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh highlighted the occasion as a historic milestone - the first such recognition since the Trang An Landscape Complex in 2014. With this new inscription, Vietnam now boasts nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. More than a recognition of architectural and scenic values, the award acknowledges the living cultural space where spiritual practices and philosophies are still actively preserved and practiced.

Jonathan Baker, UNESCOs Chief Representative in Vietnam, also praised the recognition. He described the heritage complex as a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of Truc Lam Buddhism. According to him, the peaceful, compassionate philosophy that originated from Yen Tus sacred peaks has shaped Vietnamese cultural identity and continues to inspire people worldwide.

The UNESCO-listed sites include key clusters representing the Truc Lam Buddhist tradition. In Quang Ninh, these include the Yen Tu complex with famous landmarks such as Dong Pagoda, Hue Quang Stupa, and Hoa Yen Pagoda, as well as the Tran Dynasty relics in Dong Trieu, including Thai Mieu and Ngoa Van Pagoda. Bac Ninh is home to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the founding temple of the Truc Lam school, known for its invaluable woodblock archives. Meanwhile, Hai Phong features the Con Son - Kiep Bac complex and Thanh Mai Pagoda.

The scenic beauty of Con Son - Kiep Bac and Thanh Mai Pagoda has long been central to spiritual tourism in the region. In the wake of the heritage recognition, Hai Phong has committed to restoring and upgrading these sites to ensure they become a lasting source of community pride and a driver of local socio-economic development.

Festival atmosphere at Con Son.

The sacred scenery of the complex.

Con Son stream.

Temple dedicated to Nguyen Trai

Thu Hang
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Struggling with severe funding shortfalls, the World Food Programme (WFP) has cut food rations for refugees in Burundi by 75%
Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home  you can find them all here. 

In this months column Wrexhams Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, writes:

A group of dedicated volunteers are doing all they can to save a much-loved charity shop that offers vital support to veterans.

Woodys Lodge opened its very first shop in Wrexham 18 months ago but the volunteers have now launched an urgent appeal to help ensure its doors remain open.

I attended the shops official opening in August 2024 and recently visited the store once again to pledge my support for the campaign.

Located on Chester Street and part of the Ty Pawb complex, Woodys Lodge is more than just a shop; it is a community hub for veterans, former emergency service personnel and their families. The charity provides practical assistance, such as mental health support and housing and benefits advice, as well as social engagement activities and a safe and welcoming place where individuals feel connected and looked after.

The devoted team of volunteers, led by Andrea and Carl, are determined to do all they can to save the shop. They have been in regular communication with Wrexham Council but have struggled to get satisfactory support so far. Andrea even wrote to the King and the Prince of Wales, who were kind enough to respond and offer their moral support.

Sadly, Woodys Lodge is in a precarious financial position. Whether through donations, volunteering or simple spreading the word, I urge the community to do all it can to help save the shop.

There are a number of fundraising events on the horizon, including a charity bingo event on 18th December at the Wrexham Memorial Club and a quiz in January. All the latest information, including how you can donate to the cause, can be found on Woodys Lodge Facebook page.

Foodbanks do incredible work and provide an invaluable lifeline for many people in Wrexham and across Wales. However, we would prefer to live in a world where they are not necessary.

Last week, Trussel launched its manifesto in the Senedd, which showcased how a future without foodbanks is possible, and it was a pleasure to catch up with Suzanne from Wrexham Foodbank.

Later in the week, I met up with the Wrexham Foodbank team once again as I joined them in Tesco Wrexham to support the supermarkets annual Winter Collection.

Sadly, demand for foodbanks increases at this time of year but it was heartening to see so many shoppers donating items that will no doubt make a big difference to local families this Christmas.

This week, the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru reached an agreement which has secured the passage of the 2026-27 Budget.

Having already published the 27bn draft Budget, this latest announcement will result in almost 300m of additional funding being allocated for our public services. It also avoids the potential of no budget being passed at all and all the consequences that would entail.

Theres extra funding for the NHS and councils, with local authorities core funding, on average, increasing by 4.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared to the current year.

Wrexham Council looks set to receive one of the best funding settlements in Wales, with a 4.9% increase once again above the national average.

I recognise the financial climate is difficult but I am sure this increase in funding will be welcomed locally. It should enable the Local Authority to protect the core frontline services that the people of Wrexham rely on.

Many constituents have contacted me asking for additional investment and I have written to the Leader of Wrexham Council urging the Executive Board to allocate the extra funding to schools.

Today, weve reached a budget agreement with Plaid Cymru, securing almost 300m of additional investment to help the services which matter to you, provided by local councils and the NHS. The agreement shows the strength of working together to deliver for Wales.  Eluned Morgan (@PrifWeinidog) December 9, 2025

Readers will be aware that after finishing runners up in 2025, there has been a determination in Wrexham to build on that success and momentum and to bid for the UK City of Culture title in 2029.

The campaign has been gathering pace culminating with the newly created Culture Board officially launching Wrexhams bid at the end of October.

Wrexham is in the spotlight like never before and securing this prestigious title will have a lasting impact on our region, creating jobs, attracting investment and inspiring future generations.

After meeting with members of the committee and taking part in a special 5-day live stream  Wrexham 24/7  hosted by 73 Degree Films, I know there is a huge amount of work going on in the background.

Our city is in a great position after performing so admirably in 2025 and I am keen to champion Wrexhams cause down in the Senedd.



As this will be my final column of the year, I would like to wish Wrexham.com readers a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

My constituency office closes for the festive period on Wednesday 24th December and reopens on Monday 5th January. If youre a constituent in Wrexham and have an urgent issue during this time, please contact me via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales. You can sign up to my regular e-newsletter by clicking here.
Children spending more time in digital worlds than the real one, Senedd told

Children are spending more time in digital worlds than the real one, the Senedd has heard, with excessive screen use shaping behaviour and health in ways society cannot ignore.

Labours John Griffiths expressed concerns about the impact of smartphones and online gaming on young people amid an epidemic of screen use in Wales.

Mr Griffiths titled the debate Locked in, Bruh!  the state of playing a video game while oblivious to anything else  on the suggestion of Tom, a teenager from Newport.

He raised research from the Centre for Social Justice, a thinktank, which estimates that up to 814,000 UK children aged three to five are already engaging with social media.

The Newport East Senedd member told the chamber two-thirds of primary school pupils in Wales have their own smartphone by the age of 11.

Reel scrolling

Mr Griffiths said boys spend two hours more a day on online gaming while girls spend more time on social media and reel scrolling which has been linked to damaging self-esteem.

He told Senedd members: Boys are becoming more short-tempered and violent when exposed to violent video games and there is, rightly, much concern that children in more deprived families are particularly vulnerable.

Mr Griffiths, who was first elected in 1999 and will stand down in 2026, said children aged five to 16 spend at least six hours a day looking at a screen. He added that for children, aged 11 to 14, that figure rises to nine hours a day.

He pointed to research showing more than 70% of young people in the UK do not undertake an hour of physical activity a day yet have at least six hours to spend looking at a screen.

He said: Children are sat inside with a screen at the end of their nose and are not spending time outside enjoying their local communities or playing and interacting with friends.

Tantrums and tears

Mr Griffiths warned of increasing levels of obesity and rising numbers of young people reporting vision problems, with one in three children globally now short-sighted.

He told the Senedd: As for the mental health and wider social impacts, anxiety and depression are increasingly linked to excessive screen use as is sleep disruption  with social media interfering with rest and emotional development.

He raised a New Zealand study of more than 6,000 children that found a correlation between excessive screen time and below-average performance in literacy and numeracy. He warned children have increasingly shortened attention spans and an inability to concentrate.

Mr Griffiths shared the case of his constituent, Danielle, who said her son becomes more aggressive and snappier after a significant time gaming. Lucy, another constituent, explained how her children find the endless reels on social media addictive.

Once they start scrolling, its hard to break that cycle, the Senedd member said. And when she and her husband take the devices away, it often results in tantrums and tears.

Sickening

Mr Griffiths raised the example of countries such as Australia, France and Italy which have introduced strict age checks and bans on social media for under 16s.

He acknowledged such a policy would need to come from the UK Government because powers over internet services are not devolved. But he said Wales has the authority to introduce measures through education policy on, for example, smartphones in schools.

The Tories Sam Rowlands warned algorithms are having a sickening effect on teenagers who are eight times more likely to act on self-harm urges when exposed to such content. TikTok users with eating disorders receive over 4,000% more toxic content, he warned.

Responding to Wednesdays (December 17) debate, Jane Hutt recognised how so-called doom scrolling can have a detrimental impact on young people.

Wales social justice secretary said: We are living through profound change. Childhood today is shaped by technology in ways that were unimaginable a generation ago For many young people, screens, smartphones and online gaming are part of everyday life.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Local MPs welcome inheritance tax U-turn on farm assets

Local Members of Parliament have welcomed UK Government changes to inheritance tax rules for agricultural assets, saying the move will bring significant relief to many family farms.

The UK Government has confirmed the inheritance tax threshold for agricultural and business property will rise from 1 million to 2.5 million from April 2026, reducing the number of estates expected to be affected. This will also allow spouses or civil partners to pass on up to 5 million in qualifying agricultural or business assets between them before paying inheritance tax, on top of existing allowances.

The change follows sustained lobbying by farming unions and backbench and opposition politicians after proposals announced in the October 2024 Budget led to widespread concern across the rural sector.

Speaking on the changes, Andrew Ranger, Member of Parliament for Wrexham said: I am delighted to hear the announcement from the Environment Secretary today.

Since early this year, I have been working with local farmers to further their concerns to Ministers alongside my colleagues.

We have campaigned with NFU Cymru and local farmers to engage constructively with the Government and I am extremely glad that concerns have been heard and acted upon.

I will be examining the detail of this new proposal and will continue to engage with Ministers, colleagues and constituents over the coming weeks.

Acting to support family farms is the correct course of action whilst also ensuring that large estates pay their fair share.

I would like to thank the family farmers of Wrexham for their continued constructive engagement with me, along with NFU Cymru for all of their support in the past few months.

Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says: Farmers are at the heart of our food security and environmental stewardship, and I am determined to work with them to secure a profitable future for British farming.

We have listened closely to farmers across the country, and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms. We are increasing the individual threshold from 1m to 2.5m which means couples with estates of up to 5m will now pay no inheritance tax on their estates.

Its only right that larger estates contribute more, while we back the farms and trading businesses that are the backbone of Britains rural communities.

Steve Witherden, MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, said: The UK government has today announced that the threshold for Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief has been raised from 1m to 2.5m.

This news will come as a huge relief to my farming constituents across Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, many of whom will no longer face the prospect of having to sell the family farm.

I opposed these changes from the outset and back in January, publicly called on the government to raise the threshold.

Thanks to tireless campaigning from farmers and pressure from backbench Labour MPs, that is exactly what will now happen. This is a major win for rural communities up and down the country.

Aled Jones, President of NFU Cymru, said the union and its members had spent more than a year campaigning to amend the original proposals.

He said: Over the past 14 months NFU Cymru, and its members, have been tireless in their efforts to amend the proposals, culminating in the NO IHT mosaic display at the Winter Fair on the eve of this years budget.

Todays announcement, which sees the tax threshold raised from 1m to 2.5m, is a major development which will take many Welsh family farms above the threshold for Inheritance Tax and will greatly reduce the tax burden for others.

Welsh Government ministers also welcomed the announcement. The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said the concerns of Welsh farmers had consistently been raised with the UK Government.

He said: Our characteristic small and medium scale family farms play a crucial role in the economy of Wales by providing food, caring for our environment, supporting rural communities and helping to protect the Welsh language.

We have always been clear that the concerns of Welsh farmers should be listened to by the UK Government, so we welcome this announcement.

However, Conservative opposition figures said the change did not go far enough. The Conservative Shadow Farm Minister said Labours decision to raise the threshold was welcome, but it has come far too late.

They said: Raising the Agricultural and Business Property Relief threshold to 2.5 million will protect more family farms and businesses from damaging inheritance tax bills, and it only happened because farmers and businesses stood up and refused to be ignored.
Wrexham University and Grwp Llandrillo Menai sign MoU to improve education and skills development

Wrexham University and Grwp Llandrillo Menai (GLlM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in a bid to strengthen education and skills development, widen participation and improve life opportunities for young people from across North Wales and beyond.

The two institutions have committed to closer collaboration and alignment to develop clear pathways from further education to higher education and enhance skills development in the region.

The agreement will see the institutions work together to support students progression and widen access and participation  particularly in key workforce areas such as health and allied health, public services, and construction.

It comes just weeks after the two institutions  along with Coleg Cambria and Bangor University  officially launched the North Wales Tertiary Alliance (NWTA), a landmark partnership to fuel economic growth, enhance education and develop skills in the region.

The institutions will also work together to align their activity with regional economic priorities, including the North Wales Growth Deal, the Wrexham and Deeside Investment Zone, and wider UK and Welsh Government industrial and skills strategies, to drive economic growth and bolster their collective civic mission.

Staff from the university and college will also jointly collaborate with schools and communities to raise aspirations, strengthen outreach, and promote access to education and skills pathways for young people from all backgrounds.

Together, they will work to enhance bilingual and Welsh-medium opportunities, recognising the unique cultural context of Wales and the importance of the Welsh language and the nations wider workforce.

Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, said: The signing of this MoU with Grwp Llandrillo Menai is a hugely positive step forward for skills development and participation in further and higher education here in North Wales.

Both of our institutions have an important role to play in improving life opportunities for young people from across North Wales and beyond, and this goal strongly aligns with our vision of being a world leading, modern civic university, that is regionally engaged, and delivers skills, which drives economic growth for the wellbeing of current and future generations.

This partnership also aligns with the goals of Medr  the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, and we are delighted to be playing a key role in a more joined-up education system in our region.

Paul Flanagan, Principal of Coleg Llandrillo and Executive Lead on Higher Education at Grwp Llandrillo Menai, said: This partnership represents an exciting and important step forward for learners across North Wales.

By strengthening our ties with Wrexham University, we are creating clearer, more accessible pathways into higher education, particularly in vital sectors such as health care, public services and construction.

At Grwp Llandrillo Menai, we are proud to be part of a collaboration that not only raises aspirations but also delivers meaningful opportunities for all communities, through Welsh language and bilingual provision.

Aled Jones-Griffith, Chief Executive of Grwp Llandrillo Menai, added: This Memorandum of Understanding formalises the excellent relationship we at Grwp Llandrillo Menai have with Wrexham University.

We hope this partnership continues to grow and develop over the coming years, as both institutions work collaboratively to ensure that learners can identify and follow clear career pathways, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to support the emerging North Wales economy.

I greatly value the work that Professor Yates has done during his tenure as Vice Chancellor, and I look forward to embracing the opportunity to develop additional projects with Wrexham University, including opportunities to share Grwp Llandrillo Menais expertise in Welsh language provision across a range of sectors
Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - Several bills have been submitted by the Legislative and Constitutional Commission to the eastern-based Libyan Parliament for review and adoption
The City of Sparks is looking for professional artists or artist teams to submit portfolios and design concepts for a mural that will highlight the citys history in honor of Americas 250th birthday in 2026.

The project, funded through a grant from Travel Nevada as part of the America 250 Initiative, will be painted inside the city-owned, 250-seat outdoor amphitheater. The mural aims to showcase Sparks historic downtown, celebrate the communitys heritage, and educate residents and visitors about the citys contributions to building the nation.

The process will start with an open call for artists living in Nevada. The chosen artist or artist team will receive $17,000 to cover time and materials.

The city plans to reveal the finished mural during a public event featuring live music and guided tours of historic downtown Sparks, in partnership with the Sparks Heritage Museum.

We are excited to celebrate Americas 250th birthday through art and collaboration in 2026, said Raquel Monserrat, special events supervisor for the City of Sparks. This public art piece will reflect our historic downtown and the importance of the American West in building our country.

Artists interested in submitting must provide design concepts and examples of previous work by March 1, 2026. More information and application details are available at cityofsparks.us/callforartists.
A tree and some lights may make your space look inviting for a holiday gathering, but nothing lights up your guests like a festive seasonal cocktail. Unfortunately, making individual drinks means you spend more time with a shaker and less with friends and family.

But don't stress. A few of our favorite Bay Area mixologists offered us their recipes for holiday cocktails you can prepare before the party starts.

The list includes updates on classic cocktails as well as a few originals. To further simplify your party prep, the ingredients in each recipe are scaled to make a one-quart batch.

Happy holidays!
New York, US (PANA) - The war in Sudan is entering a deadlier phase, the United Nations has warned, as intensified fighting in the Kordofan region, mounting civilian casualties from drone strikes and growing risks of regional spillover push the conflict toward the 1,000-day mark


High Grade Gold Assays Continue at the SUA Prospect

Sydney, Dec 15, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Far East Gold Limited ( ASX:FEG ) ( FEGDF:OTCMKTS ) announced assay results from drillholes KSD025 and KSD026. The holes were located to confirm and extend a high-grade gold zone intersected in historical drillhole KSD008. The assay results received have met both objectives. To date assays have been received for 4 holes of the 10 holes completed by the Company at the Sua prospect within the Idenburg CoW license area in Papua, Indonesia. All four holes have intersected high grade gold mineralisation across multiple stacked veins.



KSD025 was drilled as a twin hole of the historical hole KSD008 which reported 18.19 g/t Au over 6m from 106m including 3m at 34.95/t Au from 106m. KSD025 intersected a number of high grade zones including 3.16 g/t Au over 2m from 68m, a further 8.42g/t Au over 7.7m from 106.3m, including 0.6m at 35.29 g/t Au and a further 26.43 g/t Au over 0.5m from 125m. The results effectively confirm the high-grade mineralisation intersected in historical hole KSD008 and have intercepted an additional high grade zone at depth not captured in KSD008.



KSD026 was drilled to test the same high-grade zone approximately 50m deeper down-dip. The hole intersected a number of strongly mineralized zones of 8.82 g/t Au over 4.5m from 120m including 51 g/t Au over 0.5m, and a further 2.1 g/t Au over 12.5m from 132.5m including 8.54 g/t Au over 2.1m from 135.9m. The results confirm the down-dip extension of the high-grade zones intersected in drillholes KSD008 and KSD025.



HIGHLIGHTS FROM KSD025 and KSD026



Compiled Significant Intersections KSD025:



- 3.16 g/t Au over 2m (68m to 70m)

- 8.42 g/t Au over 7.7m (106.3m to 114m) including

o 34.65 g/t Au over 0.7m (106.3m to 107m)

o 26.43 g/t Au over 0.5m (125m to 125.5m)



Compiled Significant Intersections KSD026:



- 8.82 g/t Au over 4.5m (120m to 124,5m) including

o 7.14 g/t Au over 1m (122.m to 123m) and

o 51 g/t Au over 0.5m (122.5m to 123m)

- 2.1 g/t Au over 12.5m (132.5 to 145m) including

o 8.54 g/t Au over 2.1m (135.9 to 138m)



- The high-grade zone remains open down-dip and along strike to the northeast.



- Mineralisation at Sua is hosted within a series of stacked milky-quartz +/- sulphide veins in which more than 30 individual gold-bearing quartz veins have been identified.



- The Sua vein system occurs within the 5km long Sua-Afley shear zone and infers significant potential for additional high-grade discoveries. A review and discussion of historical exploration and assessment of resource potential can be found in the Company's ASX announcement of August 21, 2024.



FEG's Non-Executive Chairman, Mr Justin Werner stated: "The high-grade intercepts in KSD025 and KSD026 build on the strong results from our first two holes, KSD023 and KSD024. KSD023 intersected coarse visible gold within a near-surface interval of 13.77 g/t Au over 9.8m, including 131 g/t Au over 0.8m, and KSD024 also intersected coarse visible gold within a near-surface interval of 35.5m at 8.59 g/t Au, including 280 g/t Au over 0.4m.



All four drillholes assayed to date from FEG's current program at Sua include bonanza-grade intervals. Importantly, KSD025 intersected a deeper high-grade zone of 26.43 g/t Au over 0.5m from 125m that was not reported in historical hole KSD008. The same deeper zone appears to have been intersected in KSD026, with 8.54 g/t Au over 2.1m from 135.9m downhole. The zone remains open at depth and laterally.



With our first four holes showing high-grade mineralisation across multiple veins, Sua is confirming the Company's interpretation that Idenburg holds significant resource potential."



The Company's Head of Exploration, Mr Tedy Setiabudi has released a video discussing this announcement. Watch the video on our investor hub here:

https://fareast.gold/link/epJX1P



To date 10 holes (KSD023 to 032) for 1,836m have been drilled by the Company at the Sua prospect (Table 1*). This completes the planned initial drill program at Sua. The program was designed to confirm the occurrence of high-grade gold zones intersected by historical drilling and also to confirm extension of the zone to depth and along strike. The completed drill program has exceeded these objectives. Assays are pending from the remaining 6 drillholes which were located to expand the current defined mineral resource area an additional 150m along strike to the northeast and also to extend historical mineralised zones an additional 50m down-dip over the current defined resource area (Figure 2*).



Assay results and interpretation for the first 2 holes KSD023 and KSD024 are provided in the Company's ASX announcements of November 10, and November 24, 2025. KSD024 was located 25m to the west of hole KSD023 which was the first hole of the drill program which was a twin of the historical hole KSD002 (Figure 2*).



Both holes intersected a zone of high-grade gold associated with coarse visible gold indicating the potential to both upgrade and increase the current mineral resource estimate at Sua through a broader infill drill program, Refer to Table 2*. The high-grade zone intersected in KSD024 remains open for a further 75m along strike until historical hole KSD001 which intersected 1.75 g/t Au over 25m (20m45m), including 18 g/t over 1m (44m-45m).



Refer to Table 3* for a comparison of individual assays for the high-grade zone intersected in historical hole KSD008 and the twinned hole KSD025. The results are closely comparable with both holes intersecting multiple zones of high grade gold mineralisation.



Hole KSD025 also intersected a deeper high-grade zone of 26.43 g/t Au over 0.5m from 125m which was not reported in hole KSD008. Significantly, the same deep high-grade zone appears to have been intersected in KSD026, with 8.54 g/t Au intersected over 2.1m from 135.9m downhole. The zone remains open to depth and laterally. Note that the historical hole KSD011 did not intersect the high grade mineralisation intersected down-dip (Table 2*). This demonstrates the need to drill at closespacing to reliably assess the grade distribution within defined mineralized zones. Such grade variability is an inherent trait of orogenic gold systems.



Based on their assessment of the historical data SMGC estimated an inferred mineral resource of 2.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 3.7 g/t gold (Au) for a total of 296,000 ounces of gold within the Sua prospect. Refer to the SMGC report titled 'JORC Resource Report, PT Iriana Mutiara Idenburg, November 2024' released by the Company in ASX announcement of November 14, 2024.



Refer to resource compliance statement in Appendix 1*.



Based on the results of the completed drilling at Sua, future drilling will continue to extend mineralized zones down-dip and along strike to significantly increase the current Sua resource estimate. The ongoing surface mapping program over the Kwaplu prospect along strike to the southwest of Sua will define targets for an initial scout drill program.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/3RH99760





About Far East Gold Ltd





Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) is an Australian junior exploration company led by some of the biggest names in Australian mining. The company has secured the commercial rights for the acquisition, exploration and development of six advanced gold and copper projects in Indonesia and Australia, including one with a JORC estimate of 996,000 ounces of gold and 190 million pounds of copper.

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By Jemma Ashley, assistant vice president of strategy, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, UK and Ireland Motor Market: Data to Keep Pace with Change Looking at the personal lines motor market, based on our analysis[i], the average car insured in the UK is now close to 11 years old (June 2025 data) its oldest in decades  and the average value has fallen by 500 in the last two years. This ageing fleet brings new risk dynamics around repair costs, parts availability, and total-loss frequency, especially when flood is added to the mix. Aviva recently confirmed that motor flood claims in October 2024 accounted for almost a fifth of all flood-related claims in 2024[ii]. While insured vehicles are getting older, the market must also adapt to the twin challenges of growing EV adoption and the increasing availability of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in vehicles. Its not just the cost of repairs but also learning how these technologies impact driving behaviour and safety. Each of these trends introduces emerging complexity for underwriting and claims. Understanding how specific ADAS features impact crash frequency or severity, and how EV components affect repair costs, will require deeper data insights than ever before. Insurance providers that harness real-time data  combining build-spec intelligence, maintenance history, driver information, and overnight parking location through a single integrated gateway  will be better positioned to accurately assess risks such as theft and flood exposure, price with precision, and manage loss ratios more effectively in 2026 and beyond. At the claims stage, data enrichment will also be critical. Instant access to verified vehicle and driver data at the first notification of loss can accelerate decision-making, improve accuracy, and ultimately enhance the customer experience by reducing friction and settlement times. Commercial Property: The Data Gap Narrows The commercial property market has begun to feel a cautious sense of optimism based on recent market activity, particularly in the latter part of 2025[iii]. Investor demand for office and industrial space rose by 30% in Q3 2025[iv]. As such, there has been an uptick in premium writing and e-traded commercial property business has grown significantly in recent years. This bodes well for brokers and insurers focused on this line of business in 2026. However, climate-related perils are creating increased risks and demanding a greater level of portfolio management. Weather-related business claims totalled 124 million in Q2 2025 and the average commercial property claim came in at 17,400[v].



To maximise the opportunities to write business in commercial property, pricing professionals need a comprehensive view of risk at speed, accessing all the data they need from one trustworthy source rather than multiple suppliers, as part of a digitised quote process. They need strong location data alongside bespoke data that helps them better understand the risk in totality  inside the building and out. This would include granular insight into the property including the construction, age, roof type, height, number of floors, the presence of basements or extensions, its location, topography and perils exposure  now and in the future. These risk factors should be understood alongside the business activity, the function and operations within the building, as well as the risks of the individual employees. Data is only beneficial if it can be operationalised  whether its an MGA or broker attracting a capacity provider or an insurer looking to understand their exposures during a weather event. Modern geospatial intelligence visualisation tools such as LexisNexis Map View enable insurance providers to visualise environmental factors such as flood, subsidence, fire and windstorms  in real time  down to a building outline or across a whole property portfolio. By combining multiple data layers, insurance providers can pinpoint risk accumulations, exposures and guide pricing or reinsurance decisions. Underwriters can also continuously monitor zones and track changes automatically during the underwriting process. Taking that a step further, these same tools could be used to streamline decisioning for commercial property risks by extending beyond environmental and building footprint / height data to incorporate more granular detail on the property and business activities in the building and the people behind the business being insured. The result: faster quotes, more accurate pricing and products better aligned to the risk, reducing the danger of underinsurance. Looking Ahead: Preparing for a Resilient Future While 2026 is likely to bring further volatility in rates and claims costs, this is nothing new for the industry, rather business as usual in a market that thrives on adaptability. What's different now is the growing urgency of climate resilience. With weather-related losses climbing, it will be the ability to use data to understand, predict, and mitigate risk that will set insurance providers apart. The message for the year ahead is simple: the more data insight, the better prepared the market will be-for pricing, for claims, and for the changing world of risk. [i] LexisNexis Insurance Demand Meter  H1 2025 [ii] https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2025/10/drivers-warned-to-take-care-as-october-sees-highest-volume-of-motor-flood-claims/#:~:text=With%20storm%20season%20upon%20us,during%20the%20month%20of%20October. [iii] https://www.rics.org/content/dam/ricsglobal/documents/market-surveys/Q1-2025-RICS-UK-Commercial-Propety-Monitor.pdf [iv] UK Property Market Figures Q3 2025 | CBRE UK [v] https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2025/7/1.6-billion-paid-in-property-claims-in-q2-2025/
As a parent, your primary responsibility is to keep your children safe. While your instincts and love guide much of what you do, understanding the legal framework around child protection is equally important.

Child protection laws exist in virtually every country, region, and jurisdiction, and they establish the rights and responsibilities you have as a guardian. Whether you're raising young children, navigating the school system, or helping teenagers transition into adulthood, knowing these fundamental legal principles will help you make better decisions and advocate effectively for your child's well-being.

The legal landscape of child protection can feel overwhelming at first glance. You may wonder what decisions you can make alone, what requires consent, when authorities might intervene, and what rights you truly have.

This guide breaks down ten essential things every parent should know about child safety laws, presented in straightforward language without unnecessary jargon. By the end, you'll have a clearer picture of your legal position and the protections available to your family.

1. You Have Legal Authority to Make Decisions for Your Child

As a parent, you hold what's called "parental authority" or "parental responsibility." This means you have the legal right to make decisions about your child's upbringing, including education, medical care, and day-to-day welfare.

Both parents typically share this authority equally, though in cases of separation or divorce, a court may assign primary decision-making responsibility to one parent. Your parental rights are fundamental, but they are not absolutethey must always serve the best interests of your child.

2. Medical Decisions Usually Require Your Informed Consent

You have the right to make medical decisions for your child, and healthcare providers cannot treat your child without your permission. This is called "informed consent," which means you must understand what treatment is proposed, why it's necessary, and what the potential risks and benefits are. However, there's an important exception: in medical emergencies where a child's life is at immediate risk, doctors can provide lifesaving treatment without waiting for your consent. Doctors will try to reach you, but they won't delay critical care to do so.

3. You Control Access to Your Child's School Records

Child protection laws include strong privacy protections for your child's educational information. Schools are legally required to maintain your child's records confidentially and cannot share personal information without your written permission. You have the right to request and review these records, correct any inaccurate information, and control what gets shared with outside parties.

Your child's grades, test scores, behavioral notes, and other educational details belong in a protected category. If your child reaches the age of 18, these privacy rights typically transfer to them.

4. Mandatory Reporting Laws Protect Children from Abuse

Many professionalsincluding teachers, doctors, nurses, counselors, and social workersare legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities. These are called "mandatory reporters."

This legal duty exists to ensure that children in danger receive help quickly. If you're concerned about a child's safety, you can also report directly to your local child protective services agency or law enforcement, even if you're not a professional. These reports are treated seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Read more: 12 Signs a Child May Be Experiencing Cyberbullying

5. You Must Balance Parental Rights with Child Welfare

While you have the right to raise your child as you see fit, child protection laws make clear that a child's safety and welfare come first. If a child is being abused, neglected, or harmed, authorities can intervene, even within a family.

In extreme cases, child protective services may remove a child from a home or a court may limit your parental rights. The principle behind this is simple: children cannot always protect themselves, so society has a duty to step in when they're in danger.

6. School Discipline Has Legal Limits

Schools have the authority to discipline students, but this power has boundaries. Teachers cannot use physical punishment, and suspensions or expulsions must follow fair procedures. Schools must notify parents when serious discipline is being considered and, in many cases, give you an opportunity to respond.

For students with disabilities, extra protections apply. Schools cannot suspend students indefinitely without addressing their educational needs, and multiple suspensions may trigger legal review.

7. Special Education Rights Give You a Seat at the Table

If your child has a disability, federal and state laws guarantee you significant involvement in their education. You have the right to participate in developing your child's individualized education program (IEP), which outlines the special services and accommodations they'll receive.

You can request evaluations, review all records, and challenge decisions you disagree with through a formal hearing process. Your input is not optionalschools must treat you as an equal member of the decision-making team.

8. Child Labor Has Age and Condition Restrictions

Children have legal protections against exploitation through work. Most jurisdictions set a minimum working age of 14 to 15 years. Even when children reach working age, they cannot work in hazardous occupations, and their hours are typically limited.

This protects children from missing school, suffering physical harm, or being exploited economically. Younger children may do light work under parental supervision, but this must not interfere with their education or wellbeing.

9. Child Protection Laws Are About Partnership, Not Just Enforcement

While child protection laws do involve authorities who can intervene in families, their primary purpose is to support and strengthen families. Many jurisdictions offer resources like parenting classes, counseling, financial assistance, and community support to help families stay together and thrive. These laws are meant to work alongside parents, not against them, when challenges arise.

10. Laws Vary by Location, So Know Your Local Requirements

Child protection laws differ between countries, states, and regions. The specific age at which children can consent to medical treatment, the procedures for school discipline, and the standards for custody all vary.

What's legal in one place may be illegal in another. Take time to understand the specific laws that apply where you live. Your local school district, pediatrician, or family law attorney can clarify the rules in your area.

Understanding child safety laws empowers you to protect your children more effectively while respecting their rights and development. These laws exist because society recognizes that children deserve special protection. By knowing your role within this legal framework, you become a more informed and capable parent.










English News China takes comprehensive measures to curb AI misuse

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 20 Decembre 2025



Through coordinated efforts among regulators, platforms, and users, and supported by technological detection, reporting mechanisms, and legal accountability, China aims to build a robust defense against AI-generated misinformation and ensure the healthy development of emerging technologies.

By Jin Xin, People's Daily Artificial intelligence (AI), deep synthesis, and other emerging technologies are developing rapidly, playing an increasingly important role in fostering new quality productive forces and driving high-quality economic and social development, while also bringing great convenience to everyday life.



However, these technologies have also been misused to spread disinformation and disrupt the online environment, causing negative impact.



In response, China has taken a comprehensive approach to curb the misuse of AI and promote its responsible development that serves the common interests of society. In September this year, China released a set of guidelines on labeling internet content that is generated or composed by AI technology. These rules mandate clear labeling to help users identify fabricated information, define the labeling obligations of service providers, and regulate the labeling process throughout content creation and dissemination.



Addressing impersonation and fraud



"Hey everyone, I've got a special favor to ask today I'm offering discounts on 300 crates of fresh local eggs from my hometown!"



In one recent case, a widely shared short video appeared to show a well-known athlete promoting eggs from their hometown, drawing enthusiastic support from fans. Yet, the video, like others from the same account, was AI-generated. One product link associated with the video showed more than 47,000 units sold.



According to a representative from a major short-video platform, impersonation of public figures through AI typically takes several forms: using AI-generated images of well-known individuals as profile photos, producing unlabeled AI-generated videos featuring celebrities, and creating fake celebrity accounts to attract followers and generate profit through deceptive content.



China's Civil Code and other relevant regulations already provide protection for portrait and voice rights. The new labeling regulations further reinforce these protections by requiring platforms to clearly mark AI-generated content.



"Short video platforms must not only fulfill their own responsibilities but also collaborate with users to strengthen co-governance," said an executive of Chinese tech firm Tencent. When users encounter unlabeled AI-generated short videos, they file a complaint with relevant materials. Once the complaint is verified, the platform will add visible floating labels to the content.



Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has introduced a portrait protection database for well-known figures to better detect impersonation and fraudulent marketing content.



Combating fake news and strengthening oversight



In another incident, a fabricated "video report" of a large fire caused public panic. A subsequent investigation found that the account responsible used AI to mass-produce disinformation, generating between 4,000 and 7,000 fabricated news items per day and earning more than 10,000 yuan ($1,413.32) daily.



Despite efforts to combat such abuse, gaps remain. According to the head of content safety at a news platform, anti-disinformation mechanisms are not always timely because AI-generated images or videos may go unflagged for hours, limiting early warnings to the public.



Yang Qingwang, deputy dean of the School of Law at Central South University, emphasized the need for platforms to respond quickly, using authoritative information to flag and remove false content and penalize violating accounts.

In recent years, China has steadily strengthened its legal and regulatory framework to define the boundaries of responsible AI use. Meanwhile, regulators nationwide are exploring new approaches to counter the spread of AI-generated fake news.



"We work closely with research institutions and technology enterprises to strengthen monitoring, early detection, and identification of malicious deepfakes. Through collaboration with relevant authorities, we have established a closed-loop mechanism covering rumor inspection, verification, joint assessment, case transfer, and law enforcement, allowing for a timely and legal response to AI-generated disinformation," said an official from the cybersecurity division of the Shenyang public security bureau in northeast China's Liaoning province.



Building digital literacy and defenses



Platform operators also encourage users to remain vigilant. Signs of AI-generated content may include logical inconsistencies, flat or overly uniform emotional tone, or vague factual details, as well as unnatural facial movements, irregular lighting, or distorted audio. Users are advised to verify sources and rely on authoritative media outlets or official channels.



Through coordinated efforts among regulators, platforms, and users, and supported by technological detection, reporting mechanisms, and legal accountability, China aims to build a robust defense against AI-generated misinformation and ensure the healthy development of emerging technologies.



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)
Interview: Ties with China remain robust -- Vice PM

Xinhua) 08:54, December 23, 2025

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Vice Prime Minister and minister of national economy Daniel Mukoko Samba speaks during an interview in Kinshasa, capital of the DRC, on Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by Benoit Nyemba/Xinhua)

KINSHASA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ties between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and China remain robust, said DRC Vice Prime Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba.

The DRC-China partnership has been developing and making continuous progress as it is deeply rooted in people-to-people exchanges, shared cultural and historical memories, more than bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Samba told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Last month in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, Samba, also the DRC's minister of national economy, attended the 2025 Forum on China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Cooperation, and visited universities, enterprises and commercial platforms. The trip has helped him better understand China's development logic based on its opening-up, he said.

During his stay in Zhejiang, Samba paid a special visit to the city of Yiwu, which he described as "a true supermarket of the world."

In his view, Yiwu is not only a hub for commercial exchanges, but also a meeting place for different cultures. "People don't go there just to buy or just to sell. These commercial exchanges also allow people to get to know other people better," he said.

On the foundation of bilateral cooperation, Samba said that while the mining sector is an important component, cooperation between the two countries goes far beyond it.

Highlighting the DRC's agricultural potential, he said his country has all the conditions needed to become an agricultural powerhouse, provided it strengthens agronomic research.

In the field of infrastructure, he said, bilateral cooperation has delivered tangible results. He cited the urban ring road project in Kinshasa, being built by Chinese companies, which he believes will "radically change the configuration of the city and the way residents move around."

On the industrial front, Samba said the DRC is seeking, through its partnerships, to strengthen local production capacity and reduce dependence on raw material exports. More and more Chinese enterprises are investing and doing business in the DRC, which has effectively promoted the development of local manufacturing and industry. Summing up this vision with a vivid image, he said: "We are going to have our own little Yiwu here in Kinshasa."

On the history of bilateral relations, the vice prime minister noted that it has long gone beyond economic and trade collaboration.

When he was a child, he himself had witnessed agricultural experts from China going deep into the fields, living and eating with local people, and imparting rice-growing techniques. This became his earliest and most direct understanding of the cooperation between the two countries.

"The Chinese agricultural mission left imprints that are still visible today," he said, adding that such a deep integration into local communities is one of the distinctive features of the relationship between the DRC and China.

He emphasized that China remains a trusted, steady and consistent partner of the DRC.

The long-standing historical foundation has helped ensure the stability and continuity of bilateral relations amid an increasingly diversified landscape of cooperation, he said.

Regarding China's economy, Samba said it has become one of the main drivers of global growth. In his view, China's experience in economic development and poverty reduction provides valuable insights for developing countries, including those in Africa.

The vice prime minister said cooperation between the DRC and China is anchored in a long-term perspective. Beyond current projects, bilateral cooperation will not only support economic transformation but also contribute to shared prosperity, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Texas families can begin applying for the state's new school voucher program on February 4, 2026, with the application window closing in mid-March.

The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May 2025, represents the largest school voucher initiative in the nation. The program will officially launch for the 2026-27 school year and allows families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition and education-related expenses.

Funding Amounts

Most participating families will receive approximately $10,300 per year for each child enrolled in the program. This amount represents 85% of what public schools receive through state and local funding per student.

Students with disabilities who qualify for special education services can receive up to $30,000 annually, which includes the base amount plus additional funding for special education needs. Homeschool families are eligible for up to $2,000 per year, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Eligibility and Priority System

Nearly all Texas school-age children can apply for the program, including students already attending private schools. The state allocated $1 billion for the first two years, with the program capped at approximately 90,000 students initially.

If applications exceed available funding, the state will use a lottery system with the following priority tiers:

Students with disabilities from families earning at or below $160,000 annually (500% of the federal poverty level for a family of four)

Families earning at or below $64,300 annually (200% of the poverty level)

Families earning between $64,300 and $160,000 annually

Families earning above $160,000 (limited to 20% of total program budget)

Read more: National School Voucher Program Passes Congress To Help Families Pay for Educational Expenses

Approved Expenses and Restrictions

Families can use TEFA funds for various education-related expenses, including private school tuition and fees, curriculum and textbooks, tutoring services, therapy, transportation, and technology purchases limited to 10% of total funds. The money flows through education savings accounts managed by the software company Odyssey, functioning as digital platforms where families can purchase approved items from state-certified vendors.

Private schools must apply to participate in the program and meet specific accreditation requirements. As of December 21, approximately 600 private schools and 200 vendors had already enrolled, CBS News reported.

Important Considerations

Private schools participating in the program are not required to change their admissions processes and can deny entry to any student. Additionally, private schools are not required to follow federal special education laws regarding accommodations for students with disabilities.

Students receiving voucher funds must take a nationally recognized standardized assessment annually, with results reported to parents and state-certified organizations. However, participating students will not be required to take the STAAR test that Texas public school students must complete.

Families approved for the program who remain in good standing will not need to reapply each year. The state expects to send first award notifications in early April 2026, with funds distributed by summer 2026, as per Fox7 Austin.










English News Commercial spaceflight fuels China's space exploration efforts

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 19 Decembre 2025



Commercial spaceflight represents a vast frontier of opportunity. It is not only a scientific domain for exploring the unknown but also a burgeoning economic sector with boundless potential for the future.

By Li Rui, People's Daily Recently, China sent a Gravity-1 carrier rocket into space from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong province, placing three satellites into their designated orbits. This launch exemplifies the growing momentum of China's emerging commercial space sector, which is contributing significantly to the country's space exploration capabilities.



The global competition in commercial spaceflight is intensifying. According to projections, the scale of China's commercial space market is expected to exceed 2.5 trillion yuan ($351.76 billion) this year. Through a strategic collaboration between the government and private enterprises, China is achieving a dynamic synergy that is accelerating technological advancements, reducing costs, and expanding the range of applications within its space industry. As a result, China's space industry is gaining more visibility and vibrancy on the global stage.



China's development of "space infrastructure" is advancing steadily, especially as the deployment of low-orbit satellite internet networks enters a phase of large-scale constellation expansion. However, the country faces a prominent challenge: the demand for satellite launches now exceeds the available capacity of traditional rockets. Relying solely on traditional rockets is far from sufficient to meet these growing needs.



In this context, the development of commercial space initiatives is essential to providing the necessary launch capacity for widespread space-based network deployment. This year, a new generation of commercial rockets, including the Zhuque-3, Tianlong-3, and Gravity-2, are advancing according to schedule with design, testing, and launch activities. These new launch vehicles will effectively alleviate the strain on satellite launch resources and bolster the development of China's national satellite internet infrastructure.



Commercial spaceflight not only increases the frequency of launch opportunities but also opens up a broader range of technological possibilities. Unlike state-run space enterprises, private commercial companies are more agile and adaptable.



For example, the methalox engine independently developed by Chinese commercial rocket firm LandSpace has drawn global attention for its cost-effectiveness, clean propulsion, and reusability. Similarly, Chinese aerospace company Galactic Energy has significantly reduced rocket engine manufacturing costs through 3D printing.



Fueled by market-driven mechanisms and following a model of "small steps, rapid iterations," commercial space enterprises have gained the favor of numerous research institutions. These companies serve as a strong complement to state-run space organizations, further advancing China's space exploration capabilities.



As a dynamic sector driving the future of technological innovation, commercial spaceflight holds vast market potential. More than 10 provinces across China have introduced specific policies to support the development of the commercial space sector, fostering a wave of specialized and innovative companies focused on rocket development and satellite manufacturing. These initiatives have led to the creation of industrial clusters and a rapidly expanding "space economy" ecosystem.



For instance, Beijing is developing a regional industrial layout with rocket production in the south and satellite manufacturing in the north, while Shanghai aims to scale its space industry to hundreds of billions of yuan. Additionally, the aerospace industrial park Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu province, has brought together more than 120 enterprises above the designated size, fueling growth and innovation.



As the commercial space sector shifts from isolated efforts to more integrated, clustered development, an autonomous, resilient, and competitive industrial ecosystem is taking shape, becoming a significant driver of economic growth and technological advancement in space.



Today, commercial spaceflight not only serves national missions but is also expanding its innovation to meet everyday needs. Applications such as satellite remote sensing allow farmers to manage irrigation systems via a mobile phone, while satellite internet provides broadband access to remote areas, including mountains and oceans. Moreover, satellite-enabled intelligent transportation systems are optimizing traffic signal timing to reduce congestion.

These innovations highlight how space technology, once perceived as distant and exclusive, is now becoming an integral part of everyday life, enhancing communications, supporting agriculture, improving mobility, and providing tangible benefits to the public.



Commercial spaceflight represents a vast frontier of opportunity. It is not only a scientific domain for exploring the unknown but also a burgeoning economic sector with boundless potential for the future.





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)
A few days ago, the Federalist reported that Fulton County, Georgia, had over 300,000 illegal early-vote ballots during the 2020 election. The votes were illegal because they were unsupported by poll worker signatures (contrary to Georgia law). In other words, the vote totals were miraculously born without a mother or father.

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Independent analysts have known of this evidence for years. Indeed, a reference to the phony 2020 votes is included on page 108 of my book (Debunked?), which was published three years ago:

All but two of the early vote tabulator closing tapes for 350,000 votes were unsigned. Thus, there was no chain of custody for those files. Advertisement

I had obtained that information from VoterGA, a nonprofit organization specializing in Georgia elections.

Despite strong evidence, this claim of fraud (and many other claims) was completely ignored by the legacy media until Fulton made a strategic blunder: It finally admitted that it doesnt have any tabulator signatures supporting 315,000 early votes. Before that, the legacy media could simply dismiss the claim as a conspiracy theory. After the confession, however, concealment became more difficult. Knowledge of Fultons cheating began leaking out to a wider audience.

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Here is an image showing an example of the signatures that Georgia law requires to authenticate ballot totals. For lawless Fulton County, a bastion of Democrat voters, 315,000 votes were tabulated, but no one is willing to affirm that they are authentic.

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Example of required signatures needed to authenticate ballots (This sample polling place appears to be in compliance with the law.)

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In reality, the 300,000+ unsupported votes are only one of many indications of Fulton County corruption. There is much more evidence.

Missing and/or Corrupt Fulton Election Data

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In November 2025, the founder of VoterGA, Garland Favorito, held a press conference to outline the many unaddressed problems in Fulton Countys 2020 election. He noted that there are about one million Fulton County 2020 election electronic records that have never been produced, despite numerous open record requests and lawsuits. (Keep in mind that Joe Biden won the state by only 11,700 votes.) Except as noted, reference to the following matters is presented in the Favorito press conference video starting at meter reading 44:22.

20,713 original and recount ballots are missing tabulation records 17,852 recount ballot images are completely missing 17,234 unsourced ballots were uploaded to the results, apparently to reconcile original count errors Over 530,000 Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) authentication files are missing (needed to authenticate ballot images, and required by Georgia law). The number includes 17,852 recount SHA files. 16,198 unsourced uploaded ballots were added to the results, apparently to reconcile recount errors 380,458 original in-person ballot images were never produced 4,000 ballot images have identical timestamps -- to the same split second. That is a physical impossibility, since it takes nearly a second to produce each image (The Georgia Record) 16,034 mail-in ballot authentication files were added days after scanning. Since these files are created simultaneously with the image files, that is another impossibility, and likely evidence of fraud (The Georgia Record) According to a complaint filed by data analysts Kevin Moncla and Joseph Rossi, the election results included 20,713 votes ...from unreported and unidentifiable tabulators...

Other Indications of Fulton Corruption

A one-in-a-billion ballot rejection rate

In 2020, Georgias ballot rejection rate was the lowest of all 50 states. In addition, Fulton Countys rate was only 1/7 of the state rate. I did a statistical analysis to determine the likelihood that Fultons rate would be only 1/7th of the state rate (assuming similar rejection standards were applied). The statistical odds were less than one in one billion. In addition, I compared Fulton to other counties of similar size, demographics, and per capita income. Again, the odds were less than one in one billion.

Voter signatures were not matched

An explanation for the ultra-low rejection rate was produced by a man named Mark Wingate, who served on the 2020 Election Board. Years after the election, Wingate testified (under oath) that he was told by Fulton County election personnel that Fulton did not do any signature matching. The lack of signature matching, in violation of election law, might explain why Garland Favorito found that only 6 ballots were rejected [county wide] and it should have been in the thousands. He also noted that the signature-matching machine used by Fulton County was not even operational.

Almost 18,000 votes cant be explained

In an election decided by just 11,800 votes, Fulton will not or cannot produce records to support almost 18,000 votes. There are no paper ballots or images. During my conversation with Garland Favorito, he pointed out that, under Georgia law, the lack of support for 18,000 votes would trigger a re-do of the election automatically.

Defying Georgia law to keep Republicans off the Elections Board

As I write this overview, Fulton County Democrats are refusing to seat two Republicans on the Fulton County Elections Board. This lawless action is in direct violation of a Fulton election ordinance:

Two members shall be appointed by the governing authority of Fulton County from nominations made by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the political party whose candidates received the second largest number of such votes [14-33].

The issue has been adjudicated in a courtroom, and the Democrats were found guilty of violating election law. On August 3, Superior Court Judge David Emerson ruled that Fulton County is required to seat the two Republican nominees. Because Democrats refused, the judge ruled (August 27) that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners is in contempt of court, and is required to pay $10,000 per day until the two Republicans are seated. The Democrats are appealing the order to seat Republicans on the board.

The relentless effort to withhold information

Fulton County corruption is also indicated by its persistent efforts to withhold information from Favorito, from VoterGA, from the State Election Board, and now from the Trump Department of Justice. During the last five years, while it fought to keep anyone from seeing its ballots, Fulton assured judges that 2020 ballots were being properly stored. Recently, however, it claims that the ballots are gone.

During a conversation with Garland Favorito, I asked if Fulton County was deliberately concealing wrongdoing. This was his response:

What they are hiding is that the results will not add up. The results that they certified do not match the ballot images.

Conclusion

After five years, people are starting to learn the truth about Georgias 2020 election. Who knows where this will end? Perhaps Pennsylvania will someday admit that it had 121,000 more 2020 ballots than voters.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA and the author of Debunked? An auditor reviews the 2020 election -- and the lessons learned. In that book, Joe argues that the 2020 election should not have been certified. In addition, Joe has assisted various attorneys representing January 6th defendants. His totally free substack account is found at joefriedcpa.substack.com.

Image: GA Board of Elections
There is a math problem with rushing out in response to a tragedy like Bondi Beach, as the Australian prime minister has done, to call for new ways to make it even harder for the general public to acquire and carry firearms with which to defend themselves. The average mass-shooting incident lasts about twelve minutes, with people dying from minute one. The average duration between the moment a mass-shooter starts firing and the moment police show up is about eighteen minutes. That means your best, if not your only chance to stop a would-be mass-shooter, more often than not, is a good guy with a gun who happens to be nearby.

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Australia prides itself on having the strictest gun-control laws in the world. In 1996, Australia passed gun control legislation requiring the public to turn in their firearms, which allowed the government to disarm a huge swath of the nation. What few firearms remained were required to be registered by serial number and the owners name with the government. While the number of firearms owned by private citizens has rebounded since the 1996 law, it remains absolutely illegal for private citizens to carry a firearm in public, concealed or otherwise, where it might be needed to defend against an attack.

As a result of these reforms, its a safe bet that no one anywhere near Bondi Beach had a weapon with which to defend himself or others. Witnesses report the shooters calmly fired and reloaded in complete safety for some twenty minutes. Had this crime unfolded in a similarly crowded public area of Texas, the shooters very likely would have met their maker in a matter of seconds, and some people who are gone today would be alive.

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According to The Federalist:

From 2014 to 2024, using the FBIs active-shooter definition (cases where a gun is fired in public, not part of some other type of crime), armed civilians stopped 199 of 562 incidents, preventing 35.4 percent of the attacksand this figure rises to 52.5 percent in locations where carry was allowed. By contrast, police stopped 167 incidents (29.7 percent). Advertisement

This statistic is possible in the U.S. because, while permitting requirements vary, it is lawful everywhere except New York and Washington D.C. to carry a firearm. Again, it is absolutely illegal to do so in Australia, which is why the shooters at Bondi Beach could take their time murdering sixteen people and wounding forty-two others with complete assurance that no one would shoot back.

The shooter at Brown University had that same assurance when he walked into a gun-free zone created to keep the students who were gathered there safe from gun violence. Only it stopped being a gun-free zone as soon as a bad guy with a gun walked in, and now we know the students were never really safe.

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The left is very embarrassed about the number of guns in America and is perennially apologizing to the rest of the world for this fact. Their tired refrain is that America has simply too many guns, generally, and that the easy availability of assault weapons, especially, is the primary driver of mass shootings. This is false.

New Hampshire has one of the highest gun-ownership rates in the nation. Over forty percent of households in New Hampshire have at least one firearm. Yet New Hampshire has the absolute lowest non-suicide gun-crime rate of any state in the nation, at about 1.1 per 100,000.

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In Switzerland, military service is mandatory for men, including training with a rifle or a pistol that they are required to keep at home after basic training. Over the years, roughly a quarter to one-half of all Swiss households have had a firearm. Yet the Swiss non-suicide gun-crime rate is 0.14 per 100,000.

As shown in Switzerland, the violence a country experiences is not a factor of how many guns its citizens have. The guns do not, after they reach a certain number, jump out of their owners closets and start shooting people. Norway has ten times the gun-ownership rate of the U.K. but only half the murder rate.

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Like Australia, the City of Chicago prides itself on its gun-control laws, which are some of the most restrictive in the nation. Yet Chicago has a non-suicide gun-crime rate of nearly 17.8 per 100,000 (down recently from a high of over 30 per 100,000), which is 16 times the rate in New Hampshire and 127 times the rate in Switzerland. The guns arent different in Chicago. The people who use them are.

Contrary to what you might have heard on CNN, that leftist bete noire, the AR-15 rifle, is not the root cause of our scourge of gun violence. The AR in AR-15 does not stand for assault rifle. Its an abbreviation of the name of the company (ArmaLite) that first introduced it in the 1950s. It is not a fully automatic weapon. The sale to civilians of fully automatic rifles (ones that fire continuously with a single trigger-pull) has been illegal in the USA since 1986.

In fact, long guns of any kind are only rarely used to commit crimes. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, between 2018 and 2022, ninety percent of all incidents of physical violence with a gun involved a handgun, not a rifle or a shotgun.

Most mass-shooting incidents in the U.S., including those before, during, and after the federal "assault-weapons" ban in the 1990s, have not involved assault rifles. Nor did the ban reduce mass-shooting deaths. According to The Violence Project, there were more mass-shooting fatalities in the decade during the federal ban (173) than in the decade before the ban (156). The law also did not stop the use of assault weapons to commit mass shootings. The Columbine shooting, among others that took place during the ban, involved banned weapons.

Whatever the reason that Australia has had fewer mass-shootings than the U.S. since 1996, Bondi Beach is proof positive that Australias gun-control laws are not it. The same is true in Europe. In 2015, Islamic terrorists, using Kalashnikov assault rifles banned in France and everywhere in the EU, mowed down ninety defenseless people in the Bataclan Theatre in Paris.

All of us lament that we live in a world where we must so often depend on a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun. But the idea that stricter gun-control laws are going to make us safer is a fairytale. Bondi Beach is only the latest in a long list of sad examples that believing in fairytales will get you killed.

Michael Hurley is a retired attorney and the author of several books.

Image generated by ChatGPT.
I didnt think I could have an even greater appreciation for the military than I already had until I read Johnny Joey Joness book, Unbroken Bonds of Battle: A Modern Warriors Book of Heroism, Patriotism, and Friendship. Recently I heard about his book, and was intrigued to know more about the Marines who signed up for Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD (the bomb squad): what motivated them to join the military, and particularly EOD, what that team demanded of them, and how they responded to the call.

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Jones included not only parts of his own story in this book, but the stories of about one dozen men and one woman who served with him. Many of them wrote their own essays, and Jones offered his own commentary to their essays.

Relationships

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Nearly everyone in the book shared the importance of their relationships with each other, their bonds, commitments, and the brotherhood that formed. One young Marine lost his Marine brother early on, and his brothers team rallied to take care of him:

Adam was being a good older brother and bringing Amos around to the EOD shop. On the day I learned of Adams death, I thought, We have to take care of Amos now. His brothers gone, but hes got all of us. Hes still welcome here. Hes one of us even if he is still a grunt. The kid needs a place where he can go and hang out and get away or find a place where he belongs. That was true in 2009, and its true now in 2023. Advertisement

Jones shares the importance of the relationships that bonded the teams, particularly the EOD teams. The courage, mindset, and commitment that the job required brought them all together in a way that no other service did:

The concept of brotherhood goes far beyond male bravado or acts of masculine performance. A brotherhood is a shared experience, and a reliance on others to be there for you, to understand what you re going through, and to offer help when you need it. In fact, the brotherhood of EOD, regardless of service, includes many women who do the job heroically alongside their brothers in arms. Advertisement

Service

Nearly every Marine talked about the importance of service and having a purpose. They wanted to give back to the country that had provided them with so much. They wanted to serve the American people and felt called to do just that. Here is one description of what it meant to serve:

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Choosing to serve offers people a path to a chosen family, an interwoven network of brothers and sisters who will have your back in adversity. Not the family one is born into, but blood brothers nonetheless. Not because they have the same blood in their veins, but because theyve spilt blood on faraway battlefields for the same purpose. Its a family thats one phone call away for the rest of your life.

One of the people that Jones came to know was black, and he described how his father had grown up during the Jim Crow period. But his father had a dream for his children, and he never gave up on that dream. He understood the importance of service and the role the military could play:

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That dream was for each of us to be able to do more. And the way you do more is by serving your country, because life in the military and being of service cuts through race, religion, color, and creed. Thats because service is service. It has no color. The bond is the bond among those who serve regardless of skin color or background. My father saw that the military was a place of equality and a means to make things better for the next.

Leadership

One commanding officers devotion may have been unmatched by any other leader in EOD. He made no secret of how he cared about the men who served with him, and he would not compromise watching out for them. He let everyone know that no matter what happened to them, he would be there for them:

In 2011, we were gone for seven months. I made good on that promise. That was one of the most dangerous deployments wed been through together. I spent more than twenty nights at field hospitals. I stood by the bedsides of men with gunshot wounds, some with catastrophic wounds from ordnance. It didnt matter what, didnt matter if they were conscious, asleep, awake, or if they knew I was there and acknowledged it or not. I kept my promise.

Faith

Many Marines described their experience of God, whether they were hunting in a deer blind and considering suicide, or whether they were slowly healing from devastating wounds in the hospital:

Im grateful for Gods love, grace, and mercy through all my struggles. I remember one of the first church services I attended through my struggles while trying to find healing. The pastor said, If you are struggling with God, why dont you look up the meaning of your name? God put your name in your parents head because of the plan He had for your life, and there is a reason why you are named what you are. So I looked mine up. Amos biblically means able to carry.

Joey Jones closed the book with these words directed to all of us:

Our unbroken bonds, forged on many battlefields, are not the lingering resentment of wars but the resolute resilience of those who fight them. Now its your turn. Find brothers and sisters in tragedies and triumphs God and life throw your way. Lean in to those who choose to fight with you and let those who might be willing help you get back up when youre knocked down. Be there for them as well, as warriors are for one another. Find your unbroken bonds in the battle of life and tell stories of victory and defeat, long into old age, as we hope to do.

May we all feel called to take up this challenge in our own lives.

Image: Book cover.
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From Wikimedia Commons: A View of London Bridge Before the Late Alterations (Samuel Scott, 1758)

In the annals of civilizational decline, few spectacles rival that of a once-mighty empire wilting under the weight of its own timidity. Britain, the cradle of parliamentary democracy, Magna Carta, and the Enlightenments unyielding torch, now teeters on the brink of self-inflicted oblivion. The antithesis of multicultural harmony, the year 2025 brings another pitiful surrender to the forces of Islamic extremism, a phenomenon chillingly encapsulated by Melanie Phillips in her prescient 2006 tome Londonistan.

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Phillips, a Cassandra of our age, warned of Londons metamorphosis into a terror state within, a hub for jihadist recruitment and financing, born of a toxic brew: the collapse of British identity, the paralysis of multiculturalism, and an elites craven fear of the Islamophobia epithet. Nearly two decades later, her prophecies have ossified into reality. Under the slick populism of Mayor Sadiq Khan, Londononce the beating heart of Western libertyhas devolved into a cauldron of knife assaults by immigrant gangs, appeasing police, who cower before Sharia vigilantism, and a surge in antisemitism that drives Jews to contemplate exodus. Britains trajectory is the inexorable outcome of ideological surrender: a movement from ordered civilization towards anarchy and Islamic barbarism. To ignore this is to abdicate responsibility for action.

Melanie Phillipss Londonistan was a forensic dissection of Britains self-sabotage. Drawing on exhaustive evidencefrom the fatwa against Salman Rushdie to the unchecked proliferation of Islamist mosquesshe exposed how the British establishment, in thrall to relativism, allowed radical Islam to metastasize. The capital, dubbed Londonistan by exasperated European intelligence agencies, became a safe haven for extremists like Abu Qatada and Omar Bakri Muhammad, who preached jihad under the noses of MI5. Phillips argued that this was no accident: the erosion of Christianity and national pride created a vacuum filled by a virulent form of multiculturalism that equated Western critique with bigotry.

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Today, that vacuum yawns wider. The 7/7 bombings of 2005, perpetrated by British-born Muslims radicalized in Londonistans madrassas, were but a harbinger. By 2025, Islamist influence permeates public life, from pro-Hamas marches that paralyze Trafalgar Square to school curricula whitewashing jihad as resistance. Phillipss indictment rings truer than ever: Britains supine reaction to extremismexemplified by the failure to deport hate preachershas normalized the abnormal. The result? A city where halal slaughterhouses outnumber butchers guilds, and Eid celebrations eclipse Remembrance Day. Rather than diversity, this is dominion, a creeping Muslim takeover orchestrated by demographic momentum and elite complicity.

Critics dismiss Phillips as alarmist, yet the data belie their complacency. The Office for National Statistics reported a 16% surge in knife-related offenses from 2023 to 2024, disproportionately linked to gang violence in immigrant-heavy boroughs like Tower Hamlets and Newham. While official figures shy from ethnic breakdownslest they inflame tensionsanecdotal evidence abounds: stabbings by Afghan and Somali youths, typically over drug turf wars imported from failed states. John Cleese, that wry bard of British eccentricity, captured the zeitgeist in 2011 when he lamented, London is no longer an English city, a sentiment echoed in 2019 as he decried its unrecognizable transformation under multicultural deluge.

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Enter Sadiq Khan, Londons mayor since 2016 and the poster child for this perfidious populism. Elected on promises of unity, Khan has presided over a tenure marred by denial and deflection, his Muslim identity weaponized to shield Islamist excesses. Critics like Tory MP Lee Anderson have thundered that Islamists have got control of Khan, who has given our capital city away to his mates. While Andersons rhetoric invites charges of Islamophobiaa slur that Khan deploys with alacritythe substance endures scrutiny. Under Khan, hate crimes have skyrocketed: a 120% rise in antisemitic incidents and 67% in Islamophobic ones from 2023 to 2024 (cf. Metropolitan Police data). Yet Khans response? Platitudes about shared endeavor, funding workshops that challenge hate without naming the elephant: Islamist antisemitism fueling the fire.

Nowhere is Khans denial more egregious than in the scourge of rape gangs. Echoing Rotherhams horrorswhere Pakistani men systematically raped 1,400 girls amid police fears of racism accusationsLondon harbors its own shadows. Khan, as police commissioner, has stonewalled inquiries, insisting that Londons woes stem from county lines drugs, not rape gangs preying on white girls. When pressed by Tory Susan Hall in 2025, he feigned ignorance nine times: Im not clear what she means. This semantic sleight-of-hand mocks victims. Retired detective Jon Wedger, who in 2006 uncovered 50 abused London children, accuses Khan of making a mockery out of semantics, as social services bury evidence to avoid extra work. Khans office parrots that they combat exploitation in all forms, but the Mets reluctance speaks volumes: a 2025 national inquiry, spurred by Baroness Caseys report, finally probes Londons underbelly, revealing disproportionate Pakistani involvementyet Khan demurs.

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Khans slickness lies in his duality: a human rights barrister by trade, he postures as a bulwark against bigotry while enabling it. His failure to curb pro-Palestine marcheswhere Jews to the gas chants echo unpunishedhas emboldened extremists. As the Community Security Trust logs 1,500 antisemitic incidents in early 2025, Khan hosts iftars in Trafalgar Square, a performative piety that elides the barbarism. This is populism untethered from principle: a mayor, who requires royal-level security due to Islamist threats, yet prioritizes community cohesion over candor.

Khans London is a blades edge, literally. Though official stats evade immigrant links, the pattern is undeniable: assaults by young men from migrant enclaves, wielding machetes in Muslim patrols that enforce Sharia on unwilling Brits. In Tower Hamlets, hooded vigilantes pour alcohol into drains and berate women for exposing themselves, videos boasting Islam will take over the world. The Mets response? Arrests after public outcry, but systemic timidity prevails.

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This appeasement traces to a police force emasculated by Islamophobia paranoia. In 2011, Tower Hamlets Islamization campaignthreats, arsons, assaults on infidelswas covered up lest officers face bigotry charges. As former sergeant Javaria Saeed revealed in 2016, Met brass ignored Muslim officers extremist viewscomments that would sack white colleaguesto dodge racism tags. By 2025, the rot persists: during Gaza-linked riots, police prioritize de-escalation over enforcement, allowing kill the non-believers taunts to fester. Such cowardice breeds anarchy, where blades replace ballots and barbarism supplants the bobby on the beat.

No metric better gauges civilizations loss than the Jewish plight. Britains 300,000 Jews, heirs to Disraeli and Montefiore, now eye the exits as antisemitism surges 208% from 2022 to 2023, with a sharp rise post-10/7. Incidents recorded by the Community Security Trustswastikas on synagogues, assaults in Golders Greensignal a pogroms prelude. This venom, imported via Islamist channels, fuses Quranic tropes of Jewish treachery with European conspiracism, amplified by Qatar-funded mosques and Hamas apologists.

Under Khan, the betrayal stings deepest. Despite signing AJCs anti-antisemitism pledge in 2016, his tenure sees Jews feeling unsafe nationwide: 35% in 2025 (compared to 9% in 2023), according to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Pro-Hamas rallies, unchecked, spew gas the Jews bile, yet Khan decries critics as divisive. Echoing the 1948 Jewish exodus from Arab lands800,000 fleeing pogroms and expulsionsUK Jews ponder Israel or America. As Matthew dAncona wrote after the Manchester synagogue attack: The Jewish suitcase is back in the hall. This is the death knell of tolerance, where dhimmis supplant Democrats.

Britains arc bends towards chaos. Knife-wielding patrols enforce parallel laws. Morally confused, police officers kneel to sensitivities. Antisemitism, a far-right relic before the time of mass migration, thrives among Islamists, as does jihadist supremacism, with 84% of 264 identified rape-gang offenders found to be South Asian (cf. the Quilliam Foundations 2017 report). Civilizationrule of law, free speech, Judeo-Christian ethosfrays as Sharia courts multiply.

This barbarism is no clash of civilizations but a conquest by default. Phillips warned of a half-Sharia, half-post-Enlightenment dystopia; we inhabit it. Khans London, Cleeses unrecognizable metropolis, heralds a Britain bartered away.

If only the British people would unite and show the courage to reclaim Britain, deporting Islamist warriors, restoring the rule of law, and affirming the superiority of Western values. However, the reality is dismal. One fine day, with the caliphate in place, Big Ben will toll for a lost civilization.
Derek Hook, Professor of Psychology at Duquesne University, a Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently took to X to defend the quote, white people should commit suicide as an ethical act.

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Dr. Hook, who is white, claimed the statement was an opportunity to castrate whiteness.

How is this not hate speech?

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In related news, a TikTok video created by a male Somali immigrant has gone viral. Why? Well, in the video, the man says of white American citizens: You work all f***ing day  thank you for working so hard so I can be home all day free. Go to work for me white boy  go to work for me you f***ing white animals!

Somalian in the US mocks Americans:



You work all f*cking day Thank you for working so hard so I can be home all day free. Go to work for me white boy Go to work for me you f*cking white animals!



WE WANT HIS IMMEDIATE ARREST AND DEPORTATION LIVESTREAMED PLEASE @Sec_Noem pic.twitter.com/DprvgeX9mc  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 16, 2025

Lovely sentiment.

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In other related news, an Italian school has removed the name of Jesus from Christmas carols so as not to offend the other religions practiced by students of foreign origin. Removing Christ from Christmas carols? So as not to offend, um, you-know-who?

Im sure other religions have done likewise. For example, I know that a great many Muslims often remove the Prophet Muhammad from their religious texts and conversations so as not to offend Christians. Right? There are now a great many Muhammads, Mohammeds, Mohammads, Mohameds, Mouhameds, etc., around, all of whom Im sure will be willing to temporarily forego their names at times for fear of offending practitioners of other religions. (Bob, Al, Jack, Bubba, and other names should suffice to serve as temporary monikers.)

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In still other related news, federal authorities last week foiled a credible terrorist threat, arresting four members of a pro-Palestinian extremist group who were allegedly planning coordinated New Years Eve bombings in Los Angeles.

For many years, huge crowds have gathered at the Champs-Elysees in Paris to ring in the new year with fireworks and concerts. Lights and music. But not this year. French authorities have determined that even the 6,000 or so police officers that were deployed to secure the event last year are not enough to prevent a terror attack. From Lutherans? Catholics? Buddhists? Capricorns? They didnt say.

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Moreover, according to FrontPage Magazine, a New Years Eve festival scheduled to take place on Australias Bondi Beach has been cancelled by the local eastern Sydney council following the recent massacre of attendees at a Jewish holiday celebration. Celebrations have also been cancelled in Tokyo, Belgrade, and other cities.

So here we are, in the year 2025 -- and fear of crime, illegal immigrants, and radical Islam has succeeded in getting many Western cities to shutter their Christmas markets and cancel New Year's celebrations.

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What a fitting tale of the cravenness of todays West. This would have been inconceivable decades, nay, even a few years ago.

But first came the attacks, and then heightened security, and then, incredibly, louder and louder screams of Islamophobia! from our leaders. Remarkable. And sickening. And so now, in too many places, Christmas and New Years gatherings have been cancelled.

And make no mistake, The Lefts love of big government, wokeness, lack of standards, DEI, power, unfettered immigration  and its hatred of its own countries are to blame.

Throw in the spineless and craven actions -- or inactions -- of too many Republicans/conservatives and there you have it. We are abandoning our Lord and losing hope in the year -- and years -- to come.

Is this what we were promised? Is this what diversity, tolerance, and inclusion were supposed to achieve, the erasure of our own traditions, beliefs, laws, and observances? If it is, we have been duped and/or are complicit.

When does the general populace, the taxpaying Western citizen, stand up en masse and yell Im as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore! ala Peter Finch in the movie Network?

It better be soon or it wont be just the Christmas markets and New Years celebrations that will go dark.

Suicide bombers and other terrorists try to frighten us and damage our countries. But it is our lack of forceful response and resolve that could lead to our  and our nations  demise.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
We recently endured the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown as part of a fight over expiring healthcare tax credits. Democrats insist that Americans cant afford Obamacare plans without the enhanced subsidies that were temporarily added post-COVID, which certainly raises questions about the efficacy of their Affordable Care Act.

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On top of proving a massive waste of time, the shutdown fight represented a misdirection of lawmaker energy. Rather than debating whether to paper over the healthcare affordability problem with yet another layer of subsidies, Congress instead should focus on finding cost-savings common ground like eliminating the abuse of the 340B drug discount program by large hospitals.

Created in 1992, 340B was intended to help hospitals and clinics serving vulnerable populations by allowing them to buy outpatient drugs from pharmaceutical manufacturers at steep discounts. These hospitals could then stretch those savings to fund charity care and community health. But thats not what is happening.

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Today, the program has ballooned into a multi-billion-dollar revenue stream for large health systems that often do little to serve the underserved. Hospitals buy drugs at 340B discounts -- sometimes 50% or more below list price -- and then turn around and bill Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers at full price. Worse, many uninsured patients see no savings at all.

According to the Government Accountability Office, 340B hospitals on average have significantly higher drug spending than their non-340B peers. Many simply pocket the margin. There is no legal requirement that they use the proceeds to help low-income patients, and a growing body of research suggests they often do not.

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Hospitals receive 37% of all Medicare spending and 32% of all Medicaid spending, which is around $650 billion per year. That flood of government money has created a perverse set of incentives: dependency, rent-seeking, and misaligned priorities.

The 340B program is perhaps the most egregious case. Large nonprofit hospital systems, especially those in well-insured urban areas, have mastered the art of exploiting the program. They qualify based on serving a nominally high share of Medicaid patients, but in practice distribute their 340B drugs through sprawling networks, including contract pharmacies in affluent zip codes, with no assurance that poor patients are actually benefiting.

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The Bon Secours scandal in Richmond, Virginia, is emblematic. Bon Secours Mercy Health reaped 340B discounts intended for indigent care while aggressively expanding its services into higher-income neighborhoods, effectively subsidizing profitable care with taxpayer-backed discounts.

Meanwhile, the IRS tax exemption for nonprofit hospitals is supposed to be justified by a need to encourage charity care. But according to independent estimates, there is a $26 billion gap between the value of these tax breaks and the actual charity care provided. The worst offenders? The hospitals with more than $100 million in tax-free revenue annually.

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Fortunately, bipartisan momentum is building to fix 340B. Proposed reforms include increased transparency, stricter eligibility standards, and tighter rules on who qualifies as a 340B patient. Theres no reason why both sides cant come together to fix such an obviously flawed policy that distorts health markets, raises drug costs, and wastes taxpayer resources.

Fixing 340B wont solve the fundamental problems in our healthcare system. But unlike the performative battles of the last shutdown, this is a place where real savings and real reforms are within reach.

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Image: SharonDawn
Radical Jesuit left-wing 'America' magazine, which famously made "The Catholic Case for Communism" in 2019, has come up with a new one: That DEI, the preference of skin color over merit in hiring, is now part of the Catholic religion.

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Whatever did the Church do before DEI? Two thousand years of saints and doctrine, and somehow, no DEI. But that's the convenient-for-lefties claim now: Believe in DEI as an article of faith, advance it, promote it, and resist any effort to stop it, or it's off to Hell for you.

According to the publication, which made the babbly, none-too-articulate piece subscription-free:

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President Trumps executive orders do not merely misunderstand racism, they obscure it. The orders make no acknowledgment of historical injustice, structural discrimination or the conditions that created current racial disparities. They treat present distributions of wealth, opportunity and power as legitimate baselines requiring no examination. This approach simply starts from today and asks only whether current policies treat individuals identically, as if history began this morning. More troubling, the orders perform a rhetorical inversion: They redefine race-conscious remedies as discrimination rather than recognizing the ongoing harm of the historical injustices those remedies address. For instance, the administration claims that its executive order regarding these issues faithfully advances the Constitutions promise of colorblind equality, and boasts that it is the most important federal civil rights measure in decades. In other words, the administration is invoking the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enacted to dismantle structures of racial oppression, to dismantle programs designed to remedy that oppression. The legal architecture to secure civil rights is turned on its head against those rights. Advertisement

Speaking of inversion -- this piece comes out as Glenn Reynold's powerful New York Post essay, on the nightmare of reverse-discrimination, featured on RealClearPolitics, came out, too:

The wholesale adoption of diversity, equity and inclusion ideology in almost all our major institutions has done untold damage to American society. Advertisement It was advertised as something noble  a way to open opportunities for women and minorities who had been unfairly denied them. But through a combination of bureaucratic laziness and political malice, DEI soon became something approaching a ban on hiring millennial white males at the beginning of their careers. Advertisement The harm goes far beyond the wreckage it imposed on those young men. ... Advertisement That became undeniable last week when Compact magazine published The Lost Generation, a detailed expose of DEIs impact by Jacob Savage, a writer who suffered it directly. The doors seemed to close everywhere and all at once, Savage writes. In 2011 . . . white men were 48% of lower-level TV writers; by 2024, they accounted for just 11.9%. The Atlantics editorial staff went from 53% male and 89% white in 2013 to 36% male and 66% white in 2024. And so on, Savage recounts, in one prestige industry after another. Crucially, the burden of diversifying the American workplace didnt fall on all white men. Boomers and GenX executives were too senior to fire, had friends in their various industries and had experience that few minority candidates could offer. It was new hires, and junior employees looking to move up, who were shut out. And shut out they were: Savage offers not only statistics, but compelling personal stories of white men in various fields whose careers were stifled by officially sanctioned discrimination. Many aiming for lucrative careers were sidelined into menial jobs as their opportunities dried up overnight  as others with comparable or lesser qualifications were fast-tracked.

So shutting out a whole class of people from any job opportunities in their own country, which is what happened to young white men since 2014's institutionalization of DEI, is suddenly being promoted as Catholic teaching.

Update: Education, too:

It will soon be common knowledge that China was helping to push DEI and the anti-standardized test movement in our country



Due to systemic discrimination, America kept an entire generation of White male talent out of our top schools, companies, and institutions. pic.twitter.com/R8UsrsxEDH  Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) December 16, 2025

One of the most interesting tidbits in the viral Compact story on DEI is how foreign whites are twice as likely to get tenure in academia, partly because they don't count as "white" on the stats.



DEI really is just a war to dispossess America's historic majority population. pic.twitter.com/x7UzeNQFFD  Blake Neff (@BlakeSNeff) December 16, 2025

The author, Gloria Purvis, who's clearly a DEI beneficiary herself (see her Wikipedia page) clad in her wokester cowrie-shells (instead of, say, a cross) for her picture, starts out with a diatribe about President Trump with his remarks about the Africa-level corruption of Somali migrants, and his characterization of one of them (she falsely makes it all of them) as 'garbage,' with no reference to the vast sea of corruption Trump was addressing.

Then she veers into a different topic, euphemizing DEI programs as just a little "discomfort," nothing to be concerned about -- like a too-narrow airline seat or a shot from a nurse -- for those shut out of the entire job market based on being young and white. Reynolds wrote that the inability to find work despite a good economy and a need for skills had myriad knock-on effects, which Reynolds noted includes unformed families and a suicide epidemic for those same young people.

Seems flaming injustice and the destruction of a whole class of people is just a little 'discomfort.'

Eric Hoffer explained people like this in his 1955 bestseller, "The Passionate State of Mind," writing: Those who would sacrifice a generation to realize an ideal are the enemies of mankind. So meet Gloria Purvis.

Meanwhile, in Purvis's tweet, she tells those marginalized by DEI that they're supposed to like being shut out of the job market for the rest of their lives because it's good for them.

The discomfort D.E.I. produces in beneficiaries of structural advantage is the inevitable consequence of repair. Detachment from things frees us to be just. https://t.co/9oMLrBPJ2E  Gloria Purvis (@gloria_purvis) December 23, 2025

See, it frees them "to be just," seeing that they were such bad guys for working hard, getting a non-gut-major degree, and wickedly expecting to get a non-Walmart-greeter job from it.

Now they are "free" to "be just" with all the poverty and loneliness that come of being marginalized for that supposed freedom to be just, all based on the non-DEI color of their skin. Reynolds also wrote that the old white guys do fine, the young white guys pay the entire price, and with big, big government, owing to all this racist bean-counting, you can bet the economic pie is not going to expand.

I'd be curious if Purvis views the injustice black people's ancestors experienced (not the DEI-enriched class of today) as something that made them "free to be just," too.

Purvis isn't a backwoods academic -- she's in tight with the leftist power structure of the Church. Her Wiki says she spent two hours telling Pope Francis all about what a racist hellhole America was, which, given that he'd never been to the States and knew pretty much nothing about the U.S. otherwise, is probably where he got his ignorant ideas from.

But it also gave her a preachy sense of believing that anything that popped into her mind or that supported leftist political causes was as good as Catholic doctrine, which is kind of disgusting. She's apparently been like this for years, puffed up by DEI advancement. Her Wiki doesn't say why she got her radio show pulled from EWTN in 2020 -- but this piece from the National Catholic Reporter tells us it was because she was using the religious broadcaster as a political soapbox for racialist stridency and driving away sponsors, and no doubt, listeners. She found a perfect home at Jesuit-run America.

She babbles about 'structural sin' as the U.S.'s story, ignoring that a structure that shuts out a whole class of white men from all meaningful jobs is the structural sin of today, and then cites a contextless passage from Pope St. John Paul II that supposedly 'proves' the merit of her argument for DEI-as-doctrine. She cites a lot of other well-known theological truisms, among them the Liberation Theology 'preferential option for the poor' as her justification to exclude whites from their own society.

She even weasel-words it out that DEI should be a "well-designed" program, not going into what might be well-designed -- or the actual reality on the ground that it isn't. In her low-theology mind, younger whitey 200 years removed from slavery is just racist, so whitey needs to be shut out of society and impoverished by DEI as an article of faith.

It's disgusting, a new low for America magazine, which laps up this slop because it's lost its faith long ago, and like poor Rob Reiner, who lost his creativity when his son got out of control, has turned to fanatical politics as a substitute. Eric Hoffer knew about people like these, too, and documented them with rigor in his 1951 True Believer, a book that, like real Catholic doctrine, (and unlike this nonsense) has never been out of print.

Purvis can have any politics she wants. But to make her bad politics and failed policies into 'religion' is clearly the mark of a political creed that has run out of steam and now needs to pretend that God is backing it. That's outrageous.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
If hard data doesnt count as evidence to the journalists at NBC News, then I wonder what does? Earlier this month, the outlet published an item that claimed a new document from the Trump Administration was making unfounded claims about civilizational erasure in Europe, which the items two authors called an echo of a white nationalist conspiracy theory that whites in white-majority countries are being replaced by third world peoples.

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A new national security document released by the White House late Thursday claimed without evidence that Europe is facing civilizational erasure and will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less due to immigration [snip] Advertisement The document has no listed author but features a foreword by Trump. The president calls the document a roadmap to ensure America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history. The comments on immigration echo the great replacement theory, experts told NBC News, a debunked white nationalist conspiracy theory that white populations are being replaced by immigrants from majority nonwhite nations, particularly from Africa. Advertisement

Whats ironic is that these authors dont even need to check the data, this reality is observable. See here:

And here:

And here:

But, lets look at the data anyway. From Remix News today:

[I]n Brussels, 72.9 percent of children and youth aged 0-17 have a migration background from outside the European Union or were born outside the EU, according to StatBel, the official government statistic organization. Remarkably, only 10.56 percent in this age group are Belgians of exclusively Belgian origin.

Another Remix article reported that 2025 was the 13th consecutive year where the German government admitted more than 100,000 refugees. Thats at least 1.3 million people in the last 13 yearspeople who likely arent able, or probably even willing, to assimilate, from third-world hellholes with third-world hellhole attitudes and beliefs, that are no doubt going to be public charges, and of course, breeding out of control.

Then, weve got the decline in white births:

Most of Europe has fertility rates below replacement levels. Whites will likely represent a shrinking share of the human population pic.twitter.com/5UMnZcWlHk  The Rabbit Hole (@TheRabbitHole) September 7, 2025

Combining those two factors, it seems inarguable that civilizational erasure is in fact occurring:

Did you know there's not a single white British child in 72 schools across England.



In 454 schools White British Children make up less than 2% of the students



And White British Children are a minority in a QUARTER of UK Schools



But apparently this isn't ethnic cleansing pic.twitter.com/fp2sAPWQXg  Basil the Great (@BasilTheGreat) November 20, 2025

And here:

The white British population in London has gone from 98% in 1961 to 37% in 2021. This is not immigration, it is replacement. pic.twitter.com/SxUrLhUEyK  RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) December 3, 2023

So white civilization is disappearingthrough policybut thats not erasure? Make it make sense.

Image: H. Grobe, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
The recent admission by Ann Brumbaugh, attorney for the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections, that 315,000 illegally certified votes were included in Georgias 2020 final vote totals, has once again raised the issue of the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.

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After the 2024 election, the New York Times published An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2024 Election, showing a rightward shift in precincts across the country. Commentators have explained this as a surge in Trumps support. But the map tells another story: The real shift came from a dramatic drop in Democrat votes between 2020 and 2024. That decline and reports like the one from Fulton County raise troubling questions about what really happened in 2020.

Kamala Harris received 6.2 million fewer votes in 2024 than Joe Biden did in 2020. Trumps vote total rose by about 3 million from 2020 to 2024. That leaves more than 3 million votes unaccounted for. Did millions of Biden voters simply stay home? Or were a large number of 2020 ballots never legitimate to begin with?

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Adding to the intrigue, the Election Lab at the University of Florida reports that the voting-eligible population (VEP) grew by 4 million between 2020 and 2024 but turnout fell by 3.4 million. More Americans were eligible to vote in 2024 than in 2020, but fewer ballots were cast. That is unusual. Historically, a growing electorate produces higher turnout, not lower.

Vote.org reports that more than one million new voters registered before the 2024 election. Tufts CIRCLE found that Harris carried the youth vote by 4 points, 51 to 47%. Assuming that figure held for new voters, most of whom were young, Harris underperformed Biden by even more than 6.2 million votes seen in the raw vote total. Harriss deficit was at least 6.7 million votes. If the votes didnt go to Trump, where did they go?

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The historical record makes the 2020 voting surge stand out even more. As the chart below shows, turnout as a share of the VEP jumped to 65.3% in 2020  the highest in modern history  before slipping back to 63.9% in 2024. That spike, followed by a decline  despite a larger VEP  is an anomaly that demands explanation.

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Figure 1: U.S. presidential election turnout as a percentage of the Voting Eligible Population (19802024). Source: United States Elections Project, Michael McDonald, University of Florida.

The long-term historical trend tells the same story, but even more dramatically. When turnout is measured as a share of the total U.S. population, the 2020 election stands out as a spike, followed by a decline in 2024.

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Image: cagdesign via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
ATLANTA, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 100 Black Men of America, Inc., the nation's preeminent African American mentoring and leadership development organization, today announced its partnership with Operation HOPE's newly launched HOPE AI initiative, a national strategy designed to transform financial literacy and expand equitable access to artificial intelligence education and tools.

As a founding partner in this unprecedented collaboration, The 100 will help drive community-based engagement, outreach, and education that empowers youth, families, and adults with the knowledge and digital readiness required to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy. The partnership directly supports the organization's Economic Empowerment program pillar, which equips individuals from underserved and at-risk communities with the skills, tools, and resources needed to build financial stability and long-term economic mobility. It also connects with the work and strategy of the 100 Black Men of America's Technology Committee

"The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence represents both extraordinary opportunity and significant risk for our communities," said Milton H. Jones, Jr., Chairman of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. "For over 40 years, The 100 has worked to close opportunity gaps through leadership in mentoring, health and wellness ,education, and economic empowerment. Partnering with Operation HOPE to launch HOPE AI strengthens our commitment to ensuring that Black youth and families are not merely included in the future economy--but fully prepared to lead within it."

Launched by Operation HOPE and Chairman, Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant, the HOPE AI initiative brings together several of the nation's most influential nonprofit organizations to build a national blueprint that expands financial literacy, digital competency, and responsible AI readiness.

"This partnership with 100 Black Men of America represents the best of what is possible when mission-driven organizations come together to create lasting change," said John Hope Bryant. "The 100 has a decades-long legacy of uplifting communities and cultivating leaders. Their engagement in the HOPE AI initiative ensures that millions more Americansespecially those historically left behindgain access to the knowledge, technology, and economic opportunity they deserve."

Through this partnership, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. will collaborate with Operation HOPE to implement educational content, experiential learning opportunities, and community outreach programs that help individuals:

Understand the role of AI in the modern financial landscape

Strengthen digital and economic decision-making skills

Build pathways to entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, and wealth creation

This joint initiative is expected to mobilize mentors, educators, and volunteers across 100 Black Men of America, Inc.'s national network of chapters, amplifying impact at the local and national levels.

About 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

The 100 Black Men of America is the world's largest volunteer network of Black men focused on mentoring minority youth. The national organization began with nine chapters in 1986. The first chapter was founded in New York City in 1963. The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is a national alliance of leading African American men in business, public affairs, and government. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for African Americans, with a specific focus on African American youth. Since its inception, the organization has grown to more than 5,000 members, with 102 chapters that impact more than 100,000 underserved and underrepresented minority youth every year. Visit www.100blackmen.org for more information on the programs and initiatives of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and their global network of chapters.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserveddisrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communitiesturning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

SOURCE 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Burnham acknowledged the unacceptable discrimination and the pain and suffering caused by police failures (AFP/Getty)

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has apologised for historic police failings towards LGBTQ+ people.

In a letter to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, who have been seeking apologies for the past homophobic persecution of LGBTQ+ people by UK police forces, Mr Burnham acknowledged the unacceptable discrimination and the pain and suffering caused by police failures.

He said: There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the LGBTQ+ community historically were treated shamefully by this country and clearly subject to discrimination in many ways.

That discrimination did not only play out in policing, but in all public services and beyond, though I of course acknowledge the distinct consequences of discriminatory and targeted policing.

Fortunately, as you acknowledge, things have moved dramatically forward since the 1980s and 1990s.

He continued: As Mayor of Greater Manchester, I acknowledge the unacceptable discrimination and the pain and suffering it caused. I apologise to all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester and across the UK for the past failing of GMP in this regard.

Mr Burnhams comment comes as Greater Manchester Police chief constable Sir Stephen Watson has faced criticism for refusing to apologise on behalf of his force, as he said that to do so could be seen as superficial and merely performative.

GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has said apologising could be seen as performative (PA Wire)

Activist Peter Tatchell has said that Greater Manchester Police was once one of the most homophobic police forces in the UK, citing comments made by 1980s chief constable Sir James Anderton who said that gay men dying of Aids were swirling around in a human cesspit of their own making.

Motivated by his homophobic religious beliefs, he ordered the police to go after LGBTs.

More than 20 chief constables across the UK have apologised for their history of homophobia, including those for City of London, Sussex, Merseyside, Police Scotland, Northumberland, and Durham. The Police Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police has also apologised.

Mr Tatchell said that GMP has so far refused to do the same. We urge Stephen Watson to do so.

The Independent understands that there is no change in GMPs stance at this stage.

The Greater Manchester Mayor commented on Sir Stephens comments, acknowledging in his letter that while the Chief Constable hadnt acceded Mr Tatchells request, he believed it was considered and respectful.

Peter Tatchell has been campaigning for recognition from forces about the homophobic past of the police (PA)

It is important for me to point out that Mayors and Police and Crime commissioners have no statutory powers to instruct chief constables, as in law they are operationally independent.

Mr Tatchell said: I am grateful to Andy Burnham for his clear and unequivocal apology for the historic mistreatment of LGBT+ people by Greater Manchester Police.

However, it is deeply disappointing that the Chief Constable continues to refuse to say sorry. A mayoral apology, welcome though it is, cannot substitute for an apology from the police force that carried out these abuses.

An official GMP apology would be a powerful act of accountability, reconciliation and trust-building with LGBT+ communities. We urge the Chief Constable to follow the example set by Mayor Burnham and other police chiefs across Britain.

Our foundation will continue to campaign for a full and formal apology from Greater Manchester Police.
Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has clashed repeatedly with the authorities. Photograph: Tatan Syuflana/AP (Photograph: Tatan Syuflana/AP)

Tech visionary, Kremlin dissident, FSB agent, free speech absolutist, health guru. These are just some of the labels admirers and critics have attached to Pavel Durov over the past decade.

The Russian-born tech entrepreneur founded Russias version of Facebook before going on to create the messaging app Telegram, launch a cryptocurrency ecosystem and amass a multibillion-dollar fortune, all while clashing repeatedly with authorities in Russia and beyond.

But much of Durovs real story  and the logic that drives him  remains obscured.

A new biography aims to change that.

The Populist, by the independent Russian writer Nikolay Kononov, traces the 41-year-olds rise from a St Petersburg schoolboy science prodigy to the founder of Telegram, one of the worlds most influential communications platforms, which has more than a billion users.

Kononov describes the book as the product of a 14-year attempt to map Durovs strategy and mindset, drawing on conversations with Durov himself and people who worked with him, as well as rivals and critics.

The books title, he said, refers to a thread running through Durovs life: his desire to address Telegrams millions of users directly, allowing him to bypass institutions, the press and any system of representation.

Durov is one of the first digital populists, Kononov said in an interview, explaining that from the very beginning, as soon as he started making his digital products, he programmed into them the ability to write and communicate his ideas directly to his audience..

Both VKontakte, Durovs first venture, and Telegram have at times pushed messages from Durov directly to all users, including users who had not opted in, outlining his libertarian worldview.

He sees himself as a visionary. And obviously wants to be heard, the author said.

That strategy has helped promote Durovs central promise  almost absolute freedom of expression  even as Telegram has become a go-to tool for dissidents, extremists, scammers and war propagandists.

If Durovs public brand is built on libertarianism, Kononov says his private management style points in the opposite direction: power concentrated in one mans hands, with few visible checks.

He is essentially the only one making all the product decisions at Telegram, Kononov said. Marketing, PR  its a one-man show.

The portrait he draws is of a tech founder whose worldview has not wavered over the years, remaining most comfortable within an ultra-libertarian, anti-institutional strand of the right that is often misogynistic and, at times, conspiratorial.

What surprised me most is that Durov hasnt changed or evolved in all the years that I have interviewed him, Kononov said.

Durov is not an outlier, Kononov writes, but part of a broader new wave of moguls  most visibly in the US  who pair technological dominance with an outsized sense of personal mythology and a deep suspicion of government constraint.

Like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and Jeff Bezos, he has shown a strong interest in longevity science as well as pronatalism, the belief that having as many children as possible is a social or civilisational duty.

Durov does not drink or use drugs, Kononov says, regularly dispenses spartan health advice  often alongside photos of him shirtless  and has said he has fathered dozens of children through sperm donation.

One of the books most striking sections tells for the first time of Durovs tense early meeting with President Vladimir Putin in 2013, held behind closed doors.

Kononov writes that Durov described the encounter as a one-way conversation, in which the Kremlin leader reprimanded him over illegal content on Vkontakte and suggested that Durov leave the country.

Under pressure from the authorities, Durov sold his stake in Vkontakte, left Russia and eventually settled in Dubai, where he founded Telegram.

But the clearest mark on Durov in recent years, Kononov suggests, came not from Russia but from France.

Durov, who also holds French citizenship, was detained and held for three days in France in August last year as part of an investigation into crimes linked to Telegram, including the circulation of child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions.

His detention came as a shock to the tech mogul. In interviews conducted in Paris after his arrest, Durov described to Kononov a harsh, disorienting ordeal  a permanently lit cell and little sleep  that rattled a man who had spent years insulating himself from the reach of the state.

It also appears to have sharpened his hostility towards the west. Kononov says Durov now frames Europe as sliding toward total digital control, and increasingly conspiratorial rhetoric.

Most recently, Durov appeared to endorse a conspiracy theory promoted by the far-right blogger Candace Owens, suggesting that Paris was behind the killing of Charlie Kirk.

What interests me about Durov is that, on the one hand, he clearly has a very high IQ, Kononov said. But at the same time, he is prone to conspiracy theories.

Kononov is adamant, however, that Durovs views should not be conflated with formal political allegiances.

One of the most persistent claims surrounding Durov is that he is secretly aligned with Russian security services.

But Kononov said that in the course of his research, he found no evidence that Durov has worked with, or on behalf of, the Russian state. He has a huge number of flaws  but not the sin of Telegram acting as a backdoor for the FSB, Kononov said.

Kononov argues that what Durov has ultimately learned is the need to compromise  with both Russian and western authorities  when it serves his interests and allows Telegram to continue operating.

Kononov recalls Durov once telling him: I never waste time on things that are unnecessary or that cannot be useful to me personally. That self-serving mindset, Kononov said, ultimately ended their personal relationship.

About a year ago, the writer asked Durov whether he saw a contradiction between Telegrams highly centralised, almost authoritarian internal structure and his professed devotion to freedom of expression. After that, Durov stopped responding.

He quickly realised it wasnt going to be a book to his liking, Kononov said.
Boiling live lobsters will be banned by the government (Getty/iStock)

Boiling live lobsters and crabs will be banned by the government under reforms to animal rights.

In its new animal welfare strategy for England, published on Monday, the government said that live boiling is not an acceptable killing method, as it also issued guidance on puppy farming and banning trail hunting.

This comes after previous legislation outlined that decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs such as squid and octopus are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and suffering.

The government also said that while the fishing industry is already taking steps to improve protections, improved insights into supply chain practices are also required so that further action can be taken if required.

Ministers also called for changes in the supply chain of lobsters (Getty/iStock)

The welfare strategy also sets out a series of protections for pets, farmed animals and wild animals. It includes plans to ban trail hunting, for fear it is being used as cover for chasing live foxes, as well as to tighten protections aimed at stopping cruel breeding practices such as puppy farming.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the UK was a nation of animal lovers and claimed the government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.

She added: Visiting Battersea Dogs and Cats Home reminded me that millions of families welcome pets into their homes every year. Our strategy will raise welfare standards for animals in the home, on the farm and in the wild.

Weve already acted to improve zoo standards, end puppy smuggling and protect livestock from dog attacks. Now were planning to ban caged hens, cruel snares, trail hunting, and curb low welfare dog breeding.

Among the governments plans for pet welfare is the consultation on banning shock collars, amid worries they could be causing harm to pets.

Ministers are also planning a public safety campaign promoting responsible dog ownership, as there has been growing concern about XL bully-type dogs, a group of breeds which have been banned after they were linked to several fatal attacks.

An XL-bully type dog (Jacob King / PA Wire)

Plans to improve welfare for farmed animals include moving away from using colony cages for laying hens and pig farrowing crates, as well as introducing more humane slaughter methods for farmed fish.

Wild animal protections include the plans to ban trail hunting, alongside prohibiting snare traps and introducing a closed hunting season for hares.

Downing Street rejected that the reforms amounted to a war on the countryside.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said: No, absolutely not. We have said that we share the British publics high regard for countryside in lots of ways, whether its through farming or the animal welfare strategy.

He also rejected a claim by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage who called Labour authoritarian control freaks over the plans to ban trail hunting.
Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, pictured with military officers in Beijing this week - Li Gang/Xinhua

China expects to be able to fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027, a US report has found.

Beijing is refining its military options to take the territory by brute force via tactics that could include launching strikes up to 2,000 nautical miles from China, the Pentagon said.

The report into Chinese military ambitions, obtained by Reuters, noted that Beijing has probably loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) across its new three silo fields.

The findings will probably raise concerns in Washington after a US government assessment in November found that China would defeat the US military in a war over Taiwan.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has never ruled out using force to reunify with the island.

Beijing has described reports of a military build-up as an effort to smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.

But the Pentagon report found that China expects to be able to fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027, adding that strikes could seriously challenge and disrupt US presence in or around a conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

The draft document also did not identify a potential target for the more than 100 solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs in silo fields close to Chinas border with Mongolia. The Pentagon had previously reported the existence of the fields but not the number of missiles loaded.

Anti-ship missiles YJ-19 at Tiananmen Square during Chinas V-Day military parade this year - Visual China Group

Last month, Donald Trump, the US president, said he may be working on a plan to denuclearise with China and Russia. However, the report said Beijing did not appear to be interested in co-operating.

We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions, it said.

It added that Chinas nuclear warhead stockpile was still in the low 600s in 2024, which reflected a slower rate of production when compared to previous years.

But it noted that Chinas nuclear expansion was ongoing and it was on track to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030.

China has said it adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defence and pursues a no-first-use policy, and Mr Trump has said he wants the US to resume nuclear weapons testing.

Joe Biden and Mr Trump, during his first term, sought to engage China and Russia in negotiations on replacing New Start with a three-way strategic nuclear arms control treaty.

The 2010 New Start treaty, the last US-Russia nuclear arms control accord, which limits both countries to deploying 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads on 700 delivery systems, is set to expire in less than two months.

China has significantly expanded its arsenal of short, medium and intermediate-range missiles, which means it could destroy many of the USs advanced weapons well before they could reach Taiwan.

Last year, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, said that we lose every time in the Pentagons war games against China, and predicted the Asian countrys hypersonic missiles could destroy aircraft carriers within minutes.
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with two further sexual offences, including rape.

Brand, 50, had already been charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.

He denied the charges at Southwark Crown Court earlier this year.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Brand has been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault in relation to two further women.

The alleged offences took place in 2009, the CPS said.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on January 20 2026 in relation to them.

A trial is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court in relation to the five original charges.

Brand, of Oxfordshire, is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, and grabbing a TV workers breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet, the court heard in May.

Brand is also alleged to have grabbed a radio station workers face, pushing her against a wall and kissing her before groping her breasts and buttocks.

The other charge of the original five alleges that the actor indecently assaulted another woman after grabbing her forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet.

He was charged following an investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times in which several women made allegations against him.
MIAMI, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Silk, a digital agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, has published a new article outlining the role of brand audits in evaluating brand consistency, positioning, and digital performance. The article, titled Brand Audit: What It Is and Why It Matters for Modern Brands, reviews commonly cited frameworks and publicly available insights used by organizations when assessing brand alignment.

As businesses operate across multiple digital touchpoints, many are reviewing how brand assets, messaging, and user experience align across platforms. According to a 2023 report by Lucidpress, brands that maintain consistent presentation are more likely to achieve stronger recognition over time, reinforcing the importance of regular brand evaluation (Lucidpress). The article references such findings to provide context around why brand audits are frequently incorporated into long-term brand management practices.

5 Branding Tips Covered in the Article

The article provides an overview of brand audit components commonly referenced in branding research, including:

Visual identity consistency across digital and offline channels Brand messaging alignment and tone of voice Website performance and user experience indicators Competitive positioning and market perception Content accuracy and relevance across platforms

These elements are discussed using neutral, research-backed observations rather than promotional or advisory claims.

Industry Context

A 2024 Forbes Small Business article notes that organizations periodically reassess branding to ensure alignment with changing customer expectations and market conditions (Forbes Small Business). The Digital Silk article references this broader context to explain how brand audits are positioned within ongoing brand strategy discussions.

Statement on the Release

"Reviewing brand assets and messaging through a structured audit can help organizations better understand how their brand is represented across channels," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "This article outlines commonly referenced brand audit elements using publicly available insights."

Read the Full Article

The full article is available here:

Readers can also explore additional digital trends content and request a quote for upcoming branding or digital initiatives.

About Digital Silk

Digital Silk is an award-winning Branding Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, it creates digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement.

Media Contact

Jessica Erasmus

Marketing Director & PR Manager

Tel: (800) 206-9413

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Digital Silk
A policeman looks over Bondi Beach as life gradually returns to normal, Dec 22 - SAEED KHAN/AFP

As I came in to land at Sydney Airport at the start of last week, all the well-known landmarks came into view; the Opera House, Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge. While still in the air on Sunday evening, I had no inkling that another of Sydneys iconic sites had become a Jihadist killing ground.

In response to endless calls to Globalise the Intifada by pro-Palestinian protesters across the West, on a summers evening last week, the Intifada came to Australia. The peace of a Jewish Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony was shattered on, of all places, Bondi Beach.

That evening, a group of Australian Jews were expressing their religious identity on Sydneys public space for fun and recreation. It was a celebration of Hanukkahs essential message of spiritual light overcoming oppression and darkness. They had thought themselves safe to conduct their ritual in public, without risk. They were wrong.

Little did they know that their lights of hope, along with many of their lives, would soon be extinguished by the dark and deadly forces of Islamic fundamentalism. When the shooting finally stopped, the white sands of Sydneys iconic beach ran with the blood of innocent Australian Jews. Before the sun had set again on Bondi Beach, 15 would be dead and over three dozen wounded, some seriously.

The Gurmans were out for a Sunday evening stroll in the heavily Jewish area of North Bondi. They quickly realised the danger at hand when they saw the older terrorist, Sajid Akram, emerge armed from behind an ISIS banner that was draped across his Hyundai hatchback. Mr Gurman immediately tackled and disarmed the gunman. But Akram simply took another rifle from his car boot and shot the Russian-Jewish couple at close range. They were the first to die as the killing spree began.

Reuven Morrison, had driven from Melbourne that day for the Hanukkah celebration. Bondi had always been special for this 62-year-old grandfather. As a teenage refugee from Kyiv  then part of the Soviet empire  it was on Bondi Beach that he met the woman who would become his wife when she was 17.

As the first shots rang out on Sunday, the unarmed Mr Morrison charged at the terrorists throwing bricks and stones and shouting at them to stop. He too was shot dead. His daughter explained later how one of her children slept with a bottle of soda water that night, worried that grandpa would want his favourite fizzy drink if he came back.

87-year-old grandfather, Alex Kleytman, had survived the holocaust and had moved to Australia from Ukraine with his wife in the 1990s. As the bullets began to fly, he jumped in front of his wife, Larisa, to protect her with his body. She survived; he died instantly. An orgy of anti-Semitic terrorism succeeded in doing what the Nazi death camps had failed to accomplish.

In an incredible act of bravery, Ahmed al-Ahmed stalked, tackled and then ripped the rifle from one of the terrorists. The video of his actions has already been seen by many millions on social media. Still in hospital recovering from severe gun-shot wounds, his swift action saved many Jewish lives.

From a village near Idlib in war-torn Syria, the Sydney tobacco shop owner has become a celebrity across the Arab world. People express both pride and relief that an Arab  reportedly a Muslim  had shown the kind of bravery and compassion that transcended the ethnic and religious divide.

As in Britain, anti-Semitism is no stranger to Australia. Within hours of the October 7 Hamas invasion of southern Israel, a large crowd had gathered outside the Sydney Opera House chanting F**k the Jews and Gas the Jews.

Police have recorded numerous incidents of attacks on synagogues and Jewish schools, with graffiti painted on homes and cars. In Australia, as elsewhere, these are sharp reminders of something that the Irish author, politician and public intellectual, Conor Cruise OBrien, had written decades previously: anti-Semitism is a light sleeper.

In a largely secular age, the existence of such untrammelled evil is something that many may struggle with. Yet, being physically close to a place where unconscionable violence has taken place is deeply disturbing.

In the national reckoning that is now underway, Australian Jews blame the Albanese Labour government for failing to rein in their Left-wing supporters in the pro-Palestinian movement. They are vocal in their demand that the unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism that contributed to this outrage must be confronted and no longer denied or minimised. After Bondi, complacency regarding the evil of anti-Semitism is no longer an option.
The photograph, which came to be known as Napalm Girl, became universal symbol of Vietnam Wars brutality - Nick Ut

It was one of the most famous photographs of the past century. A Vietnamese girl runs naked from the horror of a napalm attack after stripping off her burning clothes.

This year a Netflix documentary raised questions about who took the photograph and whether Nick Ut, an Associated Press staffer, should have won a Pulitzer Prize for an image that became known as Napalm Girl.

Now the picture editor who was on duty in Saigon on that day in June 1972 has weighed in to set the record straight.

I knew it was taken by a stringer, or freelancer, but was ordered by my superior, Horst Faas, to put Uts name on the caption, says Carl Robinson in a letter published in the Washington Post.

Fearing for my job and family, I complied  a decision that has weighed on me for 50 years.

Instead, he says the photograph was taken by Nguyen Thanh Nghe.

A picture editor in Saigon has said Nguyen Thanh Nghe took the photograph

The striking image of Kim Phuc running in the street quickly became a symbol of the Vietnam Wars brutality.

Mr Ut also won the World Press Photo award.

But in May World Press Photo announced it had suspended its attribution to Ut because of doubts about the photographs origins which had circulated since The Stringer was broadcast on Netflix.

Its review concluded that Mr Nghe, a driver who occasionally sold images, and a second photographer, Huynh Cong Phuc, may have been better positioned to capture the picture.

For its part the Associated Press said there was not enough evidence to justify removing Mr Uts name from the credit.

Nick Ut, centre, flanked by Kim Phuc, left, the girl in the photograph - CreditGregorio Borgia

In a recent account, David Burnett, a photojournalist who was present when the photograph was taken, defended Uts authorship. He said while he was reloading film in his camera, Ut and a reporter, Alex Shimkin, were the first to react to children fleeing toward the road through a cemetery

Without hesitating, they began sprinting down the road, advancing well beyond all the other journalists except for the United Press International stringer who ended up on the right side of the uncropped version of the photograph (also reloading his camera), he wrote recently in the Washington Post.

At that moment, none of the other journalists were moving down the road.

It was in that minute or two, and before the other journalists arrived, that the famous photograph was taken, he argues.

Mr Nghe worked as a photographer in the Vietnam War

Mr Robinson said that Mr Burnett admitted being distracted by installing a roll of film in his Leica camera and was simply mistaken.

Burnett has repeated this account for years in lectures and interviews, despite being told the truth by me in 2011, he writes in his letter.

His persistence has helped entrench a myth that contradicts the record.

James Hornstein, Mr Uts lawyer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But in a statement previously sent to Time, he said there was no new documentary evidence to dispute his clients claim.

If credible evidence existed to challenge Nick Uts authorship, it would not have remained confined to a handful of individuals whose accounts emerge five decades after the fact and contradict the overwhelming body of contemporaneous testimony, he said.
South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The death toll from a mass shooting at a South African pub has tragically climbed to 10, with police identifying two potential suspects.

The early Sunday morning attack in Bekkersdal, 46 kilometres west of Johannesburg, claimed the lives of three women and seven men.

Nine individuals remain in hospital.

The pub owner will face charges of fraud and operating an illegal liquor outlet, following the confiscation of all alcohol, Gauteng police spokesperson Col. Mavela Masondo confirmed.

Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told reporters that two other people have been identified as potential suspects in the shooting based on community reports to the police.

Map of Bekkersdal:

It was the second mass shooting in three weeks at a township pub, which are sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa.

In early December, a mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near the capital, Pretoria, left at least 12 people dead. On Monday, a 32-year-old man was arrested.

Onlookers gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, with over 26,000 reported in 2024, or a daily average of over 70. Despite stringent gun ownership rules, firearms are the most common weapons used, and many crimes employ illicit firearms, according to authorities.
Donald Trump has said he didnt like the publication of images that could tarnish people who had innocently met Jeffrey Epstein - House oversight committee/AFP via Getty

The US government has dismissed a letter purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein claiming Donald Trump liked young, nubile girls.

In the latest release of the Epstein files, a handwritten note signed J Epstein claims the president shared the late paedophiles taste for underage girls.

But the department of justice (DoJ) later on Tuesday suggested the letter was a fake, hours after warning that the latest release of tens of thousands of documents contained untrue and sensationalist allegations about the president.

The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.



Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be  U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) December 23, 2025

In the note, an author claiming to be Epstein writes to Larry Nassar, the former doctor for the US womens gymnastics team serving multiple sentences for child pornography and sexually abusing minors.

Dear L. N., the note reads. As you know by now, I have taken the short route home ... We shared one thing ... our love & caring for young ladies at the hope theyd reach their full potential.

Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls, it continues. When a young beauty walked by he loved to grab snatch, whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system. Life is unfair.

The alleged letter by Epstein doesnt seem to fit with the way he wrote

The DoJ said it was investigating the validity of the note. The FBI sent it for handwriting analysis on July 31 2020, according to separate documents in the release.

The results of that probe are not known but experts on Epstein said the style of the lettering did not match that of the disgraced financier.

The post-mark on the note shows a date of Aug 13 2019, three days after Epstein died in prison.

In its statement, the DoJ added: The postmark on the envelope is Virginia, not New York, where Jeffrey Epstein was jailed at the time.

It added that the return address listed the wrong jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail.

Julie Brown, the Miami Herald journalist whose investigations led to Epsteins second arrest, said: This is suspect to me, largely because Jeffrey Epstein didnt know how to spell.

It doesnt seem to fit with the way he wrote, either. Plus it really looks like a womans handwriting.

The White House has been accused of manipulating the release of the Epstein files to protect the reputation of Mr Trump.

The administration has faced days of intense criticism for failing to meet the legal deadline of Dec 19 for the full release of the documents.

An initial batch published on Friday was incomplete and heavily redacted. It made almost no mention of the president, but included several new pictures of Bill Clinton.

Jeffrey Epstein kept a photograph of Donald Trump surrounded by a group of young women

A second batch released on Saturday included a photograph of Mr Trump in Epsteins desk drawer, but the file was later deleted without explanation.

On Monday, Mr Trump said he didnt like the publication of images and documents that could tarnish the reputation of people who had innocently met or been friendly with Epstein.

On Tuesday, the documents released did contain many more mentions of the president  but the most explosive claims appear almost certainly fake.

Social media aggregators  tools that collect content from multiple social platforms  as well as some Democrats, leapt in particular on the Nassar note and a separate allegation of rape against Mr Trump.

Among the 30,000 pages of documents released is a summary of a call made by a former limousine driver to the FBI in 2020.

The driver claims to have overheard Mr Trump talking about abusing some girl with a man named Jeffrey, back in 1995.

The call was so shocking, the driver claims, he was a few seconds [away from] pulling [Trump] out of the car and hurting him. In the redacted FBI summary of the tip, the driver goes on to say his ex-girlfriend later told him she was raped by Epstein and Mr Trump.

The FBI adds a note to the testimony that appears to cast doubt on the source. The driver also apparently referred to conspiracies about the Clintons and said they were once wrongly accused of being the Unabomber.

Ted Lieu, a Democrat congressman in California, called the document highly disturbing. Republicans against Trump and the Lincoln Project, two popular anti-Trump social media accounts, amplified both allegations.

But, several hours after the release of the documents, the DoJ first appeared to dismiss the rape claim.

In a post on X, the agency warned against untrue and sensationalist claims made shortly before the 2020 election. The limousine drivers call was made a week before the vote, on Oct 27.

To be clear, the statement read, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already.

Enough time had passed for several high-profile opponents of Mr Trump to amplify the Nassar letter before the DoJ issued its second rebuttal of the day.

On Tuesday, senior Democrats focused not on the lurid allegations but on the redaction of the names of 10 of Epsteins co-conspirators.

Chuck Schumer, the senate minority leader, said: The department of justice needs to shed more light on who was on the list, how they were involved and why they chose not to prosecute.

There were further mentions of Mr Trump in the documents released on Monday night, but they contained nothing which adds to the known facts of their close friendship in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The president flew on Epsteins plane more times than has previously been reported, according to a 2020 email from a New York assistant US attorney.

The email states that Mr Trump was listed as a passenger on eight flights between 1993 and 1996

Passenger logs show him on eight flights between 1993 and 1996, the email states, including once with only a 20-year-old woman and Epstein otherwise on board.

Mr Trump fought the release of the Epstein files until it became clear his wishes would be overruled by Congress.
Andrew posing with firefighters in Lima on 8 March 2002. A messaged Maxwell about arrangements for a trip to Peru. Photograph: Alejandra Brun/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Alejandra Brun/AFP/Getty Images)

A man identified as A who appears to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor discussed facilitating meetings with inappropriate friends with Jeffrey Epsteins accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Among the latest tranche of Epstein files are email exchanges in 2001 and 2002 between Maxwell and a correspondent who appears as The Invisible Man in the email thread and says he is writing from Balmoral, the royal residence in the Scottish Highlands.

Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has a well-established relationship with Maxwell. As well as the initial A and reference to Balmoral, the August 2001 emails in the latest tranche include a mention of a valet and having recently left the RN. Andrew left the Royal Navy in July 2001. A 2002 email includes a forwarded message that refers to giving Andrew a phone number.

Mountbatten-Windsor and Buckingham Palace have been approached for comment. He has previously acknowledged his friendship with Maxwell. In October he said of claims about his links with Epstein: I vigorously deny the accusations against me. There is no suggestion that being mentioned in the files is evidence of wrongdoing.

In one message sent in August 2001, The Invisible Man, signing off the email A, asks Maxwell if she has found him some inappropriate friends.

I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family, the message reads. Activities take place all day and I am totally exhausted at the end of each day. The Girls are completely shattered and I will have to give them an early night today as it is getting tiring splitting them up all the time! Hows LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?

A separate file reveals an exchange between the two correspondents in which Maxwell apologises as she has only found appropriate friends, to which The Invisible Man or A replies Distraught!. He later references that he has left the RN.

Later, in February and March 2002, there is an exchange between Maxwell and The Invisible Man or A in which she forwards correspondence with a third party, Juan Esteban Ganoza, about arrangements for a trip to Peru that include setting up meetings with girls. The forwarded message says: I just gave Andrew your telephone no. A replies: I will ring him today if I can.

About the girls  how old is he? asks Ganoza. In the reply, A says: I am overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity of the offers that are being made for me.

He adds: As for girls well I leave that entirely to you and Juan Estoban!

One line from Maxwells forwarded message reads: Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy.

I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.

Maxwell refers to A as a very English sounding gentleman on the phone.

Photographs taken at the time show Mountbatten-Windsor on a visit to Peru.

Further documents include emails that show how US lawyers believed there were various factual inaccuracies in Mountbatten-Windsors accounts during their investigation into Epstein.

The internal communications came during a public row between the former duke and US prosecutors over his cooperation with their requests for an interview.

Mountbatten-Windsors legal team had released a statement before the June 2020 email in which they said he had on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the Department of Justice.

An unnamed lawyer from New York told the former southern district of New York attorney Geoff Berman on 8 June 2020: Geoff  as discussed, Ive put together a short proposed statement responding to the press release issued by Prince Andrews counsel this morning.

If we do issue something in response, as youll see, I would recommend we keep it short and forward looking, rather than trying to rehash all of the various factual inaccuracies in his account of the past.

Berman went on to publicly accuse the former prince of attempting to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to cooperate.

Elsewhere, the documents reveal the Metropolitan police contacted the FBI last month to ask whether there were any ongoing investigations related to Mountbatten-Windsors links to Epstein.

In an email dated 10 November, a detective chief inspector from the Met says they were reviewing alleged efforts by the former prince to get information on the now deceased Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre through his protection officers.

Earlier this month, the Met said it would not launch a criminal investigation into the claims Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to dig up dirt on Giuffre.

The email from the officer followed documents released by the US House oversight committee and an interview request for Andrew from Democrats on the committee.

It says that after significant media reporting in the UK reflecting flight manifests showing Epsteins visits to the UK, the officer is reviewing these allegations. It adds: [I] wanted to enquire if you still had any active investigations in relation to this matter, and if your team had any involvement in the Oversight committee hearings and any material being presented there.
Newly released documents from the so-called Epstein files have revealed a series of emails written by an A in Balmoral to Ghislaine Maxwell, asking whether she had found them any inappropriate friends.

The US Department of Justice on Tuesday published nearly 30,000 pages relating to the disgraced paedophile financier, the largest single drop so far, some of which include references to the British royal residence in Scotland.

In one email, Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years for her role in sex-trafficking Epsteins victims, asked an acquaintance to introduce Andrew to friendly and discreet and fun friends and to some 2 legged sight seeing.

A newly released photo appears to show Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell with an unidentified third person near Balmoral (DOJ)

The email added: He does not want to read about any trip in the papers [describing] whom or what he saw.

In the latest document release, an email in August 2001 from A with the address The Invisible Man reads: I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family. The writer claims to be totally exhausted, and asks Maxwell how she is.

They add: Hows LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall. The email concludes: Any ideas gratefully received! See ya A xxx

In response, Maxwell wrote: So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.

An email sent from The Invisible Man to Maxwell from the royal residence in Scotland (DOJ)

The individual A responded Distraught! and wrote that they had just lost their valet, who had been with them since they were two years old.

I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me, they wrote.

In March 2002, Maxwell forwarded another email. I just gave Andrew your telephone no. He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines, she wrote, apparently referring to the archaeological site in southern Peru. He can ride but it is not his favorite sport ie pass on the horses.

She added: Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy. I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.

The then Prince Andrew pictured reclining across the laps of several people in a photograph kept by Epstein (DOJ)

In another, the sender A said they would leave the girls to Maxwell and another individual, in response to an email in which the sender suggested they would try to find some.

The latest Epstein documents shed further light on the extent of Epsteins relationship with the royal family, and come after the former Prince Andrew was stripped of his title over his friendship with the late financier.

In separate documents released last week, the then Prince Andrew was shown in photographs introducing Epstein to members of British high society, with one image showing the royal reclining across the legs of several people with his head near to one womans lap.

The picture was reportedly taken at Sandringham, the Kings private estate in Norfolk, where the former prince will move to from Windsor in the new year.

Epstein, Andrew and Maxwell pictured in the royal box at Ascot (DOJ)

The former prince has always strongly denied any wrongdoing, and said in October: As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.

Buckingham Palace and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been contacted for comment.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview, but the recent publication of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffres posthumous memoir and the US governments ongoing release of documents from Epsteins estate have prompted further scrutiny of his relationship with the financier.

It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title. He has also been told to move from his home in Royal Lodge to Marsh Farm, a substantially smaller property privately funded by the King.
An evening or late-night workout could have a greater impact on your well-being than you may think.

From a run on the treadmill to 20 minutes lifting weights, you may opt for an evening session at the gym for a variety of reasons. Maybe thats when it fits into your schedule, or perhaps an early morning workout feels like a chore.

However, health experts have warned that intense workouts before bedtime impact sleep, forcing us to reevaluate our habits.

It really comes down to when and how hard you exercise, Josh Leota, PhD, a sleep and circadian scientist at Monash University in Australia, told Womens Health. The harder you work out, the more activated your body becomes and your nervous system is in a more alert, amped up state.

Your body will recover from that, but the key point is that the time it takes to settle back down is proportional to how hard the workout was, he added, noting that a 30-minute jog one to two hours before bed time shouldnt affect your sleep.

Experts say that intense exercise two hours before bedtime is linked to less sleep (Getty Images)

Still, Leota was one of the researchers behind a recent study in Nature Communications, which looked at how strenuous exercise could impact sleep.

Results found that when engaged in maximal exercise instead of light exercise two hours before bedtime, people fell asleep 36 minutes later than usual. They also slept for 22 minutes less than they usually do. As a result, the study recommended doing intense workouts, like a speed run, at least four hours before going to sleep.

A 2023 review in the journal Cureus also looked at a collection of studies about physical activity affecting the quality of sleep. The review notes that men and women spent more time sleeping when they added 10 minutes of light physical morning exercise to their daily routine.

However, for both men and women, there was a negative relationship between nighttime physical activity and sleep quality. Nighttime physical exercise, like high-intensity interval training, could negatively affect the quality of sleep if performed an hour before bedtime.

Engaging in vigorous physical exercise sessions which last more than 90 minutes in the evening is also associated with poor sleep quality, the study revealed.

Ultimately, experts recommend doing any strenuous exercise at the start of the day. Exercising early in the morning also helps to align the bodys natural rhythms with the day-night cycle.

The reason for this is that when we wake up from a night of restful sleep, our sleep drive has been depleted and we are setting our circadian rhythm by getting good light exposure, Dr. Andrew Colsky, sleep science expert and founder of National Sleep Center, told Real Simple.

However, if the evening is the only time to squeeze in a work out, its still worth doing.

If you can exercise, do it, Jingyi Qian, PhD, a sleep scientist at Mass General Brigham, told Womens Health. In general, physical activity is good for you and most of the people have too little rather than have too much, so if evening is the only time that people can find to do some exercise, I would recommend people do it.

Leota also reiterated to the publication that regular exercise in general has many positive effects, like improving mood and sleeping better.
U.S. regulators on Monday approved a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, marking the first time a daily oral medication has been green-lit to treat obesity.

The change is expected to drive even further adoption of the already widely popular GLP-1 class of drugs and help fight chronic obesity around the world.

We now have injectable-like efficacy in a once-daily pill, David Moore, executive vice president of Wegovy maker Novo Nordisks U.S. operations, told The Wall Street Journal. And thats a change from where weve been in terms of treating obesity.

GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, which also comes in an injectable form, mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

The Food and Drug Administrations approval of the Wegovy pill is expected to help drive further use of such drugs, which some have avoided due to the higher cost of injections, which can be priced at upwards of $1,000 per month, as well as issues with insurance and fear of needles.

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave the green light to Novo Nordisks Wegovy pill, the first time an oral GLP-1 treatment has been approved, a development expected to expand access to the blockbuster category of weight-loss drugs (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

This is a meaningful step forward in the field, Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist who runs a weight loss clinic in Cary, North Carolina, told NBC News. It wont replace injectables, but it broadens our tool kit in an important way.

Pills are familiar, non-intimidating and fit more naturally into most peoples routines, he added. For many patients, a pill isnt just easier, its psychologically more acceptable.

Last month, the Trump administration announced a deal with Novo Nordisk to offer starting doses of the Wegovy pill for $149 a month. Now that the medication has been approved, it is expected to go to market in the coming weeks.

The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That's the same ingredient in injectables such as Wegovy and Ozempic, as well as Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.

The Wegovy pill is expected to generate sales of nearly $2 billion in 2030 for drugmaker Novo Nordisk, according to analysts (AFP/Getty)

In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6 percent of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2 percent loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. Thats nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, whose patients saw an average weight loss of about 15 percent.

Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined a Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he told The Associated Press.

If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didnt realize it, Mertens said.

Dr. David Kessler, a former commission of the FDA, warned in an interview with The New York Times that these results will need to be validated in the real world.

GLP-1 drugs tackle obesity by mimicking hormones that control the appetite and feelings of fullness (Getty Images)

What were learning is the actual effectiveness of these drugs really are going to need to be determined by real-world evidence, he told the paper. Trials always look better than they are in practice.

In recent years, Novo Nordisks injectable Wegovy and Lillys Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.

About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group.

The Wegovy pill is expected to generate sales of nearly $2 billion in 2030, according to analysts from TD Cowen.

GLP-1 pills are expected to broaden access to such treatments, given that their injectable form can cost upwards of $1,000 per month (AP)

Novo Nordisk rival Eli Lilly has a pending obesity pill of its own, orforglipron, which is still under review.

The company, which manufactures competitor drugs to Wegovy including Zepbound and Mounjaro, is expected to get approval sometime around March.
The Trough of Bowland in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. Unseasonably warm autumn weather has contributed to a potentially record-breaking year for the UK temperatures. Photograph: Maureen Bracewell/Getty Images/500px (Photograph: Maureen Bracewell/Getty Images/500px)

Forecasters say 2025 is more likely than not to break the record for the hottest year in the UK since records began, after a summer of heatwaves and drought followed by a mild autumn.

According to the Met Office, the official forecaster, the mean temperature for 2025 is tracking well ahead of the previous highest year, set in 2022. However, a colder spell expected from Christmas until the new year makes it too close to call definitively.

It will almost certainly become one of the UKs warmest years on record, joining 2022 and 2023 in the top three.

Related: Chance of odd wintry flurry of snow in UK for a white Christmas  Met Office

This should come as no surprise, said Mike Kendon, a senior scientist in the Met Offices climate information team. Over the last four decades the UKs annual temperature has risen by about 1C.

We will have to wait for the year-end before confirming 2025s final number but at this stage it looks more likely than not that 2025 will be confirmed as the warmest year on record for the UK.

However, it will not be long until this record is broken again. Since the start of the 21st century a new record has been set for the UKs annual mean temperature no less than six times  in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2022 and now 2025 [if confirmed]  each record progressively warmer than the last.

If confirmed, 2025 would be only the second year in observational records in which the UKs annual mean temperature has exceeded 10C.

It would also mean that four of the past five years feature among the top five warmest since 1884, with all of the top 10 occurring in the past two decades.

Earlier this year, the Met Office said the UK had its hottest summer on record, after four heatwaves pushed the mean temperature across June, July and August to 16.1C. All five of the hottest summers on record have occurred since 2000.

In terms of our climate, we are living in extraordinary times, Kendon said. The changes we are seeing are unprecedented in observational records back to the 19th century.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested in central London at a demonstration in support of the Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison.

In a video shared by the Prisoners for Palestine group, Ms Thunberg, 22, can be seen holding a sign reading I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide at a demonstration organised by the outside the offices of Aspen Insurance.

The protest comes after several imprisoned Palestine Action activists, including one who has refused to eat for 52 days, have been taken to hospital in recent days.

Since the hunger strike began on November 2, a total of seven prisoners have been taken to hospital.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist group, joining groups such as ISIL (ISIS), by the home secretary in July. (Prisoners for Palestine/AFP)

A City of London Police spokesperson said: At around 7am this morning hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers are working to release them, and bring them into police custody.

A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The scene at Aspen Insurance at Plantation Place in the City of London, after two activists sprayed red paint over the front of the building. (Shivansh Gupta/PA)

The group claimed they targeted the company on Tuesday morning because they provide services to Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.

Two activists sprayed red paint over the front of the building before police arrived and made arrests.

Ms Thunberg has spoken out previously about the hunger strikers, who are in prison awaiting trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.

She described the activists as "political prisoners" in a video posted on her Instagram on Monday, adding the Government should meet their demands to be released from custody and for charges to be dropped.

Eight prisoners started a months-long hunger strike demanding Palestine Action is de-proscribed, they are given bail immediately and Elbit Systems is shut down in the UK, among other requests.

Three of the original eight strikers have stopped the protest.

Last week, 20-year-old Qesser Zuhrah was taken to hospital after refusing food for 48 days. Protesters including Your Party MP Zarah Sultana gathered outside HMP Bronzefield as they believed she was not receiving adequate medical treatment. She has now ended the protest.

Were not going anywhere until HMP Bronzefield accept an ambulance transfer for Qesser to get the emergency healthcare she urgently needs.



Join us if you can. pic.twitter.com/PNaIFT4epu  Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) December 17, 2025

Amu Gib, 30, who is also detained at HMP Bronzefield started a hunger strike on the same day as Ms Zuhrah (November 2).

It was reported that she was taken to hospital on Saturday after refusing food for 51 days. Palestine for Prisoners said her health declined rapidly and she now needs a wheelchair.

Kamran Ahmed, 28, was also taken to hospital last week. He was being held at Pentonville Prison in Islington, London.

The other hunger strikers are Heba Muraisi, 31, Teuta Hoxha, 29, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22. Some of them have refused food between 44 and 50 days.

Ms Hoxhas sister said five days ago: I dont think people realise how serious this is, as on day 35 you risk brain damage, organ failure and heart attack. Today, shes on day 40. I dont want to lose my sister, I dont want to imagine my life without her.

Politicians and activists have urged deputy PM and justice secretary David Lammy to meet with Prisoners for Palestine to put an end to the strikes.

A legal firm representing the hunger strikers has said it submitted a pre-action letter on Monday against Mr Lammy.

The letter outlines the group's intention to initiate legal action.

The government has said it wont get involved with remand decisions, which are the responsibility of independent judges.

Greta Thunberg sitting in a police van following her arrest by Police officers outside the offices of Aspen Insurance at Plantation Place on Fenchurch Street. (Prisoners for Palestine/AFP)

Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson, told the BBC: Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation.

HMPPS are clear that claims that hospital care is being refused are entirely misleading  they will always be taken when needed and a number of these prisoners have already been treated in hospital.

"Ministers will not meet with them - we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system.

It would be entirely unconstitutional and inappropriate for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases."

The activists were locked up for allegedly breaking into an Elbit factory and a Royal Air Force base. Some of them have been in prison for over a year awaiting trial andthey claim they have been treated unfairly.

The High Court has been reviewing the decision to proscribe Palestine Action by then home secretary Yvette Cooper in July. A judgment is expected in the New Year.
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX: FF) (OTCQX: FFMGF) (FRANKFURT: FMG) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed on SEDAR+ an independent Pre-Feasibility Study ("2025 PFS") technical report (the "Report") for its 100%-owned Springpole Gold Project (the "Project" or "Springpole") located in Ontario, Canada.

The Report, entitled "Springpole Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Pre-Feasibility Study, Ontario, Canada" was prepared by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC of Vancouver, Canada ("Ausenco") in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has an effective date of December 1, 2025.

The 2025 PFS results support a 30,000 tonnes-per-day ("tpd") open pit mining operation.

2025 PFS Highlights1,2

US$3.2 billion pre-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate ( "NPV 5% ") at US$3,100/oz gold (" Au "), increasing to US$5.6 billion at US$4,200/oz Au 2

") at US$3,100/oz gold (" "), increasing to US$5.6 billion at US$4,200/oz Au US$2.1 billion after-tax NPV 5% at US$3,100/oz Au, increasing to US$3.8 billion at US$4,200/oz Au

at US$3,100/oz Au, increasing to US$3.8 billion at US$4,200/oz Au 54% pre-tax internal rate of return (" IRR ") at US$3,100/oz increasing to 82% at $4,200/oz Au

") at US$3,100/oz increasing to 82% at $4,200/oz Au 41% after-tax IRR at US$3,100/oz Au increasing to 63% at US$4,200/oz Au

Life of mine (" LOM ") of 9.4 years

") of 9.4 years After-tax payback of 1.8 years and reducing to 1.2 years at US$4,200/oz Au

Initial capital costs estimated at US$1,104 million, sustaining capital costs estimated at US$323 million, plus US$40 million in closure costs (excluding plant closure)

Average annual payable gold production of 330 koz per year (Years 1 to 5); 281 koz per year LOM

Total net cash costs 3 of US$742/oz (Years 1 to 5); and US$802/oz LOM

of US$742/oz (Years 1 to 5); and US$802/oz LOM Net All-In Sustaining Costs ("AISC")3 of US$877/oz (Years 1 to 5), and AISC US$938/oz (LOM)

Qualified Person

Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.

_____________________________________ 1 Base case parameters assume a gold price of US$3,100/oz, silver price of US$35.50/oz, and an exchange rate (C$ to US$) of 0.74. All currencies are reported in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified. NPV calculated as of the commencement of construction and excludes all pre-construction costs. 2 US$4,200/oz Au spot case also based on US$51/oz Ag and 0.71 (C$ to US$). 3 Initial capital costs, total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs are non-IFRS measures widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have standardized meanings under the Company's financial reporting framework. The methods used by the Company to calculate such measures may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions.

About First Mining Gold Corp.

First Mining is a gold developer advancing two of the largest gold projects in Canada, the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, where we have commenced a Feasibility Study and permitting activities are on-going with a final Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment for the project submitted in November 2024, and the Duparquet Gold Project in Quebec, a PEA-stage development project located on the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone in the prolific Abitibi region. First Mining also owns the Cameron Gold Project in Ontario and a 30% project interest in the Pickle Crow Gold Project.

First Mining was established in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp.

ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP.

Daniel W. Wilton

CEO and Director

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "opportunities", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; the timing and amount of estimated future production; recovery rates; mine plans and mine life; costs; costs and timing of the development of deposits; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; future operating procedures; infrastructure development and economic enhancement projects. Statements concerning proven and probable mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward- looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as and if the property is developed, and in the case of measured and indicated mineral resources or proven and probable mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited.

Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of management on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Such factors include, without limitation the Company's business, operations and financial condition potentially being materially adversely affected by the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, and by reactions by government and private actors to such outbreaks; risks to employee health and safety as a result of the outbreak of epidemics, including pandemics or other health crises, that may result in a slowdown or temporary suspension of operations at some or all of the Company's mineral properties as well as its head office; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; requirements for additional capital; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); effectiveness of environmental mitigations and strategies including production of NAG and PAG tailings and mine rock and water management strategies, the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR.

First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

The Company is a "foreign private issuer" as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is eligible to rely upon the Canada-U.S. Multi-Jurisdictional Disclosure System, and is therefore permitted to prepare the technical information contained herein in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the securities laws currently in effect in the United States. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

Technical disclosure contained in this news release has not been prepared in accordance with the requirements of United States securities laws and uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada with certain estimates prepared in accordance with NI 43-101.

NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning the issuer's material mineral projects.

SOURCE First Mining Gold Corp.
Hero mom crashes into getaway car after burglars targeted home with her children inside

This is the dramatic moment a California mother rammed her $150,000 Mercedes G-Wagon into the getaway car of a home invasion gang targeting her house with her mom and children inside.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, was out getting coffee in Sherman Oaks on Saturday December 20 when she received a panicked phone call from her own mother saying there were masked men trying to break into their home.

Racing back, she saw three suspects getting into a white Honda and aimed her vehicle at it. The crash rendered the Honda unusable and caused the gang to flee on foot.

Investigating officers believe the gang disabled the home surveillance system and were also monitoring police radios.
The creator of the hit BBC series The Night Manager has said it was really tricky working with Hugh Laurie on the first series, as the actor really wanted to play Tom Hiddlestons lead character.

The Night Manager, adapted from John le Carres 1993 novel, won Golden Globes for both Laurie and Hiddleston when it debuted in 2016, and a second season will finally arrive in the New Year.

Speaking at an event at Londons Blackheath Concert Halls, screenwriter David Farr explained that House actor Laurie had previously tried to option the novel and envisioned himself as soldier-turned-spy Jonathan Pine.

Laurie won a Golden Globe for his star turn as arms dealer Richard Roper (Getty)

When Farr finally got the project off the ground, though, Hiddleston was signed up for the leading role while Laurie was cast as arms dealer Richard Roper.

I was suddenly doing the television show and had written the first episode, and everyone liked it and Tom Hiddleston had signed up [as Pine], Farr explained, as reported by MailOnline.

But then Hugh became really tricky, because he had such fixed ideas and none of his notes were about his character [Roper]  they were all about Toms character  and I was like, Give me a break.

Farr continued: Were fine now. I think if Id been more mature, I could have dealt with it better. Hugh is a lovely man, very passionate. Hes not in the sequel that much, except in flashback.

The Independent has contacted Lauries representative for comment.

The Night Managers six-part first season was a hit with critics and won Golden Globes for a number of its cast, including Hiddleston and Laurie, who took home the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor accolades, respectively.

Hiddleston will return in series two (BBC)

Olivia Colman, who played MI6 intelligence officer Angela Burr, also won Best Actress, while at the TV Baftas, Tom Hollander was named Best Supporting Actor for his star turn as Major Lance Corky Corkoran, Ropers second in command.

Le Carre, who died 2020, never penned a sequel to his novel  but his sons previously told Vanity Fair that Farr came up with the idea for the second season in a dream, the night before Le Carres death.

When a lot of writers pass, their estates contain all kinds of strict rules. Thou shalt not change this, or that, Simon Cornwell said. And my dads letter said, You know what I stand for, respect what I stand for, but only you can figure out where to go next. And that is sort of the invitation.

Hiddleston, Camila Morrone and Diego Calva pictured in the new season (BBC)

In a recent interview with The Independent, Alistair Petrie, who will reprise his role as Ropers associate Sandy Langbourne in series two, said: Im gonna hazard a guess, I think [le Carre] would be very proud of the new one. But, obviously, there was no novel to base it on, so its a really hard thing to pull off.

Also returning are Colman, Michael Nardone as another of Ropers associates and Noah Jupe as his son, Daniel Roper. Indira Varma (Obsession), Paul Chahidi (Wicked Little Letters) and Hayley Squires (Adult Material) will also star.

Two new characters, Roxana Bolanos and Teddy Dos Santos, will be played by Daisy Jones and the Six star Camilla Morrone and Narcos: Mexico actor Diego Calva.
Manuels life in the UK has been defined by movement. Since arriving in 2001, he has drifted between temporary homes and casual work, losing stability as quickly as he found it.

Two months ago, Manuel, 53, arrived in London after following a friends advice. He was directed to The Connection at St Martins Place  a day centre offering support services for adults experiencing homelessness.

At the centre, tucked away on the corner of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Manuel no longer has to move for a few hours each day. He can shower, see a nurse, drink a hot cup of tea, and sit among people who understand what it means to be waiting  for ID, for work, and for a permanent place to call home.

And hes not alone. The centre sees around 120 people passing through its doors every day, all with varying needs. Some have long histories of abuse, while others struggle with mental health or addiction, and many have experienced the breakdown of family or personal relationships.

Charities accused the Government of criminalising vulnerable people (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Archive)

Chief Executive Officer Pam Orchard said the country was in the midst of a homelessness crisis, one in which Westminster was bearing the brunt.

She said there has been a steady stream of people accessing the centre since Covid, driven by a lack of affordable housing and increasing pressure on health and social care services, leaving vulnerable people unable to access the care they need.

This Christmas, The Connection is trialling a new approach. The centre has partnered with Westminster City Council to provide 50 beds for rough sleepers over the next two weeks.

It is anticipated that around 80 to 100 rough sleepers will use the service over that time.

People sitting in the community room at the centre (Supplied)

Manuel, 53, who is hoping for a bed this Christmas (Supplied)

Its about keeping people alive and minimising the harm that comes with sleeping rough, Ms Orchard said.

The average life expectancy for rough sleepers is 44, and people are dying on the streets of London all the time.

We want to build a relationship and trust with people to get them into treatment and long-term support, and we work closely with Westminster City Council to do that.

Manuel is one such rough sleeper who may use one of the beds over the Christmas period while he waits for a new passport, which he says could take up to four weeks.

I want to get stable, he said, a job and housing.

The Connection is providing 50 beds for rough sleepers over two weeks this Christmas (Supplied)

While it may appear unassuming from the outside, behind its big red door the centre is a hive of activity.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a spacious community area where people can sit, talk, and connect with staff. Downstairs, rooms are equipped for nurses to administer medication and dress wounds.

At the heart of the ground floor, a bustling canteen serves hot meals and drinks, prepared and served by volunteers. Nearby, washing machines and bathrooms provide men and women a chance for basic hygiene.

People sitting in the community room at the centre (Supplied)

Towards the back of the centre, a large room is equipped with computers and charging ports, giving rough sleepers crucial access to the internet.

In todays digital age, this resource is vital. It allows people to manage appointments, maintain digital ID, and even apply for jobs, helping them take steps toward stability and independence.

One in every 51 Londoners is homeless  almost 170,000 people  with more than 13,000 people sleeping rough on the streets of the capital last year.

More people are recorded sleeping rough in Westminster than any other borough  2,612. This is more than double the number in Camden (975), the next highest borough.

The computer room inside the centre (Supplied)

In recent months, tent encampments have emerged across parts of Westminster and Camden, including areas around Warren Street station and the Adelphi Building on the Strand.

Ms Orchard said the growth of these encampments may be driven by rough sleepers feeling safer in small communities.

She challenged a perception that people sleeping rough are criminals, noting that many are instead victims of crime, and that life on Londons streets leaves individuals extremely vulnerable to their surroundings.

Paul, originally from Manchester, has experienced firsthand what it is like to be vulnerable on the streets.

He told The Standard that he was hit in the head while sleeping rough in 2020, leaving him with a brain condition, and says he has since been unable to work.

Paul has been visiting The Connection since 2020 and has been in and out of temporary accommodation for around 11 years.

CEO of The Connection at St Martins, Pam Orchard (Supplied)

I couldnt get settled anywhere and kept falling out with family. Im a homeless person who wants to get off the streets, and Ive been working all my life, he said.

Paul moved to London at the start of the pandemic, describing hostels in Manchester as rat traps, with people constantly taking illegal substances.

He praised the services at The Connection and the support he receives from members of staff.

Westminster spends more than 16 million each year on rough sleeping services, with 8 million funded through government grants and a further 8 million from core council funding.

During the winter, the council provides additional provisions to ensure that extra spaces are available during periods of severe weather.

This year, capacity has been increased by 18 per cent compared with last winter, with 317 spaces available over the winter period.

The canteen inside the centre serving hot food and drinks (Supplied)

The Christmas initiative will give staff at The Connection time to build trust and relationships with rough sleepers, many of which, Ms Orchard said have lost faith and confidence in probation services.

When asked why this might be, Ms Orchard said: They have almost certainly had a very long history of abuse and trauma stemming back from childhood.

So, if the probation services didnt intervene when they were most needed, they are quite cynical.

Commenting on the Christmas initiative, Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: This Christmas, we are working with the Connection to provide 50 additional bed spaces to help people stay warm over the festive season and access the support they need.

This is in addition to the comprehensive support the council is providing to prevent rough sleeping, help people off the street and into appropriate accommodation. We spend over 16 million each year on rough sleeping services, covering outreach provision, health and mental health interventions, and supported accommodation services.

During winter we put on extra provision to ensure that at times of severe weather there are additional spaces. Nobody needs to sleep rough, and together with our partners, we are here to help.

To find out more about The Connection at St Martins or to make a donation, visit www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk.
Jeffrey Epstein and Larry Nassar. Composite: Corbis via Getty Images, Reuters (Composite: Corbis via Getty Images, Reuters)

A disturbing letter that appears to have been written by Jeffrey Epstein and sent to Larry Nassar, the US Olympics gymnastics team doctor convicted of sexual abuse, is included the latest batch of Epstein-related documents released by the US government.

As you will know by now, I have taken the short route home, the letter, which appears to have been signed from Epstein to Nasser, reads. Good luck! We shared one thing  our love & caring for young ladies and the hope they reach their full potential.

The letter continues: Our president also 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.

The letter is signed: Life is unfair. Yours, J. Epstein.

Donald Trump, who was president at the time of this writing, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epsteins criminal activities and any wrongdoing.

The existence of the letter was first reported in 2023 by the Associated Press after it was discovered in the midst of more than 4,000 pages of documents held by the Bureau of Prisons.

The letter is postmarked 13 August 2019, notably three days after Epstein died in custody in what was ruled a suicide. It was found by investigators in the jail mail room weeks later after it was returned from a prison in Arizona and marked no longer at this address.

It appeared he mailed it out and it was returned back to him, the investigator told a prison official in an email included in the documents. I am not sure if I should open it or should we hand it over to anyone?

It is unclear if Epstein and Nassar had any relationship.

Nassar, the former doctor for the US gymnastics team and Michigan State University, is currently serving a 60-year federal sentence on charges of child sexual abuse images. He was also sentenced in 2018 to a 40-to-175 Michigan state sentence after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct.

At trial, more than 150 women  including Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney  said he sexually abused them.

The document comes as questions continue to swirl around Epsteins death in custody, with his brother, Mark Epstein, continuing to maintain that the sex offender was murdered in his cell.

It has also been suggested that Epstein blamed his former friend Donald Trump for his 2019 arrest on sex-trafficking charges, which came more than a decade after he was granted immunity from prosecution under a 2007 Florida state plea deal where he pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor.

In a statement from the Department of Justice about the release of the latest tranche of Epstein-related documents, it said: Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 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. Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims.
Animals can surprise us, especially when we see them in places that we don't normally expect to spot them. A bus driver in Brisbane, Australia can attest to that. A few days ago, the @abcnews TikTok reported on this bus driver's unexpected story, featuring a Koala Bear the driver named Peri. This bus driver found this koala sprinting through traffic and rescued him as well as gave him a fun ride on the bus.

What a shocker! In the post caption, @abcnews explained, "In Brisbane, Australia, a koala named Peri embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip before being released safely into the wild." At the start of the video, you can see a snapshot of Peri catching a ride like any other commuter. This koala is hugging the pole like it was just another day. For human riders, it was anything but, and in the post caption, @abcnews agreed adding, "It was an ordinary bus ride  except for one furry passenger."

Nor was it a normal sight for viewers watching this video. Commenters had a blast talking about this unusual scene. Many made jokes like @imstillinnewyork who said, "Little guy wanted to ride the bus." And @eggprincesss added, "[He] just wanted to visit the city for a bit." This koala had some wanderlust for sure.

Related: Happy Golden Retriever Proudly Carries Mail Home in the Snow Like the Best Boy

While some had a good laugh at the situation, others were tickled by Peri's bus riding stance. @baiellee kidded, "Safety first, holding onto the rail." Commenter @dheedood chimed in, "Look how politely he wait[s]." Peri is a regular bus riding pro.

As the clips moves on, the anchor who's speaking gave more details on Peri's situation post bus ride. This koala was taken to a veterinary hospital and was cleared as healthy. At the end of the video, you get to see Peri set free in the wild.

Are Koala Bears Friendly to Humans?

Koalas may look like cuddly teddy bears, but you should be very careful if you should ever encounter one because you don't know how they'll react. The International Fund for Animal Welfare's website warns, "Koalas are wild animals that can become aggressive. Koalas have sharp claws and teeth. They can easily cause injury to a human if they feel threatened or stressed and lash out."

Luckily, Peri seemed calm in the video, so the bus driver was able to help him. I'm sure we all wish Peri the best and hope that he enjoyed his trip to the city!

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Laura Loomer continued her ongoing feud with Tucker Carlson this week, accusing the ex-Fox star of creating Hitler Youth. (AFP/Getty)

Far-right influencer and self-described proud Islamophobe Laura Loomer continued her never-ending feud with Tucker Carlson this week by claiming the former Fox News star was trying to turn the GOP into modern-day Hitler Youth.

The latest flashpoint for Loomer, who has anointed herself as President Donald Trumps personal loyalty enforcer, was Carlsons most recent podcast episode with Matt Gaetz, the disgraced MAGA congressman turned One America News host.

Throughout their sitdown, Gaetz  who has largely sided with Carlson and other America First conservatives when it comes to criticizing Israel and its war in Gaza  claimed that an Israel government agent had been involved in a plot to extort him and his family. (Jake Novak, a former Israeli consulate contractor, has denied the allegations.)

It was an op to silence me, and Israel was involved, and I hate to say that, Gaetz declared. He also told Carlson that antisemitism used to mean somebody who didnt like Jews  now it just means somebody Jews dont like.

With Carlson having already fractured the MAGA base with his chummy interview with notorious white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, Loomer  who is Jewish and a self-avowed Zionist  raged that this latest episode was further proof of Carlsons intentions for the Republican Party.

Laura Loomer continued her ongoing feud with Tucker Carlson this week, accusing the ex-Fox star of creating Hitler Youth. (AFP/Getty)

I told you this is what Tucker was doing, she tweeted. Hes trying to have a hostile takeover of the GOP to destroy MAGA & redefine the GOP into modern-day Hitler youth with a drizzle of Sharia Law on top. @TuckerCarlson isnt America First. Hes Tucker First at the expense of our country.

The right-wing provocateur and so-called investigative reporter, whose increasing influence in the White House has sparked concern among Trump administration officials, also took aim at Pizzagate conspiracist Jack Posobiec after he stopped following her on X following her latest Carlson attacks.

Loomers swipes at Posobiec referenced this past weekends annual Turning Point USA conference, which saw the bitter MAGA civil war over the direction of the conservative movement boil to the surface. Posobiec, a longtime friend of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, spoke at the AmericaFest convention  which also saw Carlson and Ben Shapiro engage in a war of words over antisemitism and conspiracy theories.

We cant keep gaslighting everyone into believing that Charlie Kirk wanted his organization to become a place for promoters of Nazism and Islam to gather because our top thought leaders are too afraid to be called Israel First for telling people no, we shouldnt kill and deport all Jews, she fumed, adding: Remember when the GOP had standards and wasnt a place for Hardcore Nazis and Hamas lovers?

Loomer, meanwhile, kept fretting over the topic Tuesday morning, posting that maybe some of those Democrats were right when they called some people on the so called right Nazis and that its undeniable at this point that we do have a Neo-Nazi problem on the right. She also warned that the GOP would see huge election losses in 2026 and 2028 if the party didnt address this.

Over the past year, Loomer has made it a mission of hers to marginalize Carlsons influence with Trump and the MAGA base.

After the ex-Fox News host railed against American involvement in Israels short-lived war against Iran, Loomer claimed that Carlson was siding with the Islamic nation because he was on Qatars bankroll and thus controlled by Muslims, prompting Carlsons business partner to fire back: This is a lie.

Carlson, on the other hand, has likened Loomer to a child wielding a loaded firearm called Twitter, saying he doesnt blame her for her behavior but rather the adults who take her seriously.
The car was hit on the A1 past the Stibbington junction (Google Maps)

A two-year-old boy has died and five people left seriously injured after their car broke down and was hit by another vehicle on a busy dual carriageway.

The toddler, from London, was inside a Toyota Auris that had stopped on the A1 near Peterborough.

A Volkswagen Touran smashed into them in the live northbound lane at around 6.20pm on Saturday.

Five others inside the Toyota, two adults and three children, were rushed to Peterborough City Hospital.

Paramedics took the boy there in a critical condition, but he sadly died.

The driver of the VW, a man from Peterborough, suffered only minor injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police said the 64-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He has since been released on bail until March 20.

The force called for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the crash past the Stibbington junction to come forward.

The five people seriously injured were also from the capital.

Sergeant David Mcllwhan said: Our thoughts are with the parents and family of this young child who has tragically lost his life in this collision.

The family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers.

I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage but was unable to stop at the scene to get in touch.

Anyone with information about the collision should report to police online, quoting incident 401 of December 20.
Farmers across the country are celebrating after Sir Keir Starmer caved in following months of pressure from farmers and watered down plans to tax inherited farmland.

Under the plans, announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves last year, farmers were to be charged 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1m from April 2026. This triggered a storm of fury, with fears that family-run farms would be worst affected.

But on Tuesday, Labour said it was raising the threshold from 1m to 2.5m, meaning that most farms would not have to pay it.

Keir Starmer has faced strong criticism from rural communities over the inheritance tax raid on farms (AFP via Getty)

The climbdown comes after crunch talks between National Farmers Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw and the prime minister last week, The Independent understands, following a year of protests about the measures.

Gareth Wyn Jones, a farmer from North Wales who was one of the leaders of the protests against the tax, told The Independent the announcement was great news, while former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who has also been very critical of the policy, welcomed the climbdown.

Meanwhile, a farmer whose father killed himself the day before last Octobers Budget amid worries over the inheritance tax changes said the governments climbdown was the best Christmas present for a lot of farmers, but he accused ministers of demonstrating a complete lack of understanding and compassion in relation to rural communities.

Jonathan Charlesworth, who found his father John Philip Charlesworth dead in a barn on their farm in Silkstone, Barnsley, said: Its a welcome U-turn that wont bring back the lives lost over the last year or so due to the anxiety caused, but will hopefully prevent a flood of suicides running up to the commencement in April.

He added: The flip side is, it should have been researched and put out to review before any announcement was made.

The higher threshold, which will take effect in April, will allow spouses or civil partners to pass on up to 5m in qualifying agricultural or business assets between them before paying inheritance tax, on top of existing allowances, Defra said.

In addition, farmers will get 50 per cent relief on qualifying assets above the threshold, paying a reduced effective rate of up to 20 per cent rather than the standard 40 per cent.

The number of estates facing higher inheritance tax will be reduced from around 2,000 under the original plans to around 1,100, meaning it will affect only the largest farms, according to the government.

Farmers do not currently pay inheritance tax on agricultural and business assets.

Mr Bradshaw said: After months of NFU campaigning, the government has today announced changes to the threshold for inheritance tax for family farms. These changes mark a huge victory for British farmers.

Farmers have been taking their protest to parliament since the plans were first announced (Reuters)

Campaign group No Farmers, No Food welcomed the news, but warned that the climbdown did not go far enough. They said: Huge news for family farmers. The Labour government have finally U-turned on the inheritance tax on family farms. Its still not enough, but its still a huge victory for everyone who has relentlessly campaigned on this.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said: This partial change to the disastrous family farm tax is welcome. It has caused months of unnecessary pain and suffering. Its clear the government has realised that the growing perception that it is at war with the countryside is toxic.

Whether the government will learn the fundamental lesson of this policy debacle, which is that it needs to work with the rural community  not legislate against it  remains to be seen. The government has a very long way to go to rebuild trust.

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: Farmers are at the heart of our food security and environmental stewardship, and I am determined to work with them to secure a profitable future for British farming. We have listened closely to farmers across the country, and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms.

Its only right that larger estates contribute more, while we back the farms and trading businesses that are the backbone of Britains rural communities.

The fury over the so-called tractor tax or family farm tax prompted regular protests in London, with tractors descending on Whitehall.

After Sir Keir had reached out to the farming community before the 2024 election, the change to inheritance tax was seen as a breach of trust, with farming groups warning that even with the climbdown today, Labour will find it hard to win back their confidence.

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds announced the newly amended plan (PA Wire)

The issue dominated responses to a recent review of farming incomes and profitability, carried out on behalf of the government by former NFU president Minette Batters, which was published last week.

Even tax expert Dan Neidle, the architect of the proposal to introduce inheritance tax on farm assets, had warned that the original 1m threshold was far too low and should have been closer to 20m.

Tory shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins described the climbdown as too little, too late.

She posted on X (Twitter): At long last, Labour has snuck out a partial U-turn on their vindictive family farm tax. It is too late for some, however. Businesses and lives have been lost. Rural communities will not forget the distress, pain and panic this government has caused them.

The Liberal Democrats rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron welcomed the news, but added: It is utterly inexcusable that family farmers have been put through over a year of uncertainty and anguish since the government first announced these changes.

Reform UKs deputy leader Richard Tice said: This cynical climbdown  whilst better than nothing  does little to address the year of anxiety that farmers have faced in planning to protect their livelihoods.

This is just the latest major economic policy Sir Keirs government has U-turned on in the 17 months since winning the election. The attempt to get rid of winter fuel payments for 11 million pensioners was largely abandoned, while the government stepped back from a bid to slash welfare by 5bn a year after a rebellion by Labour MPs.

Sir Keir also reversed his position on keeping the two-child benefit cap after pressure. And a planned hike in income tax was abandoned before it was implemented after the chancellor had announced it was likely to happen.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
Man in his 60s killed after getting caught in wood chipper

A Pennsylvania man died Monday after his right arm got caught in a wood chipper.

John Iskra, 68, was found unresponsive at a Feasterville-Trevose home by a family member, who called 911 shortly after 4:45 p.m., the Bucks County Coroners Office confirmed to The Independent.

Earlier reports indicated he was reportedly trapped up to his shoulder. Officials pronounced Iskra dead at the scene.

Iskra was autopsied Tuesday morning, with the cause and manner of death currently listed as pending investigation.

No foul play or intent to self-harm is suspected, the coroners office said.

A Pennsylvania man in his 60s died Monday afternoon after getting stuck in a wood chipper (Getty/iStock)

Philadelphia police were present at the accident scene, as Iskra was related to someone affiliated with the department, according to Lower Southampton Police Chief Ted Krimmel.

"They are here supporting that person, Lower Southampton Township Police Chief Ted Krimmel told NBC10 on Monday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time, the Lower Southampton Police Department added in a Facebook post on the day of the accident.
Russia has launched another air attack on Ukraine, killing at least three people including a four-year-old child.

Tuesdays missile and drone attack triggered emergency power cuts across Ukraine just days before Christmas.

Russias latest strike hit both energy facilities in the west of the nation the most intensely, said Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

This came just days after yet another round of peace talks led by the US, four years after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

An elderly woman who was inside an apartment is helped by Ukrainian emergency services in Kyiv (REUTERS)

The attack in the central Zhytomyr region on Tuesday killed two people, one of whom was a four-year-old. One other person was killed outside Kyiv, where officials reported that at least five were wounded.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X: "This Russian strike sends an extremely clear signal about Russia's priorities."

He said that it involved more than 30 missiles and 650 drones across at least 13 regions.

"An attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe," he added.

Most regions had emergency power outages after the attack, Ukraine's grid operator said

The latest Russian attack involved more than 30 missiles and 650 drones (UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP)

The damage incurred by the Russian drone attack on an apartment building (REUTERS)

Local authorities added that critical and energy infrastructure was affected in the northern Chernihiv, western Lviv, and southern Odesa regions.

Poland said it would be deploying aircraft to preserve its neighbouring airspace, after Russia began to strike targeted areas of western Ukraine close to the border.

This marks an increase in Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy and infrastructure, intended to increase pressure on Kyiv whilst peace talks are underway, which are expected to involve Russian concessions.

Last weekends round of talks in Miami brought US, Ukrainian and European officials, alongside separate representatives for Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing (PA Wire)

Whilst the US continues to push for some semblance of a peace agreement, this latest attack demonstrates that Russias priority is focused squarely on pushing its offensive against outnumbered Ukrainian troops.

Moscow has demanded that Ukraine relinquish its eastern Donbas region and significantly limit its military capacity before fighting stops.

Zelenskyy said on social media: "Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing."

He wrote on X, "And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia. Now is the time to respond."
The Fessenden School Advances Bold Vision with Sustainable Dining Facility and Renovated Student Hub, Ushering in a New Era of Campus Life

NEWTON, Mass., Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilbane Building, a national industry leader in the construction of K-12 facilities, joined The Fessenden School community and partners DBI Projects, Utile, and LeMessurier to celebrate the topping-off of the new dining facility. This milestone marks significant progress on two major initiatives: the construction of a 21st-century dining hall and the renovation of Sanderson Hall, both designed to foster connection, sustainability, and innovation.

Fessenden School New Dining Facility Rendering

"This project is a huge priority for the school and is going to support Fessy boys for generations to come. To all the great work being led by Gilbane, real attention to all the details and continuously evaluating and reworking the schedulethat's why we're able to do this today," said Michael Grossman, Chief Operations Officer of The Fessenden School.

"Safety is our North Star, but just as important is our commitment to building more than buildings by giving back to the communities we serve. This project is especially meaningful to my family and me, and we're proud to deliver innovative solutions like mass timber while working as a team to overcome challenges and keep progress on track," said Dan Gilbane, Managing Director & President of Gilbane Building.

A New Era for Dining and Community Life

Serving over 1,000 meals daily, the new dining facility will feature a highly efficient all-electric kitchen and a flexible dining room design that accommodates the school's diverse population of boarding and day students, faculty, staff, and families. The design divides the dining room into two zones to support varied meal service throughout the day, while a central servery acts as the building's hearth, reinforcing The Fessenden School's tradition of family-style dining.

At nearly 20,000 SF, the building showcases a renewable, low-carbon mass timber structure, providing warmth and character while meeting sustainability goals, including compliance with the Massachusetts Specialized Opt-In Stretch Energy Code. The exterior integrates seamlessly with the historic campus aesthetic, introducing subtle material variations for visual interest. Outdoor enhancements include a patio and refreshed landscaping framing the signature Hyde Slope lawn, creating a welcoming environment for gatherings and events.

Sanderson Hall Renovation

The renovation of Sanderson Hall will transform the existing 8,000 SF building into a vibrant student center and multifunctional hub for faculty and parents. The updated space will include a dedicated student center, event space for adults, faculty apartments, administrative offices, and a conference room, creating a dynamic environment that fosters student life and community engagement.

Commitment to Sustainability and Tradition

Together, these projects represent a bold investment in The Fessenden School's future, enhancing the campus experience, strengthening connections across the school community, and ensuring that facilities reflect the school's commitment to tradition, innovation, and environmental responsibility.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane Building is a global leader in construction management, delivering high-quality projects for clients across various markets. Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services  from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services. Founded in 1870, Gilbane is still a privately held, family-owned company. With more than 45 office locations worldwide, Gilbane brings world-class experience to local communities. For more information, visit https://www.gilbaneco.com/

SOURCE Gilbane Building Company
An immigrant from Mauritania speaks on the phone at Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 8 March 2024. Photograph: Maddie McGarvey for The Washington Post via Getty Images (Photograph: Maddie McGarvey for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Musician Khalidou Sy recalls the night his concert was shut down before he was taken away by the Mauritanian police and jailed for five days.

While he was never given a reason for his detention, in his show Sy criticized the lack of electricity available to the Mauritanian public and called on the authorities to make a change.

The arrest, he says, was a close call.

Life in Mauritania was very rough. The country is very segregated and racism is very high, he says.

In October 2023, Sy, his wife and infant child arrived in the US following a perilous 15-day journey through Central America. When traveling between Mexico City and the US border, the bus transporting the family was stopped by an armed gang and the passengers were robbed.

We were told that it could happen, so I hid our money in the babys diaper, so they didnt find it, Sy recalls.

Two years on, Sy and his family have made a home in Ohio, and are part of a growing community of Mauritanians living in Lockland, a small village north of Cincinnati.

Related: Trump vows to slam Americas doors shut as he heaps scorn on immigrants

Among the vast constellation of immigrant communities in the US today, Mauritanians are among the smallest. Until 2023, the foreign-born population was estimated at just 8,000 people.

But over the past two years, thousands more have come to the US, settling in Cincinnati and Columbus, via an expensive and oftentimes dangerous route often involving travel to Turkey, Colombia and traversing the treacherous Darien Gap, before crossing the US-Mexico border in Arizona, where immigrants typically file for asylum status.

Their presence in Lockland, however, has attracted vitriolic responses from rightwing national media that claim immigrants have upended life for longstanding residents. The uproar has caught the attention of the Trump administration, with many now becoming caught up in the administrations vast deportation web.

Today, there are more than 19,000 cases for Mauritanian nationals pending in US immigration courts, making it the second-highest number of people from an African country after Senegal, a country with nearly four times the population. According to the Deportation Data Project, at least 90 people have been deported by ICE to Mauritania since Donald Trumps inauguration on 20 January.

Many belong to the Fulani ethnic group whose communities stretch across west Africa and who have been subjected to human rights abuses in several countries. Mauritania was the last country in the world to abolish slavery, although the practice persists, with about 149,000 people thought to be held as slaves.

Mauritania is dominated by a minority Arab-Berber government and human rights abuses of the countrys Black population have persisted, leading to a surge in undocumented migration to the US over the past two years.

I dont know any Black person who wants to live in a country that is very similar to South Africa during the apartheid era Amadou Ly, Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in the US

I dont know any Black person who wants to live in a country that is very similar to South Africa during the apartheid era and where slavery is still a reality, says Amadou Ly of the Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in the US.

It is simple as that. In my opinion, that is the main reason Black Mauritanians dont want to be deported.

During the 1800s, the Miami and Erie Canal that connected the Ohio River with Lake Erie hundreds of miles to the north ran through Lockland, making it a bustling center of transportation and manufacturing.

Unlike its plushier neighbors, today Lockland is a working-class village home to artist studios, unadorned Guatemalan restaurants, mechanic shops and heavy industry. Its median household income is just 60% of the US national rate or one-third that of Wyoming, a well-to-do, tree-lined city on Locklands western border.

Few locals can put their finger on just why about 3,500 Mauritanian immigrants ended up here over the past two years, although affordable housing and access to entry level jobs are thought to be two main drivers. Whats clear is that the increase in population led to a major strain on the citys housing and fire department resources. Local authorities say that one housing complex that became popular with Mauritanians saw up to 12 people living in apartments that were fit to accommodate four residents.

Some residents reportedly complained about low water pressure and blocked drains, issues that Mauritanian immigrants were blamed for. And because Mauritanians initially did not have permission to work, many were unable to pay income taxes to the local authorities that would then fund essential resources.

Voicemails and emails sent by the Guardian to Mark Mason, the mayor of Lockland, and other village officials received no response.

All the while, the threat of deportation lingers.

Last month a friend of Demba, who has Mauritanian heritage and volunteers at a bike repair workshop in Lockland, was deported to Senegal after attending a mandatory immigration check-in.

He had an appointment in Cleveland and when he walked out, ICE took him, Demba says.

People just come here to work.

On a freezing December evening, Demba and a half-dozen others are working together and chatting at the bike repair workshop in a garage run by Vincent Wilson, the interim president of Queen City Bike.

Wilson estimates the organization has assisted 400 to 500 Mauritanian immigrants with bikes that help them get around the city.

I started to notice that as I was riding my regular errands around town on my bike, I was seeing these men out and about in the community. [I thought] itd be way easier if you had a bike to get around, he says.

He says that while many Mauritanians can now afford cars to get to and from their jobs, often at food processing and manufacturing plants, the community is on edge.

The biggest thing that weve seen is people going to Cleveland  everyones [immigration] court appearances are in Cleveland  and getting detained in Cleveland. I know a couple of guys who are in jail in Butler county right now for traffic infractions, who are probably going to end up being sent back home.

Many of the new arrivals came from a desert region of Mauritania close to the Senegal border where social norms are vastly different from those in the US.

Related: Plain rice and little else: life for 120,000 refugees inside Mauritanias vast camp on Malis border

Sy says it took some time for immigrants to adapt.

A couple of years ago, we had a lot of complaints in Wyoming and Lockland that the migrants didnt behave well; they werent [following] social norms that we werent used to, he says.

You cant come to somebodys country and do reckless things. But I think the situation is way better now.

Thats in large part due to the new arrivals receiving work permits, allowing them to buy cars, rent their own properties and contribute in broader terms to the Lockland and wider Cincinnati communities.

Sy says he applied for asylum when he entered the US more than a year ago but is still awaiting a decision and fears that his next check-in with Ice could be the one that sends him back to Mauritania.

Anything can happen, he says.

I wish it would never happen, but you never know.
Michael Douglas has revealed that he and slain director Rob Reiner confided in each other about parenting sons struggling with drug addiction.

The When Harry Met Sally filmmaker was found dead last week in his home alongside his wife, Michele. Reiner was 78, and Michele was 70.

The couples youngest son, 32-year-old Nick, whose difficulties with drugs were well-known, has been charged with their murders.

In CBS Newss special Sunday report, Rob Reiner: Scenes from a Life, Douglas, 81, noted that with this terrible tragedy, were realizing how much pressure he was dealing with in his personal life with his son.

I also had a son who had drug issues, he added, referring to his 47-year-old son, It Runs in the Family actor Cameron, whom he shares with his first ex-wife, Diandra Luker.

And Im happy to say hes overcome them and hes living a prosperous life. But we talked a lot about that: What you can do as a parent, what you cant do, Douglas said. So knowing with all of that going on behind the scenes, this was a man who always gave you his best.

Michael Douglas (left) said he and Rob Reiner talked 'a lot' about helping a child in the throes of drug addiction (Getty)

Michael Douglas's son, Cameron (left), struggled with severe drug addiction for many years (Getty Images)

Douglass son previously struggled with severe drug addiction. In 2009, he was arrested in a DEA sting operation and pleaded guilty to heroin possession and conspiracy to distribute large amounts of drugs. He was sentenced to five years in prison. His sentence was ultimately extended after he was caught smuggling drugs into the correctional facility while incarcerated. He ended up serving nearly eight years before he was released in 2016.

Cameron got sober while in prison, and the year after his release, he and his longtime girlfriend, Viviane Thibes, welcomed their daughter, Lua. In 2020, they welcomed their son Ryder.

Of his journey toward sobriety, Cameron told People in 2023: I think when somebody is really struggling, to have love and support is crucial.

Because at least for myself, there are some parts of my life that were so dark that I was maybe starting to lose hope for myself. Then having the love and support of people that you also love and respect, it was just critical for me.

Douglas previously co-starred with Reiner in the 1971 drama Summertree from director Anthony Newley. He later starred in Reiners 1995 romcom The American President and his 2014 romcom And So It Goes, opposite the late Diane Keaton.

Last week, Reiner and Michele were found fatally stabbed in their home. The following day, Nick was arrested and charged with their slayings. He is currently being held in solitary confinement under suicide watch.

(L-R) Rob, Michele, Romy, Nick, and Jake Reiner and his girlfriend Maria Gilfillan (2025 Invision)

Before his arrest, Nick was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was being treated for a serious psychiatric disorder at the time of his parents murder, unnamed sources familiar with his background told NBC News. At some point before the killing, his medication had been adjusted, the outlet reported.

The day before Reiner and Michele were found dead, the director and his son were reportedly seen arguing at a Christmas party, where some guests reported Nick had been acting erratically.

Following his first court appearance last week, Nicks siblings, Jake and Romy, issued a joint statement asking for privacy.

Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day. The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They werent just our parents; they were our best friends, their statement read.

We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.
Afghan air force aircrafts in Kabul on 31 August 2021. Photograph: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images (Photograph: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Ali was 25 and a pilot for the Afghan air force, just like his father before him; he arrived at the special mission wing 777 airbase in Kabul around 11am one day in August 2021.

The moment he stepped through the gates, he sensed something was wrong.

Kabul, in his mind, was untouchable. I didnt think it would reach Kabul, he said in an interview by phone from his apartment in Boise, Idaho, recently.

It referred to the resurgence of the Taliban. The Guardian is using a pseudonym for Alis safety and that of his family.

He said: The US had its embassy there. There were so many Americans.

But the scene at the base that morning looked nothing like the one he knew. Pilots sprinted between hangars, stuffing bags and shouting orders. Routines that once gave structure to their days had collapsed.

Ali ran toward the command center, adrenaline rising, he recalled, as he tried to understand what was unfolding.

For weeks, he had felt the political ground shifting. Our American mentors had told us to stop bombing the Taliban, he said. That was unusual. Apparently, airstrikes had ceased, so Ali was focusing on intelligence work.

On 15 August 2021, the truth finally landed. Kabul was falling. It was no longer a question of whether control of the capital of Afghanistan would change hands but how quickly.

They told me I had two choices, he recalled of his superiors. Get on a US air force C-17 evacuating civilians, or fly my plane out of the country.

Ali didnt hesitate. He had been flying alongside American forces since he was 19, convinced Afghanistan could still become a place where his younger sister could grow up free. I was fighting for democracy, and for my little sisters future, he recalled.

He thought briefly about calling his family, urging his mother and sisters to run to the airport. Then he registered the crowds flooding the runway, people climbing walls, screaming, begging and trying to cling to departing planes, scenes of chaos and desperation seen on television around the world.

I had 15 minutes to decide if I was leaving my family behind, he said. I couldnt bring them into that chaos. He climbed into a type of Pilatus PC-12, adapted for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance work and special operations  the most advanced aircraft in the Afghan fleet  and flew it toward Uzbekistan, joining more than 400 Afghan air force fighters and support staff who fled the base that day.

I wasnt going to let that plane fall into Taliban hands, he said. The aircraft, funded and built with American support, represented a staggering investment. Its worth hundreds of millions of dollars, he said. Leaving it behind would have armed the very people he had spent years fighting and risk seeing it used against the US in the future.

When asked whether he thought about his family or the fiancee he had planned to marry later that year, he paused. I covered American troops for thousands of hours from the air. I believed they would cover me once, he said. Like many Afghans who worked with US forces, he trusted that his allies would not abandon him. I always believed they would protect my family, he said, as I had protected theirs.

Ali now drives for Uber in Boise while putting himself through flight school. His family fled to a neighboring country, which he prefers not to identify publicly, after the fall of Kabul. But his fiancee remains in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

He sends money to his family, and to his fiancee, while covering his own living expenses and US aviation training.

Im a pilot, not an Uber driver, he said. I dont want to brag, but Im good at what I do.

On 3 January 2025, Ali was granted asylum in the US. He was expecting to receive his green card next year, which would allow him to work legally as a commercial pilot and petition to bring his family to safety.

I like to do things the right way, legally and properly, he said. He hoped that once he had his green card, he could bring his fiancee to the United States and hold the engagement ceremony they had never had that August.

That future seemingly collapsed last month. On 26 November, while Ali was on shift, his phone rang. His family, calling from the country where they had taken refuge, told him an Afghan man had been apprehended in connection with the shooting of two national guard soldiers in Washington DC. Ali remembers the moment.

My first reaction was, this is bad. It shouldnt have happened, he said. Its the last thing we wanted to see, especially now.

Afghan communities across the United States quickly condemned the criminal act. The man accused of the shooting had been evacuated through Operation Allies Welcome, the same program that had brought tens of thousands of Afghans to the United States after the Taliban takeover.

Spencer Sullivan, a former US army captain who served in Afghanistan and is one of the authors of the upcoming book Not Our Problem, which traces the journey of a US soldier and his Afghan interpreter through an increasingly hostile political climate toward refugees in the west, said he had feared what would follow the shooting in DC.

As soon as it happened, I thought: I know exactly whats going to happen, he said. This guy is going to be used as a representation of tens of millions of Afghans  a perfect excuse for those [anti-immigration] people to have a national bullhorn.

Sullivan was right. Within days, to the dismay of many, the Trump administration rolled out sweeping measures: pausing pending asylum cases, halting visa issuances to Afghans, reviewing green cards held by immigrants from the Middle East and Africa and reopening the cases of approvals granted under the Biden administration to further scrutinize them.

Related: They fought for American values: Afghan immigrants and advocates push back against Trump crackdown

The changes froze immigration pathways for thousands of Afghans already living in the country.

The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, also ordered the suspension of special immigrant visas, which were created for Afghans who risked their lives working alongside the US military and government. Overnight, people who believed they were protected no longer knew whether they would be allowed to stay in the US.

Earlier that year, the administration had sharply curtailed refugee admissions while advancing an exemption for white South African applicants. It expanded a travel ban affecting several Muslim-majority countries.

Jennifer Patota, deputy director of US legal services at the International Refugee Assistance Project, based in New York, said the tragedy supercharged an agenda already in motion. Policies that punish an entire nationality because of one persons actions are unjust and counterproductive, she said.

Green card processing has been frozen, she said, and Afghans are being detained during routine immigration appointments.

Related: US agents increasingly arresting Afghan asylum seekers, lawyers say: A huge chilling effect

People are afraid theyll be stopped by ICE, she said, referring to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Weve seen Afghans called in and detained out of the blue.

She views these moves not as isolated decisions, but as part of a broader strategy to narrow who gets to belong. Were watching an administration strip status from non-white, non-European immigrants, she said. Its a signal about who is considered worthy of refuge in America.

Alis worst fear has arrived. As rhetoric hardens and enforcement intensifies, he is convinced the country he once defended will now treat him as a threat. Theyre going to see everybody the same, he said, of Afghans in the US. They dont know me, so they will see everybody in the same picture, and thats bad.

Shawn VanDiver, a navy veteran and founder of AfghanEvac, a non-profit organization that helps Afghan refugees, said Afghan families were terrified.

The fear is real, he said. People are afraid to go to the store, to the park, to the mosque. ICE is showing up at those places. They fled the Taliban because the Taliban disappeared people off the street. Thats not supposed to happen in America.

VanDiver rejects suggestions that both US political parties bear equal blame. He argues that Democrats failed to move quickly enough to pass legislation that would have provided a permanent visa pathway for Afghan parolees after the 2021 evacuation. They were cautious, he said, adding that they were worried about political backlash from Republicans and segments of the public over granting protections to Afghans, and it cost them.

But, he added: What Republicans are doing now is something else entirely. This isnt normal immigration policy. Its fear, prejudice and political opportunism.

On 9 December, a coalition of more than 130 organizations led by Refugee Council USA urged the Trump administration to reverse the policies that have halted or restricted refugee, asylum and visa processing.

John Slocum, who leads the coalition, warned that the consequences stretch beyond Afghan families in the US. The United States is breaking the promise it made to wartime allies who risked their lives for the American mission, he said. Those decisions dont just abandon Afghans. They tell the world the US government is no longer a reliable partner.

Ali tries not to think about what might happen next, the worst-case scenario that he could be deported back to Afghanistan, which the US government claims is becoming safer, but where he fears his life would be in danger.

Its really hard, he said. I have to remind myself its all going to work out. He fears hes running out of time, something he cannot control. Ive always been the one who gets things done. I passed the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] flight exam in one shot. I was a pilot at 19. But I cant change the Trump administrations policy toward my family. Then his voice tightened, and he said: If it were up to Trump, he would deport everyone who looks like me. He doesnt care about the US constitution.

He worries most about his 13-year-old sister. Her favorite thing right now is riding her bike, it fills her with joy, he said. He worries that when she turns 16, that freedom, like many others, would be taken away in Afghanistan. That makes me extremely sad, he said.

When asked how he feels now about his service alongside American forces, he went quiet.

America scammed me, he said. I gave years of my life. I flew over American troops, giving them protection and providing intelligence on the Taliban. And today, I feel scammed. He also drew a distinction he refuses to let go of.

Americans are some of the most loving people, he said. I believe in God, and everyone will have to answer to Him someday. The good Americans who helped refugees, who fought for our freedom and our rights  theyll be rewarded.

He paused, then added: But I still have to live with what was promised, and what was taken.
Some families say the decision to let their daughters return is a vital step in their own healing from the disaster that is still under scrutiny (AFP via Getty Images)

Patrick Hotzes three daughters made it home safe from Camp Mystic after Julys catastrophic floods killed 25 campers and two teenage counselors.

He attended some of the funerals and says he understands the outrage over the Texas camps plan to partially reopen next year.

He also intends to send his girls back.

My heart is broken for them, Hotze said of parents whose girls died, including some he described as close friends. I think its different for each kid and each family.

For the first time since the roaring flood, the 100-year-old all-girls Christian sleepaway retreat plans to sign up campers in January, forging ahead with a reopening that has divided families and stunned some lawmakers. Campers will start arriving in May, bunking on higher ground than the area where fast-rising waters on the Guadalupe River swept away two cabins.

A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)

Some families say the decision to let their daughters return is a vital step in their own healing from the disaster that is still under scrutiny.

The floodwaters that worsened with terrifying quickness during the July Fourth holiday weekend killed at least 117 people in Kerr County alone. Two victims have still not been found, including an 8-year-old Camp Mystic camper.

Promises of extra safety and preventive measures

Next year, Texas legislators are set to hold investigative hearings into the tragedy but have shown little appetite to assign blame. Local leaders in Kerr County, including two who were asleep when the waters started rising, remain in their jobs after defending their preparations and evacuation efforts. They are now steering a slow recovery while trying to expedite a new flood warning system before campers return.

We recognize that returning to Camp Mystic carries both hope and heartache, Camp Mystic's owners wrote in a letter to families this month. For many of your daughters, this return is not simple, but it is a courageous step in their healing journey.

It is unclear how many girls will return to Camp Mystic when the camp begins enrollment next month, but a spokesperson said there is strong interest. The camp's owner, Dick Eastland, died in the flood and his family has vowed to enhance safety measures before reopening, including two-way radios in every cabin and new flood warning river monitors.

The devastating July floods were hardly the first to strike the area known as Flash Flood Alley, where the limestone hills quickly gather water and funnel it into narrow river banks. This year was at least the fifth time in a century that flooding near the Guadalupe River has turned deadly. An attorney for Camp Mystic, Mikal Watts, said he and camp officials have contacted several former campers who witnessed previous floods and who told them they were nowhere near as high or as powerful as the flooding this year.

Outrage and acceptance

Those assurances have not quieted some parents of the 27 victims, who say the decision to reopen is insensitive and that the Eastland family has refused to take responsibility for its failures.

Lawsuits filed by some of the families allege camp operators failed to protect the children and even ordered girls and counselors in the cabins closest to the river to stay inside as floodwaters overwhelmed the property. Hundreds of 911 calls released by authorities this month included a woman who lived a mile downriver and said two of the campers had swept by.

As parents of children who were killed at Camp Mystic last summer, we are deeply hurt but, sadly, not shocked by yet another insensitive announcement from Camp Mystic focused on enrollment, the parents of six girls who died said in a public statement this month.

Some parents say Camp Mystic has played an instrumental role in their children's personal and spiritual development, and that eased their decision to allow their girls to return.

Liberty Lindleys 9-year-old daughter, Evie, was among those caught in the flooding. She was trapped with her campmates in a cabin dubbed Wiggle Inn, adjacent to the low-lying cabins that were quickly inundated by the flooded river.

Many of the girls Evie knew were swept to their deaths.

Yet despite the horror Evie endured, floating on mattresses with her friends in the pitch dark before being evacuated by helicopter, Lindley said her daughter didnt hesitate when asked if she wanted to return to Camp Mystic.

I know some people dont understand that or think thats crazy, she said of her decision to allow her daughter to go back.

She recalled talking with Evie  whose twin sister died of leukemia in 2024  while washing her hair in the bathtub, right after her terrifying ordeal.

She thought she was going to be seeing her sister that night in heaven, Lindley recalled. And she still looked at me with a smile and said, Mom, I really hope next year at camp we do Mary Poppins again, because I still really want to be Bert. That is just hours after the fact.

Some parents remain unsure

Still, not all parents are eager to send their daughters back to Camp Mystic.

John Ball, an attorney in McAllen, Texas, whose daughter was at Camp Mystic during the flood, said he has serious reservations, especially after the poor communication from camp officials about his daughter's whereabouts.

Ball said he was out of town and didn't learn that his daughter was safe until more than 12 hours after the flooding, when she was able to borrow a cellphone and call him.

That was the hardest part, not knowing, Ball said.

I think were going to take this year off and see how it goes and what these changes look like that theyre implementing," he said, "and well go from there.
More than 20,000 people a year in England die from COPD, a group of diseases that causes breathing difficulties. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA (Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA)

People from the poorest backgrounds in England with serious lung conditions are more likely to be admitted to hospital for emergency care than their more affluent counterparts, according to research.

Analysis of NHS admissions data for November by Asthma + Lung UK found people from the most deprived backgrounds in England were 56% more likely to be admitted for emergency care, while 62% were more likely to be readmitted within 39 days of an emergency admission, which is linked with an increased chance of dying.

The research also found that people in deprived areas were almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for a respiratory condition.

One expert said the findings should act as a wake-up call to end the postcode lottery.

The highest rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admissions per population are in deprived areas including Blackpool, Manchester, Hastings and Burnley.

COPD is a group of diseases that causes breathing difficulties and includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. More than 20,000 people a year in England die from COPD.

Dr Hugo Farne, a respiratory consultant at Imperial College London, said the figures lay bare a stark and avoidable injustice in respiratory health.

The fact that nearly half a million respiratory admissions could be avoided each year if deprivation gaps were closed should be a wake-up call, Farne said.

We know what works: timely diagnosis, smoking cessation support, pulmonary rehabilitation, clean air and properly resourced community respiratory services. Yet these are least accessible in the places carrying the greatest burden.

Tackling COPD outcomes means tackling inequality head-on  through sustained investment in deprived areas, joined-up health and social care and treating respiratory health as a national priority, not a postcode lottery.

The NHS is anticipating its worst-ever winter crisis as flu cases continue to rise. NHS England data released on Thursday found an average of 3,140 people were in hospital with flu each day by the end of last week, an increase of 18% compared with the previous week. At the same time last year, an average of 2,629 patients were in hospital, while in 2023 the number was 648.

Sarah Sleet, the chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, said: Many patients now in hospital with flu complications will have underlying lung conditions like COPD and shockingly, those from the lowest income groups will be more likely to lose their lives this winter.

Poor housing, smoking, and exposure to air pollution put someone at higher risk of developing COPD but deprivation determines the progression of the disease too.

At the heart of the problem is delayed diagnosis and poor care. Vital diagnostic tests are not available in parts of the country, with poorer, more populated areas  where the pressure on health services is the greatest  tending to struggle the most to provide lung testing and basic levels of care.

Lung health is in a critical state in this country, and we know what changes need to be made, they just need implementing  which is why we need a dedicated national strategy to improve respiratory outcomes.

Previous analysis of NHS figures has found that serious breathing problems including COPD have led to more emergency admissions in hospitals than any other medical condition.

NHS England has been approached for comment.
At least two killed as explosion rocks Pennsylvania nursing home leaving residents trapped

An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania has left at least two people dead as rescue crews rush to find victims or survivors of the fiery blast.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late Tuesday that at least two people had been killed in the catastrophic explosion that left residents trapped inside.

Shapiro said firefighters were climbing up ladders, handing individuals in this nursing home to police, who were at times carrying two people on their back to safety.

The explosion happened Tuesday around 2 p.m. ET at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township, about 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Shapiro said officials currently believe a gas leak caused the explosion.

Shapiro asked people to pray for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table.

An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania has left at least three people dead as rescue crews rush to find victims or survivors of the fiery blast (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

Emergency crews raced to the 174-bed facility to search for people who may have gone missing in the blast. Video footage from local outlets showed cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks with flashing lights.

WPVIs cameras filmed flames and black smoke billowing from the nursing home. There was structural damage to the building, including blown out windows and a roof that had collapsed.

Bristol Townships fire chief, Kevin Dippolito, said at the Tuesday evening news conference that five people were still unaccounted for but that some may have left the nursing home with family.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro asked people to pray 'for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table' (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

The Upper Makefield Township Police Department has called the explosion a mass casualty incident.

Please avoid that area of Bucks County as there is a large emergency personnel response, the department wrote on Facebook.

Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove with Bristol Township police told Levittown Now that residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff and even bystanders.

Jim Morgan, president of the Bristol Township School Board, said buses would transport people from the nursing home to Truman High School, where a reunification center has been set up, the Associated Press reported.

I do not know if everyone is accounted for or not yet, the officer said. Im not aware of any critical injuries but there definitely were injuries.

The explosion happened Tuesday around 2 p.m. ET at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP)

State Representative Tina Davis, whose district includes the nursing home, recalled that she saw as she approached the chaotic scene in her car.

I saw smoke and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over, Davis said, per the AP.

Local gas utility, PECO, said it had crews responding to reports of a gas odor at the nursing home around the time of the explosion, according to the AP.

PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents, the company said.

There was structural damage to the building, including blown out windows and a roof that had collapsed (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

Shapiro said officials currently believe a gas leak caused the explosion (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

Police say residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff and even bystanders (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

The nursing homes last fire safety inspection was in September 2024, and it has not received any fire safety or emergency preparedness citations, according to Medicare.gov. But the facility has an overall 1-star rating with health inspections considered much below average.

The Independent has reached out to the Bristol Township police and fire departments as well as the Upper Makefield Township Police Department for comment.

Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, called the explosion a tragic situation.

Gisele and I extend our deepest condolences to all the lives impacted by this awful development, he wrote on X.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who represents Bristol Township, said he and his team are closely monitoring developments as authorities work to secure the scene and care for those affected.

Please also join me in praying for the safety of the residents of the nursing home, the dedicated staff who care for them, and our brave first responders who rushed to the scene and ran toward danger without hesitation, the congressman added.
Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib. Composite: Twitter/X/Prisoners for Palestine (Composite: Twitter/X/Prisoners for Palestine)

Two Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners have paused their hunger strikes due to deteriorating health but have vowed to resume the protest next year.

Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib have temporarily resumed eating, according to a statement released by Prisoners for Palestine group on Tuesday evening.

The pair were among eight prisoners on hunger strike facing charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation in July, charges they deny and have called to be dropped.

Zuhrah decided to pause her hunger strike after 48 days while Gib began eating after 49 days. Both detainees are being held on remand at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.

It comes after allegations that Zuhrah was refused an ambulance for more than 18 hours at HMP Bronzefield, which led to a protest outside the prison last week, which the Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana attended. Ministry of Justice officials have previously disputed claims of mistreatment.

Four other detainees, Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha and Lewie Chiaramello, remain on hunger strike, Prisoners for Palestine said.

Zuhrah, 20, said on Tuesday: To our government, do not release your breath, because we will certainly return to battle you with our empty stomachs in the New Year, when you have shamefully returned from your blood-soaked break, to the theatrics of your democracy.

Our demands however remain inescapable, and this pause is your chance to meet them, to get it right, to stop arming and aiding this genocide, otherwise you will force us to return to confront you with our breaths, which will be far more disastrous and dangerous than this first time.

Gib, 30, said: We have never trusted the government with our lives, and we will not start now. There will be no turkey dinner and break in the Zionist programme of genocide.

We are committed to the resistance of their script, not until Christmas, but for the rest of our lives  we will be the ones to decide how we give our lives to justice and liberation.

The remaining hunger strikers released a new set of demands on Tuesday, including that Muraisi, who is being held at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, be transferred back to HMP Bronzefield where she was initially detained.

A spokesperson for Prisoners for Palestine said: The remaining four will continue to refuse food on the basis of the five demands, as well as specifying their demands to include the end of all non association orders between prisoners; Hebas transfer back to HMP Bronzefield; and the same access to all courses and activities as sentenced prisoners.

Non association orders are used to further isolate prisoners from each other despite being in the same prison; just as Heba has been moved across the country, away from her family and friends in London.

Due to the extended period of time on remand, well over the usual six month legal limit, it is only fair that the prisoners are able to access the same activities as everyone else.

Earlier this month, Jon Cink and Umer Khalid ended their 41-day and 13-day hunger strikes for health reasons. The pair were admitted to hospital and have since been discharged back to prison.

Lord Timpson, minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, said in a statement: While very concerning, hunger strikes are not a new issue for our prisons. Over the last five years, weve averaged over 200 a year and we have longstanding procedures in place to ensure prisoner safety.

Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation. HM Prison and Probation Service are clear that claims that hospital care is being refused are entirely misleading  they will always be taken when needed and a number of these prisoners have already been treated in hospital.

These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage. Remand decisions are for independent judges, and lawyers can make representations to the court on behalf of their clients.

Ministers will not meet with them  we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system. It would be entirely unconstitutional and inappropriate for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.
Gao Yingjia, a senior pastor in Zion Church, is being held in a detention centre in southern China while his wife, Geng Pengpeng, and their son have fled the country. Photograph: Supplied (Photograph: Supplied)

The knocks came at 2am. Hiding out at a friends house in a Beijing suburb, Gao Yingjia and his wife, Geng Pengpeng, rushed downstairs to meet the group of plain-clothed men who said they were police officers. Their son, nearly six, was sleeping upstairs, and Gao and Geng wanted to minimise the ruckus. They knew their time was up.

Two months later, Gao is in a detention centre in Guangxi province, southern China, charged with illegal use of information networks. His arrest was part of the biggest crackdown on Christians in China since 2018. It has prompted alarm from the US government and human rights groups, with some analysts describing it as the death knell for unofficial churches in China.

We both knew that as Christians in China, there were risks, said Geng, who fled overseas for safety with her son. But to be honest, you can never be fully prepared.

Gao is a senior pastor in Zion Church, one of Chinas most prominent underground house churches with thousands of members across the country. His arrest, and those of more than a dozen other church leaders, came after months of increasing pressure on the network. But the crackdown has not been limited to Zion, prompting fears of a nationwide assault on Chinese Christians.

On Sunday, Human Rights in China said more than 100 people had been detained in Wenzhou, a city in Zhejiang province, eastern China, in a raid on Christian groups last week. The US-based NGO said pressure had been mounting on Wenzhous Christians for months after a dispute about installing a Chinese national flag inside a local church.

Now Geng is grappling with a set of impossible choices: should she return to China to be nearer to her husband, but risk arrest herself? Should she stay in Thailand, a country that has relaxed visa policies for Chinese nationals but has a history of complying with deportation requests from Beijing? Should she go elsewhere? Earlier in her religious journey, she sometimes felt her prayers would hit the ceiling and come back down. Now her faith is steadfast, but shes waiting for guidance: Sometimes I wonder, is this real?

The most prominent pastor to be detained in the recent raids is Jin Mingri, 56, Zions founder, also known as Ezra Jin. He was detained along with Gao and nearly 30 pastors and church members in October. Eighteen of the pastors have been formally arrested and face lengthy prison sentences.

Following their arrests, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, condemned the crackdown and called for the release of the church leaders. He called on the Chinese government to allow all people of faith, including members of house churches, to engage in religious activities without fear of retribution.

China has five officially recognised religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism, but religious activities outside of officially sanctioned institutions are banned. Christians in particular have long gathered in unofficial house churches to worship away from the eyes of the state.

Zion, founded in 2007, for years operated openly in Beijing in a converted nightclub. But in 2018 the churchs physical space was forced to close amid a nationwide crackdown on unofficial Christian gatherings that led to Wang Yi, the leader of the Early Rain Covenant, another house church, being sentenced to nine years in prison for inciting subversion.

That crackdown prompted Zion to move to a hybrid model that combined large online sermons with small in-person gatherings, with followers resorting to creative methods to avoid detection, such as by renting a tour bus to worship together on the move.

After 2018, all of these [unofficial] churches went underground, trying to find ways to bypass the tightening controls. Jins church was one of the most successful in doing that, said Ian Johnson, the author of The Souls of China, a book about Chinas religious resurgence. With the arrests in October, he said, the government wanted to make it clear to everyone that this is not acceptable.

In September, China introduced new rules banning unlicensed religious groups from holding online sermons. Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, chaired a senior Communist party meeting in which he urged for the Sinicization of religions.

But pressure has been increasing on Chinese Christians all year. In May, the pastor Gao Quanfu from the Light of Zion church (a separate organisation to Zion) and his wife were arrested. Around the same time, several members of the Golden Lampstand Church, an evangelical network, were reportedly given lengthy prison sentences on charges of fraud. And over the summer, more than 100 Zion members were questioned by police and several physical branches forced to close.

Johnson said the writing has been on the wall for all of these churches since the 2000s and the latest arrests marked the final nail in the coffin.

By some measures, the crackdown is working. About 3% of Chinas population identify as Christian, according to official estimates, a level that has remained stable for over a decade despite efforts by churches to grow their numbers. But that figure could be an underestimate, considering the increasing risks of publicly identifying as a Christian. Another survey from 2018 suggested 7% of Chinese people believed in some kind of Christian deity.

Jin held a steadfast belief in Zions appeal. After the 2018 crackdown, he was confident that the church would continue to grow, said his daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, who lives in the US. Indeed, in the following years its core membership swelled from about 1,500 to 5,000, with online sermons reaching double that that number.

But for months it has been clear that this year would be challenging for the church. A few weeks before the crackdown, Sean Long, a senior pastor who is now the interim leader, asked Jin if hed considered the possibility that he could soon be arrested. Jin replied: Hallelujah, a new wave of revival will follow.

Chinas ministry of public security did not respond to a request for comment.

Additional research by Lillian Yang
Russell Brand denied five initial charges earlier this year (Getty)

Comedian Russell Brand will face two further charges, one of rape and one of sexual assault, in relation to alleged offences against two women, the Metropolitan Police said.

The Crown Protection Service (CPS) authorised further charges against the comedian following an investigation by Metropolitan Police detectives. The alleged offences took place in 2009, the CPS said.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 20 January next year in relation to the alleged offences.

These new charges are in addition to five already issued to Mr Brand in April 2025 involving four women, which included two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault.

He denied them at Southwark Crown Court earlier this year and a trial is scheduled to begin on 16 June 2026 in relation to these original charges.

Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi from the Metropolitan Police, who is leading the investigation, said: The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

The Mets investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators can be reached via email at CIT@met.police.uk.

Support is also available through the independent charity Rape Crisis by contacting the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.

Detectives began to investigate in September 2023 after they received a number of allegations following reports from Channel 4s Dispatches and The Sunday Times.

Brand, of Oxfordshire, is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, and grabbing a TV workers breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet, the court heard in May.

Brand is also alleged to have grabbed a radio station workers face, pushing her against a wall and kissing her before groping her breasts and buttocks.

The other charge of the original five alleges that the actor indecently assaulted another woman after grabbing her forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet.
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with two further sexual offences including rape, the Metropolitan Police said.

Brand, 50, is already accused of two counts of rape, one of indecent assault, and two of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005 involving four women.

The new charges were issued following an investigation by the force and relate to two women.

He denied the first set of charges at Southwark Crown Court earlier this year and a trial is scheduled to begin in relation to them on June 16 next year.

In a social media post on Tuesday evening, the star wrote: Merry Christmas brothers and sisters. Accept all things, even trials as gifts from God. Jesus is real.

Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service said that Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on January 20 in relation to the new matters.

Detectives began investigating in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, which followed reporting by Channel 4s Dispatches and The Sunday Times.

He is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, and grabbing a TV workers breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet.

Russell Brand arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)

Brand, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, is also alleged to have grabbed a radio station workers face, pushing her against a wall and kissing her before groping her breasts and buttocks.

The final charge alleges the actor indecently assaulted another woman after grabbing her forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet.

The allegations against Brand are said to have taken place against four women between 1999 and 2005 in Dorset and Westminster, central London.

Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi, who is leading the investigation, said: The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

The Mets investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators can be reached via email at CIT@met.police.uk.

Support is also available through the independent charity Rape Crisis by contacting the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.

Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, added: Today the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised two further charges of rape and sexual assault against Russell Brand.

Mr Brand is already charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault in relation to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.

These new charges relate to separate reports of non-recent offences in 2009, involving two additional women.

These additional charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring these additional charges to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue further criminal proceedings.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilb Group announced today that it has acquired a Michigan-based property and casualty agency. The acquisition took effect on December 1, 2025, enhancing the company's growing property and casualty offerings throughout the Midwest region.

About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 190 acquisitions with over 125 offices in 32 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Peter Lobred

804.548.4629

[email protected]

M&A Contact:

Ryan Havermann

804.414.6508

[email protected]

SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC
Saks Global Enterprises may be heading for bankruptcy despite raising billions to turn things around for the luxury retailer, according to a new report.

If not for its clothes, you may know Saks Fifth Avenue for its spectacular light show on the facade of its flagship store in Midtown Manhattan during the holiday season or the infamous moment actress Winona Ryder shoplifted from its Beverly Hills store in 2001.

Unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg Saks was considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a last option while a deadline to pay off more than $100 million looms.

Saks raised billions from bond investors last year in hopes that its $2.65 billion acquisition of competitor Neiman Marcus would save the struggling company. The Saks-Neiman Marcus merger combined Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off 5th, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman under Saks Global Enterprises.

Saks Global Enterprises could be heading for bankruptcy despite raising billions to turn things around for the luxury retailer, according to a new report (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Saks Fifth Aven)

But Saks plan to revive the company just put it in more debt. By May, Bloomberg reported, bondholders faced more than $1 billion in paper losses. Paper losses is the amount of money investors would lose if they sold their assets at current market prices.

When reached for comment about a possible bankruptcy filing, Saks told The Independent, Together with our key financial stakeholders, we are exploring all potential paths to secure a strong and stable future for Saks Global and advance our transformation while delivering exceptional products, elevated experiences and personalized service to our customers.

Importantly, opportunities in the luxury market remain strong, and Saks Global continues to play a distinct and enduring role within it.

While Saks remains optimistic about its future, it must make interest payments of more than $100 million by December 30, according to data collected by Bloomberg.

The company is also considering raising emergency financing or selling assets to come up with quick funds, Bloombergs sources said.

Saks $2.65 billion acquisition of competitor Neiman Marcus put the company in more debt (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus have been around since the early 20th century.

While Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus still have 41 and 36 stores in the U.S., respectively, theres been a gradual decline in the popularity of department stores in recent years, partly because of a shift to online shopping.

Saks Off 5th, Saks Fifth Avenues sister discount retailer, will be reportedly closing its flagship store in New York Citys Upper East Side on December 31. There are currently 100 Saks Off 5th stores in the U.S. and Canada.

The company will also be shuttering nine other Saks Off 5th locations across the country beginning in January, which it told USA TODAY would enable it to place greater attention to our high-performing and high-potential store locations, and refinements across our store footprint.
Diageo, the owner of Talisker and other whisky brands, has reduced production at some Scottish distilleries. Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images (Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images)

The Scottish whisky market has slipped into a supply glut as US tariffs and falling demand weigh on the countrys distilleries.

Global scotch sales fell 3% in the first half of 2025, marking the third consecutive year of decline after decades of growth, according to the alcohol data provider IWSR.

Distilleries have been grappling with uncertainty around Donald Trumps trade tariffs, as well as declining rates of alcohol consumption.

While Keir Starmer secured a trade deal with Trump in May, whisky imports from the UK into the US are still subject to a 10% tariff. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has estimated that it costs the sector 4m a week.

The shake-up has forced some of the biggest manufacturers to freeze or scale back production. Diageo, the FTSE 100 drinks group behind a number of whiskies such as Johnnie Walker, Talisker and Lagavulin, has reduced production at some of its malt distilleries to balance capacity against current demand.

The company has scaled back production at some distilleries from seven days a week to five, with operations paused at Teaninich Distillery in the Scottish Highlands. It has also halted production at its Roseisle Maltings site in north-east Scotland until at least June 2026, with future production under review.

Diageos proposed redevelopment of its Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye is also uncertain. Its full planning application is awaiting permission from the local council, although it is understood the company does not currently have definitive investment plans for the area.

A spokesperson for Diageo said it remained confident and committed to the long-term growth of scotch whisky but was managing capacity after a period of sustained investment and stock buildup.

This year the SWA warned that US tariffs are costing the sector almost 20m a month in lost sales, and more than 1,000 jobs.

Overall scotch sales in the US, the biggest market for the drink, fell 6% in the first nine months of 2025, according to IWSR. That was an improvement on a 9% fall in 2024, but well below growth rates in 2020, when sales rose by 4%.

Luke Tegner, of IWSR, added that a broader decline in alcohol consumption was also feeding the slump.

Scotch has had a boom in the last 35 years, he said. But more recently it has been hit by tariffs, by affordability and by people moderating how much they drink.

In August, a poll by Gallup found the share of Americans who say they consume alcohol was at its lowest in nearly 90 years, at 54%.

But the scotch industry is very creative  it will find a way out of it, Tegner added. We are still forecasting growth by the end of the decade.

In the meantime, some producers are investing in extra storage space to house unsold stock. International Beverage, which owns scotch brands Old Pulteney, Speyburn and Balblair, spent 7m this year on six new warehouses, adding capacity for 60,000 casks.

In the US, other distilleries have cut back on production: the bourbon brand Jim Beam, which is owned by the Japanese drinks company Suntory Group, has said it will shut down production at its main site in Kentucky for all of 2026.

While the market for scotch has been weaker this year, the broader whisky market has been more resilient, with volumes up 3% in the first half, according to IWSR.
The Prime Minister has waited until two days before Christmas to announce a watering-down of inheritance tax plans for family farms - Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street

How utterly embarrassing.

Two days before Christmas, barely a month after the Budget, the Government has finally realised its plan to raise death duties on farmers was completely idiotic and could not stand.

It shouldnt take Jeremy Clarkson to tell you that going after the family farms that put the food on our tables is not a good look.

These about-turns are becoming grimly predictable.

First came the winter fuel payment fiasco, in which Rachel Reeves thought it would be a popular idea to take cash from pensioners who were barely taxpayers, before a backbench rebellion forced her to backtrack.

Now farmers have been given a reprieve (of sorts). The threshold on agricultural property relief will now be raised to 2.5m, up from the initially proposed rate of 1m, from April next year. As a result, the Government says the number of estates liable to pay inheritance tax will halve, to around 1,000.

Three cheers to those farmers who have repeatedly driven their tractors up from the shires to make their point in Westminster.

Unlike Reeves and Sir Keir Starmers other abrupt about-turns (notably the aborted welfare reforms), this was not something being pushed by Labour MPs  aside from Markus Campbell-Savours who, as a Lake District MP, really had no choice but to oppose the Government.

Now is the time for the rest of us non-farmers to summon up the blood, seize the initiative, ride the momentum  and force some more about-turns.

There are plenty of damaging proposals to choose from, but here are my top targets.

Salary sacrifice sounds boring (which is exactly what Reeves is banking on) but is incredibly important.

From April 2029, the National Insurance relief on these schemes will be capped at 2,000 a year. The main victim will be our pension pots: contributions made into retirement pots are currently incentivised with these schemes, which effectively lower your salary in return for you saving for your future.

The Treasury will bank a few billion pounds a year, while people who diligently save into pension (and accept lower salaries today) will lose out.

If people cut the amount they save as a result, an average earner could lose 22,000 from their pension, according to AJ Bell. A higher earner might lose as much as 50,000. Good thing we dont have a savings crisis, eh?

Speaking of penalising savings, Labour also wants to push young people into investing in the stock market. It thinks it can do this by limiting the Isa allowance for cash savings (older people get an exemption).

Not only does this introduce maddening complexity to what is probably the best-used financial product in Britain, it is also unlikely to do anything to boost domestic share prices, or indeed the economy.

Some pensioners are also to be given special treatment via the income tax system. Those retirees who only have state pension income to rely on will not have to pay income tax for the rest of the parliament  even though the triple lock means the state pension will soon be higher than the personal allowance.

This sends entirely the wrong message: squirrel away your own money instead of relying on the state? Well have some of that, thanks very much. Rely entirely on the state? Enjoy an extra benefit, on us.

It is the logical extension to the set piece announcement of the 2024 Budget, under which any money left unspent in a private pension will soon be liable for inheritance tax. Obviously, this theft of private savings should also be scrapped, but I fear we are too late to stop it.

There is no shortage of terrible ideas to choose from, but the most urgent might be the looming disaster for our pubs.

Still limping from the Covid disaster and increases to National Insurance and the minimum wage, they must now contend with a shock revaluation of business rates. From April, the average hospitality propertys annual tax bill is to rise by several thousands pounds a year.

It seems this fatally weak Government wont be content until it has taxed us (and our businesses) into the ground.

Ive only just recovered from losing the Ashes  if my local closes, Im not sure what Ill do.
A working group set up by Wes Streeting was due to deliver the conclusions of a review into the use of the drugs in June - Lucy North/PA

Wes Streeting has been threatened with legal action after being accused of dragging his feet over proposals to ban cross-sex hormones.

In May, the Government said it would launch a review into the private prescription of the hormones to under-18s questioning their gender.

The drugs, also known as gender-affirming hormones, give testosterone to someone born female to help change their physical appearance, or oestrogen to those born male.

They differ from puberty blockers, which have been banned indefinitely in the UK for treating gender dysphoria outside a clinical trial.

A working group set up by Mr Streeting was initially due to deliver the conclusions of a review into the use of the drugs in June. However, six months on, no such decision has been reached.

Campaigners fighting for the procedure to be outlawed have announced their intention to take the Health Secretary to the High Court.

Keira Bell, a campaigner, has accused Wes Streeting of dragging his feet - Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA-EFE

Keira Bell, one of the claimants, was given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones as a teenager, which she said had ruined her life, leaving her a 28-year-old woman with no breasts, a deep voice, body hair, a beard and reproductive atrophy.

She said: Im mortified at the damage that I was allowed to inflict on myself from the age of 16, all under the care of medical professionals. These cross-sex hormones lead to irrevocable damage.

The court recognised in May the need to urgently review their use in England. Wes Streeting agreed to do that review. Were now months over the due date  why is he dragging his feet?

The pre-action letter, seen by The Telegraph, was sent by lawyers at Conrathe Gardner LLP on behalf of Ms Bell and the Bayswater Support Group, which represents the parents of trans-identifying children.

In it, lawyers said Ms Bell had been led to believe that she could change her sex and that she now felt deceived and lied to by the medical professionals.

Patient safety investigation

Paul Conrathe, a partner at the law firm, accused Mr Streeting of putting the review on the back burner, adding: How many more months or years need to go by without anyone having the courage to act?

The puberty blocker ban came as a result of the Cass Review, led by Baroness Hilary Cass, who found that treatment for gender dysphoria had been built on shaky foundations.

Cross-sex hormones are used in higher volumes than puberty blockers and for a range of conditions, as well as being prescribed as contraceptives or for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, meaning restrictions on their use are not straightforward.

It is understood the Government is awaiting the findings of an independent patient safety investigation into the inappropriate prescribing of hormone treatment to children by NHS England and the Sussex Integrated Care Board before taking a decision on whether to ban them.

The Department of Health said childrens healthcare must always be led by evidence.

A spokesman said: We are continuing our work with the NHS to reform gender services to ensure young people receive timely, holistic care and support, while reviewing the use of cross-sex hormones.
New research has found no evidence that commonly prescribed hormone therapies for menopausal women either increase or decrease the risk of dementia.

While experts stress that more studies are needed, the findings are said to reinforce current clinical guidance that hormone therapy should be prescribed based on other perceived benefits and risks, rather than for dementia prevention.

Hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is designed to replace the hormones that naturally decline during menopause.

This treatment helps alleviate a range of symptoms, including hot flushes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and night sweats.

Available in various forms such as tablets, gels, sprays, or creams, HRT can contain different hormones, including oestrogen, progesterone, and sometimes testosterone.

A comprehensive review conducted by a team of researchers from the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, and China examined 10 studies involving more than one million women.

The team investigated whether HRT use affected the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which impacts thinking and memory, or dementia in both pre- and post-menopausal women.

The study included patients with MCI, those experiencing early menopause, and women with premature ovarian insufficiency, where the ovaries cease functioning before the age of 40.

The analysis, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, concluded there was n o significant association between HRT and the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

There is no evidence that HRT increases the risk of developing dementia, experts say (PA Wire)

Furthermore, the timing, duration, or specific type of HRT used showed no significant effects.

Researchers reiterated that there was no evidence that using hormone therapy either increases or decreases the risk of dementia in post-menopausal women and that prescriptions should be based on other perceived benefits and risks and not for dementia prevention.

They also called for high-quality studies to further clarify the role of hormone therapy and dementia risk, particularly focusing on women with early menopause or mild cognitive impairment.

Dementia disproportionately affects women globally, even when accounting for longer lifespans, with an estimated 982,000 people in the UK living with the condition, approximately two-thirds of whom are women.

Melissa Melville, lead author of the study and a PhD student at UCL psychology and language sciences, highlighted this disparity.

She stated: Across the globe, dementia disproportionately affects women, even after accounting for womens longer lifespans, so theres a pressing need to understand what might be driving that risk, and to identify ways to reduce womens risk of dementia.

Ms Melville added: Menopause hormone therapy is widely used to manage menopausal symptoms, yet its impact on memory, cognition and dementia risk remains one of the most debated issues in womens health.

Conflicting research and concerns about potential harms have fuelled public and clinical debate, leaving women and clinicians unsure whether menopause hormone therapy might raise or reduce their risk of dementia.

Professor Aimee Spector, also from UCL psychology and language sciences, noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) currently provides no guidance on menopause hormone therapy and cognitive outcomes, leaving a critical gap for clinicians and policymakers.

She expressed hope that the review would help inform upcoming WHO guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, expected in 2026.

There have been calls for more research on potential links between HRT and dementia (Getty)

Professor Spector concluded: To cut through the noise, we reviewed the most rigorous research there is on the subject and found that menopause hormone therapy does not appear to impact dementia risk either positively or negatively.

More high-quality, long-term research is still needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of menopausal hormone therapy.

However, menopause specialist Louise Newson offered a different perspective, suggesting it is impossible to state from this research that HRT does not either increase or reduce dementia risk.

She argued: We have known for decades that our three hormones progesterone, estradiol and testosterone are made in our brains and have specific roles in our brains including improving the way the nerve cells grow, function and communicate with each other.

Ms Newson emphasised the importance of common sense in the debate, noting that modern HRT prescribes hormones with the same molecular structure as natural ones, unlike older synthetic types.

She concluded that women prescribed HRT containing progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone experience more benefits than risks, including improved symptoms like memory problems, and reduced future risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
A Delaware state trooper was killed by a 44-year-old gunman at a Division of Motor Vehicles location in Wilmington, according to police.

Delaware State Police responded to the DMV around 2 p.m. Tuesday, after the suspected gunman, who entered as a customer, approached a state trooper sitting at the reception desk and shot him, officials said at a press conference. The trooper was working an overtime assignment, according to police.

After being shot, the trooper pushed the DMV employee out of harm's way, and the suspect shot the trooper again, Delaware State Police Public Information Officer Cpl. Raushan Rich told reporters.

A New Castle County police officer then confronted the suspect and shot him, according to police. The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he died. The trooper also died at a local hospital.

Others were treated for minor injuries after the shooting.

Police responded to reports of an active shooter at a Division of Motor Vehicles office on Hessler Boulevard in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday afternoon (Google Maps)

A 40-year-old woman was transported to a local hospital with minor, non-gunshot-related injuries, while a second state trooper was evaluated for a minor, non-gunshot-related injury, according to state police. A 35-year-old woman who refused transport to a nearby hospital was also evaluated for shortness of breath.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer said the fallen trooper was a hero who gave his life in the line of duty, and called the shooting an act of pure evil. The names of the trooper and the suspect involved in the shooting have not been released.

Colonel William D. Crotty told reporters that the Delaware State Police suffered a devastating loss.

We lost a brother, a son, a best friend, a coach, a husband and a father, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Meyer confirmed that there was no active threat to the public after officers responded to the scene.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer said the state trooper who was killed was a hero who gave his life in the line of duty. (Fox 29 Philadelphia)

There were major delays on Route 13, near the DMV office, in the wake of the shooting, according to the Delaware News Journal. FBI agents were at the scene, along with state police and prosecutors from the Delaware Department of Justice, the outlet reports.

Surveillance footage from inside the DMV obtained by NBC 10 shows a bullet hole in a window behind the waiting area. The footage also shows a group of officers moving through the office.

All Delaware DMV locations closed in the wake of the shooting on Tuesday, the agency said in a statement.

Representative Sarah McBride, who represents the states at-large district, said she has been briefed on the incident.

I am praying for all of those impacted, including our brave law enforcement officers. I continue to be in touch with state officials as we all gain more information, she wrote on X.

Senator Chris Coons said he was horrified by the tragic reports of a shooting, while Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester said she was appreciative of the courageous effort from law enforcement and praying for those involved.
The Trump administration had vowed to oust a deep state of civil servants in a process that critics have called a purge of a professional class of government employees Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters (Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters)

The Trump administration has quietly recalled nearly 30 ambassadors and other senior overseas diplomats as the Trump administration plans to promote appointees loyal to the new administration to higher levels of the state department, according to diplomatic sources.

The recall of the ambassadors or heads of mission, which were confirmed by several current and former senior diplomats, was unusual for targeting career foreign service officers heading embassies overseas who are generally left in place after a change in administration because they strive to be apolitical.

But the Trump administration had vowed to oust a deep state of civil servants in a process that critics have called a purge of a professional class of government employees including senior overseas diplomats.

Related: Like Maga disciples: meet the Trump envoys raising eyebrows in Europe

This is a standard process in any administration, a current senior state department official said in response to a request for comment from the Guardian. An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the Presidents right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.

The senior official also confirmed that the recalled ambassadors would not be fired, but would be reassigned instead. The plans to recall the US diplomats were first reported by Politico. A partial list of the removals was first reported by the Associated Press.

A union representing US diplomats said it was deeply concerned by the process and numerous US diplomats told the Guardian that they believed the promotions process had been weighed to elevate diplomats seen as friendly to the administration. That process could politicise the foreign service, they said.

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) asserts that Foreign Service staff who dutifully executed the policies and procedures of a previous administration should not be penalized by retroactively imposed changes to the promotion precepts, the union wrote in a statement condemning the new policies.

The department must explain how these actions promote fairness for those who were recommended but not reached promotion this year and will now face challenges as others have been promoted ahead of them.

The reshuffle was not announced publicly and state department employees were quietly compiling lists of who had received recall orders over this weekend. This is a travesty, said one former senior official who had spoken with ambassadors told they would be leaving their posts. Its random, no one knows why they were pulled or spared.

The hardest hit region was Africa, where some one dozen ambassadors or chiefs of mission recalled from Niger, Uganda, Senegal, Somalia, Cote dIvoire, Mauritius, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda. In the Middle East, heads of mission were recalled from Egypt and Algeria. European chiefs of mission to receive recall orders included Slovakia, Montenegro, Armenia and North Macedonia.

We have [around] 80 vacant ambassadorships, wrote Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Yet, President Trump is giving away US leadership to China and Russia by removing qualified career Ambassadors who serve faithfully no matter whos in power. This makes America less safe, less strong and less prosperous.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio said at a year-end presser last week that he had delivered a new list of hundreds of diplomats nominated for promotion after the Trump administration adjusted the criteria and panels of those overseeing the promotion process.

That was part of an effort by the administration to target Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies supporting minority candidates within various government agencies.

Powerful White House officials like the deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller have sought to install allies in the state department to execute goals of limiting immigration into the United States. The promotion of diplomats aligned with the current White House administration would further politicise the diplomatic corps, AFSA said.
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry is the United States new special envoy to Greenland - AP

Donald Trump has appointed a special envoy to Greenland, prompting Denmark to summon Washingtons ambassador.

Jeff Landry, the US presidents pick for the new role, has vowed to make the region part of the US.

Mr Trump revealed in a Truth Social post on Sunday evening that Mr Landry, the Republican governor of Louisiana, had been appointed in a move that deeply angered the foreign minister of Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex.

He said that Mr Landry understands how essential Greenland is to our national security, and will strongly advance our countrys interests for the safety, security, and survival of our allies, and indeed, the world.

Addressing the appointment of Mr Landry on Monday, Mr Trump said: We need Greenland for national protection.

They have no military protection. They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago, or something, with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, Im sure. So well have to work it all out.

Thanking the president, the new envoy said its an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.

Mr Trumps long-held desire to acquire Greenland has caused anxiety in Denmark, and raised concerns in Nato that the US could use force against one its allies.

Copenhagen said it was not informed about the appointment and has been kept in the dark about Washingtons plans.

Ministers in Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly insisted that the island is not for sale but have also said they are willing to engage with the US over security and business opportunities such as mining.

They also offered to extend the Pituffik space base in Greenlands far north. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the kingdom of Denmark.

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0801The importance of Greenland\'s position

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We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, and Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement.

Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US shall not take over Greenland. We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.

Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmarks foreign minister, on Monday said he was deeply angered by Mr Landrys appointment.

I am deeply angered by the appointment and the statement, which I find totally unacceptable, he told TV2 in an interview, adding that the foreign ministry would call the US ambassador in the coming days for an explanation.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenlands prime minister, said the appointment changed nothing for the territory as we decide our own future.

We are happy to co-operate with other countries, including the US, but it must always be done with respect for us and our values and wishes.

After he returned to the White House in January, the president said he needed Greenland for US security and refused to rule out using force to acquire the territory.

Mr Landry, a Trump ally, said the appointment would not impact his role as Louisiana governor, a position he has held since 2024. He does not have any known connections to the region, but has backed Mr Trumps expansionist ambitions.

We need to ensure that Greenland joins the United States. GREAT for them, GREAT for us! Lets get it done!, he wrote on X in January.

Thank you @realDonaldTrump! It's an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S. This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!  Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) December 22, 2025

Moscow and Beijing have been working together to bolster their influence in the Arctic, a key region for transportation and resources. In 2019, Republican politicians claimed China was trying to build airports on Greenland and buy an old American naval base there.

Greenland is also a potential treasure trove of natural resources, including rare earth minerals, which are vital for high-end military, green energy and industrial technologies. Their supply is currently monopolised by China.

In March, JD Vance, the US vice-president, made an unexpected visit to Greenland in a move that was seen as provocative. He was also forced to cut his visit from four days to one after causing anger across Europe.

In August, Danish officials summoned the US ambassador following a report that at least three people with connections to Mr Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.

Greenland, which is roughly the same size as Texas, has gained geostrategic importance as the race for rare earths heats up and as melting ice caused by global warming opens up new shipping routes.

It also hosts the Pituffik base, formerly Thule Air Base, which has been vital to the US since the start of the Cold War.

It is the US militarys most northerly outpost used for missile defence and space surveillance, housing Americas solid state phased array radar system, which provides early warning of ballistic missiles. Mr Vance visited the base in March.

Donald Trump Jr also visited the island in January and declared that the people of Greenland are Maga.

Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN! he wrote.

The vast majority of Greenlanders want full autonomy from Denmark. In January, 85 per cent of Greenland residents said they opposed to becoming part of the US, according to a poll published in the Greenlandic publication Sermitsiaq. Six per cent were in favour.
President Donald Trump has criticized the release of thousands of documents from cases against Jeffrey Epstein, warning they could ruin the reputation of high-profile figures who were innocently photographed alongside the convicted sex offender and deflect from his administrations accomplishments.

In his first public remarks since the Department of Justice started to publish thousands of images and heavily redacted materials, the president said the release of images of former President Bill Clinton and others photographed with Epstein is a terrible thing.

You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. 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.

Growing pressure from members of Congress to release the long-awaited files is merely an attempt to deflect from the tremendous success of the Republican Party and the Trump administration, and Republican lawmakers who support the disclosures are being used, the president told reporters.

The Justice Department failed release all of the files related to Epsteins cases in its possession despite federal law  signed by Trump  requiring his administration to publicly disclose everything it has by last Friday, December 19.

Donald Trump criticized the release of images showing high-profile figures including Bill Clinton with Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting the documents could ruin the reputation of anyone who was innocently photographed with the sex offender (AP)

An initial round of long-awaited documents included a vast library of salacious images and photographs of high-profile figures with Epstein, but they failed to advance the publics understanding of the scope of his crimes and connections to an alleged sex trafficking ring accused of exploiting and abusing young girls.

There were heavy redactions, including dozens of pages of grand jury testimony and previously sealed court filings that were nearly entirely blacked out.

The first batch of files appeared to prominently feature photographs of former President Bill Clinton with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which the White House immediately pounced on.

I like Bill Clinton. Ive always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I've been nice to him. Hes been nice to me. Weve always gotten along. I respect him. I hate to see photos come out of him, but this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats, and a couple of bad Republicans are asking for, Trump said Monday. Theres even photos of me, too.

Trump has continued to downplay his connections to Epstein despite a years-long relationship that fell apart in the 2000s. The president has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and ones inclusion in the documents does not imply otherwise.

A spokesperson for Clinton accused the administration of using selective releases to imply wrongdoing and called on the Justice Department to immediately release any remaining materials from the Epstein files "referring to, mentioning or containing a photograph of the former president.

Someone or something is protected, Clintons deputy chief of staff Angel Urena said Monday. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has denied that the Justice Department is redacting Trumps name from the Epstein files (AP)

Hours after the initial release of documents, the Justice Department removed more than 20 files  including an image that showed a photograph of Trump with bikini-clad women was sitting in an open drawer.

Those images were later restored, but their removal only fueled outrage and demand for the full release of the files, with threats of legal action from members of Congress.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was scrambling 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.

We are not redacting information around President Trump, Blanche said.

After the Justice Department restored the image of Trump taken from Epsteins credenza, the agency said in a statement that there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction.

A first batch of images released by the Justice Department December 19 include several undated photographs featuring Bill Clinton, which the White House immediately pounced on (Department of Justice)

Missing from the documents are bank records that could shed light on the allegedly vast financial engine supporting Epstein and his crimes, as well as internal memos and other documents from prosecutors who investigated him and others.

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 Epstein and Maxwell.

It also requires the release of documents related to Epsteins jailhouse death in 2019, which was ruled a suicide. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

More than a dozen survivors of Epsteins and Maxwells abuse have criticized the administrations partial release of the files, which were riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation.

At the same time, numerous victim identities were left 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 wrote.

Members of Congress have suggested Attorney General Pam Bondi could be held in contempt for failing to release documents on deadline.

Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the Democratic and Republican lawmakers behind legislation compelling the release, are talking about and drafting that right now, Khanna told CBS Face the Nation Sunday.

The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, Massie added.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will also introduce a resolution next month to initiate legal actions against the Trump administration for illegally refusing to release the full complete files and heavily redacting others, his office said.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
EAST LONDON, South Africa, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Headway NOVA, a platform for tokenized investment in the real estate market, has announced it has received two major industry awards: '1st Most Trusted Financial Company  Community Choice 2025' by TrustFinance and 'Real Estate Investment Firm of the Year' by Corporate LiveWire.

Innovation and Trust: Headway NOVA Honored with Two Prestigious Industry Awards

This dual recognition from both the public and industry experts not only shows the prominence and importance of the emerging real-world asset tokenization market but also proves Headway NOVA's success in building a secure, transparent, and accessible platform for tokenized real estate investing. The platform's approach has attracted user interest, reflecting ongoing demand for technology aimed at broadening access to traditionally limited investment opportunities. The awards recognize the company's efforts in increasing accessibility within this market.

Prestigious recognition

Headway NOVA has earned two significant honors that validate its market position. One award, '1st Most Trusted Financial Company  Community Choice 2025' is based entirely on investor feedback from an independent global review platform, highlighting the trust the company has built through its secure and user-friendly platform. Following this, Headway NOVA was named 'Real Estate Investment Firm of the Year' at the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025, recognizing the company's strategic approach and industry impact. This recognition reflects a rigorous evaluation process and demonstrates the company's ability to meet the highest industry standards.

The judging panel highlighted Headway NOVA's development of strategic partnerships with real estate professionals, which facilitate the selection of high-performing properties for tokenization. This approach enables access to select real estate markets, including regions such as the UAE, where the sector has shown continued growth.

Through innovation to success

Headway NOVA's growth is driven by three distinct platform features designed to broaden access to real estate investment. The platform provides global availability, enabling users worldwide to engage with premium real estate markets with entry points starting at $25. Additionally, an installment option allows purchases to be divided into four payments over a three-month period without interest or additional fees, aimed at enhancing financial accessibility.

The launch of NOVA 2.0 represents a major technological advancement where all properties launch directly in Active status, meaning investors start earning rental dividends immediately upon purchase. All legal arrangements and tenant agreements are finalized before tokens become available, ensuring income flows from day one. The upgraded platform delivers enhanced liquidity through a secondary market for token trading, transparent payout schedules, and a refined user interface. These innovations combine blockchain security with user-friendly accessibility, positioning Headway NOVA at the forefront of the real-world asset tokenization market.

Going strong into 2026

As of late 2025, Headway NOVA provides access to tokenized real estate investment opportunities across three Dubai districts: Jumeirah Village Circle, MBR City, and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The platform lists tokens priced between $25 and $67, with recent company estimates indicating potential annual returns of up to 20%, depending on property performance. Investors receive rental distributions on a monthly or quarterly basis, and token valuations reflect changes in underlying property market prices. According to the company, the platform has registered participation from over 70,000 users across more than 130 countries.

About Headway NOVA

Headway NOVA is a global investment platform that offers fractional digital shares in real estate with rental potential. Investors can start with as little as $25 and gain access to rental dividends and potential property appreciation through a secure, mobile-first platform.

The company holds an investment license from the FSCA, South Africa, enabling Headway NOVA to operate within regulated frameworks and serve investors worldwide.

To learn more about Headway NOVA and see the full selection of its investment projects, users can visit hwnova.site or download the app from Google Play or App Store.

Contact

PR manager

Niki Miller

Headway Nova

[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2850991/Headway_NOVA_awards.jpg

SOURCE Headway NOVA
A UK-backed initiative is working with farmers in Kenya to turn tea waste into clean energy and fertiliser.

The so-called Green Tea project aims to support producers in the east African nation, which supplies around half of the tea drunk in Britain.

Most of this is produced by more than 600,000 smallholder farmers, who have seen their yields reduced and livelihoods threatened by increasingly volatile climate conditions, which in turn has driven up prices for UK consumers.

Grace Njeri Koinange, a farmer who has been growing tea on her farm near the town of Limuru just north of the capital Nairobi for more than 40 years, told the Press Association: The weather in the locality has changed a lot particularly this year.

We havent had much rain  it was very scant. This has changed the growing of the tea, so the production has really reduced in the last three years.

A syngas system developed by a North Wales firm is being trialled at Browns Plantation in Kenya (Compact Syngas Solutions)

Ms Njeri Koinange was among the first to take part in the UK-funded Green Tea project.

The early stages of the initiative involved artisanal biochar  a carbon-rich material produced by heating organic materials like tea prunings, wood offcuts and leaves  being applied on her farm as fertiliser to boost soil health and improve tea flavour.

We found it was very good, Ms Njeri Koinange said, adding that the section where the fertiliser was applied produced far more tea than other areas of the farm.

It comes as farmers like Ms Njeri Koinange face ever-tightening margins, as climate impacts and the low prices they are paid for their tea make it increasingly difficult to make a profit, or even meet the cost of labour.

Particularly this year, we have had very low payment from the tea, she said.

We have struggled to make a profit because (the price) is not good enough.

It is not comfortable and we have to struggle to keep going.

Grace Njeri Koinange, a farmer who has been growing tea on her farm near the town of Limuru, just north of the capital Nairobi, for more than 40 years (Ruby Alcantara)

Biochar is being touted as a potential solution to support Kenyan tea production, cut costs and boost sustainability but beyond the early stages of the project, Ms Njeri Koinange said she has yet to use it again as biochar is too expensive.

The hope is for their local tea factory to start producing industrial biochar once it obtains its own machinery.

If you had the right machinery, it would be easier, Ms Njeri Koinange said.

It would definitely benefit the production of tea on the farm and we would be very excited to have it.

As part of the Green Tea project, Browns Plantation in the northeastern town of Kericho is currently hosting a pilot of the technology developed by North Wales-based company Compact Syngas Solutions.

The machinery can turn leftover leaves and trimmings into synthesis gas, or syngas, which is widely considered a form of green energy because it releases fewer carbon emissions than other alternatives, while simultaneously producing biochar.

Tea factories often burn wood grown on the nearby farms to generate energy needed for drying out tea leaves, which can be labour-intensive and produce high levels of carbon.

Workers on the Rirara Tea Estate in Kenya (Compact Syngas Solutions/PA)

The Compact Syngas Solutions system aims to support farming and factory complexes such as Browns to generate power, reduce emissions and decrease energy costs.

Paul Willacy, the firms chief executive, said the pilot has provided workers with four more months of employment as they gather the tea prunings used to create the power, and has helped factories to reduce their environmental impact.

Theres a lot that goes into (tea production) behind the scenes that makes it very unsustainable, he said.

In light of the success of the pilot, Mr Willacy said the technology could support more farmers in the Kenyan tea industry as well as other industries across the world.

The rollout just in Kenya on the tea sector could be enough to keep us busy for several years, but it does certainly go beyond that, he said.

There are 100 plus tea factories in Kenya, so this could be very repeatable after this first pilot project, but it also makes you realise that, moving forward, there are lots of different countries, lots of industries, with very similar problems.

Paul Willacy, chief executive of Compact Syngas Solutions (Compact Syngas Solutions/PA)

The company first secured funding from Innovate UKs energy catalyst programme, which allowed the firm to develop the system, with the Kenya pilot then supported by funding from the UN Industrial Development Organisation.

Having something thats in-country funded in this way de-risked it for everybody, he said.

Following on from that, future projects will all be privately funded because weve proven it, technically and economically  the viability of it.

Weve already got people who lined up who could potentially fund future projects. The opportunity is really big.

On potentially helping to improve livelihoods in Kenya, he said: Thats a fantastic thing for us.

Its one thing to be in the renewable sector, but actually to make a difference to peoples lives is incredible really.

But Mr Willacy also said it will support British tea brands to become more sustainable across their entire supply chain.

All the brands that we know and love and we see in the high streets  theyve got a duty of care to become more sustainable.

And this goes right away from the people who are selling it in the supermarkets right the way through to the people picking the tea leaves in the first place in the production.

Tea drying in withering troughs at the Maramba Tea Factory in Kenya (Compact Syngas Solutions/PA)

It comes as UK climate finance has helped to protect 137 million people from climate impacts since 2011, according to official figures released last month.

Development minister Baroness Jenny Chapman said: If it was not for our support, a large proportion of those people would end up displaced from their homes, searching for a more secure existence elsewhere, exacerbating the severe problems we are already seeing across the world from conflict, food shortages and mass migration.

That is why it is in everyones interests to invest in climate resilience and adaptation, and British businesses are central to that effort.
Ukraine is leveraging its powerful  and cheap  new drone killers for air defence

The icy ground crackling under their feet, members of an elite Ukrainian drone-hunting team set up for a long night.

Antennas and sensors are clipped to a light stand. Monitors and controls are pulled from hard cases, and a game-changing new weapon is readied for deployment.

The Sting, shaped like a flying thermos, is one of Ukraines new homegrown interceptors.

The units commander says the interceptors can effectively counter Russias fast-evolving suicide drones, which are now flying faster and at higher altitudes.

Every destroyed target is something that did not hit our homes, our families, our power plants, said the officer, known only by the call sign Loi, in line with Ukrainian military protocol.

The enemy does not sleep, and neither do we.

Nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities and power infrastructure have forced Kyiv to rewrite the air defence rule book and develop cut-price drone killers costing as little as $1,000.

Interceptors went from prototype to mass production in just a few months in 2025 and represent the latest shift in modern warfare.

Effective defence in Ukraine depends on mass production, rapid adaptation and layering low-cost systems into existing defenses instead of relying on a few expensive, slow-to-replace weapons.

Models like the Sting  made by the volunteer-driven startup Wild Hornets  and the newly appeared Bullet can surge in speed before crashing into enemy drones.

An engineer assembles an FPV drone (AP)

They are flown by pilots watching monitors or wearing first-person-view goggles.

The economics are crucial. Andrii Lavrenovych, a member of the strategic council of the fast-growing startup General Cherry which develops the Bullet, says the drones they destroy cost anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000.

We are inflicting serious economic damage, he said.

Russia favours the Iranian-designed Shahed suicide drone and has produced multiple variants of the triangle-winged craft, armed with jammers, cameras and turbojet engines in a constant battle of innovation.

In some areas they are one step ahead. In others, we invent an innovative solution, and they suffer from it," Mr Lavrenovych said.

An engineer working on FPV drones (AP)

Federico Borsari, a defence analyst at the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis, says interceptors are a valuable addition to Ukraines  and Europes  anti-drone arsenal.

Cheap interceptor drones have become so important, and so quickly, that we can consider them a cornerstone of modern counter-unmanned aerial systems, he said. They realign the cost and scale equation of air defense.

Their mobility and low cost allow them to defend more targets, but Borsari added: It would be a mistake to see them as a silver bullet.

Their success, he said, depends on sensors, fast command and control as well as skilled operators. They can be used in a menu of options that starts with multimillion-dollar missiles and ends with nets and antiaircraft guns.

Defense planners in Ukraine and NATO expect the hyper-scaling of drone production on both sides of the conflict to continue in 2026, adding urgency to European plans to create a layered air-defense system known as the drone wall.

FPV drones are seen in storage (AP)

The network along Europes eastern borders, to be rolled out over two years, is designed to detect, track and intercept drones, with Ukrainian-style interceptors playing a potentially central role in destroying threats.

Ukrainian drone makers are set next year to expand coproduction with U.S. and European firms. Merging battle-tested designs and valuable data with Western scale and funding, the collaboration would boost output and embed Ukraine in NATO-member supply chains.

Another inevitable trend, Mr Lavrenovych argues, is increased automation.

Our mobile groups shouldnt have to approach the front line, where they become targets, he said.

Drones must become fully autonomous robots with artificial intelligence  as scary as that may sound  to help our soldiers survive.
The battleships will be made from steel and armed with missiles, guns, hypersonic weapons and lasers - AFP

The US will commission a new Golden Fleet of heavily armed Navy battleships named after Donald Trump.

The president announced that the laser-armed vessels would be the largest battleships in the history of the world to maintain his countrys military supremacy.

He said construction on the Trump Class USS Defiant  the first US warship to be named after a sitting president  would begin soon, and it was expected to be operational within two and a half years.

Mr Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Florida: Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world ever built.

Speaking alongside images of the ships, he described them as 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built and said: Theyll help maintain American military supremacy, revive the American ship-building industry and inspire fear in Americas enemies all over the world.

A retired rear admiral has described Mr Trumps planned fleet as unsuitable for confrontations with China - AFP

Mr Trump said the new laser-armed battleships would be built with the help of robots and AI, but also create employment: Were going to be employing a lot of artificial things but the beauty is were going to have more jobs than weve ever had.

The 30,000 to 40,000-tonne battleships will be made from steel and armed with missiles, guns, hypersonic weapons and high powered lasers, the US president said.

They will also carry new nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missiles that are currently under development and, he said, had been proven to be extremely lethal.

Mr Trump said he would assist the US Navy in designing the ships because he was a very aesthetic person, and that Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, who attended the press conference, would be involved.

However, Mark Montgomery, a retired rear admiral and current senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said the ships were not suitable for confronting China.

He told the New York Times the navy needed a dispersed fleet of minimally manned ships with large weapons magazines. These battleships will achieve none of these tactical goals, he said.

Credit: US Department of War

Mr Trump also said the government plans to keep oil recovered from seized Venezuelan oil tankers. US authorities have boarded two tankers this month and are in active pursuit of a third ship as America ramps up pressure on Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas president to relinquish power.

The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil money to fund drug-related crime, while Caracas has described the tanker seizures as piracy. Asked what they plan to do with the oil, Mr Trump said: Well keep it, maybe well use it in the strategic reserves, were keeping it, were keeping the ships also.

The Golden Fleet announcement comes a month after the US Navy scrapped its plans to build a new small warship, citing growing delays and cost overruns. It instead decided on an upgraded version of an existing Coast Guard cutter.

Historically, the term battleship has referred to a very specific type of ship  a large, heavily armoured vessel armed with massive guns designed to bombard other ships or targets ashore.

Battleships were at the height of prominence during the Second World War, and the largest of the US battleships, the Iowa Class, were roughly 60,000 tons. Since the war, modern fleets have favoured aircraft carriers and long-range missiles.

The US Navy did modernise four Iowa-class battleships in the 1980s by adding cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles, along with modern radars, but by the 1990s all four had been decommissioned.

Mr Trump has long held strong opinions on specific aspects of the Navys fleet, sometimes with a view to keeping older technology instead of modernising.

During his first term, he unsuccessfully called for the return to steam-powered catapults to launch jets from the Navys newest aircraft carriers instead of the more modern electromagnetic system.

He has also complained to John Phelan, the Secretary of the Navy, about the look of its destroyers and decried ships being covered in rust.

Mr Phelan told senators at his confirmation hearing that Trump has texted me numerous times very late at night, sometimes after one [oclock] in the morning about rusty ships or ships in a yard, asking me what am I doing about it.
Venezuelas National Assembly has approved a measure that criminalizes the seizure of oil tankers.

The bill  introduced, debated and approved within two days  makes illegal a broad range of activities that can hinder navigation and commerce in the South American country.

The legislation comes after U.S. forces seized two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters in recent weeks.

The seizures are the latest strategy in President Donald Trump's four-month pressure campaign on Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro.

The tankers are part of what the Trump administration has said is a fleet Venezuela uses to evade U.S. economic sanctions.

The Coast Guard and Navy seized a tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10 (X/@AGPamBondi)

The unicameral assembly, which is controlled by Venezuela's ruling party, did not publish drafts on Tuesday nor the final version of the measure. But as read on the floor, the bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

Venezuela's political opposition, including Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado, has expressed support for Trump's Venezuela policy, including the seizure of tankers.

The bill, which now awaits Maduros signature, also instructs the executive branch to come up with incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.

The U.S. Coast Guard seized a Panama-flagged vessel Saturday called Centuries that officials said was part of the fleet moving sanctioned cargo. With assistance from the U.S. Navy, it seized a rogue tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10. That ship was registered in Panama.

Trump, after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. He has repeatedly said that Maduros days in power are numbered.

If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hell ever be able to play tough, Trump said of Maduro Monday as he took a break from his Florida vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.
The Prime Minister appeared moved by personal stories of financial hardship faced by farmers - James Manning/Getty

It was on the Friday a fortnight before Christmas that Sir Keir Starmer came face to face with the mismatch between rhetoric and reality over the Treasurys tax raid on farmers.

For a year, government figures had waved away industry criticisms that imposing a 1m cap on inheritance tax relief for farms could force many to close.

Yet in a behind-closed-doors meeting with Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Prime Minister appeared moved by personal stories painting a different picture.

What about farmers close to the end of their lives, for whom it would be too late to pick a different inheritance plan? Was the change, kicking in from April next year, fair on them?

I did bring to life some of the really challenging conversations that I have had with members about the position they find themselves in, particularly the elderly, Mr Bradshaw told The Telegraph of that Downing Street meeting on Dec 12.

I think it resonated. It felt like a really genuine conversation.

Tom Bradshaw said his meeting with Sir Keir felt like a really genuine conversation - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

The stories  the sort previously dismissed by Government ministers in public, and Treasury sources in private, who framed critics as rich whingers  appeared to have an effect.

Eleven days on, a knife has been taken to the policy. Gone is the 1m threshold, more than doubled to 2.5m.

It was another member of that No 10 huddle, Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary  brought in to rebuild the Governments ties with the countryside  who announced the move.

We have listened closely to farmers across the country, and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms, she said in an unexpected press release that pinged into email inboxes on Tuesday morning.

The substance amounted to an early Christmas present for farmers, many of whom have been in open revolt since the change was first announced in Rachel Reevess Budget in October last year.

It carried another, unsaid, message  an acceptance that the Treasurys defence of the measure had been proved wrong.

Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary, revealed the unexpected policy change on Tuesday - Leon Neal/Getty

To understand the full story of another saving-measures debacle from this Labour Government, the arguments deployed at that 2024 Budget must be recalled.

The change was never a vast revenue raiser. Instead, it was about closing a loophole  one of those tax realignment policies that Treasury officials are so fond of putting on the table before Budgets.

Multi-millionaires were converting their land into farms to avoid inheritance tax. Bringing in a cash threshold above which the 20 per cent inheritance tax rate kicked in would end that practice.

But the minute the announcement was made last October, farmers and their trade representatives warned that the policys impact would be much wider.

Combining the thresholds, a married couple could pass on a farm worth 3m after death without paying inheritance tax, the Treasury noted, arguing that only the well-off would be hit.

Experts countered that many farmers were land rich but cash poor, with estates in theory worth above that amount because of land prices, but without the money in the bank to meet the tax bill.

They warned that many family farms would be broken up when the measure was enacted because children would be unable to pay the tax and would sell the farm.

Many farmers have been in open revolt since the inheritance tax changes in last years Budget - Oliver Dixon/Shutterstock

There was another, darker concern being voiced. A financial incentive was effectively being created to die before the change, since the farm would then pass on tax free.

Right from the off, the NFU was convinced that No 11 had done its sums wrong. The bodys officials met Treasury and environment department civil servants to talk through their numbers, suggesting more farms would be hit than the Government estimated.

Yet efforts to encourage a different approach were stonewalled. Government aides privately waved away concerns of a political backlash, hinting that millionaire farmers would draw little public sympathy.

Did the Government misjudge the intensity of the reaction? Soon, it would become clear how much political capital would be spent for raising a measly half a billion pounds in tax revenue.

Over the next year, tractors bringing Parliament Square to a standstill, horns blaring, would become a familiar sight and sound in Westminster.

Political opponents jumped on board. Kemi Badenoch made overturning the policy one of the few explicit tax promises of her first year as Conservative leader.

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader targeting more Tory seats at the next general election, and Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, were also forthright in their criticism.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, explicitly promised to overturn the policy - Stefan Rousseau/PA

There had been signs for a while that Downing Street, accused of betrayal by countryside leaders over soothing words about championing farmers before the election, was becoming nervous.

Steve Reed, dubbed City Steve by the Tories because of his Croydon constituency, had borne the brunt of the outrage for the Chancellors policy as Environment Secretary and was moved in the September reshuffle.

In his place came Ms Reynolds, with a more rural parliamentary seat in Wycombe. She sought to minimise the damage done in relations with the farming community, but privately made clear her hands were tied on the policy by the Treasury.

A tweak was announced in Ms Reevess Budget in November. Tucked into the small print of the Red Book was the news that spouses would be allowed to share their agricultural and business property reliefs. It meant tax relief for farms could be pooled by couples.

Yet, when it came to Tuesdays move, there was no mention of the Budget. What changed in the four weeks since its delivery?

Politics seems to be part of the answer, with increasing criticism from Labours backbenchers.

A vote on the inheritance tax policy at the start of this month underlined growing anger within the party. Campaigners calculated that around 30 Labour MPs from rural seats had decided to abstain.

One Labour MP voted against the policy  Markus Campbell-Savours, who represents the rural Cumbrian seat of Penrith and Solway. He was disciplined, stripped of the whip and forced to sit as an independent. That move is sure to be overturned now that the policy has changed.

Privately, the lobbying was intensifying. Campaigners fighting the tax said they believed as many as 40 Labour MPs were seeking changes.

A review by Baroness Batters, the former NFU president, commissioned by Labour and published in mid-December, only made matters worse for No 10.

Her report concluded that farmers were bewildered and frightened by the inheritance tax changes, which it said were named as the single biggest concern by almost everyone in the sector.

With the long-planned publication of the Governments wider agricultural strategy, the moment had come for an about-turn.

The timing of the announcement, two days before Christmas and with voters tuned out of Westminster for the holidays and Parliament in recess, appeared designed to minimise any immediate fallout from the shifting of gears.

Yet the abrupt change adds to what is becoming an unfortunate trend for Ms Reeves  policy announcements designed to save money being unpicked at a later stage when they are proven to be politically unpalatable.

The scrapping of universal winter fuel payment, one of Ms Reevess first announcements in the Treasury, was abandoned earlier this year. A welfare cuts package rushed out to meet the Chancellors need for savings in the spring was gutted by the summer after a vast Labour MP rebellion.

Money-saving yet politically unpalatable policy announcements being unpicked later are becoming a trend for Rachel Reeves - Steve Welsh/PA

Did Ms Reeves agree to the change, or was it forced upon her? It was not contained in her taxation and spending plan revealed just a month ago in the Budget  a telling sign the Treasury was not signed up then.

Indeed, an amendment to the Finance Bill, the piece of legislation that brings the Budget into law, will have to be laid in January to establish these new thresholds before the policy takes effect in April.

The change has also cost the Treasury money. The revenues once expected to be generated by the tax rise are now down 130m.

The measure will now raise just 300m a year by 2030, assuming it remains in place. Opposition parties are not done yet, doubling down on calls for the whole thing to go.

A Treasury insider disputed the idea that Ms Reeves was made to agree to the changes against her instincts. Apparently, it was not in Novembers Budget because the specifics still had to be ironed out.

Sometimes in Westminster it is worth looking at the finer details. When this latest folding in the face of Labour MPs arrived on Tuesday, it did so via press release.

Attached was a glowing quote from Ms Reynolds. Notable by its absence was any word of support from the policys creator, Ms Reeves.
Philip Young was also charged with possessing 230 indecent images of children - Elizabeth Cook

A court has bailed five men for Christmas after they were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a former councillors wife with him over a 13-year period.

The men appeared at Swindon magistrates court on Tuesday with Philip Young, 49, who was charged with 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy his ex-wife, 48-year-old Joanne Young.

Prosecutors allege that, between 2010 and 2023, the former Conservative councillor and the five men assaulted Mrs Young while she was drugged.

Mr Young was remanded in custody to appear at Swindon Crown Court on Jan 23, while his co-accused were bailed to appear alongside him on the same date.

Philip Young, 49, was charged with 56 sexual offences

Wiltshire Police said that, in an unusual move, Mrs Young had waived her right to anonymity, which automatically applies in such cases, and asked to be identified as the alleged victim.

Mr Young, a father of three, was also charged with possessing 230 indecent images of children. Of these, 139 were category A, deemed the worst.

He is alleged to have been found with three prohibited images and 82 extreme images, and faces one charge over each for four types, namely rape, animals, death and gore.

The ex-local politician, formerly of Swindon but who now lives in Enfield, north London, was also charged with breaching Section 1 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 on at least 500 occasions. He also faces 13 charges of voyeurism specific to videos and voyeurism on at least 200 other occasions.

Mr Young, who was wearing a black zipped sweatshirt with black trousers and a short, greying beard, stood cross-armed as he confirmed his name, date of birth and address.

Asked by Martin Clarke, the chairman of the bench, whether he wished to indicate a plea, Mr Young shook his head and said no.

Mr Clarke told him: Your cases are indictable, so they can only ever be heard in the Crown Court, therefore we are going to send these matters to the Crown Court.

Mr Young was remanded in custody. There was no application for bail.

His five co-accused appeared before the same court a few hours later. They were bailed and warned not to approach or contact Mrs Young in any way.

The five co-defendants appeared in court on Tuesday, from left, Norman Macksoni, Conner Sanderson Doyle, Richard Wilkins, Mohammed Hassan, and Dean Hamilton - Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

Norman Macksoni, 47, a black British man of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, was charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images.

Mr Macksoni, who wore a dark grey three-piece suit with a black shirt and tie, indicated that he would plead not guilty.

Dean Hamilton, 47, of Compton Dundon, Somerset, a white British man, faces one charge of rape and sexual assault by penetration, and two charges of sexual touching.

Norman Macksoni indicated he would plead not guilty to one count of rape and possession of extreme images - Belinda Jiao

Dean Hamilton faces one charge of rape and sexual assault by penetration, and two charges of sexual touching - Belinda Jiao

Mr Hamilton, who had grey shaven hair and wore a white sweatshirt and light grey combat trousers, indicated that he would plead not guilty.

Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Crofton Road, Swindon, also a white British man, was charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching.

Mr Doyle, wearing a white jumper and his hair in a long black ponytail, did not indicate a plea.

Richard Wilkins, 61, of Tattershall, Toothill, Swindon, another white British man, was accused of one rape and sexual touching.

Richard Wilkins was accused of one rape and sexual touching, and did not indicate a plea - Belinda Jiao

Mr Wilkins, who was shaven-headed and wearing a waterproof hooded coat, did not indicate a plea.

Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Torun Way, Swindon, a British Asian man, was charged with sexual touching. Mr Hassan, who wore a black hooded jacket, gave no indication of a plea.

Mohammed Hassan was charged with sexual touching, and gave no indication of a plea - Belinda Jiao

All five men were bailed to attend Swindon Crown Court on Jan 23, on condition that they surrendered their passports and did not go near Mrs Youngs home address or attempt to contact her in any way.

Mr Clarke warned the men to make no contact, direct or indirect, with Mrs Young, either via letter at her home address, on social media or in person.

Its for your benefit. If youre caught there, you are back inside, he told them. You get it wrong, and youre back here, and youll face an entirely different situation.

All five men nodded their heads when asked if they understood the bail conditions.

Philip Young sexually assaulted his ex-wife, Joanne Young over a 13-year period

Mr Young was the cabinet member for regeneration at Swindon borough council between January 2007 and May 2010 and oversaw the 800m redevelopment of the town centre. In 2010, he said he was stepping down to spend more time with family.

Det Supt Geoff Smith, of Wiltshire Police, said this was a complex and extensive investigation. He added: The victim in this case, Joanne, has taken the decision to waive her automatic legal right to anonymity.

She has been supported by specially trained officers from the beginning of the process, and she has made the decision following multiple discussions with officers and support services.

James Foster, a CPS specialist prosecutor, said: The CPS has authorised the prosecution of Philip Young, Norman Macksoni, Dean Hamilton, Connor Sanderson Doyle, Richard Wilkins and Mohammed Hassan with a number of offences  following a police investigation into alleged serious sexual offences against Joanne Young over a period of 13 years.

Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

We have worked closely with Wiltshire Police as they carried out their investigation.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with the disgraced Ghislaine Maxwell at Royal Ascot in 2000 - Shutterstock

Ghislaine Maxwell tried to set Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor up with some fun girls when he was in Peru to represent the late Queen, emails suggest.

The claim that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor wanted a tour guide to help him do some two-legged sight seeing in the South American country has emerged as part of the latest tranche of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The documents heap further embarrassment on the former prince  something the Palace might have hoped would end when he was stripped of his official titles in October.

They reveal that he was wanted for questioning by the FBI about his friendship with not one but two millionaire sex offenders, and will reignite questions about whether Maxwell procured girls for him.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor leaves the Royal Lodge at Windsor on Monday - Shutterstock

In the latest batch of more than 10,000 documents, released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), the term Prince Andrew appears more than 100 times.

There are also mentions of HRH and the Invisible Man, an email moniker he was believed to be using.

As the Royal family prepares to meet at Sandringham without Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for this years Christmas festivities, he will again face questions over his links to the world of sex-trafficking.

The documents contain a series of emails between Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking, and the Invisible Man  Mr Mountbatten-Windsor  who signs off A.

The email address used by the Invisible Man is linked to the former Duke of York in Epsteins contact book.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor speaks to a Peruvian firefighter on his trip to the South American country in 2002 - Getty Images

In the emails, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor discussed how devastated he was by the death of his valet and how he was off track because not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN [Royal Navy] and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me.

In July 2001, a month before the exchange took place, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor ended his Royal Navy career after 22 years in service.

In one email, Maxwell forwarded a request for an individual to act as the former princes tour guide in Lima during his March 2002 trip there.

He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines. He can ride but it is not his favourite sport, ie pass on the horses, Maxwell wrote in the forwarded email.

Some sight seeing, some two-legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy. I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.

He does not want to read about any trip in the papers whom or what he saw. Call me if you have any questions  otherwise you can expect a very English-sounding gentleman on the phone to call up and say hi.

b'

The Peru Emails 1

'

In his response to Maxwell, dated March 3 2002, Andrew said: Got it I will ring him today if I can. Love you A xxx.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, then a working member of the Royal family, undertook an official visit to Peru to mark the 50th anniversary of his mother Queen Elizabeth IIs reign.

He attended a ceremony at a British school in Lima on March 12 and visited a fire station on March 8, according to photo agencies who were covering his overseas trip.

In other exchanges, the Invisible Man referred to being up at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family and asked Maxwell whether she had found him some new inappropriate friends in Los Angeles.

Later that day Maxwell emailed: So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends Kisses Gx.

He replied that he was distraught.

But the emails could be the tip of the iceberg, given the documents also reveal that the FBI demanded Andrew be interviewed over his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.

b'

The Peru Emails 2

'

The documents also reveal for the first time that the FBI had demanded that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor answer questions over his relationship with Peter Nygard, the fashion tycoon who has been accused of multiple rapes including a girl as young as 14. Nygard has been convicted of sexually assaulting four women aged between 16 and 28.

It has been reported that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor took his family to visit Nygards Bahamas estate in 2000, before the Canadian was convicted of sex offences.

US prosecutors wanted to know about any visits Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had made to Nygards properties and asked whether he saw any girls under the age of 18 there.

American officials also demanded to know about the nature of his relationships with Nygard, Epstein and Maxwell, and whether any money changed hands between them.

The details of the questions investigators wanted to ask were revealed in the DoJs request for mutual legal assistance from the UK, which US prosecutors have claimed the British authorities ignored.

It is understood that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was never interviewed in relation to the FBI probes. He has consistently denied all wrongdoing.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with Peter Nygard in the Bahamas in 2000. Nygard was found guilty of multiple sexual assaults on women

American police and prosecutors asked for all the communications Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had relating to women that Epstein or Maxwell arranged for him to meet, details of any massages, and details of any legal action taken against any of them.

The FBI also called for him to hand over details of any sexual encounters and/or romantic relationships involving Prince Andrew and any female he met through Maxwell and/or Epstein and any details he had relating to Maxwell and recruiting, enticing, transporting or trafficking minors.

The agency also wanted to question the eighth in line to the throne on whether he knew anything about the destruction of evidence, the obstruction of investigations, or other efforts to conceal criminal activity by Epstein, Maxwell, or their associates.

The request for assistance sent by the DoJ in April 2020 says that the US had evidence which suggested that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor knew that Maxwell, his long-term friend, was procuring girls for Epstein and his friends and that he had engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epsteins victims.

The 22-page letter confirmed that the FBI was carrying out two investigations about which it believed Mr Mountbatten-Windsor might have information.

It said that the agency was investigating Nygard for involvement in an international sex-trafficking ring victimising adult women and minor girls at locations including the US and the millionaires Bahamas estate, known as Nygard Cay.

The investigation has revealed that, on at least one occasion, Prince Andrew travelled to Nygard Cay in the Bahamas, a location where Nygard is believed to have trafficked minor and adult female victims, the DoJ revealed.

The investigators wanted to know any dates on which Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had visited Nygard at his homes in the Bahamas, California or New York and who had travelled with him, including family members.

British police were also asked to ask whether Prince Andrew observed any females who appeared to be, or stated that they were, under the age of 18 years old, and the names of any of those females.

Nygard, 84, was sentenced to 11 years for sexually assaulting four women in Toronto from the late 1980s to 2005. Civil proceedings that allege Nygard raped girls as young as 14 have been put on hold while criminal investigations against him continue. He has previously denied all allegations.

In relation to Epstein, the US authorities said they believed that Mr Mountbatten Windsor might have been a witness to and/or participant in certain events of relevance in their investigation into the sexual abuse of minor girls during the period of approximately 1994 through 2005.

The request explained: For example, one victim has alleged that Maxwell introduced her to Prince Andrew who, according to this victim, was present for certain of the victims interactions with Epstein and Maxwell.

Additionally, documentary evidence uncovered during the course of this investigation has revealed information suggesting that Prince Andrew had knowledge that Maxwell recruited females to engage in sex acts with Epstein and other men.

Finally, there is evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epsteins victims.

Nygards Bahamas estate, known as Nygard Cay, which US documents said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor visited

In 2015, allegations were first made public that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had sex with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, three times, in London, New York and on the disgraced financiers private Caribbean island.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied Giuffres allegations and a civil claim brought by her in the US was settled out of court with no admission of guilt.

But as the scandal refused to disappear, he was stripped of his royal titles in October and he will be evicted from his residence Royal Lodge next year.

In Giuffres posthumous memoi, the Epstein victim claimed the former prince had regarded sleeping with her when she was 17 as his birthright.

The infamous photograph that appears to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with his hand around Giuffres waist also features in the latest tranche of the Epstein Files.

Epstein allegedly took it in 1999 at Maxwells Belgravia home.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor with his accuser Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell - AFP

The 2020 FBI request confirmed that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was not presently a target of either investigation and that the agency had not, to date, gathered evidence that he has committed any crime under US law.

The letter stated: With regard to the interview, US authorities request to conduct a voluntary interview of Prince Andrew and request the assistance of UK authorities in arranging for such an interview.

In the event that the witness declines to participate in a voluntary interview, US authorities request that UK authorities conduct a compelled interview of the witness under oath.

It is understood that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was never interviewed as part of either investigation.

The files also reveal the back and forth between Andrews lawyers and New York prosecutors in 2020, after Geoffrey Berman, former US attorney, accused Andrew of seeking to falsely portray himself as eager to help their inquiry into Epstein.

Mr Berman said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had declined to schedule an interview.

Gary Bloxsome, who was representing Andrew at the time, said publicity battles did not serve the interests of justice and that his client was withdrawing his cooperation.

We cannot advise the Duke to speak to prosecutors who cannot be trusted to deal with him fairly nor to treat what he says or does confidentially, he wrote.

He has reluctantly accepted our advice that, in those circumstances, there is no purpose to be served in continuing to try to assist further.

Just two months later, prosecutors filed the official request for mutual legal assistance to try and force Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to talk.

Mr Berman later claimed in his memoir that, in previous cases, requests for legal assistance had worked both ways.

But that was not what happened with Prince Andrew, he wrote. We got absolutely nowhere. Were they protecting him? I presume someone was.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing and has been contacted for comment.
Peter Nygard, pictured in 2014 at an Academy Awards event, was sentenced to 11 years in jail for historic sexual assaults - Clinton Wallace/Globe Photos/Shutterstock

As rags to riches stories go, Peter Nygards is dramatic. Born in 1941, he grew up poor in wartime Finland, his mother a seamstress and his father a bakery worker. After emigrating to the Canadian province of Manitoba with his parents as a child in the early 1950s, he is said to have lived in a converted coal shed.

But this immigrant boy, as he called himself, would later accrue wealth into the billions, enough to make him one of the richest men in Canada  a renowned playboy with a private resort in the Caribbean.

I have no choice whether to be old money or new money, he once told the New York Times. Im new money, based on a new set of values, and thats based on merit.

Having started out with an $8,000 loan, he purchased a small stake in an ailing clothing firm at the age of 24, and from there developed what became a multimillion-pound fashion empire. At its peak, his firm Nygard International boasted 169 retail stores across North America and employed almost 1,500 people globally.

But behind this success, a darker tale was playing out, one which eventually saw the businessman accused of raping girls as young as 14. Last year, the 84-year-olds decades-long criminality caught up with him when he was sentenced to 11 years in jail for sexually assaulting four women in Toronto between the late 1980s and 2005. The victims were aged between 16 to 28 at the time.

The businessman with models at a fashion show in Helsinki in 1994 - Ilkka Ranta/Shutterstock

Four years earlier, Nygard had stepped down as chairman of his company not long before it filed for bankruptcy following a raid on its New York headquarters. The police action was linked to allegations of sexual assault and came amid a class-action lawsuit which had been filed by dozens of women who claimed to have been abused by him.

The self-made billionaire was reduced to a state of disgrace. But not before he had made some friends in high places.

Among them, it seems, was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

In 2000, the then prince had stayed at Nygards opulent five-acre estate in the Bahamas with his wife, Sarah Ferguson, and daughters, Eugenie and Beatrice.

Sarah Ferguson (left) and Peter Nygard (right) with Princess Beatrice (bottom right) and Princess Eugenie (bottom second right)

This was not your average holiday resort, but an extravagant Mayan-themed palace of hedonism, adorned with smoke-breathing snakes and a disco with under-floor cameras. There was reportedly, too, a human aquarium, in which bare-breasted women clad in mermaid tails swam.

Mountbatten-Windsor was not the only high-profile guest to visit. But just as his connection to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein would come to haunt him, so too would his links with Nygard.

Andrew and Nygard in the Bahamas in 2000

The Epstein files now reveal that FBI officials wrote to British authorities in April 2020 requesting that the then Duke of York be made to answer questions about the fashion tycoon. Accusations against Nygard at this point included allegations that he raped girls as young as 14.

What US officials wanted to know was whether Mountbatten-Windsor had seen any girls aged under 18 at Nygards property when he visited. They were also interested in the history and nature of the relationship between the then prince and Nygard, and sought information on any money that may have changed hands between the two men.

Letters from the FBI and US Department of Justice contained in the files confirm that they believed Mountbatten-Windsor might have information pertinent to two investigations. One was into Epstein, the other into Nygard, whom they were looking into for possible involvement in an international sex trafficking ring victimising adult women and minor girls at various locations including the US and Nygard Cay, as he called his Bahamas estate.

The files stated that Mountbatten-Windsor was not a target of the investigation and that US authorities did not have evidence he had committed any crime under US law. The former prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

By this point, suspicions had been swirling around Nygard for some time.

In the late 1990s, three employees had accused him of sexual harassment. Nygard denied the allegations and settled with them all. But accusations against him wouldnt disappear for good.

Nygard in 1992 - Rick Eglinton/Toronto Star/Getty

Indeed, by the time of the FBIs April 2020 letter, he had fathered eight children with five women and had been described by some as Canadas Hugh Hefner, with an entourage of young women who described themselves as his paid girlfriends, the New York Times reported that year. A stripper pole was reportedly installed in his private jet.

Then, in December 2020, he was arrested in Canada at the request of the US and taken into custody. Then acting US attorney Audrey Strauss said that Nygard had for decades used his influence and businesses to recruit and maintain victims in the US, Canada and the Bahamas for the sexual gratification of both himself and his associates. He was alleged to have hosted pamper parties in the Bahamas, where victims were said to have been pressured to engage in non-consensual sexual activity.

Nygard frequently targeted women and minor-aged girls who came from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and/or who had a history of abuse, stated the US Department of Justice at the time.

In late autumn 2023, following a six-week trial in Toronto, he was convicted of four counts of sexual assault, including one against a teenager. The court had heard how Nygard had invited his victims to the headquarters of his clothing empire in the Canadian city and brought them to his bedroom suite, where the doors had no handles and the locks were controlled by the businessman.

The former fashion mogul arriving at court in Toronto in October 2023 - Canadian Press/Shutterstock

A Canadian success story gone very wrong, said Superior Court Justice Robert Goldstein on sentencing him last year. A sexual predator, Goldstein concluded, who had used his wealth and power to commit the assaults.

A separate class-action lawsuit has also been brought against Nygard by 57 women who have accused him of historic sexual assault and rape dating back to 1977. The case has been put on hold while criminal investigations against him continue. He has previously denied all allegations made against him.
Witness the next solar eclipse from the middle of the ocean. WaterFrame, Alamy Stock Photo

When the sun, Earth, and new moon perfectly align, we get the chance to see a solar eclipse. This celestial phenomenon is one of the most unique experiences you can witness. In fact, the most recent total solar eclipse across the United States drew millions of people outside to see nightfall in the middle of the day. On August 12, 2026, the next solar eclipse's path of totality is going over a large chunk of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, which means that a cruise may be the best way to see it.

Many of the best family-friendly and luxury cruise lines are hosting solar eclipse cruises that will bring travelers into the path of totality. These cruises are often filled with folks who chase eclipses around the globe, experts on space and eclipses, and those who just want to see the cosmic phenomena from a new vantage point. Even better, since cruise ships can maneuver to the best viewing spots, cruisers wont miss the event due to clouds.

(12 spectacular night sky events to see in 2026from a total eclipse to impressive auroras)

Atlas Ocean Voyages: Journey of the Solar Eclipse

Date: August 9 to August 16, 2026

One of the shorter solar eclipse cruise options is the Journey of the Solar Eclipse with Atlas Ocean Voyages . The cruise sails from Spain to Monaco, with a stop in the Mediterranean Sea on August 12 to view the eclipse. Onboard, an astronomer will give lectures and guide passengers through the solar eclipse experience. And with fewer than 200 people on the ship, passengers can get all of their questions about eclipses answered. Besides seeing the eclipse, travelers will be able to sunbathe in Ibiza, Spain, enjoy the iconic city of Cannes, France, and try their luck at the Place du Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Holland America Line: 13-Day Mediterranean Solar Eclipse With Barcelona Overnight

Date: August 9 to August 22, 2026

Those looking for a longer sailing with multiple stops around the Mediterranean may enjoy this 13-day solar eclipse cruise with Holland America Line . The nearly two-week sailing starts in Lisbon, Portugal, and ends in Athens, Greece. The ship will sail near the coast of Spain for eclipse viewing, which is sure to be a highlight of the sailing. The best vantage point will be from the upper decks, where a momentary dark sky will wash over the pool and surrounding lounge chairs. Additionally, guests will be able to visit ports like Barcelona, Spain; Corsica, France; Puglia, Italy; and Kotor, Montenegro.

Greenland's Waltershausen Glacier can be viewed while onboard an HX Expeditions cruise. HX Expeditions

HX Solar Eclipse Expedition 2026

Date: August 3 to August 19, 2026

Travelers looking for a mix of relaxation, education, and adventure can book the 17-day Solar Eclipse Expedition 2026 cruise with HX . Guests will view the eclipse from Scoresby Sund, where fjords and glaciers dot the worlds largest fjord system. This will make viewing the eclipse even more memorable. And since this is an expedition cruise, passengers can also expect nature walks, wildlife sightings, and small watercraft landings on remote beaches and islands.

Silversea 12 Day Nice to Nice Cruise

Date: August 6 to August 16, 2026

Take in the 2026 solar eclipse from the Balearic Sea on this 12-day Nice to Nice cruise with Silversea . After embarking in Nice, France, the ship will sail along the southern coast of the country, then towards Italy and Spain. After an exciting day in Ibiza on August 12, the ship will drop anchor within the path of totality for optimal viewing of the eclipse. Along with the incredible show from the cosmos, guests are treated like stars with butler service in every suite, a nearly one-to-one ratio of guests to crew, and unlimited pours of Champagne.

(How to see the northern lights in Alaska)

Regent Seven Seas Mighty Fjords & Nordic Grace

Date: August 1 to August 15, 2026

Luxury travelers who want to see the eclipse from sea can book the Mighty Fjords & Nordic Grace itinerary from Regent Seven Seas . The 14-night cruise starts in Reykjavik, Iceland, then travels to Norway, where passengers will see the eclipse from Eidfjord. The eclipse cruise will feature themed deck parties and commemorative gifts, plus expert insight and eclipse guidance from NASA astronaut instructor, Lt. Col. Ken Verderame. While the eclipse is the highlight of the cruise, other always-included amenities are shore excursions, food and beverage, unlimited spa access, laundry service, and Wi-Fi.

Regent Seven Seas Mighty Fjords & Nordic Grace cruise has an onboard astronomer to explain what you're seeing in the sky. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seabourn 14-Day West Ireland Gems & Solar Eclipse

Date: August 8 to August 22, 2026

Sail from London, England, to Reykjavik, Iceland, on Seabourns 14-day West Ireland & Solar Eclipse cruise . The itinerary stops at Cornwall, United Kingdom; Galway, Ireland; and Oban, Scotland, with a day in the middle for the eclipse. The captain will find the best spot in the open ocean for viewing. As the skies go dark, be sure to have cameras ready for photos as the stars come out for a few minutes. Leading up to the big event, guests can learn about eclipses from experts during daily enrichment lectures and even see how the captain will find the best spot to view with the ships open bridge policy, allowing cruisers to get a peek behind the curtain into ocean navigation.

Virgin Voyages Eclipse in the Land of Fire and Ice

Date: August 5 to August 20, 2026

Set sail on Virgin Voyages Eclipse in the Land of Fire and Ice for a truly spectacular eclipse cruise. During the 15-night itinerary, the ship will circumnavigate the entirety of Iceland and the United Kingdom with stops in Dublin, Ireland; Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Reykjavik, Iceland. Cruisers will be able to see the eclipse from the waters between Iceland and the UK, making for impeccable dark skies. And the eclipse isnt the only thing to celebrate on this cruise, since guests will be able to dance the night away with the lines iconic Scarlet Night and pajama parties under the stars.

Arctic Eclipse Odyssey: Iceland, Greenland, and Canada

Date: August 9 to August 24, 2026

Travelers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise experience can book the Arctic Eclipse Odyssey: Iceland, Greenland and Canada cruise with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions . The 16-day cruise on National Geographic Explorer carries just 148 people, so cruisers truly get immersed in the culture of each destination, can learn from experts in various fields, and even get hands-on photography lessons from a National Geographic photo expert. The cruise starts in Reykjavik, Iceland, before heading to Greenland, where glaciers and vikings take center stage. While crossing the Denmark Strait, travelers can marvel at the solar eclipse. The itinerary wraps up with a few days exploring Canada's Labrador Coast, where polar bears can be seen.

(6 alternative ways to see the northern lights)

Megan duBois is a freelance travel writer and editor based in Jacksonville, Florida. She typically covers theme parks, cruising, family travel, and group tours. Her work has appeared online and in print at publications like Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, Fodors, The Points Guy, Food + Wine, FamilyVacationist and more.
Featuring Fashion Icons Supermodel Adriana Lima, Marc Jacobs, Law Roach, Andre Walker, Lourdes Leon, and Lynn Yaeger

Listen To The New Single HERE

Watch The New Visual HERE

Download Hi-Res Artwork HERE

NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, global trailblazer LIL UZI VERT releases new single "What You Saying," accompanied by a vibrant, high-energy visual. The high energy video features cameos from the fashion who's who including Supermodel Adriana Lima, Marc Jacobs, Law Roach, Andre Walker, Lourdes Leon, and Lynn Yaeger.

In the Charlotte Walesdirected film, LIL UZI VERT appears in a curated mix of archival Jean Paul Gaultier, Helmut Lang, and Raf Simons, while Thom Browne is spotlighted within the atelier. Marc Jacobs Runway looks are featured on the runway, and Adriana Lima wears an iconic glove top from Maison Margiela Spring 2001 and Miss Claire Sullivan.

Produced by MC VERTT, "What You Saying" arrives as UZI's latest release following "Chanel Boy," "Relevant," and "Regular" which coincided with the artist's announcement of their signing to Roc Nation Distributiona strategic partnership that preserves full creative independence and ownership of their masters.

To coincide with the release, UZI unveils a limited-edition merch capsule, available now at https://shop.welcometocore.com/ .

UZI joins JAY-Z and Rihanna as the only artists managed by Roc Nation while also being signed to ROC Nation Distribution. Additionally, the Philadelphia native expanded their new era by announcing a new deal with Roc Nation Publishing.

Over the course of their illustrious career, the multiple GRAMMY-nominated and RIAA Diamond-certified superstar has amassed over 31 billion career streams, cementing their status as a global icon.

UZI has released an array of critically acclaimed albums, three of which have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. The superstar has earned over 100 placements on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, including signature hits such as the Diamond-certified single "XO TOUR Llif3," "Just Wanna Rock," "Futsal Shuffle 2020" and "That Way," among many others.

UZI's unparalleled ability to blend genres has earned them a loyal fan base and a spot among the most innovative artists of this generation. Their catalog includes multiple platinum and gold-certified tracks, including The Way Life Goes and Neon Guts (feat. Pharrell Williams), along with the highly successful collaborative project PLUTO X BABY PLUTO with Future. Additionally, UZI's involvement in Migos' hit single "Bad and Boujee" further solidified their reputation for shaping chart-topping collaborations.

For continued Lil Uzi Vert information and updates join Join Cor(e): https://www.welcometocore.com/

CREDITS:

DIRECTOR: CHARLOTTE WALES

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: LIL UZI VERT AND AVA NIRUI

STYLIST: CLARE BYRNE

ARTIST HAIR - ANNETTE ROCHE

ARTIST BARBER - ALEX PIMIENTA

ARTIST GROOMING - BRITTANY WHITFIELD

MAKEUP: AARON DE MEY

HAIR: JOEY GEORGE

SET: LAUREN NIKROOZ

CHOREOGRAPHY: CELIA ROWLSON HALL

SOURCE Lil Uzi Vert
Dick Lucas, who is running for State Assembly in California, took an unconventional approach to highlight the state's homelessness problem.

A candidate for Californias State Assembly is taking an unconventional approach to highlighting the homelessness crisis plaguing the coastal region by giving an unfiltered point of view during his morning jogs.

People wanna see you directly pointing out government dysfunction, directly showing people on the ground what is happening and then publishing it directly on social media, said Dick Lucas, who is running in Californias 51st district as an Independent.

Dick Lucas, who is running to represent Californias 51st District in the state legislature, documented the homeless crisis during his morning run. Dick Lucas/ Instagram

Lucas counted 83 people who were homeless during his 25-minute run from Santa Monica to Venice. Dick Lucas/ Instagram

Lucas posted a since-viral video to social media over the weekend, showing him count the number of people he saw who are homeless during his short 25-minute run from Santa Monica to Venice.

I just thought it would make for a good video and be very visceral, Lucas told The Post, adding that it was probably actually a lot higher than the 83 people he counted because he lost track at one point.

California has the largest homeless population in the country, with nearly 190,000 people living on the streets, according to federal data. For every 10,000 people in California, 48 experience homelessness.

California has the largest homeless population in the country. Dick Lucas/ Instagram

Theres AB2903 and AB2570, this is on my full plan on my website, but basically [Governor] Newsom vetoed two bills that would bring transparency to how were spending money on homelessness, which is crazy, Lucas sid. The super majority of the Democrats sent him a bill, usually hell veto stuff thats too far like to the left, this is something the Democrats even said, lets bring more transparency and he vetoed them.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he vetoed AB2903 because similar measures are already in place to increase accountability and the effectiveness of Californias state homelessness programs.

Lucas said he wants to see a CEO of homelessness at the state and city level who would become the face of the crisis and bring transparency to the issue.

Right now, what we have is a patchwork of thousands of organizations across you know, tens of thousands of people, and we dont even know who to yell at, he added.

Nearly 190,000 people are living on the streets in California, according to federal data. Dick Lucas/ Instagram

He also said cities need to enforce anti-camping laws that are already on the books, and build cost-effective facilities that prove treatment for substance abuse and mental health.

I think people are tired of politicians in California putting homelessness on their website and not actually addressing itgoing into the streets, looking at the problem, admitting that the problem exists and stop pretending like just because we improved a few percent since last year that were actually addressing this, Lucas said.
Flames rise from a building after clashes broke out between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on Monday, December. 22. - SANA/AP

At least three people were killed and 31 others injured after clashes broke out between Syrian army troops and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, as high-level talks continued over plans to integrate the SDF into Syrias state institutions.

The fighting comes less than eight days before a deadline in a March 10 agreement, under which Damascus and the SDF committed to a nationwide ceasefire and the integration of civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the state framework.

The US-backed SDF, which was not part of the rebel alliance that overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, is presently the most powerful nongovernmental force in the country and holds strategic territories, primarily in the northeast.

The Damascus-run Aleppo Health Directorate said at least two civilians were killed and eight others injured in SDF shelling of neighborhoods in Aleppo.

Farhad Shami, head of SDF media, told CNN that at least one civilian was killed and 23 people were injured, including six security members, after what he described as mortar and heavy-weapon attacks by factions affiliated with the Damascus government on SDF-held neighborhoods in the city.

In statements, the SDF and the Syrian Defense Ministry accused each other of starting the clashes.

The Defense Ministry said its forces are responding to SDF fire positions that are targeting residents homes and movements, as well as army and security deployment points, in government-held areas in the city of Aleppo.

Syrias Defense Ministry and the SDF said in later statements that they have halted attacks onj each other. The SDF said the move came in response to ongoing de-escalation contacts.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said Monday that the SDF has not shown sufficient seriousness in implementing the March 10 agreement, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). He said Damascus recently presented a proposal to advance the process and was reviewing the SDFs response.

The violence coincided with a visit to Damascus by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said Turkey supports the talks and considers them essential for Syrias stability.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Fidan said the integration of the SDF into Syrias administration must occur through dialogue and reconciliation. He warned that alternative paths would undermine Syrias security, SANA reported. Fidan added that the SDF has shown little intention to make progress.

Turkey has long opposed the SDF, which the US trained, equipped and helped to fight the Islamic State group. Turkey views the SDF as linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Ankara has designated as a terrorist organization.

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The Texas State Capitol stands on Congress Avenue with the downtown skyline in Austin. Photo: Mitchell Kmetz / Unsplash

(The Center Square)  The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has handed Texas another win in a lawsuit brought by Chinese nationals challenging a state law banning foreign adversaries from purchasing land in Texas.

The law, which went into effect, Sept. 1, remains in effect.

Earlier this year, Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 17, filed by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. It prohibits the purchase of certain private property in Texas by governmental entities, companies and individuals that are domiciled in a country named in three recent Annual Threat Assessment reports published by the Director of National Security. It applies to agricultural, commercial, industrial and residential properties as well as mines, quarries, minerals and standing timber; it includes civil and criminal penalties.

The bill took several years to pass after multiple hearings and a Chinese Communist Party campaign against it, in which reporting by The Center Square was highlighted.

This year, under House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, the bill not only passed but additional measures were included targeting countries of foreign concern and their operatives as well members of transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua and other organizations the Trump administration designated as foreign terrorist organizations this year.

This is very simple. Hostile foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, as well as foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua, must not be allowed to own land in Texas, Abbott said when signing the bill, The Center Square reported.

Two Chinese nationals, Peng Wang and Quinlin Li, backed by the New Jersey-based Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance, sued in July to stop the law from going into effect. They sued in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas arguing the law is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

In response, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In August, Judge Charles Eskridge agreed, dismissing their case without prejudice.

Wang and Li next appealed to the Fifth Circuit. In September, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance also filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division, also arguing the law is unconstitutional.

This month, a Fifth Circuit panel of three judges affirmed Judge Eskridges dismissal, arguing that Wang and Li lacked standing and did not demonstrate a credible threat of enforcement of the law.

In response to the ruling, state Rep. Cole Heffner, R-Mount Pleasant, who cosponsored SB 17 in the Texas House, said the Fifth Circuit judges delivered a major win for the people of Texas. The goal of the law is to ensure foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea cannot buy up Texas land  and this decision keeps those protections firmly in place.

An issue that arose in the lawsuit stemmed from the F-1 student visa program.

Wang has lived in Texas for 16 years and is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree at a seminary in Fort Worth through an F-1 student visa. Li, who entered the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, recently graduated from Texas A&M with an engineering degree. She then applied for an H-1B visa, lives in Austin and works as a water/wastewater treatment plant design engineer for a private company, according to court records.

Wastewater plants in Texas have been the target of cyberhackers. This year, Abbott signed cybercrime and counter-espionage bills into law to address threats posed by the CCP, The Center Square reported.

Wang argued that the student visa program requires him to leave the U.S. when it expires, meaning he could return to China and be banned from buying property under the law. The Fifth Circuit judges replied that when his visa expires he could leave the U.S. and move to Bolivia, Botswana, or Berlin and his claim that the law discriminated against him was unsubstantiated.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced changes to the F-1 visa system arguing foreign nationals have taken advantage of the system becoming forever students. Changes include limiting the program to the duration of academic studies not to exceed four years, implementing additional vetting measures, and enforcing removal of those who overstay their visas.

So far this year, the State Department has revoked 8,000 student visas, it told The Center Square, more than twice the number revoked in 2024.
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Mugshot of Claudio Neves-Valente, Image 2 shows Surveillance image of Claudio Neves Valente, a suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University, next to a black suitcase, Image 3 shows 12 Hampshire road in Salem NH Brown Shooting suspects car was found at Storage facility. Authorities are searching the premisses

IRS criminal investigators played a pivotal role in tracking down the Brown University shooter, ultimately leading the FBI and other law enforcement agencies right to him, sources told The Post.

After the homeless Reddit poster hero known as John helped authorities identify Claudio Neves Valente as the suspect, after following several false trails, the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) team began combing through his financial records.

At that point, the criminal investigations team became involved and determined where he had obtained the [storage] facility in which he was ultimately located, a senior official told The Post. Once the location was identified, they issued an alert to the FBI with information on where he could be found.

Claudio Neves Valente was found dead in a Salem, New Hampshire, storage facility. U.S. Attorney Massachusetts HANDOUT/UPI

Neves Valente had proven difficult to trace after he was identified because he used European SIM cards and a gizmo that made it harder to track phones, according to officials.

Thats part of why the IRS-CI team proved to be so critical.

[Treasury] Secretary Scott Bessent and with the help of IRS CEO Frank Bisignano directed all possible resources to assist the FBI in their pursuit of justice for this unspeakable tragedy, a Treasury Department spokesperson told The Post.

IRS Criminal Investigations agents worked tirelessly on this effort.

Bessent is currently serving in a dual role as commissioner of internal revenue in addition to his duties as Treasury secretary.

A heroic homeless tipster helped the feds ID Claudio Neves Valente (above) as the killer. AP

The IRS law enforcement arm has powerful tools that enable its agents to look through financial transactions, bank account records, and more when working on a criminal case.

They do a lot more work than that. But thats the short version, the senior official added.

Once the IRS-CI helped pinpoint the Salem, New Hampshire, storage facility, the FBI deployed its agents to carry out a search warrant, where they found Neves Valente dead with a satchel and two firearms on Dec. 18.

Neves Valente is believed to have killed himself after shooting Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics professor Nuno Loureiro in his $1.4 million townhouse.

The two had been in the same academic program in Portugal between 1995 and 2000. Neves Valente then went to Brown University between 2000 and 2001.

Law enforcement officers descended upon this Salem, New Hampshire, storage facility on Dec. 18, 2025. WBZ

Neves Valente was found dead with a satchel and two firearms in this Salem, New Hampshire, storage facility on Dec. 18, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

IRS-CI, which has agents across the country, dispatched a small team to Rhode Island and had at least a dozen people working on the case shortly after the tragic Dec. 13 shooting in which Neves Valente killed two students and injured nine.

Law enforcement struggled for days to get solid leads on the Brown shooter. That changed when an anonymous tip pointed the feds to Johns Reddit post.

John had claimed on Reddit that he saw a suspicious man in a gray Nissan with Florida plates, which he noted was possibly a rental, near Browns campus ahead of the shooting.

The hero tipster recounted his odd encounters with Neves Valente, 48, noting that his attire was inappropriate and inadequate for the weather and that the future shooter switched directions every time the two saw each other.

The tip prompted the feds to comb through surveillance footage and find the sedan, according to an affidavit.

Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, had quietly cased Browns campus for weeks before carrying out the deadly rampage.

Johns tip also helped the feds connect the Brown attack to the shooting of Loureiro.

The homeless hero is being compensated by the feds, according to officials.
Vice President JD Vance

Vice President JD Vance glumly assessed that the Trump administrations efforts to peacefully resolve the bloody war in Ukraine could go either way.

Were going to keep on trying to negotiate. And I think that weve made progress, but sitting here today, I wouldnt say with confidence that were going to get to a peaceful resolution, the veep bluntly assessed in an Unheard interview.

I think theres a good chance we will, I think theres a good chance we wont.

Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administrations peace efforts in Ukraine could go either way. ZUMAPRESS.com

Vances candid assessment is one of the more gloomy ones hes given about the chances of ending the war over recent months.

It comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters last Friday that there is a ways to go on getting a final deal across the finish line.

Late last week and over the weekend, special envoy Steve Witkoff met separately with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in a bid to inch forward progress on a potential peace deal. Vance was briefed on those talks.

The breakthrough that I do feel that weve made is that all of the issues are actually out in the open, the VP told the outlet. Theres [initially] a little bit of a game of obfuscation, of hiding behind fake issues, not actually revealing your hand.

The Russians really want territorial control of the Donetsk, he continued.The Ukrainians understandably see that as a major security problem, [even as] they privately acknowledge that eventually, theyll probably lose Donetsk  but, eventually: it could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that.

By some estimates, the Russians control between 80% and 90% of Donetsk, but crucially lack possession of strategic cities such as Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.

The Ukraine war is set to mark its four-year anniversary. via REUTERS

The VP also noted that other issues, such as ethnic Russians and Ukrainians being in the other country, control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and reconstruction, have also proven to be tough sticking points.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his countrys constitution percludes him from surrendering land that hasnt been conquered.

Zelensky has dangled the possibility of placing 15% of the Donbas  Donetsk and Luhansk  that Ukraine still controls into a neutral free economic zone. Russia has rejected that.

Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin has not strayed from his maximalist demands of Ukraine. Getty Images

Compared to Vances recent assessment, Witkoff has been a touch more upbeat about the chances of ending the war, with the special envoy touting constructive and productive talks with Ukraine and Russia over recent days.

President Trump has seemingly wavered back and forth on the potential for a breakthrough and conveyed frustration that his peace efforts have been taking so long.

Were closer now than we have been, ever, Trump crowed a week ago.
An Ohio lawmaker is suing President Donald J. Trump and his administration, saying they violated the law by renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty filed the lawsuit on Dec. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The filing comes days after members of the Kennedy Center board, of which Beatty is a member, voted to rename the center and add Trump's name on the front end.

More: Kennedy Center renamed the 'Trump-Kennedy Center,' White House says

Shortly after that vote, workers could be seen putting up new giant lettering outside the DC landmark that says: The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."

"In scenes more reminiscent of authoritarian regimes than the American republic  the sitting President and his handpicked loyalists renamed this storied center," the lawsuit says. "This is a flagrant violation of the rule of law, and it flies in the face of our constitutional order."

Beatty is asking the federal court to step in and find the renaming of the center unlawful, and to issue an order requiring the new signage that added Trump's name to be removed.

Workers stand on lifts in front of the newly added lettering for U.S. President Donald Trump's name at the facade of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a day after its board announced it would rename the institution The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 19, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The lawsuit says Congress intended the arts center, which was named after President John F. Kennedy in the months following his November 1963 assassination, to be a "living memorial" and a "crown jewel of the arts for all Americans, irrespective of party."

Beatty, a Democrat representing Ohio's 3rd Congressional District, is an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board. Following the Dec. 18 vote, Beatty posted in a video to Bluesky that she was repeatedly muted and prevented from speaking during the board's meeting. Beatty said the description of the board's vote to change the center's name as unanimous was inaccurate.

More: Rep. Joyce Beatty says she was muted for Kennedy Center renaming vote

Beatty describes the meeting in the lawsuit, saying it was a "thinly-veiled sham." The meeting, according to the lawsuit, was held at the home of one of Trump's supporters, Andrea Wynn, whose husband had been placed on the board by Trump. No notice was given that the name change would be considered during the meeting, the lawsuit says.

See moments from the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors hosted by Trump President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 7, 2025.

"The proceedings were mere window dressing for a predetermined decision," the lawsuit says. "That Defendants had already procured matching signage for the Kennedy Centers front portico in advance and prearranged for workmen to arrive the day following the Board meeting indicates that Defendants had planned to rename the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump, and nothing would or could change their minds."

In addition to Trump, the lawsuit names Richard Grenell, the President of the Kennedy Center, and the other members of the center's board. Those members include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"Under our constitutional system, only Congress can modify a statute, and Congress must do so by enacting a new statute. Congress has not changed the Kennedy Centers name. Instead, Defendants are willfully flouting the law to satisfy Defendant Trumps vanity."

The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment but has not received a response.

Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com or on Bluesky at @bethanybruner.dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Joyce Beatty sues Trump saying Kennedy Center renaming is unlawful
Documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation released by the US Department of Justice on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, show an email dated January 8, 2020, with information on a flight Donald Trump took with his family between the years 1993 and 1996 before he was president.The email also mentions a 1993 flight that Trump and Epstein took with a 20-year-old, whose name was redacted. - Michele Abercrombie/CNN

Warning: This post contains language readers may find disturbing.

The Justice Department now says a handwritten letter it released Tuesday that was signed by J. Epstein and addressed to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar is fake, asserting that the handwriting did not appear to match that of Jeffrey Epstein.

The department had said earlier Tuesday that it was assessing the validity of the letter  which appeared to make crude references to President Donald Trump  because other details called into question whether it had actually been written and sent by Epstein.

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 Justice Department said in a post on X hours after the letter was released among a tranche of other Epstein-related records.

The letter does not explicitly name Trump, but instead refers to our president. The message appears to have been sent in August 2019, the same month Epstein died by suicide. Trump was president at the time.

An envelope addressed to Larry Nassar from a "J. Epstein," released by the US Justice Department. - US Justice Department

The statement debunking the letter from the Justice Department noted that it was postmarked not in New York, where was Epstein was imprisoned, but in Virginia, and the return address was for a jail different than the one holding Epstein. The envelope was processed three days after Epsteins suicide.

Authorities have not accused Trump of any wrongdoing or charged him with any crimes in connection with Epstein.

Dear L.N., the letters reads, As you know by now, I have taken the short route home. Good luck! We shared one thing  our love and caring for young ladies and the hope theyd reach their full potential. Our President also shares our love of young, nubile girls. The letter makes another lewd reference to Trumps treatment of women.

Life is unfair, the letter reads.

In a separate statement the department released earlier Tuesday, not aimed at any specific record in the most recent release, the Department said that some of the documents released contain untrue and sensationalist claims against the president.

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.

A letter written by a "J. Epstein" and released by the US Justice Department. - US Justice Department

CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on the letter.

While the letter is addressed to an L.N., a photo of the envelope  postmarked on August 13, 2019 and addressed to the former Olympic doctor and sex offender  was released by the DOJ. The envelope says it was sent from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City to Nassar, who was listed as an inmate at a federal prison in Arizona.

The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein died. Prison staff are authorized to read and inspect outgoing mail, which can cause delays.

Based on prison documents released from a Freedom of Information Act request, CNN previously reported that while he was jailed, Epstein appeared to send a letter to Nassar  although the contents of the letter were not disclosed. It was discovered by prison officials investigating Epsteins suicide weeks after his death. It is not known if Nassar and Epstein had a relationship.

The FBI in 2020 requested from its laboratory a handwriting analysis be done to compare the letter to other writings from Epstein, according to another document posted on Tuesday from the DOJ. While the latest DOJ statement said the FBI had confirmed the letter was fake, it did not specifically say that conclusion was based on the 2020 handwriting analysis.

Nassar, the longtime doctor for the USA gymnastics team and Michigan State University, is serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison. More than 150 women and girls publicly told a court he sexually abused them.

The envelope, addressed to Larry Nassar at 9300 S. Wilmot Road, Tucson, Arizona, 85756, a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, was marked as return to sender, as the addressee was no longer at this address.

This story has been updated with additional information from the Justice Department about the veracity of the letter.

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Lt. Gen. Mohamed Al-Haddad gives a military salute during a meeting in the eastern city of Benghazi on April 13, 2023. - Abdullah Doma/AFP/Getty Images

Libyas army chief was killed in a plane crash while returning home from an official visit to Turkey on Tuesday, Libyas prime minister said.

Lt. Gen. Mohamed Al-Haddad was killed along with four of his companions in a tragic accident while on flight home to Tripoli from an official visit to Ankara, Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah said in a statement.

With great sadness and sorrow, we have received the news of the death of Al-Haddad and four of his companions, al-Dbeibah added. The prime minister, who heads a UN-backed Government of National Unity, offered condolences to the families of the victims, calling the loss a tragedy for the nation and the military institution.

Turkish authorities reported earlier that they had lost contact with a Falcon 50 business jet carrying Al-Haddad and others shortly after it departed Ankara Esenboga Airport on Tuesday evening.

The aircraft sent out an emergency landing notification near Haymana, about 50 miles (81 kilometers) southwest of Ankara, but contact with the aircraft could not be re-established, Turkeys Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday.

The head of Turkeys communication directorate, Burhanettin Duran said on X that the private jet had requested an emergency landing because of an electrical failure.

The aircrafts voice recorder and black box were found Wednesday morning, Yerlikaya said. The Turkish military had reached the wreckage just over a mile (2 km) south of the Kesikkavak Village in Haymana District, the minister said in an earlier statement.

The Libyan Prime Minister identified the four others killed as: Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces Maj. Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghreibel; Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatioui; adviser to the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Mohamed Al-Asawi Diab; and media office photographer Mohamed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.

Turkish Chief of Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu meets with his Libyan counterpart Mohammed Al-Haddad in Ankara, Turkey, on December 23, 2025. - Defence Ministry/Handout/Reuters

Turkish broadcaster CNNTurk reported that the plane had a crew of three, all of whom were French nationals.

Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation has been launched into the crash, which will look into all its aspects and with great care.

Earlier on Tuesday, Turkeys Armed Forces said Al-Haddad had been formally received in Ankara with a military ceremony as an official guest. He held bilateral talks with Turkish Chief of the General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu following the ceremony.

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A gavel rests on a block atop a judges bench in an empty courtroom. Photo: Shopify Partners / Burst

(The Center Square)  Louisiana will receive about $478,000 under a nearly $150 million multistate settlement with Mercedes-Benz USA over allegations the company used illegal emissions-cheating software in hundreds of thousands of diesel vehicles. All 50 states joined the lawsuit, which alleged that Mercedes installed undisclosed software that lowered emissions during government testing but allowed far higher pollution in real-world driving, and then marketed the vehicles as clean and green. The company denied wrongdoing. For nearly a decade, Mercedes misled regulators and consumers while its vehicles spewed toxic emissions into our communities, New York Attorney General Letitia James, who announced the settlement, said in a statement. Under the deal, Mercedes will pay $149,673,750 to states and territories, provide $2,000 payments to eligible owners and lessees who complete approved emissions repairs by Sept. 30, 2026, and implement compliance and reporting reforms.Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill did not respond to requests for comment on the settlement.
BRAMPTON, ON, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - MDA Space Ltd. ("MDA Space" or the "Company") (TSX: MDA), announced today that it has successfully closed its previously announced private placement offering (the "Offering") of C$250 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% senior unsecured notes due 2030 (the "Notes").

The Notes were offered through a syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank.

The net proceeds of the Offering were used to refinance existing outstanding indebtedness under the Company's credit facility.

The Notes were offered for sale in each of the provinces of Canada to "accredited investors" on a private placement basis, in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Notes 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 were offered in the United States only to qualified institutional buyers, pursuant to Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Act, and outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance upon Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About MDA Space

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 3,800 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission  bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that's been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we'll take you there. For more information, visit the Company's filings on SEDAR+ and the Company's Investor Relations website at www.mda-en.investorroom.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). When used in this news release, forward-looking statements often but not always, can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as, including but not limited to, "may", "will", "would", "should", "expect", "believe", "intend", "future" and other similar terminology or the negative or inverse of such words or terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including without limitation the risks and uncertainties detailed under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual information form dated March 7, 2025. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. There are a number of additional risks and uncertainties affecting or that could affect MDA Space, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those described in, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, MDA Space is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Emergency personnel assist an elderly woman who was inside an apartment building damaged by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday. - Thomas Peter/Reuters

Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks this month on Ukraine overnight, killing at least three people and injuring at least 17 others, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Ukraines leader received his first face-to-face briefing with his negotiating team on their arrival back from talks in the US.

Russia has been carrying out a massive attack on Ukraine, Zelensky posted on X, adding that more than 650 drones and over 30 missiles were used in the strike. Some 13 regions, about half the country, came under attack, he said.

In the western region of Zhytomyr, a 4-year-old child was killed after a Russian drone struck a residential building, Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, emergency power cuts were imposed across the country with some regions left almost completely without power due to the attack, according to Ukraines energy ministry.

The latest bombardment comes after a fresh round of talks to end the war wrapped over the weekend in Miami, where Ukrainian and Russian officials met separately with a US delegation led by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump.

People take cover in a metro station being used as a bomb shelter during a Russian attack in Kyiv on Tuesday. - Dan Bashakov/AP

On the ground, Kyivs troops retreated from the town of Siversk in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, according to the countrys armed forces, as Russian forces pushed through active offensive operations.

Ukrainian solders withdrew from the area in Donetsk to save the lives of our soldiers and maintain the combat capability of our units, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement.

The invaders were able to advance thanks to their significant numerical superiority and constant pressure despite difficult weather conditions, Ukraines Armed Forces added.

Moscow broke through swathes of the city this week after a lightning offensive along eastern frontlines over the summer. Even so, Ukrainian troops have maintained fire control of Siversk and Russian units are being blocked, the countrys armed forces said Tuesday.

All measures are being taken to reduce the offensive potential of enemy units, the statement said.

Very close to a real outcome

Ukraines delegation arrived back in Kyiv overnight and delivered what Zelensky called a detailed report of the talks.

Not everything is perfect so far, but this plan is in place, Ukraines leader wrote on X overnight, referring to the 20-point document, which forms the core of an agreement framework between Ukraine and the US.

In addition to the core plan, which include security guarantees between us, the Europeans, and the United States, Zelensky wrote, there is an additional document detailing bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US. On this latter point, he said, we are very close to a real outcome.

Along with security guarantees, previous rounds of talks have also highlighted the centrality of territory in negotiations, and Zelensky made no comment in statements overnight on any readiness to discuss possible land swaps.

Workers clear debris from the roof of a damaged residential building following a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday. - Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty Images

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a clear indication that he will not compromise on his demands for Ukraine to cede territory in the Donbas, despite the Trump administrations intensifying push for peace.

In an apparent attempt to tamp down expectations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian newspaper Izvestia on Monday that talks between Russian and US officials over the weekend should not be considered as a breakthrough.

This is a working process. We already said that first there needs to be quite a meticulous work process at the expert level, Peskov said.

Witkoff, who led the US delegation at the Miami talks, said Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine after meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund (RDIF) and a Kremlin special envoy, at the weekend.

He made a similarly worded statement after talks with the Ukrainian delegation. Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace, Witkoff said, while noting that their meeting was constructive and included discussions about the sequencing of next steps.

Away from the Florida talks, Zelensky put Ukraines military on alert for potential Russian attacks around Christmas while pointing out the lack of air defenses available to defend the country.

The Ukrainian leader said the most recent attack sends an extremely clear signal about Russias priorities.

It was an attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe, he said. An attack carried out essentially in the midst of negotiations aimed at ending this war.

CNNs Hira Humayun, Nina Subkhanberdina, Tim Lister and Sana Noor Haq contributed reporting.

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Claudio Neves Valente, suspect in the Brown University shooting in Providence, in this undated handout image released on December 18. - US Attorney Massachusetts/Reuters

Former neighbors paint a mixed portrait of Claudio Neves Valente, whose motives remain a mystery more than a week after police say he killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor, portraying a very bright but reclusive young man who was estranged from his family and whose mother once told a neighbor that her son needs help.

CNN visited the apartment building that Neves Valente, a native of Portugal, lived in as a student more than two decades ago before moving to the United States. The brown, cream and gray high-rise in Olivais, a modest middle-class neighborhood in eastern Lisbon, looks much like others in the area.

People who knew him there said they remain in shock after US authorities identified Neves Valente as the gunman who shot 11 people at Rhode Islands Brown University, two of them fatally, on December 13 and mortally wounded a former Portuguese classmate, MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, two days later in Brookline, Massachusetts. On Thursday night, police found Neves Valente, 48, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a storage facility he rented in New Hampshire.

Residents of his Lisbon neighborhood told CNN the former Ivy League student was extremely smart and polite, but reclusive. At the time he lived there, he was studying at the Instituto Superior Tecnico, one of Portugals most prestigious engineering schools.

The institute confirmed to CNN that Neves Valente and Loureiro were both students there between 1995 and 2000, and that Neves Valente studied for a degree in technological physics engineering.

Maria Margarida Baptista, a neighbor, recalled working with Neves Valente on administrative tasks for the apartment building, duties assigned to residents for up to three years on a rotating basis. He was always very diligent with the math and bills, she told CNN. Everything in the administration was always very well done. He would always greet her and address her by name, she added. I really liked him.

Despite not having seen him for more than 25 years, she said she was stunned by the news of the attack at Brown. I was in shock, she said. I didnt even recognize him on TV  I remember him as a boy, a student, a teenager. A very responsible teenager.

He was a bit strange, Baptista said, but he was a very bright boy.

Neighbors say Neves Valentes reclusiveness extended beyond the community. According to residents, he also avoided contact with his immediate family. His parents would come to visit his apartment, ring the bell, and he wouldnt open the front door, a woman living nearby who declined to give her name told CNN.

Neves Valentes parents would sometimes hide and wait outside the building, hoping to speak with Neves Valente, the woman said.

He changed the locks. He knew they were around. He wouldnt leave the house  it was like he was hiding from them. She said Neves Valentes mother often relied on her for information.

The woman said simply confirming she had seen Neves Valente would bring his mother relief. She would relax because she knew he was alive, the neighbor recalled. All they wanted was to spend time with him, but they never got to see him. He didnt want to see his parents.

Claudio Valente, the suspect in Brown University shooting at a car rental in Boston, Massachusetts. - Providence Police Department

Baptista recalled one occasion when the mother, for unknown reasons, feared that something bad had happened to Neves Valente inside the apartment. The parents came with firefighters and police to break through the windows to check if he was dead, she said.

They were eventually able to get inside, but he was not home. Neighbors said Neves Valente was extremely upset when he learned his parents had involved the police.

The neighbor who declined to be identified recalled a separate occasion when police were called again but did not force entry, stating that Neves Valente was not a minor.

Later, the mother confided that she feared her son would sell the apartment and disappear  which eventually happened. That, for the parents, was devastating, the neighbor said. That was the last day his mother came here.

The neighbor, who said she remains in contact with Neves Valentes parents, said they had not spoken to their son in years. The parents  are very gentle people, she said. They are doing really badly. Neighbors have been helping them. They are quite old, and the news was devastating.

At one point, she recalled, the mother confided without elaborating: My son needs help, but he doesnt want to get it.

His parents had fostered Neves Valentes passion for science before he attended university.

While he was in secondary school some 30 years ago, they persuaded a physics and chemistry teacher, Jose Morgado, to take their son to Portugals physics Olympics in Coimbra, a city about 120 miles north of Lisbon.

He wanted to go. And because there wasnt anyone who would make themselves available to guide him, (his parents) called me to help him, and thats what I did, Morgado said.

Speaking to CNN from Torres Nova, near Neves Valentes hometown of Entroncamento in central Portugal, Morgado described the former student as brilliant and exceptional, adding that he ended up winning the national event and went on to compete in the international physics Olympics in Australia.

I used to say to my colleagues that Claudio was the perfect student. During the time I had him as a student, he never deviated from that pattern, Morgado recalled. An excellent person with his teachers, his classmates and everyone he interacted with. I never met anyone who said Claudio behaved poorly or wasnt a good student. In every subject, he performed well.

Like others who knew Neves Valente in Portugal, Morgado said he was shocked to learn about the shootings at Brown University and Massachusetts.

It was the complete opposite of the image I had of him. Something happened to him that led him to take those actions, he told CNN. But him being the perpetrator is something that I just cant wrap my head around, given the image I have of him. I still think of him as an 18-year-old.

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Freed students from St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community arrive at the government house, in Minna, Nigeria, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

MINNA, Nigeria (AP)  Nigerians on Monday got their first look at 130 children and teachers released after being seized in one of the largest mass abductions in the country's history.

Some of the children appeared to be malnourished or in shock as they arrived at a government ceremony. Police said they were freed Sunday, a month after gunmen stormed their Catholic school in Niger states Papiri community in a predawn attack.

Authorities said plans were underway to reunite the children with their families before Christmas.

Authorities earlier said 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were seized and 50 of them escaped in the hours that followed. But on Monday, Niger state Gov. Mohammed Bago indicated that 230 had been taken and all had now been released.

School kidnappings have come to define insecurity in Africas most populous country.

Officials did not say whether a ransom  common in such abductions  had been paid. No group has claimed responsibility, but residents blamed armed gangs that target schools and travelers in kidnappings for ransom across Nigerias conflict-battered north.

Most of those seized in the attack were aged between 10 and 17, the school said. One of the children released earlier told The Associated Press that gunmen threatened to shoot them during the attack.

Maj. Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, national coordinator at Nigerias Center for Counter Terrorism, told Monday's event that Nigeria will work with community leaders to boost safety in high-risk areas.
AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy Ira Schab, Jr. who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor as a sailor on the USS Dobbin on Dec. 7, 2022, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

NEED TO KNOW

Ira "Ike" Schab, one of only about a dozen survivors of Pearl Harbor left, died at 105 on Dec. 20

Schab made headlines in 2021 when his daughter raised money for him and his caretakers to visit Hawaii on the 80th anniversary of the attack

Schab arrived in Hawaii aboard the USS Dobbin as a member of Navy Band Unit 13 a year before the attack that led the U.S. to enter World War II

One of the last remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack has died at 105.

Ira "Ike" Schab, a Navy veteran who served in World War II, died on Dec. 20, his daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs confirmed to the Associated Press. Schab's death leaves only about a dozen survivors of the deadly attack who are still alive, the outlet reports. An estimated 2,400 troops were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the U.S. officially entering World War II.

Born on July 4, 1920, in Chicago, Schab was the eldest of three brothers. He was only 21 at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Navy veteran visited the site of the attack on the 80th anniversary in 2021. Heinrichs set up a GoFundMe for her late father to visit Pearl Harbor at the time, which raised $15,000 in two months. Heinrichs, Schab and his caretakers flew to Hawaii together in December 2021.

Schab told PEOPLE at the time that he was "grateful" for the generous donors who contributed to his campaign, and that he felt "very humble."

"It means so much to go back. To be there. And to still stand," Heinrichs, a nurse, wrote on GoFundMe after raising enough funds for their trip.

Following the loss of fellow bandmate Lee Ousley in 2015, Schab was the last remaining member of his Navy band unit.

Pacific Historic Parks - USS Arizona Memorial/Facebook Ira Schab, Jr. celebrating his 105th birthday.

"I'd rather it not be that I'm last," he told PEOPLE four years ago. "I wish there were still some of us going."

Schab, who lived in Oregon in recent years, arrived in Pearl Harbor, located in O'ahu, Hawaii, aboard the USS Dobbin as a member of Navy Band Unit 13 about 12 months before hundreds of enemy fighter planes descended upon the island.

"I got out of high school and couldn't find a job," Schab told PEOPLE in 2021 of why he decided to join the Navy. "Because I had been a musician since I was about 6 years old, my dad suggested I try out the Navy and see what they could do. And I did. They asked me for an interview, I passed, and I went to music school and became a Navy musician."

A year later, Schab would bear witness to one of the most pivotal days in American history.

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When asked what he most remembers about the day of the attack, which began just before 8 a.m. local time, Schab recalled the fateful day in one word: "Terror."

"We didn't know what [was happening]," he recalled. "I looked up and saw a Japanese  I don't know whether he was a fighter or anything like that  but I was scared. I got really worried about whether we were going to survive."

Schab previously told PEOPLE that he hopes young people in the future remember to enjoy life, and not to hold grudges with the people they care about the most.

"There's no reason to be sour or disgruntled for any reason at all. It's a great world, great life. And I believe that the optimist is the guy that has something in his grip and he'll never let go," he told PEOPLE.

"Just be positive," Schab said at the time. "Don't ever let yourself go sour or negative or anything like that. Even though a lot of the world around you may be negative, don't contribute to that. Always go to the optimistic side of your life."



Read the original article on People
President Donald Trump is renewing calls to take Greenland, the massive island controlled by Denmark, adding that a special envoy he appointed to the Arctic island would "lead the charge."

"We need Greenland for national security," Trump told reporters on Dec. 22, during an announcement that the U.S. would build a "new "Golden Fleet" of "Trump-class" battleships. "You look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need it for national security. We have to have it."

Trump's comments come on the heels of appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as the United States' special envoy to Greenland. Trump signalled he appointed Landry because "hes a deal-maker-type guy."

Donald Trump's second term: Actions, travels of the 47th president President Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive for the premiere of the documentary film "Melania" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, recently renamed to include U.S. President Donald Trump's name, in Washington, DC on Jan. 29, 2026.

Denmark, which bristled at Trump's aims to take the island, summoned the U.S. ambassador in response to Landrys appointment.

"Out of nowhere, there is now a special U.S. presidential representative, who, according to himself, is tasked with taking over Greenland. This is, of course, completely unacceptable," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told TV2.

At the news conference on Dec. 22, Trump dismissed Denmarks claims to Greenland.

Wield hypersonic weapons, lasers: Trump announces new 'Trump-class' battleships to start 'Golden Fleet'

"Denmark has spent no money there, they have no military protection," the president said. "They say Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, Im sure."

Greenland, a former Danish colony with a population of about 57,000, has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains heavily reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies. Its strategic position between Europe and North America makes it a key site for the U.S. ballistic missile defense system, while its mineral wealth has heightened U.S. interest in reducing reliance on Chinese exports.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a statement responding to Landrys appointment that the island would decide its own future.

Trump also clarified that the U.S. is not interested in Greenland for reasons related to its mineral wealth.

"We have so many sites for minerals, and oil and everything, we have more oil than any other country in the world," Trump said. "Well have to work it all out."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump renews calls to take Greenland for US national security
FILE PHOTO: A LB Steel LLC's employee manufactures a component for new Amtrak Acela trains built in partnership with Alstom in Harvey, Illinois, U.S. December 4, 2019. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo

(Corrects typographical error in first bullet point)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak's next-generation high-speed Acela train cars were delayed by more than four years due to planning, design and track issues, and a desire for higher speeds that have not materialized, a Senate report issued late on Monday said.

Amtrak's $2.3 billion program to replace its high-speed trains along the northeast U.S. corridor lost $287 million in revenue and unplanned maintenance costs because of extended use of the older Acela fleet, said Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz, a Republican, in a report.

The report said the Biden administration funded purchases of Amtrak cars "to run on tracks that are not yet built" and called that an "irresponsible and quixotic decision." The Trump administration has rescinded more than $4 billion for California's long-delayed high-speed rail project, prompting California to file suit.

Amtrak said Acela trip time improvements require infrastructure improvements, including modernizing tracks and overhead wires. The new train cars needed to meet government design specifications for higher speeds.

"This required the manufacturer and the regulator to navigate new safety standards and testing, leading to service delays," Amtrak said in a statement. The new trains have 27% more capacity than older versions, it added.

The passenger railroad began rolling out the new trainsets in August but those trains are currently on a slower timetable than the prior generation, the Senate report noted. A 2023 watchdog report found design issues and other problems in the Acela program.

The report said Amtrak "should prioritize procuring service-proven trainsets and technologies that will allow manufacturers to compete on price, instead of requiring idiosyncratic technical specifications" and argues "shorter and more reliable timetables are the goal, not marginally higher speeds."

Last month, Amtrak President Roger Harris told Reuters in an interview that the passenger railroad needs to retire the older Acela trains before it can begin raising speeds because the signaling system can't be optimized for the higher speed until then. He estimated the higher speeds would begin in late 2026.

But Harris noted the speeds would only be marginally faster due to the curvature of some railroad bridges on the Boston to Washington corridor.

In November, Amtrak set a yearly record for ridership and revenue, as it cut losses by 15% to $598 million and aims for operational profitability by 2028. Amtrak plans to replace regional trains starting next year and is now considering new trains for long-distance service.

Congress approved $66 billion in funding for rail projects as part of a massive 2021 infrastructure bill, with $22 billion dedicated to Amtrak.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese and Stephen Coates)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas legislature on Tuesday passed a bill mandating specialized panels in Seouls district and high courts for cases involving rebellion, treason and foreign subversion after complaints about the pace of the rebellion trial of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

But the bill, which is likely to be signed into law by President Lee Jae Myung, would fall short of the effect the Democratic Party initially sought from the liberal-led legislature. Lawmakers altered the wording to ensure the measure would not apply to ongoing trials. Critics have said the original draft risked infringing on judicial independence.

The law would require the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court to establish at least two specialized panels for cases involving rebellion, treason and foreign subversion. Each panel must consist of a three-judge bench selected by the judges council at each court.

The bill passed the legislature 1752 with two abstentions after many conservatives boycotted the vote.

The vote was delayed after Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the conservative People Power Party, staged a 24-hour filibuster, arguing that the bill remained unconstitutional even after repeated revisions and accusing Democrats of pressuring courts to create benches they favor. Following Tuesdays vote, PPP leaders called on Lee to veto the bill.

The law would go into effect immediately after Lee signs the bill, but will not apply to Yoons ongoing rebellion trial, which is expected to reach a verdict in early 2026. If Yoons case reaches the high court, it would be handled by the specialized panels.

Yoon was a staunch conservative who declared martial law in December 2024 to suppress what he called the anti-state liberals obstructing his agenda. He was removed from office in April and re-arrested in July over his botched power grab that lasted only hours. He faces a slew of serious charges including rebellion, which is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty.

The Democratic Party has repeatedly criticized a judge at the Seoul Central District Court who is handling Yoons rebellion case, claiming he has delayed proceedings by spacing out hearings and arguing that courts should reconsider the longstanding practice of randomly assigning judges in cases of exceptional importance such as rebellion.

The judge, Jee Kui-youn, initially drew the ire of liberals in March by approving Yoons release from prison following his first arrest, allowing him to stand trial without detention until his rearrest in July.

The liberals complaints grew after other judges rejected investigators requests for arrest warrants on some key figures close to Yoon including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and senior conservative lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho. Han and Choo were accused, respectively, of aiding Yoons declaration of martial law and obstructing lawmakers from participating in a vote to lift the measure.
National Guard members stand near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument in the background in Washington, D.C., Sept. 3, 2025. Photo: Andrew King / U.S. Department of the Interior via Flickr / Public Domain

(The Center Square)  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump can't use National Guard troops in Chicago to help federal immigration enforcement, in another blow to the president's push for federalization nationwide.

The justices turned down the administration's emergency request to overturn a ruling by U.S. District Judge April Perry that had temporarily blocked the deployment of troops. The Supreme Court took more than two months to act on the emergency request.

"At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois," the majority wrote in an unsigned order.

Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented from the majority.

The move leaves in place Perry's temporary order barring the deployment amid the legal challenge.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker praised the decision.

"Today is a big win for Illinois and American democracy. I am glad the Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump did not have the authority to deploy the federalized guard in Illinois," the governor said in a statement. "This is an important step in curbing the Trump administration's consistent abuse of power and slowing Trump's march toward authoritarianism."

Pritzker, a Democrat with political ambitions, condemned Trump's push to enforce immigration laws.

"American cities, suburbs, and communities should not have to face masked federal agents asking for their papers, judging them for how they look or sound, and living in fear that President can deploy the military to their streets," he said. "The brave men and women of our National Guard should never be used for political theater and deserve to be with their families and communities, especially during the holidays, and ready to serve overseas or at home when called upon during times of immense need."

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said America's founders never intended for federal troops to be used in U.S. cities.

"Nearly 250 years ago, the framers of our nations Constitution carefully divided responsibility over the country's militia, today's U.S. National Guard, between the federal government and the states  believing it impossible that a president would use one states militia against another state," Raoul said in a statement. "The extremely limited circumstances under which the federal government can call up the militia over a state's objection do not exist in Illinois, and I am pleased that the streets of Illinois will remain free of armed National Guard members as our litigation continues in the courts."

In October, President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to the streets of Illinois to assist in protecting federal personnel and property while enforcing immigration law.

Trump also sent the National Guard to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and other U.S. cities. Local and state officials challenged those deployments.

"While we welcome this ruling, we also are clear-eyed that the Trump Administration's pursuit for unchecked power is continuing across the country," Pritzker said. "Illinois will remain vigilant, defend the rights of our people, and stand up to further abuses of authority by Donald Trump and his cronies."

The ruling might not slow the Trump administration.

Also on Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed the Secretary of War called up to 350 Louisiana National Guard members to support federal law enforcement partners in New Orleans and other metropolitan areas in Louisiana.
President Donald Trump announced a new class of battleships to build out what he has dubbed the Navy's "Golden Fleet" that he says will be "the fastest, the biggest, and by far -- 100 times -- more powerful than any battleship ever built."

"We're calling it the Golden Fleet that we're building for the United States Navy. As you know, we're desperately in need of ships. Our ships, some of them have gotten old and tired and obsolete," Trump said.

"As commander in chief, it's my great honor to announce that I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin the construction of two brand new, very large, the largest we've ever built, battleships. You know, we used to build the Iowa, the Missouri, the Wisconsin, the Alabama and many others. We had big battleships. These are bigger, but they will have 100 times the -- they'll be 100 times the force, the power," Trump added later.

Trump blockades oil tankers near Venezuela -- what does that mean?

The president rolled out two ships, but said the administration's goal was to build 20 to 25 of them.

Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to announce the US Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of frigates, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, December 22, 2025.

The battleship was a type of large warship that went out of service in the early 1990s.

There was no word on what the battleships will cost. The Pentagon referred reporters to the Navy, which said that has yet to be determined.

Design studies are ongoing to refine Navy cost estimates, a Navy spokesperson said.

Retired Navy Adm. Mark Montgomery, a senior director at the conservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said he suspects the first battleship could easily top $10 billion to design, build and deploy.

Trump noted that the Navy will lead the project but that he will be involved in consulting on this project, saying that he's "a very aesthetic" person.

He also touted the increased lethality and technical aspects of the vessels.

"They'll also have hypersonic weapons, many hypersonic weapons, state of the art, electric rail guns, and even the high-powered lasers that you've been starting to read about," he said. "We have lasers where you aim the laser at a target, it just wipes it out. We're going to have -- there'll be the most sophisticated lasers in the world, and the most sophisticated laser in the world will be on the battleships that we're building," Trump said.

Trump admin pauses leases for some offshore wind projects citing 'national security concerns'

As the president made his announcement, he was surrounded by renderings showing the "Trump Class" of battleships, which appear to have the weapons systems and lasers that the president touted.

Montgomery called the effort to focus on a massive ship a mistake.

These "Battleships" are behemoths and not the ships the Navy needs -- the Navy needs a distributed fleet with weapons on a large fleet of minimally manned platforms to combat the Chinese threats at sea. These battleships will achieve none of these tactical goals, he told ABC News in an email.

Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters - PHOTO: Renderings of 'Trump Class' USS Defiant are displayed, on the day U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Navy's "Golden Fleet", at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida, December 22, 2025.

The new battleship is being billed as the most lethal surface warship ever constructed, a U.S. official told ABC News. They said that it will have more firepower than the planned DDG(X) that was to be the Navys next-generation destroyer.

The new battleship class will be a main component of the Golden Fleet, which is a goal by the Trump administration to restore the domestic shipbuilding industry.

The president also said that in addition to the battleships, the Navy is working on "three large aircraft carriers," "12 to 15 brand new submarines" and fixing up Navy sites where sailors live.

The president also said he plans to meet with military contractors and tell them to build new factories, discuss production schedules and also talk about executive pay and stock buybacks at those companies.

Trump teased 'warrior dividend' checks. The money had been allotted by Congress for housing costs

"They want to buy back this stock. I don't want them to buy back their stock. I want them to put the money in plant and equipment so they can build these planes fast rapidly, like immediately," Trump said.

When asked by a reporter, Trump said that his timetable for the first of the ships to be built is the next 2 1/2 years.

A reporter also pressed him on whether these ships were built to counter China, but Trump said that they were to counter "everyone."

ABC News' Luis Martinez and Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
President Trump lashed out at Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday, warning that he better watch his a.

He has to watch it because hes got drug factories. They make cocaine in Colombia, Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago on the heels of an announcement about the building of new Navy ships. He better watch his a because he makes cocaine and they send it into the United States from Colombia.

We love the Colombian people. I love the Colombian people, the president said. But their new leader is a troublemaker and he better watch it. He better close up those cocaine factories. There are at least three major cocaine factories. We know where they are.

Trump made the comment in response to a question about Petros criticism of the U.S. for demanding that Venezuela return all assets it seized in the past from U.S. oil companies.

Texas is a territory that was invaded. It wasnt sold. So was California and all of the southern U.S., Petro said over the weekend.

Tensions have simmered between the two leaders, who occupy two ends of the political spectrum. Petro is the first left-leaning leader in recent history in Colombia. And it comes amid heightening tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela as oil tankers continue to be seized in the Caribbean.

Trump hit Petro and his family members with sanctions in October.

President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

The Colombian leader said in an interview with CNN last month that oil was at the center of Trumps pressure campaign on Venezuela.

So, thats a negotiation about oil. I believe that is Trumps logic. Hes not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone the narco-trafficking, Petro said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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STOCKHOLM, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Saab has received orders from Lithuania for the AT4 weapon as well as ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf weapon with a combined order value of SEK 1.3 billion. Deliveries are planned 2027-2029.

The orders are placed within a framework agreement initially signed between Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, which enables Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to place orders for Saab's Carl-Gustaf M4 and ammunition as well as AT4 weapons.

"We look forward to continuing to provide the Lithuanian forces with the reliable, highly effective capabilities of our support weapon AT4 and specialised ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf system. Our solutions give soldiers precision and ease-of-use, enabling them to carry out their missions safely and with confidence, says Gorgen Johansson, head of Saab's business area Dynamics.

Saab's 84mm ground combat weapons includes the disposable AT4 as well as the man-portable recoilless, multi-role weapon Carl-Gustaf. With their wide range of munition types, AT4 and Carl-Gustaf are able to handle multiple scenarios on the battlefield.

Contact

Saab Press Centre

+46 (0)734 180 018

[email protected]

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 27,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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https://mb.cision.com/Main/183/4285964/3856844.pdf Saab receives ground combat orders from Lithuania https://news.cision.com/saab/i/soldiers-with-saab-s-carl-gustaf-m4-and-at4-ground-combat-weapons,c3497873 Soldiers with Saab's Carl-Gustaf M4 and AT4 ground combat weapons

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On the heels of the AmericaFest convention held by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), in which the group formerly led by slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk indicated it would support Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028, the group is set to start early support for Vance in key states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.

Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have traditionally been among the first states to hold presidential primaries or caucuses, although neither party has set its formal presidential primary and caucus calendar yet.

Vice President JD Vance rallies conservatives, honors Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA convention

TPUSA's planned Iowa operations were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Cheney Orr/Reuters - PHOTO: Vice President JD Vance closes out AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, December 21, 2025.

The group's CEO Erika Kirk endorsed Vance for president on Thursday, vowing to throw one of the most influential conservative organizations in the country behind him.

"We are going to get my husband's friend JD Vance elected for 48 [48th president] in the most resounding way possible," Kirk said during her speech at AmericaFest on Thursday night.

Vance has not yet officially said whether he will run in 2028. In an interview last month with Fox News, Vance said he was focused on the vice presidency and the 2026 midterms but would have a conversation with President Donald Trump about 2028 after next year's elections.

Tyler Bower, the chief operating officer of TPUSA who leads the group's grassroots political operations, told ABC News in an interview on Monday that the organization is already putting the full weight of its operation behind Vance ahead of 2028.

TPUSA is already building out staff and operations in Iowa and plans to open new offices in New Hampshire and Nevada in the new year.

Bower said it was an easy decision to get behind Vance so early.

"He's the clear-cut leader by a lot. This isn't highly competitive. He's the vice president of the US," Bower said, adding that ultimately it will be up to Vance to make his decision to run.

Vice President Vance says people who attack his wife 'can eat s---'

"We want to vocalize early that we are leading the recruiting and preparation effort in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada for JD," he added, noting Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already said he would back Vance if he were to run for the White House.

Andrew Kolvet, the executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show" and a TPUSA spokesman, said on Fox News on Monday, "I know it got a lot of headlines. But if anybody was around the org in any way, shape, or form, they knew that Charlie was very close to the vice president and had basically endorsed him already for months beforehand, so it was no surprise for us," he said, adding that the group had decided to reveal "what everyone knew was true behind the scenes."

Cheney Orr/Reuters - PHOTO: CEO of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk speaks during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 18, 2025

He added later, "We're very happy for the here and now, so we're going to kind of let the next year play out. But heading into 2028, we're excited to get behind him and the machine that Charlie built and that's still in place at Turning Point's going to be all in for the vice president."

TPUSA sees getting behind Vance early as a major advantage against Democrats in 2028, who in their view have a wide-open field. Among those considered to be contenders are Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a variety of other figures from across the Democratic Party's ideological spectrum.

"The other side is a disaster," Bower said. "We just put Nicki Minaj on stage blasting Gavin Newsom while it's a total free-for-all over there."

Erika Kirk endorses JD Vance for president in 2028

But over the weekend, at the first major TPUSA event since Charlie Kirk's assassination in September, growing splinters on the right were on full display, as the ongoing fight for the future of the conservative movement erupted on stage with leading voices from Ben Shapiro to Tucker Carlson trading blows.

For Bower, having that fight out in the open now means they are ahead of schedule in the lead-up to 2028.

"We're rock solid. The right is hashing out policy disputes that usually surface right in the lead-up to a presidential election," he said. "We're about two years ahead of schedule. Issues usually fought about heading into the 2028 convention were fought over and settled at AmericaFest."
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  The U.S. government has signed health deals with at least nine African countries, part of its new approach to global health funding, with agreements that reflect the Trump administrations interests and priorities and are geared toward providing less aid and more mutual benefits.

The agreements signed so far, with Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda among others, are the first under the new global health framework, which makes aid dependent on negotiations between the recipient country and the U.S.

Some of the countries that have signed deals either have been hit by U.S. aid cuts or have separate agreements with the Trump administration to accept and host third-country deportees, although officials have denied any linkage.

The Trump administration says the new America First global health funding agreements are meant to increase self-sufficiency and eliminate what it says are ideology and waste from international assistance. The deals replace a patchwork of previous health agreements under the now-dismantled United States Agency for International Development.

U.S. aid cuts have crippled health systems across the developing world, including in Africa, where many countries relied on the funding for crucial programs, including those responding to outbreaks of disease.

The new approach to global health aligns with President Donald Trumps pattern of dealing with other nations transactionally, using direct talks with foreign governments to promote his agenda abroad. It builds on his sharp turn from traditional U.S. foreign assistance, which supporters say furthered American interests by stabilizing other countries and economies and building alliances.

A different strategy

The deals mark a sharp departure from how the U.S. has provided health care funding over the years and mirrors the Trump administration's interests.

South Africa, which has lost most of its U.S. funding  including $400 million in annual support  due in part to its disputes with the U.S., has not signed a health deal, despite having one of the world's highest HIV prevalence rates.

Nigeria, Africas most populous country, reached a deal but with an emphasis on Christian-based health facilities, although it has a slight majority Muslim population. Rwanda and Uganda, which each have deportation deals with the U.S., have announced the health pacts.

Cameroon, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia and Mozambique also are among those that have signed health deals with the U.S.

According to the Center for Global Development, a Washington think tank, the deals combine U.S. funding reductions, ambitious co-financing expectations, and a shift toward direct government-to-government assistance.

The deals represent a reduction in total U.S. health spending for each country, the center said, with annual U.S. financial support down 49% compared with 2024.

A faith-based deal in Nigeria, a lifeline for several others

Under its deal, Nigeria, a major beneficiary of USAID funds, would get support that has a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based health care providers.

The U.S. provided approximately $2.3 billion in health assistance to Nigeria between 2021 and 2025, mostly through USAID, official data shows. The new five-year agreement will see U.S. support at over $2 billion, while Nigeria is expected to raise $2.9 billion to boost its health care programs.

The agreement "was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence and includes significant dedicated funding to support Christian health care facilities, the State Department said in a statement.

The department said the president and secretary of state retain the right to pause or terminate any programs which do not align with the national interest, urging Nigeria to ensure "that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.

For several other countries, the new deals could be a lifeline after U.S. aid cuts crippled their health care systems and left them racing to fill the gaps.

Under its deal, Mozambique will get U.S. support of over $1.8 billion for HIV and malaria programs. Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in the world, clinched a deal worth over $232 million.

In the tiny kingdom of Eswatini, the U.S. committed to provide up to $205 million to support public health data systems, disease surveillance and outbreak response, while the country agreed to increase domestic health expenditures by $37 million.

No deal for South Africa after disputes

South Africa is noticeably absent from the list of signatories following tensions with the Trump administration.

Trump has said he will cut all financial assistance to South Africa over his widely rejected claims that it is violently persecuting its Afrikaner white minority.

The dismantling of USAID resulted in the loss of over $436 million in yearly financing for HIV treatment and prevention in South Africa, putting the program and thousands of jobs in the health care industry at risk.

Health compacts with countries that signed deportation deals

At least four of the countries that have reached deals previously agreed to receive third-country deportees from the U.S., a controversial immigration policy that has been a trademark of the Trump administration.

The State Department has denied any linkage between the health care compacts and agreements regarding accepting third-country asylum seekers or third-country deportees from the United States. However, officials have said that political considerations unrelated to health issues may be part of the negotiations.

Rwanda, one of the countries with a deportation deal with the U.S., signed a $228 million health pact requiring the U.S. to support it with $158 million.

Uganda, another such country, signed a health deal worth nearly $2.3 billion in which the U.S. will provide up to $1.7 billion. Also Eswatini, which has started receiving flights with deported prisoners from the U.S.

___

Associated Press writers Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, Dyepkazah Shibayan in Abuja, Nigeria, Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
With Christmas fast approaching, meteorologists are getting a firm handle on who will wake up to a snowy scene on the big day.

Though some areas are all but guaranteed a white Christmas, nationally, it's looking rather bleak for many snow lovers: More than 45% of the lower 48 states had snow on the ground just a few weeks ago," said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather lead long-range expert, in an e-mail to USA TODAY.

"Roughly half of that snow coverage has melted away. Many snow lovers are going to be disappointed this Christmas," he said.

MAPS: See live forecast maps for Christmas week

You won't believe these sculptures are made of snow Sculptors from Erciyes University and other institutions turn snow into animation characters on the field during skiing and snowboarding season at Mount Erciyes in Kayseri, Turkey on Feb. 22, 2025.

Lower-than-average snow cover predicted on Christmas week

Indeed, as of the morning of Dec. 23, the Lower 48 states were only 18% snow-covered, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

On average, about 38% of the Lower 48 states have an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, according to over two decades of data compiled by NOAA.

Since 2003, those percentages have varied widely from year to year, from only 17.6% in 2023 to a whopping 63% of the contiguous U.S. in 2009, according to Weather.com.

The national snow cover map for Tuesday Dec. 23, 2025, shows that 18% of the nation is snow-covered, primarily across the nation's far northern tier.

Northeast storm brings snow

A snowstorm moving through the Northeast Tuesday, Dec. 23, will increase the chances for a snowy holiday in that part of the country.

The odds of a white Christmas are increasing a bit from northeast Pennsylvania to northern New Jersey and southern New England as a storm moves through with some fresh snow," Pastelok said. "Its expected to stay cold enough for some of that snow to stick around through Christmas morning.

Folks in parts of the Northeast could also wake up to snow falling on Christmas morning: A pocket of spotty ice or a mix of a little snow, ice and rain may occur for a time Wednesday night (Christmas Eve) into Thursday morning (Christmas Day) in parts of Pennsylvania, southern New York and northern New Jersey, AccuWeather said.

Yet another system could bring still more snow later this week: A storm could bring snow and ice to parts of the Northeast and New England on Christmas night into Friday," Pastelok said. "Some cities may miss out on an official white Christmas by just 12 or 24 hours.

The probability of a white Christmas across the northeastern U.S., as of Tuesday Dec. 23, 2025.

Snow storm forecast: How much will it snow on Christmas week?

Wondering how much snow is in the forecast? USA TODAY's detailed winter weather forecast map below lets you explore where snow is expected over the next few hours and days.

Sparse snow overall due to warm-up

Overall, snow will be sparse for much of the country on Christmas week. There will be little snow on the ground across much of the Plains this Christmas thanks to the big warmup underway, Pastelok told USA TODAY.

How warm? Missouri, Kansas City and St. Louis are forecast to see highs in the mid-70s on Christmas Day, according to a National Weather Service forecast map.

In the southern Plains, "Oklahoma City will challenge or break record highs over multiple days in a row for the middle and latter part of this week," AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said in an online forecast. "For this city in particular, highs are forecast to be roughly 30 degrees above the historical average, which is in the upper 40s. Highs this week are projected to be in the upper 70s."

More: Easter weather at Christmas? Record warmth forecast this week across U.S.

These are some of the best locations for a white Christmas

Snow is already on the ground in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, where it's expected to last through Christmas, forecasts showed.

For example, Minneapolis had 3 inches of snow on the ground on Dec. 23, the weather service said. And more is on the way.

In Minnesota, the weather service said that "the next chance for precipitation arrives late Christmas Day across north and central Minnesota. A wintry mix may lead to slick travel Christmas night into Friday Dec. 26 morning."

More: Where will it snow? See live forecast maps for Christmas week

Meanwhile, mountainous parts of the West may see a bonanza of snow.

Parts of the central Rockies have been in a snow drought, but theyre finally starting to pick up some snow, and more is on the way through Christmas Day," Pastelok said. "It will really feel like the holidays with some snowflakes in the air. The fresh powder will be great for the ski mountains.

Farther west, the Sierra Nevada mountains in California are bracing for heavy snow this week, which will be measured in feet, not inches. "Heavy snow will develop over the Sierra Nevada mountains through Thursday Dec. 25," the weather service said.

According to AccuWeather, Sierra snow levels will drop at midweek, leading to 1 to 2 feet of snow at Donner Pass in northern California and up to 10 feet of snow over Sierra ridges, creating whiteout conditions and extended road closures.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White Christmas 2025 forecast updated; these states to see snow
Sky Decker Jr. via AP Aftermath of the plane crash in Galveston, Texas

NEED TO KNOW

At least five people have died, including a 2-year-old child, after a Mexican Navy plane carrying medical patients crashed near the Galveston Causeway in Texas on Monday, Dec. 22

Mexico's Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) confirmed in a translated release that eight people had been on board the aircraft at the time of the accident

The aircraft had been taking part in a medical mission on behalf of the Michou y Mau Foundation, which provides care to Mexican children with severe burns



At least five people have died, including a 2-year-old child, after a Mexican Navy plane carrying medical patients crashed in the waters of Galveston Bay, Texas.

On Monday, Dec. 22 at approximately 3:17 p.m. local time, authorities responded to reports of a plane crash which occurred west of the Galveston Causeway, per a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) statement.

Mexico's Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) confirmed in a translated release posted on X that eight people had been on board the aircraft at the time of the accident, adding that five people had sadly died, while one was still missing and two had survived.

A 2-year-old child was among the victims, CNN reported, citing U.S. Coast Guard officials. Four of the people aboard were Mexican Navy officers, while four were civilians, including a child, Mexico's Navy said in a statement to the Associated Press.

The aircraft had been taking part in a medical mission on behalf of the Michou y Mau Foundation, which provides care to Mexican children with severe burns, according to the BBC. The outlet reported that the crash occurred in foggy conditions.

Sky Decker Jr. via AP Aftermath of the plane crash in Galveston, Texas

The organization was among those sharing a message on social media in response to the tragedy.

"At Michou and Mau Foundation, we express our deep solidarity with the families in the wake of the events," a translated Facebook post read.

"We accompany their pain with respect and closeness, [honoring] the memory and reaffirming our commitment to human, sensitive and dignified care for girls and boys with burns," the non-profit added.

The plane had last been recorded at 3:01 p.m. local time over Galveston Bay, near Scholes International Airport, the BBC reported, citing data from flight tracking website Flight Radar.

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Professional yacht captain, Sky Decker, who lives around a mile from where the plane went down, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help, according to the AP. Decker recalled how he picked up two police officers who helped direct him to the almost completely submerged plane through the thick fog.

Decker said of finding a badly injured woman who was trapped underneath chairs and other debris, I couldnt believe [it]. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in, per the AP.

And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life, he added.

Decker also told CNN, Everyone was just waiting for divers to arrive. And I thought if theres a woman alive in that plane, shes not going to be alive for long. It was critical to get her out of there.

He said he pulled the woman out alive, before making his way back to the wreckage and recovering a man who was already deceased, per the outlet.

The cause of the crash is being investigated, the USCG said in its statement.

Mexico's Secretariat of the Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard Heartland, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Galveston Police Department didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

PEOPLE has also reached out to the Michou y Mau Foundation.

Read the original article on People
Bangladeshs political volatility deepened on Monday after a prominent student leader was shot in the head by unidentified assailants in the southern city of Khulna.

Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, a central organiser of the National Citizen Partys labour wing, was attacked at around 11.45am in Sonadanga, according to Bangladeshi media.

He was taken to the Khulna Medical College Hospital and later transferred to a private diagnostic centre for a CT scan.

Saif Nawaz, an organiser of the student-led partys Khulna metropolitan unit, said Mr Sikdar was a central organiser and divisional convener of the Jatiya Sramik Shakti, the partys labour platform. He was involved in preparations for an upcoming labour rally when he was shot.

The Sonadanga police said an investigation was underway.

Doctors told local media the bullet went through one side of Mr Sikdars ear and exited through the other, leaving him out of immediate danger. He was still under observation, however.

The attack followed a wave of unrest sparked by last weeks killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, a radical leader and spokesperson of the platform Inqilab Manch.

Hadi, who had risen to prominence during the 2024 uprising that overthrew Sheikh Hasinas government, was shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka on 12 December while campaigning for the upcoming election. After initial treatment in the capital, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he died on 18 December.

News of his death triggered violent demonstrations across Bangladesh, with crowds torching and vandalising buildings, including the offices of top newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

A man holds a placard as tens of thousands of people join the funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi (Reuters)

Protesters also targeted properties linked to Ms Hasinas Awami League party and attempted to march towards the Indian diplomatic missions in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chattogram. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds at several places.

Authorities confirmed at least one sectarian killing during the unrest, after a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was beaten to death by a mob in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy.

Bangladeshs interim ruler, Muhammad Yunus, announced a day of national mourning after Hadis death. His funeral was held at Dhaka University.

Tensions are running high as the South Asian country prepares for a parliamentary election in February.

The National Citizen Party, which emerged out of last years mass agitation, includes factions that repeatedly issue anti-India statements.

After Hadi was shot, a party leader publicly threatened to support forces hostile to Delhi.

Seven Sisters will be separated from India, Hasnat Abdullah said at a protest rally, referring to the neighbouring countrys seven northeastern states.

India denied that it was sheltering people responsible for Hadis assassination.

We expect that the interim government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures for ensuring internal law and order, the Indian foreign ministry said, including for the purpose of holding peaceful elections.

Bangladeshi police said they had no confirmed information about the whereabouts of Hadis attackers and no evidence they had left the country.
Were spending a lot of time with clients talking about data, talking about where it is, what it is, how to index it and find it.

We run projects and workshops around helping people understand where their data is, what their data does, who has access to their data, as well as getting really clean from a data sovereignty perspective and getting their backyard in order.

This will help the MSPs end customers in using AI effectively and from a place of strength.

We sell Copilot and use it internally, said Sheehan. Were a Microsoft house and we think its how well start to attack the market we already have.

Cyber security is the backbone of everything efex does. It currently has four bundles: managed cyber zero, managed cyber essentials, managed cyber premium, and managed cyber apex.

You cant become an efex customer if youre not prepared, Sheehan said. At a minimum level, customers have to accept some cyber products in their environment  its non-negotiable.

Its too risky and we dont want to be on the front page of papers. This should be the mentality for managed service providers.

Some, I think, fit into the archetype that has one foot out the door and dont consider how theyll react if a customer suffers a cyber-attack or if cyber resilience comes into question.

Sheehan explained that people need to take cyber security seriously and get their backyard in order regarding products and processes.

Contracts are critical, and clients need to know whats in and whats out, he said. The responsibility of cyber is not always clear between the MSP and customer.

Some customers can react unpredictably once data is compromised. They wont be fine if their data hits the dark web.

Theres a cliff coming, and its about who will invest. If an MSP doesnt, they risk losing clients, often to MSPs like us who are prepared.

According to Sheehan, cyber isnt linear; users cant just install a backup appliance and walk away.

The threat is more about behaviours and controls than products, he explained. The industry has evolved from selling hardware to services, and now its a mix of products, services, behaviours, and governance risk and compliance  even at the SMB level.

Add cyber insurance and continual pressure on providers to align with standards like ISO 1001, the focus on MSPs will remain, and not everyone will be able to keep up.

People and culture

That is just one of the responsibilities that come with managing dozens of priorities efficiently, from customer relations, platform, people and support for an MSP.

Sheehan said efex has maintained roughly the same headcount over the last 1218 months, but the MSPs shape continues to evolve.

We prioritise talent by geography  finding the best people locally while offering national organisation benefits, he said. Larger providers focus on redeploying resources to growth areas and deprioritising areas with less potential.

If you look after your people, theyll look after the customers. If you do that, everything is fine.

That type of culture is paramount to Sheehan who believes in creating an environment where people believe in the purpose.

If you do the work and you like the people, the people want to become part of something, he said. They want to do a good job for their customers, and you can feel that through the process.

Its more than dollars and cents and about making a judgment call on the style of business that it is.

Sheehan said he doesnt know any other way to grow a business because having a good culture creates an environment where people come into work and believe in the companys underlying goals.

Theres a good quote someone said  its like a heart attack and it happens slowly, and then quickly. I feel like thats how businesses fall apart with terrible cultures or terrible leadership, he said.

It happens slowly, then it goes under the radar. Big egos dont see it coming and then it happens, and people just say they dont need this.

Sheehan said ultimately, there are plenty of businesses out there that do value people and care about capability. This is why efex is a unified organisation and not a collection of silo technology stacks.

I prioritise spending time with founders and staff on culture and deeply understanding the drivers for what makes that business tick, he said.

In our business and through the great leadership team we have, we talk a lot about our values, which are speed, communication, ownership, and relationships.

We dont get it right all the time, but it is my mission to continuously give 100 per cent.
Dataiku has hired former Cloudflare ASEAN and Greater China head of partner sales Jo Goh as its area vice president for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) partnerships.

In the new role, Goh will be tasked with driving Dataikus partner growth and performance across APJ, where she will work with regional and global partners, including systems integrators and other channel partners.

Goh enters the position with over two decades of managerial and leadership experience at several technology companies and roles covering Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Prior to Cloudflare, she also worked at Alteryx, GE Power, IBM, and Lenovo.

Dataiku senior vice president of ecosystems and alliances David Tharp said Gohs appointment is a step forward in the companys commitment to building a robust and dynamic partner ecosystem across Asia Pacific and Japan.

Her strong track record, combined with her deep industry expertise and cross-cultural mindset, will be instrumental in delivering value for our customers, partners, and all other stakeholders, he said.

Goh added that it is a privilege to join Dataiku as the AI platform vendor enters its next stage of growth in APJ.
This is a time to see the lights everywhere in the city and hear questions from young Chinese about the "exotic festival" from the West. Local Catholics show a surprising ability to combine mass culture and evangelisation. I like to think it is a hidden prophecy of the True Light for which everyone yearns, and a glimmer of freedom for those who live the greyness of everyday life, a source living in China told AsiaNews.

Even in Chinas globalised cities, Christmas lights are making their way. Thus, pop culture has provided local Catholics with the opportunity to share their joy with everyone, as an AsiaNews source living in China explains below.

Everything is beautifully bathed in light. Even Chinas grey cities, all the same.

Seen during the day and at night, Chinese metropolises have two different faces. Flat, mass-made, anonymous, almost suffocating by day; warm, bright, lively, and welcoming by night.

At night skyscrapers sparkle, signs light up, illuminations of all kinds come to life, and everything becomes more harmonious. "Where the beautiful and the horrid coexist," said Carlo Carretto about Hong Kongs skyscrapers.

Everything is beautiful when bathed in light, especially at Christmas. And even China is tinged with a Christmassy mood at Christmas.

Cafes, clubs, shops, and photoshoot locations have embraced "Christmas romance" as something exotic and Western. Christmas in China is a bit like Halloween in some parts of Europe, a holiday imported for its picturesque aspect rather than its meaning.

It is normal to be asked: "Can you explain to me how Christmas presents work?" Or: "How do people dress for Christmas in your country?" Almost always: "Is Christmas like in the movies? How beautiful the Christmas atmosphere must be in your country!"

Obviously, except for Christians, no one is aware of its religious significance, but younger generations have embraced the holiday as an additional opportunity to go out or create content on social media.

There are no holiday breaks, and Christmas Day as such goes unnoticed. Still, some university students claim a directive exists to intensify exams and tests around 25 December to dissuade Christian students from actively participating in and preparing for the celebrations.

One might think that the Church would shy away from such a commercial style in favour of a more austere version. Nothing could be further from truth since, when it comes to mass culture and inculturation, the Church in China always amazes, gifted at mixing the seemingly bizarre to us but perfectly linear to theirs; the most striking example is the funny themed stickers used on WeChat with the images of Jesus, Mary, sheep, Matteo Ricci, etc.

During Advent, I spent several afternoons in the church courtyard wearing reindeer antlers, acting as a prop for photos under the tree, amid clouds of glitter. I saw volunteers dressed as Santa Claus accompanying curious onlookers to take photos of the nativity scene.

I also spent Sundays under the Christmas tree singing Christmas carols at the top of my lungs (just for fun), switching from "Gaudete" to "Last Christmas" as if they belonged to the same genre.

Speaking of musical genres and Chinese Catholics' perception of Western culture, once at a KTV (karaoke bar), I saw people searching, convinced they'd find it, for "Stay with us, oh Lord" in the international songs section. (Of course, we didn't find it, but there was "Bella Ciao," strictly in Italian.)

It also happens that the police officers assigned to monitor celebrations compliment the volunteers on the beautiful Christmas atmosphere. At Christmas but also at Easter, the main churches in the cities are under special surveillance, especially to monitor the content of homilies.

In my opinion, this "spontaneous style" that combines mass culture and evangelisation is an integral part of the Chinese spirit and pastoral style, which indeed extends beyond the Christmas season.

I saw one parish offer free foot massages to passersby on the street: people enter the church out of curiosity, and while receiving the massage, they can look at their surroundings, listen to the background music, and often ask why there's a picture of a crucified man hanging "in the room." They are then invited to participate in some activity, and then one thing leads to another.

Everything is beautiful, bathed in light. And at Christmas, the true light comes into the world, the light that illuminates every person.

The light that adorns the skyscrapers in the metropolises or that of mass-produced Christmas lights is not necessarily consumerist corruption. I like to think it is a "hidden prophecy" of the True Light for which everyone yearns, and a glimmer of freedom for those who live the greyness of everyday life.

We are made to live in beauty, and beauty takes up residence among us. Thus, even a concrete expanse of identical skyscrapers can become a humble cave that holds light, holds hope.
Syrian, Turkish FMs discuss refugees, economy and security in Damascus

Xinhua) 09:00, December 23, 2025

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attend a joint press conference in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 22, 2025. Al-Shibani and Fidan met here on Monday to discuss refugee returns, economic cooperation and regional security. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met here on Monday to discuss refugee returns, economic cooperation and regional security, Syrian state media Al-Ikhbariya TV reported.

At a joint press conference, al-Shibani said they discussed counterterrorism efforts, measures to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) group, and the development of a shared vision for northeastern Syria.

He said the March agreement, signed between the Syrian interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the northeast into a unified Syria, reflects the country's determination to accelerate integration and unify its territory "in a civilized manner." He stressed that any delay in implementing the agreement and integrating the Kurdish-led SDF would be unjust to the region and its residents.

He added that threats to Syria's stability also endanger Turkiye's security, underscoring the interconnected security interests of the two neighbors. Al-Shibani also said the Jazira region is an integral part of Syria and must be fully integrated into a unified state.

For his part, Fidan said Syria's current leadership has proposed a governance model that contributes to regional stability.

He noted significant progress in improving security and stability, adding that lifting sanctions under the Caesar Act represents an important step toward regional stability and is expected to facilitate substantial foreign investment in Syria.

Fidan highlighted Syria's role in the international coalition against IS, emphasizing that countering the group remains a key priority. He said the two sides also discussed energy cooperation, as well as regional, trade, and economic relations.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attend a joint press conference in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 22, 2025. Al-Shibani and Fidan met here on Monday to discuss refugee returns, economic cooperation and regional security. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Registration open for Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting, April 1115, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

FAIRFAX, Va., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration is open for the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting. Join top interventional radiologists to shape the future of the specialty, April 1115, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

More than just a conference, SIR's Annual Scientific Meeting is a gathering place for a vibrant, inclusive community of more than 4,000 IR professionalsfrom those in training to seasoned experts. The scientific program is now live and will spotlight breakthroughs in minimally invasive, image-guided medicine that are transforming care for patients. Learn the latest from nearly 400 competitively selected oral presentations and 120 poster presentations of peer-reviewed scientific abstracts.

Highlights at SIR 2026 include:

Science supporting interventional treatments for cancer, vascular disease, women's health, prostate conditions, stroke, pain, musculoskeletal, lymphatic disease, and more.

Deep-dive labs allowing attendees to elevate their expertise with focused, hands-on learning opportunities on high-demand topics.

Dedicated learning tracks for the whole teamincluding trainees, early career interventional radiologists, administrators and allied health professionals.

The 2026 Dr. Charles T. Dotter Lecture, delivered by Professor Andrew Holden, MBChB, FRANZCR, EBIR, ONZM, director of the interventional radiology service at Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand.

Representatives of the media are invited to join interventional radiologists as they share research, learn about the latest breakthroughs and trends in interventional radiology, and discuss important issues in the field. Press registration is complimentary to credentialed media who meet eligibility requirements. For media registration only, contact Elise Grant, at [email protected].

About the Society of Interventional Radiology

The Society of Interventional Radiology is a nonprofit, professional medical society representing more than 8,000 practicing interventional radiology physicians, trainees, students, scientists and clinical associates, dedicated to improving patient care through the limitless potential of image-guided therapies. SIR's members work in a variety of settings and at different professional levelsfrom medical students and residents to university faculty and private practice physicians. Visit sirweb.org.

SOURCE Society of Interventional Radiology
by Gregory

Suspended in 2011 following mass protests, the hydroelectric project in Kachin State is set to be revived by the military ahead of upcoming elections. For analysts and the local community, this is a political manoeuvre to strengthen ties with China, which would receive 90 per cent of the energy produced, despite potentially serious damages to the environment, local communities, and security.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  Myanmars military junta wants to reopen the Myitsone dam, a gigantic hydroelectric project in Kachin State that was suspended in 2011 following mass protests citing its negative environmental and social impact.

According to local analysts, the project does not meet genuine development needs, and is based on political calculations. The military needs to boost Chinese support ahead of elections set to start on 28 December after the army lost ground in the north of the country.

In April 2024, the State Administrative Council (SAC), the body created by the military to govern, set up a new committee responsible for managing the project's restart, appointing Deputy Minister of Electric Power Aye Kyaw as its chairman.

The dam, estimated at US$ 3.6 billion, is primarily financed by China's State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and is located at the confluence of the Mali and N'Mai rivers, the source of the Irrawaddy.

The project was halted in 2011 by then-President Thein Sein, following a grassroots mobilisation against the potential environmental destruction, the forced displacement of local communities, and the transfer of sovereignty over natural resources, given that almost all the energy produced would go to China.

The current political context makes the announcement particularly controversial. In recent months, fighting has intensified between regime forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of the militias fighting against the military regime.

"Whenever the junta faces hard times, it tries to distract the public," a Kachin political analyst told AsiaNews, speaking anonymously for safety. With intense fighting near the Myitsone area, restarting the project seems impossible. But the junta is pushing it hard to gain favour with China."

Military leaders maintain that the dam is necessary. On 17 December, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win visited Myitsone and declared that "the project should be reviewed and implemented," since it would help prevent flooding and ensure power supply to the country.

Minister Aye Kyaw recently added that the new committee will focus on "research, technical solutions, and public relations" to demonstrate the plant's safety, hinting at a possible reduction in the original 6,000-megawatt capacity.

The agreements, however, signed in 2006 and 2009, remain unchanged: 90 per cent of the energy produced would go to the Chinese province of Yunnan, while only 10 per cent would remain in Myanmar.

For the Kachin community, Myitsone is the symbol of a tragedy waiting to happen. The dam would submerge an area the size of Singapore and displace approximately 18,000 people, wiping out entire villages, like Tangphre.

The Irrawaddy River is the main bloodline of our country, said Kaw Mai, a resident of Myitkyina, speaking to AsiaNews. This is not just a dam; it is a death sentence for our land. The military bombs our villages by day and tries to sell our river by night. If they think Kachin armed forces will stand by and let this happen, they are dreaming.

Security is also a concern. The site is located approximately 100 kilometres from the fault line that runs through the Sagaing Region, one of the most active in Southeast Asia, where a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck in March this year.

Another earthquake could compromise the structure, with catastrophic consequences downstream. And the effects would not be limited to Kachin State.

The Irrawaddy River carries sediment essential to the fertility of downstream areas. Disrupting its flow would lead to saltwater intrusion, the collapse of fish stocks, and a direct threat to the food security of millions of people.

For its part, China is unwilling to listen. SPIC claims to have already invested more than US$ 800 million and has been lobbying Myanmar for years to reactivate the project or, alternatively, pay compensation.

For the junta, reviving Myitsone appears to be a desperate move to once again gain Beijings favour, perhaps in exchange for mediation with the KIA or a reduction in international pressure.
Today's headlines: Amazon blocks applications from 1,800 North Korean workers; ASEAN announces meeting between Cambodian and Thai delegations tomorrow to stop the war; Japan uses AI to counter bear attacks; New clashes between government militias and Kurdish forces in Aleppo.

INDONESIA

Indonesia and the United States have reached an agreement on tariffs that exempts certain Indonesian commodities, such as palm oil, tea, coffee and cocoa, said Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, adding that the agreement will be signed in January. In return, the United States will be granted access to Indonesia's rare earths. Indonesia is the world's leading producer of nickel, but also has copper, bauxite and tin.

NORTH KOREA

An Amazon executive said he had blocked 1,800 job applications from alleged North Korean agents who were trying to apply for IT positions using stolen or fake identities. Last year, Amazon saw an increase of nearly a third in applications from North Korean citizens, who are usually forced to transfer their salaries to the regime.

THAILAND-CAMBODIA

Delegations from Cambodia and Thailand - engaged in a border war for more than two weeks that has already claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people - are expected to meet tomorrow in the format of the existing committee for issues related to the July ceasefire.

The announcement of the meeting is the result of a summit promoted by ASEAN foreign ministers. However, Cambodia is insisting that it be held on neutral territory in Kuala Lumpur and not on the border.

JAPAN

Japan is using a new artificial intelligence-based surveillance system to detect the presence of bears near inhabited communities. The technology uses cameras installed near residential areas to monitor the movements of animals and identify bears before accidents occur. Once a bear is detected, local authorities are notified by email, allowing them to issue warnings and respond more quickly.

SYRIA

Last night, the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to work to ease tensions in the city of Aleppo after a wave of attacks (which both sides blamed on each other) left at least two people dead and several injured, including children and civil defence workers. Today, the governor of Aleppo suspended all classes. The SDF claimed that the attack was carried out by factions affiliated with the Syrian government, which used tanks and artillery against residential neighbourhoods in the city. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said it had responded to gunfire from the Kurds.

TURKMENISTAN - TURKEY

Hundreds of students from Turkmenistan took to the streets to protest against their expulsion from Altynbas University in Istanbul, which they claim recruited more students than it could accommodate in order to obtain money and is now expelling the excess students en masse, deciding to get rid of 1,500 students, almost all of whom are Turkmen citizens, despite the fact that they have all already paid their fees and are attending classes regularly, and now risk repatriation.

RUSSIA

As confirmed by the Russian Investigative Committee, on the morning of 22 December, a bomb exploded under the car of General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the operational section of the Russian army's general staff and a key figure in the wars in the Caucasus and Syria, on Jaseneva Street in Moscow. An investigation is underway, which mainly points to the Ukrainian special services as the culprits, although their role in the current war is unclear.
23 December 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijans growing role as a trusted host of major international forums is not accidental. It reflects a combination of political stability, institutional capacity, and an increasingly visible development model that resonates with global agendas. Just as Azerbaijan successfully hosted COP29 in December 2024, facilitating meaningful dialogue and landmark climate decisions, it is well-positioned to ensure the success of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), which the country will host on May 1722, 2026, under the theme Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Settlements. The decision to hold the Forum in Azerbaijan, including the first-ever Summit of Heads of State and Government within WUF, signals growing international confidence in the countrys leadership on sustainable development and urban transformation. Ahead of WUF13, President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree declaring 2026 the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan, highlighting the countrys commitment to sustainable urban development. The order aims to preserve Azerbaijans historic architectural and urban planning traditions while promoting modern approaches to address emerging challenges in the sector.

Urbanization in Azerbaijan has developed under a combination of economic, political, and social factors. While in many countries urban growth has been driven largely by industrialization, Azerbaijans urban landscape has also been influenced by periods of conflict, forced displacement, and subsequent post-war recovery, alongside broader modernization processes. This background provides relevant context as the country prepares to host WUF13, where issues such as inclusive urban development, housing policy, resilience, and sustainability will be discussed. In Azerbaijans case, these topics relate to ongoing policy implementation, particularly in the formerly conflict-affected territories.

The most compelling example of this approach can be seen in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur, where Azerbaijan has launched one of the worlds most ambitious post-conflict reconstruction and urban development programs following the 2020 Patriotic War. The strategy goes beyond physical rebuilding and reflects a long-term vision of sustainable settlement. Large-scale mine clearance remains the critical first step, followed by the rapid construction of transport networks, utilities, industrial zones, and social infrastructure. At the same time, economic revitalization and job creation are being prioritized to ensure that returning residents can rebuild their lives with dignity and stability. New transport corridors, including the strategically important Zangezur Corridor, are integrating these regions into national and regional economic systems, reinforcing their long-term viability.

What distinguishes Azerbaijans reconstruction model is its strong environmental dimension. Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur have been declared a Green Energy Zone, turning post-conflict recovery into an opportunity for climate-conscious urban planning. New cities, towns, and villages are being built using energy-efficient designs, renewable energy sources, environmentally friendly materials, and climate-resilient infrastructure. This approach transforms reconstruction into the creation of a new generation of sustainable settlements and aligns directly with the UNs New Urban Agenda and the core priorities of WUF13.

Azerbaijans readiness to host WUF13 is further reinforced by the institutional and diplomatic experience gained during COP29, an event that remains notable for both the clarity of its outcomes and the strong foundations it laid for future global processes. One of COP29s most significant achievements was the adoption of the Baku Finance Goal, which established a historic commitment to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually for developing countries and set clear expectations for developed nations to contribute at least $300 billion per year by 2035. The conference also delivered a long-awaited breakthrough by fully operationalizing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, unlocking transparent and regulated international carbon markets, while the Loss and Damage Fund was fully institutionalized with contributions exceeding $730 million, offering tangible support to climate-vulnerable states, particularly Small Island Developing States.

Beyond finance and mitigation, COP29 ensured that adaptation would remain a central pillar of global climate policy through the adoption of the Baku Adaptation Roadmap and the Global Adaptation Target, reinforcing Azerbaijans role as a facilitator of balanced and inclusive outcomes. These achievements demonstrated the countrys ability not only to host complex international forums but also to guide negotiations toward concrete and forward-looking results.

In this context, WUF13 represents a natural continuation of Azerbaijans expanding role in global governance. The Forum will provide a platform to showcase the countrys urban achievements while contributing substantively to international discussions on housing, sustainable cities, and post-conflict reconstruction. As COP29 showed, Azerbaijan is capable of translating dialogue into action. With WUF13, the country aims to do the same in the urban development sphere - presenting itself not merely as a venue for global debate, but as a practical model for building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities in a rapidly changing world.
23 December 2025 14:43 (UTC+04:00)

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23 December 2025 17:22 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan National Library, in partnership with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, has marked the 95th anniversary of renowned composer, People's Artist, and professor Tofiq Bakikhanov, Azernews reports.

As part of the celebration, they presented the book "Tofiq Bakikhanov. Bibliography" along with sheet music collections published under the project "From the Golden Fund of the National Library."

Director of the Azerbaijan National Library, Professor Karim Tahirov, spoke about the multifaceted creativity of Tofiq Bakikhanov, who was born into the family of People's Artist and renowned tar player Ahmad Bakikhanov and became one of the distinguished representatives of the Azerbaijani school of composition.

He emphasized that the bibliography dedicated to the eminent composer reflects all of Bakikhanov's works, materials about his life and creativity, as well as publications preserved in world libraries. He also spoke about the purpose of preparing the sheet music collections published under the "From the Golden Fund of the National Library" project.

Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Academician Rafael Huseynov, noted that Tofiq Bakikhanov, a student of the great Uzeyir Hajibayli and a protege of Gara Garayev, has his entire legacy and creative output reflected in the presented bibliography. He described the composer's path as the very road Azerbaijani music traveled from the 20th to the 21st century. Highlighting Bakikhanov as a worthy son of a distinguished dynasty, Huseynov stressed that even at this age, the composer has not lost his sense of responsibility, remains internally mobilized, and constantly strives for innovation.

Speaking of Bakikhanov's contributions to the treasury of Azerbaijani ballet, the academician recalled that his "Caspian Ballad" was staged 35 times in Paris in 1969, which brought him worldwide recognition. He emphasized that this event was not only a cultural but also a political milestone in our musical history. He added that people like Tofiq Bakikhanov are spiritual bridges, bridges of memory, connecting the past with the present. Alongside his creative activity, Bakikhanov has also fulfilled another mission, serving his family name with dignity.

The speaker underlined the importance of bibliographies professionally prepared by the National Library, noting that the institution employs people who are well-versed in the subtleties of this work and who understand their responsibilities to culture. He expressed gratitude to the librarys leadership and professional staff for the valuable publication.

Deputy Minister of Culture, People's Artist Murad Huseynov, thanked the leadership of the National Library for organizing the event and for their contribution to the creation of such valuable publications. He remarked that on this significant day, no matter how much is said about the eminent composer, a living legend whose works have repeatedly graced world stages, it would never be enough. Calling Bakikhanov a great musical figure, the deputy minister wished him robust health.

The event continued with speeches by Rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Professor Kamila Dadash-zade; People's Artist Eldar Mansurov; Vice-Rector of the National Conservatory, Professor Lala Huseynova; Director of the Music College under the Conservatory, Professor Nazim Kazimov; Vice-Rector of the Baku Music Academy, Professor Gulnaz Abdullazade; Director of the Azerbaijan Museum of Musical Culture, Doctor of Sciences Alla Bayramova; Director of Uzeyir Hajibayli's House-Museum, People's Artist Sardar Farajov; and Honored Journalist Ittifaq Mirzabayli. They emphasized that the composer's tireless work has yielded a treasure of numerous and diverse compositions, which are constantly published and performed.

His works are presented alongside those of the world's great classical composers. They noted that Bakikhanov is engaged not only in creating but also in bringing his creations to audiences. They highlighted that various scholarly research works have been written based on his compositions and wished the composer good health and new achievements for the sake of the development of Azerbaijani musical culture.

Finally, People's Artist Tofiq Bakikhanov expressed his deep gratitude to the Azerbaijani state and the country's leadership for the constant and special attention shown to him and his creativity. He also thanked the Culture Ministry and the National Library's leadership for the high-level organization of the event and for publishing the fundamental bibliography that encompasses his works preserved in the libraries of 33 countries worldwide, as well as the guests for their participation.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Skywork.ai, an AI workplace that integrates a suite of specialized AI agents, has now detailed its flagship product, Skywork, a pioneering multimodal productivity platform. Skywork moves beyond fragmented, single-purpose AI tools by converging capabilities for text, slide, data visualization, visual creation, website, and audio into one unified digital environment, enabling professionals to accelerate workflows and produce high-quality content effortlessly.

In an era defined by app overload and constant context-switching, Skywork addresses a critical market need: a cohesive, intelligent hub where complex projects can be initiated, developed, and completed without leaving a single workspace. The platform is designed for modern creators, analysts, educators, and anyone seeking to streamline their operations from ideation to execution.

One Workspace, Multiple Ways to Create

Skywork brings together a broad range of AI capabilities in one workspace, allowing individuals and teams to handle diverse tasks without breaking their workflow.

Slides & Documents: It generates structurally accurate presentations and professionally formatted documents from ideas, links, or files, featuring superior multilingual support and enterprise-grade templates. Interactive editing allows for real-time refinement.

It generates structurally accurate presentations and professionally formatted documents from ideas, links, or files, featuring superior multilingual support and enterprise-grade templates. Interactive editing allows for real-time refinement. Posters & Sheets: This workspace creates commercially viable visual designs from short prompts and auto-generates charts with trend insights from spreadsheet data, supporting real-time multi-user collaboration.

This workspace creates commercially viable visual designs from short prompts and auto-generates charts with trend insights from spreadsheet data, supporting real-time multi-user collaboration. Websites: It enables full-stack website development with visual editing, built-in database support, and one-click publishing. Users can build and modify sites through conversational chat and track changes via version history.

It enables full-stack website development with visual editing, built-in database support, and one-click publishing. Users can build and modify sites through conversational chat and track changes via version history. YouVibe: This tool revolutionizes learning by instantly converting YouTube videos into actionable knowledge assets, including summaries, lecture notes, and mind maps, dramatically accelerating comprehension and retention.

This tool revolutionizes learning by instantly converting YouTube videos into actionable knowledge assets, including summaries, lecture notes, and mind maps, dramatically accelerating comprehension and retention. General Agent: It serves as the core creative engine within the workspace, producing text, images, and music based on conversational prompts to support diverse content needs.

It serves as the core creative engine within the workspace, producing text, images, and music based on conversational prompts to support diverse content needs. Podcasts: Transforms documents and ideas into engaging audio content. Features include smart script generation from a single prompt, text-to-speech conversion of key insights, and an immersive listening experience with multiple voice styles and pacing options.

Transforms documents and ideas into engaging audio content. Features include smart script generation from a single prompt, text-to-speech conversion of key insights, and an immersive listening experience with multiple voice styles and pacing options. Professional Data: Provides professional-grade, data-driven expertise powered by authoritative datasets. It delivers verified, reliable, and highly accurate answers to complex inquiries across finance, technology, business, and industry trends.

Skywork's architecture is built on the principle of contextual continuity, allowing projects to evolve seamlessly across different formats while maintaining a consistent thread. This integrated approach eliminates the friction of exporting, reformatting, and switching between disparate tools, offering a significant efficiency gain for teams and individuals.

About Skywork.ai:

Skywork AI builds a suite of specialized AI agents that help people think, write, design, and build faster.

Its mission is to make AI a natural extension of everyday work so anyone can go from idea to execution in minutes, empowering human-AI collaboration.

Media Contact:

Website URL: https://skywork.ai/

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Skywork.ai
23 December 2025 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

In Ashgabat, a presentation ceremony has been held for the book "The Jewel of Wisdom" by Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, translated into Azerbaijani by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Azernews reports.

The event, attended by Turkmenistan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mehri Bashimova, featured a speech by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Qismet Gozalov.

The ambassador emphasized that delivering Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's "The Jewel of Wisdom" to Azerbaijani readers is of special importance in terms of promoting this valuable work. He noted that the publication of the book in Azerbaijani also makes a significant contribution to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between the two nations.

The ambassador highlighted that the work provides Azerbaijani readers with a broad and comprehensive understanding of the Turkmen people's history, their rich spiritual values, and the development of science, education, and culture in Turkmenistan.

At the same time, "The Jewel of Wisdom" reflects the shared spiritual values, historical roots, and traditions of brotherhood between the two peoples. Its translation into Azerbaijani breathes new life into literary and cultural cooperation and further reinforces the spiritual bridge that already exists among Turkic nations.

Touching upon bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Ambassador Gozalov stressed that the brotherly and strategic partnership between the two countries has made significant progress and, in 2025, was further strengthened by the political will of the national leaders.

He added that these relations continue to expand on the basis of mutual trust and friendship.
23 December 2025 16:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On December 23, court hearings continued at the Baku Military Court in the criminal case involving citizens of the Republic of Armenia, with the proceedings moving forward through the final statements of the accused.

According to Azernews, during the latest court session, defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan continued delivering his final statement.

In his remarks, Mnatsakanyan voiced objections to the prosecutions accusations and statements made by victims concerning the April 2016 clashes, the involvement of mercenaries, and related issues.

The trial concerns Armenian citizens accused of committing numerous crimes as a result of Armenias military aggression, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, the planning and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and rules of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses. Court proceedings in the case are ongoing.
22 December 2025 15:21 (UTC+04:00)

Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

On the occasion of your birthday, please accept my warm congratulations and sincere wishes for strong health and continued success in your responsible state activities for the benefit of the people of Azerbaijan.

You tirelessly and devotedly serve your native country, ensuring its consistent socio-economic and socio-political development and stability, while steadily implementing important strategic initiatives.

May all your plans be successfully realized with the unanimous support of your fellow citizens, and may the high authority you enjoy both in the Republic of Azerbaijan and in the international community serve as a guarantee for achieving the most significant and ambitious goals.

I take this opportunity to express my hope for the further strengthening of the fraternal ties between the peoples of Tatarstan and Azerbaijan, in the interests of a multifaceted Russian-Azerbaijani partnership and universal peace.

I wish you and your loved ones happiness and every success.

Sincerely,

Rustam Minnikhanov

Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation,

Chairman of the Russia  Islamic World Strategic Vision Group"
23 December 2025 11:03 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan is actively encouraging private investment to support measures envisaged under the First State Program on the Great Return in its liberated territories, Prime Minister Ali Asadov said on Tuesday, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the Second AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum in Baku, Asadov noted that foreign capital continues to be attracted to modernize existing infrastructure and build new facilities, particularly to unlock the green energy potential of the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions.

He emphasized that Turkish companies are playing a significant role in reconstruction and development projects in the liberated areas.

Nearly 20 Turkish companies are currently implementing around 50 projects in the liberated territories, with a total value of approximately $5 billion, the prime minister said.

Asadov added that Azerbaijan has created a highly favorable business environment in its special economic zones, highlighting the Alat Free Economic Zone as offering particularly attractive conditions for investors. Several Turkish companies are already operating in the zone, and Azerbaijan sees strong prospects for expanding investment cooperation, he said, calling on Turkish businesses to become more actively involved.

The prime minister also pointed to the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, which passes through the territories of Azerbaijan and Turkiye and plays an increasingly vital role not only for the region but also for global trade and transport links.

He noted that reforms aimed at trade facilitation have accelerated the digitalization of the corridor, positively affecting cargo transportation and trade dynamics. As a result, freight volumes transported via the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan have increased by 90% over the past three years.

Asadov highlighted the historical significance of agreements reached in Washington in August on connecting mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The opening of the Zangazur Corridor, he said, will create new economic and transit opportunities for all regional countries while boosting the throughput capacity of the Middle Corridor.

He also underscored key transport infrastructure projects, including increasing the annual cargo capacity of the BakuTbilisiKars railway to 5 million tons in 2024 and the planned groundbreaking of the KarsNakhchivan railway this year, describing them as events of strategic importance for Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and the wider region.

Turning to energy cooperation, Asadov said the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye continues to deepen through large-scale energy projects that contribute significantly to regional energy security.

Projects such as BakuTbilisiCeyhan, BakuTbilisiErzurum, and TANAP have ensured the reliable and sustainable delivery of Azerbaijani energy resources to European markets, he said. The prime minister noted that five years have passed since commercial gas deliveries to Europe began via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the final segment of the Southern Gas Corridor.

During this period, the number of countries receiving Azerbaijani gas has risen to 14, including 10 European states, Asadov added. He also said that Azerbaijan recently began exporting gas to Syria via Turkiye, marking the first time Azerbaijani gas has reached the Middle East through Turkish territory.

Asadov further highlighted that SOCAR has invested $19 billion in Turkiye, making it the countrys largest foreign investor. Through these investments, SOCAR has implemented major strategic projects in oil refining, petrochemicals, and natural gas, and continues to expand its activities. He cited the signing of an agreement related to the acquisition of an 870-MW power plant in Turkiye as evidence of this expansion.

In addition, the prime minister said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in industry and technology has reached a new qualitative level in recent years. Joint efforts in experience-sharing, human capital development, and the application of advanced technologies are strengthening industrial capacity, particularly in metal processing, machine building, and other core industries.

He also singled out the defense industry, noting its rapid development in Azerbaijan and effective cooperation with Turkiye in this field. Collaboration in high technologies, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and innovation ecosystems is also being expanded through regional and multilateral platforms, contributing to the growth of the digital economy, the emergence of new business models, and the development of human capital.
23 December 2025 11:38 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Turkiyes Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, said that Azerbaijan occupies a strategically important position in providing Turkiyes access not only to the Commonwealth of Independent States but also, in particular, to the countries of the Turkic world, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the 2nd AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum, Bolat noted that energy corridors and the Zangazur Corridor are expected to be completed in the near future, and together with Caspian Sea transit routes, will enable Turkiye to reach Central Asia and the Far East more rapidly and efficiently.

Bolat noted that the Middle Corridor, passing through Azerbaijan and Turkiye, will have an accelerating effect on global trade and will trigger significant growth in trade, production, and investment across countries and cities in the region.

Stressing that investment is one of the key drivers of trade, Bolat said the main focus of the forum is to further strengthen mutual investments. He added that Turkish and Azerbaijani political leaders, public officials, and business representatives are discussing concrete projects within the framework of the forum.

According to Bolat, the forum features panel discussions in finance, energy, transportation, agriculture, and education, bringing together deputy ministers and private sector leaders. He also highlighted that the event includes project presentations and B2B meetings, making the forum a highly productive platform for cooperation.

Bolat noted that Turkish and Azerbaijani investors had already engaged actively prior to the forum. He said that total mutual investments between Turkiye and Azerbaijan have reached $3940 billion, with around 3,000 Azerbaijani companies operating in Turkiye and around 7,000 Turkish companies active in Azerbaijan.

Pointing to the strong alignment between public authorities and market regulations in both countries, Bolat said that increased investment naturally leads to expanded trade - an outcome consistently observed worldwide.

He welcomed Azerbaijans efforts to diversify its economy beyond the energy sector, particularly in agriculture, industry, and other non-oil sectors, describing these initiatives as steps in the right direction.

Bolat also underlined that Turkiye serves as a key transit hub for Azerbaijans rich natural resources to reach global markets. He added that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkiyes national income has grown 7.5 times over the past 23 years, exceeding $1.5 trillion, creating significant opportunities for Azerbaijani entrepreneurs to access global markets.
23 December 2025 12:42 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

"Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations and warm wishes on the occasion of your birthday.

In Kazakhstan, you are recognized and respected as an outstanding statesman of our time, and as an experienced and capable politician of global stature.

Your many years of dedicated state service are rightly associated with a period of historic achievements for Azerbaijan, the strengthening of its sovereignty, the growth of its international authority, and dynamic socio-economic development.

Under your strong and wise leadership, fraternal Azerbaijan, following a strategic course, will continue its confident progress on the path of sustainable growth and advancement.

I greatly value your enormous personal contribution to strengthening Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations of strategic partnership and alliance, and I attach particular importance to their comprehensive reinforcement in the spirit of centuries-old friendship and mutual support.

I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will give new impetus to the further development of multifaceted interstate ties and elevate relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to a qualitatively new level.

I wish you, dear Ilham Heydar oglu, inexhaustible energy, family well-being, and continued success in your responsible state activities as well as prosperity and welfare to the fraternal people of Azerbaijan," the letter reads.
23 December 2025 13:41 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Speaking to journalists at the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum in Baku, Turkiyes Minister of Trade Omer Bolat highlighted the growing economic cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports.

Minister Bolat noted that both Turkiye and Azerbaijan are working diligently to reach the ambitious $15 billion trade target set by the two presidents. Trade is conducted by businessmen, industrialists, importers, and exporters. We are providing guidance and support to facilitate their efforts, he noted.

Referring to the 12th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, Bolat said, The 12th term agreement was signed yesterday with the participation of all ministers, including Turkiyes Deputy Prime Minister Cevdet Ylmaz and Azerbaijans Prime Minister Ali Asadov. We have received our responsibilities and will work wholeheartedly in this regard. Our relations are excellent across all fields, and we aim to further increase mutual investments.

The minister also provided figures on bilateral investments: Currently, 7,000 Turkish companies operate in Azerbaijan with investments totaling $18 billion. Meanwhile, 3,000 Azerbaijani companies invest $21 billion in Turkiye. We work to resolve their challenges immediately, with close cooperation between ministers, presidents, and the private sector.

Minister Bolat highlighted the significance of the forum, noting, I attended the first forum two years ago during my first visit to Baku, which was a very positive experience. The forum is well-attended, featuring panels with private sector representatives, investment agencies, and deputy ministers who deliver speeches, answer questions, and foster dialogue.

On the question of whether the preferential trade agreement could evolve into a free trade agreement next year, Bolat responded: We have a preferential trade agreement that came into force in 2021, and we signed an additional protocol in 2024. The positive effects of these agreements are already visible in our trade and economic relations. Our aspiration is to establish a free trade agreement between Turkiye and Azerbaijan. The technical teams of both governments are currently discussing, analyzing impacts, and evaluating possibilities. We hope to achieve this in due course.

Recall that the Second AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum is being held in Baku with the joint support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Turkiyes Ministry of Trade, and is co-organised by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the TurkiyeAzerbaijan Businessmen and Industrialists Public Association (TUIB).

The forum brings together senior officials from both countries, as well as representatives of various state and private institutions, business associations, and chambers of commerce.

The First AzerbaijanTurkiye Investment Forum was held in December 2023.
23 December 2025 15:19 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

For the first time since the 1990s, grain wagons have been dispatched from Russias Volgograd region to Armenia through Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

According to the press service of the Volga Railways, the shipment departed from the Gmelinskaya station, marking the resumption of this transit route.

The first batch consists of eight grain wagons, which are set to be delivered to the Yerevan station.

The railway operator noted that by the end of the year, a total of thirty grain wagons, carrying more than two thousand tons of grain are planned to be transported along this route.

The Volga Railways emphasized that the launch of the new logistics service became possible following the restoration of cargo transit to Armenia via Azerbaijan.
23 December 2025 15:23 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

On December 23, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with a delegation led by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, who is visiting Azerbaijan to attend the twelfth meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkiye, Azernews reports.

According to the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova welcomed the guest and highlighted the importance of the commissions meeting held in Baku. She noted that AzerbaijanTurkiye relations reflect the principle articulated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, One nation, two states, adding that cooperation in economic, trade, education, tourism, interparliamentary and other areas continues to deepen. It was emphasized that close personal relations between the heads of state play a key role in the consistent development of allied ties.

Sahiba Gafarova congratulated Turkiye on its election as the host of COP31 and reaffirmed Azerbaijans support for the brotherly country. The sides expressed satisfaction with the traditional close cooperation and mutual support between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, underlining the importance of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in strengthening Turkic unity.

During the meeting, the role of interparliamentary relations as an essential component of interstate ties was highlighted, including the activities of friendship groups operating within both parliaments. The Speaker expressed satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral, trilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz thanked Azerbaijan for its support in Turkiyes successful bid to host COP31 and stated that Turkiye would benefit from Azerbaijans experience in organizing major international events. He also noted the significance of jointly implemented megaprojects in the fields of economy, trade, investment and energy, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Zangazur corridor as a key segment of the Middle Corridor.

The sides also discussed the strengthening role of the Organization of Turkic States and the importance of TurkPA as a parliamentary platform of Turkic-speaking countries. Cevdet Yilmaz drew attention to the action plan approved at the twelfth meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, noting that it would further advance bilateral relations.

Touching upon regional issues, the Turkish Vice President welcomed the progress achieved in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stating that the signing of a peace treaty would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.
23 December 2025 16:40 (UTC+04:00)

Today, the Great Return Program is the most successfully implemented return program on a global scale, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with residents of the Karkijahan settlement in the city of Khankendi.

All former displaced persons are gradually returning to their ancestral lands, including today to the settlement of Karkijahan. This return process continues, the head of state emphasized.

You lived for many years in challenging circumstances, enduring both physical and emotional hardship. Now this has come to an end. After 34 years, you are returning to your native Karkijahan. This is a great happiness both for you and for our entire people, President Ilham Aliyev added.
PASAY CITY, Philippines, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), in partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), has launched the inaugural e-learning bridge course on sustainability reporting for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The course was unveiled during a recently concluded training workshop for publicly listed companies (PLCs) at SMX Aura in Taguig.

The event, "Empowering Sustainable Business and Supply Chains: Building Capabilities for Impactful Sustainability Practices Across the Value Chain," aimed to help PLCs understand the interoperability between GRI Standards and the emerging disclosure expectations of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

"It's not just about producing reports and documentation," said SM Investments Consultant and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability Timothy Daniels. "We want to deepen understanding beyond the stories and behind the data, to empower our colleagues in the industry and now our MSME partners to create real business value."

MSMEs represent about 99.5% of operating businesses in the Philippines, and the SM Group works with more than 100,000 MSMEs across its value chain. To help these enterprises become catalysts for sustainable change, SM and GRI co-developed a free bridge course to build foundational sustainability and reporting knowledge among MSME owners, suppliers, and partners.

SM Investments will sponsor the free, self-paced online course, while GRI will facilitate dissemination through its platform partners. The course will also be shared across SM's MSME network. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of key sustainability and climate-related concepts, understand the benefits of sustainability reporting, and receive practical guidance on how to begin implementing these practices within their operations.

As sustainability reporting becomes both a responsible business decision and a strategic advantage, SM Investments continues to strengthen its partnership with GRI, which began in 2018.

"When we first introduced GRI in the Philippines, who helped us? It was SM," said Dr. Allinnettes Go Adigue, Head of the ASEAN Regional Hub of GRI. "They supported us in spreading the word. Within a few years, compliance grew rapidly. With committed partners from the private sector, we can continue supporting your sustainability journey."

What began as an initiative to strengthen SM's own sustainability reporting has evolved into a long-term partnership that has helped elevate sustainability practices in the Philippines. GRI's first Sustainability Summit outside Europe and North America was held in 2018 co-hosted with SM.

"Our success as a group is deeply connected to the success of our stakeholders, especially the MSMEs who work with us and rely on us," added Mr. Daniels. "Through capability-building programs like this, we extend sustainability beyond our organization, helping ensure it becomes a shared practice across industries."

About SM Investments Corporation

SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.

SM's retail operations are the country's largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM's property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM's interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country's largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com

SOURCE SM Investments Corporation
23 December 2025 16:22 (UTC+04:00)

King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

It gives me much pleasure to extend to you my most sincere felicitations and best wishes on the anniversary of Your Excellency's birthday.

Please accept my best wishes for your personal health and happiness," the letter reads.
23 December 2025 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

''Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

I congratulate You on Your birthday.

Thanks to Your efforts, the Republic of Azerbaijan has achieved tangible results in strengthening statehood and improving the socio-economic well-being of the population.

I hope for the further deepening of bilateral ties, including through the All-Russian political party "United Russia" and the "New Azerbaijan" Party, in the interests of the peoples of our countries.

I wish You, dear Ilham Heydarovich, good health, happiness, and all the very best,'' the letter reads.
23 December 2025 14:20 (UTC+04:00)

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23 December 2025 19:05 (UTC+04:00)

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans for a new class of U.S. Navy warships that would bear his name, unveiling what he called a future Trump class as part of a broader vision for a Golden Fleet.

Speaking on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the proposed vessels would exceed all previous American-built warships in terms of size, speed, and firepower. The programme is expected to begin with two battleships, with a long-term ambition to expand the fleet to as many as 20 to 25 ships.

Trump claimed the new vessels would be vastly more powerful than existing U.S. battleships and would symbolise a revival of American shipbuilding, which he said has weakened over recent decades.

U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan echoed the presidents remarks, arguing that the presence of a Trump class battleship would represent unquestioned U.S. naval dominance. He described the proposed USS Defiant, shown in conceptual images during the announcement, as the largest and most lethal warship ever to operate at sea.

Both Trump and Phelan compared the planned ships to the historic Iowa class battleships, which were built for direct offensive combat using heavy artillery. Phelan said the defining characteristic of the new class would be its offensive capability, including long-range strike power and the ability to command extensive naval formations, including drones and other platforms.

Battleships once formed the backbone of naval warfare, particularly during the Second World War. The U.S. Navys Iowa class, among the largest ever built, displaced roughly 60,000 tonnes. Their strategic relevance declined after the war as aircraft carriers and missile systems became dominant. Although modernised in the 1980s, all Iowa class ships were retired from service by the 1990s.
23 December 2025 22:20 (UTC+04:00)

India pledged on Tuesday a $450-million package for Sri Lankas recovery and reconstruction after Cyclone Ditwah, the largest assistance commitment announced so far, Azernews reports, citing Arab News.

When it made landfall in late November, Cyclone Ditwah turned into Sri Lankas most severe weather disaster in recent history, with 640 deaths, millions affected, billions of dollars in direct damage, and far-reaching impacts on agriculture, infrastructure and vulnerable communities.

The World Bank estimates direct losses at about $4.1 billion, roughly 4 percent of the countrys gross domestic product, as floodwaters and landslides have devastated homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure.

Indias aid package was announced by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar who is on a two-day visit to Colombo as Prime Minister Narendra Modis special envoy on cyclone response.

He met Sri Lankas President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Tuesday.

In a media briefing, Jaishankar said he had handed a letter from Modi to Dissanayake, committing to a reconstruction package of $450 million and how expeditiously this commitment can be delivered.

The cyclone hit Sri Lanka as the country was still recovering from its worst-ever economic crisis in 2022, when it exhausted foreign exchange reserves and struggled to pay for essential imports, including food, fuel, and medicine.

Nearly 2 million people have been displaced, including tens of thousands remaining in evacuation shelters. Relief and recovery efforts continue, often disrupted by damage to roads, railways, bridges, and utilities.

Indias aid package is the largest assistance commitment announced to date for Sri Lankas cyclone recovery.

The International Monetary Fund approved about $206 million through its Rapid Finance Instrument as part of immediate support, while the World Bank has provided $120 million.

The UK pledged about $890,000 for emergency assistance, while most other national contributions were inkind support.

Indias aid package includes $350 million in concessional lines of credit and $100 million in grants, focusing on restoring connectivity, rebuilding damaged homes, and mitigating the cyclones impact on agriculture.

Given the scale of damage, restoring connectivity was clearly an immediate priority, Jaishankar said.

We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on the people of Sri Lanka must be done in the quickest time possible. We are discussing an effective coordination mechanism for earliest possible delivery.
23 December 2025 23:25 (UTC+04:00)

President Donald Trump, in an event at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Monday, reiterated his claims that he helped prevent a war between Pakistan and India in May 2025, Azernews reports, citing Tribune.

He praised Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, calling him a "highly respected general".

"We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India," Trump said in response to a question, alongside Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

The US president mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited him with saving lives through his intervention and mediation.

"You know, eight planes were shot down. That war was starting to rage, and he actually said the other day that President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more," he said.

In the same event, Trump announced plans for a new class of US Navy warships that will be named after himself, a rare honour for a sitting president. The first vessels in the socalled Trumpclass will be built under a broader initiative he calls the Golden Fleet.

Two ships will be built initially, with plans to expand construction further. Officials displayed renderings showing vessels that could be larger and more heavily armed than existing destroyers, equipped with missiles, guns and advanced systems including lasers and hypersonic weapons.

The president also emphasised the advanced nature of US submarines, declaring them the most sophisticated in the world. He confidently stated that the US is at least 15 years ahead of any other nation in submarine technology, a significant advantage that bolsters the countrys military posture.

As part of the US Navys modernisation efforts, he revealed that 15 cutting-edge submarines are currently under production, reinforcing the Navy's dominance globally.
Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee Chaos

BY: HOOD RICHARDSON

The Executive Committee has not met since September of 2025. Carolyn Garris scheduled a meeting for December 11th. Within a day or two of the Beaufort County Conservative Club announcing that Don Brown, a very conservative candidate for the US Senate seat being vacated by RINO (Republican In Name Only) Tillis, would be the featured speaker at the clubs December 18 meeting, Garris changed the Executive Committee meeting to the same night as the Conservative Club meeting.

Garris scheduled one meeting at the same time as the other to cause maximum inconvenience and harm to the Conservative Club and Conservative Don Brown. More than 20 members of the Executive Committee are members of the Conservative Club. The Conservative Club has a standing meeting date of the third Thursday of each month at the King Chicken Restaurant in Washington.

The Conservative Club recruits and supports conservative Republicans and Unaffiliated candidates for political office. The Republican Party recruits RINOs and liberal Republicans. The Republican Party supports people like Fake Frankie Waters, Randy Walker, Carolyn Walker, etc. Some of the projects of these liberal Republicans have been to close the Snowden School, consolidate Beaufort County schools, refuse to lower property taxes, etc. The Republican Party is/was a backer of the Big Cheese. The Republican Party encouraged forming the collusion with Democrats Langley and Booth to keep taxes and spending high in Beaufort County.

Garris changed the schedule for two reasons. The first is that the State Republican Party is supporting their own RINO for the Tillis seat. He is former State Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley. Whatley did a poor job as state chairman. He conducted the ill fated vote on your cell phone election for State Chairman. It was a disaster with people as far away as Wisconsin voting for him to be chairman. We never got verified results from that election, but Whatley declared himself to be the winner. Whatleys damning grace, other than being a very poor leader, is that he is a Washington, DC lobbyist.

Trump has endorsed Whatley. But Trump gets a lot of bad advice. Following Trumps endorsement, the State Republican Party got involved in the Primary Elections by favoring Whatley. This is a violation of party rules. All North Carolina organized Republican Parties, whether State, District or County are supposed to stay out of primary elections. The reason is to make the primary election process fair to all Republicans. Banana Republics use the political party to influence and swing elections. This is dishonest and allows the leadership to use rank and file money to become king makers. This is what happened to the Democrat Party. That got them Obama, Kamala and Biden. All losers.

In scheduling the Republican Executive Committee at the same time as the Conservative Club, Garris denied the Bill of Rights principle of free speech to a Republican Candidate for the US Senate. This is a big deal coming from Garris who claims to be a true Republican in every respect. Garris has not allowed transparency, the truth or Republican principles to get in the way of her RINO supporting ways since she became Beaufort County Republican Party Chairman. Her first questionable act was when she deliberately did not report the Register of Deeds vacancy to the Executive Committee so she could manipulate to secure the position for herself. Transparency is not one of her strong points.

During the past three months there have been a lot of un-Republican activities carried out by Garris, Keith Kidwell, Greg Dority, Ashley Woolard and others. They have used Republican Party funds to attack Republicans. More than $10,300 of money collected from loyal Republicans has been used to buy advertising, mail postcards and make videos attacking Republicans. This money was obtained from people who believed they were helping the Republican effort. This money was used to attack conservative Republicans whom the party leadership did not like. One disgusting example of unethical Republican behavior was when Keith Kidwell and Carolyn Garris attacked without cause or factual information a member of the School Board they did not like, Stacey Davis. Republican Stacey Davis beat 30-year school board member Democrat Mac Hodges. Garris set up Hodges last school board meeting so Republican Senators Tillis and Burr presented Democrat Hodges with a flag that flew over the Capital. Republican Stacey Davis got no recognition for her victory over Hodges. But Kidwell and Garris were there hammering Davis as soon as they thought she had done something wrong. She had stopped a school bus regarding one of her children.

When the Executive Committee meeting was called to order, Garris promptly turned over control of the meeting to her partner in political crime, Keith Kidwell. This violated the rules of operation of the Executive Committee for the following reasons. Garris was elected to conduct the Executive Committee meeting by the County Convention. The rules say that if she does not conduct the meeting the Vice Chairman is to conduct the meeting. That Vice Chairman is Dianne Ahearn, a regular attendee of the monthly Conservative Club meetings. Obviously, Dianne Ahearn is conservative, and Garris did not want the many illegal activities that Garris is allowing to happen to be challenged. If Garris is not capable of conducting the meetings and answering for her political sins she should resign.

Kidwell is a candidate for the North Carolina House in this primary election. Under the party rules he is not supposed to take part in an Executive Committee activity that enhances his political standing. Kidwell ignored all of the rules and ethics that call for fair elections. Kidwell has been at Garris side for all of the Republican backstabbing that has taken place since September of this year. Kidwells opponent is Darren Armstrong. Armstrong should lodge a complaint with the North Carolina Republican Party.

Kidwell then bullied the meeting, denying any action having to do with the nonmembers Garris allowed to vote during the meeting. He failed to name who had approved the spending of the more than $10,300 dollars for the advertising attacking Republicans. According to Kidwell, the active members of the Executive Committee are posted on the party website. This is not true. The list removing members for not attending has not been updated. Both Garris and the party secretary are derelict in their duty. According to Kidwell the approval of the more than $10,300 spending was done by the so-called Victory Committee. There is no Victory Committee. The present Executive Committee has never voted to set up such a committee and by the rules of the party the Executive Committee cannot pass off their financial responsibility to approve party spending.

The question becomes: Who is/are the people behind the green curtain making these backstabbing decisions for the Republican Party? Kidwell and Garris are carrying a lot of unethical political baggage. There are no Christian ethics, Republican ethics or common decency ethics in the Beaufort County Republican Party.
Five-Year Return of 212% Versus 112% for the Wilshire 2500 Growth and 104% for the S&P 500

NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanaka Capital Management (TCM) today announced that the TANAKA Growth Fund (TGFRX) ranked #1 out of 304 funds in the Multi-Cap Growth category for the five-year period ending November 30, 2025, according to LSEG Lipper. Over that period, the Fund delivered a cumulative total return of 212%, compared with 112% for its benchmark Wilshire 2500 Growth Index and 104% for the S&P 500.

"We are pleased to see the TANAKA Growth Fund recognized as the top-performing fund in its category over the past five years," said Graham Tanaka, President of TCM and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund. "This ranking reflects the consistency of our investment approach and our long-standing focus on identifying stocks with company-specific catalysts that we believe can drive value creation across a range of market environments as well as Platform Growth companies that can deliver iterations of new products and services each year and generate long-term compounding returns."

"The Fund's five-year ranking has been supported by strong performance in 2025, with year-to-date gains of 49.6% through December 19, compared to 16.8% and 17.7% for the Wilshire 2500 Growth and S&P 500 indexes," said Benjamin Bratt, Co-Portfolio Manager of the TANAKA Growth Fund. "Performance this year has been broad-based with 12 holdings up more than 30% year-to-date and three positions more than tripling, driven by contributions from multiple sectors including biotechnology, critical minerals, clean energy, consumer staples, mining, technology, and semiconductors. We remain focused on sourcing and researching new opportunities to keep the portfolio fresh as we head into 2026."

Media Availability

Graham Tanaka has made numerous television appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg Television, Reuters Television, and Yahoo Finance Live and been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and numerous other business publications due to his expertise in discovering platform companies that can grow significantly for many years. He is available for interviews with business media seeking his expert commentary and his investment views.

How to Invest

The TANAKA Growth Fund is open to new investors and can be purchased directly by calling 1-877-4TANAKA or through major investment platforms including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Morgan Stanley, Vanguard, Wells Fargo, UBS, LPL Financial Services, Pershing, and Janney Montgomery Scott.

About Tanaka Capital Management

Founded in 1986, Tanaka Capital Management is the advisor to the TANAKA Growth Fund and also provides tailored investment management services to high-net worth individuals, pension plans and endowments. The firm's investment philosophy centers on identifying misunderstood or undiscovered companies with durable long-term growth potential. Tanaka Capital Management is also accepting new clients for privately managed accounts. For more information, please visit www.tanaka.com.

The Fund's past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-877-4TANAKA.

The Fund's prospectus contains important information about the Fund's investment objectives, potential risks, management fees, charges and expenses, and other information. Please read and consider it carefully before investing or sending money. You may obtain a current copy of the Fund's prospectus by calling 1-877-4TANAKA.

LSEG Lipper - A London Stock Exchange Group Company, is a nationally recognized organization that ranks the performance of mutual funds within a universe of funds that have similar investment objectives. Rankings are historical with capital gains and dividends reinvested.

Contact:

Peter DeNardo

CapComm Partners (financial communications/investor relations)

[email protected]

+1 (415) 389-6400

SOURCE Tanaka Capital Management
Spain's governing Socialist Party is staggering under a raft of major scandals that have led to calls for early national elections. Those calls are even louder after Sunday's big defeat for the Socialists in their former stronghold province of Extremadura.

Of the 65 seats in Extremadura's legislature, the Socialists won only 18, by far their lowest total ever in a province they had governed for decades. The parties of the right won 40 seats, with the traditional conservative Popular Party winning 29 and the populist nationalist anti-immigration Vox Party doubling its seats to 11. A coalition government between the Popular Party and Vox is expected.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/big-loss-for-spains-socialists-fuels-early-election-talk/

Extremadure was Spain's only election Sunday. Like most European countries, local elections are scattered at different dates instead of grouped at one time.
Career confidence among professionals is at its lowest in recent years, according to a survey from Hays

Career confidence among professionals in Northern Ireland has hit its lowest level since 2020, according to research by a recruitment firm.

Hays surveyed over 300 professionals and employers in Northern Ireland among over 5,100 UK-wide as part of its Salary and Recruiting Trends 2026 guide.

It found that only 36% of those surveyed in NI feel positive about their career prospects for next year, down from 45% a year ago.

And at 52%, just over half are uncertain, while 12% feel negative about what 2026 might hold.

Hays said it was the lowest level of career optimism since the start of the pandemic in 2020, when just 37% of workers UK-wide said they felt positive about their future.

Career confidence among professionals is at its lowest in recent years, according to a survey from Hays

News Catch Up - Friday 19 December

And because of their dissatisfaction, workers were plotting a move, with 61% in Northern Ireland planning a change, up from 52% in NI last year.

In addition, 53% of professionals here believe theres no room for them to progress their career with their current employer.

Hays warned that if workers act on their negativity, employers will face growing challenges with talent retention.

Employers cited obstacles in holding onto staff including an inability to match salary expectations, a competitive job market, high workloads and burnout and a lack of clear opportunities.

And professionals were also looking beyond salary when looking at new jobs, Hays said.

They were on the hunt for a positive work atmosphere, followed by a good benefits package and career development opportunities.

And around half said they would even accept a lower-paid role in order to achieve better work-life balance.

Mark Wade, director of Hays in Northern Ireland, said: Its clear that a lot of people in Northern Ireland are not feeling particularly confident about their careers and changes announced in the recent Budget may add further pressures to the job market, perhaps leading some higher earners to seek a change of job in early 2026.

Mark Wade, director of Hays in Northern Ireland

While our survey findings indicate many professionals feel stuck and dont see opportunities for progression with their current employers, we are also seeing further evidence that there has been a change in what is important to people when it comes to their job and career.

It is no longer simply about salary for many people  purpose, balance and belonging are driving career decisions and employers need to recognise this emotional economy of work if they want to hold on to their best people and attract fresh talent.

"Being transparent and creating an attractive culture is more important than ever.

And he said that if confidence bounces back, we could see another surge of in the Great Resignation, a pandemic-era trend which saw many people move jobs.

Mr Wade said: For professionals, this is a good time to take control of their careers, seek development opportunities and redefine what success looks like.
Head of Lidl NI explains how supermarket has catapulted pre-tax profits: Were woven into the social fabric now

Gordon Cruikshanks, head of Lidl Northern Ireland, talks about two decades at the supermarket, expansion plans and relationships with suppliers

Gordon Cruikshanks, regional managing director for Lidl NI

James McNaney Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 07:50

Gordon Cruikshanks (45) has been with Lidl for two decades, rising from trainee area manager to becoming regional managing director of its Northern Ireland operation in March.
Restaurant review: A six-course tasting menu in the heart of Belfast for this money? You cant go wrong...
Northern Ireland

PSNI data breach: 7,500 compensation to be offered to thousands of affected officers and staff
Stock Image: Firefighters attended the incident on the outskirts of Portstewart

Firefighters have battled a major overnight blaze in Co Londonderry.

Crews were called to a blaze at a water treatment works near Portrush shortly after 2.15am.

Six fire appliances and a command support unit attended the incident at its height.

Some 45 firefighters were involved in the operation.

The Belfast Telegraph understands a building at the complex was well alight when crews arrived.

An aerial platform was used during the incident to help bring the blaze under control.

The NI Fire & Rescue Service said: NIFRS responded to an incident at a NI Water treatment facility on Roselick Road, Portrush at 2.21am.

45 firefighters were mobilised to deal with the incident. There were six pumping appliances, an aerial appliance and a command support unit in attendance.

There was a fire involving the roof of a building on the site, which has been extinguished using five fire-fighting jets and an aerial appliance.

Stock Image: Firefighters attended the incident on the outskirts of Portstewart

Watch: Families reunited at Belfast City Airport as people return home for Christmas
Details of Presbyterian Church case would not have come to light without painstaking work

The Belfast Telegraph went to court to obtain information pertaining to third Presbyterian Church in Ireland settlement this year

Tom and Renee Finnegan

Angela Davison Tue 23 Dec 2025 at 07:06

In a landmark case taken by Mediahuis UK Limited against the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) and other named church respondents, a judge ruled that this newspaper had the right to publish information concerning a discrimination claim subject to an effective NDA, where all previous hearings were held in private.
Two men who were arrested at Belfast International Airport on suspicion of offences connected to a brawl in Coalisland during the summer have been released on bail.

A number of men were involved in the altercation at Ballynakilly Road on 27 August during which a vehicle was rammed and weapons including knives and a bill hook were reportedly brandished.

Police said the arrested pair, aged 27 and 24, were detained by officers from Dungannon and were supported by crews from Antrim and the Belfast International Airport Constabulary.

The men have since been released on bail to allow for further enquiries.

The investigation continues.
It comes as the CRS prepares for a busy festive period

Northern Irelands community rescue teams are the busiest in the UK, its regional commander has said as the service continues to prepare for a demanding festive period.

The Community Rescue Service (CRS) is a charitable search and rescue organisation operated by volunteers and carries out lowland rescue operations in conjunction with the PSNI and other agencies.

A recent post on the Facebook page of its Belfast branch described this past weekend as relentless, with volunteers mixing ongoing searches with new callouts, as well as finding time to carry out fundraising.

This time of year can be difficult for a lot of reasons

CRS regional commander for NI, Sean McCarry, said carrying out operations close to Christmas was very poignant.

Were quite busy at all times of the year, but Christmas is very poignant. We would have a steady enough situation throughout the year, particularly in Northern Ireland where the suicide rate is quite high, he told this newspaper.

There are lots of reasons for that as we all know; Im not an expert on that side of it. What we are experts on is finding the people, trying to find them alive and getting them back.

There are teams in all the different counties in England, but we would be the busiest lowland rescue team in the UK and Ireland.

Sean McCarry, regional commander of CRS Northern Ireland

Mr McCarry added that while theres usually a slight increase in calls around the festive period, the services level of callouts was high all year round.

I would say its very slight. Theres certainly not a decrease, but its not a significant increase compared to other times of year.

We have a relatively steady ongoing baseline that were always working to, which is a number sometimes of at least two or maybe three searches a day.

From that, we can have peaks where were ending up doing more than that every day for a period of a week or two weeks.

"This time of year can be difficult for a lot of reasons; people sometimes are celebrating and have a great time, but there are also lots of people who find that they've lost loved ones, or they're on their own, or they're lonely.

"It's a good time of year to think about others, to try and look after them, but start off by looking after yourself.

The CRS is currently involved in a number of ongoing searches for Andrew Robinson and Bryn Williams in the Portadown and Groomsport areas respectively.

Community Rescue Service's Belfast branch described last weekend as "relentless"

Police at the scene of an incident in north Belfast

Mr Robinson has been missing since November 15, while Mr Williams last contact with his family was on December 6.

"The Portadown and Groomsport searches are ongoing searches planned with the police in detail, said Mr McCarry.

"We're working alongside our colleagues from Knock Bay Rescue, and there are other colleagues from SARDA out north, and a few other different search teams.

"We thankfully have got equipment and expertise that allows us to search even when there's no daylight. We would be starting some of our searches very early in the morning, and working through to the light leaves.

"We know what we're doing every day, every evening. Well keep that pace up until we find the person or the police tell us they have a different plan.
Belfast council backs motion over pro-Palestine hunger-strikers despite concerns over poor way to operate

Councillors expressed concern as special meeting was held on less than two hours notice

Special council meeting called at Belfast City Hall.

Garrett Hargan Mon 22 Dec 2025 at 21:38

A majority of Belfast City councillors have backed a motion calling on the UK Government to immediately allow medical access for pro-Palestine hunger strikers and for the First and deputy First Ministers to intervene in their official capacity.
TULSA, Okla., Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This has been a record-breaking year for The University of Tulsa's Student Investment Fund, where undergraduates and graduate students manage a live portfolio that recently topped $9.3 million.

Founded through support from UTulsa's Friends of Finance, the Student Investment Fund gives students hands-on experience managing real assets across equity and bond portfolios. Each semester, student teams analyze market sectors, evaluate risk and make buy-and-sell decisions that are executed through the university controller's office.

The University of Tulsa's student-managed investment fund recently set a record, topping $9.3 million in December. Post this

"It's not a hypothetical exercise," said Tally Ferguson, who serves as associate dean, instructor and faculty adviser for the fund. "Every one of those trades was made by students trained right here in the Collins College of Business. They're effectively managing a mutual fund for a whole semester, and not many people entering the workforce can say, 'Yeah, I managed $9 million.'"

The fund began in 1998 with nearly $400,000 in seed money and $1.6 million in additional donations from Friends of Finance over the next 17 years. Since then, UTulsa students have distributed all of the initial investment, while growing the fund to its current record high.

Students are divided into committees such as Macro, Portfolio Accounting & Risk and Operations, mirroring the structure of a professional investment firm. They debate sector allocations, present analyses and defend recommendations in class.

"For me, it's been eye-opening," said Nick Elliott, an applied mathematics senior from Overland Park, Kansas. "Every choice matters. One percent of nine million is still a lot of money. It's neat seeing how much goes into each decision and learning to make those choices as a team."

For Jonathan Lee, a computer science junior from Cedar Park, Texas, the experience bridges disciplines. "I'm passionate about quantitative finance; it's where computer science meets finance," he said. "Even if you're not a finance major, this is a great opportunity to learn from your peers and understand how to manage money."

Since its founding, the Student Investment Fund has distributed more than $1 million in scholarships to business students, funded entirely by portfolio returns. "Many of our analysts are Friends of Finance scholars, paid for by the very money they're helping to grow," Ferguson said. "One of the best ways to get prepared for the workforce is to do the work before you ever go into the workforce."

SOURCE The University of Tulsa
The Taoiseach has his head in the sand over a united Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald has said, as she said there was no pressure on the UK Government to engage constructively on a border poll.

In an interview with the Press Association, Ms McDonald said the clause around a border poll was the beating heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

It states that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may order a border poll if it appears likely that a majority would vote for a united Ireland, but the circumstances for such an assessment have not been specified.

Asked if the lack of clearer parameters in the wording was a mistake, Ms McDonald said: I think it was one of these sort of constructive solutions, workarounds.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

She added that she was aware that the decision would politically be made by the Prime Minister rather than the Northern Ireland Secretary.

And whilst Dublin is passive and whilst you have a Taoiseach with their head buried in the sand, theres no incentive  much less any pressure  on London to look constructively and to respond to the reality and the need for referendums.

She added: I think the Brits saying Oh, well, you know, well know when or were not saying  I dont think thats a sustainable position.

Ms McDonald said the only responsible position was to prepare for referendums.

She particularly criticised Taoiseach Micheal Martin as he called on him to prepare a green paper on Irish unity.

He has to become an enabler of this conversation. I mean, for the love of God, it should be a no-brainer that Irelands national interest is served by ending partition. You dont have to be some kind of economic guru to figure that out.

Former Sinn Fein elected representative Michelle Gildernew (Niall Carson/PA)

In the Borderland podcast produced by BBC Northern Ireland this year, former Sinn Fein Executive minister Michelle Gildernew referred to the six counties as a shithole.

Asked how this language could be used in convincing people to support a united Ireland, Ms McDonald distanced herself from the remarks: It certainly wouldnt be what I would say. Those six counties are six fantastic, beautiful Ulster counties.

However, she said partition had failed the whole island economically, socially and politically.

While those elected to the Assembly and Executive do their very best, Ms McDonald said they do so with one hand tied behind their back due to underfunding from the UK Government.

But you have other instances where there is real economic damage and real cost of having two of everything systemically on one small island.

Theres a cost attached to that, and theres no point in us pulling our punches and pretending that thats not the case. Partition is a problem, not just for the North. Its a problem for the whole island.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin (Phil Noble/PA)

The UK and Irish Governments have hailed a reset in relations as precipitating progress on other Northern Ireland-related matters, such as reforms to dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.

However, the Sinn Fein leader said she feared this may amount to lip service as she said the Irish Government cannot blink on the matter.

Ireland took an interstate case over legacy legislation brought in by the previous Conservative Government, and indicated it will not drop the action until the reforms are passed.

Ms McDonald: We had big promises from Keir Starmer and from the Labour Party in advance of the election. I think they have resiled from the clarity of that position and yes, that worries me.

And we know that for lots and lots of people  victims, survivors, on all sides, including victims of the IRA  will tell you that far from these things being legacy or in the past, its still very much in the present with them.

We cant undo what has been done, you cant rewrite history. But what we can do is ensure that the mechanisms deployed are about the search for truth, that theyre about closure, in as much as you can bring closure.

And that they are not mechanisms to actually obscure what happened or to, for the purposes of the British state, to actually hide what actually happened, what their war in Ireland was actually about.

Ms McDonald said there are recent examples of victims questioning the bona fides of the British government.

Dublin still has their interstate case  and I think we need to be very, very clear. Either London will get this right or they will get it wrong, and if they get it wrong, the government in Dublin cannot blink.
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Do you remember what happened in 2025? Here is our countdown of the top 10 most read local news stories published this year, based on page views:

Local Journalism Fund Many of these stories were made possible by the support of our Local Journalism Fund. Please donate today! Your tax-deductible gift will expand our coverage of these critical areas.

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10: Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin was fired after a report concluded he engaged in 'inappropriate workplace behavior'

Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin was fired in January in the wake of an independent investigation by Comprehensive Investigations Consulting that concluded he had engaged in "inappropriate workplace behavior."

In May, Tobin filed a wrongful termination and whistleblower lawsuit against the town's fire district, and in July filed two complaints with the state Attorney General's Office alleging violations of the state's Open Meeting Law.

In September the state Attorney Generals office concluded that the Dalton Fire District violated the state's Open Meeting Law by failing to announce and record the results of any periodic review of its executive session minutes. The Attorney Generals Office ordered the fire districts "immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law.

Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin was fired after a report concluded he engaged in 'inappropriate workplace behavior' The vote by the three-member Dalton Fire and Water District Commission took place following receipt of consultant's report titled, "Sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behavior in the Dalton Fire District."

9: 'Fear in the community.' ICE detains at least 10 in Berkshires on Wednesday

10 people in the Berkshires were detained by ICE on March 19, including two brothers  one of whom was in the US legally  plucked from a work site in Monterey, three people at an auto body shop in Pittsfield, and five people in other places in the Berkshires. The arrests were among 370 across Massachusetts as part of a statewide operation by federal immigration and law enforcement officials.

'Fear in the community.' ICE detains at least 10 in Berkshires on Wednesday Most of the arrests happened in Pittsfield and Lenox. But two men were also pulled off their worksite in Monterey.

8: Barber and musician Christopher Barton identified as the North Adams man killed in 'freak accident'

Christopher Barton, a well-known musical artist in the area and owner of Klipper Kingz barbershop in North Adams, killed in "freak accident" in January when his car rolled over him while he was working on it. Friends and family remembered him as a community activist, mentor, friend and father of five.

Barber and musician Christopher Barton identified as the North Adams man killed in 'freak accident' Police say Christopher Barton, a well-known musical artist in the area and owner of Klipper Kingz barbershop, was working on his car on Bradley Street on Sunday evening when the vehicle pinned him, trapping and killing him.

7: ADUs are now allowed by right in Massachusetts. But Berkshire County towns still have work to do

Accessory dwelling units are now permitted by right in single-family zoning districts across Massachusetts. While Massachusetts homeowners overall have rushed to take advantage of the new law, in Berkshire County, homeowners aren't rushing to build.

ADUs are now allowed by right in Massachusetts. But Berkshire County towns still have work to do Massachusetts now allows ADUs by-right in single-family zoning, but many Berkshire County towns are still updating their bylaws. How are local officials responding, and what challenges remain?

6: Jacob's Pillow cancels 2025 festival season in wake of campus accident that killed production manager

Faced with an unfathomable tragedy in the accidental death of production manager Kat Sirico in early August, Jacob's Pillow canceled the remainder of the festival season.

Jacob's Pillow cancels 2025 festival season in wake of campus accident that killed production manager "The Jacobs Pillow Board of Trustees and institutional leadership has decided that Festival 2025 will not continue," the organization said. "We have come to this difficult decision following the tragic accident on our campus on August 1."

5: Masked, armed ICE agents arrest two men in Great Barrington apartment building as witnesses taunt, shoot video

A morning raid in the heart of Great Barrington shook bystanders and drew people out from nearby businesses. Videos shared with The Eagle show people videotaping the arrests and asking ICE officers questions about warrants and due process. Others taunted the officers, most of whom were masked and heavily armed.

Masked, armed ICE agents arrest two men in Great Barrington apartment building as witnesses taunt, shoot video The arrests this morning in Great Barrington were witnessed and videotaped by multiple bystanders in The Triplex Cinema parking lot. Tenants of the building say ICE has surveilled the building all week.

4: Herberg Middle School's new principal has been placed on leave just days before classes are set to begin

Herberg Middle Schools new principal, Ian T. Brown, was placed on administrative leave just days before the first day of classes  after just two months on the job. Former Herberg Middle School teacher Mike Taber was asked to step in as interim principal, a role that was made permanent just days later.

3. Meet the oldest woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail: 80-Year-Old Betty Kellenberger

Falls, Lyme disease and a hurricane couldnt stop Betty Kellenberger. This summer, the 80-year-old from Michigan officially became the oldest woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

Meet the oldest woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail: 80-Year-Old Betty Kellenberger "Betty The Legend" becomes the oldest woman to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at the age of 80. The path to that milestone for Betty Kellenberger was far from simple, and not exactly textbook.

2: Business owners confront ICE agents during arrest at Great Barrington job site

Federal agents arrested one of two men at a landscaping job site in May, but their clients confronted the agents and prevented the second man from being taken into custody. The arrest followed a series of detentions of Berkshire County immigrants since the Trump administrations aggressive immigration policies were put into motion.

Business owners confront ICE agents during arrest at Great Barrington job site ICE made another visit to Great Barrington. One man was arrested. But two business owners say they prevented the arrest of a second man.

1: EZDriveMA texting scam asks for just $6.99, but what is it really after? Here's how you can protect yourself from scams

It looks so benign.

The reminder appears to come from EZDriveMA, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authoritys electronic tolling program.

Your bill for $6.99 is due soon. The text message contains a link and instructs you to pay and avoid additional fees by replying with a Y and activating a link or copying the link into your browser.

This is smishing, a text message scam, technically referred to as a tactic at social engineering.
One day short of his hundredth birthday, the Pittsfield native remembers the name of the ship he and his mother took to her native Italy in 1937: the Rex; where it stopped after sailing from New York City: the Azores and Genoa; and the silly game he played aboard that won him a small metal replica of the ship.
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wondershare today announced that its flagship video creativity product, Wondershare Filmora, has introduced a new intelligent editing assistant called AI Mate. Designed to simplify complex editing workflows and enhance creative productivity, AI Mate marks a further step in the company's efforts to bring AI-driven efficiency and intuitive guidance into video editing workflows.

Wondershare Filmora has introduced a new intelligent editing assistant called AI Mate.

Built directly into Filmora V15, AI Mate supports four operational modes that help creators generate content, learn editing workflows, execute complex actions, and interpret user intentall within one unified interface. AIGC Mode generates assets such as scripts, concept ideas, and short videos to accelerate early ideation. Guide Mode provides real-time explanations of editing features and practical workflow instructions, helping users understand how to achieve specific results. Action Mode breaks down multi-step editing operations and executes them automatically in a single click, reducing manual effort. Auto Mode interprets user intent and selects the most suitable mode to complete the task, offering a simplified interaction experience. Creators can switch between modes at any time, making the system adaptable to both beginners and experienced editors.

The introduction of AI Mate follows a series of recent enhancements to Filmora V15's intelligent creation and editing capabilities. Filmora V15 now strengthens its AI-integrated workflow, bringing intelligent capabilities directly into the creative and editing pipeline. Rather than functioning as isolated tools, Filmora's AI features now operate as part of a continuous, end-to-end production flowfrom content generation and clip extension to refinement and final output. This approach reflects Filmora's vision of enabling every creator to "edit as an expert with Filmora AI."

This evolving AI workflow is further supported by the integration of leading generative and enhancement models, including Nano Banana Pro, Sora 2, and Veo 3.1. These models enhance Filmora's ability to interpret motion, generate high-quality visuals, and produce more accurate scene-to-scene transitions, strengthening both creative generation and technical refinement. By embedding these advanced models directly into the editing pipeline, Filmora ensures that creators benefit from faster processing, improved visual consistency, and more reliable AI-driven results across both creation and post-production tasks.

"AI Mate arrives at a moment when creators everywhere are navigating rapid changes in how content is produced," said Christy Wu, Vice President of Wondershare. "By integrating intelligence directly into the editing workflow, we aim to reduce friction and open up new creative possibilities. This initiative is part of Wondershare's broader mission to make professional-grade creativity accessible to everyone."

AI Mate is now available in Wondershare Filmora V15 for Windows and macOS. More features will continue to roll out in upcoming updates.

About Filmora

Launched in 2010, Wondershare Filmora is designed with its users in mind, featuring smoother performance and an intuitive user interface. With advanced features boosting content generation and editing, over 2.9 million creative assets, commercially available music, 3D LUTs, effects, and pre-set templates, Filmora stands out as a leader in video editing software and has served more than 400 million active users worldwide. Consistently introducing innovative tools, it enhances video creation and makes the process more efficient and accessible for all skill levels.

About Wondershare

Wondershare is a globally recognized software company founded in 2003, known for its innovative solutions in creativity and productivity. Driven by the mission "Creativity Simplified", Wondershare offers a range of tools, including Filmora and SelfyzAI for video editing; PDFelement for document management; and EdrawMax, EdrawMind for diagramming. With over 2 billion cumulative active users across all products and a presence in over 200 countries and regions, Wondershare empowers the next generation of creators with intuitive software and trendy creative resources, continually expanding the possibilities of creativity worldwide.

SOURCE Wondershare Technology
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UPDATE: This story has been update to add information from the Berkshire District Attorney's office.

ADAMS  K. Scott Kelley, who was placed on paid leave over three months ago, is no longer the town's police chief.

Select Board Chair John Duval told The Eagle on Monday that Kelley no longer works for the town. He declined to elaborate on the specifics of his departure.

The town does not comment on personnel matters and will have no further comment on this matter at this time, Duval said. Thats the guidance we received by the town counsel.

On Tuesday, ulia Sabourin, chief of operations at the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, said, "We cannot confirm nor deny a criminal investigation," regarding Kelley.

Kelley was placed on paid leave Sept. 8 after an executive session. The agenda cited concerns about the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence of an employee, or potential discipline or dismissal, or complaints or charges.

The Select Board at the time appointed Sgt. Donna Malloy as interim police chief. Then, on Oct. 1, the board appointed former Lanesborough Police Chief Timothy Sorrell to serve interim police chief in Adams.

On Nov. 12, the board approved a three-month contract for Sorrell and changed his title to acting police chief. His biweekly salary is about $4,000, according to Holli Jayko, interim town administrator.

Tim will be acting police chief, and that will go on until further notice, Duval said on Monday. Kelley could not be reached for comment

Sorrell, a Lenox native and Marine veteran, served in the Lanesborough Police Department for over 33 years, the final 5 1/2 as chief. He retired from the department in 2021, and has served a term on the Lanesborough Select Board.

Sorrell was a special officer in Adams for almost four years, where he has worked traffic details, election details, manned the desk and served as the firearms licensing officer. He had familiarity with the building and the other officers. His son, Nicholas Sorrell, is a patrolman in Adams.

Kelley was hired Jan. 18, 2021, succeeding Adams Police Chief Richard Tarsa.

He was truly a gentleman to negotiate with, said Jay Green, then the Adams town administrator, at the time of the interview process.

He was one of 37 applicants and two finalists for the job. The other was former Egremont Police Chief Erik Josephson. After Tarsas retirement, Troy Bacon, of Indiana, served in the role as acting chief.

Prior to coming to Adams, Kelleys nearly 25 years in law enforcement were entirely in South Carolina. He served as chief of police at Spartanburg Community College.

Kelley earned $115,172 a year and was serving a three-year contract that began Jan. 1, 2024, and would have run through Dec. 31, 2026, according to Duval.

A review of Kelley's employment and training history in law enforcement in South Carolina shows no red flags.
Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access.

Ruth Bass is an award-winning journalist. Her website is ruthbass.com . The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle.
NIT Rourkela secures two SPARC projects worth Rs 1.82 Cr to strengthen international research engagement

December 23, 2025 | Tuesday | News

To design affordable, scalable, and easy-to-use exosuits tailored for elderly individuals and post-stroke patients

image credit- freepik

National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has been awarded two research projects under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, with a total sanctioned funding of over Rs 1.82 crore. Each project has a duration of two years.

SPARC is a national initiative aimed at strengthening Indias research ecosystem by promoting structured collaboration between Indian higher education institutions and leading global universities, enabling joint research, academic exchange, and research capacity building in identified priority areas.

The first SPARC project, Smart Exoskeletons in Healthcare: Principle and Practices for Developing Scalable Exosuits for Rural Applications (Rs 95.16 lakh), focuses on developing wearable robotic devices, known as exoskeletons, that assist individuals in regaining or improving mobility following illness or injury.

Researchers from NIT Rourkela will be working closely with international experts to design affordable, scalable, and easy-to-use exosuits tailored for elderly individuals and post-stroke patients, particularly in local clinical and rural healthcare contexts. The wearable systems aim to support lower-limb movement and use smart sensors and artificial intelligence to analyse patient motion and assist in correcting movement patterns during rehabilitation. This institutional partnership includes joint coursework, hands-on design and prototyping workshops, and student and researcher exchanges.

The second SPARC project, Novel Disruptive Technology: Design and Development of Smart and Sustainable Technology for Agri-Food Systems (Rs 87.24 lakh), aims to develop a simple, rapid, and non-destructive technology for assessing the quality and safety of agri-food products, without cutting, cooking, or chemically testing them. Scientists from NIT Rourkela will be collaborating with foreign researchers to create a smart sensing system that uses mild electrical signals to evaluate food quality, similar in principle to a medical scan, but applied to food products. The technology is expected to enable real-time detection of freshness, spoilage, and quality variations across farms, markets, and food processing units. By making food testing quicker, more reliable, and field-deployable, the project seeks to improve food safety, reduce wastage, and support farmers, food processors, and consumers, particularly in resource-limited environments.
Dr Satya Prakash Dash steps in as new CEO of IKP Knowledge Park

December 23, 2025 | Tuesday | News

Bringing over 28 years of leadership in science, innovation and ecosystem building

Hyderabad-based bioincubator and life sciences park, IKP Knowledge Park has announced the appointment of Dr Satya Prakash Dash as the new Chief Executive Officer, bringing over 28 years of leadership in science, innovation and ecosystem building.

Also serving as an advisor to BFI-BIOME, Dr Dash was the Founding CEO, BITS BioCyTiH Foundation and was the Ex-Director Impact Lab at PATH India with the mandate to propel innovations in public health emerging from India to the next level.

Former Head Strategy Partnerships & Entrepreneurship Development at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the 'Co-ordinator' of Make in India Cell in BIRAC, his portfolio included overall strategy formulation and implementation for BIRAC of national programmes such as Biotech Ignition Grant-BIG , SPARSH (social innovation program), BioNEST (incubator programme), University Innovation Cluster (UIC), SoCH, SEED Equity & AcE equity funding.

He led the establishment of BIRAC Regional Innovation Centre (BRIC) at IKP Hyderabad & BIRAC Regional Entrepreneurship Centre (BREC) at C-CAMP, Bengaluru.

He holds triple masters from University of Leicester (UK), Cambridge (UK) and Sambalpur (India) and a PhD from University of East Anglia, UK. He holds great experience in science and technology (S&T) policy design, implementation and outcomes, business of science, early-stage funding, entrepreneurship, and catalysing for positive serendipity across innovation communities.

As IKP enters its next phase of growth, Dr Dashs leadership will further strengthen its mission of enabling science-led innovation and translating research into scalable, real-world impact.


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An investigation into chants by rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury Festival last summer will not lead to any further action by prosecutors as there is insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Rapper Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds on the festivals West Holts Stage in chants of death death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) during their performance at the music festival in June.

Shortly afterwards, the force said a criminal investigation was under way with a senior detective appointed to lead the investigation.

Our investigation into comments made on stage at Glastonbury Festival on 28 June has concluded.



Please see our statement below for full details.



An accessible version of the statement can be found here: https://t.co/pe8TadaAnh pic.twitter.com/wtWNjNiEAb  Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) December 23, 2025

In a statement released on Tuesday, Avon and Somerset Police said: No further action will be taken on the basis there is insufficient evidential for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction.

The force said it conducted a voluntary interview with a man in his mid-thirties in November over the incident, adding he was informed of the outcome earlier on Tuesday.

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Ireland Bob Vylan launches defamation action against RTE Read more

The force added: The comments made on Saturday June 28 drew widespread anger, proving that words have real-world consequences.

We believe it is right this matter was comprehensively investigated, every potential criminal offence was thoroughly considered and we sought all the advice we could to ensure we made an informed decision.

It comes after the Met Police said they would close their own investigation into a London performance, following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs has been suspended on full pay, setting in motion a new investigation into his conduct after months of turmoil in the State airports group.

The move late on Tuesday raises the possibility of Mr Jacobs taking an action in the High Court in a bid to block his suspension from the operator of Dublin and Cork airports.

The suspension follows a DAA board decision to endorse the recommendation of a board subgroup chaired by a DAA worker-director, Mark James Ryan.

Mr Ryan, a Siptu member, is also chairman of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions national worker director group.

Neither DAA chairman Basil Geoghegan nor senior independent director Risteard Sheridan was a member of Mr Ryans subgroup.

Mr Geoghegan, a businessman, was heavily involved in managing the rift between the board and Mr Jacobs.

Mr Sheridan led an earlier subgroup that examined the original complaints against Mr Jacobs and appointed Mr Connaughton.
An Indian man who died after his car went into the river as he made his way home from work in heavy rain in Co Cork has received a fond farewell following a phenomenal outpouring of compassion and love, his visitation has heard.

Prayers were said for Joice Thomas (34) at Ronaynes Funeral Home in Fermoy, Co Cork on Tuesday afternoon prior to his last journey to his homeland for his funeral and burial.

The father of two died following an accident on the R628 Conna Road on Friday evening as he made his way home having completed a shift as a kitchen assistant at a nursing home in Leamlara.

Mr Thomas was pronounced dead on Saturday after his car was taken from the water. A passerby had spotted the cat submerged in the water.

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He lived on Main Street in Ballynoe, Co Cork with his wife Ruby Kuriakose, their four-month-old son Jacques and their two-year-old daughter Jacqueline. Ms Kuriakose works as a nurse.

His Grace Bishop Abraham Mar Stephanos, Diocesan Metropolitan in the Indian Orthodox Church, told mourners who gathered this afternoon that the community in Ireland and India had come together to assist the family of Mr Thomas at their time of great need.

His Eminence Stephanos said that people of diverse identities had joined forces following this tragic event.

We participate together especially in this season of the joy of the Feast of the Nativity. It is absolutely incomprehensible and unacceptable for anyone with a sensitive heart to accept the reality of the passing away of a young man.

But we see the spirit of the real love overflowing among all of us. For the past more than 48 hours I get to listen to stories of how people can come together at a time of a loss and in the face of a tragedy.

The media and social media  everything revolves around bad news. But we see here how human compassion works together. This is one of the greatest example that love prevails in the world. Goodness sustains in the world. Exemplary leadership, compassion and love has been shown.

Over 102,000 has been raised for the family of the deceased and to pay for the repatriation of the body to his native Kambammettu in Kerala in India.

His Eminence Stephanos said that outpouring of love from various faiths and communities was a source of comfort to all those who mourned.

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The sadness of the family of Joice Thomas cannot be compensated by the money or anything that we reflect on now.

"But having said that the love being shown right at this moment and in the past two days is phenomenal. It gives us hope that the power of love sustains. This is something that Christ told us.

Mr Thomas is survived by his wife Ruby and their children, his parents and a sister.

He will also be much missed by his extended family, loyal friends in Ireland and India, work colleagues and his kind neighbours.

A mass of solidarity was also held at Ballynoe parish Church this morning in support of the family and friends of Mr Thomas.

Donations can be made to the Go Fund page at https://gofund.me/18a0b472b
The US has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to flight tracking data and current and former US officials, in a sign of increased security cooperation between the countries.

Reuters could not determine what information the flights are meant to obtain. But the flights in West Africa follow US president Donald Trump's threats in November to militarily intervene in Nigeria over what he says is its failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities.

The flights also are occurring just months after a US pilot working for a missionary agency was kidnapped in neighboring Niger. The US contractor-operated aircraft used for the surveillance operations typically takes off from Ghana and flies over Nigeria before returning to Accra, the Ghanaian capital, the tracking data for December shows.

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Flight tracking data shows the operator is Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, which provides special mission aircraft and works closely with the US military, according to the company's website. Tenax Aerospace did not respond to a request for comment.

Liam Karr, the Africa Team Lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, has analysed the flight data. He said the operation appeared to be running out of an airport in Accra, a known hub for the US military's logistics network in Africa.

Mr Karr said the operation was an early sign the US was rebuilding its capacity in the region after Niger ordered US troops to leave a sprawling, newly built air base in the desert last year, and turned instead to Russia for security assistance.

"In recent weeks we've seen a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights in Nigeria," Mr Karr said in an interview. A former US official said the aircraft is among several assets the Trump administration moved to Ghana in November.

It is unclear how many aircraft remain in Ghana, but the former official said the missions include tracking down the kidnapped US pilot and gathering intelligence on militant groups operating in Nigeria. Boko Haram and its splinter organization, Islamic State West Africa Province, are among the militant groups operating in Nigeria.

Diplomatic sensitivity

A current US official confirmed the aircraft has been flying over Nigeria but declined to provide details given the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue.

A separate administration official said Washington was continuing to work with Nigeria to "address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the destabilising spread of terrorism".

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The former US official and the current administration officials all spoke on condition of anonymity.

In a statement, the Pentagon said the US government held productive meetings with Nigeria following Mr Trump's message about the country, but declined to discuss intelligence matters. Nigeria's military spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Ghana's deputy defence minister also did not respond to a request for comment.

Daily surveillance

Nigeria's government has said armed groups target both Muslims and Christians and that US claims that Christians face persecution do not represent a complex security situation and ignore efforts to safeguard religious freedom. But it has agreed to work with the US to bolster its forces against militant groups.

The country's population is split between Muslims living primarily in the north and Christians in the south. A Nigerian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US agreed in a November 20th meeting between Nigerian national security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu and US defence secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy air assets to gather intelligence.

A spokesperson for the Nigerian military did not respond to requests for comment. The Tenax Aerospace aircraft was seen on November 7th by flight tracking data at MacDill Air Force Base, which is home to the headquarters of the United States Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida. It flew to Ghana on November 24th, just days after the high-level meeting between US and Nigerian security officials, according to flight tracking data.

The data shows the aircraft has flown over Nigeria almost daily since the start of the operation. The aircraft is a Gulfstream V, a long-range business jet often modified for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to the data.

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Security emergency in Nigeria

Ireland International far-right groups taking inspiration from Irish violence against migrants Read more

Nigeria's president Bola Tinubu declared a security emergency last month and ordered the army and police to begin mass recruitment to tackle worsening armed violence across the country. That move followed attacks in multiple Nigerian states where civilians were killed and kidnapped, and the mass abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren in northern Nigeria.

The US meanwhile has taken steps to punish Nigeria for its perceived failure to protect Christians. In October, Mr Trump added Nigeria back onto a list of countries that the US says have violated religious freedom. This week, Nigeria was added to the US travel ban list of countries facing partial restrictions and entry limitations.

Mr Trump has also asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible "fast" military action in Nigeria if the West African nation fails to crack down on the killing of Christians.

The US and Nigeria have established a joint task force to work on security, according to Republican US representative Riley Moore, who recently traveled to the African country.
A private jet carrying Libyas military chief, four other officers and three crew members crashed after takeoff from Turkeys capital, Ankara, on Tuesday, killing everyone on board.

The Libyan military chief was in Ankara for high-level defence talks aimed at boosting military co-operation between the two countries and to address regional issues, Turkish officials said.

Libyan prime minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the death of General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad and the others, saying in a statement on Facebook that the tragic accident took place as the Libyan delegation was returning from an official trip to Ankara.

He called it a great loss for Libya.



General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, left, met Turkeys chief of general staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, right, in Ankara on Tuesday (Turkish Defence Ministry via AP)

Officials in Libya said contact with the plane was lost about half-an-hour into the flight because of a technical malfunction.

Gen al-Hadad was the top military commander in western Libya. He played a crucial role in the UN-brokered ongoing efforts to unify Libyas military, which has split much like Libyas institutions.

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The four others who died in the crash were Geneal Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, the head of Libyas ground forces, Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, who led the military manufacturing authority, Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, adviser to the chief of staff and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer with the chief of staffs office.

The identities of the three crew members were not immediately known.

Turkey did not immediately confirm the deaths, only that wreckage of the Falcon 50-type business jet had been found near the village of Kesikkavak, in Haymana, a district some 43.5 miles (70km) south of Ankara.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, Turkeys air traffic controllers said they lost contact with the plane, which was en route back to Libya, after takeoff from Esenboga airport.



Turkish rescue teams search for the remains of the jet (Efekan Akyuz/AP)

Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a social media post that the plane took off at 8.30pm and contact was lost 40 minutes later.

The plane issued an emergency landing signal near Haymana, a district south of Ankara, before all communication ceased, Mr Yerlikaya said.

Security camera footage aired on local television stations showed the night sky over Haymana suddenly lit up by what appeared to be an explosion.

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While in Ankara, Gen al-Haddad had met with Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler and other officials.

The airport in Ankara was closed and several flights were diverted to other locations, private NTV news channel reported.

Turkeys justice ministry said four prosecutors had been assigned to investigate the crash, a routine step in such incidents.

Turkish television NTV and other media reports said the aircraft issued the emergency signal due to an electrical fault and attempted to return to Esenboga. The airport was immediately closed to all flights to make sure the jet could land safely, the reports said, but communication with the plane was lost before it could return.



Turkish soldiers join rescue teams as part of the search (Efekan Akyuz/AP)

According to a government statement on Facebook, Libya will send a team to Ankara to work with Turkish authorities on investigating the crash.

Libya plunged into chaos after the countrys 2011 uprising toppled and killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The country split, with rival administrations based in the east and west, backed by an array of rogue militias and foreign governments.

Turkey has been allied with Libyas government in the west, but has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based government as well.

Tuesdays visit by the Libyan delegation came a day after Turkeys parliament approved to extend the mandate of Turkish troops serving in Libya for two years.

Turkey deployed troops following a 2019 security and military co-operation agreement that was reached between Ankara and the Tripoli-based government.
President Donald Trump delivered a new warning to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the US Coast Guard stepped up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the administrations escalating pressure campaign on the government in Caracas.

Mr Trump was surrounded by his top national security aides, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, as he suggested that he remains ready to further escalate his four-month pressure campaign on the Maduro government, which began with the stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal drugs from the South American nation but has developed into something more amorphous.



President Nicolas Maduro (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Mr Trump said of Mr Maduro: If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, itll be the last time hell ever be able to play tough.

The president took a break from his Florida holiday vacation to announce plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship.

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Mr Trump levied his latest threat as the Us Coast Guard continued to chase a sanctioned oil tanker for a second day.

The Trump administration described the tanker as part of a dark fleet Venezuela is using to evade US sanctions.

The tanker, according to the White House, is flying under a false flag and is under a US judicial seizure order.

Its moving along and well end up getting it, Mr Trump said.

It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday seized a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries that US officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.



President Donald Trump announced plans for the Navy to build a new large warship (Alex Brandon/AP)

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on December 10, also part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the US says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. That ship was registered in Panama.

After that first seizure, Mr Trump said the US would carry out a blockade of Venezuela and has repeatedly said that Mr Maduros days in power are numbered.

Last week, Mr Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from US oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, said that the targeting of tankers is intended to send a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.
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BusinessMarketsBillionaires Billionaire pardoned by Trump is back in the spotlight Olga Kharif and Annie Massa December 24, 2025  5:32am 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

Changpeng Zhao has unfinished business. The billionaire co-founder of Binance has stepped back into the spotlight, praising President Donald Trumps crypto stance at every turn, and signalling enthusiasm for the US market where the firm he helped create is now weighing a comeback. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao was pardoned by Trump in October after serving prison time for failing to stop criminals from using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism. Washington Post Recently pardoned by Trump, Zhao holds no official role at the crypto exchange any longer, but remains an influential voice. Zhao has cast the US as central to the industrys future  and therefore, implicitly, to Binances. The firm has been exploring ways to reboot its American affiliate, Binance.US, including a potential recapitalisation that could reduce Zhaos majority stake, according to people familiar with the matter. His role as a controlling investor has been a major hurdle for expanding in key states, they said. The discussions remain fluid.

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Related Article Crime Trump pardons billionaire owner of Australias largest beef producer It is my full intention to help make America the capital of crypto, Zhao said at Binance Blockchain Week earlier this month, calling it an emerging land for us. Binance recently announced that Yi He  another co-founder, who is Zhaos domestic partner and the mother of three of his children  was promoted to co-CEO alongside Richard Teng. During her appearance at the Binance event, she said Zhao had retired, though he was front and centre for much of it. Ramping up meaningfully in the US would mean navigating dozens of state licensing regimes or betting on a still-hypothetical federal framework. The plea agreement Zhao reached in 2023 for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance bars him from formal or informal involvement in the companys operations. Binances global entity also pleaded guilty to federal charges and agreed to pay billions in fines. Whether, or to what extent, Zhaos October pardon affects the restrictions laid out in the plea deal has not been definitively resolved, though the political backdrop in Washington has shifted.

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We cannot comment on hypothetical storylines, a Binance spokesperson said. None of these speculative scenarios reflect accurate facts. Zhao, He and Teng didnt return requests for comment. Tearful departure Since US agencies charged Zhao and Binance two years ago, Binance.US has lost significant ground. At the Binance event in the first week of December, Zhao recalled the firm having 35 per cent market share at one point, a figure that has effectively dropped to zero. Binance has also been getting closer to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by Trump family members. AP When I stepped down as Binance CEO I actually cried, Zhao said at the Binance event. It took me a little bit to get over it.

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A number of states have revoked its licences while others, like New York, never granted one in the first place. Some supporters argue the marketstructure bill under consideration could, if enacted, create a federal licensing regime that would change the calculus for firms like Binance. But the legislation has stalled amid political disagreements, and its prospects remain uncertain. If Binance were to buy some or all of Zhaos stake, it could install new leadership, pursue business strategies to boost growth and lean on political relationships in Washington, said the people, who were not authorised to speak publicly about the companys plans. Related Article Cryptocurrencies A disgrace: Crypto rebels controversial comeback after Trump pardon There is some urgency for Binance to make decisions. The pleasant regulatory mood of today could evaporate if Democrats gain more power in mid-term elections next year, or retake the White House later on. Some think the tide has already begun to turn. Washington lobbyists had initially predicted the market-structure bill would pass by year-end, but now theyre not sure it will get through at all. Compromise text that can be reached that satisfies both parties political interests, as well as the traditional finance and crypto industries will be challenging, said Chris Hayes, a partner at Thorn Run Partners, a government-relations firm in Washington. He still thinks the bill has a strong chance of passing.

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Separately, Binance has been pursuing a closer relationship with the worlds largest asset manager, BlackRock, according to sources. Its another sign that the crypto firm wants to deepen relationships with established US financial players. BlackRock has a tokenised money-market fund that institutions can use to back trades on Binance. The two have discussed deepening their financial ties, including additional products and potential revenue-sharing arrangements, according to people familiar with the matter. Binance wants to deepen relationships with established US financial players. Bloomberg A BlackRock spokesperson declined to comment. Binance has also been getting closer to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by Trump family members. Some of those moves preceded Zhaos pardon and emphasise how Binance is repositioning itself in a more welcoming political landscape.

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CEO shuffling Binance positioned the promotion of Yi He, Zhaos partner, as a sign of stability. She has become the public face of Binance in recent months, headlining events, steering strategy and reviving Binances growth narrative. Her visibility, at minimum, complicates efforts to demonstrate distance from Zhao, who still has a $US36 billion ($54 billion) fortune from his controlling stake in the company, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Yi Hes elevation has also raised questions among some observers about the balance of power between her and Teng. A longtime former regulator, Teng was instrumental to Binances outreach to governments since his appointment to the CEO role two years ago, when the company was reeling from criminal charges and Zhaos departure. Now that crisis has largely ended. When Binance revs up its US push, many believe it will be aggressive. The company has historically won market share by charging zero or much lower fees than competitors. Rivals like Coinbase have reason to worry the strategy could reappear.

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Related Article Cryptocurrencies What I did was wrong: 33-year-old crypto mogul pleads guilty over $61 billion collapse But its ascent cant happen overnight. At the moment, Binance.US is not allowed to operate in more than a dozen states and US territories, according to its website, including some crucial ones, like New York. It would be a big challenge for them to get money-transmitter licences, especially in Democratic states, said Lee Reiners, a lecturing fellow at Duke University who specialises in financial law and policy. Clearly those states will be less welcoming to those overtures and have legitimate concerns. Bloomberg The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

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BusinessMarketsOil Opinion Loss of Russian, Venezuelan oil a drop in ocean for worlds crude glut Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist December 23, 2025  11:40am

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Oil prices are hovering around their lowest point for the year despite the unexpectedly severe impact of US sanctions on Russias oil exports and its blockade of tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. Brent crude, which traded below $US59 ($88) a barrel last week before reports of progress in Ukrainian peace talks lifted prices above $US60 a barrel, is still trading at less than $US62 a barrel despite a rising volume of stranded Russian oil. An Iranian oil tanker at anchor near a refinery in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, before the US began targeting similar vessels. AP With the Trump administration seizing two sanctioned tankers off the Venezuelan coast and chasing a third, Venezuelas oil exports are shrinking. Where, earlier this year, it was exporting more than a million barrels a day, exports are now down to less than 800,000 barrels and falling as tankers steer clear of its coast. The impact of what analysts think could be the withdrawal of about 500,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan oil, as a result of the US chokehold, is less significant for the market and oil price than whats happening to Russias exports. (Venezuelan oil represented only about one per cent of global supply even at its peak this year.)

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Russias exports have been hit hard by the US sanctions on its two major oil companies in late October, and the fear of being subjected to financial sanctions is chilling Indian and Chinese importation of Russias oil and driving the prices of its flagship Urals oil to its lowest levels since the pandemic. Related Article Blood Oil The British expat tracking Russias shadow fleet from his Singapore deck Urals shipped from the Baltic ports traded below $US35 a barrel last Friday, while that shipped from the Black Sea was priced just above $US33 a barrel. Russias government had budgeted for an oil price of $US69 a barrel this year. Its oil revenue needs a price above $US40 a barrel to cover oil-related expenditures. With oil revenues previously roughly matching its military expenditures, any material loss of oil income has implications for Moscows ability to maintain funding for the war in Ukraine. Russias oil producers costs range from about $US15 a barrel to $US40 a barrel but, at current prices, it is unlikely that any producer would be finding it profitable. They, and Russia, are now producing for cash, not profit.

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Ukraine is helping to reduce supply with its intensified targeting of Russian production infrastructure, refineries and tankers. With Indian refiners, in particular, leery of buying Russian oil, theres a lot of oil now floating around the world in tankers, looking for a market. Related Article Venezuela crisis Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers into Venezuela According to trade intelligence firm Kpler, theres currently about 1.3 billion barrels of oil on water  the most since the pandemic  and the amount of oil stored on tankers for more than 120 days is, at 51 million barrels, the most since mid-2023. Seaborne Russian oil in transit and searching for buyers last week accounted for about 155 million barrels, or more than 50 per cent more than was the case at the start of this year. That oil will eventually find buyers, but at what price?

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Despite the effective reduction in Russian supply, and some initial impact on supply from the US actions against Venezuela, the overall market is still being driven by an excess of supply over demand. This is thanks to the OPEC+ cartel bringing back significant volumes this year that had previously been taken from the market as the cartel tried to put a floor under the price. Related Article Russia-Ukraine war Australians have paid $2 billion to help fund Putins bloody war. Heres what that can buy The International Energy Agency now estimates that there will be a surplus supply of about 3.85 million barrels a day next year. Its the oil glut that is blunting the impact of reduced Russian and Venezuelan demand and allows US President Donald Trump to ramp up the pressure on Venezuelas Maduro government without any concern that it will drive up prices. Trump has used Venezuelas probably non-existent role in the fentanyl trade as the pretext for his probably unlawful destruction of Venezuelan boats (which may, or may not, be carrying drugs other than fentanyl that are destined for eventual delivery to markets other than the US) and for his blockade of Venezuelan ports. Theres a lot of oil floating around the world in tankers looking for a market.

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In reality, the administration is trying to force regime change in Venezuela and to get its hands on Venezuelas proven oil reserves, the worlds largest. Oil generates about 95 per cent of Venezuelas export revenues. Related Article Updated

World markets ASX closes higher after Santa rally; CBA repays $68m to customers Trump has said the blockade will continue until such time as they return to the United States all of the oil, land, and other assets that they stole from us. American companies dominated the oil industry in the country, which produced more than 3.2 million barrels a day in the early 2000s, before Hugo Chavezs government nationalised their operations. While the industry has been severely degraded and its output has plummeted since all the US companies other than Chevron were forced out and the US sanctions impacted its reliance on US technology, the Trump administration obviously believes it could be regenerated under US ownership and control. Increased production from Venezuela and a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine that unlocks the Russian supply now drifting aimlessly in international waters would presumably drive global oil prices down further.

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That would have the presumably unintended effect of undermining the economics of shale oil production in the US, which is currently at record levels but being challenged by the low prices. Breakeven prices for US onshore producers range from $US35 to $US40 a barrel for the most efficient producers in the most productive basins to $US60 a barrel or more for others. If prices remain at current levels through 2026 and beyond, as the IEA expects, US production volumes will fall and domestic prices may well rise despite the global glut. The West Texas Intermediate price is below $US59 a barrel at present. A flood of Venezuelan oil into the US  the US, mainly thanks to Chevron, imports about 160,000 barrels a day from Venezuela  could eventually threaten to further undermine the economics of the industry that has powered the US into its relatively recent role as the worlds largest oil producer, although it would take years to rebuild the industrys infrastructure, capabilities and production volumes. In a different environment, whats happening to the Russian and Venezuelan oil exports would have shaken the oil market and driven prices up.

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The oil glut generated by OPEC+s conclusion that its rationing of production was causing more harm than good for its members (some of whom werent complying anyway) has, however, overwhelmed their impact on the market. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Eating outFood Young-gun Snug chefs open fancy Coorparoo deli selling fancy sangers Also, smoothies, matcha, St Ali coffee, and a terrific range of fresh produce and dry goods. Matt Shea December 23, 2025 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Operator opens venue in neighbourhood. Its successful. Soon enough, whether by their own ambition or the grace of a landlord who recognises a good thing, theyre opening a second venue in the same complex, maybe a third. Its a familiar tale. In Brisbanes inner south, Anna Brobjer and Tim Glasson followed La Bodega with Olli Italiano, and Ashley-Maree Kent followed Roman Trattoria with Bar Rocco. Janes Deli opened in Coorparoo in mid-December. Markus Ravik Now, over the hill on Chatsworth Road, young-gun chefs Leaham Claydon and Jianne Jeoung are leveraging the wild success of their cafe and wine bar Snug to unveil Janes Deli next door in a refurbished space previously home to California Native. This was very impulsive, Jeoung says.

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Impulsive because Claydon and Jeoung were already taking over the tenancy directly next door (the back half of California Native) after discovering it had a pizza oven; that project, a bistro called Bar Coopers, will open in the new year. Related Article This ugly-delicious Happy Boy classic is one of Brisbanes best dishes But beyond stocking some of their favourite goods and produce, Janes was an excuse to address a few common requests at Snug: iced matcha, sandwiches, express filter coffee, that king of thing. It was also a way to establish their jurisdiction on the cluster of tenancies on the corner of Chatsworth and Eva Street. Snug occupies the front end of the old California Native premises on Chatsworth Road. Markus Ravik

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We thought it would be odd to have a third tenant next door, Jeoung says. And for us, it was a matter of knowing what the suburb needed  we thought we might as well add to the community, add something different, Claydon says. Its a beautiful little space, decked out in timber benches and service areas, and fetching olive green walls. At the door is a spacious checkout counter, while the sandwich and coffee station sits in the back corner. Out back is a spacious shady courtyard with a few tables for those who want to eat in. The range of dry goods available is both impressive and practical. Markus Ravik Stainless steel shelves line the venue, stocked with pantry staples, and theres a fridge with fancy cheeses and small goods.

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Its an impressive but practical spread of goods: shortcut bacon and boneless ham from Paddock to Plate, salami with prosciutto and pistachio from Borgo Salumi, Brets crisps from France, Mama Lius vegan chilli oil, a selection of Fancy Hanks seasoning and Antonellas passata. Theres also plenty of fresh produce and a fridge of fancy cheeses and smallgoods. Markus Ravik There were some select products we wanted to stock and its a matter of finding who supplies them, and then you enter into this wonderland, where you find all these other great products, Jeoung says. The sandwiches and smoothies, though, are far from an afterthought. A back counter serves up coffee and sandwiches. Markus Ravik

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For sangers, the current menu includes Hainanese chicken with a spring onion and ginger sauce, cucumber and chilli crisp; mortadella with provolone, wood-fired broccoli, romesco and salsa verde; a hot-honey cheese toastie with caramelised onions; and a vegetarian bagel made with a Greek-style fava spread, roasted capsicum, red onion, capers, feta and oregano. The smoothie menu features strawberry, banana and mango; mango, pineapple, banana and apple; and kale, cucumber, kiwi, spinach, banana and coconut. Janes Deli is open daily 7am-6pm. Markus Ravik Away from the smoothies, theres coffee by St Ali and the aforementioned iced matcha. Its been a steady week since opening [in med-December], rather than busy, I think just because a lot of people go away in this area for Christmas, but the response so far from locals has been great, Claydon says.

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Open daily 7am-6pm 321 Chatsworth Road, Coorparoo instagram.com/janesdeli.bne

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For subscribers Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-at-large at Broadsheet Brisbane, and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, the Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, among many others.
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NSW expected to pass harshest gun reforms in Australia

NSW parliament is expected to pass new hate speech and gun laws in the wake of the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
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Updated NationalNSWBondi shooting Police to ramp up presence over New Years as gun, protest laws come into effect Angus Thomson Updated December 24, 2025  12:59pm ,first published December 24, 2025  6:01am 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

Heavily armed police will patrol major events in Sydney over the Christmas and New Year period as NSW Premier Chris Minns vows to protect community safety and clamp down on hate speech in response to the Bondi terror attack. Laws tightening gun ownership and placing restrictions on protests passed NSW parliament after a lengthy and heated debate that extended into the early hours of Christmas Eve. NSW Premier Chris Minns and Attorney-General Michael Daley greet a police guard at NSW Parliament on Wednesday. Louie Douvis The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 passed the NSW upper house around 3am on Wednesday morning with an amendment from the Greens banning someone from owning a gun if they have been investigated for terrorism-related offences, or live with someone who has been investigated for such offences. The bill was formally passed into law in a brief sitting of the lower house later on Wednesday morning.

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Speaking after the legislation passed, Minns committed to making new laws in the new year aimed at confronting hate speech and extremist views in the community. This isnt the end of change, he said. Sydney and NSW has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity last Sunday, [and] we know its our responsibility to do everything we can to keep the people of NSW safe. Police at Bondi Pavilion at the memorial for shooting victims in the days after the attack. James Brickwood Sydney residents can expect to see more police with heavy firearms on the streets over the summer period, Minns said. It might be not what youd commonly see with police officers in the street, but  were not going to make any apologies for that, he said. We will give them whatever resources they need in this heightened period.

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Asked if the new laws will be used immediately to restrict public gatherings following the Bondi attack, Minns said it was a decision for the NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. I believe in the circumstances that that should happen, but Im going to leave it up to him to make that call today, he said. Those laws may be tested if Israeli President Isaac Herzog is met with pro-Palestine protests during a planned visit to Australia following the Bondi attack, but Minns said he hoped they would not be needed. Theres an essential decency there that I hope kicks in. I do believe that most Australians feel that way, he said. Minns said the protest laws only apply to the time around when a terror event is declared and would not affect events such as Invasion Day rallies usually held on the Australia Day holiday.

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The legislation passed this week has three key pillars: creating an offence for displaying terrorist symbols such as the IS flag; significant restrictions on firearm possession; and allowing the police commissioner to prevent protests occurring for up to three months after a terrorism incident. Under the new laws, most license holders will be able to own a maximum of four guns. Farmers and recreational shooters will be able to own up to 10 guns. Those limits will come into effect from Wednesday, Minns said, but gun owners will not be required to hand back their firearms until the governments buyback scheme is operating next year. The bill was opposed by the Nationals, and faced the threat of a filibuster from Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs Robert Borsak and Mark Banasiak. Mark Banasiak, an MP from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party speaks during an emergency sitting of NSW parliament on Tuesday. News Corp Australia After beginning on Tuesday with an acknowledgement that debate would reach into the early hours of Christmas Eve, the Legislative Council debated 181 proposed amendments to the bill before it eventually passed at 2.51am.

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Despite making the final amendment, Greens MPs abstained from voting. The bill passed 18 votes to eight with the support of Liberal MPs. The bill encountered opposition from within Minns own ranks, with Labor MP Anthony DAdam describing attempts to restrict certain protest chants as a fools errand. Government MPs hugged and shook hands as the Legislative Assembly formally adopted the legislation. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor Australians unite in backing gun reform Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens was the only representative on the opposition benches as Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley thanked Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, whose electorate of Vaucluse represents the Bondi area.

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She has shown true leadership, both in her community and in this house, in assisting us to achieve this result, Catley said. In a statement, Sloane said the Liberals supported the bill in the interests of community safety but said the legislation was rushed through without properly consulting the community. That is not best-practice lawmaking, she said. Minns said on Tuesday he was confident the laws would withstand any legal challenge from activists concerned the laws restrict citizens rights to gather and demand change. Catley said the government would boost funding to the NSW firearms registry to enable a crackdown. NSW will also go halves with the Commonwealth to fund the buyback of firearms in the state. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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A man has suffered a head injury during an altercation at a Fortitude Valley bar.

The man, aged in his late 40s, fell and hit his head at Cru Bar on James Street about 10pm.

Initial investigations indicate around 10pm, a physical altercation has occurred at a James Street business, which resulted in a 49-year-old Bulimba man falling and his head striking the ground, police said.

A man has sustained a head injury during an altercation at Cru Bar on James Street in Fortitude Valley.

Investigations into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.
THE former principal of Gaelcholaiste Cheatharlach has been awarded a prestigious papal medal in recognition of her exceptional contribution to education.

Caitlin Mhic Carthaigh, who led the school from its founding in 1990 until 2011, was conferred with the Benemerenti Medal at a special ceremony held at the Carlow school.

Ms Mhic Carthaigh was joined by family members, former colleagues and the wider community for a Mass celebrated by Fr Conn O Maoldhomhnaigh, bishop Denis Nulty, Msgr McEvoy, Msgr Byrne and Fr Ger Ahern.

The school described the Benemerenti Medal as a rare and distinguished honour, adding that Ms Mhic Carthaighs tireless dedication to the advancement of education and her unwavering commitment to nurturing generations of learners have left an indelible mark on our community. We are delighted to celebrate this well-deserved recognition, the school said.

Fr Conn O Maoldhomhnaigh, president of Carlow College, St Patricks, said Ms Mhic Carthaigh was honoured for her outstanding contribution to education at secondary level. Caitlin fostered the intellectual, spiritual and human formation of all the students that came under her care as a teacher and principal, he added.

Bishop Denis Nulty, who presented the award, said on social media that he was delighted to present the medal mar aitheantas ar a seirbhis den scoth san oideachas thar na blianta (in recognition of her outstanding service in education over the years).

The last papal medal awarded to an Irish educator was in 2023 to Goretti Newell, former principal of Hollypark BNS, Dublin.
By Holly Williams, Press Association Business Editor

Ryanair has been fined 256 million (224 million) by Italys competition watchdog for allegedly using an abusive strategy to hinder third-party travel agencies.

The regulator claimed in its ruling that the low-cost airline deliberately made it difficult for agencies to buy flights on its website, between April 2023 and at least April this year.

Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary described the ruling as legally unsound (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) said: Following a complex investigation, the authority found that Ryanair put in place an elaborate strategy affecting the ability of online and traditional travel agencies to purchase Ryanair flights on ryanair.com.

In particular, the companys strategy blocked, hindered or made such purchases more difficult when combined with flights operated by other carriers and/or other tourism and insurance services.

These practices compromised the ability of agencies to purchase Ryanair flights and combine them with flights from other airlines and/or additional travel services, thereby reducing direct and indirect competition between agencies, it added.

Ryanair said it would appeal the ruling and the fine, which it said was unjustly levied.

The Dublin-based carrier said: Ryanair has campaigned for many years to offer consumers the lowest fares by booking directly on the ryanair.com website.

This direct distribution model was ruled to undoubtedly benefit consumers by the Milan Court, as recently as Jan 2024.

This legally baseless AGCM ruling, and its absurd 256 million euro fine, undermines consumer protection and competition law Michael O'Leary, Ryanair chief executive

Ryanairs long-standing chief executive, Michael OLeary, branded the ruling legally unsound.

He said: This AGCM ruling is an affront to the precedent Milan court ruling, and also an affront to consumer protection and competition law.

Ryanair has grown rapidly in Italy  and in many other markets across Europe  by always offering the lowest air fares in every single market in which we operate.

This legally baseless AGCM Ruling, and its absurd 256 million euro fine, undermines consumer protection and competition law, and it will be overturned on appeal.

It comes after Italy fined Ryanair 3 million (2.6 million) in 2019 for its policy of charging passengers for cabin baggage, but the penalty was later overturned by an administrative court.
Ottoline Spearman

A woman in her 20s arrested in connection with the murder of Daniel Aruebose has been released without charge.

Gardai arrested the woman on Monday, in connection with the murder of the toddler, aged 3 at the time, whose remains were found buried in Donabate, Co Dublin, earlier this year.

The investigation into the disappearance of the boy, who would now be eight years old, was upgraded to a homicide investigation two weeks ago.

He was last seen around four years ago, although concern for his whereabouts was not raised until last summer.

Tusla had interacted with Daniels family, but closed its engagement with his parents after a temporary fostering arrangement ended.

His case prompted a series of well-being checks carried out on thousands of Tusla files, as well as a rapid review of the boys case.

When it launched its murder investigation, An Garda Siochana said: Members of the public are urged not to assume that gardai already possess information they may hold, or that any detail is too small or insignificant.

The investigation team will determine the relevance of any information provided.

All contact will be welcomed and treated in the strictest confidence.

The woman's release on Tuesday morning is pending file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Investigations are ongoing.
A MARRIED couple who have been separated for the past six years but still live in the same house were at Carlow District Court last week over an alleged protection order breach involving a hidden camera and a threat to stop providing child maintenance.

The in camera hearing, meaning the parties cannot be identified, was presided over by Judge Geraldine Carthy.

The wife, who is the complainant, told the court that on 20 September, after she came home from work, she saw an object plugged into a socket beside the headboard of a bed in one of the bedrooms. She told the court that upon closer inspection of the object, she knew it to be a hidden camera, as a few days previously, on 16 September, she had noticed a strange box on a shelf in the house, which contained the same hidden camera.

I panicked when I saw it because why am I being recorded in my own house? she said.

The woman then told the court that the bedroom in question was in mine and my husbands room. However, the pair have not slept in the same room for six years, as they are separated.

The court heard that the pairs young daughter lives in the same house, along with the womans adult daughter, her fiance and their two children.

Two days after discovering the camera was plugged in, on 22 September, the woman went to the gardai to report the incident as an alleged breach of a protection order.

The woman gave evidence that, a day after reporting the incident to the gardai, her husband told her to bring back what you have stolen from me.

The woman also gave evidence to the court that, on 26 September, her husband told her that if she did not return the camera to him, he would stop paying child maintenance for their daughter. She also told the court that her husband said she would regret taking the camera and that she was lying about everything.

Insp Conor Nolan asked her if she felt scared or threatened by her husband during these instances, to which she replied: I was scared during that conversation, and I am still scared now.

When asked by defence solicitor Joe Farrell about who sleeps in the bedroom in which the camera was found, the woman said that her husband sleeps in it and that she had been sleeping in the living room for the last six years since they separated; however, her clothes are kept in that bedroom, she stated.

Mr Farrell said: So, the camera was in the room where he was sleeping and the box was found in the room where he sleeps.

In response, the woman said that it was not his room, as all her stuff is in there, but that he just sleeps there.

Mr Farrell continued: Do you think he was recording to see who was coming in and out of the room?

He records everything, said the woman, adding: I mostly dont go into the room, but when I need something, I have to.

She said the box she found the camera in was right beside all her documents.

Mr Farrell then asked the woman why, if she felt so scared by the incident on 20 September, she had waited two days before notifying the guards.

I am busy working and looking after my child, she replied.

When asked by Mr Farrell if her husband was an inconvenience, the woman said yes and added: I do not want my daughter to see his drinking, which happens every day and every night.

Mr Farrell then said that he believed she was not afraid of her husband and that this dispute was all about money.

I pay all the bills and rent, she replied.

Arresting officer Garda Conor Hassett gave evidence that on 22 September, the woman presented herself at Carlow Garda Station and reported an alleged breach of the protection order due to the hidden camera that she had found two days earlier. Garda Hassett then arrested her husband and he was charged on 29 September.

In his evidence, Garda Hassett said there was an SD card attached to the camera when it was handed in to the station and that there were five files on it; however, he could not download the files and play the contents.

Mr Farrell asked Garda Hassett if the woman mentioned anything about her sleeping in the living room for the past six years, to which Garda Hassett replied: In the statement, she referred to it as my bedroom.

How did she present herself to you in the station? asked Mr Farrell.

Not overly distressed, just worried about the camera, replied Garda Hassett.

Garda Sharon Walsh then took the stand to give evidence that, following the alleged threat to stop paying child maintenance by her husband on 26 September, the woman said she felt very threatened by him.

The protection order against the womans husband was initially served on 12 September.

Mr Farrell told Judge Carthy that he did not believe that the threat of not paying maintenance was what section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act (breaching a protection order) was designed for.

Judge Carthy said, in relation to the section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act matter, that the court was not satisfied that the threshold in respect of fear had been reached. Judge Carthy also said, in respect of the second matter on the second date: The threat of not paying any more child maintenance is not a threat to be convicted of a criminal offence.

Judge Carthy said she was satisfied that the protection order had been utterly abused by the woman and ruled to discharge the order.
THE Seven Oaks Hotel was enlivened by kids in Christmas dress, dancing to pop songs on Monday afternoon, for the Midlands Ukrainian Associations festive event.

Around 130 people gathered from across the midlands and south-east for the event, which is reminiscent of the shows put on by kindergartens and schools at this time of year in Ukraine.

Attendees explained that due to the atheist policies of the Soviet Union, New Years Eve is celebrated more than Christmas. Instead of a Christmas tree, they would have a New Years tree, a symbol of hope for the coming year.

But Ukrainian families have adapted again to a new way of doing things in Ireland. Genia Zuieva moved to Ireland three years ago with her two sons and soon started celebrating Christmas on 25 December: In the past few years, we didnt celebrate New Year, we started celebrating Christmas. We celebrated Christmas on 7 January (as per the Orthodox Christian tradition), but now we do it in December. One of her sons, Tymur, was dressed in a festive superman costume complete with spidery face paint. He with the other children would get to meet Santa Claus that afternoon and take home a gift.

Genias husband remains in Ukraine, fighting against the Russian invasion. Its very difficult for [my sons] that we are here without him. In previous years he came to Ireland but this year he cant. Despite this, Genia said she still feels the Christmas atmosphere: Because you dress up everything, shops and streets, it makes a Christmas mood, she said.

Students Dimitri (18) and Kyrylo (20), have both been in Ireland for two and a half years and have found ways to merge Irish and Ukrainian festive events.

Dimitri said he celebrated Christmas Eve last year in Enniscorthy with his grandmother and an Irish family and friends. I with my grandmother was making traditional Ukrainian dumplings. Insider were different nuts, a coin. If you get a nut, you will be clever and coin you will be rich, he said. These dumplings, varenyky, are eaten with meat, soup potatoes and different salads.

They said that the winter weather in Ireland is much milder in comparison to their home: In Ukraine in winter, it can be minus 20 degrees sometimes, and theres a lot of snow. Tetiana Malika Skakun, the organiser of the event, invited Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, Member of the European Parliament for South Ireland, to celebrate the festive season with the Ukrainian community.

This is what Christmas is all about. Its about our families being together and love and care and respect, the MEP told the crowd gathered.

I want to say as an MEP representing Ireland, I understand your pain, loss, suffering and your communities back home. We respect and support your president, government and leadership. I will play my part to make sure we continue that support. We will defend Ukraine with all the EU countries.